Chapter 914: Showdown with Hua Yunfei and Li Xiaoman
Ji Ziyue’s long eyelashes trembled, her large eyes sparkling with divine radiance. A faint smile revealed small dimples, making her seem like a sprite—clever, agile, and possessing a transcendent temperament.
Her pupils were like water, her hair like clouds, and her purple robes fluttered lightly as if she might ride the wind and soar away. She appeared as ethereal and radiant as a banished immortal, with brows that condensed poetic charm, untouched by the mundane world’s smoke and fire.
Li Xiaoman looked at the pure and peerless Ji Ziyue, then at Ye Fan. Her expression froze, and specks of light flickered in her eyes, as if recalling some distant memories.
A hint of strangeness crossed her face, and her fingers clenched tightly within her snow-white sleeves. But soon, she regained her cold composure. Gazing at Ji Ziyue, golden vortices appeared on her flawless body, each containing a phantom of a deity sitting in meditation.
The two women faced off, forming a powerful field. Space twisted rapidly, light struggled to penetrate, and the void between them grew blurry. The few Dao Cutters who had not yet left retreated backward.
“Ziyue, you don’t need to act. I can suppress them both alone,” Ye Fan said, stepping forward to shield her behind him. He stared straight at Li Xiaoman, his surging golden blood energy pressing down on everyone’s hearts.
Years had passed, yet time had left no mark on Li Xiaoman’s face. She looked as she always had, but she was no longer the same—too many things had changed.
Li Xiaoman also looked back. Her eyes were clear, her skin snow-white, and her entire demeanor was cold, like a snow lotus on an icy mountain, exuding a chilling aura.
Neither spoke, and the atmosphere grew tense. Ye Fan slowly raised his hand, using the Mountain-Embracing Seal as his opening move, ready to strike with overwhelming force.
“Don’t you want to ask why?” Li Xiaoman finally spoke, calm and natural, staring steadily into Ye Fan’s eyes.
“Is there still a need? Ever since you attacked Pang Bo and the others, refusing to spare even Little Nannan and seeking her death, today’s outcome was sealed. No matter how many reasons you have, you can’t wash the blood from your hands,” Ye Fan said forcefully. Unafraid even of the half-saint before him, he stepped forward step by step.
“Li Xiaoman, how could you bring yourself to do this? We all come from the same place. Why are you so ruthless?” Pang Bo asked angrily.
Li Xiaoman smiled, her eyes unreadable, and spoke an inexplicable phrase: “I have already seen it—the destined duel, its curtain falling.”
“The destined outcome?” Ye Fan laughed, but killing intent filled the air, bitingly cold. “I hate the word ‘destiny.’ I only believe in the present life—that I am invincible in this era, shattering all obstacles, and thus mastering everything. What destiny? What heaven’s decree? All of it is illusory!”
“You haven’t changed, always so arrogant,” Li Xiaoman said with a brilliant smile, though a trace of melancholy flickered in her eyes.
“At this point, I only want to ask one thing: Are you still the real Li Xiaoman?” Ye Fan’s eyes shot out two sharp beams of light, materializing into blinding rays.
“What do you think?” Li Xiaoman smiled, all signs of strangeness vanishing as she regained her calm and composure.
“Li Xiaoman… what happened to you? Tell us directly, and we can pull you back,” Pang Bo said earnestly.
“There’s no need to say more. She changed long ago,” Ye Fan said, his voice tinged with sadness but even more with coldness. His eyes grew icier.
Recalling the past, one could only sigh. They had once been lovers, yet now they were forced into a life-and-death battle. Even without that connection, having come from the same shore, such a confrontation was a tragedy.
“With one word, you erase everything from the past. You’re treating me as a mortal enemy to be slain. That truly chills my heart,” Li Xiaoman said.
“What difference does it make? Didn’t you come here to settle things with me? A life-and-death duel—why pretend otherwise?” Ye Fan said as the Mountain-Embracing Seal took form.
“This is a destined duel, and the curtain must fall. Today, there will be a result,” Li Xiaoman’s tone also turned icy.
“Then let’s fight!” Ye Fan roared, slamming out the Mountain-Embracing Seal, enveloping both Li Xiaoman and Hua Yunfei. A black mountain filled the palace halls, as if opening a world of its own, pressing into every inch of space.
“Boom!”
Li Xiaoman let out a soft cry, and all three hundred and sixty-five golden vortices on her body began to spin simultaneously, emitting chanting sounds like a deity about to resurrect and rule the land.
