Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 229: Chapter 234 Extreme Dao Phoenix Blood Red Gold

The blood-stained crescent moon lies horizontally on the ground. It is known as the Red Moon Cave, a Desolate Land of extreme Yin and ultimate softness. This extremely terrifying Calamity Land is one that all major Peacock Kings must avoid.

The black sun sinks, falling beneath the ridge. This place is named Sunfall Ridge. It is a devilish land of supreme Yang and ultimate hardness that burns everything in the world. This site is so perilous that even Emperors must flee from it, renowned as one of the world’s most dangerous.

To witness just one of these is enough to astound the world. Their coexistence creates what can be called the ultimate devilish land since ancient times, a sight rarely seen. Since antiquity, only three such locations have ever been recorded, and they are almost impossible to overcome.

Yet Great Emperor Hengyu forged a peak weapon in such a place, a feat that boggles the mind. Anyone hearing of this for the first time would be utterly astounded.

"Was that Great Emperor truly so formidable?" Ye Fan was dumbfounded.

This place is the Taichu Forbidden Area. Here, the Red Moon Cave and Sunfall Ridge coexist and reinforce each other, their combined power even more formidable. The deeds of the Jiang Family’s Great Emperor were truly soul-stirring.

"Naturally, he was formidable. How many Great Emperors have there been throughout history? The founder of the Jiang Family, an Ancient Nobility, was a figure who shook the past and present, representing the Extreme Realm of the human race."

Ye Fan was lost in thought. Such a figure, renowned throughout history, had dared to come to the Great Primordial Mine for refining Vessels—it was truly incredible.

Throughout these endless ages, of all the Peacock Kings and Emperors who ventured here, none have ever returned. Not even the Eastern Wastelands Divine King could extend his life in this place.

Yet this Great Emperor treated the Taichu Forbidden Area as his personal weapon-forging site. What magnificent style! Alas, time flows like water, and one can no longer witness such a world-astonishing figure.

"Why did he choose to craft a sacred weapon here?"

Old Knife Handle said, "Great Emperor Hengyu, with a cultivation base that awed past and present, had the entire Eastern Wastelands under his sway. Naturally, he would choose the best place for refining Vessels, and the Taichu Forbidden Area could not hinder him."

"As long as he didn’t enter that ancient mine, this forbidden area posed no threat to him. Legend says he was a person of great fortune, having obtained a Divine Phoenix Bone. To forge it into a peak weapon, a special place was necessary, and only Sunfall Ridge met the requirements," Li Desheng said, his face full of serene yearning.

"A Divine Phoenix Bone?!" Ye Fan exclaimed in astonishment.

Legend held that Pure-blooded Phoenixes were comparable to Daoist saints and no longer existed in this world. For Great Emperor Hengyu to have acquired such a thing was truly shocking.

"That is merely hearsay. There’s no such thing as a Divine Phoenix in this world." The Yaochi Saintess shook her head, saying, "What Great Emperor Hengyu obtained was Phoenix Blood Red Gold. This divine material is comparable in value to a Divine Phoenix Bone."

"There is no Divine Phoenix in the world, but there is indeed Phoenix Blood Red Gold," the Flickering Light Saint Heir nodded.

Phoenix Blood Red Gold is a treasure rarely seen in millennia. It is dazzling and radiant, crimson as Phoenix Blood, beautiful beyond compare, and naturally adorned with Divine Phoenix Patterns.

Such a divine material is invaluable. If it were to fall into the hands of a Great Emperor, it could undoubtedly be forged into a peak weapon.

Sunfall Ridge, legend says, was formed by the crash of the sun’s scion to the earth, making it a Desolate Land of supreme Yang and ultimate hardness.

Phoenix Blood Red Gold is supremely Yang and incandescent, indestructible, and incomparably hard. To forge it into a peak weapon, Sunfall Ridge was undoubtedly the premier choice.

"Infinite Heavenly Venerate! What does Phoenix Blood Red Gold look like? Have either of you seen it?" Ye Fan asked Yao Xi and the Yaochi Saintess.

The two stunning beauties exchanged glances. Such a material was encountered by chance perhaps once in hundreds of thousands of years; who could possibly have seen it? Otherwise, why would there be only a few peak weapons in the entire Eastern Wastelands?

A Great Emperor can only forge one peak weapon in their lifetime. This is not only because the process is incredibly challenging, but also because the required divine materials are exceedingly rare. Even searching throughout the entire Eastern Wastelands, it would be very difficult to gather enough.

"Currently, only the direct lineage of the Jiang Family has seen Phoenix Blood Red Gold. It has been a full four to five thousand years since that peak weapon last appeared," the Flickering Light Saint Heir replied.

"Great Emperor Hengyu was truly terrifying..." Ye Fan could only sigh.

