Chapter 627: Old Friends Reunite

"Who are you?" The Yin-Yang Saint Son's face was grim, dark as water. This was a scar for the Yin-Yang Sect, and he hated nothing more than hearing those words.

Beside him, the other Saints and Saintesses also looked over, their expressions hostile as they stared at Ye Fan.

"Just a passerby," Ye Fan chuckled. "Unless you're planning to destroy my sect?"

"It's obvious. You're defending them with such arrogance, completely disregarding us," the Yin-Yang Saint Son said coldly, pulling Wang Teng and the others into the conflict, hoping to incite their shared enmity.

Nearby, Ji Ziyue's large eyes flickered as she suspiciously watched Ye Fan, slightly wrinkling her delicate nose and carefully observing his every move.

Over two years had passed, but she hadn't changed. Her large, black-gem-like eyes were as lively as ever, her eyelashes long, and a pair of small dimples graced her face, giving her a mischievous and charming look.

On her other side, Ji Haoyue's black hair fell over his shoulders, his sword-like eyebrows extended to his nose, and his tiger-like eyes were full of spirit. His bearing was majestic, and his God King aura was even more potent. He had concealed his cultivation with a secret treasure, making it impossible to gauge his true strength.

What surprised Ye Fan the most was that Pang Bo had also reached the Eighth Transformation of Dragon Ascension, just like him. He truly had no idea how Pang Bo cultivated so quickly, not a step behind him.

Pang Bo was naturally robust, a head or two taller than others, with a powerful, imposing build and thick eyebrows and large eyes. His arm was as thick as another person's leg, strong and muscular—he was truly gifted by nature.

"How did you progress so fast? You haven't gone astray in your cultivation, have you?" Ye Fan couldn't help but transmit his voice secretly.

"Ye Zi, it's you..." Pang Bo was overjoyed, responding secretly.

Ye Fan now looked seventeen or eighteen, refined and spirited, like an ethereal immortal. Having consumed sacred medicine, he always maintained a youthful appearance.

Thankfully, he no longer appeared stuck at fifteen or sixteen but had finally grown a bit older, clearly showing the effects of the sacred medicine.

When Ye Fan entered Qin City, he naturally concealed his true appearance to avoid trouble. He transmitted, "How did you progress so fast?"

Pang Bo was ecstatic, but his face remained calm and composed. He secretly howled, "To cultivate, I went all out! Over the past two years, I've eaten a huge piece of a coffin lid!"

Ye Fan's jaw nearly dropped to the floor at these words. He hadn't expected Pang Bo's temperament to remain so fierce, acting on his impulses without any reservations.

He had acquired half of the Undying Emperor's coffin, and after bringing it out, he eventually gave it all to Pang Bo, as he himself had a Bodhi seed and didn't need it.

Pang Bo gave a piece to Li Heishui. As for the rest, besides meditating on it, he had completely swallowed and refined a piece over the past two years.

"You really are something else..." Ye Fan could only say that, though after a moment of thought, he wasn't worried, as it was undeniably a treasure and certainly edible.

In ancient times, the Undying Emperor was revered by all races as a being beyond gods, unparalleled throughout history. He had felled an ancient Enlightenment Tree and refined it into a coffin. Such extravagance was befitting a deity; he was the only one in all history to have done so.

What was the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree? It was an immortal tree, the rarest spiritual root in existence. Even its leaves could be used for enlightenment, imbued with the imprints of the Great Dao, let alone its main trunk!

"Damn it, I'm getting my comeuppance! After eating a piece of that coffin, I've been struck by lightning countless times these past two years!" Pang Bo grumbled indignantly.

Ye Fan was nearly speechless. His brother was too formidable; eating something that triggered heavenly tribulation was enough to prove the miraculous nature of the Ancient Enlightenment Tea Tree, which contained fragments of numerous Great Daos.

"As long as your cultivation improves."

"Exactly, that's what I thought too. I've even saved a large piece for you; we can eat it together later," Pang Bo chuckled.

"Forget it, I don't need it. You... go ahead and eat the rest," Ye Fan said, trying not to laugh.

"Last time, that old blind man chewed me out completely, scolding me for wasting such a treasure. He said an immortal tree like that shouldn't be eaten, but rather passed down to flourish a great sect," Pang Bo said.

The old blind man, carrying the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Pot, had visited the Qin Dynasty's Imperial Academy several times to support the 'little bandit,' which was why Wang Chong and the others were wary and dared not truly act.

"Why are you spacing out? Are you scared silly?" Someone nearby scoffed, as Ye Fan hadn't responded for a while, and they didn't know what he was thinking.

"I don't want to make things difficult for you. Come over, perform a great kowtow in apology, and I won't hold it against you," Wang Chong said.

"Go sit in the shade, kid." Ye Fan stopped his secret communication with Pang Bo and walked alone towards the dozen or so Saint-level figures.

"You're too arrogant! Do you even know who these people are? Are you disrespecting everyone present?" The Yin-Yang Saint Son fanned the flames, hoping Wang Chong and the others would attack together.

"The Yin-Yang Sect really never learns. You keep choosing Saint Sons. Haven't you had enough jokes? Do you really want to choose a fourth one?" Ye Fan said casually.

"You... deserve death!" The Yin-Yang Saint Son's face darkened. "That Sacred Body won't live long. He can't hide like a turtle forever."

"It's too much trouble to keep replacing them. I think your Yin-Yang Sect doesn't need Saint Sons at all," Ye Fan declared. Then, in a single step, he appeared before him, extending a large hand and chopping it down.

Everyone was stunned. He moved as if entering an uninhabited land, impossible to guard against. His speed was incredible; a translucent hand, like jade, descended.

