Chapter 1446: Choice

Chapter 1450: Choice

Ji Haoyue, the original Divine King Body, had a black eye, resembling a panda's eye. When he heard the impudent words of the Dragon Horse, his sword-like eyebrows immediately bristled, and he fixed his gaze on it.

Ye Fan felt awkward. They hadn't seen each other in a century, and he had delivered a blow to Ji Haoyue the moment they met, which seemed a bit unwarranted. However, he couldn't entirely be blamed; the Divine Body had immediately engaged him in battle, and a decisive strike was the only way to resolve the conflict.

"Brother Haoyue, are you well?" Pang Bo asked, stepping forward with a hearty laugh, breaking the tension.

While the Divine Body Ji Haoyue wasn't rigid, his increasing cultivation had imbued him with a certain majesty, making him progressively more reserved and serious. This was precisely why Ji Ziyue was rebellious and constantly sought to challenge him.

"After a century apart, you've truly transformed into a great demon," Ji Haoyue remarked with a nod.

Pang Bo, too, felt a twinge of embarrassment. Regarding his physique, he was indeed half-human, half-demon. His blood carried the inherited divine blood of an ancient demon race, which had suddenly awakened in Beidou, granting him fragments of the demon lineage from his own bloodline. Currently, he possessed both human ancestry and demonic traits. The fragments of the Great Dao within his blood, in particular, were causing him to transform into a great demon day by day.

"So this is the Divine King," the Dragon Horse said, approaching with a familiar air. "Indeed heroic and extraordinary. I feel as if we're old acquaintances; we're clearly kindred spirits."

Ji Haoyue, not one to be rigid, nodded to the brazen Dragon Horse. However, he offered Ye Fan no pleasantries, appearing as though he still wished to engage in battle.

"Brother..." Ji Ziyue crooned, her voice cloyingly sweet as she tugged on her brother's arm.

"Alright, let's put the past behind us," Ji Haoyue said, casting a glance at Ye Fan. He then turned to Ji Ziyue and remarked, "You actually ambushed me, hitting your own brother with a sneak attack. You're becoming quite accomplished, aren't you?"

Ji Ziyue suppressed a giggle and replied, "Next time, I'll be more careful and less violent."

"There's a next time?" Ji Haoyue's face darkened. Dealing with such a mischievous sister left him somewhat helpless; he couldn't hit her, nor could he scold her. His strictness had simply resulted in a strong backlash.

"Can't I occasionally prove that I can keep you in line?" Ji Ziyue muttered under her breath.

"No!"

"Then I'll try anyway!"

Everyone present secretly chuckled. The brother and sister were truly amusing, one determined to assert his brotherly authority, the other resolved to resist him to the very end.

"Brother Haoyue..." Ye Fan interjected with a cough. This was not a place to linger, as Great Sages would likely appear soon. He suggested they leave immediately.

Half an hour later, they reached a tranquil spot among low-lying peaks. A clear spring cascaded down, forming a silver waterfall enveloped in a delicate mist. Surrounded by numerous lakes and lush, beautiful trees, it was a rare sanctuary, ideal for enlightenment and cultivation.

After many years, Ji Haoyue remained imposing, his spirit even more radiant than before. Although the black eye slightly detracted from his perfection, he was in no hurry to make it disappear.

"Now, you've truly come into your own," Ji Haoyue remarked. "How many among your peers in this world can still be your match?"

"It's hard to say," Ye Fan replied honestly. Although he held an unwavering belief in his strength, the universe was vast. Who could truly claim to be invincible? While figures like Golden Serpent Young Master and Sang Gu could be tested in battle, what about the countless unknown individuals?

"Indeed, with individuals like Huang Xudao, the Saint Prince, the Divine Silkworm Daoist, and Huo Qilin, whose bloodline powers are unparalleled, it's truly difficult to say," Pang Bo acknowledged.

"I wonder what became of the Saint Prince, and where he ultimately went," Ye Fan murmured to himself. He distinctly recalled that the monkey had also mentioned embarking on his own journey, though likely not along the ancient human path. Given his temperament, he probably battled his way into the depths of the starry sky, quite possibly turning some ancient path into chaos.

