Chapter 1522: 盛会落幕

**Chapter 1526: The Grand Gathering Concludes**

Shi Zhongxuan is dead, slain in the Great Wilderness. A powerful Sacred Spirit did not last long against the Human Saint Body before being decisively suppressed and killed! This outcome, this scene, was truly heart-stopping. The battle was like a lightning storm—fierce, swift, and over incredibly fast.

Even Great Sage Huntuo could only open his mouth before letting out a sigh, saying, "Alas!" How many could claim such a feat? It was truly awe-inspiring, leaving all the assembled powerhouses in silence. It was a long time later, after the main figures had departed, that the place erupted in discussion, becoming a noisy hubbub.

Now, a difficult question arose for everyone: in the future, how many would be able to contend with Ye Fan? This was no longer just a concern limited to Beidou, but a headache for all the extraterrestrial races. "It seems the legends are true; he truly became unrivaled on the ancient human path. In the future, he will have a place in the highest divine halls across the entire universe."

"The strongest human cultivators have never fallen out of the top fifteen across the myriad domains. From the looks of it, he will certainly be one of the top dozen strongest in the future!" Many discussed, some joyful, others deeply worried. Stopping Ye Fan's progress seemed to be an issue not just for one or two races. But who could accomplish that now? Unless a true Quasi-Emperor descended, it would be impossible to rein him in.

Princess Yueling ultimately did not try to stop Ye Fan. Even with the Nine Li Diagram by her side, she did not intervene, merely letting out a soft sigh. In the past, they had already had a confrontation at the Qinling Immortal Pool. If they were to become enemies again today, their future conflict would be even harder to resolve. Moreover, the potential Ye Fan was now demonstrating made even immortal inheritances wary. Dealing with Ye Fan was the same for everyone: unless he could be killed in one blow, allowing him to escape would surely lead to a catastrophe of tribal extinction in the future. "I wonder if the old grievances can be smoothly resolved in the future," she murmured to herself.

The grand gathering continued, and the ancient continent above the Dark City became lively once more. Though this battle was astonishing, it was merely an interlude. Discussions about the various procedures for opening the path to immortality still had to proceed.

"Congratulations. It seems you gained immensely on the ancient human path, with your cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, striking fear into the hearts of cultivators across the myriad heavens and domains." Amidst swirling mists, in a pavilion, Huo Lin'er spoke to Ye Fan while sipping Enlightenment Tea, a charming smile on her face.

"I presume you also traveled an ancient path. Returning to your ancestral land, you must have entered a vast starry sky, and your gains naturally wouldn't be small," Ye Fan said with a smile.

"It seems I, too, need to venture into the starry sky," Jiang Yifei said, letting out a soft sigh, seemingly with some emotion.

"Brother Jiang's cultivation is unfathomable, enough to stand proudly above all others. Long ago, you easily defeated your clan's Divine Body. There have always been rumors that you are the direct son of Emperor Hengyu; I wonder if that's true," Ji Ziyue asked, dimples appearing on her face, her large eyes sparkling.

Everyone's gaze converged on him, watching intently. Many were curious, especially with the persistent rumors that Jiang Yifei looked almost identical to the portraits left behind by Emperor Hengyu! Jiang Yifei, with his distinguished and handsome appearance, shook his head upon hearing this and let out a soft sigh. "Several Imperial Sons of my clan emerged one after another during the most terrifying dark upheavals, and almost all of them died in battle."

Everyone was filled with solemn respect, recalling the legends of the Jiang family's Imperial Sons who shed their last blood for humanity, quelling the dark upheavals and bringing peace to the human race. The darkest years of ancient times were too tragic to revisit. It was an era of profound sorrow, where mountains and rivers crumbled, sun and moon lost their light, and countless heroes perished. Some, who were once brilliant enough to illuminate the universe, passed away too soon, dying in those tumultuous upheavals.

Ji Ziyue blinked her large eyes, picking up a clue from his words: Jiang Yifei said "almost all" their family's Imperial Sons had died, implying that a few individuals had clearly survived. "Only one person left alone, but he was already destined to die. He said he was going to seek a certain karma and then vanished from the world," Jiang Yifei stated calmly.

The Dragon Horse and others cursed the instigators of the dark upheavals, finding them too cruel and self-destructive. Not far away, Dark Bodhi poured and drank alone, tilting his head back to down a cup of fine wine he hadn't enjoyed in a long time. A look of lingering pleasure appeared on his pale face as he glanced over and said, "If that was considered a dark upheaval, then this era is one where darkness reigns." At these words, all the nearby cultivators felt a chill. By now, those who had interacted with him already suspected his identity and had a rough idea of his origins.

"Survival of the fittest, even Supremes have no choice!" Dark Bodhi drank three more cups of wine, then stood up and turned to leave without hesitation. These cryptic words sent a chill through everyone's hearts, making them even more worried about the future. Those who knew his identity felt their hearts sink immediately.

Ye Fan's expression was solemn as he let out a soft sigh. This was a grand era, awaited for eons, where all the supreme powerhouses from across the myriad heavens and domains would converge. The major life forbidden zones would also break their seals. All the accumulated power from ancient times until now would brilliantly burst forth in this generation. How would it all end? Perhaps it would be incredibly cruel, beyond anyone's imagination!

Soon after, someone from the Central Heavenly Palace arrived, inviting Ye Fan to discuss matters concerning the opening of the path to immortality. Everyone was surprised. Even the Great Sages held him in such high regard, making it impossible to exclude him; he had to participate. This was undoubtedly a tremendous honor. Feng Huang was astonished; it was the first time these senior figures had proactively invited someone from the younger generation to join. On reflection, he indeed possessed sufficient qualifications. Setting aside his combat strength, the mere existence of the Heavenly Court organization was enough. Daring to destroy Mount Sumeru was astonishing enough to rank it among the top-tier powers of the current age, and he was its leader.

