Chapter 850: Divine Material

Yuangu's aura grew stronger, to the point of being suffocating. His bronze skin showed faint, shifting Dao patterns, and his thick black hair seemed to merge with the void. An aura of the Great Dao permeated the air.

"Yuangu!" Before Ye Fan could react, the Monkey almost swung his staff at him, recalling their previous encounters years ago.

"It's you!" Yuangu's eyes also widened. His hair, like an upturned waterfall, seemed to dance wildly, and his towering figure, like a demonic mountain, exerted a pressure that made people gasp for breath.

Ye Fan stopped the Monkey, stepped forward, and confronted his formidable opponent. Between the two, a dense network of Dao patterns appeared, forming a field.

*Clang!*

Suddenly, a Dao sword appeared in the void, striking down and cleaving open the nascent field between them, dissolving an impending attack.

Heavenly Plaza had restrictive formations that prohibited fighting. Initially, they would merely impede, but continued defiance would result in divine punishment, potentially leading to the destruction of both spirit and body.

Ye Fan and Yuangu each retreated, no longer directly confronting each other. Fighting was impossible here, but the battle intent in their hearts had already surged.

"Yuangu, how long do you plan to hide?" the Monkey asked.

"So it's the Saint Prince," Yuangu said imperiously. "I have already 'cleaved the Dao.' Once I kill the Human Race Saint Body, I will challenge you, representing my ancestors to suppress your father's legacy!" This was not just a display of power, but also immense self-confidence. Having entered the Immortal Three realm, his entire demeanor had changed; he had established an unyielding belief in his own invincibility, convinced he could sweep aside all adversaries.

Ye Fan spoke, "I've been waiting for you for a long time. You've been hiding away, consolidating your realm, until now. Have you finally dared to emerge?"

"All psychological attacks are useless against me. I am invincible now; whatever you say is meaningless. This time, the date is yours to set, and I will be ready at any moment!" Yuangu's words rang with conviction.

The unexpected encounter of these two formidable figures in Heavenly Plaza immediately drew widespread attention. Countless eyes turned towards them, signaling that the most anticipated battle was about to begin.

"In half a month, we'll fight to the death!" Ye Fan declared.

"Good. Let it be at the ancient battlefield of Qixia Plains," Yuangu responded.

As their words concluded, Heavenly Plaza erupted into a frenzy. People discussed excitedly, full of anticipation. The great era had arrived, and the first bloody battle on the Emperor's Path was about to commence.

That day, the news spread like wildfire, reaching all corners and drawing the attention of major powers. The Human Race Saint Body would contend against a descendant of an Ancient Emperor—a battle of profound significance.

"I'll take this Immortal Everlasting Flower. What do you need in exchange?" Yuangu asked the stall owner, clearly intending to give it to the Imperial Daughter of Fire Kirin Cave.

By this time, the stone table was already surrounded, with all sorts of people paying close attention. The owner of the miraculous flower looked uncomfortable.

He couldn't afford to offend people like Huo Lin'er or Yuangu, whose powerful imperial families behind them made him tremble with fear.

"There's a pecking order here. We came first, and I'm taking this rare flower," Ye Fan stated.

"Brother Ye, long time no see. Let's compete fairly for this divine flower," Huo Lin'er said with a smile. Her long, water-blue hair gleamed like silk, and her smile was captivating, stunning all who saw it.

"Alright, fair competition," Ji Ziyue said, chuckling. She took light, lotus-like steps forward, her large eyes curving into crescent moons, a bright smile gracing her fair, jade-like, oval face.

"This flower..." The stall owner faltered, a hint of fear in his heart, as people from Fire Kirin Cave and Primordial Lake had taken an interest in the miraculous flower.

"Don't be afraid. No one will force a transaction. What exactly do you wish to exchange it for?" an elder from Fire Kirin Cave asked from behind. This was the powerful guardian responsible for the Imperial Daughter.

