Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 476: Chapter 481 Encounter

Ye Fan and his group walked out of the mountains and into the outside world, causing an immediate sensation because fourteen days had passed, yet he was still alive.

“Isn’t that the sacred body? The Divine Doctor said he only had less than half a month’s lifespan left, yet he’s appeared again!”

“Could he have truly severed his cultivation base, becoming an ordinary mortal? This is getting interesting. I wonder if those people will come to kill him?”

The Eastern Wastelands were vast and boundless; over a million li of the Primitive Territory were devoid of human habitation. The human race’s settlements were relatively concentrated, with general towns often connected, forming flourishing regions.

In the Central Territory, ten ancient cities served as ten distinct centers, with the surrounding areas densely populated by both the human race and the demon clan.

After Ye Fan’s group emerged, even before they entered Chong City, they had already caused heated discussion in an ordinary ancient city.

“No need to guess, he absolutely severed his cultivation base. He’s a cripple now. Who wants to go up and test his current realm?”

The combination of Ye Fan’s group was too peculiar. The big black dog and the pitiful little girl couldn’t help but draw attention. Even those who hadn’t seen them before could guess who they were.

“Who’s that unkempt middle-aged man? His disheveled hair completely covers his face. So slovenly.” Someone stared at the old madman, not treating him like an expert at all.

Everyone was paying attention, everyone was discussing: the sacred body was still alive but might have severed his cultivation base. This news spread as if it had wings.

Soon after, Ye Fan and his group arrived at Youyue Ancient City. It was one of the ten major cities in the Central Eastern Desolate region and the closest to the Merak Ruins.

In the heart of this region, numerous supreme Great Sects and ancient noble families of the demon clan were scattered among the surrounding famous mountains and great rivers.

Finally, someone couldn’t hold back their curiosity and wanted to probe Ye Fan’s physical condition. Several young men approached, all wearing smiles.

“Isn’t this Brother Ye, the sacred body? I heard you’re unwell. How are you now?” one of them asked, then casually patted Ye Fan on the shoulder.

“Who are you? Do we know each other?” Ye Fan asked.

“We’re just scattered cultivators; Brother Ye wouldn’t know us,” that person said with a hearty laugh.

“You’re disciples of the Purple Mansion, aren’t you?” Ye Fan raised an eyebrow. Even the Saint Heir of Purple Mansion wouldn’t dare pat his shoulder so casually. These disciples truly regarded him as a cripple who had severed his own cultivation base.

“How did you know?” The men were startled and a little uneasy.

“Seeing the purple brilliance hidden in your eyes, you must be disciples of the Sacred Lands cultivating ‘Purple Qi from the East’,” Ye Fan said with a smile.

They relaxed and continued to ask, “Brother Ye, you survived a great calamity. Have you recovered now?”

“My cultivation base is half-crippled. I’m barely managing to stay alive,” Ye Fan said.

“Is that so? That’s not good news…” one of them said with a smile, applying a little more force as he patted Ye Fan’s shoulder again.

“Are you tired of living?” Li Heishui directly grabbed his arm and, with a THUD, tossed him away.

“You… what do you mean?!” The Purple Mansion disciple’s face changed instantly, and he rebuked him angrily.

“I should be asking what you mean! Do you dare to be so rude only because you think Ye Fan’s cultivation base is half-crippled?” Li Heishui said coldly.

“The Saint Heir of Purple Mansion is our senior brother, and we are disciples of the Sacred Lands. Aren’t we qualified to associate with Brother Ye?” one of them sneered.

“Brother Ye is merely our peer. Do we really need to look up to him?” another one jeered. Having learned that Ye Fan had severed his cultivation base, they simply didn’t care anymore.

“Half a month ago, even your Saint Heir wouldn’t have dared to be so rude. If Ye Fan were at his peak, would you dare to approach so brazenly to test him?” Li Heishui retorted.

“Has the sacred body really been deified or something?” someone sneered, his face full of contempt.

Someone else muttered in a barely audible voice, “A phoenix that has shed its feathers is worse than a chicken. He’s already in this state; does he still think he has any prestige left?”

“Enough of your nonsense! You just think Ye Fan is half-crippled, don’t you? Fine, I’ll keep you company!” the Black Emperor bellowed. “So, the junior brothers of the Purple Mansion’s Saint Heir are impressive, huh? Come on, all of you together!”

The Sacred Lady of the Purple Mansion had once been suppressed by Ye Fan. Rumors then spread that an innate Holy Body Daoist Embryo might emerge, which greatly angered the Saint Heir. Since it was generally expected that the Sacred Lady would marry the Saint Heir, his junior brothers naturally sought to vent this frustration on his behalf.

Therefore, these men were quite hostile. Youyue Ancient City was very close to the Purple Mansion Sacred Land, so they had rushed over at the first opportunity.

“What an arrogant dog! Let’s skin it. Didn’t it used to bark all day long? Now that the sacred body is crippled, let’s see what backing it has now!”

