Chapter 371: The Center of the Storm
Ancient trees stood tall and sturdy, their branches and leaves lush and dense, dragon-like trunks stretching toward the sky. The forest was tranquil and serene.
The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi finally emerged, hazy and indistinct. Though she stood nearby, she gave the illusion of being a figure within celestial palaces high above the nine heavens.
She seemed not to belong to the mortal world, with immortal-like skin and a jade-like body, untouched by the smoke and fire of the mundane. She radiated an aura of purity and unattainability, as if infinitely distant from the red dust of the world.
A faint smile played at the corners of Ye Fan's lips, his eyes clear and bright. It was this very woman who, moments ago, had appeared before him as if unclothed.
That peerless, exquisite form seemed still before his eyes—snow-white, crystalline, with a wonderfully graceful silhouette. Even now, recalling it felt unbelievable.
The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi—even the talents of the Bu Xiu imperial dynasties of Central Province and the Holy Lands of the Eastern Wasteland could only admire her from afar, never approaching. Yet he had inexplicably seen her naked. If this got out, it would undoubtedly shake the world and stir up a massive storm.
Of course, it would more likely provoke the talents of the Holy Lands to pursue Ye Fan across ten thousand miles for a deadly hunt. This was a grave desecration.
"You went too far," the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi said these four words, her body shrouded in white mist, her expression unreadable.
"I didn't see anything," Ye Fan said without a hint of guilt, looking as if it were the truth.
"I don't want to discuss this with you anymore," the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi said calmly. She was a being of extraordinary grace, with the world's spiritual beauty gathered in her form, and she had no desire to dwell on this entanglement.
But Ye Fan played dumb, saying, "I really didn't get the stone gall. Fairy, you misunderstood. I didn't see anything just now."
"You—" The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi's breath was like orchid fragrance, a ripple of emotion passing through her, but she quickly calmed down. "If you dare mention this again, I will immediately reveal your identity."
"Alright, nothing happened just now," Ye Fan said with a smile. The purple light in his eyes had long faded, leaving his gaze clear and clean as he studied the peerless beauty before him.
He knew that, for now, the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi likely wouldn't harm him. With a smile, he waited for her to speak and reveal what she wanted.
"Aren't you afraid? The Divine City is filled with experts. Once your identity is exposed, you'll surely die," the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi said softly, her vermilion lips parting slightly.
Ye Fan nodded. "Afraid? Who can face life and death calmly? But do I have a choice?"
"You could choose not to come here. Why take such a great risk?"
"Fleeing to a distant land might bring temporary calm, but it could also mean lifelong regret. Coming to the Divine City might mean facing death, but it could also win me a future. I have no other choice."
"You're quite confident. Do you really think you can win ten million catties of Source? Even if you do, it might not be enough to enter the Four Extremes Secret Realm. The curse of the Primordial Saint Body is likely harder than you imagine. It won't be that simple."
"Please teach me, Fairy," Ye Fan said humbly, staring intently at the peerless beauty before him.
"I have nothing to teach you," the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi shook her head.
"Then what did you want to see me about?" Ye Fan asked again.
"The strange stones in the Jade Pool..."
The Jade Pool held extraordinary strange stones, sealed by the Origin Heavenly Masters and suppressed by successive Western Queens. It was hard to imagine what they contained.
Ye Fan talked with the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi for a long time before emerging from the ancient forest, his brows deeply furrowed.
"It requires the Immortal-Sealing Six Seals..."
This gave him quite a headache. It was a supreme mystical art, and its name alone hinted at its profound depth—capable of stirring the Dao, sealing mountains, rivers, and earth, and suppressing world-class experts.
Unfortunately, this was merely a theoretical divine art. The Source Heaven Scroll recorded only a few sentences about it, all speculative and extremely obscure. It was even harder to imagine actually creating and executing it!
"Is the Yao Chi Fairy beautiful?" Li Heishui, waiting outside, asked as soon as he saw him.
"Peerless grace, a matchless beauty," Ye Fan replied absently, still pondering the Immortal-Sealing Six Seals.
Li Heishui was stunned. "You actually saw her true face? No, Little Leaf, you're a beast! What did those lecherous eyes of yours catch?!"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ye Fan snapped back to reality, immediately feeling guilty and instinctively glancing back at the ancient forest.
"Don't try to hide it, Little Leaf. I just casually probed, and you gave yourself away. Tell me, what did you see?"
"I didn't see anything!"
"Bullshit! You just got those lecherous eyes, and you expect me to believe you didn't look at anything?!"
"Old Black, can you shut up?!" Ye Fan turned around and saw the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi walking out. Under the sunlight, her long dress was bathed in golden radiance.
"Then tell me when we get back!"
Ye Fan grabbed Li Heishui and fled, disappearing in the blink of an eye, quickly leaving the Yao Chi Stone Workshop.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The masters of the Source Art Aristocratic Clan were set to face Ye Fan in a grand Source Art duel today. The storm was gathering, and the entire Divine City was stirred.
The news had long spread. Countless people were waiting, some traveling specifically to the Divine City to witness this spectacle.
Even many senior figures from various sects emerged from seclusion and came to the Divine City, eager to see the most influential Source Art duel in thousands of years.
"I heard this duel will determine life and death. Is that true?"
"I heard that too. Some Source Art experts leaked that information, saying it will be extremely dangerous."
