Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art!
The older generation present knew all too well how much bloodshed this martial art had caused throughout history.
If Ye Fan truly obtains the inheritance, it will be a momentous event that shakes the Five Regions.
"Senior Nangong, you are mistaken." Ye Fan said neither humbly nor arrogantly, " My Mother Qi of All Things was a fortuitous coincidence, and has no Cause and Effect with the Ruthless Great Emperor. Moreover, the cultivation technique I practice can be testified to by both the Queen Mother of the West and the Eastern Exalt; it is by no means the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art."
"Oh? Is that so?" Nangong Zheng noncommittal, taking a sip of wine.
But some people inside the hall were already getting restless.
"Brother Ye's opportunities are truly enviable," Xiang Yifei, the Great Evolution Holy Son Yan Dynasty, suddenly spoke, his smile gentle. "Not only did you obtain the Mother Qi of All Things, but you must have gained other treasures in the Immortal Palace as well? After all, that's where the Ruthless Great Emperor secluded herself for cultivation."
Upon hearing this, many people's eyes flickered.
Dao Yi Holy Son, also said calmly, " The Ruthless Great Emperor was invincible in two lifetimes. What he left behind was far more than just the Mother Qi of All Things. The Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art and the Indestructible Heavenly Art are probably also left in the hall, aren't they?"
The two of them, speaking in unison, have already pushed Ye Fan into the eye of the storm.
At the entrance of the temple, where the younger generation gathered, there was much discussion.
" Ye Fan's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. Could it be that he has truly cultivated the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art?"
"No wonder he was able to kill the Holy Son, now I understand."
" The Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art has reappeared; the world is about to descend into chaos once more!"
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly entered the hall.
Ye Fan's face darkened. These people killed without a knife, their every word pushing him towards death. If he were confirmed as the Ruthless Inheritance's legacy, he would become the enemy of the world.
"Gentlemen," Ye Fan stood up, his gaze sweeping over Xiang Yifei, Dao Yi Holy Son, and the others, "If I were to cultivate the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art, would the Eastern Exalt not be able to tell? When I killed the Saint Sons, did I devour their essence?"
The three questions, asked in succession, were resounding and impactful.
But then a voice came from the shadows. "Perhaps you're hiding something much better? Or perhaps you're cultivating an even more mysterious, Indestructible Heavenly Art?"
The voice was elusive, clearly indicating the use of a secret technique.
A murderous intent was brewing within the hall.
Many of the older generation had glints in their eyes, clearly having their own ideas. The Source Root of Mother Qi of All Things something to be coveted, and if you added the suspicion that Ruthless Inheritance, it would be enough to make some people take the risk.
The Queen Mother of the West frowned, about to speak, when Li Qingshan suddenly smiled.
The laughter was soft, yet it was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
Everyone turned to look.
Li Qingshan remained leaning back in his chair, toying with the jade cup between his fingers, as if the tense atmosphere from just moments ago had nothing to do with him.
He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall before finally settling on Nangong Zheng.
Just as everyone thought he was about to say something, Li Qingshan suddenly raised his left hand and grabbed at the Void in the southeast corner of the main hall.
"You cowardly creature, how dare you desecrate the Yaochi Grand Gathering?"
Before the words were finished, the Void suddenly froze.
"Puff!!!"
With a muffled thud, the figure of an old man in gray was forcibly pulled out of the Void beside a jade table in the southeast corner.
His face was filled with horror, and his Yin-Yang and Yang energies swirled wildly around him as he tried to break free, but he was like a mosquito trapped in amber, unable to move.
"Master Eastern Exalt, spare my life!" the gray-robed old man cried out in terror, "I only..."
"Just what?" Li Qingshan asked calmly, his five fingers slowly closing.
Click!
The Void shattered like glass, and the protective divine light surrounding the gray-robed elder instantly collapsed.
Only then did everyone realize that he had hidden a Yang Fish jade pendant in his sleeve, which was emitting a strange fluctuation. It was the secret treasure he had used to secretly transmit his voice earlier.
" Yin Jiu, the Tai Shang Elder of the Yin-Yang Sect!" someone exclaimed upon recognizing the old man.
