Before the consort could resist again, Yun Fan directly restrained her.
"Don't move!"
Yun Fan sneered, "I was a prisoner just now, but now it's your turn!"
"You..."
The consort glared at Yun Fan in anger. Yes, this time she had been completely deceived. The moment she harbored greed, she had fallen into Yun Fan's trap.
It was a pity that her obsession with Yun Fan's power had led her step by step into his snare.
By the time she realized it, it was too late.
Even the Heart of the Mother Tree had been tricked away by Yun Fan.
"You liar, you big liar!"
The consort cursed furiously, "I never imagined you to be such a despicable and shameless scoundrel!"
"At a time of life and death, despicable is despicable, I don't care!"
Yun Fan said, "As long as I'm the final winner, the process truly doesn't matter!"
"Hmph!"
The consort snorted coldly, "What do you want to do?"
"Simple!"
Yun Fan said, "I won't kill you. I'll cooperate with you!"
"Cooperate?"
The consort sneered, "I think you have ulterior motives!"
"You really misunderstand me!"
Yun Fan said, "Killing you would bring me no benefit, but if you cooperate with me, it will benefit both of us!"
"What benefit?"
She asked Yun Fan, puzzled.
Yun Fan said, "Because we have a common enemy, and that is the Saintess of Tai Hua!"
It was then that the consort realized that if anyone harbored the deepest hatred, it would undoubtedly be Yun Fan. After all, she knew about Yun Fan's past.
Therefore, at this moment, she understood that Yun Fan was actually facing even greater difficulties than she was.
"How do you want to cooperate?"
The consort asked coldly. Even if Yun Fan didn't kill her, she had no good feelings towards him.
Yun Fan said, "You can shield everything, so I won't be the target of the Saintess of Tai Hua. And once I advance further, I'll be able to confront the Saintess of Tai Hua. Therefore, before I rise, I need your protection!"
These were Yun Fan's terms.
"What's in it for me?"
The consort asked, confused.
"There's a lot in it for you. Didn't you say you've already become a prey for the Saintess of Tai Hua?"
Yun Fan said, "When I grow stronger, I can help you solve this problem!"
"But what if she attacks me before you grow stronger?"
The consort directly voiced her concerns.
Yun Fan said, "Isn't that simple? It's better for us to fight her together than for you to fight her alone, isn't it?"
Although the consort was reluctant to admit it, what Yun Fan said was true. Fighting the Saintess of Tai Hua with Yun Fan was indeed better than fighting her alone.
"Cooperation is fine, but you have to give me back my Heart!"
The consort said angrily.
Not only had her scheme against Yun Fan failed, but she had also lost a Heart. The loss was too great for her.
Therefore, at this moment, she wanted her Heart back.
However, Yun Fan shook his head, "It's not that I don't want to return it to you, but it has already been refined by me. I'm powerless to help you if you ask me for it!"
"You..."
The consort didn't know what to say.
At this moment, she said to Yun Fan, "I don't care. Since it's cooperation, it must be fair. You will have to compensate me with something of equivalent value in the future!"
"No problem!"
Yun Fan said, "In that case, our cooperation is established!"
What a joke! He couldn't find equivalent compensation. The Qiongqi Divine Pill and the Suanni Divine Pill were still a notch below the Heart of the Mother Tree.
Such a precious item, why would he give it away? He would use it himself.
At this moment, the consort said to Yun Fan, "Alright, I must say this upfront. If you dare to flee at a critical moment, don't blame me for betraying you!"
"Don't worry, I'm really not that kind of person!"
Yun Fan repeatedly assured her, but clearly, the consort no longer believed in his integrity.
However, it didn't matter anymore. Yun Fan had achieved his goal.
Next, Yun Fan went into hiding within the consort's world.
That's right. Now, he needed to develop stealthily. Only by growing stronger could he confront the Saintess of Tai Hua.
Before that, he would play the role of a subordinate!
