Twenty years of standoff, twenty years of shadow war. The Underworld, the Dao Palace, the Imperial Dynasty, and the divine organization faced one another across the void. The cosmos was divided into four realms, with undercurrents surging beneath the surface — a most devastating war could erupt at any moment.
In this turbulent age, every person was working hard in cultivation, elevating their own realm. The future belonged to the strong; an immortal era was inevitably about to begin, and the process would likely be drenched in blood and consumed by war.
This was no ordinary age. It was a golden age of prosperity unlike any seen since ancient times, gathering the most powerful bloodlines from all of history — it was destined not to be peaceful.
The golden great age of a hundred vessels racing the current had not ended; rather, it had entered the warring states era that it was always destined to produce.
In those twenty years, countless brilliant talents rose up, shining their light across the cosmos, becoming legends, becoming heroes, blazing with brilliant radiance.
During this period, Ye Fan did not emerge. The contest for supremacy among the Ancient Emperor scions continued, growing more brutal than before. Some fell; some wrote their own undefeated song of the emperor’s path with names that would resound through ten thousand ages of star rivers. Beyond them, others also became Emperor Stars drawing the gaze of the entire world: Ye Tong, the Underworld Emperor Scion, Huang Qi, Tian Yi, Zhou Yi, and more — a galaxy of stars shining all at once.
This was a resplendent age, destined to produce one powerful expert after another. It was also a tragic age, destined to see countless geniuses become the bones of the emperor’s path.
One could foresee that the most dazzling collisions and the most blinding sparks would erupt in this generation — and that those who fell on the emperor’s path would surpass every age that had come before.
In the end, the glory would belong to just one person.
“Sacred Physique, ranked second — truly unrivaled below the level of a Quasi-Emperor? Is this really another Ye Fan in the making?”
This was a sprawling complex of black structures built within the netherworld soil, suspended in midair, enshrouded in black mist. Above the grand, imposing gate, a bronze plaque bore three great carved characters: the Hall of Yanluo.
This was one of the most fearsome strongholds of the Underworld, standing as an equal to the Underworld Emperor and Prison Suppression lineages.
“The Yanluo Scion did not die at Yang Xi’s hands — he was slain by the Solar Physique, Ye Tong. This person possesses heaven-defying genius and is fully capable of matching the Ancient Emperor bloodlines.”
From above the black hall came a chillingly indifferent laugh. “The Yanluo lineage is truly growing worse with each generation, no longer possessing the divine gifts of those who came before. What talk is there of ruling the Underworld, when they can be struck down by outsiders?”
“My lord, please calm your anger. Ye Tong is simply too powerful.” The person below bowed their head.
This place was thick with yin energy, without even the slightest trace of yang. Cold and dark — it was the Underworld in every literal sense of the word.
“Hmm. In that battle long ago, we paid a considerable price, causing the once-ascendant Solar Clan to decline. In that campaign, we obtained a sufficient supply of Solar essence blood. Though a pure Solar Physique has now emerged, it is no longer needed — there will be others to deal with him.”
The one seated above in the Hall of Yanluo revealed this terrible truth, causing the several powerful figures standing below to shudder. They had never imagined that such a hidden story lay behind the Solar Clan’s fall.
The Solar lineage’s decline in the Northern Dipper had begun in the distant past — otherwise, ten entire Golden Crow Clans combined could never have destroyed that tribe.
Yet few knew the truth: in that remote past, it had been the Yanluo lineage of the Underworld that had struck first — slaughtering the Solar Clan’s Quasi-Emperor who had been at the height of his power, killing countless members of that clan, and extracting the Solar blood they required.
“The Yanluo descendants are a disappointing lot.” The one above sighed, then continued: “What we lack most is Sacred Physique blood. Ye Tong can be killed to dust, but Yang Xi’s blood must be brought back.”
“Report!”
Someone rushed into the hall and dropped to one knee on the floor, their entire body wreathed in yin energy, their face as white as snow — clearly a powerful corpse animated by a returned spirit.
“What has happened?”
“The Prison Suppression Scion was struck down by the Solar Physique Ye Tong in the starry sky. Not even his bones remain.”
A deathly silence fell over the Hall of Yanluo. The Underworld Emperor Scion, the Prison Suppression Scion, and the Yanluo Scion — two of this generation’s three successors had died all at once. Something like this had only happened in the age of Wushi.
