The monkey’s killing intent was towering and his dominance without limit, his heavy pitch-black iron staff leveled at what lay ahead — as if he would smash apart a realm of ten thousand li!
A being with nine beautiful female heads but the body of a phoenix spoke: “The convocation of ten thousand clans is soon to open. All killing and slaughter is now forbidden — let us value peace.”
Yet the monkey’s staff had already swept outward in a downward slash, cleaving forward and sending sand and stones flying in all directions. Even the low hills nearby were uprooted from the ground, on the verge of splitting apart.
He had already acted — he intended to strike the Son of Heaven dead. He was ferocious and dominant without limit, and he heard not a word of the counsel.
The Mountain Lord of the Blood Phoenix Mountain, the Cave Lord of the Fire Kirin Cave, and others — each of them a transcendent existence. The great clans that had produced Ancient Emperors commanded a prestige without parallel, and all other clans would show them reverence upon sight.
Who else would dare ignore their authority? Yet the one before them was the Son of Heaven, and the other was the Sacred Emperor’s Son — both of incomparably fearsome origins, placing these august figures in a most difficult position.
The two parties were not listening to counsel — blades were not yet sheathed, and a life-and-death battle was about to unfold. The hearts of the assembled lords pounded fiercely. Had these been ordinary individuals refusing to comply, they would have been struck down without hesitation long ago.
Clang!
Streaks of sparks burst outward in a cascade, like a torrent of meteors piercing the sky, tracing out brilliant and dazzling light outside Yaochi.
Several old servants stepped forward together, straining to hold back this heaven-shaking blow, each staggering backward step by step, blood spilling from the corners of their mouths.
The monkey’s divine valor was without equal — the great staff pressed down with ponderous momentum and surging martial spirit. Several of the nearby low hills rose into the air beneath the wind of the staff’s passage, rumbling and rolling, shattering apart — a fearsome spectacle.
Representatives of many great clans were deeply shaken in their hearts. This was the Battle Sage Emperor’s own son — having only just taken the first step into severing the Dao, his combat power already reached such a level. What among the younger generation could contend with him?
“Would both of the imperial sons please restrain their anger. Whatever grievances you harbor may be discussed inside Yaochi. There is no need to resort to violence here.” An Ancient Living Being of very advanced years spoke.
Even the bloodlines of the Divine Silkworm Ridge and the Primordial Lake’s royal clan could not easily intervene in the quarrel between two imperial sons, for neither party was a simple figure.
The Son of Heaven’s standing needed no elaboration — the sole blood of a deity, deserving of reverence from every clan. Moreover, many of the guardians from the Nine Dragon Veins outside the Ancient Emperor Mountain had survived and had not been annihilated by Wushi, and now a considerable force stood at his back.
As for the monkey — he too was no simple matter, particularly of late, when he inspired dread and wariness in all who might think of provoking or offending him.
For word had arrived from the Western Desert carrying the sounds of Buddhist chant. The Battle Sage Victorious Buddha of Mount Sumeru was alive — very possibly the monkey’s own uncle. This weighed upon every great royal clan like a massive boulder pressing down upon their chests.
The Battle Sage Emperor’s younger brother had escaped his elder’s era and lived to the present day. In time, he might possibly Attain the Dao — a tremendous deterrent force!
Previously, hearing that the monkey had been schemed against by certain Ancient Clans, no one had thought much of it. But now the situation was entirely different — who would dare make another move? None dared cause trouble anymore.
Had anyone else stirred conflict before the gathering opened, they would have been snuffed out on the spot. But these two individuals were each more unyielding than the other — not even the great royal clans dared act against them.
In the end, two of the great clans that had once produced Ancient Emperors stepped forward, standing between them, refusing to let either side approach — and only thus was the bloodshed halted.
The Blood Phoenix Mountain and Fire Kirin Cave stood forward to block them, keeping the two parties apart. This could be considered an accounting to the forces behind both imperial sons — preventing them from determining a matter of life and death between themselves.
The monkey remained completely unyielding and had no intention whatsoever of backing down. He continued to berate the Son of Heaven loudly in front of everyone — the matter of him uniting powerful fighters to pursue and kill the monkey could not be let go.
