The supreme sword edge — green as water, breathing out sword radiance — pointed directly at Ye Fan’s skull. There was no escape. This was an absolute kill strike!
No one could have imagined that the moment Ye Fan’s great battle with the Golden-Winged Little Peng King concluded, such a twist would appear. The person who came had means reaching the heavens, materializing from thin air.
A world-shaking assassination attempt — everyone felt a wave of cold wash over them. Who could dodge such a strike? No one even knew how she had appeared — and the sword’s edge had already reached the skull.
Fierce and ruthless, intent on a kill with a single blow. If it struck true, body and soul would both be annihilated — there was no possibility of survival.
“Woof!”
The Great Black Dog roared, like a savage dragon howling. The sound shook the mountain ranges until they trembled, and endless grass and trees shattered. Yet no matter how terrifying that roar, it could not resolve the crisis at hand.
“Big brother…” Xiao Nannan cried out in alarm. She had not been watching the battle earlier — it had been too gruesome. Li Heishui had waited until the great battle concluded before bringing her out. But the little girl happened to witness this very moment, and immediately let out a wailing cry.
White garments fluttering, an immortal descending from beyond the heavens — the supreme sword radiance breathed in and out, having already sheared off a lock of Ye Fan’s hair and nearly reached his skull itself.
At this moment of the gravest peril, Ye Fan’s body bent downward, transforming into the dragon-shaped Dao Trace — becoming the dividing line of the Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram.
This was the mark of the great Dao!
Yet this was still insufficient. Even if he could surpass the speed limit, he still could not dodge this sword thrust aimed at his skull — the blade had already touched his skin and bone.
Whoosh!
The Mad Elder’s footwork was also incorporated — becoming part of the dragon-shaped Dao Trace, helping him transform into a dragon and fly forth.
Drops of golden blood fell. His hair was sheared off. Even so, Ye Fan could not escape this sword. It had already thrust down — about to pierce through his skull.
Time seemed to congeal. Every person held their breath. Every eye opened wide, watching with intense anxiety.
The Doomsday Sacred Body was incomparably powerful — having defeated the unparalleled Golden-Winged Little Peng King — and yet was about to be assassinated here? No one could remain calm.
This assassination was too terrifying. It would be very difficult for anyone to dodge it. An unrivaled art of killing — truly a sacred art of slaughter!
Time seemed to stand still. Countless trajectories of the “Dao” flashed through Ye Fan’s heart. How to break through this? Was he truly going to die?
Perhaps with the “All” Secret triggered, his speed could increase many times over, allowing him to escape the calamity. But that required time — he had no means of executing it whatsoever.
In this moment, one image after another flashed through his heart in rapid succession. Suddenly a sacred art surfaced in his mind.
It was a heritage from the Heavenly Court — sweeping through his heart like a shooting star, illuminating his inner sea.
The Illusion-Reality Divine Art!
Transforming the physical into the void — slaying in the formless — the Heavenly Court’s most extraordinary secret art without peer!
Ye Fan had received the Heavenly Court’s heritage only a short time ago. Though he had studied and pondered it, he had never once manifested it. In this moment a flash of insight struck him — with no other choice, he could only circulate it.
Whoosh!
In almost the blink of an eye, his form blurred and became indistinct, hidden in the void — as though he no longer existed. The Heavenly Court’s divine art manifested together with his dragon-shaped Dao form.
He was like drifting light, gliding through the void — reaching the extreme of speed. His body was very blurred, hovering between void and reality.
The supreme sword edge thrust through, piercing into the indistinct shadow. A few points of golden blood scattered and sprayed — yet it had not pierced through.
At this moment, Ye Fan’s state was wondrous in the extreme — between having form and formlessness. This was the manifestation of the Heavenly Court’s sacred art, unified with the dragon-shaped Dao Trace.
At this critical juncture, he fused several divine arts with his own Dao form — by inconceivable means reversing the fatal situation, escaping the catastrophe of death.
The supreme sword edge had struck his skull — yet there was no sensation of having cleaved something apart. It was only like thrusting into a shadow, and had not pierced through.
Whoosh!
