Chapter 1997 - 1862: Discovering the Trail

Chapter 1997: Chapter 1862: Discovering the Trail

The Treasure Pavilion’s building is ancient, elegant, carved with beams and paintings, resplendent and magnificent, with a grand aura.

The business of Treasure Pavilion is quite good. Even in the Heroic Pass Ancient City along the Starry Ancient Road, there are many people who come here to trade news or buy and sell some strange treasures.

People come and go at the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion, flowing endlessly, many of whom are powerful cultivators, including trialists who have embarked on the Starry Ancient Road and residents of this city.

Ye Fan stepped into the hall of Treasure Pavilion, only to be greeted quickly by a graceful female cultivator.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

The female cultivator said politely.

"I want to inquire about some information."

As he spoke, Ye Fan took out the VIP card Yaling had given him and waved it briefly in front of the female cultivator before quickly putting it away.

Swish!

The female cultivator’s expression changed but quickly regained calm, and she said lightly, "Please follow me!"

Ye Fan followed her to a simple room upstairs, where the female cultivator lowered her voice and said, "Honored guest, please wait a moment. I will invite the person in charge to see you personally."

"Alright."

Ye Fan nodded, casually sitting in a carved chair, and began observing the surroundings.

The room’s decor was very simple, one table, two chairs, a large filing cabinet, and two potted plants in the corner, emitting abundant vitality.

Not long after, the door opened, and an elderly man over a hundred years old, with slightly balding hair, walked in.

"Honored guest, what information would you like to inquire about?"

The elderly man pulled a chair over casually, sat opposite Ye Fan, and smiled as he spoke.

"I want to know all the information about the murder of human prodigies, the more detailed the better." Ye Fan said impassively.

"Sure, but I need to verify your VIP card first, is that okay?" the elderly man said.

"Swish!"

Ye Fan raised his hand and a golden VIP card spun towards the elderly man, landing smoothly on the table before him.

The elderly man did not pick it up but glanced at it with his peripheral vision before his expression changed slightly. He then waved his hand to set up a defensive shield, isolating all aura and sound.

With everything done, he said with conviction, "You are Ye Fan, right?"

Ye Fan was stunned, and his expression immediately turned cold, with a wave of killing intent spreading instantly.

His secret technique could change both the aura from inside out and the primordial essence, not just a small technique for altering appearance—how did this elderly man see through it?

Although the Treasure Pavilion always had a good relationship with him, this was a very critical time, and he had to be extremely cautious.

While it might not reach the point of causing a massacre here, erasing this part of memory was still feasible.

"How did you see through me?" Ye Fan said coldly.

"Don’t be nervous."

The elderly man was startled, hastily saying, "This VIP card was given to you by our Treasure Pavilion’s Holy Maiden, and it has special marks. I guessed your identity based on this VIP card..."

From the elderly man’s explanation, Ye Fan finally understood that Yaling had already passed down the Holy Maiden Order, and all Treasure Pavilion disciples were to trust him unconditionally, providing various information, and even participating in battles if necessary.

Treasure Pavilion branches in various ancient cities along the Starry Ancient Road were all waiting for his arrival.

"Yaling, thank you!"

Ye Fan said silently in his heart, feeling deeply moved by this unconditional trust.

Afterwards, the person in charge of the Treasure Pavilion, the elderly man, informed Ye Fan about all the recent incidents involving killings of human and demon clan prodigies.

Only the Treasure Pavilion could boast such far-reaching influence, enabling them to obtain detailed accounts and information on the trialists who were killed.

These trialists came from different star domains; some were from almost desolate small worlds, carrying the dream of finding an ideal living environment for their clan members as they embarked on the Starry Ancient Road.

However, they ended up losing their lives on the Starry Ancient Road, with all hopes and dreams turning to illusions.

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Ye Fan lurked in the Ninth stronghold Ancient City, secretly investigating several demon clan young strongmen.

He possessed the Human-Faced Geography Technique, and as long as he didn’t take action, he wouldn’t be discovered.

Moreover, he had encountered all those demon clan young strongmen, and although they could alter their appearances, they could never escape his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, with trialists arriving or departing the Starry Ancient Road every day.

What puzzled Ye Fan was that the City Lord of this Ninth City had never appeared, nor were there any tests; it seemed completely like a free ancient city, accessible at will.

However, Ye Fan felt almost certain that this was merely a superficial phenomenon, and the Ninth City surely harbored unknown details.

Finally, upon inquiring with the elderly man at the Treasure Pavilion, he learned that the Ninth City was indeed known as the Free City, allowing trialists to come and go freely.

However—

Near the Ninth City, there was a trial field, ordinarily hidden in the void, completely invisible, and could only be accessed under specific conditions.

The treasures said to be hidden in that trial field were rumored to offer incredible opportunities; once obtained, they could greatly enhance strength, and might even gain recognition from heaven and earth.

After half a month of unremitting effort, Ye Fan finally locked onto one person—the most prominent heir of the Demon Clan’s fourth largest family, Qi Motian.

