Chapter 214: Ye Yan and Xiao Fan’s Fierce Duel – Unleashing Trump Cards

On the other side:

Ye Yan stood amidst a pool of blood, holding a tattered map, deep in thought.

He had passed by the area and overheard some wandering cultivators discussing this matter.

Such an opportunity was not something he would let slip.

With a casual strike, he slew the group and seized the map.

“To think that such a chaotic place would hide a cavernous estate?”

Ye Yan’s sharp gaze flickered as he quickly made his way to the northern slopes of the Qiyun Mountain Range.

The two men began their search separately, one heading north and the other south.

Three days later, with Old Dan’s assistance, Xiao Fan was the first to locate an inconspicuous spring.

Without hesitation, he dove underwater and swam toward the cavern.

Shortly after Xiao Fan entered the depths, Ye Yan arrived, guided by the map, and likewise plunged into the waters.

One after the other, the two immediately became aware of each other’s presence.

Ye Yan wasted no time and attacked without warning.

In his eyes, anyone vying for the cavern with him deserved to die.

He condensed flames into a massive blade and swung it fiercely.

Even within the deep pool, where the fiery aura was suppressed by the water’s spiritual energy, the flames’ power was immense.

Before the blade even landed, Xiao Fan felt a burning sensation on his back, as though fire was scorching him. The pain was excruciating.

“A formidable enemy!”

“This must be the individual I predicted—a rival for you.”

Old Dan’s voice echoed in Xiao Fan’s mind.

“Even with memories of your past life, you’re no match for him. Allow me to block this strike. You must focus on entering the cavern and securing your destiny!”

“Understood!” Xiao Fan nodded gravely, his expression resolute.

A burst of light erupted behind Xiao Fan as a phantom of an elderly figure materialized.

With a sudden motion, the phantom delivered a powerful palm strike.

The fiery blade clashed with the phantom’s attack, sending shockwaves rippling through the water.

The turbulent waves slowed Ye Yan’s movements significantly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Fan’s speed surged as he darted toward a stone gate.

Ye Yan’s eyes turned icy.

“So, a powerful soul resides within him. A primordial soul? Only Nascent Soul-stage practitioners can cultivate such a thing!”

“Interesting. Talented individuals seem to be everywhere these days.”

“First Shen Mo, now this Xiao Fan.”

Ye Yan smirked coldly, employing a movement technique to accelerate toward the gate.

“I’ll open it!” Old Dan bellowed, slamming his palm against the stone gate with immense force.

The gate shuddered, and a crack appeared.

Overjoyed, Xiao Fan prepared to slip through the gap.

“The treasures in this cavern are mine. You won’t take them!”

Ye Yan’s cold voice echoed ominously.

“Nascent Soul Art: Flame Manifestation!”

In the next moment, an overwhelming surge of flames erupted, colliding with the gap in the stone gate.

The flames didn’t dissipate immediately; instead, they spread across the gate’s surface, forming a blazing net.

The surrounding water boiled violently, creating countless bubbles.

Xiao Fan was forced to retreat.

“The power of a Nascent Soul Art?!” Xiao Fan exclaimed in shock and fury.

This man was so desperate for the treasure that he resorted to his trump card, a Nascent Soul Art—something typically reserved for life-and-death situations.

Once used, it couldn’t be activated again for several days. If Ye Yan faced a life-threatening crisis in the interim, he’d have no choice but to sacrifice his lifespan to deploy it.

“You must use your own Nascent Soul Art! This is not the time to hold back!” Old Dan urged.

“Behind that stone gate lies the treasures left by the Immortal Hell Flame—perhaps a Heaven-tier martial technique, a Heaven-tier spiritual weapon, or even a demonic armor. Anything is possible!”

Old Dan’s tone was firm.

“Your Nascent Soul Art is no weaker than his. If one strike isn’t enough, use two. Don’t hesitate to spend some of your lifespan!”

“Once you grow stronger, there will be countless heavenly treasures and elixirs to replenish it!”

“Alright! I’ll follow your guidance!” Xiao Fan responded solemnly.

He understood that now was the moment to gamble everything.

Whoever was stronger would claim the cavern and its treasures.

