Chapter 598: West Dam

Why was it necessary to avoid that specific period? Could the Demon Emperor's demise, over a thousand years ago, still exert such a terrifying influence? The notion that later generations couldn't achieve enlightenment and become Emperors was simply too shocking to believe.

"It's a long-standing consensus, without exception, that two Great Emperors cannot emerge in the same era," Pang Bo stated.

Ye Fan was already aware of this rumor but still couldn't fully grasp its implications, as the Black Dog had not provided a detailed explanation at the time.

Ancient Great Emperors represented the pinnacle of human achievement, wielding the ultimate power in the world. They were embodiments of the Grand Dao, capable of plucking stars and capturing the moon—truly omnipotent. Even after a Great Emperor's passing, their influence lingered over the land for a considerably long time. Some speculated that it would take ten thousand years after a human Great Emperor's demise for the Grand Dao to fully return to tranquility.

The Azure Emperor was a legendary figure. In the post-Archaic era, when even Saints were rarely seen, he achieved enlightenment and became a Great Emperor, solidifying his place as one of the most powerful individuals in history. No one could definitively state his era or accurately estimate his lifespan. All that was known was that he had passed away in the Eastern Wasteland ten thousand years ago.

"Xiang Yufei had to avoid that specific period; otherwise, even with the potential of a Great Emperor, he would be unable to achieve enlightenment. Besides, he truly exhibited signs of a premature demise."

At nineteen, Xiang Yufei had become a preeminent figure in the Central Province, capable of rivaling several Imperial Lords and competing with the Eastern Wasteland's Sacred Lords. Such peerless heroes were rare throughout history. Tragically, he died at the age of twenty, a loss that caused widespread sorrow. His reappearance in the world nine thousand years later became an enigmatic mystery.

"He slept like a Primeval Creature, dreaming for nine thousand years, bidding farewell to his past life, and has only just awakened." The revival of such an exceptional individual was, nonetheless, a joyous occasion, adding another legend to the current era and simultaneously placing new pressure on many formidable experts.

"He possessed a constitution prone to premature death; even sealing his body with Divine Source Liquid merely kept him in a dying state. It took several King of Medicines to finally revive him and bring him back into the world." This was a hidden secret within the Qishi Mansion, which Pang Bo had stumbled upon by chance, and very few people were aware of it.

Ye Fan gasped. The Qishi Mansion's reserves were indeed astonishing. To still possess Divine Source Liquid in this era seemed almost mythical, like a tale from the Arabian Nights! Furthermore, to revive Xiang Yufei nine thousand years later, they had utilized several King of Medicines. These were ancient herbs, eighty to ninety thousand years old; a dozen of them combined could rival a single Immortal Medicine.

Ye Fan sighed softly. It appeared this individual was being treated as a potential Great Emperor, and in the future, he would very likely achieve enlightenment; otherwise, the resources expended would have been far too immense.

"This individual must possess unparalleled talent, unequaled throughout history. Nine thousand years ago, a supreme figure in the Western Desert, on the verge of becoming a Bodhisattva, bestowed upon him the Buddhist treasure, the Longevity Lock, to extend his life. This alone hints at his extraordinary nature." For "living fossil" figures, it was a priceless divine artifact, capable of extending one's lifespan. It was cast from purple-gold, meticulously refined by Buddhas, and imbued with boundless merit.

"For nine millennia, even Buddhism held him in high regard, and now he's been revived by the Qishi Mansion. Many believe he will be the central figure of this realm," Pang Bo remarked.

"It seems this world is changing again, just as the Black Emperor predicted," Ye Fan mused. "Besides the dissipation of the Demon Emperor's influence, it also appears to be evolving back to the state of the world before the Archaic Era."

"Precisely. If it weren't so, Xiang Yufei, a potential Great Emperor, couldn't have been revived at this juncture."

"Speaking of which, Wang Teng is truly formidable; he can contend with the Central Emperor. And he's a contemporary figure at that," Ye Fan added.

Both men sighed, musing that heroes separated by nine millennia, hailing from different timelines, would undoubtedly clash in spectacular fashion. They wondered, however, who else might join these impending confrontations. They deeply felt that their time in this world was still too brief. Compared to such peerless prodigies, their cultivation realms were significantly lacking, necessitating diligent and arduous training.

"That Wang Teng has tamed two powerful Primeval Creatures and sent them out. I suspect they're probably coming after you," Pang Bo warned.

