# Chapter 1268: The Banished Immortal Maiden
Ye Fan did not wish to have too much interaction with them, because with Guan Cheng and the Second Leader of the Thirteen Heavenly Desolate Riders present, this group's hostility toward him was obvious.
He nodded and urged his horse onward. There was no need for a direct confrontation at this moment; they would meet on the battlefield sooner or later.
"What airs he puts on, who does he think he is?" a young man muttered darkly from behind as he left.
Ye Fan's hearing was exceptionally sharp, having long cultivated the Heavenly Eye Penetration and Wind-Following Ear. He suddenly turned his head, his eyes shooting out two brilliant golden beams.
That man's heart immediately trembled, his face changing drastically. He wanted to shout loudly to relieve his own pressure, because he felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on him.
"Pfft"
In that instant, he felt his chest tighten, his throat turning sweet. He opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood, his face pale. He nearly fell from his horse, his body swaying.
The crowd was shocked, all their expressions changing.
Every single person in this group had an extraordinary background. Yet today, someone dared to suppress them with sheer aura, making one of them spit blood. The pedestrians on the street all showed looks of astonishment.
A commotion arose as this group was about to charge forward. Their mounts roared, and battle qi surged.
The man with the golden crown restraining his hair raised a hand, stopping them. A flash of cold lightning passed through his eyes as he said, "Don't be reckless."
The others held back upon seeing this, sitting upright on their strange beasts, taking him as their leader, because this man's origins were extraordinary.
Many on the street also knew the background of the golden-crowned man. He was Yan Chifeng, the great-grandson of the retired old commander, possessing extraordinary talent in the path of cultivation.
Although the old commander no longer concerned himself with worldly affairs, his influence over the years remained immense, causing all factions to be wary. Naturally, they held his favored great-grandson in high regard.
Ye Fan coldly glanced at them, then turned and left, paying them no further heed.
"We can't let him leave so arrogantly and calmly," Guan Cheng said coldly. He was an old acquaintance of Yan Chifeng.
Yan Chifeng had a robust physique, sitting atop a tall savage beast. His golden crown gleamed, his armor was imposing, and a Vermilion Gold War God Whip was strapped to his back. He said nothing.
The Second Leader of the Thirteen Heavenly Desolate Riders had a sinister gaze. "We can't let him cultivate an invincible momentum where he considers himself supreme."
Someone in the crowd gave a sharp shout. Several divine mastiffs nearby immediately reared up, roaring as they pounced forward.
"Brother Guan, twenty-some years ago, you were so dazzling, yet you were defeated by that person. Today, you are being suppressed by this man again. Watch how we vent your anger for you."
Besides their mounts, these dozen or so people also had war beasts by their sides, all of which now surged forward.
The golden-crowned man did not restrain the Nine-Child Demon Qilin Tiger, letting these nine desolate beasts move together. They were kings among war beasts, their roars like thunder as they pounced toward Ye Fan and the Dragon Horse, blood qi spreading, terrifying beyond measure.
The group all sneered. Even if they were bound by city regulations and could not personally attack, they would still make Ye Fan look miserable, leaving him with nothing to say. After all, it was just a beast stampede.
The people on the street all changed color, not daring to block the way, hastily retreating for fear of great calamity befalling them.
These dozen or so people all sat on their savage beasts, calmly waiting to watch the show.
Ye Fan suddenly turned his horse around, took out a half-man-tall great bow, and acted decisively and resolutely. Without any hesitation, he drew the bowstring and shot a White Bone Arrow.
"Pfft"
A white light streaked through the air, followed by a burst of blood. The forehead of the foremost ancient beast was pierced through. It whimpered once and fell into a pool of blood.
"Ao roar..."
The desolate beasts charged forward. Although the Nine-Child Demon Qilin Tiger had not yet matured, it already possessed the aura of a beast king. Its roar shook mountains and rivers, causing half the city to rumble.
This was a terrifying type of beast, a war pet Yan Chifeng had subdued deep in the starry sky. Once it grew to adulthood, it would be a peerless aid.
Ye Fan was as still as a rock, not even blinking. Arrow after arrow, he shot continuously. White light blazed, and his aura surged like an ocean.
His movements were too fast. No one could stop him. Like lightning, he shot one White Bone Arrow after another, made from the bone spurs of sacred beasts.
