That person’s research into reincarnation seals was unprecedented before him and unmatched after — on this path, he could be called the founding ancestor. And regarding those who walked the corpse path, he held complete mastery.

As long as one stepped onto the corpse path — even if one had forged a reincarnation seal and left the old self behind — one would certainly be no match for him, destined to be suppressed.

And it was even said that this person could manipulate reincarnation seals — the greatest secret he had spent an entire life researching!

The Corpse Emperor shot skyward — not to attack Duan De, but to flee. He wanted nothing more than to put as much distance as possible between himself and this vast battlefield.

For him, as a formidable sovereign-path powerhouse, he had no wish to be controlled by another. He feared that person would seize mastery of reincarnation — taking him as a war slave!

But to escape while caught in the midst of a battle? That was no easy task. Especially under Ye Fan’s attacks — fleeing in such terror and panic naturally came with enormous danger.

Yet he was truly frightened. His lips murmured in a low growl: “The Underworld Sovereign… he has returned!”

Everyone froze. Was that not the Nether Emperor? This name was far too ancient — its origins astonishing. He was the founding ancestor of the underworld lineage, the true creator of that path.

It was said he and the Exalted Emperor had been as both teacher and friend to one another — one of the most mysterious figures of all antiquity.

Boom!

Ye Fan was like a god of slaughter. His eyes opened and closed and cold lightning flashed within them. He did not hesitate. Cold and merciless, he launched himself skyward. The Locomotion Word Secret activated to its utmost — the river of time halted for him. In a single breath he was there: one fist thundering forward, fist force spanning the age, driving through the mythological battlefield.

Pu. The Corpse Emperor’s back was punched through — pierced front to back, bloody and horrifying.

He had lost his composure. He had been consumed by terror and wanted only to leave — and now he had been struck by a devastating blow. In this moment, his eyes blazed back to life. It was as though he had snapped back to clarity all at once. He let out a great roar: “So be it — I’ll cut myself one more time!”

Ah…

He raised his head and howled at the heavens. From within his body, a pristine ring of light flew out — none other than the renowned reincarnation seal. It was radiant beyond measure. And yet he had cast it aside.

He was no longer afraid of Ye Fan — it was the Nether Emperor he dreaded, and the fear that the man might take control of his life and death. Now, having suffered a grievous wound, something seemed to snap in him. He was going to fight to mutual destruction.

Everyone was utterly astonished. That reincarnation seal was incredibly terrifying — more so even than an emperor-grade weapon. It let out a strange, mournful wail and plummeted toward Ye Fan, seeking to bind him.

It looked incomparably holy at a glance. But it made the blood run cold. It was like standing before the entirety of the underworld — a bone-deep chill rising from within.

And its power was without measure. At this moment, divine energy sought to drive into Ye Fan’s body — shackling him — and then destroy him.

Ye Fan was fearless. His divine phenomenon spread open, sealing off this expanse of heaven and earth. His left hand formed the Universe Seal, commanding time. His right hand was the Heavenly Emperor Fist, obliterating all obstruction.

Suddenly, Xiao Song gave a light cry: “Master — catch the sword!”

One had to admit — Xiao Song was supremely capable. He had plucked an immortal sword from the crumbling first killing formation and sent it to Ye Fan. Blood-red light flowed from it. Its killing intent was boundless.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. His left hand let go of the Universe Seal and caught the sword, driving it forward in a mighty cleave. What no one had expected was that when this sword met the reincarnation seal, a wave of chanting surged forth — the supreme profound truth of the Crossing the Multitudes Sutra manifested with full power. It left everyone slack-jawed in astonishment.

The pristine reincarnation seal descended and was blocked by the blood-red immortal sword — which then cut open a terrifying gap, nearly severing it in two.

“Perfectly counters corpse calamity!”

Boom!

Simultaneously, the Heavenly Emperor Fist, divine phenomenon, and all else descended together. Another strike of the sword followed. With all these methods released at once, the reincarnation seal was shattered, dissolving into holy radiance that scattered and dispersed.

Within that holiness lay something sinister; within that radiance lingered corpse death energy. It was a feeling of profound contradiction. The Corpse Emperor screamed in agony. The instant he lost the reincarnation seal, his vital essence drained away.

