# Chapter 972: Overwhelming and Invincible
Gray mist surged, obscuring the sky and sun, emitting a deathly aura, but it was quickly absorbed into the bodies of several old men. Their death-gray eyes were startling, lacking human emotional fluctuations.
People from the Shangqing Sect appeared. Two old Daoists came out to welcome them, leading them into a Daoist temple. Such experts were naturally honored guests who needed to be treated with caution.
Ye Fan watched from the side without speaking, quietly observing their departure. Many people were discussing how the world's essence energy had dried up, and the Western traditions gathered faith power to cultivate through it, giving them an advantage in this age of declining Dharma.
"Qin-Han immortals' mansion, Liang-Tang prime minister's home. A day in the cave, a hundred years in the world. The old friends of yesteryear are all gone."
An old Daoist muttered to himself, gazing at Maoshan. He was tall and slender, wearing a purple-gold crown and a Bagua robe—a rare sight in this era, clearly having lived in the mountains for years.
Ye Fan was surprised. There were still experts in this world. This man was definitely not weak, likely over a thousand years old, an anomaly in this mortal realm.
"Heavens, could it be... Daoist Qiri? He's still alive? Didn't he pass away over a hundred years ago? He must be over twelve hundred years old now!"
"This is a Mount Tai and Big Dipper-level figure, a renowned great supernatural power practitioner! He's actually appeared!"
The older generation was shaken, while their disciples and followers were completely stunned, not daring to speak, all standing at a distance.
Great bells tolled. The Daoist gates on Maoshan's main peak swung open. A group of old Daoists, upon learning the news, all came out to pay respects to this senior expert.
The appearance of such a figure pushed this gathering to its climax. The crowd buzzed with excitement—undoubtedly, something worth anticipating.
"The Quanzhen Sect Leader has arrived!"
Someone exclaimed. Music and drums sounded again. In today's Daoist world, Quanzhen occupied half the territory, dominant in the north. The sect's leader naturally held an extremely esteemed position, with few able to match him.
"It's been many years since the last cultivators' gathering. This time is extraordinary—the Kunlun Sect Leader, Daoist Qiri, the Quanzhen Sect Leader, and so many other great figures have all personally come."
The horizon's edge was dyed red by fiery clouds. Phoenix cries shook the heavens. The patriarch of the Vermilion Phoenix lineage had arrived, bringing the clan's heavenly daughter, causing another commotion.
Maoshan was shrouded in mist and clouds. The mountains were not tall but elegant, the waters not deep but spiritually refined.
This cultivators' gathering had a tremendous impact. A large number of cultivators arrived, filling every Daoist palace, temple, and courtyard until they could barely accommodate more.
On Maoshan's front and back slopes, peaks and valleys, there were over three hundred Daoist buildings of various sizes—palaces, temples, halls, and pavilions—a magnificent sight. Now they were overflowing with people.
Peace was broken, replaced by clamor. Too many people came and went, from Wheel Sea cultivators to Dragon Transformation peak experts, countless in number, from various sects and schools.
Ye Fan, however, seemed detached from the world, hearing none of this noise. He stood on a low hill, quietly observing people and matters unrelated to him.
Thin mist like gauze, the setting sun like a painting, colorful and splendid. He stood motionless as a clay or wooden statue, listening to the Dao sounds from ancient times, feeling as if "flowers flew three thousand miles on the Dao path, people were at the twelve levels of Jade Pool."
Several days passed in an instant. Ye Fan watched the sunrise at dawn and admired the colorful clouds at dusk, residing in the Daoist temple. Four days later, the cultivators' gathering finally began.
Sect leaders from all directions had arrived. This grand event was magnificent. Experts appeared one after another, filling everyone with anticipation. Many exceptionally talented young people also showed up, leaving people amazed.
The Nine Heavens Ten Thousand Blessings Palace was the main peak's palace within Maoshan's pure land, the most magnificent and imposing, built during the Western Han dynasty after the Three Mao True Lords ascended.
Before this grand Daoist palace was a very open area—the martial training ground opened by the Three Mao True Lords back then, protected by powerful Dao marks, difficult to damage.
At the cultivators' gathering, the various sects first discussed the problem everyone faced: with the world's essence energy drying up, how would they cultivate in the future?
Everyone expressed their opinions, but no one had a real solution. Even the great supernatural power practitioners of ancient times couldn't solve it, so naturally, this era couldn't eliminate the great calamity.
The plain and ordinary agenda quickly passed. Next came what everyone was focused on—the grand competition. The main reason for attending this grand gathering was to watch experts contend for supremacy.
The so-called cultivators' gathering was a grand event filled with combat. The passionate battles primarily featured duels among the younger generation. In ancient times, it was for exchange and sparring between sects, but now it had evolved into competition.
Experts contended for supremacy—who was higher, who was lower, who was weak, who was strong. Each time, they had to determine superiority. The competition grew fiercer year by year, losing the original intent of ancient duels.
