Chapter 1475: Crystal Monument Inscription

The majestic pass stands tall, shrouded in chaos. No one is present; it has been eternally silent, its grandeur revealed in the ethereal void.

Massive stone pillars, one after another, tower into the nebula like pillars supporting the heavens, standing before the majestic pass. Each pillar is a chapter of history, etched with the currents of time.

Dozens of stone pillars stand in a line, imposing and awe-inspiring. One, enveloped in Yin energy and resounding with the roar of heavenly laws, must represent the Human Emperor. Another, with the Great Thunderclap Temple situated on Mount Sumeru, reveals the Dharma of Amitābha Buddha. A ghastly face imprint, bearing a bittersweet smile with tear stains, symbolizes the life of the Ruthless Emperor. An ancient mirror and a lingering silhouette, which fought until death to quell the turmoil in the Seven Forbidden Zones, narrate the end of the Void Emperor. The Chaos Bell, suppressing past and present, its back turned to all beings, its life and death a mystery, signifies the supreme Wushi Emperor. A green lotus, shattering the ancient heavens, stands alone, gazing towards the Immortal Realm.

Over a dozen massive stone pillars stand together, bearing the marks of ancient emperors and great emperors from various powerful races. These marks are not for glory or honor, but simply an indelible imprint.

The thought of so many Great Emperors having walked this ancient path is both awe-inspiring and prompts endless contemplation.

Alas, time has ultimately passed and cannot return. The Great Emperors never met each other; what feelings must they have had when they left their names here?

Perhaps it was simply the loneliness of an unbeatable life, gazing out at future generations from this very spot.

Great Emperors are forged through brutal competition, reaching their ultimate peak. They transcend all, finding no one truly their equal; only the ancient emperors who achieved transcendence, whether as foes or allies, were truly of their kind.

Ye Fan and his companions walked around the pillars, observing the ancient relics and divine stones. They were deeply moved, as if they saw one lonely Great Emperor after another pausing at this spot.

The majestic pass was utterly silent, with no one guarding it. Its gates were tightly shut, adorned with huge beast-head bronze rings. The towering city walls were dull, as if deserted for a very long time.

This is the first pass of the Ultimate Ancient Road!

In fact, it has many names: some call it the Immortal Road, some the Emperor Road, others the Sole Path to Godhood, or even the Heavenly Road.

This road is exceptionally perilous; without the strength of a Great Saint, one cannot even push open the city gates, let alone pass through. This is precisely why only those who have reached a certain realm with the corresponding power are permitted to arrive here.

Legend has it that this Emperor Road has nine passes, though this is just one theory. Some say there are eight passes, others an endless number; these are all conjectures by the path guardians of various races. The true nature of the path is known only to the ancient Great Emperors who have reached its end.

According to the first theory, there are only a few majestic passes, but each one presents immeasurable deadly trials.

This is where true heroes are buried; the intensity and brutality here far surpass those of the Human Race's Ancient Road, as this is the terrifying battleground where all the universe's strongest races vie for supremacy.

Behind this majestic pass, countless heroes are buried. Some truly achieved an Emperor's form but unexpectedly perished; such tragedies have continued to unfold throughout history.

"There's also a theory," Pang Bo said, "that each pass represents a layer of heaven, and one must ultimately ascend to the Ninth Heaven, sweep aside deities, defeat all adversaries, and finally ring the Emperor Bell, its sound reverberating across all realms."

Before coming here, they had already inquired in detail with the Human Race Ancient Road's path guardians, learning many secrets, and are now deeply moved by what they see.

"There is also a theory," someone said, "that each pass is a world, different from what is seen, and the ultimate battlefield will be nine ancient universes."

Ye Fan took a deep breath, realizing that on the path ahead, the people they would face would be even more terrifying; perhaps each one would be an unparalleled adversary.

Of course, there would not be many people on this road, but every individual who appeared could not be taken lightly.

"In the least crowded instance, fifty-five people entered," someone said. "The most crowded instance was unrecorded; no one ever counted."

Ye Fan and his group stepped forward, heading towards the gate, ready to ascend the Heavenly Road for their final battle. However, with a soft hum, a giant stele appeared before the tightly shut gate.