Ye Fan broke free and emerged from the void state into substantiality a short distance away. He had narrowly escaped this calamity. Yet his skull had still been wounded — a gash on his crown had nearly penetrated the cranial bone.
Golden blood ran down from his head, gluing his hair into lock after lock. A difference of mere millimeters, and he would have been destroyed in body and soul.
At the level of power he had reached, the skull was the greatest weakness. Once shattered, the outcome was annihilation of body and soul.
Every person drew a sharp breath. No one had expected Ye Fan to be this capable — having escaped the one absolute killing blow, breaking through the fatal situation.
Clang!
Ye Fan said nothing. Raising the Dragon Pattern Black Gold Sacred Spirit Sword, he struck directly! Since beginning to cultivate, he had never suffered such a grave affront — nearly having his skull cleaved off.
Even without thinking deeply, he already knew who had come. These were people from the “World of the Living!”
The gray-robed man and the white-robed woman were both enveloped in mist. Neither was particularly old, and both were like phantoms emerging from the depths of hell — not a single fluctuation of divine power could be sensed from either.
The World of the Living was devoted to slaughter as a means of comprehending the great Dao. Taking assassination contracts was secondary — their primary purpose was to temper themselves. They would not exceed their target’s cultivation level by much.
“Kill!”
Ye Fan swung his sacred sword and struck toward them. At this point he was more ferocious and murderous than even the people of the World of the Living. The opponent had truly attacked him — if he had not reacted with agility just now, he would already be dead.
Clang!
Sword edges collided, sparks flying, sword radiance shooting toward the sky.
The gray-robed man was sent flying backward. Simultaneously the white-robed woman was like a wisp of thin smoke — vanishing in an instant. The two retreated at a single blow. The assassination had failed, and they did not linger — decisively withdrawing.
“Thinking of leaving — not that easy!”
Ye Fan was like a god of slaughter. Golden blood dripped from his hair, his eyes like cold lightning. Holding the ten-zhang sacred sword, he gave chase.
In this instant, the crowd’s hearts all shook — for they could no longer see the gray-robed man and white-robed woman. The two figures had vanished.
Yet Ye Fan was as though guided by divine intuition, his long sword aimed unerringly in one direction without deviation — evidently he had locked onto the two powerful figures of the World of the Living.
“Where are the people?”
“How can he see them? Why can we not detect them?”
Many cried out in alarm, their bodies running cold. If one were assassinated by such people, how could one escape? They had absolutely no idea how the assassins had appeared — and the sword’s edge had already reached the skull.
At this moment, only Yao Guang, the Ji Family God-King Body, the Sacred Maiden of the Jade Pool, and a small number of others could open their eyes and radiate divine light, still watching without blinking — fixedly staring.
Ye Fan’s spiritual senses could perceive the trajectory of the two powerful figures. Moreover, he had opened his divine eye — one clear and unobstructed view, and he locked onto the lagging gray-robed man while keeping the white-robed woman in sight as well.
Clang!
Ye Fan swung the ten-zhang sacred sword — like a massive black mountain pressing down, heavy and fierce, the void collapsing. This was a sword of incomparable weight!
Clang!
The gray-robed man was forced to resist, swinging the blood sword in his hand to meet the ten-zhang sacred sword. The sound was like gold being split and stone being rent — the sword’s ring shook the long sky.
He was immediately sent flying backward. He could not withstand the Sacred Body’s dominating power and overwhelming force. The mountain-like pressure made his arms go numb.
Whoosh!
The gray-robed man hid within the void, his body nearly vanishing. He fled without looking back, moving even faster. As a “seed” of the World of the Living, he understood well the importance of knowing when to withdraw.
The assassination had failed — he had to retreat far away. Otherwise he could not withstand the Doomsday Sacred Body’s terrifying fury. Avoiding that sharp edge was the wisest course.
Yet Ye Fan had nearly been assassinated — how could he possibly let them go? He roared: “Still thinking of leaving?”
He stepped using the Mad Elder’s footwork. In nearly an instant he had given chase. The divine eye pierced through the void — there was no hiding from him.
Boom!
The black sacred sword in his hand grew to a hundred zhang long — like a massive black mountain range swinging downward, smashing the vault of the sky into explosive ruptures.
