"Yes, both the Demon Ancestor and the Heavenly God Palace Master are kneeling there."
Ye Yunfei had long since spotted the two familiar figures kneeling at the very outermost edge, completely prostrated on the ground, motionless.
"Young Master Ye, are those five beings kneeling near the ancient altar truly the legendary Half-Emperor experts?"
The attention of the three Star-Gazing Realm experts from Longevity Palace, however, was on those five Half-Emperor experts, as the Grand Elder asked in shock.
For the people of the Primordial Continent, Half-Emperor experts were terrifying, legendary powerhouses that only existed in the core worlds.
Never did they expect that upon entering this ancient battlefield this time, they would not only encounter a Half-Emperor grade treasure but also five living Half-Emperor experts!
This was too astonishing!
"Yes, all five are Half-Emperors," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Look, everyone!
That coffin seems to contain a beautiful woman! She's breathtaking, isn't she a Celestial Maiden?!"
Suddenly, another elder of Longevity Palace pointed at the crystal coffin on the ancient altar and exclaimed.
*Ding-ding, dong-dong…*
Just at that moment, a melodious sound of a zither rose. It was precisely coming from the crystal coffin on the ancient altar.
Then, the few people saw that the crystal coffin no longer contained the snow-white skeleton, but a stunning, peerless beauty whose white robes outshone snow itself—immaculate and flawless, as if she were not of the mortal world but a fairy descended from the Celestial Realm.
Strands of dazzling, radiant immortal energy coiled around the woman's body, and faint glimpses of pure white lotus flowers bloomed in the space around her, setting off her divine aura even more.
"So beautiful!"
The Longevity Palace Master and the other four Star-Gazing Realm experts seemed completely captivated by that woman, unable to tear their gaze away.
Even that Demon Race expert stopped paying attention to his own Demon Ancestor!
Only Ye Yunfei realized that things were a bit off.
Gradually, a vivid world of the immortal dao began to manifest inside the crystal coffin, filled with immortal mists and brilliant immortal light, where immortal birds danced, spiritual beasts galloped, and even divine dragons and phoenixes soared!
The woman's long sleeves fluttered as she danced gracefully within that immortal dao world, utterly mesmerizing.
Suddenly, a golden spear bristling with murderous aura tore through the heavens, descended upon the immortal dao world, and ruthlessly pierced the woman's body—entering from the spine, the bloody tip protruding from her chest.
Then, the beauty coughed up blood, her body slowly falling, the captivating light of life fading from her lovely eyes until they finally closed.
"No!"
One could sense that beings throughout the myriad realms had become aware, as if they knew this beautiful fairy was perishing, letting out sorrowful, tragic wails.
Countless beings could be seen prostrating themselves on the ground, weeping, wailing, overcome with unbearable grief.
Limitless lives were grieving for the fall of this fairy!
"I will keep watch and mourn for the fairy!"
"I will be a keeper of the vigil, awaiting the return of the fairy's true spirit!"
"O beautiful fairy, I shall wait forever for your return!"
…
Shockingly, even eons after the fairy had perished, many beings were still willingly keeping vigil for her, calling for the return of her true spirit, seemingly convinced that she would one day surely revive.
"Wake up!
This is an illusion!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar from Hun Lao echoed within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
When Ye Yunfei focused his gaze again, the immortal dao world within the crystal coffin had long since vanished. What lay inside was still the snow-white skeleton.
"Such terrifying illusory energy!
I was almost lost in it myself!"
Before Ye Yunfei could speak, Hu Miao's voice rang out.
The ancient Sky Fox Tribe was highly skilled in illusions, yet just now even Hu Miao had been ensnared by that immortal dao world!
"O beautiful fairy, I shall keep watch for you!"
"Fairy, may your true spirit return swiftly!"
…
Meanwhile, the four Star-Gazing Realm experts who had been standing beside Ye Yunfei moments ago remained trapped in the illusion, unable to break free. They were now stepping into the valley, preparing to kneel and willingly become vigil keepers for that beautiful fairy, just like the tens of thousands of beings within.
