Chapter 1667: War Ends

"He is... directly clashing with an Emperor's Imperial Weapon!" Though few, these words reverberated, shaking the cosmic sea and making people's voices tremble. How could they not be astonished, witnessing such a spectacle?

In the cosmos, Ye Fan transformed constantly, at times like a Kunpeng spreading its wings, at others like a true dragon soaring across the sky. His formidable physical body underwent various transformations as he battled the imperial weapon.

"Because of that azure lotus." "Could it be... the Azure Emperor?"

This speculation sent shivers down many spines. It was too terrifying. The one who had shattered myths and attained enlightenment in the post-Archaic era had died only ten thousand years ago. What unforeseen event could have led to the appearance of such a lotus?

Everyone pondered the hidden truth, and the more they thought, the more unsettling it became. All signs pointed to a suffocating conclusion: there was something suspicious about the Azure Emperor's death!

The battle captivated everyone, seizing the nerves of even the most powerful. Ye Fan, like a descending god, wielded his Imperial Fist, confronting the imperial artifact forged from divine-veined purple gold. Clangorous sounds resonated deafeningly.

Ye Fan could not directly withstand the Imperial laws; the Primordial Azure Lotus helped him resist them. Yet, this alone underscored how extraordinarily powerful his physical body was.

Otherwise, how could he dare to confront it in such a manner? Anyone else engaging in such a duel would undoubtedly be shattered into a bloody pulp.

Though his palms and fingers bore traces of blood, his finger bones remained unbroken. He was discerning the supreme artifact's might, feeling its pulse!

With his fist and the lotus united, he could gaze upon the starry sky with disdain, perceive the power of ancient Emperors, and grasp the resilient and eternal marks they left upon the long river of time.

This clash yielded significant gains for him. He intently observed the unattainable peak, gazing into the distant future of his path.

A surge of emotion rose within Ye Fan. The Imperial Dao had no end. He pierced through the mist and saw an immense, boundless expanse, yet its limits remained unseen.

Dragoness's face was pale. The opponent's dominance and fearlessness deeply moved her, leaving her thoughts unsettled. This person was too strong; she felt as if she was witnessing a young Great Emperor rising. This individual possessed the same divine aura as her father; they were of the same caliber!

"For the sake of cultivation, they can ascend to the Nine Heavens and descend into the Nine Hells, all to achieve enlightenment and ascend as immortals..."

Her Dao Heart wavered, and she felt a profound sense of powerlessness. If she couldn't kill Ye Fan today, missing this opportunity meant she would never have another.

Even with an imperial artifact, what else could she do? She did possess various forbidden secret arts, legacies of the Primordial Emperors, and even forbidden domains she had experienced herself. Yet, she knew they would be useless against that person. If an imperial artifact was ineffective, what could possibly be more powerful?

Her unsettled heart presaged the outcome. Defeat was inevitable. Dragoness stared at the azure lotus, unwilling to accept it. Without it, the result would surely have been different. No matter how powerful Ye Fan was, he would likely have had to flee.

Dragoness turned to leave. She knew she couldn't continue; her current survival was due to the imperial artifact in her hand, not her own combat prowess.

Continuing would inevitably lead to a blunder, and at that point, major trouble could arise. The fate of Shenming and the Golden Celestial Maiden, whose blood splattered across the starry sky, might well befall her.

The Myriad Dragon Bell, an imperial artifact, possessed incomparable power. In an instant, it shattered the cosmos, creating a safe chaotic passage, and she stepped inside.

Ye Fan naturally gave chase. He wouldn't let her escape so easily.

Since they were sworn enemies and a battle had begun, there had to be a decisive outcome!

Wielding the azure lotus and with the Mother Qi Cauldron above his head, he transformed into a stream of light in pursuit. He pushed his "Line" secret art to its limit, making the river of time seem to stand still for him.

At the same time, activating his "Soldier" secret art, he attempted to interfere with the imperial artifact, seeking to control and alter it.

Suddenly, the sky collapsed and the earth caved in. A black immortal iron staff cleaved through space, striking towards Dragoness. The Saint Prince had attacked, his black iron staff glowing with vibrant immortal light and auspicious colors.

This path was blocked. Dragoness's face instantly changed. In a flash, she tore through space again, fleeing into the distance.

However, with a resounding boom, just as she moved, a terrifying aura erupted. A stone artifact shattered the cosmos, descending with immense power, emanating the majestic aura of an ancient Emperor, incredibly formidable.

It was the stone artifact of the Divine Tiger, now in the hands of a wild-looking man with dishevelled hair, crashing down.

The Human Demon! It was Dongfang Taiyi! After years of disappearance, he had reappeared, returning to this battlefield!

He had been trapped for many years in an incomplete Imperial formation on the cosmic frontier, comprehending the Dao, overcoming trials, and battling a terrifying race. He had finally emerged alive, his strength vastly increased.

Afterward, he had taken the stone artifact directly from the Ape, watching menacingly from the shadows, preventing Dragoness's escape.

Dragoness's heart sank. Escaping proved to be this troublesome. The imperial artifact had consumed too much energy in its struggle against the Primordial Azure Lotus and was not in a state of automatic recovery. She knew she was in danger.

Ye Fan approached step by step. Though the azure lotus in his hand had also lost its luster, his inherent strength was formidable enough, which was his fundamental advantage at this moment.

"Kill!" Dragoness shrieked, her peerless face etched with resolve, her beautiful hair flowing. Her graceful immortal body radiated a sacred glow. Blood dripped from her brow, seeping onto the imperial artifact.

This was a sacrifice, intended to reanimate the artifact. Firstly, she hoped to survive and carve a path to escape. Secondly, she yearned to see her father again, even if it meant dying in battle, wishing to behold that familiar, towering figure in her final moments.

