Chapter 1516: Dark Storm Clouds!
The Dark City's walls were a dark red, stained that color by the blood of countless ancient battles. It was known as the First City, but up close, it didn't seem particularly grand; its twelve-zhang-high walls were not much more imposing than those of an ordinary city.
Time had carved mottled marks into the walls, and the array patterns hidden beneath the scars of blades and arrow holes flowed with a dim luster, providing the city's defense. It was called the First City of the Central Domain, not because of its scale, but because of its immense importance. Throughout history, this place had been the primary battlefield during every Dark Calamity, witnessing countless events.
When discussing the Central Domain and the turmoil of the Immortal Mountain, one had to mention this city, hence its title as the First City.
"Candied hawthorns! The time-honored craft of the Yichen family! Big, round, and sweet!"
"Fortune-telling, divining the heavens, calculating fate! The Watchman of the Heavenly Realm descends in a hemp-cloth divine form, decreeing the fate of three lifetimes, questioning the vast heavens!"
After years of peace, far from the chaos of war, the Dark City was now incredibly prosperous. The scenes of defeat and disorder from over a hundred thousand years ago were long gone. People came and went, jostling shoulders, their worldly energy soaring to the heavens.
After entering the city, Ye Fan saw a thriving scene of a hundred industries flourishing and people living in peace. He also noticed many cultivators hidden among the mortals. In fact, cultivators made up nearly half of the city's population. After all, this place had experienced the most terrifying turmoil in human history, so cultivators were never in short supply.
He ascended a restaurant adjacent to the main street of the Dark City. Looking out the window, he saw a bustling scene of traffic and endless hawking. Even in the sky, divine light occasionally flew by, as too many people were coming and going. He didn't need to make any effort to gather information; he just sat down in a crowded place and could hear the latest news. Many cultivators had arrived, all discussing the recent situation.
People believed that the path to immortality was about to open, because too many people from the myriad heavens and domains had arrived. Saints surged like a tidal wave, crossing the starry sky to descend on the Big Dipper. Moreover, the various Forbidden Zones of Life were no longer peaceful. Someone had seen a beautiful woman playing a flute within the Primordial Forbidden Zone, soaring across the sky, transcendent and aloof, shaking the Northern Domain. Others had heard the sound of clattering iron chains from within the Ancient Forbidden Land in the Southern Domain, where the Nine Sacred Mountains trembled daily, and endless mist spewed from the abyss below.
Someone else had seen ancient steles glowing within the Immortal Mound, as if about to break through the sky, emitting a chilling aura. These recent changes made people uneasy yet expectant. If the path to immortality appeared, it would be the greatest upheaval since ancient times. Who knew what would happen?
"Everyone says that in this era, the Immortal Domain might connect with the mortal world. Is this true or false? Why has such a secret spread from the mouths of the saints from the outer domains?"
"There should be some truth to it. Otherwise, why would they risk their lives to cross the starry river from the other end of the universe?"
"That's true. If not for this, only Great Emperor-level figures could break into the Immortal Domain. What hope would anyone else have? It's truly exciting. The whole world ascends to immortality, and we all benefit. What a magnificent scene that would be."
Ye Fan drank alone, concealing his true appearance to avoid being recognized and causing a commotion. He sat quietly, listening to people's discussions. By now, there were truly few in the world who could harm him. Unless a Quasi-Emperor emerged, he could already reign over the world, and all races would have to show respect and reverence—at least on the surface.
"Eh, who is that? Could it be the Ancient Emperor's daughter, Fire Qilin Child? She... has returned from the outer domains!" someone exclaimed.
A graceful figure flew by, level with the restaurant's window, soaring above the street. Below her was the bustling crowd, and she looked like a fairy walking on water. Her long, water-blue hair flowed, shimmering with a sapphire-like luster. Her robes fluttered, her skin was snow-white, and her eyes held both intelligence and a kind of majesty. She flew into the city like this and disappeared before a group of magnificent ancient towers.
"I heard she returned to her clan's ancestral land. I didn't expect her to reappear after over a hundred years. This woman's combat power now is likely enough to make even a Great Sage wary."
