# Chapter 796: Prelude to the Dark Calamity
After embedding a piece of Imperial Jade into the head-sized recess, a soft, clear radiance flashed, cutting through the Divine Ruins, swallowing Old Blind Man and Duan De, and they vanished.
Back then, Ye Fan had retreated from Purple Mountain in this very way, crossing over to an underground dark river and climbing up to the surface.
Purple Mountain was difficult to enter or exit; unless one used an Extreme Imperial Weapon to blast it open, there was no hope of breaking through. It was a naturally formed prison.
"Oooh..."
From all directions, a scene of ferocity unfolded. Vicious ghosts emerged in droves, each one withered like firewood, skin wrapped around bones. Some had dragon heads, some had phoenix wings, some had fish bodies, some resembled deities. They brandished their claws and fangs, and shrill cries filled the air everywhere, as if one were in the midst of hell.
These creatures were all unique, each representing the glory of a bygone race, chosen by the Immortal Emperor to become his subordinates. One could imagine their terror when alive.
Ye Fan retreated again and again. Even holding the Devouring Demon Jar, he dared not engage in open slaughter. Fighting so many ancient corpses alone would drain his body in no time.
He arrived at the most open area of Purple Mountain. The Primordial Bell hung above, covering this place, making it a forbidden zone where all the vicious ghosts stopped.
Ye Fan was unafraid. If the Primordial Bell were to ring for three consecutive months, all living things within Purple Mountain would cease to exist, turned to dust by the bell's waves. Even the Immortal Emperor's subordinates could not survive.
"Roar..."
From all directions, one ancient divine general after another roared, surrounding the area. Each was withered and black, their corpse hair tangled like weeds. Some were encircled by divine halos, others had black moons above their heads—each bore an extraordinary aura.
One could tell how powerful they were in life. If resurrected, they would surely make mountains and rivers lose color, the sun and moon grow dim, enough to trample the world.
Because they were undefeated divine generals, each with a great identity in the past, obeying only the Immortal Emperor's commands. They were the ancestors of the ten thousand ancient races.
"Damn it!" Even Ye Fan couldn't help cursing. The more he looked, the more terrifying he found them. Some of these beings had bodies that were almost divine materials, with Dao patterns flowing within.
That was the manifestation of reaching the peak of magical power, ultimate sublimation, with Dao patterns inscribed into bones and flesh, the physical shell becoming a vessel for the Dao.
Such beings—let alone a group—if even one were truly revived, it would be enough to throw the world into chaos and sweep across an entire domain.
Ye Fan truly suspected that deities might have existed in the ancient times. The Immortal Emperor's subordinates were too powerful. No wonder he held an unshakable, supreme position in the hearts of the ten thousand ancient races.
"Oooh..."
A group of vicious ghosts roared loudly. Black moons hung in the void, yin rivers coiled around bodies, blood suns stretched across the sky—these were the phenomena accompanying them. The ancient stone hall shook and rumbled, as if about to collapse. Fortunately, Dao patterns emerged and stabilized it.
Ye Fan clearly sensed something was wrong. These ancient creatures were restless and agitated, as if they had received orders to step inside.
"Who exactly is there? Come out and show yourself."
Dried-up corpses waved their pitch-black claws in droves, like weeds dancing wildly everywhere. The shrill cries grew even more terrifying, as if in a Senluo Hall.
A cold, sinister laugh came through. A surge of resentment rose and fell like a tide, eventually covering the sky and earth, making people feel a chill all over.
Behind the mass of withered black corpses, a tall figure walked forward. The temperature in the hall plummeted sharply, as if falling into an ice cellar.
Dark and eerie, his entire body was covered in terrifying red fur, over half a foot long, even on his face. Only a pair of sinister, piercing eyes were visible.
His red mane was very long, like the most ferocious demon, giving off an extremely venomous and resentful feeling, as if he wanted to slaughter all living beings.
