The earth-shattering news spread quickly, reaching all regions through the domain gates at the first possible moment, throwing everything into chaos. Many great sects stood dumbstruck.

“Such a heaven-shaking catastrophe can only be called a world-shaking bloodbath. So many great figures have fallen, sending a massive tremor through the Eastern Desolation.”

“Did you hear? The Ancient Kings are about to emerge into the world. Change is coming soon — this world may no longer be one where the Holy Lands reign supreme.”

“Even peak-level Holy Masters can be killed. Those ancient beings are truly terrifying. In that distant age of antiquity, they were the true masters of this land.”

The news that Ancient Primordial beings were about to emerge spread like wildfire across the boundless earth, unsettling countless people. Though endless ages had passed, the human race still retained some records — those ancient beings were simply beyond the reach of ordinary powerful cultivators.

“Apparently, this entire catastrophe began because of the Holy Body, Ye Fan. That boy is truly a star of disaster!”

The name Ye Fan had become a word constantly on people’s lips. Whenever anyone brought up the matter, his name followed immediately.

“One dominant lord falls after another. The Eastern Desolation won’t find peace anytime soon — is all of this truly connected to this one star of disaster?”

People had not yet come to understand the full truth. Knowing only that it seemed greatly connected to Ye Fan, they all discussed it with astonishment.

The blood of countless heroes stained the Ten Thousand Dragon Lair. The waves this stirred up were enormous — every cultivator was hotly debating it, and it was the topic in every corner of the world.

“Was all of this truly set in motion by the Holy Body? It’s absolutely horrifying — utterly inconceivable!”

“Let’s wait and watch. If this truly is the work of that star of disaster, I fear the Eastern Desolation will no longer have any place to shelter him!”

The world talked on. Countless cultivators probed for the truth, waiting for the Holy Lands and those top-tier great sects to make their move.

Finally, someone from the Myriad Dawn Holy Land was the first to step forward. A Supreme Elder, speaking in a personal capacity, declared that he would destroy Ye Fan in both body and soul.

Then, one after another, powerful figures from the Purple Mansion Holy Land, the True Demon Palace, the Northern Plains Golden Family, the Misty Peak, and the Central State Yin-Yang Sect emerged, all declaring their intent to slay the Holy Body.

By this point, who could fail to understand? This catastrophe had undeniably been set in motion by Ye Fan. Otherwise, so many great sects would never have been shaken into fury, each publicly declaring their intent to kill him.

“That Ye-surnamed youth truly has outrageous gall — even daring to provoke every dominant lord. One truly must not underestimate the young.”

“All of this was stirred up by a single minor cultivator? It’s genuinely astonishing.”

“He really had the nerve to do it — causing a catastrophe like this, killing so many dominant lords!”

“This… it’s hard to believe. That Ye-surnamed youth is terrifying. To bring about such a disaster — he truly lives up to the name ‘star of disaster’!”

People were left speechless, barely able to believe any of it.

Before long, the world noticed something: though many great sects had one by one declared their intention to slay Ye Fan, every single declaration had been made in a personal capacity.

So far, not one supreme sect master or major power had issued an actual kill order.

“Those great sects must clearly be in the wrong. Otherwise, they would never endure this in silence!”

“How fascinating. Could it truly be that the Holy Lands and those supreme great sects actually swallowed a bitter, silent loss, and simply couldn’t stand on the side of principle?”

Many people felt the fires of gossip burning fiercely within them. Fearing the world was insufficiently chaotic, they spared no effort to dig for more information.

This matter could never have been kept secret. Far too many people had attended the grand gathering at the Jade Pool. How could so many mouths be sealed? Everything had leaked out.

“The heroes had forced him into a corner — that was why the Ye-surnamed youth led them into the Ancient King’s slumber grounds!”

As the mist gradually dispersed, people were left wide-eyed and speechless. They could only blame the victims for having charged into a place of absolute danger of their own accord.

“By rights, those people brought it upon themselves — they had it coming. Still, those great sects would never let this go so easily!”

“Remarkable — to think these great sects swallowed such a staggering loss. Ha!”

The cultivators of the Eastern Desolation gossiped on. Everyone knew: having suffered such a crushing blow, those great sects would certainly come for blood.

Only two days had passed before many powerful voices rose from within the Jade Pool, demanding that Ye Fan come forward to be confronted — to explain things clearly.

“Confront what exactly? Let them glare and fume!” The Black Emperor laughed heartily.

Ye Fan had no plans to go out either. He kept his mind at peace in seclusion. How could something like this ever be properly explained? He understood the mood of those people — they most likely wanted to rip the tendons from his body and snap every one of his bones.

