[Fantasy] Super Ambiguous Relationship (Complete) - 31-33

Chapter 366 [The Miraculous Effect of the Blood Lotus]

Although he didn't understand why the three demonic beasts had suddenly left, Yang Fan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing that they were no longer attacking him, and slowly landed on the ground.

After examining his internal condition, Yang Fan almost collapsed to the ground in shock. He had only managed to hold on for a short while, and his true energy had already fallen below the warning line by a hair's breadth. If the three demonic beasts had left any later, he would have been at their mercy even without their intervention!

"Fortunately, that didn't happen!"

Yang Fan secretly rejoiced and quickly circulated his true energy, absorbing and converting the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Once his true energy had recovered somewhat and the consumption and replenishment were balanced, Yang Fan dared not linger and quickly ran towards the direction where Wan Tiancheng, Liu Rufeng, and the others had left.

He had already discussed with them that after they collected the demonic beast corpses, they would move to the eastern part of the pool. The agreed meeting place was the center of the oasis.

Yang Fan hadn't yet pieced together the map and didn't know if the ancient tomb was in that location. However, that location was easy to find and safer than the surrounding area, so he naturally decided to start there.

Not long after leaving the pool, Yang Fan used his divine sense to survey the surroundings. Feeling there was no danger, he thought for

a moment and then took out the three maps to piece them together. The three maps, seemingly cut by some kind of sharp blade, were placed together. The depiction of the mountains and rivers showed the entire area, with nothing particularly unusual, exactly as Yang Fan had previously imagined. However, surprisingly, the cuts on the three maps flashed with light and miraculously glued themselves back together…

After the light faded, the original marks of the cuts disappeared without a trace, as if the maps had never been damaged.

Then, the now-unified map changed again. Its original old yellow color transformed into a golden map. Numerous red lines sprouted densely on it, intertwining to form a route.

To Yang Fan's surprise, the route didn't actually end in the center of the oasis, but rather in a very inconspicuous corner in the northeast.

Yang Fan ignored this for now, carefully put the map away, and headed straight for the oasis center. Upon arriving, he indeed found Wan Tiancheng, Liu Rufeng, and Gu Feifei there.

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Yang Fan unharmed, but they still rushed forward to greet him, asking in unison, "Young Master Yang, how are you? Are you alright?"

Yang Fan felt slightly touched. These two were truly kind; his kindness towards them hadn't been in vain. Upon seeing him, they didn't ask about his gains, but instead inquired about his injuries, demonstrating their good character.

With a slight smile, Yang Fan said, "It's alright. Although there was a slight accident, I wasn't seriously injured."

Hearing this, the two men were completely relieved, but still asked, "Young Master Yang, what happened?"

Yang Fan raised his left hand with a wry smile and said, "It was all this thing's doing. Whoever likes it, why don't you take it?"

Both men laughed, "Young Master Yang is joking. That's something you went to great lengths to acquire, and it has important uses. How could we take it?"

Yang Fan wasn't joking; he genuinely wanted to give the Five-Colored Pearl to someone else. The thing constantly drained his true energy, and even with his own replenishment speed, he was finding it difficult to keep up.

However, upon further reflection, Yang Fan stopped the thought. His true energy replenishment speed was more than a hundred times that of an ordinary martial artist, and even he found it difficult to cope. If Liu Rufeng and Wan Tiancheng were to wear it, they would likely lose all their true energy within a short time, becoming crippled. If the Five-Colored Pearl wasn't satisfied and continued to drain their flesh and blood, that would be truly terrible.

With a slight smile, Yang Fan said, "If you don't want it, fine. But don't refuse this. Each of you take a piece and consume it first. Let's increase our strength a bit first."

Yang Fan took the entire blood lotus out of the Buddha's relic. He didn't touch the ginseng root underneath for the time being. That thing had a strange properties; after being placed in the Buddha's relic, it actually sprouted vines and tendrils, as if it had started to sprout again.

Seeing Yang Fan take out the entire blood lotus, not only Liu Rufeng but also Wan Tiancheng trembled with excitement, their eyes burning with fervor as they stared at the blood lotus in Yang Fan's hand.

Liu Rufeng shook his head, "Young Master Yang, I have other uses for this piece of blood lotus, so I won't consume it. You all should consume it first, and I'll protect you from the side." Yang Fan could see that Liu Rufeng also really wanted to consume a piece, but he hesitated to ask for more because a blood lotus only had seven petals in total.

Liu Rufeng really wanted to swallow a petal, but he still needed to save it to save others, so he couldn't just think of himself. The Blood Lotus has seven petals, and besides himself and his companion, there were four others on Yang Fan's side. If each of the six people took a petal, only one petal would be left. Yang Fan had put in so much effort; how could he not consider his friends and family? He feared that even that one petal wouldn't be enough. He was already incredibly lucky to have one; to be greedy would be going too far.

Seeing Liu Rufeng's reaction, Yang Fan smiled and said, "Don't rush. After you each swallow a petal, there will be six of us, one petal each. Since Brother Liu still needs it, this remaining petal is for you. I think Brother Wan will understand."

"No! No!"

Now not only was Liu Rufeng panicked, but even Wan Tiancheng couldn't stand up straight. The two of them had barely exerted any effort and had already received a Blood Lotus petal for free, thinking that was lucky enough. Who knew that Yang Fan would actually give Liu Rufeng another petal? How could they accept that? Now, Liu Rufeng was excited, while Wan Tiancheng was envious!

Yang Fan smiled faintly and said, "It's settled then. Actually, I'm still at a disadvantage, because I have other uses for that ginseng root and won't share it with you for now."

This decision was made because the ginseng root seemed to have taken root and was about to grow again, so Yang Fan naturally wanted to observe it first.

Without asking for confirmation, Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng carefully received the two petals of blood lotus from Yang Fan's hands, and solemnly took out a jade box from their personal belongings to hold the blood lotus.

Yang Fan had already noticed that the two of them had storage treasures, but he hadn't asked them about it. However, they could never possess a treasure like a Buddha relic that could contain living things and preserve their spiritual energy.

Not to mention Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng, in the entire human world, only Yang Fan possessed such a treasure.

Ordinary martial artists usually had two choices to preserve the spiritual energy and activity of spiritual herbs: a low-temperature pot or a jade box. One is a modern method, the other an ancient preservation technique; which is superior is inconclusive, but in terms of the number of people choosing it, the jade box undoubtedly wins.

Seeing that neither of them was willing to consume the blood lotus, and both were carefully preserving it, Yang Fan shook his head slightly, not trying to persuade them further. Since the item had already been given away, the decision was naturally theirs.

"Since you are unwilling to consume it, then help us protect the Dharma. I feel that the blood lotus is most effective when consumed fresh from the petals."

After saying this, Yang Fan said no more, giving each of Lin Feng and Gu Feifei a piece of blood lotus, and then picking off a petal for himself and putting it in his mouth.

However, even he himself didn't notice that when he retrieved the Blood Lotus, the viscous, sugary-smelling substance at the center of the lotus rolled down onto the petals and was swallowed by him...

Yang Fan sat cross-legged, feeling an extremely vast surge of blood energy flow down his throat, filling everything in its path with a brimming, almost bursting blood-red aura.

In his internal vision, he saw nothing but a sea of blood, a blinding crimson color everywhere he looked. Only faintly, a touch of something like gold or silver flickered occasionally, only to be instantly swallowed by the endless crimson.

Wherever the blood and qi flowed, the skin swelled, and the flesh plumped up. Skin cells, infused with blood and qi, rapidly divided, then, under the pressure of the blood and qi, quickly layered together, becoming incredibly dense and resilient.

The blood and qi filling the flesh made Yang Fan feel as if every muscle in his body had been disassembled and then reassembled. The intense pain during this process was indescribable, but the indescribable comfort after the reassembly was a sufficient reward.

Yang Fan felt as if his body was being transformed by a strange power he had never seen before. In an instant, the quality of his physical body had reached a new level.

After Yang Fan's martial arts realm entered the Qi Movement stage, his physical body had already progressed from a stagnant state. Now, having already touched the threshold of the Refining Spirit realm, he suddenly felt a sense of reaching a higher level, at least having crossed that threshold and directly entered the Refining Spirit realm.

However, Yang Fan had no time to feel the progress in his physical body. The surging blood energy, after cleansing his skin and flesh from top to bottom, began to move forward, transforming his bones.

Under the invasion of the blood energy, Yang Fan could even clearly hear his bones shattering and then magically reforming. The bones that shattered and reformed were far superior to their former state in both texture and toughness.

After changing the skin, flesh, and small bones, the blood energy remained condensed and continued to penetrate deeper, entering the next layer: the lining.

Below the ribs and outside the internal organs, there is a very thin but crucial physical structure: the abdominal lining. It protects the internal organs from displacement and damage caused by external forces such as bumps, vibrations, and tremors. If this lining could be made stronger, the extremely fragile internal organs would naturally have an extra layer of protection.

The blood and qi continued to penetrate deeper, quickly permeating the entire inner membrane. The droplet of water, seemingly floating within the blood and qi, suddenly appeared and seeped into the inner membrane.

A blinding flash of gold and silver light made Yang Fan almost involuntarily pull himself out of his internal vision. Fortunately, he endured the intense discomfort and clearly saw what was happening.

After being infused with the droplet of gold and silver water from the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root," the inner membrane underwent a dramatic transformation.

The originally thin, slightly translucent inner membrane, with its fist-sized mesh, was instantly filled with gold and silver, losing its transparency and acquiring a metallic texture.

The mesh didn't disappear; instead, it rapidly divided and multiplied, like branches and leaves infused with sufficient nutrients, becoming increasingly dense until it was only the size of a fingernail.

The transformation ended there. The inner membrane had become extremely strong, yet it did not prevent the blood and qi from further seeping downwards, flowing into the five internal organs and further altering their structure. As the blood and qi flowed further, Yang Fan saw his internal organs for the first time.

The five organs were respectively wrapped in black, red, blue, yellow, and white, resembling five-colored beads. Yang Fan had long heard that the five organs corresponded to the five elements, but his previous internal observations only extended to the meridians and did not go further downwards. Only now was he fortunate enough to glimpse their true form. After the blood and qi surged into the internal organs, the various organs began to change, rapidly shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye until they were reduced to half their original size.

Even at this stage, the blood and qi still condensed, seemingly containing extremely strong energy. After flowing within the internal organs for a while, it found a gap and condensed towards the center, transforming into a blood bead that remained still, perfectly corresponding to the blood relic at his heart, forming a perfect cycle.

Before this, although Yang Fan had obtained the Blood Relic, a supreme treasure for recovery, he always felt something was missing. While the Blood Relic did change his physique, the process was extremely slow; in fact, without careful observation, the changes were almost imperceptible.

But after being catalyzed by the Blood Lotus, the Blood Relic seemed to awaken as well, automatically releasing blood energy to alter his blood and qi along with the Blood Lotus!

In truth, while the Blood Lotus's effects were miraculous, they didn't go as far as this. The Blood Relic was the primary force behind Yang Fan's current state of health. The Blood Lotus's role was merely a simple catalytic one!

The Blood Lotus and its ginseng root primarily replenish deficiencies in blood and qi, maintaining peak physical condition and improving physique, rather than altering it!

Improvement and alteration, though only a single word apart, are worlds apart—one is merely a quantitative improvement, while the other is a qualitative leap!

Of course, on the other hand, even though the Blood Lotus's effects aren't as miraculous as the Blood Relic's, its effects are still considerable. After all, not everyone has the incredible luck of Yang Fan to obtain such a treasure as the Blood Relic.

Ordinary martial artists are lucky if they can get their hands on some qi-boosting and blood-tonifying medicines; spiritual herbs like the Blood Lotus and Ginseng Root are practically unheard of, let alone eaten. Otherwise, powerful sects like the Qingcheng Sect, Changbai Sword Sect, Tantric Sect, and Huangshan Sword Sect wouldn't be so recklessly vying for it.

Therefore, for Liu Rufeng, Wan Tiancheng, and Lin Feng to be able to consume the Blood Lotus is already an immense stroke of luck for them. After consuming it, their future achievements in martial arts will definitely far surpass those of others!

Chapter 367 [Parting Ways]

Seeing that there were no further changes, Yang Fan let out a long breath and exited his internal vision state. The way the blood qi flowed was completely different from the flow of true qi; even if Yang Fan wanted to guide it, he could only sigh helplessly.

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng silently stayed by Yang Fan's side. They were unaware of the internal changes, but they clearly observed Yang Fan's external condition.

They saw Yang Fan's entire body enveloped in a crimson glow, then a layer of his skin inexplicably peeled off, followed by a flow of a thick, black substance. Then, his body went limp, as if his bones had shattered. Fortunately, this process was extremely brief; otherwise, the two of them would have been tempted to wake him.

The final change was even more bizarre. First, a flash of gold and silver light illuminated Yang Fan, making him appear as if he had attained a Buddhist golden body. Then, a surge of blood energy rushed in and out, draining all the color from Yang Fan's body, leaving his skin much whiter and smoother, comparable to that of an infant.

Seeing Yang Fan open his eyes, Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng stepped forward simultaneously, asking about his condition with concern.

Yang Fan took a breath, assessed his body, and nodded to himself; it was not much different from what he had expected. Yang Fan recounted all the changes he had felt, but he omitted the strange changes in his inner membranes, focusing only on the others.

These sensations alone were enough to leave Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng speechless and secretly excited.

"Young Master Yang, according to you, doesn't that mean the Blood Lotus's medicinal power hasn't been fully utilized? If you've already reached the Qi Movement stage, a single petal of the Blood Lotus could potentially push your physical body to the Spirit Refinement stage?" In

ancient martial arts, the level of the physical body is actually the same as one's cultivation realm, with different grades from Fetal Breathing to Primordial Chaos. However, because physical cultivation is extremely difficult, this classification is not known to outsiders.

Yang Fan nodded, then shook his head: "You could say that, but I feel that the medicinal power of a single petal of the Blood Lotus could very well push a martial artist's physical body to the Void Returning stage!"

Hearing this, Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng exchanged horrified glances. What did it mean for the physical body to reach the Void Returning stage?

These are the two major Buddhist sects renowned for their physical training: the Esoteric School and the Esoteric Shaolin Temple. For thousands of years, only Master Huichan of the Esoteric Shaolin Temple has refined his physical body to the Void Returning stage. He is also the only Void Returning martial artist among all existing practitioners who focuses solely on physical training, regardless of their cultivation level!

A single petal of the Blood Lotus could elevate a martial artist's physical body to the Void Returning stage. If those martial artists who escaped from the pool knew what the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root" represented, they would have risked their lives to prevent Yang Fan from obtaining it!

Liu Rufeng, too, had heard of the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root" and knew it was extraordinary; legend had it that eating a single petal could propel one to the Martial Immortal realm.

But legends are just legends. Liu Rufeng had initially estimated that a single petal of the Blood Lotus would be enough to advance him to the Spirit Refining stage, which was already incredibly powerful. Who would have thought Yang Fan's prediction would be so astonishing!

Touching their waists, both Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng's fingers trembled slightly. Especially Wan Tiancheng, who was already a Spirit Refining stage martial artist, only one step away from the Void Returning stage. But this one step is an insurmountable chasm. Looking at the entire martial world over thousands of years, there are only a few dozen martial artists above the Void Returning realm who have survived. This shows how difficult it is to overcome this chasm.

Just one petal of the Blood Lotus—just one petal of the Blood Lotus could allow him to break through that seemingly unattainable barrier. His excitement is understandable. And he happens to possess one such Blood Lotus!

Even if the medicinal power of the Blood Lotus ginseng root isn't as strong as the legends say, it's still enough to allow him to break through the Void Returning barrier and hopefully reach the legendary realm unheard of for thousands of years: Primordial Chaos!

After his excitement subsided, Wan Tiancheng knelt before Yang Fan without hesitation, saying, "Young Master Yang, from this day forward, Wan Tiancheng will follow you for life. As long as Young Master Yang doesn't abandon me, Wan Tiancheng will always be your loyal follower!"

Liu Rufeng was slightly taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and was about to kneel down as well, but Yang Fan stopped him with a gesture. Wan Tiancheng was all alone, with only two servants as close confidants. Yet, even those two servants betrayed him, and swearing allegiance to Yang Fan would have been effortless for them.

Liu Rufeng, however, was different. He had built a vast business empire and had countless friends and relatives. Even his trip to the desert wasn't for the "Blood Lotus Ginseng," but rather to try his luck and see if he could find an ancient tomb through some fortuitous encounter. Naturally, getting him to pledge allegiance to Yang Fan was much more difficult.

Yang Fan smiled faintly and said, "Brother Liu, you are different from Brother Wan. Don't force yourself now. Think it over later."

When he first arrived in Yanjing, Yang Fan thought he could accomplish anything on his own. Although naturally indifferent, he possessed a youthful spirit that allowed him to roam freely. The more experiences he had, the more he realized that even at the peak of the Hunyuan realm, he couldn't succeed alone.

There were many trivial matters that he couldn't handle alone. The higher one's cultivation level, the more this became true. Consider the high-ranking martial artists of those major sects. Why would they personally handle anything? Countless disciples and followers would serve them tirelessly.

The martial artists of these sects do nothing, yet China offers them countless rare treasures as tribute. What is the basis for this? His influence? Or his power?

It was precisely with this in mind that Yang Fan intentionally or unintentionally tested Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng's character before offering them some benefits.

If Liu Rufeng still couldn't make up his mind after finding the ancient tomb, then his relationship with Yang Fan would naturally come to an end.

Upon hearing Yang Fan's words, Liu Rufeng was both grateful and fearful, his face filled with conflicting emotions. Wan Tiancheng, on the other hand, looked relaxed after uttering those words, a rare smile appearing on his rather ugly face.

Yang Fan gave a slight shake, and the dead skin and dark impurities that had shed from his body were flung aside. With the five-colored beads in hand, the impurities expelled from the body were expelled before they could even adhere to Xin Sheng's skin, making cleanup easy.

Having done this, Yang Fan took out a map and said, "Brother Wan, Brother Liu, I now have a complete map. Let's go see what good things are in that ancient tomb! It's amazing that so many martial artists have come here one after another."

Yang Fan's face was youthful, looking no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, but no one found his mature-sounding words inappropriate. Not to mention that Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng already considered him a reclusive, invincible expert, his feat of snatching the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root" from the mouths of five demonic beasts was enough to fill them with respect and leave no room for doubt. As for Lin Feng, Gu Feifei, and the others, they naturally had no suspicions, as they revolved around Yang Fan.

Following the route indicated by the map, the group arrived at the northeast corner of the oasis and observed for a while. They couldn't help but shake their heads.

Surrounded by desert and protected by a powerful defensive formation, the area is extremely treacherous—a fact well-known to martial artists. Yet, none of those who come here have thoroughly searched the oasis's corners, leaving them unaware of the sheer danger lurking in its northeastern part!

There lies a slightly protruding cliff, below which swirles countless sandstorms. Even a casually occurring tornado can rise several meters high, and just standing a little out of the way allows one to feel the sand and dust raining down. Stepping any further out, one could easily be swept away by the powerful winds.

And that's not all; beneath this immense sandstorm, creatures exist, bobbing and swaying in the wind, occasionally revealing gleaming, snow-white teeth. One can imagine that any creature capable of surviving in such a treacherous environment is certainly no benevolent being!

Even more astonishing is that, for some unknown reason, countless towering stone pillars grow densely within that perilous storm.

Each stone pillar was thicker at the base and thinner at the top, requiring two people to encircle it near the ground. The sharp tips resembled spearheads; falling into one would likely result in being torn to pieces by the sharp pillars before even experiencing the terror of being devoured by ferocious beasts.

If one was unlucky, they would be impaled on the pillar, left half-dead, at the mercy of the wind and rain – truly the worst possible fate.

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng shook their heads repeatedly at the surrounding situation. Neither of them believed that the true location of the ancient tomb was in such a treacherous sandstorm. Even though the map in Yang Fan's hand clearly showed this place, they stubbornly chose not to believe it.

Yang Fan didn't say much, only smiled slightly. He took out the "Heavenly Eye Pearl" from his robes, which he hadn't been able to use until now, and channeled a wisp of true energy into it according to the map's instructions.

A barely perceptible circle of white light spread outwards from the "Heavenly Eye Pearl." The five-colored pearl in Yang Fan's hand also began to rotate.

Countless sandstorms blown in by the strong wind were suddenly pushed far away by an inexplicable force. Near the cliff, where the air had been empty, a faint glimmer appeared, revealing a set of steps about a foot wide and over two feet long.

Though called steps, they were almost transparent, standing there in mid-air, thinner than paper. Yang Fan's true energy continued to flow, and white light spread outwards, with one set of steps after another appearing in the air outside the cliff.

Each pair of transparent steps was at least half a meter apart, winding and twisting, but none were close to the cliff face. Once you stepped onto the first step, turning back was incredibly difficult.

Without the "Heavenly Eye Pearl," these transparent steps would never appear, and it was impossible to remember their positions.

Yang Fan briefly tested this, cutting off the flow of true energy. The transparent steps disappeared within seconds, and when he resumed sending out true energy, they had already shifted their positions.

Despite his shock, Wan Tiancheng was still somewhat unwilling to give up. He took out a long spear from his storage bag and touched it forcefully after the transparent steps disappeared. However, the result was extremely disappointing. The steps seemed to have appeared out of thin air and disappeared without leaving any trace of their existence!

After Wan Tiancheng finished his test, Yang Fan said, "Brother Wan, Brother Liu, I didn't expect this place to be so dangerous. Are you still going to come down with me?"

If they hadn't obtained the petals of the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root," they would definitely have chosen yes without hesitation. But now that they had each received a petal, their path as martial artists was at least unobstructed before reaching the Void Returning Realm.

Yang Fan's casual question struck like a thunderous torment, leaving the two men reeling and unable to calm down for a long time.

After a moment's consideration, Wan Tiancheng nodded firmly and said, "Young Master Yang, my life is already yours. Since you're going down, how can I, Old Lin, stand idly by?"

Yang Fan smiled and nodded slightly, then looked at Liu Rufeng, who hesitated. People are like that; when facing dire straits, they can muster immense courage, even to the point of death, but once there's hope for survival, and it's within their grasp, even the strongest courage can easily waver.

After hesitating for a long time, Liu Rufeng smiled shyly at Yang Fan and said, "Young Master Yang, I... I won't go down. I'll wait for you here."

Yang Fan smiled faintly, said nothing, and simply nodded slightly, saying, "Alright, wait for half an hour. If we don't come out in half an hour, you can leave on your own. Goodbye!"

Wan Tiancheng gave Liu Rufeng a deep look, as if he were looking at the biggest fool in the world, but he didn't say anything, just nodded as a farewell, and followed Yang Fan up the first transparent step. Afterwards, Lin Feng and the others followed Yang Fan up the steps...

Standing at the cliff edge, the "Heavenly Eye Pearl" could detect nine transparent steps, but after actually stepping onto the steps, Yang Fan realized that the cliff and the steps were completely different worlds. At the cliff edge

, apart from the raging wind, giant sand, stone pillars, and ferocious beasts, he didn't sense anything else. Only when standing on the steps did Yang Fan realize that a strange wind, seemingly originating from nowhere, was howling past, making it impossible for him to focus all his attention on the "Heavenly Eye Pearl."

Consequently, the "Heavenly Eye Pearl's" illumination range shrank, now only illuminating four or five steps.

Yang Fan wasn't worried; he had a map, and no matter how the transparent steps shifted, he wouldn't cross the area marked on the map. However, Wan Tiancheng and the others following behind him were not so carefree. They followed Yang Fan's steps with trepidation, not daring to slow down even slightly.

While half a meter was nothing to martial artists, the swift wind made it extremely dangerous; a single misstep could send them slipping down the steps and into the desert.

The chillingly sharp tips of the stone pillars and the teeth of the ferocious beasts already foreshadowed their fate, forcing them to be extra cautious!

Chapter 368 [Being Deceived]

Liu Rufeng stood at the edge of the cliff. At first, he could still see the figures of the group, but after the transparent steps near the cliff disappeared, he could no longer see them, as if Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng had vanished into thin air.

In a daze, Liu Rufeng seemed to have noticed a figure flash by when the transparent steps near the cliff disappeared.

"Could it be an illusion?"

Looking again, the steps had long since disappeared, and Yang Fan, Wan Tiancheng, and the others were nowhere to be seen. The figure that had flashed by was obviously not there either.

"Maybe it really is an illusion! I'll wait half an hour!"

He muttered to himself and began to sit quietly... One transparent step after another appeared before them. With each step, Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng were extremely careful. Although there was nothing behind them, for some reason, Yang Fan always had a feeling that someone was following him.

He turned around, used the corner of his eye, and even disregarded the damage to his divine sense to probe, but still couldn't find any trace of anyone. After several attempts, Yang Fan couldn't help but shake his head slightly, thinking it was due to his excessive tension.

After descending several dozen meters deeper, the steps suddenly changed direction, beginning to rise and fall towards the oasis.

Although the oasis was only a few dozen meters away, in reality, they had traversed at least two thousand transparent steps.

Two thousand transparent steps, not counting their width, already amounted to a thousand meters, yet judging from the estimated distance, it was clearly impossible to walk that far back towards the oasis!

Suppressing the strange feeling rising in his heart, Yang Fan carefully approached the oasis again. Standing on the last transparent step, Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng looked at the scene before them, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

Beneath their feet, sand churned, only a thin layer of steps above them. The sand rose half a foot high over the steps, yet failed to bury them.

Waves of sand leaped from the desert, brushing against them at close range, yet not a single grain landed on them.

One ferocious beast after another barked out their menacing tentacles and claws, but could only swagger at them from behind the transparent steps, unable to even touch their clothes.

How much of this was thanks to the "Heavenly Eye Pearls," how much to the Five-Colored Pearls? Perhaps the transparent steps themselves possessed a corresponding restraining power.

Before Yang Fan lay a cave slightly above sea level. At

first glance, the deep cave was shrouded in darkness, its depth completely obscured. At the entrance, the rock walls were riddled with countless small holes, worn smooth by countless years of wind and sand erosion. More than half of the walls had lost their original rustling appearance, now appearing perfectly polished, as if meticulously crafted.

Yang Fan nodded slightly to Wan Tiancheng, then jumped down from the steps and entered the cave.

According to the map, this cave, hidden in an unexpected location, is the legendary ancient tomb!

Even Wan Tiancheng, who obtained the "Heavenly Eye Pearl" and a copy of the map, couldn't explain the rumors of an ancient tomb on the oasis.

"The possibility of this being an ancient tomb is unbelievably small! Even if it is, I reckon the tomb's owner must have had a rather miserable life; this place looks like the home of a fallen hero."

Hearing Wan Tiancheng's almost mocking complaint, Xiao Yangfan simply smiled and didn't pursue the topic further.

According to ancient Chinese customs, generally speaking, the more hidden and difficult to discover an ancient tomb, the more prominent and high-ranking its owner was during their lifetime.

Tombs that are easily discovered are at best ordinary tombs of considerable age with some research value.

This tomb, not only difficult to find but also riddled with traps, is absolutely top-tier in terms of secrecy. Adding to the protective array, the demonic beasts, the spiritual herbs, and the experiences along the way, Yang Fan was convinced that the ancient tomb before him was definitely extraordinary, and might even be the hiding place of some powerful figure from ancient times!

In fact, Wan Tiancheng understood this as well, but the current environment was too terrifying and abnormal, so he deliberately said this to ease the tense atmosphere!

The past history had long been buried in the ruins, leaving no trace. Those martial artists were also gone.

Yang Fan had reason to believe that the owner of this cave was just one of the many martial artists who had disappeared along with it.

A thorough review of recorded martial arts history reveals some interesting, yet perplexing, mysteries. Martial artists first appeared in the mythological era. From then on, they participated in many major events that changed the fate of humanity.

The Shang dynasty's conquest of Jie, King Wu's conquest of Zhou, the Three Kingdoms period—each a glorious era in history—corresponded to the grand backdrop of martial artists' battles against each other.

Until the Ming and Qing dynasties, there was a sudden gap in the records of martial artists, and this gap continues to this day.

No one knows what happened during this period, or what form the martial artists took over those hundreds of years. During this time, martial artists vanished without a trace, occasionally appearing in the news, catching the world's eye for a fleeting glimpse, often dismissed as mere tales of

the supernatural. As the saying goes, "The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits," and with the advancement of technology, the traces of martial artists became increasingly difficult to find. Only true martial artists know that they never truly disappeared from history; they continued to cultivate silently in the shadows, becoming either renowned thieves or heroic figures.

"Perhaps, in this ancient tomb, we might find fragments of information about their sudden disappearance!"

Yang Fan's thought grew stronger as he ventured deeper into the cave.

The further he went, the darker the cave became. What was once a few meters to the left and right gradually became so dark that even seeing his own hand became extremely difficult.

Even more strangely, all means of illumination were rendered useless here; the emergency lights and torches prepared by Wan Tiancheng were completely ineffective.

After entering the cave about ten meters, even the last ray of sunlight had reached its limit. As far as the eye could see, there was only endless, deep darkness. Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng had to temporarily halt their advance.

No one knew what dangers lay ahead; if they continued running in the dark, they might lose their lives after only a few steps.

Just as they were at a loss, suddenly, a blindingly bright light shone from Yang Fan's pocket, extremely conspicuous in the darkness.

"Young Master Yang,"

before Wan Tiancheng could finish speaking, Yang Fan pulled out the object that had suddenly emitted the bright light—his previously thought useless "Heavenly Eye Bead." The "Heavenly Eye Bead," which had initially only emitted a slightly blinding light, suddenly expanded after Yang Fan took it out, rapidly spreading to a radius of tens of meters, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime.

Seeing the "Heavenly Eye Bead's" performance, Yang Fan's heart stirred; he realized he might have underestimated its power. This seemingly useless object might have a more significant origin than he imagined.

Yang Fan held the "Heavenly Eye Pearl" in his hand and continued walking with Wan Tiancheng for a while. The more Yang Fan walked, the more uneasy he felt, sensing that something extremely dangerous awaited him somewhere ahead.

"Brother Wan, do you sense anything amiss?"

Yang Fan stopped and asked Wan Tiancheng.

Wan Tiancheng thought carefully and shook his head. "Young Master Yang, I don't feel anything wrong. We've walked for so long, but we haven't found any plants or bird droppings."

Indeed! How could there be neither plants nor bird droppings? There was no reason why such a usable natural cave would have no birds or animals sheltering there, nor any living creatures growing there!

Yang Fan suspected he was just being paranoid, but he unconsciously recalled the faint feeling of being followed when he stepped onto the transparent steps, and his heart trembled. He felt that he might have been unknowingly tricked!

This cave, by all accounts, didn't resemble an ancient tomb. If it were, even if it lacked the grandeur of a typical imperial tomb, it should at least possess an awe-inspiring aura, right?

But this place not only lacked that, but instead exuded a sinister atmosphere, and even a sense of inexplicable disgust. It was less of an ancient tomb and more of a cage!

With this thought in mind, Yang Fan began to carefully examine his surroundings. He had overlooked the fact that the cave walls hadn't changed much along the way. He casually mentioned it to Wan Tiancheng, and together they began a thorough search.

Even Yang Fan himself didn't know what he was looking for; he just felt that paying attention to details might give him more clues.

Persistence paid off. After advancing a few more steps, the two finally discovered a row of somewhat faded characters on the right side of the cave.

Originally, the characters were blood-red, but with age, they had slowly faded to their current blurred color.

Perhaps after some time, even these colors will fade, and no trace of any writing will remain in the cave.

"Tianxingzi imprisons the Demon Blood Lotus Seed here; those who come after, please retreat immediately!"

Yang Fan stared at the line of dim, dark red characters. A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in his heart. Ever since he heard about the ancient tomb discovered on the oasis, he had felt something was strange. After combining the three maps and discovering that the so-called ancient tomb was located in such a remote location, his doubts only deepened.

"Young Master Yang, what does it say?"

The line of dark red characters clearly carried a warning, but it was written in small seal script, which Wan Tiancheng didn't recognize.

Yang Fan explained the meaning and then asked, "Brother Wan, you were the first to hear about the ancient tomb in the oasis and were also among the first group of martial artists to enter the oasis. Do you know who has ever been here or witnessed the emergence of the ancient tomb?"

Wan Tiancheng shook his head and said, "The location of this cave is so remote that even with a map, it's useless without the Heavenly Eye Pearl. How could an ordinary martial artist possibly find it? As for who has ever seen it with their own eyes, I really haven't heard of any."

"I got the news about the ancient tomb from those archaeologists. The map and the Heavenly Eye Bead also came from them. If you're talking about who has seen the real ancient tomb, it's probably none other than them. After all, they're the ones who discovered it, and they're the ones who brought out the map and the Heavenly Eye Bead."

Yang Fan nodded to himself. Wan Tiancheng's words confirmed a guess he had in mind. He then asked, "The Heavenly Eye Bead. Did it appear at the same time as the map?"

Wan Tiancheng shook his head and said, "It shouldn't be! I saw this Heavenly Eye Bead once before in an underground black market in the South China Sea. Someone was asking for 50 million to sell it. I laughed at that guy for being crazy, exchanging an ordinary dust-repelling bead for such a large sum of money. Later I realized that I was blind. This thing is a very special magical artifact that can break through many restrictions."

"As for the map, it seems there's more than one. According to the information I received, the archaeologists also obtained a map by chance before starting their excavation here. I also received the information and secretly followed them. However, during this process, I discovered that quite a few other people were secretly following them. At the time, I thought those people were tomb raiders like me, so I didn't pay much attention. Now, after hearing what Young Master Yang said, something seems amiss!"

Yang Fan took a deep breath and said to Wan Tiancheng, "Brother Wan, I can finally confirm that we've all been deceived!"

Wan Tiancheng was initially skeptical, but his expression quickly changed. He said, "I remember now. Shortly after the Heavenly Eye Pearl was bought, someone on the black market suddenly offered a large reward for its purchase. At the time, many people, including myself, thought that this was a way for the person who bought the Heavenly Eye Pearl to deliberately inflate its value. But since then, until I came to the Oasis, I haven't heard any news about the Heavenly Eye Pearl."

Yang Fan smiled. "Was it true that when news of the ancient tomb's discovery spread from the oasis, it was also rumored that the Heavenly Eye Pearl was essential to finding it?"

Wan Tiancheng nodded, his face grim. "Young Master Yang guessed correctly; that's almost exactly what happened! So, not only us, but other martial artists, and even that group of archaeologists, were deceived and used as pawns. But who was it? Could it be the group that followed the archaeologists?"

Yang Fan smiled again and said, "In that case, I think we don't need to go any further. If I'm not mistaken, this isn't an ancient tomb at all; it's a very dangerous place. Perhaps the demon imprisoned by Senior Tianxingzi is still alive!"

Chapter 369 [Blood Transformation Sect]

Upon hearing Yang Fan's words, not only Wan Tiancheng but also Gu Feifei and the others looked at him with disbelief. Judging from the environment, the place was at least several hundred years old, and the inscriptions on the stone walls were ancient. This cave was certainly several centuries old. If what Yang Fan said was true, then that Blood Demon Child would be several hundred years old!

Wan Tiancheng thought carefully and chose to believe Yang Fan's assessment: "Young Master Yang is right. However, that Blood Demon Child couldn't possibly be alive, could he? Judging from the erosion marks inside the cave, no one has been here for at least four or five hundred years. Besides, how could someone live for several hundred years?"

Outside the cave, the daily winds made it difficult to discern the truth. But here, under the illumination of the "Heavenly Eye Pearl," the weathering marks inside were easily visible, further corroborated by the row of large warning characters. Wan Tiancheng's conjecture had considerable basis.

Yang Fan gave Wan Tiancheng a deep look, and said meaningfully, "If this Blood Lotus Seed were truly so easy to kill, why would that senior named Tian Xingzi have gone to such lengths to imprison him here?"

"Furthermore, Brother Wan, neither of us are ordinary people. Don't you know that once a martial arts realm reaches a certain level, one can possess a longer lifespan? Let's not even talk about anything else; even a Refining Spirit martial artist like Brother Wan could easily live for two or three hundred years. Moreover, do you think this being called the Human Demon Child is weaker than us?"

"Then… then according to Young Master Yang, this Human Demon Child's cultivation is at least at the Returning to the Void Realm, or even… even possibly a legendary Primordial Chaos… a Primordial Chaos expert?" "A Primordial Chaos

expert is unlikely. If he were, he wouldn't be so easily imprisoned. However, based on my guess, he's at least a Returning to the Void Realm expert, and a peak one at that!" "Peak

Returning to the Void Realm!"

Wan Tiancheng said tremulously. Despite being a master of the Refining Spirit Realm and possessing the Blood Lotus Orb, which gives him hope of reaching the Void Return Realm, Wan Tiancheng knew that even with all these advantages, breaking through to the Void Return Realm would be incredibly difficult.

Masters of the Void Return Realm were among the most powerful in the entire martial arts world. Looking across the entire martial arts world, those at the Void Return Realm were almost always the leaders of major sects, supreme elders, or living fossils. Such beings were extremely rare.

With Wan Tiancheng's talent and intelligence, the peak of the Refining Spirit Realm was likely his limit, and further breakthroughs were virtually impossible unless he encountered an extraordinary stroke of luck. Now, Yang Fan's appearance gave him hope, but it also made him realize even more clearly the terrifying power of Void Return Realm masters. He suddenly knew he had a chance to reach the Void Return Realm, but he was acutely aware of the vast difference between having hope and truly reaching the Void Return Realm.

"Young Master Yang, let's go!"

Having understood the key point, Wan Tiancheng immediately wanted to back out!

"Go? Where to?"

Before Yang Fan could speak, a sinister voice suddenly came from the darkness.

"Who?"

Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng turned around almost simultaneously, facing the cave entrance.

At this point, they had walked about a hundred meters from the entrance, turning several corners along the way, and could no longer see any light. Although the two turned around and cautiously looked towards the cave entrance, they couldn't pinpoint the person's location.

"Hmph! Even though you took my sect's most important treasure, I held back, waiting for you to rescue our ancestor. Who knew you would turn back halfway? How could I tolerate you?"

The person finally stepped into the light range of the Heavenly Eye Pearl, but for some reason, he only stood on the outermost edge, not moving forward. Even so, it was enough for Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng to see the person's face clearly.

He was about thirty years old, wearing a blood-red robe, with a pale face and no beard. In his hand, he held a pure white bone fan with a brightly lit, blooming blood lotus on it.

"Who are you?"

"Haha!" Upon hearing Yang Fan's question, the man burst into laughter, "My Blood Transformation Sect has been absent from the mortal realm for centuries. Sure enough, no one remembers the meaning of this Blood Lotus Bone Fan! I am the current sect leader of the Blood Transformation Sect, Xue Litian!"

"Blood Transformation Sect?"

Hearing these three words, Wan Tiancheng's expression changed slightly. "The Blood Transformation Sect that recklessly devoured martial artists' essence blood five hundred years ago to elevate its own realm, resulting in widespread anger, being besieged by various sects, and completely disintegrating?"

Xue Litian glanced at Wan Tiancheng in surprise and said, "You don't recognize my Blood Lotus Bone Fan, yet you know the story of five hundred years ago? After nearly four hundred years, almost no one knows this old story anymore. How did you find out?"

Wan Tiancheng's face darkened; he was truly ashamed to mention this matter. He knew about it because of the cave containing the invisible sword energy, where, along with the cultivation manual, there was also an old sheepskin scroll.

The scroll, written in tiny, meticulous characters, recorded many secrets of the martial arts world. However, Wan Tiancheng was too young at the time and didn't even believe in the existence of martial artists. Naturally, he thought the descriptions were all fabrications and simply tossed it aside as a useless storybook.

Later, when he had mastered his skills and martial arts had regained their glory, he tried to find the scroll again, but it was gone. The secrets he had read became Wan Tiancheng's last memory of that scroll.

Having regretted it once before, Wan Tiancheng never imagined that today he would feel regret again for his youthful recklessness.

Seeing Wan Tiancheng's grim expression, Xue Litian assumed he was intimidated by the name of the Blood Transformation Sect and was somewhat afraid. He smiled smugly, "What? You're scared now that you hear the name of our Blood Transformation Sect? It's fine if you're scared, keep going and save our ancestor. Perhaps I can spare your lives for your past contributions! Of course, the condition is that you return the 'Blood Lotus Ginseng Root' that you stole!"

Wan Tiancheng chuckled and said, "Not to mention the Blood Lotus Ginseng Root, we've already divided it up and swallowed quite a bit. There's no way we could return it whole... Wait a minute! You, Xue Litian, are truly vicious! Do you mean that even if we save that great demon Blood Lotus Seed, you'll still devour our essence and kill us?"

Xue Litian's face flushed slightly, but it was not noticeable under the reflection of his blood-red robe.

"Ahem! I almost forgot something. You do know a bit about my Blood Transformation Sect."

The awkwardness vanished in an instant, replaced by a ruthless expression on Xue Litian's face. "Since you know the Blood Transformation Sect's ways, you should know what the consequences of disobeying my orders will be!"

Yang Fan had been quietly standing by, watching Wan Tiancheng and Xue Litian clash, until Xue Litian uttered these arrogant words. He couldn't help but chuckle and say, "Sect Leader Xue Litian, is it? If I'm not mistaken, your Blood Transformation Sect is probably quite small, isn't it? Perhaps, your sect is practically just you all alone!"

Exposed by Yang Fan, Xue Litian's breath caught in his throat as he looked at Yang Fan's expression. Enraged, Xue Litian retorted, "You, you're talking nonsense! My Blood Transformation Sect was once the leader of the Evil Sect, how could we have fallen to such a wretched state?"

Yang Fan couldn't help but smile and said, "Alright, even if I'm talking nonsense, if I'm not mistaken, this should be the foundation of the Blood Transformation Sect, right? I just don't know, how did the Blood Sect's Blood Master's own foundation fall to the point where anyone can come and go as they please? Also, how much of the Blood Lotus produced on the oasis did the Blood Master's own share?"

Xue Litian's face grew increasingly grim with each question from Yang Fan, soon turning as black as the bottom of a pot: "Shut up! That's a matter for my Blood Transformation Sect, what right do you have to question it?"

Yang Fan simply smiled slightly, not arguing with Xue Litian. However, after Yang Fan's reminder, Wan Tiancheng had already seen through Xue Litian's weak nature.

"Xue Litian, you want us to risk our lives to rescue your so-called ancestor? Let me tell you, no way! You can go by yourself! We're not going to accompany you!"

Wan Tiancheng flashed to Yang Fan's side, already prepared. As soon as Yang Fan gave the order, he would protect Yang Fan and quickly leave this place. Xue Litian

changed again, his aura churning, and his whole body exuded an unpleasant bloody smell: "You two had better not mess with me. If I go crazy, even I'm afraid of myself!"

Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but chuckle when they heard Xue Litian's words.

Seeing that the two of them actually laughed, Xue Litian thought for a moment, and his face also turned a little red. Before the internet became popular, such harsh words were quite intimidating, but as online jokes spread, many harsh words and slang were treated as jokes. He had been careless and made a fool of himself again.

Xue Litian had been humiliated several times in a row, and the anger in his heart was churning. Finally, he couldn't suppress it anymore and decided to teach the two a lesson first.

"Seven Birds of Blood Transformation Fan, Blood Sparrows Separate Souls from Heaven!"

Xue Litian shook the Blood Lotus Bone Fan in his hand, and blood flames emanated from his entire body, making him appear as if he were bathed in viscous blood, and this blood was burning—incredibly eerie and malevolent!

Without Xue Litian making a move, seven blood-red birds descended from the Blood Lotus Bone Fan, their eyes eerily red, fluttering their wings as they flew towards Yang Fan and his companion.

As soon as the blood-red birds approached, Yang Fan smelled an incredibly pungent stench of blood. Just a slight whiff of this blood made him dizzy, and his consciousness swayed, almost slipping away.

Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself, "This Blood Transformation Sect truly lives up to its reputation as the former leader of the Evil Sect. Their skills are extraordinary from the start. This fan-wielding technique is incredibly strange!"

To Yang Fan's surprise, his steps faltered, and his consciousness wavered. As for Gu Feifei and the others, they were even worse off, collapsing to the ground. But Wan Tiancheng seemed completely oblivious, flicking his wrists to summon six blades of light, which he then slashed down at Xue Litian.

Xue Litian was greatly surprised by this, his brows furrowing. He retracted and released his Blood Lotus Bone Fan, instantly recalling the seven Blood Sparrows and releasing them again, which became seven blood-red crows.

"Blood Transformation Seven Birds Fan? Blood Crows Scattering Bone Heaven!"

The seven blood-red crows did not attack Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng. Instead, they circled above their heads, flying around them and emitting high-pitched cries, cawing and groaning like clashing bones, extremely jarring.

This time, Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng's performances were completely reversed. Yang Fan was unharmed, while Wan Tiancheng trembled all over, his face was pale, and his limbs felt as if their bones had been removed, his posture extremely unnatural.

Even before the seven blood-red crows landed on him, Wan Tiancheng was already in such a sorry state; if they landed on him, or even bit him, wouldn't his fate be even more miserable?

Yang Fan casually drew his sword, unleashing a purple strike. The benefits of his improved physical body were slowly becoming apparent. This move was executed without warning, incredibly fast. Even Xue Litian, who had been watching Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng's actions, didn't notice when Yang Fan attacked.

The lightning flashed, instantly transforming into a fifteen-zhang-long blade of light, directly cleaving the seven blood-red crows into fourteen pieces, turning them into a bloody mess that fell to the ground without a sound.

Xue Litian glared fiercely at Yang Fan, snorted angrily, and said, "Take this move again: Blood-Transforming Seven Birds Fan? Blood Crane Steaming Marrow Heaven!"

He once again wielded the Blood Lotus Bone Fan, and seven gracefully dancing blood-red cranes landed on the ground, but did not approach Yang Fan or Wan Tiancheng. They simply danced on their own, and with their movements, a thin layer of blood mist slowly rose.

Only a small layer of blood mist appeared before Yang Fan sensed something. An unusual vibration actually came from deep within his bones; it felt as if his own marrow was dancing!

Fortunately, Yang Fan had recently advanced a level in physical body rank; otherwise, who knows what would have happened. In comparison, Wan Tiancheng's situation was much worse. He endured his discomfort, shouted, and slashed down with the blade in his hand.

Yang Fan also acted on his own, blocking in front of Wan Tiancheng, and with a slash of his own hand, another bolt of lightning struck out.

"Hmph! Another trick? Do you think I can't do this?"

Xue Litian sneered, his blood lotus bone fan twirling slightly before suddenly trembling, unleashing three beams of blood-red light that collided with the lightning and blade beams fired by Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, respectively.

These blood-red beams seemed to possess a peculiar quality; upon colliding with the lightning and blade beams, they didn't explode, but instead, like living things, devoured the lightning and blade beams formed from the two men's true energy.

Seeing this, Yang Fan frowned slightly, knowing that Xue Litian's strange abilities were truly troublesome. His gaze inadvertently fell on the Heavenly Eye Pearl he held in his hand, and a thought struck him.

"The Heavenly Eye Pearl is said to break countless restrictions; I wonder if it has any effect on these strange abilities?"

With this thought, Yang Fan no longer held the Heavenly Eye Pearl in mid-air, but instead channeled a wisp of true energy into it. Suddenly, the Heavenly Eye Pearl shone brightly, and the billowing blood mist instantly dissipated. Even more remarkably, the three unique blood-red rays shot out by Xue Litian vanished as quickly as snow exposed to sunlight!

Chapter 370 [Blood Lotus Ancestor]

"Ah! Damn it!"

Xue Litian's reaction greatly excited Yang Fan. He hadn't expected that the Heavenly Eye Pearl could not only restrain Xue Litian's techniques but also inflict some damage on Xue Litian himself! The Heavenly Eye

Pearl shone brightly, and Xue Litian couldn't withstand it, forced to retreat again and again. Fortunately, he was originally standing on the outer edge of the Heavenly Eye Pearl's light, so retreating wasn't too difficult. Otherwise, Yang Fan's unexpected attack might have pinned him to the spot. Xue Litian

retreated a long distance, but Yang Fan didn't press his advantage, taking advantage of the sunlight to see what would happen. In the blink of an eye, he had already seen everything clearly.

