Chapter 242: Cloud Break

Chapter 246: Cloud Break

The restaurant, located next to a stone gambling house, enjoyed excellent business. Its patrons were either cultivators or stone gamblers, known for their generous spending.

On the second floor, by a window, sat a man in green. He appeared to be no older than twenty-one or twenty-two, with fair skin that lacked a masculine edge, giving him a somewhat effeminate appearance.

He was clearly a disciple from an aristocratic family, attended by two young women who meticulously poured his wine and served his food. After taking a sip, he remarked, "The reason he could burn a Grand Elder of the Ji Family to death wasn't because of his astonishing cultivation, but because the Ji Family's prominent figures were caught off guard and consumed by the terrifying flames he had collected. Without those flames, he's nothing."

Someone nearby interjected, "You're exaggerating, brother. But regardless, that young man did burn a prominent figure to death, so he's certainly not to be underestimated."

The man in green glanced at the speaker and said, "Less than a year ago, he was merely at the Other Shore realm. Without those flames, many could kill him as easily as tearing a painting."

Someone else in the restaurant found his words arrogant and challenged, "Brother, you're speaking too grandly. Can you truly kill him as easily as tearing a painting?"

The effeminate man in green took another sip of wine and declared, "Killing him would be as easy as turning my palm. One slap would be enough to kill him!"

Ye Fan, who was sitting not far away, couldn't help but glance at him. The man's expression was calm; though he didn't overtly show arrogance, he was remarkably conceited.

Nearby, someone, repulsed by his demeanor, interjected, "That young man is only fifteen or sixteen, yet his cultivation has already reached the Other Shore realm. That's quite astonishing. May I ask what realm you are in, brother?"

"Dao Palace Third Realm," the man in green replied, accepting a white napkin from a maid to wipe his mouth.

Many people showed surprise. Achieving such a level of cultivation at that age was indeed astonishing; no wonder he was so conceited.

"What is this young master's name?" someone asked.

"Situ Feng," the man in green replied, gently tossing the white napkin onto the table.

"Is that Situ Feng from Yan Yun Gate?"

"Precisely."

"No wonder! So it's Situ Feng. Among his generation, those around twenty years old in Qu Province, few can contend with him."

"Qu Province has no great sects or sacred lands. At his age, having the strength of the Dao Palace Third Realm is indeed enough to be proud of."

Everyone in the restaurant was buzzing with discussion; clearly, they had all heard of Situ Feng.

Ye Fan naturally had no favorable impression of this effeminate man who claimed he could kill him with one slap. However, he wasn't about to argue with him there. Instead, he asked, "Where is the grand gathering for the younger generation of Qu Province being held? I'd like to witness it as well."

"It's in the Cloud-Severing Mountain Range, not far from Chaoyang City," someone in the restaurant kindly informed him.

"Thank you, brother. Do you know when it starts?" Ye Fan inquired further.

"It's scheduled for two days from now. Many young masters from Qu Province will gather there."

Ye Fan smiled and asked, "Do you know which formidable individuals from the younger generations of the Ji Family and the Shaking Light Holy Land will be attending?"

"That's hard to say, but certainly, outstanding individuals will be present, as they are behind its organization."

Not long after Ye Fan descended from the restaurant, the big black dog ambled over from nearby, muttering and grumbling.

After listening carefully, Ye Fan was amused. The big black dog had quite a bit of bad luck, encountering a rogue butcher who chased it down a street, intending to skin it for meat. Fortunately, the dog knew its limits and didn't attack the mortal.

This mountain range was 120 *li* from Chaoyang City. Its peaks were steep, soaring into the clouds, hence its name, Cloud-Severing Mountain Range.

The mountains in the oasis were naturally teeming with life, a stark contrast to barren landscapes. As far as the eye could see, there was lush greenery, with trees covering every slope.

The highest peak, reaching 6,000 meters, was majestic, with white mist rising and clouds swirling around it.

Ye Fan arrived early, hoping to survey the terrain. The big black dog reluctantly followed, its face drawn long.

This mountain range stretched for hundreds of *li*, with no sects established within it; it was an unowned territory.

It wasn't that the area wasn't beautiful, but over a thousand years, three medium-sized sects had successively established themselves here, only to all be annihilated.

Other sects considered the place ominous, and since then, no one had dared to settle there.

In fact, the Cloud-Severing Mountain Range was exquisitely beautiful, with mountains and water intertwined, gurgling dragon springs, and jade-like streams winding through the peaks. It was an excellent place for cultivation, otherwise, three sects would not have chosen it one after another.

"So it's this place..." The big black dog's black fur bristled.

Seeing its reaction, Ye Fan was greatly surprised. It was the first time he had seen the big black dog so tense.

"You've been here before?"

The big black dog's eyes flickered with suspicion and uncertainty, then slowly regained their calm, and its fur smoothed down.

"Let me take a closer look!" It quickly ran, circling the mountain range for dozens of *li* until it reached an open area.

"What did you find?" Ye Fan asked.

"It really is this cursed place. I can't believe I've come here again," the big black dog muttered, its expression gloomy and uncertain.

"What kind of place is this?" Seeing its reaction, Ye Fan knew it was certainly not an ordinary mountain range.

"This Emperor suffered a great loss here back then," the big black dog said, pacing with a look of gloom.

"When was that?"

"Naturally, a very long time ago. Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand," the big black dog said with a cool demeanor.

