This mountain range was magnificent, occupying a vast area. All manner of ancient trees grew there, their roots gripping sheer cliff faces, deep emerald and emerald green, shimmering with radiant light — as though carved from jade.

There were also bubbling spirit springs flowing down sheer cliff walls, transforming into silvery waterfalls that tumbled down as if the silver rivers of the nine heavens were pouring earthward, accompanied by thin wisps of mist and colorful haze.

As for ancient medicines — they were everywhere, rooted at the foot of mountains, on sheer cliff walls, and before elevated platforms, their delicate fragrance filling one’s nostrils, their luminescence shimmering, swaying out wisps of auspicious light and wafts of fragrance.

“Uncle, what is that?” Xiao Nannan’s large eyes rolled about, curious about everything.

“That is a qilin beast, carrying a faint strand of immortal spirit bloodline.” Ye Fan answered, telling him that this was not a true qilin — only a bloodline that had survived in the world.

Before a stone wall, a qilin lay recumbent alone, purple energy rising in spirals of mist. All around it, orchids and fragrant grasses grew, radiant light blanketing the earth. This was a place of lush and thriving ancient medicines, without a single weed.

“What is that little crimson bird? Oh! It breathed fire — it melted an entire mountain peak.” Yang Xi was astonished, his little mouth gaping wide. He had never seen such creatures before.

“That is a fire sparrow — said to be a descendant of the vermillion bird. Hmm… for it to have grown this far is truly no easy feat.” Ye Fan said.

This fire sparrow was no larger than a palm, its entire body vivid crimson, its feathers gorgeous — as though cast from phoenix blood and red gold. With the lightest flutter of its wings, its divine power was overwhelming. It appeared and disappeared at volcanic craters, making the very Dao resound in wave after wave of rumbling.

Within the Cang Clan’s mountain gate, dozens and hundreds of mountain peaks stood side by side. Many rare birds and auspicious beasts appeared and disappeared among them — every single one was a pre-ancient archaic exotic species; some were nearly impossible to find in the outside world.

A middle-aged man could no longer bear it. He barked: “Holy Physique — do not go too far! What do you think this place is? Do you think our Cang clan has no one capable? Withdraw immediately, or bear the consequences!”

“I have not broken into the Cang Clan. I am merely letting this child look around outside. What is wrong with that?” Ye Fan said very calmly.

“This is our clan’s sacred land. Outsiders — especially those of your Holy Physique lineage — may not set foot here. This is an affront to our dignity!” he scolded.

Ye Fan’s face immediately darkened. “This is considered an affront to you? Then let me ask — what exactly did you all do on another ancient star? Breaking into the home of the Holy Physique lineage, humiliating and trampling them — this child, from the time he was small until now, has had bruises and bloodstains on his body without end. How could you bring yourselves to do that to him?”

The group inside the mountain gate stiffened slightly, then grew cold and gloomy in their expressions, utterly indifferent, without immediate response.

“All these years, has the Holy Physique lineage ever provoked anyone? You bully and humiliate them at the slightest provocation — is that not excessive enough? I bring this child here today — is that truly an affront? Comparing the two, what does this amount to?!” Ye Fan thundered.

These people could tell — the Holy Physique who had come from the Burial Emperor Star, leading a young child, had come with ill intent. They exchanged glances, their expressions cold and hostile.

“Uncle…” Yang Xi called out softly.

“It’s fine. They aren’t the least bit frightening. They might even welcome us in.” Ye Fan had come to this place wanting to wipe away the shadows that lingered in young Yang Xi’s heart.

“I’m not scared at all! In the future, I’ll personally defeat every single one of them with my own hands!” The little one puffed out his chest and declared, his bearing brilliant and spirited.

“Nothing but the progeny of losers — and you dare come to our territory and speak such nonsense?” One of the young people inside the Cang Clan’s mountain gate finally could no longer restrain himself, sneering with cold contempt.

“In this world, the strong reign supreme. Our ancestor defeated the Holy Physique. The descendants of the Sovereign Heavenly Tyrant Physique are destined to surpass the eliminated bloodline of the Holy Physique — using you to temper ourselves. What is wrong with that?”

This was an arrogance from on high — a fierce and naked hostility, laced with a sense of superiority, a brazen and undisguised act of humiliation.

