Chapter 1366: Star Ruins

Ruins City, located at the heart of the Star Burial Ground, boasts towering walls constructed from lapis lazuli. It shimmers with a cold, eerie glow and is renowned deep within the ancient Human Race path.

Ye Fan gazed at the city, sensing powerful surges of vital energy. He knew an extraordinary powerhouse must be stationed there, given the Emperor's Tomb within the Star Ruins.

With the battle concluded, Ye Fan, not wanting to attract too much attention, used the Heaven-Changing Earth-Shifting technique from his origin arts to reshape the twelve Saints, allowing them to enter the city separately.

Even the Dragon Horse, though reluctant, had now transformed into a red-haired giant. He was quite muscular and domineering, with eyes like brass bells that glowed like torches.

As a Sacred Beast, transforming into a human body was very easy, even if it didn't normally choose a human form; it simply preferred not to do so.

"Even if I transform into a human, I am still superior among humans," the Dragon Horse boasted shamelessly. "In a vast crowd, it's impossible for me not to stand out; this is the innate demeanor of a supreme being."

Unfortunately, when the Golden Lion approached, the Dragon Horse instinctively shut its mouth. This was a man with golden hair flowing freely, like a god, his entire body radiating golden light and his divine bearing magnificent.

Ye Fan was the last to enter the city. After seeing his companions off, he circled the ancient city, which floated in the cosmos, examining the divine chains of law and order on its walls.

As Ye Fan approached the city gates, he suddenly heard the deafening clanking of rattling chains, accompanied by a chilling aura.

He couldn't help but turn to look. A procession, shrouded in mist and moving with great speed, was rapidly approaching in the starry sky, like an army of spectral soldiers passing through.

This was a squad of cold, indifferent soldiers, their entire bodies covered in black armor from head to toe, exuding a chilling and eerie aura.

Ye Fan's heart skipped a beat. His origin arts detected them as a group of dead people, and the feeling was very familiar. Almost instantly, two words appeared in his mind: "Underworld."

The feeling was too similar: these were spectral soldiers, and even more powerful, for they were all Saints. Although clad in black iron armor, they were still distinct from ordinary people, with a pervasive dark mist around them.

They were carrying a bronze coffin, covered in green rust as if it hadn't been opened for millions of years. Inside, there was a strange fluctuation, as if a supreme powerhouse was slumbering within.

The sound originated from the bronze coffin, which was wrapped with iron chains, securing it tightly and making it impossible to open.

This was a strange sight. More than a dozen extremely powerful spectral soldiers flew in carrying a bronze coffin, heading directly into Ruins City. While startling people, it also felt inexplicable.

"People from the Underworld have emerged!" Ye Fan thought to himself, wondering why they were here. Ordinary people certainly wouldn't recognize them, as not everyone possessed origin arts.

Within the bronze coffin, there seemed to be an extremely powerful entity. Although he hadn't seen it, Ye Fan vaguely sensed it was definitely a powerhouse capable of aweing an entire region.

The city guards did not obstruct them. After seeing them display a token, they allowed them to pass. The entire process was utterly calm.

Ye Fan also entered the city smoothly after identifying himself as a trial participant. This ancient city wasn't very strict; it seemed the guards knew this starfield teemed with all sorts of characters and thus turned a blind eye.

Upon entering the city, he immediately sensed an unusual atmosphere. Many people were whispering; cultivators were conversing in both teahouses and taverns.

"How could something like this happen?" one voice asked. "A Yellow Spring descended in the starry sky, as if it connected to the Nine Netherworld Underworld. Evil qi is surging there."

"It's truly too bizarre," another said. "Could it be that the Path to Immortality is about to appear? Even the Yellow Spring of the Nine Nethers has entered the mortal realm, creating such a phenomenon?"

Ye Fan was immediately surprised upon hearing these rumors. Strange changes had occurred here, prompting everyone to discuss them, leaving people very unsettled.

Soon, he learned some specific details: a mysterious Yellow Spring had appeared in the Star Ruins, flowing in the starry sky, and anyone who approached it was instantly dissolved.

This was somewhat inconceivable. For a Nine Nether Yellow Spring to appear in the brilliant starry sky defied common sense, causing both worry and fear.

