Ten days passed, and Long Qie still had not returned to the side of the many Dragon-Horse princes.

Twenty days passed, and Long Qie still did not return.

Thirty days, forty days... As time flowed by, the group of Dragon-Horse princes finally felt something was wrong. They began to cast spells to contact Long Qie, intending to order him to hurry back down to the riverbed instead of wasting time up on the surface.

But there was no news at all from Long Qie; they could not reach him no matter what they tried...

"Not good! I fear Ninth Brother has met with mishap!"

Fifth Prince Longchi raised the River Diagram Mirror to trace Long Qie’s whereabouts. With that one divination, all the Dragon-Horse princes were shocked by the indistinct yet soul-shaking combat scene within the River Diagram Mirror.

In the image, a white-clothed Immortal Venerable whose face could not be seen beat Long Qie so badly that he had no power to fight back, and in the end drew out Long Qie’s True Spirit and took him away captive...

Clearly he was only an Eternal Immortal Venerable, yet this person possessed strength that crushed Immortal Emperors. His domineering bearing was like that of a true Ancient Immortal Lord...

"We were careless, truly careless! Who would have thought that in the Era of Decline there would still be such a formidable Immortal Venerable; no wonder he could serve as Deputy General of Boundary River!"

"To seize an Immortal Emperor as an Immortal Venerable—this man is by no means some nobody. Why have we never heard of him! Had I known his power earlier, I would never have let Ninth Brother run off to the surface alone! Detestable!"

"Hmph! Even if this man is comparable to an Ancient Immortal Lord, so what! To dare injure Ninth Brother to such a state, to draw out his True Spirit and imprison it, I will never let him go!"

"Let us all leave the water together and tear this man’s body into ten thousand pieces!"

All the Dragon-Horse princes were enraged; killing intent burst forth grimly, shattering countless coral mountain ranges on the riverbed.

One after another, the Dragon-Horse princes stirred their giant dragon bodies and were about to swim toward the surface, but in the end they were all blocked.

Stopping the many Dragon-Horse princes was a dragon prince whose bone age was the most withered; even his Dragon Whiskers had turned mottled white, and his entire body exuded a vast aura of decay.

Among all the Dragon-Horses, this Dragon-Horse was the strongest. His aged gaze carried majesty as it swept coldly across the group of Dragon-Horse princes. He rebuked, "Nonsense! Have you all forgotten the Grand Divine Minister’s orders! If only Long Qie alone left the water, this matter would not be too serious; but if all of you come out together, the Grand Divine Minister will surely be enraged afterward. Even if he were to have you flayed alive, that would be letting you off lightly. Do you truly think that just because you bear Exotic True Spirits in your bodies, the Grand Divine Minister cannot kill you?"

At these words, the other Dragon-Horse princes all felt a chill in their enormous eyes. Fear arose in their hearts as they seemed to recall how terrifying the Grand Divine Minister was.

"Big Brother, are we really going to watch Ninth Brother be taken and not go to his aid?" one Dragon-Horse prince said unwillingly.

"Hmph! Who said we wouldn’t save him! I merely forbid all of you from moving out together. If we only send three to five each time, then even if the Grand Divine Minister holds us to account afterward, the punishment will still be within what we can bear. That Celestial Venerable of Eastern Heaven, even if he truly has the strength of an Ancient Immortal Lord, cannot possibly withstand several Immortal Emperors joining forces at once. From the image in the River Diagram Mirror, that Celestial Venerable of Eastern Heaven wields a full set of magical treasures comparable to a Mid-grade Innate Treasure, and he likely has cultivated the legendary Flame Thunder as well... In this way, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, you three go to the surface and seize that Celestial Venerable of Eastern Heaven. Thirteenth excels at fire, Fourteenth at thunder, and Fifteenth has cultivated the Treasure-Destroying Law Eye. With the three of you acting together, you should be able to restrain the methods that Master possesses. Seventh, you go as well. With your indestructible Vajra body, even if this boy has other means, you can deal with one or two of them. To be safe... Fifth, you go too! I fear that once this man sees your overwhelming might, he’ll turn tail and flee. With your Divine Light of the River Diagram anchoring the battlefield, this cultivator will find escape impossible even with wings!"

The five dragons who were named happily accepted the order and all swam toward the surface.

The remaining dragons all sneered coldly, as if they could already foresee the scene of Ning Fan dying a violent death. They had dispatched three Sixth Calamity Immortal Emperors and two Seven Calamity Immortal Emperors; with such a massive lineup, even if the opponent was an existence comparable to the Last Law Immortal Venerable, so what? He was doomed to die!

