Chapter 1440: Despotism Over All Heroes

"Hiss, hiss, hiss..." The Third Young Master of the Golden Snake Race flicked his tongue. His brilliant golden snake body, over three meters long, stood upright with its tail on the ground, its cold snake eyes sending shivers down one's spine.

The Stone Man was equally cold and ruthless. A fire burned within him; not long ago, he had been humiliated and defeated in public by the Human Race Saint Body, almost losing his life. He hoped to release his pent-up rage through a slaughter.

The Metal-Eating Beast glimmered with a cold sheen. It was a unique life form, cast entirely from metal and virtually indestructible. Twenty years prior, it had battled Ye Fan, and though one of its arms was deformed, it could not be destroyed.

On this side, Ji Ziyue remained silent but glanced at Ancient Golden Roc, as if asking him how to proceed. This gesture, in itself, was a declaration of her stance. Everyone knew that golden-winged great pengs and snakes, including the Tengshe, were natural enemies. Legend had it that peng birds devoured large numbers of spirit-evolved pythons daily, which was mistakenly passed down as "eating dragons every day."

"My original intention was to kill them, but the eldest of these three snakes is too powerful and difficult to deal with," Ancient Golden Roc said.

"At your word, Brother Roc, if we fight, we will go all out. Since we've formed an alliance, there's no 'yours' or 'mine'," Ji Ziyue declared righteously.

"Gnaw, gnaw..." Behind them, the tall and imposing Sky Wolf, with his white hair flowing, gnashed his teeth. His eyes were blood-red, and a beam of blood light shot up from his crown.

"I agree to kill them! Don't leave a single one of these three snakes!" Sky Wolf roared, as if consumed by boundless fury and resentment.

"Brother Sky Wolf, do you have a vendetta against them? If so, we certainly cannot stand by idly. We must fight to the bitter end!" Ji Ziyue said, clenching her fist.

In the shadows, Ye Fan, Pang Bo, and the others suddenly understood: the allies Ji Ziyue sought were indeed quite targeted. The three young masters of the Golden Snake Race had purged the other shore, and the first major clan they annihilated on this ancient star was the Sky Wolf clan. To cultivate the terrifying ancient heavenly art of Tengshe Deification, they had massacred all in their path, slaughtering countless beings. The entire Sky Wolf clan, over a hundred thousand strong, was wiped out by them, with not even children spared. It was this bloody massacre that made them the second-most evil force in the world, surpassed only by Ye Fan, the blasphemer. In the eyes of the world, they were utterly notorious. They were excessively cruel, devoid of humanity, slaughtering various races simply to collect the blood and soul bones of all beings.

Although this white-haired Sky Wolf did not originate from this ancient star but from beyond the domain, learning of the annihilation of his kind ignited a monstrous rage within him. He had always wanted to kill the Golden Snake Young Masters but had lacked the opportunity. Ji Ziyue's stance at this moment naturally filled him with gratitude. A howl, like that of an ancient wolf, shook the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, making the entire ancient land tremble.

"I will annihilate you long worms on behalf of the Sky Wolf clan!"

"Just a silver wolf, daring to compare yourself to the ancient divine Sky Wolf. Killing one more of you makes no difference," the Fourth Young Master of the Golden Snake Race sneered with a chilling coldness.

"Roar..." Sky Wolf roared in fury, his silver hair swirling wildly. His eyes widened, the blood-red light receding as two terrifying silver-white beams shot forth.

"Your Golden Snake lineage is far too arrogant, aren't you?" Just then, the Nine-Eyed Azure Toad from Ji Ziyue's side stepped forward. This was an absolute peerless expert, one of the strongest on their side.

"Just a toad, daring to boast so brazenly," the Stone Man Saint Spirit emerged, his face cold, speaking on behalf of the Golden Snake Race. He now needed powerful allies, so he naturally had to make a display.

