Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 232: Chapter 237 Forbidden Immortal Six Seals

Shortly after safely arriving in Yuan City, the old knife handle silently disappeared, never to be seen again.

Li Desheng did not leave. The people from the Flickering Light Sacred Land eagerly tried to retain him, and the women from Jade Lake also extended invitations. The underworld eye is almost untrainable; it is an exceptional ability from birth, rarely seen in the world, allowing one to see what ordinary people cannot. All the major powers wanted to draw him in.

In the afternoon, Ye Fan took a short nap, and then walked out of his room, just as Li Desheng also opened his door. Both were staying in the same quiet little courtyard.

In the courtyard, there was a cluster of artificial rocks with a bubbling spring atop. Beside it, a grape trellis hung with clusters of amethyst-like fruits, the green leaves casting cool shade upon the ground below.

Under the trellis were stone tables and Stone Chairs, for people to sit and relax. The light fragrance of tea wafted through the air as the two sat under the shade of the grapevines, chatting casually.

"Your Source Technique is truly remarkable, Daoist Master, allowing you to roam even the most dangerous places," Li Desheng said with admiration.

"Let’s not exaggerate. This time we were lucky. In the Taichu Forbidden Area, anyone other than a Great Emperor who strays in faces certain death," Ye Fan replied honestly. If not for the fourth-generation founder creating a path through the pine forest, and if not for Great Emperor Hengyu having already broken through Sunfall Ridge, they would have undoubtedly perished.

There were definitely other devilish lands they hadn’t seen. If they were to enter again and end up in an unknown and unfamiliar region, their chances of survival would be slim, to say nothing of the truly ancient mines.

"Daoist Master, how did you master your Source Technique?" Li Desheng was very envious.

"Why, are you interested too?" Ye Fan’s lips curved slightly, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Li Desheng nodded. "Very much so. I’d do anything to learn even a fraction of it."

"That’s nothing. I can teach you a few tricks in the future."

"Really? You can teach me?"

"You possess an extraordinary gift; the underworld eye has been rare since ancient times. When seeking the Source and using Lock Dragon Vein techniques, most of the work is done underground. Your kind of strange power is greatly needed."

"Daoist Master, please take me as your disciple!" Li Desheng was somewhat excited.

"There’s no need for formal discipleship. We’ve faced hardships together, so teaching you a few skills is no problem at all. Which sect do you belong to?" Ye Fan asked after taking a sip of his clear tea.

The underworld eye was naturally suited for this line of work. If he had someone like Li Desheng to assist him in the future when seeking Source and using Lock Dragon Vein techniques, his efforts would surely be twice as effective.

Li Desheng wanted to learn Source Techniques, and Ye Fan was looking for free labor; the more they talked, the more agreeable their discussion became.

"Once matters here are concluded, I’ll look for you when I have some free time!" Finally, Ye Fan smiled and stood up.

The people from Jade Lake were resting here and did not plan to leave yet; they still intended to return to the outskirts of the Taichu Forbidden Area.

Ye Fan learned that Jade Lake had found an abandoned mine on the Taichu Edge, from which they had transported some peculiar stone materials, and they planned to continue this operation.

「In the evening,」 Ye Fan met the Yaochi Saintess and learned more about the situation.

"Fairy, why are you excavating the abandoned mine? What is so special about those stone materials?"

"Daoist Master, you are proficient in Source Techniques, so you must have heard of Source Suppression," the Yaochi Saintess said. She stood by the artificial rock, her entire being bathed in the sacred, golden-red glow of the sunset.

"Of course, I have. Could it be that you need to seal some Sources?" Ye Fan was intrigued.

Mined stone materials are not always cut open immediately. Some sects will store them. However, as time passes, once removed from a Source Vein, the stone skin will gradually peel off.

At such times, most people would simply strip off the stone skin to retrieve the Source within. However, there are also special circumstances when people do not want the Source inside the stone skin to see the light of day. They will then find ways to seal the Source. Naturally, these are all strange Sources.

