Chapter 141: Again Seeing the Old Madman

On Zhuo Peak, vines as thick as water vats stretched up into the sky for a hundred meters. A giant flower, its petals unfolding like five-colored crystal, emitted brilliant rays and auspicious light, swaying with specks of radiance.

Within the peculiar flower, an old man in green robes had hair like snow, a face as delicate and smooth as jade with not a single wrinkle, and eyes as deep as the ocean.

Behind him, it was pitch black, like night falling, or like a bottomless pit connected to the entire void, giving the impression of the Grand Dao being as profound as an abyss. A faint pop sounded.

The peculiar flower beneath his feet made a soft sound. Its petals dimmed, as if encountering frost or snow, and quickly withered, after which the vines shriveled and fell from the sky.

The elder from the Ji family remained motionless, but the pitch-black void behind him erupted with dark light, sweeping down towards the peak of Zhuo Peak.

It was utterly black, like a storm cloud pressing down, grand and imposing, causing a suffocating sensation, as if a black mountain were bearing down.

Li Ruoyu stood his ground, unmoving. The surrounding vegetation shimmered with green light, and a towering ancient tree rapidly grew, like a colossal umbrella stretching into the sky, blocking all the dark light above. A "bang" sounded.

Suddenly, a black trident appeared above the sky, instantly cleaving the towering ancient tree and plunging towards Zhuo Peak. It was a hundred meters long, seemingly capable of tearing heaven and earth. A rushing sound was heard.

On Zhuo Peak, a great white waterfall surged upwards into the sky, like a silver dragon soaring, instantly coiling around the black trident.

There was no violent clash, no dazzling brilliance. The silver waterfall, like a soft ribbon, gently and continuously bound the massive trident.

“The Grand Dao of Nature, truly lives up to its reputation.” The elder from the Ji family let out a low roar. The entire sky turned completely dark, dark clouds rolled and pressed down, and streaks of purple lightning flashed, covering Zhuo Peak. A soft pop sounded.

Around Li Ruoyu, all the vegetation exuded a sweet fragrance. Endless green light shot up into the sky, and a rain of light descended from above—a natural yet gentle power that flowed upwards and diffused in all directions. A "swoosh" was heard.

The Great Void Art was manifested! The elder from the Ji family silently appeared behind Li Ruoyu and struck with a palm. A "bang" sounded.

Li Ruoyu seemed able to see through the void, capturing the trajectory of the Great Void Art, and counter-attacked with a backhand. The two collided, unleashing a terrifying surge of energy. However, it did not wreak havoc on Zhuo Peak; instead, it all surged upwards into the sky, disappearing into the firmament. “Bang!” “Bang!” echoed repeatedly.

The sound of palms striking continued, and terrifying streaks of energy shot up from the peak of Zhuo Peak, tearing upwards into the sky like lightning.

The elder from the Ji family employed the Great Void Art, moving unpredictably like a ghost or god, appearing in various positions that were utterly impossible to predict. This was a supreme secret technique.

However, Li Ruoyu seemed to possess foresight. His movements were fluid and natural, like flowing clouds and water. His large sleeves billowed as he continuously met attacks from all directions, blocking the Great Void Art. A "boom" sounded.

Finally, a colossal black hand descended, covering the entire summit of Zhuo Peak, intending to uproot it.

This terrifying scene made hearts pound, the dreadful fluctuations directly chilling one to the bone, causing panic, suffocation, and involuntary trembling.

The Void Hand Seal!

Such a technique was shocking and awe-inspiring, making ordinary cultivators who witnessed it unable to even conceive of resistance. It was truly terrifying, like a portion of the cosmos overturning. A "boom" sounded.

Li Ruoyu surged upwards, meeting it with a single palm.

In an instant, Zhuo Peak became suffused with the aura of nature. Green light and dark light clashed and intertwined, enveloping both Li Ruoyu and the black colossal hand.

Muffled thuds continuously resonated, shaking the surrounding mountains. All who witnessed this scene were filled with dread.

Ultimately, no destructive aura erupted. All light converged, the black colossal hand slowly faded in the void, and Li Ruoyu descended onto Zhuo Peak.

“Excellent, excellent, excellent!” The elder from the Ji family landed and said, “The legacy of Zhuo Peak is indeed extraordinary. Though not an ancient scripture, it rivals one. The Way of Nature—you might truly become the second great mighty figure of Zhuo Peak.”

Neither of them had used their full strength; it was merely a simple test, but it was enough to astonish onlookers. “May I ask why senior has graced Zhuo Peak with your presence?” Li Ruoyu inquired.

Not far away, Ye Fan was somewhat surprised. Li Ruoyu, despite his advanced age, still referred to this person as senior; it seemed he must be a renowned elder of the Ji family. “Feeling restless, I came out for a stroll, and to find a successor along the way.”

At this moment, Ji Ziyue was hiding in the small wooden house, her large eyes darting around. She then came out and called, “Grandfather, why are you here?”

“Naturally, I came for you.” “Brother Ji Hong, why did you not announce your arrival at my Great Void Sect?” A Grand Elder from the Great Void Sect asked. “I apologize for my abrupt intrusion, fellow Daoist.” The elder from the Ji family, Ji Hong, bowed towards the distant sky. Ji Hong then ascended into the air and flew towards the distant sky to meet an old acquaintance.

On Zhuo Peak, Ye Fan felt guilty and prepared to flee, but he also felt that leaving abruptly would be unfair to Li Ruoyu.

Just then, Ji Ziyue, as if sensing something, lightly flew over and blocked his path, saying, “Little rascal, are you trying to sneak away?”

