Chapter 297: Summer Jiuyao

## Chapter 301: Xia Jiuyou

An autumn wind blew, scattering yellow leaves and bringing desolation to the mountains and rivers.

The Northern Region was a land of bitter cold, where seasons changed and autumn and winter stretched long. For half the year, life lay dormant, enveloped in a desolate chill.

Luanyun State was characterized by endless, continuous mountain ranges with scarcely any flat ground. Its towering peaks seemed to pierce the heavens, often reaching above the clouds, which gave the state its name.

“I think this state is good,” Ye Fan remarked.

Tu Fei nodded. “This place, with its towering mountains and rugged terrain, is indeed an excellent refuge.”

Luanyun State was an eleven or twelve-day journey from the Northern Region Holy City, separated from Huoyun State by an oasis and two reddish-brown deserts.

After more than half a month of deliberation, they finally decided to make their move in this state, waiting to be “discovered.”

The Black Sovereign concealed himself among the mountains, tasked with carving Dao patterns, while Ye Fan and Tu Fei moved about, gathering detailed information on the state.

Shanyan City, despite being nestled amidst towering peaks, was the central city of Luanyun State. With mountains everywhere, there was no flat land suitable for building, making its existence a marvel.

The city was not grand; its roads were paved with mountain rock. Along the ancient streets, large trees were almost bare, their yellow leaves fluttering down, whispering of autumn’s chill.

Ye Fan walked through the city on its narrow stone streets, quickly gathering a good deal of information.

The prominent figures of the Holy Lands were deeply engrossed by the ancient scroll. All their efforts were now focused on the Purple Mountain, with various factions continuously devising strategies, hoping to successfully open it in the future.

Ye Fan entered a tavern, ordered a pot of aged wine and a few small dishes. He poured drinks for himself, listening to the conversations of other cultivators.

“The Holy City cut out something good again; it seems to be a rare treasure, bought by the state’s royal family.”

“Many people are looking for Ye Fan. Are there any clues? You know he’s worth a hundred thousand jin of Origin Stone.”

“A hundred thousand jin of Origin Stone is far too little! Don’t you remember what he has on him? That’s the Mother Qi of All Things, a priceless treasure, a sacred object that even ancient Great Emperors would covet.”

“The prominent figures are studying Purple Mountain. It looks like there will be quite a stir soon.”

“Many geniuses from various Holy Lands have come, not just from Yaoguang and the Ji Family. No matter how vast the Northern Region is, I’m afraid there’s no place for him to hide. The Mother Qi of All Things will eventually fall into the hands of a Holy Land.”

“Actually, many elder figures are also secretly looking for that young man named Ye, but they haven’t shown themselves. After all, the Mother Qi of All Things is simply too precious.”

“Speaking of which, the Ancient Desolate Saint Body once dominated the world, unstoppable. Now, however, it can only stop at the Dao Palace Secret Realm. Otherwise, if it were to fully develop and contend with those Saint Sons and Saintesses, the future of the Eastern Wasteland would certainly be immensely ‘lively’.”

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. He overheard that many renowned figures, both young and old, had arrived in the Northern Region, all with their sights set on his cauldron.

Tap, tap, tap—a rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed, seeming to resonate within the hearts of everyone upstairs, making their own pulses quicken.

Many felt their hearts constrict, a suffocating sensation, as though their throats were being squeezed and their breath controlled.

At the top of the stairs appeared a boy of thirteen or fourteen. Dressed in immaculate white, with lustrous hair, skin like snow, eyes like black gems, and bright red lips with white teeth, he was remarkably handsome, a truly graceful and beautiful youth.

“Ancient Desolate Saint Body, peerless in his realm—to me, he’s nothing but a stray dog. If I ever come across him, I’ll capture him and make him my servant.”

Though the boy was as beautiful as a mythical jade tree, almost ethereally so, his words were shockingly impolite, causing many to frown.

Behind him stood two elderly men, dressed in gray, stooped with age and looking frail, like two loyal old servants.

One of them stepped forward, cleared a table for the boy, meticulously wiping it clean with his sleeve before allowing him to sit. The two elders then remained standing respectfully behind him.

