Chapter 35: The Showdown

As Ye Fan spoke, he pointed into the empty air. A Yan Family clansman who had attempted to ambush Murong Wan from behind instantly met a violent death.

Only then did Yun Li notice that Ye Fan had actually made his move much earlier. Several Yan Family clansmen had been secretly taken down by him, yet no one else had detected it at all.

"Senior Brother, why didn't you just help Sister Murong directly?" Yun Li muttered softly.

A helpless smile appeared on Ye Fan's face. He hadn't yet figured out how to explain his cultivation level to Murong Wan.

He would keep this matter hidden for as long as possible and instructed Yun Li not to speak carelessly.

Yun Li gave a soft 'oh,' her large eyes darting around, clearly thinking of something else.

On the other side, even with Yan Jingyun joining the fray, capturing Murong Wan remained a fool's dream, especially with Ye Fan secretly assisting.

Seeing the casualties on his side gradually increase, Yan Jingyun finally couldn't hold back any longer.

Continuing like this, even if they killed Ye Fan, the losses would outweigh the gains. They had to end this quickly.

Yan Jingyun roared and unleashed his trump card technique. A violent force tore a rift through the cold wave before he charged straight at Ye Fan.

Murong Wan's face paled slightly. She wanted to intervene but was tightly entangled by the Yan Family clansmen.

She could only watch helplessly as Yan Jingyun lunged at Ye Fan, her heart momentarily thrown into chaos.

"Stop!"

Yan Jingyun had no intention of stopping. A cold sneer curled at the corner of his mouth as he already envisioned capturing Ye Fan alive.

As long as he subdued this waste, he could force Murong Wan to submit. Even if she was at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm, what did it matter if she reached Great Perfection?

But at the critical moment, Ye Fan calmly raised his right hand and gently tapped the void.

"Heh, still putting on a brave face even at death's door. I think you..."

Before Yan Jingyun could finish his sentence, an intangible finger force pierced through the void.

Accompanied by a shrill scream, Yan Jingyun's body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, smashing violently into a cliff face not far away.

The previously chaotic valley instantly fell dead silent. Whether it was Murong Wan or the Yan Family clansmen, everyone was dumbfounded, utterly unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

Only Yun Li stood with her hands on her slender waist, wearing an expression that said 'I knew it all along,' looking extremely pleased with herself.

Yan Jingyun slid down the cliff face like mud. He felt as if his internal organs had been displaced and his ribcage completely crushed. He couldn't stop vomiting large mouthfuls of blood, his eyes filled with confusion and terror.

On the contrary, Ye Fan was somewhat surprised. Yan Jingyun had actually survived a blow from the Mysterious Jade Finger? His defense was truly abnormal.

"He must have some kind of protective Magical Artifact."

Only upon thinking this did Ye Fan notice the others looking at him as if they had seen a ghost. Especially Murong Wan, her beautiful eyes somewhat dazed, as if unable to believe what had happened.

Ye Fan sighed helplessly. He knew this would happen, which was why he had been hiding his true cultivation level all along.

But now, there was no choice but to reveal it. He could only take things one step at a time from here.

"I originally wanted to get along with you all as an ordinary person, but all I received in return was mockery and humiliation."

"No more pretending. I am a once-in-a-millennium cultivation prodigy, the youngest Disciple of the Joyous Union Sect to achieve the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm. I'm laying my cards on the table."

Ye Fan shrugged helplessly, his infuriating expression nearly causing Yan Jingyun to black out and faint on the spot.

"Cultivation prodigy? Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm? You're talking nonsense!"

Yan Jingyun naturally didn't believe Ye Fan's nonsense. He was convinced that Ye Fan had injured him using some Magical Artifact, Talisman, or other underhanded method.

"If you don't believe me, then see for yourself."

Ye Fan's tone changed as he unleashed the Mysterious Jade Finger, tapping randomly into the void.

Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, the Yan Family side erupted like ignited fireworks. Clansmen and Disciples exploded one after another, dying from cranial bursts!

Blood mixed with brain matter flew everywhere. No one could withstand a single finger from Ye Fan.

By the time Yan Jingyun realized what was happening, over a dozen people had been killed in succession, and the situation immediately spiraled out of control.

The Yan Family ranks fell into disarray. Who could care about anything else now? They turned and fled one after another.

"Wan'er, stop them! Leave none alive!"

Ye Fan's voice snapped Murong Wan out of her daze. She had no time to ponder what was happening. For now, dealing with the Yan Family came first. If even one escaped, there would be trouble.

"June Snowfall!"

Murong Wan stirred up the cold wave to block the Yan Family clansmen, while Ye Fan turned his attention to Yan Jingyun.

The guy seemed to have short-circuited, his mind a complete blank. When he finally came to his senses, only one thought remained.

"Escape!"

Yan Jingyun had no time to think about what had just happened. Instinct drove him to flee toward the mountaintop. As long as he could leave the trial Secret Realm, he could survive. He might even be able to turn the tables and accuse Ye Fan of harming a fellow sect member.

True to his status as the Yan Family's direct descendant, he had no shortage of trump cards. He actually pulled out a special flying Magical Artifact sword that allowed a Qi Refining Realm Disciple to fly.

Although it was far inferior to the flight speed of a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator, it was sufficient for self-preservation and escape.

Grasping the Flying Sword, Yan Jingyun soared into the air, heading straight for the mountaintop. In the blink of an eye, he had flown nearly a hundred zhang.

This distance far exceeded the attack range of a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator. Even if Ye Fan truly was at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm, he couldn't possibly stop him.

But just as Yan Jingyun began to relax, a terrifying finger force pierced through the void towards him.

"Severing Rivers and Dividing Seas!"

An attack gathering all of Ye Fan's power struck. The terrifying finger force instantly detonated Yan Jingyun's body.

Bang!

Accompanied by a terrifying explosion of spiritual power, a rain of blood actually began to fall from the sky.

Yan Jingyun was dead!

After reaching the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm, the power of the Mysterious Jade Finger had risen by more than a notch. Even exceeding a hundred zhang, its potency was barely diminished.

Witnessing their young master killed, the Yan Family clansmen were scared out of their wits, their composure shattered.

Murong Wan seized this opportunity. Her azure frost sword danced up and down, quickly rounding up and eliminating the remaining Yan Family members.

As for Ye Fan, he had long since gone to collect the spoils of war. He retrieved a Flying Sword and a deformed inner armor from the pile of minced flesh.

"So this is what blocked the Mysterious Jade Finger. Although it's severely damaged, it might still be usable after repairs."

Ye Fan happily stored the items away. Just as he was about to say something, he felt a chilling aura emanating from behind him.

"Ye Fan... you'd better give me a reasonable explanation."

Turning around, he saw Murong Wan's delicate brows tightly furrowed. Her beautiful face, cold as ice, was filled with confusion, mixed with an indescribable emotion.

Yun Li covered her mouth nearby, not daring to speak, secretly thinking that Senior Brother was in for trouble this time.

Since he was doomed either way, Ye Fan decided to throw caution to the wind.

"Senior Sister, it's not convenient to talk here. Let's find another place to chat."

Ye Fan pointed at the surrounding minced flesh and bloodstains; even the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood.

Only then did Murong Wan come to her senses. She told Ye Fan and the other to follow her.

The three of them traversed the mountain for a while, arriving at a hidden cave. It seemed to be Murong Wan's hiding place during this period.

"Can you explain now?" Murong Wan asked with a frown.