"Even a Divine King has a lifespan of only four or five thousand years. If you could live for over a thousand years, you'd have to thank the heavens. What exactly happened?"

"Why should I tell you about the losses this Emperor suffered?" The big black dog turned and continued to circle the mountain range.

Ever since he acquired the Source Heaven Book, Ye Fan had been diligently studying it. He immediately used the 'Observation Method' to scan the area, and the entire mountain range instantly appeared within his perception.

"There's nothing particularly special here. It's not a forbidden land, and even if there are source veins underground, their number is pitifully small." This was his conclusion.

"Huh, something's not right," Ye Fan suddenly said with a hint of surprise. Though not an ominous place, this location had something peculiar. Using the Observation Method to look ahead, he faintly perceived a wisp of white mist rising. This was definitely not mountain mist, but something rising from underground; a wisp of mist detected by his spiritual sense.

"This isn't a forbidden land, nor is it a celestial realm, yet it gives off a strange feeling."

"So many years have passed, and there's still no change," the big black dog mumbled.

Ye Fan walked over and said, "Tell me in detail. After all, I'm a disciple of the Source Heaven Master, and I'm more skilled than you when it comes to mountains and terrain."

"You people in this profession love to dig. Unfortunately, the issue here isn't about source veins," the big black dog grumbled.

"Then what did you encounter back then?" Ye Fan asked.

"Back then, this Emperor was trapped here for eighteen years and almost died," the big black dog said through clenched teeth.

"I don't see any danger," Ye Fan observed again. Aside from the white wisps of mist, he truly couldn't perceive anything else.

"If you could truly see the danger, that would be a huge problem. This used to be the Daoist sanctuary of a very powerful figure; it's quite extraordinary."

"You must have wanted to steal something from them, didn't you?"

"That person has been dead for who knows how many years! I was looking for opportunities then!" the big black dog corrected fiercely.

"Whose Daoist sanctuary was this, that caused you such a great loss?" Ye Fan was very curious.

"It was a ruthless person who eventually refined himself," the big black dog replied, unwilling to say more. No matter how Ye Fan pressed, it wouldn't reveal anything else.

"So, according to you, we still can't enter this mountain?"

"That's fine, there's no big problem with entering. As long as you don't dig indiscriminately here, no one will die." The big black dog eventually let it slip.

Ye Fan burst out laughing. "Look at you," he said, "what have you done in the past, just to find treasures?"

The big black dog's face darkened as it retorted defensively, "You people in this profession just love to dig up mountains and excavate the ground. I was just reminding you!"

Ye Fan was only here to attend the grand gathering of Qu Province's younger generation, not to live there permanently, so he wasn't worried.

Here, there was a very wide, dry riverbed, its cobblestones almost completely weathered, showing it had been dry for countless years.

This dry riverbed snaked from the mountains into the distance, resembling a coiled dragon.

Ye Fan followed the riverbed into the mountains, wandering for most of the day without finding anything significant. When he asked the big black dog, the creature remained tight-lipped, refusing to disclose anything.

"The treasure that excites you must be extraordinary, right? Don't you want to dig it out?" Ye Fan tempted.

"It's naturally a rare treasure, buried underground for tens of thousands of years. I don't mind it being buried for a few more decades. When I'm strong enough, I'll come and retrieve it myself." The big black dog remained tight-lipped.

Two days passed in a flash. The Cloud-Severing Mountain Range was no longer desolate; it had suddenly become lively. Divine rainbows occasionally streaked across the sky, carrying numerous figures, almost all of whom were young cultivators.

In the central area of the mountain range stood a broken mountain, incredibly thick and wide, with a flat cross-section as if cut by an unparalleled weapon, forming a massive platform.

Many figures were present on it, yet it didn't seem crowded at all. On the contrary, it was so vast that it appeared somewhat empty.

"This broken mountain is at least ten times thicker than the others," Ye Fan murmured to himself. "If it hadn't been broken, it would probably soar into the sky, making it the tallest mountain here."

"They sure know how to pick a spot," the big black dog muttered, a glint in its bell-like eyes.

"This is that powerful figure's Daoist sanctuary you mentioned, isn't it?" Ye Fan probed.

The big black dog offered no response.

Half an hour later, Ye Fan, with his wide sleeves fluttering, traveled by cloud and arrived at the broken mountain. He had not brought the Black Emperor with him, as it might have exposed them.

Young cultivators were everywhere, buzzing with discussion, while figures continued to fly in from the distant sky.

Five-colored divine light pierced the sky as a jade boat flew in, emanating countless auspicious rays. It descended from the heavens, pulsating with powerful divine energy, landing on the broken mountain. A sudden stir went through the crowd as important figures arrived.

"The heroes from the Ji Family and the Shaking Light Holy Land have arrived!"

"The Ji Family and the Shaking Light Holy Land have an undying legacy, with foundations spanning over a hundred thousand years. It's astonishing how powerful the young disciples they cultivate are."

People chatted excitedly, quickly surrounding the area and flocking around the divine boat like stars gathering around the moon.

Ye Fan did not step forward, remaining in his spot. It was then that he noticed Situ Feng, the man who had boasted he could kill him with one slap.

The effeminate man, still in his green robes, remained quite conceited. He didn't push forward, instead standing at the edge of the crowd with a hint of arrogance.

"Brother Situ..." Ye Fan stepped forward.

Situ Feng turned his head, frowning. "Who are you?" he asked.

"Ye Fan!"

Upon hearing this, Situ Feng sharply turned and fixed his gaze on him.