"I despise toads the most!" the Third Young Master of the Golden Snake Race declared resentfully. For many years, they had been hunted by the Grey Jiao and the Golden Toad, harboring deep hatred.

"I hear an elder of my clan is pursuing you. Very well, today I will put an end to things with you," the Nine-Eyed Azure Toad stated.

Ji Ziyue, Nine-Eyed Azure Toad, Ancient Golden Roc, and Sky Wolf were the leading figures in their group. With their attitudes made clear one after another, the others naturally found it difficult to withdraw mid-way. Of course, these were merely superficial animosities. The primary reason was that, to contend for divine demonic fluid and other opportunities, they would eventually have to fight. Eliminating their opponents beforehand would save them considerable trouble.

"It's just a fight, what's the big deal? Even the Human Race Saint Body was once routed and forced to flee by our pursuit. We'll kill all these people too!" the Golden Snake's Third Young Master said coldly and somewhat arrogantly.

Ji Ziyue scoffed and laughed, "How did I hear Brother Roc and Brother Sky Wolf say that your second brother was killed by the Human Race Saint Body and boiled into meat in a cauldron? You routed him and made him flee? Did I hear wrong, or are you saying it took an entire group of you to contend with him alone?"

The faces of the Golden Snake young masters instantly darkened. They stared at Ancient Golden Roc, then at Sky Wolf, their hostility surging, and finally looked at Ji Ziyue with malevolent expressions.

"Am I not speaking the truth?" Ji Ziyue smiled faintly, revealing a pair of dimples, her teeth sparkling white and lustrous.

"The Human Race Saint Body won't live. We will certainly eliminate him within ten days!" the Stone Man declared, his eyes blood-red with hatred for Ye Fan.

"More talk is useless. If we are to fight, we will accompany you today and fight to the death!" Just then, the Eldest Young Master of the Golden Snake Race, who had been observing coldly, spoke. He was the leader of their side. There were ten people on their side, and he was the strongest. He immediately fixed his gaze on Ji Ziyue and the Nine-Eyed Azure Toad, knowing that these two would be the most difficult to deal with.

"Then let's fight!" Sky Wolf could wait no longer. The silver beams in his eyes transformed into terrifying demonic light, as if intending to destroy heaven and earth. With a roar, he was the first to charge forward.

"I'll take you on!" the Golden Snake's Fourth Young Master darted out, heading straight for Sky Wolf.

The Nine-Eyed Azure Toad rose into the air, his entire body shimmering with azure light. Nine represented the ultimate, and his nine eyes spoke volumes about his power. His croak, like muffled thunder, made everyone present's blood and qi churn. Many were horrified; this was undoubtedly an extraordinary master, a peak figure among the young paragons, and they all felt apprehension. The Eldest Young Master of the Golden Snake remained unfazed. He said, "He's mine. You go kill everyone else."

Simultaneously, Ancient Golden Roc made his move. Snakes held great significance for him; devouring snake essences could purify his roc blood, bringing it closer to his ancestors. With a spread of his wings, he tore through the void and charged towards the golden snakes, but unfortunately, his wish was not granted as he was blocked by the Metal-Eating Beast. The Metal-Eating Beast was immensely powerful; it had once devoured a small piece of dragon-patterned black gold, and its combat strength had greatly increased, making it a top contender. It engaged Ancient Golden Roc in an extremely fierce battle.

Buzz!

On the other side, the Stone Man Saint Spirit, the Golden Snake's Third Young Master, and others also made their move, attacking the Mountain-Bearing Turtle and the Green-Blooded Man, initiating an earth-shattering bloodbath. Naturally, the most intense battle was between the Eldest Young Master of the Golden Snake and the Nine-Eyed Azure Toad. Both possessed extraordinary bloodlines and astonishing combat power, making others tremble with fear.

