Chapter 776: A Great Era, Ten Thousand Sects as Enemies
Bitterly cold, piercing wind. A blood-soaked heavenly prairie.
Half a month had passed, and the northern lands were still engulfed in the flames of war. Various battles and pursuits continued unabated.
A behemoth that had stood for over a hundred thousand years had completely fallen. Dozens, even hundreds, of wolves and tigers rushed in, tearing and fighting over the spoils, dismembering it. It was a blood-stained tableau.
The divine land crumbled, the clan was annihilated. The Wang Clan, which had ruled the Northern Plains since the Primordial Era, became history. A more complex power structure emerged, with a unified agreement to hunt down the remnants of the Wang Clan.
This was an unspoken understanding. The entry of a new power inevitably tramples on the bones of the former overlord to ascend. They would not rest easy until the descendants of the defeated were completely eradicated.
For half a month, the world was stunned. The entire realm was in upheaval... The fall of a Primordial Aristocratic Clan had an impact too great and too profound.
For ordinary people, it was like the ancient Heavenly Court being overthrown—a near-myth. It proved that even the so-called "immortal" could reach its end.
A long-established, world-dominating lineage was thus severed. Its fall was so sudden, the dust and waves of shock engulfed heaven and earth.
A full half-month had passed, but people were still in shock. This was a world-shaking storm, shaking the entire realm, terrifying the mortal world.
The Barbarian Clan's iron cavalry was so powerful. Tens of thousands of them had entered the Northern Plains together and leveled a Primordial Aristocratic Clan. This was the topic on everyone's lips when they met, every individual's spirit stirred with excitement.
How many years had it been since such a major event occurred? In the post-Primordial Era, this was enough to rank among the most influential incidents.
Ye Fan—this name seemed to possess an uncanny power. After spreading across the five domains, it struck fear into the hearts of every cultivator.
After disappearing for twelve years, he had returned to this world. This in itself contained a shocking secret. How else could he have come back? Only the Ancient Great Emperors and Human Clan Great Sages possessed such ability.
Moreover, shortly after his return, he flew into a rage for an old friend, led the Barbarian army into the Northern Plains, and trampled the Wang Clan's divine land, destroying an ancient Aristocratic Clan.
Twelve years ago, Ye Fan's renown was mainly in the Eastern Wasteland and parts of the Central Province. Now, this single battle had shocked the world. The five domains were shaken; there was no one who did not know his name.
From that day forward, there was not a single cultivator on this ancient star who did not know the name Ye Fan. This world-shaking battle had become an unattainable myth.
Everyone was discussing it. Every major sect was contemplating. The entire realm was in turmoil.
The Barbarian Clan's strength and terror also made the world tremble. The various sects of the Southern Ridge, in particular, were all somewhat unnerved, never knowing that such a group of ancient barbarian warriors existed in the deep mountains and old forests.
Perhaps only the Demon Emperor Hall knew the truth. This terrifying force had never been severed. It had existed since ancient times until now, but it was very low-key.
The world could not fully know what terrifying foundations the Wang Clan possessed, but the fact that they had a Saint-level Primeval Ancestral Beast had already spread throughout the world.
In this post-Primordial Era, Saints were mostly legends, rarely seen. Having such a living Ancestral Beast was truly horrifying to hear about. It could absolutely slaughter everything.
Yet, even with such strength, it was suppressed by the Barbarian army. The terror of these savages was imaginable, causing even the Holy Lands, which possessed Extreme Imperial Weapons, to shudder.
The storm continued. Heated discussions raged everywhere. The whole world was watching.
Ye Fan's forceful return, daring to uproot a Primordial Aristocratic Clan in a fit of rage, made the blood of many young people boil. Who didn't have a youth? They all craved success, to leave their name glorious in history. Many disciples left their mountain gates and began to walk the mortal world.
This battle affected many aspects. According to statistics from many major sects, local conflicts had increased severalfold, as if pulling back the curtain on an era of chaos.
