Legend of Zixia

Chapter 248 Boundless Charm
"Li Xiaoman, Wang Teng, Yin Yang Sect, the Human World, Hell, Yuan Gu... all enemies, I await you in my divine city!"

The following day, news exploded like a thunderclap across the land. Ye Fan, the Ancient Sacred Body, who had been missing for over a decade, had miraculously returned and publicly challenged all his former enemies. Through the Jiang family's machinations, this news spread rapidly throughout the five major domains, causing a massive uproar. The atmosphere throughout the entire Big Dipper Star Region shifted abruptly; the unease that had permeated the region due to the reappearance of the ancient race was significantly lessened by this shocking news.

"I can already smell the pungent stench of blood, and I can almost see the flashing swords and the mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I wonder how many people will die this time!" an old cultivator sighed, this was an instinctive intuition and premonition.

Meanwhile, in a dark and damp corner, three blurry figures quietly gathered. They did not make any sound, but communicated with each other through telepathy to avoid revealing their whereabouts.

"We haven't heard from Ye Fan in so long. I thought he was never coming back, and that we would never have a chance to take revenge!" One of them said coldly, his voice filled with deep-seated hatred.

“That’s right, we absolutely cannot let him get away this time!” another person echoed, a ruthless glint flashing in their eyes.

However, the third person reached out and stopped the two, whispering, "Wait, the master has other plans."

These words extinguished their impulse like a blast of ice. They exchanged a glance, their anger suppressed despite their resentment, and awaited orders.

Deep in the Qinling Mountains, shrouded in mist, a deathly silence hung over the towering peaks. A man and a woman were digging through ancient tomb after tomb.

Suddenly, several blurry figures passed by in the distance, and the faint voices of passersby could be heard saying, "The Holy Body Ye Fan is back! He's clamoring to fight all the enemies in the world!"

Hua Yunfei stopped what he was doing, looked up at Li Xiaoman and said, "Junior sister, Ye Fan is back."

Li Xiaoman remained calm, her slender fingers gently brushing away the dirt from a jade pendant. Her eyes were deep and still, like a frozen pool, without a ripple. Her expression was so serene that it was impossible to discern her true thoughts.

"Senior Brother Yunfei, what are your plans?" she asked calmly, her voice cool yet carrying an indescribable feeling.

Hua Yunfei looked up into the distance, as if he could see the figure he had once clashed with through layers of mist. "I admire him." His tone was gentle, yet sincere. "He was able to break free from the shackles of his own destiny and do what he wanted to do, which I greatly envy. Therefore, I will not be his enemy; let him be."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoman paused for a moment, then resumed her normal movements.
"Senior brother, I want to go and see the Divine City!"

“Go ahead.” Hua Yunfei didn’t stop her, he just nodded, a knowing glint in his eyes. He knew that Li Xiaoman’s thoughts never needed much questioning, just like his own; everyone has their own choices and path.

There was no clear subordinate relationship between the two. They simply traveled together because they were practicing the Devouring Heaven Demon Art together, hunting down various geniuses and plundering their physical essence to strengthen themselves.

"Ye Fan! You truly live up to your reputation! You shattered my pride!" Li Xiaoman stood atop a mountain deep in the Qinling Mountains, facing the cold wind and mocking herself. Since arriving in this world of cultivation, she had fantasized countless times that Ye Fan would forever live in her shadow, thus proving that her choice was correct. However, reality had repeatedly crushed her pride into dust.

That day, after the old man, the Demon King, feasted on the Crocodile Ancestor, Li Xiaoman, far away in the Northern Dipper, noticed that the divine embryo that the Crocodile Ancestor had split off from was no longer powerful and could no longer maintain its original strength. Taking advantage of this opportunity, she completely refined the divine embryo and regained control of her body—her true, complete self. But now, when she heard the news of Ye Fan's return and his open challenge to all enemies in the world, a complex emotion welled up in her heart. Her former obsessions and arrogance seemed so pale and powerless at this moment. The wrongdoings she had committed under the influence of the Crocodile Ancestor's will and her own desires resurfaced.

