Chapter 1778: Time Cuts the Talented Like a Knife

The mythical battlefield was torn apart. Never before had an era witnessed such a tragic and brutal conflict, with so many powerful beings engaged. In an instant, four Supremes fell, their blood staining the ground and their bones scattered across the desolate landscape.

Ye Fan stood in the sky, aloof yet commanding, surveying all ages and heavens. His black hair billowed around him, making him appear like a peerless demon god, casting a disdainful gaze upon the world.

This battle was exceptionally fierce. Ye Fan personally slew Supremes, displaying unparalleled power and leaving an indelible impression on every supreme expert witnessing the conflict. Beyond that, his mere presence alone was enough to threaten the existence of the Life Forbidden Zones.

Never before had so many legendary figures emerged simultaneously in a single era. Yet, amidst them all, Ye Fan remained resplendent, an anomaly, hailed as the strongest Sacred Body in history!

The battle was truly tragic, with ancient Primordial Sovereigns bleeding and meeting a somber end. Ye Fan was outwardly indifferent but not heartless; this battle arose merely from opposing stances, for why else would he have unleashed such a massacre?

A profound silence fell over the scene; no one spoke. Many felt deeply moved, for these were, after all, the Primordial Sovereigns. Each had a gloriously illustrious past, having suppressed the cosmos, intimidated the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, and been invincible throughout the heavens and earth. Each of them had been exceptionally brilliant. They had experienced youth and fervent passion, protected all living beings, and illuminated past, present, and future, with none able to contend against them. Yet, they ultimately faded away, stumbling through the ages and struggling on the path to immortality. In the end, they transformed, their lives concluding in decay.

Upon reflection, each one of them was tragic. They were once so brilliant, having traversed the blood-soaked Imperial Road to become the strongest beings of all time, only to meet such an end.

"Time is a knife that slays the proudest talents; on the path to immortality, one sighs at the enchanting allure. This is the prelude of blood and bone, a desolate portrait of an era!" Ye Fan sighed softly.

As these words were spoken, a deep sentiment resonated within everyone. The decline of Emperors and Sovereigns was like a blood-stained, mottled canvas, where countless hardships, sufferings, glories, and honors were all interred within that single sigh.

The vast army advanced. Ye Fan, his expression calm, led the host towards the Big Dipper Starfield. They were truly embarking on a campaign to pacify the forbidden zones, not merely making empty threats. Everyone was astonished by such immense audacity. Never before had there been such a madman in history; he intended to shatter the myth of the forbidden zones and eradicate these ancient, taboo lands.

"Kill them!" barked the large black dog wildly. Ever since it was forced to leave the Big Dipper Starfield years ago, only returning once or twice, a deep-seated resentment had lingered within it.

"In this life, there is only battle, to resolve all troubles for future generations!" The roar echoed, shaking the heavens.

The Heavenly Court's forces were truly formidable, comparable to those of the mythical era, with various powerful experts coexisting in one generation. Now, they had assembled, marching united towards the Big Dipper Starfield, intent on entering the Life Forbidden Zones. Along the way, all races throughout the cosmos trembled. What a terrifying army this was! Since ancient times, who would have dared to undertake such a feat?

The seven great Life Forbidden Zones were like lofty deities, demanding offerings and reverence from all. Who would dare to disrespect them? And who could possibly conquer them? The entire world erupted in an uproar. At that moment, people felt a mix of nervousness and fear, anticipation and dread, as they watched Ye Fan and his company.

"He truly is an anomaly," people mused. "This era might indeed witness the rise of the strongest individual in history!"

Imperial qi surged across the Big Dipper, and killing intent rippled through the ages. Above the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone, a bronze immortal palace hung suspended, wreathed in auspicious qi and cascading immortal light. Within it stood a woman of unparalleled grace. The large opening on the bronze palace had long since been repaired and refined. Meanwhile, the other four great forbidden lands—the Primordial Mine, the Heavens, the Immortal Tomb, and the God Ruins—also released powerful auras, creating a fearsome standoff.

