Chapter 1389: Emperor's Honor

Chaos surged and electric arcs intertwined, forming a terrifying ocean. Within it, one majestic heavenly palace after another stood side by side, accompanied by numerous ancient towers. They appeared ancient and weathered, yet grand and imposing.

Ye Fan was covered in blood. Even with the "Zhè" character secret, his physical condition was dire after fighting for so long. These adversaries were all young Great Emperors; each one was a peerless prodigy of their generation. Surviving even one of them would be a miracle.

Each heavenly palace was magnificent, their divine tiles gleaming with brilliant luster, as if forged from divine metal through a thousand refinements, appearing incredibly lifelike.

They didn't seem to be formed from lightning at all; it was as if one were truly walking in an ancient Heavenly Court. Intricately carved railings and jade-like masonry, staircases resembling white marble, were simple yet profound. The streets were wide, and the palaces were wreathed in chaotic mist.

Ye Fan fixed his gaze on one palace, not knowing who was inside. His choice was casual, with no particular pattern to follow, and he strode forward.

This time, the feeling was peculiar. This palace seemed simple, but vaguely exuded an aura that could suppress all ages. Its glazed tiles, though plain, held a sense of grandeur, radiating immense power.

Ye Fan frowned, feeling he might have fallen into another trap. "Could it be an ancient figure similar to the Undying Sovereign?" he wondered. But his foot had already stepped forward; there was no reason to retreat.

The colossal gate was tall, inscribed with various runes. Lightning flashed and thunder roared around it, as if a living Great Emperor slept within, allowing no disturbance from outsiders.

The moment Ye Fan's hand touched the gate, he was struck by a powerful tremor. With a rumble, it felt as if the cosmos itself had collapsed, pressing down on him, making him gasp for breath, his bones creaking.

"Who is this?" He pushed open the dust-covered colossal gate with force. Electric arcs burst forth, making his palms and fingers bleed.

"Boom!" With a mighty roar, a sound like the heavens collapsing echoed from within the colossal gate, so powerful it almost shattered people's souls. A bright flame, formed from spiritual power at Ye Fan's brow, flickered violently.

This was an immense aura, imbued with ancient meaning, deeply shocking. Faintly, all heavens and myriad domains seemed to resonate, and the sounds of gods worshipping could be heard.

A true dragon danced across, an immortal phoenix spread its wings, a white tiger pounced, and a Qilin raised its head. They surged forth from the great hall, as if descending from the immortal realm, utterly astonishing.

Ye Fan was immediately stunned. "How is this great hall so special?" he thought. Four powerful creatures had suddenly rushed out. All possessed heaven-defying combat power, terrifyingly immense, filling the entrance of the hall.

The true dragon roared, and the Nine Heavens trembled. The immortal phoenix underwent Nirvana, its vibrant plumage rending the sky. The white tiger roared, shattering rivers and mountains. The Qilin charged, destroying stars and eclipsing moons.

When these creatures attacked simultaneously, the scene was incredibly astonishing. These were ancient immortal beasts, unseen in the mortal world. How had they all transformed into lightning and appeared here?

Chaotic energy surged, and this place exhibited myriad phenomena. Auspicious energy swept across, and the Four Divine Beasts appeared together. They emitted ten thousand feet of propitious light, enveloping the area, as if a Heavenly Emperor had descended to inspect, with the four beasts guarding the four directions.

This was like something out of a myth; anyone who witnessed it would be shocked.

"Kill!" Ye Fan shouted. He refused to believe these were actual immortal spirits; at most, they were imprints. Immortals did not exist in the world, so no traces could be found here.

He immediately launched a deadly assault, deploying all his secret techniques. The battle against the Four Divine Beasts was fierce, a terrifying and bloody spectacle.

Primordial Magnetic Immortal Light shot forth. Innumerable streams of auspicious energy, tens of thousands of them, could make one's spirit resonate until it shattered. It entangled with the true dragon, stirring heavenly winds and tearing apart the universe.

Five-element divine light transformed into five precious swords, arrayed behind Ye Fan, clashing with the immortal phoenix with ringing sounds. Vibrant phoenix feathers fell, and phoenix blood splattered heavenward.

