How long had the Desolation Pagoda existed? Tracing back through the vast ages, where did its origins lie? This ancient artifact was far too mysterious.
The Immortal Bell was equally strange—to think it had been born in Kunlun, containing the mysteries of ten thousand heavens, unfathomable to gods and demons alike. And the Emperor-Sovereign’s jade bronze cauldron had also come into being in Kunlun, bearing imprinted upon it the fragments of immortal ascension.
White mist drifted and flowed at knee height. The ancient continent was abuzz with noise and commotion, as people marveled at so many things from the past. The mythological age was far too remote, leaving behind countless unsolved riddles.
The hostile atmosphere within the Heavenly Palace eased. The Kunlun Legacy Clan put away the black Human Emperor Seal and made no further moves. The many great saints took their seats once again, consulting with one another on various rules and orders to be established in response to the opening of the immortal path.
“If immortal ascension becomes universal, there is nothing to be said. But if there is a time limit and only some can set foot in the immortal domain, then only a battle can determine the outcome.”
“I propose that those with the inheritance of imperial weapons be allocated more positions—ensuring their path remains unimpeded.”
“On what grounds?!” Someone immediately objected. Not every great saint present possessed an ancient weapon of the extreme path. In truth, even searching across ten thousand realms, only a precious few possessed such things—the number of ancient great emperors who had ever existed could be counted on one’s fingers.
“On the grounds of strength, naturally. Otherwise, let you and I each take our ancient artifacts beyond the domain for a bout—and see how it concludes for you.” The old patriarch of the Blood Phoenix Mountain said coldly. He held an ancient imperial weapon, while the other held only a saint weapon passed down through generations.
Would such a contest have any suspense? Without a doubt, it would be entirely one-sided. No miracle would occur.
Within the Central Heavenly Palace, everything was so nakedly direct. With immortality at stake, the great saints sat down to negotiate, and every one of them was at loggerheads—each thinking only of their own clan’s interests.
Faced with such brutal reality, every advantage had to be fought for. At a moment like this, to be high-minded and magnanimous would only be considered foolishness. Securing the greatest possible benefits for one’s own clan was what truly mattered.
“Having an imperial weapon makes you superior? Once our clan produces a quasi-emperor, everything will change—even imperial weapons may well change hands!” A God-Devouring Rat said with cold menace.
This great saint was unusual—it had not transformed into a human form. With fearsome fangs and gleaming green eyes, it was a silver divine rat. Its entire body seemed to have silver flames burning across it, blazing and resplendent—as large as a great elephant.
“Is that so? To date, only the human race has produced a single quasi-emperor. We await the arrival of your great emperor!” Someone replied icily, entirely unmoved.
“This old one also believes that dividing the positions on the immortal path based on whether one possesses an imperial weapon is inappropriate. They should be allocated by race,” a Pixiu spoke, exhaling clouds of mist as it transformed into its ancestral dragon form—a sight that was truly terrifying.
“Everyone, let us first set aside these disputes. Establishing laws is not a distribution of spoils—let us first address the dire situation currently at hand,” someone else spoke up.
“Quite right. At present, the Northern Dipper is in tumult. The way things stand, before the immortal path even opens, this great land may already be struck and sunk. Some framework is indeed needed. Certain destabilizing elements ought to be removed—such as the human race’s Holy Body, who kills Golden Crows and destroys Mount Sumeru. Such dangerous troublemakers are forever stirring up conflict. Should we not suppress him? I believe it is truly necessary—what do you all think?” An old crone addressed as “Granny Feng” opened her mouth, her face covered in wrinkles so deep they could trap grains of rice in their folds. Her words carried a sinister, eerie quality—clearly not a person to be trifled with.
When she had finished speaking, she glanced at the Great Peacock Bright King, then at the Golden Crow great saint. It was apparent she wished to form a united front.
Human hearts are difficult to fathom, and sometimes exceedingly treacherous—and easily swayed. With this many great saints seated here, if she could truly convince a few—especially the great clans with ancient imperial weapons—then perhaps the Holy Body of the human race truly could be destroyed.
Unfortunately, the Great Peacock Bright King’s face was expressionless, and he said not a single word.
