Chapter 1464: Eighty-One Passes

Chapter 1468: The Eighty-First Pass

Highly recommended by other readers:

The universe is truly vast. Without tools like the Five-Color Altar or the Divine Light Platform, even Saints would likely get lost and never find their way back.

The cold cosmos is so immense that cultivators feel profoundly insignificant. Even those who reach the peak of cultivation cannot explore the end of this starry sky or comprehend the origin of this world.

The great universe is endless. Perhaps only Great Emperors can journey to its ultimate destination and uncover its most profound and simple secrets.

In the dark cosmos, where there is no sense of distance or time, Ye Fan and his companions traveled for what seemed like months. At this rate, it felt as though they might never encounter civilization or living beings.

When they contended on the ancient road, numerous heroes emerged, and prodigies from various ancient regions launched attacks. But now, once they left those specific locations, it seemed they could travel for thousands of generations and still not see a trace of life.

The vast and boundless universe is mostly characterized by desolation. This feeling was unsettling; a year or two might be bearable, but a lifetime of it would drive a person mad.

"Humans are too tiny. In the blink of an eye in the universe, perhaps several human lifetimes have passed," Ji Ziyue murmured with a sigh.

"It depends on whom you compare us to," Ye Fan said. "In the lifespan of a summer insect, perhaps we are like immortals."

Having cultivated to this point, eternal life remained elusive. Many heavenly talents and supreme beings were buried in the loess. Emperor, Immortal Sovereign, Human Emperor, Ruthless Emperor, Void Emperor, Beginningless Emperor, Azure Emperor—how supremely powerful were they? So astonishing that one might wish to have been born tens or hundreds of thousands of years earlier just to meet them. Yet, they too passed away, becoming dust and earth.

Perhaps the lingering fantasy of some people, believing that a few of them still live, serves as the last bit of motivation in the pursuit of immortality.

Ye Fan and his group returned to the Human Race Ancient Road. Their next goal was singular: to reach the final pass of the human race and uncover a fundamental truth.

The Human Race Holy City, the Eighty-First Pass, was magnificent and colossal, suspended in a starry sky, enveloped in silvery starlight, appearing sacred and serene.

On this day, Ye Fan and his party arrived. This was not the final pass for the human race; they were merely passing through and wished to learn what had transpired over the years, hence their stop.

When they entered the city, it caused a sensation. A crowd surged into the streets, observing from afar.

During the battle on the Other Shore, some experts from both the human race and other races had gone there. Everything that occurred was relayed back, shaking the entire star region.

Ye Fan created the Heavenly Emperor Fist, suppressing many heavenly talents, crushing the dreams of many who sought to become emperors, and causing the younger generation to tremble. No one dared to claim supremacy. This news shook the Starry Sky Ancient Road.

On the Human Race Ancient Road now, Hegemon had been defeated. Di Tian, the Divine Maiden, and the Great Demonic God had retreated. Who could still contend with Ye Fan? Imperceptibly, he was almost invincible on this path!

"Perhaps he can represent the human race in the final battle for the position of the strongest under the stars, reaching the peak and achieving the Dao to become an Emperor." This was a private discussion among some people.

"This path is not easy. Throughout history, most of the relatives and friends of those who became Emperors died in battle because of them. This path has always been shrouded in ill omens and is extremely arduous."

As Ye Fan and his group entered the city, they drew a crowd. His fame now resounded through dozens of these holy cities, and everyone gazed at them, paying close attention to the group.

Many cultivators sighed after observing them, feeling a heavy weight. Although Ye Fan's vitality was restrained, his imposing presence still made it hard for people to breathe. They knew they were far from matching him.

Even though many had reached this point and had long given up on the path to becoming an Emperor, merely seeking to hone themselves to be strong enough when they returned to their home star, they still felt a sense of loss at this moment.

Someone said sourly, "It's not certain that he will have the last laugh. Back then, people favored Hegemon, Di Tian, and the Great Demonic God, but in the end, didn't the Sacred Body come from behind? If it happened once, it could happen again. The ancient road is still far from closing. Who knows what other astonishing figures will emerge?"

"Can you find someone stronger than Hegemon or Di Tian?" someone retorted. The person who had just spoken fell silent.

"This is just the Human Race Ancient Road. Don't forget, the ultimate collision will involve all the heavens and myriad realms, with supreme talents from various races competing. It's still too early to say who is the strongest under the stars."

"Not so. While the human race's bloodline might not be strong in some star regions, placing them at a disadvantage, generally speaking, in the grand struggle across the universe, they have never fallen out of the top fifteen."

As Ye Fan and his group proceeded, they drew a crowd, causing many to debate privately, which eventually grew quite intense.

"According to you, on this era's path to emperorship, this person named Ye Fan is already one of the top fifteen young experts in the entire universe?"

"Barring unforeseen circumstances, that would be the case."

"But don't forget, this is a unique golden era, unlike any before. Who knows what powerful individuals will emerge? For example, the descendants of the most powerful Great Emperors and Ancient Emperors throughout history are not just likely but destined to appear, having been sealed until this era!"

