Chapter 1171: Emperor Void
Facing the ancient mystery was a difficult choice filled with both a desire to explore and a heart consumed by fear. Those from the Eternal Main Star naturally wanted to uncover the reason for their ancestors’ bizarre deaths.
Now, the boundless dark void had vanished, leaving only a giant coffin in its place, intensifying their curiosity.
“That’s right, perhaps we can blow away the fog and restore the truth of that era. The terrifying crisis has likely passed.” Another marquis responded. This was a major event spanning the ancient era; if they could investigate it, there would be immense prestige and benefits.
Some marquises with fierce and unyielding natures had bright beams in their eyes. One hundred thousand years ago was an ancient and mysterious age. For four great sages who swept across the stars to take action and mobilize such a force, there must be a significant reason.
The four ancient great sages had not returned empty-handed. They had locked onto that ancient coffin and embarked on the return journey. That was what they were escorting—perhaps a priceless immortal object.
Of course, the danger was obvious, but it was worth the risk. If they gained something, it would likely have a profound impact, shaking even this era.
“Go and investigate!” A marquis ordered several death warriors to step forward and explore at the risk of their lives.
Among the various terrifying legends, there was no mention of the ghost ship actively attacking onlookers. Sending a few death warriors to investigate should not bring disaster to the mothership fleet.
No matter the era, there were always those who walked on the edge of a blade and hovered between life and death. Their choices determined their fate—different lives, different manifestations.
The several black-clad men were not weak in strength. Two of them had already severed the Dao, which was also why they were willing to become death warriors. They had received training from the ancient immortal aristocratic clan, obtaining precious medicines and evolution liquid to advance. Now, the time had come to prove their worth.
Silently, without a word, they flew toward that oppressive, massive fleet. It was a death tomb built from a forest of steel, having existed in the universe for as long as one hundred thousand years.
Ancient sages, marquises, and others all watched intently. As the death warriors silently entered the fleet, everyone held their breath. Perhaps this would unravel the eternal mystery.
More crucially, if there was no danger, this would be an unimaginable, priceless treasure. Whoever obtained it would immediately become a regional overlord.
Four great sage-level motherships, along with countless escort ships—one hundred thousand years ago, they could sweep across star domains. Even now, they still could, as they were undamaged.
Soon, the six death warriors approached the four great sage-level ancient ships, each twenty thousand zhang long, and entered the space they clustered around.
“They’re getting close, and nothing unexpected has happened!”
Everyone was excited. Some marquises could no longer restrain themselves. If there was no danger, they could rush over and claim these supreme sacred artifacts.
If the corpses of the four great sages were still there, they would surely have left behind divine treasures!
“Quick, see what’s different about that ancient coffin?” A marquis said impatiently.
The most uncertain factor was naturally the giant coffin. Perhaps all the crises emanated from it; otherwise, why would the four ancient great sages have bound it?
The death warriors were very cautious. At a distance of a thousand zhang, they circled the coffin once and gestured back, indicating they had found no danger.
Suddenly, one of them seemed to have a shocked expression, immediately causing the cultivators here to tense up. They all looked in the direction he pointed.
“We can’t see from this angle. Move the mothership and go around to look!” An ancient sage said.
People quickly moved to another part of the starry sky to observe. Ye Fan drew in a cold breath. From a different angle, he further discovered the secret of the ancient coffin.
A corner of the coffin had been pried open, revealing gaps. More precisely, there were several gaps. Inside the outer coffin was an inner coffin—not just one layer, but several layers made of the same material.
“One, two, three…”
Eight layers of the ancient coffin had been moved aside. When they reached the ninth layer, it was blocked and could not be budged. The movement was very slight, so it would go unnoticed without careful observation. Only the final layer remained intact, like a solid mass with no gaps.
A Nine-Layered Divine Coffin!
Ye Fan was shocked. Just as he had guessed, this giant coffin was extraordinary. It was a divine coffin from endless ages past, originally meant to be buried in the Nine Heavens above.
At this moment, he finally understood why the Eternal Kingdom had mobilized such a force one hundred thousand years ago, dispatching four great sages who shook the past and present. The task they undertook was far from ordinary.
They had actually crossed into the Nine Heavens and stolen a divine coffin!
“The four great sages forcibly opened eight layers of the coffin, but when they truly touched the ninth true coffin, they encountered a catastrophic disaster!”
Those were ancient great sages, invincible across heaven and earth. In an age when no ancient great emperor appeared, who could rival them? They swept through the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths without an opponent.
Yet, with four great sages acting together, leading this boundless fleet, they were merely dealing with a dead deity—and yet they were completely annihilated.
Ye Fan’s body turned cold, a chill running from head to toe. He had seen a Nine-Layered Divine Coffin from the mythological era before—not for the first time. In fact, one was inside his cauldron. The killing sage Qi Luo and others had advised him to discard it, to bury it in the starry void, but he had not abandoned it. It was still with him to this day.
Back then, he had used his golden sacred blood to open the outer layers of the coffin. Now, thinking back, his body felt a chill. If he had continued opening it like those great sages, he would likely have died long ago.
A deity had been dead for countless ages, yet even a great sage who astonished the past and present could not touch it. What kind of ultimate combat power did that represent?
“Go check the great sage’s ship.” A marquis ordered.
