Chapter 1654: Active

This generation, it’s impossible!

Huahua firmly believed that in this era, with so many descendants of ancient emperors appearing together, no one could truly dominate and see the path to becoming an emperor as an open road.

“This era is too difficult,” Yan Yixi also shook his head, “No one can truly stand above all others. It’s many times more terrifying than the era of Emperor Wu Shi, with far too many imperial descendants.” The so-called Golden Age was not just talk; it brought together the strongest bloodlines from all time to compete in a single generation. No one could truly transcend the world and rise above all kings.

The Black Emperor bared its fangs and said, “Do you think Emperor Wu Shi’s path to enlightenment was easy? He also went through many great battles and encountered terrifying, peerless foes.” It indignantly corrected them, explaining that “sweeping all before one” usually referred to normal circumstances, but Emperor Wu Shi had even faced beings with immortal realm bloodlines, fighting until heaven and earth collapsed and ghosts wailed.

“Pfft!”

Everyone scorned it in unison. In the past, the very existence of the Immortal Realm couldn't be confirmed, so how could such bloodlines exist?

“I’m not making this up,” the Black Emperor insisted, “There really were such formidable enemies. My guess is, even if they weren't immortal realm bloodlines, they were most likely ancient emperors who had cut down their own cultivation, or perhaps Chaos Bodies, or descendants of Heavenly Venerates. In any case, they were unmatched in the world, with infinite potential. Even Emperor Wu Shi paid a bloody price.” Everyone gave it the middle finger, finding its words utterly unreliable. Yet, deep down, they still felt a twinge of doubt.

People generally agreed that no one could dominate in this generation, knowing that the descendants of numerous ancient emperors had all appeared in this era, their potential surely astonishing both past and present.

“It’s not just imperial bloodlines; there’s an added premise,” Dongfang Ye stated, “these are the individuals with the strongest potential within those imperial lineages!” This was a fact: the imperial children had been chosen and sealed away. Each ancient emperor had more than one descendant, but they preserved only the child with the greatest potential.

There were two purposes for this: first, to achieve immortality in this era, and second, to contend with other ancient Supremes in an alternative grand battle. Flawless Great Emperors rarely met; they couldn't encounter each other. Who was weaker, who was stronger? No one knew! The "one emperor per era" rule imposed too many limitations, leaving even former Supremes with regrets. How could their contests be held, and whose Dao was superior? It was difficult for them to verify themselves, so they left behind their most promising offspring, undoubtedly with the desire to resolve their inner regrets.

“Hmm, things are quite restless outside,” they noted. “Two divine generals have appeared, announcing to all heroes on the battlefield that they intend to kill Ye Fan and the Saint Prince. How arrogant!” They received this piece of news.

At the same time, in an ancient city, a silver war god descended from the sky, patrolling. His supreme aura was oppressive, and moonlight flowed from his entire body. “You need not fear,” he declared. “As long as you have any clues, build an altar and inform us. We will surely arrive to take the Holy Body’s head.” His majestic voice resonated through the sky, filled with a terrifying aura. The silver war god stood there like a formidable monument, daunting future generations and seeming insurmountable. Everyone was aghast. This person was too powerful; the fluctuations he emanated nearly crippled even Great Sages. What kind of cultivation did he possess?

In the past few days, news had spread far and wide, unsettling the entire battlefield. It was said that the powerful figures intent on killing the Saint Prince and Ye Fan were not from the current era; they originated from before the ancient times. Some asserted with great certainty that these individuals had once followed true Imperial Supremes! The experiences of these individuals alone were terrifying; they had survived the most dreadful tribulations and a hundred battles without dying. Now appearing in this era, they would kill gods and slay Buddhas if they stood in their way, finding few rivals. Compared to them, many felt like bean sprouts grown in a greenhouse. Anyone who personally experienced or was affected by their murderous aura was seized with great fear.

“Should the Saint Prince or Ye Fan dare to appear, show no mercy!” “Victory is assured in battle, extermination in killing!” These were their battle cries upon appearing, so thunderous that many dilapidated cities could not withstand the pressure and collapsed. Two war gods were patrolling various regions, aiming to eliminate Ye Fan and the Saint Prince.

