Chapter 204: Unparalleled Young Demon King

Eighteen verdant mountains rise majestically, wreathed in a faint mist. From each peak, a thousand-foot waterfall plunges, creating wisps of spray. Green waters flow around the mountains. It is a lush and beautiful place.

Gurgling springs and vibrant, flourishing flowers add vitality and a lively spirit to this beautiful land.

While such scenery might not be remarkable elsewhere, it is exceptionally rare in the Northern Domain, where gravel dominates and no grass grows. This landscape is truly like a fairyland. With its abundant vegetation, misty waters, ethereal palaces, green mountains, and clear waters, this place is indeed a beautiful, pristine sanctuary.

"Who are you?" someone from the Qingxia Sect shouted. Ye Fan merely flicked his finger, and the massive stone at the mountain gate, inscribed with "Qingxia," instantly crumbled into dust. "This..." Everyone gasped. The newcomer was clearly hostile, directly shattering Qingxia's foundational stone, indicating a serious intent.

"Are you looking for death?" The Qingxia Sect members were enraged. Only three people had arrived, yet they dared to boast about establishing a sect here; they were clearly underestimating the sect. All the gatekeepers conjured their weapons—flying swords, divine hammers, and more—which flew towards them like a rain of light.

Ye Fan remained unconcerned, simply waving his sleeve. A cracking sound echoed as all the weapons shattered and fell to the ground. Even if a hundred more cultivators from the Life Spring realm came, they wouldn't be able to stand against him. With a forceful flick of his sleeve, he sent everyone at the gate flying backward into the pool at the foot of the waterfall.

"Quick, report to the sect master!" By now, they knew they were in serious trouble. The opponent was unfathomable, certainly not just an ordinary madman.

Ye Fan stood before the mountain gate. A flash of light behind him revealed one hundred and eight large banners, which he had spent the entire previous day inscribing.

In the Southern Domain, Elder Han of Lingxu had failed to refine a medicine for him and had instead lost his life. It was from that elder's cave dwelling that he had obtained two ancient beast-skin scrolls.

One of these scrolls was an ancient text about Dao patterns, which he had been able to comprehend after entering the Dao Palace secret realm. Although this beast-skin scroll was not a profound ancient secret manual, it had its unique merits.

The one hundred and eight banners Ye Fan had inscribed were densely covered with Dao patterns and designed for containment. He threw out four, instantly locking down the mountain gate.

Then, he soared into the sky and threw out the remaining one hundred and four banners, all of which embedded themselves in the landscape, sealing off the surroundings in every direction.

The great banners flapped in the wind, creating a hazy barrier that then disappeared beyond the green mountains and clear waters.

"You... who exactly are you?" The gatekeepers retreated.

In front of the mountain gate, the path was paved with bluestone, and hundreds of steps lay like a reclining dragon. On both sides, the grass was fresh, immortal vines coiled, and a stream gurgled gently.

"I am your future sect master," Ye Fan declared, walking forward and ascending the steps. His steps were light, devoid of killing intent, and his entire demeanor was exceptionally graceful.

"You..." The Qingxia Sect members all recoiled. The more ethereal and detached such a young man appeared, the more uneasy they felt.

"This place is excellent!" Ye Fan nodded repeatedly. The oasis where his stone village was located was too small, only about a dozen li in circumference. When a strong wind blew, sand from afar would rush in, which he found quite uncomfortable.

He enjoyed mountains, rivers, and beautiful scenery, and the Qingxia Sect was indeed a good place for cultivation and spiritual development.

"Who dares cause trouble?!" A long howl echoed, and an old man descended like a meteor, landing before the mountain gate.

Ye Fan's steps were unhurried as he slowly walked upward. He said, "Just a rogue cultivator; my name is not worth mentioning."

"You wish to establish a sect here?" The old man's gaze was grim, his face as dark as water. Anyone hearing such news would find it hard to smile.

"Precisely, that is my intention," Ye Fan nodded.

"With you? At such a young age, you're truly boasting!" The old man sneered dismissively.

It was no wonder he showed contempt. Ye Fan had a delicate appearance, looking only about fifteen years old. At such an age, even a successor from a Sacred Land might not be able to challenge Qingxia on their own.

Ye Fan ascended the hundreds of stone steps unhurriedly. He stood by the water's edge, near the pool, his entire being imbued with a layer of mist, as if an exiled immortal had descended.

