Chapter 1685: Disciples Compete for Glory

For twenty years, a standoff and covert conflict have persisted. The Underworld, Dao Palace, Imperial Dynasty, and Divine Organization face each other across the void, dividing the universe into four realms. Undercurrents surge, threatening to ignite the most brutal war at any moment.

In this chaotic era, everyone strives to cultivate and elevate their realm. The future belongs to the strong, and an immortal age is bound to begin, though the process may be bloody and fraught with war.

This is no ordinary era; it is a golden age, unique in history, gathering the strongest bloodlines from all time, and thus destined to be anything but peaceful.

The golden age, where a hundred boats contend, has not ended; instead, it has entered its inevitable Warring States period!

Over twenty years, countless talents have risen, shining their light across the universe, becoming legends, becoming heroes, and emitting brilliant radiance.

During this time, Ye Fan remained absent, while the struggle among the ancient princes continued, growing even more brutal. Some fell, others gained renown across the eternal star rivers, writing their imperial saga on the path of invincibility.

Besides them, still others became imperial stars of global attention, such as Ye Tong, Prince of the Underworld, Huang Qi, Tian Yi, Zhou Yi, and more. It could be said that the stars shone brightly.

This is a brilliant era, destined to produce many masters. Yet it is also a tragic era, where countless geniuses are fated to become mere stepping stones on the imperial path.

It is foreseeable that the most dazzling clashes and most striking sparks will erupt in this generation, and those who fall on the imperial path will surpass all previous eras.

Ultimately, the glory will belong to only one.

"The second Saint Body, is he truly unrivaled among those below quasi-emperors? Is he really another Ye Fan in the making?"

This was a cluster of black buildings, built in the netherworld, suspended in the air, enshrouded in black mist. Above its magnificent main gate hung a bronze plaque inscribed with three large characters: "Yanluo Hall."

This was one of the most terrifying strongholds of the Underworld, standing equal to the lines of the Nether Emperor and the Prison Suppressor.

"Yanluo Zi did not die by Yang Xi's hand; he was killed by Ye Tong, the Solar Body. This person possesses extraordinary divine talent, enough to rival the bloodlines of ancient emperors."

A chilling laugh echoed from above the black hall, saying, "The Yanluo lineage truly declines with each generation, no longer possessing the divine talent of their predecessors. What talk is there of ruling the Underworld, when they are actually killed by an outsider?"

"Please calm your anger, esteemed one. Ye Tong is simply too powerful," those below said, bowing their heads.

This place was filled with eerie yin energy, devoid of any yang energy, cold and dark; it was a true netherworld.

"Hmm, in that battle all those years ago, we paid a significant price, leading to the decline of the once-flourishing Solar Clan. In that campaign, we obtained enough solar essence blood. Although a pure Solar Body has appeared now, we no longer need it. Someone will deal with him."

The one above Yanluo Hall revealed such a terrifying truth, causing the several powerful figures standing below to tremble. They had never imagined such a hidden secret.

The Solar lineage's decline in the Big Dipper began many ages ago. Otherwise, even ten Golden Crow clans combined could not have annihilated this race.

Yet few knew that in the distant past, it was the Yanluo lineage of the Underworld that acted, slaughtering the once-powerful Solar Quasi-Emperor and killing countless members of that clan to extract the desired solar blood.

"The descendants of Yanluo are indeed beyond training," the one above the grand hall sighed, then added, "What we most lack is the Saint Body's blood. Ye Tong can be killed and turned to dust, but Yang Xi's blood must be brought back."

"Report!"

Someone rushed into the grand hall, kneeling on one knee. Their body was wreathed in yin energy, and their face was deathly pale. Clearly, it was a powerful corpse that had been reanimated.

"What happened?"

"The Prison Suppressor Zi was killed by Ye Tong, the Solar Body, in space, leaving no trace of his body."

Silence fell over Yanluo Hall. Two of this generation's Underworld Prince, Prison Suppressor Zi, and Yanluo Zi had died instantly. Only in the Primordial Era had similar events occurred.

Back then, the Underworld, after suffering heavy losses, had to rely on a Heaven-Penetrating Immortal Treasure to hide in a secret realm for tens of thousands of years, not daring to appear. Although there were Supremes within, they endured the humiliation. That was an era too painful to recall.

And now, with two more of their scions killed at once, it reminded them of those terrible years.

"It seems the Underworld has truly rusted! We, who have existed for eons and witnessed the glorious eras of countless emperors, have grown sluggish now. Do you truly believe you can reign supreme over the universe? The bloody reality shatters your dreams!"

Above the grand hall, that colossal being roared. It was not of the human race, revealing half its body in the darkness. Its massive green claw, as large as a winnowing basket, shone with cold light, smashing the divine-material table into pieces.

"The Prison Suppressor lineage has also fallen into decline! The Underworld truly is worse with each generation! In ancient times, our netherworld ancestors campaigned across all directions; when the yin army marched, even the Heavenly Court would crumble, leaving behind eternal renown. At the end of reincarnation, the Underworld is the destination of all beings! This is not just talk. How can the Underworld be so incompetent?!"

