Ch. 352 - Reunion

The frozen plains stretched endlessly, white and desolate, cold enough to pierce bone. Ye Fan’s smile shone bright, like a warm ray of sunlight in the blizzard. But in Jiang Yichen’s eyes, that smile was terrifying. Even in the bitter cold, sweat beaded across his body.

His opponent wanted him dead. Out here, on this desolate icefield, no one could save him. No matter how high his status, it was useless.

Buzz!

The void trembled. Jiang Yichen summoned a Celestial Umbrella, which unfolded like a dark sky and came crashing down toward Ye Fan.

Ye Fan remained calm. Step by step, he walked forward, as if he didn’t even see the black demonic umbrella descending upon him.

Crack!

At the moment the black umbrella neared him, Ye Fan’s golden hand rose and struck the sky. The thick clouds shattered, and the umbrella exploded into fragments.

Jiang Yichen’s face changed color. The Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique was too powerful, Ye Fan had destroyed his divine weapon with a casual wave. How could he possibly fight this?

Years ago, a single command from him had almost killed Ye Fan. Now, Ye Fan returned that same pressure a hundredfold, making him feel the torture of fear and helplessness. It was worse than being instantly killed, he was being forced to suffer through terror itself.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Tens of thousands of sword beams ignited at once, illuminating the entire snowfield in dazzling brilliance. Each beam was over ten meters long and as thick as a water tank, piercing the air toward Ye Fan.

But it was useless. Ye Fan didn’t even raise a defense. His sacred body glowed with golden light, on that white frozen world, he looked like a living sun, blindingly radiant.

Pop, pop, pop...!

The countless sword beams shattered before they even came within three feet of him.

His hair flowed gently, his eyes clear, his aura transcendent. Wrapped in golden light, Ye Fan looked like a god walking the earth.

“You…”

Jiang Yichen’s fear deepened. The enemy’s calm approach, step by step through the snow, was more terrifying than any storm.

He trembled, then threw out a Violet-Gold Gourd. Purple mist surged into the sky, dyeing the snow violet. The gourd expanded rapidly, like a mountain pressing down.

This wasn’t an ordinary treasure, it had been refined personally by his grandfather, a Supreme Giant. Ye Fan saw through its nature immediately, yet still advanced, raising his golden hand.

Boom!

The mountain-sized gourd shuddered, but Ye Fan caught it in one hand. A sweep of his golden fingers, and the violet glow flickered.

Jiang Yichen screamed. His divine sense, sealed in the gourd, was obliterated, his treasure was now Ye Fan’s.

The Violet Gold Gourd shrank to three inches tall, resting in Ye Fan’s palm, translucent and shining.

“Three questions,” Ye Fan said with a grin, showing his white teeth. “One, did someone from your Jiang Clan try to harm little Tingting? Two, can your grandfather truly rival the Jiang Clan’s Supreme Patriarch? Three, what exactly is that terrifying thing suppressed by the Sun God Furnace?”

Jiang Yichen’s body was drenched in sweat. Ye Fan was doing this on purpose, to let him feel the same mortal fear he once forced upon Ye Fan.

Only a few short years had passed, yet Ye Fan had risen completely. The once-hunted boy had become a man who could now crush him with ease.

Now, with his Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique cultivated to the Fifth Level of the Dao Palace, Ye Fan stood amidst the wind and snow, golden light blazing around him like a young God-King descended to earth.

Jiang Yichen’s face turned pale. He said nothing. He knew, whatever he answered, death awaited.

Ye Fan stepped closer, in perfect rhythm with heaven and earth. Each step made the ground quake. The pressure was unbearable. Jiang Yichen coughed blood and collapsed.

Ye Fan laughed at him mockingly.

Jiang Yichen’s face twisted in humiliation. Death would have been mercy compared to this disgrace, years ago, he had looked down on Ye Fan as an insect, and now Ye Fan held his life in his hands.

Flash!

A light flared. Ye Fan used the Violet Gold Gourd, Jiang Yichen’s own weapon, to seal him inside.

He didn’t want to provoke the Jiang Clan fully; Jiang Yichen’s grandfather was a peerless figure, rivaling the Supreme Patriarch. It wasn’t yet time to push things too far.

