However, Zhuang Zhou’s words displeased Ye Fan. He said to him, "Brother Zhuang, wasn’t it the Ancestor of Tianyuan’s grand aspiration to overthrow the Divine Race? He failed back then—well, not exactly failed, but he didn’t succeed! Now that I have inherited his mantle to fulfill his wish, isn’t that even better? He would surely be more grateful than he could express. Wouldn’t you agree?

"So, don’t hold back. If I can’t find the Divine Steel and end up delaying his wish, you’ll be the one to blame!"

Hearing this, Zhuang Zhou was left speechless. He had never seen someone justify grave robbing so brazenly. However, he also thought Ye Fan had a point. Given the current situation, the Divine Race is watching like a tiger stalking its prey. Who knows when they might break through the laws and invade the Mortal World? When that happens, it will be an annihilating blow to the Secular World. Therefore, creating a god has become an absolute necessity. From every perspective, Ye Fan is the one person essential for this task.

So, he said to Ye Fan, "The tomb of the Ancestor of Tianyuan is located at the boundary between the Divine Domain and the Mortal World, buried somewhere unknown! But one thing is certain: it is definitely in that region. He was personally buried by two of my master’s senior brothers. They set up restrictions, making it difficult for anyone to find it over the years! Even notable figures from the Spirit World have searched for it, but all to no avail!"

"Then how do you have the map?" Ye Fan asked, speechless.

Zhuang Zhou said, "This map was personally given to me by my master! He admonished me that, no matter how greedy I might feel, I was never to venture there myself! He also warned me never to hand the map over to another, or even mention it!"

With this explanation, Ye Fan understood. Given the current circumstances, Zhuang Zhou had no choice. Handing over the map to him was the only viable option. If anyone could surpass the Ancestor of Tianyuan and completely annihilate the Divine Race, Ye Fan was clearly the one with the best chance. No wonder Zhuang Zhou trusted him so profoundly.

Accordingly, Ye Fan nodded and pocketed the map.

"Senior, I will surely not disappoint the Ancestor of Tianyuan!"

With the map in hand, Ye Fan arrived at the boundary between the Mortal World and the Divine Domain, following its directions precisely. This was the boundary. Across from it lay the Divine Domain, but it was separated by an endless range of mountains. These peaks, towering higher than the heavens, isolated the Divine Domain from the Mortal World. Of course, the mountains alone were not enough to form the barrier. The rules of the Dao itself were also at play here, serving to sever the Divine Domain from the world of mortals.

Ye Fan wanted to witness the splendor of the Divine Domain, so he immediately climbed to a mountaintop. However, to his great disappointment, all he encountered were endless clouds and mist.

Ye Fan spent an entire month on the cloud-wreathed peak, yet he didn’t sense any trace of the Ancestor of Tianyuan. Disheartened, he realized the Tomb Palace must have been incredibly well-hidden back then. Otherwise, it would have been plundered long ago.

He was resting on a bluestone boulder. For an entire month, he had searched day and night without closing his eyes, hoping to find even the smallest clue. Beneath the bluestone boulder were churning clouds. Ye Fan had already experienced the harsh climate firsthand. He suspected that even a master of the Supreme Realm would find it difficult to survive here.

Suddenly, a bank of clouds churned as if something was stirring them from within.

"What’s that?"

Ye Fan instantly went on guard, sensing something approaching. He drew his Yuanhong Sword, ready to strike, but to his surprise, it was a Flying Rabbit standing tamely before him.

Ye Fan sighed in relief. This place connected to the Divine Domain and was bathed in the Power of Heaven. As a result, the wild beasts here had evolved into Demon Beasts, nearing the level of Spiritual Beasts. The Flying Rabbit was quite adorable, circling around Ye Fan without any sign of aggression. To Ye Fan, however, this was an opportunity for a hearty meal. He prepared to catch the rabbit and roast it.

Yet just then, two huge tendrils emerged from the mist.

"Damn!"

Ye Fan was shocked as the Flying Rabbit was sucked in by the tendrils, becoming a bloody mess in an instant.

"Break!"

Ye Fan slashed sideways with a burst of Sword Qi, causing the clouds to churn once again. Out of the mist emerged a centipede about a hundred feet long. As agile as a Flying Dragon, it lunged toward him.

"Returning to the Sect Sword!"

He chopped down with his sword, dealing with the giant centipede. To him, this centipede was close to becoming a Spiritual Beast. Unfortunately for it, it had run into him and was doomed to die. The giant centipede then fell, its body vanishing into the mist below.

A sudden realization struck Ye Fan. The mist! All this time, he had been searching for the Ancestor of Tianyuan’s tomb among the misty mountain peaks, but he had never tried to search down within the mist itself. Prompted by this, he immediately descended into the thick fog.

Upon reaching the base of the mountain, he had to admit the place was lifeless, perennially enveloped by mist. Many poisonous creatures had sprung up here. In this place, even a Martial Artist of the Reincarnation Realm could perish from a single moment of carelessness. The creatures were not only highly venomous but also enormous. He didn’t believe that this was where the Ancestor of Tianyuan was buried.

Thus, he flew up out of the mist. After passing through it, he saw the white clouds ahead rolling languidly. Below, only the tips of a few mountains were visible. But between two peaks, Ye Fan saw a rainbow, immensely large and vivid under the sunlight.

"What a sacred place!" Ye Fan exclaimed in admiration.

This was the legendary Immortal Realm, a fairy-tale-like place utterly different from the perilous environment below. He had a faint feeling that this place was somehow related to the Ancestor of Tianyuan’s tomb. From a feng shui perspective, this was the Tiger Killing Pass, a place with the heaviest killing aura, but the natural environment here had created a unique layout. Even if there was a killing aura, it would be purified by this sacred atmosphere. He had a strong feeling this was the place he was looking for.

Prompted by this, he immediately rushed towards the rainbow. Arriving at its edge, he looked around, but there was no place to land. He landed on a peak that offered a commanding view of the entire layout.

Could it be beneath the mist? Ye Fan pondered. But beneath the mist was perilous territory, as he had already experienced.

However, he couldn’t be bothered with that now. He plunged straight down into the mist. Beneath it, he discovered a whole new world.

Here, it was no longer lifeless. It was a mountain that had been completely leveled, simply well-concealed by the mist. As he stepped onto the flattened mountain, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu, though he couldn’t recall why.

On the flattened mountaintop was a line of characters—short, but incredibly imposing.

"Tianyuan slays the gods; who shall rule the Divine Domain?"

The Ancestor of Tianyuan was a hero of his generation. His legendary life was something even the Divine Race could not match, yet his final end was enough to move anyone’s heart.

Ye Fan approached the huge stele, only to realize the script was vigorously powerful, carved by someone who must have been an immensely sharp and powerful expert. Just as Ye Fan touched the stele, a sound emanated from his surroundings. He instantly became alert.

A palace rose from the flat ground. It was not luxurious, but it was majestic and grand, showcasing the power of its creator.

"Tianyuan Palace!"

Three solemn, weighty characters came into Ye Fan’s view.