The island fell into absolute silence. Just who was this person? To face a Half-Saint with his true body while sending another Dao Body to confront Yao Guang — who would believe such a thing if spoken aloud?!

What an extraordinary feat, and yet the man standing before them had made precisely that choice, leaving everyone utterly stupefied, unable to utter a single word.

The atmosphere at the scene grew peculiar. After a brief silence, people finally began to speak, their emotions running extraordinarily high as one by one they clenched their fists.

“Incredibly bold — he actually dares to face Yao Guang and a Half-Saint alone. This is simply unbelievable.”

“But does he truly have such strength? His Dao Body challenging Yao Guang while his true body battles a Half-Saint — it sounds like a fairy tale!”

“I thought I misheard him. He actually dares to do this — does he truly believe himself to be the reincarnation of a Human Sovereign?”

“I thought the Sacred Physique had returned, but even that person might not possess this kind of combat power. This man’s spirit truly swallows mountains and rivers — what magnificent audacity!”

The crowd was shaken. Ye Fan’s dominance and imperious bearing were no empty boast — he truly dared to act on his words, and the people could scarcely bring themselves to believe it.

Yet Yao Guang did not accept the challenge. He shook his head and said, “You and I share neither acquaintance nor grudge. Why should we come to blows?”

“Just sparring.” Those four words were all Ye Fan offered.

“Our Sacred Master is not someone just anyone can challenge. You are nowhere near qualified — without renown or aura, you still fall far short. Only if the Sacred Physique were to return would it barely suffice.”

A young attendant standing behind Yao Guang spoke up, puffing out his cheeks. Feeling that Ye Fan’s intention to fight both their master and a Half-Saint alone was an insult to the Yao Guang lineage, he opened his mouth in mockery.

“I am speaking with your master. You would do well to stay quiet.” Ye Fan’s Dao Body smiled faintly. With a light tap of his finger, a streak of clear radiance shot out, and the attendant’s mouth opened and closed yet produced not a single sound.

“You—” A second attendant bristled with shock and fury, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes, yet he dared say nothing more.

“Who are you, that you dare affront the dignity of my master? You are far too presumptuous!” Eight hundred zhang away, Li Qingzhou shouted in a sharp rebuke, his body still convulsing even at this moment.

“Prattle,” Ye Fan said again, sweeping his hand forward in a dismissive wave.

Yao Guang’s eyes blazed with brilliance. “This Dao Brother is rather too overbearing!”

He extended his right arm, five fingers forming a seal — like a crane’s beak — carrying within it an inexplicable trace of the Dao. It swept through a cascade of flowing light and struck toward Ye Fan’s wrist.

Though it resembled the movement of an ordinary martial artist, it was in truth a manifestation of the Dao Fruit — a return to simplicity, fingers transformed into an immortal crane, bearing the air of harmony with the Dao, with ten thousand threads of Dao silk cascading down.

Boom!

Ye Fan’s gesture remained unchanged, as though he had transformed into a great Golden-Winged Peng — fierce as an eagle soaring through the vast sky — and the two collided, sending a ripple of divine rings radiating outward.

Rumble!

In that instant, Dao traces interwove across a span of a thousand zhang in every direction, strand upon strand of Order Divine Chains entwining together, like beautiful phoenix feathers threaded through the heavens.

Both men’s control was exquisitely refined. Though they could have slaughtered kings with ease, only a breath of clear wind was released — had they done otherwise, the entire island would have been reduced to dust and ash, with few survivors.

Li Qingzhou’s body shuddered and convulsed once more, sent flying exactly eight hundred zhang through the air — not one inch more or less — draining all color from his face, leaving him looking utterly wretched.

Yao Guang clasped his hands behind his back and fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, studying the man before him intently, making no move to strike again.

“Yao Guang, were you not about to make a move against this Emperor just now? Now that someone has come to challenge you in a duel, why do you shrink back?” The Black Emperor sneered coldly.

Everyone was astonished. They had all witnessed with their own eyes this mysterious powerhouse strike Yao Guang in the open sky just moments ago — not the slightest disadvantage to be seen — clearly possessing the strength to look down upon all heroes.

“Who is this person? His words were no idle boast, and he moved not to seize fame or position — he truly can fight Yao Guang!”

This left people feeling it was truly beyond comprehension. A peerless figure had appeared from nowhere, someone who could absolutely look down upon the Southern Region and sweep undefeated across a million li.

A great tide surged within everyone’s hearts, shaken to the core by the result of that single exchange.

