Chapter 685: So What If I Admit It?

Compared to the last trip to Venerable Bihai, Ye Lan had deliberately slowed her pace to wait for Shen Yi, and had even brought along a Ye Jing.

This time, the two of them dove straight into the Grand Void, aiming to go quickly and return quickly; a journey that would normally take half a year was compressed into just over ten days, and they could already see that stretch of Venerable Bihai in the distance.

"As expected…"

Ye Lan sighed inwardly.

When Shen Yi had previously returned from the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, she had already guessed that he had successfully plucked the Grand Void Dao Fruit; otherwise, relying solely on the abilities of the Dragon-Tiger Luo Han, it would have been very hard to intercept so many great demons desperate to escape.

As things stood now, not only had he plucked the Dao Fruit, he had very likely already deduced a path that belonged to him, and with the help of the Imperial Qi Golden Pill, even if one looked only at his Grand Void Dao techniques — not counting the Puti Sect's fruit position — his cultivation was already no weaker than her own.

Cultivators serving in Zhan Yao Si were already among the fastest practitioners under heaven, yet Shen Yi's performance made even Ye Lan feel a trace of envy.

A peerless aptitude made the road ahead broad and smooth; coupled with the generous Zhan Yao Si of the Divine Dynasty, which bestowed the rarest Imperial Qi in the world, the two together were simply a match made by heaven.

Just as Ye Lan's thoughts drifted, a strand of dazzling red light suddenly shone over, making her instinctively turn her head and raise an arm to shield her face.

The next moment, ahead of her, there abruptly appeared a blazing sun that seemed boundless, entirely crimson, emanating an aura of utter annihilation.

The sword-light Ye Lan had transformed into was like a tiny black speck before this red sun; no matter how ferociously she surged forward, she could never escape the shroud of that red light.

In an instant, she felt as if her entire body was about to be melted away.

With no choice, Ye Lan could only be forced to tumble out of the Grand Void, unable even to maintain her sword-light state; her Bai Shan fluttering, she plunged straight into the Shanfeng outside Venerable Bihai.

After all, she was once a cultivator capable of taking the seat of a Peak Master.

Among all the third-generation disciples of the entire Sanxian Sect, those who could defeat this young Miss numbered no more than a handful; even accounting for the aid of the imperial court's Zhan Yao Si, one could not deny that her talent was truly outstanding.

But the scene before her eyes left her without even the strength to retaliate, which could only prove that someone of the older generation had made a move.

"Hoo—"

Ye Lan steadied her footing and did not question the identity of the one who had struck; instead, she looked ahead with a complicated gaze.

That very sun which had earlier appeared in the Grand Void was already enough to explain everything.

Grand Void Divine Sun, a fourth-grade Dao Fruit — besides her own Martial Uncle Uncle Mu Yang, who else could it be?

The next moment, a figure in ink-black robes likewise stepped out of the Grand Void, walking unhurriedly to Ye Lan's side: "Are you alright?"

Ye Lan glanced at Shen Yi, shook her head, and smiled helplessly: "Not for the moment, but I can't say for certain later."

Having said that, she looked back up at the sky: "So what you mean is, while we're on our way back to refine pills for Shenxu Laozu, you intend to intercept and kill the two of us right here in Venerable Bihai?"

This simply did not fit the logic of any sane person.

If the other party truly wanted to act, then this timing was the most inappropriate of all, because in only a few days, Shenxu Mountain would discover that the two of them had not returned to Huishan.

Added to that, Daoist Uncle Mu Yang had happened to leave the Shenxu Mountain gate.

Did they truly take the other Peak Masters — who had cultivated for countless years — for fools?

No matter how little they liked the Pill Peak, they absolutely could not tolerate such a thing happening; if a precedent were set, which peak's prodigy would still dare to go out and temper themselves in the future?

Likely before they had even stepped out of Venerable Bihai, they would be intercepted and killed by their own people.