Eastern Wasteland. Holy Son Yao Guang stood beneath a divine waterfall, his entire body shrouded in one hundred and eight divine rings. Even his hair strands were golden. His eyes were as deep as the ocean as he gazed towards the Northern Plains.
Northern Domain. The emergence of many Primeval Royal Clans made many major powers uneasy. They felt as if they were sitting on pins and needles, wishing they could move their entire clan.
Jiang Family. Jiang Yifei, in white robes as pure as snow, was elegant and handsome, with black eyes containing wisdom. He was refined and handsome. At this moment, he stood on a towering mountain that pierced the clouds, muttering to himself, "Yuan Gu might make a move. Huang Xudao probably won't descend the mountain..."
In the Divine City. A Daoist with disheveled hair, wearing a tattered Daoist robe, was drinking, thoroughly drunk. "Who am I? Who is the Sacred Body? Who are you all?"
He pointed at the people around him. Everyone retreated, nearly terrified, fleeing in all directions as if avoiding ghosts or gods.
"He is the Divine Silkworm Daoist!"
People only had this one sentence to warn their acquaintances, then they all ran far away. No one dared to stay.
"Huo Qizi pays respects to the ancient secret land." Outside the Primordial Ancient Mine, a solitary figure stood, like an eternal, indestructible great mountain, pressing down on people, making it hard to breathe. The four directions of the sky seemed about to collapse.
He had been standing facing the Primordial Ancient Mine for seven days, but had not taken a single step inside. Finally, he turned and left, as if merging with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, disappearing over the horizon.
Southern Ridge. On a beautiful mountain peak, a silver waterfall cascaded down. Green pines were lush, strange rocks stood upright, and flowers bloomed in profusion.
A man was ethereal and otherworldly, handsome and flawless, like a banished immortal. In flowing blue robes, he sat cross-legged on a stone cliff. His ten fingers lightly and gracefully swept across an ancient zither, producing a heavenly melody.
Around him, a hundred birds paid homage, landing one by one. Various exotic flowers bloomed just for him, releasing their fragrance early, their petals crystalline.
"Dong!"
The final string fell, emitting a booming sound, completely different from all the previous wonderful notes. A massive black hole appeared in the sky, terrifying and boundless, swallowing all the mountain ranges below!
"The Sacred Body's origin. I've been waiting for twelve years. You've finally returned." Hua Yunfei said calmly, rising to his feet.
On a cliff several thousand li away, a woman in white robes sat cross-legged. Three hundred and sixty-five golden whirlpools revolved around her body, each containing a golden deity within, eerie and terrifying.
After a long time, she opened her eyes, shooting out two blinding beams of light. They covered the flowers all over the mountains and plains with a layer of golden light, incredibly brilliant and beautiful. But in an instant, they all burst with a "poof" sound, turning to dust.
The Yin Yang Sect in the Central Province was very silent. The recent shocking upheaval made them restless and uneasy. Many disciples were even more terrified.
This demon, Ye Fan, had returned and attacked a Primordial Aristocratic Clan. If he led the Barbarian iron cavalry here, how could they resist? Every young disciple felt their hair stand on end.
Of course, there were also major sects sharpening their knives, preparing to kill Ye Fan.
The two ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties. Their Divine Son and Divine Maiden had already set out for the Southern Ridge, waiting only for Ye Fan to appear to launch a thunderous strike.
Throughout history, the Divine Sons dared to kill kings head-on. Moreover, they always walked in the shadows, renowned for assassination.
"Kill to attain the Dao, achieve immortality!"
Deep within the Southern Ridge, two ethereal figures shouted in unison. Then, countless deep mountains and ancient ridges around them all collapsed, turning to stone powder.
A shocking killing intent shook the myriad heavens of all ages, spreading across the vast wilderness, incredibly terrifying. Then, a man and a woman each took their separate paths, disappearing.