“This is undeniably a grave matter. To be the son of the Battle Sage Emperor, and yet to have been hunted by a group of servants — this is a desecration against the Ancient Emperor.” One voice from the Divine Silkworm Ridge lineage stepped forward and spoke these words. Their standing was noble, and their weight in the affairs of the ten thousand clans was considerable.
Not far away, the Son of Heaven’s expression immediately shifted — yet he said nothing. With a great clan standing on the monkey’s side, this was not a good portent.
“Indeed — without a proper reckoning, this is hard to overlook.” Another Ancient royal clan member nodded in agreement.
Those inclined toward the Son of Heaven all sensed that things were going badly. If the matter escalated, would they truly let the two imperial sons fight it out and determine the matter with one party’s death?
“All fault is ours. We should not have acted on our own initiative. We should not have been hostile toward the Sacred Emperor’s Son, and even less should we have led others to pursue and kill him. We old servants are willing to die in atonement.” Several of the Son of Heaven’s old servants stepped forward.
“Indeed — as servants, to dare kill the sole descendant of the Battle Sage Emperor was a genuine transgression. They should be punished.” The person from the Divine Silkworm Ridge nodded.
Many present changed expression. This was clearly an alignment with the monkey’s side — though the pressure was not driven too hard, demanding only the execution of these few old servants, without genuinely pointing accusation at the Son of Heaven himself.
“We accept death as our penance before the Sacred Emperor’s Son!”
These three old servants were indeed decisive and forthright. Without hesitation, they shattered their own Divine Souls on the spot — their brows split open, ending themselves right there.
The Son of Heaven’s expression turned to iron, his face ashen. His two eyes shot forth two beams of terrifying light.
“If you disagree, step forward and fight me yourself!” The monkey remained forceful, pressing the pitch-black great staff ahead.
“Very well, let this end here. Those who sought without cause to kill the Sacred Emperor’s Son were indeed deserving of death, but there is no need to let this wind spread further.” The Fire Kirin Cave spoke, and several other great clans voiced their agreement.
At this moment, the assembled Ancient Living Beings were all too frightened to speak. These were truly gods battling overhead — they wanted no part of it. The waters ran deep, and it likely touched upon the alignments and alliances between several great clans.
The monkey had come, personally striking two people dead with his staff, and then forcing three more to take their own lives. Five of the Son of Heaven’s guardians were gone, leaving many cold with dread, feeling the weight of that dominance.
For the Son of Heaven, this was undeniably a slap to the face — especially the latter three, who were publicly forced to their deaths before all present, turning his knuckles pale.
No one dared discuss it. Many felt a chill creeping through them. Although today’s events were ostensibly the clash between the Sacred Emperor’s Son and the Son of Heaven, they had also laid bare certain problems within the royal clans.
The monkey knew when to stop. He understood the value of knowing when enough was enough — today’s confrontation had gone far enough. To push further would cross a line.
The upheaval subsided, and the great crowd of cultivators made their way into Yaochi. People dared not draw too near to either imperial son, fearing they would be regarded as enemies by the other party.
The Human Clan’s Holy Body and the monkey walked together, drawing the attention of many — though no one dared say much about it. They had already dared to call the Son of Heaven an egg and Yuangu a watermelon — gathering here now was only natural. Two peas in a pod, both utterly lawless.
This confrontation concluded with the monkey’s overwhelming victory and the Son of Heaven’s iron-faced departure. Every person present held their own scale in their hearts, deliberating how they would face both of these individuals going forward.
“Everyone says the Son of Heaven’s gifts are the greatest of all time — that a single year of his cultivation equals a hundred years of another’s. Once he fully severs the Dao, he will surely go on a rampage of retribution.”
“The Battle Sage Apes were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns — even at their height in the Ancient Era, there were no more than three to five of them. Yet every single one defied heaven, and with so sparse a population they still stood as one of the royal clans, ruling over all under heaven. Do you honestly think the Sacred Emperor’s sole son could have anything less than exceptional gifts?”
The gathering still had several days before it would open, and the various clans were murmuring quietly among themselves — but not one of them dared make reckless overtures of allegiance.
This was a great age. The Ancient Emperor bloodlines were all dormant divine lions now roused to the same era — all awakening. Not just these two, but also Huang Xu Dao, Huo Qizi, and others. Who was weaker, who was stronger — no one could say.
