Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 496: Chapter 501: Stirring Chaos

CRACK!

The crimson lightning, like a myriad of blood rays descending, struck Li Heishui, tearing his skin and flesh, his long hair standing upright towards the sky.

BOOM!

The azure lightning, like a True Dragon traversing the void, suddenly descended, sending the black dog flying hundreds of feet, its body scorched.

“Damn it, black boy, stop following me, the Emperor! You’re drawing all the lightning to my side!” the big black dog barked furiously.

“Dead dog, didn’t you say I should serve as a scapegoat? If I don’t follow behind you, where should I go? Should I rush into the Thunder Sea instead?” Li Heishui exclaimed irritably.

The endless Thunder Sea chased them relentlessly; one can only imagine how terrifying the Heavenly Tribulation Ye Fan attracted was, engulfing this entire mountain range.

Initially, there was only purple lightning, but now crimson blood lightning and azure Divine Thunder had descended, various colors flickering continuously.

Besides the Five Elements Heavenly Tribulation, there’s the Seven-Colored Divine Thunder too. Is this kid going to get struck to bits? the big black dog grumbled while running wildly.

“I don’t know if little kid Ye will turn to bits, all I know is that I’m about to turn to ash.” Li Heishui emitted black smoke all over, running and shouting with gritted teeth.

“Black boy, don’t follow me; let’s run separately!” the big black dog glared.

“Damn, except for the front, thunder is everywhere else. How do we run separately? Why don’t you escape backward while I dodge forward, how about that?” Li Heishui said angrily.

“Doggie, run quickly, the lightning is coming again.” The pitiful little girl was very nervous, sitting on the big black dog’s shoulder. Colorful light flowed between her brows; the lightning so far hadn’t harmed her.

“Here it comes again!” Li Heishui shouted, desperately charging forward.

In their wake, the endless blood-red lightning, like raging floodwaters, flooded the sky. It surged forward, crushing mountains, Ancient Trees, and everything in between—this was a Thunder Sea in all its might.

AWOO… The big black dog howled miserably, struck again; the shiny black fur it had grown in the last two months got singed significantly.

Behind, Li Heishui shrieked continuously. Every inch of his flesh was charred black, truly looking like charcoal, with only his teeth remaining snow-white.

“Damn, why is the Emperor so unlucky, struck by seventeen lightning bolts! I’m in so much pain…” the big black dog cried, its two long legs taking large strides forward.

Li Heishui shouted from behind, “Dead dog, I’ve been struck by fourteen more bolts than you! Why are you complaining!”

AWOO… Another wave of the Thunder Sea descended; the big black dog was struck again, wailing with electric arcs all over its body.

“I’m going to die! Without the secret treasure my grandpa gave me, I’d have been turned to ash. Little kid Ye, every time you undergo a tribulation, it almost kills someone!” Li Heishui lamented.

“WOOF! Black boy, you mustn’t follow me; you go left, I go right. Damn it, all this lightning is because of you!” the big black dog barked.

“Dead dog, what does this have to do with me? Your dog-like character is at fault, attracting all this lightning!” Li Heishui retorted furiously.

No matter how they ran, they were pursued and struck by lightning, looking as miserable as if they too were undergoing a tribulation.

Damn, the Emperor knows what’s going on. We must have picked up something unclean at the Holy Cliff, and heaven is purifying us! the big black dog seemed to have an epiphany.

“If this purification continues, we’ll be finished first!” Li Heishui fretted, then shouted, “Dead dog, you’re so fast you defy heaven! Carry me too, and I’ll give you a ten-thousand-year-old spiritual medicine in return!”

If not for the Thunder Sea spreading and closing in from all sides, the big black dog would have long vanished from Li Heishui’s sight. Those long legs fully displayed the first natural image of the Dao of the Walking Rune Secret.

“Unless you produce an Undying Divine Medicine, there’s no way the Emperor will turn around to carry you!” the big black dog bared its teeth.

