“I truly don’t believe Brother Ye would sever his own cultivation. Once a person has stood at the absolute pinnacle, they would sooner die than return to mediocrity just to survive.” The Holy Son Yao Guang smiled, his teeth brilliantly white, his skin radiating a flowing golden light, even his hair had turned to gold — his entire being appeared as though draped in a divine garment.

Ye Fan’s heart gave a sudden jolt. He had finally glimpsed the sharp edge of Holy Son Yao Guang — this was the first offensive move directed at him. Though it wasn’t entirely obvious, it had planted a lethal trap. Ye Fan had declared his intention to sever his cultivation, yet the other party had let fall such words, branding them into the hearts of all present, words that would inevitably stir others to test him in the future.

Sometimes a single sentence could inflict more damage than an actual battle, and Holy Son Yao Guang’s casual remark had already sown a seed in everyone’s heart.

“People differ in their mindsets, and so do their choices. I don’t share your grand ambitions, so naturally I can let go. I only wish to survive.” Ye Fan smiled gently.

“Brother Ye possesses extraordinary spirit. He is the first Holy Physique in over a hundred thousand years to break the curse — how could he willingly give it all up? May Brother Ye successfully overcome this trial of death.” Holy Son Yao Guang’s smile was radiant, his entire being emanating a divine brilliance.

Ye Fan sighed and said, “Your path ahead leads to the road of a supreme Great Emperor. Mine leads to the end of life itself. Here, I wish you a smooth journey.”

The road walked by the Great Emperors of antiquity could never have been a smooth one — they had to fight their way through countless kings, sweep aside the heroes of the world, and ascend the pinnacle alone, only then could they reign supreme over all.

With these words spoken, the assembled Holy Sons and Holy Daughters made no outward display, though what they truly thought in their hearts was another matter entirely.

Holy Son Yao Guang appeared unconcerned. His hair shimmered with a golden radiance, and he resembled a divine being reborn — he gave a faint smile and said nothing more.

“He definitely can’t survive. Even if he severs his cultivation, he won’t make it through this trial. That would only make things more miserable.” A young man from the Wind Clan muttered under his breath.

“Exactly. If he takes the divine Qilin medicinal seed, it’ll just go to waste. It would be better to return it to our Wind Clan as repayment of the debt!” Another Wind Clan disciple also voiced his displeasure.

Feng Huang’s handmaiden was beautiful as a flower and fair as the moon, her status no lower than an ordinary Wind Clan disciple. She had been subdued by Ye Fan back in the Northern Domain Divine City and had harbored resentment toward him ever since.

At this moment, she too opened her mouth, her tone laced with sarcasm: “The Holy Physique’s name shakes the heavens — who today does not know of it, who has not heard of it? I wonder what birthday gift you have prepared for our clan’s Holy Master. The old gentleman has always had a fondness for divine objects. Are you planning to present him with the Holy Sword and the Qilin divine medicinal seed?”

Ye Fan swept her a glance and said, “You are nothing more than a servant. Is there a place here for you to speak?”

“You—!” The woman trembled with fury. As the personal handmaiden of the Wind Clan’s princess, even direct disciples of the Wind Clan treated her with respectful courtesy. Who in their right mind had ever dared speak to her in such a manner?

“You don’t know your place. Go to where you belong. You are nothing but a maidservant — how dare you presume to point fingers at me? Whether I send a gift or not, is that something a mere servant like you can dictate?” Ye Fan berated her coldly.

“You — how dare you!” Being a close attendant of the Wind Clan’s princess, she had always held her head high, utterly unable to endure such treatment. Her almond-shaped eyes widened with fury, her body shaking with indignation.

The Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were all present, and everyone looked over, expressions varying.

“Yes, my boldness is quite something.” Ye Fan gave a light chuckle. He paid her no further attention, merely casting a calm, sweeping glance at Feng Huang without saying a word.

“Why haven’t you withdrawn!” Feng Huang said coldly.

“My lady—!” The handmaiden cried out in a sharp voice.

Feng Huang’s gaze swept over icily, startling the handmaiden into immediate silence. She lowered her head and quickly departed the divine island.

