[Fantasy] Super Ambiguous Relationship (Complete) - 34-36

Chapter 399 [The Gate of the Ancient Tomb]

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The Heavenly Heart Bell tolled endlessly on the cliff face. Everyone present fixed their gazes on the bell, their eyes fixed, awaiting the final outcome.

The ancient bronze on the bell's surface was peeling away layer by layer, and the once intricate bell patterns were gradually fading, like a once-young man slowly aging, giving the impression of life slipping away.

Bang!

Suddenly, the entire Heavenly Heart Bell flew into the air, as if a mountain had been uprooted, causing the entire cliff face to tremble violently.

At the same time, Tianxinzi spat out a mouthful of blood. Before he could react, his mind went blank, and he fainted...

"You think you can trap me with a mere Heavenly Heart Bell? You all underestimate me, Yang Fan! Break!"

With a roar like thunder, the Heavenly Heart Bell high in the sky exploded with a bang, turning into countless fragments that rained down.

Under the golden afterglow, the bronze bell surface emitted a dark blue light, falling like a torrential rain. As all the fragments hit the ground, a figure slowly appeared in everyone's sight. This person was none other than Yang Fan, who had been suppressed by the Heavenly Heart Bell!

"How is this possible? He actually broke free from the Heavenly Heart Bell? And he even shattered it? Heavens, am I seeing things? How is this possible? Is this real? That's a magic weapon! Or is the Heavenly Heart Bell in Tianxinzi's hand not a magic weapon?"

At this moment, only this thought remained in everyone's mind. They simply couldn't believe that Yang Fan had actually escaped from the Heavenly Heart Bell and shattered it into pieces. This was a magical artifact, a peerless divine weapon with power comparable to a Void Returning expert!

That's why they doubted the bell's material. In their eyes, it was an impossible feat. Therefore, they attributed everything to the bell's material. Unfortunately, no one could answer their questions, because Tianxinzi, his mind severely injured the moment the bell shattered, had already fallen unconscious. However, Yang

Fan had no intention of letting Tianxinzi off so easily. As the saying goes, "If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring breeze." He would strike while the iron was hot, and seeing Tianxinzi unconscious, he would naturally kill him completely. Since the feud with the Heavenly Heart Pavilion was already established, it was better to kill their Holy Son in one fell swoop and severely damage the Heavenly Heart Pavilion's morale.

Just as Yang Fan was preparing to capture all the Tianxin Pavilion disciples, including Tianxinzi, in one fell swoop, a sudden aura interrupted his thoughts.

Looking back, he saw that the desert, once filled with swirling storms and teeming with wild beasts and demons, had suddenly fallen silent. Yang Fan's keen senses detected that the previously hidden spaces above had been exposed, constantly gathering and condensing, seemingly trying to coalesce into a single, massive space. For a moment, the wind howled and clouds swirled, yet the atmosphere remained eerily calm; the entire scene was indescribably strange.

"Could it be that the millennium has passed? The time for the Ancient Tomb Gate to open has come?"

This sudden change forced Yang Fan to suspend his plan to kill the Tianxin Pavilion members. Although annihilating the Tianxin Pavilion disciples was no small matter, compared to the Ancient Tomb, the latter was undoubtedly far more important.

The Ancient Tomb Gate opened only once every thousand years, and each opening lasted only a fleeting moment. If he didn't seize the opportunity, he would lose the chance to enter. Killing the Tianxin Pavilion group meant missing this opportunity, but there would be many more in the future. Therefore, Yang Fan appeared before Nalan Qingcheng and her group almost instantly, awaiting that moment.

"Are you alright?"

Nalan Qingcheng asked calmly upon seeing Yang Fan return.

"I'm fine. The Ancient Tomb Gate is about to open; otherwise, I would have done everything I could to capture these guys completely. But it's alright, as long as they enter the Ancient Tomb, there's still a chance!"

Shaking his head, Yang Fan had gained a comprehensive understanding of Nalan Qingcheng's personality through their interactions over the past few days. Therefore, he wasn't surprised by her coldness; in fact, it was already quite rare for her to even ask him.

"Although the Tianxin Pavilion isn't the strongest among the Holy Lands, it's still a relatively top-ranking sect. If possible, let's resolve this feud; there's no need to make it a life-or-death struggle!"

Tang Ningshuang suddenly interjected.

"Hmph, what kind of bullshit Tianxin Pavilion is this? Do they even deserve to be called a martial arts holy land? As for their so-called Holy Son, killing him is one thing, but I really don't believe Tianxin Pavilion would go to such lengths for a mere Holy Son. You know, there are quite a few people within Tianxin Pavilion who hope this Holy Son dies sooner!"

Hearing Tang Ningshuang's words, Su Xin couldn't help but scoff.

"Is that so? It seems Miss Su Xin knows quite a bit about the various holy lands. I wonder how Miss Su Xin knows all this? Judging from your demeanor, are you also from a holy land, and perhaps even a holy land stronger than Tianxin Pavilion?"

"Alright, now is not the time to discuss this. The Ancient Tomb Gate is about to open. I think we should prepare to enter. Not everyone here can enter. If we're late, we won't be able to get in. Moreover, entering the Ancient Tomb even a second earlier means a greater chance!"

The Ancient Tomb Gate opens once every thousand years, and each opening is limited not only in time but also in the number of people allowed inside. When the maximum number of people is reached, even a powerful expert at the Hunyuan Realm cannot enter. Therefore, Nalan Qingcheng's reminder was not without reason.

"Stay close to me

later!" Yang Fan did not get involved in the argument between the women. It is said that two women make a drama. Now that these women are entangled together, who knows what will happen? Although Nalan Qingcheng is extraordinary and detached from worldly affairs, and Gu Feifei is innocent, with a charming, fickle, and scheming woman like Tang Ningshuang mixed in, there is no guarantee that she won't ignite the fuse. Therefore, as long as they don't actually start fighting, Yang Fan will just pretend to turn a blind eye and not see anything.

Just as Yang Fan was reminding the women, the hidden spaces in the sky above the desert changed again. They kept gathering in the center, like pieces of continental landmass, and after gathering together, they actually glued together perfectly. With one hidden space after another joining, an enormous space gradually appeared before everyone.

The air was filled with the soothing sounds of Buddhist chants. The moment that space appeared, the calming Buddhist chants involuntarily echoed in everyone's minds. The space itself radiated Buddhist light, resembling a Western Paradise from afar.

Seeing this, everyone's breathing quickened. They knew the Ancient Tomb Gate was about to open!

The Ancient Tomb Gate opened once every thousand years, and only those below the Void Returning Realm could enter. This meant that each person only had one chance in their lifetime. After all, no one below the Void Returning Realm could live for a thousand years. And for those above the Void Returning Realm, no amount of temptation would be of any value.

Therefore, everyone present understood that the soon-to-appear Ancient Tomb Gate was their only chance in this lifetime. If they were lucky enough to enter, they might obtain the relic left by Shakyamuni Buddha and the treasures left by that great Buddhist master. Then, they might one day step into the Primordial Realm, become superior beings, become legends, become myths!

Conversely, if they lose this opportunity, they can only watch helplessly as others obtain the treasure, while they themselves gain nothing.

Therefore, as the ancient tomb gradually appeared, the various holy lands tightened their defenses, gathering their disciples to prepare for entering the tomb while secretly guarding against attacks from other holy lands. After all, at this juncture, even the slightest resistance could jeopardize their chance to enter the tomb; they had to nip any possibility in the bud!

"Boom!"

Time ticked by, and just as the holy lands were growing impatient, all the mysterious spaces in the sky converged, forming a massive, independent space. A colossal portal appeared without warning in the sky, right before the holy lands!

This portal soared into the clouds, its material unknown, seemingly a single, flawless piece, neither gold nor wood nor earth nor iron. Its surface emitted a faint milky-white glow, giving it a mesmerizing beauty.

Within the portal emanated an aura of boundless righteousness. The Buddhist chants and radiance all originated from this portal.

It was like a colossal pillar standing between heaven and earth, unapproachable and inviolable! Standing before it, one could feel the insignificance of humanity, the limitation of human power. At this moment, one couldn't help but think that no matter how much one cultivated, one could not break free from the constraints of the mortal world, defy the laws of nature, or breach this portal. This portal seemed to sever the path between humanity and divinity, to block the direction of martial arts advancement!

Behind the portal seemed to lie another world, filled with mystery, allure, and unknown danger! "

Below the Primordial Chaos Realm, all are but ants!" Although everyone knew this saying, never before had such a clear feeling arisen. Facing this portal, indeed, all beings were but ants; indeed, no one could break through this portal!

This portal was the gate to the ancient tomb, the entrance to a minor world created by a Primordial Chaos Realm expert. It is also a watershed moment for martial artists, a boundary separating humans from gods!

Entering it is like leaping over the dragon gate! At this moment, everyone is in an uproar! The millennium has arrived, the gate to the ancient tomb has opened, and the gateway to the Primordial Chaos Realm has officially arrived. At this moment, no one can remain calm anymore; they are all frantic, in a frenzy, rushing towards the portal without regard for their lives!

Even Yang Fan could not remain completely calm at this moment. The instant the portal fully appeared, he led Nalan Qingcheng and her group, and they moved!

"Go!"

The Ghost Shadow Step instantly activated, Yang Fan enveloped Nalan Qingcheng and the others, and rushed towards the portal. At the same time, people from various holy lands also started to move. No one could remain calm anymore; they all used their fastest speed, rushing towards the portal in a frenzy!

Whether it was the Zhiyu Palace or the Yueyin Sect, whether they were Taoists or cultivators, whether they were men or women, at this moment, everyone was completely in an uproar!

"Quick, don't let anyone else go in first!"

At this moment, Long Junsheng didn't have time to be surprised by Yang Fan's previous powerful combat strength. With a shout, he led the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect group and rushed towards the gate like madmen.

"Let's go, Brother Yang has gone in, we don't need to wait!"

At the same time, Yang Feng also led the Chunyang Sect group and leaped towards the gate.

"Interesting, interesting, everyone's moving, my Zhiyu Palace naturally can't fall behind, let's go, we should go in too!"

The handsome man next to Ouyang Ye quietly watched the people rushing towards the gate around him, shook his head and smiled, and then slowly walked towards the gate. However, although his steps seemed slow and even a little slow, his speed was astonishing. In just two steps, he overtook Long Junsheng, Yang Feng and others, and followed closely behind Yang Fan!

"Go!"

The group of disciples from the Youming Devouring Ghost Sect dressed in black also began to move. As soon as they moved, the remaining sects such as Lingbao Qinxin Sect and Xiaoyao Sect also moved at the same time. In an instant, apart from Tianxinzi, the Holy Son of Tianxin Pavilion, who was unconscious on the ground, everyone else, including the other disciples of Tianxin Pavilion, rushed towards the portal. In the blink of an eye, they all entered and disappeared into this world…

“Heh heh! It seems I’m late. I didn’t expect these juniors to get there first. But it doesn’t matter, let them go first. That place is not a fun place!”

Not long after the people from the holy lands disappeared, a bloody figure suddenly appeared on the cliff. As soon as he appeared, a thick smell of blood permeated the entire cliff. This person was none other than the ancestor of the Blood Transformation Sect, the Blood Lotus Old Demon!

“Eh? There’s a little kid here? This body is not bad. It’s just right that I need to hide my identity. This kid seems to be the Holy Son of Tianxin Pavilion. I can make good use of him!”

After saying that, the Blood Lotus Old Demon let out a whoosh and transformed into a river of blood, rushing into Tianxinzi’s body. The next moment, Tianxinzi sprang to his feet. After looking down at his body, he let out a few high-pitched laughs and flew towards the portal.

Shortly after Tianxinzi entered, the portal slowly closed…

Chapter 400 [Qin Mengyao]

“Nalan, are you sure this is the place where a high-ranking Buddhist monk passed away?”

As soon as he entered the portal, Yang Fan asked Nalan Qingcheng beside him.

It's no wonder Yang Fan asked this; anyone seeing this scene would probably have the same thought.

Withered trees, barren mountains, broken walls, ruins, bones. Everything Yang Fan saw revealed how fierce a battle had taken place in this place.

Swallowing hard, Yang Fan cautiously looked around. The moment he stepped into this area, a feeling of unease arose in his heart.

Yang Fan's sharp eyes swept around, trying to find the source of his unease and where it was hiding. But all he could see was a desolate landscape and long-dead corpses. These corpses included human and animal remains, as well as many unrecognizable, bizarrely shaped creatures. There was nothing else in the area before him except for the remains!

"I'm not entirely sure either. Everything about the ancient tomb is just internal records from our sect, left behind by our ancestors. How much of it is true is unknown. However, the records from various holy lands are quite similar, which at least means that a powerful figure from the Buddhist realm must have once existed here! As for these corpses, I think they probably perished while exploring the ancient tomb. After all, the Buddhist realm existed in ancient times, and this place has existed for countless millennia. The tomb's gate opens only once every thousand years; more or less, someone must have entered it!"

Nalan Qingcheng also surveyed her surroundings with a solemn expression. The two exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes. They quietly formed a circle, preparing for battle, before cautiously moving forward.

They circled the area for most of the day, the lingering, chilling sense of danger persisting, yet they couldn't pinpoint its location. Yang Fan grew increasingly impatient.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a cluster of skeletons, and a thought struck him. It was a humanoid corpse, its armor rusted with age, yet Yang Fan sensed a suffocating aura emanating from it. He

slowly approached the skeleton, but just as they neared its edge, a plume of red smoke rose beside it. Then, a phantom emerged from the ground, attaching itself to the skeleton and controlling it to stand.

After the red smoke emerged, it didn't dissipate but instead tightly enveloped the withered bones. A phantom attached itself to the bones, and after a series of indistinct twists, it transformed into the image of a warrior clad in armor.

The warrior, composed of the phantom, the withered bones, and the red smoke, possessed a form that was about four or five parts realistic, but with the slightest movement, the three parts would separate. However, the powerful aura emanating from it was undeniable.

Although he couldn't discern the skeleton's true strength, Yang Fan faintly sensed a pressure emanating from it. This meant that the skeleton was at least a Void Returning Realm expert; only a Void Returning Realm expert could exert such pressure on him!

The remains of a Void Returning Realm expert were casually thrown on the ground—didn't that mean that all the remains in this area were at least Void Returning Realm experts in life?

Thinking of this, Yang Fan felt a sudden jolt in his heart. Returning Void Realm experts were already at the very top of the pyramid outside; there were probably no more than a hundred such beings in the entire China. Yet here, a rough calculation suggested there were at least a thousand. Thousands of Returning Void Realm experts—just thinking about it sent chills down Yang Fan's spine. What a bizarre place it would be if thousands of Returning Void Realm experts had perished simultaneously!

Just as Yang Fan was in shock, the skeleton moved. It didn't care about its opponent's actions; with a flick of its hand, a flash of red light appeared, and a long, blood-red, ancient-looking sword, about two feet long, appeared without warning. Then, it swung it towards Yang Fan. As

the sword swung, the red light on its blade grew longer in the wind, instantly becoming over ten feet long. Before it even touched Yang Fan, he felt a raging fire erupt from both inside and outside his body, threatening to incinerate him completely.

Yang Fan's heart tightened. His inner energy surged, instantly suppressing the turmoil within him. He unleashed a palm strike, sending a long, fiery dragon hurtling towards the red blade of light. In his haste, he had used the Five Elements Technique!

"Boom!"

The two collided, the red blade of light instantly annihilated, while Yang Fan's fire dragon showed no sign of stopping, striking the opponent's head with a deafening roar. A loud explosion followed, and the skull shattered.

Slightly stunned, even Yang Fan himself hadn't expected such an easy victory. While with his current strength, instantly killing a Refining Spirit Realm expert wouldn't be difficult, he still had little chance against a Returning Void Realm expert, as they were simply not on the same level. Moreover, he had acted hastily, using less than twenty percent of his strength, yet his opponent had been instantly killed!

As Yang Fan was still reeling from the shock, he noticed that the skull that had been blasted off its head didn't fall immediately. Instead, the red smoke around it dissipated, shrinking back towards the longsword held in the skeleton's hand. The illusory figure also swiftly disappeared into the ground, vanishing without a trace, as if it had never existed.

Even now, Yang Fan was still somewhat bewildered. He couldn't believe his opponent was so easily defeated, yet the red light it had emitted truly possessed the strength of a Void Returning expert.

Unable to understand, Yang Fan stopped thinking about it and focused his gaze on the ancient, red-glowing longsword. It lay quietly on the ground, completely untouched by dust, as if constantly wiped clean. Seeing this, Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat.

He gripped the longsword, and instantly, a blazing aura flowed from his palm, through his arm, and straight to his heart. In that instant, a murderous impulse surged within Yang Fan. A chill ran through Yang Fan, and he quickly circulated his true energy to force the intense heat from the longsword flowing into his body back.

Looking at the longsword in his hand with suspicion, a strange thought suddenly arose in Yang Fan's mind. Without much thought, he casually swung the longsword, slashing it into the void!

Without any energy driving it, this ownerless longsword, just like it had in the skeleton's hands, shot out a red light over ten feet long. As Yang Fan struck the ground, it tore through the earth, creating a slit over ten feet wide, more than twenty feet long, and unfathomably deep.

"As expected!"

Suppressing his shock, Yang Fan finally confirmed his suspicions. It turned out that the cause of all this wasn't the skeleton, but this strange sword. This strange sword, as long as it could withstand the backlash of that eerie energy, even an ordinary person wielding it would be able to unleash a strike with the power of a Refining Spirit Realm expert!

Thinking of this, Yang Fan couldn't help but shift his gaze to the area around the skeletons. Knives, spears, swords, halberds—all eighteen kinds of weapons were present, along with a variety of defensive magical artifacts such as shields, umbrellas, protective coverings, clothing, and armor.

Seeing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but grin foolishly, his eyes even sparkling as if he were seeing a vast fortune, not just weapons. Without hesitation, he quickly gave instructions to Nalan Qingcheng and the others, and began his rampage!

He collected every weapon within sight, regardless of its type. He also tested the power of these weapons; while not every one possessed the immense power of the red longsword, even a master at the Refining Spirit Realm might not be able to withstand a single blow from them!

As they advanced, the number of corpses on the ground gradually decreased, and the oppressive force in the air grew increasingly intense as they approached the edge of the area. Unlike before, when the bones of martial artists were scattered everywhere, here one often had to walk a long way to find a single skeleton.

Yet, the aura emanating from these skeletons grew stronger and stronger. At the edge of the area, only two skeletons remained, yet these two skeletons gave Yang Fan an unbearable feeling of looking directly at them.

Behind the two skeletons was a magnificent, dilapidated building. Although it was now a ruin, with walls scattered everywhere, even from the remaining skeletons, one could still see how majestic and imposing it must have been in its prime, inspiring awe and reverence.

Looking at the building, Yang Fan forcibly suppressed the urge to peer inside before turning his gaze back to the two skeletons. Intuitively, Yang Fan knew that there must be countless secrets within this hall. If there were so many corpses outside the hall, what about inside? Moreover, the faint pressure emanating from these two corpses told Yang Fan that their strength in life was probably that of true peak Void Returning experts, only one step away from the legendary Primordial Chaos Realm!

Just as Yang Fan shifted his gaze to the two skeletons, a wisp of ethereal golden smoke suddenly rose from the ground beside them, swirling around the skeletons for a moment before enveloping them in a phantom image.

Instantly, a powerful aura rippled outwards from the skeleton, spreading rapidly. The immense pressure swept over Yang Fan, causing his knees to buckle involuntarily, almost causing him to kneel.

After the golden smoke and phantom image enveloped the skeleton, it didn't immediately rise and attack Yang Fan like the other skeletons. Instead, it leisurely stretched, sat up, glanced indifferently at Yang Fan, and then slowly rose to its feet.

Being looked at like that, Yang Fan felt a chill creep up from the tips of his hair, quickly reaching his tailbone, and in a short time, he felt an emotion more unbearable than falling into an ice cave.

"These two skeletons are indeed far superior to those outside. Their aura alone far surpasses that of ordinary peak-stage Refinement Realm experts!"

Yang Fan's internal energy circulated continuously as he desperately resisted the urge to flee that his body was generating. For the first time, he felt the pressure between realms, and for the first time, his body reacted with an irresistible urge, making escape the only correct choice.

At the same time, the other skeleton also changed. Black flames rose around its figure, instantly enveloping its entire body. From a distance, only a ball of black flames could be seen.

"Could these two skeletons truly be Void Return Realm experts?"

Yang Fan licked his dry lips, gazing at one of the skeletons in the distance, muttering to himself.

"If that skeleton was truly a Void Returning expert in life, even after so long, the illusory skeleton, only able to unleash 30-40% of its former strength, would still be far stronger than a peak Spirit Refining expert. If I were to fight it with my physical body, even if I could win, it would be extremely difficult. The people from the various holy lands have already entered the ancient tomb; if I waste too much time here, they might get there first..."

Thinking this, Yang Fan couldn't help but look towards the end of the broken road.

There stood a magnificent, dilapidated building. Although it was now crumbling and ruins everywhere, even just the remaining skeleton revealed how majestic and imposing it must have been in its prime, inspiring awe and reverence.

"Perhaps the true treasure lies deep within, and to reach it, one must pass through here. To pass through here, one must deal with these two skeletons. If even these two skeletons cannot be dealt with, how can one hope to seize the Holy Buddha's Relic?"

With this thought in mind, Yang Fan made up his mind. His eyes, which had been hesitant, cleared as he looked at the two skeletons

. He took a deep breath and strode towards the two skeletons. At the same time, he suddenly noticed something and unconsciously looked towards the other skeleton. There, he vaguely saw a familiar object...

It was a crystal necklace, sparkling in the dim sunlight, radiating a captivating glow, its shimmering pearly luster full of beauty. However, this work of art, perfect from beginning to end, had a flaw. That was, there were specks of recently dried blood on the necklace.

What should have been crimson blood was now a darker red, perhaps due to the passage of time, and had solidified into dried clots fixed to the necklace. Even so, its presence couldn't be concealed. The specks of blood on the crystal necklace looked incongruous and added an unsettling feeling, making the necklace, which originally represented nobility and elegance, appear eerie and cold.

Moreover, upon seeing the necklace, Yang Fan instantly thought of someone. And that person was… Qin… Meng… Yao!

Chapter 401 [What is the Dao?]

Although the necklace was exceptionally exquisite, anyone with a basic understanding of necklaces could immediately tell that it wasn't an antique, and wasn't even that old; it was entirely a modern, high-tech art piece.

However, none of this concerned Yang Fan. What concerned him was that the necklace looked very familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

After thinking carefully, Yang Fan suddenly remembered—wasn't this the necklace worn by the girl he had met when he first left the desert, Qin Mengyao?

Normally, Yang Fan wouldn't remember so clearly, but when Qin Mengyao was buying clothes with him, she deliberately stood very close to him to test his limits, even leaning most of her body against him. As a result, Yang Fan's gaze would inevitably fall on her snow-white neck, and he especially remembered the necklace she wore…

"How could her necklace be here? Could she have come here too? Impossible, Mengyao is just an ordinary person, how could she be here? I must have mistaken her for someone else; maybe someone else left it!"

However, although Yang Fan repeatedly dismissed his guesses, Qin Mengyao's image suddenly surfaced in his mind, refusing to leave!

In fact, Qin Mengyao was the first woman Yang Fan met after leaving the desert, and he felt very good about her. Although their time together was short, it was very pleasant. Later, Yang Fan had to go to Yanjing, while Qin Mengyao had to stay in Urumqi, so they temporarily parted ways.

Even so, they still agreed to meet again in Yanjing at a certain time and place. Later, after Yang Fan arrived in Yanjing, he never received any news from Qin Mengyao. Then, he went to the base, and all contact with Qin Mengyao was completely severed. Her beautiful figure was gradually forgotten. But

today, the necklace before him reminded Yang Fan of the woman with whom he had first been intimate. He recalled every detail of their meeting and time together…

“I wonder how she is now. Filming in the desert isn’t a pleasant experience. I hope she doesn’t encounter another pack of wolves. Sigh, I wonder when I’ll see her again!”

It’s said that first love is awkward and unforgettable. Although Qin Mengyao wasn’t Yang Fan’s first love, and they had never even been in a relationship, she was the first woman he met after leaving the desert. They got along very well, so naturally, his impression of Qin Mengyao was exceptionally deep, and there was an inexplicable, lingering feeling within him.

This feeling was something Yang Fan usually didn't notice, but now, suddenly thinking of her, he realized that, unknowingly, the girl named Qin Mengyao had been deeply imprinted in his heart…

This feeling was different from his longing for Dongfang Lan and Shen Ruoxi. His longing for Dongfang Lan, Shen Ruoxi, and even Lin Wan'er was a profound and unforgettable longing, a love from the bottom of his heart, a love that reached its extreme!

But his longing for Qin Mengyao was a hazy, indescribable feeling, a mixture of reluctance, attachment, and yearning, and a vague, indistinct quality…

"Boom!"

Just as Yang Fan was staring at the necklace, one of the two skeletons suddenly stood up. Not only that, but it actually walked towards Yang Fan step by step, quite human-like!

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

With each step the skeleton took, a series of sharp, grating sounds of bones grinding together echoed. However, to Yang Fan, these same sharp sounds evoked a completely different feeling. It

was as if a giant bell or drum was constantly striking his ears. With each sound from the bones, Yang Fan found his mind involuntarily trembling. The skeleton seemed to emanate no powerful aura, yet it gave him an invincible feeling.

It was as if an inexplicable Daoist force was pressing down on him, making it difficult for Yang Fan to breathe. The skeleton, moving so casually, gave the impression of being one with heaven and earth, with the Dao itself, creating an aura of invincibility. Its mere presence exuded an immovable, flawless, and powerful pressure.

"Expert, this skeleton must have belonged to a Void Returning Realm expert in life. Only a Void Returning Realm expert could exude such an aura of merging with heaven and earth. Void Returning Realm is about imprinting one's divine consciousness between heaven and earth, achieving a state of oneness with nature. Such an existence, even in death, would leave behind a trace of remnant consciousness. Under certain conditions, this remnant consciousness can reside within the corpse and be preserved. Over time, this remnant consciousness can even regain control of the body, thus achieving resurrection!"

"Needless to say, these two skeletons are a case in point. The remnant consciousness residing within the corpse, after years of accumulation, has regained control of the body. Although they haven't quite achieved resurrection, they can unleash several tenths of the deceased's former strength. As for how much they can unleash, it depends on how much control the remnant consciousness has gained over the body!"

"Now, I can only hope that the remnants of consciousness within these two skeletons haven't gained much control over their bodies. Otherwise, with my current strength, even against someone less than half the strength of a Void Returning Realm expert, I'm bound to lose!"

Although Yang Fan was confident, he also knew clearly that with his current strength, while he was virtually invincible among those in the Spirit Refining Realm, and could even instantly kill most Spirit Refining Realm experts, against a true Void Returning Realm expert, there was only one outcome: certain defeat!

The difference between the Realm of Returning to Emptiness and the Realm of Refining Spirit is like the difference between clouds and mud; there is an insurmountable chasm between the two. One is the mastery of spatial power. On the other hand, those in the Realm of Refining Spirit primarily strengthen their divine sense, a process of refining the intangible into the tangible. The Realm of Returning to Emptiness, however, is the process of refining the tangible into the intangible!

Although the names of the realms in martial arts differ, they are all ultimately a process of refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit into emptiness, refining emptiness into the Dao, and refining the Dao into the origin!

Refining essence into qi corresponds to the Realm of Fetal Breathing. Fetal Breathing is the process of transforming one's own essence into the essence needed for bodily functions, thus achieving the state of internal breathing!

Refining qi into spirit is the cultivation process of the Realm of Qi Movement. Humans have three treasures: essence, qi, and spirit. Refining qi into spirit is the unification of these three treasures, achieving a state where the movement of essence leads to the movement of qi, and the movement of qi leads to the movement of spirit.

Refining spirit into emptiness is the Realm of Refining Spirit. Refining one's divine consciousness from formless to tangible strengthens the primordial spirit. Even if the primordial spirit leaves the physical body, it will not die for a short time. During this process, as long as a suitable host can be found, one can possess another and be reborn!

Refining Emptiness and Uniting with the Dao is the state of returning to emptiness. Refining Emptiness and Uniting with the Dao refers to transforming one's divine consciousness from tangible to intangible, merging the primordial spirit with heaven and earth, nature, and the laws of the Great Dao . At this point, even if the physical body is destroyed and possession is hopeless, one will not die completely; as long as a trace of consciousness remains, there is hope for rebirth!

Refining the Dao and Returning to the Origin naturally refers to the state of primordial chaos. Refining the Dao refers to the control of the laws of space, while returning to the origin means transcending the realm of birth and death and returning to true stillness and the original source!

Therefore, the states of refining the spirit and returning to emptiness are processes of bringing divine consciousness from nothing to something, and then from something to nothing. This process is a process from beginning to end, and then from end to beginning. While this process may seem like a simple return to the origin without any change, the difference between the initial nothingness and the final nothingness is vast!

Initially, divine consciousness is merely ordinary spiritual energy, residing in the physical body. When the body perishes, the divine consciousness vanishes. However, the divine consciousness after returning to the Void realm contains the laws of the Great Dao; when the physical body is destroyed, the primordial spirit is born. Leaving aside everything else, the mere phrase "containing the laws of the Great Dao" is enough to represent everything!

Refining the Spirit and returning to the Void are completely different concepts. No matter how strong Yang Fan is, he cannot fight across realms, nor can he use the Refining Spirit realm to fight against the Returning Void realm. Because there is something extra between the two: the laws of the Great Dao!

The Heavenly Dao is vast and boundless, the Human Dao is boundless. What is Heaven? What is the Dao? I dare ask all people under Heaven, what is the Dao? What is the absence of the Dao?

The Dao is the Dao; not conforming to the Dao is the absence of the Dao. The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao. The Dao punishes Heaven, Heaven punishes man, man punishes the heart, and the heart punishes all things. Is the Heavenly Dao vast and boundless? Is the Human Dao boundless? What is the Dao? I am the Dao, the Dao is me, and I am the Dao!

What is the Dao? Where is the Dao? As long as the Way of Heaven endures and the heart of the Way remains undying, the Way will endure forever. All things in Heaven and Earth are the Way, yet all things in Heaven and Earth are also without the Way. The Way is the Way, yet the Way is not the Way;

the Way comes from nothingness, and nothingness is the Way! What is the purpose of cultivation? To become an immortal? No, becoming an immortal is extremely unlikely! Cultivation is for attaining the Way!

But cultivation is going against the will of Heaven. Cultivating Buddhism, Taoism, demonic cultivation, evil cultivation—all are forms of cultivation. Some people often use the banner of "acting on behalf of Heaven" to "slay demons and eliminate evil." Cultivation is already going against Heaven; how can you still act on behalf of Heaven?

Cultivation has no inherent good or evil; the victor is king, the loser is a bandit! Chaos gave birth to Heaven and Earth; Yin at its extreme gave birth to Yang, Yang at its extreme gave birth to Yin—this is Taiji. Taiji is black and white, which can be seen as good and evil. Good is Yang, Yin is evil; Yin and Yang complement each other to form Heaven and Earth. Therefore, Heaven and Earth have no distinction between good and evil; the Way of Heaven is perfectly just!

And the so-called Great Way Law refers to the cultivator's understanding of Heaven and Earth, of all things in the world. This enlightenment, though not mere combat power, is a completely different matter entirely!

A powerhouse at the Returning to the Void Realm begins to comprehend the natural world, all things, and the Dao, while a powerhouse at the Refining Spirit Realm is still striving to strengthen their physical body, expand their divine sense, and grow stronger. They are fundamentally on different levels. How can they be placed on the same starting line?

It was precisely because of this that, sensing the aura of the Great Dao emanating from the two skeletons, Yang Fan immediately confirmed that these two skeletons were once Returning to the Void Realm powerhouses. At the same time, his confidence began to waver. After all, he was facing two genuine Void Returning Realm experts. Even though they had fallen many years ago, that fact remained unchanged…

“PS: I had dinner with friends tonight and drank quite a bit. My head is spinning. I’ve been writing until now, but I can’t keep going. I’ll owe you some for now. I promise to write more tomorrow night, at least 5,000 words. Sorry, brothers!”

Chapter 402 [Familiar Faces]

“Whoosh!”

Just as Yang Fan was thinking, the skeleton moved! Without any big movements, it simply took a step and appeared directly in front of Yang Fan. At the same time, it stretched out a palm, its five fingers pointing outwards, and grabbed at Yang Fan!

It was as if it had directly crossed space and time. Yang Fan didn’t even have time to react before the palm appeared in front of him. At the same time, an overwhelming pressure came from that palm and pressed down on Yang Fan.

That hand didn't seem to belong to a human, but rather to the heavens themselves. It represented the will of the heavens, the will of heaven and earth. To defy it was to oppose heaven and earth, to defy the heavens—a heinous crime!

"Whoosh!"

In desperation, Yang Fan swiftly attacked. The Blood-Drinking Sword flew out with a whoosh, appearing in his hand. Simultaneously, the sword seal activated instantly, sword and seal overlapping, unleashing a terrifying

sword aura that met the hand head-on. However, even this sword aura, capable of instantly killing even a Refining Spirit Realm expert, had absolutely no effect on that hand!

Sparks flashed, but the snow-white bones remained intact. The hand's speed only paused for a brief moment before pressing down on Yang Fan again.

However, it was precisely this momentary pause that gave Yang Fan a chance to catch his breath, finally allowing him to break free from his previous state.

"Hmph, Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, treating the people like straw dogs. Since you are ruthless, why should I be righteous? What about Heaven and Earth? If they are shattered, then nothing will remain!"

With a cold snort, Yang Fan quickly unleashed his Ghost Shadow Steps, retreating rapidly.

Just as he retreated, the palm struck the spot where he had been standing. The afterimage he left behind was instantly shattered by the palm. Not only that, but after shattering his afterimage, the palm completely shredded the space where the afterimage had been, creating a massive black hole.

The black hole slowly dissipated, eventually returning to its previous state. However, the instant the black hole completely recovered, Yang Fan moved again!

He leaped forward with the ferocity of a tiger, directly grabbing at the skeleton. At the same time, gusts of wind appeared around him without warning, making him appear incredibly ethereal.

Having mastered the power of the Five Elements, Yang Fan not only gained control over the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, but also acquired a certain understanding of the power of wind, ice, lightning, and other forces in the world. After all, all things in the world are governed by the Five Elements, and mastering the power of the Five Elements grants him some knowledge of these forces. It was precisely for this reason that Yang Fan used the power of wind to enhance his speed.

Yang Fan's speed was undeniably fast, especially with the aid of the gale; he appeared before the skeleton in the blink of an eye, simultaneously curling his five fingers to grab at the skull.

However, he was fast, but the skeleton was not slow either. Just as Yang Fan's fingers were about to touch the skeleton's body, the skeleton slightly shifted to the side. But this seemingly simple shift allowed Yang Fan's hand to graz the skeleton's shoulder as it grabbed, leaving only an afterimage without harming it in the slightest.

Missing his first attack, Yang Fan's expression remained unchanged. He changed his claw into a palm strike, aiming a palm-blade attack at the direction his opponent had moved away, his target firmly locked on the opponent's throat. Both attacks were simple close-range killing moves; though not flashy, the danger they posed was beyond the comprehension of outsiders!

*Crack!* Just as his palm-blade was about to strike the opponent's body, the skeleton slowly raised its right arm, its claw gently lifting to deflect Yang Fan's palm strike. At the same time, a flash of silver light appeared on its fist, and countless claw shadows suddenly appeared, counterattacking Yang Fan.

*Roar!* The claw shadows seemed to be mixed with the roars of dragons and tigers. Yang Fan's long black hair was blown backward by the gale, but he seemed oblivious, his five fingers flashing rapidly, and countless claw shadows identical to the opponent's suddenly appeared, colliding violently in mid-air!

*Boom!* A muffled thud rang out as claw shadows collided, causing Yang Fan and the skeleton to retreat several feet simultaneously. However, their retreat only accelerated, causing them to become locked in combat even faster. A flurry of palm strikes and clashing fists erupted, instantly plunging them into a chaotic melee. From a distance, their figures were indistinguishable.

The battle between Yang Fan and the skeleton was a contest of combat skills and practical techniques, not demanding high levels of cultivation or energy. Instead, it placed extremely high demands on agility, control of power, and adaptability. While the battle there didn't appear large-scale or involve significant energy fluctuations, the fight Yang Fan was experiencing was incredibly dangerous; a slight misstep could result in serious injury!

However, as the battle progressed, the situation subtly shifted. It seemed Yang Fan was using this opportunity to familiarize himself with his combat techniques and close-quarters combat methods, as if he were intentionally feigning weakness.

The skeleton, however, showed no intention of attacking. This made it seem like the two were sparring and testing each other's skills; at this rate, it would take several hours to determine a victor.

The battle between Yang Fan and the skeleton had already reached a fever pitch, with silver claw shadows filling the sky, making it impossible to distinguish the two combatants!

"Hah!"

Suddenly, Yang Fan roared and retreated explosively. At the same time, a massive diamond-shaped formation suddenly appeared before him. Having fought for so long, he was finally unable to defeat his opponent and had to use the ultimate technique of the Nine-Syllable Mantra: the Diamond Seal!

The massive diamond spun rapidly in the sky, and in an instant, a diamond the size of an acre formed before him. Its surface shimmered with light and radiated Buddhist radiance; the moment it appeared, the entire sky became illuminated.

Seeing the Vajra Diamond suddenly appear in the sky, the skeleton seemed to sense danger. White light emanated from its empty eyes, and its hands began to wave frantically, their palms radiating an eerie glow. Gradually, a pair of silver claws appeared before it.

The instant the silver claws appeared, Yang Fan's Vajra Diamond Seal was finally complete. Using such a powerful attack had drained his energy, leaving him pale, but he didn't hesitate. With a thrust of his palms, the massive diamond hurtled towards its opponent.

Roar!

A hollow sound, like the roar of a beast king, came from the skeleton's mouth as its claws reached for Yang Fan.

Boom! The two collided, creating a powerful sonic boom. Simultaneously, shockwaves of energy rippled outwards from the point of impact, turning everything in their path to ashes. The first to be hit were the skeletons on the ground, which were instantly reduced to ashes by the aftershocks.

Surprisingly, the dilapidated hall remained completely undamaged in the explosion. Moreover, Yang Fan's keen senses detected that when the aftershocks touched the hall, they mysteriously vanished, as if dissolved by some mysterious force.

"Five Elements Fire, Blazing Inferno!"

The powerful killing move from the Nine True Words still had no effect. In desperation, Yang Fan unleashed the power of the Five-Colored Pearl without hesitation. After all, the Five-Colored Pearl was a magical artifact, on par with a Void Returning Realm expert. Using it against this expert who had been a Void Returning Realm expert in life was perfectly suited.

Through their prolonged exchange, Yang Fan knew that he was inferior to his opponent in terms of technique, and the difference in their realms was too great. No matter how powerful his killing moves were, they would be easily neutralized by his opponent. This was because his opponent possessed spatial power and could completely convert his energy.

Although he possessed spatial power within his body and had thoroughly refined the spatial power within the Heavenly Heart Bell, this power remained dormant, unusable. Therefore, Yang Fan was essentially a treasure trove in name only, unable to utilize it!

To completely defeat the skeleton before him, he needed to use the same spatial power to erode the opponent's spatial power. Only by narrowing the gap between them could Yang Fan have a chance to win. Otherwise, he would never be able to harm his opponent. With the unleashing of the "

Blazing Heaven" technique, endless flames filled the sky. From within the sea of fire, countless fire dragons soared into the sky, rushing towards the skeleton. In mid-air, these fire dragons formed a massive cage, seemingly isolating space and attempting to completely seal the skeleton within.

Sure enough, with the "Blazing Heaven" technique activated, a hint of surprise appeared in the skeleton's empty eyes for the first time. Although its eyes were empty, merely two hollows, Yang Fan felt as if they truly held a pair of eyes, eyes that could see into one's soul; no one could keep a secret from it!

Whoosh!

The skeleton hesitated only for a moment before calming down. Facing the endless sea of fire and hundreds of fire dragons, it made no significant movements. It simply raised its hand, its five fingers opening and closing!

But that opening and closing gave the impression of heaven and earth closing together. With the opening and closing of its fingers, the flames on the ground extinguished without warning. The fire dragons in mid-air also seemed to lose their support, dissipating into nothingness.

"It's spatial power again!"

Yang Fan keenly realized that it wasn't that his blazing inferno was broken by the opponent's attack, but rather that the opponent had used spatial power to transfer his killing move to an unknown spatial realm, far from the battlefield, thus failing to harm the opponent in the slightest.

However, although his killing move was broken, Yang Fan discovered a phenomenon that surprised him greatly. This skeleton, while possessing the strength of a Void Returning Realm expert, seemed unable to endlessly unleash its spatial power. Each use of spatial power was extremely taxing.

For example, although the skeleton successfully redirected its killing move using spatial power, its aura seemed significantly weaker. Not only was the luster of its bones dimmed, but its imposing presence was also diminished. At least, facing its opponent again, Yang Fan wouldn't feel an overwhelming sense of powerlessness, as if facing the heavens themselves.

"I thought you had no weaknesses, but it turns out you can't overuse spatial power. In that case, once I completely exhaust your spatial power, you'll have no choice but to surrender obediently!"

Thinking this, Yang Fan felt much more confident. At the same time, he unleashed a barrage of killing moves!

"Wooden Lock Dragon!"

"Flood Heaven and Earth!"

"Earth Buries All Things!"

"Gold Severing the Sky!"

"..."

Yang Fan unleashed a barrage of killing moves from the Five Elements Sect. Although each attack was ultimately redirected by the skeleton's unique spatial manipulation, the skeleton's aura grew weaker and weaker under Yang Fan's almost tireless attacks, and the luster of its bones dimmed further and further!

"It's almost there! Its energy will soon be insufficient to support the activation of spatial power. As long as it can't activate spatial power, I'll have a way to deal with it!"

Sensing the increasingly unstable aura of the skeleton, Yang Fan was overjoyed. The biggest difference between the Void Returning Realm and the Divine Refinement Realm lies in the mastery of spatial power. Without mastery of spatial power, even a Void Returning Realm expert, though stronger than a Divine Refinement Realm expert, wouldn't necessarily be unable to defeat them.

Moreover, this skeleton was a Void Returning Realm expert in life, and although its remnants of consciousness haven't been extinguished, allowing it to unleash some of its former strength, once it can no longer activate spatial power, then what will be the final outcome when it encounters Yang Fan, a near-invincible freak in the Divine Refinement Realm? It's truly uncertain!

One is getting weaker with each fight, the other is getting stronger; one is eager to fight, the other is exhausted. Comparing the two, the scales of victory are gradually tipping in Yang Fan's favor.

However, just as Yang Fan was about to reclaim his victory, another powerful aura suddenly emanated from the dilapidated buildings. Another skeleton had slowly begun to fight!

One skeleton had already required almost all of Yang Fan's abilities to barely suppress it; if another were added, wouldn't that be equivalent to two Void Returning Realm experts?

Sensing the increasingly powerful aura, Yang Fan's heart sank to the bottom. Putting everything else aside, this aura alone was significantly stronger than the previous skeleton's. This meant that the remaining consciousness of this skeleton had far greater control over its body than the previous skeleton, and the Void Returning Realm strength it could unleash far surpassed that of a true expert!

"How can I fight this? How am I supposed to fight this?"

Yang Fan didn't know; he truly didn't know. Even if he could barely hold off one of the skeletons, Nalan Qingcheng and all her companions combined wouldn't be a match for the other. Even if they used magical artifacts, they might not be able to defeat it, since Nalan Qingcheng and her group weren't strong enough to fully unleash the power of their artifacts. On the other hand, that skeleton was a genuine Void Returning Realm expert!

"Am I destined to die today? I never thought that I, Yang Fan, who has roamed the martial world for so long and rarely encountered a worthy opponent, would end up like this. It's just a pity I can't say goodbye to Ruoxi and the others!"

It wasn't that Yang Fan lacked confidence, but with their current strength, facing two Void Returning Realm experts simultaneously, did they really have even the slightest chance of winning? Not only that, they didn't even have a chance to escape.

You must know that Void Returning Realm experts control the power of space. For a mere Refining Spirit Realm cultivator to escape from a Void Returning Realm expert who controls the power of space is almost impossible.

Ask yourself, no matter how fast you are, can you be faster than teleportation? No matter how agile you are, what use is your agility if your opponent imprisons space?

In fact, since ancient times, anyone at the Refining Spirit Realm facing a Returning Void Realm expert has only two fates: death or surrender!

In Yang Fan's view, surrender isn't shameful, but the problem is that those he faces, while Returning Void Realm experts, aren't true Returning Void Realm experts, but merely two skeletons with the strength of Returning Void Realm experts. Will they accept his surrender?

