Chapter 752: South Ridge Conference

After countless life-and-death struggles, Ye Fan was unable to return home. He had wandered in foreign lands for a full twelve years, only to eventually find himself back on this very land. He yearned to see his old acquaintances again.

Under the setting sun, the land was bathed in a crimson glow. Ahead, the terrain stretched out, vast and boundless, resembling a desolate plateau. It was covered in reddish-brown rocks, with very sparse vegetation.

In the distance, a few dilapidated Taoist temples stood. They were small, far apart, and appeared quite humble. The lingering rays of the setting sun bathed them in a faint golden light, imbuing them with a sacred aura.

Desolation, decay, a faint golden glow, and sacredness intertwined, creating a rather peculiar sensation. It was a scene worth lingering on, as if witnessing the very essence of time's passage.

Ye Fan stood there, his gaze seemingly piercing through the entire land and spanning twelve years, as if searching for his old acquaintances.

"The Divine Son Li Tian has arrived! Ancient maidens, tremble!" After exhaling loudly, Li Tian let out a long howl directed at the sky, startling countless birds into flight.

The birds flapped their wings against the setting sun, piercing the pale golden sky and disrupting the tranquil peace. Yet, their movement also added a touch of vitality to the evening landscape.

"These ancient, small Taoist temples are quite remarkable. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to descend here from beyond this domain," said Yan Yiping.

In the distance, a few dilapidated, almost crumbling small Taoist temples stood. Bathed in the faint golden sunlight, they exuded a natural serenity, seemingly stabilizing the celestial and terrestrial energies of the area.

At first glance, they appeared unremarkable, but the longer one looked, the more mysterious and extraordinary they seemed, almost to the point of enchantment, as if imbued with the essence of the Great Dao.

"Let's go. We've returned from beyond the heavens. That place was a battlefield for ancient saints, and the one who ascended from here to participate in that war was undoubtedly a saint," Ye Fan stated.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's search quickly! Even a toenail clipper left behind by an ancient saint could be a holy artifact," Li Tian said with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, the small Taoist temples contained nothing but birds. They had become a peaceful and serene dwelling place for them under the setting sun.

Eventually, they departed from this desolate plateau. Ahead lay endless mountain ranges, densely forested, with ancient, deep woods where savage beasts roamed and exotic birds circled overhead.

"This place is too primitive, isn't it? We've been flying for so many days and haven't seen a single person!" Half a month later, Li Tian began to complain incessantly.

After two more days, they finally encountered a herbalist collecting medicinal plants in a vast mountainous area. Upon inquiring, they discovered this was the Southern Ridge.

The Central State, Eastern Wasteland, Northern Plains, Western Desert, and Southern Ridge are the five great domains of the Big Dipper Star Region. This was Ye Fan's first time setting foot on the Southern Ridge.

Fortunately, they had not ventured into the most primitive regions of the Southern Ridge; otherwise, they might not have emerged even after months of flying.

"It's been twelve years since I left. I wonder what has happened, and when I'll be able to meet Pang Bo, Zi Yue, Nannan, and Li Heishui," Ye Fan murmured to himself.

As they flew out of the mountain ranges, they spotted an ancient city. This made Li Tian unable to contain his excitement. "In this world, can I single-handedly sweep aside the younger generation and become an exceptionally valiant Divine Son? There shouldn't be any problem, right?" he asked.

He wore an expression of supreme confidence, as if challenging anyone to oppose him, an air of unparalleled dominance, like the world's foremost expert surveying the land.

Ye Fan smiled, saying nothing more, for he, too, was unsure of his old acquaintances' current cultivation levels. Everything would need to be experienced firsthand.

"Junior brother, you must be extremely careful not to be killed here. This ancient star, where even Great Emperors of old have descended, surely holds many secrets and peculiarities."

Having been away for so long, Ye Fan was eager to learn everything about this world. The three of them quickly entered the ancient city ahead and found themselves in a prosperous district.

Shortly after entering the city, Ye Fan began to inquire about the current situation. Before he could say much, merely mentioning the Eastern Wasteland caused people to shake their heads, all saying it was terrifying.