Based on past experience, the ancient stone skin from the Taichu Forbidden Area is the premier choice, being the best material for resealing Sources.

"What kind of Source is it that requires you to reseal it? The Suppressing Source Technique is rarely used by ordinary people," Ye Fan said, puzzled.

If the stone skin is going to peel off, why not just extract the Source directly? Why go to the trouble of resealing it?

"These are a batch of stone materials left by our predecessors. They are of great importance and cannot be carelessly cut open. This time, we have invited extraordinary individuals from all over the world who are well-versed in Source Techniques, precisely to find a reliable method of sealing them," the Yaochi Saintess replied. Mist drifted around her as she stood by the artificial rock, resembling an orchid in a secluded valley.

"Is the Suppressing Source Technique ineffective?" Ye Fan was surprised.

The Yaochi Saintess gently shook her elegant head, her voice like heavenly music. "The effect is very poor; it can only provide a temporary solution."

"What kind of Source is this that even the Suppressing Source Technique cannot seal it? This is too strange." Suddenly, Ye Fan thought of the nine stone materials Jade Lake had exhibited. Upon careful sensing, one of them seemed like a sea of blood, while another contained a demonic power.

A chill went through Ye Fan’s heart. These were just two from that batch of stone materials, most likely the most ordinary ones. What would the true central stone material be like?

He mulled it over. That batch of stone materials likely has a significant origin. Even going to the Jade Lake Sacred Land might not guarantee safety.

"The abandoned mine in the Taichu Forbidden Area is said to contain the oldest stone skin, making it the top choice for sealing material. It shouldn’t be unable to seal it, should it?" He looked at the Yaochi Saintess with doubt.

"It is indeed useless. Many of the peculiar stone materials we’ve transported from outside Taichu still cannot be sealed," the Yaochi Saintess said, shaking her head.

"How can this be..." Ye Fan furrowed his brow. This kind of stone material is absolutely beyond imagination.

"Years ago, a senior left these stone materials. He once said that if the day ever came when they needed to be sealed, perhaps only six types of ancient stone materials from within Taichu would suffice. However, to this day, we have only found two of them."

"What?" Ye Fan was instantly shocked. He thought of a possibility—the legendary ’Forbidden Immortal Six Seals’! This was an ultimate Source Technique that required six kinds of Divine Source Stone Skin as materials. Its skill approached the Dao; it could not only seal Sources but also mountains, rivers, the earth itself, and even peerless masters.

The Heavenly Source Book records the "Forbidden Immortal Six Seals," but only in a few sparse sentences that are extremely abstruse and difficult to understand, making it very hard to fully grasp. The Heavenly Source Book notes that this is a theoretical Source Technique, and its successful execution is not guaranteed.

"Fairy, may I ask, what exactly is the origin of those stone materials?" Ye Fan was surprised and bewildered.

"Actually, there’s no harm in telling you, Daoist. Those stone materials were left by an extraordinary individual whose Source Technique was unparalleled," replied the Yaochi Saintess.

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat. He instantly thought of someone—Zhang Lin, the fifth-generation Heavenly Source Master!

In the past, this Heavenly Source Master had an extraordinary relationship with Jade Lake. The Jade Lake’s sacred lady of that time was his confidante. He was an honored guest of Jade Lake, and legends even claimed he was revered by Jade Lake as an external protector of their Sect.

The title of Heavenly Source Master represented the pinnacle of attainment in Source Technique. The stone materials left by such a figure are simply unimaginable!

"There are a total of seven stone materials. Three of them were left by that extraordinary individual..." the Yaochi Saintess slowly explained.

As expected, they were left by the legendary figure Zhang Lin! The nine strange black stones exhibited by Jade Lake were merely pieces of stone skin that had flaked off from just one of those stone materials.

Ye Fan frowned. The origins of those nine stone materials were so immense they made him gasp!

One of the stone materials displayed that day weighed one thousand kilograms, yet it was merely the stone skin of one piece, not the main stone itself! Just how enormous must that actual stone material be?

