# Chapter 1708: The Storm Intensifies
Ye Tong’s injuries were severe. If he hadn’t cultivated the Stride Art to a supernatural level, and if the Presence Secret weren’t unmatched in the world, he might not have made it back.
With Ye Fan’s assistance, his blood and qi steamed as the dark demonic qi was expelled. His broken bones regrew, his shattered internal organs healed, and his dimmed primordial spirit began to shine again.
Ye Tong, a Quasi-Emperor capable of battling Ancient Imperial Princes, had been wounded this heavily—a testament to how perilous that battle was. He had nearly failed to return.
Flames danced in Ye Fan’s eyes. He couldn’t forget the fragment of the future he had witnessed: the Immortal Empress and the Underworld advancing here, shattering Ye Tong—who guarded Little Zi—and Little Pine into clouds of blood mist.
Now, that horrific scene had nearly occurred ahead of schedule. His killing intent blazed. Passivity was not in his nature. Since he had glimpsed certain truths, he would go all out to prevent them, striking first.
“Master, the Anlan Star was blasted apart by a single palm strike!” Huahua received new intelligence and reported it, his face pale.
Ye Fan’s expression darkened further upon hearing this. He remained silent for a long time. That star had housed a garrison of Heavenly Soldiers and the Heavenly Court; it was now destined to become cosmic dust.
That was the star Little Pine and Yang Xi had visited, where they had cultivated and trained. Clearly, that person was targeting them—destroying everything with one palm, killing them all cleanly.
The only blessing was that Little Pine had returned and hadn’t encountered that person.
“Where is Yang Xi?” Ye Fan asked.
The situation was obvious now. The Phoenix Nest had struck with lethal intent, determined to eliminate Ye Fan’s three great disciples. All three had become Quasi-Emperors with heaven-defying talent, causing them concern.
“No one knows where he went. He left to cultivate alone and consolidate his dao fruit,” someone said. Those who went out usually reported their whereabouts for contact and support.
But Yang Xi had only recently become a Quasi-Emperor and needed solitude to comprehend his own dao and techniques, temporarily losing contact with the Heavenly Court.
“Junior Brother said he wanted to visit his homeland, to reminisce about everything there. Perhaps seeing familiar sights would bring deeper insights,” Little Pine said, arriving quietly.
A blood crow descended from the moon, receiving news through the teleportation gate. It informed them that the Human Clan’s Fiftieth Pass had been shattered by a single fist from the Kuntian Divine General, and all nearby stars had collapsed.
The Phoenix Nest’s three Divine Generals—Dark Demon God, Sun and Moon, and Kuntian—had all emerged together. To kill Ye Fan’s three disciples, they had truly gone all out.
Hearing this news, silence fell beneath the Bodhi Tree. Everyone was speechless. The Eight Divine Generals had once followed the Immortal Emperor; all were supremely powerful. Even without recovering their former divine power, they were not something a newly ascended Quasi-Emperor could contend with.
“They go too far!”
Many people’s eyes turned red. Yang Xi was bold and forthright, always charging to the front in external campaigns, often drinking and carousing with everyone. He was deeply respected by countless Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals.
“I need to make a trip,” Ye Fan said, his killing intent stirring.
“Kid, stay calm. We’re about to join forces with the Dao Palace and the Divine Organization. Now is the time to focus on the big picture and strike like thunder at the critical moment,” Black Emperor blocked him.
“I am calm. If I don’t respond, they’ll find it strange. I’ll go kill thoroughly—it’ll also lull them into complacency,” Ye Fan replied calmly.
“How do you know this isn’t luring the snake out of its hole, deliberately setting an ambush for you to walk into?” Black Emperor said, and others shared the same view.
“I have my limits. This time, I intend to make them hurt. Let them gather their forces, so we don’t have to hunt them down one by one,” Ye Fan said.
The Heavenly Court, Dao Palace, and Divine Organization were about to form an alliance, aiming to make the Phoenix Nest’s various forces converge and wipe them out in one net. Ye Fan’s trip was meant to fan the flames.
“Regarding the Divine Child, can we discuss it in detail after this battle?” Ye Fan asked Old God.
