Chapter 520: The Secret of the Bronze Immortal Hall

The Bronze Immortal Palace is the tomb of peerless kings, and it's unknown how many exceptional individuals have been buried within it. Each time it appears, it claims the lives of a group of peerless masters. Throughout history, it has always been a mysterious place that no one could fully understand.

Nangong Zheng's return alive naturally caused a huge stir. Elder figures were extremely concerned, and powerful lords from all sides came forward, creating a chaotic scene in the Heavenly Palace.

"Everyone," Nangong Zheng said with a smile, "I will share everything I know; there's no need to be so anxious." He walked into the Heavenly Palace, sat behind a jade table, and first drank a cup of wine.

"There's no need for this, everyone," said the Queen Mother of the West. "Since Brother Nangong has returned, won't we soon know what happened?" Her hair was coiffed high, adorned with nine phoenix hairpins, and misty silks draped down. She was dignified and sacred, exceptionally beautiful, and possessed myriad graces.

The clamor subsided, and everyone returned to their seats. Most of the people in this Heavenly Palace were powerful lords who governed this land, or extraordinary individuals and strange scholars whose status was transcendent.

Immortal music played, and the beautiful maidens of Jade Pond danced gracefully, their robes fluttering. Each was like a fairy gliding over waves, with white clouds swirling at their feet, as if in the Guanghan Palace.

Outside the palace, phoenix-like Luan birds flew, as brilliant as rainbows. Spiritual birds carried ganoderma, with auspicious aura descending, and longevity apes presented peaches, filling the air with fragrance.

In front of the jade hall, ganoderma and orchids bloomed everywhere, and strange flowers emitted colorful mists. Fish-dragons leaped in the lotus pond, clouds steamed and mist glowed, with golden light and rosy clouds overflowing.

Ye Fan was fortunate to be seated at the far end of the Heavenly Palace, a place usually reserved for Saint Lords. He was invited as an extraordinary person, and Jade Pond treated him with great courtesy.

Looking around the hall, only he and the monkey were so young. Everyone else was thousands of years old, mostly with white hair cascading over their shoulders and eyes filled with the vicissitudes of time.

The combined age of just a few people could approach ten thousand years. It could be said that everyone here had an intimidating background, with the least prominent being the top cultivator among a thousand nations.

Many people looked at Ye Fan with unusual expressions. He had consecutively slain Saint Sons, which had alarmed and greatly concerned even the overlords from all sides.

People knew that he was qualified to sit here as the inheritor of the Origin Heavenly Master, and that Jade Pond would subsequently ask him to seal the Stone King.

Most people didn't know the monkey's origin. He was skilled in transformation arts, comparable to Ye Fan's world-changing abilities, and even Saint Lords couldn't discern his true nature.

The Origin King lineage, and a few living fossils from ancient Origin Arts families, had all cultivated the Divine Eye or Heavenly Eye—their essential divine techniques. Only they knew the monkey's origin.

Ye Fan sat down here, hoping to hear Nangong Zheng recount the mysteries of the Bronze Immortal Palace, but unexpectedly, the topic was put aside, to be discussed expansively over wine later.

He withdrew and sat with these people, finding little to talk about, preferring to clink glasses and drink heartily with Li Heishui and others.

The monkey also followed out. Here, he didn't know many people and didn't want to drink with those old fuddy-duddies, as there was no common topic.

Outside the Heavenly Palace, many jade tables were set up among the various magnificent palaces, and Jade Pond's fairies gracefully glided on clouds, delivering a variety of delicacies and fine wines.

"Little Ye Zi, why did you come out?" Li Heishui asked. "There will be King Peaches to enjoy inside the main hall; their medicinal power is strong, much greater than the peaches outside."

Ye Fan sat cross-legged behind a jade table and smiled, "It's fine, I'll go back in a bit and bring some out for you."

Little Nannan sat down obediently beside Ye Fan, but found herself almost submerged by the swirling mist; she was too tiny and immediately wrinkled her delicate little nose.

The few of them all burst into laughter, picked up the little one, and placed her on the jade table. Each person had a jade table, so no one would blame them.

"Brother Ye, let me offer you a toast," Jin Chixiao said, walking over with a smile on his face. His golden battle attire shimmered, and he looked quite valiant and divine.

Ye Fan clinked glasses with him, drained his cup, and smiled, "I heard Brother Jin was injured recently. Is it nothing serious?"

"No serious harm," Jin Chixiao replied, frowning. "For some reason, the ancient killer divine dynasty also made a move against me."