The other two important halls of the Underworld were similarly affected, with deep roars shaking hundreds of millions of miles of the netherworld, causing bloody lightning to strike across the entire dark yin realm.

"The Underworld has nothing else but a multitude of masters, gathering the strongest heroic spirits from all ages here! No one can resist!" He began giving orders for someone to retrieve the slumbering beings from the Black Prison.

"Esteemed one, please reconsider. The person in the Black Prison is not very stable. He has not fully awakened, often remains muddled, and kills anyone he sees. Although he was unrivaled in his lifetime, it is not yet time for him to emerge."

A great upheaval shook the universe. Ye Tong and Yang Xi, these two fellow disciples, shone brightly in all directions. Yang Xi was unrivaled among those below quasi-emperors, slaughtering many Underworld yin generals. Ye Tong was even more astonishing, his Solar bloodline purified, hailed as the second Solar Saint Emperor. He successively killed the Underworld's future successors, stirring up a storm in the universe.

The world was astonished. While the four realms—Imperial Dynasty, Dao Palace, Underworld, etc.—had not yet openly engaged in full-scale war, the Heavenly Court, however, was the first to clash with the Underworld. Everyone marveled that Ye Fan had taken such good disciples; his disciples could already stir the winds of heaven and plunge the universe into chaos.

Two of the Underworld's successors were slain. How could such an event not alarm people?

"This is only the beginning. The Prince of the Underworld is set to battle Ye Tong to restore the Underworld's prestige."

Some sighed, stating frankly that if the Underworld were to lose, that would be truly terrifying, because it would presage the emergence of countless yin soldiers and the return of ancient supreme experts, one by one, their very corpses returning to wage fierce war!

From ancient times to the present, countless supreme experts had been born. Even if the Underworld only obtained a small fraction of their bodies, it would still be enough to be unrivaled in the world.

In the universe, Ye Tong's entire body radiated divine light. With him present, there was no sun in the sky, no light in space, for he was the most brilliant scorching sun.

He stood there, his very hair like gold, stained golden by the radiance. His expression was serious, commanding respect without needing to show anger.

Opposite him was a starkly contrasting scene: boundless darkness. Nether mist surged, and the power of death surged forth. A man in black armor appeared like the Grim Reaper.

This battle erupted!

Although it was not an open battle, those passing through this starfield and the sages who rushed there immediately upon hearing the news were fortunate enough to witness it.

"Life and Death Reincarnation!"

The Prince of the Underworld immediately unleashed a great divine ability, a secret art from the forbidden chapters of ancient Supremes. The two realms of yin and yang rotated, and the aura of life and death surged forth, forming a gate of reincarnation that enveloped the heavens and earth, swallowing Ye Tong.

"Are they going to decide life and death, victory and defeat, right from the start?" Everyone felt their hair stand on end.

This kind of duel was the most dangerous, consolidating a thousand moves into one, refined into a single style. Once the strongest strike was unleashed, there was no turning back; victory meant life, defeat meant death.

The Prince of the Underworld dared to make such a move. It was not only self-confidence but also a kind of courage, aiming to overwhelm Ye Tong in terms of momentum.

Ye Tong's reaction was equally strong. Standing within the pitch-black gate of reincarnation, his golden figure strode and trekked through the boundless cycle of reincarnation, pressing forward with courage.

"The end of reincarnation is your destiny!" The Prince of the Underworld muttered, his expression solemn. He did not underestimate his opponent. Fighting seriously, the ability to unleash this move also demonstrated his audacity.

"Senior Brother!" Yang Xi worried, seeing blood dripping from Ye Tong's body. Each step he took stained a patch of void crimson. He was under immense pressure within the cycle of reincarnation.

"Open!"

The next moment, not only did solar divine light burst forth from Ye Tong's body, reaching the sky, but also supreme yin energy erupted. Eighteen ancient characters stood in opposition, intertwined and rotating, becoming one.

Faintly, primal chaos energy burst forth!

"He contains the true meaning of Supreme Yin within him! This generation's Solar Body is truly extraordinary!" Many exclaimed in awe, completely awestruck.

"Crack!"

The gate of reincarnation shattered. The Prince of the Underworld's body trembled violently, blood oozing from all over him.

Ye Tong burst forth like a celestial fire, radiating boundless multicolored light. At this moment, he was a true Solar God, looking down upon the human realm. His wounds healed all over, and with a swipe of his palm, with a *puff*, he cut the Prince of the Underworld, whose cultivation was already half-destroyed, into pieces, turning him into a mist of blood.

Silence descended upon the universe. None of the Underworld's three successors remained; all were killed by Ye Tong alone. This was a world-shaking thunderbolt, its impact immense.

"Senior Brother, are you alright?" Yang Xi frowned.

"I'm fine. A few days of rest and I'll recover completely," Ye Tong said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth and revealing a radiant smile.

The two fellow disciples departed, but this starfield boiled with activity. Soon, the entire universe was greatly shaken. People knew that the terrifying power of the Underworld was about to be revealed to the world.

"What kind of monsters has Ye Fan truly trained? His disciples possess such divine power. How strong is he himself, having not made a move in twenty years?"

