“When the osmanthus blooms and the moon is full, atop Purple Mountain, we shall fight to the death!”

Throughout the Eastern Desolation, everyone waited. The Holy Body against the Northern Emperor — this would inevitably be a battle that pierced the heavens, a preview of the fully matured Holy Body contending against an ancient Great Emperor.

This news was of immense consequence, spreading swiftly to the Central Province and the Southern Ridge. All awaited the chance to witness this battle, for it would determine who among them was destined to prove their Dao.

There were only a dozen or so days before the night of the full moon — not so long a wait. It would arrive very soon.

This battle was at hand. It would be a clash of dragons and tigers, drawing the attention of the entire world — one could already foresee that it would be watched by all under heaven.

Wang Teng had no reason to refuse the challenge. He could not back down. Now that he was this powerful, capable of looking down upon every member of the younger generation, he stood as an equal to the Saint Lords of various regions.

And indeed, after Ye Fan sent out his world-shaking battle cry, Wang Teng immediately responded, declaring at the Ji Family’s estate that on the night of the full moon, he would slay the Holy Body atop the ancient emperor’s mountain.

The autumn season in the Northern Domain was bitterly cold. Yellow leaves drifted down, carrying with them a bleak and desolate air. A wind swept through, sending fallen leaves swirling — a season of withering had arrived.

A world-shaking battle was imminent. Ye Fan passed those days in calm serenity, without the faintest ripple of agitation. Those who watched him could discern nothing unusual.

During this time, he paid a visit to the Wonderful Desire Nunnery, but he did not find An Miaoyi there. He learned that this woman who could make all living beings lose their heads had long since ventured alone into the Western Desert to seek out a profound technique, wishing to cultivate both Buddhist and Daoist paths simultaneously.

The Northern Domain stretched on as barren and boundless earth, with few oases and no osmanthus trees to speak of — and yet it was there, on that day, that he would fight beneath the moon.

With still more than half a month to go, osmanthus trees had already sprouted before Purple Mountain. Their delicate fragrance permeated the air, detectable from a great distance, petals cascading down in the wind.

The night air lay still as water. Ye Fan walked alone across the blood-colored earth, passing through the osmanthus grove and circling Purple Mountain, doing nothing in particular. Not long after, he departed, drifting away like smoke.

“The Holy Body has only recently entered the Immortal Platform’s secret realm — can he truly defeat the Northern Emperor? What does he have to rely upon?”

“In this battle, Ye Fan has been reckless. More likely than not, this will end badly for him.”

During this time, many cultivators debated the matter, convinced that Ye Fan had most likely been overly impulsive and would lose this all-important battle.

Throughout those days, Ye Fan roamed the land of the Northern Domain, traversing nearly every ancient vein within it. His footprints were left upon countless mountains, rivers, and stretches of earth.

Several days later, news emerged from the Southern Domain: the Northern Emperor was to become engaged to Ji Ziyue — and it would happen soon.

“What?!”

The entire Eastern Desolation erupted. It was too sudden — why would such arrangements be made before the decisive battle? It was deeply puzzling.

“Holy Body brat, do you think that by challenging my son to a battle, you can change all of this?” In the Southern Domain, Wang Teng’s father laughed coldly. “I’ve long heard that you’ve been keeping close company with the jewel of the Ji Family. Do you think you can change things by fighting? Dream on!”

“Elder Brother, even without all of this, the Holy Body is as good as dead. What he’s doing is nothing more than trying to resolve the ‘predicament’ Ji Family’s Little Moon supposedly finds herself in — forcing himself into a battle with Teng’er while unprepared. How could he possibly be a match? This is nothing but delivering himself to his death!” A powerful member of the Wang Family said.

Wang Teng’s father Wang Chengkun stood before the window, laughing coldly. “My proposal to expedite the engagement is meant to make all his efforts amount to nothing. Disturb his mind, and he’ll die even faster.”

“But the Ji Family may not necessarily agree under these circumstances.”

“Several Ji Family elders share a deep friendship with us and harbor resentment toward the Holy Body for his actions in the past. You may go and speak with them. Even if they do not formally agree, once we’ve put the word out, they won’t say much to contradict it.” Wang Chengkun said.

The news of Wang Teng’s imminent engagement set off a great commotion, yet the Ji Family said little in response, leaving the world confused and uncertain.

“So fast!”

“Why so quickly?”

People could not understand — with a great battle approaching, why choose to announce an engagement first? It made little sense.

Wang Teng’s father Wang Chengkun laughed coldly: “Did you think choosing the ancient emperor’s mountain and claiming the advantage of terrain would be enough to slay my son? I’ll have you come and die in the Southern Domain first.”

