Hunhun Lake lay shrouded in a haze of mist, with the backs of terrifying ancient fish-beasts occasionally breaking the surface, carving fearsome wakes through the water and emanating waves of qi that sent shivers through anyone who sensed them.

This was the sacred heartland of the Hunhun Clan. Ordinary people could not merely speak of reaching this place — even approaching the outer territories would invite a swift and certain death.

The Hunhun Clan ranked among the Ten Great Royal Clans, reputed to be capable of throwing the heavens into chaos and shaking the earth, surpassed only by the Silver Blood Clan and the Primal King Clan as one of the few supremely powerful ancient royal clans.

The terrain here was imposing, with ancient peaks soaring skyward. Hunhun Lake, though not small in area, rarely rippled. Nestled among the mountains, swirling waves of primordial mist rose continuously from its surface.

“Though we are strong, we ultimately lack imperial weapons. We must join forces, only then can we walk further along the path to immortality.”

“Only by uniting as one and forming a vast network of power can we contend for supremacy under heaven and eventually break into the Immortal Domain.”

Along the lakeshore, an aura of primordial chaos permeated the air. Several hundred people sat cross-legged on meditation cushions, each one extraordinarily powerful, emanating suffocating and terrifying fluctuations of energy.

For many days, discussions and secret deliberations had continued here without cease. Dozens upon hundreds of ancient clans had gathered together to consult on the future of the Ancient Tribes and the various possibilities that would arise once the path to immortality opened.

Without ancient imperial clans like the Primordial Lake, the Flame Qilin Cavern, or the Blood Phoenix Mountain, there were only royal clans. They were powerful, yet the one thing they lacked was imperial weapons — and for that, they needed to unite.

Every powerful royal clan had sent representatives, taking this alliance seriously, hoping to forge a single supremely terrifying coalition of great power.

“Everyone here has surely heard — the Holy Body of the human race has returned, and right now he is extraordinarily dominant.”

The great lake was black as ink. Terrifying fish-beasts would occasionally splash up a few waves. The shore was dim, the fog thick, enveloping the hundreds of people seated on their meditation cushions, making everything look hazy and indistinct.

Here, the face of every person was difficult to make out clearly. All were concealed within clouds and mist, appearing blurred and indistinct, lending the gathering a sense of deep mystery.

“The human race’s Holy Body has truly grown into a force to be reckoned with. It is infuriating that we failed to find him in those early years — otherwise, why would we have allowed him to reach this point? We should have struck him down while he was still in the growth stage!”

In years past, the ancient clans had launched several large-scale expeditions to hunt down and kill Ye Fan, but all had failed, allowing him to slip away. During the most severe of these operations, the assembled Saints had moved together — yet it had led to grave consequences, drawing the attention of the human race’s supreme sovereign, Gai Jiuyou, who had proceeded to exterminate ten of the great ferocious clans in its entirety, silencing the entire world.

“So what if he has returned? What does it have to do with us? If they push him too far, someone will deal with him!” one person said coldly.

“Are there truly reclusive ‘elders of old’ who have not yet emerged into the world? Why is there still no movement from them? They should be risking their lives against Gai Jiuyou — let us see who in this world dares to challenge the dignity of our Ancient Tribes.”

Everyone sighed lightly. Word had long spread that certain ancient elders of the clans were still alive in this world, yet after so many years, none had ever shown themselves.

“It is a pity that the great ancient imperial clans pay no mind to these affairs. They are all consolidating their power, waiting for the moment to charge toward the path to immortality. Otherwise, if they were to come out wielding imperial weapons, they could suppress the clan’s Holy Body on their own.”

“Say less. Do you truly think he still has the same battle power as before? With a single hand, he wiped out the army of the Golden Crow Clan that had descended upon the Northern Dipper. It is even said that the Great Sage Jin Yu has gone missing — he is suspected to have been slain as well.”

Everyone fell silent. That Ye Fan had now returned was itself a miracle — having survived the battles of the Ancient Road, it placed a heavy burden of pressure on every soul present.

“What about the Silver Blood Imperial Clan? Now that the Human Race’s Holy Body has returned, will he simply let things rest?”

“If all else fails, just let those two go. There is no point in forcing the matter.”

“How can we do that? The hundreds of royal clans have formed this alliance precisely to merge the ancestral bloodlines of each clan and fuse fragments of the Great Dao, achieving the birth of a supreme sovereign from among us. Those two are critically important.”

