# Chapter 672: Engagement and Battle Challenge
Osmanthus fragrance wafts through the air. On the night of the full moon, a life-and-death battle at the summit of Purple Mountain!
In the Eastern Wasteland, everyone was waiting. The Sacred Body versus the Northern Emperor—this would inevitably be an earth-shattering battle, equivalent to a preview of the Great Accomplishment Saint Body contending with an Ancient Great Emperor for supremacy.
This news had an enormous impact, quickly spreading to the Central Province and the Southern Ridge. Everyone looked forward to witnessing this battle, for it concerned who would attain the Dao in the future!
There were still over ten days until the night of the full moon—not a very long time. It could be said that it would arrive very soon.
This battle was right before their eyes, destined to be a dragon-and-tiger struggle, a focal battle that would draw the attention of the entire world. It could be anticipated that it would undoubtedly capture worldwide attention!
Wang Teng had no reason not to accept the battle; he could not retreat. Now, as powerful as he was, he could look down upon all the younger generation and be compared to a Saint Lord of one region.
Sure enough, after Ye Fan issued his world-shaking battle cry, Wang Teng immediately responded, declaring at the Ji Family that he would definitely slay the Sacred Body at Ancient Emperor Mountain on the night of the full moon.
The autumn in the Northern Domain was very cold. Yellow leaves drifted down, filled with a killing atmosphere. A gust of wind blew, dead leaves danced, and a bleak season arrived.
The shocking great battle was about to begin, but Ye Fan passed the time calmly, without a single ripple. People could discern nothing from him.
During this period, he had gone to the Miaoyu Convent, but had not seen An Miaoyi. He learned that this captivating woman had already gone alone to the Western Desert, seeking a profound technique to cultivate both Buddhism and Daoism.
The Northern Domain was a boundless red earth, with few oases and no osmanthus trees. Yet on that day, they would face the moon in battle.
With still more than half a month to go, osmanthus trees had actually grown in front of Purple Mountain, their fragrance piercing the nostrils. They could be smelled from very far away, their petals falling with a rustling sound in the wind.
The night was like water. Ye Fan walked alone on the blood-colored earth, passing through the osmanthus forest, circling Purple Mountain without doing anything special. Soon after, he drifted away.
"The Sacred Body just entered the Immortal Platform Secret Realm not long ago. Can he defeat the Northern Emperor? What does he rely on to fight this battle?"
"In this battle, Ye Fan was reckless. Most likely, the outcome will be grim."
During this time, many cultivators discussed the matter, believing that Ye Fan would probably lose this crucial battle, that he was too impulsive.
In this period, Ye Fan appeared all over the Northern Domain, traversing almost all the ancient veins, leaving his footprints on many mountains and rivers.
A few days later, news spread from the Southern Domain: the Northern Emperor would become engaged to Ji Ziyue, and it would happen soon.
"Whoa!"
The entire Eastern Wasteland was in an uproar. This was too sudden. Why arrange such a thing before the decisive battle? It left people astonished.
"Sacred Body brat, do you think that by challenging my son Teng to battle, you can change all this?" In the Southern Domain, Wang Teng's father sneered. "I've long heard that you've been getting close to the pearl of the Ji Family. Do you think a single battle can change everything? Dream on!"
"Elder brother, there's no need for that. The Sacred Body is doomed to die anyway. All he's doing is trying to resolve the so-called 'predicament' of Little Moon from the Ji Family. Forcing himself to fight Teng—how could he possibly be a match? This is suicide!" A Great Power of the Wang Family said.
Wang Teng's father, Wang Chengkun, stood by the window, sneering repeatedly. "I proposed the engagement as soon as possible to make everything come to nothing for him, to disturb his mind, so he'll die faster."
"But the Ji Family might not agree at this critical juncture."
"Several elders of the Ji Family have a close friendship with us and resent the Sacred Body's past actions. You can go and ask them to accommodate us. Even if they don't agree, since we've spread the news, they won't say much." Wang Chengkun said.
The news that Wang Teng would become engaged to the Northern Emperor stirred up a storm, but no word came from the Ji Family, leaving the world uncertain.
"Too fast!"
"Why so fast?"
People were all puzzled. Why choose to get engaged right before the great battle? It didn't make sense.
Wang Teng's father, Wang Chengkun, sneered. "You think that by choosing Ancient Emperor Mountain and taking advantage of the terrain, you can slay my son Teng? I'll make you come to the Southern Domain to die first."
Two days later, the Wang Family sent a betrothal gift from the Northern Plains: a Phoenix Stone. It could ward off all evils, increase cultivation speed, and was enough to accelerate it by twenty percent—truly a supreme treasure!
There was no denying that this gift was too precious. Warding off all evils was a minor matter, but being able to increase cultivation speed by twenty percent was a heaven-defying treasure. Yet the Wang Family was willing to part with it.
"The Wang Family's foundation is too powerful. This kind of thing is priceless even in the eyes of sages, yet they give it away so generously. Their clan must have even more precious things."