Feng Huang, Ji Biyue, Li Youyou, and the others all revealed expressions of astonishment. It was difficult for them to imagine which powerhouse among the human race could hold their own against Yao Guang — at the very least, after certain individuals had departed, that was the state of the current age.

At this thought, both Feng Huang and Ji Biyue felt a tremor pass through their hearts. If someone had returned along the ancient starry road, perhaps such a thing might be possible.

Ye Fan’s Dao Body stood there, unshakeable as an ancient boulder that had endured since the beginning of time, hair dancing in the wind.

“Throughout my life, Yao Guang has never been weaker than another. Since you wish to spar, please reveal your true body — I will accompany you to the very end.” At last, Yao Guang spoke these words.

“No need. The Dao Body is sufficient.” The body formed of a stream of clear energy spoke calmly, then took the lead in departing from this island, striding in great steps toward the far reaches of the sky.

Whoosh — Whoosh —

Suddenly, a dense rain of light appeared in the sky, like countless flying swords descending in a blaze — dazzling and radiant, transforming into streaks of blinding divine brilliance!

The Half-Saint had arrived. The vital energy he brought with him transformed into a rain of holy light that poured down, like the Silver River of the Nine Heavens descending, its aura so oppressive that people felt their bodies on the verge of rupturing.

More than half of the people on the island collapsed, and many fell to their knees. They had no desire to do so, but this Pressure Aura caused their souls to tremble, and their bodies made the choice on instinct.

“The vital energy of a Saint!” The crowd cried out, expressions of alarm spreading across their faces, every heart shaken with terror.

“A Half-Saint — an undefeatable existence! Because one foot has already stepped into the domain of Saints, they can at times unleash saintly might. Even peak existences like Great Perfection Kings who face one have not the slightest chance — death is certain.”

“A Half-Saint has truly come!”

Terror gripped everyone’s hearts. This was a momentous event. In an age when Saints did not emerge, such beings were absolutely terrifying presences — and in all these years, no one had been heard to have achieved the Half-Saint realm.

The ancient clans were a different matter!

“This Seat has arrived, and you still wish to leave!” A massive black hand reached through the cloud layer in the sky, descending directly beneath the heavens, grasping toward Ye Fan’s Dao Body just as it was about to depart.

Rumble!

Mountains collapsed, seas roared, heaven fell and earth cracked — a wild and domineering aura erupted like a vast ocean exploding open. The surging tide swept through the entire expanse of heaven and earth. All living beings were like ants, completely submerged, able only to struggle desperately.

Countless people fell to the ground, their bodies trembling beyond their control. Against this overwhelming saintly might, there was not a shred of power to resist!

Yet at this very moment, a blazing radiance of the Dao burst forth — Ye Fan’s true body moved. In his hand appeared a black spear, slanted toward the southern sky, its tip thrusting upward toward the heavens!

Pft!

The massive black hand was composed of dark radiance — resilient and indestructible, capable of grinding Great Perfection Kings to nothing — yet beneath this astonishing thrust of the spear, it was pierced through, dissolving into black mist that scattered and dissipated in the air.

Even the leaden clouds were shattered apart, revealing once again the endless expanse of stars. Beneath the pure white moonlight, Ye Fan stood upon the island and declared: “And what of a Half-Saint?!”

Throughout this entire process, his Dao Body had not even turned its head, continuing on its own way, stepping forward and vanishing, paying absolutely no heed to what had transpired behind it.

The crowd was astonished, every mouth gaping wide. Many people had collapsed to the ground, pressed down by the saintly might, unable to move — and yet this man had blocked a Half-Saint’s strike!

It must be known that once the word “Saint” touches anything, a world of difference is opened. Even if a Great Perfection King were to come, they would still meet their end — the boundary was nearly impossible to cross.

A Great Perfection King stood upon the ninth minor step of the third tier of immortal cultivation, while a Half-Saint occupied a peculiar position — one foot having stepped into the fourth tier, the other still at the absolute pinnacle of the third tier. Though the distance was but a single step, it was a world-altering transformation, a gap beyond measure in Dao miles.

Saints transcend the scope of humanity — hence they are crowned with the word “Saint.” The transformation from King to Saint is like a fish leaping to become a true dragon: a fundamental change, a qualitative transformation!

Even another path-severing cultivator of breathtaking talent — supreme in all ages, possessing six Forbidden Zones or even seven, capable of fighting across six or seven minor realms — would be useless, suppressed by the “Saintly Domain Barrier,” unable to break through.

For even possessing seven Forbidden Zones or the like is merely an accumulation of quantitative change, and remains forever suppressed by the Saintly Domain. Even one who has achieved Great Perfection in the path-severing realm, bolstered by the power of seven Forbidden Zones, cannot break through the Saintly Domain Barrier — this is an eternal suppression that has stood unchanged since ancient times.

