The Old Madman was powerful and vigorous in form, and today looked to be around thirty years of age — in the prime of his life. His black hair poured down like a waterfall, his eyes were deep and unfathomable, like a divine demon standing before the world.
His five great secret realms were all aglow, stunning the assembled powerhouses. Each secret realm shone with crystal brilliance and contained an immortal cocoon — this was far too extraordinary.
In an instant, hearts trembled throughout the crowd. He had carved out his own path, dwelling in stillness and transformation. Once those cocoons broke open, heaven and earth would undoubtedly change, and the colors of the world would dim before him!
Mist and fog drifted around, immortal flames blazed. Cang Yan stood within the haze woven from firelight, his true form unseen — yet his presence was immensely oppressive, like a demon lord standing between heaven and earth.
“All five secret realms contain cocoons. The only question is whether you will have the chance to break free from them.” The Sacred Fire Spirit Cang Yan said coldly.
Hearing this, the crowd felt even more keenly that the immortal cocoons within those five secret realms were something extraordinary — even this peerless Sacred Spirit was wary of them. The terrifying nature of this path needed no further proof.
“Cough…” The stone figure Ao Mang coughed up blood. Though his body had been reconstituted, he was in a state of complete ruin, his very foundation now unstable.
He had proclaimed himself unrivaled at the same realm — yet he had been pierced straight through twice by a single person’s fists. It left him with nowhere to hide his shame; he would rather have ended himself right there and then. Had Cang Yan not been of such extraordinary cultivation, chanting ancient scriptures and channeling power that could steal from the heavens themselves to sustain his life, he might already have fallen.
“Make your move!” The Sacred Fire Spirit Cang Yan issued a cold command.
The Old Madman stepped forward. The five great secret realms blazed with even greater brilliance — more intense than before, sending forth waves of scripture-chanting sound that made his entire being seem like a war god, commanding and awe-inspiring.
Ao Mang turned away. The battle from here on had nothing to do with him — it was a confrontation between those of higher power. He could only retreat with unwillingness and suppressed humiliation.
Everyone held their breath. Each and every person was taut with tension. This battle would determine the rise and fall of several races across this stretch of the starry sky — all of it rested in the peak confrontation that was about to unfold.
BOOM!
The Old Madman struck. This time he did not throw a punch. The space between his brows blazed with light, and from it flew a streak of dazzling brilliance — this was his mystical technique.
A young version of the Old Madman, astride an ancient war chariot, burst out from between his brows. A sky-filling killing intent surged forth. In the young figure’s hand was a green halberd of sweeping grandeur that cleaved mountains and rivers asunder.
The Old Madman’s mystical technique was a match for his invincible fist intent — equally without rival in all the world. From the Immortal Platform, he had manifested a youthful version of himself: brilliant and full of life, sharp and overwhelming, charging forward with devastating force.
BOOM!
Ahead, the sea of flames and luminous mist was instantly scattered. The ancient war chariot rumbled and roared as it crashed toward the Sacred Fire Spirit Cang Yan, and the halberd in the young warrior’s hand descended in a mighty vertical strike.
In a terrifying blaze of light, Dao-marks manifested without end — layer upon layer connecting with one another, like the shimmering moonlit surface of a great sea, rising and falling in endless waves.
This was a world-shaking battle — a clash of mystical techniques in violent collision. The two figures surged ever higher, until the outer void of the sky itself was smelted into primordial chaos.
The Sacred Fire Spirit Cang Yan launched a relentless offensive. His two arms of flesh and blood emerged, covered in ten thousand strands of talismanic script that forged into chains of divine order. He was like an immortal phoenix reborn through fire, locked in fierce combat with the young figure.
The ancient war chariot sent forth scripture-chanting sound, then rapidly vanished — dissolving into streams of Dao patterns. At the same moment, the brilliant young Old Madman also spread wide both arms, shot up into the sky, and transformed into a Kunpeng — cleaving across the nine levels of heaven!
An immortal phoenix and a primordial Kunpeng fought savagely. The great void beyond the heavens was shattered and ruined, obscured by primordial chaos, as though the world itself were being created anew.
This was a world-shaking battle!
HMMM!
The sky shuddered, like a piece of worn cloth being stretched until it tore into four pieces. The entire ancient star trembled as well.
Cang Yan’s body vanished — dissolved into a sea of flames at extreme speed, surrounding and encircling the Kunpeng, while a portion of the flames split off and charged toward the Old Madman’s original body.
Whoosh!
In that moment, the Old Madman displayed a speed so divine it struck terror into even the Sacred Spirits. His Movement Word Art was unrivaled in the world — in an instant he shot forward, dodging the immortal flames and the enveloping mist.
With a long cry, the Kunpeng merged back into the Old Madman’s original body, becoming once more a magnificent and powerful figure radiating a boundless and overwhelming will to battle.
Crack! Crack!
World-shaking thunder erupted. Everyone was shaken with horror — deep in the heavens above, one small asteroid after another detonated, every single one reduced to dust!
This was the region where the Kunpeng and the immortal phoenix had just done battle. The destruction had spread that far — capable of cutting open the starry sky and destroying entire celestial bodies. It truly left the mind reeling.
All fell still. The Old Madman stood with divine power emanating in every direction, rooted in the dome of the sky. The immortal light within his five great secret realms shone with pure brilliance, and the cocoons within them were profoundly mysterious — like the bright moon, like the blazing sun.
Mist drifted and swirled, immortal flames blazed. Cang Yan also materialized, his expression impossible to read — yet one could sense it: his demeanor was grave and heavy beyond measure.
“He held back a peerless Sacred Spirit — Cang Yan, who is on the verge of becoming a Quasi-Emperor — and even that being cannot overcome our human race’s supreme expert!” The crowd erupted in cheers.
To this day, being able to fight a Sacred Spirit without falling in defeat was considered a great glory — this was how everyone present saw it, which showed just how formidable this terrifying race had become in the minds of all.
The Old Madman’s mystical technique was equally invincible — in no way inferior to his fist intent. He could contend with Cang Yan as an equal.
“Truly a peerless hero of this age — just now his two punches drove straight through a stone Sacred Spirit, and now he is withstanding an even more powerful fire spirit with equal force. Genuinely unrivaled in the world.” The crowd exclaimed in admiration, convinced the Old Madman could hold his own against this fire spirit.
Yet Ye Fan furrowed his brow. Only he knew how perilous this battle truly was — it was far from as straightforward as the onlookers imagined.
When the Old Madman fought, he typically settled things within a few moves — just as he had done when dealing with the stone figure Ao Mang earlier: two invincible punches, worth more than ten thousand ordinary strikes.
It was not simply a case of winning easily. Those two punches had contained the entirety of his Dao power, embodying his invincible will — their weight exceeded an entire battle fought with blood and fury.
Because, after all — that had been a Sacred Spirit!
The formidable nature of Sacred Spirits was deeply ingrained in all who knew of them. They were blessed by the heavens at the moment of their creation. Once born into the world, it was rare to find anyone who could contend with them — their reputation had been fearsome since ancient times.
The Cang Yan that the Old Madman now faced was far more powerful still. Ye Fan was naturally worried. The fire spirit was absolutely a ferocious adversary — even as powerful as the Old Madman was, he could not claim a guaranteed victory.
“At your level of cultivation, you should already understand how things stand. This time, no one can stop what is coming. Beyond myself and Ao Mang, there are also several ancient evil gods currently fighting throughout this star region, having severed the Ancient Road in multiple places. Do you still think you can reverse the tide of fate alone?” Cang Yan said coldly.
At the Great Moon Slope, both the human race and the beast tribes alike changed color — a wave of oppressive dread washed over them. Evil gods were the ancient powerhouses of the foreign races; most were likely no weaker than these two invincible Sacred Spirits.
If this was truly the case, this star region was in dire, dire peril!
“That is correct. Several ancient evil gods lent their forces to us — naturally they want something in return. No matter how powerful your human race may be, you cannot withstand a joint strike from all our allied tribes!” From behind, Ao Mang said coldly.
“Enough words — fight!” The Old Madman was decisive. He launched his assault once more.
His figure moved, and his entire physical body underwent a strange transformation. Streams of talismanic script flowed out from him, forming behind him the character for “Immortal”!
BOOM!
He charged forward with supreme power. His physical body and that immortal character condensed into one — divine might overawing the world — as if he intended to hurl the entire sky off its foundations. The Old Madman was like a descending Immortal Lord made manifest.
Whether in mystical technique or in the raw power of his physical fist strikes, he was of a world-shaking caliber — indomitable, impossible to halt!
Cang Yan let out a great shout. Immortal light blazed in every direction from his body. His physical form dissolved — scattered into strand upon strand of flame that densely filled every inch of space. He let the Old Madman pass through freely, unable to be harmed by the strikes.
“Not good!” The entire crowd changed expression, breaking out in cold sweat. The Old Madman’s victory or defeat in battle alone held the lives of every living being on this ancient star in the balance.
One ancient talisman after another appeared — dense and innumerable — this was the Sacred Fire Spirit’s primordial forbidden technique, capable of burning through the nine heavens and annihilating the three thousand realms. It was a supreme mystical art of unrivaled profundity. Cang Yan was decomposing himself — dissolving into primordial immortal talismans, wielded to cut down all things.
Throughout all of heaven and earth, he was everywhere at once. Every strand of immortal flame had become an ancient talisman — dazzling and resplendent — each one was him, capable of coalescing back into his true form at any moment.
Within the strands of immortal light and ancient talismans, the Old Madman remained unharmed. The character “Immortal” blazed behind him, capable of grinding down all that obstructed him!
Moreover, beneath his feet, patterns of the Dao spread outward in sheets. He moved freely through each ancient talisman, striking against the glowing fire symbols one by one.
