Chapter 456: Divine Object Descends from the Outer Realm
The Eastern Wasteland, with the character "wasteland" in its name, was so called because it was vast and boundless, with endless stretches of untamed wilderness devoid of human habitation. Some primordial regions had never been set foot upon by anyone since ancient times.
"We're off by six million li. Dead dog, you did that on purpose!" Tu Fei shouted.
They had crossed the void, heading for the Immortal Mountain in the central region of the Eastern Wasteland, only to end up a full six million li off course, appearing in a stretch of uninhabited wilderness.
If they hadn't discovered half a stone tablet on a large mountain, they wouldn't have known where they were. It was a relic left behind after a once-prosperous great sect had been destroyed.
"He definitely did it on purpose. How could we possibly be off by six million li all at once? Even carving dao patterns and opening a domain gate with your eyes closed wouldn't be this ridiculous." Li Heishui also cursed.
"Cough, even a master can slip up, and a horse can stumble. It was just a coincidence." The big black dog coughed dryly, trying to cover up its guilt.
"The doggy is so cute, even more absentminded than Nannan." Little Nannan, delicate as carved jade and full of sympathy, was the only one who still believed in the big black dog.
Speechless—that was the big black dog's expression. It wanted to slam its head against the stone tablet. Even with its thick skin, it couldn't stand the word "cute." If anyone else had said it, it would have bared its teeth long ago.
"Cute Black Emperor, don't you think you should figure something out? We can't just fly six million li, can we?" Ye Fan said with a smile.
"Woof!"
"Doggy, don't bite people." Little Nannan, not even as tall as Black Emperor's legs, gently patted it and looked up with her little face.
"We're not really going to Immortal Mountain anyway. We're just putting on a show for the world, making them think you're going there to find a divine medicine to extend your life." Black Emperor muttered.
"Still, we need to make a round trip to sell the act." Ye Fan said. This time, his main goal was to go to the Sacred Cliff and find the third of the Nine Secrets.
"Let me tell you, it's best not to get too close to Immortal Mountain. That place is terrifying. The terrible calamities during the Dark Ages had Immortal Mountain as a major source." Black Emperor warned.
The Great Accomplishment Saint Body had used supreme divine power to cut off a cliff from Immortal Mountain. During his prime, nothing had happened, but in his later years, for reasons unknown, blood stained the Sacred Cliff. Some speculated it was closely related to Immortal Mountain.
"Let's take a good look around the central region first. This is the birthplace of many ancient traditions, said to be the origin of the human race in the Eastern Wasteland. There are many secrets here."
The central region, the heart of the Eastern Wasteland, was an eternal, undying pure land. Many great sects had established their schools here, far more prosperous than the Southern and Northern Domains.
The Zi Mansion, Wind Clan, Dao Yi, and Wan Chu Holy Lands were all located here, hiding hidden dragons and dormant immortal phoenixes, gathering the endless spiritual essence of the Eastern Wasteland, flourishing for ten thousand generations without decline.
In addition, the demon clan had over ten thousand ancient traditions spread throughout the central region, all founded by demon clan giants who had survived the great war of the Dark Ages over a hundred thousand years ago.
These traditions had been passed down since ancient times. Although they were called the demon clan, they were born in human form, inherently powerful, forming various ancient demon clan aristocratic families.
As soon as Ye Fan and his group appeared in the central region, they were discovered. Many people cast strange glances and whispered among themselves.
The Sacred Body had slain the holy maiden of a supreme sect from the Central Province, and the news had spread throughout the Eastern Wasteland. Everyone knew that his life was short, and in his final days, he was not to be provoked.
Although the Yin Yang Sect was furious, they were in the wrong this time. They had plundered gifted young children, drawing the hostility of the Eastern Wasteland's various sects. Under pressure from several holy lands, they eventually left the Eastern Wasteland.
Of course, before leaving, they had attempted to cross the void into the Ancient Forbidden Land to pick divine medicine, but those who entered vanished like stones sinking into the sea, with no further sound.
Ye Fan and his group entered an ancient city called "Wang Kong," one of the ten great ancient cities in the central region. Black Emperor, like an old horse that knew the way, headed straight for a high platform in the city.
"I told you this dead dog deliberately steered us away from Immortal Mountain. Otherwise, how could we have been off by six million li? It clearly wanted to enter Wang Kong City." Li Heishui said.
The ancient city was vast. The central area wasn't a square but a massive high platform. As the evening glow fell, the platform shimmered with a faint red light.
"Things change, people pass away..."
The big black dog gazed at the platform, seemingly filled with endless emotion. "In ancient times, a certain Great Emperor often sat there, gazing at the boundless starry sky, staying for an entire night. But even the greatest and most unparalleled talents couldn't withstand the erosion of time."
Emperor Wu Shi!
Ye Fan didn't need to think twice—he knew it was referring to Emperor Wu Shi. His heart stirred. Was there something special about this Wang Kong Platform? For a Great Emperor to sit here for so long, there must be some significance.
"Don't overthink it. That Great Emperor only cultivated here for a period of time. He didn't leave anything behind." The big black dog shook its head.
"This stone is a treasure. After over a hundred thousand years, it's still crystal clear. How come no one has moved such a flawless platform?" Tu Fei, with his big mouth, said whatever came to mind.
Many passersby rolled their eyes at him, seemingly displeased with such words.
"This stone is special. At night, it draws in starlight to nourish the entire ancient city, making this place a land of spiritual beauty. No one dares to damage it." An old man spoke.
Ye Fan's group was quite distinctive. Little Nannan sat astride the big black dog, looking like a cute little spirit, drawing attention wherever they went.
