Chapter 764: The World's Attention
A line of red light appeared at the horizon as the sun struggled to break free and climb up. Mist swirled through the mountain forest, hazy with water vapor.
Finally, the red sun burst forth, casting a few soft rays that scattered through the woods, gilding the mist with a layer of golden light, bringing a cheerful vitality.
Morning dew rolled on blades of grass and flower petals, like pearls, crystal clear and translucent, shimmering in all colors under the morning glow, incredibly beautiful. The scent of earth mixed with the fragrance of grass gave a very fresh feeling.
The water mist had not yet dissipated, and there was still some dampness in the forest. The red sun had only partially emerged, but the mountains were already filled with more life, various birds chirping incessantly.
Ye Fan was covered in blood, standing still for half the night without moving. His black hair and blood-stained clothes were soaked by the dew.
On the other side, Yan Yixi was breathing in the morning glow. White pillars of air entered and exited through his mouth and nose, like coiled flood dragons, quite astonishing.
"Slept so soundly. I say, one of you is playing the thinker, not moving all night, and the other is cultivating so diligently. How am I supposed to feel?" Li Tian rinsed his mouth with mountain spring water, washed his face, and picked a handful of pine nuts to eat as he walked.
When the sun fully rose, the mist disappeared, and the entire mountain area became bright and radiant. Yan Yixi finished his morning practice, opened his eyes, and said, "Brother Ye, what are you pondering?"
Li Tian spat out a pile of pine nut shells and said, "What does he have to worry about? Yesterday's battle will surely make him famous throughout the world, invincible. That's such a face-saving thing. All the beauties of the world will look at him sideways. When will my famous battle come? Every time, the opportunity gets snatched away."
"I sense a kind of pressure from afar. The future will be suffocating," Ye Fan said. He looked toward the Eastern Wasteland, his gaze as if trying to pierce through the vast mountains and rivers.
Yan Yixi said, "Huang Xudao, Celestial Prince, Yuangu, Huo Qizi, Divine Silkworm Daoist, and others—this batch of young Ancient Clan members is indeed terrifying. The future path will surely be built with blood and bone."
Ye Fan said, "These people, though fearsome, are not enough to keep me awake at night. I feel the future will be hard to breathe. I'm worried about those Ancestral Kings. If one emerges, it will be a great calamity, a dark turmoil."
Any person or force that clashes with an Ancestral King will face a horrific scene of rivers of blood and millions of corpses, because they are Saint-level terrifying beings, and in the current era, human Saints are rarely seen.
In the Primordial Era, there were ten thousand clans. The most terrifying among them were called Royal Clans, which should number no less than ten. Each clan would have Ancestral Kings, and more than one.
Just thinking about it makes one feel a pressure like a mountain, hard to breathe. If a full-scale conflict erupts in the future, aside from those with Extreme Imperial Weapons, who can contend?
"Damn it, I kind of miss the Ziwei Star Domain. There, I could carry the Divine Maiden Furnace and, as long as I wasn't surrounded, at least roam freely. But after coming here, I realize the prospects are too grim. It's like I came here to suffer," Li Tian said, full of regret.
The only thing to be thankful for now is that there are no signs of the Ancestral Kings awakening. No one has heard of any of them reviving and emerging. But the future is uncertain.
For now, all the major sects can only pray that these Ancestral Kings only want to become Immortals and have no other intentions.
Because in recent years, some Ancient Clans have indeed sent out such messages, dispatching special envoys to the major sects, saying there will be no bloody war, they only need a piece of land.
Becoming an Immortal is too ethereal. How many outstanding talents have been buried in the river of time? It's hard to fully believe.
Perhaps now, only those who possess the weapons of the Ancient Great Emperors can still have some confidence. But if a clan doesn't have a Saint within, their situation will still be worrying in the future.
"From what we've learned so far, it seems the Primordial Clans also have their concerns. They are testing the waters everywhere, not daring to act recklessly in the world," Ye Fan said.
