Chapter 987: Heavenly Emperor

A loud wail echoed. Ye Fan stood before the magnificent temple atop the mountain, looking down. The Crusader army, having marched from the East, appeared to have lost all hope, on the brink of collapse, weeping bitterly.

Their gods were dead. The entire world seemed to crumble around them, plunged into gloom and despair. Two supreme divine beings had been shot down, one after another, by arrows, a reality they found impossible to accept.

In the eyes of these devout believers, all color had drained from their world; it felt as if the end had come for them. This was an unbearable burden and pain; their faith had collapsed.

“Glory and faith are our very lives; we fight for our gods!” The crowd wept, rushing fearlessly towards the highest holy mountain in Jerusalem, determined to make a final charge, unwilling to accept such a cruel reality.

Ye Fan said nothing. He stretched out a hand and swept it downwards. A continuous sound of impact followed, as blood bloomed and lives were extinguished. Seven or eight knight commanders were instantly annihilated.

After that, he ceased his actions, sitting cross-legged on the highest holy mountain. He began to chant the “Scripture of Salvation,” his voice resonating through the heavens. Auspicious light cascaded down like jeweled garlands, thousands of brilliant hues and myriad auspicious rays pouring forth, filling every single corner.

This scripture is revered as the foremost among the Three Caves Scriptures of Taoism. It is said to dispel celestial calamities, protect emperors, and ward off poisons and harms to deliver the common people. Both men and women receive its protection and salvation, transcending their mortal existence.

“The Way of Immortality values life; it saves countless beings…” Ye Fan’s divine voice was deafening, rumbling like thunder as he preached and chanted scriptures on the holy mountain. Various auspicious phenomena manifested between heaven and earth.

Ye Fan intended to travel to another blessed land in the Western regions. However, if the current Crusader army’s belligerence was not quelled, they might eventually wreak havoc in the Middle Lands.

They blocked his path, each of them heartbroken. Yet, Ye Fan did not wish to commit such a colossal slaughter; eliminating so many people would truly go against heavenly harmony. It would be better to enlighten them spiritually.

Auspicious colors descended from the heavens, and sweet springs gushed from the earth. Withered trees sprouted anew, and the sick and disabled were healed. As Ye Fan spoke with profound eloquence, various auspicious signs manifested: immortal light shone brilliantly, imbued with a sacred aura. He appeared like a deity, saving all beings.

From his mouth, ancient characters unfolded one after another, transforming into scriptures imprinted in the void. They purified the hearts of all, cleansing their primordial spirits—a spiritual “marrow cleansing and hair cutting.”

Ye Fan displayed no killing intent whatsoever. His entire being was like an ancient immortal who had lived for ten thousand years, or an undying sage. Every word he uttered was crystal clear, transforming into divine radiance that illuminated the sky before entering the sea of consciousness of all present.

The astonishing killing intent within Jerusalem completely vanished, entirely dispelled by him. Many knights who had charged close dropped their weapons, staring blankly, utterly lost in thought. These were the strongest among them.

At the foot of the holy mountain, even more Crusader troops sat cross-legged on the ground, their expressions solemn and dignified, as if they had achieved sudden enlightenment. Their faces were calm, and their entire beings became serene.

Elderly cultivators in the distance who had not been affected by the phenomenon witnessed this scene, and their hairs stood on end. What kind of heaven-defying ability was this? It was comparable to ancient deities: preaching, gathering believers, and establishing a religion in a single day that could be revered by the world and endure for ten thousand ages.

As Ye Fan chanted the Daoist scripture, orchids and fragrant plants bloomed all around him. Golden palaces materialized, clouds billowed and mists soared, and various dharma forms manifested in profusion. Immortal kings sat cross-legged in the nine heavens, and within the chaos, a single lotus was nurtured.

With one recitation of the scripture, the hearts of the devout believers became clear. With two recitations, their worries vanished, and their ears and eyes became keen. With three recitations, everyone bowed their heads, their minds serene. With four recitations, hidden ailments disappeared, and their bodies felt light. With five recitations, even lost teeth grew back.

