Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 268: Chapter 273: The Toad Wants to Eat Swan Meat

"You absolutely must not lose focus; the old demon hasn’t been destroyed yet!" Black Emperor reminded.

The All Secret of the Nine Secrets showed its power, making Ye Fan’s divine scan like a vast ocean. He transformed into a three-foot two-handle circular cauldron, as if united with heaven and earth, carrying the imprint of the Great Dao.

"You can’t maintain this state forever. Seal him inside my Golden Divine Bell, and I guarantee it will be a permanent seal!" the big black dog suggested.

Ye Fan and Black Emperor joined forces, sealing the heavily injured old demon into the Divine Bell and suppressing him inside.

"Just a single Divine Bell is somewhat inadequate. Adding a weapon forged by a sovereign might be needed to securely seal him."

Ye Fan reverted to his true form and grabbed the divine lotus. His divine scan, like a golden river, washed over this seemingly fragile weapon repeatedly, completely erasing the original owner’s mark.

"This is a divine lotus refined by a sovereign, the true form of a descendant of the demon race’s Great Emperor—a rare weapon," Black Emperor’s eyes sparkled.

"Do you dare to use it? If you do, you’ll be hunted by the entire demon clan!" Ye Fan warned it, to prevent the big black dog from getting greedy.

SWIPE.

Ye Fan held the green lotus and lightly swept it, landing it on the large golden bell. The divine bell trembled, emitting a gentle hum.

Only then did Ye Fan breathe a sigh of relief and said, "Alright, the two weapons are enough to suppress him. Once we’ve rescued Pang Bo, we can decide how to deal with him."

"Pang Bo, where are you?"

"Over here..." From deep within the Sea of Consciousness, Pang Bo’s voice came.

After searching for a moment, a glowing cage appeared ahead. It was entirely forged from Divine Thought Power, with Pang Bo’s Original Divine Sense locked by Silver Divine Thought Chains.

"Ye Fan..." Pang Bo laughed, tears streaming down his face.

Ye Fan felt an ache in his heart. Over these past few years, Pang Bo had been imprisoned, living a life of utter darkness.

"It’s all over. I’ll get you out!" Ye Fan took action, slashing through the cage and tearing apart the Silver Divine Thought Chains.

「After a quarter of an hour」

Ye Fan and Black Emperor rushed out from the physical body, and Pang Bo regained control of it.

Ancient trees towered here, though not too densely. Several pavilions were scattered about, streams murmured, and old vines hung down, creating a natural and vibrant scene.

"These past years have been truly disorienting, mostly passive cultivation. The only pleasure was cursing that old demon..."

Pang Bo was an optimistic person, rarely given to sadness, and he quickly adjusted.

From his conversation with Ye Fan, he learned that the old demon initially couldn’t do much to Pang Bo. However, upon reaching this place and discovering the Immortal Hall, everything changed.

Especially with the help of the sovereigns Green Flood Dragon King and Peacock King, the old demon, whose life force had been almost exhausted, gained a new lease on life.

Half a year ago, the old demon had taken complete control of this body, and his Divine Sense Power grew stronger and stronger.

"We come from the other side of the starry sky. This secret was discovered by the old demon."

Ye Fan was shocked. "What...?"

"It’s precisely because of this that I was able to survive," Pang Bo sighed.

The old demon was extremely interested in the other side of the starry sky, particularly concerning the ancient palace.

For Pang Bo, these past few years were both an ordeal and a period of tempering.

Initially, he coexisted with the old demon and was oppressed by a sovereign, causing his cultivation progress to be astonishing. Later, when the old demon seized control of the body, his cultivation progress could only be described as terrifying.

After all, he was a figure at the Great Power Level of the demon clan. Obtaining a powerful physical body and re-embarking on the path of cultivation, his advancement was incredibly rapid.

"Damn it, now I don’t even know if I’m human or demon. That old bastard tortured my physical body beyond recognition."

DING-A-LING.

The big black dog ran over, its bald tail held high, as strong as a bull. A small Golden Bell hung beneath its neck, its sound pleasant.

Ye Fan looked at the bell and felt like laughing. He rubbed his chin, pondering. This big dog seemed to have a significant background.