"The young ones from the Source Art Aristocratic Clan have long declared they'll crush Gu Feng in Source Art. It seems they weren't just talking—they really mean to settle it with life and death!"
Many were discussing it, eagerly anticipating the duel.
"I wonder what they'll cut open this time. There might be some unexpected treasures. Both sides are genuinely furious."
"Just the bet is one hundred fifty thousand catties of pure Source. It's hard to imagine what could be cut open that would be more astonishing than that."
On this day, the vast Divine City had only one topic. Everyone was talking about it, even the impending battle at Purple Mountain was overshadowed.
Soon, the location of the Source Art duel was announced: the Yaoguang Stone Workshop. It would officially begin in one hour.
The entire city was in an uproar. Countless people surged toward the workshop, eventually blocking the roads completely, unable to move forward.
The Yaoguang Stone Workshop was packed to overflowing, completely surrounded. The vast majority were blocked and couldn't enter.
"This is too exaggerated. It rivals the days of the Origin Heavenly Master. The streets are empty, everyone coming to witness this shocking battle."
"In the past, when the Origin Heavenly Master dueled with the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi, there weren't this many people, were there? Astonishing."
"The Divine City has been too peaceful for too long. This time, a Source Art master emerges to compete with the young prodigy Gu Feng. Naturally, it draws attention."
When the people of Yaoguang learned that their workshop would be the main battlefield, their faces turned green. Nothing could be worse.
They had the urge to hire assassins. Having the duel here was like inviting a plague god.
They desperately wanted to hide their priceless strange stones, but with so many people in the garden, doing so under everyone's watchful eyes would be too shameful.
In the end, they grudgingly accepted the fact, frustrated and annoyed.
Many were crowded outside the Yaoguang Stone Workshop's gate, unable to enter. With so many people, they had to be selective about who was let in.
"Jin Chixiao of the Golden Clan, Xiang Yifei of the Dayan Holy Land, and the Holy Son of Wanchu have entered!"
"The young Daoist nun from Dao Yi, who usually avoids worldly affairs, has come today too."
"The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi has also arrived."
"The Divine King Physique of the Ji Family and Little Moon are here too."
People were surprised to find that nearly half of the younger generation's Holy Sons and Holy Maidens had gathered, almost all of them present.
"Isn't that the Supreme Elder of the Yin Yang Sect? I heard he's been in seclusion for years, and he's actually shown up."
"Those old men over there seem to be Supreme Elders from several Holy Lands!"
People couldn't help but be astonished. Today's Source Art duel had stirred up many influential figures, showing just how significant it was.
This day's turmoil overshadowed the impending battle at Purple Mountain, making everyone forget about it.
At this moment, the Divine City had become the center of the storm, drawing everyone's attention.
The people from the Source Art Aristocratic Clan arrived first. The crowd buzzed with noise as everyone cleared a path. Four old men and several young ones entered the Yao Chi Stone Workshop.
"Those four old men are Source Art masters. They have close ties with the Holy Lands and are often invited to solve problems in various ancient mines."
"Even if Gu Feng loses, it's no disgrace. He's facing big shots in the Source Art world. Losing to them wouldn't be shameful."
Soon, Ye Fan and Li Heishui arrived, causing an immediate stir. They walked in calmly.
The Yaoguang Stone Workshop had a long history. Its ancient buildings were grand and towering, bathed in sunlight, flowing with a sacred radiance. The various stone gardens were not monotonous, filled with dense ancient trees. Entering suddenly felt like stepping into a primeval forest.
Ye Fan and Li Heishui didn't stop, heading straight for the depths of the workshop. Today's great battle would undoubtedly take place in the Celestial Character Stone Garden. The people of Yaoguang Stone Workshop saw them coming, their faces expressionless, almost written with the words "Not Welcome."
The Celestial Character Stone Garden was planted with a rare bamboo called Blood-Tear Jade Bamboo. Its joints were as white as jade, and only the mutton-fat jade leaves bore traces of blood, like teardrops.
There were many legends about this spiritual bamboo—some said it was the tears of gods that stained the leaves red, others said it was the blood of ancient royal clans that soaked them.
Without a doubt, this was a rare spiritual bamboo, hard to cultivate, with very few in the world. Yet here, there was a whole grove, emitting abundant spiritual energy.
Rows of spiritual bamboo, white as jade, grew vigorously, shimmering with crystalline light. Traces of blood swayed on the leaves, like rolling teardrops.
Almost everyone who should be here had arrived. Looking out, there was a sea of white-haired heads—all senior figures.
As for the young ones who could enter the Celestial Character Stone Garden, they were all Holy Son-level figures, such as Jiang Yifei, the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi, Ji Haoyue, and the young Daoist nun from Dao Yi.
"You're finally here!" a young man from the Source Art Aristocratic Clan sneered.
"Take a good look at this world. A true Source Art duel—do you know what will happen?" another said with a hint of mockery.
Li Heishui retorted, "It's hard to say who lives and who dies. Source Art masters aren't invincible."
Another person transmitted a message, taunting, "We'll see. I wonder if you'll be begging for mercy on your knees."
Ye Fan ignored them and looked to the side. The Supreme Elder of the Phantom Extinction Sect had brought Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian, both sneering meaningfully.
Li Heishui said, "Senior Li, you're here again. Sneering at me like that—are you planning to duel with me again? Did you bring enough Source today?"
Li Yishui's expression didn't change. "Young man, don't be too arrogant. You might get crushed in a little while."