The Purple Subtlety Sect stretched out without limit. Auspicious energy pervaded the air. One purple mountain peak after another stood side by side. Spirit medicines of ten-thousand-year vintage grew here and there, with spiritual energy swirling in mist all around.

As Ye Fan and his group walked into this ancient land, they could smell a heart-refreshing fragrance. On the sheer cliffs and beside ten-thousand-year ancient trees, a rare precious medicine could occasionally be glimpsed.

“There is a ‘Dragon Ancient Spirit Orchid’ on that purple cliff — at least fifteen thousand years old in medicinal age. It is a peerless spirit medicine!” The Great Black Dog’s old habit flared up again. Its copper-bell eyes glowed green. It wanted nothing more than to leap over and snatch it away immediately.

Mountain peak after mountain peak passed by, radiant with flowing light, wreathed in trailing cloud mist. Cliff faces and strange rocks stood upright in solitary grandeur — truly resembling a land of immortals.

Beyond the curiously shaped stone mountains, many mountain ranges brimmed with vitality. The mountains were planted throughout with wondrous trees — vigorous and gnarled like coiling dragons, swaying to emit shimmering, sparkling green light.

Stream after stream of great white waterfalls cascaded from the mountain summits, passing through bands of cloud mist and appearing breathtakingly ethereal and magnificent.

On nearly every single purple mountain peak, one or two precious spirit medicines exceeding ten thousand years in medicinal age could be discovered. To say nothing of everything else — these alone were worth incalculable fortunes.

The Purple Subtlety Sect’s lineage was ancient. It had existed for more than a hundred thousand years. To possess such profound accumulation was entirely natural and expected — yet it still left Ye Fan and his group astonished.

This was an ancient land, painstakingly cultivated by the hands of generations of predecessors. It contained many rare and precious things that no ordinary great sect could hope to match.

Several young disciples of the Purple Subtlety Sect walked alongside them as guides, every one of them ill at ease. That disheveled, wild-haired strange figure made the hair on the backs of their necks stand on end.

According to legend, an ancient holy man’s divine power knew no bounds and could accomplish anything. No one could fathom such a being — they were simply divine beings walking in the mortal world, inspiring awe and reverence in all.

Such a person, even in the remote ancient era, was extraordinarily rare. Which was precisely why they were revered as holy men — honored by all races and respected for ten thousand generations.

In the sky above the Purple Subtlety Ancient Land, stars packed the heavens. It was as though one stood within a boundless starry sky — starlight flowing across the main peaks, dazzlingly beautiful beyond description.

Before long, the Purple Subtlety Sect Master and many Supreme Elders came out in person to receive them. Facing an existence comparable to an ancient holy man, not one of them dared put on airs.

With a “divine figure” of this stature arriving at the door, every last one of them had an enormous headache. If this was a matter of demanding justice and punishment — how could they resist? Deploy their so-called hidden reserves? But this was a living, undamaged holy man — there was simply no way to touch him!

“Senior, we failed to welcome you properly upon your arrival from afar. Please forgive us!” These people all performed a great bow of reverence, deeply apprehensive within.

As for the younger generation of the Purple Subtlety Sect, they dared not even draw breath. They remained at the very back, bowing in reverence, cursing Ye Fan in their hearts. How had he managed to bring a divine being of this stature? To come barging in like this was going to frighten people to death!

The Old Madman said not a single word. His hollow eyes were fixed upon the stars above the Purple Subtlety Ancient Land — and upon the great purple star at the center — as though deep in thought about something.

“All of you fellow elders, we have intruded upon your quiet cultivation…” Ye Fan stepped in to smooth things over, explaining that the Old Madman was walking in the mortal world and engaged in another form of “secluded cultivation” in preparation for a breakthrough. Therefore, he had no concern for anything in the external world — the Old Madman might well be wandering in the void of the great heavens at this very moment — and asked them not to take it to heart.

Still want to break through? The supreme major figures of the Purple Subtlety Sect exchanged glances with one another. Already comparable to an ancient holy man, and still aiming to break through — was there still any room left for others to live?!

Ye Fan was highly respectful and humble. He made no use of the Old Madman’s holy man’s authority to impose upon anyone. Coming here for a stroll was already enough — the Purple Subtlety Sect would never dare trouble him going forward.

The Old Madman could not possibly travel at his side forever. Perhaps before long he would disappear again. For now, all he could do was borrow the deterrent effect and make the sacred grounds hold back.

“Uncle doesn’t like to talk — big brother is telling the truth…” Xiao Nannan spoke with innocent simplicity. Then the little one began to “climb the tree” — grabbing hold of the Old Madman’s robes and trying to get up.