The mention of old acquaintances inevitably led to Ji Zi, which struck the Ji siblings as peculiar. What kind of relationship was this, after all? Ye Fan and Ji Zi considered each other brothers, and given the siblings' relationship, it created a truly confusing situation. It was hard to imagine how everyone would address each other when they eventually met.

"Regarding bloodline, the Heavenly Emperor's Son is undoubtedly supreme, truly unparalleled in the world," Ji Haoyue stated. "His physique and blood are the closest to the divine." Back in Beidou, he had encountered the Heavenly Emperor's Son and sensed that unparalleled bloodline. He now asked Ye Fan what had become of him.

"I killed him," Ye Fan stated.

"What? You killed the Heavenly Emperor's Son?" The Ji siblings exclaimed in shock.

When they had left, the ancient races held immense power, and the Heavenly Emperor's Son was at his zenith, seemingly on track to become the second Undying Heavenly Emperor. At that rate of development, he would undoubtedly command the world.

"Ji Zi, the Saint Prince, and I battled the Eight Divisions Divine Generals and confronted individuals like Huo Qilin," Ye Fan calmly recounted. "Ultimately, we severed the Heavenly Emperor's Son's head, killing him on the spot." He then recounted the past events in detail, explaining that several ancient imperial princes, including Huang Xudao, Huo Qilin, and Huo Lin'er, had all participated in the exceptionally arduous battle.

"What a thrilling battle! It's a shame I wasn't there," Pang Bo sighed, recalling that he, like Ji Haoyue, had already embarked on the ancient starry road at that time.

"The Heavenly Emperor's Son just died like that? He was the Undying Heavenly Emperor's offspring," Ji Haoyue mused with a touch of melancholy.

Hearing this, Ye Fan recalled the terrifying stone carving: the Undying Heavenly Blade suppressing the sky, from which vast chaotic energy descended, and beneath it, a stone egg. What would its future hold?

"Even with the world's most formidable physique, one isn't guaranteed to triumph in the end," Ye Fan stated, his mind drifting to ancient legends. "Moreover, with such a grand era upon us, it's difficult to assert whether the Heavenly Emperor's Son truly possessed the world's foremost bloodline." He pondered whether the Emperor Venerable had left any descendants, if the Chaos Body would truly manifest in the world, if physiques like the Innate Holy Body Dao Embryo would emerge, or if supreme beings would be born among the gods...

Since this was a grand era, it was essential to consider all the strongest bloodlines throughout history. If they all emerged, it would be truly terrifying, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between the weak and the strong. There is no invincible physique, only invincible individuals and spirits. By the end of their discussion, they largely agreed on this point: most ancient Great Emperors had ordinary physiques, yet they ultimately triumphed over all adversaries. In this era, it remained unpredictable; perhaps a person with an ordinary physique would ultimately reach the pinnacle, battling their way to the very top.

"With the advent of this golden era, countless heroes will be buried in foreign lands, and many prodigies will fall on the Emperor's Road," Ji Ziyue remarked. "I have a strong feeling that the ultimate battle will far exceed everyone's expectations."

Soon, a disturbance echoed from the distance, and the Divine Race Heavenly Maiden appeared. She had surprisingly located them, a figure of peerless grace and beauty.

"My lady," Pang Bo called out with a loud laugh. "Aren't you afraid of coming here alone and never returning?"

Xin Lan was immensely powerful, a rare member of the Divine Race with few rivals in the world, having earned the title of "Divine Maiden" on the ancient human path. Her expression serene, she did not approach closer, stating, "I harbor no ill intent. I merely wish to meet the human Divine Body."

"That would be me," Ji Haoyue said, rising to his feet.

"Truly a heaven-gifted talent," Xin Lan exclaimed, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Are you willing to join our Divine Race? We can help you perform a blood sacrifice to our divine ancestors, breaking the last human restriction and transforming you into one of us." She saw him as an incredibly powerful new bloodline, one that integrated fragments of the Great Dao from ancient gods and demons. If he were to join the Divine Race, his descendants could be further enhanced, potentially even ascending to the status of Divine Lords. Marriages within the Divine Race ensured the purity of their bloodline, leading to increasing strength rather than dilution.

