The Great Demon God had returned. Though not very tall, his frame somewhat thin, that majesty of looking down upon heaven and earth, swallowing mountains and rivers, made everyone tremble involuntarily.

His figure blurred, clad in heavy armor, sitting alone there. All the cultivators around him rose, none daring to sit with him — that entire area fell silent.

This was the awe-inspiring divine might forged through slaughter, a supreme path built from blood and bone! People still clearly remembered that battle ten years ago, when he alone destroyed an ancient star of life, leaving no one to escape — every living being in that origin realm of life became dry bones.

A boundless killing calamity, a body soaked through with seas of blood — this was his path. Otherwise he would not be called the Great Demon God, doing as he pleased, feared by everyone on the Ancient Road.

“I truly wish our Lord would suppress him, make him into a battle slave. I still remember the scene of him raising his hand to kill my elder brother, blood and bone fragments flying everywhere.” the Qilin Sacred Envoy clenched his fists, his eyes blood-red, his body trembling involuntarily.

“Our Lord will inevitably fight him sooner or later — it won’t be too far off. There will surely be a war to become gods on the Ancient Road, fighting for the future position of the number one Supreme.” the Vermilion Bird Sacred Envoy nodded.

The others also wore cold expressions, secretly clenching their fists. If not for knowing well the terrifying peerlessness of the Great Demon God, they would likely have already charged over for a great battle.

Their old friends and companions — not a few had been suppressed and killed by the Great Demon God, perhaps could even be called erased, like pulling weeds, destroyed with a raised hand.

Along his path, the Great Demon God had killed countless world-shaking experts — he himself probably didn’t know how many enemies lay dead beneath his feet, and had never cared to.

Fairy Qingshi, who had remained silent, glanced calmly at them, secretly reminding them: “Speak less. Once one’s power reaches a certain realm, even if you’re transmitting through divine thought, it might still be intercepted.”

Sure enough, the Great Demon God sitting elsewhere at a distance glanced coldly toward them. Though his figure was blurred, those eyes were terrifyingly commanding.

Within that not-very-tall body was contained a power that made the stars of the heavens tremble. Just one glance was enough to make the Qilin Sacred Envoy and the others feel as if plunged into an ice cellar.

Their bones chilled, hair standing on end, their flesh as if frozen with a layer of ice.

Everyone was startled, turning to look this way — was the Great Demon God about to open a great slaughter the moment he appeared? This… would indeed fit his nature.

Fairy Qingshi bowed slightly, dissolving this overpowering killing intent, smiling toward the Great Demon God’s direction, and said, “Brother Gu Huang, long time no see. How have you been?”

Her voice, like heavenly music, carried a peaceful and holy power, Dao patterns blooming in the void like crystalline flower petals, effectively easing that supreme killing intent.

The Great Demon God glanced coldly, nodding slightly. Though a competitor, in such a setting he had no wish for bloodshed and did not act.

The Qilin Sacred Envoy, Vermilion Bird Sacred Envoy, and the others said nothing, their faces grim. Though unwilling, they had to admit the gap was too great — without Fairy Qingshi present, they would be in grave danger.

After a brief silence, Nebula Tower returned to its bustling state. Around the Great Demon God remained empty, while other tables resumed their conversations.

People kept a respectful distance from him, but not to the point of being scared off entirely — there might well be Dao Protectors present in Nebula Tower, so people weren’t too worried.

Now the Yellow Springs stretched across the heavens, the Emperor’s corpse might crush through the void, falling from that secret realm, stirring the hearts of everyone.

In the end, the reason young supremes deep in the Ancient Road had returned was all connected to the Emperor’s tomb appearing.

These people had formidable means and had managed to learn some of the Dao Protectors’ decisions, discussing here that the great powers would take action within the coming days.

At that time, not only the Human Race’s Dao Protectors, but also peak-level great sages of the Sacred Spirit lineage would act. To witness the Emperor’s corpse, the strongest might choose to temporarily join forces.

