Chapter 1480: The Supreme Enemy of the Heavenly Path
“Who might you be, brother?” Pang Bo inquired. This person was too mysterious, having spoken such strange words.
“A struggling ferryman in the bitter sea of the mortal world.” The newcomer was hazy and ethereal, shrouded in mist, appearing truly extraordinary.
“Fellow Daoist is indeed a master; every word and action carries profound meaning,” Pang Bo said.
The man within the chaotic mist smiled slightly and said, “Are you mocking me, Daoist brother?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Pang Bo’s expression turned serious as he sought advice, asking why he fixated solely on the number “fifty” and what mystery lay behind it.
“The number of great evolution is fifty, but one must contend for the one that escapes. In truth, there is no profound meaning—it is merely competition among kindred spirits. Fixing on this number, I wished to align with it,” the man explained.
Everyone unanimously felt that this person was undoubtedly extremely powerful, for they sensed his unfathomable depth, like an ocean vast and boundless.
“May I ask, Daoist brother, are you the legendary Chaos Body from the mythological era?” Ji Haoyue suddenly spoke, staring at him.
“I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you all. I am merely an ordinary body, with no special bloodline or talent. The mist around me is simply because I traversed a small chaotic realm and brought this haze along,” the newcomer said, shaking his head. As the chaotic mist dispersed, he revealed his true appearance.
He was a young man, seemingly ordinary—neither tall nor imposing, with plain features, one among the masses, without any remarkable traits. If one insisted on finding something extraordinary, it would only be his eyes, clear as two immortal springs, pure and penetrating.
Ji Ziyue nodded subtly to the others. This person was truly an ordinary body, with no special bloodline origin, yet his strength had reached an inconceivable level.
“May I ask your esteemed name, brother?” Pang Bo asked.
The ordinary-looking young man smiled and replied, “Zhang Bairen.” He was an ordinary body, attuned to heaven and earth, with strength so shocking it defied belief.
His name made Pang Bo feel a strange twitch, his mouth curling as he first shook his head in disbelief, then nodded.
Ye Fan was also startled. He looked carefully again. At this moment, the dark red killing sword on his back clanged loudly, unsheathing itself and revealing strands of immortal light.
Zhang Bairen was surprised and said, “Could this be one of the four killing swords of the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable, capable of slaying immortals?” He involuntarily stepped back several paces, as if to maintain a safe distance, unwilling to stand too close to Ye Fan.
“Brother, is this name truly yours?” Pang Bo asked seriously.
“My name was given by my parents, and I am not renowned. Is there any need to impersonate? It is merely an ordinary symbol,” Zhang Bairen said.
Ye Fan, Pang Bo, and the Dragon Horse exchanged glances. This person, this name—to them, it was like thunder hidden in the mundane!
“Brother, do you think the number fifty is auspicious?” Ji Ziyue asked with a light smile.
Zhang Bairen shook his head and said, “I have fallen to a lower level, clinging to obsession. The Dao follows nature; there is no need for force. Acting spontaneously, from the heart, one can approach the Dao, gradually align with it, and ultimately transcend it.”
These words startled everyone, even the silent Gu Jinpeng, who couldn’t help but flap his wings, his divine feathers emitting wisps of radiance.
Zhang Bairen stepped forward to the crystal stele and casually carved his name, ranking fifty-fourth—truly following the natural flow.
This surprised the twelve saints. He gave off an air of calm and mystery; just moments ago, he had been sighing, but now he had let go of everything.
“Fellow Daoist, do you seem to know this person, Emperor? Who is he, and why did he take such a name?” the Dragon Horse asked, pointing to the fiftieth-ranked individual.
Zhang Bairen shook his head and said, “I have never met this person and know nothing about him. I only thought of some scattered legends upon seeing this name.”
“Oh, there are legends? I’d like to hear them, brother,” Pang Bo said politely.
“Hmm, in the ancient era, this name once flashed like an immortal, causing a great stir. He single-handedly killed all the great saints of that time,” Zhang Bairen said.
“What?” Everyone exclaimed in shock.
Across the entire sky, although life-bearing ancient stars were extremely rare, small worlds with living beings were not few. Known as the myriad heavens and domains, if all the great saints of the universe appeared, their numbers might be astonishing.
“I misspoke. I meant that he once stood here, back to the fortress, facing the heroes, and slaughtered all the trial-takers who arrived,” Zhang Bairen clarified.
Even so, it was enough to shock the world—too terrifying and astonishing. Just how powerful a figure was this?!
Everyone was stunned.
“How many did he kill?” Ji Haoyue asked solemnly.
“Fifty-four,” Zhang Bairen replied calmly.
Everyone was dumbfounded. According to ancient records, one trial had the fewest participants—only fifty-five people reached the final fortress to carve their true body imprints.
This meant that Emperor had appeared in that era and killed the other fifty-four.
“What was the final outcome? Did he not become an emperor?” the Black Bear Saint among the twelve saints asked gravely.
“He sighed softly at this fortress, did not enter, and turned away,” Zhang Bairen said.
“This…” Everyone showed strange expressions. This person’s actions were truly unpredictable—killing all competitors outside the fortress and then leaving, deeply surprising them.
Was this the same person? One from the ancient era, one from the present—the gap in years was immense. Still, it wasn’t impossible; at the very least, he could have sealed himself in divine source to survive.
“Are you Daoist brother Ye? I have traveled through other domains and heard your name in many places. Meeting you today, you are indeed more impressive than your reputation,” Zhang Bairen said. His eyes were excessively clear, almost transparent, like carved crystal, as he stared at Ye Fan’s blood, bones, and organs.
Ye Fan returned the greeting, and a layer of light spread over his body, instantly cutting off all perception. At the same, strands of immortal light from his Source Heaven Eyes examined Zhang Bairen.