Several disciples of Purple Mansion, whose cultivation levels were not weak, sneered coldly and advanced together, preparing to make an example of the big black dog right in front of Ye Fan.

The big black dog didn’t say much. It just unleashed a jumble of items, instantly surrounding them. Star Stones, Divine Blood Soil, and other treasures gleamed, sealing off the sky.

“Ignorant youngsters! Do you think being junior brothers to the Saint Heir of Purple Mansion means you can act so recklessly? This Emperor will knock some sense into you!”

“You damned dog, what can you possibly do to us?” they retorted.

However, their expressions soon changed. The surrounding scenery transformed, everything becoming hazy, and they were all trapped.

“Ah…” Shortly after, miserable screams echoed from within the Array Patterns as the Purple Mansion disciples were all taken down.

Li Heishui didn’t say a word, rushed in, dragged them all out, and then started kicking them ferociously with his large feet.

“Ah…” The Purple Mansion disciples, their bodies sealed, could only watch helplessly as those two large feet viciously stomped on them, their screams incessant.

“How dare you treat us like this! Do you know…”

“Know your head? This Emperor wouldn’t even deign to take people like you as human pets! Beating you up is doing you a favor,” the big black dog shouted, personally charging forward. Its large paws swiped back and forth, breaking several bones with each pass.

Within Youyue Ancient City, everyone was stunned. These were disciples of Purple Mansion being beaten so savagely! Ye Fan’s companions were truly fierce.

“Hasn’t the sacred body been crippled? Yet the people around him are still so fierce. It’s truly bewildering,” many people muttered, quite perplexed.

“Ah…” The disciples of the Purple Mansion Sacred Land screamed. They had never suffered such a huge loss before.

“This Emperor will send you to the Western Desert to become monks and grind down your tempers!” After thrashing them thoroughly, the big black dog spoke, activating the Chessboard Array Patterns. With a flash of light, the men were sent away.

Everyone’s heart leaped. Was this dog serious about sending them to the Western Desert? That seemed too outrageous!

Damn it, these Array Patterns are too bizarre! They all ended up in the Northern Plains! The big black dog was extremely annoyed, clearly having done something unreliable again.

The surrounding cultivators didn’t believe it, thinking the dog was just bragging. Only the old madman’s vacant eyes flickered with a strange light as he stared for a few moments.

“You’ve all gone too far!”

At this moment, a cold voice was heard. From a nearby teahouse, a man in purple clothes stood up and strode over.

“The Saint Heir of Purple Mansion!” someone exclaimed.

Additionally, another man with fair skin walked over. It was Zhao Fa from the Ziwei Sect, looking quite genteel with a meaningful smile.

“Brother Ye, it’s been over half a month since we last met. I learned that this place is closest to Divine Doctor Wang’s secluded residence, so I waited here especially for you, hoping you would appear. I wish to purchase that Holy Sword.”

Zhao Fa approached calmly and collectedly alongside the Saint Heir of Purple Mansion, his face wreathed in smiles, as if genuinely happy.

Ye Fan also smiled. This person was definitely not a kind soul. During the Wind Clan’s banquet, the pitiful little girl had overheard him talking with someone about plotting to seize the Holy Sword and preparing to use ruthless means.

“I don’t want to sell it yet. I plan to exchange it for sacred medicine,” Ye Fan refused directly.

Zhao Fa immediately showed his displeasure. “Brother Ye, do you still need the Holy Sword now? Since you’ve already severed your cultivation base, you might as well sell it.”

“What do you mean?” Li Heishui questioned.

The Saint Heir of Purple Mansion said nothing, his gaze icy as he stood to the side, surveying Ye Fan’s group.

SNAP. Zhao Fa opened his folding fan, composed and sneering. “I want to buy the Holy Sword for Brother Ye’s own good. Otherwise, it will most likely bring you disaster.”

“Are you threatening us?” Ye Fan asked, his voice devoid of any anger.

“Threaten? Am I, Zhao Fa, that kind of person? I’m merely reminding Brother Ye that others might try to snatch it, you know. So, it would be better to sell it to me sooner rather than later,” Zhao Fa said with a profound smile.

He seemed to recall something, his eyes gleaming with Divine Light. “Your Qilin Divine Medicine Seed should still be with you, right? Why not sell it to us as well? The Saint Heir of Purple Mansion and I are prepared to buy it together.”

“I’ve eaten the Qilin Divine Medicine Seed, and the Holy Sword is not for sale. If you have no other business, please leave,” Ye Fan said indifferently, feeling an extreme aversion to this person.

The other party truly treated him as if he were ‘crippled.’ They even began to use veiled threats, wanting to seize his treasures. It was truly detestable.

Zhao Fa’s expression instantly turned cold. SNAP. He closed his fan, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

“You are being a bit too forceful. Where did you send my junior brothers?” the Saint Heir of Purple Mansion suddenly spoke, his expression cold as he stared at the big black dog.

“Sent them to the Northern Plains. Do you want to have a reunion with them? Actually, going to the Western Desert is also a good choice. You could become a monk there,” the big black dog taunted, looking at him sideways, completely unafraid.