Threads of golden light shot forth, slashing at the black mountain. They looked grim and terrifying, brimming with killing intent, deciding life and death in an instant without mercy.
Hua Yunfei was no pushover either. Among his peers, few could rival him. Over the years, he had entered ancient tombs and searched burial grounds, unearthing various king bodies and even entering a grand tomb to obtain the origin of a saint’s remains.
The Devouring Demon Art shook the ages. In the past, the Ruthless Great Emperor, an ordinary mortal body, had used this art to dominate the world, defeating all geniuses and heroes. It could be said that although the Ruthless Great Emperor was naturally unsuited for cultivation, her talent was stunning across history. From a mortal body, she created the most terrifying heavenly art, which was the most awe-inspiring aspect.
Moreover, Hua Yunfei was a prodigy. Having cultivated since childhood, even without this art, he could slay all kings without fail!
A black vase formed above his head, and his claim to suppress her brother was no joke, causing even Pang Bo nearby to break out in a cold sweat!
On the other side, Ye Fan’s earth-shattering roar shook the fiercely advancing Hua Yunfei, causing blood to flow from his mouth and nose, and even from the corners of his eyes and ears. Yet his eyes grew even brighter.
With a thunderous crash, his spirit and energy rapidly surged, stabilizing his injuries. He seemed like an ancient immortal reincarnated, untouched by the mundane world but supremely powerful.
His right hand wielded the Soaring Immortal Technique, and his left the Myriad Transformations Sacred Technique—one offensive, one defensive, almost dreamlike. These were the peerless arts of an ancient great emperor, created to counter the Nine Secrets, terrifying beyond measure.
The two clashed. Ye Fan took a step forward, and beneath his feet, Source Heaven patterns spread out, weaving into a great Dao net that transformed into Ye Fan’s immortal wings, slashing horizontally.
Hua Yunfei turned and fled, shouting, “I’ll wait for you ahead. Let’s have a true duel, choose a place without dragon energy, and settle life and death. Let’s see if the Ruthless Great Emperor’s legacy, unparalleled through the ages and unrivaled, or if you are superior!”
“Where do you think you’re going!” On the other side, Ji Ziyue had gained the upper hand, ethereal as a Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden descending to the world, chasing after Li Xiaoman. Pang Bo wiped cold sweat in shock.
“Boom!”
In the distance, the might of an extreme Dao weapon pressed down on the world. This small realm seemed on the verge of destruction. An ancient scroll spread across the sky, rustling and roaring like the long river of time crossing through the ages.
The Nine Li Diagram!
Amid the fierce battles, an imperial weapon appeared. Its patterns were mysterious, shrouded by chaos. The supreme imperial might spread, intimidating everyone. Countless powerful beings knelt, not voluntarily but submitting to the aura of an ancient great emperor.
“Humans, if you dare to use extreme Dao imperial weapons, don’t blame us for being impolite. We’ll destroy this place completely!” The voices of several ancient imperial clans were icy, and the aura of ancient emperors quickly spread, clearly wielding ancient imperial weapons.
This was a catastrophic outcome. If extreme Dao weapons clashed, most people here would die. It wasn’t just one or two weapons; once they erupted, no one could predict the consequences.
Not to mention this small realm, even Central Province would likely sink and collapse on a large scale, an unbearable burden for all living beings.
“Let everyone rely on their own abilities. Relying on extreme Dao imperial weapons and ancient imperial weapons, whoever gets it first claims it,” an old Daoist shouted. His innate pure Yang sound made everyone’s ears ring.
Half-Saint!
It was actually a half-saint, like Qi Luo, unfathomable and drawing everyone’s attention.
His innate pure Yang sound was effective. The various sects weren’t afraid of him, but they truly feared destroying this place. If that happened, they’d gain nothing and risk life and death.
The extreme Dao might slowly subsided, and the battles grew fierce again. Blood flowed and bones shattered at every ancient temple.
“Hua Yunfei, didn’t you want to settle life and death with me? Right here, right now!” Ye Fan’s roar shook all eighty-one ancient temples, causing them to tremble violently.
“Swish!”
Hua Yunfei, elegant and otherworldly, his blue robes fluttering, flew up like an ancient immortal to the top of an ancient palace. Li Xiaoman did the same.
Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue flew up together, landing opposite them. The two sides faced off, a powerful aura surging between them. This battle was destined to be recorded in the cultivation world. The reappearance of the Ruthless Great Emperor’s legacy, clashing with the Human Sacred Body—whether a destined duel or a tragic song—would be revealed between life and death.