Chapter 1270: None Are Kind
Di Tian—a name that made many tremble. Roaming the Stellar Ancient Path, he was practically invincible under heaven!
Over twenty years had passed, but no one had forgotten. It suffocated many cultivators. He was a godlike existence, already beginning to take on the aura of a Great Emperor.
"It's him... Di Tian, who swallows up ten thousand miles." Great Commander Yu Han was momentarily dazed. He had seen that person over twenty years ago, and even now the memory made his heart pound.
"Di Tian is a taboo existence. He was in the same batch of trial takers as Fairy Qing Shi back then, but later they split paths to comprehend the Dao."
Some of the big shots in the Second Holy City frowned. Over the years, news often came from the Stellar Ancient Path. Di Tian's terror had reached an appalling degree.
Tuoba Yu of the Human King Ancient Star, Yu Xian of the Feather Transformation Ancient Land, and others had a flash of brilliant lightning in their eyes. They had clearly heard of him through some channels, stirring slight ripples in their hearts.
Yan Chifeng, the great-grandson of the old commander of the Second Human Holy City, was expressionless. This name was by no means unfamiliar to him. He had once personally seen this person, and it was unforgettable. It was precisely because he had witnessed Di Tian's peerless bearing that he had not yet set out on the path to this day.
A divine ring shrouded Di Tian, dominating the starry sky, dazzling and brilliant, illuminating the entire Stellar Ancient Path. Even if one did not see the man himself, just hearing his name demanded solemn respect.
"Di Tian is a heavenly prodigy of his generation, and Brother Ye is also an outstanding talent of his era. Associating with him will not disgrace your reputation." Fairy Qing Shi said gently, her voice soft and pleasant.
Ye Fan understood. The Banished Immortal was trying to win him over. The Di Tian she mentioned must be a formidable young supreme being. What she had just said was merely a modest remark.
Was this to recruit a right-hand man for Di Tian? Ye Fan remained calm and unruffled. He imagined that person must be extremely powerful, even the Banished Immortal was helping him, seeking allies.
A flute melody drifted leisurely, like a sweet spring gushing in a desert, like a jade palace appearing on an empty grassland, moistening the heart and bones, making people yearn.
Banished Immortal Qing Shi pressed her cherry lips to a jade flute, notes rippling out, spreading through the Azure Wave Immortal Forest. Flowers rained down from the sky, petals crystalline, fragrance wafting, making this place dreamlike.
In the forest, some withered ancient trees had long lost their vitality, but after the flute sound passed, they sprouted buds and turned green, reviving once more.
Many rocks shimmered with light, as if they had come to life. Flowers and grasses became spiritual, dancing and swaying. Clouds rolled and unfurled, ten thousand birds came to pay homage.
Sweet springs surged from the ground, golden lotuses appeared in the sky. Such divine music caused heaven and earth to produce strange phenomena, bringing extraordinary peace to everyone.
This melody was greatly beneficial for cultivation, allowing one's Immortal Platform to become clear and empty, easily entering a state of Dao comprehension. It seemed that even Fairy Qing Shi could not play it every day.
Hundreds of birds chirped softly, petals fell with flowing light and color. It was a long time before people came back to their senses.
In the end, Ye Fan did not exchange the Dao Source. He vaguely hinted that if several ancient scriptures were offered along with the Divine Radiance Platform, he might agree.
The Banished Immortal could not possibly nod. The Divine Radiance Platform was of great significance. Losing it would be like cutting off a pair of immortal wings, preventing travel between the ancient cities.
"Be careful. Don't really kill off all the Thirteen Heavenly Desolate Riders," the little maid Ling muttered.
"Is the Great Demon God really that terrifying?" Ye Fan asked.
"Of course. Although Gu Huang is still young, he has walked through blood, cutting down countless talents. He is comparable to a peerless Demon Lord, making even Lord Di Tian deeply wary."
Gu Huang, Ancient Emperor. Ye Fan silently recited. The two words were homophones. The name already foretold something. This was a young supreme being, yet he was called the Great Demon God.
The small gathering ended. People rose and left one after another. Ye Fan walked forward in the setting sun, casually sweeping his gaze over a few old men in the distance, then went on his way.
"His spiritual perception is quite terrifying. That glance he cast was meaningful. He must have discovered our true forms. This is a sharp blade. Lord Di Tian walks the imperial path and needs some talents who dominate a region as his arms. If this person sincerely submits, there will be a place for him in the future."
"I'm afraid he is unruly and unyielding, thinking he can carve out his own path. Perhaps we should make him understand his identity and status in advance."
Several old men stared at Ye Fan's retreating back, whispering in low voices.
"His body holds more than one ancient scripture, plus the Dao Source. I wonder if he can survive these few days." The second leader of the Thirteen Heavenly Emperor Riders had a cold gleam in his eyes.
"Heh!" Yan Chifeng, with a golden crown binding his hair and a cold expression, sat astride a tall savage beast, looking somewhat ruthless. He only uttered this single word.
The crowd left the Azure Wave Immortal Forest one after another. They all believed that a major storm would likely erupt in the next few days. This cultivator named Ye Fan was at the tip of the storm.
Some of the big shots in the city harbored their own thoughts. They did not discuss things together and dispersed separately, their moods unreadable.
Ku Toutuo, Mu Guanghan, Ouye Mo, and others were also indifferent. They had said almost nothing at the gathering. They all had extraordinary backgrounds and were among the strongest seed experts of this batch of trial takers.
"Has the Banished Immortal really given up? It's hard to see through. Will she leave?" an old battle soldier murmured.
Great Commander Yu Han was expressionless, sitting upright on an ancient beast as he patrolled, saying, "All of this is hard to say. But it seems that the trial taker named Ye Fan will likely have some trouble in the next few days."
