Chapter 1340: Past Life and Present Life
The Reincarnation Seal was an ancient method of proving immortality from the mythological era. The various supreme beings from millions of years ago had devoted a considerable period of time to delving into and contemplating it.
According to legend, only in that era did someone attempt it themselves, tasting bitter fruit, after which there was no further development.
But in the present world, Ye Fan was not encountering it for the first time. He, along with the Human Demon and Black Emperor, had accidentally discovered Duan De's secret within the Sun Star—on his body, there were a full four Reincarnation Seals!
The person was no longer the same as before, and the soul had long since changed. In a sense, this was an entirely new life form. What meaning remained?
Ye Fan had once asked himself: to preserve some characteristics of life, even the soul would be replaced—was it worth it? The answer was that he would never accept it, no matter what. He would absolutely not take this path.
Now, hearing about the Reincarnation Seal again, he was instantly stunned!
"You and I are separated by a long span of years, yet we can meet only because half a Reincarnation Seal is engraved within my body. In truth, I have long been a corpse."
The Fourth Generation Origin Heavenly Master's eyes were dim, as if he were recounting something unrelated to himself.
"I obtained the Primordial Life Stone, harvested Immortal Source, cut out an unformed Sacred Spirit, excavated the Netherworld Underworld, and set foot in too many domains that cannot be touched. Misfortune was already destined." Wu Yi's eyes were vacant.
In this world, there are some domains that even a peak Great Sage cannot touch; the slightest misstep leads to death. Only the ancient Great Emperors had no fears, able to suppress everything.
"The curse descends; there is no choice. Our later years will all be muddled and confused, ultimately taking that step. This is a destiny hard to break. Unclean things will come knocking."
Once one sets foot in some domains of heaven and earth, they cannot break free, sinking deeper and deeper, losing the path back.
"In a daze, I heard of the Reincarnation Seal amidst the blur. Everything I say is merely speculation. What is the real truth?!" Wu Yi roared in pain, shaking his head forcefully, the light in his eyes growing ever dimmer.
Ye Fan sighed. How tragic was this—not even knowing what he had done, leaving only a blank stretch across such a long span of years.
The later years of an Origin Heavenly Master were miserable, seeing much misfortune. Disappearing from the world meant becoming a red-haired creature, thereafter muddled and losing consciousness.
Ye Fan had many things he wanted to say, but at that moment, he didn't know where to begin. What Wu Yi knew was not much; it was all heard in the process of his blurred consciousness, mostly just guesses.
Wu Yi fell into a trance, as if trying hard to think. No one knew how long passed before he suddenly said, "The Burial Emperor Star—suitable for burying ancient Great Emperors."
"Why does the Ancestral Master say that?" Ye Fan snapped awake.
"I seem to have vaguely heard such a phrase, but I don't know who said it." His time in a daze was too long; he didn't even know why he escorted the ghost soldiers across the border, as if another consciousness resided within his body.
Ye Fan was startled. The residing consciousness was Wu Yi of this life, a completely new soul, no longer the same person as that past life.
Escorting the ghost soldiers across the border and the battle just now—that was another soul!
Ye Fan shuddered. He had almost overlooked it. Now Wu Yi had only formed half a Reincarnation Seal, so although the past life was dead, the old memories had not yet been completely erased.
"The Immortal Path—the path taken in pursuit of the ancient method of immortality." Wu Yi suddenly spoke another sentence.
"Still heard in the blur?" Ye Fan pressed urgently.
"Yes." The Fourth Generation Ancestral Master nodded, his eyes growing ever dimmer, turning lead-gray, without a trace of light.
Ye Fan's heart pounded violently. He felt that some of his past ideas might have been wrong! Who had spoken those words? What kind of existence had Wu Yi encountered in the Underworld?
He truly wanted to understand thoroughly.
"It is… two paths." Wu Yi was mentally confused, nearly muttering in his sleep. "One is the path to the Immortal Domain, whether it exists or not. The other is the path of pursuing the ancient method of immortality."
Ye Fan was shaken. What had he heard today? Was the Fourth Generation Ancestral Master's phrase "suitable for burying ancient Great Emperors" related to the Immortal Path?
"Send me on my way." Wu Yi sighed softly. The real him was already dead. To fall in a clear state now was the greatest relief for him.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a fierce aura erupted. Wu Yi's eyes turned blood-red in an instant, becoming ferocious and terrifying. The red hair all over his body rustled without wind, exceptionally savage.
He struck in an instant, filling the sky with Dao patterns. The Origin Heaven patterns reappeared, tearing toward Ye Fan.
Without a doubt, the soul within Wu Yi's body had changed. The "present life" had awakened, suppressing the fragmented consciousness of the past. He had become the Soul Summoning Envoy of the Underworld.
Ye Fan did not hesitate. He acted decisively, having been on guard all along. Facing such an existence that could kill a Saint King, a single oversight would mean spilling blood here.
"Hum!"
Ye Fan unfolded his divine phenomena: the Immortal King Overlooking the Nine Heavens, Chaos Planting the Azure Lotus, Splendid Rivers and Mountains, the Yin-Yang Life-and-Death Diagram—all emerged, linked together, merging as one, as if opening heaven and earth to create a new realm.
At this moment, he did not want to hold back. He simultaneously evolved the Battle Saint Art, holding the Void Mirror in his left hand and the Primordial Bell in his right, unleashing terrifying divine might. Mirror light and bell waves moved together to suppress Wu Yi.
