Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 601: Chapter 605: Gods and Demons

Jin Chixiao, the man in Purple Clothes, and others had come to ambush Ye Fan, intending to seize the rare divine item, Dragon Marrow, boasting an air of invincibility.

“Purple Dragon Marrow is extremely rare. This bottle of divine liquid is worth over four million pounds of Source. You’re a real godsend, knowing we greatly need it,” one of them said with a smirk.

“There are twelve drops of divine liquid in total; not so easy for the seven of us to divide,” another spoke leisurely, having long considered Ye Fan a lamb to the slaughter.

Jin Chixiao, composed, paced slowly with his hands behind his back, as if everything was within his grasp. He said, “He might have other treasures on him; we can take stock then.”

The man in Purple Clothes stood calm and collected. He surveyed Ye Fan with a faint glance and said, “Capture him first; we can make a decision later.”

“Do you really think I’m such a pushover to be squeezed at your whim?” Ye Fan snorted coldly, stepping forward, pressing towards them step by step.

At this moment, he feared none of Jin Chixiao and the others. His only concerns were the four elders, all of whom were beyond the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm and were figures at the Holy Land Supreme Elder Level.

“With four seniors here, do you still want to resist in vain? Truly clueless about life and death!” one of them mocked, shaking his head with a cold laugh.

Jin Chixiao, the man in Purple Clothes, and the others retreated. They did not intend to fight personally, wanting the four Grand Elders to kill Ye Fan, thus showing considerable caution.

“In the morning, when we met in that small restaurant, we didn’t know you were a cultivator. Now, to bring it up again, if you would lead our horses and hold our stirrups, we might consider sparing your life.”

“Using someone like you isn’t reassuring. If you cripple your own cultivation base, it might be negotiable. If you want to live, first kowtow and beg for mercy. I enjoy watching others yield.”

The seven stood at a distance, relaxed and calm, hurling insults. They stood upon rocks, looking down at Ye Fan, each with a sliver of a cold smile at the corner of their mouths.

“You’re all just talk, not even having the courage to fight me, yet you have to invite four damned old men to do your dirty work,” Ye Fan sneered. “It seems wherever you go, you’ll need a godfather or a god-grandfather.”

One of them, his face an icy mask, said, “You’ll suffer soon enough! We’ll make you kneel and beg for mercy, a fate worse than death!”

Another replied harshly, “You’re merely at the Third Change of Dragon Transformation. Who here is weaker than you? We’re just too lazy to bother with you.”

Ye Fan ignored them, instead looking at the four elders. “Sirs, are these seven your grandsons?”

One of them instinctively shook his head but quickly realized his slip, his face darkening. “Merely showing off with words.”

Behind them, Jin Chixiao and the others all wore cold expressions. One spoke icily, “Taking advantage of us? We’ll make you die kneeling soon enough.”

“So, they have no relation to you four? Whose grandchildren are they then? Why haven’t their own grandfathers come?” Ye Fan laughed.

The seven all possessed extraordinary identities and had never been mocked like this. One stepped forward, his eyes cold and sinister. “I will fight him and capture a slave with my own hands.”

“Why bother with him? Just ask the four seniors to eliminate him. There’s no need to stain our hands with his blood,” Jin Chixiao said, shaking his head. It was a tactful attempt to stop him, as Jin Chixiao feared an accident.

“If I don’t personally force him to his knees, I’ll feel like something is missing, completely uneasy!” he declared, walking forward. His palm became crystalline, and a Golden Trident appeared.

SWISH!

The Golden Trident, initially only an inch long, expanded to a full ten feet in his hand, exuding a chilling aura. Golden Divine Light flowed from it, radiant and magnificent. This was an ancient weapon interwoven with Heaven and Earth Laws. As he held it, waves of killing light surged forth, like a tumultuous ocean.

“Seniors, please step back and let me personally capture a slave!” He strode forward, bypassed the four elders, and entered the arena.

Ye Fan stood there calmly, saying nothing, but was already prepared to strike.

“It’s not too late to kneel now. I’ll spare your life.” This was the Young Master of an extremely powerful and ancient noble family from the Northern Plains, his cultivation at the Fourth Change of Dragon Transformation.

“Since you’re courting death, I’ll send you on your way!” Ye Fan finally moved. His form was light and ethereal, like an Exiled Immortal gliding through the void—nimble yet incredibly swift, his speed reaching an extreme.

CHIII!

The Young Master wielded his Golden Trident, slashing down. His surroundings became like a golden ocean, splendid and fierce, unleashing myriad rays of killing light.

Ye Fan transformed his left hand into a golden Heavenly Stele and his right hand into a golden Grinding Disc. Runes flashed upon them as if two volumes of ancient scripture were engraved there.

CLANG! CLANG!

Two piercing sounds of metal clashing rang out. The golden Divine Stele and Grinding Disc struck the descending Golden Treasure Weapon, sending sparks flying, powerful enough to split metal and stone. The Trident’s light dimmed; two of its prongs were snapped off, leaving only the central Divine Peak. It had transformed from a Great Halberd into a golden War Spear.

Behind them, everyone’s expression changed. Ye Fan had shattered a weapon interwoven with Law using his bare hands, shocking every single one of them. Even as they tried to intervene, it was already too late.

WHOOSH!

Ye Fan’s speed was exceedingly fast. The golden Grinding Disc formed by his right hand descended, various Talismans flickering all over it, mysterious and profound, as if elucidating ancient scriptures.

The Young Master was greatly shocked. He had never imagined a person’s physical body could be so powerful, capable of severing the edge of his Golden Treasure Weapon and closing the distance so quickly.

