Huotan spat out a mouthful of blood froth, struggling to rise from the ground. That last strike had sent him flying a hundred zhang away, his entire spine feeling as if it had snapped, his whole body utterly exhausted.
He recited scripture, his joints crackling, forcibly circulating divine power to repair the damage, waves of blood energy steaming up, his skin flickering with light.
In just this instant, he had burned away centuries of lifespan, because using secret techniques to heal within this forbidden zone came at too great a cost!
Within the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone, cultivation could only barely be stirred a little. Wanting to truly heal one’s origin, the essence blood expended far exceeded what the forbidden zone devoured.
“Sacred Body of the human race, do you want to perish together with me? Even if you injure me, you yourself won’t survive,” Huotan said, his expression grim.
“You die, I live — nothing more to say. Submit to death!” Ye Fan began a new wave of attacks; time was life, there was no room to delay here.
The dark golden spear swept out a streak of dark light, like an ink-black dragon soaring through the sky, transforming into a living being, its sharp tip piercing through everything in its path, aimed directly at Huotan’s forehead.
“Since I became a Saint, I have never suffered such humiliation as today. My disciples killed one after another — if I cannot make you into blood food, what face would I have left? Ant, die!”
Huotan fought desperately, the Dao sound within his body resonating incessantly, forcibly drawing on sacred power, circulating his cultivation, willing to pay the price of part of his life essence.
However, the effect was poor. The life-forbidden zone suppressed all laws and Dao imprints, stripping away the cultivator’s lifespan. He spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his face pale as paper.
“Clang!”
Ye Fan’s spear in his hand nearly pressed against his forehead. Huotan turned sideways, dodging the sharp point, forcibly spitting out a beam of divine light, splitting heaven and earth apart, sending Ye Fan retreating like a streak of golden lightning.
After this exchange, Huotan’s expression darkened, wrinkles crawling across his face — the power of the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone was manifesting; even a Saint couldn’t withstand it.
Likewise, though Ye Fan wore his Source Heaven Divine Robe, his face too was gradually losing its luster, a few strands of white appearing in his black hair, life force draining away.
The two fought fiercely, time meaning life itself, both wanting to overcome the other at their peak — one a true Saint in every sense, the other the human race’s Sacred Body, both flesh, blood, and bloodline power pushed to the absolute extreme.
Neither could display their Dao cultivation, secret techniques unable to be used; the occasional burst of power they managed wasn’t enough to pose a lethal threat.
Close combat was the main method!
Their speed was both extremely fast — from the start until now, less than half a quarter-hour had passed, not much time had elapsed, yet each of them already showed wrinkles on their faces.
“Kill!”
The two fought a life-and-death struggle, a battle to the death!
Ye Fan wielded his single dark golden spear to a level of consummate mastery, sending Huotan flying four times, piercing his body twice, crimson droplets scattering — this was a Saint’s blood!
Blood seeped from the corner of Huotan’s mouth, his expression cold and stern. Though he said nothing, his gaze was like a blade, forcing his way toward the edge of the restricted zone — once free, he would torment Ye Fan tenfold.
“Sacred Body of the human race, pray that I don’t escape this place, otherwise you know what will happen!” Huotan’s expression turned ferocious, having just suffered a new wound.
“You have no chance!” Ye Fan’s spear moved like a violent storm, transforming into a sheet of dark light, engulfing everything ahead — having come this far, there was absolutely no possibility of letting this person go.
Ye Fan used the black spear in continuous chops and slashes, simultaneously thrusting forward — it served as spear, blade, and staff all at once, with endless methods of attack.
Huotan was covered in wounds, the most severe strike nearly piercing through his heart, blood gushing forth.
“Summon the ancestor, bestow the Dao seal!”
Huotan cried out. Having become a Saint, yet now threatened with his very life by Ye Fan — to him this was a humiliation, and he fought back desperately!
At his forehead, wisps of Dao marks intertwined, barely managing to activate a secret technique, wanting to unleash one powerful strike!
“Boom!”