"This dog is really big!" Pang Bo exclaimed.

Seeing them both staring at it, the big black dog bared its teeth and said, "What are you looking at? Are you jealous of how majestic and robust this emperor is?"

"This big dog is several times larger than the Tibetan Mastiff you used to keep."

"Damn it, I’m not his pet! In fact, I’m considering taking him as my human pet," the big black dog’s face turned dark.

Dark lines appeared on Ye Fan’s forehead. "Go find somewhere cool to stay!"

"Kid, you’re ungrateful!" The big black dog was very displeased. The battle with the old demon had cost it dearly; it would need several months of recuperation to fully recover.

"This isn’t the place to talk. We should leave quickly," Ye Fan said, standing up.

"I can’t go with you." Pang Bo shook his head.

"Are you worried?" Ye Fan asked.

"If I leave, the demon clan will hunt you across the world. Your situation will become very dire," Pang Bo explained.

His life was not in danger now, and he could leave on his own later, but it wasn’t suitable for him to depart at this moment.

"I know everything about the old demon; they won’t find any flaws. In the future, I’ll be a member of the demon clan," Pang Bo insisted on staying.

Ye Fan sent the big black dog away and began to speak with him in private.

After a long time, the sound of their laughter echoed through the forest.

"That’s fine too. One of us will be with the human race, and the other with the demon clan. We can support each other in the future."

"In a few more months, I’ll be able to move about openly and help you take out one or two Saint Heirs."

"Sooner or later, we will find our way back home."

Not far away, the big black dog curled its lip and muttered, "Damn, these two brats are no good. They’ll definitely be a pair of disasters in the future."

Pang Bo indeed couldn’t leave, or this place would surely fall into chaos. But from now on, he was a free man. Mastering the Demon Emperor Ancient Scripture, his future was as vast as the sea for a fish to leap in.

"Are you two done scheming? If we don’t leave soon, we might alert others," the big black dog urged impatiently.

"Leave that green lotus." Ye Fan requested the weapon and handed it to Pang Bo. With a flash of green light, it merged into his body.

The big black dog was extremely reluctant. "A rare treasure... My royal heart aches!"

Ye Fan said, "Let’s join forces to neutralize the old demon; otherwise, there will be big trouble in the future."

"No need to turn him to ashes; just suppressing him is enough," the big black dog interjected.

Ultimately, the three of them acted together to suppress the old demon within the Golden Divine Bell.

In truth, even without being sealed, the old demon couldn’t cause any more trouble. The "Divine Wound" technique from the Demon Emperor Nine Slashes had struck himself, injuring him very severely.

Ye Fan and Black Emperor exited the Immortal Hall, smoothly passed through the Meteorite Forest, and erased all traces and auras.

The big black dog’s origins were mysterious. It could even break Dao Glyphs laid down by sovereigns, so naturally, it wouldn’t leave any flaws when departing.

The Star Stone, Divine Blood Soil, and other such materials were almost entirely depleted. The Half Square Source was also nearly exhausted. It had been an extravagant expenditure.

「Deep in the night, all was still and silent.」

On the mountain peak, ancient pines stood verdant, tall, and graceful. Springs gurgled through the forest.

Ye Fan silently returned to his room. That night, he slept very deeply. Having resolved a major worry in his heart, his whole body relaxed.

「In the morning」

The great Fire Pearl rose slowly, and morning light streamed in through the window. After washing up, Ye Fan felt invigorated and began to consider his departure.

The big black dog walked in listlessly, a look of exhaustion on its face, constantly cursing. It had toiled all night but still hadn’t obtained the Demon Emperor Ancient Scripture.

After breakfast, Ye Fan went to find Tu Fei to discuss leaving for the Yaochi Grand Gathering in the coming days.

"I say, little kid Ye, what’s the rush?" Tu Fei seemed to be enjoying himself too much to want to leave, having grown close to a female fairy.

"Don’t you want to miss the Yaochi Grand Gathering? Saint Heirs and Sacred Ladies from various Sacred Lands will be there. Even the Golden Wings Little Peng King and other members of the demon clan will appear. It’s an event not to be missed."

