Chapter 355: Great Demon Pang Bo

The sky was gloomy, and ice and snow raged. Logs crackled in the fireplace, flames danced, and the room was warm. Several people stood around eight stone artifacts, ready to cut them open.

"Step back a little," Ye Fan instructed them, indicating that they should retreat. Although over ten thousand years had passed, some strange power still lingered within these stones.

"Crack!" The first stone artifact was cut open, and a grayish, sand-like powder flowed out from its core, scattering across the floor. "What is this?" The others gathered closer, exchanging bewildered glances, unable to identify it.

"This must have been something good, but its essence has been absorbed, leaving only powder. Otherwise, it would likely be a divine artifact capable of reviving the dead and regenerating flesh and bone." Even Ye Fan couldn't determine what it was, but there was no need to investigate further, as it had lost its value.

Four more stone artifacts were cut open in succession. Their cores were either hollow or petrified, and all the wondrous essence they once contained had vanished.

As a fissure appeared in the fifth stone artifact, a chilling aura surged out, more frigid and bone-piercing than the icy world outside the window, causing hearts to palpitate.

"Something good has been cut out! It's finally not empty," Tu Fei exclaimed in surprise. The large black dog's eyes gleamed, and its body subtly crouched, clearly preparing to pounce and snatch it.

Ye Fan glanced at it sidelong and said, "Be honest; don't try to snatch everything." "Don't worry, this Emperor never does anything so dishonorable," the black dog replied, feigning an innocent expression.

"Crack!" The second cut landed, widening the fissure further. The icy cold intensified, and faint specks of sacred light began to emanate from within.

"There really is something good!" Tu Fei gasped. Grandfather Zhang, Wang Shu, and Er Lengzi were also astonished, their eyes wide as they stared at the stone artifact in Ye Fan's hand.

The black dog was practically drooling. It crouched again, shuffling a few steps forward, its large paws almost reaching out.

Tu Fei, annoyed, said, "I can tell you're up to no good. Are you really trying to steal it?" The black dog scoffed, "Am I that kind of person? I never do such things. I always win people over with my virtue."

"You... win people over with virtue?!" Ye Fan was too lazy to argue with it. "Rest assured, this Emperor is not that kind of person. This Emperor doesn't do such things," the black dog stated with a look of earnestness.

Without another word, Ye Fan made the third cut. Sacred light flowed and spilled from the artifact, bathing it in a faint golden glow. The room became bone-chillingly cold, making the people feel as though they had plunged into an ice cellar.

"Something's wrong, it's strange, don't move!" the black dog suddenly barked. Startled, the people in the room froze. Tu Fei and the others all retreated. "What did you find?" Grandfather Zhang asked.

The black dog didn't answer. With its square head, large ears, and solemn expression, its bell-like eyes wide and round, it craned its neck forward and shuffled its feet. "Damn it, that wretched dog! It really did want to snatch the treasure!" Tu Fei yelled from the side.

The black dog, being utterly dishonest, deliberately raised an alarm, then unexpectedly pounced, snatched the stone artifact, and bolted outside with incredible speed. Tu Fei was furious, and Grandfather Zhang, Wang Shu, and Er Lengzi were dumbfounded. They all wanted to hit it, but the black dog was too nimble, dashing out in a flash, and no one could stop it.

"Chase it! That wretched dog even steals from its own!" Tu Fei shouted. "Don't bother chasing it," Ye Fan said with a smile. "There's nothing good inside."

"Awooo!" Almost simultaneously, the Black Emperor let out a terrible shriek, as if its bald tail had been stepped on, a sound so piercing it scared away wild wolves for dozens of miles around. The others walked outside and saw the black dog frothing at the mouth, its fur standing on end, bristling like a hedgehog. It was clearly terrified.

"Kid, did you know this all along?!" the black dog shrieked, exasperated. "What did I know?" Ye Fan chuckled. "You set me up!" The black dog's face turned green, and it vomited incessantly.

The others approached. Er Lengzi pushed aside the shattered stone artifact, and with a roll, a skull tumbled out. Everyone recoiled except for the Black Emperor, who lay on the snow, retching violently, almost spitting out its gallbladder. Just moments before, it had bitten into the artifact and nearly swallowed the skull.

"Oh my god, how could something like this be in a stone artifact?!" Wang Shu cried out. Grandfather Zhang and Er Lengzi stumbled backward, nearly falling. "Is this some ancient creature?" Tu Fei asked, uncertain.

It was a shriveled head, with only a layer of old skin clinging to the bone. It had some sparse, withered yellow hair, like wild grass, and the bone-chilling cold emanated directly from it. Among the shattered stones were some fragments of divine source, glittering on the snow, making the head appear even more grotesque.

"Kid, was this intentional?" the black dog snarled, fixing Ye Fan with a murderous glare. "I hadn't even cut it open yet; you snatched it yourself," Ye Fan replied.

