A sheet of golden ripples spread outward — like a golden meteor falling from beyond the heavens, striking an endless ocean and sending waves surging to ravage the land.

This was the “Om” celestial sound. It contained the great compassion and great wisdom of the cosmos — its might boundless, capable of slaying demons and subduing evil. Unrivaled in the world.

What no one had expected was that Ye Fan’s mouth also gave forth a quiet shout — equally vast and boundless, shaking the primordial chaos until it churned and rolled, as though reverting to the age of the Tai Chu.

This celestial sound struck directly at the origin, shaking the mind and spirit. It too was golden ripples, rapidly spreading outward — and it collided with Ku Ci’s “Om” syllable sound.

A perfect standoff!

All the elderly monks were stunned, nearly mistaking Ye Fan for a reincarnated Buddha. He appeared to possess an extraordinarily pure Buddhist divine technique.

“What kind of sound technique is this — to achieve the same result as the ‘Om’ syllable sound, matching its effect and identical in divine ability?!”

This was of course also the “Om” celestial sound — only transformed by Ye Fan through the Battle Saint Art. The nature of the great momentum remained unchanged, the divine ability undiminished, the effect equivalent.

The golden vibrations clashed violently. This was a great confrontation of “Om” celestial sounds — like two sheets of golden ocean breaking their banks, then charging toward each other and colliding.

Naturally there were ten thousand crashing waves and towering billows striking the clouds, submerging the Nalanda Temple entirely. Were it not for ancient formations standing guard, nothing of this place would have survived.

All the monks retreated in the first instant, sheltering behind the ancient structures. This manner of confrontation between the highest Buddhist mastery and its impact — no one dared to stand within the “storm.”

The two in combat — this was a catastrophe. Sound waves transformed into swords and then into bells, striking throughout this place, sweeping out cracks across an entire world.

Dong…

Ten thousand golden Buddhist swords came slashing down. Even as strong as Ye Fan was, he could not block them all. Two manifestations of the “Om” celestial sound clashed differently and merged into an ocean of boundless Dao.

Every pore of his body shone with light, resisting this assault. He collided with ten thousand Buddhist swords, shuddering violently.

Ku Ci fared worse still — his body rocking again and again, Dao marks sweeping past him, cutting a trail of bloodied lines across his Indestructible Vajra Body, sending him retreating continuously as golden sword waves struck him.

Dong!

Most fearsome of all was the great bell condensed from the “Om” celestial sound — disregarding distance, it swiftly covered the opponent, shaking the eight directions until they nearly collapsed.

Ye Fan stood in the void, facing this Buddhist bell as his body shuddered. The entire bell formed from the “Om” celestial sound enveloped him, ringing without cease.

Dong!

Ye Fan activated the “Soldier” Character Technique. Even the great bell formed from the “Om” celestial sound was partially brought under his control — rendered difficult to vibrate within, nearly imprisoned.

Crack!

He forcefully shook his arm. The golden palm struck the Buddhist bell, and the sound of the universe’s primordial birth rang out — cracking and shattering apart in all directions, golden fragments scattered everywhere, as he broke free.

On the other side, Ku Ci had sustained damage. Though he possessed the Indestructible Vajra Body, under the supreme assault of the highest Buddhist art, his body had nevertheless cracked. He barely shattered the bell, breaking free.

The confrontation of “Om” celestial sounds — and the one from outside the Buddhist faith had gained the upper hand. The people of the Nalanda Temple were all stunned.

“How have the secrets of Buddhism been mastered by him — to such a degree? This is no mere superficial imitation — he clearly has grasped its very essence!”

“Ku Ci the Arhat’s true body has been wounded!”

The assembled monks all drew sharp breaths. Aside from the Human Sacred Body, who else could be imagined? Only he could endure such an assault — his body more formidable than the Indestructible Vajra Body.

“Amitabha. Lay Patron, your cultivation is truly profound. But this old monk is not yet defeated.” Ku Ci said.

He pressed his palms together, reciting a sacred incantation. His dignified form radiated light as the Indestructible Vajra Body shone — the golden surface glittering as his wounds healed.

Pah!

He suddenly let out a great roar — another celestial sound of the Buddhist faith, one of boundless presence. Everything became different at once. All that was perceived turned into illusion.

A vast cosmos opened, enveloping them both within it, placing them in the midst of a sea of stars.

If the “Om” celestial sound was an offensive divine technique — representing the means of demon-subjugation, a sharp and fierce assault — then the “Pah” celestial sound represented a great momentum, akin to a formation, and carried the power to open the heavens and split the earth.

As this syllable sounded, it opened the secrets of the universe’s birth, restoring the world to its true form, touching the power of origins. Setting all else aside, by this great momentum alone, an enemy could be slowly ensnared to death.

