# Chapter 1241: Arrogance and Domineering
The city walls were covered with axe marks and sword holes, ancient traces that could not conceal the heavy sense of historical grandeur, adding a layer of desolation.
Array patterns flickered faintly. This was the first city on the strongest trial path, naturally inscribed with formations within the walls to protect the peace here, enduring the slaughter of ten thousand ages without decay.
The magnificent city gate stood ten zhang tall, built from a rare type of stone. Some of the sword scars and hammer imprints on it caused even Ye Fan's heart to tremble—he clearly sensed the aura of an ancient great sage.
The gate tunnel was tall and deep. A single person rode alone, with no one riding alongside him. The scene felt oppressive and suffocating.
That spear strike from Ye Fan had been too astonishing, too fast for anyone to react, directly pinning a half-saint-level strange beast to death. Many people were thinking, if that spear had been aimed at them, could they have dodged it?
The middle-aged Daoist nun's face darkened as she stood before the magnificent giant city, staring at Ye Fan's back. Her eyes were sinister, murderous intent flickering within, yet she had no way to make a move.
On the gate tower, the soldiers were filled with an intense killing aura, glaring down at the people below like tigers watching their prey. Since the rules of this place had already been stated, no one was willing to challenge them.
Inside the gate tunnel, there were also several soldiers, their killing aura piercing cold. They wore heavy armor, their metallic battle garments chilling and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
"Consider this your first warning. Do not cause trouble here. Anyone who violates this will be killed without mercy!"
One of the soldiers, of medium build, wearing black iron armor and holding a bronze war spear, spoke. The cold light in his eyes was enough to seize one's soul.
Ye Fan showed no reaction, his expression calm and indifferent. He sat steadily on the horse's back, as firm as a green pine atop a towering peak.
The Dragon Horse was extraordinarily spirited. Its four hooves struck the blue stone ground with a clanging rhythm, steady and unhurried as it moved forward.
"I'm talking to you! Did you hear me?!" The squad leader among the soldiers shouted, the bronze war spear in his hand flashing with cold light, almost thrusting out.
Many cultivators showed strange expressions but said nothing, quietly watching the scene. No one had expected the city gate guards to try to intimidate Ye Fan with a show of force.
Everyone knew these were no ordinary soldiers. They had to be treated with caution—these were definitely fearsome cultivators, experts who had crawled out from piles of corpses.
"I'm not someone who looks for trouble. Don't provoke me, and everything will be calm and peaceful." Ye Fan did not turn sideways, nor did he look back. Sitting on the horse's back, he passed by coldly, not even glancing at this squad leader.
Many people were startled. Although Ye Fan's words were plain, they carried a latent strength—he wouldn't seek trouble, but if someone targeted him, a storm would surely erupt!
"Are you threatening me?" This squad leader's gaze was icy cold, the bronze ancient spear in his hand pointing forward, but in the end, he did not thrust it out.
Ye Fan did not turn back, did not explain, did not acknowledge him. He only left behind a silhouette as he entered the city. The black long spear hanging from the Dragon Horse gleamed with cold dark light, its killing aura reflected in the eyes of those behind him.
"I warn you, entering the first city of humanity, even a dragon must coil, even a tiger must lie down. No one can run wild here!"
Ye Fan's indifferent and cold demeanor made the squad leader feel his authority was being challenged, insulted. He transmitted his voice coldly, heavily stamping the bronze war spear on the ground, causing the blue stone to rumble.
"What kind of soldiers are these? I feel they are no weaker than us, if not stronger?"
Outside the magnificent giant city, people were entering in an orderly manner. Some were whispering, feeling that these armored soldiers were very special, worthy of being called heavenly soldiers.
"Because they come from similar origins as us, they are naturally exceptionally powerful." A slightly older cultivator sighed.
"What... is their identity?" Many were astonished.
"They are also people who walked the strongest trial ancient path, just a few years or decades earlier than us. They failed and remained on this path."
Upon learning this hidden truth, people were shocked. These were essentially their peers, a batch who had set out earlier, severely wounded and near death, then rescued and dispersed to various segments of the stellar ancient path.
"Don't provoke them. With so many people, there are naturally good and bad mixed in. Some individuals, though they failed, still can't let go in their hearts and harbor resentment."
