Chapter 1696: The End of Martial Arts

Jiang Fan’s eyebrows shot up, his eyes betraying his excitement. "Is it that feather robe?"

Lüzhu was also overjoyed. "That's right!"

"It's woven from an archangel's feathers, imbued with the power of laws. Wearing it grants immunity to chaotic void currents, allowing one to fly freely in the void."

"I once saw a painting in some ruins," she continued, "depicting a group of archangels wearing feather robes, soaring freely in the void."

"From now on, my husband can also fly in the void like an archangel, whenever you wish."

Jiang Fan was ecstatic beyond words.

Putting aside the dispute with Qiqi and jointly developing this storage device was indeed the wisest decision.

Of course, he also owed it to Lüzhu's guidance.

Otherwise, Qiqi would have certainly claimed it first.

He embraced Lüzhu and kissed her forehead. "You've done a great service this time. What reward do you want?"

Lüzhu's face flushed. "I don't want a reward. Just being with my husband is enough."

"From now on, whatever you ask me to do, I will do it. I'll listen to you, my husband."

Jiang Fan was deeply moved. Lüzhu had given her entire heart to him.

How could he possibly let such a girl down?

Just then,

The Primeval Hunting Ground vibrated slightly.

In the colossal hourglass in the sky, the last grains of sand trickled down.

The time for the Primeval Hunt had ended.

As expected, the hunting ground master's lazy voice emerged.

"The hunt is over."

"Eighty-three participants, forty-eight survivors. The casualties are greater than the last session, but it was more interesting than any previous one."

"Now, announcing the results. First place: Jiang Fan of the Central Lands."

"The reward: an Armistice Stele."

No sooner had the words fallen

than a palm-sized, gleaming silver stele dropped from the sky, landing at Jiang Fan's feet.

Jiang Fan quickly looked at it but was slightly taken aback.

The stele's material was a very common refining material, found in any sect in the Central Lands.

Could a stele made from such a material truly deter ancient dark creatures from invading?

He looked at the inscription on the silver stele and was stunned once more.

"Scram."

That's right, the single character inscribed was "scram."

Moreover, it was scrawled crookedly, as if written carelessly by a drunk person – extremely perfunctory.

Jiang Fan was speechless. Was this really the Armistice Stele that powerhouses from across the myriad realms vied for?

It wasn't just slightly different from the high-end, magnificent artifact he had imagined; it was entirely unrelated.

It wasn't until he picked up the Armistice Stele.

Only then, upon touching it, did he finally perceive its extraordinary nature. An unimaginable aura of majesty surged from within the stele, making him feel an urge to prostrate himself in reverence.

This... this truly was the Armistice Stele!

The hunting ground master's lazy voice continued, "Place it at the center of a world, and it will deter ancient dark creatures from invading."

"Its effect will last until a thousand years from now, effectively preventing one invasion."

Jiang Fan held the Armistice Stele and fell into thought.

After a while, he stroked his chin and asked, "If I take it to a world still embroiled in war, could it also scare away the ancient dark creatures?"

The hunting ground master paused, then replied, "Theoretically, yes."

"But no one has ever done it, because if you take it to another world, you must be prepared for the possibility that you might not be able to bring it back."

Jiang Fan's eyes lit up with surprise. "So, I could make a fortune in various realms... oh, or perhaps, help maintain peace in those worlds?"

The hunting ground master fell silent.

He felt an impulse to pry open Jiang Fan's head and examine its contents.

Indeed, a very strong impulse.

After a long moment, the hunting ground master finally took a deep breath and said, "Congratulations on becoming the first place winner of this year's Primeval Hunt."

"And congratulations on qualifying for the Ultimate Hunt."

"However, whether you wish to participate or not is up to you. If you agree, I will issue you a hunting token."

"If you decline, there will be no compulsion."

Jiang Fan was surprised. Was there a higher-level hunt after the Primeval Hunt?

He asked, "Is the Ultimate Hunt also about hunting ancient dark creatures?"

The hunting ground master was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "You yourselves are the prey."

"You yourselves?"

Jiang Fan's heart jolted. Was it possible that there wasn't just one Primeval Hunt?

Were there other first-place winners of Primeval Hunts in other places?

After some thought, he asked again, "Where is the hunting ground?"

The hunting ground master, for once, became serious. "Everywhere your eyes can see is a battlefield."

Did that mean all corners of the world were hunting grounds?

Jiang Fan slowly frowned. "Then what is the reward?"

With the Armistice Stele already in hand, he couldn't think of a reason to participate in a higher-level hunt.

The hunting ground master uttered four simple yet powerful words:

"The end of martial dao."

Jiang Fan's pupils gradually widened.

What was the end of martial dao?

The Saint Realm?

It seemed like more than that!

Could a single hunt truly take him to the end of martial dao?

Even the Primordial Void Ancient Tree only guaranteed his advancement to the Saint Realm.

"Do you forfeit, or do you accept?"

"A warning: only one person will survive the Ultimate Hunt. Everyone else will die. It is far more brutal than the Primeval Hunt."

Jiang Fan's heart trembled. He asked, "Before it begins, can the qualification be transferred to someone else?"

The hunting ground master replied, "If the token allows it, yes, it can be transferred."

Only then did Jiang Fan feel relieved. He decisively said, "Please give it to me!"

"Very well."

A fist-sized crystal flew down.

Jiang Fan caught it. Upon closer inspection, the crystal was translucent, with the outline of a flame flickering inside.

A strange expression appeared on his face.

The hunting ground master said, "No need to be surprised."

"This material is beyond your comprehension; it's not strange that you don't understand it."

"When the flame within it ignites, you win."

The strange expression on Jiang Fan's face did not lessen.

Because it wasn't the material that he found strange.

It was... he possessed an identical crystal!

And inside that one, there was a moon-white flame.

Not only was it already lit, but it was also far more vibrant than the flame currently before him!

That was a memento left to him by his mother.

Jiang Fan was plunged into profound bewilderment.

Why would a memento left by his mother be a token for the Ultimate Hunt?

Who exactly was she?

And where was she now?

"Any more questions?" the hunting ground master asked.

Jiang Fan snapped back to reality, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. "No, none."

The hunting ground master looked at the others and said, "Congratulations on surviving. Each of you may choose a small gift."

Streaks of white light suddenly appeared across the sky, each enveloping an item.

Jiang Fan looked up, his heart quickening.

He saw Grade Seven Great Pills, even higher-grade ones, as well as Enlightening Fruits and spiritual artifacts exuding astonishing power.

Lüzhu joyfully exclaimed, "Husband, I'll get you an Enlightening Fruit!"

Jiang Fan quickly stopped her. "Don't waste the opportunity!"

He had thought they were truly "small" gifts, but to his surprise, every single item was incredibly impressive.

His gaze swept around, and he spotted a drop of blood as black as ink, radiating a terrifying spiritual pressure.

It resonated with the same rhythm as the Myriad Spirit Ancestral Blood of the demon race.

The difference was, this drop of blood contained a terrifying Yin energy.

Without a doubt, it was most likely the blood of the Hell Realm Lord.

It would offer unparalleled benefits for Lüzhu to enhance her Asura talent.

"Get that drop of blood!"