Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 472: Chapter 477 Celestial Jade

“WOOF!” The Black Emperor suddenly let out a loud bark. The mountains shook as it descended into the range and returned, carrying a golden arm in its mouth.

It was the arm of the Little Golden Winged Roc King, the only remnant overlooked by the old Roc King, preserved and shimmering with golden light.

“What do you want that for?” Li Heishui asked.

“That’s a Celestial Roc Divine Wing; it will soon reveal its true form.” The Black Emperor drooled. “He’s a descendant of a Roc Clan Saint. Such Divine Wings are incredibly rare and priceless.”

Li Heishui stared at the bloody arm, somewhat dazed. Damn it, you’ll eat anything… he muttered to himself.

Others nearby were also bewildered, unsure what to say. This damn dog’s tastes are too extreme; it truly lacks any sense of morality.

“Doggie, don’t eat strange things, okay?” The little pitiful girl was terrified, covering her large eyes with her small hands, not daring to look.

“Rest assured, this Emperor is only using it to refine medicine.” Whether this was true or not, with a flash of light, it put the arm away.

“Is Mortal World truly going to re-emerge?”

Powerful fluctuations emanated from the distant sky. Top figures, including the Saint Master of the Wind Clan, quickly flew over, all wearing grave expressions.

Having received the news, they had returned at the first opportunity to assess the situation. They picked up fragments of the Broken Sword, each person examining them meticulously.

The Celestial Court was destroyed in ancient times, but Mortal World and Hell survived. Figures at the Saint Master-level were naturally aware of this.

These two ancient assassin dynasties had always kept a low profile. Although they acted occasionally, they were extremely discreet. For them to now emerge so aggressively to kill the Sacred Body was truly unsettling.

Ye Fan was also pondering. He scanned everyone present but couldn’t determine who had hired Mortal World. He only knew that it required an ancient heritage to contact the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty.

Who could it be? This is a very dangerous enemy, determined to see him dead, yet he has no idea where this enemy is.

In this battle, Ye Fan had been severely injured. The most perilous moment had been the sword strike aimed at his head; if the sword aura had extended even an inch further, his life would have been forfeit.

The Little Golden Winged Roc King had also inflicted numerous wounds on him. Now, he sat cross-legged and motionless in the void, golden Blood Qi boiling and engulfing him.

He was circulating the Holy Technique recorded in the *Nirvana Scripture*. This mysterious art for healing had been gifted to him by An Miaoyi. Although it wasn’t the complete Ancient Buddhist Scripture, it was the most refined Divine Text from it.

Golden Blood Qi surged skyward. Every inch of Ye Fan’s flesh trembled, and his sacred blood roared like mighty rivers and seas, even producing a thunderous sound.

Golden electrical arcs danced around his body, which was enveloped in a hazy golden radiance. His physique shone brilliantly, as if an immortal divine body was being forged.

Before long, all his wounds had healed. Most of his internal and external injuries were mended, at the cost of consuming some of his golden Blood Qi.

However, the Sacred Body’s greatest strength was its physical form; its inexhaustible supply of enormous Qi could quickly replenish his reserves, allowing him to always maintain his peak condition.

With powerful hidden enemies watching like tigers eyeing their prey, he had to ensure he was at his absolute peak, without any injuries, lest someone take advantage of a weakness.

SWISH!

Ye Fan opened his eyes, and two beams of Divine Radiance shot out, causing everyone’s heart to tighten. Their apprehension towards the Sacred Body intensified.

Ye Fan noticed the wariness directed at him by the various Saint Heirs and Sacred Ladies. He rose to his full height and then deliberately forced himself, causing two trickles of blood to seep from the corners of his mouth.

“So ferocious, yet he’s still coughing up blood…” Many were left speechless. They had all heard he was dying, yet they saw him fight with the vigor of a dragon and a tiger, making them inevitably suspicious.

“He started coughing up blood in the Northern Region, continued all the way to the Southern Region, and then into the Central Territory! How does he become more lethal the more blood he coughs up?” Many people were indignant.

The Saint Master of the Wind Clan approached, nodded at Ye Fan, and said, “Truly remarkable! To think you single-handedly killed eight great seed experts from Mortal World.”