Snow orchid blossoms drifted on the air, scattering petals in a sky-full of swirling white — falling like snow, a pure and unblemished expanse.
This was an ancient woodland — every tree a vigorous snow orchid, richly fragrant, green leaves laden with jade-white blossoms, refreshing to the senses.
Ye Fan, the monkey, and Duan De sat around a stone table beneath the ancient trees, drinking freely and at ease. Before long, Li Tian and Li Heishui found their way here and joined in.
“Monkey Brother, you were formidable.”
“Monkey Brother, you were glorious.”
Everyone felt deeply satisfied, especially Li Heishui, who harbored a profound hatred for the Son of Heaven — having been hunted by him until life was no longer worth living. If the monkey hadn’t rescued him in those years, he would have died long ago.
“Your Highness the Imperial Son — your clan, when at its height, numbered fewer than ten individuals. How exactly did you propagate your lineage?” Li Tian was most concerned about this kind of vital life matter, researching it at every opportunity.
The monkey was at a loss for words, but in the end he told the truth plainly: their bloodline was dominant, capable of intermarrying with other clans — and offspring produced would absolutely be Sacred Apes.
Duan De smiled slyly and said: “Your Highness, where is your clan’s sacred mountain? When might you take us for a stroll? I hold the Battle Sage Emperor in absolute and boundless reverence.”
The monkey was a person of true feeling. He heard this and clapped a hand on Duan De’s shoulder, saying: “There will be a chance. I’ll take you there someday.”
“Fat Old Duan, you’re shameless — I can see you’ve set your eyes on the Battle Sage Ape clan’s burial grounds.” Ye Fan immediately stopped the monkey, urging him to keep his mouth absolutely sealed.
“How could you doubt my character? I simply and purely wish to go and verify the supreme bearing of the Battle Sage Emperor with my own eyes!” Duan De put on an expression of perfect righteousness.
Upon hearing this, the monkey’s expression turned unfriendly — but in the end, he poured Duan De a cup of wine and said: “In the future, I’ll take you into the Primordial Ancient Mine and have you carry some things out for me.”
“Don’t be so ruthless about it.” Duan De immediately shook his head and flat-out refused, saying: “Forgive me, I… lack the ability to help with that.”
Over the past several days, many people from various clans had arrived. Divine bells rang every day, all of them beings of distinguished standing, deserving of welcome from the assembled. Yet the Human Clan remained deeply awkward — aside from the one Barbarian King, not a single person capable of holding the stage had appeared.
On this day, another commotion broke out outside Yaochi. Yuangu — from a demonic mountain of the Primordial Lake — appeared. Another Ancient Emperor bloodline had arrived.
As expected, Yuangu and the Son of Heaven came together and walked side by side once inside Yaochi, facing Ye Fan and the monkey from a distance.
“So this is Yuangu.” Ye Fan looked on with cold detachment.
He was a tall, strongly built young man — powerfully muscular, black hair reaching his waist, skin the color of ancient bronze, bands of demonic mist coiling about his form. He exuded a palpable sense of pressure.
His eyes were unusual — his left held a black sun, his right a blood moon — giving him an exotic, almost otherworldly appearance. Ordinary people dared not meet his gaze, for it could swallow one’s Divine Soul.
He stood there in silence, like a black demonic mountain, his physical frame seemingly capable of crushing the very heavens and earth around him, filling all who saw him with dread.
The moment he appeared, he locked eyes with Ye Fan and the monkey, and a great tumult broke out immediately. Many cultivators came rushing over, gathering to watch from a distance.
“Laughable, truly. The convocation of ten thousand clans is nearly upon us, and the Human Clan has produced no more than a single Barbarian King. Barely anyone here can be considered presentable.” Yuangu sneered coldly, his face written over with indifference. “When the gathering opens and the Ancestral Kings come in person, I’ll see what people the Human Clan sends to sit with them as equals — most likely not a single one capable of sharing the same table!”
Many of the Human Clan cultivators present were enraged but dared not speak — this was, in truth, a fact. Relatively speaking, the Human Clan genuinely lacked anyone capable of commanding awe and holding a dominant position.