Chapter 437: Different Paths

Chapter 411: Different Paths

Ye Fan's heart skipped a beat. The gaunt old man was utterly fearless, showing no regard for Li Ruoyu, his gaze fixed solely on him.

"It's impossible to keep me here!"

The gaunt old man's voice was cold, and he revealed a mouthful of snow-white teeth, looking sinister. Light shot from his spine, pulverizing the surrounding vegetation.

It was a terrifying sword glow that cleaved a mountain peak, sending rocks tumbling like clouds. Sword energy pierced the sky, then swept in all directions.

"Boom!"

Sword light shot outwards from his spine—a strange yet utterly devastating, unstoppable, and terrifying phenomenon!

A mountain peak was severed at its middle, collapsing as if the sky had fallen. Earth and stones splattered, surging forth like crashing waves.

The entire area trembled, the oppressive atmosphere almost suffocating. A terrifying energy storm raged, immense and awe-inspiring.

"Boom!"

Like a surging flood, the cloud-piercing sword energy destroyed the entire mountain area, leveling it completely. No trace was left; it became a desolate wasteland.

"Pop, pop..."

The vegetation rooted in the void continuously shattered. Even though they drew power from the void and possessed divine, indestructible brilliance, they couldn't withstand this sword glow.

Various ancient emperors and towering old trees, originally imprinted in the void, had transformed into mysterious and unfathomable Dao patterns. But they were still cut down and shattered one by one.

"A half-step Great Power!"

Ye Fan was astonished. This gaunt, mysterious old man's power was unparalleled, jaw-dropping. Just half a step more, and he would be comparable to a Saint Lord.

"Boss, I'll send you on your way!" His smile was chilling, his killing intent soaring to the clouds. Invisible killing thoughts transformed into unparalleled sharpness, aimed directly at the essence of others.

"Pop!"

Elder Li Ruoyu frowned. He extended a finger and pointed forward, as a fresh, earthy scent diffused. His finger transformed into a towering tree, blocking the invisible killing intent.

"Puff," "puff..."

The ancient tree, towering into the sky, its branches like coiled dragons with lush green leaves, was continuously damaged at this moment. Leaves fluttered down as terrifying streams of divine power burst forth.

The Grand Dao of Nature countered the invisible killing intent, grinding down the unparalleled sharpness and slowly dissolving the powerful murderous aura.

These were two extremes: the gaunt, mysterious old man's killing intent soared, his whole being like an unsheathed, unparalleled fierce sword; while Li Ruoyu was calm and serene, like someone strolling through a beautiful painting.

"Li Ruoyu, you don't need to comprehend Zhuo Peak to establish yourself in the Southern Region. I'll show you what true immortal inheritance is!"

The mysterious old man grew even more formidable, his killing intent fully exposed, like a world-slaying demonic blade resurrected. The immense power of his aura made people's flesh involuntarily convulse.

"Boom!"

His body radiated terrifying divine light in all directions. He was as brilliant as a blazing sun, leveling the area.

"Clang!"

The gaunt old man's spine creaked, and a sacred sword actually appeared. His ancient hand gripped the hilt, slowly drawing it out.

"Zheng zheng!"

Dazzling divine light and terrifying sword cries, piercing gold and shattering stone, made one's soul feel as if it would shatter. This was an indestructible sword intent that threatened to tear one apart.

He used his spine as a sheath, from which a terrifying divine sword was gestating. With every inch it was drawn, a more terrifying aura emanated, and deep cracks appeared across the entire land.

"Boom!"

The sword was not fully unsheathed, but killing intent already swept the world. Sword light was everywhere, or perhaps it should be called terrifying sword waves!

The gaunt old man slowly drew the sword. From the three inches of exposed blade, ripple-like fluctuations vibrated outwards, sweeping in all directions. Anything tangible they encountered was annihilated!

"Pop!"

In the sky, leaves withered, and shattered wood fell. The sword intent cut through the Way of Nature, destroying everything as it pressed forward.

"Die!" the gaunt old man roared, drawing his sword swiftly. His whole body radiated dazzling light, and sword light tore through the void.

"Clang!"

The divine sword, gestating in his spine, was fully unsheathed by him. It was even more dazzling than ten suns combined.

"Sword of Man!" the gaunt old man roared, shaking the earth and mountains. Many multi-meter-wide cracks opened beneath his feet, spreading into the distance, utterly terrifying.

The divine sword in his hand descended outrageously, slashing towards Li Ruoyu and Ye Fan. Known as the Sword of Man, it maximized human power, cleaving the void into two halves!

The blazing sword light became the sole existence between heaven and earth, eclipsing everything else. At this moment, the "Sword of Man" became eternal.

The world-shattering sword light split the void in half, cleaving the earth into a vast, endless rift valley!

"Whoosh!"

Green leaves swayed, and an ancient vine emerged, as thick as a mountain range. Rooted in the Tang void, it encircled Li Ruoyu and Ye Fan, blocking the unparalleled killing sword.