“This is outrageously arrogant!” the Black Emperor fumed. “Are they trying to clean us out? We just talked about dominating, and now someone is actually doing it, but it’s reversed—we’ve become the targets!” They knew the opponents' origin: the Phoenix Nest. They had suspected it before, and now it was confirmed. That force had truly appeared, and this era was destined for boundless catastrophe and a world-shaking battle. The opponents’ haughty demeanor infuriated everyone. No matter how powerful they were, this wasn’t the primeval era anymore. Did they still think they could command the world?

Days later, the silver war god patrolled the skies, sweeping across numerous vast battlefields, calling out Ye Fan’s and the Saint Prince’s names, demanding they appear to face judgment. This posture, this dominance, was like an immortal dynasty treating a barbarian state—an indescribably lofty stance. Who dared to act like this in the present day?

“We’ve wasted enough time,” the Black Emperor and the others decided. “We’ve already tempered our bodies and mostly assimilated the Quasi-Emperor treasures. Let’s take the initiative and go kill them!” “Indeed, let’s hunt them down proactively!” the Human Demon elder also spoke. An operation was thus decided. They disliked being passive; since they were destined to be enemies, there was no hesitation—they would go for a complete extermination.

Baili City, another ruin, was heavily dilapidated, its city walls largely collapsed. This was the second city Ye Fan and his group encountered. A red mist enveloped the city. Not many cultivators entered or exited, but enough for information to circulate. Everyone who came here was powerful. Unsurprisingly, a bounty notice was posted on the city gate, targeting Ye Fan and the Saint Prince. Anyone providing their whereabouts would receive an ancient scripture, a truly immense temptation.

“Arrogant!”

Pang Bo and the others looked displeased. They tore down the bounty notice, ripping it to shreds, causing the surrounding onlookers to show expressions of awe.

After they left, someone immediately built an altar, chanted incantations, and established contact with the two war gods, hoping to claim the astonishing bounty. In fact, Ye Fan and his group had not left. They were waiting nearby, prepared for a decisive confrontation.

With the altar built, wisps of strange fluctuations spread out, entering the cosmic void, shining like starlight and rippling like water, which was surprising. The Black Emperor said, “In ancient times, some people used the blood of countless beings to nourish altars and summon ancient holy ancestors. Perhaps it’s the same principle here: as long as the individuals from the past haven’t perished, they can descend by perceiving this.”

Suddenly, the sky split open, bathed in silver light. It was still that war god, emitting terrifying radiance that overshadowed the cosmos. Everyone’s heart leaped. This person was definitely a Quasi-Emperor, and one who had been baptized by countless wars, having crawled out of piles of corpses. His murderous aura was even more intense than that of the Human Demon elder! “My heavens, how many beings has he killed?” Li Heishui exclaimed. “Even ants cling to life; I didn’t expect you to come seeking death yourselves!” Clearly, he had discovered Ye Fan and the others. His entire body exuded divine, sacred light, like a divine moon illuminating the sky, dyeing the entire surroundings with a white radiance. Hiding was useless against such an opponent. He was too powerful; his divine sense could sweep hundreds of thousands of miles, as if he had descended from the immortal realm.

“What are you putting on airs for?!” the Human Demon elder erupted, striking first. He soared into the sky with his bone staff, directly confronting the powerful figure high above. At the same time, Ye Fan also ascended. Pang Bo, the Black Emperor, and others entered the Black Pearl, preparing for battle. This was an extremely powerful Quasi-Emperor artifact capable of launching furious attacks.

“Boom!”

High in the sky, silver light erupted as if a moon had exploded, a vast white expanse spreading for hundreds of thousands of miles. Everyone was shocked. The newcomer was too strong; even the Human Demon elder’s brute force seemed to be at a disadvantage. The sky was filled with the opponent’s intertwined Dao patterns. “This terrifying…” Everyone was stunned. “This isn’t just a newly advanced Quasi-Emperor; he has an extraordinary background!” the Black Emperor said with a grim expression.

