Chapter 1313: 准帝止戈

Chapter 1315: The Quasi-Emperor Halts the Conflict

The great war was drawing to a close. A piece of news from the starry sky sent shockwaves, grabbing attention from all directions!

It came so suddenly, leaving everyone stunned. The conflict had spread and reached a fever pitch when such news was announced—it was truly unexpected.

"The news is absolutely accurate, without a shred of falsehood. The war, which has lasted for twenty-one years, is finally nearing its end..."

In this great upheaval, countless lives were lost, making it a true catastrophe. The news of the ceasefire swept across the starry sky.

"Many things have occurred in the depths of the universe, beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators. All parties compromised, and thus the conflict had to cease!"

Some secret rumors quickly spread. Some said an ancient beast appeared, devouring the heavens and earth, destroying many star systems ahead, even defeating Great Saints.

Others claimed that an supreme Saint Spirit Lord, who had not participated in the war, arrived, obtained the Heaven-Mending Art, and reached a consensus with the human race after secret discussions, thus deciding to withdraw troops.

Still others said that the Path to Immortality had opened, and many Great Saints, disregarding everything else, rushed towards the Buried Emperor Star, unwilling to miss a once-in-an-epoch immortal opportunity.

Some cultivators also said that someone was about to achieve Dao, enduring the Great Emperor Tribulation in this star system, and if they failed, countless powerful cultivators might perish as a result.

Furthermore, some claimed that an Emperor's tomb existed on the ancient human path, and when peerless prodigies like the Great Demonic God and Di Tian explored it, the tomb cracked open, and an ancient coffin flew out, causing a massive upheaval.

There were many rumors, making it difficult to discern truth from falsehood.

"I received definite news: nine true dragons pulled an ancient coffin across the dark universe, and Great Saints from several races pursued it," someone stated emphatically, with great certainty.

Immediately, a cultivator countered, saying, "The Nine Dragons Pulling Coffin appeared on this path a hundred thousand years ago. How could it reappear? Is this some kind of cycle?"

One thing people were certain of was that something unimaginable must have happened in the starry sky; otherwise, the various races would never have ceased fighting.

Half a month later, the situation became clearer. One or two of the rumors might have been true, and this ceasefire was, in fact, the result of multiple factors converging.

Clearly, these were far-reaching major events, and it was difficult for people to determine which were true. Only one thing was certain: the various races were negotiating peace, and the flames of war were truly about to die down.

"Oh no, an evil god has turned hostile, attacking on the ancient star where peace talks were held! A bloody battle ensued, and a Great Saint was killed!"

The dawn of peace had appeared and spread everywhere, but unfortunately, it was immediately overshadowed. Bad news came from the starry sky, suggesting the disaster might not cease.

People across the entire star system instantly felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, becoming tense again. The various powerful figures showed worry; the situation had, unexpectedly, regressed!

For a full half month, it was a long and anxious waiting period, with shadows lingering in people's hearts. Only at the very last moment did the gloom gradually dissipate.

"A compromise has been reached! The protectors of this star system gathered and finally achieved a consensus: the war is about to end!"

The star system erupted in cheers, with countless people celebrating. All races felt a profound sense of relief, as if a colossal weight had been lifted.

The great war was about to conclude; the conflict, which had lasted twenty-one years, was finally nearing its end.

Everyone was exhausted. None of the groups—the Saint Spirit Race, the Light Race, or the Human Race—could be considered victors; all had paid a bloody price and suffered immense devastation. The curtain was finally about to fall.

Some major races, like the Yuan Demon Race and the Ao Spirit Race, had long been unable to endure the intense fighting. In this war, their populations were ravaged, casualties were heavy, and they were nearly wiped out.

"The cessation of the conflict was the result of multiple factors converging, but ultimately, there was one main reason for its success: a human cultivator named Gai Jiuyou arrived and forcefully brought about a ceasefire!"

Who was he? All races were shocked and perplexed. Just one person had changed the entire situation.

Recently, people had been very anxious; the war had lasted too long, and they yearned for peace. It was unimaginable that such a mysterious figure would arrive and wield such influence.

"He is... a Quasi-Emperor, a supreme being who once had the potential to achieve Dao. The conflict ceased at the last moment due to his forceful intervention!"

