“This seat dares to destroy even your Yan Clan’s sacred grounds!” A flash of fire blazed forth as Long Ma’s body gleamed with blinding crimson-gold scales, as though cast from divine gold, with raging flames surging around him. He reared up on his hind legs and struck forward with both front hooves, reducing entire stretches of ancient architecture to dust.
Ye Fan had not yet made his move, yet Long Ma had already made his stance clear, charging in and wreaking havoc across the Yan Clan’s sacred grounds. Though ancient defensive formations had been laid here, vast swaths of buildings were demolished regardless.
“Wait until this old one emerges from seclusion, and I shall settle accounts with you all!” The majestic voice caused heaven and earth to rumble in resonance.
Everyone understood — this was undoubtedly the Yan Clan’s ancient patriarch, Yan Yu!
“Yan Clan, give us an explanation! Why do you harbor outsiders and allow them into the Ancient Immortal Trial Grounds to slaughter human trial participants?!” Yu Xian demanded in a sharp cry.
Behind her, many voices responded in kind, joining the outcry together — this was a genuine act of forcing the clan’s hand, stirring up a tremendous uproar.
“You began a massacre within the city, already violating city law, and now you dare trespass on private grounds and encroach upon our Yan Clan — these are unforgivable crimes!” Yan Chifeng bellowed, his expression dark as still water as he stood atop a great palace, looking down upon the crowd.
“And what of that compared to your clan? The Yan Clan has perverted justice, colluding with outsiders and allowing them into the Ancient Immortal Trial Grounds to slaughter human trial participants. Your schemes run deep, concealing shameful secrets — your entire clan deserves to be wiped out!” Ye Fan declared, his voice thunderous, reverberating across half the ancient city.
“The Yan Clan has perverted justice, colluding with outsiders, harboring treacherous ambitions — they must be put down!” Many voices joined in, the clamor reaching a tremendous pitch.
Yan Chifeng’s heart lurched violently. If these charges were proven, the Yan Family would be uprooted entirely. He roared: “You… you speak wild slander, smearing our clan’s name! Today I shall execute you according to the law!”
Beside him, various dao inscriptions flowed and circulated as four elders together raised a colossal, magnificent stone pagoda — nine tiers tall — and sent it crashing down upon Ye Fan to suppress him.
This was a terrifying magical artifact, refined from the finest materials, possessed of tremendous power. As it pressed down upon Ye Fan, it was a forbidden weapon — in the instant it descended, blazing holy light erupted, as though it would detonate the very heavens.
Hum!
Ye Fan’s brow trembled, and a cauldron flew out from between his brows. Sun, moon, and stellar rivers swirled around it as primordial energy cascaded down like a waterfall, causing the void in all ten directions to collapse.
Crack!
The ancient pagoda pressing down instantly fractured — yet it was also rapidly burning, on the verge of exploding, threatening to critically wound Ye Fan, Rui Wei, and the others.
The Myriad Phenomena Primordial Cauldron’s divine might reached the heavens; it was nothing like before. Within it dwelt a vast cosmos of stars, like a magnificent great world — in an instant, it swallowed the burning ancient pagoda whole.
Everyone was astounded. A holy weapon burned inside the cauldron, yet appeared so insignificant, like a single firework blooming — it could not even stir a ripple.
The Myriad Phenomena Primordial Cauldron flipped over, its mouth facing downward. A rain of tribulation ash spilled out — one powerful forbidden weapon had been reduced to dust, ground down without a trace.
Clang, clang…
The Myriad Phenomena Primordial Energy trembled, suspended in the air, and swept down ten thousand streams of chaotic sword radiance, ringing out clearly, shocking everyone present!
This was indeed a supreme dao weapon — it had only just transformed into a holy weapon, yet was already so breathtaking. Chaotic energy swirled around it; as the weapon descended, thread upon thread of light fell from it, terrifying beyond measure.
“Ahhh…”
In the distance, the four elders beside Yan Chifeng let out wretched screams as the chaotic sword energy cleaved them into blood mist — body and soul both annihilated.
