Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 234: Chapter 239 Black Emperor

The big black dog was as strong as a bull, with a square head and big ears. Its canine teeth were as white as snow and as sharp as daggers. It stuck out its bright red tongue and spoke imperiously, proclaiming itself the Black Emperor.

Ye Fan stared at it, unable to truly make heads or tails of it. This big black dog possessed no demonic aura, nor did it exhibit any divine energy fluctuations, yet it had Copper Tendons and Iron Bones and was impervious to harm.

"Let’s go back to the Stone Village for roast lamb," Fifth Grandpa Zhang called out, leaning on his cane. In this Northern Domain Red Land, beef and lamb were the most common meats, while delicacies from the mountains or sea were very difficult to find.

Ye Fan pondered. Was this big black dog truly the creature that had followed him out of the Purple Mountain? But it seemed completely different from what he had imagined.

"No villagers or livestock have gone missing, right?" Ye Fan asked.

Wang Shu shook his head and said, "Since Qingxia was breached, all the bandits within five hundred li have disappeared without a trace. There has been no more trouble from bandits, and this region has been quite peaceful."

"What do you mean, suspecting this Emperor would stir up trouble here?" The big black dog was indeed exceptionally perceptive, immediately understanding Ye Fan’s meaning.

Ye Fan ignored it. This big black dog had a mysterious origin, and it was best not to provoke a conflict with it.

The feast was lively. A large group of people, young and old, sat on the ground outdoors. Flames danced, the roasting meat sizzled, and oil dripped continuously into the fire, releasing a rich aroma.

The big black dog devoured the food voraciously, sitting far from the bonfire. Ye Fan asked Fifth Grandpa Zhang, "Elder, do you know its origin?"

"I don’t know. I was really startled when I first saw it..." Fifth Grandpa Zhang slowly recounted.

Ordinary people would indeed be frightened upon seeing a big black dog speaking human words, but this big black dog didn’t harm anyone and was quite friendly toward Fifth Grandpa Zhang.

"I saw it near the Purple Mountain at the time; it was wandering around, and Lei Bo immediately recognized it as the black shadow that had previously snatched our roast lamb."

"Does it usually stay in the Stone Village?" Ye Fan continued to ask.

"Every morning, it runs to the Purple Mountain for a roam, spending most of the remaining time swallowing sun essence and absorbing moon glory."

Ye Fan nodded to himself. This big black dog indeed had some connection with the Purple Mountain. It was now almost certain that this was the creature that had followed him out.

"It hasn’t eaten any other livestock? Hasn’t done any evil?!" Ye Fan was always uneasy about this very black dog; the impression left on him by the Ancient Desolation races was too profound.

In this world, he had encountered more unknown beings than most Peacock Kings.

Because, even over thousands of years, few people might ever see one, yet he had ventured deep into the Purple Mountain and awakened several creatures, encountering them up close.

As for the Taichu Forbidden Area, everyone knew of it, but who dared to enter, except perhaps those Emperors at the end of their lives? It was said to be a one-way trip, and their escape this time had been truly fortunate.

"It really hasn’t committed any evil. I’ve felt its bones. It’s just a large domestic dog that’s gained sentience, not some other kind of creature," Fifth Grandpa Zhang confirmed.

"Wang Shu, what do you think of it?"

"Hard to say. It doesn’t quite feel like a big dog. Its personality is no different from a human’s," Wang Shu shook his head.

"This tailless dog is way too cocky..." Lei Bo grumbled quietly to the side, afraid the big black dog would hear.

During their first encounter, he had been knocked down, his experience far worse than Ye Fan’s, having been bitten and clawed. He had suffered its abuse on other occasions too.

"This tailless dog really bears grudges. I merely chased it once, but it is indeed unique. It has taught Wang Shu and me some special cultivation methods," Lei Bo recounted.

"It teaches you cultivation methods?" Ye Fan was surprised.

"It always calls itself the Black Emperor. Whenever we make a small mistake, it swats us with its paw," Lei Bo complained.

Ye Fan nearly spewed the drink from his mouth. This big black dog was truly bizarre.

"What cultivation method did it teach you? Let me take a look." Ye Fan gestured for Wang Shu to channel his mystical arts and placed his hand on Wang Shu’s body.

This was a very strange mystical art, specifically targeting Lei Bo and Wang Shu’s unique constitution, drawing out the mysterious energy within their foreheads and tempering every inch of their flesh and blood.

"This tailless dog does have some skill," Ye Fan remarked, a bit surprised, nodding his head. "You should learn from it. There’s no harm in it."

"Brother Ye, please don’t call it a tailless dog. Lei Bo keeps getting bitten for that reason," Wang Shu warned in a low voice. "It’s coming over. You must call it Black Emperor."

Black Emperor... This big dog is truly boastful. Does it really believe itself to be an Ancient Saint Emperor?

The big black dog devoured two whole sheep, holding its head high. Its black fur was long, like satin, smooth and shiny, its eyes like copper bells. The only discordant part was that bald tail.

"Black Emperor, are you full?" Fifth Grandpa Zhang patted the soft blanket beside him, and the big black dog lay down comfortably next to him.

This fierce big dog was aloof with everyone else, yet was relatively docile with Fifth Grandpa Zhang.

"Why are you always hostile towards me, young pup?" The Black Emperor glanced arrogantly at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan felt an urge to smack it. What nerve! It had pounced on him the moment they met, and now it was accusing him?

"What nine secret arts did you impart to Lei Bo and Wang Shu?" Ye Fan asked.

"Naturally, it’s the Supreme Ancient Scripture created by this Emperor." The big black dog wore an expression of arrogance.

"Supreme Ancient Scripture... Does it have a name?" Ye Fan asked while clinking glasses and drinking with those around him.

