Chapter 1102: The Desolation of the Forbidden Zone
“I hate this…!”
Huo Tan roared unwillingly, his piercing screams like those of a wild beast, but they changed nothing. In the end, death was unavoidable.
A gentle breeze blew, rustling the ancient trees within the forbidden zone. A cloud of ashes rose—Huo Tan had been burned to cinders by his own destructive holy light, scattering in the wind.
In the distance, Ye Fan watched all of this calmly, his purple robes fluttering, his expression indifferent. After a long time, sounds came from behind him—Duan De and the others had arrived.
“Haha… slaughtering a saint! This time, we’ve truly defied the heavens!” The Dragon Horse laughed wildly, its hooves stomping, flames flickering. In its excitement, it nearly stumbled into the forbidden zone.
Ye Fan was not overly excited. He had seen the gap between himself and a saint—the difference was immeasurable. If not for being inside this Forbidden Zone of Life, there would have been no hope of victory.
“The gap is too vast. As a saint, one is unfathomably powerful. Even luring him into this forbidden zone cost Ye Fan another body,” said Black Emperor, his expression grave.
That body was essentially another Ye Fan, with flesh and blood, no different from the original. It had died in battle within the forbidden zone, signifying that if Ye Fan’s true body had entered, he would have perished together with Huo Tan.
“In today’s world, to have a foothold, one must become a saint. Otherwise, when the ancient sages from beyond the stars arrive, things will become even more complicated, and chaos will surely ensue,” said Duan De.
“Becoming a saint!” A silent pressure weighed on Ye Fan’s heart. This was merely a newly ascended saint—how terrifying would a true ancient saint be?
And what about the few Great Saints who stood at the peak of this ancient star? How dreadful would their cultivation be? The mere thought of it sent chills down one’s spine.
“Huo Tan left something behind,” said Ye Tong.
Ye Fan had already noticed, but it was not the right time to enter. Using the One Qi Transforms into Three Purities technique required time and could not be sustained indefinitely.
As the red sun set in the west, a wisp of clear qi appeared above Ye Fan’s head, and another version of himself walked forward—a flesh-and-blood body. It approached the place where Huo Tan had died. Amid the ashes lay several saint bones, covered in cracks, along with a palm-sized piece of jade.
When he retrieved it, Duan De curled his lips and said, “The bones are already decayed. They can’t compare to a Saint King’s. Can’t even use them for refining artifacts.”
Black Emperor examined the jade and declared it a secret treasure, crafted by a Great Saint. Though not a weapon, it had its uses.
The group frowned. As they had expected, there was indeed a Great Saint backing Huo Tan. This was cause for concern.
“No matter. Wear these items, and you’ll be safe,” said Black Emperor, distributing a string of pendants carved from the branches of the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, inscribed with Heaven-Deceiving Arrays.
“This secret treasure can be placed in the Green Cauldron. Once the Great Saint’s aura is stripped away, I’ll study it,” said Black Emperor.
The group left the forbidden zone. Before they had gone far, they felt the mountains tremble slightly, and a howl echoed from the Ancient Forbidden Land.
“Boom!”
A surge of power rushed out of the forbidden zone, spreading through the mountains. Many birds and beasts instantly turned to dry bones, sending chills down everyone’s spines.
“Hurry! Something unusual is happening here!”
They quickly retreated, then rose into the sky, revealing shocked expressions as they watched from afar.
The Nine Sacred Mountains spewed mist and haze, shrouded in a blur that was vastly different from before.
“Several Desolate Slaves have appeared above the abyss!”
They all opened their Heavenly Eyes, able to see for a thousand miles. They spotted several figures, each clad in ancient attire, each with a terrifying origin.
Among them was a woman of peerless grace—the Holy Maiden of Tianxuan from six thousand years ago, the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Wasteland. Now, she was a walking corpse, her eyes devoid of light.
“Not one of them is ordinary. They are all extraordinary beings!” Duan De squinted, his emotions stirred.
