Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 579: Chapter 583: Emergence of the Divine Mansion

SWISH!

The figure flickered and vanished, disappearing with just a brief sway.

Does the Divine Thought truly exist? Daoist Duan De’s face turned pale. Nine beams of light shot out from the Sky Gathering Parasol on the spirit mouse in the small iron cage in his sleeve, shining with a dazzlingly bright light. The ancient gods were full of radiant glory, but the Divine Thought they manifest after death embodies their evil side—it is an invincible demon!

At this moment, others were not paying attention, nor did they see anything, because the three half-step Sovereigns from the Xiao Family had charged down upon them, preventing any distraction.

“Ye brat, I will pull out your tendons, strip your bones, and turn you into a human lantern!” Xiao Zhi’s voice was chilling. He extended a large hand, summoning the Purple Copper Eight Diagram Furnace, which soared thousands of feet high before slamming down.

Purple flames towered, instantly demolishing a great mountain. Shattered stones pierced the air, and huge boulders danced wildly. It possessed incredible deterrent power, especially since flight was impossible now, making escape difficult.

CLANG!

Dongfang Ye swung his Wolf-toothed Stick, smashing boulders weighing tens of thousands of pounds into flying fragments. The barbarian’s divine energy was world-shaking, possessing the power to uproot mountains.

BOOM! BOOM!

Jue Youqing, in white attire that seemed untouched by dust, wielded a Bodhi Branch. It was like a young dragon holding a leaf, its ancient strength dotted with vitality, and it flowed with a hazy, colorful mist. With a gentle sweep, massive stones settled softly on the ground.

Everyone’s expression changed. This graceful woman’s capabilities were unfathomable. She did not fight back, only passively defended, yet she made many from the Xiao Family wary.

No one could fly. Aside from Ye Fan with his “All” secret movement technique, everyone’s speed was slower than usual; all were forced to run on the ground.

“Rise!”

Ye Fan stood between two cliffs that were almost touching. He suddenly roared, lifting one cliff in each hand, raising both massive rock formations.

With a throw of his right hand, he hurled a stone cliff hundreds of feet high at the three half-step Sovereigns. Unable to fly, they could not avoid it and could only summon their Weapons to shatter it.

BOOM!

Dust soared to the sky. The three half-step Sovereigns sneered coldly, urging their ancient treasures. Although the stone mountain could not truly harm them, it did slow their steps.

BUZZ!

The void trembled. Ye Fan shone with a radiant light as he lifted another stone mountain. His Blood Qi surged, and his enormous Qi was like a tide, all of it pouring into this stone mountain.

His divine energy was like an ocean, never depleted. Now, fully urging a not-so-large stone mountain, he created a frightening spectacle as the entire mountain glowed.

DONG!

Ye Fan hurled it forcefully, this time targeting the Xiao Family experts on the other side. There were no half-step Sovereigns stationed there, only cultivators of the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm.

“A blazing sun hanging in the sky!”

In the distance, many spectators exclaimed as the stone mountain shone brightly. It truly resembled a massive sun crossing the sky, extremely intimidating.

To conceal his actions, Ye Fan transformed his divine energy to a Green Gold color, and his body flashed with a green light. His divine energy was startling, pouring into the stone mountain like the sea.

“Quick, retreat!”

All from the Xiao Family paled; they were unable to fly. Such a stone mountain crashing down, emitting terrifying energy fluctuations, was truly frightening.

“He’s not human! He throws mountains with a mere lift of his hand!”

“His divine energy is like the sea! It’s impossible to fight him head-on!”

They quickly realized the stone mountain was terrifyingly powerful; every inch was infused with endless divine energy, engulfing the sky.

BOOM!

The Green Gold stone mountain fell. Many spiritual treasures shattered under the impact of the divine energy, and brilliance poured down like a galaxy.

“Not good!” The three half-step Sovereigns were startled, each summoning spiritual treasures to strike the stone mountain.

POP!

The stone mountain shattered and debris scattered, but the divine energy intensified. It poured down like torrential rain, with shards of energy raining down like blades.

“Ah…”

Finally, screams erupted as some met their doom. A dozen people were crushed into pulp, erased from existence, while the survivors trembled in fear.

“Ye Zhetian, I’ll flay you alive!” Xiao Mingyuan’s elder brother shouted.

“Avenge Mingyuan! Today, I’ll personally deliver the killing blow!” the half-step Sovereign Xiao Zhi vowed harshly, his face turning ashen.

