Chapter 556: One Flower, One World

Everyone in Lu City knew that their City Lord neglected his official duties. Lately, he had even made a large bow and started hunting in his own territory.

"Are there any game animals here?" people wondered. "It doesn't seem so. The land within a hundred-mile radius is quite barren, with no large beasts at all—at most, just a few rabbits."

The city dwellers were very surprised and couldn't understand his reasons. However, within a few days, they were left speechless.

"Oh my god, is this the prey the City Lord hunted? It's like a mountain! That... that seems to be a Hou!"

Everyone was astonished. Hunting legendary rare beasts in such barren land seemed utterly fantastical, leaving them dumbfounded.

In the region around Arduous Hearth, the villagers had recently been eating wild game so frequently that many were becoming overly nourished. This was because the exotic beasts were incredibly precious, all considered sacred items for replenishing vitality, and truly invaluable.

Dragon hides, Hou pelts, and Luan feathers were conspicuously drying on the branches of ancient locust trees, their scales and plumes shimmering with dazzling colors.

Ye Fan had consecutively defeated many masters, some of whom possessed extraordinary cultivation and endless esoteric techniques. Their battles had greatly inspired him, and after a series of intense fights, he had gained considerably. He felt that breaking through to the Dragon Transformation secret realm could happen at any moment.

For the past few days, he had often meditated outside the ancient locust tree forest. He sensed a unique energy flow but couldn't quite grasp or comprehend it.

No one from ancient times to the present had ever been able to fully explain the mysteries of the place where ancient Great Emperors had built their huts in their later years; many lords had died while meditating there.

Ye Fan had also cautiously meditated within the forest but sensed a subtle danger. He didn't dare to continue, so he came outside the forest, as he certainly didn't want to inexplicably die while meditating there.

"Ye Zhetian, come out now!"

Just that day, another soft shout echoed from outside Arduous Hearth. Clouds and mist surged across the sky, and indistinct figures appeared from the direction of the immortal mountain. It was unclear how many masters had arrived, but they were all heroes from the five great domains.

Such a large group, each with their own extraordinary experiences and legendary reputations, found it truly remarkable to gather together.

And at this moment, over 150 people arrived at Arduous Hearth, creating an immense pressure. Immortal mist billowed and clouds churned, as if heavenly soldiers and generals had descended.

"Ye Zhetian, come out!" The voice of one of the women was very cold; though pleasant, it carried a trace of chill.

"Lord Brother has returned to the city; he's not here," the snot-nosed kid said, wiping his nose and innocently shouting towards the sky, "You've ridden so many spirit beasts here that we're all tired of eating them!"

"You glutton!" a furious servant beside Princess Qi snorted coldly.

"Let's go!" Princess Qi exclaimed, flicking her immortal robe and soaring towards Lu City on a multicolored cloud. The entire group followed from a distance, having come specifically to watch the battle.

This was because as soon as Princess Qi emerged from seclusion, a huge commotion was guaranteed. She was not only as beautiful as an immortal but also a 'chili-level' beauty, capable of toppling kingdoms. She was known for being fierce even when unprovoked. And now, her beloved dragon-horse had been eaten.

Outside Lu City, multicolored clouds drifted down, pressing low outside the city walls. A light mist permeated the air, as if the gates of the heavenly realm had opened.

"City Lord, this is bad! Many immortals have arrived!"

Many people panicked and ran to report. Hearing this, Ye Fan took down the large bow from the wall, strapped on his quiver, and strode out.

"City Lord, what are you going to do? Aren't you going to flee?"

"Hunting. I'll get you some meat!" Ye Fan replied.

"Ye Zhetian, come out here!" Princess Qi shouted. Her voice was clear and crisp, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate, yet a murderous aura permeated it.

Ye Fan was also stunned after coming out. So many people had come; wasn't it true that one couldn't freely enter and exit Qishi Manor?

If these over 150 people attacked together, even a few mighty figures would have to flee. These were not ordinary powerhouses; they were the future kings from various regions and the elites of the five great domains.

"Return our dragon-horse!" a servant shouted, full of confidence. With his master present, he no longer felt any fear.

"Are you here to cause trouble in my territory again?" Ye Fan asked. He had nothing to fear; at worst, he could simply pack up and leave, knowing he could return anytime he wished to meditate in Arduous Hearth.