Southern Ridge, Barbarian Clan. Over this half month, it was still the same as before. Ancient trees touched the sky. Above the settlement, dozens of zhang-long ferocious birds circled, crossing the sky like dragons. It was a scene from a prehistoric era.
During these days, major sects continuously came to visit. The battle in the Northern Plains had shocked the world. All major powers were terrified and wanted to ascertain the truth.
The Barbarian Clan had its own code of conduct. They refused to see most visitors. But today, they made an exception and received a batch of honored guests from the Ji Family of the Eastern Wasteland.
"That kid didn't come back with us. He stayed in the Northern Plains. He'll show up in a while." An elder of the Barbarian Clan explained.
Ji Ziyue wrinkled her nose, dissatisfied. "What is he doing?"
"Little Leaf wants to find Tu Fei, I suppose. It's been sixteen or seventeen years since they parted. He was teleported into the Northern Plains and has had no news since..." Inside a massive block of ice, Li Heishui was being corroded by island light, his injuries growing heavier.
"Alright, I'll wait here for him to return." Ji Ziyue rested her chin on her hand, sitting on a stone platform, watching all kinds of prehistoric creatures, her crescent-moon eyes blinking with curiosity.
"Don't worry, Brother Ye will definitely come back. He said he would take me to kill Zi Tian Du and avenge my brother." Dongfang Ye smiled honestly.
The hazy moonlight, the cold wind, the bleak grassland, the blood-stained future, the end of a hegemon.
Ye Fan had not yet left the Northern Plains. Together with Yan Yixi and Li Tian, he walked through various places, witnessing scenes of war. Armies from all directions poured into the Northern Plains, killing without end.
The slaughter was finally drawing to a close. During this process, they also made a move and killed some great enemies.
"Tu Fei, where have you gone? Which remote corner did Black Emperor teleport you to?" Ye Fan wanted to find this old friend.
Pang Bo, the Monkey, and others were missing, their fates unknown. Bad news about others had come long ago, awaiting cruel confirmation.
No one was chasing them anymore, but Ye Fan still couldn't find them. Now, all his enemies had focused their attention on him, surely preparing to kill him.
Therefore, he was in no hurry to return. Finding old friends required a long-term plan, a slow search.
The bright moon hung high, casting a cold light. The grassland was overgrown with weeds taller than a man, a scene of desolation.
Under this moonlit night, a lone wolf howled mournfully at the moon, the sound carrying exceptionally far.
Ye Fan and the other two walked on foot, crossing vast grasslands, visiting many ancient sects, and seeing many local customs.
"Clang..."
A booming sound echoed exceptionally far under the moonlit night, like a great bell or giant chime resounding.
Weeds covered the ground, the grassland was boundless and vast. For hundreds of thousands of li, there was no sign of human habitation. This area, in particular, was even more desolate, with grass two or three meters tall. How could such a sound come from here?
Ye Fan and the others rushed forward, quickly traveling over a hundred li. Ahead on the weed-covered plain stood an ancient temple, majestic and imposing, shrouded in a sacred radiance.
It was a very mysterious scene. Under the moonlight, the vast grassland was infinitely desolate, with only the howling of wolves. Yet, such a sacred ancient temple suddenly appeared, truly somewhat abrupt.
"The Buddhist sect of the Western Desert once entered the Northern Plains to spread the Dharma countless eons ago. Could this be a sacred temple left over from that time? It is said that one of Amitabha's ten great disciples personally came to the Northern Plains to spread the teachings." Ye Fan was astonished.
The ancient temple was majestic and grand, solemn and sacred. Although it was night, it was enveloped in a golden light. The deep tolling of the great bell was indeed coming from within.
When they pushed open the ancient temple door and stepped into the courtyard, they immediately felt a sense of grandeur and solemnity. The power of the Buddhist Dharma surged.
Suddenly, Ye Fan froze. As soon as he stepped into a Buddha hall, he was nearly petrified, because he saw a familiar figure, a peerless beauty.
