Chapter 425: Absolute End

The Divine Robe of a Saint descended from the heavens, radiating immense light. It resembled an immortal phoenix born from splendid divine flames. Its powerful aura sent shivers down everyone's spines, causing them all to retreat.

Shaped like a human, it seemed to be a living entity, holding a golden sacred sword of unparalleled sharpness. Its compelling killing intent made the leaves in the forest scatter wildly.

Everyone was trembling with fear, as if facing an ancient deity. A deep, heartfelt reverence made them instinctively want to kneel, their bodies quivering.

The golden divine robe shone like the sun. With a clang, it landed on the ground, radiating golden brilliance that pulsed like flames. The golden divine bow on its back vibrated slightly, tightening everyone's heartstrings, causing many to nearly suffocate.

"Clang!"

A metallic tremor echoed, like a dragon's roar across the nine heavens or a phoenix's cry shaking the firmament. The clear sound resonated throughout the world, reaching deep into people's souls.

"Thump!"

Many cultivators could no longer resist; they involuntarily knelt and prostrated themselves before the unparalleled divine robe. This was a supreme deterrent originating from the soul, inspiring awe and worship.

"It's truly alive!" Even Ye Fan was astonished. Though he stood far away, he felt a terrifying majesty emanating from it.

"Clang!"

Another subtle tremor sounded, and the divine robe's radiance receded. The mountain range grew quiet, allowing those who had knelt to finally stand up, their faces pale, their hearts filled with shock.

"They're all dead!"

On another peak, a supreme dignitary from the Yin-Yang Sect stood on a grand platform, surveying the scene within the Ancient Forbidden Land, sighing deeply.

Utter annihilation!

The Yin-Yang Sect had acquired a mysterious stone robe in the Northern Region, capable of isolating all vital energies. However, in the end, it proved useless. Everyone who entered rapidly aged and then turned to dust.

A murmur ran through the mountains as everyone quietly discussed the situation. The divine robe of the ancient sage had flown back, and the Yin-Yang Sect's stone robes had all shattered, signifying complete failure.

"The Ancient Forbidden Land cannot be breached!"

"Three years ago, a mysterious ancient coffin appeared, and the sacred land's curse was at its weakest. Unfortunately, that sole opportunity was missed."

The people from Central Province sighed softly, their hearts filled with regret.

Many hearts stirred. If even the divine dynasties and ancient sects of Central Province had no solution, who else in this world could enter and retrieve the immortal divine medicine?

"I refuse to yield; I will defy the heavens!"

A commanding voice, imbued with overwhelming power, rang out, sending countless leaves scattering. The ancient primeval forest trembled as if a true dragon had emerged, transformed into human form, and walked out of the wilderness.

An exceedingly majestic figure, whose aura overshadowed the sun and moon, emerged from the mountain range. He resembled an emperor descended from heaven, dragon qi swirling around him, surveying the world with an air of unrivaled supremacy across all directions.

"The old Emperor of Guhua has arrived!"

"An unparalleled Emperor has graced this earthly realm, appearing at the forbidden land of life. It's truly astonishing."

All the native cultivators of the Eastern Desolation were shaken.

Emperor Guhua wore a nine-dragon crown and a nine-dragon robe, as if he had stepped forth from ancient times. He merged with the heavens and earth, becoming one with them, dimming the sun and moon.

His hair was as white as snow, his form gaunt, and his end was nigh. Yet, his aura remained undiminished, vast as an abyss and deep as the sea, inspiring dread. An ancestral dragon, seemingly made of flesh and blood, coiled above his head.

"Your Majesty!"

Many people stepped forward, bowing respectfully, urging him not to enter the Ancient Forbidden Land.

Others knelt, offering to go in his stead to retrieve the immortal divine medicine and present it to him.

"I am a dying man. All my affairs have been settled. There is no need for you to die in my place," the old Emperor of Guhua declined.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider. The Ancient Forbidden Land is different from other forbidden zones of life. No matter how high one's cultivation, anyone who enters will be reduced to a mortal."

"Indeed, rather than this, allow us to go in Your Majesty's stead. We will do our utmost to gather the immortal divine medicine."

All the people of the Guhua Dynasty tried to dissuade him, including four Grand-Empowerment-level imperial uncles who stepped forward, bowing deeply to block his path.