“No problem!” the old man agreed readily. Both the Underworld and the Phoenix Nest were enemies of the Divine Organization, especially now with the Divine Child connection.
Black Emperor, Ye Tong, Qi Luo, and others were responsible for negotiations and discussions with the Dao Palace and Divine Organization. A great battle was coming, and they needed to get serious. No faction could hold back; they had to clarify which forbidden methods would be deployed.
What brought relief was that when they opened the treasury and retrieved Yang Xi’s soul lamp, it was still burning—he hadn’t fallen.
Even so, Ye Fan had to set out.
Old God squinted his eyes and said, “Are you really so at ease, leaving alone? Aren’t you afraid we’ll forcibly take the Divine Child and harm the Heavenly Court?”
Ye Fan smiled but said nothing.
“Big Brother, be careful on the road,” a delicate little girl ran over from a distance, walking alongside Little Zi. The two beautiful, exquisite little girls were like porcelain dolls.
Old God’s hairs stood on end. A chilling cold pierced his bones, and goosebumps covered his skin. He felt as if he were facing a primordial ferocious beast that could devour all living beings in the world.
He immediately shut his mouth and said nothing more.
But a tremendous storm raged in his heart. This was a Great Emperor’s dao fruit! Hearing about it was one thing, but seeing it with his own eyes—still living in the mortal world after so many tens of thousands of years—how heaven-defying was that?
The Divine Organization had an ancient heritage. They had once gone to the Big Dipper. Many tens of thousands of years ago, an old Quasi-Emperor had encountered Little Nannan there and been scared out of his wits. This secret was recorded in a yellowed handscroll within the Divine Organization.
“It hasn’t worn away yet, still living in the mortal world—too astonishing!” He couldn’t calm his mind.
“Old man, you’re so foolish. Haven’t you seen my Sister Nannan before? What a country bumpkin,” the Divine Child said not far away, trying to curry favor with Little Nannan but refusing to get close, afraid of losing his own essence, qi, and spirit.
A patch of Great Yin fog drifted past, obscuring the starry river. Ye Fan walked alone, unleashing secret techniques from the Great Yin Immortal Scripture to sweep through the star domains ruled by the Phoenix Nest.
Dozens of stars in succession—many Phoenix Nest leaders lost their heads. There was no opponent who could withstand a single exchange. He didn’t commit a bloodbath, but this method of only taking the heads of important figures was even more terrifying, spreading panic everywhere.
Ye Fan had arrived. First, he deployed the Great Yin Immortal Scripture, then activated the Sun Mother Scripture. His entire body blazed with light as he struck like thunder, charging straight for the Phoenix Nest.
News spread continuously. The calm universe stirred up waves once more.
Ye Fan killed twenty-seven experts, all core members of the Phoenix Nest. He advanced without any intention of stopping, his sword pointed straight at the Phoenix Nest deep in the cosmos.
His robes rustled, blood blossoms flew. In just one day, Ye Fan had killed fifty-four Phoenix Nest experts, all figures who governed their own territories.
Some were attendants of the Phoenix Nest; others were contemporary powerhouses who had defected and become regional commanders. All were mercilessly slaughtered by Ye Fan, cut down cleanly.
The news was undoubtedly explosive. All the great powers in the universe were stunned!
What was Ye Fan doing? Was he starting a war without regard for consequences? After this conflict, one of the two organizations would have to be destroyed—there was no peaceful resolution.
For twenty years, all sides had exercised restraint. Though there were covert battles, there had been no signs of large-scale conflict. Ye Fan’s sudden, fierce purge, advancing along a bloody path, shocked the eight corners of the universe.
“Hmm, I heard Ye Fan’s disciple Yang Xi was killed. He’s lost his composure and will stop at nothing to avenge his disciple.”
“Latest news: The Sacred Body Ye Fan was ambushed. The Phoenix Nest’s three Divine Generals each held their positions, waiting for him for a long time. A great battle has erupted!”
“Ye Fan encountered Kuntian and exchanged earth-shattering blows. The former Eight Divine General coughed up blood and nearly died!”
One piece of news after another shook all sides. Especially the last one—it left many dumbfounded. Only twenty years had passed, and Ye Fan had grown this strong?
“The Phoenix Nest tore through the universe. The Immortal Empress has made her move!”
