Chapter 201: Mysterious Bloodline

The Supreme Elder of Jade Lake reprimanded Tu Fei, telling him to shut up and stop spouting nonsense. Tu Fei grumbled softly but actually complied. Many had already noticed that he was deferential to Jade Lake, seemingly wishing to avoid conflict.

The Saint Son of Shaking Light smiled faintly, like a ray of warm and brilliant sunlight. He exuded an ethereal aura, always appearing sublime, as if he were not of the mortal world.

Indeed, standing by the lake, he was as handsome as jade, with his robes fluttering, resembling an immortal descended to the world. Even amidst the crowd, his distinctiveness was immediately apparent.

As for Yao Xi, besides her equally noble demeanor, she represented the epitome of beauty. Like a woman born from a dream, with skin like ice and bones like jade, every frown and smile exuded boundless charm, shining like a rare treasure.

Her beauty caused many present to lose their composure. Even Tu Fei couldn't help but mutter, "Alas, the most painful thing in life is being one step too late..."

The several bandits nearby all rolled their eyes. None of these individuals were easy to deal with; they were all descendants of the Thirteen Great Bandits.

At this moment, the Saintess of Jade Lake appeared. Surrounded by an ethereal aura, she conjured lotus steps with every movement; where her jade feet touched, flower petals danced, each crystal clear, emitting wafts of fragrance.

She personally ushered the Saint Son and Saintess of Shaking Light into the lakeside pavilion. It was clear they were old acquaintances, and she wished to prevent them from clashing with others there, thus resolving the awkward situation.

Ye Fan let out a long breath. He was unwilling to meet the Saint Son and Saintess of Shaking Light. At present, everything for him had just begun after acquiring the Book of Origins, and his top priority was to quickly improve his cultivation. He was not yet able to contend with them.

He crouched down, carefully observing the nine stone materials. He pondered secretly that there must be something inside these stones, and it was likely very unusual.

On the lakeside, many people gathered, carefully caressing and examining the stone materials. People discussed animatedly, holding diverse opinions.

Suddenly, Ye Fan's heart jolted. The largest stone material made him feel uneasy; whatever was inside must be extraordinary.

He tapped and knocked, observing the texture. This was a massive "red-in-white" stone, predominantly reddish-brown with some white speckles, considered a waste stone by experts.

This large stone weighed a full two thousand catties. If there was something inside, it would be very substantial. Ye Fan longed to cleave it open and see, but these were Jade Lake's stone materials, so he could not act rashly.

"Today is an opportunity. If I point out the unusual aspects of the stone material, I might very well be invited away by the Jade Lake Immortal Maiden. Unfortunately, my 'Heaven-and-Earth Transformation' technique is not yet perfected, and with the Shaking Light Saintess here, I cannot step forward."

Ye Fan sighed. After carefully examining the other eight stone materials, he held the smallest one, which was only palm-sized. Staring at its patterns, his mind seemed about to become immersed.

Suddenly, he felt a flash of blood-red in his eyes. This smallest stone was also extremely strange and peculiar; it must contain something special. "The 'Origin Stone' business truly isn't just about gambling on origins. People in Sacred City are betting on even more precious things."

Ye Fan stepped out of the crowd, pulling Er Lengzi and Wang Shu aside. He asked them, "What did you feel?" "Blood. In one of the stones, there seemed to be blood, terrifying blood that made my heart pound. Near it, my heart felt like it would leap out," Wang Shu described.

Er Lengzi also had lingering fears, saying, "The largest stone, I can't say what's inside, but it has a wild power that makes one tremble."

Ye Fan rubbed his chin, observing them. These two indeed had unusual bloodlines to possess such sensitivities, comparable to what he experienced after studying the Book of Origins.

Ye Fan felt that they might only be sensitive to extraordinary origin stones. What exactly was their bloodline? When Grandfather Zhang mentioned it, he was evasive, clearly hinting at another secret. He needed to ask him in detail upon returning. "Jade Lake Holy Land has probably dug up something good," Tu Fei said to the people beside him on the other side.

"These nine stone materials are demonic; they must have been extracted from near the Primordial Ancient Mine. Their audacity is truly great; despite being the most low-key, they dare to act so overtly."

"You don't understand this. Jade Lake is very complex. In terms of understanding origins, I believe they surpass all other Holy Lands. I heard that a long time ago, an Origin Master had dealings with them and passed on many Origin Techniques."

"I've also heard of that Origin Master who made all the Holy Lands look bad; his relationship with the Jade Lake Saintess was unbreakable." "I suspect they are looking for someone with that legendary bloodline."

The several individuals next to Tu Fei were all fierce in demeanor, being descendants of the Thirteen Great Bandits, and were very knowledgeable. They conversed in low voices.

"Is there really such a bloodline? That's quite unlikely; that's something that claims lives. In the Northern Region, only five Origin Masters have appeared since ancient times, and records show none of them obtained that bloodline." "That's hard to say. They all disappeared in their later years. Who knows where they went? Perhaps they acquired that bloodline in their final days."