“It was just a stroke of luck.” Ye Fan dared not be careless in front of such a paramount figure, concealing his true condition.

“However, you must be careful,” the Saint Master of the Wind Clan cautioned. “The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty is filled with experts as numerous as clouds. They comprehend the Great Dao of Slaughter and are unparalleled in the domain of killing.”

The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty was unfathomably deep. Even though countless eons had passed, even the Sacred Lands remained wary of them!

In the ancient halls of Mortal World, a colossal Bone Tower was constructed from the skulls of kings. Every generation, they produced powerhouses capable of slaying kings.

Setting aside the terrifying depths of this ancient heritage, even their younger generation was undoubtedly extremely fearsome. If they, like their predecessors, could kill kings, then even the Sacred Body would face a deadly crisis.

They comprehended the Great Dao of Massacre, slaying the world’s heroes to attain their Dao Fruit—they were an indomitable force! They were a group of terrifying individuals who existed solely for killing. The principles instilled in them from childhood differed from ordinary people, making them the most difficult to provoke.

Ye Fan had intended to depart immediately for the Holy Cliff to search for the Nine Secret Arts. However, the words of the Saint Master of the Wind Clan troubled him immensely, and he reluctantly decided to stay.

“Divine Doctor Wang has arrived. He is currently in the Wind Clan’s Eight Hundred Divine Islands. You should stay and let him examine you again.”

The peerless Divine King had shown great kindness to Divine Doctor Wang’s ancestors. It was he who had invited the Divine Doctor from the Northern Region to treat Ye Fan previously, and the suggestion to sever his cultivation base had been proposed then.

Ye Fan found it impossible to refuse. The Saint Master of the Wind Clan was effusively hospitable, preventing him from leaving and insisting that he meet Divine Doctor Wang to find a way to prolong his life.

「By now, the stars filled the sky」

Ye Fan and the Little Golden Winged Roc King had battled from noon until nightfall, a considerable length of time.

Starlight cascaded down, bathing the mountains in a hazy mist. Only now did the various birds and beasts, which had scattered in terror from the earlier great battle, dare to return to the forests.

Ye Fan returned to the Wind Clan’s Eight Hundred Divine Islands. Along the way, he continuously manifested Dao Injury scars, layering them over his Life Origin. In the end, he felt somewhat satisfied with the result.

That night, within the core territory of the Wind Clan, the atmosphere was lively and exceptionally festive. Numerous cultivators were toasting each other and drinking freely.

The Divine Islands hovered in the sky, wreathed in mist. It truly felt like being in the Heavenly Realm, so close were they to the stars.

Ye Fan still sat with the younger generation. The grand hall above was reserved for Heroic Lords; no one from the younger generation was qualified to enter.

The little pitiful girl sat obediently by his side. She was not yet three years old and couldn’t reach the delicacies on the white jade table, so Ye Fan constantly helped her to food.

The little girl was overjoyed, her large eyes shining brighter than the stars in the sky. With her pure and simple heart, she ate with great relish.

Others around them felt immense pressure sitting with Ye Fan. They could sense the surging, vigorous Blood Qi emanating from him, and recalling the events of the great battle, many felt as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

The younger generation of the Wind Clan no longer dared to cause trouble. They all behaved themselves impeccably. Even when they came to offer toasts, they did so with utmost propriety.

Fenghuang moved gracefully between the tables, wearing her five-colored mask. However, she did not linger in this area, seemingly trying to avoid Ye Fan. Today’s battle had deeply shaken her.

The Prince of Great Xia; Yao Yuekong, the Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace; and the little nun in white came to congratulate Ye Fan on his victory. None of them held any reservations, acting freely as if no one else was around.

Afterward, the Flickering Light Saint Heir also approached, raising his cup in congratulation. Divine Radiance flowed around his body, and he possessed an extraordinary, transcendent aura, making him instantly recognizable even in a crowd.

Ye Fan recalled something. In the past, the Little Golden Winged Roc King had declared he would compete with the Flickering Light Saint Heir to determine who was superior. However, after being sealed in the Fire God Furnace and subsequently released, he had never made such boasts again.

What transpired during that time? Perhaps one could make some inferences from this. Ye Fan couldn’t help but feel a chill. The Flickering Light Saint Heir is definitely unfathomable.