Although the Heavenly Eye Pearl possessed strong barrier-breaking abilities, its effectiveness against Xue Litian was limited, and relying on it excessively was ultimately unwise. The aura emanating from the cave, however, made Yang Fan uneasy. The immediate priority was clearly not killing Xue Litian, but leaving this place as quickly as possible.

"Brother Wan, let's go!"

Yang Fan shouted, pulling Gu Feifei and the others to leave, but was stopped by a suction force emanating from the depths of the cave. In an instant, the suction force transformed into several strands of silk, binding them tightly.

"Alas, the descendants of the Blood Transformation Sect, truly utterly disappointing!"

From the depths of the cave came another faint sigh, its tone cold and scrutinizing, exuding an indescribable sense of disgust, as if the sound alone could ignite an insatiable violent emotion within one's blood.

"Ancestor... Ancestor?"

Xue Litian's previously ugly and fearful expression underwent a dramatic change in an instant. A smile brimming with a complex mix of joy, excitement, and relief bloomed on Xue Litian's face, yet it was distinctly layered, instantly recognizable, leaving one wondering what kind of skill it represented. While

Xue Litian was filled with joy, Yang Fan's heart sank. He thought to himself, "Damn it!" He could handle Xue Litian alone; although his techniques were strange, he was only at the ordinary Refining Spirit Realm. But the trapped Human Demon Blood Lotus Seed was an ancient monster from hundreds of years ago. Even though he had been imprisoned by Senior Tian Xingzi for centuries and fallen to the Refining Spirit Realm, he was still far beyond the reach of an ordinary peak Refining Spirit Realm expert, and equally beyond his and Wan Tiancheng's capabilities.

Yang Fan looked down again and saw that what bound him was a wisp of dark red blood. Thin as silk, yet extremely resilient, he exerted his power, and the blood thread was slightly loosened, but it instantly wrapped around him again, the binding force tightening even more.

Meanwhile, Wan Tiancheng also made a try, but the result was even worse than Yang Fan's. However, he noticed a detail: the blood threads enveloping Yang Fan, although entangled his entire body, deliberately avoided two places: Yang Fan's left wrist and his right hand holding the Heavenly Eye Pearl.

The blood threads seemed to also have the function of suppressing the Heavenly Eye Pearl's ability to break through restrictions. Without any visible movement, it compressed the light of the Heavenly Eye Pearl to a range of about one foot, allowing the group to see each other and vaguely make out the patterns on the cave, but no longer able to see everything in detail.

"Ancestor, is that you?"

Xue Litian called out to his ancestor but received no response, and the joy in his heart diminished somewhat.

"Hmph! Why don't you come in with those little thieves?"

The voice coming from the depths of the cave was still cold and desolate, but for some reason, it had a hint of weariness.

Upon receiving the order, Xue Litian hurriedly dragged Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng inside. Once bitten, twice shy, he carefully avoided the Heavenly Eye Pearl, refusing to come into contact with its light.

"Young Master Yang! I... what should we do?"

Although Wan Tiancheng was a lower cultivation level than Xue Litian, he had never been treated like this before. That damned Blood Transformation Sect's bastard leader dared to drag him by the head! Enraged, Wan Tiancheng almost self-destructed, intending to take Xue Litian down with him!

Yang Fan sensed the shame and anger in Wan Tiancheng's voice and, fearing he might act irrationally, quickly said, "Brother Wan, don't panic. It's a good thing to have the opportunity to admire the style of martial artists from hundreds of years ago."

Seeing that Yang Fan, though also humiliated, remained calm and composed, Wan Tiancheng felt a sense of reassurance. He secretly felt ashamed of his own irrationality; after living for decades, he lacked even a fraction of Yang Fan's composure.

Hearing their conversation, Xue Litian sneered, "You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! I was so polite before, asking you to make a move, but you wouldn't budge. Now, after I've taught you a lesson, you've finally become obedient . You shameless bastards who won't be satisfied until you've been beaten!"

Seemingly not satisfied with just a few words, Xue Litian kicked Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng several times solidly before finally feeling content.

Yang Fan didn't even utter a sound. His physical body had already advanced to the early stage of the Refining Spirit realm; let alone a few kicks, even a full-blown attack might not be able to truly injure him.

Xue Litian's actions were more insulting than practical!

Wan Tiancheng was again filled with shame and anger, letting out a hateful snort, but he maintained his composure and didn't provoke Xue Litian. He knew that although Xue Litian was a sect leader, his manners were lacking, and he probably didn't have many subordinates to cultivate that superior air. Provoking him would only result in more humiliation and no good outcome.

"You two cowards! Weren't you so arrogant just now? Saying I'm all alone? Well, I am all alone, so what? You think just anyone can learn the Blood Transformation Sect's supernatural powers? How much suffering have I endured to get to where I am today? Hiding every day, worse than a rat, is that the life of a human being?"

Seeing that Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng didn't retaliate, Xue Litian kicked them a few more times, then lost interest, simply snorted, and stopped.

Xue Litian was helpless. Evil sects and demonic cults have always been the targets of suppression by so-called righteous people. For thousands of years, they have been frequently besieged by the combined forces of those prestigious sects. Therefore, evil sects have never been able to openly operate in the martial world. Although the martial world has gradually faded from the secular world, sects like evil sects and demonic cults still dare not appear in the secular world, because if they do, all those reclusive sects will simultaneously emerge to suppress them.

That said, the reason for this is that the cultivation methods practiced by evil sects and demonic cults are extremely vicious. They not only treat human life as worthless but also kill indiscriminately. Whenever they appear, they inevitably unleash a bloodbath. Therefore, over time, people have become terrified of evil sects and demonic cults. It's no wonder they've become pariahs, universally hated!

Any unusual movement by a successor of an evil sect will attract a united suppression from other sects. Some are even subjected to a thorough search of the entire world, with every member to be captured.

After a brief period of excitement, the successors of the various evil sects had to face a terrible reality: without powerful masters to protect them, evil sects and demonic cults could never regain their former glory.

Furthermore, they have gone to great lengths in selecting disciples. Their cultivation methods are unpredictable and shocking, easily attracting the attention of righteous sects, and people generally hold extremely hostile attitudes towards unorthodox cultivation methods.

Therefore, the result for disciples of evil sects and demonic cults is often that every promising talent they find is killed off before they can even achieve mastery, due to various reasons.

The current state of evil sects and demonic cults is beyond description! Their members are few and far between; the Blood Transformation Sect is merely one of the two most pathetic, empty-handed evil sects.

Recalling his early days as a disciple of the Blood Transformation Sect, Xue Litian felt a surge of bloodlust. He wished he could dig his dead master out of his grave and drain his lifeblood again!

Back then, Xue Litian was young and ignorant, a dissolute youth, extremely interested in matters of love and sex. Unfortunately, he was naturally sensitive, and would ejaculate prematurely in less than three minutes. As a result, when Xue Litian met his dead master, he was easily swayed by the promises the master made, becoming the sole disciple of the Blood Transformation Sect.

For a while, Xue Litian was quite satisfied with his initial learning of the Blood Transformation Sect's techniques. The sect's methods were not only remarkably effective at absorbing human essence, but also quite adept at controlling it. Spending an hour or two in bed was commonplace.

However, Xue Litian's smugness didn't last long before his damned master informed him that his cultivation had progressed, and his blood energy was beginning to overflow. If he continued to linger in public, he would inevitably attract the attention of many martial artists.

At first, Xue Litian didn't believe it, but a series of chases and near-death experiences in bed finally made him realize the truth.

What was worse, his whereabouts had all been leaked by that damned master…

After countless hardships and trials, Xue Litian finally reached the Refining Spirit Realm, but in the blink of an eye, he was already middle-aged! He never expected that the first thing he would do upon reaching the Refining Spirit Realm would be to inherit the position of sect leader.

It was a night in a secluded spot on the mountain. He was summoned to the window by his master and received the entire cultivation technique of the Blood Transformation Sect, along with the sect leader's token, the Blood Lotus Bone Fan. At that moment, Xue Litian sensed something was amiss. His master, clearly in his prime and at the late-stage Refining Spirit realm, looked utterly lifeless.

His suspicions were confirmed; the old codger had actually forced him to absorb his essence blood, claiming it was for the sect's sake, and left behind some ridiculous sect revitalization plan.

The once-powerful Blood Transformation Sect, one of the evil sects, was now reduced to just the master and disciple. This old codger was practically courting death! Xue Litian was filled with panic, anger, and reluctance, and he vented his frustration on his master.

But then his master gave a bitter laugh, lifting his robes to reveal dark red skin churning with blood. Xue Litian realized that even without absorbing his master's essence blood, he wouldn't live much longer.

Insufficient cultivation level and lacking enough blood to sustain him, forcibly cultivating the Blood Transformation Sect's supreme technique, the Blood Transformation Heaven-Defying Technique, was a stroke of luck that he hadn't exploded on the spot!

Xue Litian shook his head, snapping out of his reverie. He glared fiercely at Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, a ferocious smile spreading across his face: "Hmph! If I hadn't spread the news of an ancient tomb emerging in the Oasis, how would I have attracted the Heavenly Eye Pearl, and brought you fools to my door? Hmph! If I could hold the Heavenly Eye Pearl myself, where would you have gotten your share of the Blood Lotus Ginseng? When I see the Ancestor, I'll make you spit out all the good stuff you have!"

Hearing Xue Litian reveal the truth, exposing the so-called Blood Transformation Sect's revitalization plan, Yang Fan's suspicions were confirmed. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly; indeed, money could corrupt the heart. In truth, he had already sensed something amiss, but his escape hadn't been decisive enough. Otherwise, the group wouldn't have been in such a dangerous situation.

The group gradually ventured deeper into the cave. In the pitch-black cave, some dim light slowly began to appear. The light source came from some talismans on the cave walls, their faint golden-white glow carrying a righteous aura. This made Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng feel refreshed and energetic, but it made Xue Litian feel oppressed, his face full of discomfort.

Some of the talismans still vaguely showed traces of their original color, but many more were so ancient that no trace of their former glory could be seen.

Despite the pain, Xue Litian fixed the Heavenly Eye Bead in Yang Fan's hand with a ball of white substance. He then lifted Yang Fan and used the bead to touch each of the talismans, causing those that still shone to lose their last bit of energy, leaving them completely devoid of light.

They continued forward, destroying countless talismans, gradually approaching the bottom of the cave. At first, Xue Litian destroyed the talismans with ease, but the further they went, the brighter and more powerful the talismans became, making them increasingly difficult to destroy.

Even with his Refining Spirit Realm cultivation, he found it difficult to cope. Fortunately, they were approaching the bottom of the cave; if it had been any deeper, Xue Litian might have given up first.

Rounding the last bend, a sudden burst of light filled their vision, and even with their precautions, the three felt a great sense of unease.

The space at the bottom of the cave was incredibly vast, larger than they had imagined. At the top of the dome, several crystals radiating pure white light were inlaid, illuminating the entire cave floor as bright as day.

Below, however, stood a stone platform in the center. The platform was several meters high, circular in shape, with a stone pillar rising straight to the dome. A withered old man, his beard completely white, sat cross-legged on the platform…

He was naked, with nothing left to cover his body, except for his long beard, which reached down to his knees, providing some modesty.

The old man remained still, showing no signs of distress, but upon seeing Xue Litian dragging Yang Fan and the others, he became excited and couldn't help but stand up. Suddenly, several strange lights of black, red, cyan, yellow, and white shot out from the stones below, striking the old man and causing him to scream in pain, his body clanging loudly.

Yang Fan looked closely and noticed that two silver chains pierced through the old man's shoulder blades and secured him to the stone pillar. No matter how hard the old man tried, he could only move within a one-meter radius of the pillar, unable to cross that distance...

Chapter 371 [The Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon]

Not long after the five-colored light pierced through, a flash of light appeared at the point where the stone pillar connected to the dome, and an immense suction force pulled the old man back to the pillar, clinging tightly to it.

A crystalline line of blood was drawn from the old man's body, rapidly ascending along the pillar, flashing briefly at the dome, then transforming into five rays of light—black, red, blue, yellow, and white—which swiftly slid down the cave wall and disappeared into the ground in the blink of an eye.

Xue Litian swallowed hard, staring at the old man slowly slumping down from the stone pillar. He stammered, "Ancestor... Ancestor Xue Lian?"

The old man barely opened his eyes, coldly glancing at Xue Litian before angrily shouting, "You fool, who else could it be but me? Hmph! Let me ask you, what year is it now? Which emperor is in power?"

Seeing the old man's anger, Xue Litian broke out in a cold sweat and quickly knelt down, recounting the current situation and the history of the Blood Transformation Sect over the past few hundred years.

After listening to Xue Litian's story, Xue Lianzi remained silent for a long time before sighing and saying, "I never expected that being trapped here by that old bastard Tian Xingzi would take hundreds of years. I'm just a newly awakened Void Returning Martial Artist. I was just an insignificant little demon hundreds of years ago, but I've actually become an ancestor, the Blood Lotus Ancestor! Ahahaha,"

the Blood Lotus Ancestor was indeed laughing, but everyone could hear how much resentment, indignation, and helplessness were contained within it.

After laughing for a long time, the Blood Lotus Ancestor finally stopped and muttered, "No wonder, no wonder those old fogies from the so-called righteous sects five hundred years ago were scavenging for good things everywhere, even the four forbidden lands! It turns out they knew what was going to happen, they knew a great calamity would occur in the human world. Those so-called old fogies from the so-called righteous sects are truly despicable. If it weren't for your sealing, perhaps our evil sect would still have a chance to prosper!"

Blood Litian listened with his head down for a long time, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Ancestor, what are you referring to as the calamity in the human world?"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor glanced at him and snorted, "Do you know about the Dragon-Slaying Calamity?"

Blood Litian looked at the Blood Lotus Ancestor with some confusion and shook his head helplessly. Wan Tiancheng, however, was intrigued and interjected, "Could it be the Dragon-Slaying Battle of over four hundred years ago, where the sword determined heaven, earth, and humanity, severing the spiritual veins of heaven and earth?"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor gave a soft exclamation, saying, "You little brat, you do have some knowledge. Indeed! It was that damned Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect that caused this calamity. However, I was sealed away early and never had the chance to witness it myself, otherwise…!"

Seeing Wan Tiancheng praised, Xue Litian's face darkened, and he glared at him with a hint of jealousy, saying, "Ancestor, why waste words with these two condemned prisoners? Why not have them quickly remove your seal and absorb their essence to help you recover your power?"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor gave Xue Litian a deep look, until his face paled, before bursting into laughter, "That's fine! That old scoundrel Tianxingzi dared to try and use the Five Elements Reincarnation Array to dissolve my essence and cultivate a…" The Blood Lotus ginseng and lotus root left a legacy for his Five Elements Sect. Little did he know, such selfishness would save me, the old ancestor, from calamity! Hahaha, go, let those two brats help me break the restrictions and help the old ancestor escape!"

Seeing that the Blood Lotus Ancestor agreed, Blood Litian was also delighted. He chuckled and walked up to Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, saying, "You two shouldn't blame us for being ruthless. Who told you to be so greedy? You deserve your bad luck! However, being able to witness the beginning of the Blood Transformation Sect's resurgence is also your good fortune. Remember, break the restrictions honestly, and I guarantee you two will die a quick and painless death. Otherwise, hmph! The Blood Transformation Sect's methods will make you two regret ever having been born into this world!"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor was initially somewhat displeased to see that Blood Litian wasn't even a Void Returning Martial Artist yet, but he didn't expect Blood Litian to be so eloquent. His words even made him secretly nod in agreement.

Wan Tiancheng snorted angrily and roared, "Don't even think about it! Even if we die, don't expect us to release that old demon to wreak havoc on the world!"

Yang Fan shook his head inwardly, thinking, "You're being too impatient! Even if you think that, why don't you just say it out loud! That old man calls himself a human demon, which means he's obviously stronger than an ordinary martial artist. He's been trapped here for a hundred years, yet he managed to capture the two of us with just one move. He's not someone to be trifled with. Finding an opportunity to escape is the right thing to do, but you insist on being so quick-witted. You'll have to suffer some physical pain!"

Xue Litian was indeed furious. He put away the Blood Lotus Bone Fan, pulled and stroked it, and the Blood Lotus Bone Fan turned into a long, blood-red whip covered in barbs.

"You're quite tough, aren't you? I'd like to see how many times you can withstand the Blood Demon Bone-Scraping Whip!"

"Oh!"

Xue Litian shouted and lashed out with the whip, striking Wan Tiancheng. The barbs pierced his body, producing a series of ear-piercing screeching sounds.

Yang Fan felt a chill run down his spine, thinking to himself: This whip's name is terrifying; could it really be scraping bones? Looking at Wan Tiancheng's face, it was turning pale and bluish-white, his body convulsing uncontrollably. His throat was tightly gripped by the whip's end, preventing him from shouting, and his face was ashen.

Just one lash, and Wan Tiancheng was already like this; if a few more lashes followed, wouldn't he be crippled? Yang Fan was anxious and quickly said, "Sect Leader Xue, please wait. Why don't you release me first, and I'll break the ancestral seal for you?"

"You?"

Xue Litian glanced at Yang Fan, his expression softening slightly, but a sense of apprehension remained. Yang Fan appeared to be only at the Qi Movement Realm, yet his methods were unpredictable. Hiding in the shadows, he thought he had Yang Fan completely under his control, but when he actually tried to stop him, he almost fell into a trap.

Seeing Xue Litian's hesitation and inability to make a decision, the Blood Lotus Ancestor grew extremely impatient: "Litian brat, you are supposed to be the current sect leader of my Blood Transformation Sect, how can you be so indecisive? A mere Qi Movement Realm cultivator has frightened you like this. You're not even as good as a woman! I will remove the Soul-Stabilizing Blood Threads from him. With me here, what is there to worry about?"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor had already concluded that Xue Litian, aside from his eloquence, was mediocre in every other aspect, especially his courage, which was truly lacking.

Seeing the Blood Lotus Ancestor's anger, Xue Litian could only smile obsequiously and agree, secretly raising his guard. Without any apparent effort, the Blood Lotus Ancestor removed the Soul-Stabilizing Blood Threads from Yang Fan, and also collected the threads from Wan Tiancheng and Gu Feifei along with them.

Strangely enough, the Blood Lotus Ancestor's previously emaciated face regained some color after removing the Soul-Stabilizing Blood Threads, appearing much healthier.

Releasing Yang Fan from the Soul-Stabilizing Blood Threads, the Blood Lotus Ancestor said, "Boy, go to the east and north, to the five directions, and break the talisman paper there one by one. I don't care what method you use, but if you can't finish within three quarters of an hour, beware of my methods!"

Yang Fan agreed, but his mind raced, desperately searching for an escape plan. The Blood Lotus Ancestor was already so powerful; if he were released, who knew how powerful he would become? If possible, he certainly couldn't let him out!

The thought had barely crossed Yang Fan's mind when he hesitated. The Blood Lotus Ancestor's Soul-Fixing Blood Silk was so powerful that it had rendered him and Wan Tiancheng helpless, immobilizing them in place. If they didn't release him, they would not only suffer greatly but also lose their chance to escape!

"It seems the only opportunity is at the moment the restriction is about to break!"

After careful consideration, Yang Fan finally had a plan. The key to escaping this place lay with the Blood Lotus Ancestor. If he didn't loosen his grip on him and Wan Tiancheng, their escape would be virtually impossible!

The only solution now was to help the Blood Lotus Ancestor break the restriction. Once the last restriction was broken, they could quickly lead Wan Tiancheng and the others away—this was their only chance!

Having made his decision, Yang Fan walked to the first direction the Blood Lotus Ancestor had indicated: due east.

Standing at the spot indicated by the Blood Lotus Ancestor, Yang Fan gathered his true energy, attempting to send it towards the Heavenly Eye Pearl. However, the result surprised him slightly. The true energy, originally intended for the Heavenly Eye Pearl, suddenly deflected at his left hand, flowing entirely towards the string of five-colored beads!

With the aid of Yang Fan's full inner strength, the string of five-colored beads flashed slightly, and a strong azure light shot up from the ground, fiercely striking Yang Fan before instantly disappearing into the beads.

"Eh? Boy, you have quite the skill! I thought you'd have to go through a lot of trouble, but I didn't expect you to break through the first barrier in the blink of an eye! Good! Quickly break the barrier, and I won't forget some of your favors!"

Seeing Yang Fan's swift actions, the Blood Lotus Ancestor didn't think too much; his heart was already filled with joy. Breaking the barrier was in sight, escaping the confinement was in sight, and he was about to reclaim his long-lost freedom. There was no time to think about anything else!

Xue Litian felt a slight doubt, but since the Blood Lotus Ancestor was in a good mood, he dared not offend the ancestor.

Yang Fan walked to the due north direction again. This time, he didn't channel his true energy into the Heavenly Eye Pearl, but instead poured all his true energy into the five-colored beads.

Sure enough, the same thing happened. A strong black light rose from the ground and flowed directly into the string of five-colored beads in Yang Fan's hand.

After absorbing the red and white light, Yang Fan secretly glanced at the five-colored beads on his wrist and was surprised to find that, except for the yellow bead, the other four beads had undergone tremendous changes.

Each bead was enveloped in a halo of light, as if covered by a dazzling light shield. Within the light barrier, water, fire, metal, and wood were constantly being generated and extinguished, creating a magnificent spectacle. A strange thought suddenly arose in Yang Fan's mind: "Could it be that the so-called demon beast inner core is actually just a part of a magic artifact? If that's true, doesn't that mean demon beasts are actually man-made?"

This guess, while somewhat plausible, wasn't entirely correct; however, the method had long been lost in the mortal realm. Martial artists naturally regarded demon beasts as a powerful tonic, no less potent than spiritual herbs.

Yang Fan's slight hesitation immediately displeased the Blood Lotus Ancestor.

"Hey brat, you've already broken all four suppressing talismans! What are you standing there for? Hurry up! Hurry up! Release the Ancestor as soon as possible so I can give you some benefits! Wahahahaha!"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor couldn't help but stand up, his whole body trembling with unbridled laughter.

Yang Fan subtly signaled to Wan Tiancheng and his companions. As he moved towards the last talisman paper, Wan Tiancheng and his group quietly shifted their positions, adjusting their distance from Yang Fan to the minimum.

Xue Litian noticed their movements but didn't pay them any mind. With the Blood Lotus Ancestor present, even a fly trying to fly in or out would have to consider the old man's mood. Wan Tiancheng was a large man; how could he escape the old man's notice with even the slightest movement?

Yang Fan didn't know if the Blood Lotus Ancestor was happy, but as long as he and Xue Litian didn't immediately stop Wan Tiancheng, the two of them had a chance. Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, Yang Fan moved quickly towards the last talisman paper.

The Blood Lotus Ancestor had been wary of Yang Fan, and having longed for freedom for hundreds of years, he was about to obtain it; he wouldn't allow any mishaps.

Seeing that Yang Fan wasn't trying to escape but instead quickening his pace to break the seal, he was slightly taken aback, but a sense of relief washed over him. He licked his lips, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

"This kid is so obedient, I really can't bear to devour his essence blood! But alas, my essence blood is severely depleted. If it's not replenished, I might not last until next year before I die from depleted essence blood. Kid, on your way to the Yellow Springs, you can only blame your bad luck, not your ancestor!"

Following the previous steps, Yang Fan reached the last talisman paper, withdrew the last yellow light, and immediately pounced on Wan Tiancheng, grabbing the others. Everyone in the cave, including him, hadn't expected that the disappearance of the yellow light would cause such an unexpected event.

Yang Fan only had time to grab Wan Tiancheng and hadn't had time to make any further moves when a violent tremor shook the cave. The normally flat ground collapsed, revealing a fiery red crack beneath.

"Old man Tianxing is truly cunning, actually connecting the Five Elements Reincarnation Array with the Earth Fire. Once the array breaks, it will cause the Earth Fire to surge!"

On the stone pillar, the Blood Lotus Ancestor suddenly struggled to break free from the two silver-white chains binding him, his face full of anger.

The ground was constantly sinking, and in no time, the Earth Fire would fill this cave. If they didn't escape in time, even with his Void Returning Realm strength, he might perish at any moment.

"Hmph! Grab those brats and take them with you!"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor had barely finished speaking when he noticed something strange happening to Yang Fan as well.

A black and gold light shield suddenly bloomed from his left hand, protecting him and Wan Tiancheng inside. Outside the light shield, nine golden-white flames flickered, slowly rotating around it.

That's not all. Even without Blood Lotus Ancestor straining his eyes, he could see that Yang Fan was wearing what looked like a yellow armor, with another layer of protection covering him at some point. Above the light barrier, countless golden rays flickered, appearing and disappearing as they went. Anyone who got even slightly close would be met with a barrage of sword energy.

What's even more infuriating is that a green carpet suddenly appeared out of thin air where Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng had landed, lifting them up slowly...

Chapter 372 [Cause and Effect]

Just by looking at this, Blood Lotus Ancestor knew that it was absolutely impossible to touch Yang Fan again.

"Good! Good! You actually have the Glazed Golden Body, the Cai Shui Two-Level Qi Shield, the Purple Gold Fire Flame, the Invisible Sword Qi, and the Sky-Supporting Earth-Suppressing Armor Vine. With these five treasures in hand, I can't touch you! Old bastard Tianxing, you really have good methods. You actually separated the five treasures of the Five Elements Sect and hid the treasure souls in the talisman paper. No wonder I couldn't escape even with that good opportunity two hundred years ago!"

"Go!"

Blood Lotus Ancestor endured the humiliation and shouted this word, but he didn't expect that his decision was still a little too late.

Five strange lights—black, red, green, yellow, and white—condensed above Yang Fan's head and suddenly attacked, striking Blood Lotus Ancestor's heart.

Unexpected events struck one after another. The Blood Lotus Ancestor, who had just escaped his confinement, was clearly struggling to process what was happening. Before he could react, he was struck by the five-colored light.

The five-colored light condensed above Yang Fan's head was far more powerful than the one created by extracting the Blood Lotus Ancestor's essence blood. With a single blow, the Blood Lotus Ancestor staggered backward, a tightness in his chest causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood. His already withered body was further shattered by the impact of the five-colored light, blood seeping continuously from various parts.

"Good! Good for you, Tianxingzi! Even after escaping your tribulation, you didn't forget to leave behind so many methods to restrain your ancestor! If it weren't for the thin spiritual energy in the world after the Dragon-Slaying Tribulation, and the fact that your Five Elements Reincarnation Array was no longer supported and its power was less than one-tenth of its peak, the day you escaped today might have been the day your ancestor died! Alas, man proposes, God disposes. When your ancestor recovers, it will be the day your Five Elements Sect is destroyed!"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor roared, the blood seeping from his body condensing and not dispersing, even the mouthful of essence blood he spat out didn't fall to the ground, tightly surrounding him and condensing into a ball of blood.

"Li Tian, you brat, come here!" The change happened so suddenly that Xue Li Tian didn't even have time to react before he saw the Blood Lotus Ancestor being hit by a ball of five-colored light, his body instantly becoming dilapidated and seemingly on the verge of death.

Xue Litian vaguely felt a sense of familiarity with the appearance of the Blood Lotus Ancestor. Seeing the Blood Lotus Ancestor's grim expression, which seemed to indicate a desire to entrust his son to someone else, Xue Litian felt both sorrow and a secret joy.

"Could it be that the Ancestor is preparing to give me his life essence, to help me advance one or two realms before he dies?"

At this thought, Xue Litian couldn't help but feel a little tempted, but unconsciously feigned reluctance.

"Ancestor, it's alright. Even if Li Tian risks his life, he will bring you out of this deadly place. You don't need to use the method of inheriting the essence blood right away." The Blood Lotus Ancestor was slightly taken aback. Two glints of light flashed in his eyes, which were mostly covered by long white eyebrows. He didn't want to inherit any essence blood at all, but rather planned to use Xue Li Tian's essence blood to recover...

Originally, the Blood Lotus Ancestor felt a little guilty about making this decision. He secretly resolved not to erase Xue Li Tian's primordial spirit, but to help him recover after he was freed and a suitable body was found. However, Xue Li Tian's words violated his taboo.

"Cough! Cough!"

In order not to alert Xue Li Tian, the Blood Lotus Ancestor simply coughed twice, making himself look even weaker: "Li Tian, I can't hold on any longer. The earth fire has already surged up. You need to hurry, otherwise, my Blood Transformation Sect will be wiped out today, cough cough..."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Xue Li Tian couldn't help but be overjoyed. He no longer cared about hiding himself and quickly ran over.

Unexpectedly, the Blood Lotus Ancestor's expression hardened. The instant Xue Litian approached, his entire body exploded! All his essence and blood surged into the blood sphere, which then expanded outwards, transforming into a blood-red robe that enveloped Xue Litian, turning him into a blood-soaked, indistinct figure.

"Blood Escape Possession! Ancestor, you…you've harmed me,"

Xue Litian only managed to utter these last words before his eyes closed, his body convulsing, and he instantly breathed his last.

A short while later, the blood-red robe covering Xue Litian contracted inwards, then expanded outwards again, now resting behind his tailbone, like a suddenly appearing tail fin.

Xue Litian opened his eyes again, but his divine light was no longer the same. Although his physical body remained, he had become the Blood Lotus Ancestor!

"Alas! A mere Refining Spirit Realm body is nowhere near as resilient as my human-demon body, which has been tempered through countless trials. What a pity! The Five Elements Sect's five great martial treasures are indeed extraordinary. The Five Elements Transformation Divine Light released when they converge is truly powerful. If I hadn't promptly removed my essence and primordial spirit from my body, I might have perished here!"

After disdainfully looking down on Xue Litian's body, the Blood Lotus Ancestor turned to look at Yang Fan, who was completely enveloped by the Five Elements Sect's five treasures, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty: "You two have quite the nerve, not taking this opportunity to leave. Let you both know that you must remember this grudge. As long as I am here, I will ensure that you two never have a peaceful day!"

The Blood Lotus Ancestor snorted, and the tail feathers behind his tailbone suddenly spread open. With a sudden burst of speed, he instantly escaped the cave and disappeared.

Yang Fan couldn't help but smile bitterly. He was hardly a coward. Didn't he want to take this opportunity to leave? It was clearly that damned Five-Colored Pearl that suddenly flared up, draining all his true energy and causing such a huge commotion, not to mention blasting the Blood Lotus Ancestor with a blow.

It did destroy the Blood Lotus Ancestor's demonic body, but it didn't kill him, leaving him with a means to stage a good show of possession!

"Hmph! So what if you were once a demon? Now that you've possessed Xue Litian's body, you're just a peak Refining Spirit martial artist! It's not even certain who will reach the Returning Void realm first, what am I afraid of you for!" Yang Fan

snorted, a surge of pride rising in his chest.

"Cough... Young Master Yang, how... how can we leave this place?"

Wan Tiancheng was already stunned by the series of unexpected events, only managing to regain his senses after a long while, only to see Yang Fan merely pulling him along, surrounded by five-colored strange light, without making any other movement.

Yang Fan, looking at the five-colored strange light surrounding him, was also quite helpless. The Five Elements Sect's magical treasures were indeed powerful, but they wouldn't obey Yang Fan's commands, hovering around his body, leaving him at a loss.

Countless bursts of subterranean fire erupted, instantly filling the entire cave. However, Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng were protected by a level-two aura shield from Cai Shui, rendering the fierce fire useless against them.

"If only I could move to that stone platform, perhaps I could find a way to escape!"

The thought had barely formed in Yang Fan's mind when he felt a tremor run through his body. He was drawn towards the stone pillar, the level-two aura shield from Cai Shui seemingly nonexistent, failing to stop him.

Just as they were about to collide, a gentle force suddenly appeared on the pillar, lifting them up. Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng felt a lightness on their bodies and landed on the stone platform.

The stone pillar flashed with light, slowly fading its outer stone color to reveal a hollow section. Inside, a talisman surrounded by five-colored light appeared. The talisman was about a foot long and six inches wide, densely covered with what seemed to be many writings.

Just as Yang Fan stood still, the talisman floated over and affixed itself to his brow. It flickered, and Yang Fan tried to dodge, but found that the talisman, enveloped in five-colored light, had shrunk to a tiny piece and remained firmly attached to his brow the moment he tried to move.

A stream of information entered Yang Fan's mind, and in an instant, he seemed to understand many things. However, the sheer volume of information overwhelmed him, and he couldn't process it all.

But one piece of information immediately surfaced in Yang Fan's mind. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his head, he smiled at Wan Tiancheng and said, "Brother Wan, don't worry, this subterranean fire poses no threat to us. Let's wait a while; we'll leave from above in a bit!"

Wan Tiancheng agreed, but his expression was somewhat strange as he stared at the ceiling. The dome was inlaid with crystals; with a martial artist's eyesight, almost every crack and blemish could be seen. The

raging subterranean fire around him was negligible, but where was there a passage to escape from that solid dome?

Although Wan Tiancheng was puzzled, since Yang Fan had spoken, he couldn't say anything and could only wait quietly.

After a long while, Yang Fan felt a relaxation between his brows; finally, no more information was being transmitted. He touched his brow, but felt nothing. It seemed that after all the information had been transmitted, the talisman had disappeared on its own.

Yang Fan shook his head slightly, no longer thinking about the talisman, and instead began to organize the vast amount of information he had received.

That talisman was also left behind by Tian Xingzi, a senior of the Five Elements Sect. It contained extremely rich content, including all the fundamental martial arts techniques of the Five Elements Sect, from the basics to the sect's ultimate cultivation method. Not only that, but some information about the "Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon" was also left behind...

In fact, even Tian Xingzi didn't fully understand the so-called Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon. He only vaguely knew that the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon covered the entire China, and even the entire world. In the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, not only were all the sects and factions of the martial arts world involved, but even those reclusive sects with Hunyuan masters at their helm emerged and participated!

The most obvious example is the Buddhist realm, which was the most obvious representative of the fragmentation during the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon. Not only that, but various realms such as the Yin-Yang Realm, the Ghost Realm, the Sound Realm, the Flower Realm, the Jade Realm, the Qingxiao Holy Land, the Tianxin Pavilion, the Lingbao Realm, the Thunder Realm, the Xiaoyao Mansion, the Chunyang Cave, and so on, all participated. The

Yin-Yang Hehuan Sect, the Evil Emperor Palace, the Youming Devouring Ghost Sect, the Yueyin Sect, the Baihua Sect, the Zhiyu Palace, the Qingxiao Dao Sect, the Tianxin Pavilion, the Lingbao Qinxin Sect, the Tianlei Sword Sect, the Xiaoyao Gate, and the Chunyang Sect, these super martial arts holy lands, were also drawn into it.

The true cause of the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon was unknown to Tian Xingzi. His strength was insufficient to comprehend its true meaning. He only knew that countless holy lands vanished, countless sects were destroyed, and countless masters perished. Even sects with powerful Hunyuan masters were not spared.

Furthermore, after the calamity, all sects unanimously chose to retreat into seclusion, gradually fading from the mortal world. Not only that, but after the calamity, the spiritual veins of heaven and earth in the mortal realm were severely damaged, and the spiritual energy of the Nine Provinces was almost completely depleted. It was precisely because of this that the strength of martial artists in the mortal world suddenly shrank dramatically. Not only Hunyuan masters, but even Returning Void masters became legends; as for Hunyuan masters, they were practically nonexistent myths!

The sword severed the spiritual veins of heaven and earth, and from then on, there were no more true dragons in the mortal realm—this was the true depiction of the "Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon"! Countless martial artists died in this calamity.

The Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon brought about another catastrophe, drastically reducing the number of martial artists in the world, to the point that they were almost impossible to find.

Those who remained fought fiercely for training grounds and the magical treasures and spiritual herbs left after the calamity. Many sects were even wiped out for a single magical treasure, a single spiritual herb, or a training ground!

The oasis, originally the location of the Blood Transformation Sect, was attacked by the Five Elements Sect. Aside from the sect leader's hasty escape, all the other sect disciples were slaughtered, and even the sect gates and buildings were burned to the ground.

The Blood Lotus Seed, the highest-ranking member of the Blood Transformation Sect, was captured by Tian Xingzi, trapped by the Five Elements Reincarnation Array and the Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chains, and its essence blood was extracted to nourish the Blood Lotus ginseng root. The

Blood Lotus, however, was merely an ordinary creature; it would willingly consume any flesh and blood of a martial artist. In comparison, the Blood Lotus Ginseng was far superior, a mutated variety that disdained consuming the flesh and blood of martial artists. It could absorb spiritual energy and earth energy on its own, nourishing itself with a unique and wondrous process.

However, with the Great Calamity of the Dragon Slaying, the mortal realm lost its spiritual energy, relying solely on earth energy for nourishment; the Blood Lotus Ginseng was destined to wither sooner or later. Tian Xingzi, unwilling to see such a spiritual object destroyed, had a flash of inspiration. He used the Blood Lotus Ancestor as fertilizer, trapping it with the Five Elements Reincarnation Array and the Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chains, thus nourishing the Blood Lotus Ginseng.

Furthermore, to prevent the escaped Blood Transformation Sect Master from returning, Tian Xingzi set up a deadly array outside the oasis. He also disassembled the five two-star martial treasures of the Five Elements Sect, placing their shells inside four demonic beasts and locking their souls in talisman paper to prevent the Blood Lotus Ancestor from escaping.

Meanwhile, fearing the Five Elements Sect might lose its lineage in the mortal realm, Tian Xingzi also placed a map of the oasis and inferior versions of the sect's five major protective techniques in a mountain cave, leaving them for someone destined to possess them.

Having gathered this information, Yang Fan glanced at Wan Tiancheng, shaking his head and smiling bitterly. Senior Tian Xingzi had gone to so much trouble, only to have it all benefit Yang Fan.

If he knew that the Five Elements Sect had ultimately lost its lineage in the mortal realm, and that the one who ultimately benefited wasn't even a member of the Five Elements Sect, what kind of expression would he have?

Originally, Yang Fan couldn't control the Five Elements Sect's five martial treasures, but after receiving the "inheritance talisman" left by Tian Xingzi, the five martial treasures were officially in Yang Fan's hands, and he could no longer give them away!

Yang Fan felt uneasy, knowing that the opportunity originally belonging to Wan Tiancheng had been taken away. His gaze fell on the two "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chains" still gleaming on the ground, and a thought stirred within him…

Chapter 373 [A Game Within a Game, A Game Within a Game]

"Brother Wan, pick up those two silver chains. I'll teach you how to use them."

Wan Tiancheng picked them up as instructed, but his expression was strange. Clearly, he didn't have much affection for these two chains that bound people.

Yang Fan didn't explain, but simply smiled slightly. He rubbed his index and middle fingers together and flicked Wan Tiancheng's forehead, transmitting the usage of the "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chains" to him.

This move was also a technique of the Five Elements Sect, called "Five Elements Transmission of Power." With any one of the five sect's treasured artifacts in hand, one could easily use it without any loss to one's own cultivation, making it a superior method of transferring power.

With this technique in hand, and having also acquired the complete set of martial arts techniques from the Five Elements Sect, Yang Fan felt a surge of excitement. With these things in hand, he could naturally gather unparalleled power. However, this wasn't the most important thing. What was important was that Dongfang Lan and the others' cultivation was also settled!

Wan Tiancheng sorted through the martial arts manuals Yang Fan had given him, and his heart couldn't help but tremble. This "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chains" seemed insignificant, but it was actually a magic weapon! It was only slightly lower in level than the five great martial treasures, but when truly used, it was almost invincible among those of the same level!

The martial arts manual that came with the "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chains" was called the "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Eight Formations Song." Don't underestimate these two small silver chains; when refined to the extreme, they could easily transform into eight great formations, killing and trapping enemies invisibly—a very convenient weapon for slaughter! After

passing on the "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Eight Formations Song," Yang Fan didn't want to pass on any other techniques to Wan Tiancheng. It wasn't that he didn't trust him, but rather that techniques shouldn't be passed on lightly. Wan Tiancheng had been by his side for a while without achieving any merit, yet he had already gained many benefits. If he were given other cultivation techniques, he might become complacent, feeling that benefits came too easily and failing to appreciate them.

Unbeknownst to him, Yang Fan's mind had matured, and he had begun to consider issues from the perspective of a superior.

After Wan Tiancheng became familiar with the "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Eight Formations Song," he manipulated it. One of the silver chains pierced through the "Cai Shui Two-Level Qi Shield" and landed in the earth fire. It immediately began to split, one becoming two, two becoming four, until it reached sixty-four silver chains, which absorbed countless earth fires, transforming into a fire formation.

The various transformations and endless techniques within, even after a brief demonstration, astonished Wan Tiancheng. Wan Tiancheng quickly prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "Young Master Yang, such a rare treasure is too much for me to accept! Since following you, I have received many benefits without having accomplished anything. If it were anything else, I would accept it willingly and repay you with my life in the future. But this Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chain is far too precious. Please take it back, Young Master Yang!"

Yang Fan smiled faintly and said, "When have you ever seen me take back something I've given away? I didn't even take back the Blood Lotus I gave to Liu Rufeng, let alone yours?"

Yang Fan only touched upon the matter briefly before smiling and remaining silent. While he couldn't tell Wan Tiancheng the real reason, taking the opportunity to win him over was simply part of the plan.

Upon hearing Yang Fan mention Liu Rufeng, Wan Tiancheng's mind shifted, and he no longer had any intention of backing down. Indeed! Even someone as fickle as Liu Rufeng hadn't had his favor revoked by Yang Fan. He was determined to follow him and achieve something that would shake the martial arts world, so why bother with this back-and-forth, lest he annoy the other party!

"Since that's the case, Young Master Yang, I'm truly unworthy! From now on, whatever your orders, I will be your vanguard!"

Hearing Wan Tiancheng's resounding vow, Yang Fan smiled slightly and nodded, offering further reassurance.

Having received the "Soul-Suppressing Blood-Locking Chains" left by the Five Elements Sect's senior, Tian Xingzi, they had already cleaned up. Their final resting place was on the central stone pillar.

Yang Fan activated the light shield surrounding him and projected it onto the stone pillar. Instantly, a dazzling yellow light flashed, enveloping Yang Fan, Wan Tiancheng, and the others. The other four-colored lights abruptly converged on Yang Fan, and the group felt a sudden darkness before their eyes. They moved slightly, and when they opened their eyes again, they were on the oasis.

Standing on the oasis, Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng exchanged a smile. A thought suddenly occurred to Yang Fan, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

The cave that had trapped the Blood Lotus Ancestor was filled with earth fire inside and fraught with danger outside. Although he was called an ancestor, without the Heavenly Eye Pearl to clear a path, getting out wouldn't be so easy. Yang Fan's guess unfortunately came true...

After fighting with the ferocious beasts that leaped out of the desert and devouring some blood, the somewhat tired and disheveled Blood Lotus Ancestor returned to the cave to check again, hoping to find the Heavenly Eye Pearl to escape.

Not only was the subterranean fire engulfing the entire cave, but it was also gradually spreading outwards. Helpless, he could only retreat back to the cave entrance to continue fighting the ferocious beasts leaping from the desert.

This cave in the oasis was originally a hidden troop shelter for the Blood Transformation Sect, with its own set of arrangements. However, that old devil Tian Xingzi destroyed it all and then added other arrangements. The location was excellent, but now it had become a cage trapping the Blood Lotus Ancestor!

After killing another batch of ferocious beasts, the Blood Lotus Ancestor's rage grew uncontrollable, his eyes gradually turning bloodshot, and a mad idea arose in his mind.

"Old Ghost Tianxing, and those two brats. If I, Blood Lotus Seed, escape this calamity, I will never let the three of you go! My Blood Transformation Sect has countless methods waiting for you, and I will make you suffer a painful death!"

"You're the ones who forced me into this. Originally, I didn't want to go to that place, but since you're pressing me so relentlessly, I have no choice but to risk entering. Back then, the Five Elements Sect attacked my Blood Transformation Sect because they knew information about that place. However, even after they destroyed my Blood Transformation Sect, they didn't get a single clue!"

"You must know, only the successive sect leaders know about that place. In other words, only I, the patriarch, know about it. Old Ghost Tianxing, do you think it's so easy to get information about that place from me?"

"Hmph, fortune favors the bold. My Blood Transformation Sect has prepared for hundreds of years, and with my own research over the years, we have at least a 50% chance of success in that place. Now the world has changed drastically. After the Dragon-Slaying Calamity, many masters have been lost, and even Primordial Realm masters are rarely seen. With just a few Returning Void masters, as long as I regain my strength, the entire world will be mine!"

Thinking this, the Blood Lotus Ancestor seemed to already see himself roaming the world, rarely encountering an opponent, able to go anywhere in the world, standing at the pinnacle of the entire world, becoming the supreme ruler of the entire martial world!

With a roar, the Blood Lotus Ancestor leaped into the desert, creating gusts of bloody wind with each leap, and he himself disappeared into the depths of the desert…

"Young Master Yang, now that things are clear and the Blood Lotus Ancestor has escaped, this place has become a dangerous place. I think we should leave this dangerous place as soon as possible?"

Elsewhere, Wan Tiancheng whispered to Yang Fan.

"Leave? It's not time yet!"

Yang Fan desperately wanted to leave this dangerous place. He now knew the truth: it was all a conspiracy by the Blood Lotus Ancestor, with Wan Tiancheng and others merely pawns. Logically, at this point, staying here seemed pointless. However, even if Yang Fan wanted to leave, as he said, it wasn't the right time.

Why was Yang Fan here? Why did the base issue this emergency mission? All of this was because of the news about the ancient tomb, because of those archaeologists. Their mission wasn't about the tomb itself, but about finding those archaeologists!

Finding even one archaeologist would complete the mission. This mission seemed simple, but Yang Fan found it incredibly difficult! No wonder the base's higher-ups issued such a mission; perhaps they already knew something about the inner tomb!

Of course, this was just Yang Fan's speculation, but so far, he hadn't found a single archaeologist, and his understanding of the place deepened, making him increasingly lose faith in the mission.

On the other hand, Yang Fan hadn't been unaware that in such a dangerous place, even martial arts masters, let alone archaeologists who didn't know any martial arts, could perish at any moment. Therefore, the possibility that all the archaeologists had perished couldn't be ruled out. However, regardless, their mission was to find them, and he couldn't leave until he was truly certain that all the archaeologists had died!

"Not the right time?"

Hearing Yang Fan's words, Wan Tiancheng initially wanted to ask why, but then he thought better of it and held back. Since he had already accepted the other party's identity as his master, some things could be said, but some questions couldn't be asked, nor did they need to be!

The oasis, boundless and verdant, with its fragrant grasses and fallen petals, was a fertile land in the vast desert, like a beautiful pearl embedded in the desert sea, shimmering with magical colors.

Beneath the desert lay abundant water sources, with underground rivers flowing through it. The water in these underground rivers originates from the high mountains near the oases, where thick layers of snow and ice accumulate. In summer, the melting snow flows through the valleys and into the lower reaches of the desert, disappearing between layers of sand and clay to form underground rivers. This groundwater nourishes the desert vegetation and provides drinking water for humans and livestock, bringing life to the desert and creating numerous oases.

The oasis where Yang Fan and his companions were located wasn't particularly large, but it was certainly not small either. Even a martial artist, let alone an ordinary person, wouldn't be able to traverse the entire oasis in less than a week or two. Moreover, the oasis was teeming with demonic beasts and countless deadly formations; a slight misstep could be fatal!

They spent three days exploring the oasis, carefully avoiding every possible danger. However, to their bewilderment, in those three days, Yang Fan hadn't seen a single demonic beast, or even an animal!

Although they chose relatively remote routes, it was highly unusual to find no life in this place teeming with demonic beasts.

Moreover, in these three days, Yang Fan and his group hadn't encountered a single martial artist entering the oasis. This situation was vastly different from last time! Yang Fan estimated that there were at least several thousand, if not ten thousand, martial artists entering the oasis this time, and that was a conservative estimate!

