# Chapter 900: Meeting Fenghuang Again
"Are we fully prepared?" Ye Fan asked. This matter was of utmost importance; one wrong move could mean life or death, and there was no room for carelessness.
"It should be fine," Pang Bo said. Everyone had adjusted to their optimal state, waiting only for three days before entering.
"What about Old Blind Man and Tu Tian?" Ye Fan asked.
Upon hearing his words, the others were momentarily stunned, immediately understanding what he intended to do. Did he want to bring an Extreme Imperial Weapon inside? But this was highly taboo; all sects had explicitly forbidden their use, with the entire world united in punishment for violators.
"It would be difficult to use in that place. If we expose ourselves, there will be big trouble. I think there will definitely be people setting up induction arrays and detection measures when we enter," Li Heishui said.
"It's not that we must use it. I just feel this place is too unusual. For some reason, it gives me a sense of unease," Ye Fan said, frowning. He felt it would be safer to bring an ultimate weapon as a precaution.
"Let this Emperor think. Is there a way to conceal our aura?" Although Black Emperor was usually unreliable in his affairs—at least when it came to others—when it truly involved his own safety, this dog creature thought more thoroughly than anyone.
"Do you have some kind of premonition?" the Monkey asked. At their level of cultivation, instinctive intuition was sometimes more accurate than powerful predictions.
"No," Ye Fan shook his head. He only had a trace of worry, some associations. "Last time at Tian Duan Mountains, I massacred so many people. Could someone be plotting against me in return?"
"Are you worried that the Central Province Ancestral Temple is a big scam? That... couldn't be, right? Who would have the audacity to try to wipe out all the world's experts in one fell swoop? Who would dare?!" The others sucked in cold breaths.
"That's unlikely," Ye Fan shook his head, then rubbed his chin. "I'm just worried someone might use this Ancestral Temple to set up a localized trap specifically targeting me."
"That makes sense. It's not impossible someone might try to emulate the Tian Duan Mountains battle. If so, the trouble would be enormous. Bringing an Extreme Imperial Weapon would be the only safe option!" Pang Bo nodded.
"After this Emperor's deep contemplation, I've finally recalled all the minute details of a certain formation. It should be quite useful—can conceal all auras, undetectable by any array patterns," Black Emperor said.
It was the Heaven-Deceiving Array Pattern. Back in the day, Emperor Wu Shi was frequently struck by lightning. To avoid implicating others, he specially created a strange pattern that could conceal all vital energy.
In the end, the Devouring Demon Jar was perfectly reassembled, its aura concealed by one of Black Emperor's mysterious formations. Bringing it along would be reassuring; even if earth-shattering upheavals occurred, there would be nothing to fear.
Duan De frowned and said, "This Daoist is missing one material. I only found a substitute, and I've always felt something was off about it."
"After all these days, you still haven't gathered everything?" Ye Fan was surprised. He had spared no expense, providing a large amount of Source for Duan De to bid at various auction houses.
"We're still missing one ingredient—Yanluo Earth. It's extremely rare throughout the world and very difficult to collect," Duan De said.
"No matter. We still have three days. If we couldn't find it in the Eastern Wasteland, we'll search at the major auction houses in Central Province," Ye Fan said.
"There's no need for such trouble," Qi Luo spoke up.
At present, the world's attention was focused on the Central Province Ancestral Temple, attracting people from all walks of life. Just outside the former First Dragon Vein, there was a temporary marketplace where rare treasures could be exchanged, only a few dozen li away.
Outside the First Ancestral Vein, hills rose and fell. All the great mountains had been severed. People couldn't imagine how terrifying that mysterious night that shook the ages truly was. Among them, one valley was particularly spacious, now crowded with people—cultivators coming and going in an endless stream.
The major financial groups and auction houses had prepared thoroughly. They were very shrewd businessmen, transporting all kinds of rare treasures here—various artifacts needed for exploring the ruins.
An old man passed by, brushing shoulders with Qi Luo. The old assassin's expression instantly became extremely grave. He had received secret intelligence and pulled Ye Fan and the others aside, transmitting with divine sense: "This time is truly bad. Mortal World and Hell have dispatched several old assassin kings, determined to eliminate Ye Fan and avenge the last time's great hatred."
