Chapter 243: Killing the Genius

The Cloud-Severing Mountain Range towers into the sky, cutting across white clouds. Some peaks boast lush, vibrant greenery at their base, while their summits are crowned with white snow, presenting a duality of stunning scenery.

Duan Mountain, located in the central region of the range, was bustling with activity. Young cultivators arrived intermittently, and the crowd grew as the most outstanding young cultivators from Quzhou gathered there.

Situ Feng, tall and slender, stood apart from the crowd, his expression somewhat cold. Quite arrogant, he fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and declared, "This joke isn't funny."

Ye Fan, standing only a few yards away, remained calm and composed. His bones shifted, emitting crackling sounds, and he quickly regained his true appearance.

"It's really you," Situ Feng said, a hint of surprise in his voice. But he quickly sneered, "You dare to come here? You certainly have some nerve."

Mist billowed around Ye Fan's body, enveloping him completely and concealing his true form. He took a few steps forward and declared, "The world is vast; where can I not go? Why should I fear coming to a mere gathering of Quzhou cultivators?"

Situ Feng's expression grew considerably colder. "Now that you've come here today," he said, "I doubt you'll be able to leave."

"Do you intend to slap me to death?" Ye Fan asked, taking a few steps forward as he spoke.

"Killing you is as easy as flipping my hand. One slap will suffice!" Situ Feng declared. As a genius of the Yan Yun Sect, he was already a powerful practitioner at the third heaven of the Dao Palace realm in his early twenties, and he was extremely arrogant.

Ye Fan stroked his chin. "Am I really that easy to bully?" he asked. "You think you can just slap me to death? You must truly see me as a mere blade of grass."

"Aside from that flame you rely on, you are nothing in my eyes," Situ Feng said, his expression calm. "Killing you would be as easy as plucking a blade of grass or picking a leaf, effortless."

"Then try to slap me to death."

Ye Fan walked forward again.

At this moment, the surrounding cultivators noticed the abnormality and all turned to look.

"Isn't that Situ Feng from the Yan Yun Sect? He's hailed as the sect's most outstanding genius in a hundred years, and he's only twenty-one, already a powerful practitioner in the third realm of the Dao Palace."

"In southern Quzhou, Situ Feng is quite famous among the younger generation. Many speculate that he will surely break into the Four Extremities Secret Realm before turning thirty."

Numerous cultivators discussed amongst themselves, holding him in very high regard.

Situ Feng was only twenty-one. Despite not being a descendant of a Holy Land, possessing such cultivation was truly astonishing, as very few in the younger generation had truly reached the Four Extremities Secret Realm.

He was very likely to break into the Four Extremities Secret Realm before turning thirty; his talent was truly extraordinary.

"You're quite famous in Quzhou, it seems; so many people know you." Ye Fan's form became even more ethereal as mist billowed, covering his entire body.

"Who is this person? He dares to confront Situ Feng. Is he challenging the genius of the Yan Yun Sect?" someone asked with a doubtful expression.

"He must be a challenger. After Situ Feng gained fame in southern Quzhou, some young cultivators, refusing to accept it, often try to challenge him."

"Fame and fortune can be deadly. To gain fame, they'll risk a fight, but challenging a genius of the Yan Yun Sect — isn't that seeking death? Among those around twenty in Quzhou, probably very few can contend with him."

"It seems I'm in great peril," Ye Fan said mockingly. "Everyone says I'm far from being your match."

At this moment, Duan Mountain was filled with young cultivators everywhere. Many looked over, sensing the tense atmosphere.

"What a pity. I didn't actually want to kill you, but you've appeared before me. I don't mind sending you on your way with a single slap," Situ Feng responded calmly. His body transformed into a phantom, floating over like a figure from a painting.

As he had said himself, he merely extended one palm. His right hand rose high, emitting a watery blue halo that gleamed and sparkled.

At this moment, many gazes converged on this spot, from both near and far. This was a gathering of young cultivators from Quzhou, and such conflicts were to be expected, so no one was surprised.