He no longer feared being controlled by the Nether Emperor. But he had fallen into the most terrible crisis imaginable — far less powerful now than before, having lost his foundation.

Shhk!

With one punch Ye Fan drove through him — and then he swung the sword in his hand. A scarlet blaze shot up to the heavens. The immortal sword was without equal. He cut down and severed the Corpse Emperor’s head.

Pu!

The young Old Madman arrived. One fist crashed down — the Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist, savage and unrestrained — turning the Corpse Emperor’s proud head to a pulp, his primordial spirit utterly destroyed.

Yang Xi also arrived. He picked up the remains and tossed them to the Human Demon. “Old man — your prey. This one, roasted, would be wonderfully crispy.”

Pu!

The Human Demon did not even glance at the remains. He brought down his club. The corpse dissolved into a mist of blood — smashed utterly to nothing.

Just like that, a sovereign of an entire generation died. The shock of it was staggering — all of this had happened too suddenly, beyond all expectation. Everyone turned to look at Duan De. Was he the Nether Emperor?

“Boundless Heaven, boundless fortune — this poor Daoist was merely passing through.” Duan De was feeling uneasy. He couldn’t quite figure out what had just happened. And being stared down ferociously by the three great Sovereigns — the Great Peng Emperor, the Immortal Crone, and the Spirit Emperor — he feared they might suddenly surge forward and attack him all at once. He wanted to quietly slip away.

“Kill!”

Ye Fan did not stop. He pressed forward, attacking. Now was not the time to be lost in thought. Even if something strange was happening here, this was no time to halt. He lunged toward the Great Peng Emperor.

The course of the battle had been completely rewritten. The three remaining Sovereigns were in an extremely passive position — they were all deeply uneasy, their eyes fixed on the unscrupulous Daoist in the air. If he truly was the Nether Emperor, the trouble would be immense!

It could be said that Ye Fan and his allies had seized the initiative and held the upper hand.

On another front, Xiao Song’s progress was going smoothly as well. He had seized another immortal sword — scarlet rays flying, brilliant light streaming, killing energy billowing like cascading flowers in ten thousand directions.

Clang…

The tolling of a bell, distant and resonant, rang through the universe. A great golden bell descended from the heavens — dazzling and magnificent, tracing arcs of Dao ripples that spread outward across the mythological battlefield.

The Golden Crow Great Emperor descended from the sky, entering the battle on Ye Fan’s side — facing off against the Immortal Crone.

Whatever else one might say, this was a Great Emperor of the current world. Any Forbidden Zone Supreme would be wary of him. He was a powerhouse on the same level as them — and most importantly, the enemy’s vital energy was full and abundant, far surpassing their own.

“Is there still any question how this battle ends?”

Everyone thought so. Ye Fan’s side held absolute control. The outcome was decided.

Boom!

Yet from the direction of the Northern Dipper, a terrifying fluctuation came. A Supreme was about to emerge — the aura was breathtaking. This made everyone draw cold breaths. Could it be that the most terrifying divine war in history was about to occur?

“This battle must not affect other life-bearing star systems!” Zhang Bairen spoke.

At the same moment, several more figures appeared. Among them, astonishingly, was the Sovereign Emperor — a person Zhang Bairen had once regarded with extreme attention and wariness. He too was staring toward the Northern Dipper, his aura surging and billowing.

“You truly intend to launch an annihilation war? We will accompany you to the very end!”

The void split open. Another aged monkey appeared — the Battle Saint Buddha had also arrived. It could be said the assembly on the mythological battlefield was extraordinarily powerful. Nearly half of the universe’s mightiest individuals had gathered here.

“All who are not afraid to die, come forth and get yourselves over here — this Seat will destroy every last one of you!” Duan De bellowed, shaking the universe.

Yet no matter how one looked at it, he seemed to be putting on a bit of a bluff — failing to frighten anyone, while he himself was beginning to feel a prickling unease. He edged closer to Pang Bo and the Black Emperor, and one of his hands, without thinking, clamped tightly onto the big black dog’s tail.

“Woof!” The Black Emperor whipped around and bit him.

Boom!

Suddenly, the most terrifying aura of all exploded. Within the ancient Forbidden Zone of the Northern Dipper’s star region, the Empress awakened. She rose and stood towering in the sky, overlooking the several great life Forbidden Zones.

