Chapter 1083: Ancient Path Beyond the Domain
Eternal Blue Gold!
A piece of metal the size of a palm shimmered with a mysterious luster, a hundred or a thousand times more dreamlike than sapphire, making it impossible to look away once seen.
This was an imperial-level divine material, a rare immortal substance, exclusive to the ancient great emperors, beyond the reach of others.
This was Ye Fan's first time seeing Eternal Blue Gold. It was dazzlingly dreamlike, blue light flowing like the most brilliant star in the universe.
However, its eerie and terrifying nature also made one's heart tremble. Beads of blood rolled across its surface, each one so striking it was like a vast ocean—if they were to cascade down, they might drown all life.
"The blood of Emperor Void..." Ye Fan murmured to himself, reverence and suspicion in his eyes as he observed carefully.
There was no doubt that the Eternal Blue Gold was merely a fragment, a corner of a weapon that had been broken off, stained with the blood of Emperor Void, having fallen from the ancestral hall of the Ji Family.
These circumstances sparked endless imagination, while also sending chills through one's heart. Emperor Void had suffered a wound, and a fragment remained within his body!
Over a hundred thousand years had passed. The aura contained within these few drops of supreme imperial blood had already dissipated, and the Eternal Blue Gold had worn away their Dao resonance, so they were no longer intimidating and could be approached.
"This Eternal Blue Gold contains fragments of divine consciousness that have defiled Wang Teng's soul. I do not wish for it to continue causing harm in the world. I will cast it into the Divine Lake and suppress it with the tomb gate of the Chaotic Ancient Emperor," the Immortal Crane said.
It did not intend to gift this precious imperial weapon immortal material to Ye Fan, fearing it would bring great trouble, and instead planned to seal it away for eternity.
"Let the matters of that year drift away with the wind, and not affect future generations."
"Thump."
After speaking, the old crane cast the Eternal Blue Gold into the lake. The water splashed high, then surged skyward as the crane rose with a loud cry.
"A thousand years from now... a new heir of the Chaotic Ancient Emperor will reappear in the world... washing away all defilement, blooming with the most brilliant radiance."
Ye Fan walked out of the great Gobi Desert, turning back for one last look before vanishing into the vast grasslands. In his hand, he held a piece of ancient wood—it had no luster at all, but when he flicked it, it rang out sharply like metal.
"The Former Character Secret is connected to it, yet I see nothing extraordinary about it..." he murmured to himself.
According to the old crane's hint, this piece of ancient wood was of great significance. If it were destroyed, the Former Character Secret among the Nine Secrets would be completely severed from inheritance.
Ye Fan examined it for a long time, finding not even a trace of Dao marks. In the end, he put it away. Some scriptures cannot be comprehended until the time is right; they depend on fate.
He left the Northern Plains, stepped through a Domain Gate, and traveled alone to the Central Province, heading toward the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion. He wanted to investigate the ancient stellar path leading beyond the domain.
"Where exactly is this so-called strongest trial in history taking place?"
In recent days, the Eastern Wasteland had been in great turmoil. The Celestial Prince was dead, the Eight Divine Generals were annihilated, and the Chaos Expansion Great Sage had been slain. It was like a dam bursting, a torrent surging down.
Everyone in the Eastern Wasteland was talking about it, and the entire world was watching. Although the Holy Prince had taken all the blame upon himself, everyone knew that it was a mysterious figure who had killed the Celestial Prince.
Who was this person? People from all five domains wanted to know, making it the focus of attention. The world speculated that it must be Ye Fan who had returned.
Now, the Eastern Wasteland was unsettled everywhere. A great battle had concluded, but its ripples were only just beginning.
Although the Battle Victory Buddha had used his boundless Dharma power to forcefully intimidate, he had already returned to Mount Sumeru, and it was uncertain when he would descend again.
Many sought to find Ye Fan, especially the Ancient Clan, who wanted to learn what kind of world he had gone to and what secrets it held.
Back then, during the battle at the Central Province Ancestral Temple, no one had found the Green Cauldron. People had reason to believe that the ultimate Five-Colored Altar might hold its secrets.
But in the end, only Ye Fan had used that stellar Domain Gate to leave; no one else could board it. Many in the Ancient Clan wanted to know if there was a connection.
"It might not necessarily be Ye Fan. The saints from beyond the domain are about to arrive, and the path to immortality will open. It could be the disciple of some sage from another path," some said.
Of course, not everyone thought that way. Some cultivators speculated that it might have been the work of visitors from other domains.
"Impossible. It absolutely must be the Human Clan's Sacred Body who has returned. Otherwise, how could he have joined forces with the Holy Prince? Even that damn dog, the Big Black Dog, showed up!"
The vast majority firmly believed that the Human Clan's Sacred Body had returned. As soon as he arrived on this ancient star, he had done something that shook the world—killing the Celestial Prince. This was undoubtedly earth-shattering.
In the Eastern Wasteland, in every street and alley, wherever cultivators gathered, the talk was all about Ye Fan.