In front of him was a dense crowd of people, though most were merely observers. At that moment, many began to whisper.

"This lord isn't very old," someone whispered, "yet he's consecutively defeated many masters. He's truly a prodigy! Why didn't he enter Qishi Manor?"

"I represent the cultivators of the Eastern Wasteland, here to observe!" a loud shout came from behind. It was unclear who had yelled it.

Ye Fan found it familiar. He suddenly remembered: This was Jiang Huai-ren. He hadn't expected them to actually sneak in. It would have been very difficult given their cultivation levels, yet they had succeeded.

"I represent the cultivators of the Southern Ridge, here to observe!" another person chimed in.

This time, Ye Fan watched closely and saw a plump, pale man whom he didn't recognize at all, yet his intuition told him this was an acquaintance. He quietly activated his divine eyes, and one look instantly stunned him.

"That bastard, Duan De!"

Ye Fan had never imagined that the scoundrel Taoist had sneaked into Qishi Manor. He was plump and glistening, looking very prosperous, completely different from before.

"I represent the beautiful Bodhisattvas of the Western Desert, here to observe!" Duan De transmitted secretly, though Ye Fan's divine eyes saw him clearly as he shifted his position.

"This bastard is definitely an older man, pretending to be young to sneak in," Ye Fan thought. "He's a bad egg, definitely going to trick people. He's up to no good."

"Ye Zhetian, the Princess is speaking to you! Did you hear her?!" Just then, a servant shouted loudly, yelling at Ye Fan.

"Alright, what do you want?" Ye Fan asked casually.

"Return the Princess's dragon-horse! If you can't, we'll bury you alive!" After arriving at this place, Princess Qi remained silent, letting her servants do all the shouting.

"Come on, let's go find a pit now," Ye Fan said, flying towards the desolate wilderness.

"You certainly have foresight, digging your own grave first!" someone mocked. "You even dared to eat the Princess's dragon-horse; you must be weary of life and no longer wish to live."

"You're mistaken. What I mean is, I'll bury all of you alive," Ye Fan said with a smile, rushing forward without looking back.

"This awesome lord is truly calm," someone remarked. "They've come right to his door to fight, and he still doesn't seem to care."

"Let's go and see what his true strength is like."

The observing crowd discussed, full of curiosity. Even many female cultivators had come, wanting to see the whole truth.

The hundred-mile radius was very barren. Though not utterly desolate, there were no spirit veins, only barren mountains everywhere. There weren't even proper fruit trees, mostly just thorns and bushes.

Everyone rode clouds and stopped above a desolate mountain range. Princess Qi stepped out, her every glance radiant. She truly was an extremely beautiful woman, capable of toppling kingdoms and bringing ruin to their people.

"No wonder she has so many admirers; even before she emerged from seclusion, people were rushing to stand up for her." Ye Fan finally understood: she was indeed a femme fatale, a beauty capable of making earthly kings abandon their kingdoms.

She was about eighteen or nineteen years old, her eyes sparkling with intelligence. Her skin was fair and lustrous, her lips and teeth crystal clear. Her black hair cascaded like water, adorned with a golden hairpin that trembled with each step. Pearls and jade intertwined with golden light, and long tassels swayed gently.

"Was it you... who ate my dragon-horse?!" Princess Qi's dark eyebrows furrowed, and she clenched her teeth. Her eyes, like a spiritual rainbow, gleamed with a hint of coldness.

"Alright, what do you want?" Ye Fan said, displaying great impatience. "You constantly come to my territory to cause trouble when you have nothing else to do. I've really had enough."

"You..." A trace of anger appeared on Princess Qi's jade-like face, capable of toppling empires, but it quickly softened into a gentle smile. "You are quite something. You ate my dragon-horse, and you're still so self-righteous. Today, I'll capture you, and from now on, you'll exclusively pull my carriage!"

"You want me to be your dragon-horse?" Ye Fan asked, squinting at the femme fatale.

"You're not so dull; that's exactly what I mean." Princess Qi smiled enchantingly, her eyes full of spiritual grace, making the colors of ten thousand flowers seem dull in comparison.

"That doesn't sound very fair. How about we make a gentleman's agreement?" Ye Fan said, folding his arms and looking her up and down almost teasingly.

"What agreement?" Princess Qi asked, shooting him a wary glance.

