Chapter 168: A Sobering Realization
The Ji Family mobilized with great fanfare, their banners fluttering loudly, killing intent soaring to the heavens, cold light glinting off iron armor.
This did not resemble the power of a mortal clan at all; it was like heavenly soldiers and generals descending. Strange beasts trod upon the void, racing across the clouds, causing the very sky to tremble.
The Ji Family Saint Lord, this time, did not merge with the void. He stood upright in the high heavens, enveloped by endless halos, like the Divine King of the Eastern Wasteland reborn.
With him as the center, a wave-like fluctuation surged forth. Overwhelmingly powerful divine energy rolled up to the Nine Heavens above and plunged down to the Nine Netherworlds below. In that moment, the Ji Family Saint Lord became the center of heaven and earth.
A divine wind howled for dozens of li. The Ji Family Saint Lord swept across the sky, landing directly on the sixth layer of the Fire Domain. Purple qi surged into the heavens, but could not approach his body. Wherever he passed, the flames silently extinguished.
It could be said that at this moment, he was not a Divine King, but he rivaled one, his might covering the sky. Behind him, six or seven elderly figures followed as they descended.
On the ground, the blood had long since dried. The head was separated from the torso, with no lingering spirit left behind. The annihilation was utterly complete; even with their heaven-defying magical power, there was no way to save them.
Over a dozen pitch-black, glossy feathers were stuck in the ground without any pattern, surrounding the corpse. This was the reason the bones had not been destroyed by the purple flames.
"This is..." An extremely aged old man, with white eyebrows half a foot long, immediately furrowed his brow. "Fire Crow Divine Feathers. Hard as refined iron, difficult for flames to melt. These... are feathers shed by an old crow that has cultivated for over a thousand years."
The several elders present exchanged glances. One of them pondered for a moment and said, "Fifteen hundred years ago, in the Southern Domain, there was a Crow Daoist with unfathomable magical power. He later vanished mysteriously and has not been seen to this day." The Ji Family Saint Lord picked up a bird feather, flicked it in his hand, and it immediately emitted a clanging sound, like divine iron vibrating.
A Supreme Elder's expression changed instantly. "That old demon's lifespan is nearly exhausted, but his cultivation has become even more terrifying."
"No matter who he is, no matter how powerful he is, once found, he must be killed!" The Ji Family Saint Lord's voice was icy cold, killing intent spreading across the wilderness. His eyes opened and closed, two beams of light, brilliant and dazzling, sweeping through the Fire Domain like peerless sharp swords.
In just half a year, the Ji Family had lost two Supreme Elders in succession. For an ancient aristocratic clan, this was a great humiliation. They were supposed to rule over the realm, swallowing mountains and rivers with their might, yet now they were being repeatedly provoked.
By now, the Peacock King still roamed the mortal world freely, not yet slain. And now this new situation had arisen. If they could not establish their authority, how could the Ji Family face the world? That day, the Southern Domain was shaken. The Ji Family announced to the world that the name of the Crow Daoist was added to their kill list.
All cultivators in the Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland were shocked. For over half a year, waves of unrest had never truly subsided, and now the storm was rising again.
For many people, they had never even heard of the name Crow Daoist, but when the Supreme Elders of various sects learned of it, their expressions changed without exception.
A massive storm swept through the Southern Domain. The Ji Family was truly enraged, vowing to establish their authority, causing many sects to tremble in fear, terrified of being swept into it. The raging waves surged, the Southern Domain in great turmoil, even more intense than last time!
After Ye Fan had distanced himself from the Fire Domain, he heard quite a bit of news during this time.
Half a year ago, the Bronze Immortal Hall sank deep into the earth of the Eastern Wasteland, vanishing without a trace. Vanishing along with it were dozens of elderly figures, all powerful experts whose lifespans were nearly exhausted and could no longer extend their lives.
This signaled the decline of another era. The Eastern Wasteland had suddenly lost dozens of top-tier figures. The Bronze Immortal Hall was truly a tomb for the powerful.
However, this did not mean the Eastern Wasteland had suffered a catastrophe. Life, aging, sickness, and death were the norm. Otherwise, these people would have passed away one after another in the coming years anyway.