Of course, the two who had spoken also knew their limits. They did not dare to step outside the mountain gate, merely mocking from within the sacred land, standing atop the mountain peak with folded arms, gazing coldly downward.

“Is that so? The strong reign supreme — this world is indeed merciless. Very well then. I will make an effort and try being a strong one myself.” Having said this, Ye Fan vanished with a whoosh.

Boom!

The ancient great formation at the mountain gate was struck, releasing a boundless surging wave of divine power. Countless Dao patterns intertwined, grinding down all invaders — terrifying saintly might spreading in all directions.

Yet this was utterly unable to stop Ye Fan. He had cultivated his Movement Scripture to the realm of consummate mastery. With this secret art activated, there was nothing above or below that could not be reached — breaking through formations was one of its ultimate functions.

The ancient saint-killing formation could not obstruct Ye Fan. He entered the mountain gate and appeared atop that mountain peak, striking decisively without hesitation.

“Stop him!”

A group of people shouted. The assault came swiftly and fiercely — fast as divine lightning, arriving in an instant, too quick to react to.

Bang!

By the time certain powerful figures had made their move, Ye Fan had already grabbed two young men and retreated, breaking out of the mountain gate.

This was a show of force — taking the heads of enemies amid ten thousand armies, as easily as reaching into a bag to retrieve an object. Ye Fan had directly captured the two impudent young men and extracted them.

“Since the strong reign supreme — I apologize to you two weaklings. I also need to temper myself. I’ll use you two for practice!” Ye Fan said coldly.

Smack!

He swung out a palm strike, sending one young man flying, blood spattering. Then he immediately chased after him, stamping the man down from midair, treading him into the ground.

“Oww—!” The man let out a miserable howl — a sound that barely sounded human anymore. His entire body nearly had its bones broken by Ye Fan’s stomp. All of this was the result of Ye Fan showing mercy — otherwise, what life would remain?

“No—!” The other man cried out, frightened out of his wits. He had just watched it happen and already felt pain throughout his entire body — and now it was about to be his turn.

Ye Fan naturally would not stop. He positioned the man in front of himself, swung his right leg mightily, and then with great force swung it out like kicking a ball, sending him sailing through the air.

Boom!

In the distance, a small hill was toppled by the impact. Dust and smoke billowed, and from that direction came gut-wrenching screams — wailing without end.

“Survival of the fittest — nothing more than that. Today I am stronger than you, and it seems quite fitting to temper myself a bit here.” Ye Fan led young Yang Xi forward, kicking them one at a time into the air again — sending both crashing into a pile of rubble.

This was a brutal beating!

Right in front of the Cang Clan, at the entrance to their mountain gate, disciplining that clan’s own disciples. At that instant, silence fell to the absolute extreme. No one could believe what was happening.

Immediately after, the sacred land erupted. Numerous sacred treasures flew out, all shimmering with radiant light, launching attacks toward Ye Fan to strike him down.

Ye Fan remained very calm. Without expending effort to resist, he activated his Combat Scripture and directly used the two captives as shields, meeting those weapons and sacred treasures head-on — with the result that the radiance faded, the attacks instantly halted.

“Holy Physique — you have enraged our Cang Clan! This is a humiliation against us! You shall not escape here today!” Someone inside the mountain gate let out a furious roar.

“If it were not for the Guides’ protection, you would have been exterminated long ago! Progeny of failures — you have come to our clan’s gates to act violently! This cannot be tolerated!”

Such a thing had never happened before. Generation after generation, year after year, they had always held the advantage. When had their sworn enemy’s lineage ever “oppressed” them this way? Every one of them was livid with rage, eyes wide with fury.

Ye Fan was unhurried and unruffled. He gave the two young men another thorough beating, then led Xiao Nannan to stand atop them, his expression serene. “Everything I am doing is following your way of thinking. I am strong — I trample you underfoot. Is that not completely normal? Nothing but failures — is this not exactly how they should be treated?”

As he spoke these words, he unleashed another vicious correction, nearly scattering their bones. In the end, he tossed them inside the mountain gate as one would discard garbage.

Boom!

From within the Cang Clan, a supreme tyrannical aura erupted. A stone mountain shattered. A figure like a demon god charged out from within, rising to high heaven.

