Chapter 1271: Primordial Dao Arena
In the clear night sky, a crescent moon hung high, stars vied in brilliance, and strands of silver light cascaded down, causing thin, mist-like luminous vapors to rise within the ancient city.
Ye Fan sat on a rooftop ridge, gazing at the night sky. The Dragon Horse was right; suppressing his cultivation level was becoming increasingly difficult. He needed to choose an ancient star soon. With the current harsh circumstances and numerous crises, becoming a Saint was imminent.
The city was complex, even housing powerful experts who had returned from the depths of the Stellar Ancient Path. Most troubling was that some of the city's major figures harbored ulterior motives. He had reason to believe the city guards were unreliable.
He just didn't know about the Guide Envoy—a critically important person.
Crows cawed, their cries exceptionally distant in the cold night sky. Not far away, a river flowed past, adjacent to this cluster of buildings.
"Swish!"
Ye Fan vanished from the rooftop in an instant. Gripping a long spear, he thrust it fiercely into the river. With a splash, he lifted a corpse from the water, the spear piercing through its crown—already dead.
Few of the forces he faced were benevolent. Especially burdened with treasures like the Dao Source and ancient scriptures, he attracted the covetousness of many, ensuring he would know no peace.
Perhaps only by slaughtering a wave of those with malicious intent could he completely eliminate future troubles.
In the dead of night, all was silent, save for the scattered starlight. The city was tranquil. On a distant, tall building, the Second Leader of the Thirteen Great Bandits of the Heavenly Desolate held a large bow, nocked with a giant arrow like a war halberd. Its blood groove was deep, a dark red color, and etched inside were the characters "Ye Fan," from which drops of blood trickled down.
This was a Forbidden Artifact, empowered by a peerless expert. Within a certain range, it possessed a terrifying, uncanny power that was hard to defend against.
Exerting his utmost strength, he drew the great bow, releasing waves of dragon and tiger aura. The blood-red giant arrow, sharp and icy cold like a war halon, was aimed at Ye Fan's residence.
An eerie screech sounded. The blood-red giant arrow shattered the void, irresistible and instantaneous!
At the same time, Ye Fan felt a chill throughout his body. Faint blood lines seemed to appear between his brows, as if his Immortal Platform were about to shatter, icy cold and painful.
This feeling was like when he had faced the Lord of Junwei Mountain, who had used a strange forbidden technique that unsettled his mind. In that instant, Ye Fan transformed his body into a dragon-shaped curve, evolved a Golden Taiji Circle, and simultaneously activated his Divine Phenomenon, soaring into the sky.
At the same time, he sacrificed the Primordial Qi Cauldron. With a *clang*, it met the blood-red giant arrow head-on, producing a deafening explosion.
*Pfft!*
The blood-red giant arrow shattered inch by inch, then violently exploded. A powerful energy spread across the high heavens, startling everyone within the hundred-mile giant city.
The ancient city had restrictions, but even so, the sky was torn open. Cosmic starlight surged in, and fierce gales poured violently into the dark star domain.
Fortunately, experts repaired the restrictions in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"What happened? What's going on?" The experts throughout the city had all felt a spine-chilling sensation moments ago.
On the tall building, a flash of light. The Second Leader of the Thirteen Great Bandits of the Heavenly Desolate vanished from the spot, appearing in another mansion, leaving the scene.
Ye Fan's gaze was icy cold. He charged onto that high tower in an instant, but unfortunately, he was a step too late and couldn't intercept his enemy.
In the resplendent, gilded hall, with carved beams and painted rafters, arm-thick divine candles illuminated everything brightly. The Second Leader of the Thirteen Great Bandits of the Heavenly Desolate said, "This arrow's power is truly extraordinary. It's a pity it still couldn't kill him."
Yan Chifeng frowned and asked seriously, "How did he counter it? This arrow could easily obliterate a powerful ancient Saint with thousands of years of cultivation."
"It was blocked by the cauldron forged from the Primordial Mother Qi Root, and it shattered completely." The Second Leader of the Thirteen Great Bandits of the Heavenly Desolate replied. Although his aim was merely to stir the pot and he hadn't expected a one-hit kill, he was still regretful.
"That explains it. In the past, forging this arrow consumed countless heavenly treasures and earthly rarities. Thousands of words of secret incantations were engraved upon it, granting it the supreme divine power to break all techniques and instantly kill a Saint. Its only flaw is that it fears being blocked by solid objects," Yan Chifeng said. This was a protective treasure left to him by his ancestor.
This arrow could break all techniques, restrain countless divine arts, and easily sever one's primordial spirit, but it was somewhat lacking in physical attack power.
The Second Leader of the Thirteen Great Bandits of the Heavenly Desolate had seen Ye Fan's Golden Taiji Circle and the blurry Divine Phenomenon. He vaguely felt that even without the cauldron, it would have been difficult to harm his body. However, he didn't say much. His only goal was to create more enemies for Ye Fan.
*Boom!*
In the dead of night, another loud noise erupted. A giant purple-golden hammer fell from the sky, smashing Ye Fan's residence into ashes, wisps of Saintly aura emanating.
Ye Fan stood in the sky, his face dark and gloomy. He decided to take the initiative, intending to go on a killing spree in the remaining hours of the night.
He knew exactly who wished him harm. There was no need for evidence now; killing them all would suffice.
However, the Great Commander appeared just in time, forcing him to stop and preventing him from carrying out his plan.
"The city is not peaceful. I hope you will exercise restraint," Yu Han said.
Ye Fan said nothing. He was as calm as an abyss. He landed on a green stone by the riverbank, closed his eyes, and sat in meditation.
