# Chapter 1237: Imperial-Level Battle
The Divine Skin Ancient Scroll, the Tree of Life… all were part of the scheme, merely bait to lure the Great Sage Yan Qi into the Ancient Emperor Formation for execution.
The curtain fell, the killing formation activated!
This was a massacre. Brilliant light, blinding radiance—each beam, each strand transformed into dragon roars and phoenix cries, sweeping through and slaughtering the assembled heroes.
Deep within the mountain range, Dao Yi calmly observed everything. The Great Sage beside him had already made his move, suppressing the Blue Gold Divine Staff of the Fire Qilin Cave.
Throughout the ages, what was most formidable? Setting aside living Great Emperors, it was naturally their surviving weapons and formation diagrams—especially the latter, which required no mana to activate. Once operational, it was equivalent to an Ancient Emperor striking.
Blood blossoms flew. The Ancient Clan sages were utterly defeated and fled. Corpse after corpse remained, life after life ended. Within the Ancient Emperor Killing Formation, they were as fragile as porcelain.
Every beam of light that swept past claimed a life. Bodies were covered in cracks, including their primordial spirits. The sages bled and fell.
"Bang"
A black ape as tall as a mountain, with demonic wings sprouting from its back, fell backward into a pool of blood. An Ancient Emperor sword beam had pierced through its forehead bone—a single strike, instant death.
"Ah…"
Another Ancestral King transformed into a four-headed, eight-armed form, facing all directions simultaneously to resist the deadly killing rays. But it was futile. In an instant, his body was riddled with bloody holes, and he died unwillingly.
No one could resist. They charged madly, trying to escape, but how could they break free?
The Ancient Emperor Formation Diagram had been activated, operating on its own without human guidance. This was a killing ground isolated from the universe. Wherever the light beams swept, only destruction remained.
The entire planet was sealed off. At this moment, not a single person could escape. Blood energy filled the air, Dao patterns intertwined thread by thread, creating a Shura realm.
"Great Sage, save us!" All the sages converged toward Yan Qi. Only his position could still hold. The azure Qilin Divine Staff revived, suppressing heaven and earth, forming a brief tranquil harbor.
Within this formation, enormous mountain peaks transformed into Dao marks, pressing forward. The Ancient Emperor Formation could imbue all things in heaven and earth with divine will, making them briefly immortal, coexisting with the Extreme Dao.
A pitch-black Ancient Clan powerhouse, whose wings spanned over a dozen miles when spread, tried to soar into the sky. But two converging mountain peaks crushed him between them, turning him into meat paste. Blood flowed like a small river.
A snake-bodied, human-headed Ancient Clan powerhouse, dozens of miles long, was severed by a patch of formation patterns, staining the earth with blood.
This was a battle too gruesome to behold. Even though the Ancient Emperor Formation was incomplete—only thirty percent of the diagram remained—it could still slaughter all the heroes under heaven.
At this moment, there was no suspense. The formation diagram revived, hazy and indistinct, its interwoven light covering the entire planet. It would kill gods who stood in its way and slay Buddhas who blocked its path!
Yan Qi roared in fury, his eyes splitting at the corners. All the powerhouses of the Fire Qilin Cave, except for himself and Huo Qizi, had been slaughtered. The Ancient Clan sages from other tribes who had followed them were also rapidly annihilated, save for a few.
It happened too quickly—almost an instant kill.
Such was the might of an Ancient Great Emperor. Dominant over all in life, he shook the ages even in death, impossible to resist.
Great Sage Yan Qi bellowed, tearing heaven and earth apart with his divine staff, trying to carve out a path of survival. Blue light surged into the heavens. He could protect the few around him, temporarily blocking the formation diagram. But the enemy also possessed an Imperial Weapon and quickly closed in.
The Dao Yan Immortal Robe emitted billions of rays of light. Immortal energy condensed behind it, manifesting dozens of golden immortal swords that slashed down together, forcing him back step by step, blood spraying from his mouth.
Dao Yi understood the Imperial-level formation of this place and had taught his accompanying Great Sage the methods of entry and exit. Protected by the Dao Yan Divine Robe, this man was unmatched in his domain.
