Supreme Emptiness

Chapter 1767: Chapter 1806: First Under the Nine Steles

Swish, swish, swish—

The nominations for first place appeared successively on the Nine Steles.

"First place on the Demon Race Ancient Saint Merit Ranking, Jiang Fan."

"First place on the Buddhist Path Ancient Saint Merit Ranking, Jiang Fan."

"First place on the Confucianism Ancient Saint Merit Ranking, Jiang Fan."

"First place on the Ancient Saint of Cloud Desolation Merit Ranking, Jiang Fan."

"First place on the Immortal Ancient Saint Merit Ranking, Jiang Fan."

"First place on the Heavenly Guardian Ancient Saint Merit Ranking, Jiang Fan."

...

Jiang Fan, first on the Nine Steles!

Although it had been anticipated, it still left the sages present deeply shocked.

"I recall that not even the Beixuan Sword Master achieved first on the Nine Steles, right?" Leng Yue Sage murmured.

Thunder Annihilation Sage gazed at the steles and took a deep breath, saying, "Beixuan Sword Master only achieved first on six rankings, as Confucianism, Demon Race, and Buddhist Path each promoted their own."

"But now, these three steles no longer favor their own."

Wuhen Sage was deeply shaken and shook his head, saying:

"There has never been a first on all Nine Steles throughout history."

"Those who achieved even the top five, didn’t they all fight to their last breath to create undying battle achievements? Who could convince whom?"

"Jiang Fan...is the first and only one to be first on all Nine Steles!"

Upon hearing these words, the entire audience fell deathly silent.

For ten thousand years, a first place, recognized unanimously by the will of the Ancient Saints, regardless of race or tradition, was born!

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted with cheers like mountains and seas:

"Witnessing history, huh~"

"An achievement not reached even in the most prosperous era a thousand years ago, accomplished in our generation at the end of the road! Hahaha!"

"The winds and clouds obscuring eternity, heroes emerging from our ranks, who says the new cannot match the old?"

"The unification of Nine Steles, a name etched through time, laughingly asking the heroes of the world, who can challenge?"

...

Jiang Fan not only secured a glory that resounds through antiquity for himself but also achieved a distinction that illuminates all ages for the era that seemed destined for a tragic conclusion.

Future generations will forever remember, during the darkest and most declined era of Central Earth, someone fought with both fists for a radiant eternity, rewriting the history of Central Earth with blood.

Several sages personally congratulated Jiang Fan.

Even the Ancient Zen Buddha Venerable of the Second Calamity Virtuous Realm and the Demon Monarch of Jiuyou sincerely offered their congratulations.

The presence of such a figure in Central Earth fills those of the same era with pride.

Strong warriors from various states also offered their congratulations, their eyes filled with admiration.

Even the obscure Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was brought into attention across the states, with inquiries about Jiang Fan’s sect.

For a moment, it was bustling with activity.

At this moment, the Nine Steles emitted brilliant golden light, and nine massive feathers of merit, as large as rooftops, flew out towards Jiang Fan.

The crowd watched, their eyes aglow with excitement.

There was so much merit.

If a Great Venerate was endowed with nine feathers of merit, advancing to the Three Calamities Realm within a day would not just be mere talk.

Under the eyes of everyone, the nine feathers of merit flew above Jiang Fan’s head.

Just as they were about to adorn him, a force of the Sage blocked the nine feathers of merit in mid-air, preventing them from descending.

This action instantly caused several sages to furrow their brows; someone dared to openly obstruct another from receiving merit?

This was unprecedented!

Even from the Qintian Bureau came an angry rebuke at the Great Wine Sacrifice:

"Presumptuous! A Saint bestows merit, and you dare obstruct it?"

The crowd followed the direction of the Sage’s force to find it was the freshly entered Virtuous Realm Reincarnation Mountain Lord.

Facing the anger of the crowd, the Reincarnation Mountain Lord unhurriedly took out a jade figurine from his bosom.

The sculpted face was very old yet especially lifelike, especially the eyes, which truly bore a sense of overlooking the world for long, indifferent yet majestic.

