The terrifying Senior was actually willing to take the two of them to the place where he cultivated?
What an honor!
It was like a pauper suddenly being invited to the imperial palace by the emperor. How excited would they be?
Though they came from a Holy Land, the highest beings they could meet within it were Supremes. This person before them was clearly someone who might stand above the Supremes.
After all, even the Supreme-level Painting Saint of the Three Absolutes Holy Land could never create a painting that let Ziling break through multiple realms in quick succession.
Li Fan smiled and said, "Of course."
The two followed him with profound gratitude. They weren't afraid Li Fan had ill intentions. After all, if someone of his stature wanted to harm them, there'd be no need for deception. With a flick of his finger, they'd be left waiting for death.
"The mountain path is a little rugged, so take your time."
Li Fan started down the mountain, one step at a time. The steep path was so rough that in places he had to use both his hands and feet, while Bai Xiaoqing clung tightly to his chest.
At the sight, Nan Feng and Ziling were both surprised.
"Senior... this..."
Ziling found it hard to understand.
Someone of his level could traverse the earth in a single stride, chase stars and seize the moon. Wasn't any destination just a thought away?
Yet now, he was going down the mountain like an ordinary person.
"This Senior has transcended the mortal world and entered sainthood. There must be profound meaning behind his every action. Come, let's follow him."
Nan Feng spoke, then followed Li Fan down the mountain without using a trace of spiritual power, step by step.
Ziling also used her hands and feet.
By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, both were drenched in sweat.
"I never imagined that going down a mountain could be this exhausting."
Ziling's little face was flushed, making her look especially lovely.
"Every step you take brings its own reward. The Way of Painting isn't just about appreciating beauty; you must experience hardship, too."
Li Fan spoke. It was something he had learned from climbing to the summit and painting day after day, and he was happy to share it now.
At his words, Nan Feng and Ziling were both shaken.
"So Senior was enlightening us!"
Nan Feng suddenly understood.
Ziling, meanwhile, was deep in thought. She looked back at the mountain peak.
Before this, without the experience of making the journey down, she would surely have left out many things when painting the mountain.
But after experiencing it firsthand, she suddenly felt she could bring the whole mountain to life!
She sensed that her state of mind had seemingly improved a little.
A true master—an absolute master!
Ziling looked at Li Fan with even greater admiration.
A deep look of reverence also appeared on Nan Feng's face. This supreme being had actually set an example by climbing down the peak with his bare hands, all to enlighten two juniors.
This was what a true reclusive master was.
"Come on. We need to get back to the village before dark."
Li Fan spoke and strode off.
The two followed him all the way toward Small Mountain Village.
Meanwhile.
Two streaks of light sped toward the village.
"Wait!"
A cry of alarm suddenly rang out, and both streaks of light came to a halt.
They were none other than Luoming Supreme and Hong Xuan Supreme!
They had brought Huo Ling'er, Mu Qianning, and the others with them.
"What's wrong, Daoist Brother Luoming?"
Hong Xuan Supreme asked, puzzled.
Luoming's expression was dark as he said, "The Evil God's emissaries... I'm afraid they've already reached that Senior's residence ahead of us."
He took out a mirror. At that moment, its surface glowed red.
"This mirror is called the Demon Seeking Mirror. Wherever it is, it can sense the presence of any demon within a thousand li."
"It's showing that there's an aura of the Evil God in the place where that Senior is."
At this, everyone's expressions turned grave.
They were too fast!
The enemy had gone straight to his door.
"What should we do? We need to warn that Senior right away!" Hong Xuan Supreme said.
"It's too late. They're faster than us, and judging by the Demon Seeking Mirror's reaction, the Evil God's emissaries who came this time may be stronger than you or me... We can only hope that Senior was prepared," Luoming said, his expression exceedingly grim!
Above the mountain village.
Two dark clouds that had been drifting for a long time suddenly parted, transforming into two hideous ghost faces!
The ghost faces surveyed the village below for a long while.
"There's no unusual aura. It's as calm as still water!"
One of the ghost faces spoke.
"Come. We'll wipe it out at once," the other replied. They turned into two clouds of black mist and descended in front of the village.
