Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 279: Chapter 284: Entering the Underground Palace

In the grand canyon, the tomb resembled an abyss.

Only a corner of its city gate was exposed, and the extent of its grandeur and vastness could not yet be speculated. A massive number of Yin Soldiers and Yin Horses surged out, impossible to kill them all.

The outstanding disciples of several Sacred Lands had already ventured deep inside, with followers from many Great Sects and other major powers close behind, slaying Yin Soldiers and forcefully entering the pass.

"BOOM," "BOOM," "BOOM"...

The sound of war drums was like thunder, echoing from the depths of the Underground Palace. The Yin Soldiers surged out like black tidal waves, resulting in the untimely deaths of many cultivators.

However, in pursuit of the nine secret arts, many major powers would not retreat. Numerous cultivators charged in, wielding their Weapons to battle against Yin beings and Yin Horses.

Then, someone unleashed a scorching fire, burning a vast area and reducing swathes of Yin spirits to nothingness.

"Kill!"

Cries of battle echoed everywhere. The fighting was fierce, with corpses strewn all over the front of the Underground Palace. The Yin Soldiers and Yin Horses were exceptionally brave and strong, trampling many people into bloody mud.

It wasn’t until an hour later that the cries of battle gradually weakened; countless lives had been lost. Before the city gate, it was a scene of crimson, with blood and flesh mixed with mud, creating a gory mire. The pits of blood were glaringly red, a truly heartbreaking sight.

The area at the city gate finally calmed down. The Yin Soldiers and Yin Horses were greatly reduced, now nearly imperceptible, and no longer rushed out. The majority of the surviving cultivators had fought their way in.

"Everyone, should we head in too?" a cultivator asked, his face pale and his body trembling slightly.

There were about a hundred people before the city gate, all looking unwell; some female cultivators were vomiting. Their strength wasn’t sufficient, so they had been watching from afar, only approaching now.

"There are not many Yin Soldiers left. It’s probably safe now; we can go in," another pale-faced cultivator spoke.

"This Ancient Tomb is too terrifying; it’s not a place we can easily enter and exit. There are likely even stronger Yin spirits deeper within the Underground Palace," someone voiced opposition.

In the end, a small number of people entered, while most chose to be rational, rushing out of the grand canyon and back to the surface.

Three figures descended from the sky, arriving before the Underground Palace and peering inside.

"Daoist Duan, are you going in?" Ji Ziyue asked.

"Let’s wait a bit longer," Daoist Duan De replied calmly, showing no urgency.

Ye Fan laughed. "Aren’t you afraid someone else will obtain the nine secret arts?"

"Aren’t you in no hurry either?" Daoist Duan De remained composed. "Good things can’t be rushed. Even if they enter first, it doesn’t mean they’ll get them."

"BUZZ!"

Suddenly, the Underground Palace shook violently, and the Yin Qi inside intensified. Many cultivators exclaimed in alarm, and then battle cries resumed.

Daoist Duan De’s expression changed. "I knew it wasn’t that simple," he said. "The truly formidable things are just making their appearance now."

Low growls and the sounds of intense combat emanated from within; the depths of the Underground Palace were chaotic, with screams merging into a continuous wail.

"Are you sure this is really the tomb of that ancient family? Something seems off," Ye Fan inquired.

"Indeed, something feels very off. There’s an overwhelming number of Yin spirits; these things require an extremely long time to develop naturally," Daoist Duan De frowned.

「Half an hour later」

The depths of the Underground Palace finally quieted down considerably; the roars disappeared. Before long, some people staggered out.

These individuals had disheveled hair and pale faces, and were severely injured. Many bore horrific scratch marks, and some had even lost arms.

"What happened inside? What did you encounter?" Daoist Duan De, wearing an innocent look, approached and asked with concern.

"Damn it, don’t even mention it! It’s a Ghost Nest in there, filled with Fierce Ghosts! The deeper you go, the more powerful the things you encounter."

"I don’t know which bastard discovered this grand tomb and unearthed Yellow Springs Water! The nine secret arts are bullshit! It cost me an arm!" a burly man cursed continuously, stumbling away.

Daoist Duan De rubbed his nose, saying nothing more.

In just a short while, many people rushed out of the Underground Palace, all of them having lost their nerve and unwilling to take any more risks.

