Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 262: Chapter 267: Secret Arts of Sacred Body Inheritance

This physical body was shriveled, yet immortal and indestructible. Enormous Qi flowed unobstructed within it, exuding an aura of the Dao. Ye Fan remained as motionless as a rock, his Heart Spirit immersed in the Golden Body, capturing that Dao charm and grasping its operational pathways.

He felt that this might be an immortal heritage!

If he could obtain it, it might greatly benefit his cultivation; after all, this was a sacred body, his kindred.

The enormous Qi coiled like dragons, traveling along a profound cultivation method. Its operational path was as enigmatic as dragons navigating the ocean, riding the wind and breaking the waves.

Ye Fan meticulously captured and noted the trajectory, comparing its power to his own nine secret arts, mutually corroborating them.

This isn’t right... After observing for a moment, he found this Dao cultivation method’s enormous Qi trajectory to be unconventional, possessing a rather unique quality. This isn’t an orthodox nine secret arts... As he verified it against the Wheel Sea Volume of the Dao Scripture, he realized it didn’t seem like nine secret arts, but more like some kind of secret art.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred, his divine sense becoming exceptionally clear. He carefully tried to grasp and ponder it; the more he did, the more profound he found it to be. This is a cultivation secret art for a single secret boundary! He was inwardly shaken. Comparing it with the legends, he arrived at such a conclusion.

Ancient cultivators, some of them, cultivated only one secret boundary throughout their lives, never venturing into other secret boundaries.

Legend has it that ancient sovereigns who cultivated only a single secret boundary would undergo nine transformations of birth and death. Ultimately, they would break through their cocoons like butterflies, achieving the circle of perfection. Upon emerging from seclusion, clouds would stir in all ten directions, and Variations would soar to the heavens.

Of course, this was the result of long years of accumulation, often requiring an entire lifetime, not something achieved overnight.

The cultivation of a single secret boundary not only required powerful nine secret arts but also needed to be complemented by certain ancient secret arts.

Ye Fan had always been very curious, wanting to understand what this path of cultivation entailed. Today, he had unexpectedly glimpsed such an ancient secret art.

Across the entire Eastern Wastelands, there were only a few ancient scriptures. He had obtained the Wheel Sea Volume of the Dao Scripture, which was the strongest nine secret arts for this secret realm, sufficient to cultivate a Single Secret Realm.

However, he had always lacked the complementary secret art. Now, having glimpsed the profound mystery of the Dao, a surge of excitement arose within him.

He sensed the Qi Mechanism of the Dao, which was enough to illustrate the profundity of this secret art, making it comparable to, and capable of matching, the Dao Scripture.

This sacred body had been dead for tens of thousands of years. Although immortal, it was not truly alive. Its original nine secret arts were not operating; instead, it was this secret art that moved with the enormous Qi, which explained everything!

This was the most precious treasure, a supreme Dao Secret Technique, capable of being paired with the Dao Scripture.

Ye Fan reined in his thoughts, silently comprehending and carefully observing, imprinting the operational pathways of this secret art into his Sea of Consciousness, bit by bit.

As a sacred body, it was difficult for him to advance far in the present age. The Dao Palace secret realm had severed his path forward; even Sacred Lands could not bear the vast quantities of Source required.

Even though he possessed the Heavenly Source Book, it was exceedingly difficult, almost impossible, given the astronomical figures involved. Now, having obtained this Dao Secret Technique, he had another option.

These Holy Body Remains, their flesh immortal, their desiccated muscles now emitted a crystalline radiance, startling the few people not far away.

"Are you sure there’s no problem, little kid Ye?" Tu Fei asked.

"I say, kid, are you having a staring contest with that corpse?" the big black dog asked suspiciously.

Even though Ye Fan was at a critical juncture, earnestly exploring this Dao Secret Technique, he still patiently responded. Otherwise, he truly worried these few might intervene.

After all, these Holy Body Remains were too astonishing. Controlled by him, they had stood up, a divine bell atop their head, a Green Gold Battle Spear in hand, as if resurrected.