The Eastern Wasteland was simply too vast. Even the number of kingdoms within it could not be fully counted. Losing a few dozen people had virtually no significant impact.
Another important piece of news was that the Peacock King's magical power was overwhelming. On that day, even when the Yaoguang Saint Lord and the Ji Family Saint Lord joined forces, they could not keep him and the Azure Dragon King. They had taken the Demon Emperor's descendant and headed to the Northern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland.
Furthermore, over the past half year, the Ji Family, Yaoguang Holy Land, and others had also been sending powerful experts in batches to the Northern Domain. There, divine sources were astonishing, and all the major powers inherited from the ancient era wanted a share of the spoils.
The Primordial Ancient Mine in the Northern Domain was originally a desolate place, but over the past year, it had become increasingly unsettled. It was said that humanoid creatures had been seen emerging, and their heavenly voices were intoxicating.
Half a month later, Ye Fan returned to the Fire Domain. Outside, there was great upheaval; only here was it the safest.
After the Ji Family members withdrew, this place became peaceful again. Unless the Yaoguang Saint Lord came personally, it was believed that few could break into the seventh layer of the Fire Domain.
Over the past half month, he had browsed many historical records in the archive room of a certain large kingdom, learning everything about the Fire Domain.
Regarding the Fire Domain, there were many legends, and many accounts were nearly absurd.
Yes, they could not be confirmed as historical facts and could only be classified as legends, because the records were too incredible.
For example, one ancient text recorded that in the deepest part of the Fire Domain, an immortal had been burned to death. Another ancient text recorded that the Desolate Tower had once appeared here, floating and sinking for several thousand years.
There were also records that the ninth layer of the Fire Domain contained ten types of flames, but the tenth type had no root or source, having appeared only a few times in all of history.
This stirred Ye Fan's heart. The Fire Domain actually involved immortals and the Desolate Tower. Though the descriptions were brief and vague, they made it hard for him to remain calm.
Ye Fan returned to the seventh layer of the Fire Domain, preparing to find a way to temper his cauldron.
The five-colored cloud flames were scorching hot, capable of burning great figures to ashes—truly terrifying. Ancient texts referred to this colored mist as a rare treasure among flames, rarely seen in the world. In the entire Southern Domain, only this place had it, making it an ultimate fire source for artifact refining.
After careful experimentation, Ye Fan used his cauldron to collect the five-colored cloud flames, sending them into his Wheel Sea, using the golden ocean to isolate them. His initial attempt succeeded. But in just an instant, his face changed color.
This flame was too terrifying. Even the golden ocean could not completely isolate that heat, causing his physical form to risk drying up.
In short, his cultivation was far from sufficient. Even with his special physique, he could not sustain it, after all, his Sacred Body had not yet been fully cultivated.
Even the great figures of the Ji Family chose the sixth layer of the Fire Domain for refining artifacts, not daring to enter the seventh layer lightly. This showed how terrifying the five-colored cloud flames were.
At the critical moment, the azure lotus in his Sea of Suffering gently swayed, emitting a misty aura that instantly flooded the Wheel Sea, a cool sensation spreading through his body.
Ye Fan let out a long breath. He felt he had been too reckless. If not for this mysterious azure lotus, he might have been in real danger. "Since I've started, I might as well do my best." He continuously drew the five-colored cloud flames into his body, using the azure lotus to protect his Wheel Sea. In the end, the five-colored cloud flames surged and burned fiercely. Only when there was enough to temper his cauldron did he stop.
Thus, for an entire month, Ye Fan devoted himself to tempering his cauldron.
The five-colored cloud flames extinguished many times. He had no idea how much fire essence he had absorbed. It was not until another two months had passed that he finally stopped.
The cauldron became more condensed, increasingly ancient and simple. After being tempered by the five-colored cloud flames, the interior of the cauldron became hazy, and the Mother Qi of All Things surged endlessly, reappearing.
This was the Primordial Mother Qi Root, which would never run dry, flowing continuously. After a round of tempering, the Mother Qi overflowed again. The cauldron was no longer dead and silent; it seemed to have gained life.