"A noble guest comes from afar. I, An Miaoyi, play the zither under the moonlit night..." A woman, whose beauty was unmatched in the world, sat in the Buddha hall. Her smile could topple a city, and a second smile could topple a nation.
"Miaoyi!" Ye Fan exclaimed.
"You know me, but I no longer know you. So, you are the one I have been waiting for..." This woman in white robes, pure as snow, stunningly beautiful, smiled brilliantly, but it made Ye Fan's heart tremble, his emotions complex.
"You don't know me?" he asked.
"I no longer know you..." This woman's smile made Ye Fan's heart ache.
Chapter 777: Immortal Three Severing the Dao
The cold moonlight, the vast empty land, a scene of desolation. Only a lone wolf howled mournfully, letting out a "wu wu" sound on the bleak grassland.
In this environment, a majestic ancient temple stood, bathed in golden light, sacred and solemn, grand and righteous, indescribably mysterious.
Inside the great hall, a single green lamp accompanied an ancient Buddha. An Miaoyi sat cross-legged on a cushion. Her face, as white as jade, always held a smile. Her slender, jade-like fingers lightly plucked the zither strings, leaping out divine notes that hummed and sang.
"Why don't you know me?" The deep bell tolled again. The divine ring behind An Miaoyi's head became even more radiant. The Buddha light was bright, ethereal and holy, making her impossible to profane.
"Time cannot flow backward. There is never a road back. Once you take a step, you can only go forward." An Miaoyi smiled, her eyes very gentle, but she felt even more distant.
Twelve years ago, Ye Fan had left without looking back, not even bidding this woman farewell. Thinking of the past, he couldn't help but feel a moment of distraction.
"Even if you go forward, the person and the heart remain the same."
In the past, when Ye Fan broke through the curse, he was also injured by the Great Dao. His life was short, his future hopeless. He suffered ridicule and sarcasm. Even a mere disciple of the Five Elements Palace dared to speak rudely to him.
During that period, An Miaoyi searched everywhere for spiritual medicine to heal him, gave him the Buddhist Nirvana Sutra, and even practiced dual cultivation to treat his injuries.
He could never forget all of this.
"Miaoyi, I know you still remember me." Ye Fan slowly walked forward, speaking softly.
Throughout this, Li Tian surprisingly said nothing. He stood at the temple entrance with Yan Yixi, silently watching everything.
An Miaoyi smiled, dazzlingly beautiful. An immortal radiance bloomed, but Ye Fan felt she was even more unreachable.
"I no longer know you."
These words were very light, but they made Ye Fan's heart tremble. He had come to this world, seen life and death, struggled for survival, cultivated for strength. There were no so-called personal emotional entanglements, only moments of being moved.
Now, hearing these words, he felt a kind of bitterness. His inner self was touched, as if he had suddenly become entangled.
"If you don't know me, why are you still the same person?"
"If a person looks back, are they still the same? I am speaking of myself. Once I take a step, there is no turning back." An Miaoyi's voice was very light. Her jade-like fingers plucked the zither strings, playing a heavenly melody that lingered over the empty grassland, carried far and wide under the cold night.
"What are you saying?" Ye Fan strode forward, arriving beside her.
An Miaoyi smiled. Her long black hair fell, smooth as satin. She exuded a breathtaking beauty. "She waited for you for many years, but never saw you."
"She... who is she?" Ye Fan's voice trembled.
"You know who she is." An Miaoyi's expression was gentle, her voice even softer, her eyes misty with tears.
"She is you!" Ye Fan said.
"Wrong. The former her was me, but the me of today is no longer her." An Miaoyi smiled, but tears were about to fall.
"Why do you say that?" Ye Fan's heart ached.
An Miaoyi tossed her black hair, strands flying in the air. Her face was filled with a holy light. She laughed loudly, but tears fell, hidden in her hair.