At this, all the divine senses and auras probing inward from the other four great Forbidden Zones were completely blocked off — no longer perceivable.

What was happening there was the most fearsome standoff imaginable. The Empress stood alone against four great Forbidden Zones. Her dark hair billowed in the wind. She looked down upon all the world — possessing a truly supreme and magnificent bearing, her beauty unmatched through the ages!

Her face could not be seen. Her immortal countenance could not be beheld. But in this moment, Duan De — who had come with the group — couldn’t help but give a shudder. For above his head, the demon cauldron that could swallow the heavens was glowing of its own accord, life essence flowing from within.

The Black Emperor and the unscrupulous Daoist exchanged a glance, then quickly looked away, clamped their mouths shut, and said not a single word.

“Sacred Body Ye Fan — you push too far! This is an outrage beyond measure!” A great shout rang out.

“It is not I who presses. It is you who do not know restraint. This universe is not your breeding ground. In this Golden Great Era, you can no longer do as you please!” Ye Fan thundered back.

He was immensely imposing — truly as though a Heavenly Emperor had descended to the mortal world. Even his disciples Ye Tong and Yang Xi, standing before him, felt a terrifying pressure.

To say nothing of others — every supreme powerhouse who had followed to the Northern Dipper or was watching this great upheaval felt their hearts shaking with awe. Ye Fan’s great momentum had taken full shape. Under heaven, there was no one who could stop him any longer.

“When we were sovereign lords, guarding this universe, your ancestors were kneeling at our feet in prayer and worship — and now you would commit treason and rebellion?” Another voice came, filled with fury and reproach.

“I respected you in your first lifetimes. But during the years of your lingering twilight — through generation after generation of dark upheavals — how many living beings did you devour? You made heaven and earth weep for you!” Ye Fan’s expression was serene, but his voice was cold. His thoughts turned to Ji Zi, Gai Jiuyou, the White-Clad God King — and whenever he thought of them, a kind of pain came over him, full of regret. “After living through the blood-soaked storms of heaven and earth, I made a vow — that I hoped within my lifetime I could level the Forbidden Zones, so that dark upheavals would never come again!”

“Arrogance!”

“The great emperors of the past have already laid a solid foundation. How many Supremes can be left? In this lifetime, I will fight with my blood until death for the sake of leveling the life Forbidden Zones!” Ye Fan’s voice resounded through the great universe. This vow left everyone astonished — and stirred.

In this moment, his voice echoed across every great star region. His invincible will aligned with the heart of heaven. The great universe itself rumbled and rang — trembling for him.

“Kill!”

Ye Fan made his move. The life Forbidden Zone he chose was the Divine Ruins — an ancient place with relics of the mythological era’s heaven: towers, halls, and palaces. Some of the architecture bore formation inscriptions carved by the Exalted Emperor himself.

In the ancient days, when the heaven of antiquity shattered — torn apart in divine warfare — many of its sacred grounds fell into the vast reaches of the universe. This was the foremost among them.

Boom!

Heaven and earth trembled. Ye Fan extended one great hand, uprooting the Divine Ruins entire and setting it adrift within the great universe’s star river.

The divine might of this was world-shaking. Ignoring the Supreme within, he seized the mountain and rivers by force — tearing the place free, shaking heaven and earth.

Those inside struck out — yet they could not change this fact. Unable to stop any of it. A great hand thrust out to strike toward him, and Ye Fan drove it back.

“Kill!”

The monkey roared, wielding his immortal iron staff, his bearing fierce and mighty. Golden fur standing on end all over his body, he was the first to plunge inside — for within this place were the ancient peach trees of his kind, the legendary ones that bore the divine medicine.

This immortal herb had drifted and wandered through many hands before finally being taken by the people of the Divine Ruins. Now he had come to reclaim it.

At the same moment, the Battle Saint Buddha also made his move. Old as he was, his ferocity was no less. One divine ape fist came crashing down — shaking heaven and earth.

For the sake of leveling a Forbidden Zone, no one would hold anything back. The young Old Madman, Xiao Song, and the rest all plunged into the attack, driving deep into the Divine Ruins, striking with their most powerful methods.

