Chapter 150: Two Great Powers

It was truly astonishing that such a beautiful young man, who appeared almost delicate, was actually the Peacock King, renowned throughout the Southern Domain. Faced with such a formidable power, Ye Fan had no intention of fighting to the death; with just a flick of his thumb, the Peacock King could shatter space, and killing him and Ji Ziyue would require no effort at all.

"I came for you," the Peacock King said, his eyes as clear as water, watching Ye Fan quietly, like a youth unfamiliar with the ways of the world. Behind Ye Fan, Ji Ziyue's beautiful eyes were wide open as she asked, filled with doubt and astonishment, "Aren't you here to kill me?"

The Peacock King offered no reply. He remained very silent, like a jade tree covered in snow, giving off a gentle aura that belied his immense power. "You came for me, but for what purpose?" Ye Fan had a vague suspicion.

"The Demon Emperor's Sacred Heart." The Peacock King uttered just these four words, confirming Ye Fan's prediction.

This put Ye Fan in a difficult position. That day, when he had extracted the sacred blood, the ruby-red heart had suddenly unsealed itself, regained vitality, began to beat rapidly, and then shot through the air and vanished. "What happened?" "It... flew away on its own," Ye Fan replied, bracing himself. The explanation sounded rather unconvincing. However, the Peacock King merely nodded. "You... believe that?" Ye Fan asked. "Yes, I believe it, because I saw it fly back into the hands of the Demon Emperor's descendant."

Ye Fan was astonished. That ancient heart was indeed sentient, having actually returned to Yan Ruyu's hands. He couldn't help but ask, "Since it has already returned, why are you still looking for me?"

"I want to understand why it flew away," the Peacock King said, smiling. He looked directly into Ye Fan's Sea of Suffering, as if trying to penetrate the mist and see everything within.

Although Ye Fan knew he couldn't stop such a powerful being from acting, he didn't want his secrets to be easily uncovered. Immediately, his Sea of Suffering became desolate, without a single ripple. The Peacock King, a smile on his face, walked leisurely towards him. He displayed no terrifying aura, appearing calm and at ease, yet his presence exerted immense psychological pressure.

Ji Ziyue spoke up clearly, "You are a legendary powerful being; you shouldn't bully us like this. You should go trouble the Saint Lord of Yaoguang! You fought him to a draw in the past; after all, you haven't defeated him yet."

"How about I go trouble your Ji Family Patriarch instead?" the Peacock King replied with a faint smile. His words, coming from someone who looked sixteen or seventeen, created a strange, unsettling impression.

"Who taught you the footwork you just used?" The Peacock King's smile vanished, and for the first time, a serious expression appeared on his face. "It was taught by the Old Madman," Ye Fan replied truthfully. "It truly was him, and he actually passed it on to you!" Two sharp, intimidating beams of light shot from the Peacock King's eyes. Only at this moment did his true formidable power become apparent, his gaze as sharp as knives.

"Senior, you must have met the Old Madman before, right? He's currently at the Taixuan Sect." Ye Fan had absolute confidence in the Old Madman; having lived for six thousand years and still unharmed, even a powerful being like the Peacock King was likely no match for him. "Unfortunately, I couldn't meet him. He disappeared several days ago," the Peacock King said, seeming a little regretful.

The Old Madman, who had been covered by a cocoon and in deep slumber, had suddenly vanished. Had he broken out of his cocoon? And where had he gone? Ye Fan was eager to find out.

"I'm very interested in your physique; I'd like to study it," the Peacock King said, pausing slightly. "However, since the Old Madman has passed it on to you, I won't make things difficult for you."

Beside them, Ji Ziyue's large eyes gleamed. What kind of person was the Old Madman? He had been nearly unrivaled six thousand years ago, and Ye Fan actually had some connection with him. This greatly astonished her. "However, since we have met, it would be truly regrettable if we were to let this chance pass," the Peacock King said. With a wave of his hand, the entire sky instantly darkened.