With this, the artifact refining came to a temporary halt. He did not plan to enter the eighth layer of the Fire Domain. Using the five-colored cloud flames was already his limit. He could only wait until his cultivation advanced further before returning here.
Afterward, he quietly cultivated on the spot, planning to leave the Southern Domain once the outside world had completely calmed down.
Another month passed. On this day, Ye Fan suddenly heard beast roars from outside the Fire Domain. "Could some great figure have come here to refine artifacts again?" He stealthily moved out and looked into the distance.
Outside the Fire Domain was a barren land, the earth cracked and lifeless, not a single blade of grass growing.
At this moment, dozens of savage beasts stood in the void, their scales and armor fierce, filled with a murderous aura. Every rider was immensely powerful, their iron armor gleaming, exuding a chilling coldness.
Ye Fan was somewhat surprised to see Ji Ziyue. Her eyes held poetic charm, ethereal and natural, her purple robes fluttering. Like a goddess walking on water, she descended from the sky and landed on the ground, silently gazing into the Fire Domain.
In the sky, a blue-clad man, graceful as jade, his robes rustling, descended to the ground with her like a deity holding a flower. It was Hua Yunfei of the Grand Mystery Sect. "Little Brother Ye, we've come to see you. If you know of this in the underworld, rest in peace." Hua Yunfei's voice carried a magnetic tone.
Ye Fan was truly speechless. He was clearly alive, yet being cursed like this. He didn't know what to say. "Cousin Hua, go take a walk elsewhere. I want to be alone for a while." Ji Ziyue spoke calmly. "Alright." Hua Yunfei nodded, said nothing more, and circled around the Fire Domain.
Ji Ziyue stood still for a moment, then personally took action. Using the long sword in her hand, she dug into the earth. The riders behind her stepped forward, wanting to help, but she stopped them. She dug a deep pit herself and placed the clothes Ye Fan had left behind at Clumsy Peak inside.
Then, she filled the pit with earth, forming a grave mound, and erected a stone tablet in front of it. With her jade finger, she carved a line of text on it.
Ye Fan smiled bitterly. He was clearly alive, yet he already had a grave.
Ji Ziyue stood silently before the cenotaph, completely different from her usual lively personality. She was very quiet, not moving a single step for a long time.
Just then, Ye Fan noticed Hua Yunfei entering the Fire Domain, like a blue cloud, light and silent. "What is this guy up to?" Ye Fan was far away from him, observing quietly.
Suddenly, his expression froze, and his eyes sharpened. He saw a familiar figure—a tall, slender old man appearing in the Fire Domain, bowing to Hua Yunfei. Back then, a man in hemp robes, wielding a five-layered silver pagoda, had chased him and Ji Ziyue, nearly killing him. Months ago, Ye Fan had slain that hemp-robed man in the Fire Domain, and he had seen this old man come to investigate before. "Hua Yunfei!" Ye Fan had never imagined that the true mastermind behind it all was Hua Yunfei. It was completely unexpected.
In his impression, Hua Yunfei was transcendent and refined. When he played a tune, a hundred birds would flock, and a hundred flowers would bloom for him, like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world.
Such a graceful, jade-like man, with an otherworldly bearing and a spirit of wisdom, yet with such deep schemes and ruthless methods, it sent a chill down Ye Fan's spine.
The distance was too great, and the two were communicating through divine sense, so Ye Fan had no idea what they were saying. He could only observe quietly. Soon after, the tall, slender old man departed far away.
Hua Yunfei stood still for a long time, muttering to himself, "A strange divine physique, with extraordinary power. If I obtain it, I will surely extract its source..." He slowly walked out of the Fire Domain. "This man hides his true nature too deeply. Even if I spoke out, no one would believe me." Ye Fan thought for a moment. "No, I need to warn Ji Ziyue. Hua Yunfei clearly harbors ill intentions."
At the same time, he decided to leave the Fire Domain, leave the Southern Domain. Even if he had to fly, he could no longer stay in this continuous stretch of land.