Chapter 1259: Enemy

"Are you the law?" Ye Fan sneered, his bronze sword clanging against the ground, sending up a shower of brilliant sparks. The ancient city's restrictions were reinforced, making it indestructible.

"You could say that," the Captain replied, his eyes cold. The simple bronze halberd in his hand became increasingly menacing, like an ancient, slumbering weapon of destruction.

"Then I shall break your law with a single sword!" Ye Fan raised his longsword, its blade shimmering with a vast, surging killing intent, like a series of cascading snow waterfalls.

The battle was inevitable. Clouds gathered from all directions, sword energies transformed into a thousand illusions, and streaks of lethal light burst forth. Powerful qi surged, and complex dao patterns intertwined.

Many restrictions within the ancient city revived, glowing brightly. From time to time, mysterious forces emerged, protecting various parts of the city and preventing its collapse.

The two transformed into streaks of light, fighting for four hundred rounds in an instant. The battle shattered the heavens and rent the earth, causing stars to shift and a multitude of strange phenomena to appear.

Ye Fan's sword soared skyward, piercing the firmament and shattering a meteor—the artificial moon above the First Human City—which then plummeted.

Everyone was moved. That sword strike had severed the restrictions and was incomparably sharp, making many powerful cultivators feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

As the battle approached five hundred moves, there was still no clear outcome. This opponent was far stronger than the Lord of Junwei Mountain, possessing an incredibly formidable power.

Many people couldn't believe he was a loser. If someone with such peerless sharpness could be defeated, how terrifying would the prodigies further down the path be?

The six soldiers finally rushed forward, disregarding the Captain's warning. They forcefully attacked, intending to help him quickly eliminate the purple-robed expert.

A cold, ruthless light flashed in Ye Fan's eyes. More people like them would be useless; they posed no threat to him.

The bronze sword rang out, unleashing myriad layers of sword energy. Each layer surged like vast rivers and seas, with waves reaching the sky, and immense sword qi descended with the starlight.

*Pfft!*

His sword strike was as heavy as a mountain, not cutting down but slamming down, causing the heavens and earth to collapse. The soldier who charged forward was covered in blood, then exploded into pieces, sending blood splattering everywhere.

This was a heavy sword strike that utterly pulverized him.

"Step back!" the Captain ordered again, his eyes cold. He did not want these men to advance, as they couldn't help and would only lose their lives in vain.

However, Ye Fan abandoned him. He activated the "Line" character secret, directly pursuing the soldiers. His sword light gleamed, illuminating the heavens and earth.

The bronze sword in his hand shone with divine radiance like a blooming sun. With a *thud*, it severed another man's head, blood gushing as the corpse fell into a pool of blood.

The Captain's expression turned grim. Without a word, he swung his bronze halberd across the sky. Giant stars appeared before and behind him. He seemed like a god descended to the world, emitting immense pressure.

*Boom!*

This was a colossal display of power. Each strike of the bronze halberd was like an entire starfield crashing down, ancient stars rotating, and starlight flowing, truly awe-inspiring.

Ye Fan's longsword clanged, continuously colliding with the battle halberd. The clashes were dazzling, and killing intent surged like raging tides.

The stars themselves trembled violently, like a magnificent starfield rising and falling, each ancient star emitting boundless might.

Starlight shimmered, enveloping Ye Fan. To outsiders, it looked like a small world, but from within, it was boundless.

The void rumbled. This was a terrifying dao fruit cultivated by the Captain. He stood millions of feet tall, towering within the cosmic river of stars, his divine might overwhelming the world.

He manifested a boundless celestial expanse, making himself the sole ruler, capable of destroying all things. When his bronze halberd descended, star rivers collapsed, ancient stars shattered, and nothing remained unbroken.

In his star-filled world, all things were mere ants and dust. Those watching the battle were almost suffocated.

"In the celestial expanse within my body, all living beings shall perish. No one can defy my will." His words thundered as the long halberd gleamed.

*Clang!*

The bronze halberd, comparable to a star river, was blocked. Ye Fan thrust his sword, shattering a cluster of stars as he unleashed surges of saintly power.

"Let's see how long you can last." Outside the battlefield, the four surviving soldiers watched with icy, sinister eyes. The deaths of their comrades filled them with hatred, and they gripped their weapons, glaring menacingly.

