Chapter 1697: Immortal Path Confrontation

It was utterly astonishing, sending chills down one’s spine and making one’s scalp tingle. It was simply incredible to witness such powerful beings in a direct confrontation on the path to immortality.

Shan Huang, a mighty quasi-emperor of the third heaven, was sent flying before he could even get close. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his face was pale, and he had clearly sustained serious injuries.

He collapsed to the ground, his face utterly devoid of color, his eyes wide with terror. Just their aura was enough to injure him. Could there truly be such formidable beings in this world?

In the past, he had been proud and unyielding, never believing that anyone could so effortlessly overpower a quasi-emperor. Not even ancient supreme beings, he thought, could achieve such dominance.

But today, he witnessed it firsthand. Those two figures hadn’t even moved; he had merely approached rashly and was almost crushed by their terrifying aura.

The Immortal Ascension Road, which should have long since closed, remained partially open because of these two figures, though it only extended for about a hundred zhang. They were at the far end of this stretch, their forms very indistinct.

Ye Fan helped Shan Huang to his feet, channeling divine power and using the Secret Art of the Healer to treat him. Shan Huang was finally out of danger, his qi and blood flowing smoothly, and his Dao injuries vanished.

The thirteen great demon lords were utterly silent, struck dumb with fear. They had once dominated vast lands and regions, each having been the most powerful being in their respective star systems—otherwise, they would never have dared to embark alone on a quest for immortal treasures. Yet now, they profoundly felt their own insignificance; compared to supreme beings, they were nothing.

Ye Fan motioned for everyone to retreat. He watched from the cave entrance, holding the Azure Lotus horizontally before him, observing only with his Origin Heaven Eye, without channeling any magical power.

“They are not living beings,” Ye Fan stated. While this offered a momentary sense of relief, it was, in fact, an even greater shock. What kind of figures were these? So impossibly powerful, they seemed unreal, almost illusory!

These were two shadowy figures, silently seated at the edge of the primordial chaos. Formed by fundamental laws, each was as profound as the ocean, utterly unfathomable.

“In ancient times, two individuals once confronted each other here,” Ye Fan explained. “This is a re-creation of that true scene. They left behind indelible imprints, and even after countless millennia, their Dao principles still linger!”

When this hypothesis was put forth, an unparalleled chill ran down everyone’s bones. Those two figures could only be described as possessing peerless grace and unrivaled power.

Who were these individuals, to have confronted each other on the Immortal Ascension Road? This was clearly more than a simple quest for immortality; it was a supreme, grand confrontation.

A battle fought on the immortal path, a contest at the absolute pinnacle of existence!

Ye Fan stepped back and then employed the great divine ability of Tracing Back to the Source. Since these were merely illusory Dao principles and not living beings, he believed he could try to probe them without suffering a backlash.

However, the moment he initiated the technique, thunder instantly boomed through the area. The heavens and earth seemed on the verge of collapse, and Imperial Dao laws emerged!

Ye Fan swept the Azure Lotus and swiftly retreated, halting his action. He gasped in a cold breath; those two figures were simply too powerful, beyond the comprehension of later generations.

He closed his eyes. Although his attempt failed, he had still gained something in that brief moment, capturing fragments of time which he began to analyze intently.

Then, his body trembled violently. Two individuals had once sat here for two thousand years, locked in a silent confrontation!

This truly wasn’t just about achieving immortality! They could actually restrain each other like this, not even attempting to enter the Immortal Road. Was it merely for a decisive battle to determine supremacy?

“One of them is that meatball!” Ye Fan exclaimed.

By this deduction, wasn’t the other person Wushi? My goodness. This was too groundbreaking! Were they still engaging in an alternative form of confrontation even now?!

The great bell was attempting to pull the meatball into another realm, the two locked in mutual restraint. It was an astonishing thought: how long had this battle been ongoing?

Someone had once lived on the Immortal Ascension Road. This might be the most terrifying battle in history!

Ye Fan sighed, realizing that what he had heard in the past had now been confirmed as true!

More than three hundred years ago, when the Dark Turmoil erupted, the Wushi Bell and the Stone Scripture had both given warnings. They indicated that Emperor Wushi had suppressed the Immortal Ascension Road in his later years, unable to attend to other matters. Ye Fan couldn't believe this was actually true!

