Chapter 1702: Alive Is Good
"That wasn't Emperor Wu Shi, but the bell spirit—the deity within the Primordial Chaos Bell!" Ye Fan sighed.
That bell was too powerful; its deity was woven from laws. Under normal circumstances, such a spirit would rarely break free, but the soul within the Primordial Chaos Bell had taken human form. It was simply too strong, identical to Emperor Wu Shi in every way!
The lingering chime of the bell rang out, shaking down the joys and sorrows of an era. It dragged that fleshy mass into another realm, never to return, heading for a decisive battle.
On the great bell, the figure with its back to all living beings appeared both desolate and domineering—without beginning, without end, vanishing into the void of time.
The azure lotus swayed, shrinking to half a zhang in height, then transformed into a beam of green light. Carrying the Chaos Sea, it tore through the void and disappeared without a trace.
Ye Fan was speechless. That little lotus had simply fled, beyond his control. This time, his losses were heavy. The only consolation was obtaining the Dao patterns of the Immortal Bell, which had imprinted themselves into the cauldron's walls.
Overall, Ye Fan's heart was still joyful. He had unexpectedly resolved a great calamity on Yinghuo. He vaguely guessed who that person was—one of the strongest figures through the ages. Once awakened, no one could restrain him.
"Has the bloodshed and chaos of Yinghuo been pacified just like that?" More than a dozen great demon lords felt a sense of unreality.
After all, this place had buried all the experts of an era, even including fallen imperial-level figures, yet they had resolved it so easily.
Perhaps, to be precise, they were merely witnesses, having seen the supreme bearing and methods of a Great Emperor.
The star of Yinghuo had split open but did not shatter, because supreme array patterns sealed this realm.
Ye Fan acted, closing the star's fissures, resealing it, and then placing it into this desolate sea of stars, banishing it forever.
Now, it was merely a great tomb, devoid of other meaning. It was best if it never emerged again.
Starlight glittered, far from the menace of imperial-level experts. The thirteen great demon lords all breathed a long sigh of relief, completely at ease. The time just past had felt like an ordeal. In the past, each of them could dominate a star domain, but here, they were as insignificant as ants.
"I say, Brother Ye, when will you let us old bones retire and go home? We've been suppressed for so many years; we really can't keep fighting your battles for you."
The group set out on the return journey, heading for the Heavenly Court. Though these demon lords grumbled, they had no choice. Ye Fan couldn't release them now, fearing they might be unruly and cause trouble.
"Brother Ye, you're so young—cultivating for only five or six hundred years and already at the sixth heaven of the Quasi-Emperor realm. Could you be some imperial son born into the world? Are you the direct child of Emperor Wu Shi, or the bloodline of the Green Emperor? How else would you have encountered them?"
On the road, the group of old demons, bored to death, burned with gossipy curiosity, wanting to get to the bottom of things. Having been sealed for two thousand years, they knew nothing of the outside world.
Ye Fan smiled in response. Subduing the thirteen great demon lords, including one Quasi-Emperor, was a great boon for the Heavenly Court. This batch was absolutely a top-tier threat.
"No problem." Ye Fan nodded.
Huo Qizi raised an eyebrow at this and attacked directly. The might of a Quasi-Emperor shook the nine heavens, his divine power vast and boundless.
However, what awaited him was a single large sleeve. With a casual strike, Ye Fan used a Sleeve Universe technique to suppress him—clean and swift.
Everyone present was petrified. What a vast gap this was! Though both were Quasi-Emperors, they were separated by at least several heavens, no longer on the same level.
Huo Lin'er sighed softly, her beautiful eyes flickering. She knew that Ye Fan had completely left his generation behind. From this day forward, there would be no more opponents among his peers!
This signaled that the invincible Sacred Body would henceforth dominate this era!
Huo Qizi roared, unable to break free no matter what. He couldn't imagine that in just twenty years, Ye Fan had surpassed him by several realms—unthinkable.
"I hope one day I can fight you at the same level." Huo Qizi had no choice but to submit. Faced with the facts, he could only bow his head. Now, he truly couldn't compare to Ye Fan.
"Has this day finally come?" On the other side, when An Pu saw Ye Fan turn to face him, he was very calm, his face showing no ripple. After losing at the Heavenly Court ruins twenty years ago, the gap between them had only widened over the years.