"What do you know?" someone else chimed in. "How could a Yellow Spring of the underworld appear out of nowhere and flow in the starry sky? A Dao Protector has determined that the Great Emperor's tomb has cracked open, and wisps of vital energy are leaking through the void."

"I've also heard," another added, "that it might be the Great Emperor's tomb cracking, and the aura left by the Emperor's corpse permeated into the waters, transforming into the Yellow Spring flowing out of the tomb."

A Great Emperor's complete corpse has never been seen by anyone in the world. Perhaps they didn't want future generations to witness the sorrow of their invincible lives still succumbing to death.

They wouldn't leave behind any vital blood, immortal bones, or even a single strand of hair, except when a divine thought is born. Otherwise, there would be absolutely no unusual phenomena.

The situation in the Star Ruins was very peculiar. Yellow Spring water had actually appeared in the starry sky near the ancient tomb, flowing out of thin air. If not unprecedented, it was certainly almost so.

Initially, people were very confused, until a Dao Protector arrived. After careful analysis, they concluded that the aura of the Emperor's corpse had permeated the waters within the tomb, thus causing this phenomenon.

This caused a huge uproar in Ruins City. A true Emperor's corpse had always been difficult to behold, comparable to an immortal. Now, with a potential chance to witness, or even obtain it, a sensation was naturally sparked.

Ye Fan was stunned. From the Buried Emperor Star to the ancient Human Race path, he had experienced many things, but this was the first time he had heard news of a Great Emperor's corpse appearing for all cultivators to potentially witness.

Then, his head suddenly buzzed as he sensed big trouble. The people from the Underworld had arrived, and their purpose was obvious: they were here for the Emperor's corpse.

For so many years, spectral soldiers had been transporting corpses across various ancient starfields. It was rumored that once these ancient corpses entered the Underworld, they would regain terrifying combat power.

And here was an Emperor's corpse, almost mythical. Even the mysterious Underworld couldn't sit still; today, they dispatched unparalleled experts. This was to seize immortal bones and build an eternal foundation.

Dragon roars and tiger cries echoed as the ancient city vibrated. People were astonished to discover a blue battle chariot speeding in and entering the city.

The blue battle chariot was actually made of stone, not metal, and was only slightly over a meter long, truly miniature. Pulling the chariot were a purple dragon and a white tiger, each also only about a meter long, entirely crystalline, and made of stone.

Sacred Spirits!

People's expressions changed. These were not humans, but members of the most powerful and terrifying Sacred Spirit race. Their entry into the ancient Human Race city immediately triggered a wave of panic.

These beings were supremely powerful, synonymous with invincibility among their peers. Their numbers were rare, and it was extremely rare to see even a few of them in a vast starfield.

"Fellow Daoist from the Sacred Spirit lineage, why do you intrude upon my Human Race Sacred City?" the Dao Protector stationed in the city transmitted, causing the magnificent giant city to rumble and tremble.

"I have no ill intent," a Daoist stated as he emerged from the meter-long stone chariot. "Passing by the Emperor's Tomb, I sensed something and wish to join you all and observe."

He was entirely greenish-brown, his entire body made of stone, and only slightly over a meter tall. Yet, no one dared to mock him. Although not imposing in stature, he possessed an aura that seemed to swallow the heavens and earth, a peerless and revered bearing.

His eyes were like golden lamps, emitting piercing rays of light that caused people to tremble under the pressure. Fortunately, he had not intentionally released his aura, otherwise, the many heroes would not have been able to withstand it.

Using stone dragons and stone tigers as divine mounts for his chariot, this Sacred Spirit was absolutely extraordinarily powerful, likely no weaker than Sacred Spirits Cang Yan and Ao Mang from the battle at Great Moon Slope over twenty years ago.

Experts from the Underworld and masters from the Sacred Spirit lineage had all arrived.

The corpse of an ancient Great Emperor indeed possessed immense allure, making them unable to resist emerging.

Ye Fan's brows furrowed in worry. The Star Ruins had become a forbidden zone where few dared to venture. With Pang Bo trapped in the tomb, wasn't this dangerous for him?

"There are over a dozen continents in total," he asked someone, "in which area is the Yellow Spring flowing?"

