Chapter 167: Righteous and Awe-Inspiring

The Ji family mobilized a massive force, with iron cavalry sweeping across the sky. Large banners flapped noisily, accompanied by human shouts and beast roars. Killing intent surged into the heavens, and cold light gleamed on their iron armor.

This power was utterly unlike anything earthly; it was as if heavenly soldiers and generals had descended. Exotic beasts trod through the void, galloping across the cloud peaks, and the vast cosmos itself trembled.

The Ji Family Saint Lord, this time, did not merge with the void. He stood high in the sky, enveloped by endless halos, resembling a divine king of the Eastern Wasteland reborn.

With him as the center, a vast, ocean-like ripple emanated. Unrivaled divine power surged up to the nine heavens and down to the nine netherworlds. At this moment, the Ji Family Saint Lord became the very center of heaven and earth.

A divine wind swept for dozens of miles as the Ji Family Saint Lord soared across the sky, directly descending into the sixth layer of the Fire Domain. Purple qi surged into the sky, but it could not approach his body; wherever he passed, flames silently extinguished.

It could be said that at this moment, he was not a Divine King, but comparable to one, his might shaking the heavens. Behind him, six or seven elders followed, descending.

On the ground, the blood had long since dried. Heads and torsos were separated, and no lingering spirits remained. The extermination was utterly complete; even with their heaven-defying magical power, they could not have saved them.

Over a dozen jet-black, gleaming feathers were irregularly stuck in the ground, surrounding the corpses. This was why the skeletons had not been incinerated by the purple flames.

"This is..." An extremely ancient elder, whose white eyebrows were half a foot long, immediately frowned and said, "Fire Crow God Feathers, hard as refined iron, difficult to melt even in fierce flames. These... are feathers shed by old crows that have cultivated for over a thousand years."

The several elders present exchanged glances. One of them pondered for a moment and said, "Fifteen hundred years ago, there was a Crow Daoist in the Southern Domain whose magical power was unfathomable. He later mysteriously disappeared and has not reappeared since."

The Ji Family Saint Lord picked up a black feather and flicked it in his hand. Instantly, a clanging sound rang out, like divine iron vibrating.

An Elder Supreme's expression immediately changed. He said, "This old demon's lifespan is nearing its end, but his cultivation has become even more terrifying."

"No matter who he is, no matter how powerful, as long as he is found, he will be executed!" The Ji Family Saint Lord's voice was icy cold, and killing intent pervaded the surroundings. His eyes opened and closed, emitting two dazzling beams of light that swept across the Fire Domain like peerless sharp swords.

In just half a year, the Ji family had consecutively lost two Elder Supremes. For an ancient aristocratic family, this was a tremendous humiliation. They should have reigned supreme over the world, dominating mountains and rivers, yet now they were being repeatedly provoked.

Even now, the Peacock King still roamed freely in the mortal world, not yet eradicated. And now this situation had arisen. If they could not assert their might, how could the Ji family face the world?

That day, the Southern Domain was shaken. The Ji family announced to the world that they were adding the name "Crow Daoist" to their kill list.

All cultivators in the Southern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland were astonished. For more than half a year, unrest had been constant; it had never truly been peaceful. Now, the storm was brewing again.

For many, the name Crow Daoist was entirely unfamiliar, but upon learning of it, the Elder Supremes of various sects all changed color.

A massive storm swept across the Southern Domain. The Ji family was genuinely enraged, vowing to assert their might, causing many sects to tremble with fear, afraid of being drawn into the conflict.

A furious tide surged, and the Southern Domain was in greater turmoil than ever before!

After Ye Fan left the Fire Domain, he heard many pieces of news during this period.

Half a year ago, the Bronze Immortal Palace sank into the depths of the Eastern Wasteland's earth, disappearing without a trace. Along with it, dozens of elders vanished, all of them powerful individuals whose lifespans were nearing their end and who could no longer extend their lives.

This signified the end of another era. The Eastern Wasteland suddenly lost dozens of supreme figures, and the Bronze Immortal Palace was truly a graveyard for the powerful.