"He just said he wants to exchange it for a Jade King from the Nine Heavens Divine Jade series, or Grand Luo Silver Essence, and so on," someone nearby interjected.

"What? Isn't that an exorbitant demand?" Yuangu muttered to himself, and the elderly imperial guardians behind him also raised their eyebrows in surprise.

The Nine Heavens Divine Jade Kings were all priceless treasures capable of forging inherited Saint Weapons, incredibly rare and hard to find in the world. Grand Luo Silver Essence was likewise a material that could only be encountered by chance, difficult for even Ancestor Kings to acquire.

"That's a bit much!" the old man behind Huo Lin'er said. Someone of his status couldn't even hope to possess such materials, and asking for them in exchange for a relatively minor wonder flower was truly excessive.

Despite the exorbitant demand, many female cultivators still lingered, all hoping to acquire the rare flower.

Ye Fan sighed softly. Obtaining this flower would be difficult. He possessed the Mother Qi of All Things and Phoenix Blood Vermilion Gold, but he lacked Grand Luo Silver Essence.

Not wanting to disappoint Ji Ziyue, he said, "Let's look around elsewhere first. I will definitely get you an immortal flower."

Years ago, he had cut out a pair of twin divine flowers at the Jade Lake. He hoped to find something similar on the peculiar stone street ahead; perhaps with luck, he might even encounter one.

Clearly, Yuangu, Huo Lin'er, and their guardians also wouldn't have such divine materials on them, so they could only turn and leave.

"Hold on to it. I'll bring a Divine Jade King soon!" Yuangu said as he departed.

Heavenly Plaza was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided. They intended to use their connections to borrow a small piece of divine material to exchange for the flower.

Yuangu naturally deemed it not worth the price, and his guardians were 120% against it, but Huo Lin'er was determined to have it.

Currently, Primordial Lake was seeking a marriage alliance with Fire Kirin Cave. No matter how precious the flower, they had to acquire it immediately.

"Ah, I miss those days, roaming freely in Divine City. Truly nostalgic," Li Heishui sighed.

Back then, he and Ye Fan had caused a stir in the Saint Land Stone Workshop, cutting out countless precious materials and creating sensation after sensation.

"By the way," Ye Fan chuckled, "the day I become a Source Heavenly Master, I must go to Divine City and 'capture' that Stone King, to see what its true origin is."

They entered the peculiar stone street. As far as the eye could see, there were stones piled into small mountains, occupying fully one-fifth of Heavenly Plaza's territory.

Clearly, this was also an important area, with many people coming and going, including numerous heroes of their generation and clan patriarchs, all of them of significant background.

"In the Primordial Era, the earth contained even more precious materials, many of which were raw ore, directly mined and auctioned off..." the Monkey explained.

Ye Fan and the others were intrigued. These stones had been sealed for tens of thousands of years, making them far more valuable than those in Divine City, as they not only offered opportunities for "source gambling" but also contained various divine materials.

Many people had cultivated Heavenly Eyes, but currently, Ye Fan was the only one in the world who had achieved the Source Heavenly Eye. His heart was not calm upon arriving here.

"This is a rip-off," Ye Fan muttered. He walked hundreds of meters and found mostly worthless stones; the few that contained precious materials were so rare that buying them would result in a net loss.

"If there was even a shred of certainty, these stones wouldn't have been brought here to be sold. They've all been thoroughly screened," the Monkey said.

Furthermore, these sellers rarely asked for 'sources' (divine source energy); instead, they preferred to exchange for specific materials they needed, as they genuinely weren't lacking in sources.

After walking halfway down the street, Ye Fan finally discovered some good items. Unfortunately, either the exchange materials the owners desired were extremely rare, or the asking prices were outrageously high, far exceeding their actual value.

Finally, they found an area where peculiar stones could be exchanged for 'sources,' but the amount of Divine Source required was astonishing, often needing a piece as large as a human head.

Upon arriving here, Ye Fan calmed down. He selected a meter-square, greenish-brown stone. After some negotiation, he paid half a human-head-sized piece of Divine Source and began to cut the stone.