Many nodded. At the very least, the squad leader at the city gate was definitely not a good person. He had been somewhat targeting Ye Fan, his hostility very strong.
The crowd in the star region grew smaller, forming a long dragon as they gradually entered the city. Some people's domineering nature was fully displayed, initially establishing their positions.
The city was enormous, the streets wide, lined with ancient trees with lush branches and leaves. There were also many buildings—medicine shops, weapon stores, as well as taverns, inns, gambling houses, and more.
Everyone was astonished. This was a city suitable for living. Although it sat in the universe, not on a planet, it was separated from the vacuum of space. There were many residents in the city.
This was a giant city full of life. Some children were running around, curious about these newcomers, constantly sizing them up.
On ordinary days, the streets should have been very lively. From the various buildings, one could infer the city's prosperity—people flowing back and forth, shoulders brushing shoulders.
But today, there were few vendors calling out. People in the shops were all looking outward. Many street vendors had temporarily moved into the alleys to make way for them.
"Why are there so many people here?" The Dragon Horse showed a strange expression.
Ye Fan listened attentively. Some people had some understanding of this and were whispering among themselves. He gained much information.
The strongest trial ancient path had existed since ancient times, opening once every ten thousand years. But how many people throughout history had reached the ultimate place? Countless strong had failed!
Many had not returned to their homelands, staying along the way, excavating some pure lands that became ancient life habitats.
And cities like this, originally complete dwelling places, naturally became the first choice. By this era, it was hard to trace the ancestral lands of the residents—they were very mixed.
"Some have become mortals, but there are still fearsome cultivators. It can be called a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons reside." Someone warned not to provoke the original inhabitants.
In fact, since entering the city, everyone had begun to guard against each other, trusting no one, because they would be competitors.
The middle-aged Daoist nun and Ye Fan entered the city one after the other, naturally always staying not far apart. Her eyes were cold and sinister as she said coldly, "Cherish your time well. I will kill you!"
A chill immediately spread through the street, turning cold. People in this area all turned to look, waiting for a conflict to erupt.
The middle-aged Daoist nun was truly aggressive, her killing intent like a cold tide as she stared at Ye Fan, as if about to start a battle immediately.
Ye Fan glanced at her and knew she didn't intend to fight here. She was deliberately provoking him, trying to make him strike first, thereby attracting the soldiers and using them to kill him.
The squad leader at the city gate was hostile toward him. If he were successfully provoked now, that squad leader would definitely seize this excuse and lead his men to mercilessly kill him.
"Your heart is very venomous, but I advise you not to provoke me. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences!" Ye Fan's eyes burst with divine light. He sat majestically on the Dragon Horse, a sovereign-over-realm aura emanating from him.
The middle-aged Daoist nun's gaze faltered. Her plan had failed. She didn't want to entangle too much, snorted coldly, and walked forward.
A total of four hundred and thirty-seven people entered the city, walking along the wide street, led by several soldiers to the central square.
Here, the ground was paved with gray-brown stone slabs, time having carved many marks upon them. Ahead stood a tall stone platform, and an old man appeared silently.
His figure was blurry, only his eyes like golden lanterns, shooting out terrifying divine rays from the distorted void. He said, "I am the Guide Envoy, also the master of this city. I only want to say a few things. First, not everyone can continue on the path. Rest up your energy. Soon you will enter a trial ground for the first test and selection. Second, during your stay in the city, fighting is strictly prohibited. That's all. Disperse and find lodging. Conserve your strength."
Everyone had expected a detailed explanation, but he only said these two points, his words so brief that many things remained unclear.
"Senior City Lord, I want to ask clearly. What should we do if someone attacks us first?" Someone inquired.
"You may defend yourselves." After saying this, the blurry figure instantly dimmed and disappeared from the spot.
Everyone fell silent. This was too irresponsible. He answered one question and left, clearly unwilling to explain further, too perfunctory.
The various heroes were dissatisfied but couldn't say much. From now on, they would be competitors, mutual enemies. They didn't want to give others any leverage.
The crowd dispersed, each going to find a place to rest.
At this moment, the city's quietness suddenly vanished. The original inhabitants began doing business, no longer making way for them, appearing on the streets.
"Red Moon Fruit skewers! Millennium ancient medicine fruit, sweet and crisp!"
