Chapter 547: Representing Heaven's Punishment

**Chapter 551: Punishing on Behalf of the Heavenly Court**

The death of Xiang Yifei, the Saint Son of Dayan, was a blatant slap in the face. Not long ago, people were marveling at the birth of a genius, only for him to be instantly slain.

This caused a huge uproar, and major powers from all sides took notice. Ye Fan’s reckless and proactive attacks instilled fear in many.

"I can't defeat the elders, but I can kill your successors!" This was clearly a very dangerous signal sent by Ye Fan.

Among the various Holy Lands, some naturally wanted to find Ye Fan and kill him. They all began to act in secret, but found nothing.

Mist swirled, distant mountains were dark like painted brows, and the lake and surrounding scenery were clear, tranquil, and peaceful, like an ink wash landscape painting.

Ye Fan traveled west without rushing. His current cultivation wasn't something that could be achieved through secluded meditation; it required him to perceive and understand the natural world.

Watching the wild geese fly south, observing the flowing water drift away, listening to the rain fall on banana leaves, the rustle of falling petals, and the streams flowing over rocks—sometimes, these moments brought enlightenment.

He wandered among the mountains and rivers in this way, strolling freely. His body and mind were incredibly relaxed; he had let go of grudges and desires, transcending them.

This was a kind of spiritual tranquility, not something one sought to maintain every moment, but rather an experience to savor.

"Letting go of everything, even the mountains and rivers become more beautiful," Ye Fan murmured to himself, standing on a small skiff, drifting on the lake in the hazy drizzle.

Cultivators are not immortals; they are human and possess seven emotions and six desires. They need to experience the myriad aspects of the mortal world. Returning to nature in this way is a transcendent life, and also a state of mind.

"Young master, you appear to be a busy person, rarely having free time," said the old fisherman who owned the skiff.

Inside the small boat cabin, a fire was lit. The old fisherman used local ingredients to prepare several lake fish dishes, then brought out yellow wine and placed it on the wooden table.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged, appreciating the lake view in the misty rain while sipping slowly. He was completely at ease, his heart filled with peace.

"Good spirits, brother," a small boat glided nearby, slowly moving through the lake against the drizzle. It was Ji Haoyue, the Divine King Physique of the Ji family.

On the boat were also the bright-eyed, white-toothed little moon, Ji Ziyue. They were admiring the lake view in the drizzle, but they weren't drinking wine, nor was there a fisherman rowing their boat.

Ye Fan smiled, raised his wine cup in a gesture, then drained it. He had not revealed his true appearance, so the two on the opposite boat did not recognize him upon meeting.

Water mist permeated the air, thin smoke lingered, and the lake was hazy. From a distance, another skiff approached, on which stood a young man in green robes with dark, lustrous hair. He seemed to merge with the natural world, possessing an inexplicable divine charm.

Ye Fan was surprised; it was the Saint Son of Shaking Light. He no longer had the dazzling divine rings surrounding him as before; now, he exuded only naturalness.

"He has also broken through, reaching another realm," the Divine King of the Eastern Wasteland, Ji Haoyue, murmured.

A mischievous glint flashed in Ji Ziyue's eyes. She mumbled something that no one heard clearly, then wrinkled her delicate nose and said, "I want to have a little yellow wine too."

On his side, Ye Fan smiled, raised a hand, and sent over an unopened jar of wine, along with two plates of untouched lake fish.

At this moment, the Saint Son of Shaking Light approached, smiling faintly. "Finally, I'm not too late." He shone like a burst of morning light, very radiant.

An ethereal Daoist charm rippled, purple robes fluttered, and a woman merged with the misty rain, giving the impression of natural law and a harmonious union between heaven and humanity.

The Saintess of Zifu, the Innate Dao Embryo, also arrived. Purple mist coiled around her body, making her so ethereal that although she stood before them, she seemed almost not to belong to the mortal world.