First, upon scratching the stone skin, a dazzling divine light immediately burst forth. It contained Divine Source, which meant there was absolutely no loss.

Then, Ye Fan continued to wield his knife. The stone skin peeled away, and the Divine Source was cut open. Inside, there was no more dazzling light, but rather a sacred and gentle radiance that brought a sense of tranquility to one's heart.

"Unbelievable! Such a huge piece of Grand Luo Silver Essence! How many peerless treasures would that be worth?" When the stone was cut open, it immediately triggered a chorus of exclamations, and the area almost boiled with excitement.

Many rushed towards them, their emotions stirred, eager to snatch it immediately. Inside the thin layer of Divine Source was a large, silver metallic cube, flowing with Dao patterns, mysterious and unfathomable.

The owner of this pile of stones was instantly dumbfounded, then wailed sorrowfully, "Damn this Divine Source..."

Divine Source was a mysterious substance that could suspend objects in air, allow them to fly, and alter the weight of stones. It made it difficult to judge the true weight of objects sealed within.

A large cube of Grand Luo Silver Essence, which, without that layer of Divine Source, would have been heavy enough to collapse the ground. The stone owner beat his chest and stomped his feet, cursing the Divine Source for deceiving him and causing him to miss out on such a treasure.

"Brother Heishui, you have your material for forging weapons this time," Ye Fan said, smiling.

Most cultivators possessed a primary weapon, something they had personally refined, which grew alongside them and served as the master over other armaments.

Of course, some chose not to follow this path, like Duan De, who simply focused on assimilating others' weapons. If he, having obtained a half-Emperor weapon, were to then forge a primary weapon for himself, it would mean his brain was truly addled. No primary weapon could possibly control the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Cover.

Last time, in the Primordial Purgatory, when everyone sacrificed their weapons, Li Heishui's weapon shattered because of its inferior material.

Ye Fan had wanted to give him the Vajra Bracelet, but Li Heishui found it awkward to use and preferred to forge his own primary weapon.

"This Emperor also lacks primary weapon materials!" the big black dog exclaimed.

"This humble Daoist as well!" Duan De rubbed his hands together.

Everyone looked at them with disdain. One had followed Emperor Wushi—how could he possibly lack divine materials for a primary weapon? The other possessed a half-Emperor weapon yet cried poverty; he deserved to be struck by lightning.

"Seriously, with such a large amount of Grand Luo Silver Essence, how many weapons could be forged? Even Saints would be envious!" the Monkey sighed.

"Brother Heishui, any divine materials you don't need, you can take back to refine some divine robes for Little Que'er and Tongtong," Ye Fan said.

"How extravagant!" Duan De felt a mix of envy and resentment.

"This Emperor also feels a royal battle robe is missing," the big black dog said, his face thicker than pigskin.

"Let's go quickly and exchange for the Immortal Everlasting Flower," Ye Fan said, putting away the large piece of Grand Luo Silver Essence and leaving.

Ji Ziyue's face was full of joyful smiles, her dimples, which had been absent for days, reappeared. She ran forward like a cheerful sprite.

"Did my eyes deceive me just now? Was that truly a large piece of Grand Luo Silver Essence? Them... that's outrageous!"

Before the pile of stones, a group of people stood in shock, utterly stunned for a long time. This peculiar stone street had caused a huge sensation, and many people flocked there.

When Ye Fan and his companions returned, the Immortal Everlasting Flower was still there, growing in a terracotta pot, glistening as if about to drip, surrounded by wisps of radiance, its bud about to bloom.

As requested, Ye Fan took out a piece of silver essence the size of a baby's fist to exchange for the flower.

"This..." The stall owner was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected someone to bring such a divine material so quickly, which put him in a difficult position. Although he wanted to make the exchange, he was very wary of the Ancient Imperial families.

