Chapter 156: Famous Throughout the Southern Region

Ye Fan knew he had caused immense trouble, making the Southern Domain extremely dangerous for him. The Ji family was too vast, with a long history, deep foundations, and countless masters; they would never let him go unpunished.

This time, he had killed the old steward, Ji Ren, and even destroyed one of Ji Hui's spirit imprints. This hadn't solved the problem; instead, the Ji family's reaction would be even more intense. Hiding was his only option now.

The Great Void Technique was one of the core principles of the Void Ancient Scripture, and the Ji family could absolutely not tolerate its leakage. Even if a Saint Lord of Yaoguang obtained it, the Ji family would find a way to reclaim it, let alone a minor cultivator like Ye Fan. In recent days, he had heard many pieces of news, all of which had shaken the Southern Domain.

The battle between the Peacock King and Nangong Zheng had concluded, leaving the mountain range scorched and barren. However, the outside world did not know who had emerged stronger, as both mighty figures had vanished by the time people arrived.

The Saint Lord of Yaoguang and the Saint Lord of the Ji family had jointly set out to pursue the Peacock King across the Southern Domain, vowing to kill him. This caused immense stir, but the Peacock King remained elusive for the time being.

The Bronze Immortal Palace appeared and disappeared intermittently, shrouded by Xuanhuang energy, and was about to sink into the depths of the Eastern Wasteland. However, no peerless powerful individuals had ventured deep inside yet, as grand figures had concerns and were making final preparations.

It was rumored that Ji Haoyue, the Divine Body of the Ji family, had suffered severe injuries and was almost killed. His whereabouts were currently unknown, and many were secretly searching for him.

The Tianxuan Holy Land, which had long turned to dust, had only one survivor, the Mad Old Man. He had been in a cocoon-like slumber in Taixuan, guarded by many powerful cultivators. However, when he emerged from the cocoon, no one noticed, and he mysteriously disappeared, shocking everyone. Throughout the Southern Domain, undercurrents surged, with major forces dispatching powerful individuals to investigate various matters.

Ye Fan gave a bitter smile. Currently, two people in the Southern Domain were in the most precarious situations: Ji Haoyue and himself. Ji Haoyue, with his newly formed Divine Body, was already considered a strong cultivator and would survive as long as he didn't encounter the Peacock King. However, Ye Fan's Sacred Body was not yet complete, and if he were discovered, he would be in extreme danger. The Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland was far from peaceful, with shocking events potentially erupting at any moment.

"Ji family, descended from the Primordial Era, if you intend to exterminate me, don't blame me for being ruthless," Ye Fan declared with a cold expression, ready for a fight to the death. "I will spread the Great Void Technique throughout the world. I don't believe you dare to slaughter the entire population of the Southern Domain!"

This was because, in the past two days, he had clearly felt that the atmosphere was wrong. While Ji family elders were searching for Ji Haoyue, even more young powerhouses had also been dispatched, frantically scouring every inch of the land.

Of course, that was just the worst-case scenario. The Southern Domain was vast, and Ye Fan didn't believe he could be found if he hid in some remote mountain corner.

For the past few days, he had been stealthily moving through desolate wilderness, shifting from one location to another, fearing he hadn't completely shaken off his pursuers. This life of constant flight was difficult, as he had to be vigilant at all times, terrified of being discovered by the Ji family.

It wasn't until the seventh day that Ye Fan finally stopped. He didn't know which region he had reached, but he entered a deep mountain where ancient trees obscured the sun. He decided to quietly cultivate there, waiting for the commotion to completely subside before leaving the Southern Domain for good. It was simply too dangerous outside; he could only temporarily go into hiding.

Ye Fan prepared to cultivate in peace, hoping to reach the other shore realm soon. Above his Sea of Bitterness, a divine vein stretched across the sky, crystal clear and radiant like a rainbow, seemingly ready to penetrate beyond the Wheel Sea.

With the Heavenly Vein formed and the Divine Bridge spanning the void, reaching the other shore realm was only a matter of time. What he needed now was accumulation.

He possessed a pure "Source" stone, as large as a fist, shimmering with iridescent light. However, Ye Fan did not intend to use it now, saving it for when he would attempt to break through to the other shore realm.

Such a large Source stone contained an unimaginable amount of vital essence. In the past, it would have been enough to raise him a whole realm. However, as Old Man Wu Qingfeng had said, cultivation became increasingly difficult in the later stages, requiring ten times the cost of the initial stages. This Source stone could help him break through; if refined at the peak of the Divine Bridge realm, it would certainly allow him to advance to the other shore realm in one go.

Over the next few days, Ye Fan began to comprehend the various cultivation methods he had practiced. The Wheel Sea Scroll of the Dao Scripture was his foundation, the origin of his path of cultivation.

This method contained no secret techniques or killing moves; it was purely about unleashing potential. Although it lacked secret arts like the Great Void Technique, it was revered as the most powerful chapter for cultivating the Wheel Sea, and for good reason: it emphasized foundation!

