Chapter 650: This Period's Protagonists in Heaven and Earth

Chapter 654: The Protagonist of This Era Between Heaven and Earth

Qinling, located in the western part of the Central Plains, is vast and boundless, spanning over a million li, covered everywhere with mountains and ancient ridges.

Under the night moon, the land was silvery white. Ancient trees and mountain peaks were shrouded in a thin mist, with moonlight swirling around them. Old corpses were often seen absorbing the moon's essence.

From time to time, ancient war chariots would emerge from the old mountains, flying through the night sky with a rumbling sound. Some were the chariots of emperors, while others were the mounts of powerful beings. Unfortunately, all of these belonged to ancient corpses, buried there in their former lives. Now, they had become formidable and traveled at night, making them eerie and mysterious.

On a chilly moonlit night, Ye Fan walked alone through Tailin. Before his long journey, he took one last look at the mountains, avoiding seven or eight ancient corpses comparable to Holy Lords.

"The Diseased Elder has indeed left. Did he get what he wanted?"

The Taishan Gate was still there, but some people were missing: the Diseased Elder, Princess Yueling, the refined scholar, Hua Yunfei, and Li Xiaoman were all gone.

During the great battle at Tailin, a supreme being comparable to an ancient sage took action. At the last moment, Ye Fan even sensed a ripple of their divine consciousness, which felt somewhat familiar.

"Was it really the Diseased Elder? What is his true identity? To be able to seize an ultimate emperor's weapon is simply horrifying!"

In this era, there was one living saint in the Eastern Wasteland, the Old Madman, and another on Mount Sumeru in the Western Desert, the Victorious Fighting Buddha. Their magical power was boundless; a single strand of falling hair could kill a Half-Step Great Power, and a drop of vital blood expelled from their body could slay a Holy Lord. These were unimaginable beings, unrivalled in the present age. No one could compare to them; even immortal inheritances possessing ultimate emperor's weapons dared not provoke them.

"Was he truly that person?" Ye Fan recalled what the Diseased Elder had told him when they walked together in Tailin, recounting many events from eight or nine millennia ago. "A peerless genius of a bygone era, an invincible existence, actually lived until now? Then his true age is likely over nine thousand years old, which is terrifying!"

Ye Fan wanted to meet the Diseased Elder and give him an immortal holy fruit, but he couldn't find him; the sickly old man had already departed. "His lifespan is nearing its end. It would be such a pity if he passed away like this, without me being able to offer him an immortal divine medicine!"

The Taishan Gate remained, its main peak only a few hundred meters high, unremarkable and unassuming, yet it was guarded by peerless masters, including many kings who had been enlightened by divine cultivation. This was a profound and unfathomable place. Ye Fan had obtained the "Soldier" character secret art, so there was no need for him to stay. This return visit was just a final look; he would leave completely and not return.

"A new journey begins. I will cultivate from this point, setting sail across the vast sea, reaching the Immortal Stage!"

Ye Fan left the western part of Central Plains and traveled east, not entering seclusion. He had just broken through to a new realm and needed tempering and consolidation. While seclusion was important, tempering the heart in the mortal world was also essential. Now, at this stage, everything required understanding. Sometimes, sitting in meditation in the mountains for a hundred years might not yield as much as a single journey through the bustling mortal world.

Like an ascetic, Ye Fan traveled east, experiencing the myriad forms of life. On his path of cultivation through the mortal world, he would observe the mountains and terrain at every stop. After half a year, he finally stabilized his cultivation at the Ninth Transformation of the Dragon, walking on foot, passing through region after region, witnessing the flourishing and power of the Hundred Schools of Thought in the Central Plains.

Many people in the Central Plains were searching for Ye Fan. Apart from the Myriad Things Cauldron of Mother Qi on his person, just the two pieces of green copper he possessed made people restless, but no one could find him.

"Ye Fan, get out here! My elder brother can kill a hundred of you with just one hand!"

After half a year of peace, an arrogant voice echoed across the land. Wang Chong, who was not dead, shouted these words. The Northern Emperor's younger brother was not dead. After half a year of recovery, he became even more arrogant than before, shouting in the Central Plains that he would kill the Sacred Body and reduce him to ashes.