"Dragon-meat stuffed buns! Thin skin, big filling—if not fragrant, no charge!"
The ancient city was bustling, restored to its lively and popular state. The flow of traffic was overwhelming, leaving people stunned.
"Am I on the stellar ancient path or in a mortal capital city?" The Dragon Horse muttered to itself. After a moment, it calmed down considerably. Even the food being sold was carefully prepared—it really was dragon-meat buns, millennium Red Moon fruit skewers, Lightning Bird grilled wings, and so on—not false at all.
When they wanted to stay at an inn, the waiter immediately asked for a piece of Divine Source, leaving people dumbfounded. The prices here were too outrageous.
The original inhabitants explained that it was unavoidable. The first city of humanity was located deep in the universe, too barren, lacking resources.
"Everyone, you're about to enter the trial ground. I believe you will return with abundant rewards. Divine Source, ancient medicine, and such will be no problem."
Ye Fan rode his horse, touring the city, learning about various situations. He looked up at the sky—a layer of crystalline divine glass canopy covered this place. Countless stars swayed their radiance, cascading down, absorbed by the ancient city, brilliant and beautiful.
"Get out of the way!"
The street erupted in chaos. A group of iron cavalry charged forward, their hooves thundering like crashing waves, the sound immense.
It was the Thirteen Divine Riders from the Tianhuang Ancient Star Domain. Each mount was a primordial strange beast, breathing clouds and mist, their scales gleaming, like dragons emerging from the abyss, like phoenixes singing to the nine heavens.
The Dragon Horse's entire body was covered in red scales like sunset clouds, flowing with precious radiance. The mane on its neck and back was as glossy as silk, a full foot long, like leaping flames, extraordinarily spirited. It stood in the middle of the road, motionless. Meeting again, still being shouted at, it was filled with killing intent!
Ye Fan also did not move, watching them coldly as they approached, as calm as a majestic and unclimbable great mountain, standing for ten thousand ages, hard to shake.
# Chapter 1242: Conflict
The Thirteen Heavenly Riders arrived. Their mounts were all extraordinary strange beasts and savage birds—some roaring to the sky, some emitting divine glow, their scales dense and cold, their feathers dazzling, breathing clouds and mist, like abyssal dragons ascending.
The street trembled, like a steel torrent crashing through. This area seemed to be experiencing an earthquake.
The mighty Pixiu, the nine-headed brocade-scaled divine python, the sky-swallowing Azure Dragon... each was spirited and fearsome, filling this place, surrounding Ye Fan in the middle.
The Thirteen Heavenly Riders sneered coldly, like hunters encircling prey. Several of them came forward, shouting and cursing, circling around him.
The entire street was in chaos. Many people gathered to watch this disturbance. Perhaps a shocking battle would occur.
Ye Fan stood with his horse, his spear horizontal, facing these fearsome divine riders alone. There was no joy or anger on his face, only cold indifference and outward radiating killing intent.
"Heh, you really want to fight us? Then make your move. Let us see your skills."
"I'll let you have ten moves. Within fifteen moves, I'll cut off your head!"
Two of the riders were especially arrogant. Their mounts neighed loudly, their hooves pounding the street with a rumble, sparks flying, as they continuously ran around Ye Fan, like targeting selected prey.
Ye Fan's gaze was piercing. He swept his spear across them. These people acted domineeringly, but they didn't attack him directly. Instead, they provoked him, trying to make him strike.
Clearly, they wanted to use the city rules—provoke first, then let the enemy attack, allowing them to "defend" and legitimately kill him.
"What, are you afraid? If you don't dare to fight, then get out of the way!" One of them shouted, his eyes cold. If Ye Fan dared to attack in anger, he and another would mercilessly kill him on the spot.
"What dog is barking? If you want to die, come over. I'm waiting for you to make a move!" Ye Fan's words were resounding, neither loud nor low, but they spread throughout the street.
Many people changed color. Ye Fan, alone on a single horse, was confronting them tit for tat, strong and sharp, surprising many.
The Thirteen Heavenly Riders were definitely seed-level experts. Even on the road, they had already alarmed the Guide Envoy. They had fought all the way without a single defeat, forcefully ascending to the first city of humanity.
These people made all parties wary. Many had listed them as one of the most fearsome competitors. Now that they were provoking trouble, it naturally drew attention.