From her, the conversation turned to the Fire Qilin Cave, and naturally, Huo Qizi was mentioned.
"Don't think that just because the Fire Qilin Cave suffered a major loss in the Eternal Kingdom, they're easy to mess with. In fact, they might be even more feared."
"Why do you say that?"
"Do you still remember? When Huo Qizi first appeared, he often wandered near the Primordial Ancient Mine. Many people saw him. What does that imply? Just this hidden connection alone is enough to keep that clan prosperous forever!"
As more and more cultivators gathered, all kinds of secrets were revealed, and the Dark City became a noisy place.
"Eh, who is that woman? She wears a Buddha's enlightenment crown and has an aura of ruling the world. How astonishing!"
"Haven't you heard? That's the Great Peacock Bright King from the Amitabha Ancient Star Domain. The battle at Mount Sumeru just ended not long ago. She might be the number one expert in the Buddhist Sect of this era."
"That's not necessarily true. The Battle Victory Buddha is probably stronger than her, but he has already left."
The Great Peacock Bright King wore a golden crown, eight pairs of armlets, and swaying jeweled necklaces. She sat atop a golden peacock as she entered the city. This grandeur immediately shocked the surroundings and drew the world's attention.
Soon after, dragon energy surged from the Central Province, creating a heaven-shaking phenomenon. A dragon sword directly tore through the void, and an old man stepped from the Central Province into this city in a single stride!
The Supreme Emperor Sword, like an ancestral dragon, swayed its head and tail, releasing a terrifying aura that shook the world. It possessed an unmatched killing intent, pressing down on the nine heavens.
"This is... a Great Sage. Why is he so high-profile, arriving with an Imperial Artifact, as if he wants to cleave this place apart!"
"Members of the Great Xia Imperial Clan have arrived. Don't provoke them. It's said that a few days ago, news leaked from the Immortal Mansion World that their ancestor, Grand Emperor, died inside."
"What? An emperor has fallen..."
"That's right. He fell on the path to immortality, suspected to be related to the Immortal Emperor. This Great Sage has come in such a manner, most likely to seek trouble with the Ancient Clan."
The Dark City was in turmoil. One powerful figure after another arrived, stirring up boundless anticipation. This time, a major storm was bound to erupt.
Silently and without a sound, a man appeared on the street. He exuded a decaying aura, but it made all the saints tremble. The Great Sage of the Great Xia Imperial Clan walked over and nodded to him.
"Who is this?" Everyone felt a chill. The Great Sage of Great Xia was a foundation from over a hundred thousand years ago, surviving into this era. And he actually knew this person. Without a doubt, this was a contemporary of his.
Because he, too, exuded a decaying aura, as if he might turn to dust in a pile of yellow earth at any moment.
"He's a Great Sage from the Ji Family. He showed his face during the battle at Mount Sumeru."
Everyone was astonished. The various immortal inheritances were finally no longer keeping a low profile. Without concealment, they all had Great Sages emerging!
Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. Although they were all Holy Lands, those who had produced a Great Emperor were absolutely different. Only ancient supremes could refine Divine Source Liquid and seal saints, so such foundations were inevitable. They hadn't revealed themselves before because the time wasn't right. But if a conflict truly broke out, who could compare to a family that had produced a Great Emperor? They could absolutely pierce the heavens.
A gust of wind blew, and the two Great Sages disappeared.
The Dark City was stirred. The appearance of people from over a hundred thousand years ago was an absolute sign that the path to immortality was not far off.
At the same time, the news of Grand Emperor's death spread like wildfire, reaching every corner and causing an uproar that made everyone's heart pound.
Was it the Immortal Emperor who killed Grand Emperor, or did Grand Emperor, old and frail with withered blood energy, ultimately die fighting and fall in a pool of blood on the path to immortality? This became the focus of people's debate.
"Who is that woman? She's truly beautiful, as if she stepped out of a painting. What's her identity?"
"Heavens! Who is the person accompanying her, walking by her side? Is it a Sacred Spirit?"
The Dark City erupted in a chorus of exclamations. A perfect couple walked over. The woman was peerlessly beautiful, with a stunningly graceful bearing. The man was handsome and dashing, with an extraordinary aura.