Now, most of the writing on that golden page had disappeared, with very few characters remaining, and many of the star-like ancient words had been completely erased.

Faintly, this aligned with Ye Fan's cultivation realm; the disappearing characters were all parts that he had fully mastered. He speculated that once he reached the complete other shore realm, there would be no ancient characters left on this scroll of the Dao Scripture.

Besides the golden scroll, the Nine Secrets, the Old Madman's footwork, and the Great Void Technique were the three supreme secret arts he had mastered. In their respective domains, no other technique could surpass them.

For several days, Ye Fan continuously pondered these three secret arts. He knew too few techniques, and these were his ultimate life-saving skills.

The cauldron was still unformed and required time to temper. However, it was imaginable that with the accumulation of the Mother Qi of All Things, once the cauldron was complete, it would be invincible.

Ye Fan didn't want to add a name to the cauldron, feeling that the single word "Cauldron" was enough to represent everything. Names like "Xuanhuang Cauldron" or "Mother Qi of All Things Cauldron" simply weren't as clear as just "Cauldron."

Ye Fan drank a significant amount of divine spring water, cultivating quietly and gaining many insights. The Heavenly Vein above the Wheel Sea had grown longer, and reaching the mysterious other shore was now within reach.

On the ninth day, Ye Fan held a Bodhi seed, his mind completely clear and ethereal. His body was like a crystalline divine lamp, flawless and transparent, as he entered a wondrous state.

At that moment, he merged with the rocks, blended with the vegetation, and coexisted with the deep mountains. His mind was tranquil, listening to the breathing of the plants and feeling the pulse of the deep mountains.

He seemed to merge with all things in heaven and earth, his divine consciousness manifesting as a wisp of clear breeze or a floating cloud, traversing through the deep mountains. It was as if his soul had left his body.

If a powerful figure were present, they would surely be astonished. Powerful cultivators in the later stages relied on comprehending the Dao to advance their realms, reaching a level where even rare treasures were of little use.

Ye Fan's cultivation realm wasn't high, yet he could immerse himself in the Dao rhythm of heaven and earth like this, remaining in an ethereal state for extended periods, which was truly rare.

Suddenly, Ye Fan's heart jolted. As his divine consciousness, merged with all things, roamed through the deep mountains, it sensed a dangerous aura. Almost instantly, he saw Ji Hui, an elder of the Ji family! His divine consciousness returned in a flash, and he sharply opened his eyes, rising from among the vegetation.

"How did that old hag find me..." Ye Fan transformed into a wisp of smoke, darting through the mountain forest and rushing rapidly into the distance.

"This child's spiritual perception is so keen, it's truly strange," Ji Hui muttered to herself, then waved her hand backward, instructing, "Send word, surround him from all ten directions! He must not escape!"

Ye Fan had prepared in advance, carving many Dao patterns in the area. These were recorded in an ancient beast skin scroll, which he couldn't fully comprehend but had copied diligently. Now, they finally served their purpose: he broke through, while those attempting to surround him were obstructed.

"Mere tricks!" Ji Hui scoffed, and with a sweep of her hand, a thunderous roar erupted. The mountain ahead collapsed, the earth cracked, and rocks flew through the air as she erased the Dao pattern-inscribed area with her divine power.

Behind her, countless figures filled the sky. To track Ye Fan and reclaim the Great Void Technique, they had mobilized a vast number of cultivators.

Ji Hui was not the only supreme powerhouse; several other elders, of comparable status to her, had come for a mere minor cultivator like Ye Fan. The Great Void Technique absolutely could not be leaked!

Ye Fan sprinted for dozens of miles but was greatly surprised. His proud speed couldn't shake off the elders; their power was evident, and their speed was naturally terrifying. "Young man, today you have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide! There's no escaping now!" The old woman, Ji Hui, transmitted with a cold expression from behind. "How did you find me?" Ye Fan asked, puzzled.

"Do you think my spiritual imprint can be erased so easily?" Ji Hui's face was not pleasant to behold. For someone as powerful as her, having a spiritual imprint erased by a mere youth was a humiliation. She said coldly, "Even if Ziyue gave you the Spirit-Communicating Jade, it doesn't make you completely untraceable. You were audacious enough to even take my Great Luo Heavenly Net!"

Ye Fan sighed. He had repeatedly refined the Great Luo Heavenly Net, erasing all traces on it. Its threads were fiercely clear like jade, unstained by dust, and impervious to divine consciousness, yet he had still been found. The elders of the Primordial Aristocratic Families were indeed unfathomable, beyond normal comprehension!

Ye Fan moved like a streak of light, a flash of lightning, as mountains and rivers rapidly receded behind him. Yet, he still couldn't shake off Ji Hui and the other three. The distance between them was slowly closing.

At this point, he was truly at his wit's end, with no apparent way out. Ye Fan pondered and decided he had only one gamble left: burst out of the mountains and fly towards a densely populated area.

This was a powerful kingdom in the Southern Domain, with a capital city boasting a population of over a million. The city was enormous, incredibly prosperous, and bustling with an unending flow of people.