His blood energy within his body boiled, transforming into wisps of demonic patterns appearing on his skin, blood oozing from every pore across his entire body, condensing the great momentum of heaven and earth, radiating wisps of sacred might.
“Clang,” “Clang”…
He blocked the dark golden spear bare-handed, the force astonishingly powerful, finally displaying something of a Saint’s characteristic dignity — yet his body was rapidly aging.
Powerful as Ye Fan was, even his tiger’s mouth cracked open, the stone armor covering his body shattering piece by piece, falling to the ground, his true body exposed within the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone, suffering the ravages of time.
“I am a Saint! Let’s see what you can use to fight me!” Huotan roared savagely, pressing forward step by step, his offensive growing increasingly fierce.
Unfortunately, secret techniques still couldn’t be unleashed — only making his physical body radiate sacred brilliance, his flesh and blood strengthened several times over, nothing more.
“How long can you hold on?” Ye Fan stared at his wrinkle-covered body, saying coldly.
“If I can’t hold on, you won’t be able to withstand the Wasteland’s power either — you’ll surely be lost here, becoming nothing but a mound of yellow earth!” Huotan said coldly, not believing Ye Fan would truly perish alongside him.
Another exchange, and Huotan could no longer sustain circulating his blood energy — his entire body dimmed, wrinkles deepening, his body staggering. Since the battle began, he had lost at least a thousand years of lifespan.
In the distance, purple light flashed. Huotan, overjoyed, abandoned Ye Fan and rushed over quickly.
On the ground lay a purple-gold lotus with a medicinal age of at least twenty thousand years, its whole body glowing with purple radiance, standing a full two feet tall, its fragrance intoxicating. Huotan grabbed it and devoured it ravenously — his essence and energy severely depleted, rare ancient herbs visible everywhere on the ground, excellent items for replenishing life potential.
Ye Fan didn’t stop him, instead calmly retrieving a jade bottle, gulping down its contents — this was divine liquid taken from the Immortal-Ascension Pool, remarkably effective for replenishing life essence.
“You…”
Huotan was shocked, immediately rushing over at the sight, trying to snatch the jade bottle, because continuing this way would surely exhaust him to death.
Ye Fan put the jade bottle away, continuing to battle him fiercely, full of vigor, blood energy surging forth, his offense growing ever fiercer.
“Puff!”
Huotan grew desperate, actually letting his body absorb Ye Fan’s spear thrust, allowing it to pierce through his chest and abdomen, spitting a mouthful of blood toward Ye Fan.
Ye Fan shook forcefully, and the dark golden spear pulled out through Huotan’s chest and abdomen, flying free, not falling into the enemy’s hands.
He retreated. Though he had lost his dark golden spear, his expression remained calm, showing no trace of fear, his fists glowing crystalline, faint lightning flickering within — his blood was boiling.
“Kill!”
The two charged together, fighting to the death, physical bodies clashing, launching their final life-or-death struggle.
Hundreds upon hundreds of exchanges, a streak of golden shadow entangled with a streak of purple light, blood occasionally splattering — Ye Fan, fighting with his Dao-Severing body against a Saint-level ancient king; if word of this spread, it would surely shock the world.
In the blink of an eye, entering the life-forbidden zone had already lasted half a quarter-hour. Ye Fan finally showed a trace of worry — he could delay no longer, there was no time left to stalemate.
From this moment, his offensive grew even more ferocious, black hair scattered loose, golden fists striking with rumbling thunder, like bolts of lightning intertwining, striking Huotan’s body, blood surging, bones cracking repeatedly.
“Ah…”
Huotan cried out, one arm twisted and seized. His close-combat skills couldn’t match the various techniques Ye Fan displayed through the Fighting Saint Dharma, placing him at a disadvantage, his arm bone broken.
“Kill!”
With a sharp cry, Ye Fan’s fingers struck hundreds of times in rapid succession, then with a forceful yank, Huotan’s left arm was severed, blood spurting and gushing, white bone fragments visible.
