“What is going on today — every manner of demon and ghost has crawled out of the woodwork.” Pang Bo swept his gaze across the group, speaking without a shred of courtesy.
The elder standing at the center was tall and imposing, powerfully built, with a face full of curly whiskers and sharp, piercing eyes. He introduced himself as Wang Tianyu, and a whole crowd of people followed at his back, each looking like an aggrieved plaintiff nursing some old grievance.
“What this old man says is supported by evidence. Years ago, a group of dazzling geniuses set out on the human race’s Ancient Road alongside the Holy Body, only to be attacked from the shadows — their flesh and blood devoured. The tragedy has never been solved to this day, and all signs point directly to Ye Fan. Were it not for this, the stars of our generation might well have shone with several more brilliant figures.” Wang Tianyu’s words rang out with the resonance of a great bronze bell humming through the air.
“Are you not spewing slander? How could any of this possibly be pinned on Ye Fan?” Long Ma erupted with fury.
Their whole group knew full well that what had transpired back then was the doing of Rui Wei — it was Ye Fan himself who had uncovered the truth at the eighty-first checkpoint of the human race’s Ancient Road. In truth, even Rui Wei had been a pitiable figure, his physical body seized by a demonic entity that had stripped away his primordial spirit and original consciousness.
“This old man has not misspoken. Tell me — who in those days possessed the ability to accomplish such a thing without making a single sound? Furthermore, the technique of consuming human flesh and blood originates from the Northern Dipper region. If not the Holy Body, then who?” Wang Tianyu’s voice grew sharp and fierce as he bellowed his accusations for all to hear.
Behind the elder, others chimed in to condemn, crying out: “In an open and honest battle, others will respect you — but to ambush from the shadows, to assassinate in secret, to devour human flesh and blood — that is more wicked than any demon. The world cannot abide such a thing.”
Ye Fan watched them coldly. Though each of these people who had come to confront him possessed considerable strength, none of them were a match for him in a real fight. It was obvious there were powerful figures backing them from behind the scenes.
Ji Ziyue let out a light, contemptuous snort. “You lot are turning black into white and flinging filth at random. Does this kind of petty, despicable framing actually serve any purpose? Who would believe it?”
Long Ma’s voice dropped to a frigid growl. “This sovereign truly wants to stomp every last one of you to death. What a bunch of blind fools — coming here to frame us? Are you tired of living?”
Among the crowd, some eyes flickered with what seemed like a hint of fear. But Wang Tianyu’s words remained unwavering — he was a genuine master, extraordinarily powerful and unfathomably deep. “Threats are useless against us. You should know that to this day, this remains an unsolved case — justice has never been served. The Holy Body’s strength is known by everyone on the Ancient Road, and the techniques employed match those of the Northern Dipper. They fit the perpetrator perfectly. If it was not him, then who?”
“Enough of this. Is there any point to any of it? Just say it — what exactly do you want?” Ye Fan spoke calmly.
“We only wish to seek justice for the fallen heroes, so that they did not die in obscurity without anyone speaking for them.” The elder said.
The spectators around them all took several steps back, unwilling to be drawn into the dispute.
Ye Fan’s gaze was sharp and piercing as he said, “That you can even speak such words — throwing mud at me like this — shows you have utterly abandoned any sense of integrity.”
“Since you dared to do it, do not be afraid of being exposed. Rest assured, the law-enforcers of the Ancient Road will investigate this matter to its very roots and bring comfort to the souls of the dead.” The elder Wang Tianyu laughed coldly.
“The law-enforcers will investigate me based on your slander?” Ye Fan laughed back, just as coldly.
Just then, from somewhere in the distance, someone struck the heavenly drum — a dull, resonant boom that reverberated all the way through the clouds. Two figures came flying toward them at great speed, rapidly descending into the cluster of jade pavilions and gem-studded towers.
“I believe it is necessary to thoroughly investigate you — to see exactly what kind of person you truly are!” a powerful figure approached, clad in a battle robe woven from Grand Radiance Silver Essence, shouting loudly.
The second figure was dressed identically — Grand Radiance Silver Essence shimmering with a slick, silver-white radiance, gleaming brightly from head to toe, dazzlingly brilliant. Only the most powerful law-enforcers were entitled to wear battle robes of this kind.
The arrival of these two powerful figures, and the words they had just spoken, sent a ripple of tension through the gathering. People began to feel the gravity of the situation — this was real. Did it represent the intentions of a certain group of ancient stalwarts on the human race’s Ancient Road?
