Chapter 249: Wind and Waves

The great battle concluded, and eight core disciples from the Ji family and the Yaoguang Holy Land were killed. This was bound to cause a huge stir!

Ye Fan landed on Broken Mountain. The young cultivators from Qu Province retreated one after another. Although this young man with flowing hair looked quiet, everyone branded him as a young Devil King.

Many people were discussing in hushed tones, wondering how this young man would survive once this matter spread throughout the Northern Region.

The Ji family and the Yaoguang Holy Land possess immortal inheritances and are transcendent existences in the Eastern Wasteland. Provoking them would likely leave one with no place to hide in the world.

“Everyone, please disperse,” Ye Fan said with a smile.

“Let’s go. The grand gathering of young cultivators in Qu Province can’t continue, but watching such a great battle made this trip worthwhile.”

“Shhh, keep your voice down. If the Ji family finds out, you’ll be in trouble.”

“What’s the big deal? The Ji family might not have such great power in the Northern Region. What’s there to fear if I just say a few words?”

Many people discussed animatedly, then flew into the distance and left.

Although Qu Province was not large, it had many young masters. Naturally, many were envious of Ye Fan’s cauldron, which was definitely a sacred artifact.

Many wanted to seize it but dared not act rashly. The cauldron, forged from the Mother Qi of All Things, floated above Ye Fan’s head, draping down streams of Profound Yellow Qi that protected him meticulously, making him almost impregnable.

Ye Fan paid them no mind and walked forward. No one blocked his path. He walked directly to an jade boat, which had been piloted by Ji family and Yaoguang disciples; it was a spiritual treasure specifically for aerial travel.

It was over ten meters long, capable of changing size, and could carry dozens of people. It didn't require divine power to operate; by simply inserting some origin stones, it could fly at extreme speeds, much faster than ordinary cultivators.

Such a spiritual treasure could not be refined by ordinary people. It required many complex and profound Dao patterns to be inscribed. It must have been refined by an elder expert, making it a rare artifact for travel.

With a sweep of his sleeve, the jade boat appeared in Ye Fan’s hand, transformed to the size of his palm. It was dazzling with vibrant colors, its jade flawless and exquisitely beautiful.

“Why are you all following me? Do you want to show others that you participated in killing the Holy Land's core disciples with me?” Ye Fan asked with a smile.

At these words, many people stepped back. This joke was not funny at all; if they were implicated in this matter, they would face severe consequences.

“I understand. You want to become famous through this,” Ye Fan said with a radiant smile. “Rest assured, I will definitely tell people that you all collaborated with me to kill the disciples of the Desolate Ancient aristocratic families.”

Many people’s faces turned green. If this dirty water were splashed on them, they would likely face immense trouble. Immediately, many flew into the sky and departed.

Although the cauldron forged from the root of the Mother Qi of All Things was an unparalleled treasure, they knew their limitations and understood they certainly couldn't obtain it.

Of course, there were also arrogant individuals who did not leave. They continued to stare at the cauldron above Ye Fan’s head. This was a rare treasure, hard to come by, coveted even by Holy Lands, let alone them.

Ye Fan said nothing. He unleashed the Old Madman’s footwork, leaving behind a phantom afterimage as he sped towards the depths of the mountain range.

Figures continuously rose from Broken Mountain, chasing after him. Indeed, treasures stir human hearts; some people would even throw themselves into the fire like moths, even if it meant losing their lives.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, Ye Fan turned back. The great cauldron descended like a mountain, and the few individuals who were at the forefront instantly turned into dust, dissipating into the air.

“Sacred artifacts are tempting, but before acting, you might want to gauge your own strength. Don’t throw away your lives for nothing,” Ye Fan said with an icy expression.

After saying these words, he disappeared into the mountains in just a few movements, employing the Old Madman’s footwork to its utmost.

Before long, Ye Fan had changed his appearance, dressed in purple, becoming a refined young man. He then led a large black dog out of the mountains.

“Kid, you actually have a cauldron forged from Profound Yellow! Let me see it!”

