Chapter 113: Geniuses Are Meant to Be Stepped On
Ye Fan’s divine sense was extremely powerful, having transformed into a small golden lake between his brows. With a casual sweep, he perceived Elder Wu Qingfeng’s cultivation level—the Divine Bridge realm. “Old sir, I have something I want to give you.” With that, he adopted a grave expression and said in a low voice, “You must keep it well, and never let anyone else know, or it will bring harm to you.”
Elder Wu Qingfeng was somewhat surprised, not understanding why he would say this, and showed a puzzled look. “Go find a clean jade bottle.”
When Ye Fan took out the Jade Purification Vase and poured out a drop of Divine Spring water, a dense life essence immediately materialized, stunning the old man on the spot. “This is… such powerful vitality!”
“This spring water, even if it cannot bring the dead back to life or regrow flesh on bones, is more than enough for healing wounds and preserving life,” Ye Fan said solemnly. The old man had often looked after him, and Ye Fan was someone who knew gratitude. Since he was about to leave the Yan region and didn’t know when he would return, he naturally wanted to repay him.
“This water is too precious; I cannot accept it. Hurry and put it away,” Elder Wu Qingfeng shook his head and refused. “Don’t say anything more; I mean it sincerely…”
In the end, Ye Fan filled a jade gourd with the Divine Spring and pressed it into the old man’s hands, reiterating, “Don’t let anyone else know.”
Elder Wu Qingfeng carefully examined the divine water, sensing its boundless life force. He knew it must have an extraordinary origin and looked at Ye Fan with suspicion, asking, “This is…” “Don’t ask, old sir.”
The old man could never have guessed that this water was from a sacred spring on a holy mountain in the Ancient Forbidden Land. If he knew, he would surely be left speechless. “My business here is done. I’m leaving the Yan region. Take care of yourself, old sir,” Ye Fan said, bowing to the old man.
“Child, where are you going? Surely you don’t intend to go to the Yao Chi Holy Land?” Elder Wu Qingfeng looked at him and advised earnestly, “The Yao Chi Holy Land is separated from the Yan region by thousands of mountains and rivers. The journey is too far; an ordinary person could never reach it in a lifetime. Don’t take such a risk. Even if you did make it, I’m afraid…” “Rest assured, I have my own plans. Even if I don’t go there, I intend to travel the world. The Eastern Wasteland is so vast; it would be a waste of my prime years not to traverse it all.” Then, Ye Fan asked the old man if the items he had left behind in the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven were still there, as he wanted to retrieve them.
“I need to send someone to inquire. After you and Pang Bo disappeared, the sect gave that valley to others. The items you left behind were probably collected, but I don’t know if they’ve been preserved.” “Alright, I’ll go take a look around first.” Before leaving, Ye Fan wanted to visit the Primordial Ruins.
The ruins were adjacent to the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven, originally part of the same whole. In the distance, mountain peaks had collapsed, vegetation had withered, and the scene was one of desolation and decay. Green mountains and lush valleys had turned to scorched earth; the plants had long lost their vitality. This place had become a barren wasteland, a world of difference from the vibrant scenery of the past.
Towering ancient trees and lush vegetation had all been destroyed, leaving nothing behind but lifelessness and bleak cold. “Countless cultivators from the Eastern Wasteland descended here to open the Demon Emperor’s Yin Tomb. Bloodshed and death lasted for three years, and this place is completely ruined.” Ye Fan sighed.
He secretly congratulated himself on having the foresight to withdraw decisively; otherwise, he would likely no longer be in this world. In the distance, the broken mountains recorded the terrifying events of the past three years. The sheer, overwhelming force that had shattered everything sent chills down one’s spine just thinking about it.
“Pang Bo disappeared here. I wonder where he is now?” Ye Fan arrived at the former Five Finger Mountain, but found nothing. The perfect woman and the other demon clan experts had long since vanished without a trace.
Then, he came to the Demon Emperor’s Yin Tomb. The deep pool was as black as ink, eerily dark, with a sinister aura rising straight into the sky, making even the blazing sun feel cold. Only the mountain ridge where the cold pool lay had been preserved; all the surrounding peaks had shattered. The ground here was dark red, completely stained by the blood of cultivators. The mountain-like corpses had been cleared away, but the dried blood remained, black stains testifying to the cruelty of what had happened. “Pang Bo… once I have the strength, I will find you and rescue you.” Ye Fan left this place and returned to the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven.
Ahead, a waterfall cascaded down from a beautiful immortal mountain, like a silver ribbon hanging on the cliff face.
Several young men and women stood not far from the waterfall. Among them was a woman around twenty years old, dressed in a goose-yellow dress with a jade belt cinching her slender waist, accentuating her delicate and curvaceous figure. She was quite pretty, with a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth that added an intangible charm.
When Ye Fan passed by the waterfall, the woman showed a suspicious expression, then, as if remembering something, her face changed slightly, and she sneered, “So it’s you!”
Ye Fan naturally recognized the woman before him. She was the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven’s sacred seedling—Li Lin. She had a good relationship with Han Feiyu, and three years ago in the Primordial Ruins, she had targeted him and Pang Bo, standing up for Han Feiyu.
There were a few others by the waterfall. A young man around twenty turned around at the sound, and when he saw Ye Fan, he first showed surprise, then revealed a murderous intent, saying coldly, “It’s you! You managed to escape back then, and you still dare to come to my Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven?”
This man was no stranger either—it was Li Yun from that day. He was exceptionally talented, no less than a sacred seedling, and always acted in tandem with Li Lin. Ye Fan smiled, pretending not to recognize them, and said, “Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?”
“Playing dumb? Do you think you can fool us?” Li Lin’s pretty face turned icy, and a cold light flickered in her almond-shaped eyes. “Three years, and I’ve thought of meeting you again every moment. I never expected you’d actually dare to come back.” “Do I have that much charm to deserve such longing? Certainly more than that guy beside you, I’d say.”
Li Yun’s expression darkened as he stared coldly at him. “You useless waste who can’t cultivate. Facing death, and you still run your mouth. What else can you do?” “Hey, you two, is our grudge really that great?” Ye Fan asked with a calm smile.
“Let alone the enmity and grievances between you and Junior Brother Han, just the fact that you lured the Jade Horned Snake in the Primordial Ruins to attack us is unforgivable. I swore that if I ever met you again, I would kill you!” Li Yun recalled the past, his face like ice, radiating a chilling aura.
Li Lin was also shrieking, all the memories of that day flooding back, driving her to the brink of madness. Back in the Primordial Ruins, if Elder Han hadn’t suddenly appeared and killed the Jade Horned Snake, she and Li Yun would have been devoured by the old serpent. At the time, she had sworn to grind Ye Fan’s bones to dust. Now, unexpectedly seeing him, her graceful body trembled with rage, and she said coldly, “I never thought we’d meet again. You can’t even cultivate, yet back then you repeatedly… This valley is an important place; such a mundane mortal like you has no right to enter.”
“I’m only here to retrieve my own belongings.” Ye Fan’s expression was calm as he fixed his gaze on Han Yishui. “Elder Han, please return those bronze vessels to me.”
“What do those bronze vessels have to do with you?” Han Yishui glanced at him dismissively. “I’ve already made it clear. They belong to my sect’s disciple, Pang Bo. Since he’s now missing, his belongings naturally revert to the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven. What business is it of yours, an outsider? You’ve never joined our sect, so you have no say here. What right do you have? Withdraw at once!” His face darkened as he continued, “Forcing your way into our sect’s important grounds—if you don’t leave now, you’ll bring death upon yourself!”