The Dao Protectors of the Human Race’s Ancient Road had already made their assessment — this was absolutely not something one or two people could act on rashly. No one had ever truly seen a complete Emperor’s corpse; who knew what would happen once it appeared in the world.

Ye Fan pondered secretly — with so many powerful figures acting, the strength he could borrow would grow considerably, and by then he should be able to rescue Pang Bo.

His only worry was that someone had guessed he had come and would set up a trap targeting him, since many now knew his relationship with Pang Bo ran deep — for his sake he had once challenged the Overlord, keeping him trapped here for many days.

The sound of a zither rang out, starlight scattered from above, and colorful auspicious clouds swirled outside the window, as if placed within the ninth heaven. A group of young women appeared, their bodies crystalline and delicate, in feathered rainbow garments, flowing five-colored radiance, dancing gracefully.

This was Nebula Tower’s specialty — often inviting female cultivators, some even famous figures of the Ancient Road, to sing and dance lightly, making this place seem like an immortal realm.

Starlight streamed down in ribbons, the jade tower ethereal, misty rainbow vapor rising, a group of cloud-robed women dancing lightly like fairies crossing the waves, transcending the mortal world.

“The Sacred Body from Zangdi Star has arrived — I wonder if the Great Demon God will go to meet him in battle?” amid the tinkling zither music, a magnetic female voice mixed into the song.

People turned to look — the Great Demon God sat as steady as Mount Tai, as if he hadn’t heard, drinking alone quietly, giving no response at all.

“I once heard that Ditian wanted the Sacred Body as his subordinate, but unexpectedly the men sent were all killed clean — I wonder if there will be another clash now. Has Ditian arrived?”

Amid the tinkling zither music, the woman’s pleasing voice reached everyone’s ears, making many pause, unaware such a thing had happened.

“There’s such a thing? Will Ditian come?” the eyes of all the great heroes flickered with fervent light, anticipating a great clash.

“Wanting to subdue the Sacred Body for his own use — Ditian really dares to think big. Is he planning a grand move?” someone murmured.

“Once Ye Fan advances into the Sage King realm, who will be stronger and who weaker will be hard to predict.” the recent battle had made everyone aware of his boundless potential.

Here, the Qilin Sacred Envoy sneered coldly — he truly hoped Ye Fan would come, be suppressed by Ditian, and let everyone witness this become reality.

“Has Ditian really come or not?” someone asked.

But here, the Vermilion Bird Sacred Envoy and the others said nothing at all, all remaining coldly composed.

“Huh, the zither music has stopped. Where did that woman go just now?” the crowd came to realize — that woman, dressed in rainbow clouds, sitting cross-legged among the starlight playing her zither, had left without anyone noticing.

Soon, someone realized something and said, “Could it be that the Goddess from the deep starry Ancient Road has come too? I heard she’s skilled in everything — zither, chess, calligraphy, painting. Could that woman have been sent by her?”

The hearts of the crowd stirred — Xu City would surely see a great turmoil, whether elder-generation strongest experts or young-generation heaven’s chosen, all had begun appearing here one after another; the situation was very complex.

Perhaps there would be all kinds of confrontations and vendettas settled.

“Fairy Qingshi, has Ditian really returned or not?” someone asked the Banished Immortal Fairy directly, hoping for a clear answer.

“He should come.” Fairy Qingshi replied.

Nebula Tower immediately erupted in commotion — the Great Demon God, Fairy Qingshi, Ditian, the Sacred Body from Zangdi Star, the Goddess, and more — some had already arrived, and others were destined to appear. If a clash occurred, it would be a battle of dragons and tigers.

“If the Sacred Body from Zangdi Star advances into the Sage King realm, will Ditian still hold the advantage?” secretly, someone said this sharply, clearly trying to stir up conflict, wanting to muddy the waters further.

The Qilin Sacred Envoy, Vermilion Bird Sacred Envoy, and the others said nothing, but the proud expression on their faces said it all — they firmly believed Ditian was invincible, holding the Source of Dao, recognized by the heavens.

