Chapter 565: Zi Yue, Divine King
"Pu"
A streak of black light flashed, and a young man slowly collapsed beneath a hundred-zhang cliff. A trace of blood seeped from between his brows; his eyes were vacant, dying with regret unfulfilled.
On the other side, a tall, slender man stepped out. He pointed a finger, and a spark of fire fell, reducing the corpse on the ground to a human-shaped pile of ash, leaving nothing else behind.
He stood before the stone wall, carefully studying the ancient art inscribed upon it, then wiped his hand across it. The stone crumbled into powder, falling with a rustling sound, and everything ceased to exist.
"Ah…"
In the distance, an even more intense battle was unfolding. A group of people were locked in a life-or-death struggle. In the end, blood mist swirled, and corpses lay one after another. Only a few managed to charge into an ancient cave; the rest all perished.
Such incidents occurred frequently, no longer exceptions but the norm. This primeval world was extremely dangerous, filled not only with terrifying strange beasts but also with powerful cultivators who specialized in killing people, making it a land of bloodshed.
Over the past half-month or more, Ye Fan had witnessed many deaths. The appearance of ancient desolate alien species beast kings was a major cause, but the slaughter among cultivators themselves was even more horrifying.
A single spiritual herb over ten thousand years old could spark a bloody massacre. A stone wall inscribed with a secret technique could become the graveyard of a life-or-death duel.
Let alone the occasional cave dwelling that appeared—those were always the focal point of contention among all parties. If an ancient treasure emerged or a secret scripture was discovered, it would inevitably provoke a large-scale bloodbath.
Currently, in this primeval ancient world, everyone felt endangered. Every step had to be taken with caution, or one might easily become another's prey.
"Many major powers have sent people in. It can be said that every step is fraught with deadly traps now. One slight mistake and you'll bring about a fatal disaster. Damn it, we have to be careful!" someone couldn't help but curse.
"Don't say anymore. Don't disturb the divine creature."
In a stretch of marshland, sparse ancient towering trees grew. A dragon loach, about a foot long, shimmered with golden light as it leaped through the muddy water.
A dozen people gathered together, encircling the marsh, all moving with extreme caution, afraid of startling the spiritual creature and letting it escape.
Ye Fan was astonished by this sight. A dragon loach was a treasure for alchemy. Even with the foundation of the Yao Chi Holy Land, they only had three. It was many times more precious than a spiritual herb tens of thousands of years old—a priceless, rare treasure. And yet, one had appeared here.
The dragon loach was only a foot long, shaped like a dragon, but it was actually a type of divine loach. Its entire body was golden, its spiritual energy soaring to the heavens. Every drop of its essence blood was worth a fortune.
At this moment, even Ye Fan, who had seen the Immortal Medicine, was tempted. He followed in secret, hoping to find an opportunity to catch it. But just then, a killing intent as heavy as a mountain surged in and engulfed everything.
Seven or eight middle-aged men, like primeval beast kings, descended from the sky. Without a word, they attacked. Each one was at the Dragon Transformation Ninth Transformation or above, and among them were even two Half-Step Great Powers.
"Ah…"
Screams rang out. People died on the spot. The survivors retreated decisively, but they couldn't escape the deadly calamity. A bell tolled, and half of them turned to dust, dissolving into blood mist.
Another Half-Step Great Power acted. An ancient mirror shone, and the few fleeing cultivators were pierced by divine light, their dead bodies falling.
Ye Fan drew in a cold breath. Here, human life was as cheap as grass. He had already learned a fact: this Immortal Ancient World had not just one entrance, but several. The most powerful forces of the Central Province could all enter.
Now, this Immortal Mansion World was a mixed bag, with all sorts of people. Various incidents of death, treasure-grabbing, and assassinations occurred frequently. He had just witnessed another scene.
"Swish"
These seven or eight middle-aged men acted together, inscribing array patterns on the spot to seal the entire marsh, trying to catch that incredibly rare dragon loach.
But in the end, they found nothing. Beneath the marsh was an underground river, leading to an unknown destination. The dragon loach had long since escaped.
"Just a dragon loach, yet so slippery. So many of us acted, and it still got away," a middle-aged man said self-deprecatingly.
"This is no ordinary creature. There are no more than twenty left in the entire world. It's an indispensable main ingredient for refining a Divine Pill. Few divine things are more precious than it," another man shook his head.
Only after those people had gone far did Ye Fan appear. What he had just witnessed was merely a microcosm of what was happening in this Immortal Mansion World—a place rife with danger.
"This is a land of immortal burial grounds. There are too many valuable things here. Everyone has come!" Ye Fan sighed.
This place not only had many spiritual beasts but also various heavenly materials and earthly treasures, all priceless and long extinct in the outside world. No major power could remain calm upon learning of them.
Furthermore, occasionally discovered cliffs, ancient caves, and the like contained some incomplete inheritances of immeasurable value. Additionally, rare creatures like the dragon loach also left traces.
Like others, Ye Fan sought his immortal fortune, flying into the distance. He saw many terrifying ancient desolate alien species and gave them a wide berth.
"Roar…"
He arrived at a new region. Angry roars came from afar. Someone was engaged in a fierce battle. His heart stirred as he sensed a familiar aura.
"The Sea Rises, the Bright Moon Ascends!"
Ye Fan was surprised. He transformed into a streak of light and flew forward quickly. He had only ever seen this divine phenomenon performed by one person: the Eastern Wasteland Divine King—Ji Haoyue.
The Ji Family siblings were ambushed, surrounded and attacked by over a dozen people who were offering various ancient treasures, continuously assaulting the two.
"Boom!"
The sea was boundless. Behind Ji Haoyue, towering waves surged into the sky, sweeping an enemy down. He crushed him into a bloody pulp with a palm strike, turning him into a cloud of blood mist.