"Alright, it’s our turn to go in. If we delay any longer, there won’t be anything left," Daoist Duan De decided, preparing to move.

Ye Fan said, "This poor Daoist doesn’t wish to go in. This place feels ominous; it probably doesn’t hold any of the nine secret arts."

Ji Ziyue also halted. If even her brother couldn’t handle the entities inside, her entering now would be futile. She felt it was best to find an Elder to handle the situation.

"In that case, this poor Daoist will go claim the nine secret arts alone!" Daoist Duan De flickered and disappeared inside the city gate.

"Little Daoist, you better get away from here quickly," Ji Ziyue said after a moment’s thought, then flew out of the grand canyon, heading into the distance.

This place was too precarious. Even if one wanted to take advantage of the chaos, there would likely be no gain. The Yin spirits were endless. Ye Fan refrained from acting rashly, continuing to wait outside.

Suddenly, the figure of a large dog came into his view. The Black Emperor, like a lone wolf, leaped down from the rim of the grand canyon, navigating the steep earth formation.

Ye Fan had not only changed his appearance but had also altered something fundamental about himself, like his scent. Even if this was a dog spirit, it couldn’t identify him by smell.

"Black Emperor... over here!"

The Big Black Head heard the call and immediately looked over, baring its teeth.

"It’s me. Keep quiet and communicate through divine scan," Ye Fan transmitted. He hadn’t expected it to come here; his previously settled mind became active again. This creature could even break through a sovereign’s Restriction. Entering the Underground Palace with it might offer a decent chance of success.

"I was just about to find you," the big black dog spoke with a sulking face. "I accompanied you to the Immortal Hall to rescue someone, and I got absolutely nothing for it! It was a complete waste of my effort for you!"

"Did a dog eat your conscience?!"

"Damn you..." The big black dog was so furious it almost pounced.

Ye Fan transmitted his voice, "Don’t get angry with me. That old demon clearly sealed itself within your Divine Bell. How could you not get the ancient scriptures?"

"That troublemaker temporarily merged with my Divine Bell, and I can’t refine it. I can’t obtain the ancient scriptures at all," the big black dog said, very frustrated.

Ye Fan chuckled. "That’s simple. When Pang Bo gets out someday, I’ll have him make you the Mountain Guardian Beast and transmit the Supreme Ancient Scripture to you."

The big black dog looked hostile. "Kid, do you believe I’ll shout ’The Origin Qi foundation is here!’ and a crowd of people will rush over to tear you apart?"

"Enough. We’re two locusts on the same rope; there’s no need to argue. Let’s enter the Underground Palace together now and see what benefits we can reap."

"You want this emperor to help you break the Restriction, don’t you?" The big black dog had a look as if it had seen through Ye Fan.

Ye Fan remained calm. "This place is a Ghost Nest. I’m letting you go in because I hope you’ll gain some benefits. There’s probably not much Restriction to break."

"If you want this emperor’s help, just say so," the big black dog bared its teeth. "Don’t make it seem like I owe you a favor."

"I’m asking if you can carve Dao Glyphs that can traverse space?" Ye Fan looked at it earnestly.𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The big black dog proudly said, "Who is this emperor? In heaven and on earth, second to none! There’s no Dao Glyph I can’t carve. As long as you can provide the Source, I could even send you to the Central States."

"Really?" Ye Fan was moved.

"Of course, it’s true."

Ye Fan’s eyes lit up, and he urged, "Then let’s not waste time. Get to carving immediately. It doesn’t need to span millions of miles, just enough to cross a thousand miles of void. We’ll use it as our escape route later."

"To carve such things requires special materials. Do you have a mysterious jade platform?" the big black dog asked, rolling its eyes.

"I’ve collected some." Ye Fan threw out a large piece several meters long, jet-black and shiny, with a glimmering crystalline luster.

He hadn’t entered the Underground Palace for another reason: the various Sacred Lands were determined to obtain the nine secret arts. Their Grand Elders must have come and likely sealed off this area, waiting outside.

Now that the Black Emperor was here, if it could carve Dao Glyphs that traversed space, it would be like helping him alleviate this hidden worry.