The Yin-Yang Saint Son had nowhere to dodge. He raised both hands to meet the strike in the air, his transparent palms and fingers glowing with Dao patterns, and individual runes flickering—it was the power of the Dao.

With a soft crack, the Saint Son's hands shattered like paper. They broke inch by inch, and then his entire body slumped. The enormous hand descended from above, and he was powerless to resist.

"Pfft!"

The Yin-Yang Saint Son couldn't even let out a scream. A single palm strike, directly on his head, crushed him into a paste. His bones disintegrated, and he was no longer recognizable as human.

Everyone nearby quickly retreated, breaking out in a cold sweat. That was the Yin-Yang Sect's Saint Son, yet he was killed with a single slap—it was truly horrifying.

The scene erupted in chaos. Li Heishui and his companions were naturally delighted, while the other group was unsettled. Even Wang Chong instinctively retreated, fear in his heart.

After the commotion subsided, everyone knew the Yin-Yang Sect would surely go mad. In just a few short years, three consecutive Saint Sons had died, which was utterly disgraceful and would undoubtedly become a laughingstock in the Central Lands.

"Ye Zi, you're really something else. The old sect leader of the Yin-Yang Sect is almost out of lifespan. Even if he doesn't die of old age, you'll probably infuriate him to death," Pang Bo transmitted with a chuckle.

"They always try to cause me trouble, wishing to eliminate me immediately. There's no other way; I'll make sure they don't dare to choose another Saint Son in the future," Ye Fan said, smiling.

Then, he walked forward step by step, pressing toward Wang Chong and the others. The dozen or so Saint-level figures all retreated together; no one dared to confront him, all of them somewhat afraid.

Years ago, Wang Teng personally suppressed the 'little devil,' and now that he had emerged from seclusion, although still arrogant, he was much stronger than two years prior and dared not speak so defiantly.

Qin City was full of cultivators, and people were astonished. They hadn't expected a single young man to force back a dozen or so prodigies from the five great domains, none of whom dared to make a move.

"Don't push your luck," Wang Chong gritted his teeth.

Ye Fan remained unmoved. He struck out with a palm, like a fierce wind sweeping fallen leaves, and all dozen people spat out mouthfuls of blood, sent flying backward.

Only Wang Chong was unharmed, shielded by two powerful ancient beings behind him. One was like cast gold, a full ten feet tall, and the other was like cast silver, both incredibly formidable.

Ultimately, the battle didn't continue. A golden ancient war chariot streaked across the sky, and Wang Teng, like an emperor on a journey, charged towards the depths of the Qinling Mountains.

"Our master received a secret report; there's an important clue! Let's go!" The two ancient beings took Wang Chong and departed.

"Could it be that Wang Teng found out about the place we discovered?" Pang Bo exclaimed.

"Oh no, let's hurry! We can't let them get there first! Anyway, we've almost prepared everything we need, so let's go back quickly," Ji Ziyue cried.

"What did you find?" Ye Fan asked in surprise.

"We saw the imprint of a monk and a mark left by someone riding an ox, leading to a drying lake," Pang Bo said.

"What?!" Ye Fan cried out.

Ye Fan secretly transmitted his identity to Li Heishui and the others. They were pleasantly surprised, almost crying out loud, especially enthusiastic upon meeting an old friend.

Soon after, they left Qin City, venturing deep into the million-li Qinling Mountains, heading towards the mysterious place that Ji Haoyue, Pang Bo, and Li Heishui had discovered.

It had to be said, Ji Ziyue's spiritual perception was incredibly sharp. After walking for less than half an hour, she wrinkled her delicate nose, gnashed her crystalline little fangs, grabbed Ye Fan, and said, "It's you! Why did you hide it? Do you consider us outsiders? I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Ye Fan revealed his true appearance, pinched her delicate nose, and chuckled, "I was afraid your family's elders would chase me down and beat me."

"You dared to pinch me..." Ji Ziyue gnashed her glistening silver teeth, her large, black-gem-like eyes blinking as she grabbed Ye Fan's ear.

"Let go," Ye Fan said, pinching her nose.

On the other side, Ji Haoyue, the God King of the Eastern Wastelands, had a dark expression. He wanted to say something, or rather, he wanted to push Ye Fan aside. He couldn't help but stride over.

"Your sister is pinching my ear. I didn't hurt her, so quickly tell her to let go," Ye Fan preemptively stated.

"Take your hand off my sister's nose," Ji Haoyue said with a darkened face.

"Ji Haoyue, I saved your life. Be more polite to your benefactor," Ye Fan grumbled.

"That's a different matter entirely." Ji Haoyue was usually very wise, but at that moment, a vein throbbed on his forehead.

Ji Ziyue's large eyes curved into crescent moons, and she laughed incessantly. After tugging Ye Fan's ear a few times, she nimbly floated away.

Pang Bo and Li Heishui also started laughing, a sly and mischievous laughter, while only Ji Haoyue and Ye Fan glared at each other.

Before long, they traversed the void, entering the depths of the Qinling Mountains. They arrived at a stone forest with a dried-up lake. On one large rock, they saw the imprint of a monk, and on another side, the image of an old man riding a green ox.

"If there's no mistake, this should be Sakyamuni, and the other, riding a green ox to the west, must be Laozi. The Purple Qi is coming from the East, and there's even purple qi on the stone wall!" Ye Fan was moved.

"This..." Pang Bo trembled. Only he and Ye Fan knew the true significance of these two names.

Ancient figures from two thousand five hundred years ago had appeared at this end of the starry sky. Where were they heading along the ancient starry road?

"Laozi left Hangu Pass and vanished from ancient China. I never imagined he would have passed through here..." Pang Bo found this incredible. Laozi's "journey to the West" was truly far too distant!