...

Ning Fan naturally did not know that, at this very moment, five Dragon-Horse princes were coming to hunt him down.

More than forty days had flashed by since he retook Water Moon Pass. After the battle with Long Qie on that day, along the waterway ahead, Ning Fan never again encountered an Immortal Emperor-level existence. Ordinary different races were naturally far from his match; wherever the warship went, it was invincible and none could bar its way.

Copper Cloud Pass, Red Sand Pass, Two-Eyes Pass... One stronghold after another was successively reclaimed under the fierce assault of Ning Fan and his people.

The Shade-Equine Clan, the Qingjiao Clan, the Water Mirage Clan, the Cave Ghost Clan... One Exotic king after another was slain by Ning Fan; their clans were massacred to the last, and his fearsome reputation gradually spread among the lower-ranked different races along the Eleventh Path.

In the blink of an eye, Ning Fan had already marched his army to the fifth stronghold—Wide Ancestry Pass.

This pass had only three Exotic Immortal Kings holding it, naturally no match for Ning Fan. Unfortunately, among the three Immortal Kings, one was skilled in curse-killing techniques. Even though Ning Fan had repeatedly warned his subordinates to be careful, one Eternal Immortal Venerable under his command was still directly killed by a curse...

Lady Xiuhua was dead...

The female demon who had once wantonly invited Ning Fan to spend a spring night in the cabin of the warship with her had now become a cold corpse, eyes open and unwilling...

Ning Fan had never liked Lady Xiuhua’s unrestrained and dissolute ways, but as for the matter of her falling in battle on the frontier, he could not help but feel a certain respect.

Transformed Dragon Elder, left now with only his Spirit, and Jinfeng (Golden Wind) Hermit, whose injuries were heavy, both wore deeply grieving expressions. The two of them had both played the role of Lady Xiuhua’s lovers along the march. Though it had only been a game of fleeting passion, they could not help but feel the sorrow of the fox at the hare’s death.

Today, it was Lady Xiuhua who, by a single moment’s carelessness, was slain by an enemy’s secret technique.

If, on some other day, there are more different race casting spells from the shadows, the two of them... may not live to the end...

To say one does not fear death would be a lie—who in this world does not fear death? But... it cannot be avoided. One can only grit one’s teeth and keep fighting on.

If everyone runs, who will guard this Boundary River, who will defend this Eastern Heaven...

"This subordinate has an improper request, and hopes the Vice General will grant it."

"Hm?"

"If this subordinate, like Daoist Lady Xiuhua, should fall in battle at the Boundary River, I hope the Vice General can take my life-bound magical treasure back to Eastern Heaven and hand it over to my descendants."

"...Very well."

"This subordinate also has a request. If I should unfortunately perish, I hope the Vice General can deliver this letter to my younger brother, and tell him that, for next year’s Immortal Sect Flower Gathering, his elder brother will not be going..."

"...Very well."

For these few requests from the Masters under his command, Ning Fan did not refuse. Here and now, whatever personal grudges these Eastern Celestial Cultivators once had no longer mattered. Those who shared a common enemy were all comrades-in-arms, nothing more and nothing less.

Within Wide Ancestry Pass as well, there were scattered bones all over the ground that needed to be gathered, insect eggs filling the whole pass that needed to be cleared, and numerous formation patterns that needed to be repaired.

Ning Fan and his party had no choice but to remain here at Wide Ancestry Pass for several days to make a brief recuperation.

One day passed.

Two days passed.

Wide Ancestry Pass had not yet been fully rebuilt when, all of a sudden, a vast seven-colored radiance surged over the waves from the distant direction of the Boundary River—the hue of good fortune that only an Immortal Emperor possessed.

Judging from that aura, the Immortal Emperor arriving this time was not alone, but several in number!

All the assembled Masters were shocked, thinking that several different race Immortal Emperors had come to attack; a strange chill shot straight to the crowns of their heads.

Unexpectedly, those who arrived this time were not different race Immortal Emperors at all, but... several of the Immortal Emperors of the Alliance Meeting.

Chief General True Monarch Lei Xian, Vice General Jade Flower Immortal Fairy, Vice General Great Emperor Jizao—the three Immortal Emperors arrived together!

As soon as the Three Emperors reached Wide Ancestry Pass, all the Eastern Celestial Cultivators put down what they were doing and came out to greet them, not daring to show the least negligence.