“Farewell, everyone. I’ll see you on the heavenly path another day. I look forward to contending with you all for the emperor’s form and fighting to our hearts’ content.” Zhang Bairen clasped his hands, tore open the sky, and vanished into the void.
The crystal stele towered into the clouds, gleaming and translucent. Fifty-four names were carved on it, each one extraordinary and immensely powerful.
Tai Chu, Yin Tiande, Jin Chanzi, White-Robed Divine King Jiang Taixu, Human Demon Dongfang Taiyi, Emperor, Zhang Bairen—fifty-four names. Only these they had seen or heard of; the rest were unknown.
But that was enough. Everyone they knew was no ordinary being—each was a peerless talent. It was clear how arduous the road ahead would be.
Ye Fan and the others gazed at the fortress, their minds filled with countless thoughts.
Since ancient times, the heavenly path opened once every ten thousand years, but not every opening produced a great emperor. Perhaps tens of thousands of years would pass without one. Would this era see one?
“Even if we fight our way in and reach the summit, it doesn’t guarantee becoming an emperor,” the Golden Lion sighed softly.
Ji Haoyue said, “This era will be different—more terrifying than any prosperous age in history, unprecedented. Even figures like Emperor have crowded into this era.”
“I wonder how the Big Dipper is faring now?” Ji Ziyue murmured. She was homesick, missing her parents, nostalgic for every blade of grass in that world, and longed to return.
Ye Fan looked up and said, “We’ve reached the end of this path. We can go back and see how the Big Dipper Star Domain is now.”
Everyone was shaken. Over a hundred years had passed; most of their youth and time had been spent on the ancient path. None didn’t want to return and see.
“In truth, the Big Dipper might be more brutal than here. The immortal path is about to open, attracting countless peerless talents, and even quasi-emperors might appear!”
“That’s right, even beings from the seven forbidden zones of life might emerge.”
“I think those who left their names here on the emperor’s path might have already headed there. After all, the immortal path, unseen for eons, is about to be activated.”
Pang Bo, the Dragon Horse, and others looked solemn, discussing seriously.
“We really should go back.” Ye Fan stepped forward and carved his name on the crystal stele. Light radiated everywhere—not a title, but simply two words: Ye Fan.
“This path is mine. In the future, I will contend with all the heroes of the universe!” His words at the fortress were resounding and firm.
Only he left his name. Though not a great saint, he stood in the forbidden domain, no weaker than a low-level great saint, meeting the requirement.
As for the others, they fell short. After all, there was the barrier of great sainthood, and they had not yet reached the peak of saint king realm, making it impossible to meet the standard.
“Take care of my sister.” Ji Haoyue looked seriously at Ye Fan. He didn’t want to leave; he would stay, waiting to advance further before carving his name on the stele.
“Brother!” Ji Ziyue pouted. Though she always clamored to suppress her wicked brother, when it came to real separation, it was hard to part.
“We’ve been away too long. You should go back and see,” Ji Haoyue said, his expression firm as he sent her on her way.
The Dragon Horse said boisterously, “I say, Ye Fan’s brother-in-law, why be so stubborn? Want to return to the Big Dipper? If you catch the immortal path opening, you might become an immortal directly—why fight for the emperor’s throne? If you can’t become an immortal, then come back here to battle the universe’s prodigies, fighting it out with Tai Chu, Emperor, Zhang Bairen, and the rest.”
“Leaf, I want to stay too,” Pang Bo suddenly said, also refusing to leave. He would continue training and come back to carve his name on the stele later.
“Alright!” Ye Fan nodded.
The Dragon Horse drooped its head and said, “You’re all so diligent, making me look like I’m slacking off. This destined immortal supreme being is quite hurt.”
“We’ll wait for you two on the road ahead,” Ye Fan said.
“Forget it. Without cultivating an invincible technique or creating an unparalleled method, returning to the Big Dipper might be more dangerous,” Pang Bo shook his head, insisting on going alone.
Ji Haoyue felt the same. These days, he had been pondering how to break free from his ancestors’ methods, transcend them, and comprehend his own Dao.
And so, Ye Fan and his group set off, moving slowly, not returning immediately. Over the next twenty years, they entered the ancient paths of other powerful races, traversing different star domains.
These twenty years were filled with battle—flashing blades, sword shadows, blood staining the stars. They encountered many formidable enemies from various races. Ye Fan’s name shook the world, astonishing all domains!
Dragons rose, horses neighed—twenty years of dominance, who could oppose?
For the cultivators of the stars, this was destined to be an unforgettable era. Ye Fan devoured the starry river, battling enemies on all sides, traveling across different ancient paths, clashing with strong warriors of various races.
He didn’t use the immortal sword, relying only on himself to forge a name of invincibility, silencing dozens of ancient paths.
The name Ye Fan resounded across all domains, becoming synonymous with invincibility. During this time, five or six people came to challenge him, all names seen on the crystal stele, from unknown races.
Now, meeting in person, Ye Fan slaughtered them all, blood raining down, writing a glorious tale of invincibility.
Twenty years, Ji Ziyue, the Dragon Horse, Little Bud, Gu Jinpeng, and others also earned great reputations. The group was unstoppable.
“Time to go back to the Big Dipper. Let’s see how it is now, how the old friends are…” Finally, Ye Fan set foot on the return path, heading back to the most mysterious Burial Emperor Star!
“The immortal path, I’m coming!” the Dragon Horse roared.
I overestimated myself, still shedding tears endlessly. Many years later, I’ve re-experienced the feeling of crying—uncontrollably, nose stinging, head aching. I need another day of rest; I can only manage one chapter. Waving goodbye, saying goodnight to everyone.