Chapter 234: Black Wolf

Ye Fan was in the dark, quietly observing everything in the courtyard. The tall figure with gray hair reaching the ground, though as strong as an iron mountain, moved silently and swiftly like a ghost.

It headed directly towards his room, its objective unmistakably clear.

In the front courtyard, shouts and cries rent the air. Horrific screams continuously emanated, and many figures soared into the sky, only to be mercilessly struck down, their blood splattering everywhere. Ye Fan's heart pounded. The invaders were too powerful. He held his breath, hiding in the shadows, quietly observing.

Footsteps approached as female disciples from Jade Lake charged into the courtyard. The adjacent door creaked open, and Li Desheng, pale-faced, rushed out as if grasping a lifeline. He also lived in this courtyard.

*Boom!*

Ye Fan's room directly collapsed; windows shattered, beams snapped, and debris flew everywhere. A gray figure stood amidst the dust and smoke, like a demonic wall. "Who are you?" one of the Jade Lake female disciples demanded in a low voice.

"Sister Immortal! He's not human, he's a monster from the Primordial Forbidden Zone! Run!" Li Desheng cried, scrambling away.

The tall creature's gray hair hung to the ground, completely obscuring its face. Streaks of moonlight pierced through its hair and vanished into its pitch-black eyes, making it exceptionally terrifying in the night. The Jade Lake disciples retreated. This creature was too dangerous, instilling a feeling of helplessness. They wanted to escape, but they felt locked in; any significant movement would provoke a lightning-fast attack.

A dull, low growl emanated, sending chills from head to toe, as if one had plunged into an ice cellar. The gray-haired creature lunged forward in a single stride.

*Clang! Clang!*

Immortal light flashed as six weapons were pulverized by its bare hands, leaving behind a mess of shattered metal.

*Thud!*

Simultaneously, it emitted a dense gray mist and swept through. The six Jade Lake disciples couldn't even let out a scream before they were reduced to scattered pieces, covered in blood, their garments torn. Ye Fan's heart raced. The gray-haired creature was too formidable; it ended six lives in a single encounter.

A soft shout was heard, and a man and a woman descended. One was an elder from Shaking Light, and the other an elder from Jade Lake. They attacked the gray-haired creature simultaneously.

"Roar..."

Its low roar, dull as thunder, made one's blood churn. At some point, a massive blood-red sword appeared in its hand, two meters long and a foot wide, almost demonically crimson, as if immortal blood flowed within it.

*Thud!*

Its power was unparalleled, its malevolent aura reaching the heavens. It charged forward, wielding the blood sword, its gray hair flying, filling the air like cascading waterfalls. It was utterly unstoppable. The blood sword in its hand shattered the Shaking Light elder's weapon and then cleaved his body open. It charged right through him, letting blood spray freely.

Such might belonged to an unmatchable being. The two-meter-long blood sword swept across, and the Jade Lake elder also couldn't escape, being literally torn apart. Simple and direct, brutal and effective, cruel and merciless!

Ye Fan reduced his life signs to a minimum, his bodily functions nearly ceasing. This gray-haired creature was invincible, truly a living demon king, and he had to hide well.

A blood-red light stretched for hundreds of meters, streaking across the sky. The creature vanished into the darkness, flying towards the main street.

"It really is a creature from the Primordial Forbidden Zone..."

Ye Fan quickly rushed out and dragged Li Desheng from the rockery in another courtyard, dozens of meters away.

"Don't kill me... I'm tough and don't taste good!" Li Desheng whimpered, trembling all over.

"It's me." Ye Fan slapped him, bringing him back to his senses. "You have the Yin-Nether Eyes. Was that really a creature from the Primordial Forbidden Zone just now?" he asked.

"Definitely! Didn't you see its appearance?" Li Desheng was slightly calmer seeing Ye Fan, but his eyes still held fear.

"Did you see it with your Yin-Nether Eyes?" Ye Fan shook his shoulder.

"How could I pay attention? I barely had time to escape! Could it be fake?" Li Desheng looked around frantically. "Daoist priest, let's leave quickly."

"It didn't kill you even when it was only a dozen meters away. You don't need to worry about anything," Ye Fan said gravely. "Hide in the dark and see if the invading creature is really from the Primordial Forbidden Zone, or if someone is impersonating one."

After saying this, he vanished into the night. The gray-haired creature had gone directly to his room; this place was no longer safe. The Supreme Elders of Shaking Light and Jade Lake were not here, so they couldn't stop it. Ye Fan was somewhat skeptical that it was a creature from the Primordial Forbidden Zone. There were many doubts. He always felt that the opponent might be after his Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold.

He couldn't stay here long; even the Jade Lake people couldn't protect him. Ye Fan wanted to escape amidst the chaos. With no one to stop him now, he might be able to get away.

He found a place, his bones crackling as he burned his gray Daoist robe to ashes in a Divine Furnace of Departing Fire. He transformed into a young man, donning purple clothes. His "Heaven and Earth Transformation" was now partially complete; he could not only alter his appearance but also his aura and demeanor entirely. He then paused. If it wasn't an unknown creature from the Primordial Forbidden Zone, and the opponent was indeed after his Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, they would surely have anticipated various possibilities and might be waiting outside. Rushing out recklessly would likely attract the attention of those hidden eyes. It was not the right time to escape, so he hid himself.

In the front courtyard, battle cries shook the heavens. A creature covered in white fur soared into the air, wielding a large, jet-black iron sword. Almost every swing of the sword sent a spray of blood blossoms flying. It was unstoppable; even elders of the Four Extremities Realm couldn't block it. This terrifying creature killed without blinking, charging through, sweeping all before it.

"Am I overthinking this? Has a creature from the Primordial Forbidden Zone really arrived? But why did the gray-haired creature quietly head for my dwelling?" Ye Fan pondered carefully and took out a dark turtle from his person. It was entirely green and shimmering. Besides this, he couldn't think of any other reason that might attract such an unknown creature.

"Kill...!" "The Supreme Elder has returned!"

Someone shouted, and the fear among the crowd subsided. At the same time, other major forces in Origin City also arrived as reinforcements. Shouts echoed from all directions, and many figures rushed towards the area.

Ye Fan transformed back into a Daoist priest, quickly rushed over, and dragged Li Desheng out. "Look closely for me! Is that white-furred creature that escaped really from the Primordial Forbidden Zone?" he demanded.

Li Desheng trembled, glancing towards the sky. The white-furred figure was about to vanish, moving so fast that even Ye Fan was shocked. The Supreme Elder of Shaking Light couldn't keep up.

"Is it a creature from the Primordial Forbidden Zone?"

"It has a mysterious mist around it; I can't confirm," Li Desheng's voice trembled.

Ye Fan pushed him aside without delay, dashed into the shadows, and transformed again into an unfamiliar young man. Then, seizing the opportunity while the major forces of Origin City arrived as reinforcements, he escaped from the courtyard. Even if that gray creature was secretly observing, he no longer needed to worry. With widespread chaos and many people entering and exiting, he was not the only one.

"The sacred artifact for forging weapons, something ancient emperors yearned for, truly brings no peace."

Ye Fan thought it wasn't a creature from the Primordial Forbidden Zone. It was likely someone impersonating one, going on a killing spree for his Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold. He couldn't stay here any longer; even the Jade Lake people couldn't protect him.

"Old Blade Handle, Shaking Light Saint Son, or..."

Ye Fan recalled how the gray creature, wielding a blood sword over two meters long and more than a foot wide, had cleaved through the elders of Shaking Light and Jade Lake one by one. Such power was chilling. Old Blade Handle was deeply hidden; his true strength was unfathomable. The Shaking Light Saint Son was in the Third Secret Realm, a heaven-sent prodigy whose combat power rivaled that of a Divine King of the same level, virtually unmatched within the Four Extremities Realm. As for splitting into two forms, it was no problem at all. Except for Ye Fan, other cultivators at the peak of the Dao Palace Realm could manifest five divine manifestations.

That night, the entire Origin City was restless. Shaking Light lost twenty-seven people, including four elders from the Third Secret Realm, and Jade Lake lost eighteen, including two elders from the Four Extremities Realm. A total of forty-five cultivators were cut down, all killed with a single strike. No one could withstand the power of the blood sword, and no one could resist the might of the iron sword. The two creatures swept through, causing heavy losses to both Sacred Lands.

When dawn broke, this news shook the region and spread to various mining areas. Several Supreme Elders from both Shaking Light and Jade Lake rushed to the scene. Daring to attack a Sacred Land, wielding a blood-colored butcher's knife—this was truly shocking news that alarmed many forces in the Northern Region.

"Shaking Light lost so many people; it must have been Old Blade Handle who acted..." Ye Fan's heart tightened.

After dawn, he went to the South District. Five low, dilapidated houses with blue tiled roofs stood empty and quiet. "Did that old geezer really do it?" Ye Fan habitually rubbed his chin. He stayed in Origin City, quietly observing the turmoil. Large numbers of high-ranking experts from both Sacred Lands were arriving. Undercurrents surged in this region; it was very restless.

Three days later, Ye Fan left Origin City. He didn't want to stay there any longer; it was best to avoid troubled places. He had other ways to enter Jade Lake, but his Daoist identity could absolutely not be used. Carrying Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, a sacred artifact exclusive to ancient emperors, was enough to shake the world. He would surely die if his identity was exposed!

Half a month later, Ye Fan crossed vast barren lands, moving away from the expansive mining area, heading towards an oasis, and returned to the Stone Village beside Purple Mountain.

As soon as he approached the Stone Village, a huge black shadow pounced on him. Ye Fan was incredibly fast, unmatched in the Dao Palace Realm, yet he still couldn't evade it. He was knocked to the ground, and a sharp, thick black paw pressed down on him. Ye Fan swung his hand, blocking the black paw, then flipped over and sat up, landing on the black shadow. It turned out to be a large dog, much bigger than a common local dog, resembling a bull. Its body was as black as ink, with a square head and large ears, and it was even bigger than a tiger.

*Thud!*

The large black dog was immensely strong and incredibly agile. With a powerful shake, it threw Ye Fan off, much to his surprise. The large black dog was drooling profusely at him, exaggeratedly licking its tongue, leaving him speechless. In a fit of annoyance, he slapped at it.

*Whoosh!*

He hadn't expected the dog to be so swift. It dodged aside like a black lightning bolt, then opened its massive mouth and lunged to bite him.

*Thud!*

Ye Fan slapped it, and the large dog stumbled, completely unharmed. Instead, it tore off a large piece of his sleeve. He was astonished. Had this dog become a spirit? But even a dog spirit shouldn't be able to block him.

"Where did this wild dog come from? I don't believe I can't smash you!" Ye Fan moved closer, his palm and fingers turning golden as he pressed forward. Imperceptibly, he used a trace of the Saint Combat Law.

"You're the wild dog..." The large black dog suddenly spoke human words.

This time, it was Ye Fan who stumbled back, startled. This dog could actually speak! It really had become a spirit.

"Dog spirit..."

"You spout such nonsense! Can you even speak properly?" The large black dog suddenly pounced, its large teeth gleaming like razor-sharp blades, going for a fatal bite on Ye Fan.

"Young Master Ye, you're back..." Wang Shu emerged from the Stone Observation Post, saw him, and beamed with joy.

"There's a wild dog spirit here! Don't come over, it's a bit strange. Once I deal with it, we'll eat black dog meat tonight!"

"It's not certain who will eat whom!" the large black dog roared, pouncing again.

"Young Master Ye, don't! That's Old Master Zhang's dog; you can't eat it!" Wang Shu shouted, simultaneously calling out to the large black dog, "Black Emperor, don't bite him! He's a benefactor of our Stone Village."

The people of Stone Village were startled, and many ran out.

"Young Master Ye is back...""Black Emperor, don't bite indiscriminately.""He was brought back by Old Master Zhang. His name is Black Emperor, and he's already enlightened."

A large group of people gathered enthusiastically. Ye Fan was very surprised to hear that the large black dog was brought back by Old Master Zhang, and immediately, killing it was out of the question. However, the large black dog was relentless, baring its fangs and continuously biting at him, tearing off more than half of his clothes.

"Damn it, you're even more aggressive than a stub-tailed dog!"

Ye Fan slapped it a few times, but it felt like hitting a bronze wall or iron barrier; the blows clanged. Without using the Saint Combat Law, he couldn't budge it at all. The large black dog bared its fangs and let out a raspy growl, but it didn't actually bite his body; it merely tore up his clothes.

"Oh, my! It really is a stub-tailed dog. No wonder it's so fierce," Ye Fan was somewhat speechless.

The large black dog's thick tail was indeed half-bald, its fur almost completely gone.

"Young Master Ye, you're back! You weren't bitten by that stub-tailed dog, were you?" The simpleton Lei Bo ran over from a distance, barely touching the ground. He was very fast, and his cultivation had improved again. But when he got closer and saw the large black dog among the crowd, his face immediately paled. "I said it wrong, it's Black Emperor!" he corrected.

"Wait a minute... what's with this stub-tailed dog?" Ye Fan called Wang Shu and Lei Bo closer.

Before the two could speak, the large black dog bared its fangs first. "Dare to call me 'stub-tailed dog' again, and this Emperor will destroy you!" it growled.

"You black dog spirit certainly talk big," Ye Fan said, looking at Wang Shu and Lei Bo. "Surely this dog spirit hasn't taken over Stone Village, has it? Don't worry, you don't have to be afraid. I can burn it to death and let you eat dog meat."

"No, no! Black Emperor is really good. With him here, the safety of Stone Village won't be a problem in the future.""Young Master Ye, please don't misunderstand. Black Emperor is truly a good dog."

Everyone vouched for it.

Ye Fan quickly understood. This dog was the black shadow that had stolen the roasted whole lamb at the bonfire feast long ago. Later, it appeared a few more times and eventually made Old Master Zhang's house its permanent residence. In fact, this large black dog hadn't been a freeloading guest; it had once brought back several pieces of Origin Stone.

Ye Fan was instantly alarmed. Could this large black dog be the very thing that had followed him out of Purple Mountain?

"Black Emperor, don't hurt him! Young Master Ye is a good person..." At that moment, Old Master Zhang, having received the news, walked out of the Stone Observation Post, leaning on his cane.

The large black dog, bigger than a tiger and stronger than a bull, wagged its tail and approached Old Master Zhang.

"Is this truly the creature that emerged from Purple Mountain?!" Ye Fan's mind was filled with doubt and surprise.

He stepped forward and asked Old Master Zhang, "Old Master, this stub-tailed dog..."

"Kid, are you tired of living? Who's a stub-tailed dog?" The large black dog bared its fangs, its canine teeth menacing, and glared with its large, bell-like eyes.

"You say you are... Black Emperor?" Ye Fan asked.

"That's right, you may refer to this Emperor as such!" The large black dog looked arrogant.

"Black Emperor, my foot! Do you really think you're an ancient Saint Emperor?" Ye Fan scoffed. "For the sake of the Stone Village elders, I won't call you 'stub-tailed dog' anymore. I'll just call you 'Blackie Wolf'."

The large black dog flew into a rage. "Why can't this Emperor compare to an ancient Saint Emperor? I'm itching to exterminate you right now!"