Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 263: Chapter 268: Yellow Spring Tomb

The night was deep and quiet, with all things silent.

Above the clouds, the Immortal Hall stood tall, the passage of time having carved marks upon it. Some parts were nearly collapsing, yet it still hovered in the air, without sinking.

Numerous meteorites, some as large as over ten meters and others as small as a palm, lay quietly around, resembling a natural stone forest, arranged in a harmonious disorder.

Ye Fan stood on a cloud, observing the Immortal Hall from afar.

The Black Emperor stood upon a Magic Artifact used for travel, for it could not fly otherwise. This was the Five-Colored Jade Boat obtained after Ye Fan had killed a disciple of the Ji Family, re-refined by the big black dog to resemble a turtle shell, pitch-black.

On the Jade Boat, a large array of materials was on display, including Star Stones, black ice jade, Divine Blood Soil, among others. They were all rare and uncommon materials, not extremely precious, but they all had some special functions.

"This small world contains two sovereigns, comparable to the great lords, and also some formidable old demons. If we create too much commotion and they detect us, we’re as good as dead," Ye Fan said calmly.

The big black dog gritted its teeth and said, "If I don’t obtain the demon race’s Great Emperor’s ancient scriptures, I’ll have it out with you! The risks This Emperor is taking are too great!"

At this point, it wore a solemn expression, unwilling to be careless, as even the slightest mistake could result in catastrophic danger.

The big black dog circled the Immortal Hall several times, delaying any action, contemplating and carefully pondering.

Ye Fan did not urge it, relying entirely on it now. Without a safe method, it was better to wait than to take a risk, as the opportunity might not come again.

We must act silently, not a single ripple... the big black dog muttered to itself. It was very serious and earnest, for this concerned their life and death.

A full hour passed before the big black dog finished its calculations. Gritting its teeth, it said, "This Emperor is determined! I must obtain that ancient scripture!"

On the Jade Boat, every material was inscribed with Dao Glyphs, very complex, like ghostly symbols, mysterious and hard to understand.

The big black dog launched a piece of Divine Blood Soil silently, letting it meld into the Meteorite Forest, where it became stationary and unmoving.

It piloted the Jade Boat, swiftly flying around the Immortal Hall, embedding all eighty-one pieces of Divine Blood Soil among the meteorites of the forest.

With this, the first material, Divine Blood Soil, was exhausted, densely scattered around the Immortal Hall.

"No unexpected events occurred. The next steps should be without a hitch; my conjecture is correct," the big black dog exhaled a lengthy breath.

"What is the purpose of this Divine Blood Soil?"

"This place is a Meteorite Forest, representing the myriad stars of the heavens. It is etched with extremely potent Dao Glyphs, forming a Star Domain Force Field. Divine Blood Soil can interfere with this field’s energy," the big black dog answered.

"That formidable?!" Ye Fan was greatly astonished.𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"This Meteorite Forest corresponds with the arrangement of the main stars in the heavens. Once triggered, with its countless deadly traps, even sovereigns would perish if they fell into it," the big black dog’s expression became grave.

Ye Fan drew in a breath of cold air, finally understanding why there was no guard here; there was simply no need.

Then, the Black Emperor propelled out the Mystic Turtle Shells. These shells, fifty in total, were inscribed with even more complex Dao Glyphs. However, it only embedded forty-nine of them, their positions chosen with great care.

The last piece was tossed onto the Jade Boat, inscribed only with a single-stroke Dao Glyph, appearing somewhat distinctive.

"What is the use of these Mystic Turtle Shells?" Ye Fan humbly inquired.

"The Mystic Turtle Shells are to overturn the small world formed by this Meteorite Forest."

"Why leave one aside, and the Dao Glyph on it seems different?" Ye Fan was puzzled.

"There are too many intricacies to explain in detail," the big black dog casually responded. "The numbers of heaven and earth rely on fifty. The one unused is the vital breath of heaven; it is used to bring substance from the void, hence forty-nine are employed." Then, it began deducing the next step.

Ye Fan marveled. Indeed, the study of Dao Glyphs was vast and profound. It involved countless matters and contained heavenly secrets, making it hard to master. He was not yet capable of in-depth research.

