Chapter 1426: First Demon

The Other Shore was in an uproar. Such a thing hadn't happened in years. God was enraged and had issued a divine decree to specifically kill one person, causing the entire world to buzz with talk.

From the Divine Realm to the ancestral lands of major races, everyone was utterly shocked. They believed that if God's wrath descended, millions would fall, rivers of blood would flow, and the entire land would be dyed red.

Who was this man, Ye Fan, to have provoked such immense divine wrath? It was truly unsettling and incomprehensible.

Clearly, he was a blasphemer, a demonic figure whose sins were unforgivable and whose lawlessness knew no bounds. Otherwise, God would never have been provoked to such rage.

During the era of divine rule, God had always been serene and noble, the embodiment of compassion and holiness—never angry, hateful, agitated, or malicious, but always possessing a clear and tolerant heart.

On that day, people across the land spoke of nothing but Ye Fan. To be hated by God, he must be extraordinary.

Soon after, news began to circulate: Ye Fan was an extraterrestrial demon who had destroyed the foundation of the Divine Realm, disrespected its ruler, and was the greatest heretic to emerge since the beginning of God's rule.

"Twenty or thirty years ago, a follower went mad, broke off a branch from the ancient Tree of Life, and fled the Other Shore. It's rumored he was lured by this demon."

"But I heard it was because he destroyed a faint incarnation of God, wasn't it?"

"How sacred and peerless is God? Who could destroy his incarnation, unless another god appeared? Clearly, it must be for other reasons—he committed an egregious act of blasphemy, unforgivable even by God."

The whole world seemed to erupt. This man, Ye Fan, became the focal point of intense discussion, attracting attention from all corners, and many from ancient lands set out to find him.

In this world, blasphemers were rare, but once discovered, they could not escape death, turning to dust.

"Is there really a God in this world, one who commands the entire realm? And you've become a wanted man!" the Dragon Horse remarked with a click of its tongue, a gloating expression on its face.

Ye Fan slapped it, pushing its large, inquisitive head aside. They had already left that perilous place, as their shouts had been muffled by the myriad peaks.

"That divine-demonic liquid is substantial, comparable to an immortal elixir. It flowed into that enormous stone coffin, and I suspect it will cause major trouble; I don't know what chaos will ensue," Ye Fan said.

Pang Bo said, "Stop thinking about that for now. You've become a heretic in this world, and a divine decree from the Divine Realm calls for everyone to kill you. We need to figure out a solution, fast."

This was a vexing problem. Their movements in this world might become severely restricted. No one had anticipated that severing that wisp of faith's incarnation would lead to God's true form perceiving their actions.

"My Source Arts are supreme; if I don't wish to be exposed while moving through this world, they'll have no way to find me," Ye Fan said, unconcerned.

Pang Bo shook his head. "Haven't you heard? When blasphemers encounter special envoys from the Divine Realm, their bodies emit demonic energy, leading to immediate recognition. Clearly, these envoys can perceive enemies through faith energy, causing them to exhibit unusual phenomena. Since you once slew a god, you'll most likely expose yourself."

"As long as I don't encounter a divine envoy, or make sure any divine envoy I *do* encounter meets the Demon King," Ye Fan said, confident in his unparalleled 'Movement Art'.

Catching a glimpse of what appeared to be Ji Ziyue's back in the distance, Ye Fan stopped worrying. He felt the area was safe, impenetrable to outsiders, and even God had refrained from venturing deeper there in recent years due to the ancient coffin.

"Let's fully understand this world and uncover the secrets of the Other Shore." They traveled on foot through the lands, observing various customs and local life.

Of course, they used their power to conceal their true appearances and employed Heaven-Deceiving Array Patterns to suppress their presence, preventing any revealing marks or flaws from appearing due to differing faith energies.

"Pure-blooded descendants of ancient gods and demons have appeared. One named Sang Gu battled masters from the Divine Realm, traversing hundreds of thousands of miles across the Eight Desolations before ascending to the heavens."

"An ascetic named 'Earth Corpse' has been haunting various burial grounds on the Other Shore, absorbing corpse qi to cultivate an indestructible demonic body. His cultivation has grown increasingly powerful and unfathomable."

