Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 615: Chapter 619: Snatching Food from the Tiger’s Mouth

A silver disk hung high, the clear Moonlight scattered over the ground, and in the Qinling Mountains, several great beings had ceased their fierce battle.

A silver waterfall cascaded in the distance, exceptionally splendid under the moonlit night. The sound was not loud due to the distance, offering a serene and beautiful sensation.

A Night Sky Wolf, thirty-odd meters long, landed on a cliff. Its green feathers shimmered all over, and it was not unlike a Green Gold Roc, except for its menacing wolf’s head and sharp, white teeth.

A towering silver giant ape, standing a hundred meters high like a mountain, inhaled and exhaled the energy of heaven and earth. Each breath was like a tidal surge, its silver hair sparkling.

A battered bronze chariot soared into the air, hovering motionlessly, shrouded in Moonlight and exuding a thin mist.

In the distance, a low hissing sound emerged. A vibrantly colored giant spider crawled forth, towering four or five meters tall, its body carved like Five-Colored Jade, gleaming and crystal-clear.

No need to think; this was an alien insect king. If bitten by it, even a Peacock King couldn’t survive; death would be instantaneous.

From another direction, an old monk, all skin and bones, approached under the moon. His entire body was golden, as if cast from gold, evidence that he had cultivated the Arhat’s Golden Body to an exceedingly high Realm. He wore a nearly rotting kasaya draped over himself.

This old monk showed no signs of life. He had cultivated the Buddha’s Eighteen-foot Golden Body, which flickered with golden light. Having passed away countless years ago, he was now merely an Ancient Corpse.

Yet, he had achieved Spirit Communication and become a Corpse Cultivator. Clearly, such an existence is short-lived, destined to perish under divine wrath one day.

Ye Fan was tongue-tied. He concealed himself in the distance using the Source Heavenly Divine Technique to blend his Qi Mechanism with the mountain range. Quietly observing, he was utterly baffled as to why these five giants had gathered here.

The powerful presence of these beings was palpable. They were stronger than even the most formidable Peacock King, and each had profound Daoist Practice, having hidden in the Qinling for countless years.

“The Miracle Marrow belongs to me,” the silver giant ape emitted potent spiritual fluctuations. As its eyes opened and closed, two silver beams shot straight into the sky. It was unimaginable how enormous its Qi was.

A hissing sound arose. The rainbow-colored giant spider, carved as if from jade, emitted soul waves and absorbed divine mist, merging with the celestial Moonlight as it insisted the Miracle Marrow belonged to it.

Elsewhere, the old monk with the Eighteen-foot Golden Body, despite being skin and bones, possessed robust power. Seated atop a cliff, he exhaled white light while chanting a passage from ancient scriptures.

A colossal Buddha manifested out of thin air behind him. It emitted golden Buddha Light for tens of thousands of meters, seeming to usher all beings to salvation, with Zen Chanting resonating throughout heaven and earth.

Though this old monk was deceased, he still possessed Buddhist Divine Power that was remarkably pure, making the other giants profoundly wary.

“Stop fighting; the Treasure Marrow was born for me.” From the battered bronze chariot, a purple figure, little more than a foot tall, spoke. Its spiritual fluctuations were intensely powerful, temporarily halting the distant waterfall’s cascade.

Its Divine Thought Power surged like a sea, suppressing all fluctuations, almost stopping the old monk’s chanting.

Among the five giants, it and the old monk were the strongest. Even its carriage driver was an Emperor’s corpse. Its translucent purple body was incredibly terrifying.

What kind of being is this? Ye Fan found it most intriguing. He had initially mistaken it for a Dream-Level Divine Marrow emerging, only to realize it was not so.

“Stone Jade, you still have five hundred years of life, your limit is far off. Why battle us?” the Night Sky Wolf growled, its whole body brimming with green feathers.

