Chapter 253: The Storm
The battle had ended, with eight true disciples of the Ji Family and the Yaoguang Holy Land slain. This was bound to cause an enormous uproar!
Ye Fan landed on the Broken Mountain. The young cultivators of Quzhou all stepped back. Although this youth with his hair flying in the wind appeared quite gentle, everyone had branded him as a young demon king.
Many whispered among themselves. When this news spread across the Northern Domain, how would this youth survive?
The Ji Family and the Yaoguang Holy Land possessed immortal inheritances; they were transcendent existences in the Eastern Wasteland. Offending them meant there would likely be no place left in the world to take refuge.
"Everyone, you should disperse," Ye Fan said with a smile.
"Let's go. The gathering of young cultivators in Quzhou can't continue, but watching a battle like this makes the trip worthwhile."
"Shh, keep your voice down. If the Ji Family finds out, you'll be in trouble."
"What's the big deal? The Ji Family doesn't have that much power in the Northern Domain, does it? What's the harm in a few casual words?"
Many were discussing the matter as they flew off into the distance, departing.
Although Quzhou wasn't large, it still had quite a few young experts, and naturally, many coveted Ye Fan's cauldron—it was absolutely a sacred artifact.
Many wanted to snatch it, but they dared not act rashly. The cauldron forged from Primordial Mother Qi hung above Ye Fan's head, and he had said it over a hundred times: "You're mistaken!" Ye Fan had a headache. This dead dog was too persistent, always eyeing the treasures on him.
"Just let me take one look!" Black Emperor refused to give up.
Helpless, Ye Fan summoned the cauldron and let it examine it thoroughly. The big black dog lunged several times.
Ye Fan issued a stern warning: "Don't drool. This cauldron will never be given to you. If you try to snatch it, don't blame me for being rude."
The big black dog's heart itched unbearably, but it knew that the cauldron forged from Mysterious Yellow was not easy to snatch; it might end up crushing itself half to death.
"Black Emperor, you said that Broken Mountain is the Dao field of a ruthless person. I didn't notice anything special about it," Ye Fan said, quickly changing the subject after putting away the cauldron.
"In the past, that figure's background was so immense it took your breath away. The Dao field he left behind naturally isn't so easy to discern."
"Can't we dig it up now?" Ye Fan asked.
The big black dog immediately became wary, baring its teeth. "Kid, I'm warning you, don't get any crooked ideas. The treasures here have nothing to do with you—they're mine!"
Suddenly, a war chariot flew over, radiant with auspicious colors, tearing through the sky and charging deep into the Cloud-Severing Mountain Range at incredible speed.
On the war chariot, forged from colored jade, hung a large banner that fluttered noisily, bearing the character "Ji" as big as a bucket.
Ye Fan frowned. He hadn't expected the Ji Family to act so quickly. Less than half an hour had passed, and experts had already arrived.
Before long, people rushed out of the mountains, searching everywhere. Many cultivators who hadn't managed to leave in time were intercepted by the Ji Family and brought back.
Ye Fan moved unhurriedly, already dozens of li away, but he was still stopped by those chasing in this direction. He didn't want to go back; if he slipped up, it would be a disaster.
"Stop!" the Ji Family expert shouted.
This made Ye Fan frown. This was a Dao Palace Fourth Heaven expert. The fluctuations of divine power were truly terrifying, and he felt threatened.
Black Emperor curled its lip. "This Emperor could bite him to death in one bite!"
"Are you sure?"
"I mean in the past..." It was a bit guilty at heart.
"We have to deal with him, or we'll be exposed. Black Emperor, I'll need to rely on you," Ye Fan said.
"He's not my enemy. If you want me to act, give me the seed carved with the bald head, or give me the Dark Turtle."
"What kind of time is this for extortion? Act or don't. If I escape and change my appearance to blend into the vast crowd, they'll never find me in this lifetime. But you're different—your features are obvious, and your tail is bald..."
"Bring that up again, and I'll get angry!" The big black dog's face stretched long.
The Ji Family expert landed on the ground. He looked only twenty-three or twenty-four, but he was already a Dao Palace Fourth Heaven expert. His face darkened. "Come back to the mountain range with me. I have questions for you."
