Chapter 397: Release Meeting

The Saint Son of Yaoguang, the Golden Winged Little Peng King, and Yao Xi, all supreme figures of the younger generation, emerged from the Lihuo Divine Furnace, each radiating intense killing intent.

They had been sealed in the Divine Furnace for months, in utter darkness, suffering the bone-gnawing agony of divine fire. For them, it was an unprecedented ordeal.

All of them were peerless geniuses who had never experienced such a plight. They had always looked down on their peers, revered wherever they went, surrounded by admiration like stars surrounding the moon. This was the first time in their lives they had been suppressed.

Moreover, it was by a small cultivator whose cultivation was far inferior to theirs. The thought of this filled them with rage, and killing intent permeated the surroundings.

"They are all astonishing talents, their future achievements immeasurable," the Divine King Jiang nodded gently.

The Golden Winged Little Peng King had evidently received a private message and warning from the Old Peng King, but his inherent wildness and rebellious nature showed as he held the Great Desolate Halberd, capable of crushing the void, in his right hand. Pointing it diagonally towards the south, he shouted, "Divine King, I am not convinced!"

"What are you not convinced about?" the Divine King asked calmly, seated on his throne in the grand hall.

"Why do you, venerable sir, protect him so much? I wish to have a decisive battle with him. If I win, I will spare his life. May I?" His golden hair flew wildly, and the Great Desolate Halberd suddenly lowered, pointing at Ye Fan from afar. Boundless killing intent surged forth like turbulent waves.

The Golden Winged Little Peng King's untamed wildness, daring to speak like this while wielding the Great Desolate Halberd in front of the peerless Divine King, made many elder figures secretly nod, deeming him an extraordinary talent.

The Divine King showed no displeasure; instead, he revealed a hint of admiration. He said, "You may battle him, but only when he breaks into the Four Extremities Secret Realm. At that point, anyone from the younger generation can engage him in a life-or-death duel."

The Divine King's words caused an uproar among those present. Could it truly be possible for the Desolate Saint Body to break into the Four Extremities Secret Realm? Yet, no one dared to refute him.

With killing intent fully exposed in his golden eyes, the Golden Winged Little Peng King stared at Ye Fan, about to speak further. However, at that moment, the Old Peng King made his move, extending a golden roc claw that instantly enveloped the sky and earth, seizing him.

With the peerless Divine King present, who would dare be disrespectful? If one were too presumptuous and provoked the Divine King, no one could save them.

The Saint Son of Yaoguang descended like the Son of the Sun, even his hair imbued with golden radiance. His temperament and divine aura were exceptionally outstanding, truly resembling a deity walking among mortals!

"Very well, I look forward to Brother Ye entering the Four Extremities Secret Realm, breaking the ancient curse, and allowing the Desolate Saint Body to shine brightly once more." His expression was calm and serene, enveloped by one hundred and eight divine rings, almost like a deity.

The Saint Son of Yaoguang calmly returned to stand behind the Yaoguang Saint Lord. People were surprised to discover that the number of his divine rings was identical to that of the Yaoguang Saint Lord, though not yet as brilliant.

Yao Xi, with her immaculate immortal grace and beauty capable of toppling nations, had a flame-like radiance shaped like a deity pulsating between her eyebrows. This astonished many elder figures, who all showed surprise.

She also retreated to the side, appearing like a celestial maiden strolling through the Guanghan Palace, her garments untouched by dust, exquisitely pure and otherworldly. Her phoenix eyes swept mercilessly over Ye Fan, but she said nothing.

Once Ye Fan enters the Four Extremities Secret Realm, he will inevitably face the three most formidable supreme figures of the younger generation. A world-shaking battle is bound to occur in the near future!

The Divine King Jiang spoke, saying, "To elaborate, all three of you have turned misfortune into a blessing; you have gained a trace of an Emperor's insight within the Lihuo Divine Furnace."

