Chapter 392: Jiang Taixu Revived
Several ancient monsters had remained undecayed for four thousand years, an absolute rarity in the world, and naturally knew many secrets unknown to ordinary people.
However, one of them unexpectedly uttered the words "God-Slaying Whip," which truly shocked Ye Fan. Had he encountered a previous Qi Refiner or something?
At the other end of the starry sky, there was a God-Slaying Whip in ancient mythology. When Ye Fan discovered the wooden whip, he found it similar and thus gave it the same name.
"What is the God-Slaying Whip?" another ancient monster asked, puzzled, inquiring of his companion beside him.
The others held their breath, listening intently. The scene just now was too bizarre. A mere minor cultivator like Ye Fan had actually knocked an ancient monster over with a whip strike—truly astonishing.
"Two thousand years ago, I saw a man outside the Immortal Mountain. He carried a wooden whip on his back, almost identical to this weapon."
This ancient monster had encountered a peculiar cultivator near the Immortal Mountain, fought a great battle with him, suffered a major loss, and fled in panic, deeply imprinting this weapon in his memory.
"Did this wooden whip injure you?" another ancient monster asked in shock.
Not far away, the ancient monster who had just been whipped had two terrifying beams of light shooting from his eyes, fixed on Ye Fan within the Great Emperor's array formation.
"Three rotting corpses, dare you fight again?" Ye Fan brandished the God-Slaying Whip and challenged them.
He had no other choice. If the Great Emperor's array formation were breached, he too would be doomed, so he completely let loose.
"Buzz!"
Crimson divine thoughts surged like a galaxy, overwhelming everything. Another ancient monster struck, his terrifying spiritual power like ten thousand raging waves, tearing through the void.
Their physical bodies had decayed, but their spiritual power had sublimated to an inconceivable degree, enough to make anyone's heart race with fear.
However, Ye Fan was not afraid. No matter how vast your spiritual power, I will simply strike down with my whip—only a fierce and unparalleled blow!
"Pfft!"
The boundless sea of spiritual thoughts, rampaging like a tidal wave, seemed to be suppressed by a Calming Sea Pearl, no longer so violent. The moment the God-Slaying Whip swung down, it cleaved through them.
"Boom!"
Ye Fan was sent flying backward, shaken by the immense force, and once again fell hundreds of zhang away, just like before.
Meanwhile, the ancient monster let out a startled cry, tumbling head over heels, almost falling to the ground, nearly identical to the previous ancient monster.
"Indeed, a divine object that specifically strikes spiritual thoughts—this is a secret treasure!" the ancient monster said, his eyes burning with desire.
A secret treasure was not a conventional weapon but a tool with a special purpose. Perhaps its power was not vast, but it had an extremely unique function.
Many Saint Lord-rank figures also had fiery eyes. If they could thoroughly study this weapon and engrave its inner dao patterns into other weapons, it would have endless marvelous uses.
"Even with a rare treasure, what can it do? In the face of absolute power, all external forces are illusory!" Another ancient monster stepped forward, a miniature pagoda shooting out from between his brows.
Although his body was decayed, the pagoda was sacred and radiant, as if polished from seven-colored glass, surging with streaks of five-colored divine light, very captivating.
"Thud!"
The precious pagoda trembled, transforming into a seven-colored divine rainbow that charged into the Great Emperor's array formation, pressing toward Ye Fan. The ancient monster's spiritual thoughts were contained within; as long as the pagoda's body was not shattered, he was not afraid of the God-Slaying Whip.
"Clang!"
Ye Fan swung the wooden whip, striking the seven-colored divine pagoda, producing a earth-shaking sound that sent the pagoda flying like a meteor streaking across the sky.
"Rotting corpse, you're not up to par. You're no match for me at all!" Ye Fan boasted shamelessly, deliberately trying to provoke.
This time, his position was very deliberate. The ancient monster's spiritual thoughts could only barely reach this spot, blocked by the array formation, unable to use full force.
"Junior!"
The ancient monster's voice was icy cold as he re-sacrificed the seven-colored glass divine pagoda, rapidly enlarging it to fall toward Ye Fan, intending to take him away.
