Chapter 1628: Exit

Ye Fan has arrived, demonstrating such overwhelming power that, even without his previous laws and dao, he still managed to kill the Longevity Celestial Venerable's disciple, thus announcing his return in a forceful manner.

An eerie atmosphere permeated the entire Imperial Pass. Ye Fan's return immediately heightened the tension here many times over, making it somewhat oppressive. People felt that the most terrifying struggle on the Imperial Road might now begin.

In this era, many individuals from across the universe have gathered at the Imperial Pass, all sharing a single goal: to achieve Dao.

The oldest among them are up to eight thousand years old, yet they refuse to yield to age, rushing to this place to fight for a glorious new era and let the final years of their lives shine with the most brilliant splendor.

The youngest individual is only just over a hundred years old, yet has already reached the peak of the Great Saint realm. This is truly unprecedented, drawing the amazed gaze of countless people, for he has already matched Du Mu, the fastest cultivating God Race Supreme in history.

Everyone believed that Ye Fan would soon engage in fierce clashes with others. However, despite the intense atmosphere, no battles broke out.

Ye Fan had no conflicts with the Divine Court, the Underworld, Yaoguang, Yin Tiande, or the Saint Spirit Race; no one came to provoke him, even though the city was becoming increasingly suffocating.

A silver moon hung in the sky, illuminating the Imperial Pass. Mists steamed within the city, accompanied by brilliant starlight, and immortal light rose from the Chaos Lake, lingering among the nearby buildings.

"After a separation of three or four hundred years, Daoist brother, your demeanor remains unchanged upon our reunion," Zhang Bainian said as he came to visit, carrying a pot of wine.

Such occurrences are rare in the Imperial Pass. Generally, one does not step into another's cultivation ground, as doing so could provoke a fight.

Because those who embark on this path are all competitors, and in the end, only one can stand at the peak. If they continue on this path, a battle will inevitably occur sooner or later.

"Three hundred years of life and death, lived in a daze; what demeanor is there to speak of?" Ye Fan said, shaking his head, and invited him onto a Dao platform built from bluestone.

The two drank a few cups of wine under the moon, only exchanging a few casual words. Zhang Bainian did not ask Ye Fan how he survived, nor did Ye Fan inquire about his true origins or background.

Ye Tong, Huahua, and Yang Xi also joined them. After drinking a few cups of wine, Huahua couldn't help but say, "Hey, old Jade Emperor, have you descended to the mortal world, or have you been reincarnated?"

Zhang Bainian smiled upon hearing this and asked, "Are you talking about me?"

He possessed an ordinary physique with no special bloodline, yet it was difficult to gauge his true depth. He was balanced and serene, lacking any particular domineering aura or sharp divine presence.

"Alas, you've forgotten Chang'e and abandoned Bajie; how heartless," Huahua said, pouring the wine and sighing repeatedly.

Ye Fan listened to his nonsensical talk and directly smacked him on his bald head.

Zhang Bainian chuckled, very amiable and unconcerned. He then asked, "Brother Ye, do you think reaching the final pass guarantees becoming an Emperor?"

Ye Fan shook his head and said, "Being unrivaled in the world doesn't necessarily mean one can become an Emperor. Who can say what the future holds? However, I don't plan to continue; I want to go back and see."

This is a fact: this path has been opened hundreds of times throughout history, and many have fought their way to its end, yet no one has ever achieved Dao.

Zhang Bainian was surprised. He said, "Exiting this path will make it difficult to re-enter."

"What's the point of a half-crippled person like me competing with a group of heroes?" Ye Fan said self-deprecatingly.

Zhang Bainian smiled. He said, "If you say that, wouldn't many people be ashamed? Even in your current state, you still killed the Longevity Celestial Venerable's disciple; how many people can achieve that?"

"I want to go back to my homeland to see it and recuperate," Ye Fan replied truthfully.

It had been three hundred years since he left, and he wanted to go back and see. His former relatives and friends all believed he had died and had erected a burial mound for his clothes; he felt they should know he was still alive.

At the same time, given his current state, life-and-death struggles might not be useful; perhaps it would be better to calm his mind and comprehend the Dao and laws.

In fact, three hundred years ago, Ye Fan had already fought fiercely against ancient Supremes. Now, more fighting might not necessarily lead to the fundamental breakthrough of his limitations.

The Imperial Road is carved out through killing and is very cruel, but it might not be suitable for his current state.

"Master, you're leaving? Your name has already been inscribed on the crystal wall. Once you abandon it, it will be extremely difficult, perhaps even impossible, to re-enter the Imperial Pass next time," Yang Xi said.

Ye Fan nodded; this was his decision. He also warned them that if they were not a match for their opponents on this path, they should not try to be brave. They were still young, had plenty of opportunities, and should not foolishly throw away their lives.

In fact, as Ye Fan spoke these words, his heart was heavy. On the Imperial Road, the strong survive, and continuing on this path would inevitably be accompanied by downfall and death.

"You are not the first to withdraw," Zhang Bainian said. "It is said that someone came directly here and erased their name from the crystal wall before the summon, never stepping a single half-step into the grand pass." He did not mention who it was.

"Senior Uncle Saint Prince came," Ye Tong said. "He took a turn around the city, killed a dozen people he found displeasing, and then left as well."

"That monkey..." At this point, Zhang Bainian showed a strange expression.

