Chapter 572: Chapter 571 Outer Domain
The spiritual energy in Shazhou City was rich, as it was already close to the Red Sand Temple.
Ye Fan checked the notices posted within the city. He saw no bounty for his capture but did see a significant announcement: the Gods Battlefield was urgently recruiting.
The conflict between the Dark God and the Sovereign God tempted Ye Fan, especially since, on a grand scale, the Dark God was his ultimate enemy. However, after much thought, he decided it was best to lie low for a while longer. His current strength was pitifully weak, and he would surely not survive a trip to the Gods Battlefield.
So, he looked at another notice. This one concerned one of the most dangerous places in the Divine Domain: a unique region known as the Outer Domain.
It was home not only to the Dark God and the Sovereign God but also to the Demon Clan. The Divine Dragons had once ruled over the Demon Clan, and although their influence had waned, they still held significant power in the Outer Domain.
Of course, the region was treacherous. It contained so-called death zones and several desolate forbidden grounds. A Sovereign God had once ventured into one of these forbidden grounds and was never seen again. It was said that the Outer Domain was a place where danger and opportunity coexisted.
It was once the primary source of Vast Divine Steel. For that reason alone, Ye Fan felt it was worth the risk.
Who knows? If I find the Vast Divine Steel, I might be able to break through.
Tempted, Ye Fan prepared to head for the Outer Domain. He bought a map at a shop in Shazhou City and then set out.
The Outer Domain was considered the center of the entire Divine Domain and was also its most complex region, bridging the realms of the Sovereign God and the Dark God. On another front, it also bordered the territories of the Demon Clan. Even though the Demon Clan was in decline, neither the Sovereign God nor the Dark God dared to provoke them.
After all, the Demon Clan was known as the most physically powerful race. Tracing their lineage back to the Ancient Times, they had once been the rulers of the Divine Domain. So, even in their decline, their combat prowess remained immense.
This new information shattered his previous understanding of the Divine Domain, making him realize he knew far too little.
He arrived at the outskirts of the Outer Domain two months later. Despite flying through the air the entire way, he couldn’t match the speed of the great clans’ Divine Ships. These ships were their primary mode of air travel, powered by energy from Spirit Stones.
The Outer Domain was a dilapidated place, far from the bustling world he had imagined. It was a place where ruins and wickedness abounded. As he traveled, Ye Fan had already caught someone’s attention.
They were five bandits, born from the lawless wilds. Three of the men were at the third level of Nirvana, and two were at the fourth. Seeing Ye Fan’s lavish attire, they concluded he was a fat sheep.
Having just arrived, Ye Fan didn’t want to stir up trouble, so he repeatedly tried to shake them off. But the men’s coordination was too good, and they stayed on his trail.
Although the spiritual energy in the Outer Domain was strong, a foul miasma hung in the air, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere.
At that moment, one of the men said, "We have to take this kid down tonight! If we don’t, we won’t be able to follow him deeper into the Outer Domain."
"Boss, the kid is too cunning. He almost lost us," another man replied immediately. "I bet he’ll be on full alert tonight!"
The leader scoffed angrily. "What’s there to fear? So what if he’s on guard? Every one of us is stronger than him! Besides, there are five of us and only one of him. No matter what tricks he tries, he can’t possibly handle us. A fat sheep like that must be loaded with cultivation materials and treasures! Once he enters the second perilous layer of the Outer Domain tomorrow, we’ll lose our chance."
"Alright, we’ll listen to you, Boss!"
The group had reached a consensus.
That night, Ye Fan entered a deserted temple alone. Inside, he saw a Buddha statue that seemed different from any he had seen before. This statue wore a sinister smile; it was not a sacred Buddha but one that had fallen to demonhood. No wonder there was no incense or worship here.
To Ye Fan, this was perfectly understandable. Since it wasn’t a righteous Buddha, he had nothing to worry about. Normally, killing would be forbidden here out of respect for the divine, but since this was a demonic Buddha, he had no such reservations. Ye Fan never considered himself a righteous man; he believed in killing when necessary. Tonight would be the burial night for these five men.
As expected, the five bandits arrived outside the temple.
"The kid’s hiding in the temple. Let’s go in and kill him!" the leader said mockingly.
But the other men hesitated.
"What’s wrong?" the lead bandit asked coldly. Seeing his brothers acting so timidly infuriated him, and he had to resist the urge to beat them.
One man said with a tremor in his voice, "Boss, this temple is cursed. Legend says any Martial Cultivator who enters gets eaten by the Demon Buddha inside!"
"Boss, why don’t we wait until morning? The kid can’t escape. We can just set up an ambush outside."
This was a dreaded place on the outskirts of the Outer Domain. Ordinarily, Martial Cultivators, Trialists, and even bandits like them dared not set foot inside the temple. Once, a man who disbelieved the superstition had entered and was never seen again. Now, under the cover of night, the terrifying atmosphere made them genuinely afraid.
Although the lead bandit felt a flicker of fear, he spoke in a cold voice. "If that kid dares to go in, why shouldn’t we? If word gets out that we were scared, we’ll be a laughingstock! How will we face anyone out here again? We might as well just get the hell out of the Outer Domain!"
He thought about their reputation. They were somewhat notorious in this region; though not exceptionally powerful, their name was known. If they showed fear tonight, that reputation would be ruined. Having committed countless evil deeds, they would surely be hunted down and killed if they ever left the Outer Domain.
Once the others realized their leader was determined, they gathered their courage and rushed in. Their reputation could not be destroyed. No matter what, they had to brave this man-eating temple.
When the five men entered, they saw Ye Fan sitting calmly beneath the Buddha statue. The sight of the creepy idol sent a shiver down their spines, and they couldn’t help but feel afraid.
The lead bandit shouted at Ye Fan, "Kid, let’s see you try to hide now!"
The group laughed uproariously. Although this was the first forbidden ground of the Outer Domain, they hadn’t noticed anything particularly strange since arriving.
Ye Fan, however, spoke calmly, "Hide? I never intended to hide. In fact, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time."
"Courting death!"
The five men immediately charged.