Ye Fan's scalp went numb. A sensation arose within his body, and he blurted out, "You are...!"
A whirlwind of red fur swept across the ground, mixed with wailing sounds. The entire interior of Purple Mountain grew dark and gloomy. If there was a place called the underworld, this was it—no different.
All the vicious ghosts roared, stepping forward together to enter this forbidden ground and tear him apart alive.
Outside, these days had been filled with constant turmoil, even describable as a storm.
Divine Spirit Valley was full of vitality, but the mountains outside it were barren of grass. Yet overnight, lush greenery spread everywhere, extending for ten thousand li, becoming a land of life.
They had officially emerged!
A majestic voice rang out: whoever could bring Ye Fan's head would forever be a guest of Divine Spirit Valley. This was a call for humans to kill the Sacred Body themselves.
At the same time, they showed their iron-blooded side, declaring that if Ye Fan did not kneel and come to beg for death, within three months they would slaughter all the great Ye clans, making blood flow like rivers and bones pile like mountains on the earth.
Domineering and overbearing. With Divine Spirit Valley's decree, the world was shaken. People knew that a great upheaval was coming, impossible to stop.
Divine Spirit Valley was just one ancient clan. There were many more terrifying races, each with Ancestral Kings in command. One clan alone was already this strong, daring to kill an entire surname clan if defied.
A storm was brewing on the earth. An iron-blooded tempest was about to sweep through. Everyone felt endangered. Some great clans even prepared to submit to the ancient races.
In this unprecedented and terrifying era, even the Holy Lands and Primordial Aristocratic Clans fell silent. The Dark Calamity was approaching. They were not considering prosperity now, but how to survive.
In these few days, the Southern Ridge Barbarian Clan faced tremendous pressure, as ancient creatures frequently came to probe their strength.
Some spread news that Divine Spirit Valley wanted to uproot the Barbarian Clan but dared not act yet, having learned that a War God resided within the clan.
Many great sects were terrified. The Barbarian Clan had displayed such formidable combat power, yet Divine Spirit Valley still wanted to move against them, fully revealing their domineering side.
"Southern Ridge Barbarian Clan, Divine Spirit Valley demands an explanation!" Finally, such words came from the Northern Domain. They were making their move.
The ancient royal clan questioned, their domineering aura soaring to the heavens. This was a signal for war and extermination, making cultivators across the world tremble in fear. Many were terrified.
"How dare you trample the Northern Plains Wang Clan?"
"Why do you harbor the Human Sacred Body in the Southern Ridge?"
"Are you provoking the majesty of our race?"
Divine Spirit Valley's three questions were arrogant and condescending, a completely unequal dialogue, looking down with the attitude of one who rules the realm.
When these words came out, the entire world was shocked. This was a sign of war. Even a Barbarian Ancient War God in the Southern Ridge could not intimidate the ancient clans.
For a time, the Southern Ridge was turbulent with undercurrents. War clouds gathered over the Northern Domain. Cultivators were alarmed. The world was uneasy. The five domains were restless.
After many years, chaos was about to begin again. The Southern Ridge Barbarian Clan would face off against Divine Spirit Valley. In the post-Ancient Era, the most violent Dark Calamity was approaching. The first battle was about to begin!
The Barbarian Clan had great backbone. Faced with accusations, they did not bother to defend themselves one by one. They simply replied: "Go fuck yourselves. If you want war, then war it is. We're ready!"
The toughness and spirit of the Southern Ridge Barbarian Clan surprised many and made countless people's blood boil. To dare speak thus to an ancient royal clan—they truly lived up to their ancestors' reputation.
Their words were forceful and resounding. In people's eyes, this was pure backbone, true heroes.
Even if they suffered a great defeat in the first battle of the Dark Calamity, there would be nothing shameful about it. Instead, they would earn even more admiration.
When Divine Spirit Valley learned of this, they were silent at first, then spoke again, demanding that the Barbarian Clan's lord come to the Northern Domain to explain himself.