"I won't be in danger, but you all must be extra careful," Ye Fan said, his expression unchanged. He had long anticipated this would be a bloody battle, and ascending the Five-Colored Altar would not be easy.
In the valley, green bamboo grew in patches, mountain springs gurgled, and spiritual energy steamed—quite extraordinary. Not only were there many human cultivators, but also many Ancient Clan beings.
Although the artifacts were laid out directly on ground stalls, they were all valuable. Many were genuine treasures, dazzling the eyes. Quite a few stalls attracted crowds of onlookers.
Black Emperor kept making purchases, buying more materials, while Duan De browsed left and right but still couldn't find the Yanluo Earth he needed. Such things could only be encountered, not sought.
"Holy Prince..." An Ancient Clan being approached, respectfully bowing to the Monkey, then secretly transmitted a message.
"Is that so? I understand. Thank your clan for this. I will repay you handsomely in the future," the Monkey nodded.
"What's wrong?" Yan Yixi asked.
"The Celestial Prince still hasn't forgotten me. Also, several old experts from the Ancient Clan are targeting Ye Fan, wanting to kill him inside. Their backgrounds are considerable," the Monkey said.
The others sucked in cold air. Now that Ye Fan's name shook the world, ordinary people dared not confront him and would retreat. Those who wanted to strike at him were certainly figures with astonishing origins.
The Central Province Ancestral Temple was fraught with danger at every step. There would be a storm of blood and gore, more severe than they had imagined.
"It's nothing. Let them come as they please," Ye Fan said, unconcerned.
Duan De sneered coldly, "These people really don't know their limits. They want to kill people inside, but they have no idea how terrifying the Ancestral Temple is. Yin energy has coiled there for over two hundred thousand years. It's no longer a sacred temple—it's comparable to the tomb of an ancient Great Emperor. Once inside, they'll pay tuition with their blood."
Ahead, a commotion arose. Many people stood before a stall where two factions were bidding on a weapon, surrounded by a large crowd.
Ye Fan and the others approached to watch. Duan De's eyes immediately locked onto it. He quickly pushed through and picked up a Dharma artifact shaped like a Senluo Hall, holding it in his palm. It was dark and gloomy, wreathed in black mist.
"Daoist, we are bidding here. Do you intend to cut in?" someone nearby said coldly.
"Bidding!" Duan De didn't even lift his head, directly transmitting to Ye Fan, telling him this was a forbidden artifact forged from Yanluo Earth.
The stall owner was a middle-aged man of modest cultivation. His family had been artifact refiners for generations. This weapon wasn't considered a masterpiece—it was forged from a strange piece of blood-colored mud he had dug up from a peculiar mountain. He never expected it to be so popular here.
"What a waste of heavenly treasures. This is Yanluo Earth. He has no idea of its value. It has great uses like suppressing evil. He nearly ruined it," Duan De commented.
At the same time, he realized that the world was full of extraordinary people. He wasn't the only one who recognized it—others had too, otherwise there wouldn't be such fierce bidding. One faction was actually from the Ancient Clan, composed of over a dozen experts, clearly including connoisseurs. The other faction was also formidable—the Wind Clan, a Holy Land from the Eastern Wasteland.
Ye Fan stepped forward and placed a fist-sized piece of Source on the straw mat, immediately sparking discussion. No one expected a gloomy, broken palace to be worth so much Source.
Both other factions realized another knowledgeable person had arrived. They stopped hiding their intentions, openly declaring this was a treasure and insisting on taking it, raising their bids again.
The Ancient Clan naturally didn't lack Divine Source. They generously multiplied their bid several times, surpassing Ye Fan. He smiled and took out a small piece of Great Luo Silver Essence, placing it on the ground.
The appearance of this divine material immediately drew exclamations. This was a true rarity, hard to find in the world, and should be far more valuable than that palm-sized blood-colored palace.
Someone recognized Ye Fan and whispered nearby, "It's the Human Sacred Body!" Both the Ancient Clan and the Wind Clan changed color.