The major figures of the Purple Subtlety Sect were thoroughly stunned. In the present age, surely only this little girl would dare do such a thing — “climbing” an existence comparable to an ancient holy man.

The Great Black Dog stepped forward and lifted Xiao Nannan onto the Old Madman’s shoulder. The little girl was not the least bit afraid and sat herself right up.

The people of the Purple Subtlety Sect dared not disturb the Old Madman. They let him walk freely through the ancient land and drew Ye Fan aside, asking: “How did you come to know that senior?”

“We are old acquaintances — he is something of a half-master to me. He once passed to me the Celestial Pivot footwork. This is no more than a reunion.” Ye Fan smiled.

The people of the Purple Subtlety Sect were immediately turned to stone on the spot. They instantly guessed the identity of the disheveled, wild-haired strange figure — he was the only surviving crazy old man from the Celestial Pivot lineage!

The Great Black Dog bellowed: “Are you people thinking of killing Ye Fan?” It spoke directly, like a reckless hothead — though it was clearly doing so intentionally, playing the villain to apply pressure.

“How could we possibly…” One major figure of the Purple Subtlety Sect wiped cold sweat from his brow, casting a glance at the Old Madman not far away with a deeply guilty heart.

If this holy man were provoked and flew into a rage, he could overturn even the Purple Subtlety Ancient Land. At this moment, who would dare court such bad fortune?

“But not long ago, we heard it with our own ears.” The Great Black Dog refused to let the matter go, speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear.

In the distance, Xiao Nannan — seated on the Old Madman’s shoulder — looked pitifully, saying: “Grandfather elders, please don’t kill big brother, alright?”

Overwhelmed — we dare kill him? Little ancestor, please, do not make such an innocent request like that. The major figures of the Purple Subtlety Sect felt their flesh crawl. Xiao Nannan sitting on a holy man’s shoulder and making such a plea caused every last one of them to feel unsettled, and one after another they hastened to express their position.

“It was all a misunderstanding — nothing of that sort would ever happen.”

“Please set your minds at ease — our Purple Subtlety Sect has always kept to itself and stays out of others’ affairs. We would never do such a thing.”

“Going forward, our sect’s young generation will draw closer to yours.”

Not one of these major figures had ever encountered a situation like this. Not even the various sacred grounds had ever come to demand justice in such a manner — yet now several people with no backing whatsoever had brought a holy man down upon them directly.

“Well, that is a relief. If you truly intended to kill us — the holy man would not stand by and do nothing.” The Great Black Dog spoke boastfully and without shame.

“All of you fellow elders, please pay that one no mind — don’t listen to its nonsense. In truth, I have come to apologize in person…” Ye Fan saw that enough had been accomplished and immediately stepped back from the position of strength. He adopted an extremely humble attitude, stating that he had come to make amends and take responsibility for the matter involving Zhao Fa.

The Purple Subtlety Sect Master stood with heroic bearing — wearing a purple-gold crown on his head, a star-patterned robe across his shoulders — his eyes deep as an ocean, a great purple star suspended above his head. He was like the reincarnation of an emperor of heaven.

Under ordinary circumstances, he would not have said much more than a word or two to Ye Fan. But at this moment he set aside his dignity, smiled slightly, and said: “What is past is past. Let us speak of it no more.”

“Going forward, your younger generations should interact more…” The Supreme Elders beside him also spoke up.

Ye Fan and his group entered the Purple Subtlety Sect — and were ultimately seen off personally by the Supreme Elders upon their departure. This caused a great stir throughout the central region. It was a major event.

“Has the world gone mad? To come paying a visit while leading a holy man — no one could possibly bear that!”

“Their next stop — could it be the Central Province? If they went to visit the Yin-Yang Sect, it would certainly be spectacular. A supreme great sect of the Central Province that chose to resist would see heaven and earth turned upside down.”

…

Voices of discussion filled the outside world. All the sacred grounds received the news and became deeply wary, each and every one of them fearing that Ye Fan — emboldened by the Old Madman — might go stirring up trouble at one sect after another without knowing his limits.

If that happened, the sacred grounds’ dignity would be left in tatters. Fight, or not fight — they would find themselves caught in a terrible dilemma.

Very quickly, the Old Madman’s identity spread outward from the Purple Subtlety Sect, triggering a great wave of shock. He was actually the sole surviving supreme powerhouse of the Celestial Pivot lineage!

“He is the crazy old man — he has returned to youth? Six thousand years have passed and he still has not died. How many more years can he live?!”