The answer is undoubtedly yes, and there's only one outcome: no, absolutely not. Compared to gaining a few followers, those two skeletons are probably more interested in his life essence…

"It seems I have no choice but to fight with my back against the wall and use my trump card!"

While fighting the skeletons and sensing the increasingly powerful aura emanating from the other skeleton, Yang Fan gritted his teeth, preparing for a final, desperate battle!

However, at that moment, a discordant voice suddenly came from the ruins, causing Yang Fan to stop using his hidden methods, and also making the two skeletons stop simultaneously!

"Little Black, Little White, stop!"

Judging from the voice, it should be a girl's voice, not loud, slightly soft, and with a touch of magnetism. However, judging from this voice, this person had no cultivation whatsoever, yet such a voice made the two skeletons, who possessed the strength of the Returning to the Void Realm, stop simultaneously. This was truly astonishing!

However, what was even more astonishing was that this voice sounded somewhat familiar to Yang Fan.

Just as Yang Fan was wondering, a beautiful figure slowly emerged from the ruins. When Yang Fan saw the figure, his mouth gaped open wide enough to fit several eggs!

A simple casual outfit accentuated her slender figure, and her dreamlike eyes were captivating at first glance. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders, making her look like a fairy from the Jade Pool.

She possessed an angelic face, untouched by makeup, with snow-white skin, rosy lips, delicate eyelashes, and large, starry eyes that shimmered with a faint mist, an ethereal beauty that seemed to defy worldly strife, like a pure angel newly descended to earth. Her oval face and soft, fair skin were dazzling even in the darkness.

Below her straight, jade-like nose were small, pink cherry lips, a hallmark of youth, and a pair of eyes like cold stars, shining brightly in the darkness, yet gentle and warm—truly a stunningly beautiful young woman.

This outfit—wasn't it the one Yang Fan knew so well? That exquisite face—wasn't it the face Yang Fan knew so well?

Chapter 403 [Super Bodyguard]

A figure in a white dress landed ten feet away, and everyone's eyes froze in astonishment. In this misty, gloomy place, the figure was like a delicate orchid in a secluded valley, fragile yet beautiful and radiant, causing everyone's hearts to flutter with the gentle movement of her white dress.

She possessed an extremely unique, tranquil and serene temperament, as pure and vast as the misty air of a summer mountain, bringing immense peace to those around her. In comparison, although her appearance was beautiful, it became secondary to this aura.

"Meng... Yao! What are you doing here?"

In that instant, Yang Fan didn't even have time to think about why the two skeletons had suddenly stopped, because all his attention was drawn to the figure that had suddenly appeared. He never expected that Qin Mengyao would be here!

"Yang Fan?"

At the same time, Qin Mengyao also noticed Yang Fan. The moment she saw him clearly, she was also surprised: "You...you guys? How did you get here?"

The sudden turn of events left Nalan Qingcheng and the others completely bewildered. While surprised by the sudden appearance of the figure, they were also surprised that Yang Fan knew Qin Mengyao...

"Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai, come back, they are my friends!"

After the initial surprise, Qin Mengyao spoke to the two skeletons.

As soon as she finished speaking, the two Void Returning Realm experts, who had been maintaining their fighting stances and exuding high momentum just a moment ago, instantly lost all their aura and obediently walked behind Qin Mengyao like kittens.

Seeing the two skeletons' actions, Yang Fan's mouth, which had just closed, gaped open again. He didn't even notice that his shoulder was dislocated. How could these big guys, whom he couldn't defeat even with his life on the line, become so obedient to Qin Mengyao? So these two guys are perverts too…

Seeing Yang Fan’s expression, Qin Mengyao couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle, “They are two little guys I met by chance. They are innocent and thought you were going to harm me, so they attacked you. They are usually very well-behaved!”

“Well-behaved…”

Yang Fan’s lips twitched involuntarily. His gaze fell again on the two huge skeletons that would terrify any normal person. It seemed that these two skeletons had absolutely nothing to do with being well-behaved!

However, Yang Fan didn't dwell on this issue. He knew that while the remnants of consciousness left behind by a Void Returning Realm expert could be preserved and take over a body under certain conditions, these remnants didn't retain their memories of their previous life. The reason they could still display some of their former abilities was merely due to their inherent nature.

Therefore, these remnants were like newborn infants, with extremely simple minds. As long as they encountered someone they could accept, they would treat that person as family. Like pets, they were extremely loyal to those they accepted and would never betray them.

Clearly, this was the relationship between the two skeletons and Qin Mengyao. He wondered what good deeds she had done in her past life to be able to gain the acceptance of these two skeletons. No wonder she could be safe and sound here; with such super bodyguards, it would be impossible for her to cause any trouble!

"By the way, Yang Fan, didn't you go to Yanjing? How come you're here?"

Just as Yang Fan was lost in thought, Qin Mengyao's voice came again.

Upon hearing this, Yang Fan recounted his experiences in Yanjing to the other person, including his participation in the base. Of course, he avoided mentioning his romantic escapades in Yanjing.

Strangely enough, although he and Qin Mengyao hadn't spent much time together—only a few days—facing each other again felt like they had known each other for a long time, like kindred spirits. That's why Yang Fan told her everything that had happened.

When he mentioned his mission was to find a group of archaeologists, Qin Mengyao suddenly interrupted him, asking, "What did you say? You came here to find a group of archaeologists?"

"Yes, what's wrong? Wait, how come you… could it be…"

Yang Fan blurted out without thinking. Halfway through his sentence, he seemed to suddenly realize something, looking at Qin Mengyao with surprise.

Upon seeing Yang Fan, Qin Mengyao blushed slightly and said shyly, "You guessed right, I am one of the archaeologists you are looking for!"

"Aren't you an actress? How did you become an archaeologist?"

Although he had already considered this possibility, Yang Fan still found it hard to believe when Qin Mengyao admitted it herself. He simply couldn't connect the Qin Mengyao before him with those archaeologists who dealt with the dead all day. In his mind, archaeologists were all elderly people in their seventies or eighties, with gray hair and reading glasses. But Qin Mengyao, not only young, but also dealing with the dead every day…

"There's no other way. Do you think archaeology is fun? Not only are there frequent dangers during the investigation, but some criminals also try to take advantage of the situation, often suddenly appearing when we discover ancient sites and stealing many national artifacts!"

"To prevent being monitored by those criminals, we have to find another identity to cover it up, saying we're filming in the desert, but actually we're investigating an ancient, lost city."

"I never imagined we'd have everything under control, but the secret still got out. Just as we discovered the ancient site, a group of tomb raiders suddenly appeared, stealing not only the map we found but also many of the artifacts. Not only that, they've ruined us like this. Humph, if I find out who stole our artifacts, I'll make sure they spend their whole lives in jail!"

Hearing Qin Mengyao's words, Yang Fan couldn't help but turn his gaze to Wan Tiancheng. Wan Tiancheng's face flushed red at Yang Fan's gaze. Because the tomb raider Qin Mengyao was talking about was himself. Although he had taken the Heavenly Eye Pearl and left without lingering, he was the one who leaked the news of the ancient tomb. This attracted not only more tomb raiders but also dragged in almost every major and minor force in the martial arts world. Normally,

this wouldn't be a big deal; as a former tomb raider, he had done this kind of thing countless times over the years, and in most cases, this was his usual practice. He used to secretly follow a team of archaeologists, waiting until they had almost finished their discovery before stealthily stealing their spoils.

But things are different now. Not only has he reformed, but he's now under Yang Fan's command. Judging from the woman's relationship with Yang Fan, it's clearly not ordinary. What if she's still his mistress? If she finds out he followed her and stole their spoils, she could whisper in Yang Fan's ear, and he could punish him like a child. He could suffer the punishment,

after all, he'd done something wrong and offended his mistress. But if Yang Fan held a grudge against him because of this, he'd be in big trouble! The more Wan Tiancheng thought about it, the more suspicious it became, his expression grew increasingly distorted, and his gaze towards Yang Fan became more and more pitiful…

However, Yang Fan didn't notice Wan Tiancheng's psychological changes, and he couldn't possibly tell Qin Mengyao about this. Although the incident appears to have been caused by Wan Tiancheng, in reality, it would have happened even without him. The people of the various holy lands would never abandon this millennium-long period!

What Yang Fan was truly concerned about was how Qin Mengyao had arrived here. He knew that everyone, including himself and the others from the holy lands, entered through that portal, waiting for the millennium to begin… but Qin Mengyao had clearly arrived before that. How did she get here? If she didn't enter through the main gate, it meant there wasn't just one entrance; there must be other entrances elsewhere!

"By the way, Mengyao, how did you get here, and what about your companions?"

With this thought in mind, Yang Fan asked without hesitation.

"Here's the thing, although the artifacts we discovered were lost, and a map was also missing, I had taken precautions and kept a copy of the map as a backup. Therefore, even though the map was lost, our archaeological work didn't stop; we continued according to the map." "

Following the map's directions, we eventually arrived at an oasis. Although we didn't know how it happened, all my colleagues unanimously agreed that this expedition would be the biggest discovery in history. So we didn't give up and continued working." "

That oasis, on the surface, was peaceful, but it concealed countless dangers. It harbored numerous ferocious beasts, and many of my colleagues were killed by them during the expedition. But our expedition didn't stop. Then, suddenly, we encountered a group of extremely powerful beasts. During the escape, I got separated from my colleagues. Later, I accidentally fell off a cliff, and when I woke up, I was here!"

"Because I didn't know where this place was, I didn't dare to wander around. Luckily, I met Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai. With them by my side, I've been here alone these past few days. Although it's been a bit lonely,

I haven't had any safety issues. I originally planned to have Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai accompany me to find my colleagues today, so I left my necklace here in case any colleagues came here and knew I had been here." "I didn't expect you to arrive so soon after I left for a short while to pack my things and prepare to leave. It's because I wasn't here that Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai attacked you..."

Although Qin Mengyao didn't explain very clearly, Yang Fan had at least grasped the gist of the situation. The oasis she saw was clearly the same one he had visited before.

That place appeared peaceful on the surface, but it was fraught with danger. However, judging from Qin Mengyao's words, they didn't seem to have entered the core of the oasis; otherwise, with their strength, they wouldn't have been able to come out alive.

You must know that deep within the oasis, there are demonic beasts with strength comparable to those at the Void Returning Realm. Only on the outer perimeter of the oasis do ordinary ferocious beasts live.

As for how Qin Mengyao got here, even she probably doesn't know. It can only be attributed to a stroke of luck!

However, on the other hand, Yang Fan was actually quite glad he arrived in time. Otherwise, Qin Mengyao, carrying those two skeletons, would probably have searched the ends of the earth for her companions and never found them. This place and the oasis were completely different worlds!

Yang Fan guessed that Qin Mengyao's colleagues were probably all dead, as not everyone had her luck. In that perilous place where even Refining Spirit Realm experts could perish at any moment, how could her ordinary colleagues possibly survive?

Of course, Yang Fan couldn't tell Qin Mengyao any of this. After all, those were her colleagues; they spent every day together and must have developed deep bonds. If she knew they were all gone, Yang Fan couldn't guarantee she could handle it.

But regardless, Qin Mengyao's appearance had averted a major crisis for Yang Fan and his companions. If it weren't for her, he might already be on the run. After all, those two skeletons possessed the strength of the Returning Void Realm!

But now, these two skeletons have become their two greatest assets! They've also become Yang Fan and his companions' biggest bargaining chip in their quest for the treasure. After all, while Yang Fan's cultivation isn't weak, the various holy lands aren't pushovers either; not every holy land is as vulnerable as the Heavenly Heart Pavilion. Moreover, each of the holy lands possesses magical artifacts. If they were provoked, and they all joined forces, even Yang Fan with nine lives wouldn't be able to withstand it!

But now, things are better. With these two super bodyguards whose strength rivals that of a Void Returning expert, Yang Fan can at least seize the treasure without any worries, without constantly worrying about the safety of Gu Feifei and the others.

Speaking of which, Yang Fan hadn't expected this mission to be so dangerous. Otherwise, he would never have let Gu Feifei and the others take this risk. In this place where Refining Spirit Realm experts are everywhere, their mere Nascent Soul Realm strength is utterly insignificant, not even enough to protect themselves!

However, Yang Fan didn't consider the group a burden. Leaving aside everything else, without Su Xin alone, he didn't know how many precious spiritual herbs and rare treasures he would have missed along the way!

They chatted about the events of their journey and recounted their experiences after they separated. During this time, Yang Fan also introduced Qin Mengyao to the others.

After a brief pause, the group continued their journey. Unbeknownst to Yang Fan, his team had grown considerably. Not only had they gained one more person, but they had also gained two super bodyguards…

Chapter 404 [Ruins of the Yin Soul]

"Mengyao, do you know what's inside this hall?"

Standing outside the dilapidated hall, Yang Fan asked Qin Mengyao beside him. His intuition told him that this hall was definitely not as simple as it appeared. Although he hadn't discovered anything, he felt that the dilapidated hall was like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey, extremely dangerous.

Yang Fan's question to Qin Mengyao wasn't random. After all, the other party had been here for a long time, and might have made some discoveries.

"I don't know. I wanted to go in and take a look several times, but Little Black and Little White wouldn't let me. They told me that it was very dangerous inside and I couldn't get close. Although I've been here for several days, I've always stayed on the outside and dared not go in!"

"Oh? Even they said it's dangerous?"

Yang Fan's gaze swept over the two skeletons. Even now, he was still a little unaccustomed to Qin Mengyao's way of addressing them. Calling the two skeletons Little Black and Little White, and both of them were powerful experts at the Returning to the Void Realm. Throughout the entire continent, there was probably only one like Qin Mengyao!

But then again, even they felt there was danger inside, so this place was probably not a safe place at all. Although the strength of these two skeletons was not comparable to that in life, their perception was still genuinely at the Returning to the Void Realm. A place that even they felt was dangerous must be extraordinary.

But the problem was, although Yang Fan also sensed danger inside, deep in his heart, it seemed that a voice was constantly calling him, urging him to enter. Something seemed to be drawing him there, preventing him from leaving despite several attempts to make up his mind.

"Forget it, fortune favors the bold. Entering an ancient tomb to search for treasure is inherently dangerous, especially since even if the Buddha's relics truly exist, they wouldn't be in some ordinary place. Perhaps there are clues to them here!"

Finally, Yang Fan gritted his teeth and decided to go and investigate.

Of course, he had also considered whether this was the dwelling place of that high-ranking Buddhist monk, and whether the Buddha's relics were within. But Yang Fan didn't dare to think that way. He wasn't so narcissistic as to believe his luck would be that good!

After a moment's thought, Yang Fan voiced his thoughts. Originally, he intended to enter alone to explore, but Gu Feifei and the others had surprisingly similar opinions, refusing to let him go alone and insisting on going with him. Even Nalan Qingcheng and Qin Mengyao felt the same way. Helpless, Yang Fan could only lead the group into the dilapidated hall…

The entire hall was utterly dark, and within the darkness, shadowy figures seemed to lurk, as if countless ferocious creatures were lurking within. A sudden, fierce wind arose, whipping against the surrounding ruins, withered branches, and fallen leaves, producing eerie howls. The entire hall was shrouded in darkness, like a ghostly realm.

In the darkness, Yang Fan and his group cautiously advanced through the passage. A sense of danger stirred within Yang Fan; this place was like a forbidden zone for the living and a paradise for the dead. The group moved slowly in a circle, closely observing every change in their surroundings.

Suddenly, Yang Fan stopped. Qin Mengyao was about to ask a question when she saw, without warning, several mounds of earth appearing in the distance. At first, they were just fist-sized mounds, but they quickly swelled into spheres two or three meters in diameter, emerging from the ground. Inside, something was constantly churning.

The clods of earth rose and fell, like beating hearts, a scene both disgusting and eerie. The material forming these clods was clearly not ordinary soil; the nauseating stench and the viscous, dripping black liquid looked ominous. Then, black phantoms appeared around them.

"Be careful! Don't let these things touch you! The phantoms are poisonous!"

Looking at the monsters that suddenly emerged from the ground, Yang Fan felt a chill run down his spine. With just one glance, he could tell that these phantoms contained a potent poison.

"Yang Fan, what are these things?"

Seeing the increasing number of phantoms around them, Gu Feifei's face paled. She had never seen anything like these ghostly beings before, and as a woman, she couldn't help but feel a sense of fear upon seeing them.

"I'm not entirely sure, but judging from their appearance, they don't seem to belong to the category of living beings..."

Clenching his fist, Yang Fan considered attacking the phantoms, but ultimately refrained from doing so.

"Judging from their appearance, they seem to be ghosts!"

After a moment of silence, Qin Mengyao slowly spoke.

"Ghosts?"

"Ghosts!"

Upon hearing Qin Mengyao's words, Wan Tiancheng and Yang Fan reacted very differently.

"What, Brother Wan, do you know anything about ghosts?"

Yang Fan asked suspiciously.

"I know a little, but I've only read about ghosts in some books. I've never actually seen one!"

"According to the books, ghosts are special creatures formed from the lingering souls of dead beings in places with extremely heavy yin energy. They live in the dark world, their bodies are extremely hard, and under the pollution of yin energy, they completely lose their intelligence, becoming mindless, semi-solid monsters."

"They attack and devour each other to strengthen themselves. While individual spirits aren't particularly powerful, their sheer numbers make them formidable."

"Wherever there are living beings, there will be death, and these deaths breed resentment. Under certain conditions, this resentment can mutate, forming spirits."

"Among spirits, the truly threatening are not the spirits themselves, but the Spirit Kings. These Spirit Kings evolve by devouring countless spirits. Their power far surpasses that of spirits; each Spirit King can rule over millions of spirits, using them for both combat and consumption." "

However, spirits mostly appear in ancient tombs, specifically those of emperors and high-ranking officials. These individuals, often of great power and influence, would bury countless slaves with them after death. These slaves, upon death, would transform into spirits to guard their tombs!"

"I originally thought that ghosts were just something people made up, because over the years I've visited no less than a hundred ancient tombs, but I've never seen a single one. I never expected to encounter so many today!"

"Uncle, you also enjoy archaeology? I didn't expect we'd be in the same line of work!"

Qin Mengyao suddenly spoke up before Wan Tiancheng could finish.

"Uncle...uncle?"

Wan Tiancheng's mouth gaped open, speechless for a long time. Although he looked older than his age, he was only just over forty. How could he be called "uncle"?

Furthermore, Qin Mengyao's question truly embarrassed him for a while. Wan Tiancheng, who never knew how to blush, blushed for the first time in his life. He couldn't possibly tell Qin Mengyao that his true identity was that of a tomb raider, could he? Wouldn't that be tantamount to indirectly telling her that he stole their map and the Heavenly Eye Bead?

After finally calming down, Wan Tiancheng could only stammer, "No, no, I'm just curious about this kind of thing. I can't compare to an archaeologist like Miss Qin!"

"How could that be? Anyone who loves archaeology is an archaeologist. There's no such thing as an 'academic.' Besides, I'm just a newbie. Uncle, you even know about ghosts, you must be very knowledgeable about archaeology. You know, my master told me about ghosts, and I didn't expect you to know more than him! If there's a chance, I must introduce my master to you, Uncle. I guarantee you two will become very good friends!"

"Ahem, we'll see...we'll see!"

Wan Tiancheng really didn't dare argue with Qin Mengyao any further on this issue. If he continued, he'd definitely be exposed. Therefore, he could only keep changing the subject.

Just as Yang Fan and the others were confirming the identities of the creatures before them, strangely shaped and incredibly ugly monsters emerged from the surrounding darkness. Some had three heads, some had enormous bodies but extremely short heads, some had heads as big as buckets but long, thin bodies, some had beast heads and human bodies, some had bird heads and beast bodies, some were bizarrely shaped, impossible to describe in detail.

At this time, Wan Tiancheng had already told Yang Fan about the Yin spirits, so he wasn't too surprised. Although these Yin spirits were extremely ugly and terrifying, Yang Fan and the others were no ordinary people. After the initial fear, they had calmed down and were ready to face these monsters.

Suddenly, one Yin spirit, unable to resist the urge to attack, twisted its elusive body and quickly approached Yang Fan. Although its speed seemed slow, it appeared before Yang Fan in the blink of an eye.

"Seeking death!"

Looking at the bull-headed, snake-bodied Yin spirit, Yang Fan coldly snorted, flicked his sleeve, and unleashed a powerful palm strike. However, to Yang Fan's astonishment, his palm strike didn't kill the Yin spirit!

Although he didn't use his full strength, with Yang Fan's current power, a casual wave of his hand could instantly turn even a massive boulder weighing ten thousand pounds to ashes. Moreover, his attack carried a hint of anger. Its power was self-evident, yet even such a powerful attack failed to kill the Yin spirit.

At the same time, Nalan Qingcheng and her companions also encountered attacks from Yin spirits. However, their situation was similar to Yang Fan's; although they repelled their opponents, they failed to completely kill them.

Having already gained some understanding of the ferocity of Yin spirits, Nalan Qingcheng and her companions had no goodwill towards them and harbored no compassion; their attacks were all imbued with killing intent. But to their surprise, they couldn't even kill a single Yin spirit!

Although the bodies of the Yin spirits they attacked were scattered, they quickly reformed in the darkness, instantly reforming themselves.

"What's going on?"

Unconvinced, the group attacked again, but the result was the same. While they couldn't get the spirits close, they simply couldn't destroy one.

"Hmph, I refuse to believe I can't kill you all!"

After several attempts, Yang Fan finally unleashed his full power. With a flick of his wrist, a ball of yellow flame appeared in his palm. He gently clenched it, and the flame exploded into tiny sparks. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the yellow flame flew out!

"Pfft! Pfft!"

This time, it actually worked. The moment the yellow flame touched the spirits, they were like mice before a cat, unable to even utter a scream before being incinerated to ashes.

"These things are undead; they have no physical form. Ordinary attacks are ineffective. We can only deal with them using methods for dealing with undead!" With

the attack working, Yang Fan's face lit up with joy. While continuing his fire attacks, he didn't forget to remind the others.

In fact, even without him saying it, the others had already noticed this. After all, each of them was a seasoned veteran, and through testing, they could naturally discover the weaknesses of the Yin spirits.

Nalan Qingcheng's fingertips moved incessantly, and white petals formed from them, shooting outwards. Each petal that flew out took the life of a Yin spirit. Although the attack range wasn't as wide as Yang Fan's, its speed was far superior, so the damage she inflicted was no less than Yang Fan's.

Actually, these Yin spirits couldn't cause them any real harm, but their sheer number made it impossible for Yang Fan and the others to escape. Furthermore, being in this mysterious place, they dared not move rashly.

As the saying goes, even ants can kill an elephant; these Yin spirits seemed endless. At the current rate, it would take forever to kill them all. Not to mention whether they could withstand such attrition, they were currently in an unknown location and couldn't afford to waste any more time here.

Moreover, Yang Fan discovered that these ghostly attacks were not random; they were well-balanced in offense and defense, with ample room for maneuver. It was clear they were disciplined and organized, meaning that a more powerful commander was hidden behind them. There must be a so-called Ghost King controlling this group of ghosts!

Thinking this, Yang Fan focused his attention on the dense swarm of ghosts around him, simultaneously spreading his divine sense to search the surrounding area.

Sure enough, his efforts paid off. Soon, he spotted a monster, two or three stories tall, hidden among the ghosts in a dark corner. It was constantly waving its claws, issuing commands, ordering the ghosts to relentlessly attack Yang Fan and his companions.

The black monster resembled a human but was bald, surrounded by swirling black mist, its form indistinct. Occasionally, a human-head-sized bulge would rise and fall on its body, its strange appearance unclear.

It seemed to think Yang Fan couldn't see her at all. It kept waving its claws, and with each swing, a large number of Yin spirits were grabbed and stuffed into its mouth without a word. In just a short while, it had devoured dozens of Yin spirits. The other Yin spirits dared not complain at all, but desperately attacked Yang Fan and his companions.

"Yin Spirit King!"

The moment Yang Fan saw the monster, he immediately confirmed its identity!

Chapter 405 [Soul-Locking Domain]

"Yin Spirit King?"

Yang Fan carefully examined the huge monster, and his heart couldn't help but be shocked again. He

had only glanced at it briefly, and hadn't expected that on this monster's body, there were not just protrusions the size of human heads, but countless human heads, bird heads, and beast heads flashing!

These human heads, bird heads, and beast heads all had faces that were ferocious yet filled with sorrow. They would open their eyes wide in anger and roar, clearly full of ferocity, but they could not find a way out.

It was unknown how many souls it had devoured to grow into such a gigantic, disgusting, and terrifying monster. If one didn't look closely, this Soul King truly resembled a large horde of souls gathered together. If Yang Fan hadn't been so observant, he wouldn't have noticed its presence at all.

"Nalan, you guys hold them off for a bit, I'll be right back!"

Yang Fan naturally understood the principle of capturing the leader first; if he didn't kill the Soul King first, the attacks from these souls would be endless.

Although Nalan Qingcheng didn't know what Yang Fan was planning, out of trust in him, they all nodded in unison as he spoke, then stood back to back, completely entrusting their backs to him.

At the same time, Yang Fan launched his attack. With a slight twitch of his shoulder, the Ghost Shadow Steps were rapidly activated, and in almost an instant, he appeared before the Soul King. Then, a palm strike imbued with a powerful gust of wind slammed down upon it.

Although surrounded by darkness, Yang Fan's vision remained unaffected. The Yin Soul King, clearly unprepared for this turn of events, despite its relatively low intelligence, sensed the powerful force of Yang Fan's palm strike. In desperation, it retreated rapidly while simultaneously controlling its Yin Souls to attack Yang Fan.

"Trying to escape!"

Seeing that its opponent didn't want a direct confrontation, Yang Fan increased his speed again, ignoring the Yin Souls charging towards him. His outstretched hand remained firmly locked on its opponent.

Roar! At this moment, the Yin Soul King realized it had no way to avoid the attack and let out a furious roar. Although it didn't know how Yang Fan had detected it, it still launched a counterattack.

From the terrifying human, bird, and beast heads on its body came screams of agony, like the wailing of ghosts and wolves. These screams formed a unique sound wave in the air, and Yang Fan even vaguely sensed that the sound waves were forming a strange monster in mid-air, hurtling towards him.

"A sonic attack?"

This type of sonic attack, while not harming the physical body, can directly damage a person's consciousness and soul. Moreover, it is intangible and intangible, utterly malevolent. Once attacked, at best, one's consciousness is damaged; at worst, it is completely destroyed, turning one into a corpse. Even worse, under a sonic attack, the opponent's soul may be controlled, turning them into a puppet. The Heavenly Heart Sect's Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique belongs to the latter category.

Therefore, facing such an attack, Yang Fan dared not be careless in the slightest. His previous attack had to be temporarily halted. His body paused, but without any significant movement, he slightly puffed out his cheeks, and then a dragon's roar emanated from his mouth. A divine dragon formed from sonic waves roared and charged towards the monster. It was the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds he had suddenly learned from the base!

Bang!

The two sonic waves collided instantly in mid-air. Without any pause, the divine dragon, with the force of a rotten log, instantly scattered the monster. Without hesitation, it charged directly towards the Yin Soul King.

The sudden attack caused the Yin Soul King's continuously moving body to abruptly halt, and the monstrous heads on its body also briefly stopped. Its massive body seemed to be frozen in place, completely immobile.

However, its immobility did not mean Yang Fan was inactive. Taking advantage of this instant, Yang Fan appeared before the Yin Soul King without warning, simultaneously pressing his palm lightly against its chest.

*Poof!*

The palm struck the massive body of the Ghost King with a dull thud, like the sound of a basketball being bounced. The slender hand was utterly insignificant compared to the Ghost King's enormous frame, yet this seemingly powerless blow forced the Ghost King to retreat. Dozens of its heads exploded, emitting a series of agonizing screams that sent chills down one's spine.

"Roar!"

Yang Fan's powerful attack enraged the Ghost King. Its intelligence was already limited, and its nature was primarily focused on killing; attacks didn't evoke fear but instead fueled its ferocity. With a roar, the Ghost King didn't attack Yang Fan but instead charged into the horde of ghosts.

Although enraged, the Ghost King hadn't lost its reason; it knew it wouldn't gain any advantage in a direct confrontation with Yang Fan, hence its retreat into the horde. Firstly, it could use the spirits to obscure Yang Fan's vision; secondly, it could continuously devour spirits to strengthen itself.

Spirits were the food the Spirit King fed; normally, while it devoured spirits, it maintained a certain number, preventing them from falling below a certain threshold. This was simple: only by maintaining a certain number of spirits could it continuously devour them.

But now, it had no choice but to desperately devour spirits, because at this moment, it had no time to think about the future; overcoming the immediate crisis was the most important thing.

Wherever the Spirit King passed, devastation ensued, creating a vacuum zone where spirits were almost instantly devoured. Forced by the Spirit King's power, the spirits could only dare to vent their anger, directing it towards Gu Feifei and her companion, launching a fierce attack on them.

As the Yin Soul King continued to devour, its power grew stronger, and the heads that Yang Fan had just blasted off its body were replenished. These heads were essentially the Yin Soul King's life force; each lost head weakened it, while each gained head increased its strength. With its relentless devouring, the number of heads on its body grew ever larger. However,

Yang Fan didn't stop the Yin Soul King's devouring. He merely symbolically chased after it, neither too fast nor too slow, simply keeping it in check, allowing it to continuously devour the Yin Souls.

Yang Fan's move was undeniably ruthless. These Yin Souls were countless, and if they were to kill them one by one, it would take an indefinite amount of time. Now, with such a free henchman, how could he let it go?

Although the Yin Soul King was powerful, it wasn't enough to impress Yang Fan. However, it had to be admitted that in terms of devouring Yin Souls, its killing speed was far superior. They killed one by one, or in small groups, but the opponent devoured them in droves, with each devouring thousands of spirits.

This significantly reduced the pressure on Nalan Qingcheng and her companions, and the number of spirits decreased at an alarming rate.

Gradually, the King of the Underworld realized Yang Fan's intentions, but at this point, it had no other choice. So, it decided to go all in. It suddenly stopped, and its heads simultaneously emitted screams, but this time, they weren't attacking Yang Fan; instead, they were targeting the underworld spirits.

Hearing the screams, the underworld spirits, though somewhat unwilling, still rushed towards the King of the Underworld. In the blink of an eye, all the underworld spirits were gathered around the King of the Underworld, looking from a distance like a giant swarm of bees, with countless small bees surrounding the queen!

This sudden change also made Nalan Qingcheng and the others stop. Upon closer inspection, their pupils contracted simultaneously. Not far in front of them, a monster hundreds of feet tall, its entire body covered in terrifying heads, floated in mid-air. It was wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, like a constantly twisting tornado.

Not only them, but even Yang Fan was somewhat taken aback. Although his initial goal was to have the Soul King devour some of the Yin Souls, he hadn't expected it to be so ruthless, devouring all the Yin Souls directly!

In fact, if he hadn't been pushed so hard, the Soul King wouldn't have made such a desperate move. These Yin Souls, while food, were also, in a sense, his subordinates, his weapons for defeating enemies.

But now, all of this had been completely destroyed by the human before him. How could it not be furious? No matter what, it wouldn't let the other party go!

Having devoured millions of Yin Souls, the Soul King's strength had increased countless times, and its enormous size gave off a powerful sense of oppression. Facing the Soul King before him, even Yang Fan had to be cautious.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, the Soul King launched an attack on Yang Fan without warning. It had been forced to devour all its subordinates; its hatred for Yang Fan was unimaginable.

A vast expanse of black shadows, like a colossal mountain, loomed over Yang Fan as the massive body of the Yin Soul King pressed down upon him

. Yang Fan felt as if a million vengeful spirits were charging at him simultaneously, sending chills down his spine! Without hesitation, Yang Fan flicked his finger, unleashing a sword aura that struck the Yin Soul King with the speed of a laser beam. Instantly, a four-foot-wide, tens-of-zhang-long gash appeared between the Yin Soul King's shoulders and abdomen. It was just a hair's breadth away from cleaving him in two.

However, to Yang Fan's surprise, black currents surged from both sides of the Yin Soul King's split body, creating a suction force that bound the nearly two halves back together. While a small crack remained in the Yin Soul King's body, it was largely unharmed.

"What's going on?"

Yang Fan was secretly astonished. He hadn't expected the Yin Soul King to be so powerful; even the sword seal within the Immovable King Seal couldn't harm it.

Just then, the Wraith King had returned to normal. Completely enraged by Yang Fan, it suddenly raised its massive foot and stomped down hard on where Yang Fan stood.

The ground trembled violently, and a huge footprint appeared where it landed, cracks spreading outwards from the footprint. In desperation, Yang Fan had no choice but to retreat quickly. However, the instant he retreated, the Wraith King opened its enormous mouth, a flash of black energy around it, and suddenly spat out something that enveloped Yang Fan.

The thing it spat out resembled a puddle of mud, its color dark and its shape strange, with objects constantly protruding from within. From a distance, it was unclear what it was, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that it contained countless remnant souls, each with a hideous face, human heads and bird bodies, constantly ramming against the mud.

Unaware of the nature of the sludge, no matter how ferocious the remnants of the human-headed, bird-bodied souls were, or how powerful their impact, they could only retreat in defeat, unable to escape. The remnants grew increasingly anxious and furious. Upon discovering Yang Fan, a living being, they were overjoyed and scattered, leaving a large empty space for him, as if waiting for his return.

Seeing this, Yang Fan could only circulate his true energy, forming streams of protective aura around himself, and shoot them towards the monsters, intending to bring them down. However, the seemingly chaotic monsters, which appeared easily broken, were completely unaffected by the innate protective aura, as if sinking into the sea.

Yang Fan prepared to activate his true energy again to escape the sludge's embrace, but for some reason, it was as if an intangible force had enveloped him, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not break free.

As the sludge drew ever closer, at this critical moment, the Buddha relic in Yang Fan's hand suddenly shone brightly with white light. With a sweep of the light, the sludge was frozen in mid-air. At the same time, Yang Fan sensed something entering the Buddha relic along with the white light.

Yang Fan always carried this Buddha relic with him; besides its storage function, he had never discovered any other use for it, but he never expected it to play a role at this moment. However, Yang Fan had no time to investigate this. More flashes of white light appeared, and the sludge began to dissipate, vanishing into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

Seeing this, the Yin Soul King was filled with both anger and terror. Those were hundreds of thousands of Yin Souls it had just devoured, yet in an instant, most of them had disappeared. With a roar, it spat out a cloud of black light, enveloping Yang Fan and the others.

Instantly, the group seemed to be trapped in a hellish realm, surrounded by endless vengeful spirits and surging resentment that threatened to penetrate their bodies and assault their consciousness. This was the Yin Soul King's unique killing move: the Soul-Locking Domain!

Chapter 406 [Ancient Tomb Treasure]

This Soul-Locking Domain was forged from the souls of millions of Yin Souls. Within it, one was constantly bombarded by the resentment of the Yin Souls. Even the strongest soul would ultimately have its consciousness shattered within this domain.

However, the Soul-Locking Domain had a significant disadvantage: each activation consumed a vast amount of resentment, a tremendous drain on the Yin Soul King, who fed on resentment. But in its eyes, as long as it could deal with the enemy who was harming it, it was all worth it!

At that moment, the Buddha Relic in Yang Fan's hand shone brightly once more, flashing with white light, like the Buddha himself descending. This time, its power was hundreds of times greater than before. Instantly, the mist surrounding them scattered in all directions, like the dissipation of morning fog as the sun rises.

Under the white light, distorted faces appeared within the black mist—the forms of the ghostly spirits. At first, they screamed incessantly under the white light, but gradually, their expressions became serene, even possessing an indescribable mockery!

"What's going on?"

Before Yang Fan and the others could react, the Ghost King suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream. Through the white light, Yang Fan and the others discovered that its massive body was shrinking rapidly, and the Soul-Locking Domain that had trapped them instantly shattered!

This time, Yang Fan clearly felt streams of pure spiritual energy surging towards the Buddha relic in his hand from all directions. Under the influence of this spiritual energy, not only did the Buddha relic become more vibrant, but he also felt an indescribable sense of comfort. The negative effects of his previous battle with the Yin Soul King completely disappeared.

These Yin Souls represent the evil side of humanity. Spending too much time with them naturally makes one's mood irritable, and the inner turmoil is involuntarily aroused. Perhaps this turmoil can be suppressed temporarily, but over time, it will slowly grow within one's body, eventually taking root and sprouting, completely unleashing the dark side of human nature.

Human nature is inherently good; bad people are not born bad, but their desires are often stronger than ordinary people. In other words, they cannot suppress the dark side within them, allowing this darkness to obscure their true nature. Therefore, they commit immoral and shameful acts.

Everyone, regardless of their capacity for thought, possesses both dark and righteous emotions, though most people can suppress their darker side. However, under specific conditions, such as childhood experiences and encounters, the darker side can be awakened. Or, they may be tempted by external influences, as is the case with Yang Fan and the others. Unbeknownst to them, they have been influenced by evil spirits, planting seeds of evil within their hearts. If these seeds are not eradicated, not only will they not be able to control their nature, but they will also pose a significant threat to their future cultivation path.

This is known as a "heart demon," which usually remains hidden but can erupt under certain conditions, especially during tribulations. Many martial arts masters perish during lightning tempering. Fortunately, the seed of evil, just planted in Yang Fan's body, was dissolved by the Buddhist power of the Buddha relic

. Not only him, but even Gu Feifei and the others, when bathed in the Buddha's light, involuntarily became serene, seemingly forgetting everything around them.

Just as the group was stunned, the Yin Soul King, who had been surrounding them a moment before, had vanished without a trace. Instead, where the Yin Soul King had stood, a round sphere resembling a goose egg had appeared.

This object was grayish-white and didn't look particularly appealing. With a flick of his wrist, Yang Fan pulled it into his hand. A brief examination revealed that it was soft yet firm; pressing it would cause it to spring back almost instantly. However, Yang Fan sensed extremely pure soul energy within it!

"What is this thing?"

Looking at the small object left behind by the Yin Soul King in his hand, Yang Fan frowned slightly. Everything seemed somewhat strange, but he couldn't immediately pinpoint what was amiss.

Nevertheless, it had at least allowed him to unexpectedly break the Yin Soul King's killing move. Otherwise, that Soul-Locking Domain, judging by its sheer power, was clearly a spatial attack that only a Void Returning Realm expert could unleash!

And spatial power was one of the things Yang Fan currently lacked most. Against a Void Returning Realm expert, if the opponent didn't use spatial power, he still had a fighting chance. But if the opponent used spatial power, he had no chance of winning.

Putting away the small item left behind by the Yin Soul King, Yang Fan and his group continued their journey. This time, without the Yin Soul's obstruction, the rest of the journey was quite peaceful, and they encountered no attacks along the way. After groping in the darkness for about half an hour, they finally reached the depths of the main hall.

Despite its dilapidated exterior, the hall was surprisingly spacious inside, and its original state hadn't been significantly damaged. Judging from the distance they had traveled, the hall probably covered an area of no less than a thousand acres!

Deep within the hall was an open space the size of a football field, constructed from unknown materials. The entire hall was undecorated, exuding grandeur and magnificence. Directly opposite them was a stone surface tens of feet high, radiating a hazy gray glow.

"Yang Fan, did you see anything?"

Su Xin suddenly pointed at the stone wall and asked Yang Fan.

"I don't know, I just have a feeling. This stone surface seems to connect to a passage inside, but this passage is blocked by a mysterious force. However, this feeling is very vague, and I'm not sure!"

Yang Fan stared blankly at the stone wall, lost in thought.

"I have the same feeling!"

Nalan Qingcheng nodded as well.

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

"..."

In an instant, the group shared their feelings. Unexpectedly, they were all so similar!

"What exactly is it? It looks like just a stone, but how can it feel like a living thing?"

Gu Feifei asked doubtfully.

"I don't know either, but judging from its appearance, it seems like a seal or something, or it connects to some unknown place."

"I thought it was just me who had this feeling, but I didn't expect you to have it too. I always feel that those ghosts from earlier are related to this thing. Let me try to see what it is."

As he spoke, Yang Fan walked towards the stone surface, wanting to see how to open it. However, Yang Fan didn't use brute force to open it. Instead, he gently placed his palm on the stone surface, and then his divine sense flowed directly from his palm into the stone!

Boom!

Yang Fan felt his divine sense suddenly enter a chaotic space. This space was boundless, devoid of any life force or fluctuations. Yang Fan knew this was the internal space of the stone slab. While astonished, he carefully spread his divine sense in all directions.

Sure enough, under the careful probing of his divine sense, Yang Fan discovered countless profound and mysterious arrays hidden within the stone surface. He didn't recognize many of these arrays, but he knew that accidentally touching them would trigger their activation, and the consequences would be self-evident!

However, the current situation was also quite dire. Although Yang Fan was confident he could slowly break through these arrays one by one, that would take an unknown amount of time, and his divine sense couldn't withstand such a drain. Furthermore, if one accidentally triggers a formation, who knows what might happen?

After much thought, Yang Fan finally found a solution: he discovered that these formations were actually a complex, interconnected system, where a single disruption could affect the entire formation. Therefore, if he could find the formation's core and break it, the formations would automatically cease, and all problems would be solved!

With this plan in mind, Yang Fan immediately mobilized all his divine sense to search through the formations, attempting to locate the core. However, this was no easy task either.

The core was the most crucial element of a formation; therefore, it was often hidden very well, deep within the formation itself, making it even more difficult to find than breaking the formation itself.

Wave after wave of divine sense spread out as Yang Fan carefully probed the formations, trying to find the core by circumventing obstacles. Although it was a massive undertaking, Yang Fan's powerful spiritual sense and thorough understanding of formations allowed him to finally locate the array's core after an hour.

During this time, he remained motionless, one hand resting on the stone surface. Gu Feifei and the others dared not disturb him, only watching anxiously. Just as they were growing impatient, Yang Fan finally moved. With a slight tremor of

his right hand, a goose-shaped sphere appeared before their eyes—the only thing left behind by the Yin Soul King. Without hesitation, the sphere hurtled towards the stone surface. Just when everyone thought it would shatter, the sphere vanished without a trace, disappearing into the stone surface without warning.

Inside the stone, Yang Fan, controlling the sphere with his spiritual sense, carefully moved it towards the array's core. In his haste to move forward, Yang Fan hadn't given the sphere he obtained from the Yin Soul King much thought. However, when he found the array's core, he finally understood the sphere's purpose and why it contained such immense soul power!

In fact, the appearance of the Yin Souls wasn't without significance. Even if Yang Fan and his group hadn't encountered the Yin Souls, they would have encountered other monsters. Monsters like the Yin Souls were the key and core to breaking this great array!

Because those Yin Souls contained vast amounts of soul power. Only by injecting this soul power into the array's core could the array be temporarily halted, allowing them to open the passage behind the stone surface.

Without the infusion of soul power into the array's core, the only option would be to forcibly break the array. This could potentially release all the demonic creatures sealed within the main hall, subjecting the person who triggered the array to an endless barrage of monsters.

This was precisely the glimmer of hope left by the powerful being who created all this, having foreseen the workings of Heaven—the glimmer of hope being the discovery of something possessing soul power. Fortunately, Yang Fan and his companions were lucky; through sheer chance, they stumbled upon this glimmer of hope.

"Shatter!"

Controlling the goose-shaped sphere with his divine sense, Yang Fan shouted as it slowly moved above the array's core. Instantly, all his divine sense converged at a single point, striking the sphere like a sharp sword. Although the sphere was sturdy, it shattered with a deafening roar under Yang Fan's reckless attack. A vast amount of soul power surged forth, instantly filling the entire array space with immense soul fluctuations.

Yang Fan had timed it perfectly. The instant the sphere cracked, his divine sense spread out again, enveloping the soul power that was about to spill out in all directions, and pressing it down towards the array's core.

In an instant, all the soul power surged into the array's core. At the same time, the originally gray stone surface, like water, gradually cleared up...

Boom! The turbid stone surface slowly receded, and finally, a stone surface as clear as a mirror appeared before everyone's eyes. Ripples even appeared on the stone surface, like a crystal-clear lake. However, these ripples were not real water waves, but rather the patterns that appeared when the massive soul power dispersed.

"Go!"

At the same time, Yang Fan let out a long roar, his true energy suddenly activating, instantly enveloping Gu Feifei and the others, and with a whoosh, he disappeared before the mirror. At the same time, the ripples that had spread outwards in all directions strangely receded, pushing back against the stone surface. With this reversal, the surface, which had just regained its clarity, became murky again, and soon returned to its previous grayish state, as if everything that had happened before was merely an illusion…

“This is…”

Gu Feifei and the others, still reeling from their previous shock, were once again stunned by the scene before them.