“Boundless and inconceivable. The Dao Sea stirs waves. The essence of the Dharma flows like a stream. Nurturing and cultivating fine seedlings. Used to rescue the hungry and the poor…”

Ye Fan’s manifestations gradually merged with his physical body. He sat high in the nine heavens, chanting profound scriptures, as auspicious signs erupted across the sky and cascaded down, completely enveloping Jerusalem.

In this era, such a powerful divine being was almost unseen. No one would expend so much mental effort and cultivation to expound scriptures and save so many people. In ancient times, this would undoubtedly have been considered a manifestation of a miracle!

This was not only a spiritual deliverance for the believers but also bestowed immense benefits upon them. Any problems they encountered in their cultivation or limitations on their spiritual path would be resolved, granting them profound advantages.

In ancient times, this would have been akin to a god descending to the mortal world, establishing a pure land. It was the supreme method for gathering faith; once it garnered the recognition and reverence of the entire world, one could instantly attain sainthood.

The hostility within the Holy City of Jerusalem completely vanished, transforming into a place of peace and harmony. With his immense spiritual power, Ye Fan dispelled all killing intent and brought tranquility to the area.

During this process, Young Celestial Master Zhang Qingyang gained the most. As an original disciple of the Daoist sect, he had been protecting Ye Fan from behind. He felt as if a window had opened, his cultivation advanced significantly, and he even broke through a minor realm.

“Master, establish a religion!” he said with a trembling voice. “Even ancient miracles were no greater than this; the people below have all been enlightened by you and become devout believers.”

“Heavenly Court,” Ye Fan uttered these two words, deafeningly loud and echoing through the clouds. He then told Zhang Qingyang that he could preach in the future, but not yet.

Zhang Qingyang nodded. This would be a grand and long-term goal for him to strive for. The renowned True Man Zhang thus embarked on a path of establishing a new Daoist tradition.

Finally, Ye Fan ceased to display his cultivation and stopped chanting scriptures. At the foot of the holy mountain, countless people sat cross-legged on the ground, each one full of spirit, having completely abandoned their killing intent and been spiritually purified.

He rose to his full height. Below him, a multitude paid homage, their eyes filled with immense devotion. They all prayed, willing to follow him on his journey to the Vatican to reclaim the ancestral artifact.

Zhang Qingyang took it upon himself to announce Ye Fan’s Daoist status at that moment, proclaiming him “Heavenly Emperor.” Immediately, acclamations like “Long live the Emperor!” rang out incessantly, echoing through heaven and earth.

Long Xiaoque, Zhan Yifan, and the others exchanged glances. They felt that Zhang Qingyang truly had the potential to be a religious charlatan, turning a group of enemies into such devout believers in the blink of an eye; it was utterly incredible.

“Master, please impart the complete Scripture of Salvation to me,” Zhang Qingyang said earnestly.

Ye Fan extended a hand and pointed. A clear radiance entered Zhang Qingyang’s glabella, transforming into a profound and intricate scripture. It bore the imprint of Ye Fan’s own enlightenment, containing all the details and processes of his comprehension of the text, allowing Zhang Qingyang to quickly grasp its essence.

This was no longer purely the “Scripture of Salvation.” It also contained the profound mysteries of various scriptures that could enlighten human primordial spirits, such as the Dao Scripture, the Western Emperor Scripture, and the Hengyu Scripture, intermingled to form a unique ancient scripture.

“It is time to leave.” Ye Fan gazed into the distance and then set off.

“Heavenly Emperor!” At the foot of the holy mountain, wave after wave of devout believers shouted, their voices echoing through the clouds. In the distant temples of two other religions, many elders were dumbfounded. Even the gods they revered remained silent, not daring to make a move.

Ye Fan descended the mountain, followed by a vast multitude. They left the place in a mighty procession, heading into the distance.

“I want the Heavenly Court Daoist tradition to blossom in every corner of the world, thereby establishing an immortal religion,” Zhang Qingyang declared, greatly excited.

“Zhang Qingyang, you haven’t accidentally been enlightened by Master, have you?” the others muttered playfully.

