Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 519: Chapter 524: The Secret of the Bronze Immortal Palace

The Bronze Immortal Palace is the tomb of peerless kings; no one knows how many extraordinary talents have been buried there. Every time it appears, it devours the lives of a batch of unparalleled masters. Throughout the ages, it has remained a mysterious place, its secrets unplumbed by any.

Non Gongzheng’s return alive naturally caused a great commotion. Figures from the older generation paid close attention, Heroic Lords from all sides stepped forward, and the Heaven Temple was in an uproar.

“Everyone, whatever I know, I will disclose entirely. There’s no need to be so anxious,” Non Gongzheng said with a smile as he walked into the Heaven Temple. Sitting behind a jade table, he first drank a glass of wine.

“There’s no need for such worry, everyone. Since Brother Non Gongzheng has returned, do you fear he won’t disclose what transpired?” The Queen Mother of the West’s cloud-like hair was coiled high, adorned with the Nine Phoenix Hairpin, as misty splendors descended around her. She was dignified, pure, beautiful, and exceptionally graceful.

The noise subsided, and everyone returned to their places. Most of the people in this Heaven Temple were Heroic Lords, rulers of vast lands, or unique individuals with extraordinary identities.

Celestial music began to play, and Jade Lake fairies danced gracefully. Their sleeves fluttered like celestial maidens treading on waves, while white clouds swirled at their feet, as if they were in Guanghan Palace.

Outside the palace, Simurghs flew, vibrant as rainbows. A Lightning Bird carried a divine herb, an auspicious aura descended, and longevity apes offered peaches, their fragrance permeating the air.

In front of the Jade Palace, orchids spread everywhere, and strange flowers spewed colorful mist. In the lotus pond, fish-dragons leaped; clouds steamed and haze billowed, creating an image of flowing gold and brilliant radiance.

Ye Fan was fortunate to find himself at a seat towards the end of the Heaven Temple, a place where typically only those of Peacock King status could sit. He had been invited as a distinguished individual, and Jade Lake treated him with exceptional courtesy.

Scanning the grand hall, only he and the monkey were so young. Everyone else was thousands of years old, mostly with white hair falling to their shoulders and eyes filled with worldly experience.

The combined age of just a few people there approached ten thousand years. Everyone present was intimidatingly influential; indeed, the least impressive among them was the top cultivator across a thousand countries.

Many looked at Ye Fan with a peculiar expression. He had slain Saint Heirs, an act that had shocked even the overlords from various factions, who now paid close attention to him.

People knew he was qualified to sit there as the inheritor of the Heavenly Source Master. Next, Jade Lake would ask him to seal the Stone King.

Most did not know the monkey’s origin. He was so skilled in transformation arts, comparable to Ye Fan’s Heaven and Earth Changing Technique, that not even a Peacock King could discern his true form.

The Source King’s lineage and a few living fossils from the ancient families had cultivated Divine Eyes or Heavenly Eyes. This was an essential divine art for them, and only they knew the monkey’s true origin.

Ye Fan had taken a seat, wanting to hear Non Gongzheng’s explanation of the Bronze Immortal Palace mystery. However, the topic was momentarily brushed aside, with the promise that they would drink and discuss it at length soon.

He withdrew from that inner circle. He had little to discuss with those people; it was far more enjoyable to drink freely with Li Heishui and the others.

The monkey also came out. He knew few people there and was unwilling to drink with those ancient figures, having no common topics for conversation.

Outside the Heaven Temple, countless jade tables were placed among the celestial towers. Jade Lake’s fairies danced elegantly on clouds, delivering various delicacies and fine wines.

“Little Ye, why did you come out? In the main hall, you can enjoy the Peach King. Its medicinal power is much stronger than the peaches from the Peach Blossom Assembly held outside,” said Li Heishui.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged behind a jade table and smiled. “No worries. I’ll go in later and bring some out for you.”

The pitiful little girl sat beside Ye Fan, obediently cross-legged. But she found herself almost submerged by the swirling clouds because she was so small, causing her to wrinkle her cute little nose.

Everyone laughed. They picked up the little one and set her on the jade table. Since there was one jade table per person, no one would blame them for such an indulgence.

“Brother Ye, let me toast you.” Jin Chixiao approached, smiling. His golden battle robe flowed with brilliance, and he looked very impressive.

Ye Fan clinked cups with him and drank it in one gulp. “I heard Brother Jin was injured recently. I hope it’s nothing serious?” he asked with a smile.

“It was nothing major. I don’t know why the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty made a move on me as well,” Jin Chixiao said, frowning.

“We can be considered kindred spirits in that regard,” the Saint Heir of Flickering Light said, rising with a jade cup in hand and walking over.

Their standing together naturally drew attention. Other young heroes from the Eastern Wastelands looked over simultaneously, all paying close attention.