After the people at Duan Mountain realized it was Situ Feng, they believed there would be no suspense. The unknown challenger would surely be killed by the Yan Yun Sect's genius.

Ye Fan stood his ground, motionless, calmly waiting for Situ Feng to charge closer. As Situ Feng swung his right palm, Ye Fan met the watery blue strike with his own.

"Crack!"

The sound was exceptionally loud, like a thunderclap exploding and resonating throughout Duan Mountain. As the two palms collided, ripples of watery blue light radiated outwards. A hazy blue halo drifted like thin gauze, engulfing the spot.

"As I said, Situ Feng's talent is exceptional," someone remarked. "Challenging him surely comes with a hefty price, often even one's life."

"The blue light is like lightning," another exclaimed. "Divine power overflows. The force of that palm strike is terrifying!"

Many were astonished.

However, when the blue mist dispersed, everyone was stunned and left speechless, swallowing back the words they were about to say.

In the center of the field, Ye Fan stood calmly, his long sleeves fluttering, his form indistinct. Meanwhile, Situ Feng's face was ashen. He stumbled back a great distance, his entire right palm deformed and disfigured, with drops of blood splattering onto the ground.

"H-how... how is this possible?!"

"Who is he? He actually injured the Yan Yun Sect's genius! His right palm bones are broken inch by inch!"

"Who is this person? How have I never heard of him? Does Quzhou even have such a figure?"

"Quzhou spans over three thousand li. I've never heard of such a person. Could he be a cultivator from another region?"

Around them, many showed expressions of surprise. An unknown person had severely injured Situ Feng with a single palm strike; it was truly astonishing.

Ye Fan remained very calm. In terms of physical body alone, who in the Dao Palace Secret Realm could compare to him? With his copper tendons and iron bones, he was more terrifying than a magic artifact, truly unparalleled in the Dao Palace realm.

Many were guessing his identity, but his body was wreathed in mist, preventing anyone from seeing him clearly or discerning his true form.

"You..." Situ Feng's face was pale. Not only was his right palm broken, but his entire right arm was shattered into eight pieces. No one was more surprised than him; it was as if he had just collided with a towering mountain, and his divine power had been powerless to resist.

"Slapping me to death with one palm... that seems quite difficult, doesn't it?" Ye Fan said, standing his ground without pursuing.

Situ Feng's face stiffened, and his right arm trembled. He gritted his teeth to set his bones, and at the same time, he spat out a bead. It hovered above his head, letting down curtains of water that encased and protected him.

"It's the Yan Yun Sect's Azure Orb!" someone exclaimed.

At the same time, Situ Feng spat out a green lotus, radiating brilliant light. It was as heavy as a mountain, its oppressive weight making it difficult for those around to breathe.

The green lotus was translucent, glowing with a deep blue radiance. Its immense pressure made many feel a tremor in their hearts and their faces turn pale. Even the ground of Duan Mountain creaked and groaned, with large cracks appearing.

Ye Fan's expression changed. It wasn't just because the opponent's green lotus was so heavy, but also because the ground of Duan Mountain was cracking. This was the dojo of a formidable master; if any trouble arose, things would go badly.

He held nothing back, charging forward. His palms and fingers were like blades, striking repeatedly, shattering the watery blue halo.

The green lotus remained undamaged, its light intensifying as it pressed downwards. Ye Fan held up the sky with a single hand, forcefully resisting it in mid-air. It was indeed as heavy as a mountain, making even his physical body strain.

The Azure Orb rose, flying towards the green lotus. The two merged, instantly doubling the weight, which caused Ye Fan to sink slightly.

"This is a heavy treasure of the Yan Yun Sect, almost unbearable," someone exclaimed. "This person actually resisted it with his physical body. What is his origin?" Everyone around was astonished.

However, what left them even more speechless was yet to come. Ye Fan shook both hands repeatedly, and a giant golden palm print materialized, causing the sky itself to collapse.

Situ Feng's expression changed. Three streams of blue light shot out from his left hand, merging together to form a blue lightning blade. It suddenly swelled to tens of feet long, striking towards Ye Fan.

