Chapter 994: Heavenly Court Descends to the Mortal World

The Pope was defeated, losing his life and leaving behind a brilliant golden holy armor. The Spear of Destiny was thrust into the ground, gleaming brightly. No one dared to approach; there was complete silence.

Ye Fan descended upon the holy mountain, ascending the stone steps one by one to reach the First Holy Palace of the Vatican. Everyone watched, none daring to obstruct him; the silence was so profound that a pin drop could be heard.

Finally, Ye Fan entered the Vatican's most sacred ground, which had stood since ancient times, and disappeared within. Many people collapsed, utterly enervated, slumping to the ground as if drained of all strength.

That day was forever remembered as the Day of Darkness. The powerful figures of the Jerusalem divine race were slain, and the most sacred place in the Vatican was desecrated by a demon, suffering the gravest profanation.

Thousands of years passed, tens of thousands of years passed. Whenever people recalled it, they would involuntarily shiver. Yet, for followers of another faith, it was a day of great triumph.

In the distance, Zhang Qingyang's face glowed with excitement. Wisps of primordial energy, the 'Mother Qi of All Things,' descended from the cauldron hovering above his head, enveloping him in protection. Holding a bodhi seed, he loudly declared, "The Heavenly Court shall be established!"

Behind him, numerous followers who had gathered there also shouted in unison, their voices echoing to the heavens. Vast sound waves vibrated throughout the surroundings, causing the entire Vatican to tremble.

At that moment, the old monks of the Vatican and the clan leaders who had arrived to provide aid all changed their expressions dramatically. For them, this was a great catastrophe.

The news spread rapidly, crossing mountains and ranges, traversing oceans, and reaching every corner of the cultivation world.

In the West, many ancient traditions fell silent. The sky seemed to press down, making everyone feel oppressed, filled with trepidation, and in constant dread, as if awaiting a final judgment.

The demon, having journeyed to the West, had single-handedly defeated the Divine Knight and the Pope, slaying three powerful figures of the divine race. No one could withstand him! What would he do next? The terrifying thought sent a chill down everyone's spine, making them shudder with fear.

The most severe consequence would be if he were to eradicate the Vatican root and branch, and slaughter everyone in the West. This seemed to be no difficult feat for him.

When the Daoist sects of the Central Lands received the news, many were stunned, finding it hard to believe. For one person to act alone, penetrate the holy city of Jerusalem, and slay the divine race—what incredible power was that? Then, to single-handedly breach the Vatican and dominate the West, it was like something out of a myth!

It was the same for the Buddhist sects. Many eminent monks chanted the name of Shakyamuni Buddha, their chants rising and falling, finding it somewhat inconceivable and feeling waves of apprehension.

At this moment, the world was in an uproar. The eyes of the entire cultivation world converged on the Western Lands, fixated on the Vatican, all awaiting the final outcome.

A demon from the Central Lands!

Everyone was talking. The demon's campaign in the West had shocked everyone, astounding the whole world, and drawing universal attention.

At this very moment, Ye Fan, having reached the pinnacle and entered the Holy Palace, was completely unaware that the entire cultivation world was holding its breath, all quietly awaiting the outcome, eager to see what he would do next.

He remained calm, his steps firm as he walked through the vast, empty hall. No one dared to obstruct him; all the divine envoys retreated, trembling with fear.

This palace had stood since ancient times, adorned with carved beams and painted pillars, resplendent and magnificent. Every inch glowed with holy light, filled with treasures and exotic rarities everywhere.

Ye Fan paid no heed, as if these treasures were mere dust and dirt, and walked deeper into the palace. Sensing the ancestral artifacts from the Central Lands, he strode purposefully to locate them.

Here lay quietly displayed the imperial seal carved from the Heshi Jade, which the First Emperor had used after unifying the six states. Though it did not bear Daoist principles, it carried a historical weight heavier than mountains and rivers.

