Many who knew him felt bitterness in their hearts. Three hundred years had passed, and not even the bloodstained remnant markings of the supreme beings had been able to stop Ye Fan in his tracks. He had not only survived — he had achieved quasi-Emperor. That figure on the horizon grew ever more distant. How could they possibly catch up?

There had been a time when they were rivals of the Holy Body Ye Fan, competing with him and fighting for supremacy. At some stages they had even surpassed him in cultivation realm, standing ahead on the ancient road among the stars, looking down at this latecomer from above.

Yet as time passed, everything had slowly changed. The Holy Body rose, unstoppable.

“Brother Ye’s trajectory can only be called a miracle — surviving great battles against both the Stone Emperor and the supreme Lord of Reincarnation, and emerging even stronger from it. Truly admirable.” Yao Guang spoke, and rare seriousness crossed his face — somewhat different from his usual gentle manner.

This was a man of heavenly natural gifts. His road of cultivation had always been exceptionally smooth — from beginning to end, very few could contend with him. And to this day, no one knew exactly how strong Yao Guang truly was.

Everyone was watching him, Yin Tiande, and the Divine Sovereign — for Ye Fan’s final words had been directed at those three. And vaguely, among all those present, these three were acknowledged as the strongest of all.

Everyone waited quietly for their response, and the scene fell to absolute stillness.

The Divine Sovereign’s expression remained indifferent, and he said nothing. Yin Tiande was also silent, making no gesture whatsoever. Only Yao Guang, the King, walked forward alone.

All across his body, every inch of his flesh radiated a flowing, overflowing radiance. He was like a divine god walking out from within a blazing sun, suffused with an astonishing brilliance. No matter where he was, a person like him would inevitably be the focus of ten thousand gazes. Even without any words or gestures, no one could ignore him — he would become the center of an entire world.

For he was simply that outstanding in bearing and presence — innate, transcending the mortal world. Like the protagonist of this era, with the sun, moon, and stars revolving around him.

“It seems there isn’t actually any great enmity between us,” Yao Guang said, his smile like a spring breeze, making everyone feel the warmth of brilliant sunshine.

“Indeed there is no great enmity. Yet you have not killed few people, and you have always had me on your mind.” Ye Fan spoke calmly. He harbored no great hatred or grievance toward this person — he only wished to bring things to a conclusion.

Yao Guang’s eyes shot out two mysterious beams of light, as though they could see through to Ye Fan’s very origin. His aura was climbing as he said: “I have long desired this battle. But you have advanced too quickly — somewhat beyond my expectations.”

All around him, divine chains of order appeared one after another. A black grand Dao vessel floated above his head, making him appear even more extraordinary.

The divine chains of order became phoenix feather robes; the vessel became his weapon. Yao Guang now carried an aura of killing sharpness that had not been there before — he was about to make his move.

Everyone was momentarily dumbstruck, all wearing expressions of shock. How powerful was Yao Guang, exactly — that he dared to make a move against a quasi-Emperor? Had he also reached that realm?

“After today, the world may no longer have a Yao Guang — but I cannot not fight.” He said this calmly, a warm smile still on his face.

It had to be said — Yao Guang was a man of great personal charisma. Even before a life-or-death decisive battle, he made those around him feel as though bathed in a gentle spring breeze.

He had come within a hair’s breadth of entering the quasi-Emperor realm. One foot was already through the door. At most a few more years — perhaps even a few more months — and he would have fully succeeded.

Everyone drew a sharp breath of cold air. At this moment they all felt the full weight of Yao Guang’s power.

“There is no need to push yourself. Let today pass — I will give you the chance to fight another day.” Ye Fan said.

“I have suppressed myself too severely. I never expected you to arrive today like this. Yet I have no desire to retreat — today there must be a battle.” Yao Guang shook his head.

Ye Fan said nothing more, and fixed his gaze on the man before him.

Everyone was briefly stunned. Yao Guang was a figure destined to enter the quasi-Emperor realm — he had simply been holding himself back too forcefully. Was he attempting to use Ye Fan’s hand to achieve one final, supreme breakthrough and sublimation? Or was it simply the mindset of the strong that would not allow him to retreat?

