Chapter 406: A Romantic Affair
Ye Fan was going to break through on the night of the full moon, which had put many major powers on edge. The whole world was watching, and countless cultivators were paying close attention. The winds of the world converged on Divine City.
However, at this sensitive moment, Ye Fan did not calm his mind to prepare. Instead, he was searching everywhere for Divine Source stone skin. The Immortal Tomb, Blood Sacrifice Altar, and others had long been put away by him.
Through various channels, he had obtained some more from the Holy Land stone gambling houses, all of which were discarded pieces from past stone cutting.
"Kid, what are you trying to do?" Big Black Dog asked suspiciously. Then, as if remembering something, it widened its copper-bell-like eyes, stared at Ye Fan, and exclaimed in shock, "You're crazy!"
"What are you shouting about?" Ye Fan glared at it.
"Are you tired of living? Even if you have astonishing Source Arts, that place can't be visited twice. Many peerless figures could only sigh in regret," Big Black Dog warned.
"This time, it's none of your business. It's not what you think," Ye Fan said without explaining further. He continued to move among the various stone gambling houses, quietly collecting stone skins.
"Are you better than Li Mu? Are you better than Jiang Taixu? Are you better than Gu Tianshu? Going into Purple Mountain again means only death!" Big Black Dog bared its teeth in warning.
"You guessed wrong. I won't go seek death. Don't say anything more," Ye Fan said, not wanting to alert others. This time, he was determined to break into the Four Extremes Secret Realm.
A full thirteen million catties of Source—it could be called an astronomical number. Yet he still felt uncertain in his heart. If he succeeded, what then? If he failed, what then? He thought of all possibilities.
Ye Fan did not want to be blocked. No matter what, he had to break into the Four Extremes Secret Realm. If he were to end in disgrace at the Dragon Transformation Pool, he decided he would fight for his own future.
If he didn't enter the Four Extremes Secret Realm, the Primordial Saint Body would become ordinary among the masses. On the vast and boundless earth, experts were as numerous as clouds. Those in the Dao Palace Secret Realm could only look up to others.
The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi appeared. Her figure was tall and graceful, standing as elegantly as ever. Immortal mist veiled her body, like a divine flower shaking off snow, like a sacred lotus touching water, as if a heavenly maiden had descended from the celestial realm.
She handed Ye Fan a sandalwood box and said, "To help you succeed in your breakthrough. This is a gift from Yao Chi."
In the past, Yao Chi had a close relationship with the Origin Heavenly Master, and now it had no conflict with Ye Fan. The Holy Land hoped he would visit Yao Chi to use the Immortal-Sealing Six Seals to deal with a few Stone Kings.
"What is this?" Ye Fan asked, puzzled.
"Three leaves from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree," the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi said softly, her red lips parting.
Ye Fan was shocked. The ancient tree in the Immortal Mountain—every leaf was different, bearing Dao patterns within. For Saint Lord-rank figures, they were divine objects.
He was truly astonished. If the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree could send out thirty leaves from the Immortal Mountain each year, that was already a lot. Countless Saint Lord-rank figures had their eyes on them. For the vast Eastern Wasteland, they were far from enough to go around.
Three leaves from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree were a great gift for Ye Fan, who was about to make his breakthrough.
Ye Fan's eyes shot out two divine beams. The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi was startled, thinking he was using his penetrating divine vision. She let out a soft cry of rebuke, stretched out her jade hand, and produced a Dao diagram to shield herself.
In the mist, her face flushed red. She was quite annoyed, thinking of their previous encounter. She scolded, "What are you doing?"
"Fairy Maiden, don't misunderstand. I didn't use my Source Heaven Divine Sense. I was just a little surprised. I won't forget this great kindness. One day, I will definitely go to Yao Chi to deal with the Stone Kings."
Inside the sandalwood box, the three leaves were all different.
One leaf shimmered with purple light. It was rhombus-shaped, and on it was a lifelike little dragon coiled around many Dao patterns.
The second leaf was bright red like blood. It was fan-shaped, with a blurry human figure sitting high in the nine heavens. Mysterious Yellow Qi surrounded the body, and Dao patterns were densely packed like smoke and clouds.