Before them stood a magnificent, golden hall, filled with the fragrance of medicine and shimmering with golden light. Various elixirs were readily available, and weapons radiating a cold light were scattered everywhere. Compared to the medicinal herbs they had painstakingly searched for along the way, these were readily available here, and the weapons, radiating a chilling light, all displayed their formidable power and strength. For a moment, Gu Feifei and the others were completely dumbfounded!

“Ancient tomb treasure!”

After a long while, the phrase simultaneously appeared in their minds. They exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes, they saw a deep sense of joy.

Chapter 407 [Never]

Before them, a magnificent, resplendent landscape, the air thick with the aroma of spiritual herbs, exuded the aura of a celestial realm. In the distance, ethereal mists swirled, and a grand hall loomed in the distance, resembling a celestial realm. Rays of Buddhist light emanated from the hall, illuminating the entire space.

Every blade of grass, every brick, every tile here, if taken outside, would be a priceless relic, a divine medicine coveted by countless martial artists. Even with Yang Fan's composure, he was speechless at the sight before him, his mind filled with only one thought: This is too powerful!

No wonder people from all the holy lands coveted this place, no wonder all the martial artists in the world flocked here. Anyone, upon learning of the abundance of spiritual herbs, would probably go mad for it!

"Where is this place? It's so beautiful!"

Among the group, perhaps only the naive Gu Feifei remained calm. Although she had been sent to the base and exposed herself to many things ordinary people had never encountered, she didn't know much about the spiritual herbs and magical treasures of the martial arts world. As for money, having grown up without worries about food and clothing, she was completely unaware of the value of money. That's why she could only utter the word "beautiful" when faced with all this; otherwise, she would probably have had the same expression as Yang Fan and the others.

Speaking of composure, Su Xin also appeared somewhat calm. While not as naive as Gu Feifei, she didn't lose her composure. Therefore, upon hearing Gu Feifei's question, she couldn't help but smile and say, "This is probably the true sacred ground of that Buddhist monk. Only the sacred ground of a Hunyuan Realm expert would have so many spiritual herbs and such abundant spiritual energy. Moreover, I can clearly sense a unique aura of a Hunyuan Realm expert here!"

"A unique aura of a Hunyuan Realm expert?"

"That's right. Hunyuan Realm experts are no longer considered martial artists; they have merged with the Heavenly Dao and become part of the Great Dao. However, precisely because of this, each Hunyuan Realm expert exudes a special aura, a unique aura of a martial artist. And their sacred grounds, due to their long-term residence, also retain this aura."

"Have you noticed how easy it is to calm the mind and enter a meditative state in this place? It's also much easier to gain enlightenment quickly. All of this is because the aura emanating from those who cultivated at the Primordial Chaos Realm remains within this training ground. This aura contains their understanding of the Heavenly Dao and the Martial Dao. While this understanding may be negligible to them, it's more effective than any elixir for ordinary martial artists!"

Su Xin explained, prompting the others to try and feel it themselves. Sure enough, it was indeed very easy to enter a meditative state. The group nodded in agreement.

"That's right, I felt it too. This feeling is similar to that of Hundred Flowers Valley in our sect. It aids in cultivation and enlightenment. Hundred Flowers Valley is where generations of Primordial Chaos Realm masters of our Hundred Flowers Sect have secluded themselves for cultivation. Only direct disciples can cultivate there. I've been there for a while and am very familiar with this feeling!"

Nalan Qingcheng said.

As she spoke, she shifted her gaze to Su Xin. Clearly, she was very curious as to why this woman, who seemed to have no cultivation or background, knew so much. Not only was she knowledgeable about the major holy lands, but she could even identify the secluded cultivation sites of experts at the Hunyuan Realm.

Yang Fan also knew that each holy land possessed its own true foundation, the nature of which outsiders had no idea. Without exception, every sect had a sacred cultivation ground within its own sect, exclusively for the use of its elite disciples.

Cultivating in these sacred grounds not only yielded twice the results with half the effort but also aided the cultivator's comprehension of the Great Dao and their breakthroughs in cultivation realms. This was because these sacred cultivation grounds were where experts at the Hunyuan Realm of each sect cultivated.

Not to mention the immense amount of spiritual energy they absorbed during cultivation—even a tiny wisp of it was enough to benefit ordinary martial artists immensely—the aura they unconsciously emitted during cultivation was enough to provide endless benefits to their disciples.

Moreover, the secluded cultivation grounds of the Primordial Chaos Realm possess endless spiritual herbs and incredibly rich spiritual energy. All these factors combined would be enough to propel even a pig to the Refining Spirit Realm!

This is why there are so many Refining Spirit Realm experts in the various holy lands. However, there are very few experts at the Returning Void Realm. This is

because the Returning Void Realm is no longer a realm attainable through spiritual herbs, spiritual energy, or the initiation of power by a master. To see through the Returning Void Realm, one must rely on one word: Enlightenment!

Enlightenment is enlightenment; without it, there is no way to achieve it. Attaining the Dao is like this; once enlightened, one instantly reaches the Returning Void Realm, becoming one with heaven and earth, resonating with the Great Dao. Without enlightenment, one can never break free from the shackles of the physical body, cannot master the Dao of Space, and cannot merge the primordial spirit with heaven and earth.

Therefore, the journey from the Refining Spirit Realm to the Returning Void Realm hinges on enlightenment; it relies solely on oneself, and is completely independent of anything else. That is why, although there are many people in the Refining Spirit Realm in the major holy lands, the Returning Void Realm experts are extremely rare, and as for the Primordial Chaos Realm, they can be counted on one hand!

As the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, Nalan Qingcheng possessed the Body of a Hundred Flowers, so the sect naturally nurtured her with all its might. Therefore, it was not difficult for her to have cultivated in the holy lands. At first, she didn't recognize this place, but after Su Xin mentioned it, she naturally made the connection. However, what puzzled her was why Su Xin also knew about this place?

The same question lingered in Yang Fan's mind. His impression of Su Xin was one of tranquility and serenity, pure and serene like a hundred lotuses. Moreover, as a healer, she also possessed a heart dedicated to saving the world. However, as he spent more time with her, he increasingly realized that Su Xin was far from the simple person he had initially perceived.

Putting aside her erudition and medical skills, her understanding of the various holy lands, martial artists, and the martial world was enough to make Yang Fan, a so-called martial artist, feel ashamed. Because what he knew was less than one ten-thousandth of what she possessed! No matter

how you looked at it, she was not as simple as she appeared. Just like Tang Wan, who was originally just a successful urban woman, she suddenly transformed into the Grand Elder of the base, becoming a figure second only to the leader. Moreover, she, who previously seemed to have no cultivation whatsoever, has now become unfathomable; even Yang Fan has never been able to discern her true level of cultivation.

And now, Yang Fan seems to see a shadow of Tang Wan in Su Xin…

It's a strange and wondrous feeling, but in that instant, Yang Fan finds it perfectly normal. He seems to have already decided in his heart that Su Xin and Tang Wan are the same kind of people, even that they both come from the same place, a place he doesn't know. And Su Xin doesn't seem like the frail healer she appears to be!

As if sensing Yang Fan's thoughts, Su Xin smiled slightly at him and said, "Don't overthink it. You'll understand everything someday. As for my identity, you'll find out sooner or later. And as for Elder Tang Wan's identity, you don't need to guess too much. Just remember, we will never hurt you!"

"We will never hurt you!"

These were originally unremarkable words, but at this moment, hearing them, Yang Fan felt an indescribable sensation. It was as if such a sentence was already etched in his soul, as if someone had said the same thing to him long ago. This sentence seemed to have been imprinted deep within his soul, only now being fully activated!

"Never hurt you? Why? Why do I feel a pang of heartache when I hear these words? It's like losing something I love. Why? I've never heard these words before, and no one has ever said them to me, so why? Why do these words feel so familiar? Why? Why is this?"

Yang Fan's emotions were completely disrupted by Su Xin's words, as he asked himself countless "whys" in his mind. Chaos, frustration, and agitation filled his heart, an indescribable feeling that made him want to explode but couldn't.

"Boom!"

In that instant, the crimson dragon markings on Yang Fan's body suddenly unsealed again, and a crimson dragon burst forth from his body, soaring into the sky. In a mere instant, the area behind Yang Fan was stained a sea of blood, as if connected to a sea of blood, to the hellish realm of mountains of corpses!

At the same time, a faint shadow appeared in Yang Fan's eyes. That shadow was not a physical entity, but a projection of the mind, a return of the soul!

The figure was indistinct, unclear, only vaguely discernible as a woman dressed in white, tall and slender, flawless from head to toe, exquisitely beautiful, yet indescribable in words. Even without seeing her face, her figure alone was enough to tell that this woman was an absolutely stunning beauty, capable of captivating all beings!

However, when Yang Fan tried to see the woman's face clearly, he found it shrouded in an inescapable mist. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make out her features!

Yet, although he couldn't see her face, Yang Fan found himself intimately familiar with her. He seemed to know every single one of her movements perfectly. Her image seemed etched deep within his heart, imprinted on his soul, indelible!

"Don't worry, I will never hurt you!"

the woman actually spoke. Her voice was incredibly beautiful, her breath as sweet as orchids, her gentle notes like a secluded valley, a clear spring, or the joyful song of a lark.

But within that voice, Yang Fan felt a piercing, excruciating pain, as if his heart had shattered the moment she spoke, as if he had lost something incredibly precious.

His eyes gradually welled up with tears, and two streams of clear tears involuntarily flowed down his cheeks. Yet Yang Fan seemed oblivious, still staring blankly ahead. His gaze seemed to pierce through the void, see through time, returning to the past, to an unknown era…

The glistening tears, reflecting the sunlight, were as translucent as jade. Slowly falling, they shimmered like two pearls, gleaming with an alluring luster.

“Plop!”

The tears landed, like pearls shattering, making two crisp sounds.

At the same moment, the figure in Yang Fan's eyes, along with the falling tears, shattered gently, turning into starlight and disappearing into nothingness.

“No!”

The instant the figure shattered, Yang Fan cried out in a hoarse voice. It was as if he had lost something most important; regret, loss, and remorse all converged in his heart, causing him to completely lose control of his emotions!

"Why? Why did this happen? Why did you do this? You know perfectly well that I did it not because you did anything wrong, and I didn't want to punish you or get revenge. I just... I just couldn't accept it! But you... but you, why did you have to prove yourself this way?"

"Do you want to tell me this way that I misunderstood you? Do you want to get revenge on me this way, making me regret it for the rest of my life? Do you want to end everything this way?"

"You're so cruel! You're so cruel! You have such a cruel heart! I hate it so much, I regret it so much, why did I do that? Why? Why? Why..."

Yang Fan muttered words that Nalan Qingcheng and the others couldn't understand at all. His expression was crazed and lost, and his dark and clear eyes gradually became confused, even showing traces of bloodshot!

The blood dragon in the sky also moved and rolled in the sky with the fluctuations of Yang Fan's emotions. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered and the wind surged, as if the end of the world had come. The once radiant fairyland had instantly become a battlefield overrun by demons!

Yang Fan's breathing was constantly changing, sometimes rapid, sometimes slow, sometimes panting like an ox, sometimes like an old tortoise, not catching his breath for a long time. And strangely, the entire sky changed with his breathing; when his breathing was rapid, the wind and clouds surged, when his breathing was steady, the sky was clear for miles! His body trembled incessantly, as if he were engaged in some intense internal struggle.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, a mouthful of bright red blood spurted from his mouth, and his body suddenly collapsed...

Chapter 408 [Ancient Tomb Appears!]

"Yang Fan!"

"Brother Yang!"

"Young Master Yang!"

The sudden change threw Nalan Qingcheng and the others into a panic. They couldn't understand why Yang Fan, who had been perfectly fine just moments before, would suddenly go berserk, uttering words no one could understand.

On the contrary, Su Xin, looking at the unconscious Yang Fan, seemed as if nothing had happened. She stared blankly at Yang Fan, a faint light flickering in her dark, bright eyes…

Boom!

The blood dragon above the clouds, along with Yang Fan's unconsciousness, automatically descended from the sky, returning to Yang Fan's body and hiding itself. In the sky, the dark clouds dissipated, and the sun shone brightly, as if everything that had just happened was nothing but an illusion.

“Hmm…”

Just as Nalan Qingcheng and the others rushed to Yang Fan's side, the unconscious Yang Fan suddenly let out a soft groan, then abruptly stood up.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

However, his first words upon waking made Nalan Qingcheng and the others turn pale!

What did he mean by “What’s wrong?” What happened? How could he forget what he did and said in the blink of an eye? Or was this guy faking it?

However, everyone present was an expert in such matters. Although they didn't know what had happened to Yang Fan before, no one wanted to dwell on it. Since Yang Fan himself didn't know what had happened, they decided to bury the matter deep in their hearts. Otherwise, if this incident caused him to lose his temper again after finally calming down, it would be a huge loss!

"It's nothing. I think it's getting late. Let's set off as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the people from other holy lands get there first, all our previous efforts will be wasted!"

Gu Feifei wanted to say something, but before she could speak, Su Xin interrupted her.

"Yes, if we're late, the people from other holy lands might get there first. You know, they have just as much information as we do. Maybe they've already gone ahead!"

Nalan Qingcheng chimed in.

"That's right, Young Master Yang, I think we should go first! If we hesitate any longer, we might really fall behind!"

Wan Tiancheng also chimed in.

Gu Feifei watched the three of them, one singing and the other laughing, with a puzzled expression. However, being a clever person, she didn't expose them, even though she didn't know how they could lie at the same time.

Hearing their explanation, Yang Fan felt something was strange, but couldn't figure it out. He felt something was off, especially the feeling he had towards Su Xin—a feeling that was both familiar and strange, as if they had known each other for a lifetime, yet there was also a sense of estrangement, like being separated by a lifetime!

However, Yang Fan couldn't understand the key, nor did he know what had happened to him before. Therefore, although he felt something was amiss, he couldn't figure it out, and finally, he simply stopped thinking about it!

"Let's go. That Buddhist temple ahead might be our final destination. Although we're getting close, there's still some distance. You're right, each holy land has its unique resources. Maybe there really is a way to get them into the temple ahead of time. If that happens, it would be a huge loss!"

The group continued on their way. Yang Fan was right. Although the Buddhist temple, shrouded in celestial energy and radiating Buddhist light, looked close, the actual distance was quite far. The group walked for several hours without reaching the temple.

Of course, this didn't exclude the time they wasted picking spiritual herbs along the way. After all, every plant and tree here was a top-grade spiritual herb, something impossible to find elsewhere. Although Yang Fan wasn't greedy enough to take all the herbs, he wouldn't stop them from picking a few; in fact, he joined them in the picking.

"Yang Fan, I have a strange feeling. It seems like the distance between us and that temple hasn't changed at all. It's as if we're standing still, or as if it's moving, maintaining the same distance no matter how far we go,"

Qin Mengyao suddenly spoke up.

Although she didn't know martial arts, she had unique insights and research in archaeology and tomb exploration. Years of meticulous work had made her adept at observing changes in her surroundings.

Hearing Qin Mengyao's words, Yang Fan and the others stopped. It seemed fine at first glance, but upon closer observation, the group discovered that the situation was indeed somewhat similar to what Qin Mengyao had described. No matter which way they moved, the main hall appeared to maintain the same distance from them, as if the temple was moving along with them.

However, because the surrounding environment was identical, and the group had been so focused on gathering spiritual herbs, they had overlooked this problem.

"How could this be? Is it a mirage? Is the temple we're seeing just a projection?"

A mirage is a natural phenomenon caused by the refraction of light. Also known as a mirage, it is a virtual image formed by the refraction of light reflected from objects on Earth through the atmosphere.

On calm seas, rivers, lakes, snowfields, deserts, or Gobi deserts, occasionally, tall buildings, city walls, trees, and other illusory images will appear in the air or "underground," known as mirages. Ancient people attributed this to the clam-like creature *Shen*, which exhales breath to create these illusions, hence the name.

Mirages commonly occur at sea and in deserts. Mirages are the result of light refraction through layers of air with varying densities along a straight line. There are many types of mirages. Based on their position relative to the original object, they can be classified as superior, inferior, and lateral mirages; based on their symmetry with the original object, they can be classified as upright, lateral, direct, and inverted mirages; and based on color, they can be classified as colored mirages and non-colored mirages, etc.

Mirages have fascinated people since ancient times. In Western mythology, mirages are depicted as the embodiment of the devil, an omen of death and misfortune. In ancient China, mirages were considered a fairyland. Emperors Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi led envoys to Penglai Island in search of this fairyland and repeatedly sent people there to seek elixirs of immortality.

It is said that early risers on their journeys have seen houses, markets, and shops on the mountains, indistinguishable from those in the mortal world, hence the name "ghost market." Mirages are closely related to geographical location, geophysical conditions, and the meteorological characteristics of those places at specific times. Abnormal temperature distribution is a common meteorological condition for the formation of most mirages.

These are the scientific explanations for mirages, fully demonstrating that they are merely a magical natural phenomenon. With Yang Fan and his companions' keen eyesight, they naturally wouldn't be unable to distinguish between a mirage and real objects. Yet, at this moment, they were somewhat bewildered!

However, in that instant of doubt, they suddenly saw a solitary pagoda rising abruptly in that distant immortal land, piercing the sky. Immediately afterward, they saw dozens of palaces with emerald green tiles and upturned eaves. Soon after, high and low city walls appeared, topped with short, uneven walls, stretching for six or seven miles—it was actually a city!

The city was filled with buildings resembling pavilions, halls, and neighborhoods, all clearly visible, too numerous to count. Suddenly, a strong wind arose, whipping up vast swirling clouds of dust that blurred the entire cityscape. After a while, the wind subsided, the sky cleared, and the previous scene vanished, leaving only a tall building that seemed to touch the clouds and the Milky Way. Each floor had five rooms, all with open windows, each displaying five bright spots—the sky outside.

Counting up the floors, the higher the room, the smaller the bright spots; by the eighth floor, the spots were only the size of stars; further up, they dimmed, almost imperceptible, their layers indistinct. People on the lower floors bustled about, each doing their own thing, some leaning against railings, some standing, each in a different posture. After a while, the building gradually became shorter, and the rooftop became visible; gradually, it became like an ordinary building again; gradually, it became a tall bungalow; suddenly, it shrank to the size of a fist, then to the size of a bean, and finally disappeared completely...

"I understand now. This isn't a mirage; it's the location of a real ancient tomb. According to records, that great Buddhist master rebelled against the Buddhist realm, establishing his own world and vowing to create a completely new paradise. Unlike other holy sites that widely recruited disciples and formed their own sects, he brought many ordinary people from the secular world to live there, without teaching them any methods of cultivation."

"This world created by this great Buddhist master, after hundreds of years of development, is almost identical to the outside world; it's indistinguishable from the real thing. Moreover, here, there is no distinction between the powerful and the lowly; all beings are equal, and all things coexist!"

"Whether human, animal, or plant, everyone receives equal treatment. There are no rulers, no exploiters, only the masses!"

"And what we just saw is a projection of the paradise created by that great Buddhist master. I guarantee that once we reach it, we will discover all the secrets of that great Buddhist master!"

The moment the images disappeared, Tang Ningshuang cried out in a daze. As Nalan Qingcheng's guardian and the closest person to the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, Tang Ningshuang's status in the sect was naturally not low, even surpassing Nalan Qingcheng's in some aspects. Naturally, she had access to things that Nalan Qingcheng was unaware of.

"Even if all of this is real, we can't get close to that place at all. No matter how hard we try, we're just standing still. The farther we go, the farther it gets from us. What's the point of continuing like this?"

At this moment, Nalan Qingcheng didn't ask Tang Ningshuang how she knew these things, but instead asked with a heavy expression.

"Captain Tang is right. This isn't a mirage at all, but a real ancient tomb. If I'm not mistaken, that Buddhist master must have set up spatial laws around this tomb, altering the surrounding spatial power to prevent anyone from approaching it. As soon as someone gets close, the spatial laws activate, the spatial power shifts, and the distance between them widens again,"

Yang Fanyi echoed.

"Spatial power? Spatial laws? Indeed, that Buddhist monk was a powerful expert at the Hunyuan realm, someone who had one foot in that legendary realm. With his methods, achieving this would be incredibly easy. But the problem is, spatial laws are unique to Hunyuan realm experts. With our strength, we simply cannot reverse the situation or break the spatial laws. Only Hunyuan realm experts of equal strength can ignore these spatial laws and enter smoothly. Doesn't that mean we have no chance of entering at all?"

"I don't think so. Buddhists are always lenient and compassionate, always leaving room for maneuver. Therefore, I think these spatial laws aren't necessarily only accessible to Hunyuan realm experts. I think they are at most special substances condensed from spatial power. Although forcibly penetrating them is extremely difficult, it's not necessarily impossible!"

"Moreover, with our current cultivation levels, we've already reached the Refining Spirit Realm and begun to comprehend spatial power. If we could absorb even a trace of this spatial power for our own use, it would be an immense asset for our comprehension of spatial power!"

Staring at the void before him, Yang Fan fully opened his divine sense, exerting his utmost effort to activate the spatial power hidden within his body, attempting to create a resonance between the two. After repeated failures, he finally managed to activate a trace of spatial power within him. Simultaneously, that trace of spatial power instantly left his body, following his divine sense into the void before him!

The moment that trace of spatial power entered the void through his divine sense, it was like a dragon entering the sea; even Yang Fan could clearly feel the excitement emanating from that trace of spatial power.

At the same time, the spatial power hidden within Yang Fan's body, stimulated, automatically awakened. Without Yang Fan needing to consciously control it, it followed his divine sense into the void before him, merging with the spatial power within.

"Boom!"

The moment the two merged, a silent roar resounded through Yang Fan's mind. Immediately afterward, a series of unfamiliar images flooded his mind. A scroll of paintings he had never seen before slowly unfolded in his mind…

Clouds and mist, palaces and residences, pavilions and landscapes, city walls and ramparts, figures, carriages and horses, rooftops… all sorts of scenes imprinted themselves on Yang Fan's mind. Mountains and rivers, landscape paintings flashed through his heart. At the same time, mysterious and infinitely profound formations were also imprinted on his heart. It seemed that in that instant, the entire mysterious space, including the ancient tomb, appeared clearly before his eyes…

05-02
Chapter 409 [Divine Artifact Ranking] (8k long chapter)

"Haha, better late than never! It seems that although Brother Yang was a step ahead of us, he wasn't that much faster!"

Just as the various images flashed through Yang Fan's mind, a very discordant voice suddenly came from behind them.

Turning around, they unexpectedly saw the group from Zhiyu Palace appear behind them. The speaker was none other than the handsome young man beside Ouyang Ye—the Holy Son of Zhiyu Palace!

"Brother Yu isn't slow either, at least you're a step ahead of my Chunyang Sect!"

Seeing their appearance, Yang Fan frowned slightly, about to speak, when another voice rang out. Immediately afterward, Yang Feng, leading the Chunyang Sect group, also appeared before them.

After Yang Feng and his companions appeared, Yang Feng only exchanged a few words with the people from Zhiyu Palace before ignoring them and walking directly to Yang Fan, saying, "Brother Yang, we meet again. Before, due to some reasons, I couldn't be by your side to fight alongside you. You won't blame me, will you?"

"Brother Yang, you're too kind. How could I not know your character? Besides, I understand your situation. If I were in your shoes, I would have made the same choice. Moreover, I know you had no choice!"

At this point, Yang Fan glanced, intentionally or unintentionally, at the elders behind Yang Feng. With Yang Fan's keen eyesight, how could he not see that Yang Feng had been forcibly restrained by those elders? Otherwise, Yang Feng would have broken free long ago!

Furthermore, Yang Fan could see that Yang Feng's cultivation had reached the Refining Spirit Realm, his strength comparable to Nalan Qingcheng's. Needless to say, he must have also received his sect's teachings!

"Brother, I am deeply grateful for your understanding of my difficulties. Rest assured, I promise you, the same thing will never happen twice. From now on, no matter what, I will always stand by your side and fight alongside you!"

"The person in the very center of Zhiyu Palace is named Ouyang Yu, the eldest son of the Ouyang family of Yanjing, and my mortal enemy since childhood. It's like fate; I joined the Chunyang Sect, while he entered the Zhiyu Palace, and the Chunyang Sect and Zhiyu Palace have always been irreconcilable enemies!"

"Thank you, brother. I, Yang Fan, have no parents, no brothers, and to receive such kindness from you is my deepest gratitude. From now on, you are my dear brother!"

Yang Fan spoke these words, clearly deeply moved, even his tone slightly trembling. In his entire life, the only person who had ever been kind to him was his master; he had no other family. Only after arriving in Yanjing did he meet Shen Ruoxi, Dongfang Lan, and several other women, which gave him a sense of kinship.

Now, Yang Feng's actions made Yang Fan feel a different kind of brotherhood. This feeling was one he had never experienced before. It was Yang Feng's actions that made him truly accept him!

Hearing Yang Fan's words, Nalan Qingcheng's expression subtly shifted. She and Yang Fan were betrothed since childhood, a marriage arranged by their parents. But now, Yang Fan said he had no parents, which surprised her and made her even more curious about his background.

Although she had known since childhood that she had a fiancé she had never met, she had never seen him before Yang Fan broke off the engagement, and she knew nothing about his background. Her grandfather had never told her a word about any of this. Now, hearing Yang Fan mention it for the first time, she couldn't help but start to take the issue seriously.

Moreover, she noticed that when Yang Fan said he was an orphan, he showed no sadness whatsoever; instead, he revealed a hint of hatred and resentment. This strongly suggested that he might not be a true orphan; he knew about his parents, and perhaps for some reason, he harbored resentment towards them, thus refusing to acknowledge them!

However, Nalan Qingcheng couldn't understand what could possibly make someone who originally had parents unwilling to acknowledge them, claiming to be an orphan, and showing no gratitude towards them, but instead boundless resentment? Nalan Qingcheng found herself becoming curious about Yang Fan's background...

"Haha, the people from Zhiyu Palace and Chunyang Sect arrived really quickly! But we're not too late!"

A series of whooshing sounds rang out, followed by figures appearing around Yang Fan. A quick glance revealed that all the representatives from the various holy lands were present! Of course, one person was missing: Tianxinzi, whom he had rendered unconscious, was not there. The Yin-Yang

Harmony Sect, the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect, the Moon Sound Sect, Zhiyu Palace, Qingxiao Dao Sect, Tianxin Pavilion, Lingbao Qinxin Sect, and Xiaoyao Sect, along with Yang Feng's Chunyang Sect and Nalan Qingcheng's Baihua Sect, except for the Chutian Thunder Sword Sect, the Demon Emperor Palace, and the Xichan Sect, had all gathered together once again!

At this point, Yang Fan was completely certain that each of the holy lands possessed detailed information about the ancient tomb, and that the information they had was roughly the same. Otherwise, they couldn't have arrived so promptly and in such an orderly fashion!

Of course, that's no longer the issue we need to worry about right now. What we need to focus on now is how to get close to the real ancient tomb; otherwise, it will truly become a mirage, only to be admired from afar!

The area surrounding the ancient tomb contains immense spatial power. While this spatial power isn't something only a Primordial Chaos Realm expert can break through, it's far beyond the reach of ordinary Spirit Refining Realm experts. Although Yang Fan, through his divine sense, confirmed that this spatial power wasn't a spatial law, and that he could break through it with the same spatial power, opening a spatial passage within the dense spatial power for himself

, the problem now is, where to find spatial power? Spatial power is a skill possessed only by Void Return Realm experts. And Void Return Realm experts, due to various limitations, are simply unable to enter this space.

Although Yang Fan's body contains a considerable amount of spatial power, he simply cannot activate it. Moreover, even if he could activate it, the spatial power within him wouldn't be enough to open a spatial passage for them to enter!

"Spatial power, Void Returning Realm experts... that's right, magic weapons! Magic weapons are on par with Void Returning Realm experts; they also contain immense spatial power. The people from the various holy lands before me are all elites of their sects; they must all possess magic weapons, and not just ordinary ones. If we gather these magic weapons together and combine all the spatial power, we should be able to open a passage!"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Yang Fan, and an idea instantly appeared in his mind. But then, a new problem arose!

That is, although these people were all from the holy lands, they all had some grudges against each other, some even openly and secretly vying for power. Getting them all to take out their magic weapons and activate them together wouldn't be so easy.

Magic weapons are the foundation of a sect, and their last resort for this trip; no one would reveal them unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, once their opponents discover them, they will definitely take countermeasures. This would put them at a disadvantage, or even leave them vulnerable to attack from behind.

Therefore, Yang Fan is certain that no one would be foolish enough to expose their magical artifacts, let alone hand them over to someone else to control.

The problem is, Yang Fan currently has no other way to solve his current predicament besides this method. It can be said that this method is the most direct, convenient, and only way to enter the ancient tomb.

"How can I get them to hand over the magical artifacts? Forcing them won't work. These people number over a hundred at the Refining Spirit Realm. If I anger them, a group attack alone would be enough to overwhelm me. Besides, even if they gave me all the artifacts, I wouldn't be able to activate them, would I? After all, no single Refining Spirit Realm expert can activate any magical artifact!"

"Furthermore, I can't directly tell them this. Given their suspicious nature, they'll definitely think I have ulterior motives. I can only make them realize the problem themselves, let them raise this issue themselves, and then I'll have a chance to unite them. But this doesn't seem easy to solve. It seems the only solution now is to wait patiently until they discover the problem themselves." Shaking his head, Yang Fan racked his brains but couldn't come up with a suitable idea. In the end, he had to give up. However, at this very moment, some of the various holy lands finally couldn't wait any longer and began to take action…

The people of the various holy lands all wanted to rush into the ancient tomb as soon as possible, seize a preemptive advantage, and thus seize the treasure. Therefore, when they first appeared, none of them took the initiative to attack, not because they were unwilling, but because they were wary of being attacked from behind.

Now, however, with all the major holy lands gathered, although they wanted to wait, the allure of the treasure made them unable to wait any longer. And so, everyone except Yang Fan's group moved simultaneously!

"Brother Yang, why don't we go in too? If they get there first, we'll lose big time!"

Seeing the major holy lands move at the same time, Yang Feng hesitated slightly, but ultimately stood beside Yang Fan. Since he didn't move, naturally no one from the Pure Yang Sect dared to move. However, the Pure Yang Sect members all looked extremely anxious, urging Yang Feng with their eyes!

"It's alright, let them do what they want. A Mixed Origin Realm expert's cave isn't so easy to enter. Let's just wait and see the show. We'll step in when they've had their fill."

Yang Feng's actions deeply moved Yang Fan. Even faced with the temptation of the ancient tomb's treasure and the cave of a Mixed Origin Realm expert, Yang Feng still chose to stand by his side. This showed that Yang Feng's previous actions weren't deliberate, but rather a genuine attempt to befriend him.

"Oh, it seems Brother Yang is quite confident. No wonder you're not in a hurry. It's alright, in that case, I'll wait and see!"

Hearing Yang Fan's words, Yang Feng was initially taken aback, then smiled thoughtfully.

The people from the various holy lands were all experts among experts, and all highly trained. While not exactly lightning-fast, their speed was certainly considerable. The various holy lands maintained their respective formations, rushing towards the ancient tomb, looking from afar like armies advancing rapidly. On the contrary, Yang Fan and his group followed slowly behind them, like military supervisors!

"Huh? Why did they stop?"

After a short while, the people from the various holy lands stopped. Seeing the people from the various holy lands stop, Yang Feng couldn't help but wonder. As he spoke, he shifted his gaze to Yang Fan, clearly wanting Yang Fan to tell him the answer.

"The cave dwelling left behind by a Primordial Chaos Realm expert is not so easy to enter. A large number of formations have been set up around the cave dwelling, and space has been distorted by the laws of space. To the naked eye, the cave dwelling is right in front of you, but because of the laws of space, you cannot truly approach it. The only way to truly approach it is to break these formations and break the laws of space. Only by breaking the distortion of the laws of space will the true cave dwelling of a Primordial Chaos Realm expert truly appear!"

"Spatial Laws? No wonder I've felt like I'm stuck in the same place after walking for so long. It's because of the spatial laws. Spatial laws are a power that only experts at the Primordial Chaos Realm can master. We're only at the Refining Spirit Realm, and we haven't even comprehended the power of space yet. How can we break through the spatial laws?"

Hearing this, Yang Feng couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. After all, the Primordial Chaos Realm expert's cave was too attractive. But now, the Primordial Chaos Cave was right in front of him, yet he couldn't find the entrance. How could he not be frustrated?

"Actually, it's not impossible. These spatial laws aren't complete laws of power. It seems that when that Primordial Chaos expert set them up, he deliberately left a sliver of hope. Although they are laws, they are no different from ordinary spatial power. Any expert at the Returning Void Realm can absorb some of them. Therefore, if we can gather dozens of Returning Void Realm experts, it's not impossible!"

"Returning Void Realm experts? But there's a restriction here: only those below the Returning Void Realm can enter. Isn't that the same as having no way?" "That's

right, there aren't any Returning Void Realm experts, but Brother Yang, have you forgotten? There's something whose effect is the same as that of a Returning Void Realm expert!"

"You mean... right, how come I didn't think of that? Aren't magic artifacts at the same level as Returning Void Realm experts? The restriction here is that Returning Void Realm experts can't enter, but it doesn't say that magic artifacts can't be brought here. That's why the various holy lands entrust their most powerful magic artifacts to their disciples to bring here!"

“Each sect in the major holy lands possesses at least one magical artifact. With more than ten sects combined, that's more than ten magical artifacts. Activating more than ten magical artifacts simultaneously is equivalent to more than ten experts at the Void Returning Realm. More than ten experts at the Void Returning Realm can indeed forcefully blast open a passage, break the laws of space, and enter!”

“No wonder you arrived here first, Brother Yang, but didn't go in directly. It turns out you were deliberately waiting for them. That makes sense. Only by pooling everyone's power can there be a chance to break the power of the laws. However, there are already gaps between the major holy lands. Getting them to cooperate, let alone expose their magical artifacts, is probably not so easy…”

As the Holy Son of the Pure Yang Sect, Yang Feng's knowledge was naturally far beyond that of ordinary people. With just a casual touch from Yang Fan, he understood the intricacies and even explained the key points.

"Don't worry, there are many extraordinary people in the various holy lands. I believe it won't be long before they discover the problem. At that time, someone will definitely propose to gather the magical artifacts to break the seal. As for how they discuss it, that's none of our business. We just need to wait patiently!"

Yang Fan laughed.

"That's true. Just like that freak Ouyang Yu, he loves to use others. If he finds out about this, he'll definitely make a big deal out of it. And those people from the Yin Yang He Huan Sect, none of them are good. Let them fight amongst themselves. Anyway, we brought magical artifacts, so we're not afraid they'll abandon us!"

"Hehe, not only will they not abandon us, they'll also find ways to get our help. By the way, Brother Yang, what magical artifacts did you bring?"

Yang Fan didn't mince words and asked directly.

"The Sun God Furnace is a replica of the Sun God Furnace, the sacred artifact of the Pure Yang Sect. However, precisely because of this, its power far surpasses that of ordinary magical artifacts. Most of the magical artifacts brought by the various holy lands this time are replicas of sacred artifacts!"

Yang Feng didn't hide anything from Yang Fan's question, answering directly.

Normally, discussing such matters is like asking about someone's internal energy cultivation techniques—a major taboo in the martial arts world. Even the closest friends wouldn't discuss such topics. But Yang Fan asked directly, and Yang Feng answered directly without any concealment, which greatly surprised the Pure Yang Sect group behind Yang Feng.

"The Sun God Furnace was a magical artifact personally forged by our Pure Yang Sect's founder, the Pure Yang True Man. It contains the true fire of the sun, capable of burning all things, and its power is incomparably strong. Among all the sacred artifacts of the various holy lands, it's enough to rank in the top five. Therefore, my replica won't be weak in power among magical artifacts!"

Speaking of the artifact's power, Yang Feng couldn't help but feel a little proud.

"Oh? There are rankings for divine artifacts?"

Instead of focusing on the power of the artifacts, Yang Fan was curious about the rankings Yang Feng mentioned.

"Of course! The ranking of divine artifacts is equivalent to the ranking of experts at the Primordial Chaos Realm, and it's also a disguised ranking of the strength of the various holy lands. My Pure Yang Sect's Sun God Furnace, although very powerful, can only rank fifth. Similarly, the Pure Yang Sect is also fifth in the ranking of the strength of the various holy lands!"

"Then what are the top four?" "

The fourth-ranked artifact is the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect. Legend has it that when this Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner appears, ten thousand ghosts emerge, stealing souls and killing invisibly. It is extremely evil, and since its appearance, it has killed countless people. It is a demonic artifact that all the holy lands tremble with fear!"

"Third on the list is the Goddess Painting of Zhiyu Palace. Legend has it that men who see this painting will immediately undergo a drastic personality change, becoming neither male nor female. However, they will also gain incredible power. On the contrary, women who see this painting will not only not suffer any harm, but will benefit immensely. However, since its founding, Zhiyu Palace has only accepted male disciples, not female ones. Therefore, all the people of Zhiyu Palace are human-demon!"

"Second on the list is the Demon Emperor Bell of the Demon Emperor's Palace in the Demon Realm. It is said that when this bell rings, all realms will tremble. Moreover, this bell was personally crafted by the Demon Emperor of the previous realm. In fact, although this bell is the shortest-lived divine artifact, its power is the strongest divine artifact besides the Great Thunderclap Temple, a divine artifact that has long been lost in the Buddhist realm!"

"The Great Thunderclap Temple in the Buddhist realm is said to be an invincible artifact that surpasses even divine artifacts. It can't even be described as a divine artifact anymore. In fact, the entire Buddhist realm resides in the Great Thunderclap Temple. There are even rumors that the Great Thunderclap Temple is the manifestation of the Buddhist patriarch Shakyamuni, and there are also rumors that the Great Thunderclap Temple is the embodiment of the Great Dao and the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"There's a saying circulating in the martial world: 'He who obtains the Thunderclap Temple obtains the Heavenly Dao!' This means that whoever possesses the Thunderclap Temple controls the Heavenly Dao and everything. However, although the Thunderclap Temple's fame resounds throughout the myriad realms, no one has ever seen its true form. After the split of the Buddhist realm, it vanished completely along with the disappearance of Shakyamuni. Therefore, its very existence remains a mystery. If we're talking about the most powerful known artifact, it has to be the Demon Emperor Bell of the Demon Emperor Palace. Its fearsome reputation, like that of the Demon Emperor himself, is awe-inspiring and widespread. Especially during the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, the Demon Emperor wielded the Demon Emperor Bell, slaughtering countless powerful beings at the Primordial Chaos Realm!"

"In fact, the main reason the Demon Emperor Palace was able to survive after the Demon Emperor's disappearance is precisely because of the Demon Emperor Bell. Its power far surpasses that of ordinary artifacts, so much so that while all the major holy lands possess their own artifacts, none dare to confront the Demon Emperor Bell."

"As for the divine artifacts ranked after the Sun God Furnace, they are the Moon Sound Demon Harp of the Moon Sound Sect, the Twelve-Petaled Lotus of the Hundred Flowers Sect, the Yangyang Hehuan Bell of the Yangyang Hehuan Sect, the Heavenly Heart Bell of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, the Eight Trigrams Spiritual Furnace of the Spirit Treasure Heart-Cleansing Sect, the Carefree Heartless Fan of the Carefree Sect, and the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword of the Qingxiao Dao Sect!"

"Oh, right, there's another sect with a divine artifact, the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect. However, although all the major holy lands know that this sect possesses a divine artifact, no one knows exactly what it is. They only know that its divine artifact is extremely powerful, even comparable to the Demon Emperor Bell. It's just that no one has ever seen it, which is why it remains unknown."

"And the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword of the Qingxiao Dao Sect, originally ranked third among divine artifacts, was severely damaged when struck by the Demon Emperor's Demon Emperor Bell, causing it to fall out of the top five!"

"Is that so? If so, wouldn't the ranking of the major holy lands be Buddhism, Demon Emperor Palace, Zhiyu Palace, Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect, Pure Yang Sect... and then the others?"

Yang Fan asked after hearing Yang Feng's words.

"Yes, that's about right. However, the Buddhist realm has long since split, and the Zen sect, which appeared later, also split in two during the Dragon-Slaying Calamity, becoming the Eastern and Western Zen sects. The Eastern Zen sect has long since disappeared, and now only a group of nuns remains in the Western Zen sect. Therefore, the power of Buddhism has begun to decline!"

"As for the Demon Emperor's Palace, due to the Demon Emperor's fall, its strength has also greatly diminished. Although the Demon Emperor's Bell still exists, it lacks its former prestige. However, it is rumored that there are still powerful experts in the Demon Realm, plus some of the Demon Emperor's powerful subordinates, making the Demon Emperor's Palace's strength still unfathomable. Even if it's not second, it's definitely in the top three!"

"The Zhiyu Palace is somewhat weaker than the Demon Emperor's Palace, but the Demon Realm has lost its Demon Emperor, and the Zhiyu Palace has made rapid progress in recent years. Its overall strength should be similar to the Demon Emperor's Palace." "

There's also the Qingxiao Dao Sect. Although their divine artifact, the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword, is damaged, it still has many experts within its ranks, and its overall strength is not weaker than the Zhiyu Palace."

"These three holy lands should be the strongest among all the major holy lands. As for the other major holy lands, the difference in strength between them is not significant, and their ranking is not in any particular order!"

"However, on the other hand, the ever-mysterious Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect may actually be the strongest contender for first place. Although no one knows their true strength yet, no holy land dares to offend them. Moreover, even the most conservative estimate is that their strength is no weaker than the Demon Emperor's Palace of yesteryear, and may even be slightly stronger. This is because although the members of the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect have only appeared in the world a limited number of times, each appearance has been by an unparalleled expert. If we extrapolate from this, the overall strength of the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect, even if it is weak, cannot be that weak. Therefore, the true strongest holy land now is probably the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect..."

"The Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect, the Demon Emperor's Palace, and the Zen Sect—each one is more mysterious than the last! I really don't know what the Nine Heavens Thunderous Technique and the Nine True Words I cultivate have to do with them. And this Demon Emperor's Palace, I always feel like it has something to do with me. Moreover, I have a feeling that I will definitely encounter these three sects one by one in the future. I really don't know what will happen then. And what exactly is this Dragon-Slaying Calamity?"

Listening to Yang Feng's introduction, and combining it with what Nalan Qingcheng had told him about the Holy Lands, Yang Fan finally had a clear understanding of the strength of all the Holy Lands.

Through Yang Feng's words, Yang Fan also learned many secrets and some mysteries. Take the mystery of the Demon Emperor's fall, the Dragon-Slaying Calamity, the split in the Buddhist realm, the changes in the Eastern and Western Zen Sects, and the incredibly mysterious Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect... all of this is full of questions.

However, Yang Fan did not ask Yang Feng about these questions. He had already raised these questions with Nalan Qingcheng before, and Nalan Qingcheng's answer was that she didn't know what was going on either. The records in their sect only mentioned these matters briefly, as if the person who recorded them didn't want future generations to know too much about them.

Since the Hundred Flowers Sect was like this, Yang Fan believed the Pure Yang Sect probably wasn't much different. If Yang Feng really knew these things, he would have told him long ago, and there would be no need for him to ask…

Just as Yang Fan was talking with Yang Feng, a change occurred among the various holy lands not far ahead. They all stopped and gathered together to discuss something. Yang Fan had excellent hearing, coupled with his extraordinary divine sense, allowing him to vaguely see and hear. Therefore, every word of the conversation between the various holy lands reached his ears.

Ouyang Yu, the Holy Son of Zhiyu Palace, stood at the very center of the various holy sites and slowly spoke: "Fellow martial artists, after the experience just now, you all surely understand what's going on here, right? Indeed, the cave before us is definitely the cultivation place of that great Buddhist master, and our ultimate goal for this journey lies within it!"

"I know you're all wary of each other, secretly on guard, afraid someone might seize the initiative. However, fellow martial artists, you all surely understand that under the current circumstances, none of us, as a single family, can reach the cultivation place of that great Buddhist master." "

Because that great Buddhist master has set up countless great formations around his cultivation place. Of course, if it were just these formations, I believe your martial arts skills wouldn't be a problem. But the issue is, around these great formations, there is another layer of protection, and this layer of protection is one that none of us can break!"

"That powerful figure from the Buddhist realm has laid down a vast array of spatial laws around his cultivation site. And as everyone knows, spatial laws represent something that we, with our current strength, cannot possibly affect even a fraction of. Although the power of those spatial laws has diminished considerably over time, and is now only slightly stronger than ordinary spatial power, it is still not something we can break through at present!"

"As everyone knows, spatial power is a force that only Void Returning Realm experts can wield. And for various reasons, Void Returning Realm experts cannot enter this place. While we may not have many outstanding individuals among us, I doubt any of us can claim to be able to break through this spatial power."