On the other side, placed at a higher position, was a stone platform formed from dried yellow clay—the Nüwa Stone. It bore carvings of a human-headed, snake-bodied Daoist form, with traces of interwoven Great Dao principles, which captivated Ye Fan's attention for a long time.

Finally, he found the altar foundation stones inscribed with ancient Heavenly Scriptures. These had been plundered from Mount Tai by the Vatican's powerful figures over two decades ago, forming a large heap, indicating they had gained much at that time.

Ye Fan meticulously examined the Heavenly Scriptures, his heart stirred. The altar's base indeed bore bird-script engravings, which genuinely recorded a shocking secret: the opportunity for immortality.

It described the ancient Ninety-Nine Dragon Mountains, a fact Ye Fan already knew, having seen them at the burial ground of the Quasi-Emperor Rongcheng. He had long understood the full context.

What truly captivated him was a topographical map at the end of the ancient Heavenly Scriptures. This was actually one of the Immortal Maps for entering Kunlun Immortal Realm!

However, it was incomplete, as the altar's foundation was not whole; part of it remained within the Central Lands, with only this portion lost to the Vatican.

Ye Fan's heart pounded. He hadn't expected to find another piece of the map. This fragment could be pieced together with others once he returned. There were nine such maps in total, and he now possessed the sixth piece.

He carefully put away the ancestral artifacts and the ancient altar. Then, he began a meticulous search through the palace. In the temple where the golden holy armor and the Spear of Destiny were kept, he discovered some so-called Western holy relics, among which was a bone fragment!

"Another piece of the map!" Ye Fan couldn't help but exclaim. He hadn't anticipated that the Vatican would hold another piece, and this one was an original ancient map, crudely carved onto a bone fragment.

The maps found in Lushan Underground Palace and on the altar foundation were likely rubbings, not originals, but they were sufficiently clear.

Fortunately, the copied sections did not overlap. He now had seven pieces of the Immortal Map, needing only the last two bone fragments, which made his heart race.

During the ancient Sages' war, no one had been able to collect the complete map. Now, in this Era of Dharma Decline, those figures had departed one by one, giving him an opportunity.

"What a pity," Ye Fan sighed softly. "The ninth bone fragment was shattered, making it impossible to ever collect the full set."

He conducted a thorough sweep of the Holy Palace. No one knew exactly what he took, but when he emerged, the palace's spiritual essence seemed to have withered, and its holy radiance was no longer visible.

In the Vatican, everyone trembled with fear; no one dared to step forward and obstruct him. Even the radical faction, who had earlier intended to welcome him and celebrate the demise of the divine race, halted, realizing the vast difference in their cultivation realms made any dialogue impossible.

Ye Fan also did not wish to overdo it or commit acts of annihilation; he did not cause a massacre. With a "clang," the brilliant holy armor standing on the battlefield flew up, shrinking to just over three inches tall, and disappeared into his palm, taken as his own.

"Thud." The Spear of Destiny also rose from the ground and flew towards him. It had long been broken into three sections in ancient times, only barely reattached, yet it remained a holy artifact capable of slaying gods.

"You may take the golden holy armor, but the Spear of Destiny is the supreme holy artifact of the Vatican, holding special significance. Please leave it behind. If you desire a holy spear, you may take this one instead. I believe its power, once unsealed, far surpasses the Spear of Longinus."

The Divine Knight, his life force fading, his body cracked and oozing blood, yet still alive, spoke with difficulty. Beside him, an ancient, unadorned dragon spear was thrust into the ground.

"Clang." Ye Fan flicked his hand, and the Spear of Destiny transformed into a golden divine light, embedding itself motionless in front of the magnificent palace on the First Holy Mountain after a few trembles.

He held no particular like or dislike for the Western orthodoxies and had no intention of exterminating them. His sole purpose had been the ancestral artifacts, and with his objective achieved, he saw no need to utterly annihilate them.