"A cornered dog jumping over a wall doesn't jump like this." Ye Lan stood with her hands at her sides, her eyes slightly narrowed.

Before her words had faded, two figures finally emerged in the heavens.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang cast a sidelong glance at Shen Yi, and a hint of wariness flickered through his calm eyes.

He had just witnessed with his own eyes this youngster stepping out of the Grand Void — which meant that after the other party had taken the Grand Void Dao techniques last time and left Shenxu Mountain, in such a short span of days, he had already successfully stepped into the fifth grade.

Even though this young man was an exceedingly rare alchemist with ample financial resources, this speed was still a little too fast.

Yet this situation did not make Uncle Mu Yang retreat; on the contrary, it only strengthened his resolve.

At this moment, he could still rely on his seniority to temporarily suppress the two of them; if he waited a few more days, the situation would likely no longer be one he could control.

"Hah! Judging a gentleman's heart with a petty mind — my father did not come for some lousy Peak Master seat. Before you question us, perhaps you should first ask this Peak Master Shen beside you just what identity he actually is!"

Liu Ruifeng let out a cold laugh and, looking rather anxious, stepped out from behind his father.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang frowned slightly, glanced at him, and the faintly cold glint in his eyes immediately made the youngster shrink his neck and retreat back again.

"Sigh."

Still too green to the world — with just one sentence, he had given Ye Lan a step to extract herself from the situation.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang sighed and said lightly: "No matter what you think of me in your heart, I have no wish to argue; only, you should be grateful that it is I who came today, and not your Grand Martial Uncle — otherwise the two of you would not now have the chance to stand here and speak."

"…"

Hearing this, Ye Lan's expression shifted slightly.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang's composed manner did not look at all like the bearing one should have for a private interception and killing.

"Some days ago, an envoy came from the Immortal Court; the eight peaks welcomed this Immortal General into the Ru Sect, and after chatting for a few days, some rather interesting things came up."

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang shook his head with a sigh: "Lan'er, when you descended the mountain, we were so worried about your safety that we forgot to admonish you — as a disciple of a renowned and orthodox lineage, a descendant of the Great Luo Immortal Venerable, you must never stray down the wrong path."

"Who would have thought that not only did you mingle with heretical fiends, you even brazenly brought one back to the mountain gate."

"I know you bear a grudge against Shenxu Mountain, but I never imagined you wouldn't spare even a shred of fellow-disciple affection."

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang raised his palm: "As disciples of our Master, we cannot stand by and watch you two sully the name of Shenxu Mountain. Capturing the two of you today and taking you up to the heavens to receive punishment can still be considered mending the fold after the sheep are lost — it is not too late."

"You…"

After hearing it all, Ye Lan instinctively glanced sideways at Shen Yi.

She did know that he had stirred up trouble and held some wariness toward the Immortal Court, but she had never imagined the matter had grown so large that even the name of a Peak Master of Shenxu Mountain could not cover it — so much so that the Immortal Court had actually sent people to the mountain gate to call him to account!

But she was not so foolish as to take Uncle Mu Yang's word at face value, and immediately said coldly: "Right or wrong, we'll discuss it back at the mountain gate. Shenxu Laozu still lives, and Shenxu Mountain has not yet reached the point where it's the turn of a mere steward of the Sixth Peak to decide."

Hearing this, Daoist Uncle Mu Yang suddenly laughed: "There's no need to trouble the Master. Your messy affairs are better left to the Immortal Court to deal with — my Shenxu Mountain is not the sort of place that harbors filth."

"Whatever defense you have to offer, save it for the Immortal Generals."

"Exactly!" Excitement surfaced once more on Liu Ruifeng's face as he looked down at the two below and growled: "You villain surnamed Shen, no matter how glib your tongue may be today, don't even think of deceiving us again — submit to your death obediently!"

He had long wanted to tear this boy to pieces; unfortunately, constrained by sect rules, even his father was only of equal standing with the other party, and there had been no opportunity to pick a quarrel.