Seeing this, Ye Yunfei finally understood why the Demon Ancestor and the Heavenly God Palace Master were prostrated within the valley.
Clearly, the Demon Ancestor and Heavenly God Palace Master had inadvertently come here, were controlled by the illusion within the crystal coffin, and could no longer leave.
"We must stop these four fellows, otherwise they will be controlled and stay here forever.
Let me do it," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Hun Lao, you seem completely lucid, unaffected," Ye Yunfei asked curiously.
Even Ye Yunfei had fallen into the illusion from the crystal coffin, yet not only was Hun Lao fine, he had even helped Ye Yunfei break free.
Of course, even without Hun Lao's help, Ye Yunfei would have ultimately been able to break free, but definitely not without a struggle.
"I am a tree-like being; my emotions aren't as rich as you humans'. Moreover, I am a part of the Chaos World Tree. My original form is an existence on par with Deities. Such an illusion naturally has no effect on me," Hun Lao replied smugly.
"That makes sense," Ye Yunfei answered in admiration.
"Come back!" Hun Lao let out a soft shout.
*Whoosh!*
A crystal-clear branch stretched out, swept up the Longevity Palace Master and the other four Star-Gazing Realm experts, pulled them back, and directly stuffed them into the Heavenly Dao Tower.
*Within the Heavenly Dao Tower…*
"What happened?
Where am I?"
Only then did the Longevity Palace Master and the other four slowly come to their senses, breaking out in cold sweat all over.
The Heavenly Dao Tower, being an Emperor-Grade artifact, could forcefully erase the illusion from within the Soul Sea of those four!
"Kid, what level of strength do you think the master of that skeleton in the crystal coffin possessed?" Hun Lao suddenly asked Ye Yunfei.
"I don't know.
This woman perished eons ago, yet she can still impose a terrifying illusion on people—even I just entered that illusion! It's impossible to guess her strength in life!
At a minimum, her strength in life must have been at the Heavenly Emperor level. I suspect she might have been an existence even stronger than a Heavenly Emperor," Ye Yunfei pondered, then answered with a grave expression.
*An existence stronger than a Heavenly Emperor!*
In fact, not even Ye Yunfei knew what level existed above the Heavenly Emperor.
Rumors in the three thousand worlds said that beyond the Heavenly Emperor lay the Godhood Tribulation. Experts at the Heavenly Emperor level who passed this tribulation would become Deities.
But whether it was true or false, no one knew.
"I think the same as you.
This woman in life must have been a heaven-shaking, earth-startling powerhouse. Moreover, I feel it's highly likely she was an existence surpassing the Heavenly Emperor!
Otherwise, how could she, even after perishing, control five Half-Emperors to kneel here, keeping vigil for her?
It should be difficult for an existence at the Heavenly Emperor level to achieve this after death.
So, I advise you not to provoke her.
Such terrifying existences, even after death, are not something you can afford to offend at your current strength," Hun Lao nodded and replied.
"I don't plan to provoke her.
I can't even guess what her true strength was. My Soul Power can't even probe inside that coffin.
In this situation, I won't provoke her.
However, I must rescue the Demon Ancestor.
Otherwise, he'll kneel here forever as a vigil keeper," Ye Yunfei said.
"Let's do our best.
Even now, before you've entered the valley, you've already been affected.
If you enter the valley, the influence will surely be greater," Hun Lao said.
"Use the Heavenly Dao Tower.
We'll enter the tower, you activate it to go into the valley, and take the Demon Ancestor away," Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and told Hun Lao.
"That's the only way," Hun Lao agreed.
Thus, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao immediately entered the Heavenly Dao Tower. Then, Hun Lao activated the tower, moving it slowly into the valley.
