The Sunset Glow Plains fell absolutely silent. No one had expected Ye Fan to dare challenge an Ancestral King directly — utterly fearless, meeting him thrust for thrust.

“Human Race’s Holy Body — you have not yet grown into your power, and yet your arrogance is already this great?” The Ancestral King in the purple-gold crown made no effort to conceal his intention to strike.

The night sky was scattered with stars. Darkness had long since fallen. The great battle had ended — yet the situation had grown even more tense. Saints stood locked in a confrontation.

“It is not arrogance on my part — it is you who has gone too far. A fair duel concluded its course, yet here you are forcing your way in. What exactly are you trying to accomplish?” Ye Fan demanded loudly.

“Your courage is admirable — but your actual strength still falls short.” The Ancestral King in the purple-gold crown finished speaking, then radiance erupted from his entire body. This time he had come prepared. He pressed forward toward Ye Fan.

In truth, Ye Fan very much wished to make his move — to burn everything clean with a single blaze of fire. He might not be able to incinerate his opponent outright, but he could certainly inflict severe damage, for those flames were domineering beyond compare.

But before he could act, a beam of extreme radiance came hurtling from the distance, cracking like thunderclaps, blazing and brilliant — slashing toward the purple-gold crown Ancestral King, carrying within it the might of thunder and lightning. Even someone as powerful as a Saint could not evade it.

“A human-shaped bolt of lightning!”

Someone cried out in astonishment. This was a white-robed figure whose entire body was wreathed in crackling arcs of electricity — light streaming from every inch, swathed in dazzling lightning, like a bolt of thunder descending from the ninth heaven.

Boom!

The human-shaped white radiance flashed, one enormous foot lifting and stamping down upon the Ancestral King in the purple-gold crown. The impact caused him to vomit a great mouthful of blood on the spot, and he crashed down into the dust.

“The Divine King!” Ye Fan cried out in surprise.

“A fair duel has reached its conclusion, yet you press and bully without cease — what do you take the Jasper Pond peace talks for?” The figure of Jiang Taixu materialized here, fused with the arcing electricity — mysterious and unfathomable.

In the distance, many faces changed color. This was a Saint’s technique — his true body was very likely tens of thousands of li away. What stood here was a manifestation conjured from the concentrated essence of heaven and earth.

“You—” The Ancestral King in the purple-gold crown’s expression changed. Finding himself in such a sorry state filled him with thunderous fury. But when he lifted his gaze and saw it was Jiang Taixu, he forcibly swallowed whatever words he had been about to say.

At the Jasper Pond battle, the Divine King Jiang had left corpses and rivers of blood in his wake, sweeping all before him without opposition. He had made all the kings wary of him to the extreme. Who among them would dare confront him alone? He truly possessed the bearing of one who stands undefeated.

No one had anticipated that at this critical moment, the peerless Divine King would manifest a strand of his avatar here, to stand in protection of Ye Fan. It caused every single person present to change their expression.

“Among peers — even if a fully accomplished King-tier came to make trouble for him, I would not intervene. But you, a full-fledged Ancestral King, making your move after they have completed a fair duel — what is the meaning of that?” The Divine King boomed, his voice filled with supreme authority as he looked down at the Ancestral King below.

Boom!

The Sunset Glow Plains erupted into an uproar. Everyone was stunned. First the Mysterious Tortoise, a Demon Saint, had manifested. Then the Saint of the Heavenly Pivot Stone Workshop had stepped forward. And now even the peerless Divine King had arrived — all of them standing up for Ye Fan.

“Saints shall not display their divine powers — this was a consensus reached not long ago. If you wish to break it, I have nothing more to say — but you will certainly be the first I come looking for.” Jiang Taixu’s white robes snapped in the wind. Without sparing another glance at the Ancestral King crumpled in the dust, he dissolved back into the primal energy of heaven and earth and vanished.

“Let us call it a day and bring everything to a close — what do you say? I trust in the magnanimity of the Primordial Lake’s fellow Dao-friends.” The elderly Saint of the Heavenly Pivot Stone Workshop said.

