Chapter 1102: 荒出世

**The Heavens Covered, Chapter 1103: The Desolate One Appears**

Saint Slaughter!

A term both mythical and awe-inspiring, 'Saint Slaughter' had become a reality. The news swept across the land, reaching every corner of the world.

While some rejoiced and others grieved, people reacted differently. Ye Fan, after vanishing for over a decade, returned to perform such a monumental feat, causing a huge uproar!

Within the ancient clans, hushed voices expressed deep concern: "The Human Sacred Body has become truly formidable. Once he attains sainthood, who will be able to restrain him? He must be eradicated in his infancy before he can fully mature..." His brilliant battle record left them dumbfounded. They pondered how to contend with him, how to suppress him in the future.

Those who supported Ye Fan, however, expressed heartfelt admiration and praise, filled with hope for his future. They believed he was highly likely to become an immortal legend: "He rivals the Ruthless Emperor, compares to the young Wu Shi, and matches the Green Emperor! He is a shining pearl of immortal light, illuminating countless mountains and rivers!"

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, scattering leaves that carried the fresh scent of earth and the subtle fragrance of mountain flowers. Ye Fan stood atop a peak, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

Though he was far from the Barren Ancient Forbidden Land, an unsettling premonition lingered in his heart. He felt that something truly terrible was about to unfold, and his gaze remained fixed in that direction.

"Master, let's go," Ye Tong urged. "There's no point in looking anymore; we can't change anything anyway."

Ye Fan nodded. The group then departed, soaring into the distance until they vanished from the sky.

That day, they traveled throughout the Southern Domain, visiting streets, alleys, inns, and teahouses. Wherever cultivators gathered, the sole topic of conversation was Ye Fan's act of Saint Slaughter.

It was a whirlwind of news that swept across the Eastern Wasteland, engulfed the Central Plains, and stretched towards the Southern Ridge and Western Desert. A single battle had shaken the mortal world.

"Even the Void Emperor was no more formidable in his youth..." In the Ji Family, a middle-aged man murmured to himself. Seated in a grand, majestic hall, his skin was bronze, and his eyes, like lightning, radiated an imposing presence.

This was Ji Haoyue's father. His gaze lifted to the sky, thoughts turning to his own children. He wondered what heights they might have reached had they still been by his side. His daughter had once interacted with Ye Fan, but now, such reflections were futile. He could only hope his children would return.

In the Central Plains, within the Yin-Yang Sect, a group of people sat in uneasy silence. Fourteen years had passed, and the man had returned, filling their hearts with trepidation.

In the Western Desert, An Miaoyi received the news, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light. A faint smile played on her lips as she mused, "Can one truly become invincible in this life, breaking all obstacles with mere fists?"

In the central Eastern Wasteland, an old man with disheveled white hair, tall but unable to stand upright, and dull, lifeless eyes, gazed into the distance with an air of profound weariness. "My son, Peng'er, could have fought him back then," he murmured. "But he died young, perishing within the Heaven Pass created by the Great Sage of the Peng Clan."

With a desolate sigh, he seemed to age five hundred years in an instant. His eyes grew even dimmer, and cloudy tears streamed down his heavily wrinkled face.

It was the Golden-winged Old Peng King, once a formidable Demon King of his generation. Now, he resembled an old man in his twilight years, his once golden hair completely white and devoid of luster.

Suddenly, his expression froze. He rose from a small, dilapidated teahouse, his body swaying, and fixed his golden gaze on a young man walking down the street, two rays of light shooting from his eyes.

"His demeanor is remarkably similar to my Peng'er's," he thought, "taciturn and bearing a stubborn expression..."

Ahead, a young man, covered in blood, clearly showed signs of a fierce battle. His face was etched with unyielding resolve, his features sharp, and his eyes firm.

"Young man, what is your name?" the Old Peng King asked, stepping forward.

"Long Yuxuan," the young man replied.

The Old Peng King's hand trembled as he reached out a rough palm, but Long Yuxuan swiftly blocked it, his eyes snapping open with a challenging glint, and his brow furrowed in a sharp, determined line.

"Good... indeed, very similar. I refuse to believe no one can pass the Heaven Pass left by my Peng Clan's Great Sage. This old man shall fulfill his final wish and attempt it!"