These words caused widespread shock. The grand hall fell silent; everyone was stunned. An Emperor's insight was priceless in the world!

"Is this true?" The voices of some elder figures trembled.

An Emperor's insight was something cultivators yearned for. It was a bright path leading to the peak of the ultimate Dao, a supreme spiritual imprint that could guide mortals to sainthood.

"It is only a trace, but it is enough for them to comprehend," said the Divine King Jiang.

"What exactly is the origin of the Lihuo Divine Furnace?" Everyone was inexplicably surprised and eager to know.

"It was a weapon used by Emperor Hengyu in his early years. Although not an Ultimate Saint Weapon, it contains the Emperor's Dao patterns," the Divine King Jiang revealed the truth.

Everyone was dumbfounded. The Lihuo Divine Furnace was actually a weapon used by an Ancient Great Emperor, one that had accompanied him as he grew. This was truly beyond people's expectations!

Ye Fan was also surprised, finally understanding why the furnace always seemed indestructible. It contained Emperor patterns within, possessing unimaginable power that, if fully unleashed, could destroy heaven and earth.

The Jiang Family's Supreme Saint Furnace was forged by referencing this furnace. After Emperor Hengyu gathered Phoenix Blood Red Gold, he delved deep into the Primordial Fallen Sun Ridge and painstakingly forged the ultimate sacred artifact.

Tracing its origins, the predecessor of the Saint Furnace was the Lihuo Divine Furnace.

"The grievances are settled," the Divine King Jiang said, and then casually asked, "There aren't any others, are there?"

"Well..." Ye Fan hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

"It's fine. Whoever else there is, release them all. I will resolve the issues for you," the Divine King Jiang stated.

Ye Fan firmly believed there were no airtight walls in the world, especially with Saint Lord-level figures possessing heaven-defying secret arts that could uncover the truth through special means.

He pondered for a moment and decided to seize this opportunity to shed all his burdens, letting the Divine King take full responsibility, lest a great disaster arise if things were exposed later.

*Swoosh!*

With a flash of light, an ancient golden pagoda appeared, suspended in the void, shimmering with brilliant hues.

In the distance, Xu Tianxiong, the Third Great Bandit of the Northern Region, was somewhat dazed. He hadn't expected his grandson to be involved. He had personally forged this pagoda, so there was no way he could mistake it.

Xu Yuan had originally been suppressed by Tu Fei, and the ancient pagoda had been given to the Black Dog by Ye Fan. However, Ye Fan felt it was improper and might implicate Tu Fei, so he had retrieved them both.

Xu Tianxiong strode forward. Even the various Saint Lords were wary of him; his rank was above that of the mighty Azure Dragon King, and his strength was unfathomable.

*Swoosh!*

With a flash of light, Xu Yuan was released, seeing the light of day again. The moment he saw Xu Tianxiong, he immediately cried out, then pointed at Ye Fan, who was not far away.

"Smack!"

Xu Tianxiong slapped him. Having just searched his grandson's Sea of Consciousness, he instantly understood everything; it was entirely Xu Yuan's own doing.

"Grandpa..." Xu Yuan cried out.

Not far away, Xu Heng, the top master among the descendants of the Thirteen Great Bandits, stepped forward and pulled his younger brother away, not giving him another chance to speak.

The Divine King Jiang showed no reaction to this. He understood worldly affairs and knew there was no need to resolve anything, also knowing that the Xu family was certainly in the wrong. He asked Ye Fan, "Are there anyone else sealed?"

Ye Fan looked a bit embarrassed, opening his mouth as if to speak.

Many wanted to laugh, seeing his expression that there must be more. How many people had this kid sealed?

The Divine King Jiang was also somewhat surprised. He said, "It's fine, release them."

Ye Fan said nothing more. This time, he readily released Li Rui, the Yaoguang Saint Son candidate, and quickly retreated.

"Ye'er..." Li Rui roared, not understanding his current predicament, and was about to charge forward with all his might.

