Chapter 1368: Star Cloud

"The movements of heaven and earth have their ultimate ends; the sun, moon, and five planets experience their waxing and waning; even the most revered divine beings face decline..."

In the void, a bronze lamp flickered, casting faint glimmers of light. The Celestial Venerable's scripture resonated in all directions, penetrating the starry sky, enlightening evil beings, and suppressing the calamity of immortality.

Ye Fan listened intently to the Scripture of Deliverance, deep in thought. He realized that this seemingly most useless scripture would shine brightly in the future, suppressing the catastrophe of the corpses.

From the mythical era to the late Heavenly Court period, then to the time of the Primordial Emperors, and finally to the Age of Great Emperors, one supreme being after another rose, creating eras of immortal splendor, only to grow old and pass away. Too much had transpired.

How could such exceptional figures, who overlooked the myriad heavens throughout eternity, be content with their bodies perishing and their dao fading away? Having swept across three thousand realms and ascended nine heavens, proclaiming themselves supreme above and below, they would naturally not succumb to fate.

Upon reaching such realms, eternal life became their sole pursuit. Naturally, various methods were devised, some of which have surfaced to this day.

The Seal of Reincarnation, burying oneself in places of ultimate cosmic creation, and similar practices, were all linked to the corpse calamity, seemingly foretelling something.

"In the boundless eons of chaos, there is no color above, no abyss below; wind and marsh penetrate the void, vajra ascends to heaven. Above and below, there is no darkness, no obscurity, no form, no shadow, no limit, no end; only the primordial, vast Brahma..."

The Scripture of Deliverance continued to resound. Ye Fan seemed to enter a meditative state, listening to its meaning and pondering silently. For a moment, only the scripture's recitation filled the heavens and earth, as if even the Yellow Springs were drying up, suppressed by its power.

The ancient lamp flickered, emitting divine light, making Ye Fan appear like an immaculate, luminous immortal body, ethereal and transcendent beneath the starry sky.

The human-faced ghost flowers in the void trembled, almost withering, then retreated, letting out a low growl like gods or demons before vanishing into nothingness.

Ye Fan recalled a line from the Scripture of Deliverance and whispered, "Deceased souls are refined, living bodies are delivered; existing throughout eons, turning with the eons."

A platform of divine light emerged, radiating colorful rays and opening a star-gate. He flashed into it, disappearing from that spot and instantly reappearing outside Ruin City.

No one dared to forcefully trespass into the mausoleum of an ancient Great Emperor, as it meant certain death. Even a Celestial Source Master like him would find it difficult to disturb an Emperor's corpse; only a collective effort of all great heroes could breach it.

The Starcloud Tower, a treasure forged from star fragments, was entirely crystalline, emitting a soft, silvery-white glow imbued with a pure, sacred power.

Located in the heart of Ruin City, it was renowned, and powerful cultivators often enjoyed resting there. Legend had it that this inn was left behind by a Quasi-Emperor.

Back then, no one knew the old man was a Quasi-Emperor; even the city's greeter was unaware. It was only when he passed away, turning into ashes, and at his final moment emitted wisps of Emperor's might that caused the stars to tremble, that people were stunned.

Of course, that was one hundred and ten to one hundred and twenty thousand years ago. The appearance of a Quasi-Emperor in any era was an extraordinary event, shaking heaven and earth and astounding the mortal realm.

In any star domain, it would inspire worship, as achieving the Dao was exceedingly difficult; those who reached this stage throughout history were few and well-documented.

Unknown in life, he was only recognized after death. Peerless masters, Dharma Protectors, and great Saints of that era all came to pay their respects.

People learned some secrets from his neighbors: this low-key Quasi-Emperor had once sighed in loneliness, wondering how someone like Wushi could emerge and be so incredibly powerful.

It was then that people understood he might have been a supreme existence who contended for the supreme position with Wushi. Yet, no matter how unparalleled and brilliant, he could not defeat the Great Emperor who made even gods tremble.