“Of course — who else could it be? Six thousand years ago he was already without equal in the Eastern Desolation. Now, so many more years have passed. Naturally he has long since become comparable to an ancient holy man!”

“So it was the supreme figure of former ages — has his life essence been extended again?!”

No one was left unstirred. An unparalleled existence who was already peerless in the Eastern Desolation six thousand years ago, his life essence still unexhausted and extended further still — every single person was shaken.

Given the current situation, the Celestial Pivot Sacred Ground could hardly be considered destroyed. As long as the Old Madman lived one more day, his peerless cultivation could be used to rebuild it at any time.

Ye Fan’s enemies were furious and indignant. The peerless divine sovereign was destined to fall — they had believed the time to cut Ye Fan down had finally come. Who could have anticipated a holy man appearing out of nowhere?

Now, not even the sacred grounds dared touch him. If the Old Madman were to go mad, he could absolutely demolish any single sacred ground! There would be no stopping him.

For this was no longer the past. Ancient holy men were almost impossible to produce in this age. He was a living ancient classic and a living holy man — who could possibly confront him?

Ye Fan and his group departed, making for the Sage Cliff. They had no intention of visiting the sacred grounds — he had only been borrowing the Old Madman’s authority to keep himself alive. He had no desire to stir up trouble.

But on this day, the Eastern Desolation was thrown into tremendous upheaval. Sage Sovereigns of the sacred grounds came rushing forward one after another to pay their respects, arriving successively to greet the Old Madman.

The sacred grounds were deeply unsettled. The Old Madman’s mind was now clearly no longer as muddled as before. And with his present silence and stillness, he had surely recalled everything from the past.

In former days, the sacred grounds had stripped the Celestial Pivot bare. Now that this holy man understood everything that had happened — what would he do?

If his heart filled with fury and he turned on the sacred grounds in slaughter, rivers of blood would flow in disaster. Not a single sect could remain composed.

When Ye Fan’s group entered the city of Looking Sky, the entire great street fell silent. Everyone moved aside to clear the way. Only the Sage Sovereigns remained, standing reverently to receive the Old Madman.

Every last one of their expressions was profoundly devout. All of them were careful and cautious to the utmost degree, performing great bows of reverence — not one daring to show the faintest disrespect.

The Sage Sovereign of the Jiang Family. The Sage Sovereign of the Wind Clan. The Sage Sovereign of the Ji Family. The Sage Sovereign of Yao Guang. The Sage Sovereign of the Purple Residence. The Sage Sovereign of the Primordial Origin. The Female Sage Sovereign of the Jade Pool…

On this day, the Eastern Desolation was rocked to its depths — like a tsunami swallowing the earth. All eyes across the world turned here, and everyone was talking about it.

A holy man with a name and a face had appeared in the world. His life essence had been extended once more. Even the people of the Central Province had learned of it — the whole world erupted in a ferment!

The entire Yin-Yang Sect fell silent. They went completely mute and dared not dispatch so much as a single person to the Eastern Desolation. They had even begun to prepare to face a holy man in battle within the Central Province.

At the Sage Sovereign of the Ji Family’s side, Ji Haoyue and Ji Ziyue accompanied him. Both had obtained the opportunity to come and pay their respects to the holy man of the present age — for these two were the future hopes of their sect.

The divine sovereign body had once done battle with the Holy Son of Yin and Yang in the Southern Region — known to all the world — and had forced the Holy Son to spit great mouthfuls of blood before withdrawing. Now, upon hearing that Ye Fan had personally cut him down, Ji Haoyue observed Ye Fan carefully.

Ji Haoyue’s little moon-shaped face showed her dimples, her little fangs gleaming bright. Upon learning that Ye Fan had severed his own cultivation yet was able to live on, she felt a profound sense of relief wash over her. She very much wanted to squeeze through to him — but was stopped by the divine sovereign body. Pouting, she could only mutter softly under her breath.

At the Sage Sovereign of the Jiang Family’s side, Jiang Yifei accompanied him. Dressed in white as pure as snow, his spirit glowing like jade — he was extraordinarily refined and cultured. It was impossible not to notice him.

He had left a deep impression on Ye Fan. Just like Hua Yunfei and the Sage Son of Yao Guang, each of them possessed a very unique and distinctive spirit.

By this point, Ye Fan was certain — Jiang Yifei was definitely not the mysterious divine sovereign body of the Jiang Family. Yet he felt that this person was likely unfathomably deep, and that even without being the divine sovereign body, he was absolutely no weaker than the Jiang Family’s young divine sovereign.

