Chapter 1642: Another Era

Ye Fan's arrival shook the Imperial Pass!

On the colossal, mountain-like platform at the highest level of the Skyreach Tower, a group of people were stunned. This was undoubtedly the most significant event in the past decade.

The person who once fought desperately against the ancient Supremes from the Life Restricted Zones had returned. What did this signify? Regardless, it caused apprehension and fear in everyone.

Gaze after gaze fell upon him, from both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Killing intent surged like an ocean, and battle aura soared to the heavens.

Ye Fan's reappearance gave him the feeling of being an enemy to the entire world.

He faced it calmly. He had experienced too much on the battlefield, having fought life-and-death battles with supreme emperors like the Stone Emperor and the Lord of Samsara. Even encountering someone stronger than him now would not cause much ripple.

"What's with all the enthusiasm?" the big black dog asked, standing upright with its paws clasped behind its back. Its lower body was adorned with gleaming golden briefs made of Teng Snake skin, and its upper body, a shimmering silver vest of Dragon skin, shone brilliantly. "It's been a while since Ye Hei fought you all, but there's no need to be like this. We just met."

It continued, "With so much enthusiasm, I truly have nothing to offer you. How about this: I'll give you these few pots of Origin of Dao tea, which you consider divine treasures."

Many people were exasperated. This dog was utterly detestable. With a single word, it could ruin a path and destroy people's moods, truly deserving the moniker "tireless destroyer," having reached a certain level of mastery in it.

"Come, come, come! What a joyous reunion! All new and old friends, please drink this cup of wine—no, I mean tea! It's such a pleasure to meet you all again; I've missed you terribly!"

Damn it, bringing up exactly what shouldn't be mentioned! A group of people wanted to skin him alive. This day was destined to be a colossal joke. This dog had ruined a path and would likely be recorded in history, while they themselves were destined to become a laughingstock for future generations.

Everyone's faces turned pale, then green. With a whoosh, someone made a move. They couldn't stand this infuriating black dog any longer. A flying dagger transformed into a demonic light and slashed down.

A flash of light and shadow, and Ye Fan acted, extending two fingers to clamp the dagger's blade. It trembled between his fingertips, unable to advance even an inch.

"Brother Ye, it's been many years since we last met. We meet again today," Yaoguang said, a gentle smile on his face. He was undeniably a handsome man, like a divine sun-child, emanating a special radiance, with golden light even dripping from his hair tips.

Behind him, Mo Wentian stood expressionless, a flicker of sharp light occasionally appearing in his eyes. Ye Fan had once captured him to be a laborer and spared his life, but his future path had been effectively severed.

"Brother Dao, aren't you ill? With a hidden ailment, you should be recovering," someone remarked. "Why have you come to the One True Path again?"

"Oh. Yes, indeed. If you're injured, you should rest properly. We truly hope you recover soon, hahaha..." someone else laughed loudly.

Ostensibly, these were greetings, but the underlying meaning was obvious: a lack of sincerity, a mocking tone, and the cold, indifferent smiles on their faces confirmed their true attitudes.

"I got tired of staying put," Ye Fan responded calmly. "I had to come out and move around, otherwise I'd truly become useless. And while I'm at it, I thought I'd visit old and new friends."

"Senior Ye, please take care," someone said. "This One True Path is quite chaotic. I think you should recuperate in a safe place for a thousand years or more. When your cultivation is truly restored, then you can make a strong return. Who would dare contend with you then? Heh, we youngsters would simply retreat."

"You came here even before your cultivation recovered? Too impatient!" someone said directly, barely bothering to conceal their true thoughts. However, they were meticulously observing Ye Fan's hand that had caught the flying dagger.

"I trust the Heavenly Court has been well all these years? With such a grand name, I assume it possesses a corresponding foundation," the youngest son of the Divine Court Lord chuckled. Considering his background, these words sounded rather grating.

"Thanks to your blessing, it's very well." From behind, the people of the Heavenly Court sneered. Their expressions, and the hidden strangeness in their eyes, made the young Emperor Lord feel uneasy. He instinctively sensed that something had definitely happened.

The more they laughed, the more unsettled he became. Especially upon seeing the Black Emperor's greedy gaze and its gleaming white teeth, the young Emperor Lord grew furious. Were they treating him like a plump lamb ready for slaughter?

Ye Fan hadn't come here for slaughter, nor was he in the mood for it. His main purpose was to see if his disciples and old friends were well. Looking back from his current height, he suddenly felt rather bored.

Of course, if anyone provoked him, he would show no mercy.

"It's said the Sacred Body is extraordinary, having had the ambition to fight Supremes back then. I wonder how much of a role you truly played in that battle, Fellow Daoist Ye? Could you perhaps share your experiences from that time?" someone asked.

