Shrouded Sky

Chapter 137 - Flirtation

The man looked no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He was tall, with long arms, his hands especially large, almost a full circle bigger than normal, like a pair of small fans.

His skin gleamed, as though starlight were embedded within. His oversized hands were as translucent as white jade, smooth, clear, and almost see-through.

Nearby, the cultivators whose weapons Ye Fan had shattered and who had been kicked into the underbrush now looked excited. A cultivator at the peak of the Celestial Bridge Stage was unimaginably powerful compared to them.

“Senior Brother Yang has to teach him a lesson! Otherwise, he’ll really think our Star Peak has no one. Let him understand the true height of the heavens and depth of the earth!”

“Senior brother, your strength is nearly at the Other Shore Stage. Just don’t be too harsh, no need to turn him into a meat patty. Just shatter his hands. Leave him alive, I want to see the look on her face.”

They already imagined Ye Fan writhing in pain, bones shattered, hands broken, just the thought made them feel avenged.

Senior Brother Yang smiled without a word, striding forward. Towering over the fourteen-year-old-looking Ye Fan, he said, “You’re impressive, your body is strong. If you admit your guilt now, I won’t make this hard. We’re all disciples of Supreme Mystery after all, we’ll see each other often.”

Ye Fan nodded. “True. Dull Peak and Star Peak are neighbors. If I accidentally crush you, it’d be hard to explain.”

“This brat is too arrogant! How dare he speak to Senior Brother Yang like that? He’s asking to die!”

“Break all his bones, senior brother! He disrespected Star Peak. We’ve never been looked down on like this before!”

“Half of the sect lords in Supreme Mystery’s history came from our lineage. Even if Dull Peak rises one day, they might only become our equal. And this kid dares to be so arrogant now, infuriating!”

Li Xiaoman stepped forward and said to Ye Fan, “You’re not a match for Senior Brother Yang. Apologize and admit your mistake.”

Ji Ziyue beamed, clapping. “Hurry up and fight! I can’t wait.”

Ye Fan glanced at Li Xiaoman without a word, calmly taking two steps forward.

“Li Shimei, you saw it too. Nothing I can do, he asked for this,” said Senior Brother Yang, smiling.

Standing before him, Ye Fan said, “Three punches? Isn’t that too much? I think one will be enough.”

Senior Brother Yang wasn’t angered. Still smiling, he replied, “Since you’re so confident, I’ll grant your wish, one punch to end it. You’ll get to spend a few years in bed, reflecting on how to be a humble disciple.”

“Crush him, Senior Brother Yang!” the others roared.

“I’ll show him Star Peak isn’t to be mocked!” Senior Brother Yang raised his flawless white jade-like right hand and shouted, “Go rest in bed for a few years!”

His long arm lashed out, his transparent palm close enough to see veins and bones, godpower flowing like a glowing net.

The air howled around the jade hand. Trees bent and tore from the ground, rocks rolled, and the pressure was like a divine mountain about to crush Ye Fan.

But Ye Fan stayed calm, not even activating his spiritforce. He raised his hand casually, as if swatting a mosquito.

Behind him, the Star Peak disciples grinned. This was suicide, they began clapping, already thinking the result was certain.

Only the white-robed man frowned and shouted, “Be careful, Senior Brother Yang!”

But it was too late.

Ye Fan’s hand turned golden in an instant, as if cast from divine metal, radiant and dazzling, not like any normal human flesh.

BOOM!

The golden palm collided with the transparent one. First came a dull thud, then the sound of cracking bones, like beans popping in a pan, sharp and continuous.

“Hahaha… trying to outshine the moon with a firefly?”

“They don’t know that Star Peak disciples have bodies as tough as spirit artifacts. Daring to go hand-to-hand with Senior Brother Yang? Foolish.”

Their words stopped mid-sentence. They were stunned by what they saw next.

It wasn’t Ye Fan whose bones were shattering.

It was the tall Senior Brother Yang.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the surreal scene.

His clothes disintegrated into ash. His nearly transparent body was a sign of Star Peak’s advanced physical cultivation.

Inside that translucent body, his snow-white bones began to crack, starting at his right hand and rapidly spreading. His entire right arm was covered in fractures like shattered porcelain.

The cracks climbed to his neck, spread to his chest, down his legs, web-like fractures stretching all the way to his toes.

Finally, even his spine, left arm, and skull cracked like broken ceramics.

It was terrifying.

Everyone could clearly see the destruction within his transparent body. Each bone fracture echoed in their ears.

Many were stunned stiff on the spot, breathless from shock.

Ye Fan calmly stepped back, then exhaled. The gust sent Senior Brother Yang flying backward. As he fell, he let out a tragic scream: “Aaaaaah!”

