Chapter 148: Great Power—Peacock King

Water Cloud Lake, located beyond Mount Taixuan, had become a center of activity, drawing powerful figures such as Nangong Zheng and the Peacock King out of seclusion.

The unexpected emergence of the Bronze Immortal Palace beneath Water Cloud Lake drew countless cultivators, who flocked to it like moths to a divine lamp in the dark, compelled by its unparalleled mystical allure.

Important figures hoped to seize an opportunity for immortality, while ordinary cultivators simply yearned to witness the Immortal Palace's true form. Within the State of Wei, an air of anticipation and unrest grew.

After his escape, Ye Fan had no intention of returning. He had cast out the Bronze Immortal Palace to facilitate his getaway, thereby triggering immense chaos.

At that moment, he found himself in a predicament. He wished to traverse the void but was utterly unable to, with no conceivable method. "Difficult, difficult, difficult, is there truly no way?" He furrowed his brow, feeling completely at a loss.

The emergence of the Bronze Immortal Palace had an unimaginable impact, affecting not only the Southern Domain but also attracting powerful figures from the distant Northern Domain. From the Northern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland, representatives from the Jiang family and several other Holy Lands and aristocratic families had arrived.

"Once this matter concludes, the people from the Northern Domain will surely return. Can I leverage their influence?" Ye Fan began to explore the area, gathering information from various sources to identify which major Northern Domain powers had close relationships with other sects.

By then, Ye Fan was over 30,000 li away from Mount Taixuan, a considerable distance. Feeling secure, he stopped fleeing and instead gathered useful information from various cultivators he encountered.

As expected, the Holy Lands of the Northern Domain controlled several smaller forces in the Southern Domain, utilizing them as strategic pawns to facilitate their disciples' travels. Just as Ye Fan was meticulously preparing, a piece of news that sent shockwaves through the Southern Domain suddenly emerged.

After emerging from seclusion, the Peacock King, a great demon, did not head directly to the Bronze Immortal Palace. Instead, he confronted the Ji family, shattering their entrance plaque with a single palm strike and sending their main gate flying. This was undeniably a monumental event!

Aristocratic families, having inherited their legacy from the Desolate Ancient era, had always endured. Their foundations were unimaginably profound, and for countless eons, few had dared to provoke them at their very gates.

To shatter the entrance plaque and knock down the main gate of an aristocratic family from the Desolate Ancient era was an act of extreme severity, an unimaginable affront with dire consequences.

The news spread throughout the Southern Domain that very day, causing widespread uproar. The Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland was already a hotbed of activity, with the Immortal Palace's emergence drawing cultivators from all directions. This new turmoil further unsettled the region, creating a cacophony of discussions and unrest.

Who was the Peacock King? He was a great demon, a dominant force in the Southern Domain eight hundred years ago, sweeping all before him. After years of silence, everyone had presumed he had passed away, but now he had reappeared. His direct assault on an aristocratic family from the Desolate Ancient era shocked everyone; what exactly was his motive?

A figure of such eminence wielded unimaginable influence; every word and action was scrutinized, interpreted as a signal that could have far-reaching implications. Was it possible the demon race intended to wage war against humanity? People offered varied interpretations, and the Southern Domain immediately grew tense.

The Ji family, with its lineage tracing back to the Desolate Ancient era, stood as one of humanity's most formidable powers, a behemoth capable of annihilating countless nations. What exactly was the Peacock King's goal? Provoking the Ji family in such a manner would undoubtedly unleash unimaginable repercussions.

However, spiritual diviners soon revealed the underlying truth: the entire incident originated from the descendant of the Demon Emperor, and the Peacock King was acting on behalf of Yan Ruyu.

Several months prior, the Ji family had launched an encirclement operation in the State of Wei, targeting the demon race to seize the Demon Emperor's sacred weapon. Many powerful demons perished, but Yan Ruyu managed to break through and escape.

Although she was a descendant of a great Demon Emperor, ten thousand years had elapsed, bringing immense change. No matter how glorious her ancestry, such a legacy could not endure forever.