"I am human, and I have no desire to join the Divine Race," Ji Haoyue replied bluntly.

"Bloodlines like ours truly belong to a single race," Xin Lan asserted. "Returning to this kin group offers you endless benefits. We will transmit the true Divine King Scripture to you, which is most suitable for our race's cultivation."

The Dragon Horse squinted at her. "Aren't the Divine Race just traitors?" he interjected. "I distinctly heard that you splintered from humanity, originally human, yet you now declare yourselves a separate race."

Xin Lan did not linger; she turned and departed. However, her words sparked a discussion among the group, who wondered if they should indeed capture a member of the Divine Race to examine the fabled Divine King Scripture.

"Boom!"

In the distance, the earth quaked and the mountain ranges shuddered. The Ji siblings were startled, realizing it was the Void Emperor's Coffin vibrating.

"Someone is launching a fierce assault," Ji Haoyue stated. "This will likely lead to major trouble."

"I don't believe they can do anything to our ancestor's coffin," Ji Ziyue said, blinking her large eyes, unfazed.

Ye Fan recalled the people from the Eternal Star Domain. One hundred thousand years ago, several Great Sages and numerous fleets had attempted to transport this coffin, binding it with massive iron chains, only to perish entirely. Reflecting now, he realized it must be connected to the imperial-level corpse that had battled the Void Emperor to the death, and had been entangled with him for tens of thousands of years. The tremors quickly subsided, and tranquility returned to the area.

"Several Great Sages have perished!" Soon after, Qing Luan and the Black Bear Saint brought news: those three individuals had poured Great Sage blood onto the nine-layered ancient coffin from the mythical era, only to die in the process.

Pang Bo gasped, then inquired, "Have you ever opened the nine-layered coffin?"

The Ji siblings both shook their heads; they had never done so.

"We don't need to concern ourselves with these matters," Ye Fan stated. "Let's cultivate here. Whatever changes occur outside are irrelevant to us; improving our strength is paramount." He harbored a lingering unease, always sensing that things were more complex than they appeared. The journey from the ancient mythical domain to this place had felt strange, and he believed quiet observation from the shadows was the best approach.

"Clang! Clang!"

On this day, heaven and earth shuddered, the sun and moon trembled in unison, and the very stars seemed on the verge of falling. A cacophony of bells erupted, and a surging purple light boiled forth, nearly submerging the divine realm. Had it not been for several divine elders immediately rushing back with the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate's Killing Array Map to intercept, the divine realm would have been overrun! The Myriad Dragon Bell appeared, shining brilliantly on this divine shore. It shattered the heavens, manifesting as a purple true dragon that pulverized the very void!

Ever since Ye Fan had encountered the ancient race with dragon-human bodies previously, he had harbored a secret concern that the imperial family of the Myriad Dragon Nest might appear here. He never imagined his fear would be realized. After the Human Demon devoured their Great Sage, the Myriad Dragon Nest migrated its entire clan back to their ancestral star. Now, wielding an extreme ancient imperial weapon, they had appeared on this shore.

"It's merely an ancient tree of life," Ye Fan declared. "We needn't concern ourselves with it. Let us cultivate here!"

Ye Fan personally established formations, sealing all ten directions with source techniques. He then arrayed heaven-deceiving patterns that could even blind the heavens themselves, ensuring no one else could observe them. He brought out the ancient Bodhi tree and planted it on the Divine Demon Ridge, watering it with the precious liquid from the Ancient Heavenly Venerate's Life Spring. The tree became vibrant green, its branches and leaves rustling as they swayed.

Beneath the sixteen-foot Bodhi tree, the group sat in meditation, diligently cultivating and comprehending their individual paths and methods. Furthermore, Ye Fan planted the ancient Qilin medicine before them. The plant shimmered with purple light, crystalline and translucent, emitting a rich fragrance and overflowing with vital energy, further enhancing their sense of tranquility.

Time passed swiftly. This period of seclusion lasted thirty years, during which they remained isolated from the outside world. Beneath the sixteen-foot Bodhi tree, they comprehended the Dao, refined their soul bones, and gained profound insight into their own methods and paths.