"The Thirteen Heavenly Riders are seed-level strong. They clearly want to size up the competitors one by one, starting with this person."
"Who is he? Which star region does he come from? He looks extraordinary. Can he really contend with the talents from the Tianhuang Ancient Star Domain?"
"Out of the four hundred and thirty-seven people who entered the city, you can't find many who can match the Thirteen Heavenly Riders. Their leader has a sacred beast mount."
The first of the Thirteen Heavenly Riders kept his eyes closed, not taking these matters to heart, like an outsider. His upper body was bare, revealing bronze-colored flesh. Beneath him was a Canglang wolf, its blood energy overwhelming the sky.
"I heard this person's cultivation is unfathomable. Some of the provocations and domineering words are meant to temper the skills of the lower-ranked riders."
"Scram, or fight. Decide quickly. Don't surround me!" Ye Fan spoke again. He wouldn't strike first, leaving no handle, but he also didn't want these people to look good.
Everyone was stunned. This person was definitely sharp, even more domineering than the Thirteen Heavenly Riders. Was he really going to tear things apart and start a battle?
The two riders circling Ye Fan stopped their mounts. The faces of the two men above were iron-blue, killing intent splitting the sky.
They wanted to legally kill Ye Fan, but they hadn't expected that even alone, he had such guts, also wanting them to strike first so he could kill them!
"I'm giving you the chance to defend. Can you kill me?" One sneered coldly.
"Then come and try. I don't mind cutting off your dog head!" Ye Fan said forcefully, raising the black long spear in his hand, its dark light flickering, pointing it at this person's throat. The divine rays at the spear tip flickered unsteadily.
These words caused the street to explode. The man on the red-scaled horse was truly too sharp. His body was clad in tattered battle clothes, stained with patches of blood, like a god of slaughter, seizing people's souls.
"This is going to be a direct confrontation with the Thirteen Heavenly Riders!"
"Who is he? He's too strong!"
The Thirteen Heavenly Riders' expressions all changed. They had originally wanted to use the city rules to kill him, but now this person had the same intention, wanting them to strike first!
"Kill!"
The two riders shouted simultaneously. They could no longer hold back. If they continued like this, they would lose all face. They had to make a move.
One of them drove his mount forward, a silver flood dragon, rushing straight at Ye Fan. The spear in his hand was like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, stabbing straight at Ye Fan's throat.
The other person's mount was a golden-winged Garuda. He swooped down from the sky, a large halberd in hand, slashing at Ye Fan's head.
The two attacked simultaneously, their killing intent overwhelming, wanting to kill Ye Fan in one move.
Ye Fan's eyes were cold. The Dragon Horse beneath him moved like lightning, dodging the silver flood dragon's spear. The black long spear in his hand swept out, clashing with the large halberd.
Clang!
Sparks flew everywhere. The two weapons collided, producing a deafening sound. The surrounding buildings trembled, and the ground cracked.
Ye Fan's arm shook slightly. This person's strength was not weak. He was indeed a seed-level expert.
"Die!"
The silver flood dragon rider turned around and stabbed again, the spear tip flashing with cold light, aiming at Ye Fan's back.
Ye Fan did not turn around. The Dragon Horse's hind legs kicked out, directly hitting the silver flood dragon's head.
Bang!
The silver flood dragon's head exploded, blood and brain matter splattering everywhere. The rider was thrown off, crashing heavily to the ground.
Ye Fan turned his horse around, the black long spear in his hand stabbing out like lightning, directly piercing through this person's chest.
"Ah!"
This person screamed miserably, blood gushing out. He looked at Ye Fan in disbelief, never expecting to be killed so quickly.
Ye Fan pulled out his spear, blood droplets flying. He looked at the other rider.
This person's face changed greatly. He didn't expect Ye Fan to be so powerful, killing one of his companions in just two moves.
"Come down!" Ye Fan shouted, the Dragon Horse charging forward, the black long spear in his hand stabbing straight at this person.
This person's expression was grim. He knew he was no match and immediately turned to flee.
But how could he escape the Dragon Horse's speed? Ye Fan's spear arrived in an instant, directly piercing through his back.
"Ah..."
This person also let out a miserable scream, blood gushing from his mouth as he fell from the Garuda's back.
