Though everyone present knew Ye Fan was a Divine Palace Secret Realm cultivator — virtually incapable of having entered the Four Extremes Secret Realm — in this moment, they all moved in unison.

Swiftly and uniformly, whether it was Xu Yuan or those around him, a radiance flickered at every person’s brow. Magical treasures emerged, shielding their sea of consciousness.

In the Northern Region today, many cultivators had already learned that Ye Fan’s divine sense was incomparably powerful — rare among his generation to match. Upon seeing him, one must first protect one’s consciousness.

The Ancient Sacred Physique had yet to manifest the supreme bearing of ancient times and could not shake the world — yet among the younger generation, it had earned a certain reputation. Its divine sense was something people feared.

Beside Xu Yuan, a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator mocked: “What grand words — looking down on Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivators without a second thought. A pity that you will never step into this realm for as long as you live.”

Ye Fan’s expression remained placid. He paid him no attention and addressed Xu Yuan directly: “I have no desire to clash with you. But if you push me, then blood will flow and bodies will fall on this mountain today.”

“What kind of thing are you, to address our young master this way? Go kneel to the side — we’ll deal with you in a moment!” Chen De snapped coldly.

“Kneel down and offer up the cauldron!”

“Get on your knees!”

“A petty cultivator of the Divine Palace Secret Realm dares speak so wildly? Kneel and await your punishment!”

Those around Xu Yuan shouted and berated loudly.

Xu Yuan set down his wine cup and wiped his mouth with a spotless silk handkerchief. In an effeminate tone he spoke: “I gave you the opportunity. Whether you can seize it is up to you — kneel here, present the cauldron, and I’ll let you leave.”

“A real man’s knees are as precious as gold — Xu Yuan, you’re deliberately forcing us. You never had any intention of letting this go!” Tu Fei snapped coldly.

Xu Yuan smiled without a care, tossed the white silk handkerchief to the ground, and said with cool detachment: “How could that be? I said — let him offer up the cauldron, kneel and offer an apology, and all can be settled.”

“Boom!”

The ancient cauldron appeared above Ye Fan, hazy and indistinct. Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi fell in wisps and threads, shielding his body. He gripped the God-Beating Whip and stood in the middle of the ground!

“Ignorant fool — daring to make a move before Four Extremes Secret Realm powerhouses. You’ll have no chance even if you get on your knees now!” Chen De was the first to attack.

He stepped forward in a single stride, conjuring a giant hand of energy and slamming it toward Ye Fan with ferocious force. An earth-yellow palm covered the sky above.

This was a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator — a raised hand like a surging dragon, making the very void tremble. His target was the Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi Cauldron. He intended to seize it directly.

“Do you think you’re the Golden-Winged Peng Lord?!” Ye Fan laughed coldly, utterly unafraid. With the Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi Cauldron steady above his head, he advanced to meet the attack.

His left hand formed a golden fist and directly shattered the void, swinging upward. With a “pop,” the sound of something bursting came.

That great hand was actually smashed apart by Ye Fan’s fist. Energy surged outward in all directions, sweeping countless stones and rocks up into the sky.

Chen De was startled. His energy hand had been received by the Ancient Sacred Physique — this truly exceeded his expectations. Just what degree of physical strength had his opponent reached?

Everyone was greatly alarmed. Ye Fan’s physical body was too terrifying — he could bare-handedly contend against a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator!

“No matter — his physical body is his strength, but who would compete with him in terms of physical toughness? Simply kill him from a distance.” Another Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator spoke.

Chen De’s smile turned vicious. “Correct — Divine Palace Secret Realm cultivation, how could it compare to the Four Extremes Secret Realm? Today I’ll beat you to your knees, and make you offer up the cauldron with both hands!”

Ye Fan was indeed fearless. Back when he was in the Third Level of the Divine Palace, he could suppress Fourth Level cultivators. Even facing a Fifth Level Divine Palace cultivator, though somewhat cautious, it was not impossible to fight.