"Don't worry, everyone; feel free to unleash your strongest powers. I will restore your divine energy!" Ji Ziyue said from the rear. Amidst a hazy radiance, she seemed to be draped in a holy veil. Beams of auspicious light soared forth, rushing towards Ancient Golden Roc, Nine-Eyed Azure Toad, and others. Their divine power continuously surged, keeping them in their peak state. At this moment, endless essence energy from all directions, along with fragments of origin from the Divine Devil Burial Ground, converged and flowed into the bodies of the strong cultivators on their side.

"Good!" Their morale instantly soared. Each one became incredibly valiant, like a fierce dragon or tiger.

"Pfft!" Soon, someone fell. Ji Ziyue's side, without worrying about exhausting their source energy, held nothing back. They unleashed their strongest techniques and divine abilities, slaying one of their opponents.

"Hmph, cultivators rely on their own strength in battle! I'll show you what a true expert is!" the Stone Man roared, sweeping aside all obstacles as he attacked. His opponent was the Mountain-Bearing Turtle, whose defense was astonishing. After transforming into human form, he held a shield crafted from his original turtle shell, blocking all of the Stone Man's attacks. However, when the Saint Spirit unleashed his might and roared, shaking heaven and earth, the Mountain-Bearing Turtle clearly couldn't withstand the pressure, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. This was a gap in strength. Even if he constantly remained in his peak state, he couldn't defeat the Stone Man. One must remember that the physical body of this lineage was unparalleled in its sturdiness; aside from the Human Race Saint Body and a few others, no one dared to clash head-on with them.

"Even the strongest defense won't work! Killing you is like smashing a clay pot!" the Saint Spirit roared. His hand and finger movements shifted rapidly as he struck repeatedly, shattering the shield. With a "pfft," he smashed the Mountain-Bearing Turtle's head into pieces, like a watermelon exploding. Everyone was startled. This Saint Spirit was indeed powerful and intimidating.

With a roc's cry, Ancient Golden Roc spread his wings. Abandoning the unmovable Metal-Eating Beast, he tore apart an opponent nearby and swallowed him in one gulp, retaliating in kind.

"Nothing special! Kill!" On another battlefield, the Golden Snake's Third Young Master displayed immense power. He swept out his tail, striking across the high heavens and lashing the Green-Blooded Man. Instantly, azure blood splattered across the sky, leaving him almost severed in two.

"Pfft!" The Golden Snake's Third Young Master followed up. With a golden snake coil, he twisted off the Green-Blooded Man's head, then opened his wide maw and directly bit it to pieces, blood gushing as he swallowed it.

The scene was extremely bloody and brutal. Both sides fought fiercely, and quickly five or six people died. These were supreme experts from their respective regions, but here, their lives were cheaper than grass. The remaining individuals felt a chill and some regret. Such a desperate struggle was too terrifying; contests between young paragons often resulted in death and the destruction of their Dao. This was no longer the ancient road where they reigned supreme.

"Pfft!", "Pfft!" It wasn't long before two more fell, slain by the Saint Spirit and the Golden Snake's Third Young Master respectively. These two were incomparably powerful, pouncing on those from Ji Ziyue's side, causing blood to splatter as their victims perished on the spot. No one had expected this battle to be so brutal, a fight to the death that so quickly decimated both sides' numbers!

In the end, Ji Ziyue's side had eight people remaining, and the other side had seven. Although the numbers were similar, it was clear that Ancient Golden Roc, Sky Wolf, and Nine-Eyed Azure Toad's side had suffered more losses. In terms of individual combat strength, the Golden Snake's side held the advantage!

"Nothing but chickens and dogs! I'll use your blood to nourish my body, cultivate the Tengshe Deification Art, and then go slay the Human Race Saint Body!" The Golden Snake's Third Young Master moved between opponents, killing indiscriminately.

Additionally, the Stone Man also unleashed a massacre. With a "pfft," he crushed the head of another strong cultivator from Ji Ziyue's side. Covered in blood, he sneered cruelly, seeing hope in joining forces with the powerful Golden Snake Race to eliminate Ye Fan.