「A quarter of an hour later」

Ye Fan and the big black dog entered the Underground Palace. Of course, they didn’t walk together but proceeded one after the other. Moreover, the big black dog transformed into a two-foot-long mutt to avoid being recognized.

This underground world was vast. The deep and far-reaching Underground Palace sections were interconnected, forming an expansive area, and it was unknown where they led. It did not resemble a large tomb but rather a sprawling underground ancient castle.

Along the way, they saw many corpses, and occasionally one or two Yin Soldiers charged out. However, these couldn’t stop Ye Fan, as it wasn’t thousands of troops charging at once.

"When we go deeper, keep an eye out for a fat Daoist. No, wait, he’s changed his appearance. He looks like this..." Ye Fan transmitted his voice to the big black dog, presumably showing an image.

"Are you saying you want me to bite him at a critical moment to steal his treasure?" The big black dog looked at him sideways. "You sure have the nerve to ask this emperor to do such a demeaning thing."

"Actually, if I could, I’d bite him myself, but my teeth aren’t sharp enough; I can’t compare to you. That bastard will surely find treasure. Just keep an eye on him, and I guarantee you’ll return fully laden."

This ancient tomb was magnificent, like an underground palace. Dragon-coiled stone columns and phoenix-carved tomb walls were very intricate, with one section of the Underground Palace leading to another.

"MEOW..."

Suddenly, a piercing cat’s yowl sounded. A sable light burst from a stone hall to attack Ye Fan, as swift as black lightning.

It was a colossal creature, five to six meters long, with sharp claws more than a foot in length. It resembled a large black cat, but its body was covered with scales. It was strong and powerful, with Dagger-like teeth that glistened coldly.

Ye Fan threw a punch, and the large black cat was shattered. Besides dissipating into a dense cloud of Yin Qi, a pool of foul blood remained.

The Black Emperor’s expression turned grave. "The Yin body produced blood. This place is truly treacherous. It’s probably been sealed for ten to twenty thousand years."

Venturing several miles deeper into the Underground Palace, Ye Fan grew increasingly alarmed. He saw a giant Yin Soldier, over ten meters tall, that had manifested flesh and blood. However, half of its body had been severed, the wound looking as if it were left by a Great Wilderness Halberd.

Soon after, he saw dozens of Yin Soldiers with scales on their bodies. Near them lay many shattered Dao Palace Level Weapons.

They looked as if they had been scorched, with half of their bodies missing. This strongly resembled the effects of the Holy Light Technique used by Flickering Light’s Saint Heir.

"RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!"

A torrent of yellow water flowed turbulently, a great river passing through the Underground Palace and rushing away. Its murky yellow hue was disquieting, and a putrid stench filled the air.

Not far ahead, Ye Fan saw numerous Yin Soldiers in golden armor. They were radiant, with rosy complexions, seemingly alive, but they had already been slain.

Afterward, they witnessed several gigantic piles of skeletons, with huge snakes slithering in and out, looking ferocious and vicious. Then, they saw a Blood Lake, with creatures lurking within. However, these seemed to have been terrified by the people who had passed through earlier and did not dare to charge forward.

They traveled a total of more than ten miles before reaching the end of the Underground Palace, where the scene changed completely.

The Yin Qi vanished completely. The area ahead was filled with radiant brilliance, dazzlingly bright.

There lay a celestial palace at the end of the Underground Palace. It was exceedingly sacred and pure; auspicious radiances bloomed, and vibrant colorful rays shot out in all directions.

The surroundings were lush green; surprisingly, many strange flowers and grasses grew in this underground world.

It’s really strange, Ye Fan thought. I assumed it was a Ghost Nest, but it turned out to be a palace complex shining with Holy Light. He was somewhat surprised.

This cluster of buildings was golden yellow but was nearly crystalline and transparent, like Gold yet also resembling Spirit Jade, extraordinarily magnificent.

The big black dog was shocked by this sight. "Damn it!" it exclaimed. "This emperor can’t be mistaken, can I? Such sacred power... are they trying to achieve emperorship through corpses?!"

Ji Haoyue, Gold-Winged Little Peng King, the Jiang Family divine body, and the people from the various Sacred Lands have all entered, Ye Fan’s eyes gleamed with Divine Light. I wonder what they will discover. (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please visit www. for more Chapters. Support the author and support lawful reading!)