If the Supreme Giants used divine means to trace the truth, it could cause endless trouble. Better to keep him alive.

For now.

Ye Fan retrieved his cauldron. Inside was a strange beast, its head adorned with five-colored jade horns capable of sensing celestial treasures.

Such creatures were nearly extinct, precious beyond measure. He spared its life, knowing it would prove useful later, and sealed it into the gourd as well.

The other cultivators, men of the Four Pillars Realm and Dao Palace, were erased completely. Nothing remained.

After handling everything, Ye Fan summoned the Jade Altar and crossed the void. This place was no longer safe.

Across the endless northern lands, ten thousand miles of ice and a million miles of drifting snow, Ye Fan finally returned to the oasis, where Fifth Master Zhang and the others had rebuilt the Stone Village.

The land was blanketed in silver. Even their breath froze into ice crystals.

“Ha! Little Ye, you’re finally back! I heard all about your grand gamble in the Celestial City, what a spectacle!” laughed Tu Fei, rushing over.

He had stayed in the Stone Village and heard everything from Blackwater in the Celestial City. He’d been waiting ever since.

“Haha!” Ye Fan laughed too. It felt good to be home.

“Come on, no more talking, today we drink until we drop!” Tu Fei grinned.

“Where’s the Black Emperor?” Ye Fan asked. He’d been able to gamble in peace only because Tu Fei and the Black Dog had run interference, plundering everywhere and stirring chaos.

“That damn mutt’s been gone for days, robbing every source mine he can find. The female disciples of the holy lands tremble at the mere mention of his name.”

“This bastard…” Ye Fan couldn’t even find words.

“Let’s go, before that mutt comes back. Dog meat hotpot, some wine to keep warm, this is the life of immortals!”

The room soon filled with the aroma of meat and wine. Ye Fan, Tu Fei, and Fifth Master Zhang sat around the fire, sweating as they ate and drank. Before long, Wang Shu and Er Lengzi joined in. Laughter and clinking cups filled the house.

“Brother Ye, when will you take us to the Celestial City?” Wang Shu and Er Lengzi asked eagerly.

Tu Fei laughed. “The Celestial City is warm all year, unlike this frozen hell. I’d move there myself if I could.”

Suddenly, the air grew tense. A chilling killing intent swept through the room.

“What the hell are you eating?”

The Black Emperor had returned.

“Donkey meat! Trust!” Tu Fei said righteously.

“Yeah, some lamb slices too,” Er Lengzi muttered.

The big black dog’s eyes narrowed, teeth bared.

“I’ll get more... firewood,” Fifth Master Zhang said, bolting for the door.

“I’ll slice more lamb!” Wang Shu followed.

“It’s donkey meat, I swear, try some!” Tu Fei stammered.

Woof!

The dog leapt onto the bed. Chaos erupted, barking, shouting, cursing.

After half an hour of mayhem, order returned. They brought out real donkey meat and roasted four yellow sheep for the Black Dog to appease it.

“I risked my life for you out there, storm after storm, and this is how you repay me!” the dog barked indignantly.

Tu Fei snorted. “Oh please. You call that helping? You were robbing everyone and biting female butts! I had to clean up your mess every time, you furry bandit.”

Woof!

They nearly fought again.

“How many people pets did you capture?” Ye Fan asked.

“Seven or eight, from various Holy Lands. Useless, all of them, mentally fragile. Pathetic,” the dog said with disdain.

Ye Fan shook his head. “You’re unbelievable. Who wouldn’t break down after being kidnapped by a talking black dog?”

Tu Fei added fuel to the fire with more stories of the dog’s ridiculous exploits.

Woof!

Finally, Ye Fan handed the dog a fist-sized Godsource, and its eyes lit up, drool forming.

He’d taken three pieces of Godsource containing sealed golden sprites, one for Little Tingting, one for the Black Dog, and the last for Tu Fei.

Woof!

The dog greedily pocketed its share, then lunged at Tu Fei’s.

“You mangy beast! You dare bite me!”

Another man-dog brawl ensued, nearly bringing down the roof. Ye Fan stepped in, earning a few bites himself in the process.