"At this stage of cultivation, bearing an Emperor's Child's mark is not necessarily an advantage. Haven't you seen that ancient Great Emperors were mostly of ordinary physiques? We've never heard of two Emperors coming from the same lineage. Moreover, after entering the Great Saint realm, physique and bloodline are no longer the most important. Which one of those who reached that stage was ordinary? They all possessed extraordinary qualities!"

Pang Bo, whose Celestial Ear was newly formed, listened carefully and couldn't help but smile.

Ye Fan's Celestial Ear had long been established, and he also noticed their discussion. The activation time of divine abilities varies; some might appear very early, while others might appear very late.

"Brother Ye!" Just then, a shout came from the crowd, making people turn their heads. The street quieted considerably. After all, knowing the Sacred Body, who had survived hundreds of battles and advanced triumphantly, was now considered an honor.

"Rui Wei." Ye Fan turned around and saw the familiar face. The thin young man from back then had actually made it to the Human Race Eighty-First City, which was quite remarkable.

It had been decades, perhaps almost a century, since they last met. Rui Wei had become a Saint, and was not far from becoming a Saint King. For someone of his aptitude, this was already very impressive.

In the past, he and Ye Fan had entered the Human Race's first pass together and traveled for a period. Rui Wei's cultivation was weaker, but he had a good relationship with Ye Fan.

Seeing him now, Ye Fan recalled many things. Time flowed like water, too swiftly. This young man, whom no one had particularly favored, had also reached this place. Among that original group, Bitter Ascetic, Feathered Immortal, Ou Ye Mo, and Mu Guanghan were the strongest, but he wondered what had become of them.

Rui Wei stepped forward, very excited to see Ye Fan. The people nearby were even more shocked, not having expected their relationship to be so close. They felt a hint of awe.

Now, being associated with Ye Fan, who was implicitly the most powerful young supreme on the Human Race Ancient Road, made many people feel both apprehension and envy.

"Tonight, we must drink heartily, until we're completely drunk," Ye Fan laughed. He was naturally delighted to see Rui Wei and led him forward, introducing his friends along the way.

That night was naturally a lively gathering. Everyone raised their cups, toasted, and chatted about the events of the past years.

Bitter Ascetic had been defeated and taken by someone named Golden Cicada. Ou Ye Mo had long since fought his way to other ancient roads and disappeared for over fifty years. Mu Guanghan should be ahead. Feathered Immortal was taken away by a clan brother, possibly to another path.

These were the pieces of news Rui Wei shared.

At night, a nebula streaked across the sky, and a shroud of gloom enveloped the ancient city. Ye Fan's eyes snapped open. He silently moved into the courtyard, staring at Rui Wei's room. His expression was complex, and he remained motionless for a long time.

"What's wrong?" Ji Ziyue transmitted her voice from the shadows. She was a Primordial Spirit Physique, most sensitive to various primordial fluctuations, and even Ye Fan's movements had not escaped her notice.

"Only now have I discovered that this friend might be a great evil," Ye Fan whispered.

"I sensed it too. There's dark energy within him, like he has two souls, one of which is almost extinguished," Ji Ziyue said. She had wanted to tell Ye Fan that this person was too unusual.

"I'll go clarify things," Ye Fan said, then walked forward and knocked on Rui Wei's door.

"Do we need to go with you?" Ji Ziyue asked.

"No, I can handle it myself," Ye Fan secretly replied.

Rui Wei opened the door, looking a little surprised. He was about to invite Ye Fan in but noticed his troubled expression and was somewhat puzzled.

"Let's go to the starry sky." Ye Fan suddenly made a move, stopping him. The next moment, they left the Human Race Eighty-First City and appeared in the splendid river of stars.

"Brother Ye, what are you doing?" Rui Wei showed a hint of anger.

Star-light swirled like thin mist. Ye Fan stared at him for a long time without speaking, then finally sighed and said, "You were the murderous demon back then, weren't you? You devoured the flesh, blood, and soul bones of many cultivators."

"I don't understand what you're talking about!" Rui Wei recoiled, his face filled with terror.

"Even now, do you still want to hide it? I've become a Source Master, and my Celestial Eye has advanced further, far beyond others. I can now see your true form," Ye Fan said calmly.

"You..." Rui Wei's expression changed.

"To be precise, you are not Rui Wei. His soul has almost extinguished. You are someone else." Divine light burst from Ye Fan's eyes as he stared at Rui Wei's face. Simultaneously, a Daoist shout resonated, like a great bell echoing, deafening and awakening.

Under Ye Fan's oppressive shout, Rui Wei screamed, clutching his hair with both hands, his face contorted in pain—at one moment ferocious, at another sorrowful, tears streaming down. He shrieked, "I am Rui Wei... For my clan, I can die. I want to find a suitable life star to live on. I... I am not a demon! I truly am not a demon! Woohoo..."

