Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 294 - Supreme Voidforce

Ji Yunteng’s face was ashen, his body trembling with rage. Never had he imagined that Ye Fan would be so audacious, daring to act in such a way.

Already wanted by two sacred grounds, yet he had the nerve to come to the Ji Clan alone and claim a bounty. This infuriated Ji Yunteng to the point that veins bulged on his forehead.

“Rage harms the body, don’t work yourself up. Anyway, your clan is rich and powerful, what’s a little bit of source to you?” Ye Fan laughed.

“Ye, you’re far too arrogant. The two sacred grounds are hunting you, and yet you dare to come here and swindle our source? You’ll never have a way out, the Ancient Desolate Clans cannot be profaned!” Ji Yunteng said coldly.

Ye Fan’s smile didn’t fade. “And what can you do about it? Planning to kill me?”

“I can crush you with one hand!” Ji Yunteng roared, his entire body radiating divine light, godpower surging. Strands of draconic might coiled around him as he pushed his cultivation to its limit.

“So forceful, so full of spirit. Then let me see just how heroic the young elites of the Ancient Desolate Clans really are.” Ye Fan sneered.

“I’ll kill you right now!” Ji Yunteng shouted. Then, without a sound, he vanished into the void, unleashing the Grand Void Art.

Whoosh!

Unexpectedly, though he had just spoken harshly, he reappeared far off in the sky, fleeing instead of attacking Ye Fan.

His earlier words were just a bluff, a cover for his escape. Though proud and self-confident, believing in the supremacy of Ancient Desolate Clans, he had seen with his own eyes Ye Fan slap Ji Yunbiao, a third-layer Dao Palace cultivator, to death. He knew instantly that, even at the fourth layer of Dao Palace, he was no match.

“Why don’t your actions match your words?” Ye Fan said with a warm smile, once again blocking Ji Yunteng’s path.

“You…” Ji Yunteng was stunned, Ye Fan had reacted faster than him.

Whoosh!

Ji Yunteng used the Grand Void Art again, vanishing from sight. He was proud, but he valued his life more. He exhausted every method to try to escape.

But when he emerged from the void again, Ye Fan was already there ahead of him, smiling coldly.

“Doesn’t this tire you? Running back and forth, is it fun?”

“Ye, you’re too arrogant! You’ve offended the two sacred grounds, soon there will be no place in the world for you to live.” Ji Yunteng retreated rapidly.

“That’s perfect. I was planning to travel around anyway. Breaking through to the fourth layer of Dao Palace requires fifty thousand kilo of source. I’ll be counting on your Ji Clan and Radiant Light to provide it.”

Ye Fan stepped forward leisurely, just a dozen paces, and was already upon him. His golden palm, broad as a millstone, descended, cutting off Ji Yunteng’s chance to flee.

Chi! Chi!

Five silver rays erupted like silver dragons, each as thick as a house, soaring upward and crossing in pairs, forming dragon shears to cut down Ye Fan’s golden hand.

This was Ji Clan’s ultimate technique, the Heaven-Severing Finger. Immensely powerful, but effectiveness still depended on the wielder. Against Ye Fan, the difference in strength was overwhelming.

Smack!

The five dragon rays shattered under the golden palm. With a crack, Ji Yunteng’s expression twisted in agony, his arm was torn apart.

“Ahhh!”

He screamed, forcing out another divine art from the Void Scripture. Opening his mouth, he spat out a breath of Innate Daoforce, blasting it toward Ye Fan.

This was the Innate Voidforce, a technique described in the Void Scripture. It was the practitioner’s innate essence, tempered together with the void itself. Indestructible, said to pierce through any weapon or treasure.

One could clearly see the stream of qi erupting from Ji Yunteng’s mouth, representing the Grand Void, twisting space itself.

Clang!

Ye Fan didn’t even bother to dodge. His golden fist smashed forward, as if striking a falling star weighing five thousand kilos, the sound thunderous.

Buzz!

The so-called indestructible Innate Voidforce was scattered instantly, exploding into a dazzling torrent that rippled out in every direction, shaking the void.

Puff!

A mountain peak just a few dozen meters away was struck by the residual shockwaves. Three to four meters of its summit were sheared away, the cut surface smooth and flat.

“You…” Ji Yunteng’s face turned red. The release of his innate essence had consumed seventy to eighty percent of his godpower, yet Ye Fan had shattered it with a single punch. He could hardly accept it.

“Secret techniques depend on the user. It seems every young Ji Clansman has mastered two or three arts from the Void Scripture. Why don’t you explain them to me?” Ye Fan pressed forward.

“Don’t get cocky, Ye brat. My Ji Clan has countless geniuses, many in my generation could crush you so thoroughly you’d never rise again. You won’t survive!” Ji Yunteng spat through clenched teeth.

“I’ll make sure to pay those geniuses of yours a visit in the future.” Ye Fan slapped out with his golden palm.

Bang!

Ji Yunteng tried to dodge, but couldn’t escape. The golden hand smacked into him, his body shattered like a battered drum, and he plummeted to the ground.

“Ye Fan, if you’re not going to kill me, what do you want?”

