Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 297 - Gathering of Talents

“What an audacious statement, wanting to make the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique a servant. Truly opened my eyes.” An old man upstairs spoke drunkenly.

Ji Biyue let out a silver-bell laugh and said, “To take the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique as a servant, that is indeed a fine idea. The more I think about it, the more tempted I feel.”

Another middle-aged man downed a cup of wine and sighed. “Has the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique really fallen this far? To think back on its unrivaled glory in days past… The world changes, fate is fickle, nothing can be predicted.”

Xia Jiuyou was not old in years, but he was chillingly cold, lacking any hint of youthful innocence. He said icily, “So what if he is the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique? Survival of the fittest. He no longer suits this world. He can only end up as a servant.”

“Since ancient times, no one has ever dared to make a Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique their servant. This is unheard of. Truly, even such an invincible physique has been buried by the dust of history.”

Up in the restaurant, many frowned at Xia Jiuyou, but they could only sigh as well. It was an undeniable fact, the so-called Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique was now broken, incapable of rising again.

“Younger Brother Xia, I also want to take this Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique as my servant. What do you think?” Ji Biyue’s smile was sweet, like a green peony glowing with light.

Xia Jiuyou was no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, with lips like vermilion and teeth like jade, eyes bright as black gemstones, so beautiful that even women would envy him. Yet his words carried immense dominance.

“I’ve said it already. No one can contend with me. This Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique is mine. I will use his blood to refine divine medicine, and from now on he will be my most loyal servant!”

“Young brother, you are far too domineering. Elder Sister also wants to claim him as a slave. Why don’t we settle it this way, so we won’t fall into conflict, whichever of us seizes him first shall be his master?” Ji Biyue’s smile was like a blooming flower.

“Because of certain matters involving your Ji Clan’s forebears, I don’t wish to tear my face with you. Then let it be, whoever captures him first shall be his master.” Xia Jiuyou answered coldly.

The two of them treated it casually, as if deciding ownership of an object, not a living person.

“What if I am the one to seize him first?” A peerless young powerhouse from the Radiant Light Sacred Ground, Li Rui, finally spoke. His bearing was restrained, but in his eyes flashes of lightning occasionally surged.

Ye Fan’s body held the Motherly Energy of All Things, Li Rui had no choice but to act. Otherwise, how could he face the “expectations” of certain Radiant Light elders? This was his chance to become the Saint.

“Brother Li Rui also wants to make the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique a servant?” Ji Biyue’s smile was enchanting.

“He abducted our Saint and Saintess of Radiant Light. Of course I must act, to bring him back to Radiant Light and let the elders decide his fate.” Li Rui had no choice. Publicly and privately, he had to seize and kill Ye Fan.

“I’ve heard of the Radiant Light Saint, but who are you? How do you compare with me?” Truly, although Xia Jiuyou was only a boy, he was extremely overbearing.

“This man is one of the Four Young Elites of Radiant Light. Three years ago he had already stepped into the Four Pillars Realm, a peerless genius of Radiant Light, with few equals among his generation.” Tu Fei explained slowly. He wasn’t trying to be kind, he wished nothing more than for the two to clash like a meteor striking a comet, with devastating results.

Ye Fan smiled faintly at the side and said nothing.

“I only want to know, how does he compare to the Radiant Light Saint?” Xia Jiuyou snorted.

Many onlookers leaned forward. This white-clothed youth was stunning as a demon, holding nothing in his eyes, his arrogance towering to the heavens. Everyone looked forward to his duel.

Li Rui from Radiant Light was calm and composed, not deigning to respond, only smiling faintly.

“If you are not stronger than the Radiant Light Saint, then don’t bother competing with me. Get lost while you can.” Xia Jiuyou played with his wine cup and spoke indifferently.

“Little brother, don’t you think you’re far too overbearing? Who exactly is your master?” Li Rui’s expression cooled.

Even clay idols have some fire in them, how much more so a proud genius? If he endured further contempt, it would no longer be magnanimity but weakness. Weakness would tarnish Radiant Light’s prestige and end his chance at becoming Saint.

“Why ask that? You just want to test me, don’t you? Then strike.” The white-robed youth Xia Jiuyou was utterly direct.

“You are too arrogant.” Li Rui shook his head.

“Why be so hypocritical? Do what you want. Since you’re too embarrassed to strike first and need an excuse, let me help you, by striking you myself.”

As soon as Xia Jiuyou finished, he attacked. Truly straightforward, not a word wasted.

He raised his hand and pressed forward. His slender, jade-like fingers were flawless, more delicate than a woman’s hand.

In that instant, many people’s hearts pounded violently, as if suffocating. The pressure was suffocating.

With a wave of his jade-like fingers, Xia Jiuyou conjured a massive iron stele. Its runes glimmered, infused with Daoist aura, incomparably powerful. It fell straight down toward Li Rui.

Everyone was shocked. This was no weapon, it was a “Dao Stele” condensed entirely by godpower, unleashed with casual ease.

Bang!

Li Rui lifted his hands to support the sky, holding the stele aloft to keep it from crushing him. Yet his expression changed. This stele was terrifying, numbing his arms with its weight.

Crack!

The runes on the Dao Stele flared, radiating brilliance. Daoist energy flowed like rippling water, growing ever heavier.

Snap!

The floor beneath Li Rui cracked like a spider web, spreading outward as he sank down, enduring immense, crushing force.

Suddenly, dazzling holy light erupted. Li Rui’s body blazed, sacred like a raging divine fire. In an instant, he lifted the stele.

“This is… the Primal-Chaos Sacred-Light, said to repel all methods, the strongest defensive secret art of the Eastern Wilderness!”