“You don’t understand,” Zhang Qingyang said, his expression dazed. “Establishing an immortal religion… I vaguely feel as if I’ve sensed something profound, but I can’t explain it clearly now.”

The Vatican, meaning “Land of Prophets,” is the most renowned blessed land in the West. It is considered a sacred resting place for ancient deities, steeped in endless myths and legends.

As Ye Fan journeyed west, shortly after leaving Jerusalem, news of his deeds spread through various channels, causing a great tremor among the Western spiritual traditions!

The last two divine beings had been shot dead, and all their glory and halos had dimmed. Furthermore, the Crusaders had become his personal guards, his devout followers, and were now beginning their own westward expedition.

The Demon Marches West!

Many ancient families could no longer sit still. A powerful demon had emerged from the Middle Lands, its formidable aura indicating ill intent. Was this to overthrow the Western spiritual traditions?

On this dark day, all major spiritual traditions were terrified. A demon had emerged from the Middle Lands and was now traveling across the world to the West. No one had anticipated the situation escalating to such an extreme and grave state.

The only remaining divine beings in this world were dead. Now, who could possibly subdue this great demon from the Middle Lands?

“The Vatican is in peril. Although its foundations are deep, in this age of declining dharma, it is no longer sufficient. No one can suppress this devil anymore.”

“You’re mistaken,” another corrected. “That’s the Lord of the Heavenly Court. Be careful, he might come to enlighten you.”

“What should we do? Should we send aid?”

“No need to worry. If I’m not mistaken, there are still Holy Knights alive from the Dark Ages. Perhaps they still possess the power to fight.”

All parties were abuzz with discussions, utterly stunned by Ye Fan’s conversion of the Crusaders. Some found it impossible to accept this fact, and each one felt a shiver of unease.

After circling outside the Vatican for a moment, Ye Fan began to enter an ancient magic array, stepping into a primal land. Here, ancient trees resembled dragons, and rare herbs exuded fragrance. It was a rare cultivation sanctuary in the world, its wild and untamed aura washing over him.

Since ancient times, this place had been a spiritual land nurturing divine talents, where sages had resided through generations. Although times had changed, and such masters were no longer to be found, it was still held in reverence.

This was an ancient spiritual sanctuary, distinct from the Catholic center revered by ordinary people outside, yet it could still draw upon the power of external faith.

Within the Vatican, a host of important figures were filled with worry and fear, their brows deeply furrowed. Now that the demon from the Middle Lands had arrived at their doorstep, they felt utterly lost and without a plan.

However, some individuals were laughing heartily, feeling greatly relieved, and said, “Isn’t it wonderful that those divine beings are dead? The Holy Bible is the crystallization of wisdom, and Jesus is a revered sage, so what were those few foreign divine beings anyway?! When the time comes, we will go to meet this demon from the Middle Lands. Our doctrine is great; God’s existence provides humanity with spiritual solace, not merely serving as a source of thought power for a few foreign divine beings to cultivate.”

In another magnificent hall, a group of people were at their wits’ end, all worried to the extreme. The divine beings had been killed; how could the Vatican possibly resist?

Finally, the Pope spoke, his face calm as water, saying, “It matters not. Gods are not omnipotent, but our faith is!”

“Your Holiness,” someone asked with a shocked expression, unable to help themselves, “do you have a solution? The demon from the Middle Lands is truly powerful beyond compare!”

“Do you know why those divine beings only resided in the Holy City of Jerusalem and never dared to come to this ancient spiritual sanctuary?” the Pope asked, his eyes deep and unfathomable like the ocean. He sat calmly above, as still as a mountain. “Because they were afraid. Here resides the strongest being under the entire starry sky!”

“Then why did you simply watch as they were killed?” someone asked, alarmed.

“What were they?” the Pope scoffed. “Merely collaborators. In the past, we occasionally needed them to display miracles. They were not true Gods, just a few deities we established, who could be discarded at any time.”

The Pope’s thick hair flowed with radiance, his face was snow-white and crystalline, and his eyes were as deep as the starry sky. He sat high above, and with every lift of his hand or foot, traces of the Dao appeared, like a true deity.