Chapter 828: Great Sage Peace Talks
"There will be a relatively peaceful period. Make good use of it." Old Man Gai Jiuyou spoke lightly, but his words left Ye Fan both moved and burdened.
This hard-won situation had been forged by several sages through battle. Who could truly know the difficulties and dangers involved? One misstep meant death.
Especially when two ancient imperial weapons had attacked, plunging the situation into chaos. If not for someone like Gai Jiuyou, who would have the boldness to slay those wielding imperial weapons?
When an ancient imperial weapon awakened, even a Great Sage would die fighting it. Someone as powerful as Gai Jiuyou would have faced disaster this time if not for his mastery of the Weapon Art.
"Seniors worry for the world, earning admiration. There was no need for me to act recklessly earlier," Ye Fan said.
"No need for modesty." Gai Jiuyou truly did not appear to be a peerless figure. Sickly and weak, lacking any aura of a supreme expert, he smiled and said, "We merely perfected things a bit."
Ye Fan said nothing more. The truly modest ones were these human sages. They had surely long since formulated thorough plans. Though they did not appear in the world, their vision reached far.
True great worthies always stood at the highest peak, gazing upon paths ordinary people could not see.
Beside them, Xia Jiuyou was as stunning as ever in her white robes, making even celestial maidens seem dull. She had transformed from that stubborn, willful, even arrogant little girl into a peerless beauty.
Now, many things could be understood. Back then, Xia Jiuyou had clamored to refine Ye Fan's sacred blood into a divine pill, presumably to extend her master's life—an act of filial piety.
The sick old man's life force was withering. That young girl had once searched everywhere for ways to keep him alive a few more years.
Realizing this, Ye Fan no longer found that arrogant girl so annoying. She even seemed somewhat endearing now, and he couldn't help but smile.
"Look at me one more time, and I'll refine your eyes into divine lamps," Xia Jiuyou said, her lips curling slightly, cold light flickering in her lively big eyes.
Ye Fan: "..."
He had just been thinking this girl had changed, become more likable, only to be immediately threatened. He was left speechless.
Truly, a leopard cannot change its spots. Though her appearance was now peerlessly beautiful and somewhat softer, she still harbored a proud heart. Her domineering nature remained unchanged.
The sick old man, supported by the prodigy girl, walked forward to attend the small-scale meeting that only sages and ancestral kings could enter—a meeting concerning the peace of the world!
Outside the Jade Pool, an ancient war chariot arrived, covered in axe marks and arrow holes, clearly having weathered many bloody battles.
Nine ancient ferocious beasts pulled it, each spewing dazzling divine light. Every one was terrifying, their auras frightening. One or two were nearly approaching the sage realm.
"It's him, Ancestral King Lin Tian, from the ancient imperial clan of Fire Qilin Cave!"
"Indeed, it's King Lin Tian, on the same level as King Nine Phoenix. Both are terrifying existences with hopes of becoming Great Sages. In the ancient era, they roamed all domains with few rivals!"
King Nine Phoenix had once been praised by the supreme Battle Saint Emperor. This newcomer, his equal, was naturally a blazing sun among the ancient clans.
Many ancient clans stepped forward to pay respects, feeling that this Jade Pool gathering was truly extraordinary. Both Nine Phoenix and Lin Tian had arrived, showing the ancient clans' great importance.
However, no one expected that as soon as King Lin Tian descended from his chariot, he stood stunned for a moment, then quickly walked forward and bowed to an old man.
Many ancient clan experts were dumbfounded. King Lin Tian—an existence of such stature—was bowing to a seemingly ordinary old man.
"Greetings, Great Sage Hun Tuo!" As King Lin Tian spoke these words, everyone present turned to stone. Then came the sound of thuds as ancient clans all knelt, hailing the Great Sage.
This was a very ordinary old man. He looked more like a human than an ancient clan member, resembling an old village man, even in his attire.
A Great Sage had truly arrived, making this gathering seem even more extraordinary. Such a figure being stirred to action shocked everyone.
How many Great Sages could one ancient star have? In an era when ancient emperors did not appear, they were undeniably supreme, unmatched across heaven and earth.
Great Sage Hun Tuo was renowned in the ancient era. He had suffered only one defeat in his life, suppressed with a single hand by his opponent. But it was no disgrace, for that opponent was an invincible existence—the Battle Saint Emperor.
Who would dare challenge an ancient emperor? Regardless of the outcome, the courage alone commanded admiration. The ancient world had been greatly shaken!
Though Great Sage Hun Tuo later mocked himself, saying he was seeking death, pure ignorance of heaven and earth, it did not harm his reputation. Instead, it astonished the world.
Back then, the Battle Saint Emperor had laughed it off and not harmed him, even saying he was not bad—a form of praise, recognition from an ancient emperor.
No one had expected that a Great Sage with only one defeat in his life would truly come. Though there had been rumors, people initially did not believe them.
Hun Tuo bade King Lin Tian rise and walked together toward the Jade Pool Pure Land. As soon as he spotted Gai Jiuyou, his form trembled.
He no longer had King Lin Tian accompany him. Walking alone, he caught up with the sick old man and said, "Humans... truly inspire awe."
"What awe is there to speak of? All races coexist, the world at peace," Gai Jiuyou said with a smile.
"Yes, the ancient emperors and human great emperors all had broad minds and spoke similar words." Great Sage Hun Tuo nodded, sighing. "Those above the Great Sage level should probably stop appearing in the world. Leave it to the younger generation."
Gai Jiuyou, sickly and weak, also nodded. "I think even sages should stop appearing. For instance, these old bones of mine could still destroy an imperial clan if I were ruthless. Let alone those ancestral kings with surging vitality. If they grew angry, slaughtering millions and wiping out several clans would not be impossible. For the peace of the world, for this hard-won tranquility, let them all focus on cultivation."
