Chapter 1398: Golden Seven Cities

The Golden Seven Cities, an ancient city gleaming with dazzling golden light, truly appeared to be forged from gold, radiating brilliance in the starry sky.

From a distance, light and mist shimmered, and vital energy overflowed, imbuing the entire ancient region with potent vitality. Myriad starlit rivers flowed beneath it, making the entire city appear to be built upon glowing divine waterfalls and grand rivers. It was a magnificent and majestic sight, breathtaking in its grandeur.

After searching extensively, Ye Fan and his companions finally arrived, beholding the legendary Golden Seven Cities. It seemed like a brilliant and magnificent divine pearl, set resplendently in the sky.

As they drew closer, they sensed a boundless aura, like vast lakes and seas surging forth, with the essence of heaven and earth pervading the air, nourishing their entire beings.

"I thought it was truly forged from divine metal," Pang Bo remarked. "I never imagined it was just a special kind of rock."

This stone appeared golden and translucent, resembling both gold and jade, and was enveloped in spiritual energy. Its value was naturally immense. Legend had it that it was exceptionally hard, almost comparable to materials used for crafting artifacts.

"Bumpkin, you clearly haven't seen much of the world," a jarring voice interjected just then.

Ye Fan and his group turned to see a child, who appeared to be only seven or eight years old but was remarkably sturdy. The child was glaring at Pang Bo with a hint of a sneer.

"Where did this little brat come from, daring to speak so wildly?" Pang Bo, nearly a *zhang* (approx. 3.3 meters) tall, looked down at the child as if he were a toy.

"Who are you talking to?" The child's eyes snapped open aggressively, and he surprisingly attacked Pang Bo directly. His small hands were rough, as if accustomed to heavy labor.

With a deafening "boom," the two palms, one large and one small, collided, creating an earth-shattering sound that made the city gates tremble. Their combined power was evident.

The Dragon Horse and others gasped in astonishment. A mere seven or eight-year-old child could actually contend with Pang Bo, and his divine power was not inferior. This was utterly unbelievable.

"Where did this little runt come from, possessing such immense power...?" Pang Bo found it utterly baffling.

"Don't underestimate him; this isn't just a child. He has been cultivating for at least a century," Ye Fan warned. He had opened his Source Heaven Eye and discerned the child's true age from his bones.

"Oh, are you perhaps a descendant of Tu Xingsun? Did you cross over from ancient China on the other side of the starry sky?" Pang Bo's curiosity was instantly piqued.

The Dragon Horse, Scorpio, and others were speechless, unsure if Pang Bo was genuinely curious or just trying to provoke. Nevertheless, their own curiosity was sparked.

The "child's" expression subtly shifted. He hadn't anticipated Pang Bo possessing such immense strength, which defied all reason. It was as if he were a demon god, stronger than any peer-level being the child had ever encountered.

"What nonsense! Big guy, if you dare, take another axe from me. If you can't withstand it, then apologize to me!" The "child" discarded his contemptuous attitude, his face now solemn.

Pang Bo burst into laughter. "And if you lose," he retorted, "will you apologize to your uncle?"

A resonant hum filled the air. The child said nothing. A large bronze axe materialized in his hand, transforming into a bolt of lightning that cleaved downwards. Simultaneously, his body glowed with a coppery light, as if tearing through heaven and earth.

"Annihilate Form!" Pang Bo roared, twin dragon-shaped beams of light shooting from his eyes. They collided with the bronze axe, erupting in a blinding flash of light.

The city gates rumbled and shook violently as runes appeared across the Golden Seven Cities. Various dao marks came to life, protecting the city from being affected by the collateral damage.

"Oh, look! It's the young supreme of the Dwarf Race; he's here too!" someone exclaimed, revealing the "child's" identity as Xigu.