Almost simultaneously, water vapor drifted, and the Saintess of Yaochi arrived, treading on waves, also entering the lake. Her dark hair was like clouds, her figure graceful and elegant, appearing untouched by the ways of the world.

Ye Fan was surprised. He hadn't expected to encounter several of the Eastern Wasteland's most powerful young individuals gathered here, though he didn't know why.

"Our journey to Zhongzhou will bring many challenges. As fellow cultivators from the Eastern Wasteland, we should support each other when the time comes," Ji Haoyue said.

Ye Fan finally understood. They were going to Zhongzhou and had arranged to travel together. Moreover, there was an important location ahead, Mount Hengyu, where they intended to seek opportunities together.

Legend has it that back then, Emperor Hengyu, after slaying a supreme being that emerged from the Primordial Ancient Mine, had to travel far to Zhongzhou. On an ancient mountain ahead, he once paused, taking a final look at the Eastern Wasteland.

After that, he left without looking back. Later generations came to mourn here, hoping to gain a wisp of the ancient Imperial Dao. Shortly after, Feng Huang, Yao Xi, and others also arrived, totaling over a dozen of the most powerful young cultivators from the Eastern Wasteland.

They glanced at Ye Fan with surprise, but none recognized him. The light skiffs, like sharp edges, glided across the lake and arrived at the foot of an ancient mountain ahead.

The lake water covered the base of the mountain. At this moment, the drizzle ceased, reflecting a hazy green mountain, with mist swirling around it, like a place of immortals.

Everyone ascended Mount Hengyu and looked back at the Eastern Wasteland, but no one obtained any opportunities.

"Everyone, we are about to cross to Zhongzhou. There, we will face powerful cultivators from the five great domains; it will be a gathering place of exceptional individuals. The road ahead is unpredictable, and perhaps some of us will never return..."

"With the strongest from the five domains gathering, life and death will surely be unpredictable. Take one last look at the Eastern Wasteland. Our cultivation at the Qishi Mansion will not be peaceful!"

"Boom!"

As Ye Fan stood on his small boat, gazing at Mount Hengyu, sword light shot up from the lake and struck towards him. The old fisherman also suddenly erupted in an attack!

On Mount Hengyu, everyone was startled. Such killing intent pierced the heavens, especially from the old fisherman, who was clearly possessed temporarily by a soul. He was terrifyingly powerful.

He had sealed space, so not even a fly could escape; the area was completely locked down. The successors of the Holy Lands all changed color, wondering what would happen if it were them.

"Swish!"

In that infinitesimal moment, Ye Fan moved through the void, using the "Xing" (Movement) character secret to rush out. With a single pointed finger, he pierced the head of a black-clad assassin.

"Pfft!"

He seized a long sword, transformed into a wisp of smoke, and vanished, reappearing in another direction. Wielding the killing sword, he lopped off a blood-soaked head, and blood spurted high into the air.

A terrifying old man descended from the sky, retrieving the soul that had possessed the old fisherman. He then unleashed overwhelming divine power, striking at Ye Fan.

After such a long period of silence, the assassins from Human World and Hell finally made their move again. Veteran assassins had been dispatched!

Ye Fan activated the "Xing" (Movement) character secret, moving like smoke across the lake, making him elusive and impossible to pin down.

"Boom!"

And at that moment, he launched an attack. A small golden figure, formed from powerful divine consciousness, shot out from between his brows.

The "Jie" (All) character secret was triggered, boosting his combat power tenfold. He met the veteran assassin head-on, without any thought of retreat.

"Dong!"

The small golden figure, as dazzling as the sun, struck the old assassin's glabella with extreme speed. At this moment, his divine consciousness was also employing the "Xing" (Movement) character secret.

"Boom!"

It was too fast. The old assassin could only meet it head-on. A flash of light appeared between his brows, and a weapon shot out, blocking the attack.

"Crack!"

