The ancient coffin lay across the ground, a tender branch more than half a meter long growing from it — an indescribable aberration, for this thing had existed in the world for a million years and still harbored vitality.
Threads of primordial mist drifted and swirled as immortal fog churned around it, yet the coffin itself remained perfectly still. Along its side walls were several faint markings, and many people present instantly changed their expressions.
“Swish!”
Every gaze turned toward the people of the Great Xia Dynasty. Each person was shaken to their core, filled with inexplicable awe — for this was that clan’s insignia!
“It is… from before the Desolate Era — the Grand Emperor!” someone said in a trembling voice, giving voice to that title.
A chill settled over everyone’s hearts. No wonder, when those ancient characters had been discovered on the solid ice, ripples had appeared on the faces of the Great Xia imperial clan — the one referred to as the great emperor who came later was their founding ancestor.
“No wonder — when I saw those inscriptions I found them familiar. I once saw them in the Grand Emperor’s Hall of Great Xia!” someone cried out in sudden, astonished realization.
The Great Xia Dynasty was one of the four undying sacred dynasties of the Central Continent, among the oldest and most fearsome apex powers in existence. Its founding ancestor was a human great emperor.
The Grand Emperor’s Hall was the residence that ancient great emperor had left behind. Though its owner had long since departed, descendants of later generations and sect leaders of that region still had the opportunity to pay their respects there.
The markings on the coffin were unclear, yet they could still be made out: a faint, humanoid impression whose spine was a dragon.
Utterly unique in all the world — only the founding ancestor of Great Xia used this as his insignia, and his descendants had adopted it as the symbol of their undying sacred dynasty.
“Why would the Grand Emperor be here?!” Everyone was stunned, and all eyes turned simultaneously toward the people of Great Xia.
Throughout history, how many great emperors had there ever been? That a human great emperor, in his twilight years, had not gathered with his people but instead come here alone — borrowing a coffin from a divine being and burying himself in this place — filled people with a sense of something sinister, something inexplicably strange. Why would he do such a thing?
“The Grand Emperor… the mystery of his life and death has never been known to anyone — shrouded in obscurity — yet he is here of all places!”
Someone fixed their eyes on the people of the Great Xia imperial clan. At the mention of the title “Grand Emperor,” the onlooker visibly trembled. This name inspired dread in all who heard it, even though he had departed the world an immeasurable age ago.
“Our founding ancestor… according to the records, in his later years he left alone, and no one knew where he went. To think he came here.” The sovereign of Great Xia let out a long, calm sigh.
The crowd felt somewhat dizzy. A great emperor from an ancient age who had personally established an undying sacred dynasty, who had ruled over ten million miles of territory, unrivaled across heaven and earth — one of the mightiest beings since time immemorial — and yet he could not even find a proper burial ground? He had ended up snatching a coffin from a dead person.
Yet in the end, people found themselves accepting it. This was a coffin carved from the Undying Tree, which carried legends of eternal life. Save for divine beings, none could ever obtain such a thing.
The grand emperor had stolen a divine being’s burial ground — a cuckoo taking over the nest — and when this inference was voiced, it sent everyone into tremendous shock.
Not only this coffin, but this entire place must hold extraordinary significance. Otherwise, why would a human great emperor do such a thing? There had to be some profound secret here, some marvel wrested from the workings of heaven and earth.
“Founding ancestor, your unworthy descendants have come to take you home. We respectfully welcome your return!” An elderly imperial uncle choked with emotion, dabbing his tears away with a sleeve of purple-gold dragon robes.
After the shock subsided, people suddenly felt that something was wrong. What did the elderly imperial uncle mean by saying this? Did he actually intend to claim everything for himself?
This was a coffin left behind by an ancient divine being — there was no possibility of them simply taking it away!
Everyone’s expression shifted. Setting aside the fact that a great emperor’s remains were a supreme immortal treasure that could be refined into a consummate weapon of the absolute path — the coffin itself, carved from the Undying Tree, was something virtually impossible to find anywhere in the world. Wood from the Enlightenment Tree was a treasure that cultivators could only dream of.
