Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 616: Chapter 620: Gathering Divine Medicine in the Mortal World

The lake was vast, the water shrouded in mist, its expanse stretching beyond sight.

Surrounding it, the Ancient Wood twisted like dragons, some towering higher than mountains. Grasses thrived, spiritual medicines emitted fragrances, pulsating with life. Numerous old vines, so massive they were shocking, coiled from one mountain to another.

Is this the true Immortal Transformation Pool? Ye Fan wondered. The cracked stone tablet appeared ancient; its words, which seemed to be counted in millennia, were carved like dragons and etched like knives.

Amidst infinite mountains, such a vast lake existed, its azure waves spanning thousands of hectares, boundless and unending, akin to a sea.

Throughout the years, many Immortal Transformation Pools had been found within the vast expanse of Qinling. Some were as small as wells, while others stretched for endless expanses of azure waves, their authenticity unknown.

The Immortal Transformation Pool harbored many legends: in Ancient Times, Immortals soared and ascended amidst its mist. Later, it was said the Green Emperor was born within, naturally drawing the world’s gaze.

This expansive lake embodied spiritual beauty. Lake and sky melded into one another, water vapor draping like mist. Within, green lotuses fluttered, emerald like the mist, and strange and powerful beasts surfaced, their scales glistening sharply.

In the depths of the lake, thunder roared like avalanches, akin to the sound of Taichu, its presence felt across the vast landscape.

Ye Fan journeyed along the lake’s surface, crossing tens of miles before witnessing a terrifying sight—lightning filled the sky, and blood-red beams engulfed the space above the great lake.

Tens of people are undergoing Heavenly Tribulations… His expression froze. In the endless, bloody sea of lightning, thirty-odd figures appeared, strikingly bizarre.

What truly astonished him, however, was the devastating magnitude of this Heavenly Tribulation. It was terrifyingly great, magnifying Yan Yunluan’s Heavenly Tribulation many times over, almost matching his own experiences.

Who are these people?! Ye Fan was deeply perturbed. The terrifying Heavenly Tribulation shattered the void with every bolt of lightning.

This Heavenly Tribulation was brutal, predominated by blood-red electric beams, akin to a sea of blood, with primal chaos rays occasionally weaving through.

Amidst the boiling storms of heavenly trials, the blood-red Thunder Sea presented various forms of Heavenly Tribulations—Taiyin True Tribulation, Taiyang True Tribulation, Earthfire Windwater Tribulation, and Undying Phoenix Tribulation—all striking the void, making it tremble.

Such powerful Heavenly Punishment! It’s truly scorching, attempting to annihilate them, unwilling to let those undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation succeed! Ye Fan’s heart felt a chill; it was nearing the ordeal he had once faced.

Indeed, he possessed a near-immortal physique, peerless among the younger generation, thus he could endure such Heavenly Punishment. What sort of people here are challenging the thresholds?

Ye Fan observed carefully. Amongst the boundless Thunder Sea, thirty-two figures stood cloaked in dazzling brilliance, defending against the Great Heavenly Tribulation.

Why are there so many people?

The lightning shone fiercely, piercingly bright. Those individuals appeared as though they were within a sun, an incandescent flare hard to gaze upon clearly. Ye Fan focused his Divine Eye and saw some of their faces.

At this moment, he gasped at the sight—these figures were too bizarre. Their garbs were highly varied, encompassing men and women, elders and youths, spanning different dynasties and periods.

Who are these people? A cluster of Fierce Ghosts undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation?!

The thirty-odd figures, each incredibly eerie, included an elder Daoist dressed in a threadbare Daoist robe, akin to something unearthed, exuding a decaying Qi Mechanism. There was an Emperor sporting a rusted Dragon Crown, like one climbing from an Ancient Tomb. A Heavenly Maiden was clad in a Heavenly Silkworm Divine Silk Robe, unfortunately tattered nearly to decay. Moreover, there was an Arhat draped in a ragged monk’s robe, gaunt yet forged like gold.