Now, wielding the great righteousness of the Immortal Court, he could not only slay this beast but also earn a clean reputation!

"Dive into the Grand Void, split up and flee — once back at Shenxu Mountain, we'll naturally be safe." Ye Lan transmitted her voice in secret; she had not simply been arguing principle with Uncle Mu Yang earlier, but had been trying to probe the mountain gate's attitude.

After Mu Yang refused to return to the Divine Void Mountain, she was fully confident that the other Peak Masters certainly did not yet know of this matter.

If the situation just now was ten deaths and no life, then now there was finally a sliver of hope, after all, this place was truly very close to the Divine Void Mountain.

However, just at this moment.

Shen Yi, who had been silent for a long time, slowly stepped forward; amidst his fluttering sleeves, he raised his gaze to look at the father and son pair in the sky, and finally spoke calmly: "When did I ever refute?"

As he spoke, a barely perceptible smile surged upon his Bai Xi face, and within that smile lay a hint of hidden aggression: "I admit it."

Such an attitude, which could be called brazen, fell into the eyes of the three present; let alone the father and son pair, even Ye Lan was momentarily stunned.

From the moment she met Shen Yi until now, she had never seen this side of the other person.

One must know, if he denied it, there would still be a chance to return to the Divine Void Mountain to avoid disaster; now admitting it with his own mouth, even if he truly returned to the Divine Void Mountain, I'm afraid no one would shelter him!

Liu Ruifeng widened his eyes even more.

Even though he was a third-generation disciple under the Great Luo Immortal Venerable, he still held a deep sense of awe for the Immortal Court; how could he have imagined that after Shen Yi's identity was exposed, he was not only unafraid but even became more arrogant.

"Not bad, admitting the truth openly means you still retain some dignity."

Daoist Mu Yang quickly regained his senses, his expression turning back to a blank indifference; as he raised his right palm, his five fingers clenched slightly.

Rrrrip—

Suddenly, a huge tear was ripped open in the air, and a terrifying crimson giant object squeezed out from within.

In an instant, that tear had spanned ten thousand zhang.

A great sun abruptly appeared in the entire sky curtain, red and bewitching, seemingly falling slowly towards the ground, carrying a dense sense of oppression; the aura of extinction swept over the heavens and earth, and even more terrifying was the scorching heat capable of melting all things!

Under this Divine Sun, even the mountain peaks appeared infinitesimally small.

Let alone the slender figure in black robes surging between the peaks; in comparison, he had reached a degree invisible to the naked eye.

"Hah!"

Ye Lan was already illuminated by the red light to the point where she could not open her eyes.

Do not look at her cultivation of over six hundred tribulations; compared to Mu Yang's fifteen hundred tribulations, it seems to differ by only a little more than double.

But a thousand tribulations represent the perfection of the Dao path; as long as one has not broken through to the Great Grade and manifested complete transformations, even if the difference is only one tribulation, it is a distinction between heaven and earth!

Let alone making contact with this crimson proud sun; even if merely shrouded by its light, most Fifth Grade cultivators would be completely powerless to fight back.

"..."

Shen Yi faced this red sun directly, watching it fall heavily.

In the next moment, his sleeves swept up, his five fingers with distinct knuckles suddenly clenched tightly; amidst the surging blood, it was as if the sounds of dragon roars and tiger howls accompanied him.

His fist was like a rushing thunderbolt, violently smashing out!

Within the crimson great sun, thick Jin Guang suddenly burst forth, far more dazzling and bright than that red radiance!

Boom!

The knuckles touched that vast and boundless crimson sun, causing it to instantly stop its descent.

The bewitching red light suddenly twisted, rippling like illusory water waves.

A single crack appeared beneath the knuckles, then, with the speed of lightning before one can cover one's ears, spread across the entire great sun.

This punch, three thousand tribulations!

What do you have to block it with?

Crack! Crack!

The great sun suddenly shattered, and the red halo spilling out caused this entire world to shake.