The eyes of the Primordial Lake’s Ancestral King flickered with undecipherable emotions. He felt no gratitude toward the purple-gold crown Ancestral King. If it truly came to open warfare, there was no question that it would be his clan who bore the brunt of it and led the charge — when an imperial bloodline went to war, that was an earth-shattering matter.

“Fellow Dao-friend, it seems you are not particularly pleased with me.” The Ancestral King in the purple-gold crown’s eyes flashed as he rose from the dust, his face burning with humiliation.

The people of the Primordial Lake remained cold and indifferent, offering no response. The white-haired Ancestral King’s divine sword between his brows flickered briefly and vanished back within his Immortal Platform. He swept his robe sleeves and said: “We leave.”

“Fellow Dao-friend, what is the meaning of this? I was standing up for you — I was prepared to go to war with a Human Race Saint on your behalf.” The Ancestral King in the purple-gold crown said, then his eyes gleamed with cold light.

“Are you certain you wish to make your move?” The elderly Saint of the Heavenly Pivot Stone Workshop took one step forward. In an instant, waves of energy rippled outward, spreading like rings on still water.

Boom!

He had not unleashed any fierce assault — yet that single, unremarkable step made every heart clench in terror. A proud, supreme Ancestral King flew backward like a scarecrow, crashing into the dust for a second time.

“You—!” The Ancestral King in the purple-gold crown was struck with wide-eyed shock — followed by inexplicable dread. He clambered to his feet, his face iron-grey. Today, he had completely humiliated himself.

The other ancient clan powerhouses were left thoroughly chilled from head to toe. This wizened, utterly decrepit-looking Human Race Saint was truly terrifying. What level of cultivation was this? Without question, he was not beneath the White-Robed Divine King.

“Wei Yi — the unchanging!” An elderly Human Race cultivator in the crowd sighed softly. Through careful cross-referencing against ancient records, he had guessed the Heavenly Pivot Saint’s identity: one of the legendary Three Heroes of the Heavenly Pivot from an earlier era — the youngest martial-brother of that madman elder.

“What?! A martial-brother of a Grand Saint — or even a Near-Emperor?!” Once those words were spoken, they triggered an explosion of commotion. Even the ancient clan members were left thunderstruck. The origins of this old man were terrifying beyond reckoning.

Wei Yi — a name that had vanished for six thousand years — was branded anew onto every person’s heart. Though the Heavenly Pivot had fallen in name, from this day forward it only inspired deeper reverence.

“Enough of this — it was nothing more than a fair duel. Why stir up further waves? Even the Primordial Lake’s fellow Dao-friends have chosen to let it pass — why do the rest of you carry on like this? An era of peace comes at great cost and should not be lightly squandered.” From the far end of the horizon, the Nine Phoenix King’s voice carried down from the ancient carriage pulled by the nine Primordial Ferocious Beasts.

People were all left dumbstruck. No one had expected him to speak those words. With a figure of such magnitude having opened his mouth, who would dare press for further conflict?

“Holy Body of the Human Race — the Great Saint Huntuo has asked me to convey his gratitude to you. Should you find yourself at leisure, you are welcome to visit the Sky Workshop whenever you please. No one will obstruct you.” The Nine Phoenix King said, his voice resonating through the vast sky. The nine Primordial Ferocious Beasts pulled the imperial carriage and disappeared beyond the horizon.

The various ancient clan powerhouses were left even more astonished — one after another, their mouths fell agape. What was the meaning of this? Was even the Great Saint Huntuo extending his protection to the Human Race’s Holy Body?

Ye Fan smiled bitterly. That ancient dragon loach — capable of extending one’s lifespan by eight hundred years — he had no way of knowing whether a great calamity might arise from it in the future. A Grand Saint capable of obliterating half an ancient star with a single raised hand was enough to make anyone tremble.

The starry sky blazed brilliantly. Moonlight cascaded down like thin mist, draping across Ye Fan’s body, making him appear transcendent and otherworldly. The gazes of ten thousand peoples converged upon him — he had become the sole focal point.

