Chapter 743: Divine Ancient Scripture

Under the bright moonlight, the scene was pristine and clear. The boundless ocean stretched endlessly, with shimmering waves covering vast distances, creating an immense, empty, and distant expanse.

The Feathered Immortal Cliff stood alone by the sea, entirely pure white. It resembled a celestial platform drawing in the essence of heaven and earth, resonating with the countless stars as moonlight cascaded down like water, creating a hazy, ethereal glow.

The Human King Hall and the Longevity Temple abruptly appeared here, opening a domain gate and emerging silently without disturbing the world, for the purpose of exchanging divine scriptures.

Ye Fan and his companions held their breath, concealed in the shadows, not daring to show the slightest carelessness or oversight, certain that formidable masters were present ahead.

Each of the eighteen warships, hundreds of feet long, hung in the air like colossal clouds, shimmering with a cold, ominous metallic glint under the moonlight.

The ancient Longevity Temple stood opposite, grand and solemn like an immortal divine palace suspended above the sea. Every tile and stone appeared etched with ancient markings, and a profound, primordial aura emanated from it.

One floated above the land, the other hovered over the azure sea, silently facing each other with the Feathered Immortal Cliff situated between them.

For several years, rumors had circulated about the two sides exchanging ancient scriptures, yet each instance proved to be merely a diversion.

The half-pages of ancient scriptures they each possessed were of immense significance; neither trusted the other, and every encounter had been nothing more than a test.

Now, with all experts from both ancient sects present, the matter was clearly serious. This time, a definite outcome was expected; it was evident they intended to unite the divine scriptures.

The area was utterly serene; a full moon illuminated the azure sea, and only soft white light diffused, creating a simple, tranquil, and peaceful atmosphere.

Ye Fan and his companions could not detect any other auras, leaving only two possibilities: either the two ancient sects' presence was extremely secretive and unknown to the world, or the hidden individuals were terrifyingly powerful and unpredictable.

"The eighteen bronze ships must be the eighteen ancient warships from ancient legends, capable of forming an ancient killing array crafted by an ancient sage!" Yan Yixi exclaimed, recalling an ancient legend.

The Human King Hall possessed an ancient killing array, personally refined and set up by a sage, whose power was unparalleled, even surpassing that of ancient sacred artifacts.

This was serious! They must have brought the half-page immortal scripture. Upon witnessing this, everyone reached the same conclusion.

"No wonder the ancient Longevity Temple of the Underworld Ridge has stood for hundreds of thousands of years without falling; this ancient temple is an ancient sacred artifact," Yi Qingwu murmured, a strange glint appearing in her clear, bright eyes.

Such secretive actions, yet accompanied by such a grand display, clearly indicated that both sides were wary of each other, each fearing the other might harbor malicious intentions.

"I have to say, the ancient Longevity Temple of the Underworld Ridge is terrifying. They only have a few people, yet they can contend against any major sect in the world," Li Tian remarked.

A bronze drum sounded, and from a massive warship, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, emerged an old man with frost-white hair. He possessed a fair, plump, and spirited countenance, his silver hair cascading like a waterfall as he stood at the bow.

In the sky, moonlight instantly poured down like water, bathing him and making him appear as if cast from silver. Even the staff he leaned on transformed into a coiling silver dragon, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.

At this moment, he exuded a powerful aura, seemingly capable of devouring heaven and earth and suppressing all directions!

"It's him, Feng Yuan, the clan brother of the Human King Hall's former Sect Master who has already passed away. Now three thousand three hundred years old, he is a figure of formidable and resolute character," Li Tian whispered.

Feng Yuan was extraordinarily terrifying. In his youth, he dominated the world, slaying many sect masters. Afterward, he retired to cultivate his mind, but whenever he reappeared, he would engage in ruthless slaughter.

"Creak."

On the other side, the vermillion main gate of the magnificent temple creaked open slightly, and a Daoist stepped out.