Many rogue cultivators were astonished. An unparalleled Emperor was about to enter the Ancient Forbidden Land. The legends were indeed true: most emperors and holy lords in their twilight years chose this path. Now, people were witnessing it firsthand!

Since ancient times, few old holy lords and emperors left behind tombs. The great wilderness and the forbidden zones of life became their agreed-upon burial grounds.

Perhaps one day, upon entering an ancient forest, one might find a set of snow-white bones—the remains of a peerless hero who once commanded the winds and clouds. Such was their sorrow.

All humans are ultimately destined to die. No matter how great a hero, there comes a time for their curtain call. Their twilight years are equally desolate; an unparalleled hegemon eventually becomes nothing more than a mound of earth.

It is said that the path to immortality has no end, yet who truly achieved eternal life since ancient times? No one has. All are like the setting sun—vibrantly red, but ultimately fading into darkness.

The old Emperor of Guhua possessed extraordinary bearing and god-like majesty. He surveyed everyone and declared, "All of you, step back! This is my choice!"

"Your Majesty!"

"The Ancient Forbidden Land strips away the cultivation of all unparalleled masters!"

People from the immortal dynasties of Central Province all spoke up to obstruct him.

"Even if I am reduced to a mortal, I shall remain an Emperor, stronger than others. You need not say more. I do not wish for anyone to die in my place."

This old Emperor possessed great courage. He had guessed the outcome but still chose this path, having arranged all his final affairs. He intended to make one last attempt.

No one dared to stop him. Wherever his gaze fell, even the four imperial uncles fell silent and retreated to the side.

The people from the Yin-Yang Sect remained silent, watching from the sidelines. They were competitors, yet also shared a common plight.

The cultivators of the Eastern Desolation were deeply shaken. They had finally witnessed firsthand the twilight years of an old Emperor and the choices he would make.

Everything unfolded as the legends foretold: a life of brilliance, a generation of awe, ultimately walking alone down a path devoid of hope.

An imperial uncle from the Guhua Dynasty stepped forward. He sighed softly and approached the divine robe of the ancient sage. He was comparable to a Grand-Empowerment, his magic power immense, yet he was very respectful. He bowed to the golden divine robe and said, "Please, divine robe, protect my lord."

"Clang!"

A soft clang pierced the sky. Divine light blazed, soaring upwards, and supreme pressure swept across the entire mountain range, as if an ocean had submerged the mountains and lands.

Then, the world fell silent. The mountain wind ceased, plants stood still, all sounds vanished, and time seemed to halt, an eerie, deathly calm.

Ninety percent of those present knelt, their bodies and minds trembling, unable to resist prostrating themselves. In the endless mountain range, countless birds and beasts also prostrated themselves, whimpering in trembling submission towards this direction.

Such was the power of the Divine Robe of an Ancient Sage!

Even from a great distance, Ye Fan was startled. It wasn't the first time he had witnessed such power; in the Northern Region, a sage's divine robe had once torn open the Divine King's Pure Land.

It was known that the Divine King's Pure Land was reputedly an unparalleled, impenetrable defense, yet it had been severed. The Divine Robe of a Saint possessed the mighty power to seize the creation of heaven and earth!

"Whoosh!"

With a flash of light, the unparalleled divine robe enveloped the old Emperor. He became entirely golden, with divine flames flickering around him, inspiring awe.

Holding the golden sacred sword and bearing the golden divine bow, he resembled a god stepping forth from ancient times, breathtaking and exuding overwhelming might!

The old Emperor of Guhua seemed to have regained his youth, his body reaching its peak state. Without looking back, he strode forward.

This might be the last time people would see him in this world...

Time seemed to stand still. No one spoke, everyone waited in silent patience, though many had already guessed the outcome.

After an unknown period, an imperial uncle from Guhua, standing on the mountain peak's high platform, cried out in sorrow. His voice was mournful, and countless fallen leaves swirled around, filling the air with desolation.

His divine eyes wide open, he saw everything within the forbidden land: the unparalleled Emperor had fallen. In the end, he failed to defy the heavens, ending his twilight years in sorrow, buried in a foreign land!

"Your Majesty!"

The people of the Guhua Dynasty cried out in grief and burst into tears, their wails shaking the heavens and earth, yet unable to change anything.