In truth, she did want to send Ye Fan into the afterlife—but through that battle, she understood that shaking several imperial weapons was no easy matter. It was a powerful alliance!
Moreover, the old monk Mo Ke had been dragged away by that wild monk and made into his protective dharma king. With or without cause, he always ended up cleaning up after him, for the wild monk believed this to be a miraculous Buddhist reincarnation.
The Golden Crow great saint’s expression was dark and cold. He naturally had to make his position clear. With sinister iciness, he said, “The Holy Body of the human race is arrogant and domineering—as all can see. This villain acts without restraint, with ruthless and vicious methods. He has slaughtered members of our Golden Crow lineage and even attacked the doctrinal inheritance of Great Emperor Amitabha. What use is there in keeping such a reckless ruffian? Let us all hunt him down and be done with it!”
“Your clan has provoked us again and again—do you truly wish to be exterminated?” At that very moment, the Ancient Golden Peng appeared with a thunderous boom, and a shake of its wings sent two stone coffins sliding forward, landing before Granny Feng and the Golden Crow great saint.
Long Ma also appeared, carrying a slaying sword on its back. Though the sword remained unsheathed, its killing aura was pervasive—as though it truly could slay immortals!
Ye Fan was surprised. They had been gone for a very long time—could they have been tempering the sword’s killing aura? Within the scabbard, it seemed as though there truly was a terrifying weapon of great evil, and it thoroughly intimidated everyone present.
“Then shall we step outside for a while?” A young man from the Golden Crow clan stood up. He had been silent until now, yet he was entirely composed and unruffled.
This person possessed an exceptional bearing—clad in golden feathered robes, powerful as a dragon, his posture upright, with a head of golden hair and eyes that flickered with brilliant radiance.
Everyone’s hearts lurched. Even in the face of imperial weapons, he was unfazed. What did he have to rely upon? His identity was clearly extraordinary.
“This is our clan’s Crown Prince Huaizun, of this generation,” the old saint introduced him.
“We are merely consulting here—exchanging views. Today, it would be best if no one resorts to violence. Everyone, please be seated and talk it through.” A great saint stepped in to smooth things over, urging both sides to stand down.
“A mere defective imperial weapon—when our clan’s great emperor arrives, no external object will matter at all!” The Golden Crow elder’s face was dark as standing water, and he spoke with cold malice.
The Golden Crow clan has a quasi-emperor!
There had always been this rumor, and now that he had made such a declaration, it was likely not false. This caused everyone’s backs to rise with a chill. Once one attained the quasi-emperor realm, everything would be entirely different—they would be utterly invincible!
So much as touching the word “emperor” set one apart from a great saint as heaven from earth. This was a chasm that could not be crossed—seeking to move against an emperor was simply impossible!
Such a figure, if driven to fury, could kill even those with imperial weapons in their hands. You could not keep the weapon continuously activated—if they resolved to kill you, there would be opportunities aplenty.
One must know—in the past, when the old great saint who had the nine phantom aura’s blood energy was exhausted and his body aged and withered, he could still contend without relying on his imperial weapon against a peak great saint of an ancient clan who wielded a golden mace. How astounding and world-shaking was that?
Thus, once the Golden Crow elder’s words concluded, everyone’s hearts lurched with fear. Making an enemy of the Golden Crow lineage at this juncture would bring catastrophic consequences in the future.
Nevertheless, the Ancient Golden Peng, Long Ma, and the others remained fearless. They found a table and sat down, transforming into human forms—and every great saint there was wary of the slaying sword they carried on their backs.
Before much more time had passed, the peculiar atmosphere dissipated, and the Heavenly Palace fell back into heated debate. The powerful figures of every clan spoke entirely from the standpoint of their own interests, crafting their laws and rules accordingly.
At the Central Celestial Tower, all present were either clan masters or great saints and above. Even the least among them were Saint Kings. Ordinary saints could only listen from outside the hall and voice opinions, for too many had come from ten thousand realms across all the heavens.
Before long, Jiang Yifei stepped out, entrusting the matter of establishing the rules and order to an old saint of the Jiang clan, leaving that person behind to negotiate.
