The Desolate Halberd — pitch-black, coldly gleaming, heavy as a great mountain — fell from the sky, so immense that even a cultivator of the Four Extremes Secret Realm would struggle to hold it. At this moment, it plummeted down and landed upon a sheer cliff face, instantly sending a pillar of dust and smoke soaring to the heavens.
Crack!
Everyone stared wide-eyed. The pitch-black Desolate Halberd smashed the stone cliff to pieces, sending smoke and dust surging skyward and enormous boulders tumbling down with a thunderous roar.
“The legends were true — even a cultivator at the Four Extremes Secret Realm may not necessarily be able to hold it. To think it really is this heavy.”
“It drove more than ten meters of cliff face down — just how heavy is the Desolate Halberd?!”
Everyone was astonished. This was not a cultivator cleaving at the cliff face — it was the Desolate Halberd falling freely on its own, and it had already crushed the cliff. It wasn’t even an enormous object — just a weapon that had been held in one hand during battle. Everyone couldn’t help but marvel at the formidable power of the Heavenly Peng Clan, that they could hold such an immensely heavy object and use it in combat.
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s true form stretched for dozens of meters — golden and brilliant, shimmering with radiance. His twin wings beat the sky, and the powerful wind they generated shook heaven and earth.
At this moment, Ye Fan came onto his back and struck with full force, causing this enormous golden bird form to rock violently.
Boom!
The nine-meter-tall great cauldron suppressed downward. Golden feathers scattered and flew — even the true form of a being as powerful as the Golden-Winged Little Peng King could not withstand it, and a Peng cry rang through the long sky.
His entire body blazed with golden light, shooting out tens of thousands of streams of sword energy in an attempt to cut Ye Fan down — but he was now spent, and with both the cauldron and the green lotus protecting Ye Fan simultaneously, there was simply no way to cut through.
“I refuse to believe I can’t shatter your physical body!”
Ye Fan did not activate his divine sense. He struck solely with the great cauldron, hammering the Heavenly Peng’s true form and sending it crying out in long wails, its disordered feathers flying about like flashes of golden light.
Boom!
Ye Fan gripped the great cauldron and struck the Heavenly Peng’s true form continuously on its spine, hammering the same location repeatedly until the sound of cracking bone rang out.
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King spat a mouthful of blood — two bones in his back had been broken.
“I will kill you!” His eyes were filled with boundless killing intent.
Golden light blazed brilliantly as he transformed back into human form, struggling fiercely to shake free from the entanglement.
Thud!
Ye Fan sat upon his back, clinging there, raising his hand and bringing the cauldron crashing down onto his skull.
Formidable as the Golden-Winged Little Peng King was, this left him dazed — he felt the world spinning around him, both ears ringing.
Thud!
Ye Fan had no intention of letting him recover. Another cauldron strike came down, leaving the Golden-Winged Little Peng King dizzy and disoriented as a drunk man, tumbling through the sky.
Yet he was, after all, a powerful young fighter of his generation — undefeated since he first walked the world, his combat ability awe-inspiring.
Ah…
He let out a great cry. His full head of golden hair danced as he tried to throw Ye Fan off, sword energy erupting to the heavens in fierce resistance.
Thud — thud…
Ye Fan threw punch after punch — at his skull, at the back of his neck, at his spine. The Golden-Winged Little Peng King spat fresh blood and tumbled in continuous rolls.
In the distance, onlookers gaped. The once-invincible Golden-Winged Little Peng King was being ridden and beaten — this was an image difficult to conceive of, yet it was happening before their eyes.
Thud — thud…
Ye Fan sat astride the Golden-Winged Little Peng King, raining punches, leaving him disheveled and bruised, blood spraying in all directions.
Everyone was slightly stunned. The dignified Golden-Winged Little Peng King was actually being brutally beaten, reduced to this state.
“Enough — it’s time to end the battle!” From afar, a demon clan cultivator spoke in a heavy voice.
“Your Highness, make him stop.” Another spoke as well — both were demon cultivators who followed the Golden-Winged Little Peng King.
“Yes — let the battle end like this!” Even the demon cultivators beside Qingyi voiced the same sentiment.
Yan Ruyu nodded. There was no need to continue at this point — the outcome had been nearly decided. The Golden-Winged Little Peng King was the descendant of the Heavenly Peng Clan’s rulers, and if he truly fell here, the consequences would be extremely grave.
“Who says I’ve lost — it’s not over yet!” The Golden-Winged Little Peng King roared in fury. His entire body erupted with a surge of golden light. He violently shook his body all at once, sending Ye Fan flying off.
“This is… the Heavenly Peng Dragon-Wrestling Technique!” someone cried out in alarm.
“Isn’t that combat sacred technique supposed to require the Four Extremes Secret Realm or above before it can be used?”
