Chapter 1925: Ancestor Xianhong

Saint Jinyang almost hadn't changed at all. He looked and dressed the same as he did in the Nether Ruins period. Only his aura had changed; it was now completely distinct from before. Since the Human Race no longer possessed Supreme Bones, the Ten Saints of that era had all fallen through various means but had extended their lifespans in different ways.

Among the combatants, only a couple recognized Saint Jinyang. The vast majority were completely bewildered, having no idea who the newcomer was.

"That aura is not from the Immortal Dao nor the Ghost Immortal Dao. It is certainly not from the Yang Gods or the methods of the Saint Canon..."

A trace of solemnity appeared in Fang Chen's eyes. Jinyang seemed to have forged a path entirely distinct from everyone else present. His cultivation level was highly likely not a shred weaker than that of half-step Heavenly Daos like Lu Fengshen and Motian Dizang.

With a deeply respectful expression, the first Black Sun emperor immediately took a step forward and bowed. "Master."

Master? He's the master of the Black Sun Empire's first emperor?

A wave of astonishment flashed through everyone's eyes. Even if they were unaware of Jinyang's origins, they could tell that he had exceptionally high seniority within the Nine Realms. After all, the first emperor had already lived for an unknown number of years.

Lu Fengshen also cupped her fist. "Daoist Jinyang."

"Mm." After acknowledging her with a faint response, Jinyang gazed at the Dragon God. "Saint Long, times have changed. Your lot cannot win."

Hearing Jinyang's form of address toward the Dragon God, Fang Chen's expression instantly stirred. I knew it. He is Saint Long.

This indicated that due to some underlying reason back then, Saint Long had also been forced to leave the God Realm along with the Human Race. Or perhaps... forced to evade the attention of the Qingming Supreme Alliance?

The Dragon God calmly replied, "Jinyang, is this neither-human-nor-ghost appearance of yours truly what you desired?"

"This is the only way for me to barely stay at the Third Step of the Limit Breaking Realm. Still, without being able to practice the ways of the Saint Canon, it is impossible to re-condense the Inner Domains. There would be no opportunity to ascend to a Saint."

Jinyang lowered his head to look at his hands, only to see a wisp of dark qi swimming across his skin.

"Third Step of the Limit Breaking Realm?"

"Inner Domain?"

"'Saint'?"

Most of the other cultivators looked bewildered. Their understanding of the Nine Realms traced back to the period of the Three Realms Chaos at most. Only a mere few existences like Fang Chen and the Dragon God could comprehend what Jinyang was talking about.

The Dragon God replied calmly, "You think you can become a Saint by returning to the Qingming Supreme Alliance? Do not forget how you humans were forced to travel far from your homeland back then and how you all implicated the Ancient Dragon God Palace. Do not forget how a race as powerful as the God Race ultimately degenerated to this state, either."

Shao Mengyuan's expression shifted slightly.

Jinyang replied calmly, "We are all of the same race. As long as we are willing to bow our heads, we will still be accepted once more. After so many years have passed, that person's methods have presumably become even more unfathomable. Helping me resolve the troublesome issues within me shouldn't be a major problem."

Fang Chen's brow furrowed slightly. Of the same race?

What Jinyang had just said triggered a trace of suspicion in his heart.

"Of the same race?" The Dragon God could not resist laughing. "How could they possibly be of the same race as you? Do not forget that all of you are the direct descendants of Ancestor Xianhong, and in their eyes, Ancestor Xianhong was an absolute traitor to the race."

Ancestor Xianhong?

Fang Chen felt as though he had heard yet another secret of ancient times. He had never even heard of that name in all of the Nether Ruins period.

Motian Dizang interjected calmly, "Dragon God, why waste your words on him? Even if he and Lu Fengshen join hands, they will still be no match for us. You and the God-Slaying Army deal with Lu Fengshen; I'll handle that man."

In the next instant, she vanished from beside Fang Chen. She reappeared in front of Jinyang, her slender, tender palm already descending toward his eyebrows.

Everyone's hearts leaped slightly. No one had expected her to strike the moment she spoke.

The first emperor's expression changed slightly, but he resisted the urge to start the war and instead just watched calmly. He believed that Jinyang had enough means to defeat Motian Dizang.

"Junior, you are merely a frog at the bottom of a well."

Jinyang stood with his hands behind his back, not even raising a hand to defend himself. He merely looked at Motian Dizang with a half-smile as she struck his brow with her tiny hand. A surging, torrential force of karma attempted to obliterate everything, and a terrifying aura continuously erupted from her palm, enveloping him.

Nevertheless, Jinyang remained entirely unmoved. His lingering smile seemed to be saying that the terrifying force before him, which should have been capable of destroying everything, was merely a gentle breeze that couldn't harm him even a little.

"How can he be so unfathomably strong?!"

Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air as they stared blankly. Motian Dizang's ferocious reputation had long spread throughout the upper echelons of the Nine Realms. Cultivators of all factions knew that, without any Heavenly Dao around, she was at the absolute pinnacle of strength within the Nine Realms. Even if the Dragon God faced her, he might not necessarily gain an advantage.

Yet, the stranger before them appeared completely indifferent to her offense. Could the gap in strength between the two truly be that vast?!

Motian Dizang's expression darkened slightly as the aura within her was continuously drained. Conversely, while Jinyang's aura was being consumed, it was also continuously restoring itself.

Fang Chen's expression darkened as well. “How is he restoring his aura so quickly?”

"Even to this day, you Demonic Beast Race are still nothing."

Jinyang raised his hand and swept it forward. The disheveled Motian Dizang instantly transformed into a shooting star and flew backward, plowing a trench into the ground.

The saint's attack also simultaneously affected Fang Chen. The force of karma on him churned unsteadily, and his entire presence turned extremely erratic.

As Old Wang had said, Li Daoye modified the Consort Yan Seal, ensuring that some mysterious force wouldn't directly alter how I perceive Motian Dizang. However, her life seems to have been bound together with mine. If she is injured, I will be injured as well...

Fang Chen's expression grew incomparably grave.

As the dust and smoke cleared, Motian Dizang stood up shakily, her gaze locked firmly onto Jinyang. "You're stronger than a half-step Heavenly Dao."

"Half-step Heavenly Dao? I am at the Limit Breaking Realm, which is just another name for it. This realm consists of three tiers. Lu Fengshen and True Immortal He are both at the first tier. You have barely reached the second tier, while I am already in the third tier." Saint Jinyang smiled. "Or should I say the Third Step of the Limit Breaking Realm. So, how could you possibly defeat me?"

Motian Dizang's eyes narrowed slightly. "Third Step of the Limit Breaking Realm..."

She could not be certain whether he was telling the truth.

If he is, then did I truly get stuck at only the Second Step all these years?

Jinyang paid her no more heed. His gaze swept across the crowd before finally landing upon Fang Chen. "Descendant of Fang Lie, it doesn't mean you can truly become the master of the Underworld just because you obtained Monarch Yan's Seal. If you hand over that outsider, you will save us quite a bit of effort. This can be counted as the final shred of contribution the Fang Clan makes for the Human Race."