Chapter 878: Five-colored Altar Mystery

The commotion escalated, and soon, many in the Five Domains believed someone was constructing a five-colored altar that would lead to outside their realm. Major conglomerates worldwide began acquiring precious five-colored stones, causing prices to soar and supply to fall short of demand. These stones subtly replaced 'sources' and became the most valuable currency among cultivators.

In Heaven's Village, Qiluo asked suspiciously, "Are you sure you're not behind this?"

"Everything is being handled by the Black Sovereign; it's really not me," Ye Fan said, sitting cross-legged on the cliff, absorbing strands of Universal Essence into his body.

"Such shameless luxury! How many 'sources' will this consume? It's incredibly wasteful," Qiluo lamented, finding it hard to comprehend. He then asked what their true intentions were.

"This sovereign is undertaking a grand research project," the Black Sovereign declared shamelessly, "to see if I can restore the five-colored altar of the ancient emperors and open a path to outside the domain."

"Just for that?" Qiluo questioned.

"What else do you think it's for?" the Black Sovereign retorted, diligently studying various array patterns while training the Twin Silver-Blooded Sovereigns.

"You're being far too extravagant! How many people would one have to kill to earn that many 'sources'?" Qiluo exclaimed, visibly distressed.

"Don't worry," Litian said grandly, waving his hand, "Ye Fan previously unearthed six or seven dragon veins. The gains were substantial, more than enough for us to squander."

"What exactly are you trying to do?" Qiluo asked, unconvinced by their explanation.

"Someone wants to use 'sources' to literally overwhelm a group of powerful enemies to death," Li Heishui said nonchalantly, as he grilled breakfast nearby. The meat was golden, and its savory aroma filled the air.

"Smash whom?" Little Sparrow asked, blinking her large eyes while holding her milk bottle. She stood by, gazing longingly at the sizzling, fragrant roasted meat, but unfortunately, she was still too young to eat it.

Tongtong and the two spirit children happily enjoyed their breakfast, showing off in front of the little one. With a "smack," the little one retaliated by hitting them with her milk bottle.

"There's a group of people, their whereabouts unknown, who will likely use various methods to cause trouble once they learn Ye Fan is about to leave, hoping to lure them out," Yan Yixi explained.

"What if they don't come?"

"It's no big deal if they don't come," Ye Fan replied. "We'll just consider it collecting various materials for the Black Sovereign, allowing it to advance further in the field of array patterns."

"Kid, you truly have foresight! This is a great investment. I'm starting to like you more and more," the Black Sovereign said, grinning widely nearby with a smile that made one want to beat it up. It was as fake as a big-tailed wolf.

The Black Sovereign stayed at home, reviewing various ancient texts—all array pattern scriptures acquired at sky-high prices. Then, with its head held high and its now no longer bare tail erect, it traversed the void and entered a secret location where a five-colored altar was under construction.

The more secretive they were, the more curious people became, wanting to get to the bottom of it. Ye Fan and his group made it all very mysterious, which naturally prompted many cultivators to investigate and inquire about the matter. The mystery of the five-colored altar garnered increasing attention. By now, many believed it was nearing completion and would soon be opened, leading someone to a realm beyond.

"Did you know that it's actually the ancient tribes collecting the precious stones, not human cultivators at all?" someone said. "They want to enter the starry domain and embark on their return journey."

This ancient planet originally did not harbor so many races; even humans appeared later. The so-called Myriad Ancient Races all traversed from outside the domain, while the indigenous inhabitants had long since vanished. Some speculated that this was a major operation by the Myriad Ancient Races, intended to delve deep into the starry domain, embark on their return journey, and search for their original ancient star.

"Everyone has been misled," another rumor claimed. "Do you remember that the Qishi Mansion has a path leading outside the domain that's about to open, to send a group of young talents? It's *they* who are collecting the precious stones."

During this period, all sorts of speculations emerged. People overlooked the matter itself and elevated its implications to another level.

"Wrong, everyone guessed wrong! It must be the Human Sacred Body who's doing it," yet another theory claimed. "Have you forgotten? He left this starfield years ago and then returned. He clearly learned the secret of the five-colored altar from outside the domain and can now achieve interstellar travel!"

This speculation caused an uproar, and many people began to ponder. Ye Fan was, after all, the only person who had successfully traveled to and from the vast universe. If it was him, it was truly possible.

