Chapter 881: Thousands of troops turned to flying ashes

Everyone present was stunned, both humans and ancient races alike. Each person was in a daze; this turn of events was unexpected and unsettling.

Even the calm and ruthless assassins of the Divine Dynasty felt their bodies stiffen, a chill running through them. They perceived the seemingly harmless young man smiling before them as extremely dangerous.

To entrap and kill his enemies, he had even factored himself into the plan. Who, then, was the bait? It was truly terrifying!

"I don't like to fall into other people's rhythms," Ye Fan said calmly from the high platform, looking down at the crowd. "Instead of waiting for you to set traps and force me out with various methods, I'd rather design my own, fulfilling your desires. Of course, the outcome will be different: I will be leading you."

"What a grand scheme! He's been setting this up and laying the groundwork ever since the Five-Colored Altar."

The heart of a peak King from the Fallen Feather Tribe sank, and his expression became extremely grim.

Everything about the Five-Colored Altar was shrouded in mystery. During its construction, all information was tightly sealed, making it difficult to investigate. Yet, when people exhausted themselves trying to uncover the truth, everything simply fell into Ye Fan's rhythm, with him leading the way.

The so-called cross-star-domain travel was merely a catalyst, a setup. It was a scheme within a scheme, continuously deployed, drawing people in to desperately investigate, only for new layers of the plot to automatically unfold.

When they uncovered the "truth" and learned that Ye Fan intended to leave this ancient star, their natural inclination was to stop him, intercept him, and prevent him from traversing the cosmos.

At this precise moment, Ye Fan strategically added fuel to the fire, setting another trap: the "auction" of Lin Jia, which emerged naturally from the situation.

At this point, regardless of whether Lin Jia was actually present, those in the shadows would interpret it as an attempt to target Ye Fan. Those who resented him would naturally strike, forming a combined force. If the Lin Jia incident hadn't occurred, someone would surely have resorted to underhanded methods, laying venomous traps to force Ye Fan to stay.

Ye Fan had satisfied their desire to initiate a small plot, and in such an unconventional manner, by seemingly entrapping himself, he united all his enemies.

Ye Fan stared at the mysterious figure completely encased in black armor and said, "Even if you knew Lin Jia wasn't here, you would still rush over. You believe someone is targeting me and wants to eliminate me, and you wish to contribute."

During this process, he observed the armored figure's reactions, using his powerful spiritual sense to capture its divine consciousness fluctuations, hoping to determine if Lin Jia had fallen into their hands.

"You... knew I was coming?" The person in black armor recoiled a few steps.

Ye Fan smiled indifferently, having ascertained what he wanted to know, and paid no further attention. He then looked at the others, sensing their divine consciousness fluctuations, and his expression turned cold, revealing a hint of killing intent.

Everyone knew things had gone wrong. They had fallen into an unusual situation and had been trapped instead. They rushed out of the magnificent grand palace and emerged into the desert, each finding advantageous terrain for defense.

Escape seemed difficult, as the edges of the desert were now shrouded in a vast expanse of white mist. Various fogs rose, swirling like chaos, filled with an oppressive aura.

"With so many of us here, what is there to fear? We even have Great Accomplishment Kings. Isn't it enough to kill just three of them?!" someone uttered grimly.

However, the others remained silent. This wasn't about forcing Ye Fan into a trap; they had been bagged themselves. Heaven knew what arrangements had been made here.

"There's no need to fear," said the two elders of the Fallen Feather Tribe, stepping forward. They held their Eight-Treasures Demonic Bottle, which emitted astonishing pressure, dismantling the surrounding laws of order.

"Indeed, there's nothing to fear. The outcome is irreversible; I came here to end his life." The person in black armor regained composure and strode forward, declaring, "It's been over twenty years! I've been looking forward to this reunion every moment. Ye Fan, the time for your regret has come!" He violently shook his helmet, intending to reveal his true face.

Ye Fan merely smiled faintly and said, "A glorious return? I've already told you, in my eyes, you're forever a mere nobody."

"You actually know who I am?" The person in black armor trembled with rage, his emotions seemingly incredibly agitated, as he clenched his fists.

"Aren't you just that useless Li Changqing, who has never made any progress?" Ye Fan said nonchalantly.

"Clang!"