His Six Paths Samsara Fist pressed forward relentlessly. Ye Fan's golden fist continuously slammed into the white tiger. The tiger roared across the sky, and both emitted brilliant, dazzling light.

This was a major battle. Ye Fan used all his abilities, fighting fiercely with these creatures. This was the first time he had encountered and fought non-Great Emperor beings within the sea of lightning.

It was truly an unexpected turn. After pushing open the door of this majestic heavenly palace, he actually encountered these creatures. This was vastly different from previous encounters; these seemed to be immortal beasts guarding the ancient towers.

In this battle, Ye Fan encountered great trouble. There were not only these four creatures in the heavenly palace; as the battle progressed, Xuanwu, Tengshe, and Kunpeng also appeared, all pouncing on him with boundless terror.

The sight was astonishing, making one wonder if they had arrived in the mythical era, witnessing one supreme ancient beast after another. Battles raged continuously, and a primal, wild aura permeated the air.

Moreover, at this moment, all the ancient runes on the colossal gate began to glow, transforming into streams of illusory figures. Ancient pioneers and prehistoric beings manifested together, charging forward.

Simultaneously, heavenly soldiers and generals surged from within the hall. How could Ye Fan, even if he were made of iron, withstand such an onslaught? In an instant, golden blood splattered, and he suffered severe injuries.

He immediately knew who sat on the central throne. With such immense power, capable of devouring the cosmos, in that ancient era, it could only be him.

The Emperor Venerate! Besides him, it was truly hard to imagine anyone else who could establish the Ancient Heavenly Court, govern all domains, issue laws, and be revered by all gods.

This was a person who was both divine and illusory. Ye Fan charged fiercely into the hall. Fortunately, the countless legions only attacked for a while before retreating like a tide.

Otherwise, just the true dragon, immortal phoenix, white tiger, Kunpeng, and others would be terrifying beyond compare. A peerless prodigy, if surrounded by them for long, would surely meet a bitter end.

Only the Emperor Venerate could command such a grand spectacle, revered through all ages. Otherwise, how could such ancient beings serve as guardians? One couldn't help but sigh in awe; the Emperor Venerate was supreme.

Ye Fan, bleeding profusely, passed through the human wall of heavenly soldiers and generals. Behind him, the figures slowly faded, until they vanished completely.

In the deepest part of the great hall, someone seemed to be seated, yet it also seemed like nothing was there. It was a blur, and the void itself was twisting.

Ye Fan walked forward, his feet leaving two golden blood trails on the ground. He tried his utmost to clear his mind and body. It seemed an unprecedented fierce battle lay ahead. His physical condition was truly not good at the moment, but for the Myriad Materia Mother Qi Cauldron, he had to persevere.

He knew clearly in his heart that continuing this fight would benefit his cauldron. Clashing with various Emperor artifacts, it would break and then rebuild, becoming even stronger than before.

He drew closer, approaching the center of the great hall. On the throne, it was as if a massive mountain lay across, its pressure almost suffocating.

An aura of ultimate supremacy and might enveloped everything, surging towards Ye Fan. It was as if a supreme celestial god was looking down upon all living beings.

Ye Fan's expression suddenly changed. This person was too powerful, suppressing all heavens and myriad realms, supreme throughout ancient times. One couldn't help but want to surrender.

Below the steps, all the gods were prostrating themselves in worship, filled with reverence. Not one dared to look up. No one could see the figure on the central throne.

Some gods glowed all over, some stood in darkness, some flowed with immortal mist, and some devoured light. Each was incredibly unique and divine. Sacred serenity coexisted with dark terror, and all were worshipping this one person.

Gods from all heavens and myriad domains came to pay homage, collectively revering one Imperial Lord – the Emperor Venerate. His aura was even stronger than that of the Undying Sovereign!

"All spirits of heaven and earth, ghosts and gods, worship the Emperor Venerate!" Faintly, such a phrase seemed to echo, passed down from the mythical era, resounding even into this current time and space.

Ye Fan's heart sank. He prepared for the worst. Such an opponent was undoubtedly terrifying beyond compare. He might fall here, his blood staining the Imperial Palace!

