480: Chapter 480 The Heavenly Emperor (45)

On the surface, the Ye Family didn't say a word about the Liu Family's affairs, as if that ambush by six Emperors had never happened.

Secretly, one secret order after another was issued from the depths of the ancestral land. The Ye Family's intelligence network was fully activated, and countless hidden agents were deployed to every corner of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces.

As for the Great Ancient Ancestor, he quietly left the Ye Family's ancestral land a month later.

His destination was the Eastern Heavenly Court.

Before leaving, he left only one sentence.

"The one from the Eastern Heavenly Court has invited me to take a trip to the Land of Expedition together."

"This trip might solve the mystery of why the various Emperors on the expedition have not returned."

...

Time flowed on.

In the blink of an eye, fifty years passed.

For a Mortal, fifty years is enough to live through three generations.

But for the cultivators of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, it was but a snap of the fingers.

However, within these short fifty years, the landscape of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces was quietly changing.

News of the Ye Family Imperial Scion, Ye Yun, sweeping through all rivals and claiming the Legacy alone in the Secret Realm of Absolute Beginning had long since spread throughout the world, but he had subsequently vanished, never making another public appearance.

Some said he was in seclusion, attempting to break through to a higher Realm.

Others said he had been ambushed by a powerful enemy, and his life or death was unknown.

Still others even rumored that something had gone wrong with his dao foundation and he had become a cripple.

There were many different opinions, and no consensus could be reached.

Meanwhile, the Ye Family maintained their silence, neither clarifying nor denying, allowing the outside world to speculate as they pleased.

The Liu Family was also excessively quiet.

After that farce of a broken engagement, the Liu Family seemed to have learned a bitter lesson and completely retreated into their shell.

Liu Yan had also never appeared in any setting within the Three Thousand Dao Provinces again.

...

The Star Domain where the Desolate Palace was located.

For fifty years, the scenery here had barely changed.

Broken star fragments still floated in the Void Realm. The aftershocks of the Emperor-level battle had long since dissipated, leaving only the Desolate Palace, sealed by a golden light barrier, standing silently.

Outside the Desolate Palace, on a simple stone platform made of star fragments, the Fifth Ancestor Ye Huangge sat cross-legged.

His aura was much more stable than it had been fifty years ago.

Back then, he had burned his Origin and subsequently successfully attained the Dao, but his Foundation was extremely unstable, threatening to drop in Realm at any moment.

But after fifty years of accumulation, his precarious Emperor Realm Foundation had finally become completely solid.

He just sat there.

For fifty years, he hadn't moved a single step.

Neither wind nor rain could move him.

On another large star fragment not far from the Fifth Ancestor, the Hegemon Ancestor also sat cross-legged.

His bronze-colored Tyrant Body was covered in scars. The internal injuries left by the Emperor-level battle fifty years ago had still not fully recovered.

But he hadn't left either.

The Fifth Ancestor had once asked him.

"You're still not going back?"

The Hegemon Ancestor rolled his eyes.

"Keep dreaming. This is the territory of my Hegemon Palace, and the Desolate Palace is within my Hegemon Palace's Forbidden Ground. If that kid from your Ye Family comes out and happens to steal my Hegemon Palace's treasures, who would I cry to?"

The Fifth Ancestor smiled and didn't call him out.

He could tell that this old monster from the Tyrant Body lineage had developed an indescribable appreciation for the Junior, Ye Yun.

The two old monsters stayed like that, one on the left and one on the right, guarding the outside of the Desolate Palace.

One was the Ye Family's newly ascended Great Emperor.

The other was the Hegemon Palace's Major Achievement Tyrant Body.

Day after day, year after year.

...

The fiftieth year.

On this day, the Void Realm was deathly silent, no different from the past eighteen thousand plus days and nights.

Then, the Desolate Palace moved.

Buzz!

A domineering and pure aura suddenly erupted from the Desolate Palace, which had been sealed for fifty years.

The Fifth Ancestor and the Hegemon Ancestor opened their eyes at the same time.

The two looked at each other, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.

The golden light barrier of the Desolate Palace, condensed from the Saint Body Origin, began to peel off layer by layer.

The palace doors, which had been tightly shut for fifty years, slowly opened.

A figure slowly stepped out from within that golden light.

He wore a plain white robe, his black hair hanging loose.

Ye Yun.

After fifty years of seclusion, his aura had changed greatly.

The might of the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body remained, but it had gained a sense of restraint, a power accumulated to be released.

Earth Venerable Realm.

Peak!

"Fifth Ancestor."

When Ye Yun saw the white-haired but spirited old man, his throat tightened.

The scene from fifty years ago was still vivid in his mind.

The Fifth Ancestor smiled, his aged face full of gratification.

"It's good that you're out."

Just those five words.

It was an understatement, as if he had only waited for an afternoon rather than fifty years.

Ye Yun bowed deeply.

"I've kept you waiting."

"Stinky brat, stop being so sentimental."

