Chapter 725: All Eyes On Me

Golden feathers littered the sea, each stained with blood. Dismembered corpses sank beneath the waves, turning the water's surface crimson.

It was a blood-soaked tableau. After the battle, an eerie stillness settled, so profound that even the sea beasts dared not ascend to devour the delectable remains imbued with the bloodline of celestial demons.

For a lone figure stood upon the water, and many sea spirits, having witnessed the recent events, were utterly terrified of the youth, who was covered in blood, with droplets still clinging to his hair.

Ye Fan stood alone in the void, gazing down at the dark ocean and out into the distant sky. His eyes were profound, and his thick dark hair cascaded around him, lending him an aura of deep tranquility.

Soon after, he ascended skyward, vanishing into the vast, dark ocean in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace.

Subsequently, the site became a grand feast for the sea spirits. The blood and shattered remains of the Golden Crow clan proved to be a powerful tonic, drawing countless sea demons who swarmed to the location.

Human cultivators and land-dwelling demons also rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, eager to investigate the truth.

Not long before, the area had been consumed by howling winds, mournful wails, and sorrowful clouds. Corpses had littered the sky, and blood had dyed the heavens, resembling the twilight of the gods, leaving no one daring to approach.

That day, the North Sea was shaken. Every powerful cultivator of the Golden Crow lineage who had pursued the descendant of the Human Saint Empress into the sea was annihilated, their bodies lost to the deep.

Not a single one survived!

The surrounding waters were dyed crimson with blood, becoming a feast for sea demons. The Golden Crow cultivators who had embarked on the pursuit were utterly annihilated!

The news, once released, sent shockwaves throughout the entire dark ocean, stunning all cultivators, human and demon alike.

Over a hundred masters, including formidable living fossils like Xuan Yi, Golden Crow elders, terrifying mighty figures, and even five princes of the clan, had been present. Not one survived; all were annihilated in the dark ocean. Most crucially, this was the work of a single individual.

When this truth became known, the previously boisterous North Sea fell silent. The thought of one person single-handedly battling over a hundred masters, killing them all, and dyeing the ocean red, was utterly terrifying.

Through the accounts of some sea demons, people reconstructed the battle, and when the individual's appearance became known, countless inhabitants of the North Sea were stunned.

"It's him! The one who fell into the Eye of the North Sea four years ago!"

"How is this possible? That place is a cage for ancient saints. No one ever suppressed there has escaped. How could he reappear in the world?"

This revelation caused a massive stir. Ye Fan had reappeared, single-handedly facing hundreds of Golden Crow powerhouses and annihilating them in a single battle—a truly terrifying feat.

The news reverberated across the North Sea, leaving all cultivators who frequented the area stunned and speechless.

Someone who should not have existed had returned alive. It was a miracle, a living legend, astonishing everyone.

"It really is him. Not long ago, someone witnessed unusual activity at the Eye of the North Sea, and a golden bolt of lightning shot out. It turns out he escaped."

"Ancient saints could not emerge alive; they all perished, their bodies turning to dust within the Eye. How could he be so defiant of fate?"

"To single-handedly protect the Human Saint Empress's descendant and, in a fit of rage, slay over a hundred Golden Crow powerhouses—his cultivation is truly terrifying!"

Amidst the shock in the North Sea, various discussions also arose.

Some applauded, hailing Ye Fan's actions as righteous. The Ancient Sun Emperor had long passed into eternal slumber, and his last remaining bloodline should not be extinguished.

Naturally, many harbored animosity towards Ye Fan, and those allied with the Golden Crow clan unleashed venomous curses.

The battle in the North Sea reverberated across the land, carried by returning cultivators.

The Golden Crow clan, from their leaders to their lowest ranks, initially refused to believe it. But when irrefutable facts and horrifying bloody evidence emerged, they were driven to madness.

This was an unbearable blow. The loss of so many powerhouses was a devastating setback, even for a formidable clan like the Golden Crow.