“You’re a descendant of the Golden King lineage!” the monkey’s Golden Eyes shot out beams of light as he stared at Jin Chixiao. “Unfortunately, your blood is no longer pure. Your branch no longer possesses the flourishing power of the Ancient Emperor’s era.”

This remark drew everyone’s attention. Many knew that the Northern Plains’ Golden Family was of the Ancient races, but few mentioned it because the topic was too sensitive. Unexpectedly, the monkey not only pointed it out but had also discerned the issue with their bloodline inheritance.

A peculiar look flashed across Jin Chixiao’s face, but he said nothing further. He raised his cup in a gesture and drank his wine.

“CAW…”

A fire crow shrieked, streaking across the distant sky like a black bolt of lightning. It arrived in an instant, and an old Daoist in a feather robe appeared.

“That’s Daoist Crow! He’s still alive!” Many elderly figures shivered.

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat; he had met this unmatched old demon in the eighth layer of the Flame Region, who had refined and discarded a pile of divine iron, and instantly smacked a prominent figure from the Ji Family to death.

“This is a titan of the demon clan, a figure from the same era as Red Dragon Daoist! He has lived for over three thousand years, half a generation older than most Peacock Kings!”

Recognizing him sent chills down everyone’s spine, and they all hastily made way. This old demon hadn’t emerged for over a thousand years, yet his infamous reputation was clearly not forgotten.

The Grand Elder of Jade Lake greeted him and politely invited him into the Heaven Temple, daring not to show any neglect.

Soon, the longevity apes began offering peaches, and the Peach Blossom Festival commenced. Several Spiritual Peaches, their aroma wafting through the air, were placed on every table.

Everyone exchanged toasts and discussed matters freely. The impending emergence of the Ancient Royal Family was a topic Sacred Lands disciples had already heard whispers about, and all were engaged in conversation about it.

Jiang Huairen and Li Heishui pulled Ye Fan along, insisting on making rounds to offer toasts. They headed straight towards the Saint Heirs and sacred ladies.

“Now let’s see which Saint Heir is weak,” Liu Kao said shamelessly. “Then we can help eliminate them to assist us in getting into Qi Shi Academy. After all, they all harbor killing intent towards you.”

“The fairy is transcendent and elegant, with skin of ice and bones of jade. She makes me yearn for her, yet I feel unworthy,” Jiang Huairen babbled continuously, pursuing Wanchu’s sacred lady.

“Little Uncle, what are you doing?” Jiang Yifei’s sister, Jiang Caixuan, happened to be standing nearby. She stepped forward, stopping her rogue-spirited uncle and chastising him.

“Trying to find you a little aunt,” Jiang Huairen muttered quietly.

Jiang Caixuan, beautiful, vibrant, and lively, couldn’t help but roll her eyes dramatically at her little uncle, glaring at him.

“Damn it!” A group of people glared, especially Wanchu’s disciples. Their Saint Heir had been slain by Ye Fan, leaving them brimming with suppressed anger.

“Purple Mist Fairy, have you heard of the Innate Holy Body Daoist Embryo?” On another side, Liu Kao earnestly asked the Purple Mansion’s sacred lady, respectfully offering her a drink.

PFFT! Many people, upon hearing this, spat out the wine in their mouths. It was far too direct. All the disciples of the Purple Mansion stood up.

Ye Fan walked over. He didn’t deliberately release his qi mechanism, yet an invisible pressure emanated from him that made everyone feel a sense of dread, and they all retreated silently.

Now that his sacred body had initially taken form, he already possessed an awe-inspiring power that intimidated his peers. Except for a few individuals, none of the young generation in the Eastern Wastelands could contend with him.

Suddenly, there was a commotion not far away, and many people ran towards the gate of the Heaven Temple.

The various Saint Heirs and Sacred Ladies all hurried there swiftly. People knew that discussions of profound and far-reaching matters were taking place within the Heaven Temple. Though they were unqualified to enter, they could listen by the entrance.

Ye Fan and the monkey were allowed to enter, so they flew over, not wanting to miss out.

“I saw the remains of many peerless experts in the bronze palace…” Non Gongzheng began recounting his experiences.

He and many living fossils whose lifespans were nearly exhausted had entered the Bronze Immortal Palace—a venture of nine deaths and one life. Except for him, everyone else had perished inside.

Non Gongzheng’s tale was almost identical to what Ye Fan had experienced. However, they had relied on absolute power to forge a path and break in.

It was unlike Ye Fan, who back then had leveraged the might of the green copper block to navigate the perilous situation with danger but no actual harm.

Non Gongzheng and his group nearly shed blood with every step. Inside, when the Chaotic Sword Aura emerged, it almost wiped out half of them. Furthermore, the Yin Yang Life and Death Gate devoured many veteran experts.