"Buzz!"
Ye Fan's fingers turned pale gold, his physical strength seemingly inexhaustible as he swung the God-Slaying Whip, as if it could shatter the heavens.
"Clang!"
This time, Ye Fan's force was immense, nearly sending the divine pagoda flying toward the Dragon Transformation Pool area, almost slipping out of the ancient monster's control.
The ancient monster felt like vomiting blood. Even though Ye Fan had the God-Slaying Whip, it posed no real threat to them because the three of them were too powerful.
But this little bastard's position was too damn clever—just barely within reach, yet unable to exert any real force to strike him.
"Rotting corpse, are you up to it or not?" Ye Fan held the God-Slaying Whip, looking contemptuous, and brazenly mocked the ancient monster. "If you can't handle it, all three of you can come at once."
"Boom!"
The three ancient monsters had lived to such an age that they had long disregarded the rules of the mortal world, acting as they pleased without caring what others thought.
A seven-colored glass divine pagoda, a soul-summoning banner, and a bone staff transformed into divine light and charged at Ye Fan, intending to kill him.
They were not trying to join forces to kill Ye Fan; each wanted to slay him personally, so they each acted independently, unconcerned with what others thought.
"Clang," "Clang"...
In front of the Dragon Transformation Pool, it was like blacksmithing, producing loud sounds. Ye Fan's fingers had completely turned gold, his striking power unparalleled.
In the distance, everyone's expressions changed. Watching Ye Fan felt strange—this youth's physical strength was too formidable!
Even the older generation felt their hearts race, sensing that in close combat, they might not necessarily gain an advantage.
This whip was most suitable for Ye Fan. It could not be controlled with spiritual power, only held physically, as if tailor-made for his current stage. Swinging the God-Slaying Whip nearly collapsed the void.
"Buzz!"
The God-Slaying Whip trembled slightly. Ye Fan quietly activated the "All" character secret from the Nine Secrets, increasing his physical strength tenfold. Suddenly exerting force, he sent the three heavy artifacts flying toward the Dragon Transformation Pool.
At this moment, he didn't know how many strikes he had delivered, numbing everyone's eardrums, until finally, the seven-colored glass divine pagoda was sent flying, slipping out of the ancient monster's control.
"Clang"
Jiang Yun acted, using his broken war halberd to stabilize the precious pagoda, quickly sealing it to prevent it from escaping.
The distance was too great, blocked by the Great Emperor's array formation. The ancient monster was powerless and could not retrieve it.
Everyone was shocked. Even the three ancient monsters could hardly believe it. How had Ye Fan suddenly unleashed such powerful physical strength?
"Rotting corpses, you're no good!" Ye Fan chuckled, wagging his finger.
He knew that even with the God-Slaying Whip in hand, he could not severely wound the three monsters who had lived over four thousand years. He was only buying time.
"Junior, let you be arrogant for now!"
The three ancient monsters stopped wasting time, focusing entirely on breaking the Great Emperor's array formation, preparing to charge in and annihilate everyone.
No matter how Ye Fan provoked them, they ignored him. Eventually, Jiang Yun took the God-Slaying Whip and confronted the three ancient monsters, but still could not overcome them.
Everyone was horrified. Even with a weapon that countered the three rotting corpses, in the face of absolute power, it was impossible to reverse anything.
These were figures from the same era as Jiang Taixu, having lived over four thousand years, not idly passing the time—they were of the generation of the Saint Lords' masters.
Time passed. An hour later, the Great Emperor's array formation was more than half broken. Within at most half an hour, it would be completely erased.
"The Divine King is about to be slain!" the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures shouted, pressuring the Jiang family.
At this moment, in the Dragon Transformation Pool, over a dozen old men were channeling strands of life essence into the old Divine King's body, helping him dissolve the Dragon Pearl Fruit to reverse his fate and change his destiny.
Golden light radiated from his body surface. His withered flesh was nourished, gaining some luster. Yet he remained still and silent, without a sound.
"Jiang Taixu, you are doomed to die!"
"I will devour his divine body to avenge four thousand years of enmity!"
The three ancient monsters grew fierce, the light in their eyes becoming more terrifying as they erased one innate pattern after another.
