Chapter 1728: Mountain Rain is Coming, Wind Fills the Tower

The mountains were covered in peach blossoms, their pink hues tinged with the glow of the setting sun. Ancient trees, gnarled and powerful like dragons, stretched their branches, making the place truly resemble an otherworldly paradise.

An aged figure walked alone along the path. He occasionally paused to gaze at the distant evening glow and the peach blossoms close by. His white hair flowed loosely, and his face was etched with the marks of time.

This was Ye Fan, who had arrived in a world not meant for cultivators. All he saw were mortals, and few knew of the hidden secrets within this place.

This was Xue Yueqing's favorite place. It was here that he once met a young woman and shared the most heartwarming memories. This place held the most profound memories of the Demon Emperor's entire life.

Long years had passed. Yet the peach orchard remained, and the spring breeze still caressed his face.

A stone tablet stood within the peach grove. Etched on it were three ancient characters in demonic script: "Immortal Peach Garden."

Ye Fan walked on in silence. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of years had passed, yet the scenery here remained largely unchanged from what was described in the ancient secret texts he possessed.

The Demon Emperor Xue Yueqing, starting from a weak race, rose triumphantly. He forged his way against the current of the immortal path, finally becoming an Emperor, transforming into one of the most formidable figures the cosmos had ever seen.

Yet, his life was filled with so much joy and sorrow, so much helplessness. Even at the peak of his power, he never saw his beloved woman one last time.

That woman had merged with the Dao, leaving no trace of her remains. All that remained for him was a withered bouquet. It ultimately became his most treasured possession, carried with him until his dying breath and laid with him in his tomb.

The Demon Emperor had once obtained an Immortal Peach Tree. Could it have been discovered here?

Ye Fan lingered for over a dozen days. He detected imprints that were imperceptible to ordinary people. Moreover, he found traces of the Western Empress Mother, who had also come here to pay her respects.

"Fifty years... it feels like five thousand years have passed," Ye Fan murmured. His white hair danced in the wind as he strolled through the peach orchard. He used no divine power, nor did he cast any spells.

He was still walking this path; he had never given up. In his eyes, a fire always burned – the light of unyielding determination!

He had observed many paths and ways of those who came before him. All of them were Emperors and Sovereigns!

For years, he had been tracing their life paths. But ultimately, these paths were not his own. Nevertheless, he managed to grasp some of the sentiments and emotions those individuals experienced in their time, sparking his own insights.

In a blink of an eye, another twenty years passed. Time slipped through people's fingertips, impossible to hold onto.

After seventy years, almost an entire generation had passed in the mortal realm. The cycle of life continued, but people could barely hear any news about Ye Fan.

Indeed, after the fiftieth year, there was no further word from him. People believed his condition was deteriorating.

Some even speculated that each year he lived was equivalent to a hundred for others, and that he had exhausted his vitality. Now, he was truly nearing his twilight years, pushed to desperation by ancient supreme beings, creating a vicious cycle.

Over the past few decades, the world had seen many changes and events. Particularly in recent years, some Restricted Life Zones had shown unusual activity.

The Underworld, that entire vast nether-realm, was submerged in a black mist. It was impossible to see clearly; even the gaze of a Quasi-Emperor could not penetrate it. A terrifying anomaly had occurred there.

A powerful fluctuation emanated from it, like the sound of breathing, as if a colossal entity were inhaling and exhaling the essence of heaven and earth, on the verge of awakening and emerging.

Throughout this period, a young man remained seated in the starry sky, eyes closed, facing the black nether-realm. His hair had turned completely white, truly aging him by seven thousand years!

Those who saw him were invariably awestruck and filled with admiration. For one person to single-handedly confront the Underworld and guard this place – what immense courage that required! Who among ordinary mortals would dare?

As for the Ancestral Star of the Great Accomplished Overlord Body, it had not been peaceful these past few days either. People heard terrifying, muffled roars that shook the grand cosmic laws.

Everyone on that star trembled. Some witnessed firsthand that something was lurking within the ancestral cave of the Heavenly Overlord Bloodline. Finally, it emerged.

It was a ferocious beast, its entire body covered in black scales. Its dark gleam was chillingly cold, enveloped in mist, resembling a terrifying demonic god intent on world annihilation.

It possessed the cruel aura of a predatory beast like a jackal, wolf, tiger, or leopard, but was infinitely more powerful and terrifying. Its scales and armor made it truly monstrous. Especially striking were the dozens, even hundreds, of colossal spear-like spines erupting from its back, angling upwards, both horrifying and menacing, glinting with a chilling dark light. Combined with its mouth full of snow-white teeth, capable of swallowing and exhaling entire star rivers, it truly resembled a disaster beast lord from the era of creation.

This was a Heaven-Slaying Ferocious Beast, nurtured by feeding on the blood of myriad spirits. Its origins on this ancestral star were incredibly significant, for it had once followed a Great Accomplished Overlord Body, conquering the world, and every path it trod was marked by blood and bone.

Its mere appearance signaled the advent of war; it was the fearsome guardian beast of the Heavenly Overlord Bloodline.

The emergence of an overlord's mount sent tremors throughout the entire star. Everyone was restless; this matter was too significant. Could it mean that the Heavenly Overlord Bloodline was about to reappear in the world and dictate the fate of the cosmos?

The terrifying beast stood in the sky, inhaling and exhaling star rivers, wreathed in mist. It gazed down upon the entire great star and declared: "My master is not coming forth, but he is displeased. He commands all of you to mobilize and find the whereabouts of the Sacred Body Ye Fan." Its terrifying aura swept across the land, making everyone's hearts pound with discomfort, and many knelt in submission.

"We obey the decree of the Heavenly Overlord Bloodline!" someone immediately roared.