Rumor had it that Qinling boasted numerous Ancient Tombs beneath it. Is it possible these primordial powerhouses transformed into Ancient Corpses, emerging to face Heavenly Tribulations?

These individuals appeared impossible to belong to the same era. Their outdated attire was nearly in tatters, resembling newly unearthed living fossils.

This is indeed peculiar… Ye Fan, uncertain, found this encounter incredibly unbelievable.

He discerned about a dozen individuals clearly, while others lingered in the depths of the Thunder Sea, shadowy and indistinct. These figures’ attires aligned with styles from over ten thousand years past.

Ye Fan even spotted an old Emperor. His violet-gold crown was similar to those recorded in Ancient Books from fifty thousand years ago, overwhelmingly antiquated.

Among the other indistinct figures, modern apparel emerged, notably one individual dressed as a Prince of an Immortal Divine Dynasty.

Spanning tens of thousands of years, from modern times to Ancient Times… how have these beings converged here, undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation together that closely resembles the Great Heavenly Tribulation I have endured?

In such intense and terrifying lightning, clothing should not have withstood it. Ye Fan operated his Source Heaven Divine Eye, scrutinizing the realm, gazing through the void, reaching into the essence, and finally discerning the truth.

Formed from Original Essence Qi, not True Bodies!

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes erupting with cold light. He sought the thirty-third individual who certainly existed and was manipulating all the others.

Ancient Emperors, Divine Monks, old Daoists alongside contemporary Divine Dynasty Princes and Heavenly Maidens… such a grand scheme!

Eventually, within the core of the Thunder Sea, he identified the thirty-third figure. Their condition was peculiar; the entire body had merged with the void, and a black Treasure Bottle was suspended atop their Sky Gathering Parasol.

Indeed, a cultivator of the Heaven-devouring Demon Technique, devouring so many…

Ye Fan’s heart trembled. Beneath Qinling lie many Ancient Tombs. This person has discovered numerous immortal Ancient Corpses, extracting but a portion of their Source Essence from each one—that alone is an awe-inducing feat.

Additionally, many contemporary talents have fallen victim, their Source Essence plundered. This is an unfathomable adversary; no wonder the Heavenly Tribulation is so fierce.

“Hua Yunfei, we meet again!” Ye Fan stood in the distance, his face indifferent. He had finally discovered this formidable adversary after being in Qinling for so long.

In the Thunder Sea, Hua Yunfei merged with heaven and earth, just as in the past. Even when facing the Heavenly Tribulation, he appeared extremely ethereal and otherworldly, like an exiled Immortal.

Thousands of Heavenly Tribulations struck down, and he did his utmost to resist. The Treasure Bottle above his head swallowed and emitted electric lights, mysterious and unpredictable. He was a man women would envy: as graceful as jade, excessively handsome, transcending the mundane, like a Daoist saint reborn.

The Heavenly Punishment of the Eighth Transformation of Dragon Transformation! Ye Fan drew a sharp breath. His opponent’s cultivation speed was somewhat frightening.

Two days ago, he had undergone a terrifying Heavenly Tribulation and had just ascended to the Fifth Transformation of Dragon Transformation, which was already fast progress. He hadn’t expected his opponent to have such an alarming pace.

Previously, in the Eastern Wastelands’ southern region, he had battled Hua Yunfei. At that time, Ye Fan was in the second layer of the Four Extremes secret boundary, while Hua Yunfei was in the First Transformation of Dragon Transformation, a gap of three minor Realms between them.

Now, a few years later, Ye Fan had made rapid progress, soaring all the way to the Fifth Transformation of Dragon Transformation, reaching a pinnacle. He had experienced great fortune these past few years.

However, Hua Yunfei was not far behind, still three minor Realms above him, his speed equally terrifying.

Ye Fan had encountered numerous opportunities these past few years, advancing as if on wings, a speed difficult for others to match. Yet Hua Yunfei had also achieved it, advancing a thousand miles a day!

The terrifying Eighth Transformation of Dragon Transformation, and the Heavenly Tribulations he endured were not much weaker than Ye Fan’s—truly shocking.

