Youyue City erupted in clamor as everyone discussed the Holy Body’s condition. Everything about Ye Fan had become the hottest topic of the day.
“In the end he still severed his cultivation — his only level now is the peak of the Palace of the Dao. He could have looked down upon the entire younger generation, yet what a pity…”
“The various Holy Sons can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Now they need not personally step forward — sending out their junior brothers will be enough to overpower the Holy Body.”
“He failed to defy heaven in the end. Even the Unrivaled Divine King could not mend his severed path for him. It seems the Holy Body’s curse can never truly be broken.”
Who would not believe the words of Divine Physician Wang? In the central territory of the Eastern Wastelands, no one surpassed him in the art of medicine, making his word the most powerful piece of evidence of all.
Nearly everyone believed it, for there was nothing to doubt. A physician of such supreme stature was a Great Able One himself — why would he lie?
“Zhao Fa was truly unlucky — wanting to seize Ye Fan’s weapon, yet forgetting that he is the Holy Body. Even if his cultivation is severed, his physical body has not changed.”
“That fellow was all sweetness on the surface with poison underneath — he deserved exactly this. Who told him to be so blind as to try plundering someone else’s sacred weapon!”
Many people discussed the matter, and few had any sympathy for Zhao Fa. At the same time, they were skeptical of the Holy Son of Purple Manor’s decision to retreat without fighting, thinking him overly cautious.
“Something great is about to happen — the Holy Son of Yin-Yang is entering Youyue City! Word has spread that he is already racing here at top speed!”
On the second day, this news was released and caused a tremendous sensation. Countless cultivators craned their necks in anticipation — the supreme great sect of the Central Province was finally coming.
A Holy Son-level figure bearing the Yin-Yang Sword, coming to sever the Holy Body’s head — this was absolutely a great storm, certain to produce boundless waves.
“A Holy Son-level figure has finally made a move. Ye Fan is in danger now — he no longer possesses the power he had half a month ago. Any Holy Son would be enough to suppress him.”
“The Yin-Yang Sword is a sect’s sacred treasure — capable of cleaving the heavens, splitting the earth, severing mountains and sundering seas, with limitless power. Even if the Holy Body were unharmed, it is not certain he could withstand it.”
Every cultivator in Youyue City was talking about it, waiting for this great upheaval to unfold. But then word came that Ye Fan and his companions had left the ancient city.
“The Holy Body has left — has he finally grown fearful? With his cultivation greatly diminished, there truly is nowhere for him to hide. Unless the Unrivaled Divine King returns, no one can save him.”
Everyone was well aware of the Yin-Yang Sect’s formidable might — comparable to the undying imperial dynasties of the Central Province, no less powerful than the sacred grounds of the Eastern Wastelands. Their Holy Maiden had been slain in the Eastern Wastelands; they could never let the matter rest.
Ye Fan and his companions had indeed left Youyue City, making their unhurried way northward, intending to head for Sacred Cliff, which bordered the Northern Domain.
“I say, little Ye Fan — don’t you just want to exterminate the Yin-Yang Sect’s people? Why not wait for them to arrive?” Li Heishui asked.
“I don’t provoke those who don’t provoke me — we have always kept a low profile and would not be as brazen as them.” Ye Fan smiled.
“Digging a pit and waiting for people to fall in, then making yourself look like this — you are truly black-hearted.” Li Heishui said with contempt.
“You can’t put it that way. I genuinely do want to keep a lower profile and not stir up great trouble. The key question is whether they intend to kill me.” Ye Fan smiled mildly.
“The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty — the ‘Space Between Mortal Lives’ — why haven’t any of their people shown up yet?!” the Great Black Dog grumbled. It was desperate for every great power to come jumping out, so they could all be slapped to death by the Old Madman in one go.
Ye Fan glanced back at the Old Madman, his heart giving a thump as a certain possibility crossed his mind. This “divine being” had remained silent all this time — would he take action at a critical moment? Thinking this over, his heart pounded uneasily. He had always factored the Old Madman’s power into his calculations; if, at the moment of life or death, this “divine man” chose not to act, there would be no time even for tears.