In the battle of Tailin, Ye Fan became famous throughout the Central Plains, sweeping aside heroes with the Nine Li Map. He made many powerful experts change their expressions, even severely wounding Wang Teng, breaking his bones and tendons, forcing him to flee in his golden ancient war chariot. However, in this battle, the Northern Emperor also shocked the world, because the power he displayed was cultivated by himself, not relying on an emperor's weapon, and he could contend with Holy Lords. A young man in his twenties, displaying such earth-shattering power at this age, his future achievements were limitless. The theory of the Ancient Emperor's reincarnation became even more popular than before. Many believed that within a few years, he would break through his realm again, surpass Holy Lords, and become an invincible king!

In the battle of Tailin, although Ye Fan stole the spotlight and even wounded the Northern Emperor, forcing him to retreat, this did not affect Wang Teng's prestige at all, because facing an ultimate emperor's weapon, everyone had to retreat. In the fierce battle that day, no one knew how many Great Powers had died. For him to withdraw completely unharmed and survive was already a miracle.

"Ye Fan, get out here! My elder brother can crush you with one finger!" Wang Chong clamored. The Northern Emperor absolutely possessed world-defying strength and could fight all opponents. Wang Chong was so arrogant and overbearing, wanting to provoke Ye Fan into appearing so he could be killed, otherwise, he would be difficult to find.

Over the past half year or more, everything about Wang Teng was gradually revealed. He belonged to a super ancient aristocratic family in Beiyuan, equivalent to the Immortal Dynasties of the Central Plains or the Ancient Desolate Families of the Eastern Wasteland. When he was less than two years old, he was once carried away by a celestial crane, disappearing into the clouds for one or two months at a time, each time undergoing a transformative change. The first time, his clansmen were worried, but after that, they allowed the celestial crane to take him. This continued until he was twelve years old, during which time he received the inheritance of Emperor Luangu!

At five, he danced with a Flood Dragon in a deep pool. At seven, he entered the Ancient God Lake of the Northern Region alone and obtained a golden ancient war chariot. At nine, he entered the Ancient Emperor Mountain and brought out a Luangu divine talisman and a Celestial Emperor's Holy Sword. At twelve, he fell into the Divine Phoenix Cave and obtained Immortal Divine Phoenix blood... All of this was like a dream, yet it truly happened to Wang Teng, making his legendary experiences no less remarkable than those of ancient great emperors. When people learned all this, they were all dumbfounded. Such incredible things could only be obtained by those with immense fortune in the world. He was definitely the protagonist of an era in the history of humanity.

"If he doesn't become an emperor, it would be a disservice to his experiences. Even if major unforeseen events occur, at the very least, he will be an existence comparable to an ancient sage!" This was the thought in everyone's mind. Wang Teng's experiences left people stunned; he was undoubtedly a Son of Heaven, deeply favored by providence! Over the past half year or more, many super-powerful factions sought to establish marriage alliances with the Wang family of Beiyuan. The families of three of the ten most beautiful women in Central Plains had even contacted the Northern Emperor. A generation's eccentric, the Divine Diviner, once prophesied that, barring any accidents, the Northern Emperor might truly become a veritable Great Emperor in the future, not just a title!

"Ye Fan, are you afraid of death? My elder brother only needs one finger to fight you. Do you dare to come out?!" For half a month, Wang Chong's arrogance grew with each passing day.

Ye Fan remained calm, still unhurriedly traveling east. He quietly comprehended things in the mortal world, like an ascetic monk, barefoot and clad in coarse cloth. "The power of the mind is truly formidable. To cast aside honor and disgrace, to solely cultivate one's mental focus, disregarding everything external, actually yields such strength." This was his realization.

Ye Fan was already a cultivator at the Ninth Transformation of the Dragon. His great spinal dragon was about to form, nearing the state of Grand Completion. He raised his head, gazing towards the Immortal Stage. The so-called Immortal Stage referred to the head, with its central divine earth being the very center of the mind. This was the origin of the final secret realm! "My divine consciousness has always been strong. Cultivating this secret realm should be very helpful."

The Central Plains were vast and boundless. Although Ye Fan had traveled for more than half a year, heading east, he was still in the western region, far from approaching the central part. Normally, it would take him at least several years of flying to leave the Western Region. Finally, he began to cross the void and arrived at the central region, where the Immortal Vein of the Qishi Mansion was located.