Yan Ruyu had traveled far, seeking refuge among powerful demons. Yet, few genuinely welcomed her, and some, upon learning she possessed the Demon Emperor's sacred weapon, even sought to seize it. Her predicament, despite being a descendant of a Demon Emperor, starkly revealed the callousness of the world.

When Yan Ruyu sought refuge with the Peacock King, the great demon was in deep seclusion. Upon receiving news of her plight, he immediately ended his 800-year retreat to meet her, unequivocally stating his intention to demand justice on her behalf.

Smashing the Ji family's entrance plaque and sending their main gate flying was already an extraordinarily grave act, one that might not occur even once in several millennia.

The Peacock King refrained from forcing his way into the Ji family, understanding that such a colossal power was unfathomable; entanglement would make even a great demon's escape difficult. Enraged, the Ji family issued a kill order that very day, deploying all their renowned masters to encircle and eliminate the Peacock King. Regardless of the Peacock King's fame or his dominance of the Southern Domain eight centuries ago, the Ji family could not tolerate this affront.

It was common knowledge that the foundations of Holy Lands and Desolate Ancient aristocratic families were immeasurable. Even in their weakest moments, peerless masters invariably emerged during critical times to avert disaster. This was especially true for the Ji family, currently at its zenith and unfathomably powerful; they would undoubtedly pursue the Peacock King. "This is truly a monumental event; the Peacock King clearly intends to assert his dominance!" "In a direct confrontation, the Ji family possesses an overwhelming number of masters and would surely be irresistible. However, the Peacock King wouldn't passively await defeat, so it will likely end inconclusively." "The Peacock King is a being known as a great demon. It's difficult to predict who will ultimately suffer losses, though the Ji family certainly holds the initiative, given their immense power." Everyone debated the matter, with opinions varying widely.

Ye Fan felt a chill within him. While the Peacock King's might was conceivable, the Ji family's transcendent power was unfathomable. He could, however, deduce certain truths from the myriad conversations among cultivators.

Just a day later, news that rocked the Southern Domain arrived: the Peacock King had suddenly appeared in the State of Wei and brutally shattered a Grand Elder of the Ji family who had been a guest at Mount Taixuan.

This was nothing short of an earthquake. The moment the news broke, everyone gasped in shock. It became clear that the Peacock King was preparing for a full-scale confrontation, far beyond merely shattering a plaque or humiliating the Ji family.

What kind of being was a Grand Elder of the Ji family? They were undeniably true luminaries, capable of shaking an entire region with a mere stomp of their foot. They were rarely slain due to the immense repercussions such an act would entail.

The Peacock King, remarkably, had brutally killed a Ji family Grand Elder in front of numerous witnesses, reducing him to shattered pieces. This was an utter tempest, an unimaginable catastrophe. "The Peacock King is far too powerful; he utterly dismembered the Ji family's Grand Elder…" "How profound the cultivation of Grand Elders from great powers inherited from the Desolate Ancient era is, is unfathomable. Yet, the Peacock King still managed to slay him, which truly sends shivers down one's spine…" All cultivators were awestruck, feeling waves of coldness as they discussed the event. "It's not surprising that the Peacock King possesses such combat prowess. One must remember that eight hundred years ago, he dominated the Southern Domain with hardly any rivals." "Indeed, he is a being referred to as a great demon. What defines a great demon? Boundless magical power, sweeping all before them—that is what a great demon is."

The Peacock King's actions reverberated throughout the Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland, prompting people to unearth and recount his past exploits.

Ancient tales and a series of breathtaking battles left onlookers dumbfounded. Since his emergence, the Peacock King had never suffered a single defeat in the Southern Domain, which was precisely why he was revered as a great demon.

It can be said that eight hundred years ago, his glorious achievements were countless, many of them utterly astonishing and deeply impactful.

For ordinary cultivators, a lifespan typically extends to just over a century. Eight hundred years, for many, was an incredibly long span of time!