The blow to their reputation, prestige, and morale far outweighed the loss of their fighting strength. It was a profound humiliation, akin to being cast from the ninth heaven into the depths of hell.

In the North Sea, a graceful youth, bending his bow to strike the sun, slew five Golden Crow princes in a single day. This magnificent feat became a widespread tale.

This was an unparalleled honor, a solitary achievement that defied the world, capturing the attention of all and cloaked in a divine aura.

In this age, few dared to provoke the Golden Crow clan, for they still possessed a living king whose power was unfathomable and whose might intimidated the world!

Yet, one person dared: the formidable young man named Ye, who drew his bow to slay Golden Crows, single-handedly killing five princes in a single day. What an extraordinary feat!

Each Golden Crow prince was an exceptional talent, rumored to be stronger than the last, capable of slaying even sect leaders, yet he annihilated them all alone!

His path forward was paved over the bones of the Golden Crow clan's successors, an endless trail of blood forging a mighty road, where beneath the blossoms and halos lay only gore and bone.

"The young man named Ye is invincible. Among the current generation of youth, besides Yin Tiande, Yi Qingwu, Lu Ya, Sanque Daoist, and the Lunar Divine Son, who else can contend with him?"

"Forget the younger generation; how many among the older generation could fight him to the death?"

"I believe the only ones who can suppress him are legendary figures who have ascended to the third layer of the Immortal Terrace. But how many such cultivators exist in the world?"

Though Ye Fan remained far away in the North Sea, yet to return to the mainland, he had already ignited a fervent debate, becoming the sole topic of conversation for all.

Yi Qingwu, who had astonished the world over the past four years, was hailed as a divine maiden. Many were willing to prostrate themselves before her, as she was now the embodiment of beauty and sanctity.

Upon learning of these events, she was greatly astonished. She had never imagined that Ye Fan would truly escape the Eye of the Sea and reappear in this world, let alone shake the Ziwei Starfield with a single battle!

When Li Tian heard the news, he was first dumbfounded, then erupted in boisterous laughter, feeling utterly delighted.

Yan Yixi was likewise surprised; the news was incredibly impactful and profoundly shocking.

Lu Ya, hair bristling with rage, emerged brandishing his black-winged gilded trident, his back manifesting the Dharma bodies of the nine Golden Crow ancestors. He let out a furious howl to the sky, consumed by hatred.

Upon receiving the news, the Lunar Divine Son merely sneered repeatedly, his gaze fixed on the sea. His entire form was enveloped in black mist, with only a pair of chilling eyes visible.

Sanque Daoist stood on Nether Ridge, before the ancient Longevity Temple, taking nine consecutive steps, his brow furrowed as he studied a half-page of an ancient divine scripture in his hand.

All major powers, including the Human King's Palace, Guanghan Palace, Ziwei Divine Dynasty, and Longevity Temple, paid close attention. The entire world was stirred!

While the world buzzed with talk of Ye Fan, he remained in the North Sea, yet to return. One could only imagine the immense upheaval his eventual appearance would cause!

On a fragrant island filled with birdsong, the last descendant of the Human Saint Emperor, a five-year-old child, stood amidst a pine forest, speaking to a small squirrel perched on a tree.

"I miss my father, my mother, my older brother, my older sister, but they're all gone. Do you miss your family?"

The little squirrel, naturally unable to comprehend his words, clutched a pine cone and scurried away with a rustle.

The Human Emperor's sole surviving descendant, the innocent child, then moved to another spot, speaking to a small bird on a tree: "How far is 'forever'? Father said he would quietly protect me forever. And 'the future'? Sister said they would appear in the future and come to see me."

As he spoke, the innocent child's large eyes welled up. He lowered his head and murmured, "I know they won't appear, just like Uncle Jiang. They all did it to protect me..."

