Chapter 290: Terrifying Old Taoist

Who exactly is this old Taoist priest? His ancient Taoist robe was clearly not from this era; it looked exceptionally old.

"This stone mill has been passed down through our ancestors and used to this day. I don't plan to sell it," Grandpa Zhang politely refused.

The old Taoist priest had bronze-colored skin and white hair that cascaded over his shoulders. His body was gaunt, yet full of vigor. His voice resonated like a golden bell, clear and powerful.

"I, a humble Taoist, will not take advantage of you. I'll give you fifty jin of 'yuan' as a base payment. And if anything is cut out from the mill, I will pay you its market value in 'yuan'."

Grandpa Zhang, however, was in a difficult position. He could already tell that the old Taoist priest was no ordinary person, and refusing him again would likely be inappropriate. He mused, "This..."

Boom!

Just then, a loud sound echoed from the horizon's edge. Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, accompanied by an extremely powerful energy fluctuation.

Purple Mountain!

The epicenter was Purple Mountain, guarded by nine dragon veins. Even from a great distance, one could feel the ground trembling there.

The old Taoist priest quickly turned and looked towards the horizon. His eyes were like two golden beads, and his gaunt body exuded a terrifying aura.

At that moment, he didn't seem human. Instead, he resembled a colossal being, like a savage dragon that hadn't emerged for ten thousand years, causing those nearby to almost collapse to the ground.

Whoosh!

The old Taoist priest suddenly soared into the sky. As he spread his Taoist robe, it almost swept up the entire stone village. He pointed a finger, and the village stabilized.

Ye Fan's scalp tingled. This old Taoist priest's power was too terrifying. The mere unconscious sweep of his sleeve had such immense power.

The old Taoist priest transformed into a grey mist, hurtling towards Purple Mountain, causing the sky to tremble, like a true dragon streaking across the heavens.

"The Eastern Wasteland is truly vast," Ye Fan murmured to himself. "Experts emerge constantly, and not all of them originate from the Holy Lands. Many extraordinary individuals roam the great marshes and wild forests."

The Eastern Wasteland is boundless. To fly from one end to the other would take several years. And if an ordinary person were to walk, they wouldn't cover half the distance in a hundred lifetimes.

Across this vast land, there are mysterious great wastes stretching for millions of li; endless lakes, boundless as oceans; ancient halls, forever floating in the sky; and primeval herb gardens, capable of bringing the dead back to life...

Many Holy Lords typically leave their Holy Lands in their later years, choosing to enter the great wastes. It is not surprising to encounter peerless experts or figures from ancient times there.

"What happened at Purple Mountain?" Many in the stone village were extremely tense.

"Quickly pack your things; be ready to evacuate at any moment," Ye Fan instructed. He hesitated slightly, then rose into the air and also flew towards Purple Mountain.

Purple Mountain had an extraordinary appearance, standing majestically. It was like a purple sword piercing the clouds. Its surface bore many sword slashes and axe marks, engraved with the imprints of time.

A massive black Flood Dragon, hundreds of zhang long—it was unclear if this was its true form or if it had intentionally extended its body—was truly horrifying.

It coiled around the summit of Purple Mountain. Its black body was wrapped tightly, like a Great Wall of steel forged through a thousand refinements, clamped onto the mountain, unshakable.

Its black dragon body had tightly packed scales, each over half a meter long, shimmering with dark light and exuding a powerful sense of strength.

This colossal creature was trying to pull the mountain up, intending to twist it apart with brute force and open the area. The commotion earlier was caused by it.

"This black Flood Dragon must have seen an ancient scroll and found its way here..." Ye Fan frowned. The Holy Lands hadn't arrived yet, but some powerful entities had already begun to act.

"Halt!"

The old Taoist priest let out a soft exclamation, his voice like a golden bell, shaking the void until it buzzed and trembled.

On Purple Mountain, the black Flood Dragon trembled violently. Its massive body seemed to have been struck several times by a large hammer, swaying repeatedly and causing the mountain peak to shake.

Although the old Taoist priest was gaunt, standing in the void, he exuded an overwhelming, suffocating pressure, like a true dragon dormant in slumber.

On the purple peak, the enormous black Flood Dragon let out a low whimper, like a mouse seeing a cat, its body trembling and curling into a ball. Then, without daring to utter another sound, it flew away from the back of the mountain.

At that moment, it no longer resembled a giant black Flood Dragon hundreds of zhang long. Instead, it was like a loach, stealthily slipping away.

"All of you hiding in the shadows, come out now," the old Taoist priest's words were calm, yet they carried an irresistible majesty.

Three old men appeared. Each of them was brimming with vitality, like a grand furnace, exuding terrifying life fluctuations.

Ye Fan was startled. Before the arrival of the great Holy Lands, anyone capable of viewing ancient scrolls was undoubtedly an unparalleled expert.

"Daoist friend, who are you?" an old man asked. He had white hair and a youthful face, possessing the aura of the Grand Dao, giving off an unfathomable feeling.

"My name has long been forgotten. Leave; this is not a place for you to scheme." The old Taoist priest was calm, yet he commanded awe without anger. Though he was a monastic, he still struck fear into people's hearts.

"You are too unfeeling. This place is ownerless; why should we leave?" the old man who spoke was very ancient, like a deep abyss of the Grand Dao, unfathomable.

The old Taoist priest said no more. With a sweep of his large sleeve, a fierce wind arose, and the three white-haired old men were instantly sent flying, disappearing into the distant sky in the blink of an eye.

"Could this be an old Holy Lord whose lifespan was nearing its end, who entered the great wastes, and then re-emerged?" Ye Fan was shocked, this thought surfacing in his mind.