Chapter 1098: The Calm Before the Storm
All the saints arrived together, surrounding the great tomb, the atmosphere tense as all sides confronted each other.
The majestic ancient bronze hall, though mottled with rust, emitted billions of rays of light, illuminating the sky. Especially the character "Immortal" reflected from it made everyone's heart tremble.
Chaos Expansion Great Sage, Ten Thousand Dragon Nest's Great Sage, and over a dozen ancient kings stood side by side, like a dozen ancient demon peaks towering, causing terror in the hearts of all living beings.
Human saints were too few. So far, only Wei Yi and Jiang Taixu had appeared, with no trace of others, making them seem isolated and weak.
Chaos Expansion Great Sage squinted, looking at the Bronze Immortal Hall. This ancient, everlasting special structure had revived. Powerful as he was, he dared not recklessly force his way in.
"Such intense fluctuations. I faintly hear someone inside reciting an immortal scripture, unfathomably deep. Once I step inside, fortune or misfortune is unpredictable."
As a Great Sage, having such a feeling and making such a judgment made others even more wary of the bronze hall. No one dared act rashly.
Ye Fan, Black Emperor, and the others were eighty thousand li away. Through a mysterious crystal stone, they could clearly observe the situation near the great tomb. This was due to the wondrous imperial-level dao patterns.
"Even ancient clan Great Sages have come in person. If they bring a few ancient emperor weapons to attack, they might well obtain what they seek. That would be a huge problem."
The ancient clans lacked no extreme imperial weapons. The Golden Mace was said to be able to strike immortals. The Ten Thousand Dragon Bell, when shaken, could shatter heaven and earth. If Fire Qilin Cave, Primordial Lake, Divine Silkworm Ridge, and Blood Phoenix Mountain all brought their weapons, not just the Southern Domain, but even the Eastern Wasteland could be sunk.
"Everyone, what do you think of my proposal? Let us enter together and explore the secrets of immortality." Chaos Expansion Great Sage spoke again.
"If we enter with ancient emperor weapons, there should be no major problem. At the very least, we can protect ourselves." Ten Thousand Dragon Nest's Great Sage Qianlun nodded.
These two were the leaders, among the most peak existences of the ancient clans. Even other Saint Kings dared not breathe loudly in their presence, let alone defy them.
Someone looked toward Divine King Jiang and Wei Yi. These two human saints were both extraordinary, making even the ancient kings cautious. In the battle at Yao Chi back then, the White-Robed Divine King alone had shaken the heavens, leaving a deep impression on them.
"Will you two enter?" Ten Thousand Dragon Nest's Great Sage Qianlun smiled, looking their way.
"Forget it. We can't compete with you, so we won't cause trouble." Wei Yi shook his head.
"All races coexist; the world is one family. Why distinguish between us? All may enter." Qianlun said.
A heavenly sound rang out. The Bronze Immortal Hall in the sky blazed even brighter. The reflected character "Immortal" was blood-red, enormous and boundless, filled with a sense of shock.
This time, over a dozen saint-level ancient kings frowned. They too heard someone chanting scriptures, very hazy and indistinct, impossible to discern clearly.
"Could there be a living being inside the bronze hall?"
So many years had passed. Even ancient great emperors had long since passed away, leaving no life behind. Could it truly be related to immortality?
"I smell the scent of blood. This 'Immortal' character is at least condensed from emperor blood, perhaps even immortal blood." Chaos Expansion Great Sage said.
Either possibility was absolutely shocking!
Ancient great emperors—who could wound them? Using their blood to carve characters was a desecration. And if it were immortal blood, it would be even more inconceivable.
Eighty thousand li away, Ye Fan frowned. He had entered before and seen this "Immortal" character. Was it written with Ruthless Person's blood? It didn't seem so.
Behind the "Immortal" character was a mysterious door. He had only reached that point, with no chance to enter, because taking one more step would mean death.
"Let ordinary cultivators retreat. A great disaster will strike this place. No one should linger." In the field, a sickly old man appeared, speaking secretly to Divine King Jiang and Wei Yi.