"What’s the hurry? We can set off with Princess Yan later. There’s still plenty of time. Yaochi postponed the Grand Gathering due to some reasons," Tu Fei said, unwilling to leave.

Ye Fan felt a little uneasy. The old demon they had suppressed last night was definitely a kinsman of Yan Ruyu. However, he had no choice; to save Pang Bo, he had to do it.

Black Emperor, don’t refine that old demon to ashes. When my strength is sufficient in the future, I’ll decide how to deal with him, Ye Fan transmitted secretly.

"Damn it, this Emperor wishes I could! That accursed old demon has fused with this Emperor’s Divine Bell!" Black Emperor cursed.

"Little kid Ye, want to stroll around Demon City together?" Tu Fei suggested.

"You’re going on a date with a fairy. Wouldn’t I just be a third wheel if I went?" Ye Fan shook his head with a smile.

"It seems you’re set on leaving. How about this: we’ll leave together in two days. I want to find Li Heishui, Liu Kou, and Jiang Huairen."

"Alright, I’ll wait for you for two more days." Ye Fan also didn’t want to depart too abruptly, lest it arouse the suspicion of the demon clan.

Before leaving, he followed Black Emperor’s suggestion and decided to go to Demon City to collect some materials for inscribing Dao Glyphs, which might prove very useful later.

Demon City, marked by ancient traces, had stood for eight hundred years. Although not large in scale, it boasted many old shops.

Ye Fan collected many precious materials, though their prices were not cheap. Tu Fei walked ahead with a female fairy, their behavior intimate, showing no restraint in front of him.

"I say, you two, could you tone it down a bit? Don’t treat us like we’re not here," Black Emperor interjected.

The female fairy giggled. "Such a feisty dog. You can already speak, so why haven’t you taken human form yet?"

Ye Fan noticed that some members of the demon clan looked at him with peculiar expressions. He felt that he really had to leave.

「Not long after」

Qin Yao appeared, approaching with a graceful sway, her limbs supple, like a celestial willow dancing in the wind.

"Why are you in Demon City again? Many eyes are watching you," Qin Yao said, glancing at Ye Fan. Her gaze shimmered, holding a hint of allure.

"Sister Qin Yao..." A young fairy girl smiled sweetly. She was charmingly beautiful, dressed in a golden Feather Robe, and approached with light steps.

You shouldn’t be walking with Sister Qin Yao! Ye Fan heard this warning. The young girl was secretly transmitting to him, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

However, when facing Qin Yao, she smiled very sweetly, not revealing any of this animosity.

Ye Fan smiled and also transmitted secretly, asking, "Why?"

Have you ever heard the saying ’a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh’? the young girl transmitted disdainfully, her head held high.

Ye Fan was somewhat baffled, wondering how he had offended this young girl. He transmitted, "Little girl, aren’t you overstepping a bit?"

The young fairy girl transmitted coldly, "If you truly care for Sister Qin Yao, then stay away from her. Don’t get too close. You have a naturally wasted body, destined to be stuck at the Dao Palace secret realm. You will never become a true powerhouse and are unworthy of Sister Qin Yao."

Ye Fan was somewhat speechless. He rubbed his chin and transmitted, "What exactly is your motive?"

"Brother Golden Feathers, Brother Bitter Bamboo, and Brother Bai Feng are all geniuses at the Fifth Layer Heaven of Dao Palace. They are the ones worthy of Sister Qin Yao. It was one thing in the southern region, but now that you’re in the northern region, do you still harbor delusions of a toad eating swan meat? Stop dreaming!" This fairy girl spoke without any mercy.

"So you’re speaking up for those three ’toads’, huh? But little girl, you’re really overstepping your bounds!" Ye Fan transmitted solemnly.

They were not speaking aloud but communicating secretly, so bystanders were unaware.

"You’ll be stuck in the Dao Palace secret realm for your entire life. Even if you’re invincible at the same level, to geniuses beyond the Four Extremes secret realm, a wasted body like yours is completely useless. So, don’t pester Sister Qin Yao. If you genuinely care for her, then leave quickly. Don’t drag her down."