Along the way, the large black dog’s eyes glowed green, and it was practically drooling.

“I’ve told you a hundred times, you saw wrong!” Ye Fan had a headache. This pesky dog was too persistent, always eyeing the treasures on him.

“Just let me see it once!” The Black Emperor persisted.

Left with no choice, Ye Fan summoned the cauldron and let it examine it thoroughly. The large black dog tried to pounce several times.

Ye Fan sternly warned, “Don’t drool. This cauldron will never be yours. If you try to snatch it, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

The large black dog was itching to get its paws on it, but it knew that a cauldron forged from Profound Yellow was not easy to snatch, and it might end up half-dead if it tried.

“Black Emperor, you said that Broken Mountain was the Dao field of a ruthless individual. Why didn’t I find anything special?” After putting away the cauldron, Ye Fan quickly changed the subject.

“Back then, that person’s background was so immense it was suffocating. The Dao field he left behind naturally wouldn’t be easy to discern.”

“Can’t we dig it out with our current strength?” Ye Fan asked.

The large black dog immediately looked wary and bared its fangs, saying, “Kid, I’m warning you, don’t have any crooked ideas. The treasures here have nothing to do with you; they’re mine!”

Suddenly, a warship flew over, adorned with auspicious colors, streaking across the sky, and speeding into the depths of the Cloud Mountain Range at an incredible pace.

On the warship, refined from colorful jade, a large flag fluttered loudly, with a prominent character 'Ji' written on it.

Ye Fan frowned. He hadn't expected the Ji family to act so quickly. Less than half an hour had passed, and experts had already arrived.

Before long, people rushed out of the mountains, searching in all directions. Many cultivators who hadn’t managed to leave were intercepted and taken back by the Ji family.

Ye Fan remained calm and unhurried, already dozens of miles away. Yet, he was still stopped by those pursuing in his direction. He certainly didn't want to go back; if he revealed any flaws, it would be a great disaster.

“Stop!” A Ji family expert shouted.

This made Ye Fan frown. This was an expert at the fourth Heavenly Layer of the Dao Palace realm. The fluctuations of divine power were indeed terrifying, and he felt threatened.

The Black Emperor curled its lips and said, “This Emperor could bite him to death in one go!”

“Are you sure?”

“I meant before…” It felt a little guilty.

“We must deal with him, otherwise we’ll be exposed. Black Emperor, I’ll be relying on you in a moment,” Ye Fan said.

“He’s not my enemy. If you want me to act, that’s fine. Give me the seed with the bald head engraved on it, or give me the Profound Tortoise.”

“At a time like this, you’re still trying to extort me. Act or don’t act, I don’t care. If I escape, I’ll change my appearance and disappear into the vast crowd; they’ll never find me in this lifetime. But you’re different. Your features are distinct, and your tail is bald…”

“Mention that again, and I’ll get mad at you!” The large black dog’s face stretched long with displeasure.

The Ji family expert landed. He looked to be only twenty-three or twenty-four, but he was already a master at the fourth Heavenly Layer of the Dao Palace realm. With a grim face, he said, “Come back to the mountain range with me. I have questions for you.”

Ye Fan took a few steps forward and said, “Can’t you say it here?”

“Enough nonsense, hurry up and go!” the Ji family expert shouted.

His mood was terrible. A young man they were supposed to apprehend had instead jumped out and brazenly killed Ji family disciples. If this spread, the Ji family would be greatly embarrassed.

One could imagine the news would soon spread throughout the Northern Region. It was impossible to suppress it.

“If you don’t want to die, turn around and go back to the Cloud-Broken Mountain Range immediately!” the Ji family expert reprimanded.

“Alright,” Ye Fan nodded.

Suddenly, the large black dog rushed out, like a black lightning bolt, pouncing instantly on the Ji family expert.

The sneak attack succeeded!

The Ji family cultivator was wary of Ye Fan, but had completely disregarded a mere black dog. He was instantly tackled by this sneaky, vicious dog.