After the Saint Prince arrived, he directly went for the toughest challenges. He once specifically challenged the mysterious Zhang Bainian by name, but at that time, Zhang Bainian had entered the Flying Immortal Battlefield; otherwise, a battle would have been inevitable.

"I heard that some descendants of ancient Emperors and Supremes haven't come," Ye Tong said. "They might be engaging in an alternative life-and-death battle among themselves."

The Saint Prince had clearly abandoned this path and rushed to another battlefield to honor an appointment, but he had left a message saying he would return.

The next day, news of Ye Fan's impending withdrawal spread, shaking the Imperial Pass and leaving many people stunned and bewildered.

"Is this real? Why would he make such a choice?"

"I see. That battle three hundred years ago must have affected him too deeply," someone said. "He must have suffered unimaginable hidden injuries. The Sacred Body Ye Fan can only choose to withdraw in dismay."

The news was shocking, and people discussed it animatedly. The most consistent view was that Ye Fan had hidden injuries and was forced to make this choice.

Some were pleasantly surprised, others sighed, and some let out a long breath; reactions varied greatly.

It seemed like the end of an era. Regardless, Ye Fan was once incredibly powerful and had awed a generation; although he had returned alive, his glory might have reached its end.

His fragments of laws and Dao were not apparent; in the battle with the Longevity Celestial Venerable's disciple, he used divine chains of order formed from sacred blood to contend, which was enough to indicate a problem: he was unwell.

If it were in the past, how could he have allowed his blood to flow out of his body to fight such a battle?

Many people thought this way, and not a few felt deep regret. They had believed they were once again witnessing the rise of an invincible Sacred Body, but they never expected that he would ultimately be unable to defy the heavens.

Before leaving, Ye Fan once again entered the Flying Immortal Battlefield. He retrieved some magical artifacts and heavenly treasures from his three disciples and then traversed the entire battlefield, heading towards the human settlements on the First Tribulation Star.

"Ah, Brother Ye, you're back!" Outside the battlefield, Bai Ye was still there, having surprisingly waited all this time. Additionally, Big Beard and others were also eagerly awaiting.

Ye Fan smiled and gave Big Beard and others some magical artifacts. He also imparted several powerful secret techniques, which immediately filled them with awe, making them see him as a divine being.

"These are divine combat techniques!"

Despite their requests, Ye Fan did not agree to take them as disciples. He only told them to help look after Bai Ye in the future.

He did not leave immediately. Instead, he returned to that small mountain village with Bai Ye and pulled out the green lotus from the pond. After all this time, it still had not grown and remained the same; only the chaotic qi had become denser, which had once left Old Man Bai in a daze for many days.

"These things can help your cultivation," Ye Fan said, leaving behind the precious medicine refined by Celestial Village, which contained components of evolution fluid to help Bai Ye get on the right track with his cultivation in the future. Afterward, he left a scripture and then departed.

Ye Fan returned to the Imperial Pass. After much thought, he decided to proactively meet a few "old acquaintances," certain that if truly necessary, he would not hesitate to fight.

Unfortunately, he found no one; those individuals had all gone to the Flying Immortal Battlefield.

The main gate of the Imperial Pass opened, and Ye Fan walked out. He then erased his name from a massive crystal stele, officially withdrawing from the One True Path.

Hearing about it was one thing; witnessing it was another. Many people stood on the city wall, all personally witnessing this, and all felt immensely regretful.

"How could this be? He survived, but why couldn't he be granted an undamaged body?" Although they were competitors, some people couldn't help but entertain such thoughts.

And those who had merely come to experience it, never intending to fight all the way to the end for the Emperor's throne, sighed even more profoundly, all feeling regret.

"Is the era of the Sacred Body, the glory of the Sacred Body, truly going to end here?" people wondered. "He clearly could kill the Longevity Celestial Venerable's disciple!"

People could only watch him leave the pass.

"Master, wait for me!" Huahua rushed out, quickly erased his name from the crystal stele, and said, "I'll go back with you!"

His reason was simple: he had no interest in fighting and killing. He had been forced to enter by Ye Tong and originally had no intention of coming here to temper himself.

"Master!" the other two disciples cried out, also wanting to rush out and go back with him.

But Ye Fan sternly refused. He knew Ye Tong's ambition was to fight all the way to the Ninth Ultimate Imperial Pass, and Yang Xi was even more of a battle fanatic, who had long considered this battlefield the most important trial of his life.

Those who had once wanted to follow Ye Fan stood silently on the city wall. Some wanted to leave with him, but Ye Fan politely declined them all, as he did not want his withdrawal to affect the paths of others.

However, the Blood Crow was decisive. It resolutely rushed out, erased its name from the crystal stele, and insisted on following.

"Farewell!" Ye Fan waved goodbye behind him, then turned and departed.

On the city gate, many people felt complex emotions. Events had unfolded too quickly in recent days; three hundred years ago, Ye Fan had defied fate, returned alive, and shaken the Imperial City, and now he had suddenly withdrawn, truly making for a turbulent period.

Watching Ye Fan and the others depart, some people laughed coldly. However, their smiles froze before they could fully bloom. Because at this moment, Huahua turned around and shouted, "Let the Nine Imperial Passes tremble, for my master will return one day!"

He took out a Divine Light Platform, invited Ye Fan and the Blood Crow to board it, and then instantly pierced through the universe. They vanished from their original spot, thus bidding farewell to the Nine Heavens Imperial Road.