“Senior, we are headed to Sacred Cliff to search for the ‘Movement’ character secret among the Nine Secrets. We may encounter considerable trouble along the way — please, we beg you to rescue us at the critical moment!”
The Old Madman was imposingly built, with black hair cascading over his shoulders and covering his bronze-colored face, only a pair of vacant eyes dimly visible through the curtain of hair. He was silent and still, making no response of any kind.
“Divine man, you must take action when the time comes.” The Great Black Dog also felt a chill run through it, having thought of this crucial problem. Its entire body felt uncomfortable.
“Uncle, will you protect us? Please?” Xiao Nannan tugged at the Old Madman’s trouser leg, tilting up her soft little face to look at him hopefully, calling on him on Ye Fan’s behalf.
The Old Madman said nothing. He only glanced at her, then continued to stand like a wooden stake, as if everything in the world had nothing to do with him.
“He actually fled — what a disappointment. The Holy Body is nothing more than this — just a gutless coward!” Back in Youyue City, the Holy Son of Yin-Yang sneered coldly.
The onlookers were all startled, sensing a Dao aura of tremendous magnitude — black and white, two kinds of Dao force swirling about him, tumultuous as the primordial chaos from before creation.
The Holy Son of Yin-Yang was tall and slender, his face as handsome as a jade crown, a purple-gold coronet atop his head and black hair streaming over his shoulders. Strapped to his back was a holy sword of black and white, and he himself seemed as unfathomable as an abyss.
“They are heading north. If you pursue them now, there is still time.” Someone, unwilling to let things remain calm, whispered this reminder in secret.
“He cannot escape the palm of my hand. I came to the Eastern Wastelands this time solely to sever his head — the Yin-Yang Holy Sword shall not return without tasting blood!” the Holy Son of Yin-Yang said coldly, hands clasped behind his back as he gazed toward the distant north.
Then he rose into the air. His entire person transformed into a yin-yang diagram, imprinting itself upon the void — swift as light, swift as lightning — vanishing in an instant into the northern horizon.
“This Holy Son of Yin-Yang is terrifying — his body has merged with the Dao, and that kind of speed is rarely seen under heaven!”
“Worthy of being the Holy Son of the Central Province’s supreme great sect. By all appearances, he only surpasses our Eastern Wastelands’ Holy Sons — he is in no way inferior to them!”
Many hearts went cold, all of them sensing the dreadful depth of the Central Province’s foundation. If even its disciples were like this, one could only imagine the sect master-level figures.
“Give chase — let us follow and have a look!”
“Indeed — how could we miss a great event like this?”
The many cultivators of Youyue City all gave chase, hoping to witness the great battle about to unfold. Many of them felt that the odds were heavily against the Holy Body now.
Finally, five thousand li away, they caught up with Ye Fan and his companions. The location was not far from a city, yet still in the middle of the wilderness.
“Ye Fan — surrender your life!” The Holy Son of Yin-Yang let out a long cry, and the yin-yang diagram he had transformed into cut off the road ahead, causing the void to collapse!
Flash!
A beam of light flared, and he materialized in front of them, blocking the way. He stood in the void with hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at Ye Fan’s group with imperious arrogance, killing intent radiating from him in waves.
“This Holy Son of Yin-Yang is extraordinarily powerful — body merged with Dao and all — to have given chase like this in that form. Even ordinary Holy Sons could not achieve it!” Li Heishui’s heart stirred with alarm.
“Have you come to take my life?” Ye Fan stood on the barren plain, head tilted upward toward the sky, his voice utterly calm.
The Holy Son of Yin-Yang sneered contemptuously. “Originally I intended to sever your head with the holy sword, but since you have become a piece of trash…”
“Since you have not come to kill me, kindly leave.” Ye Fan cut him off.
“Were I to use our sect’s holy sword on you now, I would fear your blood would contaminate it — this sword does not cut down nameless nobodies below the Four Extremes Secret Realm.” The Holy Son of Yin-Yang sneered again and again, looking down at Ye Fan from above. “I shall simply finish you off directly!” he said coldly.
“Woof!” The Great Black Dog absolutely could not stand words like these, barking: “You pet — what are you so proud of? This Emperor will exterminate you in a moment!”
