This beautiful young man appeared almost delicate, yet he was the Peacock King, a name that shook the entire Southern Region — a truly astonishing revelation.
Faced with such a great master, Ye Fan had no intention of fighting to the death. A single finger from this person could shatter the void, and if he wished to slay both Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue, it would require no effort whatsoever.
“I came for you.” The Peacock King’s eyes were clear as water, like a youth unburdened by the ways of the world, gazing quietly at Ye Fan.
Behind him, Ji Ziyue’s beautiful eyes widened, and she asked with startled uncertainty, “You didn’t come to kill me?”
The Peacock King did not respond. He was utterly still — like a jade tree draped in snow, giving off a refreshing air, not at all like someone whose divine power shook the heavens.
“You came for me — for what purpose?” Ye Fan had already vaguely guessed.
“The Demon Emperor’s Sacred Heart.” The Peacock King spoke only those four words, exactly as Ye Fan had anticipated.
This put Ye Fan in a difficult position. On that day when he had been extracting the sacred blood, the heart — red as a ruby — had suddenly broken free of its seal, restored to life, beating vigorously, and torn through the void to depart on its own.
“What happened?”
“It… flew away on its own.” Ye Fan answered with forced composure, knowing the explanation sounded rather unconvincing.
Yet the Peacock King simply nodded.
“You… believe that?”
“I believe it, because I saw it fly back into the hands of the Demon Emperor’s descendant.”
Ye Fan was stunned. That ancient heart was truly spiritually aware — it had returned to Yan Ruyu’s hands after all. He couldn’t help but ask, “Since it has already flown back, why do you still seek me?”
“I want to understand why it flew away.” The Peacock King smiled, gazing directly into Ye Fan’s Sea of Wheels, as though trying to pierce through the mist and see everything within.
Though Ye Fan knew he could not stop a great master from probing him, he had no desire to be so easily seen through. In that moment, his Sea of Wheels became utterly Desolate — not a single ripple stirred.
The Peacock King wore a faint smile as he slowly stepped forward. He carried no terrifying aura, appearing entirely at ease, yet the psychological pressure he imposed upon those around him was immense.
Ji Ziyue spoke, her voice trembling, “You are a legendary great master — you cannot bully us like this. You should go find trouble with the Holy Master Yao Guang. You fought him to a draw in years past — you never truly defeated him.”
“What if I go find trouble with the patriarch of your Ji Family instead?” The Peacock King revealed a faint smile, somewhat at odds with his appearance of sixteen or seventeen years, giving an uncanny impression.
“What technique of movement did you just use, and who taught it to you?” The Peacock King’s smile faded, and for the first time he wore an expression of genuine gravity.
“It was taught to me by a crazy old man,” Ye Fan answered truthfully.
“So it truly was him — and he passed it on to you!” The Peacock King’s eyes shot forth two beams of light, sharp and piercing. Only in that moment did one truly sense the terror of him — his gaze keen as the edge of a blade.
“Senior must have met the crazy old man before. He is currently at the Tai Xuan Sect.” Ye Fan had absolute faith in the old madman. Someone who had lived six thousand years and remained unscathed — even a great master like the Peacock King was most likely no match for him.
“Regrettably, I did not get to see him. He vanished several days ago.” The Peacock King seemed somewhat regretful.
The old madman had been encased in a cocoon, fallen into slumber — and had now suddenly disappeared. Had he broken free from his chrysalis? Where had he gone? Ye Fan desperately wanted to know.
“Your physique is of great interest to me. I would very much like to study it.” Pausing slightly, the Peacock King added, “However, since that old madman has passed his techniques on to you, I will not trouble you.”
Beside him, Ji Ziyue’s large eyes gleamed. What manner of figure was the old madman? Six thousand years ago, he had already been peerless — and yet Ye Fan had some connection with him. This astonished her greatly.
“Yet, now that we have met, it would truly be a pity to simply part like this.” The Peacock King drew his hand through the air, and the sky above immediately fell dark.
The blazing sun had been high overhead, flooding everything with light, but with a turn of his hand he brought down the night. Such power sent a chill through one’s heart.
In the pitch-black night sky, stars filled the heavens, glittering like diamonds set into a dark curtain, shining endlessly.
