Chapter 901: Storms Gather at the Ancestral Temple
A five-colored mask concealed that peerlessly beautiful face, flowing with iridescent light. Paired with a pair of autumn-water eyes, it gave off a unique charm. Fenghuang's figure was graceful and slender as she stepped forward elegantly.
"I have met Brother Ye," she spoke, very calm, but her eyes no longer held the arrogant brilliance of the past. She had set aside all her pride.
Ye Fan returned the greeting. He held no grudges about the past. In years gone by, the princess of the Wind Clan had been as proud as a little phoenix, holding her head high and looking down on everyone with disdain. Such bearing and attitude were tied to her upbringing.
The Wind Clan Saint Lord sighed inwardly. They could have been very close to Ye Fan, and for the next ten thousand years, the entire Eastern Wasteland and the world would have belonged to them, stamped with the Wind Clan's mark. But now, it was too late to say anything.
This was a place where dragons and snakes mingled, so naturally all kinds of people were present. Many humans and ancient clans were stopping to watch, whispering among themselves.
"This is the princess of the Wind Clan, a pearl of the Eastern Wasteland. Since childhood, she was discovered to have rare talent, cultivating at an astonishing speed, a thousand miles in a day. However, she was too arrogant and proud, looking down on all men. In the past, she made a wrong decision."
"You mean the matter of her refusing the marriage alliance. Otherwise, a future Great Accomplishment Saint Body would have been tied to the Wind Clan's war chariot."
"Now, Ye Fan has come from behind to stand shoulder to shoulder with the ancient emperor's own sons. His future path is brilliant, and no one can stop him. Although she has a heaven-defying disposition, she ultimately falls short."
...
Fenghuang clenched her fists upon hearing these discussions. Her slender, jade-like fingers turned white, but in the end, she sighed, filled with a sense of powerlessness.
Now, who among the same generation could still contend with Ye Fan? Only the ancient emperor's own sons could match him. He had long since stood at the pinnacle of the rising generation, with few rivals to be found.
This time, only people like Ye Fan, the Holy Prince, the Divine Silkworm Daoist, the Celestial Prince, and Huang Xudao were qualified to directly enter the Central Province Ancestral Temple. This was the recognition of the world, placing them on par with the masters of divine dynasties.
As for the others of their generation, no matter how heaven-defying your talent or how astonishing your genius, you had to carve out your own path and compete for a qualification to enter. Even Fenghuang herself was no exception.
In just over ten years, Ye Fan could already stand as an equal to the various Saint Lords. In any place, he was treated as an equal, and seniority was no longer an issue.
Moreover, this was just a change in status. If it came to cultivation level, even the Saint Lords would have to bow their heads. This was a height that those of the same generation could hardly reach.
Fenghuang felt a wave of bitterness. When had such changes begun? Even her grandfather, a generation's hero, had to walk side by side with Ye Fan and speak with much more caution, no longer acting superior. It was a powerful shock.
"Do we need this much Netherworld Earth?" Ye Fan turned and asked Duan De.
Fatty Duan was just like the big black dog—when he saw good things, he couldn't walk away. Once something was in his hands, getting him to spit it back out was very difficult. He shook his head repeatedly, saying it was barely enough.
Ye Fan knew immediately that there was definitely more than enough. This shameless bastard was going to embezzle some, hiding it for future use. He quickly reached out, broke off a small piece, and handed it to the Wind Clan Lord.
The stall owner's cultivation wasn't high, and his skill in artifact refining wasn't profound, but he had good eyesight. He had long understood that they were interested in his materials, not the finished artifacts. He smiled wryly, watching the palace made of blood mud being pinched open like that, unable to describe the feeling in his heart.
Fenghuang took the Netherworld Earth and stood with her grandfather, staring blankly as Ye Fan and the others left. All kinds of emotions surged within her at that moment.
"Every step on the path of cultivation is difficult," the Wind Clan Saint Lord sighed softly.