At last, they revealed their true forms—Black Yakshas!
Their heads were hideous, with two long fangs protruding straight from their upper jaws. They were tall, and their bodies were covered in naturally formed green-and-black demonic markings.
The two Yakshas radiated terrifying auras.
They walked into the village, silent as ghosts, until at last they neared the Small Courtyard.
"It feels... like a forbidden land!" one Yaksha said, green light blazing in his eyes.
"Come. We'll kill for our Lord!"
They stepped forward.
But the moment they drew near, the two Yakshas felt an indescribable pressure!
This place was repelling them!
"What a powerful field... It can actually keep even us Yaksha Generals at bay..."
"Keep going!"
The two Yakshas pressed on.
With every step, the pressure weighing on them grew heavier. Their pace slowed, and their legs began to wobble!
"We're Supremes! Are we really unable even to get inside?!"
One Yaksha General roared.
They were Supremes, peerlessly powerful, yet now they were like two ordinary men under the weight of a thousand catties, unable to move an inch.
"My heart's pounding... What kind of place is this?! It's even more terrifying than our master's secluded cultivation grounds..."
They were now only ten steps from the courtyard gate, yet they were already drenched in sweat.
Both of them were nearly spent!
They were close to despair.
What kind of place was this? They couldn't even reach it after giving everything they had...
"We have to take a look. A being like this hiding here poses too great a threat to our Lord!"
The Yaksha General roared, "Burn our demonic souls!"
Their auras surged. They were burning their demonic souls to exchange them for power at its absolute limit!
At their peak, they could rival Immortals!
They would use this method to force their way in and take a look!
Even if all they managed was a single glance, and the image they sent back to their Lord was all they left behind, it would still be worth dying for!
"Roar—"
The two Yakshas roared furiously, forcing their way up to the wooden gate of the Small Courtyard!
The Immortal-level power gained by burning their demonic souls was truly extraordinary!
Together, the two of them pushed open the wooden gate!
Their Yaksha Eyes were already open. Everything they saw would be transmitted to their master.
But at that very instant!
The moment their Yaksha Eyes opened, an enormous, terrifying golden claw was already coming straight at them!
The two Yaksha Generals, who had burned their demonic souls and reached the peak of their power, rivaling Immortals, were instantly annihilated in body and spirit!
They vanished into nothingness!
Only two pitch-black hand bones fell outside the gate.
The wind blew past. The gate of the Small Courtyard creaked back and forth, and inside and outside the courtyard, all was utterly silent.
Much later.
Two streaks of light descended into the village.
"The Evil God's emissaries really did come. The Demon Seeking Mirror detected them, and... Immortal-level demonic power erupted here!"
Luoming Supreme spoke in shock.
At his words, Hong Xuan Supreme and the others all sucked in a sharp breath!
Immortal-level demonic power had erupted here...
"Did an Immortal-level battle take place here? That Senior... is he still alive?" Hong Xuan Supreme asked anxiously.
According to the Demon Seeking Mirror, there had been two Evil God's emissaries!
Both Evil God's emissaries had unleashed Immortal-level power... In the entire Profound Heaven Realm, who could possibly stand against them?
Even if Senior Li was an Immortal, he might still have fallen.
Their expressions all turned grim.
"Quick, let's go see!" Yu Qishui said, and the group hurried toward the Small Courtyard.
Before long, they finally appeared outside Li Fan's Small Courtyard.
The courtyard gate swayed in the wind.
"Did they... really break into Senior Li's Daoist ground?" Yu Qishui was aghast.
Could an earth-shattering battle really have taken place here?
Was that Senior... all right?
"Wait... what... what's that?"
At that moment, Luoming Supreme's eyes widened in alarm. Pointing to the two finger bones beside the gate, he said, "Yaksha Bones?!"
At this, Hong Xuan Supreme was also shaken. "The Yaksha Bones left behind after a Supreme-level Yaksha General dies?!"
"Two Yaksha Bones... Could that mean both Yaksha Generals died? Right here, beside this Senior's door???"
He was utterly stunned, horror-struck!
Yu Qishui, Wei Yushan, and all the others were frozen in shock, too!
Before you continue