"Therefore, if we want to break through this layer of spatial power, there is only one way: we must all unite, gather all our power, collect all the magical artifacts we possess, and activate them simultaneously to break through this layer of spatial power!"

"As everyone knows, magical artifacts are equivalent to the Void Return Realm, and they also contain immense spatial power. Only by using force against force, and objects against objects, can this spatial seal be broken. Only then can we enter and reach the place of cultivation of that Buddhist master, and obtain what we desire!"

It must be said that Ouyang Yu truly possessed some persuasive talent. Although his words weren't particularly forceful, they undoubtedly addressed everyone's current predicament and presented the only solution. While he didn't explicitly state that everyone should gather their magical artifacts, he subtly guided their thoughts, leading the people from the various holy lands to follow his line of reasoning...

Chapter 410 [Joint Effort to Break the Seal]

Ouyang Yu's gaze swept over the people from the various holy lands, a cold smile flashing in his eyes. Having said all that, he believed the various holy lands had no reason not to understand his meaning. Moreover, this was the only way to enter the place of cultivation of that Buddhist master!

"Young Master Ouyang is right. We've reached the entrance to the ancient tomb, and we can't give up halfway. To enter, we must cooperate wholeheartedly, use our magical artifacts together, and activate the power of space to break the seal. Only then can we enter!"

"That's right, but what if someone has ill intentions?"

"Yes, I don't trust some people. What if they suddenly turn against us at this crucial moment?"

"Exactly! Activating the magical artifacts requires complete focus, and the process is extremely taxing. What if some people slack off while we're giving it our all? Slacking off isn't a big deal, but if they secretly conserve their strength and enter the tomb, wouldn't that just cause trouble for us? We don't want to be like the farmer and the snake, repeating the story of the farmer and the snake, nor do we want to be some unsung heroes, doing good deeds for others!"

"..."

Sure enough, not long after Ouyang Yu finished speaking, people started discussing it. And the content of their discussion was undoubtedly the same: they all agreed to use the magical artifacts together to break the seal. Their fear was that some might hold back, letting others exert their full strength while entering the tomb to turn against them.

Of course, this wasn't impossible. After all, everyone wanted to keep the treasure for themselves and no one wanted to share the spoils of victory. Moreover, they all knew that the greatest treasure on this expedition was a one-of-a-kind find, impossible to share. Even if they broke the seal and entered the tomb, they would still face a struggle for the treasure.

Back then, let alone a grudge, even a close ally might try to kill you. No one could be trusted. Therefore, in that era, every bit of strength you had was equivalent to an extra life, and a greater chance of success in the treasure hunt.

So, preserving strength was paramount. With so many people simultaneously activating their magical artifacts, it was entirely possible that someone was plotting something similar!

"I think everyone came here with the same goal. We're all here for the treasure, so I doubt anyone will turn against us before we see the real treasure. Since that's the case, why don't we put aside our prejudices and work together to break the seal? Once the seal is broken, everyone will have a chance to be the ultimate beneficiary, at least a slim chance. But if we don't break the seal, we can only watch the treasure go unattainable, ultimately getting nothing!"

"Heavenly treasures are for those with the right fate. The same applies to treasures. What I'm saying is that once we enter the ancient tomb, whoever obtains the treasure will depend entirely on their own abilities. Before that, let's not think about anything else; let's work together to open the treasure!"

"I have a suggestion: everyone should supervise each other and use their magical artifacts to break the seal. If we find anyone not using their full strength, then we can all attack them together. That way, we can eliminate a competitor beforehand. What do you all think?"

Ouyang Yu suddenly said.

"Young Master Ouyang's idea is excellent, I agree!"

"Me too!"

"I agree!"

"I agree!"

The people from the various holy lands weren't truly against their comrades breaking the seal; they simply had their own concerns. Now, hearing Ouyang Yu's words, those concerns were temporarily set aside, and they all agreed to his proposal.

"This Ouyang Yu is truly insidious; how could he come up with such an idea? On the surface, he's considering the interests of the various holy lands, but in reality, isn't he, Ouyang Yu, the one who ultimately benefits the most?"

Yang Feng sneered.

"Oh, Brother Yang, what makes you say that?"

"Brother, you don't know, the Goddess Diagram of Zhiyu Palace, although it's also a divine artifact with considerable power, is surprisingly easy to activate. It doesn't require much magical power to support it, and its replicas are the same. Activating them is far easier than ordinary artifacts. In other words, while others need 100% of their power to activate an artifact, he only needs 50%!"

"In this way, even if he uses all his strength to activate the artifact, it's still much less strenuous than for ordinary people. This way, he can conserve more of his strength. After entering the ancient tomb, everyone will be exhausted, so his advantage will be the greatest, won't it?"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Yang Fan was slightly taken aback. Although he knew that the power of different artifacts varied, he hadn't expected there to be such a difference in how they were activated.

But thinking about it, he understood. Take his Five Elements Beads, for example; activating them was far less strenuous than ordinary artifacts. If his could do this, why couldn't other people's artifacts?

This Ouyang Yu is truly cunning and scheming; he even managed to include something like this in his calculations. Such a person is indeed dangerous. Moreover, the Ouyang family is already at odds with him, and they might even become enemies in the future. Naturally, he needs to be wary of Ouyang Yu; otherwise, he might be tricked by this kid without even knowing it.

Just as Yang Fan and Nalan Qingcheng were talking, Ouyang Yu actually came before them. His gaze lingered on Yang Fan for a moment before shifting to Yang Feng and Nalan Qingcheng: "Brother Yang, Miss Nalan, you must have heard our conversation. I wonder how the Hundred Flowers Sect and Pure Yang Sect you represent are doing? Are you also joining us in activating your magical artifacts to break the seal, or do you have other methods?"

Although Ouyang Yu spoke to Yang Feng and Nalan Qingcheng, he was actually addressing Yang Fan. Sensing Ouyang Yu's implied meaning, Yang Feng sneered, "Hmph, Ouyang Yu, stop with your sarcastic remarks. While my Pure Yang Sect has never colluded with certain individuals, we don't hold grudges when it comes to matters of great importance. Since we need to gather all the magical artifacts to break the seal, we naturally have no objections!"

"My Hundred Flowers Sect feels the same way!"

Nalan Qingcheng replied without changing her expression.

"Hehe, as two of the Holy Lands, I'm not surprised at all that you two have made such a decision. However, this gentleman doesn't seem to be from a Holy Land… If so… I'm afraid people from other Holy Lands will have objections!"

"Hmph, Brother Yang is my brother, what's mine is his, and what's his is mine. Why can't he come with us? Besides, Ouyang Yu, haven't you seen my brother's strength? Even the entire Heavenly Heart Pavilion is no match for him, how could a mere magical artifact compare?"

Although Ouyang Yu's words were vague, none of those present were fools; they could naturally discern his true intentions. Undoubtedly, they wanted to use the matter of the magical artifact to exclude Yang Fan. But how could Yang Feng let him succeed?

"Of course, of course. We have witnessed Brother Yang's strength firsthand. However, this unsealing has nothing to do with cultivation level; it only requires activating the magical artifact. So..."

"Boom!"

Before Ouyang Yu could say anything more, suddenly, a powerful aura, like a raging torrent, surged from Yang Fan's body. Waves of spatial power rippled, and a five-colored light shot out from his body. Then, the Five Elements Pearls transformed into five enormous spheres, each residing behind Yang Fan!

"I wonder if this magical artifact is enough?"

Having summoned the Five Elements Pearls, Yang Fan didn't launch any attack, but the invisible aura forced Ouyang Yu to retreat several steps. After all, his cultivation level was insufficient to resist the pressure of the magical artifact.

Originally, Yang Fan didn't want to summon the Five Elements Pearls, as they held immense significance for him and were one of his trump cards.

However, Ouyang Yu's repeated use of the magic weapon infuriated Yang Fan. So, he decided to go all in and directly unleash his magic weapon to see what Ouyang Yu had to say.

"This...this is a magic weapon?"

After taking several steps back, Ouyang Yu finally regained his footing and asked, his voice slightly hoarse, staring at the five enormous spheres behind Yang Fan.

"Of course, are there any fake magic weapons?"

Yang Fan sneered.

In fact, the moment Yang Fan unleashed the magic weapon, Ouyang Yu had already sensed its unique aura and was certain it was a magic weapon. However, what he couldn't accept was how Yang Fan could possibly possess a magic weapon? Moreover, how could he activate a magic weapon single-handedly? Even for them, activating a single magic weapon required the combined efforts of dozens of people; how could he possibly activate one by himself?

Magic weapons were on par with experts at the Void Returning Realm. Even a Void Returning Realm expert couldn't activate a magical artifact. As for a Spirit Refining Realm expert, they could at most unleash a trace of its power, merely awakening a tiny bit. To fully awaken a magical artifact, dozens of experts needed to work together. And that was only awakening, not unleashing its full power for combat!

Even without that, a single Spirit Refining Realm expert unleashing a trace of a magical artifact's power would be invincible within the Spirit Refining Realm. This demonstrates the immense power of magical artifacts. Dozens of Spirit Refining Realm experts activating a magical artifact could wipe out a super sect like the Qingcheng Sect.

Yet now, Yang Fan had single-handedly fully awakened a magical artifact. Regardless of the artifact's actual power, the fact that he alone could activate one shattered Ouyang Yu's understanding, because in his view, it was utterly impossible, yet it was happening right before his eyes!

However, Ouyang Yu, being a holy son of a sacred land, was only momentarily shocked by the scene before quickly regaining his composure.

"Since Brother Yang possesses a magical artifact, I have nothing more to say. I only hope that Brother Yang can join forces with us to break the seal and enter the ancient tomb. As for who will ultimately benefit, that will depend entirely on our abilities!"

"These matters are none of your concern!"

Yang Fan casually withdrew the Five Elements Beads, speaking indifferently. Having

been rebuffed by Yang Fan, Ouyang Yu saw no need to stay any longer, nor to suffer further humiliation. After exchanging a few words with Yang Fan and his group, he slunk back to his own camp.

However, it was precisely because of his outburst that the people from the other major sacred lands quieted down. They had all harbored some resentment towards Yang Fan, as his group was the only non-sacred land group present. Having long been accustomed to being high above and looking down on all living beings, they inherently harbored a prejudice against people from the mortal world.

Even though Yang Fan's previous display of strength made them all feel inferior, it didn't mean they could change their opinion of him. However, due to Yang Fan's formidable combat power, they dared not show it too obviously.

But Ouyang Yu's actions made them clearly realize that Yang Fan, this young man from the mortal world, not only possessed powerful cultivation and astonishing combat strength, but also had a magical artifact that was no less powerful than theirs. Putting aside everything else, this artifact alone was enough to put Yang Fan on equal footing with them!

In fact, the reason Yang Fan proactively revealed his artifact was not because he was provoked by Ouyang Yu, but because he knew the image his group had in the eyes of the people from the various holy lands. To avoid them making underhanded moves and causing him unnecessary trouble, he deliberately revealed the Five Elements Pearl under the guise of Ouyang Yu's provocation, making those with ulterior motives think twice.

After this incident, the people of the various holy lands tacitly accepted Yang Fan's existence. Although they all knew that the presence of such a powerful and monstrous figure as Yang Fan would inevitably cause them great trouble in the upcoming treasure hunt, and might even steal their spoils, they had no choice but to face the reality before them and temporarily suppress their thoughts in the face of Yang Fan wielding a magical artifact.

In fact, Ouyang Yu's reason for provoking Yang Fan was not because he disliked Yang Fan, but because he knew that based on Yang Fan's previous display of strength, few present could suppress him. Such a person entering the ancient tomb would definitely be an extremely powerful competitor in the treasure hunt. To avoid

such a situation, he had to find a way to prevent such a powerful competitor from appearing. Therefore, he intentionally or unintentionally excluded Yang Fan. Unfortunately, his idea was good, but reality was cruel, and his wishful thinking ultimately died in the womb! After

this little episode, the various holy lands calmed down and decided to join forces to break the seal for the time being. Therefore, they all stood together in perfect unison, preparing to unleash their magical artifacts and begin breaking the seal. Yang Fan and his group also joined this procession.

"Begin!"

With the shouts rang out, the various holy lands unleashed their respective magical artifacts. In an instant, the sounds shook the heavens, and the momentum soared to the sky. Various powerful magical artifacts appeared in the sky...

Chapter 411 [Magical Artifacts Gather]

"Boom!"

A deafening roar resounded. The first to be affected was the area where the group of black-clad men from the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect were located. Suddenly, a surge of black demonic energy rose up. This black demonic energy condensed and did not dissipate, eventually forming a huge black skull. Around the black skull, twelve blood-red banners floated.

Under the influence of the Yin energy, the twelve blood-red banners fluttered, like death warrants summoning souls, sending chills down one's spine. And the huge black skull was precisely in the center of the twelve blood-red banners. Combined, it was as if the gates to the ghost realm had been opened, the eerie atmosphere chilling everyone to the bone!

This was a replica of the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner, a divine artifact of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect! However, although it was merely a magical artifact, its power far surpassed that of ordinary magical artifacts. The moment it appeared, the entire sky turned icy cold.

"Boom!"

At the same time the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner appeared, a loud bang echoed from another direction. Then, a massive scroll slowly unfurled, like a celestial painting, continuously enlarging as it unfolded. On the scroll were countless celestial palaces, pavilions, and wondrous trees, and within them, countless beautiful women danced gracefully, like a paradise on earth. It was a replica of the Goddess Painting of Zhiyu Palace! The moment

the Goddess Painting appeared, the aura of the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect was suppressed, demonstrating that the Goddess Painting's power surpassed that of the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner!

"Boom!"

Seeing two magical artifacts appear in succession, Yang Feng could no longer sit still. With a wave of his hand, all the disciples of the Pure Yang Sect took their positions, forming a wondrous array. At the same time, a huge fiery skull burst forth from Yang Feng's body, forming a massive fire cauldron above his head.

This replica of the Sun God Furnace, once revealed, shone like the sun itself, its radiance boundless and its flames blazing. From afar, only a huge ball of fire could be seen, the true form of the Sun God Furnace completely obscured. Only faint traces of golden crows formed from flames constantly patrolling its surface could be discerned.

The Sun God Furnace, by its very nature, gathers the true energy of heaven and earth into a single furnace, a true condensation of the essence of fire. The genuine Sun God Furnace can burn all things, refine the void, and destroy everything. Although the object Yang Feng held in his hand was merely a replica of the Sun God Furnace, its mere appearance still sent waves of heat crashing down upon everyone present.

With three magical artifacts appearing in succession, the other major holy lands naturally refused to be outdone, each unleashing their own magical artifacts. In an instant, a surge of energy erupted, creating a massive and overwhelming spectacle. All the magical artifacts gathered together, their overwhelming power seemingly capable of crushing the entire world, making it difficult to breathe.

Even Yang Fan, facing the pressure of over ten magical artifacts, felt the pressure increase exponentially, and he couldn't help but summon the Five Elements Pearls once more. Instantly, five enormous spheres enveloped them, as if transporting them to another starry sky, and the pressure exerted by the other magical artifacts vanished without a trace.

After summoning the Five Elements Pearls, Yang Fan turned his gaze back to the various holy lands, where he saw the Moon Sound Demon Harp of the Moon Sound Sect, the Twelve-Petaled Lotus of the Hundred Flowers Sect, the Yangyang Hehuan Bell of the Yangyang Hehuan Sect, the Eight Trigrams Spiritual Furnace of the Spirit Treasure Heart-Cleansing Sect, the Carefree Heartless Fan of the Carefree Sect, the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword of the Qingxiao Dao Sect… and many other magical artifacts also appeared!

The Moon Sound Sect's Moon Sound Demon Zither is an exquisitely crafted instrument. Its surface is adorned with lifelike dragons and phoenixes, seemingly not mere carvings but rather sealed divine objects, exuding an overwhelming aura. Even before its sound is uttered, it evokes a sense of ethereal mystery.

As for the Spirit Treasure Heart-Cleansing Sect's Eight Trigrams Spirit-Cleansing Furnace, it appears identical to any other Tai Chi Eight Trigrams furnace. Its surface also radiates high temperatures, not as scorching as the Sun God Furnace, but still considerable. Moreover, a faint, refreshing fragrance occasionally wafts from the furnace, invigorating those who inhale it.

The Spirit Treasure Heart-Cleansing Sect is renowned for its alchemy, unmatched in the art. Its disciples are not skilled in combat, but are all exceptional alchemy prodigies. Therefore, the Spirit Treasure Heart-Cleansing Sect is the most popular sect among the various holy lands, having made the fewest enemies!

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things; no one is immune to illness or misfortune. Especially those who live in the martial world, who don't lead a life of constant danger, getting injured is as commonplace as eating. And it is at this time that the Lingbao Qinxin Sect's role becomes apparent!

Because when injured, a single healing pill is enough to not only heal the wound but also potentially save one's life. In other words, having a pill is equivalent to having an extra life. And all these pills are concentrated in the possession of the Lingbao Qinxin Sect, naturally making its disciples highly sought after!

As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding," and everyone in the martial arts world needs favors from the Lingbao Qinxin Sect; who would be foolish enough to offend them? Moreover, the Lingbao Qinxin Sect not only refines healing pills but also miraculous elixirs that aid in cultivation and help break through realms. Undoubtedly, this greatly increases their importance!

Being injured without pills is manageable; slow recuperation or a visit to a common doctor always offers a chance of survival. But these cultivation-enhancing elixirs are exclusively available from this one sect. Furthermore, the allure of cultivation-enhancing elixirs far outweighs the former for martial artists. This is precisely why the Lingbao Qinxin Sect established its position among the various holy lands.

While each disciple of the Lingbao Qinxin Sect may not carry swords or other weapons for self-defense, they all possess a medicinal cauldron for refining pills. For them, the cauldron is their weapon, their everything!

Legend has it that the pills refined by the Lingbao Qinxin Sect's sacred artifact, the Eight Trigrams Spirit Furnace, can instantly propel an ordinary person's cultivation to the peak of the Refining Spirit realm. Moreover, it can even refine pills that allow one to break through the Refining Spirit realm and reach the Returning to Emptiness realm. Some even say that the divine pills refined in the Eight Trigrams Spirit Furnace can even allow one to reach the Primordial Chaos realm!

However, such divine pills have extremely strict requirements regarding both the ingredients and the refiner. Therefore, apart from the founder of the Lingbao Qinxin Sect, Daoist Duobao, who refined a pill that allowed someone to break through to the Returning to Emptiness realm and directly reach the Primordial Chaos realm, no one has yet been able to refine such a pill.

Leaving aside such divine pills, even the elixirs for breaking through to the Void Returning stage are beyond the mass production capacity of the Lingbao Qinxin Sect. It takes decades of painstaking effort to refine even a few.

Besides the Lingbao Tianxin Sect's Eight Trigrams Spiritual Furnace, Yang Fan had already seen the Twelve-Petal Lotus of the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. As for the Xiaoyao Sect's Xiaoyao Heartless Fan, it didn't have many obvious features on the surface. The only thing that caught Yang Fan's attention was the magic weapon offered by the Qingxiao Dao Sect—a replica of the Heavenly Dao Two Elements Sword!

This Heavenly Dao Two Elements Sword, from its appearance, didn't seem significantly different from the swords used by ordinary Daoists. The only difference was the presence of a distinct black and white Taiji diagram where the hilt met the blade. It was also considerably larger than ordinary Daoist swords.

The most obvious difference, however, was the absence of a crucial element from the black and white Taiji diagram: the Yin and Yang points.

In the Tai Chi diagram, black and white represent Yin and Yang, and Heaven and Earth respectively. The boundary between black and white represents the human aspect that divides Heaven and Earth into Yin and Yang. A black dot in white represents Yin within Yang, and a white dot in black represents Yang within Yin.

"Tai" means "to the extreme" or "extreme," implying reaching the ultimate limit, unmatched by anything else. It encompasses both the ultimate principle and the limits of space and time, from the largest to the smallest. It can expand to fill the universe, or contract and remain hidden within the heart. It can be greater than any quantity but cannot exceed the circumference and space, and it can be less than any quantity but not equal to zero or nothingness. This is the meaning of the two characters "Tai Chi."

The saying "The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things" means that Wuji (the limitless) gives birth to Tai Chi, Tai Chi gives birth to Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang combine to give birth to all things. The universe is infinitely large, hence the name Tai Chi, but the universe is also tangible, possessing substantial content. According to the I Ching, tangible things originate from the intangible, hence Wuji gives rise to Tai Chi. The Tai Chi symbol is a continuously moving entity, representing the universe in motion. Motion generates Yang energy; when motion reaches a certain point, relative stillness arises, generating Yin energy. This interplay of motion and stillness, with Yin and Yang mutually rooted, continues endlessly.

Nature operates similarly: Yin and Yang, cold and heat, the growth, transformation, and storage of the four seasons—the laws governing the growth of all things—all encompass Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. In the human realm, regarding Yin and Yang, "the way of Qian (Heaven) forms the male, the way of Kun (Earth) forms the female." The union of Yin and Yang gives birth to all things, and all things continue to grow and change according to this law, hence the endless cycle of transformation. These concepts establish the three fundamental principles: the Way of Heaven, the Way of Earth, and the Way of Humanity—the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, and Man), also known as the "Way of the Three Extremes" (or "The movement of the six lines").

The Tai Chi diagram is the simplest, most profound, and most perfectly formed pattern. No other pattern, ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign, possesses such profound meaning. It can encompass the universe, life, matter, energy, motion, and structure, revealing the origins of the universe, life, and matter.

As stated in the *I Ching*, "The *I Ching* has the Taiji, which generates the Two Forms, the Two Forms generate the Four Symbols, the Four Symbols generate the Eight Trigrams, the Eight Trigrams determine good and bad fortune, and good and bad fortune give rise to great undertakings."

A complete Taiji diagram is a circular pattern composed of two fish-shaped patterns (one black and one white), plus two extreme

points. However, the Taiji diagram on this Heavenly Dao Two Forms Sword is missing the two most crucial extreme points. This undoubtedly appears extremely discordant!

These two extreme points represent the interplay of Yin and Yang; without them, there is no Yang within Yin, and no Yin within Yang. Yin and Yang cannot coexist, naturally leading to imbalance and disharmony in all things! This seems to be an implicit criticism of the unequal power of Heaven and the injustice of the Great Dao!

"Right, Brother Yang told me that the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword was struck by the Demon Emperor's Bell wielded by the Demon Emperor of the Demon Realm, suffering severe damage and greatly reduced power. Could this incomplete Taiji Diagram be related to that?"

Suddenly, Yang Fan remembered some things Yang Feng had told him before, and a question arose in his mind. At that moment, a strange feeling surged into his heart, but just as he was about to grasp it, it vanished without a trace...

At this very moment, all the major holy lands joined forces and unleashed their respective magical artifacts. Even the group from the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, although their replica of the Heavenly Heart Bell had been destroyed by Yang Fan, still unleashed another magical artifact.

It was an exquisitely crafted pagoda with nine stories, floating above the group from the Heavenly Heart Pavilion. Although the power it emitted was not as great as that of a magical artifact like the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner, it was still not to be underestimated. It was clear that the origin of this magical artifact was by no means simple.

With all the magical artifacts gathered, it was time to break the seal together. Someone shouted, "Rise!"

Instantly, everyone activated their artifacts to their maximum power and simultaneously blasted them towards the ancient tomb!

"Boom!"

A series of deafening roars echoed as the artifacts above everyone's heads simultaneously shone brightly. Crimson, black, red, and green lights erupted from the artifacts, forming tangible and intangible rivers of energy that crashed towards the ancient tomb.

This was a spatial storm composed of pure spatial power. Each artifact in the hands of the various holy lands contained immense spatial power, and what they were doing now was to exert their utmost effort to activate and combine this spatial power to break through the spatial defenses surrounding the ancient tomb!

Although the power of the artifacts in the hands of the various holy lands varied, and the degree of activation differed, the spatial storm formed by the combined spatial power was not to be underestimated!

Above everyone's heads, a spatial storm, composed of dozens of spatial forces, roared towards the ancient tomb like a river traversing time and space. Along its path, space collapsed, cracks appeared, and spatial fissures continuously emerged, forming spatial blades that relentlessly cleaved the area.

Gradually, enormous black holes began to form, extending from where everyone was towards the ancient tomb, ultimately creating a colossal chasm that seemed to divide heaven and earth in two!

"Now's the time! Move!"

The instant the chasm appeared, the people from the various holy lands rose simultaneously and rushed into it at top speed. Yang Fan and his group also began their operation!

The opportunity was fleeting. The spatial passage, broken by the combined power of more than ten magical artifacts, could only last for a brief moment. This moment was the only chance to enter the ancient tomb. The people from the various holy lands were all more cunning than monkeys, so how could they miss such an opportunity?

At this moment, it was a race against time. Almost everyone exerted all their strength, rushing towards the ancient tomb through the chasm. However, no one noticed that just as they were desperately rushing towards the ancient wall, behind them, a faint red light followed closely behind them and entered the ancient tomb just before the chasm disappeared!

The next moment, the chasm dissipated, and the world returned to clarity. However, the people from the various holy lands had vanished completely...

Chapter 412 [Ancient Temple in the Deep Mountains]

As if traversing time and space, when Yang Fan entered the time tunnel formed by countless spatial forces, he had a vague feeling that time had reversed.

The surrounding light and shadows flashed by, and the scenery receded rapidly. The tunnel, opened by the power of space, seemed to alter time and space, allowing them to travel at breakneck speed. In a short moment, they had covered over a hundred miles. The next instant, the images and objects became clear, and they found themselves in a completely new environment…

“Is this the true place where that great Buddhist master cultivated?”

The environment before them was not as magnificent and grand as they had imagined; instead

, it appeared remarkably ordinary. Small hills only a few dozen meters high, bushes barely waist-high, wildflowers, weeds, sparrows, shrubs… everything looked so ordinary!

Deep within the bushes, a temple made of mud stood faintly. The temple occupied only about an acre of land, its height similar to an ordinary house. It looked like a local earthen shrine in the mountains, so ordinary that it would be easily overlooked.

Such an ordinary place was hardly recognizable as the cultivation site of a powerful cultivator. One might believe it belonged to an ordinary mountain farmer or a reclusive old man.

Having expended so much effort, only to arrive at such an ordinary place, the people from the various holy lands were utterly disappointed. What they saw was far, far removed from the treasure trove they had imagined… However, seeing this, the people from the holy lands did not completely give up. Each of them harbored a sliver of hope, a fantasy of a miracle. Therefore, after exchanging glances, they unanimously chose to enter the ancient temple!

“Hmm? How come there’s an ancient temple here?”

Similarly, Yang Fan was also constantly examining the seemingly ordinary ancient temple before him. This temple undoubtedly seemed quite unusual. But Yang Fan did not feel any discomfort. On the contrary, he had an indescribable thought in his mind.

However, seeing people from various holy sites entering one after another, he didn't hesitate any longer. He exchanged glances with Nalan Qingcheng and the others, and also chose to enter.

Stepping into the ancient temple, Yang Fan scanned the small courtyard, which was only a few dozen feet in size. The temple was overgrown with weeds, and countless withered branches and fallen leaves were scattered on the ground. Stepping on them made them creak. The roof of the dilapidated temple was also leaning precariously, with rays of sunlight peeking through and illuminating the interior.

The Buddha statues on the incense altar were no longer distinguishable due to their age, and countless spider webs covered the entire room. Strangely, although the sky outside the temple was clear and sunny, upon entering the ancient temple, they found that a thick fog permeated the area, obscuring the entire temple and making it impossible to see its shape. Moreover, the entire ancient temple was devoid of any life, and a cold wind blew, causing the thick fog to swirl back and forth. It was filled with an eerie and sinister aura.

"Waaah~ Waaah~ Waaah~" The air seemed to be filled with cries from all directions, sounding as if the person had suffered an unbearable injustice, their heart heavy as if weighed down by a boulder. A chill ran down their spine; the cries reached the deepest recesses of their being, unleashing all their negative emotions, leaving them with no attachment to the world and an irresistible urge to commit suicide. Only by leaving this world could they find relief from the pain!

"Hoo!"

Suddenly jolted awake, Yang Fan found himself drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding wildly.

"It's been so long since I've felt this way."

Since his significant advancement in power, Yang Fan had never experienced this feeling. This was a feeling he only had when he trained alone.

However, with his growth and maturity, Yang Fan had almost completely suppressed his emotions, yet now, in this strange place, with his greatly enhanced power, he had been transported back to that terrifying era!

"Something's not right, this is eerie!"

Coming to his senses, Yang Fan found the surroundings eerily quiet. Although this ancient temple was nestled in the mountains, devoid of human presence, there should at least be some insect sounds. But now, all was silent, save for the mournful howling of the eerie wind. The wind blew, scattering dust throughout the temple and adding to the chilling atmosphere.

"Could there really be ghosts in this ancient temple, the kind only found in folk tales?"

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Yang Fan instantly regained his composure.

What had just happened was far too bizarre. He had only just stepped into this ancient temple, yet such hallucinations had arisen in his mind, leaving Yang Fan with an indescribable feeling.

He had read many folk tales and ghost stories before. Moreover, he knew that any expert above the Void Returning Realm would retain a trace of consciousness after death. This trace of consciousness, under certain conditions, could form "ghosts," like the two skeletons beside Qin Mengyao.

However, besides these, there was another special kind of existence. These are the spirits of those who died unjustly, their souls not considered part of the vengeful spirits. These spirits differ from those formed from the remnants of consciousness of Void Return Realm experts after death. These spirits only retain their consciousness from their previous life, and thus, through the influence of malevolent energy and death energy, they possess some superpowers, but these are not the spells of cultivators; they are merely simple abilities to manipulate matter. They often wreak havoc in their surroundings.

The other type of spirit, while also harboring lingering resentment, possesses no real power. They can only create illusions for ordinary people, but will not harm them. If someone mistakenly enters the burial ground of these spirits, it's like someone entering someone else's home without permission; the owner will try to drive them away, but will not harm them.

As the saying goes, skill breeds boldness, and Yang Fan, whose temperament was far more mature than the average person, was not afraid of those so-called wandering ghosts. Whether they were transformed from Void Returning Realm experts or vengeful spirits whose resentment had not yet dissipated, in his eyes, those lingering souls were nothing special.

To martial artists like him, those things were no different from ants. As long as one's heart was open and honest, no ghost or monster could get close to those wandering ghosts. Moreover, cultivators were mostly full of vital energy and yang energy, so not only were evil spirits hard to approach, but they also rarely suffered from illness.

"Zha!"

Suddenly, Yang Fan shouted angrily, his eyes sweeping coldly around. The thick fog that had surrounded them vanished mysteriously as soon as his gaze swept over them, revealing the original scene of the ancient temple.

"Be careful, this place is a bit eerie. It doesn't seem like the place where a high-ranking Buddhist monk passed away. If you're not careful, you'll start hallucinating!"

Yang Fan's shout not only completely dissipated the surrounding mist, but also brought Nalan Qingcheng and the others back to reality.

Just now, they too had experienced terrifying hallucinations, entering a strange state from which they couldn't escape. Fortunately, Yang Fan's timely warning brought them back to their senses.

"Where is this? It's so eerie. I think I just saw a girl in white. Her body was floating in mid-air, her long white robes billowing in the wind, her figure curvaceous and beautiful—a rare sight indeed. But her deathly pale face greatly diminished her beauty, not only diminishing her charm but also sending chills down my spine. As soon as she appeared, she slowly descended to the ground, but her toes remained an inch off the ground." "

And she kept begging me for help, asking me to save her. It was terrifying! If you hadn't woken me up in time, I probably would have been trapped! What's going on? I feel like I've encountered a ghost!" Yang Feng patted

his chest, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, slightly out of breath. Clearly, she too had been trapped in some kind of illusion, and it was extremely dangerous. If Yang Feng hadn't woken her up in time, something terrible might have happened!

"This isn't a ghost encounter, but a powerful illusionary bewitching array. It's both real and illusory, capable of awakening the deepest fears in one's heart and amplifying them infinitely. If one cannot control their own mind, the illusions appearing in their mind will become real scenes, leading to complete loss and inability to extricate oneself!"

Looking at the surroundings now clear again, Yang Fan slowly explained.

Actually, what surprised Yang Fan was that he had no idea what was happening, yet these words had unexpectedly come out of his mouth. It was as if he should have known, speaking without the slightest hesitation, only realizing after he finished that he knew nothing at all.

After giving everyone a warning, Yang Fan and his group stepped into the ancient temple again. However, to Yang Fan's surprise, what appeared before them upon entering the temple was not the scene inside. Instead, they found themselves in another valley!

Upon entering this area, Yang Fan clearly sensed the difference.

Silence! A terrifying silence, far quieter than in the ancient temple, a silence that sent chills down one's spine upon entering. The bright sunlight in the sky vanished eerily when it reached the valley. A thick, eerie mist hung over the entire valley, devoid of any life. Towering trees interspersed among the trees did not bring any life to the valley; instead, they gave it a cold, desolate feel.

Upon entering the valley, a gust of cold wind swept over them. Will-o'-the-wisps, glowing green, drifted everywhere in the forest. These glowing flames, instead of illuminating the surroundings, only made the atmosphere more sinister and terrifying.

Without warning, the once quiet valley erupted in wails and screams. These sounds, combined with the drifting will-o'-the-wisps, made the valley even more frightening.

Waryly observing his surroundings, Yang Fan slowly moved forward, each step cautious and deliberate. The unique aura of a martial artist emanated from his body, forming an aura around him that isolated him and his companions from their surroundings.

"Hehehe! It's been so long since I've eaten human flesh! It's making my mouth water. I never thought someone would finally deliver it to my doorstep! Hehehe!"

Suddenly, a sinister, piercing voice echoed from all directions in the valley. The surrounding mist suddenly seemed to come alive, howling and coalescing into terrifying monsters that surrounded Yang Fan. Ox-headed demons, horse-faced demons, yakshas, and ghosts appeared, the scene instantly transforming into a living hell. All the monsters roared and surged towards Yang Fan.

"Hmph! Child's play!"

A cold snort came from Yang Fan's nose. It wasn't arrogance; such illusionary techniques were indeed nothing more than child's play to a martial artist with such exceptionally strong spiritual sense as him.

As if he didn't see the monsters, Yang Fan remained calm and continued walking forward. When his body made contact with the monsters, they passed right through him without colliding with him. The monsters passed through his body and dispersed, turning back into mist and drifting away.

Seeing the monsters turn back into mist, Yang Fan continued walking towards the center of the valley. If you take such hallucinations as real, you will inevitably become addicted, eventually being scared to death or even mentally impaired by the illusions. Conversely, if you can maintain a calm mind and see through the illusion to its essence, you will not be affected. Mist is still mist, vapor is still vapor; their essence remains the same. The so-called "seeing flowers through the mist" is about seeing through the essence, not becoming addicted.

The will-o'-the-wisps disappeared, the wailing disappeared, the ghosts floating in the air disappeared. Everything returned to normal, as if nothing had ever happened. And Yang Fan remained standing in the same spot, as if he hadn't moved at all.

"It seems I really underestimated this illusion array!" His lips parted slightly, a cold smile appearing on Yang Fan's face as he slowly spoke…

He lowered his finger to his lips and bit down hard; instantly, a stream of bright red blood flowed from the wound. Yang Fan's expression remained unchanged. He flicked his finger, sending a drop of blood shooting into the woods ahead.

The crimson blood arced perfectly through the air before slowly falling into the trees. But the instant the pearl-sized drop landed, the once quiet valley erupted in chaos.

Yang Fan's blood, after countless washes and enhancements, contained an incredibly potent essence. Essence and yang energy are the nemesis of all evil, and thus, that single drop of blood caused a massive uproar throughout the valley. Screams rang out, accompanied by splattering sounds, like red-hot iron thrown into an icy lake, instantly creating ripples. Suddenly, a fierce wind swept through the quiet valley, dispersing the lingering mist and revealing the scene within.

Sunlight shone through the trees, and the valley finally came to life, no longer appearing gloomy. Having found their direction, Yang Fan and his companions headed into the valley…

Chapter 413 [Chain Formation]

This time, the legendary ghost wall didn't appear, and Yang Fan and his group quickly reached the deepest part of the valley.

Animal skeletons appeared before them. On a flat area only a few feet in diameter, countless skeletons were piled up. Some of the skeletons still had traces of blood on them, clearly indicating they hadn't been there long. A strong stench of rotting flesh emanated from them, making them nauseating.

“Heh heh… I didn't expect you to have some skill. I could have let you go, but I didn't expect you to be so ungrateful, daring to barge in. It seems that if I don't take you today, I'll be doing the heavens a disservice! Heh heh…”

Just then, that gloomy voice came from the open space again. As soon as the words fell, the bones piled on the ground began to tremble without warning. A wisp of black mist rose from it, hovering in the air and forming the shape of a human head.

However, this head was as large as an ordinary house, its entire face hidden in black mist, except for its eyes. A pair of eyes glowing green, like two lanterns, emitted a chilling light. The moment the shadow appeared, the moonlight in the high sky instantly lost its color, until finally, the entire sky darkened, and the vast valley seemed to be pressed down by a mountain, making it hard to breathe.

The shadow floating in mid-air, unable to gauge Yang Fan's strength after his display, hesitated to attack.

It had sensed a massive amount of yang energy from Yang Fan's essence blood, an aura comparable to a Void Returning expert, which instilled fear in it. Unable to retreat, it feigned a fierce expression, hoping to intimidate the shadow. If the shadow was frightened, it meant the shadow had little strength and could become its prey. Otherwise, it would have to let the shadow go.

The man opposite him maintained an unfathomable demeanor, leaving the shadowy figure unable to decipher his intentions, and the two remained locked in a stalemate. In truth, Yang Fan's thoughts were exactly the same as the shadow's. If he showed the slightest fear now, he would inevitably suffer a full-force attack. But continuing this stalemate was disadvantageous. Countless ideas flashed through his mind, and for a moment, Yang Fan was at a loss for what to do.

The shadowy figure, being a manifestation of a malevolent spirit, gradually lost its initial fear over time. Overwhelmed by its ferocity, the shadow roared towards Yang Fan, a nauseating stench filling the air. Its massive body surged towards Yang Fan like a fortified wall. The stark contrast in size between them made one wonder if the tiny human would even survive after the shadow passed.

Suddenly, the shadow let out a scream, its body reversing several times its initial speed, retreating until it was dozens of feet away from Yang Fan. Its enormous, glowing green eyes showed lingering fear, like a wild beast facing its predator, staring at Yang Fan in terror. Yang Fan was momentarily bewildered.

In fact, just as the shadow was about to touch Yang Fan, a beam of white light suddenly erupted from between his brows, blasting into the shadowy figure without his notice. Struck by the white light, the black shadow was instantly forced back, the process completed in the blink of an eye.

"Could it be because of the Holy Buddha Relics?"

After a moment's thought, Yang Fan guessed the key to the problem. The two Holy Buddha Relics on his body were Buddhist treasures, and Buddhist artifacts were always the nemesis of evil. This monster before him was precisely of this kind. Coupled with Yang Fan's own martial arts essence, the monster was naturally purified by the Buddhist energy of the Holy Buddha Relics

as soon as it approached him. Moreover, Buddhist power was the nemesis of all evil. If a spirit could open its heart and submit to the purification of Buddhist power, it could be purified from the soul and freed from the suffering of reincarnation. Conversely, if it harbored evil thoughts, it would suffer annihilation upon contact with that Buddhist power, being completely destroyed by it and forever disappearing from the world…

Realizing this, Yang Fan felt reassured, and with a hint of mockery in his eyes, he strode towards the black shadow.

Seeing the other move, the dark figure was startled and moved back several feet. However, seeing that Yang Fan made no move, only approaching, the simple-minded figure was confused and decided to stand and watch what the other was up to. Furthermore, he wanted to see how he had just been attacked.

Ten feet, five feet, two feet… Hmm? Still nothing? Yang Fan's smile suddenly froze. He had thought that as soon as he came into contact with the spirit, the Buddha Relic's power would automatically attack, allowing him to glean some information. But to his surprise, even as his body was almost touching the dark figure, the Buddha Relic hadn't reacted at all, and its power hadn't appeared. For a moment, he felt like crying.

The dark figure, which had been cautiously guarding its opponent, kept its two giant eyes fixed on the other, trying to see how it had been injured. But the tiny human before it hadn't used any magic or martial arts; instead, it had simply walked right up to it. Such a person was either confident or an idiot, an arrogant madman!

Clearly, the shadowy figure categorized its opponent as the former, but just then, it caught a glimpse of Yang Fan's astonished expression. While not the sharpest of them all, it wasn't an idiot either; it quickly deciphered the meaning in Yang Fan's eyes.

With a roar, its green eyes gleamed with excitement. So, he really was a sucker! Imagining itself enjoying its long-awaited feast, the shadowy figure was overjoyed. It opened its blood-red maw, shrouded in black mist, and lunged at Yang Fan.

At that moment, Yang Fan once again felt the threat of death. His only option now was to use other methods. He raised his right hand, ready to strike the shadowy figure.

But in that instant, a beam of white light shot from his fingertip, instantly enveloping the shadowy figure. As soon as the black shadow was enveloped in the white light, it let out a desperate roar. The black mist that had been surrounding its body instantly dissipated, as if it had been evaporated. The shadow's body shrank continuously, wisps of black mist rising from its body and quickly disappearing into the air. The shadow's cries grew softer and weaker...

*Ling!* Finally, the shadow's head, originally the size of a house, gradually shrank to the size of a normal person. At this point, only the shadow's head was solid; its body and limbs were completely illusory, floating in the air like garments. The shadow's face, which had been shrouded in black mist, was now revealed.

Its face was ashen, with a hooked nose and eyes almost squinting into slits—clearly the mark of a sinister and cunning individual. At this moment, its eyes shone with a terrifying light, and it looked at Yang Fan with the same fear one would show to a god.

But the white light didn't end there; it suddenly intensified, completely enveloping the shadowy figure in its despairing gaze. Boom! A silent explosion echoed in Yang Fan's mind, and the shadowy figure's body was completely reduced to ashes in the white light!

"Hmm? What's this?"

Just as the shadowy figure vanished completely, the white light gradually dissipated. This time, although the mysterious lines didn't appear, Yang Fan truly felt as if a mysterious energy had appeared within his body. The energy swirled once and then disappeared, but Yang Fan clearly felt that the energy hadn't truly disappeared; it was hiding somewhere within his body, just undetectable to him! Before he could find where the energy was hidden, Yang Fan's gaze was drawn to the object before him.

There, a pure white crystal, no bigger than a fingernail, lay quietly where the shadowy figure had just disappeared. Yang Fan was certain that this thing had just appeared, and only after the shadowy figure vanished. There was only one conclusion: this thing was an item carried by the shadowy figure itself, and now that the shadowy figure was gone, only this mysterious crystal remained.

As Yang Fan played with the oval crystal in his hand, he felt a warmth emanating from it. Holding it, his mind calmed down, and the restlessness in his mind seemed to dissipate with the heat emanating from the crystal, leaving him with an indescribable peace.

"This thing is truly an excellent aid for cultivation! No wonder this undead could cultivate to such a powerful level!"

After a brief observation, Yang Fan realized the crystal's usefulness. If a cultivator carried it with them for a long time, the crystal could constantly nourish their body, and like a calming pill, it could stabilize the cultivator's mind, preventing them from suffering from qi deviation. Having discovered this benefit, Yang Fan naturally wouldn't let it pass by. Even if he didn't find it useful, it would still be a good item to give away later.

"Throughout our journey, all the attacks we've encountered have been illusions, without any real substance. But this time, although it's also an illusion, it feels incredibly real, and there are even tangible objects left behind. It seems we're getting closer and closer to the center of this illusionary array!"

Along the way, amidst the constant interplay of illusion and reality, Yang Fan and his group have faced endless illusionary attacks. Although they've narrowly avoided countless crises thanks to their powerful divine sense, they've still been constantly in danger. If it weren't for Yang Fan's flashes of inspiration at each critical moment, they would likely be dead by now!

This time, the attack, seemingly identical to an illusion, suddenly materialized. If it weren't for the Holy Buddha Relic manifesting its power at the last moment, Yang Fan would probably be in grave danger.

However, this also reminded Yang Fan that his group might be approaching the center of the array, and the crystal in his hand is very likely one of the array's key points!

This was clearly a complex, interconnected array, one link after another, one after another. Yang Fan and his group had already broken no fewer than a hundred arrays, but these arrays were densely packed and seemingly endless; no matter how they tried, they couldn't break them all.

