Chapter 1649: Emperor's Son Battlefield

A warship sailed, traversing the cosmic starry sky, leaping through void holes at an astonishing speed.

This ship was partially refined by Ye Fan after he attained a quasi-emperor physique. Together with the Black Emperor, he set up a peerless grand formation in the starry sky, moving numerous suns to extract their most fundamental fire essence, which was then used as the primary agent for forging.

The materials were exquisitely chosen, sourced from Yin Tiande's violet-gold gourd. As a quasi-emperor artifact, it was perfectly suitable; its internal formation patterns remained intact and undiminished. Ye Fan and the Black Emperor deciphered and thoroughly studied these patterns before forging them into the ship's hull.

Subsequently, utilizing the sun's primordial fire essence and drawing inspiration from ancient Great Emperor killing formations, they inscribed countless Daoist patterns. Over ten years of consecration, this process drew down innumerable heavenly tribulations.

The original quasi-emperor artifact was successfully modified and further evolved, its power now surpassing its former state.

The immanent spirit within, which was its most dangerous aspect, was subdued by Ye Fan and is now fully repurposed for the Heavenly Court's use. This ship is the ideal tool for traversing the universe, capable of instantly breaching into another star region.

Accompanying it at the ship's bow was a blood-red iron hammer. This hammer also underwent countless forging processes, which healed the cracks on its surface, and was finally re-melted, showing significant evolution of its own.

With its addition, the warship's attack power soared dramatically. The combination of these two quasi-emperor artifacts would greatly trouble any powerful being who encountered them.

The vast universe is immeasurably boundless. Even with its incredible speed and ability to travel through void holes, this quasi-emperor ship could not reach that particular battlefield swiftly.

The cultivator died merely days after delivering the message, his Immortal Stage having collapsed. He left behind a rather indistinct coordinate map. Ye Fan and his companions then sailed at full speed, continuously tearing open space, rushing towards that battlefield to rescue the Holy Emperor's Son.

“How is it that I feel like we’ve crossed the borderlands and arrived in another universe?”

They were astonished, having crossed an untold number of galaxies and even traversed a primordial chaos region. It was as if they had broken through the very limits of this universe and jumped beyond them.

Primordial chaos permeated the area, and they seemed to be pioneering creation, literally carving their way through. This journey lasted for over half a month before they once again saw starlight, entering a new expanse of stars.

“How did these individuals agree to come to such an ancient domain? What kind of battlefield is this? Was it left by their predecessors, or did they discover it themselves?”

Upon entering this galaxy, Ye Fan and the Black Emperor collaborated once more, again beginning to refine the quasi-emperor ship and war hammer. It was evident that the destination was extremely perilous, necessitating a comprehensive enhancement of everyone's combat prowess.

Ye Fan was unconcerned for himself, but the Black Emperor, Dongfang Ye, Pang Bo, Li Tian, Yan Yixi, Li Heishui, Ji Chengdao, Huahua, and others were all present. They required an exceptionally robust ancient vessel for both defense and offense.

This time, they brought forth the Heavenly Court's collection of Immortal Tear Green Gold and Phoenix Blood Vermillion Gold, integrating them separately into the ship's hull and the blood hammer. This immediately caused the artifacts to radiate intense light, and their immanent spirits quivered excitedly, undergoing autonomous evolution and sublimation.

“It’s considerably stronger than before,” the Black Emperor, in a rare display of generosity, without any greed or hoarding, melted all the divine gold into the two quasi-emperor artifacts. It even imparted the incomplete killing formation of Great Emperor Wushi to the two immanent spirits.

Of course, this wasn't without reason; the terrifying warship was ultimately named the 'Black Emperor' by it.

“But it’s not even black!” Dongfang Ye objected.

“Can’t it be painted black? It’s too flashy. True treasures return to their true essence, containing the extraordinary within the ordinary.” The Black Emperor swiftly rendered both the ship and the hammer black.

“The Black Pearl is the most fitting name, it sounds much better than that ‘Black Emperor’ rubbish,” Pang Bo said.

“Exactly, a dazzling pearl in the cosmic sea, how beautiful is that?” the Savage agreed.

Ultimately, the ship was known as both the 'Black Emperor' and the 'Black Pearl.' With heaven-deceiving formation patterns laid upon it, it sailed into a vast expanse of stars, drawing near the ancient battlefield.

Upon truly reaching this area, everyone was stunned. What they saw defied all common sense: deep within the sea of stars, a colossal, immeasurably vast island floated.

Suns, moons, stars, even brilliant galaxies seemed minuscule before it, like mere specks of dust. This was no island; it was clearly a primordial chaotic landmass, unprocessed during the creation of the cosmos.

“Is this the battlefield of the Emperors’ Sons? Isn’t it too vast? Searching for someone here would undoubtedly be like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

“Its shape is peculiar, like half a body!”

It was impossible to discern its full extent with the naked eye due to its immense size. It took them a long time, utilizing the fluctuations of the quasi-emperor artifacts’ Daoist patterns, to finally outline the shape of this colossal island.

This massive body was utterly terrifying!

“I see now. This is likely the remnant body of a legendary Supreme Being; an ancient venerable passed away in meditation here, becoming a battleground for future generations!”

They had guessed the truth. This was clearly a peerless powerhouse, and it had been dead for an incredibly long time; even the Emperor Dao laws and killing intent had almost completely dissipated.

One must understand that an Emperor’s body is immortal, existing eternally. For it to have become like this, fully petrified into rock and soil, only heaven knows how long it has existed in this state.

“This history is longer than we imagined. Only heaven knows when it originated, and for such a peerless master to have existed so far back in time—it’s terrifying!”

