Chapter 922: Ascending the Five-Colored Altar, Final Battle
"You need to think this through. Setting aside everything else, just getting past the Ancient Forbidden Land alone will be extremely difficult. And even if, by some miracle, you manage to step onto the Stellar Ancient Path and successfully reach the other shore, what if it all turns out to be for nothing?" the Monkey said seriously.
This was not impossible. Even if he endured countless hardships to return, Ye Fan might not be able to see his parents. So many years had passed; perhaps things had already changed beyond recognition.
"Maybe it really will be for nothing. Even if I return to my homeland, I might not find anything. But if I don't go back, I will regret it for the rest of my life," Ye Fan murmured to himself.
Counting carefully, he had already been away from Earth for over twenty years. His parents were already showing signs of age back then. After all these years, anything could have happened.
There was no time left. Ye Fan truly could not delay any longer. If he waited a few more years to return, there would be almost no hope or expectation left. These past years, his heart had been unable to find peace, always haunted by a nagging anxiety.
"No matter the outcome, even if the worst has happened, I have to go back. Otherwise, I will never find peace in this lifetime."
Regardless of what lay ahead, Ye Fan had to fight his way back. It was human nature, human emotion. He could not bear to let go of everything here, but he could not abandon his parents either.
"Take care... I will pray for you every day." Ji Ziyue's eyes were misty with tears. She pointed to the sky, telling him that if he missed his old friends, he could look up every night. The shortest and longest distances in the world were both within the heart.
"You really are leaving. If this worldly bond is severed, I hope one day you will find your way back."
Qi Luo sighed and patted Ye Fan on the shoulder.
People knew this was almost impossible. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this might be the last time they ever saw Ye Fan. Even they did not know the coordinates of the Big Dipper Star Domain; how could he ever return?
"I would actually very much like to go with you, to conduct great archaeological research at the other end of the stars. But unfortunately, that place is hard to cultivate in. I dare not go." Duan De stepped forward to bid farewell.
"Here, use this when you enter the Forbidden Zone of Life." The Big Black Dog opened its mouth and spat out a small purple jade gourd, no bigger than a thumb. When opened, it emitted brilliant, surging rays of light, rich and fragrant, giving one the feeling of ascending to immortality, every pore on the body opening wide.
Divine Immortality Pill!
Everyone was stunned. No one would have expected that the most greedy and shameless big dog would have such a thing on it, and at such a critical moment, it was actually willing to take it out.
"Where did you get this?" Several people couldn't believe it.
A divine phoenix danced, crimson light scattered, immortal light sparkled, and a clear fragrance assailed the nose. Inside the small purple jade gourd, it was as if a phoenix bird was trapped, surrounded by astonishing, extraordinary phenomena.
"This is Emperor Wu Shi's Divine Immortal Phoenix Pill!" the Big Black Dog said.
Of course, this couldn't be a whole divine medicine plant. It contained only four drops of the Phoenix Pill's vital essence, each one capable of bringing the dead back to life and regrowing flesh on bones.
A few years ago, it had almost died and was saved by Little Nannan's tears. Afterwards, for self-protection, it had entered Purple Mountain and taken a few drops of divine liquid from that immortal medicine plant, carrying them on its person ever since.
"That damn bird has become a spirit, and it's an old acquaintance too. I begged and pleaded and only managed to get four drops. It refused to give me any more."
No one expected the Big Black Dog to suddenly be so generous at the last moment. In the past, it was always known for "ripping off friends," grabbing any treasure it saw, leaving nothing behind, not even a crooked gourd.
"You gave us the Saint Fruit and the True Dragon Immortal Medicine drops. This time, you're the one who lacks this kind of life-saving thing. Take it quickly before this Emperor changes his mind." The Big Black Dog bared its teeth.
Ye Fan did not refuse. He was about to cross the starry sky; he truly needed this kind of thing to save his life. The Monkey and the others tried to return the Saint Fruit and True Dragon medicine drops to him, but he refused. Four drops of the Immortal Phoenix liquid were enough, sufficient for him to enter and exit a few times.
The fragrance of the medicine alarmed everyone nearby. Many greedy gazes looked over, but seeing the purple jade gourd in Ye Fan's hand, no one dared to make a move. None of them wanted to provoke this god of slaughter.
"Safe travels!" The few of them knew there was no way to keep Ye Fan any longer. All they could do was see him off and offer their sincere blessings.
"You all take care too!" Ye Fan looked at them, wanting to forever imprint each person in his heart.
Then, he resolutely turned around. Divine light swirled in his hands as the broken corner of the Five-Colored Altar was collected and placed into his spatial artifact, to be used to complete the real altar.
Among the Ancient Clan and other major human forces, many were unwilling but did not dare to stop him. The Devouring Demon Jar floated and sank. No one wanted to start a great conflict over this, as it was just a corner of the altar, hardly useful.
Ye Fan strode away, entering the ancient teleportation formation, walking towards the golden door, about to depart far into the distance.