Ye Fan stepped forward a few paces. "Can't we talk here?"
"Less nonsense, move it!" the Ji Family expert barked.
His mood was terrible. A youth they were hunting had jumped out and blatantly killed Ji Family disciples. If this got out, the Ji Family would be extremely embarrassed.
It was easy to imagine that the news would spread across the Northern Domain quickly; there was no way to suppress it.
"If you don't want to die, turn around and head back to the Cloud-Severing Mountain Range immediately!" the Ji Family expert scolded.
"Fine," Ye Fan nodded.
Suddenly, the big black dog charged forward like a black bolt of lightning, pouncing directly onto the Ji Family expert.
Ambush successful!
The Ji Family cultivator had been on guard against Ye Fan but hadn't paid any attention to a black dog. In an instant, this sly, wicked dog had knocked him down.
By now, it was too late to resist. Black Emperor had a body of bronze tendons and iron bones; it couldn't be shaken off.
"Boom!"
Fearing an accident, Ye Fan summoned the Primordial Mother Qi Cauldron and pressed it down. The Ji Family expert let out a cry and was crushed to death on the spot.
Two days later, Ye Fan met Tu Fei in a gambling stone shop in Chaoyang City, Quzhou.
"I say, little brother Ye, aren't you playing too big? I told you to stir up a little commotion, then come to this gambling stone shop, and I'd show up. But you went and chopped down eight true disciples of a Holy Land and an ancient aristocratic family like slicing melons, bringing the fire right to my doorstep. You've got my heart racing."
"Is it really that serious?"
"How could it not be serious? The Ji Family has sent many experts, even the Divine Body has shown his tracks. Ji Haoyue was originally supposed to go to the Jade Pool Gathering with his sister, but because of this incident, he came here and entered Chaoyang City. I can't stay in this nest anymore."
Ye Fan frowned. Ji Haoyue was a Divine Body. Once he displayed his divine phenomenon, he could kill powerful figures of the Fourth Secret Realm. He was unmatched among his generation, and Ye Fan was definitely no match for him now.
At the same time, a thought struck him, and he asked, "Has the Jade Pool Stone Appreciation Festival not started yet?"
"Not yet, but it's soon. We'll go together then," Tu Fei replied.
"By the way, you said Ji Haoyue came to the Northern Domain with his sister to attend the Jade Pool Gathering. Is his sister named Ji Ziyue or Ji Biyue?" Ye Fan asked.
"I say, little brother Ye, people in our line need to be loyal. You already have a fairy like Yao Xi, and you're planning to extend your demonic hand to the Ji Family's pearl?"
"Tu Big Mouth, don't talk nonsense. I'm just asking."
"I don't know which moon it is. Anyway, we're going to Jade Pool, so we'll see for ourselves then." At this point, Tu Fei complained, "You've really stirred up big trouble for me. I heard that the Holy Son Yao Guang has also arrived. I really can't stay in this place anymore."
"Holy Son Yao Guang..." Ye Fan was startled.
This person was definitely a heaven-defying genius, able to contend with Divine Kings. His cultivation was unfathomable, and among the younger generation of the Eastern Wasteland, he had few rivals!
Ye Fan knew that he was definitely after the Primordial Mother Qi Cauldron. The Holy Son Yao Guang was extraordinarily talented and aspired to become a Great Emperor. Having failed to obtain the Phoenix Blood Red Gold, he must have set his sights on the Mysterious Yellow Source Root.
Tu Big Mouth glanced at the big black dog and couldn't help but speak up. "Where did you find this black dog? Its tail is bald—it's clearly been around for years. That's a great tonic. Why be so polite when you come to me? But that's fine; tonight I'll find a good chef and stew some black dog meat."
Ye Fan knew it was bad!
Sure enough, the big black dog shot over in an instant, biting down on Tu Fei's right hand, baring its teeth. "Kid, I think you're the real tonic!"
"Damn it, how can this mangy dog talk?" Tu Fei was startled, then screamed in pain. "Ouch, it hurts!"
"Black Emperor, let go!" Ye Fan quickly urged.
"Is this dead dog some kind of demon? But its tail is bald..." Tu Fei couldn't help running his mouth even while screaming.
