Chapter 440: The Ruthless Person
“Li Xiaoman, it really is you. We haven’t seen each other for five or six years…” Zhang Wenchang found it hard to calm down. In recent years, his life had been shrouded in darkness. Meeting an old acquaintance from the other end of the starry sky filled him with both intimacy and excitement.
“Zhang Wenchang, are you doing well? I haven’t heard any news of you for a long time.” Li Xiaoman wore a white robe, pure and ethereal, giving off a very serene feeling.
“I’m getting by.” Zhang Wenchang was very taciturn. After the initial excitement passed, he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to recall the past.
“I heard your news. Take good care of your injuries.” Li Xiaoman looked calmly at Ye Fan.
“It’s nothing. Good people don’t live long, while calamities last a thousand years. How could a calamity like me die?” Ye Fan smiled.
At this moment, some disciples from Star Peak flew over. They were clearly outstanding inheritors with high cultivation levels. They landed and walked toward Ye Fan.
“Brother Ye, we didn’t expect you to return to Grand Mystery.”
Although these people were enthusiastic, there was a hint of wariness. They were quite restrained. Ye Fan had once made the disciples of Star Peak look utterly foolish, and they still couldn’t forget it.
No one had expected that in about two years, this person would stir up endless storms. Although he was on the verge of death, no one dared to underestimate him.
“A young king from the Central Province has arrived. Senior Brother Hua is temporarily occupied and afraid that Brother Ye might leave, so he sent us to welcome you first. He will come to invite you personally later,” someone said.
“Junior Sister Xiaoman is also here,” someone greeted.
“You all go ahead. I’ll accompany them to see Senior Brother Hua in a while.” Clearly, Li Xiaoman’s status was not ordinary. Everyone nodded and left.
Although Zhang Wenchang was taciturn, he cherished old friendships. He spoke more than usual, feeling that the closest people in this world were his former classmates.
Li Xiaoman’s eyes were like water as she quietly gazed at Ye Fan. “Is your life really running out?”
“It’s not necessarily a death sentence. In the Northern Domain, the Peerless Divine King invited a divine physician for me. He said that if I voluntarily sever my cultivation, I can live.”
“Then live quietly as a mortal,” Li Xiaoman said.
In the distance, a blue light flashed, and a man in blue appeared. He was even more refined than a woman, incredibly agile, like a banished immortal walking on waves. He possessed an otherworldly temperament. It was Hua Yunfei.
Jiang Yifei’s elegance and Hua Yunfei’s ethereal, immortal-like quality had left a deep impression on Ye Fan. Hua Yunfei, in particular, made him wary.
Now, outstanding talents of the younger generation were rising across the Eastern Wasteland, yet someone as powerful as Hua Yunfei remained hidden in the Southern Domain, his name little known.
“Welcome back, Brother Ye.” Hua Yunfei wore a gentle smile as he personally came to greet him, drifting like an immortal.
Ye Fan also revealed a brilliant smile. “Two years apart, Brother Hua’s elegance surpasses the past.”
“How can I compare to Brother Ye? Now your name shakes the world. Who doesn’t know you?” Hua Yunfei shook his head with a smile, revealing crystal-clear, jade-like teeth, his sincerity undeniable. “In the past, you cultivated here. Although you left, Grand Mystery will always have its doors open for you.”
“Brother Hua saying this truly moves me.” As Ye Fan spoke, he couldn’t help but cough, and a trace of pale golden blood seeped out.
“Brother Ye, are you alright?” Hua Yunfei stepped forward, asking with great concern and anxiety.
“It’s nothing. No problem.” Ye Fan shook his head and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a white cloth.
Hua Yunfei turned to Li Xiaoman and said softly, “Junior Sister Xiaoman, bring that sacred medicine I’ve been treasuring.”
“Sacred medicine…” Li Xiaoman was surprised.
“It’s the sacred medicine left by our Grand Mystery sect’s founding ancestor. I think it can alleviate Brother Ye’s injuries.” Hua Yunfei’s smile was warm.
Li Xiaoman nodded, glanced at Ye Fan, and then flew away gracefully.
“There’s no need for that. My injuries are not serious.” Ye Fan shook his head. As he spoke, he wiped away another thread of golden blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Brother Ye has a heaven-granted talent, a rare genius throughout the ages. One day, you will surely reign over the world and overcome this trial.” Hua Yunfei sighed softly. Even when frowning, he was as ethereal as a banished immortal.
“Senior Brother Hua, the Holy Maiden of Yaoguang has arrived,” someone reported to Hua Yunfei.
“Brother Ye, please don’t leave. I’ve invited several heavenly prodigies. In a while, we’ll drink and talk, discuss the scriptures and the Dao. Now I must go welcome Fairy Yao Xi.”
Hua Yunfei apologized to Ye Fan and was also very polite to Zhang Wenchang, asking them to wait a moment.
“Brother Hua, there’s no need to be so courteous with me.” Ye Fan smiled as he watched him leave.