This person acted mysteriously and low-key, almost unnoticed by anyone, but he was not able to hide from Ye Fan’s Martial Arts Heavenly Eye.

If it were others, even if they saw through his disguise, they would certainly not discern he was from the Demon Clan, because he had vigorous qi blood on him.

Ye Fan couldn’t help but marvel, the kind of Fake Qi Blood Secret Technique exhibited by humanoid creatures was indeed unique, capable of perfect deception.

However, since he was discovered by Ye Fan, it’s no longer easy for him to hide.

Especially since Ye Fan has mastered the Human-Faced Geography Technique, changing not just his outward appearance but even his essence and aura; he couldn’t be detected at all.

After half a month of silence, Qi Motian could barely contain his loneliness, feeling very uncomfortable being around human cultivators every day with their abundant vitality.

On this day, two young trialists were preparing to leave the Ninth Ancient City and continue forward to try their luck at the Tenth Level.

Before they could leave the city, they were targeted by Qi Motian.

"Gentlemen, are you planning to continue your journey?" he approached to inquire.

"Indeed, we originally thought there would be heaven-defying fortunes here, but after waiting for two months, we’ve found nothing," one of the young men said impatiently.

"Coincidentally, I also intend to move on. Why don’t we travel together? It might help in case we encounter the Demon Clan spy, Ye Fan," Qi Motian suggested.

"Having more companions on the journey would certainly be good," the other young man agreed.

They feared encountering the unhesitatingly murderous Demon Clan spy, Ye Fan, along the way, and were delighted to agree to travel together.

Their conversation was fully overheard by Ye Fan, who was in a nearby tea stall. He settled his bill discreetly, his figure flashing and disappearing from the spot.

The tea stall owner was unsurprised, pocketing the tea money and continuing his business; he had seen such abnormal people many times.

Qi Motian and the two others approached the city gate, suddenly hearing a cursing voice: "Damn it, I’m done waiting, wasting my time for nothing!"

They looked in the direction of the voice to see a burly man cursing as he walked towards the city gate.

"Brother, are you planning to continue your journey?"

One of the human trialists warmly stepped forward and asked the burly man.

"Of course, I’ve been waiting here for half a year, and seen no fortunes; what’s the point of staying?"

The burly man was Ye Fan himself, knowing that Qi Motian had ill intentions traveling with the two, he mixed into this ad hoc team to protect them and prove himself by killing Qi Motian.

"We also aim to continue our journey; how about we travel together to guard against the Demon Clan spy?" the man earnestly invited.

"Well... alright."

Ye Fan pretended to contemplate momentarily before swiftly agreeing.

Qi Motian discreetly frowned, with his strength, dealing with the two would be like child’s play, but now with Ye Fan added, he hesitated.

Yet, he quickly calmed, enthusiastically approaching Ye Fan for a chat.

He already had a plan; once on the road, directly ambush Ye Fan and kill him first; dealing with the other two would be easy.

Moreover, Ye Fan was only at the Lord Realm Peak, not yet reaching the Venerable Realm. Using Death Energy’s traits with a surprise attack, he was sure of a kill in one strike.

Ye Fan also smoothly chatted with him but remained cautious.

Despite Qi Motian being the strongest heir of the Fourth Clan, not as prestigious as Xingtian, he was absolutely not easy to deal with.

During this period, Ye himself had improved, presumably they hadn’t been idle either; who was weaker or stronger would only be known after battle.

Soon, they left the city, flying into the vast starry sky, disappearing in a blink.

Along the way, Qi Motian stayed by Ye Fan’s side, seemingly very congenial, as if meeting late.

Four hours later, they had traveled far from the Ninth Ancient City, surrounded by cold and silence.

"Sss!"

At this moment, Qi Motian suddenly attacked, a deadly light aiming fiercely and ruthlessly at the back of Ye Fan’s head!

"Just waiting for you to make a move!"

Ye Fan quickly turned, opened his mouth to absorb the deadly light into his abdomen, then swung a punch, sending Qi Motian flying with blazing Punch Ray.

The other two trialists were completely baffled by the sudden turn of events, watching the seemingly friendly pair suddenly become enemies.

"Who on earth are you?"

Qi Motian asked in shock.

He had assumed his surprise attack would be a sure-kill, yet he failed, and Ye Fan even swallowed his Death Light without batting an eye, which was beyond his expectations.

"What do you think?" Ye Fan pressed forward step by step, determined not to give him any chance to resist.

"Buzz!"

Qi Motian’s face twisted as he viciously said, "No matter who you are, today you all must die!"

Saying this, he quickly chanted a spell, and his eyes turned silver-white, with demonic patterns appearing on his face.

Three rays simultaneously shot from his eyes and forehead, landing on the two young trialists and Ye Fan.

Curse Power!

Ye Fan’s mind turned, and an ancient-styled Earth Pot appeared above his head, instantly absorbing the strands of Curse Power.

But the other two were unlucky; they had never seen such a bizarre attack before, and their Life Force was rapidly diminishing.

"Help!"

The two screamed in shock, desperately wielding Divine Power to resist the odd Curse Power.

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