Ye Fan was astounded. The purple figure, little more than a foot high, was a Purple Jade that had taken form. It’s a rare treasure, an astounding divine object used by Ancient Saints to forge Heirloom Holy Weapons.

Such things are rare and elusive. Even in those Ancient Times, Saints could barely find any. Thus, the weapons they left behind could only endure for fifty to one hundred thousand years before perishing in the sands of time.

It’s a divine object; even Ancient Saints would be moved by it, but it has achieved Spirit Communication and transformed into human form!

Ye Fan’s eyes burned with desire; the purple figure, little more than a foot tall, surpassed the value of Dragon Marrow. If auctioned, it would definitely cause a stir among several Divine Dynasties.

However, it had now cultivated successfully. Its power rivaled that of apex Emperors, making it impossible to suppress. To covet it would be purely seeking death.

It still has five hundred years of life. If it fails to breakthrough, its divine scan will dissipate, reverting to a treasure beloved by Saints.

Foreseeably, five hundred years from now, retrieving it won’t pose any difficulties. Remembering this region would surely lead one to it; it would be like merely picking up a divine object.

“We each take it by our own abilities,” the silver giant ape declared, then with a SMACK of its palm, it flattened a large mountain.

The other beings each growled lowly, their eyes flickering, before they all stood motionless, as if petrified.

Ye Fan was baffled. He employed the Source Heavenly Divine Technique to meticulously examine the Earth Formation, yet didn’t locate the Rare Treasures and Exotic Marrow. How did these powerful beings determine their findings? What had they discovered?

「At midnight」

A dragon roar suddenly filled heaven and earth, sounding extraordinarily distant under the clear night moon, causing the mountains to tremble.

In the distance, at the peak from which a silver waterfall hung, Dragon Qi surged. It shot out a green mist that connected starlight and Moonlight, appearing like a Great Dragon soaring.

I understand! The Ancestor Root of Qinling is alive and can move. Today, dragon progeny are leaping underground. These five giants have seemingly witnessed such a phenomenon before.

Several powerful beings rushed forward together, reaching the main peak instantly, each striking down with a gigantic paw.

BOOM!

The magnificent peak cracked and collapsed to the ground. If not for them controlling their strength, nothing would have remained; the mountain would surely have turned to ashes.

At the mountain’s base was a Dragon Cave. Emerald light soared into the sky, drifting like a smoky mist, and overflowing Dragon Qi exuded a rich fragrance.

Precisely! A moving dragon vein, today emerging from the earth veins, absorbing the celestial energies of the stars and moon! Ye Fan muttered.

BANG! BANG!

The five giants clashed. Within a radius of several kilometers, every mountain seemed like papier-mâché, rendered to dust under their might, leaving none standing.

Ye Fan felt a chill run down his spine; these beings were even more formidable than he had imagined. The area transformed into a sea of Divine Light, submerging everything.

He activated the Source Heaven Divine Eye and observed the Dragon Cave through five types of Divine Light. Emerald light flickered there, forming a green stone basin that held six drops of divine liquid. The liquid was as green as agate, aromatic, and inviting.

Each drop was as large as a lychee, absolutely pure, and mesmerizingly green. They also emitted waves of sound akin to a sea surge.

High-grade Dragon Marrow, of even higher quality than the Purple Dragon Marrow I’ve seen before!

The scent was intense, penetrating to the bones. The underground dragon progeny had already fled, leaving only these drops of emerald Treasure Marrow, which tinted the sky a dazzling green.

These truly are treasures! These six drops of divine liquid are equivalent to thirty-six drops from before!

Ye Fan grew agitated, his eyes bright with Divine Light. The five giants battled fiercely; anyone reaching for the Jade Basin was immediately assaulted by the others.

Their actions restrained each other, so none were able to approach. They engaged in combat around the emerald Miracle Marrow ceaselessly, carefully managing their strength, as none dared to attack the Jade Basin.

