Shrouding the Heavens: Various Timelines Revealed, Ye Fan Achieves Immortality Through Nine Incarnat

Chapter 42 The Ruthless Lineage: We Also Want to Cling to the Heavenly Emperor's Leg!

The shifting light and shadows in the sky revealed the ruthless emperor's long-buried childhood memories.

In a desolate village, the young empress stood alone, watching helplessly as her only brother was forcibly abducted by a powerful dynasty.

Separated from her loved ones, forever separated from the world, it was from that moment that she embarked on a solitary path of facing enemies from all corners of the world and defying the ages.

In the desolate, forbidden zone, beneath the Bronze Immortal Palace.

Ye Fan received the answer, his heart heavy, and turned to leave.

Halfway there, he paused, turning back to gaze at that aloof and solitary figure, and softly asked, with endless感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion/reflection): "The Great Emperor, throughout his life, has lived against the tides of the mortal world, enduring endless loneliness and facing enemies from all sides. What was the purpose of all this arduous perseverance? What did he seek?"

The usually indifferent Great Emperor's gaze flickered slightly, and his thin lips parted slightly, each word spoken with quiet solemnity: "Waiting for you to return."

These four simple words, spoken lightly, struck Ye Fan's heart like a thunderclap.

Ye Fan trembled violently, his body suddenly stiffened, and his mind shook violently.

He instantly recalled the blurry image that had flashed across the sky just moments before.

The abducted boy had the exact same eyebrows, eyes, and features as himself, as if they were the same person.

In an instant, all the heavens and myriad realms were in complete uproar, and the entire universe exploded.

"I see!!"

"The Empress has emerged out of nowhere, single-handedly suppressing the four forbidden zones and intimidating supreme beings throughout the ages. The root of this lies here! Ye Fan looks exactly like her deceased brother!"

"I understand, it's a similar flower! Ye Fan is none other than the similar flower that Empress Brother has bloomed again across countless ages!"

"No wonder Ye Fan repeatedly enters and exits the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone, and each time he obtains unparalleled opportunities and continuous good fortune. It turns out that the Empress secretly approves and takes care of him along the way!"

"Life after life she defied the odds, enduring endless loneliness—she spent countless years defying fate, from beginning to end, all to wait for someone who resembled her, to wait for her brother to return!"

"What an incredible obsession!"

"It's not for becoming an immortal, but simply to wait for you to return in this mortal world!"

The timeline of the Ascension Emperor.

When the Heavenly Canopy revealed the Ruthless Great Emperor's childhood memories and exposed the ancient dynasty that forcibly abducted her brother, the Feathered Great Emperor felt his scalp tingle and his whole body go cold.

The people of the heavens did not know the origin of that dynasty, but as the founder of the Feathered Dynasty, he knew it all too well; it was the Feathered Dynasty that he had established single-handedly.

Unexpectedly, a past grudge of their own dynasty inadvertently offended a peerless empress who spanned countless ages and was close to immortality!

The Feathered Emperor's face was ashen, his rage reaching the heavens. He roared in fury, "A bunch of unfilial descendants! I finally comprehended the Great Dao method to live a third life, painstakingly planning my path to immortality. What kind of trouble did you all stir up back then?!"

"You've offended the future Empress, severed my path to immortality, and blocked my path to eternal life! Do you intend to cut off the eternal lifeline of my Ascension lineage?!"

His anger escalated, his voice grew increasingly violent, and the Emperor's divine might swept across the entire Beidou territory.

The terrifying imperial pressure suppressed the surrounding land. Throughout the vast Feathered Dynasty, all civil and military officials, royal cultivators, and others bowed their heads, trembling in fear. No one dared to raise their head, and they could only silently endure the emperor's overwhelming wrath.

Ye Fan's Time and Space.

In the Ji family courtyard, Ye Fan suddenly understood, and all his doubts were resolved.

No wonder he has ventured into the extremely dangerous and forbidden ancient lands several times and always managed to escape unscathed.