Among the three Immortal Emperors, True Monarch Lei Xian held the highest position, and naturally took the lead. His face was overcast; ignoring the bows of the assembled Masters, he walked straight toward Ning Fan. The moment he caught sight of Ning Fan, he offered not the slightest pleasantry, but opened with a thunderous question,

"Whelp! Do you have any idea what a grave mistake you’ve made!"

Whelp... used among those of equal standing, this form of address was extremely discourteous. Though Ning Fan was only an Immortal Venerable, the world had long since come to regard him as on par with Immortal Emperors. For True Monarch Lei Xian to begin with "whelp," the hostility in his words was scarcely concealed at all.

The hands Ning Fan had half-raised in salute stiffened slightly, then drew back. His brows knitted together as he asked, neither servile nor overbearing, "Daoist Lei Xian, on what grounds do you say this? I, Ning Fan, truly do not know what great mistake I have supposedly committed."

"Hmph! Weren’t you the one who earlier had people report to Taiyuan Crossing to claim credit? How is it that now you no longer remember what crime you’ve committed!"

"The ’great mistake’ you speak of, Daoist... could it be referring to my seizing of a different race Immortal Emperor?" Ning Fan’s brows furrowed still deeper as he spoke.

"Precisely! Do you know what manner of existence the one you captured is! That is one of the Sixteen Princes of the Dragon-Horse! You have torn a hole in the heavens of the Eleventh Path. In a few days, several other Princes of the Dragon-Horse Clan will come to encircle and slaughter you. Your death is at hand, yet you remain unaware—truly foolish!"

Oh? In a few days, several Princes of the Dragon-Horse Clan will come to exterminate me? How is it that you are able to know this in advance—could it be...

Although Ning Fan disliked True Monarch Lei Xian’s lofty tone, for the sake of the greater situation he could not be bothered to argue with him. His gaze shifted to the lovely face of Jade Flower Immortal Fairy, covered in frosty cold, then fell upon the Great Emperor Jizao, whose expression was filled with a bitter smile.

"Rumor has it that Daoist Jizao is well-versed in the arts of divination. Seeing you today, it seems the rumors are indeed true—you can even deduce that I, Ning Fan, am about to be besieged. That is truly impressive."

Seeing that Ning Fan did not come to blows with True Monarch Lei Xian on the spot, Great Emperor Jizao secretly let out a breath of relief and said with a wry smile, "Indeed, it was this old man who divined this matter and then reported it across realms to the Alliance Hierarch and the others. Daoist, do not hold it against Daoist Lei Xian for his harsh tone. We have come here, in fact, with good intentions, acting under the Alliance Hierarch’s orders—to ’save’ you."

As Great Emperor Jizao slowly recounted the ins and outs of the matter, Ning Fan at last understood how it had all come about.

That day, after he captured Long Que True Spirit, several of his subordinates, eager to claim credit, reported the matter to Taiyuan Crossing.

When the news came back, Emperor Cang and the others who were sitting in command at Taiyuan Crossing were overjoyed and immediately circulated the matter to the vice generals of the other waterways to boost morale.

At first, the vice generals attacking the other waterways were all overjoyed when they heard this news. After all, since the Alliance was formed, this was the first time a Different Race Immortal Emperor had been directly taken alive—truly exhilarating. And Ning Fan, who was the first to accomplish this, received quite a bit of unanimous praise from many Immortal Emperors.

Only Emperor Jizao, after hearing this news, felt his heart give a sudden jolt, a vague sense of great calamity welling up that he could not explain.

He immediately cast a deduction technique to push back through the beginning and end of the matter; with one calculation, he was greatly shocked, actually deducing that Ning Fan would be besieged by five Dragon-Horse Immortal Emperors.

As an ally, Emperor Jizao naturally would not sit back and ignore Ning Fan’s danger, and immediately reported this to Taiyuan Crossing.

After that, Emperor Cang and the others could no longer sit still!

One must know, at present the different race had not yet come out of the water in full force; the number of Different Race Immortal Emperors on the surface of the water could be counted on one hand. Even on the Third, Sixth, and Ninth Waterways, which were heavily guarded by the different race, at most there were only one or two Immortal Emperors defending each route alone. A situation where five Immortal Emperors appeared from the water at the same time had never occurred before!