Ye Fan looked closely and found himself standing in a sea of stars, with the elderly monk Ku Ci across a galaxy from him — silver light brilliant and dazzling, cutting across the path ahead.

They seemed to stand at opposite ends of a star domain, gazing at each other from afar. Whatever divine technique he employed, it could not cross the gap. They could only regard each other.

And this was only the initial taste of the “Pah” celestial sound. Since it held the wondrous use of opening the cosmos and gathering the momentum of heaven and earth — akin to a formation arising naturally — it naturally had methods for suppressing and slaying enemies.

Pah!

The opposing Ku Ci let out another great shout. Within the separated star domain, a brilliant divine gate surged upward and flew toward Ye Fan — seeking to absorb him.

Within the “Pah” celestial sound lay the Gate of Reincarnation — capable of absorbing a person, forcing them into the cycle of rebirth, sending them on to the next life. Prettily put, it was ascending to the Pure Land paradise. Bluntly put, it ground you to death.

Dong!

Ye Fan’s expression grew grave. His feet shattered the pitch-dark cosmos beneath him. Both hands spread wide, he launched the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist — and immediately blasted the divine gate flying.

“Rise!”

Ku Ci let out a Buddhist shout. The endless galaxy shuddered violently, transforming into a brilliantly radiant river of silver stars — and then began to roll and churn, sweeping toward Ye Fan to suppress him.

This was the momentum of heaven and earth — through the “Pah” celestial sound, the power of the cosmos gathered and condensed into the concrete form of this galaxy, pressing down with full force upon a single person!

No matter how great an individual, how could they contend against the cosmos? In the end, they would be reduced to dust within it — impossible to transcend.

The celestial sound rang without cease. Stars and galaxies blanketed the heavens and buried Ye Fan. The Gate of Reincarnation formed from the “Pah” syllable reappeared, converging with the galaxy as its peak — preparing to send him to the next life.

“The sea of suffering is boundless — turn back and the shore is at hand. Lay Patron, please retreat. Turn back and there is a path to life. Press forward and there is nothing ahead but boundless tribulation.” The elderly monk said.

Behind Ye Fan lay a brilliant galaxy leading toward a place of life and vitality. Before him lay the forbidden ground where demons were suppressed.

Boom!

What answered Ku Ci was a primordial spirit sword wave. A divine radiance burst from Ye Fan’s brow — imitating the Primal Emperor’s Dao Sword — causing all manner of assault to drift toward dissolution in the Dao.

This was a supremely powerful attack. Star domains were collapsing, galaxies were being shattered apart, reduced to particles of the Great Dao.

Furthermore, the violent wave of energy plunged directly into the golden divine gate — seeking to disintegrate it, to shatter the elderly monk from his very foundations.

Yet the immortal formation was fashioned as though by nature itself. This was a momentum of heaven and earth — it could not be fully dismantled. It quickly regenerated, repairing itself.

Flash!

Ye Fan’s brow flickered. The Primal Emperor’s Dao Sword was born once more. The inch-long golden sword expanded in an instant to fill the heavens, sweeping across the entire cosmos — and the sky and earth collapsed.

Yet this was not a complete mastery. Ye Fan had only fought Yuangu once in those years — it was impossible to have inscribed all of it through the “Battle” Character Technique.

This secret technique was undoubtedly pushed to its absolute extreme — otherwise it could never have been recorded within the Primal Emperor’s Ultimate Secret Technique Compendium. Yet it was a pity Ye Fan could not fully command it. He could not dissolve this entire sky into the Dao.

In the fierce confrontation, Ye Fan let out a clear howl. He settled his heart, the blood coursing through his veins transforming into a galaxy — golden blood energy boiling. Then both fists evolved, driving the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist to its absolute peak.

Of course, this was not merely the evolution of an invincible fist intent. It also carried his spirit, energy, and mind — and more than that, his unique Dao!

To break through this world, to trample the Great Dao of heaven and earth underfoot — and thereby shatter the binding of this cosmic momentum!

In those years, he had moved against the Great Dao in reverse — precisely to free himself from restraint, to avoid being suppressed by this heaven and earth, to stand supreme above the eternal. In this moment, this was expressed with utter vividness.

Ku Ci was unlike an ordinary half-Sage. He far surpassed his nephew who had equally reached the half-Sage realm. Among all those Ye Fan had encountered since returning, Ku Ci was a formidable adversary.

And it was precisely because of this that Ye Fan felt a sense of crisis — and in doing so, further understood his own Dao. This heaven and earth could not oppress him. He had to strike outward.

Living within this heaven and earth makes it difficult to attain immortality — for one must comply with the will of the cosmos. In the end, one is destined to dissolve into yellow earth. Only by transcending outward can one truly surpass this.