During this period, some other major events also occurred, drawing people's attention, with some even garnering significant concern from the ancient tribes.

The Southern Demon finally achieved Dao Severance. On the day of his enlightenment, nine great ominous stars appeared in the sky, each one overshadowing the sun and spanning the entire Southern Ridge, astonishing the contemporary world! Ominous stars, as recorded in ancient human texts, foretell disaster, with the least harmful being comets. The appearance of nine of the strongest ominous stars on the day the Southern Demon achieved Dao Severance was truly terrifying to behold.

On this day, the entire world was shaken, and discussions erupted everywhere. The simultaneous appearance of nine great ominous stars was a rare spectacle, seen once in a thousand ages. Legend had it that throughout history, among the demon race, only the Great Green Emperor had manifested a similar wondrous sight in his youth. Even more astonishing, some connected the nine ominous stars that hung across the Southern Ridge that day, discovering they formed the shape of an emperor's crown.

This Dao Severance phenomenon was truly shocking, filling everyone with awe for the Demon Emperor Palace. Could it be that a Demon Race Great Emperor would emerge in the future?

Almost simultaneously, several other major events occurred, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.

In Central Province, grim news came from the Jiuli Imperial Dynasty: the Fifth Prince, Shenli, on whom infinite hopes were placed, failed in his Dao Severance. He perished on the Dao platform, his decades of cultivation becoming naught in an instant.

In the Eastern Wasteland, the old Holy Lord of Dao One Holy Land died during secluded cultivation, becoming a dried skeleton at the age of two thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. Older generations inevitably felt a sense of shared sorrow. Although many had been lifelong rivals, their enmity was now diminished, and they could only sigh at the dwindling time they had left.

Almost simultaneously, the Great Evolution Holy Lord also perished. News also came from the Sky Demon Palace: a demon king who had lived to the venerable age of three thousand six hundred years became a dried skeleton. Furthermore, the Sky Demon Palace Master also passed away during the same period, a double blow that cast a pall of gloom over the Sky Demon Palace due to the loss of two such important figures. This made people sigh with emotion, marking the ending of one era and the rise of another. For the older generation, it was the twilight of their lives.

Soon after, another shocking piece of news arrived, attracting worldwide attention: Hua Yunfei clashed fiercely with Jue Youqing, the "Female Bodhisattva" of Western Desert Buddhism. The battle raged for days, destroying the famous Mount Amitabha in the Western Desert.

The Five Domains were greatly shaken! Unfortunately, the world didn't know who had won or lost. Soon after, an emaciated old monk revealed that Jue Youqing returned alive but with severe injuries. As for Hua Yunfei, people didn't know if he was dead or alive, nor whether he had lost or won; the old monk did not elaborate.

In the past, the Central Emperor, Southern Demon, and Western Bodhisattva were all on par. Now, Hua Yunfei could already fight the Western Bodhisattva, aiming to seize her Buddhist Source. His rapid growth was terrifying. The Sky-Swallowing Demonic Art once again became a lingering shadow in people's hearts. A few ancient sects united, sending out all their experts, all intent on capturing him. If he were allowed to grow, the harm would be immense. In the future, countless powerful cultivators from major sects would likely become his prey, targeted by him.

"He has always been very low-key, preferring to search ancient tombs for corpses rather than causing widespread chaos in the world. Has he finally cast aside all restraint now?" Ye Fan of Heaven's Village muttered to himself.

Within a few days, another piece of news spread: The Yaoguang Holy Son made his move, displaying terrifying and unparalleled combat power as he single-handedly pursued Wang Teng for thirty thousand miles. With a burst of sacred light, all techniques turned to ash, unable to touch him. It illuminated the entire northern great grassland, startling many cultivators who were terrified and couldn't bear the oppressive power. In this battle, the Yaoguang Holy Son demonstrated terrifying strength, leaving Wang Teng utterly defenseless.

The esteemed Northern Emperor, who in the past stood alongside the Central Emperor, Southern Demon, and Western Bodhisattva, was indeed formidable, with all sects across the land optimistic about his future! However, ever since he was defeated by Ye Fan over a decade ago, his prestige had plummeted. Yet, his strength remained undeniable, with few able to match him, but now he had suffered another crushing defeat.

The reason for the Yaoguang Holy Son's action was simple: Wang Teng had allegedly killed one of his junior brothers. Of course, this was only the Yaoguang sect's claim, and whether anyone was actually killed remained unknown.

