# Chapter 1244: Targeted
The restaurant hung suspended in midair, swallowing clouds and exhaling mist, with starlight cascading down like a majestic heavenly gate towering in the universe.
The middle-aged Daoist nun caught sight of Ye Fan at a glance, a cold light flashing in her eyes. Her mount had been publicly slain by Ye Fan, an utter humiliation.
Ye Fan found a table and sat down with Rui Wei, paying no attention to those remarks.
Many people noticed them, various gazes sweeping over intentionally or otherwise. He was a formidable figure at the center of the storm, leaving a deep impression on many.
At the middle-aged Daoist nun's table sat seven or eight people, each with extraordinary bearing, all exceptional figures. This was only natural—who among those who could set foot on the Ancient Stellar Path would be ordinary?
"Outwardly kind but inwardly treacherous. Some people are truly deranged, masquerading as a Killing Sage to slay opponents—despicable and inhuman, their deeds outrageous."
At the middle-aged Daoist nun's table, a young man swirled his wine glass, speaking calmly. Though his voice was not loud, it was clearly audible to all.
He wore a light blue precious robe, appearing very young with fair skin. His fingers were especially crystalline, reflecting radiance with the jade cup, giving him a refined and elegant appearance.
"Indeed, a degenerate. On the Imperial Path of contention, if one has strength, they should display it openly. What skill is there in ambushing competitors with such shameless means?" Another woman spoke softly. She had a flower-like face and moon-like beauty, but her words were extremely sharp. Her red clothing was like fire, which should have been alluring and enchanting, but at this moment carried a murderous aura, filled with cruelty.
Rui Wei showed a worried expression. He naturally saw that these people were targeting Ye Fan, their words unmistakably clear, publicly slandering him.
"Brother Ye, let's leave and find another place," Rui Wei said softly.
Ye Fan shook his head. "Flies buzzing and dogs barking—where is there not such? No need to pay them any mind."
The area in this heavenly gate instantly fell silent. Many were watching. The seven or eight people at the middle-aged Daoist nun's table all had cold expressions.
"Having done the deed, yet not daring to admit it. A mere rat, daring to act arrogantly here!" The red-clothed woman's brows knitted into two sword-like lines, standing upright, her eyes gleaming with cold light.
The middle-aged Daoist nun smiled. "Sister Hongliu, why get angry? Tomorrow we enter the trial grounds. Let us slaughter rats and butcher dogs, and see whose harvest is greater."
"Sister Hong, don't let an unworthy person ruin your mood. Lord Junwei of the mountain is about to arrive. Let's stop discussing a shameless individual." The blue-clothed man said flatly, still unhurried, his tone calm but highly targeted.
The middle-aged Daoist nun smiled. "Brother Lanfeng speaks truly. We should go welcome Lord Junwei of the mountain."
Rui Wei's expression changed. These people were too excessive, singing in harmony, repeatedly belittling Ye Fan, clearly harboring malicious intent. He was truly afraid Ye Fan would become enraged, disregarding everything and starting a massacre here. That would be disastrous, inevitably bringing great calamity.
Clearly, the middle-aged Daoist nun, Hongliu, and Lanfeng were all hoping they would erupt, so they could occupy the "moral high ground" and condemn them.
Ye Fan was very calm. He raised his glass and lightly clinked it with Rui Wei's. "The myriad forms of human life, the six desires of the mortal world—there are all kinds of people. Why bother with them? Treat it as dogs barking."
"Swish"
Streams of gazes shot over like sharp swords, making the atmosphere here even more tense and cold. People sensed that a great collision might be imminent.
The number of speakers in the heavenly gate decreased significantly. All eyes focused there. Even the brocade-clad young master, the headband-bound monk, and the six or seven other tables of seed-level experts who dominated their respective regions glanced over casually.
