Chapter 681: Opening the Coffin and Strange Movements

The Ji family, an enduring and immortal lineage, was personally founded by a Human Emperor. Since then, it has thrived immensely, and no one dares to provoke it.

Now, however, the sound of a bell caused their entire clan to tremble. The mere name "Wu Shi Bell," which reverberates through the ancient history of humanity, brought with it immense pressure.

People were baffled. Wasn't the Wu Shi Bell supposed to be in Guhuang Mountain? How could it be ringing in the Southern Domain? This was truly earth-shattering, and everyone present turned pale.

"Before chaos divided heaven and earth, vast and indistinct, unseen by all; since Wu Shi shattered the primordial, the distinction between clear and turbid began." Outside the Ji family's gates, an aged voice chanted a verse, seemingly drawing closer from a distance.

Simultaneously, the Wu Shi Bell rang out loudly once more. Its sound was deafening, akin to a heavenly melody of the Great Dao, awe-inspiring and soul-stirring, sweeping across the entire sky.

People were astonished. Had a reclusive master appeared? How dared he speak with such audacity? What was his background, and was he deliberately targeting the Ji family?

"I am the last successor of Emperor Wu Shi; I have heard that a Sacred Body exists in this era. I have come specifically to meet him." The aged voice was immense, resonating like a grand bell.

Many shuddered in fear. The last successor of Emperor Wu Shi? This identity was astonishingly significant. How could the Wu Shi Scripture have been passed down? Was this true or false? Everyone was utterly stunned!

"Oceans turn to dust over tens of thousands of autumns, the Dao transforms into white hair, bringing the sorrow of longevity. A single dream spans thousands of years; where does one wander on the rugged path to immortality?" Another spiritual verse echoed from outside the Ji family's mountain gate.

Everyone was astonished; this indeed seemed like an extraordinary master. Otherwise, how could he possess such profound artistic conception and spiritual depth? Many were filled with immense surprise and admiration.

"The newcomer understands Emperor-level array patterns; otherwise, it would be impossible to breach our Ji clan's ancient formation using sound waves," the Ji Family's Holy Lord stated gravely.

Hearing this, people became even more perplexed and suspicious. They were almost certain that this was a reclusive master who had inherited the legacy of Emperor Wu Shi.

"Let's go out and see," an ancient "living fossil" member of the Ji family suggested.

Outside the palace, clouds and mist swirled, reaching knee-high. This was a floating divine island, abundantly planted with rare herbs and spiritual ganoderma, where numerous spiritual birds soared. It truly resembled a land of immortals.

Everyone flew out, eager to meet this reclusive master, and a large crowd gathered outside the mountain gate.

In the distance, various bell-shaped inscriptions flickered on the ground, where a vast ancient array blocked the Ji family's mountain gate. This surprised many, as it clearly signaled an unfriendly arrival.

"May I inquire which esteemed senior has graced us with their presence? And why have you blocked the Ji family's exit?" an elder of the Ji family asked.

"I am no esteemed master. I merely heard that someone was troubling the Sacred Body, so I came for a visit," the aged voice replied. Simultaneously, a profound bell sound, vibrating through the ages, emanated from the dazzling divine array ahead.

The area was ablaze with light, impenetrable to the gaze. A "living fossil" from the Ji family frowned, instantly recognizing it as a fragment of an Emperor-level array pattern, unfathomably profound.

Everyone else was astonished. It seemed the newcomer was intervening on behalf of Ye Fan, willing to resort to conflict and offend an ancient aristocratic family!

"Such an esteemed master is actually standing up for Ye Fan!"

"A reclusive powerhouse has actually come for the Sacred Body!"

Many felt a pang in their hearts, secretly relieved they had not moved against Ye Fan.

"Is the Sacred Body here? I wish to accept him as my disciple and transmit the Wu Shi Scripture. After this, I shall embark on a distant sea journey to prove my Dao," the aged voice declared calmly.

Emperor Wu Shi's legacy?! Many gasped in disbelief. What an immense immortal fortune! To bestow it upon the Sacred Body made many others desire to kill him and seize it for themselves.

"Senior, we have not troubled the Sacred Body; he is right here," an elderly cultivator from the Ji family stated.

At this moment, however, the Ji family's Holy Lord frowned, sensing something was amiss and realizing a discrepancy.

Ye Fan emerged, bearing the bronze coffin on his back. He vaguely suspected something was afoot and activated his divine eyes, peering forward to discern the truth.

"Big brother, he's alright," a faint, tender voice suddenly drifted over.

"Shhh. Quiet! I've activated the divine array; it can amplify sounds infinitely." Another sly voice spoke, completely devoid of the dignity of an enlightened master, and no longer sounding aged.

