Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 484: Chapter 489: Divine Dynasty’s Probe

The ancient city of Purple Heaven City has weathered the ages of the Ancient Desolation, survived the dark tribulations, and existed for eons. It is one of the top ten ancient cities in the central part of the Eastern Wastelands, and this region is filled with various significant powers.

Ye Fan and his companions didn’t linger long and truly began their journey to the Ziwei Sect for a “reconciliation.” Along the way, the big black dog was exceedingly excited.

When they asked people about the exact location of the Ziwei Sect, many showed strange expressions. What do these ‘divine beings’ intend to do? they wondered.

“Of course, we wish to visit the Ziwei Ancient Land. Do you think we intend to attack it?” the big black dog barked chaotically.

Everyone’s expressions changed. These people have been making immense waves recently, with a Saint traveling alongside them. Could it be they truly intend to invade the Ziwei Sect?

The Central Domain has been home to countless famous mountains and great rivers since ancient times. It is a land where heroes are born, gathering eons of purple Qi, condensing myriad veins of Dragon Qi, and nurturing the spiritual roots of heaven and earth.

In the mountains ten thousand miles away from Purple Heaven City, purple Qi flourished, and clouds and mist curled. Ancient Trees stood evergreen. The place was like a transcendent Immortal Vein, truly extraordinary.

Ye Fan and his group continued their journey and arrived in this Immortal Mountain. Silhouettes appeared behind them as some cultivators, hearing the news, followed quietly.

For days now, their group had stirred the Central Domain, with countless eyes watching. Ye Fan’s sword had slain the Yin Yang Saint Heir, shaking the younger generation.

The old madman had slapped a sovereign to death, an act like a raging sea crashing against the shore, fraying many people’s nerves.

The supreme Great Sects of Central States had been disgraced in the Eastern Wastelands. News of this had already spread back to their homeland. Despite this, the Yin Yang Sect, truly intimidated, dared not make any move.

“Doggy, don’t run around; walk with Big Brother and the others,” the pitiful little girl said quietly and obediently as she sat on Black Emperor’s back, softly reminding it when she saw it was overly excited and running too fast.

“Don’t worry, no one dares to attack us,” the big black dog said nonchalantly, galloping over cliff after cliff, searching for Supreme Spiritual Medicine.

This was an immortal land, with verdant pines proudly standing among the rocky mountains, Immortal Cranes circling, waterfalls cascading, and misty Spiritual Qi swirling around.

SHRING!

Suddenly, a cold and biting killing intent burst forth. The sword aura cracked the mountain. A sword pierced the heavens, brilliant and dazzling, like a comet streaking across the sky as it charged straight at them—an incomparably sharp sword strike!

The big black dog was both shocked and furious. To think someone would dare to assassinate us even while traveling with the old madman, and with such a fierce, sure-kill strike!

WOOF!

At this moment, Black Emperor did not avoid the terrifying sword strike because it was too late. Instead, it opened its massive mouth and howled with all its might.

A massive surge of air shot out from its mouth like a volcanic eruption, causing the surrounding void to completely collapse.

BOOM!

It was as if thousands of troops were galloping, the sound waves roaring like True Dragons, incredibly terrifying, toppling the cliff ahead.

Yet, the incomparably sharp sword aura descended from Outer Heaven, aimed straight at the pitiful little girl on its back, intending to kill her.

The big black dog was shocked and furious. My Copper Tendons and Iron Bones could withstand a strike, but the little girl is so delicate right now. How could she endure such a sword?

Its brow split open; a third vertical eye appeared and shot out a horrifying dark beam. Simultaneously, it leaped up to block the divine sword’s path.

DANG!

The beam from Black Emperor’s vertical eye struck the Killing Sword, sending sparks flying and slowing its speed. Yet, the Killing Sword still slashed towards the pitiful little girl.

In the distance, Ye Fan heard the howl of the big black dog. His expression changed, and he swiftly dashed out using the footwork of Celestial Jade. He instantly triggered the All Secret, increasing his speed tenfold.

He moved like a beam of light, crossing more than ten peaks in the blink of an eye, arriving just in time to witness the Killing Sword slashing towards the pitiful little girl.

