Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 284 - Secret of The Ancient Scroll

In the Eastern Wilderness, nearly half of the Saints and Saintesses of the sacred lands had gathered. These were the ones most likely to become future Sacred Lords, the hope and inheritance of their sects.

If Ye Fan were to act recklessly and kill everyone present, it would nearly annihilate the young generation of the Eastern Wilderness. That would mean severing the talents of an entire age, an immeasurable loss. The very thought made people shiver.

“It’s you…” Yao Xi’s voice was calm as she uttered just two words.

“That’s right, it’s me.” Ye Fan transformed a golden hand, lifting her chin, expression indifferent.

The words seemed ordinary, but between them was a hidden clash. Perhaps only the Jade Pool Saintess beside them could fully understand.

Yao Xi had recognized Ye Fan from the Departing Fire God Furnace, he was that little Daoist who had once entered the Primordial Mine with her, the same one who had taken out this very furnace.

It was precisely because of this that the composure of the Radiant Light Saint seemed so terrifying. Just before Ye Fan threw him into the furnace, he had only asked calmly: “Do we have a grudge?”

In truth, whether as the little Daoist or as Ye Fan himself, he seemed to have no direct feud with the Radiant Light Saint. Ye Fan only suspected that the creature had been the Radiant Light Saint in disguise, he had no proof. So he hadn’t wasted words, and simply threw the Radiant Light Saint into the divine furnace.

Yao Xi struggled lightly, her beautiful eyes flashing. “You’re not thinking of throwing me into that furnace too, are you?”

“Unfortunately, the black flames are gone. Otherwise, I’d send you all on your way together.” Ye Fan shook his head.

“You-” Before she could finish, Ye Fan’s golden hand lashed out, slapping her aside. With a bang, she crashed into the Chaos Stone.

Ye Fan transmitted his voice secretly, smiling faintly: “If you survive, I’ll return your panties one day.” The sole purpose was to silence her.

Boom!

The lid of the Departing Fire God Furnace opened. Ye Fan tossed Yao Xi inside without hesitation, utterly decisive.

“Ah!”

At that moment, the Leviathan Prince burst out, his body charred black like burned coal. The Radiant Light Saint followed right behind, looking as if he had fallen into a mine shaft.

Bang!

Ye Fan showed no mercy. His handprint struck down from the void, smashing them both back into the furnace.

Clang!

The five-colored lid slammed shut again. Inside, flames roared fiercely, making the entire furnace glow red-hot. The Chaos Stone emitted divine radiance to fuel it.

“You, ” The Radiant Light cultivators’ expressions kept changing.

“You defile the Saintess, then throw her into the furnace… truly heartless!” Many from Radiant Light trembled with rage.

“If someone tries to kill you, are you supposed to worship them instead?” Ye Fan retorted calmly.

“When has Radiant Light ever wronged you? Do you know who she is?!” someone shouted through gritted teeth.

“I owe you no explanation. Enemies are meant to be killed, regardless of who they are.”

Many in the hall trembled inwardly. Even the Saintess of Radiant Light, a peerless beauty, had been thrown into the furnace. Clearly, Ye Fan would show no restraint when striking down enemies.

“What a waste, what a waste. The Radiant Light Saintess will be reduced to ashes, and the world will lose another unmatched beauty…” Liu Kou transmitted with great regret.

Wu Zhongtian, however, replied with his divine sense: “This is as it should be. As long as they’re enemies, even if a true immortal descended, they must be refined. Mercy only leads to ruin.”

Ye Fan did not respond. Instead, he walked a circuit around the hall, not striking further.

The Jade Pool Saintess transmitted: “You should leave now. Otherwise, you really will be in danger.”

Ye Fan smiled. “Thank you for your concern.” After a pause, he secretly added, “One day, I may bring Phoenix Blood Red Gold to Jade Pool.”

He swept his eyes across the heirs of Grand Ascension, Primordial Beginning, Absolute Dao, and Purple Mansion. He did not attack, there was no grudge with them.

Those below sighed in relief, fearful he might throw them all into the furnace without a word.

Swish!

Ye Fan suddenly appeared before Ji Haoyue. A golden hand reached out, seemingly to toss him into the furnace as well. The Ji Clan trembled in alarm.

But Ye Fan’s hand stilled. He thought of Ji Ziyue, and how she had once erected a cenotaph for him.

“Forget it. I’ll leave you alive. When I step into the Four Pillars Realm, we’ll meet again.”

Returning to the Chaos Stone, Ye Fan sat cross-legged, striking fire-controlling seals to feed godpower into the furnace. His intent was clear: refine the three enemies.

The field created by the Chaos Stone nullified godpower. Slaying them with ordinary methods was impossible, only this unique furnace could refine them.

Brilliant light from the Chaos Stone poured into the furnace, making it red-hot. The sun engraved on it faded away, drawn inside.

It would be a long process. Ye Fan remained vigilant, ready to summon the Profound Jade Platform to flee if needed.

During this, he took out the beast-skin scroll, spreading it open to study carefully.

His heart leapt, hidden inside was a piece of brocade, inscribed with ancient characters and a map.

The Nine Secrets!

They truly existed. Ye Fan had thought this tomb unrelated to that ancient clan. He had been wrong, it belonged to an ancestor of that very family.

The brocade did not contain the techniques themselves, but directions.