"You could say we share the same misfortune," said the Light-Shaking Saint Son, standing up and walking over with a jade cup.

Their standing together naturally attracted particular attention. Other Eastern Wasteland heroes looked over simultaneously, all paying close attention.

"You are a descendant of the Golden Royal Lineage!" The monkey's golden eyes shot out electric light as he stared at Jin Chixiao. "Unfortunately, your bloodline is no longer pure. Your lineage no longer possesses the power of the Primordial Emperors."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked over. Many knew that the Northern Plains Golden Family was an ancient race, but few would mention it, as the topic was too sensitive. Unexpectedly, the monkey not only pointed it out but also discerned the problem with their bloodline inheritance.

Jin Chixiao showed a trace of surprise but did not say much. He raised his cup in a gesture and drank his wine.

A fire crow let out a long cry, and a black light shot across the distant sky, like a black lightning bolt, arriving in the blink of an eye. An old Daoist wearing a feather robe appeared.

"That's Daoist Crow! He's still alive!" Many elder figures were startled and felt a chill.

Ye Fan's heart also skipped a beat. He had seen this peerless old demon in the eighth layer of the Fire Domain, who had ruined a pile of divine iron and slapped a great figure from the Ji family to death in a few moves.

"This is a giant among the demon race!" someone exclaimed. "He is a contemporary of Daoist Red Dragon and has lived for over three thousand years. He is half a generation older than even the Saint Lords!"

All who recognized him felt a chill down their spine and quickly made way. This old demon had not appeared for over a thousand years, yet his fearsome reputation had not been forgotten.

The Grand Elder of Jade Pond came to greet him, politely invited him into the Heavenly Palace, not daring to show any disrespect.

Soon after, the longevity apes began presenting peaches, and the Radiant Peach Feast began. A few spiritual peaches were placed on each table, filling the air with fragrance.

Everyone clinked cups and exchanged drinks, engaging in lively discussions. The upcoming emergence of the Primordial Royal Clans, which the disciples of the sacred lands had already heard about, was the topic of widespread discussion.

Jiang Huairen and Li Heishui pulled Ye Fan along, insisting on toasting, specifically making their way to the Saint Sons and Saintesses.

"Let's see which Saint Son is weak first," Liu Kou said, quite shamelessly. "Then you can help us eliminate them and help us get into the Prodigy Academy. Anyway, they all harbor killing intent towards you."

"Fairy, you are ethereal and otherworldly, with skin like ice and bones like jade. My heart yearns for you, yet I feel unworthy," Jiang Huairen muttered incessantly, pestering the Myriad Beginnings Saintess.

"Little Uncle, what are you doing?" Jiang Yifei's younger sister, Jiang Caixuan, who happened to be standing nearby, stepped forward and stopped her roguish clan uncle, chiding him.

"I'm trying to find you a little aunt," Jiang Huairen mumbled softly.

Jiang Caixuan was beautiful and lively. At this moment, she couldn't help but roll her eyes and glare at her little uncle.

"Blast it!" A group of people glared angrily, especially the disciples of Myriad Beginnings, whose Saint Son had been slain by Ye Fan, leaving them seething with suppressed anger.

"Fairy Zixia, have you heard of the Innate Saint Body Dao Embryo?" On the other side, Liu Kou seriously asked the Purple Mansion Saintess and very earnestly offered a toast.

Pfft!

Many people, upon hearing this, directly spat out the wine in their mouths. This was too direct. All the disciples of Purple Mansion stood up.

Ye Fan walked over, not deliberately releasing his aura, yet an invisible pressure emanated, making everyone's heart tremble, and they all silently retreated. Now that his Saint Body was newly formed, he already possessed the power to intimidate his peers. Apart from a handful of individuals, no one in the younger generation of the Eastern Wasteland could contend with him.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted not far away, and many people ran towards the entrance of the Heavenly Palace.

All the Saint Sons and Saintesses quickly rushed there. People knew that a highly significant event was being discussed inside the Heavenly Palace. They were not qualified to enter, but they could listen from the hall entrance.

Ye Fan and the monkey could enter. They flew over, not wanting to miss it.

"I saw the remains of many peerless masters in the Bronze Hall..." Nangong Zheng began to recount his experience.

He and many living fossils nearing the end of their lifespan and about to pass away entered the Bronze Immortal Palace. It was truly a near-death experience; everyone except him died inside.

What Nangong Zheng described was almost identical to Ye Fan's experience, but they relied on absolute strength, carving out a path to break through. This was unlike Ye Fan, who at that time used the power of the green copper block to proceed with surprise but no danger.