He was not old, yet he exuded the demeanor of an otherworldly master. With a bamboo hairpin in his black hair, an Eight Trigrams Daoist robe, and straw sandals, he walked out step by step, his eyes clear and serene.

This was a very young Daoist, yet he possessed the aura of an enlightened master, appearing transcendental and extraordinarily uncommon.

"Daoist Sanque!"

Everyone recognized him; it was not their first time seeing him. He was one of the strongest young masters of the current era, Yin Tiande's sworn brother, ranking closely behind him.

"Has he become this powerful? Able to represent the Longevity Temple?" Li Tian asked in surprise.

Yi Qingwu gazed for a moment, then gently shook her head. "No," she said, "this is Sanque's father, Zhengde. He has cultivated for eight hundred years, yet he can suppress all heroes. Few in the world can contend with him, unless a King emerges."

"He's Daoist Sanque's father..." Ye Fan was surprised. He knew some Daoists could marry and have children, but he hadn't expected the father and son to be so strikingly alike.

Zhengde, a powerful Daoist, was rumored to have one foot in the third heaven of Xiantai, but he had never been able to cross that final threshold.

As the group communicated through whispers, new developments unfolded ahead: Feng Yuan, the resolute elder from the Human King Hall, appearing entirely silver and holding his moon-absorbing coiling dragon staff, stepped through the void, walking towards the immortal cliff.

On the other side, Daoist Zhengde, transcendent and ethereal like the Dao Ancestor in his youth, also advanced step by step, approaching the ancient platform, which was as pure white as jade.

The two great masters from the Human King Hall and the Longevity Temple simultaneously ascended the Feathered Immortal Cliff, where the ground sparkled as if light itself were flowing.

At this moment, the eighteen ancient warships gleamed with a cold, piercing metallic light, arranging themselves into an ancient formation that evolved into a primordial killing array.

In an instant, a terrifying aura permeated the air, as if an ancient giant were awakening, looking down upon the world, spanning ancient and modern times.

Once the ancient killing array emerged, its power surpassed even that of sacred artifacts!

On the other side, the magnificent Daoist temple also opened its gate, transforming into a vast and boundless ancient realm, seemingly capable of containing the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers.

Terror and trembling filled the air!

This was their most immediate sensation: it was indeed an ancient sacred artifact, and its power was immensely vast and terrifying!

The ancient killing array and the ancient sacred artifact were simultaneously aimed at the Feathered Immortal Cliff. Both sides were on high alert, fearing the other might renege or resort to trickery.

At this moment, the atmosphere was extremely tense; the void seemed to have solidified, and the silence was so profound that a dropped needle would be heard.

The full moon hung high, the ocean was boundless, and the crystal platform sparkled. The resolute elder Feng Yuan and Daoist Zhengde stood opposite each other. Without a word, each took out a half-page fragment of scripture, fresh and red like blood.

Mist steamed and radiated boundlessly. Crimson light dyed their hands, making them almost translucent, and a clear, deafening phoenix cry emanated.

A page of divine ancient scripture forged from phoenix blood and red gold!

It was impossible to counterfeit; such an item was too precious, rarely seen in a thousand generations, and no one would squander it for such a purpose.

It was unknown how many years it had existed; the crimson radiance that should have soared to the sky was now contained within a square meter, and the blood-gold bore mottled rust.

Ye Fan and his companions watched intently. This was undoubtedly the genuine scripture; neither ancient sect had counterfeited it, as both desired to obtain the complete text.

Their hearts pounded. This was the legendary immortal scripture; once mastered, one could not even die if they wished, holding immense mystery and allure.

At this moment, the surroundings remained utterly quiet. There was no stir of wind or grass; only the bright moon hung high, shedding soft, luminous light.

The resolute elder Feng Yuan and the transcendent Daoist Zhengde simultaneously reached out. In that instant, time seemed to stand still as the two sides finally began to exchange the ancient scriptures.