Moreover, these arrays seemed to automatically generate new ones; breaking one would immediately create another, filling the gap left by the previous one. And the newly created arrays were far more powerful than the originals. It seemed that the power of the entire array was only slowly activating during the process of breaking the arrays…

“Although these arrays are all derived from illusions, as the breaking speed increases, not only do their power grow stronger, but the illusionary arrays are also beginning to solidify, transforming into real arrays, killing arrays. If this continues, although we break more arrays, the power of the entire array is actually increasing. In this way, not only can we not break the array, but it's tantamount to a form of slow suicide!”

"Needless to say, this formation must have been created by that Primordial Chaos Realm expert. Only a Primordial Chaos Realm expert could set up such a mysterious and unbreakable formation. In fact, if one accidentally enters the formation, there will be no danger as long as one exits in time. However, if one has any ill intentions and tries to go deeper into it, it will trigger more formations, thus continuously increasing the power of the entire formation. In the end, when the entire formation is fully activated, I'm afraid that everyone from the various holy lands, including all of us, will perish within this formation!" After

killing the monster, Yang Fan did not rush forward but stopped to analyze the situation.

“Indeed, I’ve noticed it too. As we keep breaking the formation, its power doesn’t decrease; on the contrary, it’s getting stronger. In the long run, it will only increase the formation’s power for no reason!”

Nalan Qingcheng said. “However, to break the entire formation, we must keep breaking the smaller formations. Only by constantly devouring the entire formation can we have a chance to break it. But now we can’t touch these smaller formations. How can we get through? Moreover, even if we don’t break these formations, the people from the other holy lands might not stop. In that case, it’s the same as us breaking the formation, and the power of the entire formation will continue to increase as they keep destroying it. I’m afraid it will be too late by the time they realize it!”

Indeed, the people from the various holy lands entered the ancient temple at the same time, and Yang Fan and his group also came here through the ancient temple. This means that they are all in the same great formation. Since their breaking of the formation would trigger a chain reaction throughout the entire formation, the same would happen if others broke it. Therefore, even if Yang Fan and his group stopped, others would continue breaking the formation, ultimately only increasing its power in vain.

And when the formation was fully activated, everyone within it would perish simultaneously. At this critical moment, unless Yang Fan and his group withdrew from the formation, even if they discovered the key to the formation, they would still be trapped in danger if others didn't stop.

But having come this far, did Yang Fan and his group really have a way out? Standing outside the treasure's gate without entering, could Yang Fan and his group really do that?

Undoubtedly, no! It wasn't the allure of the treasure, but rather the fact that the Holy Buddha Relic was too important to Yang Fan, making it impossible for him to give up any hope of success!

Chapter 414 [The True and False Ancient Temple] Shamelessly Asking for Leave!

"Huh?"

However, just as Yang Fan was at a loss, the blood relic deep within his heart suddenly and unexpectedly began to vibrate.

Immediately afterward, the Buddha relic on his finger trembled slightly. As if drawn by something, an inexplicable emotion surged through Yang Fan's heart.

"Follow me!"

Seizing that fleeting intuition, Yang Fan led Nalan Qingcheng and the others on their way again. This time, however, Yang Fan led them forward with his eyes closed, not using his eyes to discern directions at all!

With his eyes closed, a complex and profound pattern appeared in Yang Fan's mind. These patterns resembled a nebula map, with shimmering starlight and intricate lines. Upon careful examination, Yang Fan discovered that some places were actually locations they had previously traversed!

In other words, the map in his mind was the entirety of the world they were currently in. Although he didn't understand how this was happening, with the map, Yang Fan felt as if he had found a guiding light in the darkness, finding his direction and continuously moving forward in the direction indicated by the arrows on the map!

Although he didn't know exactly where the arrows pointed on the map, his intuition told Yang Fan that it was definitely the safest place. The message conveyed by the two sacred Buddha relics, the Buddha Bone Relic and the Blood Relic, was that he should go to that place.

It was precisely because of the guidance of these two sacred Buddha relics that Yang Fan resolutely headed there. However, although he didn't know exactly what that place was or what it might hold, since following the route indicated on the map, Yang Fan and his group hadn't encountered any illusions or obstacles from any formations!

This undoubtedly saved them a lot of time and prevented them from taking many detours. Walking and stopping, stopping and walking, the group quickly arrived at the very end indicated by the arrow on the map!

"This is…"

Slowly opening his eyes, Yang Fan's consciousness withdrew from the map in his mind. However, the moment he saw the environment before him, he froze on the spot, unable to calm down for a long time!

Looking at the familiar hills, the familiar thorns, and the dilapidated earthen temple, Yang Fan could hardly believe that his group, after going through so much trouble and taking so many detours, had somehow ended up back where they started, back in front of the ancient temple…

“How could this be? Did we get lost?”

Not only Yang Fan, but even Nalan Qingcheng and the others were astonished. If they didn’t have absolute trust in Yang Fan, they might have questioned him.

“I’m not quite sure either. How did we end up here?”

Faced with Nalan Qingcheng’s question, Yang Fan was completely baffled, unable to understand what had happened for a long time.

"No, this isn't the place we just went to. Look, although the environment here is exactly the same as there, and the ancient temple looks exactly the same, have you noticed that the feeling here is completely different from the previous place!"

Qin Mengyao spoke up, first surveying the surroundings before continuing, "Moreover, based on my years of archaeological experience, this ancient temple has existed for much longer than the previous one. Just like the difference between a genuine artifact and a rare artifact, the ancient temple we saw before was merely a rare artifact, while this one is the true ancient relic!

" Qin Mengyao walked to the ancient temple, picked up a handful of soil from the corner of the wall, sniffed it lightly, and then said, "Putting everything else aside, just judging from this soil that has fallen from the wall, this ancient temple has existed for no less than ten thousand years! If you don't believe me, come and see for yourselves; the soil on the temple

's cliffs is already etched with the marks of wind and frost, and the passage of time!" Following Qin Mengyao's pointing, Yang Fan indeed saw grooves formed by wind and frost erosion on the temple wall. These grooves were naturally formed, without any trace of human intervention, as if they had always been there, like the wrinkles on the face of an old man.

Yang Fan carefully recalled his previous experience and realized that there were no such grooves in front of the ancient temple he had visited before. If it weren't for his exceptionally strong divine sense, he wouldn't have remembered such a small detail!

"I understand!"

In that instant, Yang Fan suddenly understood many things, and he also understood why he had suddenly appeared here!

"It turns out that the ancient temple we saw the first time wasn't real at all, but merely a projection of the temple before us. The illusion was so realistic that no one noticed its true nature. Moreover, it was the entrance to the entire grand formation. It was because we entered that place that we entered the formation." "

Those who could come here naturally knew what was here and the identity of that Primordial Chaos Realm expert. Naturally, facing such an ancient temple, everyone would think of the true cultivation place of a Primordial Chaos Realm expert, and imagine treasures, peerless techniques, elixirs, and super artifacts!"

"Therefore, even if someone discovered some clues, no one chose to investigate further at that time, including all of us. We were all blinded by desire, influenced by the Pleasure Realm, and thus entered the formation, becoming its puppets!"

As the saying goes, "By drawing inferences from one instance," once this one point was understood, all the doubts in the entire incident instantly became clear. Yang Fan finally witnessed the brilliance of that Buddhist monk's methods!

Yang Fan had initially thought the spatial laws outside the ancient tomb were the final barrier, but who would have thought there were so many more obstacles beyond them!

The terms "cave within a cave" and "tomb within a tomb" simply couldn't describe the true location of this ancient tomb. First, there was the desert, then the Lesser Thousand World where the Blood Transformation Sect resided, then another plane within that Lesser Thousand World, and within that plane, yet another mysterious space. Even now, Yang Fan wasn't certain if this ancient temple connected to a completely new world. And behind that new world, were there other unknown places?

Where exactly was the true ancient tomb located? That Buddhist master truly lived up to his reputation as a Primordial Chaos Realm expert, manipulating the spatial laws to their fullest extent. His cultivation location was hidden so mysteriously, not only unconventional and enigmatic, but also concealed within endless space, making it impossible to find!

Moreover, this Buddhist master was incredibly meticulous; the entire event, from the initial discovery of the ancient tomb to the present, was entirely within his design and control. He understood everyone's psychological reactions perfectly, and by exploiting human nature and greed, he successfully orchestrated a series of brilliant moves, manipulating the people of the various holy lands.

If Yang Fan hadn't possessed two Holy Buddha Relics, which had shown him a clear path in his moment of crisis, he and his companions would likely still be struggling within the illusionary array, battling against the illusion!

However, this ancient temple held immense appeal for Yang Fan. After all, it was the Holy Buddha Relics that had led him here. Even if this wasn't the true cultivation place of that Primordial Chaos expert, it was likely the center of the entire illusionary array.

Therefore, entering it was almost inevitable, and Yang Fan only hesitated for a brief moment before re-entering the ancient temple.

Inside, the scene was no different from the ancient temple he had visited before; the atmosphere remained the same. However, this ancient temple lacked the chilling aura and dense fog of the previous one. Therefore, the group did not get lost and quickly arrived at the depths of the ancient temple.

Here, in an unremarkable room, there were no decorations, only a few simple tables and chairs, covered in dust due to their age and lack of cleaning.

In the far corner of the room stood a huge Buddha statue, undoubtedly the most eye-catching object in the entire room.

Judging from its appearance, this statue was likely an image of Buddha Shakyamuni. Moreover, what was rare was that this statue was made of bronze; it was probably the most valuable item in the entire room. However, next to this Buddha statue, there was another clay bodhisattva that seemed extremely incongruous! Calling

it a clay bodhisattva wouldn't be an exaggeration, as it truly was made of clay!

It had three faces and eight arms, three eyes on its face, and flames at its sides, like Acala, a wrathful deity, holding ritual implements on either side: a three-pronged bell, arrow, and sword on the right, and a three-pronged halberd, bow, and rope on the left. With his left foot treading on Mahadeva and his right foot on Umahime,

this Bodhisattva is none other than the Dharmakaya of the Vajrapani in Buddhism!

The Vajrapani, also known as the Moon-Swept One, the Victorious Three Worlds, the Three Worlds Victorious, and the Vajrapani Bodhisattva, is the second of the Five Great Vidyarajas of Esoteric Buddhism, specifically the Command Wheel Body of the Vajra Family among the Five Families. Positioned in the east, his secret name is Supreme Vajra, subduing the three poisons of greed, anger,

and ignorance, and the three realms, hence the name Vajrapani. His form is three-faced and eight-armed, or four-faced and eight-armed, and blue in color. He holds various weapons, carries flames on his back, and treads on Mahadeva and Umahime, symbolizing the antidote to afflictions. In the Vajradhatu Mandala, he appears in the wrathful form of Vajrasattva, a manifestation of Vairocana Buddha, residing in the eastern moon disc of the Vajrapani Karma Assembly and the Vajrapani Samaya Assembly. In the Garbhadhatu Mandala, in the Vidyadhara Court, he is placed between Prajnaparamita Bodhisattva and Acala.

If Yang Fan hadn't been intimately familiar with Buddhist scriptures since childhood, he truly wouldn't have recognized this seemingly clay Buddha statue as the Dharmakaya of the Three Worlds Vidyaraja.

However, how could the image of the Three Worlds Vidyaraja be placed alongside the image of Shakyamuni Buddha? In Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha is the supreme being; all other Buddhas are subordinate to him. Therefore, when enshrining Buddha statues, the Shakyamuni Buddha statue is the highest and largest, with other statues slightly lower. Yet,

this image of the Three Worlds Vidyaraja was level with the Shakyamuni Buddha statue. Undoubtedly, this seemed incredibly strange and defied common sense.

Upon discovering this, Yang Fan couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation. However, just as he was about to step forward to investigate, he discovered that below the Shakyamuni Buddha statue, there was actually a figure… ( This last part is a separate, unrelated sentence: "

Shameless request for leave!

This chapter has been deleted! This chapter has been deleted! This chapter has been deleted! This chapter has been deleted! This chapter has been deleted!") This chapter has been deleted! ... This chapter has been deleted !

... His appearance was more like that of a hermit living in the mountains, devoid of any aura of a powerful figure, let alone the imposing presence of a Buddhist master. No one who saw him would associate him with a master! "This is...?" At first, Yang Fan thought someone had gotten there first, but upon closer observation, he discovered that the man before him sat like an old monk, his entire being devoid of any life force. However, he seemed to be one with heaven and earth, coexisting with the Dao. From his appearance, he was flawless, possessing an air of transcendence. Therefore, Yang Fan initially thought someone had beaten him to it. Upon closer inspection, Yang Fan realized that this monk seemed to have been sitting there from the very beginning, like the Buddha statue, existing eternally, rooted in the earth. The two formed a perfect cycle, as if the absence of either would be extremely discordant. "A Buddhist master, a Primordial Chaos expert... could he be the body left behind after that Buddhist master's passing?" Suddenly, Yang Fan seemed to realize something, his eyes flashing with intense light! Primordial Chaos experts have long since merged with heaven and earth, transcending the mortal realm, beyond the Three Realms, and beyond the Six Paths. Heaven and earth decay, but they remain immortal; heaven and earth perish, but they are indestructible. Therefore, even if a Primordial Chaos expert perishes, their body will not be damaged.

Because the physical bodies of those at the Primordial Chaos Realm surpass anything in terms of durability in this world. Unless attacked with full force by a Primordial Chaos Realm expert of equal caliber, nothing in this world can destroy them.

Some have even found the remains of fallen Primordial Chaos Realm experts and forged them into magical artifacts. While these artifacts may not rival true divine artifacts, they are undoubtedly invincible among magical artifacts. Furthermore, if a Primordial Chaos Realm expert obtains the body of another Primordial Chaos Realm expert, they could forge a true divine artifact!

If asked what the best material for forging magical artifacts is, undoubtedly, it is the physical body of a Primordial Chaos Realm expert. Legend has it that the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner, the divine artifact of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect, was forged from the head of a Primordial Chaos Realm expert. This is why the newly emerged Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner surpassed some established divine artifacts, securing a place in the top five of various divine artifact rankings!

The body before them was very likely the remains of that fallen Buddhist master. If so, the entire martial world would go mad!

This was something even experts at the Hunyuan realm coveted; whoever obtained it would find it incredibly valuable. Furthermore, this body might hold secrets of the Hunyuan realm, things that would drive any martial artist below that level crazy! Even

Yang Fan's eyes burned with fervor upon recognizing the body's identity. However, just as Yang Fan was about to examine the body more closely, the situation suddenly changed!

"Boom!"

A powerful aura erupted outside the house, followed by gigantic hands formed from condensed energy, piercing through the building and reaching inside, their target the body of the Hunyuan master!

The gigantic hands clashed in mid-air before even touching the body. Fists and palms clashed, unleashing gusts of wind that spread in all directions, each powerful enough to tear apart an ordinary martial artist.

However, these very gusts of wind, enough to strike fear into the hearts of even those below the Refinement God realm, vanished without a trace upon contact with the wall constructed of ordinary mud, as if sunk to the bottom of the sea, not even a speck of dust was shaken off!

Of course, some giant hands didn't fight the others, but instead reached for the body at top speed, attempting to seize the body of a Primordial Chaos expert in the shortest possible time. But just as these hands were about to touch the body, it seemed to twitch slightly. Then, ripples, barely perceptible to the naked eye, emanated from its body, gently touching the energy giant hands.

The subtle ripples and the ferocious energy giant hands were like a storm and a ripple in water; the difference between them was immeasurable, and the result of their collision was no different than an egg hitting a rock. However, when the ripples, like waves on water, struck the giant energy palms, those palms shattered like glass, transforming into countless energy waves that dissipated into nothingness…

“Indeed, it’s the body of a Primordial Chaos expert!”

However, the giant palms, instead of retreating after the ripples shattered them, bursts of joyful exclamations rang out, followed by a flurry of figures rushing in from outside!

Needless to say, these people were naturally from the various holy lands. Although he didn’t understand how they had arrived here, Yang Fan knew that each holy land had its unique strengths, and he hadn’t expected to be the first to arrive and monopolize everything. He just hadn’t expected them to arrive so uniformly.

However, this wasn’t the time to dwell on that. The appearance of the holy lands had undoubtedly disrupted Yang Fan’s plans and created a serious obstacle to his search for the Holy Buddha Relic!

These people weren’t just ordinary martial artists searching for the relic; they were the elite of the elite, the best of the best, geniuses cultivated by the various holy lands. Although he had single-handedly defeated the entire Tianxin Pavilion team, this did not mean he could defeat all the people from the Holy Lands in one fell swoop. Moreover, the various Holy Lands were not lacking in truly top-tier experts, nor were they lacking in figures who could rival him!

For example, from the sudden surge of power just now, Yang Fan clearly sensed several powerful auras that were no weaker than his own, and there were even some experts who had one foot in the Void Returning Realm! He

hadn't noticed them before because they were concealing their strength, and they all carried magical treasures that hid their true power, concealing their cultivation levels.

However, at this moment, they no longer needed to hide or keep a low profile. Because the treasure was right in front of them, the struggle for the treasure no longer required any schemes or tricks, but only true strength to seize it. Therefore, at this time, they did not need to suppress their true cultivation levels, nor did they need to hide their trump cards!

The first to bear the brunt was Ouyang Yu, the young master of Zhiyu Palace. In his hand, a palace fan appeared out of nowhere, embroidered with a lifelike depiction of a goddess emerging from her bath. He walked slowly from outside, his seemingly light steps carrying an indescribable Daoist aura. His entire being was flawless, seemingly in harmony with heaven and earth, giving an aura of invincibility. From

the other side, a Daoist priest in robes, carrying a long sword, also entered the room. He was like a peerless sword slowly being drawn, radiating a terrifying sword intent. Though dressed as a Daoist, he exuded the aura of a ruthless swordsman who had slaughtered countless lives.

This man was none other than Leng Wuqing, the young master of the Qingxiao Dao Sect!

From the other side, a young man, also holding a fan, walked unhurriedly into the room. Like Ouyang Yu, his fan was a feather fan made of white feathers. This man was Xiaoyao Wuhen, the young master of the Xiaoyao Sect!

Finally, there stood a mysterious figure completely shrouded in black cloth. His black robes were covered in terrifying skull symbols, making his already chilling demeanor even more sinister!

Above his head floated a pure white, jade-like skull, resembling a perfectly crafted work of art. Yet, it lacked any artistic merit; instead, it exuded an eerie, cold aura, as if it were not a skull, but a bloodthirsty god of death. This person was none other than the young master of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect! However, no one in the entire martial world, including the major holy lands, knew his name!

Yet, his status within the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect was no less than that of the sect master. Rumor had it that he was the last disciple of the previous sect master, while the current sect master was merely a nominal disciple!

The previous sect leader of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect was a powerful expert at the Primordial Chaos Realm. The true depth of his closed-door disciple's cultivation was unknown. Although the current sect leader was acting as his successor, this disciple's position within the sect remained unshakeable!

The four who suddenly appeared before him possessed an aura and cultivation no less powerful than Yang Fan's. In fact, the four of them, positioned at the four cardinal directions, subtly formed a combined attack formation, surrounding Yang Fan and suppressing him!

In other words, these four had targeted Yang Fan from the moment they appeared, and were now working together to suppress him. At this moment, if Yang Fan made even the slightest move, the four would surely join forces to kill him. Although Yang Fan

was confident, he wasn't so confident that he could remain unharmed under the combined attack of four experts whose strength was no less than his own. Moreover, Yang Fan could sense that each of these four individuals possessed a magical artifact. These four powerful figures, already formidable to him, now carried four magical artifacts; if they were to truly clash, the outcome would be uncertain!

Meanwhile, people from other major holy lands appeared from various directions. These individuals did not confront Yang Fan but instead focused their attention on Nalan Qingcheng and her group…

Clearly, this was a pre-arranged plan: the four of them would restrain him, preventing him from making any rash moves. Meanwhile, the people from the various holy lands would also restrain Nalan Qingcheng and Yang Feng, effectively cutting off his escape route!

"It seems they formed an alliance outside, intending to eliminate us first before vying for the treasure. These four are all extremely strong; even if they can't defeat me combined, trapping me shouldn't be difficult. As for Brother Yang and the others, that would be more challenging. However, the two super fighters beside Mengyao should be surprisingly effective!"

Looking around, Yang Fan immediately understood his current predicament. With his strength, even if he couldn't defeat these four working together, breaking through wasn't impossible. On the other hand, Nalan Qingcheng and her group, along with Yang Feng's Pure Yang Sect, only represented two major holy lands, yet they were surrounded by people from seven or eight other holy lands!

Regardless of the strength of those surrounding them, their sheer numbers were beyond their reach. Fortunately, Qin Mengyao had two exceptionally powerful skeletons by her side, but even so, they could only barely protect themselves. After all, the people from the various holy lands all possessed magical artifacts!

As a result, their hopes of seizing the bodies of the Hunyuan experts had become almost impossible, because they were completely restrained. Let alone competing for magical treasures, even self-preservation was risky, let alone seizing treasures.

"Brother Yang, how have you been? Brother Yang is truly a person of great fortune and nobility. No matter what, you always get there first. Fortunately, we are smart enough to follow behind Brother Yang. Otherwise, without Brother Yang's guidance, we really wouldn't have found this place!"

Just as Yang Fan was looking around, Ouyang Yu spoke first. She slightly waved the palace fan in her hand, with a charming expression, displaying the demeanor of a young lady from a wealthy family. If one only looked at her figure, one would definitely applaud her, but if one saw her appearance clearly, one would definitely feel extremely uncomfortable!

And right now, Yang Fan felt just that. Not only him, but also the other three people in the other three positions—Leng Wuqing, Xiaoyao Wuhen, and the man in black—all instinctively took a step back to the side the instant Ouyang Yu made that expression, as if afraid of catching the virus from standing too close.

"This is the moment!"

However, in that very instant, Yang Fan made the first move. Swift as lightning, quick as a shooting star, Yang Fan launched a desperate counterattack the moment the three retreated!

In a battle between experts, the slightest difference can lead to a disastrous outcome. The three's reaction to Ouyang Yu was a purely conditioned reflex, unrelated to any other factors, nor due to a lack of mental fortitude; it was purely instinct.

However, it was precisely this instinct that caused a slight disharmony in the four-person combined attack formation, creating an opening in their otherwise flawless formation.

Previously, Yang Fan had been locked onto by them and dared not act rashly because he couldn't find their weakness. But now, having finally seized an opportunity, how could he let it slip away? Therefore, when he strikes, it's an ultimate killing move that shakes heaven and earth!

"Ahem, I got a lecture from the boss today, and it actually worked! My mind is much clearer tonight, and I can actually write. Looks like sometimes people really do need a scolding! Don't worry, brothers, Xiao Feng has figured it out. It's not a big deal. Once you've let go, everything becomes simpler and less important! As for the late-night update, I'll definitely make up for it when I have time. Don't worry, brothers!"

Chapter 416 [Contest!]

"Whoosh!"

A sword light flashed, and Yang Fan split into four, transforming into four sword lights that slashed in four directions, without any order or priority, actually facing the four holy sons of the four holy lands at the same time!

When Yang Fan didn't attack, it was a devastating blow. He split into four, not literally attacking four people simultaneously, but because after using the Ghost Shadow Step, his speed reached an almost supernatural level. In a very short time, he unleashed four attacks, each targeting one of the four opponents. The sheer speed created afterimages!

"Sword Slashes the World!"

"Soul Shatters the Firmament!"

"Martial Arts Sever the Universe!"

"Law Breaks Ten Thousand Paths!"

These four killing moves were Yang Fan's own creations, each a deadly strike, brimming with murderous intent, displaying a self-sacrificing spirit, a willingness to die for the cause. Once unleashed, the wind and clouds gathered, the heavens and earth changed color, and their power was immense!

The four figures, like four bolts of lightning piercing the sky, attacked Ouyang Yu and the other three with unstoppable momentum. Faced with Yang Fan's absolute counterattack, Ouyang Yu and the other three launched their own ambiguous counterattacks.

Previously, due to the conditioned reflexes of Leng Wuqing and the other two, a slight flaw appeared in the four-person combined attack formation, allowing Yang Fan to seize a chance to counterattack. However, the four were all experts from the Holy Land, possessing not only profound cultivation but also exceptionally rich combat experience. Therefore, after the initial surprise, all four reacted simultaneously.

"Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers!"

First, Ouyang Yu shouted softly, gently fanning her palace fan. Instantly, a fragrant aroma filled the air, and pink petals fell from the sky without warning, forming a flower fan in front of her, which then swept towards Yang Fan.

"Taiyi Sword Qi!"

Leng Wuqing, on the other hand, drew his long sword from behind, unleashing an invisible sword qi that also met Yang Fan's attack!

As for Xiaoyao Wuhen and the black-clad man from the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect, they also reacted at the same time.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The four figures that Yang Fan had transformed into collided with the four individuals, creating explosive sounds. At the same time, the four figures were pushed back, eventually merging together to become Yang Fan himself. Ouyang Yu and his group of four leaned back slightly, forming a pincer movement around him once more!

This clash, while seemingly giving Yang Fan a slight advantage, was actually a draw. His success stemmed from seizing the opportunity, utilizing the three key factors of timing, location, and synergy!

Timing was crucial; it was the moment when Ouyang Yu and his group relaxed their guard. Location was advantageous; he was positioned centrally, not too far from their positions. Otherwise, even with his speed, Yang Fan wouldn't have been able to attack all four simultaneously.

Synergy was also key; the four were from various holy lands, forming a temporary alliance, but not an impenetrable fortress. This meant that while their combined attack appeared flawless, careful observation would reveal subtle inconsistencies.

It was precisely by utilizing these three factors—timing, location, and synergy—that Yang Fan was able to hold his own against the four in a direct confrontation!

In fact, after their brief exchange, Yang Fan had already discerned that while these four were weaker than himself, the difference wasn't significant. Even if he could defeat any one of them individually, he couldn't completely kill them. And with all four working together, his chances of victory were extremely slim!

However, this didn't mean their true strength was that much; rather, he sensed an unusual aura emanating from each of them—something that greatly amplified their power!

That aura resembled a magical artifact but wasn't, yet it rippled with a faint spatial force. Undoubtedly, it was a magical treasure crafted by a Void Returning expert from one of the various holy lands. Although he didn't know what kind of magical treasures they were, Yang Fan knew that these four, already quite strong, were now almost as powerful as him due to those treasures. Now, with them joining forces, they were even more overwhelming!

"Brother Yang is indeed a master. The four of us joined forces and were unable to harm him in the slightest. Such cultivation is truly astonishing!"

However, the brief moment of distraction allowed the four to make up for the flaws they had revealed earlier and form an encirclement around Yang Fan once again.

"Is that so? Young Master Ouyang's cultivation is not weak either! He can actually withstand one of my sword strikes!"

With a cold snort, Yang Fan didn't even glance at Ouyang Yu. He lightly flicked the Blood-Drinking Sword in his hand, and instantly, the soft sword trembled like a serpent. Under the light, the blade reflected a bright sword light, like streaks of terrifying sword energy, making it impossible to look directly at.

"Actually, we don't want to make things difficult for Brother Yang. As long as Brother Yang can leave, we will definitely not stop you. Moreover, we will definitely repay you handsomely in the future. It's not that we covet this body of a Primordial Chaos expert, but that this body hides some secrets that are of great use to the various holy lands. We hope Brother Yang can grant our request!"

Facing Yang Fan's mockery, Ouyang Yu didn't seem angry at all. Instead, he sincerely tried to persuade him.

"Oh? Is that so? I wonder what secret it is that can't be revealed. Young Master Ouyang, everyone here isn't a fool. Since it's a secret, it naturally can't be shared. Even if I leave, you can all share it equally? I doubt it,"

Yang Fan laughed.

How could he not know the secret Ouyang Yu mentioned? Since the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, the experts above the Hunyuan Realm in the various holy lands have all suffered serious injuries, requiring years of seclusion to suppress their wounds. Even so, their injuries can only be suppressed, not cured. This is precisely the real reason why Hunyuan experts in the martial world never appear in the world.

And this giant Hunyuan expert before him may very well be hiding the secret to healing the Hunyuan experts of the various holy lands. Because this Hunyuan expert is one foot in the Hunyuan realm, an existence on par with the Demon Emperor!

And the fundamental reason why the injuries of the Hunyuan experts of the various holy lands cannot be healed is that it was the Demon Emperor who injured them. Because the laws mastered by the Demon Emperor surpassed theirs, their spatial laws were insufficient to remove the hidden injuries left within them by the Demon Emperor; they could only barely suppress them. To completely eradicate them, they would need laws of equal rank to remove them.

The Primordial Chaos expert before them was at the same level as the Demon Emperor, so he would undoubtedly possess some clues. The people of the various holy lands might use these clues to deduce some information and help their Primordial Chaos experts recover from their injuries.

This was why the people of the various holy lands valued this skeleton so highly; of course, the allure of the Primordial Chaos expert's skeleton itself also played a part. Regardless, they were determined to obtain this skeleton.

Of course, Yang Fan also had his own plans and would certainly not allow the various holy lands to have their way. Leaving aside the impact the sudden appearance of a group of exceptionally powerful Primordial Chaos experts in this era of nascent chaos would have on the current balance and the changes it would bring to the martial world, the fact that the various holy lands are currently enemies rather than friends with him means that the emergence of another group of Primordial Chaos experts would undoubtedly cause him immense trouble.

Yang Fan wouldn't be foolish enough to do something so self-defeating. Moreover, the remains of these Primordial Chaos experts might very well contain a third Sacred Buddha Relic. Based on this alone, Yang Fan is determined to obtain these remains!

"Since Brother Yang refuses to listen to our advice, then we can only ask Brother Yang and his companions to leave. Brother Yang, please forgive us!"

Ouyang Yu hadn't expected Yang Fan to leave so easily. His words were simply to buy his side more time to form the great formation. Now that the formation was complete, there was no need to delay any longer.

"Is that so? Show me what you've got, I'll take it!"

With a sneer, Yang Fan glanced at the people from various holy lands who had surrounded Nalan Qingcheng and her companions, and couldn't help but scoff at Ouyang Yu's actions!

"Attack!"

Ouyang Yu knew there was no need for further words, and as he spoke, he actually launched the first attack on Yang Fan!

At the same time, the people from the other holy lands who had surrounded Nalan Qingcheng, after receiving Ouyang Yu's instructions, also surrounded Nalan Qingcheng and her companions. Meanwhile, Xiaoyao Wuhen and his two companions launched a combined attack on Yang Fan from three other directions.

In the previous exchange, Yang Fan had taken the initiative, while the others had been on the defensive. But this time, the others had taken the initiative, and Yang Fan was on the defensive; the positions of both sides had instantly reversed.

However, facing the siege of four powerful figures, Yang Fan didn't make many defensive moves. He simply flicked his sword, the tip creating a series of sword flowers, and once again met the four of them.

The serpentine sword, in Yang Fan's hands, seemed weightless. In the void, as the sword tip moved, sword flowers appeared one after another, then split in two, then four… transforming into a vast expanse of blossoms that enveloped him entirely.

These sword flowers, formed from condensed sword energy, were crystal clear, dreamlike, and exceptionally beautiful. Yet, within each of these beautiful blossoms lay a world-destroying sword energy; any single strand of it was enough to instantly kill any being below the Refinement of the Divine Realm.

The countless sword flowers scattered across the sky resembled a celestial maiden scattering blossoms, but unlike Ouyang Yu's, these sword flowers contained only killing intent, sword energy, and an indomitable will to destroy and tear apart everything. Ouyang Yu's petals, on the other hand, contained a chaotic, alluring aura!

And then there was Nalan Qingcheng, who was always accompanied by a hundred flowers whenever she made a move. The flower petals, each more beautiful and unique than the last, made her appear like a celestial maiden—pure, elegant, refined, and otherworldly!

However, Yang Fan's seemingly casual sword strike forced Ouyang Yu and the other three to change their killing moves. This was because Yang Fan's move was a mutually destructive tactic; he completely abandoned his own defense, exposing all his weaknesses to them.

But in exposing his weaknesses, he unleashed a peerless killing technique, engaging in a bloody battle—a fight where one kills a thousand while losing eight hundred of his own!

The strongest defense is offense!

At this moment, Yang Fan was demonstrating the essence of this martial art. As a swordsman, a martial artist, only with a fearless spirit and the courage to sacrifice oneself for righteousness can one maintain peak condition and reach the highest realm of martial arts!

The martial world is inherently a life where one's life is always on the line. Death is a constant possibility, not only from enemies but also during cultivation itself, such as from qi deviation or malfunctions.

At such times, a fearless and resolute mind and perseverance are essential to progress further in the martial arts world and endure longer in the martial arts arena! This fearlessness doesn't mean reckless abandon, but rather absolute composure in the face of adversity, maintaining composure even in the face of death! Faced

with Yang Fan's fighting style, Ouyang Yu and his companions had no choice but to retreat. They couldn't afford to gamble, they couldn't afford to be injured! They dared not gamble with Yang Fan, dared not gamble with his composure, dared not gamble with his patience, and dared not gamble with his life!

Those in high positions of power often cherish their lives and crave their wealth and power. These four are all future leaders of various holy lands, and it's highly likely they will become the future masters and leaders of their respective sects.

Even now, given their current status, they are second only to the emperor in all the major holy lands, living a life of luxury and ease. They control countless resources and wealth. It's no exaggeration to say that even a head of state wouldn't enjoy the same treatment.

Moreover, even if offered the position of a head of state in exchange, they might not agree, because the difference in status is simply immense!

Therefore, given their current position, there's no reason for them to fight or rob, much less risk their lives against Yang Fan. Because Yang Fan can afford to fight, but they cannot! And they dare not!

Putting aside everything else, this alone clearly highlights the gap between the two sides. It's not that Yang Fan has no attachments or things he can't let go of. Similarly, he also has attachments and things he can't let go of.

Although these attachments are different from those of Ouyang Yu and the others, Yang Fan can handle his emotions well in this situation, while Ouyang Yu and the others cannot overcome their desires!

No one noticed that during Yang Fan's second encounter with Ouyang Yu and the others, a faint aura emanated from the skeleton of the Hunyuan expert before the Buddha statue, and its tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, glancing in Yang Fan's direction…

Chapter 417 [Repeatedly Restrained]

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

In the midst of the battle, Yang Fan moved swiftly across the battlefield like a ghost. One moment he was exchanging a palm strike with Ouyang Yu, the next he was exchanging several sword strikes with Leng Wuqing, and the next he was already in front of Xiaoyao Wuhen, exchanging several kicks with him!

Swordplay, fist techniques, palm strikes, legwork… Yang Fan perfectly demonstrated the close-quarters combat skills of martial arts at this moment. Facing four opponents simultaneously, he held his own without being at a disadvantage!

Of course, this was partly due to Yang Fan's physical strength and rich martial arts experience, and partly due to his agile movements using the Ghost Shadow Step. However, the biggest reason was the discord among Ouyang Yu and his group of four!

Although they appeared to be a unified force, an alliance, fighting against Yang Fan, they actually harbored ulterior motives, each hoping to reap the benefits. Therefore, when they attacked, they were only acting to protect themselves!

This made them not only hesitant but also reserved in their attacks. And it was precisely for this reason that Yang Fan not only held his own against them but actually maintained the upper hand!

Just as Yang Fan and Ouyang Yu's group were locked in a fierce and heated battle, Nalan Qingcheng and her companions also encountered an attack.

The main force attacking Nalan Qingcheng and her group consisted primarily of the two great holy lands, the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect and the Heavenly Heart Sect. Both of these holy lands harbored irreconcilable grudges against Yang Fan and his group. The Yin-Yang Harmony Sect was a prime example, and the Heavenly Heart Sect's young master, Tianxinzi, had been crippled by Yang Fan and was still outside the Ancient Tomb, his fate unknown.

Therefore, these two holy lands were filled with hatred, wishing they could tear Yang Fan and his group apart. Their hatred for Yang Fan and his group was higher than the sky and deeper than the sea! This hatred not only made them attack with even greater effort but also spurred the alliance of various holy lands against Yang Fan!

"All things return to their origin, Yin and Yang defy the heavens!"

The moment he appeared, Long Junsheng, the holy son of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, unleashed the sect's strongest killing move against Nalan Qingcheng!

With his shout, two distinct streams of true energy, one black and one white, erupted from his body. These two streams then coalesced above his head, ultimately forming a gigantic, chaotic hand.

The surface of this giant hand was swirling with chaotic energy, the power of Yin and Yang lingering within, radiating a powerful aura and a destructive force that seemed to emanate from the beginning of all things, before the creation of heaven and earth. Within the giant hand lay a Daoist essence of the transformation of all things into nothingness, sending chills down one's spine.

This "Return to the Beginning of All Things, Reversal of Yin and Yang" was another powerful technique of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, besides the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique, called the "Infatuated Harmony Technique."

This "Infatuated Harmony Technique" was created by the sect leader of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, the Daoist Biqiu, nicknamed "Infatuated Hermit," and was a supreme technique with a similar essence to the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique. This technique was created by Daoist Biqiu based on the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique. In a sense, the Passionate Harmony Technique inherits the essence of the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique, discards the dross, and further perfects it, making it the true treasured technique of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect!

As everyone knows, the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique is a dual cultivation technique of Yin and Yang. It is a very magical dual cultivation technique, divided into male and female, and is also a technique of absorbing and replenishing!

The so-called technique of absorbing and replenishing refers to the male and female absorbing each other's essence through intercourse to enhance their own power.

However, this technique of absorbing and replenishing also has different levels. The lowest level is just ordinary bedroom arts, which can prolong the time but has little practical use. The relatively higher level is one-sided extraction, absorbing the other's essence to strengthen oneself. The one being extracted is merely a cauldron; after being used, it is not impossible to be drained into a dried-up corpse, or even if it is slightly milder, one will end up with a lifelong disability.

Only the most advanced techniques of Yin-Yang cultivation truly achieve this balance, benefiting both partners through dual cultivation, strengthening their bodies and aiding in their spiritual practice!

The Yin-Yang Harmony Technique is a representative method within this category. And the Passionate Harmony Technique is the pinnacle of these representative techniques. It can be said that the Passionate Harmony Technique is irreplaceable within the Yin-Yang cultivation world, its position unmatched by any other technique!

The Great Dao is simple, and all paths lead to the same destination. Regardless of the method, once it reaches a certain level, it departs from its original trajectory and moves towards the Dao. Whether it's demonic arts, sorcery, witchcraft, or Daoist techniques, their highest level ultimately converges into one point—the Dao!

The Passionate Harmony Technique has already simplified the Great Dao and begun to move towards it. And this Passionate Harmony Technique truly lives up to its reputation as the supreme technique of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect; once unleashed, it causes the winds to gather and the heavens and earth to change color!

A gigantic hand reached out to grab Nalan Qingcheng, as large as a mountain, pressing down with an unstoppable force. Chaotic energy swirled around it, seemingly intent on completely suppressing Nalan Qingcheng. In fact, this was precisely Long Junsheng's intention!

Capturing the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect would undoubtedly be a valuable asset for his future rise within the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. Moreover, Nalan Qingcheng's Hundred Flowers Body would greatly benefit his cultivation of the Passionate Harmony Technique. Combined, these factors allowed him to unleash his ultimate move upon facing Nalan Qingcheng!

However, Nalan Qingcheng was no pushover. Facing Long Junsheng's powerful attack, her expression remained unchanged. With a gentle lift of her jade-like finger, a hundred flowers bloomed, and fragrant butterflies danced in her wake. Countless white petals rained down from the sky, and countless butterflies, seemingly appearing from nowhere, surrounded her. This was Nalan Qingcheng's full-force attack, utilizing the Flower Fragrance and Butterfly Dance Technique!

The "Fragrance of Flowers and Butterflies" cultivation method, a technique gleaned by a master of the Hundred Flowers Sect from the fragrance of butterflies and flowers , excels at captivating the soul and is a powerful technique no less potent than the "Infatuation and Joyful

Union Technique"! The clash between the two sacred lands' most treasured techniques and their future successors is no less significant than a contest of strength between the two sacred lands. Just as the giant hand, entwined by chaos, was about to touch Nalan Qingcheng, the colorful butterflies surrounding her actually flew towards it.

The enormous hand and the tiny butterflies—the difference between them was immeasurable. This scene could best be described as moths drawn to a flame, only now the moths were replaced by butterflies!

However, this seemingly suicidal act ultimately yielded a result that was utterly astonishing. The moment the colorful butterflies made contact with the giant hand, their fate of destruction remained unchanged. However, with each butterfly's demise, it emitted rays of white light. These rays merged into the giant hand the instant the butterfly vanished, and the giant hand, after absorbing the light, began to fade.

As more and more butterflies joined the suicide frenzy, the giant hand grew increasingly ethereal, finally fading completely just before it collided with Nalan Qingcheng…

"Haha, not bad, worthy of the Hundred Flowers Body, your strength is indeed not simple. But this is even better. This young master wants to truly refine the 'Infatuated Love and Joyful Union Technique,' and all I lack is such a cauldron! Kill!"

Despite his deadly move being thwarted, Long Junsheng wasn't angry; instead, his eyes gleamed with excitement. Legend has it that to master the "Devoted Love and Harmony Technique," one must find a medicinal cauldron, entrust their emotional threads to that cauldron, and upon achieving true mastery, personally slay the cauldron. Only then can the technique be truly mastered.

This "Devoted Love and Harmony Technique" is truly comical, as it's a process of going from heartlessness to affection, and then back to heartlessness. Heartlessness means treating the other person merely as a medicinal cauldron, simply entrusting one's emotional threads to them.

But when those emotions reach their peak, one must personally sever them, cutting off the obsession, thus becoming a truly heartless swordsman. Yet, after severing the emotional threads and obsession, one must then entrust one's affections to the other person, placing one's feelings in nothingness, in the past!

This is the origin of the term "devoted love." Those who cultivate the "Devoted Love and Harmony Technique" appear devoted, but in reality, they are truly heartless and ruthless. To describe them in three words is most fitting: hypocrite!

Currently, Long Junsheng is still far from mastering the "Devoted Love and Harmony Technique," yet he is already a complete hypocrite. Such cultivation of the "Devoted Love and Harmony Technique" is truly flawless!

Meanwhile, on another front, while Long Junsheng was fighting Nalan Qingcheng, people from other major holy lands launched attacks on Gu Feifei and her companions. Nalan Qingcheng was restrained by Long Junsheng, the Hundred Flowers Sect was restrained by the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, and Yang Feng's Pure Yang Sect was restrained by the other holy lands. This put Gu Feifei and her group in danger!

It should be noted that among them, the most powerful cultivator was only Wan Tiancheng, a powerful expert at the Refining Spirit Realm. In this sacred land where Refining Spirit experts were commonplace, his cultivation level was so low that even protecting himself was a problem, let alone protecting Gu Feifei and the others.

At this moment, Nalan Qingcheng, Yang Feng, and the others were all restrained by people from other major sacred lands. Even if they wanted to help, they were powerless to do so, having no opportunity whatsoever. They could only watch helplessly as the people from Tianxin Pavilion drew closer and closer to Gu Feifei and the others…

If there was anyone among the major sacred lands who hated Yang Fan the most, it wasn't the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect group, nor Ouyang Yu's Zhiyu Palace, but rather the entire Tianxin Pavilion!

Because it was Yang Fan who, in front of everyone from the major sacred lands, slapped their Tianxin Pavilion in the face. It was Yang Fan who, in front of all the heroes of the world, trampled their sacred land into the ground. It was Yang Fan who left an indelible shadow in the history of their Tianxin Pavilion!

Therefore, their hatred for Yang Fan was as deep as the sea, and their grievances were beyond description!

However, they also knew that with their combined strength, they were no match for Yang Fan. Even if they used their last trump card, they still wouldn't be a match for him. Therefore, their hatred could only be buried deep in their hearts for the time being, waiting for an opportunity to strike!

And now, it was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity. Yang Fan was being held back by experts from various holy lands, and Nalan Qingcheng and the others were being held back by the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect and

others. In this way, those around Yang Fan completely lost their protective layer. Although they couldn't eliminate Yang Fan, killing a few of his companions would be enough to make him suffer for a while. Judging from his appearance, he seemed to care a lot about these people. Perhaps killing them could also break his will, and then they might have a chance to deal with him...

It was with this idea in mind that the members of Tianxin Pavilion chose Gu Feifei and the others immediately and rushed towards them like wolves and tigers!

"Not good!"

Nalan Qingcheng, who was fighting with Long Junsheng, discovered the perilous situation of Gu Feifei and the others, and her heart jumped into her throat. As Yang Fan's fiancée who had been watching him closely, how could Nalan Qingcheng not know the importance of Gu Feifei and the others to Yang Fan? If something were to happen to them, Yang Fan would surely go crazy!

However, at this moment, although Nalan Qingcheng wanted to help, she had no opportunity. Long Junsheng had discovered her intentions and was using all his strength to restrain her.