“I am not truly making things difficult for you. Whether or not you can pass through this canopy of night, I will let you go either way. I only wish to see just how formidable your physique truly is.”
“This is the Sea of Wheels phenomenon… Stars Illuminating the Azure Sky!” Ji Ziyue was deeply shaken.
The Peacock King had done it casually, simply, with ease — this was a legendary phenomenon, one of tremendous power, and he had no need to channel it through his Sea of Wheels.
“There are only some faint and dim little stars. I said I would not make things difficult for you — this is not the complete phenomenon.” The Peacock King’s tone was calm, with a trace of amusement.
In that moment, Ye Fan felt as though he stood beneath an open sky, stars glittering all around — and then they began to magnify, slowly pressing down toward him.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Heaven and earth split apart. Each star rapidly expanded, heavy as a mountain, resplendent and blinding, illuminating the entire firmament!
They no longer resembled stars at all — they were like blazing suns.
Ye Fan felt a deep dread. What kind of phenomenon was this? Every single star was terrifying beyond measure, seemingly capable of obliterating the earth entire, carrying an incomparable and overwhelming pressure.
His spirit shook. His body creaked and groaned, every bone trembling, bearing a crushing weight beyond imagining.
Those stars were infinitely far away, and had not yet truly descended — yet they were already this terrifying. One could scarcely imagine the magnitude of force they would unleash.
“When people speak of phenomena, they always mention the incomparable power of those created by the great masters of antiquity. The Peacock King before me is a true great master in every sense, and his phenomenon is indeed fearsome…”
Ye Fan was deeply shaken. The Peacock King was clearly suppressing his power to an enormous degree — he himself had said these were only faint, dim little stars, and had not even brought forth the so-called “Azure Sky” — yet even this was already horrifying.
Just how terrifying would the true phenomenon of “Stars Illuminating the Azure Sky” be?
Stars filled every direction, trembling and swaying. Ye Fan struggled forward across the earth, his body sending forth a rumbling roar like crashing seas, as though refusing to yield to the suppression. Lightning and thunder intertwined within him, as if he had been transported back to the primordial age when heaven and earth were first formed. Wondrous power began flowing from his Sea of Wheels.
Ye Fan’s heart stirred. Only now did he gradually begin to understand — the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body was particularly resistant to phenomena. When subjected to suppression, it would awaken and stir.
Whether it had been the previous phenomenon of the Moon Rising Over the Sea, or this present Stars Illuminating the Azure Sky, both had provoked a response from his body, shaking forth a mysterious and inexplicable force.
Ye Fan pressed forward beneath the starry sky, step by step, leaving a trail of deep footprints in the earth behind him.
The stars did not descend. They revolved above, radiating their brilliance — like the primordial breath of all creation, or like cosmic nebulae — surging toward Ye Fan in a relentless tide.
Crack!
Ye Fan felt as though he carried an entire mountain range upon his back with the heavens pressing down above him. The earth beneath his feet began to fracture, unable to bear the weight, while every bone in his body reverberated continuously — like the ringing notes of a magnificent sonata.
Boom!
With a violent shudder, the darkness before Ye Fan broke open into blazing light — he had walked free of that canopy of night. Turning to look back, the starry sky had vanished. All that remained on the ground was a network of great fissures, each one spreading outward from where his footprints had been.
“Impressive. This physique lives up to its reputation.” The Peacock King nodded, a strange light flickering in his eyes as an approving smile crossed his face.
“He has passed the test — you may let him go. As for me, if you wish to kill me, then kill me. I am not afraid.” Ji Ziyue lifted her chin with dignity and poise. By now, she had composed herself and no longer felt any fear.
“You little girl actually have a measure of backbone.” The Peacock King clasped his hands behind him. His refined features showed no particular expression as he said, “It would be something of a waste to kill you. A physique like yours appearing is already rare — to slay it here and now would be tantamount to an act of annihilation.”
“Does that mean you will spare me?” Ji Ziyue’s large eyes blinked with a captivating light. “The Peacock King is truly broad-minded and magnanimous — worthy of his reputation as a legendary great master. Ziyue offers her sincere gratitude.”
“You little girl certainly know how to take advantage of an opening. When did I say I would spare you?” The Peacock King revealed a faint smile.