However, this did not mean the Eastern Wasteland had suffered a catastrophe. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural occurrences; otherwise, these individuals would have successively passed away within the next few years anyway.

The Eastern Wasteland was truly vast; the number of nations within it was countless. The loss of just a few dozen people had little impact.

Another important piece of news was that the Peacock King's magical power was immense. On that day, even with the combined efforts of the Yaoguang Saint Lord and the Ji Family Saint Lord, they failed to apprehend him and the Azure Dragon King. They had taken the Demon Emperor's descendant to the Northern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland.

Additionally, over the past half year, the Ji family, Yaoguang Holy Land, and others had also been dispatching powerful experts in batches to the Northern Domain. There, divine sources were astounding, and all major forces that had been passed down from the Ancient Desolation era wanted a share of the spoils.

The Primordial Mine in the Northern Domain, originally a desolate place, had become increasingly restless in the past year. It was rumored that humanoid creatures were appearing, and celestial melodies caused people to become intoxicated.

Half a month later, Ye Fan returned to the Fire Domain. The outside world was in great turmoil, and only here was it truly safe.

After the Ji family retreated, this place once again became tranquil. Unless the Yaoguang Saint Lord personally arrived, few others, he believed, could breach the seventh layer of the Fire Domain.

In the past half-month, he had consulted many historical records in the ancient archives of a great nation, learning everything about the Fire Domain.

Regarding the Fire Domain, there were many legends, and many accounts were almost absurd.

Indeed, they could not be confirmed as historical facts and could only be categorized as legends, because the descriptions were too fantastical.

For instance, one ancient text recorded that an immortal had been burned to death in the deepest part of the Fire Domain. Another ancient text stated that the Desolate Pagoda had once appeared there, rising and falling for thousands of years.

There were also records that the nine layers of the Fire Domain contained ten types of flames. However, the tenth type had no root or source and had only appeared a few times throughout history.

This greatly excited Ye Fan. The Fire Domain actually involved immortals and the Desolate Pagoda; although the descriptions were brief and vague, they made it difficult for him to remain calm.

Ye Fan returned to the seventh layer of the Fire Domain, preparing to find a way to temper his cauldron.

The five-colored cloud flames were intensely hot, capable of incinerating powerful figures into ash—truly terrifying. Ancient texts referred to this colorful mist as a rare treasure among flames, rarely seen in the world. In the entire Southern Domain, only this place still had it, making it an excellent fire source for artifact refining.

After careful attempts, Ye Fan collected the five-colored cloud flames with his cauldron and sent them into his Wheel Sea, using the golden ocean to isolate them. This was a preliminary success.

However, his expression changed instantly.

This flame was too terrifying; even the golden ocean struggled to completely isolate the heat, putting his physical form at risk of shriveling.

Overall, his cultivation was far from sufficient. Even with his special physique, he could hardly withstand it, as his Sacred Body had not yet been fully cultivated.

Even the powerful figures of the Ji family chose the sixth layer of the Fire Domain for artifact refining, not daring to easily enter the seventh layer. One could imagine the terror of the five-colored cloud flames.

At a critical moment, the green lotus in his Sea of Suffering gently swayed, and a misty aura blurred, instantly submerging his Wheel Sea. A cool sensation permeated his body.

Ye Fan let out a long breath, feeling he had been too reckless. If not for this mysterious green lotus, he might indeed have been in danger.

"Since I've started, I must do my best." He continuously drew the five-colored cloud flames into his body, using the green lotus to protect his Wheel Sea. Finally, after the five-colored cloud flames churned and burned fiercely enough to temper his cauldron, he stopped.

Thus, for an entire month, Ye Fan tempered his cauldron.

The five-colored cloud flames extinguished many times, and he didn't know how much fire essence he had absorbed. It wasn't until another two months had passed that he stopped.

The cauldron became more condensed and even more ancient in appearance. After tempering with the five-colored cloud flames, the inside of the cauldron was misty, and the Mother Qi of All Beings, endlessly flowing, reappeared.