“Are the hundreds of us still afraid of a single Holy Body of the human race?”

“Exactly. The ancestral bloodline of the Silver Blood Imperial Clan is vital. We need them to join and provide a continuous supply of blood.”

A storm of debate erupted at the scene, with no resolution in sight. Not far away, the two princes of the Silver Blood Clan were bound and immobilized, unable to move even slightly.

“We all have ancestral stars. The Silver Blood Imperial Clan has not truly been destroyed — somewhere deep in the universe there must still be another branch. We do not necessarily need these two to participate.”

“Great Sage Mighty Bull King, what do you mean by that? Are you compromising? At present it is exceedingly difficult to enter the star domain, let alone locate that clan — and besides, their blood may not even be compatible. What is there to fear about the Holy Body of the human race? Are there so many of us that we would still be afraid of one man?”

“Exactly. I have heard he is destined to do battle with the Buddhist faith. Would he really want to offend us all before that confrontation even begins?!”

The scene erupted into noise and clamor, with people holding all manner of differing opinions — shouting, arguing, a scene of total disorder.

“In truth, releasing the two from the Silver Blood Imperial Clan would be the most fitting course of action. We could cultivate goodwill with the Human Race’s Holy Body, let him set his mind at ease and go confront the Buddhist faith, and use his hand to probe the true depths of the Great Thunder Sound Temple. Nothing could be better.”

“Exactly. Mount Sumeru holds a great terror within it. In ancient times, an imperial ancestor once parted the veil of mist and glimpsed a fragment of the future, saying that a great religious order would emerge from the Western Desolation, and when the path to immortality opens, it would shake the entire world — yet even that imperial ancestor failed to see the ultimate truth clearly!”

“Hmph! I simply refuse to accept compromising before the Holy Body of the human race. On what grounds? In the past he was nothing but a minor cultivator — and now we must actually hold him in reverence and look up to him?!”

Outside Hunhun Mountain, Ye Fan arrived. Having learned the whereabouts of the two princes of the Silver Blood Clan, he had raised his banner in the Divine City for only a few days before leading his people here with all haste, making no attempt to conceal his movements.

Upon reaching the mountain gate, he announced his name and surname directly, giving the young ancient clansmen guarding the gate quite a fright. In days past, Ye Fan had slain ancient beings and beheaded Celestial Prince, feats so earth-shaking that they had left a deep shadow over this entire generation.

“Trouble — the Holy Body of the human race has come!”

On the shores of Hunhun Lake, when the report arrived, it instantly stirred the waters into great turmoil. Many people stopped speaking at once.

“Forgive me for this uninvited intrusion. I ask that all of you pardon my presumptuousness.” Ye Fan arrived without an invitation, walking directly through the mountain gate as though entering an empty realm, until he stood in the mist-shrouded heart of the sacred grounds.

Those who had only moments before been shouting and clamoring fell quiet. Some regarded him with hostility, some with indifference, some with blank expressions — not a single one spoke a word.

The death of Great Sage Jin Yu weighed heavily on many hearts, and now that they truly stood face-to-face with the Human Race’s Holy Body, all fell into silence, with none of the clamorous bickering of before.

Whether to fight or not to fight — many among them had no answer in their hearts.

“In recent days I have heard many rumors about you — some concerning your battle record on the Ancient Road of the human race. I do not know whether they are true.” An ancient king of the Hunhun Clan inquired.

“My master has battled his way through the Ancient Road of the human race, undefeated!” Little Heavenly Master Zhang Qingyang replied.

The moment those words fell, a dead silence descended upon the shores of Hunhun Lake. Every person present drew in a sharp breath of cold air. The rumors were true. This was a supreme sovereign of the human race in the making — his future was beyond all prediction.

Those who had spoken out in opposition just moments before now wore dark and grim expressions, unable to find words, feeling a deep and profound dread for what lay ahead. This news was terrifying beyond measure.

“Tsst—” “Tsst—”

Ye Fan raised his hand and pointed forward. Two beams of light shot out, entering the bodies of Lei Bo and Wang Shu. Both shuddered at once and regained their freedom, leaping to their feet in an instant.

“Ye Fan!” they cried out, rushing toward him rapidly.

The faces of the assembled ancient clansmen darkened considerably. Right before their eyes, Ye Fan had rescued the two princes of the Silver Blood Clan. Many wanted to rise and stop him, but each one sat back down again.