“Whose child is this? And how was he raised? So young, yet he spouts such arrogance without any filter. Doesn’t he fear straying from the right path?” Although those upstairs sensed the boy’s unusual background, some couldn’t resist retorting.

“What, am I wrong?” the boy asked coolly, casting a sidelong glance at the speaker.

“Child, speak with more humility. Many geniuses meet their end early in life.”

“Hmph!” The boy snorted, a sound like a tolling golden bell that made many people’s blood surge. He declared, “The Ancient Desolate Saint Body has been deified. Not only now, but even tens of thousands of years ago, he wasn’t necessarily absolutely invincible.”

Among the cultivators traveling from all directions, there was no shortage of masters. One of them retorted, “In the past, the Ancient Desolate Saint Body was indeed invincible, a fact no one disputes. Even now, that 'crippled body' has demonstrated extraordinary combat prowess, and few at his level can suppress him.”

The white-robed boy sneered. “Whether he’s a crippled body or a Saint Body, they are all meant to be suppressed.”

“Young man, your words grow bolder and bolder. You exaggerate! What makes you think you can defeat the Ancient Desolate Saint Body? Even if he’s a crippled body, he’s still virtually peerless at his level.” Someone scoffed.

“How can one at the bottom of a well comprehend the vastness of the sky? At his level, I can still kill him,” the white-robed boy said coldly.

“What is your background? Do you truly have the confidence to defeat the Ancient Desolate Saint Body at his level?” someone asked, surprised.

“I live in the mountains, a mere commoner with no grand origins. Does one need a noble background to suppress an Ancient Desolate Saint Body? He truly isn’t much,” the white-robed boy replied with a cold expression.

The Eastern Wasteland was vast and boundless, full of extraordinary individuals hidden within its deep mountains and mighty rivers; not all masters resided in the Holy Lands. Everyone present showed surprise, considering that the boy might indeed hail from such a reclusive lineage.

Someone couldn’t resist extending their divine sense, intending to probe the white-robed boy’s cultivation. But before it could even draw near, they felt as if struck by lightning.

One of the two elderly servants in gray clothes had eyes that flashed, emitting a terrifying light that repelled seven or eight probing divine senses.

“Who’s spouting such nonsense? Aren’t you afraid the wind will change and you’ll bite your tongue?” Tu Fei walked upstairs, found a table for himself, and sat down, casting a glance at Ye Fan nearby.

They had entered the city together to gather information but had not stayed side-by-side. Only now did Tu Fei arrive at the tavern. He glanced at the boy and asked, “May I ask your esteemed name?”

“Xia You.”

As the son of a Great Bandit, Tu Fei was fearless even toward individuals from Holy Lands, so he naturally saw no need to be courteous to a mere boy. “I’ve heard of Gai You,” he said, “but never of Xia You.”

Eight thousand years ago, Gai You was unmatched throughout the realm; many believed he would become a Great Emperor. Yet, he ultimately journeyed far into the Eastern Wasteland and vanished from this land.

“From now on, you will remember this name,” the white-robed boy Xia You sneered repeatedly.

“I see you look down on everyone. How about I spar with you for a bit?” Tu Fei challenged, squinting at him.

“I have no interest in you. My primary reason for leaving the mountains this time is for the Ancient Desolate Saint Body,” Xia You replied, not even sparing Tu Fei a glance.

Tu Fei, nicknamed 'Big Mouth,' longed to slap the boy dead but couldn’t. He asked, “Has the Ancient Desolate Saint Body offended you?”

“Even without offending me, I still intend to capture him. I read in an ancient text that the Saint Body’s blood can be used to refine elixirs. I came specifically for him, to concoct a batch of divine medicine.”

“Truly, heroes emerge from the young,” Ye Fan commented, pouring himself a cup of wine and drinking it.

In truth, he yearned to give the boy a good beating. It was the first time he had encountered such arrogance—so young, yet he constantly spoke of refining Ye Fan’s Saint Body.

“Aren’t you here for the Saint Body? Both the Ji Family and Yaoguang are offering rewards. If there are any leads, what price would you offer?” Tu Fei asked with a chuckle.