“What is this Ditian anyway? Is he coming back?” suddenly, footsteps sounded from the staircase, and two people came up, their tone quite disrespectful.

A red-haired burly man, tall and imposing, rough-featured, with bell-like copper eyes, climbed the stairs. Behind him was a thin, dried-up old man, not very tall, with snow-white hair and a ruddy, energetic face.

The former was Long Ma, but who was the old man behind him? Ye Fan felt puzzled.

The Qilin Sacred Envoy’s eyes flashed with cold light — how dare this newcomer be so rude, insulting Ditian; this hadn’t happened in many years. Even when they themselves disagreed with the Sacred Body, they only said so privately, yet this man dared to speak so wildly in public.

“Who are you?!” the undisguised killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Fairy Qingshi stopped him immediately, whispering: “The man behind him is Baijie Daoren. Don’t provoke him.”

Many recognized that old man — a renowned expert of the Ancient Road, known as Baijie Daoren, having attained the Dao through a divine donkey, already reaching the Great Sage realm long ago, and one of the most troublesome wandering cultivators.

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat — could this be the very donkey demon that Zhao Gongyi, the guide envoy of the Fiftieth City of the Human Race, had spoken of with such loathing? How had it ended up with Long Ma — could they really be relatives?

“Oh, who wants to bully my nephew? Can’t he even speak?” the white-haired old man spoke up.

The Qilin Sacred Envoy, Vermilion Bird Sacred Envoy, and the others suddenly lost their nerve, saying nothing. Truthfully, they had no ordinary fear of this divine donkey — a notorious old scoundrel who never felt any shame bullying the weak, capable of anything.

What surprised people was that the red-haired burly man wore a dark expression, seemingly quite unwilling, unhappy to be associated with Baijie Daoren.

“Nephew, don’t run off. I’m going to discuss things with the Human Race’s Dao Protectors and the Sacred Spirits. Wait for me here — when the time comes to open the Emperor’s tomb, I’ll get you some fortune.”

Baijie Daoren’s figure flashed and vanished before a secret chamber in Nebula Tower.

The crowd stirred — so the Dao Protectors and Great Sage-level beings really were here, currently discussing the great matter of opening the Emperor’s mausoleum.

Ye Fan sent a voice transmission to Long Ma to learn the situation. It was furious — the moment it entered the city, Baijie Daoren had targeted it, forcing it to recognize him as an ancestor.

“Damn it, forcing me to recognize a donkey as an ancestor, when we’re not even the same species — yet he says my blood is pure. Damn it, does blood flow through me from a donkey? I think he’s doing it on purpose! And now, I want to flee but can’t.”

Ye Fan nearly burst out laughing, comforting it that after all this was a Great Sage; accepting this overprotective relative could let it walk sideways on the Ancient Road in the future.

Long Ma: “#@!#%&…”

“Your task is important. Since you’ve gotten close to Baijie Daoren, be my mole and see what the Great Sages plan to do.”

“I’ve become a spy? Do I have to face an old donkey uncle all day!?” Long Ma was one hundred twenty percent unwilling.

“The situation is complex. Underworld people have come, Sacred Spirits have appeared too, and they’ll act together with the Human Race Dao Protectors. And the Great Demon God, Ditian, the Goddess, Fairy Qingshi, and others have all arrived one after another. Perhaps someone will use rescuing Pang Bo to target me — I need to change my plans.”

Ye Fan secretly transmitted this to it, telling it to inform him immediately of any news, then rose and left.

Moments later, outside Xu City, he summoned his divine light platform, tearing through the universe, appearing on the ancient continent where Pang Bo was trapped.

“Pang Bo, when can you cross the Sage King heavenly tribulation?”

“Ye Fan, what’s happened, is there some change of plan? Could it be you want us to cross the tribulation together, to break out of this place?” Pang Bo asked.

“Perhaps someone will target us — be prepared.” Ye Fan transmitted, telling him the Great Sage-level figures were about to act, and the Emperor’s corpse might soon emerge.