Ye Fan mused inwardly — moving against the Great Dao in reverse, leaping free from it, breaking out of the entire world’s confinement.

In this moment, he understood ever more clearly the importance of moving against the Dao in reverse — it had to be carried through to the very end.

Perhaps one day this world itself might be destroyed, cease to exist — just as the brilliant stars, just as the bright moon — appearing so beautiful now, yet destined to fall in the end.

When this world moves toward destruction, those who follow this world’s Great Dao will naturally dissolve into dust along with it…

Ye Fan’s heart in the Dao grew ever more steadfast. Moving against the Dao in reverse — everything would depend on himself alone. Trampling the Great Dao of this world underfoot, breaking through the confinements of heaven and earth.

In the end, perhaps my path to attaining the Dao will be incomparably arduous — perhaps the Heavenly Dao of this world will seek to destroy me. But I cannot walk any other path.

If there truly is an Immortal Domain, and one day the path to it opens — the entire world will be transformed. What Dao would one follow then — the Dao of this world, or the Dao of the Immortal Domain? Would there be conflict? Rather than face that uncertainty, it is better to revere oneself from the very beginning — to stand supreme above all.

Ye Fan’s gaze grew ever more brilliant. His heart in the Dao solidified into radiance. A light shot from within his brow — piercing the heavens and shattering the cosmos. It nearly obliterated this entire star domain.

Conviction firm, body and mind united, he evolved the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist. His fist intent grew ever more invincible — for in essence, this had already transcended. It was a unique fist intent — no longer the technique of old.

At the same moment, his forehead bone began to glow. A golden miniature figure stepped out from within the immortal platform, standing before his brow — moving its fists in invincible intent, identical in motion to his physical body.

Transcending beyond the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist — this was the invincible fist intent that arose naturally after the body and mind united and the heart of the Dao radiated boundless light. This was the embryonic form and the first step of treading his own path.

He sent one fist forward. The golden miniature figure before his brow moved in exactly the same way — identical. From body to primordial spirit — such perfect harmony. From the external to the internal, his flesh and his spirit resonated together with his own Dao, singing in unison.

Boom!

With this strike — the galaxy shattered, the golden divine gate broke apart. Ku Ci coughed up blood. The great momentum of heaven and earth collapsed. The star domain was destroyed.

Boom!

Ye Fan and Ku Ci simultaneously returned to the real world. The star domain vanished, the primordial cosmos dispersed.

Ye Fan was unharmed — his presence even greater than before, his own path and Dao illuminated. Ku Ci’s body shuddered. The Indestructible Vajra Body showed crack after crack all across its surface, and he retreated dozens of steps backward with difficulty.

“Ancestral Teacher Ku Ci is a Golden Body Arhat — only half a step from becoming a Bodhisattva or an ancient Buddha — universally recognized as one whose physical shell cannot be destroyed. No one in the Western Desert can rival him… and yet he has been bested.”

The Nalanda Temple was a sacred land of the Western Desert’s Buddhist faith, commanding two of the highest sacred syllables and possessing Ku Ci of the Indestructible Body — and yet they had failed to prevail. The assembled monks were shaken to their core.

“Can someone of the Human Sacred Body truly be this invincible?” Some who had guessed his identity fixed their gaze upon his dharma form in awe.

“Venerable Master, I have no wish to make an enemy of the Nalanda Temple. I only wish to see An Miaoyi. If this too cannot be permitted, then I have no choice but to fight to the death.” Ye Fan said.

“This old monk is not your match. Yet I do not wish to be needlessly villainous — I would not be justified in refusing to let you two meet even once. As long as you can pass the final trial, I will open the nine-story stone pagoda.” Ku Ci said.

“What trial?” Ye Fan asked.

“To endure the refinement of the Worldly Cauldron. If you can withstand it, I will permit you to see her.” Having said this, Ku Ci let out a clear howl.

In the sky above, the endless faith transformed in an instant into a great cauldron, refining the spiritual force flying in from all four directions — converting it into pure Buddhist radiance.

Within the cauldron, all manner of vital essence boiled and churned. The spiritual force was like an ocean, descending below — its pressure like a mountain!

Ye Fan said nothing. He stepped directly forward. The great cauldron descended with a boom and drew him inside.

In this world — what is it that cultivators dread most? There is no end to what could be said. But karmic fire is certainly among the foremost. For great sages refining their bodies and quasi-emperors proving the Dao, it is an indispensable test. One who passes it shines with brilliance. One who fails is reduced to dust.

Ye Fan felt no fear. He had experienced this before. Within the Worldly Cauldron, he drifted and rose, allowing the spiritual force to boil. The crackling of his bones echoed outward, his body being forged and cast — his entire being growing translucent and radiant.

The assembled monks all drew sharp, silent breaths.