Perhaps, when merely read, it appears as nothing more than a number or a symbol. Yet, upon closer reflection, it represents a significant stretch of history.

Upon hearing the mention of "eight hundred years," Ye Fan's thoughts drifted to the other side of the starry sky. Going back eight centuries would place one in the Song Dynasty, a testament to how ancient and distant that period was.

Reviewing historical records, people discovered that the Peacock King was indeed extraordinary. Killing the Grand Elders of major powers was not a new feat for him; eight hundred years prior, he had already slain two highly renowned figures from the Yaoguang Holy Land.

That incident caused a massive uproar, leading to him being relentlessly pursued by the Yaoguang Holy Land for fifty years, yet they never managed to kill him.

During that era, he endured countless battles, effectively deterring the Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland. The most influential of these was his world-renowned confrontation with the Yaoguang Holy Lord—a cataclysmic battle that shook the heavens and earth, casting the sun and moon into shadow.

The Peacock King and the Yaoguang Holy Lord battled intensely for three days and three nights, ultimately ending in a stalemate. Though a draw, this outcome was enough to establish the Peacock King's supreme prestige, considering the Holy Land Lord was the most revered figure in the Eastern Wasteland.

He then retreated afar. It was precisely that battle that cemented his unparalleled reputation, leading to his reverence as a great demon. With their Grand Elder slain, the Ji family was incandescent with rage!

Several prominent figures of the Ji family, who had initially planned to visit the Bronze Immortal Palace, immediately altered their course to pursue the Peacock King. The Ji family patriarch himself even emerged from seclusion, intent on personally slaying the great demon.

While the Peacock King might contend with the Ji family's elite, he could not withstand the might of such an enormous force, forcing him to retreat after each strike. Would he cease his actions now? Perhaps he would fall silent once more—this was the prevailing assumption.

However, new reports soon emerged: the Peacock King had struck again, slaying several renowned Ji family experts who had been guarding Ji Haoyue. He was, in fact, attempting to eradicate the Ji family's Divine Body.

This act surpassed all prior provocations in gravity. Everyone understood what a Divine Body represented: it was the Ji family's future guardian deity, the very foundation of their potential prosperity for thousands of years, their lifeblood.

Even knowing the potential threat posed by the Divine Body, no major power dared to eliminate it, as such an act would drive the Ji family into an unyielding, vengeful frenzy. Yet, the Peacock King was utterly relentless, directly attempting to extinguish the Ji family's hope by killing the future Divine King of the Eastern Wasteland!

It could be said that he had utterly provoked the Ji family's deepest fury. Simultaneously, the Ji family was in a state of extreme unease, rapidly dispatching a large number of powerful experts for search and rescue operations. The Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland was in utter turmoil, with various rumors circulating. "Ji Haoyue is indeed remarkable, truly worthy of being the Eastern Wasteland's Divine Body and a future Divine King. He wasn't instantly killed and managed to escape using a secret art." "The latest news confirms that the last renowned expert protecting Ji Haoyue has also been slain. Ji Haoyue escaped alone, with the Peacock King in relentless pursuit, seemingly determined to extinguish the Ji family's hope."

Although the Ji family was powerful and a deterrent across the Eastern Wasteland, they did not control every inch of territory. They were unable to locate Ji Haoyue quickly or establish contact, forced instead to pursue him by tracing the trail of the slain experts' bodies.

"It's over! The Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland is about to be turned upside down. If anything happens to the Divine Body, the Ji family will undoubtedly raze this entire land!" "To dare provoke even the Ji family, the Peacock King's divine power is truly unfathomable!"

No one could definitively say how many years the Peacock King, a being comparable to an ancient great demon, had existed, nor the true extent of his formidable magical power. Some speculated that his lifespan was nearing its end, which explained his fearless actions. Ye Fan, however, felt these events were unrelated to him and paid them little mind.

He arrived at a small mountain village where chickens crowed and dogs barked, verdant vegetable gardens thrived, and scattered fishponds dotted the landscape. As he walked through, he suddenly heard an extremely faint call: "Little brat…"