“Senior Li is truly wise, with eyes sharp as a torch — these two are clearly sore losers who refuse to honor their word.”
“The Source Arts battle has already reached its conclusion. If you’re a man, stop being so wishy-washy and hand over the Qilin Seed already.”
The young members of the ancient Source Arts families smiled and chimed in one after another, naturally delighted by the situation, eager to see more “old acquaintances” step forward on their behalf.
Li Heishui’s fury surged like a tide — he badly wanted to stomp on these people’s faces. Recognizing that the other side was taking advantage of the fact that he and Ye Fan had no backing, he slowly reined in his temper and let out a cold laugh.
“The rare treasure that Young Brother Gufeng cut out should be worth considerably more,” said Yaoyue Kong, the young lord of the Celestial Demon Palace, speaking up at a critical moment to stand on Ye Fan’s side.
Da Xia Prince Xia Yiming nodded. “A living ancient royal clan member is priceless — through it, one can truly come to understand the great secrets of the primordial age.”
“That reasoning is flawed.” The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace, Li Yishui, shook his head, wearing an expression that hovered between a smile and a smirk. He glanced at Ye Fan and said, “A primordial royal clan member that cannot be tamed is utterly useless. In contrast, that peerless deadly weapon is of inestimable value — what do you possibly have to compare with it?”
“Brother Li speaks wisely. A primordial ape is nothing more than a monkey — of little practical use.” Nangong Qi smiled and nodded.
Ye Fan spoke calmly. “Since you insist that a living primordial royal clan member is worth less than a deadly weapon, then let me offer just one simple example: how do you regard the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art of the Fighting Battle Sage Ape Clan?”
The expressions of the ancient Source Arts families’ members stiffened. When carefully considered, this was an immortal inheritance — something whose value would be nearly impossible to assign.
“Can it be compared to the ancient scriptures of the various holy lands? Can it surpass that deadly weapon?” Ye Fan pressed on with question after question, leaving the ancient Source Arts families’ members gaping, mouths opening to argue yet unable to find the words.
“We were hesitating just moments ago, but now that we think about it — a living primordial royal clan member is truly beyond valuation and is undeniably more precious!”
“Indeed, even in the primordial era there were only two or three Fighting Battle Sage Apes — beings comparable to the Great Emperors themselves. Their cultivation arts are naturally world-shaking ancient scriptures, priceless and without equal!”
Many of the seasoned elders present nodded and voiced their agreement. Though their eyes burned with desire for the divine medicine, they were not willing to go so far as to help distort right from wrong.
The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace, Li Yishui, shook his head with a smile. “Everyone’s reasoning is flawed here — the human race cannot necessarily cultivate the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art of the Fighting Battle Sage Ape Clan, so it can hardly be called precious.”
Ye Fan sneered. “That is nonsense. The ultimate apex of cultivation is interconnected across all paths — the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art is of boundless value. Moreover, the ancient scriptures of certain human holy lands were themselves inherited from primordial sources.”
“Why does this old codger keep showing up every single time?!” Li Heishui felt his very core bristling with irritation.
“Young man, watch your tongue — be mindful that calamity can spring from careless words!” The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace’s face darkened.
“And you think you deserve my respect?” Li Heishui shook his head.
The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace immediately let killing intent spill forth. “Youngsters without reverence for their elders — today I shall teach you both the proper way to conduct yourselves.”
He moved to act — though his words had been directed at Li Heishui, it was plain that he intended to include Ye Fan as well, meaning to suppress both of them together.
“Those two are far too arrogant — they deserve a lesson.”
“Disrespecting one’s elders is a grave offense — they should be suppressed for several years.”
The young disciples of the ancient Source Arts families were more than eager for someone to take the lead, snickering and adding their voices in agreement.
The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace advanced step by step, closing in without restraint now that he had found a justification, ready to make his move in full public view.
“Li Yishui — your mother’s calling you home for dinner!” A voice suddenly rang out from beyond the crowd with a drawn-out holler.
The words brought everyone present to a dead stop, as if they had been turned to stone.
Ye Fan knew at once that it had to be Pang Bo — words like that were utterly out of place in this world, and only he could shout them out with such ease.
“Who — who said that?!” Li Yishui went red with fury. That someone had dared to speak to him this way made him feel as though fire were licking at his backside.
Only then did the crowd erupt in laughter. Many of the older generation could not hold back their amusement, while the younger ones laughed without any restraint whatsoever, doubling over and nearly falling.