The valley was very open, with many stalls and some suspended palaces, all belonging to various major financial powers. They were selling all kinds of rare materials here. It could be said that the influence of the Central Province Ancestral Temple was truly immense.
A man blocked the way ahead. He had long, water-blue hair and an extraordinary aura. He stood alone against Ye Fan and all his companions, like a divine mountain barring the path.
His eyes were very bright, like two divine lamps, seemingly able to see into a person's soul. His physique was robust and slender, masculine and powerful, radiating a circle of divine light that enveloped his physical body. It could be said that this man was outstanding and extraordinary.
Some people, even standing in a vast crowd, could be instantly recognized as different. There was no doubt that the man before them was such a person. He transcended the masses, attracting countless gazes, possessing the bearing of an emperor, like an immortal ancient god.
Huo Qizi!
Even without having seen him before, meeting him for the first time now, Ye Fan immediately guessed his identity. This was the ancient emperor's own son from the Fire Qilin Cave. His aura was even stronger and more intense than Yuangu's, comparable to the monkey's.
That was the blood of an ancient emperor. Ordinary people couldn't sense it, but to Ye Fan's ears, it roared like a tsunami. He felt a powerful potential, like a great emperor dormant within his body, ready to awaken at any moment!
"Netherworld Earth," he uttered these few words. He was actually making a move for this rare material, blocking their path.
The ancient emperor's own son was extremely terrifying, much stronger than the eighth-generation descendant of Emperor Yuan. The monkey's terrifying bloodline power was not unique; all true imperial sons were like this.
...
In the Eastern Wasteland, within the Grand Mystery Sect, the one hundred and eight main peaks were magnificent, with purple qi rising. It was a sign of a great sect's prosperity.
A man in blue robes, transcendent and refined, stood outside the Grand Mystery Sect. He was like a banished immortal, gazing into the distance at the one hundred and eight main peaks, then fixing his gaze on the most majestic Star Peak among them.
"Farewell to the Star Peak that gave birth to me and raised me. I will journey far from here. If I am fated to return alive, I will surely elevate the Grand Mystery Sect above this entire ancient star. I will break the shackles of fate, struggle with my own blood, and I will return!"
Hua Yunfei whispered, then murmured to himself, "Let the world insult me, hate me, slander me. One day, I will shatter everything!"
Within the Grand Mystery Sect, a sigh came from Clumsy Peak. A voice sounded in his ear, saying, "Come back."
Hua Yunfei was startled, then he quickly retreated and sped away, saying, "No, I will wash away everything and slay all my enemies!"
At the Yaoguang Holy Land, before a great black cauldron, a young man stood alone, hands clasped behind his back, black hair flowing loose. He gazed into the distance toward the Central Province, his eyes deep, as if overlooking a chessboard of the world.
The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Cauldron crackled with lightning, emitting strands of extreme imperial might, but it did not harm the young man in the slightest. It seemed to naturally merge with him. Others could not approach, but he was an exception.
The Holy Son of Yaoguang revealed a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. In the next moment, he vanished from where he stood, and then sat down on the throne in Yaoguang that only the Saint Lord could occupy. In the vast hall, no one said a word.
In the Eastern Wasteland, an ancient hall was built from the skulls of various kings, with sacred bones paving the ground, shimmering with undying light. This was the Mortal World!
An aged voice came, like a demonic sound from the Nine Nethers piercing the brain, causing people to tremble. "This hall has always been missing something. I have thought and thought, and the only thing lacking is the skull of a Sacred Body."
"Rest assured, Killing Sage. We will surely bring his head. We will never let him escape again. We will wash away our shame and make the killing path of this hall even stronger!"
Almost at the same time, within the ancient hall of Hell, the low murmur of a demon god also rang out. The aura of slaughter spanned the ages, surging like a vast ocean.
"Slaughter to attain the Dao..."
In the Northern Domain, on a high mountain, the Celestial Prince gazed toward the Central Province, his eyes cold and grim. He laughed coldly and muttered to himself, "I am coming!"