"Forget it! What's done is done." She murmured softly, her tone revealing a sense of relief, yet also tinged with an undeniable bitterness.

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In the Northern Region, on a desolate, frigid plain, a fierce wind whipped up swirling snowflakes, filling the air with a bone-chilling cold. Yet, this icy world was made all the more vibrant by a single figure. Wang Teng stood in the center of the snowstorm, his body shrouded in a bluish mist—the lingering aura of having just survived a tribulation of lightning. Though his clothes were slightly torn, the fighting spirit burning in his eyes was as intense as a raging fire.

"Ye Fan? He's nothing but a clown!" Wang Teng's lips curled into a cold smile, his voice low yet filled with boundless killing intent. "Now that I've successfully severed my Dao, my strength is vastly different from before. I'll kill the Golden Heavenly Maiden first, then take your life in the process!"

His words were like a cold wind on an icy plain, chilling and resolute. In Wang Teng's heart, Ye Fan was no longer a worthy opponent. Over the years, his family had been slaughtered by the ancient clans; his father had died tragically, and his clan members had dwindled in number. All of this had fueled his deep hatred for the ancient clans. Especially the Golden Heavenly Maiden—the culprit who had personally destroyed the Wang family—was now the number one target on his revenge list. As for Ye Fan, he was merely a grudge from the past, and now even mentioning him felt superfluous.

Without his father's constant pronouncements of "My son has the bearing of an emperor," Wang Teng unexpectedly displayed a genuine imperial demeanor. This aura wasn't born from empty praise, but from the majesty and domineering presence that emanated from his very bones, forged through blood and fire.

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The Northern Regions were a vast, desolate wasteland, a barren wasteland devoid of green hills and clear waters. Traveling hundreds of thousands of miles, one saw no sign of human habitation; an atmosphere of desolation and death permeated the air. However, this once barren land has recently begun to radiate an unusual vitality. The number of cultivators has increased, and the ancient cities have become bustling with activity.

As the core of the Northern Region, the Divine City was overflowing with people. Inns were nearly full, taverns and teahouses were packed, and even the streets and alleys were teeming with cultivators from all corners of the land. Many, unable to find lodging, were forced to travel far and wide to seek refuge elsewhere. The entire Divine City seemed to be the eye of a storm; everyone was waiting for something, or perhaps, they were watching the name that had once shaken the Northern Dipper—Ye Fan.

At this moment, Ye Fan was still as carefree and unrestrained as he had been years ago. During the day, he strolled among the banquets held by various holy lands, chatting and laughing, and enjoying drinks with old friends; or he wandered through the gambling stone market, making the various holy lands grit their teeth in anger.

At night, he would come alone to Dragon Pool to cultivate. This was the place where he had broken through to the Four Extremes Realm. Now, sitting cross-legged here once more, a hazy divine moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow that enveloped him. The scene was like that of a banished immortal descending to earth, otherworldly and transcendent, inspiring awe in all who beheld him. His aura was immeasurably high!
He had already made numerous moves during this period, mostly against assassins sent by the mortal realm and hell. But whether they were hiding or facing him head-on, even powerful figures at the level of a Dao-Slaying King were ruthlessly suppressed like ants before him. His strength had long surpassed ordinary people's imagination, reaching a terrifying level.

"The Holy Body, he's back again! Unbelievable, truly terrifying! So powerful and frightening, it commands awe!"

"He has entered the second level of Sendai Heaven and become a Saint Lord-level figure!"

"The Holy Body has reached a minor stage of completion; it should be able to dominate the world!"

At this moment, the crowd stirred, but the ancient tribe quickly cleared a path for them.

"What kind of bullshit constitution is this? How dare you look down on the world!" an ancient creature laughed.

"Our clan has been asleep for too long and has been forgotten. No matter how powerful he is, he is just a type of human physique, nothing more than Wagouer! He dares to challenge the Primordial Ancient!" An arrogant young man slowly approached the Dragon Transformation Pool surrounded by a group of ancient clansmen.

(End of this chapter)