Refined and jade-like, transcendent above the masses—especially after having just confronted the Kunlun Legacy Clan wielding the Human Emperor Seal, his imposing authority was formidable. His appearance at this moment naturally drew all eyes.
Many young women’s eyes shone with admiration as they whispered among themselves, their assessments of Jiang Yifei exceedingly high. Even if he truly was not an Emperor’s Son, it seemed he would lose nothing by that fact.
Then Feng Huang also walked out. With so many great saints locked in confrontation within the hall, their words clashing like drawn blades, the atmosphere was far too oppressive—she too had temporarily withdrawn.
She wore a five-colored mask, wreathed in a stream of divine radiance—like an immortal draped in a veil of mystery. Slender and graceful in bearing, she stood amid the clouds with a beauty beyond all compare, drawing eyes to follow her.
Upon this ancient continent, mist and haze drifted everywhere. The palace towers appeared dreamlike and ethereal, as though veiled in gossamer silk. Those among the younger generation of powerful figures were all outside, not having gone to the great hall.
“Brother Jiang, I have long admired your name—seeing you in person exceeds what one has heard of you.” Not far away, a young man clad in silver armor rose to his feet. The battle robes upon him gleamed like leaping flames, full of heroic spirit.
Beside him stood a woman—with spirit like autumn waters and bones like fine jade, dressed in rosy-cloud garments, ethereally pure as an immortal. Standing together, the two made a perfect pair, like matched jade.
They were none other than the saint spirit who had flesh and blood, and the Moon Spirit Princess of the Nine Li Imperial Dynasty. Both now rose and stepped forward to greet him.
“You are too kind, Brother,” Jiang Yifei smiled, and at the same time he greeted Moon Spirit Princess—one of the most beautiful women under heaven.
“Brother Jiang’s bearing rivals that of a young great emperor. I was fortunate enough once to see an ancient painting—a portrait of the Eternal Universe Sovereign. When I laid eyes on you, I truly thought the great emperor had been reborn.”
The saint spirit with flesh and blood invited Jiang Yifei to sit at a stone table, had someone bring a cup of divine brew, and introduced himself, stating openly that he was a saint spirit from beyond the domain, by the name of Shi Zhongxuan.
Jiang Yifei, Shi Zhongxuan, and Moon Spirit Princess sitting together—three such figures could not fail to draw attention, and with the Heavenly Palace’s exterior packed with people, they were naturally the focus of countless eyes.
“The Wind Clan’s princess has also come out. I have long heard of her—they say that from the age of thirteen she was capable of creating extraordinary secret arts, and not long ago she broke the enigma of her clan’s ancestral stele and its immortal scripture. Truly a remarkable woman.”
Not far away, someone whispered.
Moon Spirit Princess rose to her feet and invited Feng Huang over, and she too sat at the stone table. Together they discussed the Dao and spoke of ancient matters.
In a moment, more than a dozen people had taken seats there—every one of them outstanding, all supreme figures among their clans. Most came from beyond the domain, from different races.
“Shall we invite a few more fellow Daoists of the younger generation?” Shi Zhongxuan smiled. Though the divine blood within him was suppressed, he still caused those around him to feel an immense pressure, deterring them from drawing too close.
“Hmm—Crown Prince Huaizun of the Golden Crow clan has also come out. Shall we invite him over as well?”
The Golden Crow clan’s Crown Prince was calm in expression. When he saw those on this side wave him over and beckon an invitation, he used his Celestial Eye to observe—and his heart immediately sharpened, for there was not a single mediocre person among them. He strode over with large steps.
“The Golden Crow clan inherits the great fortune of heaven and earth, and from ancient times to the present has flourished without cease. They are called divine birds, dwelling within the sun in the sky, said to be sons of the Celestial Emperor—their legends are boundless, inspiring all who hear of them.” Someone lamented.
It was said that the Golden Crow clan were descendants of the Celestial Emperor, with supreme treasured blood flowing through their veins—this was the reason that clan could be so incomparably powerful.
Many people turned their gazes this way, hoping Crown Prince Huaizun would shed light on the truth.