“Ah…”
Huotan screamed, never having imagined such a day would come — having attained Sainthood, yet forcibly having an arm torn off by a Dao-Severing cultivator, suffering such a heavy blow.
Ye Fan retreated swiftly, avoiding the bloody spray, having forcibly severed the Saint’s arm, tossing it forcefully to the ground, staining the grass red.
Huotan, like a wounded beast, eyes bloodshot, though having lost one arm, remained extremely dangerous, transforming into a streak of purple light to pounce and kill Ye Fan.
Another life-or-death battle unfolded!
Ye Fan kept himself calm, avoiding the brunt of attacks, striking at weak points, his body like a flood dragon, leaping and bounding, at times like a great roc spreading its wings, at times like a true dragon emerging from the sea, unleashing both fists, thunder rumbling and lightning flashing — pure physical strength displayed to such a degree within the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone could be considered defying heaven itself.
“Bang!”
Ye Fan unleashed a Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist, no golden light scattering, but containing invincible fist intent, striking Huotan’s chest bone, producing the sound of breaking bones, his entire chest caving inward, causing him to cough up mouthfuls of blood.
The situation was hopeless! Huotan knew he was in grave danger, unable to turn the tide, powerless to recover.
“I am an Ancient Saint — you wish to slaughter a Saint, becoming renowned throughout the world? Impossible! I won’t let you have your way — at the very least, I’ll drag you down to death with me!” Huotan roared furiously.
He could imagine what kind of upheaval it would cause once Ye Fan slaughtered him — surely becoming immortalized in cultivation history! And he, as the failure, would only highlight this young man’s achievements, becoming a pitiable footnote, also recorded in history as a shameful contrast.
One would become renowned throughout the ages, the other would become a mere stepping stone, serving as a negative example — just thinking about it made his blood energy unstable, his body ready to explode.
“Hah!”
His forehead flashed with light — he was actually forcibly employing his powerful spiritual consciousness, a purple figure about to burst forth from his forehead bone.
“Ah…”
Huotan screamed, his primordial spirit having just emerged, already showing cracks. The purple figure let out a shrill, miserable cry, but still flew toward Ye Fan — this was perhaps his only means of eliminating Ye Fan.
Ye Fan acted decisively, drawing from behind a wooden staff resembling a sword or mace, ancient and unadorned, holding it with both hands, chopping directly at his primordial spirit.
“Puff!”
The purple figure couldn’t dodge, instantly struck and shattered by a third, letting out a miserable cry, its entire body shattering, retreating back into the flesh body’s forehead bone.
How could Ye Fan let such an opportunity pass? Holding the God-Slaying Whip, he covered a dozen zhang in a single step, arriving close by. With a puff, he struck it against Huotan’s forehead bone, nearly shattering his head, large cracks appearing.
One had to admit, a Saint’s physical body was truly formidable — an ordinary person would have long since turned to ash!
Huotan suffered severe injury, his body staggering, retreating at extreme speed, yet Ye Fan’s Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist arrived again, sending him flying hundreds of zhang away, and before he even landed, was caught up to once more.
“Puff!”
Ye Fan grabbed his remaining right arm and twisted forcefully — with a crack, the bone snapped, blood gushing forth. Huotan completely lost any possibility of turning the tide, his right arm also torn off.
Slaughtering a Saint!
It was about to happen — no one could stop it now. Ye Fan discarded the bloody arm, raised his leg high, spun around, then kicked forcefully out.
“Puff!”
Huotan screamed, his spinal bone breaking, the upper half of his body nearly rotted through, flesh and blood flying everywhere as he flew hundreds of zhang away, unable to move at all.
The Wasteland’s power surged violently — his flesh withering, no longer able to resist, unable to struggle.
Ye Fan picked up the dark golden spear, and with a puff, pierced through his body, lifting him up, while his left hand held the God-Slaying Whip, striking at his forehead bone.
“Bang!”