Now the entire universe was discussing the Heavenly Court. This lineage was a miracle.

People couldn't help but marvel: Although the Heavenly Court was not as strong as the four great realms, its potential was limitless. In the future, it might even surpass them and be revered by all.

"I am truly disappointed. This generation's successors of the Underworld are worse than the last. The Three Yin Body, hailed as the strongest in a hundred thousand years, nurtured within the palace for a hundred millennia, to be so vulnerable, all killed by a single person."

The Nether Emperor Hall, Yanluo Hall, and Prison Suppressor Hall trembled in unison, cold whispers emanating and causing the entire netherworld to shake.

"It's not that the Underworld's three scions were not strong, but that this generation's Solar Body is too terrifying."

"Go to the Black Prison, unlock that person's shackles, and unleash him to wreak havoc!" a majestic voice roared, beyond furious.

That day, the Underworld's yin gate swung open. Hundreds of thousands of yin soldiers emerged in unison, escorting a prison cart, rumbling forward and heading towards the depths of space.

Everyone was horrified. Those with good intelligence knew that the Underworld was enraged and intended to sweep away the Heavenly Court, preparing to bathe the cosmos in blood.

A somewhat slender youth stepped onto the starry sky, filled with hope, his eyes full of yearning. He traveled while observing the sun, moon, and star rivers, curious about everything.

It must be said, this was a very adorable child, appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a pair of clear, flawless eyes, purer than an infant's.

He was quiet and beautiful, more ethereal than any girl his age. In his presence, all things of spiritual essence faded in comparison.

"Uncle, do you know where the Heavenly Court is?" After a long journey, he finally met an old saint on a small asteroid. A shy smile appeared on his face, which was like gleaming white porcelain, and his eyes were like black gemstones, letting people know he was a naive youth, new to the world.

"Child, you are truly powerful. You look so young, yet you're traveling alone in space. That's too dangerous," the old saint kindly advised. Then his expression changed, and he said, "Don't inquire about the Heavenly Court, especially in this starfield. I advise you to turn back quickly, because ahead, hundreds of thousands of yin soldiers are passing through, intending to wipe out the Heavenly Court's forces. Many saints are now fleeing, and almost all major strongholds along the way are deserted; everyone has run away."

"Why are they attacking the Heavenly Court?" the youth asked, appearing very naive and adorable, making people instinctively feel fondness and want to look after him.

"Don't ask so many questions. Hurry and leave, or it will be too late," the old man kindly said.

"I can't leave. I have to find my master." The youth shook his head, intending to move forward.

"Foolish child, a group of devils is coming ahead! They will bathe the cosmos in blood. Greeting them like this is tantamount to suicide! You cannot go to the Heavenly Court!" the old saint admonished.

"But my master is in the Heavenly Court, I must go." The youth was a little shy, and earnestly bowed to the old saint. Then purple light flashed, and he vanished from the asteroid.

"Oh heavens, I misjudged!" the old saint exclaimed, shocked, staring blankly for a long time. "He's not a child who snuck away from home using a teleportation array. He can actually shatter the cosmos with his physical body and roam the void!"

"Uncle, how do I get to the Heavenly Court? Can you tell me?" Along the way, the youth saw more people, all hurrying, as if fleeing.

"Turn back quickly! The yin army is here; if you don't leave now, it will be too late," said a white-haired elder.

"I won't flee. I need to find my master. If the yin soldiers want to attack the Heavenly Court, I will go stop them." The youth's voice was very soft, and he was so beautiful. He was the most spiritual person these people had ever seen, possessing the essence of heaven and earth's spiritual wisdom; his entire being was ethereal.

"Perhaps you are not as young as you appear on the surface; you are a saint. But you truly cannot go any further."

"Turn back quickly, or great disaster will befall you."

These fleeing people could not bear to see such an adorable youth, with pure eyes and clearly naive to the ways of the world, encounter danger, and they spoke up one after another.

"Thank you, uncles and elders, but I really must go to the Heavenly Court to find my master," the youth replied.

"Who is your master?" someone asked.

"My master is Ye Fan, the Saint Body," the youth whispered, appearing a little vulnerable.

Everyone was startled. Ye Fan had such a disciple? They had never heard of him.

"Hurry, the yin soldiers are coming!" someone shouted. In the distance, a vast, dark mass appeared. War chariots rumbled, and yin energy obscured the sun.

"Don't be afraid, uncles and elders, I'll help you deal with them." The youth rushed forward, purple light tearing through the cosmos, and with a boom, he stood firm in the front.

At this moment, everyone behind him was stunned. In a daze, it was as if they saw an unrivaled Demonic Emperor awakening. The youth's aura had completely changed. He stood alone under the starry sky, suppressing the heavens, earth, and star rivers.

"Who... is he? What kind of monsters has Ye Fan, the Saint Body, actually trained? Why do I feel he can handle everyone from the Underworld?"

"A Quasi-Emperor! He's actually a Quasi-Emperor!"

"Oh heavens, when did Ye Fan get another disciple like this? If this youth pushes back the Underworld army, that would truly defy the heavens!"

Everyone was shocked, watching the scene in disbelief.