The ancestral temple of the Central Province — filled with enigma, where the living enter and the dead return. This was the judgment Duan De had made: an instinct honed through years of tomb-raiding.

This place was deeply strange. More than two hundred thousand years had passed — yet when one activated the Heavenly Eye, one could see that deep within the ancestral temple, the ancient lamps still burned faintly, undying.

The four great divine dynasties and the Yao Guang sacred ground must have discovered something even more terrifying within. They had begun clearing it half a year ago — otherwise, there was no reason they had not yet dared to enter.

“This place is inauspicious. Most likely there is something very dreadful inside.” Duan De said gravely, stating that if they truly intended to enter, adequate preparation would be absolutely necessary.

“Let us go. There is killing intent permeating the air — these people wish to silence us.” Yan Yixi said.

None of them were particularly surprised. Such a world-shaking ancestral temple could not be allowed to come to light. The four great divine dynasties and the Yao Guang sacred ground naturally did not wish it to become known to outsiders — they had spent a great deal of time and effort, and were unwilling to allow others to touch it.

All around, wisps of Dao markings were interlacing — their fluctuations very slight, yet still detectable — seeking to lock down this area and turn it into a killing ground.

“Go! These are the killing formations of a distant-age Sage — perfectly intact. To be trapped within them is certain death.” The Black Emperor was alarmed. An expert in such matters, it had sensed the terrifying murderous energy within.

The great black dog opened its mouth and spat out a black jade platform, swiftly opening a domain gate and vanishing from this place — leaving behind only rippling traces. Streams of blood-red divine chains pierced through, yet were unable to stop them in time.

Two days later, a piece of news spread through the Five Great Regions: the ancestral temple of the Central Province had appeared in the world of men. Though more than two hundred thousand years had passed, it was still perfectly intact, and within it lay a supreme divine treasury.

It was a time of great events, and any stir of wind and grass would set off the storms of the world — let alone news of this magnitude. One could say the entire world was shaken.

The Ascension dynasty, though it had been destroyed for more than two hundred thousand years with scarce detail even in historical records, had lost none of its standing in people’s hearts.

In its day, it had been the unrivaled immortal legacy that commanded the Central Province — its domain without bounds, every divine treasure under heaven gathered in its court, its power and prestige shaking heaven and earth. It was the foremost divine dynasty in existence, devoted to the pursuit of the true meaning of ascending to immortality.

They had been reduced to ash overnight, surrounded by all manner of mysteries and unanswered questions. Many theorized that they had discovered the way to become immortal, and marshaling all the power of their entire dynasty had attempted to open the road to immortality — only to meet their end.

Of course, some said they had been swept away by a dragon — that on the night it happened, a dragon’s roar had shaken the nine heavens and resounded through the entire Central Province, heard by every great ancient sect.

Others said the truth was simple: a supreme and invincible sacred being had appeared and devoured the entire primordial dragon vein of the Central Province, seizing the providence of the Ascension dynasty away from them.

Still others said the Fierce One had achieved the Dao and become an Emperor, sweeping them all away with a single hand in one single strike — an indiscriminate assault that annihilated every last member of the Ascension dynasty.

What the truth truly was had long since been buried in the dust of history. All the people and events of that time had been interred long ago. No one could have lived that long — not even the being who had once made a move.

Regardless, it was beyond dispute that the Ascension dynasty had been the foremost under heaven in its day. Their collection of treasures was unparalleled and beyond comparison. After their destruction, none of their treasures had ever resurfaced — all of them buried beneath the earth.

In those days, an untold number of people had searched for them, yet none had found anything. Now the Ascension ancestral temple had appeared in the world — how could hearts not be moved?

They had not sought to lord over the great earth. They had only sought immortality, pursuing the true meaning of transcendence. The entire Central Province had been under their rule. Countless lost texts and scriptures had been within their possession — the lineage that understood the most about ascending to immortality.

“The ancestral temple of the Central Province has appeared. Legend holds that within it were enshrined so many divine treasures — records of Dao comprehensions from countless former sages, as well as the true Ascension Ancient Scripture carved upon the walls — that if the ancient temple remains intact, all of it can still be found.”