Yin Jiu, one of the top five strongest members of the Yin-Yang Sect, possesses the cultivation of Immortal Platform Second Layer Mighty Figure and is considered a prominent figure in the Central Continent.
At this moment, however, they were powerless to resist when Li Qingshan grabbed them with a casual gesture.
"Secretly stirring up trouble, fanning the flames." Li Qingshan said calmly. "Do you think I'm just a decoration sitting here?"
The five fingers are completely closed.
"No!!!"
Yin Jiu let out a shrill scream, as if his entire body was being gripped by an invisible hand, his flesh cracking inch by inch.
The Yin-Yang and yang energies attempted to recombine, but were directly crushed by an even more domineering force.
Bang!
The blood mist exploded, but not a single drop spilled.
All flesh, primordial spirit, and fragments of Dao principles were compressed into a fist-sized mass in the Void, and then...
Completely annihilated.
Vanished into thin air.
From the start of the attack to the end of the conversation, it took only three breaths.
The hall was deathly silent.
Everyone stared in disbelief at the empty space in the southeast corner, as if no one had ever sat there.
A powerful expert at the Second Heaven of the Immortal Platform was simply crushed to death like that?
" Eastern Exalt, what realm is this? He's no longer an ordinary King, is he?" someone murmured.
"Could it be Saint?"
"Impossible! Less than a year has passed since the Eastern Exalt -Severing the Dao Tribulation, how could this be?!"
The whispers were barely audible, and everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
They knew that Li Qingshan had killed King, but hearing about it and seeing it with their own eyes were two completely different things.
That effortless mastery, that attitude of regarding the Mighty Figure as mere ants...
This is the true power of the Eastern Exalt!
"Is anyone else going to use telepathy?" Li Qingshan withdrew his hand, as if he were merely dusting off the dust on his sleeve.
No one answered.
Those who had previously been shifty-eyed and harboring ulterior motives all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
Xiang Yifei, Dao Yi Holy Son, and the others were deathly pale, their backs soaked with cold sweat.
They finally realized that the Eastern Exalt before them was not on the same level as them at all.
The so-called holy sons, elders, and Tai Shang are no different from ordinary people in the eyes of the other party.
Li Qingshan shook his head inwardly.
It was as if these people were under a curse.
Even though I'm sitting right here in charge, some people still recklessly jump out.
Is it because the treasure is too powerful, or is it the workings of fate?
Perhaps both.
He looked at Ye Fan, whose Cause and Effect relationships were so complex that they were dazzling, involving too many beings.
Li Qingshan, Yin-Yang Sect, suddenly spoke, his voice echoing throughout the hall, "I'll give you three days to clean house. If anyone dares to have designs on Ye Fan again, I won't mind visiting your headquarters."
These words, spoken casually, caused all the Yin-Yang Sect members in the hall to tremble.
"I humbly obey the decree of the Eastern Exalt!" The Vice Leader of the Yin-Yang Sect hurriedly stood up, bowed deeply to the ground, and his voice trembled.
Li Qingshan ignored him and turned to look at Nangong Zheng.
"Fellow Daoist Nangong," he began casually, "What you saw in the Bronze Immortal Palace was quite interesting."
Nangong Zheng turned solemn. " Eastern Exalt?"
Li Qingshan put down his cup. "I just feel that some details in your description are quite intriguing."
Nangong Zheng was taken aback.
"You said you sensed the aura of the Ruthless Great Emperor, causing Saint's physical body to shatter." Li Qingshan smiled knowingly. "But if it truly were the aura of Great Emperor, let alone Saint, even Great Saint or Quasi-Emperor personally arriving would..."
It has long since turned to ashes. The fact that you can still feel it suggests that its presence is not so simple.
The people inside the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.
Li Qingshan is right.
How Immortal Second Realm Mighty Figure withstand the might of the Great Emperor? His mere aura was enough to crush even sages.
"As for the traces of the True Dragon Immortal Medicine," Li Qingshan looked at the Queen Mother of the West, " Queen Mother, is there any record in the ancient books of Jade Pool that the Ruthless Great Emperor possessed the True Dragon Divine Medicine?"