“Nonsense, I was just taking a stroll. You’re too sensitive.” Ye Fan flatly denied. “You must have many secrets, otherwise why would you be so uneasy…?” Ji Ziyue circled him once, then tilted her head and said, “You’ll come with me later, to our Ji family.”

“I wouldn’t go even if you killed me!” That was Ye Fan’s true thought, but on his face, he wore a smile and said, “I couldn’t wish for anything more! It would be even better if I could marry into the Ji family.”

“You little brat, what do you know…?” Ji Ziyue chuckled softly. “I have a cousin who just turned nine; she might be a good match for you.” “I don’t lack daughters…” “What are you muttering about?!” Ji Ziyue glared at him.

Eventually, Ji Hong, the renowned elder of the Ji family, returned to Zhuo Peak and summoned Ji Ziyue, saying, “I have urgent matters to attend to and must leave. Don’t wander off; stay here at the Great Void Sect for now. The situation outside is somewhat complicated.”

Having said this, Ji Hong hastily departed.

Ye Fan was most satisfied with this outcome. He now had ample time to prepare for his departure.

Soon after, the Great Void Sect Master and other renowned elders also flew out from the one hundred and eight main peaks, heading towards the distant horizon. “What happened?” Many disciples within the Great Void Sect discussed, as it was unprecedented for the Sect Master and Grand Elders to mobilize simultaneously in years.

It wasn't until a day later that news arrived: a seemingly mad old man had appeared within the borders of the Wei Kingdom, suspected to be a peerless master from six thousand years ago.

This news shook dozens of surrounding kingdoms. The Ji family, the Shaking Light Holy Land, and the Great Void Sect all dispatched their peak experts to pursue him.

“He’s actually a peerless powerhouse from antiquity! To think he has lived for over six thousand years and still exists in this world, it’s incredible!” “How can a single person live for six millennia? He’s practically a living history book, having witnessed eras both dark and bright. It’s truly a miracle.”

Many within the Great Void Sect were discussing this. Upon hearing the news, Ye Fan’s heart trembled; he immediately thought of the old madman—it must be him!

Six thousand years ago, the Heavenly Jade Holy Land, then at its peak, launched a full-scale assault on the Desolate Ancient Holy Land, only to vanish forever, erased from the world. The old madman was the sole survivor. Many wondered what truly transpired six thousand years ago, and what kind of existence “Desolation” was beneath the endless abyss.

Six thousand years ago, the old madman’s cultivation was earth-shattering; he had virtually no match in the Eastern Wasteland. Such a supreme figure, who had lived for six millennia and remained immortal, made everyone curious to know what realm he had reached, how far he was from becoming an Immortal, and they all yearned to receive his teachings.

Especially for transcendent major powers like the Ji family and the Shaking Light Holy Land, their Grand Elders all yearned to converse with such a peerless figure. For the prominent figures of the current era, such an existence, comparable to a living fossil, was even more alluring than several ancient scriptures from the Eastern Wasteland.

On the third day, more news arrived. “He’s gone mad! That peerless powerhouse is completely insane. No one can talk to him; he cries and laughs, utterly incoherent.”

“It’s terrifying! Many renowned elders were swatted away by a mere flick of his sleeve; no one can approach him. Six thousand years ago, he was already earth-shattering; now, his strength is utterly unfathomable.”

“He vanished! With just a few steps, endless mountains and lands were left behind as he directly exited the Wei Kingdom. No one could keep up with his footwork; even flying or burrowing, they could barely glimpse his disappearing figure.”

At this moment, Ji Ziyue blocked Ye Fan, preventing him from leaving, and said, “Did you learn that footwork of yours from that mad old man?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean!” Ye Fan couldn’t possibly admit it.

“It absolutely has something to do with it! Our Ji family’s ancient texts have detailed records. That footwork far surpasses ‘Shrinking the Ground into Inches’; it’s unparalleled in the world, and only that mad old man knows it.”

Ye Fan increasingly felt that this little girl was too cunning. Almost all his secrets had been discovered by her; the slightest carelessness would lead to her sharp perception of anomalies.

“Senior, are there Immortals in this world?” Ye Fan came to the mountain peak and asked Li Ruoyu for guidance. “Everyone asks that. Whether they exist or not isn’t important; as long as one holds firm to their belief, deems the path to Immortality feasible, and presses forward without hesitation, they can succeed.”

“What realm has the old madman truly reached? Logically speaking, to have lived for six thousand years is a miracle; it makes no sense for him not to have become an Immortal. Even the Divine Body of the Eastern Wasteland might not be able to live this long. ‘If one doesn’t become an Immortal, they go mad.’ Perhaps that is his very existence.” Li Ruoyu also sighed with a touch of emotion.

Within the Great Void Sect, besides the one hundred and eight main peaks, there were countless lesser peaks. Not all mountain ranges were enveloped in immortal aura; some places were desolate, much like Zhuo Peak.

These past few days, Ye Fan had been preparing to leave, constantly wandering within the Great Void Sect, wanting to make a final effort to understand the conditions required for opening a domain gate and for the sect to grant permission to leave.

As the sun set, the evening glow painted half the sky crimson. He arrived at an extremely desolate mountain ridge, where mugwort grew thickly and withered vines covered the ground.

At that very moment, he was stunned. On a large blue stone facing west on the mountain ridge, a white-haired old man lay on his side, facing the setting sun.

He was dressed in tattered rags, looking incredibly ancient, not at all like the attire of this era. He was mumbling something, and two lines of tears streamed from his cloudy old eyes. The old madman—it was actually the old madman!

Ye Fan was greatly astonished. He had never imagined encountering him within the Great Void Sect. How had he come here? Hadn’t he left the Wei Kingdom in just a few steps, going to another place?