At the same time, he remembered how the Flickering Light Saint Heir, while in the Taichu Forbidden Area, had wanted to trade a scroll of ancient scripture for his Phoenix Blood Red Gold.

The Flickering Light Saint Heir had clearly stated that it was not an ancient scripture from the Flickering Light Sacred Land, but rather a fragment he had obtained during his travels.

Ye Fan carefully pondered. This person has definitely encountered great fortune. He cultivates more than one ancient scripture and likely possesses heaven-defying methods.

Ye Fan pondered over the Flickering Light Saint Heir because this individual was difficult to fathom. There were always unsettling questions surrounding him, yet he never caused any trouble.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, an individual with white hair and a white beard, resembling an old immortal from legends, arrived in the area where the young talents were gathered.

Ye Fan felt a headache coming on. He quickly stood up to offer his respects. The renowned Divine Doctor Wang from the Central Territory had arrived. This man’s medical skills were considered god-like, and he himself was a Sovereign, commanding immense prestige.

“The Divine King showed great kindness to my ancestors. Not being able to heal your Dao Injury makes me feel deeply ashamed. There’s no need for such grand salutations.” This immortal-like figure gently took Ye Fan’s arm.

Almost in an instant, his expression flickered, but he quickly concealed it, remaining outwardly calm as he diagnosed Ye Fan.

Ye Fan knew this was bad. This Divine Doctor Wang is indeed terrifyingly skilled. The Dao Injury scars I manifested definitely couldn’t deceive him; he must have seen through them.

“Senior, please keep this a secret!” Ye Fan transmitted his voice secretly. This was a Saint Master-level figure, possessing paramount combat power in the current era. Ye Fan felt extremely uneasy.

“You have truly exceeded my expectations and not wasted the Divine King’s painstaking efforts,” Divine Doctor Wang nodded, also replying via voice transmission. “You can rest assured. The Divine King showed great kindness to my ancestors. I will protect you and help dispel the doubts of other Saint Master-level figures.”

Ye Fan relaxed. He felt he had gambled correctly; the other party indeed remembered the Divine King’s past kindness. At the same time, he felt a jolt of alarm.

The Saint Master of the Wind Clan had insisted he stay, and other Saint Master-level figures harbored doubts. These were all very subtle matters, but they could potentially escalate into terrifying consequences!

“Come with me. I will announce to everyone that I am taking you for treatment.”

“Alright, thank you, Senior!”

「Soon after, Divine Doctor Wang publicly announced that Ye Fan had at most fourteen days left to live.」

This news, once out, immediately caused a sensation.

“He’s really going to die! Even the peerless Divine Doctor has confirmed it. It seems there’s no way to reverse his fate!”

“Who would have thought! Even as the Sacred Body is dying, his Blood Qi remains so vigorous. Truly worthy of a physique that can contend with a Great Emperor!”

On the Eight Hundred Divine Islands of the Wind Clan, numerous cultivators were fervently discussing the matter. Ye Fan’s combat power was too outstanding, making many uneasy. With this news, a great weight was lifted from many hearts.

“If he wants to live, the only way is to sever his cultivation base and become a Mortal Body.” This was the second piece of news announced by Divine Doctor Wang.

At this moment, even the various Saint Masters in the main hall were startled. However, no one said much; they were all merely observing silently.

Among the younger generation, many laughed openly without any attempt to conceal it. Such a peerless enemy is finally going to die. He will no longer pose a threat.

The younger members of the Wind Clan, who had initially quieted down, now became active again. They no longer feared Ye Fan and swaggered over to pour wine.

The Saint Heir of the Purple Mansion said nothing. A glint flashed in his eyes and then vanished as he downed a cup of wine by himself.

Yao Xi let out a long sigh of relief. Ye Fan had something on her, which had kept her constantly uneasy. Now, she could finally set her mind at ease.

Fenghuang’s eyes glinted. She gracefully approached and poured a cup of wine for Ye Fan, saying, “It’s always better to be alive than dead. You’ve had a glorious run, even if it’s ending now. Living a peaceful life as an ordinary mortal is also a form of returning to simplicity. I wish you all the best.”

The Prince of Great Xia, Yao Yuekong, the little nun in white, and others also came over one after another. They offered sincere consolation, all suggesting that Ye Fan could leave with them.