"I'm very curious, why didn't you become one of the Ten Great Clans?"
Yun Fan asked the consort curiously.
The patriarchs of the Ten Great Clans had to be at the peak of the Void Realm.
Clearly, the consort had reached this standard, but it seemed that in both the Primordial Era and the present, the consort had not become one of the Ten Great Clans.
The consort said, "You're thinking too much. The Ten Great Clans have more than one expert at the peak of the Void Realm. They are deeply rooted, with countless strong individuals in their clans. My clan, apart from myself being at the peak of the Void Realm, has no other expert at that level. In this regard alone, I don't meet the standards of the Ten Great Clans!"
"I see!"
Yun Fan nodded. He hadn't expected the Ten Great Clans to be so terrifying.
However, they were also beings that he had trampled underfoot.
He wanted to ask many questions about the Saintess of Tai Hua, but the consort didn't know the inside story.
Therefore, Yun Fan decided not to ask anymore.
After all, asking for too many valueless clues was truly unnecessary and would only become a burden.
During this period, Yun Fan also informed Dao Huang and Jian Huang to lie low.
Because the consort had heard the news that the Saintess of Tai Hua had emerged from seclusion. This emergence meant that the Saintess of Tai Hua had truly transcended the Void Realm.
This was the gap. The peak of the Void Realm and transcending the Void Realm, seemingly only a thin line apart, but the difference was immense.
In other words, the Saintess of Tai Hua was the second to reach that level.
As for the four great families mentioned by the consort, Yun Fan didn't ask further. For now, his primary enemy was the Saintess of Tai Hua.
After learning that Yun Fan was completely safe, Dao Huang and Jian Huang went into hiding, as they also needed to consolidate their strength.
Although they didn't aspire to transcend the Void Realm, they still had ambitions.
It remained to be seen whether they could achieve them.
The consort said to Yun Fan, "According to the news obtained by my subordinates, after the Saintess of Tai Hua emerged from seclusion, she went to the Origin Realm!"
"Hiss!"
Yun Fan gasped. Although he had expected this outcome, when it actually happened, a sense of dread washed over him.
It was too terrifying.
If he hadn't left the Origin Realm, he would undoubtedly have become a dead man under the Saintess of Tai Hua's blade long ago.
Fortunately, all that was in the past.
At this moment, Yun Fan asked uncertainly, "Could she know I'm here?"
"Don't worry! She won't!"
The consort said, "Although I'm not her match, as long as I hide you, she absolutely won't be able to find you!"
"That's good!"
Yun Fan breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time, he was so afraid of a woman.
Before, when he and Xi Huang were in a love-hate relationship, although Xi Huang was powerful, he wasn't afraid. At most, he felt anger and despair.
Despair that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach Xi Huang's level.
But facing the Saintess of Tai Hua, he was truly terrified.
After all, the Saintess of Tai Hua was the first person to kill him. He had actually died at the hands of the Saintess of Tai Hua before.
At this moment, the consort said to Yun Fan again, "I have sealed everything about you, including your past. Even if you stand in front of her now, she won't recognize you! But as long as you leave the range I can control, you will be exposed!"
While reassuring Yun Fan, she also warned him that they were now on the same side.
If she died, Yun Fan would also die with her.
Yun Fan naturally understood the consort's meaning.
For this reason, he immediately said to Yun Fan, "This is the time for us to fight side by side. Only through mutual trust can we create beautiful miracles!"
"Can I trust you?"
The consort asked Yun Fan.
Although Yun Fan had been here for a long time, she still didn't truly trust him.
She always felt that Yun Fan was a cunning person.
Yun Fan said, "Of course. You trust me, just as I trust you!"
Upon hearing this, the consort felt a little more at ease.
Yun Fan was speechless. Hadn't he just tricked the consort once? Why was there no basic trust?
After all, he was truly showing sincerity this time.
However, at this moment, a subordinate of the consort reported.