An ancient shield shattered, pierced by the small golden figure, allowing the old assassin to disappear into the void.

He moved his hands subtly, unleashing immense magical power to seal Ye Fan. Threads of natural law flowed, forming patterns that enveloped the area.

"Swish!"

Ye Fan retreated like a phantom. At the same time, the small golden figure transformed into a cauldron, only the size of a fist, emitting myriad rays of light.

"Pfft!" "Pfft!" It continuously pierced through space, piercing the brows of seven or eight assassins hidden in the darkness, leaving them to die with open eyes.

The golden divine consciousness, transformed into a small cauldron, was indestructible. At this moment, it was terrifyingly powerful, killing even the assassin apprentices.

"It's Ye Fan, it's actually him!"

"He... is being besieged by assassin organizations!"

On Mount Hengyu: The heroes of the Eastern Wasteland's younger generation were all astonished, never expecting the Sacred Body, recently renowned throughout the Eastern Wasteland, to be right before them.

"Boom!"

Overwhelming fluctuations enveloped the surroundings. Four veteran assassins had arrived, each occupying a side, sealing off all escape routes, intending to kill him there.

At the same time, cold light occasionally shot up from the lake, indicating other apprentice assassins, who were there for training and constantly launched sneak attacks.

"This time, the Sacred Body is likely in grave danger. He can't possibly provoke a heavenly tribulation again, can he?"

On Mount Hengyu, someone made such a judgment. The strength of those veteran assassins was unfathomable; they had sealed space, making escape almost impossible.

However, something that astonished everyone happened: Ye Fan, holding his dripping divine sword, continuously struck down several apprentice assassins and escaped easily, as if tearing through a paper window.

Although space was sealed, it could not contain him; his path forward was unobstructed!

"That footwork is..." The people from the Ancient Assassin Dynasty all widened their eyes, revealing expressions of disbelief.

"'Xing' (Movement) character secret has appeared. Is the Ancient Heavenly Court about to emerge?!" A veteran assassin's heart surged with colossal waves.

"Ye Fan..." Ji Ziyue called out softly, wanting to pursue him, but Ji Haoyue held her back firmly.

"Wicked brother, why do you always stop me? When I can beat you, I'll suppress you for half a year!" Ji Ziyue pouted angrily, wrinkled her delicate nose, waved her small fists, and glared at her brother with crescent-moon eyes.

The others, seeing this, all smiled amusedly.

"The Sacred Body is truly extraordinary. The Ancient Assassin Dynasty failed again. What was that secret technique that allowed him to break through such a seal?!"

They discussed softly, then took one last look back from Mount Hengyu, crossed through space, and thus left the Eastern Wasteland.

With this, many heroes gathered in Zhongzhou, ready to embark on the most intense competition. This would be a grand collision of the five domains, and the strongest individuals of the future would be born from it.

The Qishi Mansion in Zhongzhou would be a place where dragons soared and phoenixes flew!

Ye Fan felt a chill in his heart from the assassination attempt by the Ancient Dynasty. As the Black Sovereign had said, the enemy possessed a divine divination art that could deduce his whereabouts.

However, he was not afraid. He carried the jade tablets the Black Sovereign had prepared for him, which were inscribed with heaven-deceiving array patterns, making him impossible to divine.

After a full month of silence, Ye Fan, with a cold sneer, melted into the night, ready to begin his actions.

When he was ambushed on the lake, he did not flee far. Instead, he used a Heavenly Court secret art to conceal himself and counter-tracked the assassins' movements, discovering several hidden strongholds.

During this long period, he had already ascertained the details of several hidden training camps belonging to the assassins. When the veteran assassins were absent, he chose to make his move.

Between heaven and earth, it was pitch dark; one couldn't see their hand in front of their face. Ye Fan, like a ghost, infiltrated an underground palace.

The ancient underground stone palace was filled with the marks of time, having existed for tens of thousands of years, and reeked of blood.