In that era, the Underworld had been driven into hiding by means of a heaven-reaching immortal treasure, concealing themselves in a secret realm for tens of thousands of years without daring to emerge. Though Supreme Beings existed within, they had endured that humiliation in silence — an era too painful to revisit.
And now two successors had been cut down at once, reminding them of those bitter days.
“It seems the Underworld has truly grown rusty. We have endured for ten thousand ages, witnessing the glorious eras of emperor after emperor — and now everyone has grown complacent. Did you truly believe you could reign supreme over the cosmos? Bloody reality has shattered your dream!”
From above the hall, that enormous presence raged — and it was not of the human race. Half of its form emerged from the darkness: a pair of azure great claws, each large as a winnowing basket, gleaming with cold light, smashing the divine-material table before it into splinters.
“The Prison Suppression lineage has also declined! The Underworld is growing worse with each generation! In ancient times, our netherworld predecessors launched campaigns against all ten directions. When the yin army marched, even the Heavenly Court would crumble — they left behind an undying name, ten thousand ages of glory. The Underworld is the final destination of all living beings, at the end of the cycle of reincarnation! These are not empty words. How has the Underworld become this pathetic?!”
The other two important halls of the Underworld were equally in an uproar, with low, thunderous roars shaking hundreds of millions of li of netherworld soil, causing blood-colored lightning to crackle and dance across the entire darkened yin world.
“The Underworld lacks for nothing — we have an abundance of powerful figures. Within us are gathered the mightiest heroic spirits of ten thousand ages past. No one should be able to resist us!” That voice began issuing commands, ordering people to go into the Black Prison and summon the slumbering existence within.
“My lord, please reconsider. The one in the Black Prison is not entirely stable — he has not fully awakened, and often wanders in a daze, slaughtering anyone he encounters. Though in life he was the most peerless figure of his era, the time for his emergence has not yet come.”
A massive earthquake struck the cosmos. Ye Tong and Yang Xi, those two disciples as brothers in the same lineage, shone their light in all eight directions. Yang Xi was unrivaled below the level of Quasi-Emperor, slaughtering the Underworld’s many yin generals. Ye Tong was even more astounding — his Solar bloodline had been purified to the utmost; he was hailed as the second coming of the Solar Sacred Emperor, consecutively slaying the Underworld’s future successors and stirring up a storm across the cosmos.
The entire world was stunned. The four realms — the Imperial Dynasty, the Dao Palace, the Underworld, and the divine organization — had not yet truly torn apart and fought a full-scale war; yet the Heavenly Court had first entered into conflict with the Underworld. Everyone marveled: Ye Fan had raised quite a few terrifying disciples. His disciples alone were already enough to stir up the heavenly winds and throw the cosmos into chaos.
Two of the Underworld’s successors had been cut down — how could such a thing fail to strike fear into every heart?
“And this is only the beginning. The Underworld Emperor Scion is going to challenge Ye Tong to a decisive battle, to restore the Underworld’s dignity.”
Someone sighed openly, saying that if the Underworld lost, that would be the most terrifying outcome of all — for it would signal the emergence of the boundless yin armies, the one-by-one return of the most supremely powerful figures of ancient times, their corpses marching back to wage war once more.
Since ancient times, no one knew how many supremely powerful figures had been born. Even if the Underworld had only obtained a small portion of their physical remains, it would still be enough to dominate the world without rival.
In the cosmos, Ye Tong’s entire being radiated divine light. With him present, there was no sun in the sky and no starlight in the heavens — because he himself was the most blazing and brilliant sun.
He stood there upright, even his hair gleaming like gold, dyed into that color by his own radiance. His expression was solemn, commanding without the need for anger.
Opposite him was a scene of absolute contrast: boundless darkness, rolling underworld mist, the power of death surging like a great tide. A man clad in black armor stood there like the god of death himself.
The battle erupted.
Though it was not an open war, those who happened to be passing through that star domain — as well as sages who had heard the news and rushed over at the first possible moment — were fortunate enough to witness it.
“Life and Death Cycle!”
The Underworld Emperor Scion opened with a great divine ability, a forbidden secret art from the ancient Supreme Beings’ forbidden chapters. The two wheels of yin and yang revolved; the breath of life and death surged like a vast tide, transforming into a reincarnation gate that swallowed the heavens and earth, enveloping Ye Tong and drawing him in.