It manifested silently, exuding an aura that made everyone tremble. Faintly, waves of Great Emperor power spread, awe-inspiring and soul-stirring.

The stone stele towered into the clouds, majestic and vast. Its front face was like a crystalline mirror, with light flowing across it, capable of reflecting human silhouettes. Its four corners and back sides, however, were dull and ancient, indistinguishable from ordinary stone.

"This path hasn't opened yet; the crystal stele is still blocking the gate," Ji Ziyue murmured.

The Human Race path guardians had previously informed them in detail about everything to note here. The Heavenly Road would not open too early; it would wait for most of this generation's trial-takers to appear, giving them sufficient time.

Until then, the majestic pass remained tightly shut and inaccessible. The crystal stele stood before the city entrance, and cultivators who reached this point only needed to carve their names and leave their true body imprints.

In the future, once the majestic pass opened, a divine gate would appear wherever one was, allowing them to choose and, with a single step, arrive at this very location.

Therefore, the crystal stele held special significance for cultivators; anyone who reached this point proved themselves to be among the strongest of their race.

An inscription on the crystal stele signified the emergence of a peerless expert, capable of dominating a region and about to be hailed as a venerable figure within their own race.

This was the lifelong dream of many cultivators!

Even setting aside the Emperor Road itself, merely having one's name inscribed here was enough, representing profound recognition and unparalleled honor.

"This generation has only just begun, and there are already fifty-three people!" Ji Ziyue exclaimed, a hint of surprise in her voice.

The crystal stele towered into the clouds, and every one of the fifty-three names carved upon it glowed. Written with powerful, decisive strokes, they radiated divine light.

This crystal stele was truly extraordinary; it shimmered with a dreamlike luster, making each name appear alive, like an eternal divine lamp.

"Fifty-three people is just the initial stage; it's too few," Pang Bo commented. "In the past, even the least crowded generation had fifty-five people who met the requirements. This is a golden era, rarely seen throughout history; who knows how many there will eventually be?"

In the past, the generation with the most participants was uncounted, reportedly because there were simply too many. It was an era where dark turmoil and a brilliant golden age erupted simultaneously, thus producing countless prodigies.

The fifty-three names shone brightly like twinkling stars. Each name was preceded by a number, indicating the order of arrival.

"The first name is 'Tai Chu'!" Ye Fan exclaimed, surprised and stirred.

This person's name was not only special but also very fitting: the first to arrive, named "Tai Chu," signifying a beginning here. The two characters "Tai Chu" flowed with rich, precious light, exuding a terrifying aura of the Great Dao that suppressed everything around it.

"To dare to take such a name, do they truly wish to defy heaven?" the Dragon Horse gasped.

"There's the Primordial Mine in Beidou," Ji Ziyue pondered, "could there be a connection between the two?"

"Could they have been nurtured in that forbidden life zone?" Pang Bo exclaimed, also startled.

"Probably not; there aren't that many coincidences," Ji Haoyue said, shaking his head.

Regardless, the person who inscribed "Tai Chu" on the crystal stele is absolutely not simple. Being the first to arrive here, such a name demonstrates a profound belief.

They looked down the list, one by one. From the second to the seventh, the names were all unfamiliar, their races unknown.

Suddenly, Ye Fan was surprised; he recognized the eighth name: Yin Tiande!

The three characters glowed with a hazy purple mist, and within their peacefulness, there lurked a majestic aura capable of swallowing mountains and rivers. It was indeed him.

"He really came," Pang Bo said, his brows deeply furrowed.

No one dared to underestimate a person possessing a Divine Forbidden; they must be treated with utmost solemnity. Yin Tiande, absolutely powerful, had arrived very early and carved his true body imprint.

"I haven't seen the tenth person, but I've heard of them," Ji Ziyue said.

The tenth name, Jin Chanzi, glowed with Buddhist light on the crystal stele, radiating peace and compassion, as if a Buddha were sitting there lecturing on sutras and expounding the Dharma.