A coarse voice came from the side, breaking the warm atmosphere.

The Hegemon Ancestor stood up from his star fragment and stretched his stiff neck.

"I've been squatting in this godforsaken place for fifty years just to see if you brat were dead or alive."

"Now that you're not dead, hurry up and beat it. Don't be an eyesore."

The Fifth Ancestor coughed lightly and gave Ye Yun a meaningful look.

Ye Yun understood and respectfully bowed to the Hegemon Ancestor.

"Thank you, Senior Hegemon Ancestor, for your protection over these fifty years. This Junior will never forget it."

"Who protected you!"

The Hegemon Ancestor glared. "I was guarding my Hegemon Palace's territory!"

Ye Yun didn't argue, only smiling and bowing once more.

The Hegemon Ancestor snorted and turned his head away, saying no more.

At that moment, a sharp aura flew rapidly from the direction of the Hegemon Palace.

A sturdy youth dressed in black landed before everyone.

Xiang Tian.

Fifty years had passed, and his aura was more than a level stronger than before.

His Tyrant Body cultivation had reached the Earth Venerable Realm, carrying an intense sense of pressure.

As soon as he landed, his gaze locked onto Ye Yun.

His eyes were filled with Battle Intent.

"Ye Yun."

Xiang Tian took a step forward, his Earth Venerable Realm aura erupting fully, as bronze divine radiance enveloped him.

"I lost that battle fifty years ago."

"But now, I want to fight another round!"

His voice was loud, echoing throughout the starry sky.

The Hegemon Ancestor scoffed but didn't stop him.

The Fifth Ancestor glanced at Ye Yun and gave a slight nod.

Looking at Xiang Tian's eyes filled with Battle Intent, that pure competitiveness untainted by any distractions made a trace of respect rise in Ye Yun's heart.

"Alright."

...

The battle came quickly and ended just as fast.

Xiang Tian held nothing back, pushing his Heavenly Tyrant Body to the limit. Overlord Fist, Heaven-Suppressing Palm, Mountain-Crushing Kick—various domineering divine abilities poured out.

The results of his fifty years of bitter cultivation were displayed to the fullest in this moment.

In the outside world, this level of combat power would be enough to suppress an entire province.

However.

Ye Yun didn't even activate his Sacred Flame Form.

Nor did he use his Heavenly Eye.

He used only the pure physical strength of his Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, combined with the sword dao he had long since mastered.

Xiang Tian threw a punch; Ye Yun stepped aside and pointed a finger in response.

Sword Qi pierced through Xiang Tian's protective tyrant light, leaving a bloody gash on his shoulder.

Xiang Tian roared, striking with both fists.

Ye Yun took half a step back and then struck out with a palm.

Golden blood and qi, carrying powerful force, slammed into Xiang Tian's fists.

Bang!

Xiang Tian was knocked back over a dozen steps, the webs of his hands splitting open and bleeding.

He looked at his fists in disbelief.

Pure physical strength... he actually couldn't compare?

He was a Heavenly Tyrant Body!

The Heavenly Tyrant Body, claimed to be invincible in physical strength within the same Realm!

Xiang Tian's eyes turned red as he burned his essence blood, unleashing all his trump cards.

But Ye Yun remained composed throughout.

Every one of his punches and sword strikes landed perfectly on Xiang Tian's weaknesses with absolute precision.

Finally, a "Sever Self" sword light flashed past.

Xiang Tian's offensive was completely dismantled, and he collapsed onto his knees in the starry sky, gasping for breath.

His Tyrant Body was covered in sword marks and dripping with blood.

But not a single wound was fatal.

Ye Yun withdrew his hand.

He stood before Xiang Tian, looking at him calmly.

Xiang Tian knelt there, silent for a long time.

Then he laughed.

He laughed heartily.

"I concede."

The three words were spoken with conviction.

No resentment, no excuses.

A loss was a loss. His, Xiang Tian's, Heavenly Tyrant Body was inferior to Ye Yun's Desolate Ancient Sacred Body.

He accepted this fact.

Ye Yun reached out and pulled Xiang Tian up.

"Thank you for the match."

Xiang Tian brushed the dust off himself and grinned.

"Once my Tyrant Body reaches Major Achievement, I'll come find you for another fight."

"I'll be waiting."

...

After the battle, Ye Yun set off with the Fifth Ancestor to return to the Ye Family.

The Flying Boat slowly ascended, turning into a streak of light that disappeared at the edge of the starry sky.

Within the Hegemon Palace's Star Domain, the Hegemon Ancestor stood in the Void Realm, watching the distant streak of light in silence for a long time.

Beside him, the wound-covered Xiang Tian walked over.

"Old Ancestor, what are you looking at?"

The Hegemon Ancestor didn't look back.

A trace of emotion appeared on his rugged, aged face.

"Why is such a Prodigy not of my Tyrant Body lineage?"

He shook his head.

"What a pity, what a pity."