Because he feared failure, he did not want to delay. He aimed to subdue Wu Yi in the first moment, to force a thorough interrogation in a single earth-shattering strike.
Even if it meant disrespect to the Ancestral Master, Ye Fan had to suppress Wu Yi first. Since the "present life" had been awakened, he had to press for answers. This soul surely knew more.
The Origin Heaven patterns on the ground were mostly destroyed. The Fourth Generation Ancestral Master had lost a major support, his combat power clearly weakened, but the falling star remained, still with many ancient formations.
Moreover, he himself possessed a great art that could directly shift heaven and change earth, unmatched by few. Even a temporary application was equally terrifying!
Boom!
This was a shocking great battle. Even with countless formations protecting this falling star, it shattered in that moment, turning into cosmic dust.
In the distance, falling stars flew in, becoming a rain of stars, shining with immortal light. In an instant, it seemed to pierce through past, present, and future.
Ye Fan fought fiercely against the Ancestral Master. This battle was arduous and intense. When it all ended, there was much more golden blood on his body.
"At the end of reincarnation, everything will fall. The Underworld is the final destination of all souls. I come to guide you, summon your soul!" Wu Yi's eyes were blood-red as he roared, calling out to Ye Fan, like a curse.
Ye Fan's body ached. Red hair grew again, but his body surface was covered in golden blood. The red hair sizzled, constantly turning to ash.
"Ancestral Master, stop struggling. You are no match for me." Ye Fan stepped forward. A golden hand reached down, with thousands of Dao patterns emerging there.
"No!" Wu Yi shouted, his eyes blood-red and terrifying. He refused to submit. His body began to swell violently, red hair growing several meters long, like countless tentacles dancing.
Ye Fan sensed trouble. Golden light blazed between his fingers and palms. Ancient runes surfaced. The nine mysterious ancient characters from the *Dao Scripture* appeared, opening a chaotic small world here to suppress.
However, the soul within the red-haired creature was very resolute. From the inside out, traces of Dao marks appeared. He self-destructed.
Splashes of blood flew, red hair danced, bone fragments scattered everywhere, blood dripping—this place was like a slaughterhouse.
"Ancestral Master!" Ye Fan shouted.
He rushed forward. The "Presence" character technique turned, his body glowing. All kinds of vital energy surged forward like a tidal wave, reassembling the shattered body.
But the reassembled body was very incomplete, and the light he emitted had a strong corrosive effect on it, causing the bloody form to melt like ice and snow.
Ye Fan stepped back, feeling powerless, his heart dark. Was this the fate of an Origin Heavenly Master? Each one so tragic, unable to die well.
On the reassembled remnant body, the blood-red faded from the eyes, dim and without luster. The past life awakened. Wu Yi raised his head with difficulty and said, "This is my best final destination."
He actually smiled, very brightly. The red hair on his face receded, revealing his true appearance. Time had left many traces, but one could still vaguely see the heroic bearing of his youth.
"Ancestral Master…" Ye Fan could change nothing, only silently see him off.
"I've waited too long for this day." Wu Yi seemed relieved, but Ye Fan clearly saw a trace of gloom in his dim eyes.
The Fourth Generation Ancestral Master's body split open. Light rain flew from between his brows—his scattered and decaying consciousness.
Ye Fan tasted bitterness, silently seeing him off.
Some light rain scattered, crystalline specks, like falling flowers withering, revealing images—the course of Wu Yi's life.
There was clearly a graceful and jade-like young man, utterly different from the monster covered in red hair, impossible to connect.
Looking at that time, he was spirited, pointing at the landscape, famous throughout the world. How stunning he was, with peerless grace, honored as a unique talent of his generation.
"Such an outstanding person, ending like this." Ye Fan could only sigh.
In the images of the light rain, he also saw Wu Yi's regrets. In the latter half of his life, he traveled all over the world, excavating countless mountain ranges and dragon veins, just to pick a single "Divine Life Flower" to revive a woman whose consciousness had perished, but he ultimately failed.
The light rain scattered completely. Wu Yi's life ended there.
Ye Fan silently rose, cut off a piece of falling star, carved it into a stone coffin, and buried all the blood, bones, and some cosmic dust inside.
He performed the great art of shifting heaven and changing earth, borrowing the power of the sun, moon, and stars, shining it on this stone coffin, and set it adrift into the universe.
"Muddled and confused, losing freedom—let it be buried in the universe. Unknown, unknown end, traveling forward, forever free."
Ye Fan cast the spell, sending the stone coffin on its journey, watching it disappear into the dark depths of the cosmos.
The Fourth Generation Ancestral Master ended like this…
No one knew how long passed before Ye Fan left that place. He soared into the sky, like a brilliant star streaking through the void.
"The Burial Emperor Star, suitable for burying ancient Great Emperors—what is its connection to the Immortal Path?"
Ye Fan's thoughts raced. He thought of Purple Mountain, said to seize the ultimate fortune of heaven and earth, where the Immortal Emperor was once buried, and later the Great Emperor Wu Shi took residence.
Then, he thought of the Chaotic Dragon Nest, said to be unique since ancient times, the true dragon's lair, where an ancient emperor once sat in meditation, eventually becoming the burial site of the Ruthless Great Emperor.