The Dark Turmoil was a terrifying catastrophe, a truly desperate era. Yet Emperor Wushi had left no significant contingencies; even his own Chaotic Bell had flown away, not participating in the turmoil, but instead suppressing something within the Immortal Road.

At the time, many had felt regret, but now everything became clear.

Emperor Wushi was not merely suppressing the Immortal Ascension Road; he was also suppressing a person—perhaps the most powerful individual in history!

Time, like a cruel blade, severs even the most extraordinary talents. He wondered if that unrivaled Great Emperor was still alive. Now, only a great bell suppressed the meatball in his stead, a sight that evoked a sorrowful sigh.

The two illusory figures in the chaotic passage before them—one was Wushi, and the other was the true form of the meatball from countless millennia ago. One was gone, the other had undergone nirvana. Could this truly be?

“Emperor Wushi, one of the strongest individuals in history,” someone muttered. “Is the figure here truly him?!”

The thirteen great demon lords each trembled with excitement. Despite their differing races and origins from various star systems, they still felt a profound awe and reverence for that supreme expert who had shaken ancient and modern times, having swept across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands during his lifetime.

“He is unique; he created an unrepeatable glory!”

“Who stands at the peak of the Immortal Road? Upon seeing Wushi, the Dao becomes void,” one of them quoted. “That is the best interpretation of that Great Emperor from back then!”

Even Shan Huang was greatly moved, feeling profound admiration for that ancient supreme being whom he could never meet, but deeply respected. Even at the level of a quasi-emperor, he still looked up to that individual.

Ye Fan sighed, wondering what ultimately became of Emperor Wushi. For such a formidable person to declare himself "unable to attend to other matters," one could only imagine the immense difficulties he faced back then.

To think, he had already entered his twilight years, yet he sat here in confrontation for another two thousand years! What kind of myth was this?!

He endured for a full two millennia!

That opponent was clearly skilled in methods of transformation and immortality, already defying the heavens. This was a significant disadvantage for Wushi in his later years.

The facts also proved that the other individual had survived, regenerating within that meatball, never perishing.

Time, like a blade, severed too much, leaving one with a sense of helplessness. Ye Fan truly hoped Wushi had also survived, but with the Chaotic Bell now fighting in his stead, it easily gave rise to an ominous premonition.

The two illusory figures in the chaotic passage before them—one was Wushi, and the other was the true form of the meatball from countless millennia ago. One was gone, the other had undergone nirvana. Could this truly be?

“Emperor Wushi, one of the strongest individuals in history,” someone muttered. “Is the figure here truly him?!”

“Do not touch those two figures,” Ye Fan warned. “Back then, they were evenly matched and used their most powerful laws and order. The imprints they left are in a state of delicate balance. If that balance is broken, this place will surely collapse, and all things will be annihilated.”

Finally, he stared at that immortal bell. Although it was merely forged from chains of divine order and not its true form, it nonetheless contained profound mysteries that seemed to seize creation from heaven and earth.

Aside from Ye Fan and Shan Huang, everyone else could only watch from afar, utterly unable to approach.

Even Ye Fan proceeded with caution. He opened his mouth and spat out the Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron, which rapidly expanded, then slowly absorbed the imprints of order and rules.

“Such a cauldron!” everyone exclaimed, startled. They secretly marveled at Ye Fan’s heaven-defying abilities; to condense the very source root of Myriad Things Mother Qi into a cauldron was the unattainable dream of countless individuals throughout history.

“It is the best vessel; perhaps it can contain these rules and order,” Shan Huang nodded. “These were copied by an Imperial Dao expert, and their divine power is infinite.”

This divine bell, constructed from runes and divine chains, possessed Dao pattern profoundness that might even surpass Emperor-grade artifacts, for these were the very patterns found within the treasured Immortal Bell that even Emperor Sovereigns coveted!

Such a thing, let alone anyone else, even Imperial Dao experts yearned to copy it. If one could thoroughly comprehend it, there would be infinite benefits.

“It’s confined!”

