Chapter 654: The Protagonist of This Era
The Qinling Mountains, located in western Central Province, stretched endlessly across a vast expanse no less than a million li in circumference, covered entirely with mountain ranges and ancient veins.
Under the night moon, the earth was bathed in silver-white light. A thin mist veiled the ancient trees and mountain peaks, while moonlight swirled around, and one could often see some ancient corpses inhaling the essence of the moon.
From time to time, ancient war chariots could be seen charging out from the ancient mountains, flying beneath the night moon with a rumbling sound. Some were the chariots of imperial lords, while others were the mounts of great powers.
Unfortunately, all of this belonged to the ancient corpses—things they had been buried with in life, which had now developed into sentient beings. Traveling at night, they appeared strange and mysterious.
On a cold, moonlit night, Ye Fan walked alone through the Qinling Mountains. About to embark on a long journey, he took one last look at this landscape, avoiding seven or eight ancient corpses comparable to Saint Lords.
"The sick old man has indeed left. Did he obtain what he was seeking?"
The Qin Sect still remained, but some people were missing. The sick old man, Princess Yue Ling, the refined scholar, Hua Yunfei, and Li Xiaoman were all gone.
During the great battle in the Qinling Mountains, a supreme being comparable to an ancient sage had made a move. At the critical moment, Ye Fan had sensed his divine thought fluctuations, which felt somewhat familiar.
"Was it really the sick old man? What exactly is his identity? To be able to seize an Extreme Imperial Weapon—it's absolutely astonishing!"
In the present age, there was one living sage in the Eastern Wasteland—the Old Madman—and another on Mount Sumeru in the Western Desert—the Battle Victory Buddha.
Their magical powers were boundless. A single strand of hair that fell from them could kill a Half-Step Great Power, and a single drop of their vital blood could slay a Saint Lord.
These were beings beyond imagination, unmatched in the current world. Even immortal inheritances possessing Extreme Imperial Weapons dared not provoke them.
"Is he really that person?" Ye Fan thought back to what the sick old man had told him. Back then, as they walked together through the Qinling Mountains, the man had spoken of many events from thousands of years ago.
"A peerless prodigy of a bygone era, an invincible being who dominated the world—could he have lived until now? If so, his true age is likely over nine thousand years old—terrifying!"
Ye Fan wanted to meet the sick old man and give him an Immortal Saint Fruit, but he was unable to do so. The ailing old man had already departed.
"His lifespan is nearly exhausted. It would be such a pity if he were to pass away like this. I failed to deliver an Immortal Divine Medicine!"
The Qin Sect remained, its main peak no more than a thousand meters high, ordinary and unremarkable. Yet it was guarded by unfathomable experts, including kings converted by the Divine Conversion Art.
This was a place of profound mystery. Having obtained the Weapon Art, Ye Fan had no reason to stay. He had returned this time to take a final look before leaving for good, never to come back.
"Time to begin a new journey. I will cultivate here, hoist my sail and cross the vast seas, all the way to the Immortal Platform!"
Ye Fan left western Central Province and traveled eastward. He did not go into seclusion. Having just broken through to a new realm, he needed tempering and consolidation.
Secluded cultivation was certainly important, but tempering the heart amidst the mortal world was equally indispensable. At this stage, everything required enlightenment. Sometimes, sitting alone in the mountains for a hundred years yielded less than a single journey through the mundane world.
Like an ascetic practitioner, Ye Fan journeyed eastward, experiencing the myriad facets of life and cultivating the Dao amidst the mortal realm. Everywhere he passed, he observed the mountains, rivers, and terrain.
Half a year later, he had finally stabilized his cultivation at the ninth transformation of the Dragon Transformation Realm. Traveling on foot, he passed through region after region, witnessing the flourishing might of the Hundred Schools of Thought in Central Province.
Many people in Central Province were searching for Ye Fan. Setting aside the Primordial Qi Cauldron he carried, even the two pieces of green copper alone were enough to make people restless. Unfortunately, no one could find him.
"Ye Fan, get out here! My brother can kill a hundred of you with one hand!"
After half a year of calm, an arrogant voice resounded across the land. Wang Chong, still alive, had shouted out such a declaration.
The younger brother of the Northern Emperor had not died. After recuperating for over half a year, he had recovered and become even more arrogant than before. He issued a challenge from Central Province, vowing to kill the Sacred Body and grind his bones to dust.
