Qin Yao laughed — a clear, melodious peal like a ringing bell drifting through the air. She stirred slightly and slipped free from Ye Fan’s arm, but did not move far. Instead, she continued to extend one smooth jade hand, lifting Ye Fan’s chin, and said: “Going all out?”
Seeing her being so bold, Ye Fan smiled and replied: “You’re not afraid — why should I be?”
“Little kid, you’re too young.” Qin Yao pinched his cheek, her smile deeply alluring.
“It seems I really do need to prove myself…” Ye Fan brushed aside her hand, and as he finished speaking, he stepped boldly forward.
Qin Yao drifted lightly away. Her retreating figure swayed elegantly, her laughter rippling through the night air — and in the end she made her escape, not truly as uninhibited as she had seemed. She had clearly been trying to worm information out of him about what secret art the Ji Family had lost.
“Watch your step — don’t fall in the lake.” Ye Fan laughed loudly after her. That enchantress truly was a bewitching creature — captivating in every way.
Time flowed swiftly past. In the blink of an eye, a full month had passed. Ye Fan cultivated in quiet seclusion, the celestial vein within him growing ever thicker and more luminous, forming into a divine bridge arching across the void above his Bitter Sea.
He felt he was truly drawing close to the Other Shore. Perhaps in just a few more days, he would be able to make use of that piece of yuan ore and advance into the next realm in one stroke.
Throughout this process, his divine sense sharpened steadily, his life essence grew abundant, his physical body climbed to its peak state — everything was going smoothly, developing in every favorable direction.
Yan Ruyu had remained in seclusion throughout, and no one had come to ask him to nourish the Sacred Heart of the Demon Emperor. It seemed they had perceived something.
The Peacock King’s old friend was of extraordinary origin — he turned out to be a powerful demon tribe expert from the Northern Region, honored as the Azure Dragon King. He had crossed the void to arrive here, and since entering this pocket of space, he had never once shown himself.
This news filled Ye Fan with excitement. The man had come from the Northern Region — if he could accompany him on the return journey, would that not resolve all his problems? He could no longer remain in the Southern Region. Avoiding the Ji Family by going far away to another land was the best choice.
The Azure Dragon King had brought a great deal of news about the Northern Region. Though he himself had not appeared, the news had already filtered out.
The Northern Region, too, was far from peaceful. Just last month, someone had witnessed the moonlight above the Primordial Ancient Mine gathering like a river of water, flowing down into the depths of the mine.
Others swore on their lives that they had seen ominous creatures of terrifying appearance lurking near the Primordial Ancient Mine — enough to make one’s heart lurch with dread.
Still others claimed to have personally witnessed humanoid beings emerging above the Primordial Ancient Mine, calling the winds and summoning the rain, blotting out the sky, making even the stars and moon dim by comparison.
Most astonishing of all, from within the forbidden zone of life where the Primordial Ancient Mine was located, sounds like music from the heavens had reportedly drifted out — mesmerizing all who heard it. Several people had personally attested to this with their own ears.
Just what lay within the Primordial Ancient Mine — after all these years, no one could say for certain. Perhaps only great powers with long-standing legacies like the Jiang Family and the Jade Pool Holy Land still had ancient texts that might shed some light.
Over the past month, Qin Yao had appeared from time to time, her manner as bold as ever. All the news Ye Fan received came through her.
“Are you saying the Azure Dragon King wants to invite the Peacock King to move to the Northern Region?”
“That’s right.”
“What for?” Ye Fan asked, puzzled.
“I’m not entirely sure either, but recently the Yao Guang Holy Land and the Ji Family also seem to be making preparations — it’s possible they plan to send people there as well.” Qin Yao also did not know the finer details.
A look of contemplation crossed Ye Fan’s face. Something was surely about to unfold in the Northern Region.
“What is the current situation in the Southern Region?” Ye Fan was keenly interested in events outside, wanting to know what moves the Ji Family were currently making.
“Though there are ripples in the Southern Region, they are settling down now. Ji Haoyue narrowly escaped death and has ultimately made it back to the Ji Family…” Qin Yao sounded somewhat regretful.