“Brother Ye, you and your companions are facing imminent disaster. Don’t you realize it yet?” Zhao Fa said, a sinister smile on his face.

“Are you planning to make a move against me?” Ye Fan asked with a light smile, appearing calm and unconcerned.

Zhao Fa tapped his palm with his folding fan. “Would I, Zhao Fa, be such a person? I want to tell you that people from the Yin Yang Sect of the Central States have arrived. Do you realize what that means?”

Ye Fan’s expression flickered. He had killed the Yin Yang Saintess, an enmity that would be incredibly difficult to resolve. The other party would not simply let it go.

The Yin Yang Sect was a supreme Great Sect in the Central States. They didn’t retaliate immediately primarily because pressure from the various Sacred Lands forced them to withdraw. They had caused great anger by plundering talented young children from various factions in the Eastern Wastelands and could no longer remain.

Have they come again now?

“Reportedly, they arrived in the Central Eastern Desolate region ten days ago. The Yin Yang Saint Heir came bearing the Yin Yang Sword, intending to use this terrifying secret treasure to behead you,” Zhao Fa chuckled. “At that time, he didn’t know you planned to sever your cultivation base. Now, it seems it won’t even be necessary to use the Yin Yang Sword.”

He then continued, “They belong to the supreme Great Sect of the Central States, so they aren’t particularly intimidated by the unparalleled divine king of the Eastern Wastelands, especially since the divine king’s life or death is uncertain. Moreover, I heard that to ensure they kill you flawlessly and establish the renown of the Yin Yang Sect, they dispatched several Grand Elders with little lifespan remaining. They are determined to decapitate you. Among them are half-step sovereigns and even true sovereigns who can look down upon the world.”

The Yin Yang Sect dispatched sovereign-level individuals to kill me? Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat, though he quickly calmed down, rubbing his chin and smiling.

Now, with the old madman by his side, he feared nothing. Even if the supreme Sect Hierarch of the Central States himself came to kill him, it would surely be a one-way trip for the hierarch!

“If Brother Ye is willing to sell the Holy Sword and the Divine Medicine Seed, I am willing to offer you a path to survival,” Zhao Fa said leisurely, in no hurry. “At the very least, it could allow you to live for a very long time.”

“I’ve already said, the Holy Sword is not for sale, and I ate the Divine Medicine Seed,” Ye Fan replied coldly.

“Brother Ye, you’re really one to spurn a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! I, Zhao Fa, am offering this with utmost sincerity, yet you show no appreciation whatsoever!” Zhao Fa said, his face darkening.

“I don’t want to sell. Are you planning to buy it by force?” Ye Fan stared at him.

“Brother Ye, you should think this through carefully!” Zhao Fa sneered coldly, then patted Ye Fan’s shoulder, releasing a trace of Dark Force.

This was a subtle Dark Force. It wouldn’t activate immediately but could later cause a person to vomit blood and suffer grievous injuries. He clearly intended for Ye Fan to suffer a major loss.

“Take your hand off!” Ye Fan’s face darkened.

Nearby, the Saint Heir of Purple Mansion watched coldly, showing no sign of intervention or assistance.

Zhao Fa’s expression stiffened. “Brother Ye, aren’t your words a bit too harsh!”

As he said this, he lightly released another trace of Dark Force, transmitting it towards Ye Fan’s body through his palm.

“Get out!” Ye Fan’s expression grew icy, his eyes fixed intently on him.

“You’re telling me to get out?” Zhao Fa’s face turned grim, his hand freezing in mid-air.

The others were also astonished. The Divine Doctor had already said that the sacred body could only survive by severing his cultivation base. Ye Fan himself had admitted it earlier. They hadn’t expected him to still dare to be so assertive.

Many people didn’t realize Zhao Fa had unleashed Dark Force. Naturally, they were shocked, thinking Ye Fan was merely reacting strongly out of dislike for the man.

“You truly don’t recognize kindness when you see it. Brother Ye, don’t regret this!” Zhao Fa sneered, lightly patting him again.

Trying to force-buy my treasures counts as goodwill? Injecting Dark Force into me to worsen my injuries is also goodwill?! Ye Fan’s expression turned cold, and his large golden hand suddenly swung out.

SMACK!

An exceptionally loud, crisp slapping sound echoed. Zhao Fa spewed blood as six or seven of his teeth flew out. His entire body catapulted away, slamming against a distant corner wall.

The crowd erupted in an uproar. Everyone looked on in astonishment. Hadn’t the sacred body severed his cultivation base? How could he send Zhao Fa flying with a single slap?

“You…” Zhao Fa trembled with anger and leaped to his feet.

But at that moment, Ye Fan transformed into a streak of golden light. Executing the Merak footwork, he instantly closed the distance, his large golden palm swinging out once more.

SMACK!

Zhao Fa sprayed blood from his mouth again as three more teeth flew out. His body once again catapulted through the air, crashing against the wall.

End of Chapter Three.