It's important to know that all the martial artists in the secular world of China who received the news came here. Sects like the Qingcheng Sect and the Changbai Sword Sect also sent disciples, bringing the total to no less than a thousand. Add to that the hundreds of martial artists at the base, and some forces unknown to Yang Fan—who knows how many people were implicated in the Blood Lotus Ancestor's conspiracy? Yet

now, with so many martial artists and so many demonic beasts, Yang Fan and his group hadn't encountered a single one. To call this a coincidence was far too coincidental.

Reflecting on what he had seen and heard over the past three days, Yang Fan suddenly stopped.

"Brother Yang, what's wrong?"

Seeing Yang Fan stop, Gu Feifei, who had rarely spoken, suddenly asked.

"Something seems a little off?"

Yang Fan whispered.

"Something off? What's wrong?"

Hearing this, Gu Feifei's clear eyes widened.

"It's too quiet!"

Before Yang Fan could speak, Su Xin beside him had already spoken!

"Too quiet?"

"Yes, it's too quiet, eerily quiet!"

"Eerily quiet? I don't feel it."

"Haven't you noticed that we haven't seen a single living person, let alone a demonic beast, along the way?"

"But didn't we deliberately choose a secluded route, specifically taking routes with few people?"

"Even the most secluded route can't be completely devoid of people. Besides, there are so many martial artists here. Have you forgotten our previous experiences? Also, we haven't encountered a single demonic beast, let alone seen a single living being. Don't you find this situation abnormal?"

"Well... it really does seem a bit off. It's just too quiet..."

After hearing Su Xin's explanation, Gu Feifei couldn't help but lower her head in deep thought.

Yang Fan had been listening to their conversation with a cold eye. He was somewhat surprised by Su Xin's observational skills. This woman, who seemed to have no physical strength, whether in her medical achievements or other areas of knowledge, was far beyond what ordinary people could compare to!

Putting aside everything else, her observational skills alone were enough to move Yang Fan. It's important to understand that the reason he noticed this difference was because his spiritual sense had recently improved significantly, allowing him to vaguely sense future changes. Furthermore, he had been paying close attention to this issue. He had only suspected it, yet Su Xin had stated it with such certainty!

Among those present, Wan Tiancheng was undoubtedly the most skilled in cultivation. Yet, even a master like Wan Tiancheng hadn't noticed this movement, which Su Xin, a seemingly weak woman, had revealed. Leaving aside Yang Fan, just looking at Wan Tiancheng's expression showed how embarrassed he was!

"It is indeed eerily quiet. It seems the matter of this oasis is far more complex than we imagined. Perhaps even the Blood Lotus Ancestor is merely a pawn in someone else's game! This game is getting more and more interesting!"

Squatting down, Yang Fan picked up a handful of soil, smelled it, and spoke in a barely audible voice. His expression seemed to be speaking to Gu Feifei and the others, yet also like he was talking to himself…

Chapter 374 [Meeting of Acquaintances]

“Brother Yang, what are you smelling? Did you smell anything?”

Seeing Yang Fan’s strange behavior, Gu Feifei asked softly.

“I smelled it!”

“Smell what?”

“The smell of blood, the smell of blood!”

“The smell of blood?”

Hearing this, not only Gu Feifei, but also Wan Tiancheng and the others, grabbed handfuls of soil and brought them to their noses to smell.

“But I can’t smell anything. Did you smell anything?”

“No!”

“No!”

“I smelled it!”

In the three answers, Wan Tiancheng and Lin Feng gave the same and very consistent response, but Su Xin’s answer once again drew everyone’s attention to her.

"I smelled that odor too. In the soil, there's fresh and old smells, human and demonic animal scents! It seems something big has likely happened in this oasis!"

"Indeed, based on our experience over the past three days, something significant has definitely occurred in the oasis. Not only have all the martial artists gathered there, but even the demonic beasts have been drawn there. Although the Blood Lotus Ancestor has said it's all his conspiracy, I still feel he's not the mastermind behind it all, and this place isn't as simple as it seems!"

Through the memories Tian Xingzi left Yang Fan, he learned that this place was once the sect of the Blood Transformation Sect. This entire oasis wasn't naturally formed, but rather a cave dwelling created by a Hunyuan master, later occupied by the Blood Transformation Sect. What puzzled Yang Fan was

why the Five Elements Sect would mobilize its entire force to attack the Blood Transformation Sect. Was it really for some kind of punishment of evil and promotion of good? For the conflict between good and evil? While such possibilities weren't out of the question, Yang Fan felt that things weren't as simple as he imagined.

Yang Fan didn't know much about the Five Elements Sect, but based on his observations over the past few days, he believed that even without a Grandmaster of the Primordial Chaos realm, their strength was no weaker than that of the Qingcheng Sect. Why would such a sect need to wage such a large-scale war against the Blood Transformation Sect?

Furthermore, why didn't Tian Xingzi simply kill the Blood Lotus Ancestor? Was it because he truly couldn't? Or was it because of the Blood Lotus ginseng root, or perhaps there was another reason? Based on what he had witnessed, Yang Fan felt that Tian Xingzi's true reason for suppressing the Blood Lotus Ancestor was not so simple; it seemed as if he was trying to force the other party to reveal some information!

It was precisely because of this that Yang Fan suspected that the Blood Transformation Sect might possess some important secret, and it was precisely this clue that the Five Elements Sect knew, leading to the subsequent conflict…

Suppressing the various doubts in his heart, Yang Fan and his group set off again, but this time, the atmosphere became somewhat heavy. Everyone knew that the road ahead was destined to be turbulent. They hadn't walked far when Yang Fan stopped again…

“There’s fighting ahead!”

Before the others could ask, Yang Fan spoke first.

“Fighting? Should we go around it?”

The group almost blindly trusted Yang Fan. Although none of them sensed any fighting ahead, no one questioned the idea.

“I think we should go check it out. We haven’t encountered a single living person in days. Since there’s fighting ahead, it means there are people. Maybe we can find some clues!”

Su Xin also spoke up.

After a brief discussion, the group set off again. This time, unlike before, there was no emptiness. Along the way, there were constantly remnants of weapons, signs of fighting, and even many severed limbs and fragments of clothing. However, most of them were stained with blood, making it impossible to discern their appearance, let alone find any clues.

As the group continued forward, the amount of debris on the ground increased, including many intact corpses—both demonic beasts and humans. Upon closer inspection, Yang Fan discovered that some belonged to powerful sects, and he even found the insignia of base members!

Although the entire base was divided into countless smaller bases and numerous isolated islands, almost every island was a base, each base's uniforms bore a unique emblem, making them easily identifiable regardless of their clothing.

"How could there be base members here? Logically, this place has been cleared several times by the Refining God martial artists, with all martial artists below the Qi Movement level removed from the oasis. Most of the base's participants in this mission are newcomers, with average strength below the Qi Movement level, many even only at the Nascent Soul stage or ordinary martial artists. How could they still be here?"

Recognizing the dead, Yang Fan couldn't help but wonder.

"Actually, this mission was open not only to new recruits but also to existing members of the base. In other words, besides the newcomers, many veteran members took on this mission, and even some base captains went. After all, this mission isn't as simple as it seems. If I'm not mistaken, these people right now should be high-ranking members of the base!"

Su Xin's explanation confirmed Yang Fan's suspicions. As the guardian of all of China, the base's information was definitely faster and more accurate than that of ordinary martial arts sects. After all, no matter how strong a sect is, its numbers are ultimately limited, but the base has the support of an entire nation. Therefore, even if the base's strength is somewhat inferior to some martial arts holy lands, in terms of information alone, the base is unmatched.

Such an organization has no reason not to know the true situation of the Oasis; even if they don't, they know far more than the average martial artist. Therefore, Yang Fan guessed that they must have had a deeper meaning in issuing such a mission, and they certainly wouldn't send some rookie newbies to their deaths!

As expected, the base not only assigned this task to the new students but also involved the senior students. This greatly ensured the safety of the new students and allowed them to explore more of the Oasis's mysteries.

However, the base seemed to have overlooked something in this regard. The current situation clearly exceeded their expectations; even the base's high-ranking members had perished here. How many of the new students who came this time would be able to successfully complete the task and return victorious? This question was worth questioning and pondering!

At this moment, even with Lin Feng's strength, he could vaguely hear the sounds of fighting coming from ahead. Hearing the sounds of fighting, the group exchanged glances and unanimously chose to move forward. As they approached, they were also on guard in hushed tones. Yang Fan led the way, Wan Tiancheng brought up the rear, and they carefully protected Gu Feifei and the other two in the middle.

Soon, they reached the edge of the fighting area, a relatively open area surrounded by vegetation, but within a few dozen feet in the center, not a blade of grass grew, forming a dead end. And on this dead end, more than ten people were fighting fiercely. The clash of swords rang out frequently, and the bursts of true energy and crisscrossing sword qi stirred up endless dust, making the scene chaotic and unsettling.

Almost every minute, every second, someone was injured and fell, some even perishing instantly. The yellowish-brown ground was already stained red with blood and littered with corpses. However, none of this surprised Yang Fan. What surprised him most was that half of the people in the arena were members of the base!

A few people hid behind a bush several dozen feet away from the battlefield. From their angle, it was easy to see that the battle below was clearly divided into two camps. One camp had more people, and their clothes were disheveled, clearly a mixture of numerous sects. The

larger side had completely surrounded the smaller side, and it was easy to see that they had already gained the upper hand. Their encirclement was merely a way to wear down the other side's will. In other words, it was a game of cat and mouse!

The side with fewer people was none other than the base members. Not only were they outnumbered, but most of them were also severely wounded. Around them lay countless still-warm corpses, with only a dozen or so people standing scattered about, barely managing to stay upright. The entire battlefield was almost entirely one-sided!

However, this wasn't the scene that moved Yang Fan. What truly surprised him was that he actually saw several familiar faces among the base's team, and also several people he never expected to see!

Among these people, the most conspicuous was a woman standing at the very front, absorbing the most enemy attacks. This person was Tang Ning Shuang, who had fought Yang Fan before!

At this moment, Tang Ning Shuang was still as beautiful and alluring as ever, her charm undiminished even in this state. Her long robes fluttered, her long black hair danced, indescribably captivating and alluring! However, her originally pristine white robes were now stained with blood, some from enemies and some from herself, adding a strange beauty to her appearance. Not only that, her once jet-black hair was now somewhat disheveled, adding to her unique charm!

Even from a distance, Yang Fan could clearly see that Tang Ning Shuang was in very poor condition. Three powerful figures, each with cultivation levels no weaker than hers, were attacking her. Fighting three against one, even though she could still hold her own, defeat was inevitable!

Moreover, the three powerful figures were clearly holding back, unwilling to fight her to the death, which was why, despite her increasing injuries, she hadn't lost her fighting ability!

Earth-yellow palms swirled around Tang Ning Shuang, constantly colliding with the three powerful figures. The clash between experts at the Refinement of Spirit Realm was magnificent and grand; each collision created swirling storms and blasted deep craters into the ground.

Moreover, a battle between Refinement Realm experts is a rare opportunity for any martial artist to observe. After all, they have already entered the ranks of true masters, and every move and action is a tremendous treasure for ordinary martial artists. Observing their battles not only broadens one's horizons but also offers the possibility of gaining insights that can help one break through their current realm.

Even for someone like Yang Fan, watching battles between Refinement Realm experts is immensely beneficial, as he has already touched the threshold of the Refinement Realm. Observing battles between Refinement Realm experts is invaluable for his breakthrough. However, at this moment, Yang Fan had no time to observe their battle because his gaze was completely drawn to another figure on the battlefield!

A unique fragrance wafted through the battlefield, adding a different flavor to the otherwise bloody battle. This fragrance was refreshing and invigorating, carrying a captivating intoxication that made one unable to resist indulging in it.

Normally, even if the fragrance was pleasant, it wouldn't have caught Yang Fan's attention. But within this fragrance, Yang Fan actually smelled a familiar scent. Yang Fan was almost certain that he had never smelled this fragrance before, yet he had a very familiar feeling about it. This feeling was baseless, but it made Yang Fan's heart restless!

Following the source of the fragrance, Yang Fan saw countless petals suddenly falling from the sky, covering the entire field with a thick layer of bright red petals. A fiery red figure was dancing among the petals—no, she was engaged in a life-or-death duel with a powerful figure amidst the petals…

The fragrance grew stronger, and that familiar scent became even more familiar in Yang Fan's mind. However, he couldn't recall the person who smelled the fragrance. For a moment, he stared blankly at the fiery red figure, as if trying to see through the red cloth covering her cheeks and understand everything beneath.

A fiery red figure slowly landed on the ground. Her feet lightly touched the petals scattered on the ground, yet she didn't step on them. Her entire body seemed weightless, as she trod upon the petals! Her

alluring figure, fiery attire, and exotic charm possessed a powerful allure that surpassed even many of the beauties Yang Fan knew. Moreover, her half-concealed face added to her mysterious aura!

Gathering his true energy in his eyes, Yang Fan tried to see through the mysterious veil to reveal the face beneath. But no matter how hard he tried, the seemingly translucent veil seemed to possess countless mysterious powers, and no matter how hard Yang Fan tried, he could not see the other's true face clearly. In a hazy, rumbling sensation

, Yang Fan sensed a familiar aura, but he couldn't recall it. It was as if a memory imprinted deep within his soul—he wanted to remember it, but couldn't. For a moment, Yang Fan's pupils dilated, his eyes radiating an unknown expression.

Moreover, Yang Fan couldn't truly see through the mysterious woman's true strength! The veil she held in front of her face seemed to possess a mysterious power; no matter how Yang Fan looked, he couldn't see the face hidden beneath.

It's said that humans are curious creatures, and Yang Fan was no exception. Although he wasn't particularly curious, no normal man could resist such an alluring body standing before him. Yang Fan was a normal man, and therefore, he also desperately wanted to see the true face beneath the veil...

Chapter 375 [Holy Lands Emerge]

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, the petals were mesmerizing, and amidst the falling petals, the mysterious woman danced gracefully like an elf!

Her long sleeves fluttered, and her white robes billowed even without wind. In the midst of her swirling dance, she suddenly gathered her sleeves, revealing slender, jade-like hands that moved with boneless grace. Her supple waist swayed like a willow in the wind, her languid body seemingly drunk or asleep, as if lost in a dream…

Long sleep is death, short sleep is a dream; beneath her bright eyes, everything vanished like smoke…

Suddenly, her water sleeves billowed open, dancing as if countless petals were drifting down from the sky, swaying and fluttering, each petal carrying a wisp of sandalwood incense…

Her movements grew faster and faster, her jade-like hands lingering gracefully, her skirt billowing, her misty eyes seeming to speak yet holding back, shimmering with light, making her appear like a flower veiled in mist, hazy and indistinct. Ethereal, shimmering with beautiful colors, yet so unattainable…

She danced gracefully, her slender waist twisting with a sway, bringing boundless spring colors; her delicate hands outstretched, weaving a net of spring silk; her jade ribbons swirling in the air, conveying countless tender feelings… Her jade feet lightly touched the ground, her jade legs gently lifted, captivating the soul; her willow eyebrows raised, her eyes sparkling, mesmerizing the spirit… Her red dress billowed like waves, a strand of black hair secretly licked her fragrant cheek, a drop of fragrant sweat lightly sprinkled on her snow-white skin; her delicate body spun with the utmost allure, like a peach tree, dancing out a hundred charms and a thousand beauties; like a peony, dancing out a national beauty and heavenly fragrance; like a crabapple, dancing out a myriad of charms!

She was dressed in white, fluttering as if falling, a jade butterfly wing necklace adorning her hair trembling, the cool wings and round pearls gently touching her forehead, an indescribable allure rising on her cheeks, her auspicious light fluttering, her gaze captivating. Her lips were a vibrant red, her features sharply defined; her makeup was light, naturally beautiful. The alluring blue of her eyes made her already captivating phoenix eyes even more alluring, the dappled sunset on her eyelashes drawing attention; her azure eyebrows further enhanced her already captivating beauty.

It was as if a small spark had suddenly ignited in the snow, growing brighter and larger until it burst into a massive flame, a raging inferno that swept across the land, leaving one breathless and inexplicably excited.

Her hand gestures moved in a chaotic, intricate pattern, her movements fluid and graceful. Suddenly, she rose on her tiptoes, spinning around, her white skirt gliding across the ground, creating a dazzling, chaotic spectacle!

Using this momentum, she leaped upwards, her jade-like hands clenching swiftly, like a butterfly fluttering, or a moth drawn to a flame. It was as if, amidst the swirling snowflakes, a pure light emerged, growing stronger with each passing moment, before transforming into the first pristine white petal. That petal swirled in the blink of an eye—one, two, three… From the swirling petals, a pair of pure white plum blossoms stretched out, surrounded by dancing snowflakes. And the plum blossoms, amidst the snowflakes, slowly bloomed, bloomed…

Their beauty was unparalleled, their radiance dazzling! Just as everyone was marveling at them, captivated by their beauty, they slowly faded away, finally disappearing into the horizon

… Her dance was indescribably beautiful and moving, yet within this beauty and charm lay a deadly intent!

As she danced, petals swirled around her, spontaneously forming various weapons—knives, swords, spears, lances—each seemingly sentient, relentlessly attacking the powerful opponent she was facing!

However, the opponent was no ordinary man. Although overwhelmed by the various weapons, he didn't completely lose his footing. For a time, the two were evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand!

"The Hundred Flowers Body! It's actually the legendary Hundred Flowers Body!"

Just then, Su Xin beside Yang Fan exclaimed.

Although her voice wasn't loud, it still brought those who were captivated by the mysterious woman's graceful dance back to reality. Instantly, everyone, including Yang Fan, turned their gaze to Su Xin.

Seeing that everyone's gazes were fixed on her, Su Xin couldn't help but explain, "The so-called Hundred Flowers Body is a very special constitution. There's a saying that describes it: 'Using blood as a catalyst, flowers as a body, and a hundred flowers as a vessel!'"

"Using blood as a catalyst? Flowers as a body? A hundred flowers as a vessel? What does that mean?"

"I'm not entirely sure what it means either, but the legendary Hundred Flowers Body allows one to command a hundred flowers, using them as a vessel, and controlling any plant to fight!"

"Furthermore, those with the Hundred Flowers Body are the best practitioners of the Flower Fragrance and Butterfly Dance Heart Sutra from the Hundred Flowers Sect, the sacred martial arts realm. Therefore, every year the Hundred Flowers Sect searches for those with the Hundred Flowers Body in the mortal world and recruits them into its ranks. Moreover, once someone with the Hundred Flowers Body enters the sect, they become a Holy Maiden, the successor to the next sect leader! In other words, seeing someone with the Hundred Flowers Body signifies the Hundred Flowers Sect's emergence!"

"The 'Fragrance of Flowers and Dance of Butterflies' Heart Sutra was created by Ning Rui, the first sect leader of the Hundred Flowers Sect, known as the 'Fairy of Hundred Flowers,' who concealed her true identity using a special secret method.

She comprehended the technique through the fragrance of flowers and the dance of butterflies. The sect is entirely composed of female disciples, and each practitioner must choose a flower from the 'Holy Spirit Pool' as their natal weapon. They excel at captivating the soul through dance and possess secret techniques against poisons and hidden weapons." Yang Fan was unfamiliar with the Hundred Flowers Body, and even after Su Xin's explanation, he remained unclear. However, he gleaned a crucial piece of information from Su Xin's words: the Hundred Flowers Sect had appeared, and the people of the Martial Arts Holy Land were also involved in this incident!

Yang Fan wasn't entirely clear on the nature of the Martial Arts Holy Land, but each one had at least one Hunyuan master residing there!

Within these holy lands, they formed their own realm, controlling countless sects like the Qingcheng Sect. Just looking at the strength of the Qingcheng Sect alone was enough to understand what the term "Martial Arts Holy Land" truly represented.

But now, these disciples from martial arts holy lands, who never used to appear in the mortal world, have actually appeared. What does this mean? At the very least, it means this place is far more complex than it seems. And this confirms Yang Fan's earlier suspicions!

"Why are the people from the Hundred Flowers Sect walking with the people from the base? And why do I feel a sense of familiarity with this person? Could she also be from the base? Right, I heard that Tang Ning Shuang had some connection with the people from the holy lands, so this phenomenon isn't hard to explain. But judging from their current situation, it seems a bit unfavorable. Also, who dares to attack the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect?"

Through Su Xin's explanation, Yang Fan quickly connected many things. However, at the same time, many doubts and questions arose in his mind. Those powerful individuals who besieged the base members were not only strong, but their martial arts styles were something Yang Fan had never seen before, or even heard of!

However, the cultivation techniques of these powerful individuals were beyond the comprehension of any martial artist. Their techniques were incredibly powerful and of extremely high level, far surpassing any known powerful technique!

Take the group besieging Tang Ningshuang, for example. Their cultivation levels were several levels lower than hers. Tang Ningshuang had already reached the eighth level of the Refining Spirit realm, and after her battle with Yang Fan, she went into seclusion and broke through to the ninth level. As for the three powerful individuals, their strength was only at the first level of the Refining Spirit realm, with the strongest only at the third level. Although they had a numerical advantage, their early-stage Refining Spirit realm strength allowed them to easily overpower Tang Ningshuang's ninth-level cultivation. Besides the sheer number of opponents, the main reason for this was the sheer power of their cultivation techniques.

Like Yang Fan's Nine Heavens Thunderous Technique, which allowed him to fight across realms, these three techniques, while insufficient for fighting across major realms, were more than enough to overcome several minor realms!

Similarly, the person who fought the mysterious woman was slightly weaker than her, yet the two fought to a draw. This is enough to suggest that these individuals are very likely disciples from other holy lands.

The situation had escalated far beyond Yang Fan and his companions' expectations. What they initially thought was a simple emergency mission had gathered martial artists from across the mortal realm. Now, even the major holy lands were involved. Yang Fan realized that things were becoming increasingly complex, far exceeding their imagination. Perhaps there truly was something extraordinary here; otherwise, why would even the major holy lands be involved?

Given the wealth of these holy lands, even rare treasures like the Blood Lotus Ginseng would be beneath their notice. The fact that they had sent disciples to participate meant that something far more valuable than the Blood Lotus Ginseng had appeared here; otherwise, they would never have intervened.

Suddenly, Yang Fan remembered something else: this place had once been created by a Hunyuan master, later occupied by the Blood Transformation Sect. Therefore, the only thing that could attract the attention of the major holy lands seemed to be something related to a Hunyuan master. For example, the cultivation techniques and treasures left behind by masters of the Primordial Chaos realm, or perhaps some cultivation experience... It seems that only these things can attract the attention of the major holy lands!

"The Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, haha, truly lives up to her reputation. My greatest wish in life, Long Junsheng, is to marry a Holy Maiden. Originally, my targets were the Holy Maiden of the Moon Sound Sect, the Holy Maiden of the Jade Palace, and the two Palace Masters of the Evil Emperor Palace. The Holy Maiden of the Moon Sound Sect and the Holy Maiden of the Jade Palace are recognized as the two most beautiful women in the major holy lands, while the two Palace Masters of the Evil Emperor Palace are legendary beauties."

"These four have always been my targets. I thought that apart from these four stunning beauties, there was no other woman in this world who could arouse my interest. I never expected that the new Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect would be so charming, not to mention possessing the rare Hundred Flowers Body. If she were to cultivate with me, she would perfectly complement my Yin and Yang dual bodies. In that case, even if I were to attain the Primordial Dao in the future, it wouldn't be impossible!"

At this moment, the powerful figure who was fighting the mysterious woman spoke up. The man was pale and thin, with a high forehead, a hooked nose, and almond-shaped eyes. He also had thin lips, and it was clear at a glance that he was no good.

"Hmph, the 'Infatuated Union Technique,' Long Sisheng, if I'm not mistaken, you should be from the Yin-Yang Union Sect, right? I didn't expect that after the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, your Yin-Yang Union Sect was expelled from China, and you even swore never to set foot in China again. I didn't expect you to be so bold as to dare to enter China without permission. Have you forgotten your oath?"

The mysterious woman said coldly while fighting the man.

"Hmph, oath? What bullshit oath? If it weren't for that damned oath, why would my Yin Yang He Huan Sect have to leave our homeland? Why would we be so far from China? If it weren't for that damned oath, why would my Yin Yang He Huan Sect be in this state? Don't mention the Dragon Slaying Calamity to me. If it weren't for the Dragon Slaying Calamity, how could my Yin Yang He Huan Sect have been framed by you and ended up like this? Back then, during the Dragon Slaying Calamity, my Yin Yang He Huan Sect contributed the most, but what kind of treatment did we receive in the end?"

Enraged that the mysterious woman had exposed his identity, Long Junsheng shouted, but his actions didn't slow down. He unleashed one powerful move after another, forcing the mysterious woman to retreat continuously.

"The truth will speak for itself. The world will judge what happened back then. If you hadn't been so selfish back then, how could the Dragon Slaying Calamity have ended in failure? If it weren't for our mercy, do you think the Yin Yang He Huan Sect would still exist in this world today?"

Hearing Long Junsheng's words, the woman spoke again.

"Hmph, don't speak so arrogantly. Since you know so much inside information, don't tell me you don't know the true meaning of the Dragon-Slaying Tribulation? Don't you know why there is a Dragon-Slaying Tribulation? Isn't it because you so-called righteous sects wanted to peek at the secrets above the Primordial Dao? Back then, the Evil Emperor was the first to break through to the Primordial Dao, but he was besieged and killed by you. My ancestor was also severely injured because of this. But you, not only did you disregard the fact that my ancestor fought alongside you, but you also took the opportunity to attack, destroy my sect, occupy my mountain, and even drive my Yin-Yang Harmony Sect out of China."

"Now that my Yin Yang He Huan Sect has made a comeback, we are naturally fully prepared. Don't think we don't know that in the battle of that year, the top experts from all sects were severely injured. Not only did their leaders go into seclusion, but many also fell into a deep sleep. My ancestor was no exception. This place was once a realm created by a great Buddhist master, containing the supreme healing elixir. Who among the sects doesn't know this? As long as my Yin Yang He Huan Sect obtains this elixir, my ancestor will be the first to recover his former strength. You so-called holy lands of the martial world will ultimately meet the same fate as this place!"

"Is that so? Then we'll see if you have the strength. Since your Yin Yang He Huan Sect has also learned of this news, you should know that experts from all sects are gathered here now. Do you think you can monopolize the elixir with your strength?"

"Whether I can keep it all to myself is none of your concern, but before that, I think taking you back as a concubine is the real business! Do you think I'm all that strong? I was just playing around with you earlier. Now I'll show you my true strength!"

With Long Junsheng's cold shout, the situation on the field changed again...

05-02
Chapter 376 [Yin Yang Harmony Bell]

Rumble!

A muffled thunderclap suddenly resounded in the previously cloudless sky. The deafening thunderclap shook the entire earth. At the same time, a pink smoke suddenly rose behind Long Junsheng. The pink smoke was filled with a seductive aura, and he himself disappeared in front of the mysterious woman the moment the smoke rose!

The next moment, Long Junsheng mysteriously appeared in another place, the place where Tang Ningshuang was fighting the three powerful figures!

"Three elders, lend me a hand, activate the Yin Yang Harmony Bell, and destroy these guys!"

Long Junsheng appeared right in the middle of the three powerful figures. Hearing his words, the three powerful figures stopped their attack on Tang Ningshuang and formed a triangle to protect her.

In Long Junsheng's hand, a small bronze bell, no bigger than a fist, had appeared. The bell's surface was engraved with a lifelike scene, but instead of mountains and rivers, it depicted images of men and women in sexual intercourse!

The small bell was covered with countless images, so small yet so clearly visible. Even their postures were crystal clear, and some viewers couldn't help but feel a strange sensation, a unique, almost immersive experience!

"The Yin-Yang Union Bell! It's actually the Yin-Yang Union Bell! I didn't expect this thing to appear!"

Su Xin exclaimed, unable to bear seeing the bell in Long Junsheng's hand.

"What? Su Xin, do you know the origin of this Yin-Yang Union Bell?"

Yang Fan asked, hearing Su Xin's surprise.

"I know a little. Legend has it that this Yin-Yang Harmony Bell was a magical artifact crafted by the first sect leader of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. This artifact was infamous in the martial world back then, because while its attack power wasn't particularly strong, it had a very strange effect: anyone who heard its sound would be irresistibly controlled, their inner desires completely unleashed, ultimately leading to their eternal entrapment in their own desires, unable to extricate themselves!"

"Back then, the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect wreaked havoc on the martial world, harming countless innocent women. Disciples from all sects suffered greatly. However, after the Great Calamity of the Dragon Slaying, the entire Yin-Yang Harmony Sect migrated overseas, and completely disappeared. Unexpectedly, it has reappeared!"

"Is that little bell really that powerful? Does having it make you invincible? How could that be? I don't believe it!"

Hearing this, Lin Feng couldn't help but interject.

"What do you know? You think that Yin-Yang Harmony Bell is just an ordinary magic weapon? Let me tell you, it was crafted by a master of the Primordial Chaos realm. Moreover, it's a genuine divine artifact!"

"What? A divine...divine artifact?"

Upon hearing Su Xin's words, not only Lin Feng, but also Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng were utterly astonished!

Yang Fan didn't know the concept of a divine artifact, nor did Wan Tiancheng, because none of them had ever seen a real divine artifact, and naturally, they didn't know its power.

However, in the martial arts world, there's a saying to describe divine artifacts: the power of a divine artifact is comparable to the strength of a Hunyuan master!

While they might not know about divine artifacts, as martial artists, they couldn't possibly be unaware of the true meaning of a Hunyuan master. If ordinary martial artists are gods in the eyes of common people, then Hunyuan masters are equally unattainable gods in the eyes of martial artists. Not to mention anything else, their ability to create their own world is something no "human" could do!

And a divine artifact is on par with a Hunyuan master. Moreover, the fact that it dares to call itself a "divine artifact" shows just how powerful it is!

Like Hunyuan masters, divine artifacts are beings whose names are known but whose existence is unseen. But now, a divine artifact was right before their eyes. How could Yang Fan and his companions not be astonished and surprised?

At this moment, Yang Fan had no time to ponder why Su Xin knew the origin of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell, nor did he have the mind to investigate how she, as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, could know such things. His entire attention was now drawn to the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell in Long Sisheng's hand!

This was a divine artifact, equivalent to a master of the Hunyuan realm. Even an ordinary person would be invincible if they obtained it, let alone a martial artist. It was equivalent to possessing a Hunyuan master-level protective talisman!

"No, this isn't the real Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. A true divine artifact can only be activated by a Grandmaster of the Primordial Chaos realm. Even Grandmasters wouldn't easily use a divine artifact because the energy it requires is simply too immense. An ordinary person, before even being able to activate it, might have all their essence drained!"

Just then, Su Xin spoke again: "If I'm not mistaken, the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell in Long Sisheng's hands is at most a replica, made to imitate the real Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. But even so, this replica should still be at the level of a magic artifact; otherwise, it wouldn't require three Refining Spirit masters to activate it together. Legend has it that the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell that wreaked havoc on the martial world back then was a replica at the level of a magic artifact!"

"After the Great Calamity of Dragon Slaying, all the Hunyuan masters fell into a deep slumber. The same was true for the divine artifacts; the divine artifacts of the various holy lands also fell into slumber. Unless there is a major upheaval in the world, neither the Hunyuan masters nor the divine artifacts will awaken. This is because after the Great Calamity of Dragon Slaying, the spiritual energy in the world was greatly reduced, making it impossible to sustain the flow of Hunyuan masters. Only by remaining in slumber can their cultivation not weaken. If they awaken, without the restoration of spiritual energy, their realm will continue to decline. It is precisely for this reason that after the Great Calamity of Dragon Slaying, no new Hunyuan masters have appeared in this world!"

"In an era when Primordial Chaos was absent and divine artifacts were rare, even imitations of magical artifacts were invincible. Unless they were imitations of the same level, there was truly nothing in this world that could suppress them. Since that mysterious woman was the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, there was no reason why she wouldn't possess a magical artifact of the same level as the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. It seems the real show is just beginning!"

Sure enough, at the same time Su Xin spoke, the mysterious woman joined Tang Ning Shuang. They had clearly recognized the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell in Long Si Sheng's hand, so seeing the group working together to activate the imitation, they didn't attack first. They knew that once a magical artifact was activated, it was impossible to interrupt, neither the user nor anyone else could!

"The appearance of a replica of the Yin-Yang Union Bell suggests that your Yin-Yang Union Sect is indeed planning a comeback. Very well, although my Hundred Flowers Sect is detached from worldly affairs, your Yin-Yang Union Sect harmed many of my fellow disciples back then. Today, I will collect some interest on their behalf. When your Yin-Yang Union Sect truly reappears in China, we will avenge them!"

As she spoke, the mysterious woman clasped her hands together, and a pure white lotus flower appeared on her chest. That lotus flower was very similar to the Blood Lotus Root that Yang Fan had picked, except that it was entirely white, like a celestial snow lotus, filled with a holy aura.

Its appearance suppressed much of the aura emanating from the Yin-Yang Union Bell. Even the pungent odor permeating the air was diluted considerably!

The lotus flower's fragrance was incredibly rich, intoxicating, and fragrant! Its sweet aroma filled the air. It seemed to smell like roses, yet also like magnolias, but within it, there were also hints of tulips, violets, jasmine, lilies, and other delicate fragrances!

Yang Fan discovered that the scent of this lotus flower was unlike any other lotus he had ever smelled before; on the contrary, it was remarkably similar to the fragrance emanating from the mysterious woman—only, the former was much more pronounced, while the latter was much more subtle!

As the saying goes, one can judge a person by their scent. Having navigated the world of women, Yang Fan naturally possessed an exceptional understanding of women's perfumes!

Women who like roses represent passion and exuberance, symbolizing a yearning for freedom; jasmine, with its rich fragrance, symbolizes elegance; lilies symbolize purity and nobility; and violets symbolize liveliness and generosity. The fact that the woman in his arms liked this perfume, a blend of countless floral scents, could only mean that she was a romantic, lively, bold, witty, humorous, beautiful, brilliant, radiant, outstanding, and warm woman.

Such a woman must be multifaceted, more beautiful and captivating than any flower! Such a woman knows how to adorn herself with a few drops of morning dew, glistening slightly in the sunlight; how to dance gently in the wind, her slender waist displaying a graceful movement, imbuing her seemingly pale life with boundless love and a unique charm. Her beautiful face, her vibrant years, her blossoming love, all become even more radiant in the warmth, sincerity, refinement, and tender care she receives!

Such a woman, whether a magnificent peony or a nameless wildflower in a mountain stream, will inspire sighs of sorrow and youthful passion! A

true woman is like a fire that can burn; like ice that can melt. Heaven bestows upon women beautiful faces and alluring figures, but what determines whether a woman is kind, peaceful, fair, romantic, and gentle, or ugly, selfish, vicious, ignorant, and shrewish, is her cultural thoughts and inner qualities. This inner quality and character cannot be measured by appearance alone; it can only be appreciated and experienced through subtle details. Yang Fan judged a woman's character precisely by her temperament and fragrance!

People often use the image of a secluded orchid in a deep valley to describe a woman with a flower-like face. Smelling the delicate fragrance of the orchid, Yang Fan realized that the mysterious woman had already formed a general outline in his mind!

Plum blossoms bloom alone in early spring, untouched by worldly dust; orchids are pure and elegant, refined and otherworldly; lotus leaves are upright and strong, with integrity and spirit; chrysanthemums withstand frost without withering, possessing a noble and pure spirit. Women are like flowers, and flowers are like women. Flowers can be delicate and fresh, or richly fragrant; some are pure and immaculate, others passionate and unrestrained. But regardless of the type, each has its own intriguing charm. As the saying goes, "One flower, one world," every woman is a unique landscape in this world, and a man who understands flowers understands women.

Fresh and serene, elegant and noble, the beauty of a woman is delicate and understated, graceful and generous. Such a woman is refined and elegant, possessing a heart of orchid and wisdom; she does not lose her fragrance because of solitude; she refuses to be accompanied by mediocrity or vulgarity. She possesses her own azure sky, with unique insights and profound understanding of life and career. Her writing is filled with melancholy, as well as details of sudden realizations about life. She is accustomed to the flow of music, the fragrance of books, the azure sky, the gentle breeze, and the quiet contemplation of her heart. Her inner pursuit will never be extinguished! Her heart is as clear as water, as graceful as an orchid, her charm pure and mellow, her beauty like the clouds—the beauty of an orchid!

Women are like flowers, and flowers are like women. Women, like flowers, are countless and varied: a woman cherished is like a vibrant canna lily; a woman always happy is like a morning glory on a vine; a woman of refinement is like a pure daffodil; a woman full of affection is like a lucky bird of happiness; a woman who laughs is like a sky full of brilliant stars; a woman of melancholy is like a wild rose in the mountains; a woman lost in thought is like a calla lily in a dream; a woman of sorrow is like a pure white gardenia; a woman in love is like a tulip in a greenhouse; a woman in unrequited love is like a wild chrysanthemum in autumn; a woman in passionate love is like... A radiant sunflower; a heartbroken woman is like a fleeting, secretly blooming epiphyllum; a woman who falls in love again is like the osmanthus in August; a woman in tears is like a pear blossom in the rain; a tender woman is like a peach blossom in March; a woman lost in thought is like a flying locust blossom; a gentle woman is like a cherry blossom just beginning to bloom; a generous woman is like an elegant azalea; a healthy woman is like a lucky lily…

Of course, even a flower-like woman possesses a delicate, charming allure, but a broken branch, despite its myriad thoughts, its tangled sorrows, and its yearning for rebirth, is still vulnerable. A flower-like face, a flower-like life, a flower-like love—all become more vibrant and beautiful in the warmth, sincerity, refinement, and tender care. A man's emotions begin to rise and fall in the woman's soft, gentle whispers. Whether it's a magnificent peony or a nameless wildflower in a mountain stream, there are always those who sigh with sorrow for her, and those who are young and passionate for her.

A woman as beautiful as a flower is a beautiful sight. Although flowers bloom and fade, flourish and wither, a season passes and the next one is gone. Even with abundant blossoms, that one flower is no more. "How long can bright beauty last? Once adrift, it's hard to find again."

But if you are willing to appreciate it with your heart, you will unexpectedly discover that a woman's gentleness is more touching than flowers, her thoughtfulness more refreshing, and her kindness more sacred!

In that instant, Yang Fan realized that the mysterious woman and the lotus flower before her were so harmonious, so perfectly matched. In that instant, another familiar figure rose in Yang Fan's mind, and that figure gradually merged with the mysterious woman before him, eventually becoming the same person…

Chapter 377 [Ultimate Showdown]

The disciples of the Hundred Flowers Sect are all women, and every single one of them is a beauty of unparalleled grace. As for the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, its name alone reveals what kind of sect it is. They emphasize the dual cultivation of Yin and Yang, and not only are their disciples extremely promiscuous, but they are also notorious for their wickedness. Both male and female disciples are infamous for their promiscuity.

The Yin-Yang Harmony Sect mainly practices the dual cultivation technique of absorbing and replenishing the body, and the targets of this absorption are naturally different. For them, absorbing and replenishing the body of martial artists is far more beneficial than absorbing and replenishing the body of ordinary people, and the stronger the martial artist, the greater their benefits. As a sect composed entirely of women and composed of beautiful women, the Hundred Flowers Sect naturally became the best target for the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. Therefore, the two sects have a long-standing feud!

The Yin-Yang Harmony Sect has a divine artifact guarding it, so how could the Hundred Flowers Sect, as an equal, not have one? Needless to say, the lotus flower on the mysterious woman's chest is a magical artifact no less powerful than the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell, and it is even very likely that it is a replica of a divine artifact.

"Senior Sister, help me!"

The moment she summoned the lotus flower, the mysterious woman's delicate body swayed uncontrollably. Forcing herself to steady herself, she cried out to Tang Ningshuang beside her.

Hearing this, Tang Ningshuang didn't hesitate. With a flick of her jade palm, beams of earth-yellow light shot out and poured into the mysterious woman's back.

With Tang Ningshuang's help, the mysterious woman finally calmed down, and the lotus flower on her chest instantly shone brightly, as if it had received a great nourishment. Waves of white light emanated from the pure white lotus petals, sweeping across the entire sky and illuminating it in a snowy white glow!

"Twelve Snow Lotuses, I didn't expect the Hundred Flowers Sect to value you, their Holy Maiden, so much that you even brought along a replica of the Twelve Snow Lotuses. That truly surprises me. However, even if you brought the real Twelve Snow Lotuses today, you won't leave alive. I think you'd better just admit defeat and become my favored concubine!"

"Don't even mention a replica; even the real Twelve Snow Lotuses are no match for the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. It could shatter it back then, and it can do the same now!"

Seeing the snow lotuses before the mysterious woman, Long Junsheng's expression changed slightly, but he concealed it well; no one except himself noticed.

"What are the Twelve Snow Lotuses?"

On the other side, Yang Fan also asked Su Xin this question. This question was almost a matter of course; she had seen through the origin of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell at a glance, which made Yang Fan think she was omnipotent.

However, Su Xin did not disappoint him: "The Twelve Snow Lotuses are divine artifacts of the same level as the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. Back then, the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect wreaked havoc on the martial world, and it was only after the Hundred Flowers Sect's leader brought out the Twelve Snow Lotuses that the turmoil was quelled. It is precisely for this reason that the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect became mortal enemies."

"In a sense, the Twelve Snow Lotuses are divine artifacts specifically crafted by the Hundred Flowers Sect to counter the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. Its attack power is not very strong either, but it perfectly counters the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. They are like yin and yang, perfectly restraining each other."

"However, back then, the Hundred Flowers Sect's leader was slightly weaker than the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect's leader, so in the life-or-death duel, the Twelve Snow Lotuses were shattered, leaving only some fragments. Of course, the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell fared no better. But in any case, the emergence of imitations of these two divine artifacts indicates that the day when the true divine artifacts appear is not far off!"

“That’s right. First it was the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, and now it’s the Hundred Flowers Sect. I think it’s very likely that all the major holy lands have been mobilized, and even their successors have appeared here. Now, I’m even more certain that this place is definitely not as simple as the Blood Lotus Ancestor said. It must be hiding some major secret, and even the major holy lands are somewhat attracted to it!”

Yang Fan couldn’t help but say after hearing Su Xin’s explanation.

"By the way, Suxin, you're so familiar with Elder Tang Wan, do you know what's going on here? With the base's strength, they surely know the real secret. Also, is this Tang Ningshuang from the Hundred Flowers Sect? Otherwise, why would that woman call her 'Senior Sister'? But if she is, how come she's in the base? Could it be that the people from the various holy lands have already integrated into the secular world?"

"First, there was the little nun Shuixin chasing Lei Laohu to Yanjing; one was from the Western Zen Sect, the other from the Demon Realm. Now it's the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect and the Hundred Flowers Sect... it seems things are really about to change..."

No one answered Yang Fan's words. It wasn't that Suxin didn't want to answer, but the situation had changed again, attracting everyone's attention. Naturally, Suxin's attention also shifted to the scene.

Looking closely, they saw that both Long Junsheng, who was activating his magical artifact, and the mysterious woman were covered by two completely different lights—one pink, the other pure white—completely engulfing everyone's figures. From afar, all one could see was a bronze bell magnified countless times, the size of a millstone, and a lotus flower of the same size!

The bronze bell, engraved with male and female figures, swayed incessantly, each sway producing a melodious ringing sound. The sound wasn't loud, but it possessed an inexplicable, eerie power, drawing listeners in irresistibly.

Moreover, with each ring, wisps of pink energy flowed from within the bell, spreading in all directions with the sound waves. Anyone who smelled the fragrance couldn't help but have their deepest desires stirred, an indescribable eeriness and wickedness.

In stark contrast, the pure white lotus emitted a pristine white light, seemingly impervious to all magic. On its petals, there were even figures floating, like fairies from a celestial palace, seemingly indistinct yet undeniably real. They danced gracefully on the petals, their movements elegant and their expressions noble.

Moreover, as they danced, white petals fell from the sky like snowflakes. These petals seemed to possess the power to purify all things; when the pink aura approached them, it was instantly corroded into nothingness!

In the distant sky, two beams of light clashed fiercely, like two blazing suns, neither able to gain the upper hand. Ultimately, both magical artifacts were of divine quality; while their power surpassed that of ordinary artifacts, their quality was not inherently superior. The extent of their power depended entirely on the skill of their wielders.

In terms of strength, Tang Ning Shuang's side was undoubtedly slightly weaker. Aside from their numerical advantage, Long Jun Sheng's side was already stronger than Tang Ning Shuang's, and the power they unleashed with their artifacts was naturally greater. This

wasn't immediately apparent, but as time passed, this disadvantage became increasingly obvious. Fewer petals were falling from the sky, and the light emanating from the enormous snow lotus dimmed, swaying precariously in mid-air.

As for Tang Ning Shuang and the mysterious woman, they were in even worse shape, their figures flickering in the white light like candles in the wind, their situation extremely dangerous.

"Yang Fan, should we save them? They're from the base, after all, and the Yin Yang He Huan Sect has always been evil..."

Looking at the situation, Su Xin couldn't help but ask Yang Fan.

"No, why should we save them? Brother Yang, have you forgotten? That woman almost killed you last time. Besides, what does the Yin Yang He Huan Sect's evil deeds have to do with us? We've never even seen them!"

Before Yang Fan could speak, Gu Feifei objected. She clearly remembered how Tang Ningshuang had disregarded her status and attacked Yang Fan at the exchange meeting.

"Hehe, one thing at a time. Although Tang Ningshuang went a bit too far last time, she didn't gain anything, did she? In fact, I should thank her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have reached the edge of the Refining Spirit Realm so quickly!"

Seeing Gu Feifei's sullen expression, Yang Fan couldn't help but laugh.

He wasn't just saying this out of spite; it was precisely because of his battle with Tang Ningshuang that his potential had been unleashed, and he had truly felt the aura of a Refining Spirit Realm expert. It could be said that that battle opened the door for him to advance to the Refining Spirit Realm. Moreover, it was that battle that allowed him to solidify the seal within his body once more, thus resolving a hidden ailment.

The seal within him had always been a fatal weakness for Yang Fan. Although his strength would greatly increase, even to an unbelievable degree, when the Crimson Dragon Mark activated, his consciousness was completely shut off at that time. In other words, he was completely unaware of what was happening outside, let alone what he might do.

If he did something he couldn't forgive himself for while his consciousness was dormant, Yang Fan would definitely regret it for the rest of his life!

Furthermore, each time the seal was broken, it greatly impacted his divine sense, stimulating the bloodthirsty molecules within him. In the long run, this was not a good thing.

However, his battle with Tang Ning Shuang unexpectedly solved this problem. Although Tang Wan later helped him, Tang Ning Shuang had, in a way, indirectly helped him.

Having experienced so much, Yang Fan was no longer the impulsive youth he once was. He wouldn't hold grudges for acting rashly. Therefore, even if Su Xin hadn't spoken, he wouldn't have stood by and watched Tang Ningshuang and the other woman go unpunished. He wouldn't have been able to ignore even strangers, let alone acquaintances!

However, even if Yang Fan wanted to save them, now wasn't the best time. If he intervened now, he might not only fail to save them but also endanger himself!

In an era where Hunyuan energy was scarce and divine artifacts were rare, magical artifacts were equivalent to experts at the Returning to Void Realm. The Returning to Void Realm represented the pinnacle of the martial world, the highest level of the pyramid. In other words, those standing before Yang Fan were equivalent to two experts at the Returning to Void Realm. Facing experts at the Returning to Void Realm, no matter how arrogant, monstrous, or skilled he was at killing across borders, he was no match for them!

Although these two magical artifacts hadn't unleashed their full power, even so, they were still beyond Yang Fan's ability to handle. Therefore, to successfully rescue the two, they must wait until Long Junsheng and the others are nearly exhausted and unable to use their magical artifacts again. After all, while magical artifacts are powerful, their consumption is also extremely high, far beyond what a few Refining Spirit experts like them can control freely.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall; doing something clearly impossible is not the decision of a smart person. Although Yang Fan does not consider himself a gentleman, he would not be foolish enough to do something that is impossible.

"Hmph, I think Brother Yang is going to be chivalrous again. He said something about keeping things separate. Brother Yang, I find you to be good in every way, except that you are too promiscuous. Sigh, if Sister Shen finds out, who knows what she might do!"