"Because that her no longer exists. Now there is only me, and I no longer know you." At this moment, her voice turned cold.
"Miaoyi..." Ye Fan stepped forward, wanting to grab her arm, to get close to her.
But An Miaoyi gently plucked a string. The great bell deep in the temple boomed. The Buddha light behind her head blazed brightly. Vaguely, a great Buddha could be seen, compassionate and merciful.
Ye Fan could not get close. To approach, he would have to use force. A field blocked his path.
"I am waiting here for you, just to see you one last time, to fulfill her final wish." An Miaoyi's Buddha light was immeasurable, solemn and inviolable. The gentleness of a moment ago was gone.
"What 'you' and 'her'? There is only one Miaoyi in the world. No matter who, no matter what, I will find her and bring her back." Ye Fan's voice was firm, his steps resolute. He opened his Golden Sacred Domain and strode forward.
"Do you want to make a move against me?" An Miaoyi said calmly.
"There is only one Miaoyi in the world. To bring her back, I'm sorry, but I must offend you!" Ye Fan was very assertive. He raised his hand and pointed forward.
"Bang"
The Buddha light flashed. An Miaoyi blocked this strike, then drifted back lightly, sitting cross-legged on a lotus platform like a female Bodhisattva, dignified and solemn.
"Clang..." The great bell boomed, like a Buddhist chant, shaking heaven and earth, awakening people, like a basin of clear water poured over the head.
"Bang," "Bang"...
The two exchanged blows in the hall, faster than lightning. Secret arts and Dao techniques surged together, impacting the surroundings. The Golden Sacred Domain was brilliant, and the Buddha light was immeasurable, constantly colliding.
Although it was not a life-or-death struggle, only a small-scale duel, it was still commendable, with many amazing aspects, quite extraordinary.
"Chi"
A streak of rosy clouds broke through the air. They flew out of the temple and began to fight on the desolate grassland, leaving trails of brilliant light in the night sky.
"Kid Ye, do you need us to make a move? We'll blast her down with the Saint Weapon." Li Tian yelled strangely.
"Stop joking at a time like this. Let them fight. Don't interfere." Yan Yixi glared at him.
"I've seen it long ago. This kind of fight won't kill anyone. Kid Ye can't bear to." Li Tian muttered.
Ye Fan fought a great battle with An Miaoyi. They fought from the sky to the ground, then into a large lake. He couldn't use heavy-handed moves, but he was still extremely shocked.
This was the first time Ye Fan had seen An Miaoyi fight. He had never seen her display her cultivation before, but she was this powerful. Even he was amazed.
Two hours passed. Ye Fan frowned and displayed his terrifying strength. Otherwise, he really couldn't subdue this woman whose beauty could make one's heart drunk.
"This woman is too strong. Damn it, she's touched the threshold of Immortal Three Severing the Dao. If Kid Ye is the slightest bit careless, he might get hurt by her." Li Tian's expression was serious.
"Truly terrifying. To have such cultivation, she is a remarkable woman." Yan Yixi nodded.
"Bang," "Bang"...
Another hour passed. Ye Fan continuously used heavy-handed moves. The Six Paths Reincarnation Fist suppressed everything. The Battle Saint Art deduced the Taiji. The Golden Sacred Domain descended, and he captured An Miaoyi alive, trapping her in a field of golden light.
It was a beautiful body. Black hair fell. Her neck was as white and delicate as a swan's. Her face was dreamlike, full of spirit.
"Miaoyi, what is wrong with you?" Ye Fan probed with his powerful divine sense, attacking her Immortal Platform, wanting to figure things out.
A new battle began. This was a battle of divine sense. An Miaoyi's Buddha light covered her body. Her divine sense was a female Bodhisattva, incredibly powerful.
This was a collision of Dao. Auspicious qi descended from the heavens, auspicious light surged from the earth. Lotuses filled the sky. The feeling of a divine being, the five tones of Daoism, the wonderful words of Buddhism, all boomed.