“Dead dog, you truly have no conscience! You’ve eaten so much of my roasted meat, and it was I who gave you those floral shorts!” Li Heishui yelled.

“Damn it, it’s just a pair of floral shorts; I’ll return a stack to you later!” the big black dog raced away, the floral shorts particularly vibrant.

“Doggie, save Brother Li,” the pitiful little girl softly patted the big black dog’s ear.

“It’s alright. That black boy is thick-skinned; more lightning strikes will be beneficial for his future cultivation.” The big black dog had a million excuses not to turn back.

“Dead dog, you’re truly heartless! Don’t blame me then!” Li Heishui shouted angrily. Then, with a flick of his hand, he flung an Iron Sword, transforming it into a green light shooting forward.

BOOM!

The myriad crimson lightning bolts were suddenly drawn to the Iron Sword and struck down upon it.

WOOF! The big black dog leaped and jumped, its fur standing on end, electric arcs dancing, and it yelled indignantly, “Black boy, you are a damn scoundrel!”

“Dead dog, you were the one who was disloyal first!” Li Heishui dodged lightning strikes while fleeing.

WOOF! The big black dog howled miserably, “Damn it, burned and cooked!”

The pitiful little girl was speechless, seeing the two flee while quarreling, unsure how to mediate. By now, the little one was no longer afraid; the colorful light at her brow shielded her from the electric arcs, and she remained unharmed.

The big black dog and Li Heishui were miserably struck by lightning. This scene suggested what it was like at the center of the Thunder Sea, where Ye Fan was enduring who knows how many deadly tribulations.

The surrounding mountains were reduced to ashes, not a single one left intact. Everything ceased to exist, and a massive, deep Abyss appeared on the ground.

Five Elements Thunder, Seven-Colored Divine Thunder, one after another, utterly annihilated the place. Powerful as Ye Fan’s physical body was, it too was torn open.

Even more terrifying than the Heavenly Tribulation I endured at the Northern Divine City! Ye Fan was astonished. This wasn’t breaking a curse, but merely breaking through a Realm, yet he faced such a tribulation.

Could it be related to the Holy Cliff? Have I picked up some Qi Mechanism? Well, let this lightning baptize me then. He vaguely contemplated this possibility.

BOOM!

The Nine Five Heavenly Tribulation struck again and again, as if Ye Fan’s body was being forged in a furnace. Golden blood splattered, and he gritted his teeth to endure.

During his two months of seclusion, he had made significant gains. He elevated the Walking Rune Secret to an impressive level, making him seem capable of appearing and disappearing like a specter, traversing dangerous caves effortlessly.

The most crucial point was that he had broken through to the peak of the third realm of the Four Extremes Secret Boundary. He was ready to enter the final realm of this Secret Boundary, which meant a significant boost in his Combat Power!

For a whole hour, Ye Fan finally passed through the Heavenly Tribulation. The primeval mountain range was now a scene of desolation, with ashes everywhere and many distant mountains severed.

WOOF!

From afar, the sound of a dog barking came, along with Li Heishui’s curses.

“Little kid Ye, you’ve finally finished your tribulation! We’ve all suffered because of you. I’ve been struck by fifty-seven bolts of lightning!” As Li Heishui spoke, sparks crackled from his throat.

“Cooked, fully cooked! Kid, you owe me a divine medicine!” The big black dog, smelling of roasted meat, had a Broken Sword hanging from its bald tail. Its eyes blazed and sparks crackled around it—it had been squabbling with Li Heishui for quite some time.

“Look at the two of you and your measly achievements!” Ye Fan chided.

They didn’t leave but continued their seclusion, striving to improve further. Ye Fan, especially, felt a sense of urgency; the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty looming made him unable to feel at ease.

In the following months, the sound of wind and thunder occasionally resounded in the mountain range, sometimes accompanied by barking.

They cultivated in seclusion here. Only the pitiful little girl was carefree, chasing colorful butterflies and picking wildflowers in the mountains.