Thus, despite having never met before, the two were destined to fight to the death.

“Nascent Soul Art: Undying Battle Physique!”

With a roar, Xiao Fan unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy, channeling it into every inch of his bones, muscles, and skin.

His stature instantly surged upward, growing significantly taller.

His body also swelled noticeably, resembling a small giant.

The aura he emitted was overwhelmingly terrifying, utterly unlike that of an entry-level Nascent Soul-stage practitioner.

Ye Yan’s heart skipped a beat.

The opponent’s Nascent Soul Art was formidable, clearly a technique that greatly enhanced physical strength across the board for a short period.

In direct combat, the opponent’s Nascent Soul Art was undoubtedly superior.

However, Ye Yan’s Nascent Soul Art, while less suited for head-on combat, excelled in endurance and flexibility.

Determining a clear winner between them wouldn’t be easy!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two exchanged ferocious blows, each attack more intense than the last.

Xiao Fan, like a towering giant, delivered bone-crushing punches, each one landing with devastating force.

Ye Yan, on the other hand, demonstrated incredible agility, deftly evading Xiao Fan’s strikes and occasionally slashing with a sudden, precise blade.

Their fight grew more heated with each clash.

Eventually, both resorted to using their Nascent Soul Arts two, even three times, burning through decades of their lifespans in the process.

The intense battle left them both exhausted, their trump cards nearly depleted, yet the stalemate persisted.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Fan growled, “If we keep fighting like this, we’ll both end up severely injured, and neither of us will get the treasures in the cavern.”

“Why don’t we call a temporary truce and enter the cavern first?”

Ye Yan’s eyes remained icy as he replied, “Fine. A temporary truce.”

Both men stopped their attacks simultaneously.

Yet, their hands, hidden within their sleeves, were subtly poised, spiritual energy faintly surging.

It was clear they were prepared to counterattack at any moment.

“Old Dan,” Xiao Fan murmured.

Old Dan nodded and materialized once more, channeling immense force into the stone gate.

With a loud rumble, the gate slowly creaked open, revealing a crack.

Ye Yan immediately darted into the cavern.

Xiao Fan followed closely behind.

Inside, the cavern was remarkably dry, devoid of any moisture.

Both men finally exhaled in relief.

The immense water pressure at such depths had forced them to continuously expend spiritual energy just to endure, and now they finally had a moment to recover.

“This place… is completely empty?” Xiao Fan exclaimed as he surveyed the surroundings.

Ye Yan’s attention was immediately drawn to a skeleton lying in the center of the cavern, his expression darkening.

“A skeleton… That’s all this cavern holds?!”

Old Dan emerged from Xiao Fan’s body, staring intently at the skeleton. “Six fingers on the left hand, a missing pinky on the right. No doubt, this is the Immortal Hell Flame.”

“But… why is there nothing else here?”

The three split up to search the cavern.

They overturned stone tables, stone beds, and stone chairs, leaving no corner unchecked.

Yet, there were no Heaven-tier techniques, no Heaven-tier artifacts—nothing but a cloud of dust.

The grim realization dawned on them both.

After such an intense fight, and having sacrificed so much of their lifespans, they had gained absolutely nothing.

Both men’s faces twisted with fury.

They had fought tooth and nail, burned through their trump cards, and spent decades of their lives—all for nothing.

Such a cruel outcome would drive anyone to madness.

“Did you know this place was empty all along? Were you just wasting my time?!” Ye Yan snapped, his icy demeanor giving way to anger.

Xiao Fan gritted his teeth. “I was about to ask you the same! I burned through thirty years of my lifespan for this! For what?!”

Both men were consumed with rage, now viewing each other as bitter enemies.

Yet, they were also painfully aware that they had exhausted their resources. Even if they wanted to fight again, they no longer had the strength.

In the end, Xiao Fan turned and left, his face ashen.

Ye Yan hesitated for a moment, then approached the skeleton of the Immortal Hell Flame. He broke it apart piece by piece, examining each bone meticulously.

But even within the remains, he found nothing hidden.

“I, Ye Yan, have suffered a humiliating defeat here!”

“One day, I will kill that man!”

His eyes gleamed with a bone-chilling coldness.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel