The great hall fell utterly silent.

To kill Ye Fan was equivalent to killing Jiang Taixu. Who now dared kill the peerless Divine King?

Thirteen Sacred Sovereign-level figures, three peerless old demon fiends, one king of Central Province—all had been slain by him alone in one night, shaking all under heaven. At this moment, who would dare stand forward?

Why had it come to this? When had Ye Fan saved the Divine King’s life? This was the confusion and bewilderment of many. Over these past several days, cultivators throughout the entire city had been searching for Ye Fan’s whereabouts. As a result, he had forged such a connection with this incomparably powerful Divine King—how exactly had he managed it?

“Could there be some mistake? How could he possibly have saved the Divine King’s life…” someone muttered quietly.

Jiang Yun spoke up: “When the many great enemies launched their assault, the Divine King, our Founding Ancestor, was in mortal danger. Ye Fan used a True Dragon Divine Medicine to revive the Ancestor—allowing him to be reborn within the Dragon Transformation Pool.”

“A True Dragon Divine Medicine…”

Many people heard those four words and could not help but draw a sharp breath of cold air—shaken for no apparent reason. This was the legendary medicine of the most ancient era. Ye Fan even had something like this?!

People quickly thought of his identity—not only the Desolate Holy Physique, but also a prodigious talent in the source arts who had inherited the legacy of the Source Heaven Master. He had once cut out the seed of a divine medicine.

Yet even so, people were still filled with shock. An Undying Divine Medicine—not even the various holy lands possessed one. Yet Ye Fan had obtained two different kinds one after another. This was simply too extraordinary.

If he could be brought under control, what would that mean for a holy land? The benefits would be immense. If a stalk of the Undying Divine Medicine could be cultivated to life, it might even be possible to rear a future Great Emperor!

Many people knew that Ye Fan carried the Mother Qi of All Things. Having now learned all of this, they realized the value of the Desolate Holy Physique exceeded anything they had imagined.

The various holy lands and major powers had pursued and hunted him for so long—yet obtained nothing at all. Now, seeing Ye Fan sheltered by the peerless Divine King, many could not suppress their resentment and frustration.

At the same time, many of the great powers’ people instantly conceived a new thought: perhaps drawing in the Desolate Holy Physique and winning his goodwill would yield even greater benefits.

Ouyang Ye’s body was withered and dry. He was infinitely close to the Source Land Master realm. Though he was in his waning years, his longing for the Source Heaven Scripture was without limit. He said: “This elderly one requests that the Divine King uphold justice.”

“What matter do you have?” Jiang Taixu remained unmoved like a mountain—his gaze sweeping downward.

Ouyang Ye said: “The Holy Physique wronged the descendants of my source arts lineage. But since he has the grace of saving the Divine King’s life, this elderly one does not dare reproach him for anything. I only wish to ask that he return the Source Heaven Scripture to my source arts lineage.”

Ye Fan stood within the crowd and cast him a contemptuous glance. He said calmly: “In a source arts duel, you wished to kill me—but your skill was inferior to mine. In the end, you blame me for wronging you. What kind of logic is that?”

“These grievances—this elderly one has no wish to dwell upon. I only wish to recover my source arts lineage’s supreme scripture.” Ouyang Ye argued his case.

Ye Fan asked composedly: “Since when has the Source Heaven Scripture become your source arts lineage’s ancient scripture? This is clearly a divine canon left behind by the Source Heaven Master himself. Do you not feel your face flush when you say such things?”

“Source arts have, since ancient times, been one family. The Source Heaven Scripture belongs to the source arts world—not to a cultivator like yourself. So this elderly one asks that you return it.” Ouyang Ye pressed his argument.

Ye Fan swept a glance at him and said: “By your reasoning, the methods of cultivation have since ancient times been one family. Can I then go to the various holy lands and demand their ancient scriptures? Furthermore—this book was lent to me by a descendant of the Source Heaven Master himself. What does any of it have to do with you!”

“A descendant of the Source Heaven Master lent it to you… that cannot be. You must have seized it by force.” A young disciple of the source arts lineage could not restrain himself and spoke out in reproach.

“Hmph!”

A single cold grunt from the Divine King, and that disciple’s face immediately turned pale. He closed his mouth instantly and dared not speak another word.

“Regarding the origin of the Source Heaven Scripture—I am well aware of the facts. Your source arts lineage has no grounds to contend for it.” The Divine King said these words—then paid no further attention to them.

Ouyang Ye opened his mouth—but in the end, dared not say another word. The Divine King’s might filled his heart with dread.

