Since arriving in this world, Ye Fan had spent his days wandering and on the run, struggling merely to survive. Now at last he could face the Holy Lands with a measure of calm.
Over the past several days, he had accepted many invitations from major powers and attended banquet after banquet, navigating among countless cultivators. With the Divine King standing behind him, his circumstances had changed entirely.
What is meant by the warmth and coldness of human nature and the ways of the world — only those who have lived through it can truly understand. The same person, simply because the Divine King now sheltered him, had instantly become something else entirely.
“Woof… Ahwooo…” The Great Dark Dog drank itself into a stumbling stupor and beneath the night moon howled alternately like a dog and a wolf, startling up countless waterbirds.
This was a quiet little lake. The scent of water grasses and earth mingled together. No fine trees had been planted on its banks, no pavilions or palace halls dotted the shore — only the original, untamed nature remained.
Watergrasses, wild birds, pond fish — it carried the flavor of the countryside and mountain villages. Within the divine city, this was unquestionably a peculiar sort of place. Though it held no refined scenery, it was deeply beloved by certain cultivators.
“Raising a cup, I sing of life — how many seasons does man possess?” Ye Fan sang aloud in high spirits.
“Better to simply drink oneself into one great stupor…” Li Heishui swayed as he raised his cup toward the moon, nearly toppling headlong into the lake.
“You really are dark…” the Great Dark Dog said, eyes bleary with drink, tilting its head to squint at him.
“Damn it, you vile dog — how many times are you going to say that?! Are you looking for a beating?!” Li Heishui erupted in fury.
Everyone around roared with laughter. The atmosphere was joyful and lively, and the crowd raised cups and toasted freely.
Over the past few days, such gatherings had been a nightly occurrence. Many major powers had extended olive branches, and most of them sent their younger generation representatives to draw Ye Fan in.
That evening, the Dayan Holy Son Xiang Yifei and several disciples from great sects ranking just below the Holy Lands had extended the invitation. Ye Fan saw no reason to decline and brought Li Heishui and Tu Fei along.
The lakeside gathering did not disperse until late in the night, when the Dayan Holy Son and the others departed.
The latter half of the night in the divine city was still ablaze with lights — it was an ancient city that never knew silence.
Moonlight poured down like a thin mist drifting over everything.
“I look forward to you breaking the curse. Otherwise, even if I were to capture you, there would be no point in refining medicine from you.” Just then, a young man of thirteen or fourteen years of age approached from across the way, his robes rippling gently, like an immortal-exile drifting across water.
He was dressed entirely in white, his robes unstained by a single mote of dust. His hair was glossy black, his skin like snow, his eyes like polished black gems, his lips red and his teeth white — extraordinarily handsome, with looks that would make even young women envious.
It was none other than the young prodigy Xia Jiuyou. He fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and said: “I will be waiting for you in the Four Extremes. The Divine King has spoken — once you are there, any member of the younger generation may challenge you to a life-or-death duel. If I kill you then, even the Divine King will have nothing to say about it!”
“Are you a young lad, or a little lass?” the Dark Emperor asked, reeking of wine and speaking without filter.
Xia Jiuyou let out a cold snort and reached out a pale white hand toward the Great Dark Dog, intending to restrain it.
“Woof!” The Great Dark Dog’s glossy black fur stood entirely on end. It sensed danger and lunged forward with snapping jaws.
Hmmm!
The void trembled. A mysterious ancient stele manifested, adhering to the tip of Xia Jiuyou’s finger and pressing down toward the Dark Emperor in a suppression strike.
Clang!
The Dark Emperor opened its mouth and expelled a massive ancient bell, blocking the Dao-inscription-bearing ancient stele. A resonant trembling rang out, spreading dozens of li in every direction and startling many cultivators.
It had to be said — Xia Jiuyou was truly gifted by heaven, possessed of a talent rarely seen throughout the ages. Though very young in years, he was already a top-tier figure among the younger generation, and his strength was staggering beyond belief.
Even the Dark Emperor was sent flying backward by the blow — though it was not truly injured. With its iron muscles and copper bones, it rolled right back up immediately, its intoxication sobering up more than half in an instant.
“Woof! What a little monster indeed — even in the times before the Ancient era, there were scarcely a few like this!”
Ye Fan strode forward with long steps and looked at Xia Jiuyou with calm composure. “You wish to fight me? Very well. Wait a few days — if I enter the Four Extremes, my very first battle will be against you!”
