Chapter 892: The Ruthless Great Emperor's Childhood
Divine City remained unchanged, its walls cast like tungsten iron, gleaming with cold light, immortal since the ancient era, always the center of the Northern Domain. Now, with the revival of the various primeval clans in the Northern Domain, this place had become even more prosperous. When Primordial Daoist and Heavenly Daoist made their declarations, the news naturally spread quickly.
The heart of the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree was a priceless treasure. Carrying it while cultivating doubled one's efficiency, bringing one closer to the order of heaven and earth, aiding in enlightenment—a rare and precious item.
The Celestial Prince's face turned ashen, but the words had already been spoken. If he went back on his word, it would be a significant stain on his identity as a Divine Son. Ultimately, he endured the pain of parting and had it delivered.
An elderly man, one of his Dao Protectors, came to a small teahouse in Divine City. He took a deep look at Ye Fan and Pang Bo before leaving behind a pendant.
It was perfectly round and translucent, the essence core of the Enlightenment Tea Tree, crystal clear. Layers of patterns coiled around it, naturally connecting with the Dao, resonating with it.
Immortal Emperor had carved a coffin from the trunk of the Enlightenment Tea Tree and refined its essence core, leaving it for his offspring. A second such item was impossible to find in the entire world—a dreamlike divine treasure.
"I never thought the Celestial Prince would actually bear the pain and send it out," Pang Bo laughed loudly, holding it in his palm and examining it closely. In that instant, he felt as if he were connected to the Dao.
"I don't need it. You keep it," Ye Fan said as Pang Bo handed it over. He explained that he already had the Bodhi Seed, which was equally powerful.
The threshold of Severing the Dao was right before them. Enlightenment at this stage had to rely on oneself to achieve the true sublimation of the "Dao Self." Neither the Bodhi Seed nor the Enlightenment Tea Tree heart was essential.
Pang Bo and Ye Fan had shared life and death, coming to this world together. Naturally, there was no need for formalities, and he directly wore it.
"Is the Divine Calculator's divination accurate? Can we really leave this world?" Pang Bo asked. Over the past few days, the two had visited many friends, fearing they might leave at any moment.
"It's hard to say. It could be a few months, a few years, or even decades before we leave," Ye Fan said with a frown. The next moment, they directly crossed through the void and vanished, not wanting to be tracked and ambushed by the resentful Celestial Prince's men.
"Damn it! That stupid bird took an extra bite! What a loss!" In Heavenly Village, Black Emperor shouted loudly.
Ji Ziyue, on the other hand, was smiling. Her delicate hands gently stroked the fluffy little phoenix bird. It was only the size of a fist, round and plump, every strand of its down glowing golden, radiating spiritual energy.
"Chirp chirp..."
It chirped softly, splashing its wings in water mixed with the Nine Orifices Sacred Spirit Liquid, looking thoroughly content. Just moments ago, it had snatched a mouthful of the divine liquid.
Now, anyone could see its potential. At the very least, it could grow to the Demon Saint realm. After learning the full story, the Ji Family spared no expense in nurturing it, having Ji Ziyue bring a piece of "divine material" to exchange for the Nine Orifices Spirit-Connecting Divine Liquid.
It was a piece of flesh only the size of a knuckle, crystal clear, radiating an immortal fluctuation. Divine nature light filled it, exuding an indescribable strangeness.
Yet, Ye Fan, Pang Bo, the Monkey, and Black Emperor felt a trembling sensation before it, an urge to kneel and bow. The strangest part was that Duan De's Devouring Demon Jar hummed and clanged.
"Don't tell me... this is the flesh and blood of a Great Emperor!?" Li Tian swallowed hard with difficulty.
Even Qi Luo was alarmed and arrived immediately. Yan Yixi, Li Heishui, and the others quickly gathered around, all filled with shock and amazement.
Duan De rubbed his hands, swallowing a mouthful of saliva, and asked, "Is this the flesh and blood of Emperor Void?"
"No." Ji Ziyue wrinkled her nose and gave him a big, dismissive glare.