He pointed to an old man with white hair, clad in worn Daoist robes, his face covered in wrinkles, his hair white as snow, and his eyes a leaden gray.
“Does anyone know… this is Ancient Saint Xia Feng, who once met the Green Emperor several times. His cultivation was profound, yet here he serves as a slave,” Duan De said calmly.
Since ancient times, peerless experts nearing the end of their lives had almost always made the same choice—to venture into the seven Forbidden Zones of Life in search of the Divine Immortality Pill, hoping to live a second life.
Unfortunately, no one had ever succeeded!
Several figures appeared above the abyss, but only two could be identified. Each was more formidable than the last. The others, in even more ancient attire, were unrecognizable, their eras unknown.
“Clank, clank”
The sound of iron chains came, clear even from such a distance. A black mist surged, and a figure stood in the void. Only a pair of eyes could be seen, flickering with green light, deep and startling.
The Heavenly Eye was useless. Ye Fan and the others could not see through the black mist or discern the figure’s form. It was a realm of mystery.
“Rumble”
The entire Ancient Forbidden Land trembled. The black mist churned violently, nearly spilling over the edge of the forbidden zone. The sound of chains rang incessantly, as if right beside them.
“What’s happening? What’s about to occur?” The Big Black Dog’s fur stood on end, its teeth bared, sensing a growing unease.
“Could it be… about to come out?” Ye Tong, possessing a Sun God Body, also felt a chill, sensing a peculiar aura.
It was said that the path to immortality would open in the Southern Domain, and ancient sages predicted it might appear in the Ancient Forbidden Land. The ancient sages from beyond the stars had chosen this place upon arrival—could it be coming true?
“Clank!”
The chains shook, the sound of metal grinding unbearably harsh, creaking as if many chains were taut, ready to snap at any moment.
“Is he… the true Desolation? Is he about to break free and leave the Ancient Forbidden Land?” Everyone present gasped. If this came to pass, chaos would surely erupt!
“Black Emperor, did this forbidden zone exist during the era of Emperor Wu Shi?” Ye Fan asked.
“It should have existed long before,” Black Emperor replied, staring at the Nine Sacred Mountains, where black mist surged, obscuring the sun, moon, and stars.
“Did Emperor Wu Shi ever say what kind of place this is? Did he ever come here to fight?”
“Haven’t I told you before? I truly don’t know such things. When I followed Emperor Wu Shi, he was already in his later years, living in seclusion. I couldn’t possibly know all the great deeds he did,” Black Emperor said.
“But…” His eyes flickered with doubt, revealing a hint of strangeness. “It seems… this place is special. When the Emperor passed through the Southern Domain in his later years, he muttered something, but I didn’t catch it.”
“Think carefully,” Duan De urged, his eyes narrowing to slits.
“He said something like ‘Not for immortality.’ Those three words, I think. When I asked him about it back then, he just shook his head and didn’t elaborate,” Black Emperor said.
“Clank”
The sound of chains grew louder, rattling their eardrums. Within the black mist, cold metallic glints flashed, dazzlingly bright.
“That’s… Divine Gold!”
Several Desolate Slaves retreated, standing on the Nine Sacred Mountains. Above the central abyss, a lone figure stood, pulling many divine chains taut.
Crimson light flickered, and the cry of a phoenix resounded through the heavens. It was a chain forged from Phoenix Blood Red Gold, inscribed with Dao marks, capable of infinite extension, binding this person.
Purple light dazzled, and a purple mist rose. A chain of Divine Pattern Purple Gold stretched from the abyss, binding this person as he struggled violently.
Green light shimmered, and immortal mist spread, like streaks of tears flowing. This was a chain forged from Immortal Tear Green Gold, crystal clear and brilliant, like the tears of an immortal.
“This is—” Seeing this sight, even Duan De was stunned. Four or five divine chains intertwined, wrapped around this person, trapping him in the abyss.
All were supreme divine golds, materials used to forge Extreme Imperial Weapons. Even ancient Great Emperors might not find them, yet they were used to bind a single person—how terrifying was this?!