The Red Moon Cave and Sunfall Ridge, existing side-by-side, formed what could be called one of the most perilous lands of ancient times. Yet, he used it for forging weapons—truly unimaginable.

Evidently, Sunfall Ridge’s Yang Qi had become insufficient, having been drained dry to help forge the peak weapon made from Phoenix Blood Red Gold.

Such magnificent style from Great Emperor Hengyu... If I had such a cultivation base... Ye Fan was lost in thought.

"If the Daoist Saint had such divine might, what would you endeavor to do?" Yao Xi asked, her beautiful eyes twinkling.

"Naturally... to establish an eternal Dynasty."

He almost let it slip, changing his words midway. In truth, his heartfelt desire was to visit the various Sacred Lands, to peruse their ancient scriptures, and to test the might of their peak weapons.

"We should leave quickly. This place is not somewhere we can linger," Old Knife Handle said, his expression solemn.

Ye Fan and his five companions distanced themselves from the Red Moon Cave, moving cautiously closer to Sunfall Ridge. They all prayed inwardly that no calamity would befall them; otherwise, no one could save them.

The cold moonlight stretched their shadows out long. Li Desheng’s Nether Gaze Eyes emitted an eerie glow as he nervously scanned their surroundings, a persistent feeling that something was lurking in the darkness.

"Stop being so jumpy! You’re making us all nervous too," Old Knife Handle snapped, glancing at him.

"I really feel something is wrong. It’s like a pair of eyes is watching us from the darkness, but I can never quite pinpoint its form," Li Desheng said, his Heart Spirit troubled.

"There’s no need to dwell on it. As long as it doesn’t reveal itself, we shall treat it as non-existent," the Flickering Light Saint Heir said, his expression calm.

The six of them moved forward, constantly scanning their surroundings and carefully observing every movement. In this perilous land where Sun and Moon converged, a single misstep meant forfeiting their lives.

"Why is the moon so bright tonight? It’s not even the day of the full moon," Old Knife Handle muttered.

"Indeed, it’s somewhat unusual. The moonlight is like flowing water, casting a silvery-white sheen everywhere," Yao Xi agreed, nodding.

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan suddenly stopped and looked up sharply, exclaiming, "Something’s not right!"

"Daoist Saint, what have you discovered?" the Yaochi Saintess asked softly.

"It’s not that the moonlight has become brighter. There’s a problem with the Red Moon Cave," Ye Fan said, frowning as he gazed at the blood moon in the distance.

Yao Xi was puzzled and asked, "The Red Moon Cave shows no abnormality. How could it be the issue?"

"We need to get further away. If things get dire, we’ll enter Sunfall Ridge. It’s true that its Yang Qi is insufficient, but this Red Moon Cave is deeply unsettling," Ye Fan said gravely, taking the lead towards the ruins.

They guessed Ye Fan must have studied profound Source Techniques, perhaps even obtaining some fragments of knowledge left behind by a Heavenly Source Master. Seeing him act this way, they naturally followed.

Before long, the sound of shifting sand and gravel reached them. The Red Moon Cave glowed a vivid, seductive red, surging like a tide, as blood-colored ripples appeared one after another, stirring up dust and sand.

"This is... the Red Moon Tide!" Ye Fan’s expression changed drastically.

He recoiled as if from a viper, transforming into a streaking shadow as he rushed towards Sunfall Ridge.

Seeing this, the other five unleashed their respective divine mystical arts, fleeing swiftly towards the ruins.

Li Desheng was the slowest, lagging behind. The blood-red tide instantly surged towards him. He screamed in terror, "No!"

The blood-colored ripples seemed gentle, yet they emitted a terrifyingly chilling aura. Li Desheng’s face turned deathly pale. Gritting his teeth, he sacrificed a god from his Dao Palace, placing it behind him to block the tide.

SWISH!

Soundlessly, the god dissolved into a pool of pus and blood. THUMP! He stumbled and fell amidst the ruins, his face incredibly pale. It had been a hair’s breadth from death. If he hadn’t been decisive enough at that critical moment to sacrifice a god, he would have ceased to exist.

"This..." Everyone was horrified.

Ye Fan’s expression was grave as he said, "This is the Red Moon Tide. It flows out from the Red Moon Cave and can dissolve all things. It’s fundamentally unstoppable; its ultimate softness overcomes all defenses."

The Red Moon Cave was clearly visible. On the ground lay a blood-stained crescent moon that seemed to draw down the light of the moon in the sky, causing the red tide to roll like water, sweeping through the void.

"We should thank Great Emperor Hengyu. If he hadn’t weakened Sunfall Ridge, and the Yin and Yang forces were at their full, opposing strengths, we would have been utterly annihilated, body and soul," Ye Fan observed from amidst the ruins.

