Chapter 553: Arid Hut

## Chapter 557: The Desolate Hut

Whoosh!

Streaks of divine light shot up, weaving into a killing formation in the sky, aiming to strangle Ye Fan. The air was thick with murderous intent.

The city walls were ancient, covered in endless array patterns that now fully materialized, etched into the void like arcane symbols of gods and devils, profound and soul-stirring.

Ye Fan gasped, activated his Movement Secret, and swiftly retreated, evading the world-shattering blow.

The ancient city's array patterns were terrifying. He estimated they were set up by at least a peak powerful cultivator and had existed for countless years. Back then, even Saint Lords were stationed here.

“Activate the array patterns, defend the ancient city, and kill the invading enemy!” The middle-aged man on the city wall sneered, staring at Ye Fan in the air, and issued the command.

Whoosh!

This dilapidated city indeed had something strange about it. It could concentrate all the power of its divine patterns to attack a single point, unleashing unparalleled might. At this moment, it converged into a sharp beam of divine light, striking out like a heavenly sword.

Clang!

A thousand-zhang long sword beam instantly split the sky, comparable to an attack from a Saint Lord. The light beam was dazzling! Most ordinary people would have fallen, because the ancient city's energy fluctuated too quickly, and the light beam struck out in an instant, making it hard to dodge.

However, Ye Fan was an exception. He cultivated the Movement Secret of the Nine Secrets, representing the pinnacle of achievement in this domain. He left behind an afterimage and vanished into thin air.

“You are defying your superiors, an unforgivable crime!” Ye Fan, like a fleeting light, swooped down with a whoosh.

“Seeking death! Even a Half-Step Great Power wouldn’t dare to assault us!” The middle-aged man sneered with a hint of mockery. He activated all the array patterns and stood unmoving on the city wall.

“Whoosh,” “whoosh…”

The entire ancient city seemed to come alive, sweeping out sword beams like an peerless swordsman. All of them were a thousand zhang long, their divine light cleaving through chaotic clouds.

Ye Fan’s eyes gleamed. This city was truly extraordinary. He wondered what kind of supreme figure had left it behind; it was an excellent place to cultivate heavenly essence and earthly auspiciousness. It was drawing divine essence from the earth's ley lines, converting it into peerless offensive power, as if a Saint Lord were fighting. This startled him and was worth pondering.

Hundreds of thousands of light beams swept out, capable of pulverizing even a fly, but Ye Fan neared. His strange movement technique allowed him to pierce through the light barrier as if passing through water, and he entered the city.

“You…”

Chaos erupted on the ancient city wall. Everyone was baffled as to how he had done it. He moved as if entering an unmanned territory, passing through the array patterns and entering the city.

Ye Fan's sleeves were somewhat tattered. Even though he used his Movement Secret and chose a damaged section of the wall to rush through where the array patterns were incomplete, he was still struck by a sword beam. Had his physical body not surpassed that of a Saint Lord, that single blow would have injured him. This ancient city was highly valuable; he could only barely enter it before making new breakthroughs in his Movement Secret.

Ye Fan said nothing, striding forward. The entire street trembled. Everyone's face changed, revealing fierce glints in their eyes as they summoned their weapons.

“This is territory granted by Grand Tutor Xiao to my elder brother! Are you trying to seize it?!” the middle-aged man shouted.

Ye Fan didn't bother with idle talk. He opened his mouth and spat out a golden lotus, which transformed into a beam of light and shot forth to suppress him.

Whoosh!

The middle-aged man roared, summoning an exquisite pagoda that swayed, emitting colorful light as it flew forward. But how could it block the golden lotus formed from Ye Fan's Innate Qi?

Crack!

The exquisite pagoda was instantly pierced through, turning into scrap metal scattered on the street. The middle-aged man staggered back, his face filled with disbelief. The Saint Body's Innate Essence was indestructible, completely beyond his comprehension. Ye Fan could even slay cultivators at the Sixth Transformation of Dragon Transformation, let alone him.

Thump!

The lotus formed from Innate Qi struck him, sending him flying sideways to crash heavily against the city wall, breaking his bones and tendons. He couldn't get up again.

“Don’t kill me!” the middle-aged man cried out in terror, realizing he had provoked a killing star, someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.

“Swoosh,” “swoosh…” Ye Fan continuously pointed, immobilizing all dozens of soldiers. He let out a cold sneer and said, “You motley crew, do you really think you can intimidate me?!”

“Mercy! We didn’t mean to offend, it was all the City Lord’s orders!” Many people, terrified, pleaded for their lives. Their cultivation levels were very low.

“Who dares to run wild in my Lu City?” A majestic voice resounded, and a terrifying fluctuation surged from the City Lord’s mansion, with a beam of divine light rapidly flying out. A palm-length flying sword, clear as autumn water, incredibly sharp and radiating cold light, transformed into a bolt of lightning and slashed towards Ye Fan’s neck. Its trajectory was blurred; even the void was distorted, showing its terrifying speed and power.

