Primordial Divine Emperor-Chapter 146 - 106: Premature Panic—A Shadow Over Every Heart (Part 2)
"The full-scale righteous and demonic war, also known as the Holy War between Good and Evil, or the Holy War between Righteousness and Demonic, even the peerless masters of the Entering the Saint Realm will become mere pieces in the grand game of this conflict. Its brutal severity is rarely seen in eternity." Qi Yun shook his head slowly, as if he could already see the tragic scenes of the vast battlefield, unable to bear the thought.
Each time the full-scale righteous and demonic war occurs, it invariably results in mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. Almost every piece of land in the Hundred Broken Mountain Range becomes soaked in scarlet. Every such war causes the cultivation flourishing of the Hundred Broken Mountain Range region to regress by thousands, even tens of thousands, of years.
According to Qi Yun, the most devastating righteous and demonic war in the Hundred Broken Mountain Range occurred ten thousand years ago.
That war nearly reduced the number of cultivators in the entire Hundred Broken Mountain Range by tens of millions, and countless major sects were wiped out, their legacies broken forever.
Now, after ages have passed, it seems the Demonic Sects intend to reignite the Holy War between Good and Evil, making it a great threat to the Righteous Orthodox Sects.
After listening to Qi Yun and Dugu Nan’s explanation, Ye Xiaofan would be lying if he said he wasn’t anxious. If a full-scale war breaks out, the worst affected would be those prodigies with terrifying talent yet still unfulfilled potential.
These prodigies of the righteous path will all become the prime targets for the Demon Sect to assassinate since killing a yet-to-mature prodigy is far easier and requires far less sacrifice than dealing with an Ascender in the future.
Noticing Ye Xiaofan’s unease, Qi Yun continued to comfort him, "But Fan’Er, you don’t need to fret too much. The righteous and demonic will sooner or later clash again, and you just need to do your best to grow within the ’Hundred Sects Battle Domain.’ The outcome of the grand scheme is not something one person can alter, no matter how extraordinary your talents are. All you can do is ensure your survival through the havoc."
After Qi Yun spoke, Dugu Nan also looked at Ye Xiaofan with stern seriousness, advising earnestly.
"Fan’Er, this journey ahead of you is both your ordeal and the rare opportunity of a lifetime for your generation. During the clash between righteous and demonic prodigies, demon fiends contend for supremacy. Such a spectacle isn’t something every generation of cultivators can witness. Those who withstand this stormy trial and remain standing at the end will indeed become monumental figures."
After Dugu Nan finished, Ye Xiaofan slowly raised his head, as if understanding something profound, and yet, he also felt like he had grasped nothing at all.
However, there was one thing he was very clear about—this is a world where the strong prey on the weak. Strength is revered, and to retreat is to be eliminated. The only fate awaiting the eliminated is to become the stepping stone for the strong, reduced to bones in a grave.
Thus, for this trip to the ’Hundred Sects Battle Domain,’ Ye Xiaofan understood more than ever that it is his calling.
After hearing the words of Dugu Nan and Qi Yun, Ye Xiaofan felt that his understanding of the world had undergone a monumental shift.
That night, the South Peak was tranquil as water.
Ye Xiaofan did not practice cultivation but sat quietly in his small courtyard, lost in thought for the entire night.
That night, he pondered deeply, with the teachings of Dugu Nan and Qi Yun echoing in his mind, seemingly insignificant yet containing the lifelong experiences of two Saints.
On the other side.
Dugu Nan and Qi Yun watched from afar the motionless figure in the night, their expressions heavy, especially Dugu Nan, whose brows had been furrowed since he returned to South Peak.
"You’re still uneasy?" Qi Yun asked, noticing the expression on Dugu Nan’s face.
Hearing this, Dugu Nan was filled with worry and replied with concern, "I am just considering that, in name, although the child has trained for more than two years, his talent and speed of cultivation have exceeded our expectations. Ultimately, however, he is still but a seedling yet to embark on this extraordinary path."
Following the voice, Qi Yun also focused his attention. Though Ye Xiaofan is astonishingly talented in the Divine Sword Sect, he is like a brand new sword yet to be unsheathed. To put it plainly, he is like a top student who hasn’t faced the harsh realities of the world.
Regardless of his terrifying power, he has not yet faced a true enemy; his sword has never tasted the blood of an adversary, nor taken a life.
