Chapter 151: Different Paths

The Peacock King’s eyes were clear as water, his hair soft and ethereal, each strand light. He was as handsome and elegant as a snow lotus on an iceberg. He said, "Are you suggesting we join forces to enter the Bronze Immortal Hall and seek death? I haven't lived long enough yet."

Nangong Zheng, with his silver hair gently swaying, stood tall in mid-air, enveloped by a shower of petals. Lush green plants surrounded him, vibrant with life. He said, "Don't you want to glimpse the opportunity to become an immortal? You've been in seclusion for eight hundred years; isn't this emergence for that very purpose?"

The Peacock King sneered, "Since ancient times, how many peerless experts have lost their lives to that Bronze Hall? I've never heard of anyone achieving immortality through it. Rather than an immortal hall, it's more like a tomb, a graveyard for the mighty of the Eastern Wasteland."

"To achieve immortality, one naturally faces a near-certain death; otherwise, why would ancient sages sigh in vain?" Nangong Zheng said with a solemn expression, "If you and I join forces to enter the Bronze Immortal Hall, we can fight for life or death, contend for immortality. That's surely better than ending in obscurity."

The Peacock King stood with his hands behind his back and said, "I've roamed the world, challenged Sacred Lords with my sword, and lived a life of joy. Where is the loneliness in that? Even if I die, it's nothing."

Nangong Zheng continued, "You possess the spirited vigor of your prime, but do you not also lament time's irreversible flow? In the end, it's all but a fleeting dream, an empty illusion. Who will remember you a thousand years from now? You'll be nothing more than a passing wisp of smoke. If you don't become an immortal, you'll ultimately be nothing." The Peacock King replied, "What others think, or what happens a thousand years after my death, has nothing to do with me. I only know that what's before me is real. To pursue immortality for a lifetime, to cling to a lifelong obsession only to end up empty-handed, that is truly pitiful."

Nangong Zheng shook his head and said gravely, "Shedding the mortal coil and achieving eternal freedom is the great wish of our generation. Why do you deceive yourself?"

The Peacock King let out a hearty laugh that shook the sky. He said, "Let me ask you: has the Eastern Wasteland ever truly produced an immortal from ancient times until now? Don't tell me about those few mentioned in ancient texts; their whereabouts are too peculiar to be reliable.""Of course, there have been immortals. Aren't those immortals who died by the Desolate Pagoda considered immortals?" Nangong Zheng, with hair as white as snow, stood grandly in mid-air."Have you ever seen one with your own eyes?" the Peacock King countered."No."The Peacock King said, "One doesn't need to be an immortal to be mighty. I soar above the world, so how am I deceiving myself?"

Beside them, Ye Fan felt that the Peacock King was very uninhibited, not particularly valuing whether he became an immortal or not. Nangong Zheng's words, though, were profound, indicating he was no ordinary person, truly worthy of being called a Human Race Grand Expert.

Ji Ziyue's large eyes darted around as she mumbled, "It's outrageous! They're legendary figures, with ages measured in hundreds and thousands of years, yet they look so young, even handsomer than my brother!"The Peacock King then asked in a deep voice, "Nangong Zheng, you've said so much; is it all empty talk? Are you trying to interfere and obstruct my actions?"

"The Ji family patriarch once told me that if I happened to encounter you, whoever among their siblings I rescued, they would be given to me as a disciple to inherit my legacy. I am about to enter the Bronze Immortal Hall, and I don't have a successor yet, so I wish to fulfill this aspiration." Around Nangong Zheng, petals blossomed, making him appear otherworldly and refined.

"Nangong Zheng, do you truly intend to act? Think it through carefully!" The Peacock King's eyes suddenly turned sharp, and a powerful aura, like a volcanic eruption, surged upwards, piercing the sky."Peacock King, as an old acquaintance, I urge you to stop. Join me in seeking the opportunity for immortality. Otherwise, your magnificent life might end in obscurity," Nangong Zheng advised.