The Queen Mother of the West pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "Ancient texts only record that the Ruthless Great Emperor once entered the seven Life Forbidden Zone to collect herbs, but there is no definitive conclusion as to which specific herb it was."
Li Qingshan nodded, then looked at Nangong Zheng: "So, Fellow Daoist Nangong, how much of your deduction is based on firsthand observation, and how much is self-suggestion?"
That's a sharp question.
Nangong Zheng's expression changed slightly. After a long silence, he sighed and said, " The Eastern Exalt has keen insight. Some details are indeed our speculations based on what we have seen. But the corpse parts, the ghost face mark, and the imperial blood immortal characters are all things we have seen with our own eyes, and there is absolutely no falsehood."
"That's enough." Li Qingshan stopped asking and turned to Ye Fan. "As for Ye Fan,"
His gaze swept over the various expressions of the cultivators in the hall, and he suddenly found it somewhat amusing.
As if under a spell, these people, despite being present and knowing their close relationship with Ye Fan, still relentlessly targeted him.
Was it the allure of the treasure, or the workings of fate?
"I am aware of the opportunities Ye Fan obtained," Li Qingshan said calmly. " The Source Root of Mother Qi of All Things was acquired through his own abilities, and has nothing to do with the Ruthless Inheritance. As for the cultivation technique he practices,"
He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Do you need me to verify it for you personally?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an invisible pressure enveloped the hall.
It's not targeted at any one person, but rather covers the entire audience.
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, as if a massive mountain was pressing down on them, making even breathing difficult.
Those who secretly transmitted their voices turned deathly pale, feeling as if their primordial spirits were being locked onto by a gaze, and could shatter at any moment.
"No, I wouldn't dare," Xiang Yifei, sweat beading on his forehead, bowing deeply.
Dao Yi Holy Son, also lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Li Qingshan then withdrew his oppressive aura, and everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, their backs soaked with cold sweat.
"Today's Flat Peach Gathering is supposed to be a joyous occasion," Li Qingshan said calmly, yet with an undeniable air of authority. "Some things end here. If anyone has any objections, they can come and discuss them with me."
Seeking an explanation from Eastern Exalt?
Who dares!
"What the Eastern Exalt says is absolutely right," the Queen Mother of the West spoke up at the opportune moment. "The matter of young friend Ye Fan has already been settled and there is no need to discuss it further. Everyone, please drink this cup to the brim."
She raised her glass in acknowledgment, and everyone quickly followed suit, thus letting the matter drop.
But after this disturbance, the atmosphere inside the hall was no longer as pleasant as before.
Everyone had their own thoughts, and many eyes were still lingering on Ye Fan, but they dared not show it because they were wary of Li Qingshan.
The banquet continued, and celestial music rose again.
Li Qingshan, however, had no desire to sit for long.
He sent a telepathic message to Lin Qingyao: "Senior Sister, I'm going out for a walk."
Lin Qingyao understood and said softly, "I'll stay with you."
The two men rose and left their seats, and no one dared to ask them anything.
Stepping out of the Heavenly Palace, the moonlight was like water.
The Jade Pool Pure Land appears even more dreamlike under the night sky, with the moon reflected in the lotus pond and ethereal mist swirling around it.
"Junior brother, how much truth do you think Nangong Zheng has to say?" Lin Qingyao asked softly.
Li Qingshan, hands behind his back, gazed at the Gazing at the Moon and pondered, "Seven parts true, three parts false. He did indeed enter the Bronze Immortal Palace and did see some things. But the part about the Ruthless Great Emperor is probably exaggerated."
Lin Qingyao seemed lost in thought.
The two strolled to the Immortal Pool, where the Ancient Peach Tree swayed in the moonlight, and the three immortal fruits emitted a shimmering, precious light.
Suddenly, Li Qingshan stopped and looked in a certain direction.
"Since you're here, why hide?"
Ripples spread through the Void, Dao Body slowly emerged.
It was Nangong Zheng.
