Chapter 145: Confronting the Divine Body

The "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon is a unique manifestation of ancient, powerful beings, possessing unfathomable power. It has indeed been used to obliterate many great demons, sweeping all before it and leaving none able to contend with it.

Yet, at this moment, he was using this rare phenomenon against an unknown youth, astonishing the talented individuals and heroes present.

Ye Fan was indeed startled. The disparity in their reputations was immense; Ji Haoyue, revered as a Divine Physique, had actually made a move against him, which was beyond his and everyone else's expectations.

Although he possessed a Saint Physique, his golden Sea of Bitterness was extraordinarily unique. However, he could not manifest it externally; it merely shimmered within his body.

Ye Fan did not consider the golden Sea of Bitterness a phenomenon. He believed it was merely a primal force, and cultivating a true phenomenon would require more time.

At present, his strongest attack might involve activating the Mother Qi of All Things, but he could not genuinely control it.

All of this unfolded in a flash, leaving everyone little time to react.

Moonlight, like water, arrived in an instant, stopping just before Ye Fan. It did not descend. Ji Haoyue, resembling a deity, with nine halos swirling above his head like a divine king, fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, his eyes incredibly sharp.

Beside him, Ji Ziyue exhaled deeply and cried out, "Brother Haoyue, what are you doing? Stop! You have cultivated three Secret Realms, while he is merely a junior cultivator in the Sea of Wheels Secret Realm. Why would you use a phenomenon to test him?"

Others suddenly understood, having mistakenly believed that Ji Haoyue intended to genuinely kill the unknown youth using the "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon.

Hua Yunfei stepped forward and said, "Brother Haoyue, quickly withdraw your phenomenon. As a Divine Physique, there's no need to use it to intimidate young Brother Ye."

"Do you truly believe I'm merely testing him?" Ji Haoyue did not turn, his gaze fixed intently on Ye Fan as a solemn expression crossed his face. He continued, "I am indeed suppressing him with my phenomenon, but it's being obstructed. The moonlight hasn't descended."

"What?!"

Behind him, everyone's expressions changed. How could this be possible? Many immediately assumed Ji Haoyue was jesting.

What Ji Haoyue said was true. At such close proximity, the moment he first saw Ye Fan, a peculiar sensation surged within him. His Divine Physique had spontaneously glowed, which he found exceptionally strange.

Either Ye Fan possessed a supreme treasure that was drawing him, or his physique was exceptionally unique, causing his Divine Physique to react with a special resonance.

Hua Yunfei ceased his attempts to intervene. His entire demeanor became ethereal, his blue robes fluttering. He seemed to have entered a state of deep tranquility, evidently sensing something with meticulous care.

The Saintess of Yaoguang, the most outstanding female disciple of the Yaoguang Holy Land, shone like an auspicious pearl, her skin crystalline. Radiant light enveloped her, and her immortal form was slender and poised, like a divine lotus in full bloom. Her entire aura was ethereal, and her beautiful face remained perfectly serene as she closed her eyes, also sensing intently.

Above Ji Haoyue's head, the bright moon gently rotated, and a stream of moonlight, like rippling water, flowed downwards, surging towards Ye Fan.

However, just as before, the watery moonlight halted before Ye Fan, refusing to descend. It seemed to be obstructed.

The moon disk vibrated, as if a shower of large, pristine feathers were falling, each one sparkling. A faint clanging sound could be faintly heard.

Yet, it remained unchanged; the pristine moonlight was held suspended, unable to descend, confined by an invisible force directly in front of him.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The bright moon vibrated once more, and moon blades shot forth like radiant beams. Previously, various magical artifacts of the demon race were instantly shattered into dust by these blades. Now, Ji Haoyue directly unleashed them.

"Brother!" Ji Ziyue cried out, but her body was frozen in place, rendering her unable to intervene.

Hua Yunfei's expression shifted. He had once battled Ji Haoyue and naturally understood the power of these blades, yet the current events left everyone dumbfounded. The moon blades, swift as light and lightning, could not cut through. Although they pressed down, nearing Ye Fan, they remained obstructed.

By now, everyone wore expressions of shock. How could an unknown, minor cultivator possibly withstand the attack of a Divine Physique?