Now, having refined one hundred thousand jin of source stones and advanced to the Fourth Level of the Divine Palace, his divine power was like a sea — rolling and boiling. Suppressing a Fifth Level Divine Palace cultivator was no longer in doubt.

Moreover, against someone at the First Layer of the Four Extremes — he could still fight!

Yes, that was the feeling he had. Every time the Ancient Sacred Physique advanced a level, it became vastly more powerful.

Now, deploying the Nine Secrets, he could absolutely contend against a First Layer Four Extremes cultivator. He possessed an unwavering conviction of victory!

In the sky, a dazzling display unfolded. Chen De rode a sheet of blood-red lightning and appeared in the air, slashing down at Ye Fan — ten thousand zhang of thunder radiance interweaving into a dense net of electricity, earth-shaking and sky-rending.

Yet the cauldron above Ye Fan’s head swirled with primal yellow radiance, blocking every bolt of lightning on the outside — unable to harm him by even a fraction.

“And this is all a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator amounts to? Is this the source of your pride?” Ye Fan taunted.

Chen De’s expression darkened. As a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator, if he could not suppress a Divine Palace Secret Realm cultivator, where was his face to go?

He spat out a sheet of radiance — a golden net, stretching across the sky, swooping down to envelop Ye Fan.

“Ha!”

In that instant, Ye Fan let out a light shout. From his mouth surged a blast of divine radiance that transformed into a scroll of painting — filled with the patterns of the Great Dao.

“That is — the Ji Family’s supreme secret technique — the Innate Grand Void Primal Energy?!” Many people were astonished.

This was innate primal essence refined from the void, exhaled by Ye Fan through the combat sacred art in a distinctly powerful fashion.

“Hum!”

The void shuddered. The Innate Grand Void Primal Energy, truly like a Dao scroll, filled with hazy splendor, struck the golden net.

“Crack!”

The supple yet tenacious treasure was at that moment actually pierced through. Innate Grand Void Primal Energy broke all things and left nothing standing — the Dao scroll cleaved straight through.

The golden net immediately dimmed and was no longer a treasure — like a torn fishing net, every trace of its energy scattered by the impact of the Dao scroll.

Chen De’s expression darkened. Suffering a setback against a Divine Palace Secret Realm cultivator — he truly had no face left.

“Clang!”

A deep, resonant peal rang out. Chen De brought forth a great silver bell, shaking heaven and earth. The entire mountain peak trembled, and resplendent light shot straight into the night sky.

Yet Ye Fan remained at ease. The force pressing down from the sky was immense, but he stood in the ground without any hint of fear.

The silver bell reverberated through mountains and rivers. In the distance, stone cliffs cracked and snapped, and many large rocks rolled and fell. This was the power of a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator.

Chen De, the great bell above his head vibrating, sent wave upon wave of silver ripples transforming into terrifying blades that hacked downward.

“Clang,” “Clang”…

The cauldron forged from Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi clanged and trembled repeatedly, bearing enormous pressure. Bell-waves like a vast ocean came crashing in ten-thousandfold!

Under a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator’s assault, Ye Fan was shaking — yet there was no sign of defeat. On the contrary, he rose into the air and took the initiative to attack.

“How dare a firefly contend with the bright moon?!” Chen De had absolute confidence. As a person of the Four Extremes Secret Realm, bringing out one’s greatest power against a Divine Palace Secret Realm cultivator — there would be no suspense whatsoever.

The silver bell rang out thunderously. It abruptly plunged downward, bearing down on Ye Fan with suppressing force!

This great bell was truly extraordinary — its entire body crystalline and magnificent, silver radiance radiating in all directions, making heaven and earth blaze white as snow.