The starry sky was abuzz; this was a colossal sensation that swept across the star system and reached all races, causing a powerful tremor in the hearts of all mighty figures. There were always legends of Emperors, but who had ever seen one? Had a true Quasi-Emperor truly appeared now?

Twenty-one years had passed, and this war was far more brutal than imagined. Without external intervention, treasures like the Heaven-Mending Art and the Stone Token could have prolonged the conflict for another hundred years.

A man named Gai Jiuyou arrived and changed everything.

Everything about him quickly spread, and all cultivators paid close attention.

"He is a living Quasi-Emperor, truly invincible under this starry sky. All races are terrified, fearing annihilation."

"No, that's wrong. He has fallen from his peak many years ago. His vitality is depleted, and he is old and frail; his glory cannot continue."

Gai Jiuyou's arrival, carrying two ancient Great Emperor weapons, indeed caused a huge sensation! It deterred all major powerful races; both Saint Spirits and Evil Gods fell silent.

Who could contend with one man standing alone under the starry sky? With one Emperor Weapon for offense and another for defense, he reigned supreme in the world. Once his command was given, none dared to disobey!

Three years had passed since Ye Fan advanced to the eighth heaven of the Saint realm. In these years, he was like a war god of a realm, roaming freely and fighting battles everywhere.

Bloody battles, repeated trials of life and death, and constant tempering solidified his realm, reinforced his Dao foundation, and made his resolve to achieve Dao as firm as a rock, unshakable!

The dark blood divine halo formed by bathing in saint blood, along with the golden curse unleashed by the Saint Spirit Race, merged behind him, transforming into a brilliant aura representing majesty and power.

Like a piece of immortal fire dancing, gold and blood intertwined, incredibly resplendent. This was the aura of one who had slain the mightiest of mighty, traversed mountains of corpses and seas of blood, reigning supreme in a realm. Wherever he passed, powerful beings submitted, and foreign races trembled!

Over the past three years, Ye Fan had gained more followers. Including the Dragon Horse and the Nine-tailed Alligator Dragon, there were a total of twelve individuals, all of whom had reached the Saint rank—a formidable fighting force that could not be ignored.

Half of them were ancient beasts, subdued by the Dragon Horse and the Nine-tailed Alligator Dragon, evolving from initial defiance to now swearing their lives in loyalty. Several others belonged to foreign races with weak racial consciousness who revered strength; under the deterrence of Ye Fan's peerless might, they eventually joined him on his journey.

Now, on this stretch of the ancient path, few dared to contend with them. The Human Holy Body, leading twelve Saint-rank warriors, was invincible!

They had forged a formidable reputation; even Saint Kings were unwilling to provoke them, because this was a group of extraordinary Saints, each incomparably powerful, far surpassing ordinary ancient Saints.

"The Holy Body from the Buried Emperor Star has rarely taken action in the past two years. His twelve Saints alone are enough to sweep across a realm, a team of paramount experts. Who would dare to challenge such world-shaking power?"

As the starry sky conflict ceased and the fighting subsided, Ye Fan frowned, restraining his twelve Saints and making them considerably more discreet.

This was because Great Sage Cang Yan was now free. No longer pursuing the Heaven-Mending Art, with the war extinguished, he began searching for their whereabouts, intending to capture them and vent his anger.

"What a formidable individual! He even plundered the solar star cave abode of Great Sage Cang Yan, a Saint Spirit who was just a step away from entering the Quasi-Emperor realm. Truly audacious!"

People could only exclaim in such awe. After twenty-one years of dominating this star system, what else would Ye Fan not dare to do? Countless famous figures and geniuses had perished at his hands.

This was a formidable reputation forged through battle!

Although Great Sage Cang Yan was enraged, he could not find their traces. For all these years, Ye Fan and his twelve Saints had remained unharmed and lived well.

"It's time for us to embark and head into the deepest parts of the universe." The ancient starry road, interrupted for twenty-one years, was now reconnected. Ye Fan decided to set off, beginning a new journey, having lingered too long in the star system of the Human Race's Tenth City.

After so many years of bloody battles, Ye Fan was qualified to receive a Divine Light Platform as a reward. Unfortunately, with the star system crumbling and many ancient human cities ruined, such a rare treasure was not available in the short term and could only be bestowed in the future.