Nalan Qingcheng's strength was originally comparable to Long Junsheng's, and Long Junsheng's cultivation was even slightly higher. Therefore, their fight would last for days and nights without a clear winner. Nalan Qingcheng was desperate to save them, so she not only used all her strength but also performed beyond her usual level. Although she could temporarily suppress Long Junsheng, it didn't take much effort for him to restrain her!

Therefore, Nalan Qingcheng was tightly bound by Long Junsheng and couldn't spare a move to help him. As for Tang Ningshuang, she was also entangled by the three powerful figures from the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect and couldn't spare any attention!

The same thing happened to Yang Feng, whose opponent was the Holy Maiden of the Moon Sound Sect. While her appearance was somewhat inferior to Nalan Qingcheng and the others, her cultivation was truly formidable, even on par with Yang Feng.

Naturally, she also noticed the situation of Gu Feifei and the others, as well as Yang Feng's intentions. At this moment, as an ally of Long Junsheng, how could she allow Yang Feng to succeed? Not only that, she also instructed a powerful member of the Moon Sound Sect to desperately restrain the experts of the Pure Yang Sect, preventing them from being able to spare any attention.

As for Yang Fan, he was not only the furthest from Gu Feifei and the others, but he was also completely restrained by Ouyang Yu and her group of four. Although these four were slightly weaker than him, their combined strength far surpassed his. Their alliance, while not impenetrable and with mutual restraint preventing them from going all out, made it easy for them to restrain Yang Fan!

Moreover, Yang Fan was too far from Gu Feifei and the others; even if he wanted to rescue them, there wouldn't be enough time. Thus, the fate of Gu Feifei and the others was almost sealed!

05-02
Chapter 418 [The Old Demon Reappears]

"Die!"

In almost an instant, a figure rushed in front of Gu Feifei and the others. As soon as this person appeared, he immediately unleashed a powerful killing move, his strong fist striking directly at the four of them.

This person was a peak Refinement Realm expert from the Heavenly Heart Pavilion. He was also the actual leader of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion besides Tianxinzi. It was he who, after seeing Tianxinzi beaten unconscious by Yang Fan, not only ignored it but also led all the disciples into the ancient tomb.

Because he knew that whether Tianxinzi lived or died, after this incident, his position as the Holy Son in the Heavenly Heart Pavilion was definitely not secure. And he himself, as Tianxinzi's guardian, not only failed to protect him but also damaged the reputation of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, so he naturally could not escape responsibility.

As an outer sect elder, he naturally knew the Heavenly Heart Pavilion's rules very well. Therefore, he knew that regardless of Tianxinzi's final fate, he would be severely punished. The only way to redeem himself was to seize the treasure or kill Yang Fan to salvage Tianxin Pavilion's reputation.

However, seizing the treasure or killing Yang Fan was clearly unrealistic, as Yang Fan's strength far surpassed his own, and the treasure was something all the holy lands considered their possession; seizing it would be incredibly difficult.

But now, however, he was given an opportunity: to kill those around Yang Fan. In this way, even if he couldn't kill Yang Fan, he would certainly inflict a significant blow on him. That way, when he returned to his sect, he wouldn't face too severe a punishment. If he could also unexpectedly obtain the treasure, he wouldn't only escape punishment but might even receive a reward…

It was with this thought in mind that this powerful member of Tianxin Pavilion attacked Gu Feifei and the others so recklessly, and not only did he attack, but he also went all out, determined to kill them in one move!

Gu Feifei and her companions were only at the Nascent Soul stage, possessing ordinary cultivation. Apart from Wan Tiancheng, who still had the ability to protect himself, the others were struggling to even defend themselves against the full-force attack of this peak-stage Refining Spirit expert. Faced with the full-scale assault of this peak-stage Refining Spirit expert, Gu Feifei and her group couldn't even move a finger!

The powerful expert from Tianxin Pavilion was getting closer and closer to them, and his overwhelming aura made it hard for them to breathe. Even from a distance, they felt as if their bodies were being cut by knives. Looking at the approaching hand, Gu Feifei and the others felt for the first time how close death could be!

"Die!"

The Refining Spirit expert was absolutely confident that with his full-force attack, these people, whose strength was like ants, would be crushed into a pulp, with no chance of survival. He even imagined Yang Fan's heartbroken expression when he crushed them!

In that instant, he even turned back and gave Yang Fan, who was being held back by Ouyang Yu and the others, a cruel smile. He wanted to see that helpless despair on Yang Fan's face. However, to his disappointment, what he saw on Yang Fan's face was not disappointment, nor despair, but only absolute calmness, a reaction of indifference and apathy!

"Could it be that these people have no connection to him at all? Otherwise, why would he be so indifferent? Or is he just pretending?"

This thought flashed through his mind in an instant, and even if he wanted to stop now, there was no time left. His palm was already infinitely close to Gu Feifei and the others; he could even feel their body temperature!

At this distance, let alone a peak Refinement Realm expert, even an ordinary martial artist could deliver a fatal blow. Even a Returning Void Realm expert would be too late to stop!

However, just when he thought everything was settled, and he even imagined the scene of Gu Feifei and the others' heads exploding, Gu Feifei and the others suddenly disappeared...

Actually, it wasn't that Gu Feifei and the others disappeared, but rather that although they retreated, creating distance between themselves and him, or rather, they didn't move, while the peak Refinement Realm expert's body suddenly retreated!

Indeed, the distance between the two sides suddenly widened. The peak Refinement God expert clearly felt that he was infinitely close to Gu Feifei and the others, and he could clearly feel the image of his palm crushing their heads. But at that very moment, the distance between them suddenly increased!

It was as if time had shifted and space had transformed. A chasm suddenly appeared between the two sides, which were about to connect. One spatial barrier after another appeared, transforming the space in which the two sides were located. So, although it seemed that neither side had moved, the distance between them had already increased infinitely!

"What's going on?"

Before the peak Refinement God expert could react, a figure in black suddenly appeared in front of him. Then, a skeletal hand as white as jade suddenly appeared before his eyes. The next moment, that hand had already seized his throat…

“Crack!”

Immediately following, the peak Refinement God expert heard a crisp sound, the sound of bones shattering…

“Spatial power? A Void Returning expert?”

In the instant his divine consciousness was about to dissipate, this thought flashed through the mind of the peak Refinement God expert. He didn’t even have time to think about how there could be a Void Returning expert here; he had already reached the end of his life!

A peak Refinement God expert, even outside the major holy lands, is one of the top experts. Few in the world could kill him. Yet, such a super expert was killed in a single move, in a fleeting instant. This sudden turn of events left the people of the major holy lands completely unable to react!

What just happened, seemingly a long time, was actually only a fleeting moment. From the moment the peak Refinement Realm expert from the Heavenly Heart Pavilion made his move to his demise, only a split second had passed. The others were still charging forward, not even having time to stop.

They only saw the peak Refinement Realm expert from the Heavenly Heart Pavilion suddenly attack Gu Feifei and the others with unparalleled speed, dragging them far behind. They initially thought he was trying to steal the credit, but before he could succeed, he suddenly stopped.

And in front of him, a dark figure suddenly appeared, one hand gripping the expert's neck. This peak Refinement Realm expert from the Heavenly Heart Pavilion was like a chick, held captive in the other's hand!

"What's going on? How did such a powerful figure suddenly appear? He subdued a peak expert from the Heavenly Heart Pavilion with one hand. What kind of strength is that? How could they have such a super expert hidden among them?"

In that instant, the same thought echoed in the minds of everyone from the various holy lands. Even the two sides engaged in battle stopped. Not only Long Junsheng and his group, but even Ouyang Yu and his group of four stopped their attack on Yang Fan!

That black shadow was naturally one of the two Void Returning Realm expert skeletons beside Qin Mengyao. Because she was afraid of shocking the world, Qin Mengyao found two black clothes for the two skeletons to wear. As a result, along the way, apart from Yang Fan and his group, no one else had discovered their true identities. Even Gu Feifei and her group had almost forgotten the true identities of these two black shadows.

But unexpectedly, at this critical moment, one of the two skeletons suddenly intervened and saved Gu Feifei. This was naturally all because of Qin Mengyao's secret command!

Both skeletons possessed the cultivation of a Void Returning expert. Although they couldn't unleash their full Void Returning cultivation, their mastery of spatial power far surpassed that of ordinary Spirit Refining experts. Therefore, just as the Heavenly Heart Pavilion expert was about to encounter Gu Feifei, the skeleton suddenly activated its spatial power, distorting the space between him and Gu Feifei, not only saving her but also swiftly killing the Heavenly Heart Pavilion expert!

With his Void Returning cultivation, let alone killing a single ordinary Spirit Refining peak expert, even a large number of Spirit Refining experts wouldn't be his match. However, the skeleton's sudden attack sent chills down the spines of the people from the various holy lands. They never imagined that Yang Fan possessed such a powerful trump card!

Although they couldn't discern the true cultivation level of the dark figure, the fact that he appeared silently beside a Spirit Refining peak expert without the latter's knowledge indicated that his cultivation was no weaker than the expert's. Furthermore, the mysterious and unpredictable methods by which the other party rescued Gu Feifei caused the people of the various holy lands to ponder the matter even more.

However, they were all people of extraordinary experience, and they quickly realized the crux of the problem. But when they considered that possibility, a hint of fear flashed in the eyes of everyone from the holy lands!

"Isn't this a place where even Void Returning Realm experts can't enter? Why would someone who has surpassed the Void Returning Realm be able to get in? The method that black-clad figure used just now clearly involved spatial power. However, even a peak Refinement Spirit Realm expert with one foot in the Void Returning Realm can't use spatial power. Only a true Void Returning Realm expert can distort and transform space!"

"Moreover, it has to be someone who isn't just a beginner in the Void Returning Realm. Because while beginners in the Void Returning Realm have mastered spatial power, they can't fully utilize it; they can only use a small portion, far from being able to distort space over a large area. Only veteran Void Returning Realm experts have that kind of method to distort space over a large area and a long distance!"

"So, could that black-clad man be a veteran Void Returning Realm expert, not a beginner?"

Originally, when the people from the various holy lands guessed the black-clad man's cultivation level, they were still somewhat hopeful, hoping that the black-clad man was originally only a peak Refinement Spirit Realm expert who barely broke through to the Void Returning Realm after entering the ancient tomb. In that case, even though the opponent is a Void Returning expert, they are not without ways to deal with them. After all, they have used similar methods before.

Having come here, they have naturally made thorough preparations, including bringing along experts who are ready to break through to the Spirit Refining stage and enter the Void Returning realm at any time. These are the last trump cards of the various holy lands, besides magical artifacts!

They wouldn't use these trump cards unless absolutely necessary, not even when fighting Yang Fan. This wasn't because Yang Fan wasn't worth their time, but simply because the time wasn't right.

However, the sudden appearance of the man in black disrupted all their plans. With the intervention of a Void Returning expert, even if they had all their experts capable of breaking through to the Spirit Refining realm and used all their magical artifacts, they probably wouldn't be able to completely defeat the man in black before them. After all, the gap between a newly arrived Void Returning expert and a veteran Void Returning expert wasn't easily bridged.

"Could it be a desperate battle?"

Glancing at the skeleton beneath the Buddha statue, and then at the man in black who had returned to Qin Mengyao's side, the various Holy Sons and Daughters all had the same thought. At the same time, they were weighing the consequences of such a move—was it really worth it?

"Heh heh! Since none of you want this Primordial Chaos expert's skeleton, then leave it to me, your ancestor!"

However, just as everyone was deep in thought, a chilling laugh suddenly rang out in the ancient temple.

Immediately afterward, the void in front of the Primordial Chaos expert's skeleton began to distort, and the next moment, a snow-white hand suddenly reached out from the void, grabbing at the skeleton…

"Seeking death!"

This sudden turn of events also brought the people from the various holy lands, who were still weighing their options, to their senses. After realizing what was happening, they all abandoned their encirclement of Yang Fan and his companions, and simultaneously launched an attack on that void. In an instant, magical treasures soared into the sky, swords flashed, and powerful killing moves swept across that void without regard for cost!

"Hmph! A mere grain of rice dares to rival the sun and moon? What bullshit holy sons and daughters? If your masters were here, I, your ancestor, might show some restraint. As for you, all of you, die!"

A cold snort echoed from the void. He made no move, but as soon as his words fell, the void suddenly trembled. Accompanying the tremors, faint red lights emerged from the void. The attacks launched by the various holy lands vanished upon encountering these red lights, as if hitting cotton—utterly ineffective!

"Boys, your ancestor doesn't have time to play with you. After I collect this Primordial Chaos expert's skeleton, I'll have a good time with you!"

With a wave of his hand, he broke through the combined attack of the various holy lands. In the void, another hand reached out. However, this time, the hand turned blood red, as if it were formed from fresh blood. After the hand appeared, it actually broke through the defense of the Primordial Chaos expert's skeleton and touched the skeleton's body!

"Blood Lotus Demon!"

Seeing the hand, Yang Fan was shocked...

Chapter 419 [Alliance Against Conflict] (8k)

"8k, updated by 4k yesterday! I don't know what happened, the internet at home couldn't connect last night. I called customer service, and they said they could only fix it this morning, so I had to put it all together and update it today. Brothers, please forgive me!"

The blood-red hand was as red as blood, as beautiful as jade! As soon as it appeared, a thick bloody smell filled the entire sky. The smell was nauseating. However, what was even more astonishing was that this hand had actually broken through the outer defenses of the Primordial Chaos Realm expert's body and made contact with his true form!

This was the remains of a Primordial Chaos Realm expert; even though it had been fallen for a long time, it was not something an ordinary person could approach. Even the combined efforts of the various holy lands to seize it just now hadn't even landed a foothold on it, demonstrating the incredible strength of the skeleton. Yet now, this blood-red hand had easily touched the skeleton. Regardless of whether it could actually take the skeleton, this single move was enough to draw the attention of countless people!

However, the most astonished was Yang Fan. No one knew better than him what this blood-red hand represented, because he had had close contact with its owner, and had even nearly lost his life at its hands.

However, what puzzled Yang Fan was that this Blood Lotus Old Demon, wasn't he killed by a killing move left behind by a senior expert of the Blood Transformation Sect? How could he appear here again? Moreover, Yang Fan clearly witnessed the other party perish in the sea of fire, so how could he be alive and well here again? Furthermore, just from the aura emanating from that hand, Yang Fan knew that the Blood Lotus Demon's strength had undergone a tremendous transformation since their last encounter!

However, Yang Fan didn't have much time to think about this at the moment, because he could accept anyone else obtaining the skeleton, but not the Blood Lotus Demon. This old demon was once a ruthless, bloodthirsty killer in the martial world, imprisoned for hundreds of years. If he were allowed to re-enter the martial world, who knows how much bloodshed he would unleash.

Moreover, if he obtained the skeleton of a Primordial Chaos expert, his cultivation would undoubtedly advance greatly. At that time, without the Primordial Chaos expert's intervention, no one could truly subdue him.

However, even if Yang Fan didn't act, the people of the various holy lands wouldn't let their prize slip away. Almost the instant the hand touched the Primordial Chaos skeleton, the people of the various holy lands attacked again!

This time, unlike the hasty attack last time, and having realized that their opponent was a Void Returning expert, the people from the various holy lands could no longer sit still. They all unleashed their hidden strength, summoning their respective magical artifacts and unleashing countless laws to bombard the void where the blood-red palm was located!

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Dozens of magical artifacts awakened simultaneously, their earth-shattering aura threatening to shatter the entire sky. One after another, spatial forces flew out, condensing and transforming into various kinds of energy that crashed into the Blood Lotus Demon. The momentum and the scene were truly awe-inspiring and terrifying, and of course, its power was not something ordinary people could withstand!

Faced with the combined attack of more than ten magical artifacts, the Blood Lotus Demon, whose strength had suddenly increased and whose demonic arts were now extraordinary, dared not deal with it as casually as before, nor could he continue to hide in the void as before.

"Break!"

Just as the attacks of the various magical artifacts were about to touch the void, the void began to twist and distort. Then, a spatial force no weaker than all the magical artifacts combined surged forth from the void, spreading in all directions with a deafening boom, ultimately colliding violently with the attacks of the various magical artifacts!

"Boom!"

A silent sound rang out. At the point of impact, a huge black hole instantly appeared. The enormous black hole, like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey, continued to grow larger and larger. In the blink of an eye, that void was completely reduced to nothingness. Immediately afterward, a figure was thrust out of the void.

This person had a gaunt face and skin as rough as bronze, radiating a metallic sheen. His arms were exceptionally long, reaching down to his knees. His head was bald, without a single hair. It was none other than the young master of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, Heavenly Heart Child, the guy who had been beaten to a pulp by Yang Fan!

"How could he be here?"

Yang Fan had already identified the newcomer as the Blood Lotus Demon, but when he saw that the person suddenly appearing before him was Tian Xinzi, he was stunned and speechless for a long time!

"How could it be Tian Xinzi?"

The reactions of the various holy lands were similar. They hadn't expected that the person who had withstood the combined attack of all the holy lands' magical artifacts would be Tian Xinzi.

Of course, the happiest were none other than the members of Tian Xin Pavilion. It could be said that Tian Xin Pavilion had suffered heavy losses on this trip to the ancient tomb. First, their holy son was humiliated, severely damaging the sect's reputation. Then, an outer sect elder was killed. Adding to this the few people Yang Fan had killed earlier, they were either wounded, crippled, or dead. Those remaining were less than a tenth of their original numbers.

Such losses were undoubtedly heavy, especially the successive injuries to the Holy Son and the Outer Sect Elder, which dealt them a severe blow. However, what they hadn't expected was that their Holy Son had suddenly reappeared before them, not only reappearing but also displaying greatly increased strength. With a single move, he overwhelmed all the Holy Lands.

At this moment, the remaining members of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion even forgot about their previous defeat at the hands of Yang Fan. In their view, the Heavenly Heart Son's ability to withstand the combined forces of the various Holy Lands must have been due to some extraordinary encounter, resulting in a significant advancement in his cultivation. With his current strength, how could a mere Yang Fan possibly contend with him? Moreover, the treasure of the ancient tomb was undoubtedly the Heavenly Heart Pavilion's!

The remaining disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion could already envision the scene of the Heavenly Heart Son obtaining the treasure and everyone returning to his sect to receive their reward!

"All members of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, return to your positions immediately!"

Just as the various Holy Lands were having differing opinions, the Heavenly Heart Son suddenly spoke. Upon hearing Tianxinzi's summons, the members of Tianxin Pavilion were overjoyed and rushed towards him.

"Wait, he's not Tianxinzi!"

Yang Fan exclaimed, stopping them as they approached. Although he didn't understand what was going on, Yang Fan felt that the Tianxinzi before him wasn't the real Tianxinzi, but rather bore a striking resemblance to the Blood Lotus Demon.

"Hmph, are you still trying to sow discord? Our Holy Son is right here, and you dare say he isn't? Then who is he? Do you think he's no match for our Holy Son because you see his cultivation has greatly improved?"

"That's right, you're really lying through your teeth. Our Holy Son is clearly right here, and you dare say he isn't? What are your intentions?"

"Holy Son, I suggest you take action and completely kill this bastard! Elder Tiancheng was just killed by his men!"

"Yes, Holy Son, please act quickly! This man has caused so much damage to our Heavenly Heart Pavilion; only his blood can wash it away!"

"Please, Holy Son, act! Please, Holy Son, act!"

Yang Fan's words not only failed to stop the Heavenly Heart Pavilion members, but instead, they cursed him in unison. They treated him as if he were an irredeemable villain, wishing they could devour his flesh and gnaw his bones.

Yang Fan completely ignored the curses from the Tianxin Pavilion members. His warning wasn't out of feigned kindness, but simply to prevent their scheme from succeeding. If his guess was correct—the person before him was indeed the Blood Lotus Demon—the Tianxin Pavilion members would not only be wiped out, but would also be adding to the enemy's strength. Yang Fan naturally wouldn't do something so self-defeating.

However, since the Tianxin Pavilion members wouldn't listen to his advice, Yang Fan decided to ignore them. As the saying goes, life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor by heaven. Since the Tianxin Pavilion members were ungrateful, what could he do?

Amidst the cursing, all the Tianxin Pavilion members moved behind Tianxinzi. However, just as the last Tianxin Pavilion member reached behind Tianxinzi, a deep, blood-red sea suddenly appeared behind him, instantly engulfing all the Tianxin Pavilion disciples.

"Haha, the Holy Land truly lives up to its name as the Holy Son. Even the blood of its ordinary disciples is far more abundant than that of ordinary martial artists who have refined their spirits. Since that's the case, I, your ancestor, will gladly accept it all. You've certainly gotten your money's worth. But rest assured, I will still fulfill your requests. Today, none of you here will leave alive; you'll all become my food!"

As the sea of blood appeared, Tianxinzi's aura drastically changed. His previously healthy bronze skin instantly turned blood red. A bloodthirsty

aura also surged forth from his body. The disciples of Tianxin Pavilion, just as they were enveloped by the sea of blood, began to shrivel, and a large amount of their vital energy drained from their bodies, instantly turning their skin deathly pale.

"Holy Son, what are you doing? What have you done to us? Why do I feel my strength draining away so quickly?"

"Yes, Holy Son, what are you doing? Why are you draining our life essence?"

"Holy Son, stop! We're about to die!"

"..."

"What kind of holy son is this? This bastard isn't Tianxinzi at all! I was wondering how his cultivation had suddenly become so strong—it's all a fake! He's draining our life essence! He's a demon, a devil!"

"We can't let him continue draining us, or we'll all die! This demon actually wants to wipe us all out! Fellow disciples, let's unite and resist this demon! We absolutely cannot let his evil plan succeed!"

"Kill! We can't let him succeed!"

"..."

"Hmph, a bunch of ant-like creatures! I, your ancestor, am doing you a favor by absorbing your life essence, and you still dare to resist? But that's fine, the more you resist, the greater your anger and resentment, the more flavorful your life essence will be!"

Seeing the Heavenly Heart Pavilion members constantly resisting, the Blood Lotus Demon not only showed no panic but also laughed loudly. His laughter gathered into invisible sound waves, enveloping all the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples. Under the influence of the sound waves, the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples seemed to be isolated to another world; their voices were blocked, and they could only be seen rolling around in the sea of blood, unable to do anything!

This scene did not last long. Soon, the cries of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples subsided, and finally, they stopped completely. And the sea of blood gradually returned to calm.

"Hehe, so comfortable! As expected of people from the Holy Land. If I could absorb all the essence and blood of the Holy Land people, I should be able to recover to my peak cultivation level, right? Then, I can refine the skeleton of this Primordial Realm expert, and reaching the Primordial Realm wouldn't be impossible!"

The sea of blood slowly dissipated, and a thick, bloody aura rushed over. Where the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples were, after the sea of blood disappeared, only piles of white skeletons remained; nothing else was left. The Blood Lotus Demon didn't even glance at them, instead shifting his gaze to Yang Fan and his companions. He first looked them over before finally settling his eyes on the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos expert…

“Brother Yang, there are no eternal hatreds in this world, only eternal interests. The reason we joined forces against you just now, you probably know why—it's all because you are too powerful, forcing us to do so. But now, this suddenly appearing demon has disrupted the order. Judging from your tone, you seem to know this demon. You must also know that if this old demon is allowed to escape, the entire martial world will be thrown into chaos, and this chaos might even affect the secular world. You certainly don't want to see that happen, do you?”

At this moment, Ouyang Yu suddenly walked up to Yang Fan and said.

“Oh, you mean you want to form an alliance with me? To deal with him together?”

Yang Fan glanced at Ouyang Yu and asked.

"Indeed, Brother Yang understands this demon best, and presumably only you know its weaknesses. Therefore, whether or not we can eliminate this demon depends entirely on you. Rest assured, Brother Yang, all of us from various holy lands will obey your commands without question or disloyalty. We can even guarantee that if you allow us a glimpse into the secrets of that skeleton afterward, we will gladly hand over the skeleton of this Primordial Chaos expert and will not compete with you for it!" "

Is that so?"

Yang Fan didn't take Ouyang Yu's guarantee too seriously, because he knew that such a guarantee was utterly useless in the face of absolute self-interest. The only thing that piqued his interest was the matter of joining forces to deal with the Blood Lotus Demon.

At this point, if he still didn't realize that the person before him, Tianxinzi, was actually the Blood Lotus Demon, then he was in deep trouble. Although he didn't know exactly what had happened, one thing was certain: Tianxinzi had been murdered, and the Blood Lotus Demon had definitely taken over Tianxinzi's body.

As for how he got here, Yang Fan had no idea. The only explanation for the Blood Lotus Demon's sudden surge in strength was that he had been constantly absorbing essence blood outside, recovering a significant amount of cultivation. And this essence blood likely belonged mostly to martial artists who came to explore the ancient tomb; in other words, it was highly probable that most of the martial artists who came to explore had perished at the hands of the Blood Lotus Demon!

If things were like this here, releasing the Blood Lotus Demon would likely cause a major catastrophe in the martial world. Although Yang Fan didn't care about matters of the martial world, if it involved the secular world, as a member of the base, it concerned him! Even if

Ouyang Yu hadn't mentioned it, Yang Fan would have done everything in his power to keep the Blood Lotus Demon here. Now that a free henchman had been delivered to his doorstep, why wouldn't he make good use of him?

"Brother Ouyang is absolutely right. Exorcising demons and protecting the righteous path is indeed an inescapable responsibility for us martial artists. This old demon, called the Blood Lotus Demon, was the sect leader of the Blood Transformation Sect, who wreaked havoc on the martial world back then. He was truly a great scourge!"

"What? The Blood Transformation Sect?"

Ouyang Yu exclaimed in surprise upon hearing Yang Fan's words.

"What? Brother Ouyang has also heard of the Blood Transformation Sect?"

Yang Fan asked curiously, seeing Ouyang Yu's reaction. Given Ouyang Yu's status, his reaction upon hearing about the Blood Transformation Sect indicated that this sect was far from simple. Otherwise, it wouldn't have surprised Ouyang Yu, the Holy Son of Zhiyu Palace, so much. After all, behind him was the sacred Zhiyu Palace!

"Indeed, speaking of the Blood Transformation Sect, three hundred years ago, it was known throughout the martial world, and even the major holy lands were greatly troubled by it!"

"The Blood Transformation Sect suddenly rose to prominence three hundred years ago. Initially, they only wreaked havoc among the common people, and the major holy lands paid little attention. But suddenly, overnight, Blood Transformation Sect disciples attacked almost every sect in the martial world simultaneously. Countless sects were destroyed overnight. Among these sects were even peripheral sects of the major holy lands!"

"It was after that night that the Blood Transformation Sect truly came into the public eye. To suppress these demons, martial world sects joined forces to simultaneously resist the Blood Transformation Sect. However, they were not only elusive, but their cultivation was also incredibly powerful." "

Because the Blood Transformation Sect disciples' method of enhancing their cultivation is different from ordinary martial artists, as long as they can absorb a large amount of essence blood, their cultivation can be greatly improved in a very short time. Therefore, during the battle, their strength also increased rapidly."

"Later, the various sects of the martial world were truly overwhelmed and sought help from the major holy lands. The major holy lands also dispatched disciples to assist them. However, although they successfully eliminated the Blood Transformation Sect, this demonic sect, the major holy lands paid a heavy price!"

"Especially since it coincided with the Great Dragon-Slaying Calamity, all the Primordial Chaos Realm experts of the major holy lands were fully engaged in dealing with it. Therefore, they were unable to spare any resources to deal with the Blood Transformation Sect.

And it was at this time that an outstanding genius emerged from the Blood Transformation Sect!" "This person's cultivation was truly astonishing, enough to move heaven and earth. Although he was only at the Returning Void Realm, he was undoubtedly the number one person below the Primordial Chaos Realm! Back then, countless Returning Void Realm experts lost their lives at his hands, and even many Returning Void Realm experts from the major holy lands were killed by him."

"The various holy lands tried countless times to intercept and kill this person, but each time he escaped first. The only saving grace was that during the encirclement and suppression, the Blood Transformation Sect's strength was gradually worn down by the holy lands, and the remaining remnants were no match for him!"

"Later, due to the expanding harm of the Dragon Slaying Technique, the holy lands no longer had the energy to deal with the Blood Transformation Sect. They entrusted this task to the Five Elements Sect, then the strongest sect in the martial world besides the holy lands, to suppress the Blood Transformation Sect."

"However, later, both the Five Elements Sect and the Blood Transformation Sect disappeared simultaneously, without a trace, becoming a major unsolved mystery in the martial world. Since the Blood Transformation Sect was wiped out of the martial world, the holy lands speculated that the Five Elements Sect might have perished along with it. And all the details about the Blood Transformation Sect, and the events surrounding that genius, were recorded in the records of the holy lands!"

"I thought this was all history, and the Blood Transformation Sect was a thing of the past. Who would have thought I'd encounter members of the Blood Transformation Sect again today! If I hadn't happened to read this record, I wouldn't have known that any remnants of the Blood Transformation Sect still existed!"

"Oh? I didn't expect the Blood Transformation Sect to have such a history?"

Hearing Ouyang Yu's words, Yang Fan couldn't help but recall everything he had learned when he encountered the Blood Lotus Demon.

If Ouyang Yu wasn't lying, then the disappearance of the Five Elements Sect and the Blood Transformation Sect wouldn't be hard to explain. Back then, the Five Elements Sect must have discovered the Blood Transformation Sect's lair, and even more so, discovered that the Five Elements Sect's lair was actually a small world created by a Hunyuan expert. They then harbored rebellious intentions and secretly attacked the Blood Transformation Sect.

How could the already fragmented Blood Transformation Sect possibly withstand a super behemoth like the Five Elements Sect, whose strength was second only to the Holy Lands? Therefore, without a doubt, the destruction of the Blood Transformation Sect and the replacement by the Five Elements Sect unfolded logically.

However, how the Blood Lotus Demon was sealed by the Five Elements Sect, and how the Five Elements Sect was wiped out, remain unexplained mysteries. But Yang Fan was speculating about one thing: what was the relationship between the outstanding genius of the Blood Transformation Sect mentioned by Ouyang Yu and the Blood Lotus Demon?

"Could it be that the genius Ouyang Yu spoke of is the Blood Lotus Demon, sealed and suppressed by the Five Elements Sect? It seems only in this way would he be worthy of the Five Elements Sect's suppression! But if the Blood Lotus Demon is truly that genius, with his unparalleled cultivation in his prime, who could suppress him now that he has reappeared?"

Yang Fan's concerns were not entirely unfounded. If the Blood Lotus Demon was indeed the genius of the Blood Transformation Sect who once wreaked havoc on the entire martial world, then his cultivation back then had already reached the peak of the Returning to Void realm, achieving the unparalleled power of a Primordial Chaos cultivator.

Although suppressed for three hundred years, the Blood Lotus Demon's strength was severely diminished. Now that he's freed, even if he hasn't fully recovered his peak strength, just looking at his current aura reveals that his cultivation is far beyond that of an ordinary Void Returning expert.

It's important to understand that the Blood Lotus Demon isn't like the two skeletons beside Qin Mengyao. While they possessed the Void Returning realm, their actual cultivation was only slightly stronger than a typical peak Spirit Refining expert. This is because they had the realm but lacked the corresponding magical power to support it; they were merely remnants of consciousness.

The Blood Lotus Demon, however, is different. He hasn't perished; he's only been suppressed for three hundred years, resulting in a weakened aura. Given time, he will eventually recover to his peak cultivation.

Now that he's free, he has absorbed countless amounts of martial arts essence along the way. In this way, even if his cultivation hadn't fully recovered to its peak, it was still far beyond the reach of ordinary Void Returning Realm experts. After all, he had once been a peak Void Returning Realm expert, far surpassing the two skeletons in terms of cultivation level.

Not to mention, the fact that he could easily break through the defenses of the Primordial Chaos Realm expert skeleton showed that his cultivation had definitely recovered to seventy or eighty percent of its peak. Such an opponent could easily annihilate thousands upon thousands of Divine Refinement Realm experts. Even if all the members of the major holy lands joined forces, they wouldn't be able to defeat him in the slightest.

However, they had reasons to kill him. Leaving aside the potential harm that releasing the Blood Lotus Demon would bring to the world, and whether the bloodshed of three hundred years ago would repeat itself, in this era where Primordial Chaos Realm experts were absent, the appearance of the Blood Lotus Demon would definitely disrupt the balance of the world. Just the fact that the Blood Lotus Demon was competing with them for the physical bodies of Primordial Chaos Realm experts was enough to force them to confront him.

Now, Yang Fan's only hope was that the Blood Lotus Demon hadn't recovered much of his strength; otherwise, they truly had no hope!

"Heh heh, I haven't even decided how to devour you, and you're already plotting how to deal with me? Fine, I haven't stretched my muscles for centuries. Today, I'll play with you properly. The blood of the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, I truly cherish it. Back then, I tasted the essence blood of the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of all the major holy lands. I just wonder if the essence blood of you juniors can compare to that of those little guys back then!"

While Yang Fan was exchanging words with Ouyang Yu, the Blood Lotus Demon completely annihilated the Heavenly Heart Pavilion members. He stood high in the void, not in a hurry to seize the bodies of the Primordial Chaos experts, but looking down upon Yang Fan and his companions with an gaze that seemed to regard all living beings as ants.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the people from the various holy lands gathered together, including Nalan Qingcheng and the others, and joined forces around Yang Fan. Clearly, they all knew that they couldn't defeat each other alone. Their only chance was to temporarily unite and fight together. As for the body of the Primordial Chaos expert, that wasn't something they should be thinking about for the time being.

It was truly a dramatic situation. Not long ago, the people from the various holy lands were joining forces against Yang Fan. But in the blink of an eye, they had allied with Yang Fan to fight the Blood Lotus Demon. This truly validated Ouyang Yu's words: there is no eternal hatred, nor eternal friendship, only eternal interests.

Of course, this statement is somewhat extreme and not entirely true, but it holds true in many situations and among many groups of people. In real life, there is no shortage of friends who were originally very close, but because of interests, wealth, power, and status, they plot against each other, frame each other, and commit unjust acts.

If this is the case in the secular world, how much more so among these lawless martial artists who only care about themselves and don't care about the lives of others? It's important to understand that cultivation is inherently a matter of defying the heavens, fighting against the earth, and battling against fate. If one doesn't even believe in fate, how can they care about loyalty or righteousness? Therefore, most martial artists are ruthless and heartless, people who only care about cultivation and disregard the lives of others.

Of course, this doesn't mean all martial artists are like this. Most martial artists actually value loyalty and righteousness. There are those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for righteousness, and even more so, those chivalrous heroes who would go to great lengths for their friends.

However, regardless of their type, any martial artist cannot remain absolutely calm and composed when faced with something that can improve their cultivation. Otherwise, they cannot be considered a true martial artist, because they have lost the passion and pursuit that a martial artist should possess!

It's just that when faced with temptation, some martial artists will stop at nothing, while others know how to choose wisely.

Although Yang Fan knew perfectly well that the people from the various holy lands had just joined forces against him, and even now, after dealing with the Blood Lotus Demon, they might still unite against him again, he still had no choice but to cooperate with them.

The Blood Lotus Demon was far too powerful; if they didn't unite, they would be defeated one by one. Similarly, the people from the various holy lands knew that after cleverly dealing with Yang Fan, they would still face the struggle for the remains of a Primordial Chaos expert, yet they still had to unite against him.

They all knew that Yang Fan's strength was overwhelming; if they didn't eliminate Yang Fan, their biggest competitor, their chances of seizing victory would be greatly reduced. Only by eliminating Yang Fan, their biggest variable, would their chances increase.

While they couldn't be certain they would seize the final victory, competing with a group of people of similar strength was far better than competing with someone far stronger. And their current alliance against the Blood Lotus Demon was for this very reason!

Only by eliminating the Blood Lotus Demon, their strongest competitor, would they have a greater chance of success. Moreover, judging from the Blood Lotus Demon's methods, even if they didn't confront him, he wouldn't let them go. Therefore, whether it was for the sake of the treasure or to save their own lives, they all had reasons to unite against the enemy!

"Brother Yang, now it's up to us! Fellow martial artists, whether it's to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path or for other purposes, everyone has reasons to take action against this Blood Lotus Demon. Since that's the case, I hope everyone will not hold back and join forces to kill this demon!"

Ouyang Yu was indeed a successful diplomat. In just a few minutes, he not only successfully persuaded Yang Fan but also the people from the various holy lands, including the two camps of Nalan Qingcheng and Yang Feng. Although they didn't like Ouyang Yu, none of them could object to his proposal!

As he spoke, Ouyang Yu actually took the initiative to attack for the first time. At the same time he spoke, everyone in his Zhiyu Palace camp unleashed their magical weapons, bombarding the Blood Lotus Demon like a storm.

As soon as Zhiyu Palace moved, the others couldn't help but follow suit. Instantly, magical treasures filled the sky, and true energy surged, signaling the start of a true battle!

Chapter 420 [Siege!]

Boom!

One magical artifact after another awakened, emitting deafening roars that seemed to want to crush the entire world. The various holy lands unleashed their magical artifacts, all attacking the Blood Lotus Demon. Clearly, they all knew that to deal with the Blood Lotus Demon, they absolutely could not hold back!

"Boom!"

A deafening roar resounded. The first to be hit was the group of black-clad men from the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect. Suddenly, a surge of black demonic energy erupted, condensing and refusing to dissipate, eventually forming a gigantic black skull. Around the black skull, twelve blood-red banners floated.

Under the stirring of the Yin energy, the twelve blood-red banners fluttered wildly, like death warrants summoning souls, sending chills down one's spine. The enormous black skull was positioned precisely at the center of the twelve blood-red banners. Together, they resembled the opening of the gates to the underworld, exuding a chilling aura!

This was a replica of the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner, a divine artifact of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect! However, although it was merely a magical artifact, its power far surpassed that of ordinary artifacts. Its mere appearance chilled the entire sky.

"Boom!"

Simultaneously with the appearance of the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner, a deafening roar echoed from another direction. Then, a massive scroll slowly unfurled, resembling a celestial painting, continuously expanding as it unfolded. On the scroll were countless celestial palaces, pavilions, and wondrous trees, within which countless beautiful women danced gracefully, creating a scene reminiscent of a celestial paradise. It was a replica of the Goddess Painting of Zhiyu Palace!

The moment the Goddess Diagram appeared, the aura of the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect was suppressed, demonstrating that the Goddess Diagram's power surpassed that of the Netherworld Soul-Summoning Banner!

"Boom!"

At the same time, all the disciples of the Pure Yang Sect took their positions, forming a wondrous array. A gigantic fiery skull erupted from Yang Feng's body, forming a massive fiery cauldron above his head.

This replica of the Sun God Furnace, once revealed, shone like the sun itself, radiating boundless light and blazing flames. From afar, only a massive ball of fire could be seen; the true form of the Sun God Furnace was completely obscured. Only faint traces of golden crows formed from flames constantly darting about its surface.

The Sun God Furnace, inherently a furnace that gathers the true energy of heaven and earth, is a true condensation of the essence of fire. A genuine Sun God Furnace can incinerate all things, refine the void, and destroy everything. Although the object Yang Feng held was merely a replica of the Sun God Furnace, its mere appearance still sent waves of heat crashing down upon everyone present.

With three magical artifacts appearing in succession, the other major holy lands naturally refused to be outdone and also unleashed their own magical artifacts. In an instant, waves of energy surged into the sky, creating a magnificent spectacle. With all the magical artifacts gathered together, the overwhelming aura seemed capable of crushing the entire world, making it difficult for people to breathe.

Even Yang Fan, facing the oppressive aura of over ten magical artifacts, felt the pressure increase exponentially, and involuntarily summoned the Five Elements Pearls once more. Instantly, five enormous spheres enveloped them, as if transporting them to another starry sky, and the oppressive aura exerted by the other artifacts vanished without a trace.

After summoning the Five Elements Pearls, Yang Fan turned his gaze back to the various holy lands, where he saw the Moon Sound Demon Qin of the Moon Sound Sect, the Twelve-Petaled Lotus of the Hundred Flowers Sect, the Yangyang Hehuan Bell of the Yangyang Hehuan Sect, the Eight Trigrams Spiritual Furnace of the Lingbao Qinxin Sect, the Carefree Heartless Fan of the Xiaoyao Sect, the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword of the Qingxiao Dao Sect… and many other magical artifacts appearing one after another!

The Moon Sound Demon Qin of the Moon Sound Sect was an exquisitely crafted zither, its surface carved with dragons and phoenixes, so lifelike that it seemed not merely a carving, but a real divine object sealed within, exuding an overwhelming aura. Even before the music was played, it gave one a sense of ethereal mystery.

As for the Eight Trigrams Spirit Furnace of the Lingbao Qinxin Sect, it was an alchemy furnace that looked no different from any other Tai Chi Eight Trigrams furnace. Its surface also radiated high temperatures, not as scorching as the Sun God Furnace, but still quite high. Moreover, a faint fragrance occasionally wafted from the furnace, invigorating those who smelled it.

Besides the Eight Trigrams Spirit Furnace of the Lingbao Tianxin Sect, Yang Fan had already seen the Twelve-Petal Lotus of the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. As for the Carefree Heartless Fan of the Xiaoyao Sect, it didn't have many obvious features on the surface. The only thing that caught Yang Fan's attention was the replica of the Heavenly Dao Two Elements Sword, a magical artifact brought forth by the Qingxiao Dao Sect!

The magical artifacts of the various holy lands had gathered once again, and this time the power they displayed far exceeded the power they had used when attacking the Ancient Tomb Gate. This was because last time, the people of the various holy lands all had selfish motives and wanted to preserve their strength.

This time was different. They all knew what the Blood Transformation Sect represented, and they were well aware of the danger posed by the Blood Lotus Demon. Therefore, this time, no holy land held back. Even someone as cunning as Ouyang Yu had to temporarily set aside his calculations and focus entirely on the enemy.

This was truly an unprecedented event, with the various holy lands cooperating perfectly like never before. Even during the Great Dragon-Slaying Calamity, the alliances between the holy lands had never been as united as this. Throughout history, cooperation between the holy lands was not uncommon, but each time it involved mutual scheming and constant plotting against each other, never fully revealing their trump cards.

This time, however, they not only exposed their trump cards but also went all out, without reservation. They were united in their fight against the common foe. It was truly an unprecedented feat!

"Heh heh, so many magical artifacts! Even I, your ancestor, am envious. If I could devour the spirits of these artifacts, I could truly recover to my peak cultivation. Then, I could go anywhere in the world! Boys, although you possess great treasures, you can't even unleash one percent of their power. I think you might as well give them to me, so I can make the most of them!"

Facing the combined attack of more than ten magical artifacts, the Blood Lotus Demon didn't show the slightest worry on his face. On the contrary, he appeared very calm, as if he had everything under control. Facing the full force of the artifacts, he showed not fear, but greed! As

he spoke, he casually raised his hand, and a Heavenly Bell suddenly appeared in his hand. It was the Heavenly Heart Divine Bell that Yang Fan had shattered!

However, although the Heavenly Heart Divine Bell in front of him looked no different from the Heavenly Heart Bell, the aura emanating from it was completely different—one was in the heavens, and the other was on the ground. Like an ant compared to an elephant, the Heavenly Heart Bell in Tianxinzi's hands was like a firefly, but in the hands of the Blood Lotus Old Demon, this magical artifact transformed into a scorching sun!

"Boom!"

Being a veteran Void Returning Realm expert, the Heavenly Heart Bell in the Blood Lotus Old Demon's hands was unleashed to its fullest potential. The moment it appeared, it suppressed all the magical artifacts of the various holy lands.

Only true Void Returning Realm experts could unleash the full power of a magical artifact. Even with the combined strength of all the holy lands, they could only slightly awaken the artifact, unable to fully activate it. But in the hands of the Blood Lotus Old Demon, it was not only fully awakened but also unleashed its full power!

Slight awakening and full activation are two completely different concepts. The power of a magical artifact far exceeded what a Refining Spirit Realm expert could wield; only a true Void Returning Realm expert could unleash its full potential!

Furthermore, even Void Returning Realm experts may not be able to fully activate a magical artifact. Most Void Returning Realm experts can only initiate the artifact, allowing it to slowly awaken. Only those who stand at the peak of the Void Returning Realm and have witnessed the dawn of the Primordial Chaos can fully activate a magical artifact.

This is because activating a magical artifact requires a crucial factor: using one's own spatial power to activate the spatial power within the artifact, allowing it to awaken. The more spatial power one possesses, the more spatial power the artifact can activate. Only when one's own spatial power exceeds the spatial power contained within the artifact can one fully activate it.

However, most Void Returning Realm experts only possess a small amount of spatial power, so how could they possibly activate a complete magical artifact? Let alone a Spirit Refining Realm expert who hasn't even mastered spatial power yet.