“I also brought back a spirit beast,” Ye Fan said, releasing the one that had belonged to Jiang Yichen.

“It’s mine!” The Black Dog’s eyes gleamed with hunger.

“Can you even ride it?” Ye Fan said dryly. He’d meant to give it to Tu Fei.

“It’s not for riding, it’s for treasure hunting!”

“This was Jiang Clan property, keep it quiet,” Ye Fan warned.

“I’ll just take care of it for now. No human pets, so I’ll settle for a beast pet,” said the dog shamelessly.

Ye Fan sighed. Never show good stuff in front of this dog, it would always try to steal it.

Then Tu Fei mentioned something new. A mysterious young powerhouse had appeared, hunting disciples of the Holy Lands, causing a stir among the Saints.

“I know who it is,” the Black Dog said.

“You’ve seen him? Who?” Ye Fan asked.

“Someone just like you, a bastard who ambushes people from behind. Luckily, my nose is sharp, I remember his scent.”

“Speak, mutt!”

“Another Godsource, and I’ll tell you.”

“You greedy cur!” Ye Fan lunged at him.

“Fifth Level of the Dao Palace!” Tu Fei gasped. Even prepared, seeing it up close shook him. “Like a dragon awakening, his vitality is terrifying.”

“Alright, alright. It’s that hermaphrodite, Pang Bo.”

“What?! Pang Bo’s out?!” Ye Fan’s heart surged with joy.

When they first entered this world, the two had only been together for less than a year before being separated. Now, at last, they would reunite.

“Where is he?” Ye Fan demanded.

The Black Dog was still drooling over Ye Fan’s golden blood. “You know, once a Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique reaches the Four Pillars Realm, its blood becomes an elixir…”

“You damn dog, you dare think of drinking my blood?!” Ye Fan smacked him. “Where is Pang Bo?”

“I saw him two days ago, he was chasing a Saint Candidate from Radiant Light.”

Tu Fei whistled. “That’s a real monster. We need to befriend him.”

Ye Fan’s heart burned. Pang Bo had become strong, and now he was fighting for him. Their reunion was near.

“Elder Zhang, I’ll cut some stones again,” Ye Fan said respectfully. He hoped to find something useful from the Divine Treasure of the Celestial Source Master.

He was deeply grateful to the old man; without his family’s Celestial Source Tome, Ye Fan’s cultivation would have gone nowhere.

He didn’t give Fifth Master Zhang any Godsource, he didn’t need it, but he did give him many exotic ores, enough to make the entire village prosperous for generations.

“Let’s cut then. I want to see what’s inside,” Fifth Master Zhang nodded.

“Cut again? Don’t bring out another poisonous fruit,” the Black Dog interrupted.

“You dare bring that up? You swallowed ten thousand catties of ore last time! That was a Ginseng Fruit!”

Woof!

The dog froze, eyes wide, mouth hanging open.

“You idiot!” Tu Fei scolded.

“You mean that fruit, the one that poisoned me half to death, made me foam at the mouth for half a month, was a fruit that could extend the life of even a Supreme Giant?”

“That’s exactly what it was,” Ye Fan said.

The dog’s eyes bulged. Without another word, it bolted toward the pile of frozen stones outside.

“Chase him! That damn mutt’s trying to steal again!” Ye Fan roared, running after him. Tu Fei and the others followed.

“Be fair!” the dog barked. “There are so many divine treasures, give me half!”

“You can have this pile,” Ye Fan said, pointing to a small mountain of stones.

“I only want these, the stone mills and grinders.” The dog’s eyes gleamed.

“Go freeze somewhere else.”

“Be generous, human!”

“You’re the last one to talk about generosity.” Ye Fan shoved it aside.

The pile of stones looked plain, nothing special. It was hard to believe these were left by a Celestial Source Master.

“Let’s hope something extraordinary is hidden inside,” Ye Fan murmured.

He didn’t start cutting immediately. Having recently mastered the Celestial Source Perception, he wanted to observe first.

“This is a true Source Master’s treasure,” he thought, excitement rising. “It must be far beyond anything in the Holy Lands’ stone markets.”

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