As soon as he appeared, Chaos Expansion Great Sage and Qianlun Great Sage could no longer remain calm. Their faces were filled with gravity. Gai Jiuyou had arrived, making them all feel immense pressure.
The White-Robed Divine King nodded. Which ancient great emperor was ordinary? Who could rob their tombs? If they were unwilling, whoever came would fall.
Just like Purple Mountain. Everyone knew Emperor Wu Shi was buried there, but after so many years, who could do anything about it? Back then, several imperial weapons attacking the mountain could only retreat in defeat.
Many major figures had arrived. No one could remain calm. Ordinary cultivators began to retreat. This was no simple battle. If a saint war broke out, not just millions of li, but the entire Southern Domain could be devastated.
Whether human clan, demon clan, or ancient clan, all were sensible and began to withdraw.
If people wanted to follow the events, they needed to use formation eyes and such to observe. Otherwise, if a change occurred, ordinary cultivators would be as fragile as ants.
"What a lively scene." Another ancient saint arrived.
A golden light appeared before the former Yaoguang Holy Land. The Great Sage of the Golden Clan arrived, carrying the Golden Mace. The aura of an ancient emperor radiated, causing even the Bronze Immortal Hall to tremble, its immortal light blazing.
The Golden King glanced at Gai Jiuyou, then looked at Wei Yi and the White-Robed Divine King. He said nothing. His defeat by the Battle Victory Buddha had left him low for a time. Now, carrying the Golden Mace, he sought to compensate for the loss of the priceless divine marrow.
"Another Great Sage has arrived. If a real fight breaks out and ancient emperor weapons are swung, can the Southern Domain be preserved?"
Everyone worried. Even Divine King Jiang and Wei Yi frowned.
With so many major figures gathered, they represented the current peak combat power. The matter was growing ever larger. Ordinary cultivators had no qualification to participate and retreated like a tide.
Before long, the vast former Yaoguang Holy Land suddenly became quiet. Not a single ordinary person remained. Only saints stayed behind.
"Boom!"
The Bronze Immortal Hall emitted a rumbling sound. At the same time, the dao sounds grew even grander, as if a true immortal was expounding scriptures, deafening and enlightening, causing people to comprehend the dao.
"This is... careful! I almost dissolved into the dao!"
An ancestral king with only a few months of life left was terrified. This was an old sage. All the hair on his body stood on end, and goosebumps rose on his skin.
"Clang!"
The Golden Mace emitted a roar, transforming into an undying divine beam. Above, it could sever sun, moon, and stars. Below, it could destroy all living things. The aura of an ancient emperor awakened!
At the same time, bell sounds arose. Countless purple-gold divine bells strung together formed a true dragon, swaying its head and tail, appearing in the void.
Each bell of the Ten Thousand Dragon Bell was a section of dragon bone. When the sound emerged, it could shatter the nine heavens and ten lands, possessing the power to open heaven and earth, causing chaos to surge.
Two ancient emperor weapons appeared. The Bronze Immortal Hall sensed them. Its radiance did not diminish. It slowly descended toward the depths of the heavenly pit, blocking the entrance to the chaotic immortal land, defending itself actively.
"Oh, remarkable. The human emperor is dead, yet even his tomb is hard to shake. Even the Bronze Immortal Hall comes to block." Chaos Expansion Great Sage muttered.
"For the secret of achieving immortality, we can only forcefully attack the immortal hall. Moreover, the chaotic immortal soil is also a must-contest ground." The Golden King was the first to act, descending into the heavenly pit.
"Do not let idle people approach." Chaos Expansion Great Sage spoke, leaving a few ancient kings above to respond.
Everyone moved, descending together into the abyss.
"Major event! All the saints have arrived! They are opening the Bronze Immortal Hall to enter the ancient great emperor's tomb!"
"A great storm is about to rise! So many ancient saints acting—the Southern Domain may be sunk!"
"According to secret rumors, this is the ancient tomb of the Ruthless Great Emperor. She was the most brilliant and talented of all ages. Can she succeed?"
News spread in all directions. The gazes of cultivators across the world focused here. Unfortunately, they had no qualification to participate, only to watch.