"Clang clang..." The Devouring Demon Jar lid within Duan De's brow stirred, then flew out on its own, hovering above his head. A shocking thing happened—ever since he obtained the Devouring Demon Jar lid, he occasionally had nightmares, always seeing a rough ring and a ghost-face mask.
Now, seeing this rough copper ring, his hairs stood on end, and cold sweat poured down his back. It was exactly the same as what he saw in his dreams.
"The Ruthless Great Emperor's ring..." When the others learned of this, they were all dumbfounded. This was indeed an immortal treasure!
Without a doubt, the Ruthless One was a miracle. She had lived far longer than other Great Emperors, undergoing several rebirths, living for three or four lifetimes or more—truly a shock to both ancient and modern times.
"Was the Southern Ridge Heavenly Emperor also the Ruthless One? What about the Chaotic Ancient Great Emperor?" Pang Bo asked.
"The Southern Ridge Heavenly Emperor might be, but the Chaotic Ancient definitely isn't. Our Heavenly Court had a Great Sage who once saw the Chaotic Ancient Great Emperor," Qi Luo shook his head.
There were too many secrets surrounding the Ruthless One. Some even suspected she had not died, constantly shedding her mortal shell and enduring through the ages. Of course, there were far more opponents to this idea, as two Great Emperors could not coexist in the same era. This awe-inspiring Great Emperor had ultimately ascended.
"In my dreams, I often experience a feeling of parting. Occasionally, I see a blurry image: a little girl with horn-like braids crying as she sees off a young man and a group of people on a journey. Ahead of them is a Five-Colored Altar."
This was the fundamental reason Ji Ziyue revealed the ring. She had seen this scene and could not calm her heart. Knowing that Ye Fan would leave, she couldn't help but tell him the secret of the Five-Colored Altar.
In Ji Ziyue's dream, it was a very remote mountain village.
The little girl's family was poor. Her small clothes were patched, and even her little shoes had holes for her toes, evoking pity.
The young man was her only relative. They depended on each other. The ghost-face mask was their only toy. Without extravagant jewelry, the young man, to make the little girl happy, made her a ring from a piece of bronze. Though crude, the little girl treasured it as a precious gem.
Later, a group of people came. They saw the young man as a prodigy and took him away. As for the little girl, they shook their heads at her talent. Ignoring her cries, they forcibly took the young man away.
The little girl cried loudly, her worn-out little shoes falling off. The young man begged bitterly. Finally, one of the group agreed to let her see him off.
In the end, they arrived at a Five-Colored Altar. The young man, along with the group and many young prodigies, boarded it, about to depart. No matter how the little girl cried, she could no longer get close.
Before leaving, the young man took the ghost-face mask and left the ring. He waved it forcefully at her, then disappeared on the Five-Colored Altar.
A few years later, the little girl had grown a bit older in hardship, always staying near the altar. One day, she saw many people returning. She rushed forward recklessly, only to see the young man's bones. She was forcibly pulled away, not even allowed another glance. She cried bitterly, and from then on, she never saw him again.
At that point, all the images ended, never to appear again. This was the blurry scene Ji Ziyue often dreamed of while wearing the ring.
"That little girl... was she the later Ruthless Great Emperor?" Their hearts surged with waves.
"Without talent, a pitiful little girl... she became the later earth-shaking, supreme Ruthless Great Emperor?!" When they learned this, they were not shocked but filled with pity and sighs.
Every time they faced the Devouring Demon Jar, looking at the ghost-face mask on it—an expression that seemed to cry yet not cry, to smile yet not smile—they couldn't help but feel a pang in their hearts, infected by it.
Many speculated that this was an unforgettable experience for the Ruthless One. A smile with tears, bitterness with beautiful memories. But they never expected such hidden secrets.
To outsiders, it might seem an ordinary and mundane past event, but to the little girl, it was the most precious thing in her life—a memory the Ruthless Great Emperor could never forget.
What happened after she grew up, no one knew. That might have been the beginning of her glory, sweeping through the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths without equal—at least, that was how it appeared to outsiders. But she herself left no record of it. What happened later? No one knew.
Ji Ziyue looked at Ye Fan and said softly, "I know you will go far away. Not long ago, I searched through all the maps of mountains and rivers and found the current location of the Five-Colored Altar from my dream..."