Ch. 216 - Seal of Mountain and River

In the reddish-brown lands of the Northern Region, the Jiang Clan produced an emperor, and Jade Pool birthed a Sage Mother. These legendary figures created world-shaking ancient scriptures and left behind Paragon Artifacts, enabling their lineages to thrive for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, standing above the mortal world.

Inscriptions in Purple Mountain reveal the ancient reverence for Grand Emperor Beginningless, elevated to the utmost. Yet, because he left no legacy or sect, this supreme emperor, who shook the desolate era, was gradually buried by history’s dust, his name known to few.

In ancient times, Gu Tianshu, and in the last four to five thousand years, Jiang Taixu, both yearned for the Beginningless Scripture, considering it a lifelong regret not to witness it. Ye Fan, lacking a proper cultivation method, craved the Beginningless Scripture intensely, longing to re-enter Purple Mountain, guarded by nine dragon veins, to open that heavy stone scripture.

“Grandmaster, don’t let this priest escape! I’m sure he’s from the same sect as that fat priest,” Du Chengkun said, eyes blazing, struggling to rise.

“We must slay this fiend!” Li Youran, seething, ordered Profound Moon Grotto-Heaven disciples, “Seal the mountain, lock down Sunset Clouds, don’t let him escape!”

Ye Fan glanced at them, shaking his head. “Let me handle it.” He flung out 108 banners, shooting toward Sunset Clouds' eighteen peaks, completely sealing the area.

“You… dare trap us here?!” Du Chengkun and Li Youran were stunned, then sneered.

“Thinks he’s a grandmaster!”

“At his age, challenging the Supreme Master? Hahaha…”

Profound Moon Grotto-Heaven’s Supreme Master, white hair flowing, seated atop a peak, opened his eyes, gleaming like pearls. “You’re very confident, planning to kill us all here?”

“I think I can manage,” Ye Fan said with a smile.

“I sense your aura, you’re just a youth. Impressive,” the Supreme Master said, standing. “But do you have the strength to back it up?”

“Let’s find out.”

“Even sacred ground heirs your age wouldn’t dare roam the world so boldly. You’re quite arrogant,” Departing Fire Sect’s Supreme Elder said, emerging from the waterfall.

“No use talking. You waited here to kill me,” Ye Fan said, sweeping his robe forward. “I returned to slay you. Only one side will survive.”

The surrounding disciples buzzed with disbelief. Few thought a youth could defeat two third stage Dao Palace Realm elders. “Is he mad? He knocked back Senior Brother Li, but matching the Supreme Master? Impossible!”

“Some fools want to measure the heavens and earth, only to bury themselves, haha…”

In such remote regions, for these minor sects, even the most talented couldn’t reach such terrifying realms. They’d heard even sacred land prodigies struggled at this age. “Unless he has a Sacred Ground backing him, with allies already here, he’s courting death.”

“Some seek death, why worry? If I were the Supreme Master, I’d crush his bones but keep him alive a few hours to taste the fruits of his arrogance.”

Ye Fan glanced back, his calm gaze silencing them instantly.

“Let’s see your tricks!” Departing Fire’s Supreme Elder glided forward, feet off the ground, ghostlike. Ten meters away, his arm shook, fingers forming a claw, each extending several meters, dark and gleaming, purple lightning crackling around them.

A chilling aura filled the sky, destructive and terrifying. The dark claw grew, covering a hundred meters, like a black cloud, lightning flashing, enveloping Ye Fan. Crack! Blood-red bolts struck down, a blend of secret arts and godpower, swift and domineering.

The claw dominated the heavens, its oppressive force suffocating. Ye Fan faced it calmly, countering simply with his right fist. His golden fist, radiant as if forged in a divine furnace, wasn’t flesh but pure light.

The crowd trusted Departing Fire’s elder, a third stage Dao Palace master, to easily handle a youth. Boom. But the result shocked them. The golden fist shattered the claw, its momentum unbroken, lightning flashing. Bang. Ye Fan’s fist, with unmatched destructive force, obliterated the elder’s hand.

Blood sprayed, light scattered. The elder, as if stung by a viper, trembled, half his body shaking, flying back. His right arm, merely grazed by the fist’s aura, twisted and deformed.

“How can a youth’s body be so strong, sending a third stage elder flying?”

“His flesh rivals a supreme treasure, crushing the elder’s arm with pure physical power…”

The disciples gasped, chilled by their earlier words. This young priest was a monster, perhaps surpassing sacred land heirs his age. No one laughed now.

Ye Fan stood, hands behind his back, robes fluttering, his strike casual. “You…” Departing Fire’s elder was speechless, shock beyond words.