Ye Fan’s eyes widened, seething with fury. Agents of the Mortal World have appeared again! Daring to strike so viciously even knowing the old madman is with us!

He saw the pitiful little girl’s panic-stricken expression, her face as white as snow, utterly helpless, as the sword’s edge pointed at her brow. His heart filled with a mix of explosive anger and fear.

BOOM!

Ye Fan leveraged the might of the All Secret. The small golden lake between his eyebrows boiled like lava. A powerful divine scan transformed into a small golden cauldron, surging out to rescue the pitiful little girl from danger.

DANG!

The small golden cauldron struck the Killing Sword, causing it to tremble violently. At the same time, the light beam from the big black dog’s vertical eye shone even brighter as it struck the sword as well.

SCHINK!

The Killing Sword was obstructed, but it slid forward a short distance, leaving a bloody gash on the big black dog’s head. However, it failed to harm the pitiful little girl.

However, just then, an unparalleled killing intent descended. A vast, ocean-like wave surged toward Ye Fan, intending to shatter him completely!

A peerless powerhouse, hidden in the shadows, had awaited his arrival, intending to unleash a world-dominating strike to obliterate him in both body and spirit, eradicating him forever.

The agents of the Mortal World, part of the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty, were daring beyond belief. They did not fear even an existence comparable to an ancient Saint and were waiting here to assassinate him!

BANG!

Just then, the old madman, standing beyond more than ten great mountains, gently exhaled. Though he himself remained motionless, a wave of his breath transformed into a white beam and rushed forward.

The world seemed to freeze, as if time had stopped. Everything halted, except for the movement of that white breath, which charged through.

PFFT!

The Killing Sword turned into powder. A black-robed figure fell from the shadows, destroyed in body and spirit on the spot.

At the same time, a withered corpse fell from the void. It cracked beside Ye Fan, struck by the white beam of Qi, and with a PUFF! sound, it turned into dust.

“The corpse of an ancient sovereign! Someone has possessed it using a Primordial Spirit Puppet, controlling everything!” The Black Emperor was shocked.

“The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty—the Mortal World!” Ye Fan’s eyes were icy cold. The enemy had intended to utterly annihilate them, daring to strike even in such circumstances.

If the old madman, standing twenty-something miles away, hadn’t exhaled that mouthful of enormous Qi to obliterate this ancient sovereign’s remains, I would have been in grave danger just now, Ye Fan reflected.

“Big Brother… you’re not hurt, are you?” The pitiful little girl was frightened but asked this first.

Moments ago, the Killing Sword had pointed straight at her forehead, intending to slay her. The little girl’s face had turned snow-white, and tears welled in her big eyes; she was very flustered.

After all, she was just a child, a little over two years old. She had never experienced anything like this. Any other toddler would have been wailing loudly by now.

“Don’t be afraid, pitiful little girl, I’m fine.” Ye Fan stepped forward, softly comforting her. He gently patted her head and playfully flicked her delicate nose.

At this time, Li Heishui also rushed over, shouting, “Has the Mortal World consumed Immortal Heart Divine Courage? Daring to kill cultivators even when they’re traveling with a Saint?!”

“In the past, the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty ruled ruthlessly. At their mere thought, blood would flow like rivers. They even dared to kill Ancient Saints, so naturally, they are fearless now.” The Black Emperor’s heart still pounded with lingering fear as he sighed softly.

“But they don’t realize what era this is. There are no more Saints in the world. Could they still have such a figure overseeing their Divine Dynasty?” Li Heishui said.

“They are probing,” Ye Fan murmured to himself.

“Correct, probing the power of a Saint,” the Black Emperor nodded, saying, “Usually, the disciples they dispatch are close in strength to their assassination targets, mainly for the purpose of training themselves. They rarely dispatch such terrifying figures.”

Using the corpse of an ancient sovereign to attack Ye Fan seems too elaborate if it’s just to kill him, they speculated. It’s more likely a test aimed at the old madman.

Ye Fan’s brow furrowed, and a hint of worry touched them all. The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty… aren’t they afraid of Saints?