Everyone could clearly sense that Divine Spirit Valley had softened somewhat, showing some fear of the Barbarian Clan. But they still maintained their self-worshipping attitude, demanding the Barbarian Clan lord come personally to explain—still a high-handed posture.
"There's nothing to explain. Our Barbarian Clan acts with openness and honor. We will not bow to anyone, nor will we grovel. How can a clan lord be ordered about by another clan's words!"
"Stubborn and unrepentant. Just an ancient saint about to dissolve into the Dao, nothing to worry about. We'll trample them in one battle!" This was the internal voice of Divine Spirit Valley. Though not yet made public, the wind had already leaked.
Divine Spirit Valley was going to launch an expedition to the Southern Ridge, to break the powerful Barbarian Clan. This was a situation everyone could see.
Soon after, Divine Spirit Valley issued an extremely domineering, iron-blooded voice, demanding that the Southern Ridge Barbarian King personally come to apologize with a thorny branch on his back, and also bind the Human Sacred Body and bring him along, or face the consequences.
"War it is. Do you think I'm afraid of you?!" This was the Barbarian Clan's very straightforward response.
Within the clan, men and women, old and young, all mobilized. Each carried a Wolf Fang Great Club, preparing for a life-and-death battle, fearless and united.
On this day, the roar of an ancient king in the Northern Domain shook countless mountains and valleys. The entire earth trembled, terrifying everyone.
"Trample the Southern Ridge Barbarian Clan! Leave no one alive! Kill them all clean!"
This was an extremely domineering momentum, shaking the endless rivers and mountains of the Northern Domain, quickly spreading to the five domains. Everyone heard the news that war was about to begin.
"Unless an ancient Great Emperor is resurrected, no one can save you!"
Arrogant and overbearing, swallowing mountains and rivers—this was Divine Spirit Valley, a powerful royal clan among the ten thousand ancient races. Today, they were launching war.
Demonic clouds rolled, battle energy soared to the heavens. One ancient war chariot after another rose from Divine Spirit Valley, about to enter a massive Domain Gate to head for the Southern Ridge.
A world-shaking battle was about to erupt!
Though the Barbarian Clan was powerful, they could hardly compare to Divine Spirit Valley. Because once a life-and-death confrontation began, it might drag in other ancient royal clans. In that case, the outcome was predictable. People could already envision blood flowing like rivers and bones piling like mountains in the Southern Ridge.
"Let the Barbarian Clan become history. Eliminate them in one battle!" This was Divine Spirit Valley's lofty, cold, and merciless voice, announced to the entire world. After sweeping away the Barbarian Clan, they would go to slaughter the great Ye clans. This was an iron-blooded grand operation.
However, at this moment, a very discordant voice came from the Northern Domain.
"Divine Spirit Valley, you bastards! I, the Human Sacred Body, have come personally to the Northern Domain to kill you!"
"I, Ye Fan, am here. I will surely annihilate your entire Divine Spirit Valley clan. Now, if you send one small fry out, I'll kill one. If you send a pair, I'll kill a pair."
Everyone was in an uproar, because some had seen that it was undoubtedly the Human Sacred Body's true form. That golden blood energy, that vigorous aura—there could be no mistake.
Divine Spirit Valley was enraged. Many experts came out together. A single roar shattered mountains and rivers, shaking the entire Northern Domain.
"Human Sacred Body, where is the Human Emperor you speak of? If no ancient Great Emperor appears, no one can save you!"
"Dong..."
At that moment, a single bell sound spread across the Northern Domain, suppressing all other sounds, surging out for who knows how many ten thousand li, instantly calming heaven and earth.
All agitation, all killing intent disappeared. People trembled in fear, completely stunned.
In heaven and earth, only the bell's echo lingered, as if crossing through time from the ancient past!
All the war chariots of Divine Spirit Valley that were about to set sail stopped. Every person on board had stiff faces, trembling uncontrollably, their hearts filled with terror.