Damn it, everyone realized there was something fishy. This was a fraudulent reclusive master.

The Ji family members' expressions changed drastically. The Ji family's Holy Lord, who had already been suspicious, immediately activated his divine power, summoning the Void Ancient Mirror's energy to illuminate the area below.

"Boom!"

A pure radiance descended from the ancient mirror, capable of revealing the true forms of all beings and objects. It was far more potent than any demon-revealing mirror, able to penetrate to the very origin and discern reality from illusion.

All the dazzling divine light ahead vanished, revealing everything within clearly: a large black dog standing upright, carrying a two or three-year-old girl on its back, playing tricks and impersonating a divine being.

This large dog was exceptionally robust, comparable to a bull, and was wearing large, flowered shorts, truly a sight to behold – half human, half dog.

The little girl was exquisitely delicate, like a jade carving, with long eyelashes and large, blinking eyes, as refined as a small porcelain doll. She was both adorable and well-behaved.

"Damn it, it's that legendary scoundrel dog, the one who nearly ambushed Wang Teng in the Northern Domain!"

"It's that utterly shameless and infuriating dog that goes around boasting about taking humans as pets!"

Many immediately recognized the black dog, having previously seen it in Ye Fan's company. They instantly understood what was happening.

"Damn it, this dog deserves a beating! It's been swindling and deceiving, and now it's even trying to pull one over on the Ji family!"

The Black Dog, carrying little Niannian on its back, had come to rescue Ye Fan. It mistakenly thought it was too late and feared Ye Fan was in danger, which prompted this elaborate charade.

"Holy Lord of the Ji family, please forgive this," Ye Fan said.

Some members of the Ji family looked displeased but refrained from reacting openly. Many stared intently at the Black Dog, then at the divine array, which was indeed a genuine fragment of an Emperor-level pattern!

Many events had recently transpired, and the Ji clan wished to avoid further commotion, so they did not press the matter. Many people, still puzzled by the source of the "Wu Shi Bell" sound, watched as the Black Dog produced a piece of jade. It immediately emitted a profound bell wave, which, amplified by the divine array, became infinitely louder.

This was indeed the bell sound from Purple Mountain, which the dog had imprinted into a divine stone, making it incredibly lifelike and even deceiving the Ji family's Holy Lord.

"Big brother, Niannian missed you," the little girl said, her large eyes red. She ran over, extending her small hands. They hadn't seen each other for almost three years, yet she hadn't changed at all, showing no signs of growing older.

Ye Fan smiled and gently pinched her nose. He dotingly stroked her head, then lifted her onto his shoulder. The little girl was very well-behaved and remarkably endearing.

"Kid, it's been three years. Was it easy for me, raising this child for you?" the Black Dog grinned, showing its teeth. "What heavenly treasures have you prepared for me? Just a barrel of dragon marrow, and a few cubic meters of divine source will do."

Pang Bo, who had been holding his breath for years, strode forward and demanded, "You wretched dog, do you still remember me?"

"Who are you? I don't know you!" the Black Dog retorted, feigning ignorance.

"Damn it, I'll kick you to death! You made some shoddy array pattern that was off by an entire major domain, teleporting me to the Central Plains! I'm going to record your misery for eternity!"

"You wretched dog, bring Tu Fei back!" Li Heishui and Wu Zhongtian were also enraged upon seeing the Black Dog.

"Why does this coffin look a bit familiar? It seems like one I lost," the Black Dog quickly changed the subject, its large, bell-like eyes fixed on the ancient coffin.

Ye Fan did not linger long at the Ji family residence. After bidding farewell to Elder Chi Long and the others who had come to assist, he, along with Pang Bo, Li Heishui, the Black Dog, and Ji Ziyue, immediately departed.

A thousand li from the Ji family, in a primeval mountain range, they set down the bronze coffin. At the Black Dog's persistent insistence, they prepared to open it and see what lay within.

"You wretched dog, do you really have a plan for this?" Ye Fan asked skeptically.

"I have a certain degree of confidence!" the Black Dog declared, swearing confidently as if everything were under control. It then added, "This place is quite close to the Ji family. If any unexpected situation arises, they can use the Void Mirror to suppress it, so there's no need to worry too much."

"Can you actually do this?" Pang Bo asked, deeply scarred by his previous teleportation to the Central Plains by this wretched dog, finding it utterly unreliable.

"You can rest assured when I handle things!" the Black Dog asserted.

"Rest assured, my foot," Pang Bo retorted, wanting to bite the dog. He promptly slapped it.

"Bad dog, don't act recklessly. If this bronze coffin truly poses a great danger, even our family's ancient mirror might not be able to subdue it," Ji Ziyue warned, wrinkling her delicate nose.