"What arrogance! Has the Ji family's Sacred Lord arrived nearby, ready to join you in suppressing me?" The Peacock King's eyes blazed with intimidating divine light."He doesn't know you're here," Nangong Zheng paused slightly before continuing, "Not only is the Ji family's Sacred Lord searching, but the Sacred Lord of Yaoguang has also personally emerged from seclusion."

"I anticipated this. Let's see what they can do to me. If I, as a Grand Expert, don't stand up for my kin who have been wronged, I would be ashamed to face the Demon Race." The Peacock King sneered, "Eight hundred years ago, I dominated the Southern Domain. Eight hundred years later, they still can't suppress me.""Great powers inherited from the Desolate Ancient Era have unfathomably deep foundations. Perhaps someone will truly step forward and personally deal with you...""Unless they dig up their ancestral graves and resurrect the deceased Divine Kings!" The Peacock King's eyes became sharp as lightning, his demeanor dramatically changed. He declared, "If you want to stop me, let's speak with our strength!"

Rich, sweet floral scents wafted gently towards them, and countless petals danced in the air, glowing brilliantly. Nangong Zheng appeared solemn and dignified, as transcendent as a god-buddha holding a flower. Behind him, a towering ancient tree grew, reaching high into the sky.

"In that case, excuse me for offending!"

"You and I should have had this battle long ago!" Although the Peacock King looked like a boy of sixteen or seventeen, at this moment, he was like a peerless sword drawn from its scabbard, his imposing aura causing skin to prickle, his fighting intent soaring to the heavens.Suddenly, the Peacock King opened his Heavenly Eye, and a divine glow shot from the center of his forehead, instantly entering Ji Ziyue's body."Oh no! Peacock King, what are you doing?!" Ji Ziyue cried out in alarm."It's nothing. He merely left a mark to find you later. Now, quickly leave!" Nangong Zheng transmitted to the two."Go!" Ye Fan pulled Ji Ziyue and shot into the sky. Two Grand Experts were about to clash here; the consequences would surely be earth-shattering.

Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue flew a great distance, yet they could still feel the surging fluctuations behind them, like a vast ocean churning, which deeply astonished them.

Looking back, Ji Ziyue opened her mouth in astonishment and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, there are so many suns!" In the distant sky, multiple blazing suns hung, dazzlingly bright. It was impossible to tell which was the real sun and which was manifested by the Grand Experts."There's an extra layer of blue sky!" Right there, the sky had split into two layers, both equally clear and blue."This is... Stars Illuminating the Blue Sky!"

The Grand Experts' phenomena—"Stars Illuminating the Blue Sky"—was truly astonishing! Each star was as scorching as a sun, utterly shocking the world! Beneath the blue sky, the stars, viewed directly, were as vast as colossal mountains, resplendent and dazzling, their light shaking the heavens!

Suddenly, a gigantic ancient tree burst from the ground, soaring into the firmament as if to split the sky. Its canopy was so enormous it blotted out the sun. "That's the legendary Jianmu tree! Nangong Zheng actually manifested it!" Ji Ziyue was very surprised, her large eyes filled with disbelief.

The Jianmu tree, whether on the other side of the starry sky or in this world, was steeped in endless legends. According to ancient texts, it was a sacred tree worshipped by ancient ancestors, located at the center of heaven and earth, serving as a bridge connecting heaven, earth, humans, and immortals. Manifesting such a phenomenon and using it to cleave the sky was naturally possible!

Beside that ancient tree, many divine grasses and exotic trees vibrated, dripping with vibrant green, manifesting endless vitality, like a living landscape painting. This was an unknown phenomenon, and Nangong Zheng, as a Human Race Grand Expert, truly lived up to his reputation, inspiring awe.A low hum vibrated.

Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue felt a wave of dizziness; they were actually thrown backward, their blood and qi churning, by a terrifying roar.