All the bones in his body had been shattered. His body contorted as he collapsed, unable to hold itself together.

Everyone was shaken to their core. This was a cultivator at the Celestial Bridge Stage, yet one strike from Ye Fan had crushed every bone in his body. Just thinking about it was terrifying.

A female cultivator rushed forward, enveloping Yang in godlight to prevent him from crashing to the ground. If he fell, his body would be ruined forever.

Even so, she trembled, carefully supporting his head, afraid it might deform.

“What…”

“How can this be?!”

No one could stay calm. That palm strike was beyond comprehension. It reduced a Celestial Bridge Stage cultivator to rubble, like swatting a straw dummy.

The disciples who had been kicked earlier now trembled in fear. A figure like this, he could kill them as easily as breathing.

“That body… too terrifying. We Star Peak disciples have bodies tempered by starlight, known for resilience. Yet he shattered Yang’s bones with one blow. That strike must be nearly on par with an Other Shore Stage cultivator!”

Ye Fan stood there quietly. His face looked only fourteen, delicate, even youthful, with an innocent, sunny appearance. It made the scene feel even more surreal.

Star Peak’s disciples broke into cold sweat. He was like a humanoid beast, no, more like a legendary godbeast, radiating terrifying might.

Li Xiaoman stood frozen. She couldn’t believe it, Ye Fan had crushed Senior Brother Yang with one slap and still had strength to spare. A casual blow, yet so devastating. Her mind reeled.

In that moment, the calmest person wasn’t Ye Fan, it was Ji Ziyue. Smiling, she said, “Boring. Was that guy made of paper? Couldn’t even take one hit.”

Her words drew many angry glares.

“Yang was weak, not someone to blame. Everyone else step back,” came a voice from the rear.

It was the white-robed man. Apart from Ji Ziyue, he remained the most composed.

He stepped forward and said to Ye Fan, “You’ve injured many Star Peak disciples. Clearly, you have some skill, they weren’t wronged.”

Ye Fan glanced at the screaming Yang and said, “Rest up in bed for a few years. Reflect on how to be a humble disciple.” Then he turned to face the white-robed man.

This man was about twenty years old, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, handsome and spotless in white robes and shoes. In his gaze, stars twinkled.

“You seem like someone trained before joining the sect. What technique do you practice?” he asked calmly.

“The Dao of Nature,” Ye Fan answered casually.

Behind them, the Star Peak disciples calmed slightly upon seeing this man step in. When they heard Ye Fan's answer, they objected loudly:

“Dull Peak’s Natural Grand Dao was only recently passed down. It can’t possibly be this powerful.”

“That force earlier was like an abyss, completely unlike the natural way.”

They burned with frustration and rage. Today they’d been suppressed again and again. Star Peak’s face was thoroughly trampled.

“You won’t say? Then I won’t ask,” the white-robed man said coolly. “Let’s spar.”

“You’re at the Other Shore Stage. Feel good saying that?” Ji Ziyue stepped forward, pouting slightly, showing her pearly teeth. “Why don’t you go pick on someone from the Dao Palace Realm instead?”

“He crushed a Celestial Bridge cultivator with one slap. Sparring with me isn’t unfair.”

“Oh, how noble. He just has a strong body. But you’re in the Other Shore Stage, you have divine techniques. How’s that fair?” Ji Ziyue frowned.

“When he shattered Senior Brother Yang, his fate was sealed. He has no choice anymore,” the white-robed man said coldly. “If he wants to live, he’ll kneel before Yang, apologize, and shatter his own bones. Otherwise, I’ll act personally.”

“My legs have never knelt, even to the heavens. You think you're worthy? Are any of you?” Ye Fan stared him down.

“Your legs are tough? Then I’ll break them first,” said the white-robed man calmly, as if discussing a trivial matter.

Not far away, Li Xiaoman stepped forward and said, “Senior Brother Chen Feng, there’s no need to go that far. A light punishment is enough, no need to start a serious conflict. Dull Peak is rising; let’s not damage the relationship between our peaks.”

Chen Feng smiled slightly. “Oh? What punishment does Junior Sister Li suggest?”

Ye Fan glanced at Li Xiaoman but said nothing. He strode forward, facing Chen Feng directly. “Hey moron, do you really think I’m just meat on a chopping block, waiting to be sliced?”

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Chen Feng said, eyes calm. He spread his hand, and starlight flickered within it, like small stars hovering in his palm. Looking at Ye Fan, he said, “One last chance. Shatter your bones and apologize, or if I act, your life is no longer guaranteed.”

“Damn... would it kill you to stop acting so high and mighty?” Ye Fan replied calmly. “How about this? I’ll break your legs, and then, I’ll crush your head.”