Two days later, the Wang Family sent betrothal gifts from the Northern Plains — a Phoenix Stone, capable of warding off ten thousand evils and capable of increasing one’s cultivation speed by twenty percent. A true treasure by any measure.

It had to be said, this gift was extraordinarily valuable. Warding off evil was the lesser merit — being able to increase cultivation speed by twenty percent made it a defiance-of-heaven treasure, yet the Wang Family parted with it without hesitation.

“The Wang Family’s reserves are immense. This kind of object would be priceless in the eyes of a Saint, yet they give it away this generously — there must be even more precious things within their clan.”

The gift made many eyes turn red with envy, yet there was nothing to be done. Who dared to snatch it away?

Three days later, a Ji Family elder publicly announced that the two families would soon be joined in marriage, with the engagement taking place in the coming days — confirming what had previously been only rumor.

“Eighth Ancestor, what is the meaning of this?” Ji Ziyue’s father’s expression was deeply troubled. He wished to honor his daughter’s wishes and spare her from suffering, but he could not withstand the pressure of the clan.

“I was simply speaking offhandedly. But this is something that will happen sooner or later.” The Ji Family’s Eighth Ancestor said.

“By saying it this way, have you not essentially confirmed the rumors Wang Family put out? We have not agreed to an engagement yet — how can you be so careless about this?!” The father of the Ji sibling pair was himself a forceful figure.

“Ji Yanzhi, you have not yet become the family head.” The Eighth Ancestor glanced at him indifferently and said nothing more.

Externally, the waves swelled. Everyone was discussing it — a brilliant jewel of the Eastern Desolation was to be engaged, and with the timing so sensitive, there was no shortage of things to talk about.

“Everyone knows Ji Ziyue has been closely associated with Ye Fan. The Wang Family is setting a trap — trying to force Ye Fan to come here and eliminate him early, before his power is fully realized. Truly vicious!”

“Ye Fan is in the Northern Domain, where his use of Origin Arts would allow him to battle any peak Saint Lord. But the Wang Family wants to force him to come to the Southern Domain before the decisive battle, stripping him of his greatest advantage!”

Some made rapid deductions, feeling a chill in their hearts. This was meant to be a killing strike against the Holy Body, denying him any chance.

If Ye Fan did not come, if he could not bring Ji Ziyue away, then in the years ahead he would be left with lingering regret — a flaw upon his great path, one that would affect his state of mind.

It might even weigh heavily upon him in the upcoming decisive battle, leaving a crack in his heart. Even if he chose to fight at the summit of Purple Mountain, he would likely suffer for it.

“Will the Wang Family truly go ahead with the engagement during this time? This is a trap, forcing the Holy Body to cross the void and come here, destroying all his advantages.”

“They may not necessarily go through with it. Simply putting out the rumor is enough — the effect has already been achieved. Ye Fan has no choice but to come. Otherwise, if something changes, no one could bear the consequences.”

“The Northern Emperor is already so powerful, yet his father Wang Chengkun still plots with such ruthlessness. He wants no unexpected variables — no matter what the Holy Body chooses, he is in danger.”

“If Ye Fan comes to the Southern Domain, he loses all his advantages and is as good as dead. If he doesn’t come, his heart will be flawed, his mind unable to find stillness — on the night of the full moon, he’ll likely be unable to fight at full strength.”

In the Northern Domain, Ye Fan received the news. He stood atop an ancient vein, gazing into the distant horizon. He remained silent for a long, long time, motionless as stone, as though turned to statue. He had been placed in a dilemma from which there was no easy exit.

At the same time, in the Central Province’s Hall of Exceptional Men, Pang Bo, Dongfang Ye, Li Heishui, and others also received the news. All were greatly alarmed.

“Little Ye is going to fight the bastard Wang Teng on the night of the full moon — this battle is coming too soon. He hasn’t accumulated enough yet!”

“Damn it, the Wang Family is shameless to the extreme. The Northern Emperor already has every advantage, and yet they still plot like this — forcing Little Ye to come to the Southern Domain for an early fight. Despicable!”

“We can’t let this stand. We have to stop Little Ye — no accidents can be allowed to happen!”

“The great war of the Eastern Desolation is already about to begin. The Wushi Bell may draw out all the primordial beings. I’ll head over early to take part in the fighting and temper myself.” Dongfang Ye said.

That same day, Ji Haoyue said nothing at all. He crossed the void, rushing from the Central Province to his family’s estate. The moment he arrived, he appeared within the family compound.

“Wang Teng, get out here!”

Before the Holy Body had even made his move, before he had clashed with the Northern Emperor, the Eastern Desolation’s Divine King was already furious. Having returned to find his younger sister pale and wan, his heart ached for her, and those words burst from him.