The distant sky was hazy, and different phenomena appeared again. Moreover, the two Grand Experts charged at each other, unleashing supreme secret arts, and the real battle began."There are other phenomena..." Ji Ziyue's eyes gleamed with excitement; she really wanted to keep watching, but she knew that escaping was the most crucial thing at that moment. A confrontation between Grand Experts was an unparalleled war, extremely rare to witness.

Ye Fan felt regret, but he activated a mysterious footwork, no longer looking back. He pulled her and charged away with full force, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

They continued to soar without stopping until they were hundreds of miles away, only then letting out a long breath. However, they still did not stop, choosing a direction and continuing their escape.

"I really want to see the Peacock King's supreme divine power, shaking mountains and rivers, plucking stars and seizing the moon," Ye Fan muttered to himself. From Ji Ziyue's few words, he had already sensed the overwhelming strength of this Grand Expert, and he longed to witness such world-dominating prowess.

"He... never mind!" Ji Ziyue was still deeply shaken. The Peacock King's roar had shattered even a renowned Ji family elder, and the thought of his might still sent shivers down her spine. She then said, "I, on the other hand, want to see the heroic bearing of that majestic white-haired man..."Then a new, cold voice spoke from ahead: "What great luck! To have the Peacock King appear in this region, and they still managed to escape..." On a mountaintop, a man in hemp robes soared up, holding a five-story silver pagoda, blocking their path. At the same time, figures ascended from all directions, appearing on all sides and cutting off the pair's escape. A soft hiss emanated from the air.

Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue gasped, as a total of six cultivators, all extraordinary, had surrounded them.

They were precisely the individuals who had pursued them through the domain gate not long ago. Although their faces were obscured by mist, preventing a clear view of their true appearance, their voices suggested they were all middle-aged men, and all were formidable opponents."The Phoenix-crowned Lightning Bird couldn't take your lives either, you truly have great luck..." Ji Ziyue quipped.

Aside from the man in hemp robes holding the silver pagoda, the other five were all tattered and their skin was scorched and foul-smelling, clearly having suffered heavy losses."Kill them!" The man in hemp robes waved his hand, saying nothing further, acting decisively to eliminate the two right there.

Powerful fluctuations immediately surged from all directions as those individuals unleashed their weapons, and some displayed secret arts, attacking the two.

Ji Ziyue's injuries had not yet recovered, and she was still very weak, making it difficult for her to fight.

Ye Fan relied on his speed, dodging left and right, quickly descending towards the ground. The opponents definitely surpassed the 'Other Shore' realm; he couldn't confront them head-on and could only choose to escape."Don't even dream of escaping. This time next year, I'll burn spirit money for you..."

The man in hemp robes personally made his move. The silver pagoda in his hand rapidly expanded, shimmering indistinctly. The five-story ancient pagoda, comparable to a small mountain, descended with terrifying might, suppressing them.

Ji Ziyue whispered into Ye Fan's ear, "Quickly transfer divine power to me! I have a secret treasure within me that can help us break through."

Ye Fan said nothing more, directly transferring divine power into her. Ji Ziyue immediately became incredibly sacred, radiating peculiar colorful light, which actually resisted the pressure of the five-story ancient pagoda. With a whoosh,

the next moment, the two moved like flickering light, like leaping shadows, constantly flashing, evading various secret art attacks, and bursting out.

They moved like a streak of lightning traveling through a thunderstorm, piercing through dark clouds. With a few flashes, they were about to break free from the encirclement.A piercing hum vibrated. The hemp-robed man spread all five fingers, which grew as large as small mountains, instantly reaching before them, warping the void itself. Ye Fan's expression changed; this person was terrifying!

Ji Ziyue's expression also changed. This hemp-robed man was extremely formidable, seemingly impossible to shake off. Anxiously, she transmitted a message: "Listen carefully, you hairy boy, I will transmit to you the complete incantation for the Great Void Art, so you can hide in the void!"