Old Knife Handle mused to himself, Could there be something underground in the Red Moon Cave or Sunfall Ridge...?

"I say, Elder, please stop muttering to yourself! Every time you say something, trouble follows, and it always ends up coming true!" Li Desheng wailed, on the verge of tears.

The six of them pressed onward, now with only one thought in mind: to leave the Taichu Forbidden Area. At the same time, they prayed that Great Emperor Hengyu had thoroughly dealt with Sunfall Ridge.

These ruins had long since decayed. Crumbling walls and dilapidated structures turned to dust at the slightest touch; even the stone pillars were no exception.

Ahead, the area was tranquil. The ruins here had completely turned to ash. By carefully sensing with their minds, they could discern a blurred black sun on the ground.

It spanned an area of no more than a few hundred zhang, much smaller than the Red Moon Cave. Even after more than a hundred thousand years, its Yang Qi was still insufficient.

To their surprise, beside the black sun stood an ancient building, towering and undamaged. On it was a plaque inscribed with two characters: "Hengyu."

"This is Great Emperor Hengyu’s weapon-forging site!" The group exclaimed in shock, all of them staring intently.

This was no relic from high antiquity; it was an ancient structure left by Great Emperor Hengyu himself. Legend said he had spent several years here, alone in the Taichu Forbidden Area, solely focused on tempering his peak weapon.

This was his residence from those years. Though now covered in dust, it still stood firm, a subtle rhythm of the Dao flowing around it.

What astounding breadth of spirit! Others who entered the Taichu Forbidden Area were always terrified, and even Emperors perished here, yet he had secluded himself in this place for several years.

No one spoke, but they all made a unanimous decision: to walk towards the ancient building. Perhaps Great Emperor Hengyu had left something extraordinary behind in his former residence.

The building was constructed from massive blocks of Source and exuded extreme magnificence. It gave one the sense of the Great Dao itself—vast as the heavens and utterly unattainable. This was the "Dao" of Great Emperor Hengyu.

"So many skeletons..." Everyone’s face paled.

Previously, the building had blocked their view. Now that they were closer, they discovered that on the other side of the ancient structure, bones were piled high, forming a small mound.

Even after more than a hundred thousand years had passed, these bones still shimmered with a faint light. There were over a hundred skeletons, mostly humanoid in form, yet clearly not belonging to the human race.

"These bones are all glowing! One can only imagine how terrifying their original owners’ strength must have been. Great Emperor Hengyu was truly fearsome, indeed worthy of being known as one of the most formidable experts of the human race throughout the ages!"

He had single-handedly slain so many terrifying creatures! If word of this got out, it would surely shake the entire world. Judging by these skeletal remains, their owners had definitely all been top-tier beings.

"This..." All six were utterly awestruck. To come to the Great Primordial Mine and unleash such a massacre... only a Great Emperor of old would dare to do such a thing!

"Great Emperor Hengyu is truly astonishing!"

"To commit slaughter here, felling over a hundred in one go... and these were all supreme experts! Their bones still glimmer even today!"

"All of this... just to forge a single peak weapon..." Old Knife Handle sighed.

The Great Emperors of old were figures of astounding, peerless talent. They created the ancient scriptures that have been passed down to this day, allowing several great Sacred Lands to flourish.

Beyond that, every Great Emperor would exhaust all means to leave behind a peak weapon. This was because such a weapon was tantamount to an extension of their own life, capable of unleashing their supreme divine might.

In a certain sense, peak weapons are far more important than ancient scriptures!

"To think Great Emperor Hengyu unleashed such terrifying Emperor’s Might just to refine Phoenix Blood Red Gold into a peak weapon!" the Flickering Light Saint Heir sighed. His own lifelong goal was to become a Great Emperor.

"What kind of weapon was the Phoenix Blood Red Gold ultimately forged into?" Ye Fan asked. He was not very familiar with the affairs of the Jiang Family.

"The Taiyang God Furnace!" the Yaochi Saintess replied.

"What?!" Ye Fan exclaimed, startled.

"You’re not thinking about that broken old furnace of yours, are you?" Old Knife Handle remarked, taking a drag from his long-stemmed pipe.

Ye Fan gave an embarrassed smile and took out his Fire God Furnace. The Divine Furnace, just over an inch tall, was crystalline and transparent, but it was comically misshapen, looking much like a squashed persimmon.

Although it had recovered considerably, it was still dented and pitted, far from being fully restored.

"Don’t get any ideas," Old Knife Handle said dismissively. "How could the Jiang Family’s peak weapon possibly be lost in the outside world? Besides, this broken old furnace of yours, apart from being somewhat sturdy, has no exceptional qualities in terms of power or anything else."

"The Taiyang God Furnace hasn’t been seen for four or five thousand years. The world has almost forgotten what it even looks like," the Flickering Light Saint Heir remarked.