"There's nothing to say about that battle," Ye Fan replied. "It was purely blood and slaughter. If anyone is interested, they can only truly experience it by facing life and death themselves."

This made everyone's breath catch. He had a strong reliance; even with his cultivation unrestored and a half-crippled body, he was so formidable, inspiring dread.

"Stop talking nonsense! Since you're here, show us what you've got, or get lost!" the Great Mighty Saint Spirit roared, radiating arrogance. He was seething with rage, having been forced to drink foot-washing water, which infuriated him beyond measure, and he still couldn't do anything about that dog.

"Don't say that at all," the Emperor Lord's son said flatly. "The Sacred Body has merits; various clans and tribes remember his kindness. Saying something like that would make you guilty of abusing a hero."

"That's right," a Dragon Sparrow in human form, with divine demon wings on its back, said coldly. "No matter what, the Human Sacred Body has considerable prestige, and everyone should respect him. There's no reason you or I should harm him."

"Everyone, take it easy," said a woman from the Fox Tribe, a true vixen, captivatingly beautiful and full of charm, whose allure was widely known along this path. "Even if there's a conflict or you want to spar, don't hurt our esteemed hero. He's a Sacred Body; he can't afford to be injured."

It could be said that when it came to the most renowned beauty and charm on the Imperial Road, she was definitely among the top five, with a large number of supporters and immense popularity.

Normally, no one dared to speak ill of or insult this woman, or several prominent figures would come to her defense. In fact, her cultivation was also very strong, but her intention here was more to build connections with various powerhouses than to contend for supremacy on the Imperial Road; she was planning for the future.

"Everyone, please say less," the Fairy Qing Shi said with a bitter smile. She, too, was a peerless fairy, well-liked here. She had interacted with Ye Fan and deeply understood his style of action; since he had arrived, he would absolutely fear none of the powerhouses.

At that moment, everyone suddenly fell silent, because they noticed the big black dog was rolling its eyes at them, an arrogant look on its face as if it was superior to all beings. It was actually looking at them as if they were bumpkins.

Everyone felt something was wrong. This white-eyed wolf—no, this white-eyed dog—what was it planning?

Suddenly, a sharp aura pricked their bones. People realized Ye Fan had vanished from his spot, appearing directly in front of the Great Mighty Saint Spirit. He grabbed one of its arms, and with a *crack*, blood spurted as the limb broke off and fell.

*Pfft!*

Then, Ye Fan flicked his finger, striking the Great Mighty Saint Spirit's skull, causing its inner Immortal Platform to crack. It shrieked, falling from the high platform and rolling repeatedly.

He had told Ye Fan to "show two hands" or "get lost." Indeed, with just "two hands," he was crippled and his Immortal Platform was ruined.

Ye Fan took another step, and everyone's expression changed. This aura was too oppressive. The Great Mighty Saint Spirit was on the verge of becoming a Quasi-Emperor, yet it was crippled without any suspense.

"Ah..."

The Great Saint of the Dragon Sparrow Tribe shrieked miserably, his magic weapon shattered by Ye Fan's kick. His body was torn into pieces by an aerial kick, flying backward mixed with a shower of blood, clearly also crippled.

"No!" The charming Fox Tribe enchantress turned pale and cried out in alarm. Ye Fan grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up. It was an undignified posture, like a god of war lifting a tiny chick.

*Pfft!*

A burst of blood light erupted as Ye Fan exerted force with his palm and fingers. She exploded on the spot, turning into a cloud of blood mist. Another prominent figure was crippled.

This scene shocked everyone. He was too strong; there was no suspense at all. Had everyone instantly lost confidence? Was this truly a half-crippled Sacred Body, with lost cultivation, yet still so terrifying?

The Great Demon of the Imperial Road, the roadblock assassin for all powerhouses!

Ye Fan had arrived, rising again. Everyone knew this was a declaration: another era had come, and it would belong to Ye Fan, the Sacred Body.

Amidst the profound silence of the assembled powerhouses, a voice like a clap of thunder resonated, making people's eardrums ache and their Immortal Platforms almost crack. Rolling demonic energy surged into the Skyreach Tower. "Who the hell dares to bully my brother? Do you scum think you can do whatever you want just because Ye Zi's cultivation is gone? I'm here now, all of you get lost!"

A figure like an iron tower appeared. He was nearly one and a half *zhang* tall, making it hard to tell if he was human or a celestial demon. His immense stature inspired awe.

His arms were thicker than two of others' thighs bound together, his muscles powerful and gleaming with a bronze radiance. His thick black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and his eyes shone like divine lamps, captivating and awe-inspiring.

"Demon Venerable Pang Bo!"

Many people exclaimed, revealing his identity.