The gray-robed man’s pupils contracted. With no alternative, he struck back. He truly had no desire to face the Sacred Body’s unmatched brute force — for this was even more terrifying than a dragon or peng!
Clang!
The blood sword in his hand, with its incomplete laws woven within, instantly shattered. He himself spat blood from the corner of his mouth, smashed and sent flying.
“World of the Living — who sent you to kill me?!” Ye Fan bellowed, swinging the black sacred sword once more and hacking downward.
In the sky above the endless mountain ranges, every face was written with astonishment, every heart violently shaken. The ancient assassination divine dynasty — the World of the Living — had appeared again?
Though not a few people knew they had always existed, having only kept a much lower profile, hearing in person that the World of the Living sought to destroy the Sacred Body was still deeply shocking.
In the present age, only those ancient inheritances would have the means to contact the “World of the Living.” This was truly thought-provoking.
Upon learning it was the terrifying figures of the World of the Living, everyone understood — the gray-robed man and white-robed woman were certainly seed figures of that assassination divine dynasty.
Competition within the World of the Living was fierce. The seeds of the young generation were not plentiful — only those with considerable ability could obtain that standing.
Yet now, seeds of the ancient assassination divine dynasty were being hunted by the Sacred Body. This was truly astonishing. Precisely who was the killer, and who was the one to be killed?
Boom!
Ye Fan’s black sacred sword swung down again, cleaving apart an entire mountain range. The hundred-zhang great sword cut across the heavens!
Clang!
The ancient tower the gray-robed man had brought forth as a defensive measure was instantly smashed to powder. He spat blood again from his mouth, fleeing in a desperate rush.
“You attempted to assassinate me — today I will leave you with no path to heaven and no way into the earth. World of the Living — what of it!”
Droplets of golden blood ran down from between Ye Fan’s hair, falling onto his face. It made him appear like a divine spirit of vengeance breaking free of its shackles — utterly unrivaled and domineering.
His snow-white teeth flashed with cold light. He moved freely through the air, the black sacred sword shattering all who dared obstruct him!
Boom!
Ye Fan was heroic and divine, golden flames blazing around his entire body, black hair dancing wild. His eyes were deep and profound. Holding the sacred sword, he swung it down continuously.
This expanse of heaven and earth was completely shattered and smashed by him — it collapsed without cease. He swung consecutively forty-nine sword strikes, cleaving through a full forty-nine mountain peaks.
Each time the black great sword fell, it was like a black demonic mountain pressing down — smashing the gray-robed man until he continuously spat blood from his mouth.
All his magical treasures and weapons were reduced to powder. Then his two arms shattered, turning to blood mist. Then his body began to crack and fracture.
When the forty-ninth sword descended, he was crushed alive beneath Ye Fan’s hundred-zhang-long black great sword, reduced entirely to bloody paste — death complete.
“The Sacred Body is truly ferocious — he has reversed the kill and slain someone from the ancient assassination divine dynasty!”
“This… is so domineering!”
Everyone stared wide-eyed and slack-jawed. The ancient assassination divine dynasty almost never failed in their missions — being reversed and killed in turn was even rarer. Yet this very scene had now unfolded before their eyes.
Every person’s heart pounded in fear. This Doomsday Sacred Body was too domineering — supremely powerful and glorious — annihilating those of the World of the Living.
In the very instant the crowd stood dumbstruck, an astonishing scene appeared. Seven divine rainbows materialized from thin air, all aimed at one central point — Ye Fan!
Cold light illuminated the great earth. A supreme killing intent erupted!
Seven great experts unleashed an earth-shaking murderous aura, sending the ten thousand trees in the mountain ranges shattering, endless fallen leaves drifting, ten thousand beasts prostrating on the ground in trembling submission.
Piercing cold — like the arrival of deep winter, a bitter north wind howling. In this moment, grass and trees withered, ten thousand things perished, the mountain ranges utterly bleak and desolate!
Immortals Descending from Beyond the Heavens!
Again this supreme assassination technique — yet different from before. This time there were a full seven people, no longer the white-robed woman alone.