Nangong Zheng and his group virtually bled with every step. Inside, a chaotic sword energy appeared, nearly wiping out half of them, and the Gate of Yin-Yang Life and Death devoured a large number of old experts.

"The immortal character was blood-soaked," Nangong Zheng said. "It was carved before the Desolate Ancient era and hasn't dried up even now, exuding a killing aura from eternity!"

Nangong Zheng spoke in a low voice, slowly narrating. A group of living fossils joined forces, going even further than Ye Fan's group, actually entering the realm within the Mysterious Gate.

"That kind of blood was extremely terrifying," Nangong Zheng recounted. "Two living fossil-level seniors went up, wanting to collect some for research, but as soon as they touched it, they turned to ashes." The terrifying experience still made him frown slightly, as if he still harbored lingering fear.

Ye Fan was startled, secretly glad he hadn't touched that terrifying immortal blood back then; otherwise, he would have been unable to escape death.

"Was it truly the blood of an immortal?" inquired the female palace master of the Arctic Ice Divine Palace.

"Some seniors speculated that it was the blood of an ancient Great Emperor, capable of slaying all living beings in the world."

"What?" Everyone cried out in alarm. The ancient Great Emperors were too sensitive a topic; anything about them could stir up monstrous waves.

"An ancient Great Emperor would die in there?" Everyone found it hard to believe. Those few were famous throughout eternity, known to all. Which one could have died inside?

The people present were all overlords, masters of this land, experienced and well-informed, yet at this moment, they were still aghast.

"Those living fossil-level figures all came from major sacred lands," Nangong Zheng stated. "You should all know, their words should be credible, right?"

The overlords present naturally knew that those people were individuals from various sacred lands who were about to pass away. Some were their elder brothers who were old and depleted of blood, and some were even their junior uncle-level figures.

"Did the Bronze Immortal Palace exist during the Primordial Era?" Ye Fan transmitted his voice, secretly asking the Battle Saint Ape.

The monkey frowned and said, "I seem to have heard my old father mention it, but I was too young then, and my memory is vague. I don't know the specifics."

Ye Fan's heart trembled. This Bronze Immortal Palace was indeed ancient enough to be traced back to the Primordial Era.

Nangong Zheng and his group heard several ancient scriptures there and were truly captivated. After entering the Mysterious Gate's realm, they were almost entirely wiped out; a certain aura almost turned them all into dust.

"Just an aura nearly tore you apart?" Everyone present was dumbfounded, almost unable to believe it.

They knew what kind of people had gone in: all top masters standing at the pinnacle, hoping to find an opportunity to break through and extend their lives, and walk further on the path of immortal cultivation.

"What kind of existence was that, exactly?" Everyone could barely imagine it.

"That was the aura of the Ruthless Great Emperor!" As soon as Nangong Zheng spoke these words, everyone was shocked and stood up.

"What? That's impossible!"

"Is he still alive?"

"He is arguably one of the longest-living Great Emperors; at least over two hundred thousand years have passed since his time!"

Everyone was stunned, their faces filled with horror.

This ancient Great Emperor was different from others. He was an enemy to the entire world, slaying all across the mortal realm, and alone resisted all the masters under heaven!

His growth process was too arduous, a near-death struggle, yet also too terrifying. It was a blood-soaked path, almost a dominion established by one person.

"I didn't say he was still alive," Nangong Zheng said, shaking his head.

"What exactly did you see? How could you still sense his aura?"

"What did he leave behind? How did it nearly wipe you all out?"

Everyone was extremely agitated, eager to know the answers. These revelations were too astonishing; everyone's heart was filled with tumultuous waves.

"We saw the fragmented remains of the Ruthless Great Emperor..." Nangong Zheng slowly recounted.

After they entered, they saw fresh red blood, identical to the blood of the immortal character. It was a mystical realm.

In addition, there were some fragmented remains, not many, of course. It was the aura emanating from them that turned some elder figures into dust as soon as they approached.

"The Ruthless Great Emperor was dismembered? How is that possible!"

"Absolutely impossible! Who could harm him? Back then, he nearly annihilated all ancient lineages under heaven. Who could possibly overpower him?"

"Absolutely impossible! Even if he encountered a Great Emperor from a later era, or a Primordial Emperor, he would not have been defeated and perished!"

Almost everyone was stunned, completely unwilling to believe this news. The Ruthless Great Emperor stood supreme throughout eternity; there could absolutely be no enemy capable of mercilessly dismembering him.

"It was indeed the Ruthless Great Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, all looking towards Nangong Zheng.