"You seem to be a straightforward person. Why confine yourself to this place, like drawing a circle on the ground and imprisoning yourself? Would you be willing to come with me to the outer realms?" Ye Fan asked. "My life's flame is about to extinguish," replied the Divine Knight, a sinner who had borne his guilt until now, living with his back to the light, never experiencing glory. Yet, facing death, he felt a sense of liberation.

"If you wish to depart, I can extend your life."

The Divine Knight's gaze was calm; he had let go of everything. He said, "I have always yearned for the outer realms."

Ye Fan stepped forward, extended a finger, and a holy radiance shot out, enveloping the Divine Knight. He then took out a jade jar and poured out a glistening drop of liquid—the essence of an ancestral ginseng from Changbai Mountain, truly a precious medicine. He flicked it gently, and as the drop entered the Divine Knight's mouth, his body instantly surged with vitality. Afterwards, Ye Fan took out some divine spring water and offered it to him.

The Western Lands possessed boundless power of faith, but the Divine Knight had been branded by ancient Sages as a sinner, preventing him from extending his life through it.

It was precisely for this reason that he could only rely on his own cultivation. To reach this point in such a world was truly a miracle, making him worthy of being called the greatest prodigy of the Western Lands in tens of thousands of years.

This was what Ye Fan valued in him. Such a formidable individual, if introduced to another star field and cultivated in a different environment, what grand achievements might he attain? It would likely cause a great stir.

"Divine Knight!" The radical faction within the Vatican, finally finding their opportunity, all stepped forward and shouted loudly.

The Divine Knight sighed. He vaguely surmised that the ancient Sages might have deliberately branded him to prevent him from cultivating with the power of faith, intending to temper his Dao body.

"Our doctrine is benevolent. There's no need to venerate divine races from outer realms; God alone is sufficient. From today onwards, both Jerusalem and the Vatican shall belong to us."

"Yes, your doctrine is sacred and beautiful," Ye Fan said with a smile, echoing their words.

...

Everyone present could only maintain that expression. How could they react when this demon from the Central Lands actually said such a thing?

"Everything I said comes from the heart. Your doctrine provides spiritual solace to mortals and guides cultivators on their path; it is a priceless treasure. My actions were solely directed at the divine races from the outer realms, and any offense was committed only to reclaim the ancestral artifacts of the Central Lands."

Ye Fan carried an air that seemed to say, "Believe it or not, I believe it, and I've said my piece." Moreover, everything he needed to do was already accomplished.

"The Heavenly Emperor is benevolent..."

Zhang Qingyang began preaching, replacing "God" with "Heavenly Emperor" to win over followers in the Vatican. The result left many utterly speechless.

With matters concluded there, Ye Fan did not visit Mount Olympus to explore ancient sites, nor did he seek treasures in the divine lands of that pantheon, much to the regret of his few disciples.

He did not wish to cause widespread panic throughout the Western cultivation world. Time was ample, and there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

The West watched him depart as if seeing off a plague god, wishing he would simply disappear through space and time. Everything that occurred on the Day of Darkness left the demon from the Central Lands looming like a mountain over their hearts.

After Ye Fan returned to the Central Lands, the leaders of various sects personally welcomed him, creating a bustling scene—a grand event not seen in centuries. The return of the ancestral artifacts to the East was a matter of earth-shattering significance!

Ye Fan spent several days meticulously studying them, then handed over the Fuxi Dragon Tablet, fragments of the Nine Cauldrons, and other items to their respective sects, returning them to the guardianship of their original religious orders.

A demon from the Central Lands!

These four words instantly spread across the world, not limited to the Central Lands and the West. Every cultivator knew them, their notoriety ringing like thunder.

"I am no demon. As for who truly is, even Heaven itself might not know yet..." Ye Fan muttered to himself.

From that day onwards, the Young Heavenly Master of Daoism began to spread his teachings, journeying to distant foreign lands. Meanwhile, Long Xiaoque, Zhan Yifan, and others frequently manifested divine miracles among mortals.