“The ‘Immortal’ character was blood-red, inscribed in the Ancient Desolation era, and hasn’t dried up even now, exuding a killing intent that spans eternity!”

Non Gongzheng spoke in a low tone, recounting slowly. Their group of living fossils, by joining forces, had managed to venture further than Ye Fan’s group, even entering the world within the Mysterious Gate.

“That blood is extremely terrifying. Two living fossil-level seniors went up, wanting to collect some for research. However, the moment they touched it, they vanished into ash and smoke,” Non Gongzheng recounted, the fearsome experience still causing him to frown slightly, as if with lingering dread.

Ye Fan was shocked, secretly relieved that he hadn’t touched that terrifying Immortal blood back then; otherwise, he would not have escaped death.

“Is it really the blood of an Immortal?” the female palace master of the North Pole Ice Divine Palace inquired.

“Some seniors speculated that it’s the blood of an ancient Great Emperor, capable of obliterating all living beings in the world.”

“What?” Everyone exclaimed in shock. Ancient Great Emperors were an incredibly sensitive topic; anything concerning them could incite overwhelming upheaval.

“Would an ancient Great Emperor die in there?” No one could believe it. Those few figures were legends whose names resonated through eternity, known to all. Which one of them could have perished inside?

Those present were all overlords, masters of this land, experienced and knowledgeable, yet they were still aghast.

“Those living fossil-level individuals came from various Sacred Lands. You should all know them. Their words should be credible, right?” Non Gongzheng said.

The Heroic Lords present naturally knew. Those individuals were figures from the major Sacred Lands who were nearing the end of their lifespans. Some were their own aging, blood-drained senior martial brothers, and there were even a few who were their junior martial uncles.

“Was the Bronze Immortal Palace present in Ancient Times?” Ye Fan secretly transmitted his voice, asking the Fighting Saint Ape.

The monkey furrowed its brow and said, “I seem to recall my old father mentioning it, but I was very young then, and my memory is vague. I don’t know the specifics.”

Ye Fan’s heart quivered; the Bronze Immortal Palace was indeed ancient, its origins traceable all the way back to Ancient Times.

Non Gongzheng and his group had heard several passages of ancient scriptures there and were thoroughly captivated. However, after entering the world within the Mysterious Gate, they almost faced total annihilation; a certain qi mechanism nearly reduced them all to dust.

“Just one kind of aura almost tore you all apart?” Those present were all dumbfounded, almost unable to believe it.

They knew what kind of individuals had entered: all were masters standing at the absolute peak of cultivation at that time, seeking opportunities to break through, extend their lifespans, and advance further on the path of immortal cultivation.

“What kind of existence could that be?” The crowd could barely imagine it.

“It was the qi mechanism of the Ruthless Great Emperor!” As Non Gongzheng uttered these words, everyone present shot to their feet in shock.

“What? That’s impossible!”

“Is he still alive?”

“He is one of the longest-living Great Emperors, dating back at least two hundred thousand years!”

Everyone was stunned, their faces etched with alarm.

This ancient Great Emperor was different from others. He had been an enemy to the entire world, slaughtering his way across the mortal realm, single-handedly opposing all the expert forces of his time!

His journey to power was too rugged, a path of surviving against death again and again. Yet it was also terrifying—a path stained with blood, where he practically dominated his own world.

“I did not say he is still alive,” Non Gongzheng shook his head.

“What on earth did you see? How could his qi mechanism still be there?”

“What did he leave behind? How did it almost wipe all of you out?”

Everyone was extremely agitated, desperate to know the answers. This news was far too astonishing; great waves surged in every heart.

“We saw pieces of the Ruthless Great Emperor’s corpse…” Non Gongzheng slowly continued.

When they entered, they saw bright red blood, identical to the blood of the ‘Immortal’ character; there was no difference. It was a mystical world within.

Additionally, there were some corpse fragments, albeit not many. It was the energy they emitted that instantly rendered some of the elder figures to dust as soon as they approached.

“The Ruthless Great Emperor was dismembered? How is that possible!”

“Absolutely impossible! Who could harm him? Back then, he almost annihilated all ancient legacies! What kind of figure could possibly overpower him?”

“Impossible! Even if he encountered later Great Emperors or met with an emperor from Ancient Times, he couldn’t have been defeated and killed!”

Almost everyone was dumbfounded, utterly unwilling to believe this news. The Ruthless Great Emperor had looked down upon all of eternity with contempt; it was inconceivable that any enemy could have ruthlessly dismembered him.

“It truly is the Ruthless Great Emperor!”

Upon hearing this, everyone quieted down, their gazes fixed on Non Gongzheng. (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.. More chapters are available, supporting the author and genuine reading!)