However, something terrifying happened next. The bronze swords in the soldiers' hands all turned on them: some split their own skulls, others pierced their foreheads, and all died instantly.

Swords rang out, blood flowed, and corpses toppled. It happened almost simultaneously, making everyone gasp in cold shock.

"What... what happened?" Many people were utterly confused.

"Could that be the legendary... 'Soldier' character secret?" A few people exclaimed, their eyes blazing as they looked towards the field, staring at the purple-robed figure within the star river.

"It is the 'Soldier' character secret!" The second-ranked figure among the Thirteen Horsemen of Desolation, with captivating blue eyes, revealed a demonic glow. The green-gold halberd in his hand glinted coldly.

Ye Fan and the Captain battled for over a thousand rounds. Their speed was extreme; every strike was like lightning and thunder, colliding violently.

This person was far superior to the Lord of Junwei Mountain. To be able to fight Ye Fan to such an extent demonstrated true power, which even surprised Ye Fan.

Seizing the opportunity, Ye Fan deftly flicked his bronze sword. It vibrated, unleashing a roaring sea of sword energy.

The Captain retreated, blood surging within him like a great river. He was shocked, having never expected this battle to be so challenging. After more than a decade of cultivation and enlightenment, he had encountered such a formidable opponent again.

Ye Fan, who had cultivated the 'Soldier' character secret, had kept it hidden, creating psychological pressure on the Captain. Only at this moment did he suddenly unleash it, aiming to eliminate the Captain with a single strike.

*Clang, clang...*

The ear-piercing sound of metal vibrating filled the air as bronze weapons continuously clashed. The long halberd flew uncontrollably into the sky. Simultaneously, the Captain's iron armor began to burn, and his helmet exploded.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines. This was the 'Soldier' character secret at work, aiming to destroy the enemy instantly. The clanging was deafening as the armor disintegrated and burned piece by piece.

Ye Fan was attempting to immolate the Captain alive. This method terrified everyone; wearing armor became a burden that could lead to one's own demise.

*Boom!*

The Captain was sent flying sideways, piercing the high heavens. His armor shattered, blood streamed from his body, and then he plummeted.

"Is it over?!" Many voices trembled.

How powerful was the Captain? Far surpassing many trial-takers, yet he had his armor shattered and was nearly immolated alive. A chill ran down many people's spines.

The Captain landed, staggering briefly before quickly straightening his body. Half his body was bleeding, and a crack had appeared on his forehead, indicating a significant injury.

Ye Fan had to admit that this person was very powerful and posed a threat. The Captain's body glowed with life force, rapidly repairing his injuries.

The Captain revealed his true form: a very handsome young expert with flowing black hair and skin as fair as jade. He exuded a vibrant and heroic aura.

No one had expected him to be a refined young master rather than a hardened veteran. His heroic spirit was restrained, yet he possessed an extraordinary presence.

The only flaw was his eyes, which were too cold and sinister, making it difficult for others to feel any warmth towards him.

"This is the second defeat in my life, Guancheng. Over a decade ago, I was pierced through with a spear along with my mount, nearly impaled to death in the vast ancient lands. Though furious, I had to retreat in bitter defeat. Now, even though I am wounded again, I refuse to accept this. I will take your head!"

Guancheng roared, his entire body surging with vital energy, his black hair standing on end, and his expression terrifying. Life force radiated from him as his body rapidly self-healed, returning to its original state.

This was an expert who had once dyed the starry sky with blood, enduring numerous trials of life and death. His strength was utterly terrifying!

"Brother Guan, I'll lend you a hand." The second-ranked figure among the Thirteen Horsemen of Desolation, truly terrifying, with clear eyes flashing, stepped forward with his halberd.

As he did so, he applied a strange seal to himself: a yellowed divine parchment that adhered to his body.

Ye Fan's heart skipped a beat. This was clearly a countermeasure against the 'Soldier' character secret. He wondered about the origin of this yellowed divine parchment.

"I'll do it myself!" Although Guancheng was handsome, his expression was now somewhat ferocious, his black hair wildly dancing as he charged like a demon.

At the same time, another extremely terrifying aura arrived, like a purple sun exploding, unleashing monstrous flames!

Gu Ling, the leader of the Thirteen Horsemen of the Heavenly Emperor, made his move. His upper body was bronze-colored, his muscles like coiling dragons, his eyes flashed with cold lightning, and he thrust a purple war spear with lightning speed!

