Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 288 - Stone Tools, Divine Treasury

The Nine Secrets originated from a place of great mystery. Ye Fan carefully studied the brocade scroll. According to what was recorded on it, that place was extremely far away, nearly at the central region of the Eastern Wilderness.

Sacred Cliff, this was the ancient name marked on the brocade scroll. That was the very place said to hold the Nine Secrets.

Ye Fan felt the name was somewhat unusual and couldn’t help but ask the big black dog, “Black Emperor, have you ever heard of the Sacred Cliff?”

The big black dog’s heart skipped a beat. “How do you know that name?”

“I tossed the ancient scroll to Duan De and kept only this brocade. It mentions that the Nine Secrets are hidden there.” Ye Fan didn’t hide anything from the Black Emperor.

“That place is anything but ordinary. One of the ancient Grand Emperors once visited it. Standing before that ancient cliff, he was moved and lingered there to pay homage.” The Black Emperor spoke solemnly.

“What kind of place is it exactly?” Ye Fan asked, more intrigued than ever.

“It is said that a Grand Completion Sacred Physique once fell there, his blood staining the stone cliff red. The ancient Emperors, all solitary and unrivaled, when traveling to that cliff often thought: if that Sacred Physique had lived, he would have been worthy of a duel.”

“To think there’s such a story…” Ye Fan rubbed his chin. That place was no ordinary site. Since the Nine Secrets were hidden in that region, he would have to make the journey eventually.

But for now, he had no desire to leave. The brocade was in hand; the Nine Secrets would not vanish. When the time came, he could trace the route. What he needed most now was to raise his cultivation, not to rush after secret arts.

In recent days, he had wandered through dozens of cities, buying large quantities of stone material and then cutting them open in deserted places. Adding this to what he already had, he had accumulated over ten thousand jin of source.

At this point, he was already able to break through to the Third Stage of the Dao Palace Realm. But he wasn’t satisfied, he wanted to advance to the Fourth Stage.

The difficulty, however, was immense. That breakthrough required 50,000 Kilos of source, a staggering figure. Relying on stone-gambling alone would be difficult.

“Perhaps it’s time to head for the Celestial City…” Ye Fan muttered.

Over half a month passed, yet the turmoil in Beautiful City did not subside. Instead, it grew fiercer. Another key figure from that day, the shameless Daoist Duan De, was far more miserable than Ye Fan.

That unscrupulous Daoist was indeed resourceful. Even under such dire circumstances, he had managed to seize an opportunity and escape.

But afterward, his days were anything but easy. The Holy Lands hunted him, Wu Dao of the Thirteen Warlords roared in pursuit, and the demon races also hounded him relentlessly.

Duan De had been fleeing for half a month, nearly coughing blood from exhaustion, almost skinned alive. In the end, he could no longer endure and threw away the ancient scroll.

Even so, he found no relief. Wu Dao of the Thirteen Warlords seemed to have locked onto him, chasing him day and night without pause.

Eyewitnesses reported that after half a month, Duan De had grown much thinner, covered in bloodstains. Yet, shockingly, he still hopped about full of life, showing no signs of collapse.

“That fat bastard really has a tough life. The Holy Lands couldn’t kill him, and even the Warlord Wu Dao himself hasn’t managed to catch him yet.” Ye Fan was speechless.

According to the latest news, Duan De, pursued with no path to heaven nor earth, had fled toward the Middle Continent.

After he discarded the scroll, the Holy Lands fought fiercely among themselves. Even the older generation were alarmed; their battle power was terrifying.

“We need to return to the Stone Village and move the people. In time, the struggle over the ancient scroll will reach some conclusion, and the great sects will likely sit down to negotiate.”

The brocade did not contain the Nine Secrets but rather a world-shaking map. Once the great sects understood it, an immense upheaval would follow. It was not something a single sect could monopolize, no single Holy Land could conquer that place alone.

Ye Fan didn’t want the Stone Village people to be caught up in the storm. He intended to resettle them in advance, away from the Purple Mountain.

“If the Holy Lands launch a full-scale assault on Purple Mountain, other places will be left defenseless. That might be the perfect chance for a big score, I need source!” Ye Fan’s desire burned.

Half a month later, Ye Fan and the Black Emperor returned to Stone Village. The place was much the same as before, unchanged.

This land was far from fertile or beautiful. The village of reddish-brown stones was barren, with little vegetation, only a small oasis spanning a dozen li.

Yet, the villagers’ spirits were good. They lived by excavating source, and life was not difficult; they could trade at distant oases for supplies.

“Brother Ye has returned… and that… Black Emperor.” The villagers greeted warmly, almost slipping when addressing the big black dog.

When they heard of relocating, many elders fell silent. They had lived here for generations. To leave suddenly was hard for anyone to accept.

“We must move. This place will not remain peaceful. A great storm is coming,” Ye Fan explained patiently.

In the end, he had no choice but to invite Elder Zhang and briefly explain the situation at Purple Mountain.