"Everyone, you've all been tricked! This girl clearly already possesses the divine demonic fluid. She is our true target, yet you are fighting amongst yourselves because of her." Just then, a loud shout echoed, and Sang Gu appeared. He was powerfully built, with waist-length black hair and cold eyes. As a descendant of ancient gods and devils, he was highly sensitive to the divine demonic fluid and thus had the most authority to speak on the matter.

"What?" The others were greatly startled. All eyes turned to Ji Ziyue, filled with chilling coldness and surging killing intent.

"What are you still standing around for, everyone? She is our target! Kill her, search her soul, and find the divine demonic fluid!" the Eldest Young Master of the Golden Snake said sinisterly.

Nine-Eyed Azure Toad and Ancient Golden Roc both showed surprise. They had once been pursued by a Great Saint and led to escape into an ancient formation by Ji Ziyue. At this moment, it was truly difficult for them to choose a side. Sky Wolf and the others' faces turned ashen. They had once declared they would kill the current holder of the divine demonic fluid to seize this fortune. Now, looking back, they felt utterly humiliated. These words were spoken directly to Ji Ziyue, yet this was the outcome: they had not slain the owner of the divine demonic fluid, but instead traveled with her for days without realizing she was the one they wanted to kill.

"I don't want to harm anyone, but you wanted to kill me and my brother mercilessly for the divine demonic fluid. I only sought self-preservation, to survive. Even when I had the chance to kill you along the way, I didn't," Ji Ziyue said calmly.

The Golden Snake side had no such reservations. The Stone Man Saint Spirit said grimly, "Not even a god can save you!" He lunged forward.

Ji Ziyue, for her part, was decisive and prepared. She took out a void array platform, intending to directly cross the void and depart. This formation was even more mysterious than the chessboard array pattern obtained by the Black Emperor, and no one could stop her. However, just as she was about to leave, a golden blood aura, like an ocean, surged over, making her sense a familiar presence and halt her steps.

Ye Fan arrived, wielding supreme divine might, his entire body enveloped in divine radiance, like a Human Emperor descending. He confronted the Stone Man attacking Ji Ziyue, saying, "Was it you who said that not even a god could save her?!"

"Boom!" With a world-shattering sound, the Stone Man screamed as both his arms were broken once more. This time, Ye Fan gave him no chance. Activating the "Soldier" character secret, he enveloped the Stone Man, unleashing his strongest combat power, combining his phenomena, ancient arts, and divine forms. Blood splattered. Ye Fan used his phenomena to immobilize the Stone Man, then tore him in half with his divine form. Swinging his golden fists nine times consecutively, he utterly blasted him apart in the void, sending blood and body parts flying everywhere.

"Ah... no!" The Saint Spirit despaired. His nascent soul flew out, roaring at the mountains and rivers. But his demise was sealed. This time, Ye Fan gave him no chance to escape. With a stomp, he crushed the glowing nascent soul under his foot.

This deeply shocked everyone! It wasn't that the Saint Spirit was weak; rather, he had been utterly terrified. His previous crushing defeat had stripped him of the ambition to contend with the Human Race Saint Body. Upon seeing Ye Fan, his first thought wasn't to fight, but to flee. Consequently, he was dragged back by Ye Fan's "Soldier" character secret and could only offer passive resistance, completely powerless, almost unilaterally beaten to smithereens and killed. Otherwise, with his formidable strength, he could have at least withstood over a hundred moves. It was regrettable that he was so intimidated by Ye Fan's might that he was publicly slain. The splattering Saint Spirit blood stunned everyone present, making many shiver. This was a powerful Saint Spirit, yet he was killed just like that.

"Who dares to harm her?!" Ye Fan stood tall and imposing, his entire body glowing. Source Heaven Array Patterns appeared beneath his feet as he looked down upon all the heroes present.