In the blink of an eye, Ye Fan had killed two of the Thirteen Heavenly Riders, shocking everyone present.
The remaining eleven riders all changed color, looking at Ye Fan with fear and anger.
"You... dare to kill in the city?!" The squad leader of the city gate guards shouted, leading his men to surround them.
"They attacked me first. I was just defending myself." Ye Fan said calmly.
"Humph, we saw everything. You deliberately provoked them!" The squad leader said coldly.
"Then you should also have seen them surrounding me first, provoking me. I was just defending myself." Ye Fan said indifferently.
"You..."
"Enough!" A deep voice sounded. The Guide Envoy's figure appeared in the air, looking down at them. "What happened is clear. These two attacked first and deserved to die. Let it go."
After saying this, the Guide Envoy's figure disappeared.
The squad leader's face was ugly, but he didn't dare to say more. He led his men away.
The remaining eleven riders of the Thirteen Heavenly Riders looked at Ye Fan with hatred, but didn't dare to make a move.
Ye Fan ignored them, riding the Dragon Horse forward.
This battle spread throughout the city, shocking everyone. Ye Fan's name spread like wildfire.
# Chapter 1243
"The murderer has been caught. The soldiers have dragged him out. Now the truth will come to light." A day later, noise came from within the first city of humanity.
Many people flew toward the central square. There, a disheveled man appeared, thrown to the ground. He was covered in blood. When assassinating a cultivator, he had failed and was captured by several soldiers, bound and brought here for public trial.
But people were disappointed. This was a half-saint. How could he have killed a true saint with profound cultivation? Examining his sea of consciousness revealed that he was not the one who had killed the saint.
This incident made people even more worried. Everyone felt endangered, guarding against each other. If the various heroes all imitated the path of assassination, there would be great chaos!
"This is the first city of humanity. How can there be assassinations? Even the city lord can't find the real culprit. Won't people take advantage of this? Someone might attack us at night." The Dragon Horse pondered.
The city was enormous, grand and magnificent. Buildings clustered on both sides of the streets. The various heroes lived scattered, not trusting each other, not daring to get too close.
Starlight fell like thin smoke winding around. In the dead of night, a scream rang out, so abrupt it made people's hair stand on end.
A squad of soldiers rushed over like a torrent, but still found nothing, only a corpse with blood gushing out.
Chaos erupted in the city. Many people looked coldly toward that place. Some also rushed over to the scene.
"What a pity. He was still a child, only thirty years old, having severed the Dao for many years, reaching the half-saint realm. Truly a prodigy of his generation. And he was killed like this."
A man sighed. Although he looked very young, he was actually over one hundred and eighty years old, qualified to call a thirty-something-year-old strong practitioner a child.
"This is definitely a talent of his generation. If he hadn't died, even if he couldn't step onto the imperial path, he could have become a king among saints."
A thirty-something-year-old half-saint was indeed shocking. Even some who had become saints sighed. Such momentum was rare in ancient times, truly an anomaly.
People realized that the assassin was unfathomable and had very clear targets—all were people who might accomplish something on the future imperial path.
The first was a powerful saint. The second was a rising star with boundless potential. Who would be the third? Everyone felt he probably wouldn't stop.
"What is this? Hiding and skulking, does he deserve to walk the strongest trial path? Not daring to fight openly, only killing in the shadows, despicable by nature, nothing but a rat!" Someone was indignant.
"Perhaps this person is originally an assassin, needing this kind of bloody killing to attain the Dao." Another speculated.
The Guide Envoy ordered a city-wide pursuit, determined to capture and kill the murderer. Two people had died, both seed-level strong.
"Before even entering the trial ground, we encounter this kind of thing." The Dragon Horse muttered.
The starry river cascaded down. The ancient city was hazy, peaceful and quiet, with no killing aura detectable.
In the latter part of the night, Ye Fan suddenly opened his eyes. He transformed into a golden lightning bolt, smashing through the window and pouncing toward a void in the courtyard.
He punched, shattering the vacuum. Golden blazing electricity intertwined. He was like an ancient ferocious beast breaking out of its cage, or a war god reborn.
Whoosh!
A blurry black figure was sent flying backward by his shockwave, blood splattering. Then this figure quickly melted into the nothingness of heaven and earth.