“If you miss him so dearly, I’ll find a way to reunite you brothers, and even your uncles and nephews!” Ye Fan replied.

At this moment, he could only retreat when facing the half-step Sovereigns. However, he relentlessly shot arrows. The Myriad Wounds Bow blazed like the sun, and the Divine Arrows it unleashed were unstoppable.

PUFF!

A spray of blood erupted, blossoming in the void. A head exploded, and a headless corpse crashed to the ground.

PUFF!

“Ah…” Endless screams followed as another man was pierced through the chest by a Divine Arrow, his body splitting into two halves.

Ye Fan remained indifferent, striking mercilessly. The Xiao Family constantly troubled him, always wanting him dead. Now, he was continuously slaughtering their experts.

BOOM!

Although Ye Fan knew he could not handle three half-step Sovereigns, he was not disheartened. He activated the “All” secret technique, boosting his combat power tenfold, and continuously drew his bow, shooting arrows.

In the blink of an eye, he fired eighteen Divine Arrows. Each spanned for miles, accompanied by lightning and thunder, like eighteen comets crashing to earth.

BOOM! BOOM!

A terrifying scene unfolded. The void cracked, and black fissures spread everywhere. The three half-step Sovereigns instinctively dodged, avoiding a direct confrontation.

Eighteen stone mountains successively collapsed under the force of these eighteen arrows, vanishing completely. Debris scattered everywhere; some struck the crowd, while others hit the clouds.

“The ancient Great Emperor’s dwelling has surfaced!”

Many exclaimed in shock. After Ye Fan shattered the eighteen stone mountains, an enormous Underground Palace appeared beneath the earth. It resembled an ancient mausoleum or an Immortal Mansion.

“Due south, then west! Most auspicious!” In that instant, the old blind man performed another divination and pointed out the route ahead.

Ye Fan and Dongfang Ye plunged into the Underground Palace, with the three half-step Sovereigns closely following. The others were even more stirred, all rushing in.

This was most likely the Immortal Burial Ground. Inside, there might be ancient scriptures, or even Extreme Dao Holy Weapons. No one could resist the temptation.

“Ah…” Suddenly, a half-step Sovereign from the Xiao Family screamed in terror.

The Underground Palace was very dark. Ye Fan and his companions turned to look, only to see a shadowy figure gripping the neck of the Xiao Family’s half-step Sovereign with one hand, lifting him high into the air.

The half-step Sovereign from the Xiao Family kicked and struggled violently but was utterly unable to break free. Ye Fan and the others watched in horror. This was a half-step Sovereign!

“Divine Thought!” Daoist Duan De’s voice trembled.

“Retreat! Leave the Underground Palace! The signs are extremely ominous below, a harbinger of great disaster!” The old blind man urgently performed another divination.

“Ah…” The half-step Sovereign from the Xiao Family let out a final wail, his limbs drooping powerlessly. His divine scan dissipated, and thus he perished.

The Divine Thought was indistinguishable from a human yet terrifyingly powerful. It had strangled a half-step Sovereign with one hand. Witnessing this scene chilled everyone to the bone.

Unfortunately, the Underground Palace was dimly lit, and the being had its back to the crowd, making it impossible to see clearly.

“Who is that? To strangle a half-step Sovereign alive! They must be at least at the peak Saint Master Level!” Others, unaware of the Divine Thought, were greatly surprised.

“You… well, well, well! Go and fetch my father, Grandmaster Xiao!” Xiao Zhi exclaimed in anger and shock, turning to leave. They were not the only experts present; others were searching for ancient scriptures elsewhere.

“Ah…”

Another half-step Sovereign from the Xiao Family was a step too slow. He was seized by the neck by the Divine Thought. It was as effortless as picking up a chick; with merely a scream, he was killed.

“Let’s go! We must leave this place quickly, or none of us will survive!” Daoist Duan De’s face was pale. As he recalled the various legends about the Divine Thought, all his fat quivered.

Ye Fan, Dongfang Ye, the old blind man, and Jue Youqing followed swiftly, escaping the Underground Palace and emerging onto the surface.

However, many were unaware of the danger. Thinking an Immortal Mansion had opened, they swarmed in, all seeking Immortal Fate.

“Ah…”

Continuous screams echoed as the Underground Palace turned into a scene of Asura, with bodies piling high.

“This is bad! There’s a demon in the Ancient Tomb! Even half-step Sovereigns are no match for it! Hurry and report to the Emperor!”