"Pfft," "Pfft"...
Bloody and brutal. A dozen bone arrows shot forth, divine might surging, tearing through the sky. Six strange beasts, the Nine-Child Demon Qilin Tiger, and all the rest were pierced through, nailed dead to the ground, blood dripping!
Only a few cowardly war beasts that had lagged behind and not reached the front escaped disaster. They fled back with their tails between their legs, whimpering.
The street fell deathly silent, utterly still. No one had expected Ye Fan to be so decisive, so merciless, shooting down the desolate beasts in the street like thunder.
The masters of the war beasts all drew in cold breaths, their expressions ugly. They had thought Ye Fan would only drive the desolate beasts back, making a mess of things. They never imagined he would be so cold and ruthless, so unrestrained.
"You... so ruthless! Killing in the city violates the city regulations and is a capital offense!" someone shouted.
Yan Chifeng's face was as dark as water. The Nine-Child Demon Qilin Tiger was his pet beast. To obtain it, he had spent too much effort, battling adult desolate beasts in the universe, an extremely dangerous endeavor.
Now, all of them had been shot dead, as if he had been slapped across the face.
The street was very quiet. Pedestrians all retreated, knowing that the old commander's great-grandson was not to be trifled with. Having been publicly confronted like this, it would likely not end well.
"What happened?!" City soldiers rushed over, shouting loudly.
Ye Fan's expression was calm. He did not say a single word. The group behind him all had killing intent in their eyes, as if they were about to charge forward.
Yan Chifeng's face shifted between overcast and clear. Finally, he calmly replied, "Nothing much. My war pets were startled and nearly hurt someone. They were executed on the street."
The dozen or so soldiers breathed a sigh of relief. They had truly been afraid that Yan Chifeng would refuse to let the matter rest and blow things up, which would cause no small trouble.
"The old commander's descendant truly has extraordinary bearing." A soldier captain clasped his fist, then left without further interference.
Ye Fan turned his horse around and headed toward the Emerald Wave Immortal Forest.
The events on the long street naturally spread. Many clicked their tongues in amazement. In this tense atmosphere shrouded in dark clouds, such a thing had actually happened.
"He's going to attend this small gathering. Something is bound to happen."
"Yan Chifeng will probably have to set foot on the Stellar Ancient Path because of this. After lying dormant for so many years, it's time for him to move."
Within the city, there were beautiful mountains and clear waters, a rare sight. Towering peaks, strange ancient trees, babbling brooks, and the faint chirping of birds created an extraordinarily transcendent atmosphere.
Ye Fan dismounted at the mountain gate, handed over his invitation, and went straight in. Passing through a grove of ancient trees, he arrived before a grassy, flower-covered mountain area.
On the cliff, green pines stood tall. Clear springs gurgled and flowed, cascading down into colorful little waterfalls, with mist swirling.
Before the grassy area, some people were sitting cross-legged. Before each was a jade table laden with spiritual fruits and fine wine, all shimmering with crystalline luster in the jade vessels.
At the front, a lively young girl was playing the zither, with a hint of playfulness. Her slender, delicate fingers moved nimbly, producing a very pleasant melody.
As if sensing that many cultivators had arrived, she began to pluck the strings seriously. Strands of immortal music flowed, brushing past a hundred flowers, which instantly bloomed. It swept over the clear spring, causing mist to rise, scattering into the sky and attracting all kinds of birds to dance around her.
Many cultivators were shocked. There was no fluctuation of Dao power, only an ethereal resonance of the zither, yet it could create such a scene.
Ye Fan was startled, then fell silent for a long time. He thought of someone, ethereal as an immortal, transcending the mundane. A single melody from her zither could cleanse the worldly dust.
But it was hard to see her again. He had personally sent that person on their way, ending their life.
"I am a pitiful fish. For so many years, I have leaped up again and again, each time thinking I had escaped that river..." These words still echoed in his ears. Even as an enemy, it was unforgettable.
"I played poorly. Everyone, please don't laugh. Oh, the young lady is here." This lively young girl stood up, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, still very lively as she stood to the side.
"Sister Ling'er is too modest. Your zither music made a hundred flowers bloom, ten thousand birds pay homage, and mist rise from the earth. Such phenomena appearing together—how many can compare?"