These two people standing there made it impossible not to notice them. Their temperament was outstanding, like cranes among chickens. Even in a sea of people, they could be recognized at a glance.
"This is Princess Moon Spirit of the Jiuli Divine Dynasty, called the number one beauty of the Central Province by gossips."
Finally, someone recognized the peerless beauty. She wore a phoenix crown and a rainbow robe, shining with colorful light, like wisps of morning glow dancing.
This woman had skin like congealed fat, flowing black hair, curved brows, lively eyes, and a delicate, upturned nose. She was a rare beauty, hard to find any flaw in.
Ye Fan's expression shifted. He recognized this woman. He had seen her back then in the Qinling Mountains west of the Central Province.
At that time, Ye Fan, Gai Jiuyou, and Princess Moon Spirit had all joined the Qin Sect, along with Hua Yunfei and Li Xiaoman, all for the sake of the Weapon Art. In the end, both Ye Fan and the sick old man had gained something. So many years had passed, and looking back felt like a dream. Ye Fan guessed that Princess Moon Spirit might have also obtained the Weapon Art.
Time had left no trace on Princess Moon Spirit's fair face. Her eyes were like black gems, still as beautiful as ever, with a city-toppling, country-ruining grace, worthy of her title as the number one beauty of the Central Province.
Beside her was a man with an imposing heroic aura. His sword-like brows slanted into his temples, fully displaying his divine martial bearing. His eyes were sharp as cold lightning, and when he swept his gaze over the crowd, no one dared to meet his eyes, as if sword light was slashing at them.
What was most special was that he had a pair of stone arms, exactly like a Sacred Spirit. But the rest of his body was flesh and blood, and a powerful wave of energy faintly emanated, shaking people's hearts.
Everyone was shocked. Princess Moon Spirit's peerless beauty went without saying, but this man was terrifying. Was this a nearly flawless Sacred Spirit?
He wore silver armor, shining brightly, with a dignified and heroic bearing. His steps were powerful, his figure tall and imposing, and his black hair flew in the wind. He was clearly an extraordinary being.
"Without a doubt, this is a Sacred Spirit. I can feel that unique aura!" said a sage from the outer domains with a solemn expression.
According to legend, a truly perfected Sacred Spirit's body would transform into flesh and blood. But this man only had stone arms, while the rest of his body was already flesh. This was shocking. Only by reaching the Quasi-Emperor realm could one transform a stone body into flesh. Just how powerful was this man? Everyone's heart trembled violently.
"He's not a Quasi-Emperor. If I'm not mistaken, it's because he carries the extraordinary imperial blood of the Sacred Spirit lineage within him!" said an old man from the Tongtian Star.
Such a perfect couple—the man with a divine bearing that shocked the world, the woman with a peerless beauty that toppled cities—naturally drew attention. The street was relatively quiet until they passed, then it erupted in a cacophony of heated discussion.
This grand assembly of all races had drawn all kinds of figures, sending such remarkable people. It was destined that when discussing the agenda, there would be terrifying confrontations, or even bloody battles. Deploying such a powerful lineup was naturally to intimidate and secure benefits for their own clans.
The Dark City was in an uproar, while another terrifying place also showed signs of unusual activity today.
Immortal Mountain was shrouded in a terrible mist. One black mountain peak after another surrounded the central area, forming a transcendent and terrifying terrain. Since ancient times, even if supremes from the outside world entered Immortal Mountain, they would have to stop here!
The mist was hazy, and the black mountains appeared even more majestic.
But at this moment, an ancient war chariot slowly drove out. A voice came from within the chariot, saying, "After all these years, the Dark City still exists. The grand assembly of all races is about to begin. Very well, I'll go and take a look."
Flanking the war chariot were several servants, following silently without a word.
To be honest, I've been staying up late recently and feel mentally exhausted. I'll only have one chapter tonight. I don't have any energy or spirit; I feel like a withered leaf. I need to adjust. Also, I've seen the discussions about Ji Ziyue and An Miaoyi. Feel free to discuss passionately, just don't attack each other.