Chapter 1255: Demon

Chapter 1256: The Demonic Figure

Old Twelve of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation narrowed his eyes, which glinted with a chilling light. This was less a jest and more a blatant display of contempt and provocation. His spine crackled as a demonic blade, nurtured within his own body as a sheath, burst forth. A chilling aura emanated from the blood-red blade, and its sharp edge seemed capable of cleaving the sky for three thousand feet.

The bustling street instantly fell silent, so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard. Everyone stopped in their tracks, turning their gaze towards the scene. It had to be said, the Thirteen Riders of Desolation were incredibly formidable. Even Old Twelve, who was lower in rank, exuded a terrifying surge of battle energy.

Ye Fan's smile vanished, and he regarded Old Twelve with cold indifference. Though devoid of killing intent, he possessed an imposing aura that inspired dread.

"Old Twelve, what are you doing? I sent you to invite Brother Ye with good intentions. Why do you always act so unruly? What was meant to be a friendly gesture has turned into a confrontation." A man completely covered in azure-gold armor, seated atop a green dragon, spoke. As the second-in-command of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation, he commanded an undeniable authority. Old Twelve's expression faltered upon hearing him, and the blood-red blade slowly receded back into his body.

"My apologies, Brother Ye. We originally intended to invite you for a drink to clear up any past unpleasantness, but it seems the misunderstanding has only deepened. Since you have an engagement with a beautiful lady, we won't disturb you further," said the second-in-command of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation. His eyes held a strange power; they had no clear whites or pupils, instead glowing with a captivating azure light, as if he were a reincarnation of a demon god.

Without waiting for Ye Fan's reply, the leading riders turned their mounts and thundered away, their departure seeming to rip through the sky. The onlookers scattered to get out of their way. The lower-ranked divine riders, meanwhile, gave Ye Fan a few cold, expressionless glances before riding their savage beasts into the distance, a formidable aura of battle energy trailing behind them.

"Brother Ye's reputation precedes him in the Human Race's First City. Even the formidable Thirteen Riders of Desolation yielded to you; truly admirable," Yu Xian said, a faint smile gracing her radiant face. Her pristine white feathered robes fluttered gently, her dark hair was smooth as silk, and her body was slender and graceful, making her appear as ethereal as an immortal.

True to her name, Yu Xian was like an immortal who had mistakenly descended to the mortal world. With her divine bones and jade-like figure, she exuded an otherworldly aura of ascending to the heavens. She was a vibrant and beautiful woman.

"Is Miss Yu making fun of me? If these people don't make trouble now, it will be more problematic later. I actually hoped a conflict would have broken out just now," Ye Fan said, shaking his head.

Yu Xian smiled. "With Brother Ye's strength, there would be no trouble at all."

"There's a small tavern ahead; let's go there. It looks very peaceful," Rui Wei suggested.

It was an old, well-established tavern, truly tiny, but one could smell the fragrance of its wine from a considerable distance. It was tucked away at the end of an inconspicuous alley. The courtyard was quite elegant, with over a dozen peach trees. It was impossible to discern the season here, as every tree was covered in pink blossoms, their fragrance delicate and serene.

"Nice," Ye Fan nodded. It was far better than the noisy, bustling taverns, offering a quiet and peaceful atmosphere suitable for a casual drink. There were only a few patrons in the courtyard, scattered among the ancient peach trees, each with a pot of old wine and a few small dishes, conversing in hushed tones.

They took their seats, and an old man quickly came over to wipe the table. It was already quite clean, but the tables and chairs, aged from years of constant polishing, gleamed with a faint luster. A pot of aged wine and a few special small dishes were swiftly brought to them. The three sipped their drinks leisurely, the atmosphere pleasant as they discussed their experiences on the Island of Fallen Saints.

Ye Fan's account of single-handedly fighting and killing over twenty cultivators left Rui Wei filled with awe, finding such a feat almost unbelievable. Yu Xian smiled gracefully, but her expression eventually turned serious as she brought up the demonic figure who had swallowed cultivators alive. She considered this individual a significant threat, whose identity remained unknown.

"Is it true that such a person entered the first zone and fought against Mu Guanghan?" Rui Wei asked, surprised.

