The old swindler was extraordinarily slippery — with one plunge off the cliff, he vanished in the blink of an eye without a trace.
Many people had come from the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty. At their head stood someone wearing a Nine Dragon Crown and a purple dragon robe — impressively martial in bearing, dragon aura coiling about his body — a powerful divine consciousness sweeping across the immortal cliffs, finding nothing.
“Where is he?” The Great Xia Imperial Uncle’s face darkened like deep water.
“Where did you buy the Immortal Burial Map?” One of the figures — who appeared to be a commander — pushed forward a cultivator who had earlier purchased one of the worn maps.
“He was right here just now,” the man said tremblingly, coming to the spot where the blind old man had sat and picking up a few smooth river stones. “These were also things he was selling — a thousand jin of Source per stone.”
The cliff stretch was broad and expansive, with many cultivators coming and going — simple ground stalls here, elaborate jade halls there. At this moment, everyone had been stirred to alertness and turned to look.
“He can’t have gone far. Pursue him!” The Great Xia Imperial Uncle was the first to leap off the cliff and give chase in one direction. The others moved as well.
“What’s happening? What’s going on? People from one of the four great undying dynasties of the Central Province have come — truly unexpected.”
“Just now there was a blind old man selling Immortal Burial Maps…”
Before long, everyone on the immortal cliff knew what had occurred. The maps the blind old man had been selling had alarmed the people of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty, touching on something they feared deeply.
“They’re genuine maps — not the fake goods meant to fool people.”
People were startled to realize a fact: this was a set of secret maps. How they had been circulated outward no one knew, but it currently appeared that only a small number of supreme-level powers possessed them.
“I understand now. There may truly be an ancient scripture left behind by a Supreme Emperor within the Immortal Palace World — that’s why the Great Xia Dynasty’s people are this agitated. That Supreme Emperor was their founding ancestor.”
In recent days, all manner of people had been entering and leaving the Immortal Palace World, uncovering many hidden locations. But to compile it all into a secret map this complete still would have required incalculable effort and devotion.
“Someone has found the place where an ancient Great Emperor passed away in seated meditation. The next time anyone enters the Immortal Palace World, it will surely be a blood-drenched catastrophe — countless powerful cultivators will converge there to fight over it.”
However, people soon realized that the location was most likely extraordinarily dangerous — otherwise, why bother drawing a map to bring out? Why not simply take everything the ancient Great Emperor had left behind right then and there?
The immortal cliffs erupted into chaos. Not a single person could remain calm. This was a legendary immortal burial ground — most likely an ancient scripture was about to emerge from the world, and there might even be a supreme Dao weapon.
“Where did the blind old man go?”
“Who were the ones who bought his maps just now?”
Up on the cliff, everyone was searching. Just earlier, over thirty people had bought maps, and now they had all slipped away quietly, not a single one remaining — each privately feeling this could not have been more fortunate.
Ye Fan tucked away the Immortal Burial Map and strolled through this free-market area, turning things over in his mind. What sort of background did that blind old man have, to have produced a thousand copies of such a precious map to sell?
Two hours later, calm was restored. Without needing to think further, this matter would not stay concealed. Countless people would inevitably try every means possible to obtain an Immortal Burial Map.
“Isn’t that Xiao Mingyuan?” Ye Fan spotted a familiar face — the grandson of Imperial Preceptor Xiao of the Anping Kingdom, who came from the same dynasty as Princess Yudie.
Ye Fan’s domain had originally belonged to the Xiao Family. Xiao Mingyuan had laid a trap for him, using the site of an ancient Great Emperor’s late-year hermitage as bait, intending to get him killed in the barren hermitage.
“This damned scoundrel!”
Ye Fan did not approach. He crouched before a ground stall, fiddling with a spirit beast caged within, observing the few people not far away.
Xiao Mingyuan had several powerful cultivators at his side and was continuously asking people about the blind old man — clearly here for the Immortal Burial Map, also wanting a share of the bounty.
