Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 282 - Walking Alone Through The Imperial Palace

Ye Fan strode toward the Light God Temple, above his head suspended a bronze cauldron over a meter tall. Threads of Motherly Energy streamed down like divine silk.

The Black Emperor hid inside the cauldron, waiting as a secret weapon to strike at the decisive moment.

As soon as Ye Fan entered the hall, a chorus of gasps erupted. The cauldron was too dazzling to ignore.

The Motherly Energy Source Root, something that might not appear even once in a million years across all of Eastern Wilderness. And here was a cauldron forged entirely of it, without a single trace of impurity.

It was practically the crude embryo of a Paragon Artifact, something that could drive anyone mad with desire, a treasure every heir of the holy lands dreamed of.

The hall boiled with noise. Even those who had never seen Ye Fan guessed who it must be, for in all the world, only he possessed such a sacred item.

A disciple from a great sect leapt forward and shouted: “The Motherly Energy Source Root is a divine treasure even the Sacred Lords of the great sects cannot touch. You, a mere Dao Palace novice, what right do you have to hold it?!”

“What sort of person do you think should hold it?” Ye Fan asked lightly, smiling.

Not everyone had rushed toward the Chaos Stone. Many whose cultivation was weaker and knew they couldn’t compete had remained on the ground instead of taking to the air.

“Sacred artifacts should rest in the hands of great sects. Only then do they accord with heaven’s will, untainted by the unworthy,” the disciple said, putting on a lofty tone.

“Go on then, tell me which sect you’re from. I’ll listen closely,” Ye Fan said, eyes on him.

“Quit playing dumb! You dared to come here, today you won’t leave alive. Hand over the cauldron!” the disciple snarled, murderous intent flashing.

“You think you can take it from me?” Ye Fan laughed, sweeping a glance at him. The man was only at the first stage of Dao Palace, a decent talent for his age, but nothing in the current company.

Today, with so many heirs gathered, mere Dao Palace geniuses were hardly worth a glance. Even the weakest of those trapped near the Chaos Stone were at least Dao Palace fourth stage.

“I am of the Northern Region’s Illusion-Extinguishing Palace. Even if you hand over the cauldron, you will not keep your life!” He turned to several others behind him: “Senior brothers, junior brothers, what are you waiting for? Take him down! Kill him and seize the cauldron!”

With the strongest heirs immobilized by the Chaos Stone, the most powerful still free on the ground were only at Dao Palace third stage. In a sense, this was their chance, no peerless youths to contend with.

If they could take the Motherly Energy Source Root, it would eclipse even the Chaos Stone. This was an emperor’s exclusive sacred treasure, its value beyond measure.

Ye Fan sneered. “Illusion-Extinguishing Palace, I’ve heard of it. A great sect of the Northern Region. But to rob so brazenly, aren’t you afraid of tarnishing your sect’s name?”

“The dead have no voice. Kill him!” The disciple lunged first.

Shua!

Light flashed, he vanished. At the same time, three others appeared close to Ye Fan, ghostlike, their bodies flickering in and out of sight.

This was their trump card. Their sect’s name, Illusion-Extinguishing, referred to their elusive body technique, phantom-like and impossible to track.

Three of them were the same realm as Ye Fan, Dao Palace second stage, and thus felt confident.

“Hand over the cauldron and we’ll give you a clean death!” the first stage disciple urged, letting his stronger companions attack.

“So even if I surrender it, you’ll kill me. What generosity,” Ye Fan said flatly.

“We always strike cleanly. No suffering, one blow,” one of them sneered.

They had heard of Ye Fan, but never took him seriously. As disciples of a great sect, their pride was immense. Outside of the sacred lands, they recognized no rivals.

“You’re the arrogant ones. Since you’re so eager, why don’t I send you all on your way?” Ye Fan said calmly.

Chii!

One Illusion-Extinguishing disciple unfurled a vast blue net from above, dotted with starlike lights that shone brilliantly.

Shua!

The net fell, enclosing Ye Fan. A laugh escaped the attackers as they moved to refine him. But in the next instant, their faces changed, the figure inside was only an afterimage.

Ye Fan’s speed was unimaginable. With the madman’s footwork at full force, he struck like lightning.

Pa! Pa! Pa!

Three heavy strikes landed almost as one. The three Illusion-Extinguishing experts reeled as though thunderstruck, each blasted back.

Puff!

In the same instant, their bodies burst apart into blood mist.

“You…” The remaining first-stage disciple of Illusion-Extinguishing Palace paled in horror.

“So this is the Northern Region’s great Illusion-Extinguishing Palace?” Ye Fan smiled.

“Our true elites are trapped above! If not, you’d have already been annihilated!” the disciple shouted, still defiant.

“Oh? Which ones? Point them out for me,” Ye Fan said, glancing upward where many still hung frozen near the Chaos Stone.