BANG!

He had to retaliate rapidly. Abandoning the “War Spear,” which was unwieldy at close quarters, he retreated while using both hands to fend off the enemy, desperately trying to buy time.

SPLAT!

Unfortunately, as soon as he raised his hands, Ye Fan crushed them. Both arms were broken inch by inch, dissolving into a mist of blood.

BANG!

Ye Fan’s left hand pressed down. This was a golden Heavenly Stele, Innate Patterns shimmering densely upon its surface, engraved as it exerted a crushing force.

The Young Master let out a loud cry, completely unable to withstand it. His body immediately sank, as if Mt. Tai itself was pressing down on him. He couldn’t bear the immense pressure, and his body buckled.

THUD!

He was utterly overwhelmed, pressed down and unable to move. His legs nearly broke. As they gave way, he involuntarily knelt on the ground—a posture of utter humiliation. Moments before, he had boasted that Ye Fan would kneel before him, yet in a single exchange, he had been struck down to his knees. This was worse than death itself.

“You think *you* can make *me* a slave?!” Ye Fan’s palm slammed down. The golden Heavenly Stele instantly turned the Young Master’s head into a smashed watermelon.

Then, he retrieved the weapon, now a Golden Battle Spear, and retreated. The Young Master’s corpse remained kneeling, its head obliterated.

The people at the back couldn’t intervene in time. Four elderly figures pounced like tigers and wolves, unleashing magical power like a sea to suppress him, but they only caught an afterimage. Ye Fan had already darted out with lightning speed.

“Give me back my elder brother’s life!” a young man in the distance shouted, his face ashen. He summoned a Purple Copper Gourd. The moment its stopper was pulled, it began to suck everything in with immense force, swallowing everything from all directions.

Ye Fan charged with his Golden Battle Spear. He seemed to shrink in size as he rushed towards the gourd’s mouth, about to be drawn inside.

However, at that very moment, his body suddenly quivered violently, like the lashing tail of an Azure Dragon. He leaped up, rapidly expanding, and thrust the golden War Spear in his hand forward.

CRACK!

The Golden Battle Spear pierced through the mouth of the gourd and emerged from its bottom. The Divine Peak was unstoppable, shattering the Purple Copper Gourd into several pieces.

SQUELCH!

After piercing the Purple Copper Gourd, the spear tip accelerated, dazzling with golden light, and plunged into the man’s chest. Blood spouted forth.

“Ah…” The man screamed. His chest was pierced through, his internal organs were shattered, and his Divine Soul was grievously injured.

Ye Fan stood in the arena like a god or demon. Holding the Golden Battle Spear with one hand, he lifted the man up and then shook him violently.

SPLAT!

Blood sprayed as the body disintegrated, its fragments flying in all directions.

Chunks of flesh and bone, laden with blood, rained down. The man’s Divine Soul was extinguished. The Golden Battle Spear dripped with blood. With his black hair cascading, Ye Fan held the spear and strode forward without hesitation.

“This is…” Everyone stood dumbfounded. The execution was so clean and swift, terrifyingly so.

Ye Fan advanced. Each step caused the ground to quake as if a giant walked. He held the Golden Battle Spear skyward, blood running down it. His black hair was like a waterfall, and he appeared like an Ancient War God.

WHIZZ! WHIZZ!

The sound of tearing air rang out. The four elders charged again, once more unleashing magical power like a vast ocean. Radiance filled the surroundings as they sought to refine and suppress Ye Fan.

But all they could capture was an afterimage. Ye Fan’s speed was too great; it was as if he walked in Ancient Times, disconnected from the present world, unaffected by them.

He brandished the Golden Battle Spear, moving a thousand feet with each step, rushing towards Jin Chixiao and the others. His black hair flew backward, and his killing intent shook all directions. He was like a deity who had broken free from chains and surged forth from Hell.

The remaining five young experts turned pale. Their opponent leaped like a dragon, surging towards them with powerful energy, forcing every one of them to fight desperately.

“Ah…”

One of them cried out. He had once mocked Ye Fan for bringing them Purple Dragon Source. Now, wielding a Sky Gathering Parasol, he held it aloft to shield himself.

BUZZ!

The void shook violently, like a torn cloth flapping in a fierce wind, ceaselessly turbulent.

Ye Fan wielded the Golden Battle Spear as if it were a Heavenly Saber. Gripping it with both hands, he slashed downwards, bringing with it an overwhelming golden Divine Light that engulfed the earth.

SNAP!

Ye Fan swung the Golden Battle Spear down, destroying the Sky Gathering Parasol, which was interwoven with Law, with irresistible force. He cleaved it in half, the cut neat and smooth.

“Ah…”

The young expert cried out. A crack appeared on his glabella, spewing blood as terror filled his eyes.

CRUNCH!

The Golden Battle Spear in Ye Fan’s hand, no different from a Heavenly Saber, cleaved downwards. After slicing through the Sky Gathering Parasol, the spear tip plunged into the man’s skull.

Blood gushed wildly. He hacked down with all his might, the golden spear tip like a bolt of lightning, cleaving the man’s body into two perfectly symmetrical halves.

A torrent of blood rushed out. The two halves of his body fell in opposite directions, his face marked by terror, his eyes filled with boundless panic.

BANG!

The bisected corpse hit the ground separately. Ye Fan stood between them, his hair inky black. The Golden Battle Spear in his hand was radiant under the sunlight, blood dripping down. He stood there like a god or demon.

(To be continued…)