“I only fear you’ll end up disappointing me!” Xia Jiuyou was the same as ever — a prodigy who had achieved glory at a young age, overflowing with arrogance, regarding Ye Fan without even a flicker of concern.
On either side of the street stood many palace halls, and cultivators emerged from them one after another, standing in the moonlight to watch. No one had expected that even at this sensitive moment, someone would dare to come looking for trouble with Ye Fan.
“Are you a young lad or a little lass?” the Dark Emperor persisted with relentless tenacity, clinging to this question with stubborn obsession, wine reeking from its breath.
“You vile dog — I’ll have your hide!” Xia Jiuyou was growing furious.
“Young Lord, please restrain yourself. Do not make a move.” Two gray-robed elders appeared without sound, blocking the unparalleled young prodigy — fearing this would provoke the Divine King’s wrath.
“Little Ye, the enemies you’ll be facing in the future are getting more and more terrifying and extraordinary with each one,” Tu Fei remarked with feeling on the way back.
Yao Guang Holy Son, Golden-Winged Little Peng King, the Divine Body, the Innate Dao Fetus, Xia Jiuyou… not one of them was anything short of a world-shaking hero — all of them would unquestionably be future kings of the Eastern Desolation.
“Rest and build up your strength as quickly as you can,” Li Heishui also nodded. “Once you enter the Four Extremes, you’ll likely be fighting nonstop — and there’s no telling what kinds of powerful figures might still appear!”
“Now this is what makes it satisfying — suppress all the men, and capture all the women to be my wives…” The Great Dark Dog was thoroughly drunk, drooling as it rambled and raved.
The next day, a momentous piece of news arrived. The Jiang Family Holy Lord had personally brought ten million jin of source stones to the divine city and stacked this world-shaking treasure into the Dragon Transformation Pool.
Even in broad daylight, one could see auspicious radiance soaring into the heavens from that direction, divine light blotting out the sun with matchless brilliance. The dense spiritual energy flowed and surged, nearly condensing into liquid form, permeating the entire divine city.
Everyone was shaken. Ten million jin of source stones — truly brought here at last. This was unquestionably a matter that would shake the entire world, and every person was talking about it.
Now, in the divine city, there was only a single topic of conversation: could the Ancient Holy Body break the curse and charge into the Four Extremes Secret Realm? Every person without exception was discussing it.
All that remained now was for the Divine King to return. Once he did, Ye Fan would be able to enter the Dragon Transformation Pool and assault the first great barrier inherent to the Holy Body’s cultivation!
Over the days that followed, every major sect across the entire Eastern Desolation was watching closely — Holy Lord-level figures were no exception — for the stakes were immense.
If Ye Fan succeeded in his breakthrough, it would mean that a fully matured Ancient Holy Body could very possibly reappear in the world in the future, overturning every existing framework of power!
For a fully matured Ancient Holy Body was nearly on par with a Great Emperor — what did that concept mean?
In an age without an Emperor, a quasi-Great Emperor might emerge into the world. That prospect was enough to shake the hearts of all!
At this moment, Ye Fan had become the absolute focus of every cultivator in the Eastern Desolation. Every person was watching, every person was awaiting the outcome — quietly waiting for the peerless Divine King to return and preside over all of this.
The waves this stirred up surpassed all imagination. Even Zhongzhou was shaken — figures from various great sects and hundred schools were said to be making the journey to observe and witness whether the Holy Body could break the curse and create a miracle in the era after the Ancient age.
“Little Ye, are you feeling the pressure? The entire world’s eyes are upon you!” Tu Fei exclaimed with awe.
“How could there not be pressure? If this land has truly changed, then even ten million jin of source stones may not be enough for me to spend freely,” Ye Fan mused with genuine seriousness.
Over the days that followed, figures from Zhongzhou did indeed begin arriving — entering the divine city one after another. The great completion Holy Body was invincible under heaven, able to stand toe to toe with a Great Emperor, and this breakthrough attempt had drawn the gaze of all under heaven.
Now, the eyes of the entire world converged upon the divine city of the Eastern Desolation. Under the gaze of the whole world, Ye Fan began contemplating every possibility, preparing himself to meet the immense waves that were to come.
