Chapter 640: The Great Emperor Lives?
The ancient bronze palace was vast and boundless, filled with a desolate and ancient aura. Ye Fan stood at the entrance, gazing at the scene before him, his heart trembling. The interior of the palace was not as dim as he had imagined; instead, it was illuminated by a faint, hazy light, as if countless stars were twinkling within.
He stepped inside, his footsteps echoing crisply in the empty hall. The ground was paved with enormous bluestone slabs, each engraved with ancient patterns that seemed to tell tales of bygone eras. The walls were adorned with murals, depicting scenes of ancient deities and demons battling, as well as figures of great emperors overlooking the world.
Ye Fan’s gaze swept across the murals, and he was shocked to discover that some of the figures depicted were astonishingly similar to those recorded in ancient texts. For instance, the figure of Emperor Wu Shi, wielding a long spear and radiating immense power, seemed to tear through the heavens. And the Ruthless Great Emperor, standing proudly with a cold gaze, appeared to look down upon all living beings.
“This is… the legendary Emperor Wu Shi?” Ye Fan muttered to himself, his heart stirring with turmoil. He had heard many legends about Emperor Wu Shi, but seeing his image in this ancient palace still left him deeply shaken.
He continued deeper into the palace, and the scenes before him grew increasingly astonishing. In the center of the hall stood a massive stone platform, upon which lay a bronze coffin. The coffin was covered in dense inscriptions that emitted a faint, ancient aura, as if sealing some terrifying power.
Ye Fan approached the stone platform, his heart pounding. He could sense an indescribable pressure emanating from the bronze coffin, as if something inside was awakening.
“Could this be… the coffin of a great emperor?” Ye Fan whispered, his voice trembling slightly. He had seen the Nine Dragons Coffin before, but the bronze coffin before him was even more ancient and mysterious, as if it had existed since the dawn of time.
Just as he was about to examine it more closely, a sudden, deep voice echoed from within the hall: “You’re here.”
Ye Fan was startled and quickly turned around, only to see a figure slowly emerging from the darkness. It was an old man, dressed in tattered Daoist robes, his face weathered and aged, but his eyes shining with a piercing light.
“Who are you?” Ye Fan asked cautiously, his hand already gripping the Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Holy Spirit Sword.
The old man smiled faintly, his voice carrying a hint of weariness: “I am the guardian of this palace. I have waited countless years, and finally, someone has come.”
“Guardian? What is this place?” Ye Fan asked, his brow furrowed.
The old man did not answer directly. Instead, he pointed at the bronze coffin and said slowly: “This is the final resting place of a great emperor. He did not truly die but fell into a deep slumber, awaiting the one destined to awaken him.”
“A great emperor… still alive?” Ye Fan was shocked, almost unable to believe his ears. According to legend, great emperors were invincible beings who dominated their era, but they would eventually perish. Yet now, someone was telling him that a great emperor might still be alive.
“That’s right.” The old man nodded, his expression growing serious. “He is Emperor Wu Shi. Back then, he did not truly die but sealed himself within this bronze coffin, waiting for the right moment to be reborn.”
“Emperor Wu Shi!” Ye Fan’s heart trembled violently. Emperor Wu Shi was one of the most legendary figures in ancient history, rumored to have been invincible in his time, suppressing all enemies. If he were truly still alive, it would undoubtedly shake the entire world.
“Why are you telling me this?” Ye Fan asked, his gaze fixed intently on the old man.
The old man sighed softly, a complex look flashing in his eyes: “Because you are the one he has been waiting for. Your physique is special, your destiny extraordinary. Only you can awaken him.”
“Me?” Ye Fan was stunned, then shook his head. “I’m just an ordinary cultivator. How could I possibly awaken a great emperor?”
“You don’t need to doubt yourself.” The old man’s tone grew resolute. “Your Sacred Body is the key to awakening him. As long as you are willing, you can open this bronze coffin and let him be reborn.”
Ye Fan fell silent. He knew that if Emperor Wu Shi were truly resurrected, it would be a blessing for the entire world. But he also understood that this might come with an unpredictable price.