After the battle in the Qinling Mountains, Ye Fan's name shook Central Province. Using the Nine Li Diagram, he swept through all the heroes, causing countless powerful experts to pale. He even severely wounded Wang Teng, breaking his bones and tendons, forcing him to flee atop his golden ancient war chariot.
However, in that battle, the Northern Emperor also shocked the world. The strength he displayed was entirely his own cultivation, not relying on an Imperial Weapon, allowing him to contend with Saint Lords.
A young man in his twenties, displaying such earth-shattering power at this age, had limitless potential for the future.
The theory that he was a reincarnation of an ancient emperor grew stronger than ever. Many believed that within a few years, he would break through again, surpassing Saint Lords to become an invincible king!
Although Ye Fan had stolen the spotlight in the Qinling battle, forcing even the Northern Emperor to retreat wounded, this did not diminish Wang Teng's reputation. Against an Extreme Imperial Weapon, anyone had to yield.
In that brutal battle, countless Great Powers had died. The fact that Wang Teng had escaped unscathed and survived was already a miracle.
"Ye Fan, come out! My brother can crush you with one finger!" Wang Chong shouted arrogantly.
The Northern Emperor undoubtedly possessed the strength to look down on the world and battle any opponent. Wang Chong's overbearing provocations were meant to lure Ye Fan out and kill him, as he was otherwise difficult to find.
Over the past half year, Wang Teng's background had gradually been revealed. He came from an ultra-ancient aristocratic family in the Northern Plains, equivalent to an immortal divine dynasty in Central Province or a Primordial Aristocratic Clan in the Eastern Wasteland.
When he was less than two years old, a celestial crane had carried him into the clouds. He would often disappear for a month or two, each time undergoing a transformation akin to being reborn.
At first, his family was worried, but they eventually let the crane take him. This continued until he was twelve, during which time he received the inheritance of the Chaotic Ancient Emperor!
At five, he danced with a flood dragon in a deep pool. At seven, he entered the ancient divine lake of the Northern Domain alone and obtained a golden ancient war chariot. At nine, he ventured into Ancient Emperor Mountain and brought out the Chaotic Ancient Divine Talisman and a Heavenly Emperor Sacred Sword. At twelve, he fell into the Divine Phoenix Cave and obtained the blood of the Immortal Divine Phoenix...
All of this seemed like a dream, yet it had truly happened to Wang Teng. His experiences were no less extraordinary than the legendary tales of the ancient great emperors.
When people learned of all this, they were left dumbfounded. Such fortune could only belong to one blessed by the heavens—undoubtedly the protagonist of an era in human history.
"If he doesn't become an emperor, it would be a waste of his experiences. Even if some great catastrophe occurs, at worst he'll become a being comparable to an ancient sage!"
This was the thought in everyone's mind. Wang Teng's experiences were jaw-dropping. He was truly a son of the heavens, favored by providence!
Over the past half year, many superpowers had sought to form marriage alliances with the Wang family of the Northern Plains. Among the ten great beauties of Central Province, the families of three had approached the Northern Emperor.
The divine calculator, a prodigy of his generation, had once deduced that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Northern Emperor might one day become a true great emperor in name and reality, not just a title!
"Ye Fan, are you afraid of death? My brother will fight you with just one finger—do you dare to come out?!" Over the past half month, Wang Chong's arrogance had grown with each passing day.
Ye Fan remained calm. He continued his unhurried journey eastward, quietly comprehending the mortal world like an ascetic monk, barefoot and clad in hemp robes.
"The power of the mind is so strong. Casting aside honor and disgrace, cultivating only the heart, ignoring all external distractions—such strength exists." This was his reflection.
Ye Fan was now a cultivator at the ninth transformation of the Dragon Transformation Realm. The great dragon of his spine was nearly complete, approaching the great perfection stage. It rose upward, gazing toward the Immortal Platform.
The so-called Immortal Platform was the head, and its central divine soil was the core of the mind—the root of this final secret realm!
"My divine sense has never been weak. Cultivating this secret realm should be beneficial."
Central Province was vast and boundless. Although Ye Fan had traveled eastward for over half a year, he was still in the western region, far from the central area. Normally, it would take him several years of flight to leave the western territory.
Eventually, he began to traverse the void, arriving in the central region. The immortal vein where the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion was located lay within this vast area.
Ye Fan was no stranger to this place. He had spent a long time here, and upon seeing a certain ancient city, he felt even more familiar.