In the central region of the Eastern Wasteland, upon hearing of Ye Fan's Saint Slaughter, Feng Huang's five-colored mask shone brilliantly. Streaks of immortal radiance shimmered around her, accentuating her slender and graceful form, making her even more captivating.

She couldn't help but murmur to herself, "He actually slaughtered a Saint..."

Outside her window, rain lashed against plantain leaves amidst flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder. She stood transfixed, speechless for a moment.

"Hehehe..." A chilling, sinister laugh echoed from a miniature world. Anyone who heard it would surely tremble in fear, for it was the aura of an ancient Saint of the Killing Path!

The ancient divine temple was unsettling: its carpet was fashioned from the divine hide of a Saint, and the hall itself was constructed from the piled skulls of various kings, appearing eerily white and crystalline. A frigid aura permeated the space, making it feel as though one had stepped into the Nine Netherworlds.

In the Northern Region, the Holy Maiden of Jade Lake, with her bright eyes and pearly teeth, sat cross-legged beneath an ancient peach tree. Facing a crystalline Stone King, she fell into a pensive trance upon hearing the news.

"Brother, where are you going?" asked the graceful and immaculate Fire Kylin'er within the Fire Kylin Cave, where blue light pulsed. Inside the ancient cavern, purple flames danced, kylins lay prostrate, and the scent of ancient herbs wafted through the air.

"It truly is him. I want to see for myself if he has really become that powerful," said Fire Kylinzi, his body lean and robust, blue hair streaming around him. "To slaughter a Saint at the sixth minor stage of Immortal Three—it sounds too fantastical!"

On Blood Phoenix Mountain, an ancient Prince, his true form veiled by Dao marks, rose to his full height. "Has he truly reached such a realm of strength?" he declared. "I refuse to believe it; I must challenge him to a battle!"

At the Myriad Dragon Nest, a slender, beautiful woman clad in purple-gold battle armor gazed distantly at the ancient coffin nestled within the chaotic dragon's lair. Then, she abruptly turned, her captivating beauty renowned across the land, her purple eyes crystalline, and her skin luminous. "He really... slaughtered a Saint!?" she breathed.

In the Central Plains, at Qishi Academy.

An old man sat alone in a small tavern, pouring his own drink. He appeared to have failing eyesight, yet no one dared approach him. Business was sparse, for ever since it became known that this was the venerable former Academy Head, all disciples passing by held their breath in deference.

"Hmm, I truly look forward to... the ultimate trial in the starry skies!" he mused. "The Human Sacred Body is indeed remarkable; can he truly slaughter Saints? Yet, I anticipate the emergence of another physique even more. When will a Congenital Sacred Body Dao Embryo be born? Who will truly be the strongest in history?"

In the ancient lands of Yaoguang, immortal mists surged heavenward. For days, the sinkhole had been a scene of intense battle, with ceaseless roars as ancient Saints jointly assaulted the Bronze Immortal Palace, attempting to force it open.

However, the Immortal Palace seemed to be an artifact of true immortal power, capable of withstanding even the attacks of extreme Ancient Imperial Weapons. It remained undamaged, and had even swallowed two ancient Saints, whose fates were now unknown.

Great Sage Huntuo, the Golden King, and Great Sage Qianlun, three primeval giants who had once witnessed the supreme might of the Battle Saint Emperor as he swept across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, now found themselves unable to open the bronze palace.

The bronze palace sealed the entrance to the Chaotic Immortal Land. Unless it was moved, there was no way to enter the tomb of the ancient Great Emperor.

"It seems an all-out battle is inevitable!" declared Great Sage Huntuo.

Qianlun nodded. The purple-gold Myriad Dragon Bell rattled as it vibrated, transforming into a majestic purple dragon. Its radiance surged, tearing open the cosmos and unleashing torrents of chaos!

Above the abyss, Gai Jiuyou frowned. "They haven't truly activated their Ancient Imperial Weapons yet," he observed, "holding back due to apprehension of an Ancient Great Emperor's killing array within the Immortal Palace. Now, it appears they are getting serious; perhaps they truly can open it."

On the other side, the Golden Mace transformed into a beam of eternal immortal light, illuminating the vast sky and carving out a brilliance that astonished all ages. The ancient imperial aura within it revived, then surged with power!