The people from Youyue City had been arriving one after another, and upon hearing a dog say such a thing they were left feeling quite dizzy.
The Holy Son of Yin-Yang was one of the supreme experts of the younger generation — his status was illustrious, and in the Central Province he was surrounded by admiring crowds like the moon among stars, standing as an equal alongside the heirs of the undying divine dynasties.
Yet here was a large dog hollering that it was going to make him its pet — it was truly too much for anyone to bear.
“How is this dog still alive? Damn it all — I heard of it back in the Northern Domain. It’s even more famous than the Holy Body.”
“That’s right — the legend of the vicious dog of the Northern Domain refers to this one!”
“Dog that doesn’t know death — I’ll skin you in a moment!” The Holy Son of Yin-Yang’s face went glacially cold, his eyes sharp as blades.
“Little Ye Fan has already sent your Holy Maiden on her way. You’re the Holy Son — surely you don’t want to go reunite with her, do you?” Li Heishui’s mouth was equally merciless.
“Ignorant fools — barking while death is upon you — you don’t know what is good for you!” Silently and without warning, two elderly figures appeared at the Holy Son of Yin-Yang’s side, both radiating contempt as they swept their gazes across Ye Fan’s group.
“Who are you calling old and undying?!” the Great Black Dog bared its teeth.
“Terrible — these are two Great Elder-level figures, and both have reached the eighth change of the Dragon Transformation!” Li Heishui muttered in a low voice, drawing a sharp breath.
“Ignorant juniors — you have learned this too late. Today, not one of you shall leave alive — we shall wash the dust from our journey with your blood!”
The two elders’ eyes were fierce and penetrating, white hair flying wildly. Like two aged lions, they fixed their gaze upon the weak prey before them, baring rows of bone-white teeth in a cold smile.
Great Able Ones of the eighth change of Dragon Transformation — Ye Fan absolutely could not contend with them; the gap in cultivation was simply too vast.
“You did mention that your half-step Great Able Ones and even true Great Able Ones also came, didn’t you — how is it that none of them are in sight?” Ye Fan asked.
“Ignorant young wretch — do you think several of our venerable Supreme Elders would deign to personally act against someone like you?” one of the elders sneered with contempt.
The several Supreme Elders of the Yin-Yang Sect whose lifespans were running short had indeed arrived in the central territory of the Eastern Wastelands — however, they had chosen not to appear on the scene in person, deeming it beneath their dignity to kill mere juniors.
“Uncle…” Xiao Nannan was frightened, pouting, tilting her head back, and gently tugging and shaking at the Old Madman’s trouser leg.
“Everything originated with this little girl — had it not been for her, the Holy Maiden would never have died, and we cannot spare her either. Capture her and take her back as an Yin Servant!” said the other elder, eyes cold as ice.
The Holy Son of Yin-Yang strode forward, a smirk of derision at the corner of his mouth. “First I shall sever the Holy Body — I’ll deal with the rest of them afterward.”
“Whether you have what it takes to kill me remains to be seen.” Ye Fan spoke calmly.
“Since you are already half-ruined, I shall finish you with one hand!” The Holy Son of Yin-Yang extended his left hand, black as ink. “I will grind you to a pulp!”
Ye Fan stepped upward into the sky one step at a time, causing this entire expanse of heaven and earth to tremble. Golden blood energy surged skyward in reverse, like ten thousand true dragons erupting at once!
His hair was jet black, whipping about in wild disarray; his eyes gleamed as brilliantly as stars; his entire body’s life essence boiled and surged, as if he were an immortal sacred spirit, stepping forward from the earth of remote antiquity step by step — inspiring involuntary terror in all who beheld him.
“Ruined body — die!” the Holy Son of Yin-Yang shouted, and his left hand, black as ink, came pressing down like a vast dark cloud.
Boom!
The entire sky went dark, and the terrifying pressure caused many people to nearly crumple to their knees, as if a peerless demon lord had emerged into the world and heaven and earth were on the verge of collapse.
Boom!
At the same moment, Ye Fan also made his move. His left hand, lustrous as black jade, manifested as the extreme Yin divine point within the Supreme Ultimate Divine Diagram!