Boom!
The grand palace, layered with ancient holy-grade formations, was swept flat by the sword energy. One of Yan Chifeng’s arms was sliced off — blood dripping — and he was pulled away to safety by a grey-robed elder, narrowly escaping with his life.
“How dare you run amok in our Yan Clan’s sacred grounds!” The grey-robed elder’s face was covered in frost as he bellowed, threads of holy energy spreading out from his body.
No introduction was needed — many recognized him as the former Grand Commander, Yan Yu, who had been in retirement for years. His current cultivation was now unfathomable.
His complexion was ruddy, his hair and beard entirely white, yet his body was not withered. He did not appear to be someone whose lifespan was nearly exhausted — he still radiated a vital spirit, at odds with the rumors about him.
His prestige in this city was formidable, and many people’s expressions stiffened immediately. The weight of authority he had cultivated over the years inspired fear.
“Grand Commander Yan, I have only one question for you — what is the punishment for harboring outsiders?!” Ye Fan stepped forward, his shout like a thunderclap resounding throughout the ancient city.
“That’s right — Grand Commander, please answer. You serve as a protector of the law, yet there are outsiders within your manor, people who have surrounded and killed trial participants. We ask the Grand Commander to give us an explanation!” others cried out.
Some within the manor frowned deeply. They had never imagined things would come to this. They had intended to lure Ye Fan inside and simply kill him then and there — but they had not anticipated that he would rouse the unyielding anger of the people.
“The will of the people cannot be silenced — Grand Commander, give us an explanation!” Ye Fan demanded.
“Do you know what you are doing?” The Grand Commander swept his gaze over every person present. His eyes, as they opened and closed, shot out beams of incomparable sharpness that pierced into the soul.
“And does the Grand Commander know what he is doing?” Ye Fan shot back.
“The outsiders who entered the Ancient Immortal Trial Grounds — all of that was Yu Han’s doing. What does it have to do with this seat? As for their presence in my manor, there are other reasons you do not understand.” The former Grand Commander Yan Yu spoke.
“Then please enlighten us, Grand Commander — how did these outsiders come to be your honored guests?” Ye Fan pressed, step by step.
“That’s right — why are these outsider murderers walking free, treated as the Grand Commander’s esteemed visitors? Please explain clearly.” The assembled crowd continued to force his hand; by now, public outrage had reached a boiling point.
Many streets throughout the city were packed with people rushing toward this location. Word had spread, and they were all joining in together, shouting and demanding answers from the Yan Clan.
“How to handle these outsiders is not something you should be interfering with. The ones guarding this city will deal with it properly. But you people gathering here in a mob and causing a disturbance — that is very problematic!” Yan Yu said, his face darkening.
Yu Xian said: “I would like to ask the Grand Commander — how will the guardians of this city handle it? Will it be someone like Yu Han, or will it be you yourself? I have not seen those outsiders being dealt with at all — instead, they have become honored guests in your manor. Furthermore, this gathering of the people was not our wish. There is cause before effect — otherwise, why would we have troubled you enough to appear? You are too far removed from us, Grand Commander. You do not know our suffering.”
“Insolence!” Yan Yu’s face turned grim. “Some matters are beyond your right to speak of recklessly. This is the Enforcer’s affair and has nothing to do with you. Disperse immediately.”
Ye Fan stood with the Myriad Phenomena Primordial Cauldron overhead, holding a dark-gold long spear, and strode forward. “Then I would like to ask the Grand Commander — would an Enforcer truly come from deep within the Ancient Stellar Path for something like this?”
At the Grand Commander’s side, a barely perceptible cold smile appeared at the corner of Yan Chifeng’s mouth — one that held a trace of cruelty — though it quickly vanished.
Ye Fan’s heart gave a start. Something felt off.
“Rest assured, the Enforcer will handle all of this properly.” Grand Commander Yan Yu said coldly and indifferently.
“When will he arrive?” Rui Wei asked.