Everyone's gaze converged on Ye Fan, their faces betraying expressions of surprise and bewilderment.

Everyone understood that the "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon was not a hollow reputation; it was created by ancient powerful beings, possessing extraordinary might. Even seasoned cultivators found it difficult to contend with and could be easily vibrated into dust.

On that day, many great demons, including elder cultivators, were utterly helpless before the "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon, easily slain and shattered. Tearing apart mountains or obliterating the earth was effortless for it; this phenomenon was truly terrifying.

Yet, the scene unfolding at this very moment was utterly astonishing.

"My intuition was right," Ji Haoyue murmured to himself, "I knew something was off the moment I first saw him."

The bright moon above Ji Haoyue's head vibrated, slowly rotating, as a surging sea behind him sent towering waves rushing towards Ye Fan.

At this moment, Ye Fan felt a peculiar sensation. The golden Sea of Bitterness within him surged, and purple lightning intertwined, eager to burst forth, but he found himself unable to release it, not knowing how to guide its power.

Yet, an inexplicable force overflowed, blocking his opponent's phenomenon. Only Ye Fan himself truly understood what was transpiring.

This was the Desolate Ancient Saint Physique confronting the Eastern Wasteland Divine Physique! The azure ocean surged forward, capable of uprooting mountains, splitting the earth, and even immobilizing everything. It could ensnare cultivators of three Secret Realms as if they were mired in quicksand, unable to move.

However, the azure sea did not ensnare Ye Fan. Instead, it was held still before him. The colossal waves fell, the terrifying surges subsided, and in an instant, the waters became tranquil.

At this very moment, the bright moon began to slowly descend. This was the most powerful trump card of the "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon!

Legend had it that this bright moon could move mountains and fill seas, tear apart the firmament, shatter the earth, and easily slay cultivators one "Secret Realm" higher than its wielder, possessing unparalleled might.

The Sea of Wheels Secret Realm has four stages, and the Dao Palace Secret Realm has five. One can imagine how terrifying this phenomenon was, capable of slaying powerful cultivators across four or five stages—truly a rare and formidable phenomenon!

It was said that the "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon had no end, no limit. As long as the cultivator continued to improve their cultivation, this phenomenon would continuously sublimate, growing more terrifying in its later stages.

As the bright moon descended, it glowed brilliantly like jade, its light soft and gentle. It was as if fragmented crystals were scattering down, or perhaps like colorful glazed glass refracting radiant light.

The sky was filled with glittering brilliance, endless splendor swirling and dancing like falling snow. Transparent jade flowers seemed to descend, bathing the area in dazzling, multi-colored light and exuding auspicious radiance.

Ye Fan's body ached. His revered physique struggled to endure, feeling as though it was on the verge of shattering. Endless radiant light cascaded down, immobilizing him on the spot.

The bright moon slowly but powerfully pressed down, threatening to tear his body apart, shatter his soul, and obliterate his spiritual consciousness.

Unwilling, he knew that with his Saint Physique not yet fully cultivated, it was naturally difficult to resist a Divine Physique that had already cultivated three Secret Realms. This was purely a matter of cultivation, unrelated to the phenomenon itself.

This time, the moonlight fully enveloped Ye Fan. The bright moon hovered directly above his head, seeming capable of shattering his physique with but a single tremor.

*Rumble!*

Within Ye Fan's body, a vast ocean churned, lightning intertwined, finally vibrating forth a strange energy. This energy blocked the terrifying pressure, slowly eroding the external moonlight.

Simultaneously, he slowly pushed the bright moon upwards, causing it to steadily ascend.

Everyone present was utterly shocked; he had actually resisted the "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon. This was truly astounding!

Only Ye Fan himself groaned inwardly. He was on the verge of collapsing, having only barely managed to withstand the bright moon.

"My bright moon can complete nine rotations; this is merely the first. There are eight more; come, try it." A halo above Ji Haoyue's head shone dazzlingly, while eight more radiant rings shimmered faintly, connected together like a crown. He truly resembled a divine king descending to the mortal realm!

In fact, the emergence of a Divine Physique in the Eastern Wasteland was indeed likened to the descent of a divine king. Once it reached full mastery, it would be invincible, rarely encountering a worthy opponent, and could truly be called the Divine King of the Eastern Wasteland!