That ancestor had written plainly: no dynasty or clan is eternal. Even Sacred Grounds and Ancient Desolate Clans will one day be lost to history. How much more so lesser families?

To prevent the Nine Secrets from perishing with his bloodline’s decline, he left this brocade behind.

He had originally obtained one of the Nine Secrets in a mysterious place. The brocade gave directions to that very land, for the destined to retrace his steps.

“An enlightened figure… just like the God King Jiang Taixu.” Ye Fan hid the brocade without expression. None of the others knew of this secret within the scroll.

Only then did he turn his gaze to the main scroll, full of characters and a detailed map.

A glance made his expression change, nine dragon veins encircling a mountain!

It was the Purple Mountain, the Demon Mountain of the Beginningless Emperor, his burial place. That its map had leaked was shocking.

“Black Emperor…” Ye Fan transmitted.

The big black dog was hiding inside the cauldron, exerting great power trying to draw in the Chaos Stone. But even as it panted and nearly collapsed, it couldn’t move it.

“Damn it! Ever since I’ve been with you, I’ve done nothing but suffer misfortune!”

“Quit whining. Look at this map.” Ye Fan tossed the scroll into the cauldron.

“Damn… so someone really grasped a sliver of the Grand Emperor’s legacy, enough to chart the location of the Emperor’s mountain…”

Now, there was no doubt, the so-called Light God Temple was in truth the imperial palace of Beginningless Emperor, and the Chaos Stone was his ancient bed.

The Black Emperor cursed, then fell silent for a long time.

“What’s wrong, Black Emperor? Don’t tell me you’ve been cursed by the tomb.”

“Brat, do you want to cause trouble?” the dog suddenly asked.

“What do you mean?”

“If you dislike someone, give them this map.” the dog replied evenly.

“What are you saying? If you do that, the secret of the Purple Mountain will be exposed. It won’t remain at peace, they’ll dig it up!” Ye Fan knew the dog must be tied to Purple Mountain.

“It’s been over a hundred thousand years. Perhaps it’s time for Purple Mountain to resurface.” The Black Emperor’s tone was hollow, almost lost.

“Are you mad? What if the sacred lands destroy it?”

“Unless a living Grand Emperor exists, no one can obtain anything from Purple Mountain.” The dog’s voice was resolute. After a pause, it added with renewed vigor: “So yes, if you dislike someone, hand them the map.”

Ye Fan’s heart skipped. A storm around Purple Mountain was inevitable.

“Are you sure no one can obtain the Beginningless Scripture?” That was what concerned him most.

“Unless they are a living Grand Emperor, or possess the complete jade pendant, no one can unlock it.” the dog replied firmly.

The Black Emperor knew far too much, but Ye Fan did not press further. He began plotting.

“Since these sacred lands are idle, maybe I should give them something to occupy them.” He smirked coldly, planning to “gift” the scroll, but needed the right excuse.

“Where the hell is that shameless Daoist? I’ve been guarding against him. Now I actually want him to show up, he’d be the perfect scapegoat.”

Boom!

Suddenly, a deafening sound erupted from the Light God Temple. An aura of ultimate power swept out, even making the Chaos Stone tremble.

The ancient tower within collapsed. Yan Ruyu emerged in peerless grace, wielding an ultimate weapon that reduced her foe to dust as she stepped free.

At once, many sacred land disciples retreated. Their leaders were all at the fourth stage of Dao Palace, clearly they had been stationed around the tower with ill intent.

Not every sacred land possessed a Paragon Artifact. There were only a handful in the Eastern Wilderness. If Yan Ruyu had perished here, others would have reaped immense gain.

But none had foreseen the heirs being bound in midair beforehand.

“Daoist Duan, what do you mean by this?” Yan Ruyu stood proudly, gazing into the void ahead.

A chubby figure appeared, grinning sheepishly. “I was only watching over you, Princess Yan, lest you come to harm.”

That damn fat man! Ye Fan’s heart jolted. So he had been hiding all along, coveting even a Paragon Artifact!

Yan Ruyu’s expression remained calm, her flawless jade-like features unchanging. But divine radiance surged from her palm, the might of the ultimate weapon pressing even heavier.

Daoist Duan retreated quickly. “Don’t misunderstand, Princess. I wouldn’t dare rob you. With the Peacock Monarch, the Azure Flood Dragon King, and the Ancient Leviathan Prince outside, I’d have a death wish to try.”

The revelation shocked everyone, elders of the sacred lands weren’t the only ones present. The three great demon kings were here as well.

“Daoist Duan, my grandfather Wu Dao is also here!” Wu Zhongtian shouted angrily.

At that, Duan De shrank his neck. He had robbed their ancestral tomb before, being caught here would be disastrous.

“Black Emperor, give it here!” Ye Fan transmitted, pulling the scroll from the cauldron into his hand.

Then, the shocking happened, Duan De rushed at the Chaos Stone, a broken bowl atop his head, slipping past the force field like a ghost!

Swish!

He moved impossibly fast, snatching the scroll from Ye Fan’s hands. His mouth split wide as he laughed, nearly reaching his ears. But he wasn’t satisfied, his fat hand reached toward the cauldron above Ye Fan’s head!

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Dog barks thundered in the hall.

“Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!”

Duan De screamed, shaking his arm violently. In an instant, he had been bitten seventeen or eighteen times, from his fingers all the way up his arm.

“Boundless... Motherfucking... Lord! Whose cursed dog is this?!”