Gu Feifei was clearly not satisfied with Yang Fan's explanation. She pouted and even brought up Shen Ruoxi!

Hearing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but smile. After Shen Ruoxi caught the two of them in bed together, Gu Feifei and Shen Ruoxi became best friends. And that wasn't all; it's unclear what spell Shen Ruoxi cast on Gu Feifei, but this little girl actually became her surveillance device, monitoring her every move.

Although Gu Feifei had matured a lot since arriving at the base, and her mentality had become much more composed, her surveillance of him had never changed. Thinking back to how he had been immersed in cultivation since arriving at the base, never having thought about matters of the heart, it was only because the little girl hadn't found any leverage against him. Unexpectedly, she brought up Tang Ningshuang's matter today!

Yang Fan naturally didn't take Gu Feifei's "threat" to heart. Even Dongfang Lan's existence was tacitly approved by Shen Ruoxi; how could she not be indifferent to other matters?

However, Gu Feifei's mention of it made Yang Fan think of the women in Yanjing who haunted his dreams. He'd left in such a rush that he hadn't had time to see them, but he absolutely had to go back and see them. Besides, he wondered how his own gangster club had fared. But with Lei Laohu and Dongfang Lan, one martial and one scholarly, working together, it shouldn't be too bad!

"Boom!"

Just as Yang Fan was pondering this, the battle between the two magical artifacts finally came to an end. A deafening roar echoed as Tang Ning Shuang's side, exhausted from the energy drain, could no longer sustain the power of the Twelve Snow Lotus artifacts and was defeated. With the loud crash, the two plummeted from the sky.

Yang Fan had only glanced casually, but when he saw the mysterious woman, his expression froze... Due to the energy ripples, the veil covering the woman's face could no longer conceal her features, and thus, her true face was revealed to everyone for the first time. However, when Yang Fan clearly saw that face of unparalleled beauty, he was momentarily at a loss for words…

Chapter 378 [The Saintess's Allure]

Dressed in white as snow, the mysterious woman stood in the void like a ghost. Her hair was jet black and long, reaching her belly. Her face was as white as jade, her eyebrows were delicate and arched, and her beautiful eyes sparkled. Under the gentle sunlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful, with a slightly wicked smile. Her white clothes fluttered, her black hair flowed, and she exuded a power that surpassed all others in beauty!

No man in the world who saw this woman would think she was a hermit cultivator!

No man in the world who saw this woman would think she was a martial arts master with extraordinary skills!

It was simply because she was too beautiful, so beautiful that it was hard to believe she was a woman of the mortal world.

Although her clothing was not very extravagant, she was still so beautiful that no one dared to have the slightest thought of desecration. At this moment, it seemed that there was only one woman left in the entire world!

Why?

Why was there only one woman?

Because all the men in the world are fighting to the death for her!

Because all the women in the world had committed suicide and self-harm for her!

She possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms, truly deserving of the title "Beauty of the City"!

Yang Fan never imagined he would meet Nalan Qingcheng here, nor did he expect that she would be a member of the Hundred Flowers Sect, let alone that she was actually the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, and that her cultivation was so powerful!

Not only Yang Fan, but Gu Feifei, Su Xin, Lin Feng, and the others except Wan Tiancheng were also instantly stunned. As prominent figures in the base, even if Nalan Qingcheng had left the mountain, her beauty alone was enough for everyone in the base to know her. Moreover, they were all from Yanjing, so how could they not know the name of Yanjing's number one beauty?

But now, that former number one beauty of Yanjing had actually transformed from the apple of the Nalan family's eye into the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, and into a martial arts master. This transformation was unbelievable, not only to Yang Fan, but even to them!

"How could it be her? How did her cultivation suddenly become so strong? And, how come her current appearance is somewhat similar to that woman with the Nether Serpent..."

Staring blankly at Nalan Qingcheng in mid-air, Yang Fan's mind was filled with questions and confusion. However, despite his questions, Yang Fan had no choice but to take action at this moment! Because at this moment, Nalan Qingcheng and Tang Ningshuang had already been knocked down by Long Junsheng and his group's magical artifacts, and danger was imminent!

"Haha, indeed a rare and stunning beauty, the Holy Maiden of the Flower Hundred Sect, truly lives up to her name. Such a beauty, this young master is determined to take her!"

Long Junsheng laughed loudly while controlling the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. A melodious bell sound rang out, and a series of sound waves formed a huge pink palm in mid-air, enveloping Nalan Qingcheng and Tang Ningshuang.

"My life is over!"

Looking at the palm getting closer and closer to her, Tang Ningshuang tried to resist, but she found that when she activated the Twelve Snow Lotuses earlier, she had already consumed the last bit of true energy in her body. Now, let alone resisting, even a child could probably kill her.

Faced with death, Tang Ningshuang couldn't calm herself. At this moment, she couldn't help but recall her battle with Yang Fan not long ago. Although the situation was different then, there was one thing in common: both times he felt the danger of death, felt its breath! But last time, Tang Wan came to her rescue. This time? Who would save her? She

glanced at Nalan Qingcheng one last time. As a member of the Hundred Flowers Sect, her mission was to protect Nalan Qingcheng's safety. But now, not only could she not protect her, she couldn't even ensure her own safety. For the first time, Tang Ningshuang realized how useless, how incompetent she was!

"If anyone can save the Holy Maiden, whoever it is, whatever they ask me to do, I will agree. I will repay her kindness with my whole life!"

Although she knew the possibility was zero, Tang Ningshuang still couldn't help but comfort herself with this thought!

Perhaps Tang Ningshuang was just trying to comfort herself, without any real hope. But just as she was about to close her eyes and await death, a sudden change occurred!

A bolt of purple lightning suddenly struck down from the sky, like a sword cleaving the heavens in two. At the same time, by sheer coincidence, the lightning struck the hand reaching for her.

The purple lightning didn't appear large, but its power was enough to make anyone take notice. The pink hand formed from sound waves was instantly obliterated by the lightning!

The purple lightning vanished in an instant, leaving only the pink smoke formed from the giant hand swirling in the air. The already unusually quiet sky became eerily silent, with only Tang Ningshuang and her two companions lying on the ground, and Long Junsheng and his group standing silently in the void.

After a long silence, Long Junsheng finally spoke, "I wonder which friend is nearby? Would you be so kind as to show yourself? My Yin-Yang Harmony Sect is currently settling some personal scores with the Hundred Flowers Sect. If you would not interfere, I would be eternally grateful!"

He had managed to silently neutralize the attack of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. Although the weapon's full power hadn't been unleashed, it was enough to intimidate others. With the enemy's identity unknown, Long Junsheng didn't want to make another enemy. Moreover, he couldn't ascertain the strength of this unknown person!

Naturally, no one answered his question. Although the one who stopped him was Yang Fan, why would Yang Fan pay him any attention? He had clearly witnessed the power of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. Yang Fan believed that with his current strength, he might not be able to withstand its attack if he faced it head-on. Therefore, he wouldn't easily reveal himself without absolute certainty.

"Since my friend refuses to show himself, then please give my Yin Yang Hehuan Sect some face. My Yin Yang Hehuan Sect will repay you handsomely in the future!"

Long Junsheng seemed to have known about the situation all along. While probing with questions, he slowly made his move towards Tang Ningshuang and the others. Activating a magical artifact like the Yin Yang Hehuan Bell was something even the four of them couldn't sustain for long, as the energy required by the artifact was far too great. If things continued like this, they probably wouldn't even need anyone else to intervene; just maintaining the Yin Yang Hehuan Bell alone would wear them down until they were incapacitated!

However, just as he was about to make a move, another bolt of purple lightning struck them from the void. Moreover, this time, the purple lightning was several times larger and more powerful than the previous one…

I've had a bad cold for the past few days, with a runny nose and watery eyes. Although I've been staying home every day, I have no energy at all, my mind is blank, and I can't think of a single word. Helpless, I can only shamelessly ask for a few days off. I hope my brothers can understand. Actually, I didn't want to, 555…

Chapter 379 [First Encounter]

“Withdraw!”

Without hesitation, just as the lightning was about to strike, Long Junsheng instantly withdrew the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell. At the same time, the four of them took positions in four directions, forming a combined attack formation. The four of them simultaneously pushed out a palm, turning into palm shadows that soared into the sky to meet the purple lightning, finally dissolving the lightning's attack into nothingness.

Activating a magical artifact is far beyond the capabilities of a few experts at the Refining Spirit Realm. One of the most important reasons why the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell was able to defeat the Twelve Lotuses and crush Tang Ning Shuang was that their numbers allowed them to unleash greater power from the artifact.

However, now that the enemy's identity is unknown and they are lurking in the shadows, if they continue to hold onto the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell without revealing themselves, it will only become more disadvantageous for them. Long Junsheng's decisiveness shows that he is indeed extraordinary and possesses the demeanor of a great general!

After pausing in the air for a moment, Long Junsheng first scanned his surroundings before finally fixing his gaze on Tang Ning Shuang and the others: "It seems that this friend is determined to make trouble for my Yin-Yang Harmony Sect? In that case, don't blame me for not giving face."

As he spoke, Long Junsheng flipped his hands, and a strange ghost-headed blade appeared in his hands. At the same time, he swung it forcefully, and two jet-black heads flew out from the blade, heading towards Nalan Qingcheng and the other person.

Long Junsheng thought, "Since you won't show yourself, I'll force you out. You want to save these two women? Fine, I'll kill them right in front of you and see if you come out then. Anyway, these two women are already powerless to resist; even an ordinary martial artist could kill them."

Sure enough, Long Junsheng's actions forced Yang Fan to intervene. He hadn't originally intended to show himself, only to secretly rescue the two women, since both Tang Ningshuang and Nalan Qingcheng had some unpleasant experiences with him. Meeting them would inevitably be awkward.

However, he now had no choice but to reveal himself. Long Junsheng's goal was to lure Yang Fan out, so the technique he used, though seemingly simple, was actually an extremely powerful killing move. Moreover, the ghost-headed dagger in his hand, while not a magic weapon, was still a rare spiritual artifact, and with his cultivation level, this was the time to unleash its full power. Therefore, Yang Fan had no chance of saving Nalan Qingcheng and the other woman unless he intervened in close combat!

Just as the two heads were about to reach Nalan Qingcheng and the other woman, a sword light appeared from the sky. In the flash of the sword light, a sword net formed by the sword light appeared around them, just in time to stop the attack of the two heads.

At the same time, a blood-red sword light appeared in front of Long Junsheng, like a shooting star from outer space. The blood-red sword tip was aimed at his throat, piercing towards Long Junsheng with unstoppable momentum.

"Well done!"

Facing this meteor-like sword strike, Long Junsheng was not alarmed but delighted. With a shout, he twirled his monstrous ghost-headed blade, the tip adorned with dazzling blade flowers, perfectly blocking the man's throat.

*Clang!

* A crisp sound rang out as the blood-red sword tip struck the blade, producing a piercing thud. But this didn't stop there. The sword tip flew like a meteor shower, transforming from a single tip into countless tiny points that struck the blade, producing a series of crisp sounds, like melodious notes in a melody.

But even amidst these melodious notes, Long Junsheng's strong body was being forced backward. With each strike of the sword tip, he took a step back, leaving deep footprints in the ground. Each footprint was deep enough to penetrate three inches into the earth, with tiny cracks around them, demonstrating the immense pressure Long Junsheng was enduring as he retreated!

"Yin Yang Reversal Slash!"

After retreating more than ten steps, Long Junsheng finally seized an opening. His blade trembled, detaching from the sword tip. He quickly stepped back, creating a half-meter distance between himself and the sword tip. Simultaneously, he raised the ghost-headed monstrous sword high, its blade more than doubling in size with the infusion of true energy. With a cold shout, he brought the longsword down with a fierce slash!

Around the blade, dark gray currents surged, like vengeful ghosts, emanating a chilling aura. An invisible blade light hovered around the blade, and with the downward slash, it seemed as if the entire void had been cleaved open. Tiny spatial rifts could even be clearly seen forming around the blade.

*Clang!

* As if sensing something, the blood-red sword tip emitted a soft ringing sound. At the same time, a huge sword shadow appeared around the tip, transforming into a blood-red longsword that thrust upwards. A blinding red light flashed from the sword tip, tracing a perfect arc as it met the opponent's blade head-on.

"Sword Seal!"

"Yin Yang Reversal Slash!"

The two deadly attacks collided violently in mid-air. At the moment of impact, invisible currents of energy emanated from the point of collision, spreading in all directions. Wherever these currents passed, everything turned to ash, and the ground was whipped up by whirlwinds and swirling dust storms!

At this moment, Yang Fan could no longer conceal himself and had to reveal himself. In his hand, a blood-red soft sword had appeared, its blade swaying gently in the breeze like willow catkins, its softness masking a chilling pressure. He stood three zhang away from Long Junsheng, his gaze coldly fixed on his opponent.

Just moments ago, at the critical moment, Yang Fan instantly unleashed the Ghost Shadow Step, merging the Blood-Drinking Sword with the Immovable King Seal's sword imprint, instantly appearing in the arena. He stopped Long Junsheng's killing move while simultaneously engaging in a direct clash with him.

However, in this exchange, neither gained the slightest advantage. One attacked with all their might, the other defended with all their might; one attacked unexpectedly, the other was on high alert. Neither gained the slightest advantage in terms of momentum or terrain.

"Friend, you certainly have the composure. If I hadn't used this method to force you to reveal yourself, I wonder how long you would have had to wait!"

Caught off guard by Yang Fan's sudden attack, Long Junsheng wasn't angry. Instead, he sheathed his Ghost Head Blade and stood before Yang Fan, speaking directly.

"Is that so? However, I am not fortunate enough to befriend a sect like the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect!"

"Yang Fan!"

As soon as Yang Fan spoke, Nalan Qingcheng and the other woman exclaimed in surprise.

Because Yang Fan had his back to Nalan Qingcheng and Tang Ningshuang, they didn't recognize him the moment he appeared. However, as soon as he spoke, they both recognized him. But their thoughts upon recognizing him differed...

"PS: I wanted to write more, but I'm too tired. Sigh, time to wash up and go to bed. Going to get an IV drip tomorrow! Happy Singles' Day to all my fellow singles!"

Chapter 380 [Mysterious and Unpredictable]

"How could it be him?"

Staring blankly at the tall figure before her, Tang Ningshuang couldn't utter a word for a long time. Although her contact with Yang Fan wasn't deep, and their interactions weren't pleasant, it didn't mean Tang Ningshuang didn't recognize him. Moreover, she remembered Yang Fan vividly!

Back then, their duel almost cost her her life. That was the first and only time in over twenty years that she had brushed shoulders with death!

That time, she clearly felt the approach of death and the insignificance of life. At the same time, Yang Fan's image was forever imprinted in her mind!

Although this impression wasn't one of love or infatuation, but rather a very bad one, it nonetheless made Tang Ningshuang remember Yang Fan, and he even became the most unforgettable man in her life!

It was precisely because of this that she was so surprised when she saw Yang Fan rush to her rescue. After all, the two had a history of enmity. If it were her, seeing Yang Fan in danger, she wouldn't have bothered to save him; she'd probably have rubbed salt into his wounds!

Repaying evil with kindness—in that instant, Yang Fan's image in Tang Ningshuang's mind underwent a complete transformation. Thinking back to her previous perception of him, and then back to her thoughts just moments before, Tang Ningshuang felt as if fate had played a cruel joke on her…

Compared to Tang Ningshuang's reaction, Nalan Qingcheng appeared much calmer. Perhaps it was her nature, but she showed little emotional fluctuation, as if nothing in this world could truly change her. Looking at Yang Fan, who was blocking her view, a captivating smile appeared on Nalan Qingcheng's lips, as if she were thinking of something very pleasant…

“He’s so calm. Last time at the banquet with Xiao Ming, he clearly recognized her but pretended not to. Now that he’s discovered my identity as the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, I wonder if he can still remain indifferent? Speaking of which, if I hadn’t returned to the sect last time and received direct empowerment from my master, I’d probably still be just an ordinary martial artist!”

“But, I thought my strength had caught up with his, yet now it seems a new gap has widened. I really don’t know how he cultivates. I relied on my master’s empowerment and used so many elixirs, while he cultivates in the mortal world, yet I still can’t catch up. No wonder he came to break off the engagement; it seems he really doesn’t think much of me…”

It's said that a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; Yang Fan probably never imagined that Nalan Qingcheng would be thinking about these things at this moment. Leaving aside the fact that his initial annulment of the engagement was merely a momentary impulse, and he had no idea she was the most beautiful woman in Yanjing, let's talk about cultivation. Once he learned that Nalan Qingcheng was the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, he already had a comprehensive understanding of her potential for

improvement. Martial arts holy lands like the Hundred Flowers Sect, with its Hunyuan masters, not only have numerous experts but also countless elixirs and miraculous medicines. They wouldn't lack anything beyond improving one's cultivation, even divine herbs like Blood Lotus and Ginseng. Therefore, with the resources of these martial arts holy lands, creating a Refining Spirit master in a short time is not difficult at all.

Unlike martial artists in the secular world, who lack spiritual energy, systematic cultivation methods, and even a master to guide their training. Every step requires constant exploration and a long period of accumulation. Perhaps their ten years of arduous cultivation are not as beneficial as a few hours of initiation and transmission of power for others!

This is precisely why martial artists are scarce in the secular world, with masters almost extinct. In this era where the Primordial Chaos realm is obscured and sacred lands are scarce, let alone Refining Spirit masters, even Nascent Soul martial artists are rare. Otherwise, back then, Yang Fan was only at the Nascent Soul realm, yet he achieved the rare title of King of Assassins. Ultimately, this wasn't because his strength was too great, but because the world he encountered back then was too simple. In the eyes of those true martial arts masters, they were nothing but ants, no matter how much they danced, they were nothing but a bunch of clowns!

Therefore, Yang Fan didn't pay too much attention to Nalan Qingcheng's sudden increase in strength. What truly surprised him was that Nalan Qingcheng actually had another identity, and this identity was actually the same as his own—a fellow practitioner. What surprised him even more was that Nalan Qingcheng and Poppy were actually the same person!

From the very first moment he saw Nalan Qingcheng's masked face, Yang Fan vaguely felt that she was familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before. However, he searched through all his memories but couldn't recall where. It wasn't until the brief moment he brushed past the other person while rescuing them that Yang Fan confirmed his suspicions. The basis for all this was the other person's natural body fragrance!

He remembered telling Poppy that her methods of concealing herself were unparalleled, almost flawless, yet she was discovered the moment she approached him. The most crucial reason for this was her natural body fragrance.

This fragrance was a unique scent, undetectable to the male, but perceptible to the opposite sex. This fragrance could stimulate male hormones, directly triggering a brain reaction and generating impulses. When these scents mixed with sweat, the effect on the opposite sex was even more remarkable.

Legend has it that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, while visiting the Hot Spring Palace, encountered a beautiful woman with an alluring fragrance. He was captivated, took her as his own, and made her a concubine—this woman was Yang Yuhuan. Yang Yuhuan suffered from hyperhidrosis; her sweat could soak through a handkerchief. Emperor Xuanzong found her sweat fragrant and even built a pavilion for her in agarwood. Li Bai was once summoned to write the poem "Qing Ping Yue," in which the lines "A branch of red blossoms, dew-laden and fragrant

, leans against the railing north of the Agarwood Pavilion" emphasize the word "fragrance." Then there's Xi Shi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, who, because of her beauty and fragrance, was chosen by a minister of the Yue Kingdom and presented to King Fuchai of Wu. The King specially built the Fragrant Water Stream and the Fragrant Path for Xi Shi, indulging in pleasure with her daily amidst the rich fragrance.

Getting back to the point, it was Yang Fan who reminded Nalan Qingcheng of this, making her aware of the issue and thus improve her concealment methods. And so, in subsequent interactions with Yang Fan, she repeatedly revealed her identity as Nalan Qingcheng, yet Yang Fan never connected her with the poppy flower.

But just now, during her fight with Long Junsheng, she overlooked this issue. At first, it was fine; with all the flowers blooming and various fragrances mingling together, Yang Fan couldn't distinguish between them either. However, as she lost her fighting ability, she naturally couldn't activate her Hundred Flowers Body, and with her true energy exhausted, she overlooked the concealment of her natural body fragrance... It was precisely because of this that Yang Fan, who brushed past her, smelled this natural body fragrance, thus confirming her identity!

Of course, Yang Fan wasn't entirely certain that Nalan Qingcheng was Poppy Flower. Although women with natural body fragrance are rare, one in a million, there are always a few. Just because Nalan Qingcheng possessed a natural body fragrance didn't mean others couldn't, right?

However, this was only one reason. The reason Yang Fan wasn't entirely certain was that the difference in status between the Nalan Qingcheng he knew and Poppy Flower's top-tier assassin was simply too great!

One was the high and mighty Nalan Qingcheng, the apple of the eye of one of China's four great families, the most beautiful woman in Yanjing, and the perfect goddess in the hearts of countless men; the other was a ruthless, cold-blooded female assassin who killed without blinking an eye, inspiring fear in everyone. One is noble, elegant, and perfect, representing the highest purity; the other is the exact opposite, representing the cold and dark side. It's like saying a fairy from the divine realm and a princess from the demon realm are the same person—no one would believe it! Because it's simply impossible; they exist in two completely different worlds!

Yet now, these beings from two entirely different worlds have simultaneously appeared in the same person. This forces Yang Fan to have mixed feelings—some certainty, some doubt—making him believe that Nalan Qingcheng is Poppy, yet simultaneously believing that Nalan Qingcheng is Nalan Qingcheng, and Poppy is Poppy!

However, at this moment, he doesn't have much time to ponder these questions, because the guy in front of him won't allow him to think about such irrelevant matters.

Long Junsheng's cultivation level should be around the early stage of Refining Spirit. Although his strength surpasses Yang Fan by a major realm, this doesn't necessarily mean anything; defeating him wouldn't be difficult for Yang Fan.

The problem is, behind Long Junsheng are three more powerful figures. These three, whom Long Junsheng calls elders, are all over forty years old and their strength surpasses Long Junsheng's, having reached the terrifying seventh level of the Refining Spirit realm.

A combination of one early-stage Refining Spirit expert and three seventh-stage Refining Spirit experts—although Yang Fan's strength has greatly improved, this doesn't mean he can simultaneously defeat four Refining Spirit experts. Back

then, although he defeated Tang Ningshuang, who was at the eighth level of Refining Spirit, that was because of the unsealing of his Crimson Dragon Mark. Although his cultivation has greatly improved recently, Yang Fan is confident that if he were to encounter Tang Ningshuang again, he could easily defeat her even without unsealing the mark. But now, the problem is that he is facing three experts whose strength is only slightly weaker than Tang Ningshuang, and one early-stage Refining Spirit expert. Most seriously, they possess magical artifacts!

Even if Yang Fan is confident he can defeat these four, he has absolutely no confidence regarding their magical artifacts. Don't be fooled by his seemingly effortless deflection of the opponent's two magical artifact attacks; that was only because the opponent hadn't used their full power, unleashing less than one percent of the artifact's true strength.

If he were provoked and they unleashed their artifacts to fight him to the death, without them, even if he broke through to the Refining Spirit realm, let alone being at the peak of Qi cultivation, he would have no chance of winning. After all, the true power of a magical artifact is equivalent to a full-force attack from a Void Returning expert. No matter how strong Yang Fan was, he couldn't withstand a full-force attack from a Void Returning expert!

Therefore, seeing Long Junsheng stop, Yang Fan didn't rush to attack. Although he knew that the opponent's purpose was simply to buy time to recover their depleted true energy, Yang Fan was helpless!

One side was eager to recover true energy, while the other was hesitant. It was this difference in mindset that resulted in an unusually quiet scene, even a somewhat eerie atmosphere, where a great battle should have taken place.

However, Yang Fan knew he absolutely couldn't let the enemy truly recover. They were currently overexerted and unable to continuously power their magical artifacts, but if they recovered and started activating them again, he would have nowhere to escape!

Therefore, his mind raced, and Yang Fan had already made up his mind. He didn't answer many of Long Junsheng's questions, but instead, with a flick of his longsword, it transformed into a spirit snake and stabbed towards Long Junsheng again.

"Stop him!"

Seeing Yang Fan attack without a word, a look of surprise flashed in Long Junsheng's eyes. However, he didn't retaliate. Instead, he quickly retreated, shouting at the three powerful figures behind him.

Those three were also meditating, but upon hearing Long Junsheng's shout, they simultaneously stopped and leaped into the air, forming a triangle as they charged towards Yang Fan. In almost an instant, the three had Long Junsheng protected in the center of the triangle, and at the same time, they launched a simultaneous attack on Yang Fan!

The three powerful figures wore identical clothes and attire, even their appearances were somewhat similar, but their weapons were completely different. One wielded a strangely shaped curved blade, neither quite a knife nor quite a sword; another wielded a pair of mourning clubs, equally bizarre; and the last wielded a massive double-bladed axe!

Although their weapons were strange and different, the power they displayed was roughly equal! The man wielding the strange sword unleashed two slashes into the air, the two sword energies forming an "X" shape. Once formed, the "X" seemed to come alive, hurtling straight towards Yang Fan.

Another powerful figure wielding a mourning staff swung it relentlessly, creating a dense, impenetrable wind and eerie cries, as if ten thousand ghosts had been unleashed. The scene was not only terrifying but also mentally disturbing, making it impossible to concentrate – a mental attack.

Finally, the man wielding double axes went even further, striking his axes together and delivering two overlapping blows towards Yang Fan. These two axe blades, perfectly aligned with the "X" shaped sword energy, attacked Yang Fan from above and below simultaneously, their coordination seamless, as if they had practiced countless times!

The three men's teamwork was flawless, demonstrating the incredible level of their synergy. Putting everything else aside, this single move alone would be too much for even a peak-stage Refinement Spirit expert to handle. The coordination between the three of them had reached the level of cross-border combat, demonstrating that their previous battle with Tang Ningshuang was not their full strength, but rather a cat-and-mouse game!

Chapter 381 [Yin Yang Harmony Formation]

The three experts simultaneously unleashed their strongest killing moves at Yang Fan. Each of these three experts possessed the cultivation of the seventh level of Refinement Spirit, and given their origins in a martial arts holy land, their cultivation techniques were of a high level. Even against a ninth-level Refinement Spirit expert, they would likely be able to put up a fight. But now, all three were attacking Yang Fan simultaneously. Could Yang Fan withstand it?

The answer was undoubtedly yes. No matter how strong Yang Fan was, he couldn't possibly face the combined attack of three ninth-level Refinement Spirit experts at the same time. Faced with such a situation, even an early-stage Returning Void expert would likely have to temporarily evade. But the problem was, behind Yang Fan were Nalan Qingcheng and the other two!

Not to mention that they have completely lost their ability to protect themselves, even in their prime, they couldn't withstand the combined attack of three powerful individuals. Therefore, even if he couldn't withstand it, Yang Fan couldn't retreat, he had no choice but to confront them head-on!

"I'll fight!"

At this moment, Yang Fan completely calmed down. The Nine Heavens Thunder Technique within his body circulated rapidly, and the true energy of the thunder attribute flowed through his meridians, giving him unparalleled confidence. At the same time, two of the Nine True Words were activated simultaneously, and the divine sense in his sea of consciousness transformed into two Bright King Dharma Bodies, one on the left and one on the right, appearing on either side of him, like two guardian heavenly kings, firmly protecting him!

"Divine Martial Unity!"

The moment the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique and the Nine True Words were both circulated at high speed, Yang Fan suddenly shouted. Instantly, streaks of purple lightning fell from the sky, making the entire sky lose its color!

However, the purple lightning didn't strike the ground. Instead, as it approached Yang Fan's head, it automatically flew to the two guardian deities. The two avatars moved simultaneously, forming complex hand seals—the fourteen seals such as the sword seal, head seal, chest seal, and single-drill seal, as well as the Immovable King's subduing demon mantra and the Great Wheel Vajra seal. Every seal Yang Fan knew was manifested on these two avatars! The

instant all the seals were completed, all the purple lightning in the sky was completely absorbed by the two avatars. Having absorbed the purple lightning, the two avatars were enveloped in a layer of purple lightning, like the armor of war gods, appearing exceptionally majestic. At the same time, the two avatars roared simultaneously, transforming into a thunderous sound that once again resounded across the sky.

"Zha!"

The sound was like thunder, its momentum like a rainbow. The Buddhist chants emanating from the two figures seemed capable of purifying all things and saving all beings. Yet, within this righteous and awe-inspiring Buddhist chant, there was also a sharp killing intent capable of destroying and severing everything, and a masculine energy capable of refining all things.

The simultaneous appearance of these two completely different auras was so strange and abnormal, yet so harmonious and perfect, as if it were meant to be.

Buddha also slays demons! Although Buddhism emphasizes saving all beings, it also speaks of wielding a sword to slay demons, using killing to stop killing. And now, this Buddhist chant embodied the supreme realm of Buddha also slaying demons!

As soon as the sound rang out, a Buddhist holy land suddenly appeared above Yang Fan's head. Within this Buddhist holy land, countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas appeared, as well as Buddhist holy sites such as the Great Thunderclap Temple. The appearance of this Buddhist holy land instantly plunged the entire desert into silence.

The Buddhist holy land, lifelike and almost real, filled with the vibrant sounds of Buddhist chants, was actually a fictional place. It was a world of lightning, a powerful killing move filled with destructive energy!

In the instant of divine and martial unity, Yang Fan seemed to have connected with an unknown world. This world was the real Buddhist holy land, the real Great Thunderclap Temple. There, countless Buddhist monks were cultivating, and countless Buddhist buildings stood tall and imposing. In

that instant, he seemed to vaguely understand something, and at the same time, he seemed to have formed a mysterious connection with the entire oasis. In the darkness, he seemed to sense a mysterious force calling to him from some corner of the oasis. But all of this happened in an instant, and at this moment, he didn't have much time to think about these questions, because the killing moves of the three powerful figures had arrived before him the instant his Buddhist holy land appeared!

"Whirling Yin Soul Severing!"

"Axe Severing the World!"

"Mourning Soul-Sealing!"

These three killing moves are all supreme secret techniques of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. Each move possesses earth-shattering power, not to mention the combined power of the three!

Before the killing moves even arrived, Yang Fan felt an extremely cold wind rushing towards him. Within the wind, it seemed as if ten thousand ghosts were roaring, and endless resentment rushed straight to his mind, making him feel a chill run down his spine.

Moreover, within this extremely yin and cold aura, there were two exceptionally cold killing intents, like two demons eager to devour their prey, tearing fiercely towards Yang Fan.

"Nine Heavens Vast Thunder Technique, First Form: Vast Thunder Shocks the World!"

Facing the combined attack of three experts at the seventh level of the Refining Spirit Realm, Yang Fan dared not be careless in the slightest. He finally unleashed the first form of the Nine Heavens Vast Thunder Technique, Vast Thunder Shocks the World!

The Nine Heavens Vast Thunder Technique is divided into nine levels, each corresponding to a powerful killing move. Each move possesses the power to slay gods and demons; when combined, the nine moves are said to have the power to split the heavens and earth and reshape yin and yang.

Yang Fan, having practiced the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique to this day, has only mastered its starting stance. He hasn't even mastered the first move, let alone the nine ultimate techniques.

But today, facing the pressure from three experts at the seventh level of the Divine Refinement Realm, he performed beyond his usual limits, combining the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique with the Nine True Words, achieving a state of divine and martial unity. This unexpectedly allowed him to comprehend the first move of the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique: Thunderous Shock!

The "World-Shaking Thunder" move truly lived up to its name. The moment it appeared, the earth trembled and the winds shifted dramatically. Rolling thunder poured down from the sky, as if the end of the world had arrived. The clear sky, just moments before cloudless, was instantly covered by dark clouds, from which purple lightning, like a thousand horses galloping, crashed down!

Each bolt of purple lightning was as large as an arm, and each struck directly at the killing blow unleashed by the three powerful figures. At the same time, a battle armor formed of purple lightning materialized on Yang Fan's body, making him appear like a god descended from heaven, majestic and unyielding, giving an aura of invincibility.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Under the relentless onslaught of the "World-Shaking Thunder," the killing blows unleashed by the three powerful figures vanished completely. Not only that, but the three powerful figures were forced to constantly move, trying to evade the barrage of lightning.

At this moment, the three powerful figures were no longer able to protect Long Junsheng. However, Long Junsheng lived up to his reputation as the Holy Son of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. Despite the danger, he remained fearless, using his movement techniques to dodge the lightning while quickly closing in on the three powerful figures.

"Three elders, set up the Yin-Yang Harmony Formation! I refuse to believe that the four of us can't handle him alone!"

The instant he joined the three powerful figures, Long Junsheng waved his hands, throwing a talisman depicting a man and woman engaging in sexual intercourse into the air. The talisman instantly grew several times larger, and the image on it became exceptionally clear. Simultaneously, four beams of yellow light shot out from the talisman, entering the bodies of the four of them.

In the instant Long Junsheng spoke, the other three had already taken their positions, forming a square formation with Long Junsheng, occupying the east, south, west, and north directions. As the yellow light from the high school talisman fell upon the four individuals, their auras instantly shifted. The already chilling group became even more menacing, like death-reaping grim reapers from the underworld, sending shivers down one's spine!

Simultaneously, black and white beams of light emanated from each of the four, reflecting back onto the high school talisman. Reflected by the black and white light, the talisman instantly "came to life"! The two figures, a man and a woman, on the talisman actually flew out!

Both were completely naked and remained in a composing position. Even after coming to life, the two figures didn't separate; their bodies twisted and turned in mid-air, forming a yin-yang symbol.

However, the yin and yang fish of this yin-yang symbol were each formed by the man and woman, with the dividing line being the center of their union, and the two extreme points being their heads!

After the yin-yang yin-yang yin-yang symbol was formed, the colors of the two figures also changed. The man's skin turned black, while the woman's skin turned white. The instant these two extreme colors appeared, two beams of light erupted from their bodies, scattering onto the ground and enveloping Long Junsheng and his companions, forming a massive protective shield.

"Hmph, this is the supreme technique created by the founder of my Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, the Yin-Yang Daoist. The Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram is a supreme secret technique modeled after Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, imprinting the distinction between male and female within the array, and refined using the essence and blood of a pair of young boys and girls. Moreover, this talisman was personally crafted by the sect leader of my Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. Even if you were just a lowly martial artist, or even if you were Void Returning Realm experts, you would be doomed. Let's see how you break it!"

With the Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram revealed, Long Junsheng felt reassured. He activated the array while explaining its origins to Yang Fan. Of course, his explanation to Yang Fan wasn't out of fear, but rather to create psychological pressure and force Yang Fan to find a solution.

However, his plan was doomed to fail. Yang Fan's resolve was unwavering; how could he be swayed by a single word?

On the other hand, Yang Fan had to admit that the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram was indeed incredibly powerful. His own devastating lightning strike had absolutely no effect! And that wasn't all; the purple lightning was actually attracted to, refined by, and ultimately transformed into its energy!

All things in the world are governed by Yin and Yang; as the saying goes, Taiji generates Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang generate the Four Symbols. The Yin and Yang here refer to Yin and Yang. One can generate two, two can generate three, and three generates all things. Everything in this world is inseparable from Yin and Yang; that is to say, everything in this world is a manifestation of Yin and Yang. Similarly, lightning is no exception!

Lightning, though considered the most yang and powerful force in the world, capable of refining and destroying all things, is ultimately generated by the yin and yang energies. It simply represents the extreme of yang, signifying the ultimate manifestation of yang energy.

While lightning's power far surpasses ordinary energy, it still belongs to the yin and yang energies, thus inherently being restrained when encountering them.

The most obvious characteristic of the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram unleashed by Long Junsheng is its ability to attract the power of all things in the world, refining any energy and converting it into his own true qi. In other words, once unleashed, the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram will not cease operating unless automatically withdrawn by the user. This is because it can absorb and refine energy on its own, converting it into yin and yang energies to support the operation of its own formation.

Of course, breaking it is not impossible, but the prerequisite is that the strength of the one who breaks the spell must far exceed that of the one who cast it. As the saying goes, brute force can overcome any technique; before absolute power, any formation will lose its meaning!

However, all of this is based on the premise that the one who breaks the formation is stronger than the one who casts it. Although Yang Fan's current true strength is stronger than any of the four, including Long Junsheng, even so, he certainly cannot easily break this Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram.

In fact, no matter how he tries to destroy it, the final result will only be to replenish the formation's energy in vain. Therefore, after understanding this, Yang Fan decisively dispelled the powerful killing move, "World-Shaking Thunder!"

As soon as the technique was dispelled, the purple thunder that had been pouring down from the sky vanished without a trace, and the dark clouds that had gathered in the sky also disappeared automatically. In the blink of an eye, the sky returned to clarity. The two figures behind Yang Fan also began to fade, and he withdrew from the state of divine and martial unity.

However, just as Yang Fan was about to stop circulating his true energy, the five-colored beads derived from the inner cores of the five great demonic beasts suddenly detached from his wrist and flew automatically in front of him. The next moment, they began automatically absorbing the true energy within Yang Fan's body!

"What is this?"

Yang Fan was about to stop them, but a sudden flash of inspiration made him abruptly stop. Not only did he not stop them, he also continuously channeled his true energy into the five-colored beads!

Stimulated by the true energy, the five-colored beads, which had initially only emitted a faint white light, suddenly shone brightly. They emitted five distinct colors: gold, cyan, red, black, and brown.

And the five-colored beads, originally only the size of a fist, automatically began to grow larger. In the blink of an eye, they had grown to the size of a millstone. However, this was not the end; it continued to grow. When it reached the same size as the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, it automatically flew above it and descended, completely enveloping the entire diagram…

Chapter 382 [Yin-Yang and Five Elements]

Boom!

The instant the five-colored bead made contact with the Yin-Yang Fusion Hidden Array, a deafening roar resounded, the muffled sound causing the entire ground to tremble. At the same time, the five-colored bead emitted energies of the five attributes—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—enveloping the entire Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram.

"That's it! This Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram can transform into Yin and Yang energies, but the Five-Colored Pearls can emit the power of the Five Elements. Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are inherently one, without any distinction of superiority or inferiority. To break this Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram, besides brute force, there is another method: to dissolve it with the same power. And in this world, besides the Five Elements, there is truly nothing else that can dissolve Yin and Yang energies!"

In an instant, Yang Fan understood everything. The Five-Element Pearls originated from five great demonic beasts, each belonging to one of the five elements, together forming a cycle of the Five Elements.

All things in heaven and earth are divided into Yin and Yang, and all things in the world are composed of the Five Elements. The world is composed of Yin and Yang energies, while all things in nature are composed of the Five Elements. Yin and Yang and the Five Elements perfectly constitute this complete world; neither can be lacking, nor can one be missing!

The world is material, and the material world is generated, developed, and changed under the impetus of the interaction of Yin and Yang energies; it is believed that the five most basic substances—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—are indispensable elements constituting the world. These five substances mutually nourish and restrain each other, constantly in motion and change.

What is Yin and Yang? Yin and Yang are a pair of categories in ancient Chinese philosophy. The initial meaning of Yin and Yang was very simple, representing the orientation of sunlight; facing the sun is Yang, and turning away from the sun is Yin. Later, it was extended to refer to the warmth and coldness of the climate, the up and down, left and right, inside and outside of directions, and the states of motion such as restlessness and stillness.

Ancient Chinese philosophers further realized that all phenomena in nature exist in a relationship of mutual opposition and interaction, and used the concept of Yin and Yang to explain the two opposing and mutually waxing and waning material forces in nature. They believed that the opposition and waxing and waning of Yin and Yang are inherent in things themselves, and further believed that the opposition and waxing and waning of Yin and Yang are the fundamental laws of the universe.

The Yin-Yang theory holds that the world is a material whole, and everything in nature includes two opposing aspects, Yin and Yang, which are also unified. The opposing and unified movement of Yin and Yang is the fundamental cause of the occurrence, development, change, and demise of all things in nature.

As stated in the *Suwen* (Plain Questions) chapter "On the Correspondence of Yin and Yang," "Yin and Yang are the way of Heaven and Earth, the guiding principles of all things, the parents of change, and the origin of life and death." Therefore, the contradictory yet unified movement of Yin and Yang is an inherent law governing the movement and change of all things in nature; the world itself is the result of the contradictory yet unified movement of Yin and Yang.

Yin and Yang can represent mutually opposing things, or they can be used to analyze the two mutually opposing aspects existing within a single thing. Generally speaking, anything that is in vigorous motion, outward-looking, rising, warm, or bright belongs to Yang; anything that is relatively still, inward-looking, descending, cold, or dark belongs to Yin. In terms of Heaven and Earth, the air is light and clear, which is Yang; the earth's air is heavy and turbid, which is Yin. In terms of water and fire, water is cold and downward-flowing, which is Yin; fire is hot and upward-flowing, which is Yang.

Anything can be classified according to the attributes of Yin and Yang, but this classification is only meaningful when it pertains to a pair of related things or two aspects of a single thing. If the two things being analyzed are unrelated, or are not two opposing aspects of a unified whole, then Yin and Yang cannot be used to distinguish their relative attributes and their interrelationships.

The Yin and Yang attributes of things are not absolute, but relative. This relativity is manifested in two ways: firstly, under certain conditions, Yin and Yang can transform into each other, that is, Yin can transform into Yang, and Yang can transform into Yin; secondly, it is reflected in the infinite divisibility of things.

The Five Elements refer to the movement of five substances: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. In their long-term life and production practices, ancient people recognized that wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are essential basic substances, and from this, they deduced that all things in the world are generated by the movement and changes between these five basic substances. These five substances have a relationship of mutual generation and mutual restraint, maintaining a dynamic balance in a continuous cycle of mutual generation and restraint. This is the basic meaning of the Five Elements theory.

According to the Five Elements theory, "Wood is associated with growth, upward movement, and free flow," meaning anything possessing these qualities is classified as Wood; "Fire is associated with rising," meaning anything possessing warmth and rising energy is classified as Fire; "Earth is associated with cultivation," meaning anything possessing generative, nurturing, and receiving qualities is classified as Earth; "Metal is associated with transformation," meaning anything possessing cleansing, descending, and astringent qualities is classified as Metal; and "Water is associated with flowing downward," meaning anything possessing coolness, moisture, and downward movement is classified as Water.

The Five Elements theory categorizes things based on the characteristics of the Five Elements, comparing the properties and functions of various things and phenomena in nature with the characteristics of the Five Elements and then classifying them accordingly.

The Five Elements theory posits that there are generating, restraining, overacting, and insulting relationships among the Five Elements. The generating and restraining relationships explain the interconnections between things, while the overacting and insulting relationships represent the mutual influence after the balance between things is broken.

Yin and Yang encompass the Five Elements, and the Five Elements contain Yin and Yang. All things in the universe, according to their attributes, can be divided into two categories: Yin and Yang. "Yang" possesses characteristics such as strength, upward movement, growth, display, outward expression, extension, brightness, positivity, and activity; "Yin" possesses characteristics such as weakness, downward movement, contraction, concealment, inward movement, shrinkage, storage, passivity, and stillness. Every specific thing possesses both Yin and Yang aspects; that is, there is Yang within Yin, and Yin within Yang. Yin and Yang

form the foundation of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory. Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are related as form and content. This means that whether within Yin or Yang, including between Yin and Yang, they all possess the fundamental relationships of generation, restraint, and harm expressed by the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water).

In other words, the content of Yin and Yang is reflected through the phenomena of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, while the Five Elements are the existing forms of Yin and Yang content. For example, although the universe is boundless, from the perspective of Earth, its two opposing aspects are heaven and earth, and the space of heaven and earth is displayed through the southeast, center, northwest, and southwest directions.

This is precisely why, when stimulated by the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, the Five-Colored Pearl automatically manifests and emits the Five Elements True Qi, attempting to completely merge with the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram.

Although both the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram originate from the same source, they are both spiritual artifacts, divine weapons capable of evolution. For them, whichever side devours the other has the potential to evolve, advancing to the level of a magical artifact, or even a higher realm. Therefore, subconsciously, the moment they meet, even without human intervention, they will attempt to devour each other to strengthen themselves.

This is a biological instinct, like how a hungry person craves food or a thirsty person craves water. Their mutual devouring is simply a biological instinct. In a sense, the battle between Yang Fan and Long Junsheng has now become a battle between weapons, a struggle between the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram. The two of them have no chance to intervene, and no one knows how the situation will ultimately develop!

The Five-Colored Pearl is formed from the inner cores of five great demonic beasts, essentially gathering the essence of their life's work. Each of these beasts possesses peak-level Refinement Spirit strength, and combined with the unique physique of the demonic beast pearl, any one of them is comparable to a Void Returning expert among human martial artists.

In other words, the Five-Colored Pearl is equivalent to the combined life's work of five Void Returning experts. Just imagining five Void Returning experts is enough to demonstrate the immense power of the Five-Colored Pearl!

But while the Five-Colored Pearl is undeniably powerful, the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram is equally formidable, given that it was crafted by a Primordial Chaos expert. Even if it was just something a Primordial Chaos expert created casually, it is still far more powerful than ordinary weapons!

The term "Primordial Chaos" represents more than just a simple martial arts realm or a simple term; it represents the highest status in the entire martial arts world, the pinnacle of martial arts, and the apex of human power. Anything related to the concept of "Primordial Chaos" becomes complex and mysterious, no matter how simple.

Therefore, no one can definitively say which of the two spiritual artifacts, the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Union Diagram, is stronger. Yang Fan doesn't know, and neither does Long Junsheng!

However, although neither of them knew the final outcome, Long Junsheng and his companions were certainly having a difficult time. Their location was directly beneath the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram and the Five-Colored Pearl. This position, originally their greatest protection due to the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram's shield, had now become their death trap because of the Five-Colored Pearl!

The Yin-Yang energy emanating from the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram and the Five Elements energy from the Five-Colored Pearl constantly clashed in mid-air, each attempting to refine and devour the other, yet neither could overcome the other. This very conflict made the four feel as if they were in hell, enduring unbearable suffering!

The five energies of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth surged into their bodies, causing them to alternate between hot and cold sensations, along with several indescribable feelings. Their bodies felt like furnaces, each subjected to the impact of these five energies.

In the human body, the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys correspond to the Five Elements. The Five Elements interact through mutual generation and restraint; balance leads to good health, while imbalance results in numerous illnesses. Currently, these individuals are experiencing an excess of Metal energy, causing heart problems. Before this condition can subside, an excess of Wood energy arises, leading to liver instability and a host of other ailments. Following this, there is an excess of Water, Fire, and Earth energy… In a short span of time, the four have experienced almost every ailment imaginable. To describe their current state as a serious illness is an understatement!

However, this is not all. The Yin and Yang energies, which they should normally control, are now also impacting their bodies, disrupting their bodily functions. The

life cycle of a person—birth, growth, development, strength, weakness, and death—is governed by the Yin and Yang energies. Yang: Yang propels all things to rise, representing growth, development, and strength. The twelve hours and six periods of the morning are Yang, divided into three stages: Lesser Yang, Yangming, and Greater Yang. Yin: Yin brings all things to a standstill, representing the decline, aging, or cessation of growth and development. The twelve hours and six periods of the afternoon are Yin, divided into three stages: Lesser Yin, Greater Yin, and Jueyin.

Lesser Yang: The initial stage of Qi, though weak, is vibrant Yang, representing nascent, tender Yang. Its time corresponds to Zi (11 PM - 1 AM) and Hai (9 PM - 11 PM). From birth to age ten, this is governed by the Lesser Yang meridian, which functions through the Gallbladder and Triple Burner meridians.

Yangming: Strong and vibrant Yang, its time corresponds to Mao (5 AM - 7 AM) and Chen (7 AM - 9 AM). From age eleven to twenty, this is governed by the Yangming meridian, which functions through the Large Intestine and Stomach meridians. Greater

Yang: The peak of essence, Qi, and spirit, reaching its zenith. Lesser Yin: Yang Qi reaches its peak and begins to recede, resembling the initial stage of decline.

