Chapter Thirty-Seven: Battle of the Stairway

The first to step forward with a challenge was Chen Dong, someone Mo Fan had grown up with. Mo Fan knew exactly what kind of person he was. Previously, whenever they met, Chen Dong would be filled with rage, attacking without the slightest reservation. Now that the stairs had descended, it was the perfect opportunity for him to humiliate Mo Fan; how could he possibly let it pass?

"Mo Fan, you claim you can fight experts of the Myriad Phenomena stage and match those in the Initial Awareness realm. Can a minor Bone-Body stage cultivator like me catch the eye of a master who cannot even open up a Desolate Domain?"

"Why don't we have a wager to see who can climb the first step first?"

Chen Dong was full of confidence, dismissing Mo Fan entirely. He had never climbed the Panlong Mountain stairs either, but as a disciple of a prominent family in Gancheng Prefecture, although their strength did not compare to the four great powers, it was easy for them to obtain certain information—such as details regarding the Panlong Stairs.

It was an impossible gap to bridge. Even for those in the Body Tempering realm, without specific means, it was difficult to set foot on the stairs, let alone for a piece of trash like Mo Fan, who couldn't even open a Desolate Domain.

Mo Fan did not answer. He paid no mind to Chen Dong’s provocations. A great path lay beneath his feet, and he was wondering whether he should ascend the stairs; just as the youth in green had said, opportunities could be found anywhere in life.

"What? Are you scared?"

Chen Dong provoked him again, mistaking Mo Fan’s silence for cowardice. "Ha! The famous genius of Ghostly Peak is too afraid to accept a challenge. It seems you really are a complete waste of space." Chen Dong’s tongue was sharp and unrestrained, his mockery growing more biting.

Mo Fan still ignored him, lost in his own thoughts.

"Mo Fan, you piece of trash! Not only are you useless, but your parents were trash too!" Chen Dong went on and on, but Mo Fan treated him like air, as if he didn't exist.

In the past, Mo Fan had only known Chen Dong to be a ruthless character, but he hadn't realized he was also so adept at hurling insults. After talking for so long, Chen Dong felt parched, yet the boy before him acted as though he were invisible.

*Damn it!*

Chen Dong’s anger flared, and he blurted out, "You waste! With your pathetic self, you still want to find your sister? You’re delusional!"

At the mention of his sister, the corner of Mo Fan’s eye twitched, and a cold, frigid aura emanated from him. Chen Dong was no slouch at reading people. Seeing the icy glint in Mo Fan’s eyes, he felt a surge of excitement, thinking, *This is it!*

He continued, "Let me tell you, that sister of yours, Mo Yi? She’s probably dead by now. Her corpse is likely rotting in the wilderness, gnawed on by wild dogs, or perhaps she was first..."

Bang!

Before he could finish, Chen Dong felt his body go light, and he was sent flying, crashing violently into the rocky forest.

Mo Fan had moved too fast for anyone to see—not Chen Dong, not the burly men beside him, and not the observers hiding in the shadows.

"An interesting youth. It seems the legends about Ghostly Peak are true!" Ghost-Feared-By-All’s eyes shifted, scanning the crowd before he vanished from the dense forest. His goal in coming here was not the Nine-Dragon Fan—that was merely a decoy he had set to draw hatred toward Ghost Shadow, so he could strike unexpectedly at the critical moment. As for Ghost-Feared-By-All, the Young Master of Ghosts, he was here for a legendary, never-before-seen Heavenly Book.

The Demon Lord had sensed long ago that the Devouring Heavenly Book, said to be capable of consuming the heavens, had emerged, but due to a seal, its exact location remained hidden. To find it, the Demon Lord had bestowed upon him a sensing essence to aid in his search. Earlier, a chance encounter involving the Demon Flower had revealed that the book was in the possession of the people with the ox cart. From the moment they stepped into this place, Ghost-Feared-By-All had been tracking them. After filtering through the crowd, he had narrowed his targets down to four: Mo Fan, the youth in green, the old man driving the cart, and the renowned Plum Sword Duan Liuxiang.

Ghost-Feared-By-All was a man of immense intellect and never wasted time on the irrelevant. He appeared in a flash, instantly killing whoever stood in his way, interested only in opponents worthy of a fight. Plum Sword Duan Liuxiang was his ideal match.

"Plum Sword, today I shall properly test whether your sword is faster, or if my demonic arts have reached a higher plane." Ghost-Feared-By-All carved a path, blocking Duan Liuxiang’s way with a sinister grin, his demonic power coalescing as he engaged Duan Liuxiang in a fierce battle.

The Demon Flower followed closely behind, her eyes filled with ferocity. She vented all the grievances she had suffered in front of Ghost-Feared-By-All onto those blocking her path, slaughtering them without mercy. She was no longer the timid girl she had seemed; like her master, she had become a true goddess of slaughter.

Duan Liuxiang and Ghost-Feared-By-All were recluses of immense cultivation. Once they began to fight, they paid no heed to the world around them; every move was capable of leveling a small hill. Seeing such a battle, most people fled in terror, daring not to approach.

Chen Dong, eyes burning with rage, slowly stood up. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and took a stance, like an angry lion preparing to charge Mo Fan. "You lot, tear this thief to pieces!" he roared, commanding the burly men who had been blocking Mo Fan.

"Shameless!" Youyou, hiding in the depths of the forest, scoffed in disdain. Qiu Yehong and the others felt the same contempt; their first impression of Chen Dong was abysmal.

*Bang, bang!*

The men Chen Dong had brought were top-tier cultivators, stronger than him. Commanded by Chen Dong, they dared not hesitate and launched a series of lethal attacks. Mo Fan utilized his Shadow-Killing Fist technique, deftly weaving through their encirclement and moving through the rocky forest.

"Trash! You’re all trash!" Chen Dong, seeing that several men attacking at once still couldn't take Mo Fan down, cursed frantically. "You useless slaves! You boast of how capable you are, yet you can’t even handle a piece of trash! At critical moments, I have to do it myself. I’ve wasted my resources on you dogs."

Unable to watch any longer, Chen Dong, seeing Mo Fan treating his men like toys with his strange footwork, unleashed his Desolate Domain. A frigid, majestic chill swept through the area. Turning his palms into fists, he charged toward Mo Fan.

Boom!

A heavy punch flashed by, and before Chen Dong could react, he was sent flying once more. His eyes widened, as if he had seen a ghost. He tried to speak, "You, you..." but could not get the words out. When he crashed into the forest, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale.

"Yes! That’s satisfying!" Youyou cheered, applauding Mo Fan’s strike. She was usually arrogant herself, but she couldn't stand anyone more arrogant than her. Seeing Chen Dong being beaten by Mo Fan made her feel exhilarated. She muttered to herself, "Who told you to be more arrogant than me? If anyone is going to teach him a lesson, it should be me!"

In her excitement, Youyou flashed out, slipping past the old woman before she could grab her, and arrived on the battlefield. With a light movement, she sent the burly men fighting Mo Fan flying into the ancient woods of Panlong Mountain, drawing the gaze of everyone present.