Chapter 512 - 507: The Pursuit

Divine Country Territory, the High Priest holds a supreme position. According to Leng Qingyue, people worship the High Priest and offer statues in tribute. If they appear anywhere and are discovered by human cultivators, they may report it.

Beneath the High Priest are the Seven Countries.

Sun-suspending City, the capital of Sunlight Country, is one of the Nine Cities within the Divine Country Territory.

In the Imperial Palace Hall, Emperor Zhao Wuji is meeting with his ministers.

"In one battle, a sword cultivator killed Great Cultivators of the Seven Countries, including Cangwu and Zang Kunlun. It is said that this sword cultivator only has Middle Realm cultivation in the Seven Realms. Although there have been outsiders in the Divine Country Territory before, such incidents have never occurred. Now, both the Left and Right Ministers have been killed by him. What do you all think?" Zhao Wuji asked everyone, but there’s a sense of concern hidden deep within his eyes.

What was supposed to be a settled matter has become uncertain with this unexpected development.

Moreover, the power is terrifying.

"Your Majesty, Cangwu was the High Priest’s first disciple. The High Priest will surely not let this pass easily and might search for that sword cultivator within the Divine Country. At that time, if the High Priest acts personally, he will definitely be able to kill him. But until then, we should not act rashly." A minister respectfully replied.

"How vast is the Divine Country Territory? To capture a single person is extremely difficult." Zhao Wuji said, "Moreover, will that sword cultivator just wait to be caught?"

This is what he fears.

The ministers evidently understood the implication in Zhao Wuji’s words. They exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.

What if that sword cultivator takes the initiative to act? What should be done?

"Father, though the Left and Right Ministers have fallen, there are still several Great Cultivators of the Seven Realms in Sun-suspending City, and you are present here with the Great Array. If he dares to come, wouldn’t it be a perfect opportunity to take his head and present it to the High Priest?"

The speaker was Crown Prince Zhao Qian, a prodigy of Sunlight Country, who had entered the Sixth Realm Dao Body Realm. He was extremely proud, shining brightly.

"Hmm." Zhao Wuji nodded slightly. With his cultivation combined with the Sun-suspending Array, he could indeed exert greater combat power.

"Everyone may leave." He waved his hand; the ministers departed, leaving only Crown Prince Zhao Qian and Princess Zhao Qingyu.

"Zhao Qian, Qingyu, among all the princes and princesses, you two have the highest talent. In the future, you may reach my realm. Today, you will go out to train and not return until this matter is settled," Zhao Wuji said.

"Father, must it be this way?" Zhao Qian asked.

"Father, will it come to that? If so, I am willing to fight alongside you," Zhao Qingyu replied.

"In the matters of the world, there is no reason for us to act only proactively. If I were that sword cultivator, I would eliminate several royal forces before the next encirclement," Zhao Wuji said. "If it really comes to that, you two are the future of Sunlight Country. This is an edict."

"Who?"

Zhao Wuji suddenly looked up, his aura flaring up, releasing a terrifying pressure.

Suddenly, a fleeting shadow flashed by, and a young man in white appeared in the hall.

"Boom..."

Zhao Wuji abruptly stood, a terrifying aura sweeping out, his gaze like blazing sunlight piercing toward Li Fan, but he did not act hastily. The two stared at each other for a moment, then Zhao Wuji said, "If you have come to kill me, can you avoid involving others? I can have them swear not to seek revenge."

"You have no grievances with me, why would I kill you?" Li Fan said.

Zhao Wuji was somewhat surprised, puzzled, "Then you are..."

"What is the cultivation of the High Priest?" Li Fan asked, needing to confirm once more.

If it’s the Saint Realm, he would leave immediately.

"The High Priest is a Half-step Saint." Zhao Wuji replied, "However, the High Priest possesses extraordinary methods. I haven’t experienced them directly, but their combat strength might be very strong. Although you have killed multiple Great Cultivators of the Seven Realms, I advise you not to confront the High Priest head-on."

It was indeed sincere.

"Why destroy the Moon Shadow Dynasty?" Li Fan asked again.

