Chapter 898: Two Great Ones Battle, Even the Dao Is Worn Away—Yet That Tree Remains!

When the Shenwang of the ancient Jiang family arrived at the Xuan Sect, the sect's cultivators found their new Zhang Sect's succession ceremony growing increasingly mysterious.

Figures who had never been connected to them in past years now arrived one by one.

Such as the Holy Masters of the Dayan Sacred Ground, Wanchu Sacred Ground, Zifu Sacred Ground—figures who in past years were of heavenly stature, whose presence even the Zhang Sect's own Supreme Master could not summon, yet now they all came with smiles to attend the celebration.

In addition, many young Holy Sons and Holy Daughters also descended upon the Xuan Sect; each of them, casually, was a Four Extremities Secret Realm cultivator, some even reaching the peak of the Four Extremities, leaving the Xuan Sect's disciples and Elders in awe.

"Our Xuan Sect has truly become powerful now! Look, even the Holy Masters have come to the Zhang Sect's ceremony!"

"Yes, I never thought I'd see Jiang Shenwang in my lifetime—he's a being from myth and legend, invincible since four thousand years ago, yet still alive today, even addressing our Zhang Sect as 'fellow Daoist'!"

"That's right—our Fangzhang Sect has the greatest face. Fangzhang Sect is truly the pride of our Xuan Sect. So many Holy Masters came, some out of respect for the Shenwang, but many also out of respect for the Zhang Sect!"

"Yes, but among our younger generation, we're lacking. Aside from the ancient Holy Body Ye Fan, the only one we can boast of is Senior Hua Yunfei—but sadly, after hearing of the Zhang Sect's fame in the Northern Region, he stopped cultivating entirely and spends his days immersed in music."

"Regardless, our Xuan Sect sacked the Yaoguang Sacred Ground's stronghold—we now have resources, magic treasures, and if we cultivate diligently for a few more years, our sect will surely produce more powerful cultivators! With the Supreme Zhang Sect's leadership, our Xuan Sect will surely become a true Sacred Ground!"

"The Zhang Sect is naturally mighty!"

The Xuan Sect's disciples were discussing, while the Holy Masters and Holy Sons/Daughters celebrating Fang Yu were also observing the Xuan Sect—this major sect of the Southern Eastern Wasteland now seemed to them like a nouveau riche, with only a few worth noticing, the rest utterly feeble.

The Dayan Holy Son Xiang Yifei gazed disdainfully around, his eyes landing on the ancient Holy Body Ye Fan.

The Zifu Holy Son's expression was calm, yet after sweeping the crowd, his gaze also settled on the ancient Holy Body Ye Fan.

Even the various Holy Masters had turned their eyes toward the ancient Holy Body Ye Fan, curious whether he had broken through to the Four Extremities Secret Realm.

On that day in the Northern Region's Shengcheng, the Yao Guang Sacred Ground caused chaos, halting the ancient Holy Body's breakthrough—now no one knew what had happened since.

"Fang Daoyou has inherited the position of Xuan Sect's Supreme Zhang Sect—truly a great blessing. Under your leadership, the Xuan Sect will surely flourish—congratulations."

The Dayan Holy Master spoke loudly in praise.

"I wish to honor the Elder. I offer to test my Dao arts against a high disciple of the Xuan Sect, adding some flair to the gathering—may the Elder permit it?"

At this moment, the Dayan Holy Son Xiang Yifei also stepped forward, addressing Fang Yu as "Elder," requesting a martial exchange to add color to the event.

Upon hearing this, the Xuan Sect's Elders changed expression slightly, but the other Holy Masters remained calm; on the high guest seats, Jiang Shenwang's face was serene, as if he had long seen through all of this.

"If you have such intentions, that is excellent. Then, Ye Fan—how about you face Xiang Yifei?"

Fang Yu's expression was equally calm as he spoke.

He was now the Xuan Sect's Supreme Zhang Sect, a senior to Xiang Yifei—he could not act recklessly; had Xiang Yifei dared such provocation in his own sect, he would have already crushed him half-dead to teach him what a Chaos Body truly meant.

"Since Senior Xiang wishes to act and add color to the Zhang Sect's ceremony, I am happy to oblige."

Ye Fan nodded.

He understood what the Dayan Sacred Ground's Holy Son Xiang Yifei meant—because he was the ancient Holy Body, many doubted whether he had broken through to the Four Extremities, and others were curious about his combat strength.

If so, then let them fight—let the world see his abilities.

"This contest ends at a touch. Do not harm each other's harmony."

Fang Yu spoke.

Ye Fan and Xiang Yifei both agreed.

The two exited the reception hall and ascended into the high air before the hall; all eyes turned outward.

The Dayan Holy Son Xiang Yifei's gaze was icy; in his hand was a golden holy sword, enormous, a replica of the Great Expansion Holy Sword, its blade's glow stretching dozens of zhang, nearly touching the mountain peaks below, its murderous aura causing leaves across the mountains to flutter and wither.