“Li Rui has inherited it? Could it be that he truly intends to replace the Radiant Light Saint?”

Many were stunned. This secret art was a forbidden legacy of Radiant Light, passed down to only one or two people per generation, usually reserved for the elders of the previous era.

“Above the azure sky, below the yellow springs…”

The white-clothed Xia Jiuyou chanted softly. More runes wove across the Dao Stele, interlacing Dao and principle, humming as though the very monument of the Grand Dao had manifested.

Not only Li Rui in the center, but even the spectators felt crushing pressure. Many nearly collapsed to the floor.

Crack!

The floor splintered again. Li Rui frowned deeply, feeling danger. This youth indeed had the capital for arrogance.

Clang!

Suddenly, divine radiance split the air, dazzling beyond bearing. All closed their eyes. A sacred sword descended, striking the Dao Stele aside.

A young man in yellow robes appeared at the staircase. He was vigorous and heroic, yet calm. The sacred sword flashed once before sinking back into his body, he had intervened to break the deadlock.

“Who dares strike at me?” Xia Jiuyou’s eyes gleamed cold.

“Grand Ascension Sacred Ground, Xiang Yifei,” the yellow-robed youth introduced himself.

Everyone was startled. That sword had already hinted at his identity, and now it was confirmed.

The Grand Ascension Sacred Sword was heaven-defying. At its peak, it could sever all things, even evolve small worlds of the cosmos.

“So it is someone from Grand Ascension Sacred Ground. Do you wish to fight me as well?” Xia Jiuyou demanded, youthful yet fierce in aura.

Grand Ascension Sacred Ground had never produced a Grand Emperor nor held a Paragon Artifact, but in the Eastern Wilderness it was renowned as one of the mightiest forces.

The two characters “Grand Ascension” represented the process of cosmic evolution. With such a name, it was destined to be extraordinary. They modeled themselves after nature, mastering countless mysterious godly powers.

In fact, Grand Ascension Sacred Ground was older than many others, one of the most ancient lineages in the Eastern Wilderness, its depth unfathomable.

Xiang Yifei hailed from this place, and thus commanded respect. He said, “I merely wish to act as a peacemaker. I don’t want to see the two of you fight to the death.”

“Fight him to the death? I could defeat him without even trying.” Xia Jiuyou sneered mercilessly.

“You brat…” Li Rui’s anger flared, black hair whipping.

Xiang Yifei only smiled faintly. “Young brother, though you are only thirteen or fourteen, your gifts are extraordinary. Your future achievements will be limitless. But your temper is a bit too much.”

Everyone had already witnessed Xia Jiuyou’s nature, overbearing to the extreme. His sheer force of will made them forget his age, until now they realized, he was still just a boy.

At this age, already able to suppress Four Pillars cultivators, he was indeed monstrous, a peerless prodigy.

“But early brilliance doesn’t guarantee lasting greatness. Haven’t there been plenty of ancient prodigies who ended up ordinary in the end?”

“In the past of the Eastern Wilderness, there were even those who stepped into the Four Pillars Realm at ten years old. And what became of them? They too faded into mediocrity.”

Some, disgusted by Xia Jiuyou’s arrogance, spoke out.

“Still better than you ants, who were born mediocre and will die mediocre.” Xia Jiuyou sneered, his arrogance unchanged, sweeping his cold gaze across them all.

Many fell silent. This youth feared nothing, a posture as if ready to stand against the world.

Even Ye Fan was tempted to lift a finger at him, though whether it should be his thumb or middle finger was debatable.

“Most ancient prodigies did grow to greatness. Those who fell were the minority.” An old servant behind Xia Jiuyou spoke calmly.

The crowd fell silent again. Xia Jiuyou was only thirteen or fourteen, yet he could already suppress Four Pillars. If he matured… he would be a monster.

“Boundless Worlds!”

A clear Daoist chant rang out, melodious as celestial music, cleansing hearts. A young Daoist nun had silently appeared at the stairway.

She was tall, with transcendent grace. Though there was no mist or immortal radiance around her, her features could not be clearly seen.

Like a moonlit shadow from the celestial palace, or a divine orchid upon a cliff, she seemed fused with the Dao, unfathomable.

“The successor of Absolute Dao Sacred Ground!” someone exclaimed.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. He knew her strength and ethereal aura well. Back in the ruined tombs of Beautiful City, with only her tender voice chanting Boundless Heavenly Lord, she had purified thousands of ghostly soldiers and steeds.

“Sister from Absolute Dao Sacred Ground, you’ve come as well. Please, this way.” Ji Biyue laughed sweetly, swaying her supple waist, drawing the Daoist girl aside.

Ye Fan exchanged a glance with Tu Fei. Something was amiss. Likely, someone truly wished to pit them against the great holy lands, to lure all these prodigies here as witnesses, to stir momentum.

“No matter how many of you come, it’s useless. You’d best leave quickly. None of you have any chance.” Xia Jiuyou’s gaze swept over them. Even if the world turned against him, he cared not.

“Aren’t you afraid that the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique himself will smack you dead?” Tu Fei sneered. He never held back, being the descendant of a Warlord, he had no problem mocking even the strongest Radiant Light heirs.

“The Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique is nothing. He’s just my soon-to-be servant. If he dares show me disrespect, I’ll crush him to dust.”

Tu Fei itched to slap him. It was one thing for Xia Jiuyou to be arrogant, but the repeated talk of “servant” made his hand twitch.

Ye Fan too tapped his finger on the table, itching to pummel this white-clothed youth.

“Starting with you two, leave this place at once!” Xia Jiuyou commanded Ye Fan and Tu Fei, who were nearest him. He wanted to “clear the field,” to drive out all cultivators.

“Just you alone, and you think you can make the two of us leave?!”