"Just how terrifying is a peak weapon?" Ye Fan asked.

"Their terror is unimaginable," Old Knife Handle answered. "The more profound the caster’s divine energy, the greater the power the weapon can unleash. At its absolute zenith, it can manifest the supreme divine might of a Great Emperor."

They didn’t linger where they stood. Conversing, they entered the ancient building, wanting to see if Great Emperor Hengyu had left anything behind.

Doesn’t that represent the ultimate divine might of the human race?! It could completely sweep across the world, utterly unrivaled! Ye Fan was inwardly alarmed.

"Unfortunately, peak weapons consume an immense amount of divine energy. Ordinary people simply cannot wield them." The Yaochi Saintess shook her head, adding, "After all, they are the exclusive armaments of the Ancient Desolation Great Emperors."

"If two experts of the same level were to fight, what would be the effect if one of them wielded a peak weapon?"

The Flickering Light Saint Heir chuckled and said, "Let’s just take the Taiyang God Furnace as an example. In the past, when Divine King Jiang Taixu fought a world-shaking expert from the Central States—one who was by no means his inferior—the moment the Taiyang God Furnace appeared, his opponent was instantly reduced to ashes."

"That’s... too terrifying..." Li Desheng shivered, his blood running cold as he listened.

"A Great Success realm Eastern Wastelands Divine King is too far beyond our comprehension to speculate about. But considering the various Peacock Kings, if one of them were to wield a peak weapon, they could effortlessly obliterate a sovereign who was otherwise unmatched in their own domain," the Yaochi Saintess replied.

"It’s a pity," Old Knife Handle said, shaking his head. "Your Sacred Lands’ peak weapons are almost never deployed. They are all being used to suppress your so-called ’foundations.’"

"You know about such matters..." An intense golden light flashed momentarily in the Flickering Light Saint Heir’s eyes.

Yao Xi changed the subject. "The seventh great bandit, the Flickering Light Sacred Master, and the Green Flood Dragon King once joined forces," she said. "Wielding a peak weapon, they nearly caused several Grand Elders of our Flickering Light Sacred Land to perish with eternal regret. And that wasn’t even a complete weapon! The glimpse of its Extreme Dao Power speaks volumes."

Ye Fan knew of this. He had witnessed it with his own eyes: after the Peacock King had intercepted the Flickering Light Sacred Master, the Flickering Light Sacred Master and the Green Flood Dragon King had joined forces to activate an earthen jar, nearly crushing the life out of a group of old "fossils" from the Flickering Light Sacred Land.

"That was the Heaven-devouring Ancient Demon Jar. Unfortunately, it was missing its Pottery Lid and thus couldn’t exhibit its full Extreme Divine Power," Old Knife Handle said, shaking his head.

By this time, they had entered the ancient building. The main hall was clearly very old, extremely high and vast, suffused with an endless sense of the Dao.

The ground was covered in numerous patches of pitch-black ashes. The group split up and began to search.

Ye Fan activated his Observing the Situation Technique, surveying the entire main hall. Suddenly, a tremor went through him, and his heart began to pound rapidly.

The Observing the Situation Technique could perceive the great secrets of mountain and Earth Formations, enabling one to find Source and identify objects.

At that very moment, he felt a burning sensation in his eyes. An object was radiating a dazzling light, more brilliant than the true sun itself, making it impossible for him to look at it directly.

Could it be a Divine Source? Ye Fan’s heart thrilled, unable to restrain his excitement.

Near a pile of ashes lay a black stone, about the size of a fist. Its Divine Radiance was so blinding that it made his eyes stream with tears.

Ye Fan quickly deactivated his Observing the Situation Technique. He worried that this divine object would scorch his eyes blind.

This Source Stone looked utterly ordinary. Without employing a Source Technique like the Observing the Situation Technique, one would discern nothing special about it.

This is like a divine sun, so brilliant it’s unbearable! It must be a Divine Source!

Ye Fan walked over and tried to pick up the black stone. To his immense surprise, he failed to lift it on his first attempt.

CLANG!

The black stone fell back to the ground, the impact causing the entire great hall to tremble.

This... it was only the size of a fist, yet it weighed a full ten thousand pounds!

Everyone looked over. Due to the impact, some of the black stone skin actually flaked off. A dazzling scarlet light instantly shot out, as brilliant as a rainbow and so exceedingly intense that it was impossible to look at directly.

"Phoenix Blood Red Gold!"

"Heavens, it really is Phoenix Blood Red Gold!"

The group exclaimed in unison.

Ye Fan exerted all his strength, snatching the black stone into his hand and taking a few steps back. Inside the stone skin was not a Divine Source, but the Phoenix Blood Red Gold, a treasure that appeared perhaps once in a thousand ages!