"Little Leaf!" Ji Ziyue wailed, tears streaming down her face. Crystal teardrops rolled down her fair cheeks, soaking her clothes.
Ye Fan's heart ached. He murmured to himself, waving his arm, looking at them. He was reluctant to leave too, but he had no choice.
"Don't forget, there's a group of old friends here waiting for you to return."
Although they said this, they knew this might be the last time they saw Ye Fan. The desolate universe was too vast; they might never meet again in this lifetime.
"Farewell!" Ye Fan resolutely turned and stepped into the golden door.
Looking back one last time, the woman in purple was still there, waving her hand vigorously, shouting something, trying hard to smile, but crystal tears hung on her fair face.
Ye Fan tore off a jade pendant, turning it into a beam of light that flew over and landed in Ji Ziyue's hand.
From the other side of the stars, this was a flawless piece of suet white jade seed material, crystal clear and beautiful, almost without a single flaw. It was something Ye Fan had worn close to his body for many years.
About to embark on a long journey, he didn't want to say too much, didn't want to leave behind more sadness. Only this object could serve as a memento. Ye Fan stepped forward, thus beginning his journey.
The Monkey, Duan De, Black Emperor, Dongfang Ye, and the others were also watching, seeing him off on his long journey.
"Ye... Fan..." Ji Ziyue wept bitterly.
Dongfang Ye and the others also felt a sting in their eyes. They had fought side by side, faced life and death together, roamed the world together. Now they had to separate, scattered across the heavens, unlikely to meet again in this lifetime.
"Farewell, my friends!" These were Ye Fan's last words as he disappeared from the ancient teleportation formation.
The heroes of the world were all watching in silence, all greatly shocked. They could see that Ye Fan was about to leave this world for good!
"The Human Sacred Body is leaving!"
"After twelve years, he returned. Now, it seems he is truly leaving forever, never to return. The world has lost a contender on the path to the throne!"
This was clearly a major event, causing an uproar. The ancestral hall was filled with noise as many people began to discuss it.
Without a doubt, the future world would be missing a supreme expert. This was a major event that everyone could foresee. The Human Sacred Body would disappear from this world, his participation gone.
"The path to the throne lacks the participation of the Great Accomplishment Saint Body. It really feels somewhat incomplete."
"Having several Ancient Imperial Princes appear is enough. Otherwise, when the Saint Body reaches great accomplishment one day, who knows how many heroes might fall. Perhaps it would also save countless bloody tragedies."
Many senior human figures sighed regretfully. Ye Fan's departure was, in a sense, a great loss for the human race.
As for the Ancient Clan, many were relieved. With the Human Sacred Body gone, the future of the world seemed much brighter. The man who could kill the eighth-generation descendant of Yuan Huang had suppressed their younger generation, making it hard for them to breathe.
"That jade pendant..." Duan De stared at the suet white jade seed material in Ji Ziyue's hand. It was purely natural, without any tool marks, with a red string tied at the top. He couldn't help muttering, "It looks very similar to the jade pendant thrown onto Emperor Wu Shi's Dao Platform. Could it be a cycle of reincarnation?"
He murmured softly, glanced at Ji Ziyue, thought of that female saint, and shuddered. He had been robbing tombs for years and didn't believe in reincarnation or fate at all, otherwise, he wouldn't be digging up graves.
However, this jade pendant really did seem very similar to the one thrown beside the skull of the female saint on Emperor Wu Shi's Dao Platform.
"The Human Sacred Body hasn't aged! He's repairing the Five-Colored Altar!" Many Ancient Clan members exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.
Through the golden door, one could see that the magnificent altar above the abyss was being completed by Ye Fan. The missing corner fell into place, fitting perfectly with the main body, becoming one.
Furthermore, a Five-Colored stone pillar was inserted into the center of the Five-Colored altar platform, making it complete, no longer missing anything, transforming into a flawless whole.
Ye Fan swallowed a drop of Immortal Phoenix vital essence and then drank deeply from the Divine Spring in the jade purification vase. His appearance remained youthful, his body immortal, his blood energy vigorous. The whole person was full of vitality, shocking everyone into stunned silence.
At this moment, many winged races from the Ancient Clan had dispatched large numbers of experts, descending onto the altar, wanting to cross to the cliff on the other side to pick the Nine Marvelous Divine Medicine.
Just then, an unexpected turn occurred. A Dao-Cutter King from the Fallen Feather Clan picked up a crucial foundation stone, sneered coldly, flapped his wings, and flew towards the cliff on the other side.
"Human Sacred Body, you won't be able to leave. Waste away and die on the Five-Colored Altar!" he sneered sinisterly.
This was incredibly vicious. If the Five-Colored Altar couldn't be activated, it would become a death trap. It was too far from the cliff wall. Without cultivation and magical power, one couldn't leap onto the Sacred Mountain. Ye Fan would be trapped and die there.
"Excellent! So killing the Human Sacred Body is this simple. Just move one stone, and he'll die without a burial place." Some Ancient Clan creatures suddenly understood.