Ye Fan sat in the distance, quietly watching. He too had walked the path from Wheel Sea and Dao Palace secret realms. Looking back now gave him a different feeling.
"Clang," "Clang"...
Sword light shot into the sky. A palm-length flying sword sliced through the heavens, slashing and dancing in all directions. Zhan Yifan of the Shushan Immortal Sword Sect was unstoppable, defeating twelve peers in succession.
"He crossed that threshold—the early Dragon Transformation stage! It's hard to believe. I'm afraid even most of the older generation can't suppress him now," someone sighed.
Zhan Yifan leaped up and left the training ground. In one battle, no one could contend with him. He advanced all the way, favored by all sides.
On the other side, Long Xiaoque also surged forward, unstoppable. Demonic aura surged there, purple blood energy permeated the air, his powerful combat prowess shocking everyone.
This caused many female cultivators' beautiful eyes to sparkle with extraordinary brilliance. Such a powerful figure might well become the future number one of the demon clan, revered by all under heaven.
Some great supernatural power practitioners of the demon clan had once prophesied that this child was no mere pond dweller—with his prominent horns, he would surely soar to the heavens in the future, not even the world itself could stop him.
"Pity that the Heavenly Demon Body from Changbai Mountain's Primordial Dragon Cave didn't come. Otherwise, we could judge who is weak and who is strong, who will be the demon clan's future number one expert."
"Yes, I wonder why the Changbai lineage didn't send anyone. They say they've sealed their mountain, forbidding outsiders from setting foot inside. Who knows what happened?"
While people marveled at Long Xiaoque's brilliance, they also mentioned another heaven-gifted figure of the demon clan, all regretting not being able to witness the legendary physique.
"Long Xiaoque's brilliance lies in his enlightenment. His understanding of the Dao is extremely deep, surpassing his peers. Even the Heavenly Demon Body, despite its extraordinary physique, might not be able to match him."
"Right, look at the move he just executed—one from the Dragon Sparrow Slaughter God Record. Purple energy surges, thunder roars—he's clearly grasped its true meaning, reached the transformation realm!"
Many exclaimed. In the arena, Long Xiaoque was like an ancient demon god revived. His skin was bronze-colored, black hair flowing and flying, his heroic bearing majestic, his gaze like cold lightning. He fought thirteen experts simultaneously, suppressing all heroes.
Dragon Sparrow purple energy surged, rolling in all directions, like a purple sea boiling over, drowning heaven and earth. It traced out one patch after another of lightning, the electric light dazzling, rumbling and ear-splitting, its power extremely strong, suppressing everyone beneath.
Everyone marveled. His Dao techniques were profound, with few peers among the younger generation of this era. His clan had said he possessed the aura of the first ancestor, but unfortunately, he was born in the wrong time.
Ye Fan watched quietly, nodding to himself. Looking at this young demon clan expert, he was indeed extraordinary. If born in the Big Dipper, he might have become a remarkable figure.
Purple energy surged, drowning the ten directions. All thirteen great enemies were suppressed by Long Xiaoque. He descended from the sky, hair flowing, his bronze skin shimmering with precious radiance, appearing very robust.
Many young female disciples from various sects exclaimed, their eyes shining with stunning light. His overwhelming dominance came from deep within his bones. Under the surging demonic aura, many opponents trembled, amazed and shocked—he was unrivaled among his peers.
"Swish"
His gaze was very cold, fixed on Ye Fan in the crowd. His hostility was undisguised. He murmured softly, "I want to spar with you."
Ye Fan shook his head. He couldn't agree. Having reached his level, he had little desire to fight and didn't want to strangle a genius here.
Long Xiaoque's eyes burst with divine light, very startling. He strode forward and directly attacked Ye Fan in the crowd, using full force, his hostility very strong.
His heroic posture was straight. Attacking with full force like this, his entire body's purple blood boiled, the demon god bloodline fully revived. He split the very sky, his gaze terrifying!
Ye Fan was startled. Seeing this momentum, he thought of an old acquaintance—Golden Wing Little Peng King. They both shared a wildness in their nature.
Moreover, they wore everything on their faces, unable to hide it—straightforward, direct. With hostility in their hearts, they attacked directly.
Unfortunately, the heaven-gifted Little Peng King died in the trials set by the ancient great sage, perishing with regret, never appearing in the imperial road contention.
Everyone exclaimed, all dodging. In today's world, even among the older generation, few could suppress Long Xiaoque. Purple blood energy surged like a raging wave, flooding this area, leaving only Ye Fan.
He didn't avoid it. He only extended one index finger, which instantly enlarged, pressing down like a golden pillar, instantly dispersing the sky-filling purple blood energy.
"Boom"
The golden finger descended, over ten zhang long, directly sending Long Xiaoque flying, then pressing down on his head.
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