Ji Haoyue, Pang Bo, and the others had not taken the disturbance to heart at first, too weary to even bother arguing, thinking that no matter who came to stir up trouble it hardly mattered. But now, every one of them felt a jolt of shock in their hearts. Law-enforcers had appeared — this represented a certain stance taken by the Ancient Road itself. Were they truly going to bring down a heavy hand?
This group of law-enforcers embodied the will of certain important figures on the Ancient Road, making it clear that the situation had grown very serious. No one had anticipated things would reach this point.
“Why?” Ye Fan’s expression remained composed as he fixed his gaze on the two of them.
“What the Ancient Road values is fairness. A righteous, open battle — we would not interfere. But to secretly ambush and assassinate a competitor within the sacred resting city, outside the trial grounds — this cannot be pardoned.” One of the law-enforcers bellowed in a voice full of righteous indignation, the silver battle robe on his body flashing with light, lending his bearing an imposing and intimidating air.
“You have not found a shred of evidence, yet you are already so eager to pass sentence on me — is this what you call an investigation?” Ye Fan’s expression darkened. This was a truly ugly display. Even if they intended to move against him, did they have to be this impatient and shameless about it?
“Ye Fan, we need to think about breaking out. This situation is not normal — it is deliberately targeting us. There will be no talk of right or wrong here. Any rotten excuse will serve as grounds to kill us.” Pang Bo transmitted these words to him in secret.
At the front of the crowd, the elder with lead-gray eyes who had instigated the trouble first showed no emotion whatsoever, a faint cruel smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he stood to one side.
Wang Tianyu was much the same — standing with his hands clasped behind his back, radiating a killing intent.
The two law-enforcers wore grim expressions as they fixed their cold and unyielding gaze on Ye Fan, seemingly already convinced he was the killer of years past, pressing him for details.
“Damn it all — is this the will of certain powerhouses of the human race’s Ancient Road? This outrageous level of lawlessness — are they trying to push us into open rebellion?” Long Ma ground his teeth in secret. Today’s events were far too bizarre.
At that moment, one of the law-enforcers solemnly raised another matter: “In the past, at the tenth city of the human race’s Ancient Road, an entire star collapsed and shattered. Witnesses reported seeing you steal a cellar of divine fluid left behind by an ancient Heavenly Venerable. Did this occur?”
That was the Holy Spirit War of twenty years — a conflict fought across seven different regions. Even the Ancient Road had been severed, and the Holy Spirit Supremacies sealed away by the ancient Heavenly Venerables had now transformed into divine specters emerging into the world.
In the battle at the Great Moon Slope, Ye Fan had contributed enormously — slaying several stone figures and fighting for twenty years straight, only to be cursed by a terrifyingly powerful Holy Spirit Supremacy during that time. He had spent a very long period afterward walking a razor’s edge between life and death.
That battle had lasted twenty years. Ye Fan had distinguished himself with meritorious deeds, and the rare Divine Light Terrace in his possession was a reward he had received precisely because of his contributions there.
Ye Fan’s contributions in that battle were beyond question, yet the law-enforcers were now attempting to hold him accountable — which made Long Ma and the others furious enough to burst. They had indeed obtained some divine fluid, but every drop of it had been won through fighting at the cost of their lives — it had not been stolen.
“Have you all gone mad? You want to get rid of us and you cannot even come up with a decent excuse?” Long Ma roared, his voice shaking the earth and trembling the mountains.
“Let us leave. They have thrown all shame to the wind. Any rotten excuse will serve as their reason to kill us. Since they dare go this far, they must have powerful backing. We need to get out of this city first!” Pang Bo said.
Ji Haoyue agreed. There was no point in reasoning with these people — they needed to break out first.
“Too late. The city gates have already been closed — sealed completely.” Ye Fan said. These words drained the color from everyone’s face.
This was the final checkpoint of the human race. The entire city had been forged from extraordinary divine materials, and even a Great Sage would find it nearly impossible to escape from within its walls. This was the equivalent of a terrifying city-shaped supreme treasure.
“Human Holy Body — do you plead guilty or not?” One of the law-enforcers shouted in a stern, booming voice, his expression severe, silver radiance swirling around his entire body. He cut an imposing figure, yet Ye Fan and those beside him felt only disgust.
“You are contemptible and vile. Utterly without dignity.” Ye Fan said coldly.
“Are you questioning our impartiality?” one of them said with a harsh edge.