The various holy lands all remained silent. Not a single one brought up their grievances with Ye Fan. They would absolutely not take such an inopportune moment to court misfortune, as the source arts lineage had done.

“I have heard that Ye Fan has a grievance with the Ji Family. I am willing to mediate from the middle—is there any room for discussion?” The Divine King suddenly spoke, looking toward the Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign.

“We would ask the Divine King to illuminate the matter. There is indeed some entanglement. He learned secret techniques from within the Void Ancient Scripture that are not to be passed on—though of course, some of my Ji Family’s people did overreact.” The Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign was neither obsequious nor overbearing.

“I see.” Jiang Taixu, the Divine King, nodded—then looked toward Ye Fan and said: “Can you give the Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign your assurance that you will never, for all your years, pass on the secret techniques of the Void Ancient Scripture to others?”

Ye Fan understood that the Divine King was helping him, extending a great grace. How could he fail to appreciate such goodwill? He said: “Many thanks to the Divine King. I swear I will never in this lifetime pass on the Void secret techniques to others.”

“Good. Go to the Ji Family in due course and offer your apologies.” Jiang Taixu, the Divine King, nodded—then looked toward the Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign: “If he allows the Void secret techniques to leak, I will personally execute him. What do you say?”

What could the Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign say? The peerless Divine King was evidently determined to shelter Ye Fan. Having received this assurance, the wisest course was to nod.

“This fellow…” From within the distant crowd, Ji Ziyue—clad in purple robes—ground her small, delicate teeth, glaring at Ye Fan ahead.

Ji Haoyue furrowed his sword-shaped brows slightly and said: “Ziyue—why are you pressing down so hard on my foot?”

“Oh—I pressed the wrong one…” Ji Ziyue stuck out her small tongue. A pair of small dimples appeared on her charming face. She pulled a face at her elder brother and giggled with a light laugh.

The Divine King Jiang continued speaking. He turned to look at the Holy Sovereign of Yao Guang: “Ye Fan had a conflict with the younger disciples of Yao Guang’s reclusive lineage?”

The Holy Sovereign of Yao Guang nodded and described the details of the matter, then said: “Between him and my Yao Guang, there is not truly any great enmity—merely the impulsive rivalry of youth among the younger generation.”

Strictly speaking, the disciples of Yao Guang had coveted the Mother Qi of All Things that Ye Fan carried—they had made the first move. At this point, how was the Holy Sovereign of Yao Guang to press the matter further? Doing so would very likely damage his own reputation.

“When this matter here is settled, go to Yao Guang and offer your apologies.” The Divine King Jiang said to Ye Fan.

“I defer entirely to the Divine King’s direction.” Ye Fan’s face was full of solemnity and sincerity—but within his heart, he was filled with inward laughter. The Divine King was clearing the way for him. When he was told to “offer apologies,” there was no real need to go at all.

The Divine King Jiang looked toward the Holy Sovereign of Yao Guang: “Let the grudges of the younger generation be resolved by the younger generation themselves. What do you say?”

The Holy Sovereign of Yao Guang nodded. He would naturally say nothing more. To kill Ye Fan was to kill the Divine King—even that had been said openly. How could he still press the matter and hold him accountable?

The Divine King Jiang’s hair was white as snow, yet his features had the appearance of a man no more than twenty or so years old. He sat high above them all. His supreme and timeless bearing had been spoken of for several thousand years.

At this moment, many young maidens could not help but be moved—their eyes glimmering with extraordinary light. Yet not one of them dared express anything—for the gap in identity and standing was simply too vast.

Suddenly, a long whistle rang out—splitting the sky, drawing rapidly nearer to the sacred city, like an endless and terrifying sea of thunder surging forward at great speed.

A great peng’s cry that pierced the heavens!

Everyone knew who had arrived. A supremely terrifying figure of renown among the demon clan—the Peng King had come.

Slash!

In a flash of radiance, a powerful and imposing elder appeared within the great hall. He wore a golden Daoist robe. His full head of golden hair burned like a raging fire. His frame was tall and powerfully built, and his eyes were like two sharp swords as he stood tall before them all.

Everyone was astonished. The whistle was still outside the city—yet the person had already burst into the sacred city ahead of it. One could only imagine how terrifying his speed was.

It was evident he had already been apprised of the situation. The moment he entered the great hall, he fixed his gaze upon Ye Fan—golden eyes flickering with an inscrutable light.

Jiang Yun asked: “Peng King—what business brings you here?”

The Peng King stood with an imposing and heroic bearing, his golden Daoist robe glinting and shimmering. He paid his respects to the Divine King above in the great hall—then fixed his gaze on Ye Fan once more and explained his purpose.