"Brother Haoyue, you can't do this!" Ji Ziyue cried out loudly. "He's only in the Divine Bridge realm, while you've already cultivated three Secret Realms. Of course, he won't be able to withstand it!"

"I only used a fraction of my divine power," Ji Haoyue stated. "Alright, I'll continue to suppress him, testing him with the strength of the Sea of Wheels Secret Realm." Ye Fan immediately felt a reduction in pressure. However, as the bright moon continued its rotation, he felt as if immense mountains were descending one after another. His body creaked and groaned, seeming on the verge of tearing apart on the spot.

As the bright moon completed its nine rotations, it radiated light in all directions, with streaks of auspicious glow swirling around it, causing Ye Fan's entire body to feel as if it would rupture.

Suddenly, a dazzling brilliance erupted from his Sea of Wheels, like a golden sun exploding, causing the bright moon to dim significantly.

*Thump!*

The silver bright moon shot straight up, recoiling backward and crashing into a nearby mountaintop.

"What kind of physique is this, to actually block a phenomenon like the 'Rising Moon over the Sea'?"

"How is this possible?!"

No one would doubt the terrifying power of the "Rising Moon over the Sea." The moon that flew out quickly demonstrated its might; upon crashing onto the mountaintop, silver light dispersed like rippling water, silently pulverizing the entire mountain into dust!

This completely changed the expressions of many; a Divine Physique unleashing the "Rising Moon over the Sea" phenomenon had actually been blocked by an unknown, minor cultivator. This seemed utterly fantastical.

At the same time, Ye Fan was also sent flying backward, only coming to a stop after colliding with a mountain wall several hundred meters away.

He sustained no harm, merely being sent flying by an immense force.

On the verdant grass, all the talented individuals found it impossible to remain calm.

"Why is this happening? He didn't exhibit any phenomenon, so how could he possibly contend with the 'Rising Moon over the Sea'?"

"Could he also possess a Divine Physique? Legend claims that only a Divine Physique can directly withstand the assault of such a phenomenon."

At this moment, Li Xiaoman was the most shocked. Only she understood that Ye Fan possessed the Desolate Ancient Saint Physique and had actually cultivated it to a stage where he could contend with a Divine Physique.

An even match!

Many people commented this.

Ji Haoyue rotated the bright moon with the power of his Sea of Wheels Secret Realm to suppress Ye Fan. The result was that the moon shot skyward, and Ye Fan was likewise sent flying.

To be evenly matched with the Eastern Wasteland Divine Physique was absolutely inconceivable, enough to drive people mad!

What terrifying physique did this unknown, minor cultivator possess? Many focused their gazes upon him.

Ji Haoyue was at his peak, yet a youth had resisted his phenomenon with his physical body. Everyone began to perceive Ye Fan's potential; if he were nurtured, he might indeed be able to contend with a Divine Physique!

For many, he was nothing short of a divine seedling, appearing to be only about fourteen years old and certainly worth cultivating.

"This is truly unbelievable; it's a miracle."

"Unfathomable, he actually blocked the Divine Physique's 'Rising Moon over the Sea' phenomenon."

Everyone stared at Ye Fan as if he were a precious treasure, making him feel somewhat unnerved. He felt a headache forming, sensing that this was a very unfavorable development.

Hua Yunfei's expression was serene as he plucked the zither strings. Immediately, a gentle, ethereal melody emerged, like a clear spring flowing. Everyone's agitated emotions gradually settled, and they began to take their seats.

Li Xiaoman's expression was complex. She cast a glance in that direction, then her demeanor returned to calmness.

Ji Ziyue sat adjacent to Ye Fan, not beside Ji Haoyue. However, this time, although the Eastern Wasteland Divine Physique frowned, he did not utter a word.

The Saintess of Yaoguang, resembling an auspicious pearl with crystalline skin, appeared as if a celestial fairy had mistakenly descended to the mortal realm. She sat one table away from Ye Fan and subtly nodded, conveying a hint of goodwill.

Relax yourself when tense, comfort yourself when troubled, and remember to wish yourself well when happy!