"It's useless! Sword of Man, break it for me!" the gaunt old man roared.

The terrifying great sword pressed down. The void was ripped open, melted, utterly unable to block it.

Ye Fan's heart quaked with fear. No wonder this old man hadn't responded to Li Ruoyu when he was trapped earlier, but only stared at Ye Fan with intent to kill.

Clearly, this old man had powerful reserves, making him fearless. A half-step Great Power was indeed terrifying!

Heaven and earth trembled. The ancient vine, as thick as a mountain range, like a coiled dragon awakening, swayed. A vast expanse of green light flickered, and a fresh, natural aura permeated the air.

"Creak, creak!"

The ancient vine was incredibly robust, its rough, old bark like dragon scales. Its roots plunged into the void, merging with heaven and earth. It was drawing upon the power of the Grand Dao.

"Slash for me!" the gaunt old man roared. The unparalleled sword light descended, and although the void was collapsing, the ancient vine did not break.

Like a coiled dragon, it was robust and majestic, blossoming with vine flowers. Its vitality was endless; each flower was a Dao pattern, condensed in the void.

This area suddenly stabilized, completely fixed and unshakable. The aura of the Grand Dao permeated it.

The roots, rooted in the void, continuously condensed the power of the void, connecting with the Grand Dao and forming a unified whole.

This was the power of the Grand Dao of Nature—a magnificent Dao pattern covering this small world. Everything was so harmonious and natural.

The Sword of Man could not penetrate. And the ancient vine, like a true dragon, extended towards him, seeking to bind him and seal him forever in this domain.

The sky was unfathomable, the earth unreachable. In this small world of the Grand Dao of Nature, Li Ruoyu became a deity, possessing irresistible Dao power.

"Boom!"

With a wave of his hand, the ancient vine extended, piercing the void and grinding away the Sword of Man. It encircled the gaunt old man in the center, vine flowers flickering, Dao patterns like abysses—unfathomably deep—pressing down.

"Li Ruoyu, you are formidable indeed!" The gaunt old man's expression changed. He then exerted all his might to break free, but it was futile.

Suddenly he stopped moving. His body flowed with a terrifying aura, and he spoke chillingly: "I don't believe you can truly suppress me!"

Immense fluctuations, like a mountain torrent destroying a plain or waves hitting the high sky. The mysterious old man suddenly dimmed, his location growing increasingly obscure.

He eventually transformed into a black hole. Terrifying fluctuations originated from its pitch-black center as it began to devour everything with incredible frenzy.

"Boom!"

The ancient vine broke, its withered branches scattered, rushing forward to be swallowed by the black hole. The power of the Grand Dao of Nature was like a breaching tsunami.

"I'll absorb your power for my own use; let's see how you resist!" the gaunt old man sneered chillingly.

At this moment, he became a black abyss that devoured everything, his trace no longer visible. He completely drained the natural power from the void.

Extremely terrifying fluctuations destroyed everything. Li Ruoyu and Ye Fan could no longer stand; the space around them collapsed, and the earth was shattered even further.

"Bang!" In the distance, a mountain peak split into four, as if the end of the world had arrived, frantically devoured and absorbed by the black hole.

Li Ruoyu and Ye Fan were also enveloped by the black hole, about to be drawn in. A huge crisis descended, making Ye Fan's heart pound. The strange demonic art was indeed terrifying.

"Boom!"

A vigorous life aura erupted, and a towering ancient tree emerged, with lush branches and leaves. It was imprinted in the void, its leaves rustling, and nine Dao patterns actually descended.

They seemed to grow from this ancient tree, descending from the crown all the way to the roots, merging with the void and connecting with the Grand Dao as one.

The natural aura was at its peak, the Grand Dao of heaven and earth at his command—a true manifestation at this moment. Li Ruoyu sat cross-legged on the treetop, unmoving.

"This is also useless!" the gaunt old man shouted from within the black hole. "My profound art is invincible under heaven, powerful enough to suppress your Dao source!"

"Profound arts are not important; what's important is the person," Li Ruoyu responded.

The ancient tree swayed, connected to the Grand Dao. Nine scrolls unfolded, transforming into nine profoundly mysterious doors to small heavens and earths, circulating with mystical aura.

"Boom!"

In the distance, a mountain peak collapsed, swallowed by the black hole formed by the mysterious old man. The earth trembled, and the sky seemed about to fall.

The ancient tree was rooted in the void, its vitality growing even more vigorous. The nine Dao patterns rotated, merging with Li Ruoyu and with the great world, actually emitting sounds of chanting scriptures.

It was unclear if the sounds came from the ancient tree or from within the nine small worlds formed by the Dao patterns. They sounded as if from ancient times, profoundly mysterious.

It was like ancient heroes resonating with the Dao, or ancient deities comprehending heaven, earth, and nature, sending forth ancient scriptures.

In each of the nine Dao patterns, a Li Ruoyu actually appeared. He became the absolute deity in this natural world, his aura pervasive everywhere.