"Wonderful music moves heaven and earth. How many times in this world can one hear it?"
Everyone sincerely praised her.
The young girl smiled shyly. "What is my zither music compared to the young lady's? When she plays a piece, she can make withered bones regain vitality..."
A woman walked over, interrupting her words. "Ling'er is being naughty again. Everyone, don't listen to her nonsense."
There was no doubt that this was Green Poem Fairy Maiden. Her figure was graceful. The immortal mist swirling around her dispersed, revealing her immortal countenance. Bright eyes, white teeth, pure and ethereal. Her smile was warm and kind.
Her black hair was glossy, her brows curved like crescent moons, her skin snow-white and delicate. Her eyes contained the charm of poetry, a spiritual agility that saw through the mundane world.
"I once heard that twenty-some years ago, the Banished Immortal Maiden played a single flute melody that pierced through the universe, causing four saints to instantly dissolve into the Dao. Truly a feat that startles immortals and moves ghosts," an old man said.
Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill.
Green Poem Fairy Maiden was a peerless beauty. Even if she were more outstanding than other beauties, she would not make people's hearts race so. After all, the cultivators present had reached such a realm and had seen many beautiful women in the sea of humanity. But she had a special quality. The more one looked, the more transcendent she became. Her beauty was combined with the charm of the Dao, radiating a warmth that made people feel close and at peace, involuntarily inspiring goodwill.
Her figure was tall, her immortal face radiant. Her lotus-root-like arms were flawless, her chest full, her slender waist round and delicate, her legs straight and long. Her steps were light, as if walking on waves. Her white robes fluttered, ethereal and transcendent.
"They are all rumors, not to be taken seriously," Green Poem said, her smile amiable. She invited the cultivators present to take their seats, greeting old friends and newcomers alike, not neglecting anyone.
At this moment, Yan Chifeng, Guan Cheng, the Second Leader of the Thirteen Heavenly Desolate Riders, and the others also arrived. They sat far from Ye Fan, staring at him coldly.
Green Poem Fairy Maiden had invited many people. The overall atmosphere was joyful and warm. There were eminent elders from the city, such as the Great Commander, the masters of several great families, as well as newly arrived experts.
Before long, Gu Ling, the leader of the Thirteen Heavenly Desolate Riders, also arrived. He did not come with Yan Chifeng and the others, which surprised Ye Fan.
As for Tuoba Yu, Bitter Skull Monk, Feather Immortal, Ouye Mo, Mu Guanghan, and the others, they were also among the invited guests, having already arrived and sat among the flowers and grass.
"Hey, we came for you. Well, since we have a favor to ask, we have to give you some benefits first." A lively, playful divine thought secretly transmitted to him.
Ye Fan was surprised. He had not expected the Banished Immortal Maiden's little maid to be so familiar, acting like an old friend, wanting to tell him some things.
"I heard that you've killed most of the Thirteen Heavenly Desolate Riders. I suggest you'd better not kill them all, especially the first two," she whispered telepathically.
"Why?" Ye Fan asked.
"They are the thirteen attendants of that Great Demon God deep on the Stellar Ancient Path, just now starting their journey. If the Great Demon God finds out that you've killed them all, even if he doesn't act himself, a single casual order from him will make your path ahead flow with rivers of blood."
"Who is the Great Demon God, and how terrifying is he?" Ye Fan's heart stirred.
The little maid seemed very troubled. She muttered something, then rubbed her fair, delicate forehead with her slender white hand, frowning. "Heavens, you don't know anything. Which star domain did you come from? Didn't any 'senior' guide you? The Great Demon God is a young man named Gu Huang. He has left many outstanding talents on the path ahead helpless. Perhaps he can fight invincibly across the ancient path. To be serious, except for a very few, no one can contend with him."
"By the way, the trial takers traveling with you, like Bitter Skull Monk, Feather Immortal, Tuoba Yu, Mu Guanghan, and the others, are not simple characters. They are all connected to some people on the path ahead," the little maid said with a headache.
"Actually, the reason Green Poem returned this time is mainly for the Dao Source." At this moment, the Banished Immortal Maiden spoke.
Everyone was startled. No one expected her to bring it up publicly, so directly. With her intelligent and perceptive nature, this should not have been the case.