Chapter 1804: Unlucky Late Years

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Outside the Heavenly Court, three magnificent temples, constructed from divine sources, illuminated the heavens. The power of faith rumbled like a flowing river.

“This isn't how it should be. Dying on the battlefield, my bones interred amidst sword light, ending in the dark turmoil – that would have been my proper resting place,” a voice resonated from Gai Jiuyou’s temple.

Ye Fan faced it calmly. After a careful observation, he sighed, realizing it was merely a fragment of lingering will, condensed from the power of faith, not a true person.

“In the future, if your consciousness truly awakens, Senior, I will respect your choice,” Ye Fan said, then turned away.

In the other two temples, vital energy swirled, and the life force was stronger. Faintly, two pulsating incomplete bodies could be seen. Ye Fan did not disturb them, leaving them sealed within the Immortal Source.

The Heavenly Emperor's rebirth was utterly astounding. Twenty-six thousand years of immortality, and the prospect of him continuing to live on made everyone tremble!

Throughout the universe, the divine might of the Heavenly Court grew even more profound. The power of faith surged, pouring into Ye Fan's cauldron and transforming into a vast stellar ocean. The entire Heavenly Court teemed with auspicious phenomena, and propitious energy pierced through billions of miles.

From afar, the heavenly palace, bathed in immortal radiance, resembled a vast immortal realm, a true land of longevity.

The extraordinary phenomena emanating from the Heavenly Court shook the human realm, filling everyone with disbelief and even greater reverence. True dragons danced and immortal phoenixes spread their wings—all these diverse manifestations, formed by the power of faith, circled above the Heavenly Court, becoming divine entities.

“Incredible! The Heavenly Emperor is so powerful. With him, the Heavenly Court has become the mightiest lineage in all of history!”

White Tigers roared, Black Tortoises expanded the seas, and Kun Pengs soared across the nine heavens—all divine beings formed from the power of faith, guarding the Heavenly Court. By this era, its foundational strength was so immense that it caused many to tremble.

“Could this be the true essence of the Heavenly Court—to achieve immortality amidst the vast mortal world?”

The Cauldron of Myriad Mother Qi floated, its interior brimming with endless power of faith. Every creature depicted on its walls materialized, creating a multitude of wondrous and strange phenomena outside the Heavenly Court.

Even if Ye Fan were to pass away, the presence of this cauldron would ensure the Heavenly Court's continued prosperity.

“Is the ultimate marvelous application of the power of faith connected to longevity and the creation of an immortal realm? Is this why ancient Great Emperors all sought to establish a Heavenly Court?” From that day forward, many began to ponder these questions deeply.

The Heavenly Emperor's Cauldron had evolved to its zenith, needing only one final transformation to become an immortal artifact.

In the mortal world, many revered the Heavenly Court, and more people frequently invoked the Heavenly Emperor's name. Consequently, the power of faith grew ever more abundant.

Ye Fan's physique was pristine, his black hair thick, and his life force vibrant and energetic. He had returned to his optimal physical state, appearing to be only around twenty years old—youthfully unbelievable.

This was a brand new beginning, a new cycle of life. He stood at the initial point of another era's trajectory. It was still the same world, but the people of his past were gone.

He recalled those early days: his arduous cultivation upon first entering Beidou, being relentlessly pursued, and then forming bonds with a group of companions. They were in their prime, youthful and audacious, pushing forward fearlessly, defying the heavens with boundless drive.

Looking back now, those companions and beloved confidantes were all gone.

How was he to navigate this life? As the Heavenly Emperor, how could he embark on this journey alongside a group of naive young faces? The world felt vast and desolate, and he could no longer recapture that same feeling.

Yet, his previous life was irrevocably past. Having experienced too much, Ye Fan sighed towards the heavens, then cast aside his melancholy. His journey was still long, and there were still many tasks awaiting him.

He sought to comprehend the method of longevity and fulfill his past vows. A vast, mottled longevity battle map had already been unfurled, awaiting his brush to depict its magnificent landscapes and epic poems.

In this life, he no longer felt the struggles of the past—the narrow escapes, the countless tribulations on his cultivation path each year. Now, a single meditation session could span millennia.

Ye Fan pondered various methods of longevity, constantly pushing boundaries and verifying this path.

The same passage of time, yet a completely different way of living.