Ye Fan did not dodge at all — in fact he was still charging upward. The Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi Cauldron hung overhead, trailing light downward. In his hand appeared the God-Beating Whip — ancient and unadorned, but when it swung, the void was struck into collapse. Heavy as a mountain!

“Clang!”

One strike of the God-Beating Whip — the great bell rang thunderously, and every ear on the mountain peak buzzed, almost unable to hear a thing.

Chen De’s form trembled. He felt as if his divine sense had taken a blow — but he gave it little thought.

“Clang!”

Ye Fan, gripping the God-Beating Whip, swung again, striking the silver bell once more.

How enormous was his strength — and this whip was incomparably hard. Even this extraordinary silver bell could not withstand it — cracks appeared.

Chen De’s form shuddered at once. His divine sense was pierced with pain. The divine imprint he had lodged within the bell felt as if it had been lashed.

He wanted to command the bell to retreat, but it was already too late.

“Clang!”

When Ye Fan swung the God-Beating Whip for the third time, the silver bell could endure no more. First it let out one great resonant peal — then with a “crack,” it was shattered apart in midair.

Hundreds of bell fragments transformed into a meteor shower, scattering and streaking through the night sky in all directions.

“Aah…” Chen De cried out, clutching his brow. He tumbled downward.

The God-Beating Whip — it specialized in striking one’s divine sense!

Just now, it had shattered that divine imprint of Chen De’s, causing him splitting agony in his head!

Ye Fan’s speed was incomparably fast. He trod the old madman’s footwork technique, charged through in an instant, swung the God-Beating Whip, and hammered it down.

“Crack!”

Chen De’s skull burst open in a blossoming spray, red blood and white brain matter scattering outward. His divine sense was completely obliterated. His corpse fell away below.

Below, everyone was like clay figures and wooden sculptures — unable to believe any of this was real. A Divine Palace Secret Realm cultivator had actually struck down a Four Extremes Secret Realm powerhouse!

“How is that possible — the Ancient Sacred Physique is undefeated among its peers, but it has not yet manifested any phenomena. How could it cross secret realm boundaries to kill an enemy in battle?!”

Many among Xu Yuan’s people changed color, unable to accept this outcome.

Only Tu Fei understood what had happened. In Chen De’s battle with Ye Fan, had he not used his divine imprint to control his magical treasure, he absolutely would not have been killed like this. Unfortunately, he had met Ye Fan — the wielder of the God-Beating Whip.

This was destined to be a tragedy.

This whip broke all things and specialized in striking the divine sense. If one didn’t know this, one would inevitably be countered.

“I wonder if this is the God-Beating Whip of the Shang-Zhou era…” Ye Fan murmured to himself. The ancient wooden whip in his hand was filled with the breath of ages — heavy not just in his hand, but in his heart as well.

“I wonder where those people of former times have all gone…” Ye Fan asked himself.

He quickly came back to his senses, descended to the ground, the Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi Cauldron hovering above his head and the ancient God-Beating Whip in his hand, and strode forward in broad steps, bearing down on Xu Yuan and his people.

“I said — if you push me, blood will flow and bodies will fall on this mountain!”

Three Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivators advanced together, and the mountain peak immediately began to shake. One of them said: “Even if you were to kneel on the ground right now and offer up the Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi Cauldron with both hands, you no longer have any chance of surviving!”

“Take him as well — make certain his head is removed. I want no accidents.” Xu Yuan leaned back on his sedan chair, sending another Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator forward as well.

A full four Divine Palace Secret Realm cultivators stood before Ye Fan — all of them had brought out their strongest magical treasures. In the night sky, auspicious radiance flickered brilliantly.

The several men’s divine power was overwhelming. They were, after all, Four Extremes Secret Realm — their whole bodies blazing, awe-inspiring and soul-shaking. Combined with their powerful magical treasures, the aura they emanated actually forced Ye Fan backward.

“So it seems you aren’t that impressive after all — how did Chen De get killed so easily just a moment ago?!” Doubt appeared on Xu Yuan’s face.