Blood rain flew in all directions as Huotan’s primordial spirit was shaken out, more than half of it shattered off in the blow. Within the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone, the purple figure, losing its flesh body’s protection, was almost about to dry up and die immediately.
“Slaughtering a Saint happens today!” Ye Fan said coldly.
He couldn’t linger in this place. Carrying Huotan on his shoulder, he rushed quickly toward the edge of the restricted zone, destroying his physical body’s vitality and grinding down his primordial spirit along the way, fearing backlash.
Before long, the edge of the restricted zone came into view. Ye Fan stopped, his right hand shaking the dark golden spear, and Huotan’s body instantly showed dense, spiderweb-like cracks!
As for his primordial spirit, that purple figure, it too was nearly ground away under the God-Slaying Whip, only a faint glimmer of light remaining.
Huotan laughed bitterly, his lifetime’s cultivation entirely destroyed — even if he could escape, he was finished. His primordial spirit, the most precious thing, was about to be extinguished, now only the size of a bean grain!
“Human race Sacred Body, do you truly think you can slaughter a Saint? Come die together with me!” At this moment, he completely let go — he was going to perish anyway, what was there left to fear?
His primordial spirit merged back into his physical body, his entire body beginning to glow, actually about to disintegrate, burning with a Saint’s flesh and blood, wanting to grind Ye Fan to death alongside him.
At this moment, Ye Fan made only a few movements: throwing the dark golden spear out, tossing the God-Slaying Whip out of the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone, and even, without hesitation, cutting open his own body, retrieving the All-Things Mother Qi Cauldron, also throwing it toward outside the restricted zone.
Then, with no more concerns, he charged at Huotan, golden blood flowing throughout his body, his fists emitting dazzling light!
“Boom!”
With one punch he blasted open Huotan’s body, letting sacred blood splatter onto himself. His body suffered terrible injury as a result, but he didn’t care at all.
“Useless — today you’ll die with me, turning to disaster ash together!” Huotan laughed madly, his primordial spirit fire about to extinguish, determined to drag Ye Fan down to death with him.
“Kill!”
Ye Fan roared loudly, one cry shaking mountains and rivers, his entire body covered in sacred blood, punch after punch striking out, golden lightning intertwining between his fists!
This was a savage, overwhelming force, actually beating a Saint until his body shattered apart, flesh and blood scattered everywhere, white bone fragments stained with blood scattered about.
“What good does this do — you can’t change the outcome, I’ll drag you down to death with me!” All the flesh and blood squirmed, radiating terrifying power, blazing and burning, engulfing Ye Fan.
Ye Fan’s expression remained cold. Slaughtering the Saint was right before him — even with danger imminent, at this moment he remained incredibly composed, only uttering two words: “Pitiful!”
“I am pitiful, but you’re no better off either — this is the sacred fire of life cultivation. Even if you escape the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone, it will burn away your form and spirit. Die together with me!” Huotan shouted madly.
“Pitiful — even now you still don’t understand. You go die yourself!” Ye Fan struck out with one punch, golden lightning intertwining, making all the flesh and blood burn even more violently, rushing in all directions.
At this moment, Ye Fan’s hair turned white as snow, his countenance aged, standing in the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone, letting time erode him, letting the sacred fire cling to him, standing alone in the mortal world, his expression peaceful and calm, his body slowly fading.
“You… what’s going on?!” Huotan finally noticed something abnormal, shocked and furious, crying out.
“One Qi Transforms into Three Purities, equivalent to a true body — as for my true self, why would I go down into the abyss with you…” Ye Fan’s figure grew fainter, his expression calm, utterly peaceful.
“That’s…” Huotan roared furiously, looking toward the distance.
Outside the Ancient Wasteland Forbidden Zone, another Ye Fan stood calmly, having retrieved the All-Things Mother Qi Cauldron, God-Slaying Whip, and dark golden spear, standing alone in the mortal world, purple robes fluttering, black hair scattered, eyes deep and profound, quietly watching this place.
“Ah… I’m not reconciled!” Huotan cried out, hatred burning wildly, yet powerless to turn the tide!