"Serves you right! Who told you to be so greedy and snatch every treasure you see? You brought this on yourself," Tu Fei chided. "Woof! Woof! Woof!" The black dog barked furiously, causing chaos among the chickens and dogs in the stone village.

"Alright, stop barking; you'll attract all the she-wolves!" "Serves you right for being greedy!" No one sympathized with it; everyone laughed, and even Grandfather Zhang shook his head.

The black dog was utterly dejected, knowing it was in the wrong. It sulked, chewed on snow to rinse its mouth, and muttered, "Damn it, how can this Emperor, so wise and mighty, always be so unlucky?!" "This cunning old dog is truly a character; it leaves one speechless," the others said, shaking their heads and suppressing their laughter.

Upon closer inspection, it was determined that the skull must have been sealed within a block of divine source. Unfortunately, the source had been consumed by a formidable entity, leaving only the shriveled skull, which held no value. Ultimately, Er Lengzi found a place and buried it.

Ye Fan and the others returned inside. The black dog, looking utterly dejected, shuffled in slowly, its head drooping. Seeing its appearance, no one could hold back their laughter.

"What's so funny?!" The black dog rolled its eyes, its bald tail held high, then squatted on the ground, its bell-like eyes wide as it stared at the sixth stone artifact.

"Crack!" Ye Fan cut open the sixth stone artifact. A faint fragrance wafted out, and a few drops of liquid began to emerge. "This must be something good this time, right?" The black dog's eyes widened again, though this time it didn't dare to snatch it.

"Bring me a jade vessel!" Ye Fan said. Tu Fei handed him a crystal-clear white jade bottle, which, after being refined, was an excellent vessel for preserving rare treasures.

Ye Fan carefully opened the stone artifact. At its center was only a pool of water, emitting a faint fragrance, its nature unknown. "Could this be a melted divine fruit?" Tu Fei guessed. Ye Fan collected the liquid into the jade vessel. After careful observation, he still couldn't identify it. "Looking at the shape of the watery cavity in the stone's core, it does resemble a fruit," he said. "Now that it's liquid, I wonder how much medicinal properties it retains."

"It might be some divine liquid!" the black dog's eyes sparkled, clearly hatching a mischievous plan. "Don't get any bad ideas," Ye Fan chuckled. "Or would you like a taste?"

The black dog was tempted, but remembering the last time it tried to snatch a Human Origin Fruit and was poisoned almost to death, it absolutely refused to eat anything indiscriminately. It firmly shook its head and said, "No need to taste it. Let me help you put it away first." "Don't even think about it!" Ye Fan didn't give it a chance to snatch it, and with a flash of light, he absorbed it directly into his body.

Although the nature of this liquid was currently unknown, it could be taken to the Divine City for inquiry; surely some of the old masters there would recognize it. It might even be an astonishing treasure.

Only two stone artifacts remained. Ye Fan gently tapped and then cut open one of them. "There's something!" "What is this? It looks like a gallbladder?!" "Could it be an organ from an ancient creature?"

Everyone in the room was surprised. At the stone's core was a purple "gallbladder" the size of a walnut. It wasn't sealed within a divine source, yet it was full of vital energy. "An organ from an ancient creature, not sealed in a source? It should have decayed," Tu Fei said, perplexed. "This is a stone gall, grown from within the stone," Ye Fan said, visibly excited.

"What's its use? Just let this greedy dog taste it; it's hard to poison it anyway," Tu Fei suggested. "Damn it, why don't *you* taste it?!" the black dog snarled, its mouth twitching at the memory of its last experience.

"This stone gall is of great use to me; it can help me cultivate the Origin Heaven Divine Sense to perfection," Ye Fan said, carefully taking the purple stone gall into his hand, his heart pounding with excitement. The Origin Heaven Book clearly recorded that a divine stone forming a gall could sharpen one's eyes, bring about a great accomplishment of divine sense, and naturally give birth to a Heavenly Eye.

Immortal Spirit Eyes, Underworld Eyes, and similar abilities are all types of Heavenly Eyes, naturally formed at birth. Acquired Heavenly Eyes are almost impossible to cultivate later in life unless one achieves profound mastery. The Origin Heaven Divine Sense, when perfected, can develop into a Heavenly Eye. Throughout history, every Origin Heaven Master has cultivated the strongest Heavenly Eyes, capable of seeing through illusions and directly perceiving the essence of things.

"Unfortunately, it's purple, not a golden stone gall, and not yet fully matured. Its value is comparable to a Human Origin Fruit, but not as good as an ancient divine medicine," Ye Fan said with some regret. He thought for a moment and added, "Thankfully, it's undamaged. I can seal it for now and provide it with essence from a divine source later, allowing it to mature."