The old madman walked over step by step, silent and impassive as ever, as if nothing in the world could sway his mood.

Behind them, some cultivators who had followed to this point were shocked by what they had witnessed and began whispering among themselves.

“The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty is truly terrifying! They even dare to kill those under the protection of an Ancient Saint!”

“Perhaps the heavens are about to change. The celestial court was destroyed, but the Mortal World and Hell have survived intact. Who knows how powerful they’ve become, developing in secret all this time? Perhaps this is a signal of their impending return.”

「」

Ye Fan’s eyes turned cold. The threat from the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty—the Mortal World—is too great! They even tried to kill the pitiful little girl! This is intolerable!

“Do you know where their ancient palace is?” Ye Fan asked the Black Emperor.

“No one knows. It’s an ancient palace built from the skulls of kings—a Tower of Death!” The Black Emperor involuntarily shuddered as he spoke these words.

“If we knew where it was, we’d definitely ask the Saint with us to destroy them!” Li Heishui gritted his teeth.

“It’s difficult. In the past, even when all the Saints came forth, they couldn’t eradicate the Mortal World and Hell. It’s probably impossible now as well,” the Black Emperor shook his head.

This is a very bad signal, Ye Fan thought, realizing the gravity of the situation. The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty attempting to kill me at this juncture might incite many others to hire them!

The journey to the Holy Cliff must be undertaken as soon as possible. I need to obtain the complete inheritance of the celestial court and wield the Supreme Scepter of assassins to protect myself and resist them.

The Ziwei Sect was located deep within mountains containing an Immortal Vein. From afar, one could see that stars filled the sky there. A large purple star resided at the center, guarded by the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise in the four cardinal directions.

Currently, the sky hadn’t darkened, and the blazing sun hung high, yet these stars appeared, which seemed eerie and mysterious.

“They’ve stirred the constellations; these are projections of the stars!” the Black Emperor said.

“The Ziwei Sect seems truly special,” Ye Fan murmured, staring intently.

Ahead, the mountain ranges were endless. Myriad ancestral roots converged here, enveloped in purple aura, and Spiritual Qi permeated the air. On vast expanses of ancient mountains, spiritual medicines abounded, and ancient woods stood tall, all steeped in spiritual charm.

“They are a supreme Great Sect with a long heritage. Some say they are connected to the Outer Domain,” Li Heishui said.

“What? There’s such a claim?” Ye Fan was surprised.

The Black Emperor showed a puzzled expression and thought hard. Then, as if recalling something, he said, “Perhaps there truly is a connection. An ancient Great Emperor mentioned this heritage when gazing at the Starry Sky.”

The Mountain Gate of the Ziwei Sect was grand and majestic. Built from a meteorite, it predated Ancient Times, having endured for nearly two hundred thousand years.

“Who are you…”

When the people at the Mountain Gate discovered Ye Fan and the others, their expressions changed instantly. The news of a Saint emerging in the Eastern Wastelands in recent days had shocked everyone; it was common knowledge.

At this moment, seeing this group approach their gate, no one could remain calm.

The Ziwei Sect was vast and boundless. It was composed of countless purple peaks where immortal mist swirled and exotic flowers bloomed. Herbs covered the ground, and fragrance was everywhere.

This was a Pure Land, far removed from the clamor of the mortal world, an ideal place for cultivators to practice.

Upon receiving the report, the Ziwei Sect Hierarch hastily stood up. From his position atop a towering Peak, he gazed towards the Mountain Gate, his expression changing instantly.

An existence comparable to an Ancient Saint had arrived! Are they here to call us to account? If that’s truly the case, even a power as strong as the Ziwei Sect cannot withstand it.

“This…” All the Grand Elders of the Ziwei Sect paled; not a single one could maintain their composure.

“Junior Ye Fan has come to pay respects to the mountain!” Ye Fan addressed the Guardians of the Mountain Gate.

These people were utterly flustered. Bringing an existence comparable to an ancient Saint for a “mountain visit”—this was truly agonizing! Even the Sacred Lands would tremble with fear and suffer headaches over such a matter.