The last leaf was white as jade, crystal clear and transparent, quite peculiar. It was round, with a Yin-Yang diagram on it. The Yang pole embraced Yin, the Yin pole embraced Yang, and there were dots of stars, like a starry sky, with innate patterns interwoven.
This was the first time Ye Fan had seen leaves from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. He was quite amazed. It was hard to imagine what kind of ancient tree could grow such incredible leaves.
Big Black Dog's drool immediately flowed out. It approached ingratiatingly and said, "Let me keep them safe for you."
"Giving them to you would be like throwing meat buns at a dog—gone forever."
"Woof!"
Soon after, Tu Fei and Li Heishui sent word that several Great Bandits had pooled together a total of one million catties of Source, sending it to Ye Fan through their descendants.
This was another great gift!
"Ye Fan, accept it with peace of mind," Tu Fei said, patting him on the shoulder. He shook his head and added, "Those old fellows are as shrewd as ghosts."
In this world, there was no such thing as kindness without reason. When the Holy Lands were hunting Ye Fan, Tu Fei and Li Heishui had stepped forward to help him vigorously, and several Great Bandits had been watching all along.
The past events were too subtle. Thinking back, they were full of schemes and calculations. If Ye Fan's Sacred Body succeeded, everything would be smooth and gentle. If he failed, the intentions of those Great Bandits would be truly hard to fathom.
Tu Fei and Li Heishui had not hidden these things. Long ago, they had hinted that if their elders had ulterior motives, they would tell him to flee at the first moment.
This world was very realistic, and people's hearts were complicated. But that didn't mean there was no genuine friendship. Tu Fei and Li Heishui were not scheming for anything. The fact that they had told him the truth long ago was enough to show their loyalty.
"An Miaoyi is inviting you?" Tu Fei asked in surprise.
There was less than a day until the full moon night. For An Miaoyi to want to see Ye Fan at this time, it could be guessed that she was trying to win him over and build a good relationship.
Li Heishui pondered for a moment and said, "This is unusual. Very unusual!"
"What's unusual?" Tu Fei asked.
"An Miaoyi has guts. She's probably going to gamble big," Li Heishui said.
"What are you trying to say?"
Li Heishui said, "Adding flowers to brocade is far less valuable than sending charcoal in the snow. If An Miaoyi came to win him over after Ye Fan broke the curse, it could only be described as 'just so-so.' But if she does it before, that's completely different."
"Could An Miaoyi be..." Tu Fei showed a strange expression.
"She's probably going to bet on herself. A Greatly Accomplished Sacred Body, once missed, is gone forever. Since the Miaoyu Nunnery has such a tradition, it's much better than choosing a Holy Son."
"I don't have time," Ye Fan shook his head, unmoved.
But then, An Miaoyi sent someone with a jade box as a great gift for his breakthrough.
"Another leaf from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree!"
In the jade box, a golden leaf shone brilliantly, as if cast from gold. Its fragrance was rich. On the leaf was a landscape painting, dotted with many innate patterns. The whole room was filled with its scent.
Tu Fei exclaimed in admiration, "This is a peerless treasure. You have to go now."
Li Heishui shouted weirdly, "Little Leaf, I might as well take over your body and go in your place."
Night fell. The divine moon hung high, and silver light scattered down like smoke and clouds. The whole earth was hazy, as if draped in a thin veil.
The Miaoyu Nunnery sat in the air. Below, the lake was clear and pure, sparkling like a blue gem. Above, the moonlight flowed gently like water.
This complex of buildings was bathed in the divine moon, dyed in a dreamlike color, mysterious in the night sky.
Ye Fan ascended into the air. Someone led him before a magnificent palace. There stood a peerlessly beautiful woman. In the moonlight, she seemed almost divine, like a fairy who had fallen from the silver moon, untouched by the dust of the mortal world.
"Is Miaoyi really so annoying?" An Miaoyi smiled. She wore a snow-white dress that fluttered gently in the night breeze, as if she might ride the wind and fly away.
"Fairy Maiden An's charm is too great. I didn't dare come, afraid of offending such a beauty," Ye Fan said insincerely.
An Miaoyi's eyes sparkled. She smiled lightly and said, "Liar."
Her long white dress trailed on the ground, outlining her graceful figure like rolling hills—firm and proud chest, slender waist, rounded curves—flawless, tracing a perfect arc.
