Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 230: Chapter 335: Phoenix Blood Moves Hearts

Phoenix Blood Red Gold, an Extreme Dao holy relic, was rarely seen even once in a thousand lifetimes. Since the Ancient Desolation, over a hundred thousand years had passed, and only Great Emperor Hengyu had ever obtained it.

Its rarity was beyond imagination! This was a holy divine relic exclusive to the Great Emperors. For ordinary people, merely glimpsing it was impossible, let alone obtaining it. For tens of thousands of years, it had remained as elusive as a dream. Its value was immeasurable. Though several Great Emperors had existed since ancient times, only one had been fortunate enough to obtain Phoenix Blood Red Gold!

This was something ancient Great Emperors dreamed of, something many sages could only hope for but never achieve.

Holding such a rare treasure in his hand, Ye Fan was initially excited, but then he felt like it was a hot potato. This piece of black stone was too precious, containing an invaluable treasure within. Whether he could keep it was a serious issue.

Why is it so heavy?! he complained in his heart. If it hadn’t accidentally fallen to the ground, I wouldn’t be facing this current trouble.

Beside him, five pairs of eyes were all fixated on the black stone in his hand, their gaze burning with a heat that could melt refined Vajra.

The Saint Heir of Flickering Light had a halo behind his head, his body shrouded in Holy Light, auspicious radiance cascading down. With his heaven-bestowed talent, he had vowed since childhood to become a Great Emperor. How could he remain unmoved upon seeing such a holy divine relic?

This was akin to a rough embryo of a peak weapon, something that drove people mad, a holy divine relic exclusive to Great Emperors. He usually wore a gentle smile, but at this moment, he found it hard to remain calm, his eyes surging with fiery desire.

Among those present, Old Knife Handle was the most direct. He took a few steps forward before stopping, exuding a heart-palpitating aura, vastly different from his usual appearance as a grizzled old man. Now, he was many times stronger than usual, like a dormant flood dragon leaping out of the water, making him seem extremely dangerous and terrifying.

Yao Xi’s peerless, fairy-like beauty could not hide the turmoil in her heart. Her eyes flickered with a misty light, her delicate jade hand forming an Immortal Seal. Phoenix Blood Red Gold had unsettled her too. Though she did not move forward, she was standing in the most advantageous position. If someone attempted to seize it, she could make the best choice—whether to fight or withdraw—all in a moment’s decision.

Among them, Li Desheng was the least threatening. Although his eyes were fervent, he wisely took a few steps back, quickly indicating his decision. He was born with the Nether Eye, a rarity in the world. It could be said to be an extraordinary gift, endowing him with uncommon strange power. However, this power wasn’t combat-oriented, and being the weakest there, he had no choice but to retreat.

Relatively speaking, the Yaochi Saintess was the calmest among the group. Though her beautiful eyes shone with an unusual brilliance and her emotions fluctuated, she showed no intention of taking action. She stood quietly, her clothes fluttering, her immortal demeanor pristine. Jade Lake pursued no contention with the world. Its disciples, possessing calm dispositions, rarely engaged in fights.

Ye Fan observed all of this. Holding onto Phoenix Blood Red Gold is too difficult with these people eyeing it covetously, he thought, feeling troubled.

"Ladies and gentlemen, what do you mean by this?" he had no choice but to speak. Such a stalemate was not a solution.

"Phoenix Blood Red Gold is something even Great Emperors of old might not have been able to obtain. Our hearts are stirred, and we wish to take a look," the Saint Heir of Flickering Light stepped forward, his body shrouded in brilliance, invisibly emanating an incomparable pressure.

Yao Xi’s flawless, jade-like face revealed a captivating charm as she gave a slight smile. "Daoist, don’t you have anything else to say?"

"I want to say..." Ye Fan still felt aggrieved. Why is this stone so heavy!

The blackish stone was only the size of a fist, yet it weighed ten thousand pounds. Precisely because of this, the fact that it contained a rare treasure was inadvertently exposed.

Old Knife Handle also took a few steps forward, his might even more formidable. He said, "Divine Materials are for those destined to have them. Since it has come into your hands, we won’t snatch it, but we do wish to take a closer look."

Just moments before, Ye Fan had felt the strongest killing intent from this old man. Now, his words surprised him deeply.

"Please be assured, Daoist," the Saint Heir of Flickering Light said, his face shining with brilliance. "Although our hearts are moved, we will not go as far as killing for treasure. If Daoist is willing to part with it, I am willing to pay any price to exchange for it."