Whatever the case, Yao Guang was extraordinarily brilliant in this moment — inspiring awe. A man destined to become a quasi-Emperor was choosing to fight against all odds in this adversity. It was admirable.

“Begin!”

Yao Guang spoke. The black grand Dao vessel above his head rose and fell, and thousands upon thousands of divine chains of order cascaded down like phoenix feather robes, making him look like a black phoenix. His aura shifted — transcendent yet piercing, his bearing transformed entirely.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. This was the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art — peerless and unmatched, a truly flawless ancient scripture, born of the Ruthless Great Emperor, shaking all of history!

Yet why did he sense a trace of something wrong? This law and Dao, compared to Yao Guang’s original transcendent temperament, seemed somewhat at odds — a discord.

“You have seen through it. Then let us fight — either I achieve sublimation through your power, or I find release through your hand!”

Having spoken, he thrust a palm forward — centered and harmonious, utterly undisturbed. This was not the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art; it was a technique he had created himself. Light burst forth, dazzling and resplendent, making him look like a divine god.

The Lightning Flash Palm — a match for his temperament. Illuminating the cosmos, lighting up heaven and earth, it made him look as though he truly were a divine god, crushing all things.

Yao Guang’s hair, every strand shining with divine light, flew in all directions. Transcendent beyond this world, he struck with everything he had. His aura climbed to the absolute peak and his body shuddered — as though shattering some forbidden shackle — and he broke through once more.

“Quasi-Emperor aura — actually quasi-Emperor-level divine power! How did he do it? No wonder he dared to fight the Holy Body Ye Fan!”

“He has… broken through to the quasi-Emperor realm — he just hasn’t yet undergone the tribulation. He has truly stepped into that domain!”

People were shocked. Every face wore an expression of astonishment. Yao Guang’s performance was too stunning — he had intended to strike a quasi-Emperor while still at the Great Sage peak, and instead had sublimated himself in the process.

Ten thousand divine rings engulfed him. That palm was swift as lightning, matching his name — possessing power that awed the world, sending all the assembled heroes shuddering.

“Boom!”

Heaven and earth cracked asunder. Time and space were annihilated. Yao Guang revealed the terrifying depth of his power — nothing could withstand it. His quasi-Emperor battle-strength was on full display.

Many could not understand how he had managed it. One moment he had been a Great Sage; the next he had broken into this realm.

Boom!

Ye Fan made his move. Facing the Lightning Flash Palm, he showed no contempt. His expression calm, he sent his right hand forward in a direct, full-force clash.

Time and space fell into chaos. The entire Imperial Pass lit up — activated by the quasi-Emperor auras — with formation runes reviving throughout to provide protection. Without them, the very body of the city and the Cloud-Piercing Tower might have been harmed.

“A quasi-Emperor-level collision!”

Everyone was dumbstruck, their jaws hanging open. This was the first time a confrontation at this tier had occurred on the Emperor’s Road — naturally it carried epoch-defining significance.

Boom!

Yao Guang shook violently and was driven backward. A few individuals saw blood spray forth, while most of those present saw nothing at all.

Yet Yao Guang quickly stabilized his form and charged forward again. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, golden light poured out in ten thousand rays. His Lightning Flash Palm unleashed its world-shaking power — supreme and unmatched.

Ye Fan struck out, his right hand shooting forward, and with each strike came a thunderous boom that made every cultivator present tremble in their very souls.

Yao Guang’s Lightning Flash Palm had truly become unrivaled — the sound of the Dao like rolling thunder, radiance blotting out the sun, making him look as though he truly were a divine god, shattering all creation.

What a pity — he had encountered Ye Fan as he was today. In the end, it was not quite enough. Blood was coughing up from his lips.

In the continuous great exchange, many people could see the outcome taking shape. Blood stained the corners of Yao Guang’s mouth. Against his transcendent, aloof bearing, those blood stains appeared all the more starkly.

“In the end he is not a true quasi-Emperor — he cannot overcome the Holy Body in direct combat. Even temporarily standing within that domain is not enough.”

“What a pity for Yao Guang. Today, it seems he will not live.”

People seemed to have already seen the conclusion, and it was one that could not be changed.

“Boom!”