Taiyin represents the decline of Yang energy, resulting in slowed growth and development. In the human body, this corresponds to the function of the Lung and Spleen meridians. Jueyin represents the complete cessation of growth and development, like the sun setting on the earth, awaiting the rebirth of the Lesser Yang of the sun the next day. Therefore, the Liver has the Qimen acupoint, marking the end of the flow of Qi in the meridians, and in the human body, this corresponds to the function of the Liver and Pericardium meridians.

The growth and ascent of essence, Qi, and spirit are Yang, while their decline and descent are Yin. There is Yin within Yang, Yang within Yin, Yang within Yang, and Yin within Yin.

The Zang organs are Yin, the Fu organs are Yang, the upper body is Yang, and the lower body is Yin. The Yang meridians of the upper body are called Hand Shaoyang, Hand Yangming, and Hand Taiyang, while the Yang meridians of the lower body are called Foot Shaoyang, Foot Yangming, and Foot Taiyang.

The Yin meridians of the upper body are called Hand Shaoyin, Hand Taiyin, and Hand Jueyin, while the Yin meridians of the lower body are called Foot Shaoyin, Foot Taiyin, and Foot Jueyin.

Yin and Yang energies change and function in different meridians throughout the body at different times of day. Modern people call this the biological clock, which refers to the changes caused by the movement and circulation of Yin and Yang energies along the meridians at different times of day.

Therefore, Yin and Yang energies represent the body's essence, qi, and spirit. Essence, qi, and spirit are also known as the Three Treasures. When the Three Treasures are in harmony, essence and qi are abundant, energy is plentiful, and the mind is sharp. Conversely, essence and qi are insufficient, energy is inability to concentrate, and the mind is weak. Currently, under the impact of Yin and Yang energies, the four individuals have experienced a severe imbalance of Yin and Yang energies, leading to instability in their Three Treasures of essence, qi, and spirit.

With the Yin and Yang imbalanced and the Five Elements unstable, even if they wanted to be better off, they probably wouldn't be in much better shape...

Chapter 383 [The Secret of Primordial Chaos]

"Yin and Yang are boundless, the escapee is limitless!"

At the critical moment, Long Junsheng and the other three shouted at the same time, spitting out a mouthful of essence blood. The four mouthfuls of essence blood condensed and did not disperse, forming a strange pattern in mid-air. From the pattern, a spatial force that seemed to be able to tear the void came out, eventually forming a huge black hole. As soon as the black hole formed, it enveloped Long Junsheng and his companions, pulling them into it in an instant…

“Today is a disgrace! One day, I, Long Junsheng, will avenge you! And you and all the people of the Hundred Flowers Sect, just wait to acknowledge the wrath of my Yin Yang Hehuan Sect! When my Yin Yang Hehuan Sect returns to the Central Plains, that will be the day you are all annihilated!”

The black hole slowly dissipated, and the figures of Long Junsheng and his companions vanished without a trace. Only Long Junsheng's angry roar echoed in the sky as he departed…

“Yang Fan, they escaped! Why didn't you keep them?”

Seeing Long Junsheng and his group flee, Tang Ningshuang couldn't help but shout.

Of all those present, she probably hated Long Junsheng and his group the most. Not only was she a disciple of the Hundred Flowers Sect, with the responsibility of protecting the Holy Maiden—who was now nearly harmed—but she also bore a heavy responsibility. As the captain of a branch of the base, holding a high position, when had she ever been treated like this? With her arrogant nature, she probably wanted nothing more than to devour Long Junsheng and the others alive. Now that they've escaped, how could she be willing to accept it?

Faced with Tang Ningshuang's questioning, Yang Fan remained silent, not even bothering to glance at her. Keep them? He certainly wanted to keep Long Junsheng and the others. As the saying goes, if you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring breeze; letting a tiger return to the mountain will only bring endless trouble in the future.

However, when Long Junsheng and the others left, they clearly used some kind of spatial secret technique. Spatial power is something only Void Returning Realm experts can master. Long Junsheng and the others definitely possessed secret techniques left behind by Void Returning Realm experts. In other words, when they left, it was as if a Void Returning Realm expert was helping them. No matter how strong Yang Fan was, he couldn't possibly keep them from the hands of a Void Returning Realm expert. So, it wasn't that he didn't want to keep them, but rather that there was simply no chance. Moreover, Long Junsheng and his companions were directly beneath the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram—a place even he dared not easily approach. What could he do if they wanted

to leave? Besides, if he hadn't intervened, how could Tang Ningshuang be standing here alive? This was a classic case of someone who talks without thinking. Although Yang Fan wasn't one to take advantage of kindness, he couldn't be bothered with such unreasonable people!

Tang Ningshuang was somewhat displeased by Yang Fan's disregard and was about to explode in anger when Nalan Qingcheng stopped her with a look. Nalan Qingcheng naturally knew about the debt of gratitude between them, and given his understanding of Yang Fan's character, he knew that if Tang Ningshuang continued to act unreasonably, Yang Fan might even kill her.

Stopping Tang Ningshuang, Nalan Qingcheng slowly rose and said to Yang Fan, "I never expected that we would meet again in this way!"

Yang Fan was somewhat surprised by Nalan Qingcheng's composure. This woman seemed unmoved by anything; no matter what she faced, she always maintained a calm and collected expression, even now.

"Indeed, I didn't expect it. However, what intrigues me even more is that you know martial arts and are the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect. The Holy Maiden of a sacred martial arts land—this is an honor that not everyone can attain!" "

Some things are destined and cannot be changed. When I was born, it was discovered that I possessed the Hundred Flowers Physique. When my master found me, everything was already predetermined!"

Shaking her head, Nalan Qingcheng explained in detail, finally making Yang Fan understand everything.

It turned out that shortly after Nalan Qingcheng's birth, a Daoist nun came to the family. This nun went directly to Nalan Qingcheng's grandfather, telling him she wanted to take Nalan Qingcheng as her disciple, and directly revealed her identity.

Although Nalan Qingcheng's grandfather was a merchant, he knew a great deal about the secrets of the martial arts world and naturally understood the benefits that a common family could gain by associating with a sacred martial arts realm. Aside from anything else, at the very least, the family's safety would be absolutely guaranteed, and the family's reproduction and inheritance would have a solid foundation. Of course, most importantly, with such a powerful force as a backer, the family's prosperity would be guaranteed.

Initially, Nalan Qingcheng's grandfather hesitated, but the nun directly revealed her identity as the sect leader of the Flower Hundred Sect, and that if Nalan Qingcheng became her disciple, she could immediately become a Holy Maiden, and after her abdication, she would become the clan leader.

However, although the various temptations greatly appealed to Nalan Qingcheng's grandfather, his love for his granddaughter made him reluctant to let her, who had just turned one month old, leave him and her parents. Therefore, he proposed that she could become an apprentice first, but only after she turned eighteen could she return to the sect with him. Until then, she had to live with her parents.

Nalan Qingcheng's master readily agreed, and after she became an apprentice, he indeed followed this rule, only coming to teach Nalan Qingcheng every year. Moreover, he taught her everything—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—but in terms of martial arts, apart from explaining some basic martial arts knowledge, he didn't teach her any formal martial arts techniques.

Only recently did her master suddenly take her back to the sect, not only formally teaching her the sect's techniques but also directly giving her a powerful initiation, forcibly raising her cultivation to the early stage of the Refining Spirit realm, and having her join the base, with Tang Ningshuang, an outer sect elder of the Hundred Flowers Sect, protecting her safety.

After Nalan Qingcheng's explanation, Yang Fan gained a preliminary and concrete understanding of why Nalan Qingcheng's strength had changed so drastically. However, he still had many questions about why Nalan Qingcheng and martial arts holy lands like Long Junsheng were involved in this matter. After all,

he wouldn't be surprised if only Nalan Qingcheng came here, but what about Tang Ningshuang? Moreover, the two of them clearly didn't represent any base, but rather the Hundred Flowers Sect, Long Junsheng, and the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. Why were they here? First, there were the Qingcheng Sect, Changbai Sword Sect, and Huangshan Sword Sect—these reclusive sects—and now there are the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect and the Hundred Flowers Sect—super martial arts holy lands!

What was originally just an ancient tomb discovered by a group of archaeologists, a simple emergency mission for a base, and an internal matter of the base, has now not only gathered up independent martial artists and some reclusive sects in China, but even holy lands like the Hundred Flowers Sect have been mobilized.

Without a doubt, since the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect have appeared, other holy lands must also have disciples here. In other words, this place practically encompasses all the martial arts forces and practitioners of China; it has truly become a concentration camp for martial artists!

So many martial artists, so many sects, so many holy lands have all come to the same place, to this ancient tomb. What does all this signify? There's only one answer: this place is definitely not simple. This ancient tomb must contain some unknown secret, and this secret is far from simple. Otherwise, how could the major holy lands possibly be involved?

Yang Fan originally thought that the matter of the Blood Lotus Ancestor and the Blood Transformation Sect was the true inner tomb of the ancient tomb, but now it seems that things are far more complex. The Blood Transformation Sect matter is merely a small episode.

Seemingly sensing Yang Fan's thoughts, Nalan Qingcheng continued, "Now, you must be wondering why I'm here, what secrets this place holds, why all the martial artists gather here, and why the major holy lands send disciples here!"

She paused before continuing, "Actually, I don't know much about this either. However, the reason my master bestowed upon me the initiation and transmission of power was precisely because of this place. She said she wanted me to gain experience through this, and also said that there's a tremendous opportunity here; whoever obtains it might reach the Primordial Chaos Realm!"

"Reach the Primordial Chaos Realm?"

Yang Fan exclaimed in surprise. He was no longer the ignorant youth he once was; he now possessed a comprehensive understanding of martial arts. Furthermore, his ever-increasing cultivation had given him a complete understanding of the Primordial Chaos Realm.

If the Fetal Breathing Realm was the lowest level of a martial artist, Qi Movement the entry-level, and Spirit Refining the strong, then the Returning to Emptiness Realm was the pinnacle of martial arts, while the Primordial Chaos Realm was legend, myth!

The realm of embryonic breathing is attainable sooner or later with suitable cultivation methods and diligent practice. The same applies to the realm of Qi movement; it's not too difficult unless one's aptitude is exceptional. However, the realm of refining the spirit requires a certain level of talent and insight, as well as a certain amount of fortuitous opportunity. Returning to emptiness requires even greater luck, wisdom, and perseverance!

As for the realm of primordial chaos, almost no one can reach it. Before reaching the realm of primordial chaos, no matter how strong one is, one still falls within the realm of human power. No matter how extraordinary one's abilities, one is still subject to the limitations and constraints of the laws of heaven and earth, the rules of nature, and the entanglements of cause and effect, and retribution.

But the realm of primordial chaos, in a sense, no longer belongs to humanity, no longer belongs to this world, and is no longer limited by the laws of heaven and earth, the rules of nature. Cause and effect, retribution, and retribution do not affect one. It transcends Yin and Yang, is outside the Five Elements, and escapes the cycle of reincarnation, reaching a state of eternal existence where heaven and earth perish together.

Therefore, reaching the realm of primordial chaos is no longer something that can be achieved simply through great luck, wisdom, and perseverance. Primordial chaos requires a specific time and circumstances to arise!

What does it mean to be born in response to destiny? "

Ying" means to conform to; "yun" refers to fate or opportunity. To be born in response to destiny means to arise in accordance with the will of Heaven. An ancient saying goes, "Great indeed are the divine beings, who adapt to the times, born in response to destiny, and act in accordance with Heaven." Heaven and Earth give birth to humans, and apart from the extremely benevolent and the extremely wicked, the rest are not significantly different; the extremely benevolent are born in response to destiny, while the extremely wicked are born in response to calamity. Destiny brings peace to the world, calamity brings danger!

Therefore, to be born in response to destiny requires a great sage or a great benevolent person who embodies benevolence, wisdom, righteousness, loyalty, and sincerity throughout their life, appearing in accordance with the will of Heaven when great changes occur in the world, to resolve human crises, alleviate suffering, and avert calamities. Thus, the prerequisite for the emergence of the Primordial Chaos Realm is the arrival of a great calamity in the world; only those who conform to the will of Heaven can appear.

Of course, this does not mean that all powerful beings in the Primordial Chaos Realm are extremely benevolent and righteous. Throughout history, there have been many powerful beings in the Primordial Chaos Realm who have brought disaster and harm to the world. Such a master of the Primordial Chaos realm is one born to meet a calamity.

Being born to meet a calamity is the opposite of acting in accordance with destiny; one saves the world, the other brings chaos! Just as weapons themselves are neither good nor evil, in the hands of a righteous person they become benevolent weapons, and in the hands of an evil person they become demonic or monstrous weapons. The same applies to masters of the Primordial Chaos realm; if they are not of great benevolence and righteousness, they are certainly of great wickedness and evil!

Whether born to meet a calamity or born in accordance with destiny, these are necessary conditions for the emergence of a master of the Primordial Chaos realm, illustrating just how difficult it is to achieve this. Consider this prerequisite alone—how many Void Returning Realm masters have been prevented from reaching the Primordial Chaos realm?

Countless Void Returning Realm masters have spent decades, even centuries, in seclusion, cultivating solely to break through to the Primordial Chaos realm, yet not a single one has truly succeeded. This demonstrates just how difficult and arduous the Primordial Chaos realm truly is!

But now, Nalan Qingcheng is telling Yang Fan that here lies the hope of advancing to the Hunyuan Realm. One can imagine how many people would go mad for this secret, how many would be completely captivated!

Even if the hope of advancing to the Hunyuan Realm is only one in ten thousand, or even if it's just a fabricated lie, it won't diminish people's madness for it, because it's something that no elixir, no peerless weapon, no heaven-defying technique can compare to!

Now, Yang Fan understood why so many people were rushing here recklessly. Some were perhaps influenced by the Blood Transformation Sect's conspiracy, but a larger group, such as those from the major holy lands, were there specifically for the "Primordial Chaos" title!

Perhaps they all knew it was just a pipe dream, but even so, they wouldn't easily give up this opportunity. After all, nothing comes without a reason, and they would fight for even the slightest chance. Moreover, even if they couldn't obtain it themselves, they wouldn't let their rivals have it, right?

In short, regardless of their motives or plans, Yang Fan was certain that representatives from all the major holy lands had come, or at least dispatched their respective forces here!

"Moreover, according to information obtained by my Hundred Flowers Sect, this place was once the place of practice for a high-ranking Buddhist monk. Later, for some unknown reason, this monk passed away. And in his possession, he held a relic left behind by Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism!"

"What? A relic left behind by Shakyamuni?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Fan's expression changed drastically...

Chapter 384 [The Foundation of the Base]

Holy Buddha Relic! Indeed, when he heard Nalan Qingcheng mention the relic left behind by Shakyamuni, Yang Fan instantly thought of the Holy Buddha Relic and the Nine Syllable Mantra!

Now, he has obtained two Holy Buddha Relics and even the first two of the Nine Syllable Mantras. It is precisely because of this that he understands even more the power of the Nine Syllable Mantra and the importance of the Holy Buddha Relic. Yang Fan has been searching for the whereabouts of the Holy Buddha Relic all along, but he has never had any clues. But now, Nalan Qingcheng says that the Holy Buddha Relic is located here. How could he not be excited? Not shaken?

Yang Fan secretly obtained two great mantras, one for strengthening divine sense and the other for strengthening the physical body. Therefore, the other seven mantras are highly likely to have similar effects. Gathering all nine mantras would undoubtedly bring about earth-shattering changes. Although he didn't know what the final changes would be, Yang Fan remained extremely curious about the nine mantras and spared no effort in searching for them!

If Nalan Qingcheng's words were true, then it was indeed highly likely that a third Holy Buddha Relic was hidden here. If so, Yang Fan had a chance to obtain the third part of the nine mantras. If he obtained the third mantra, then his strength might increase again.

Originally, Yang Fan wasn't particularly interested in the mansion left behind by the Hunyuan master that Nalan Qingcheng mentioned. In his view, cultivation still depended on oneself. No matter how many opportunities or fortuitous encounters one had, if one didn't work hard, everything would be in vain. Perhaps obtaining the relics left behind by a master of the Hunyuan realm could indeed provide a shortcut to advancing to the Hunyuan level, but Yang Fan believed that even if such a person truly reached the Hunyuan realm, their foundation would be unstable, and they would have no chance of survival in a battle against a master of the same level.

Therefore, when he learned of all this, he didn't want to get involved in this mess, but now he had no choice but to participate, because the Holy Buddha Relic was related to the Nine True Words, making it impossible for him to resist!

"So, the base also knew about this news, which is why they launched this emergency mission?"

After digesting the information brought by Nalan Qingcheng, Yang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"Yes!"

"Hehe, it seems the base isn't as simple as I imagined!"

Yang Fan said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Indeed, it's not that simple. In fact, the base's true strength is no less than any martial arts holy land!"

"No less than any martial arts holy land?"

"That's right. Not only that, but I'm afraid no martial arts holy land would dare to touch the base. Otherwise, how could the base protect such a vast country as China?"

"Why?"

"Because the base also has a Hunyuan Realm expert in its ranks. Moreover, unlike the experts in other martial arts holy lands who are asleep or in seclusion, this Hunyuan Realm expert is not only awake but also in perfect condition. If you ask who is the strongest in the world, it would undoubtedly be the base!"

"Undoubtedly the base?"

Yang Fan was once again startled by Nalan Qingcheng's words. The base actually had a Hunyuan Realm expert in its ranks, and he had been in the base for so long without knowing it!

Yang Fan had no doubt about Nalan Qingcheng's words. Putting aside her identity as the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, just her status as the apple of the Nalan family's eye meant that her understanding of the base far surpassed Yang Fan's. Therefore, if she said there was a Hunyuan realm expert in the base, then there definitely was!

But who exactly was that Hunyuan realm expert? Having been in the base for so long, the strongest person Yang Fan had seen was the captain of the Wild Wolf team, a Returning Void realm expert. He had originally thought this captain was the strongest in the base, but unexpectedly, there was a Hunyuan realm expert above him!

As he learned more about the base, Yang Fan discovered that this seemingly ordinary organization was becoming increasingly mysterious and wondrous. He had thought he completely understood it, but now he realized that his understanding of the base was barely scratching the surface. He was like an ant, while the base was a mountain. To truly understand it, he had to keep climbing upwards; only by reaching the top could he truly understand the base's mysteries!

"Who could that Hunyuan realm expert be?"

Searching through all his memories, Yang Fan couldn't match any of the people he remembered with the Hunyuan realm expert Nalan Qingcheng had mentioned. The fact that such a legendary figure lived right beside him was enough to excite even someone as composed as Yang Fan, and ignite a strong urge to investigate!

"I don't know. In fact, in the entire base, apart from one person, no one else knows who that Hunyuan realm expert is. It's just that all the major martial arts holy lands can sense the aura of a Hunyuan realm expert within the base, which is why they're certain there's a Hunyuan realm expert there!"

The Hunyuan realm is long beyond the realm of mortal power. Hunyuan realm experts possess a mysterious connection; even separated by vast distances, they can sense each other's aura. Furthermore, they can even judge the strength of another's cultivation by sensing the strength of that aura.

Therefore, although Hunyuan realm experts rarely come into contact, they can all sense each other's presence. This is precisely why the major holy lands have been able to maintain a peaceful coexistence.

Masters of the Primordial Chaos realm rarely engage in actual combat anymore. Their power is so immense that a single move could cause cataclysmic upheavals, catastrophic collapses, and devastating destruction to the entire world, potentially even disrupting its balance and laws. Furthermore, a clash between two Primordial Chaos masters could potentially sink the entire world.

Therefore, they rarely fight each other, always mindful of the other's safety. Besides, even with their extraordinary cultivation, they wouldn't survive if the world were destroyed. Thus, even if a life-or-death battle were to occur, they would generally choose to settle it in outer space, in the endless void, rather than on Earth.

Those at the Returning Void realm can already control spatial power; Primordial Chaos masters, on the other hand, are unaffected by gravity or oxygen. They can survive anywhere and reach any destination.

Therefore, throughout history, no one has ever truly witnessed a battle between Primordial Chaos masters. Because their clashes are usually resolved outside the realm, how could anyone other than those of equal cultivation level possibly discover them?

"The person you're talking about, could it be Tang Wan, Elder Tang?"

Pulling back to reality, Yang Fan couldn't help but turn his attention to the only person who knew the whereabouts of the base's Primordial Chaos expert. After thinking it over, Yang Fan realized that it seemed only the Grand Elder Tang Wan, second only to the base's leader, would know of that person's existence!

"That's right, it's Elder Tang. In fact, before returning to my sect, I never knew her true identity. I only thought she was Ming Yuan from Yanjing, a very shrewd and business-savvy woman. Before that, I had been studying her, even considering her a potential rival. But I never imagined she would have such a mysterious identity!"

"It wasn't until I joined the base and learned of her identity as the base's Grand Elder that I understood why, even with almost the entire Nalan family's resources mobilized in Yanjing, I couldn't uncover any of her secrets. Not only me, but countless forces, large and small, in Yanjing couldn't find anything about her. Because behind her, there's the support of an entire base, the support of a nation!"

"A base with strength comparable to a holy land, a nation wanting to conceal her true identity—if she didn't speak, who could find any information about her?"

"Actually, even now, I only know some information about her within the base. I don't know much else. She's not only the official head of the base, but also the representative of that Hunyuan expert. Moreover, her relationship with the country isn't one of superior and subordinate, but rather a cooperative one. She helped the country build the base into a force comparable to a sacred land, and the country reciprocated by providing her with everything she needs!"

"When I returned to my sect last time, my master told me that in the base, you can offend anyone, but you absolutely cannot offend Tang Wan. Although my master didn't explicitly say so, I sensed that Tang Wan has another identity, seemingly an important figure in some martial arts sacred land. As for which sacred land, I don't know!"

Nalan Qingcheng revealed everything about Tang Wan in one breath, giving Yang Fan a complete understanding of her while also preventing him from asking any further questions!

It must be said that Nalan Qingcheng, this stunning beauty, is not only breathtakingly beautiful but also possesses unparalleled wisdom. Not to mention that telling Yang Fan everything she knows saves him a lot of trouble. Similarly, she used this information to give Yang Fan a completely new understanding of Tang Wan!

Although Nalan Qingcheng couldn't find out Tang Wan's true identity, she knew everything that happened between Tang Wan and Yang Fan in Yanjing. Although she didn't think she liked Yang Fan, she had a strange feeling for this fiancé who had abandoned her. Likewise, she absolutely wouldn't allow Tang Wan, who was in no way inferior to her, to have anything happen between them, not even the slightest bit!

Perhaps this was Nalan Qingcheng's pride at work, perhaps she felt it necessary for Yang Fan to see Tang Wan for who she truly was, or perhaps she had other motives. But whatever her motivation, she had no

intention of using this to suppress or belittle Tang Wan. A proud woman like her wouldn't stoop to such methods to elevate herself, because only those lacking confidence or skilled in scheming would resort to such tactics. With everything Nalan Qingcheng possessed, even if she were to resort to tricks, she would only employ open schemes, not underhanded ones, because there was simply no need for them. She was confident and proud!

However, Nalan Qingcheng's seemingly disorganized explanation actually deepened Yang Fan's understanding of Tang Wan considerably. He hadn't expected that this noble, elegant, mature, and sexy woman, embodying the virtues of countless women, would have so many mysterious identities!

A high-ranking official of a holy land, a base ruler, a representative of Hunyuan powerhouses, a national collaborator, and the one who single-handedly built a base with strength comparable to a holy land… Each one seemed unbelievable, like a fantasy! After all, whatever her identity or whatever she did represented a height or challenge that countless people could never reach or accomplish in

their entire lives. Yet, Tang Wan had simultaneously achieved and accomplished these very challenges and heights that countless people could never reach in their lifetimes!

"Why is it that all the women I know have increasingly complex backgrounds, intricate relationships, and multiple identities?"

Yang Fan couldn't help but sigh.

First, there was Nalan Qingcheng, the apple of the Nalan family's eye, the assassin Poppy, the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect, and the successor of a martial arts holy land. Then there was Tang Wan, equally burdened with multiple identities. Heaven knows how many more unknown identities they possessed beyond those he already knew!

Even setting aside these two, Dongfang Lan, Shen Ruoxi, and even Lin Wan'er—which of these women with whom he had entanglements was a good person? Which one had a "clean" background or an "upright" figure?

These women were all more mysterious and shrouded in enigma than the last. At this moment, Yang Fan couldn't help but recall a saying someone had once made: "Women are a mystery; no matter how much you study or ponder them, you can never finish studying or understand them!"

"Huh?"

However, just as Yang Fan was pondering these questions, the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, which were locked in a fierce battle, underwent a change...

After a period of stalemate, seeing that neither could gain the upper hand, the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram changed their strategy and began to merge.

The Five Elements True Qi erupting from the Five-Colored Pearl merged with the Yin-Yang Qi emanating from the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, slowly forming a Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram. Initially, the Tai Chi diagram was only the size of a palm, but as more and more Five Elements True Qi and Yin-Yang Qi erupted from the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, the Tai Chi diagram grew larger and larger, until finally, it completely enveloped the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin

-Yang Fusion Diagram! After enveloping the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, the Tai Chi diagram began to slowly rotate, automatically absorbing energy within a ten-mile radius. Gradually, a tornado composed entirely of energy formed above the Tai Chi diagram. At the same time, the Five-Colored Beads and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram also began to change. The two actually started to merge together. Simultaneously, the two weapons themselves also began to change…

Chapter 385 [Spatial Power]

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several muffled sounds rang out, and the five beads on the Five-Colored Beads trembled simultaneously, erupting with overwhelming energy. The five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, each representing a different element, formed a star pattern in the east, south, west, north, and center. The powerful Five Elements True Energy shot straight into the sky, as if the entire sky had been torn apart by it.

At the same time, the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram was not to be outdone. The Yin and Yang energies poured forth from within the diagram, forming one Yin-Yang diagram after another. These diagrams surrounded the Five Elements True Energy with indescribable harmony and perfection, as if it were meant to be this way!

After the Yin and Yang energies merged with the Five Elements True Energy, a new change actually occurred. A chilling aura slowly emanated from within the two objects, as if the heavens and earth were being created. The entire painting was filled with the essence of the Dao, the natural world, and the power of the Great Dao, giving people an inexplicable sense of Daoist profoundness. Anyone who looked at it couldn't help but feel something and comprehend what they needed.

"Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, united, returning to chaos! This... is the aura of the laws of space. Could it be that after these two magical treasures merged into one, they actually have the potential to be upgraded to magical artifacts? And even have the foundation to grow into divine artifacts?"

Looking at the tomb before her, Nalan Qingcheng murmured involuntarily.

Whether it's a Void Returning Realm or a magical artifact, they all share a common characteristic: they have mastered the power of space!

The so-called power of space is like teleportation, allowing one to be unrestricted by the laws of space, even traversing space, tearing space apart with bare hands, and teleporting through space. And this is precisely one of the most important steps for a Refining Spirit expert to break through their current realm and reach the Void Returning Realm!

The process by which a powerful being in the Void Returning Realm continuously comprehends and perfects their understanding of spatial power, transforming spatial power into spatial laws, is a process by which the Void Returning Realm enters the realm of spatial laws.

A Void Returning Realm expert wields the power of space, while a Primordial Chaos Realm expert wields the laws of space. Although both belong to the spatial domain, the difference between them is like the difference between a drop of water and an ocean!

Primordial Chaos experts can create their own independent worlds because they have mastered the laws of space. And the laws of space are an upgraded version of the power of space. Mastering the power of space allows one to change and distort space, while mastering the laws of space allows one to create and destroy space.

Just as a person who uses a computer may not necessarily manufacture one, but a person who manufactures a computer will certainly use one, a powerhouse with the power of space can change and distort space for teleportation, array formations, etc., but they cannot create a new space.

A Primordial Chaos Realm expert who has mastered the laws of space can not only use space to do things unimaginable to ordinary people, but can also create entirely new spaces. One is a user, the other a creator—how vast and profound is the difference between them?

The Yin-Yang Union Diagram and the Five-Colored Pearl, though rare treasures, are still far from being true magical artifacts. This is because neither has formed its own independent space, nor comprehended spatial power, let alone spatial laws.

Just as only those who have mastered spatial power can advance to the Void Returning Realm, only rare treasures possessing spatial power have the potential to become magical artifacts. Only by possessing spatial power can a rare treasure ultimately become a true magical artifact!

It's not that possessing spatial power automatically makes something a magical artifact. Just as some peak Void Returning Realm experts have comprehended some spatial power, they are not Void Returning Realm experts. Only when spatial power reaches a certain level, coupled with other factors, can one advance to the Void Returning Realm or become a magical artifact.

Therefore, the fusion of the Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram and the Five-Colored Beads generated spatial power, which cannot be considered a true magical artifact. However, even so, it is absolutely invincible among magical artifacts because it already possesses a certain amount of spatial power. It's as if it has already stepped into the ranks of magical artifacts, becoming a quasi-magical artifact!

The forging of magical artifacts is incredibly difficult. A powerful expert at the Refining Spirit Realm might not be able to forge even one in their entire life. This is because the level of magical artifacts is equal to their own. It's like a Void Returning Realm expert trying to create another expert with the exact same strength as themselves—almost impossible.

Only experts at the Primordial Chaos Realm can forge magical artifacts at will. And only experts at the Primordial Chaos Realm can freely create spatial power and infuse it into magical artifacts to enhance their own spatial power. Otherwise, ordinary Void Returning Realm experts, while infusing their own comprehended spatial power into magical artifacts to strengthen them, lose their own spatial power in the process.

This kind of loss, even an irreparable one, could potentially cause a Void Returning Realm expert's strength to decline over time, and once that decline occurs, there's no chance of ever regaining it. This is because their very essence has been damaged during the forging process.

Therefore, it's not impossible for a Void Returning Realm expert to forge a magical artifact, but to do so, they must allow their realm to plummet, sacrificing their cultivation in exchange for the artifact. It's unlikely any Void Returning Realm expert would be willing to do that.

Of course, there is another method for forging magical artifacts: capturing a Void Returning Realm expert, extracting their essence, and forcibly infusing the spatial power they've cultivated into a magical artifact. This can also produce a magical artifact. However, Void Returning Realm experts have already reached the pinnacle of martial arts, and they also possess spatial power; even if they can't defeat their opponent, they can easily escape unscathed.

Therefore, capturing a Void Returning Realm expert alive is even more difficult than killing them. Within the same realm, almost no one can capture another Void Returning Realm expert alive. And how could a Primordial Chaos Realm expert, so high and mighty, possibly lay a hand on a mere Void Returning Realm ant? Therefore, the method of capturing a Void Returning Realm expert alive and seizing their essence to forge a magical artifact is simply impossible.

In other words, to forge a magical artifact, a Primordial Chaos Realm expert must act. Otherwise, it's impossible to forge it successfully. This is an ironclad rule that has stood for millennia, never broken.

But now, Yang Fan has blatantly broken this rule. How could Nalan Qingcheng not be astonished, how could she not be surprised? At this moment, what did it matter if she was a saint or not, whether she was indifferent to worldly affairs or disregarded the Red Law? All of that was gone. At this moment, all that remained in Nalan Qingcheng's heart was astonishment!

Of course, Nalan Qingcheng wasn't the only one surprised. Tang Ningshuang, standing beside her, also wore an incredulous expression: "Space... spatial power? How is that possible? He's clearly only at the peak of Qi Movement, how could he possess spatial power that even the peak of Refining God might not comprehend? Even I haven't comprehended spatial power! What's going on? Or is this just his facade, and his true strength is no less than mine?"

Tang Ningshuang was at the eighth level of Refining God, approaching the peak of Refining God, and even beginning to touch the edge of Returning to the Void Realm. However, precisely because of this, she understood spatial power much better, and her desire for it far surpassed that of Nalan Qingcheng, Yang Fan, and the others.

Because once she comprehended spatial power, she would have a chance to advance to the Returning to the Void Realm, and once she entered the Returning to the Void Realm, not only would her own strength double, but her status in the base would also rise significantly. And, most importantly, her status in the Hundred Flowers Sect would also increase.

Those at the Void Returning Realm are treated as honored guests, even in the sacred lands of the martial arts world. In any sacred land, a Void Returning Realm expert has absolute say, and only those at the Void Returning Realm can intervene in the decisions of the sacred land's higher-ups. If this is the case in a sacred land, how much more so in ordinary sects and in the secular world?

Therefore, Tang Ningshuang has always regarded the Void Returning Realm as her lifelong goal. But now, a height that she thought was impossible to reach has been easily attained by others. How could she be willing to accept this? However, amidst her resentment, she found that a feeling called envy was constantly growing in her heart...

"Finally, you've taken the first step? It seems that your bloodline has finally truly awakened. Your mother's painstaking efforts have not been in vain. I hope that your mother's wish can be fulfilled this time. This thing originally belonged to you. Whether you can take it back now depends on yourself!"

Not far away, Su Xin also looked at the changes in the Five-Colored Pearl and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram with an excited expression and murmured.

"Sister Suxin, what did you say? What bloodline truly awakened? Are you talking about Brother Yang? I don't understand what you're saying."

Gu Feifei, who was closest to Suxin, overheard her and asked.

"Hehe, it's nothing. You'll understand soon enough. Don't speak yet, don't disturb Yang Fan. He's facing a tremendous opportunity right now. If we disrupt it, he might lose a chance to advance!" "

You mean, Young Master Yang is about to advance to the Refining Spirit Realm?"

Upon hearing this, Wan Tiancheng exclaimed in surprise. Yang Fan is already so monstrous; if he advances to the Refining Spirit Realm, wouldn't he become the number one person below the Returning Void Realm? In his surprise, Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but feel secretly pleased that he had followed the right person...

The most composed person in the entire arena was Yang Fan. Perhaps it was ignorance that made him fearless; he had no idea what spatial power was, let alone who it represented. Right now, all his attention was completely drawn to the Yin and Yang energies and the Five Elements True Qi in mid-air.

The Five-Colored Pearl is Yang Fan's magical artifact. Now, merging with the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, in a sense, it's equivalent to him merging with the diagram itself. The process of the Yin-Yang energies and the Five Elements True Qi merging, releasing Daoist insights, is like him personally experiencing it. Even a distant glimpse of this fusion process could lead to enlightenment, let alone Yang Fan experiencing it firsthand. Therefore, what kind of opportunity is he facing at this moment?

Within Yang Fan's eyes, the Yin-Yang energies and the Five Elements True Qi gradually disappeared, replaced by streams of indescribable and inexplicable chaotic energy. As if at the dawn of creation, this indistinct and inexplicable chaotic energy twisted and turned incessantly, seemingly operating within his body.

His meridians, flesh, bones, skin, and even the smallest pores were all undergoing the impact of this chaotic energy. Simultaneously, this chaotic energy was constantly improving his physique, making his already monstrous constitution even stronger!

First, his meridians were imbued with a chaotic aura, then his flesh, bones, skin… finally reaching his cells, the epidermis, and so on. In the end, Yang Fan's entire being, including his skin, was bathed in a layer of chaotic light. Within this chaos, the colors of the Five Elements True Qi and the Yin-Yang energies flickered in and out. If someone could see these two different energies at this moment, they would discover that the two energies had transformed into two divine dragons, one black and white, and the other five colors!

Two divine dragons, their colors mutated, flowed continuously within Yang Fan's body. With their movement, faint spatial forces slowly formed within him. However, the formation of these spatial forces was so slow and subtle that even Yang Fan, as their master, couldn't detect their existence!

In his sea of consciousness, Yang Fan's countless divine senses, which had previously transformed into rhomboid shapes, merged together, ultimately forming a massive Tai Chi sphere. On this Tai Chi sphere, black and white were clearly distinguished. Upon closer inspection, one could faintly discern two Dharma images on the sphere—projections of the Immovable King Dharma Body and the Great Wheel Vajra Dharma Body, two great Buddhist protectors.

On the Tai Chi sphere, besides the projections of the two Buddhist guardians, the Immovable King and the Great Wheel Vajra, there was another projection. This projection was towering, like an invincible war god standing proudly between heaven and earth. Surrounded by purple lightning, it concealed his true face, but his overwhelming aura remained undiminished. Even the projections of the Immovable King and the Great Wheel Vajra were suppressed by his aura, flanking him on either side, as if protecting him.

Needless to say, these three projections represented the three unparalleled divine skills Yang Fan cultivated: the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique and the Buddhist combat techniques of the "Lin" and "Bing" characters from the Nine True Words. These three projections were the crystallization of Yang Fan's lifelong cultivation, the foundation of his martial arts prowess!

Besides these three projections, there were many others on the Tai Chi sphere, each representing a different cultivation technique practiced by Yang Fan. For example, the ghostly figure was the crystallized essence of his Ghost Shadow Step, and many others represented various techniques Yang Fan had encountered over the years!

However, the most bizarre projection was a picture of a man and woman engaging in sexual intercourse. This projection was exactly the same as the image on the Yin-Yang Union Diagram, even their spiritual senses were identical. This was the cultivation technique of the Yin-Yang Union Sect…

Chapter 386 [Yin-Yang Union Technique]

The intercourse of man and woman, vivid and lifelike, was filled with an aura of obscenity, yet within this obscenity lay a vast Daoist essence, making the entire projection appear inexplicably strange and harmonious!

One represented evil and wickedness, the other the foundation of righteousness; obscenity and the Great Dao coexisted, evil and righteousness shared—two things that should not have appeared simultaneously coexisted. All of this was so difficult to comprehend!

"The Yin-Yang Union Technique... this is the Yin-Yang Union Sect's most treasured cultivation method?"

Even Yang Fan was slightly taken aback upon seeing the projection of a man and woman in union. But instantly, he understood what had happened.

The Yin-Yang Union Diagram was a precious treasure of the Yin-Yang Union Sect. Legend had it that this treasure was a failed attempt by a Hunyuan expert when forging a magical artifact. Even if it was a failed attempt, being crafted by a Hunyuan expert, it was far superior to ordinary magical artifacts.

Moreover, because it originated from a Hunyuan expert, the Yin-Yang Union Diagram contained a trace of that expert's understanding of the Great Dao. And these insights were precisely the Yin-Yang Union Sect's most treasured cultivation method!

These insights were equivalent to the condensation of a Hunyuan expert's lifelong cultivation essence. Although it was only a simple trace, its value to martial artists below the Hunyuan level was indescribable.

If someone obtained the essence of a Hunyuan expert's cultivation, it would be equivalent to a Hunyuan expert directly transferring their power, rather than simply imparting experience. Imagine, even someone like Nalan Qingcheng, whose cultivation level could be directly raised from an ordinary martial artist to the Refining Spirit Realm by receiving power from a Void Returning expert. What would happen if a Primordial Chaos Realm expert received power from her?

However, because the Yin-Yang Union Diagram itself has flaws, although the essence of cultivation is not complete, Yang Fan cannot truly obtain it. Even so, he still learned all the mental techniques and incantations of the Yin-Yang Union Technique, the sect's most treasured cultivation method.

This Yin-Yang Union Technique is a very mysterious dual cultivation technique, divided into male and female, and is also a method of absorbing and replenishing essence! The so-called method of absorbing and replenishing essence refers to men and women absorbing each other's essence through sexual intercourse to enhance their own power.

However, this art of sexual cultivation also has different levels. The lowest level is merely ordinary bedroom arts, which can prolong the duration of intercourse but have little practical use. More advanced levels involve one-sided extraction, absorbing the other's essence to strengthen oneself. The recipient is merely a vessel, and after being used, it's possible to be drained dry, or even worse, suffer lifelong disability.

Only the highest level of sexual cultivation is a technique of yin and yang complementing each other. Through dual cultivation, both men and women can benefit, not only strengthening their bodies but also using it for cultivation!

The *Baopuzi* (抱朴子), specifically the *Inner Chapters* (内篇) by Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty, contains a clear record: "There are more than ten schools of thought on sexual techniques, some for remedying fatigue, some for treating various diseases, some for replenishing yang through yin-yang cultivation, and some for prolonging life.

Their essence lies in replenishing the brain with essence." This means that replenishing yang through yin cultivation is based on the traditional Chinese medicine view of male ejaculation during intercourse as the most precious substance in the body, which should be kept full. Ejaculation during intercourse depletes this substance, while female secretions during intercourse do not. Male secretions can be replenished through consuming tonics or through intercourse with female secretions. "

Wait until the qi is combined, and then slightly move the body. If the body can be moved to produce five sounds, then the essence can enter—the deficient can be filled, the strong can prolong their life, and the old can achieve longevity… The jade seal firmly holds the essence, ensuring the jade spring does not overflow, then all diseases will not arise, thus achieving longevity."

When they unite, the woman is alluring, her face flushed and her voice trembling. Her gates open, her breath is released, and her fluids overflow. The man… receives her breath and inhales her fluids to nourish his primordial yang and spirit; this is the great elixir of the three peaks…

When engaging with a woman, one should act as if riding a galloping horse with a rotten rope, as if facing a deep pit with a blade below, lest one fall in… When the semen is greatly aroused,

quickly tilt your head back, open your eyes wide, look left, right, up, and down, contract your lower body, hold your breath, and the ejaculation will stop. When you are about to strike but do not, retreat and avoid the enemy… Deep trenches and high walls, firmly closed and undisturbed. When you feel the slight urge to ejaculate, quickly lift your waist… calm your mind, and visualize the point below your spine, the coccyx, containing your essence, a precious treasure, which must not be lost…

Just as Yang Fan was examining the projection, the incantation of the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique automatically appeared in his mind. These incantations were not particularly profound; their meaning was immediately apparent. At first glance, they did not differ much from ordinary bedroom arts, and included explanations of the techniques. It could be said that from beginning to end, they were filled with an erotic atmosphere.

However, upon closer inspection, Yang Fan discovered that the Yin-Yang Union Technique contained profound martial arts philosophy within its words, including many incantations for cultivating internal energy. However, these incantations only functioned effectively during union, requiring both partners to exert their energy simultaneously.

Secretly memorizing the Yin-Yang Union Technique, Yang Fan couldn't help but think that if he passed it on to Shen Ruoxi and the others, it would not only enhance their cultivation and give them the ability to protect themselves, but also allow both partners to enjoy more pleasure in bed. Such a win-win situation—wouldn't it be a waste not to make good use of it?

Yang Fan discovered that his understanding of the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique's effects on relationships far outweighed its cultivation aspects. However, this was only natural; he already had many women around him, and although his physique was exceptional, he certainly couldn't maintain it indefinitely. Practicing the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique not only allowed both partners to enjoy greater pleasure but also enhanced his "combat power!"

This combat power, while not in terms of cultivation or martial arts, was equally significant, and for a man, its importance far surpassed martial prowess!

Furthermore, Yang Fan had mastered the Five Elements Sect's cultivation methods. Although he had previously obtained some Five Elements Sect techniques, those were nowhere near the level of those recorded in the Five-Colored Pearl.

At this moment, in Yang Fan's divine sea, besides the figures, there was a special pearl—a starlight composed of five beads of different colors. These five starlight represented the Five Elements Sect's highest mental cultivation method, the Five Elements Technique.

The Five Elements Technique is a spell to control the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It consists of five obscure and difficult-to-understand incantations. Mastering these five incantations allows one to control the power of these five elements, making it an extremely powerful technique.

At this moment, the Five-Colored Beads and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram completely merged into one. After merging, the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram disappeared, leaving only the Five-Colored Beads. However, within each of the previously empty beads, a pattern from the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram now appeared. Each bead emanated a faint spatial power, and although it hovered quietly in mid-air, not far from Yang Fan, it gave the impression of being both close and worlds apart!

Boom!

The instant the two magical treasures combined, the Five-Colored Beads suddenly became chaotic, with beams of light shooting straight into the sky. Suddenly, the wind rose and the clouds surged, black clouds sweeping in from all directions. In the blink of an eye, the sky was completely darkened by the dense clouds!

"What's going on?"

The sudden change made Yang Fan and the others unable to remain calm. Looking at the ever-growing dark clouds in the sky, Gu Feifei asked with a worried expression.

Within those dark clouds, she clearly felt a suffocating aura. Under this oppressive aura, she couldn't even muster the slightest thought of resistance. It seemed as if her entire soul was trembling incessantly.

"The path of cultivation is inherently against the heavens, because it has seriously violated the rules of heaven and earth. Now, Yang Fan is about to advance to the Refining Spirit Realm. Naturally, a heavenly tribulation will descend!"

Black Wind roared, watching the ever-growing dark clouds in the sky. Su Xin remained calm, as if he had long anticipated this would happen.

The entire sky was filled with black tribulation clouds, pressing down, making everyone afraid to even breathe. The churning dark clouds, like an impending army, were utterly silent, devoid of any thunder or lightning.

They rapidly converged above Yang Fan's head, eventually forming a vast cloud tens of thousands of feet wide. Elsewhere, light suddenly shone, and sunshine bathed the sky. Only above Yang Fan, the churning clouds created an oppressive atmosphere.

High in the sky, dark clouds churned and lightning flashed. Clouds gathered at breakneck speed from all directions, forming clusters, layers, and waves of swirling clouds. A hundred miles away, the sky was clear and blue, but here, the sky was thick with dark clouds, and visibility was zero!

At this moment, the entire sky was unusually calm, save for the increasingly fierce howling winds. The whole world trembled and groaned under this raging fury. Countless trees and lanterns were swept away, one moment dancing in the air, the next vanished without a trace!

The dark clouds grew thicker, darker, and lower, like a peerless master descending from the heavens with an overwhelming and irresistible force. A solemn and heavy atmosphere suddenly filled the world. Within

the clouds, faint lights appeared—thin, intense flashes of lightning flickering, weaving, brewing, and preparing!

This was the wrath of the thunder god, the roar of heaven and earth. Faintly, a muffled rumble of thunder seemed to slowly descend from the heavens, seemingly from the thirty-third heaven, yet also booming right beside one's ears, or perhaps resonating deep within one's heart. The oppressive, stifling force made it impossible to breathe!

"What kind of tribulation is this? Usually, the power of tribulation when advancing to the Refining Spirit Realm is not nearly as strong as this!"

Feeling the terrifyingly immense pressure, Wan Tiancheng's expression was very solemn. As a veteran Refining Spirit Realm expert, he naturally knew that when a martial artist advances to the Refining Spirit Realm, their physical body and divine consciousness will be baptized by tribulation. This is an essential process in cultivation, and he had experienced it before. However, he found that his tribulation was nothing compared to Yang Fan's. Although he had experienced a tribulation before, he still felt that he probably wouldn't be able to withstand even a single blow under this tribulation. This shows how powerful this tribulation was!

"This is probably the most powerful and destructive tribulation when undergoing tribulation at the Refining Spirit Realm: the Chaos Tribulation!"

Su Xin's expression was also not good. From the Refining Spirit Realm onwards, martial artists will face tribulation, but the power of the tribulation varies greatly depending on the strength of the martial artist.

Generally, lightning tribulations are divided into three, six, and nine levels, with the concepts of Primordial Lightning Tribulation and Destruction Lightning Tribulation above them. With each additional level, the power of the lightning tribulation increases exponentially. Above the Destruction Lightning Tribulation, there is the Chaos Lightning Tribulation.

Ordinary cultivators, when advancing to the Refining Spirit Realm, can at most attract three levels of lightning tribulation. Of course, some exceptionally powerful individuals will experience a certain increase in the power of their lightning tribulation. However, sixth-level lightning tribulations are rare, and as for the Nine Heavens Lightning Tribulation, only those of monstrous geniuses can attract it.

Above that, there is the Primordial Lightning Tribulation and the even more powerful Destruction Lightning Tribulation, which have appeared only a handful of times throughout Chinese history. And the Chaos Lightning Tribulation, ranked even higher than the Destruction Lightning Tribulation, has never appeared before. But now, Yang Fan is facing precisely the Chaos Lightning Tribulation, which has never appeared in the world before!

Before this, Yang Fan already knew that he would attract lightning tribulations during his advancement, but he never imagined that he would actually attract the legendary Chaos Lightning Tribulation!

He knew that the reason he had attracted the Chaos Tribulation was likely closely related to the Five-Colored Pearl, which had fused with the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram. With his current cultivation level, if he wanted to undergo tribulation, he would at least face the Nine Heavens Tribulation, or even the Primordial Tribulation, but he would never attract the Chaos Tribulation. Yet now, he was facing the legendary Chaos Tribulation, and the Five-Colored Pearl was a factor in this.