"He's after the 'Advance' secret technique from the Nine Secrets!" Upon hearing the news, the people of Heaven's Village made this judgment. Ye Fan had also been searching for Wang Teng, but unfortunately, he never found any clues.

In this battle, Wang Teng was nearly crippled, pursued by the Yaoguang Holy Son for thirty thousand miles, his body torn into four or five pieces. Finally, a celestial crane appeared and carried away his head.

"It's that celestial crane again! The inheritance of the Chaotic Ancient Great Emperor was bestowed upon him by that old crane, which carried him away when he was young," Ye Fan and others exclaimed, surprised upon hearing this.

The celestial crane intervened and rescued Wang Teng. Although the Yaoguang Holy Son did not succeed in capturing him, he did kill another person. Zitian Feng, the sole survivor of the Divine Spirit Valley, was connected to Wang Teng by vital energy. She led an ambush midway but was utterly annihilated by the Yaoguang Holy Son; not a single one escaped.

"Wang Teng is finished; he's become a stepping stone for Yaoguang. From now on, he'll likely achieve nothing more," Li Heishui commented.

"Not necessarily," Duan De countered. "If he keeps losing consistently and his Dao heart is completely shattered, he might be able to reforge a demonic embryo later."

"Losing once or twice isn't enough; he has to keep losing. Can you be any more twisted?" Litian retorted.

"Never mind, this level of insight is beyond your comprehension," Fatty Duan said, then wiggled his backside and went for a stroll in Heaven's Village cemetery. In his words, looking at those grave mounds always lifted his spirits. However, Qiluo was in a very bad mood. He wished he could skin Fatty Duan alive and instructed several assassins to keep an eye on him day and night. If he dared to rob a tomb, they were to report it immediately, and they would pursue him together.

"Black Sovereign, is the Peerless Killing Array engraved?" Ye Fan asked. "This time, I've prepared rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures for you. It should be able to display its power at a crucial moment, right?"

For many days, the Black Sovereign had been very busy. Ye Fan had spent exorbitant sums to collect five-colored precious stones and purchase various ancient array pattern texts for it, but not without the condition that it engrave killing arrays. Now, it had completed five array patterns, with only one more remaining. It was clearly incredibly meticulous, much more refined than before, all to unleash its maximum power.

"One corner would be enough! Do you want to exhaust this sovereign to death by making me do so much?" the big black dog complained, sticking out its crimson tongue, clearly 120% unwilling.

A month later, the secret of the five-colored altar was gradually unveiled when another array pattern master revealed the truth: it was located in a valley in the Northern Domain. Moreover, the person in charge was undoubtedly the Human Sacred Body, as the master had seen the big black dog. The five-colored altar was almost complete, built according to the array diagram the Human Sacred Body brought back from outside the domain; only some details had been repaired by them.

"Do you know that Ye Fan, the Human Sacred Body, is about to open the ancient starry road?"

"I've heard! He's going to traverse the starry sky within the next few days. It's truly astonishing!"

Afterwards, people discovered that Old Sage Wei Yi of the Heavenly Striped Stone Workshop was missing. It was rumored that Ye Fan had taken him to guard the five-colored altar, fearing any mishaps.

The Human World and Hell dispatched large forces, intending to extensively damage the five-colored altar. Then, following clues, they uncovered an important piece of information and announced it publicly: the five-colored altar was located in a desolate mountain range in the western part of the Northern Domain. Furthermore, they believed the five-colored altar was truly nearing completion and would open in the coming days. As they were sworn enemies with Ye Fan, their zealous efforts to target him made the people of Heaven's Village not angry, but instead, laugh.

Two days later, news came from the Northern Domain: Wu Zhongtian and Jiang Huairen were spotted, trapped within Nine Nether Mountain, calling for help.

On the same day, someone in the Southern Domain consigned a jade sculpture of a beautiful woman. The seller claimed a real person existed, and those interested could bid high to acquire her. This woman was named Lin Jia, and she was from outside the domain, causing a great sensation.

Furthermore, on this very night, another shocking piece of news spread from the Central Domain: an immortal medicine appeared in the Heavenly Break Mountain Range, having transformed into human form. Wherever it passed, the mountains were filled with its fragrance. Someone sketched its appearance, revealing it to be a small girl, exquisitely delicate, with tear stains on her small face, exactly like Little Nannan!