The Peacock King’s senior disciple had pursued Ji Haoyue for a full half a month. But a divine body was a divine body — time and again, faced with absolute death, he had found a way through, and escaped. Still, it had left him gravely depleted. Without one or two years of recovery, he had no hope of returning to his full strength.
Beyond that, the Holy Masters of Yao Guang and the Ji Family had mobilized in force to hunt the Peacock King, vowing to strike him down. But the Peacock King was no hot-blooded youth — he simply ignored them, leaving them with strength they could not bring to bear.
Of course, what stirred the most hearts was still the Ancient Bronze Immortal Palace. Sealed by the Dark Yellow Barrier at its entrance, it had been slowly sinking into the earth. A number of great figures had gathered there, but from beginning to end, none had dared venture inside lightly. They had been lingering at the threshold.
“Reportedly, they wanted to draw out the Mad Elder and have him lead the way in. But that deranged old man never appeared from beginning to end, leaving all the great figures unable to decide, stuck in place.”
“I’m confident that in the end, someone will venture in…” Ye Fan said.
Without the arrival of the life’s final limit, supreme figures would not easily venture inside — after all, through the ages, the Ancient Bronze Immortal Palace had swallowed no few peerless powers. Those who truly cast everything aside and dared enter were all elderly figures whose lifespans were nearly exhausted and who were on the verge of passing on. When the critical moment came, they had no choice but to gamble.
“A graveyard for the powerful — who knows how many outstanding talents will fall there yet again…” Qin Yao let out a sigh. She knew that powerful figures from the demon tribes would certainly go.
Ye Fan’s expression grew somewhat complicated. The secret of the Ancient Bronze Immortal Palace had been revealed by him. If great figures truly perished there, in a sense that was partly connected to him.
But he did not feel guilty. Everyone knew what kind of place the bronze palace was. In a way, he had also given those whose lifespan was nearly exhausted a measure of hope.
“The Peacock King’s battle with Nangong Zheng not long ago — who ultimately prevailed?” Ye Fan very much wanted to know the outcome.
“They only exchanged blows for about an hour — how could a victor be decided? They are not mortal enemies; there was no need to fight to the death.” Qin Yao stood barefoot on the smooth pebbles in the lake. The breeze blew, her skirt danced, and the outline of her captivating form was drawn in undulating curves beneath the flowing fabric.
“Nangong Zheng must have gone to the Ancient Bronze Immortal Palace, hasn’t he?” Ye Fan asked.
“Yes. According to the Peacock King, Nangong Zheng has less than a hundred years of lifespan remaining. He does not wish to sit and wait for death — he intends to gamble his remaining century in exchange for a lifetime of peace of mind.”
“Not a lifetime of immortality?” Ye Fan showed a look of curiosity.
“Since ancient times, how many have truly become immortal? According to the Peacock King, Nangong Zheng sought only to bring peace to his own heart that yearned for the immortal path. He had no wish to simply sit and wither away in the mortal world. Perhaps he felt that only the Ancient Bronze Immortal Palace was the right place to lay his bones.”
Hearing these words, Ye Fan let out a quiet sigh. To have cultivated to such a realm, yet to carry such a sorrow — it was truly cause for lamentation.
“Is the Ji Family still investigating my whereabouts?” This was the matter Ye Fan cared about most.
“No — all is very calm.” Qin Yao shook her head.
“That’s strange.” Ye Fan felt puzzled.
“You were carried off by a great power of our demon tribe. Even if they wanted to make trouble for you, they would first have to get past the Peacock King.” Qin Yao smiled and said, “Or do you actually want them to keep searching for you?”
“I only feel that they won’t give up.” Ye Fan dimly sensed something amiss. Ji Ren had once said that even if the Holy Master of Yao Guang obtained the Great Void Technique, the Ji Family would find a way to take it back.
“We will be heading to the Northern Region — will you come with us?” As she said this, Qin Yao’s eyes shimmered with flowing light, her red lips gleaming with a crystalline luster — deeply sensual and alluring. She laughed softly and said: “If you want to prove you’re a man and ‘go all out,’ you can do so in the Northern Region… In a few years’ time, I imagine you’ll have grown up a little.”
“I am a man right now, thank you very much!” Ye Fan said, then asked earnestly: “Are you certain the Peacock King is going to the Northern Region?”