Just how powerful Hua Yunfei was was hard to say now. In the past, Ji Ziyue had solemnly mentioned that before the Divine King Body Ji Haoyue emerged, there had been a shocking battle. His opponent was Hua Yunfei, and they fought fiercely.
In the end, the Divine King Body Ji Haoyue paid a considerable price to win by a narrow margin. These were things Ji Ziyue had mentioned when Ye Fan first met Hua Yunfei.
Later, Hua Yunfei went into seclusion for two years, and the Divine King Body only truly emerged two years later. However, the two never fought again.
Ye Fan’s eyes flickered with light as he fell into thought.
“Is he very powerful?” Zhang Wenchang asked. He had heard of the Divine King Body but never the name Hua Yunfei.
This was a man who dared to kill Ji Haoyue and his sister. How could he not be powerful? But Ye Fan couldn’t tell Zhang Wenchang these things; it would only bring him great disaster.
“If you cultivate at Grand Mystery, never provoke him. It’s best to stay on Clumsy Peak and not go down the mountain lightly.”
In Ye Fan’s view, Hua Yunfei could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Holy Son of Yaoguang. He had only lost to Ji Haoyue by a single move back then. Years had passed, and if he fought the Divine King Body again now, it was hard to say who would win.
“Grand Mystery has no ancient scriptures, yet he has such cultivation, able to contend with the Divine King Body. It’s truly astonishing…” Ye Fan muttered to himself. He had never underestimated Hua Yunfei.
Aside from his cultivation, it was also because this person was deeply hidden. Who would have thought that he was the one who tried to kill Ji Ziyue back then? Whenever Ye Fan thought of this, he was very wary.
Not long after, Hua Yunfei returned, accompanied by a graceful, stunning beauty—the Holy Maiden of Yaoguang.
“I know you two have some misunderstandings, but past events are like smoke and clouds. Everything is in the past. Today, you are both my honored guests.” Hua Yunfei seemed afraid that the two would come to blows.
“How could that be? Brother Hua, you worry too much.” Ye Fan smiled and looked at the Holy Maiden of Yaoguang. “Fairy Yao Xi, months have passed, and you are as before—like a blooming pearl, a pure and beautiful immortal lotus.”
Yao Xi responded with a moving smile, but in truth, she was gnashing her teeth in hatred. Ye Fan had trapped her in the Li Fire Divine Furnace for nearly half a year, and on top of that, he had stolen her undergarment. Every time she thought of it, she felt like going mad.
However, at this moment, she showed no abnormality. On the contrary, her smile could topple a city, and her eyes sparkled with intoxicating light.
Hua Yunfei had indeed invited some heavenly prodigies. Ahead, flowers and grass were fragrant, and a spiritual spring babbled. There was a purple bamboo forest, and in the pavilion were several extraordinary figures.
Wang Chongxiao came from the Central Province and was a young king. His expression was cold and unmoving, but when he saw Ye Fan approaching, he suddenly stood up, and killing intent filled the air.
“You want to kill me?” Ye Fan walked straight toward him, a cold smile on his lips, quite aggressive.
Everyone present was tense and stood up. One was a king from the Central Province, the other a Sacred Body from the Eastern Wasteland. Their meeting seemed to be heading straight for a fight.
“Both of you, calm down!” Hua Yunfei quickly stepped forward to stand between them.
“In our last battle, my body reacted to you. Seeing you suddenly appear just now naturally triggered some overreaction.” Wang Chongxiao sat back down.
Ye Fan couldn’t help but cough. He wiped away a trace of blood with a white silk cloth, and many people’s eyes flickered with a strange light.
Everyone sat down. Hua Yunfei introduced them with a smile. Besides Wang Chongxiao, there were two other heavenly prodigies from the Central Province: one was the Holy Son of the Yin Yang Sect, and the other was a princess of the Guhua Imperial Dynasty.
Additionally, there were over a dozen cultivators from the Southern Domain. However, aside from Yao Xi and Li Youyou of the Xiaoyao Sect, the rest were not particularly famous.
Everyone drank and discussed the Dao. The atmosphere was harmonious, without the earlier tension. During this time, Hua Yunfei played a tune. The sound of his zither seemed to come from the nine heavens, causing many flowers around to bloom prematurely and attracting many spiritual birds to land and dance along.
His zither art had already entered the Dao realm, leaving everyone amazed and stirring waves in their hearts. If used against an enemy, his zither music could probably kill without a trace.
Before long, Li Xiaoman arrived gracefully, holding a small purple jade tripod the size of a palm. When she lifted the lid, a fragrance wafted out.
“Brother Ye, please take this medicine. It will surely delay your injuries.” Hua Yunfei personally handed it to Ye Fan.
“I know my own injuries. There’s no need to waste such a miraculous pill.” Ye Fan shook his head.
“This is the Nine Orifices Exquisite Pill refined by Grand Mystery’s founding ancestor. It definitely has divine effects.” Hua Yunfei said.