“This is the founding ancestor of our Great Xia. Surely our fellow Daoists will not make things difficult for us?” The sovereign of Great Xia stood tall and imposing, a nine-dragon crown upon his head, as he asked in a low, measured voice.
No one replied. From an ethical standpoint, allowing someone to take away their ancestor’s remains was absolutely proper; there was no legitimate basis for interference.
Yet these remains were anything but ordinary — they were priceless immortal material for refining into a peerless imperial weapon, something beyond compare in all the world, and not a single person present was unmoved.
The atmosphere grew strained. No one spoke. Those gathered here were all sovereign-tier figures who could look down on the world: setting aside the major figures from the various schools and teachings, just the other three great sacred dynasties of the Central Continent alone could be spoken of in the same breath as Great Xia.
Beyond them were also the Demon Sovereign and the War Sovereign of the Southern Range, as well as the divine monks of the Western Desert — every last one a representative of a terrifyingly powerful force.
“In years past, the Grand Emperor walked the mortal world, peerless and solitary across ten thousand ages — what a majestic bearing that must have been. All of us long to behold his countenance.”
“Indeed. Lamenting the passage of ten thousand ages — how many great emperors has history ever seen? We were not fortunate enough to witness him in life. If today we are lucky enough to glimpse the Grand Emperor’s true appearance, it would be worth dying for.”
Someone broke the stalemate, and others echoed the sentiment one after another. The people of Great Xia found themselves in a bind. The moment the body within the coffin was exposed to light, a bloody battle would surely erupt.
“Our ancestor’s remains are not to be desecrated!” The elderly imperial uncle of Great Xia trembled with white eyebrows raised, barking the words sharply.
“Indeed. Our founding ancestor was a human great emperor — how could it be appropriate to open the coffin and disturb him!” The sovereign of Great Xia’s black hair swept wildly, his eyes blazing like lightning.
A sect leader spoke up: “That reasoning is flawed. We revere the supreme bearing of an ancient great emperor with sincere hearts full of devotion and admiration. How can that be called desecration?”
The atmosphere grew strained once more. There were already faint signs that a storm was about to arrive. A great emperor’s remains were enough to drive people to a battle where blood would flow like rivers and the dead would number in the tens of millions.
Yet not a single person dared to be the first to force open the coffin. They were wary not only of each other, but also of this dead great emperor himself — for the legends surrounding him were simply too numerous.
The Grand Emperor had shaken past and present alike. He had founded the Grand Emperor Scripture, an invincible ancient text. Among its chapters, the attack chapter — the Imperial Dao Dragon Qi — was unparalleled in the Central Continent, with a faint air of being the foremost offensive method of this age.
It was said that in matters of assault, the only technique that could rival it was the “Battle” character formula among the Nine Secrets — but that had only appeared on rare occasions and its transmission had all but been severed.
The Grand Emperor was a legend. Walking the mortal world, he was comparable to a divine being. Some said he could defy the heavens and cut down immortals — a supremely remarkable, peerless figure.
In his time, his offensive power caused the entirety of heaven and earth to tremble. Unrivaled in all the world, once his Imperial Dao Dragon Qi was unleashed, none above or below the heavens could contend with him.
The Grand Emperor looked down upon all under heaven, leaving an indelible, magnificent mark upon the ancient history of the human race.
Though he had died, people feared he still had some final contingency in place. Opening the coffin might trigger a catastrophic disaster — and that was not outside the realm of possibility.
The people of Great Xia frowned. They understood that taking away the divine being’s intact coffin would be nearly impossible. Not a single sect leader in the world would agree to it.
“Very well — we will open the coffin. Our Great Xia will take only the founding ancestor’s remains. The coffin itself we leave to everyone.” The sovereign of Great Xia stated this directly.
“Whoosh!”
A stir swept through the crowd. Even these supremely capable individuals could not remain fully composed, and as the coffin was opened a violent battle might erupt. Each person took several steps backward.
“The Grand Emperor is revered by all peoples across ten thousand ages. His august countenance is not something everyone is worthy of beholding. Some idle bystanders would do well to depart, lest they desecrate the great emperor.” Wang Yangzhan, the elderly sect leader of the Yin-Yang Sect, spoke up.