The Yaoguang Saint Lord let out a cold snort, extended a large hand, seized him, and directly sealed him.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Ye Fan had not only suppressed the Saint Son and Saintess of Yaoguang, but he had also captured the Saint Son candidate. This was truly ruthless, a complete clean sweep.

The expressions of the Yaoguang Holy Land members were not pleasant; this was truly not an honorable matter. Ye Fan had almost become the public enemy of Yaoguang's younger generation.

"There aren't any more, are there?" the Divine King Jiang asked casually, not expecting there to be.

Ye Fan nodded awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed himself.

Others suddenly felt an urge to burst into laughter. There really were more! How many people had this kid sealed? Many people's mouths twitched.

Even the Divine King Jiang was nearly speechless. He couldn't help but glance at Ye Fan twice, genuinely surprised.

In the distance, An Miaoyi covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her eyes sparkling. She was captivatingly charming and graceful, her smile capable of toppling nations.

The little nun in white, with her wide, blinking eyes, gazed strangely at Ye Fan. The small golden creature on her shoulder, remarkably human-like, laughed uproariously, making fun of Ye Fan.

"Brother Gu, he..." The Great Xia Prince shook his head, unsure what to say.

Yao Yuekong chuckled, "We should call him Little Brother Ye now."

This time, Ye Fan released over a dozen women, all enveloped in purple mist and radiating purple glow, clearly from the same Holy Land — Zifu.

"Finally, it's over," the Divine King Jiang murmured to himself, his voice tinged with helplessness. He couldn't understand how Ye Fan had suppressed so many people.

"I beg for the Divine King's forgiveness... there's still more." Ye Fan glanced nervously at the Divine King on the throne.

"More?!" The Divine King Jiang was almost amused to the point of exasperation.

The others could no longer hold back; many burst into laughter. The Saint Sons and Saintesses all showed strange expressions. This scoundrel was too devious; how many people had he sealed?

"This guy is too wicked, carrying so many suppressed people around," Ji Ziyue said, her large eyes curving into crescent moons. Then she shook Ji Haoyue's arm and added, "Good thing big brother isn't among them."

Ji Haoyue was quite speechless and glared at his sister.

This time, Ye Fan took out a purple-gold gourd. The moment he opened its mouth, Jiang Yichen tumbled out, looking very disheveled.

Even the Divine King's descendant had been suppressed. The Jiang family members were speechless, and many cultivators wanted to burst out laughing but forcibly restrained themselves.

Jiang Yichen, bewildered, saw many elders present the moment he emerged and was about to turn hostile toward Ye Fan.

Jiang Yifei quickly stepped forward, grabbing him out of the crowd. He feared the Divine King might become enraged and eliminate such a descendant.

The Divine King Jiang stared at Ye Fan, completely amused by now, as he noticed Ye Fan's hesitant expression. He asked, "Are you trying to tell me there's still more?"

"This is definitely the last one!" Ye Fan was almost sweating. It was the first time he realized that suppressing so many people made him uncomfortable too.

Everyone was speechless, unable to hold back their amusement, and collectively stared at him.

The Saint Sons and Saintesses exchanged glances, thinking this scoundrel was inherently at odds with Holy Lands, always suppressing either a Saint Son or a Saintess. They wondered whose turn it was this time.

Ye Fan took out a scroll sealed within the Vajra Bracelet and projected it into the void. Inside, a purple-clad maiden appeared ethereal and indistinct, as if about to ascend to immortality.

As the Mountains and Rivers Scroll emerged, many people exclaimed in surprise. The Saint Sons and Saintesses were all astonished; this was a divine artifact left by the previous generation's Old Saint Lord of Zifu, its power unparalleled.

"He actually forced Fairy Zixia into the Mountains and Rivers Scroll!"

"The Saintess of Zifu is a Congenital Dao Embryo, standing at the pinnacle of the younger generation's supreme masters, and even she was trapped!"