Without question, in this one battle, the Human Race’s Holy Body had shaken all under heaven. He had defeated a descendant of the Ancient Emperor and slain the most powerful Dao-severing cultivator of the younger generation — a figure with the greatest momentum of all. On the road to the Great Emperor, he had taken his most steadfast step forward.

Yao Guang the Holy Son, Yan Ruyu, Huang Xu Dao, Huo Qizi, the Jasper Pond Holy Maiden, the Primal King, Shencan the Daoist, the Purple Palace Holy Maiden, the Celestial Emperor’s Child — one after another, they all turned to look. Some had eyes as deep and unfathomable as the starry sky. Some had irises shimmering with strange light. Others wore expressions completely blank. Still others showed killing intent laid utterly bare. Every one was different.

The younger generation strove for supremacy. Who could say how many more would fall before this age was done? On the road of proving one’s Dao, there was no right or wrong — only mercilessness and brutality, pressing forward through the blood and bones of countless divine heirs, until in the end only one could stand at the absolute pinnacle.

“All of them have the hope of proving their Dao. Truly, these people should not have been born into the same age. Had they been born in separate eras, every single one would have been destined to shine brilliantly, leaving their names echoing for a thousand generations.”

“Yet opportunities are fleeting — the path to immortality may very well open in this very age. Who would be willing to miss it? And perhaps some Emperor-heirs have yet to die.”

From the shadows, two elderly Ancestral Kings murmured quietly to each other, then disappeared without a sound, vanishing entirely from sight.

After that night, all under heaven was shaken. The Five Domains erupted into an uproar. Word of Yuangu’s defeat and death at the hands of the Human Race’s Holy Body spread to every corner of that ancient star.

The battle that had commanded the world’s attention came to a close — its impact enormous, spreading through every sect and teaching. Even from within the Great Thunder Sound Temple, the sound of a Buddhist chant rang out, as the Victorious-in-Battle Sacred Buddha personally inquired about the outcome of that battle.

When the news spread, the bell tones of every ancient temple in the Western Wilderness drifted long and slow, and countless aged monks intoned a single utterance of “Amitabha.”

In the Southern Ridge, the Northern Plains, the Central Land, and the Eastern Wasteland, in every major sacred ground and every undying Emperor Palace, people were in discussion. The Human Race’s Holy Body had grown — he was now an unstoppable force.

If he did not fall, even constrained by the nature of his constitution and unable to prove his Dao, he could still, in time, stand equal to the Great Emperors of antiquity — ruling all under heaven for ten thousand years, becoming an uncrowned king.

This battle had reverberated across all the ancient clans, making them truly realize: the Human Race had changed. It could now coexist alongside them as equals. The name Ye Fan spread through every tribe and clan.

In the Divine City, within the Heavenly Pivot Stone Workshop, the water above the fire stove had already come to a boil. Ye Fan placed three leaves of Enlightenment Tea into the pot, and instantly an intoxicating fragrance filled the air, curling tendrils of tea aroma rising into the atmosphere.

This time, it was not a matter of casually drinking a Saint’s tea. He had purchased these three leaves of divine tea at an outrageous price at the Heavenly Demon Precious Tower’s auction — solely as an expression of gratitude to the elderly Saint Wei Yi for his protection.

“What a wonderful fragrance…” A group of people sat gathered around, all having come to mooch a cup — including Pang Bo, Li Tian, the Monkey, Li Heishui, and others.

Duan De was sensible enough not to show his face. He had once wandered through the Heavenly Pivot Sacred Ground’s burial grounds and dug up a buried treasure there. The saying “a thief has a guilty conscience” described his situation precisely.

“The Immortal Palace…” Ye Fan set down his teacup. As he listened to Pang Bo recount his experiences, he sank into contemplative thought.

Pang Bo, with nowhere to turn as pursuers drove him to the edge of destruction, had fled toward the vicinity of a desolate ancient forbidden zone and stumbled into an Immortal Palace, where he had encountered a stroke of considerable good fortune. At the same time, he had discovered traces left behind by an old acquaintance.

“Zhou Yi and the others entered the Immortal Palace and found great fortune. I came across certain clues and traces.”