When yet another blow fell, Ye Fan’s expression remained calm. Yao Guang was blasted flying, coughing up great mouthfuls of blood. People looked on in shock and saw that even fragments of a shattered heart were mixed in with the bloody froth.

“The outcome seems already decided — is there truly to be no more Yao Guang today?” He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed self-deprecatingly — still as outstanding and brilliantly charismatic as ever.

Yao Guang stood there. The black grand Dao vessel above his head suddenly erupted with endless radiance — and then his body also began to glow, producing a terrifying transformation.

Behind him, various silhouettes appeared — clearly individuals of exceptional caliber, the outstanding talents of various races, each emanating a powerful aura.

“Divine Race, Sacred Spirits, Rift-Heaven Beasts, Winged Demonic Race… heavens — so many! All of them died at his hand?”

People were shocked. Many powerful figures of the past had once been renowned prodigies throughout the starry heavens, and had vanished without explanation — becoming unsolved mysteries. Now, at last, the truth was revealed: they had all been killed by Yao Guang.

Boom!

A terrifying aura erupted. The grand Dao vessel shattered and sank into Yao Guang’s body, while the silhouettes behind him also exploded, transforming into streams of the most primordial energy that fused into his physical form.

In this moment, Yao Guang’s expression remained mostly composed, though he furrowed his brow from time to time — revealing the suffering he was enduring.

This transformation was terrifying. The primordial essences of countless exceptional individuals entering his body and merging with him caused his physical form to undergo a mysterious change, with strands of primordial chaos energy seeping out from him.

“What — a Chaos Body created through artificial means?”

Everyone was stirred. All of them showed expressions of shock.

“One final battle — release, or transcendence — it all comes down to this last fight.” Yao Guang spoke with a calm expression, as the primordial chaos energy grew ever denser.

“Boom!”

This time, his entire being erupted. His aura was even greater than before. True quasi-Emperor battle-will soared to the clouds. He stepped forward, and the Imperial Pass trembled three times.

“Break through the shackles — shatter the bindings of the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art — and walk the road that is uniquely mine!”

He murmured these words, solemn and reverent. He moved forward, his every motion and gesture suffused with primordial chaos, his battle-strength terrifying to the utmost.

Boom, boom!

The most terrifying battle unfolded. Yao Guang was like a Chaos Body — raising his hand to pluck stars from the sky, valor unmatched beneath heaven. And surrounding him was a sacred radiance that made him unlike any other.

First strike — a beam of light pierced the heavens, broke through the tower walls, and a moon came crashing down from above.

Second strike — the star domain shook, a vast darkness spread, and countless stars were ground to dust.

Third strike—

The two of them fought their way into the starry void, leaving the Imperial Pass behind. The terrible waves they created were so staggering and devastating that many looked on with dropped jaws.

In everyone’s estimation, Yao Guang and Ye Fan should have fought until the star domain collapsed and the heavens cracked and earth shattered — perhaps lasting days and nights. Yet what happened defied all expectations.

This terrifying great battle came swiftly and ended just as swiftly. After the ninth exchange, it was all over.

Yao Guang staggered backward, blood pouring unceasingly from his lips, and even chunks of internal organs came surging up — a terrible sight. After a very long time, he finally steadied himself, wiped away the blood, and on his face shone a particular brilliance.

“So even I have a day like this — have I finally arrived at this point?” he murmured softly, a smile still on his face, looking incomparably radiant and transcendent.

“Something’s wrong — where was the Indestructible Heavenly Art? It was never displayed. And the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art was used very little — the power of feathered ascension and all the rest were never even brought out. Was he trying to break free of them?” The Black Emperor was unsettled and filled with doubt.

“Yao Guang was meant for silence. The Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art, this demonic body — it shackled far too much. Only Brother Ye could have broken it open for him.” Yao Guang seemed to both cry and laugh at once — grieving yet also joyful, his expression an intricate weave of contradictions.

At last, he put away the grief. A smile bright as sunshine spread across his face. He waved his hand to all those present, and then — with a pop — his flesh and blood body exploded.

Yao Guang’s expression in those final moments — that radiance — appeared strangely beautiful amidst the bloom of blood-light.