195: Chapter 195 The Old Madman's Teachings

Time flowed like water, slipping silently through one's fingers.

A full year had passed since the battle where Ye Fan killed Wang Teng.

During this year, the bustle of the Eastern Wasteland had never ceased. Prodigies from various regions took turns on the stage; one made a Breakthrough today, another emerged from seclusion tomorrow. It seemed as if new legends were born every single day.

Yet, the most eye-catching event of the year occurred within the Ji Family—the Ancient Desolate Saint Body who had killed the Northern Emperor had finally made a Breakthrough.

The news of Ye Fan stepping into the Half-step Great Power Realm was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples throughout the Eastern Wasteland. On the day the news spread, the Holy Lords of various Holy Lands and the heads of various Families received this intelligence at the same moment.

Yaoguang Holy Land.

Holy Lord Yao Guang stood on the star-gazing platform at the highest point of the Holy Land, clutching a Jade Slip of communication in his hand, remaining silent for a long time. His gaze fell upon the lines of text on the Jade Slip, a complex emotion flashing through his eyes.

Ye Fan, who had killed the Half-step Great Power Eighth Heaven Wang Teng while at the Peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm, had now broken through to the Half-step Great Power Realm himself. The Ancient Desolate Saint Body, combined with the amplification of the Eight Forbidden, plus his mysterious Heavenly Emperor Fist... the combat power of this youth could no longer be measured by conventional logic.

"Half-step Great Power..." Holy Lord Yao Guang murmured, "With this step taken, who else in the Half-step Great Power Realm can contend with him?"

He put down the Jade Slip and looked in the direction of the Ji Family.

"Pass down the order: from this day forth, all Disciples of Yaoguang Holy Land, if you encounter Ye Fan, do not provoke him lightly."

"Yes."

Yaochi Holy Land.

The Holy Maiden of Yaochi stood by the side of the Jade Pool, holding a pure white flower bud in her hand, listening to the report from a Disciple beside her. Her expression remained cold and aloof, but a ripple flashed through her eyes.

"Half-step Great Power... Ancient Desolate Saint Body... Eight Forbidden... and the Heavenly Emperor Fist he created himself..." She whispered to herself, "Ye Fan, you are walking faster than I imagined."

She turned and walked into the depths of Yaochi.

"Pass down the order: Yaochi Holy Land shall continue to maintain friendly relations with the Ji Family."

"Yes."

Jiang Family.

Jiang Yifei stood before the ancestral hall, holding an ancient scripture in his hand, but his gaze fell upon the distant horizon. He listened to the report from the Elder of the clan, fell silent for a moment, and then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Ye Fan, you truly did not disappoint me," he said softly, "Half-step Great Power... It seems I need to step up my efforts as well."

He turned and walked back into the ancestral hall.

"Pass down the order: the Alliance between the Jiang Family and the Ji Family shall be further deepened."

"Yes."

Northern Plains, Wang Family.

Wang Chengkun sat in the great hall, clutching a Jade Slip, his face ashen. His eyes were filled with hatred, but even more so with a deep sense of dread.

Ye Fan had broken through to the Half-step Great Power Realm.

Ancient Desolate Saint Body, Eight Forbidden, Heavenly Emperor Fist—these terms pierced his heart like needles. His son, Wang Teng, had died at the hands of this youth.

"Ye Fan..." He gritted his teeth, enunciating each word, "Just you wait. One day, I will make you pay in blood."

But his hands were trembling. Because he knew that Ye Fan had already grown up. The Ancient Desolate Saint Body at the Half-step Great Power Realm, coupled with the amplification of the Eight Forbidden, meant that even if he faced a Great Power who had just entered the Second Heaven of the Immortal Platform, he would have the strength to fight.

In the Realm of Half-step Great Power, Ye Fan was already invincible among his peers.

Wang Chengkun closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Pass down the order: all Disciples of the Wang Family are forbidden from coming into conflict with Ye Fan."

"Yes."

Eastern Wasteland, various Holy Lands.

Similar conversations were constantly unfolding in the council halls of various Holy Lands and major Families.

Everyone knew that Ye Fan was no longer the Loose Cultivator who could be easily manipulated. The Ancient Desolate Saint Body at the Half-step Great Power Realm, with the Eight Forbidden fully unleashed, had combat power approaching that of a Great Power at the Second Heaven of the Immortal Platform.

In the Realm of Half-step Great Power, he was an invincible existence.

Those scions of noble families who once looked down on Ye Fan now lowered their voices involuntarily whenever they mentioned this name.

Those Holy Lords who had once wanted to win over Ye Fan were now even more determined in their resolve to do so.

Ji Family.

Ye Fan stood on the Martial Arts Arena, feeling the surging, sea-like power within his body, and let out a long breath.

It had been a year.

From killing Wang Teng until now, a full year. In this year, he had hardly rested for a single day. During the day, he Cultivated with Old Maniac; at night, he contemplated on his own, day after day, month after month.

Finally, today, he had made a Breakthrough.

Half-step Great Power.

First Heaven of the Sendai Realm.

Within his body, that golden bitter sea had already evolved into a vast Sendai. Golden light circulated on the Sendai; it was the sublimation of the power of the Ancient Desolate Saint Body. He could feel that his combat power had increased by more than several times compared to when he was in the Dragon Transformation Realm.

With the Eight Forbidden fully unleashed, his combat power could reach the Eighth Heaven of the Half-step Great Power Realm. Coupled with the Physique of the Ancient Desolate Saint Body, even if he faced a Great Power who had just entered the Second Heaven of the Immortal Platform, he would have the strength to fight.

In the Realm of Half-step Great Power, he was invincible.

"Not bad."

An aged voice rang out behind him.

Ye Fan turned around and saw Old Maniac standing at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, hands behind his back, watching him.

A year had passed, and Old Maniac's complexion was much better than before. His hair was still gray, but his eyes were no longer cloudy; they had become clear and sharp. No Qi leaked from his body, but Ye Fan knew that this old man's strength was unfathomable.

"Senior." Ye Fan bowed respectfully.

Old Maniac looked at him and nodded.

"Half-step Great Power, with a solid Foundation and steady aura. Not bad, even better than I imagined."

He paused, then continued: "But Half-step Great Power is just the beginning. True experts do not rely on their Realm to suppress others; they rely on Secret Techniques, Cultivation Techniques, and combat instinct."

Ye Fan listened attentively.

"This year, I have taught you many things," Old Maniac said. "The All-Word Secret and the Travel Secret, you have both learned. Although there is still a probability limit to triggering the All-Word Secret, you have already grasped its essence. You have also Cultivated the Travel Secret to Minor Achievement, and your speed is more than ten times faster than before."

Ye Fan nodded.

The All-Word Secret—a buffing Secret Technique that can instantly increase one's own combat power, speed, and other attributes by ten times, though there is a probability limit to triggering it.

In this year, he had tried countless times, failed countless times, and finally mastered the essentials of this Secret Technique. Although he could not guarantee a one-hundred-percent trigger rate, he at least had a fifty-percent chance of certainty.

The Travel Secret—representing the ultimate speed in the world, unconstrained by Formations; when Cultivated to the extreme, it can touch the Domain of time. He had Cultivated this Secret Technique relatively smoothly; although it was still far from reaching the extreme, his speed was already more than ten times faster than before.

"But it is not enough." Old Maniac's voice became solemn. "You still need stronger Cultivation Techniques and stronger explosive power."

He looked at Ye Fan, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

"Next, I want to teach you a fist technique."