Only then did the old man notice something amiss. Ye Fan stood right before him, yet he seemed ethereal and unfathomable.

"Bandits run rampant within five hundred li, and they are greatly connected to the Qingxia Sect. Are you also involved?" Ye Fan asked.

"You even know that?" The old man's composure wavered, and he spoke involuntarily. "Then there's nothing more to say. I'll send you on your way."

Ye Fan instantly floated closer, reaching out to press forward. A buzzing sound of vibrating weapons ensued as seven weapons—swords, spears, blades, halberds, and more—shot out from the old man's body, transforming into seven long rainbows that stabbed towards Ye Fan's palm.

However, to his shock, the seven weapons shattered inch by inch like rotten wood, utterly unable to withstand the strike!

That jade-like palm seemed to possess a demonic quality. The weapons indeed struck his palm, but they crumbled like loess, completely pulverized.

He was greatly startled; such divine means sent a chill through him, and he rapidly retreated. "Since you condone bandits," Ye Fan said, "there's nothing more to say. I'll send you on your way."

Ye Fan pressed down with a backhand, instantly sending the old man flying dozens of feet away before he suddenly disintegrated.

The gatekeepers were dumbfounded. Even an elder of the sect had been crushed to death by this young man, making them tremble all over.

This was simply unstoppable; a young demon king had arrived. Who could possibly stand in his way? He had killed a Qingxia elder with a single palm; even if the sect master appeared, it was unlikely they could suppress him.

Ye Fan ignored them and continued forward. The trembling people dodged to the sides.

"When can I enter and exit the Ji Family like this, or walk into the Yaoguang Sacred Land?" he wondered, thinking that to achieve this, he would need an enormous amount of Source.

Inside Qingxia Sect, exclamations of alarm rose everywhere, and ancient bells tolled softly. Everyone was alarmed, and many cultivators rapidly flew over.

Ahead, water tinkled, and patches of flowers and grasses grew by the spring pools, a vibrant tapestry of colors at a glance. Figures rapidly descended, surrounding Ye Fan and his two companions.

"Young Master Ye..." Wang Shu was a bit nervous. "Which of you are the bandits?!" Er Lengzi, on the other hand, was very angry.

"Where do you three come from, speaking such nonsense?" the surrounding people reprimanded them.

"You condoned Old Man Chen and his gang plundering everywhere and harming ordinary mortals. I'm not wronging you, am I?" Ye Fan asked calmly.

"So, Old Man Chen's mysterious death was your doing?" From behind, a white-bearded, white-haired old man, with an air of immortal grace, slowly walked forward.

"A cultivator from the Dao Palace secret realm?" Ye Fan showed a hint of surprise.

"Old Man Chen was my disciple. It was he who offered enough Source to help me break through the shackles of the Other Shore. You dared to kill him, and now you even dare to come to our gate!" The old man exuded a chilling killing intent, staring fixedly at Ye Fan, and ordered the surrounding people, "Kill him!"

All around, figures flew, and lights shone. All sorts of weapons were conjured as dozens of people attacked simultaneously.

Ye Fan had not expected so many people to know about Old Man Chen. He immediately let out a cold snort, deciding to unleash a massacre.

"You two, step back and watch carefully!" he instructed, making Wang Shu and Lei Bo move aside. Ye Fan, like a flood dragon, instantly shot up. He unleashed the second of the Nine Secrets, pointing a finger to the sky and letting out a soft cry. In an instant, a colossal seal, towering like the sky, appeared and vibrated above his head.

This was a majestic, sky-reaching mountain, constrained into an ancient seal. It pressed down, and one could clearly see flying birds, walking beasts, and towering ancient trees on it. "Boom!" It was utterly unstoppable. The mountain-like seal, with its sky-supporting might, crashed down, turning all the weapons flying in the sky into ashes.

"Ah..." Screams erupted. Not a single one of the dozens of people who had attacked Ye Fan managed to escape; their bodies cracked, and they were instantly annihilated. This shocking scene left the distant cultivators dumbfounded, cold sweat pouring down their bodies, and then they couldn't help but tremble.

In the sky, the colossal ancient mountain seal slowly faded, then disappeared.

This was the Saint Combat Law, the second of the Nine Secrets, representing the ultimate art of offense. It could evolve into thousands of techniques and forms, and each comprehension would awaken a different grand killing art.

