Chapter 436: Heaven’s Lightning Strikes
Ye Fan was about to leave. He had successively ascended the Nine Sacred Mountains, digging up some of each of the nine divine roots in order to piece together a complete Immortal Elixir for saving lives.
Furthermore, the nine Life Spring Pools could each revive the dead and regenerate flesh and bone, being priceless treasures of the world. He naturally would not forget them.
He had brought in nine jade bottles, each large enough to hold a mountain, intending to collect a vast amount of the Immortal Divine Spring. However, the Ancient Forbidden Land could reduce any treasure to a mere mortal item.
The nine jade bottles had almost all become ordinary vessels, each capable of holding only a dozen or so catties of water, unable to accept even a single extra drop.
Even so, Ye Fan was satisfied. He had even harvested the Immortal Elixir and healed his Dao wounds. The gains from this trip were truly heaven-defying. What more could he be dissatisfied with?
Since ancient times, many old Saint Lords in their twilight years had entered the Forbidden Zones of Life, like moths diving into a flame, almost all turning into ashes of calamity, rarely reappearing in the mortal world.
“Time to leave…”
Ye Fan stood above the Primordial Abyss, staring at the Five-Colored Altar in the darkness, lost in thought. At this moment, he felt an impulse, a strong desire to carry the small bronze coffin and jump down together. When would he be able to cross the star domains?
It was a long time before he turned around. Coming to the edge of a Life Spring Pool, he took out the Qilin seed and examined it again and again. Should he plant it here?
Without a doubt, the Ancient Forbidden Land was extremely suitable for its growth. In the future, it would surely mature into a complete Immortal Elixir, becoming a celestial treasure of the world!
However, the ancient divine medicine was highly spiritual. The moment it took root and sprouted, before it could even grow, it would likely fly away on its own, escaping into an inaccessible forbidden zone.
In the end, Ye Fan put it away again. This seed of the Immortal Elixir still had another great use. He could not let it go now; he could plant it himself later.
Ye Fan descended the mountain, circling the giant bronze coffin for a long time, then staring at the nine dragon corpses again and again. He truly wanted to drag them all away—these were divine treasures!
Suddenly, he chuckled at himself, feeling he was too greedy. How could he want to take everything he saw?
“It seems that staying with Black Emperor for too long has infected me with its habits.”
Ye Fan laughed at himself. He had picked all the sacred fruits clean, not even sparing the roots and leaves, filled quite a few bottles with divine spring, and now he was eyeing the bronze coffin.
Big Black Dog had always been one to kill by mistake rather than let slip, grabbing everything it saw, incredibly greedy. It even wanted to snatch the treasures of acquaintances and had tried to bite Ye Fan many times.
“This dead dog is full of bad habits. Influenced by it, I’m almost becoming just like it…” Ye Fan said without a hint of shame, shifting all the blame onto Black Emperor.
He rubbed his chin, truly wanting to carry off the small bronze coffin, but in the end, he sighed. This coffin was too sinister; it simply couldn’t be collected.
If he had to carry it on his back every day, it would exhaust him to death over time. It was far too heavy, and it would surely reveal its secrets to others. Then, everyone in the world would be chasing him to snatch it.
Ye Fan returned the small bronze coffin to its original place, then walked away without looking back. Holding the Qilin seed and the seven-colored small stone, he drank the divine spring in large gulps, striding swiftly.
It wasn’t long before he reached the edge of the Ancient Forbidden Land, catching sight of the eight-hundred-mile primeval ancient forest. He was about to leave this forbidden zone.
He looked back once. This life-forbidden land held too many secrets. Unless one became an existence like the ancient Great Emperors, it would be impossible to explore thoroughly.
“The Dao wound is finally healed. I’m back…” Ye Fan’s heart was far from calm. When he first arrived in the Southern Domain, his life had hung by a thread. Now, he had finally resolved the deadly situation.
Suddenly, he sensed immense danger. Every hair on his body stood on end.
“Boom!”