At this moment, people finally sensed that something was terribly wrong. No matter how one looked at it, this being seemed inhuman. Its every move lacked any human aura, and with a single strike, it could crush a Grand Elder.

Daoist Duan De, drenched in cold sweat, said, “To think that I, Duan, have distinguished myself in the world’s Ancient Tombs for over twenty years! This is the first time I’ve encountered the legendary Divine Thought. I’ve finally met my match!”

The others were both nervous and speechless. This damn fatty was truly shameless. He called his tomb-raiding escapades ‘distinguishing himself in the world’s Ancient Tombs’ and even put on an air of a lonely, unmatched expert.

“Over a hundred people have died already! Hurry, leave…” Terrified cries came from behind. Panic-stricken, they fled for their lives, none daring to pause.

“That’s not an Underground Palace, but a chaotic burial site! I saw the scene underground—it was filled with Ancient Tombs, and there are things crawling out of the graves!” Someone who had witnessed this shouted it out, causing even more unease.

Normally, if they encountered spectral figures and horses, they would not care at all. But this was an Immortal Burial Ground; any non-human creature emerging from here was definitely not to be provoked.

“Damn it, I think I also saw an old grave mound just now.” Daoist Duan De seemed uneasy. He had roamed ancient underground tombs for years, yet he felt a profound sense of unrest now. “This place is seriously wrong,” he said. “A Great Emperor has been here, but this isn’t necessarily an Emperor Mansion.”

“Endless cliffs… this is a land of Nine Extremes. Didn’t I deduce this long ago? Everything is destined for annihilation here,” the old blind man muttered.

People could not help but think of the illustration Ye Fan had carved. It showed a reclining Daoist saint, looking like a corpse. This place truly might live up to its name: an Immortal Burial Ground.

BOOM!

Suddenly, a distant tremor shook the land, shocking everyone. It was as if ocean waves surged; a mountain of rock seemed to rise and fall before shattering into pieces.

“What’s happening?!”

People were astonished. Three hundred and sixty-five stone mountains collapsed simultaneously, like surging tidal waves. This upheaval flung many people high into the sky.

“Heavens, could a Saint be taking action? This is terrifying!”

BUZZ!

The void trembled violently, like a torn and tattered scroll. Then, the three hundred and sixty-five stone mountains on the ground ceased to exist forever, turning into dust and smoke.

Everyone’s face turned pale, hardly able to believe what they were seeing. Their hearts grew heavy, and they almost suffocated.

Above that desolate land, over a dozen figures stood in the air: the Emperors of the Central States’ Four Divine Dynasties, several Divine Monks from the Western Desert, and the Demon Lord and War Lord from the Southern Mountains. They could fly, unrestrained!

BOOM!

An Ancient Mountain slowly rose from beneath the earth. It was like a bright moon ascending over the sea—magnificent, splendid, and captivating.

The Divine Mountain was not towering, yet it was vast and grand. It invoked the illusion of an emperor among great mountains, truly imposing and awe-inspiring.

“They found the true portal to the ancient Great Emperor’s dwelling!” The old blind man’s face changed.

Daoist Duan De also paused. After serious observation, he said, “So there are people better than me. I thought only I understood Tombology, but it seems these great powers have experts too.”

At the base of the Great Yue Mountain, there was a pair of massive Stone Gates. Two ancient characters were carved upon them, but no one recognized them.

“These are Ancient Divine Texts!” someone exclaimed, and some of the older generation figures frowned.

“I understand why the Divine Thought, this demon, is here,” the old blind man muttered to himself. “Gods from before Ancient times are buried here! This is an ancient dwelling from an era so distant we cannot comprehend it!”

“A Great Emperor of the human race must have come here,” Daoist Duan De’s expression was unreadable. “They must have left behind some profound mystery or verified something here.”

“Before Ancient times, were there truly undying, supreme gods?” Jue Youqing paused, holding the Bodhi Green Branch, the golden lotus mark on her brow flowing with Immortal Light.

“Before ancient times, could Immortals truly have existed? What connection does this place have with the Immortal Realm?” the barbarian was filled with doubt and confusion.

Divine Thought… Ancient Gods… Immortals… Ye Fan muttered to himself. He suddenly recalled the voice from a divine scan he had heard before the Deserted Cottage Ancient Tree, which had mentioned the four words: “Undying Emperor.”

He lifted his head, staring at this ancient estate. His heart filled with shock. The Undying Emperor had been here, and Great Emperors of the human race had also been here. Could it be that there is truly some great secret here?