The aura he now displayed was far stronger than a few days ago. He fought so fiercely that the Great Sage of the Fire Qilin Cave changed expression—this man was not inferior to him.
This was a decisive battle, to the death. Whether the Ancient Clan could escape depended entirely on whether Yan Qi was strong enough. Only he could defy heaven.
"Dare you fight me one-on-one?"
Huo Qizi roared. His long blue hair flew wildly. Qilin patterns emerged on his tall, powerful physique. His blood rumbled like thunder, shattering the heavens themselves.
Dao Yi stood tall and straight, radiant as the morning glow. He smiled and said, "Why wouldn't I dare? But do you still have the life to fight me?"
"Yan Qi, hold off the one wearing the Ancient Emperor robe. I'll go kill the instigator." Huo Qizi spoke. Patterns appeared beneath his feet, and an ancient diagram accompanied him, carrying him forward as a streak of light.
Dao Yi showed a hint of surprise, then focused his mind to prepare for battle.
That was a Qilin Diagram, seemingly alive. It severed the formation patterns rising from the ground, protecting Huo Qizi. It could be called a divine treasure.
"To be able to move within an incomplete Ancient Emperor Formation—limited by materials and such, it's not an Imperial-level weapon, but it can be ranked as an immortal treasure, crafted by an Ancient Emperor's hand," Dao Yi murmured softly.
Every Ancient Emperor possessed power spanning the ages. Aside from their personal weapons, they might also refine life-saving artifacts for their children and others.
"Young Master, let me help you eliminate him!" Luan Feng and Mi Luo, who had been missing for days, spoke simultaneously.
"Forget it. You're not familiar with the Ancient Emperor Formation Diagram, and you have no Imperial Weapon to protect yourselves. One wrong step and you'll fall. Besides, I need him, and I also want to fight him." Dao Yi smiled, very relaxed, unconcerned.
He tapped lightly, and a jade pendant appeared, tearing open the void, creating a hidden passage for Luan Feng and Mi Luo to leave.
"Return to the Eternal Main Star. Go kill those Big Dipper powerhouses who haven't yet arrived at this place." He gave this order.
Luan Feng and Mi Luo obeyed. Their hearts surged with excitement. Only today did they learn that this man was the youngest son of the Dao Yan Divine Being, sealed in Divine Source, revived in this era.
Not long ago, someone had told them to take the Divine Skin Ancient Scroll and seek the Tan Mou Star Domain, not needing to resist the Outer Domain sacred beasts. They never expected the mysterious person to have such a grand background.
The two vanished. Huo Qizi roared, his hair standing on end in fury. He stepped on the immortal treasure Qilin Diagram and arrived in an instant, engaging Dao Yi in battle.
In Huo Qizi's hand appeared a blue divine staff, dazzling and crystalline, emitting an unparalleled Imperial might.
No one had expected such a scene. It was shocking. Had a third Imperial Weapon appeared? How was that possible!
This was a replica, identical to the Qilin Divine Staff, also a forbidden artifact. It could only be used a limited number of times, but its power was not weak.
Back when Ye Fan killed the Celestial Prince, he had fought several Ancient Imperial Princes and encountered such a thing. He had used the Green Cauldron to withstand it.
Now, Huo Qizi suddenly unleashed this Imperial Weapon replica. He intended to kill in one strike, to single-handedly reverse the battle situation and eliminate the instigator.
Because only a few sages remained, about to fall. Every second of delay meant blood would spill—an unbearable weight.
Dao Yi put away his smile. A faint golden light appeared on his body. A terrifying, immortal divine robe draped over him, Imperial might spreading.
He also had an Imperial Weapon replica. It appeared abruptly now, surging with golden energy, boiling forth, threatening to tear heaven and earth apart.
The two did not make contact. This was a clash of Ancient Emperor weapons, unrelated to their personal strength—a long-range confrontation.
The azure divine staff slashed down. Golden Dao Tribulation Immortal Light danced. Between them erupted blinding radiance as they clashed from a distance!
"Pfft"
Huo Qizi spat out a mouthful of blood. His body flew sideways. His blue hair stood on end. Opening his mouth, a bolt of lightning shot forth, shaped like an enraged Qilin, as he pounced again.