The middle-aged Daoist nun's lips curled into a hint of mockery as she smiled faintly. Hongliu's killing intent grew denser. Lanfeng was very cold, staring at Ye Fan for several moments. From their table, a murderous aura spread.
Ye Fan naturally knew these were the middle-aged Daoist nun's allies, united and very powerful, not to be ignored. She had apparently spent considerable effort these past few days, provoking and rallying a group of people.
"Lord Junwei of the mountain has arrived." A group of people ascended to this giant gate in the sky.
Five people strode in. The one in the center walked with a dragon's stride and a tiger's step, wearing a purple-gold crown and a qilin armor. He was heroic and extraordinary, carrying a pressure like a divine mountain descending, like a Divine King descending to the world.
"Brother Junwei, this way please." The scholarly Lanfeng in blue stood up, smiling, quickly rising to welcome him.
The middle-aged Daoist nun also stepped forward with her whisk, earnestly and with a hint of respect inviting him. Completely different from her coldness toward Ye Fan, she was now full of smiles, greeting him with Daoist etiquette, saying: "Lord Junwei of the mountain, renowned across the Ancient Stellar Path, single-handedly charging through ninety-nine heavenly passes, walking one of the most difficult trial paths—truly a heaven-gifted divine talent!"
Hongliu and others also stepped forward with accompanying smiles, treating this man with sincere respect, not daring the slightest disrespect, like stars surrounding the moon as they led him to the table.
In the heavenly gate, others showed surprised expressions. Many had heard of this Lord Junwei of the mountain. It was said he came from an ancient star domain. In recent days, people had continuously gone to visit him, making him seemingly a regional lord among the four hundred and thirty-seven trial participants.
This was definitely a front-rank figure, not weaker than those eight or nine cultivators who each dominated a table. He inspired fear in all quarters and was highly regarded by many.
"Lord Junwei of the mountain comes from an academy in an ancient star domain. His learned skills are terrifying. He has most likely already become a Sage."
"His essence and energy are completely internalized, not leaking a single strand. It's difficult to gauge his depth. But to have broken through the most difficult ninety-nine heavenly passes, he must be transcendent and saintly!"
These were people's evaluations, holding this person in especially high regard, with hearts full of wariness. To walk the Imperial Path, he was definitely a powerful contender.
Lord Junwei of the mountain was born with a pair of purple pupils, his hair bound with a golden crown, possessing the bearing of a dragon and tiger. Sitting there, he imperceptibly gave people a sense of majesty.
"I heard you were discussing the assassin. Have there really been clues?" He spoke calmly, his purple pupils deep as the sea.
"A petty scoundrel, not worth mentioning. Let him have one night. Tomorrow, when we enter the trial grounds, he will reveal his true colors." The middle-aged Daoist nun said casually.
"There, isn't that him? Secretly hunting fellow Daoists, guilty of unpardonable evil. I think tomorrow we should rise up together and punish him!" Hongliu pursed her lips, even pointing directly at Ye Fan. This time, there was no pretense, directly targeting him.
"Yes, such a despicable person, secretly harming competitors, narrow-minded. If he continues to live, who knows how many more will be harmed. He should be eliminated together!" Others at the table echoed.
Many in the heavenly gate showed strange expressions, looking toward Ye Fan, then toward the middle-aged Daoist nun and her group, whispering among themselves.
"A group of people who don't know their place!" Ye Fan drank a cup of wine, sweeping his gaze over there, his eyes indifferent and merciless.
In an instant, the heavenly gate fell deathly silent. This was an irreconcilable conflict. Even if it didn't erupt now, tomorrow there would surely be a bloody battle in the trial grounds.
"Who are you calling?" Someone beside the middle-aged Daoist nun stood up, and immediately five or six others followed, coldly staring over, using their momentum to pressure, as if about to bathe this place in blood.
Everyone thought Ye Fan would respond with cold sarcasm, but instead he was quite direct: "I'm talking about you flies, mosquitoes, dogs, and jackals."