“My apologies to everyone. My discipline has been lax — I’ve made a scene.” After speaking, Feng Huang glanced at Ye Fan and said coldly, “Everyone, please don’t lower yourselves to her level.”

It was clearly a statement with hidden meaning — a veiled mockery suggesting that Ye Fan had debased himself by arguing with her maidservant, unbecoming of his station. Her words were cold and carried a trace of disdain.

The Great Black Dog bared its teeth — it could not abide this sort of attitude. Had this not been the Wind Clan’s sacred territory, it would certainly have taken a vicious bite already.

“Doggy needs to behave, no biting people. Even if you came here with Big Brother, you’ll still be scolded.” Xiao Nannan, who didn’t even reach the Black Emperor’s legs in height, tilted her head back and pushed at it with her small hands.

Ye Fan burst out laughing and swept her up into his arms. “Nannan is such a good girl.”

Hearing this, Feng Huang found herself at a loss for words. She turned and walked to the other side.

The other Wind Clan disciples exchanged glances. Though some of them were quite displeased with Ye Fan, they no longer dared to show it openly — they all knew well what his current circumstances were.

At this gathering, disciples from many great sects of the Eastern Desolation had assembled. Many were remarkable individuals. Two or three would cluster together, conversing and forming connections. In the future, no small number of them would become the revered masters of their own sects.

If they could establish some connection and goodwill now, it would surely bring tremendous benefit in the future. Anyone of true caliber would never pass up such an opportunity to make acquaintances.

“Brother Ye, I would like to exchange a Nine Revolutions Divine Pill for your Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Holy Spirit Sword — it can extend your life.” Zhao Fa walked back over, opening with a smile.

His voice was not loud, but it drew the attention of those nearby, who turned sideways to observe, looking over with curiosity.

Ye Fan’s killing intent stirred toward this man. The fact that he raised this at such a moment made it clear he had picked up on Holy Son Yao Guang’s underlying intent. To speak up in such a way was nothing short of sinister scheming.

Exchange or not exchange? This was coercion. A life-prolonging divine pill was right here — refusing the exchange would be difficult to justify and would arouse suspicion. However, Zhao Fa had not made the matter public to everyone on the divine island.

“You think one spirit pill can exchange for my Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Holy Spirit Sword? Are you trying to swindle me?” Ye Fan questioned him with a half-genuine, half-joking tone, his expression somewhat cold.

“Brother Ye, your words miss the mark. This is no ordinary spirit pill — it was refined from tens of thousands of years’ worth of supreme-grade spirit medicines. It can raise the dead and restore flesh to bone, and is a sacred life-saving medicine. For a brother in your situation, it is a life-prolonging divine object that ten thousand gold could not purchase.” Zhao Fa smiled and explained.

Through Xiao Nannan, Ye Fan had already learned that this man harbored ill intentions. He was exploiting the fact that Ye Fan had little time left and intended to strike viciously in the future to seize his treasures.

“Rare goods command a high price — you are essentially extorting me.” Ye Fan spoke plainly. Though he knew this person was no good soul and harbored designs to kill him and seize his treasures, now was not the moment to make that known.

“How could that be? Brother Ye, please don’t misunderstand me. I merely wish to bring what you need most directly to you.” Zhao Fa smiled with composed elegance.

Li Heishui scoffed, “If you truly wanted to help Ye Fan, you’d just gift him a Nine Revolutions Divine Pill outright. Why make it a transaction? Even Hua Yunfei once gave Little Ye a Nine Aperture玲珑 Pill.”

Zhao Fa’s expression stiffened. He said, “My friend, that joke is quite inappropriate. Hua Yunfei and I are two entirely different kinds of people. His motives are sinister; mine are utterly sincere.”

By this point, Hua Yunfei had been proclaimed throughout the world as the successor of the Ruthless Great Emperor’s legacy, and no one wished to be associated with him, let alone be compared to him.

“I want to exchange the Holy Sword for an Immortality Divine Pill. Anything else would be of little use to me.” Ye Fan smiled, without elaborating further.

Zhao Fa’s expression fell. There was nothing more to be said, and he turned and left.