“It seems that once the beast king’s rampage within the Immortal Palace World subsides, blood and wind will follow. The divine treasury of an ancient Great Emperor will draw in powerful cultivators beyond count.”
Ye Fan pondered this for some time. Then, dimly, he caught the sound of Xiao Mingyuan’s words — his own name had been mentioned, along with the name Lucheng. It seemed this person was still keeping him in mind.
Before long, those people departed. Ye Fan watched their retreating figures with a cold smile and paid them no further mind. By now, having entered the Dragon Transformation secret realm and possessing the Movement Word Technique, he feared nothing.
“Treasure-seeking mouse! Authentic treasure-sensing spirit beast — only five thousand jin of Source!”
At one stall, a middle-aged man was sitting cross-legged on the ground. A small iron cage held a tiny mouse, radiant with flowing iridescent light.
Not a few people gathered around, clicking their tongues in wonder. But one person among them sneered coldly: “Trying to swindle people again? Feeding a few ordinary wild mice spirit medicines and daring to pass them off as treasure-seeking mice.”
“Exactly. He sold eighteen of them in a single day just the day before yesterday. A genuine treasure-seeking mouse might not be born once in a thousand years. How could there be so many at once?”
“In a place like this, willing buyer and willing seller — the transaction is entirely voluntary. Everyone be careful and don’t get cheated.”
Many people stood to the side, commenting and pointing. Ye Fan was speechless. This place truly had no shortage of swindlers. That blind old man — even if he really was selling an Immortal Burial Map — somehow still didn’t feel like a good person.
Suddenly, Ye Fan paused. He spotted someone he knew — Duan De, twisting his large rear as he shouldered people aside, making his way to the stall and crouching down. “This rat — why does it have such a shifty look?”
“Well of course it does — it’s a rat after all, what did you expect?” The middle-aged man at the stall rolled his eyes.
Upon seeing Duan De, Ye Fan couldn’t help the corner of his mouth quirking up. Just a few days ago he had stripped this fat man clean, making off with a pile of his treasures.
Seeing him again now, he fought the urge to burst out laughing, though ultimately only managed a twitching jaw, suppressing the impulse — at the cost of a sore and aching cheek.
“What I mean is, this rat’s eyes are far too shifty. It doesn’t look like a treasure-seeking mouse — more like a rat spirit,” Duan De said, shaking his head slowly.
“Discerning buyers always buy it. The people yesterday were fighting each other to get them. This is the last one now,” the middle-aged man said, unruffled.
“You’re just addicted to swindling people. If this were really a treasure-seeking mouse, would you be willing to sell it? Not for ten times the price, not for a hundred times,” someone scoffed.
“I won’t lie to you — a real treasure-seeking mouse, who would sell it for five thousand jin of Source? Not for ten times or a hundred times that,” the middle-aged man said with perfect composure. “This is a descendant of a treasure-seeking mouse. Raise it well enough, and perhaps in a thousand years it will produce one true divine mouse.”
“In a thousand years, it still won’t produce a divine rat,” Duan De said, tossing down a few pieces of rare Source. “I’ll buy it. I have other uses for it.”
“What is that fat man planning?” Ye Fan was puzzled, suspecting he was most likely setting his sights on the immortal burial ground.
After wandering the high cliffs for half a day, Ye Fan departed and returned to Lucheng, descending upon it.
“BOOM!”
Suddenly, an overwhelming killing intent surged up toward him. The entire city blazed with light as all its formation markings were activated. Infinite sword arcs swept outward, all of them directed at him.
Ye Fan was immediately startled. Someone had taken control of Lucheng, causing all the ancient formation markings branded into the city walls to surface — seeking to kill him, the city’s own lord.
“Flash!”
He moved like a stream of flowing light. After multiple near-obliterations he broke free, neither trapped nor pierced by the sword arcs. All of this was due to the wondrous power of the Movement Word Technique.
Without it, even a half-step Great Ability cultivator would have been unable to break through the formation markings of this ancient city. Over time, their fate would have been near-certain doom.
“Who dares?” Ye Fan stood in the high air, looking down upon everything within Lucheng.