“Lin Jia may be in the Southern Domain. She once left me a message inscribed on a wall. I want to go see for myself how she is now.” Ye Fan gazed toward the south.

The Human Race’s Holy Body had appeared in the Divine City. All parties watched with close attention, even the ancient clan beings retreating and giving way. Among the younger generation, there were now few who did not hold him in awe — who among them would dare contend against him?

Ever since slaying Yuangu, Ye Fan’s name had risen like the sun at its zenith. Wherever he passed, figures at the level of sect masters clasped their hands in respectful salute. He received honorable treatment everywhere he went, possessing the prestige and intimidating force to dominate an entire region.

On this day, Yuanshi and Tongtiandaoren appeared together in the Divine City, sitting and waiting for the Celestial Emperor’s Child to show himself so they could claim their wagered stake — the heart of an Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. Yet they waited at length without anyone appearing.

“Celestial Emperor’s Child — a person is nothing without integrity. Please deliver my Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree heart at the earliest opportunity.” Pang Bo transformed himself into a giant loudspeaker, shouting this in the name of the Heavenly Way Daoist throughout the entire Divine City — hollering for the better part of an entire day.

“I, Yuanshi Daoist, have full confidence in the character of the Celestial Emperor’s Child, fellow Dao-friend. I shall come to collect my wagered stake in due time. I only hope that ‘due time’ does not stretch too far into the distant future.” At last, Ye Fan declared aloud that he was unwilling to wait any longer — he wished to make his way to the Southern Domain as quickly as possible to get to the bottom of things.

On that day, they crossed the void and descended into the Southern Domain — but upon asking a great many people, none had ever heard of any place called the Feather Transformation Immortal Valley. It was entirely unknown.

“Why not go and ask at the big-eyed girl’s home? Isn’t her family in the Southern Domain?” The Monkey suggested. He himself was clearly quite restless and energetic, yet sometimes he liked to adopt the manner of a wise elder, calling Ji Ziyue “the big-eyed girl.”

“Right — let’s inquire at the Ji Family.” Li Tian nodded, very eager to set foot in the clan that had once produced an ancient Great Emperor.

Ye Fan, Pang Bo, the Monkey, the Black Emperor, and the rest of their group crossed the void and arrived at the banks of the Ji River. On the opposite shore stood the ancient clan of deep and immemorial heritage — the Ji Family.

Boom!

At the Ji Family, clouds and mist swelled and surged. The great gates of the celestial palace suspended in the air swung open, and many of the Ji Family’s most important figures came forward in person to welcome them inside.

Among those who came were the family head who was on the verge of stepping down into seclusion, as well as various living fossils and elders. Such treatment was not something just anyone could receive — it was extraordinarily rare.

What a difference from before. When Ye Fan had first come to this place in earlier days, he had been nothing more than a small-time cultivator — one whom people clamored to beat and kill on sight. Today, he stood as an equal to the heads of great sects, revered from all four directions.

“Little Ye Fan, have you come to see me?” Ji Ziyue smiled with radiant delight from within the crowd, her bright eyes dancing — the small dimples in her cheeks appearing, lively and enchanting.

Ye Fan smiled and said that he had.

In the past, certain elders of the Ji Family would certainly have made their displeasure known, refusing to allow Ji Ziyue to grow too close to Ye Fan. Now, however, everything had completely changed. Even the stubborn faction among them was happy to witness this scene. Even some of the most ancient and long-lived among them stroked their beards with contented smiles.

“This river is called the Ji River — exactly as it is described in the historical records from the other side of the starry sky,” Pang Bo muttered under his breath, asking Ye Fan beside him.

“I asked Ziyue about it — she didn’t know.” Ye Fan replied.

“Oh? You are saying there is also a Ji River on the other end of the starry sky? Could it be the mysterious land once inhabited by our clan’s Void Emperor?” A certain old antique of the Ji Family’s ears twitched into action, achieving something like the hearing of the wind, and caught their murmured exchange.

“What?!” Both Ye Fan and Pang Bo cried out in astonishment.