"Doggy, please be very careful," little Niannian said, her voice soft and tender, earnestly cautioning him.

"Let's open it and take a look; I also want to know what's inside," the Monkey said. He had also followed them, his heart having been restless ever since he saw the Old Holy Emperor's corpse with his Heavenly Eye.

This mountain range was unusually quiet. The moment the bronze coffin was set down, nearly all birds and beasts fled, not a single one daring to remain.

The Black Emperor meticulously inscribed complex array patterns, aligning them with the myriad stars. Ye Fan, observing the terrain, also made some strategic arrangements to prevent any unforeseen incidents.

Two hours later, they retreated to a safe distance. Ye Fan used the "Soldier" secret art to push, and a metallic clang echoed, causing the entire mountain range to tremble.

The coffin lid slowly lifted. The onlookers retreated an unknown number of miles, observing from the distant sky.

"Clang!"

As Ye Fan pushed the coffin lid almost entirely open, he found he could no longer withstand the pressure. Even with the fragment of the Emperor-level array pattern inscribed by the Black Emperor providing suppression, he remained overwhelmed.

Furthermore, although he had wrapped himself in immortal treasures from the Chaos Dragon Nest and was protected by the Mother Qi of All Things, his body still cracked all over, and his physique nearly shattered.

With a final push, he retreated like a streaking meteor, moving far away from the coffin. In this process, eighteen layers of the Heaven Source Divine Arrays he had inscribed for protection were utterly pulverized!

A muffled sound echoed, and at the distant horizon, people saw vast, misty, shimmering light surging from within the ancient coffin.

"Quick, activate that fragment of the Emperor's ancient array!" the Monkey urged.

The Black Emperor acted. The divine patterns inscribed on the earth fully revived, flashing with blinding brilliance. They began to bind the ancient coffin at the center, attempting to stabilize it for a closer look.

To their astonishment, however, all efforts were in vain. The bronze coffin absorbed everything, refining the entire ancient array into vital energy and devouring it.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, this primeval mountain range was pulverized. Every inch of space turned to fine dust, fragmenting into countless pieces, as boundless chaos erupted from within.

"This is bad!" Ye Fan cried out, quickly gathering everyone into his cauldron. Then, using the Profound Jade Platform that the Black Emperor had prepared in advance, he traversed the void, swiftly departing from the area.

Silently, an area spanning a thousand li collapsed. Not only were mountains annihilated, but not even dust remained; a massive abyss appeared in its place, everything having been utterly evaporated.

At the nearby Ji family, everyone was struck with terror. They swiftly activated the Void Ancient Mirror for protection, and then ascended into the sky to gaze at the distant events.

The bronze coffin swept through, destroying everything in its path. With a loud clang, it closed itself, then shot skyward and flew south.

"It's that bronze coffin!"

On that day, many across the Southern Domain witnessed the bronze coffin soaring through the sky and flying away on its own. Some attempted to obstruct it, but they were instantly reduced to dust.

Ye Fan and the others pursued closely. The Black Dog's head was nearly scraping the ground as Pang Bo, Li Heishui, and the others took turns lambasting it for being utterly unreliable.

Throughout the Southern Domain, numerous major powers were alerted. The Ji family, among others, joined the pursuit to discover what was happening.

Naturally, Ye Fan and his group led the pursuit, heading south and swiftly approaching the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land. The bronze coffin flew directly into it.

Everyone halted. No one dared to enter; it was a certain death zone, a perilous land that had, since ancient times, claimed the lives of countless supreme masters.

The bronze coffin flew back into the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land on its own. This was both unexpected and, in hindsight, logical. Ye Fan and the others all ascended into the sky, gazing intently into its depths.

Among them, the Monkey, with his Fiery Golden Eyes and innate Heavenly Eye, could clearly discern the nine sacred mountains. Ye Fan, also possessing divine eyes, could make out the general scene as he gazed intently.

"Clang!"

A colossal clang resounded throughout the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land, shattering millions of years of silence. The smaller coffin plunged into the colossal outer coffin, like divine thunder descending from the heavens, its metallic tremor slicing through the air for a thousand li.

"Whoosh!" On the mountainside, nine massive dragon corpses floated up, emitting a dark light. Their iron chains rattled as they pulled the bronze coffin upward, soaring towards the peak of the nine sacred mountains.

"This..." Ye Fan's heart trembled. The Nine Dragons Pulling Coffin had actually begun to move on its own.

"Boom!"

The Nine Dragons Pulling Coffin appeared above the vast, dark abyss encircled by the nine sacred mountains, suspended horizontally in the void. Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from deep within the abyss, as if a Human Emperor were awakening.

"Something is emerging from beneath the Desolate Ancient Abyss!" someone cried out in alarm, as they witnessed an astonishing sight.