Shortly after, Huo Lin'er, Jiang Yifei, Princess Yueling, Feng Huang, and other heirs of immortal factions were also invited to enter the Central Heavenly Palace. Representatives from various races spoke, aiming to establish regulations favorable to their own clans. However, reaching a consensus proved incredibly difficult, leading to endless disputes. During this, some Great Sages even turned hostile, went out to duel, and tragic incidents occurred. As for the duels among the Sages, there were even more. On that day, bloodbaths frequently erupted near the ancient continent, leading to widespread chaos.

The grand gathering lasted for a full half-month, far exceeding expectations, but it ended on an unhappy note. Apart from a few limited points of consensus, everything else was rejected. It could be said that this conference was highly unsuccessful, failing to achieve its intended effect. All races were dissatisfied and planned to schedule another time for discussion. Undoubtedly, the more powerful inheritances became, the more assertive they grew, refusing to back down. At the same time, through this conference, the various powerhouses of Beidou also sensed a hint of ill omen: the extraterrestrial Sages were merely advance parties, scouts. The leaders of the various domains had not even set out yet!

"The Great Emperor of the Golden Crow race is certainly not the only Quasi-Emperor; there will undoubtedly be several more!" This was the common consensus. As for Half-step Quasi-Emperors and the ancestral artifacts of each race, they were also destined to appear. The future would undoubtedly be extremely cruel.

On the last day of the conference, the Void Mirror spontaneously emitted a brilliant light, descending upon the periphery of the Undying Mountain. It pulsed with ten thousand feet of immortal radiance, then vanished with a whoosh, breaking into the Southern Domain. The conference dispersed, finally concluding, but not as people had wished.

Ji Ziyue was forcibly taken away by a Great Sage of the Ji family, as people from the Undying Mountain had emerged, and they feared she might encounter an accident. Ye Fan had arranged to visit the Ji family after some time, then head north to the Jade Lake to check on the Nine-Orifice Divine Stone, which had always troubled him.

Journeying north, he naturally passed Mount Zi. Facing this ancient imperial mountain, his heart was filled with endless emotions. Too many mysteries were buried within. No one could truly say what became of Great Emperor Wushi. Had he broken into the Immortal Realm, or truly passed away completely? Here, he thought of many people, quietly lighting incense and candles to pay respects to the Fifth Generation Source Heavenly Master. He still remembered the morning after the battle that annihilated the Spirit Valley, when the Ancestor Master vanished into dust amid the brilliant morning glow. He had bid farewell to Saintess Yang Yi, departing with a smile and the unique grace of a true hero, freely leaving the world, transforming into a rain of light, leaving behind a legacy of glory and sorrow. That was one of the most unforgettable memories of Ye Fan's life; thinking of it still brought a pang of sadness. The Ancestor Master and Divine King Jiang Taixu were the two people he respected most. The Ancestor Master was a true hero, his demeanor unparalleled, enough to dim the world. Though fate had been cruel to him, his brilliant radiance was enough to dispel all shadows.

Ye Fan lingered for a long time, then came to a dilapidated stone village on the other side of Mount Zi. Here were some gravestones; Zhang Wuye was ultimately buried in the homeland where he once lived. Ye Fan quietly paid his respects there, not leaving until much later. "When will the 'Wushi Sutra' in Mount Zi reappear?" And the Bell of Wushi, seemingly in a perpetual state of semi-revival, resisting and dismantling all external pressures, remained full of unsolved mysteries, as if an Emperor were manipulating it. "The path to immortality is about to open, and all will be revealed!"

Ye Fan continued north, entering Divine City, the place where he truly rose to prominence. The stone-gambling battles, the Four Extremes breakthrough, the White-Clothed Divine King's self-sacrifice... scene after scene felt as though they were happening before his eyes. Divine City was magnificent, its walls like towering mountain ranges, stretching endlessly, grand and expansive, as if an ancient city where a Heavenly Emperor resided had descended upon the human world.

Ye Fan entered the city and wandered through the various stone-gambling houses, discovering a phenomenon that left him speechless: his portraits were quite numerous. All who gambled on sources would actually worship his portrait before cutting stones, praying for good fortune. "When did I become a charlatan, to be worshipped like this someday..." Ye Fan was utterly speechless, unsure what to say. Of course, those who worshipped his portraits were mostly mortals, and among them, primarily gamblers, which made him shake his head again. Nevertheless, his reputation in Divine City was simply too immense. He was revered as the Sixth Generation Source Heavenly Master, almost a god to many stone gamblers, hence their frequent worship.

"Hey, who's that person? Why do they look so much like the one in the painting? Heavens, could it be the Ancestor Master manifesting?"

"Am I seeing things? No, he's a living person! I'll go cut a stone right away; good fortune is here, the God of Source is right before my eyes!"

"Oh my! I see it too! You're not the only lucky one. Is this... real?!"

Some mortals discovered Ye Fan, and one by one, they were dumbfounded. Then, as if a pot had boiled over, they swarmed him, instantly creating an uproar. "The God of Source has appeared! He's really here!"

"Ancestor Master, bestow some source upon us! We prostrate ourselves and worship daily, never missing our three incense sticks a day!"

A crowd shouted, instantly causing a sensation. Ye Fan felt a headache coming on, wiping sweat from his forehead. He had always wondered why his Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron had accumulated some special faith power over the years. Now he knew the source, and he unconsciously stroked his chin.

Ye Fan walked directly towards a magnificent stone-gambling house. He wasn't passing through for any other reason today; he was here for the Stone King of old, to uncover a truth.