"Your worries are understandable, but some things he must experience firsthand to truly grow."
After speaking, Qi Yun continued to watch the figure, murmuring, "Letting him go out to experience the world is beneficial. Only those who recognize the world’s cruelty can become desensitized. The environment will teach him how to survive in this world."
Upon hearing this, Dugu Nan nodded slightly. Both he and Qi Yun had grown up this way in their youth. Without facing storms, how can one stand strong?
That night was a long, fear-enveloped one.
Not only was Ye Xiaofan unable to sleep, but countless seasoned disciples in the Divine Sword Sect were also restless.
A night without words, time passed slowly, and the next morning.
Before Ye Xiaofan could contact Nangong Jianchen, the latter had already arrived atop the South Peak.
Atop the South Peak, the two only exchanged a glance and saw an unprecedented fear in each other’s eyes.
A gentle breeze blew over the summit of the South Peak.
The two newly emerged prodigies stood silently at the top of the majestic Divine Peak. Though they spoke few words, an endless solemnity was evident in their eyes.
"Brother Ye, you received the news, too?" After a while, Nangong Jianchen gazed at the vast sect below, his mood seemingly heavy.
Upon hearing the question, Ye Xiaofan couldn’t remain relaxed: "What I know should not differ much from what you have learned."
After exchanging words, the two fell into a long silence.
After a short period, Nangong Jianchen turned to closely watch Ye Xiaofan: "What do you think of the upcoming upheaval?"
Hearing the question, Ye Xiaofan’s face still bore traces of shock, but after a night of contemplation, his gaze grew ever more resolute, even bursting with fighting spirit.
Faced with Nangong Jianchen’s inquiry, Ye Xiaofan remained silent for a moment, uttering only a few words: "Times of crisis create heroes, and chaos births prodigies."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Jianchen exchanged a look with Ye Xiaofan, and both of their mouths curled into a knowing smile.
Nangong Jianchen was the first to raise his palm, quietly gazing at Ye Xiaofan.
Understanding, Ye Xiaofan also raised a palm, and the two palms clashed together atop the South Peak, gripping tightly.
Gazing deeply into each other’s eyes, Nangong Jianchen exclaimed with fiery passion, "Let this world tremble because of us, even if for just once, it will not be in vain."
Ye Xiaofan, too, filled with a crazed intensity, replied firmly, "Even if just once, it will not be in vain!"
After speaking, the two laughed heartily, and their laughter echoed across the summit of the South Peak.
At that moment, Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen seemed to have shed every ounce of panic, their spirits soaring with the grandeur of "With a laugh, we stride out to embrace destiny, not the common folk are we!" and the boldness of "To be born a person, why fear death?"
Little did they know, the more bold they were at that moment, the grimmer their expressions would be upon entering the ’Hundred Sects Battle Domain.’
Yet as Dugu Nan and Qi Yun gazed at the two standing figures on the South Peak, they were somewhat moved.
However, just as Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen exhibited boundless boldness.
Suddenly.
BOOM—!
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!
Beams of light descended from the heavens above the Divine Sword Sect, enveloping the ancient warships.
Evidently, the list of candidates the Divine Sword Sect was preparing to send to the ’Hundred Sects Battle Domain’ had been announced.
Instantly, the entire Divine Sword Sect erupted into activity, and countless figures surged like waves towards the Martial Arts Arenas across the various Divine Peaks, stirring up a maelstrom.
However, when innumerable seasoned disciples of the Divine Sword Sect arrived at the Martial Arts Arenas of each peak and saw the countless lists, several times more than ever before, they were left momentarily stunned in place.
Particularly when everyone saw the endless familiar names that resounded throughout the entire sect, it was as if they had been struck by lightning.
These names unmistakably belonged to those from the Three Hundred and Sixty Celestial Pride Mansions, One Hundred and Eight Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands, Seventy-Two Small Peaks, and Thirty-Six Holy Peaks—the renowned prodigies of their era.
And these names stretched across a significant portion of the void, with the Devilish Prodigies and even the top prodigies and monsters of the generation practically unveiling themselves.
Suddenly.
The vast sea of senior and junior disciples of the Divine Sword Sect froze, unmoving, as if they had become clay and wood sculptures, all filled with unfathomable waves of terror.
In an instant, an early-arriving dread seemed to engulf everyone’s hearts, enveloping the sky above the Divine Sword Sect in a nearly inescapable, heavy shroud.