Ye Fan hadn't hidden his true appearance. Accompanied by a big black dog, his identity was easily guessed. They ascended a restaurant adjacent to the Wang Kong Platform.
"Isn't that the Sacred Body? Why has he suddenly come to the central region?"
"I've heard that his time is up. Word has it he's come to the Immortal Mountain in the central region to find a chance to live."
"Dare to enter that place? During the terrifying Dark Ages, everyone saw its horror. Even the old saint lords in their later years didn't dare approach Immortal Mountain."
The restaurants in the city center were naturally bustling, with people coming and going. Many turned to look.
Ye Fan and his group chose a private room. Pushing open the window, they had a clear view of the Wang Kong Platform. As darkness fell and stars dotted the sky, they could see starlight flowing and spilling into the city.
The big black dog stretched its neck to look outside, focusing on the Wang Kong Platform as if waiting for something.
At the same time, Pang Bo and the others noticed that the number of people around the Wang Kong Platform had increased. Tea houses and restaurants were packed.
"What's going on?" Li Heishui asked in surprise.
"Sir, today is the annual Wang Kong Day. Starlight flows like water, creating a beautiful scene. The locals are used to it, but those coming to watch are mostly outsiders drawn by the reputation. Didn't you know about this?"
Ye Fan and the others were even more certain that everything was the big black dog's doing. It had come here to reminisce.
"Buzz"
When the sky was completely dark and the stars filled the heavens, large patches of starlight, like white clouds, drifted down gently, incredibly beautiful. The entire ancient city became sacred.
Especially the Wang Kong Platform, which sparkled and shimmered, emitting a captivating radiance that stirred the moon and stars, filling the city with spiritual essence.
"Year after year, we're all tired of it. It's nothing special. It's not a true immortal ascension scene—just starlight being drawn down."
"Those old immortals insist that this is where the ancient Great Emperor gazed at the starry domain. They talk about all kinds of mysteries, but they can't even explain it themselves. Yet they make us come here every year to try our luck."
This was clearly a group of aristocratic disciples. They ascended a restaurant and chose a seat by the window, adjacent to the one Ye Fan and his group had chosen, allowing them to see the situation on the other side.
"I heard someone say the Sacred Body has entered Wang Kong City. Is it really him?" someone whispered.
"Feng Lin, isn't he your brother-in-law? Why don't you go over and say hello?" someone teased with a laugh.
"Say that again, and I'll get angry. I've told you before, he has nothing to do with my cousin. They were never engaged." Feng Lin said sternly.
"It's not that I'm criticizing your sister, but she's too proud. That's the Sacred Body who broke the curse, and she didn't even take him seriously. That's fine—my brother has a chance now." A young man chuckled lightly.
Feng Lin said, "Stop talking like that. Luckily, my cousin didn't choose him. He doesn't have many days left. He'll die soon. What's the use of breaking the curse?"
Their voices were very low, almost inaudible, but how could someone as powerful as Ye Fan not hear them?
"Coming to the Northern Domain, we'll probably still have to deal with the Wind Clan somehow." Pang Bo laughed.
"There's no connection. When the time comes, I'll go to their door in person and repay the three million jin of Source." Ye Fan shook his head.
"You can't avoid it even if you want to. We've barely arrived, and we're already hearing such talk. Speaking of which, the six-month deadline is almost up. I wonder what expression they'll have when they see you still alive. It'll definitely be interesting, hehe." Li Heishui chuckled.
Suddenly, someone screamed in surprise. Many people from tea houses and restaurants rushed out, all looking up at the sky.
"A treasure!"
"A treasure flying in from beyond the heavens!"
"That's right, it came down from the starry sky!"
Many people shouted in shock. As cultivators, their eyesight was naturally exceptional. They personally saw a glowing object falling from beyond the sky.
"Boom!"
Wang Kong Ancient City was in an uproar. Everyone shot into the sky, rushing toward the horizon to seize the treasure that had fallen from the outer realm.
In the distant past, such legends had existed. Occasionally, powerful divine objects would fall from the vast, boundless starry sky.
On this annual Wang Kong Night, such an event occurred. No one could remain calm. Almost everyone soared into the sky, reaching out to grab the glowing object.
The big black dog's eyes nearly popped out. It muttered, "Damn, is it really related to the outer realm? Looks like I didn't hear wrong back then!"
It was a massive glowing object, moving at incredible speed, diving down like a silver light. It resembled a huge disc, shimmering with a cold metallic luster.
It seemed to be forged from azure gold, shrouded in a layer of pure white energy radiance, appearing very mysterious.
"Boom!"
As soon as some cultivators rushed over, they were struck by brilliant light beams and turned to ash. The power was extremely terrifying, capable of annihilating space, sending chills down one's spine.
"It really is a treasure! The light it emits is this terrifying. We must seize it!"
Many cultivators grew even more frenzied, all charging upward. The weak dared not approach, while the strong reached out with massive hands or unleashed magical artifacts to collect the divine object.
"Boom!"
But this disc was incredibly fearsome. The beams it emitted annihilated the void, shattering the bones and flesh of many powerful cultivators who couldn't withstand such an assault.
"Buzz!"
Silver light flickered as it landed on the Wang Kong Platform, emitting an eerie glow.
Others, confused, still rushed forward, striving to compete.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo exchanged glances, dumbfounded. They realized that this outer realm divine object was a flying saucer!
"We've actually seen something like this. Grab it—maybe we can use it to go home!"
"The vast universe, the boundless starry sky, hides too many secrets. In this world where cultivators can fly through the sky and burrow into the earth, we've encountered yet another civilization!"
Ye Fan and Pang Bo were incredibly excited, both standing up. They were filled with curiosity about the owner of the outer realm flying saucer and resolved to make their acquaintance.