"It’s called the ’Black Emperor Scripture,’ a supreme secret technique that eclipses the ancient and modern."

"Black Emperor? You must have given yourself that title! I’ve combed through the ancient texts of the Eastern Wastelands and found no such name. The Great Emperors of old are known throughout history, and there are only a handful of them."

The big black dog growled deeply, "This Emperor disdains to leave his name in the annals of ancient history."𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Getting a bit ahead of yourself, are you? Even if your tail’s all bald, how long have you lived? Three hundred years, a thousand years, or fifteen hundred years?"

The big black dog deeply resented anyone mentioning its bald tail. WITH A WHOOSH, it sprang up, staring with hostility, its blood-red maw opening as if it wanted to pounce.

Fifth Grandpa Zhang hastily soothed it, rubbing its glossy fur with a rough old hand. "Black Emperor, don’t lose your temper."

"Watch your words, young pup!" The big black dog threatened, irritably lying back down. "This Emperor has traversed ancient and modern times, lived for such a long age, I can’t even remember it myself."

Ye Fan chuckled and said, "I’ve heard of Emperor Hengyu, heard of the Void Emperor, heard of the West Emperor Mother, but never heard of the Black Emperor. Can you rank alongside them?"

The big black dog wanted to refute, but even after endless ages, the names of the three Great Emperors still possessed supreme divine might. It bared its teeth but ultimately dared not desecrate them.

The moonlight was gentle, the campfire flickered, and the young women and men of the Stone Village were singing and dancing joyously.

Ye Fan gnawed on a lamb leg, drank over a dozen cups of wine, and said, "The Eastern Wastelands only have a few ancient scriptures in total. I happen to be familiar with one. How about we have a scholarly contest?"

"You want to compete with me?" The big black dog tilted its head to look at him, baring its snow-white teeth.

"Don’t be so fierce, okay? We’ll have a civil contest: we’ll each recite a passage from an ancient scripture, and see whose is superior."

The big black dog sneered coldly, "Trying to trick me into revealing my Supreme Scripture? You’re far from capable."

Ye Fan shook his head with a smile. "I only wish to compete briefly. Since you’re so guarded, I’ll recite a passage first."

"The Eastern Wastelands have only a few ancient scriptures. Which one do you understand?" The big black dog was visibly skeptical.

"Utmost void, maintaining tranquil focus..." Ye Fan recited a passage of scripture solemnly.

This passage was indeed from an ancient scripture, though incomplete, belonging to the Ji Family’s Empty Void Ancient Scripture. Apart from the Great Void Art, he had only obtained a few passages of the nine secret arts.

This was the Supreme Ancient Scripture created by the Void Emperor of old by observing all things and capturing the eternal Law.

"I didn’t expect you to truly know some, not just trying to deceive me for my Supreme Secret Scripture." The big black dog’s eyes flickered, and it said, "Listen carefully, I’ll recite a passage of my Black Emperor Scripture for you."

"Good, I’m all ears." Ye Fan listened attentively, his heart tranquil.

"Swallow the sun and moon, illuminate the divine..." The big black dog recited a passage of scripture, indeed extremely profound and difficult to understand.

The more Ye Fan listened, the more he felt something was off. This isn’t a cultivation method for the human race; this is a Demon Saint’s Technique!

"Hold on! I can’t cultivate this scripture at all. Such a competition is meaningless." Ye Fan halted it.

"The ancient scripture created by this Emperor is naturally suited for my cultivation, not created for you." The big black dog looked at him disdainfully.

"My ancient scripture is famous across ancient and modern times; only a few in the Eastern Wastelands can stand alongside it. Even if a Demon Saint came, they could reference it, while your so-called Black Emperor Scripture falls far short," Ye Fan shook his head.

"Stop boasting, young pup. You think you can get other ancient scriptures from me for nothing? It’s not that easy." The big black dog had a look of someone who had seen right through him.

"It’s getting something from a black dog for free..." Lei Bo muttered softly from the side.

"WOOF!" The big black dog’s bark made Lei Bo shut up instantly.

"My scripture is stunning across ancient and modern times, created by Emperor Hengyu. I disdain gaining your scripture." Ye Fan shook his head, sighing, "At the end of the immortal path, who stands at the peak? One sight of Hengyu, and all paths become void."

"You’re spouting nonsense! Your scripture is clearly the Ji Family’s Empty Void Ancient Scripture, created by the Void Emperor. How are you dragging Hengyu into this?" The big black dog seemed quite agitated. "Moreover, how is it ’one sight of Hengyu, and all paths become void’? I admit Emperor Hengyu is among the few strongest in ancient times, but that phrase wasn’t spoken of him."

"Then who was it said of?" Ye Fan smiled.

"Naturally, a peerless figure who shook ancient and modern times, one among the few Great Emperors..." The big black dog suddenly stopped speaking.

Ye Fan, through a series of tests, finally gained some insight. This big black dog wasn’t an Ancient creature; it cultivated the Demon Saint Heart Method and seemed to be close to the Unbegun Emperor.

"Young pup, playing tricks with this Emperor? You’re far from capable. Wanting to get ancient scriptures from me? You’re dreaming." The big black dog calmed down. "This Emperor indeed knows the whereabouts of several ancient scriptures. Do you want to know?"

Ye Fan was speechless. This big dog was clearly toying with his nerves.

"What can you possibly know, old black dog? The strongest ancient scriptures are in the several Sacred Lands."

The big black dog displayed a disdainful expression. "This Emperor knows where Emperor Hengyu achieved Enlightenment and where the West Emperor Mother carved the draft Chapter of the ’West Emperor Scripture’ on an absolute cliff."