"I’m fine, you don’t need to worry. I share the same physique, and we’re connected by a Qi mechanism of the same source. I’m trying to see if I can discover anything."

He fundamentally didn’t understand why the two were like this. To say it was merely the pull of a Qi mechanism was stretching it; perhaps it could be attributed to the mystery of the sacred body.

The current scene was indeed somewhat eerie. A person dead for tens of thousands of years had revived, inevitably making one think of many things. The others remained vigilant, observing.

Time passed, little by little. Ye Fan meticulously captured and grasped it, finally imprinting the complete secret art into his mind.

Then, he re-observed it, confirming there were no flaws, before finally letting out a long sigh. He had obtained this Dao Secret Technique at last.

This was a heritage left by a sacred body, its value and significance immeasurable. For him, it was exceedingly important!

"What is the origin of this sacred body, and how was it discovered?" Ye Fan asked, wanting to understand the full story.

"The Green Flood Dragon King discovered it in this small world," Qin Yao replied.

When the Green Flood Dragon King first entered this small world, his greatest gain was obtaining the Immortal Hall, which could extend a cultivator’s lifespan. This sacred body was also discovered inside it.

"According to the Green Flood Dragon King’s speculation, these remains most likely belong to the Ancient Saint who created this small world," Yan Ruyu said.

This greatly startled Tu Fei, an expression of disbelief appearing on his face.

For this sacred body to have existed for tens of thousands of years, it couldn’t be someone from before Ancient Desolation who hadn’t cultivated to the Great Success Realm.

"After Ancient Desolation, sacred bodies couldn’t cultivate and could only stop at the Dao Palace secret realm. Yet, someone managed to cultivate this physique to such a Realm?" Tu Fei was puzzled.

"These remains are comparable to Ancient Saints, and they created a small world?" The big black dog was also very shocked.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. He introspected the remains, his Heart Spirit ascending from the Wheel and Sea into the Dao Palace. He was shocked to discover that this secret realm had also been cultivated.

Of the Dao Palace’s five divine treasures, four had reached the circle of perfection. Only the Heart’s Divine Treasure, though cultivated, was still far from perfection.

"Four divine treasures at the circle of perfection! Doesn’t that mean he refined a million catties of Source and was stuck at the final, astronomical barrier?!" Ye Fan was considerably astonished.

Ancient sovereigns often dedicated their entire lives to cultivating a single secret boundary, pouring all their efforts into it. However, these remains had meticulously cultivated nearly two secret boundaries.

"This kind of physique, cultivating a single secret boundary and then entering another, it’s no wonder it became an Ancient Saint."

Ye Fan’s Heart Spirit returned to the Wheel and Sea and entered the green lotus. With a thought, the desiccated physical body instantly became crystalline, as firm as meteoric iron, every inch of its musculature filled with explosive power.

Holding the Green Gold Battle Spear, he swiped it lightly. A pair of silver Dragon Scissors nearby snapped into two with a CLICK, as if cutting rotten wood, effortlessly.

CLANG!

The divine bell above his head chimed softly. Ahead, a Purple Copper Gourd that had been bobbing up and down silently cracked and turned to dust.

This physical body was extremely formidable. Having just reawakened, it displayed a might that left everyone dumbfounded.

Behind him, the others retreated, ready to act at any moment.

Ye Fan observed from within the Wheel and Sea. After a careful exploration, apart from his own green lotus, he found nothing else within this physical body.

The vast golden Sea of Bitterness was silent, its waves stilled. There was nothing inside; it was completely empty.

SWISH!

With a flash of light, the divine bell hovering above its head sank into the Wheel and Sea. The Green Gold Battle Spear also vanished in a flash, returning into the body.

It sat down on the ground, assuming its original posture, dignified and solemn, amidst the numerous treasures.

The green lotus swayed, and endless divine energy was drawn back. The golden Sea of Bitterness slowly dimmed and eventually dried up.

Green light flickered, and the green lotus rushed out, accompanying Ye Fan. With a thought, he completely returned to his own body.