Li Changqing forcefully threw his helmet into a distant grand hall, revealing his true face. His expression was almost feral, his body trembling, too enraged to speak.

He had imagined a grand, almost glorious entrance, expecting to see Ye Fan's face filled with shock and terror. He never expected the other party to be completely unfazed, having already anticipated everything.

It was like a meticulously prepared grand performance that ended with no one to appreciate it. He felt as if he had punched thin air, enduring immense discomfort.

Over twenty years had passed, and Li Changqing's appearance had not changed much, only becoming somewhat paler, as if he had lived in darkness, rarely seeing sunlight.

"Ye Fan... no matter what you can foresee, no matter how clever and mighty you believe yourself to be, there's one thing you cannot change: you must die! No one can save you!" Li Changqing went mad.

He had endured for over twenty years, originally hoping to vent his accumulated bitterness with a high-profile appearance and the revelation of his true identity. Instead, he had been seen through long ago, and a few nonchalant words had struck him so hard he felt like spitting blood.

"I said you hadn't progressed, and you didn't like to hear it. But you've already fallen into my rhythm. Do you think I wouldn't have arrangements?" Ye Fan scoffed.

"Let the Outer Domain Divine Spirit Curse unleash!"

Li Changqing roared, shaking the desert. All the vast yellow sand swirled upwards, instantly creating a cloud of dust that permeated the air, engulfing the world.

A small, bloody figure appeared in his hand. It shattered, transforming into streaks of crimson light that flew towards Ye Fan. The world grew chilling, as if plunging into an icy abyss, and sounds of ghostly wails and demonic howls emerged.

"As expected, it's a deadly strike. Without preparation, being hit by it would certainly lead to soul dispersion. This is a method left by a malevolent spirit!" Duan De said.

The Heaven-Devouring Demonic Lid appeared above his head, and a mysterious nine-star symbol materialized beneath his feet. This was the Origin Heaven Forbidden Array, specifically inscribed by Ye Fan for him, designed to activate Imperial Armaments at the cost of vast amounts of divine essence.

"Boom!"

The Heaven-Devouring Demonic Lid radiated an emperor's might. Although not truly revived, its power was overwhelming, beyond what ordinary people could resist.

All the various streaks of bloody light were obliterated, unable to even approach him. They turned into a hazy mist and dispersed into the desert.

Li Changqing's expression changed, a hint of fear on his face. He continuously retreated. What was supposed to be a trap for Ye Fan had unexpectedly escalated to this point.

"Kill!" roared the Lord of the First Purgatory of the Hell Divine Dynasty. A string of blue lights emanated from his body, and a spatial artifact opened. Around him, dense throngs of assassins rapidly disappeared into the desert, preparing to ambush Ye Fan and his companions.

Simultaneously, a Realm Lord from the Human World also shouted, and a wave of earthy yellow light erupted, causing masses of assassins to appear.

At this moment, other major powers like the Primordial Lake and the Fallen Feather Tribe also made their moves. Spatial artifacts flashed repeatedly, instantly conjuring thousands of troops with fluttering banners, engulfing the area like a tsunami, with boundless killing intent.

"Origin Heaven Forbidden Array, kill them for me!" Ye Fan roared.

The entire desert glowed, as various divine patterns surged forth, weaving into a net of order that reaped lives like a grim reaper's scythe.

Massive amounts of essence energy burned, transforming into streaks of laws that formed an immense Origin Heaven Grand Array, sealing off the vast desert and eradicating all life. Countless people fell, their heads flying off with spurting blood, like vibrant flowers blossoming. Lives vanished, severed by beams of law, turning into showers of light that dissipated with the wind.

This was a massacre!

The Origin Heaven Forbidden Array in the desert had been laid for an unknown number of days, silently awaiting this very moment, solely to harvest fresh lives.

"Ah...!"

Screams rose and fell incessantly. This place became a bloody, chaotic purgatory on earth, filled with gruesome skeletal remains.

"Demonic Sealing Bottle, shatter for me!" The two Kings of the Fallen Feather Tribe jointly activated an Eight-Treasures Demonic Bottle, emitting streaks of dark light that shone upon the desert.