Without any incident, their hearts were turbulent, yet they retreated steadily, remaining wary and defensive of each other.

Crimson light flowed, making half of each person's body translucent and radiant, brilliant as blood crystals, as they retreated step by step, each about to exit the stone cliff.

"It went so smoothly? Did no outsider come?" Li Tian and the others were surprised and uncertain, wondering if they were the only onlookers.

"So secretive, and yet truly no king knew..." Yi Qingwu also frowned, finding it unexpected.

The people from the Human King Hall and the Longevity Temple also relaxed. The two ancient sacred artifacts, which had been absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, slowed down, and the two individuals on the stone cliff also breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to turn around.

But at that very instant, an earth-shattering change occurred!

A tall figure, like a celestial being descending from beyond the heavens, fell from the starry sky, appearing before them in the blink of an eye. It seemed to come from another domain and was incredibly fast.

He lunged at the resolute elder Feng Yuan, his five fingers splayed wide, exuding a vast, irresistible pressure, like an unparalleled master descending upon the earth, sweeping all before him.

"How dare you, rogue!" everyone roared.

All eighteen ancient warships of the Human King Hall flared with brilliant light, absorbing the myriad starlight and moonlight, and unleashing traces of the Grand Dao that enveloped the area.

The ancient sage's killing array revived!

However, the changes on the scene surpassed imagination. This tall figure was terrifyingly powerful, possessing an overwhelming advantage. With one claw, he shattered half of Feng Yuan's body and seized the half-page ancient scripture.

"Puff."

He then struck out with another palm, turning the resolute elder Feng Yuan into a pile of flesh and blood, killing him instantly.

How powerful must a person be to accomplish all this?

People were terrified!

As powerful as Feng Yuan was, he had been on the ninth small step of the second heaven of Xiantai for countless years, having even stepped one foot across, passing halfway through the "Immortal Three Dao Severing" trial.

But even such a resolute figure was easily killed in this manner. The newcomer was undoubtedly a formidable Great Accomplishment King!

On the other side, the same event occurred: a slender, withered figure appeared out of thin air on the crystal platform, spanning ancient and modern times, like a god descending upon the world.

His hand descended, forming an invincible divine domain that imprisoned the transcendent Daoist Zhengde within, rendering him motionless.

"Puff."

With a gentle sweep of his slender hand, Daoist Zhengde, said to be unmatched in Xiantai, was instantly shattered into pieces, though a divine soul managed to escape.

In a brief moment, both fragments of the immortal scripture, forged from phoenix blood and red gold, changed hands, seized by others and enraging the two ancient sects.

Great Accomplishment Kings had arrived!

This was bound to be a great battle.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a brilliant long arc of light pierced through the sky, repelling the slender, withered king with a single strike, intent on seizing that half-page of divine ancient scripture.

The third Great Accomplishment King appeared!

"One of the three is Yin Tiande," Ye Fan said, because the Vajra Bracelet in his hand trembled, and the only remaining imprint inside it had a mysterious connection with one of the individuals.

"What? Which one?" Li Tian asked, startled.

"The slender, withered figure," Ye Fan replied.

"What a Yin Tiande! Wasn't he riding a bull westward? To appear here and slay his sworn brother's father!" Yan Yixi gasped, drawing a sharp breath.

"Bang!"

Another man, like a demon god, descended from the sky. Unlike the others, he made no attempt to conceal himself. His golden hair cascaded, and he exuded an aura capable of devouring mountains and rivers. King Jinwu had arrived!

This was the fourth King!

"Killing my disciples, stealing my immortal scripture, none of you will escape!" a majestic voice rang out from within the eighteen ancient ships, as the ancient sage's killing array sealed everyone inside.

"Just as expected," Yi Qingwu murmured, her beautiful eyes gleaming with a strange light, "even Great Accomplishment Kings who have passed away can 'revive' because of the immortal scripture..."