Chapter 880: The Mystery of the Five-Colored Altar
The storm grew increasingly intense, and as word spread, many people across the Five Domains came to believe that someone was constructing a five-colored altar that would lead beyond this realm.
The major financial conglomerates were purchasing five-colored precious stones across the entire world, their prices climbing steadily until supply could no longer meet demand. They had subtly replaced Source as the most valuable currency among cultivators.
In Heavenly Village, Qi Luo looked suspicious and asked, "Are you really not the ones doing this?"
"I've left everything to Black Emperor. It really isn't me," Ye Fan said as he sat cross-legged on a cliff, breathing in and out, drawing strands of essence into his body.
"Shameless extravagance. How much Source does this waste? It's too wasteful." Qi Luo felt pained and couldn't understand, asking what they were trying to do.
"This emperor is conducting great research, to see if I can restore the ancient Great Emperor's five-colored altar and open a path beyond this realm." Black Emperor spoke without any shame.
"Just for that?" Qi Luo asked.
"What else do you think it's for?" Black Emperor replied, training the Silver Blood Twin Emperors while burying his head in studying various formations.
"You're too extravagant. How many people would you have to kill to earn that much Source!?" Qi Luo felt a pang of pain.
"It's fine. Ye Fan dug up six or seven dragon veins a while back and got a huge haul. Enough for us to squander." Li Tian waved his hand, speaking very grandly.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Qi Luo didn't believe their explanation.
"Someone wants to use Source to crush a group of powerful enemies to death." Li Heishui said nonchalantly, roasting breakfast on the side. The meat was golden and fragrant, with wisps of aroma spreading out.
"Who are they going to crush?" Little Que'er hugged her milk bottle, blinking her big eyes, staring longingly at the delicious-smelling roasted meat. Unfortunately, she was still too small to eat such food.
Tongtong and the two spirit children happily enjoyed their breakfast, showing off in front of the little one. The result was a "smack" as the little one hit them with her milk bottle.
"There's a group of people whose whereabouts are unknown. When they learn that Ye Fan is about to leave, they'll most likely make a move using various means. We want to lure them out." Yan Yixi explained.
"What if they don't come?"
"If they don't come, it's no big deal. It'll just be collecting materials for Black Emperor, letting it go further in the field of formations." Ye Fan said.
"Kid, you have good judgment. This is a worthwhile investment. I'm starting to like you more and more." Black Emperor grinned beside him, its smile so annoying that people wanted to punch it. It looked like a big-tailed wolf, utterly fake.
It reviewed various ancient texts, all formation manuals bought at heavenly prices, then raised its head, stuck up its tail that was no longer bald, and crossed through the void into a secret area where a five-colored altar was under construction.
The more secretive they were, the more curious people became, the more they wanted to get to the bottom of it. Ye Fan and his group made it very mysterious, naturally arousing the desire of many cultivators to investigate. Everyone was probing.
The mystery of the five-colored altar became increasingly eye-catching. By now, many believed it was about to be completed, about to be activated, and someone would be taken beyond this realm.
"Do you know? It's actually the ancient clans collecting the precious stones, not human cultivators. They want to enter the starry sky and embark on their return journey."
This ancient star originally had no such races. Even humans appeared later. The so-called Ten Thousand Primeval Clans also crossed over from beyond this realm. As for the indigenous inhabitants, they had long since disappeared.
Some speculated that this was a major operation by the Ten Thousand Primeval Clans, to venture deep into the starry sky, to embark on the journey home, and find their original ancient star.
"Everyone has been misled. Do you remember? The Extraordinary Scholars Mansion has a path leading beyond this realm, about to open, to send a group of young talents. They are the ones collecting the precious stones."
During this period, all kinds of speculations emerged, and people overlooked the event itself, elevating it to another level.
"Wrong. Everyone guessed wrong. It should be the Human Clan's Sacred Body. Have you forgotten? He left this starry domain years ago and then returned. He clearly learned the secret of the five-colored altar beyond this realm and can achieve interstellar travel!"
When this speculation came out, an uproar ensued. Many people muttered to themselves. Ye Fan was the only one who had successfully traveled to and from the heavens. If it was him, it was really possible.
During this period, some other major events also occurred, forcing people to pay attention. Some even attracted the attention of the ancient clans.
The Southern Demon finally severed his Dao. On the day he achieved his Dao, nine great demon stars appeared in the sky, each one overshadowing the sun, spanning the entire Southern Ridge, shocking the world!
Demon stars, according to human ancient texts, refer to stars that portend disaster. The least harmful ones are like comets. The appearance of nine of the strongest demon stars on the day the Southern Demon severed his Dao was truly horrifying.
On that day, the entire world was shaken. People everywhere discussed it. Nine great demon stars appearing together was a rare spectacle for the ages. It was said that since ancient times, only the Green Emperor among the demon race had produced a similar spectacle when he was young.