Clang!

Ye Fan met it barehanded, producing a series of brilliant sparks. The flying sword wailed and plunged downwards. He clamped it between his hands and shook it vigorously.

Crack!

A secret treasure, forged a thousand times and refined with a master's essence, was thus destroyed, turning into a pile of iron filings.

“This… what a monster! Who is this?!” Everyone was dumbfounded. The City Lord’s cultivation was at the Sixth Transformation of Dragon Transformation. His life-bound flying sword was destroyed as soon as he summoned it. This young man was truly terrifying.

Whoosh!

A middle-aged man appeared. He was the Lord of Lu City, his face ashen. He said, “This is my Xiao family’s territory. Are you challenging Grand Tutor Xiao’s authority?!”

“From now on, this city has a new master. Don’t tell me you don’t know. If you pretend to be ignorant, I’ll use my fists to enlighten you.” Ye Fan directly charged forward, saying, “Weren’t you trying to intimidate me? Let me tell you, some people cannot be offended!”

Bang!

His fist didn’t emit any light, but it shattered the void with its supreme rigidity and masculinity, its power unparalleled. Wherever it passed, the void collapsed, an utterly terrifying sight.

Crack, thump…

Various magical artifacts flew out, trying to block Ye Fan, but under his fist, everything was futile, turning into fragments. A pile of broken copper and scrap metal appeared on the ground.

The middle-aged City Lord was completely stunned. He had never seen such a powerful physical body before, thinking he had encountered a Saint Lord-level figure, and forgot to use his own powerful magic power.

Bang!

Ye Fan’s speed was incredibly fast. He instantly closed the distance and punched him on the jaw, sending teeth flying. The City Lord flew back a hundred zhang like a puppet.

Thump!

The City Lord instantly crashed into the city wall, suffering a comminuted fracture of his jaw and multiple bone fractures throughout his body. He lay there unable to move, his eyes filled with terror.

“Nothing more than that!” Ye Fan shook his head.

Everyone was terrified. How could they possibly contend with such a figure, so young yet comparable to the monstrous talents of the Qishi Mansion? They recalled how they had just tried to intimidate him. Their faces turned pale, devoid of any color, and many couldn't help but tremble.

“It’s not our business, it was all the City Lord’s orders!” After regaining their mobility, the dozens of soldiers all knelt down and repeatedly kowtowed. Their previous ferocity completely vanished.

“All of you, stand up and speak.” Ye Fan walked over, kicked the City Lord and his brother a few times, and began to interrogate them to understand the situation. Afterwards, he pointed a finger at everyone’s glabella, erasing some related memories.

“All of you, vanish from Lu City! Don’t let me see you again!” Ye Fan roared.

These soldiers were all cultivators of the Xiao surname, numbering over two hundred, though their strength was limited. All of them, including the City Lord, were expelled by Ye Fan, and the cultivation of the City Lord and his brother was crippled by Ye Fan.

The residents of the ancient city were all astonished upon hearing the news. This new City Lord was truly unique, taking office alone without any subordinates. This dilapidated small city wasn’t large; currently, it housed several thousand people, similar in size to a town. Ye Fan didn’t want the city to lose its laws and order. On the same day, he recruited some people, reorganized the city’s personnel, and established some regulations. As long as there was normal order, he wouldn’t interfere too much. He was here for the Desolate Hut, not truly to be a lord.

Ye Fan wandered through the countryside, walking to an ancient village. Legend had it that this was where an ancient Great Emperor had built his hut, filling the place with an aura of mystery.

A vast expanse of ancient Sophora trees encircled the village. Each ancient tree had considerable age; some had cracked bark, others had hollow trunks, their age unknown. Tree shades covered large areas, and the Yin energy was somewhat heavy. The ancient village was small, with only about fifty households. Their ancestors had lived here for generations and had never moved.

Upon learning that he was the new Lord, men, women, and children alike were terrified and hastily performed a grand salute. Ye Fan told them to rise and rewarded each person with some silver pieces. Seeing his demeanor and approachability, everyone was no longer afraid. They answered all his questions, allowing Ye Fan to learn a lot about the situation.

“My Lord, please do not cultivate enlightenment here. Our ancestors passed down that many cultivators have died in this place. Now, no one dares to come.” Ordinary people living here experienced nothing unusual, but whenever powerful cultivators came here to cultivate enlightenment, disaster would always strike, and they would mysteriously pass away.

“These ancient Sophora trees around the village, we don’t know how many tens of thousands of years they’ve grown. They neither grow nor die; year after year, they remain unchanged.”

Upon hearing this news, Ye Fan was greatly surprised. According to the villagers, these ancient trees had existed since ancient times, always remaining the same, yet they had never transformed into spirits.