Ye Fan was surprised; these outlined runes contained the power of the unique secret art he had learned from the Wushi Scripture. That supreme law was named — Wushi.

This great bell was originally about to explode, evidently intended to suppress and kill Wushi. Yet, it had been forced back to its origin by him, halting its destructive power and stopping here.

Shan Huang also felt it, a tingling sensation running down his scalp. This was a devastating weapon, capable of exploding at any moment; if mishandled, an entire galaxy could be annihilated.

“This… this should be equivalent to the destructive power of an exploding Emperor-grade artifact,” one of them whispered. “It was a killing technique intended to deal with Emperor Wushi back then!”

Ye Fan nodded and said, “It seems that individual was also pushed to a certain limit. Otherwise, why would they destroy the Immortal Bell runes they painstakingly copied? The person confronting him was simply too powerful, preventing him from escaping.”

This was a heaven-defying, devastating weapon, capable of destroying myriad stars and rivers!

Ye Fan had never been so nervous and serious. If mishandled, not only would they perish, but the entire Solar System and the vast surrounding star fields would be annihilated.

Fortunately, that peerless secret art—Wushi—transcended the realm of ordinary worldly power. It had confined these immortal Dao runes, returning them to their origin, ensuring they would not generally erupt.

The Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron successfully absorbed it, and line by line, the patterns sank into the cauldron’s walls.

Ye Fan absorbed it into his body. He had insights into the Wushi secret art, but to practice it to such an extent—to stabilize these runes—there was still a long way to go; it required Emperor Dao cultivation.

The greatest gain this time was undoubtedly this: taking away a devastating weapon whose exact power no one could truly say, but it would surely not disappoint.

They once again arrived before the magnificent palace. The meatball and the Wushi Bell confronted each other, both unable to advance or retreat, stuck within the illusory gate.

“What method can be used to force this meatball into another realm?” Ye Fan muttered to himself. “It seems the Wushi Bell wants to drag him in to have a favorable battle; I should find a way to help.”

“Don’t act rashly!” the thirteen great demon lords exclaimed, startled. This was a being capable of fighting Emperor Wushi, having confronted him on the Immortal Road for many years. If they intervened, it would undoubtedly be suicide.

“It’s in nirvana, in its weakest state; this is the best opportunity,” Ye Fan mused. A flash of light appeared in his palm as the Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron materialized. He truly wanted to unleash it, but he worried that the Wushi secret art might not be fully unsealed, failing to trigger its lethal power. Instead, it might awaken the meatball from its nirvana, leading only to a futile death.

“Is there any way?” Ye Fan asked, unable to resist, gently moving the Chaotic Azure Lotus in his other hand. He really wanted to try using this weapon to send the meatball into another realm.

Suddenly, the Chaotic Azure Lotus swayed, scattering specks of light that formed one mysterious symbol after another in the void, imprinting a series of unrecognizable characters.

“What?!”

Ye Fan’s eyes widened in surprise. This was the first time the Azure Lotus had displayed such an anomaly. What was happening? Had all the artifacts related to ancient Great Emperors truly come alive?

First the Wushi Bell, and now the Chaotic Azure Lotus behaving this way—such terrifying anomalies were occurring one after another within a single day.

The runes, dripping with verdant green and suffused with chaotic qi, were dazzlingly brilliant. They then flowed outwards, disappearing into the starry sky.

On an ancient star, within a vast ocean, azure lotuses were everywhere, connecting heaven and earth. The entire sea was a vibrant emerald green. In the very center, a unique Chaotic Azure Lotus towered into the clouds, and within its lotus blossom, it held a crimson heart.

Meanwhile, on a chaotic lotus leaf, a woman sat cross-legged. At that moment, she opened her eyes in surprise, seeing lines of runes flashing, imprinted in the void.

This Chaotic Azure Lotus in the sea suddenly swayed and then rumbled. Its roots pulled themselves out of the water, and then it directly tore open the void, disappearing instantly.

This was the Azure Emperor’s true form, which he had refined into an Emperor-grade weapon after transforming into a human.

At the Fiery Planet Burial Ground, in front of the magnificent palace, the void tore open, and a giant Azure Lotus appeared, instantly startling Ye Fan with its sudden arrival.