And yet Ye Fan was merely a path-severing cultivator, not a Half-Saint, and with a single spear thrust he had split open that massive hand, shattering all convention. How could anyone not be shaken?

Every single person was dumbstruck, unable to believe what they had witnessed. The expressions on their faces froze in place as they stood there gaping and speechless, hearts pounding violently, threatening to burst from their chests.

“Saints have departed from the scope of humanity. The Saintly Domain Barrier separates the realms of Saint and King like heaven and earth — even possessing seven Forbidden Zones would be rendered useless. Before this unbridgeable chasm, one can only come to a humiliating end. How did he manage it?!”

Feng Huang murmured in stunned disbelief. This was the reason Saints stood so far above all else. If one could not reach that realm, no matter how brilliant they were it would avail nothing — the Saintly Domain would hold them firmly suppressed, unable to defy the heavens.

Every single person was shaken. Ji Biyue, Li Qingzhou, the Purple-Robed Marquis, and all the others revealed expressions of shock — someone had shattered the myth, capable of withstanding a Half-Saint!

“Could Yao Guang do this?” someone murmured quietly. This mysterious figure was far too breathtaking, leaving people nearly breathless.

At this moment, only one person remained calm — Ji Zi. He was still seated alone in a corner, silently watching all of this unfold without a word.

“I don’t believe it. It is absolutely impossible to defy the natural order and challenge a Half-Saint!” someone declared.

The Saintly Domain Barrier — it was a chasm, a myth, something utterly unbreakable. It reduced everyone who could fight across realms back to their base level, suppressing all such ability into uselessness. No number of “Forbidden Zones” would make a difference.

“He withstood it — can Yao Guang do the same?” Again someone said this, their voice trembling.

“If he can do it, then my master certainly can!” Li Qingzhou clenched his fist. Whether these were words spoken out of wounded pride or genuine conviction, none could say.

The moonlight hung like thin smoke, draping over the entire island. Ye Fan’s true body stood beneath the open sky, silver moonlight spilling down over his form, his expression resolute and unyielding, one hand gripping the dark-gold spear, pointing it toward the heavens without a trace of fear.

“It’s him — the one who challenged all eighteen strongholds of the Celestial Emperor’s Son. He has been among us all along!”

At last, the crowd recognized him through that black-gold spear. Every storm had originated from him — it was for his sake that the Celestial Emperor’s Son would lead the descendants of the Eight Divine Generals southward.

When the people learned the truth, many nearly fainted on the spot. This murder god had been among them this entire time, right there on the island, and they had remained completely oblivious until this very moment.

Rumble!

The scene erupted like a pot of boiling water — a surge of noise and chaos. Every person’s confusion fell away at once. How could someone who had raised their blade against the Celestial Emperor’s Son possibly be ordinary? No wonder they showed no fear of Yao Guang, and now sought to battle a Half-Saint.

“When facing a Half-Saint, no matter how many ‘Forbidden Zones’ one possesses for cross-realm combat, all will be rendered ineffective. It is said that even possessing the legendary eight Forbidden Zones makes it extremely difficult to break through the barrier — at best one can preserve oneself.”

“This person is not a Half-Saint — they must therefore possess the power of eight Forbidden Zones!”

“To break through the myth of ten thousand ages and shatter the Saintly Domain Barrier, only the legendary Divine Forbidden passed down through the ancients would suffice — yet that exists only in myth!”

In the sky, the leaden clouds had fully dispersed. The silhouette of a person of average build stood there, one with heaven and earth, pulsing in rhythm with the Great Dao, releasing strand upon strand of saintly might.

Without question, this was an ancient clan member. His outward appearance suggested a man in his mid-forties, powerfully built, black hair disheveled and draped over his shoulders, eyes containing within them the image of star domains being carved open — soul-shaking in their intensity!

A Half-Saint — a true Half-Saint.

In his left hand he held a black-gold ancient shield; in his right, a blood-colored war spear. He took one step down from the heavens and struck toward Ye Fan!

Clang!

Ye Fan was fearless, charging upward against the heavens. The black spear in his hand traced a profound and mysterious arc — dark light exploded outward, clashing against the crimson war spear.

Sparks flew in all directions, the ringing clash deafening, nearly shattering the divine souls of all those present. A storm raged across this entire expanse!

Ye Fan had actually withstood a Half-Saint and entered into full-scale battle with him. The black spear met the war spear strike for strike, ringing out like the singing of divine swords — as though the very gods were harmonizing with the Dao!