The same was true in the Central Province, Southern Ridge, and Western Desert. In recent days, everyone was speculating about where he had gone and when he would reveal himself.
"The Human Clan's Sacred Body is too powerful. He even killed the Celestial Prince. Huang Xudao, Huo Qizi, and the others couldn't stop the tragedy. What a massacre," said a member of the Ancient Clan.
"Hmph, I think he hasn't been having an easy time these days either. Even if the Battle Victory Buddha has decreed that saint-level ancient kings cannot act against him, I don't believe there aren't those willing to take the risk!"
"That's true. The Immortal Emperor is a deity revered by all races. To have the Celestial Prince killed outright and forbid revenge—there must be saint-level ancient kings burning with anger. Even if they don't act openly, won't they go after him in secret?"
"Exactly. He holds the secret to crossing star domains and knows of a mysterious life-bearing ancient star. Setting aside everything else, just that alone will have ancient kings seeking him out."
These days, Ye Fan had left the Eastern Wasteland. Forces from all sides were mobilizing, all searching for him, each hoping to be the first to find him.
When saints do not appear, who can contend?
Now, this was the consensus. In this age without saints in the world, there were probably few who could be Ye Fan's match. The slaying of the Celestial Prince was a glorious achievement hard to surpass.
Huang Xudao, Ji Zi, the Holy Prince, and a few others were the only ones who could be compared to him. Unless powerful figures from beyond the domain descended, who could stand against him?
Ye Fan arrived at the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion, entering discreetly, not wanting to be recognized. The world was in turmoil, and countless people wanted to drag him out.
Years had passed. The Extraordinary Scholars Mansion had changed little, nestled in the most spiritually rich immortal mountains. Thousands of strands of purple qi rose, immortal light swirled in a myriad of scenes, magnificent and colorful.
Orchids took root on stone peaks, old dragons frolicked in deep pools, phoenixes soared outside jade towers, and qilin ancient beasts lay alone before stone platforms.
So many years had passed. The cultivators who had stayed in the mansion had long become renowned in their regions, having mostly grown up and gradually replaced the older generation.
In this era of changing heaven and earth, when the rules of the Dao were no longer so fearsome, as long as one strove, prodigies and geniuses would always shine, carving out their own place in the world.
Returning to a familiar place, Ye Fan observed everything in the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion with some nostalgia. Ji Ziyue, Pang Bo, the Central Emperor, and others had all gone far away, while Wang Teng had died by his hand. The strong had departed, no longer in this world.
"Where did they go? Why is it called the strongest trial in history?"
Ye Fan walked along, heading toward the secluded cultivation site of the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion's master. Having cultivated to this level, he increasingly felt that the mansion was unfathomable, every layout deliberate.
Stone mountains undulated, elegant peaks clustered, and dragon qi surged from the earth. Every outstanding disciple could claim a mountain peak as their secluded cultivation ground.
A winding ancient path, existing for who knows how many years, seemed very short but could never be walked to the end.
"Our generation... the dead are dead, the vanished have vanished. Of the few heaven-defying prodigies from back then, not many remain."
By the roadside, there were tea houses and small taverns built against the mountains. Disciples and cultivators of the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion sat around, discussing the state of the world.
"Do you think the Sacred Body has really returned? He's too powerful, even killing the Celestial Prince. Who in the world can stand against him?"
"Mm, have you heard? Someone saw Wang Teng in the Western Desert, suspected to have been killed by the Sacred Body. Someone watched that battle from afar."
"What? Even Wang Teng is dead? The Northern Emperor of yesteryear, one of the top figures in the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion, the strongest of the younger generation across the world, a model for his peers... just ended like this."
Many sighed. A heavenly prodigy of his generation had met such a fate. They were shocked by Ye Fan's strength, sweeping through the Ancient Clan and the Human Clan alike. Speaking of the strongest trial in history, this old man has been waiting for you for fourteen years." The old man set down the bowls and dishes, had Ye Fan sit, poured two cups of wine, and raised his glass in a toast.
The others instinctively withdrew, standing outside the small tavern.
"Your troubles are not small," the old saint said.
Ye Fan nodded, not daring to be careless. He helped pour the wine and earnestly sought guidance. "Are you referring to the Ancient Clan?"
"Not just them, but also them." The old man pointed to the sky. "The saints from beyond the domain. Those who can set foot on the stellar ancient path and find their way here—which of them is ordinary? They are almost here. If they bring disciples, there will surely be some outstanding young people. You will not lack opponents."
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the distance, loud and chaotic, with many voices clamoring.
"Major event! Super major event! A saint from beyond the domain has descended in the Eastern Wasteland!"
"It is said that he arrived two days ago, but the news was suppressed. It has only now reached the Central Province. The domain-expert was received by a member of the Ancient Clan. One of his disciples wants to challenge all the heroes of the Eastern Wasteland, then fight all the way to the Central Province. He has named names: he wants to battle Huang Xudao, defeat the Holy Prince, and suppress the Sacred Body Ye Fan!"