Undoubtedly, this was a terrifying bloodbath. The Primordial Azure Lotus was forced to glow once more, its verdant light stretching across the heavens, engulfing the cosmos. Imperial might and Dao laws of the Emperor erupted together. This place became forever devoid of stars, and many years later, it would be revered by future generations as a forbidden land of utter desolation.

The outcome was sealed. The imperial artifact was dimmed, and its divine spirit was on the verge of slumber. The world witnessed a terrifying azure lotus, so formidable that it held its own in the ultimate confrontation, fighting to the very end!

The Azure Lotus's defensive power was unparalleled; it persisted until the imperial artifact itself grew dim.

With a final roar, the Myriad Dragon Bell burst forth with verdant light, attempting to carry Dragoness away. However, Ye Fan swept it with the azure lotus, and Dragoness plummeted. Her hair dishevelled, her fair, pretty face was etched with despair. She knew she couldn't escape; this would be her last glimpse of this world.

Tragically, all she saw was darkness. Not even starlight was visible; it had been obliterated, leaving only void.

"Father, where are you?" Tears streamed from her eyes as she cried out, awakening the imperial artifact. She was about to die, and her heart was filled with regret that she wouldn't see the ancient Emperor's phantom again.

Ye Fan made his move, raising his right hand and pointing forward!

At this moment, there was no right or wrong.

Since she was an adversary in this life, leniency was impossible. She had once shattered several stars with a single finger. The Heavenly Court had suffered significant losses, and combined with past grievances, the enmity was already irreconcilable.

If he let her go, Ye Fan himself would be fearless, but those around him would face immense threat, just as those great stars had been obliterated overnight.

He would not allow this woman to repeat such acts!

Ye Fan attacked, unleashing his Heavenly Emperor Fist forward!

"Puff!" A ghastly, beautiful blood flower blossomed as a peerless Celestial Maiden perished. Another descendant of an ancient Emperor's bloodline was gone. Crimson droplets, a rain of blood, scattered across the vast sky. Then, everything faded away.

There was no joy in Ye Fan's heart; he faced it in silence.

This path was long and brutal. No one knew how many would die before the end of this campaign. Walking upon blood and bone, it was destined to be a heavy and endlessly desolate life.

Today, he won, and so he lived. If he had lost, he would have been the one to die.

Perhaps, in the future, he too would be defeated, or even worse, become mere scenery on someone else's Imperial path, all his past glory turning to smoke, serving only to highlight a more powerful individual.

But as long as he lived, he would strive forward, making himself stronger. He had lost too much. Some people would never live again, and he had been powerless to save them.

For instance, Qin Yao, or the Divine King Jiang Taixu. At that time, he hated his powerlessness. Now, he intended to grow stronger, to protect everyone around him, to prevent them from becoming tragic, bloody scenery in this great era.

He would advance, showing no mercy to his enemies, even if it meant being hated by all powerful figures, even if the whole world became his adversary!

What of it? They were inherently enemies. He would act mercilessly, eradicating all potential dangers to those around him.

He would fight on, undeterred by countless powerful enemies or a world engulfed in war, determined to conquer all the way!

"My path, my Dao..." Ye Fan glimpsed a corner of the future, destined to be exceedingly arduous. The path to becoming an Emperor would not be tranquil; it would be a landscape stained with blood.

And battles in the forbidden zones might one day reignite, while the Immortal Path remained elusive.

In this lifetime, as long as he pressed forward, he would move towards that goal, encountering even more terrifying adversaries. How would he face them?

With myriad Daos clashing and a blood-soaked journey ahead, since it was destined to be brutal, the only option was to break free and stand at the absolute pinnacle. Not just for himself, but for those around him, he had to achieve a hundred victories without defeat, looking down upon the mortal world.

The Myriad Dragon Bell shattered its way into the vast cosmos and flew away. It couldn't be stopped, and indeed, it was difficult to retain. Without a true Emperor's artifact, the Azure Lotus, relying solely on passive defense, could not have sealed it.

As this battle concluded, waves of shock swept through the hearts of many in the starry sky. This conflict had a profound impact: the Sacred Body had risen powerfully, announcing his return to the world with the astounding feat of decisively eliminating three ancient Imperial bloodlines!

This battle unfolded rapidly. Though intense from beginning to end, its duration was not long, and major powers across the cosmos were not yet aware of it.

Only those who had rushed to this battlefield and witnessed everything firsthand were trembling.

This was a world-shattering piece of news that needed to be transmitted back immediately to their own people. Otherwise, their forces might make a grave mistake; the Sacred Body was not to be provoked at this moment.

In the dark cosmos, some individuals instantly departed, not daring to delay, fearing major repercussions.

"Is that resource star we seized from the Heavenly Court still being mined? Return it immediately, no questions asked, and be quick about it!"

"And that fortress we captured? Abandon it at once, say nothing more, simply because it belongs to the Heavenly Court!"

One leader after another grew anxious. Some were well-informed, and news of the battle in the cosmos spread, making certain clan chiefs unable to sit still.

"Clan Chief, we rebelled against the Heavenly Court and left their governed territory. Do we really need to seek their allegiance again? We killed a squad of Heavenly Soldiers; can we still make amends?"

"My Lord, you were the one who ordered the attack on that important Heavenly Court stronghold. How can you blame me? You personally killed that Heavenly General."

Ye Fan, the Saint Prince, and the Human Demon had all returned, each unharmed, sparking immense panic. People suddenly realized that the Heavenly Court, this colossal entity, had become even more terrifying.

The anticipated decline had not occurred; instead, these individuals had returned alive!