Ye Fan hesitated no longer. He activated his Source Technique to merge with the earth veins, concealing his Qi Mechanism, and dove underground at high speed toward the Dragon Cave.

This was the method of a Heavenly Source Master: traversing Earth Dragon Veins without opposition was akin to moving through an empty land, unbelievably swift, traveling via Dragon Qi.

Ye Fan suppressed all presence and appeared beneath the Dragon Cave. Then, he leaped upward, extending a golden hand to seize the six drops of divine liquid.

“ROAR!”

The five giants bellowed in fury. They had never anticipated someone snatching food from the tiger’s mouth, daring to seize the Miracle Marrow from the clutches of powerful experts like themselves. All of them marshaled overwhelming magical power to attack below.

Ye Fan sped through the earth veins like a beam of light. If he were caught now, he would surely be utterly destroyed, as none of the five giants were to be trifled with.

A spine-chilling howl came from afar as the Stone Jade, a treasure coveted even by the Ancient Saints, rapidly pursued. The dazzling purple figure, little more than a foot tall, released a howl that collapsed endless earth veins.

BOOM!

It spat out a Purple Jade Divine Light. This was a terrifying Innate energy capable of severing eighty-one earth veins, stretching for dozens of miles and nearly overtaking Ye Fan.

Such a malevolent presence!

Ye Fan’s expression changed. He activated the Word of Motion to its fullest, transforming into a fleeting light and traversing the earth veins with Source Technique.

BANG!

A strand of Innate Purple Qi erupted in the earth veins, like the very creation of heaven and earth. It caused dozens of mountains on the surface to collapse, let alone the devastation in the underground world.

SPURT! Ye Fan spat out a mouthful of golden blood. Even his formidable body was injured, vibrating intensely as his Qi and blood surged. If it had been anyone else, they would have perished body and soul.

Fortunately, after sustaining this strike, that strand of Innate Purple Qi didn’t catch up and was left behind. Otherwise, his life would have been at grave risk, as the opponent was truly overwhelming.

Hmm, not good!

The old monk also pursued. A gigantic Buddha appeared before him, advancing ten times faster than the monk and rapidly closing in.

BUZZ!

The Golden Buddha extended a massive hand, launching a Buddha Hand Seal. Earth veins continuously collapsed, and everything was swept away. The surface rippled like a raging sea, mountains were all destroyed, and nothing could obstruct it.

The Buddha’s hand descended. It missed its target, merely brushing against Ye Fan, but it sent him flying. He coughed up blood, his internal organs wounded and bones nearly fractured.

Ye Fan was greatly alarmed. The Buddha’s strength was absurdly strong; even if a sovereign had taken that blow earlier, their body would undoubtedly have shattered!

How terrifying was this old monk’s cultivation in life?!

Ye Fan dared not linger. This was the first time he had felt such a direct threat of death recently. The two giants behind him were too strong, utterly unstoppable.

Suddenly, the Purple Mist surged, and the strand of Innate Purple Qi rushed over again. The Stone Jade itself lacked such speed, but the Innate Origin Purple Qi it emitted was incredibly fast.

PFFT! Ye Fan was only grazed by the tail end of the Purple Qi, not directly hit, yet he coughed up blood continuously. His left shoulder bone cracked.

His heart trembled. No wonder the Ancient Saints would use such a divine object to refine weapons; the Innate Purple Qi it contained was too powerful! Even if a Peacock King came, they would have been smashed to pieces!

“Amitabha!”

An Amitabha Buddha’s voice resounded as the Golden Buddha chased again. It advanced with a speed ten times faster than the old monk, the Buddha Hand Seal descending once more.

BANG!

Ye Fan was blasted sideways by the golden light. His spine showed cracks, and other parts also fractured. This was the combination of Law and power, transforming into the shadow of Amitabha Buddha—one of the strongest Subduing Demons Divine Powers in Buddhism.