Ye Fan teased, “Elder, perhaps you should go home for dinner first — your mother is looking for you, after all.”
“Ha ha ha…”
Everyone burst out laughing. Even the members of the ancient Source Arts families had twitching corners of their mouths, struggling desperately to hold back their smiles.
As the Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace, Li Yishui was of an age where one could say he had half a foot in the grave — and yet someone had conjured up his mother to call him home for dinner. How could he possibly endure such humiliation?
In that moment, he was like a man who had had his tail stepped on, burning with mortified rage. He turned a chilling gaze on Ye Fan and Li Heishui, his killing intent boundless — he wanted nothing more than to kill them both to vent his fury.
“I shall send you both on your way!”
“Old codger, don’t act as though you’re some holy lord, suppressing whoever you please.” Li Heishui remained unflustered. He pulled out a black iron token and flung it straight at the Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace’s face.
“How dare lowly juniors show me such disrespect — even taking your lives would not be going too far!” Li Yishui said in an icy voice. With a loud crack, he snatched the black iron token out of the air, intending to crush it. However, after several attempts, he could not so much as make it tremble — which left him thoroughly taken aback.
“Old man, take a good look at what that is!” Li Heishui sneered.
“The Undying One’s Divine Token!” From the surrounding crowd, many among the elder generation cried out, their faces draining of all color.
The iron token was black as ink, with no particular luster to it. It was no larger than the palm of a hand, and carved upon its surface was a mountain — shrouded in swirling clouds and mist, indistinct and blurred.
The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace stared at the iron token in his hand. His eyes went blank on the spot, his body trembling faintly. “How did you come to have this…”
“It truly is… the Undying One’s Divine Token.”
“Who are these people — why would they possess something like this?”
…
Every elder present was shaken, their expressions changing without exception, as though they had just laid eyes on a venomous serpent or a savage beast.
The Undying One — mysterious and terrifying, the greatest outlaw of the Northern Region. No one could say just how profound his cultivation had become.
A thousand years ago, he had hunted down a holy lord, nearly driving him into the Ancient Forbidden Zone. He had also stood watch outside a holy land for several years, and the moment that holy land’s great figure emerged, he took his head.
He was synonymous with mystery and dread. To this day, no one had ever seen his true face — whether he was a man or a woman remained unknown.
People only knew that he was extremely old, that his power was unfathomable, and that no one could say just how many long years he had lived.
In the Northern Region, he was the very embodiment of terror. Many people claimed that they would sooner cross a holy lord than make an enemy of him — for if they did, they would not even know how they died.
The black iron token had been passed down by him. In total, only two or three existed — each a life-saving divine token that even members of holy lands held in deep wariness.
In that moment, An Miaoyi, Jin Chixiao, and various holy sons and daughters all showed expressions of marked surprise.
When the elder generation turned their gazes back to Ye Fan and Li Heishui, their eyes had changed as well. Possessing the Undying One’s Divine Token — in the Northern Region, there were truly very few people who would dare move against them.
“You claimed you wanted to take our lives, didn’t you? Come then — we’ll let you kill us,” Li Heishui said, stepping forward two paces.
The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace’s face flushed crimson as he stood trapped between humiliation and helplessness, unable to advance or retreat. Who would dare to kill someone bearing the Undying One’s token in full public view? Even if Li Yishui were given ten times his current courage, he would not be able to bring himself to act — not unless he had no wish to go on living.
Clang!
Distracted as he was, his hand trembled, and the black iron token slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground, ringing out with a clear metallic resonance.
“You dropped the Divine Token — are you making a move against us?”
“I did not drop it.” The Grand Elder of Illusory Destruction Palace’s expression shifted dramatically. He scrambled to pick the black iron token up at once, terrified that some peerless demon would materialize and end his life with a single pointed finger.
“Dear young friends, I have caused considerable offense just now — I beg your forgiveness. This old mind of mine has grown muddled; please do not hold it against me.” Li Yishui’s face was flushed red as he spoke these words, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to slip into.
With both hands, he respectfully returned the Divine Token, then turned and walked away — he truly could not endure staying a moment longer, crushed beneath a weight of defeat and shame.
“Time to go home for dinner~” Pang Bo let out another drawn-out holler.
“Whoever that was, I absolutely worship you.” Li Heishui laughed heartily, looking all around for the speaker.
Others could not hold back either — the corners of their mouths twitched uncontrollably. This was simply too wicked. How would Li Yishui ever show his face again?