“That is right. The insights of ancient cultivators are all there in abundance, collected together — vast murals of inscription, the crystallized wisdom of generations of former sages.”

…

On this day, various hidden secrets and legends came to light one after another as people revealed them. The ancestral temple of the Central Province was a matter of great consequence, drawing the attention of all sides.

Not only were people throughout the human lands affected — even the primordial tribes were stirred, and many wished to insert themselves and take a share. Yet the recent manifestation of the Human Emperor had truly overawed them, and no ancestral king dared to show themselves.

The great sacred grounds of the Eastern Desolation not only headed to the Central Province in succession — many of them also went to Yao Guang to seek confirmation, asking what was hidden within, since Yao Guang had participated in this matter.

The Southern Peaks and Western Sands were the same. Many of the immortal lineages were paying very close attention. Great numbers of powerful experts crossed the void heading there, wishing to investigate thoroughly.

All under heaven was shaken. The world focused as one, and none more so than the Central Province — every sect and every teaching there was on the verge of eruption. They had grown up on this land, experienced too much. No one understood better than they what that ancestral temple meant.

“A dynasty that pursued immortality — they have too many secrets. The ancestral temple was their most sacred ground. Within it lies a boundless divine treasury!”

Over these past two days, swords were drawn at the severed dragon vein. The four great divine dynasties and the Yao Guang sacred ground, which had been guarding this place, faced tremendous pressure. With so many people arriving, how could they possibly kill them all?

All under heaven could not be at peace. Some ancient records containing precious information had begun to circulate — not only were there various insights from former sages in the ancient temple, but the true Ascension Ancient Scripture was also there, carved upon the walls. If the ancient temple had not been destroyed, all of it could be found.

Furthermore, in former days the Ascension dynasty had scoured all under heaven and even traveled beyond the world in search of divine materials exclusive to the great Emperors, intending to restore a green cauldron to wholeness. The temple might still contain certain sacred objects.

Pieces of original ore containing Phoenix Blood Scarlet Gold and Immortal Tear Green Gold might still be on display in the ancient temple. If they could be found, it would be an earth-shaking discovery — a windfall of an age.

“Truly, the foremost divine dynasty that once ruled half the Central Province is no ordinary thing!” Even the Black Emperor was clicking its tongue in astonishment. There were some things it had never heard of.

“What they were trying to restore was most likely the greenish-bronze fragment.” Ye Fan looked within at the two pieces of old bronze in his body. By this telling, if they were complete and intact, they would form a cauldron.

The Ascension dynasty — apart from their own supreme divine weapon — had also been in possession of a broken and supremely mysterious cauldron. This revelation shook even the ancient tribes, and after inquiries from many sides, the greenish-bronze broken cauldron was gradually confirmed.

No one had expected it: none of the myriad rare treasures nor the insights of countless former sages had driven the ancient tribes into a frenzy — yet the moment the faintest hint of the greenish-bronze broken cauldron was revealed, they could no longer sit still. Many among the imperial clans, royal clans, and great clans made their move.

Of course, they were still very fearful. None dared have an ancestral king step out to lead the charge. They were afraid of truly provoking the supreme existence of the human race, who might simply wipe them out.

That green cauldron had existed since primordial times. Even the ancient clans’ various factions did not know how long ago it had first appeared. It would appear briefly and then vanish again. Several ancient emperors had chased after it. The broken cauldron had immeasurable worth — and according to legend, it held the secret to becoming immortal.

“Young one, you have two pieces of greenish-bronze on your person — when are you giving this Daoist back his piece?!” Duan De grabbed Ye Fan and refused to let go.

“One cannot be too much like Duan De. Those were clearly won by me — you were always trying to take them from me back then. If you want one, trade me for it with the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Lid.” Ye Fan replied.

“This time when we enter the ancient temple, if there are still any greenish-bronze fragments left, I refuse to believe they would still fall into your hands!” Duan De fumed with indignation.

“This Emperor divines with a press of the fingers — that broken cauldron has karma with me.” The Black Emperor also crowded forward, making plain that once they entered the ancestral temple, it intended to snatch the greenish-bronze fragments — a formidable competitor.