In this place, it was as if an Ancient Emperor was awakening. They were determined to forcefully cleave open the Immortal Palace, unwilling to delay any further.

Everyone's expression grew solemn, for as the Immortal Palace was agitated, the character for 'Immortal' inscribed within became even more potent and blood-stained. The scriptures chanted from within shook the entire cosmos, filling all beings with dread!

"Cleave it open!" Great Sage Huntuo exclaimed, his eyes burning with fervor. "There must be secrets related to immortals within!"

Rumble!

Heaven and earth inverted as if ancient emperors had resurrected. The purple-gold Myriad Dragon Bell and the Golden Mace radiated an immortal divine brilliance, striking directly at the Bronze Immortal Palace!

In the Southern Domain, within the Barren Ancient Forbidden Land, the clanking of iron chains echoed throughout the heavens. What began as sounds traveling hundreds of miles soon extended for thousands, then tens of thousands of miles. Every living creature within this vast region prostrated themselves in reverence.

A lone figure stood suspended in the void, directly above the abyss, firmly bound by four immortal chains forged from divine gold. The figure struggled with immense force, and incredibly, the nine sacred mountains themselves began to tremble, seemingly on the verge of being ripped from the ground!

This was undeniably terrifying. The silence of ages was shattered this dawn, tranquility giving way to a profound disturbance. The aura of an ancient Great Emperor surged forth, cutting across the Three Realms and Six Paths, piercing through past, present, and future.

At that very moment, a soft cry erupted from the Barren Ancient Forbidden Land, like the call of an immortal. The void began to shatter inch by inch, and the boundless sky disintegrated into chaos, leaving nothing behind.

Immediately after, an excruciatingly piercing metallic tremor ripped through the air. The four divine chains—Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, Divine Mark Purple Gold, Immortal Tear Green Gold, and Eternal Blue Gold—all snapped, and a blurry figure shot heavenward!

With a soft cry, the ages trembled. The river of time seemed to churn, threatening to reverse its flow. Across the entire Southern Domain, a land of unknown vastness spanning countless miles, every single being shuddered, overcome with fear, and prostrated themselves.

An instant later, this sensation vanished. All beings felt as though they had woken from a profound dream, utterly unaware of what had transpired.

Upon the nine sacred mountains, a slender figure stood amidst the swirling clouds, hair fluttering. The brief moment she turned her head seemed to stretch for eons; the very Great Dao of the heavens trembled and crumbled in her presence.

Alas, this breathtaking gaze lasted only an instant before turning into cold indifference, swallowed by black mist. It became impossible to discern whether the figure was male or female.

The four divine chains—one radiating crimson light, another shimmering with purple mist, a third sparkling with green light, and a fourth emanating eternal blue radiance—remained wrapped around the figure's four limbs. It was unknown how many tens of thousands of years this being had been imprisoned there.

Yet, the figure's body remained eternally youthful, seemingly untouched by the ravages of time. This was nothing short of a divine miracle!

The figure gazed into the distance, then with a bare hand, tore open the void. A burst of immortal light erupted, and stepping into the rift, the being covered an unknown distance of tens of thousands of miles in an instant.

Almost in the very next moment, the figure appeared in the ancient lands of Yaoguang. This was not achieved by utilizing a spatial gate but by pure physical movement, instantly traversing distances measured in tens of thousands of miles!

Whoosh!

Gai Jiuyou, Wei Yi, and God-King Jiang all recoiled over a thousand miles, their Heavenly Eyes wide as they gazed incredulously at the sinkhole, deeply moved.

"The Desolate One... has appeared!" Wei Yi's lips trembled, his face etched with sorrow, his heart filled with bitterness, and old tears streamed from his mournful eyes.

A slender figure, unchanging through the ages, stood above the sinkhole. Within the hundred thousand mountains, countless ferocious birds and beasts instantly withered into skeletal remains, their life force flowing towards the figure and gathering into her body.

Her eyes were chillingly cold; even ancient Saints would tremble merely by meeting her gaze. A single, focused glance from her, imbued with the immortal power of temporal change, could cause even peerless prodigies to wither into dust, their bodies turning to bone.