"Ancient creatures and powerful cultivators are engaged in various conflicts. Sooner or later, there will be a dark upheaval."

Ye Fan's heart sank. His timing for returning was truly unfortunate. Ancient creatures were indeed awakening one after another, and a great period of chaos seemed inevitable in the future.

"There's a spiritual medicine convention within the Primordial Sky Ancient Vein. You can go there to gather information; cultivators from all major domains will be present."

The inhabitants of the Southern Ridge were not very knowledgeable about other regions. After all, this ancient star was vast, and crossing domains often entailed journeys of tens of thousands of miles or more.

"Let's go take a look at the spiritual medicine convention." Ye Fan made this decision immediately.

True to its name, the Southern Ridge was characterized by its numerous towering mountains and ancient mineral veins, which naturally fostered an abundance of spiritual herbs, and even legends of immortal elixirs.

The Primordial Sky Ancient Vein was once the site where an immortal medicine broke through the void and ascended, making it a renowned location in the Southern Ridge.

The Southern Ridge's annual spiritual medicine convention was held here every year, where a dazzling array of rare and ancient medicines were displayed.

Of course, this so-called convention could also be described as an auction, as the spiritual medicines were displayed primarily to be sold at exorbitant prices. Otherwise, why would anyone come here to reveal their precious items?

The spiritual energy within the ancient vein was exceptionally dense, covering an immense area with endless mountain ranges. These days, the place was bustling with activity, as cultivators from all corners had gathered.

Their arrival did not attract much attention because they possessed no spiritual medicines themselves. The purpose of those who came here was very clear: they were solely interested in ancient medicines.

In the distance, a commotion erupted. The intoxicating aroma of medicine wafted over, nearly overwhelming those nearby. Cultivators from all around swarmed towards it, creating a great din.

"A 35,000-year-old ancient medicine! How incredibly rare! Such a precious herb is truly a once-in-a-lifetime find!"

"The Southern Ridge truly is a spiritual land, gathering the world's spiritual energy. Only here could such precious medicines grow."

A crowd of people exclaimed in awe, their eyes blazing with fervent desire for the ancient medicine, wishing they could immediately claim it for themselves.

"I wonder if that dog made it here. It usually wouldn't miss a grand event like this; it can't resist a good treasure," Ye Fan mused aloud.

"A 50,000-year-old ancient medicine has emerged! Someone has harvested a legendary 'King of Minor Herbs'!" A commotion erupted in the distance, and the area was instantly surrounded by an impenetrable crowd.

The medicinal field ahead instantly became a sea of people, a scene of near pandemonium. It was packed with individuals, and many cultivators looked ready to fight.

An ancient medicine, bearing seven leaves, each a different color, formed a vibrant spectrum. All were crystal clear and exuded an intoxicating fragrance that captivated everyone present.

Li Tian was instantly awestruck. "A 50,000-year-old ancient medicine, dubbed the 'King of Minor Herbs'! It can be used to refine various supreme treasure pills. My Human Desire Dao sect possesses a wondrous recipe that requires a main ingredient of precisely this age," he declared.

Having even seen immortal elixirs, Ye Fan was naturally not as excited as his companions. He remained calm, searching through the crowd, hoping to spot an old acquaintance, be it a friend or a foe. However, he was disappointed.

"Let's go. Let's check over there; it seems like a place where experts discuss the Dao," he said, striding forward.

"Don't be in such a hurry to leave! There's a legendary 'King of Minor Herbs' here. Aren't you surprised?" Li Tian was reluctant to move.

On the other side, a stone platform was open to all. Many cultivators, primarily younger ones, had gathered there to discuss cultivation techniques and the experts of the five domains.

Ye Fan walked over and sat cross-legged on a high platform, listening intently. Li Tian and Yan Yixi also took their seats.

"Who is the foremost expert among the younger and middle generations in the world today?" someone posed the question.

"That's hard to say. The Central Emperor, Southern Demon, and others were already capable of fighting peak Saint Lords over a decade ago. Who can possibly discern their current power?"