"You... what secret technique is this?" The white-haired, white-bearded old man no longer had his immortal demeanor; a look of horror appeared on his face as he constantly retreated.

"A grand killing art!"

Ye Fan smiled faintly; there was no need to tell him this was one of the Nine Secrets. "This old man is a Grand Elder of the Qingxia Sect. Do you truly intend to be an enemy of my Qingxia?"

He transmitted his voice loudly, like thunder, waking the sect master and other Grand Elders who were in seclusion.

Ye Fan shook his head and said, "It's useless. No one who comes can save you."

"I am a cultivator of the Dao Palace secret realm. If you want to kill me, you will pay a price!" he blustered, outwardly fierce but inwardly timid, trying to buy time.

"Go reunite with your good disciple, Old Man Chen," Ye Fan said. He took steps like blooming lotuses, Dao rhymes appearing under his feet, and effortlessly floated after him.

"You... This old man will fight you to the death!"

The Grand Elder of Qingxia Sect let out a sharp cry, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, his beard and hair bristling, and his eyes filled with grim intent. A dozen weapons shot out from his Sea of Wheels.

From within his Dao Palace, a blue-armored "deity" flew out. It held a broadsword, its entire blue iron armor gleaming coldly, standing several meters tall. With one step, it cracked the very ground.

The three-meter-long broadsword swung, surging with blue energy and emitting a wailing sound. Ten thousand rays of light shot out, like a rain of swords falling down.

Divine radiance surged into the sky in this area. The dozen weapons, combined with this "deity," sealed off this domain, as boundless killing intent and dazzling radiance intensely surged.

In the distance, Qingxia Sect disciples shouted in unison. In their eyes, Ye Fan was completely engulfed and would surely die.

However, they quickly fell silent. "Boom!" Ye Fan formed the Great Sun Seal with his hand. A vibrant heavenly sun slowly rose, immense and filling the sky.

Indeed, a crimson sun, vast as an endless sea, filled the sky. It was vibrant and majestic, its fiery red radiance incinerating everything!

The blue iron-clad deity was almost instantly incinerated into ashes, and the dozen weapons were instantly vaporized, ceasing to exist!

Ye Fan held the Great Sun Seal in his hand. A truly enormous crimson sun, like a great mountain, appeared above his head, filling the sky. Its might was overwhelming, making everyone feel an urge to prostrate themselves.

"Ah..." The Qingxia Grand Elder screamed. Having lost the deity nurtured by his Dao Palace, he was severely wounded and desperately fled, trying to save his life.

Ye Fan gently vibrated the Great Sun Seal. Instantly, nine Golden Crows burst out from the vibrant crimson sun. Their bodies gleamed with golden radiance, as if cast from gold, each with three legs, flapping their wings and crying out.

"Thump!" Not far away, many Qingxia disciples were forced to their knees by this supreme might, unable to stand any longer.

The nine three-legged Golden Crows transformed into nine golden streaks of light, flashing past. Although the Qingxia Grand Elder had already fled hundreds of feet away, he was silently incinerated, instantly turning into black ashes.

"Ah..." Screams continuously echoed. Wherever the nine Golden Crows passed, no one could resist; all were extinguished by the golden flames, becoming dust.

This was an utterly terrifying display of might, possessing unparalleled oppressive power. It was only when Ye Fan released the Great Sun Seal that the enormous crimson sun and the nine Golden Crows slowly vanished.

Further away, many Qingxia disciples were completely exhausted and collapsed to the ground. They could not resist such supreme might; it directly struck fear into their very bones.

This was one of the Nine Secrets, the ultimate art of offense, the incomparable Saint Combat Law! Each time it was comprehended, a new grand killing art would evolve, ever-changing and endless!

All around, the Qingxia disciples were trembling in fear. That delicate-looking young man was simply a demon king; his unparalleled terrifying might alone was enough to deter their bodies and minds, making combat unnecessary.

Long howls rose and fell continuously. The Grand Elders and the Sect Master of Qingxia were all alarmed; they all came out of seclusion and rushed over quickly.

Figures flashed as ten more figures descended one after another, surrounding Ye Fan. "Ten powerhouses from the Dao Palace secret realm," Ye Fan mused, "It seems I can unleash my full power today."

Ye Fan remained calm and collected, without a trace of surprise.