No wonder he could take away so many supreme opportunities related to the Ruthless Great Emperor, such as the Nine Wonders Divine Medicine, the Mother Qi of All Things, and Immortal Treasures.

From beginning to end, it wasn't that he had extraordinary luck, but rather that the Ruthless Great Emperor saw him as the shadow of her elder brother, a flower that transcended countless ages...

A flower that looks exactly alike, silently caring for and indulging in its beauty.

Upon realizing this, Ye Fan's expression became complicated, his brows furrowed, and his thoughts were difficult to express.

Seeing his appearance, Ji Zi jokingly said, "Brother Ye, it seems that you are the true forbidden prince of the ancient forbidden land, unmatched by anyone."

Black Emperor immediately chimed in, wagging its tail and barking wildly, "Woof woof! You're right! No wonder you're so comfortable in the forbidden zone like it's your own backyard! Ye Fan, next time you're in the forbidden zone, pick a few more Nine-Mystic Immortal Fruits for me to enjoy!"

Pang Bo strode forward, hooked his arm around Ye Fan's shoulder, and teased with a smile, "Ye Zi, the reason we were able to escape the Forbidden Wasteland alive was all thanks to your special care throughout the whole process."

Ye Fan slowly composed himself, his gaze firm, and solemnly replied to the group: "I admit that I have benefited immensely from the Empress's care along the way. But I will never be anyone's substitute, nor will I be anyone's copycat."

Ye Fan has always just been Ye Fan.

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and threw a punch, which landed precisely on Black Emperor's forehead.

A pitiful bark rang out, and Black King instantly became docile, no longer daring to bark indiscriminately.

After all, Ye Fan's fist is hurting too much right now!

The cultivators of the Ruthless lineage of the Yao Guang Holy Land were already feeling a chill run through their bodies, with cold sweat pouring down their backs.

After a long silence, someone finally spoke, their Adam's apple bobbing, their voice hoarse with shock: "So—from a very long time ago, the Empress has been silently watching over and protecting Ye Fan."

The old sage of the Ruthless lineage, looking at the Empress's special attitude towards Ye Fan in the sky, felt cold sweat trickle down his face, his tone filled with the shock of surviving a calamity.

"Ye Fan is actually suspected to be the reincarnation of the Empress's brother! We even considered seizing his essence before; this is practically dancing on a knife's edge!"

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. He never imagined that behind Ye Fan stood the ruthless Great Emperor who had lived four lifetimes in reverse, the origin of their lineage, and the most unapproachable being throughout the ages.

After everyone had calmed down a bit, the old sage spoke solemnly and firmly: "From this day forward, we must not only cease targeting Ye Fan, but also secretly protect him!"

Upon hearing this, all the ruthless cultivators present nodded in agreement, and no one objected.

An elder echoed in a deep voice: "What the sage said is absolutely right. The Empress is the root of our Ruthless lineage. Since she values ​​Ye Fan so much, Ye Fan is someone our lineage must protect, someone we must safeguard."

"Yes, let alone targeting Ye Fan, we will do everything in our power to stop anyone from laying a finger on him in the future. Otherwise, we will be betraying the Empress's legacy and cutting off our own path."

"My previous thoughts were truly foolish. Fortunately, I didn't act on them. From now on, I must remember this well: Ye Fan is not to be touched, and I must protect him!"

Looking at the group of cultivators before him, listening to their repeated declarations of loyalty and earnest promises to protect Ye Fan, the Holy Son of Yao Guang's lips twitched slightly involuntarily.

He knew perfectly well what these people were thinking.

These people, seeing Ye Fan's future dominance over the world, had already secretly harbored the idea of ​​siding with him.

Previously, due to concerns about saving face and lack of connections, they were unable to directly change their attitude or ask for assistance.

Ye Fan's new identity merely provided them with a way out, a legitimate reason to change their stance and show their loyalty!