One figure burst out, exploding a massive fragment of immortal source in the sky above, then pushed to the ultimate limit of ascension — driven by desperation — to fight here!

He cried out: “Fellow Daoists! If you will not act now, when will you? Will you truly wait to be defeated one by one?”

Within the Divine Ruins, apparently, only he remained — entirely contrary to expectations. But not to Ye Fan’s — this was precisely why he had chosen this place as the first battlefield.

At this moment the aura of heaven and earth fell into turmoil. The Primordial Ancient Mine, the Heavenly Burial Sky Island, and the Immortal Mausoleum all shuddered violently. Several powerful auras shot into the sky — someone was about to emerge.

Yet with a resonant boom, a great bronze immortal palace took flight, illuminating ancient and present and future alike. In an instant it sealed off the Divine Ruins from the outside world.

“An immortal artifact!”

In that moment, within the Primordial Ancient Mine, the Heavenly Burial Sky Island, and the Immortal Mausoleum, voices cried out in disbelief as they stared at the bronze immortal palace. Atop it stood a woman whose bearing was supremely magnificent.

“A true immortal artifact!”

These words made people tremble. The three great Forbidden Zones fell silent in that instant. They were struck by a multitude of thoughts all at once.

“This campaign — I will destroy only the Divine Ruins!” Ye Fan thundered.

The human heart is ever thus. The three Forbidden Zones hesitated for just a moment, seeming to weigh their options — for the cost of emerging was far too great.

Boom!

Ye Fan made his move without hesitation. Like a dragon-leopard he was agile and swift, cutting across the sky. He joined the battle, coming from above with one kick that dominated heaven and earth, unstoppable by anyone.

He physically shattered every formation inscription in the sky, and his foot came down upon that fist the Supreme of the Divine Ruins had driven skyward.

The two collided like heaven and earth meeting. At first an auspicious energy resounded to the heavens — but then blood erupted in all directions. Ye Fan and the Divine Ruins Supreme had both poured in their utmost power, compressing hundreds upon hundreds of exchanges into this single most powerful strike!

Pu!

The Divine Ruins Supreme’s fist burst apart — flesh and blood shredded. He stumbled backward in disarray.

“Kill!”

Ye Fan let out a great roar and struck again. The two clashed like divine dragons coiling together. The exchange was violent and thunderous. Blood flew from time to time, staining the blue sky of the universe crimson.

Boom!

With one final thunderous impact, Ye Fan sent him flying with a single palm strike. Then he took up Numinous Treasure Heavenly Lord’s killing sword and swept it in a horizontal arc — blood-red light flooding out for ten billion miles, cutting the Supreme in half at the waist.

After that, he struck no more. He soared up into the sky, coming to rest beside the bronze immortal palace, and together with the Empress he faced the three remaining life Forbidden Zones — a wordless standoff.

Behind him, the monkey, the Human Demon, and the rest all acted together, overwhelming the already-grievously-wounded Divine Ruins Supreme. The Golden Crow Great Emperor’s divine bell fell — with a resounding clang — and the Supreme’s severed body cracked further apart.

The battle drew to its close. The last Supreme of the Divine Ruins was slain. The great universe resonated and rang. His Dao scattered away. His spirit turned to ash. All lands in all directions trembled with shock.

Yet another Supreme had come to the end of his life — the first half radiant with glory, the second half defined by savagery. Accompanied by tragic struggle and striving, in his final instant, only desolation remained — and that one startling stroke of blood.

“Time, like a blade, cuts down the heaven’s favorites…” Ye Fan murmured, gazing toward the last several Forbidden Zones — the Primordial Ancient Mine, the Immortal Mausoleum, the Heavenly Burial Sky Island.

A glorious opening act, a blood-stained canvas, a desolate ending — leaving the supreme sovereigns within the Forbidden Zones to fall into silence, their hearts filled with too many feelings.

They thought of many things. Once revered by every people and clan, once unmatched beneath the heavens, once proudly unbending with iron bones — yet what remained of them now?

Was it truly so — that time, like a blade, cuts down the heaven’s favorites? Ye Fan’s gaze found the supremely beautiful figure atop the bronze immortal palace. This Empress seemed to have transcended — she was unlike all the rest.