"Once a Congenital Dao Embryo becomes a Saint Lord, her body will merge with the Dao. No matter how boundless your magic power, you can only be suppressed. The further she cultivates, the more invincible she becomes."

*Swoosh!*

The Saintess of Zifu flew out, her breathtakingly beautiful face flashing briefly before being re-enveloped by purple mist. She moved like a celestial maiden on water, every gesture imbued with Dao charm.

This was a Congenital Dao Embryo; even in daily life, she was almost in a wondrous state of unity between heaven and man. Every movement she made contained the divine essence of the Great Dao.

"What a pity, the Congenital Saint Body Dao Embryo hasn't even been born yet, and she's already out..." Li Heishui mumbled in a corner.

Many people instantly turned to stone. Give birth to a Congenital Saint Body Dao Embryo? This was indeed a world-shattering piece of news!

"Li Heishui, you scoundrel, are you trying to get me killed?!" Ye Fan cursed inwardly and hurriedly tried to explain: "She hasn't given birth yet. No, that's not it. Wrong, I have no such intention!" The more he tried to explain, the worse it sounded.

Beside him, the Zifu Saint Lord's expression immediately darkened. The Congenital Dao Embryo was the future prodigy of the Eastern Wasteland, and he certainly did not wish for anything to happen between her and the Saint Body.

Behind him, the Zifu Saint Son's face was even gloomier. He had been suppressed by the Saintess since childhood, his cultivation unable to match hers. Hearing such news now naturally filled him with anger.

The Zifu Saintess had a serene personality and an otherworldly aura, but at this moment, she was somewhat annoyed. She said, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

In the grand hall, those present exchanged glances, and many revealed smiles.

"Actually, such a marriage alliance could be considered; perhaps it truly could give birth to the most powerful physique," the Divine King Jiang suddenly interjected.

"This is..." All the Saint Lords were startled.

"If I'm not mistaken, Emperor Wu Shi might have been a Congenital Saint Body Dao Embryo," the Divine King Jiang stated.

Everyone present was greatly astonished. Who else in this world could know Emperor Wu Shi better than the peerless Divine King? He had been trapped in Mount Zi for four thousand years and must have obtained many secrets.

Furthermore, it was highly probable that he had obtained Emperor Wu Shi's imprint and legacy.

Everyone wanted to know the Emperor's Secret of Mount Zi, of which he was the most knowledgeable in the current era. However, no one dared to press him now; the thirteen Saint Lord-level figures, three peerless old fiends, and the Dark Night Monarch served as a stern warning.

The Divine King Jiang focused his gaze on Ye Fan and said, "Do you wish to follow the path of Emperor Wu Shi? Becoming an enemy of the whole world, defeating all kings, overpowering all physiques, fighting your way to sainthood, and breaking into the Emperor Realm..."

The crowd was shocked. Did Emperor Wu Shi truly fight his way to the Emperor Realm like that? The Divine King mentioned the Emperor's Secret again.

Ye Fan had greatly offended the various Holy Lands, and in the future, he was bound to have continuous great battles with the Saint Sons and Saintesses. Even the peerless Divine King would find it difficult to protect him for a lifetime.

In fact, Ye Fan himself was speculating on how long the Divine King could live. He constantly felt something was amiss; the white-robed Divine King's single night of battles against formidable, reclusive experts was simply too awe-inspiring, yet it always gave a feeling of "the sunset is infinitely beautiful, but dusk is about to fall."

"In the Post-Desolate Ancient Era, this world has changed. The Saint Body has fallen, no longer possessing its past supreme glory." The Divine King Jiang fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and said, "I will give you ten million catties of Origin to help you break into the Four Extremities Secret Realm. Whether you can ultimately shatter the shackles and how far you can go will be up to you."

These words caused an uproar among the crowd, who were utterly shocked. The peerless Divine King was about to make a move; did he intend to create a miracle?!

Some even speculated that his time might truly be running out, and he would undertake a series of major actions in the near future.