Someone connected the nine great demon stars that hung over the Southern Ridge that day and found they formed the shape of an imperial crown, which was even more shocking.
This spectacle of severing the Dao shook people's hearts. Everyone was filled with awe for the Demon Emperor Hall. Could it be that a Demon Emperor of the demon race would emerge in the future?
Almost at the same time, several other major events occurred. Some rejoiced, while others worried.
In the Central Province, the Jiuli Imperial Dynasty spread tragic news. The Fifth Imperial Prince, Shen Li, who had been given infinite hope, failed in severing his Dao and sat in meditation on the Dao platform, turning to dust. Decades of cultivation came to nothing in a single day.
In the Eastern Wasteland, the old Saint Lord of the Dao Yi Holy Land died, his Dao extinguished. He died in seclusion, becoming a pile of dry bones. He was two thousand eight hundred and seventy-five years old.
The older generation couldn't help but feel sorrow for their own kind. Although many were lifelong enemies, they no longer held such hostility now. They could only sigh that time was short.
Almost at the same time, the Great Yan Saint Lord fell.
The Heavenly Demon Palace also spread news that a demon king who had lived for three thousand six hundred years had become dry bones. Moreover, during the same period, the master of the Heavenly Demon Palace also passed away. It was a double blow, losing two important figures in succession, casting a cloud of sorrow over the Heavenly Demon Palace.
This made people sigh. The end of one era and the rise of another. For the older generation, their twilight years had arrived.
Soon after, another shocking piece of news spread, drawing the world's attention. Hua Yunfei engaged in a fierce battle with the Western Desert Buddhist Sect's "Female Bodhisattva" Jue Youqing. The battle raged for days, destroying the famous Amitabha Mountain Range in the Western Desert.
The Five Domains were greatly shaken! Unfortunately, no one knew who had won or lost. Soon after, an old monk from an ancient temple revealed that Jue Youqing had returned alive, but with considerable injuries. As for Hua Yunfei, no one knew whether he was alive or dead, or whether he had won or lost. The old monk did not say more.
In the past, the Central Emperor, the Southern Demon, and the Western Bodhisattva were all on par. Now, Hua Yunfei could already fight the Western Bodhisattva, trying to seize her Buddhist source. His growth rate was terrifying.
The Devouring Demon Art once again cast a shadow over people's hearts. A few ancient sects joined forces, sending out their top experts, all wanting to capture him. If he were allowed to grow, the harm would be too great. In the future, countless powerful figures from major sects would likely become his prey.
"He has always been low-key, preferring to enter ancient tombs to find corpses rather than wreak havoc on the world. Has he finally become reckless?" Ye Fan muttered to himself in Heavenly Village.
A few days later, another piece of news spread. The Holy Son Yao Guang made his move, displaying his terrifyingly overwhelming combat power. He single-handedly chased Wang Teng for three hundred thousand miles.
When the holy light appeared, all techniques turned to ash, unable to touch him. It illuminated the entire northern prairie, startling many cultivators who couldn't withstand that pressure. In this battle, the Holy Son Yao Guang displayed a strength that inspired fear, killing Wang Teng until he had no power to fight back.
The Northern Emperor, once on par with the Central Emperor, the Southern Demon, and the Western Bodhisattva, was incredibly formidable. All the world's sects had high hopes for his future!
However, ever since Ye Fan destroyed him once over a decade ago, his reputation had plummeted. But his strength was still there, and few could match him. Yet now, he had suffered another major defeat. The reason the Holy Son Yao Guang made his move was simple: Wang Teng had killed one of his junior brothers. Of course, that was just Yao Guang's claim. Whether he actually killed anyone was unknown.
"He did it for the 'Qian' character secret among the Nine Secrets!" When the people of Heavenly Village heard the news, they made this judgment. Ye Fan had also been searching for Wang Teng, but had never found any leads.
In this battle, Wang Teng was almost crippled. The Holy Son Yao Guang chased him for three hundred thousand miles, splitting his body into four or five pieces. In the end, a celestial crane appeared and carried away his head.
"That celestial crane again. The inheritance of the Chaotic Ancient Great Emperor was given to him by that old crane, who carried him away when he was young." Ye Fan and the others were astonished when they heard this.
The celestial crane made its move, saving Wang Teng. Although the Holy Son Yao Guang failed in his mission, he killed another person.
Zi Tianfeng, the sole survivor of the Divine Spirit Valley, was connected to Wang Teng. He set up an ambush midway with his men, but was killed cleanly by the Holy Son Yao Guang. Not a single one escaped.
"Wang Teng is finished. He has become Yao Guang's stepping stone. From now on, he will probably never amount to anything." Li Heishui said.
"Not necessarily. If he keeps losing, completely shattering his Dao heart, he might be able to forge a demonic fetus later." Duan De said.
"Losing once or twice isn't enough? He has to keep losing? Can you be any more twisted?" Li Tian said.