They speculated that this being was at least a Heavenly Venerate or Dao Venerate from the Mythological Era, indicating an extremely ancient origin.

“Such a dense baleful aura. This place is eerie and unsettling. Everyone, do not casually leave the ship’s safety!” the Black Emperor warned.

They ascended to this colossal island. As soon as they approached, they saw a dense, reddish mist, boundless and completely shrouding everything ahead.

The Black Emperor, even just extending its body, felt a chill. This red mist was terrifyingly potent, imposing immense pressure on it, making it feel impacts akin to hammer blows.

Although the laws and killing intent contained within the Emperor-level body had vanished, for some unknown reason, a terrifying baleful aura had formed here, eroding the flesh and assailing the spirit, making it extremely dangerous.

This was a land of perdition!

They observed closely, confirming the absence of life here. This red malevolence was extremely harmful to the human body; an ordinary Great Sage would be incapacitated if they walked in it for too long.

Unless one possessed exceptional talent and an extraordinary bloodline, it would be difficult to remain here for long; otherwise, they would inevitably be reduced to putrid blood.

“This is indeed a battlefield prepared for the Emperors’ Sons. Others would find it hard to endure, unless they are exceptionally gifted!”

The warship, plain black and inconspicuous, had heaven-deceiving formation patterns laid upon it, making it difficult for ordinary individuals to discern its true capabilities.

They proceeded cautiously, slowing their pace. For tens of thousands of miles, the surroundings remained utterly silent, without a single sound.

This mist was terrifying, blocking divine sight and isolating spiritual perception. Even powerful beings like them could only see a few miles ahead before visibility ceased. Here, one felt isolated from the entire world, as if they had entered a closed, isolated domain.

Unable to see, hear, or sense anything, they were reduced to the level of mortals here, with limited search areas and unable to gaze far into the distance, making them feel profoundly disoriented.

“Although this baleful mist is extremely harmful to the body, if endured, it might also be a form of tempering that could forge an indestructible body.”

Dongfang Ye focused on physical cultivation; his barbarian physique was amazingly robust, though weaker than a Saintly Body, it far surpassed that of ordinary people. He was the first to leap out, accompanying the warship to use this as an opportunity for physical tempering.

The others, meanwhile, sat on the bow, engaging the ship’s defenses and drawing some of the baleful aura to envelop their bodies, also attempting to temper themselves.

“Huh, Uncle, you can fly now?” Ji Chengdao asked in surprise. His spirits were remarkably high now; ever since his mother returned, he had become much more cheerful and optimistic.

Ye Fan stood in the ethereal void, accompanying the ship. He wasn't tearing through space or leaping; he was hovering above, truly flying.

Everyone was momentarily stunned, then showed joy. Had Ye Fan broken through his restraints? He seemed to have taken a very substantial step forward.

“I can fly now, but it’s not due to the previous divine chains of order. It’s a newly awakened ability, an inherent human instinct, caused by the continuous opening of treasure seals within my flesh and blood,” Ye Fan said.

At this moment, his innate power was circulating within him, a swirling mist, manifesting some divine abilities.

Everyone was surprised, feeling that he was progressing further along this path. Even without awakening his previous methods and Dao, this new progress was significant, and eventually, when both sides were simultaneously impacted, he would surely break through his restraints.

“Careful, there’s a creature tracking us!”

Suddenly, the Black Emperor whispered a warning. The Black Pearl had detected an unidentified creature from behind, which had activated the ripples radiating from the quasi-emperor artifact.

Ye Fan had naturally sensed it first; his instincts had already detected it, but he had not acted, fearing to alert the enemy.

That creature was too close, allowing everyone on board to sense it. Ye Fan vanished from his spot, tore open the void, appeared within the bloody baleful mist behind, and launched a direct assault.

He shattered it in an instant. It was an ancient beast; surprisingly, it was a construct of condensed baleful aura, possessing no true physical form. As his palm and fingers landed, it reverted into baleful aura and dissipated.

Yet, he clearly felt that this was a sentient being with Saint-level combat prowess. How could it possess no true form?

“This is no simple place; we must proceed with extreme caution!” Ye Fan warned.

Fortunately, having refined a quasi-emperor artifact ship and armed it with the blood-red iron hammer, they found their perfect application here.

The Black Pearl warship sailed forward. A colossal cliff blocked their path, towering astonishingly into the starry sky. The warship ascended to cross over it.

“Oh, someone once stood upon this colossal mountain’s summit, leaving behind some traces!”

Here, they discovered an artificially carved and remarkably flat Daoist platform. Someone had meditated upon it in recent years.

“There are also bloodstains!”

It was Imperial blood, radiating a shimmering light and imbued with Daoist principle fluctuations. It remained undried and still possessed potent life vitality, with the red malevolence not yet having fully corroded it.

“These bloodstains were left here a few years ago!”

Based on the marks left by the fallen blood, they deduced, remarkably, that this was undoubtedly the blood of an Emperor’s Son; otherwise, it would not possess such divine essence.

Ye Fan lowered his head and gazed intently, saying, “It’s Huang Xudao’s blood. He’s immeasurably stronger than before!”

Huang Xudao, from Blood Phoenix Mountain, a man free of worldly desires who lived solely for the Dao, was exceptionally powerful. After disappearing for so many years, he too had arrived at this battlefield.

He had actually shed blood here, clearly seriously injured. This place was indeed cruel; they wondered what had become of him.

“Could it have been him who fought with Brother Monkey?”

“No, there’s no sign of Brother Monkey’s aura!”

Suddenly, Ye Fan’s eyes narrowed, growing cold. He felt a stirring in his heart, motioned to everyone, and everyone quickly boarded the ship.