Originally, the blazing sun had been high in the sky, illuminating everything. Yet, with a flick of his wrist, he had brought forth the night. Such a display of power filled their hearts with awe. In the pitch-black night sky, countless stars glittered, like diamonds embedded in the dark expanse. "I'm not really making things difficult for you," he continued. "Whether or not you can cross this night sky, I will let you leave. I simply want to see how powerful your physique truly is." "This is a Sea of Suffering phenomenon... 'Stars Shining on the Azure Sky'!" Ji Ziyue exclaimed, extremely surprised.

The Peacock King conjured it with a casual wave of his hand; it was simple and effortless. This was a legendary and extremely powerful phenomenon, yet he didn't even need to manifest it through his Sea of Suffering. "These are just some faint, small stars," the Peacock King said indifferently, with a hint of a smile. "I said I wouldn't make things difficult for you; this isn't the complete phenomenon."

At this moment, Ye Fan felt as if he were standing under a starry sky. Stars glittered, then began to grow larger, slowly pressing down on him. A deep rumbling filled the air. The sky seemed to crumble and the earth to split. Each star rapidly expanded, becoming as heavy as mountains and dazzlingly bright, illuminating the entire firmament! They no longer looked like individual stars, but rather like blazing suns.

Ye Fan was horrified. What kind of phenomenon was this? Each star was so terrifying and awe-inspiring, seemingly capable of completely destroying the earth, exerting an unparalleled, immense pressure. His spirit was shaken, his body crackled, and all his joints trembled under the tremendous pressure. Even though the stars were infinitely distant and hadn't truly descended yet, they were already so terrifying. It was unimaginable what immense power they truly held. "When people discussed phenomena," Ye Fan thought, "they always mentioned how incredibly powerful those created by ancient powerful beings were. The Peacock King before me is a true powerful being; his phenomenon is indeed terrifying..."

Ye Fan was deeply shaken. The opponent was clearly suppressing the power, having stated that these were merely some faint, small stars, and had not even fully revealed the so-called "Azure Sky," yet it was already this terrifying. How truly terrifying was the complete "Stars Shining on the Azure Sky" phenomenon? The myriad stars in the sky trembled, and Ye Fan struggled to walk on the ground. His body emitted a rumbling sound like a tsunami, as if unwilling to be suppressed. Furthermore, lightning intertwined around him, as if he had arrived at the initial era of creation, and strange power flowed from his Sea of Suffering. Ye Fan's heart stirred. He now gradually understood that the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body was exceptionally resistant to phenomena; it would react unusually when subjected to suppression. Whether it was the "Moon Rising Over the Sea" last time, or this "Stars Shining on the Azure Sky," both caused his physique to react, releasing an inexplicable, strange power. Ye Fan advanced under the starry sky, step by step, leaving a series of deep footprints on the ground.

The stars had not fallen; they swirled with light above, like the primordial energy of creation or cosmic nebulae, surging towards Ye Fan. "Crack!" Ye Fan felt as if he were carrying a great mountain on his back, with the azure sky on his head. The ground beneath his feet was cracking, and his entire skeleton vibrated continuously, a clanging sound echoing from his bones.

With a violent tremor, Ye Fan found his vision filled with light; he had walked out of the night. Looking around, the starry sky had vanished, replaced only by large cracks on the ground, all extending from his footprints. "Excellent! This physique truly lives up to its reputation," the Peacock King said, nodding. A strange light flickered in his eyes, and he showed a smile of approval.

"He has passed the test; you can let him go," Ji Ziyue said, lifting her head proudly and standing gracefully. She had now calmed down, no longer showing any fear. "As for me, if you want to kill me, then kill me. I'm not afraid."

"You little girl certainly have some backbone," the Peacock King said, his hands clasped behind his back, his handsome face showing no expression. "It would be a pity to kill you. It's rare to see a physique like yours; to kill you now would be an act of utter destruction."

"Does that mean you'll spare me?" Ji Ziyue asked, her large eyes fluttering with captivating light. "The Peacock King truly has a broad mind, worthy of being a legendary powerful senior. Ziyue expresses her gratitude here." "You little girl are quick to seize an opportunity! When did I say I was going to let you go?" the Peacock King replied with a faint smile. "But you clearly said it would be a pity to kill me..." Ji Ziyue mumbled softly, though she dared not protest further.