"Make your move!" Ye Fan said.
An Pu said nothing more. A large halberd appeared in his hand. His whole body blazed, his frail, sickly demeanor swept away. He went all out from the start, fighting a desperate, bloody battle.
Yet, in the face of absolute power, no amount of burning life force was useful. Ye Fan only pressed down with one palm, and An Pu's weapon shattered inch by inch. His entire body drenched in blood, he was crushed beneath.
At that moment, Ye Fan's aura burst forth completely.
"Sixth heaven of the Quasi-Emperor!" An Pu sighed inwardly. How could this be surpassed? He dropped the broken halberd in his hand.
Ye Fan felt no joy, because he knew that even more terrifying enemies awaited ahead. If he didn't strive, everyone in the Heavenly Court would die.
He didn't kill immediately. Instead, he swept his hand, preparing to shave off part of An Pu's cultivation, leaving him a path to live.
After all, whether at their first meeting or later at his wedding with Ji Ziyue, this man had shown a certain grace. He had even once stopped Shen Ming's destruction, leaving a good impression on Ye Fan.
"Defeat is defeat. You and I are fated to be mortal enemies. The Immortal Mountain and the Ji Family are irreconcilable. I only ask for a battle to the death!"
An Pu looked very frail, his face pale, but his nature was fierce and unyielding. Seeing through Ye Fan's intention, he refused to submit. Even the Headless Rider had died for him. He would not have his cultivation shaved off to save himself. Rather than become a cripple, he preferred death.
"Kill!"
An Pu roared, his hair standing on end. He defied the heavens, charging at Ye Fan. His life blazed forth, his imperial blood burning, triggering the Divine Seal Domain!
Ye Fan was surprised. This was the first time he had seen someone of this era trigger the Divine Seal Domain before him. An Pu's aura suddenly surged, his whole body wreathed in infinite Dao laws.
Yet, it still wasn't enough!
After testing, Ye Fan instantly entered the Divine Seal Domain himself. Though his impression of this man was decent, they were fated to be enemies in this life. There was no choice. To respect An Pu, he wouldn't humiliate him either.
"Boom!"
A golden great hand pressed down. Amidst the boundless divine light, a life bloomed, displaying its most powerful attack within the supreme realm of the Divine Seal Domain.
But the outcome of defeat could not be avoided. That figure shattered into pieces, blood staining this stretch of void. An Pu had fallen!
Ye Fan sighed softly. There was no right or wrong. Their paths in this life were different, fated only to be enemies, unable to coexist in the same era.
"Would the two of you be willing to visit my Heavenly Court?" Ye Fan turned and asked the Huo Qizi siblings.
"Willing!" Huo Lin'er answered quickly, to prevent her brother from reacting too strongly.
Ye Fan returned, bringing with him three Quasi-Emperors and twelve top-tier Great Sages, instantly causing a stir in the Heavenly Court. A crowd came to greet him.
"Father!"
In the pure land, Little Zi wobbled unsteadily, toddling along, opening her small arms as she ran over.
"Little Zi!" Ye Fan was deeply moved. He picked her up. Little Zi giggled and called out, then smacked a kiss on his face, leaving a lot of drool.
Everyone laughed, but Ye Fan almost shed tears.
That dream had been too real—a glimpse of the future. He clearly remembered Little Zi being so helpless, so young, yet walking a path of no return. To see her now, holding her in his arms, felt so precious. He didn't want to let go.
"Father will definitely protect you. No one can hurt Little Zi," Ye Fan murmured.
Then, he put the child down and hugged Pang Bo and the others tightly. These brothers who had shared life and death were still here, still alive. This feeling was wonderful.
"Big brother, big brother, and me too!" Little Nannan said happily.
Ye Fan's nose stung again. In the future, Little Nannan would face several Supremes alone, with no one to help her. The brutal battle would nearly destroy the universe, and in the end, all the living beings, the forbidden zones, and even she herself would cease to exist.
"In the future, big brother will definitely protect everyone. You won't have to fight alone!" Ye Fan picked her up, suppressing his emotional turmoil, and swore in his heart.
Even so, tears welled in his eyes—from joy and emotion. That dream had been too real and too terrifying. He felt as if he had been separated from these people for ten thousand years. To meet them now was especially precious and moving.
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