"Ye Zi, you're finally here! You're alive! I've waited for so long, it hurt!" Pang Bo roared, striding forward. His tiger-like eyes filled with tears, showing genuine emotion.

They came from the same homeland and were the best of friends. After embarking on their journey through the starry sky, their genuine friendship had been tested by life and death. That kind of bond, filled with tears and passion, was the truest.

Ye Fan was also moved and went to meet him. Having experienced so much, it was truly rare to meet again alive.

Pang Bo enveloped him in a bear hug. His physique was immense. Ye Fan punched him, and it rang out with a metallic sound, confirming he indeed possessed a genuine Demon Venerable's Treasure Body.

"Who the hell dares to scheme against Ye Zi, or disrespect him?" Pang Bo roared after they separated. "Ask me, Pang Bo, if I agree! All of you who don't want to die, get lost, or I'll blast you to smithereens!"

Everyone was stunned. Many thought to themselves, "Brother, please understand the situation first. It's not that we want to bully him; this Sacred Body is rising again, and he's already making us lose our temper."

"Big demon, you're finally here!" Dongfang Ye burst out laughing and stepped forward.

"I was at the Bloody Battlefield, just got back to the city," Pang Bo said domineeringly. "Savage, anyone who provokes us, kill them all!"

Ye Fan smiled and shook his head, but then he acted. He vanished in an instant, tearing through space, and returned holding the Emperor Lord's youngest son.

"Don't kill me, I'm from the Divine Court." He was already terrified. What level of strength did Ye Fan possess? He must have reached the Quasi-Emperor realm, or even already be one. Otherwise, how could he kill peak Great Saints as easily as slicing vegetables?

"You're very noisy," the Black Emperor said, sticking its large head forward. "You were gloating endlessly just now; you deserve a beating!"

*Slap!*

Ye Fan held him horizontally in the air and slapped down, spanking him like a naughty, disobedient child.

"You... how dare you do this to me!" Xuan Yu roared, furious to the point of exploding. He was the Divine Court Emperor Lord's youngest son; who would dare humiliate him like this?

"It's a duty for an uncle to spank you," Li Tian said. "Go back and tell your father that today, we disciplined his child for him."

Xuan Yu spat out a mouthful of blood, the surge of suppressed anger harming his mind. He was at the pinnacle of the Great Saint realm, nearing extreme sublimation, and his age was not much different from Ye Fan's, yet he was treated as a junior—an utter humiliation.

Only someone of an extremely high cultivation level could be so self-assured. Thinking of this outcome, his body suddenly went cold. Could it be... that the Sacred Body had truly become a Quasi-Emperor? Was the speculation real?

It wasn't just him; everyone felt their heads spin and stared blankly. The half-crippled Sacred Body had actually crossed that barrier. This would absolutely shock the Ancient Road!

"Great-nephew, do you submit or not?" Li Heishui asked.

Pang Bo understood what was happening, and after giving him a few more slaps, he waved his hand and said, "Instead of learning good things, you insisted on seeking trouble. You intentionally made us beat you up."

"Master!"

Someone shouted loudly, and two figures appeared side by side: Ye Tong and Yang Xi. They had also returned from the trial grounds, both incredibly excited.

Their bodies were stained with blood, clearly indicating they had been through life-and-death battles. It had not been easy to travel from the Flying Immortal Battlefield to this place, enduring numerous trials of life and death.

Now, seeing Ye Fan again, they both bore the marks of time. However, they had also become more resilient; otherwise, they wouldn't have survived until now.

"Master, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon! Have you recovered? Let's just take over this entire path, master and disciples!" Yang Xi exclaimed impulsively, causing everyone's expressions to change dramatically.

"Excellent! A small reunion at last," the Black Emperor said, looking very pleased. It had trained and raised children like Ye Tong and Ji Chengdao.

"Yaoguang, Yin Tiande, weren't you eager to fight me? Come on then. Divine Venerable, I don't want to waste words. Send Xiao Chengdao's mother back, don't force me to visit the Divine Race personally!"

Ye Fan's words were simple, and his voice wasn't particularly loud, yet they made every person's heart pound violently, almost leaping out of their throats.

Di Tian's face was pale, his hand clutching the Origin of Dao. Looking back, time seemed to have passed in an instant, yet the path had stretched so far, and that figure could no longer be caught.

His hand, gripping the Origin of Dao, trembled slightly. For the first time in his life, he felt so powerless. A Quasi-Emperor! Someone had actually entered that realm while half-crippled.

Fairy Qing Shi, Xin Lan, and others also had complex expressions. They hadn't expected Ye Fan, who had barely survived and was supposedly crippled, to have his path not only unbroken but to advance rapidly, reaching the pinnacle. The Great Demon God became even more silent. All those who knew him from the past opened their mouths, unable to utter a single word.