“He has already agreed to the Azure Dragon King’s request. He has been making preparations to open the domain gate recently.” A look of gravity crossed Qin Yao’s face as she said: “The Peacock King has a bad feeling about things. He senses that something major may be on the verge of happening, and has decided to take the descendants of the Great Emperor with him to the Northern Region.”
Ye Fan was filled with excitement. He was finally going to leave the Southern Region — he could shake off all of this trouble at last.
“Crack!”
Just at that moment, the space suddenly gave a violent shudder. Screams rang out from the distance.
“What’s happening?” Ye Fan shot to his feet.
“Bang!”
An even heavier boom followed — and the pocket of space was torn apart by someone!
There above the sky, a massive rift stretched out far and wide. Two figures descended like heavenly gods.
Qin Yao’s face instantly went white. To dare force their way into the Peacock King’s place of seclusion — these were no ordinary people. Two of them, arriving together — it was easy to guess: two Holy Masters.
Both figures were entirely enveloped in hazy radiance, their faces unseen, like deities descending upon the earth, inspiring terror in all who beheld them — an irresistible impulse to kneel arose in one’s heart.
“The Holy Master of Yao Guang and the Holy Master of the Ji Family!” Ye Fan’s expression changed on the spot. He was certain it was these two.
“Kill!”
Suddenly, battle cries shook the heavens. Beyond the great rift, countless silhouettes appeared in a dense mass and surged forward.
“Yao Guang’s old wretch — Ji Family’s old wretch — so in the end you’ve tracked me down here!” The Peacock King let out a great shout and shot up into the sky. Like an unsheathed peerless sword, the battle cries cut off abruptly.
Aside from the Holy Masters of Yao Guang and the Ji Family, every single other person involuntarily took a step back. Faced with the great power who had overawed the Southern Region eight hundred years prior, they felt fear in their hearts — crushed by the weight of that terrifying presence.
“Peacock King — your dwelling has indeed been well hidden. Eight hundred years ago I could not find it. Today, at last, I’ve broken through.” The Holy Master of Yao Guang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, surrounded by a halo of light, like a heavenly god before whom none could look directly.
“Peacock King — you have repeatedly challenged and provoked us. Do you truly believe that within the Southern Region, you are without equal?” The Holy Master of the Ji Family stood high in the sky, as though poised on the ninth heaven, looking down upon all living things with an authority that inspired reverence. “Today, let us make an end of things!”
“Such grand bearing — it seems you intend to cut me down here today.” The Peacock King’s laughter rang out freely. “Heaven and earth plan as they will — I fear you will be disappointed!”
“Do you truly think our demon tribe has no one worthy of the challenge?” A voice rang out like a blade, and the entire space shook. A middle-aged man of commanding, mountain-swallowing presence shot skyward and stood shoulder to shoulder with the Peacock King.
“Who are you?” the Holy Master of Yao Guang asked.
“Azure Dragon King!” The blue-robed middle-aged man’s voice rang out like a spring thunderclap.
“Ssss!”
Behind them, many people sucked in cold breaths. The Azure Dragon King was not unfamiliar to a great many of them — he was a great power of the demon tribes from the Northern Region.
“What difference does one more person make!”
The Holy Master of Yao Guang strode forward. One hundred and eight rings of light coiled around his entire body, each one crystalline and resplendent, like one hundred and eight great worlds manifesting in flickers around him. With every step he took, the surrounding space collapsed in on itself, like a divine king making his rounds across the heavens.
The Holy Master of the Ji Family, meanwhile, merged with the void and the great Dao — like a desolate universe, like a boundless star field — neither born nor extinguished, conveying a sense of nothingness and eternity, as though one stood beneath an ancient sky of primordial stars.
Ye Fan felt deep foreboding. He was filled with revulsion toward all of these people. He had just found a measure of stability, and now his peaceful existence had been shattered again — the future unknown, life and death uncertain.
These arrivals meant nothing good. Powerful experts were everywhere. Beyond the many venerable elders, he even caught sight of the Holy Maiden of Yao Guang, Hua Yunfei, and Li Youyou among them.
One could imagine just how great a force had been mobilized when even some of the younger outstanding talents had come to join the battle.