Ye Fan snorted coldly. His body also disappeared. He fully displayed the Heavenly Court secret techniques, following like a shadow, combined with the Stride Art. His life-slaying grand art was unmatched under heaven.
This was a saint, with extraordinary techniques, very powerful. Even Ye Fan's heart tightened. This was definitely a rare and fearsome figure.
Chi!
He evolved the Battle Saint Art. A furnace appeared, pressing down. A phoenix cried to the nine heavens. Flames blazed in the ancient city. The Eternal Universe Furnace pressed down.
This person scattered a patch of blood flowers, retreating backward like a ghost, extremely fast, faster than lightning.
In all the world, perhaps only Ye Fan's Stride Art could catch up to him. Several times he tried to break through, but Ye Fan cut off his path ahead, blocking him here.
"Boom!"
The Dragon Horse ambushed him, using its so-called "Immortal-Stepping Shadowless Kick," unleashing one hundred and eight strikes in a row. Each hoof shattered heaven and earth.
Bang!
This person took a horse hoof strike, flying dozens of zhang horizontally. He used the momentum to melt into the void, trying to disappear with a secret technique.
Ye Fan was an expert. He unleashed the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist, shattering the universe. The aura of a primordial ferocious beast filled the sky, shaking this person down.
Such a battle naturally alarmed the various heroes in the city. Nearby doors revealed cold gazes, watching this place. Some also rushed over to help.
"Kill!"
The uniform shout of killing was like a starry river crashing onto the earth, stirring up boundless waves, deafening.
The soldiers guarding the giant city arrived. Twenty of them came at once, surrounding this place, leveling buildings as they broke in.
Under the clear moonlight, Ye Fan stood bare-chested, holding a human skin in his hand, examining it carefully.
The Dragon Horse ran back from afar, finding no accomplices of the assassin, nor anything suspicious. It kept cursing.
"What happened?" A soldier asked solemnly.
Under the starry sky, figures flickered. A large number of strong practitioners arrived, most of them people walking the strongest trial ancient path, surrounding this place.
The scene was dead silent. This was like a shadow floating over the city, making people feel oppressed. But Ye Fan was unharmed, having repelled the assassin. Many showed strange expressions. He had been targeted, absolutely proving his worth—the assassin considered him a threat.
Ye Fan had finally struck with the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist, shattering everything. Even that figure had dimmed, leaving only a human skin.
This was a relatively intact human skin, like a snake shedding its skin, as if someone had peeled it off. Except for the face, all other parts were completely intact.
"This is the murderer's skin?" People showed strange expressions.
"Did you kill him?"
Dawn arrived. This incident caused a great stir. Many soldiers reconstructed the battle scene here but gained no greater harvest.
In the following two days, there were no assassinations in the city, a stretch of tranquility. Some guessed that the murderer had been killed by Ye Fan, while others shook their heads.
The soldiers took the human skin away, sending it to the Guide Envoy's residence. There was no result.
"This person is definitely not dead. I don't know what secret technique he has." Ye Fan clearly knew that knocking down a human skin didn't mean he had truly killed the murderer.
"It seems he won't appear for a short time." The Dragon Horse said.
Ye Fan pondered, "If it were purely an assassination against me, that would be one thing. But if he used this to highlight me, drawing others' attention, making me a conspicuous target and setting up competitors all around me, then there's a conspiracy at play."
The next few days were very peaceful, with no more bloodshed. People kept waiting for the trial ground to open, but the Guide Envoy showed no sign.
After many days of conserving their strength, many people no longer secluded themselves. They took to the streets, entering tea houses, taverns, and such, waiting for the opportunity.
Ye Fan went out and met a thin youth. When he had first encountered the Thirteen Heavenly Riders, this youth had kindly warned him that on this path, the strong do not yield for others.
Although he had arrived at the first city of humanity, Ye Fan still didn't understand many things. He was the only one traveling alone; other star regions had fellow travelers.
"Why did so many of them come?"
Ye Fan humbly asked. He found that some star regions had sent too many people, sometimes more than ten, all from the same ancient place.
"How many come is entirely decided by the ancient path guardians of each star region. There are no special restrictions, unless there are hidden concerns."
The strongest trial ancient path was a burial ground. Those who died were all heroes. Even those with imperial qualifications might fall along the way. It was too dangerous. Not many could return alive.