Ye Fan shot up into the sky above this unknown capital city, stopped, turned around, and transmitted his voice with divine consciousness to the four pursuers, shouting, "If you dare take another step, I will spread the secrets of the Great Void Technique throughout this city, letting millions know! And I will rush to the next major city, proclaiming it to the world, making the Great Void Technique no longer a secret. I refuse to believe you dare to slaughter the entire Southern Domain!"

The old woman, Ji Hui, changed her expression, and the other three elders immediately halted. If the Great Void Technique became common knowledge, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Don't you Ji family want to keep it a secret? I'll let the entire Southern Domain know! Anyway, I have no way out, so I might as well benefit all cultivators under heaven."

Ji Hui's face was as dark as water, and the other three were also incredibly enraged, finding the youth before them truly troublesome. They wished they could kill him with a single slap.

Ye Fan stared at them coldly, then directly shouted, "Get lost! Get lost right now!" How supremely transcendent was the Ji family, descended from the Primordial Era, that no one dared to insult them, yet a minor cultivator dared to do so!

The Ji family elders, especially Ji Hui, turned livid, veins throbbing on their foreheads, but they managed to restrain themselves.

Just then, other Ji family cultivators caught up, mostly young individuals, their figures densely packed across the sky. "And all of you, get lost with them!" Ye Fan transmitted loudly. Having been relentlessly pursued, he was already seething with anger. At this moment, he had nothing to hold back, as all pretenses had been dropped.

If he couldn't escape, he would go down fighting, taking them with him!

His voice resonated like thunder, clearly heard throughout the massive city below. Many cultivators there revealed expressions of shock. "Aren't those the Ji family's powerhouses? Someone actually dares to speak to them like that? Truly formidable, comparable to the Peacock King!" "Who is that young man, daring to tell a Ji family elder to 'get lost'? He has stunned everyone; not a single person dares to step forward. Perhaps he is also a mighty figure?"

Ye Fan had always been unknown in this region, but from this day forward, he was destined to be known by all.

To dare challenge the authority of a Primordial Aristocratic Family, to stand alone against numerous Ji family powerhouses and create a standoff, was truly astonishing.

"Did you not hear what I said? All of you, get lost! Otherwise, you will bear the consequences yourselves. You know what will happen!" When a person fears neither life nor death, nothing is terrifying, and nothing matters anymore.

The Ji family elders, veins throbbing on their foreheads, were wreathed in black mist, their eyes frightening. No cultivator from the Ji family had ever been treated like this. "Kill him!" "Why won't you let us pass, Ancestors?"

The younger generation of the Ji family glared, their eyes almost splitting, their hair bristling with rage. Everywhere they went, they were regarded as prodigies, yet today they were humiliated by a mere youth in such a manner, which was utterly unbearable.

Ye Fan gained fame among the younger generation for the first time, but it was in such a way that he was clearly destined to become the public enemy of the Ji family's younger generation.

"Ye Fan..." Ji Hui slowly began, trying to keep her voice calm, "Do you know what you are doing?" "Shut your mouth, old hag! I have nothing to say to you! If you utter my name again, everything will be irreversible!" Ye Fan had completely given up all pretense. Now, if he couldn't intimidate these people, he would have no hope of survival.

Ji Hui's chest heaved violently, and thick veins on her neck were clearly visible, twitching and trembling like thick vines.

She couldn't remember how many years it had been since anyone dared to speak to her like that. Even someone as powerful and ancient as her found it difficult to swallow such an insult.

"Ancestor, what are we waiting for? Kill him!" "Let us go and kill him!"

The younger generation of the Ji family were all utterly enraged, their killing intent soaring.

"I'm only saying this one last time: All of you, get lost immediately! You have ten breaths!" Ye Fan swept his gaze across the front.

Someone among the Ji family's younger generation let out a long howl, venting their fury.

Below, the cultivators in the great city were all dumbfounded.

It was clear that Ye Fan was destined to become famous throughout the Southern Domain, and the public enemy of the Primordial Aristocratic Families' younger generation.

"Hahahaha..." Just then, a long laugh echoed.

A figure arrived in the blink of an eye, unbelievably fast, as if he had always been standing above the great city rather than appearing abruptly.

It was a young man of sixteen or seventeen, exquisitely handsome with soft hair, clear eyes, and an ethereal temperament, as fresh as a flowering tree covered in snow. It was the Peacock King. "Well said! Ji family, did you hear that? Hurry up and get lost!" The Peacock King, who looked down upon the Southern Domain and was invincible, was a figure standing at the very peak.

His appearance caused everyone's expressions to change, and many trembled with fear. One must remember that the Peacock King had once shattered a Ji family elder with a single roar; his power was unfathomable!

The Peacock King walked over and patted Ye Fan's shoulder. He appeared as ethereal as a lotus flower, without any of the imposing aura of a mighty figure.

Everyone was astonished. What was Ye Fan's relationship with the Peacock King? Could he possibly have a powerful background?