“This little brat has advanced into the Dragon Transformation secret realm — his cultivation has risen quite quickly,” a middle-aged man said coldly, appearing atop the city wall.
“So it was you who seized my Xiao Family’s city and injured my Xiao Family’s disciples?” Another man stepped forward, a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.
Ye Fan’s expression was calm. He had already recognized them — he had seen all these individuals not long ago together with Xiao Mingyuan. Without needing to be told, he understood the situation clearly.
“Stop talking so much. Kill him quickly — we still need to go find the Immortal Burial Map.”
“This is my city. You have barged in uninvited and attacked me. Do you truly think I am someone to be trifled with?” Ye Fan spoke calmly.
“Who do you think you are? This city has always belonged to the Xiao Family. We merely let you stay here for a couple of days. Now we’re killing you and taking it back,” another man said, glancing at him with contempt.
“You truly intend to have me at your mercy like this?” Ye Fan fixed his gaze on the group — two cultivators at Dragon Transformation Sixth Change, three at Dragon Transformation Seventh Change, and the last two having reached Dragon Transformation Eighth Change.
One among them spoke in a flat, emotionless tone: “You injured our Xiao Family’s disciples and still dare to linger here — you have no sense of mortality. The city is ours for the taking. Kneel, kowtow, and beg for your crimes. We won’t make it difficult for you — we’ll simply take your head. We won’t make you suffer.”
The seven flew out from the ancient city, advancing step by step with suppressive pressure. They did not underestimate him excessively — seven great experts acting in concert, intending to wipe him out in an instant.
Ye Fan said nothing more. Light and color streamed from his hand as he took up the Myriad Calamity Bow. In this moment, he continuously cycled the All Word Technique — after dozens of cycles, he finally succeeded, starting immediately with tenfold battle power.
The Myriad Calamity Bow blazed with radiance. The bowstring trembled lightly. Three arrows were loosed in succession at blinding speed, streaking toward one of the Dragon Transformation Sixth Change cultivators.
“CLANG!”
At first there was a sharp metallic impact — then immediately a scream rang out. The arrow shafts pierced through his ancient treasure and sank into his body.
“Ahhhh…”
Three consecutive arrows — not one falling behind — all buried into his body. Nothing could stop them. Devastating and unstoppable.
“Splash! Splash! Splash!”
Three blooms of blood blossomed forth, and then the man exploded with a “BOOM” — bone fragments and shredded flesh spattering everywhere. Both body and soul were obliterated.
“What?!” Those beside him were all stunned. No one had anticipated that someone would fall so swiftly.
Ye Fan smiled coldly. He didn’t even need to invoke the All Word Technique to slay a Dragon Transformation Sixth Change cultivator. Let alone with tenfold battle power.
“You all wanted to kill me, didn’t you?” He gripped the Myriad Calamity Bow, his expression cold, and continued drawing the bow rapidly, shooting to kill.
“Splash, splash…”
In the next instant, he loosed nine consecutive arrows — again triggering the All Word Technique. This time a Dragon Transformation Seventh Change cultivator was struck. Unable to withstand the power of these divine arrows, he was shattered on the spot.
The remaining men had already changed color entirely. They scattered in all directions, each producing their own treasure weapons and slashing toward Ye Fan. The situation was critical — they felt something had gone terribly wrong.
The young man before them killed with absolute decisiveness and possessed such battle power — they had been gravely threatened. Their hearts were in turmoil.
Ye Fan’s expression was cold. Using the Movement Word Technique to evade rapidly, he continuously drew and loosed his bow. This time he fired a full hundred and eight arrows — eighteen of which triggered the All Word Technique, all aimed at one of the Dragon Transformation Eighth Change cultivators.
“Clang, clang…”
The Dragon Transformation Eighth Change cultivator was indeed formidable. He blocked continuously, destroying many of the arrows — but he could not destroy those special eighteen arrows. He was in a wretched state.
If Ye Fan had not yet advanced to the Dragon Transformation secret realm, killing him truly would have been difficult. But now things were very different. He drew the bow again — another eighteen divine arrows, all successfully triggered.