On the other side, Ye Fan stood calmly, floating in empty air, black hair gently dancing, eyes bright, his entire figure appearing like a graceful youth.

Invisible killing intent surged between them; even before combat began, it made observers feel as if plunged into an icy cavern.

"Crack!"

Below, a great mountain could not bear it—its peak cracked, split by terrifying battle intent and killing aura, revealing several massive fissures, a sight of astonishing magnitude.

"These youths haven't even begun fighting, yet they've already ruined my Xuan Sect's flowers and grass."

Seeing this, Fang Yu laughed, raised a hand, and summoned a five-colored divine light that shone upon the mountain where the two would fight; instantly, the mountain solidified a thousandfold, ten thousandfold, even millions of times more, strengthened by this Five Elements divine light, becoming ten thousand, a hundred thousand, even millions of times harder than before.

Now, even if the two fought until the heavens and earth collapsed, until the Dao itself was worn away, not a single blade of grass or tree here would be destroyed.

As soon as this five-colored divine light appeared, all the Holy Masters changed expression—they sensed Fang Yu's Five Elements Dao art was far stronger than Kong Quewang's, and the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of other Sacred Grounds who had not yet acted instantly felt Fang Yu's power.

"This Fang Yu's Five Elements Dao art is so terrifying—no wonder Peng Brother's descendant, Jin Chixiaopeng, was subdued for a year after meeting Fang Yu, even Peng Brother himself did not intervene."

The Wind Clan's patriarch was deeply astonished.

This patriarch had good relations with the ancient Jiang family; the entire Wind Clan was a major power in the Central Eastern Wasteland, though inferior to the ancient Jiang family, it had existed for countless years and was deeply rooted there.

In the demonic clans, the Peng King was also a major power in the Central Eastern Wasteland, with good ties to the Wind Clan; the patriarch had heard in past years that Jin Chixiaopeng had been subdued by Fang Yu, and that Peng King himself had gone to rescue him—but still failed to free Jin Chixiaopeng. Now, seeing Fang Yu's Five Elements Dao art, he understood why.

If Jin Chixiaopeng could endure a year of training under Fang Yu's Five Elements Dao art, it was an unparalleled opportunity—such an opportunity was more than worth it, far superior to seeking other chances elsewhere.

Thus, this peerless young genius of the Central Eastern Wasteland, a rising star among the younger generation, while other cultivators attended various gatherings and ceremonies, remained imprisoned beneath the Five Elements Mountain, enduring the refinement of the Five Elements Dao art.

"Such a formidable Dao art!"

In the empty air, both the Dayan Holy Son Xiang Yifei and Ye Fan instantly felt the ground beneath them had hardened by tens of millions of times—no longer vulnerable to their killing intent—and were stunned.

Xiang Yifei even felt a pang of regret—had he stepped forward too soon?

But it was only a friendly exchange, ending at a touch—this was not a bad thing.

"Ye Brother, I'm going to attack."

At that moment, Xiang Yifei moved—he let out a clear cry, golden light surging over his body, immediately unleashing the Dayan Sacred Ground's ultimate technique, the Great Expansion Holy Sword—thousands upon thousands of deadly golden sword rays shot toward Ye Fan.

Murderous aura pierced the clouds; countless holy swords slashed together, as if ready to shatter the void, annihilate all—but the void here was too solid, fully capable of containing all the Great Expansion Holy Sword's murderous potential.

Thousands upon thousands of golden lights became an ocean of holy swords, a golden storm sweeping forward, obliterating all obstacles.

This was the Great Expansion Holy Sword—the supreme ultimate technique of the Dayan Sacred Ground, devouring all, sweeping all, wielding the divine might of hundreds of millions of jūn.

"Boom!"

Ye Fan's expression remained calm; within his Wheel Sea, thunder and lightning roared, and an endless golden ocean burst forth, instantly blocking the golden sword sea outside.

"Crack!"

Upon Ye Fan's golden Bitter Sea, the primordial breath of creation spread—he stood holding a blue lotus, robes fluttering, his body alone holding back this Sacred Ground's supreme ultimate technique.

"Clang," "Clang," "Clang"…

The golden holy sword swept through the golden bitter sea, as if to collapse this firmament, but with a single stir of that green lotus, an endless aura of primordial beginnings suffused the world, and many of the golden holy swords shattered outright.

"Hiss! So this is the great battle between the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body and the Holy Son — truly an eye-opener, an eye-opener indeed. I, Hua Qingyun, like to think I'm a once-in-a-generation talent even within the Grand Xuan Sect, but after witnessing their battle today, I realize I'm still far from being a once-in-a-generation talent. If I were to step up and fight that Xiang Yifei, I'd already be lying on a slab."