“Whatever price they offer, I’ll match it,” the white-robed boy Xia You replied, glancing at him.

At that moment, everyone upstairs was stirred. What exactly was this boy’s background? The highest reward from two Holy Lands amounted to a hundred thousand jin of Origin Stone—how could a mere boy possibly afford such a sum?

All eyes turned to him, every face etched with surprise. He didn’t seem like someone from a Holy Land; his origins and master were a complete mystery.

“A hundred thousand jin of Origin Stone is no small sum,” Ye Fan commented casually.

“Can you actually afford it?” Tu Fei also questioned.

“While a hundred thousand jin of Origin Stone is a considerable sum, I am not so financially constrained that I cannot afford it,” the white-robed boy Xia You stated with a cool expression.

“What sort of background does this boy possess? Could he be a disciple taken by some old Holy Lord in his later years, after venturing into the Great Western Wasteland?” some speculated.

“Hehe…” A charming laugh drifted over as a fragrant breeze stirred at the staircase. A maiden, whose beauty could eclipse the moon and shame flowers, ascended. Her voice, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate, was clear and melodious. “This little white-robed brother has quite the spirit,” she said.

She was a tall, exceptionally alluring woman. Dressed in a green gown, her head seemed to shimmer with emerald light, and five-colored jade light emanated from beneath her feet. She exuded myriad charms, her eyes like flowing water, and her beautiful hair fluttered around her.

Ji Biyue. Ye Fan’s heart stirred. This was one of the Ji Family’s three foremost young experts, second only to Ji Haoyue. Although she was alluring and enchanting, she was undoubtedly a ruthless individual, even capable of desiring the death of her own clan sister.

The white-robed boy Xia You asked, “Who are you?”

“This humble one is Ji Biyue.”

Ji Biyue’s smile was captivating, causing many on the upper floor to fall into a momentary trance.

“So, you wish to contend with me for the Ancient Desolate Saint Body?” Xia You asked.

“There’s no question of contention,” Ji Biyue replied with a sweet smile. “He killed my Ji Family’s Grand Elder; I merely intend to kill him.”

“But I may not necessarily kill him. I intend to use his blood to refine divine medicine. I wish to take him as my servant,” Xia You stated.

Tu Fei secretly transmitted a message to Brother Ye, “See? This kid is making me so angry I’m almost fuming. What’s his background, and how should we deal with him?”

Ye Fan remained impassive, also secretly transmitting a message: “Don’t act rashly. After our main objective is accomplished, we can slowly deal with him. He most likely has a significant background.”

Sounds again emanated from the staircase as a young man ascended. Dressed in blue, he possessed an extraordinary demeanor and a restrained heroic aura, with divine light occasionally flickering in his eyes.

“Brother Li Rui of Yaoguang, you’ve also arrived,” Ji Biyue said with a soft chuckle.

This was a young powerhouse from the Four Extremities Secret Realm, a top master of Yaoguang’s current generation. After the Yaoguang Saint Son was captured by Ye Fan, he was highly likely to be instated as the new Saint Son.

“It seems we all received the same piece of intelligence,” Li Rui replied with a smile. “Someone is simultaneously selling information to all of us.”

Tu Fei’s appearance had long been altered. While his aura hadn’t changed as drastically as Ye Fan’s, he wasn’t concerned about being recognized, as he had no prior direct contact with any of the individuals present.

He secretly transmitted a message to Ye Fan, “Damn it, which bastard is providing them information? Are they, like us, trying to set them up, and we’ve just happened to converge?”

Ye Fan also mused to himself. With people from both the Yaoguang and Ji Families gathered in this mountain city, the situation was clearly unusual.

“No matter who arrives, I claim the Ancient Desolate Saint Body as mine. He is my future servant,” Xia You declared coldly.

“This time, forget everything else. We must first tear this white-robed boy to pieces. Isn’t he offering a hundred thousand jin of Origin Stone? Let’s rob him!” Tu Fei declared fiercely.

Ye Fan also felt like giving him a severe beating. This Xia You was excessively arrogant, yet he seemed to genuinely possess a formidable background, daring to contend with individuals from the Holy Lands.