At the Wind Clan Sage Sovereign’s side, Feng Huang accompanied him. When she looked toward Ye Fan, her expression was somewhat complex. With even a holy man brought out — and a Holy Son of Yin and Yang cut down in a half-crippled state — she had been deeply shaken. The Sacred Physique’s potential was far greater than she had imagined.

Additionally, the Holy Daughter of the Jade Pool, the Holy Daughter of Way-and-One, the Holy Daughter of the Purple Residence — they had all come accompanying their sect masters to pay reverence to the Old Madman.

“What do these Sage Sovereigns mean by this — how have they brought along their sect’s most powerful Holy Sons or Holy Daughters?” Li Heishui was baffled and uncertain.

“We pay our respects, senior. We are willing to send each of our most outstanding inheritors to the Celestial Pivot — to assist the holy man in rebuilding the Celestial Pivot’s glory and letting it shine once more in the world.” The Sage Sovereigns spoke in unison.

“Holy — now that’s a grand gesture! They dare to do this?!” Even the Great Black Dog was startled.

The city of Looking Sky fell to absolute silence — especially this ancient great street. So quiet that a falling pin could be heard. Every person’s eyes were fixed on this place, each and every one waiting.

But the Old Madman was silent. A very long time passed without a single word from him.

Several Sage Sovereigns broke into cold sweats. They had stripped the Celestial Pivot bare. Now, not only was this holy man alive and present in the world — his mind was no longer muddled — and this filled them with the deepest anxiety.

“We are willing to provide everything needed to return the Celestial Pivot to its former glory!” One Sage Sovereign spoke again.

The others, not wishing to fall behind, echoed and concurred — all earnestly requesting the restoration of the Celestial Pivot’s honor and the revival of this supremely prosperous sacred ground’s radiance.

The sacred grounds possessed powerful “hidden reserves” capable of contending against supreme combat power in the world. But once a battle ended, they would likely be left in a state of extreme weakness for a very long time to come.

For the Old Madman was the holy man of the present age — unharmed, uninjured, in his prime, with a long stretch of life essence remaining. He could face any enemy and fight. If he opened a full-scale slaughter and wore away the sacred grounds’ “hidden reserves,” the consequences would be catastrophic and ruinous beyond all reckoning!

“Let what has passed… pass away…” the Old Madman finally spoke a single sentence. A cool wind blew past. His thick black hair drifted and flew. That bronze-toned face was revealed.

His features were upright and proper — nose straight, mouth square, his face carved as though by a blade. Profoundly unyielding. But his eyes were unfathomable, like two deep abysses.

Suddenly, from the sky above, enormous snow-white flower petals began to drift downward. Every single petal was the size of a palm. Each was streaked with threads of blood.

“The Mortal World…”

Many faces changed color at once. This was the gesture of the remote ancient killing divine dynasty making a high-profile declaration of a kill. Only in the time before the Barren Ancient era had they done such a thing. Were they truly about to make a powerful return?

“The Sacred Physique must be slain!”

Through heaven and earth, these four words reverberated in a thunderous rumble, like the rolling of thunder — and then a half-person-tall snow-white flower petal drifted down.

“The Mortal World’s decree to kill!”

“This means at least ten or more people have placed commissions — before such a divine dynasty decree to kill is issued!”

Someone cried out, explaining the significance of what they saw.

Upon that snow-white great flower petal, images of the rise and fall of the mortal world were carved — representing the Mortal World. And on the other side, two characters were inscribed in fresh blood: Ye Fan.

This was the killing decree of the remote ancient killing divine dynasty. They dared come to slay him even with a holy man’s protection — something extremely thought-provoking!

“If you want to kill me, then come!” Ye Fan roared.

Suddenly, the sky darkened. Countless black flower petals drifted down as well — like black jade — also streaked with threads of blood.

“What — the Underworld has also made its appearance in the world. This is their killing decree!”

“The remote ancient killing divine dynasty — the Underworld — has appeared!”

Cries of alarm rose once more. Every face changed color.

At last, a single enormous black flower petal fell. Carved upon it was a divine being breaking free of shackles and charging out of the underworld — representing that remote ancient killing divine dynasty.

And on it, in fresh blood, two characters: Ye Fan.

Another killing decree. The remote ancient killing divine dynasty of the Underworld had also received at least ten or more commissions — demanding the death of Ye Fan.

“So many ancient lineages have contacted the Mortal World and the Underworld alike — to slay the Sacred Physique…” Every last person changed color.

They knew clearly that a holy man was traveling alongside him — yet still dared issue these killing decrees. The terror of the Mortal World and the Underworld sent cold through the marrow.