Many people gathered around. A person's reputation was like a tree's shadow. Now that Ye Fan's prestige shook the world, many were astonished. Not everyone had seen him, and they all wanted to see what he looked like.
"Is this the one who led tens of thousands of iron cavalry to trample the ancient aristocratic clan of the Northern Plains?" Many sucked in cold breaths.
"It's him. He killed Holy Sons, slew Yuangu, cut down Divine Sons, and at the Tian Duan Mountains battle, he drenched the black mountains with blood!" Many nearby involuntarily stepped back, filled with awe.
Beside them, the dozen or so Ancient Clan experts looked solemn. Among them were connoisseurs similar to Duan De, clearly of considerable background and identity. But even they furrowed their brows now.
On the other side, a woman emerged from the Wind Clan. She wore a five-colored mask, her figure graceful and beautiful, with peerless bearing, like a divine maiden.
However, at this moment, her eyes revealed an extremely complex light. It was Fenghuang, the Wind Clan princess. Only by cultivating to her current level did she understand how naive her words had been back then.
In years past, she had been proud beyond measure, rejecting the marriage alliance, not even considering someone who could grow into a Great Accomplishment Saint Body worthy of her attention. Now, thinking back, she could only sigh.
Although she had astonishing talent and her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, when her cultivation reached this point, she deeply understood how difficult this path was. Even Golden Wing Little Peng King had fallen. Her words back then had been too much.
Over the years, her ears had been filled with nothing but rumors about Ye Fan. She couldn't avoid hearing them. Sacred Body Ye Fan grew step by step, from being opposed by all sides to shaking the world battle after battle, establishing an invincible legend. This filled her with bitterness.
In the current world, when discussing the rising generation, when discussing those who might attain the Dao, who could fail to mention Ye Fan? Who dared ignore him?
Back then, she had rejected the Peerless Divine King's face, rejected her grandfather the Wind Clan Lord's face, raised her proud head, and dismissed Ye Fan, whose future was uncertain at the time.
Over a decade had passed. Ye Fan walked forward step by step, leaving firm footprints, fighting his way to a thundering reputation, stirring up the world's winds and clouds, becoming the focus of global attention, composing his own undefeated legend.
Looking back now, she could only sigh. She had been too proud back then, not knowing how cruel the Imperial Path was. Now, thinking about it, she wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out.
"Enough. We won't take this Yanluo Earth," the dozen or so Ancient Clan experts of considerable origin turned and left. They couldn't produce Great Luo Silver Essence; it wasn't worth the cost. Not everyone was an Origin Heavenly Master who could find divine materials.
"Those are experts from several great royal clans—a very terrifying team. And they just gave up like that?" Someone recognized their identities and was extremely shocked.
Others also sucked in cold breaths upon hearing this. Recently, there had been rumors that over a dozen powerful royal and great clans had each dispatched an expert to form a team. They didn't expect it to be them.
"Even such figures didn't confront the Sacred Body head-on. This is... a reputation that spreads through ten thousand clans," someone sighed.
Beside them, Fenghuang was wreathed in five-colored divine radiance, standing there quietly, listening to the crowd's words without moving.
"Clan Lord!" At that moment, the Wind Clan Lord appeared, and the clan members all bowed.
Ye Fan also heard this and stood up, looking out beyond the crowd. He first saw Fenghuang, then a majestic middle-aged man radiating authority.
"Greetings, Senior." The Wind Clan Patriarch had shown him kindness. No matter what happened later, he would not forget the assistance he had received when breaking the Sacred Body's curse and charging through his tribulation.
"Seeing you again, I truly realize I am old. After this trip to Central Province, I will retire," the Wind Clan Sacred Lord said with some emotion.
In years past, Ye Fan had only been at the Four Extremes Secret Realm. Now, he had advanced step by step, reaching this level, enough to sit as an equal with various Sacred Lords. This made him sigh at the passage of time, the fading of glory, and the replacement of the old by the new.
"Feng'er, come here. Why don't you greet him?" The Wind Clan Sacred Lord looked toward the Wind Clan's heavenly prodigy and divine maiden, Fenghuang.