Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 306 - Dao Source & Transformation

The golden desert shattered like broken glazed glass. The sea of sand ahead suddenly vanished, and in the distance faint mountain shadows appeared along the horizon.

“This is…” Everyone was shocked.

The big black dog said, “I understand now. It’s the fragmented Dao Runes from a broken weapon that were affecting this desert. Once we collected them, this section returned to normal heavens and earth. I’d wager the entire desert is the same.”

It was an unexpected delight. While the Black Emperor and Tu Fei harvested rare and precious materials, they also broke free of the trap and walked out of the desert.

After traveling more than ten miles, they completely left the vast desert and arrived at the edge of an oasis.

It was late autumn. Most trees had shed their leaves; only evergreens like pines and green maples still remained lush.

“Such a fat dog, tonight we’ll feast on braised black dog meat!”

Ahead, a few figures stood beneath a barren hill at the edge of the oasis. Wearing shining iron armor, they laughed mockingly.

“You two little brats, hand over all your source, then get lost!”

The big black dog almost leapt up in fury on the spot, but held itself back, grinding its teeth.

“Who are you people?” Tu Fei’s face darkened. As the descendant of a Warlord, being robbed was a first.

“You’re in the wrong place. Leave your source and get out. You don’t even have the right to ask questions here!”

The few men were arrogant, looking down on the two humans and one dog.

“And the dog stays. Today we’ll eat well.” They laughed recklessly.

“Woof?!”

The big black dog could no longer contain itself. It pounced, jaws wide.

“This mutt’s fierce, but that just means the meat will be even tastier. Everyone says vicious dog flesh is the most tender.” One man in silver armor stepped forward, raising a hand to slap the black dog’s head.

Bang!

The slap landed solidly, but the black dog hadn’t even bothered to dodge. Its copper tendons and iron bones were no weaker than Ye Fan’s body. With a swipe of its massive paw, splat! the armored man was sent flying, his body gashed open and bleeding.

“This dog!”

The others’ faces all changed. This beast was far stronger than any ordinary demon dog; with one strike it made a cultivator at the first stage of Dao Palace realm vomit blood.

Infuriated, the big black dog turned into a streak of black light, rampaging beneath the barren hill. Its claws tore through iron armor as though it were paper. With crunching sounds, the men were all thrown to the ground.

“Dare to think of eating this Emperor? No such person exists in this world!” The dog snorted out two streams of white mist, condensed fury.

The bandits who had been so arrogant moments before were now cowering and wailing beneath the dog’s fangs.

“Who are you to insult this Emperor?!” The dog roared, venting its rage, stomping down on their bodies. Each press of its massive paw made them scream.

Under its fury, they confessed everything: they were bandits in this region, belonging to a fairly large group.

Ye Fan smiled and said to Tu Fei, “These are your peers.”

“Don’t compare me with these trash. True bandits plunder sacred grounds, not the weak.” Tu Fei kicked one in disgust.

In truth, the men weren’t weak; each was at Dao Palace Realm’s first stage. Definitely not ordinary riffraff.

“Is it just you few?” Tu Fei pressed.

“We have a whole stronghold, dozens of men, up in the mountains ahead.” Under the black dog’s claws, they spilled everything. They had come down to bury some looted source when they happened upon Ye Fan’s group.

Ye Fan grinned. Though he had one piece of Godsource, its value was hard to measure in ordinary terms.

“Dig up your source!”

“Y-you…” The bandits fumed inside, but dared not resist. At the desert’s edge they dug out more than ten chests.

When opened, they shone brilliantly, crystal clear, over a 500 kilos in total.

“You’ve really reaped much, almost like a small sect. How many victims have you plundered?”

Ye Fan sneered and swept the thousand jin away with a sleeve.

“Leave half for us, or we’ll be punished!” The men begged bitterly, filled with regret.

“You still have to hand tribute over?” Ye Fan was surprised.

This time, he interrogated personally, crushing them with divine sense until they revealed everything.

The province was called Peaceful Prefecture, though it was far from peaceful. It spanned eight thousand miles and was filled with bandits. Five major groups dominated the region.

These few men belonged to one such faction and were required to hand over regular tribute.

After scanning their memories, Ye Fan struck with a few fingers, ending their lives.

“They deserve death. Their hands are soaked in blood, even slaughtering mortals. Pure scum.”