Yang Xi and the others were startled. The Empress, with her ancient pride and transcendence, was poised to strike at any moment. Her form, elevated above the mundane world, emanated an aura of eternal immortality. Her countenance and immortal face remained unseen, yet at this very moment, Duan De, who accompanied the expedition, couldn't help but shiver. This was because, above her, the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Pot was glowing autonomously, radiating an aura of vitality. The Black Emperor and the Shameless Daoist exchanged glances, then quickly averted their eyes, tightly sealing their lips without uttering a single word.

"Sacred Body Ye Fan, you are too aggressive, utterly overbearing!" a loud shout rang out.

"It is not I who am overbearing," Ye Fan retorted, "but rather your lack of restraint! This cosmos is not your personal breeding ground. In this current Golden Age, you can no longer act as you please!" He exuded immense majesty, truly like a Celestial Emperor descended to the mortal realm. Even his own disciples, such as Ye Tong and Yang Xi, felt a terrifying pressure in his presence. Let alone others, all supreme experts who had followed to the Big Dipper and were observing this immense upheaval were astonished. Ye Fan's momentum was now unstoppable; no one in the world could stand against him.

"When we, the Imperial Venerables, protected this cosmos, your ancestors were still praying and worshipping at our feet," another voice angrily rebuked. "And now you dare to rebel?"

"I respect your first lives," Ye Fan stated, his expression calm but his voice chillingly cold, "but I despise your lingering years. Through countless dark upheavals, how many beings have you devoured, causing the heavens and earth to grieve for you!" He thought of Ji Zi, Gai Jiuyou, and the White-Clothed Divine King, and each memory brought a pang of pain and deep regret. He continued, "After enduring the blood-soaked turmoil that swept heaven and earth, I once swore an oath: to pacify the forbidden zones within my lifetime, so that no more dark upheavals would ever occur!"

"Arrogance!"

"The Great Emperors of old have long laid a solid foundation," Ye Fan declared. "How many Supremes can still remain? In this life, I shall fight to the death to pacify the Life Forbidden Zones!" Ye Fan's voice reverberated throughout the vast cosmos, an oath that was both astonishing and exhilarating. At this moment, his voice echoed through all the major starfields. His invincible will converged with the will of heaven, causing the vast cosmos to rumble and tremble in his presence.

"Kill!"

Ye Fan made his move. The Life Forbidden Zone he chose was the God Ruins, a place of mottled ancient relics. It contained ruins of the Heavenly Court from the mythical era, including towers and palaces, some of which still bore array patterns personally carved by the Emperor Venerable. When the ancient Heavenly Court shattered during the divine war, many divine lands fell towards the far reaches of the cosmos; this was one of the most significant such sites.

"Boom!"

Heaven and earth trembled as Ye Fan stretched out a massive hand, forcibly uprooting the God Ruins and placing it within the vast cosmic river. This was simply unparalleled divine might. Ignoring the Supremes within, he powerfully uprooted mountains and rivers, excavating the very land and shaking heaven and earth. The beings within the God Ruins retaliated, but they could not alter the fact of its upheaval; they were powerless to stop it. A massive hand lunged forth to attack, only to be repelled by Ye Fan.

"Kill!"

The Monkey King roared, wielding his immortal iron staff. His demeanor was fierce, his golden fur bristling as he was the first to charge inside, for this place held the ancient蟠桃 peach tree of his clan. This celestial medicine had been displaced and wandered, eventually falling into the hands of those in the God Ruins. Now, he intended to reclaim it. Simultaneously, the Victorious Fighting Buddha also made his move. Though aged, he exhibited the same fierce courage and dominance, unleashing a divine ape's fist that shook heaven and earth. To pacify the forbidden zones, no one held back. The Young Old Madman, Little Pine, and the others all plunged into the depths of the God Ruins, attacking with their most potent techniques.