Generally speaking, ordinary weapons also attract tribulations when they try to evolve into divine artifacts. Magical artifacts are like people; the stronger the artifact, the greater the tribulation it attracts. This Five-Colored Pearl was already extraordinary, and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram was crafted by a powerful expert. After their fusion, it even showed signs of becoming a magical artifact.

Magical artifacts were equivalent to experts at the Returning to the Void Realm. In other words, the tribulation attracted by the Five-Colored Pearl was the kind of tribulation that only occurred when someone at the Returning to the Void Realm underwent tribulation. Combined with Yang Fan's own tribulation, the resulting Chaos Tribulation wasn't so surprising.

Both Yang Fan and the Five-Colored Pearl are incredibly monstrous. Has anyone in this world ever been able to face four Refining Spirit experts simultaneously while only at the Qi Movement Realm without being at a disadvantage? Has anyone ever mastered several heaven-defying cultivation techniques? Has anyone ever possessed a magical treasure like the Five-Colored Pearl?

These two monstrous individuals combined to form a super-monstrous alliance. These two super-monstrous individuals, each capable of triggering an Ancient Tribulation by themselves, finally brought forth the Chaos Tribulation!

Chapter 387 [Tribulation Tempering the Body]

Yang Fan didn't know whether to feel fortunate or unfortunate. He was fortunate to have encountered a Chaotic Lightning Tribulation unlike anything seen before, but unfortunate because he didn't know if he could survive it!

Moreover, this Chaotic Lightning Tribulation far surpassed ordinary ones. Judging by its sheer power, even the tribulations triggered by ordinary Hunyuan Realm experts undergoing their tribulations were probably no more impressive!

In fact, the Chaotic Lightning Tribulation truly only occurred to Hunyuan Realm experts undergoing their tribulations. A characteristic of Hunyuan Realm is that the body undergoes the cleansing of chaotic energy. Only by experiencing this cleansing can a martial artist's physical body truly transcend the constraints of the laws of heaven and earth, achieving true immortality and legend.

Of course, the tribulation Yang Fan was undergoing was worlds apart from the chaotic lightning tribulation triggered by a true Hunyuan realm expert. Otherwise, reaching the Hunyuan realm wouldn't be so easy. The lightning tribulation he was facing only carried a trace of chaotic energy; in fact, it couldn't be considered a true chaotic lightning tribulation!

However, even so, it was far beyond the reach of ordinary lightning tribulations. Moreover, the true power of this lightning tribulation was probably unknown even to the Heavenly Dao that created it!

Yang Fan hadn't expected things to develop to this point, and he didn't understand why he had suddenly triggered a lightning tribulation. However, this was no longer the time to ponder these questions. Looking at the increasingly dense and thickening dark clouds in the sky, Yang Fan clenched his fists. He glanced at Nalan Qingcheng and Tang Ningshuang beside him before slowly saying, "You two should get out of the way quickly. You can't withstand this tribulation!"

"No way! What about you? Are you going to face the tribulation alone? I don't know the full extent of its power, but I know it must be extremely dangerous. I absolutely cannot let you face it alone!"

Nalan Qingcheng shouted as soon as Yang Fan finished speaking.

"That's right! You just saved us, and now you expect us to stand by and watch you die? How can that be? I'm not an ungrateful person, Yang Fan. Don't even think about letting us off the hook!"

Tang Ningshuang's gaze was fixed on the dark clouds in the sky, her attitude identical to Nalan Qingcheng's.

"You…"

Seeing their reactions, Yang Fan wanted to say something, but as his gaze slowly swept across their faces, he knew their expressions told him that no matter what he said, he couldn't change their minds.

But could he really let them risk their lives with him? The answer was undoubtedly no. So, there was no point in saying anything more; he had to use force!

With that thought, Yang Fan waved his sleeve, and a pushing force suddenly emanated from his palm. Before the two could react, they were directly pushed to where Gu Feifei and the others were, far away from the range of the tribulation lightning.

"Come on, I'll see just how powerful this chaotic tribulation lightning really is!"

After blasting Nalan Qingcheng and the others away, Yang Fan stood between heaven and earth, his sharp eyes fixed on the tribulation clouds in the sky. An indomitable will spread from his entire body, surging outwards. Even the tribulation clouds in the sky seemed to be affected, quietly shrinking their defenses...

In the sky, dark clouds rolled and lightning flashed, but strangely, such a grand scene was completely silent. The whole scene was oppressive and somber.

Because this chaotic lightning tribulation was a super tribulation never before seen in the world, the gathering speed of the tribulation clouds appeared very slow. In fact, it wasn't that the gathering speed was too slow, but rather that the power of the tribulation was too immense; the tribulation clouds were countless times larger than those of ordinary tribulations. This very fact caused the cloud formation to appear somewhat slow.

However, this formation took a full hour. During this hour, Yang Fan's body didn't move an inch. His gaze remained calm as he awaited the arrival of the tribulation. There wasn't even the slightest energy fluctuation on his body. He stood with his hands behind his back, as if surveying the world, seemingly unmoved by the all-destroying tribulation.

"Crack!"

Finally, when the tribulation clouds completely formed, the churning dark clouds could no longer contain their silent roar. A bolt of lightning, as thick as a bucket, pierced through the dark clouds, streaking across the sky, its target Yang Fan!

Boom! Watching the lightning grow larger and larger before him, Yang Fan threw a punch. Without any energy spill or spatial ripples, the lightning that had just struck him was shattered by his fist. Like fireworks, the exploding lightning shimmered with silver light, dazzling and spectacular!

At the same time, Yang Fan grabbed the shattered lightning fragments with a flick of his finger, then gently inhaled, absorbing all the lightning into his body!

A series of flashes of electricity followed, and Yang Fan's body trembled slightly. Wisps of almost imperceptible gray mist emanated from his body, within which a faint smell of burning could be detected!

Before Yang Fan could further examine the changes in his body, dark clouds rolled across the sky, and a second bolt of lightning instantly struck, hitting Yang Fan again. However, this bolt of lightning was more than twice the size of the first. It seemed that Yang Fan's previous actions had angered its opponent; this lightning was not only much larger in scale but also significantly more powerful.

However, Yang Fan's movements remained the same as before. He threw a punch, which exploded with lightning, then absorbed the lightning sparks into his body…

Crack! Rumble!

One bolt of lightning after another struck down from the sky. Even Yang Fan himself couldn't remember how many bolts of lightning he had dispersed, nor how much he had absorbed into his body.

At this moment, Yang Fan's entire body was covered in silver lightning, as if he had been electrocuted. Twisted electric nets rippled across his body, making him look like an electrocuted robot, with smoke constantly rising from his body!

Yang Fan knew that the lightning within his body had reached saturation; he could no longer withstand the cleansing of lightning. If he were to receive further lightning, it would not only fail to further temper his body, but would also have the opposite effect. Worse still, his body might be completely scorched by the lightning. With a swift grab, Yang Fan caught the five-colored bead in mid-air. Instantly, a feeling of blood connection spread throughout his body. Sensing this connection, Yang Fan shifted his gaze to the temporarily suspended lightning high in the sky. He knew that the true Chaos Tribulation had only just begun. From this moment on, he would relentlessly attack the tribulation lightning, silently enduring its cleansing, along with the Five-Colored Pearl!

"Whoosh!"

A series of gusts of wind suddenly arose in the sky, invisible and without any sound, yet their noise was like a death knell, sending chills down one's spine. Looking at the tribulation clouds that had been gathering in the sky for half a day, Yang Fan knew that the next attack would not be so easy to withstand.

Crack! As if in response to Yang Fan, the instant he sensed it, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the tribulation clouds, hissing fiercely towards him.

This bolt of lightning, on the contrary, lacked the previous power and momentum. It was only the size of a child's arm, and its appearance was devoid of any grandeur. However, the speed of this bolt of lightning surpassed that of any of the previous bolts!

Fast! With unparalleled speed, almost the instant Yang Fan saw the lightning appear, it was already before him. The lightning's power suddenly diminished, but Yang Fan still felt an immense pressure emanating from it. Without hesitation, he clenched his right hand, unleashing a surge of true energy that formed an energy spear. He

thrust the spear forward, aiming precisely at the lightning! However, the lightning wasn't pierced; instead, the spear acted like a conductor, transmitting the lightning's power through its shaft into Yang Fan's body.

This was because Yang Fan hadn't used any techniques, not even his physical strength. He acted as if he were actively welcoming the lightning, as if it were guiding his path.

Indeed, it was the guiding light. Through the spear, the power of this lightning bolt was not wasted at all, striking Yang Fan completely.

*Clang!* As the lightning entered his body, crackling sounds immediately emanated from him. His long hair, flowing without wind, seemed to be raging with countless bolts of lightning within its black strands. Each hair stood on end, making Yang Fan resemble an enraged Vajra with his hair standing on end.

Yet, even so, he remained completely still. Not a single inch of his body changed; even his body hair remained in the same position as before the lightning struck.

"Hoo!"

He exhaled softly, a pale white vapor escaping from his mouth, like the puff of smoke from opium. With the exhalation of this white vapor, his previously upright hair instantly returned to normal, and the sounds emanating from his body ceased abruptly!

Without a moment's respite, just as Yang Fan regained his senses, another bolt of lightning condensed within the tribulation clouds, roaring towards him.

In the same posture, with the same action, Yang Fan used his hand as a guide, drawing the lightning into his body. His hair stood on end once more, and crackling sounds echoed through his body again, but all of this quickly subsided!

Bolt after bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, flowing into Yang Fan's body through his arm, but he made no move to resist, simply enduring the power of the lightning with his bare body. Defying heaven and earth, Yang Fan seemed to want to force the heavenly tribulation to submit in his own unique way!

But would the tribulation truly submit? The answer was undoubtedly yes. It would never submit, for it knew nothing of submission; it only knew that it had to utterly destroy everything before it, only then would its task be complete.

Those who attempt to defy the heavens must pay the price for their actions. Therefore, the lightning in the sky seemed endless, relentlessly striking Yang Fan one after another without restraint…

Silver lightning tore through the sky, bolt after bolt striking Yang Fan, yet he remained motionless, like a statue, unmoved by the strikes!

Finally, after being struck by thirty-six bolts of silver lightning, the black tribulation clouds began to churn again, seemingly brewing an impending storm. The oppressive feeling of an approaching tempest was even more pronounced. Suddenly, the dark tribulation clouds began to churn, and with their constant twisting, they slowly transformed into a crimson hue!

Like a sunset, the entire sky was bathed in a fiery red glow as the tribulation clouds changed color, dazzling and enchanting. Yet, the oppressive force within these magnificent tribulation clouds was more than twice as strong as the previous black ones!

Whoosh! Like a fiery birth, the first lightning bolt struck Yang Fan again. However, this lightning was not silver, but rather a deep crimson, like a red-hot iron clamp.

Boom! The crimson lightning struck the energy spear first. Instantly, the previously colorless surface of the spear was covered in a crimson color, as if it had been heated in a charcoal fire. The intense heat spread rapidly along the spear and into Yang Fan's body.

Immediately, Yang Fan's body, which had just calmed down, was covered in crimson, as if he had drunk strong liquor. Wisps of green smoke rose from above his head, and as the smoke rose, Yang Fan's body finally returned to normal.

Crack! Crack! One crimson lightning bolt after another struck, the color of Yang Fan's body changing repeatedly. The crimson lightning continued to strike until it had struck a total of eighty-one times before slowly stopping.

Then, the crimson tribulation clouds churned again, changing from crimson to black, and then from black to orange...

red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple! The black tribulation clouds changed again and again, and with each change, exactly eighty-one bolts of lightning of the corresponding color struck down. Yang Fan's body also changed color continuously with the seven-colored tribulation lightning. However, the changes on the surface of his body were far less intense than the changes within his body...

Inside Yang Fan's body, with each change in the color of the tribulation clouds, the color of the true qi in his dantian also changed continuously. However, unlike Yang Fan, although the color of his true qi changed, with each change, a corresponding color remained in his dantian.

When all seven types of tribulation clouds had struck, the true qi in his dantian had become a mixture of seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple!

The seven colors of true qi were distributed throughout his dantian, with distinct lines and each occupying an exactly equal area. Seven-colored light emanated from around his dantian, illuminating the entire area. From a distance, it resembled a series of seven-colored rainbows, dazzling and dreamlike!

05-02
Chapter 388 [From Death to Survival]

Outside, lightning continued to rage. With each bolt striking him, Yang Fan's body trembled slightly. Streams of lightning power surged into his body, and as the lightning increased, the true qi within his dantian became increasingly concentrated…

Rumble! In the sky, bolts of lightning seemed endless, striking down one after another. After the seven-colored lightning converged, the dark clouds in the sky turned black again, but the lightning striking down from within the clouds was gray!

The gray lightning looked unremarkable, but the aura emanating from its surface was filled with an aura of destruction. The lightning struck him as if his entire body were being shattered. Had it not been for his exceptional physique, he would have been utterly unable to withstand the onslaught of this gray lightning.

Even so, Yang Fan had long since lost his composure. His clothes were reduced to ashes by the lightning, his once pristine skin was now charred, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His

eyes were bloodshot, and his hair stood on end, never to return to normal. The energy spear in his hand emitted mournful cries, a mixture of anger and helplessness! Under this all-consuming lightning, it, like Yang Fan, had reached its limit!

Yang Fan knew that if he continued to passively defend himself, allowing the lightning to relentlessly strike him, his ultimate fate would be to be reduced to ashes by the tribulation. Although he had amplified the power of the tribulation to an extreme degree, he still hadn't anticipated its sheer force!

Yang Fan had already endured no less than a thousand bolts of lightning, but judging from the state of the tribulation clouds, the tribulation showed no signs of dissipating; on the contrary, it had become even more ferocious.

Yang Fan knew in his heart that the tribulation he had just endured was no less powerful than the Primordial Tribulation. According to his previous judgment, the initial tribulation was the Sixfold Tribulation, which was the thirty-six bolts of lightning that Yang Fan had forcefully dispersed with his fists.

The subsequent tribulation should be the Nine Heavens Tribulation, which consisted of seven different colors, each containing eighty-one bolts of lightning. The combined power of the two had already surpassed that of a typical Primordial Tribulation. And now, seeing that the tribulation clouds were still gathering, Yang Fan knew that the tribulation striking him had reached the level of the Destruction Tribulation!

Yang Fan could not withstand the power of the Destruction Tribulation, let alone the Chaos Tribulation that followed. Now, Yang Fan finally understood the true meaning of the Chaos Tribulation. The so-called Chaos Tribulation is actually a combination of the Triple Tribulation, the Sixfold Tribulation, the Nine Heavens Tribulation, the Primordial Tribulation, and the Destruction Tribulation!

Being able to withstand the Triple Tribulation doesn't guarantee you can withstand the Sixfold Tribulation, and being able to withstand the Sixfold Tribulation doesn't guarantee you can withstand the Nine Heavens Tribulation. Even if you withstand the Nine Heavens Tribulation, there's still the Primordial Tribulation. And even if you withstand the Primordial Tribulation, there's the even more powerful Destruction Tribulation, and then there's the Chaos Tribulation, whose power surpasses even that!

The reason for the progressively increasing intensity is to deplete the power of the tribulation seeker. As the saying goes, even many ants can kill an elephant, let alone the immense power of this lightning tribulation. Even if one truly possesses the strength to withstand the chaotic lightning tribulation, their strength would likely have been severely depleted in the previous battles. Would they still be able to withstand the chaotic lightning tribulation at this point?

Undoubtedly, this so-called Heavenly Dao Law is a master of military strategy, knowing how to play a war of attrition against the tribulation seeker. Since the lightning tribulation can continuously condense, but the tribulation seeker cannot constantly recover their strength, the gap between the two will only widen!

Clearly, Yang Fan also realized this. Although his energy is inexhaustible due to his cultivation of the Nine Heavens Vast Lightning Technique, allowing him to draw upon it from his world domain at any time, he is, after all, a human being with flesh and blood, capable of feeling pain and fatigue, not a machine that never stops.

Therefore, after enduring the baptism of numerous lightning bolts, his body was somewhat exhausted. He also knew that if he didn't stop this tribulation soon, he didn't know how long it would last, nor how powerful the subsequent tribulations would be.

The only solution now was to disperse the tribulation clouds and completely disrupt the formation of the chaotic tribulation. Although he knew this would waste a rare opportunity for breakthrough, the current chaotic tribulation left Yang Fan helpless!

"Break!"

Once he made up his mind, Yang Fan no longer doubted it. As he roared, five beads on his wrist simultaneously emitted five streams of true energy, forming a five-colored spear. With a slight twist, the spear unleashed a dragon's roar, accompanied by a great gust of wind. On the surface of the spear, streaks of lightning flashed—the power of the lightning it had absorbed earlier.

As Yang Fan withstood the lightning tribulation, the Five-Colored Pearl was also undergoing the cleansing of lightning, even enduring far more than Yang Fan, because the lightning struck it first before reaching Yang Fan's body. During this process, the power of the lightning was invisibly diminished by the Five-Colored Pearl. By the time it reached Yang Fan's body, although the power of the lightning was still considerable, it was relatively less fierce!

The Five-Colored Pearl, bearing most of the lightning's power, had already subtly undergone some changes…

Before the separation of heaven and earth, there was chaos and disorder. The initial creation of life was due to the existence of lightning. It was lightning that gave rise to life, to humanity. The ultimate goal of martial arts cultivation is to seek the origin of life. Only through the cleansing of lightning can one understand the true essence of martial arts; otherwise, one will only be reduced to ashes under the lightning, ultimately losing both body and spirit. The process of consciousness transforming from nothingness to reality is called a lightning tribulation, and this process of undergoing the cleansing of lightning is called transcending the lightning tribulation!

The same applies to weapons. Ordinary weapons only develop a spirit and become magical artifacts after being tempered by the power of lightning. After countless transformations and being refined by chaotic energy, magical artifacts can evolve into divine artifacts, becoming beings comparable to Primordial Chaos experts.

However, at this stage, they cannot be considered true magical artifacts. Only after undergoing another tribulation of lightning can they truly evolve into magical artifacts. The Five-Colored Bead is like this. Although it possesses the power of a magical artifact, it has not undergone the tempering of a tribulation of lightning, nor even during its creation as a magical artifact.

Now, having endured so much lightning at once, the Five-Colored Bead is finally moving towards becoming a true magical artifact. At this moment, Yang Fan also discovered the changes in the Five-Colored Bead…

Yang Fan discovered that inside the Five-Colored Bead was a space entirely formed by lightning, filled with violent and destructive power.

At the heart of this lightning storm, a colossal lightning egg, hundreds of feet in size, floated silently within the lightning like a meteorite from outer space. Countless bolts of lightning formed a massive electric net, enveloping the entire lightning field. Within this net, streaks of lightning constantly darted and danced, seemingly guarding this enormous lightning bolt.

"What is this?"

Yang Fan was taken aback as he stared at the massive lightning egg. Within it, he sensed a familiar aura, an aura that seemed to belong to a life force, yet it contained only pure energy.

"Could this be the spirit of the Five-Colored Pearl? But that doesn't make sense. Even spiritual artifacts possess spirits, so how could magical artifacts not have one? Could it be the essence of the five great demonic beasts?"

In fact, this was not far from Yang Fan's guess. The five great demonic beasts were not only incredibly powerful, but all were also powerful demonic beasts at the Void Returning Realm. Each of these demonic beasts possessed unique mastery of spatial power.

As the essence of their life's cultivation, the inner cores of these five demonic beasts naturally contain powerful spatial forces. Since Yang Fan had seized their inner cores, the five-colored beads formed from the inner cores of the five demonic beasts inherently contained powerful spatial forces.

However, only experts of the same cultivation level could activate these spatial forces, and only experts of the same level could discover their existence. Yang Fan's cultivation was insufficient to activate the spatial forces within, so he had never discovered this secret.

However, the unexpected combination of the five-colored beads and the Yin-Yang Fusion Diagram, due to the fusion of Yin and Yang energies and the Five Elements True Qi, generated a trace of spatial force, thus fully activating the spatial forces within the five-colored beads and releasing them.

The five-colored beads, already on the verge of evolution, received a large amount of spatial force and naturally moved towards becoming magical artifacts. Furthermore, Yang Fan's sudden breakthrough to the Refining Spirit Realm caused both of them to simultaneously trigger tribulations!

The tribulation lightning triggered by the Five-Colored Pearl's advancement into a magical artifact was equivalent to the tribulation lightning generated when a cultivator in the Refining Spirit Realm attempts to break through to the Returning Void Realm. This was already beyond Yang Fan's limits. If it weren't for his exceptionally strong physical body and cultivation, he probably wouldn't have survived this long. What

Yang Fan sees inside the Five-Colored Pearl now is the place that originally contained the spatial power of the five great demonic beasts. Although this place has lost its spatial power, it still contains a trace of the divine consciousness of the five great demonic beasts. Now that the five great demonic beasts are dead, this divine consciousness has naturally lost its perception and become a life form without any consciousness!

Under the effect of the tribulation lightning, this originally meaningless life form unexpectedly combined together, forming a prototype of the Five-Colored Pearl's artifact spirit!

However, the key to an artifact spirit lies in the word "spirit." Although the artifact spirit composed of the divine consciousness of the five great demonic beasts is powerful, it lacks a sense of spirituality. Moreover, because this artifact spirit was composed of different divine consciousnesses, the differences in their individual thoughts and the varying strengths of their souls, combined with the artifact spirit, not only failed to make it more "spiritual" but instead caused them to conflict in many ways, becoming much more rigid. It was precisely for these reasons that the spirit of the Five-Colored Pearl had not yet been born.

During Yang Fan's fight against the lightning tribulation with the Five-Colored Pearl, the pearl absorbed a large amount of lightning. Under the tempering of the lightning, the spirit of the Five-Colored Pearl actually formed a lightning egg. Within this lightning egg, a unique artifact spirit belonging to magical artifacts was being nurtured; however, the true birth of the Five-Colored Pearl's spirit would only occur when it hatched.

"So that's how it is! In that case, let me test just how powerful this chaotic lightning tribulation really is!"

Holding his spear, Yang Fan looked at the constantly gathering dark clouds in the sky. Suddenly, he took a step forward…

It seemed like a simple step, but with this simple step, Yang Fan suddenly appeared within the churning dark clouds. At the same time, all the acupoints in his body opened wide, and he even forcibly absorbed the tribulation clouds into his body, preparing to refine them!

He's gone mad! A madman! If anyone witnessed Yang Fan's actions, they would surely call him a madman. Who would willingly rush into the tribulation clouds, even attempting to absorb and refine the lightning tribulation?

Which cultivator doesn't tremble at the mere mention of lightning tribulation? Who wouldn't desperately try to avoid it, or at least approach it with extreme caution? But Yang Fan, this madman who directly charged into the depths of the tribulation clouds, even attempting to refine them, is the first person in history to do so.

Rumble!

As soon as Yang Fan entered the depths of the tribulation clouds, he felt an immense pressure bearing down on his entire body. Violent and powerful lightning struck him directly, causing even his strong physique to tremble. Pure and vast lightning surged into Yang Fan's body from all directions, instantly turning him into an electric man, even his divine sense was tingling. However

, Yang Fan ignored the changes in his body, gritting his teeth and desperately mobilizing his true energy, attempting to absorb the lightning that had just entered his body. At the same time, he also separated a portion of his divine sense to control the Five-Colored Pearl to absorb the lightning within the tribulation clouds.

The reason he did this was that Yang Fan knew he was only one step away from breaking through to the Qi Movement cultivation level, and similarly, the Five-Colored Pearl was only a hair's breadth away from condensing into a weapon spirit. The opportunity for breakthrough lay in the cleansing of lightning, and it was precisely for this reason that he was willing to put himself in a life-or-death situation.

"If I don't strike first, I'll inevitably be controlled by others, left to die, so I might as well strike quickly!"

At this moment, Yang Fan suddenly remembered the words of a great man, which perfectly described his current situation.

Indeed, facing the Chaos Tribulation, he didn't have much confidence in completely overcoming it. If he silently endured it, he would eventually be countered. Only by striking first, rushing into the depths of the tribulation clouds, and striking before the Chaos Tribulation had fully formed, could he catch his opponent off guard.

Enduring the complete Chaos Tribulation was impossible, so he could only disrupt it before it truly took shape. He wanted to use this opportunity to break through in one fell swoop, and he also wanted the Five-Colored Pearl to truly condense its spirit. With this in mind, Yang Fan could only lead the charge into the tribulation clouds, forcibly absorbing the power of the lightning.

But this also placed him in absolute danger. If he failed in this situation, he would have to die!

Chapter 389 [Man and Weapon as One]

Surrounded by dense dark clouds, Yang Fan's sudden appearance completely disrupted the tribulation clouds' continued gathering of lightning. They couldn't possibly gather lightning only to have it blasted onto them!

Perhaps, if this chaotic tribulation lightning possessed sentience, it would surely be driven to its death by Yang Fan's wrath. What kind of shameless creature was this? What use would it be to gather more lightning now? Could it possibly blast itself away? Whether it could even harm the

tribulation lightning was unknown, but it would certainly be shattered by its own power! Of course, Yang Fan didn't know if the chaotic tribulation lightning possessed sentience, nor did he know how frustrated it was. At this moment, it only knew that it was surrounded by a vast ocean of lightning, enduring inhuman torment.

Every inch of its skin, every cell, contained millions of units of lightning energy. Although its acupoints were desperately absorbing lightning, it was like a drop in the ocean compared to the constant influx of energy into its body. The absorption by the acupoints was utterly insufficient to counteract Yang Fan's absorption of the lightning power.

However, this so-called absorption was not of his own volition. At this moment, he realized he had been somewhat reckless; it was like putting himself on a hot plate, forced to endure the heat alone. And who could he blame for all of this?

At this moment, all he could do was desperately circulate his true energy to absorb the lightning surging into his body while simultaneously controlling the five-colored beads' absorption of the lightning.

Yang Fan knew that if he couldn't quickly absorb the lightning within his body, and if it exceeded his body's capacity, his only fate would be to be completely obliterated by the lightning, and all of this would be his own doing…

The five-colored beads also flickered with electricity. Perhaps it possessed a great attraction to the chaotic lightning tribulation, causing it to withstand a large amount of lightning power, and even more lightning actively abandoned Yang Fan and rushed towards it.

Roar! Suddenly, the five-colored beads let out a piercing cry, not only abruptly leaving Yang Fan's wrist but also continuously growing larger. In the blink of an eye, each bead became tens of feet in size, and this growth rate was still rapidly increasing. In a short moment, it pierced the sky and stretched from north to south!

Looking at the five-colored beads that had suddenly transformed into giant spheres, Yang Fan was momentarily stunned. Fortunately, he could still feel the blood connection to the beads; otherwise, he would have thought they had vanished!

The enlarged beads absorbed lightning countless times more, instantly reducing Yang Fan's pressure. Knowing this wasn't the time to think about anything else, Yang Fan seized the opportunity to rapidly circulate his true energy, frantically absorbing the lightning, attempting to break through his limits and enter the Refining Spirit Realm.

Endless lightning surged into his body, then was frantically absorbed by his meridians. In an instant, the entire surface of his meridians was covered in electric light, and lightning danced within his dantian, just like inside the five-colored beads. Man and bead, dantian and egg, were simultaneously undergoing the cleansing and tempering of lightning!

At the same time, Yang Fan's body was also being tempered by lightning. As the saying goes, potential is limitless; there are no limits, only infinity. Originally, Yang Fan's body had reached its limit, but as time passed, his potential was stimulated again, and his limit increased once more. Under the cleansing of lightning, his body was tempered once more!

At a certain moment, when Yang Fan felt his body's limit approaching again, all his divine senses in his sea of consciousness suddenly contracted rapidly, transforming into a Tai Chi symbol in the blink of an eye. At the very center of the Tai Chi symbol sat a small, seven-colored figure...

Suddenly, the small, seven-colored figure, which had been tightly closed, opened its eyes. At the same time, the surface of the giant lightning egg inside the five-colored pearl suddenly cracked, and an aura containing immense life force suddenly overflowed from the lightning egg, instantly spreading throughout the entire space. The small, seven-colored figure actually flew out of Yang Fan's sea of consciousness and appeared on his shoulder...

Rumble! Rumble!

One after another, thunderous roars resounded, but no lightning swept across. Deep within the endless dark clouds, Yang Fan stood in mid-air, surrounded by flashes of lightning. He seemed to have passed away peacefully, his eyes slightly closed, his expression serene.

Around him, a tiny, seven-colored figure, no more than two or three inches in size, swirled incessantly. Each rotation of the figure caused the dark clouds to churn, but strangely, the lightning bolts seemed to have eyes; whenever they were about to touch the figure, they would swiftly dodge, creating a vacuum wherever the figure passed!

If the figure were magnified several times, its appearance could be vaguely discerned. Its features were exactly the same as Yang Fan's, even its body proportions were identical. However, compared to Yang Fan, it was undoubtedly much smaller and appeared quite adorable.

Yet, this elfin-like being exuded an aura of power, even the tribulation clouds of the chaotic lightning tribulation were wary of it, their expressions even carrying a hint of fawning.

Suddenly, the seven-colored figure stopped, blinking its dark eyes incessantly, its gaze fixed unblinkingly ahead. Opposite him stood five beads, their length unknown and each dozens of feet long, suspended in mid-air.

Upon seeing these beads, the seven-colored figure immediately ceased all movement, its gaze fixed intently on them, as if deep in thought. Suddenly, a flash of seven-colored light appeared, and the figure unexpectedly materialized on the surface of the beads.

After circling and playing around them for a while, it seemed to tire, and with a soft whoosh, it burrowed into the beads. As it entered, the five beads rapidly shrank in size, instantly returning to their original size! The shrunken five-colored beads

circled once within the thunderclouds, then made a magnificent turn in mid-air, swiftly lunging towards Yang Fan. A flash of light, without any energy fluctuation, and the five-colored beads, which were a hundred feet away just moments before, suddenly appeared before Yang Fan.

Just then, Yang Fan, who had been keeping his eyes tightly closed, suddenly opened them without warning. The moment he opened them, he saw the five-colored bead floating before him. As if sensing the hostility in Yang Fan's gaze, the five-colored bead, which had been taut and round, suddenly bent down, nodding repeatedly as if trying to please him.

When Yang Fan extended his palm, the five-colored bead, as if sensing his thoughts, automatically flew into his hand and landed on his wrist!

"A magic weapon... now the five-colored bead can truly be called a magic weapon!"

Yang Fan murmured to himself, stroking the five-colored bead. He didn't feel any coolness from the five-colored bead; on the contrary, he felt a slight warmth, a feeling of connection.

Yang Fan hadn't expected that the moment he suddenly reached the Refining Spirit realm would also be the moment the spirit of the five-colored bead was born. Because a wisp of his divine consciousness had always been separated from the five-colored bead, a strange connection was formed when the two transformed. Thus, Yang Fan's divine consciousness unexpectedly devoured the newly born spirit within the five-colored bead.

The spirit of the Five-Colored Pearl was formed from the lifelong cultivation of five great demonic beasts. Logically, after this spirit was absorbed by Yang Fan's divine sense, the Five-Colored Pearl, due to the disappearance of its spirit, should not only cease to be a magical artifact, but it wouldn't even qualify as a spiritual artifact.

However, to Yang Fan's surprise, although the spirit of the Five-Colored Pearl disappeared, a wisp of his divine sense replaced it. Perhaps it could be said that the spirit of the Five-Colored Pearl and Yang Fan's divine sense merged into one; his current divine sense is the spirit of the Five

-Colored Pearl. Alternatively, it could be understood that the Five-Colored Pearl has become a part of his body. From now on, he can control the Five-Colored Pearl without any commands or manipulation, because the Five-Colored Pearl is himself, like controlling his own arm. With just a thought, he can unleash the true power of the Five-Colored Pearl.

For ordinary magical artifacts, although their power is immense, it is measured by the user's ability. The same magical artifact will unleash different powers in the hands of different people. The key to this lies not in the user's strength, but in the degree of harmony between the user and the spirit of the magical artifact.

Take the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell, for example. In Long Junsheng's hands, it can only unleash one percent of its power, but in his master's hands, it can unleash one-tenth of its power. This is because the compatibility between the spirit of the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell and his master is far greater than the compatibility between the spirit and Long Junsheng.

This so-called compatibility refers to the degree of cooperation between the user and the spirit. The reason the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell can unleash far greater power in the hands of Long Junsheng's master is because he is its master, and the cooperation between its spirit and master is far greater than that between Long Junsheng and the spirit.

Of course, besides the master-servant relationship, another reason is that the spirit and Long Junsheng's master spend every day together, treating each other as friends, though not to the point of perfect understanding. Their bond is still extraordinary.

In fact, being able to unleash even one-tenth of a magical artifact's power is already extremely rare. Many people, when using magical artifacts, can't even reach one percent, and this is all predicated on a master-servant relationship.

Because magical artifacts possess independent thought, and users possess independent thought, the greater the tacit understanding between them, the stronger the combined power. Their relationship is one of mutual dependence, not simply master-servant. Those who can't even unleash one percent of a magical artifact's power do so because their tacit understanding with the artifact's spirit is insufficient.

However, between Yang Fan and the Five-Colored Bead, there is no issue of compatibility or lack thereof, no cooperation whatsoever, and no master-servant relationship. The Five-Colored Bead has become a part of Yang Fan's body; the two have become an inseparable whole. This means that Yang Fan can unleash one hundred percent of the Five-Colored Bead's power!

Generally speaking, even the creator of a magical artifact cannot fully unleash its true power. Although Yang Fan didn't forge the Five-Colored Pearl, he could unleash its full power, something unprecedented. Similarly, Yang Fan was incredibly fortunate.

The original spirit of the Five-Colored Pearl was a crystallization of the combined thoughts and cultivation of five great demonic beasts. However, this crystallization was swallowed whole by Yang Fan's newly formed primordial spirit. This resulted in Yang Fan's cultivation level, though newly formed, not being at the early stage of the Refining Spirit realm, but instead skyrocketing to the fifth level of the Refining Spirit realm at rocket speed. In other words, the essence of the five demonic beasts' inner cores was completely refined by him!

From then on, there was no longer any concept of magical artifacts, because the artifact had completely merged with Yang Fan. The Five-Colored Pearl was Yang Fan, and Yang Fan was the Five-Colored Pearl; the two had truly achieved the unity of man and weapon, a state of perfection in martial arts!

In martial arts, the unity of man and weapon generally refers to temporarily fusing a person's essence, energy, and spirit with the weapon, at which point the compatibility between the person and the weapon spirit reaches an extremely high level. In the state of perfect harmony between man and weapon, the combat power unleashed far exceeds that of the normal state. However, this so-called harmony

between man and weapon is not a true fusion of two entities. But Yang Fan and the Five-Colored Bead have truly reached a state of oneness. From now on, he and the Five-Colored Bead can never be separated. In other words, as long as he uses the Five-Colored Bead, he maintains a state of perfect harmony between man and weapon at all times. The combat power unleashed in this state far exceeds that of the normal state.

Silently gazing at the Five-Colored Bead in his hand, this is the second time he has carefully examined this legendary magical artifact, but Yang Fan's heart is still uneasy. In fact, the Five-Colored Bead in his hand is now a true magical artifact, and a supreme magical artifact with a perfect compatibility with him! With

a gentle flip of his hand, the Five-Colored Bead disappeared from Yang Fan's palm without a trace, as if it had never appeared. When Yang Fan flipped his hand back up, he discovered that at the tip of his right middle finger, there was an embroidery of a miniature version of the Five-Colored Bead, exactly at the center of his finger.

With a gentle shake of his finger, visible spatial rifts instantly spread around his fingertip. Even Yang Fan himself was astonished by this sight.

Suppressing his myriad thoughts, Yang Fan looked up at the still incredibly dense tribulation clouds around him. Although he had successfully broken through to the Refining Spirit Realm, and the Five-Colored Pearl had successfully transformed into a magic weapon, the current Chaotic Lightning Tribulation seemed to have no intention of dissipating; it still hovered and churned…

Chapter 390 [Refining the Lightning Tribulation]

“Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, return to chaos; the destructive lightning tribulation, return to emptiness; all things become real, all things return to emptiness; the chaotic lightning tribulation, return to my body!”

Facing the increasingly powerful chaotic lightning tribulation, Yang Fan once again took the initiative. He spread his five fingers, and five streams of five different colored Five Elements True Qi erupted from between them, like five pillars supporting the sky, hurtling towards the heavens.

At the same time, a massive illusory Tai Chi diagram slowly emerged from behind Yang Fan. Immense spatial power flowed, resembling a giant black hole. The chaotic tribulation clouds in the sky seemed to be drawn to this black hole, converging towards the Tai Chi diagram!

Facing the chaotic lightning tribulation that even Void Return Realm experts would avoid, Yang Fan actually wanted to take the initiative, even attempting to absorb the entire tribulation cloud into his body. Such an idea was undeniably insane and defied the heavens.

However, with the Tai Chi diagram behind Yang Fan constantly operating, coupled with the refinement of the Five Elements True Qi, the thunderclouds in the sky actually surged into his body. Moreover, as the Tai Chi diagram operated, the lightning tribulation, which had originally destroyed all things, transformed into pure Yin and Yang Qi, entering his body and nourishing his physical form.

At the same time, Yang Fan's Nine Heavens Thunder Technique also started to operate automatically. The true energy in his meridians, which was originally covered by seven colors, returned to nothingness and turned into purple lightning. One after another, purple lightning bolts circulated in Yang Fan's meridians. With each rotation, their number increased, and the bottleneck of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique was also constantly loosening...

Since his battle with Tang Ningshuang, Yang Fan's Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique had already broken through to the second level. However, while the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique was powerful, breaking through it was extremely difficult. Yang Fan hadn't relaxed his cultivation for some time, but there had been no change. Unexpectedly, this time, he had a sudden inspiration: absorbing and refining the lightning tribulation actually triggered the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique to operate automatically, and it showed faint signs of another breakthrough!

Every breakthrough in the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique was exceptionally difficult, but equally, the benefits were exceptionally abundant. Now, suddenly feeling the change in the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique, how could Yang Fan not be excited? Not happy?

Sensing this change, Yang Fan absorbed the thunderclouds even more diligently. At the same time, he suppressed his inner excitement, striving to remain calm and maintain his best condition.

He knew that what he was doing was not only reckless but also extremely dangerous; a slight mistake would result in being completely torn to shreds by the lightning tribulation. The reason the lightning tribulation could remain in a gentle state for him to absorb was largely due to the Yin-Yang energies and Five Elements True Qi released by the Five-Colored Pearl, a magical artifact that fused with the Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram.

Although lightning tribulation is the most destructive, most powerful, and extremely Yang-dominant force in the world, it too cannot escape the Yin-Yang and Five Elements. Its essence is still composed of Yin-Yang and Five Elements. If lightning tribulation were broken down to its most primitive state, it would still be Yin-

Yang and Five Elements Qi. However, this is easier said than done. Lightning tribulation is the most Yang-dominant force in the world, capable of destroying all things. So, what or anyone in this world could break it down? Therefore, it exists only in theory. But there are always exceptions. While lightning tribulation cannot be broken down, there are still things that can refine it, such as Yin-Yang energies and Five Elements True Qi!

Yin-Yang and Five Elements Qi are the foundation of all things. Every object on Earth is composed of Yin-Yang and Five Elements; nothing can escape their constraints. Therefore, using the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Qi emitted by the Five-Colored Pearl to refine the lightning tribulation is like breastfeeding an infant; naturally, there will be no backlash.

The Tai Chi diagram behind Yang Fan is formed from the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Qi. The Five-Colored Pearl has merged with the Yin-Yang diagram, which means Yang Fan has refined it. Therefore, Yang Fan also masters the Yin-Yang Qi. The Five-Colored Pearl is composed of the inner cores of five great demonic beasts, and these five inner cores belong to the five elements. Therefore, Yang Fan now also masters the power of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Although his grasp of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements power is still very rudimentary, and can't even be considered true Qi, it's still more than enough to dissolve the lightning tribulation!

As the Taiji diagram continued to rotate, more and more lightning tribulations in the sky were transformed into Yin-Yang and Five Elements Qi, which were absorbed by Yang Fan. Simultaneously, the Taiji diagram, having absorbed even more lightning tribulations, grew larger and its shape became increasingly clear. A vast and boundless aura, containing endless Dao essence, emanated from the Taiji diagram, rendering Yang Fan exceptionally sacred.

His body was enveloped by an inexplicable Dao essence. Although he stood still, Nalan Qingcheng and the others felt as if he were both close yet worlds apart, yet far beyond the nine heavens. It was as if Yang Fan was no longer a person, but a supreme deity, a myth worshipped by all beings. At this moment

, Yang Fan was the embodiment of the Great Dao, the representative of Heaven and Earth. His every word and action represented the Heavenly Dao, the laws, and the order! Starlight flickered on his body, representing his acupoints. Each acupoint, like a star, radiated powerful spatial energy and shone with dazzling light. Each acupoint was like a black hole, constantly absorbing the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Qi transmitted into Yang Fan's body from the Tai Chi diagram.

Gradually, each acupoint was filled with Yin-Yang and Five Elements Qi, which, residing within the acupoints, actually formed miniature worlds, each radiating immense life essence, seemingly a complete living entity.

At this moment, Yang Fan's life essence was like a surging river, turbulent and powerful, reaching for the heavens! Even the dark, cloud-covered tribulation clouds in the sky were diluted by his immense life essence, revealing a clear and bright world!

His aura was like waves, like a raging storm, wave after wave, one after another. Under his immense aura, the yellow earth on the ground was rolled up layer by layer, forming endlessly swirling tornadoes. Strangely, not a single gust of wind or storm made a sound; they simply floated behind Yang Fan, like a thousand troops protecting him!

"What's going on?"

Tang Ning Shuang was astonished at the sight, unaware that her clothes, torn during the intense battle, were now revealing her fair skin in the breeze.

"Those stars... seem to be acupoints. Although the human body's acupoints are incredibly wondrous, and developing them has various miraculous effects, countless martial artists throughout history have made developing acupoints their lifelong goal. Yet, throughout history, no one has ever developed more than ten acupoints simultaneously. There are tens of thousands of acupoints in the human body, like an endless array of stars. Even the greatest sages of antiquity only developed a few, but Yang Fan has developed all the acupoints in his body at the same time. This... how is this possible!"

Not only Tang Ning Shuang, but even Nalan Qing Cheng was incredulous!

"Roar!"

Just as the group was marveling at this, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from where Yang Fan was. It was the roar of an angry dragon, yet there was no trace of rage in the sound. Instead, it contained boundless fighting spirit.

This sound seemed capable of unleashing the full fighting spirit within a person. Even the most timid would be roused to confidence upon hearing it. Upon hearing this sound, only battle! Battle! Battle!

"Heroes emerge from the battlefield, their fighting spirit soaring in the face of death!"

At this moment, everyone seemed transported back to ancient times, wielding spears, freely fighting on the battlefield, enjoying that life of clashing swords and galloping horses!

Amidst

the roar of the angry dragon, everyone felt as if countless long swords were slashing at their bodies. But the pain wasn't physical; it was mental, it was spiritual.

This feeling seemed to last for a moment, yet also seemed eternal. This pain far exceeded the limits of human willpower. They even saw their arms being severed by a long sword, their heads split in two, their chests pierced with holes… as if everything imaginable was unfolding before their eyes. In the end, nothing was left of their bodies; even their blood had seeped deep into the ground…

Boom!

At the same time, a blood-red dragon shadow suddenly burst forth from Yang Fan's body, soaring straight into the sky! Blood-red scales, a blood-red dragon body, blood dragon horns—the entire dragon was red, even its eyes and claws were red. That red was as deep as blood, eerie and bloody. The moment it appeared, a thick, bloody aura permeated the entire sky.

The blood dragon appeared in the sky, filling the air with a bloody wind. After soaring into the sky, the blood dragon directly plunged into the tribulation clouds. Instantly, like a true dragon entering the sea, the lightning tribulation that Yang Fan had already refined accelerated its decomposition, all being dispersed by the blood-red dragon shadow, breaking down into tiny tribulation clouds that directly rushed into Yang Fan's body.

"Is it about to awaken?"

Seeing this scene, Su Xin was not surprised but delighted, staring blankly at the blood-red dragon shadow in the sky, her beautiful eyes unblinking, her red lips slightly parted, her face filled with excitement!

"The Blood Dragon has awakened, the True Dragon has returned to oneness. My Demon Emperor Palace has been silent for years because the Demon Emperor has not returned. Now that the Blood Dragon has awakened, is the Demon Emperor about to return? Mother, your years of hard work are finally about to pay off! With the Demon Emperor's return, let's see which of those so-called martial arts holy lands dares to underestimate my Demon Emperor Palace, who dares to underestimate the Demon Realm? If it weren't for that so-called Dragon-Slaying Calamity, the Demon Emperor wouldn't have been besieged and killed by those treacherous people..."

"Sister Suxin, what are you saying? What Demon Emperor Palace? What Demon Realm?"

Su Xin's voice was very soft, almost inaudible to others, but Gu Feifei, standing right next to her, naturally heard some of it. However, it was precisely Su Xin's seemingly nonsensical words that left Gu Feifei completely bewildered.

"Hmm?"

Gu Feifei's question was merely out of curiosity, but she didn't lower her voice. Her voice, though soft, unexpectedly attracted the attention of Nalan Qingcheng and

Tang Ningshuang, who were not far away. Nalan Qingcheng and Tang Ningshuang almost simultaneously turned their gazes to Su Xin, their beautiful eyes scrutinizing her intently, as if trying to see right through her.

"So this little sister is actually the successor of the Demon Emperor! No wonder she seems so extraordinary. I, Ningshuang, was blind; I didn't even recognize her identity!"

Tang Ningshuang's face was beaming with a smile, but the wariness in her eyes grew stronger. As she spoke, she secretly protected Nalan Qingcheng, clearly showing her deep apprehension towards Su Xin and the Demon Emperor's Palace that Gu Feifei had mentioned.

"What Demon Emperor's Palace? Su Xin doesn't understand. Su Xin is merely a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine; how could she know anything about the martial world? However, Su Xin has heard that the Demon Emperor's Palace is the common enemy of all the holy lands of the martial world, and everyone has the right to kill it. During the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, the various holy lands of the martial world took the opportunity to join forces to fight against it, eliminating the demon and protecting the righteous. I wonder if this is true? Today, I happen to meet someone from a holy land. I wonder if they can clear up Su Xin's doubts?"

"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. The Demon Emperor's Palace is full of demons and monsters, sucking people's life force and stealing their life essence. It has always been a major scourge of the martial world. It is not untrue to say that the Demon Emperor's Palace is the common enemy of the martial world. I see that you, little sister, are very talented. You must not get involved with the Demon Emperor's Palace. Otherwise, it would be a pity if one day you were captured by a demon beast and had your life force drained. You should know that in the demon realm, there are many demon beasts that specialize in sucking the life force of beautiful women!"

"Really? I don't know if the Demon Emperor's Palace has such an existence, but those few who were just now fighting against you seemed to be from the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect, right? The Yin Yang Hehuan Sect is supposedly one of the holy lands of the martial arts world!"

"Hmph! How can such an evil cult as the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect be called a holy land? My Hundred Flowers Sect was determined to eradicate such an evil cult from the very beginning, and for hundreds of years, my Hundred Flowers Sect has taken this as its mission!"

"I don't know about sect missions or anything like that. I only know that if it weren't for Yang Fan just now, I might have already been captured by the people of the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect and had my life force drained. What mission or faith could I possibly have?" "

You..."

"Alright, Sister Ning Shuang, right and wrong will be judged by history. Good and evil are the same, and no one can control them. Whether it's the Demon Emperor's Palace or the Yin Yang Hehuan Sect, it has nothing to do with us. Now is not the time to discuss this issue!"

Seeing the tension between Tang Ning Shuang and Su Xin getting stronger, Nalan Qingcheng couldn't help but speak up.