Immediately, someone roared, vowing to do everything possible to find Ye Fan's whereabouts. Others quickly echoed, for the Great Accomplished Overlord Body was their sacred ancestor, and none dared to defy him.

Furthermore, deep in their hearts, they held immense reverence and all unconditionally accepted the command.

The Heaven-Slaying Ferocious Beast nodded, its eyes crimson, and its scales shimmered with chilling dark light, an intimidating sight. It then turned and vanished into the cosmic starry sky, joining the search itself.

So many years had passed without any sign from Ye Fan. While hope was increasingly slim, the Heavenly Overlord Bloodline remained uneasy.

They had not forgotten the dismal end of a Great Accomplished Overlord Body, who was on the verge of becoming an Emperor, only to be brutally slain by the opposing lineage's ancient ancestor.

They harbored deep wariness towards the Sacred Body lineage, considering it their most significant adversary!

Even though they had gained an advantage on the ancient starry road over the past ten thousand years, with more victories, it meant little. The conflicts between the two sides originated in the Mythological Era, and when measured against all historical combat records, those few victories were utterly insignificant.

Beidou, also known as the Big Dipper, was a place both longed for and feared.

It was the legendary Emperor Burial Star, where countless secrets lay buried. It had once been immensely glorious, bearing the footprints of numerous Great Emperors and Ancient Sovereigns. Even now, it still housed seven unparalleled Restricted Life Zones, undeniably the strongest places in the world!

From the Primordial Ancient Mine, a long, melodious flute sound emerged. It was like a clear spring gurgling forth, flowing into the desert, nourishing all living things and evoking a sense of joy and beauty.

All the various races in the Northern Region were astonished. After hundreds of years, this flute music was heard once more. Some had heard it as far back as when Ye Fan was just rising to prominence.

"Heavens! Multicolored clouds fill the sky! A heaven-defying figure has emerged, like a Lingbo Fairy walking upon the heavens!"

On this day, many in the Northern Region were deeply shaken. Powerful cultivators witnessed an incredible sight: From the Primordial Restricted Zone, mist and auspicious light surged forth in myriad streaks. A peerlessly beautiful woman traversed the sky, playing a flute as she went, before disappearing into the starry sky.

Many were petrified, wondering what was happening. It wasn't the Dark Era; why would such a powerful figure emerge now?

"Do you know? There are constant rumors throughout the cosmos that someone is on the verge of becoming an Emperor, which has drawn the attention of the major Restricted Zones!"

"We've heard, but it doesn't necessarily mean every Restricted Zone will act. Such things have happened before. I believe most Restricted Zones will choose to observe impassively."

"Who can say for sure?"

The Northern Region was in an uproar, and the Eastern Barren was gripped by fear. What people feared most was the onset of a Dark Turmoil.

"It appears they might not necessarily intend to act against the one achieving emperorship. They are likely just assessing the situation, observing what attitude this generation's Dao-achiever holds toward them. The one who just emerged isn't a true supreme being yet, but they aren't far from it."

*Boom!*

From a forbidden land in the Eastern Barren, a demonic cloud erupted, surging directly towards the outer reaches of the domain. It was a terrifying plume of smoke. "It's the Immortal Mausoleum! Someone has emerged from there too!"

Legend had it that it was the burial ground of immortals, home to the most ancient graveyard, thus known as the Immortal Mausoleum. Others claimed it was a Restricted Zone from the Mythological Era that had been later relocated there.

Shortly after, the Sea of Reincarnation trembled. A crimson light pierced the sun and moon, forming a long rainbow that vanished beyond the domain, startling the mortal realm.

The consecutive anomalies from the major Restricted Zones caused widespread unease and fear. Would someone truly achieve the Dao in this era? This question drew the attention of all the major Restricted Zones.

It was a matter of crucial importance. Everyone within the Restricted Life Zones believed this era to be extraordinary. Was a Dao-achiever about to emerge? Were they assessing whether a conflict would arise with this individual? Could it truly be Ye Fan?

However, judging by the rumors of the past seventy years, his condition was very poor. He hadn't even overcome a single tribulation.

The Enlightenment Tea Tree rustled, its leaves shimmering. From the Immortal Mountain, a powerful being emerged. With a single step, it caused the heavens and earth to tremble, then soared into the sky.

"What's happening? No matter how you look at it, it seems like someone is truly about to achieve the Dao. Can they be so certain?"

On this day, a great stir arose throughout the cosmos. No faction remained calm as the Restricted Life Zones exhibited abnormal, terrifying activity.

Finally, a crucial piece of news spread, and only then did people realize: Someone had discovered a Chaos Body, and it had already reached the Quasi-Emperor realm, drawing the attention of the Restricted Zones.

Someone used a Heaven-Reflecting Divine Crystal to record a scene in the cosmos, which accurately reproduced what was seen. When it was brought back by the disciples traveling outside the Restricted Zones, it caused a great stir.

The Heaven-Reflecting Crystal Stone could record true history. Someone copied and duplicated it, allowing even ordinary people to witness that scene.

In a dark expanse of sky, a white-robed figure sat cross-legged, his back to all observers. From his crown, chaotic energy surged upwards against the heavens, terrifyingly potent. The surrounding stars dimmed, their essence absorbed by him, ultimately transforming into primordial immortal essence.

Had the Chaos Body truly emerged? Was he the one destined to become an Emperor? This drew the attention of the Restricted Zones. It truly was a terrifying grand era.

To people's surprise, some of the visitors from the Restricted Zones were searching for the Chaos Body, while another faction was unexpectedly seeking Ye Fan's whereabouts.

This outcome once again astonished the world!

The cosmos was on the verge of chaos; people sensed the calm before a great storm. Someone was about to achieve emperorship!