"You and I fight fairly. If I lose, I'll pull your carriage for you; if you lose, you'll be my spirit beast," Ye Fan blurted out.

"You rogue!" Princess Qi's jade-like face, as flawless as white mutton fat jade, flushed crimson, and her dark eyebrows shot up. Her large eyes, usually filled with poetic charm, now blazed with indignation.

A commotion erupted!

Behind them, everyone was in an uproar. This lord was truly audacious, even suggesting Princess Qi become his mount!

"I say, where did this young lord come from?" someone exclaimed. "Did he eat an immortal's gall? He's so bold!"

"He's right next to Qishi Manor, yet he's completely unreserved," another said. "How dare he act so recklessly? Isn't he afraid the 'Chili Legion' will wipe him out?"

"Did I hear that right? This kid is really fierce!"

Behind them, the group of observers were first dumbfounded, and then began discussing animatedly. Princess Qi's fierce temper was well-known; few dared to go against her.

"What rogue?" Ye Fan retorted. "Isn't this fair? If I lose, I'll be your dragon-horse, and if you lose, you'll be my spirit beast. What's wrong with that?"

"Go to hell!" Princess Qi shrieked, truly enraged.

*Whoosh!*

Flower petals rained down from the sky, splendid and crystalline. Their endless fragrance intoxicated everyone to the bone, filling them with comfort.

But within these beautiful immortal blossoms lay endless killing intent. Every petal could kill, and one by one, small worlds opened up, appearing in the void.

"The Three Thousand Small Worlds! It's actually this ancient secret technique! Wasn't it lost long ago? How has it reappeared in the world?"

"This is the Southern Ridge's peerless secret technique, possessing terrifying and unparalleled power."

"It is said that this was created by the Southern Ridge Heavenly Emperor. This ancient secret technique has further stages; if developed further, it can evolve into the Three Thousand Great Worlds, allowing one to manipulate all heavens for their own use."

Ye Fan heard their discussion and felt a headache coming on. According to Princess Yudie, the Southern Ridge Heavenly Emperor was the Ruthless One of the Eastern Wasteland, and too few of his unique skills had been passed down to the world.

However, each of his moves was a peerless sacred art, incredibly difficult to decipher. Ye Fan never imagined that Princess Qi had mastered one, and it seemed to have reached a state of perfection.

"If you fight me, and you lose, will you accept the terms?" Ye Fan shouted loudly as he dodged, aiming to disturb her focus.

Princess Qi's long dress danced as falling flowers rained down, covering the entire sky. She stood in the midst of it all, transcendent and sacred, her delicate hands moving, each immortal blossom evolving.

*Pop, pop...*

One flower, one world. Three thousand immortal blossoms evolved into three thousand small worlds, making the scene dreamlike and illusory, difficult to discern.

Ye Fan swung his fists and smashed, traversing through these myriad small worlds, trying to break through. But as one flower was destroyed, another would rise, the worlds constantly changing.

"The Southern Ridge Heavenly Emperor is indeed invincible throughout history! Every sacred art he created is peerless in the world!"

Everyone was awestruck. Such a method inherently placed one in an invincible position, isolating oneself from the enemy and using the power of all heavens to suppress them.

However, everyone was also surprised because Ye Fan's combat power was terrifying. He actually destroyed a small world with a single punch, moving through the void like an ancient god of war, advancing relentlessly towards Princess Qi.

"What you're doing is futile!" Princess Qi said, her smile capable of toppling nations. Her hair swung, her eyes sparkling, captivating all with her genuine allure as a true femme fatale.

Flowers bloomed and withered, small worlds were destroyed and then re-evolved, becoming even more perfect and solid. They transformed into myriad heavens, aiming to suppress Ye Fan within.

"Care to bet?" Ye Fan challenged.

"Alright, if you lose, be my dragon-horse, and prepare to die!" Princess Qi said, her smile intoxicating to the bone. She lightly raised her fair wrist, her pure white, jade-like arms glowing. Her slender legs were faintly visible beneath her dress, moving with light and graceful movements.

The peerless beauty danced across the sky. Crystal-clear flower petals rained down, each blooming into a small world. From her lips came a dreamlike voice: "One flower, one world; one blade of grass, one paradise!"

Ye Fan advanced relentlessly, battling fiercely against Princess Qi. He countered the sacred art passed down by the Southern Ridge Heavenly Emperor, using extreme power to shatter all resistance!