When the final news arrived, this was no longer a minor storm but a universe-level earthquake. A vast war was about to begin, sweeping across the world.
The Empress and the other two Divine Generals rushed there, but they were all too late. They couldn’t stop Ye Fan. He had nearly killed the Kuntian Divine General before making a clean getaway.
“How domineering is the Sacred Body? Even the former Eight Divine Generals of the Immortal Emperor couldn’t do anything to him—he almost killed one. How strong has he become?”
After this day, an extremely tense atmosphere spread through the universe. Everyone knew war was unavoidable. The Immortal Empress would certainly not let this go.
“There’s someone in the Heavenly Court that the Empress fears; otherwise, she would have flattened it long ago.” People recalled the former Imperial Lord, who had mobilized a great force only to return defeated.
“What does the Empress fear? When she accompanied the Emperor in conquering the world, what heroes hadn’t she seen? Was there anyone who could compare to the Emperor?!”
The Immortal Empress’s maidservant appeared, beating a divine drum to assemble the generals. This was the Emperor’s General-Summoning Drum, forged in ancient times by all the universe’s races and presented to the Emperor.
Once this drum sounded, all races had to come and obey the command.
This drum was too mysterious. The moment it sounded, many races’ ancestral lands blazed with light. The drum rumbled like thunder, echoing throughout the universe.
The universe erupted. No one had expected this drum to sound again after being silent for ages. Some people set out on the journey.
Of course, more great clans remained silent, refusing the summons. So many years had passed—why would later generations still care about their ancestors’ oaths?
“The Immortal Empress isn’t gathering the armies of all races; she’s summoning the Eight Divine Generals!” The Woodcutter Old Man’s eyes shone brightly.
“That’s right. Several of the Divine Generals have already passed away. I think she’s trying to summon the First Divine General, to use him to slay an emperor and deal with that little girl in the Heavenly Court.” The old man from the Divine Organization looked very grave.
If the First Divine General emerged, it would be a massive storm. He was a man who had dared to contend with the Immortal Emperor. Everyone said he could attain the Dao!
“What now?”
“What else? We fight!”
The Heavenly Court, Dao Palace, and Divine Organization finally united, preparing to strike.
“I’m here! I didn’t miss it, did I? I made it just in time!” Pang Bo returned to the Heavenly Court. With him was a woman of peerless grace—Yan Ruyu.
Last time, Pang Bo had gone out to cultivate with Black Emperor. On a certain star, they had unexpectedly discovered the descendant of the Green Emperor and witnessed her wielding the Demon Emperor’s weapon.
Now, he had invited Yan Ruyu and borrowed a second Imperial Artifact to join the battle!
“Boom,” “Boom”…
The Emperor’s Drum rumbled, shaking every corner of the universe. Those who had originally refused to fight found their ancestral lands flashing with lightning and thunder, on the verge of collapse.
This was a kind of vow power!
The great clans that had sworn in ancient times to follow the Immortal Emperor and had sprinkled ancestral blood on their altars were now being tracked by this vow power. If they didn’t go to war, they would pay a severe price.
No one had expected the Emperor’s Drum to be so terrifying. Even after countless ages, its demonic nature and divine might remained!
“This isn’t good. The Underworld seems to be stirring too, showing signs of making a move.” Black Emperor frowned. They had been constantly monitoring that behemoth and had detected clues.
“No matter. As long as the Nether Emperor doesn’t appear and the Ancient Supremes don’t show themselves, sending out some experts won’t change the battle situation.”
“We can’t underestimate the Underworld. Since they’ve moved, and even the Emperor’s Drum has appeared, there’s no need for us to hold back either!” Old God said with a grave expression.
He knelt devoutly, set up an incense altar, and made offerings. Then, he solemnly opened a stone box, took out a dim war horn, and personally blew it.
“Woo… woo…”
The moment the horn sounded, the eight extremes of the universe were shocked. Many didn’t know what it was, but they found that the summons from the Emperor’s Drum was neutralized.
Of course, some of the strongest races were awakened, saying: “It’s the Emperor Venerable’s War Horn, summoning us to battle!”
No one had expected the storm to grow larger and larger. Vaguely, a universe-spanning war was about to begin!