Xiao Nannan’s large eyes, stark black and white, were bright and glistening. She gazed in a particular direction, listening carefully, then shook Ye Fan’s arm and whispered, “Big Brother, he said he’s going to make you pay. Before long he’ll have you crushed beneath his feet.”

“This man surnamed Zhao is truly one who shows a different face in public than in private — honey on his tongue and daggers in his heart, just as the legends say. He really should be cut to pieces!” Li Heishui’s face darkened.

“Be on your guard.” Yao Guang Kong cautioned.

The Wind Clan Holy Master’s birthday had not yet arrived, but Ye Fan had no choice but to consider the matter now — what exactly should he send as a gift? The Dao Comprehension Tea was certainly out of the question; the implications were far too significant.

Divine springs, sacred fruits and the like went without saying — if he produced any of those, people would immediately suspect that he had entered the Ancient Sacred Land and successfully repaired the Dao wounds.

After lingering at the gathering for quite some time, he and Li Heishui took Xiao Nannan and departed, intending to visit the neighboring ancient city of “Purple Sky Capital” to prepare some birthday gifts.

The little white-robed nun was very fond of Xiao Nannan. As they left, she gave the child a bracelet of beads, each carved with exquisitely lifelike depictions of divine Buddhas smiling while holding flowers.

They had flown several hundred li away from the Wind Clan’s eight hundred divine islands when someone’s cold laughter suddenly cut through the air, blocking their path.

Feng Huang’s handmaiden appeared, a cold and chilling smile hanging on her face. She said through clenched teeth, “You think you can just leave?”

Behind her stood an elderly man dressed as a servant, but his cultivation ran as deep as an unfathomable abyss. One look was enough to know he was a terrifyingly powerful expert.

“Do you have further business with us? Was it Feng Huang who sent you? What is the meaning of this?” Ye Fan asked.

“If not for the three million jin of source stones provided by the Wind Clan, you would be nothing but a worthless wretch. Yet you repeatedly show me disrespect. Do you not know where you are?!” Feng Huang’s handmaiden’s expression grew icier still. “You won’t be going anywhere today!”

“Bold words. You are nothing more than Feng Huang’s handmaiden, and yet you dare to ambush me here. Do you understand what this implies? Was it Feng Huang who sent you?” Ye Fan looked at her with a composed expression.

The woman held her head high with boundless arrogance, her voice glacial. “You won’t be leaving today. Under the pressure of the divine kings, we won’t kill you — but we can certainly flay a layer of skin from you. We’ll take back your Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Holy Spirit Sword, along with the Qilin divine medicinal seed and all the rest. I’ll present them on your behalf to the Holy Master as repayment of your debt!”

“This is the first time I’ve encountered a servant with such brazen audacity — to act like this, you are truly one of a kind.” Ye Fan said.

Feng Huang’s handmaiden seemed particularly averse to being called a servant, and she shrieked, “Not even the princess has ever reprimanded me, yet you repeatedly dare to disrespect me — just wait for death. Uncle Yi, quickly subdue him! Break every bone in his body!”

“Understood!”

The elderly man dressed in cyan robes gave a curt nod and lunged forward to kill. His hair was streaked with white, his frame lean and gaunt, and from his fingers shot forth streams of razor-sharp blades swift as the wind.

“The Seventh Transformation of the Dragon Transformation!” Li Heishui exclaimed in shock. An opponent like this was utterly beyond them — the gap in cultivation was simply too vast.

The elder servant reached out a great hand, swiping toward Ye Fan with a bone-chilling sneer, every bit the manner of one who had them completely in his grasp.

“You are nothing but an old servant under Feng Huang’s command — are you not afraid of the Wind Clan’s reprimand when they learn of this?” Ye Fan retreated while calling out loudly.

“The young lady will not punish me, because you went too far — you have long since worn out the young lady’s patience.” The cyan-robed elder’s face was cold as frost. His great hand descended, from which manifested endless innate patterns, weaving together into a terrifying black cage. With contempt in his eyes, he moved to suppress Ye Fan.

“You pair of lackeys — you’ve gone too far in bullying others!” Ye Fan’s expression turned grave. He swiftly evaded and wheeled around to face the Black Emperor. “Seal them off!”