The aftermath of Xiao Fan's victory over Daoist Cheek Deflector echoed through the lands, and the Slap Ascension Sect had become the epicenter of countless rumors. Some claimed that Xiao Fan had slapped fate itself, others whispered that he had broken through the very boundaries of the divine. The melon he had received, still warm from his touch, had been seen glowing under the moonlight, as though it held secrets only a true slapper could comprehend.
But for Xiao Fan, the victory was only the beginning. His eyes, which had once been content with simple challenges, now glinted with a new kind of hunger—a desire not just for power, but for transcendence. The slap of the heavens, the ultimate strike that could shake the very foundations of the world, was a challenge he had to face.
Fairy Lin Yue, ever by his side, had watched him with growing concern as he paced through the hallways of the sect. His thoughts were far away, his focus shifting beyond what any mortal had ever considered.
"Xiao Fan," she said one evening as they stood on the high balcony of the sect's main tower. Below them, the disciples continued their tireless training, unaware of the storm gathering on the horizon. "What are you truly seeking now?"
Xiao Fan looked at her, his expression inscrutable. "I am seeking the only thing that has eluded me—true strength. The kind that goes beyond slapping faces. The kind that could tear apart the very heavens."
Lin Yue frowned. "You've already defeated Daoist Cheek Deflector. What more is there to gain?"
Xiao Fan turned his gaze toward the distant mountains, where the sky met the earth in an endless horizon. "Defeating him was but the first step. To slap the heavens, to strike at the source of all things… that is the ultimate test. A test of fate. A test of will."
Fairy Lin Yue's eyes narrowed. "You cannot be serious. The heavens are not a mere opponent to face with such brashness. Even the ancients spoke of the Celestial Slap—an act so bold, so dangerous, that only a fool would seek it."
Xiao Fan's grin spread wider. "Then it is settled. I am that fool."
---
The next day, Xiao Fan gathered his disciples in the courtyard. Word of his intention to perform the Celestial Slap had spread like wildfire. The elders of the Slap Ascension Sect, who had once seen him as a talented but impetuous disciple, now regarded him with wary eyes.
"You seek the Celestial Slap?" Elder Zhen, the oldest and most respected of the sect, asked, his voice carrying the weight of generations. His long white beard swayed as he spoke. "Do you know the cost, Xiao Fan? The heavens will not take kindly to such an affront. Even the most powerful of cultivators have fallen before the wrath of the sky. Many have tried, but none have succeeded."
Xiao Fan's eyes burned with determination. "I will succeed. The slap of the heavens will be mine."
Elder Zhen sighed. "Then you must go to the Shrine of the Sky—a place where no mortal dares to tread. It is said to be hidden in the clouds, where the heavens themselves watch over those who seek to challenge them. Only there can one truly prepare for the Celestial Slap."
Xiao Fan bowed, his resolve unwavering. "Thank you, Master. I will make the journey."
---
The journey to the Shrine of the Sky was long and arduous. Xiao Fan traversed mountains that pierced the very heavens, crossed rivers that flowed with the essence of time itself, and battled through storms that threatened to tear the world asunder. All the while, his mind remained focused, undistracted by the challenges that would have broken any other.
Finally, after many days of travel, Xiao Fan arrived at the peak of the Skyward Mountain. At the summit stood the Shrine of the Sky, an ancient structure carved into the mountain itself. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy, and the winds whispered of ancient secrets. The very sky above seemed to bend and twist as though aware of his presence.
Xiao Fan stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement. He had come here not just to challenge the heavens, but to become the heavens.
Inside the shrine, an altar stood, bathed in celestial light. On the altar lay an artifact—a jade talisman, inscribed with symbols that radiated divine power. As Xiao Fan approached, the talisman pulsed, and a voice echoed in his mind.
You seek the Celestial Slap, mortal?
Xiao Fan knelt before the altar, his gaze unwavering. "I do. I seek the strength to challenge the heavens themselves. I will not be denied."
The voice, deep and resonant, filled the shrine. To slap the heavens is to invite their wrath. Are you prepared for the consequences?
Xiao Fan's grip on his palm tightened. "I was born for this."
The talisman flickered, and in an instant, Xiao Fan was surrounded by a vast, endless void. The air crackled with the raw energy of the cosmos, and a great presence seemed to loom over him. He could feel the weight of eternity pressing down upon him, as if the very fabric of the universe had turned its gaze upon him.
Very well, mortal. Let us see if your slap is worthy of the heavens.
A massive shadow appeared before him—a silhouette of unimaginable size. It was the manifestation of the heavens themselves, a cosmic entity of pure divine energy. The very ground trembled as it raised a hand, a vast and incomprehensible force that could erase all existence with a single motion.
Xiao Fan stood his ground, his heart beating faster, his hand raised. He could feel the power of the heavens swirling around him, threatening to crush him under its weight. But within that pressure, he found clarity.
With a deep breath, Xiao Fan stepped forward. His body moved with an elegance that had been honed through countless battles. His hand struck forward, not with the force of a mere mortal, but with the will of a thousand cultivators, with the weight of destiny itself.
The slap echoed through the void, a sound so powerful that it shook the very stars.
And then, silence.
For a moment, everything stood still. Time itself seemed to pause, as though the heavens themselves were in shock.
Then, the shadow of the heavens trembled. A crack appeared across its vast form, and for the first time, the heavens recoiled.
Xiao Fan's face remained calm, but inside, he knew that he had succeeded. He had struck the heavens, and for the first time in history, they had felt the touch of a mortal hand.
---
Back at the Slap Ascension Sect, word of Xiao Fan's triumph spread quickly. The disciples looked to the sky, unsure of what to make of the celestial tremors that had shaken the world. But one thing was certain—Xiao Fan had proven that there were no limits to the power of the slap, and no challenge too great to face.
Fairy Lin Yue stood by the gates of the sect, watching as Xiao Fan returned. His eyes burned with the fire of a new understanding, a power that transcended even the slap of the heavens.
"Did you do it?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.
Xiao Fan grinned, his eyes gleaming with the light of a thousand stars. "I slapped the heavens, Lin Yue. And now, I'll slap everything else that stands in my way."
And so, the legend of Xiao Fan, the man who slapped the heavens, grew. But his journey was far from over. For now, he had only begun to discover the true extent of his power—and the greater challenges that lay ahead.