# Chapter 312: Too Far Gone
Around the great cauldron, vegetation flourished, sprouting leaves and growing luxuriantly—a scene full of life and hope, a pure land.
Chanting scriptures echoed deep within the mountain range. Zen hymns and prayers rose and fell one after another, as if one had truly traveled back to the ancient era before the desolate ages, where several Great Emperors were discussing the Dao.
On the twenty-first day, the great cauldron grew hazy. Although the Dao scriptures still resonated, they had become vastly different. This mountain region seemed to have gained an indescribable, inexplicable flavor.
Tu Fei and the big black dog looked up. Everywhere they saw lush greenery, as if they had arrived in the height of summer. Vines and vegetation had reached their peak of prosperity.
Above the Primordial Qi Cauldron, Ye Fan sat cross-legged. He had already appeared; this seclusion was about to end.
*Swish*
He opened his eyes. Divine light surged forth like true dragons, more dazzling than lightning.
But in the next moment, he suddenly calmed down, descended to the ground, and merged into the surrounding scenery, as if he had become one with the plants and trees.
The chanting ceased. The great cauldron shrank to about a meter in height and hovered above his head. Ye Fan carried the God-Slaying Whip on his back, standing there quietly—peaceful and natural.
There was no intimidating aura, no ethereal temperament. Only authenticity remained. He was like a bright, fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy from next door standing there.
One could not sense his power. He did not seem like a cultivator, but rather a mortal of flesh and blood—an ordinary mortal youth with a certain charm of returning to simplicity.
"Finally out of seclusion, entering the Dao Palace Fourth Heaven. Not far from great completion now." Tu Fei laughed.
The big black dog came over and circled around him, actually drooling. "I heard that once the Primordial Saint Body reaches minor accomplishment, the blood becomes quite different—a divine substance for refining medicine. Kid, how about giving me some of your blood?"
Tu Fei glanced at it. "Enough, stop talking. Tonight, prepare a chamber pot and put it in Ye Fan's room. Tomorrow, collect the holy liquid—the effect will be even greater."
"Woof!"
The man-dog battle began. When these two were together, half the time was spent fighting.
"Stop fighting," Ye Fan urged them apart.
This time, he had finally entered the Dao Palace Fourth Heaven. As he had expected, he had cultivated the Spleen Divine Treasury. Its element was earth among the five elements, and he was cultivating the Dao Palace in reverse five-element order.
The Spleen Divine Treasury governed transformation and transportation, commanded essence and blood, distributed the subtle essence of water and grain, served as the source of qi and blood transformation, nourished the viscera and hundred bones, and was the foundation of the acquired constitution.
This divine treasury was extremely important. Much of what the acquired constitution required was transformed from here. Ye Fan felt his qi and blood were even more vigorous, and the strength of his physical body had reached a terrifying degree.
He now feared no weapons. Any magical treasure or artifact could be withstood by his physical body, shattered with a single punch. Unless it was a weapon with significant origins, it was completely useless against him!
Tu Fei tried, sacrificing several magical treasures. Under those golden fists, they were all smashed to powder, leaving nothing behind.
"I think that if I fought you in close combat, it would be a tragedy. I can only attack from a distance!" Tu Fei reached this conclusion.
This time, Ye Fan had refined one hundred thousand jin of Source plus a single Divine Source, exceeding expectations. But the effect was obvious. Without even trying, he knew how terrifying his power had become.
"This feeling is really good..."
Ye Fan and his companions did not leave Anzhou. Two days later, they arrived at a stretch of cliffs—the last of the five bandit groups.
Cliffs stretched in patches, rock formations stood tall, and stone forests were everywhere. This place was quiet.
Among this stone terrain stood a main peak, quite majestic, serving as the dwelling place of the fifth bandit group. Figures moved about on it, and the mountain stronghold was not small in scale.
Stars dotted the sky. The night wind blew, producing a whistling sound through the stone cliffs. Ye Fan and Tu Fei ascended the main peak in the darkness.