“He’s going straight to a matter of life and death, a contest of victory from the very first move?” Every onlooker’s skin prickled.
This kind of duel was the most dangerous of all — distilling a thousand techniques into one, fusing them into a single form, a supremely powerful strike from which there was no return. Victory meant life; defeat meant death.
For the Underworld Emperor Scion to strike like this was not only confidence — it was a kind of courage, an attempt to crush Ye Tong in terms of momentum from the outset.
Ye Tong’s reaction was equally formidable. Standing within the pitch-black reincarnation gate, his golden silhouette strode forward through the endless cycle of reincarnation, pushing ahead without hesitation.
“At the end of reincarnation lies your final destination!” The Underworld Emperor Scion murmured low, his expression grave. He did not look down upon his opponent and fought with full seriousness. Even being able to execute this technique demonstrated the magnitude of his courage.
“Senior Brother!” Yang Xi was worried. He could see blood flowing from Ye Tong’s body — with each step forward, a vast stretch of the void was stained red. The pressure Ye Tong endured within the reincarnation cycle was immense.
“Open!”
In the next instant, not only did Solar divine light surge from Ye Tong’s body into the sky — Lunar energy also erupted outward. Eighteen ancient characters in total appeared, opposing one another, intertwining and revolving, merging into a single unified whole.
Faintly, a breath of primordial chaos burst forth!
“His body holds the true essence of the Lunar — this generation’s Solar Physique is extraordinary!” Many spectators cried out in astonishment, completely overwhelmed.
Crack!
The reincarnation gate shattered. The Underworld Emperor Scion’s body shook violently, blood overflowing from every part of him.
Ye Tong burst forth like a bolt of heavenly fire, radiance blazing for ten thousand zhang. In that moment he was a true Solar God, looking down upon the mortal realm with scorn. The wounds across his body healed in an instant. He extended his fingers like a blade — and with a single slash, cut the Underworld Emperor Scion, whose cultivation had already been half-destroyed, into four pieces, reducing him to a mist of blood.
Absolute silence fell across the cosmos. Of the Underworld’s three great successors, not one remained — all of them had been slain by Ye Tong alone. This was an earthshaking thunderbolt whose reverberations would be felt for a long time.
“Senior Brother, are you alright?” Yang Xi’s brow furrowed with concern.
“I’m fine. A few days of recovery and I’ll be fully healed.” Ye Tong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and revealed a smile as warm and bright as sunlight.
The two brothers departed, yet the starry sky around them seethed and churned. Before long, shockwaves spread to every corner of the cosmos. People understood: the true terror of the Underworld was about to be laid bare before the world.
“What kind of monsters has Ye Fan actually raised as disciples? Even his disciples possess such divine might as this. How strong is he himself — he hasn’t made a move in twenty years already.”
The entire cosmos was now discussing the Heavenly Court. This lineage was a miracle unto itself.
People could not help but marvel: though the Heavenly Court was not one of the four great realms, its potential was boundless. In time, it might well rise to surpass them all, to be revered by the entire world.
“I am truly disappointed. The Underworld’s successors of this generation are each weaker than the last. The Three Yin Physiques, hailed as the strongest in a hundred thousand years, nurtured in the Underworld for a hundred thousand years — and yet so easily disposed of, all killed by a single person.”
The Underworld Emperor Hall, the Yanluo Hall, and the Prison Suppression Hall all trembled simultaneously, cold and indifferent murmuring drifting outward, making the entire netherworld shake.
“It is not that the Underworld’s three sons were weak. It is that this generation’s Solar Physique is too terrifying.”
“Go to the Black Prison and break that person’s shackles. Let him loose to slaughter at will!” A voice of terrible authority roared out, boiling over with fury.
That day, the yin gates of the Underworld were thrown wide open. Hundreds of thousands of yin soldiers marched out in unison, escorting a prison cart that rumbled and ground forward, rolling toward the depths of the starry sky.
Everyone trembled. Those with sharp ears for information knew: the Underworld was enraged. They intended to sweep away the Heavenly Court and prepare to wash the starry sky in blood.
A slight-framed young boy stepped out into the starry sky, filled with hope, his eyes brimming with wonder and anticipation. He traveled with the sun, moon, and stars as his companions, curious about everything he encountered.