"A Heavenly Maiden named Xin Lan has appeared, causing a sensation and is suspected of having a blood connection to the ancient gods."

Over the past two days, various reports have come in, detailing how young supreme beings are emerging and making a dazzling impact on this world, shaking the entire realm.

Naturally, some young supreme beings have also perished, and even Great Sages have fallen, casting a shadow over the hearts of those from outside this realm, who sense that a great calamity is imminent.

Some are evading, others are taking action, all surviving in this world in different ways, seeking what they need.

Over the next half month, Ye Fan and his companions learned a great deal. Fortunately, they avoided encountering anyone from the Divine Realm and remained safe.

On this particular day, another shocking piece of news arrived.

The Golden Snake Lord annihilated the Sky Wolf Tribe, completely wiping them out in a bloody massacre. The entire cliff face was stained red with blood, causing immense devastation. Now, various tribes have mobilized to hunt him down.

"They're insane! How can they be so brutal? Aren't they afraid of divine retribution? They're killing without reason or principle," Pang Bo exclaimed, shocked by the news.

Less than ten days later, the three Lords of the Golden Snake Tribe unleashed another frenzied attack, utterly annihilating the Silver Horn Tribe. Of the more than one hundred thousand members, including Saint Kings, not a single soul escaped the bloody slaughter; all were massacred.

The site was a horrific scene: mountains of corpses, lakes of blood, shrouded in a sinister mist and somber clouds, making it unbearable to witness.

Not just the local inhabitants, but even Ye Fan and Pang Bo were enraged. Such senseless slaughter was utterly barbaric and cruel. What exactly did these three snakes intend to do?

Even before the Divine Realm issued a specific decree, the supreme experts of various clans had already taken action, pursuing them to eliminate this menace.

However, the three Golden Snake brothers showed no restraint. Days later, they struck again, massacring the Fire Leopard Tribe. Not one of the tens of thousands in the entire settlement escaped, and their methods were utterly atrocious.

"What exactly are they trying to achieve, daring to defy the entire world like this? Are they tired of living, so utterly heinous? Do they want to court death and corner themselves?!" Pang Bo wondered, convinced that this wasn't the act of sane individuals.

Ye Fan and his companions set out, secretly observing the three powerful tribes that the three Golden Snake Lords had massacred. Ye Fan spared no expense of his spiritual essence, using the Ancient Viewing Art from the Vedic Sutra to trace back to the source and investigate.

He reached a conclusion: the three Golden Snake brothers were practicing a terrifying demonic art that required vast amounts of powerful individuals' blood for breakthroughs.

"'Teng Snake Divine Transformation'—it must be that cultivation method!" said Saint Qing Luan, who had heard of the Teng Snake tribe's heaven-defying legacy.

This technique demanded the absorption of vast quantities of blood, divine souls, and other vital essences, akin to achieving self-realization by consuming the life-force of countless beings.

Legend had it that 'Teng Snake Divine Transformation' was the metamorphosis of a divine serpent, regenerating and growing to manifest a true Snake God!

Of course, this was an exaggerated claim. The true significance lay in the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative explosion of this transformation; its success was akin to a complete rebirth.

While ordinary snakes shed their skin, the Golden Snake Tribe underwent a metamorphosis of their divine and soul power, a transformation of their primordial spirit. This strengthened their primordial spirit, which in turn nourished their physical bodies, allowing them to advance by leaps and bounds.

It had only been a month, yet the three Lords of the Golden Snake Tribe were already infamous, ranking as the greatest villains after Ye Fan, with countless individuals eager to eliminate them.

Ye Fan was bewildered. He had merely killed a divine incarnation, while the three Lords of the Golden Snake Tribe had massacred entire clans, yet they were still ranked below him. To be branded the chief culprit was truly incomprehensible.

"Blasphemers carry profound sin, as their actions involve the Divine Realm itself. Even if they aren't the *most* evil, they're still ranked first," Pang Bo said with a laugh.

This was the information they had gathered after a thorough investigation: Ye Fan's situation was even more precarious than that of the Golden Snake Lords. As long as he remained undiscovered, he was safe, but once exposed, the entire world would unite to kill him.