“Boom!”

Another violent tremor, this time with black and white qi surging up, transforming into a chaotic expanse. The Human Demon elder was enraged and attacked with all his might. Harnessing both Yin and Yang, he struck with both hands, causing stars to fall. His bone staff, meanwhile, floated above his head, condensing Yin and Yang qi into one, and charged forward. Heaven and earth violently shook, and the dazzling silver radiance dimmed. The opponent was forced to retreat, revealing a look of surprise. “So powerful!” Whether it was the people on the Black Pearl or the other observing cultivators, all their expressions changed. This confrontation far exceeded their imagination, and they retreated as far as they could. The few cultivators who had just built the altar and summoned the Phoenix Nest forces turned pale with extreme fear. They deeply regretted their actions, fearing that Ye Fan and the Human Demon would settle scores with them. In fact, the people on the Black Pearl didn't pay them any mind. Such was human nature; even without these individuals, they themselves would have built an altar to proactively summon this person.

Suddenly, a chilling snort echoed, and from another direction appeared a golden war god, completely enveloped in blinding light. This person was like a blazing sun, impossible to look at directly. His Quasi-Emperor aura erupted, cutting off the Black Pearl’s retreat. Another Quasi-Emperor? A pincer attack! Everyone was stunned. When did masters of this caliber become so numerous? It was incomprehensible, and all of them were from the Phoenix Nest! What kind of power had the Undying Heavenly Sovereign left behind? There was no doubt that the Undying Heavenly Empress must be slumbering in that Phoenix Nest. She was an unimaginable foe. Her intense hatred for Ye Fan and the Saint Prince, and her desire to eliminate them, was naturally to avenge the Heavenly Sovereign’s son.

The two Quasi-Emperors, representing the sun and moon, made everyone feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar. One of them alone could contend with the Human Demon, perhaps even being of a higher rank and holding a definite initiative and upper hand. Now another had appeared. What were they to do? The enemy's strength exceeded all expectations. Who could have imagined that war gods who had followed the Undying Heavenly Sovereign would emerge, terrifying beyond measure? Their murderous aura was stronger than anyone else in this world. The war god, radiating sun-like brilliance and having been baptized by war, charged forward, intending to join forces with the moon-shrouded expert to completely wipe out Ye Fan and his group.

“Boom!”

Ye Fan made his move, his palm and fingers slicing through the air like short halberds. With every tremor, the void would collapse, and the sun, moon, and stars would tremble. The newcomer showed surprise but paid it no mind. With a clear cry, divine chains of order burst forth from his entire body. He was like a golden immortal phoenix, dazzlingly bright, and immediately suppressed Ye Fan with his laws. This was a powerful and domineering attack, typically used by elders against juniors, displaying a high posture and employing comprehensive suppression tactics.

Ye Fan's expression remained indifferent, unhurried and unperturbed. His palm and fingers moved like celestial blades, cleaving through the cosmic void, breaking all laws, and shattering all the divine chains of order. His physical body was extremely powerful, capable of withstanding attacks from Quasi-Emperor laws!

“What a powerful physical body!” the newcomer exclaimed in surprise. “Compared to the Heavenly Empress’s descendant, in terms of sheer strength, it’s not far off.” He then added, “If the Heavenly Sovereign’s son were alive today, he would have already activated his body’s hidden treasures and would be even stronger than you.”

“Putting on airs again, damn it!” Huahua on the Black Pearl fumed, unleashing a Buddhist lion’s roar. His appearance was solemn, but his words boomed like thunder. This left everyone aghast. Such a Buddhist chant should have been majestic and supreme, yet he used it to curse, leaving everyone dumbfounded and unsure whether to laugh or cry.

“Kill him!” the Black Emperor was also displeased. Emperor Wu Shi himself had half the Holy Body bloodline, so how could it tolerate others showing contempt?

“Still putting on airs!” From the Black Pearl, a group of people collectively roared with Buddhist lion’s roars, their expressions solemn as they cursed in perfect unison, leaving everyone dumbfounded.