"The High Priest learned that the Moon Shadow Dynasty possessed a Holy Level treasure and demanded its surrender. The Moon Shadow Dynasty refused, which angered the High Priest." Zhao Wuji replied.

It matched what Leng Qingyue had told him, confirming Leng Qingyue’s words to be true.

Since that is the case, those he killed were not wronged.

"Arrange a place for me to cultivate, here within the Imperial Palace, with these two as my protectors." Li Fan glanced at Zhao Qian and Zhao Qingyu.

Zhao Wuji gazed at Li Fan, many thoughts passing through his mind, ultimately nodding.

This young man is so talented with such cultivation and temperament, it’s truly frightening. Choosing to cultivate in the Sunlight Country’s Imperial Palace, even if the Divine Country were overturned, it would be hard to find him.

However, in this way, even if Li Fan spares them in the future, should it be exposed, the High Priest will not spare them, placing them in extreme danger.

Nonetheless, he has no choice.

Compared to Li Fan going on a killing spree now, at least this way there is a chance.

"Below the Imperial Palace is an Underground Palace, where I used to retreat and cultivate. Taoist Friend can cultivate there," Zhao Wuji said, then looked at Zhao Qian and Zhao Qingyu, "You two should consult this senior and follow his commands."

Zhao Qian clenched his fists tightly, while Zhao Qingyu bowed respectfully, "Yes, Father."

Li Fan also asked Zhao Wuji to bring Leng Qingyue and another over, then entered the Imperial Palace’s Underground Palace to cultivate.

Outside, the Divine Country Territory was under massive attack by demons. It was rumored that the sword cultivator who killed the strong men of the Seven Countries in Sea Moon City also killed the Demon Emperor’s offspring, leading the Demon Emperor to demand the Divine Country surrender the person.

Within the Divine Country Territory, a nationwide hunt for Li Fan and his companions was ordered, and Li Fan’s portrait was distributed. Additionally, the Six Countries received orders from the High Priest to capture Li Fan.

With the outside blocked by the Demon Race and the inside hunting by the Divine Country, Li Fan and the others seemed to have completely vanished, leaving no trace.

Two years later.

Sun-suspending City, Underground Palace.

Here lies a grand training ground, where Li Fan sits cross-legged. A layer of fiery radiance covers his body, as dazzling as the blaze of the Great Dao, with a scorching current swirling around the immense pattern beneath him, like Divine Fire.

Around Li Fan, Leng Qingyue and her brother, along with the Zhao siblings, are cultivating alongside him, though the Zhao siblings are here as hostages.

At this moment, the doors of the Underground Palace open, and Li Fan opens his eyes, as a thread of fierce flame spreads out, charging towards Zhao Wuji.

"I didn’t mean to interrupt Taoist Friend Li’s cultivation, but the High Priest of the Divine Country summoned me, so I came to inform you to avoid misunderstandings," Zhao Wuji explained, noticing Li Fan’s sharp gaze.

"For me?" Li Fan asked.

"Yes, it’s been two years without a trace of you, and the Demon Emperor has stirred up chaos with demons across the Sea Domain. The High Priest wants to quell this unrest and has convened the Seven Countries to try to bring you out," Zhao Wuji said.

Li Fan nodded, asking, "What’s beneath this Great Array?"

In his cultivation here, he sensed the aura of the Flame Dao.

"The heart of this Great Array is the treasured Sun God Stone of our royal family," Zhao Wuji replied.

"Then why hasn’t the High Priest seized it?" Li Fan asked.

"Every dynasty of the Seven Countries has a national treasure; the High Priest couldn’t possibly covet them all. As far as I know, the treasure from Moon Shadow Country is a pure Cold Ice Attribute Saint’s Treasure, superior to the Sun God Stone, and the Flame Dao isn’t the path of the High Priest," Zhao Wuji explained.

"Why did you proactively activate the Array two years ago and inform me of these things?" Li Fan wondered.