"They're absolutely deranged! Those three Golden Snakes have massacred yet another race—over three hundred thousand people! Everyone, from Saint Kings to newborn infants, was slaughtered, turned into a bloody pulp."

Everyone cried out, wishing to immediately execute the three Golden Snake Lords. However, the Lords possessed an ancestral artifact, the Teng Snake Array Diagram, which could breach all barriers, allowing them to move freely, uncontainable even by a Great Sage.

On that very day, the Temple Knights were deployed. This divine army, which had been unseen for millennia, was the mightiest force sent forth by the Divine Realm, specifically tasked with eradicating evil.

Yet, upon their deployment, the divine army's first chosen target was, surprisingly, Ye Fan. They intended to eliminate the primary culprit, ranked first, before all others.

Pang Bo was dumbfounded. "These three worms have been slaughtering people indiscriminately, causing endless bloodshed, yet they consistently rank second! Their widespread infamy is one thing, but it effectively elevates Ye Fan, the 'number one villain,' even higher."

"It's intentional! Those three Golden Snakes are utterly malicious, their hearts venomous," the Dragon Horse exclaimed, voicing its assessment. It believed that while the Golden Snake brothers might have initially begun their slaughter for demonic cultivation, they later observed the exceptional ranking of the blasphemer and deliberately continued their bloody rampage, indirectly elevating Ye Fan's status as the chief villain.

Saint Black Bear said, "Aren't you overthinking it? While those three Golden Snakes are indeed vicious, they wouldn't inflict such harm on others without gaining anything themselves, especially since doing so puts them in great danger too."

The Dragon Horse was a true conspiracy theorist, convinced that the three Golden Snakes were vicious—simultaneously cultivating themselves while cunningly harming others, brutal, ruthless, and utterly detestable.

The wind picked up, scattering fallen leaves. In the mountainous terrain, a chilling autumnal bleakness permeated the air, bringing a chill.

Ye Fan, Pang Bo, the Dragon Horse, and their companions were intercepted. After more than a month of peace, they encountered an enemy for the first time—and not a weak one. This foe appeared exceptionally powerful.

A towering figure stood on a massive rock. With gray-brown hair, he exuded a terrifying aura, like a Great Sage capable of engulfing mountains and rivers with his might.

"To possess such an extraordinary aura at the Saint King realm, with an understanding of the Dao that transcends his cultivation level," Ye Fan thought, his heart sinking, a solemn expression on his face.

Suddenly, the person turned. It was a tall old man, yet his physique lacked no vitality, shimmering with a bronzed luster, his tendons like coiling dragons.

His gray-brown hair and terrifying silver pupils indicated his great age. He was a formidable Saint King, standing at the very peak of his life's final glory.

Judging by his vital energy, in a few more years, he would begin to decline, entering the twilight of his life.

"Strange," Ye Fan mused, "for such a formidable Saint King, whose comprehension of the Dao seems so extraordinary, why has he stopped here and not broken through to the Great Sage realm?" He was puzzled, as this individual was truly exceptional.

The old man was at the same cultivation level as Ye Fan, both in the fifth heaven of the Saint King realm. His presence was as profound and unfathomable as an abyss, his eyes cold and merciless as he fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and his group.

In the distance, four figures surged forward, each possessing profound magical power, immense aura, and vital energy as vast as an ocean—all terrifyingly powerful.

All four were Saint Kings of immense strength: two were at the sixth heaven of the Saint King realm, and the other two at the seventh heaven, making their cultivation levels even higher than that of the gray-haired elder.

Yet, they stood respectfully behind the elder, following his lead, not daring to overstep a single step.

The five powerful experts arrived in person. Among them, the gray-haired elder with his transcendent demeanor possessed an unfathomable aura that seemed to suppress heaven and earth, inspiring awe even in those whose cultivation levels surpassed his own.

This was the First Army of the Temple. Only five individuals had been deployed, but the presence of this elder made them seem capable of annihilating any adversary.

"Are you Ye Fan, the blasphemer?" the elder inquired.

"Who are you?" Ye Fan countered.