Numerous individuals, sharing Ye Fan's objective of entering the Golden Seven Cities, had gathered at the city gate entrance. Upon witnessing the scene, they identified the child's race. This was a powerful race. Though small in stature, its members were born with divine strength and possessed immense talent in cultivation. Legend had it that their ancestors had even assisted humans in constructing the Golden Seven Cities.

The two were evenly matched in this exchange. It was clear that victory would not be decided without hundreds of moves. Both combatants retreated, ceasing their confrontation.

"Big guy, your strength isn't bad. Be careful once you're inside the city," Xigu said. With a flash of light in his palm, the giant axe vanished, and he walked into the city.

"Hey, you still haven't apologized to your uncle!" Pang Bo shouted, laughing heartily.

Xigu, the young supreme of the Dwarf Race, shot him a fierce glare before vanishing in a flash, having entered the city.

"Who are these people? Each of them seems remarkably strong, and their origins are clearly extraordinary," someone remarked, observing Ye Fan and his companions with a peculiar expression.

"The human race has indeed produced some true masters. The Great Demon God and Di Tian are both exceptional figures, undoubtedly formidable adversaries on the ancient mythical path. Now, this group also appears extraordinary."

"This might be the Human Sacred Body and his companions!"

"What? It's them? They've also arrived at the Golden Seven Cities! This is getting interesting. I knew it! Xigu is usually quite low-key, so why would he suddenly pick a fight? He must have noticed something and wanted to gauge the strength of a potential rival."

Outside the city gates, whispers circulated among the crowd, who then, one by one, entered the city, arriving at this gathering place for powerful figures.

This was one of the few ancient cities remaining on the Golden Ancient Road. Over the long years, the path had long fallen into disuse, and the corresponding cities had been destroyed by various powerful beings. What was remarkable was that the Golden Seven Cities remained perfectly preserved, and it even had residents, though only a mere few hundred households.

The city's master was a small old man with a full white beard and hair. Upon entering the city, no one dared to provoke him; everyone behaved themselves, which spoke volumes about his unfathomable power.

"Awooo..."

With a mighty roar, a colossal creature descended from the depths of the universe. It was a black bull, as immense as a mountain, yet it possessed a pair of enormous demonic wings that eclipsed the sun. It attempted to charge the ancient city, but with a mere hum from the city master, it recoiled as if struck by lightning. The creature immediately calmed down, obediently transforming into human form and entering the city.

A large number of cultivators had arrived in the ancient city, outnumbering its original residents. For cultivators, nothing in this world was more appealing than eternal life, and the Ancient Tree of Life held a fatal allure for all races.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

From the cosmos, four golden streaks of lightning, moving at extreme speed, descended from the starlit river. They were, astonishingly, four golden snakes, not excessively long at only ten *zhang* (approx. 33 meters) each, yet they emanated an aura that sent shivers down the spines of all heroes present.

"The four young lords of the Golden Snake Clan have arrived!"

"It really is them! Four sons from a single lineage, each defying the heavens and proclaimed invincible—the four Golden Snake Lords, young supremes from their respective ancient path!"

The four golden snakes transformed into humanoids, each exuding cold arrogance with eyes of pale gold. Their arrival in the city immediately caused a sensation.

"I still remember, ten years ago, the Second Golden Snake Lord single-handedly invaded another ancient path, completely annihilating the Divine Ape lineage and bathing an entire region in blood, shaking that part of the starry sky!"

"Now, all four lords of the Golden Snake lineage have arrived. They will surely turn the world upside down. Who could possibly be their match?!"

People whispered, all wary. Even individuals from powerful clans kept their distance from them.

Inside the city, Ye Fan and his companions proceeded along the ancient streets. The city was vast, capable of easily accommodating hundreds of thousands of cultivators for long-term residence and practice. The houses and towers were mostly empty, with only a few hundred original resident households remaining, making the city feel desolate and eerily quiet.

As they ventured deeper into the golden metropolis, Ye Fan sensed the aura of an acquaintance. He looked up to see Fairy Qingshi standing atop a palace, her robes fluttering, her skin translucent and ethereal, as if she were about to ascend to immortality. She exuded an otherworldly grace.

"Brother Ye, I trust you've been well. After a decade apart, you've become even more unfathomable," Fairy Qingshi greeted him.

Ye Fan smiled. "Fairy, your grace surpasses even your past self," he replied. "As mere mortals, what unfathomable qualities could we possibly possess?"

Fairy Qingshi smiled sweetly, her bright eyes and pearly teeth shining. She was truly a peerless beauty, ethereal and transcendent, radiating an incomparable grace.

Pang Bo burst into loud laughter, looking up. "Dare I ask, Fairy, are you betrothed?" he asked. "And do either of us brothers happen to catch your eye?"

Fairy Qingshi was momentarily speechless. While she had encountered many suitors, this was the first time she had met someone so direct and brazen. She couldn't help but let out a huff, choosing to ignore him.

"I've just realized that Lord Pang truly is a role model for our generation—a man of true character," the Dragon Horse commented.

In the distance, a figure approached, radiating brilliance as if he were a deity. He exuded an overwhelming aura, as if he could devour the world and reigned supreme. Di Tian appeared, walking step by step. His true face was obscured, and his body seemed to merge with heaven and earth, a true embodiment of the unity between man and nature, carrying the majestic might of the Heavenly Dao.

Having not met for a decade, his aura had indeed grown even stronger. He resembled an immortal Divine Furnace of Qiankun, his radiance illuminating the ages, capable of melting all things in heaven and earth, and his presence overshadowed mountains and rivers.

He seemed almost like a young Great Emperor. Di Tian spoke, "Ten years have passed. I have created a new fist scripture, and I would appreciate the opportunity to seek your guidance."

Ye Fan remained silent, but Pang Bo laughed first. "What a coincidence!" he said. "Ye Zi is also creating his own path, cultivating hundreds of scriptures, and researching his own secret art, which he calls the Heavenly Emperor Fist. He truly can give you some pointers."

Di Tian's offer to "consult" was, of course, a polite remark. Pang Bo's brazen acceptance and claim that Ye Fan could "guide" him infuriated Di Tian's followers so much that their teeth ached, leaving them speechless.

Di Tian's expression also changed. To dare name it the "Heavenly Emperor Fist"—such a title, one that could make one's bones and blood tremble, must surely represent unparalleled terror, sending a clear warning signal to him.

From another direction, yet another figure emerged. Although somewhat slender, he seemed to walk upon the very bones of all living beings. His vast, ocean-like aura of blood energy startled many powerful cultivators in the city. It was indeed the Great Demon God. Encountering him again after ten years, he was even more terrifying, appearing as if he had just returned from a slaughter in hell—a divine demon who had broken his chains, unimaginably powerful.

On a splendid distant tower, a woman gazed down. She was peerlessly beautiful, cold and aloof, like an ice sculpture, radiating an inviolable majesty. It was the Human King.

Ye Fan smiled, his expression calm. A serene tranquility resided in his eyes, and not a single ripple disturbed his heart. After a decade, he, too, stood among the ranks of young supremes, fearing no one.

"I look forward to meeting every old acquaintance!" These were his words as he walked away, emitting no overwhelming aura or unusual phenomena. He was calm and composed, leaving behind only his departing figure for all to see.

Further away, the four lords of the Golden Snake lineage fixed their gaze on his retreating figure, their eyes emitting divine light that resembled brilliant golden electric serpents.

Suddenly, a figure descended, blocking Ye Fan's path. It was a powerful being, glowing all over, as beautiful as a deity, with a radiant, flawless physique.

At that moment, the golden blood within Ye Fan's veins boiled, rumbling like a bursting river. It resonated with the newcomer, stirring a powerful reaction and causing his entire body to emit boundless light.

"The Divine Race!"

Many people exclaimed in shock. This was a supreme race, said to rival gods and demons, with the blood of deities flowing through their veins. Everyone present felt an overwhelming sense of dread.