"Yes, I witnessed it myself. A demonic light obscured the sun, unleashing endless killing intent in the first zone," Yu Xian confirmed, nodding.

"Some believe it's Tuoba Yu, the Brocade-Clad Young Master from the Ancient Star Domain of the Human King. Could the rumors be true?" Rui Wei questioned.

"No, it wasn't him. He was also observing the battle at the time," Yu Xian replied, shaking her head.

"Do you have any leads?" Ye Fan asked.

Yu Xian nodded. She had learned a terrifying truth: the individual eventually retreated, traversing seventeen realms consecutively before vanishing.

"How is that possible? What immense power would that require? Is there truly someone that strong?" Rui Wei exclaimed in disbelief.

Ye Fan was also moved. "Were his movements affected?"

Yu Xian shook her head, her expression grave. "His speed was extremely fast. Otherwise, Mu Guanghan wouldn't have let him escape. He lost track of him after just six realm crossings, and people from other regions witnessed this."

"That's truly incredible," Rui Wei said, momentarily lost in thought, finding it hard to believe.

Yu Xian continued, "Either he is powerful beyond imagination, or he possesses an ultimate secret artifact that can bypass the restrictions of the trial grounds. Either scenario is terrifying and poses a dreadful threat to anyone." It was precisely for this reason that she sought out Ye Fan. Without any pretense, her objective was clear: she wished to form an alliance with him. According to Yu Xian's speculation, this demonic figure was very likely the 'Killer Saint,' possessing various forbidden divine abilities and truly being the most dangerous individual.

As they sipped their drinks and chatted, their conversation naturally turned to ancient star domains. Ye Fan was particularly interested in Featherfall Star, as there was a Featherfall Divine Dynasty in Beidou.

"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, Featherfall Star experienced a great migration…" Yu Xian recounted some ancient tales. It was an exceptionally prosperous ancient star, where numerous saints emerged and myriad sects flourished; its glory was difficult to describe. Approximately three hundred thousand years ago, an astonishing genius appeared from beyond the domain, claiming to be a descendant of the former Heavenly Court. He stirred up immense change on Featherfall Star, establishing a powerful divine dynasty before his passing in his later years. Tens of thousands of years later, a heroic figure of unparalleled renown descended upon this divine dynasty, proved his Dao, and became an Emperor. He then led the divine dynasty in a grand migration, disappearing into the starry sky.

"Former Heavenly Court members…" Ye Fan was quite astonished. The broken green cauldron was in the hands of the former Heavenly Court members. The Featherfall Divine Dynasty was a power they established, which perished in Beidou… but that didn't signify an end.

"Brother Ye, where do you come from?" Yu Xian asked with a smile, moistening her lips with wine.

"Beidou," Ye Fan replied. He had nothing to hide; having chosen this path, he was fearless, otherwise he wouldn't have come.

"The Emperor's Burial Star!" Yu Xian exclaimed in surprise. Evidently, this ancient star domain had once shaken the universe, leaving its mark in the minds of many from ancient lands, who still gasped upon hearing its name.

"That truly is the Emperor's Burial Star, a place where outstanding heroes are born in every generation. It's also rumored that the Path to Immortality will open there," Yu Xian said, her eyes shimmering with light. She warned Ye Fan that it would be best not to reveal his origin, as formidable enemies surely lay ahead. It was said that during its glorious age, the Emperor's Burial Star had formed deep-seated enmities with many other ancient star domains.

The starlight dimmed, casting a palpable sense of oppression. In the early morning, a commotion erupted as two cultivators, killed during the night, were discovered. A shadow fell over many hearts, giving rise to an ominous premonition.

As Ye Fan walked the streets, he noticed soldiers had been fully deployed, meticulously searching and enforcing what was almost a curfew, yet they found nothing. As night fell again, a bloodcurdling scream echoed. It belonged to a seed-level expert, one who had entered the Saint realm, yet was assassinated that very night. All the soldiers hidden in the shadows rushed towards the sound, while some powerful cultivators also hurried to offer support. However, in the next instant, another scream rang out from a different direction, signifying the fall of yet another expert.