"If it were a Demonic Sealing Bottle refined by a Great Emperor, we would concede. If not, then may you all rest in peace!" Ye Fan lightly exclaimed, extending a hand to point, activating another set of array patterns. The Peerless Beginning Killing Array revived, illuminating the sky.

"Boom!"

A vast, surging killing intent swept in all directions, as if transporting them to the era of creation, when all things first emerged. Various destructive powers, immortal and immense, surged across heaven and earth.

This was a terrifying turn of events. The Demonic Sealing Bottle shattered with a bang, and the two Kings vomited mouthfuls of blood, their bodies riddled with wounds, almost disintegrated.

Although only a corner of the Peerless Beginning Killing Array was activated, its offensive power defied the heavens. No one present could resist it. Screams became a continuous chorus, and in the blink of an eye, thousands of people were turned into bloody pulp, pulverized by the killing intent.

"Purgatory Sword, unsheathe and cleave the sky!" roared the King of the Hell Divine Dynasty, shaking heaven and earth. A dripping divine sword flew out, vividly scarlet, slashing towards Ye Fan and his companions.

It was incredibly grim and vibrant. A trail of blood drops clung to the crimson sword, emitting wailing sounds. Heaven and earth fractured, and the desert itself seemed on the verge of ceasing to exist.

Seeing this, numerous kings collectively stepped forward to activate it, jointly sacrificing to this Holy Weapon. It transformed into a dazzling blood-red light that stained the entire world crimson, filling the air with a bloody, foul wind and rain.

"It's incomplete, not a true inherited Holy Weapon. Do you take my Heaven-Devouring Demonic Lid for a fake?" Duan De sneered. Aided by the runes on the ground, he gained immeasurable divine power, frantically activating the terrifying demonic lid.

The blood-red sword, after flying forward, trembled and dared not approach. Its brilliance dimmed under the extreme power's pressure, losing connection with the kings behind it, their mutual spiritual resonance severed.

"Clang!"

The Heaven-Devouring Demonic Lid unleashed its extreme power. A streak of dark light shot out, and the Purgatory Blood Sword instantly clattered to the ground, wailing, not daring to struggle.

"Brother Duan, you don't need to exert yourself so much. I've prepared three Peerless Beginning Killing Arrays; whatever they've prepared will be useless," Ye Fan said.

He raised his hand and tapped repeatedly, reviving the other two killing arrays. In this moment, terrifying streaks of killing intent, thick as mountains, surged completely across the desert, pervading the sky.

Everything was pulverized!

No one could escape, even if they wanted to. The desert had long been laid with an unparalleled grand array; no one could flee, and all directions were sealed.

In the very center, all three Peerless Beginning Killing Arrays revived simultaneously. Ancient runes flickered, their brilliance severing the sky. Killing intent crisscrossed, blood-red flowers bloomed, and this place transformed into a field of Asura.

"Ah...!"

Only screams echoed. Resistance was futile; even kings trapped within could only die, unable to fight back.

"Pfft!"

Li Changqing was struck by a beam of killing light, cut in half at the waist, screaming repeatedly. Ye Fan reached out and grabbed him, demanding, "Where is the malevolent spirit?"

"It's waiting for you at the Sky-Severing Mountain Range," Li Changqing replied in terror, begging loudly for mercy. However, a dark light flashed within his glabella, and his entire body withered, turning into a skeletal frame, after which his head exploded.

"Kill!"

Duan De roared. The Heaven-Devouring Demonic Jar vibrated, pulverizing a streak of dark light, preventing it from escaping.

"The Sky-Severing Mountain Range is also part of your... self-entrapping scheme?" The dying master of a small world from Hell asked, utterly unwilling to accept it.

"Exactly. Everything is within my rhythm. The main force of your assassin divine dynasty went to the Sky-Severing Mountain Range, right? Good. I've also designated that as the main battlefield!" Ye Fan sneered.

"Whoosh..."

Without any surprise, as soon as the three Peerless Beginning Killing Arrays emerged, they annihilated everyone. Thousands of troops turned into bloody pulp, and the entire desert was stained crimson.

"I hope all my enemies appear in the Sky-Severing Mountain Range. Before I depart, let's have one ultimate reckoning!" Ye Fan's voice echoed above the desert.

The Peerless Beginning Killing Array rotated, runes flickering one by one, surging into the void and forming two large characters:

End.