"What have you noticed?" Li Tian asked.
"According to what the Southern Demon said, they have appeared at the sites where the Great Emperors passed away and in their tomb areas, extremely cautious."
"That's right. This is a star where even the Human Clan Great Emperors descended. There must be some secret. They are afraid," Li Tian said.
In this world, if the Primordial Ancestral Kings fear anything, it would naturally be the Ancient Great Emperors, fearing that they might have left behind some terrifying measures.
Which Human Clan Great Emperor wasn't a peerless genius, shaking the past and present? There are too many stories about them, making all the clans shudder.
Even in slumber, there have been awakened ones among their lineages watching over the ages.
"Exactly. That's what I think too. Perhaps it's the only thing we can use—to make them afraid, to keep them from ever daring to emerge," Ye Fan said.
"What do you plan to do?" Yan Yixi asked.
"I've been thinking all night. I have an idea that might be able to intimidate the Primordial Kings and keep them from coming out for a short time," Ye Fan said.
"You can intimidate them?" Li Tian was shocked. Even if he got his hands on an Imperial Weapon, without enough strength, it might not make an Ancestral King back down.
"Every era of dark turmoil has seen the emergence of a Human Clan Great Emperor. This current era surpasses all previous ones. It's the only great era in ten thousand years. I think they are also afraid of the appearance of the strongest Human Clan Great Emperor."
"Tell me more," Li Tian said.
"If I actually do it, it's a near-certain death. I hope it will be effective and shock them into submission," Ye Fan said.
The world was shaken! The five domains were all astonished!
On this day, cultivators everywhere were shocked, their gazes focused on the Southern Ridge. Everyone found it hard to believe, feeling it was inconceivable.
He had left this ancient star twelve years ago, and now the former Sacred Body had actually returned, reappearing in the human world.
By day, he slew the master of a Primordial Aristocratic Clan and seven other Great Powers. By night, he killed a hundred Ancient Clan elites from the Divine Spirit Valley. Experts fell at his feet, their blood soaking his iron sword. One battle shook the world.
Cultivators across the five domains were all stunned. Everything was too sudden. Such battle achievements were too terrifying. This news felt unreal.
"How did he return? How could he reappear in the world? That's crossing the starry sky—even an Ancient Saint might not be able to travel safely."
"This is too unbelievable. One person cut down so many experts. After twelve years unseen, how did he become so strong?"
"He killed Wang Teng's father. So domineering. This means an endless feud with the Northern Emperor. After twelve years, the final ultimate showdown is coming."
"The Sacred Body, he's back again. Unbelievable, truly terrifying. So strong and fearsome, inspiring awe!"
On this day, cultivators everywhere were talking about Ye Fan. He became the focus of everyone's words. Everyone was shaken.
One battle shocked the world, causing a great wave that swept across the sky. Ye Fan's return made everywhere restless.
"I think the Sacred Body has now reached minor accomplishment. It's hard to find an opponent at the second level of the Immortal Platform. He can look down on the world." This was the comment of an old Sect Leader from the Central Province.
"The Central Emperor hasn't made a move in many years. No one knows how strong he is. Hua Yunfei and Holy Son Yao Guang have risen. Who would win or lose in a duel with the Sacred Body?" Some people who wished for chaos were eagerly anticipating.
"The Sacred Body has returned. Perhaps he can clash with terrifying Ancient Clan inheritors like Huang Xudao and Yuangu, creating the most dazzling sparks!" This was the expectation of a powerful rogue cultivator.
"The young experts of some Ancient Clans that carry the blood of Primordial Emperors—each one's status is equivalent to the Human Clan Sacred Body. If they contend, it will likely be a life-and-death struggle. There must be those who can overpower the Human Clan Sacred Body."
"Only a true clash can reveal who is the strongest. This is a great era surpassing all before. It will surely be a world stained with blood. Who can attain the Dao? Who can become an Emperor? It cannot be determined now. The final victor will surely walk on the blood and bones of countless peerless talents."