On this day, many important locations in the Southern Domain had ancient formation platforms glowing, using heaven-penetrating formation eyes to observe this world-shaking change.
"I feel somewhat uneasy..." Wei Yi said, turning to look in another direction of the Southern Domain. Back then, the Tianxuan Holy Land was nearly annihilated, leaving him with a lifetime of pain and old memories.
"Let us observe quietly first." Gai Jiuyou said calmly.
The White-Robed Divine King and the others did not move. They only stood above the abyss, watching the ancient clans act, waiting for the result.
A few ancient clan saints flew in all directions, patrolling the surroundings. If a change occurred, they would immediately inform those below with their divine senses. Clearly, they were guarding against the few human ancient saints. What else could it be? They feared the humans would set up slaughter formations above.
"Boom!"
In the Southern Domain, the Ancient Forbidden Land. The atmosphere was now eerie. From the abyss surrounded by the Nine Sacred Mountains, a terrifying aura shot into the sky.
Two ancient saints from outside the domain were very uneasy. They immediately retreated, having already learned that an ancient great emperor's tomb had appeared elsewhere. They rushed there as well, temporarily leaving this place.
Ye Fan and the others were not far from here. Seeing this, they were all shocked.
"What happened? Could the path to immortality truly be about to open? Is it happening soon? This is a world-shaking upheaval!"
All their hearts pounded violently. Was the ethereal immortal domain truly about to appear? Who could ride the radiance and ascend, transforming into an immortal?
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a tremendous force surged, driving a hundred thousand mountains. Leaden clouds were like a vast ocean. The entire sky seemed about to collapse, striking at Ye Fan and the others.
"Not good! A saint is attacking!" Black Emperor shouted.
With a flick of his hand, twelve formation platforms flew out, arranging themselves in the void, blocking the overwhelming saintly radiance. The chessboard formation platforms flashed, and they immediately vanished into them.
"Bang!"
The twelve formation platforms instantly shattered, turning into ashes. They could not block it at all. This was a remnant of a corner of an emperor formation, enough to kill a half-saint, sending their flesh and blood flying.
However, the formation diagram was incomplete, only a tenth of the whole. It could not withstand a saint's attack.
"Human Sacred Body, you cannot escape. Next time, I will surely kill you. No one can stop me. You are my blood meal, and the mother qi you obtained will also belong to me." Huotan said coldly.
He was very regretful. Guided by a Great Sage, he had deduced that they should be in this area and charged over. But in the end, he missed, only the residual waves destroying a set of formation platforms.
Over a hundred thousand li away, Ye Fan, Black Emperor, Duan De, and the others frowned. That had been dangerous. They had almost been intercepted.
"A Great Sage spared no effort in deducing. Otherwise, Huotan, who just became a saint not long ago, could not have found us." Duan De said.
"I have the broken immortal cauldron on me. They can't calculate me. It seems there is another secret method, deducing you all." Ye Fan said.
"We must be careful. I'll carve more small heaven-deceiving formation patterns. Everyone carry a few. Even a Great Sage won't be able to calculate us!" Black Emperor said.
Some time ago, they had killed the Celestial Prince and plundered the Enlightenment Tea. Using the trunk of this divine tree to carve the heaven-deceiving formation patterns created by Emperor Wu Shi, Black Emperor firmly believed it would ensure safety.
"Very bad. Clearly, a Great Sage has instructed and personally deduced. This is a bad signal!" Duan De said.
Ye Fan paced back and forth, looking toward a certain place in the Southern Domain. His eyes were cold. "The ancient saints have all jumped out. Do they really think I cannot slaughter a saint?"
"What do you plan to do?" Dragon Horse asked, both excited and nervous. It loved chaos but deeply feared ancient saints, knowing the gap was too great to defy heaven.
"Huotan wants to kill me. He may not succeed. But if I think of some methods to slaughter an ancient saint, it might not fail either!" Ye Fan's words were cold.
"What... do you have in mind?" Big Black Dog asked.
"Now, the world knows I have returned. I seem to have been silent for too long. The ancient clans bully me. Then I will slaughter one of their ancient saints and send them a great gift."
"Master, you..." Ye Tong clenched his fists, both nervous and excited.