Heaven and earth crumbled. The spear strike was so terrifying that even parts of the ancient city's restrictions were damaged.

It was like an ocean surging, shattering the firmament!

Gu Ling was terrifyingly powerful, his depths unfathomable. His eyes were filled with wild, cruel light.

He had no intention of using numerical superiority. It was a primal, wild instinct that made him thrust this incomparably sharp spear.

Ye Fan activated the 'Soldier' character secret. However, this person's wild strength was astonishing. His veins bulged as he firmly gripped the purple war spear, maintaining its trajectory as it stabbed down. The power of the 'Soldier' character secret was weakened by more than half.

At the same time, the second-ranked figure among the Thirteen Horsemen of Desolation's green-gold halberd struck, and Captain Guancheng's bronze halberd descended, tearing through the sky.

"Kill!"

Ye Fan lightly shouted. His golden divine treasury appeared behind him, various Dao weapons rising and falling. Golden divine light pierced the nine heavens, unleashing an indiscriminate attack.

For group combat, this was undoubtedly the best choice. Killing one person was no different from killing thousands!

Golden bells resonated, brilliant heavenly pagodas suppressed, immortal swords shot forth, golden gourds devoured all things... it was a full-range, peerless attack.

"Ah..."

Two screams echoed as the ninth and eighth-ranked members of the Thirteen Horsemen of Desolation perished, shattered by golden Dao weapons, blood spurting over ten meters high.

Ye Fan's heart trembled. Gu Ling, the leader of the Thirteen Horsemen of the Heavenly Emperor, was definitely a formidable foe, and Captain Guancheng was also extraordinary. They transformed into two streaks of lethal light, grinding away many golden Dao weapons.

Furthermore, the second-ranked figure among the Thirteen Horsemen of Desolation was also terrifying, transforming into a ball of green light, impervious to all attacks.

When everything quieted down, both sides stood in confrontation. No one made a move, and cold expressions appeared on their faces.

Suddenly, Ye Fan's Dao body frowned. His time was up; he was about to transform into pure qi and vanish.

"We'll fight another day!" He vanished beneath the earth in an instant, impossible for anyone to pursue.

By then, countless people had arrived, all watching the battle. They had not expected such an outcome, feeling both shock and regret that they hadn't witnessed the decisive battle.

The crowd fell silent, remaining stunned for a long time.

*Clink!*

A wine cup clinked as it fell to the ground, shattering on the street. Ye Fan's true body drained his last cup of wine and stepped out of the small tavern.

"The purple-robed man is you!" said Gu Ling, the leader of the Thirteen Horsemen of the Heavenly Emperor, his wild eyes captivating, his black hair disheveled and draped over his shoulders.

"That's right, my intuition tells me you are the purple-robed man!" Guancheng also stepped forward with a chilling demeanor, his skin as fair as jade.

"Evidence?" Ye Fan remained calm.

"My intuition telling me it's you is enough!" Guancheng pressed forward like a divine demon, his handsome face chilling to the bone.

Ye Fan laughed heartily, unhurriedly drawing a black long spear and pointing it diagonally southward, his battle qi surging to the heavens.

At the same time, the dragon-horse galloped from afar. Ye Fan leaped onto its back, facing everyone. "If you want to kill me, come at me!" he declared.

Everyone's hearts pounded. Was the purple-robed man truly him? His true body hadn't even acted, yet he was already so terrifying. How powerful was he truly?

Word spread quickly in this place. Many believed he was indeed the purple-robed man, even though he hadn't admitted it. It was truly astounding.

"Stop!" The void twisted, and a blurry figure appeared: the Emissary of Guidance manifested.

Everyone was surprised. This was the first time anyone had forced this irresponsible Emissary of Guidance to appear.

"All of you, set forth! Do not tarry for a moment!" His voice was deep but reverberated, causing many to feel their blood surge and struggle to stand steadily.

An ancient horn sounded, vast and distant, summoning all trial-takers. An altar appeared, situated in the sky, radiating a hazy glow.

"I will embark on the journey again and challenge the strongest ancient path once more!" Guancheng said, his gaze cold as he stared at Ye Fan.

"Next, you must fight your way to the second trial. You can attack anyone; for each of you, it will be a battle against the entire world. Those who survive to the end will pass the trial!"

The Emissary's words shocked everyone. They knew that a bloody storm was about to begin!