"Senior, the fault is not hers," Ye Fan interceded. "If you want to kill someone, go after the Ji Family's Grand Elders. What does a little girl like her know? There's no need to involve her."

"Are you so great yourself?" the Peacock King asked, glancing back at Ye Fan. Then, he looked at Ji Ziyue and said, "I will spare your life, but you must come with me. Don't go back to the Ji family. You can perfectly complement the Demon Emperor's descendant."

Ji Ziyue was startled. Going with a powerful being of the demon race was something she had never even considered. "No, please!" she pleaded pitifully. "I've never killed anyone, nor have I done anything bad. I haven't even stepped on an ant..." "Your Ji family has gone too far," the Peacock King stated. "They killed my clansmen and hunted down the Demon Emperor's descendant. I must teach them a lesson. If I take you, I believe they will surely regret what they've done." "What about my brother Haoyue? You didn't kill him, did you?" Ji Ziyue asked nervously. "The Divine Body is indeed extraordinary, but he won't escape," the Peacock King replied. "Please don't kill brother Haoyue! He's a Divine Body; it would be an even greater pity to just kill him like that..." Ji Ziyue pleaded. "What if he's a Divine Body?" the Peacock King said nonchalantly. "It is said that the Old Madman personally slew the Divine King of the Eastern Barren, who had cultivated to grand accomplishment. My lifespan won't last long enough for that, so I can only kill a Divine Body that hasn't fully matured yet, to fulfill a wish."

Beside him, Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue were utterly stunned. The Old Madman was truly incredible; even the Divine King of the Eastern Barren, who had cultivated to grand accomplishment, was slain by him. This was truly appalling. "What exactly happened to my brother?" Ji Ziyue asked, extremely uneasy. "My eldest disciple has gone to capture him. I'm waiting for your Ji Family Patriarch to come to his rescue," the Peacock King said calmly. His words were startling; he was truly worthy of being a powerful demon being, possessing such grand ambition. Eight hundred years ago, he had fought a great battle with the Saint Lord of Yaoguang, and now he was going to directly confront the Ji Family Patriarch.

Just then, the Peacock King looked towards the horizon and said, "Nangong Zheng, since you've arrived, why don't you show yourself?"

In the sky, petals danced, each one crystal clear. A grand path, paved with fresh flowers, came rushing straight from the horizon. Waves of fragrant aroma filled the air, invigorating the spirit.

Dazzling radiance filled the air as the flower path radiated auspicious colors, quickly arriving before them. Standing upon it was a man in green robes, his figure tall and upright, his eyes like stars, and his white hair like snow. He stood proudly, appearing exceptionally magnificent.

It was the legendary human powerful being, Nangong Zheng. He cultivated the Longevity Art, made plants his home, satisfied his hunger with flowers, and was never without plants by his side. "After an eight-hundred-year separation, Peacock King, your demeanor remains as impressive as ever," Nangong Zheng said. "Recalling those years, when you fought the heroes of the Southern Domain and had a decisive battle with the Saint Lord of Yaoguang, full of heroic spirit, those earth-shattering scenes still seem vivid before my eyes." Nangong Zheng appeared to be no more than twenty-something years old. He had a towering figure, handsome features, white hair like snow, and possessed an exceptionally unique aura.

"What's the point of saying all that?" the Peacock King said, standing with his hands behind his back. "Are you trying to meddle, Nangong Zheng?" "Peacock King, a transcendent being like you, why resort to such drastic measures?" Nangong Zheng replied. "Why not just drop this matter and join forces with me to enter the Bronze Immortal Palace?"

"This is just ridiculous!" Ji Ziyue mumbled softly. "The Peacock King has immense magical power, capable of making rivers and mountains tremble with a roar, yet he's a delicate-looking youth. And Nangong Zheng befriends plants and accompanies flowers, yet he's so heroic and magnificent. They should really be arrested and made to sweep floors, plant flowers, wash vegetables, and cook!" "What kind of thoughts are in your head...?" Ye Fan, standing beside her, couldn't help but gently tap her head upon hearing this.