He had come specifically for the Golden-Winged Xiaopeng King. Upon learning that the Desolate Holy Physique had appeared, he had rushed here at the first moment. The Golden-Winged Xiaopeng King was a figure of heaven-sent talent—widely believed by many to be walking the path of a future Great Emperor. He was deeply cherished by the Peng King, who would naturally not suffer him to be imprisoned by another.

“My disciples of Yao Guang who were suppressed—I also ask that they be released.” The Holy Sovereign of Yao Guang also spoke up.

Ye Fan instantly became the focal point of the room. Every gaze turned toward him simultaneously. The Golden-Winged Xiaopeng King, the Holy Son of Yao Guang—which of them was not a peerless talent of the present age, practically invincible among the young generation?

Though everyone knew Ye Fan had suppressed both powerful figures under extraordinary circumstances, people still looked at him with complex, shifting expressions.

The Divine King Jiang was somewhat surprised. He glanced at Ye Fan and said: “Release them.” He produced the Lihuo Sacred Furnace and sent it flying toward Ye Fan.

The sacred furnace flowed with flickering firelight. Its body was branded with images of divine birds and solar seals—ancient and in close accord with the great Dao. On its lid were carved nine ancient characters—mysterious and profound, their meaning impossible to decipher. It was precisely because of these characters that the furnace had been sealed.

The Holy Sons and Holy Maidens of the various holy lands were all watching Ye Fan. Many elders of the older generation were also fixed upon him without blinking—their gazes entirely concentrated on him.

Ye Fan was unbothered. He received the Lihuo Sacred Furnace. His expression was calm. With a particular technique, he erased the nine Emperor Script characters—then struck the furnace hard and sent it flying outward.

BOOM!

Divine fire surged into the heavens. The furnace lid shot skyward in an instant. The entire sky above blazed with scorching heat—becoming completely a sea of fire. Like a vast ocean surging and billowing.

Three figures transformed into three divine rainbows and leaped into the void. A supremely powerful divine might poured forth in all directions. They were like three deities—radiating endless divine brilliance from every part of their being, impossible to look directly upon.

BOOM!

The three greatest experts of the younger generation all moved simultaneously—charging toward Ye Fan together. They were like three terrifying great stars crashing down from beyond the domain, making people tremble involuntarily.

Bang!

The peerless Divine King acted. One great hand reached out, and all three were covered beneath it. An ocean-like surge of terrifying fluctuations instantly vanished—in an instant, completely calm.

“You must not be impertinent!”

The Peng King and the Holy Sovereign of Yao Guang shouted together, afraid the three had not known the heights of heaven and the depths of earth and had offended the Divine King—in which case even they would be unable to save them.

“Brother Peng, Brother Yao Guang—I must apologize for what I have done to you.” Ye Fan spoke.

The Golden-Winged Xiaopeng King was imposing and majestic in bearing, with a pressure that could suppress all around him. Divine flames of golden fire blazed burning around his body. His eyes were like sharp swords—filled with wild ferocity.

He held a heavy Great Desolation Halberd in his hand. His golden hair flew in wild disorder. His pupils were soul-shaking—as though a demon sovereign had crossed through the heavens and arrived.

He let out a long howl into the sky. Killing intent shot directly into the heavens. He locked his gaze upon Ye Fan with bottomless killing intent surging forth in torrents.

On the other side, the Holy Son of Yao Guang was bathed in boundless holy light—like a deity!

He stood in the void. A full one hundred and eight halos of light encircled him—making him appear sacred and tranquil, while simultaneously emanating a trembling aura that filled the air with vibration.

At this moment, the Holy Son of Yao Guang looked exactly like an immortal king who had descended into the world of ten thousand zhang of red dust—his bearing of an immortal king’s dignity and aloofness causing many of the older generation to feel their hearts tremble.

He seemed to look down upon all living beings from above—transcendent and majestic. His bearing as an immortal king left many elders of the older generation deeply shaken.

“Immortal Yao Xi—your bearing grows even more captivating. One could truly say you are the most beautiful woman under heaven.” Ye Fan smiled and addressed the Holy Maiden of Yao Guang as well.

Yao Xi: brilliant and otherworldly, like the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden come to the mortal world—a peerless and transcendent beauty. Her skin was as jade and her bones as crystal—she did not partake of the flavors of the mortal world.

She gave one an impression of infinite distance—though she stood visibly before one’s eyes, she created the illusion of being as unreachable as a palace in the nine heavens. Her flawless immortal bearing was such that she felt as though she could never truly be approached.