“What is going on? What realm has this person reached? Who imprisoned him here, and what is his origin?”
The so-called Desolation might be a prisoner, bound by Extreme Dao divine gold, unable to leave. It was incomprehensible who possessed such transcendent power!
“Rumble”
The Nine Sacred Mountains trembled violently. The figure struggled, and the Dao marks on the Extreme Dao divine gold chains seemed on the verge of shattering. He might break free at any moment.
Black mist roiled, and the radiance of various divine golds flickered, occasionally visible. The metallic luster was dazzling and awe-inspiring, but the figure itself remained shrouded, impossible to see clearly.
“Why is this happening? Why does he suddenly want to leave the Ancient Forbidden Land?” The group was both shocked and puzzled.
“Could it be that your battle with Huo Tan angered him?” The Dragon Horse snorted white smoke from its nostrils.
Black Emperor and Duan De also looked at Ye Fan, all fixing their gazes on him as if he were the culprit, making him uncomfortable.
Among the seven Forbidden Zones of Life, only this place had its supreme being manifest. If it were to emerge now, it would surely shake the world!
“Let’s go. Leave here first. No wonder the two ancient sages from beyond the stars retreated—they might have sensed something amiss,” Ye Fan said.
There was no need to stay and watch. If the Desolation were to emerge, everything in its path would wither into a dead land, and they would all meet with disaster.
The Domain Gate opened, and they decisively departed, leaving behind the sound of chains echoing through the skies and black clouds rolling for hundreds of miles. It was no longer their concern.
“Huo Tan’s soul lamp has gone out. He’s dead!” That day, the ancient clan to which Huo Tan belonged revealed this news—a saint had fallen!
Who had killed Huo Tan? He had been pursuing Ye Fan these past few days. Could it be that a human ancient sage had taken offense and acted against him?
“It must be a human ancient sage. Otherwise, who could kill Huo Tan? As powerful as Ye Fan is, he’s still only at the Dao Severing stage—he can’t defy the heavens!”
The news caused an uproar. Everywhere, people discussed it, as it could trigger great chaos, involving a battle between saints.
However, a secret soon emerged: Ye Fan had killed Huo Tan. Ancient clan members skilled in divination had calculated this result.
“What?!”
The whole world was stunned. People were dumbfounded—how could they believe such a thing? Were the ancient clans looking for an excuse to strike at the Human Sacred Body?
No one believed it. Ye Fan slaughtering a saint? This was too absurd. A Dao Severing cultivator, even if he were an Imperial Prince or possessed heaven-defying means, could not have such combat power!
“It’s true. Huo Tan was indeed killed by the Human Sacred Body. When his soul lamp shattered, it reflected the final scene—Ye Fan shattered his saintly body.”
Many in the ancient clans initially didn’t believe it, but after verifying with Huo Tan’s clan, they obtained solid evidence and were stunned.
When this spread, people had no choice but to believe. The world was shocked, and all under heaven was in an uproar.
Ye Fan had slaughtered a saint!
Truly defying the heavens!
“Ye Fan has slaughtered a saint! This feat deserves to be recorded in cultivation history, rivaling the Ruthless Great Emperor, matching the young Emperor Wu Shi, and comparable to the Green Emperor. With such combat power, once he becomes a saint, who can contend with him?”
The world was astounded. Ye Fan had returned, announcing his presence with the glorious feat of slaughtering a saint, like a great bell resounding across the land.
“Huo Tan finally became a saint, only to be recorded in history as a negative example, a foil to the Human Sacred Body’s glorious battle.”
“A battle that will go down in cultivation history—slaughtering a saint at the Third Immortal stage. There are only a few such examples in history. It has turned the world upside down!”
Everyone under heaven was discussing it, completely unaware that the Ancient Forbidden Land in the Southern Domain was cracking, and an even more terrifying event was about to unfold.
Last day, begging for monthly votes. The Desolation stirs—begging for monthly votes to suppress it.