A trace of mockery touched Zhao Fa’s lips. He only wiped away that sneer when he drew close, saying, “Brother Ye, life always has its ups and downs. Don’t dwell on it.”

After saying that, he patted Ye Fan’s shoulder. Before this, he would never have dared to be so casual.

Ye Fan wasn’t bothered. Only he and Divine Doctor Wang knew the truth about his Dao Injury. Witnessing these scenes, he suddenly smiled and said, “Brother Zhao, perhaps one day I’ll come to you to sell a Holy Sword.”

Zhao Fa roared with laughter. “I’ve been eagerly awaiting that day!”

The Flickering Light Saint Heir also approached, earnestly raising a cup of wine. “Take care!” he said.

「After dawn, Ye Fan departed with Divine Doctor Wang」

He left behind a great deal of discussion. People were all speculating about his fate; many were waiting and watching.

“These foolish birds…” The Black Emperor, carrying the little pitiful girl on its back, chuckled coldly. “Just wait and see their jaws drop to the floor when the time comes.”

Li Heishui also roared with laughter. “Let’s see the looks on their faces then!”

Divine Doctor Wang’s secluded residence was located in a region of Immortal Veins in the Central Territory. It was near the vast Great Wilderness, a very primitive area.

He had entered the Dao through medicine. On a daily basis, he needed to taste hundreds of herbs and refine Divine Pills, which made it more convenient for him to travel in and out of the Great Wilderness.

A person of Divine Doctor Wang’s temperament, hearing the Black Emperor’s nonsensical ramblings throughout the journey, was rendered somewhat speechless. He stared at it, not knowing what to say.

Ye Fan explained the little pitiful girl’s problem, asking Divine Doctor Wang if there was any way to treat her condition of constantly forgetting the past.

“This child is rather special, I can’t quite put my finger on it…” Divine Doctor Wang was considerably astonished. He stared at the little pitiful girl, then looked at the Seven-Colored Little Stone, seemingly lost in distant memories.

「After passing through endless Great Mountains and crossing many ranges」

They finally emerged from the Great Wilderness and arrived before Divine Doctor Wang’s thatched hut.

It was situated near a cliff, with cascading waterfalls and flowing springs. Sturdy pines stood tall, and Immortal Cranes flew about. It was truly a Pure Land for cultivation.

“Something’s not right!” the Black Emperor exclaimed, its eyes wide with surprise. “This place is quite extraordinary. I believe it should be even more magnificent up ahead, comparable to a divine land!”

“You have a keen eye for a dog,” Divine Doctor Wang nodded, then pointed ahead. “Indeed, those Endless Mountain Ranges have a very significant origin.”

Ye Fan and the others soared into the sky and gazed into the distance, their hearts filled with shock. Each mountain range resembled a Great Dragon, imposing and majestic, radiating an aura of grandeur.

“This is a land of soaring dragons! They are all dragon veins, incredibly precious!” the Black Emperor exclaimed. “It can be said to be a Heaven-Reaching Land, capable of nurturing a Sacred Land. It ought to be in the hands of the most ancient heritage!”

“This was once an extremely prosperous Sacred Land. However, a monumental catastrophe occurred six thousand years ago, and it ceased to exist,” Divine Doctor Wang sighed.

“What? Could this place be…” Ye Fan was astonished, a realization dawning on him.

“This is the site of the Celestial Jade Sacred Land, which was extremely prosperous six thousand years ago!” Divine Doctor Wang revealed the answer.

It had once been an immensely powerful Sacred Land, but it had completely declined into desolation. Old vines now twined around the mountain ridges, and the cries of apes and roars of tigers echoed, as it had become a habitat for various strange and powerful beasts.

There, ancient trees towered to the sky, and dense forests completely obscured all traces of its former glory, transforming it into a primeval expanse of dragon veins.

Suddenly, a loud wail echoed, shaking the mountains. Myriad trees shed their leaves, and birds and beasts cowered on the ground in terror.

“That wailing… why is it so terrifying?!” They were all startled.

“It’s coming from the deepest part of the Merak Ruins! Could it be that after six thousand years, there’s still someone alive in the Underground Palace?!”

(To be continued. For more chapters, and to support the author and legitimate reading, please visit www.!)