“To hell with all of you — one chatters from one end, another from the other, and you join in from yet another. This poor Daoist was just in the process of gathering materials. Entering an ancient temple like that is no different from entering a great tomb. We need a full barrel — no, a full bucket — of ten-thousand-year black dog blood. How about you contribute some?”

“Woof, woof, woof—!” The Black Emperor barked furiously and lunged at him in full combat. The two of them were at each other’s throats.

These two were both of a kind — greedy and shameless, born at cross-purposes. The moment they were together they were at each other’s throats. As the two spirit children would say: they were born to clash.

In the heart of the Central Province, at the severed dragon vein, the atmosphere had grown tense to the breaking point. A world-shaking great battle could erupt at any moment. Powerful experts from every great human faction as well as the ancient tribes had arrived and were pressing to enter the ancestral temple.

The four great divine dynasties and the Yao Guang sacred ground did not consent, forming a terrifying standoff. Yet they themselves were unable to enter the ancient temple and extract the divine treasury in a short span of time.

“The Ascension dynasty is already destroyed. Their ruins belong to all under heaven. Let everyone enter the ancestral temple — all is left to one’s own karma and fortune.”

No one knew who first called out these words, but soon every great power and cultivator throughout the world was calling out the same, forming a massive pressure that even the four great divine dynasties and Yao Guang could barely hold against.

Were it not for the awe inspired by Yao Guang’s Dragon Pattern Black Gold Cauldron, the Great Xia’s Supreme Emperor Sword, and the other divine weapons, all the cultivators in the world would have long since charged straight in. As it stood, a deadlock had formed.

Negotiation!

In the end, the four great divine dynasties and Yao Guang finally yielded a step and entered negotiations with every great faction — yet their demands were extremely harsh. They declared that sixty percent of the divine treasury was to belong to them, given that they were the ones who had excavated this site.

“While they are still negotiating, let us hurry and prepare. We must not fight a battle we are not certain of winning. Every material must be gathered in full.” Qi Luo said.

Before long, they brought the Old Blind Man and Tu Tian out of seclusion. The purpose: to make the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Cauldron whole — assembling it into a flawless divine weapon.

No one could predict what great battles would unfold. Yet they all felt that many things were connected to the Fierce One, and bringing her weapon along would be sufficient to hold the situation.

“I have a feeling that after this final decisive battle, we may truly be leaving.” In a place where no one could hear them, Ye Fan said to Pang Bo.

“Time is short. Let us hurry and visit all our old friends — we must leave no regrets.” Pang Bo said, deeply reluctant to leave this world behind.

“Be careful. I believe this battle may pit us against Hua Yunfei, Li Xiaoman, the Holy Son of Yao Guang, the Crown Prince, the Huang Xu Dao — there will be battles of life and death.” Ye Fan said gravely.

The negotiations in the Central Province were still ongoing. All sides reached their first point of consensus: no one was permitted to bring supreme divine weapons or holy weapons into the ancestral temple. Any who damaged the ancient temple would be condemned by all under heaven.

For it was said that within the ancestral temple were many precious wall inscriptions — the essence of the insights of former sages, all of them exploring the true meaning of immortality. Every single one was of immeasurable worth.

Two hundred thousand years ago, the Ascension dynasty had spent tremendous effort collecting them from every corner of the world — some had even been brought back from beyond the world. Each word was a gem; not a single stone inscription could be allowed to be lost.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo exchanged glances. By the look of it, they would inevitably come face to face with certain great enemies in a direct and unavoidable collision — there would certainly be battles of life and death.

Thereafter, the negotiations reached a second point of consensus: not just anyone could enter the ancestral temple of the Central Province. Only figures of sect-master level, recognized by all sides, would have the right to enter. Otherwise, one would have to carve a bloody path through to get inside.

The four great divine dynasties and Yao Guang had claimed forty percent of the entry spots, a position from which they absolutely refused to budge. The more powerful experts who entered, the greater the collective strength — and so they bit down on that number and would not let go.