"No matter. With the God-Beating Whip on me, they won't be able to track my whereabouts. I might even be able to set a trap for them," Ye Fan replied.

Ye Fan produced three bottles of Dragon Marrow. Each bottle contained over a dozen large, grape-sized drops of golden liquid. They remained separate, each distinct and translucent, emitting a rich fragrance.

"Take two bottles. After all, using Dragon Marrow to supplement your cultivation in the Dragon Transformation realm will yield twice the results with half the effort. It contains fragments of the Grand Dao and can nourish the 'great dragon' within the human body."

"I possess the Demon Emperor's Ancient Scripture, which includes the Dragon Transformation divine art; I don't need these," Pang Bo demurred.

"Why are we being so formal between us? Just take them; they'll definitely be of great use," Ye Fan insisted, pushing two of the bottles into Pang Bo's arms.

"Their golden hue and large size indicate they're top-grade Dragon Marrow. One bottle would be more than enough; you don't need so many," Pang Bo argued, hoping to reserve the rest for Ye Fan's own cultivation.

"Don't worry," Ye Fan reassured him. "While it's commonly said that Dragon Marrow is rarely seen for hundreds or thousands of years, it can certainly be acquired. The Central Province is abundant in dragon veins, which are all ancestral roots. Major sects establish their cities as pure lands to nurture dragon qi. I refuse to believe Dragon Marrow is truly unavailable."

"I have heard that Dragon Marrow can indeed be found, but it typically costs millions of jin of source," Pang Bo revealed. "It's only available at super auctions and requires Divine Source for transactions."

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan immediately smiled. "In that case, there's no need to worry too much," he said. "At the Peach Feast, I won five million jin of source from the ancient source-master family and converted it into Divine Source. I should be able to acquire enough Dragon Marrow for us both to cultivate in the Dragon Transformation realm."

"The Central Province truly is a divine land, possessing such heaven-defying substances as Dragon Marrow, which contains fragments of the Grand Dao. Not only can it extend one's lifespan, but it can also aid in achieving enlightenment. Legend claims that the most supreme Dream God Marrow can rival an Immortal Medicine, and is even said to have taken on living forms, making them impossible to capture."

Ye Fan chuckled, "My Source Art will likely prove useful again. Once I thoroughly understand the various secrets of the dragon veins, I'll personally seek out the ancestral roots to obtain Dragon Marrow."

"Don't go searching for Dragon Marrow!" Pang Bo vehemently objected. "This substance is said to be quite malevolent. Strange occurrences often happen when one enters the underground ancestral roots, and even Sacred Lord-level figures have inexplicably perished there."

Ye Fan was surprised, feeling it was imperative to investigate further. Such divine treasures, nurtured by heaven and earth, likely had accompanying entities or had even given birth to something.

"You should remain in the Qishi Mansion and make sure to uncover that ancient path leading to the outer domains," Ye Fan instructed.

Pang Bo nodded. "I know," he replied. "I entered the Qishi Mansion precisely for that ancient path. Of course, the insights of the ancient sages found on those beautiful peaks are also incredibly important."

Finally, the two parted ways, having agreed upon the location and time for their next meeting.

Xiba City had existed for an immense period. Through countless wars, dynastic upheavals, the relentless march of time, and profound geographical changes, it had steadfastly endured, never shifting its foundational site. Naturally, no one knew how many times it had been rebuilt or fortified throughout its history; it was simply too ancient, counted among the ten ancient cities recorded in the human race's historical texts of the Central Province.

Located over five thousand li from the Qishi Mansion, it wasn't considered particularly far. For the talented individuals from the Five Domains, Xiba City was typically their first choice after leaving the Qishi Mansion, should they have any needs. As one of the Central Province's ten ancient cities, its layout was quite exceptional. The nurtured dragon qi permeated the entire city, attracting numerous reclusive rogue cultivators.

The city had no single lord and belonged to no major power, making it remarkably free. A large number of cultivators frequented the area, contributing to its immense prosperity. Whenever a major auction was held, many Sacred Lord-level figures would arrive, drawn by its reputation. People from all walks of life, of every stripe, could be found there.

Carrying the God-Beating Whip, Ye Fan arrived in Xiba City, intent on cultivating there and strengthening himself. The city was towering, grand, and majestic, its walls cast like black iron, resembling a vast, dark steel rampart. Inside, the city's layout was expansive and bustling, teeming with scholars of various schools and people from all walks of life, with a constant flow of carriages and people.