But a figure like the Blood Lotus Old Demon was once at the peak of the Void Returning Realm; with his strength, activating a magical artifact would naturally not be too difficult for him. Even though its strength is greatly diminished, and even if it can't unleash the full power of its magical artifacts, it's still far superior to the magical artifacts driven by cultivators like Ouyang Yu and his ilk.

"Boom!"

The Heavenly Heart Bell, in the hands of the Blood Lotus Old Demon, spun and expanded incessantly, growing to the size of a three- or four-story house in the blink of an eye. The entire Heavenly Heart Bell hovered directly above the Blood Lotus Old Demon's head, its constant rotation drawing in energy from the surrounding void, forming a massive black hole. From afar, it looked like a pagoda suddenly appearing, attracting the worship of thousands. The divine light shimmering at the top of the bell added to its mysterious aura.

At the same time, strange sound waves suddenly emanated from within the Heavenly Heart Bell. These sound waves seemed to bypass the ears and penetrate directly into the heart; even if you blocked your hearing, you couldn't stop their propagation!

The sound waves seemed to bewitch the mind, making people want to abandon all resistance and instantly become enlightened. Upon hearing that sound, one couldn't help but want to submit to it!

Moreover, not only that, those invisible sound waves, when they encountered the attacks launched by the magical artifacts of the various holy lands, could continuously weaken the power of those attacks. This caused the attacks from those magical artifacts to lose all their offensive power before they even got close to the Blood Lotus Demon, leaving only pure spatial energy to be absorbed and refined by the Heavenly Heart Bell!

"Although it's a replica, it hasn't diminished the Heavenly Heart Bell's prestige. Back then, I was almost destroyed by this Heavenly Heart Bell. If I hadn't escaped quickly, I would have perished under its power. But unexpectedly, after so many years, I'm actually using a replica of this Heavenly Heart Bell against an enemy. It seems the Heavenly Heart Bell is destined to be with me. I really must visit the Heavenly Heart Pavilion one day and borrow the Heavenly Heart Bell to play with!"

Seeing that Ouyang Yu and the others' attacks all missed, the Blood Lotus Demon's smile deepened. No wonder he could use the Heavenly Heart Bell so quickly; it turned out he had come into contact with the real divine artifact, the Heavenly Heart Bell. Naturally, he could use this replica with ease.

Moreover, from the Blood Lotus Demon's words, one could tell how heaven-defying his cultivation was in the past, that he could actually escape from a divine artifact. Even though his strength was greatly diminished now, he was still far superior to an ordinary Void Returning expert!

"Blood Lotus Rebirth, Flowers Spread Across the World, Blood Sea Boundless, *Immeasurable, Blood Rebirth, *, Collect!"

Accompanied by the Blood Lotus Demon's roar, the attacks from various artifacts were all collected by the Heavenly Heart Bell, transformed into pure energy, and absorbed by the Blood Lotus Demon.

Having absorbed this energy, the Blood Lotus Demon's aura was even stronger than before. At the same time, he launched his attack. He sneered, and the Heavenly Heart Bell above his head, which had been spinning continuously, suddenly stopped, then began to spin counter-clockwise.

The Heavenly Heart Bell's previous clockwise rotation had suddenly reversed, creating a sense of disharmony. Furthermore, the surface of the Heavenly Heart Bell emitted an even more powerful aura.

Twisted ripples continuously condensed and formed on the bell's surface, eventually creating giant energy palms. These energy palms, once formed, grabbed back at Ouyang Yu and his companions. This move actually deflected their previous attacks!

In martial arts, there is a state called "using the opponent's own methods against them," a principle similar to using minimal force to overcome great strength. Both are supreme techniques of borrowing strength to strike back. However, unexpectedly, the Blood Lotus Demon, using the power of a magical artifact, actually employed a tactic of "using their own methods against them"!

At the same time, Yang Fan also encountered a counterattack and received special treatment from the Blood Lotus Demon. If there was anyone present, the Blood Lotus Demon hated most, it would undoubtedly be Yang Fan. Back then, if it weren't for Yang Fan, he wouldn't have suffered the torment of being burned by the earth fire; if it weren't for Yang Fan, he wouldn't have failed at the last moment and been injured by Tian Xingzi's follow-up attack. Otherwise, with his cultivation level, he wouldn't have needed to borrow a magical artifact; he could have easily dealt with these people on his own!

"Boom!"

An invisible giant energy palm grabbed towards Yang Fan. This seemingly formless and intangible energy palm contained pure spatial power, enough to tear apart any expert below the Void Returning Realm.

Before the hand could truly grasp Yang Fan, he felt an immense tearing force emanating from the void. The feeling wasn't like being grabbed by a giant energy hand, but rather like being crushed to pieces by the void itself. It was as if he wasn't facing the Blood Lotus Demon alone, but the entire universe; fighting him was fighting against the heavens and the earth!

This was the advantage of a Void Returning Realm expert: merging with the Dao, harmonizing with the heavens, and reaching a state of harmony with the earth, beginning to communicate with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and comprehend the secrets of nature. Every movement, every word, carried a detached Daoist essence. Though not yet speaking the law or embodying the Dao itself, they could resonate with the Dao, influencing heaven and earth, causing them to reject others and the Dao to reject them!

The stronger one's cultivation, the more spatial power one masters, the greater the influence on heaven and earth, and on nature. When spatial power reaches its peak, one becomes the Heavenly Dao itself—this is the Primordial Chaos Realm!

Although the Blood Lotus Demon wasn't a true Primordial Chaos expert, he had already reached the pinnacle of the Returning Void Realm, only a step away from the Primordial Chaos Realm. Furthermore, he had managed to escape from a Primordial Chaos expert; this alone demonstrated his immense power!

Such a person, while unable to control the Great Dao, had already infinitely merged with it, and his understanding of the Dao of Space was undoubtedly the strongest below the Primordial Chaos Realm!

Regardless of the Blood Lotus Demon's true strength, for Yang Fan, this was the first time he had truly encountered a genuine Returning Void Realm expert. Although he had previously fought against the Returning Void skeleton beside Qin Mengyao, firstly, while the opponent possessed the Returning Void Realm's cultivation level, they lacked the corresponding magical power; secondly, the opponent was merely a wisp of remnant spirit, a world apart from a true Returning Void Realm expert!

But the Blood Lotus Demon was different; he was a true Void Returning expert, and at the peak of that level. Even though his cultivation had greatly diminished, his realm was still formidable. The pressure he brought to Yang Fan was naturally far greater than the pressure from the skeleton he had faced before!

Chapter 421 [Startled and Retreat!]

Facing a true Void Returning expert for the first time, although the pressure on Yang Fan was immense, the benefits were also very clear. Putting aside everything else, the valuable experience of fighting a Void Returning expert was immeasurable.

After all, to successfully break through from the Refining Spirit realm to the Void Returning realm, besides arduous cultivation and sudden enlightenment, experience was also extremely important. After all, sudden enlightenment was built upon years of accumulated experience. Only through the refinement of experience could one truly understand the true meaning of the Void Returning realm, and the experience of fighting against someone at the Void Returning realm was undoubtedly a crucial element.

To break through from one realm to another, at the very least, you must understand the true meaning of the other realm beforehand. Otherwise, you'll forever remain at the threshold without ever entering, because you fundamentally misunderstand the true meaning of that realm. Even if you accidentally stumble upon it, you'll only have a superficial understanding!

Only by thoroughly understanding that realm can you naturally step into it. And only with a clear goal beforehand will your progress be clear and you won't take endless detours.

For Yang Fan, the Realm of Returning to Emptiness was both clear and confusing. Clear in that he knew that to reach the Realm of Returning to Emptiness, he needed to comprehend the power of space and merge his primordial spirit with the Great Dao and with heaven and earth. But confusing in that he didn't know how to comprehend the power of space, how to merge his primordial spirit with heaven and earth, and, most confusingly, he knew absolutely nothing about the power of space!

Therefore, if Yang Fan wanted to advance to the Void Returning Realm, he could only continuously engage in combat with those at the Void Returning Realm, experiencing and understanding the true meaning of "Void Returning" through battle and personal experience.

Thus, facing the Blood Lotus Demon's powerful killing move, although Yang Fan felt a strong sense of crisis, even sensing the approach of death, he remained completely calm. In fact, at this moment, Yang Fan became even more composed, reaching a state of perfect tranquility, devoid of desire and ambition.

At this moment, Yang Fan was enveloped in an eerie stillness; even his breathing and heartbeat ceased. It seemed that at this moment, he had completely merged with the entire universe; he was heaven, he was earth, he was the Dao, he was the void!

Heaven and earth as one! Indeed, at this moment, it seemed that Yang Fan truly sensed the state of oneness with heaven and earth. Just like the Yin and Yang principles, only through the coexistence of Yin and Yang can adversity turn into prosperity; only through the unity of heaven and earth can all things be born!

At this moment, Yang Fan seemed to have touched the origin of the Great Dao, the core of heaven and earth, and had seen through everything. He seemed to be transforming into the Dao itself.

However, at this very moment, the Blood Lotus Demon's attack arrived before Yang Fan. The giant energy palm, formed only from spatial power, seemed to want to crush Yang Fan into pieces. The omnipresent spatial tearing force seemed to want to rip Yang Fan into dust.

Boom!

The void behind Yang Fan collapsed directly under the powerful aura of the giant energy palm, forming a huge black hole. Yang Fan stood in the very center of the black hole. Invisible tearing forces emanated from the black hole. Although they didn't pull Yang Fan into the black hole, his clothes fluttered in the wind, making him look like a killing god from the demon realm, with overwhelming demonic energy!

"All spells and a thousand paths converge into one; Buddhist combat techniques, incantations, and spells all become one. All Buddhas return to oneness, the Great Dao submits, and all Buddhas pay homage! Break!"

However, just as that palm was about to touch Yang Fan, blinding Buddhist light suddenly emanated from his back. Within the light, countless Buddhist figures flashed by rapidly, their hands quickly forming hand seals. As these seals formed, countless incantations flew from their hands, eventually converging above Yang Fan's head.

With the appearance of more and more incantations, a colossal Buddha finally appeared above Yang Fan's head—the very embodiment of Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism!

The moment Shakyamuni's true form appeared, Yang Fan's aura instantly changed. He, who had previously resembled a god of war, transformed into a compassionate Buddha, saving all people from suffering.

All of this, though it seems like a long time, happened in the blink of an eye. From the fleeting image of the Buddha to the appearance of Shakyamuni, it was only a blink of an eye. At the same moment Shakyamuni's Dharma form appeared, the Blood Lotus Demon's attack was also just before Yang Fan.

As if sensing something, a sharp light suddenly flashed in the eyes of the Shakyamuni Dharma form. He didn't make any movement, just slightly raised his palm, without any energy overflowing. But with this casual movement, all of the Blood Lotus Demon's attacks suddenly stopped. Then, the giant energy palm, as if encountering its nemesis, dissipated completely, vanishing into nothingness in the blink of an eye, as if it had never existed.

Not only that, at the same time as breaking that attack, the Shakyamuni Dharma form raised its hand again, striking out from afar in the direction of the Blood Lotus Demon. Instantly, a five-fingered palm, like a towering pillar, appeared in the sky.

Almost simultaneously with its appearance, it appeared above the Blood Lotus Demon. The next moment, the colossal hand grabbed the Heavenly Heart Bell atop the Blood Lotus Demon's head. With a gentle squeeze, the Heavenly Heart Bell, which had just moments before been suppressing the magical artifacts of the various holy lands, shattered with a resounding bang…

“This…”

The people from the various holy lands, who were fully activating their magical artifacts to resist the Heavenly Heart Bell's attack, suddenly felt the pressure lessen. Then, they saw the Heavenly Heart Bell crushed by a gigantic hand.

This sudden turn of events left them speechless for a long time. This was a magical artifact, activated by a peak Void Returning expert! It had been crushed by a hand that appeared out of nowhere!

Was this real? At this moment, countless people secretly pinched their thighs. Even someone like Ouyang Yu bit his tongue, seemingly trying to confirm whether what he was seeing was a dream!

"How is this possible? That's a magic artifact comparable to a Void Returning expert! Even a peak Void Returning expert couldn't truly destroy a magic artifact, because it contains powerful spatial energy that redirects any brute force. Yet, someone actually crushed a magic artifact with a single blow? Could it be a supreme expert at the Primordial Chaos Realm? That's right, only a Primordial Chaos Realm expert could so easily destroy a magic artifact!"

"But aren't Primordial Chaos Realm experts all extinct? Could it be that besides the major holy lands, other sects have Primordial Chaos Realm experts forming formations?"

At this moment, no one noticed that the attack was launched by Yang Fan. Their attention was completely captivated by the tomb before them. Moreover, although they all knew Yang Fan was incredibly strong, they never believed he could destroy a magic artifact so easily. After all, what Yang Fan destroyed outside the tomb wasn't the Heavenly Heart Bell itself, but merely a restriction on it.

Imagine, a mere restriction nearly trapped Yang Fan back then, let alone a true magical artifact. Moreover, this artifact before him was fully activated; such an artifact, in terms of both attack and defense, was many times stronger than an ordinary artifact. Yet, even so, it was crushed in one blow. How could the people of the various holy lands believe that Yang Fan could have done this?

Not only them, but even Yang Fan himself was deeply shocked by the scene before him. Actually, he hadn't planned to confront it head-on. After all, what he faced was a true magical artifact, activated by a Void Returning expert—essentially a combined attack from two Void Returning experts. Even with Yang Fan's arrogance, he wouldn't dare face the combined attack of two Void Returning experts simultaneously.

However, just as he prepared to retreat, the two Sacred Buddha Relics within his body not only activated automatically but also lost control of his body!

This terrified Yang Fan. Not only did the Holy Buddha Relics disobey his commands, but they also seized control of his body. Although his physical body had undergone several enhancements, making it far stronger than that of ordinary Spirit Refining martial artists, even comparable to Void Returning Realm experts, it was still ultimately a mortal body. Faced with the combined attack of two Void Returning Realm experts, he would only be utterly destroyed.

However, just as he was extremely anxious and at a loss, the two Holy Buddha Relics automatically activated the Nine Syllable Mantra!

The Immovable King Seal, the Great Wheel Vajra Seal, as well as the Fourteen Seals and the Four Great Demon-Subduing Mantras… all the seals and incantations within the two Holy Buddha Relics, "Lin" and "Bing," began to operate simultaneously.

Not only that, but some seals that Yang Fan had never even heard of before also appeared in his mind. Then, these seals rapidly condensed within his divine consciousness, forming enormous Buddha images, ultimately projecting the Dharma Body of Shakyamuni.

From beginning to end, Yang Fan was merely a fleeting spectator. From the moment the Holy Buddha Relic began to operate, although his consciousness was perfectly clear, his physical body was rendered useless. Even his consciousness could only think, not control.

Therefore, Yang Fan didn't truly understand what was happening; he only knew that it was all caused by the Holy Buddha Relic!

"Could it be that the gathering of the Holy Buddha Relic and the simultaneous appearance of the Nine Syllable Mantra could bring Shakyamuni back to life?"

At this moment, a very strange thought suddenly occurred to Yang Fan.

However, the Holy Buddha Relic was a supreme sacred object left behind by Shakyamuni when he passed away. Although almost everyone in the world said that Shakyamuni had completely perished, no one had ever seen how he perished, let alone his remains. Therefore, whether Shakyamuni truly perished remained a mystery!

Furthermore, even if he truly perished, as the only human in history to break through to the Hunyuan Realm and reach another realm, what methods did he possess? Outsiders have no idea. Even if he perished, would he have any backup plans to return to this world in another way?

Doubts, confusion, mysteries! All of this seems to have become an unsolved mystery. Perhaps, if it weren't for what just happened, Yang Fan would never have thought about this question, because no matter how glorious Shakyamuni was in the past, he had long since perished, and it had nothing to do with him.

But now, he had obtained the holy Buddha relics left behind by Shakyamuni when he passed away, and even more so, he had obtained the supreme Buddhist secret technique, the Nine Syllable Mantra. This had connected him with Shakyamuni.

For some reason, Yang Fan felt a vague sense of unease. He didn't know exactly what he was worried about, but he felt that obtaining the holy Buddha relics and the Nine Syllable Mantra, on the surface, was a good thing, a tremendous opportunity, but behind this opportunity and good fortune, there seemed to be a potential crisis hidden!

This was an unfounded intuition, an inexplicable feeling, like a sixth sense—arriving without basis, yet it seemed to have taken root in Yang Fan's mind, impossible to shake off.

Moreover, the Shakyamuni image that had just appeared above his head gave him a sense of flesh and blood, a living being, as if it weren't just a simple image or phantom, but a sentient being with flesh and blood, thoughts and consciousness. And he was merely a vessel residing within him…

"Pfft!"

Just as Yang Fan was unable to move, the Blood Lotus Demon suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The Heavenly Heart Bell, which he had refined into his natal magic weapon, was inextricably linked to his divine consciousness. It was precisely because of this that he could unleash the Heavenly Heart Bell's power so effectively.

But now, the Heavenly Heart Bell had been crushed by the Shakyamuni image, and the divine consciousness connected to the Heavenly Heart Bell was naturally severely injured. Therefore, with just one strike, the Blood Lotus Demon was severely wounded.

However, the Blood Lotus Demon seemed completely oblivious to his own injuries, staring in terror at the top of Yang Fan's head, pointing a finger and screaming in panic, "It's him... How could it be him? How could he be here? Impossible, absolutely impossible! Wasn't he already dead? How could he be here again? Could it be..."

However, before he could finish speaking, the Blood Lotus Demon suddenly flicked his sleeve, creating a rift in the void in front of him. With a whoosh, he disappeared into the rift, vanishing without a trace.

Not only that, the Blood Lotus Demon didn't even have time to snatch the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos expert, or perhaps he simply didn't dare to try, fleeing in terror!

However, because the Blood Lotus Demon's sudden escape drew everyone's attention to him, no one saw that, in the instant the Blood Lotus Demon fled, the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos expert sitting before the Buddha statue seemed to twitch slightly…

Chapter 422 [He Came Back to Life]

"What happened? Why did the Heavenly Heart Bell suddenly shatter? Why did the Blood Lotus Demon suddenly escape? He didn't even have time to snatch the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos expert?"

In fact, the people from the various holy lands were busy resisting the Blood Lotus Demon's attacks and couldn't spare the attention to observe other things. The strange phenomenon that appeared on Yang Fan was only momentary. Even those with sharp eyes would only think that he had suddenly used some kind of magic technique and wouldn't connect what was happening with Yang Fan.

Therefore, seeing the Blood Lotus Demon suddenly and unexpectedly flee, they were all stunned and didn't react. However, after they reacted, various other thoughts also surged into their minds at the same time.

"Could there be some other astonishing expert lurking in the shadows, even frightening away the Blood Lotus Demon? If so, just how powerful is this person? Even the Blood Lotus Demon dared not linger?"

"Also, the power with which he just crushed the Heavenly Heart Bell seems to far exceed the power of the Returning to the Void Realm. Could it be a Primordial Chaos Realm expert? Indeed, that attack speed, so fast, has already transcended the concept of space. Only a Primordial Chaos Realm expert could do that!"

"Could it be that a Primordial Chaos Realm expert has entered the ancient tomb? Or is there already a Primordial Chaos Realm expert in this ancient tomb? Or perhaps, that Buddhist master never actually passed away?" "

..."

All sorts of thoughts flooded their minds at the same time. After the Blood Lotus Demon disappeared, not a single person from the various holy lands dared to make any move. They were all on guard, clearly wary of that fictitious, mysterious expert!

At the same time, Yang Fan also made no move. It wasn't that he was worried about some mysterious powerful figure, but rather that at the same moment he gained control of his body, something inexplicable flooded into his mind…

The two sacred Buddha relics within his body acted like two mysterious signal receiving stations. Just as the image of Shakyamuni above his head disappeared, streams of information were projected from the two sacred Buddha relics into his mind.

However, this information was fragmented and discontinuous; Yang Fan couldn't glean any profound secrets from it. He could only vaguely discern that it seemed to be some secrets about Shakyamuni's life. But what those secrets were, he couldn't clearly see.

Yang Fan guessed that this might be because he only possessed two sacred Buddha relics. Perhaps, when all nine sacred Buddha relics were gathered, he could indeed glimpse some information he couldn't imagine.

However, during this process, Yang Fan discovered that while he was receiving this information, in the ancient temple, a similar "signal" was constantly trying to contact the sacred Buddha relics within his body. And some of the images were transmitted from there!

"The third Holy Buddha Relic?"

Sensing that information, Yang Fan instantly understood. Needless to say, it must be the two Holy Buddha Relics within his body that resonated with the other Holy Buddha Relic in the ancient temple, allowing Yang Fan to sense this aura.

Before this, although Yang Fan guessed that the third Holy Buddha Relic was here, he was never certain. But now, with this inexplicable information, he was certain that the third Holy Buddha Relic was here!

"Could it be on that Primordial Chaos Realm expert?"

Thinking of this, Yang Fan couldn't help but shift his gaze to the Primordial Chaos Realm expert's skeleton. However, to his regret, he didn't sense any aura of the Holy Buddha Relic on the other party.

Although he was certain that the skeleton before him was definitely that Buddhist master, because besides the vast and boundless aura of a Primordial Chaos Realm expert, he also sensed another kind of righteous Buddhist energy.

This righteous aura of Buddhism has nothing to do with cultivation level; only learned scholars, great Confucianists with a heart for the world, can cultivate such an aura through years of immersion. Yang Fan had sensed this aura on his master, and only on his master.

He never expected to sense it on a skeleton long since fallen. Upon confirming its identity, a tender feeling involuntarily rose within him, as if this skeleton had become his master.

Yang Fan had relied on his master since childhood, his feelings for him encompassing both teacher and father, even surpassing the teacher-student relationship in his eyes. Now, the aura emanating from this skeleton involuntarily stirred up deep memories within him!

Lost in his memories, Yang Fan didn't notice that the instant he sensed the aura emanating from the skeleton, the string of prayer beads on his wrist suddenly emitted rays of white light invisible to the naked eye. These rays of light actually traveled through the void towards the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos expert, successfully merging into its body…

This string of prayer beads was a gift from Yang Fan's master, used to suppress the resentment within him. He had lost these beads once in Yanjing, later returned to him by Nalan Qingcheng. For a time, Yang Fan had been wondering how his prayer beads had ended up in Nalan Qingcheng's possession, but later, due to other matters, he put the matter aside. He never imagined that these seemingly ordinary prayer beads, not only impervious to nuclear power, would possess such wondrous uses!

By the time Yang Fan realized this, he found that the faint light emanating from the prayer beads had completely merged into the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos expert. The instant the white light merged with the skeleton, the previously sculpted skeleton suddenly twitched. Then, its tightly closed eyes abruptly opened…

There was no flash of light, no thunder or lightning. The eyes of the Primordial Chaos expert were plain and dull, like the gaze of a frail old man. His eyes were murky, filled with vicissitudes and loneliness, seemingly disillusioned with the world yet also deeply immersed in it—indescribable and unspeakable.

Moreover, the moment these murky eyes opened, the void before him unexpectedly distorted, as if space itself were being reorganized, with visible spatial rifts constantly appearing.

It seemed that his gaze could pierce through layers of obstruction, from the thirty-third heaven to the eighteenth hell; it seemed nothing could escape his eyes. Under his murky eyes, no secrets could be hidden. No one, human or anything else, could escape his discerning gaze. Before him, there was no room for conspiracy!

The instant he opened his eyes, everyone present, including Yang Fan, felt utterly exposed. It was as if, under his gaze, every thought in their hearts had been completely seen through, every scheme in their minds recognized. At this moment, the same thought arose in their minds: never try to play any tricks in front of him!

A strange, invisible, and intangible pressure simultaneously appeared in everyone's hearts, making them afraid to even breathe. This was the aura of a Primordial Chaos expert. He didn't need to do anything deliberately; simply standing there casually gave people the feeling of being unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed, and also inspired awe and worship!

Fortunately, this feeling vanished in an instant. It wasn't that the people of the holy lands had adapted to this aura, but rather that the aura had been withdrawn by the opponent. As the saying goes, "still as a virgin, swift as a rabbit," this aura, withdrawn and released with effortless ease, demonstrated that a master of the Primordial Chaos Realm truly lived up to their reputation of being in harmony with the heavens and the Dao, effortlessly influencing the entire world's energy field without anyone noticing.

"Phew!"

At this moment, the people of the various holy lands couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. Those few seconds felt like an eternity, as if centuries had passed. That feeling was far too long, far more unbearable than experiencing countless life-or-death battles. Compared to that, they would rather face hundreds of Blood Lotus Demons simultaneously than a single Primordial Chaos Realm expert, since Primordial Chaos and Returning to Emptiness were fundamentally different concepts!

"Yin Yang He Zong Huan, You Ming Shi Gui Zong, Yue Yin Zong, Bai Hua Zong, Zhi Yu Gong, Qing Xiao Dao Zong, An Bao Qin Xin Zong, Xiao Yao Men, Chun Yang Zong... Hehe, quite a complete group! And the Demon Emperor Palace, eh?"

Halfway through his sentence, the Hun Yuan expert suddenly shifted his gaze to Yang Fan.

Without any visible movement, the Buddhist prayer beads in Yang Fan's hand automatically fell and flew into his hand: "How did these prayer beads end up in your hands?"

His words were unremarkable, devoid of any pressure, yet they possessed an irresistible quality. Faced with the other's question, Yang Fan found himself unable to refuse, and almost blurted out, "These belong to my master!"

"My master's possession? Isn't this... Could you be his disciple? No wonder! No wonder, I was wondering what power had awakened me, it was him! Junior brother, I didn't expect you to still be alive. It seems you had already foreseen this, hadn't you? Heh, to actually pass on your ever-present Buddhist prayer beads to your disciple, it seems you are quite satisfied with this disciple! Well then, since you've already calculated this, how can I, your senior brother, not lend you a hand?"

"Never mind! Never mind! Anyway, I've already perished, leaving only an empty body, which is of no use. Junior brother, you can take them..."

Chapter 423 [The Ten Great Disciples]

"The Nameless One said: 'The perfect man is empty and formless, yet all things are created by him. Who among all things completes himself? Why? Because without reason there is no sage, without sage there is no reason. The sage is not different from reason. Therefore, the Heavenly Emperor asked: Where should Prajna be sought? Good Fortune replied: Prajna cannot be sought in form, nor can it be sought apart from form. He also said: Seeing dependent origination is seeing the Dharma, seeing the Dharma is seeing the Buddha; this is the effect of the non-dualistic nature of things. Therefore, the perfect man conceals the mysterious mechanism before it manifests, hides the unseen movement within the immediate transformation, encompasses the six directions with his mirror-like mind, and completes the body through coming and going. He understands the past and present, the beginning and the end, exhausting the root and the branch, nothing can compare. Vast and equal, this is called Nirvana…' 'If one

truly and correctly observes the arising of the world, then one will not give rise to the view of the world without seeing it; if one truly and correctly observes the cessation of the world, then one will not give rise to the view of the world with seeing it. The world refers to the five aggregates of feeling: form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness; it also refers to the eighteen realms, namely the six sense organs, six sense objects, and six consciousnesses…'"

"Cool and still, afflictions do not appear, all suffering is forever extinguished; possessing neither birth nor death, neither defilement nor purity, neither increase nor decrease, far removed from oneness and difference, birth and death, permanence and annihilation, neither both..."

From the mouth of that Primordial Chaos expert's skeleton suddenly uttered Buddhist scriptures that ordinary people could not understand at all. However, Yang Fan, who had a deep understanding of Buddhist culture, knew that this was the *Nirvana Sutra*. Nirvana means being extinguished or extinct. The name *Pan* is *Dhatu*, meaning "entry" or "exit." Because it is forever free from all defilements and afflictions, it is called Nirvana. Furthermore, the name *Pan* is *Stinky Nirvana*, meaning "without." Because it is forever free from the taint of all afflictions and karma, it is called Nirvana. Furthermore, the name *Pan* is *Dense Forest Nirvana*, meaning "eternal separation." Because it is forever free from all the dense forest of the three fires and three characteristics of the aggregates, it is called Nirvana. Furthermore, the name *Pan* is *Woven Nirvana*, meaning "not." In this, there are forever no threads of afflictions and karma. Because it does not weave the silk of the ripening fruits of birth and death, it is called Nirvana.

Nirvana is the result of Buddhist practice and realization. There are four types of Nirvana that practitioners can attain: Nirvana that is inherently pure but defiled, Nirvana with remainder, Nirvana without remainder, and Nirvana without abiding.

Practitioners of Theravada Buddhism can attain Nirvana with remainder and Nirvana without remainder, but cannot attain Nirvana that is inherently pure but defiled or Nirvana without abiding.

The highest state that Theravada practitioners can attain after severing self-view and practicing to eliminate self-attachment is called Arhatship. This state refers to the extinguishing of the seven consciousnesses, leaving only the eighth consciousness.

If a Theravada Buddhist practitioner who has become an Arhat still exists, because they still possess the five aggregates (skandhas) in the human realm and endure the minor sufferings of life such as wind, rain, cold, and sun, their attainment is called "Nirvana with remainder." If such a practitioner dies, having abandoned the five aggregates, their attainment is called "Nirvana without remainder." However, regardless of whether it is Nirvana with remainder or Nirvana without remainder, an Arhat, having extinguished the self, is essentially no longer an Arhat. The inherently pure yet defiled Nirvana can only be attained by practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism.

Mahayana Buddhist practitioners are called Bodhisattvas. In the entire path to Buddhahood, from the moment an ordinary person generates the Bodhicitta (the aspiration to attain Buddhahood) until they achieve Buddhahood, they must undergo fifty-two different stages of practice, taking three great asamkhya kalpas (incalculable eons).

Throughout this process, Mahayana Buddhist practitioners, upon attaining the seventeenth stage, directly experience "Nirvana, which is inherently pure yet defiled," understanding the cool tranquility, the absence of afflictions, and the eternal cessation of suffering—the true state of the Middle Way.

Generally, Mahayana Buddhist practitioners, upon reaching the forty-first stage, directly experience "Nirvana with remainder"; upon reaching the forty-eighth stage, they directly experience "Nirvana without remainder." Bodhisattvas, upon attaining the fifty-second stage, directly experience "Nirvana without abiding." Bodhisattvas, possessing great wisdom, sever the obscurations of afflictions and knowledge, and do not dwell in the world of birth and death. Because of their great compassion and active efforts to save sentient beings, they also do not abide in Nirvana, enjoying peace and happiness alone. They do not cling to the defiled world of delusion, nor to the eternal, blissful, pure, and selfless Nirvana; therefore, it is called Nirvana without abiding.

They attain perfect clarity of the four wisdoms, fully understanding the nature and merits of the eighth consciousness, possessing boundless power, and able to freely benefit and save all sentient beings in the ten directions with whom they have karmic connections.

Mahayana Buddhist practitioners do not follow the path of Hinayana Buddhist practitioners. In other words, Hinayana Buddhist practitioners aspire to Nirvana, are content with little, transcend the three realms, and lack compassion for liberating sentient beings. Mahayana Buddhist practitioners aspire to Buddhahood, possess boundless Dharma power, reside eternally in the three realms, and have great compassion to liberate all sentient beings. Therefore, in terms of wisdom, ability, compassion, merit, and virtue, the attainment of an Arhat is far inferior to that of a Bodhisattva.

Besides the four types of Nirvana mentioned above, there is also a Great Nirvana, which is commonly referred to as "Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi," meaning the Dharmakaya of the Tathagata.

The *?rīmālā* states, "The Dharmakaya is the body of the Tathagata's Great Nirvana."

Great Nirvana is the Dharma realm of all Buddhas, the profound samadhi of all Buddhas, the state of "eternity, bliss, self, and purity," a state that only Buddhas can attain.

The Lotus Sutra states, "Only the Tathagata attains Great Bodhi, ultimately perfecting all wisdom; this is called Great Nirvana."

The central ideas of Mahayana Nirvana are threefold: first, the Tathagata's permanence; second, Nirvana's "eternity, bliss, self, and purity"; and third, all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature.

Mahayana Nirvana advocates "emptiness and wondrous existence." Mahayana Prajna clarifies non-self, speaking of "emptiness"; Mahayana Nirvana reveals the true self, speaking of "wondrous existence"...

However, this Nirvana Rebirth Sutra is a scripture used only by highly accomplished Buddhists during their Nirvana. How could this skeleton suddenly recite this Nirvana Rebirth Sutra?

Before Yang Fan could understand this, he found himself suddenly suspended in mid-air. No, it shouldn't be called suspension, but rather being held in place by a mysterious force, unable to move, and even lifted into the air. Then, his body slowly drifted towards the location of the skeleton!

"This..."

The sudden change shocked Yang Fan. He wanted to resist, but found that he could not move his body at all. Just like before, apart from his divine sense, everything else was no longer his own.

The next moment, he was already standing in front of the skeleton. He stopped when he was only half a zhang away from it. He had intended to resist, but when he realized there was no malice in the skeleton, Yang Fan stopped.

In fact, it wasn't that he didn't want to resist, but that he simply couldn't! The person before him, though just a skeleton, was a genuine Hunyuan realm expert. Not to mention Hunyuan realm experts, even the Blood Lotus Demon was beyond his ability to resist.

There's a saying that life is like being raped; since you can't resist, you might as well enjoy it. At this moment, Yang Fan felt the same way. Rather than making a futile struggle, he might as well give up completely and see what the other party wanted to do. After all, no matter how much he resisted, he couldn't win, could he?

"Hmm, not bad, Junior Brother's judgment is indeed excellent. A full forehead, bright eyes, handsome features, and exceptional bone structure—truly a cultivation prodigy! However, this young man has a face that attracts women, and eyes that gleam with spring light. If he were born in a bustling city, he would be a dashing figure, but born into a Buddhist sect, he can only disturb the peace of the sect. Why would Junior Brother accept such a disciple?"

"Eh? No, that's not right... No wonder, no wonder, Junior Brother, you really went to great lengths! I was wondering what could make you scheme even against your deceased senior brother. So that's it, so that's it! Junior Brother, I am not as good as you, I am not as good as you..."

The skeleton of a Hunyuan Realm expert scrutinized Yang Fan, first nodding in praise, but then his expression turned serious.

At the same time, Yang Fan was also carefully observing the other party. The skeleton of this Hunyuan Realm expert was exactly the same as the real person, except that its height was a head taller than the average person. Moreover, his skin wasn't white, but a pale golden yellow.

Although the other party didn't exude any aura, Yang Fan had a feeling that he was facing a peerless master, an unparalleled hero who stood above all others. Standing before him, Yang Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe! Standing before him, Yang Fan couldn't muster a single fighting spirit. Fighting him was like an egg hitting a rock—a suicidal act with absolutely no chance of victory!

"God of War!"

Looking at this skeleton, a strange word appeared in Yang Fan's mind. Yes! It was the God of War. Only this word could interpret the aura that the skeleton before him was trying to convey, and only the word "God of War" could symbolize its identity! Only the word "God of War" was worthy of it!

Unconsciously, Yang Fan felt a surge of respect for the skeleton. This respect came from the depths of his heart, the respect for a powerful being. Although he didn't know the true identity of this skeleton, whoever it was, he must have been an unparalleled hero who looked down upon the world in his lifetime. Such a person deserves everyone's respect!

Suddenly, just as Yang Fan opened his soul to pay homage to the skeleton, the tall skeleton suddenly shone brightly, the dazzling golden light brighter than ever before, forcing even Yang Fan to close his eyes!

At the same time, the entire ancient temple began to shake rapidly, as if a volcano had erupted or an earthquake had struck. White wisps of air rose from the ground, and everyone's bodies swayed incessantly. Then, from the previously dark ancient temple, a beam of golden light suddenly burst forth, like magma erupting from deep underground, shooting instantly into the sky.

This light shot straight into the heavens, and the entire space began to shake rapidly the moment it rose. But this golden light vanished in the blink of an eye, so fast that everyone thought it was an illusion, and the entire space and ancient temple had already returned to calm!

Before Yang Fan could react, the skeleton suddenly waved its hand at him. Yang Fan felt dizzy, but suddenly found himself above the skeleton's head!

"Rebirth in the Pure Land, rebirth in the Pure Land, life and death, death and life, the cycle of reincarnation is impermanent, the Great Dao is ruthless, Mahayana and Hinayana, the unity of Buddhism and Zen, Amitabha!"

Boom! Golden light suddenly shot up from the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos expert, which was actually boundless Buddhist light. The Buddhist light soared into the sky, and without revealing a single trace, it all rushed towards Yang Fan's body! Crack

! Yang Fan felt as if all the bones in his body had shattered at the same time. A piercing pain shot straight to his brain, as if his whole body was being pricked by needles. The pain was so intense that he wanted to cry out for his parents!

In fact, at the moment the Buddhist light entered his body, all of Yang Fan's bones did indeed shatter at the same time. His powerful body, forged through heavenly tribulations, spiritual medicines, and countless transformations, shattered completely in an instant under the impact of the Buddha's light!

Not only that, but every meridian, blood vessel, and even every tiny cell in his body shattered in that instant. If not for a mysterious force supporting him, Yang Fan's entire body would likely have been blasted to pieces in a single moment.

What unbearable pain that must have been! Imagine: meridians shattered, bones broken, blood vessels bursting… even the cruelest, most inhuman torture in the world couldn't compare to this unbearable agony!

Ah! A scream unlike any human's piercing scream escaped Yang Fan's lips. Even with his bones broken and tendons dislocated, Yang Fan couldn't withstand the indescribable pain and cried out in agony. It

was as if Yang Fan had experienced another cycle of reincarnation; countless thoughts were forcibly blasted into his brain. Even with his eyes closed, those images remained crystal clear.

Before he could even process the information just imprinted in his brain, Yang Fan saw the enormous skeleton before him radiating golden light. The massive body seemed to weather away, slowly turning into dust. But instead of falling to the ground, the golden dust swarmed towards Yang Fan.

Before he could even react, he was enveloped by the golden dust. Then, Yang Fan felt as if he were being bitten by thousands of ants; his body was filled with excruciating pain, and he had absolutely no strength left.

Yang Fan, who could previously feel no pain or tingling sensations—his powerful body seemingly impervious to fire, water, poison, and blades—was utterly powerless before this dust that could be scattered by a gentle breeze.

His brain spun, his body swayed, and Yang Fan lost consciousness!

After losing consciousness, Yang Fan's entire body was surrounded by the golden dust formed from the golden skeleton. This golden dust relentlessly burrowed into his body, attaching itself to every bone in his body. As the golden dust entered, Yang Fan's body gradually emitted a faint golden light, and his originally deep red bones were slowly replaced by a golden hue...

The golden dust continued to penetrate into Yang Fan's body, and his body began to undulate and writhe. After an unknown amount of time, the golden dust that had enveloped his entire body finally completely entered Yang Fan's body, and his writhing body calmed down.

Although his body stopped writhing and the golden dust completely disappeared, Yang Fan did not wake up. At this moment, his mind was experiencing a series of earth-shattering battles.

In the battlefield, a tall man wielding a staff charged forward relentlessly. Before him, layers of sky appeared, and the tall man fought his way through. Beneath his feet, rivers of blood flowed, and mountains of corpses piled up!

The world before him had thirty-three layers! In each layer of heaven and earth, there were countless armies clad in armor and wielding weapons. These massive armies, whose sheer combined power could obliterate Yang Fan, were nothing more than ants in the tall man's eyes. He fought his way up, all the way to the thirty-third layer of heaven.

Finally, he encountered a powerful opponent! His opponent, also clad in armor, held a delicate little tower in one hand and a strange mirror in the other!

The mirror was neither gold nor jade; its back was engraved with strange, tadpole-like characters and images of dragons, birds, and clouds. It appeared raised, yet felt smooth to the touch, neither carved nor painted, but deeply ingrained. At first glance, the front emitted a hazy, bluish light. But the closer one looked, the farther away it seemed. Within, a shower of flowers, patches of golden light, wind, clouds, water, and fire all materialized within the golden light, constantly shifting and changing endlessly.

Next, the two engaged in a fierce battle to the death. The ferocity of the battle was almost indescribable; mountains and rivers shattered, and the thirty-three heavens were completely dispersed. In the end, the man wielding the staff killed his opponent, but the opponent, in his dying moments, used a mirror to completely obliterate him…

“So, the owner of this skeleton is called Maudgalyayana! Truly one of the ten great disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni.” Slowly waking up, Yang Fan did not get up. He was still shocked by the life-or-death battle he had just “witnessed”!

Shakyamuni had countless disciples, among whom ten were the most famous, known as the Ten Great Disciples. They were: Sariputra, known as the foremost in wisdom; Maudgalyayana, known as the foremost in supernatural powers; Maudgalyayana, known as the foremost in asceticism; Aniruddha, known as the foremost in divine vision; Subhuti, known as the foremost in understanding emptiness; Purna, known as the foremost in preaching; Katyayana, known as the foremost in debate; Upali, known as the foremost in upholding the precepts; Rahula, known as the foremost in secret practice; and Ananda, known as the foremost in learning.

Among them, Mahakasyapa was also known as the foremost in spiritual practice, being the first patriarch of the Zen school. Maudgalyayana, whose original name was Kolita Buddha, was one of the Buddha's ten great disciples and was known as "foremost in supernatural powers." Maudgalyayana propagated Buddhism, incurring the jealousy of heretics. During a missionary journey, he was assassinated by a naked ascetic, becoming the first person in Buddhist history to shed blood for the spread of Buddhism. It was unexpected that he would appear here! Needless to

say, the scene he had just witnessed was Maudgalyayana's battle with the naked ascetic, and also the scene of his demise. While shocked by the other party's identity, Yang Fan was also deeply shaken by the scene he saw.

It completely exceeded his imagination. He wondered what kind of cultivation level was required to reach that realm? Even a random soldier drawn from the Thirty-Three Heavens possessed the aura of a Void Returning Realm expert! This was the real reason for Yang Fan's shock! A

Void Returning Realm expert could only be an ordinary soldier! What level of cultivation did Maudgalyayana, who had slain hundreds of thousands, even millions, of Void Returning Realm soldiers, possess? And what level of cultivation did his opponent, who ultimately perished alongside him, possess?

Yang Fan realized that he had previously been like a frog in a well, completely unaware of the vastness of the world and the immensity of heaven and earth! He had thought that the severed hand he now wielded would make him invincible, but in the war he had just experienced, he was not even qualified to be cannon fodder!

Never before had Yang Fan been so shocked, never before had he so desperately craved strength! Only by being like Maudgalyayana, slaughtering all in his path, single-handedly shattering an army of millions of Void Returning Realm experts! Only with a casual axe stroke could mountains and rivers be shattered, and even a glance could instantly kill thousands of Void Returning Realm experts! Only then could one be considered a true master! Only then could one be considered a true god of war!

But despite being in a state of shock, Yang Fan was not discouraged in the slightest, nor was he terrified by this earth-shattering war. On the contrary, it ignited his motivation to cultivate, giving him a new goal!

Chapter 424 [Return to the Void Realm]

"How could this be?"

The sudden turn of events shocked the people from the various holy lands once again. By the time they reacted, the skeleton of the Primordial Chaos Realm expert had already transformed into specks of golden light and entered Yang Fan's body!

"Transformation into the Dao? How could this be? How could he suddenly transform into the Dao?"

Transformation into the Dao is an extremely extreme method in martial arts, similar to Nirvana, both involving transforming the physical body into the Great Dao and completely disappearing into nothingness.

However, very few people choose to transform into the Dao. Transformation into the Dao means death and the annihilation of the Dao; once transformed, nothing remains. Without transforming into the Dao, there is a possibility of reincarnation or retaining a trace of consciousness to survive in another way.

Cultivators, while not concerned with life and death, would choose to transform into the Dao if there were even a glimmer of hope? Who would willingly disappear completely? Transformation into the Dao requires great courage, perseverance, and wisdom! It also requires a fearless spirit.

Let alone ordinary martial artists, throughout history, very few known individuals have chosen the Path of Transformation. Yet now, this high-ranking Buddhist monk, who once refused, has chosen this irreversible path. Even more unbelievable is that his choice isn't for himself, but to help Yang Fan!

Indeed, it is to help. He pours all his power of Transformation into Yang Fan's body, cleansing Yang Fan's flesh, bones, meridians, cells… even the smallest particle is purified by this power.

During this cleansing process, while Yang Fan's cultivation and combat strength remain unchanged, his physical and mental realms are greatly enhanced. The change in his mental strength, in particular, will save him countless troubles and detours in his future cultivation!

It should be noted that his inability to comprehend the Returning to Emptiness Realm was not due to insufficient accumulation; on the contrary, his own accumulation is enough to allow dozens of people to break through to the Returning to Emptiness Realm. The reason he hadn't broken through was because his spiritual realm wasn't high enough, and his understanding of the Void Returning Realm was insufficient.

