Ch. 167 - Awe-Inspiring

The Ji Clan had mobilized en masse. Their war banners flapped loudly, killing intent soared to the skies, and cold glints flashed off their iron armor.

This force didn’t resemble a human army, it was more like heavenly troops descending from above. Strange beasts galloped through the air, charging across the clouds as the sky itself trembled.

This time, the Ji Clan’s Patriarch didn’t merge with the void. He stood upright in the heavens, surrounded by endless halos of light, like a reborn God-King of the Eastern Wilderness.

Centered on him, a mighty tidal wave of godpower surged, reaching into the heavens above and the netherworld below. In that moment, Patriarch Ji became the very center of the world.

Celestial winds roared for tens of miles as he crossed the sky and descended directly into the sixth layer of the Flame Domain. Though purple flames soared into the air, they couldn’t approach his body. Wherever he passed, fire was silently extinguished.

In that instant, he wasn’t just like a God-King, he was one. Behind him, six or seven elders followed as they descended.

On the ground, the blood had long dried. The severed head and body lay apart. No remnants of the soul remained, the death had been absolute. Even with their peerless magical power, these elders could do nothing to save him.

Over a dozen pitch-black, gleaming feathers were stuck into the ground in no particular pattern, surrounding the corpse. These feathers were the only reason the body had not been consumed by the purple flames.

“This is…” said one of the oldest elders, whose white eyebrows were half a foot long. He furrowed his brow and said solemnly, “Fire Crow’s divine feathers. As tough as fine steel. Even extreme flames cannot burn them. These… came from an ancient crow that’s cultivated for over a thousand years.”

The other elders exchanged looks. One of them, after a moment of thought, said, “Fifteen hundred years ago, in the Southern Region, there was a figure known as the Dark Crow. His cultivation was unfathomable. He later vanished mysteriously and has never reappeared since.”

Patriarch Ji picked up one of the black feathers and flicked it in his hand. Instantly, it emitted a sharp metallic ring, like divine steel trembling.

A Supreme Elder’s expression changed. “That old demon’s life should have long ended… but his cultivation must be even more terrifying now.”

“No matter who he is, no matter how powerful, if we find him, he must be slain!” Patriarch Ji said coldly. His voice carried murderous intent, spreading in all directions. When his eyes opened and closed, two beams of brilliant light flashed out, cutting across the Flame Domain like divine swords.

It had only been half a year, but the Ji Clan had lost two Supreme Elders. For a prestigious ancient clan, this was an unprecedented disgrace. They were supposed to rule the world, dominate the land, but instead, they were repeatedly humiliated.

The Peacock Monarch still roamed freely, undefeated. Now, another disaster had struck. If they did not reassert their dominance, how could they face the world?

That very day, the Southern Region was shaken. The Ji Clan issued an open declaration to the world: the Dark Crow’s name was added to their kill-on-sight list.

The entire Eastern Wilderness and Southern Region were stunned. For over half a year, turmoil had been constant, never settling, and now another storm was rising.

Many ordinary cultivators had never even heard of the Dark Crow. But among the elders and hidden masters of major sects, the name brought shock and fear.

A massive storm swept across the Southern Region. The Ji Clan was truly enraged this time and vowed to reestablish their prestige. Many sects were left trembling, afraid of being caught up in the conflict. The chaos was greater than ever.

After leaving the Flame Domain, Ye Fan heard many rumors over the following days.

Half a year ago, the Bronze Immortal Palace had sunk deep into the Eastern Wilderness and vanished without a trace. Dozens of aged powerhouses disappeared with it, old men whose life spans were at their end and could no longer extend their lives.

This signified the decline of another era. The Eastern Wilderness had lost dozens of overlord figures in an instant. The Bronze Immortal Palace had become their grave.

However, this didn’t mean a catastrophe had struck. Aging, illness, and death are natural. These men would have passed on in the coming years regardless.

The Eastern Wilderness was too vast, its countries and factions too numerous to count. Losing a few dozen people barely made a ripple.

Another major piece of news was that the Peacock Monarch, with unmatched power, had escaped even the combined assault of the Radiant Light Sacred Lord and Patriarch Ji. He and the Azure Flood Dragon Monarch, along with the descendants of the Demon Emperor, had fled to the Northern Region.

Since then, the Ji Clan, Radiant Light Sacred Ground, and others had dispatched waves of powerful cultivators to the North. That place was filled with ancient divine sources, inherited from the Desolate Era, every faction wanted a piece of it.

The Primordial Mine in the Northern Region had long been a desolate place, but over the past year it had grown increasingly strange. There were rumors of humanoid figures appearing, and celestial music that could entrance any who heard them.

Half a month later, Ye Fan returned to the Flame Domain. The outside world was in chaos, but the Flame Domain remained the safest place.

After the Ji Clan withdrew, the area had returned to peace. Unless the Radiant Light Sacred Lord came in person, very few people could even enter the seventh layer of the Flame Domain.

In the past half-month, Ye Fan had scoured the archives of a major country and read many ancient texts about the Flame Domain.

There were many legends, so numerous and bizarre that it was impossible to confirm what was true.

Yes, most were classified as myths, because they were far too incredible to be accepted as history.

One book claimed that a true immortal had been burned to death in the deepest part of the Flame Domain. Another mentioned that the Desolate Tower had once appeared here and floated for thousands of years.

Another account said the nine layers of the Flame Domain held ten types of flames. The tenth flame, however, had no known origin or source and had only appeared a few times throughout history.

