Chapter 630: Eight or Nine Thousand Years
The ancient bronze palace was vast and boundless, filled with a dense, ancient aura. Inside, it was empty and desolate, with only a few stone tables and chairs scattered about, covered in dust.
Ye Fan and the others stepped into the palace, their gazes sweeping across the surroundings, finally settling on a figure seated cross-legged in the center.
It was an old man with white hair and a youthful face. His hair was like snow, but his complexion was ruddy, without a single wrinkle. He wore a simple gray robe and sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes tightly shut, as if he had been sitting there for countless ages.
"Is this... the ancient sage?" Pang Bo whispered, his voice carrying a hint of awe.
Ye Fan's expression was solemn. He could feel an extremely terrifying aura emanating from the old man's body. Although it was restrained, it still made his heart tremble.
"Senior..." Ye Fan stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute.
The old man slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was deep and ancient, as if it contained the passage of endless years. He looked at Ye Fan and the others, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Finally, someone has come." The old man's voice was hoarse, as if it came from the distant past.
"Senior, may I ask how to address you?" Ye Fan asked respectfully.
"You can call me... Old Man." The old man smiled lightly, his tone carrying a hint of self-deprecation. "I have been trapped here for eight or nine thousand years, and I have long since forgotten my name."
"Eight or nine thousand years!" Everyone was shocked. This old man had actually lived for such a long time!
"Young man, you have a Sacred Body, no wonder you were able to enter this place." The old man's gaze fell on Ye Fan, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.
"Senior, do you know about the Sacred Body?" Ye Fan was startled.
"Of course I do." The old man nodded slightly. "In ancient times, the Sacred Body was an invincible physique, but later it was cursed and became a crippled body. It's a pity, truly a pity."
"Senior, do you know how to break this curse?" Ye Fan asked eagerly.
The old man was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "I do not know. The curse of the Sacred Body is a taboo of heaven and earth, and it is not so easily broken."
Ye Fan's heart sank, but he quickly regained his composure. He had long known that breaking the Sacred Body's curse would not be easy.
"However," the old man's tone changed, "I can sense that there is something extraordinary about you. Perhaps you can create a miracle."
"Thank you for your kind words, senior." Ye Fan cupped his hands.
"Old senior, how did you end up trapped here?" Big Black Dog asked, unable to hold back.
The old man sighed, a trace of bitterness flashing in his eyes. "It's a long story. Back then, I was trapped by a great enemy and have been imprisoned here ever since, unable to escape."
"Great enemy?" Everyone was startled.
"That person's cultivation is unfathomable, far beyond what I can match." The old man shook his head. "You'd better not ask, knowing too much is not good for you."
"Senior, we are willing to help you escape," Ye Fan said seriously.
The old man looked at Ye Fan, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes. "Young man, your intentions are good, but this place is heavily restricted. Even I cannot break free, let alone you."
"Senior, please give it a try," Ye Fan insisted.
The old man was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "Alright, since you have this intention, I will give it a try. But you must be careful; if you sense danger, retreat immediately."
"Understood." Ye Fan and the others nodded.
The old man stood up, his body emitting a dazzling light. An immense pressure swept through the entire bronze palace.
"Break!"
The old man shouted, his palm striking forward. A terrifying force condensed into a giant hand, fiercely smashing toward the palace walls.
A deafening boom echoed as the entire bronze palace trembled violently. Cracks spread across the walls, but they quickly healed.
"Such a powerful restriction!" Everyone was shocked.
The old man's expression turned serious. He struck out again, this time with even greater force. However, the restrictions within the bronze palace were incredibly strong, and his attacks were all blocked.
"Senior, let us help you," Ye Fan said, stepping forward.
"No need." The old man shook his head. "These restrictions are too powerful. Your cultivation is still shallow; forcing your way in will only harm you."
"Then what should we do?" Pang Bo asked anxiously.
The old man fell into thought, then suddenly said, "There is a way, but it is extremely dangerous."
"Senior, please speak," Ye Fan said.
"Outside this bronze palace, there is an ancient altar. If you can activate it, you might be able to break the restrictions here," the old man said.
"Ancient altar?" Everyone was startled.
"Yes, that altar was left by an ancient great emperor. It possesses unimaginable power," the old man said. "But activating it requires a special key."
"What key?" Ye Fan asked.
"A drop of the blood of an ancient great emperor," the old man said slowly.
"Blood of an ancient great emperor!" Everyone gasped. This was almost impossible to obtain.
"I know this is difficult, but it is the only way," the old man sighed.
Ye Fan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Senior, I might have a way."
"Oh?" The old man looked at Ye Fan in surprise.
Ye Fan did not explain. He reached out, and a drop of golden blood appeared in his palm, radiating a terrifying aura.
"This is..." The old man's pupils suddenly contracted. "The blood of an ancient great emperor! How do you have it?"
"This is a fortuitous encounter I obtained by chance," Ye Fan said.
"Excellent, excellent!" The old man laughed heartily. "I didn't expect that after being trapped for eight or nine thousand years, I would finally see hope of escape."
"Senior, let's go activate the altar," Ye Fan said.
"Good." The old man nodded, leading Ye Fan and the others out of the bronze palace.
Outside the palace, there was indeed an ancient altar, covered in mysterious patterns, emanating a vast, ancient aura.
"This is the altar left by the ancient great emperor," the old man said, pointing at the altar. "Place the blood of the great emperor on it, and then use a special incantation to activate it."
Ye Fan nodded, stepping forward and placing the drop of golden blood on the altar.
Buzz!
The altar trembled, emitting a dazzling light. The patterns seemed to come alive, intertwining in the air.
"Now!" the old man shouted, rapidly forming hand seals, chanting an obscure and ancient incantation.
Rumble!
The altar shook violently, a pillar of light shooting straight into the sky. The entire bronze palace began to tremble, and the restrictions covering it started to crack.
"Success!" Everyone was overjoyed.
However, at that moment, a terrifying aura suddenly descended from the sky, causing everyone's expression to change drastically.
"Not good!" The old man's face turned pale. "He's coming!"