At this moment, it was too late to resist. The Black Emperor had copper tendons and iron bones; it was impossible to budge it.

“Boom!”

Fearing an unexpected turn, Ye Fan summoned the Mother Qi of All Things Cauldron. It suppressed downward, and the Ji family expert let out a shriek, being crushed to death on the spot.

Two days later, Ye Fan met Tu Fei in a stone gambling house in Chaoyang City, Qu Province.

“I say, Little Brother Ye, you’ve gone too far, haven’t you? I did say to create some commotion, then enter this stone gambling house, and I would appear. But you slaughtered eight core disciples of Holy Lands and Desolate Ancient aristocratic families as if cutting melons, bringing the fire right to my doorstep. My heart is pounding!”

“Is it that serious?”

“How is it not serious? Many Ji family experts have arrived, and even the Divine Physique has shown signs of appearing. Ji Haoyue was originally heading to the Jade Lake grand gathering with his sister, but because of this incident, he came here and entered Chaoyang City. It seems I can no longer stay in this hideout.”

Ye Fan frowned. Ji Haoyue was a Divine Physique, and after his extraordinary phenomena were displayed, he could kill powerful experts of the Fourth Great Secret Realm. He was unrivalled among his generation, and Ye Fan was definitely no match for him now.

At the same time, he had an idea and asked, “Has the Jade Lake Stone Appraising Conference not started yet?”

“Not yet, but it’s coming soon. We’ll go together when the time comes,” Tu Fei replied.

“By the way, you said Ji Haoyue came to the Northern Region for the Jade Lake grand gathering with his sister. Is his sister named Ji Ziyue or Ji Biyue?” Ye Fan asked.

“I say, Little Brother Ye, people in our line of work value loyalty. You already have Fairy Yao Xi; are you planning to extend your demonic hand towards the Ji family’s gem as well?”

“Tu Big Mouth, don’t talk nonsense. I’m just asking.”

“I don’t know which ‘moon’ it is. Anyway, we’re going to Jade Lake, so won’t we know when we see it with our own eyes?” At this point, Tu Fei complained, “You’ve really caused me a lot of trouble. I heard that the Yaoguang Holy Son has also arrived. I really can’t stay in this place anymore.”

“The Yaoguang Holy Son…” Ye Fan was startled.

This person was undoubtedly a prodigious genius, capable of contending with a Divine King. His cultivation was unfathomable, and he had few rivals among the younger generation in the Eastern Wasteland!

He knew that the other party must be after the Mother Qi of All Things Cauldron. The Yaoguang Holy Son was exceptionally talented and determined to become a Great Emperor; if he couldn't obtain Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, he would surely set his sights on the Profound Yellow Origin Root.

Tu Big Mouth glanced at the Black Emperor and couldn’t help but say, “Where did you find this black dog? Its tail is bald, clearly it’s very old. This is quite the tonic! Why be so polite visiting me? But this is good too. Tonight, I’ll find a good chef and braise some black dog meat.”

Ye Fan knew this was bad!

Sure enough, the large black dog shot over in a flash, biting Tu Fei’s right hand in one go, baring its fangs and saying, “Kid, I think you’re the real tonic!”

“Damn it, how can this mongrel speak?” Tu Fei was greatly startled, then screamed in pain, crying, “Ouch, it hurts like hell!”

“Black Emperor, let go!” Ye Fan quickly tried to persuade it.

“Has this wretched dog become a demon? But its tail is bald…” Tu Fei couldn’t help but blurt out more remarks even while screaming.

“Tu Big Mouth, say less. Do you not want your hand anymore?” Ye Fan quickly stopped him, while forcefully prying open the large black dog’s mouth. He was truly afraid the Black Emperor would get vicious and bite it off.

“Argh!” Tu Fei screamed in pain and cursed, “Damn it, let go, wretched dog! Since you’ve become a demon, don’t you know who I am?!”

“I don’t care who you are! Dare to blaspheme this Emperor, and I’ll swallow you alive!” The large black dog’s face was grim, and it refused to let go.