"According to Heavenly Plaza's rules, once I place the Grand Luo Silver Essence down, I can take this flower. Your regretting it now is useless." Ye Fan dropped the Grand Luo Silver Essence, directly picked up the immortal flower, and presented it to Ji Ziyue.

"So fragrant, it feels like I'm about to ascend and become an immortal!" Ji Ziyue hugged the flowerpot, incredibly happy. She inhaled its scent, looking utterly enchanted, her long eyelashes fluttering lightly, beautiful and moving.

"Wait!" Yuangu and his group returned.

"Too bad, you're a step too late. We've already completed the exchange," Ye Fan said.

"It's not over yet. According to the rules, as long as the Grand Luo Silver Essence we brought is more than yours, this flower belongs to us," Yuangu stated proudly.

He took out a piece of Grand Luo Silver Essence, noticeably larger than Ye Fan's. Streaks of Dao patterns rippled from it, serene and brilliant, captivating the onlookers.

"This is truly a headache," Ye Fan remarked.

"Put the flowerpot down and leave immediately. In half a month, I'll come for your life," Yuangu sneered.

"What I mean is, why are you making this so troublesome?" Ye Fan casually opened a magical artifact space and took out another piece of Grand Luo Silver Essence, placing it on the ground.

"What?! This is—" Not only Yuangu, but even the elders behind him widened their eyes, filled with utter shock.

With a quick glance, they saw such a massive piece of Grand Luo Silver Essence that their breathing quickened, and they felt a dizzying sensation.

Not to mention the people present, even an Ancestor King would be dumbfounded if they saw it. What was the value of such a huge treasure? It was absolutely heaven-defying!

One must understand that most Saints, even after death, could not leave behind inherited Saint Weapons. Difficulty in refinement was one reason, but the most crucial factor was the lack of divine materials.

Such a large piece was not like common cabbage or scrap metal; it was Grand Luo Silver Essence, rarer than even the silver essence reserves in their imperial treasury.

No one would casually take it out for use. Only those who reached the Saint King realm were qualified to refine it—it was a treasure for forging weapons, reserved for peerless masters.

"Put away your silver essence and leave immediately. In half a month, I'll come for your life," Ye Fan said with a faint smile, returning Yuangu's own words.

"You..." Yuangu's face changed for the first time since he 'cleaved the Dao.' This was utterly humiliating, especially in front of Huo Lin'er.

Just moments ago, he had been looking down on Ye Fan. But then the Human Race Saint Body revealed a large piece of Grand Luo Silver Essence, making his own small piece seem utterly paltry by comparison.

"Is there any justice?! Carrying so much around, do you want to bludgeon people to death with it?!" he cursed in his heart, fuming. He felt completely disgraced in front of Huo Lin'er.

"Brother Ye..." The Imperial Daughter of Fire Kirin Cave looked pitifully at the miraculous flower, seemingly wanting him to show some affection, appearing as if she had something to say but couldn't quite utter it.

All women cared about their appearance, and even the daughter of an Ancient Emperor was no exception. For them, the Immortal Everlasting Flower was priceless.

"I've already given it away," Ye Fan said.

"Sister, if you truly wish to maintain eternal youth, you can come to my home in the future; this Immortal Everlasting Flower might bloom again," Ji Ziyue said with a laugh, hugging the flowerpot and refusing to let go.

"Really?" Huo Lin'er asked, her large eyes darting about.

"Of course it's true. But you shouldn't try to snatch this particular flower from me," Ji Ziyue replied with a clever look.

"Where does little sister live?" Huo Lin'er also chuckled slyly and stepped forward to ask.

Those nearby were somewhat dazed that the two women had actually struck up a connection and were inviting each other. The most exasperated was Yuangu, who stared coldly at Ye Fan.

"This battle will be to the death, only one shall survive!"

"Indeed, that is what I had in mind as well!"

Yuangu and Ye Fan spoke in quick succession, their words clashing sharply. A chilling killing intent permeated the air, making Heavenly Plaza feel utterly cold.