He said nothing, listening quietly. He would soon enter Jade Lake. He had to understand these matters clearly.

Zhang Lin was a legendary figure who had traversed deep mountains and Ancient Lands, exploring countless Desolate Lands.

He spent his entire life seeking Source, collecting numerous stone materials. Among them were three that he was unsure about. Even in his later years, he could not determine what lay within them. He never cut them open and eventually entrusted them to Jade Lake.

"Aren’t there seven stone materials in total? What about the other four?" Ye Fan asked.

"The origins of the other four are mysterious. They were sought out by the Wangmus of past generations and are very special, even more ancient than those three. Unfortunately, no records of them were left behind."

Even Zhang Lin had marveled at those four stone materials because their stone skins had previously flaked off and had been sealed by means similar to the "Forbidden Immortal Six Seals," though it definitely wasn’t the "Forbidden Immortal Six Seals."

Besides the lineage of the Heavenly Source Master, are there others who understand the most profound Source Technique? Ye Fan was puzzled, but he could not voice these thoughts aloud.

"Senior Zhang studied them for more than a month and was full of praise, stating that all methods are interconnected," the Yaochi Saintess said.

Those four stone materials were Ancient Material, excavated by ancients tens of thousands of years ago. All were sealed and later acquired by Jade Lake’s Wangmu. This was the conclusion drawn by the Zhang family’s first ancestor.

"Those stone materials are probably not benevolent ones. Ancient Materials sealed by means like the ’Forbidden Immortal Six Seals’ must have terrifying origins. I feel that these seven stone materials, when combined, are equivalent to a perilous land. How dare you keep them within Jade Lake?"

"Those stone materials are indeed quite terrifying. If not for the suppression of our peak weapon, we would find it very difficult to be at ease," replied the Yaochi Saintess.

"Why not find a way to cut them open? What is the use of keeping them?" Ye Fan was puzzled. With Jade Lake’s resources, breaking them open shouldn’t be a problem.

"Because Jade Lake has not yet seen the appearance of a suitable person. It is a matter of karmic destiny..." The Yaochi Saintess did not elaborate further.

Ye Fan knew Zhang Lin must have discerned something and given some guidance. He grew even more curious, wanting to see for himself what was so extraordinary about those Ancient Materials.

"Once some special bloodlines are found, combined with powerful Source Techniques, and if a suitable candidate appears within Jade Lake, then the stone materials can be cut open."

Ye Fan had learned these details, which would be very helpful for his impending entry into Jade Lake. Ultimately, the Yaochi Saintess departed without mentioning the Phoenix Blood Red Gold.

「The night was hazy.」 The courtyard was exceptionally tranquil and peaceful.

「It was already lamplighting time.」 Yuan City was a blaze of lights.

"AH..." A scream suddenly pierced the air; it was so abrupt.

"AH! AH!..."

The screams came one after another, terribly fast, as if a devilish blade was continuously slaughtering people, with inconceivable speed.

"What’s happening?" The entire courtyard instantly fell into chaos.

People from the Flickering Light Sacred Land and the Jade Lake Sacred Land were staying here. Who would dare to commit murder?

"Not good! An Elder has been killed..."

Roars erupted from the courtyard of the Flickering Light Sacred Land, accompanied by incessant scolding and shouting.

In just a few moments, more than a dozen people had died. The sounds of killing were incessant. Ye Fan was stunned. What is happening?

Although they haven’t targeted Jade Lake, something feels very wrong. Could they be here for the Phoenix Blood Red Gold? Ye Fan’s heart sank.

He darted out of the courtyard like a phantom, vanishing into the darkness.

Almost instantly, he saw a tall figure with gray hair reaching the ground, silently slipping into his room.

An unknown creature from the Taichu Forbidden Area? No, that shouldn’t be it...

"AH..." Screams occasionally rang out. Some disciples from Jade Lake had also been attacked and killed.