Great Sage Hun Tuo was stunned, then smiled. "We must give the young some opportunities."
Old Man Gai Jiuyou squinted. "Ancestral kings and sages have cultivated for many years, crawling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Life-and-death battles to break through are no longer useful. Aren't the strongest bloodlines of the ancient emperors all reviving in this era? I look forward to it. Aren't the most dazzling prodigies of all races full of vitality? They need a stage. Leave the world to them."
"There are indeed several ancient emperor bloodlines. One year of theirs equals a hundred years of others' cultivation. Their talent is rare through the ages. Haven't the human emperor's sons been exhausted even in the dark ages? Such an era, with blood and ancient paths paved by ancient emperors, is truly cruel," Great Sage Hun Tuo murmured.
Central Emperor watched Gai Jiuyou walk away and disappear, silent for a long time before sighing softly. Though they were old acquaintances, he did not approach, letting them pass by.
Everyone had their own path. Life's encounters differed, and so did trajectories. As long as life had not reached its end, all possibilities remained.
Everyone was the sole protagonist of their own life, yet also a supporting character or passerby in others' lives, thus weaving the fabric of the world.
Ye Fan sat quietly by the Jade Pool, waiting a long time but never seeing the old woman who was a contemporary of Old Madman appear. He sighed. An era had ended.
Such a sage had ultimately fallen, dying at the birthplace of the Northern Pole Immortal Light, unknown to anyone. A sage's twilight years were so bleak, without even a farewell.
Withering. Curtain fall.
The wind rose. Falling petals drifted, carrying a faint fragrance but also a poignant beauty. The end of an era.
The wind grew stronger. Various petals fell and withered. Ye Fan sat alone for a long time, feeling a chill.
The grand assembly of ten thousand races ultimately ended with only sages and ancestral kings deliberating. Outsiders did not know what arguments occurred, only that occasional bursts of anger and pressure revealed the scene was not peaceful.
"Ye boy, here you are. I've been looking for you for ages. Come, let's drink." Li Tian walked over, his eyes measuring various beauties, grinning lecherously.
"Little Leaf, let's go. Let's drink our fill today. The future is finally peaceful. And then, damn it, let's go kill that Celestial Prince, kill that watermelon Yuan Gu!" Li Heishui also approached, carrying a wine jar, hiccupping.
Ye Fan smiled and walked back with them. Ahead, Southern Demon, Qi Huoshui, Central Emperor, Ji Ziyue, Holy Maiden of Yao Chi, Ji Haoyue, the Monkey, Divine Silkworm Daoist, and a group of outstanding talents were drinking together, lively and bustling.
Duan De was acting as a dog-headed strategist, giving random advice to Dongfang Ye, urging him to challenge the Celestial Prince, lure him over, and kill him together to avenge his brother.
As soon as he returned, Li Tian was filled with extreme envy and hatred. He saw his senior brother Yan Yixi raising a glass with a princess of an ancient imperial clan from afar.
"Damn it, a genuine ancient divine chick! My senior brother deserves to be struck by heavenly lightning. With him here, I lack any sense of existence," Li Tian said indignantly.
"She is Huo Qizi's sister," Yan Yixi said nonchalantly, revealing this news. He was dressed in white, jade-like and refined, transcendent and aloof.
"What? An ancient emperor's bloodline? Stay away!" Li Tian changed color, then said, "From now on, leave her to me to handle."
Everyone was speechless.
In the distance, a purple-clad girl walked by. Duan De immediately nudged Ye Fan. "The Holy Maiden of Zi Mansion, an Innate Dao Fetus. This is a golden opportunity. Knock her out with a stick and carry her off. In the future, you could cultivate a second Wu Shi."
Everyone rolled their eyes at him.
Suddenly, outside the Jade Pool Pure Land, a great commotion erupted, like chickens flying and dogs jumping. Curses were heard, and faintly, barking.
At that moment, Ye Fan shot to his feet, his expression extremely excited. "It's... Black Emperor!"
"How is that possible? I saw it die with my own eyes back then. It was killed for us," Li Heishui said, his mood instantly sinking.
"It's him, no mistake!" Ye Fan rushed out. The others, seeing this, stood up and followed.
Outside the Jade Pool, a large black dog stuck out its red tongue, as sturdy as a big bull. Its black fur was glossy, shining like silk.
"Black Emperor!" Ye Fan was excited. It really was him.
"You... are still alive!" Li Heishui was also excited, rushing over.
Everyone was stunned. This dog really hadn't died. It was bouncing around again, its life truly tenacious.
"Why is it that whenever you appear, there's chaos?" someone behind laughed, very excited.
"Who is this Emperor? The focus of all attention. Wind and clouds move for me, heaven and earth resonate for me. Wherever I am, there is brilliance!" The big black dog strutted arrogantly, shameless and thick-skinned.
"Boom"
Inside the Jade Pool, another burst of sage aura erupted. Arguments could be heard. Many people heard the ancestral kings' meeting.
"No, absolutely not! Why can't sage-level figures act?"
"On what grounds?!"
People's hearts trembled. Clearly, the meeting had reached a deadlock.
Black Emperor, who had just arrived at the Jade Pool, heard these roars and immediately became solemn, its entire body glowing.
"This Emperor is going to do something great." With that, it spat out a golden paper radiating boundless light, emitting the aura of a supreme great emperor.
"What is this?" Ye Fan asked in shock.
"Emperor Wu Shi's divine decree!" Black Emperor said solemnly.
"What? This is really..."
"Yes, it really is!" Black Emperor nodded seriously.