At dawn, sunlight shone brightly. A vibrant morning arrived. The events of the previous night caused no ripples; the city was bustling with prosperity.
*Dong...*
The great bell tolled slowly. The Guide Envoy finally appeared. As if sensing something, he didn't want these people to rest for too long and decided to open the Primordial Trial Ground immediately.
The trial-takers embarking on the Stellar Ancient Path were all full of energy. None wanted to miss this moment; they were all waiting for it.
"Yan Chifeng is going in too. Over the years, he has entered many times and gained tremendous benefits," some original residents of the city murmured.
A group of savage beasts galloped through the sky, dozens of feet above the ground, roaring as they arrived.
Besides Yan Chifeng, there were also scions of major powers in the city. Although entering like this somewhat violated the rules, the city would turn a blind eye to its own children.
Di Tian's people had also arrived. A few old men stood outside the crowd, their gazes coldly fixed on Ye Fan, then glancing at the Great Commander not far away.
Ku Toutuo, Tuoba Yu, Ouye Mo, and others stood in separate groups, expressionless, waiting for the Primordial Dao Arena to open so they could temper themselves.
In the distance, Guan Cheng walked over, together with the Second Leader of the Thirteen Great Bandits of the Heavenly Desolate, heading towards Yan Chifeng and the other scions.
On the city's central plaza, twelve divine gates materialized out of thin air, leading to a Primordial Trial Ground. The divine gates were brilliant, and the interior seemed like a Immortal Domain.
"Ah, do your best. Temper yourselves well. In the past, someone gained immense fortune here, and their fame now shakes the ancient path. Figures like the Banished Immortal and the Great Demon God all gained profound insights here."
The Guide Envoy said, glancing at the nearby Poetry Immortal Qing Shi.
Guan Cheng stood there, clenching his fists tightly, his knuckles turning pale. He recalled another name that could make heaven and earth change color, a name that represented a taboo for many in the past.
He still remembered that year: that one man, one horse, galloping across the sky, pinning him—man and mount—to the ground with a single spear, blood dripping. What arrogance and dominance that was!
And that man roamed the stars, invincible. A few years ago, he heard that this man had been hunted by many heroes deep in the stars, fought for an entire night, destroyed a section of the stellar path, and shook the vast ancient domain.
So many years had passed, and Guan Cheng still felt as if he were being stared at by a primordial savage beast. His hairs would stand on end—an indescribable, oppressive feeling.
That man was still undefeated, sweeping all before him at the forefront of the Stellar Ancient Path. There were truly few who could fight him.
It was within this very Primordial Dao Arena that that man had once broken the arena's restrictions, charging alone into the outer realms. Only Guan Cheng had witnessed it; even the Guide Envoy didn't know. The domineering posture of that moment still made him feel ice-cold when he thought of it.
Returning to this old place, he immediately thought of that cold young Supreme Being, and couldn't help but clench his fists.
That day, when Guan Cheng saw Ye Fan enter the city alone and kill the middle-aged Daoist nun's Golden Wing Roc with a single spear, it reminded him of his own experience. Being pierced through by a spear, covered in blood, stirred his emotions. Illogically and without choice, he began to hate Ye Fan, leading to their later conflict.
After more than ten years of recuperation, he had regained his confidence and greatly increased his strength. Thus, he set foot on the ancient path again, starting over from the first checkpoint.
But now, he hesitated again. Standing here, he involuntarily thought of the might of that person from years past, and his body felt cold.
Guan Cheng looked at Ye Fan in the morning light, sensing a similar quality in him, and muttered to himself, "What I fear and hate is this kind of invincible aura."
The twelve divine gates opened. The trial-takers entered the Primordial Dao Arena, followed by some scions of major powers. The Guide Envoy, the Great Commander, and the soldiers did not stop them.
Then, the divine gates slowly closed.
This was a vast, boundless land, majestic and magnificent. Many ancient beasts roared—all primeval species long extinct in the outside world, unexpected to be seen here.
A few Golden Crows streaked across the sky, leaving trails of flames. A Roc Sparrow spread its wings, grabbing an entire mountain range to build its nest, blotting out the sky and covering the sun, terrifying and boundless.
After entering, Ye Fan closed his eyes and walked forward step by step, using his heart to feel this majestic atmosphere. There was an endless, surging power.
The Dao of Power!
The power of time, the power of space, the power of heaven and earth, the power of all things... Many methods, myriad traditions, all inseparable from power, inherent within.
Ye Fan felt this world was close to him. His blood and energy surged, his body rumbled like thunder, emitting supreme combat power. This land made his Saint blood seethe.
The Human Sacred Body, unmatched in physical form, infinite in strength. Coming to this place, he naturally merged into this atmosphere.
Ye Fan walked on foot, measuring every inch of land. With closed eyes, he comprehended nature and all things, capturing the Dao of Power. His essence and blood rolled like a moving mountain, pressing down on the ancient land, causing it to rumble as if it were about to sink.
Finally, he moved like a star. With every movement, he resonated with heaven, earth, and all things. Endless laws, countless order divine chains interweaving, pierced through mountains and rivers.
The radiant divine chains adjacent to his physical body made him look dazzling. He was like an Immortal Phoenix, reborn from the flames within the Immortal Domain.
In this world, many fierce birds and savage beasts trembled. Even if Saint Beasts appeared, they kept their distance from him.
Ye Fan felt an impulse to tear open this land, break the restrictions, transcend this place, and charge into the world outside the Dao Arena to see where he had actually arrived.
"There's still time. I will comprehend slowly."
Ye Fan did not act rashly. After comprehending for half a month, he opened his eyes. Golden lightning tore through the void. He felt his body brimming with power; with a raise of his hand or a lift of his foot, he could pluck stars and capture the moon.