"Reporting to the Divine Woman, an envoy from the Saintess of Tai Hua has arrived!"
"Hmm?"
The consort was puzzled. She said to Yun Fan, "Come with me."
"Gladly!"
Yun Fan nodded and accompanied the consort to the main hall. Indeed, they saw a person, a man.
He was said to be one of the Saintess of Tai Hua's right-hand men.
His strength was not to be underestimated.
After all, the Saintess of Tai Hua had a pair of boy and girl attendants whose strength was already at the peak of the Void Realm.
Seeing him today, his strength was indeed formidable. In Yun Fan's opinion, this person was even stronger than Dao Huang and Jian Huang.
It was just that from the Primordial Era to the present, the boy had also grown up.
"Shao Hao! What brings you here?"
The consort asked directly.
Shao Hao was the other person's name.
Shao Hao said, "The Saintess has ordered that you be invited to be a guest!"
Upon hearing this, the consort immediately understood the other party's intentions. If she really went this time, she would likely never return.
After all, in the eyes of the Saintess of Tai Hua, she was at most just a supplement.
Therefore, at this moment, she immediately replied, "Please thank the Saintess for her kind offer, but I am currently busy with my seclusion and cannot possibly go."
Upon hearing this, Shao Hao's eyes turned cold. How could he not know that the consort was making excuses? Therefore, he immediately said to the consort, "You know, no one can refuse the Saintess's command, and you are no exception!"
"My master has not refused the Saintess's command. As soon as she comes out of seclusion, she will immediately go to see the Saintess!"
Yun Fan stepped forward at this moment. His current identity was that of the consort's subordinate.
Indeed, the consort's concealment was too powerful. Even though Yun Fan stood in front of Shao Hao, Shao Hao did not recognize him.
This was enough to prove that the consort had not lied to him.
Upon hearing this, Shao Hao asked coldly, "Then, when will you come out of seclusion? I will wait here until you do!"
The consort did not answer, but handed the question over to Yun Fan.
Yun Fan stepped forward and said, "It might take about an epoch. If you don't mind the long wait, you can wait here!"
The consort found it amusing. She didn't expect this guy to be so good at annoying people.
Instantly, Shao Hao's face darkened, as this was no different from a refusal.
Therefore, he immediately asked the consort, "In that case, you are refusing?"
*Slap!*
The consort slammed the table, "When did I say I was refusing? Please don't slander me casually, alright?"
"Hmph!"
Shao Hao snorted coldly, "If that's the case, then there's no need. The Saintess warned me that if you don't go, I will have to take you there personally. If you're not dignified, I'll help you be dignified!"
If everyone hadn't completely fallen out before, then this was a complete falling out.
"Presumptuous!"
The consort exclaimed in anger, "I am at least from the same era as your Saintess. What right do you have to yell at me?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Shao Hao laughed wildly, "My strength is my qualification! Today, I want to see how strong you are and if you deserve your temper!"
Clearly, Shao Hao had lost his patience.
At this moment, the consort said dismissively, "Fighting with you would be beneath my status. Let my subordinate fight you!"
With that, she said to Yun Fan, "Help him be dignified!"
"No problem!"
Although he had become the consort's hired muscle, Yun Fan wasn't angry at all. After all, at this moment, he needed to fight to hone himself.
This Shao Hao was a good opponent for tempering himself.
So, what if he became a hired muscle?
Seeing Yun Fan approach, Shao Hao said disdainfully, "I don't even put your master in my eyes, let alone you!"
Although he didn't know who Yun Fan was, he didn't take Yun Fan seriously.
The next moment, Yun Fan decisively attacked, aiming a blow at Shao Hao.
Upon sensing Yun Fan's immense power, Shao Hao was instantly shocked, because Yun Fan's displayed strength was far greater than it appeared.
*Bang!*
After one punch, both staggered back several steps. Yun Fan did not use his Battle Heaven power, otherwise, how could Shao Hao be his opponent?