Under Ye Fan's might, a wisp of black primordial spirit was forced out of his body, howling loudly, weeping sorrowfully, looking insane. It was a fist-sized figure, full of grief and demonic energy.

Ye Fan pointed a finger, instantly stilling it. When he observed its fundamental core, his expression changed instantly, then he sighed. He saw a tragic song unfold, and felt a heavy and oppressive weight in his heart.

It was a pure land, created by an ancient Great Saint, but now it had dried up. The people there could barely cultivate anymore. Elders continuously ventured out, sending disciples to search for habitable life stars.

One day, dark clouds gathered in the starry sky, covering the place. A demon attacked. It had arrived there after devouring a clansman who had gone out to find a life-sustaining land. It massacred this pure land, killing all men, women, and children.

Under the desperate struggle of several elders, the demon was also severely wounded, almost dead, with only a wisp of its primordial spirit remaining. It finally devoured a returning young man, occupying his body. This young man was Rui Wei.

Life is the greatest miracle of time. Rui Wei's will remained unyielding, constantly fighting back. The wisp of the demon's primordial spirit suffered even more severe damage. Although it eventually erased Rui Wei's primary consciousness, it ultimately failed to completely destroy it, merging with it instead.

Now, this half-demon, half-human black primordial spirit, a combination of the demon and Rui Wei, wept tears of blood, howling that it wanted to find a suitable home for its clan.

Ye Fan sighed. This person, half lived in a dream, and the other half occasionally manifested demonic thoughts, becoming bloodthirsty in the darkness.

"I am Rui Wei! I want to search the world and bring hope to my clan..." Tears streamed down his face, filled with sorrow, his eyes almost hollow as he cried out mournfully.

He refused to admit that he had died, refused to accept that his clan had been annihilated. The last wisp of the demon's primordial spirit was also in a semi-destroyed state, fusing with him, becoming this unique existence.

Ye Fan felt pity for him. He extended a finger and touched its primordial spirit, erasing the last vestiges of the demon's own memories, allowing this peculiar life to coexist in this manner.

Rui Wei's primary consciousness was destroyed; if it were completely separated, it would turn to ash and vanish. Only through such symbiosis was it possible, with Rui Wei's memories serving as the foundation for this life.

Doing this also eliminated the future demon, ensuring he would not indiscriminately kill from now on.

Ye Fan sent the primordial spirit back into the body, erasing what it had just seen and heard in its sea of consciousness, causing it to faint. He then carried Rui Wei back to the Human Race Eighty-First City.

The next day, Ye Fan and his group set off. Rui Wei came to bid them farewell, still full of longing, saying, "I will definitely find a blessed land for my clan. Brother Ye, we will meet again someday. By then, I will invite you to drink in a pure land filled with the fragrance of flowers, the songs of birds, and vibrant life."

Ye Fan nodded, not shattering his dream. Let him pursue it. People always need dreams. As long as the dream doesn't die, hope remains. For him, this was better.

Many people in the Human Race Eighty-First City came out onto the streets to watch Ye Fan and his group depart. Among them, a woman also hid in the crowd, staring at Ye Fan's retreating figure, slightly lost in thought. She murmured softly, "How can he be so powerful?"

This person was Xu Li, the youngest daughter of the Human Race Eighty-First City Lord. In the past, she had admired Hegemon and, along with Qi Tian's grandson, the Human Race Dao Protector, had gone to the Human Race Fiftieth City to cause trouble for Ye Fan. As a result, she was captured and served as a "miner" for dozens of days, digging for sources and carving out array pattern grooves everywhere.

Later, Ye Fan did not make things difficult for them and released them all.

"His future achievements and heights are no longer something you can comprehend," the Human Race Eighty-First City Lord appeared beside his daughter, patting her shoulder, telling her not to overthink it. Then he mused to himself, "His future heights are beyond my reach too."

"Hegemon was defeated. Is he really inferior to him?" Xu Li asked, still feeling unwilling. "Hegemon's bravery is rare in ancient times; he just lacked the Divine Interdiction state."

"Who can say what the future holds," the old City Lord murmured.

Ye Fan and his group stepped onto the Five-Color Altar, hearing some shouts from behind.

"Senior Ye Fan, you must defeat all heroes! You are the strongest under the stars!"

"Senior Ye, we hope you can achieve the Dao and become invincible in the world!"

Ye Fan couldn't help but turn around and saw some relatively younger faces—they were later arrivals, having embarked on the starry path decades or even a century after him, yet they were calling him 'senior.'

He was momentarily stunned. Time, ah, another generation had risen. He wondered how many heroes would remain beneath the surging waves. He then thought of the Big Dipper star region. How were Ye Tong and Hua Hua now? Would they also embark on this path?

Perhaps, in the near future, he would face challenges from their descendants.

Thus, Ye Fan and his group departed, using this route to head for the final pass of the human race!

Recently, the plot is about to reach a turning point, and I need to think carefully, so there will only be this one chapter tonight. To write the later parts well, this is very necessary. Please understand.