This gift made many people envious, but there was nothing they could do. Who would dare to steal it?
Three days later, an elder of the Ji Family spoke to the outside world, saying that the two families would soon be joined by marriage and would first hold an engagement ceremony soon, confirming the earlier rumors.
"Eighth Ancestor, what is the meaning of this?" Ji Ziyue's father's expression was very unpleasant. He wanted to follow his daughter's wishes and not let her suffer, but... He crossed the void, rushing from the Central Province back to the family, appearing in the mansion at the first moment.
"Wang Teng, get out here!"
The Sacred Body had not yet shown his might, had not yet fought the Northern Emperor, but the Eastern Wasteland Divine King was already furious. Returning to the family and seeing his sickly younger sister, his heart ached, and he shouted these words.
Ji Haoyue, with disheveled hair, displayed the Divine Phenomenon of the Sea Rising with a Bright Moon. Like a deity, he charged through nine layers of the family's palace halls, punched and shattered an ancient hall, and entered Wang Teng's secluded cultivation ground.
"Haoyue, what are you doing?" An elder of the Ji Clan rushed over.
"No one can decide my sister's marriage! Only she can decide for herself!" Ji Haoyue shouted loudly, not even bothering to pay his respects. His black hair flowed like a waterfall, wildly dancing. "Wang Teng, come out and fight me!"
This great roar shook hundreds of miles, spreading to the outside world at the first moment, causing a great earthquake in the Southern Domain. The Eastern Wasteland Divine Body had been silent for so many years that no one knew how strong he was, yet today he erupted, wanting to fight the Northern Emperor.
Dust and smoke rose into the sky. A tall figure appeared from the ruins, radiant with light that flooded heaven and earth. Above his head, dragons and phoenixes sang in harmony as he stood on a golden ancient war chariot.
"Wang Teng, others fear you, but I don't care. Today, we fight to the death!" Ji Haoyue's black hair wildly danced, his eyes like lightning. Like a deity, he pressed forward.
"Teng, do not be rude." Wang Chengkun appeared, speaking first before the Northern Emperor could respond, stopping him.
"Haoyue, what is this about?!" The elder of the Ji Clan also stepped forward, blocking Ji Haoyue.
"Eighth Ancestor, step aside!" Ji Haoyue shouted, his whole body radiating the precious light of a Divine King. A vast sea appeared behind him, and a bright moon slowly rose.
"Bang"
The Eighth Ancestor was bumped, staggering, and immediately changed color. "How dare you!"
Figures flashed as elders of the Ji Family appeared, blocking both sides, not allowing the two young men to fight. That very day, news spread that Ji Haoyue had been imprisoned, with several elders personally taking action to make him "calm down."
"Family Head, why is this?" In an ancient cave, Ji Haoyue sat cross-legged, his eyes like lightning, asking in a deep voice.
"I did not agree to this engagement now. That was just Old Eight speaking recklessly. You need not worry." The Ji Family Saint Lord said this and then turned to leave.
"But this matter is so significant, how can it be spoken of recklessly? It concerns matters of life and death!" Ji Haoyue shouted, but the ancient cave fell silent, with no one answering him.
"I'd rather die than get engaged! Release my brother!" In a palace complex, Ji Ziyue was sulking. She had tried to escape several times but was caught and brought back each time.
Now, she was finally afraid, worried that someone would interfere and really arrange the engagement. Angrily, she said, "Someone will come to save me and stomp the Northern Emperor flat!"
"Child, don't talk nonsense. In this world, who would dare to come to the Ji Family and act wild?!" The Eighth Ancestor laughed, then tried to persuade her. "What's wrong with Wang Teng? His future is limitless. Even if something unexpected happens, at worst he'll become a Sage."
"I am not your bargaining chip. I am the Ji Family's Ziyue. I am a person of flesh and blood, not an object for you to trade. I hate the Northern Emperor." Ji Ziyue couldn't help but shed tears.
"Silly child, you'll understand when you think it through." The Eighth Ancestor continued to persuade.
"I am not a bargaining chip. I am your Ziyue. You cannot decide my future like this." Ji Ziyue begged, then said angrily, "Someone will definitely come and break in to save me!"
"In this era, who would dare to attack our Ji Family? Not a single person would dare to act wild!" Then, he comforted her again. "Ziyue, you'll understand later. We're doing this for your own good."
In the Northern Domain, Pang Bo, Dongfang Ye, Li Heishui, and others appeared, entering the Divine City to look for Ye Fan, but they could not find his trace and could not locate him.
"Where did Little Leaf go? He couldn't have actually gone to the Ji Family, could he?"
"Even a King would die going there. The south is a dragon's pool and tiger's den!"
In the Southern Domain, a Void Gate opened, and a figure stepped out. In the southern region, it was spring all year round. This was a world of fragrant flowers and birdsong, lush vegetation, tinkling spirit springs, and birds that were unafraid of people—very peaceful.
Ye Fan looked up at the sky, his expression incomparably resolute. He murmured to himself, "Southern Domain, I have returned. I am here!"