“But you yourself just said it would be a waste to kill me…” Ji Ziyue muttered under her breath, though she did not dare push further.
“Senior, the fault is not hers. If you wish to direct your anger at someone, go find the Grand Elders of the Ji Family — she is just a girl, what does she understand? There is no need to drag her into this.” Ye Fan spoke up in her defense.
“Do you think yourself so old?” The Peacock King glanced back at him, then turned his gaze to Ji Ziyue. “I will spare your life — however, you will come with me, and not return to the Ji Family. You and the Demon Emperor’s descendant may complement each other well.”
Ji Ziyue was frightened. Go off with a demonic race great master — she had never entertained such a thought. With a pitiful expression, she said, “No, please — I have never killed anyone, never done anything wicked. I have never even stepped on an ant…”
“Your Ji Family has gone too far. You slaughtered my people and hunted down the Demon Emperor’s descendants. I must give you a lesson. Taking you away — I imagine they will deeply regret what they have done.”
“What has happened to my brother Haoyue? You haven’t killed him, have you?” Ji Ziyue asked anxiously.
“His divine body is indeed extraordinary, but he cannot escape.”
“Please don’t kill my brother Haoyue — with a divine body like his, killing him so casually would be all the more wasteful…” Ji Ziyue pleaded.
“What does a divine body matter? They say the old madman once personally slew the Eastern Desolation Divine King after he had cultivated to the realm of Great Completion. My remaining years are not enough to wait for your brother to fully mature — I can only slay a divine body that has not yet fully developed, to fulfill a lifelong wish.” The Peacock King spoke with casual indifference.
Beside him, Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue were both utterly stunned. The old madman was truly beyond reckoning — he had even killed the Eastern Desolation Divine King after that man had reached the realm of Great Completion. It was almost too terrifying to comprehend.
“What exactly has happened to my brother?” Ji Ziyue was deeply unsettled.
“My senior disciple has already gone to capture him. I sit here and await your Ji Family patriarch’s attempt at rescue.” The Peacock King’s words were calm, yet deeply chilling. Truly worthy of a demonic race great master — to possess this kind of boldness, having fought the Holy Master Yao Guang to a standstill eight hundred years ago, and now prepared to directly confront the Ji Family’s Holy Master.
Just then, the Peacock King’s gaze shifted toward the distant horizon. “Nangong Zheng, since you have arrived, why not show yourself?”
Across the sky, petals drifted and danced, each one crystalline and luminous. A great road paved entirely with flowers came streaking in from the horizon in a straight and brilliant line, its fragrance sweet and pervasive.
Radiant and gorgeous, the flower-paved path blazed with auspicious light as it rapidly drew near. Standing upon it was a man dressed in azure robes — tall and upright, with eyes like stars and hair white as snow, standing with a proud and magnificent bearing.
The legendary human race great master — Nangong Zheng. He cultivated the Longevity Scripture, took grass and trees as his dwelling, fed upon flowers and blossoms, and was never parted from plant life.
“Eight hundred years since we last met, and the Peacock King’s bearing remains unchanged. I think back to those days — when you swept through the heroes of the Southern Region, fought the decisive battle against Holy Master Yao Guang, vigorous and blazing with spirit. Those earth-shattering scenes still seem to stand before my eyes.”
Nangong Zheng appeared to be no more than his mid-twenties — tall and imposing, strikingly handsome, with snow-white hair and an utterly singular air about him.
“What is the point of such reminiscing? Nangong Zheng — do you intend to interfere?” The Peacock King stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Peacock King, a transcendent existence such as yourself — why stir up such strife? Would it not be better to set this aside, join hands with me, and enter the Ancient Bronze Immortal Palace together?”
“This is absolutely unbelievable!” Ji Ziyue muttered under her breath. “The Peacock King’s divine power shakes rivers and mountains, yet he looks like a delicate young boy. Nangong Zheng keeps grass and trees as companions, lives among flowers and blossoms, yet he looks like this — so tall and heroic and handsome. They should both be hauled away to sweep floors, tend gardens, wash vegetables, and cook meals!”
“What goes through your head…” Ye Fan was standing right beside her. Hearing this, he couldn’t help giving her a light knock on the head.