She knew a little about the karmic debts between the Demon Emperor's Palace and the various holy lands, but without experiencing it firsthand, who could truly understand?

Therefore, although she suspected Su Xin's true identity, she didn't want to make an enemy of her, especially since Su Xin was with Yang Fan. If she really fell out with Su Xin, wouldn't that be the same as falling out with Yang Fan as well? Not to mention that she didn't want to go that far with Yang Fan in the first place, Yang Fan had just saved them, and she couldn't afford to have a falling out with Su Xin at this time.

However, the thought echoing in Nalan Qingcheng's mind at this moment was: "Could it be... that Yang Fan is related to the Demon Emperor's Palace?"

Chapter 391 [Invincible in Refining the God]

The Hundred Flower Body, besides being able to control a hundred flowers, has another very magical function: it can communicate and exchange consciousness between humans and plants.

In other words, wherever there are plants, the possessor of the Hundred Flower Body is equivalent to having extra "eyes" and "ears" to hear and see any movement around them.

Therefore, although Su Xin's voice was very soft, so soft that even Gu Feifei, who was closest to her, could only faintly hear a few words, Nalan Qingcheng, who was far away, could clearly hear every single word she said through her "ears."

It was precisely because of this that she had such doubts. Looking up again at the crimson dragon shadow above Yang Fan's head, Nalan Qingcheng's suspicions grew heavier...

"The Demon Realm, the Demon Emperor's Palace! Legend has it that the Demon Realm is the strongest realm besides the Buddhist Realm. Even the Buddhist Realm dares not easily wage war against the Demon Realm. Later, the Buddhist Realm declined, and the Demon Realm even surpassed the Buddhist Realm at one point, becoming the number one holy land! Even the reorganized Zen Sect is inferior to the Demon Realm."

"During the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, the Demon Realm became the main force in the calamity. If it weren't for the Demon Realm leading the holy lands to resist the calamity, the Earth would probably have disappeared long ago!" "

Especially the Demon Emperor of the Demon Realm, who is rumored to be the number one genius in the Demon Realm for tens of millions of years. In just a hundred years, he had already seen through the Primordial Chaos Realm, and at the end of the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, he even broke through the Primordial Chaos Realm, becoming the first strongman on Earth to surpass the Primordial Chaos Realm in ten thousand years!"

"However, it was precisely this that aroused the suspicion of other major holy lands. While the Demon Emperor was engaged in battle with the enemy, they launched a sneak attack from behind, ultimately leading to the Demon Emperor's demise. Even though the Demon Emperor fought against the major holy lands with a severely wounded body, the final outcome was the death of countless Primordial Chaos experts from all the major holy lands. Even those who survived were severely injured and could not recover even after hundreds of years of seclusion. To this day, no major holy land expert has been able to take charge of any sect or faction!"

"The Demon Realm is famous because of the Demon Emperor's Palace; the Demon Emperor's Palace is renowned throughout the myriad realms because of the Demon Emperor. The Demon Emperor has almost become a taboo word among the major holy lands, and the Demon Emperor's Palace has become an indelible shadow in the hearts of all sects. For hundreds of years, anything related to the Demon Realm has caused endless turmoil and unrest among the major holy lands."

"However, for nearly a hundred years, the Demon Realm has been almost completely isolated from the world, with no disciples ever appearing in public. Furthermore, with the Western Zen Sect guarding the entrance to the Demon Realm, the Demon Realm and the Demon Emperor's Palace have gradually faded from people's sight. But even though the Demon Realm has faded from view, its fearsome reputation still circulates among the various holy lands. In particular, the story of the Demon Emperor, a peerless genius, single-handedly fighting against the powerful figures of the various holy lands, holding off heroes from all walks of life, and forcing all the holy lands to bow down, has always been a topic of private conversation among disciples of various sects!"

"However, the Demon Realm, the Demon Emperor, the Demon Emperor's Palace, and everything else have long become history. For nearly a hundred years, no one has truly seen anyone from the Demon Realm. But today, someone who is very likely from the Demon Realm has suddenly appeared. First the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, then the Demon Realm—is the chaos about to return? Is it really as Master said, that the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon has not truly ended?"

"Furthermore, what is Yang Fan's connection to the demon realm? Why is there a blood-red dragon shadow on him? Could it be that Grandpa wasn't lying to me? When Yang Fan was born, there were extraordinary phenomena, a true dragon possessing him, legend says he was born to face a calamity? But what kind of calamity is this? Could it be

the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon?" One thought after another flashed through Nalan Qingcheng's mind. At this moment, she was like a high-speed computer, constantly calculating. As the most beautiful woman in Yanjing, Nalan Qingcheng possessed far more than just a devastatingly beautiful face. Beneath that captivating beauty lay a wisdom that could be described as monstrous.

How could the Holy Maiden and the chosen successor of the Hundred Flowers Sect, appointed by its sect leader, be of mediocre talent and intelligence? How could she simply possess the Hundred Flowers Body? Even if Nalan Qingcheng's innate intelligence was indeed inferior, in the past nearly twenty years, her master and her grandfather had already cultivated her into an all-around superhuman!

Therefore, through the subtle clues in Su Xin's words, coupled with the various phenomena Yang Fan was exhibiting, she quickly connected many possibilities. Many seemingly unrelated things were linked together, and through these events, she deduced various outcomes…

Meanwhile, just as Nalan Qingcheng was pondering, the situation on Yang Fan's side also changed.

Streams of tribulation lightning entered his body through the Tai Chi diagram, settling within his meridians, bones, blood, and even acupoints. Over time, Yang Fan's entire body practically became the source of chaotic tribulation lightning, a nuclear energy base!

Even a tiny release of the tribulation lightning within him was enough to destroy a giant mountain or a boulder. At this moment, he was like a time bomb; once the tribulation lightning was triggered, he would immediately explode, unleashing world-destroying energy.

However, although these tribulation lightning bolts resided within his body, Yang Fan himself had absolutely no control over them. He couldn't use them to fight, nor could he even move them slightly. They were completely independent entities, utterly unrelated. To the tribulation lightning, Yang Fan was merely a host. Even

so, the benefits Yang Fan gained were immeasurable. Regardless of the tribulation lightning's actual uses, the process of it entering his body alone tempered his physical body to an exceptionally terrifying level. In terms of physical strength alone, even the physical body of a Void Returning expert is probably less than one-tenth the strength of Yang Fan's. His physical strength surpasses that of any Void Returning expert, and even the Void Returning demonic beasts, known for their formidable physical prowess, do not possess Yang Fan's monstrous physique. Therefore, in terms of physical strength alone, Yang Fan's power is no weaker than that of a Void Returning expert!

Of course, this is only a theoretical fact. Void Returning experts, having refined their spirit to return to the void, have already entrusted their divine consciousness to the vast emptiness, merging with heaven and earth, resonating with the universe. When fighting, they no longer need close-quarters combat; their battles are clashes of laws and the Great Dao. Even from thousands of miles away, they can wage a world-shaking war.

Therefore, even with Yang Fan's immense physical strength, he couldn't possibly harm a Void Returning expert. This is because such an expert moves through the void, able to escape at any time and alter the laws of nature. Even if they stood right in front of Yang Fan, he couldn't strike them, as the opponent had manipulated spatial power, creating a situation where they were worlds apart.

Thus, no matter how strong Yang Fan was, he was at most invincible below the Void Returning realm. Against a true Void Returning expert, he probably wouldn't even have the power to fight back!

Yet, even with his initial Refining Spirit realm strength, he was invincible below the Void Returning realm, demonstrating the extraordinary nature of his power. Those Refining Spirit experts hailed as geniuses could at most fight across a few minor realms, but once they exceeded three or four realms, even with their exceptional talent, they were no match.

Before this, Yang Fan could fight across a major realm; at the peak of Qi Movement, he could face experts at the eighth or ninth level of Refining Spirit. Now that he has advanced to the Refining Spirit realm, he should theoretically be able to contend with experts at the Returning Void realm. His current invincibility below the Returning Void realm seems illogical and inexplicable.

However, this doesn't contradict the concept of being a true expert. The Returning Void realm is a major watershed in cultivation. Not only are experts at the Returning Void realm considered true masters, the pinnacle of the martial arts world, but the Returning Void realm also represents another significant aspect!

If the Fetal Breathing realm is the foundation of a martial artist's cultivation, Qi Movement is the foundation, and Refining Spirit is the process, then the Returning Void realm is sublimation—a sublimation of realm, a sublimation of spiritual level!

Before Refining Spirit, whether fighting or strengthening the body, a martial artist is limited to themselves, limited to energy and true qi, limited to techniques. They use true qi and energy to evolve techniques, then use the physical body as a medium to unleash powerful combat strength. However, after refining the spirit, the techniques remain techniques, but the energy that propels them has transformed from true qi into laws. The medium is no longer the physical body, but spiritual power and divine consciousness!

The realm of refining the spirit is a process of this transformation. Once one enters the Void Returning stage, true qi is no longer as important. The strength of a powerful individual is no longer measured by the amount of true qi, but by the strength of their laws and divine consciousness. The more one comprehends the Great Dao, the more proficient one's mastery of the laws, and the stronger one's divine consciousness, the greater one's strength.

It's like a child; no matter how strong or powerful they are, they can only be a leader in their early childhood. But once they encounter an adult, no matter how powerful they are, they are no match for them, because one is in the growth stage, and the other is in the maturity stage!

Therefore, no matter how strong a powerful individual in the Refining Spirit stage is, they cannot surpass those in the Void Returning stage; no matter how fierce their combat power, they cannot surpass those in the Void Returning stage. This is the will of Heaven, the constraint of nature, and an unchangeable law of Heaven!

To break this law, one must either master it or surpass it to control it and break it. This process of breaking the law is the process of advancing to the Primordial Chaos realm!

However, the strengthening of his physical body was not Yang Fan's greatest benefit this time. His greatest benefit was that the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, after absorbing the tribulation lightning, was facing another breakthrough!

After breaking through the second level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, after absorbing endless tribulation lightning, finally loosened the door to the third level of barrier. And Yang Fan finally sensed the threshold of the third level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique!

Closer! Closer! Closer!

Boom!

Finally, in a silent explosion, the middle-aged man in the long robe with three strands of beard, who had appeared before, reappeared in his mind…

“Very good, very good, you have indeed not disappointed me. In such a short time, you have already achieved another breakthrough. You have indeed not disappointed this old man!”

This time, the middle-aged man did not immediately begin practicing his moves upon appearing. Instead, he actually took the initiative to talk to Yang Fan.

"Senior, you are..."

Upon suddenly hearing the other person's voice, Yang Fan was startled, but after the initial surprise, he quickly calmed down and used his divine sense to speak to the other person.

"I was born from thunder, I came from thunder, the vast thunder of the nine heavens rises, the winds and clouds of heaven and earth tremble! Who am I? Who am I? Haha, that's a good question, but even I don't know who I am! However, that's not an important question. You only need to know that I am the founder of the Nine Heavens Vast Thunder Technique, and you are the only person who has successfully cultivated the Nine Heavens Vast Thunder Technique, and also my only disciple!"

The middle-aged man laughed loudly. His voice was rough and unrestrained, but full of power, like the roar of thunder. Even the thunder of the Chaos Tribulation was not as loud as his voice.

"Boy, if you want to know who I am, then cultivate diligently. When you master the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, perhaps you can tell me who I really am. Alright, time is short, and I have limited time to discuss this in detail. My existence is solely for imparting my skills to you. If you want to understand me more, then keep cultivating and unlock more of my will. Now, let me begin by teaching you the second move of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique: Thunderous Soul Severing!"

With that, the middle-aged man ignored Yang Fan, his hands moving swiftly as he effortlessly executed the starting stance of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique. Instantly, streaks of purple lightning appeared around his body. However, the once raging purple lightning now coiled around him like a docile kitten.

"The Nine Heavens Thunder Technique has nine levels, corresponding to nine forms. The starting stance is also the starting stance of each of the nine forms. The first form, Thunderous Shock, emphasizes an unstoppable, overwhelming momentum, destroying everything and refining all things. The second form, Thunderous Soul Severing, refines all kinds of karma in the world, not only destroying all things but also annihilating people's consciousness. Compared to the first form, its momentum is somewhat lacking, but its power, destructiveness, and strangeness far surpass the first form. Watch closely!"

The middle-aged man's voice rang out again. With his voice, he gently clenched his hands, and the purple lightning around his body seemed to be drawn by a giant force, automatically gathering in his palms to form a huge purple sphere.

The surface of the purple sphere flickered with lightning and rumbled with thunder, radiating an astonishing aura of destruction. There was no doubt that if this sphere exploded, even a skyscraper would be instantly destroyed.

However, just as Yang Fan thought the purple orb would detonate, it vanished from the middle-aged man's hand without warning…

“This… this is the Thunderous Soul Slash? It seems to be all bark and no bite, it doesn't seem to have any real power?”

Seeing this, Yang Fan muttered to himself.

However, the moment Yang Fan doubted the Thunderous Soul Slash, the void within a ten-mile radius of the middle-aged man suddenly became chaotic, and streaks of purple lightning suddenly shot out from the void, instantly destroying the entire space…

Chapter 392 [Holy Lands Arrive]

The vast desert stretched endlessly. On a slightly protruding cliff, Yang Fan and his group looked down at the endless desert with its countless swirling winds. In the center of those swirling storms, ferocious-looking demonic beasts with cold scales on their backs bobbed and sank, adding a chilling aura to the already perilous desert.

Yang Fan hadn't expected that he and his group would return to this place so soon after leaving—the location of the Blood Transformation Sect, the very place where the Blood Lotus Demon was sealed!

Looking around at this familiar environment again, Yang Fan felt a completely different sensation. His keen divine sense detected numerous spatial cavities hidden behind the swirling sand and dust, each emanating an aura of extreme danger.

This was something Yang Fan had sensed after his cultivation had greatly increased, advancing to the Refining Spirit Realm. In fact, even a peak Refining Spirit Realm expert might not be able to discover these things, but Yang Fan, thanks to the Five-Colored Pearl, possessed spatial abilities far exceeding those of ordinary Refining Spirit Realm experts, even having glimpsed the secrets of Returning to the Void. It was precisely this that allowed him to spot those unusually small spaces at a glance.

Furthermore, he could also clearly sense the heavenly staircases leading to the Blood Lotus Demon's imprisonment. He vaguely sensed faint spatial forces leading to the location of the Blood Lotus Demon. This time, even without the Heavenly Eye Pearl, Yang Fan believed he could reach the Blood Lotus Demon's place of imprisonment!

"It seems this place is not as simple as I imagined. Perhaps even the Blood Transformation Sect doesn't understand its true secrets. If it weren't for the Hundred Flowers Sect, a super sect, behind Nalan Qingcheng, even I wouldn't believe this is the place where a Buddhist monk passed away. Perhaps that Buddhist monk is in one of these spaces. However, I can sense at least several hundred spaces here, and there are many mysterious spaces that I can't sense at all."

"According to Nalan Qingcheng, this Buddhist monk is at least a Hunyuan Realm expert. The space he created cannot be detected even by a peak Returning to Emptiness expert.

Below the Hunyuan Realm, no one can see it. So, how can we enter it?" Having experienced the tribulation, Nalan Qingcheng and her group naturally joined Yang Fan's team. During this process, she also fully explained all the secrets of the ancient tomb to Yang Fan.

This place was once the site of the passing of a high-ranking Buddhist monk. Legend has it that this monk was the foremost disciple of Shakyamuni, possessing unparalleled cultivation, virtually invincible within the Hunyuan realm, and the most likely person in Buddhism after Shakyamuni to break through to the Hunyuan realm and reach another level!

In the minds of all martial artists, the Hunyuan realm is the highest realm of martial arts, the pinnacle of martial arts. However, there are other realms above Hunyuan, but throughout history, very few, if any, have reached them. Therefore, over time, this realm has been forgotten by martial artists, only circulating among those who have reached the Hunyuan realm.

Even those who have reached the Hunyuan realm don't know what that other realm is like, let alone what it represents. Although countless Hunyuan realm experts dedicate their entire lives to pursuing that realm, few have actually reached it.

Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, is the only one who has stepped into that realm. Whether anyone else in this world has reached that realm is unknown, but Shakyamuni is the only known one. Apart from him, no one else recorded in history has reached that realm; at most, they have only come very close, touching the edge of it.

During his conversation with Nalan Qingcheng, Yang Fan also learned another piece of information: the leader who fought against the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, the Demon Emperor of the Demon Realm, was the only person in the last few thousand years to have touched that realm.

However, it was precisely because he touched that realm that he suffered a fatal calamity. In this era where the Primordial Chaos Realm is the strongest fighting force, the appearance of a powerhouse above the Primordial Chaos Realm will inevitably disrupt the current peace. While the various holy lands outwardly coexist peacefully, even joining forces to fight the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, they are also scheming against each other, secretly suppressing one another, fearing that the strength of other holy lands will surpass their own.

However, the difference in strength between the various holy lands is not significant, and the comparisons between Primordial Chaos Realm experts are also roughly the same. Therefore, none of the major holy lands could truly defeat the others. Although there were constant frictions behind the scenes, they never broke off relations and maintained a delicate balance.

However, the Demon Realm, as the strongest of the major holy lands, was already a source of great fear for all the other holy lands. If their Demon Emperor were to break through to the Primordial Chaos realm, which holy land could possibly contend with it? Even all the holy lands combined would likely be no match for the Demon Emperor's Palace!

It must be understood that the reason the Buddhist Realm was so powerful was because Shakyamuni was a being above the Primordial Chaos realm. He alone overwhelmed the major holy lands. If the Demon Emperor were to also break through to the Primordial Chaos realm, wouldn't another Buddhist Realm emerge?

The major holy lands, accustomed to their superior status, would absolutely not allow another Buddhist Realm to appear, nor would they allow their authority to be challenged. Therefore, at the end of the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon, they joined forces to attack the Demon Emperor and even disregarded their alliance to launch an attack on the Demon Realm!

This is precisely why the Demon Emperor ultimately perished. However, even in his demise, the results he achieved were enough to make any person or force tremble. It must be understood that the number of Primordial Chaos Realm experts who besieged him was no less than a hundred, yet after that battle, half of them perished, and the remaining ones were all severely injured, requiring seclusion for healing. Even today, their injuries have not fully healed, leading to a situation where there are no Primordial Chaos Realm experts left in the martial world!

This upheaval is known as the Primordial Chaos Calamity. From then on, no Primordial Chaos Realm experts appeared in the martial world, and the era of Primordial Chaos Realm experts disappearing gave rise to the dominance of Void Returning Realm experts. Not only did it cause the disappearance of Primordial Chaos Realm experts, but it also greatly weakened the strength of the major holy lands.

And all of this was caused by one person, demonstrating just how valiant the Demon Emperor was, and how powerful his combat strength was! However, even a powerful demon emperor like him only had one foot in the Primordial Chaos realm, barely glimpsing its edge. So, just how powerful is the realm beyond Primordial Chaos? How strong are those beings?

No one knows. If the Primordial Chaos realm is seen as divine by ordinary martial artists, then that realm is divine even by those already in the Primordial Chaos realm. They are gods among gods, their strength unimaginable, beyond comprehension. No one in this world knows their methods, nor has anyone witnessed their power. Even Shakyamuni, the only one to surpass the Primordial Chaos realm, never saw anyone fight him throughout his life. Therefore, the realm beyond Primordial Chaos remains a mystery, an unsolvable enigma!

It is precisely because of its mystery that people yearn for it, leading all those in the Primordial Chaos realm to pursue it. In fact, the reason why the various holy lands besieged the Demon Emperor back then was not only because they were afraid of the Demon Emperor's strength, but also because they all wanted to obtain the secrets above the Primordial Chaos from the Demon Emperor. It was their greed that caused the root of the cholera outbreak!

This ancient tomb is very likely the final resting place of Shakyamuni's chief disciple, a powerful figure who had one foot in the Primordial Chaos Realm, a powerhouse on par with the Demon Emperor. How could anything about him, anything about the secrets beyond the Primordial Chaos Realm, not attract the attention of the major holy lands?

The mere fact that he was a disciple of Shakyamuni was enough to drive the holy lands mad, let alone the fact that this high monk might possess the sacred relics left behind by Shakyamuni at his death!

If a disciple of Shakyamuni, a Buddhist monk with strength comparable to the Demon Emperor, could stir the hearts of the holy lands, then the sacred relics left behind by Shakyamuni at his death would be enough to truly drive them to madness, to fight tooth and nail for them!

These are truly relics left behind by a powerhouse beyond the Primordial Chaos Realm. Everything about a powerhouse who has one foot in the Primordial Chaos Realm can drive them mad, let alone something truly left behind by a powerhouse beyond the Primordial Chaos Realm?

If it weren't for the mutual fear among the various holy lands, and if their Hunyuan level experts weren't all in seclusion healing their wounds, those gathered here wouldn't be disciples of the holy lands, but rather their sect leaders, the foundation of each sect, the living fossils of the holy lands—those Hunyuan level experts who never tread the world!

This is precisely why the holy lands have sent their elite disciples to spearhead the effort; those sent are all holy sons and daughters, candidates for the next sect leader. In a sense, these holy sons and daughters already represent the holy lands themselves, because decades later, they will become the true representatives of their respective holy lands. This operation, besides being a vanguard mission, is also their greatest trial. If they obtain even a sliver of information about the Hunyuan level, the benefits they gain will far exceed a significant increase in strength; more importantly, it will solidify their status as candidates for sect leader!

Although they are all considered holy sons and daughters, this doesn't guarantee their positions as leaders of the various holy lands. In fact, the moment before they officially assume the leadership is fraught with uncertainty. Even the leader of a third-rate sect would be fiercely contested by its disciples, leading to bloodshed and even enmity

. How much more so the supreme leader of a holy land, a supreme overlord whose power shakes the entire world? Becoming the supreme leader of a holy land not only brings the respect and support of countless disciples, access to more resources and power, but also ensures widespread awareness and absolute obedience. Therefore, the position of holy land leader, like that of a head of state, represents the pinnacle of power and status, a position coveted by anyone with ambition!

In a sacred martial arts land, besides the Holy Son and Holy Daughter, there are many other candidates. These individuals are all strong contenders for the next sect leader. Any slight mishap to the Holy Son or Holy Daughter will make them targets for suppression and attack.

Therefore, the Holy Son or Holy Daughter needs a long process to become the sect leader. This process involves not only accumulating strength but also prestige and gaining the respect of the masses. This is why Nalan Qingcheng's master went to such lengths to empower her during this training, hoping she would accumulate more prestige and lay a stronger foundation for her future succession as sect leader!

Recalling the information Nalan Qingcheng had shared with him along the way, Yang Fan couldn't help but touch the Buddha relic on his finger. If, as Nalan Qingcheng said, the relics left behind by Shakyamuni Buddha upon his death contained the secret to breaking through to the Primordial Chaos Realm, then wouldn't that mean the two relics he had obtained also contained such a secret?

But if that were truly the case, then why hadn't he discovered anything? Or was the Nine Syllable Mantra the secret to breaking through to the Primordial Chaos realm?

Actually, Yang Fan wasn't concerned with the secret to breaking through to the Primordial Chaos realm; after all, that was far, far beyond his current reach. Let alone anything above the Primordial Chaos realm, even the Primordial Chaos realm itself was unattainable for him. Instead of thinking about such things, he should think about something more practical. For example, the Nine Syllable Mantra!

If Nalan Qingcheng's information was true, then the relics on that Buddhist monk might indeed be relics of Shakyamuni, the same as the relics of the Holy Buddha he had obtained. If they were truly relics left by Shakyamuni, then there might be a secret about the Nine Syllable Mantra within them!

Others came for the secrets beyond the Primordial Chaos realm, but Yang Fan came for the Nine Syllable Mantra. Although their purposes differed, their goal was the same: the ancient tomb. Therefore, Yang Fan was equally determined to obtain the ancient tomb!

"Ling! Ling! Ling!"

However, at that moment, a series of whooshing sounds suddenly came from all directions. Immediately afterwards, one figure after another surged in from all sides, instantly filling the already narrow cliff face with people.

"They've arrived just in time. It seems the grudges between the various holy lands are quite deep, and they're also very wary of each other. Otherwise, they wouldn't have appeared so promptly and in such unison. The Hundred Flowers Sect arrived, and then all the other holy lands came. It seems a bloody battle is inevitable if they want to ultimately profit!"

Yang Fan's gaze swept over the suddenly appearing figures, a flash of shrewdness appearing in his eyes…

Chapter 393 [The Foundation of the Holy Lands]

"That group of people to the due east are from the Free and Unfettered Sect. Their leader is the current Holy Son of the Free and Unfettered Sect. The sect leader has no name, and is simply called the Free and Unfettered Master. 'The fragrance of rain and mist is light, the mountains and clouds are distant.' The Free and Unfettered emphasize cultivating the mind to enter the Dao, their unwavering Dao heart setting them apart from other cultivation methods. They are skilled at using incantations to subdue others, and when they suddenly erupt, they possess the power of thunder. Their main cultivation technique is the Free and Unfettered Heart Technique!"

As Yang Fan's gaze shifted around, Nalan Qingcheng continued explaining to him. Following the direction Nalan Qingcheng indicated, Yang Fan immediately saw the Holy Son of the Free and Unfettered Sect that Nalan Qingcheng had mentioned. Seeing him, Yang Fan realized what a true pretty boy really was!

This fellow was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, a few inches taller than me, with shoulder-length black hair, about 1.87 meters tall, fair skin, a straight nose, an upright figure, and eyes as bright as stars. Every gesture he made was like a gentle breeze, and coupled with his well-tailored white robe, he could only be described as handsome and dashing. Judging from his appearance, he certainly lived up to the name "Xiaoyao" (meaning carefree and unrestrained).

"The group of people in Taoist robes to the south are Taoists from the Qingxiao Taoist Sect. Their leader is also their current Holy Son. The Qingxiao Taoist Sect's cultivation method is the Taiyi Shangqing Technique, which is further divided into the Yuxu Technique and the Bingxin Technique. Most men in the Qingxiao Taoist Sect practice the Yuxu Technique, while women mostly practice the Bingxin Technique. The Xuanxiao Taoist Sect cultivates using the five elements of metal, wood, fire, earth, and water, transforming them into Yin and Yang energies, ultimately unifying them. They are the representatives of Taoist practitioners!" "The

group to the west is from the Yueyin Sect. The sect leader of Yueying Qionghua, 'Qin Xianzi,' is famous throughout the world for her 'Yin Yue Shi Xin Qu,' and is skilled in the art of sonic killing!"

"To the north is the Zhiyu Palace. The palace leader of the Zhiyu Palace in the Wanyao Valley, 'Fengdie,' is known as the 'Demon Queen.' She has mastered the Biyue Taotian Heart Method, and her 'Hibiscus Twin Blossoms' hand is unparalleled." "To the southwest

is the Youming Shigui Sect. Their main cultivation method is the Ghost Howl Soul-Seizing Technique!"

"To the northwest is the Lingbao Qinxin Sect. Its sect leader, Zhuo Yuxuan, also known as the Angry Miller, is skilled in crafting and identifying magical artifacts and elixirs!"

"To the southeast is the Chunyang Sect. Its sect leader, Shu Yi, nicknamed 'Ancient Sun God,' created the Chunyang Technique by observing the sunrise and sunset at Sunset Mountain. He absorbed the essence of the 'Sun-Illuminating Stone,' transforming it into pure Yang within his body. All disciples within the sect are male."

"As for those people in the southeast, you know them without me introducing them; it's the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, led by Long Junsheng. Aside from the Demon Emperor's Palace in the Demon Realm, the Zen Sect in the Buddhist Realm, and the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect on Nine Nether Island, almost all the disciples from the other major holy lands have gathered here!"

"The Demon Realm has never appeared in the mortal world since the Great Calamity of the Dragon Slaying. Furthermore, their Demon Emperor was once a powerful figure with one foot in the Primordial Chaos realm, so naturally, nothing here attracts them. The Buddhist Realm is the same; moreover, the Zen Sect has always guarded the entrance to the Demon Realm to prevent its emergence, so their absence is understandable."

"As for the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect of Nine Nether Island, although it is also one of the holy lands, no one has ever seen their existence. Apart from a couple who appeared during the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon to help resist the calamity, no disciples of the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect have ever roamed the world. Therefore, this sect is the most mysterious of all the holy lands, and no one knows a single thing about them!"

"However, the strength of that couple can only be described as earth-shattering. In the battle to besiege the Demon Emperor, if it weren't for the existence of that couple, the Demon Emperor probably wouldn't have perished, and none of the major holy lands would have had any experts at the Hunyuan Realm survive! Therefore, although the Heavenly Thunder Sword Sect never shows itself to the world, no holy land dares to underestimate its existence. There are even rumors that the strength of Nine Nether Island is no weaker than that of the Buddhist Realm back then. If you ask whether there is any existence above the Hunyuan Realm in this world, it must be Nine Nether Island!"

While introducing the major holy lands to Yang Fan, Nalan Qingcheng also gave him a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the characteristics of each holy land. While comparing what Nalan Qingcheng had said with the people before him, Yang Fan silently digested the information.

Before this, he had no systematic understanding of these martial arts holy lands. Although he knew of their existence, his knowledge was limited, and he didn't even know how many holy lands there were.

But now, after hearing Nalan Qingcheng's explanation, he finally had a comprehensive understanding of these martial arts holy lands. While not completely clear, he at least had a clear and objective understanding of the entire martial arts world. He was no longer like before, ignorant of the vastness of the world, like a frog at the bottom of a well.

"It seems these so-called martial arts holy lands are truly exceptionally powerful. There are no fewer than fifty experts at the Refining Spirit Realm here alone, and among them are many at the peak of the Refining Spirit Realm!"

More than ten groups of varying sizes formed along the cliff face, each representing a martial arts holy land. And each holy land was led by its own Holy Son and Holy Daughter. Adding Yang Fan and Nalan Qingcheng's group, the cliff face was filled with no fewer than a hundred people.

Surprisingly, over half of these martial artists were at the Refining Spirit Realm, with the weakest being a Qi Movement Realm expert. Moreover, their auras were incredibly heavy, completely different from ordinary rogue cultivators. In other words, anyone randomly picked from here could fight them across several minor realms; even ordinary rogue cultivators, whose realms were several levels higher, would be no match for them. This alone demonstrates the immense resources of the Holy Land.

The title "Martial Arts Holy Land" is certainly not given lightly. Sects like the Qingcheng Sect and Changbai Sword Sect, though hailed as super sects, are merely peripheral forces of the major Holy Lands. They are like cities under the rule of a nation; there are countless sects like them throughout China.

Yet, there are only a dozen or so Martial Arts Holy Lands in total. Of course, there are also some powerful figures at the Hunyuan Realm who have established their own cave dwellings, founded sects, and recruited numerous disciples, but they never appear in the world. These sects are no less powerful or less established than the major holy lands, and some are even stronger.

However, most of these sects are detached from worldly affairs, focusing solely on the pursuit of the Dao. Outsiders are completely unaware of their existence; these are the truly reclusive sects. The world is vast and full of wonders; who knows how many mysterious planes and spaces exist, and how many reclusive sects reside within them?

Previously, Yang Fan believed that the martial world had long since vanished, and that the owners of martial arts schools, world-renowned boxers, and underworld masters were the true masters. But as his strength increased, he gradually came into contact with mysterious organizations like the Dragon Group, allowing him to see existence at a higher level.

Then, the appearance of sects like the Qingcheng Sect and the Changbai Sword Sect changed his understanding, revealing the mysterious veil of the martial world. Before he could even process everything, the words "Martial Arts Holy Land" once again disrupted his understanding. At this moment, Yang Fan couldn't help but wonder if there were even more powerful beings beyond the Martial Arts Holy Land.

The bigger your heart, the bigger your world; the higher you stand, the farther you see. At this moment, Yang Fan suddenly realized that his current understanding of the entire martial arts world was far from sufficient. The mysteries of the martial arts world were not so easily unraveled. Perhaps even Nalan Qingcheng, or her master, didn't truly understand this martial arts world, this world!

However, he didn't need to see that far or that high yet, because he hadn't reached that peak, that realm. Right now, let alone the various holy lands, even an existence like the Qingcheng Sect was like a towering mountain before him.

Now, the people from the various holy lands gathered before him were the real problem he needed to solve. Before this, he had always been full of confidence in seizing the Holy Buddha Relic, but now, he felt somewhat worried.

Leaving aside the combined strength of the various holy lands, and the destructive power of hundreds of experts at the Refining Spirit Realm working together, the strength of each individual holy land alone is enough to give Yang Fan a headache!

These holy lands' leaders are all at the level of Holy Sons and Holy Daughters. Yang Fan doesn't believe they don't possess magical artifacts capable of contending with Nalan Qingcheng and Long Junsheng. These artifacts combined would likely force even a Primordial Chaos Realm expert to retreat, let alone Yang Fan!

Although his Five-Colored Pearl is now a magical artifact, even the best warrior can't withstand a pack of wolves. To obtain the Holy Buddha Relic, making enemies of the various holy lands is inevitable. How to escape amidst these magical artifacts is Yang Fan's biggest concern right now.

"Hey, isn't that Young Master Yang? What's he doing here?"

Just as Yang Fan was deep in thought, Gu Feifei's voice rang out at the opportune moment.

Looking over, Yang Fan indeed spotted Yang Feng, the eldest son of the Yang family, one of the four great families of Yanjing! At this moment, Yang Feng was actually standing in the Chunyang Sect's ranks. What surprised Yang Fan most was that he was standing in the very center. This meant that Yang Feng was actually the Holy Son of the Chunyang Sect!

"There's nothing strange about it. Yang Feng, like me, has an extraordinary constitution from birth, possessing a pure Yang body. The Chunyang Sect's cultivation method, the Pure Yang Technique, is most suitable for those with a pure Yang body. How could the Chunyang Sect possibly let go of such a promising talent? In fact, not only Yang Feng, but also the eldest son of the Ouyang family, like us, was chosen by the Palace Master of the Zhiyu Palace in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley at a very young age and taken as her closed-door disciple!"

Shifting his gaze towards the location of the Zhiyu Palace in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, Yang Fan immediately spotted a middle-aged man. This man was wearing a black suit, seemingly in the style of 18th or 19th-century European nobility. The floral collar and cuffs of his white shirt were turned outwards, and a large black cloak draped over his shoulders. Even someone as ignorant as Yang Fan could easily discern the exquisite and expensive material of the clothing.

His skin was abnormally pale and lifeless, his thin lips a sickly crimson, as if coated with blood. His black hair was naturally curly, and his black eyes were deep and mysterious, reminiscent of a starless night sky.

Just as Yang Fan was sizing him up, the man seemed to sense Yang Fan's gaze and actually gave him a charming smile.

His smile was elegant and aloof, carrying an air of noble superiority. Most strikingly, when he smiled, two long, sharp canine teeth were revealed at the corners of his mouth!

However, to Yang Fan's surprise, he saw several familiar faces beside this man. Ouyang Ye, whom he had met briefly before, was standing right next to him. Not only him, but the Dongfang brothers, Dongfang Hao and Dongfang Yun, who had done Yang Fan a great favor, were also there! Seeing these

two, a cold smile involuntarily appeared on Yang Fan's lips. To be honest, he hadn't had any direct conflict with the two, but because of Dongfang Lan, Yang Fan found it difficult to feel any goodwill towards them, and even harbored murderous intentions towards them.

Back in Yanjing, when Yang Fan first heard about the base, he had considered finding an opportunity to eliminate the two men there. However, after arriving at the base, he hadn't encountered them at all. Who would have thought they would actually appear here? And even more surprisingly, they were connected to the people of Zhiyu Palace!

Now, even without Nalan Qingcheng's explanation, Yang Fan could guess that the man was definitely the eldest son of the Ouyang family, someone on par with Yang Feng. Only in this way could the reason why the Dongfang brothers were surrounding him be explained. Because the Dongfang family was essentially a lackey of the Ouyang family; if their master was here, they would naturally be here too!

"Perhaps, the debts from the past can be settled today!"

Yang Fan's gaze lingered on the Dongfang brothers for a few seconds, a flash of killing intent appearing in his eyes.

At the same time, both Dongfang brothers couldn't help but shiver. They exchanged a glance, both seeing horror in each other's eyes. The two brothers had naturally heard everything Yang Fan had done at the base, which was why they had always avoided him. They knew that within the base, it would be incredibly easy for Yang Fan to kill them!

This time, the two brothers had finally managed to get in touch with the eldest son of the Ouyang family and mingle with the people of Zhiyu Palace. They were fantasizing about finding an opportunity to join Zhiyu Palace, cultivate divine skills, and one day crush Yang Fan under their feet. Who would have thought that before they had even mastered their skills, they would already have encountered that plague god!

However, the shock in their hearts was fleeting. When they shifted their gaze to the middle-aged man beside Ouyang Ye, their shock had long been replaced by joy.

Having been by his side for quite some time, how could they not know that back in the base, this man had spent all his free time collecting information about Yang Fan? Although they didn't know why the other party was doing this, they all knew that it couldn't be as simple as just being interested in the other person. They all knew that if this master spent a long time studying someone, that person would eventually die at his hands... Now that this master was facing Yang Fan head-on, would Yang Fan still have a chance to survive?

Chapter 394 [Challenging the Holy Lands]

"Young Master, what should we do? The people from the Hundred Flowers Palace and that kid are also here. Will it affect our plans?"

On the other side, an old man next to Long Junsheng stared at Yang Fan and asked.

"It's alright. Don't be fooled by their current peaceful demeanor. The grudges between the various holy lands aren't as harmonious as they appear. Especially the Hundred Flowers Palace's old rival, the Jade Palace. Their hatred is no less than their hatred for us. I don't believe they won't clash when they meet!"

"Also, that kid from the Hundred Flowers Palace, while his cultivation level isn't high on the surface, his combat power shouldn't be underestimated. Unless we use magical artifacts, we're no match for him. Let them play with those demons from the Jade Palace for now!"

The Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, despite its name, isn't actually part of the demon realm's territory. The reason they're called "demon" isn't because they're all born from demonic beasts. Rather, it's because the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons has a very special characteristic: the people there, regardless of gender, are extremely "demonic." Of course, this "demonic" isn't the same as the traditional concept of demons. Here, "demonic" refers to the fact that the men aren't like men, and the women aren't like women; they're all composed of a group of perverts, a group of demons. And that's why the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, though not truly demonic, is instilled with the word "demonic"!

Imagine a group composed entirely of demons and monsters—how could it be a normal group? How could such a sect possibly be favored by other sects? The people of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley are not only demons, but they also have a very unique characteristic: both men and women are extremely lustful. Although it's said that the women are attracted to women and the men to men, their disciples still constantly harass disciples from other sects.

The Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, while also a menace to the martial world, mostly only engages in male-female and female-male sexual intercourse. Even the Ten Thousand Demon Valley sect insists on female-female and male-male sexual intercourse, thus making the infamy of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley's Zhiyu Palace far greater than that of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect!

It is precisely for this reason that Long Junsheng dares to swagger here as a disciple of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect. Because here, there are people even more detestable than them. Even if other sects were to gang up on them, they wouldn't be targeting him, would they?

"Yang Fan? How did he end up with Nalan Qingcheng? It's a good thing my little sister didn't come, or there would be more trouble. Should we greet them?"

Yang Feng, who had already taken a half-step, was stopped by an old man beside him.

"Young Master, with all the holy lands gathered right now, friend and foe are unclear, and everyone is wary of each other. If you rashly greet others, it might arouse suspicion from the other holy lands. Opening the ancient tomb gate is the most important thing right now. As for other matters, we can discuss them later. Please allow me to think it over!"

Although he disliked this old man who was even more annoying than his grandfather, Yang Feng had to admit that what the other man said made a lot of sense. With friend and foe unclear, if he were to walk with Nalan Qingcheng at this time, even if they were just rekindling an old flame, the people from the other holy lands might think they had secretly formed an alliance. That would inevitably disrupt the current situation, which would not benefit anyone. Therefore, although Yang Feng wanted to greet Yang Fan and the others, he could only suppress the thought and exchange glances.

Similarly, Yang Fan noticed this as well, so he didn't greet Yang Feng. The two nodded to each other subtly and said nothing more.

In fact, even Yang Fan didn't expect to encounter so many old acquaintances from Yanjing here. Yang Feng, Nalan Qingcheng, and the eldest son of the Ouyang family—these three were all from the four great families of Yanjing. Apart from the Shen sisters, the other three families all had the shadow of martial arts holy lands behind them. It has to be said that all of this was truly full of dramatic color!

"What should we do now?"

Yang Fan wanted to see if there were any other people he recognized, but unfortunately, apart from the people from the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect, who were all covered in black and could not be identified, there was no one else he recognized from any of the other holy lands.

"Wait, the true ancient tomb is hidden within the void, so much so that even a powerful expert at the Primordial Chaos Realm cannot discover its existence. This place was once occupied by a sect called the Blood Transformation Sect, which also had a Primordial Chaos Realm expert stationed there. Later, the Blood Transformation Sect was destroyed by the Five Elements Sect. Even after the change of sects, the ancient tomb remained undiscovered!"

"The reason the Five Elements Sect attacked the Blood Transformation Sect was because they knew the secret of the ancient tomb. However, the Five Elements Sect spent over a hundred years without finding anything of value. The Five Elements Sect is proficient in the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams arts and is renowned among the great holy lands. If even they couldn't find it, just how hidden is this ancient tomb!"

"However, the Five Elements Sect's century of research hasn't been without its gains. They discovered that the gate to the ancient tomb opens once every thousand years, and the tomb itself manifests from the void. At precisely this time, the defensive array surrounding the tomb reaches its lowest point. Therefore, this is the only opportunity to enter the tomb! And since the thousand-year mark isn't far off, we simply need to wait patiently!"

Hearing Nalan Qingcheng's explanation, Yang Fan couldn't help but ask, "Oh? Since the Five Elements Sect has discovered this secret, how could they possibly reveal it? And since the Five Elements Sect has a Hunyuan level expert in charge, why are they nowhere to be seen now?"

"The Five Elements Sect had already perished completely in the Great Calamity of Slaying the Dragon. Their sect leader participated in the siege of the Demon Emperor and died in that battle. A sect occupying such abundant resources, without a Primordial Realm expert to guard it, how could other sects allow it to survive? Some of the Five Elements Sect's former enemies, as well as some sects that coveted the Five Elements Sect's territory, took advantage of the sect leader's death to launch a large-scale attack on the Five Elements Sect. In the process, the news of the Ancient Tomb was accidentally leaked!"

"So the Five Elements Sect was also wiped out? They destroyed the Blood Transformation Sect, and then were destroyed by other sects. The concept of cause and effect is truly wondrous. However, since I inherited the Five Elements Sect's secret techniques, I'm now entangled in this cause and effect. It seems I'm destined to clash with the sects that destroyed the Five Elements Sect in the future. Only in this way can I understand this cause and effect!"

Yang Fan muttered to himself after hearing Nalan Qingcheng's words. Having obtained the Five Elements Sect's secret techniques, he was, in a sense, a disciple of the Five Elements Sect. If he used these techniques and was recognized by the sects that were hostile to the Five Elements Sect, misunderstandings would be inevitable. Therefore, Yang Fan's thoughts were not unfounded.

Moreover, Nalan Qingcheng's words explained the real reason why the various holy lands appeared here simultaneously. Perhaps the Blood Transformation Sect's previous conspiracy was just a fluke; the timing of their luring of the Chinese rogue cultivators here coincided with the millennium-long period of the Ancient Tomb.

As for the group of archaeologists, they only stumbled upon this place by accident. It was this series of coincidences that led to the current situation.

"Everyone, we are all from various holy lands, so in a sense, we are brothers and sisters. The secrets of the ancient tomb should naturally be explored together. Everyone here is a future leader of their respective sects, so no one will have any objections to entering. However, I think none of you would want outsiders to enter as well, would you?"

Just as Yang Fan and Nalan Qingcheng were whispering to each other, Long Junsheng suddenly spoke. Yang Fan looked up and saw Long Junsheng smiling at him.

Slightly startled, Yang Fan immediately understood Long Junsheng's intention. Everyone present was from various holy lands; even a major sect like the Qingcheng Sect hadn't sent anyone. If anyone was an outsider, it was only himself and a few others. So, wasn't the outsider Long Junsheng referring to him?

He harbored hatred towards his own group, but in the current environment, a direct confrontation was not advisable. Therefore, he sought to instigate conflict between himself and the other holy lands.

Originally, Long Junsheng wanted to see Yang Fan clash with the people of the other holy lands, as the holy sons and daughters of the various holy lands were not easy to deal with. However, to Long Junsheng's dismay, the expected outcome had not yet materialized. Therefore, he wanted to use this opportunity to provoke conflict between the various holy lands and Yang Fan.

As long as a conflict broke out, Long Junsheng's goal would be achieved. Regardless of the outcome, as long as Yang Fan clashed with a particular holy land, the current balance would be completely disrupted. Once the current peace was broken, the status quo among the various holy lands would be impossible to maintain.

It should be noted that although the various holy lands appeared harmonious on the surface, undercurrents were surging, and their conflicts had long since reached an irreconcilable point. The reason they were currently at peace was twofold: firstly, they were wary of each other, and secondly, with the opening of the ancient tomb gate imminent, they did not want to create unnecessary trouble at this time. Therefore, they had always maintained a delicate balance.

However, precisely because this balance was so delicate, it could be easily disrupted by external factors. After all, they all knew what was inside the ancient tomb, and faced with such enormous profits, who wouldn't want to monopolize it? Who wouldn't want to find an opportunity to eliminate their rivals beforehand to reduce the competition for the treasure later?

What Long Junsheng wanted to do was break the existing balance. As long as the conflicts between the various holy lands intensified, his group could reap huge benefits from the chaos, not only pushing Yang Fan and his group to the brink of disaster but also potentially seizing the final victory.

Sure enough, as soon as Long Junsheng finished speaking, the people from the various holy lands all turned their attention to Yang Fan and his companions. Previously, out of consideration for Nalan Qingcheng and the Hundred Flowers Sect, and because no one wanted to be the first to speak out, no one said anything. But now, after Long Junsheng's instigation, the way the people from the various holy lands looked at Yang Fan and his group began to change.

Although they didn't know what lay behind the ancient tomb, they didn't want another person to compete with them for everything within. Not only Yang Fan, but none of them wanted to share the treasure with other holy lands. Clearing the area before the tomb's gates opened was undoubtedly necessary!

"Indeed, this place was discovered by our various holy lands, so outsiders should naturally leave. Gentlemen, I think you should be more considerate. We don't want to bully the weak. If you leave now, perhaps we can pretend nothing happened!"

"Hmph, a bunch of ants, just kill them. A bunch of frogs in a well, daring to come here? This is simply lowering our status!"

"Indeed, just a bunch of ignorant fools, killing them is fine. The tomb's gates are about to open, don't let them get in our way!" "

..."

Hearing the clearly ill-intentioned words of the various holy lands, a glint flashed in Yang Fan's eyes. In this martial world where martial arts reign supreme, to gain recognition and respect, one must demonstrate sufficient combat power, even those from the various holy lands.

To gain a share in the ancient tomb, one must demonstrate sufficient strength and power, showing combat capabilities no weaker than any of them, so that they won't ignore your presence and dare not underestimate you. Therefore, Yang Fan has decided to make an example of you!

"Holy Land, is it? So impressive? Indeed, I am a frog in a well, but today, this frog in the well will witness the strength of you so-called holy sons and daughters!"

As he spoke, Yang Fan took a step, but even that casual step caused the entire cliff to tremble simultaneously. Invisible waves spread out from beneath Yang Fan's feet, and an invisible aura spread in all directions, impacting the locations of the various holy lands, causing them to involuntarily take a step back.

With his own strength, he intimidated all the holy lands; with his own strength, he challenged the world. Yang Fan's aura undoubtedly surprised everyone present. However, beyond surprise, there was even more shock. Daring to challenge all the holy lands, was he crazy, or did he possess extraordinary confidence?

Everyone present from the holy lands preferred to believe the former rather than the latter. Not only them, but even Tang Ning Shuang was genuinely startled by Yang Fan's actions. However, recalling Yang Fan's previous behavior, she calmed down.