It was impossible to say who among the ancient Great Emperors was stronger or weaker, as they had never met or engaged in Imperial battles. However, the Emperor Venerate might be a special case.

Various signs indicated that there might have been more than one Great Emperor in that era, or perhaps the eras of several Great Emperors were very close, seemingly linked together.

The sound of the Great Dao's fundamental principles resonated. The entire hall filled with the chanting of scriptures. The heavenly soldiers and generals faded, transforming into runes that merged into the walls and thick dragon pillars, becoming engravings.

Moreover, the great immortal beasts like the true dragon, immortal phoenix, white tiger, and Kunpeng also disappeared, returning to the principles of the lightning sea. Finally, the gods who were worshipping here vanished one by one, merging into the sea of lightning.

Ye Fan's gaze was fixed without blinking; from beginning to end, he watched the twisting space-time, staring at the blurry throne. When he got close, he was startled: it was completely empty.

The Emperor Venerate was not there. He had never appeared from beginning to end!

In the twisted void, only a large cauldron lay across the Imperial throne. It was this cauldron that emitted an aura looking down upon all heavens and myriad realms; there was no trace of the Emperor Venerate at all.

"Empty, it's actually empty!"

Ye Fan was stunned, enduring immense pressure. He approached the throne and observed the ancient cauldron up close. There was truly no one; the Emperor Venerate had not manifested.

"Had this world never imprinted the Emperor Venerate's Dao traces?" Ye Fan wondered doubtfully. This wasn't the only time; when he achieved sainthood previously, he had also entered a grand palace and seen the Myriad Materia Source Cauldron, yet he hadn't seen the Emperor Venerate.

On the throne, a green ancient cauldron floated up, inhaling and exhaling the sun, moon, and stars, unique through all ages. The cauldron's walls were inscribed with myriad spirits and scenes of creation, exuding an aura of ultimate supremacy.

This outcome surprised Ye Fan. He still hadn't fought the Emperor Venerate. "Could he have been completely erased by the heavens and earth, never to leave any Dao traces?"

Ye Fan breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a sense of regret.

Suddenly, the green cauldron vibrated, its immense pressure astounding the heavens. It surged forward, striking.

Ye Fan activated his cauldron. The Myriad Materia Mother Qi descended, absorbing the supreme blow. With a metallic clang, the cauldron's wall was pierced, leaving a large, cauldron-shaped hole.

Then, the green cauldron struck again, unleashing immortal phoenixes, primordial ancient people, chaotic deities, and more, encompassing all living beings!

With a mighty roar, the entire heavenly palace collapsed. Ye Fan and the Myriad Materia Mother Qi Cauldron exerted their combined strength, resisting the Ancient Heavenly Court's supreme immortal artifact.

This was a grand collapse. The entire heavenly tribulation began to disintegrate, like a prehistoric catastrophe, annihilating all living beings and sweeping across the entire starfield.

Outside, all the mighty figures were horrified, retreating completely, not daring to approach even half a step. They watched everything with terror.

"Ye Zi, are you alright?!" Pang Bo shouted.

The Imperial Palace shattered. Ye Fan drifted in the chaotic sea of lightning, lying prostrate like a corpse. The "Zhè" character secret automatically activated, reassembling his bones and blood.

Just now, he had been shattered into pieces by the impact. However, the green cauldron had also dissipated and could no longer appear.

As for his cauldron, it had become a pile of fragments, completely formless, no longer resembling a weapon at all.

"I'm fine," Ye Fan said, wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth and standing up. He looked around to see all the heavenly palaces slowly disappearing, fading into the sea of lightning.

Without a word, he sat cross-legged within the sea of chaos. Chanting immortal scriptures, he began to recast his cauldron, accepting the baptism of lightning, using the heavenly tribulation as fire and chaos as water to smelt the cauldron's fragments.

Instantly, this place glowed with radiant light, immortal energy surged forth, and various chanting sounds arose. A grand cauldron took shape, with various creatures appearing on its walls, as if imbued with life and about to revive.

He engraved the ancient characters from within the Nine Dragons Coffin on the cauldron, allowing the divine entities within the cauldron to become crystalline and be reborn from fire. This made the cauldron even more ancient and majestic, possessing an aura capable of suppressing heaven and earth.