For six full months, Ye Fan intensely practiced the various secret arts inherited from the Celestial Court. While he didn’t quite reach the peak Transformation Realm, he was at the limit of what Four Extremes cultivators could achieve.

After the Four Extremes, one needs Enlightenment. It’s indeed in a life-and-death duel that the greatest gains are made! Ye Fan sighed.

He had secluded himself for two months and broken through a Realm. However, in the subsequent four months, he still wasn’t able to step into the final realm of the Four Extremes Secret Boundary.

His seamless breakthrough during those two months was greatly connected to his previous instances of Enlightenment!

During his battle with Hua Yunfei in the southern region, while facing “One Thought Flower Blooming, Commanding the World,” he comprehended the Dao greatly. Later, in the Central Domain, he battled the Little Golden-Winged Roc King. To break the first four moves of the Heavenly Demon Slaughter Technique, he was pushed to the brink of death, where he achieved Enlightenment and resolved the deadlock.

The breakthrough within two months could be attributed to his prior accumulation, a powerful release that occurred all at once, with no hindrances.

Continuous Enlightenment is needed! Ye Fan’s cultivation speed was already fast enough to make the Black Dog and Li Heishui find it monstrous, yet he was not satisfied at all.

「Half a month later.」

Ye Fan suddenly opened his eyes, feeling an unusual Qi Mechanism. He left behind an afterimage in the Ancient Cave and appeared among the blooming flowers in the mountains.

SWISH!

He reached into the void with one hand and grabbed a dark shadow. It was a young man with a cold, indifferent expression, but at this moment, he revealed an astonished look.

“Assassins from the Mortal World have found their way here!” Li Heishui was shocked.

“WOOF! Things are bad. They’ve certainly used the Heavenly Mechanism Divine Calculation to deduce our location!” The Black Dog rushed out, showing a solemn expression.

Ye Fan said nothing, placing his hand on the young man’s Sky Gathering Parasol, intending to extract his Divine Sense Memory.

PHUT!

However, as his hand approached the young man’s head, it shattered. Horrifying energy, wrapped in flesh and blood, surged towards Ye Fan.

The void was punched through with black holes by the flesh and blood, demonstrating a force so powerful it was capable of dragging enemies into total annihilation along with the victim.

BANG!

Yet Ye Fan’s large golden hand shook, turning all the flesh and energy into dust, completely obliterating it.

The Sacred Body at the peak of the third stage of Four Extremes is truly terrifying! Li Heishui was astonished.

Not good! Ye Fan was startled. Perceiving something sharply, he activated the Walking Rune Secret, transforming into a wisp of smoke and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Almost instantaneously, he arrived at the valley behind the mountain. He saw a woman approaching the pitiful little girl, a cold smile on her face.

“Who are you, sister? Don’t come near, I’m scared…” the pitiful little girl said timidly, continuously retreating.

“Sister will send you to Hell’s Ancient Hall…” The black-clothed woman exuded a bone-chilling coldness, accompanied by a deathly aura.

BOOM!

Ye Fan crossed the void at extreme speed. Upon noticing him, the black-clothed woman’s eyes turned icy. A blood-dripping divine sword appeared in her hand, and she slashed towards the pitiful little girl’s head.

CLANG!

However, unexpectedly, Ye Fan’s speed surpassed her imagination. He arrived later but struck first, blocking in front of the pitiful little girl, his golden hand striking the sword’s edge.

POOF!

Ye Fan’s palm remained unharmed, but the blood-dripping divine sword instantly turned to fine powder, cascading to the ground.

Though forged from refined precious metal and imprinted with the power of the Law, it still could not withstand a single blow from Ye Fan’s physique and disintegrated instantly.

The black-clothed woman’s expression changed. She turned to flee, but Ye Fan’s strength had greatly increased. A large hand pressed down, trapping her in midair and grasping her.

Incredible! A Divine Dynasty assassin at the Four Extremes Circle of Perfection, captured with such ease! Even the Black Dog exclaimed in astonishment.

Ye Fan wanted to try extracting memories from her Sea of Consciousness, but the woman similarly shattered. It was involuntary; a Forbidden Power had been laid deep within her brow by an unparalleled expert.