Myriad Dawn, Purple Mansion, the Central State Yin-Yang Sect, and the Northern Plains Golden Family all erupted in fury, issuing a formal statement: if Ye Fan did not come forward to offer a clear explanation, they would issue a kill order without further notice.

“Brother Heishui, Brother Troublemaker — have your grandfathers keep Nannan safe. There absolutely cannot be any mishap.” That was Ye Fan’s one and only concern. Everything else, he couldn’t care less about.

“Right — let those Holy Lands keep putting on their airs. Even if they scream their throats raw, it’s useless. We’re not going!” The great black dog chuckled.

“Don’t worry. They wouldn’t dare do anything rash. After all, we’re still in the Jade Pool — Nannan will be fine.” Wu Zhongtian and the others reassured him.

The people of the several immortal lineages were indeed furious. But Ye Fan had absolutely no intention of showing himself. He treated their words as passing clouds, utterly unafraid of the so-called kill orders.

“If Ye Fan fails to appear, he will be killed on sight from this day forward!” At last, one Holy Land erupted in rage and issued such a declaration, which spread throughout the Eastern Desolation.

Ye Fan responded only with a scornful, indifferent smile. He did not care in the slightest. As long as he advanced greatly in strength and reached the Holy Master realm, he would fear no one — he could walk freely anywhere in the world.

However, several days later, Liu Kou brought news that made him furrow his brow. The Old Sect Master of the Yin-Yang Sect had asked the grandfathers of Liu Kou and the others to relay a message on his behalf.

“My vital energy is nearly exhausted — I shall soon return to the earth. I have long since ceased to fear anything.” The old sect master’s voice held a gentle warmth as he spoke, his gaze resting on the small Nannan at his side.

“This old wretch!” Ye Fan was immediately furious. The Old Sect Master of the Yin-Yang Sect was pressuring him to yield — forcing him to come to the Jade Pool.

“I am still very young. Nannan has ailments, and I have confidence in founding an immortal dynasty. Of course, destruction is easier than construction.” Ye Fan hardened his resolve. These were the words he had Liu Kou and the others relay back.

“This old one does not have much time left. Once I am gone, let the floods come. I shall wait here in peace.” The supreme Old Sect Master of the Yin-Yang Sect had these words sent back in return.

At the same time, several Holy Lands and top-tier great sects also grew fierce, threatening that before long they would issue kill orders.

“The Jade Pool’s Queen Mother of the West wishes to take little Nannan away, but the old sect master of the Yin-Yang Sect refuses absolutely, not allowing the little girl to leave his side by even one step.” Jiang Huairen furrowed his brow.

“He doesn’t have much time — he won’t live much longer. If this old wretch goes to extremes… the successor he chose died in the Ten Thousand Dragon Lair. This is truly not good.” Li Heishui was worried, fearing he might lay a vicious hand on little Nannan.

Ye Fan stood at the edge of the sheer cliff, gazing into the distance. He stood still for a long time, then finally turned around and said: “I will make a trip to the Jade Pool.”

“No — if you go, Myriad Dawn, Purple Mansion, and the rest of the Holy Lands will flay you alive!” Wu Zhongtian and the others blocked him.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let myself walk into a death trap.” Ye Fan asked the Black Emperor to engrave formation inscriptions for him, then went to the old grounds of Tianxuan to see if he might encounter the Old Madman.

But they were disappointed. This heaven-piercing land was utterly tranquil — ancient trees soaring to the sky, fallen leaves drifting audibly to the ground — with no trace of the Old Madman. No matter how they called, no response came.

“Since no living saint of the present age can be summoned, I will bring a saint of ancient antiquity to the Jade Pool. If anyone tries to harm me, I will wipe them all out!”

Ye Fan was truly enraged. Using little Nannan’s life as a threat had hardened his resolve. If there was no room left to maneuver, he would go all the way — make his move without hesitation, and tear open the sky if need be.

They returned quietly to the Northern Region. Ye Fan discreetly summoned the people of the Jade Pool and told them he wished to enter.

Before long, a sacred daughter of the Jade Pool appeared, bearing one sentence from the Queen Mother of the West: she guaranteed his life would be safe.

Afterwards, Ye Fan made a grand show of it — as if he feared the world would not know — and set off openly for the Jade Pool, arriving at this sacred land with boldness and not a trace of fear.

Colorful mists and rosy clouds billowed and swirled. Atop brilliant golden clouds, a heavenly palace stood — towering and magnificent, solemn and sacred.

Along both sides of the jade stone staircase, mist curled and wandered, rare flowers bloomed in full glory, celestial grass carpeted the ground, and spirit birds resembling Golden Crows and Divine Phoenixes danced through the air in a breathtaking display of color.

The moment Ye Fan appeared, every person before the heavenly palace showed an expression of shock. None of them had expected him to actually dare come.