Because he didn't want to reveal himself, and crushing Shao Hao directly with Battle Heaven power would be meaningless.
In that way, it wouldn't achieve the tempering effect at all.
In that instant, Shao Hao attacked again. He didn't dare to be careless. With his strength, he couldn't defeat a mere subordinate.
In Shao Hao's eyes, Yun Fan was just a subordinate.
He drew his weapon and struck directly at Yun Fan, displaying a strength even greater than that of Dao Huang and Jian Huang.
Yun Fan was undaunted and went forward, engaging in a heaven-shattering battle with him.
This battle was destined to be a battle between kings. Yun Fan, with his bare fists, fought Shao Hao to a stalemate.
Shao Hao realized at this moment how powerful Yun Fan was. He also hadn't expected that such a powerful individual would be the consort's subordinate.
If Yun Fan alone could fight him to a draw, then coupled with the consort, who hadn't even made a move, he stood no chance.
To avoid perishing here, Shao Hao decisively chose to flee.
Yun Fan originally wanted to kill Shao Hao, but if Shao Hao died, it would definitely alert the Saintess of Tai Hua.
Weighing the pros and cons, Yun Fan decided not to kill Shao Hao.
...
Shao Hao returned to the Tai Hua Palace in a sorry state.
This was the center of the final epoch and the most prosperous place in the final epoch.
Since ancient times, countless powerful individuals from every epoch had visited. The Ten Great Clans even came to pay homage once every half epoch.
One could imagine how dazzling the Tai Hua Palace was.
Although his and Yun Fan's exchange was merely a probe, with no more than twenty moves, he could still sense that Yun Fan's strength was immense, even stronger than his own. If Yun Fan went all out, he might not be his opponent.
Although Shao Hao was an arrogant person who wouldn't admit others were stronger than him, he dared not be presumptuous in front of the Saintess and dared not hide anything.
"Greetings, Saintess!"
Shao Hao immediately knelt down. Seated on the throne was the strongest individual in the final epoch, the Saintess of Tai Hua.
Standing beside the Saintess of Tai Hua was the girl, Yue Hua.
At this moment, the Saintess of Tai Hua asked, "Shao Hao, didn't I ask you to bring the consort? Why have you returned alone?"
Although the Saintess of Tai Hua appeared calm, Shao Hao knew that she was a temperamental person.
A slight mistake could lead to his punishment.
At this moment, Shao Hao quickly explained the situation.
"You mean, her subordinate has an extremely powerful being whose strength is at least equal to yours?"
The Saintess of Tai Hua looked at Shao Hao in confusion.
She knew Shao Hao's strength; it was similar to Yue Hua's, ranking among the top ten in the entire final epoch.
She hadn't expected the consort to have such a capable subordinate!
"Yes, Saintess. Otherwise, I wouldn't have returned in such a sorry state!"
Shao Hao said, "With this person present, I absolutely cannot take the consort."
The Saintess of Tai Hua nodded. "Very good! Then the question is, since he is so strong, why would he be willing to serve under the consort?"
After all, the consort's strength was not as great as Shao Hao's, nor was she as powerful as that individual. Why would such a strong person willingly become the consort's tool?
Shao Hao was puzzled.
However, Yue Hua, who was standing by, said, "Saintess, is there a possibility that this person is infatuated with the consort's beauty and is willingly serving as her lackey?"
Upon hearing this, the Saintess of Tai Hua nodded, as this explanation seemed reasonable.
At this moment, Shao Hao said, "Saintess, don't worry. If Yue Hua helps me, I'm confident I can defeat that brat!"
This was Shao Hao's guarantee.
"Trash!"
The Saintess of Tai Hua said coldly, "It takes two of us to have confidence in defeating him. You're disgracing me!"
Shao Hao dared not reply.
At this moment, the Saintess of Tai Hua said, "Shao Hao, you don't need to handle this matter. From today onwards, you will search for Yun Fan's whereabouts with all your might. I must find him!"
