Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 311 - Immortal Spirit Eyes

The girl in blue was like a spirit beneath the moonlight, her immortal grace untainted by the dust of the mortal world, gathering both aura and beauty into one.

All around her, vast groves of celestial maples swayed lightly, their emerald leaves like sculpted jade, streams of green light flowing through them. Snow-white petals fluttered down in showers, filling the air with fragrance, intoxicating to the soul.

“Weiwei!” Ye Fan was stunned, he had encountered an old acquaintance.

Weiwei was born of Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven. It was she who had once brought Ye Fan and Pang Bo out of the mountain forest beyond the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Realm.

She possessed extraordinary talent, seen only once in a thousand years. Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven had not wished to delay her cultivation, so they sent her away. When Ye Fan had crossed the void from the Southern Region to the Northern Region, sneaking into Radiant Light Sacred Ground, Weiwei had discovered him but did not expose him, and even subtly offered him guidance for several days.

Ye Fan had not expected to meet her here. With a wave of his sleeve, he quickly swept the Black Emperor into its folds.

“Boy, what are you doing?” the dog growled, trying to bite him.

“I ran into someone I know. Stay quiet, or you’ll expose me.” In recent days, Ye Fan had been disguising himself with the Earth-Changing Heaven-Swapping Art while raiding bandit strongholds. His only weak point was the conspicuous black dog.

“You know this girl? Pure as crystal, beautiful as a spirit?” Tu Fei was surprised. Then he cried out strangely, “Beast! You beast! Why do I keep finding that you’re entangled with so many women?”

“Drop your filthy jokes you fool. This girl once saved me, before I ever joined Radiant Light.”

Though still some distance away, Weiwei’s divine sense was sharp. She turned her head, her eyes radiant like pearls spilling light, brightening the entire maple grove.

“I think she’s recognized you,” Tu Fei said with surprise. He knew Ye Fan’s art could change not only appearance but even temperament, so it seemed impossible.

“Impossible. I’ve changed more than my face, I altered my very bearing. How could she…” But Weiwei really was walking toward him, light and graceful, her blue robes fluttering, petals swirling around her like a fairy gliding over rippling waves.

“Could she truly see through my disguise?!” Ye Fan was startled.

Tu Fei said, “There exist special divine eyes in this world. The Nether Eye can see through the underworld. There are others too. Among them, the Immortal Spirit Eye can pierce all falsehood. No matter how you disguise yourself, it sees the essence. I think this girl possesses it. Look at her pure, otherworldly air, that is not simple innocence, it is the aura of immortal spirit, matching the legends of the Immortal Spirit Eye.”

“Immortal Spirit Eye…” Ye Fan was astonished.

“Yes, it must be. Otherwise how could she pierce your Heaven-Swapping Art?” Tu Fei grew excited. “We should capture her-”

“What nonsense?!” Ye Fan almost smacked him.

“You don’t understand. Those born with heavenly eyes are blessed by the heavens. If one marries a girl with such immortal aura, the benefits are immense.” Tu Fei’s voice was dreamy.

“Utter nonsense.” Ye Fan slapped him.

“No, it’s true! Don’t you know? Grand Emperor Infinite Void of the Ji Clan was said to have attained his throne because he married a Goddess! Many people say so.” Tu Fei looked envious.

From Ye Fan’s sleeve, the Black Emperor barked, “Foolish fantasy! Do you think Grand Emperors are created that way? Every ancient Grand Emperor forged his own path!”

Tu Fei argued, “But the records say that in the Ji Clan, every few dozen generations a God-King Physique appeared, because they were descendants of that Goddess! The lineage never died. There is proof Grand Emperor Infinite Void married her.”

“By that logic, Grand Emperor Eternal Universe of the Jiang Clan also married a Goddess?” Ye Fan teased.

“No, but one of his descendants did,” Tu Fei countered.

The Black Emperor snorted, “And do you know why? It wasn’t for cultivation, but for the family’s future. With such bloodlines, occasionally a God-King Physique would be born to protect the clan. Infinite Void knew well how impossible it was to produce a second Grand Emperor in one family. He would never think it so simple.”

Tu Fei persisted, “But then why do some great powers also claim that marrying a God-King Physique or a woman with immortal aura helps one on the path? There’s a sliver of truth. Such women are blessed, surrounded by immortal charm. Living with them may occasionally inspire insights. But to become Grand Emperor? Worthless!”

“So it is useful for cultivation!” Tu Fei pressed.

“Useful, my ass!” the dog barked.

Before Weiwei even reached them, Tu Fei and the Black Emperor were already bickering.

Whoosh!

Weiwei drifted like light, graceful as a shadow, luminous and unearthly. She stopped before them, flawless and pure, beauty beyond compare.

“Fairy, do you have some business?” Ye Fan still doubted she had truly recognized him.

Weiwei’s teeth shone like jade. She smiled slightly, brightening the whole maple grove.

“My master sent me to capture Ye Fan.”

At that moment, Ye Fan knew, she truly had recognized him. Yet there was no killing intent.

“Where is Ye Fan? I’m also looking for that bastard. He’s worth 50,000 Kg of source.”

“The real Ye Fan is hard to find, but there are plenty of fakes. Just the other day, Daoist Duan almost died when mistaken for him. If not for pulling out a black iron medallion, he’d be a corpse. Now the bounty has risen to 100,000 Kg of source.” Weiwei’s voice carried a playful lilt.

“Hahaha!” Tu Fei roared with laughter. “So that shameless Daoist has been exposed at last!”

During their days of raiding, they hadn’t paid attention to outside events.

Weiwei added, “The Ancient Leviathan Monarch himself descended. Even with his vast magic, Daoist Duan could not have escaped otherwise.”