“Holy Physique from the Burial Emperor Star — you dare humiliate our clan! The Sovereign Heavenly Tyrant Blood shall not be defied! Today you will not leave!” he bellowed.

Ye Fan’s reaction was very subdued — looking almost indifferent. “This doesn’t quite count as humiliation, does it?”

The Cang Clan crowd was in a frenzy. All these years, who had dared come here to cause trouble? This was the first time — and this person was actually saying it did not count as anything. Truly infuriating. Every person was seething with rage.

Ye Fan remained breezy and unbothered. “This kind of thing — isn’t it something you do all the time? I am far less adept at it than you. Please forgive me for any areas where I fell short.”

“Enough—!” Everyone nearly leapt to their feet. This was a bare-faced slap across the face — and he still wore that indifferent expression. Maddening and infuriating — many gritted their teeth, wishing they could tear him into eight pieces.

The saint who had broken out of seclusion was tremendously powerful — tall and imposing, like a demon god. He wanted to say nothing more, and was about to charge out and kill.

Suddenly, an old man appeared soundlessly, grabbing him by the arm and stopping him from leaving the mountain gate. The others also grew quiet.

“Young man, you have gone too far.” The old man said expressionlessly.

“Not really?” Ye Fan was the same as always — neither forceful nor fierce, somewhat casual. Even while saying this, he seemed to ask it as a question, as if still soliciting the other party’s opinion.

“Infuriating!” Some people were so furious they wanted to flay him alive — unable to stop themselves from wanting to strike.

“Young man, you need to know your limits.” The old man’s face darkened as he fixed his gaze on him. “Breaking into our ancestor’s mausoleum is disrespectful — and indeed a form of humiliation. Coming to our clan’s gates and…”

“I believe none of those charges hold up.” Ye Fan shook his head, cutting off his words. “Throughout the ages, countless people have gone to that great tomb to pay their respects. Everyone at the Fifty-Third Human Pass knows of it. Why is it that it is not permitted for me in particular?”

A crowd of people erupted in outrage, many voices shouting and berating at once.

“Your clan and our Sovereign Heavenly Tyrant Blood lineage are sworn enemies — you are nothing but failures. For you to ascend the great tomb is the gravest of provocations. Others may have reason to ascend it, but your lineage absolutely may not!”

“What right do the descendants of failures have to set foot upon our clan’s sacred ground? This is a disgrace!”

Many young people glared with angry eyes. They were young and hot-blooded, and before the Holy Physique lineage harbored both arrogance and a sense of superiority — naturally unable to endure it.

“You call this a disgrace — then why did you go to another ancient star and run wild before the solitary tomb of the Holy Physique? Not only that, but you bullied his descendants, and even carved inscriptions on the stone walls before his tomb. Is that not far more serious? Why always apply a double standard?” Ye Fan said coldly.

“Insolence!” Some within the Cang Clan had already reached the limit of their endurance.

“I am not being insolent in the least.” Ye Fan shook his head and reverted to his casual manner. “I did not disrespect your ancestor — nor did I carve any inscriptions. I merely picked two Medicinal Kings from there. These are the medicinal herbs to compensate for the injuries the Cang Clan inflicted upon little Yang Xi, leaving him covered in wounds.”

The Cang Clan crowd nearly spat blood. Those were two Medicinal Kings — among the most precious in the world, capable of making even great saints bow their heads before them, able to extend lifespans. Certain elders within the clan who were running low on their remaining lifespan, upon learning of this, nearly felt they had good reason to die then and there.

Ye Fan said leisurely: “Rest assured. Before I left, I laid out some Source Heaven formation arrays in that place and transplanted over a dozen rare ancient medicinal herbs. I imagine that two or three thousand years from now, they will all have become Medicinal Kings. You are not losing out.”

The crowd nearly spat blood again. Transplanting ancient medicines in their ancestor’s burial ground — and on top of that, whose medicinal garden was it? Not to mention — who could wait two or three thousand years? Every single one of them felt an urge to eat him alive.

“I wonder whether two or three thousand years from now, I will have the opportunity to go back and harvest the ancient medicines I planted myself.” Ye Fan once again spoke to himself, looking quite self-satisfied.

“Your own grandfather—!” These were the words every single person was on the verge of cursing aloud.

At this moment, the only one looking at Ye Fan with an expression of utter adoration was little Yang Xi.