This was a training camp, overseen by only one great power. Unfortunately, he had left that day and was not in seclusion within the underground palace.

"Crack!"

Ye Fan slipped in silently, twisting the necks of two assassins guarding the entrance, killing them on the spot.

At this moment, he transformed into an assassin, using such methods against the ancient dynasty, moving through the underground palace like the grim reaper.

"Pfft!"

Ye Fan ruthlessly wielded his golden scepter, continuously harvesting lives, moving from one grotto to the next. The underground labyrinth was filled with the smell of blood and death.

"Who are you, ah...!"

Finally, someone noticed, but it was too late. Dozens had already been killed, and fewer than ten remained.

"You're Ye Fan!"

"I represent the Heavenly Court to exterminate you all!" Ye Fan sneered. His golden scepter shone like light, and his killing intent surged like a boundless sea.

"Pfft!"

Heads flew, corpses fell.

"Snap!"

Bodies were smashed, turning into piles of bloody pulp.

"You..." An apprentice assassin erupted, manifesting the Human World's Dao of Slaughter.

"Oh?!" Ye Fan was surprised. There was actually a young assassin here who had reached the first transformation of the Dragon Transformation realm, undoubtedly an ace of the Ancient Assassin Dynasty's younger generation.

"If I slay you, I imagine Human World will be quite heartbroken!" A cold light gleamed in Ye Fan's eyes.

"You underestimate Human World too much. There are those far stronger than me, born specifically to slaughter all kings. Even if you are the Sacred Body, you are no exception; you will not escape death!" The assassin spoke fiercely, attacking Ye Fan with grand slaughtering arts.

"I've heard that your ancient halls are paved with the skulls of kings. I will go and see them for myself someday!" Ye Fan sneered, wielding his Heavenly Court scepter, and likewise attacked with grand slaughtering arts.

The two flickered between visibility and invisibility, battling in the void, an incredibly bizarre sight.

"You won't have a chance. The one far stronger than me will slaughter all of you with special physiques, all the 'kings,' without exception. He was born to kill you all!" the assassin said coldly.

"Is that so? I will wait for him. If he doesn't appear, I will personally infiltrate your ancient halls to find him in the future!"

"Pfft!"

Ye Fan, having reached the Great Perfection of the Four Extremities and mastering the Heavenly Court's Grand Slaughtering Art, was even more terrifying than these individuals from the Ancient Dynasty. He lopped off the head of this top young expert, and blood spurted high.

"Pop!"

He lightly pointed a finger, extinguishing the assassin's divine consciousness!

When everything was over, Ye Fan turned and left, traversing the void and disappearing into the darkness, leaving behind only blood and corpses on the ground.

He hurried to the next hidden stronghold, as this opportunity was only for one night, and it would be hard to replicate if missed.

Another hidden stronghold also had no masters present; it seemed they had all received the same command and had temporarily left.

"Pfft!"

Blood gushed, heads fell. Ye Fan silently slaughtered and eliminated the assassins in the darkness.

It was a blood-soaked night. Many heads rolled, and lives were lost forever.

The next day, news shocked the world: Ye Fan had, in a single night, attacked four training camps of the Ancient Assassin Dynasty, slaughtering over 180 people!

So many corpses, so much blood. The four assassin training camps were exposed, and many people personally went to see them.

The world was astonished. Ye Fan possessed such methods that he dared to retaliate against even the Ancient Assassin Dynasty, and he had even found several of their hidden strongholds!

Although these were not the ancient halls of the dynasty nor their sacred ancient lands, it was still a severe blow to their prestige.

"Human World, Hell, I punish you on behalf of the Heavenly Court!"

This was the strong declaration Ye Fan shouted in the Eastern Wasteland, truly shaking everyone. Now, anyone considering making a move had to first weigh the potential consequences.

Ye Fan did not linger. That very day, he traversed the void and left the Eastern Wasteland, concluding his powerful, thunderous actions before heading west.