The Western Bodhisattva Jue Youqing from Beidou and the Ascetic Monk Kutou Tuo from the Human Race Ancient Road, both exceptionally formidable individuals, had reportedly been "converted" by Jin Chanzi. This was only part of the information Ye Fan could gather.

"Did I... see that correctly?" Pang Bo exclaimed, pointing to the top of the crystal stele. Among the dazzling names, he had found one that left him utterly dumbfounded.

"Could it really be... he came too!" Even the usually composed Ji Ziyue's expression changed to one of shock.

There was a name that was widely known and very familiar to everyone from Beidou: none other than the White-Clothed Divine King Jiang Taixu, conspicuously present on the list!

After a long while, Pang Bo finally gasped in amazement and asked, "Even the Peerless Divine King has arrived?"

He was still stuck in the past, looking up at the White-Clothed Divine King, unaware that he himself had already become a Saint King.

"Aren't there rules on the ancient path?" Ji Ziyue asked, her lively eyes darting around with a suspicious look. "Can Divine Kings also come?"

Ye Fan was very surprised to see Divine King Jiang's name on the crystal stele before the Heavenly Road. He sighed, "The Human Race Ancient Road doesn't allow people like him to travel it, but the final Ultimate Emperor Road has no such restrictions, with the Great Saint realm as its starting point. Furthermore, the Divine King has lived a second life, giving him an unparalleled advantage in terms of lifespan; it's perfectly fine for him to be included."

This revelation left them unsettled for quite some time. While it was inevitable that Divine King Jiang would become a Great Saint, the prospect of actually encountering him on this road in the future was astonishing.

"Why isn't Yao Guang here?" someone wondered. "That bastard devoured so many terrifying physiques; I imagine he's powerful enough by now. Why hasn't he appeared yet?" They searched among the names.

"When the time comes, he will naturally appear," Ye Fan said. "He's not in a hurry, and the order of names doesn't signify anything."

Furthermore, individuals like the Middle Emperor, Fire Qilin Child, and Huang Xudao are absolutely qualified to appear, yet their names were nowhere to be seen, indicating they hadn't arrived yet.

Among the fifty-something names, recognizing even a few was quite good.

"Here's a strange name: Dongfang Taiyi. Who is this?" Pang Bo asked, a peculiar expression on his face.

Ye Fan was startled. When he saw the forty-ninth name, a suspicion arose in his heart. "Could it be the Human Demon Old Man?" he murmured.

Back then, they had roasted a Golden Crow on Beidou's sun, with the Black Emperor and Dongfang Ye present. They had once asked the old man's name, and he had mumbled something indistinctly, which seemed to be "Dongfang Taiyi."

"My...!" The Dragon Horse spluttered, complaining endlessly, "How can anyone live? The Wildman Old Man has arrived too!"

"This master specializes in eating Great Saints," the Dragon Horse said, genuinely fearful. "Golden Crows from the Blazing Mulberry Star, Great Saints from the Ten Thousand Dragon Nest—to him, they're all crunchy snacks, chewed a few times and swallowed." Even though he was an ally, the prospect of encountering him on this fiercely competitive path in the future still made the Dragon Horse uneasy.

It vividly remembered the Human Demon Old Man's gaze when his old illness recurred; it felt like he was looking at a golden-brown, glistening, fragrant roasted whole horse.

Ye Fan also fell into a daze for a moment. Thinking about it, this final road truly had no forbidden rules; the only condition was simply being strong enough!

The Human Demon Old Man, wandering through the cosmos, had actually reached this place. No one knew if he had feasted his way through or fought his way through, sweeping aside all in his path.

Ye Fan, Pang Bo, Ji Ziyue, and the others all felt that this crystal stele was immensely valuable; just a glance had provided them with an astonishing amount of information.

"The fiftieth person has quite the audacity to take such a name—'Emperor'!"

The characters "Emperor" were too striking; it was impossible not to notice them.

Suddenly, a sigh drifted over.

"Alas, I missed it after all," the voice sighed. "I only left for a short while, and the fiftieth spot was already taken, with that name no less. Could it be that he has emerged?"

From a distance, a figure approached, entirely enveloped in chaos, indistinct and mysterious. The figure stared at the fiftieth spot on the crystal stele and sighed deeply.