These entries stirred Ye Fan deeply. The Flame Domain might be connected to immortals and even the Desolate Tower. Though only vaguely mentioned, the implications were astonishing.

Ye Fan reentered the seventh layer, intending to continue refining his cauldron.

The Five-Colored Cloud Flame was extremely hot, capable of reducing great cultivators to ash. According to the texts, this multicolored mist was an incredibly rare flame source, only found here in the entire Southern Region. It was the pinnacle of materials for refining.

After careful experimentation, Ye Fan began drawing the Five-Colored Flame into his cauldron, sending it into his Oceanic Wheel. He used the golden sea to isolate it, and initially succeeded. But after just a moment, his expression changed.

This flame was too terrifying. Even the golden ocean of godpower could barely contain its heat. His body was at risk of drying up.

The reality was, Ye Fan’s cultivation was still far from sufficient. Even with his special constitution, he struggled. He hadn’t yet completed his Sacred Physique.

Even Ji Clan elders only dared refine in the sixth layer, never stepping into the seventh. That was enough proof of the Five-Colored Cloud Flame’s horror.

At the crucial moment, the green lotus in his Bitter Sea began to tremble. Mist enveloped the Oceanic Wheel, and a cool sensation spread throughout his body.

Ye Fan exhaled with relief. He had truly been reckless. Without that mysterious lotus, he might’ve been seriously harmed.

“Since I’ve already started, I have to do it right.”

He continued drawing in the Five-Colored Flame, relying on the lotus to protect his Oceanic Wheel. Finally, when the flames roared enough to temper the cauldron, he paused.

Thus began a month-long session of refining.

The flames extinguished many times. He didn’t know how much fire essence he absorbed. Only after two more months did he finally stop.

His cauldron had become even more solid and ancient-looking. After its tempering, the inside was misty again, endless motherly energy emerged anew.

This was the source root of the Motherly Energy of All Things, eternal and inexhaustible. After refinement, it flowed again. The cauldron no longer felt lifeless, it now had life.

Thus, this phase of refining came to an end. Ye Fan had no plans to enter the eighth layer. The Five-Colored Flame was already his limit. He would return once his cultivation improved.

He began cultivating quietly, waiting for the chaos outside to settle before leaving the Southern Region.

A few months passed.

Then, one day, he suddenly heard beastly roars outside the Flame Domain.

“Could another powerful figure be here to refine?” he wondered, stealthily peeking out.

Outside the Flame Domain was a barren wasteland, cracked earth, no grass.

He saw dozens of savage beasts floating in the air. Their scaly bodies radiated killing intent. Each rider wore iron armor, exuding cold menace.

To his surprise, he saw Ji Ziyue among them. Her eyes were bright, her aura serene. She wore purple robes, descending like a fairy over the waves. She gazed silently toward the Flame Domain.

Beside her, a blue-robed man stood tall and graceful. His garments fluttered in the wind. He descended gently, like a divine being picking a flower, Hua Yunfei of the Supreme Mystery Sect.

“Young Ye, we’ve come to visit you. If your spirit still lingers, rest in peace,” Hua Yunfei said, voice magnetic and deep.

Ye Fan was speechless. He was clearly alive, and here people were, basically giving him a funeral.

“Brother Hua, please give me a moment alone,” Ji Ziyue said softly.

“Of course.” Hua Yunfei nodded and walked away to circle the Flame Domain.

Ji Ziyue stood silently for a while, then personally began digging a hole in the ground with her sword.

Some armored riders came forward to help, but she stopped them. She personally buried Ye Fan’s belongings, his robe from Dull Peak, placing them into the pit.

Then she filled it and created a mound. On the front, she carved a line of text with her jade finger.

Ye Fan couldn’t help but smile bitterly. He was alive, yet he already had a grave?

Ji Ziyue remained quiet before the empty tomb. Her usual lively demeanor was gone. She stood still, silent, for a long time.

Then Ye Fan noticed something.

Hua Yunfei had slipped into the Flame Domain. Like a drifting blue cloud, silent and ethereal.

“What’s he doing?” Ye Fan wondered, watching from afar.

Suddenly, his expression hardened.

He saw a familiar face, a tall, elderly man who appeared inside the Flame Domain and respectfully saluted Hua Yunfei.

This was someone Ye Fan had seen before: the same elder who had investigated after Ye Fan killed the hemp-clothed man in the Flame Domain.

That hemp-clothed man had wielded a five-tiered silver tower and once tried to kill Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue.

Hua Yunfei! Ye Fan hadn’t expected that the true mastermind was him. It shocked him.

In his impression, Hua Yunfei had always seemed aloof and graceful, his melodies could summon birds and bloom flowers. He was like a heavenly immortal among mortals.

But beneath that refined surface lay a mind full of hidden schemes and ruthless ambition. Ye Fan felt a deep chill.

From his distant vantage, Ye Fan couldn’t hear their conversation, the two were clearly speaking through divine sense.

After a while, the elder left.

Hua Yunfei stood alone for a long time and murmured, “A strange God-King Physique… with unfathomable power. If I obtain it, I must take its source…”

He slowly turned to leave the Flame Domain.

“Heh... this man hides too deeply,” Ye Fan thought. “Even if I told others, no one would believe me.”

Then he made up his mind.

“I have to warn Ji Ziyue. Hua Yunfei clearly harbors ill intentions.”

At the same time, he decided to leave, to get out of the Southern Region, even if it meant flying across the skies nonstop. He couldn’t stay in this land any longer.

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