The third material the big black dog struck out was black ice jade, totaling one hundred and eight pieces, with densely and finely inscribed Dao Glyphs.

"Actually, Xuanhuang Stone should have been chosen for this, used to transform the small world and cover the Meteorite Forest, but such a thing is too rare, very hard to find."

"What should be done? Can black ice jade be a substitute?" Ye Fan did not want any mistakes.

"Luckily, you have that cauldron forged from Origin Qi. Once we enter, you shall take it out and suspend it above your head; it will be sufficient to suppress everything," said the big black dog.

"You’ve had this plan all along?" Ye Fan asked.

"If you didn’t have the Origin Qi foundation, This Emperor would never have come to break the Dao Glyphs here. Xuanhuang Stone is the primary material needed to break through the Meteorite Forest." The Black Emperor, though typically sly and unruly, was very solemn and earnest at this critical moment. It showed no trace of negligence, as their lives were at stake.

After an hour, twenty-seven of the twenty-eight types of materials had been integrated; only the Star Stone was left untouched.

At this time, the Black Emperor began casting Sources inscribed with Dao Glyphs into the Meteorite Forest.

The Half Square Source arranged on the Jade Boat totaled over one thousand six hundred pounds and sparkled brightly. Time was pressing. Ye Fan had only managed to collect twenty-eight types of materials in Demon City; the remainder needed to be supplemented by Source.

To rescue Pang Bo, he was willing to offer all his Source, yet the big black dog, showing some conscience, claimed half a square would suffice.

Even so, this was an astounding consumption. Over one thousand six hundred pounds of Source were embedded into the Meteorite Forest in the blink of an eye.

Finally, the Black Emperor deployed three hundred and sixty-five Star Stones, distributing them evenly throughout the Meteorite Forest.

"Alright, it’s finally complete. I used the Heaven-Stealing Day-Changing Technique to temporarily replace the meteorites with Star Stones," the big black dog exhaled a deep breath.

"Are you certain the Meteorite Forest, representing the main stars, has been broken?" Ye Fan’s heart surged, as he was about to see Pang Bo.

"I cannot say it’s been broken, merely that the Star Domain Force Field is temporarily paralyzed."

"Can we enter now?" Ye Fan’s heart could not find peace.

"We can. Summon your cauldron," the Black Emperor solemnly reminded.

A small cauldron, an inch high, flew out, quickly enlarging to a meter tall. It suspended above Ye Fan’s head, Origin Qi cascading down in intertwining strands, as Black Yellow Qi swirled around.

"An exclusive holy divine relic of an ancient Great Emperor, impossible to glimpse in thousands of generations, actually fell into your hands..." the big black dog was indignant, longing to pounce.

"What does that indicate? In the future, I shall undoubtedly become a Great Emperor."

"Throughout history, how many Great Emperors have there been? They represent the pinnacle of the human race. And you..." the big black dog sneered.

The Immortal Hall stood above the clouds, while the Meteorite Forest around it remained tranquil.

Ye Fan stepped forward on the clouds, the ancient cauldron hovering above his head, emitting streams of Black Yellow Qi. The Black Emperor navigated the Jade Boat, following closely behind, gradually approaching the Immortal Hall.

The surroundings were very silent, with no hint of danger emanating from the Meteorite Forest. Everything remained peaceful as they proceeded.

"You really managed to decipher it..."

"Of course!" The Black Emperor wore a proud expression.

After advancing a few hundred meters, they arrived in front of the Immortal Hall. They no longer spoke aloud but used divine sense to communicate.

"Are you sure that the spirit who seized the body won’t last much longer?"

"I’m sure!" Ye Fan responded affirmatively.

"Alright, then. I will temporarily seal this place using the Meteorite Forest, to prevent any disturbances inside the Immortal Hall from being detected by the outside world." The Black Emperor relocated materials like Divine Blood Soil, black ice jade, and Star Stone, rearranging them anew.

Meanwhile, Ye Fan also began to prepare, retrieving the stone clothes he had worn when exploring Purple Mountain and putting them on again.

These were crafted from the stone skin of Divine Source and were capable of blocking all auras, including divine sense. According to the Black Emperor’s estimation, defeating that existence would involve a divine sense battle, making this the best Protective Battle Armor.