"Situ Feng actually refined Three-Yin True Water! Every drop of this water can pierce metal and crack stone!"

"What's more terrifying is that he used the True Water to refine a spirit blade. This secret technique is extremely frightening; it can sever a person's soul!"

"This is the Three-Yin True Spirit Blade! It has appeared again! This is truly surprising and astonishing!"

Those watching the battle all changed their expressions, watching with tense anticipation.

Three-Yin True Water can extinguish True Fire, dissolve refined gold, and weighs as much as ten thousand jun. When refined into the Three-Yin True Spirit Blade, its power is unmatched.

Ye Fan let out a low roar. After nine powerful shakes of his arms and nine strikes, the Yan Yun Sect's heavy treasure, the Azure Orb, and the green lotus both cracked.

"Boom!"

With his final punch, blue light scattered everywhere, and the two treasures turned into dust, shattered by his golden fist!

"Who is this person? How can he possess such immense power?"

"His physical body is harder than a treasure. How did he cultivate? Is he a demon?"

"Too terrifying!"

Everyone was dumbfounded and found it all unbelievable.

The Three-Yin True Spirit Blade struck, its blue light like lightning. It cast a pale blue hue on the skin of nearby people, and an icy chill permeated their bones.

"Clang!"

Ye Fan grabbed the blade. His entire right hand was like blazing gold, leaving five deep finger marks on the blade.

"The Three-Yin True Spirit Blade can sever souls, yet he grabbed it with his hand and was completely unafraid!"

"Is this someone whose physical body can become saintly in the future? How can he possess such a terrifying physique?!"

"Boom!"

Situ Feng activated the Three-Yin True Spirit Blade. Blue light shot skyward, and watery radiance overflowed, engulfing Ye Fan.

This was Three-Yin True Water, capable of dissolving gold and corroding iron; a single drop was enough to pierce a cultivator's body. With so much surging forth, no one could say how terrifying its power truly was.

However, Ye Fan's entire body radiated brilliant light, and all the True Water was evaporated, turning into blue gas. It couldn't affect him at all.

Divine power surged. He was like an immortal divine furnace, burning and destroying everything.

"Crack, crack."

The Three-Yin True Spirit Blade broke in his hand, transforming back into True Water, then into blue mist, and was completely refined by him.

This scene was terrifying. A true spirit blade refined by a secret technique was actually shattered with a single blow, destroyed by his golden palm-fingers.

"You..." Situ Feng's face was ashen. He turned and fled, his heart now filled with despair. Such an opponent filled him with a sense of utter defeat.

"The Yan Yun Sect's genius has been defeated! He had to flee!"

"That's the genius of southern Quzhou, yet he was no match for this person. Who is this person? So terrifying!"

At Duan Mountain, many people's faces were filled with shock.

"Now you try the power of my single palm strike!" Ye Fan's speed was incredibly fast; he instantly caught up. His golden palm-fingers transformed to the size of a millstone, bringing them down with a crushing blow that made the void hum and tremble.

"Show mercy!" shouted an outstanding disciple of the Ancient Aristocratic Ji Family as a figure rapidly charged forward.

At the same time, Situ Feng struggled to resist, attempting to mitigate the disaster.

The golden palm print was unparalleled, draining all the surrounding world essence. A large patch of blurry black space appeared!

"Smack!"

This time, it was like a muffled thunderclap striking in the air.

Situ Feng's resistance was utterly useless. His entire body was shattered, and he was sent flying horizontally.

"You..." The young strong practitioner from the Ji Family was enraged. He hadn't expected the other party to show him no respect at all, killing someone right before his eyes.

He moved to catch Situ Feng's shattered body, but as soon as his hands made contact, the corpse instantly disintegrated into dust, its form and spirit utterly annihilated!

"Who are you? How dare you kill someone right before my eyes? Didn't you hear what I just said?!" the young strong practitioner from the Ji Family demanded.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Ye Fan retorted, standing with his hands behind his back. "You tell me to stop, and I stop? Is an Ancient Aristocratic Family so great?"