Ye Fan suddenly stood up. Was this the work of a single individual? That night, four consecutive tragedies occurred, with four cultivators killed by unknown means.

The following day, the Grand Commander of the Human Race's First City arrived at an ancient site, kneeling on one knee. "Please, Envoy," he pleaded, "I believe you can find the true culprit."

A blurred silhouette appeared on a prayer mat and spoke calmly. "I have already warned some of the ancient families within the city not to interfere. As for assassination attempts among the trial participants themselves... consider it a form of test."

"What? You won't intervene?" The Grand Commander's expression showed his shock.

"If one walks this path only to be assassinated, then they are merely a failure," the blurred figure stated before vanishing, leaving the prayer mat empty once more.

The city's atmosphere grew tense. Many felt that it wasn't just the 'Killer Saint' at work; other malicious individuals were also seizing the opportunity. Otherwise, how could four people die in one night?

"Heh, do you feel it? The Envoy is allowing this to happen. This is a heaven-sent opportunity! Tonight, we'll move together and eliminate that Ye Fan!" Old Twelve of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation said with a chilling tone. Old Thirteen concurred, expressing strong agreement.

A pair of icy eyes fixed on them, instantly sending shivers down their spines. The leader of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation, with his long black hair flowing freely and his bare torso displaying muscles like coiled dragons that shimmered with divine light, possessed a raw, wild power. Just a single glance from him rendered Old Twelve and Old Thirteen speechless, making them dare not utter another word.

The second-in-command of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation then showed a cruel smile. "Do you truly believe you can kill him without a sound?" Both men also feared him and remained silent.

"If we cannot kill him instantly, the consequences will be unimaginable. We would be made scapegoats for that mysterious Killer Saint, and we would have no place to bury our bodies," the second-in-command of the Thirteen Divine Riders said coldly. He then smiled cruelly again. "Why not do the opposite?"

"What do you mean?" Old Thirteen asked with a hint of awe and confusion.

"Go cause him trouble, but don't actually fight him. Just provoke him with a few words..." the second-in-command instructed.

The atmosphere in the city was oppressive, and many cultivators felt uneasy. With people dying every night, this situation was bound to become a major problem. Ancient beasts thundered past, shaking the streets. Several savage mounts charged through, nearly colliding with Ye Fan.

"Be careful not to get killed!"

"Just wait for death to come tonight!"

The savage beasts rushed by, their riders muttering menacingly, displaying extreme arrogance. Ye Fan watched the members of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation with cold eyes. He had been provoked twice that day, both times by their people, but each time, they had ultimately retreated.

Late at night, an ominous presence enveloped the city. After two screams echoed in the distance, a dark figure appeared in Ye Fan's room, directly pulling him into a small void realm. This was a scroll, wielded by a powerful Saint, who had imprisoned him within it and launched a ruthless assault. However, Ye Fan ultimately shattered the ancient scroll, fighting his way out. He killed the assailant and captured their primordial spirit to ascertain their identity.

"A member of an ancient family in the city..." He was momentarily taken aback. Then, examining their sea of consciousness, he quickly discovered the truth. Someone had secretly sent their family an extremely rare and precious divine material for artifact refining, worth a fortune. Unfortunately, it was only enough to refine half an artifact. The person who sent the material remained unseen, merely leaving a message: if they could kill Ye Fan, the other half of the divine material would be delivered.

"Hmm, this is a rather unsavory family, known to many city residents. That's why they were chosen to assassinate me..." Ye Fan naturally thought of the Thirteen Riders of Desolation, a trace of mockery appearing on his lips. When it came to assassination techniques, how many could compare to him? This was merely showing off one's axe before Lu Ban's door; the Heavenly Court's killing techniques were truly astonishing.

In an instant, he thought of something else. He manifested another version of himself, which then quickly dispersed into wisps of clear energy, drifting into the starry sky.

In another mansion, Old Twelve, Old Thirteen, and others among the Thirteen Riders of Desolation waited, their eyes glinting with cold killing intent, ready for action. Additionally, several seed-level figures had been invited for drinks and were seated within a formation that isolated their aura from the outside world, alongside a few soldiers.