Ye Fan could not possibly exchange it. He intended to use it to forge a cauldron. It was a holy divine relic desired by ancient Great Emperors; nothing could replace it.

Yao Xi’s eyes twinkled. Her smile was as charming as ever, her lips radiant and shimmering brilliantly. "Daoist, you need not worry. Reveal the wonder; let us take a look."

At this time, seeing that no fight was breaking out, Li Desheng also approached.

The Yaochi Saintess took light, lotus-like steps forward and also said, "Daoist, you may rest assured. No one will make a move."

Ye Fan pondered. Right now, it’s unlikely anyone will contest for it. After all, we’re still in the Taichu Forbidden Area, and I understand the Source Technique. If a conflict arose, it would be mutually harmful. These people still count on me to lead the way.

However, once we leave the Taichu Forbidden Area, everything will become uncertain.

"Please take a look, everyone." Ye Fan held the black stone in his palm, no longer sealing it.

A Copper Coin-sized piece of stone skin had already fallen off, revealing the divine object within. A thousand beams of auspicious light and ten thousand strands of divine rainbows erupted forth. It was as red and dazzling as rubies, emitting a striking radiance.

The brilliance was enchanting, so beautiful it was intoxicating. Divine colors flowed within its crystal clarity, making it hard to look at directly. Vaguely, Divine Phoenix Patterns could be seen etched upon it, mysterious and magnificent.

"This is the Phoenix Blood Red Gold!"

Everyone was astonished, their eyes burning even hotter.

"There’s only a thin layer of stone skin. It seems this piece of Phoenix Blood Red Gold isn’t much smaller than a fist. Weighing over ten thousand pounds, it’s sufficient for refining Vessels," Old Knife Handle commented.

A fist-sized piece of material could indeed be used to refine weapons, but no one knew how much Divine Material was needed for a peak weapon. Except for the Great Emperors, it was hard for anyone else to say for certain.

Ye Fan did not peel away more stone skin. Instead, he sealed the fallen piece back in place to prevent the essence of the holy divine relic from dissipating. If not forged into a peak weapon, its essence could easily be lost without the stone skin seal.

The resplendent brilliance faded, and the great hall returned to dimness. Ye Fan put away the Phoenix Blood Red Gold. Unless traded for ancient scriptures, nothing else could move his heart regarding this divine object.

"If you wish to refine a peak weapon, this is likely far from enough. It’s probably leftover material after Great Emperor Hengyu forged his weapon," the Saint Heir of Flickering Light speculated.

"Phoenix Blood Red Gold is a holy divine relic comparable to the Divine Phoenix. There are few things in the world that can rival it," Old Knife Handle lamented. "The holy divine relics of the Eastern Wastelands have been nearly exhausted by several Great Emperors."

"If, one day, another Great Emperor appears to reign over the world, it may indeed become very difficult to find Divine Material again," Yao Xi also expressed this sentiment.

The group searched inside the great hall and discovered a few lines of text left by Great Emperor Hengyu, which roughly conveyed that the Phoenix Blood Red Gold was meant for those destined to have it.

Great Emperor Hengyu, a figure of outstanding, heaven-bestowed talent, possessed a cultivation base that shook the ancient world and beyond. He was also a person of great fortune. However, he never took everything for himself, always leaving a trace of opportunity for future generations.

The six of them searched carefully. There was nothing else inside the hall—no mysterious arts, only the ashes left behind from refining peak weapons, which documented the splendor of that era’s Great Emperor.

After everyone exited the ancient structure, they all looked back at the signboard. The two characters "Hengyu" upon it were powerful and vigorous, possessing an imposing aura as if about to break through the heavens.

Each person stood in place, quietly contemplating, hoping to gain some insight. This was not a specific transmission of teachings but an artistic conception of the Dao, sometimes capable of triggering sudden enlightenment.

Ye Fan felt something; his mind became clear and empty, moved by those two characters. He wished to execute the Fighting Saint Technique, but he could only suppress it, forming seals in his mind and battling with himself.

Undeniably, the Saint Heir of Flickering Light was an extraordinary figure. He was enveloped in a Void Spirit Realm, with Holy Light as vast as the sky. Unexpectedly, he invoked a trace of a Great Emperor’s divine might, seeping from the ancient structure. Under this sky-like artistic conception of the Dao, he moved his arms. His Dharma Body was like an abyss as he traced out mysterious patterns, his heart gaining insight.