Ji Haoyue’s hair flew loose around him. The phenomenon of the bright moon rising over the sea erupted from him — like a divine being descended to earth. He charged through nine successive halls of the family estate, one after another, shattering an ancient hall with a single fist, and entered the place where Wang Teng was in seclusion.

“Haoyue, what are you doing?!” A Ji clan elder came rushing over.

“My sister’s marriage cannot be decided by anyone. Only she herself has that right!” Ji Haoyue roared, not pausing even to show the proper courtesy. His black hair cascaded like a waterfall, wild and unrestrained as he declared: “Wang Teng, come out and fight me!”

That one great shout shook the land for hundreds of miles around. The moment it reached the outside world, it triggered an earthquake throughout the Southern Domain. The Eastern Desolation’s Divine Body had been quiet for so many years — no one knew how strong he had become — and today it had finally erupted, with him demanding battle against the Northern Emperor.

Dust and smoke surged skyward. A towering figure emerged from the ruins, his radiance shining ten thousand feet in all directions, drowning out the heavens and earth. Above his head, a dragon and phoenix sang in unison as he stood upon a golden ancient war chariot.

“Wang Teng, others may fear you. I do not. Today, we settle this with a fight to the death!” Ji Haoyue’s dark hair whipped about him wildly, his eyes blazing like lightning, like a divine being closing in.

“Teng’er, do not be rude.” Wang Chengkun appeared, speaking up before the Northern Emperor could respond, stepping forward to restrain him.

“Haoyue, what is the meaning of this?!” A Ji clan elder also came forward to block Ji Haoyue’s path.

“Eighth Ancestor, get out of my way!” Ji Haoyue roared, the divine king’s radiance bursting from every inch of his body. Behind him, a vast jade-green sea materialized, and a bright moon slowly rose above it.

Boom!

The Eighth Ancestor was knocked aside — he stumbled back several steps, and his expression changed at once. “Outrageous!”

Figures flashed as Ji clan elders appeared, standing between the two young men and preventing them from fighting. That same day, news spread that Ji Haoyue had been confined — several elders had personally intervened, compelling him to “calm down.”

“Family head, why is this being done?” In an ancient cave dwelling, Ji Haoyue sat cross-legged, his eyes blazing with sharp light, and asked in a low voice.

“I have not agreed to an engagement at this time. That was nothing more than a careless remark from the eighth elder. You need not be concerned.” The Ji Family’s Saint Lord said this and then turned to leave.

“But this matter is so significant — how can it be a careless remark? It is a matter of life and death!” Ji Haoyue called after him, but the ancient cave dwelling fell silent — no one responded.

“I would sooner die than be engaged to him! Release my brother!” In a palace complex, Ji Ziyue was seething, having attempted to escape several times, only to be brought back each time.

Now, at last, she was frightened. She worried that someone would maneuver behind the scenes and genuinely arrange the engagement. Furious, she said: “Someone will come to rescue me and grind the Northern Emperor flat!”

“Little girl, don’t say things in anger. What is wrong with Wang Teng? His future is boundless — even if something unexpected were to happen, the worst outcome is still a Saint.” The Eighth Ancestor laughed, then tried to console her: “Come now.”

“I am not your bargaining piece. I am Ji Ziyue of the Ji Family. I am a person of flesh and blood, not an object to be traded away. I despise the Northern Emperor.” Ji Ziyue could not hold back her tears.

“Foolish child. Once you’ve thought it through, you’ll come to understand.” The Eighth Ancestor continued his attempts at persuasion.

“I am not a bargaining piece. I am your Ziyue. You cannot decide my future like this.” Ji Ziyue pleaded, then said with spirit: “Someone will come here and carry me away to safety!”

“Who in this age would dare to come against my Ji Family? Not a single person would dare cause trouble here!” And then, once more, he offered comfort: “Ziyue, you will understand in time. We are doing this for your sake.”

In the Northern Domain, Pang Bo, Dongfang Ye, Li Heishui, and the others arrived in the Divine City to search for Ye Fan — but he was nowhere to be found, and no one could trace him.

“Where did Little Ye go? He couldn’t have actually gone to the Ji Family’s estate already, could he?”

“To go there is death. The South is a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair!”

In the Southern Domain, a gateway through the void opened, and a figure stepped through.

In the southern lands, the four seasons were like spring — this was a world of birdsong and floral fragrance, the vegetation lush and abundant, clear springs tinkling with sound, birds alighting fearlessly near people, full of warmth and serenity.

Ye Fan raised his head to look at the sky, his expression resolute and unwavering. He murmured to himself:

“Southern Domain… I have returned. I am here.”