However, at this moment he relaxed completely. He could see clearly — with four Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivators joining forces, Ye Fan was firmly suppressed. He was far from their match.

“Leave him alive — he has secrets on him that I want to know.”

The four powerhouses heard him and nodded, surrounding Ye Fan in the center, killing intent permeating the air, shaking the high mountains.

“You brought this upon yourselves!” Ye Fan’s voice was ice-cold. Even if they were the descendants of great bandits, he didn’t care.

Xu Yuan drank down a cup of fine wine, accepted the silk handkerchief from the young woman beside him, wiped his mouth, and spoke in an effeminate tone: “I gave you the opportunity. You failed to seize it.”

“You effeminate creature — you want me to kneel before you and present the cauldron? In a moment, I’ll see who kneels before whom!” Ye Fan struck directly.

The Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi Cauldron was wreathed in haze, primal yellow energy falling downward and shielding him within. With the God-Beating Whip in hand, he stood alone against the Four Extremes powerhouses!

The four great fighters brought forth respectively a golden great cauldron, a purple lightning hammer, a silver eight-trigram mirror, and a crimson copper lamp — all four sacred treasures of considerable quality. They bore down on Ye Fan with suppressing force.

The void quaked. All spiritual energy within reach was siphoned away, channeled into the four divine objects, intent on grinding Ye Fan’s flesh and bone to powder.

All four weapons bloomed with auspicious brilliance and divine radiance, heavy as mountains, rolling and grinding toward Ye Fan!

The four men stepped forward in unison and pressed in together. The mountain peak shook violently. Beneath their might, enormous boulders on the cliff face rumbled and tumbled down the mountainside.

In that instant, Ye Fan roused all the essence within his body. The “All” secret among the Nine Secrets activated. He swung the God-Beating Whip, lashing toward all four directions!

“Crack,” “Crack”…

Four consecutive sharp snaps — clean and decisive. The golden great cauldron, the crimson copper lamp, and the rest were all shattered.

The God-Beating Whip specialized in striking the divine sense. In the instant the purple lightning hammer and the silver eight-trigram mirror shattered, all four men screamed in agony, blood seeping from the centers of their brows.

“Pop!” “Pop!”

Ye Fan swung the God-Beating Whip and shattered two of them to powder — body and soul destroyed together. The divine sense absolutely could not survive under this whip.

Ye Fan did not go after the other two. He charged through in a single motion, arriving directly before Xu Yuan, and raised the whip to strike.

“You—” Xu Yuan never could have imagined this outcome. It defied all reason — how could four great fighters possibly have been defeated?!

“Clang!”

A golden divine pagoda appeared before him. This was a magical treasure personally consecrated by the Third Great Bandit Xu Tianhong. Its power was beyond imagination, extraordinarily remarkable. Xu Tianhong doted on this youngest grandson and had naturally bestowed upon him a powerful treasure for self-defense.

The golden pagoda shot out a brilliant radiance that enveloped Xu Yuan, shielding his body. The golden ancient pagoda hung in the air and blocked Ye Fan.

Yet Xu Yuan’s cultivation was only at the Fifth Level of the Divine Palace — how could he withstand the current Ye Fan, whose divine power was like a great river and sea, inexhaustible?

“Clang!”

Ye Fan brought the whip down — with a single strike he sent the golden pagoda flying, shaking Xu Yuan until his face turned deathly pale. He let out a wail as his divine sense nearly shattered.

Ye Fan grabbed him by the collar. Having reached the Fourth Level of the Divine Palace, he had this confidence — he could easily suppress a Fifth Level cultivator.

“You wanted me to grovel at your feet — I think it’s you who should be kneeling!”

At this moment, the Ten Thousand Things Mother Qi Cauldron hung above his head and the God-Beating Whip was in his hand. His divine authority was awe-inspiring — like an ancient god of war reborn into the world!