Ye Fan sensed she was deliberately passing him news.

Sure enough, she smiled faintly, “The great figures of every holy land are gathering at Purple Mountain, seeking to open the treasure of an ancient Grand Emperor. Meanwhile, the younger generation and wandering cultivators are all searching for Ye Fan.”

“Oh? Who exactly is searching for him?” Ye Fan asked casually, without revealing himself.

“Many. Even the crown prince of the Grand Xia Dynasty in the Middle Continent. He seeks to forge a national weapon with the Cauldron of Motherly Energy of All Things.”

The Middle Continent boasted four eternal imperial dynasties, each founded by an ancient Grand Emperor, unbroken through hundreds of thousands of years.

Ye Fan had met a Grand Xia prince before, cloaked in imperial dragon might, nine dragons soaring to the heavens. His clan’s Grand Emperor Sutra was said to rival even the War Paragon Art.

“Which prince?”

“He resides in the Celestial City of the Northern Region. With him is a Buddhist Flower-Holding Maiden.” Weiwei smiled.

Ye Fan immediately knew, it was the prince he had seen, and the Buddhist maiden could only be the little nun in white, the princess of Grand Xia.

Ye Fan smiled faintly. He planned to go to the Celestial City soon. Perhaps he would face this prince in a stone-gambling duel.

“More immediately, Ye Fan’s greatest threat comes from the Ten Young Masters of Radiant Light.”

“The Ten Young Masters of Radiant Light?”

“Yes. Between Tranquil and Boundless Prefecture, ten of Radiant Light’s strongest young disciples are searching for him. Each is formidable.”

“How formidable?” Tu Fei asked.

“They are disciples taught in secret by hidden elders. At the Fifth Stage of the Dao Palace realm, they can already battle those in the Four Pillars Realm. Four or five of them may have already broken into the Four Pillars themselves.”

“So strong?!” Tu Fei was shocked. Dao Palace Fifth Stage already fighting Four Pillars, with some already there, it was terrifying.

Ye Fan frowned. “But weren’t there only four Radiant Light disciples at the Four Pillars level?”

“That was news from a year or two ago. Everyone improves, and there are always prodigies. Besides, those trained by hidden elders rarely reveal themselves.”

“So these Ten came out only to hunt Ye Fan?” Tu Fei asked.

“Radiant Light Saint is regarded as the number one genius of the Eastern Wilderness. With him present, others had no hope. But now he may have been suppressed by Ye Fan. Whether he lives is uncertain. Naturally, some elders want their disciples to seize the chance. Whoever kills Ye Fan will shine brilliantly.”

“How did these Ten trace Ye Fan to Tranquil Prefecture and Boundless Prefecture?” Ye Fan asked.

Weiwei smiled faintly, “Everyone knows an ancient sacred physique needs enormous source to advance. Someone has been raiding bandits on a grand scale, it is only natural suspicion falls on Ye Fan. These Ten, eager to compete for the Saint’s position, are especially alert.”

“Many heroes vying for the stag, yet I’d best not let the stag be slain too soon,” Ye Fan muttered.

Weiwei’s immortal aura glowed, pure and holy. Her eyes sparkled as she laughed softly, “Alas, I must go now. My master commands me to capture Ye Fan.” Playfulness colored her smile as she turned.

She stepped lightly, her jade feet treading the drifting petals, drifting away like a fairy, leaving only a lingering fragrance behind.

The Black Emperor burst from Ye Fan’s sleeve, eyes fixed on the vanishing figure.

“This girl is extraordinary. Her immortal aura is intense, carrying a mysterious charm.”

Tu Fei nodded. “Indeed. Could she be trying to use us to eliminate Radiant Light’s Ten Masters? Does she want to be the next Saintess?”

Ye Fan replied, “Whatever her intent, she has shown me no killing intent. Twice she’s seen through my disguise, once in the Southern Region and now again, yet never betrayed me to Radiant Light.”

Tu Fei mused, “That only proves she’s unusual. Perhaps like me, she believes you can break the Sacred Physique’s curse and reach the Four Pillars.”

Ye Fan’s eyes grew sharp. “Since Radiant Light’s hidden elders have unleashed their Ten Masters into Tranquil Prefecture and Boundless Prefecture, I won’t waste the opportunity. I’ll kill them all, and shake the Northern Region, let no one think of me as easy prey.”

Tu Fei was alarmed. “You’d do that just to vent anger? Too reckless!”

Ye Fan smiled and shook his head. “Not anger. Strategy. I want the world’s eyes focused on the oases, while I slip into the Celestial City unnoticed.”

“You plan to gamble against the holy lands’ source stones?” Tu Fei was shocked.

Ye Fan had already confided in him about mastering the Celestial Source Tome. Since Tu Fei had aided him so much, he did not conceal it.

“Yes. It’s the perfect chance. The great powers have all gone to Purple Mountain, seeking a Grand Emperor’s treasure. In that time, I’ll enter the Celestial City and gamble against the holy lands themselves.”

He looked solemnly at Tu Fei. “I’ll need your help. While I’m in the Celestial City, you create diversions in the oases. Make them think I’m still raiding for source.”

Tu Fei grinned. “That’s easy. I’ll leave a trail of illusions to keep their hopes alive.”

“And you, Black Emperor,” Ye Fan added, “sometimes show yourself, carve a few formations, wander around. You know, since I’ve mastered the Celestial Source Tome, finding Godsources will never be an issue. Helping me now is helping yourself.”

After their plans were set, Ye Fan gazed into the distance.

“Before entering the Celestial City to gamble, I’ll deal with those so-called Ten Young Masters. Let the quiet Northern Region feel a storm.”