Born in the wrong era, he could only withdraw from the stage in obscurity.

Otherwise, he might have become a Human Emperor. Unfortunately, he encountered the heaven-defying Wushi, rarely seen throughout eternity, and thus had to retreat and live out his solitary final years there.

Ye Fan, naturally, had also come out of admiration. After learning some details, he was filled with curiosity about the place and wanted to see it for himself.

A pair of stone lions in front of the entrance bore the marks of time, even covered in moss, yet no one dared to underestimate them, as this was, after all, a place where a Quasi-Emperor once resided.

The Starcloud Tower, however, did not appear old; its luster remained, and its starlight never dimmed. Ascending the stone steps, one could feel a gentle and serene power; even hidden injuries in the body could heal instantly.

Naturally, some masters had studied it, stating that it was not an offensive artifact, nor even a weapon, but rather an excellent building for nurturing life.

Most people who came to Ruin City would visit it.

Ye Fan ascended the steps, reaching the exquisite tower. Starlight streamed inside, making him feel invigorated and light. The tower contained spatial formations, which made the interior appear very spacious, capable of accommodating many people.

Naturally, there were many cultivators in the Starcloud Tower, gathered in groups of three or five, deep in conversation. Most who came here sought to join the bustle, listening to their peers share the latest news and secret stories.

Ye Fan found an inconspicuous table, drinking alone, quietly listening to the conversations. He learned that many prominent figures were preparing to explore the Yellow Springs region.

"The true burial site of the ancient Great Emperor has appeared! The powerful figures can finally no longer sit still. Who knows who will gain greatly this time?"

"I think it's a great calamity," another retorted. "From ancient times until now, if a Human Emperor does not wish his tomb to be breached, who can easily steal from it?"

The crowd discussed, unanimously guessing that it would likely lead to bloodshed. This was a time of trouble, and many might rush there only to perish.

At this time, the most discussed topics were naturally the great tomb and the Emperor's corpse, with many conjectures, quite a few of which came from the Human Race's Dharma Protectors.

"It's rumored that this Great Emperor is from an extremely distant past, perhaps far older than anyone could have imagined."

Some believed that the Great Emperor's body might have encountered a problem, likely not having dissolved into the Dao. The Emperor's corpse had slipped, cracking the great tomb and exposing it to the mortal world.

"They say it's a mausoleum, but it might be a vast secret realm, perhaps incredibly expansive, otherwise how could a great yellow river flow from it?"

People debated animatedly.

Someone also mentioned Ye Fan; his battle against the Overlord had a massive impact and was a focal point of discussion. Many felt he might have already arrived but simply hadn't revealed himself.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the staircase. More people were coming up, a common sight with the constant flow of visitors.

However, the moment this group appeared, they immediately drew considerable attention. Leading them was an unparalleled beauty, like a celestial fairy ascending to the Heavenly Palace, graceful and ethereal.

"Oh, isn't that Fairy Qing Shi? She's returned to the Star Ruins, here for the Emperor's Tomb?"

"It truly is the Exiled Immortaless, one of the most powerful individuals in the depths of the Human Race's Ancient Road. She allied with Ditian, traversed over a dozen golden secret realms, and obtained heaven-defying great fortunes."

Fairy Qing Shi was famous throughout the Ancient Road. Over the years, she had visited Ruin City more than once for the Emperor's Tomb. Her reappearance here naturally led to her recognition by many, and her unparalleled beauty made it impossible for her not to attract attention.

Known as the Exiled Immortaless, she was a focal point wherever she went. Both her cultivation and her appearance were rarely seen on the Ancient Road.

It wasn't until she went upstairs that people noticed the individuals behind her. Each possessed a distinct temperament, some with awe-inspiring might, others tranquil and serene, clearly not ordinary.