It was a brilliant small world. The duel between the two wove one extraordinary scene after another.
"Bang"
In the end, Ye Fan descended from the sky. Without harming An Miaoyi, he subdued her divine thought with his own primordial spirit.
A light laugh came. A familiar and moving voice, with a magnetic quality, was incredibly soft. "Little man, you're back. You've become even more powerful."
"Miaoyi!" Ye Fan released her, quietly looking at this woman with misty, starry eyes. She was even more stunning than before, with a new softness added. Her heart seemed much closer.
"I didn't expect to see you one more time. It seems my obsession is very deep, with such power that she had to compromise." An Miaoyi's smile was very sweet, her eyes intoxicating. A single smile could topple a city.
"What are you saying? Who is she?" Ye Fan stared blankly at her.
"She is me. A me who severed you, severed a part of myself." An Miaoyi smiled lightly, speaking in a very convoluted way, but Ye Fan immediately understood.
"Immortal Three Severing the Dao. What you chose was to sever everything about me. No, it was to sever a part of yourself, erasing everything about me."
"You have gone far away, left this world, without looking back, without any attachment. You left me to reminisce in vain?" An Miaoyi smiled very movingly, but there was also a hint of self-pity.
Ye Fan's heart was bitter. This was a woman who appeared charming and seductive, but her heart was sometimes proud, even somewhat rigid.
He still clearly remembered An Miaoyi's bleak and resolute words from the past.
"If I am to live a life of chaos, I will fall in the rolling mortal world. If one day I become an Emperor, I will sever everyone connected to me, washing away the honor and disgrace of my life!"
He stared fixedly at this woman for a long time without speaking, until a gust of wind blew and he came to his senses.
"You have touched the threshold of Immortal Three Severing the Dao?"
"Don't be surprised. Many people are stuck here, unable to cross. Many people will spend their entire lives trying to Sever the Dao." Saying this, An Miaoyi laughed. "Still, little man is formidable. Step by step, he caught up. Over a decade has passed. Although Wang Teng has become even more terrifying, he is still blocked outside the gate of Immortal Three Severing the Dao, unable to cross. He is no match for you, who is on the eighth small step of the second level of the Immortal Platform."
Immortal Three Severing the Dao severs the cultivator's future path. There is no longer any Dao to seek. Many people spend their entire lives without making any progress.
At this checkpoint, cultivating for ten years or a thousand years makes little difference. If one can comprehend, if one has great perseverance, they might break through in a single morning. If one does not understand, they will be blocked for their entire life.
Heaven severs the human Dao, destroying the foundation.
Immortal Three Severing the Dao severs the cultivator's path. A person can also sever the Dao, cutting themselves once, severing the thoughts in their heart, severing them completely, severing them cleanly, severing out their own Dao!
"Severing the Dao path... you made such a choice..." Ye Fan looked at that flawless face.
An Miaoyi smiled brilliantly and movingly, coming before him. "If I fail, everything will turn to smoke and clouds. If I succeed, in ten or a hundred years, when I step into the Immortal Three checkpoint, I will remember everything again."
Ye Fan reached out, caressing her jade-like cheek, and said softly, "How could you possibly disappear with the wind and become smoke and clouds? I promised to protect your path. I will definitely make you succeed. At the very least, you will be a female Saint."
"Hey, hey, hey... There are two living people down here. Oh, right, and a child too. Don't be so excessive, alright." Li Tian also released Little Tongtong.
As soon as the little guy appeared, he started crying. "Pervert uncle, go let someone else step in dog shit. I don't want to learn cultivation from you. I don't want to step on you."
"Damn it, this kid is really unlikeable."
"Master..." Tongtong saw Ye Fan pulling An Miaoyi away and flying off, immediately crying out loudly.
"Forget it, don't call him. We can't ruin the mood. Don't follow them at a time like this." Li Tian patted his head.