Xiba City, an ancient city of great antiquity, was one of the ten great ancient cities of Central Province, located over five thousand li from the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion.
The city was majestic and imposing, its walls like black iron castings, resembling a black steel Great Wall. Within, the layout was grand and bustling. The Hundred Schools of Thought and all kinds of people gathered here, with traffic flowing like a ceaseless river.
Back then, Ye Fan had bid on Dragon Marrow here and killed Jin Chixiao of the Golden Clan of the Northern Plains outside the city, stirring up quite a commotion.
"Xiba City—I've returned!"
Talented disciples from the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion often visited this ancient city to bid on various rare treasures and divine weapons or to purchase the rarely seen Enlightenment Dragon Marrow at astronomical prices.
The ancient city remained as prosperous and magnificent as ever. As Ye Fan walked through the streets, he soon heard about Wang Chong's provocations, naturally through the discussions of others.
"The Sacred Body is nothing. Compared to my brother, he's worthless. If he dares to show up, I'll crush him underfoot!"
Everyone was talking about it. Wang Chong's tone had grown increasingly harsh, dismissing Ye Fan as utterly useless, practically stepping on his face with insults.
"Isn't this little demon going too far? Such arrogance is excessive."
"He may be young, but his heart is venomous. He's deliberately trying to disturb the Sacred Body's peace of mind."
"I think many people can see that if the Sacred Body grows up, he will surely become a great enemy to the Northern Emperor's path to attaining the Dao. Wang Chong is worried for his brother."
"At such a young age, he's already clearing the path for his brother?"
Ye Fan felt no anger. Having experienced so much, insults meant little to him. He smiled faintly. However, he had no intention of letting this slide. When it was time to act, he would act!
"Wang Chong has come to Xiba City..." Hearing this news, he smiled and decided it was time to deliver a deterrence.
No one expected Ye Fan to suddenly appear in Xiba City. He did not conceal his whereabouts, entering the city in person and letting out a great shout that echoed throughout the entire city.
"Wang Teng, come out and die!"
This roar shook the entire ancient city. Numerous figures appeared on the black city walls, and many people flew into the sky.
"The Sacred Body has appeared again! He actually dares to come!"
"This time, he's here to kill the Northern Emperor. To be so blatant—can he really do it?"
Ye Fan stood outside the city, clad in battle armor. Golden divine light surged from his body, and his blood energy soared like a great dragon piercing the heavens. The pressure could be felt from far away.
"Wang Teng, come out and die!"
He stood there like a war god, his thick black hair dancing wildly in the wind, his eyes clear yet sharp, radiating divine light. He faced Xiba City, one of the ten great ancient cities of Central Province.
"Ye Fan, you actually dare to show up?!" Wang Chong flew out of the ancient city, standing in the sky with eyes full of venom. Last time, he had nearly been beaten to death by Ye Fan.
"Call your brother out. Don't hide. I'll send you both to the Immortal Domain to reunite with your ancestors," Ye Fan said calmly.
"Swish"
Wang Chong descended, followed by a row of old men. Among them were two ancient creatures, their scales gleaming with golden light, fierce and ferocious.
Many people in Xiba City were stirred. They watched from the distant sky, including disciples of the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion, princesses of divine dynasties, and direct descendants of major sects.
"Where is your brother? Tell him to come out and fight," Ye Fan demanded.
"Hmph, you think you're worthy of a duel with my brother? I've already prepared a net for you—you won't escape!" Wang Chong sneered.
"Where has Wang Teng gone to die?" Ye Fan asked rudely.
"My brother has already gone to the Eastern Wasteland. He has no time for you. I'll deal with you here!" Wang Chong said sinisterly, extending a finger. "Today, I will crush you to death!"
Wang Teng's journey to the Eastern Wasteland likely meant he would enter the Ten Thousand Dragon Nest, or perhaps Purple Mountain, where Emperor Wu Shi had passed away, or another ancient land to meet the king of a certain ancient clan and their princess.
This was the startling news Ye Fan had purchased on the road from the Hundred Schools Intelligence Gate, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, and the Red Dust Pavilion.
These three ancient sects were among the Hundred Schools of Thought in Central Province. Their origins were ancient, traceable back to before the Primordial era. They had the most accurate information and sold intelligence at the price of a thousand gold per word, highly precise.
At the same time, another piece of news claimed that Wang Teng's trip to the Eastern Wasteland might involve proposing marriage to a Primordial Aristocratic Clan.