After several periods of secluded cultivation, five thousand years had quietly passed in the world—a solitary path for the Heavenly Emperor. He stood high in the nine heavens, gazing down at the vibrant, hopeful youths of the mortal realm, embarking on their own journeys. Yet, he could no longer integrate among them.

“The paths of those who came before are continued by those who follow.”

The Heavenly Emperor sighed as eight thousand years passed in the world. He remained young, yet grew even more powerful.

Awakening from seclusion, he observed the mortal world: a generation of youths embarking on their cultivation journeys, achieving renown across the lands, and eventually aging into dust. This was one lifetime, a re-enactment of Ye Fan's own era.

As eras shifted, certain phenomena in the world continuously replayed, like a mirror reflecting light into the Heavenly Emperor’s eyes.

With threads of immortal light shimmering in his eyes, Ye Fan sat cross-legged in the nine heavens, gazing down upon the vast mortal realm. He remained in meditation for several more millennia, as if having grasped the trajectory of longevity and reincarnation.

By the time he reached fifteen thousand years old in this life, Ye Fan's black hair remained unchanged. One day, as he sat meditating on the Immortal Mountain Cliff, a golden flash of light in the distance caught his attention—something had quietly slipped into the Peach Garden, causing a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

With a 'whoosh,' a small golden monkey was instantly drawn to him by a mere thought, appearing before him. It was the Sacred Prince's only young son, who, after tens of thousands of years, had once again broken through his divine source to sneak out.

“Oh, Uncle Ye, you’re still so young! Has it only been a few years?” The little Sacred Ape, appearing no more than a few years old, scratched his head in confusion.

“You’re too mischievous. Why did you sneak out again?” Ye Fan asked.

“I wasn’t going for the peaches, nor did I want to sneak out to play,” the little monkey insisted, trying to hide his guilt, his large eyes darting about. But after a moment, he suddenly burst into tears, whimpering, “Uncle Ye, I miss my father and mother.”

Ye Fan picked him up, placed him on his shoulder, and took him on a tour through the vast mortal realm. His only aim was to let the child play to his heart's content.

The Heavenly Emperor's outing this time stunned everyone. Many were astonished, secretly marveling at how fortunate the little monkey was to sit upon the Heavenly Emperor's shoulder.

In this life, having a mischievous little one appear, crying and wiping away tears as he complained to Ye Fan, made the Emperor feel a rare warmth, and he doted on him immensely.

Of course, Ye Fan eventually re-sealed the little monkey. This child represented the Heavenly Court's hope, possessing a rare ancient bone structure and all the advantages of the two great Sacred Ape tribes.

“Uncle Ye, can I come back to play with you again soon?” the little monkey asked timidly yet hopefully, before being sealed back into the divine source.

Ye Fan gave him a gentle flick on the head and sealed him away for an extended period.

Time flowed like water. In this life, Ye Fan witnessed the rise, renown, and eventual aging of several generations of prodigies in the mortal world. He had now existed in the world for over another twenty thousand years.

In his remaining years, he traversed the world, surveying mountain 'dragon veins' and assessing places of heaven-defying creation, as if searching for something specific.

“The Heavenly Emperor senses his end is near and is seeking a burial site for himself.”

People sighed softly, acknowledging that even the greatest heroes eventually reach their end. Despite being the Heavenly Emperor, Ye Fan would still age and die unless he crippled himself, transformed into a forbidden zone, or employed special sealing methods.

Yet, in his lifetime, he had personally eradicated five great forbidden zones. How could he possibly imitate such a path himself?

People could foresee that the Heavenly Emperor, whose feats astounded past and present and whose combat prowess could fell immortals, would ultimately die. His era was destined to conclude in this lifetime, as even the immortal medicine had become useless to him.

Time flew swiftly. Ye Fan lived for another twenty-six thousand years in this life, astonishing the world. He had now been alive for over fifty thousand years in total!

“The Heavenly Emperor is truly a supreme divine being!”

The entire world gasped in awe.

Ye Fan walked alone through the star sea. Everyone assumed he was seeking the Heavenly Emperor's tomb, but they were unaware of his true intent: he was actually trying to locate that monster.

Ye Fan sighed, acknowledging his adversary's remarkable patience.

Now, with his vital energy waning and this life nearing its end, his combat prowess would be severely diminished. His situation was truly perilous.

In that year, his vital energy was depleted, his white hair disheveled, and his body emaciated—a hero in his twilight. He would not live much longer, traveling alone through the universe.

Upon seeing him, some could not help but feel profound sorrow. Even the Heavenly Emperor had grown old, and immortality remained elusive.