Some nodded in agreement, understanding his meaning. He was proposing to clear the area — any item left behind by an ancient emperor within the coffin would be a treasure, and with this many people there was simply not enough to go around.
The plan was to force some people away and retain only the most supremely powerful factions to discuss the distribution and ownership of the immortal treasures.
Grand Tutor Xiao’s group stood together with the Yin-Yang Sect. Xiao Yunsheng wore a faint, sinister smile as he fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and the others. “Leave now and you might live half a day longer,” he said.
“What do you mean by that?” Ye Fan stared back at him with complete indifference.
“Everyone present here knows exactly who they are. Only you few have unclear origins.” Xiao Yunsheng gazed at Ye Fan and his companions at his leisure, revealing a trace of contempt. He then remarked with casual unconcern: “I believe it is necessary to first drive away those who cannot bear the light of day and have no standing here.”
With a capable figure of this stature speaking up, people immediately nodded in agreement — there was clearly a consensus that certain individuals needed to be asked to leave.
Duan De, Dongfang Ye, and the others were all furious. The old blind man let out a few harrumphs as well, his white eyes rolling dramatically.
“This place is home to the mighty, all people of great standing,” Xiao Yunsheng said blandly. “You few ants had best hurry up and leave.”
Even half-step capable figures had stopped at the base of the ten-thousand-foot jade platform — not a single one had followed up. A cultivator of Ye Fan’s Dragon Transformation Secret Realm was conspicuously out of place.
Ye Fan extended a single finger — without the slightest awe for this capable figure — and pointed it straight at the man’s nose. “And just what kind of thing are you?”
A flash of murderous intent appeared in Xiao Yunsheng’s eyes. He very much wanted to slap Ye Fan to death on the spot, but divine power was suppressed here and could not flow freely. He said coldly: “This place is full of sect-leader-tier figures. There is no foothold here for the likes of you. Get lost — we need to discuss matters here!”
“And who do you think you are?!” Ye Fan laughed coldly.
Xiao Yunsheng’s expression darkened. “You little lowlife — you’re looking to die. Fellow Daoists, shall we invite them to leave? This bowl here is rather impressive.”
He again stirred up the crowd, his gaze fixed on Duan De’s bowl. If it were stripped away here, the few of them — Ye Fan included — would certainly be destroyed in body and soul.
Many had already noted the bowl’s unusual nature. In an instant, a considerable number of people were moved, and they began pressing forward.
“Let me see just how impressive this green onion of yours really is!” Nobody expected it — Ye Fan suddenly struck out, launching an attack on a capable figure on his own initiative.
“Hum!”
He swung a massive palm — very directly — aiming a slap at Xiao Yunsheng’s cheek. The surge of energy was like thunder; the void itself twisted.
Everyone was taken aback. This young man was far too reckless. He had the audacity to slap a capable figure in the face so rudely — it was pure humiliation, genuinely startling.
After all, he was only a cultivator of the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm. Attacking a capable figure like this was blatant contempt.
Xiao Yunsheng’s color changed dramatically. In all his years of moving through the world, not a single person had ever dared come straight at his face with a slap.
He retreated, moving both hands in flowing motions. Though his divine power was sealed and could not flow freely, tides of vital energy still surged like the sea, weaving a field of principles before him like a shower of five-colored light — the manifestation of his attainment in the Dao.
“Boom!”
Ye Fan’s palm struck that barrier of principle-light, and the ten-thousand-foot platform shuddered. Both men were pushed back several steps.
“Just what is this young man’s background? His pure physical strength can withstand the sea-like Dao power of a capable figure — a remarkable junior!”
Everyone present was a sovereign-tier figure; past their initial surprise, they showed little further reaction and could only offer such commentary.
“Someone like you — a mere green onion — thinks he can drive me away? I’ll give you one hand!” Ye Fan beckoned toward Xiao Yunsheng, ridiculing him mercilessly and goading him into attacking.
“You little bastard!” Xiao Yunsheng’s face turned iron-gray. With all these supremely capable figures watching, he — a man of Xiao Family’s standing — was being mocked and humiliated like this by some trivial figure from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm. How could he bear it?
“Boom!”