Outside the stone stronghold, two large banners fluttered in the wind. Several cultivators hugged wine jars, drinking freely, completely unaware that anyone had approached.
Ye Fan and his companion did not attack. They quietly entered the stronghold, intending to directly kill the bandit leader. Firelight flickered on the mountain, and the stronghold seemed quite lively.
Many people were toasting and feasting. The aroma of wine drifted far. Crowds gathered around piles of bonfires, and drum music could be heard. These people were quite carefree, drinking and enjoying themselves.
In midair, several young maidens danced, ethereal under the night moon, like fairies from Guanghan Palace fluttering gracefully.
Celestial music played, very peaceful.
"This mountain stronghold is not simple. Having female cultivators dance and sing—quite the display."
Ye Fan strode in with the God-Slaying Whip on his back. Tu Fei walked beside him. The big black dog waited outside, not showing itself.
"What audacity!" Just then, from beside the bonfire ahead, someone let out a cold shout. "You reckless fools, you've shown yourselves again. Not in vain have we waited for you for over twenty days!"
A group of people filed out from the inner stronghold. More people rose from beside the bonfires, quickly surrounding the area.
A misty veil covered Ye Fan's true features. He had not used the Heaven-Shifting Earth-Transforming Art. He and Tu Fei stood side by side in the open space.
"So you two are the ones who plundered all the bandits in Anzhou?" This middle-aged man, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, stared at them with a gloomy expression.
Tu Fei was startled. This was a cultivator at the Four Extremes Secret Realm, not much weaker than him. He immediately spoke up. "They were drenched in blood and crime, deserving their fate. Don't tell me you were backing them?"
"You ruined the young master's plans. Even flaying you alive wouldn't be enough to make up for it," the middle-aged man said with a dark face.
As the grandson of a great bandit, Tu Fei never groveled. He asked very forcefully, "Who are you? Quite the big talk. In the Northern Domain, no one dares to flay me!"
The middle-aged man sneered. "You scattered all the bandits in Anzhou and now you're putting on airs. You say we don't dare flay you?"
"Chen De, don't be rude. This is the direct grandson of Seventh Master Tu Tian. Apologize at once." Just then, a feminine voice rang out.
From the inner stronghold, two Dao Palace Secret Realm cultivators carried a soft chair. A dozen experts followed, guarding all sides, quickly approaching.
On the soft chair lay a very feminine young man, reclining sideways, holding a cup of fine wine and swirling it. Four young maidens attended him on both sides. One of them used a white silk handkerchief to wipe the wine stains from the corner of his mouth.
His face was pale, lacking masculine vigor. He lightly waved his hand, signaling the four maidens to step back, then tossed the wine cup aside.
"Brother Tu, long time no see. I trust you've been well." The feminine young man greeted casually.
"It's you, Xu Yuan!" Tu Fei was shocked, his expression immediately turning unpleasant.
"Who is he?" Ye Fan asked quietly.
"He's a despicable scoundrel who's hard to deal with. The youngest grandson of the Third Great Bandit Xu Tianxiong. Very favored, but rotten to the core. The worst sort—never done a good deed!" That was Tu Fei's assessment.
"Is he very strong?" Ye Fan asked.
Tu Fei transmitted his voice. "He's not that strong. Should still be at the Dao Palace Fifth Heaven. But his grandfather is terrifyingly powerful. The Third Great Bandit Xu Tianxiong ranks above the Great Power Azure Flood Dragon King. Who dares to provoke him? Also, his older brother Xu Heng is the number one expert among the thirteen great bandits' descendants, firmly suppressing Wu Zhongtian. This kid acts with impunity. He's done too many shady things. He's even touched the women of other great bandits' descendants."
Ye Fan frowned. This was a typical villain, quite difficult to deal with. He had both power and connections.
Tu Fei said, "If we can avoid it, it's best not to conflict with him. This scoundrel holds grudges and will do anything."
"Brother Tu, do you have some grievance with me? Meeting today, why are you so cold and indifferent?" Xu Yuan half-reclined on the soft chair, speaking somewhat coldly.