Two death warriors boarded a magnificent giant ship. Even though time was merciless and ages had passed, the great sage-level dharma ship remained intact, flowing with a dim luster.
The two death warriors boarded and, after a while, one came out, excitedly waving back. He told the people that there was a major discovery inside.
“The great sage’s physical body—completely intact!”
Just eight words, yet they held a strange magic. Neither the marquises nor the ancient sages could remain calm. Everyone was excited.
That mysterious coffin was certainly invaluable, but its level could not yet be determined. However, the great sage’s divine treasure was visible. It could be imagined that obtaining even one corpse would be worthwhile. Their bodies must hold secrets.
Perhaps they could find seventh-stage or even eighth-stage evolution liquid. After all, one hundred thousand years ago was a glorious peak, producing many great sages, inseparable from the strongest evolution liquid. Those four were the rulers of that time—how could they not have immortal liquid?
A commotion!
An ancient sage spoke out, forcibly suppressing people’s impulses. Although it seemed the crisis had passed and the ghost ship no longer devoured life as in ancient times, they could not afford to be careless.
After much discussion among the major figures, an ancient sage led a group over to board the great sage ship and move the divine treasure.
The death warriors who had gone earlier could not even approach the fallen great sage’s physical body. They were blocked by the terrifying traces of the supreme being’s Dao. Taking even one more step would shatter them to pieces.
An ancient sage personally led the team, but they did not immediately enter the forbidden zone. Instead, they stopped at the edge of the oppressive fleet for a long time—nearly half a day—until they saw that the death warriors inside had no issues. Only then did they relax.
A hundred people boarded a great sage ship. Soon, laughter rang out. Clearly, they were excited, having seen a world-shaking divine treasure.
“Haha… perhaps we can obtain great sage-level evolution liquid! Everyone, there is no danger here. All the warships and motherships are ours!”
A half-sage laughed as he emerged from the ancient ship, bringing such news. It immediately thrilled the crowd, their bodies trembling.
Forget everything else—if this expedition yielded such a glorious fleet, it would be worth more than anything else. The strength and foundation of the twelve great royal clans would skyrocket!
“Four great sage-level ancient ships, plus several sage king-level warships, and peerless mechas!”
The crowd immediately fell into chaos. They were all stunned, then nearly went mad, all wanting to rush forward.
Suddenly, an ancient sage’s expression changed. He shouted urgently, “Damn it, the disaster has reappeared! Come back quickly!”
His face was pale, veins bulging on his forehead as he roared, wishing he could rush over and pull everyone back.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” The crowd was confused, all looking forward together.
“What did they touch? Why has the area around the ancient coffin darkened, impossible to see through, turning into chaos?” People were terrified.
In the past, wasn’t the ancient ghost ship like this? Between the four great sage ships was a darkness, a boundless void, representing death and desolation.
Now, this condition had reappeared!
“Come back quickly!”
Everyone shouted. Even the sages could not remain calm. Divine light burst from their eyes as they stared fixedly ahead.
However, it was too late. The hundred people had no more sound, vanishing into the ancient ship, disappearing without a trace.
“No!”
Many major figures cried out. The terrifying legend of the ancient ghost ship had reappeared, swallowing even a sage, cutting off his path to life.
“Rumble!”
Suddenly, the void trembled. A figure rushed out from the great sage ship. That ancient sage emerged, struggling desperately to escape, his face filled with terror, as if he had encountered something unimaginable.
“Save me…” He stretched out his hand with difficulty, charging out of the ancient ship, about to break free from the fleet.
Outside, another ancient sage saw this and reached out to help, as the escaping sage was only a dozen steps away from leaving the ghost ship area. Though his steps were labored, he was about to break out.
But something even more terrifying happened. It was as if an invisible great hand was pulling the escapee, slowly dragging him back, preventing him from leaving.
The ancient sage who had rushed to the ghost ship’s edge also let out a terrified cry, his face drained of all color, as if he had seen the most dreadful thing.
He himself could no longer move, as if pulled by an invisible hand, sinking into the ghost ship area. Then, his features twisted, and he silently vanished into the void.
Everyone’s backs were soaked with cold sweat. These were two sages—for them, invincible existences capable of sweeping across a living ancient star!
Yet now, they seemed so helpless and fragile, taken away like this. This was an absolute great terror!
“Why? What is going on?” Many marquises trembled.
But the matter was not over. A strange wave spread, rolling toward the crowd. They would become part of the ghost ship!
“No!” The crowd was terrified, letting out furious roars.
Ye Fan’s heart shook even more. Others did not know, but he felt it most clearly. Within this terrifying wave was a power of the void, very similar to the Ji family’s Void Dao—and it was aimed at him!
“Emperor Void… he… Emperor Void!” Ye Fan was shocked. The Nine-Layered Divine Coffin buried in the Nine Heavens might belong to Emperor Void.
“No, there are two other forces, equally supreme and terrifying, not weaker than this void power, entangled with it.” Waves of turmoil surged in his heart.
Three ancient great emperors—their powers were entangled!
When he realized this possibility, Ye Fan was shocked to the extreme. How could this be? But… it was indeed true!
“It’s over. We’re going to become part of the ghost ship too!” At this moment, many marquises were in despair. (To be continued)