"Who do you think you are? Just a despicable wretch who can't face the light. Do you dare to fight me openly? Within a hundred moves, I'll take your head!" One person stepped forward, speaking viciously. Clearly, this was just a "spearhead" to test and provoke Ye Fan.
"The assassination has nothing to do with me. If you insist on splashing dirty water on me, I don't mind playing the part of a Killing Sage." Ye Fan glanced at him contemptuously. "Also, wanting to fight me—you're not worthy. No need for a hundred moves. One slash is enough to kill you!"
When Ye Fan spoke these words, each one rang out like clashing metal, deafening. A domineering blood energy spread everywhere, causing this person's face to turn deathly white, as if he saw torrents of blood and rain overwhelming heaven and earth.
"You!"
He felt stifled and uncomfortable, kicked away his chair, and couldn't help stepping forward, actually about to swing his sword at Ye Fan.
"Swish"
A flash of light passed. Ye Fan, with his back to him, didn't even turn his head. He flicked a cup of wine out. With a bang, it sent the man flying, blood spraying from his mouth as he collapsed stiffly into a corner, as if struck by a ten-thousand-jun force.
Many changed color. A single cup of wine had sent a powerful expert flying—a shocking method that made many cultivators wary.
"You are truly arrogant and overbearing, starting a major conflict in the First City of the Human Clan. Do you not regard the city rules as anything? Acting like this, so aggressive and arrogant, looking down on all heroes—do you want to be enemies with all cultivators?" The middle-aged Daoist nun sneered coldly.
"This is clearly a grudge between you and me. Why drag so many innocent people into it? Slandering me as a Killing Sage, inciting so many to deal with me—don't you find it despicable?" Ye Fan looked at her, his eyes shining with divine light. Every word was like the ringing of a sword, making people's ears buzz. "Do your utmost to gather people. Tomorrow, when we enter the trial grounds, no matter how many come, I'll take them all on!"
You use dark schemes; I'll cut them down with a bright sword. This was Ye Fan's killing intent. In the end, it all came down to one word: war.
Instantly, the heavenly gate turned freezing cold, biting to the bone. Both sides were at daggers drawn, seemingly about to engage in a great battle before even entering the trial grounds.
Suddenly, screams arose. Savage beasts roared, as if something unusual had happened.
Some cultivators had ridden strange birds and ancient beasts into the city. Outside the heavenly gate, there was naturally a place to tend to these mounts, and chaos had erupted there.
The roars of savage beasts came through, their sounds enormous, causing many at the middle-aged Daoist nun's table to change color. They leaped up and rushed outside.
Outside the heavenly gate, there was chaos, with shouting voices.
"Whose horse is this, acting fierce here?" An exasperated voice came.
Ye Fan and Rui Wei exchanged glances and walked outside. At the place where mounts were tended, the chaos was excessive. Birds and beasts roared continuously.
"This lord doesn't eat grass, only meat. These two beasts provoked me, so I had no choice but to roast them!" The Dragon Horse's arrogant voice came.
The middle-aged Daoist nun, Lanfeng, Hongliu, and others had cold expressions. Two of them had faces ashen. Their mounts were on the verge of death, being roasted over a fire.
The master of the heavenly gate had a bitter expression. He had brought some spirit grass, but the Dragon Horse ignored it. A nearby peacock and a golden hou had mocked it, speaking harshly and disrespectfully, because they knew their masters were targeting the owner of the red-scaled horse.
The result was tragic. The Dragon Horse was a rogue. It immediately kicked out three times, sending the powerful peacock and golden hou rolling with white eyes, unconscious. It then plucked all their feathers and roasted them with crimson fire, the aroma of meat now wafting out.
"This... what's going on? How can a horse be so arrogant!" The middle-aged Daoist nun and others questioned coldly.
"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen anything? Never seen such a handsome, meat-eating horse before?" The Dragon Horse retorted sharply.