"Taoist Friend Li, I have some understanding of the High Priest. From the moment I invited you into the Underground Palace for cultivation, in the High Priest’s eyes, I was seen as a traitor. Your combat prowess is extraordinary, and I hope to buy you some time. If anything unfortunate happens in the future, you can take the Sun God Stone and send our siblings away," Zhao Wuji said.

Zhao Wuji glanced at Leng Qingyue and her brother. Since Li Fan could keep them by his side, he must be a man of his word.

"Do you fear the High Priest greatly?" Li Fan asked, staring at Zhao Wuji.

"Within the Divine Country, who doesn’t fear the High Priest," Zhao Wuji muttered as if to himself, "However, you are not of the Divine Country, daring to be here alone; you must be an extraordinary person."

"What is this demon chaos about, then, and if the High Priest is so powerful, why not kill the Demon Emperor?" Li Fan asked again.

"The apparent reason is that the Demon Emperor’s cultivation reaches the heavens, making him extremely difficult to kill. But in my view, the High Priest could certainly kill the Demon Emperor. Yet, if he did, who would protect the outskirts of the Sea Domain for the Divine Country? Without the scourge of the Demon Race, the countless cultivators of the Divine Country’s Island Cities would grow complacent, and how would generations continue to worship the High Priest?" Zhao Wuji shook his head.

Li Fan understood; affairs always have similar patterns.

"You should go now," Li Fan said.

Zhao Wuji cast a glance at Zhao Qian and left the place, while Li Fan continued his cultivation.

However, Li Fan did not find peace for many days.

"Boom..."

On this day, the Underground Palace trembled violently. Li Fan opened his eyes, and his Divine Sense expanded outward from the Underground Palace, instantly enveloping the Imperial City, and continued to extend outward.

Around Sun-suspending City, on both the Sea Domain and the sky above, numerous demons and human cultivators appeared, launching a direct attack on Sun-suspending City.

Inside the Imperial Palace, chaos ensued.

"The Emperor has fallen."

"Why?"

"The Emperor sheltered that Sword Cultivator, betrayed the Divine Country, and was killed by the High Priest."

Voices intermittently reached his ears.

"Father," Zhao Qian rose, a burst of aura emanating from him, his gaze furious towards Li Fan.

Li Fan frowned and glanced at him.

"Don’t forget why I came here in the first place. I was never friends with your father, and if you act recklessly, I won’t hesitate to wipe you out," Li Fan said coldly, having once considered overthrowing the royal family but ultimately chose to retreat here.

Over the past two years, Zhao Wuji had already anticipated this day and had sent away many members of the royal family beforehand.

"It was my Imperial Brother’s impulsive act; I hope the elder forgives. Please take the Sun God Stone," Zhao Qingyu stepped forward, bowing in respect, clearly understanding the situation she was in.

"Bang..."

Li Fan stamped the ground, and at once, the Underground Palace showed cracks that expanded downward. A golden flame Grand Array Map appeared, with what seemed to be Sun God Fire concealed at its core, and in the middle of the Divine Fire, a Divine Stone hovered.

He raised his hand to grip at the earth, an illusory palm clasping the Sun God Stone. Terrifying flames spread and rolled towards Li Fan, but he paid no mind, directly grasping it in his palm, a whirl of vortexes forming, devouring the power from the stone.

Zhao Qingyu’s beautiful eyes showed shock, realizing even her father couldn’t achieve this.

"Stay behind me."

Li Fan said, slightly raising his head, and a thread of Sword Intent pierced the Underground Palace as his body soared skyward, arriving above Sun-suspending City.

In the sky, threads of terrifying aura shook, while in the distant Sea Domain, demon energy soared, blocking sunlight, and numerous demons invaded from the sea, entering Sun-suspending City to slay.

"You’re indeed here."

A cold voice came from the sea, waves monstrous, terrifying Great Demons emerging from the water, Sun-suspending City resembling the end times.

Below the Imperial Palace, many showed despair, for the day the Seven Countries’ cultivators attempted to kill Li Fan was when he eradicated them solo.

But this time, with the High Priest locking onto Li Fan’s position, how could the same thing happen again?