His white hair danced as he reattached his arm, roaring. His fingers moved slowly, as if lifting a mountain, unleashing a terrifying aura like a tidal wave crashing against the sky. Boom. A mountain appeared in his embrace, small but radiating immense pressure, mist swirling around it.

“Mountain-Holding Seal!” Departing Fire disciples exclaimed. This was their sect’s supreme art, unmastered by generations of leaders, yet achieved by their strongest elder.

Though small, the mountain’s pressure shook hearts, its mist flowing. Held by the elder, it emitted ocean-like fluctuations, so heavy it collapsed the void beneath his feet. “Suppress!” he shouted, the seal descending, unstoppable. The towering mountain’s aura could tear souls, suffocating all.

Young disciples collapsed, overwhelmed by the pressure, like a demonic mountain crushing them. Ye Fan’s heart tightened. A third stage Dao Palace elder was formidable, each realm a new heaven, an uncrossable chasm. Ordinary cultivators would be crushed instantly.

But Ye Fan’s unique physique, a bottomless vessel, required far more essence than others, giving him the foundation to challenge higher realms. “Mountain-Holding Seal won’t kill me!” he declared, cautious but resolute, hands tracing arcs, unleashing a terrifying aura.

Above his head, a great mountain appeared, ancient, as if breaking through time, vast and majestic, trembling hearts, souls, and spirits. Initially vague, it soon sharpened, like a dragon rising from the sea or a pillar piercing the sky.

A mountain like the heavens!

Towering above Ye Fan, it was as if he bore the azure sky. Centered on him, energy roared like rivers, surging in all directions. Silver waterfalls cascaded, rivers flowed, ancient trees soared, and beasts roamed, vividly clear.

“Seal of Mountain and River!” Ye Fan shouted, hands raised, the mountain dominating the sky, like an ocean unleashed, shattering the void.

Just like the War Paragon Art, this was another supreme art of the Nine Secrets, shaking all, striking fear into every heart. The seal pressed forward, targeting the opposing mountain.

Seal of Mountain and River versus Mountain-Holding Seal.

The mountains collided, like seas bursting or heavens collapsing, a terrifying aura radiating outward. Waves, beams, and destructive forces filled the sky, leaving no peace.

Boom. A deafening clash shook the heavens. The Mountain-Holding Seal shattered, while the Seal of Mountain and River held firm, cracking the sky.

Departing Fire’s elder’s chest caved in, his body deflating like a punctured drum, flying hundreds of meters. His bones cracked, many parts deformed.

Ye Fan stood tall, unharmed, robes billowing, stepping through the void with ethereal grace, covering a hundred meters in a blink, shrinking space. The Seal of Mountain and River loomed above, its pressure overwhelming, shaking hearts and souls.

Though battered, Departing Fire’s elder, a formidable cultivator, spat out a brilliant inch-high bronze furnace, radiant and crystalline. It grew, blocking the Seal of Mountain and River. Clang. The seal struck, ringing like a great bell, echoing endlessly.

Ye Fan was shocked, the furnace held, growing larger, standing eternal in the void. “Kill!” he shouted, urging the seal forward, refusing to believe the furnace could withstand the War Paragon Art.

Clang. The trembling sound shook the heavens, the furnace growing mountain-like, radiant in the void. The elder’s broken body crackled, bones reconnecting, flesh swelling, regaining fighting strength despite heavy losses.

Boom. Flames erupted from the furnace, and the elder escaped, standing afar, staring at Ye Fan in disbelief, chilled by his defeat. Everyone felt fear, this young priest’s terrifying power, his seal crushing an elder, was chilling.

The collapsed disciples, regaining senses, retreated, scalp tingling, regretting their earlier taunts. Li Youran and Du Chengkun paled, this younger priest nearly felled an elder.

“Even sacred ground prodigies are no better,” Departing Fire’s elder sighed.

Ye Fan smiled, advancing slowly. Profound Moon’s Supreme Master descended, saying, “Not a sacred ground heir, yet more astonishing. You’ll be a great rival to their Saints.”

Ye Fan took the two seriously, third stage Dao Palace foes, a realm above, true adversaries. “If he grows, we’re doomed. We must join forces!” Departing Fire’s elder said gravely.

“Today, I’ll extinguish a genius!” Profound Moon’s leader nodded.

“Kill me? Unlikely. I’ll send you on your way!” Ye Fan said calmly, his invisible killing intent spreading.

In that moment, he merged with the heavens, as if one with the Dao. His movements carried its aura, his Lung’s Divine Treasury drawing the world’s momentum, like an azure sky descending. Bearing the sky, the Seal of Mountain and River loomed above, with birds, beasts, waterfalls, and rivers, ancient, majestic, and boundless.

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