Considering the long-term prosperity of their own star regions, some ancient places naturally wouldn't send too many people, usually just over ten.
"Over ten..." Ye Fan was startled. As far as he knew, the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion generally sent three people. Only this generation was special, without restrictions, because the immortal path was about to open, and fortune or misfortune was hard to predict.
"Some ancient places, because their mortal enemies are fearsome, can only send two or three, afraid of retaliation."
Upon hearing this, Ye Fan was stunned. It seemed there were many intricacies on this ancient path. The old mansion master of the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion hadn't explained in detail.
Big Dipper might have formidable enemies. The path ahead likely had the most terrifying competitors. Had the hatred continued for so many ten thousand years?
"You... come from Big Dipper!?" The youth widened his eyes in surprise, then quietly warned him not to mention it to others.
"Why?"
"I've heard that it's a burial emperor star, where talents rise together, where the sons of gods lie dormant. For so many ten thousand years, it has become a common enemy of competitors from many star regions."
Ye Fan was deeply surprised. The path ahead might make him an enemy of the whole world! The people he had seen so far were only a small part. A large number had already set out.
In the starry sky, there were many small ancient paths. Some paths were smooth sailing, others had been interfered with by ancient great emperors, full of hardships. Any powerful ancient star region had a difficult path.
"It is said there is an ancient human path, also a divine race ancient path, and so on. Ultimately, they all converge onto one main trunk." The thin youth, named Rui Wei, told him some secrets he knew.
Not everyone who stepped onto this ancient path came to attain the Dao. Each had their own purpose, because in the end, only one person had the opportunity to become emperor.
Some people were very rational, not wanting to go all the way, because the strong of the entire universe would compete—how tragic would that be? No one knew how many would die!
Rui Wei said, "For me, becoming a saint is enough. My most important purpose is to find a living ancient star for my clan, because our heavenly domain space is about to dry up."
Ye Fan was silent. Rui Wei's birthplace was a chaotic pure land, like the killer divine dynasty's heavenly domain, like Ruthless's chaotic immortal soil.
This was their ancestral land, discovered by an ancient great sage. Initially, the clan was extremely prosperous, with many ancient medicines and divine treasures. But now it was no longer suitable for living.
"Many people don't come from living stars, but from small worlds opened by ancient generation-covering strong. Some are still flourishing, while others have declined to an unimaginable degree."
Rui Wei sighed softly. Their divine small world was about to wither. Resources were limited. He didn't even have a piece of Divine Source on him, having left it all for the children in the clan who needed it more. After entering the city, he had been sleeping on the streets.
"Those truly qualified to compete for the imperial path all come from strong and glorious ancient stars. For example, the Thirteen Heavenly Riders come from a powerful ancient star region." Rui Wei said.
Ye Fan sighed inwardly. He gave Rui Wei a jade cauldron containing several hundred ancient medicines and a pile of Divine Source.
"Let's go check out that tavern ahead. Many people are coming and going. There should be some news."
As soon as the two entered this giant palace suspended in the sky, they heard a piece of news: tomorrow, everyone would enter the trial ground. This was definitely a major event.
In the giant palace, a brocade-clad young master sat alone at a table, lightly waving a folding fan. No one dared approach. It was said he came from a very powerful ancient star region, a heaven-defying genius who had already become a saint.
On the other side, a head-shaker wore a golden hoop, his messy hair bound. There was a scar-like birthmark on his face. Although he was a Buddhist disciple, his appearance was not very kind.
Ye Fan's heart stirred. Besides the Western Desert of Big Dipper, were there other powerful Buddhist sects in other star regions? Soon, he heard others discussing. This head-shaker came from an ancient star region called Amitabha.
In this palace, eight tables were very special. Others dared not approach. These were the most powerful people among the four hundred and thirty-seven trial participants!
Besides them, there were naturally many others, forming alliances, like-minded people coming together.
"Who is the assassin? I think many people should have realized. Isn't it that person named Ye Fan? He says he repelled the assassin, but it's clearly an act. It's him!" Someone said sharply.
Ye Fan looked over there. Besides the speaker, he also saw the middle-aged Daoist nun who had almost fought him.
"Tomorrow we enter the trial ground. He'll get what's coming to him. Hmph hmph hmph..." All those people were hostile.