“Damn it — is this crazed bird-man actually breaking his seal?! Is he trying to be shameless and kill Ye Fan?!” Tu Fei was greatly startled.
“The Dragon-Wrestling Technique — I’ve seen it again. Damn it — infuriating!” The great black dog muttered, as though recalling some past event.
When the Heavenly Peng Dragon-Wrestling Technique manifested as a visual form, it could also be called the Peng-Dragon Art!
Boom!
Golden divine flames blazed and surged all around the Golden-Winged Little Peng King — and behind him, the Peng-Dragon Art actually appeared!
A golden divine bird — the Peng — and a true dragon intertwined, manifesting clearly with full vividness, unleashing supreme pressure that shook one’s very soul. Those watching from afar felt wave after wave of alarm.
“Your Highness, stop him quickly — that crazed bird-man has released his seal and broken his promise!” Tu Fei shouted.
Yan Ruyu shook her head and said, “His seal cannot be released in less than one hour.”
Qingyi nodded and said, “The Golden-Winged Little Peng King has not released his seal — he has used a secret technique to force out the Heavenly Peng Dragon-Wrestling Technique!”
“This kind of supreme secret technique is the most terrifying of all. It is the most guarded secret of the Heavenly Peng Clan — it can be called both a great killing technique and a phenomenon,” the great black dog murmured to itself quietly.
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King stood like a divine being, shimmering brilliantly. Behind him the Peng-Dragon Art manifested, and its terrifying pressure surged toward Ye Fan like a vast ocean.
“Since first walking the world, I, the Golden-Winged Heavenly Peng, have never tasted defeat — yet you have beaten me into such a sorry state. You may be an Archaic Sacred Physique, but today I will strike you down!” His expression was ice-cold, his hair streaked with blood, his eyes utterly frightening.
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King blazed with golden light from head to toe. The fierce flames grew even more intense, and his pupils transformed to gold as he unleashed a killing punch.
The Peng’s cry shook the heavens!
Behind him, that golden Peng came vividly to life — it actually flew out, transforming into a bolt of lightning that pounced toward Ye Fan in a killing strike. Following close behind the divine Peng was a true dragon!
The terrifying aura, the supreme pressure — it made people tremble involuntarily, wanting to fall to their knees.
“Damn it — it really is the Heavenly Peng Dragon Art!” The great black dog gritted its teeth.
Boom!
Beside Ye Fan, the green lotus manifested. It swayed and cast out a curtain of light, shielding him inside.
The golden Heavenly Peng spread its talons wide and sliced with its golden wings. The true dragon coiled its body, trying to crush Ye Fan to shreds.
But then, a shocking thing happened — the Heavenly Peng and the true dragon vanished when they were just one meter away from Ye Fan, disappearing without any trace.
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s body shuddered violently. The Peng-Dragon Art reappeared behind him — the Peng and the true dragon facing each other, lifelike in appearance, their pressure awe-inspiring.
“What happened? What was that just now?”
“Why did the Peng-Dragon Art fly out and then suddenly vanish, returning behind the Golden-Winged Little Peng King?”
“The Archaic Sacred Physique can counteract and suppress phenomena. The Peng-Dragon Art can be called a phenomenon — it was suppressed!”
“How is that possible — in ancient times, the Peng-Dragon Art was unstoppable. It was extremely difficult to suppress…”
Everyone was stunned. This was a confrontation between the pinnacle physiques of two great ancient clans.
Ye Fan remained calm and said, “Your phenomenon is ineffective against me.”
“The Peng-Dragon Art is both a phenomenon and a great killing technique!” The Golden-Winged Little Peng King gritted his teeth, driving his divine power as the Peng-Dragon Art grew even more awe-inspiring. The Heavenly Peng and the true dragon seemed as though they had truly descended into the world.
Then, the Peng entered his right hand and the true dragon entered his left. In the dim light one could faintly see that a Peng and a dragon were respectively coiled around each of his hands.
“With the phenomenon concealed, it becomes the supreme Heavenly Peng Dragon-Wrestling Technique!” The Golden-Winged Little Peng King roared, charging forward to kill bare-handed.
Boom!
On the Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s two hands, the Heavenly Peng and the true dragon flickered in and out of visibility — as though they could shatter an entire mountain. They struck at Ye Fan, and the aura of the divine Peng and the true dragon shook one’s very soul.
Crack!
Below, a mountain range took the impact. All the grass and trees upon it were reduced to flying ash, scattered rocks shot through the air, and the mountain summit was nearly completely crushed.
Boom!
Ye Fan countered with the Battle Saint Technique. His golden fist struck against the Peng and dragon — and the energy between the two surged into towering waves, sending both of them blasting away at once.
In the distance, onlookers felt their hearts constrict. If this kind of supreme secret technique had struck them directly, they would certainly have been reduced to ash!
Whoosh!
Ye Fan flew back. His expression was calm and composed as he thrust out his great golden palm in a forward strike.