Tu Fei circulated his divine power and violently shook his right hand, but he couldn't break free at all. He could only scream, “Damn, this is the first time I’ve been bitten by a dog in my life!”

“Tu Big Mouth, just shut up. Let alone you, I bet it would dare to bite your grandfather twice,” Ye Fan advised, simultaneously threatening the large black dog to make it let go.

“What’s the background of this bald-tailed dog?!” Tu Fei still didn't know when to quit, continuing to blurt out remarks while screaming.

Ye Fan secretly transmitted a threatening message, telling the large black dog that only Tu Fei knew the hidden abode of the great demon expert, and if it wanted the ancient scripture, it should quickly let go.

But the black dog was as stubborn as a donkey and simply wouldn't let go, making Tu Fei howl incessantly.

Finally, Tu Big Mouth, after exhausting all pleas, painfully took out over a hundred jin of origin stones. Only then did the large black dog let go, swallowing all the origin stones in one gulp.

“Damn it, I’m not done with it!” After Tu Fei was finally freed, he was about to unleash a treasured artifact and fight to the death.

However, the large black dog acted first, stealthily, and bit his ankle in one go.

“Argh! It bit me again!” Tu Big Mouth was so enraged that white smoke seemed to billow from his head. He eventually took out another hundred jin of origin stones before finally getting free with a miserable shriek.

This time, Ye Fan quickly stopped him and said, “Don’t cause more trouble. Wait until you find a treasured garment to wear before you deal with it. Otherwise, even if you’re a whole Secret Realm higher, it’ll still bite you.”

“What are you looking at? Haven’t you ever seen such a mighty Saint Emperor before?” The large black dog glanced disdainfully at Tu Fei.

“Damn it, I’ve never suffered such a loss in my life!” Tu Big Mouth was indignant, glaring furiously at the large black dog.

“Don’t look at this Emperor like that. I won’t take you as a human pet. Taking someone like you out for a stroll would disgrace this Emperor.” The large black dog raised its head haughtily and stopped looking at him.

“Little Ye Zi, don’t stop me! Damn it, I’ll skin it alive!” Tu Big Mouth was so furious that smoke seemed to come out of his seven orifices.

Tu Fei was truly provoked. He had always been the one to tease others, but today he was bitten into a sorry state by a large black dog, which really infuriated him.

Ye Fan was somewhat speechless too; this wretched dog indeed needed a good lesson. He secretly messaged Tu Fei, saying, “Don’t worry. We’ll find a time to deal with it together.”

After much persuasion, Tu Fei finally calmed down. He asked, “Why did you seek me out? Do you want to go to Jade Lake early?”

“The Jade Lake grand gathering certainly can’t be missed, but that’s not why I came. I wanted to ask you about the hidden abode of the Fourth Great Bandit, Azure Dragon King,” Ye Fan said.

“Why are you asking about the Azure Dragon King’s cave? Is something going on?”

“King Peacock and the descendants of the Great Demon Emperor should be there. I want to visit old friends,” Ye Fan replied, knowing he couldn't mention Pang Bo.

The large black dog’s ears perked up immediately. By now, it had become completely docile, listening intently without a sound.

“Don’t tell me you’re going there for Yan Ruyu?” Tu Big Mouth once again fully indulged in his imagination.

“Do you know or not?” Ye Fan pressed.

“Of course I know. Speaking of which, a female demon even inquired about you last time,” Tu Fei chuckled.

“Who was it?”

“I forgot to ask, but she was very enchanting and seductive.”

“Quickly, take us to the Azure Dragon King’s hidden abode,” the large black dog interjected.

Tu Big Mouth’s face darkened, ignoring it. He said to Ye Fan, “We must leave Chaoyang City immediately. You’ve caused such huge trouble; all sorts of characters have appeared. Especially that bastard, the Yaoguang Holy Son, showing up here makes my heart pound.” At this point, he chuckled again, saying, “Don’t you want to know what’s happening outside? Come on, let’s go to another oasis and see what kind of major commotion you’ve stirred up.”