“What the hell kind of impartiality is there to speak of? This sovereign is going to slaughter you all!” Long Ma bellowed, on the verge of striking.
From behind, the Ancient Golden Peng spread its wings, about to pounce, eager to see who would move first.
Ye Fan waved a hand, telling them not to act rashly, his cold gaze fixed forward.
“Excellent — attempting to assault the law-enforcers of the human race’s Ancient Road! Your boldness truly knows no bounds!” The two law-enforcers shouted in unison.
“No sense of right or wrong, turning black into white — spouting excuses this rotten without so much as a flush or a twitch. You clearly want nothing more than to see us crushed.” Ji Ziyue’s lips curled at one corner, though she showed no great concern, observing these people with cold and detached eyes.
“Where are the Guardians of the Dao of the human race’s Ancient Road?” Ye Fan called out loudly, transmitting his voice across the air. He was done engaging with the people in front of him — otherwise, he would have no choice but to swing his Heavenly Emperor Fist.
The Heavenly Constable Daoist transmitted a reply in secret: “The final checkpoint of the human race originally had Guardians of the Dao stationed here, but not long ago they all rushed off in a hurry. It seems something major has happened in a distant star region.”
“They were deliberately lured away.” Ye Fan nodded. Then he raised his voice and shouted toward the distance: “Since you have already thrown all restraint to the wind and made it perfectly clear you are coming for me — why still cling to that last thin facade? Come out. I will fight you to the last drop of blood!”
“We are enforcing the law here. All onlookers, please stand back and clear the area.” The two law-enforcers shouted loudly, urging the spectators to withdraw.
The immediate vicinity grew considerably more sparse, but the sky above was thick with silhouettes — there was no way anyone was going to miss an event like this. Every single person remained to watch.
“What breathtaking hypocrisy. Even at this stage you still want to keep up appearances? Just rip off that last mask, throw it on the ground, and bare your fangs already.” Pang Bo mocked.
“Tell me — who are you people, and what is this enmity between us?” Ye Fan asked. In that same instant, he transformed into a bolt of lightning and surged forward.
But in that very moment, two other figures also moved — one was the old man with the ash-gray hair and ash-gray eyes, and the other was Wang Tianyu. A terrifying aura detonated from both of them simultaneously, leaving no room for doubt — they struck at Ye Fan from the sides. Both were Great Sages!
Ye Fan’s expression shifted sharply. He moved quickly to evade and came to a stop in the distant sky above, saying: “Quite the spectacle — two Great Sages appearing right from the opening. You truly think highly of me.”
“Ha — so you guessed right. How could I possibly be a descendant of that ruthless one? I despise her — I would sooner erase every last trace she left behind.” The old man with ash-gray hair and ash-gray eyes laughed coldly again and again, saying: “Back then, the supremacy of my clan slaughtered all under heaven and swept across ten thousand domains — only to be struck and shattered by a single palm from that ruthless one. On top of that, she brought forth a demon-sealing diagram that sealed my entire clan away. What a vicious heart. We have only just emerged into the world now.”
He was filled with bitter, consuming resentment — his expression bone-chillingly cold. He was truly not of the human race. The terrifying blood flowing within his body radiated a silver-white light.
“Don’t look at me. I was merely invited here to assist.” Wang Tianyu said with cold detachment.
Ye Fan looked toward the two law-enforcers. “So it appears the corruption lies with you — colluding with a foreign race. But you two don’t have enough clout to pull all of this off. There are others involved. Come out, all of you.”
The two law-enforcers wore expressions of impassive cruelty. And not far away, a child of about twelve or thirteen appeared — his face dripping with venom, his eyes filled with nothing but hatred.
“That child — isn’t that the same one who left not long ago? Even then I thought to myself, why does he carry such a profound grudge against us? It seems the enmity is quite real after all.”
“You killed my uncle. You may have forgotten, but our clan never has. We have waited for you for many, many years!” The child snarled with a ferocity that belied his age.
“Who is your uncle?” Ye Fan asked.
“Our clan bears the surname Liu. On the human race’s Ancient Road, no one has ever dared to casually kill anyone in our clan’s direct line of descent!” One of the law-enforcers declared.
It was clearly an enormous and deeply rooted clan.
The child of about twelve or thirteen bore a gaze as cold and sinister as a venomous serpent — far beyond what his age should have allowed. “My little uncle has returned. Even as a Saint King, you are nothing worth mentioning. You will not escape this place with wings even if you had them! Even two Great Sages count among his friends and speak to him as equals.”