Slap!
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King was sent flying with a single blow. He had failed to launch the supreme Heavenly Peng Dragon-Wrestling Technique.
“What happened — that terrifying aura from the bird-man just now made my heart pound, so how did it suddenly disappear again?” Tu Fei was uncertain and puzzled.
“I see — I understand now. The supreme Heavenly Peng Dragon-Wrestling Technique can only be used at the Four Extremes Secret Realm. At his current level, landing even one strike was already remarkable.” Qingyi spoke up.
“With one strike failing to do anything to the Archaic Sacred Physique, he can no longer launch a second — his divine power is exhausted.” Yan Ruyu nodded.
“If he were at the Four Extremes Secret Realm and unleashed the supreme Heavenly Peng Dragon-Wrestling Technique — what kind of terrifying scene would that be?” Tu Fei shuddered at the thought.
Ye Fan surged forward. His golden fist connected with the Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s face, sending him tilting backward in a flying arc, coughing up blood continuously.
In an instant, Ye Fan gave chase, throwing heavy blow after heavy blow at the Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s body.
“I want to see exactly how many punches it takes to break your bones!”
Ye Fan swung his golden fist, striking the same location again and again. After nine successive blows, a crisp snapping sound rang out from the Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s chest — the bone was finally broken.
He did not stop, continuing to strike with heavy force at other areas. Very quickly he discovered that striking the same location seven to nine consecutive times would fracture a Heavenly Peng bone.
“So that’s how it is!”
Ye Fan was deeply surprised. He had discovered a fact — in addition to his extraordinarily powerful physique, the Golden-Winged Little Peng King also possessed the Heavenly Peng Resurrection Technique.
It was precisely this innate divine technique that gave the Golden-Winged Little Peng King his thoroughly overwhelming endurance against attack.
The Golden-Winged Little Peng King roared. The killing intent in his eyes remained undiminished, and even in these circumstances he continued to fight back.
Boom!
Ye Fan brought the cauldron crashing down onto his skull. This time, it knocked him completely unconscious.
At this point, no matter how unwilling the Golden-Winged Little Peng King was, there was nothing he could do — his divine power was exhausted and he fell into unconsciousness.
Slap!
Ye Fan threw punch after punch, exploring the mysteries of the Heavenly Peng Clan’s body. In just this brief span of time, he had thrown more than a hundred punches, mapping out which areas were most solid and which were weak.
Crack — crack…
All of this happened in mere moments. The sounds of bone fracturing came so rapidly they nearly blended into a continuous noise, and onlookers called for it to stop too late.
“Stop at once!” a demon clan member shouted loudly. The Golden-Winged Little Peng King had the hope of walking the path of the Great Emperor — if he were crippled by the Archaic Sacred Physique, it would be an incalculable loss.
“The battle is over — stop now.” Even Qingyi spoke up. He had no desire to trigger great chaos.
Thud — thud…
Ye Fan threw over three hundred punches. On the Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s body, a full forty or more bones had been fractured — even his jaw had been broken.
He knew he could not kill the Golden-Winged Little Peng King. Doing so would bring catastrophic trouble upon him — the demon clan would not let the matter rest.
Therefore, he had not struck to kill. His attacks had been measured and precise, purely for the purpose of mapping out the Heavenly Peng’s bones.
By the time everyone came rushing forward, the Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s fiftieth bone had been broken. This powerful physique had been beaten to near ruin.
“Why didn’t you stop just now?!” a demon clan cultivator demanded.
“Little Peng King, are you all right?” someone shook his body.
“It’s all right — his life is not in danger.” Yan Ruyu was as flawlessly beautiful as a celestial immortal of the moon palace. Her white robes swayed as she swept her gaze over everyone, calming their emotions.
“The Golden-Winged Little Peng King was actually defeated…”
“The Archaic Sacred Physique is truly awe-inspiring. What a pity it can only stop at the Dao Palace Secret Realm — it can never recapture its former glory.” Many of those present shook their heads.
Everyone who looked at Ye Fan felt a strange sensation. Everyone had long since heard the rumor that the Golden-Winged Little Peng King had hopes of walking the Demon Emperor’s path.
Yet this young demon ruler had been thoroughly defeated at the same realm by someone the world called a “crippled physique” — his physical body beaten to near ruin.
If Ye Fan could advance into the Four Extremes Secret Realm, it would be equivalent to defeating the Golden-Winged Little Peng King in a Great Emperor qualification battle.
“What a pity — forever unable to enter the Four Extremes Secret Realm!” someone sighed.
“Facing an Archaic Sacred Physique, the Golden-Winged Little Peng King was defeated at the same realm — but his imperial path remains unobstructed. This battle may actually prove to be a fortunate thing for him.”
“Though the Archaic Sacred Physique has lived up to legend and continued the undefeated myth, it is a pity that this is the end of the road — there is no path forward.”