A thick purple thunderbolt fell from the sky, its diameter a full dozen zhang, piercing heaven and earth. It was so abrupt that it sent Ye Fan flying hundreds of zhang away.
“Damn it, what’s going on? Clear skies, not a single cloud, and lightning strikes down?”
His whole body was blackened, his clothes turned to ash sticking to his skin. Though he wasn’t injured in the slightest, he was in a sorry state, his hair standing on end.
“Boom!”
Another purple thunderbolt fell from the sky, its light blazing intensely, like a purple mountain range crashing down. It was thick and terrifying, pressing down so heavily it was hard to breathe.
At first, Ye Fan thought someone was ambushing him, but he quickly sensed something was wrong. This was definitely lightning from the heavens, impossible to be man-made.
“Heavenly Tribulation!” He deduced the truth and his face changed color. Why had he attracted heavenly tribulation for no reason? He felt it was utterly unjust.
The terrifying thunderbolts turned into a purple ocean, drowning this place. The violent waves of energy were suffocating. Ancient towering trees, hundred-zhang boulders, everything was blasted into ashes.
“Why am I being struck by lightning for no reason…” Ye Fan was speechless.
“Boom!”
The thunderous sea raged, almost pressing down to the ground, covering him. Lightning bolt after bolt fell, terrifying the various strange beasts in the endless mountain range, making their hearts pound.
“Could it be because I broke through to the second level of the Four Extremes Secret Realm?” Ye Fan’s head ached. If so, he would have a lot to endure in the future.
He recalled what Black Emperor had said: over a hundred thousand years ago, Emperor Wu Shi was often struck by lightning, eventually becoming accustomed to it. It seemed Ye Fan would likely be the same from now on.
“Grandfather is dear, uncle is loving, but why must I be struck by heaven’s lightning? Damn it!” Ye Fan cursed.
The heavenly tribulation came one after another, shaking the endless mountain range. The great mountains in this area collapsed, turned to powder by the lightning, becoming a barren wasteland.
Just like the last time he broke through, a full five layers of heavenly tribulation came, each layer consisting of nine minor tribulations. It was terrifying to the extreme, splitting the mountains and shaking the earth, startling all beasts.
This mountainous region was completely destroyed, a scene of the end times. Apart from Ye Fan, no living thing remained. The lightning blasted out an immensely deep abyss.
However, Ye Fan was not severely injured. This time, he had been reborn in the Ancient Forbidden Land, using his indestructible sacred body to withstand the thunder tribulation. He was no longer as miserable as last time.
When everything calmed down, he lightly shook his body. The injuries instantly healed. His whole body bloomed with auspicious radiance, pure and spotless, flawless and immaculate, crystal clear like jade. His powerful precious body had weathered the heavenly tribulation.
“If I had robbed a Holy Maiden or snatched an Extreme Dao Sacred Weapon, I’d accept being struck by lightning. But I haven’t even done such things yet…” Ye Fan fumed indignantly.
Fortunately, this place was still eight hundred miles from the outside world. Otherwise, such a commotion would surely attract many people. If anyone learned he had picked all the sacred fruits, it would be a disaster of immense proportions.
Ye Fan put on a set of green clothes and strode into the primeval ancient forest. When he passed a stone wall, he stopped, recalling some distant memories.
What had become of his classmates who came to this world together? He sighed softly and disappeared into the forest.
Far ahead, a misty celestial palace appeared, vast in scale, with halls and buildings stretching in a continuous line, as if heavenly palaces had fallen to the mortal world.
Ye Fan tried to approach, but just like in the past, the celestial palace outside the Ancient Forbidden Land was unreachable. He did not force it and went far away.
Ye Fan had already been gone for three months. He didn’t know what had happened during this time. Most people probably thought he was dead. He wanted to get out quickly.
When he was about to leave the eight-hundred-mile ancient forest, he discovered some cultivators who had sealed off the area. They were clearly from a super major sect.
Ye Fan was surprised. He concealed his figure, not wanting to cause any trouble. But things went against his wishes. Someone had laid down array patterns in the forest, revealing his trail.