“The ancient assassination divine dynasty is truly terrifying — having laid such a deadly trap. Any one seed could be killed off, and in this instant they bare their fangs to strike. A kill that must land with a single blow!”
“The World of the Living — they use tempering their disciples as their primary aim. That seed was clearly not held in high regard and was decisively abandoned.”
Seven powerful figures of the World of the Living simultaneously executing the Immortal Descending from Beyond the Heavens — appearing from thin air, assassinating Ye Fan. The crisis had reached its extreme.
When only the single white-robed woman had used this saint-slaying divine art, she had already wounded him and nearly pierced through his skull. Even now golden blood was still flowing.
One could imagine what kind of desperate crisis Ye Fan faced now — this was an absolute kill situation with no way out!
Everyone believed Ye Fan could not survive. It was so abrupt — how could he guard against it? This was seven times the killing power compared to before.
Ye Fan showed no panic. The corner of his mouth revealed a trace of cold, indifferent smile. He felt no fear — for with the divine eye opened, he had long since seen the seven people. He had sufficient preparation.
His body transformed in form, nearly becoming a true dragon. He manifested the Dao Trace of the Tai Chi divine diagram, becoming a dragon-shaped curved line.
Thud!
With his divine eye already opened, Ye Fan had anticipated the deadly trap in advance. He now showed no mercy as he struck. His bending form had become the mark of the great Dao.
In the very first moment he pierced through one of the descending immortals — blood and light burst forth, fresh blood gushing.
Nothing was more terrifying than his body at this moment. He precisely calculated the trajectory of every single person and became the tangible mark of the Dao.
Hum!
Six swords vibrated simultaneously. Divine radiance shot into the sky. The aura of the six descending immortals grew many times more powerful, all aimed at one central point!
The World of the Living — their heritage stretched far back. In the era over a hundred thousand years ago, they had caused all the sacred sites to be deeply wary and unwilling to provoke them. Their supreme and fearsome reputation spoke for itself.
Such an ancient assassination divine dynasty naturally possessed heaven-defying means. Six descending immortals acted in coordination, pulling on the aura of the great Dao. Six swords became like rays of rainbow light, transformed into six Dao illustrations, releasing an incomparable and magnificent murderous aura that pressed forward.
Yet Ye Fan was too fast. The Battle Saint Art was elevated to transcendence, unified with the dragon-shaped Dao Trace bent into that curved form. This curve manifested the supreme fruits of the Dao.
Thud!
He charged through — avoiding those pressing Dao illustrations — his body becoming the most terrifying weapon, the dragon-shaped curve dividing the second person.
Light flashed red and blood mist billowed. This powerful figure died — annihilated in body and soul.
Whoosh!
The remaining five, their long swords vibrating in unison, manifested the five elements into Dao illustrations that became a profound and abstruse combat array formation, covering this expanse of sky.
Ye Fan was undaunted — for his foundation was solid. He held the Heavenly Court’s heritage, capable of seeing through every crisis.
The dragon-shaped Dao Trace manifested by the Battle Saint Art had broken even the Heavenly Demon Saint-Slaying Art — giving him grounds for supreme confidence. Now that he understood the deadly trap, he feared nothing.
Thud!
Ye Fan sundered the third assassin. The dragon-shaped curve was indestructible, manifesting the mark of the Dao. He charged through, and that person was reduced to a blood mist.
The spectating crowd could not help but be stirred. These were people from the ancient assassination divine dynasty — yet Ye Fan was cutting them down like this.
Ye Fan’s heart was calm. He felt no fear. What did it matter that they were powerful figures of the World of the Living? Since they had come to kill him, they would all the same have to die.
In his heart he reflected — the Heavenly Court’s heritage must be fully mastered. Only then could he contend against the disciples sent out for tempering by this ancient inheritance as old as the World of the Living.
Over a hundred thousand years ago, the Heavenly Court had held the supreme executioner’s scepter, sovereign over all beneath the heavens. With a single thought, rivers of blood would flow across the earth — like the supreme ancient Heavenly Court, commanding the fates of all others.
This heritage, as the foremost of the three great ancient assassination divine dynasties, would perhaps become Ye Fan’s greatest reliance in the times ahead. A thought arose in him — he wished to rebuild the Heavenly Court.