Thirty-six special divine arrows, capable of shaking mountains, containing incomparable and absolute divine power. Their killing intent pierced the sky, each one stretching for a dozen li as it flew — extraordinarily terrifying.
“Splash, splash…”
In the end, the Dragon Transformation Eighth Change cultivator could withstand it no longer. Hit by arrow after arrow, he screamed and was blown apart into a blood mist on the spot — not a single bone fragment left behind.
The remaining men were all left dumbstruck. This was a Dragon Transformation Eighth Change cultivator — and he had been swiftly shot to death by Ye Fan just like that. What manner of power was this? Truly monstrous!
At this point, every ancient treasure they had summoned had been pierced through by the divine arrows, reduced to dust. Not a single one remained intact.
“Run!”
The other Dragon Transformation Eighth Change cultivator turned and fled. The rest had long since had their souls scattered in terror — they all fled, not one daring to stop.
“Didn’t you all want to kill me? Now that you’re here, don’t leave!”
Ye Fan’s words were calm as he pressed the pursuit without relenting. The crowd scattered rapidly in all directions, but it made no difference — they could not escape the shadow of death.
Because Ye Fan had studied the Movement Word Technique and possessed unparalleled speed. They could not escape, and the arrows loosed from the Myriad Calamity Bow would not stop until they hit their target.
“Splash!”
A blood blossom bloomed — vivid and beautiful.
“Ahh…” A scream rang out.
“Splash!”
Before long, another string of brilliant blossoms flew forth. A scream had barely begun before it was cut off — one man torn into four pieces.
Pursuing them all the way, Ye Fan shot all seven dead — not one escaped.
He gave a cold smile, shouldered the Myriad Calamity Bow, and flew directly toward the Extraordinary Talent Manor, standing sentinel on a mountain peak just outside.
One day later, he finally saw Xiao Mingyuan again. At his side was actually a half-step Great Ability cultivator. But Ye Fan did not retreat. He drew the bow and began to shoot.
“Who is it?!” The half-step Great Ability cultivator was highly alert, detected him immediately, and came charging.
“It’s you — Ye Zhetian!” Xiao Mingyuan was shocked. He had not expected him to dare do something like this — coming to the Extraordinary Talent Manor to kill him, truly audacious beyond measure.
“That’s right. It’s me,” Ye Fan replied, using the Movement Word Technique to dodge the half-step Great Ability cultivator. He had no desire to clash directly — after all, there was still the gap of a great secret realm between them, a distance still far to bridge.
“Truly bold of you — to come here!” Xiao Mingyuan naturally knew why he had come. He simply had not expected such aggression — a direct pursuit all the way to the Extraordinary Talent Manor. He shouted: “Sixth Uncle, kill him! Don’t let him escape!”
The half-step Great Ability cultivator was furious. Ye Fan’s speed was far too swift — he simply could not close in for a killing strike.
“Xiao Mingyuan, I’ll send you on your way!”
Ye Fan wasted not a moment. The Myriad Calamity Bow trembled lightly, and divine rainbow after divine rainbow was loosed — forty-nine arrows in total, piercing through the void.
The half-step Great Ability cultivator was tremendously powerful and standing close at hand, yet he could not stop it. Forty-nine arrows rained down like scattered meteors, shooting in all directions before ultimately converging on a single point — Xiao Mingyuan.
“No!”
“Sixth Uncle, save me!”
It was all too late. This was the terrifying aspect of the Myriad Calamity Bow — something Ye Fan had only recently discovered: by locking onto the target in his heart, the arrows did not need to fly in a straight line to still be able to kill the intended enemy.
Now that Ye Fan had stepped into the Dragon Transformation secret realm, killing Xiao Mingyuan required no great effort at all. Forty-nine arrows fired at once was like having Xiao Mingyuan’s name carved into the book of life and death.
“Splash, splash…”
“Ahh…”
Xiao Mingyuan managed only a single scream before being torn apart by the divine arrows. His body was reduced to pulp, and then dissolved into mist — dead, killed before his time.