This was the root source of the Mother Qi of All Beings; it would never dry up, flowing endlessly. After this tempering, the Mother Qi overflowed again, and the cauldron was no longer inert; it seemed to have gained life.

At this point, the artifact refining came to an end. He did not plan to enter the eighth layer of the Fire Domain; utilizing the five-colored cloud flames was already his limit. He could only wait until his cultivation improved before returning here.

Afterward, he quietly cultivated there, preparing to leave the Southern Domain once the outside world became completely calm.

Another month passed. On this day, Ye Fan suddenly heard beast roars coming from outside the Fire Domain.

"Could another powerful figure have come here to refine artifacts?" He stealthily emerged and looked into the distance.

Outside the Fire Domain was a barren land, where the earth was cracked and not a blade of grass grew.

At this moment, dozens of savage beasts stood in the void, their scales ferocious, filled with a grim aura. Each rider was incomparably powerful, their iron armor gleaming, exuding a chilling aura.

Ye Fan was somewhat surprised to see Ji Ziyue. Her eyes held a poetic charm, ethereal and natural, her purple robes fluttering like a fairy treading on waves. She descended from the sky to the ground, silently looking into the Fire Domain.

In the sky, a man in blue robes, as handsome as jade, his sleeves fluttering like a deity plucking a flower, landed with her. It was Hua Yunfei of the Supreme Mystery Sect.

"Little Brother Ye, we've come to see you. If you know of it from the underworld, rest in peace." Hua Yunfei's voice was magnetic.

Ye Fan was truly speechless. He was clearly alive, yet being cursed in such a way.

"Brother Hua, please go somewhere else for a bit. I want to be alone for a moment," Ji Ziyue spoke calmly.

"Very well." Hua Yunfei nodded without saying anything more and walked around the Fire Domain.

Ji Ziyue stood silently for a moment, then began to dig the earth with the long sword in her hand. The knights behind her, seeing this, wanted to step forward to help, but she stopped them. She personally dug a deep pit and placed the clothes Ye Fan had left on Zhuo Peak inside. She then filled the pit with earth, forming a grave mound. In front of it, she erected a stone tablet, on which her jade-like finger carved a line of text.

Ye Fan smiled bitterly, speechless. He was clearly alive, yet he even had a grave.

Just then, Ye Fan noticed Hua Yunfei entering the Fire Domain, like a light, silent blue cloud.

"What is this fellow up to?" Ye Fan was far away from him and quietly observed.

Suddenly, his expression froze, and his eyes sharpened instantly. He saw an acquaintance, a tall old man, appear in the Fire Domain and bow to Hua Yunfei.

Back then, a man in hemp robes, wielding a five-story silver pagoda, had pursued him and Ji Ziyue, nearly causing him to die with regret.

A few months ago, the man in hemp robes had been killed by him in the Fire Domain. He had previously seen this old man come to investigate.

"Hua Yunfei!"

Ye Fan had never expected that the true mastermind would be Hua Yunfei. It was truly beyond his imagination.

In his impression, Hua Yunfei was transcendent and otherworldly. A single celestial melody of his approached the Dao, naturally vibrant; even a hundred birds flocked to him, and a hundred flowers bloomed for him, as if an exiled immortal had descended to the mortal world.

Such a handsome man, possessing an otherworldly demeanor and a spiritual, intelligent aura, yet his schemes were so profound and his methods so ruthless. This truly struck him with awe and dread.

Due to the great distance and the two communicating via divine sense, he had no idea what they were saying. Ye Fan could only quietly observe.

Soon after, the tall old man departed.

Hua Yunfei stood silently for a long time, then muttered to himself, "A wondrous divine body, possessing extraordinary power. If I can obtain it, I must take its source..." He slowly walked out of the Fire Domain.

"This person is hidden too deeply. Even if I told others, no one would believe me." Ye Fan pondered for a moment, then said, "No, I need to warn Ji Ziyue. Hua Yunfei clearly harbors malicious intentions."

At the same time, he decided to leave the Fire Domain and depart from the Southern Domain. Even if he had to fly, he could not remain in this region any longer.