No one knew how long they had been fighting. Corpses lay one after another in the mountain ridges, stained red with blood. Ji Haoyue, with disheveled hair, was like a god of slaughter, his eyes wild like a beast's, killing without restraint, a far cry from his usual temperament.
Ji Ziyue sat cross-legged within the "Sea Rises, Bright Moon Ascends" divine phenomenon, her whole body flowing with colorful light, holy as an immortal spirit. Others could not break through to her. She remained motionless, continuously emitting immortal light to replenish her brother's divine power.
"Pu"
Ji Haoyue took a step, and the entire mountain range trembled. He shattered several ancient treasures, endured three hits, spat out several mouthfuls of blood, charged forward, and tore apart a Dragon Transformation Eighth Transformation expert.
"Is this his true strength?!" Ye Fan was shocked.
The Eastern Wasteland Divine King lived up to his reputation. Even while besieged, he could still kill a Dragon Transformation Eighth Transformation expert. If this got out, it would surely shake the entire younger generation across the Five Great Domains.
At this moment, his temperament was completely different from usual—cold and ruthless, even with a hint of wildness. His purple robe was stained with blood, his black hair disheveled, like a demon god.
However, Ji Haoyue was also at the end of his rope. No one knew how long he had been fighting. His entire body was drenched in blood. His steps were unsteady, no longer strong.
"Big brother…" Ji Ziyue's eyes held tears. Her whole body blazed with light, emitting even more divine power that flowed towards her brother.
"Zi Yue, don't worry about me. You go first. I can fight my way out!" Ji Haoyue was full of confidence, his gaze even colder, but he couldn't help spitting out another mouthful of blood, his body swaying.
"Big brother… you have to hold on. The Supreme Elder will come," Ji Ziyue said, tears glistening in her eyes.
"You mean those three old men? I saw with my own eyes that they were swallowed by a primeval beast king-level divine hou. Don't hold out false hope!" One of the group sneered.
"Zi Yue, you have a secret treasure to protect yourself. Break out and leave immediately!" Ji Haoyue roared, his hair wildly dancing, urging his sister to leave.
"Boom!"
Another person stepped forward, activating a bronze pagoda to suppress him. Ji Haoyue was knocked into a somersault, coughing blood continuously. This was only a cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Fifth Transformation, yet his attack had been effective.
Just moments ago, the Eastern Wasteland Divine King had torn apart a Dragon Transformation Eighth Transformation expert with his bare hands, but it had drained all his strength. Now his divine power was exhausted; he truly had no strength left.
"Big brother, I can't watch you die…" Ji Ziyue wailed, continuously offering immortal light, desperately replenishing Ji Haoyue's divine power.
"You go!"
The Eastern Wasteland Divine King's whole body shone. He fought desperately, his divine power surging, his eyes blazing. He charged forward again, shattering that bronze pagoda with his bare hands, grabbed the man, and split him in two alive.
"Pu"
Blood gushed out, splattering all over him, everywhere. Even his hair was soaked red with blood.
"Neither of you siblings can leave. Stay here!"
"Those three old men are dead. Heaven wants you destroyed!"
The others sneered as well, pouncing forward, wanting to finish them off in one go. This was a golden opportunity; otherwise, once the Eastern Wasteland Divine King recovered his divine power, it would cost them dearly again.
"Big brother, I'll transfer all my divine power to you!" Ji Ziyue's face was streaked with tears. Her whole body flowed with colorful light. She sat cross-legged in the void, wanting to sacrifice herself to save her brother, allowing him to break out.
"Zi Yue, I told you to leave. Don't worry about me!" the Eastern Wasteland Divine King shouted, his hair disheveled. Although his divine power was nearly depleted, he still erupted with a dazzling radiance.
"Boom!"
With a palm strike, he severed the divine power in the void. Then, with a great hand reaching to the sky, he hurled Ji Ziyue, who was within the "Sea Rises, Bright Moon Ascends" divine phenomenon, away. He roared, "Leave now!"
Ji Haoyue prepared to fight to the death, allowing his sister to break out. Like a wild beast, he became ferocious, activating the Divine King Regeneration Art, burning his life force, and charging at the group to prevent them from pursuing Ji Ziyue.
"Big brother…"
"Go, go quickly!" Ji Haoyue roared.
"Too late. Neither of you can leave. I have already sealed this place!" A man on the opposite side sneered. Dozens of large banners had long been planted on the ground, trapping the area.
By now, this group was also exhausted, but they had a sufficient advantage: they outnumbered him, their strength was great, and their divine power had not yet dried up.
"Zi Yue, I will carve a path of life for you. Don't worry!" Ji Haoyue shouted. His divine power burned, his radiance growing even brighter. At this moment, he would do anything to protect his younger sister.
"Big brother, don't do this. I'll offer you all my divine power. As long as you can escape!" Ji Ziyue's face was streaked with tears like rain on pear blossoms. Her lively, large eyes were blurred. She did her utmost to channel out divine power.
"Both of you, go together. Heaven wants you dead. Not one of you will live!" Those people sneered coldly.
"Thud!"
Suddenly, a great tremor shook the entire mountain range. Rocks tumbled, and leaves swirled wildly.
Ye Fan stepped into the great formation in a single stride. He raised his hand, pulled up one of the large banners, and hurled it away.
"Ah…"
A scream rang out. A man was instantly pierced through by the banner pole, flying over a hundred zhang before slamming into an ancient tree with a "bang," nailed there and dying.
"Who are you?" These people changed color, shouting in unison.
"The one who kills you!" Ye Fan strode in, his eyes deep, his black hair disheveled, his aura as steady as a mountain, as imposing as a great peak.