"Those are several of Ditian's top experts! Two of them are… the Qilin Holy Envoy and the Vermilion Bird Holy Envoy. They've returned with Fairy Qing Shi, which means Ditian might reappear as well."

These individuals had also once been famous on the Ancient Road, but ultimately, they were all subjugated by Ditian, with the Qilin Holy Envoy and the Vermilion Bird Holy Envoy being the most prominent.

Fairy Qing Shi moved gracefully, her precious robes seemingly condensed from moonlight, light and sacred. Her dark hair flowed, and with bright eyes and pearly teeth, she directly chose a quiet spot to sit.

The others followed. Only Fairy Qing Shi's maid, Ling'er, was lively; the rest were very composed and spoke little.

Their table was not far from Ye Fan's, and they could see each other. However, Ye Fan had been very low-key since entering the city, not wanting to become the center of attention. He hadn't revealed his true form, so even sitting nearby, no one knew he had arrived.

Soon, people shifted their attention, no longer overly focusing on Fairy Qing Shi and her group. This was because even Dharma Protectors and Holy Spirits had arrived in Ruin City, some possibly even within this very tower.

"I wonder if the Sacred Body from Burial Emperor Star has arrived. I can't believe he defeated an Overlord of the same realm; it's truly beyond expectation!" spoke the Vermilion Bird Holy Envoy, a spirited young man with phoenix eyes, who exuded an air of quiet authority even while seated.

"He is certainly extraordinary," another commented. "Besides our Lord, he also possesses the Origin of Dao. However, innately, he is ultimately a level below, not recognized by the Origin of Dao."

The Qilin Holy Envoy, stout and with chilling eyes, stated, "Our Lord once sent people to recruit him, but he refused and killed them. He is defiant and destined to be an enemy."

"Those people were quite embarrassing," chuckled the lively maid Ling'er, who had been present at the time.

Ditian's top experts remained expressionless, finding it awkward to retort in front of Fairy Qing Shi.

"By refusing our Lord back then, a battle was already inevitable!" the Qilin Holy Envoy said gravely.

"But we must admit, he is incredibly heaven-defying and uniquely brilliant! If such an opponent were to grow, it would truly be a terrifying prospect," said the Vermilion Bird Holy Envoy.

Fairy Qing Shi said nothing, appearing detached. Everyone treated her with great respect, not daring to disturb her. At this moment, her gaze subtly shifted, casually glancing at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan's heart stirred. Had this woman recognized him? If she truly could discern his true form, her spiritual perception was frighteningly keen.

"With his heaven-defying abilities, if we could find a way to subdue him and have him serve our Lord, it would certainly shake the entire Human Race's Ancient Road!" the Qilin Holy Envoy said chillingly.

Suddenly, the staircase shook, and the entire Starcloud Tower trembled. A figure appeared there, not particularly tall or even appearing somewhat frail, yet it instilled a profound dread, causing all the heroes to feel a jolt of fear.

A chilling aura of blood emanated from him; it was unknown how many he had killed. He seemed to have slaughtered myriad beings and even gods, having walked out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Even Saints would involuntarily shiver upon seeing him. This person was like a god or demon, devouring heaven and earth with his aura. His gaze was terrifying, yet in an instant, his eyes became hollow like an abyss.

Clad in armor, his form was indistinct, yet one could feel his supreme powerful aura, as if he were a god or demon who had once slain millions of beings and broken free from the shackles of hell.

"The Great Demon God Gu Huang! He's returned too!" someone exclaimed.

As he began to walk, many people stood up in shock, vacating numerous seats. Everyone knew he was bloodthirsty; his fearsome reputation and supreme divine might were stained with blood, with countless corpses lying beneath his feet.

He went straight to an empty seat and sat down without a word. The tables around him emptied completely; no one dared to sit nearby.

"He's back too..." The Vermilion Bird Holy Envoy and others looked grim. This was the most terrifying Great Demon God, who had slaughtered until the Ancient Road itself collapsed, truly chilling.