“You… come here!” A young man in the forest, very arrogant, shouted at Ye Fan from not far away.
Ye Fan glanced at him and ignored him, walking straight out of the forest. He was eager to return home, wondering how Little Nannan was. If she hadn’t sent the seven-colored small stone, he would likely have died inside this time.
“I’m talking to you! Come here!” The young man was furious, pointing at Ye Fan and shouting loudly.
“Who are you? What right do you have to command me? Setting up obstacles here for no reason, what are your intentions?” Ye Fan looked at him coldly.
The young man was startled at first, then said coldly, “Several supreme major sects have sealed this area. Everyone knows it. Yet you dare to barge in, not knowing life from death!”
Ye Fan’s heart stirred. Someone was trying to make a move on the Ancient Forbidden Land again? Unfortunately, it was destined to be a futile effort. A faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
“Death is upon you, and you can still smile?” The young man sneered repeatedly.
“Such big talk. This forest is ownerless land. What business is it of yours if I pass through here?” Ye Fan said calmly.
“You really have a death wish! Don’t you know? The Yin Yang Sect and three Holy Lands from the Eastern Wasteland have joined forces to carve a peerless array formation here, opening a Domain Gate to teleport people to the Nine Sacred Mountains to pick divine medicine. Anyone who dares to trespass will be killed without mercy!”
Ye Fan was taken aback. Three months had passed, and the Yin Yang Sect still hadn’t given up. Three Holy Lands from the Eastern Wasteland had also joined in. The Yan capital must be a gathering of forces now.
“Go die!” The young man raised his hand and threw out dozens of Source pieces, trying to activate the array formation and refine Ye Fan alive.
“Swish.”
Ye Fan used the Grand Void Art, traversing space, and appeared beside him in an instant. He pressed down lightly, and with a “puff,” ended his life.
“What happened?” An old man led seven young people into this forest.
“Who are you?” Someone shouted.
The old man was clearly a cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm. His face darkened as he strode toward Ye Fan, flipping his hand to strike down, intending to subdue him.
Ye Fan smiled. Someone dared to close in for close combat? Truly an old man who lived too long and was tired of life.
“Boom.”
He reached out a golden hand to meet the attack, smashing through everything. The old man’s arm shattered inch by inch, and his body was blasted into powder.
This old man was not weak, but he had overestimated himself by not using his magical power. He was struck dead on the spot.
“Who are you?” The others all changed color. A Dragon Transformation Secret Realm elder had been killed with a single slap. This was terrifying. Every one of them was shaken, their legs trembling.
“That surging golden blood energy, a physique comparable to a true dragon… he’s that Sacred Body!”
“What? He’s not dead? Weren’t there rumors he died three months ago?”
These people sensed something was terribly wrong and turned to flee. The Sacred Body appearing near the Ancient Forbidden Land was highly suspicious and no small matter.
“Bang!”
Unfortunately, they couldn’t escape. Ye Fan’s hand pressed down in the void. Before they could run a dozen steps, they were all blasted into blood mist.
“The turbulent Yan capital, the Holy Lands and the major sects of the Central Province… Unfortunately, your efforts are destined to be in vain.” Ye Fan chuckled.
“Swish.”
He flickered and vanished into the dense forest. Soon after, he entered the Yan capital.
When Ye Fan returned to the Yan capital, he heard many news, with many people discussing.
Besides the Yin Yang Sect and the three Holy Lands, the Guhua Imperial Dynasty had not left either, along with other major sects preparing to act, to pick the Immortal Elixir.
The young kings of the Central Province clashed with the heavenly prodigies of the Eastern Wasteland, engaging in fierce battles one after another. Even many senior figures had been stirred, becoming the current focus.
“His life is short; he will die soon. According to his nature, he should come back to take a look…” In Zhang Wenchang’s small tavern, Ji Hui walked in, leaning on her dragon-headed staff. She glanced contemptuously at Zhang Wenchang, a cold smile hanging at the corner of her mouth.
“A persistent old hag!” Ye Fan had just returned and saw this old woman, a boundless killing intent surging within him.