The Yaochi Saintess and Yao Xi were also extraordinary figures who achieved similar gains, silently comprehending. As for Old Knife Handle, he remained utterly still, like a withered tree.

Li Desheng found it hard to calm his mind. His Nether Eye flickered as he said, "I feel it again. Something in the dark is watching us."

Soon after, everyone emerged from their state of profound contemplation. Their divine sense probed in all directions, but they found nothing.

Sunfall Ridge was eerily quiet, with nothing there except for the faint black sun on the ground.

Ye Fan felt a stir in his heart. He took out the Fire God Furnace; the pitted body of the furnace had recovered significantly. He opened the lid and then brought forth the inch-high, crystalline Divine Furnace.

"SWISH!"

With a flash of light, the Fire God Furnace sank into the black sun on the ground. Instantly, Black Flame leaped up vigorously.

"Daoist, what are you doing?!" Li Desheng exclaimed.

"The ancient Great Emperors chose to refine weapons here. This indicates that the Yang Qi of Sunfall Ridge is the most abundant in the world. I, too, will collect some and perhaps refine a peak weapon in the future."

Li Desheng was left speechless and dumbfounded. Apart from the ancient Great Emperors, who could refine peak weapons? This was clearly nonsense.

The group knew that Sunfall Ridge harbored the world’s most supreme yang flame—the most robust and pure Yang. The divine flame buried underground was also a kind of spiritual item that, if obtained, would be of significant use.

The Fire God Furnace sank into the black sun, digging underground, collecting the Black Flame.

"Don’t do anything reckless!" Old Knife Handle frowned and reminded him, worried he might provoke something underground.

"Rest assured, I know my limits." Ye Fan nodded. Having cultivated the Source Technique, he understood the depths of such places.

"Daoist, your broken furnace is about to melt!" Li Desheng’s Nether Eye flickered, seeing through the void. He wanted to laugh out loud.

Ye Fan frowned; the furnace had indeed become somewhat deformed from the burning. He quickly retrieved it. The deeper underground, the higher the temperature of the fire, and the more extraordinary the flame.

He could only collect the flames from the surface. He filled a furnace with Black Flame, sealed the lid, and stored it within his body.

The Saint Heir of Flickering Light, Old Knife Handle, Yao Xi, and the Yaochi Saintess were also moved to act. They too brought out mysterious weapons to collect the Black Flame. However, they only took a little before stopping, feeling the temperature was too scorching.

"Since these flames are so extraordinary, I’ll collect some as well." Li Desheng brought out his own silver calabash.

"SIZZLE!"

A startling event occurred: the silver calabash instantly melted, destroyed in the vague black sun.

"This... My weapon from the Dao Palace secret realm was destroyed just like that! My precious!" he cried out in anguish.

Ye Fan silently estimated that the flame contained in this black sun on the ground was incredibly terrifying. Even the surface Black Flame was almost comparable to the purple flame of the Sixth Realm in the Flame Region.

Needless to say, the underground portion held terrifying and unimaginable blazing flames. Great Emperor Hengyu’s choice to refine weapons here was precisely because this place was a supreme yang land.

He felt that the flame he had collected from underground was only slightly weaker, if at all, than the one he had used to burn the Ji Family’s Grand Elders to death.

This is a good thing!

Ye Fan remained expressionless. When we get out of the Taichu Forbidden Area, if they make a move, I’ll set a big fire first, he thought.

Next, the group proceeded with caution. Under Ye Fan’s guidance, they navigated the dangers without mishap, slowly distancing themselves from this Desolate Land. In the distance, a barren expanse appeared; they were almost out of the Taichu Forbidden Area.

"We really made it out!"

"There are two things behind us!" Li Desheng’s expression suddenly changed.

"Go!"

At this moment, the group no longer felt any fear. They all soared into the sky, flying into the distance.

The six of them reached the area outside the Taichu Forbidden Area. With no further worries, they had finally shaken off the Demon Land.

「It was now past midnight. The world was silent, and the moonlight, like water, cast a desolate light upon the land.」

"Daoist, please stay." The Saint Heir of Flickering Light smiled warmly, blocking Ye Fan’s path.

Yao Xi also smiled faintly, looking quite charming as she stood on another side. Old Knife Handle and the Yaochi Saintess were also not far off. The area was filled with killing intent, yet it was impossible to discern its source.

Ye Fan understood. Phoenix Blood Red Gold stirred the heart. An item exclusive to a Great Emperor—how could wanting to take it away not lead to turmoil?