For an Origin Heaven Master, a stone gall is an invaluable treasure, irreplaceable by anything else, as it aids in achieving the grand perfection of the Origin Heaven Divine Sense. A true Origin Heaven Master, even without employing Origin Arts, can see through ancient mines in the earth and traverse the world, discerning all secrets hidden within sources.

Only one stone artifact remained. Ye Fan swung his knife, but nothing was cut out. It was hollow inside; the rare treasure had long vanished.

Although they had prepared themselves, the others still felt a sense of loss. The divine treasures left by the Origin Heaven Master were astonishing, all heaven-defying artifacts. Unfortunately, a terrifying entity had visited them first, leaving almost nothing behind.

Upon reflection, neither the Human Origin Fruit cut open last time nor this purple stone gall had fully matured. It was likely that they were even less significant ten thousand years ago, which is why they managed to survive.

"What a pity! Such a trove of divine treasures was ruined!" Tu Fei lamented, full of regret. What they gained this time, besides the stone gall, was that bottle of unknown liquid. Its value couldn't be estimated yet, but Ye Fan's heart was full of anticipation; it might well be an astonishing treasure.

In the evening, as the wind and snow ceased, a towering figure appeared in the stone village. Pang Bo had arrived. True to his name, he possessed a formidable aura. With thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a robust build, he was incredibly muscular, his arms as thick as someone else's legs.

Having cultivated the Ancient Scripture of the Demon Emperor, he now exuded a unique aura, powerful and sharp. His eyes glowed with vigor, like a deity from the demon race descended upon the world. His black hair cascaded down, his posture was imposing, and his gaze was sharp. He was truly majestic, possessing an exceptionally powerful presence.

Ye Fan's divine sense was incredibly keen, and they knew each other intimately. He instantly sensed Pang Bo's aura, took a few steps, and appeared hundreds of feet away, greeting him in front of the stone village. "Pang Bo!" "Ye Zi!"

Reunited once more, both men laughed heartily. In this world, having a close friend from home by one's side was perhaps the greatest blessing from heaven. There was no need for formalities between them; they punched each other playfully upon meeting. Ye Fan asked, "How did you find your way here?"

"A couple of days ago, when I was pursuing the Provisional Saint Son of Shaking Light, I saw that dog you keep. It told me this location," Pang Bo replied with a smile. Despite having the aura of a demon god, he was still the same Pang Bo at heart, his nature unchanged, though he had become exceptionally formidable, his bronze-colored body gleaming with precious light.

"Woof! Who says I'm his pet?!" The black dog shrieked in fury, its bald tail held high, as it dashed out of the house. Ye Fan said, "This wretched dog only told me it saw you, not that you were coming. It's definitely after the Ancient Scripture of the Demon Emperor."

"Brother, you're incredibly fierce! Chasing down Saint Sons from various sacred lands single-handedly, you're truly a role model for our generation; I admire you!" Tu Fei laughed, stepping out of the house to greet him. "It's rare to meet someone like you. Tonight, we must drink to our heart's content."

Although Ye Fan and Pang Bo hadn't seen each other for a long time, there was no awkwardness whatsoever between them. In this world, they were undoubtedly the closest people. "Haha..." Pang Bo also laughed heartily. Sensing Tu Fei's unusual relationship with Ye Fan, he naturally gave him face, saying, "Tonight, we drink until we drop!"

"Excellent! I'll go find someone to prepare some black dog meat!" Tu Fei laughed, feeling that Pang Bo was very much to his liking. "Woof!" "Damn it, wretched dog, don't bite me! Can't I just prepare donkey and lamb meat instead?!" Everyone burst into laughter.

Before long, steaming hot food and wine were brought out, including golden roasted lamb legs and crispy, fragrant chicken wings. The group drank from large bowls and ate meat heartily, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Brother Pang, when you chased the Provisional Saint Son of Shaking Light, did you actually kill him?" Tu Fei asked. "I severely wounded him; he'll be lucky to survive without shedding a layer of skin. But he got away. His ability to flee for his life is quite strong," Pang Bo replied with regret.

Tu Fei clicked his tongue, realizing that the man before him was truly incredibly formidable. Chasing down a Saint Son was something most people wouldn't even attempt, let alone dare to do.

"He escaped into the Ice and Snow Palace and refused to come out, receiving protection from that great sect. Otherwise, he would have surely died," Pang Bo explained.

"Brother Pang, since you dare to chase even Saint Sons, why don't we team up for something big? Together, we could kill a few Saint Sons and capture some Saintesses," Tu Fei suggested.

"Good, let's get some payback for Ye Zi," Pang Bo said, setting down his wine bowl. "I've learned the whereabouts of a Saint Son and two Saintesses; we can go hunt them down."

"Haha... Splendid!" Tu Fei, always eager for trouble, declared, "Kill Saint Sons, hunt Saintesses!" The black dog, its eyes hazy from drink, also clamored, "Take human pets!"