A figure burst forth, shattering enormous immortal source blocks in the sky, and was immediately forced into extreme sublimation, compelled to fight a desperate battle here! He loudly shouted, "Fellow Daoists, when will you make your move? Are you truly waiting for him to defeat us one by one?"

Surprisingly, he was the sole survivor in the God Ruins, which was unexpected by everyone else but had been within Ye Fan's calculations. This was precisely why Ye Fan had chosen this location as his first battlefield. At this moment, the cosmic qi was in disarray. The Primordial Mine, the Immortal Tomb, and the Heavens all violently shook, as several powerful auras surged skyward, signaling someone's imminent emergence. However, with a booming sound, a colossal bronze immortal palace ascended, illuminating past, present, and future, instantly severing the God Ruins from the outside world.

"An immortal artifact!"

At that moment, cries of astonishment rose from within the Primordial Mine, the Heavens, and the Immortal Tomb. They stared incredulously at the bronze immortal palace, upon which stood a peerlessly graceful Empress.

"A true immortal artifact!"

These words sent shivers down their spines. The three great forbidden zones fell silent for a moment, as countless thoughts raced through their minds.

"In this conquest, I will only destroy the God Ruins!" Ye Fan roared.

Human hearts are always thus. The three great forbidden zones hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing their options, for the cost of emerging was simply too great.

Ye Fan acted decisively. Like an agile and swift dragon-leopard, he streaked across the sky, joining the fray. He unleashed a mid-air kick, utterly domineering, a force none could resist. He forcibly shattered all array patterns in heaven and earth, his foot landing precisely on the fist of the God Ruins Supreme, which had been aimed skyward. The two collided, like heaven and earth intertwining. Initially, auspicious qi startled the heavens, but immediately thereafter, blood splattered. Both Ye Fan and the Supreme had utilized their utmost strength, condensing hundreds of moves into this single, most potent strike!

"Pfft!"

Finally, the God Ruins Supreme's fist exploded into a bloody mess, and he stumbled backward.

"Kill!"

With a mighty roar, Ye Fan struck again. The two clashed like divine dragons, a furious collision that sent blood splattering intermittently, staining the cosmic sky crimson. With a final, deafening boom, Ye Fan sent him flying with a single palm strike. Then, wielding the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate's killing sword, he swept it forth, sending blood-light permeating for millions of miles, cleaving the Supreme in half at the waist.

At this point, he ceased his attacks, ascending to the side of the bronze immortal palace. There, he stood with the Empress, silently confronting the three remaining great Life Forbidden Zones. Behind him, the Monkey King, the Human Devil, and others attacked in unison, overwhelming the heavily wounded God Ruins Supreme. In particular, when the Golden Crow Great Emperor's divine bell descended with a resounding clang, it caused further cracks to appear in the Supreme's already severed body.

The battle concluded as the last Supreme of the God Ruins was slain. The vast cosmos rumbled; his Dao dispersed, his spirit turned to ash, and the entire world was astonished. Another Supreme had completed his life's journey. His first half was glorious, his latter half savage, accompanied by pathetic struggles. In his final moments, only desolation remained, along with that striking splash of blood!

"Time is a knife that slays the proudest talents…" Ye Fan murmured softly, gazing towards the Primordial Mine, the Immortal Tomb, and the Heavens—the last remaining great forbidden zones.

A glorious beginning, a blood-stained canvas, and a desolate conclusion. This sight rendered the supreme sovereigns within the forbidden lands silent, their hearts heavy with countless emotions. They reflected on many things: how they were once revered by all races, once unparalleled, once unyielding in their pride. But what, they wondered, was left of them now? Was it truly that time is a knife that slays the proudest talents? Ye Fan observed the exquisitely beautiful figure on the bronze immortal palace; this Empress seemed to have transcended, utterly different from the rest.