It had to be said — this was a very endearing child. He appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years of age. His pair of eyes was so clear and pure, cleaner even than an infant’s.
He was quiet and beautiful in appearance, more ethereal and spiritually gifted than any girl of his age. In his presence, everything with spiritual awareness seemed to lose its luster.
“Uncle, do you know where the Heavenly Court is?” After a long journey, he finally encountered an elderly sage on a small asteroid. On his face — white as fine porcelain — a shy smile appeared, his eyes like black gemstones, revealing him clearly as a boy who had not yet experienced the world.
“Child, you are truly powerful — you appear very young, yet you travel alone through the starry sky. That is far too dangerous.” The elderly sage offered him a kind word of caution. Then his expression shifted, and he said: “Do not go asking about the Heavenly Court, especially in this area of the star domain. I urge you to turn around immediately and go back — because hundreds of thousands of yin soldiers are passing through ahead, heading to sweep away the heroes of the Heavenly Court. Right now, many sages are fleeing in all directions; nearly every major settlement along the way has been emptied out — everyone has run.”
“Why would they attack the Heavenly Court?” the boy asked. He looked naive and endearing, the kind of person who instinctively made others want to look after him.
“Ask no more questions — leave quickly. Otherwise it’ll be too late.” The old man said this with genuine kindness.
“I can’t leave. I need to find my master.” The boy shook his head and made to press forward.
“Foolish child, a pack of demons is coming from ahead — they will wash the starry sky in blood. Going to meet them like this is the same as walking to your own death. You cannot go toward the Heavenly Court.” The elderly sage tried again to warn him.
“But my master is in the Heavenly Court. I must go.” The boy was a little shy about it, but he gave the elderly sage a sincere bow and then violet light flashed — and he disappeared from that asteroid.
“Good heavens — I misjudged him. He’s not a child who snuck out of his home using a teleportation formation. He can shatter the cosmos with his physical body alone and roam through the great void freely.” The elderly sage stood stunned for a very long time.
“Sir, which way is the Heavenly Court? Could you tell me?” As the boy traveled onward, he encountered more and more people — all of them hurrying as though fleeing for their lives.
“Turn around immediately! The yin army is on its way — if you don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!” A white-haired elder called out.
“I’m not fleeing. I need to find my master. If the yin soldiers are heading for the Heavenly Court, then I’ll go and stop them.” The boy’s voice was soft and gentle, yet his appearance was so beautiful — so filled with spiritual grace — that he was the most ethereally gifted person any of them had ever seen. He seemed to embody the very spiritual wisdom of heaven and earth, his entire being extraordinarily pure and otherworldly.
“You may not be as young as you look — you might well be a sage — but you truly cannot advance any further.”
“Turn back now, or you will walk into mortal peril.”
The people fleeing down that road could not bear to watch such a beautiful boy with such pure eyes — clearly unworldly and innocent — come to harm, and one after another they tried to persuade him.
“Thank you, uncles and elders. But I really must go to the Heavenly Court to find my master.” The boy replied.
“Who is your master?” someone asked.
“My master is the Sacred Physique, Ye Fan.” The boy said it softly, his voice a little quiet and gentle.
Everyone was startled. Ye Fan had a disciple like this? None of them had ever heard of it.
“Run — the yin soldiers are here!” someone bellowed. Far in the distance, an enormous black mass advanced — war chariots rumbling, yin energy blotting out the sky.
“Don’t be afraid, uncles and elders — I’ll help you deal with them.” The boy rushed forward, violet radiance tearing through the cosmos, and with a thunderous boom he stood planted at the front.
In that instant, everyone behind him froze. As if in a trance, they seemed to see a peerless Demon Emperor awakening. The boy’s aura was completely transformed. He stood alone in the starry sky, and it felt as though he suppressed the heavens, the earth, and the entire star river.
“He… who is he? What kinds of monsters has the Sacred Physique Ye Fan actually raised? Why does it feel like he can take on every single entity in the Underworld by himself?”
“A Quasi-Emperor — he is actually a Quasi-Emperor!”
“Dear heavens — when did Ye Fan get a disciple like this? If this young boy manages to drive the Underworld’s entire army back, that would truly defy the heavens!”
Everyone was shaken, staring in disbelief at that scene.