“I’d like you to teach me the Void Scripture.” Ye Fan landed gently, smiling warmly.

“In your dreams!” Ji Yunteng snarled.

Suddenly, Ye Fan lifted his head, gazing at the horizon. Four figures skimmed the ground, feet not touching earth, robes fluttering like celestial beings, speeding toward him.

He mocked, “Your Ji Clan really values me. Sending four more to clean things up nicely, wiping away all traces so no tongues wag.”

Bang!

Ye Fan stamped his foot, blasting Ji Yunteng away. Bones cracked all over his body as he collapsed, unable even to speak.

Humiliation consumed Ji Yunteng. He had boasted he could crush Ye Fan with one foot, yet now he lay broken, spared only because Ye Fan wanted the Void Scripture.

Whoosh!

Ye Fan swept his sleeve, splitting the ground open, then with another motion buried Ji Yunteng in the crevice.

Soon, the four figures arrived. Dust didn’t rise at their feet; they stopped abruptly, all eight eyes sharp as swords, fixed on Ye Fan.

“Do you gentlemen have business with me?”

“Enough nonsense. Where are Ji Yunteng and Ji Yunbiao?” one of them demanded harshly, sensing something wrong.

“They’re your Ji Clansmen. What does that have to do with me? Why ask me?” Ye Fan said calmly.

“They were chasing you. How could they just vanish?” another barked.

“Oh? Chasing me? And for what reason?” Ye Fan asked lightly.

The four pressed forward. One with a cold expression said, “Stop dodging the question. Speak! Where are Ji Yunteng and Ji Yunbiao?”

“Don’t shout at me. Am I obliged to babysit them for you?” Ye Fan’s face grew cold.

The Ji Clansmen sensed danger. They spread apart, ready either to fight or to retreat. Still, one remained arrogant, shouting, “Stop pretending! Tell us where they are, or you know the consequences!”

Smack!

Ye Fan’s wide sleeve cracked out like a whip, sending that Ji Clansman staggering backward. “Who are you calling a pretender? And what consequences?”

“You…” the Ji disciple’s face changed drastically, pointing at Ye Fan. “You dare strike me first?!”

Members of the Ancient Desolate Clans were revered wherever they went, rarely crossed.

“What the fuck are you, exactly? So what if I smack you on the face?” Ye Fan sneered, his sleeve sweeping through the void like an iron cloud.

Smack!

The sleeve, as heavy as an iron plate, slammed down. The Ji Clansman raised his arm to block, but it was useless. He was sent flying.

Boom!

Furious, he shot back into the sky, glaring coldly. Murderous intent blazed as he flipped upside-down and dove, pressing down a massive black palm seal. Like a black wall, it descended, suffocating in its pressure.

Ye Fan didn’t budge. He only looked up calmly. When the palm was nearly upon him, he suddenly thrust out his left hand.

“Retreat!” the three others cried out in alarm.

Boom!

Too late. Ye Fan seized the black palm seal with one hand, ripped through the void, and yanked the Ji Clansman down as easily as grabbing a chick.

Smack!

His hand slapped across the Ji disciple’s face, spraying spit and blood.

“Do you mean to make an enemy of the Ji Clan?” the youth sputtered blood, bluffing through fear.

“So what if I fight Ji Clansmen? Do you think Ji Clan rules the Eastern Wilderness like a Grand Emperor?” Ye Fan sneered, landing another heavy slap that left the youth’s mouth and nose bleeding.

The other three had been cautious from the start, keeping their distance, ready to fight or flee. Now, instead of helping, they turned and fled decisively, they knew they were no match.

Too late.

Chi! Chi! Chi!

Dozens of small flags flew from Ye Fan’s hands, stabbing into the ground. Mist rose, sealing off the area, cutting off all escape. They were artifacts refined by the Black Emperor, etched with complex Dao Runes, more than enough to trap Dao Palace cultivators.

Ye Fan beat the captured Ji Clansman mercilessly, slapping him again and again until he was barely conscious, then tossed him to the ground like a dead dog.

The other three turned pale. A third-layer Dao Palace disciple had been powerless, slapped into submission before their eyes.

One of them forced a smile. “Friend, is this necessary? Ji Yunsheng is rash and hot-tempered. If he offended you earlier, allow me to apologize on his behalf.”

Spitting blood, Ji Yunsheng groaned and struggled upright, but dared not speak rudely again. Fear filled his eyes.

The three others grew increasingly uneasy, trapped and at the mercy of Ye Fan.

“This is a misunderstanding. You’ve actually helped our Ji Clan, providing clues to chase the traitor Ye Fan. We should be thanking you.”

“Ji Yunsheng, hurry and apologize. I’ve warned you about your temper. You’ve caused trouble again. We’ll punish you once we return.”

They smiled weakly, offering excuses while urging Yunsheng to apologize.

Ye Fan chuckled. “No need for apologies, because I am the Ye Fan you’re looking for.”

“What?!” All four turned pale with shock.

Ye Fan revealed his true appearance, pulling Ji Yunteng from the fissure in the earth. All four Ji Clansmen nearly coughed up blood in fury.

“What do you want?”

“I’m very interested in the Innate Voidforce. I’d like you to teach me.”