"He is a heaven-gifted Saint King, rarely seen in our Divine Realm since ancient times—second only to one under the starry sky," one of the Temple Knights stated, clearly showing his respect for the elder.

"What does that mean?" the Dragon Horse inquired.

"In the Saint King realm, he was invincible throughout the world, suffering only one defeat in his entire life. That's why he's known as 'second under the starry sky'," one of them proudly explained.

The elder stopped him. "After that single defeat in my youth, I made no further progress. I am merely a broken man," he said.

Ye Fan, Pang Bo, and the Dragon Horse all felt a strong sense of alarm. This was undoubtedly a terrifying figure; by all appearances, his spiritual realm was exceptionally transcendent, far surpassing any Saint King they had ever encountered.

"First Demon, since you've committed blasphemy, do not fault us for our ruthlessness. In this battle, the weak will bleed and die, while the strong will triumph." The approaching figure spoke decisively, intent on immediate action.

But the Dragon Horse wasn't having it. "Are you brainwashed?" it scoffed. "Where is this 'God'? With your cultivation having reached such a realm, do you still believe in such things?"

"In your eyes, what constitutes a true God? Is it immortality, imperishability through all calamities?" one of them retorted.

"First Demon, come and fight!" Behind the elder, the four Temple Knights stepped forward, ready to strike.

Ye Fan was speechless, finding it both amusing and exasperating. He had been upgraded from an 'extraterrestrial demon' to the 'First Demon.' Even the three Golden Snake Lords, with their massacres of entire races, hadn't committed a sin as grievous as blasphemy.

The gray-haired elder with his gray-brown hair was a man of few words, almost entirely silent, and utterly indifferent. His silver pupils gleamed with a cold light as he fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, ready for battle.

A terrifying storm gathered in the arena. Even before the elder moved, the very void around them warped, and time itself seemed to congeal, an awe-inspiring display of power.

Though clearly at the fifth heaven of the Saint King realm, he possessed the aura of a Great Sage, having reached an unreachable height in the comprehension of the Dao. He was a peerless adversary.

Ye Fan's expression grew solemn; he dared not show the slightest carelessness. In the current world, since his enlightenment, he was confident he could claim invincibility among peers. Yet, facing this elder, he harbored no complacency.

This aura was incredibly dangerous, truly terrifying!

"Boom!"

The battle erupted. Ye Fan confronted the gray-haired elder, and indeed, he had met a formidable foe. This man was clearly in the twilight of his life, on the verge of retirement, yet at this moment, he moved with the agile power of a leaping dragon and tiger. With a single palm strike, the heavens crumbled, the earth rent apart, and the Great Dao roared—an unparalleled display of might.

Ye Fan suspected he had encountered an Emperor's Son; otherwise, how could he be so astonishing? This was a rare opponent who, though at the same realm, occasionally exhibited insights into the Dao of a Great Sage.

Such a strike made even Ye Fan's heart pound. It was incredibly fierce and overbearing. Who exactly was this man, to be known as 'second under the starry sky'?

Meanwhile, Pang Bo, the Dragon Horse, and the other twelve Saints also encountered formidable foes and were drawn into the battle. Although their opponents were only three, all were high-level Saint Kings with surging vital energy.

"Boom!"

With another simple strike, not an ancient secret art but merely a palm thrust from the gray-haired elder, the sound of the Heavenly Dao resonated, turning the mundane into something miraculous and deeply shocking.

Ye Fan's heart trembled violently. He increasingly suspected the elder's identity; such a person was truly too powerful, demonstrating some of the Dao fruit and profound insights of a Great Sage even at his current realm.

Only Ye Fan could withstand this; any other Saint King would likely not last two or three moves and would be instantly flattened into a bloody mess!

"Whoosh," "Whoosh," "Whoosh"

Suddenly, three dazzling golden lights appeared. Three ten-foot-long golden snakes, like divine spears, shot forth, targeting Ye Fan directly.

"Shameless worms! I knew you were treacherous and vicious, to appear at this moment! You harbor ill intentions and had this planned all along. Aren't you afraid of being eliminated by the Divine Realm first?!" the Dragon Horse roared.