Dao Yi stood unmoving, still fighting Huo Qizi from a distance. Between them, mist swirled, tens of thousands of Dao marks appeared, and the two Imperial Weapon replicas clashed.
"Dare you fight me in the Outer Domain? Throw away the Imperial Weapons and fight with true strength?" Huo Qizi shouted.
"You are no match for me," Dao Yi said calmly.
"My Imperial Weapon replica was cracked by the Immortal Cauldron. Naturally, it can't suppress your divine robe. Dare you fight me to the death with real strength?" Huo Qizi said.
"First, your cultivation level is a step below mine. Fighting me means certain death. Second, you're already trapped. I don't want to open an escape route. Third, if you manage to escape by luck, when your cultivation is high enough in the future, I will accept your challenge." Having assessed Huo Qizi's cultivation, Dao Yi gave these three points.
Huo Qizi, belittled, his eyes blazing like divine lamps, felt a surge of pent-up anger. He let out a roar that shook the nine heavens, urging his divine staff to burn, ready to fight to the death.
"Come back!"
Great Sage Yan Qi cried out in alarm. He feared Huo Qizi would burn his origin, recklessly trying to perish together with the enemy. Moreover, he felt this might not even kill Dao Yi—this man had likely become a Sage!
Yan Qi turned. The true Qilin Divine Staff in his hand emitted light that split the universe, rolling Huo Qizi back and shielding him behind.
At this moment, the scene was unbearable to behold. Over twenty Ancestral Kings had come to the Fifth Divine Star, but now only five or six remained. All the others had died in battle.
The situation was extremely critical. If this continued, everyone would die. The enemy had an Imperial Weapon and an Ancient Emperor Formation Diagram—impossible to resist.
"Prince, use the Qilin Diagram to leave first!" Yan Qi transmitted secretly. Bitterness filled his heart; he sensed misfortune.
However, Dao Yi stood calmly not far away, not giving them a chance. He was ready to strike at Huo Qizi at any moment.
"Is heaven destroying us?" Great Sage Yan Qi despaired. The only consolation was that one Ancient Emperor's daughter had not come; otherwise, all hope would truly be lost.
Dao Yi had completely seized control. The Ancient Clan's defeat was only a matter of time. He opened his Heavenly Eye, parted the clouds and mist, looked toward the Outer Domain, and fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and the old mercenary's spaceship. He bared his teeth in a smile and said, "Are you two well?"
The old mercenary sighed. "This old man's eyes were blind. Greetings, Your Highness."
"Senior is a unique talent of your generation. No need for such formality. There's still some danger here. Please leave quickly," Dao Yi said.
"Good!" The old mercenary Huo Bai was very direct. He turned and left, vanishing into the depths of the universe.
"This Dao friend, your divine energy is concealed within, immortal bones growing in secret. You must be the Indestructible Golden Body, aren't you? Why not come down and have a chat?" Dao Yi smiled.
Blazing light surged. The Ancient Emperor Formation on the planet extended upward. Many great Dao symbols flew up. This wasn't the formation diagram itself, but an extension of its divine power—equally terrifying and boundless.
Ye Fan also smiled. "Meeting is fate. Since you're so hospitable, Dao friend, how could I refuse?"
Boom!
He donned a five-colored divine armor, many times more powerful than before. This was a Saint King's supreme battle armor, now in his hands.
This was naturally the result of his activities on the Eternal Main Star in recent days.
Then, Ye Fan held a rust-covered green cauldron, pressing it down toward the Imperial Dao symbols. Stimulated and pressured, the copper cauldron surged with green mist, beginning a full-scale counterattack and suppression.
"This is…"
Dao Yi showed shock for the first time, losing his previous composure. This aura was like an ocean—definitely an Imperial Weapon, capable of tearing through part of the formation diagram.
Two Ancient Emperor weapons combined could certainly blast open a path of survival, rendering all his arrangements void and wasting all his previous efforts.
Dao Yi's expression turned grave. He could no longer remain calm.
"Dao friend, my body is unwell. I need an immortal medicine to heal. How about a deal—lend me your Tree of Life?" Ye Fan said with a serious expression.