Even with his divine power running sluggishly, he forced it to surge. Before him, profound light churned like a vast ocean as principles intertwined, and above his head a treasure forbidden weapon appeared as he struck with intent to kill.
“Fatty, with me — charge!” Ye Fan grabbed Duan De and pulled him forward, letting him help guard against incoming attacks, as Ye Fan pushed his combat power to its current absolute peak.
“Rumble!”
Ye Fan attacked, moving like a wild dragon in human form. His every gesture caused the void to collapse. Both hands striking outward — like uprooting mountains and cleaving through peaks — nothing could withstand him.
He had held back until now. Having finally found this opportunity, he naturally would not let it pass. He pointed skyward and struck down like a thunderbolt.
“Rumble, rumble!”
The barrier of light before Xiao Yunsheng cracked apart as the interwoven principles collapsed one after another. With divine power sealed, though it could still be activated, it was nothing like the overwhelming, law-flooding display it would have been under ordinary circumstances.
“Bang!”
Xiao Yunsheng was blasted off his feet — he could not withstand Ye Fan, who came at him like a wild beast. The impact was immense and terrifying.
“Fatty, press forward!” Ye Fan roared, urging Duan De to continue covering him. He formed hand seals with both hands and drove them forward.
Mountain-Embracing Seal!
He held a mountain range in his arms and pushed outward. His palms and fingers were as black as ink as an ancient demonic mountain came pressing down.
“Bang!”
Xiao Yunsheng’s expression shifted; forced onto the defensive, his right hand wove principles to block — but his divine brilliance was far less powerful than usual. It was pierced through in an instant.
With hands formed into the mountain seal, Ye Fan punched clean through and struck Xiao Yunsheng’s palm. Blood immediately burst forth.
“Aah…” Xiao Yunsheng cried out and retreated rapidly. His right hand had been completely deformed — bones broken, tendons severed.
Ye Fan pressed in like a ghost. The remaining force of his right hand’s black mountain seal had not yet spent itself; it continued forward and came crashing straight down.
“Splat!”
Blood sprayed. The lower portion of Xiao Yunsheng’s right forearm was reduced to pulp, with fragments of bone and flesh flying in every direction, shocking all onlookers.
What kind of physique was this? Even a capable figure’s flesh and blood could not withstand it — close-quarters combat had immediately proven disastrous, a devastating loss.
At that very moment, Ye Fan activated the secret arts of the Ancient Sacred Court — Heaven’s Court — and struck out with a palm in a way that was impossible to guard against, impossible to evade.
“Crack!”
Xiao Yunsheng took a full, solid slap across the face. His jawbone was shattered by the blow, and a long stream of blood droplets sprayed out at an angle.
Everyone was stunned. A capable figure had been slapped across the face by a cultivator of the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm!
This was simply absurd — like a lion being tripped up by an ant. It was completely impossible, completely contrary to all reason.
And yet it had truly happened, right before their eyes. This formidable figure of the Xiao Family had suffered a terrible blow; his jaw was nearly destroyed.
Not a single person was anything other than dumbfounded. This was so utterly beyond expectation that no one knew what to say.
“Bastard!” Xiao Yunsheng’s lungs nearly burst. His jawbone had split apart at that moment, and speaking was an immense effort — the words came out garbled and muffled, as though he had a salted duck egg stuffed in his mouth.
“Small fry!” Ye Fan’s expression was cold as he closed in swiftly, with Duan De cooperating perfectly — holding the cracked bowl steady as he advanced, shielding Ye Fan’s body.
“Crack!”
Ye Fan struck him with a backhand slap, once again using the Heaven’s Court secret arts — uncanny and impossible to guard against, as though a blow had descended out of nowhere from beyond the heavens.
Xiao Yunsheng was dazed. He had taken a second slap across the face — full and solid, crisp and resonant.
Blood was drawn from the corner of his mouth and flung more than two meters away. Nearly half his face was in danger of being knocked clean off; it was close to losing its shape entirely.
“Aah…” At that moment, Xiao Yunsheng was nearly beside himself. A supposedly formidable figure of the Xiao Family — subjected to humiliation like this.
“You green onion!” Ye Fan pressed forward once more and spat out those four words.