"You..." The gaunt old man was shocked and struggled to resist, but the black hole was cracking, slowly disintegrating.

"Boom!"

Finally, after a great boom, the enormous black hole disappeared. Heaven and earth were utterly tranquil, filled with vibrant life. Green shoots emerged vigorously from the destroyed mountain area.

"You... The inheritance of Zhuo Peak is not simple at all! You, an old man with such poor talent, actually reached this stage!" The gaunt old man was deeply shocked.

"Profound art inheritance is not important," Li Ruoyu repeated, flipping his hand to press downwards.

The gaunt old man's eyes shot out sinister, intensely blazing light. Then two beams of light suddenly burst forth, piercing the void, attempting to escape.

However, under Li Ruoyu's massive hand, he had nowhere to escape; both divine lights were confined within his palm.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, he spontaneously combusted, instantly becoming blazing light that blinded the eyes. Then, in an instant, he dimmed, turning into ashes, with nothing left.

"He destroyed his divine sense!" Ye Fan's heart skipped a beat. Having cultivated to such a realm, yet he self-destructed so cleanly and decisively, he was truly ruthless to himself.

The corpse on the ground was devoid of life, as if it had died decades ago. It gave off an ancient and eerie feeling, filled with malevolence.

Ye Fan and Li Ruoyu descended, observing carefully. The corpse's durability was astonishing, almost like a divine weapon. Striking it produced metallic clangs.

"Cultivating to this realm is not easy," Li Ruoyu sighed softly. With a gentle wave of his hand, a fresh, natural flame leaped out.

"Puff!"

The corpse was engulfed, turning to ashes in an instant, with nothing left. Ye Fan was very surprised; the old man's cultivation exceeded his expectations, comparable to a Saint Lord. He was indeed a late bloomer.

Li Ruoyu had been dormant for hundreds of years, then comprehended the Dao. His cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, alarming the 108 peaks of Taixuan, and he was believed to be comparable to ancient sages in the future.

Seeing such unfathomable power, Ye Fan was completely reassured about Zhang Wenchang. They were the same kind of people, natural master and disciple, so their future achievements were no longer a concern.

"Be careful yourself. If things don't work out, come back with me to Zhuo Peak," Li Ruoyu said.

Ye Fan bowed in gratitude, filled with respect for the elder, then bid farewell.

On that very day, rumors spread throughout the Southern Region that the Saint Physique was about to die. Many people saw him spitting blood and stumbling his way towards Yan Capital.

"The Saint Physique's Dao injury has worsened again; it looks like he won't live much longer!"

Almost everyone in the Southern Region knew this news, and many discussed it animatedly.

At the same time, Ye Fan arrived in Yan Capital, found several great Sacred Lands and the Supreme Great Sects of Central State. He offered to cross the void on their behalf to enter the Ancient Forbidden Land and gather immortal medicine.

As soon as this news spread, the Southern Region erupted in an uproar. Everyone was convinced that Ye Fan had been forced to a dead end, sensing his life was nearing its end, and was willing to be used as a medicine-gathering boy by the Sacred Lands in exchange for a final chance at survival.

On this day, the Yaochi Saint Son was hazy and indistinct, his entire body enveloped in holy light, like a deity. He opened his eyes under a great waterfall, filled with a divine aura.

He didn't know what he was contemplating, but his expression was somewhat unsettled. Then he found Yao Xi and said, "The Saint Physique is about to pass away; let's go see."

Yao Xi was exquisitely beautiful, with sparkling eyes. She let out a long breath of relief in her heart. If Ye Fan died, it would be as if she were liberated; otherwise, that brassiere would always make her uneasy, fearing that one day Ye Fan would throw it out.

"I'm about to disappear from the world; the Saint Physique will be no more. You should come out now, shouldn't you? I'll wait to kill you!" Ye Fan sneered, looking north.

He believed that their hidden "reliance" wouldn't dare to enter Yan Capital, because several great Sacred Lands and the Supreme Great Sects of Central State were currently there.

From the Ji Family, Divine King Body Ji Haoyue gazed south, saying, "He's going to die. He ultimately failed to defy the heavens. What a pity; a Great Accomplishment Saint Physique will never appear in the world. Let's go see."

Ji Ziyue frowned, her clear, lively eyes dimming somewhat, muttering, "He's still going to die after all." Then she turned around, lowered her head, and said, "But he killed Great Aunt."

Ji Haoyue dotingly stroked her beautiful hair, saying, "That was Ji Biyue's Great Aunt."

"But she was also a direct descendant of our Ji Family."

Ji Haoyue's eyes were incredibly deep as he looked into the distance, saying, "Being too kind makes one vulnerable to hurt."

At Taixuan Sect, Hua Yunfei stood on a perilous cliff, his blue robes fluttering, ethereal like a graceful immortal. He sighed softly, "What a pity, Brother Ye is about to pass away. Junior Sister Xiaoman, let's go send him off."

Li Xiaoman stood on the cliff, her white robes fluttering, her eyes gazing towards the Southern Region, pondering something unknown, and nodded.