Ye Yunfei told Hun Lao to move gently, trying not to let the Heavenly Dao Tower leak any energy aura, lest it attract the skeleton's attention.
True to its name as an Emperor-Grade treasure, the Heavenly Dao Tower could perfectly conceal its aura, entering the valley motionlessly and silently approaching the location of the Demon Ancestor.
"O Celestial Maiden, may your true spirit return soon!"
"O beautiful Celestial Maiden, I firmly believe that one day I will personally witness your revival, right here in this place, witnessing the return of your sacred, flawless beauty!"
…
Upon entering the valley, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao both heard the beings kneeling on the ground constantly murmuring prayers.
"So terrifying!
After perishing for so many eons, this woman can still control the minds of so many beings!" Hun Lao couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, this woman is likely the most powerful existence I've encountered up to now!" Ye Yunfei also exclaimed.
After a moment, the Heavenly Dao Tower finally arrived not far behind the Demon Ancestor.
They could hear the Demon Ancestor constantly praying for that woman.
"Hun Lao, you do it. Pull the Demon Ancestor into the Heavenly Dao Tower, then immediately charge out.
You must act fast!
The faster, the better!" Ye Yunfei instructed Hun Lao.
"I understand," Hun Lao nodded.
*Whoosh!*
In the next instant, Hun Lao made his move, extending a branch to sweep towards the kneeling Demon Ancestor ahead.
Under Hun Lao's urging, the Heavenly Dao Tower erupted with rolling waves of majestic pressure.
Ye Yunfei also immediately activated his Heavenly Emperor Remnant Soul, manifesting rings of Soul Power energy that enveloped the space, blocking external perception.
Just as Hun Lao's extended branch touched the Demon Ancestor…
*RUMBLE!*
The crystal coffin on the ancient altar at the valley's center trembled violently, releasing an unimaginable pressure of energy that spread like waves at astonishing speed towards the Heavenly Dao Tower's location.
"Quick!
She's making a move!" Ye Yunfei cried out in shock.
At that moment, Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao saw that immortal dao world again, with that exquisite woman standing inside, her appearance peerless, near-perfect, flawless!
This time, the immortal dao world wasn't manifesting inside the crystal coffin, but directly in front of Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao!
The woman seemed to be right before them—sacred, flawless, immaculate—inciting an intense longing from the depths of their hearts, making them feel they could abandon everything for her, without regret, just to protect her peace!
"Such a terrifying illusion!
Kid, stay lucid! Don't fall for her trick!
Otherwise, you'll stay in this valley forever, keeping vigil for her!" Hun Lao roared at Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei also sensed something wrong and pushed his Heavenly Emperor Remnant Soul with full force, finally completely regaining lucidity.
"Go!"
By then, Hun Lao's branch had already wrapped around the Demon Ancestor, pulling him to retreat.
"Who dares defile my Celestial Maiden?!
Die!"
The Demon Ancestor suddenly began to struggle violently, erupting with a vast torrent of demonic power and unleashing a terrifying secret demon art, attacking towards the Heavenly Dao Tower.
Not just the Demon Ancestor. All the beings kneeling on the ground in the valley turned around, glaring at the Heavenly Dao Tower with furious eyes.
Including those five Half-Emperors!
Terrible beams of energy shot from the eyes of the five Half-Emperors, directly tearing through space as they blasted towards the Heavenly Dao Tower.
"Quick, run!"
Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao were startled, both roaring almost simultaneously.
*RUMBLE…*
Under Hun Lao's urging, the Heavenly Dao Tower charged towards the valley exit at full power.
Finally, just before the energy pressure released from the crystal coffin arrived, the Heavenly Dao Tower rushed out of the valley.
"Go!"
Ye Yunfei emerged, scooping up the Heavenly Dao Tower, and executed Spatial Teleportation Technique, continuously teleporting away.
"Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, get ready to take over! If those guys chase us, we'll rely on you to escape!" Ye Yunfei sent a Sound Transmission to the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, telling him to prepare.