Such is the spirit of a true man: looking down upon the world, daring to be the first, and courageous for the world. A man should be so bold and responsible, even if it means opposing the entire world, he would not hesitate or flinch!

In that instant, Tang Ningshuang's gaze towards Yang Fan subtly shifted once again. A strange light flickered in her eyes as she looked at Yang Fan's retreating figure…

Chapter 395 [Kneel Down!]

"Hmph! Such arrogance! A mere rogue cultivator dares to speak to my Holy Lands like this? Today, I'll teach you how to be humble!"

The various Holy Lands, usually high and mighty, enjoying supreme treatment wherever they went, had never suffered such provocation. Therefore, shortly after Yang Fan stepped forward, an elderly man of about fifty appeared before him.

"You?"

Yang Fan didn't even glance at the man, nor did he ask which Holy Land he was from. The moment the man stood before him, he waved his sleeve, and a violent wave of wind crashed towards the old man.

Before the old man could finish speaking or even introduce himself, he felt a huge wave rushing towards him, silencing him and causing a tightness in his chest. Like a kite with a broken string, he was sent flying by Yang Fan's blow!

*Pfft!

* The old man was sent flying dozens of feet away by Yang Fan. Just as he was about to get angry, he felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

This old man, though already at the fifth level of the Refinement of Spirit realm, was a rare expert in the world. If it were the old Yang Fan facing him, he might have had to put up a fight. But now, let alone the fifth level of Refinement of Spirit, even a peak Refinement of Spirit expert wouldn't be a match for him.

The old man should actually be thankful; thankful that Yang Fan hadn't used his full strength, only less than twenty percent. Otherwise, with Yang Fan's current cultivation, he could have easily killed him in one move!

However, not everyone has such keen insight. Perhaps it was a habit formed from being from a holy land, leading them to believe their companion had been momentarily careless and thus defeated by Yang Fan. Therefore, at the same time the old man was knocked back by Yang Fan, three other old men simultaneously leaped up and attacked Yang Fan.

"You dare, junior!"

"You're courting death!"

"You're courting death!"

The three elders were about the same age as the previous elder, and their clothing was identical. Furthermore, they all appeared from the same place, indicating they belonged to the same faction. Their similar ages also suggested a good relationship, which explained their simultaneous appearance when the previous elder was injured.

Each of the three elders was roughly as strong as the previous one. Moreover, they were from the same sect and already shared a deep understanding. Therefore, their combined attack formed a powerful formation, striking Yang Fan simultaneously. Even a peak-level expert would have to retreat, let alone a mere early-stage Refinement Spirit cultivator. This

was the thought of the three elders, and also the thought of the other members of the various holy lands present. Besides seeking revenge, the three elders also wanted to eliminate Yang Fan, so they all attacked with their full strength. They were also very confident that Yang Fan had no chance of survival under their combined attack.

"Brother Yang!"

Seeing Yang Fan in danger, Yang Feng was about to rush to his aid when he was restrained by an old man beside him. "Young Master, calm down. It's not appropriate for us to get involved at this time!"

"Bullshit! Yang Fan is my brother, someone my grandfather entrusted to protect. How can you expect me to just stand by and watch him be in danger? You bastards, do you even consider me your young master?"

Restrained, Yang Feng was furious, but he could do nothing but curse.

Surprisingly, the same thing was happening elsewhere, at the location of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect.

Because all the members of the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect wore black cloaks, their personalities and ages were indistinguishable. At this moment, in the very center, a person under a black cloak was simultaneously restrained by several people around him. Not only that, but he was restrained far more thoroughly than Yang Feng. Yang Feng was only restrained in his movements but could still speak, while this person was completely silenced.

"Master, the Sect Master said before he came that this operation is all about the Ancient Tomb. As for other matters, you are not allowed to interfere, and you must not clash with other holy lands. Otherwise, you will bear all the consequences yourself. I hope you will remember the Sect Master's warning!"

In the Netherworld Devouring Ghost Sect, the person who was restrained could not speak because he could not say anything. His black cloak was trembling incessantly, indicating that he was very angry at the moment...

On the entire cliff, apart from those who were ready to watch the show, only Nalan Qingcheng and her group appeared extremely calm. Because they had witnessed Yang Fan's various methods firsthand, they were not worried about Yang Fan's safety at all.

Sure enough, Yang Fan did not disappoint them. Just as the three old men were about to make contact with him, he let out another cold snort: "A mere grain of rice dares to compete with the sun and moon?"

With a cold snort, Yang Fan waved his right hand and casually unleashed three palms, each meeting one of the three old men.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The seemingly casual palm strike, upon contact with the three elders, erupted with three ear-piercing muffled thuds. Simultaneously, before the expressions on the three elders' faces could even freeze, they followed in the footsteps of the previous elder, being blasted back by Yang Fan's palm strike!

However, these three elders were not as fortunate as the previous one. Because Yang Fan had attacked in anger, the force of his strike was significantly greater than before; this time, he had used fifty percent of his strength. Therefore, after being blasted back, the three elders did not maintain their standing posture but instead collapsed directly to the ground. Not only that, three spurts of blood flowed from the corners of their mouths, and the three lay motionless on the ground, actually knocked unconscious by Yang Fan's palm strike!

"Hiss!"

A chorus of hisses arose. The mocking expressions on the faces of the Holy Land disciples, who had been preparing to watch the spectacle, were replaced by shock before their smirks could fade. If Yang Fan's feint to repel the previous elder was somewhat opportunistic, due to the elder's lack of preparedness, then this time, with three elders attacking and Yang Fan defending, logically, Yang Fan should have been reduced to a pulp. Yet, the result was that the three elders were severely wounded, while Yang Fan remained unscathed, not even budging an inch. How could such a result not shock everyone present?

The combined strength of the three elders was enough to force even a peak-stage Refinement Realm expert to retreat temporarily. But Yang Fan not only passively defended but also directly withstood their killing blows, even sending them flying without moving an inch himself. What did this mean? It meant that Yang Fan's strength was at least that of a peak-stage Refinement Realm expert!

A seemingly insignificant novice at the early Refinement Realm possessed the combat power of a peak-stage Refinement Realm expert. Was this a case of him playing the fool, or was it simply due to his inherent monstrous abilities?

Not only the people from the various holy lands, but even Long Junsheng's group, turned extremely grim. They had personally experienced Yang Fan's strength before, but now, only a few days later, Yang Fan's strength seemed to have increased significantly...

Although he didn't want to admit it, Long Junsheng had to acknowledge that it was indeed true. Facing Yang Fan again, both his aura and other aspects were noticeably different from last time. Moreover, what left him speechless was that last time, Yang Fan was clearly only at the peak of Qi Movement, but this time, he was at the early stage of Spirit Refinement...

Don't underestimate this change; he knew the difference between Qi Movement and Spirit Refinement better than anyone. It was precisely because of this that he was even more worried. Yang Fan was already so powerful at the peak of Qi Movement; now that he had broken through to the Spirit Refinement realm, how much stronger would his strength become?

In that instant, Long Junsheng suddenly felt a pang of regret. If he hadn't provoked this nemesis, Yang Fan, he might not be in this predicament. Unfortunately, there's no medicine for regret in this world. He could only blame himself for being momentarily blinded by lust when he saw Nalan Qingcheng; otherwise, he wouldn't have provoked Yang Fan.

However, Long Junsheng's regret was fleeting. A man like him would never know regret, nor would he truly repent for his actions. His current thought was how to exploit the situation to incite conflict between Yang Fan and the various holy lands, thereby using them to eliminate Yang Fan and weaken their power.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Just as Long Junsheng was contemplating how to create conflict between Yang Fan and the holy lands, a series of clapping sounds suddenly came from the cliff face. Then, a figure slowly emerged from among the figures of the elders who had appeared earlier, walking step by step towards Yang Fan.

Looking towards the sound, Yang Fan saw that the speaker was a man who appeared to be around thirty years old, with a thin face and skin as rough as bronze, radiating a metallic sheen. His arms were exceptionally long, reaching his knees. His head was bald, without a single hair. When he walked up to Yang Fan, Yang Fan felt as if he were being pricked by needles, the icy needles making the hair on his skin stand on end.

"Be careful! This person is Tianxinzi, the young master of Tianxin Pavilion. He cultivates the Tianxin Undying Heart Method and entered the Refining Spirit Realm ten years ago. Tianxin Pavilion 'embodies the will of Heaven above and harmonizes with the way of humanity below.' Every hundred years, a successor will descend the mountain to gain experience, explain the will of Heaven, and save the common people. But in reality, he is bewitching people's hearts and bringing disaster to the world!"

"They control people's minds with special techniques, making others work for them. Legend has it that this Heavenly Heart Undying Technique, when cultivated to an extremely high level, is even enough to shake the Great Dao and control the Heavenly Heart, hence its name. However, while the rumors are somewhat exaggerated, this Heavenly Heart Undying Technique is indeed an extremely powerful mental attack technique. The people of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion may not be very strong in combat, but they are incredibly strange in controlling people's minds. Moreover, the disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion have made great breakthroughs in their mental strength, so if caught off guard, even those whose cultivation level is a whole realm higher than theirs are no match for them. Therefore, few people in the major holy lands are willing to provoke them!"

Just as the man walked towards Yang Fan, Nalan Qingcheng whispered his information to Yang Fan. Hearing Nalan Qingcheng's explanation, Yang Fan appeared outwardly calm, but inwardly he was slightly taken aback. At the same time, a strange smile appeared on his face…

“Indeed, brother’s strength is indeed impressive. You defeated four elders of my Heavenly Heart Pavilion with ease. Such strength certainly qualifies you to enter the ancient tomb with us. However, I have a suggestion, and I wonder if this brother would agree!”

At the same time, the man spoke. As he spoke, he was completely relaxed, without any guardedness or the presence of any true energy gathering. It was as if he was speaking to Yang Fan with sincerity and earnestness, making one involuntarily feel a sense of goodwill towards him.

“Oh? Is that so? May I ask what you mean?”

Yang Fan asked.

"It's nothing. I see you're alone in the ancient tomb, which might be inconvenient. Common sense dictates that more people mean more strength. Why don't you join my Heavenly Heart Pavilion and plot the treasure together? I promise you'll share everything equally with me. Of course, if you join, I guarantee your position will be no less than an elder's!"

"Really? An elder? That sounds pretty good!"

"Of course. The Heavenly Heart Pavilion's elders hold absolute power and influence within the pavilion, their status no less than a Holy Son, and they can even influence the Pavilion Master's opinions. It's difficult for ordinary people to join the Heavenly Heart Pavilion's elders, but with your strength and intelligence, joining will be no problem!"

"I have no interest in your Heavenly Heart Pavilion's elders, but I am somewhat interested in your Pavilion Master. I wonder if joining your Heavenly Heart Pavilion would allow me to become one?"

"You... Heh, Pavilion Master, it's not impossible, but it depends on your abilities. If you are exceptionally strong and have absolute loyalty and contribution to my Heavenly Heart Pavilion, then Pavilion Master, one day it will be possible!"

The man was clearly provoked by Yang Fan's words and was about to explode in anger, but he suddenly calmed down. However, a clear killing intent was hidden behind his still smiling face. At the same time, his eyes narrowed, a glint of light flashed, and his pair of dark eyes met Yang Fan's eyes!

"Come on, since you want to be the master of my Heavenly Heart Pavilion, then you must do as I say first!"

"What do I have to do?"

"It's simple. First, kneel down, then cripple your own martial arts. That way, you can immediately become the master of my Heavenly Heart Pavilion, a being above all others!"

"Is that so? Since I'm the master, you should be kneeling before me, not me! I think you should... kneel down!"

At first, Yang Fan's words were soft, but when he said "kneel down," his voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap. Under his thunderous roar, the man actually knelt down with a thud...

Chapter 396 [Heavenly Heart Undying Technique]

"Thud!"

As soon as Yang Fan finished speaking, the man knelt before him. His knees sank deep into the ground, and dense cracks covered the area around them, showing just how much force he had used to kneel!

Strangely, Tianxinzi himself seemed completely oblivious, kneeling motionless on the ground, his once bright eyes now dull and lifeless, staring blankly at Yang Fan as if possessed.

"What is this?" "

Tianxinzi is the closed-door disciple of the Tianxin Pavilion Master. He has cultivated the Tianxin Undying Heart Technique for many years and has already mastered it. It is said that even experts at the Returning Void Realm can fall under his spell without realizing it. How could this be?" "

He was clearly using the Tianxin Undying Heart Technique to deal with that kid before, trying to control his mind. How did it turn into this in the blink of an eye? Could it be that he was controlled by that kid instead?"

"Impossible. The Tianxin Undying Heart Technique cultivates spiritual power. Anyone who cultivates this technique has incredibly strong spiritual power. Moreover, after refining the spirit, spiritual power transforms into divine sense, which is far stronger than the divine sense of ordinary martial artists. It can even be compared to the divine sense of experts at the Returning Void Realm. Even experts at the Returning Void Realm can be controlled by Tianxinzi, so how could that kid escape unscathed? Could it be that his divine sense is even stronger than that of experts at the Returning Void Realm?"

"But how can we explain the current situation?"

"Perhaps...perhaps Tianxinzi was careless and fell into their trap. It's also possible that this kid possesses some kind of secret technique that can counter him!"

"You must know, the Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique was created by a powerful expert at the Primordial Chaos Realm. To counter it, one must have a higher-level technique. Could that kid possess a technique even more powerful than the Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique?"

"Haha, Tianxin Pavilion has truly suffered this time. Their Holy Son kneeling before someone—how can Tianxin Pavilion ever face anyone again? Their prestige will undoubtedly plummet. And this Tianxinzi, originally hailed as a once-in-a-century genius of Tianxin Pavilion, and the strongest contender for the next Pavilion Master, now that this has happened, what right does he have to compete for the Pavilion Master position? It seems Tianxinzi's life is over!"

"Indeed, Tianxin Pavilion usually enjoys scheming and manipulating people, forcing them to kneel, controlling their minds, and playing with their emotions. Now they've finally gotten their comeuppance!"

"That little guy is to my liking! Daring to treat Tianxin Pavilion like that, he's got real personality! I really want to befriend him! What kind of bullshit Tianxin Pavilion is that? Just a bunch of demonic cultivators, daring to be listed alongside us as a holy land? It's an insult to the word 'holy land'!"

Various

discussions spread among the various holy lands—some surprised, some puzzled, some gloating, and some greedy… But regardless of the opinions, Yang Fan's actions shocked everyone present!

Kneeling before the young master of Tianxin Pavilion with a single shout was tantamount to slapping Tianxin Pavilion in the face, slapping a holy land in the face, inevitably leading to a complete and irreconcilable feud. Yet, he seemed completely unconcerned. Did he also have a holy land backing him?

This thought, once it took root in everyone's minds, quickly grew wildly. Anyone who dared to challenge a major holy land like this was either a fool or possessed absolute confidence and backing. However, Yang Fan didn't seem like a fool at all, so he could only be the latter.

But which holy land was backing him? Could it be the Hundred Flowers Palace? But the Hundred Flowers Palace had always been aloof from worldly affairs, only accepting female disciples and never interacting with the opposite sex. How could they possibly protect someone of the opposite sex?

However, at this moment, everyone was thinking about another question the most. That was, how exactly did Yang Fan manage to subdue Tian Xinzi, a master renowned for controlling people's minds? However, no one except Yang Fan himself could answer their questions.

In fact, Yang Fan noticed Tian Xinzi's unusual behavior the moment he appeared. Although Tian Xinzi appeared harmless and immediately tried to ingratiate himself with Yang Fan, Yang Fan, whose divine sense was exceptionally strong, sensed his unusual activity immediately. Moreover, with Nalan Qingcheng's reminder, Yang Fan had already become wary of him!

Therefore, he reacted immediately to Tian Xinzi's unusual behavior. Although Yang Fan didn't understand the art of controlling people's minds, his cultivation of the Nine True Words gave him exceptionally strong divine sense, and he also had some understanding of spatial power. Therefore, while Tian Xinzi used the Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique, Yang Fan was simultaneously conversing with him and secretly trying to understand his cultivation method.

After a period of exploration, he gradually understood the mysteries of the Heavenly Heart Unmoving Mind Technique. Although he hadn't completely mastered it, he had grasped the general outline. Coupled with the uniqueness of his own cultivation method, he surprisingly comprehended the true secrets of the Heavenly Heart Undying Mind Technique in a very short time, even managing to unleash it himself!

He used the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique to activate the Heavenly Heart Undying Mind Technique. Although it differed from the true Heavenly Heart Unmoving Mind Technique, its power was equally formidable. Furthermore, the unexpected attack caught Tianxinzi off guard, and he was actually countered. At the same time, Yang Fan's will completely surged into Tianxinzi's sea of consciousness…

If you were to ask where a person's most vulnerable point is, it would undoubtedly be the sea of consciousness. However, while consciousness is a person's most vulnerable point, it is also their most heavily defended. In people's subconscious, the protection of consciousness is stronger than anywhere else. Only when consciousness is in a state of complete vulnerability can its defenses be breached.

As the saying goes, the strongest point is also the weakest. When using the Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique, Tianxinzi's divine sense was activated to its strongest, but at the same time, his defense was at its weakest. It was precisely because of this that, in that final moment, Yang Fan suddenly counterattacked, using his powerful divine sense to forcefully penetrate Tianxinzi's mind, seizing control of his body!

Simultaneously, Yang Fan also absorbed all of Tianxinzi's memories, like flipping through a book, thoroughly examining every detail. He knew everything about Tianxin Pavilion's branches and all the cultivation techniques Tianxinzi knew. Moreover, even Tianxin Pavilion's most treasured technique, the Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique, was absorbed by Yang Fan!

"The Undying Heavenly Heart, Supreme Prosperity. The Heavenly Heart is the embodiment of the Heavenly Heart, the *heart of the people, the unity of profound meaning, gathered within the body. When the Heavenly Heart moves, heaven and earth are all within my heart; when the Heavenly Heart dies, all things in heaven perish!"

"This kind of technique, coupled with a powerful divine sense, can indeed unleash unexpected combat power, often leading to surprising victories in battle. However, this Undying Heavenly Heart Technique has extremely strict requirements on divine sense. Before practicing it, one must strengthen their divine sense to a certain level; otherwise, rashly practicing it will not only be useless but will also disrupt one's divine sense. Not only will one's divine sense be chaotic, but one may even go insane and become a complete idiot!" The

Undying Heavenly Heart Technique is a unique secret of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, a peerless divine art created by a master of the Primordial Chaos Realm. The reason why Tianxin Pavilion can be ranked among the holy lands is not only because it has a Hunyuan level expert, but also because of its Heavenly Heart Undying Technique. This technique is captivating, incredibly mysterious, and capable of controlling people's minds in unpredictable ways. Not only is it difficult to guard against, but a slight mistake can lead to being controlled and becoming a puppet for life. Therefore, people from other holy lands have never dared to offend the people of Tianxin Pavilion.

Now, Yang Fan has obtained the Heavenly Heart Undying Technique, a peerless treasure of Tianxin Pavilion. After just a brief look, he was completely captivated by its wonders.

"Die!"

However, just as Yang Fan invaded Tianxinzi's mind with his divine sense, several angry shouts surged towards him from all directions. Then, no less than twenty figures leaped up from all around, attacking Yang Fan from different directions!

In an instant, dust and wind swirled, and killing intent filled the air! As the holy son of Tianxin Pavilion, Tianxinzi represented not only himself, but also the reputation of the entire Tianxin Pavilion. Now, Tianxinzi was being forced to kneel on the ground by Yang Fan's shout. Regardless of how this happened, or how Yang Fan managed to make him kneel, the mere fact that this event, if it were to spread, would be enough to ensure that the young master of Tianxin Pavilion would never be able to hold his head high before other holy lands again.

Faced with such a humiliating disgrace, it would be strange if the people of Tianxin Pavilion didn't react. Therefore, almost the instant Yang Fan forced Tianxinzi to kneel, all the members of Tianxin Pavilion on the cliff simultaneously launched their fiercest attack on Yang Fan.

Although the disciples of Tianxin Pavilion primarily cultivate spiritual power, it doesn't mean that everyone only knows spiritual techniques. In fact, apart from a few disciples, the true inner disciples of the sect, the others only practice ordinary cultivation methods.

Of course, someone like Tianxinzi doesn't only practice the Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Method; as a prestigious martial arts holy land, Tianxin Pavilion possesses a vast collection of cultivation methods. Almost every disciple practiced a different cultivation method, and each mastered a unique skill.

Therefore, when these twenty-odd disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion attacked Yang Fan simultaneously, the flashes of light and the killing moves they unleashed were all different.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the combined attack of over twenty Refining Spirit Realm experts was enough to move anyone, both in terms of the sheer force and the energy released!

Faced with the combined attack of over twenty Refining Spirit Realm experts, even Yang Fan, with his immense confidence, dared not underestimate them. Facing the opponent's powerful offensive, Yang Fan instantly activated his Ghost Shadow Step, and immediately, one after another, afterimages appeared in the sky.

For a moment, the sky was filled with afterimages, indistinguishable from reality. The attacks of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples struck the afterimages, and as the afterimages dispersed, their attacks landed on the ground.

Rumble!

Instantly, a crater tens of feet deep was blasted into the spot where Yang Fan had been standing.

Avoiding the opponent's strength and attacking their weakness, Yang Fan dodged the attack with unpredictable speed while simultaneously launching a counterattack. With a flick of his hand, bolts of lightning formed between his fingers, like serpents. With a slight movement of his fingers, the lightning automatically flowed towards the disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion.

"Ah!"

The moment the lightning serpents touched the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples, they automatically burrowed into their bodies, their hair standing on end, and their skin instantly scorched black by the lightning's power.

The combined attack formation painstakingly formed by the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples was instantly shattered by Yang Fan. It should be noted that the lightning serpents Yang Fan unleashed, though seemingly small, were actually the power of chaotic tribulation lightning that Yang Fan absorbed during his tribulation. This tribulation lightning could refine even all things, let alone these cultivators who were merely at the Refining Spirit Realm.

Although the lightning power, refined by Yang Fan, was vastly different from the true power of the Chaos Tribulation, it was still beyond the reach of these Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples.

While these disciples were all at the same Refining Spirit Realm as Yang Fan, with some minor differences in their cultivation levels, their physical strength was incomparable.

Not everyone could possess Yang Fan's extraordinary physique, especially considering he faced a Chaos Tribulation. Chaos Tribulations were rare, and even though the power of Yang Fan's tribulation was weakened, his body, tempered by the Chaos Tribulation, had reached an almost monstrous level.

Therefore, in Yang Fan's view, the lightning, which he commanded with ease, nearly killed the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples. Furthermore, it completely shattered their formation!

Previously, although Yang Fan had diverted their attention and broken their combined attack formation with his profound movement technique, the disciples of Tianxin Pavilion, after all, came from a sacred land, and their personal qualities were far superior to those of ordinary martial artists. Therefore, although they were flustered, Yang Fan had not completely thrown them into disarray.

Now, thanks to Yang Fan's counterattack, half of the twenty-odd Tianxin Pavilion disciples were injured. The remaining half, though unharmed, posed no further threat.

"Break!"

With that, Yang Fan leaped into the air, raising five fingers high, two pointing straight to the sky, like an invincible war god. A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the remaining Tianxin Pavilion disciples squarely.

"Boom!"

Another deafening roar followed, accompanied by a black mushroom cloud. The Tianxin Pavilion disciples who had narrowly escaped were struck by lightning and propelled into the air by the immense force of the impact, effectively being blown apart by Yang Fan!

Chapter 397 [Heavenly Heart Divine Bell]

What just happened seemed like a long time ago, but in reality, from Yang Fan using the Ghost Shadow Step to evade the opponent's attack to launching a counterattack, it all happened in an instant.

Everyone only saw Yang Fan's body flash, splitting into countless afterimages that scattered in all directions. Immediately afterward, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, sending the Heavenly Heart Pavilion disciples who were besieging Yang Fan hurtling into the air at several times their original speed!

"Such speed, such unpredictable movement, such powerful moves!"

However, those present were all elites of the Holy Land, including many with exceptional eyesight. Therefore, they had a general idea of Yang Fan's actions, which led them to reassess their evaluation of him!

In the vicinity of Zhiyu Palace, the handsome man beside Ouyang Ye narrowed his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them, watching Yang Fan intently. A captivating smile played on his lips, as if he had found his beloved prey—an indescribable eeriness!

Long Junsheng, his mouth agape, stared blankly at the crowd scattering in all directions from mid-air. With each landing of a Tianxin Pavilion disciple, his heart clenched with the deafening impact, his facial muscles twitching incessantly, his fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly!

The Chunyang Sect released its control over Yang Feng, and simultaneously, the Youming Devouring Ghost Sect loosened its grip on the central figure. The atmosphere on the cliff face subtly shifted with Yang Fan's actions…

"Ah, Tianxin Annihilation, all things return to nothingness, Tianxin Divine Bell, annihilate all things!"

After this commotion, Tianxinzi awoke from Yang Fan's control. He immediately understood what had happened, and that's why he unleashed his strongest attack on Yang Fan the moment he regained consciousness.

Suddenly, an ancient, solid bronze bell appeared above Tianxinzi's head. As soon as the great bell appeared, it emitted a tremendous ringing sound, sending waves of sound radiating towards Yang Fan. Wherever the sound waves passed, spatial rifts appeared, and the thick ground was instantly ripped into deep, bottomless trenches!

"The Heavenly Heart Bell?"

Yang Fan exclaimed in astonishment upon seeing the great bell above Tianxinzi's head. He had previously breached the opponent's spiritual defenses and even obtained the Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique; how could he not know about the Heavenly Heart Bell, the sacred artifact of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion?

Legend has it that when the Heavenly Heart Bell rings, all things in heaven and earth submit to its power; everything with life is controlled by it. Throughout the world, only the Great Thunderclap Temple of Buddhism, with its unparalleled divine artifact personally crafted by Shakyamuni, could truly surpass it.

As for the artifacts of other holy lands, they might have advantages over the Heavenly Heart Bell in other aspects, but in controlling people's hearts, they were unparalleled!

The object atop Tianxinzi's head was naturally not the legendary Heavenly Heart Bell, but merely a replica. Even so, it was an invincible magical artifact no weaker than the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell!

Originally, this Heavenly Heart Bell was Tianxinzi's greatest reliance and his most secret weapon; he wouldn't use it unless absolutely necessary. However, to think that he, a holy son of a sacred land, had been forced to kneel before Yang Fan was such a humiliation that even the waters of the five lakes and four seas couldn't wash it away! Enraged, Tianxinzi

no longer cared about the ancient customs of the tomb. At this moment, his only remaining thought was to utterly destroy and kill the man who had insulted him. Therefore, almost without thinking, he used his greatest trump card! The moment the

Heavenly Heart Bell moved, the wind and clouds changed color. Not only did the bell toll throughout the sky, but sonic waves also spread in all directions, shearing away a layer from the entire cliff face!

The power of magical artifacts is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. As soon as the bell rang, even those from other sacred lands in the distance quietly activated their own magical artifacts to block the Heavenly Heart Bell's power. This shows just how powerful the Heavenly Heart Bell is, and the pressure Yang Fan, at the very center of the storm, was under was unimaginable!

"Five Elements Fire, Blazing Fire Scorches the Heavens!"

Facing such a magical artifact as the Heavenly Heart Bell, Yang Fan dared not be careless in the slightest, secretly using the power of the Five Elements Pearls. A wall of fire appeared before Yang Fan, just enough to block the sound waves emitted by the Heavenly Heart Bell.

The fire element, the essence of the five elements' true energy, the crimson fire curtain, though seemingly thin, was utterly ineffective against the sound waves from the Heavenly Heart Bell, all being reduced to nothingness.

"Heavenly Heart Divine Bell, controls heaven, earth, and the human heart, a mind-controlling divine sound!"

Seeing his attack ineffective, Tian Xinzi's expression changed slightly, and he worked even harder to activate the Heavenly Heart Bell.

"Woo! Woo! Woo..."

As soon as Tianxinzi finished speaking, a series of sobbing sounds emanated from within the Heavenly Heart Bell, like the cries of an infant or the calls of a loving mother. Hearing these sounds instantly evoked a feeling of wanting to fall asleep or be embraced by a mother. Under the impact of these sounds, the fire barrier in front of Yang Fan actually began to weaken!

"Five Elements Water, Water Curtain of Heavenly Splendor!"

Seeing this, Yang Fan's body trembled slightly, and the fire barrier in front of him transformed instantly into a blue light shield. On the blue light shield, shimmering light flowed, rippling with dazzling patterns, beautiful and exquisite, like a work of art, giving the impression that it would shatter at the slightest touch. Yet, this seemingly fragile water barrier stubbornly blocked another wave of attacks from the Heavenly Heart Bell!

"Soul-capturing divine sound!"

Seeing this, Tianxinzi activated the Tianxin Bell again. The bell's sound changed once more, becoming sharp and eerie, like the wails of ghosts and the howling of ten thousand spirits, making Yang Fan feel as if his soul had left his body.

"Wood of the Five Elements, verdant and natural!"

"Soul-capturing divine sound!"

"Metal of the Five Elements, indestructible!"

"Heaven-shaking sound!"

"Earth of the Five Elements, nothing can break it!"

"Earth-shattering sound!"

"..."

Activating a magical artifact requires a process. As time passed, Tianxinzi unleashed more power into the Tianxin Bell, and Yang Fan also fully displayed the power of the Five Elements in the Five-Colored Pearl. However, he was cautious and did not expose the Five-Colored Pearl to everyone.

Therefore, on the surface, after Tianxinzi used the magical artifact, Yang Fan had almost no power to fight back, only able to defend himself, unable even to counterattack. As for the layers of light tombs he emitted, in the eyes of the disciples of the various holy lands, they were nothing special, just some second-rate techniques!

However, Tian Xinzi was alarmed. Activating a magical artifact was no easy task; it required not only immense true energy but also powerful divine sense. Otherwise, when Long Junsheng activated the Yin-Yang Harmony Bell, he wouldn't have needed the assistance of three elders at the Refining Spirit Realm.

Although Tian Xinzi's Heavenly Heart Undying Heart Technique granted him a divine sense far superior to that of ordinary Refining Spirit Realm experts, his cultivation was still limited. With his current level, he simply couldn't sustain the activation of the Heavenly Heart Bell. Therefore, as time passed, his true energy dwindled, making it increasingly difficult to activate the Heavenly Heart Bell.

If this continued, if Yang Fan couldn't be eliminated quickly, the artifact would likely drain him dry without Yang Fan even lifting a finger!

This problem wasn't unique to Tian Xinzi; it was the same problem Long Junsheng had faced, and indeed, the problem everyone encountered when activating magical artifacts. Magical artifacts weren't something possessed by Refining Spirit Realm experts; activating them was inherently extremely difficult for them.

Let alone those at the Refining Spirit Realm, even those at the Returning Void Realm cannot fully unleash the power of a magical artifact. Only those at the Primordial Chaos Realm can unleash its full potential!

Therefore, when Tianxinzi realized his strength was waning but he hadn't yet subdued Yang Fan, he began to panic. However, despite his panic, Tianxinzi was, after all, the Holy Son of a sacred land, and naturally knew what he needed to do at this moment!

"Heavenly Heart Divine Bell, suppress the ages!"

With a loud shout, Tianxinzi bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence that landed directly on the Heavenly Heart Bell in front of him.

Stimulated by the blood essence, the Heavenly Heart Bell seemed to awaken considerably. The bell, originally only the size of a millstone, grew much louder. Not only that, it automatically took flight, continuously expanding in mid-air, until in the blink of an eye, it became as large as a small mountain. The Heavenly Heart Bell, now the size of a small mountain, pressed down directly on Yang Fan's head, seemingly intending to completely absorb and suppress him!

Bang!

Yang Fan hadn't expected the Heavenly Heart Bell to suddenly change like this. Although he had been on guard against this magical artifact, he still hadn't anticipated its sudden enlargement, much less its attempt to absorb him.

Even though he noticed early, the Heavenly Heart Bell, now the size of a small mountain, was hundreds of times larger than Yang Fan. Coupled with the suddenness of the event, Yang Fan barely had time to react before being absorbed into the Heavenly Heart Bell…

Boom!

Yang Fan felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and the next moment, he found himself in an unfamiliar environment. Looking around, he was surrounded by complete darkness, as if he had entered an endless starry sky. Not only was it pitch black, but the surroundings were also icy cold, filled with a chilling aura!

"Where is this?"

In this unfamiliar environment, Yang Fan didn't move around randomly, but stood still, quietly observing his surroundings. Unfortunately, it was pitch black all around, and he couldn't see anything at all!

"Could this be the internal space of the Heavenly Heart Bell? Every magical artifact has its own independent space, and where I am now should be the internal space of the Heavenly Heart Bell?"

"Ling!"

However, the moment this thought flashed through Yang Fan's mind, a chilling killing intent suddenly attacked from behind his head...

"ps: I got back too late today. I wanted to write more, but I'm just too sleepy. I'll try to update more tomorrow. Please forgive me, brothers!"

Chapter 398 [Refining the Power of Space]

"A replica of the Heavenly Heart Bell. It seems that Tianxinzi has really been driven mad by that kid. He's even brought out a magical artifact. But then again, let alone him, if I were forced to kneel on the spot, I'd probably be furious too!"

"The dignified Holy Son of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, the future heir to the Pavilion Master, with a distinguished status and revered position, was forced to kneel on the spot, and in front of all the major holy lands. It seems that this Heavenly Heart Son is destined to be forever barred from the position of Pavilion Master . Not only that, but he will also be considered a disgrace by the Heavenly Heart Pavilion,

and he may not even be able to keep his position as Holy Son!" "All of this could be lost overnight. Anyone would be furious. If the Heavenly Heart Son wants to keep his position as Holy Son, he must completely kill that brat. Only the blood of his enemy can wash away his shame. This is his only chance. To be fair, although the Heavenly Heart Son is furious, he hasn't completely lost his mind!"

"His use of the Heavenly Heart Bell seems to have prematurely exposed his greatest trump card, which is disadvantageous to him. However, on the other hand, which of the major holy lands present doesn't have one or two magical artifacts? Although we don't know exactly what kind of artifacts they are, we can guess roughly. So, the Heavenly Heart Son's actions, while seemingly exposing himself, actually have no real impact!"

"Indeed, every major holy land possesses one or two magical artifacts. This is common knowledge. So-called 'foundation' is merely a means of intimidating others. The major holy lands must ultimately rely on their true abilities to seize treasures, because everyone has magical artifacts, rendering their so-called advantages meaningless! However, to be fair, that kid's strength is truly remarkable. Not only did he emerge unscathed from the combined attack of all the disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, but he also withstood so many rounds of attacks

from the Heavenly Heart Bell!" "The Heavenly Heart Bell controls heaven, earth, and the human heart; it can capture souls, spirits, and all things. When its sound waves are unleashed, everything is destroyed. Although Tianxinzi alone cannot fully unleash the Heavenly Heart Bell's power, that kid's ability to withstand so many sound waves demonstrates his considerable cultivation."

"In my estimation, his combat strength has probably reached the peak of the Refining Spirit realm. Only those who have achieved the Great Perfection of the Refining Spirit realm, or those with one foot in the Returning to the Void realm, are his match. Others, without magical artifacts, are likely no match for him!"

"Indeed, without a magic weapon, there are probably very few people in the Refining Spirit Realm who could rival him. It's unexpected that such a genius would appear in the mortal world. Even the major holy lands don't have many like him. Besides those few freaks, who else in the Refining Spirit Realm could be his match?"

"However, a magic weapon is still a magic weapon. Even a mere wisp of its power is not something an ordinary person can resist. Although that kid is weak, his foundation is still weak. Without a magic weapon, he can't escape being suppressed by it!" "

This Heavenly Heart Bell, besides controlling people's minds, can also refine all things. Now that kid has been taken inside, it probably won't be long before he's refined into a pool of blood. What a pity for such a talented person! If we could recruit him, he would definitely be a formidable force in the future!"

"That's true, but who among those people doesn't have an arrogant and self-important nature? Trying to subdue them is almost impossible, even for a Void Returning Realm expert. Therefore, keeping such a person around is always a threat. It's a good thing that the Heavenly Heart Pavilion has managed to eliminate them!"

"It's a good thing, but didn't you see that kid came with the Hundred Flowers Sect? Now that he's been suppressed by the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, will the Hundred Flowers Sect just stand by and do nothing? Rumor has it that the current Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect possesses the Hundred Flowers Physique, a rare beauty even after a thousand years, and has received personal empowerment from her sect leader. Her future achievements are immeasurable!"

"That's true, but a fight between the two Holy Sons and Holy Maidens is essentially an indirect clash between the two Holy Lands. It also reveals the future fate of these two Holy Lands. After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will be the next leaders, and their strength will determine the fate of these Holy Lands for the next few hundred years. Let's see who is stronger, the Hundred Flowers Sect or the Heavenly Heart Pavilion!"

"Excellent! Let's wait and see which of these two holy lands is stronger!"

"..."

Seeing Yang Fan being taken into the Heavenly Heart Bell, discussions immediately broke out among the various holy lands. Amidst the discussions, everyone's gaze shifted to Nalan Qingcheng, seemingly speculating about their relationship with Yang Fan and wondering if they would stand up for him.

To their disappointment, Nalan Qingcheng remained completely expressionless throughout, as if everything happening before her was utterly unrelated to her, not even blinking. Even Gu Feifei and the others beside her remained calm, seemingly unconcerned about Yang Fan's safety.

"See? That kid really isn't with the Hundred Flowers Sect. Look at those women from the Hundred Flowers Sect, they don't care about his safety at all. I knew it! How could the Hundred Flowers Sect possibly be involved with a man? You know, those women from the Hundred Flowers Sect are even more celibate than those nuns from the Western Zen Sect!"

Nalan Qingcheng's actions undoubtedly put the people from the various holy lands at ease, and emboldened the disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion. Originally, they were worried about the Hundred Flowers Sect interfering, after all, the Hundred Flowers Sect was also one of the holy lands, and its strength was no less than that of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion. If the heirs of the two sects clashed, the final result could only be mutual destruction!

Of course, minor squabbles between disciples of the various holy lands are usually harmless, and the leaders of both sides wouldn't escalate the conflict over individual disciples' squabbles. However, Tianxinzi and Nalan Qingcheng are different. Now that Yang Fan and Tianxinzi are locked in a life-or-death feud, if Nalan Qingcheng were to get involved, a fierce battle between the two heirs would be inevitable. Regardless of the final outcome, the enmity between the two holy lands would be sealed.

Therefore, Tianxin Pavilion is unwilling to offend Baihua Sect, much less provoke a conflict between the two holy lands. Thus, a fight between the two holy lands because of Yang Fan is a consequence neither side wants to see. Now, Nalan Qingcheng's actions have undoubtedly dispelled the concerns of the Tianxin Pavilion disciples, while also disappointing some with ulterior motives.

"Dong!"

Just then, a resounding bell rang through the sky, disrupting everyone's speculations. Looking towards the source of the sound, they discovered it was none other than the Tianxin Bell that suppressed Yang Fan!

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

A sudden sound rang out, followed by a series of bell tolls. The previously still Heavenly Heart Bell began to shake violently!

"What's going on? Why is the Heavenly Heart Bell ringing on its own? And what does its constant shaking mean? Could it be that the kid isn't dead? Is he striking the Heavenly Heart Bell inside, trying to break the seal and escape from suppression?"

Seeing this, the hearts of the people from the various holy lands tightened once more. Even being suppressed by a magical artifact couldn't completely obliterate him. Just how strong is this kid's physical body? You must know that the reason magical artifacts are so powerful is because they contain immense spatial power. The internal space of a magical artifact is filled with violent spatial power, enough to annihilate any expert below the Void Returning Realm!

Any expert below the Void Returning Realm, once absorbed into a magical artifact, will have their physical body and even their primordial spirit torn apart in the shortest possible time, ultimately turning into a pool of blood. That's why some people said that after seeing Yang Fan being absorbed into the magical artifact.

But who would have thought that Yang Fan, instead of being obliterated by the Heavenly Heart Bell, actually attempted to break free of its suppression? Leaving aside the impossibility of this, the fact that he endured so long within the Heavenly Heart Bell was enough to demonstrate the incredible strength of his physical body. Otherwise, how could he withstand the erosion of spatial power?

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

The bell continued to toll, and the Heavenly Heart Bell, as large as a small mountain, shook incessantly with each chime. With each shake, the entire cliff face trembled slightly, and with each tremor, the minds of everyone present trembled violently!

On one hand, they hoped Yang Fan would be destroyed by the Heavenly Heart Bell as soon as possible; on the other hand, they hoped he would endure longer to see just how strong his physical body truly was. These two contradictory desires simultaneously arose in their minds, creating a palpable sense of anticipation.

Of course, there was another possibility: Yang Fan could break free of the bell. However, this idea was too unrealistic, and no one dared to even consider it!

After all, they all had a clear understanding of the power of magical artifacts. They had never heard of anyone successfully escaping from their suppression. Even a Void Returning Realm expert would find it difficult to break free, let alone a mere Spirit Refining Realm nobody. Therefore, no one believed Yang Fan could escape!

Inside the Heavenly Heart Bell, it was pitch black. In the darkness, a chilling wind rose, and strange forces raged. Surrounded by this void, Yang Fan dared not move rashly, but every second, he raised his divine sense to its highest level. This void was filled with unknown dangers; a moment's carelessness could lead to certain death.

However, what frustrated Yang Fan most was that, until now, he didn't know where the danger came from. Although he was constantly attacked, he didn't know what was attacking him. All he could do was try to avoid the attacks and remain on high alert at all times!

Although he was able to dodge the unknown attacks the first time thanks to his unpredictable Ghost Shadow Steps and keen senses, Yang Fan knew that every second he stayed in this place increased his danger.

He hadn't forgotten that he was currently in the internal space of a magical artifact. Tianxinzi had gone to great lengths, using his essence blood to activate the Heavenly Heart Bell, not just to simply contain him.

Therefore, the internal space of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion was definitely not just a simple space. Although he didn't know what kind of deadly moves awaited him, Yang Fan wouldn't foolishly wait for danger to arrive; he had to leave as soon as possible!

However, although Yang Fan desperately wanted to escape, he was completely helpless. He had no idea how he had entered or where the exit was, so it seemed that he had no choice but to wait.

"Vajra Subduing Demons!"

Suddenly, Yang Fan shouted, and nine golden Buddhist lights appeared behind him. At the same time, a huge Buddhist palm emerged from his body and grabbed at a point in the void outside his body!

The golden Buddhist palm flashed and disappeared. When it returned to Yang Fan's body, he casually grabbed it, and instantly, a small, silver, transparent snake was in his hand.

"A spirit beast formed from spatial power?"

With the help of the light emanating from the Buddhist light behind him, Yang Fan could see the spirit snake in his hand clearly. However, when he saw what it was, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Although the Five Elements Beads completely absorbed the spatial power left behind by the five great demon beasts when it evolved into a magic weapon, and Yang Fan also gained a lot of benefits in the process, in reality, he had not mastered any spatial power at all.

Spatial power was a power that only Void Returning Realm experts could master. Although Yang Fan's physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary Void Returning Realm experts, his realm was still too far behind. Therefore, the spatial power flowing through his body from the five demonic beasts all lay dormant, hidden within him, unusable.

However, this also had one advantage: it allowed him to perceive spatial power far beyond those of others at the same level. It was precisely because of this that he recognized the true identity of the object in his hand immediately!

That spirit rope, no more than an inch long, was crystal clear, like a perfect work of art, exquisite from head to toe.

Yang Fan couldn't believe that the "hidden assassin" who had been attacking him relentlessly, causing him endless headaches and forcing him to only passively defend, was actually just such a small creature!

Yet, this tiny thing, with each movement, tore open tiny spatial rifts in the surrounding void, each tremor creating a series of minute black holes. Unless Yang Fan desperately suppressed it with all his might, he couldn't restrain this little thing at all. Even so, Yang Fan felt a sharp pain in his five fingers; the spatial power generated by the spirit snake's movements seemed to be tearing his fingers apart completely.

"Perhaps this is a tremendous opportunity for me. If I can refine these little things, I might gain enormous benefits. Not only could it increase the power of the Five Elements Beads, but it could also allow me to absorb more spatial power, accumulating more foundation for my future advancement to the Void Return Realm!"

Playing with the spirit snake formed from spatial power in his hand, a bold idea flashed through Yang Fan's mind.

Without hesitation, he joined his five fingers together, and from them burst forth the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—five kinds of true energy.

The five elements of true energy formed a tiny Tai Chi diagram in Yang Fan's hand. On the Tai Chi diagram, the yin and yang fish swam continuously, and as they swam, a mysterious suction force automatically generated, drawing the small snake formed from spatial power into Yang Fan's palm!

"Hiss!"

As if sensing the approaching danger, the spirit snake let out a piercing shriek, its entire body beginning to erupt wildly. Its head thrashed wildly, its tail whipped violently, and spatial energy swirled around it.

Although it was absorbed into the Tai Chi diagram, it showed no signs of abating. Under its stirring, tiny cracks appeared on the Tai Chi diagram, formed from the five elements of true energy, as if it were about to shatter at any moment.

"Yin and Yang Qi!" At

this critical moment, two streams of true energy, one black and one white, burst forth from Yang Fan's palm—the Yin and Yang Qi. The Yin and Yang Qi immediately joined the Tai Chi diagram, dyeing the two yin and yang fish in the diagram black and white. With

the addition of the Yin and Yang Qi, the power of the Tai Chi diagram greatly increased. Not only were the cracks on the surface of the Tai Chi diagram completely repaired, but the spirit snake was also completely suppressed, unable to move an inch!

The Tai Chi diagram began to rotate at an even faster speed. As it rotated, the spirit snake gradually withered, eventually transforming into a pure spatial force, which Yang Fan absorbed into his palm.

"Hmm?"

The moment that spatial force entered Yang Fan's body, his previous depletion was instantly replenished. Not only was his internal energy replenished, but his mental fatigue was also swept away, as if he had recovered instantly and become full of energy.

Not to mention that he had consumed a lot of internal energy in his fight with the disciples of the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, he had also consumed a lot of internal energy while dodging the unknown attacks since being taken into the Heavenly Heart Bell. Moreover, his divine sense had been in a state of high concentration, which also consumed a lot of mental energy.

In addition, refining the spatial force required converting internal energy into five different types of Five Elements internal energy, which consumed even more internal energy. Therefore, after a series of consumptions, Yang Fan's internal energy had been almost completely depleted, and not only that, his divine sense had also been greatly depleted.

But now, having only refined a wisp of spatial power, all the losses had been completely replenished. Not only were they replenished, but they had even increased considerably. How could Yang Fan not be astonished by such a phenomenon?

"Could spatial power have such wondrous uses?"

Sensing the changes within his body, Yang Fan couldn't help but wonder.

In fact, spatial power is an energy that transcends true qi. A Void Returning Realm expert gradually transforms their true qi into spatial power until all true qi is converted, only then can they have a chance to advance to the Primordial Chaos Realm. A wisp of spatial power is even equivalent to the total true qi contained within a peak Refining Spirit expert!

Now, Yang Fan's refinement of a wisp of spatial power is equivalent to refining all the true qi of a peak Refining Spirit expert, naturally resulting in a complete recovery.

Yang Fan didn't know this, but he didn't need to. When he discovered that he could refine spatial power, and that refining spatial power not only didn't consume excessive energy but actually increased his true qi, it was practically a matter of accelerating cultivation. How could he miss such a good thing?

"Boom!"

With this thought, Yang Fan mobilized all the true energy within his body, transforming it into the Five Elements True Energy, forming a huge Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram above his head, and began to accelerate the refining of the spatial power inside the Heavenly Heart Bell...

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/6412.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=6412&aspx=1

Previous Page : [Fantasy] Super Ambiguous (Complete) - 40 Chapters

Next Page : [Fantasy] Super Ambiguous Relationship (Complete) - 4-6

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] Super Ambiguous Relationship (Complete) - 31-33

comment Open a new window to view comments