Chapter 142: The Old Madman Again
On Clumsy Peak, vines as thick as water jars stretched up into the sky for a hundred meters. A single enormous flower bloomed, its petals unfurling like five-colored crystal, spitting out rosy clouds and spraying auspicious light, swaying with specks of brilliance.
Amidst this strange flower, an old man in green robes had hair white as snow, yet his face was as smooth and delicate as jade, without a single wrinkle. His eyes were as deep as the ocean.
Behind him, a pitch-black void stretched out, like nightfall descending, or like a bottomless abyss connected to the entire void, giving one the feeling that the Great Dao was as profound as an abyss.
"Pop"
The strange flower beneath his feet let out a soft sound, its petals dimming as if struck by frost and snow, quickly withering. Then the vines dried up and fell from the high sky.
The elder of the Ji Family did not move his body, but the pitch-black void behind him surged with a dark light, sweeping down to cover the summit of Clumsy Peak.
It was pitch black, like a dark cloud pressing down, majestic and suffocating, as if a black mountain was collapsing upon them.
Li Ruoyu stood in place, unmoving. The grass and trees around him flickered with green light. A towering ancient tree grew rapidly, like a giant umbrella reaching into the sky, blocking all the endless dark light above.
"Bang"
Suddenly, a black trident appeared in the sky above, instantly shattering the towering tree and stabbing down toward Clumsy Peak. It was a hundred meters long, as if it could tear heaven and earth apart.
"Rustle"
On Clumsy Peak, a white waterfall surged backward into the sky, like a silver dragon charging into the heavens, instantly entangling the black trident. There was no violent collision, no dazzling radiance. The silver waterfall, soft as silk wrapped around a finger, bound the enormous trident tightly.
"The natural Dao lives up to its reputation." The elder of the Ji Family let out a low shout. The entire sky turned completely dark. Black clouds rolled and pressed down, and purple lightning bolts flashed, covering Clumsy Peak.
"Pop"
Around Li Ruoyu, all the grass and trees overflowed with fragrance. Endless green light shot into the sky, and a rain of light fell from above. A natural and gentle force flowed into the sky, spreading in all directions.
"Swoosh"
The Grand Void Art appeared! The elder of the Ji Family silently materialized behind Li Ruoyu and struck out with a palm.
"Bang"
Li Ruoyu seemed able to see through the void, catching the trajectory of the Grand Void Art. He turned his hand to counterattack. The two palms collided, releasing a terrifying wave of energy. But it did not wreak havoc on Clumsy Peak; instead, it all surged back into the sky, disappearing into the heavens.
"Bang" "Bang"...
The sounds of palm strikes rang out continuously. Fearsome energies shot up from the summit of Clumsy Peak, tearing into the high sky like lightning.
The elder of the Ji Family employed the Grand Void Art, appearing in different positions unpredictably, like a ghost or spirit. It was an unparalleled secret technique.
But Li Ruoyu seemed to know the future. His movements were as smooth as flowing water, very natural. His wide sleeves fluttered as he continuously met attacks from all directions, blocking the Grand Void Art.
"Boom"
Finally, a massive black hand descended, covering the entire summit of Clumsy Peak, trying to uproot it.
This terrifying scene made one's heart race. The dreadful fluctuations directly penetrated to the bones, causing panic and suffocation, making one tremble involuntarily.
Void Great Hand Seal!
Such a technique was astonishing and awe-inspiring. Ordinary cultivators, upon seeing it, could not even muster the will to resist. It was truly terrifying, as if a piece of the sky itself was collapsing.
"Boom"
Li Ruoyu shot up, meeting it with a single palm.
In an instant, Clumsy Peak was filled with a natural aura. Green light and dark light clashed and merged, enveloping both Li Ruoyu and the black hand.
Muffled sounds rang out continuously, shaking the surrounding peaks. All who witnessed this scene trembled with fear.
In the end, no destructive aura erupted. All the light converged. The black hand slowly faded in the void, and Li Ruoyu descended back onto Clumsy Peak.
"Good, good, good!" The elder of the Ji Family landed on the ground and said, "The inheritance of Clumsy Peak is indeed extraordinary. It is not an ancient scripture, yet it rivals one. The Dao follows nature. You might truly become the second Great Power of Clumsy Peak."
Neither had used their full strength; it was merely a simple test, but it was enough to astonish.
"May I ask why the senior has graced Clumsy Peak with your presence?" Li Ruoyu inquired.
Not far away, Ye Fan was somewhat surprised. Li Ruoyu, despite his advanced age, still addressed this person as senior. This must be a renowned elder of the Ji Family.
"Restlessness from stillness prompted me to take a walk. I also came to look for a descendant."
At that moment, Ji Ziyue was hiding in a small wooden hut, her big eyes darting around. She then walked out and called out, "Grandfather, why are you here?"
"Naturally, I came to find you."
"Brother Ji Hong has graced our Tai Xuan Sect. Why didn't you inform us?" A Supreme Elder of Tai Xuan Sect spoke from afar.
"Forgive my abrupt intrusion, Daoist friend." The elder of the Ji Family, Ji Hong, cupped his hands toward the distant sky.
Ji Hong rose into the air and flew toward the distant sky to meet his old acquaintance.
On Clumsy Peak, Ye Fan felt guilty and prepared to flee. But if he left like this, he felt he would be letting Li Ruoyu down.
Just then, Ji Ziyue seemed to sense something. She floated over lightly and blocked his path, saying, "Little brat, are you trying to sneak away?"
"Not at all. I'm just taking a walk. You're too sensitive." Ye Fan denied it outright.