Ye Fan had entered this ancient city to avoid attracting too much trouble. He was very low-key, and as of yet, no one knew he was the Sacred Body, from the Buried Emperor Star.

"In the starry sky near the Cloud Misty Continent," someone replied, informing him of the situation.

Ye Fan breathed a sigh of relief. He had already learned some details: it was not the ancient continent where Pang Bo was, and it was still very far from there. Over a dozen gigantic continents floated in this part of the cosmos, all of them important locations in the Star Ruins.

"The Emperor's corpse might appear in the mortal realm," Ye Fan murmured to himself. "Even I've grown curious and wish to observe it. By then, many experts will likely rush there, and this place will surely fall into great chaos." He decided to quickly go rescue Pang Bo, otherwise, it would likely be very troublesome by then.

Not long after, he left Ruins City. In a secluded spot, he summoned his divine light platform and, according to the celestial coordinates he knew, traversed the void.

It didn't take long before he appeared in the depths of the starfield, where an ancient continent floated, very quiet and gently flowing with the power of the Great Dao.

Cultivators were exploring this continent, though not many, and all had come hoping to profit from the chaos. A while ago, Pang Bo had challenged from deep within the continent's Emperor's Tomb, transmitting his voice outwards, which truly shocked everyone.

Unfortunately, for so many days, no one had been able to break through the great door. Many powerhouses had died in vain, unable to open the underground palace.

Ye Fan searched without any convoluted or bizarre events, nor any complicated and strange incidents. Everything was straightforward, and he directly found the vicinity of the great tomb's entrance.

"Pang Bo..." he transmitted his voice inwards.

The ancient tomb was silent, with no response, just a deathly stillness. Ye Fan's heart sank at that moment, and an ominous feeling arose.

"Pang Bo, I'm here! Are you still there!?" Ye Fan roared loudly, clenching his fists, his heart filled with immense worry and tension.

Pang Bo had stayed to buy him time, luring the Overlord here, exposing himself, and letting the heroes attack this great tomb. But now... had something gone wrong?

Ye Fan's loud roar shook the surrounding mountains and rivers, startling many cultivators exploring the area, who involuntarily turned to look.

"Could it be the Sacred Body has arrived?" everyone wondered with awe, instinctively retreating.

Ye Fan's fierce battle with the Overlord, leading to the Overlord's defeat at the Human Race's Fiftieth City, had long spread throughout the ancient starry road, making all trial participants incredibly wary and regarding him as the most formidable person of the future.

When they speculated he had arrived, people's hearts naturally trembled, and they retreated, fearing unnecessary misunderstandings.

"Is that... Little Ye!?" Suddenly, a voice came from the ancient tomb, so familiar that all of Ye Fan's tension instantly vanished.

"It's me! Why didn't you respond just now?" Ye Fan shouted loudly, his heart filled with excitement. "I'm here to rescue you!"

"I fell asleep hugging a coffin lid just now," Pang Bo replied casually, still retaining his old personality. Clearly, he was also very excited, adding, "Our brothers have finally reunited!"

Ye Fan smiled. Being able to say such a thing proved he was unharmed; otherwise, he wouldn't be so relaxed. "It's been so many years," he said, "how have you been?"

"Everything else is fine," Pang Bo said with a burst of laughter, "it's just that I've been eating coffin lids every day, and I'm sick of it."

In the distance, a group of ascetic cultivators were in tears. That was an Immortal Peach, an immortal medicine, and he was actually sick of eating it! They would rather switch places and be trapped in the great tomb to eat it for a few years.

"Listen to me..." Ye Fan transmitted his voice. This was not the time for reminiscing. He explained the strange occurrences in the Star Ruins, telling Pang Bo that when the heroes attempted to open the Yellow Spring void, he would use the Origin Heaven Divine Array to borrow power from that direction, shatter the area, and help him escape.

"An Emperor's corpse appearing, Little Ye, I don't think this is reliable," Pang Bo said. "There might be something else in here!" Being inside the Great Emperor's ancient tomb, he naturally knew more than others.

Ye Fan nodded. "I also feel there's something strange," he said, "but that's not important. As long as the heroes exert their power, I will use the Origin Heaven Divine Array to borrow it and get you out first!"