More wondrously.

The little figure actually came to life!!

It walked with hands behind its back, stepping through the air, its mouth issuing a voice full of age.

"It is I."

At the sound of this voice, the Great Wine Sacrifice in the Qintian Bureau was startled:

"Reincarnation Great Sage! It’s you?"

Great Sage usually is a title given to beings below the Sage.

If someone is recognized at the Sage level, it can only mean one thing: the person addressed has reached the pinnacle of Sage.

Just like someone in the Divinity Transformation Realm, the Heavenly Human Five Declines is called Great Venerate.

Before them, the Reincarnation Great Sage was a Three Calamities Sage!

Inside the jade figure, without a doubt, was a fragment of the Reincarnation Sage’s soul.

Upon knowing it was the Reincarnation Great Sage, the Ancient Zen Buddha Venerable clasped his hands together: "Ancient Zen pays respects to the Great Sage."

Thunder Annihilation Sage, Leng Yue Sage, Wuhen Sage, and Heavenly Craft Sage all respectfully saluted.

Even the unruly Demon Monarch of Jiuyou respectfully folded his fists.

Whoosh—

From the Qintian Bureau, the Great Wine Sacrifice of Heavenly State flashed out.

His figure was burly, with a thick red neck and a face full of muscles, giving the impression that he could lose his temper at any moment.

"No wonder you came back a hundred years ago to create Reincarnation Mountain, originally to stash a soul fragment for emergencies."

The crowd suddenly understood.

No wonder the Reincarnation Great Sage suddenly returned to Central Earth a hundred years ago, founded a sect, left a stock of resources behind, and then departed.

It turns out the purpose of founding the sect was to protect his secretly left soul fragment.

The Reincarnation Great Sage said helplessly, "The Source of Evil is brewing a Dark Tide that will affect the Hundred Realms of All Heavens."

"We sages on the battlefield are very likely to perish in the tide."

"Thus, had to leave a backup plan."

"For those like me who have never possessed and rebuilt, I can still leave behind a soul fragment for unforeseen circumstances; those who lost the chance for possession can only leave successors so as not to be without descendents."

Upon saying this, several sages’ hearts stirred, subtly glancing at Young Emperor Mountain.

It’s self-explanatory who is being referred to.

The Great Wine Sacrifice of Heavenly State snorted: "Leaving a soul fragment in Central Earth, I have no objections."

"But what do you mean by this now?"

He pointed at the blocked merit, coldly asking.

The Reincarnation Great Sage turned his body, gazed at the nine feathers of merit, his eyes filled with fervor, and said:

"So much merit, giving it to a Heavenly Human Two Declines, isn’t it a waste?"

"If given to me, even if my true self perished, this remnant soul could directly restore to the Three Calamities Realm."

"That would be the best use of the merit."

Several sages furrowed their brows, not surprised, knowing the Reincarnation Great Sage’s intent in the appearance of his soul fragment when they learned its nature.

Who wouldn’t desire these merits?

They simply couldn’t bring themselves to seize them.

Jiang Fan felt a chill in his heart; before coming, the Great Wine Sacrifice of Taicang State had reminded him that the Little Qilin carried so much merit, it was prone to attracting attention.

Unexpectedly, before the merit could be absorbed by the Little Qilin, someone had come forward to snatch it!

These were merits he exchanged his life for again and again, and with the mere words "best use of merit," the Reincarnation Great Sage intended to take them away?

Out of consideration that the other was dealing with the Source of Evil on the battlefield outside the heavens, Jiang Fan suppressed his displeasure, saying:

"Senior, even if junior were willing to yield the merit, you still couldn’t instantly restore your cultivation."

"After all, you would first need to possess."

"Currently, there are no suitable Sage remains in Central Earth for you."

The only deceased Sage in Central Earth was the Compassionate Sage slain by Jiang Fan, but this body was already old and further drained of blood by Jiang Fan, making it unsuitable for possession.

The Reincarnation Great Sage glanced at Jiang Fan and sneered:

"For this sage to possess, what’s the difficulty?"