"In the world today, I nominate the Shaking Light Saint Son. His cultivation has finally reached grand completion, and he has begun to truly roam the world, invincible, with no one able to oppose him."

"Personally, I believe it's Hua Yunfei. He's been hunted by cultivators across the world for over a decade, but now, who would dare to touch him? His Sky-Devouring Demonic Art has been perfected, making him unrivaled among his generation. Now, he is the only one capable of slaying others."

"Xia Jiuyou has perfected the Tribulation-Transcending Immortal Melody. Now, he is likely peerlessly invincible in his solitude."

"You're all mistaken; you've overlooked someone: the Saintess of the Purple Mansion. She possesses a congenital Dao physique! Legend has it that once she reaches the Saint Lord realm, she will merge with the Dao, becoming unrivaled among her peers. Over a decade has passed, and given her unique constitution, I don't believe she hasn't reached that realm."

"Alas, you've only mentioned a small fraction, overlooking an even more terrifying group: Zi Tiandu, Huang Xudao, the Divine Silkworm Daoist, and many other formidable entities. The younger and middle generations among the primeval creatures are truly horrifying."

As this person spoke, everyone fell silent. Figures like the Fire Kirin Son, Heavenly Emperor Son, Huang Xudao, Yuan Gu, and the Divine Silkworm Daoist were all astonishing beings throughout history, their might so overwhelming that humanity could barely breathe. They were utterly terrifying.

"This is truly a grand era in every sense, with all kings emerging, various unique physiques appearing, and even the most powerful inheritors of the myriad ancient races entering the world. Who can claim to be the strongest in the world? It's simply impossible to say."

People knew one thing for sure: in this grand era, anyone who could defeat all the kings and suppress the inheritors of the myriad ancient races would undoubtedly be able to attain the Dao.

In this grand era, the adversaries to be faced were numerous and far more terrifying. If one could truly survive to the very end and defeat everyone, the trials they would have endured would be beyond imagination.

Should someone achieve the Dao through such a path, they would undoubtedly become one of the most powerful Great Emperors throughout history, for this blood-stained Emperor's Road would be more formidable and terrifying than any before it.

"Tell me, if the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body from twelve years ago hadn't resolutely departed, how terrifying would he be now? Could he suppress Huang Xudao, Yuan Gu, the Heavenly Emperor Son, and the Divine Silkworm Daoist from the primeval races?"

"Probably no hope. Each of these individuals is a living miracle. Even the Holy Emperor Son's fate is currently unknown, reportedly due to a falling out with the Divine Emperor Son."

"Once the Sacred Body achieves grand completion, it can contend with ancient Great Emperors. I believe that if that monstrous individual named Ye were still here and encountered these figures, he could certainly be mentioned in the same breath as them, even if the ancestors of those clans had produced ancient emperors."

"His chances of victory are likely slim. He is merely a single Sacred Body. While he might be comparable to one primeval inheritor, among so many astonishing legends, there are bound to be a few who could overwhelm him."

"Without a true battle, who can say for sure? There are no 'ifs' in this world. He has already departed, leaving behind a lingering mystery, perhaps allowing our human race to claim that someone remains undefeated."

Li Tian glanced at Ye Fan, chuckling, yet he also felt a certain pressure. He understood that this world seemed to teem with an extraordinary number of powerful individuals, which explained why ancient Great Emperors had descended here in succession.

"The Sacred Body cannot contend with them. Any one of Huang Xudao, Yuan Gu, or the Divine Silkworm Daoist could eliminate him with a single hand," someone interjected at that moment.

"So, it's one of those major human inheritances with an unbreakable bond to the primeval races," someone whispered.

"Indeed, if the Sacred Body hadn't departed, he wouldn't even have passed the test of human experts. Someone would surely have killed him. And now, how many of his friends remain? They have all perished!"

Upon hearing these words, Ye Fan's mind reeled. His divine eyes blazed with electric intensity as he stared intently at those individuals. He desperately wanted to know what had truly happened.