"After extreme prosperity and a galaxy of shining stars, there will inevitably be the fall of kings and the desolation of later generations with withered talents. There will be a magnificent, blood-stained scroll painting."
Ye Fan's return drew the world's attention. Countless gazes focused on the Southern Ridge. Everyone was watching. Many immortal great powers sent people specifically to investigate the situation.
Reactions varied across the regions. When the people of the Central Province's Yin Yang Sect heard of Ye Fan's reappearance, the current Sect Leader slammed his teacup heavily onto the palace floor.
Then, he ordered all disciples not to set foot in the Southern Ridge, to stop outside the Eastern Wasteland, and quickly began secret discussions with the elders. They were truly shaken.
In the Eastern Wasteland, the two ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties had noticeably taken fewer assassination contracts recently. People speculated they were mobilizing their forces to make a move on Ye Fan.
The world was horrified. The two ancient dynasties had lain dormant for over a hundred thousand years. Now they dared to reappear in the world, unafraid of encirclement and suppression by the various sects. That said enough.
Thinking of those terrifying legends—palaces built from the skulls of kings, carpets made from the skin of Saints—these things were utterly hair-raising.
The strongest Divine Son or Divine Maiden of the two divine dynasties were born specifically to assassinate kings. They were the most mysterious young experts in the world today.
People knew they very much wanted to collect the Sacred Body's skull. Perhaps the most terrifying sparks would fly, because many believed they had the strength to kill all kings.
Eastern Wasteland, Southern Domain, Ji Family.
Ji Ziyue was radiant and beautiful. Her hair danced lightly. Her slender figure was graceful. Her whole being was ethereal and intelligent.
In recent years, the small dimples that only appeared when she smiled were rarely seen. She was like a Guanghan Celestial Maiden, transcendent and detached, untouched by worldly dust.
At this moment, the jade cup in her hand fell to the ground, but she didn't notice. She looked at Ji Haoyue in surprise and said, "Really? Little Leaf is back?"
"Yes."
"He was on the other shore, and we are at this end of the starry sky, separated by endless distance. He... came back..." Ji Ziyue murmured, then smiled happily, revealing a pair of cute and playful dimples on her face.
At this moment, though she tried hard to hide it, there was clearly a trace of mist in her eyes.
In an ancient cave of the Ji Family, inside a huge block of ice, a man covered in bloodstains, with wounds eroded by dark light, was sealed within. At this moment, he transmitted a divine thought fluctuation, saying, "Little Leaf is back. Good, good, good. Kill all the enemies, avenge us. I didn't expect to see him one last time."
"Brother Heishui, take good care of your injuries. You will survive," Ji Ziyue comforted him.
"Tell Little Leaf to kill Li Xiaoman, kill Yuangu. Otherwise, some brothers will die with their eyes open!" Li Heishui shouted excitedly.
Northern Plains, Wang Family. A tall, robust young man with black hair like a waterfall and sharp eyes stood on a golden ancient war chariot. Around him, true dragons and divine phoenixes sang in harmony, while white tigers and black tortoises shone in the sky.
He stood on the golden ancient war chariot like the Central Heavenly Emperor. Golden holy light flooded the heavens and earth. Nine true dragons, nine divine phoenixes, nine white tigers, and nine black tortoises merged with the Dao together, emitting a roar that shook the heavens and earth.
"Ah..."
Wang Teng let out a great roar. All the mountains around his seclusion site collapsed. Earth and stone surged like a tsunami, rolling up ten thousand zhang high, scattering the clouds in the sky.
Northern Domain. A black mountain that had stood since ancient times, like a wall of the demon realm, cut off three thousand worlds, standing tall and majestic.
On top of it, a figure stood with hands behind his back, alone, gazing toward the Southern Ridge, and said, "The Human Clan's Sacred Body. Quite interesting. Worth killing."
In many places, many people, all were gazing toward the Southern Ridge!