“What do I need to do?” Ye Fan finally asked.
The old man smiled, a hint of relief in his eyes: “Very simple. Place your hand on the bronze coffin and channel your source energy into it. The rest will take care of itself.”
Ye Fan took a deep breath and slowly walked up to the bronze coffin. He extended his hand and gently pressed it against the cold coffin lid. The moment his palm made contact, a powerful suction force erupted, madly drawing in his source energy.
Ye Fan’s expression changed. He wanted to pull his hand away, but found it stuck fast, unable to move. His source energy flowed out like a river bursting its banks, pouring into the bronze coffin.
“Don’t resist!” the old man’s voice rang out. “This is a necessary process. Only by offering enough source energy can you awaken him.”
Ye Fan gritted his teeth and could only let his source energy drain away. As time passed, his face grew increasingly pale, and his body began to tremble. Just as he was about to collapse, the bronze coffin suddenly emitted a dazzling light, and a terrifying pressure burst forth, forcing him back several steps.
The coffin lid slowly slid open, and a figure slowly rose from within. It was a middle-aged man, dressed in an imperial robe, his face majestic, his eyes deep as the starry sky. The moment he appeared, the entire hall trembled, as if even heaven and earth were bowing to him.
“Emperor Wu Shi!” the old man exclaimed, kneeling to the ground, tears streaming down his face.
Ye Fan stared at the figure before him, his heart filled with shock. He could feel an indescribable pressure, as if the person standing before him was not a human but a god who ruled over all things.
Emperor Wu Shi’s gaze fell on Ye Fan, a faint, elusive smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: “You’ve come.”
Ye Fan’s heart trembled. He felt as if Emperor Wu Shi’s gaze could see through everything about him, leaving no secrets hidden.
“Great Emperor, you… are you really alive?” Ye Fan asked, his voice somewhat hoarse.
Emperor Wu Shi nodded slowly, a trace of complexity flashing in his eyes: “I have been waiting for this day for far too long. Your arrival has allowed me to finally break free from my slumber.”
“Why me?” Ye Fan asked again.
Emperor Wu Shi was silent for a moment, then said softly: “Because you carry the fate of the Human Sacred Body. Back then, I too was a Sacred Body, but I failed to reach the final step. You are different; you have the potential to surpass me.”
Ye Fan was stunned. He had never imagined that Emperor Wu Shi was also a Sacred Body. No wonder he felt an inexplicable resonance with him.
“Great Emperor, what do you plan to do next?” Ye Fan asked.
Emperor Wu Shi’s gaze grew deep, as if piercing through the void: “The world is in chaos, and darkness is about to descend. I need to reclaim my former power to protect this realm.”
“Darkness?” Ye Fan was startled.
“Yes.” Emperor Wu Shi nodded. “You will understand soon enough. Now, follow me.”
As his voice fell, Emperor Wu Shi waved his hand, and a spatial rift appeared before them. Without hesitation, Ye Fan followed him into the rift.
When they reappeared, they had arrived at a vast starry sky. Countless stars twinkled around them, forming a magnificent starry river.
“This is…” Ye Fan looked around, his heart filled with shock.
“This is the edge of the universe, the place closest to the darkness.” Emperor Wu Shi said calmly. “Look over there.”
Ye Fan followed his gaze and saw a massive black vortex in the distance, as if it could devour everything. From within the vortex came a terrifying aura that made his soul tremble.
“That is the source of darkness.” Emperor Wu Shi’s tone grew heavy. “It has existed since ancient times, devouring countless worlds. I once tried to seal it but ultimately failed.”
“Then what should we do?” Ye Fan asked.
Emperor Wu Shi turned to him, a resolute light flashing in his eyes: “I need your help. Only by joining forces can we completely eradicate this darkness.”
Ye Fan took a deep breath, a determined look appearing in his eyes: “I understand. I will do my best to assist you.”
Emperor Wu Shi smiled, a hint of relief in his eyes: “Very good. I didn’t misjudge you.”
As his voice faded, the two figures vanished into the starry sky, heading toward the black vortex. Behind them, the ancient bronze palace gradually faded, as if it had never existed.