"What do we do?" The Jiang family was utterly despairing. If the three monsters charged in, no one could stop them.
"Taixu... Taixu..." Suddenly, a voice like a ghost's sounded, echoing throughout the entire Divine City, heard by everyone.
This voice was very ethereal, shifting east, west, south, and north, rapidly approaching the Dragon Transformation Pool. Everyone's expression changed—its speed was too fast, shocking.
"Who is this!?"
Calling Jiang Taixu "brother" indicated how terrifyingly old she was—definitely a peerless figure who had lived over four thousand years.
"Swish!"
With a flash of light, a wrinkled old woman appeared in the arena. She was hunched over, with sparse white hair, leaning on a staff as she entered like a ghost.
She was incredibly aged, yet wore a five-colored feathered robe, very mismatched with her age. But most shocking was the bloody hole in her chest, gushing blood, almost pierced through, front and back visible.
"Taixu... four thousand years, I have finally seen you again!" The old woman's tears streamed down. "I have grown old, my youth gone. I really didn't want you to see me like this."
"Fairy Caixuan?!" The three ancient monsters were astonished, as if seeing a ghost, seemingly not expecting anyone from their generation to still be alive.
"You three want my Taixu's life? Then step over my corpse first!"
This old woman's white hair flew wildly as she pointed her staff forward, unleashing an incredibly terrifying pressure. Hundreds and thousands of patterns emerged, interweaving together.
"This is..."
"The order of heaven and earth!"
The thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures were shocked.
The force the old woman unleashed was not particularly frightening, but it displayed this aspect. Those who had lived over four thousand years without decaying fought in a completely different manner.
They wielded the Great Dao, striking with the order of heaven and earth, not simple divine power. This was an understanding of the Dao, a more terrifying form of combat.
The three ancient monsters dared not be careless. This was a life-and-death enemy from their generation. She had both physical strength and spiritual power, making her more terrifying than them.
"Fairy Caixuan, why must you do this? You couldn't marry him back then, and now four thousand years have passed. Can you still not let him go?" one ancient monster shouted, seemingly very wary of the old woman.
"So it's her!"
The Jiang family and the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures were all shocked, guessing the old woman's identity. She was Jiang Taixu's former confidante, a generation's Holy Maiden of the Wanchu Holy Land.
Holy Maidens could not marry outside. Fairy Caixuan had no way to be with Jiang Taixu. The Divine King had stormed the Wanchu Holy Land to take her away, but Fairy Caixuan, mindful of her master's kindness, ultimately did not leave.
Yet she never married the Holy Son either, spending her life alone before a green lamp in an ancient cave, never again stepping into the mortal world. No one expected her to still be alive.
And what shocked everyone was—who had wounded her? The heart area was almost pierced through, blood gushing.
"Buzz"
The clash of heavenly and earthly orders, the collision of tangible laws. Fairy Caixuan's body bled as she fought the three ancient monsters!
Many Saint Lord-rank figures fled far away. If struck by this order's power, the consequences would be unpredictable and absolutely terrifying.
"Senior, come in quickly!" Jiang Yun transmitted a message, telling her how to enter the Great Emperor's array formation. Although the old woman was powerful, she could never alone withstand three ancient monsters.
Such a great reinforcement appearing, only to die quickly here, would be too great a loss.
"Swish"
With a flash of light, Fairy Caixuan evaded the three ancient monsters and entered the array formation, arriving before the Dragon Transformation Pool. She trembled, almost falling into the pool as she embraced Jiang Taixu.
"Taixu... you must come back to life..." Tears fell like rain. Seeing Jiang Taixu skin and bones, she couldn't help but weep.
She channeled strands of her own divine essence into Jiang Taixu's body. Divine light like a waterfall illuminated the entire Dragon Transformation Pool.
"Senior Caixuan, you need not do this. The Divine King ancestor has divine medicine within him; he can revive. You don't need to exhaust your own lifespan." The old men beside her were all moved and tried to dissuade her.
"My vitality is already severed. I cannot live on. Say no more." Fairy Caixuan's crown continuously surged with divine essence, pouring into Jiang Taixu's body.