From the Day of Darkness, the Heavenly Court began to take root and flourish in various corners of the world, especially in the incredibly open and free environment of the West. Zhang Qingyang, accompanied by the Crusaders converted by Ye Fan and the Vatican Saintess Audeline, achieved fruitful results.

Ye Fan's battles in the Western Lands, his divine might overwhelming the world, made his name renowned throughout the cultivation realm. The Central Lands' demonic power shook the four seas, and no one dared to obstruct them. The process of spreading their teachings could be described as remarkably smooth.

Perhaps decades, perhaps a century later, many people would habitually utter the phrase, "The Heavenly Emperor is above." This was Zhang Qingyang's accomplishment.

Though Ye Fan was in the Central Lands, he could truly feel all of this. His cauldron, as a sacred artifact for spreading the faith, received the power of belief, undergoing different changes every day.

During this period, the cultivation world was tumultuous and abuzz with many events.

Ye Fan's sudden emergence naturally drew attention from all directions. His rampage through the West, slaying powerful divine race figures in the holy city of Jerusalem and battling the Vatican, was nothing short of legendary.

Many major powers sought to uncover his origins. When they discovered he was one of the individuals taken away by the Nine Dragons pulling the coffin back then, they all gasped in cold air, utterly terrified.

During this period, some interesting things also occurred. For instance, cultivators from a certain peninsula nation in Northeast Asia, who were very meticulous in their research, thoroughly investigated and drew a conclusion.

They claimed that Ye Fan, a remarkable individual with astonishing lineage and formidable strength, actually originated from their peninsula nation, supporting their assertion with extensive research and various pieces of evidence.

Ultimately, some even wrote treatises, recording this as a fact in their nation's cultivation history books.

Cultivators from other regions, upon learning this, could only shake their heads and sigh. The cultivators on the peninsula truly seemed invincible; this seemed to have become a tradition, as if the entire universe ought to have been created by them.

Time flowed like water, imperceptibly passing by. Three years had gone by in a flash. Zhang Qingyang's missionary work was very successful. Now, not only were there churches and mosques, but also Heavenly Courts, blooming worldwide. The cauldron, as a sacred artifact for spreading the faith, daily emanated wisps of holy energy and brilliant immortal light, gathering more belief. It had become almost sentient, appearing increasingly sacred and beyond reach.

Zhang Qingyang's ability to wield the Heavenly Court's foremost sacred artifact—Ye Fan's future Dao-proving implement—initially drew much envy from the other disciples.

No one else could replace him. The Young Heavenly Master was unparalleled in spreading the faith, having poured his heart and soul into it, with his footprints reaching every corner of the world.

Now, not only did countless mortals believe in the Heavenly Court, but many cultivators were also persuaded by his eloquent words, converting to the Heavenly Court and jointly revering the Heavenly Emperor.

His cultivation also made significant progress; with every ounce of growth in the Heavenly Court, he would advance slightly. Ye Fan observed all of this and accepted him as a registered disciple.

On that very day, Ye Fan summoned him across space and time to return to the Central Lands, as Ye Fan was about to undergo his tribulation and needed the cauldron to overcome it together.

Years of accumulation were about to burst forth!

It wasn't that he couldn't undergo the tribulation; he could have three years prior. His delay was solely because he intended to defy and sever the Great Dao. He wanted to avoid even the slightest mishap. Succeeding would mean a brilliant and glorious future, but failure would reduce him to tribulation ashes, worse than an ant, thus requiring utmost caution.

"Greetings, Master."

Upon Zhang Qingyang's return, the cauldron hovering above his head detached, shrinking to an inch in height. Its body was ancient and unadorned, while immortal divine radiance swirled around its exterior before merging into Ye Fan's glabella.

"You've worked hard these past few years. If the Heavenly Court succeeds, your contribution will be recognized as the foremost."