Ye Fan's spiritual consciousness was exceptionally powerful, matched by few. He had been subtly observing Tu Fei and the others, faintly overhearing these words, and his heart immediately jolted in surprise.

"No, I must leave here immediately to avoid being discovered by Tu Fei." Of course, most importantly, he had learned from those individuals that Er Lengzi and Wang Shu most likely possessed that bloodline, and it absolutely could not be detected by anyone.

The origin of the bloodline of the child adopted by the Origin Master in his later years led him to a chilling speculation.

"Countless ages ago, when a target finally appeared, how much effort did the major Holy Lands expend in pursuit and blockade, yet they still couldn't obtain that bloodline? Is the Origin Master truly that powerful?" Tu Fei's group continued to discuss in low voices.

"Origin Masters are naturally formidable, with unparalleled Origin Techniques. Since ancient times, there have only been five of them. They frequent deep mountains and underground strata, treading uninhabited lands, and only they could possibly achieve such things."

"I think after the Jade Lake Saintess leaves Pingyan City, she will take these nine stone materials elsewhere and won't return to Jade Lake for a while. Perhaps for some reason, they urgently need that bloodline."

The more Ye Fan listened, the more he felt something was amiss. He turned to look at Wang Shu and Er Lengzi, examining them carefully, but saw nothing special. "Let's go, we're leaving here!"

"Why? Didn't the Jade Lake Saintess say that if we had special sensitivities, we'd be invited to stay at Jade Lake?" Wang Shu and Er Lengzi were both somewhat reluctant to leave.

"It might not be a good thing. We must leave quickly." Ye Fan felt that he needed to avoid Tu Fei, avoid Yao Xi, and prevent Wang Shu and Er Lengzi from being noticed. From every angle, they had to leave.

Since the Jade Lake Saintess was going to other places, there would still be opportunities. As long as he mastered the Heaven-and-Earth Transformation technique, he could present himself. By then, even if he met Yao Xi and the Shaking Light Saint Son in Jade Lake, he wouldn't have to worry, being completely free.

"It seems Yao Xi is indeed going to travel with the Jade Lake Saintess."

"Crack." Ye Fan heard the sound of his bones shifting; his appearance was recovering, his cheekbones returning to their original positions. He could no longer delay. He quickly led the two away from the Jade Lake Immortal Stone Workshop. "Get stronger! When I return, I must enter the Dao Palace Secret Realm!" He made a resolution in his heart. Currently, the only thing hindering his progress was the lack of vast spiritual energy. This time, cutting out the Fiery Red Origin and Ancient Insect Origin was enough to support his entry into the Dao Palace Secret Realm. As long as the Jade Lake cultivation method described in the last few pages of the Book of Origins was suitable for him to cultivate, nothing could stop his breakthrough. He even felt he could rapidly improve his cultivation; the first realm of the Dao Palace would not be able to stop him at all, and he should be able to gather the necessary origins in Pingyan City.

Suddenly, Ye Fan noticed he was being followed. Before he even left the city, he was shadowed. "Seeking death!" He turned to see people from Qingxia Sect following him, several of whom were sneering.

Ye Fan did not fly, but walked out of Pingyan City. The further he went, the more desolate it became. Although amidst lush greenery, reddish-brown rocky terrain was occasionally visible.

Finally, they reached an uninhabited area. The people behind no longer had any qualms; they all caught up, each one sneering.

The young man in purple robes had personally followed. The Ancient Insect Origin was very rare, tempting him as well, and he slowly strode forward.

It should be known that even in the Northern Region, a land abundant in origins, it was impressive for a modest sect to possess a thousand catties of origins.

Qingxia Sect was such a minor faction. The Fiery Red Origin and Ancient Insect Origin were enough to make him kill to silence witnesses.

"Mud monkeys, aren't you going to run?" someone nearby taunted.

"Keep talking tough, say some strong words. We're all ears," another person mocked.

In the distance, a sound of rushing through the air came. With blue robes fluttering, Liu Cheng'en appeared, having also pursued them.

"What are you trying to do?" Ye Fan revealed a cold sneer.

"Country bumpkin, even now you don't know your place. Ignorance truly is bliss!" Seven or eight people chuckled maliciously, closing in.

"Liu Cheng'en, are you here to return the origins?" Ye Fan's lips curled up.

"You dare to take my origins?!" Liu Cheng'en snapped open his folding fan, shook his head, and sighed, "I truly can't even spare your lives."

"Are you special?" Ye Fan held up the IOU, scoffing, "The written proof you personally penned, you're not going to pretend it's a pig's hoof print, are you?"

"Mud monkey, you're still acting tough even at death's door." Liu Cheng'en revealed a contemptuous look and ordered his men, "Don't kill them immediately; torture them slowly."

"No time to waste with you!" Ye Fan's face darkened. He leaped into the air and swept his right leg across.