After twenty-one years of bloody warfare, no one could explain where the Heaven-Mending Art had ended up.

Ye Fan and his group of thirteen set off. Great Sage Cang Yan wanted to pursue them, but in the end, he was unable to act.

Gai Jiuyou stood in the starry sky, issuing a stern warning to all races: anyone who dared to intrude upon the ancient human path and violate the undeniable territory of the human race would be killed without mercy!

This was not a hollow "serious protest" but a concrete action. He used iron-blooded means to obliterate a foreign race of moderate size, after which no one dared to trespass on human territory again.

Although Gai Jiuyou's vitality was depleted and his body frail, merely revealing a wisp of Quasi-Emperor pressure, accompanied by two Emperor Weapons, was enough to deter all races from acting rashly.

Some powerful races were unwilling to give up, determined to obtain the Heaven-Mending Art. Furthermore, the Light Race, at the last moment, even brought forth an ancient ultimate weapon like the Divine Refining Pot, leading to a half-month standoff, but ultimately they retreated.

They feared annihilation, because a Quasi-Emperor was not to be trifled with. If he were to act without restraint, even if he had fallen from his former divine peak, he could still fight to the death and eliminate several major races.

Ye Fan and his group passed through more than ten ancient lands, observing widespread destruction. The Human Saint Cities along this stretch of the ancient path had crumbled, leaving broken walls, ruined foundations, and debris floating in space. They had not been rebuilt in haste; only the five-colored altars had been reset.

Along this path, they traveled unhindered. Many ancient trial grounds had been forced to close, and they continued forward until they reached the Human Race's Thirtieth Pass before stopping.

This place was even more devastated. An entire ancient life star had been shattered, its soil and rocks scattered, leaving a desolate landscape.

An envoy appeared and received them with great respect. The reputation of the Holy Body from the Buried Star had long spread here in recent years; this was a "seed" that many old figures had been anticipating.

"There was originally a very important ancient life star here, where an ancient Saint Spirit ancestor from the mythical era was buried. This time, when the demonic well burst open, it was also destroyed."

There were a total of seven ancient wells, located in seven different realms, leading to the death of an average of one Great Saint per major race. Although the human race did not suffer the loss of a powerhouse of that level, two life stars were destroyed, resulting in equally heavy losses.

This place was extremely important for trial-takers, an ancient land where one had to meditate and gain insights seriously, unlike ordinary trial grounds.

"This star no longer exists. Do you choose to continue forward or cross over to another ancient star?" the envoy asked.

After discussions, the envoys, enforcers, and protectors on this path made a compensation, opening a branch path that led to a life-sustaining land even superior to this star, allowing trial-takers to choose for themselves.

"We will go to the branch ancient star, gain insights, and then return," Ye Fan decided.

They ascended the five-colored altar, entered the space-time tunnel, and amidst shimmering divine light, eventually vanished from the altar. Ahead lay a prosperous ancient land of life.

Time was chaotic, and the void flickered between light and darkness. The tunnel sometimes overflowed with chaotic energy, and at other times transformed into transparent crystal walls. Ye Fan and his group witnessed various bizarre and magnificent cosmic wonders.

"The Nine-Layered Coffin from the mythical era, buried above the nine heavens!" the Dragon Horse suddenly exclaimed.

Ye Fan glanced back, hastily catching sight of a giant coffin, resembling the one he had seen before, belonging to... the Void Emperor! Unfortunately, the crystal wall dimmed, and everything quickly vanished.

"These are all residual scenes from the past. Perhaps they are afterimages from a hundred thousand years ago, or perhaps glimpses of it passing through here decades ago. No one can grasp its true trajectory," one of the twelve Saints remarked.

After an unknown period, myriad rays of light streamed into the tunnel, and the path ahead gradually brightened—it was sunlight. They had arrived at an ancient land.

Boom!

The sea surged, vast and boundless, truly magnificent. They landed on the shore, the roaring waves deafening.

"Oh, what a grand display!"

Nine Azure Luan pulled a divine carriage, flying from the depths of the sea, traversing the sky. A long voice emanated from the carriage, saying, "Many thanks to the South Sea Dragon King for your generous hospitality. We bid you farewell now."

Ye Fan's expression froze, revealing a look of disbelief. He saw the person inside the divine carriage; it was an old acquaintance!