Ye Fan settled down in the city, cultivating while simultaneously keeping a close watch on the Sacred Lord-level auctions, hoping to acquire the rare and precious Dragon Marrow. Disciples from the Qishi Mansion were a common sight here; as long as the mansion wasn't under lockdown, they could travel freely, often coming to exchange magical artifacts and elixirs.

Within Xiba City, it was common to find people discussing the younger generation of the Five Domains, debating who was the foremost talent in the world. Aside from the Central Emperor and Wang Teng, people often spoke of the Southern Demon and the mysterious powerhouse from Mount Sumeru, yet they selectively overlooked the Eastern Wasteland. This was because that grand domain was exceptionally complex and mysterious, making it difficult to ascertain who was weaker or stronger.

In the Eastern Wasteland, where many heroes emerged simultaneously, no one could pinpoint the domain's top expert. The Yaoguang Saint Son was exceptionally low-key, never engaging in life-or-death battles. Only the Golden-Winged Little Peng King had personally experienced his might, yet he remained tight-lipped, refusing to utter a single word about it. Currently, one couldn't even ask the Golden-Winged Little Peng King to recount that battle, as he was suppressed by the Old Peng King. He would not be allowed to emerge into the world until he had successfully passed the trials set by the ancient Sky Peng Saint.

Furthermore, some speculated that the Yaochi Saintess was incredibly powerful, while others claimed that the Ji family's Divine King Body was invincible, having never suffered a single defeat, and was therefore the Eastern Wasteland's top expert. Still others asserted that all these individuals were insignificant. They claimed that once the Zifu Saintess became a Sacred Lord, she would be unrivaled, as she possessed the Innate Dao Embryo, making her invincible in this world. Yet others declared that the true paramount figure was Yan Ruyu; with the emergence of her Supreme Saint Weapon, both Wang Teng and the Central Emperor would suffer bitter defeat and willingly concede.

Naturally, Hua Yunfei was once again brought up. He had been missing for almost three years, but no one had forgotten that he cultivated the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art. Once he unleashed his full capabilities, no one could impede his progress, which would advance by leaps and bounds. Some made almost alarmist predictions that within ten years, he would wreak havoc in the Eastern Wasteland, and within a hundred years, he would rampage across all Five Domains.

Of course, many mentioned Ye Fan, believing that if he survived and continued to grow step by step, his achievements would be immeasurable, given that he was the only Sacred Body to break the curse in the post-Archaic era. Most remarkably, Duan De, the grave robber already in his thirties, was also discussed. He was referred to as the "Virtue-Lacking Daoist," an eccentric whose true depths remained unfathomable.

Furthermore, Xia Jiuyou was singled out. At the age of thirteen, she broke through the Four Extremities and entered the Dragon Transformation realm, marking her as a rare genius throughout history. Unlike Wang Chong, who stumbled into a dragon's lair and gained an unparalleled fortuitous encounter by drinking dragon blood and divine marrow, she achieved her cultivation step by step through her own diligent efforts.

Ultimately, people realized that the Eastern Wasteland simply had too many exceptional figures to definitively name a single top expert. Most of these individuals had yet to reveal their true power, preferring to maintain a low profile. Even after entering the Qishi Mansion, the situation remained unchanged. No one from the Eastern Wasteland was openly labeled a "prodigy," and none had aggressively sought attention or made significant public displays. However, people had heard that the Yaoguang Saint Son underwent heavenly tribulation every time he advanced. How could such a person not be considered a prodigy? From this, it could be inferred that the other prominent figures were by no means simple, possessing immense potential for growth.

Outside Xiba City, two towering figures stood in the void. One was covered in dense golden scales and possessed a pair of divine wings. The other shimmered with silver light, distinguished by four arms and an additional vertical eye.

"He has vanished, completely concealing his aura. Even the top disciples of the Divine Diviner can no longer deduce his whereabouts, and the Yin-Yang Sect's members cannot find him either," one figure remarked.

"He is most likely still in this region. We cannot return to report our failure without taking his head," the other replied.

The two Primeval Creatures conversed in hushed tones, their eyes flickering like flames, their powerful auras astonishingly formidable. Meanwhile, as these two Primeval Creatures plotted to kill Ye Fan, he, holding the Immortal Tear Green Gold Book, pondered whether he could capture an ancient creature to translate the small characters inscribed on it, which were written in divine script from before the archaic era.