Everyone who had just charged forward screamed in agony. Though they were all cultivators, their physiques could not compare to Ye Fan's. Their bones broke and tendons snapped on the spot. "You're not an origin miner, you're a cultivator! At such a young age, how could you..." Liu Cheng'en's pupils constricted sharply. Ye Fan appeared to be only fifteen, but such power sent a chill down his spine.

He was about to soar into the sky and flee.

Ye Fan's palm was like a precious seal, pressing forward. It was his first time unleashing the second of the Nine Secrets, and a terrifying battle intent permeated the air. With just one strike of the "Pi" form, Liu Cheng'en was instantly reduced to dust!

There was still some distance between them, yet such a horrifying outcome was produced. This kind of offensive killing technique could be said to be unparalleled in the world.

Behind him, Liu Cheng'en's brother—the man in purple robes—flashed in and out of sight like light, having already fled over ten miles away.

However, no matter how fast he was, he could not outpace Ye Fan's footwork. Ye Fan seemed to carve a path through the void, shrinking distances into inches. With just a dozen steps, he instantly caught up.

"You're also a cultivator in the Other Shore realm, do you not even have the courage to fight?" Ye Fan sneered, then held out the IOU in his hand, saying, "Didn't you want to reclaim this written proof for your brother? The one I tore up earlier was fake. Here, this one's for you."

The purple-robed man, Liu Chengwang, was indeed decisive. Divine power surged throughout his body, radiating blinding light. Four weapons were simultaneously conjured and slashed towards Ye Fan.

Ye Fan still used the Battle-for-Life method, but his gestures completely changed. The most fundamental profoundness could evolve into myriad forms. He was like a phoenix flapping its wings, his arms actually shimmering, producing streams of divine feathers.

With a spread of his arms, he truly resembled a phoenix, dancing with the heavenly winds. Five-colored divine light shot into the sky, and a pair of vibrant, real wings emerged, flapping forward.

A rustling sound came as the four weapons conjured by the Other Shore realm cultivator all disintegrated into fragments, falling to the ground like dust. "What secret art is this?" The purple-robed man, Liu Chengwang, turned pale with fright, deeply shaken. He believed that even a cultivator of the Dao Palace Secret Realm would find it difficult to display such terrifying power.

Indeed, he felt cold all over. That unparalleled battle intent and fierce attacking aura made him tremble uncontrollably. At this moment, he could barely stand, feeling an urge to prostrate himself.

"This is the supreme secret art of Daoism, and you are unworthy to know it. Sooner or later, it will shake the Eastern Barren, making all the Holy Lands tremble, and it will be spread by the Saint Sons and Saintesses themselves."

Ye Fan's heart was far from calm. The second of the Nine Secrets had exceeded his expectations; its power was extraordinary, truly the ultimate in offensive secrets!

"You... please spare me. I'll do anything." The purple-robed man's heart turned cold. He trembled, suppressed by a powerful battle intent, completely devoid of his former indifference and composure.

The phoenix wings that accompanied Ye Fan's arms still hadn't dissipated. Five-colored divine light circulated, making the wings extremely bright and dazzling. That energy fluctuation shook people's souls. "Thud!"

The purple-robed man simply couldn't endure such battle intent. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, kneeling as if utterly drained. He whispered hoarsely, "How is this possible... We are both in the Other Shore realm, why is this happening? It's too terrifying. This secret art is unheard of..." He was almost delirious, his face pressed to the ground, unable to even lift his head.

"The Nine Secrets, oh the Nine Secrets! What immense power would I wield if I could master them all?" Ye Fan murmured to himself. But he knew that the Nine Secrets were scattered across the world and almost lost. It would be incredibly difficult to obtain them all.

"I'll give you one chance. Use all your divine power and attack," Ye Fan said, retracting his hands. The pair of phoenix-wind divine wings vanished, and the crushing pressure, like Mount Tai, dispersed.

"Kill!" Liu Chengwang knew that the other party would not spare him. His malevolence instantly surged, and he desperately charged, his flesh and blood burning, intending to self-destruct his Sea of Wheels and severely injure the young, refined boy before him.

Ye Fan had only one purpose in doing this: to further understand the power of this secret art. He subtly turned, swinging his left leg outward.

At this moment, supreme pressure descended. Between his left leg, a colossal dragon actually emerged, its scales glistening, powerful and vigorous. The dragon's body coiled realistically, and its tail lashed out.

Liu Chengwang was terrified, his entire body trembling. He instantly went limp. Just this terrifying pressure alone rendered him immobile.

"Bang!" The Azure Dragon's tail whipped across his body. This single strike instantly reduced the Other Shore cultivator to dust. Not only were there no shattered bones, but not even a mist of blood remained; he was completely turned to ash.

Ye Fan returned to the stone village. Before entering seclusion for his breakthrough, he first sought out Grandfather Zhang to ask him about Wang Shu and Er Lengzi's bloodlines. "Their blood has demonic properties," Grandfather Zhang finally replied after a long pause.

"What exactly is going on?" Ye Fan was surprised. "Since you are going to learn the Book of Origins, there's no harm in telling you this secret," Grandfather Zhang sighed and said, "This begins with the origin of their ancestors."