"I refuse to yield; I will defy the heavens!" These six words seemed to still echo, but alas, it was ultimately a desolate end.

"Whoosh!"

With a flash of light, the Divine Robe of an Ancient Sage descended from the sky. It had grown much dimmer, softly trembling, stained with traces of blood and considerable ash.

The golden divine robe had been damaged; it was unknown how many years it would take to recover.

Looking back through the ages, who in this world could truly escape death? Everyone felt a sense of despair. Legends of immortals were endless, yet what people witnessed was only one "emptiness" and "annihilation" after another.

Even the Great Emperors of old vanished into the long river of history; how could one not feel despair?

This was a path with no end, a path to certain failure!

The people of the Guhua Dynasty sadly retreated to Yandu. Without a doubt, their endeavor had ended in failure. The news shook the entire Southern Region, prompting all sacred lands to investigate.

The unparalleled Emperor had fallen. The Yin-Yang Sect also withdrew from the Ancient Forbidden Land and returned to Yandu; their Supreme Sect Master did not make a final attempt, for the outcome was already predetermined.

The news quickly spread throughout the Eastern Desolation, shaking all major powers. The Seven Forbidden Zones of Life were indeed impenetrable, serving as burial grounds for formidable experts.

However, in the future, old holy lords were destined to choose this path. This was the tragedy of their twilight years; they had no other choice but to seek rebirth.

The immortal divine medicines could choose their own dwelling places, and it was rumored that they had all flown into the Seven Forbidden Zones of Life.

A chill ran through Ye Fan's heart. He wondered how much stronger the curse within the Ancient Forbidden Land had become than before. He fell silent instantly.

Could he succeed? Even if he refined an unparalleled stone robe using the Six Seals of Forbidden Immortals, capable of isolating all vital energies in the world, what he saw was still a path of no return.

This upheaval shook the Eastern Desolation, making it difficult for things to settle. During this period, Ye Fan pondered intensely, eventually entering seclusion once more.

For a full half-month, he exhausted his efforts, refining the nine ancient characters from the "Dao Scripture" into the stone robe. These were innate Great Emperor patterns, possessing unparalleled mystical uses.

They could be used to suppress oneself, achieve eternity, stabilize time, exhaust the mysteries of heaven and earth, unfathomable, with endless power.

Ye Fan spent over ten days, his body and mind nearly reaching their limit, finally combining the nine ancient characters with the thousands of patterns of resentment within the stone robe.

"Big Brother, you're finally awake." Little Nannan, with long eyelashes, blinked her big eyes at him, looking innocent and adorable.

Ye Fan felt guilty. He had been too busy and hadn't been able to properly care for the little girl. She was still wearing tattered clothes, and the holes for her toes were clearly visible in her small shoes.

Fortunately, Little Nannan hadn't gone hungry. The inn had followed his instructions, delivering delicious food every day.

"Big Brother, that old grandpa across the way is so pitiful." The little girl was very sympathetic; she was, of course, referring to Zhang Wenchang.

Ye Fan patted her head. The little girl herself was no less pitiful, which made his heart ache.

"Nannan, be good. I might be away for a few months, so please wait patiently for my return."

"Big Brother..." The little girl immediately lowered her head, her mood deflated, thinking Ye Fan was going to abandon her.

"I'll come back, Little Nannan, don't worry," Ye Fan gently comforted her.

"Really?" The little girl was still unconvinced. Her eyes glistened, her small mouth pouted, and her head hung low as she looked at her torn shoes. She said, "Nannan always forgets the past. I'm afraid I'll forget Big Brother after a while."

"You won't forget. I'll leave you a precious jade, which I have refined. It can record your experiences every day, so when you wake up, you can see what happened the day before."

Ye Fan decided to enter the Ancient Forbidden Land; he could no longer delay. He wasn't going to his death. Besides the unparalleled stone robe, he possessed a secret, ultimate trump card that might withstand the erosion of time—that was the key to his potential success!

He looked towards the sky, thinking he might also borrow Ye Huiling's Heaven-Covering Robe. Having an extra protective garment was always better than none.

"Little Nannan, be good and wait for my return!"

Ye Fan stood up and strode out of the inn. Behind him, a tiny figure waved a small hand, large eyes brimming with tears, watching him depart.