The scene was perfectly still. In the end, not a single person moved to obstruct him.

Ye Fan smiled and clasped his hands in a bow toward everyone. “Many thanks to you all for your gracious indulgence,” he said.

With that, he led Wang Shu and Lei Bo calmly toward the mountain gate, composed and unhurried.

Bitterness filled the hearts of many. The Holy Body of the human race, gentle yet radiating a matchless and domineering presence, had cowed dozens upon hundreds of clans into not daring to act rashly. This was a terrifying outcome.

He had not come leading a great army — only a handful of disciples accompanied him — yet he had charged into this place in such a manner. This was a display of supreme boldness and courage. Without any doubt, from this day forth, once word spread, every clan would hold him in the utmost awe and reverence.

“Brother Ye, please wait.” An elder patriarch-king rose to his feet.

“Do you have something to say, fellow Daoist?” Ye Fan turned back.

“I have heard that you intend to attack the Western Desolation. We find this deeply meaningful and are determined to lend our support — at the critical moment, we can offer you a helping hand.” The elder patriarch-king said, then hesitated before continuing: “In the age of primordial antiquity, there was once a rumor that a great religious order would arise in the Western Desolation, displaying its sharpness upon the path to immortality!”

“Good. I understand. My thanks.” Ye Fan turned and departed.

A long time later, the elder patriarch-king gave a cold and indifferent smile, and said to those assembled: “At this moment, doing nothing is better than doing something. What does it matter if we give him the two from the Silver Blood Clan? Let us sit on the wall and watch — and see for ourselves what the true depths of the Western Desolation actually are.”

In the Divine City, waves of turmoil surged, sweeping across the six directions and eight wastelands, stirring up towering waves. The moment Ye Fan’s declaration of war was issued, all under heaven was shaken, erupting into a deafening uproar.

Every clan burst into an uproar, their clamor rising to the clouds. This was not to say that Ye Fan stood alone as supreme ruler of the Northern Dipper, with all the clans rallying to his cause — rather, it was because many harbored ulterior motives, all wishing to use his hand to gauge the true strength of the Buddhist faith.

This was plain to see. Ye Fan had understood it from beginning to end — and he, too, only sought to create a great momentum, having already factored in this element. Sure enough, it had caused a tremendous sensation.

Whether the great Saints from beyond the domain, or the ancient clans — all were fanning the flames, stoking this situation to its boiling point, as though the entire world truly intended to march together against the Buddhist faith.

Of course, there were those who were certain to strike — fishing in troubled waters, landing a blow against the Buddhist faith, using it as a way to test the waters.

In the days that followed, the Buddhist lands of the Western Desolation grew restless. A grave and solemn air permeated Mount Sumeru, as though facing a great enemy, taking this enormous wave of turmoil with the utmost seriousness.

Ye Fan had leveraged the grand momentum of the world to incite this upheaval, and it had truly left the Buddhist faith sitting on a bed of nails. One misstep and they might genuinely become the target of a coalition formed by all the world, inviting a catastrophe that could shake the very foundations of this ancient institution.

By this point, all eight directions were in upheaval, and the entire world watched with anticipation as many waited eagerly.

“I humbly ask the Buddhas of Mount Sumeru: for what reason have you imprisoned my disciple, converting him into a servant? Would you be willing to release him?” Ye Fan sent word, in a tone that appeared anything but aggressive — carrying instead a note of consultation.

The Western Desolation refused, and would not allow Hua Hua to descend the mountain.

Ye Fan gave a cold laugh. That very day, he led a great army, surging forward with overwhelming force, sweeping straight toward the Western Desolation. Long Ma, Ancient Golden Peng, and nine other Saint Kings arrayed themselves side by side, while Qi Luo, Dongfang Ye, and Li Tian had likewise attained the realm of Saint King. There were also those of the Saint realm — little Sparrow, Ye Tong, and Jiang Ting — as well as the Shencan Princess, the Shencan Daoist, the Peacock King, the Great Xia Imperial Lord, Yao Yue Kong, and many other powerful allies.

Without question, this was a terrifying great army. Their combined aura stirred the vast heavens, shaking the earth and sky, as they descended upon the Western Desolation together.

Along the way, others continued to join their ranks, Ji Ziyue among them.

In the past, Ye Fan had only gazed at Mount Sumeru from afar and had never actually set foot upon it — yet now he led a great army bearing down upon this place, preparing to attack.