She caressed Jiang Taixu's face with her hand, tears falling. "Parted for four thousand years, once you were elegant and spirited, full of vigor. Now you have also aged like this."
Tears continuously rolled from Fairy Caixuan's turbid eyes. "In those days, you roamed the world—who dared to block your path? Now you return in your twilight years, yet so many come to kill you."
"Taixu... don't die..." she murmured, almost begging, as if returning to four thousand years ago.
"Please stop consuming your own life essence. If the Divine King ancestor knew, he would surely refuse." Jiang Yun tried to persuade her again.
"I am already finished. Let Taixu revive quickly." Fairy Caixuan shook her head.
"Senior, what happened? Who wounded you like this?" Jiang Yun asked, sensing the extreme gravity of the situation. For such an existence to be severely injured meant there were even more terrifying figures in the shadows.
"A very terrifying person. Only Taixu's revival can deal with him..."
Fairy Caixuan had used the Divine City Stone Token of the Wanchu Holy Land to traverse the void and come here, the only way to enter the currently sealed ancient city.
She had come specifically to save the Divine King. She had clashed with a terrifying figure above the underground palace and been wounded like this.
"What? There's another such person in the shadows?!" Even Jiang Yun felt some despair. "He must be controlling the Great Emperor's sacred weapon, dueling with the Eternal Universe Divine Furnace."
"Boom!"
The Great Emperor's array formation was breached. The three ancient monsters laughed loudly, their words icy cold.
"We'll send all of you on your way!"
"Fairy Caixuan, continue your past life with Jiang Taixu underground!"
The old woman gently placed Jiang Taixu back into the Dragon Transformation Pool, walked to the shore, and took one last look at Jiang Taixu before charging at the three ancient monsters.
At this moment, only she could hold off figures of her generation for a moment. No one else could possibly stop them. Ye Fan had already handed her the God-Slaying Whip.
"Buzz!"
This was a life-and-death struggle. The order of heaven and earth interwove, colliding back and forth between them. They did not truly close in, yet it was even more dangerous.
"Pfft!"
Four or five bloody holes appeared on Fairy Caixuan's body, wounds from the power of heavenly laws. No matter how strong she was, she could not withstand three undying monsters of her generation.
"Boom!"
At the same time, the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures advanced in large strides, equally super-terrifying.
Everyone present was utterly despairing. How could they still defy fate now?
"Thud"
Fairy Caixuan stood firm in front, blocking all thirteen Saint Lords. But although these overlords were not as old as her, they were all top figures of the current world, equally terrifying.
With so many standing together, they would kill gods and buddhas alike. The old woman was sent flying, her body nearly shattered.
Bones cracked. Fairy Caixuan's body surged with patterns, her hunched frame straightening somewhat. She merged with the order of heaven and earth, burning her divine power, driving the Great Dao to block these people.
But no matter how strong she was, she could not withstand three ancient monsters plus thirteen Saint Lords.
"Taixu, today we die together..." The old woman smiled bitterly.
"All of you, die!" The thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures advanced, possessing an unparalleled terrifying momentum.
"Divine King ancestor, I, Jiang Yi, have come to save you!"
A great shout came from above. From the collapsed underground palace, an incomparably terrifying pressure surged down, making everyone tremble with fear!
A huge demon jar descended from the sky, swallowing heaven and earth, intending to absorb everything.
"The Ancient Devouring Demon Jar?!"
Everyone was shocked, feeling their souls suppressed, nearly shattering.
"Boom!"
The huge pottery jar pressed down. The three ancient monsters and the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures all involuntarily dodged, retreating swiftly.
Half an Extreme Imperial Weapon!
This was no ordinary weapon. If struck, one would surely be annihilated in both body and spirit.
The Ninth Great Bandit, Jiang Yi, had arrived. He had borrowed the Devouring Demon Jar from Tu Tian, using it to break through the Divine City's seal, charging in to rescue his ancestor.
"No one can revive a damaged Great Emperor's sacred weapon unless an ancient sage wields it. Otherwise, it cannot unleash the power of the Eternal Universe Sacred Furnace!" The three ancient monsters sneered coldly.
