At that moment, Yoshimura Takuya was about to flee. But just then, another figure appeared, blocking his path. It was Black Fog, Ye Fan’s most capable assistant to date. He had received a message from Ye Fan and rushed over, arriving just in time to cut off Yoshimura Takuya’s escape.

"Attack!" Yoshimura Takuya commanded, and his subordinates immediately charged toward Black Fog.

The taciturn Black Fog wasted no words and attacked directly. He was the type who preferred fighting to talking. He unleashed his full power with bizarre techniques—the same ones that had once nearly gotten the better of Ye Fan.

After all, he had already crossed the threshold into the Innate realm, and his strength was steadily increasing.

These ninjas stood no chance against Black Fog and fell in moments. Yoshimura Takuya felt a threat that seemed to emanate from Hell itself.

Young Master Wu and the others didn’t even have the courage to run. They were just worldly playboys whose expertise lay in wining, dining, and bullying commoners. Faced with this situation, their legs went weak with fear, paralyzing them.

Then, Ye Fan approached Lie Huo. He wasn’t dead yet, but he was close.

With a roar, Lie Huo charged toward Ye Fan, unleashing his ultimate move at top speed. The full power of an Innate Expert was on display. Without a doubt, the pressure was so intense that even Black Fog, who had only recently become Innate, felt inferior. Lie Huo, on the other hand, had been an Innate Expert for a very long time.

He was just one step away from the power of a King.

He roared at Ye Fan, "You dare insult me? I’ll kill you right now!"

"This is your last move," Ye Fan said. "Make it count."

With that, Ye Fan threw a punch that pierced through Lie Huo’s body. Even his formidable muscles could not withstand the blow.

He collapsed, unwilling to accept defeat.

Lie Huo was dead. This time, Ye Fan had not held back, killing him with a single punch.

Witnessing this, Young Master Wu was scared witless. As a worldly playboy, he had never seen such a bloody and terrifying scene. His mind simply could not handle it, and he was literally frightened to death.

Meanwhile, Ye Fan approached Yoshimura Takuya.

"Who... who are you?" Yoshimura Takuya asked. "To kill someone that strong... you must be a King!"

It had finally dawned on him. To kill someone as formidable as Lie Huo, there was only one possibility: Ye Fan was a King. No one else could possess that kind of strength.

Ye Fan said, "You’re only realizing this now? Isn’t it a bit late?"

"It shouldn’t have come to this," Yoshimura Takuya said, disheartened. "My Jintian Group should never have opposed you from the start. I never expected that a top-tier King would be the one backing the Su family!"

With a King for support, even his mighty Jintian Group was insignificant. The comprehensive power of a King could rival that of a small nation. In terms of methods, a single King could cause the world’s three strongest military powers a massive headache. Thus, the Jintian Group, despite being hailed as a business empire, was nothing before a King.

Ye Fan declared, "Opposing me was the Jintian Group’s greatest mistake!"

He gathered his power, ready to strike, but at that moment Yoshimura Takuya spoke again. "Wait! I have one question before I die!"

"What is it?" Ye Fan asked.

As a King, a powerful being, he was not afraid of Yoshimura Takuya stalling for time or playing tricks.

Yoshimura Takuya asked, "Which of the Eight Kings are you?"

"The King of Heaven," Ye Fan spoke calmly.

At this, Yoshimura Takuya was petrified. The King of Heaven! It’s actually the King of Heaven! They said the King of Heaven had returned to the Divine Land. I never believed it, but now I have no reason not to.

The King of Heaven was the foremost of the Eight Kings, a name that alone was enough to inspire despair. Yoshimura Takuya said, "To die at the hands of the King of Heaven is my honor! King of Heaven, do it!"

He had already lost all will to resist. Besides, Ye Fan was the King of Heaven, the strongest of the Kings. With such power, no one below the rank of King could hope to escape from his grasp.

Ye Fan struck immediately. With a swipe of his finger, Yoshimura Takuya clutched his throat and fell to the ground, all life extinguished.

At that moment, Black Fog disappeared. He was a mysterious man. Although he was Ye Fan’s capable assistant and the strongest in the Heavenly King Hall aside from Ye Fan himself, he always came and went without a trace. Even within the Heavenly King Hall, very few had ever seen him.

Looking at the dilapidated ruins, Ye Fan walked toward Wu Shiyin.

He pulled her into his arms and said, "I told you I would protect you for a lifetime, and I have."

Wu Shiyin cried, "I didn’t expect you to be the King of Heaven. I’m not worthy of you!"

Without a doubt, in Wu Shiyin’s mind, since she had not been able to give her ’first time’ to Ye Fan, she felt a sense of inferiority.

Ye Fan, however, said, "I don’t care."

"Where is Yaoyao?" Ye Fan asked.

"Yaoyao is fast asleep," Wu Shiyin replied.

"Good. Don’t let her see this bloody scene."

"Mhm."

Wu Shiyin nodded, truly touched. She wasn’t one to be insecure, so when Ye Fan said he didn’t care, she instantly regained her composure.

The two of them kissed amidst the ruins. For Wu Shiyin, this day had not come easily.

But for Ye Fan, this day had come as easily as any other.

Suddenly, he noticed a purple Jade Pendant on Lie Huo’s body.

Ye Fan was puzzled. What could be the origin of this purple Jade Pendant? He approached Lie Huo and removed it from his body.

Holding it in his hand, he saw three words carved on it: Flame Valley!

So that’s it, Ye Fan realized. Lie Huo was from Flame Valley. This Jade Pendant must be his symbol of identity. If Lie Huo hadn’t died, Wu Shiyin would have continued to suffer. But now that he has died by my hand, how will I explain this to Yaoyao when she grows up?

It was yet another difficult choice. However, given his resolute nature, he was one who never regretted his actions. He had killed someone from Flame Valley, and he doubted they would let this go so easily. For this reason, Ye Fan put the Jade Pendant away safely.

Just as the two were about to get Yaoyao from her room and leave the manor, the unwelcome Sword Coming Team appeared. Moreover, they surrounded him, their faces solemn and angry.

Wu Shiyin was startled, but Ye Fan said, "You go take care of Yaoyao. I’ll handle this."

Wu Shiyin nodded. Though she did not know who these people were, she could tell from Ye Fan’s calm expression that he must know them.

Just then, the leader of the Sword Coming Team, Sword Comes One, said to Ye Fan, "King of Heaven, your actions are too reckless! You must come with us for an investigation!"

"The Divine Continent Sword will judge you personally!"

This time, Ye Fan had killed several people from the secular world. In the eyes of the Divine Continent Sword, he had crossed a line. Now that he had killed these people, he had to accept their judgment.