The time around the Old Madman seemed to stand still. The void twisted and warped. His every motion was slow — yet he moved with absolute certainty, severing strand after strand of immortal radiance.
This was the power of the Movement Word Art from the Nine Secret Arts!
Splat!
A streak of blood shot high into the air. Cang Yan materialized — several ghastly wounds had appeared on his chest, where fire was absent, extinguished by the Old Madman’s relentless grinding.
A beam of fire blazed to the heavens. Cang Yan ascended into the sky, and the Old Madman soared upward as well, vanishing in an instant into the dark reaches of the star region — they had gone deep into the cosmos to settle their great duel.
Although Ye Fan had faith in the Old Madman’s strength, a shadow of unease still lingered in his heart.
Just then, a divine thought sounded. The Daoist of the Azure Phoenix transmitted a message to him: “Several evil gods have mobilized — all of them peerless powerhouses of their respective races, not one inferior to a Sacred Spirit, and some may possess weapons of the extreme Dao at the Emperor level. We must not allow the green bronze cauldron to appear — do not let it be seen by them. Guard the burial ground of gods and demons. If we can accomplish this much, we will have done all that can be done…”
Within the ancient well below lay something of tremendous significance. The Sacred Spirit lineage was determined to obtain it no matter the cost — and the several ancient evil gods also wished to claim their share.
However, the most detailed recorded knowledge of this ancient well existed in a rare surviving ancient text within the human race’s possession. The human race understood it more clearly than any other.
The ancient well did indeed contain something the Sacred Spirits needed. But to obtain it would demand a catastrophic price — for within it lurked something of terrifying power!
The human guardians of the Dao had made their calculations long ago: if the well could not be held, they would let the others open it. Perhaps in doing so, two or three Sacred Spirits or evil gods could be spent against it.
“Along the Ancient Starry Sky Road, there are several ancient wells of this kind. Their existence represents a highly unpredictable factor. Some of the stronger members of the human race also wish to have others open them by proxy — to permanently dispose of the danger within.”
Hearing this, Ye Fan felt a chill run through him. There was a sense of conspiracy about it — a trap laid by the human race.
The Daoist of the Azure Phoenix continued: “Of course, benefits and risks coexist in roughly equal measure — which is precisely why the human race’s guardians of the Dao have not been able to reach a final decision.”
In this age, the human race was flourishing. On this stretch of the Ancient Road, exceptional talents had emerged in great numbers, their war records brilliant. They wished to resolve certain ancient lingering problems during this golden era of prosperity.
“Originally the intention was to leave a blessing for future generations. Yet it became several demonic wells. To let the Sacred Spirits and the evil gods open them — to use their power to grind down some of the danger — and then we would choose our moment to act. Even so, the outcome of this battle is difficult to predict.” The Daoist of the Azure Phoenix said.
Ye Fan understood clearly: the reason he was being told all of this was solely because he possessed the green bronze cauldron. Were it not for that, given his current level of cultivation, he would not yet have been entitled to know any of this.
“Senior, are you all right?” Ye Fan asked, deeply suspecting that this old Daoist’s earlier defeat may have been an act.
“I am old. I truly am no match for him. Were I five hundred years younger, I might have been able to fight him. After all, he is a Sacred Spirit — few in history have ever been able to suppress one of them.” The Daoist of the Azure Phoenix replied with a melancholy sigh — lamenting the passing of his prime years, his blood-energy in decline, his peak days gone forever, the twilight of old age now upon him.
Suddenly, a great tremor shook heaven and earth. Ao Mang stared toward this side with cold and dispassionate eyes, advancing one step at a time. Killing intent fully unleashed, he fixed his gaze upon the Daoist of the Azure Phoenix and said: “My battle with you is not yet concluded!”
He intended to take advantage of the Old Madman and Cang Yan having taken the fight deep into the outer void — to first dispose of everything still remaining on this battlefield.
“Senior…” Ye Fan’s expression filled with worry.
The Daoist of the Azure Phoenix said: “His wounds are severe — whether he will even survive remains uncertain. Though I am old, stopping a Sacred Spirit in this condition is still within my ability.”
The great battle erupted once more!
The guide of the Human Race’s Tenth City, together with the Overlord Dragon Tuo Lan and others, joined forces and struck out — targeting the stone figure Lun Duo!
Ye Fan turned his gaze toward the ancient well, fixing it upon Mo Pu. With the fire spirit Cang Yan no longer standing guard, he strode forward, charging directly ahead and shouting: “You said that at the same realm, Sacred Spirits are invincible. Today, the human race will break that vaunted myth of yours — one Sacred Spirit after another!”
Mo Pu’s face was ashen and cold. “Your human race is incapable of it!”
“I have already slain one stone wolf, and one stone figure Ugu as well. Would you say capable or not? And if not — then I will shatter you next!” Ye Fan replied with cold indifference.