Ye Fan dearly wished to obtain this physical body, but it belonged to the Green Flood Dragon King, whose Combat Power was comparable to the great Peacock Kings. He could only sigh inwardly; if he truly tried to take it, he would undoubtedly be turned to ashes.

RUMBLE!

The one-meter-thick White Jade Gate closed. The group left the Nine-layered Treasure Vault and stood on a mountain peak that pierced the clouds. A few old demons were planting flowers and vegetables nearby, paying them no mind.

"Let’s go. Still thinking of going back in?" Tu Fei patted Ye Fan’s shoulder.

"I wonder what I could offer in exchange for the Green Flood Dragon King to cede this physical body," Ye Fan mused to himself.

"Don’t even think about it. These are Holy Body Remains, from an Ancient Saint who created a small world. Its bones could be refined into a Supreme Weapon. What do you have to trade?" Tu Fei shook his head.

"If you offer the Origin Qi foundation, the entire treasure vault will be yours," an old demon squinted from behind them and said.

"Let’s get out of here, quick!" The big black dog raised its bald tail and was the first to run off. The creature sensed danger.

Ye Fan had no desire to get entangled with these old demons. If they decided to act, even Yan Ruyu would likely find it difficult. He offered a bow and, using the old madman’s footwork, vanished in the blink of an eye.

We need to leave here quickly! This was his decision. Every extra day they stayed increased the danger by another degree.

"Princess, may I accompany you to view the Immortal Hall?" On the way, Ye Fan asked Yan Ruyu. Since Ancient Saints had passed away there, something was likely left behind. As someone with the same physique, he might be able to discover something.

"That’s probably not possible. You’ll have to wait a few months," Yan Ruyu tactfully refused.

"When you activated those remains, what did you actually gain?" Qin Yao inquired.

Yan Ruyu and Tu Fei also looked over; this was a question they had long wanted to ask.

"What discoveries could there be? It’s just a skeleton. What can remain after life is lost? Everything was merely being controlled by the green lotus within me."

Speaking of this, Ye Fan’s heart stirred, and he said, "However, I did discover that he only cultivated the Wheel and Sea secret realm and did not cross the Dao Palace threshold."

"An Ancient Saint who only cultivated a Single Secret Realm?!" Tu Fei was astonished.

Qin Yao looked somewhat surprised and said, "It seems that since Ancient Desolation, truly no one has been able to break the Magic Spell; the sacred body can only halt at the Dao Palace secret realm."

At this moment, the big black dog suddenly jumped up, its large, bell-like eyes瞪ing at Ye Fan. It asked in amazement, "Did he really achieve a Single Secret Realm?!"

"Is that so surprising?" Ye Fan retorted.

Yan Ruyu, seemingly contemplative, shook her head. "Since Ancient Desolation, I have never heard of a sacred body achieving a Single Secret Realm."

"To cultivate a Single Secret Realm, besides powerful nine secret arts, one also needs a supreme secret art to complement it." The big black dog, filled with shock, muttered to itself, "But since Ancient Desolation, it has been difficult for a sacred body to achieve a Single Secret Realm. What ancient secret art could that be?!"

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat. The secret art he had obtained seemed extraordinarily uncommon.

"Comparable to an Ancient Saint, having created a small world... What secret art is this..." Yan Ruyu also mused.

This was also why the Green Flood Dragon King had been reluctant to refine the remains into a Weapon, wanting to uncover its secrets.

Ye Fan’s mind was far from calm. He decided that tonight, after entering the Immortal Hall, while rescuing Pang Bo, he absolutely had to explore the place thoroughly.

"Black Emperor is going to act tonight. Are you confident?"

"Let’s move quickly! Those old demons are dangerous. This Emperor doesn’t want to stay here any longer!"

Returning to the palace amidst the pine forest, Ye Fan directly closed the doors. He took out various materials and had the big black dog inscribe Dao Glyphs, preparing to break through the Restriction of the Immortal Hall that night.

Night fell. Within this small world, there was no bright moon, no stars, only pitch darkness where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

Ye Fan and the big black dog moved silently, arriving above the clouds, quietly observing the Immortal Hall.