Everyone knew how formidable Ning Fan was; during the Great Emperor Enfeoffment Ceremony, he had used the Cross Halo to suppress the Three Emperors of the secret clans. But this time the ones encircling Ning Fan were not three emperors, but five! And they were coming for revenge, certainly fully prepared; Ning Fan would very likely suffer a loss, and might even be slain on the spot...

Both publicly and privately, Emperor Cang was unwilling to see Ning Fan’s life suffer any harm, and immediately redeployed Emperor Jizao, who was attacking the Fourth Route, Immortal Fairy Jade Flower, who was attacking the Seventh Route, and also dispatched True Monarch Lei Xian, who sat in command at Taiyuan Crossing; the three were to go together to rescue Ning Fan.

On the Boundary River waterway, one normally had to use warships in order to move freely. However, back in the day, Chongming Phoenix Emperor had not used warships, but relied on her heaven-defying deduction ability to come and go freely upon the Boundary River.

In this regard, Emperor Jizao was in no way inferior to Chongming Phoenix Emperor. Though his strength was not the greatest among the emperors, he was one of the very few among them who could come and go on the Boundary River at will.

It was for this reason that Emperor Cang sent Emperor Jizao to accompany them. With Emperor Jizao there, the other emperors did not need to ride the warships that crawled along like turtles; they could directly cut through the waves and rush to the rescue.

After understanding the ins and outs of the matter, even that slight dissatisfaction Ning Fan had felt toward True Monarch Lei Xian dissipated.

He could distinguish right from wrong.

The other’s attitude might be arrogant, but he had come to save him; it was goodwill. Even if his words were somewhat improper, it was not something unforgivable.

In his heart, because of Emperor Cang and Emperor Jizao’s concern for him, there was even a faint warmth.

The news that five Dragon-Horse Immortal Emperors were coming to besiege him naturally could not scare Ning Fan. He had fought against more than a dozen Immortal Emperors of the Dark Clan; why would he fear a mere five emperors.

Especially since at this moment he already knew in advance that the other side would attack, and with preparations in place he would not be taken by surprise, much less fear those five emperors.

It was just that these words were hard to say outright to Jizao and the others.

Could he directly tell them, I’m not afraid of those five emperors, even if they brought over a dozen Immortal Emperors, I could still beat them?

That kind of talk was far too arrogant, easy to stir disgust. Although Ning Fan indeed had the capital to be that arrogant...

True Monarch Lei Xian had come by order to save Ning Fan, not to help Ning Fan fight.

Their task was to escort Ning Fan and his group safely back to Taiyuan Crossing and temporarily give up on the plan to capture the Eleventh Waterway.

Ning Fan did not fear being besieged by five emperors, but that did not mean ordinary people were unafraid; even an existence like Emperor Cang did not dare rashly fall into a five-emperor encirclement, let alone ordinary Immortal Emperors.

Emperor Jizao and the others repeatedly urged Ning Fan to withdraw his forces and temporarily return to Taiyuan Crossing to rest, avoiding the sharp edge of the five Dragon-Horse Immortal Emperors.

To the persuasion of the three emperors, Ning Fan tactfully declined. Seeing that his repeated persuasion was fruitless, True Monarch Lei Xian angrily brought out Emperor Cang’s transfer order.

"The Alliance Hierarch has given an order: ’If the situation turns unfavorable, the Eleventh Path army is to withdraw to Taiyuan Crossing at once, without delay’! Ning Fan, could it be that you intend to defy the Alliance Hierarch’s command!"

"The Alliance Hierarch said that only if the situation turned unfavorable would the Eleventh Path have to withdraw. But in my view, the situation is not at all unfavorable right now. You may not believe it, but I am confident in dealing with those five emperors; I do not dare claim certain victory, yet I have full assurance that I can make them back off in the face of difficulties." Considering Jizao and the others’ face, Ning Fan did not say he could beat those five emperors until they pissed themselves; he only said he could barely repel them.

Even so, Lei Xian and the others still decided that Ning Fan was being wildly arrogant.

"A military order is as weighty as a mountain. Even if I have to drag you, I will drag you back to Taiyuan Crossing!"

True Monarch Lei Xian’s gaze turned cold; he raised his hand and shot a bolt of lightning at Ning Fan, which transformed into a rope, intent on binding Ning Fan.

Ning Fan merely flicked his sleeve in a light, indifferent manner and shattered all of True Monarch Lei Xian’s thunder, smiling without a word.

True Monarch Lei Xian was secretly startled; he had not expected Ning Fan to block his attack so easily. Even if he had held back somewhat with that strike, it still should not have been fended off so casually...

