Divine blood of crimson red rained down. Sacred artifacts of ice-cold steel clashed. Terrifying immortal light devoured the heavens. This battle was like a war between gods and demons — brutal and fierce, sweeping across all eight directions.
The magnificent and colossal city, like a divine lion crouched in repose, exuded an aura of majesty that brooked no violation. Ye Fan and the others had fought their way straight into it, setting off a great uproar.
For how many years had no one dared to run wild within this city? Such a thing had never happened before — that trial participants would fight their way here, battling the whole route — and the entire city was astounded, with every eye fixed upon them.
Ye Fan fought alone against Gu Ling, Guan Cheng, the second-in-command of the Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation, and others. The battle boiled over, and his blood energy penetrated the heavens above and the earth below.
All along this path, they had fought desperately for their lives. The sheer force of destruction was staggering — from the blood-soaked trial grounds to the ascent of the Five-Colored Sacrificial Altar, then onward to the second human sacred city, the scope of it all was vast.
Outside meteorites blazed as they fell. Ancient stars cracked apart in all four directions. The dark universe was torn open — these were the sights of their battle reaching its furious peak as they traveled.
Now within the city, every one of them was still brimming with energy, their fighting spirit undiminished, battling until black hair whipped in all directions, blood splattered everywhere, and the heavens themselves shook.
Ye Fan’s battle robes were shredded. From the crown of his skull, blood energy like a true dragon burst forth through the sky. His eyes were like bolts of cold lightning, awe-inspiring. The black spear in his hand rent the heavens and destroyed stars, carrying an air of one who could swallow mountains and rivers.
Without question, this was an arduous battle. The combat power of the leader of the Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation was astonishing — superior even to the military commander Guan Cheng — and was truly a formidable enemy.
His black hair spilled loose. His bare upper body was powerfully built, bronzed like coiling dragons. His eyes shot out fierce beams of light like those of a wild beast. The purple war spear in his hand pierced heaven and earth — every blow like a purple sun exploding apart.
Ye Fan and he were like two stellar rivers colliding, clashing in fierce confrontation, leaving trails of afterimages in their wake. Long spear against war spear, ringing clash after ringing clash — one black, one purple, two bolts of lightning interwoven.
With every thrust, they pierced through the heavens, capable of shattering meteorites in the cold void of space. Spear light surged magnificently, divine might flooding across the sky.
The second-in-command of the Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation was likewise a remarkable individual — clad in azure-gold armor, great halberd in hand, sweeping across the universe with the divine valor of a demon god.
All the ancient formations of this magnificent great city fully awakened. Countless formation markings were ground away in an instant, and a number of meteorites from beyond the heavens were shattered by the force of the flying blades. One could see from this just how brutal the battle was.
Every one of them was stained with blood. Every one of them was wounded. And yet they continued to fight as if oblivious to death, bathed in blood and locked in mortal combat.
Along this entire path, trial participants who had set out together had been caught in the crossfire of this battle, with some suffering grievous injuries and four of them losing their lives.
From this alone, one could see to what degree the fighting had escalated. Both sides had battled until their blood ran hot, each focused only on killing the other, heedless of everything else.
“What manner of people are these, with such audacity — fighting their way all the way into the sacred city in a trail of blood, setting a precedent never before seen in the history of the trial road!”
“Who is that man standing in the center, battling in all eight directions alone? One man fighting off numerous powerful warriors, such ferocious blood energy, such terrifying fighting spirit — this is rarely seen throughout the ages!”
Many of the powerful cultivators within the city had arrived to watch, discussing the battle as they observed.
“Stop! How dare you desecrate the sacred city — do you all wish to face the consequences? Those who violate the city rules will be executed without mercy!”
The soldiers guarding this ancient city shouted loudly. Each of them wore a grim expression. In the past, even those legendary supreme figures who were said to be on the verge of achieving the great Dao had entered by dismounting at the gates. Yet the people before them now were every one of them utterly wild, entering with iron blood and slaughter, becoming “battle-maniacs.”
Not many soldiers stood at the city gate. A commander from another section of the city, upon hearing the commotion, led dozens of men in rushing over, scowling, and shouting loudly for them to cease.
Even the Guide had been alarmed. From deep within the ancient city came a thunderous Dao-shout that shook the ears, demanding that the combatants stop the battle at once — or they would be suppressed and executed.