The Black Emperor also made preparations, placing over a hundred small flags on the Jade Boat, all meticulously crafted by itself as protective gear specifically for the divine sense battle.

The cauldron above Ye Fan’s head hovered steadily, emitting Heaven-devouring power. It absorbed the Black Emperor and the Jade Boat, and then Ye Fan himself entered the cauldron.

"Our combined divine sense should be strong enough to suppress a lone soul who has seized a body. My only concern is that you might have misjudged the situation," the Black Emperor communicated from within the cauldron.

"He already started failing a few years ago," Ye Fan replied. "Why else would he borrow the Green Flood Dragon King’s Immortal Hall, if not to delay the depletion of his lifespan?"

"Then let’s go inside!" The Black Emperor gritted its teeth.

The Great Cauldron moved forward silently. The Immortal Hall remained silent, its doors tightly closed.

Something feels odd! Ye Fan sensed an anomaly.

This grand ancient palace seemed more like it was carved rather than constructed. Yes, it appeared to have been chiseled from a stone mountain rather than built using conventional methods.

The ancient palace had stone tiles that were connected, and if one didn’t look closely, it was imperceptible that this was a single entity, not assembled brick by brick!

Is this really carved from a stone mountain? Ye Fan was filled with shock. There was no need to exert so much effort.

SWISH.

Pausing briefly, he drove the cauldron forward. A light vibration of Black Yellow Qi silently pushed open the Stone Gate of the hall.

This eternally unfading structure had existed for so long, evoking a profound sense of history.

Pang Bo, I’m here to rescue you! Ye Fan muttered to himself.

The Immortal Hall, a very magnificent ancient building, was vast inside and completely shrouded in darkness.

"There’s no one in the hall," the Black Emperor communicated.

The ancient palace had multiple layers. He should be in the halls behind, Ye Fan felt uneasy.

"Wait, don’t rush ahead. The hall is inscribed with Dao Glyphs; they are very mysterious indeed," the Black Emperor communicated.

This ancient palace was reputed to delay the decay of a cultivator’s lifespan, a quality closely linked to the Dao Glyphs inscribed here.

The Black Emperor observed for a long time but couldn’t discover where the Dao Glyphs were inscribed or gain any insight.

But at this moment, Ye Fan made a new discovery, his heart shaken.

This is a Source Mountain!

The entire ancient palace was carved from a stone mountain. From the outside, it looked like ordinary bluestone, but once inside, he was astonished. This was Source Ore.

This must be an ancient palace carved from a Source Vein. If the grand hall were shattered, it might reveal Sources.

No, wait! Just then, Ye Fan, after closer examination, was even more astonished.

This ancient palace was exceedingly complex, or rather, this Source Vein was complex; it contained something extraordinary!

"Kid, what did you discover?" The Black Emperor asked.

"Don’t disturb me; let me take a closer look." Ye Fan surveyed the hall, observing carefully.

At this moment, it was impossible to judge based on topographical features, as the Source Mountain had been carved into a hall. He could only speculate based on this Source material.

What a very unpleasant feeling... this place... Ye Fan felt a shock.

"What’s the matter?"

This should be a Desolate Land! Why is it called the Immortal Hall? Ye Fan felt chills run down his spine, an unsettling sensation washing over him.

"What did you discern?" The Black Emperor asked.

"I’m not yet certain. Let’s proceed to the second chamber and see." Ye Fan guided the cauldron into the vast second chamber of the ancient palace.

After a careful examination there, his heart was suddenly shocked, confirming his suspicion.

This is a profoundly ominous place! Ye Fan cursed inwardly. This is a place that claims lives; how could it possibly be a place that extends lifespan?

"Kid, what’s the deal here?"

"Have you heard of dangerous places like the Fire Dragon Tomb or Dragon Bloodshed, where Divine Sources are buried?"

The Black Emperor shivered and said, "Naturally, I’ve heard of them."

Ye Fan said gravely, "This place is called the Yellow Spring Tomb, ranked among such perilous territories! It is an ancient palace carved from a Source Mountain, and the Yellow Spring Tomb is within this ancient palace!"