Back in the Outer Realm, Ye Fan summoned the Nightmare Beast trio.
"Master, why have you summoned us?" the three asked curiously.
Ye Fan replied, "Of course. There’s an important matter to discuss with you!"
"What important matter?" they asked.
Ye Fan stated, "Take me to see that predecessor of yours!"
"Master, you can’t! His temper is unpredictable. If he sees you, he will surely kill you!" the three tried to persuade him.
But Ye Fan said, "At this point, I have no room left to maneuver. It’s either he kills me, or the God Monarch Palace does! Compared to them, I’d rather be killed by him. The God Monarch Palace has made its move, and now only he can deal with them. That’s why I must go see him, even if it means risking my life!"
Ye Fan’s attitude was resolute.
The three didn’t know how to dissuade him, as they knew his decision was irreversible. They could only nod in agreement.
They led Ye Fan toward the deepest part of the Outer Realm.
This place was once the cradle of a civilization, but it was destroyed by the arrival of ominous beings. The Martial Arts King, the Outer Domain Main God, had been stationed here. After his demise, the Outer Realm devolved into a terrifying Barbaric Land where anyone who entered was doomed to die.
The three trembled as they walked with Ye Fan.
Just then, Ye Fan asked them, "Are you afraid?"
The three nodded. How could they not be? That predecessor had already warned them. It was impossible to claim they weren’t afraid coming here again.
Ye Fan said, "Don’t be afraid. At most, he’ll only kill me, not you!"
The three nearly fainted. That was exactly what they were afraid of! If Ye Fan died, they would also perish soon after. It was impossible for them not to be afraid.
Ahead of them lay the Silent Forest, a grove of dead trees shrouded in Black Fog. But as they approached, the three found they could not take another step forward, no matter how hard they tried.
Seeing this, Ye Fan asked curiously, "Why have you stopped?"
"We can’t move forward!" the Demon Sky Monkey said, his voice strained.
"Why would this happen?" Ye Fan wondered, as he was completely unimpeded. Could it be that their combat power isn’t as strong as mine? No, that’s pure nonsense! He was very curious about what was truly going on.
The Misfortune Pangolin spoke up, "Master, it seems we can only escort you this far. This is most likely the will of our predecessor!"
"That’s right, Master. Whether you enter or leave, it’s all up to you now," the Demon Sky Monkey added.
The Nightmare Beast said, "That predecessor is probably enraged. If you go in now, you’ll be facing near-certain death. So, whether to advance or retreat is your choice!"
Fear filled Ye Fan’s heart, but he knew he had no room left to maneuver. If he left now, who could possibly resist the God Monarch Palace’s assault? He kept having recurring nightmares of the Red Sand Main God, the other Main Gods, and his family falling under the God Monarch Palace’s attack. In these dreams, all he could do was wail in despair. If he couldn’t persuade this powerful being to act, his nightmares would become reality.
So, Ye Fan knew that at this moment, he had to take the gamble, even if it meant death.
Just then, Ye Fan took out three Elixir Pills and handed them to the trio.
"Master, what is this?" The three were confused by this unexpected gesture, which seemed completely out of character.
"I refined these three Elixir Pills after my breakthrough," Ye Fan explained. "They can help you resist the curse for another five hundred years. When your curses flare up again, take these pills. Each one will grant you another five centuries of life.
"If I don’t make it out alive, you should leave. Our contract will be terminated. When that time comes, all I ask is that you do not harm my family!"
Ye Fan’s voice was heavy with emotion, but his words were sincere. At a moment of life and death, he had no reason to lie.
"Master!"
The three of them were overcome with sadness. In truth, they had always known that Ye Fan never treated them as mere subordinates. They called him Master not out of obligation, but out of genuine respect. In this heart-wrenching moment, they were at a loss for words.
Finally, they said, "Master, you have shown us such great kindness. How could we possibly harm your family? Please rest assured. If that predecessor truly means to harm you, we will fight to the death to save you!"
"No," Ye Fan countered. "I believe I can reason with him. But if I truly can’t, you are not to intervene. After all, he was the one who saved you all those years ago! Even if you disregard the debt of gratitude, you must still respect him as your elder!"
At this, the Demon Sky Monkey declared, "If anything should happen to you, Master, we will give our all to protect your family and your friends!"
"Right!" the Misfortune Pangolin added pessimistically.
The Nightmare Beast, however, looked at the other two with disdain. "Can’t you two hope for something better? He will definitely make it out alive, and he’ll convince our predecessor to help!"
"Alright. I thank you for everything," Ye Fan said. "I owe you this."
He immediately knelt, but they rushed to help him up. From the moment he knelt, their respect for him deepened. His identity as a descendant of the Holy Clan no longer mattered in their relationship.
"Now listen carefully," Ye Fan said. "I have one last, important thing to tell you."
"What is it?" the three asked, looking at him with curiosity.
"If I die, take my family and friends and leave this place at once. I have become one with the Divine Talisman.
"The God Monarch Palace is searching for it. When I die, the Divine Talisman will reveal itself, and they will use it to eliminate the ominous beings. Your best option is to flee to the mortal world and seal the path between it and the Divine Domain!"
"Yes!"
The three understood the gravity of the situation. They began to pray in their hearts, hoping that the predecessor would not be too harsh. If Ye Fan really died, their own end would not be far behind. After all, not just anyone could set aside old grievances and treat them as well as Ye Fan had.
With that, Ye Fan resolutely stepped into the Silent Forest and vanished into the thick black fog.
Once inside the fog, Ye Fan was completely cut off from the outside world. It was a place utterly isolated from everything else.
Here, he saw the once-thriving Outer Domain Main City. It was a city with a circumference of over one hundred kilometers, a truly magnificent sight. Sadly, it was now nothing but ruins.
As he walked into the ruins, numerous ominous beings rushed toward him.
He shouted, "Predecessor! This junior, Ye Fan, has come to pay his respects. I do not wish to start a conflict, nor do I wish to harm your children!
"Please do not force my hand!
"Have them stand down! Otherwise, if the light of the Divine Talisman shines upon them, they will surely die. Even if you, Predecessor, can withstand it, can they?!"
Just then, an ancient aura emanated from the darkness. A hoary voice—the voice of Cang Zhe—spoke from within. "And what if I were to simply obliterate you?"