When the old man heard that the Holy Lands were coming, his expression changed. With a sigh he said, “Our ancestors told us to guard this place. Must we now abandon it?”

The Black Emperor thrust his great head over and said, “Leave. Your clan will enjoy great blessings in the future.”

Ye Fan had heard that Zhang’s forefather, a Celestial Source Master, once said that guarding and honoring Purple Mountain would bring blessings to his descendants.

For many, leaving was sorrowful. Ye Fan didn’t press them, there was still time.

Even if the scroll was now in the hands of the Holy Lands, it would not yield quick results. The powers would still scheme, compromise, and renegotiate.

But then, the Black Emperor made a discovery. When he went to check Purple Mountain, he saw a figure, someone was already there!

“Are you certain?” Ye Fan was shocked. That was far too soon.

“That man was terrifying. I only caught a glimpse of a shadow before he vanished.” The Black Emperor’s tone was grave.

He had barely glimpsed the man in an ancient Daoist robe, standing atop Purple Mountain before vanishing in a flash, leaving the dog startled.

“A Daoist robe? Could it be that fat bastard? But wasn’t he fleeing toward the Middle Continent?” Ye Fan wondered.

“No, definitely not him. I would recognize anyone I’ve bitten. This one was terrifying. The instant I blinked, he was gone.”

Ye Fan knew they had to leave quickly. The storm was arriving faster than expected.

“Hurry them along. I’ll scout around.” He left the village and went to a nearby city to gather news. The Holy Lands had not yet moved; the scroll dispute was still unsettled.

“Then what’s going on? The Holy Lands haven’t acted, yet someone arrived first. That must be a Supreme Giant,” Ye Fan thought. That person must have already seen the scroll.

On his way back, a few dozen miles from Stone Village, he saw the Black Emperor. “Why are you here?” Ye Fan asked.

“A Daoist came to the village. I can’t see through him. I feared he might be dangerous to me, so I left.”

“So, you ran away?” Ye Fan was startled, worried for the villagers.

“Don’t worry. At such a realm, he wouldn’t trouble mortals. I just don’t know why he entered the village.”

“You think this Daoist is the same one you saw atop Purple Mountain?”

“Most likely. Two such experts in the same area? Impossible.” The Black Emperor pondered, then said, “Go see what he’s doing.”

Ye Fan considered, then disguised himself as Wang Shu, imitating even his source aura.

At this time, Wang Shu was not in the village but in Flatrock City, buying supplies.

Disguised, Ye Fan returned to the village. Immediately, he saw a crowd gathered, many whispering.

“What’s happening?” Ye Fan asked.

“An old Daoist arrived. Very odd. He wanted to buy Elder Zhang’s millstone, then also fancied Doofus’ grindstone, offering a high price.”

“That old Daoist’s eyesight is terrible. Even I can tell those stones have no source. Why would he pay so much? Strange.”

Ye Fan’s heart skipped. He pushed forward. Inside the crowd stood an old Daoist in ancient, faded robes, the fabric whitened by age and countless washings.

“His attire… it’s from an ancient era…” Ye Fan thought.

He kept a calm expression, but inwardly shivered. For a brief instant, his divine sense told him it was like facing a slumbering archaic dragon.

The feeling vanished instantly, leaving him composed and unruffled.

The white-haired Daoist looked sixty or seventy, yet vigorous. He was carefully examining Doofus’ grindstone.

“I’ll give you five kilo of source. This grindstone is mine,” the Daoist said to Doofus’ parents.

“Five kilo?!” The crowd gasped in shock.

Even Ye Fan was puzzled. He scrutinized the grindstone but sensed nothing unusual.

In the end, the Daoist bought the grindstone and began cutting it open in front of everyone.

Stone chips flew. He worked meticulously, peeling layer after layer as though fearing to damage a treasure, no reckless hacking.

Yet when the grindstone was reduced to rubble, nothing emerged. The old Daoist frowned, then pointed to Elder Zhang’s millstone. “That stone, I’ll pay ten kilo of source.”

“This…” The villagers were stunned.

“Elder Zhang, is there any history behind these millstones and grinders?” Ye Fan quietly asked.

“Not that I’ve heard…” Elder Zhang frowned, thinking hard. After a long time, he said, “They’ve been in use for generations. Nothing special, as far as I can tell, no source within.”

Suddenly, his expression shifted. He and Ye Fan exchanged a look, both thinking the same thing: could these millstones and grinders have been deliberately left by their ancestors?

After all, the Zhang clan’s forebear was no ordinary man, he was a remarkable figure.

If he deliberately left them, then they must be extraordinary, though their own eyes could not discern anything unusual.

“Are there many such stone tools in the village?” Ye Fan asked.

“We… haven’t really counted.” Elder Zhang’s fingers trembled.

Could it be that the things their forebear left behind were disguised as the simplest of stone grinders, millstones, and mortars? Ye Fan’s heart trembled.