Ji Ziyue, the Monkey, and the others watched with eyes wide with rage. This was too vicious! Taking away one stone turned the entire altar into an isolated island, forcing Ye Fan to be unable to advance or retreat, slowly dying of starvation!
"So malicious!" The Big Black Dog was furious, but there was nothing it could do. Rushing in would be useless.
"Ye Fan!" Ji Ziyue's willow-leaf eyebrows shot up. Her large, lively eyes glared at those Ancient Clan members.
"Damn it!" Even Qi Luo was filled with murderous intent, but he couldn't help.
Some Ancient Clan members laughed. This outcome exceeded their expectations. Although the Human Sacred Body was about to leave, it still wasn't safe enough. Perhaps only a dead man posed no threat.
"The one who kills you is Lu Donglai!" The Fallen Feather Clan Dao-Cutter King who first moved the foundation stone sneered, his face full of sarcasm.
His younger brother, Lu Dongfa, had died at Ye Fan's hands. Now, naturally, he was taking revenge. By catching him off guard, he devised this plan to kill Ye Fan.
At that moment, another group of winged creatures moved. They belonged to different races and wanted to destroy the Five-Colored Altar, giving the Human Sacred Body no chance at all.
Dozens or even hundreds of figures swooped down, completely disregarding their own limited time. They wanted to overturn the altar, some sneering, some snickering, filled with a sense of satisfaction. Some were utterly malicious.
"Do you think I'm someone you can humiliate? Even in this Forbidden Zone of Life, you are not worthy to insult me. Even if a Half-Saint came to bully me, they would still have to die!" Ye Fan said coldly, his black hair flying wildly, his gaze like cold lightning.
He let out a great roar, causing the Nine Sacred Mountains to rumble, shaking over a dozen people and sending them plummeting into the Primordial Abyss. All the Ancient Clan members were shocked. In this place, although Ye Fan had no cultivation or magical power, his naturally divine physical strength remained. He shook his hand and sent dozens or even hundreds of Source stones flying like comets across the sky.
"Pfft!" "Pfft!"
Screams sounded almost simultaneously. Everyone who had pounced on the Five-Colored Altar was hit. The Saint Body's strength was immense. They were directly pierced by the Source stones, bleeding profusely, and fell into the abyss, all killed in one blow.
At the same time, Ye Fan leaped high into the air, actually crossing the abyss in one bound and landing on the Sacred Mountain.
Everyone was dumbfounded. How powerful was this physical body? Having lost all magical power and cultivation, he could jump such a distance with pure physical strength! This was beyond comprehension. Was this the limit of the physical body? Everyone was stunned!
"Bang!"
Relying solely on the power of his physical body, Ye Fan leaped across the abyss in one bound, arriving on this side. He kicked down from the air, stepping onto Lu Donglai's body, and landed on the Sacred Mountain with him beneath his foot.
"Pfft!"
The force of this kick was immense. It instantly crushed Lu Donglai's bones and tendons, shattered his chest cavity, broke his limbs, and splattered blood everywhere.
"There's no need to tell me your name. I don't need to know." Ye Fan stood on top of him, his words cold, looking down.
"You... are you still human?" Lu Donglai had already severed the Dao. He was the most stunning genius of the Fallen Feather Clan, the hope for future competition with the Imperial Clan. He never expected to meet his end here.
His words were full of shock and unwillingness. A human without wings, unable to use cultivation, had actually leaped up, flying as if he had wings, crossing over. This almost surpassed the limits of the human body.
"As genuine as it gets. I am human!"
"You..."
Lu Donglai, filled with unwillingness and shock, died a violent death.
On the Central Province side, people were horrified. The Human Sacred Body was too powerful. Such a physique was truly invincible. He could even leap across the Primordial Abyss in one bound. He was definitely a great enemy worthy of an Ancient Imperial Prince!
"Fortunately, he is leaving. Otherwise, some Ancient Imperial Prince might fall in the future." An elder of the Ancient Clan sighed.
Ye Fan did not rush to leave. He went straight to the Divine Spring, first drinking his fill, then took out several jade purification vases and quickly collected water. Although spatial artifacts were almost useless here, he could still take away dozens or hundreds of jin.
Next, he broke off some branches and leaves of the Nine Marvelous Divine Medicine and took a bit of root. Only then did he pick up the foundation stone, leap high like a Golden Winged Great Roc, cross over in one bound, and land on the altar.
On the Central Province side, many people's eyes turned red. That was the Divine Spring and the branches of the Divine Immortality Pill, priceless divine objects. At the same time, they were even more shocked. Carrying the foundation stone, he could still leap. Ye Fan's physique was truly astonishing.
Landing on the Five-Colored Altar, Ye Fan's pupils constricted. Several figures had stepped through the golden door, descending from the sky.
There was more than one figure, but he only fixed his gaze on one of them, ignoring all the others. It was a woman in white, standing in front, murderous aura flowing. It was Li Xiaoman!