The younger generation could not enter the heavenly palace and stood before the palace gates — the sacred sons and sacred daughters of the great sects, along with the strongest inheritors of the supreme great sects, all turned to look.

Ye Fan had slain sacred daughters and sacred sons before — that much people could accept. But this time, he had indirectly caused the deaths of multiple dominant lords, shaking the entire Eastern Desolation. Every one of them wore a deeply complicated expression.

“Ye-surnamed man — how ruthless your heart is! You caused the death of our sect’s patriarch!” A disciple of Myriad Dawn Holy Land shouted, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.

“Give back our sect master’s life!” The disciples of the Yin-Yang Sect roared in unison, their combined force reverberating with terrifying might.

Ye Fan’s expression remained calm. Without sparing them even a glance, he strode forward into the heavenly palace. Facing the assembled dominant lords with composure and steadiness, he declared: “Ye has arrived!”

“Grand-Uncle-Master, kill him — avenge the Holy Master!”

“Our patriarch died so unjustly! Unless the Holy Body is killed, the fury of the world cannot be appeased!”

At the palace gates, many disciples shouted and screamed, all radiating killing intent as they bellowed toward the interior of the heavenly palace.

“Brother Ye, how could you have acted thus — causing the deaths of so many senior figures? Truly, this is an immeasurable loss for our Eastern Desolation.” Xiang Yifei, the sacred son of Dayan, sighed heavily.

“All of them were outstanding figures of their era — every one a dominant lord of his region, striding magnificently through the ages. And yet in the end, to fall so bleakly…” The sacred son of the Way-of-One also heaved a long sigh.

“Kill him — what are we waiting for?”

“Slay him, as an offering to the spirits of those departed seniors!”

At the palace gates, disciples and followers of the great sects and Holy Lands continued to clamor.

“Silence.” Ye Fan cast them a light glance and said: “I am speaking with your elders. Since when do you have any standing to speak out of turn?”

Every person outside the palace gates froze — and then erupted in fury. Ye Fan had not put any of them in his eyes at all, yet expected to stand as an equal alongside the senior figures of their own sects.

“I am here. Let Nannan come to me.” Ye Fan fixed his gaze on an elder with entirely white hair and beard seated within the grand hall.

Inside the heavenly palace, white mist curled across the floor, and many jade tables were arranged throughout, covered with fruit and celestial wine.

The Old Sect Master of the Yin-Yang Sect sat cross-legged behind one of the white jade tables — kindly-browed and benevolent-looking, enshrouded in drifting clouds, utterly still, like a celestial deity.

A flash of divine light emanated from his body. Little Nannan, who had been sitting quietly by his side, immediately regained her freedom. She ran swiftly to Ye Fan’s side, grabbed a corner of his robe, blinked her large eyes, and looked back the way she had come — frightened she might be seized again.

“Nannan, are you all right?” Ye Fan asked softly.

“I’m fine. I just missed my big brother, and the little dog.” Nannan answered innocently. The little one, barely over two years old, was like a tiny porcelain doll — delicately carved and beautifully jade-smooth, utterly adorable.

“You have extraordinary nerve — committing heinous slaughter, yet still daring to swagger in here without showing the slightest respect to the senior figures present in this hall!”

“Strike him down! Seal his living soul forever beneath the Eye of the Sea!”

At the palace gates, many young cultivators continued to shout, all radiating killing intent, screaming toward the interior.

Ye Fan paid them no further heed. He did not even look at them — a complete, total disregard that set many proud, high-spirited disciples positively ablaze with rage.

This was contempt. Bare, naked dismissal. He simply did not consider them worth his notice.

“Your nerve is rather considerable — to have brought about such a catastrophe, and still dare to come here!” At last, one of the dominant lords spoke up.

“I stand upright under heaven and earth, with a clear conscience. What reason would I have to fear coming here?” Ye Fan stood tall, without the slightest trace of fear.

“Good. Good. Good. Some real courage!” A Supreme Elder from Myriad Dawn Holy Land, his face dark as still water, spoke. Their Holy Master had fallen — this was a heaven-piercing affair, and they could never let it go.

Killing intent permeated the grand hall. Countless eyes locked onto Ye Fan. Invisible murderous intent surged and churned.

“Don’t you dare bully my big brother!” Little Nannan wrinkled her delicate little button nose. Her large eyes were as clear black-and-white as could be, with long lashes that fluttered as she spoke in her soft, tender voice: “The Crazy Uncle said — whoever tries to harm my big brother, he will go find them personally and settle the score!”

A dead silence fell over the grand hall. Everyone went quiet at once. Ye Fan himself was taken aback — he hadn’t expected the little one to be so clever.