Any other Sixth Calamity Immortal Emperor would not have managed it so lightly; after all, he was one of those unrivaled in the Sixth Calamity.

"My lady, assist me!" True Monarch Lei Xian said indifferently to Immortal Fairy Jade Flower beside him; there was not the slightest hint of sweet affection in his words.

Immortal Fairy Jade Flower maintained a gentle and sweet smile at all times, yet for some reason that smile always gave Ning Fan a stiff, false feeling.

He saw Immortal Fairy Jade Flower open her cherry lips and spit out a mouthful of unknown red mist, which swept toward True Monarch Lei Xian.

No one knew what that red mist was, but once it reached him, it caused True Monarch Lei Xian’s aura to surge, his realms soaring in a short time to the Eternal Seventh Calamity!

With his cultivations skyrocketing, True Monarch Lei Xian once again raised his hand and sent out lightning to bind Ning Fan. This time he used his full strength, no longer daring to underestimate Ning Fan.

Yet Ning Fan was still as before—light and unhurried; with a wave of his hand and a sweep of his sleeve, he shattered all of True Monarch Lei Xian’s attacks.

Then he smiled in a harmless-to-man-and-beast manner and said, "I accept your concession."

True Monarch Lei Xian immediately felt he had lost all face.

After a series of probes, he had already tested it out: even if he went all out, he had no confidence in subduing Ning Fan. If force would not work and reason would not either, then it seemed he truly had no way to take Ning Fan away from this Wide Ancestry Pass...

"You truly intend to defend this Wide Ancestry Pass to the death and fight those five Dragon-Horse Immortal Emperors!" True Monarch Lei Xian said in a deep voice.

"Exactly. I am deeply grateful for your kindness in rushing from afar, but since I am responsible for the campaign on this Eleventh Path, I am unwilling under any circumstances to hand over the gate I have taken back to the different race. If they want a fight, I will be here waiting. Of course, you three have no duty to campaign on this route; there is no need for you to remain here and take risks together with me..."

"Utter nonsense! With your strength alone, how are you going to fight five Different Race Immortal Emperors!"

True Monarch Lei Xian wore the expression of someone who would not deign to scheme with a mere child; he shook his head repeatedly, and finally sighed long and said,

"Enough, enough! Since we both came for the Alliance, I cannot stand by and watch you die here with my eyes open. I will stay and aid you in fighting those five Dragon-Horse Immortal Emperors. But I’ll tell you the ugly words first: if the situation becomes untenable, you must listen to my arrangement, immediately withdraw from the battlefield, and return to Taiyuan Crossing with me! Can you do that!"

Ning Fan was slightly taken aback.

He had thought that with True Monarch Lei Xian’s arrogance, the moment he saw Ning Fan disobey, he would definitely fling his sleeves and leave.

This man might be arrogant, but he could see the larger picture; even while feeling displeased, he could endure it and help a man he did not like to defend a pass—one couldn’t say he had no redeeming qualities...

"Rest easy, Daoist. If the situation becomes untenable, I certainly will not foolishly stay here waiting to be slaughtered. Though I act in unorthodox ways, I am not a reckless man; without a certain degree of assurance, I would not be seeking my own death."

"Hmph! Let’s hope so!"

Thus, even though True Monarch Lei Xian was displeased, he still stayed behind to help Ning Fan defend the pass.

The news that the five Dragon-Horse Immortal Emperors were about to attack quickly spread throughout Wide Ancestry Pass.

In an instant, no one could remain calm any longer. Even though their side had three Immortal Emperors and a Ning Fan, the enemy had five Immortal Emperors! In the end, their side was still at a disadvantage...

Dark clouds shrouded everyone’s hearts. Throughout the entire pass, only Ning Fan alone could sit cross-legged in the sky without a care, calmly meditating and cultivating as usual.

The third day.

The fourth day.

On this day, above the river in front of Wide Ancestry Pass, five enormous whirlpools suddenly appeared; between heaven and water, black clouds gathered thick, and wind and thunder exploded!

True Monarch Lei Xian and his spiritual partner, Emperor Jizao, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation, all suddenly opened their eyes at the same time, their eyes filled with gravity.

At that same moment, five dragon roars mixed with furious horse screams resounded between water and sky!

"Brat with the surname Ning, come die for us!"

The five emperors arrived together, their killing intent overwhelming the world; the Boundary River suddenly raised waves that soared to the heavens, surging toward Wide Ancestry Pass to drown it...