A Great Emperor's sacred weapon could only be revived by a Great Power, manifesting its extreme divine might. Otherwise, in ordinary hands, it was like a dead object.
For a damaged Extreme Weapon, an ancient sage was needed to revive its extreme divine might—an even stricter requirement.
"It cannot manifest extreme divine might, but it's enough for self-defense!" Jiang Yi shouted, holding the sacred weapon as he arrived before the Dragon Transformation Pool. "Ancestor, I have come to save you."
"Buzz!"
The Ancient Devouring Demon Jar rapidly enlarged, covering this area, sealing the Dragon Transformation Pool below.
Although the ancient Great Emperor's sacred weapon had not revived, it was still terrifying. Even slight fluctuations made the thirteen Saint Lord-rank figures shudder.
The arrival of the Ninth Great Bandit, Jiang Yi, surprised everyone. At the critical moment, he appeared with half an Extreme Weapon, resolving the immediate crisis.
However, everyone knew that without Fairy Caixuan, even an Immortal King's arrival would have been useless. It was she who had held off the terrifying figures, protecting everyone.
But now, she herself was on the verge of death, clearly unable to survive. Her body was pierced in multiple places by the power of heavenly order, her five organs gone, her vitality severed.
"Taixu... do you know? I came to see you... four thousand years later... we reunite..." Trembling, she entered the Dragon Transformation Pool, lifted Jiang Taixu, and gently stroked his cheek.
"I really wanted to walk with you under the sunset... but unfortunately... there is no time. You will never... hear my voice again." Fairy Caixuan's turbid eyes grew dimmer.
Those present could not bear to interrupt, watching them in silence.
She let out a soft cry, and endless divine light surged from her body, pouring into Jiang Taixu's.
"Taixu... in those days, you found the Earth Essence Fruit for me to extend my lifespan... wanting us to live four thousand years together... to grow old together in the mortal world. I waited for you... but unfortunately... I cannot see you revive with my own eyes."
The old woman poured all her essence into Jiang Taixu's body. Her flesh instantly withered and decayed, her eyes completely dim. She murmured, "I want to go back to four thousand five hundred years ago... if time could repeat... Taixu... I would go with you... not stay in the Holy Land..."
The old woman was utterly exhausted, without a trace of strength left. Her gray lips trembled, but she could no longer speak.
Beside her, the middle and younger generations of the Jiang family wept, almost unable to bear witnessing this scene.
"I... don't want..." The old woman's lips quivered, wanting to say something, but could no longer speak.
Many people crouched down, listening intently. Ye Fan's voice trembled as he asked, "Elder, what do you want to say?"
Jiang Yun channeled divine essence into her, allowing her to speak. "After I die... cover my body with white cloth... tell Taixu... not to lift it and look at me... I don't want him to see me like this... I want his memory... to always be of me four thousand years ago."
"Senior..."
Everyone present was a cultivator, with firm resolve, but at this moment, they could hardly bear it, all wanting to weep.
"Senior Caixuan..." Many choked up.
"Taixu... in the end... I cannot walk with you..." After saying this, the last trace of light in her eyes faded, and her head silently drooped, nestling beside Jiang Taixu.
"Senior Caixuan..." Many cried out, their vision blurring.
"The Divine King's eyes... there is a teardrop... he sensed all this!"
Those present were both sorrowful and shocked to discover that at the corner of Jiang Taixu's withered eye, a single teardrop gently rolled down.
"The ancestor's subconscious heard all this..."
"Senior Caixuan, do not regret. The ancestor's sleeping subconscious knows all this..."
Many wept.
Everyone joined forces to help Jiang Taixu refine the divine medicine. The time was far shorter than anyone expected. In total, only half a day passed before the Divine King began to slowly revive.
Another half hour later, he suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out two brilliant divine beams. But he remained still for a long time, quietly gazing at the old woman beside him.
Then, Divine King Jiang Taixu suddenly stood up, holding the old woman's body in his hands, standing in the Dragon Transformation Pool, and let out a mournful roar to the heavens: "Ah..."
This great roar shook heaven and earth, resounded through the Divine City, soared into the clouds, and startled everyone.