"You must have many secrets. Why else would you be so guilty..." Ji Ziyue circled around him, then tilted her head and said, "Later, you'll come with me to our Ji Family."
"I'd rather die than go!" That was Ye Fan's inner thought, but on the surface, he wore a smile and said, "I couldn't ask for more. It would be even better if I could marry into the Ji Family."
"You're just a little kid. What do you know..." Ji Ziyue chuckled lightly and said, "I have a younger cousin, just nine years old. She would be a good match for you."
"I don't need a daughter..."
"What are you mumbling about?!" Ji Ziyue shot him a glare.
In the end, the renowned elder of the Ji Family, Ji Hong, returned to Clumsy Peak and called Ji Ziyue over. "I have urgent matters to attend to. Don't wander off. Stay in Tai Xuan Sect for now. The situation outside is a bit complicated."
After saying this, Ji Hong hurriedly left.
Ye Fan was most satisfied with this outcome. Now he had enough time to prepare for his departure.
Soon after, the Sect Master and renowned elders of Tai Xuan Sect also flew out from the one hundred and eight main peaks, rushing toward the distance.
"What's happening?" Many disciples within Tai Xuan Sect were discussing. The Sect Master and Supreme Elders acting together was something that hadn't happened in many years.
It wasn't until a day later that news arrived: a crazy, disheveled old man had appeared within the borders of the Wei Kingdom, suspected to be a peerless expert from six thousand years ago.
This news shook dozens of surrounding countries. Peak-level experts from the Ji Family, Yaoguang Holy Land, and Tai Xuan Sect all mobilized to pursue him.
"It's actually a supreme powerhouse from ancient times! He has lived for over six thousand years and still exists in this world. Unbelievable!"
"How can a person live for six thousand years? He's like a living history book, having experienced various dark or glorious eras. It's truly a miracle."
Within Tai Xuan Sect, many were discussing this. When Ye Fan heard the news, his heart shook. He immediately thought of the Old Madman. It had to be him!
Six thousand years ago, the Heavenly Pivot Holy Land was at its peak. The entire sect attacked the Ancient Forbidden Land, never to return, erased from the world.
The Old Madman was the sole survivor. Many wanted to know what happened six thousand years ago and what kind of existence the "Desolation" in the bottomless abyss truly was.
Six thousand years ago, the Old Madman's cultivation was earth-shattering. In the Eastern Wasteland, he had no equal. A top figure like him, having lived for another six thousand years without dying, made everyone want to know what realm he had reached, how far he was from immortality, and to hear his teachings.
Especially for transcendent powers like the Ji Family and Yaoguang Holy Land, their Supreme Elders all wished to converse with such a supreme figure. To the great figures of the present age, an existence like this, comparable to a living fossil, was even more attractive than the ancient scriptures of the Eastern Wasteland.
On the third day, more news arrived.
"Crazy! That supreme powerhouse has completely gone mad. No one can talk to him. He cries and laughs, impossible to communicate with."
"Too terrifying! Many renowned elders were sent flying by a single sweep of his sleeve. No one can get close. He was already earth-shattering six thousand years ago. Now, his strength is utterly unfathomable."
"He disappeared! With just a few steps, endless mountains and rivers were left behind. He directly left the borders of Wei. No one could keep up with his pace. Even flying through the sky or burrowing into the earth, they couldn't even see his back."
At this moment, Ji Ziyue blocked Ye Fan, preventing him from leaving. "That footwork of yours—did you learn it from that crazy old man?"
"What are you talking about? I don't understand at all!" Ye Fan couldn't admit it.
"It's definitely related! Our Ji Family's ancient records have detailed descriptions. That footwork far surpasses shrinking the ground into an inch. It's unparalleled in the world. Only that crazy old man knows it."
Ye Fan increasingly felt that this little girl was too clever. Almost all his secrets had been discovered by her. With just a little carelessness, she would keenly detect something unusual.
"Senior, is there really an immortal in this world?" Ye Fan went to the mountaintop to seek advice from Li Ruoyu.
"Everyone asks this. Whether there is or isn't doesn't matter. As long as we hold firm to our belief that the path to immortality is viable and forge ahead without hesitation, that is enough."
"What realm has the crazy old man reached? Logically, living for six thousand years is already a miracle. If he hasn't become an immortal, it makes no sense. Even the Divine King Physique of the Eastern Wasteland couldn't live that long."
"If one doesn't become an immortal, they become a madman. Perhaps he is such an existence." Li Ruoyu also sighed.
Within Tai Xuan Sect, aside from the one hundred and eight main peaks, there were countless subsidiary peaks. Not all mountains were shrouded in immortal mist. Some places were quite desolate, just like Clumsy Peak.
In the past few days, Ye Fan had been preparing to leave. He kept wandering around Tai Xuan Sect, making one last effort, constantly asking people what conditions were needed to open a Domain Gate and for the sect to let him go.
The sun was setting, painting half the sky red. He arrived at a very desolate mountain ridge, overgrown with weeds and covered with withered vines.
At that moment, he was stunned. On the ridge, facing west, a large green rock lay. An old man with white hair was lying sideways on it, facing the sunset.
His clothes were tattered and looked very old, not at all like the attire of this era. He was muttering something, and two streams of tears hung from his cloudy old eyes.
The Old Madman! It was actually the Old Madman!
Ye Fan was greatly shocked. He never expected to encounter him within Tai Xuan Sect. How did he get here? Hadn't he taken just a few steps and left the borders of Wei to go elsewhere?
(To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please log in to read more chapters. Support the author, support legitimate reading.)