Many were surprised. Quite a few had heard of this pill. Even Yao Xi was moved. “Your sect’s ancestor refined a total of one hundred and eight pills back then. I doubt there are many left now, are there?”
Li Youyou of the Xiaoyao Sect also exclaimed, “This pill can almost bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bones. Though it can’t compare to divine medicine, it can extend life.”
“I was fortunate enough to obtain one. I really can’t bear to see a heaven-gifted talent like Brother Ye fall. I want to help him through this deadly trial.” Hua Yunfei handed the small tripod to Ye Fan.
Inside the purple tripod was a pill the size of a baby’s fist, with nine orifices, looking like a little ginseng doll, glowing with purple light all over.
After some polite refusal, Ye Fan smiled and accepted it. “Thank you, Brother Hua, for the pill.”
This was indeed a gathering for discussing scriptures and the Dao. Everyone present shared some cultivation insights. Even the arrogant Wang Chongxiao spoke of some experiences.
Ye Fan was quite surprised. This man looked down on Eastern Wasteland cultivators, yet he could sit here today. Hua Yunfei truly had skill. Finally, Ye Fan couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Wang, I heard you fought Ye Huiling and were ambushed by a mysterious figure. What happened? Where is Miss Ye?”
When he asked this, the others also looked over. Everyone present had heard this rumor. Wang Chongxiao had disappeared for a long time because of it.
“Ye Huiling is definitely not dead. The person who ambushed us that day was very powerful, definitely a senior figure!” Wang Chongxiao gritted his teeth and refused to say more.
Finally, Ye Fan coughed up blood and took his leave early, ending the gathering. They agreed to meet again in seven days.
“Brother Ye, you’re really leaving? Why not stay at Grand Mystery for a while? Fairy Yao Xi, Wang Chongxiao, and the princess of Guhua are all heavenly prodigies. We’ll gather again in seven days to exchange ideas. It will be very beneficial.” Hua Yunfei sincerely tried to persuade him.
“I need to find a way to extend my life. I can’t afford to delay. I must leave now. Brother Hua, we’ll meet again. Thank you for your kindness.” Ye Fan said his goodbyes.
Li Xiaoman saw him off. “If there’s no other choice, just sever your cultivation. Being a mortal is fine too.”
“I know what to do.” Ye Fan walked away.
He returned to Clumsy Peak with Zhang Wenchang and met Li Ruoyu alone. “Senior, please do me a favor.”
“What is it?”
“Help me intercept a terrifying figure.” Ye Fan said this.
“What happened?” Li Ruoyu was puzzled.
“I’m certain someone wants to kill me. Please follow behind me for a few days and block a fearsome old man. If someone from the younger generation makes a move against me, I’ll deal with them myself.”
“You’re certain someone wants to kill you?” Li Ruoyu’s eyes were as calm as water.
“Yes, I’m sure someone will make a move.” Ye Fan was very definite.
“Since you know this, why not retreat? Why go to meet them?” Li Ruoyu asked.
“Because I want to confirm something.” Ye Fan replied.
That very day, Ye Fan left Grand Mystery Sect and headed toward Yan Capital. He walked very slowly, not rushing, keeping a close watch on everything in the shadows.
“Buzz!”
On the seventh day, a dazzling light descended from the sky, striking at him. It was a massive purple hand, blotting out the sky and earth, its emitted fluctuations as terrifying as an ocean.
“Bang!”
Li Ruoyu appeared, raising a single hand to the sky, extending a large earthy-yellow hand to block it. “Boom!” The peak of a nearby mountain was blasted away, showing just how terrifying this power was.
“So ruthless! Almost comparable to a Saint Lord!” Ye Fan’s heart pounded violently. He was very worried for the old man Li Ruoyu.
“Bang!”
Li Ruoyu was very composed. His natural Dao comprehended the secrets of mountains, rivers, and all things. In this forest, he was like a deity. A domain emerged.
Ancient trees towered to the sky, giant vines coiled like dragons, covering the heavens. Everywhere were plants and trees, growing in the void, flowing with terrifying power.
Every blade of grass, every vine, every tree drew power from the void. Their roots could be seen splitting space, completely covering this area.
A withered old man was forced out. He was trapped in this natural domain, unable to break free.
This was an existence not much weaker than a Saint Lord, extremely powerful, with boundless magical power. He shattered a mountain peak but still couldn’t escape.
“Pop!”
An ancient vine blossomed in the void, drawing power from emptiness, rushing out like a true dragon to entangle the old man.
“Who are you? I feel like I’ve sensed your aura before.” Li Ruoyu calmly faced the powerful figure trapped in the void.
“Kid, you’re so cunning!” The withered strong man didn’t respond to Li Ruoyu but coldly fixed his gaze on Ye Fan.
“I knew long ago you would come to kill me.” Ye Fan sneered. “Since you can’t kill me, then I’m sorry—I’ll go kill him.”