He came alone, cupped his hands in greeting to Li Qingshan, and said, " Eastern Exalt, I apologize for disturbing you."
"Fellow Daoist Nangong, is there something you need?" Li Qingshan asked calmly.
He came alone, cupped his hands in greeting to Li Qingshan, and said, " Eastern Exalt, I apologize for disturbing you."
"Fellow Daoist Nangong, is there something you need?" Li Qingshan asked calmly.
Nangong Zheng glanced at Lin Qingyao, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
"Senior sister is no outsider, so please speak freely."
Nangong Zheng then said, "Actually, I also saw something else in the Immortal Palace, but I didn't mention it inside."
"Oh?"
"I saw a glimpse of the future on a stone wall," Nangong Zheng said in a low voice. "In the scene reflected there, I saw your figure, Eastern Exalt."
Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"The scene is blurry, but I see you standing on an ancient altar, surrounded by countless shattered stars," Nangong Zheng slowly. "And opposite you, the seven Life Forbidden Zone have opened simultaneously, and terrifying beings have emerged."
Lin Qingyao's expression changed.
Li Qingshan laughed, "The future is unpredictable; how can it be reflected by a mere stone wall? Fellow Daoist Nangong, you are attached to appearances."
Nangong Zheng gave him a deep look. "Perhaps. But I'm informing you of this as a way of forging a good connection."
After he finished speaking, his figure gradually became ethereal and disappeared.
Lin Qingyao frowned. "Junior brother, what he said..."
"Nine parts truth, one part falsehood, reality and illusion intertwined." Li Qingshan looked towards the mountain gate, a profound light flashing in his eyes.
The Yaochi Grand Gathering continues.
When Li Qingshan and Lin Qingyao returned to the main hall, the atmosphere inside was completely different from before.
When the powerful rulers Mighty Figure saw the two return, they all greeted them with great respect, even more so than before.
With powerful figures from all Five Regions gathered here, and an unfathomable King like the Eastern Exalt presiding over the event, this is truly a once-in-a-millennium opportunity.
After a brief discussion, the assembled sages and emperors decided to transform the banquet into a forum for philosophical discussions.
What started as a small group of friends exchanging ideas gradually evolved into a gathering of over a hundred people in the hall to explore the mysteries together.
Although Li Qingshan did not speak first, whenever the discussion reached a crucial point, his occasional insightful remarks were like a morning bell or evening drum, enlightening all the heroes present.
The various holy masters and living fossils raised questions they encountered in their cultivation, and Li Qingshan would often get straight to the point in just a few words.
Sometimes he doesn't even need to speak; a single glance or gesture is enough to enlighten the questioner.
For a time, the hall was filled with Daoist energy, and strange phenomena occurred frequently.
Golden lotuses bloom from the Void, golden bells ring without wind, and ancient scriptures manifest and circulate—all these are resonances between heaven and earth triggered by the enlightenment of Mighty Figure.
However, this grand occasion evoked a different feeling for the younger generation in the hall.
Ye Fan, Ji Haoyue, Yaoguang Holy Son, and other prodigies from the Eastern Wasteland sat at the end of the hall, most of them looking bewildered.
The principles of the Dao discussed by you Mighty Figure are too profound, many of which have touched upon the mysteries of the Saint Realm and even higher levels.
Although they are exceptionally talented, most of them are at the Four Extremes Secret Realm, with only a handful reaching the Dragon Transformation Realm. They are still far from the Immortal Platform Second Layer, let alone reaching the realm of the Dao-Slaying King.
Those profound and mysterious mantras of the Great Dao, though each word was distinct, seemed like a mirage when strung together.
Even if I only understand a sentence or two, I feel my spirit shaken and I must immediately calm my mind and not think too much.
"Is this the world above the Immortal Platform?" Ye Fan was shocked.
He considered his cultivation speed to be astonishing, but listening to the discussions in the hall, he truly felt the gap between himself and the real experts.
Those beings who can shatter mountains with a flick of their wrist and pierce through the Void with a single thought have a perspective and a path that are fundamentally different from the cultivators of the Four Extremes Secret Realm.