The little bird on the tree also flew away. The poor child walked deeper into the pine forest. Upon seeing an injured butterfly resting on a wild flower, he whispered, "Why are you hurt too? I miss Uncle Jiang..."

Ye Fan watched all this quietly from the edge of the pine forest. He was in no hurry to leave the North Sea, instead taking the child to various islands for strolls, hoping he would recover his spirits sooner.

In recent days, the child had been withdrawn and silent, speaking only when alone, conversing with small animals, and always returning with red eyes.

"Your parents and your older sister want you to be happy. Your Uncle Jiang wished for you to grow up safely and then shine with the glory befitting a descendant of the Human Saint Empress."

"But... I miss them," the child said, lowering his head, speaking to Ye Fan for the very first time.

Ye Fan said nothing. He couldn't possibly strip a young child of their emotions; longing was simply longing, and it couldn't be avoided. Unlike adults, a child couldn't forcibly sever a painful memory. This was the purest, most unblemished sentiment of a child.

"I know what to do. I'll slowly get better and stop crying," Tongtong said, his large eyes still red.

Six days later, the child proactively asked Ye Fan to teach him cultivation. Although he still spoke to small animals with red eyes when alone, he no longer shed tears.

Ye Fan examined his body. The child had sustained very severe injuries, his body nearly shattered by the Golden Crow clan, yet he had stubbornly survived, though his old ailments persisted.

Within him, there seemed to be a sun, incredibly radiant, illuminating his every sinew and bone. At night, light would emanate from his body.

"The Solar Body!" Ye Fan was now certain; this was undoubtedly the legendary mystical physique.

Possessing a divine sun within one's body was extremely rare; few throughout history had such a gift, and many would perish prematurely for various reasons. Legend held that only the Ancient Sun Saint Emperor from primordial times had survived, standing supreme through the ages.

Although Tongtong possessed an inner divine sun, he had been severely wounded by the Golden Crow clan, and his condition was currently dire. Ye Fan used a few drops of true dragon divine medicine over the course of a month to help him recuperate, finally stabilizing his vital energy.

"For the Solar Body, the Sun Ancient Scripture is naturally the first choice. Unfortunately, I only obtained the final two volumes, not the 'Sea of Wheels' volume for foundational cultivation."

Ye Fan regretted that for a physique like Tongtong's, building a foundation with the True Sun Scripture was the only perfect choice.

After careful consideration, he meticulously carved the nine ancient characters gifted by the Ancient Sun Emperor onto Tongtong's glabella, allowing them to penetrate his Immortal Terrace, just as the green-clad elder had done when transmitting them to him.

This was the very foundation, the quintessential divine words of the Sun Ancient Scripture. Ye Fan intended to imprint them into the child's sea of consciousness, so the nine characters would accompany him throughout his life, allowing him to comprehend them from a young age.

With such a physique, this child might one day use it to gain insights unattainable by others.

However, after Ye Fan carved the nine ancient characters onto Tongtong's Immortal Terrace, a miraculous transformation suddenly occurred: the child's body blazed like a divine sun in the sky, radiating boundless light.

The little boy immediately fainted. Ye Fan quickly intervened, suppressing the radiance with his supreme Dao power, finally managing to conceal the light.

"What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable? What happened?" Ye Fan asked anxiously when the child awoke, fearing he might have suffered some ill effect.

"No discomfort at all," the little one said, blinking his large eyes. "Just that a tiny golden figure suddenly appeared inside me, teaching me how to open something called the 'Sea of Wheels'."

"What?!" Ye Fan was stunned. He finally understood why the Golden Crow clan had gone to such lengths and refused to let the child go: he truly might possess the Sun Ancient Scripture!

From that day forward, whenever the child fell asleep, there would be a unique half-hour during which his entire body would emit brilliant golden light, pulsing like a miniature sun.

Upon waking the next day, Tongtong would clearly recall what the tiny golden figure had taught him and how to cultivate.

Ye Fan inquired carefully and discovered it was an ancient and profound mental cultivation method. He could now almost certainly confirm it was the Sun Ancient Scripture!