Yet, her temperament was noble and ethereal. Under the night moon, she was like a spirit. Her jade-like face bore no makeup, white and crystalline. Her eyes were like autumn water, her nose delicate, her lips like cherry blossoms—as if carved by heaven's divine craftsmanship. Such beauty was breathtaking.
Inside the palace, carved beams and painted rafters gleamed with gold and splendor. Mist swirled, as if one had mistakenly entered a heavenly palace, giving an unreal feeling.
This was a bedchamber. Pearls and fine jade were inlaid, antiques and calligraphy hung on the walls. On a white jade table, rare delicacies tempted the palate, and fine wine gave off a fragrant aroma.
"Tomorrow, you will make your breakthrough. Do you have confidence?" An Miaoyi poured wine. Her bright red lips were sexy, her white teeth gleaming. Her slender hand held a jade cup, both equally crystalline.
"I will enter the Four Extremes," Ye Fan said with a smile.
"A Greatly Accomplished Sacred Body hasn't appeared in over a hundred thousand years. It can rival the ancient Great Emperors. What a heroic bearing! It truly makes one yearn for it," An Miaoyi said with a sweet smile. "And now, a Sacred Body sits right before me. I must take a good look and examine him carefully."
"Even if I succeed in my breakthrough, it's only a minor accomplishment of the Sacred Body. How can I compare to a Great Emperor?" Ye Fan shook his head with a laugh.
"That day won't be far off. Miaoyi is looking forward to it," An Miaoyi said. Her black hair fluttered, her eyes were like waves, her eyelashes long, her skin snow-white and translucent. On her forehead was a moon-bright pearl, which, under the crystal lamp, shone together with her, noble, gorgeous, and lively—beautiful enough to take one's breath away.
"Thank you, Fairy Maiden Miaoyi, for the Enlightenment Tea," Ye Fan raised his cup in a toast.
"Miaoyi has only done a small part. I wish Brother Ye to break the curse, advance with high spirits, and one day rival the Great Emperors," An Miaoyi said. Her smile was extremely alluring. Her red lips touched the wine, becoming even more vivid.
The night deepened. Moonlight streamed through the glass windows, spilling into the palace. Everything was like a dream.
An Miaoyi seemed unable to hold her liquor. Her pretty face flushed with red clouds, her eyes moving and captivating, her body soft as if boneless. She said, "I want... a Greatly Accomplished Sacred Body..."
Ye Fan was also slightly drunk. He teased, "I'm right here. How do you want me?"
"Miaoyi means to say, I want the Greatly Accomplished Sacred Body to protect me in the future. I will also become a Great Emperor," An Miaoyi said. Her smile brought a hundred charms, making even the bright moon in the sky seem dim.
She was already one of the most beautiful women in the Eastern Wasteland, even called the number one beauty of the East. Such a peerless beauty, after drinking, her skin turned pink and crystalline, exuding an irresistible charm.
Late into the night, they had already drunk who knows how much wine. The cups fell to the ground, and they gradually became entangled.
"Hehe..." An Miaoyi laughed sweetly, her voice like silver bells, stirring the heart.
Ye Fan wrapped his arm around her delicate body, held a shiny silver wine flask, and poured wine into his mouth, then into An Miaoyi's sexy red lips.
Everything was natural. Ye Fan was not a rigid old scholar. He had no restraint, unafraid of the thorns on the rose, and decided to swallow the sugar coating.
Not far away was a white jade bed, hung with pink gauze curtains, giving off an unusual feeling. The two of them rolled onto the pink, ambiguous bed.
Soon, a snow-white body was revealed. The skin was soft and delicate, sparkling and translucent, pink and glossy, enchanting and moving—a peerless temptation.
An Miaoyi's hair was loose, her peerless face dazed. Her whole body shimmered with a faint light, her skin a rosy red, driving one to distraction.
Ye Fan's heart trembled. He let down the pink gauze curtains. He, too, could not resist this incomparable temptation.
"Chi"
A finger wind swept by, and the candle went out. Only the water-like moonlight streamed in, dimly revealing the heat on the jade bed.
Soft moans, minds lost in passion, lustful thoughts arising. The two were entangled together. This was a sleepless night, a night of passion and confusion.