Ye Fan was no stranger to this place; he had stayed here for a long time, and it became even more familiar after seeing an ancient city. Xiba City, long-standing, was one of the ten great ancient cities of the Central Plains, located over five thousand li from Qishi Mansion. The city was majestic, grand, and elegant, with walls cast like black iron, resembling a black steel Great Wall. Inside, the layout was grand and prosperous, teeming with people from the Hundred Schools of Thought and all walks of life, with an unending flow of traffic. On that day, Ye Fan had successfully bid for dragon marrow here and also killed Jin Chixiao of the Golden Family from Beiyuan outside the city, causing quite a stir.

"Xiba City, I'm back!"

Some talents from Qishi Mansion often visited this ancient city to bid for various rare treasures and divine weapons, or to acquire the world's rare enlightenment dragon marrow at exorbitant prices. The ancient city remained prosperous and grand. As Ye Fan walked through the streets, he soon heard Wang Chong's clamoring, of course, being discussed by other people.

"The Sacred Body is nothing much; compared to my elder brother, he's nothing. As long as he dares to appear, I'll stomp him to death!"

Everyone was talking. Wang Chong's tone had grown increasingly harsh, dismissing Ye Fan as utterly worthless, almost cursing him to his face. "This little monster is going too far. Such clamoring is overly high-profile." "He's young, but his heart is vicious. He's determined to disturb the Sacred Body's mind and prevent him from finding peace." "I think many people see that if the Sacred Body fully develops, he will definitely be a great enemy to the Northern Emperor's path to enlightenment. Wang Chong is concerned for his brother." "At such a young age, he's already starting to clear the path and eliminate enemies for his brother?"

Ye Fan had nothing to be angry about. Having experienced too much, he simply didn't care about insults, smiling faintly. However, he also had no intention of ignoring it; when it was time to act, he would act!

"Wang Chong has come to Xiba City..." He heard this news and smiled, feeling it was time to deter him.

No one expected Ye Fan to suddenly arrive at Xiba City. He did not conceal his whereabouts, entering the city in his true form, and a loud shout reverberated throughout the entire city.

"Wang Teng, come out and face your death!"

This thunderous roar made the entire ancient city tremble. Many figures instantly appeared on the black city walls, and many people flew into the sky.

"The Sacred Body has appeared again! He really dares to come!" "This time, he's here to kill the Northern Emperor. Does he really think he can kill him by being so blatant?"

Ye Fan stood outside the city, clad in battle armor, golden divine light soaring from his body. His vital energy, like a great dragon, pierced through heaven and earth. Even from a distance, one could feel his immense pressure.

"Wang Teng, come out and face your death!"

He stood there like a god of war, with thick black hair dancing in the wind, his eyes clear and sharp, shining brightly, facing Xiba City, one of the ten great ancient cities of the Central Plains.

"You, surnamed Ye, you actually dare to show yourself!?" Wang Chong flew out of the ancient city, standing in the sky, his eyes filled with venom. Last time, he was almost beaten to death by Ye Fan.

"Call out your brother. Don't hide. I'll send both of you to the Immortal Realm to reunite with your ancestors," Ye Fan said calmly.

"Whoosh!"

Wang Chong descended, followed by a line of elders, including two ancient creatures whose scales shimmered with golden light, looking ferocious and fierce. In Xiba City, many people were startled and watched from a distance. Among them were disciples from Qishi Mansion, princesses from divine dynasties, and direct descendants of major sects.

"Where is your brother? Tell him to come out and fight," Ye Fan asked.

"Hmph, you think you can challenge my brother to a decisive battle? I've already prepared a net inescapable for you. You can't escape even with wings!" Wang Chong sneered.

"Where the hell has Wang Teng gone?" Ye Fan said impolitely.

"My elder brother has already gone to the Eastern Wasteland and has no time for you. I'll take care of you right here!" Wang Chong said sinisterly, extending a finger. "Today, I will crush you to death!"

Wang Teng's journey to the Eastern Wasteland likely involved entering the Myriad Dragon Nest, or the Purple Mountain where Emperor Wushi passed away. He might also have entered another ancient land to meet kings and princesses of a certain Primordial race. This was astonishing news Ye Fan had purchased on his journey from the Bai Xiaomen, Tianji Pavilion, and Hongchen Xuan. These three ancient sects were all among the Hundred Schools of Thought in the Central Plains. Their origins were ancient, traceable back to before the Desolate Era. They were the most well-informed, selling information at exorbitant prices, a thousand gold coins for a single word, and highly accurate. At the same time, there was also news that Wang Teng's trip to the Eastern Wasteland was very likely to propose marriage to an Ancient Desolate Family.