"Tu Big Mouth, say a few less words. Do you want to keep your hand?" Ye Fan hurriedly stopped him while prying at the big black dog's mouth. He was really afraid Black Emperor would get vicious and bite it off.
"I #%￥..." Tu Fei screamed in pain, cursing, "Damn it, dead dog, let go! Since you're already a demon, don't you know who I am?!"
"I don't care who you are. Dare to blaspheme this Emperor, and I'll swallow you alive!" The big black dog's face darkened as it refused to let go.
Tu Fei channeled his divine power and shook his right hand violently, but he couldn't break free. He could only scream, "Damn it, this is the first time in my life I've been bitten by a dog."
"Tu Big Mouth, shut up. Don't think it's just you—I reckon it would dare to bite your grandfather if it saw him," Ye Fan urged, while threatening the big black dog to let go.
"What's the origin of this bald-tailed dog?!" Tu Fei still didn't know when to quit, screaming while running his mouth.
Ye Fan secretly transmitted a threat to the big black dog, telling it that only Tu Fei knew the hiding place of the Demon Clan Great Power. If it wanted the ancient scripture, it had better let go quickly.
But the black dog was as stubborn as a stone, refusing to let go, biting Tu Fei until he howled incessantly.
In the end, Tu Big Mouth exhausted all his flattery and reluctantly pulled out over a hundred jin of Source before the big black dog let go, swallowing all the Source stones in one gulp.
"Damn it, I'm not done with him!" After being freed, Tu Fei was about to sacrifice a treasure and fight to the death.
But the big black dog struck first, slyly biting his ankle.
"I #￥$#... Damn it, it bit me again!" Tu Big Mouth was so furious that white smoke rose from his head. In the end, he had to pull out another hundred jin of Source before he was freed with a scream.
This time, Ye Fan quickly stopped him. "Don't cause more trouble. Find a treasure robe to wear before you settle scores with it, or even if you break through another secret realm, it'll still bite you."
"What are you looking at? Never seen such a majestic Sacred Emperor before?" The big black dog glanced sideways at Tu Fei.
"Damn it, I've never suffered such a loss in my life!" Tu Big Mouth fumed, glaring at the big black dog.
"Don't look at this Emperor like that. I won't take you as a human pet. Walking around with someone like you would disgrace this Emperor's face." The big black dog raised its head and ignored him.
"Little Leaf, don't stop me. Damn it, I'll skin it alive!" Tu Big Mouth was so angry smoke came out of all seven orifices.
Tu Fei was truly provoked. Being bitten so miserably by a big black dog was infuriating.
Ye Fan was also speechless. This dead dog really needed a lesson. He transmitted to Tu Fei, "Don't rush. Find a time, and we'll deal with it together."
After a long time of persuasion, Tu Fei finally calmed down and asked, "What do you want from me? Are you planning to go to Jade Pool early?"
"Of course, I can't miss the Jade Pool Gathering, but that's not the main reason. I wanted to ask you about the hiding place of the Fourth Great Bandit, Azure Dragon King."
"Why are you asking about Azure Dragon King's cave? What's the matter?"
"Peacock King and the descendant of the Demon Clan Great Emperor should be there, right? I want to visit an old friend," Ye Fan replied. He couldn't mention Pang Bo.
The big black dog's ears immediately perked up. By now, it had completely quieted down, listening intently without a sound.
"You're not going after Yan Ruyu, are you?" Tu Big Mouth's imagination ran wild again.
"Do you know or not?" Ye Fan pressed.
"Of course I know. Speaking of which, a demon girl asked about you last time," Tu Fei said with a sly grin.
"Who?"
"I forgot to ask her name. Anyway, she was very alluring and seductive."
"Hurry up and take us to Azure Dragon King's hiding place," the big black dog interjected.
Tu Big Mouth's face darkened, ignoring it, and said to Ye Fan, "We need to leave Chaoyang City immediately. You've caused such a big mess that all kinds of riffraff are showing up. Especially that bastard Holy Son Yao Guang appearing here makes my heart race." Then he laughed again. "Don't you want to know what's happening outside? Come on, let's go to another oasis and see just what kind of storm you've stirred up."