“Heavenly Emperor!”

As Ye Fan passed through various regions, it was as though he were bidding farewell to this universe and to all its races. Many could not help but cry out in lamentation.

Witnessing such a supreme being approach his end pained many powerful individuals. The aging and decline of the Heavenly Emperor would signify the close of an era.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, an incredibly powerful aura erupted, and a massive foot descended from the sky, aiming at the weakened Ye Fan.

“What?! Who is that? How dare they show such disrespect to the Heavenly Emperor, stomping on his head!” The sages who had been following behind, accompanying him to bid farewell, all changed color, enraged.

Ye Fan had previously quelled dark turmoil, swept through forbidden zones, and left behind magnificent achievements, earning the reverence of all races. Who would dare to insult him in such a manner?

To step on the Heavenly Emperor's head—this indeed incensed the sages of all races beyond measure!

Concurrently, Ye Fan's entire body sprouted dense golden, red, and black hairs, among others, presenting an extremely horrifying sight.

“The Holy Body in its twilight, the Heavenly Emperor in his decline—he has encountered the most terrifying curse!”

“Heavenly Emperor!”

People cried out, their hearts trembling with worry and grief for him, unable to bear the sight.

They were helpless. The aura of the newcomer was absolutely peerless; had the Heavenly Emperor not stood in front, blocking the emanating ripples, they would all have perished.

“Boom!”

With an explosive roar that shattered the heavens, the Heavenly Emperor, covered in hair, unleashed his Imperial Fist—a technique he had not used for tens of thousands of years!

This single strike made all of history tremble, it reversed the river of time, and it pierced through thirty-three layers of heaven!

The Heavenly Emperor was old, had remained dormant for many years, and his vital energy was withered. Yet, his fist remained indomitable. The enormous foot descending from the sky instantly shattered, causing blood to rain down.

Then, with a resounding boom, Ye Fan's entire body erupted in a blaze of light, incinerating all the hair and revealing his true form once more.

Though aged, the Heavenly Emperor remained overwhelmingly dominant, invincible in the world, and beyond reproach.

“Truly worthy of the Heavenly Emperor! To possess such combat power even with depleted vital energy is admirable, but you will still die!”

A figure descended, covered head to toe in dense, long hair.

Then another descended, exuding unparalleled sanctity, as if formed from a divine source, dazzling and radiant.

“Are the monsters two individuals?” Ye Fan stared intently.

“I am the Source Ghost.”

“I am the Source God.”

The two announced their names, instantly triggering Ye Fan’s distant memories. In the bygone era of the Northern Region's Divine City, while he was gambling on stones and searching for sources, he had heard many legends about the Source Ghost and Source God, who consumed immortal treasures found within stones.

“So, you are the monsters? Even two emperors aren't enough to face me!” Ye Fan declared. Though aged, he remained incomparably domineering, stepping forward with the intent to sweep away his foes.

“Wrong, the monster you are waiting for is me. They are merely my kin,” another voice resounded. A heaven-piercing nether treasure, wreathed in immortal light, tore through the grand universe and manifested.

From within that nether artifact stepped a figure entirely wreathed in chaotic light, their aura unparalleled!

“How could we be excluded?” As the words concluded, four figures, whose vital energy astonished all ages, arrived in unison. In the distance, an ancient mine faintly emerged, resembling a black hole.

They originated from the Primordial Ancient Mine, a forbidden zone Ye Fan had long intended to eradicate.

With a buzzing sound, the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerable's killing array diagram emerged, enveloping the high heavens. It was, astonishingly, controlled by these four figures, trapping Ye Fan below. Several ancient Imperial artifacts replaced the four killing swords, forming the most formidable killing array of all time.

“What a grand formation, with seven Supremes appearing simultaneously in my twilight years,” Ye Fan said, observing them indifferently.

“I only require a wisp of his heart’s blood and a living Heavenly Emperor's mark. All other flesh, bones, and so on are yours!” stated the figure wreathed in chaotic light who emerged from the heaven-piercing nether treasure.

“It has evolved into a true immortal artifact,” Ye Fan murmured, gazing at the nether artifact with an involuntary sigh. Yet, even in his twilight years and deeply ensnared in a formidable array, his divine might still suppressed the universe. His voice resonated throughout the nine heavens and ten lands: “I am the Heavenly Emperor, and I shall suppress and eradicate all enemies in this world!”