"This little one's body holds many secrets..." Ye Fan investigated multiple times but found no foreign objects; the golden figure seemed to originate from the depths of his primordial spirit.

"Let's go. It's time for us to return to the mainland." Half a month later, Ye Fan decided to leave the North Sea with the child.

"Why go back? There are only bad people there," Tongtong said with utmost seriousness, his large eyes clear.

Ye Fan patted his head and said, "There are more good people in this world. I'll take you to meet some, and while we're at it, we'll see if we can snatch an ancient holy weapon from the bad guys. Once we have it, if one bad guy shows up, we'll kill him; if two come, we'll dispatch both."

The North Sea, dark and profound, possessed a peculiar water color compared to other oceans, as if stained with ink.

It was vast and boundless, without end, many times larger than the mainland. A person could spend their entire life trying to cross it and still not reach the other side.

Fortunately, the ocean contained numerous ancient islands, where ancient teleportation arrays, inscribed by wise figures of old, transformed perilous chasms into navigable paths.

In these boundless waters, countless powerful beings had been born, including numerous primordial exotic species and astonishing great demons.

Indeed, people even suspected the presence of beings comparable to ancient saints within these waters, for the ocean was so immensely vast that no one could explore its entirety, thus making it impossible to ascertain the true power of its inhabitants.

Since ancient times, countless human cultivators had ventured into these seas, seeking immortal realms, ancient saints, and the footprints of Great Emperors.

While the North Sea lacked the endless legends of immortal islands like Penglai found in the East Sea, which was the favored resting place for ancient human saints in their later years, it nonetheless contained many ancient caves and legacies.

As Ye Fan journeyed through the North Sea with little Tongtong, he suddenly noticed auspicious mist pervading the area ahead, accompanied by faint, ethereal strains of immortal music.

His expression shifted, and he began to walk upon the waves, advancing rapidly, disappearing and reappearing with each step.

From a distance, he spotted an immortal island, vibrant with five-colored light reaching skyward and shimmering mists, presenting a serene vista. An ancient cave mansion had been opened, and guests were being welcomed.

Upon reaching the location, streams of light became visible—powerful cultivators riding magical artifacts, descending one after another onto the ancient island ahead.

Among them were human powerhouses and mighty demon lords of diverse forms, both men and women, all sharing the common trait of immense strength.

Ye Fan spotted a Flood Dragon patrolling the sea—a powerful great demon. He approached and asked, "What's happening up ahead?"

"Old Master Mysterious Turtle Immortal of the North Sea is about to celebrate his 3,600th birthday. He has invited old friends from all corners and opened his cave mansion to host a grand banquet for his guests."

After answering, the Flood Dragon continued its patrol, clearly a commander guarding the island, riding the wind and waves and shouting orders to the lesser demons.

Ye Fan was genuinely surprised, muttering, "Three thousand six hundred years old... he certainly lives up to his species."

Ye Fan, holding Tongtong's hand, ascended the island. The island was adorned with cinnabar cliffs and strange rocks, the air fragrant with ancient herbs, and filled with auspicious omens.

"The Human King's Palace Master sends gifts; the Vice Palace Master has arrived."

"The North Sea Black Dragon King has arrived."

"The Protector of the Longevity Temple has arrived!"

"Guanghan Palace..."

Immediately upon arriving at the ancient island, Ye Fan heard these announcements. He was astonished, realizing that the Mysterious Turtle Immortal indeed possessed great divine power, evidenced by so many major forces arriving to celebrate his birthday.

"State your name! Only sect leaders or direct descendants are permitted on the island. No children allowed," a great demon bellowed.

Nearby, an elder demon quickly stepped forward, pulled the great demon aside, and whispered, "Do you have a death wish? Don't you know who he is?"

"Who is he?"

"He will likely command more attention than Old Master Mysterious Turtle Immortal himself today!"