Indeed, the Heaven-devouring Demon Technique was terrifying. The whole world became medicinal cauldrons, and all strong cultivators could be devoured for their Source Essence to strengthen oneself. With such methods, it was impossible not to ascend.

This technique went against the natural order; hence, each advancement incurred a destructive Heavenly Punishment. It seemed as if heaven wished to strike him to ashes instantly, with a Thunder Sea nearly as boundless as that endured by a sacred body.

“Killing all the way through, heaven itself forces one so. Cultivating such a Demon Technique, as long as one doesn’t die, it’s hard not to become powerful!” Ye Fan sighed lightly.

To prove the Dao by this method, the process was terrifying. The journey was fraught with endless perils, a path of nine deaths and one life. Only those who dazzled the world had any hope of survival.

No wonder some predicted that as long as Hua Yunfei didn’t die, in ten years, he could dominate the world, causing chaos in the Five Great Domains. Judging from his current progress, this would surely come true!

In just three short years, Hua Yunfei had already acquired the Source Essences of thirty-two masters. Eleven of these were Ancient Corpses from remote antiquity, and twenty-one were contemporary elites.

At this time, as Hua Yunfei underwent his Heavenly Tribulation, the enormous Qi of those he had devoured manifested as True Bodies, undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation alongside him.

Such a strong Heavenly Tribulation, and he managed to withstand it, successfully breaking through almost to the end!

Ye Fan did not enter the Heavenly Tribulation because he had just broken through his own barrier. Even if he rushed in now and drew his own Heavenly Punishment, it would only be a pointless beating from lightning, and it would be impossible for him to advance another step in cultivation.

Moreover, Hua Yunfei could withstand such a Heavenly Punishment. Even if Ye Fan drew down a stronger Thunder Sea, it likely wouldn’t be enough to kill him.

At this pace, no one will be able to control him in the future! When he acquires the Source Essences of various special physiques, he’ll surely be invincible in the world!

In these times, the various elites and kings of the world were like Immortal Medicine. By practicing such a Heavenly Technique, Hua Yunfei was akin to harvesting divine medicine in the mortal world!

Ye Fan stepped onto the lake surface, advancing into the void and pressing toward the soon-to-disperse Thunder Sea. Since they had met, a life-and-death battle was inevitable.

SIZZLE!

When the last bolt of lightning disappeared, all the enormous Qi returned to Hua Yunfei’s body. The Emperor in the tattered Dragon Robe and the Heavenly Maiden in the dust-covered, rainbow-hued clothing all vanished.

Ye Fan stood tall, an imposing figure with dense black hair and clear eyes. He swung the God-beating Whip, powerful enough to smash the firmament, as if waving a galaxy, resembling the reappearance of an ancient Holy Spirit.

CLANG!

Hua Yunfei, wielding a Phoenix Wing Golden Mace, directly blocked the attack, producing a dreadful sound like a tsunami. The great lake below boiled, distant mountains crumbled, and the earth cracked.

The moment the two met, their very first strike created an extremely terrifying scene!

“Brother Ye, we meet again,” Hua Yunfei said. He had already changed into blue clothes and now appeared elegant and noble, wearing a peaceful smile.

“Indeed. Life is full of unexpected encounters.”

“Actually, we could sit down and talk. There’s no need for a life-and-death battle.” Hua Yunfei’s robes fluttered; he looked as ethereal as an exiled Immortal.

“Haven’t you always wanted to devour my Holy Body Origin?” Ye Fan stepped forward.

“That was then, this is now,” Hua Yunfei replied. “We’ve both practically become common enemies of the world. Why not join forces? There’s no need to fight to the death.”

Ye Fan laughed. “Join forces with you to kill and seize Source Essences for you, only for you to devour me in the end? I’ve always aspired to the ancient scriptures of the Ruthless Great Emperor. Why don’t you let me experience your various Unrivaled Sacred Techniques thoroughly!”

“Brother Ye, this is no longer three years ago,” Hua Yunfei said lightly. “I have no more scruples. If we fight with abandon, it’s hard to say who will live or die.”

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