The second sacred city erupted into a clamor of voices. Everyone was dumbstruck. Within this colossal city spanning a hundred li, every single person had now learned of what was happening. All were stunned speechless — what kind of trial participants were these? The sheer audacity of it was truly astounding!
“For how many years — I still remember the sight of those who were matchless across their various ancient star domains, the most terrifyingly powerful of figures, passing through this city. Not even they were this brazen.”
“After so many years of quiet, a great wave has finally risen. Are these people trying to overturn the sacred city?”
Ye Fan and the others had given no names, yet they had already drawn attention from all ten directions. Having fought their way into the city through blood, it was impossible not to draw eyes.
They finally ceased. Every one of them was suffused with killing intent, coldly facing off against one another, and none showed any sign of backing down.
In this battle, Long Ma had suffered injuries that were far from light. Though Ye Fan bore wounds, none were serious. The Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation all had battle robes drenched in blood. Their two sacred beast mounts had come close to dying, their entire bodies soaked in blood as they lay collapsed on the ground. Guan Cheng’s eyes gleamed with a cold and ruthless light; his left chest had been pierced through by Ye Fan’s spear — even his heart had been shattered. Blood had pooled on the ground into a small river, a harrowing sight. He had come within a hair’s breadth of death.
Bitter Head Monk, Mu Guanghan, Tuoba Yu, Ou Ye the Demon, and the other trial participants who had come along all stood at a distance. Though they had not participated, they had witnessed this battle with their own eyes and understood keenly just how savage it had been.
This city was the second sacred city along the ancient road of the starry sky — many times more magnificent and vast than the first city, its atmosphere far more solemn and austere.
The grand commander of the second sacred city wore an expression that was not particularly pleasant. He stared at them for a very long time before speaking: “What impressive boldness you have. Do you take this human sacred city for a trial ground? Do you wish to do battle against every powerful fighter in the entire city?”
By the time they had departed the blood-soaked trial ground, only one hundred and forty-seven people remained alive to arrive here. All others had fallen. At this moment, complete silence reigned.
“You are Gu Ling of the Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation. I have heard of you. And you are Guan Cheng — so you have set foot upon this road again…”
The grand commander wore a cold expression, calling out the names of the key participants in the blood battle one by one. This immediately set off a wave of commotion.
“The leader of the Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation — a supreme seed-level figure of unrivaled talent whose name was already known throughout the city before he even arrived. To think that it was him.”
“Guan Cheng — that name sounds somewhat familiar. Could it be him… he was already a peerless warrior of extraordinary ferocity more than a decade ago. After years of bitter cultivation, he has set out on the road once more. Even joining forces with the Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation, they couldn’t bring down that young man. Truly frightening.”
The city erupted in a din of voices. Upon learning the identities of those involved in the blood battle, many revealed expressions of shock and broke into animated discussion.
The leader of the Thirteen Riders of the Celestial Desolation, Gu Ling, bore several spear wounds. The bloody holes were alarming. Guan Cheng’s very heart had been shattered — how could this not be terrifying?
Though the young man who had been surrounded in the center was himself covered in wounds, the fact that he had faced so many opponents alone and single-handedly sent a chill through the hearts of all who saw it.
“So he is the one called Ye Fan. Now I understand. According to the messages that came from the other side, he was unstoppable when he was at the first city.”
There were channels of communication between the various sacred cities, and news had been sent ahead in advance — otherwise, people could not have known these things.
“The Guide has issued a pardon. In deference to your exceptional cultivation, we will overlook this matter this time. But there will be no next time. If you again violate city rules and engage in killing, you will be executed without mercy.”
The storm passed in this way. The conflict was not allowed to escalate and became instead a topic of conversation for people to discuss over food and drink.
Whatever the case, Ye Fan and the others fighting their way into the city through blood had made a tremendous impact — one that had even rippled out into the starry sky beyond.
“What? Someone else has obtained the Source of the Dao? Someone obtained it over twenty years ago, and now it has appeared again in this generation? That can’t be possible. This is truly becoming chaotic!”
The storm had barely begun to settle when this news spread, and the second sacred city fell into an uproar. Numerous powerful fighters were shaken, unable to calm their hearts for a long while.
Moreover, the impact did not stop at this city. Through special channels, it spread to the sections of the ancient road ahead, and certain sacred cities deep within the cosmos also came to learn of it.