For Peaceful Prefecture’s bandits, this autumn was bitter cold. Across eight thousand miles, countless bandits were counter-plundered; many leaders slain.

For half a month Ye Fan carried the God-Striking Whip, sweeping across Peaceful Prefecture, annihilating bandit hordes. To avoid exposure, the Black Emperor stayed hidden, with Tu Fei occasionally assisting.

At night, in the mountains, the air was thick with blood. One huge bandit stronghold, the fourth of Peaceful Prefecture’s five, was razed. Six cultivators at Dao Palace’s fourth stage had guarded it, but Ye Fan killed them all.

Leaves rustled across the ground, blood soaked the soil, corpses littered the camp.

Ye Fan hadn’t expected such great harvests: after clearing the entire region’s bandits, he collected over ten thousand kilos more.

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That night, beneath the moon, they roasted lamb over a fire, the aroma of wine filling the air. Of four whole sheep, three and a half disappeared into the Black Emperor’s belly.

“This time I even slaughtered your fellow bandits,” Ye Fan teased.

“Don’t lump me with them. I’ve never robbed mortals or committed evil,” Tu Fei retorted.

The bandits had plundered many oases and amassed far more than Ye Fan imagined. Now he had a full 50,000 Kg of source, enough even without the Godsource.

Even Tu Fei was shocked by the scale of the harvest.

Biting into roast lamb and drinking, Ye Fan said, “At this rate, sweeping oasis by oasis, I could even gather a half-a-million kilos!”

Tu Fei shook his head. “Too optimistic. This region is special. I can tell someone’s backing these bandits. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many.”

“One last stronghold remains, but I won’t move against it yet. With this 50,000 Kg in hand, I must go into seclusion immediately.” He downed the last cup and threw it into the fire. “I’ll disappear for half a month.”

Tu Fei nodded. “Go into retreat. I’ll guard you. But we must move. These bandits are supported by someone, better not risk being discovered.”

“What about my share of the source?!” the big black dog raised its massive head.

“You greedy mutt. You gave up your claim when we fought for the God-Striking Whip. If you want more, after my seclusion we’ll raid the last stronghold together.”

That day Ye Fan began his closed-door cultivation. Deep within a mountain range, he placed all one 50,000 Kg of source into a great cauldron and entered it himself.

He believed his Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique required immense energy in a single surge. Spread out, it might fail, so he gathered it all into one vessel.

The Black Emperor carved Dao Runes into jade around the site, changing heaven and earth, drawing in surrounding spirit energy.

The mountains were barren in autumn, leaves withered, life declining. But for half a month, mysterious Dao sounds echoed through the range, as though someone were chanting supreme scriptures.

Spiritual qi converged like rivers, flooding the area. Withered plants sprouted anew, flowers bloomed again.

The great cauldron glowed, filled with endless source energy, dazzling with multicolored light, drowning Ye Fan within.

The Western Emperor Scripture guided the flood of energy into him like rain and tide.

Within his Dao Palace, the Five Divine Treasuries shook. The “Past Me” and “Dao Me” seemed alive, resonating with heaven and earth.

Chanting for the me of this life, coexisting with the Dao, making wishes for the present self, immortal through the ages.

The Past Me, the Dao Me, all drew on the Grand Dao, transforming him.

The melody of the Grand Dao filled the mountains. It was like ancient emperors chanting, or primordial ancestors worshiping supreme lords.

Around the cauldron, dead trees sprouted, vines turned green, flowers budded, life reborn in autumn.

It was a new world of hope.

Tu Fei was stunned. “The Dao Palace itself chants like the Grand Dao, merging with spirit energy, reviving life. Unbelievable!”

The black dog muttered, “Even in ancient times, few could achieve this at this realm. The Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique truly is extraordinary.”

On the eighteenth day, Ye Fan brought out the Godsource. The 50,000 Kg were nearly gone, yet he still hadn’t advanced to Dao Palace’s fourth stage. He refused to risk failure at the last step.

The primal essence of heaven and earth, though only a single piece, erupted with blinding golden light when refined, making eyes sting.

Then it sank into the cauldron, merging into his Dao Palace. His whole body shone crystalline, like an eternal god.

The Grand Dao’s melodies grew louder, covering the mountains, filling the world with vitality, as if Grand Emperors of old were giving discourse on the Dao, as if Sages had descended and countless ancestors prayed devoutly.