From then on, Ye Fan would visit here every day, walking around and learning a lot about the place. By now, isolated meditation offered little progress. Now, by traveling outdoors, seeing bubbling spiritual springs and falling leaves and flowers, he found it easier to gain enlightenment.

After half a month, everyone in Lu City knew that their Lord was idle, spending his days sightseeing and not attending to official duties. Fortunately, he was kind to people, had no airs, and wouldn’t punish anyone. Meanwhile, the villagers of the Desolate Hut grew increasingly familiar with him. Many snot-nosed children were no longer afraid of him and liked to run behind him, because Ye Fan always brought candy whenever he visited.

“Snotty kid from Er Gouzi’s family, why are you crying?” Ye Fan saw a child who liked to follow him for candy now wailing, tears and snot running down his face.

“Uncle Er Gouzi was beaten in the fields, he bled so much, he’s almost not alive. Snotty kid is sad.”

“His grandpa went to reason with them and was also beaten badly, his bones broken.”

Other children ran over, chattering to explain what happened.

“Brother City Lord, please go quickly and save them,” a little girl cried.

These villagers were very simple, even their names were like Er Gouzi (Two Dogs) and Da Shitou (Big Stone), supposedly to make them easier to raise. They almost never had conflicts, so how could such a serious incident occur? Ye Fan frowned.

“Brother City Lord, please hurry and save Uncle Er Gouzi! Many uncles have gone to reason with them and are bleeding profusely,” some more children ran back, crying.

Ye Fan had no airs. He came to this village every day, and many children grew very fond of him, calling him casually.

“Snotty kids, stop crying. I’ll go take a look.” Ye Fan strode out of the ancient gully and forest, heading towards the fields, a group of children following behind him. Cries of distress came from the fields several li away. The Snotty Kid’s father lay on the ground, covered in blood, seemingly taking his last breaths. An elderly man, with a trembling hand, sat on the ground, his mouth stained with blood, shaking Er Gouzi, trying to wake him up.

Many villagers stood nearby, furious but daring not to speak. A few people stood not far away, incredibly arrogant and indifferent; at a glance, they were cultivators. There were several exotic beasts in the field, one of which was a dragon-horse gnawing on the crops. The cause of the conflict was immediately clear. The Snotty Kid’s father saw the crops being ruined and went to reason with them, resulting in his current state.

“How can you bully people like this?!” A villager couldn’t help but exclaim.

“It’s just a bit of crops, isn’t it? I already said I’d give you some silver. Don’t make a fuss here and disturb the dragon-horse, your lives aren’t worth that much!” One person glared over impatiently.

“Our crops are our lives! You are too abusive!” Many villagers were indignant.

“How noisy!” That person sneered, casting a disdainful glance at the crowd.

Ye Fan clearly saw that those exotic beasts were all rare in the world, not ordinary animals. They were already sentient, and likely possessed extreme speed when running. Although these people were dressed splendidly, they clearly appeared to be servants, merely responsible for tending to these exotic beasts. It was easy to associate them with the prodigies and talents from the Qishi Mansion. The Qishi Mansion was located in the Immortal Mountain, not too far from here. It wasn't impossible for their mounts to be cared for and grazed outside. Soon, a villager confirmed his suspicion: these were indeed exotic beasts from the ancient Immortal Mountain, and these people had been appearing frequently recently, acting very arrogant.

“Apologize, compensate for the damage, and then leave this place immediately!” Ye Fan coldly commanded.

He knelt down, took out a bit of divine spring water, poured it into Er Gouzi’s mouth, and massaged him, bringing him back to life. Then, he reconnected the broken bones for Snotty Kid’s grandfather. The old man, with his white hair, had tears streaming from his cloudy eyes and blood at the corner of his mouth, a truly pitiful sight.

Ye Fan stood up and said, “I’m talking to you. Did you hear me?”

“Who are you? Do you really think you’re someone important?” One of them sneered, while the others arrogantly scoffed.

“Just a bunch of slaves, daring to act wild here? Even your masters wouldn’t be worth a glance!” Ye Fan roared.

“You… who are you? How dare you, what gives you the right to control us?” Their expressions changed.

“I am the Lord of this land. Everything within a hundred li is under my jurisdiction. No matter who enters, they must act according to my laws!” Ye Fan said coldly.

“Haha…” One of them laughed loudly, “Just a minor lord, daring to boast? If you disturb our exotic beasts, ten lives wouldn’t be enough to pay!”

“You don’t know what’s good for you.” Ye Fan slapped out. Although these people were masters, how could they block him? All of them vomited blood and collapsed to the ground.

“You… dare to treat us like this? Do you know our identities?” They blustered with false courage.

“Aren’t you just a bunch of slaves? Hurry up and kowtow in apology.” Ye Fan sneered, saying, “I’m taking this dragon-horse. I’ll kill it for the villagers to eat. If you’re not convinced, tell your masters to come see me!”