Dark undercurrents surged through the second sacred city. The road ahead was also shrouded in thick fog. There were stirrings of activity, and the reappearance of the Source of the Dao left some unable to find peace.
Deep within the cosmos, there was a vast floating continent of incomparable breadth, upon which an ancient city was built. Outside the city, mountain ridges stretched away, teeming with life.
This was one of the important places along the ancient road of the starry sky — it was hard to say just how many stages deep it lay.
Within a certain divine garden, pavilions and towers were dotted about. Beneath a small white stone arch bridge, water murmured and flowed. Immortal energy curled upward and rose in drifting wisps.
Within the small lake, a single ancient lotus had taken root and grown — enormous and boundless, with twelve-grade lotus petals taking form. Auspicious mist drifted gently, and primordial chaos energy coiled about it — a sight of incomparable mystery.
Even an ordinary cultivator could see that this was a terrifying and extraordinary natural treasure, one that, if refined, could become an undying and everlasting supreme sacred artifact.
Within the garden stood an ancient and unpretentious cultivation platform. Enshrouded in mist, faintly visible within was the silhouette of a woman seated cross-legged upon it, motionless, facing the small lake, waiting quietly for the ancient lotus to fully mature.
“My lady, a message has just arrived from behind. Someone has obtained the Source of the Dao.” At that moment, a bright-eyed and delicate young woman approached — endowed with the spiritual wisdom and grace of heaven and earth, yet dressed in the garb of a handmaiden.
The hazy silhouette of the woman on the cultivation platform seemed to show a flicker of puzzlement, and she murmured softly, “Twenty-three years ago, was the Source of the Dao not taken by Emperor-of-Heaven? How has it appeared again?”
Her voice carried a certain magnetism — like heavenly music — and even upon first hearing this astonishing news, she remained completely calm and serene.
The handmaiden had cascading black hair like a waterfall, skin as luminous and white as jade, a delicate oval face, and large, bright, expressive eyes — beautiful as a spirit-being. She gave a respectful bow to the woman on the cultivation platform and said, “The news is confirmed. However, the person in question has not managed to successfully absorb it in the way Emperor-of-Heaven, the young lord, did — the Source of the Dao does not recognize him.”
She gave a careful and detailed report, conveying everything she had learned to the woman on the cultivation platform.
“This matter is of no small consequence and carries enormous implications. The Source of the Dao contains profound and tremendous secrets within it. I must make a trip to the second sacred city.” The woman whose silhouette was wreathed in mist upon the cultivation platform spoke.
The lively little handmaiden smiled and said, “Twenty-some years ago, when Emperor-of-Heaven, the young lord, obtained the Source of the Dao, my lady also played a part in that. Now, if my lady were also to possess it, who on this ancient road of the starry sky could stand against you?”
“Emperor-of-Heaven possesses brilliant talent and a gift that surpasses all of antiquity. That he obtained the Source of the Dao is not surprising, and had nothing to do with me. Yet the road ahead is a fierce and savage contest, and this generation is particularly frightening — it is practically an age of mythology. Formidable as Emperor-of-Heaven is, having earned the recognition of heaven and earth, he has still encountered several world-shaking adversaries. It is hard to say who will have the last laugh. My reason for going to the second city is to meet that cultivator who has suppressed and sealed the Source of the Dao, and to see whether I can persuade him to part with it — to gift it to Emperor-of-Heaven.”
The little handmaiden was displeased and said, “Emperor-of-Heaven, the young lord, has already obtained a true Source of the Dao. My lady, why would you do this? You should negotiate an exchange with that cultivator from behind and keep it for yourself.”
“Emperor-of-Heaven already possesses the Source of the Dao. If he were to integrate another stream, it might evolve into a world-shaking immortal treasure — and that matters greatly.” The woman on the cultivation platform said.
“My lady has been blessed by heaven and has obtained the twelve-grade lotus petals from within the primordial chaos immortal earth. If you were to also obtain the Source of the Dao, would that not be even more wonderful?” The handmaiden urged.
“I spent too long waiting for the primordial chaos lotus to mature, and that has delayed me greatly. On the road ahead, if Emperor-of-Heaven lacks assistance, things may grow very difficult for him. This is an age of mythology — every faction has its own forces and power. Only by forming alliances can one advance and stand at the absolute summit.” The woman on the cultivation platform spoke, and then fell silent, saying no more.