The various tribes of the ten thousand ancient clans, and the holy lands of the human race, were all making intense preparations on this day. Experts were all on the move, heading for the Central Province!
...
In the valley outside the Central Province's ancestral vein, the big black dog bared its teeth and said, "You want to fight us alone?"
"My elder brother doesn't mean that." Huo Lin'er appeared. Her long, water-blue hair drifted like the essence of the sea. Her skin was jade-white and flawless, beautiful like a jade sculpture, unreal.
She was the only daughter of an ancient emperor, with a noble bloodline. She had already traveled far on the path of cultivation, her strength unfathomable. Countless eyes from the various ancient tribes were fixed on her. Even the Chaos Expansion Great Sage had proposed marriage for his great-grandson. The young elites of all the tribes, the kings with the greatest potential, all wanted to form a marriage alliance.
"Is that so? I think he wants to stretch his muscles with us. I don't mind going a round with him!" the monkey said aggressively.
"Brother Ye, Holy Prince, we meet again." Huo Lin'er's smile was very captivating. Her lips curved, and a mouthful of snow-white teeth sparkled against her red lips, exuding an intoxicating charm. Her blue hair shimmered like water waves.
Ye Fan returned the greeting. You don't hit a smiling face. Moreover, in a sense, the Fire Qilin Cave was terrifyingly powerful, with two direct descendants of an ancient emperor, which was chilling.
However, Huo Qizi was very indifferent, seeming to have no good feelings toward them. They had come because they were informed that Netherworld Earth was here, but unfortunately, Ye Fan and his group had gotten it first.
"Alas, actually, we are allies. In the end, we will board the same altar together," Huo Lin'er said with a bright smile, claiming that when a powerful ancestral king of their clan was sitting in meditation and passing away, he had seen a glimpse of the future where they fought side by side.
Ye Fan's heart tightened. A possibility suddenly occurred to him. Was someone going to cross the star domain with him and leave this world? Who were they? It was hard to tell friend from foe. He absolutely could not bring the chaos of war to the other shore!
"Actually, we didn't come here for anything else. If we happen to clash when we go inside, let's not kill each other," Huo Lin'er said. She didn't ask for the Netherworld Earth anymore and left with her elder brother.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The Central Province's ancestral vein opened, and all the powerful masters appeared.
Li Tian, Yan Yixi, Li Heishui, Wu Zhongtian, Jiang Huairen, and the others ultimately chose to stay outside. This was the warning of the old killer Qi Luo, and also the order of the Thirteen Great Bandits. Clearly, they all sensed something. If you could avoid going in, it was best not to take the risk!
Because even during the qualification battles, some great powers had fallen. Those who could enter were definitely ruthless characters. Moreover, the ancient temple was filled with a gloomy yin aura, truly eerie.
Ye Fan, Pang Bo, the monkey, Duan De, Black Emperor, Old Blind Man, Qi Luo, and others traveled together. Even Tu Tian did not enter. Naturally, the Divine Maiden Furnace and the Hell Soul-Suppressing Pagoda were all brought along.
"Wait for me, I'm coming too." The Barbarian appeared, arriving from the Southern Ridge to join them. He secretly informed them that he had brought the Wolf Fang Great Club, a complete, legendary saint weapon!
With an extreme imperial weapon and several legendary saint weapons accompanying them, this group's courage immediately soared. They feared nothing.
At the last moment, Ji Ziyue appeared, insisting on joining the team. She said softly to Ye Fan, "I want to see you off."
The ancient ancestral temple, sealed for over two hundred thousand years, was finally being entered by people. Besides the main gate, there were many small doors, lined up in a row, all accessible.
People rushed to enter. The first batch to step inside numbered several hundred, all of them experts. However, at that very moment, something extremely terrifying happened. Cries of agony rose one after another.
The vast ancestral temple became even darker. Pairs of eyes lit up. More than half of those who entered died. Their bodies all shriveled up, becoming like human skins. Even their bones had been eaten by something.
"This is bad!" Fatty Duan's face immediately darkened.