"Yes!"
Shao Hao quickly nodded. Yun Fan was the name of that person in this life.
At this moment, the Saintess of Tai Hua said, "Yue Hua, you go."
"However, you cannot use force this time!"
"Cannot use force?"
Yue Hua and Shao Hao were confused. However, this was normal. If force were used, Yue Hua might not be a match for the consort's subordinate.
"That's right!"
The Saintess of Tai Hua said, "Such a strong person should be used by me. I don't care what method you use, you must make him my subordinate, and bring the consort back too!"
This was undoubtedly a huge task, to recruit that individual and bring back the consort.
It looked like an impossible mission.
However, Yue Hua had no choice. "Saintess, I will do my utmost to complete this task!"
"Not 'do my utmost,' but 'must complete'!"
The Saintess of Tai Hua said, "Do you know why I'm sending you?"
"Your subordinate does not know!"
Yue Hua replied tremblingly.
The Saintess of Tai Hua said, "Because your beauty is no less than the consort's, and you even have an advantage over her. If you use your beauty, you can make him submit better!"
Upon hearing this, Yue Hua's eyes widened. She hadn't expected the Saintess to ask her to use this tactic. Why was the Saintess so keen on this person?
Perhaps due to the threat from the four great families, the Saintess had few experts by her side at the moment. Therefore, when such a powerful individual appeared, the Saintess naturally wanted to recruit him.
However, she really didn't want to agree to this! After all, for her, the sacrifice was too great.
Was she worth less than that person in the Saintess's eyes?
What was even more difficult was for Shao Hao, who had been infatuated with Yue Hua all along. One was a boy, and the other a girl.
They should have been a perfect match. To think that in the blink of an eye, the Saintess would push Yue Hua out to be given away.
At this moment, it was impossible for him not to feel pain. He hadn't expected that the beauty he had yearned for for so many epochs...
He had ultimately missed out. He regretted it. If only he had confessed his feelings to Yue Hua sooner.
"What? Is there a problem?"
The Saintess of Tai Hua asked indifferently.
"No, no problem!"
Yue Hua quickly said. She naturally did not dare to defy the Saintess's will. Although the Saintess was asking her, in fact, the outcome was already decided the moment the Saintess spoke.
"You may both go down!"
The Saintess of Tai Hua said.
"Yes!"
The two immediately retreated.
Outside the hall, Yue Hua was already in tears.
"Junior Sister, I know you are sad, but my heart is even sadder!"
Shao Hao said to Yue Hua, "Why is the Saintess so heartless, insisting on sacrificing you?"
"Shut up!"
Yue Hua said coldly, "Do not slander the Saintess. Be careful, your life might be in danger!"
Upon hearing this, Shao Hao realized he had made a mistake and immediately shut his mouth. If the Saintess of Tai Hua heard this, even several lives wouldn't be enough to atone for it.
At this moment, Yue Hua said to Shao Hao, "Senior Brother, you know, I cannot disobey the Saintess's command!"
"But I'm the one who likes you!"
Shao Hao finally expressed his true feelings. If he didn't say it now, he would never have the chance again.
Yue Hua's eyes widened, but she quickly resigned herself to it. "I know!"
"You know?"
Shao Hao looked at Yue Hua in disbelief.
Yue Hua said, "From childhood to adulthood, you have taken care of me. I have seen all of this! However, you should have given up this idea long ago. From the moment we became the Saintess's boy and girl attendants, you should have known that we couldn't be together!"
"Alas!"
Shao Hao sighed, losing his usual spirit. Facing the cruel reality, he was powerless.
At this moment, Yue Hua said to Shao Hao, "Senior Brother, I have to go. The Saintess's mission cannot be delayed!"
The next moment, she vanished from the spot.
"Junior Sister, one day, I will definitely snatch you back!"
Shao Hao gritted his teeth and said.