The figure in black robes stepped and soared into the air, like a Golden Crow born from the proud sun; he advanced step by step, pointing directly at the father and son pair, rubbed his wrist, and his clear voice echoed across the sky, carrying a dense flavor of mockery.

"I admit it, so what can you do?"

"..."

Daoist Mu Yang watched helplessly as the great sun shattered, panic flashing through his eyes.

He never thought that the Dao Fruit he prided himself on would one day be so fragile.

A cultivator who could smash the Profound Void Divine Sun with a single punch, how could he possibly be merely Fifth Grade?

The opponent not only ascended to Fourth Grade as well, but his cultivation was far superior to his own!

However, since he dared to bring his own son, how could Daoist Mu Yang have no leverage? Without time to be dazed, he directly waved his sleeve and shouted:

"Ten Thousand Dragons Subduing Demons Great Formation!"

As the Peak Master of the Formation Peak, even with full confidence, Daoist Mu Yang had instinctively set up the formation in advance.

This habit cultivated over many years might just save his life today.

Amidst the whistling sounds, Venerable Bihai churned, stones between the peaks suspended in the air, dense array patterns surged forth, countless long dragons were born out of thin air, lifelike with complete whiskers, claws, scales, and feathers; amidst the dragon roars, a strong and indescribable divine might burst forth.

They rose into the sky without exception, attacking the figure strolling through the sky curtain!

Shen Yi's pace was neither fast nor slow.

In the eyes of the father and son pair, they saw that behind that slender body, a towering phantom sitting cross-legged appeared vaguely.

The Golden Body's face was calm, eyes closed.

However, at the instant the ten thousand dragons attacked, before they could approach Shen Yi, they all froze in place together, as if suppressed by invisible force, then suddenly shattered one after another.

This bizarre scene left Daoist Mu Yang dumbfounded: "..."

Shen Yi walked slowly to the front of the two.

Ten Thousand Dragons Subduing Demons?

As a practitioner of physical demon subjugation, traveling the red dust, attaining the Great Grade Luo Han Fruit, and mastering the name of Subduing Dragons and Taming Tigers.

"This Venerable says who is a demon, then who is a demon."

"Do you understand?"

Accompanying the youth's indifferent words, that towering Golden Body phantom gradually opened its eyes; it extended a massive hand that blocked the sun and sky, reaching straight towards the two.

"Ah!!"

Liu Ruifeng's eyes were entirely consumed by Jin Guang; he could even see the palm lines on the descending giant hand, deep as an abyssal chasm.

His eyes bulged until the flesh threatened to tear, and he instinctively let out a roar.

Such a profound technique was something even a cultivator of merely the Sixth Rank, the Heavenly Immortal realm, could not comprehend despite a lifetime of study.

He had thought the junior cultivator his father could casually behead was now so terrifying that it made him feel as though his soul were scattering.

Jinhe flowed within that palm, suppressing all evil demons in the world.

Merely the ripples stirred by the giant palm pressing down caused Liu Ruifeng's body to quietly dissolve.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang had no time to attend to his own son; he did not even dare to utter another harsh word, turned, and fled into the Great Void, swiftly darting toward the direction of Divine Void Mountain!

Yet he was still enveloped by Jinhe.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang turned back in panic, seeing only that at the misty end of the Great Void, that golden giant hand was following closely behind, calmly pursuing him inside.

In the span of a single breath, Jin Guang covered everything around him.

He could only watch helplessly as five fingers, like heavenly pillars, swept across the sky to seize him, completely blocking Uncle Mu Yang's vision until darkness filled his sight; thus he lost all consciousness, swallowed entirely by Jinhe.

Outside the Great Void, above the sky of Venerable Bihai.

Shen Yi withdrew his hand, looked at the drop of blood on his fingertip, and with a hint of disgust flicked it away.

With a casual glance back, he met Ye Lan's incredulous gaze.

"You... have your Fruit Position reached perfection?"

(End of this chapter)