“You have lost, seniors.” Ye Fan raised the outcome of the Source Arts duel once more.
“On the contrary, young friend — you should still hand over the Qilin Seed.” Nangong Qi shook his head. The Source Arts families spoke with one voice, insisting stubbornly that the deadly weapon was priceless and that they had won.
The four ancient Source Arts families were deeply rooted in the Northern Region and wielded considerable influence — many great sects owed them favors — and so naturally, a number of their “old acquaintances” were among the crowd.
“Hand over the Qilin Seed — you have already lost.”
“The victor and the vanquished have been decided. Hurry up and concede to Grandmaster Nangong.”
“Perhaps it is best to settle this as a draw and be done with it.”
…
The ancient Source Arts families’ young members and their “old acquaintances” all spoke at once, applying pressure. Since the other side held the Divine Token, they wanted to advance by retreating — to call it a draw and let the matter rest.
Naturally, some in the crowd could not stand by in silence and stepped forward on Ye Fan’s side, sparking an on-the-spot dispute. The greater part of those present, however, adopted the stance of someone who has nothing to do with the matter and keeps their head down.
“Laughable!”
Without a sound, another figure appeared among the crowd. The Red Dragon Daoren had left and come back — like a pestilence god incarnate, his arrival plunged the stone garden into an instant and utter silence.
“Do you people have any idea what the value of a living primordial royal clan member truly is?” He swept a calm gaze over the Source Arts families, no ripple of emotion emanating from him — and yet the pressure he exuded left people struggling to breathe.
Everyone was astonished. What was the Red Dragon Daoren’s relationship with Gufeng? It was obvious he had returned to stand up for him.
“You have plainly already lost — and now you seek to bully others through sheer force. Have you no shame?” The Red Dragon Daoren’s expression was cold. His hands clasped behind his back, he looked at Nangong Qi and said, “If you truly insist on settling this through force rather than reason, then let me annihilate you through force — will that satisfy you?”
Everyone was stunned. The Red Dragon Daoren clearly had a deep connection with Gufeng and was prepared to act on his behalf — many in the crowd showed expressions of astonishment, and not even An Miaoyi, Yaoyue Kong, or the various holy sons and daughters were exceptions.
Nangong Qi and the others went white as snow, all of them thoroughly cowed. This old Daoist had dared to hunt holy lords — who among them could possibly provoke him?
“We concede defeat.” Nangong Qi lowered his head and yielded.
With the Old Red Dragon Daoist stepping forward, who would dare refuse to comply? Even had they been standing on solid ground, they still would have had to submit — let alone now.
“Many thanks, Senior!” Ye Fan stepped forward and paid his respects.
The Red Dragon Daoren gave a slight nod, then swept a razor-sharp gaze across everyone present. “If anyone dares to move against him, they are showing contempt for me.”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone drew a sharp breath. With this peerless demon offering such protection, who would still dare to harm Gufeng?
What was more, Ye Fan’s Source Arts were extraordinary, and many great sects had long wanted to draw him in — now, none of them could afford to show him any disrespect.
“Little Brother Gufeng, you have defeated a Source Arts Grandmaster and made a name for yourself overnight, winning millions of jin of Source — you absolutely must treat us all to a feast.” An Miaoyi sent a private transmission, her eyes shimmering with a dancing light.
Even the various holy sons and daughters — proud as they were — each privately stirred with thoughts of their own. Someone with Gufeng’s potential might very well become a Source Grandmaster himself one day; they could not afford to let their relationship with him grow cold.
Dong…
Suddenly, the Wushi Bell rang out once more!
The divine city resonated in response. Everyone’s expression shifted to one of shock — people understood that this signaled a final outcome to the assault on Purple Mountain.
“Roar…!”
All at once, terrifying roars rang out, accompanied by wave after wave of agonized screams.
“What’s happening?!” Everyone’s expression changed.
“Roar…!”
The roars shook the heavens — it sounded as though many unknown creatures had appeared within the divine city.
“The assault on Purple Mountain has reached its conclusion — but these roars…” Many cultivators were filled with uneasy doubt.
“This is bad — ancient creatures have emerged from the age of antiquity!” Cries of terror rang out in the distance.
“Purple Mountain has been breached — many primordial creatures have come out and are hunting people down!” Warning calls split the sky.
The divine city erupted into chaos. Terrifying primordial creatures had emerged from the ancient age and were crossing the void to enter the city — a truly dreadful piece of news.