Ye Fan paid a terrible price for snatching food from the tiger’s mouth. The power of these two beings was beyond imagination. His body was nearly breaking apart, but gritting his teeth, he increased his speed.

He endured a few more blows, finally shaking off the Golden Body Amitabha Buddha and the strand of Innate Purple Qi after some ten minutes, escaping thousands of miles before stopping.

I even encountered the Purple Jade King, which could tempt even the Ancient Saints! Too terrifying! I’ll come back for you later!

Damn it, he even summoned the projection of Amitabha Buddha! What was that dead monk’s identity in life?!

Ye Fan cursed incessantly. His sacred body had nearly shattered, and countless bones were fractured. This was the most severe injury he had sustained in a confrontation since starting his journey.

At this moment, he had practically lost half his life. If not for his body being exceptionally sturdy, he would have already become a puddle of mush.

Such Attack Power was enough to turn the bodies of a dozen or so Peacock Kings to dust; only he could have withstood it.

Such was the price of snatching food from the tiger’s mouth. Ye Fan was nearly killed by the two giants. He immediately swallowed several mouthfuls of Divine Spring, then began to operate the Nirvana Scripture taught to him by An Miaoyi.

Endless golden Blood Qi burned, and his bones crackled. This lasted for an entire hour before he opened his eyes. His bones had connected, and the cracks had vanished.

Within the small cauldron forged of Mutton Fat Jade, six drops of Dragon Marrow rolled. Each was the size of a dragon’s eye and emitted the sound of waves crashing, illuminating half the sky in a green glow.

This Treasure Marrow is extraordinary! A single drop is equivalent to six previous ones. It’s a rare, premium quality. The injuries this time were worth it. I can enter the Fifth Transformation of Dragon Transformation!

Ye Fan rejoiced. Despite narrowly escaping death and almost being killed by the two giants, the harvest was immense. These few drops of Rare Treasures and Exotic Marrow were invaluable.

Shortly after, he returned to the eastern vein of the Qin Sect and quietly recuperated for a few days until his body returned to peak condition, then he departed again.

This time, he began a secluded cultivation session. He felt immense pressure after seeing the scene of Li Xiaoman’s cultivation, and he was certain that Hua Yun would be even more terrifying.

For the past few months, he had been comprehending the Dao. Now, with the assistance of the Dragon Marrow, everything went much smoother. The Law Fragments contained in the six drops of Dragon Marrow were indeed six to seven times more numerous than before.

Half a month later, Ye Fan left his seclusion and set off. He traveled a hundred thousand miles away before stopping. After diligently observing for two days and seeing no anomaly, he began his Heavenly Tribulation.

This Heavenly Tribulation was massive, but it couldn’t hinder Ye Fan. He tempered the Origin Qi Cauldron, baptized the golden figure transformed from his Sea of Consciousness, and refined his body. After several hours, he successfully entered the Fifth Transformation of Dragon Transformation.

Such powerful energy! I’ve made another significant advancement!

Ye Fan’s body was enveloped in Divine Light. Every inch of his flesh and blood shimmered with crystal brilliance, containing infinite and terrifying divine energy.

He flew deeper into the Qinling, observing mountain formations. He believed there must be Dream-Level Divine Marrow comparable to Immortal Medicine.

「Two days later」

Ye Fan heard thunder. The sound was enormous, shaking the mountains as it came from afar.

There are no dark clouds, and the azure sky is clear. This is… someone is undergoing a tribulation!

He was startled. There weren’t many capable of undergoing tribulations in this era. He swiftly flew forward, vaguely harboring a sense of anticipation.

A gigantic lake appeared among the mountains. There, Ye Fan saw an Ancient Stele with three words inscribed: Immortal Transformation Pool.

The birthplace of the Green Emperor?!

The Immortal Transformation Pool is a legend, and many say it might not even exist. He didn’t know if he had truly seen the real Immortal Transformation Pool.

Who is undergoing a tribulation in the Immortal Transformation Pool?!