Grand Commander Yan Yu spoke aloud: “The Enforcer has already arrived for this matter — he is within my manor right now. Now you should understand why the outsiders are here. It is because the Enforcer intends to deal with them.”
Everyone was dumbfounded. On the Ancient Stellar Path, Enforcers were a group of individuals with extraordinarily high standing, almost never seen in ordinary times — and yet one had come to the Yan Manor. The entire scene fell silent at once.
A chill crept up Ye Fan’s spine. His eyes glinted with cold light as surging killing intent rose within him — in that instant, he thought of many things at once. The Yan Clan truly was ruthless and terrifying, having prepared such a deadly trap for him.
With an Enforcer present, had he come in alone, he could have been executed without a sound, without stirring any waves whatsoever!
Death would have been meaningless — the Enforcer had acted, so who could say anything? It would have been called “upholding righteousness.”
But Ye Fan had not come alone. He had brought the assembled heroes with him, and they had forced the clan’s hand as a group — far beyond what the Yan Family had anticipated. And so the deadly trap had gone unused.
With so many eyes watching, the Yan Family had no way to fabricate crimes against him on the spot, no way to pin a grave charge upon him. The Enforcer could not openly and blatantly make a move.
Clearly, Yu Xian had also quickly grasped the dangerous implications. Her face turned ice-cold. “The Yan Family truly is vicious — conspiring together… yet in the end they have not gotten their wish.”
“Where is the Enforcer, and how will the two remaining outsiders be dealt with?” someone asked.
The agitation among the assembled heroes slowly subsided. They held the Enforcer in a measure of awe and dared not press too hard — yet they were unwilling to simply withdraw either.
“This seat is here, and will handle everything impartially.” The Enforcer appeared. His voice was young, with a slightly soft and effeminate quality, composed yet carrying a measure of arrogance.
He strolled through the void, stepping forward one step at a time, his entire body draped in silver divine armor that blazed brilliantly — his helmet even covered his face, concealing his true appearance.
That armor was cast from Daluo Silver Essence!
This was the Enforcer’s exclusive divine armor — a sacred battle garment of the sage-king grade. Its silver light shimmered and radiated, flowing with a profound dao principle, utterly extraordinary.
Many fell silent. Now that the Enforcer had appeared, who would dare to keep pressing? All feared bringing trouble upon themselves and facing difficulties on the Ancient Stellar Path in the future.
“May I ask, Enforcer — how will you deal with the two remaining outsiders?” Ye Fan spoke up, his tone unchanged, unshaken.
At this moment, the two outsiders stood behind the Enforcer, motionless, without a trace of expression on their faces.
“This seat will take them on the road, and subject them to a thorough and strict interrogation.” The Enforcer said, his entire body flickering with silver light. The full suit of battle armor cast from Daluo Silver Essence was so radiant it was nearly impossible to keep one’s eyes open — close to surreal.
He paused slightly, then spoke in a soft, gentle voice: “This seat was just looking for you. This incident began because of you, and I would also like to ask you to accompany us on the road to cooperate with the investigation.”
Whoosh!
In his hand appeared a brilliant silver divine chain forged from Daluo Silver Essence, which he shook forward — intending to shackle Ye Fan.
Ye Fan’s eyes widened with fury. He had not expected the Enforcer to be so utterly shameless. The two outsiders had not been restrained — they stood behind him like attendants — yet it was him, the victim, who was being arrested. This was beyond endurance!
Crack!
A sound like the collapse of heaven and earth rang out. Silver light exploded as Ye Fan threw a punch, shattering the Daluo Silver Essence divine chain that had been cast toward him into countless fragments — silver radiance scattering across all eight directions!
“How bold — do you intend to resist the law?!” The Enforcer’s voice carried a cold edge, soft and effeminate, his eyes sharp and ruthless.
Ye Fan’s black hair stood on end, his eyes blazing with fierce light, as he roared: “If the Ancient Stellar Path is nothing but a nest of vipers and rats like you, then I, Ye Fan, shall rebel against this path here and now — and one day I will personally shatter this Ancient Stellar Path to pieces!”