But now, cleansed by this Dao Transformation Power, he immediately gained a clear understanding of the Void Returning Realm. Not only that, he even had a slight comprehension of the Primordial Chaos Realm. It seemed that as long as he cultivated to the peak of the Void Returning Realm, he could easily step into the Primordial Chaos Realm.

Of course, the Primordial Chaos Realm was a truly heaven-defying realm, a realm of enslaving the Great Dao, and not so easy to break through. Even if the Maudgalyayana monk poured all his cultivation into his body, without his own enlightenment, he couldn't truly enter the Primordial Chaos Realm; at most, he would only reach the peak of the Void Returning Realm, like the Blood Lotus Demon.

But even so, the cleansing effect of the Dao Transformation Power undoubtedly greatly enhanced his cultivation path, laying an extremely solid foundation for his future advancement into the Primordial Chaos Realm. Not to mention the mere Void Returning Realm—almost the instant the Dao Transformation Power rushed into his body, he had already rushed from the peak of the Divine Refinement Realm to the Void Returning Realm!

The so-called "Returning to Emptiness" is returning to one's original state, transforming tangible spiritual consciousness from a physical form back into an intangible one, and communicating with the heavens and earth, and the void, to comprehend the mysteries of spatial power.

Boom! Almost the instant Yang Fan's cultivation broke through to the Refining Spirit realm and entered the Primordial Chaos realm, a powerful spatial force surged forth from his body, not only permeating his entire being but also completely distorting the surrounding void.

Yang Fan already possessed a vast amount of spatial power hidden within him, some from when the Five Elements Pearl underwent tribulation and became a magical artifact, and others absorbed from within the Heavenly Heart Divine Bell. This spatial power had always remained hidden, unusable. But now, with his breakthrough to the Returning to Emptiness realm and his comprehension of spatial power, this previously hidden spatial power was instantly activated, becoming active and merging with Yang Fan's newly comprehended spatial power. Not only was it completely at his disposal, but it also instantly amplified the spatial power within Yang Fan to an unbelievable degree!

Originally, ordinary martial artists who broke through from the Refining Spirit Realm to the Returning Void Realm couldn't comprehend spatial power at all. Only by constantly solidifying their realm and cultivating relentlessly could they possibly comprehend a trace of spatial power. Only those with extraordinary talent and heaven-defying cultivation could comprehend spatial power at the moment of breaking through to the Returning Void Realm, but even then, it was only a trace of spatial power, completely unusable.

But Yang Fan? Not only did he comprehend spatial power at the same time as breaking through to the Returning Void Realm, but he also completely activated the spatial power within his body, instantly reaching its peak. Now, in terms of spatial power within a single entity, Yang Fan is no weaker than those veteran Returning Void Realm experts, only he is not very familiar with controlling it.

"So that's how it is, so that's how the Returning Void Realm is!"

Feeling the abundant spatial power within his body, Yang Fan felt an indescribable comfort throughout his body. It was as if every pore on his body could breathe. The boundless power was omnipresent, as if he could move mountains and fill seas, change the world, and be omnipotent with a wave of his hand.

Moreover, Yang Fan discovered that after breaking through to the Void Returning Realm, the true energy within his body was no longer true energy, but had transformed into a completely new form of energy. This was the unique manifestation of spatial power!

In a sense, at this moment, he was no longer a person. Under the influence of this spatial power, his body had begun to transcend the human realm. Every tiny cell, altered by this power, possessed a spatial characteristic, as if each tiny cell was a completely new world, a new realm. As

the Buddhist saying goes, "One flower, one world; one blade of grass, one paradise," Yang Fan had the illusion that his physical body was countless worlds, and every single cell within him was a new space. It seemed he was the unique and sole master of this world!

At this moment, Yang Fan finally understood why experts at the Primordial Chaos Realm could independently create a new world. Because experts at the Primordial Chaos Realm were themselves a new world, an independent space. Every organ, every cell in their bodies was a new world. Therefore, creating a new space was incredibly easy for them!

Experts at the Returning Void Realm, however, could not create even a small world. Because their physical bodies haven't yet been truly transformed into a completely new world by the power of space, they naturally cannot create a new world.

Only through continuous cultivation, tempering themselves with the power of space, and when the power of space becomes strong enough to transform into the laws of space, can they create a small world. This is also the time when they break through to the Void Returning Realm and reach the Primordial Chaos Realm. In other words, the Void Returning Realm is also a process of accumulation, a process of accumulating sufficient spatial power!

However, even if a Void Returning Realm expert cannot create a completely new world, they are still far superior to ordinary people. In this era where the Primordial Chaos Realm is absent, the Void Returning Realm is absolutely invincible!

Because they can completely distort space, instantly appearing in another space from one spatial point. Even if they are no match for their opponent, they can still traverse space. For them, distance has become irrelevant, and taking an enemy's head from a thousand miles away is an extremely simple matter.

Moreover, the Void Returning Realm expert's primordial spirit has already formed a connection with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth; even if their physical body is destroyed, they will not die completely. Under certain special circumstances, they are highly likely to be reborn.

Yang Fan deeply understands this. At the moment of his breakthrough, he vaguely sensed that his primordial spirit imprint seemed to have merged with the entire world, leaving his shadow in the long river of fate. It seemed that as long as heaven and earth did not perish and the Great Dao did not crumble, he would not die completely.

Never before had Yang Fan been so confident, and never before had he had such a clear grasp on his destiny. He also had a clear goal for his future path, knowing what to do next, how to do it, and what he had to do!

Advancing to the Void Returning Realm, he seemed to have absolute control over his destiny. It seemed that only at this moment was his destiny truly in his own hands. From now on, my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens; no one can control my destiny anymore!

"The Returning to the Void Realm? He fused with the body of a Primordial Chaos expert? How could this be? That skeleton had long since perished, how could it suddenly come back to life and spontaneously transform into the Dao, fulfilling Yang Fan's wish? Is he truly favored by Heaven? How could this be?"

Just as Yang Fan broke through to the Returning to the Void Realm, the people from the various holy lands also awoke from their shock at the Primordial Chaos expert's transformation into the Dao. Seeing that Yang Fan, under the influence of the opponent's Dao transformation power, had actually successfully broken through to the Refining Spirit Realm, surpassing them and reaching the Returning to the Void Realm, they were all stunned and speechless for a long time.

They knew that Yang Fan before his breakthrough was already beyond their capabilities; now, after his breakthrough, he was even more terrifying. Originally, when they saw Yang Fan being drawn away by the Primordial Chaos expert's skeleton, they thought Yang Fan would follow in the footsteps of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion group. Who would have thought that not only did he not follow suit, but he had actually encountered such a tremendous opportunity!

The Void Returning Realm! This is a realm countless martial artists dream of, a realm where countless geniuses are stuck for their entire lives, never to come closer. Even among these holy sons and daughters, many are trapped below the Void Returning Realm, unable to enter despite having the door.

Now, Yang Fan, who was originally on the same starting line as them, has taken that step ahead of all of them, making them uneasy. Originally

, while Yang Fan's combat strength surpassed theirs, who among them didn't have a backup plan? Who didn't have a trump card? They all firmly believed that once they revealed their trump cards, even if they couldn't defeat Yang Fan, they could at least achieve a draw. And as long as they broke through to the Void Returning Realm first, crushing Yang Fan under their feet would be no difficult task.

But now? They hadn't even broken through, yet Yang Fan had already done so. The distance between them hadn't narrowed, but had widened even further. How could they, with their pride and arrogance, accept this?

"We can't let him continue to grow stronger. Otherwise, we'll all be crushed by him in the future, unable to even breathe. As long as he's around, we'll have no chance to rise!"

In that instant, the same thought flashed through the minds of all the holy sons and daughters. A murderous intent flickered within them!

"Hmm?"

Just as this thought crossed the minds of the holy sons and daughters, a sudden alarm bell rang in Yang Fan's heart, as if someone was plotting against him in the shadows.

This feeling appeared abruptly and strangely, but once it arose, it seemed to take root in his heart, refusing to dissipate. A strange panic rose within him.

This would never have happened before, but now it had suddenly appeared. However, Yang Fan didn't think it was an illusion, but rather an innate instinct of a martial artist, a strong person's advance perception of unknown dangers!

Indeed, it was an innate instinct. When a martial artist's cultivation reaches a certain level, they will be able to perceive unknown dangers, future events, and things that are about to happen in advance. These things aren't necessarily dangerous; they could be other things, like fortuitous encounters or preordained events. Regardless of the type, they all constitute foresight.

Previously, Yang Fan didn't possess this ability, but after breaking through to the Void Returning Realm, his primordial spirit established a connection with the heavens and earth, grasping a sliver of the Heavenly Dao and controlling a sliver of his own destiny. Naturally, he gained a slight ability to foresee his fate.

This ability to foresee is arguably a hallmark of the Void Returning Realm. Only those at the Void Returning Realm possess this ability to anticipate future events. Those below the Void Returning Realm, no matter how strong, cannot possess such an ability.

Legend has it that those at the Primordial Chaos Realm can even see their past and future lives, their own destiny, and the destinies of others. They can even pierce the heavenly secrets and see through the Great Dao.

However, Yang Fan is currently far from being able to pierce the heavenly secrets or see past and future lives. Yet, this sudden sense of unease made him secretly vigilant.

In fact, even without this warning sign, he wouldn't have let his guard down. He knew he could devour the entire body of a Primordial Chaos expert, while this skeleton was something all the major holy lands coveted. This Primordial Chaos expert's body, the ultimate target of all the holy lands, was now in his hands. If he were in that situation, he probably wouldn't have let it go easily either.

Yang Fan knew that the real battle was about to begin!

Chapter 425 [Not One Will Escape]

"Whoosh!"

Two sharp gazes, as if piercing the sky and seeing through the Great Dao, shot from Yang Fan's eyes, instantly sweeping over the people from the various holy lands. They involuntarily took a step back, and their hair stood on end.

A glance from Yang Fan sent a chill down their spines, and they felt a sense of impending doom, as if they were being watched by a venomous wolf. Despite being surrounded by people, protected by their own guardians, and possessing formidable resources, they felt utterly insecure.

It was as if they were facing not Yang Fan, but the invincible, powerful, and almost otherworldly Hunyuan expert, a Buddhist luminary. At this moment, Yang Fan gave them almost the same feeling as the resurrected skeleton they had encountered before!

"Congratulations, Brother Yang! To have such a tremendous opportunity to gain the favor of this Hunyuan senior is truly enviable!"

Just as Yang Fan's gaze swept over them, Ouyang Yu spoke up. Though he tried his best to remain calm, the panic in his expression betrayed him.

Before Yang Fan could speak, he continued, "However, Brother Yang, we have another request. We hope you can grant it. At that time, all the holy lands, including my Zhiyu Palace, will regard you as a benefactor and an honored guest!"

"Oh? Is that so? Brother Ouyang, you're not referring to the secret of that Primordial Chaos Bone, are you? But that bone has already disappeared. Even if I wanted to help you, I'm powerless!"

Yang Fan chuckled.

"Uh..."

Ouyang Yu was stunned. He had expected Yang Fan wouldn't easily let him get what he wanted, but he never imagined Yang Fan would renege! What do you mean by disappeared? So many people watched that bone merge into your body, and you say it's disappeared? If it weren't for Yang Fan's strength, they would have already seized it!

The reason they haven't acted yet is because they don't have absolute certainty. Ouyang Yu has been weighing the options, trying to figure out how to maximize his gains. Undoubtedly, even in Yang Fan's current state, they wouldn't be without a chance if they all attacked together. The problem is, they aren't of one mind; each has their own calculations.

Furthermore, Yang Fan isn't someone to be trifled with. During the struggle, many will inevitably perish at his hands. No one is willing to sacrifice themselves in vain, and no one will be the first to step forward unless absolutely necessary.

Ouyang Yu originally planned to appease Yang Fan first, then immediately return to his sect to contact the sect's experts. Even if Yang Fan had three heads and six arms, he was absolutely confident he could capture him. After all, while Void Returning Realm experts couldn't enter this area, it didn't mean Zhiyu Palace didn't have Void Returning Realm experts.

However, he never expected Yang Fan to be so unyielding. Moreover, with Ouyang Yu's intelligence, how could he not see that Yang Fan now harbored murderous intent towards them!

Even if he couldn't see it, Ouyang Yu knew that if he were in Ouyang Yu's shoes, he would never allow such a secret to be revealed. He would do everything in his power to hide it, because the remains of a Primordial Chaos expert were far too tempting, enough to drive anyone mad. Especially in an era where Primordial Chaos experts were no longer appearing, the various holy lands needed this body even more to study the secrets of awakening Primordial Chaos experts within their holy lands!

"Brother Yang, we're all smart people, so let's not beat around the bush, shall we? Brother Yang, are you planning to keep us all here to keep your secret?"

Having figured out the key point, Ouyang Yu simply asked directly.

Without speaking, Yang Fan scanned the people from the various holy lands one by one, and indeed saw that their faces all showed a death wish.

Clearly, Ouyang Yu's words had once again united the people from the various holy lands, making them united against him.

It must be said that Ouyang Yu was indeed a flawed schemer and politician; such a person could thrive anywhere. However, Yang Fan ignored these petty maneuvers. His gaze swept around, finally settling on Ouyang Yu's face before he spoke haltingly, "That's right, I, Yang Fan, am not some gentleman who believes in repaying kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge. Nor am I a saint; if someone slaps you and then gives you a treat, you'll forget who you are!"

"Everyone must pay the price for their actions. Since we've laid this out, let me tell you, anyone who has schemed against me, Yang Fan, will not leave here today!"

"Hmph, who do you think you are? How dare a petty person like you speak to my young master like that?"

one of Ouyang Yu's companions suddenly shouted. This man was one of Ouyang Yu's bodyguards, arguably his most loyal assassin. Hearing Yang Fan so blatantly disregard Ouyang Yu, as a servant, he naturally had to speak up for his master.

"Hmph, what am I?"

Facing the man's questioning, Yang Fan sneered. Without making a move, he merely glanced at the man, and Ouyang Yu's bodyguard was suddenly lifted into the air by an invisible force, like an eagle snatching a chick. The peak-level Refinement Spirit expert was utterly powerless to resist!

"No!"

Only then did Ouyang Yu react. Not only him, but the people from Zhiyu Palace also reacted, with several even attacking simultaneously—some to save the man, others directly attacking Yang Fan.

"How dare you!"

"Release Elder Sun immediately, or you'll regret it!"

"Kill! Destroy this arrogant brat!"

"..."

"No!"

Seeing his subordinates directly attacking Yang Fan, Ouyang Yu panicked, wanting to intervene, but it was too late!

"Bang!"

Almost at the same moment the group from Zhiyu Palace made their move, the massive body of the person who had been caught in mid-air suddenly exploded like a balloon.

Flesh and blood flew everywhere, broken bones scattered, and the entire ancient temple was instantly filled with a thick, pungent stench of blood. This stench was different from the one emanating from the Blood Lotus Demon. The Blood Lotus Demon's stench was repulsive and offensive, but this stench was raw, violent, and visually overwhelming, creating immense psychological pressure.

Of course, this was secondary. The most important thing was Yang Fan's mysterious method of killing a peak-level Refinement God expert with just a glance, without even moving. This almost impossible feat suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes, shocking them and creating unimaginable visual and psychological pressure.

"Go!"

At the same time, the few people who had attacked Yang Fan also encountered trouble. With a casual flick of his wrist, Yang Fan caused the several Zhiyu Palace experts who had just flown into the air to suddenly stop, frozen in mid-air just like the previous one.

Then, with a shout from Yang Fan, they were sent hurtling backward like kites with broken strings, crashing into the ancient temple walls with a series of loud thuds. Once on the ground, they never rose again.

"Ah! Yang Fan, Zhiyu Palace will fight you to the death! Fellow martial artists, do you really intend to surrender? You were just joining the attack on him; if you don't act now, you'll be picked off one by one!"

In the blink of an eye, Zhiyu Palace had lost five or six experts. This blow drove Ouyang Yu to the brink of madness. He knew that if he didn't act now, he would be utterly worthless and utterly disgraced in the eyes of his subordinates. Therefore, no matter how much Ouyang Yu didn't want to confront Yang Fan, and no matter how much he wanted to run away,

he had no choice but to bite the bullet and make a move! However, Ouyang Yu was indeed a top expert among the holy sons of the various holy lands. His move was far superior to that of the few disciples of Zhiyu Palace. His aura alone suppressed the aura of everyone else.

"Yang Fan, don't think you're invincible just because you've broken through to the Void Returning Realm! Today, I'll show you what the true Void Returning Realm is all about. Zhiyu Divine Seal, unseal!"

With Ouyang Yu's cold shout, an extremely powerful spatial force suddenly emanated from his body. Centered on him, the entire void around him formed a massive black hole. From within the black hole, countless strands of immense spatial force emanated, expanding the black hole larger and larger. Although this spatial force was far inferior to the spatial force contained within Yang Fan, it was still far beyond the reach of ordinary Void Returning Realm experts.

"I didn't expect you, Ouyang, to have hidden yourself so deeply, actually sealing your cultivation? You haven't fully revealed it all this time. It seems Zhiyu Palace has gone to great lengths to suppress your cultivation, even distorting the rules here? But so what if you've broken through to the Returning Void Realm? Don't even mention you; even if your master came, I'd kill him without hesitation!"

Sensing the increasingly powerful aura within Ouyang Yu, Yang Fan immediately guessed that Ouyang Yu must have used some secret method to conceal his true strength and cultivation, deceiving everyone and distorting the rules here.

This matter, while seemingly unbelievable, becomes understandable when considering that Ouyang Yu is backed by the entire Zhiyu Palace, a great holy land. After all, as the ruler of an old holy land, Zhiyu Palace must have some unknown secrets. Of course, even so, the price Zhiyu Palace will likely pay will be considerable, since what they are trying to conceal is a peak-level Hunyuan expert.

"Hmph, to suppress your cultivation, to deceive everyone, how much heavy price have you, my master, and even the entire Zhiyu Palace, paid? I thought this trip wouldn't require lifting the seal, but Yang Fan, it's you! It's all because of you that I've lost all hope of reaching the Mixed Yuan realm for life! Therefore, you must pay the price!"

"Boom!"

When the black hole around Ouyang Yu expanded to a certain extent, it suddenly contracted, and his powerful aura also suddenly receded. However, in that instant of expansion and contraction, the aura Yang Fan had previously released was torn open, revealing a flaw.

"Kill!"

Those present were all elite disciples from various holy lands. Knowing that opportunities are fleeting, they wouldn't easily give up such a golden chance. The moment Yang Fan revealed his weakness, the people from various holy lands moved simultaneously. Moreover, among them, there were many with the aura of the Returning Void realm, clearly indicating that some from other holy lands, like Ouyang Yu, had suppressed their cultivation to below the Returning Void realm, only to unleash their full power at this moment!

Moreover, this time, unlike before, the various holy lands were no longer holding back. They directly used magical artifacts, and even had experts at the Void Returning Realm activating them, making them significantly more powerful than before.

"Hmph, you asked for this!"

Seeing the various holy lands launching attacks on him one after another, Yang Fan's expression remained unchanged, but his demeanor grew increasingly cold. At the same time, for the first time since his breakthrough in cultivation, he made his move!

"Whoosh!"

Almost instantly, he arrived in front of the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect members. Long Junsheng had ruined his plans time and time again, and now that he had encountered such a golden opportunity, how could he let them go again? Therefore, his first move was a decisive one!

Invisible sword energy overflowed from his fingertips, forming a huge sword net in the void. The sword net descended from the sky, covering the entire sky and enveloping the members of the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect, determined to wipe them out in one fell swoop!

"Not good!"

Long Junsheng had been on guard against Yang Fan. Although the various holy lands had joined forces to attack Yang Fan, his Yin-Yang Union Sect group had been at the back, primarily focused on defense.

In fact, this was precisely what saved their lives; otherwise, with Yang Fan's current speed, they wouldn't have had time to react and defend.

The Yin-Yang Union Bell instantly enlarged, resembling a giant bell, hovering above the heads of the Yin-Yang Union Sect group, perfectly blocking all of Yang Fan's sword energy.

"Hmph, do you think you can be safe with this Yin-Yang Union Bell? The person I, Yang Fan, want to kill, even a god couldn't save him! Vajra Diamond Seal, break!"

Despite the blocked sword energy, Yang Fan remained unfazed. With a flick of his hand, the Immovable King Seal instantly formed, and a giant Vajra Diamond suddenly appeared above the Yin-Yang Union Sect group, crashing directly into the shadow of the Yin-Yang Union Bell.

Yang Fan's cultivation level is now far beyond what it used to be, and the power of the Immovable King Seal has naturally increased along with his cultivation, making it easier to use.

"Dong!"

The bells collided, producing a loud chime that seemed to tremble throughout the entire ancient temple. Tiny cracks appeared on the surface of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell, as if it would shatter. All the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect members who had activated the bell turned pale simultaneously, and some with lower cultivation levels coughed up blood!

"Shatter!"

Having succeeded with his first strike, Yang Fan showed no mercy, striking down with another palm. This palm, like a mountain pressing down, felt irresistible, and with his cold and ruthless expression, it slammed into the surface of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell…

Chapter 426 [Bloodstained Clearance]

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

"Bang!"

One palm, cracks appeared; two palms, the bell stopped ringing; three palms, the bell shattered! Three strikes were delivered almost instantly. Throughout the entire process, all the onlookers saw was a massive, solitary drill slamming into the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. Then, Yang Fan unleashed a palm strike, and this super magical artifact, a replica of a divine artifact

from the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, shattered completely! Yes, completely shattered. Unlike the Heavenly Heart Bell, which only shattered a phantom and had the potential to reassemble, the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell shattered by Yang Fan had no chance of reforming. Even a Primordial Chaos expert couldn't completely repair it, because in the process, Yang Fan had completely destroyed the spatial power within the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell and killed its artifact spirit!

Spatial power is the foundation of a magical artifact, and the artifact spirit is its core; both are indispensable. Now, both had been destroyed by Yang Fan, meaning this magical artifact was utterly destroyed!

"Pfft!"

The Yin-Yang Hehuan Bell shattered. Long Junsheng, one of the main controllers of the magical artifact, was the first to be hit, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He stared at Yang Fan in disbelief, clearly still unable to comprehend how Yang Fan had managed to destroy the Yin-Yang Hehuan Bell. How could this magical artifact be destroyed so easily?

This Yin-Yang Hehuan Bell was a replica of a divine artifact! Even a peak Void Returning expert, let alone a mere novice like Yang Fan, couldn't destroy it. For countless years, the Yin-Yang Hehuan Sect had fought countless battles, and this replica of the divine artifact had contributed countless merits and caused the deaths of countless Void Returning experts. It could even

be said that this replica of the divine artifact was the most powerful magical artifact in the Yin-Yang Hehuan Sect, second only to the divine artifact itself, and had always been controlled by the sect leader. This replica of the divine artifact was a symbol of the Yin-Yang Hehuan Sect leader's status and power!

Whoever possessed this magical artifact possessed the Yin-Yang Hehuan Sect. Back then, Long Junsheng had poured countless hours of sweat, effort, and sacrifice into obtaining this magical artifact. But now, this crucial token that had propelled him to the position of sect leader of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect was rendered useless!

As a result, his path to the throne would be fraught with difficulties compared to before, and his rivals would certainly not let this opportunity pass, using it to impeach him.

Putting that aside, just losing this magical artifact would severely damage Long Junsheng's strength, turning his advantage into a disadvantage. Of course, the most serious point is that without the protection of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell, Long Junsheng and his group are completely exposed to Yang Fan like a flock of lambs...

Yang Fan is no benevolent person, and he will not hold back. He has long been determined to kill Long Junsheng and his group. Now that he has broken through their last barrier, why would he hold back?

"Die!"

With a change of hand, a Buddhist seal instantly condensed, and the Great Wheel Vajra Seal instantly took shape. A golden giant wheel, like a celestial wheel, appeared above Long Junsheng and his companions, seemingly about to crush them into reincarnation. Even before the giant wheel reached them, the hairs on Long Junsheng and his companions stood on end.

"No!"

In the face of life-or-death crisis, Long Junsheng unleashed an extraordinary power. He roared, "Yin Yang Wuji, Yin Yang Reversal, All Things Return to One, Chaos Attacks! Yin Yang Reversal*, break!"

Two completely different colored streams of energy, one black and one white, suddenly surged from Long Junsheng's body, instantly turning him into a strange figure with one black and one white skin. However, as his skin changed, his aura also grew stronger and stronger. When the black and white colors were fully formed, his aura was comparable to that of a Void Returning stage expert!

Clearly, this Yin Yang Reversal* was an extremely wondrous technique that could instantly increase a person's cultivation level several times over. Regardless of whether this technique had any side effects, it was undoubtedly a powerful method for fighting to the death.

Seeing Long Junsheng use the Yin Yang Reversal*, the group from the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect behind him all paled, but then, their faces also revealed expressions of resignation to death, and at the same time, they too activated their Yin Yang Reversal*!

For a moment, a very strange scene unfolded throughout the entire territory of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect: a group of Yin-Yang people, one black and one white, suddenly appeared. Each of these people had black and white energy surging around them, like volcanoes, and the aura they unleashed was no weaker than the full power of a magical artifact.

"A mere grain of rice dares to shine? Defying the heavens? Is the heavens so easily defied? Without the corresponding strength, how can you talk about defying the heavens? I think you're simply courting death! Heavenly Cycle, Great Wheel Vajra, today, I will represent the heavens to punish you!"

Rumble! Accompanied by Yang Fan's voice, the Heavenly Wheel turned, and the Vajra pressed down. At this moment, a muffled sound seemed to echo in the sky, as if the entire world was being brought down by Yang Fan's golden wheel!

"Ah!"

Although Long Junsheng and his group tried their best to resist, they were powerless against the oppressive power of the Heavenly Wheel. Under the merciless crushing of the Vajra Seal of the Great Wheel, the disciples of the Yin-Yang Joyful Union Sect instantly followed in the footsteps of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion group, turning into a pool of blood...

Not satisfied with killing the Yin-Yang Joyful Union Sect group in one move, Yang Fan appeared before the Moon Sound Sect group almost simultaneously with the Heavenly Wheel's crushing of them.

These Moon Sound Sect disciples, like those of the Hundred Flowers Sect, were all women, each a stunning beauty. While the Moon Sound Sect's Holy Son couldn't compare to Nalan Qingcheng in looks, she was still a rare beauty. Especially striking was her long black dress, snow-white skin, and tall figure; she resembled a peerless elf in the darkness, exuding a fatal allure.

However, Yang Fan showed no mercy whatsoever. With a flick of his wrist, the Great Wheel Vajra Seal slashed down, his ruthless gaze revealing his capacity for cruelty.

"Clang!"

The Moon Sound Sect members, though women, were not easily swayed by jealousy. Seeing Yang Fan approaching, they unleashed their Moon Sound Demon Zither without hesitation, attempting to resist him.

However, the Moon Sound Demon Zither was at best a magical artifact comparable to the Yin-Yang Union Bell. If the Yin-Yang Union Bell could only withstand three of Yang Fan's blows, how much stronger could the Moon Sound Demon Zither be? The result was obvious: the zither shattered, the people perished. In the blink of an eye, only a pile of mangled flesh remained where the Moon Sound Sect had been; nothing else was left… Not

satisfied with slaying the successors of the Yin-Yang Union Sect and the Moon Sound Sect, two great holy lands, Yang Fan immediately turned his attention to the Lingbao Qinxin Sect group. Although the Lingbao Qinxin Sect was highly respected in the various holy lands for its elixirs, Yang Fan didn't care. He wouldn't even stop after the group of women from the Yueyin Sect, let alone these alchemists!

Therefore, the Lingbao Qinxin Sect could only let the tragedy continue...

In the blink of an eye, apart from the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Pure Yang Sect, which stood by Yang Fan's side, his only enemies were the Zhiyu Palace where Ouyang Yu was, the Xiaoyao Sect where Xiaoyao Wuhen was, the Qingxiao Dao Sect where Leng Wuqing was, and the group of black-clad, masked Youming Shigui Sect members.

These four forces were powerful either because their magical artifacts were incredibly strong or because they all had Void Returning Realm experts in their ranks!

The same magical artifact was a completely different concept in the hands of a Spirit Refining Realm expert versus a Void Returning Realm expert. The power they unleashed was also incomparable. Yang Fan could easily kill a Refining Spirit Realm expert wielding a magic weapon, moving in and out of his grasp as if he were in a human's shoes. But if the magic weapon fell into the hands of a Returning Void Realm expert, the situation would be very different.

The reason he chose to deal with Long Junsheng and his group from the beginning was not because they were all like Long Junsheng, repeatedly causing him trouble. The most important reason was that he knew he was about to face a fierce battle. And the key figure in this fierce battle was the camp to which Ouyang Yu and his four allies belonged.

The combined strength of these four camps was no weaker than his own. If there were no external factors affecting the battle, the outcome would be uncertain. However, if the other side gained a group of helpers wielding magic weapons, it would be very disadvantageous for him. Therefore, Yang Fan had to completely eliminate these unfavorable factors before the real battle began. Only in this way could he confidently deal with the changes that were about to occur.

Even if these people didn't participate in his struggle against Ouyang Yu's group, if they joined forces to attack Nalan Qingcheng and her companions, it would inevitably distract him greatly. While Nalan Qingcheng and her group weren't as strong, they were far outnumbered. Given Ouyang Yu's shrewdness, how could he let such a golden opportunity pass?

Therefore, Yang Fan swiftly cleared the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect members from the field, intending to thwart Ouyang Yu's plans. Since things had already progressed this far, and his falling out with the various holy lands was inevitable, they wouldn't let him go whether he killed them or not, so what did he have to worry about?

In truth, it was Yang Fan's speed that was the problem. Coupled with his greatly improved cultivation and Ouyang Yu's group's full-force defense against him, they didn't expect him to suddenly launch an attack on the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect members. By the time they reacted, Yang Fan had already cleared most of the field; even if they wanted to stop him, it was too late!

"Brother Yang, I truly must admit my admiration. Such methods have truly impressed me!"

Smelling the thick stench of blood in the air, Ouyang Yu's face was grim. However, he was still quite shocked by Yang Fan's ruthless actions. Having wiped out several disciples of holy lands, Yang Fan remained unfazed, his composure unwavering. Whether he was genuinely unafraid or feigning calm, Ouyang Yu was ashamed of his own lack of composure.

"What's there to admire? If it were you, Ouyang Yu, you probably would have done even more thoroughly, wouldn't you?"

Seeing that Ouyang Yu wasn't launching a direct attack, Yang Fan stopped and began to recover. After all, the previous battle, though seemingly brief, had taken a toll on him. His targets all possessed magical artifacts!

"Indeed, if it were me, I would probably have done even more thoroughly than Brother Yang, leaving no hidden dangers!"

As he spoke, Ouyang Yu glanced intentionally or unintentionally at the location of Nalan Qingcheng and her group, his meaning clear.

As expected, Ouyang Yu noticed that while Nalan Qingcheng and Yang Feng seemed unaffected, many of the people from the Holy Land behind them were moved. After all, they had witnessed Yang Fan's ruthless actions earlier, and it wasn't impossible that he could silence them and eliminate their group.

"Ouyang Yu, stop trying to sow discord! Don't assume others are like you. You're not qualified to incite conflict between us. I, Yang Feng, know Brother Yang better than you do. Not only is this situation impossible, but even if it did, I, Yang Feng, would have no regrets!"

Nalan Qingcheng remained silent, but Yang Feng couldn't hold back any longer. Unlike Nalan Qingcheng, he didn't have absolute authority within the Hundred Flowers Sect. Several elders in his group held positions far above his own. If they were swayed by Ouyang Yu and developed a negative opinion of Yang Fan, it would be a serious problem.

Yang Feng was, after all, the Holy Son of the Pure Yang Sect. His words immediately silenced the restless Pure Yang Sect disciples behind him. Actually, it wasn't that they truly believed Yang Feng's words; it was just that having witnessed Yang Fan's methods, they didn't dare to easily attack him. At this moment, they could only place their hopes on Yang Feng.

Although Yang Fan didn't move, he observed the reactions of Yang Feng and his group. He noticed that apart from some disciples from the Pure Yang Sect and the Hundred Flowers Sect who showed some unease after hearing Ouyang Yu's words, everyone else—including Gu Feifei, Lin Feng, Qin Mengyao, and Wan Tiancheng—showed no reaction whatsoever, displaying absolute trust in him.

This greatly pleased Yang Fan. The reason he hadn't reacted immediately was to observe their reactions. And the result satisfied him greatly. As for the disciples from the Pure Yang Sect and the Hundred Flowers Sect, he hadn't even considered that they would trust him. As long as Yang Feng and the others believed in him, that was enough!

Turning his head, Yang Fan realized he had almost fully recovered, and said to Ouyang Yu, "Ouyang Yu, are you done? Put away your ridiculous schemes! Let's begin. Speaking of which, I really have to thank you. If you hadn't been so quick to use schemes, I wouldn't have had time to recover. Now, I'm ready, let's see who's truly capable!"

Whoosh!

Almost as soon as Yang Fan finished speaking, he moved again, like a shadow. He tore through the void and instantly appeared in front of Ouyang Yu, thrusting out a palm strike directly at Ouyang Yu's chest...

Chapter 427 [Wrong, Yet Right!]

This palm strike was unremarkable, devoid of any energy fluctuations, like a caress, like a gentle touch, lightly landing on Ouyang Yu!

However, the moment Ouyang Yu felt Yang Fan's palm, his expression changed drastically. He instantly condensed his aura to its peak, continuously channeling his spatial power into the void before him, forming one spatial rift after another.

In the blink of an eye, over a thousand spatial rifts appeared in front of Ouyang Yu. At this moment, the distance between him and Yang Fan seemed unchanged, but in reality, countless spaces had been separated.

This was the wondrous use of spatial power, and the biggest difference between the Refining Spirit Realm and the Returning Void Realm!

Spatial power, as the name suggests, refers to a force capable of controlling space. Spatial power can freely alter the rules of space; the more spatial power one masters, the more space one can control. Although Ouyang Yu had just broken the seal, the spatial power within him far exceeded that of an average Returning Void Realm expert. Therefore, with this move, he folded space, forming layers of spatial defense.

Folding space as a defense seems simple and easy to say, but it is extremely difficult to do. It not only requires a large amount of spatial power, but also precise control over space and a high degree of concentration of mental power. If any part of it goes wrong, it may lead to failure. Therefore, many experts at the Void Returning Realm cannot complete this spatial folding, but Ouyang Yu did it with ease, which shows how profound his cultivation and how superb his control over spatial power have reached.

"Spatial rifts? This might be useful against ordinary Void Returning Realm experts, but it has no effect on me!"

Yang Fan did not stop Ouyang Yu from using spatial rifts to block him, or perhaps he did not care at all. His palm seemed to pass through the void. When he touched the spatial rifts, his five fingers only rippled slightly before passing through the spatial rifts and his palm appeared in front of Ouyang Yu.

"How is this possible?"

Although he hadn't expected to stop Yang Fan this way, seeing his defenses so easily broken through, Ouyang Yu was still somewhat incredulous.

However, his reaction was quick. Just as Yang Fan's palm was about to touch him, a delicate pattern suddenly flew out from his chest. The pattern enlarged instantly, perfectly blocking Ouyang Yu's chest, and Yang Fan struck it with his palm.

"Bang!"

The thin paper seemed fragile, but Yang Fan's palm struck it without even causing a ripple. It was as if he had hit air, cotton, and hadn't harmed Ouyang Yu in the slightest.

Don't underestimate Yang Fan's palm strike. This seemingly ordinary strike contained almost 80% of Yang Fan's strength. He naturally wouldn't underestimate an enemy like Ouyang Yu, and in this strike, Yang Fan had also concealed the destructive characteristic of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, which could destroy anything. His aim was to kill with a single blow, but unexpectedly, it didn't achieve the desired result!

"As expected of a replica of the Goddess Painting, ranked third on the Divine Artifact Ranking, it's far superior to ordinary magical artifacts!"

After the failed attack, Yang Fan immediately recognized the painting on Ouyang Yu's chest as a replica of the Goddess Painting, the sect's treasured artifact of Zhiyu Palace. Moreover, after just one exchange, he knew that this magical artifact was far beyond the reach of ordinary artifacts; even ten Yin-Yang Harmony Bells wouldn't be a tenth as powerful as this one!

Just as there are varying strengths among Void Return Realm experts, the same applies to magical artifacts, even replicas of divine artifacts. This is because it involves not only the magnitude of spatial power and the strength of the artifact spirit, but also the materials chosen during forging, the skill level of the forger, and other comprehensive factors.

Based on these factors, magical artifacts of the same rank are divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower, with upper-grade and above, and fine-grade and above. Undoubtedly, the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell could only be considered a middle-grade magical artifact at best, while the Goddess Painting before him was undoubtedly a fine-grade magical artifact!

"Whoosh!"

Just as Yang Fan was stopped by the Goddess Diagram, a bright light, as if piercing the sky, split into two sword energies, one black and one white, like two shooting stars, slashing towards Yang Fan's back.

Danger struck suddenly, and Yang Fan, unable to continue his pursuit of Ouyang Yu, could only quickly turn around to meet the attack from behind. In his haste, Yang Fan didn't make any major movements; facing the sudden attack from behind, he pointed out with two fingers.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two soft, shattering sounds rang out as Yang Fan's two fingers struck into the void, colliding with the two sword energies, one black and one white.

However, his two fingers did not directly shatter the two sword energies. The two sword energies, impacted by the force of his fingers, only paused slightly, and then, surprisingly, they intertwined, forming a giant Tai Chi pattern, pressing down on Yang Fan from above.

Within the Tai Chi diagram, Yin and Yang energies circulated, erupting with the power of Yin and Yang. Compared to Long Junsheng's Yin and Yang energies, those within the Tai Chi diagram were purer and more refined. These two streams of energy seemed to represent more than just two energies; they symbolized a supreme existence—the Heavenly Dao!

The Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword—this time, Leng Wuhen of the Qingxiao Dao Sect also attacked Yang Fan. Moreover, the chosen timing was precisely when Yang Fan and Ouyang Yu were locked in a fierce battle, their old strength waning and new strength yet to emerge, and when Ouyang Yu's crisis was just beginning.

Whether viewed from the perspective of an ally or an enemy, Leng Wuhen's actions this time were perfectly timed, not only successfully resolving Ouyang Yu's crisis but also putting Yang Fan on the defensive!

"Heaven's Way is ruthless!"

Leng Wuhen, a Daoist from the Qingxiao Dao Sect, displayed none of the typical Daoist ruthlessness. His attacks were not only ruthless but also cold and indifferent, truly living up to his name, like a heartless swordsman.

"If the heart is filled with emotion, Heaven is also filled with emotion; if the heart is without emotion, all things are without emotion. Heaven's Way is fair; there is no such thing as emotion or indifference. If you insist that Heaven's Way is ruthless, you have already fallen short. Leng Wuhen, your achievements in this life will likely stop here. Today, I will show you what true swordsmanship is!"

Leng Wuhen's cultivation was by no means inferior to Ouyang Yu's. Facing his ruthless swordsmanship, Yang Fan dared not be careless in the slightest, especially since the weapon in his opponent's hand was a magical artifact no weaker than the Goddess Diagram—the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword!

With a clench of his five fingers, Yang Fan unleashed the five elements of energy, five streams of energy rapidly forming a five-colored giant sword in his hand. As soon as the giant sword appeared, Yang Fan thrust it towards the very center of the Tai Chi diagram!

This sword strike was like a celestial being descending from the heavens! No one could describe the power of this sword, no one could depict its speed, and no one could fathom its unpredictability. A flash of sword light, and the giant sword formed from the five elements of energy pierced the enormous Tai Chi diagram!

Time seemed to freeze in that instant; the giant sword striking the Tai Chi diagram seemed to halt the wheel of time, causing space to pause for a brief moment.

However, this was only for a fleeting moment. With Yang Fan's current strength, he was far from being able to truly control time. After a brief pause, a faint cracking sound broke the silence. Immediately afterward, cracks spread across the Tai Chi diagram like a spider web. In the blink of an eye, the entire massive Tai Chi diagram shattered completely with a deafening roar!

Of course, the moment the Tai Chi diagram shattered, the giant sword in Yang Fan's hand also ceased to function. Following the Tai Chi diagram, it transformed into specks of starlight and disappeared into the void…

From within the shattered Tai Chi diagram, a figure slowly emerged. This person was none other than Leng Wuqing, the Holy Son of the Qingxiao Dao Sect. At this moment, Leng Wuqing was holding a long sword. On the surface of the sword, black and white energies swirled continuously, emitting faint rays of light. From a distance, it looked like a constantly rotating Tai Chi diagram. This sword was a replica of the Heavenly Dao Yin-Yang Sword, the third-ranked divine artifact on the original divine artifact ranking list!

One man, one sword. In that instant, Leng Wuqing seemed to completely merge with the sword, even becoming one with the entire world. It was as if, in that moment, heaven and earth were reduced to nothing but him and his sword; they were the masters of the universe.

Yet, they also seemed so out of place, as if their existence disrupted the order of heaven and earth, breaking the cycle of reincarnation. These two completely different feelings simultaneously appearing in one person were so peculiar, so eerie!

"Your path has reversed!"

Any renowned martial artist would likely envy and be jealous of Leng Wuqing's current state, for he had clearly formed a connection with the Dao, entering a wondrous state. This state was undoubtedly the dream of many martial artists, where a single instant could be equivalent to years, even decades, of arduous cultivation.

But now, Yang Fan was saying that Leng Wuqing's path had reversed! If anyone else heard this, they would surely despise him. This was a classic case of sour grapes!

However, Leng Wuqing didn't object at all. On the contrary, he nodded firmly and said, "You're right. My master said the same thing to me five years ago. But in the path of martial arts, there is no right or wrong. Right is right, and wrong is still right. If one can't even shake one's own path of martial arts, then one is not worthy of being a martial artist!"

"So, regardless of right or wrong, I will continue on this path! Even if there is darkness ahead, I will not waver. My path, my heart, will never change! No one can control my path!"

"Even if there is darkness ahead, the heart of martial arts will not waver! Wrong is still right? Leng Wuqing, only now do I realize that you are someone of importance. That's right, in the path of martial arts, there is no right or wrong. The great paths are all the same. As long as you can reach the end, what does it matter if it's right or wrong? For nothing else but these words today, I will not kill you today. You can leave!"

Slightly stunned, Leng Wuqing did not expect that his words would cause Yang Fan's attitude to change. To be honest, for a moment, he did waver. After all, although he didn't want to admit it, Leng Wuqing had to admit that he was no match for Yang Fan now!

Facing him was a near-certain death, with almost no chance of survival. Now that there was a glimmer of hope, anyone would be tempted. However, Leng Wuqing only paused for a moment before quickly regaining his composure.

"Brother Yang's kindness is appreciated, but I, Leng Wuqing, am deeply grateful. If we weren't enemies, I would love to share a drink with you! Unfortunately, one wrong step leads to another, and there's no turning back now. If I'm lucky enough to survive today, Brother Yang, then I, Leng Wuqing,

will consider you my friend!" "Very well, since Brother Leng wants a fight, then if I say anything more, it would be disrespectful. Today, let's have a battle! After this fight, regardless of the outcome, I, Yang Fan, will consider you my friend!"

"Brother Leng, please!"

"Brother Yang, please!"

"Haha..."

At this moment, Yang Fan and Leng Wuqing simultaneously felt a sense of camaraderie, as if they had found kindred spirits. They laughed loudly and simultaneously gestured for each other to join in, then charged towards one another at top speed.

In an instant, the two were locked in combat...

Blades flashed, sword energy soared, and in a flash they were in the east, the next they were fighting in the west. The entire sky was filled with their figures, and the entire void was torn apart by the spatial force left behind by their battle. Their fight had instantly reached a point of no return, so much so that even others couldn't get involved!

What started as a brawl had turned into a one-on-one duel! What was supposed to be a life-or-death struggle had become a friendly exchange! This dramatic turn of events left not only Ouyang Yu and her companions bewildered, but even Nalan Qingcheng and the others were completely baffled.

They couldn't understand how two people who had been locked in a life-or-death struggle just moments before could suddenly become friends. Yang Feng and Lin Feng, on the other hand, watched the two on the battlefield with envy. Perhaps only they, as men themselves, could truly understand the profound friendship between Yang Fan and Leng Wuqing!

"That bastard Leng Wuqing, what's with the hero act at a time like this? If you want to die, just say so!"

At this moment, Ouyang Yu couldn't help but feel an urge to curse. If you didn't want to join the brawl, fine, but why are you causing trouble? With you messing things up, how are we supposed to continue our plan?

His gaze darted around, Ouyang Yu suppressed his murderous impulse, forcing himself to calm down. However, when he finally focused his gaze on Nalan Qingcheng and the others, the gloom on his face was instantly replaced by a cold smile…

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