“Senior brothers! Avenge me!” the disciple cried.

“Your bravery is wasted,” Ye Fan shook his head, then struck suddenly, killing him on the spot.

“You really don’t know how high the sky is or how deep the earth. To dare come here…” Another figure slowly stepped from the crowd. His manner was steady, eyes fixed on Ye Fan like staring at a dead man. “Nothing more needs to be said. Leave the cauldron, kneel to the side, and await judgment.”

Even the Black Emperor within the cauldron bristled, almost leaping out to tear him apart.

Ye Fan, however, felt a chill. This man was at Dao Palace fourth stage, stronger than those around him. He had assumed all fourth-stagers were trapped above, but here one had hidden among the crowd.

“And you are?”

“Song Tianfeng, disciple of the Northern Region’s Five Elements Hall.” His voice was calm, his steps measured.

Ye Fan had slain third-stage cultivators across realms, but had never fought a true fourth-stage head-on. He knew this was dangerous.

“Did you not hear me? Leave the cauldron, kneel, and await judgment,” Song Tianfeng repeated, hands clasped behind his back, expression cool.

Ye Fan smiled brightly, teeth gleaming, his young face almost innocent.

“You find this funny? Shall I break your legs to make you kneel?” Song Tianfeng said coldly, striding forward, raising a vast black hand the size of a house. It pressed down with crushing force. “Kneel!”

Ye Fan shouted sharply. From his brow burst a golden sword beam, his spiritual will condensed into a blade.

Song Tianfeng, unaware of this trump card, had come too close. It was suicide.

“Ahhh!” His scream tore out as he clutched his brow, staggering backward.

But it was too late. He had stepped too far. His spirit suffered a mortal blow. With a thump, one knee slammed into the ground.

“You…” He managed one word before a golden little sword pierced his forehead with a wet crack.

Bang!

Song Tianfeng collapsed, dead.

Most onlookers hadn’t realized Ye Fan killed with spiritual power. They were stunned until someone cried out, and then horror rippled through the crowd.

“Ye Fan! You really dare meddle here!” Several figures stepped out together, the weakest at Dao Palace stage two, two of them at stage four.

“The Ji Clan!” Ye Fan’s face darkened. He held deep enmity with them.

From the other side came more figures, disciples of the Radiant Light Sacred Ground, also with stage-four cultivators.

With Ji Clan and Radiant Light moving, others gathered too, even from several sacred lands. Though they hadn’t attacked yet, their eyes burned with greed for Ye Fan’s cauldron.

Each raised a weapon before their brows, wary of his spirit sword.

“Ha ha ha…” Ye Fan laughed aloud.

That they all took such precautions proved his name would spread after today. From now on, mention of Ye Fan would bring instinctive fear.

Shua!

Ye Fan leapt upward. He had no desire to waste more time and risk unforeseen danger.

The ancient cauldron hovered above his head, black-gold energy cascading down in dense curtains, shielding him completely.

The radiance from the Chaos Stone broke apart effortlessly before the Motherly Energy.

Gasps spread. This sacred material truly defied heaven itself, it even rendered the Chaos Stone powerless. Everyone longed to seize it.

It was indeed the crude embryo of a Paragon Artifact. Once infused with Dao and principle, it could dominate all Eastern Wilderness.

“The shameless Daoist hasn’t appeared…” Ye Fan murmured, but stayed cautious, ready to cross space at any moment. In just a few steps, he reached the black stone dais.

Chii!

Light flared. He snatched the beast-skin scroll into his hand. Only then did he relax.

He tried to take the Chaos Stone as well, but its weight defied him. Without refining it, moving it was impossible.

“Drop the scroll!” the people below shouted, desperate. To see their efforts undone in an instant, it was unbearable.

“Are you shouting at me? Don’t provoke me, or I might just slaughter your holy sons and daughters by accident,” Ye Fan said coldly, sweeping his gaze over them.

A chill spread through the hall. Indeed, all those saintly heirs were frozen in midair. Only Ye Fan remained free.

If he went on a rampage, the consequences would be dire. The thought made everyone shiver.

Boom!

Ye Fan advanced, cauldron above, and came near the Leviathan Prince. His golden fist swung like a grinding wheel.

Bang!

The Leviathan Prince was blasted backward, though the field froze him again soon after.

“You can’t kill me, boy!” His wild eyes flashed, gritting his teeth.

Bang!

Another punch from Ye Fan smashed him against the Chaos Stone, shaking the whole hall.

Around them, saintly heirs turned pale, cold dread in their hearts.

Ye Fan kept walking, scanning them one by one.

Ji Haoyue, the Radiant Light Saint, Yao Xi, the Jade Pool Saintess… all their faces changed.

Under his gaze, the heirs and heiresses of Grand Ascension, Jiang Clan, Primordial Beginning, Purple Mansion, Absolute Dao, and others all grew uneasy, fearful he might strike at them next.