"Hey, hey, hey, slow down." A girl's voice came from behind Ye Fan. Yu Xian approached lightly, walking through the dust, her snow-white clothes fluttering. She had a sweet face and a city-toppling appearance.
"What do you think that Banished Immortal means? Is she showing off her strength to us? And she harbors ill intentions toward you. How about we join forces, call Mu Guanghan, Ku Toutuo, Ouye Mo, and the others, and take her down together? What do you think?" Yu Xian said.
She was as fresh as a flower tree piled with snow, as agile as a spirit, pretty and sweet. To say such words was truly surprising, like a delinquent girl.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong? She ranks among the most terrifying people on the Stellar Ancient Path. Now is a rare opportunity to eliminate her." Yu Xian blinked her big eyes and fiercely waved her delicate fist.
Ye Fan said, "Can you beat her? Even her little maid has become a saint. Even the Guide Envoy is polite to her and has personally gone to welcome her."
"Tch, isn't she just an old woman? She's just cultivated a bit longer. In twenty years, I'll completely defeat her!" When Yu Xian said these words, she was somewhat guilty, looking around slyly and mischievously, afraid of being overheard.
Ye Fan pondered and said, "Her age really isn't that old. I have to admit, her cultivation surpasses saints and gods. She has few opponents on the ancient path."
"Who can say for sure what will happen in twenty years? If she were truly the undisputed number one on the ancient path, she wouldn't have turned back," Yu Xian said. Once again, she "ferociously" invited Ye Fan to act, wanting to "take down" the Banished Immortal together.
Ye Fan certainly wouldn't take these words as the petulant outburst of a pure and kind girl. He had already learned from the Banished Immortal's little maid that Yu Xian, Ku Toutuo, Mu Guanghan, Tuoba Yu, and others had origins connected to some of the strongest figures on the path ahead. It seemed that Yu Xian's faction was hostile to Di Tian.
Ye Fan rode the Dragon Horse back to his residence alone. Before long, a visitor arrived—an old man, one of the few he had seen at the exit of the Azure Wave Immortal Forest.
The visitor was very amiable. He drank tea in the hall, looking at Ye Fan with an appreciative and admiring expression. He tactfully expressed his intention to exchange a supreme treasure for the Dao Source.
Unfortunately, Ye Fan was impervious to persuasion. Though he chatted and laughed freely, he was completely unmoved. He merely drank tea and made small talk, his words wandering boundlessly—sometimes about flying ships, sometimes about romantic affairs, sometimes about the Stellar Ancient Path, and even about the Banished Immortal's figure, making the old man wish he could give him a beating.
"Lord Di Tian and some strong experts have discovered a massive tomb deep on the ancient path, possibly an emperor's tomb. It is vast and majestic. If you are interested, young friend, you can join us in excavating it in the future."
The old man then offered a sweetener, something earth-shattering.
True tombs of ancient Great Emperors naturally existed on the Big Dipper, but no one had ever managed to open one. At most, they had dug open a side tomb, and that was only because the ancient emperor had deliberately left it for later generations.
Deep on the Stellar Ancient Path, if there were a true Great Emperor's tomb, it would undoubtedly be filled with blood and storms, gathering trial experts from countless star domains. It might actually be possible to dig it open.
Then, the old man took out a jade weapon. It had a tiger-shaped hilt, and the ancient blade was less than a foot long. It was forged from ancient heavenly jade, a saint artifact, more like a symbol of status.
"Lord Di Tian has campaigned all the way, fighting in blood for decades. To date, he has given out five saint artifacts. Whoever holds one can obtain divine battle information and various necessities along the way."
The old man said. Though his words were vague, they were enough. This was a token of faith, testing Ye Fan, trying to recruit him as an aid to Lord Di Tian.
Ye Fan glanced at him and clearly saw a true dragon-shaped saint artifact and a divine phoenix-shaped Dao weapon. But the old man chose a white tiger-shaped sword artifact to give him.
Although the old man did it covertly, summoning it from within his body, Ye Fan's Source Heaven Eye was extremely sharp and had already seen through it. It seemed that in the old man's heart, Ye Fan was worth recruiting, but he was not a top-tier "sharp blade."
"Old sir, I have no interest in these things. I hate fighting and killing the most. I rarely take lives and have hardly stained my hands with blood. What I love most in life are romantic affairs. Let me ask, does Fairy Qing Shi have a sweetheart? Could you, senior, help me sound her out? If you can make a match, I would be eternally grateful..."
Upon hearing this, the old man nearly overturned the table and stormed off. Finally, with a dark face, he stood up and took his leave.
"How did it go?" As soon as he returned to a garden, the others stood up to ask.
"He said he rarely kills. Bah! As far as I know, he advanced through blood and has already cut down countless experts."
"It seems he won't hand over the Dao Source. If we don't put some pressure on him, he won't understand. He can't recognize that he's just a supporting role in this world."
"The most infuriating thing is that he spoke frivolously, disrespecting the Banished Immortal, and talked to me at length about romantic affairs."
"This bastard is truly audacious. If Lord Di Tian knew, he would surely raise his hand and suppress him, making him understand his place and face reality."
After returning, the old man was indignant. He told the others, and Ye Fan's teasing and taunting made them all show displeasure.
In the sky, Great Commander Yu Han sat on a savage beast patrolling the city. Seeing the old man leave, he showed a contemplative expression and said, "These people's true forms are not human. They are powerful. They must have been sent back by Di Tian, plotting for the Dao Source."
An old soldier squinted and said, "Great Commander, the Primeval Dao Arena is about to open. We can tear open a corner and let these alien races in. If they plot for the Dao Source, we can... strike them down at the last moment. We'll obtain the Dao Source, and it will also be a great merit for guarding the arena."