Although Tu Fei disliked him, he had to answer. "How could that be? I'm just a bit surprised. I didn't expect Brother Xu to be here."
"Hmph!" Xu Yuan snorted coldly, sat up from the soft chair, and stared over. "You sure have good taste. Coming to Anzhou and slaughtering all my subordinates clean!"
Tu Fei said, "This is a misunderstanding. I saw them burning, killing, and looting, doing every evil deed. I never imagined they were Brother Xu's men."
"Are you accusing me?" Xu Yuan's eyes were sinister, sweeping back and forth over Tu Fei and Ye Fan. He lightly beckoned, and a young maiden poured him a cup of fine wine, gracefully bringing it forward.
"The thirteen great bandits have their code. Even thieves have their principles. As their descendants, we shouldn't act this way," Tu Fei said.
*Smack!*
Xu Yuan suddenly smashed the jade cup in his hand to the ground, his expression dark. "You're overstepping your bounds. Don't think that just because we're both descendants of great bandits, I won't kill you!"
"You..." Tu Fei's anger surged. He was ready to turn hostile. His absolute combat power far exceeded Xu Yuan's.
Four figures shot over, standing before Xu Yuan, blocking Tu Fei. Killing intent filled the air.
"Stand down." Xu Yuan sighed. "Forget it. My temper got the better of me. We're both descendants of great bandits. Even though you killed so many of my men, even though you destroyed my foundation in Anzhou, I'll bear it. After all, we're from allied families."
Tu Fei was stunned. This scoundrel was notorious for holding grudges and being vicious. How could he be so magnanimous? But he soon understood the other party's intention.
Xu Yuan tapped the soft chair lightly with his slender jade-like fingers. His voice was very feminine. "We're from allied families. I won't make much of an issue. But this person, I cannot let go." He fixed his gaze on Ye Fan.
"Xu Yuan, you retreat to advance, targeting him. I'm sure you know who he is, don't you?" Tu Fei's face darkened. The other party wanted to seize the sacred object.
Xu Yuan gave a faint, cold smile. "I don't care who he is. I only know that he killed many of my people. Today, I must deal with him."
Ye Fan understood. The other party had certainly deduced his identity from Tu Fei and wanted to make a move on him. He revealed his true features. "What do you want?"
"What do I want? You killed so many of my people. Naturally, I want your life!" Xu Yuan smiled very femininely.
Tu Fei stepped forward. "This is my friend. If you want to make a move, you might as well include me."
"Tu Fei, don't push me. Allied families or not, he destroyed my foundation in Anzhou. Today, I have no choice but to deal with him!" Xu Yuan's expression turned hostile.
"What if I refuse?" Tu Fei said coldly.
"Then I'll have to be rude to you too. I'll escort you to Seventh Master Tu Tian. This person, I must take away." Xu Yuan smiled, drinking a cup of wine to himself.
"Then I'll have no choice but to fight you." Tu Fei's voice was cold.
"I truly don't want brother to fight brother. How about this—I'll take another step back..." Xu Yuan leaned back on the soft chair. "Let him apologize to me. Of course, it must be sincere."
"How is it sincere?" Tu Fei asked.
Beside them, the cultivator named Chen De, who had reached the Four Extremes Secret Realm, stepped forward. "Naturally, he must kowtow and apologize. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a joke?"
"Indeed, there should be some sincerity." Xu Yuan smiled faintly.
"Doesn't he have the Primordial Mother Qi? He robbed us of so much Source. Why not just compensate with the cauldron?" Another cultivator stepped forward, also at the Four Extremes Secret Realm.
"That works too." Xu Yuan leaned back on the rattan chair, speaking casually. "Let him kowtow a few times to me, offer up the Primordial Qi Cauldron, and I'll spare his life and let him leave."
"Too far gone!" Tu Fei was furious.
"Are you so sure you've got me figured out?" Ye Fan was very calm, a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. He strode forward. "Is the Four Extremes Secret Realm so impressive?" He took large steps forward, and the entire mountain peak began to shake.