As the days continued, the atmosphere within the divine city grew increasingly tense. Masters and powerhouses moved through the city in abundance, experts gathered from all four directions — not limited to the Eastern Desolation alone.
Throughout this period, not one of the following had departed: the Golden-Winged Little Peng King, Yao Guang Holy Son, the Ji Family’s Divine Body, Yao Xi, the Holy Daughter of the Purple Mansion, or Xia Jiuyou. Their intentions were transparent to all.
Even before Ye Fan had made his breakthrough attempt, the air was already saturated with the prelude to war. Everyone had already seen a portion of the future — a world-shaking battle among kings was certain to come!
During these days, the major forces seeking to draw Ye Fan in grew ever more numerous. Some Holy Sons and Holy Daughters even came in person, setting aside past grievances to mend their relationship with him.
Better to be prepared than not — if Ye Fan truly succeeded in his breakthrough, it was easy to foresee that the glorious era of the great completion Holy Body would arrive. The thought alone was enough to move them.
At midday, Ye Fan and Li Heishui and the others were invited to the Illusory Feast Hall, where they unexpectedly encountered familiar faces.
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s golden hair flew freely, his wild and untamable nature on full display. His golden pupils brimmed with boundless killing intent, and his tall and powerful frame radiated an overbearing pressure.
He stared fixedly at Ye Fan, his voice like ice: “If you enter the Four Extremes, I will take your life. Pray while you still can — on that day, your blood will run dry.”
Ye Fan’s face carried a smile, but his words were unyielding: “I look forward to our second great battle!”
“Last time, I bound myself with restraints. Now there are no restraints whatsoever — I will tear you apart with the supreme Heavenly Peng Dragon-Slaying Technique!” The Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s killing intent surged toward the heavens, his entire being possessed by a kind of demonic ferocity.
“Brother Peng, let us go drink. Today is not the day to speak of what comes tomorrow.” Someone nearby laughed heartily and pulled the Golden-Winged Little Peng King away — it was Pang Bo, who had his arm slung around the future king of the demon race as though they were the closest of friends.
Ye Fan rubbed his chin and broke into a smile, then stepped inside the Illusory Feast Hall.
“Little Ye, the Miaoyuan Convent has extended another invitation?” Inside the Illusory Feast Hall, Tu Fei was astonished. “I remember we’ve already been there several times, haven’t we?”
Li Heishui chuckled and said: “Does it even need to be said? An Miaoyi is clearly selecting a husband, and Little Ye is in the running.”
“Seriously?!” Tu Fei’s eyes immediately went wide as he let out a strange cry. “Ye Fan, I demand a duel with you.”
“Don’t listen to his nonsense,” Ye Fan shook his head.
Li Heishui said: “Last time, Ye Fan lost out — An Miaoyi decisively passed him over. This time is completely different. With the peerless Divine King backing him, if he breaks the curse, his future will allow him to stand toe to toe with a Great Emperor. He would have a distinct advantage over all the Holy Sons. If he enters the Four Extremes Secret Realm, there’s no need to think twice — An Miaoyi will certainly choose Ye Fan.”
“Ye Fan, I am going to fight you to the death!” Tu Fei cried out in anguish.
“Still, I suspect An Miaoyi has likely already identified a certain powerful young king, and Ye Fan will face competition,” Li Heishui added.
“You two, say something useful. I’m thinking through everything about the breakthrough attempt — it won’t pass quietly. There will be surging waves and massive storms,” Ye Fan said, deep in thought.
On the ninth day, the peerless Divine King returned — reappearing within the divine city!
The white-robed Divine King had been away for nine days, and in that time many rumors had spread across the Eastern Desolation. Countless people had caught sight of his solitary figure.
Throughout those nine days, he had held the remains of the Fairy of Colored Clouds and visited one place after another — all the lands where they had once journeyed together in years past.
The peerless Divine King was revisiting the places of his past, reliving memories of times long gone. Alas, the beloved was no more — only the Divine King remained, wandering alone and desolate.
On the day of the Divine King’s return, the entire ancient city was shaken. Everyone was filled with anticipation, quietly waiting for the Holy Body to make its breakthrough attempt.
Every Holy Land of the Eastern Desolation paid particular attention. The gaze of every person on this vast land converged upon this place, everyone looking from afar in expectation.
The four great immortal dynasties of Zhongzhou, together with the various great sects and hundred schools, all had representatives who had arrived — solely to witness this occasion.