“How did people from the Mortal World and Hell find their way here?” Li Heishui was shocked.

“They are proficient in the Heavenly Mechanism Divine Calculation. If some undying old freaks were requested to make deductions, they could identify an enemy’s location. We’ve been secluded for over half a year and haven’t appeared. They must have asked some peerless experts to perform a divination. These two were sent to verify,” the Black Dog revealed this very bad news.

“Let’s leave this place!”

Ye Fan instructed the Black Dog to carve Dao Glyphs. Then, they swiftly traversed the void. Subsequently, they opened several Domain Gates, changing their location numerous times, until they appeared millions of miles away.

“This isn’t a solution. If it comes to it, little kid Ye, you should leave the Eastern Wastelands. Would they really hunt you down to the Central States or the Western Desert?” Li Heishui suggested.

“Forcing me to leave like this? That’s impossible!” Ye Fan now had some confidence.

Having mastered the Walking Rune Secret, he was capable enough to protect himself. He could traverse heaven and earth and was not in a hurry to escape; instead, he considered troubling the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty.

“If you don’t leave, you might truly face a great, fatal calamity!” Li Heishui cautioned. “The two Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties have simultaneously issued a Killing Order against you. Now, they even have peerless experts deducing your location. That’s a disaster, and it will be difficult to avoid.”

“It’s indeed very unfavorable. Certainly, living fossils from the Ancient Hall are deducing your location. If you don’t leave, their seeded cultivators will emerge, treating you as prey to hone themselves,” the Black Emperor also warned.

Li Heishui said, “For the two Divine Dynasties to issue a Killing Order clearly indicates many people have approached them, simultaneously requesting your assassination!”

“To be able to find the Ancient Divine Dynasties, they must be from the oldest legacies. A Killing Order requires a commission from more than ten parties.” Ye Fan said this and then smiled, “How many ancient inheritances can the Eastern Wastelands have?”

“It’s good you realize. There are surely people from the Sacred Lands involved, and also some Supreme Sects,” Li Heishui nodded.

“If that’s the case, then don’t blame me for being impolite!” Ye Fan’s smile became even more radiant. “Black Emperor, you should know how to contact the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties, right?”

“Kid, what do you want to do? Are you trying to get yourself killed? No, that’s not right. Seeing you smile so deviously, you must be up to no good. Don’t drag me into this!” The Black Dog bared its teeth.

“It doesn’t have a copper coin’s worth of connection to you. I plan to send a batch of Source to the two Divine Dynasties!” Ye Fan laughed.

“You… what are you planning?” The Black Dog and Li Heishui were both suspicious.

“Now, I’m giving you a chance to cause some mischief. List out any Saint Heir who you find an eyesore, and I’ll commission the two Divine Dynasties to eliminate them all!” Ye Fan sneered.

“Are you crazy?!” Li Heishui and the Black Dog were both stunned.

“Those capable of mobilizing the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties are surely those ancient legacies. I’ll drag them all into this mess too!”

You want to cause the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties to battle against all the Sacred Lands? You want to bring chaos to the world? The Black Dog’s eyelids twitched.

Li Heishui also gasped, saying, “That’s a ruthless trick!”

If the Ancient Divine Dynasties dared to accept the assassination commissions, undoubtedly, those Saint Heirs would face great trouble, inciting boundless chaos.

If they refused, Ye Fan intended to publicize it, shattering the undefeated myth of the two Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties.

“Let’s start by having them each kill one Saint Heir for now. I believe they’ll accept. Then, we can proceed slowly. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll wield the Celestial Court’s Supreme Scepter to ‘assist’ them!” Ye Fan’s mouth curled into a cold smile.

“That’s too ruthless! Little kid Ye, you’ll trigger a great upheaval in the Eastern Wastelands…” Li Heishui said, but then he burst into hearty laughter.

“This is truly a wicked idea…” The Black Dog also chuckled sinisterly.