Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 626: Chapter 630: Year 8900

In the Qinling Mountains, there were two treasured lands: one was the Immortal Transformation Pool, and the other was the Ancient Dragon Cave. Rumors stated that obtaining either could lead to enlightenment in the Dao.

The Immortal Transformation Pool needed no further mention. Even the Green Emperor was born there; how many such stunning figures had there been throughout history? That alone spoke volumes.

The Qinling Dragon Cave was considered almost the strongest Dragon Cave in the Central States; otherwise, how could it attract ancient emperors to be buried there? It was because of the legend of becoming a Corpse Immortal that many ancient tombs lay underground.

It all started because of that Ancient Dragon Cave; everyone wanted to be buried in it, hoping one day to become a Corpse Immortal and exist eternally in the Mortal World, unaging and undying.

The third-generation Heavenly Source Master, whose Source Technique was said to grasp the workings of heaven and earth and divine all things, had located the otherwise untraceable Qinling Dragon Cave and chosen it for his final resting place.

So many years had passed, a full seventy thousand years. Even a blade of grass placed inside would have attained spirit communication, not to mention a miraculous corpse.

The ailing old man speculated that this Heavenly Source Master’s remains, by absorbing moonlight and the ancestor qi of Qinling, and being nourished by the Dragon Cave, had become Longevity Meat, containing life-extending essence.

“Where there is light, there is shadow; where there is yang, there is yin; where there is life, there is death. It was clearly an ancient, miraculous corpse, yet it was imbued with the sun and moon and the Dragon Cave, holding the secret of longevity.”

Great Sages had long thought that a Divine Pill had formed within the third-generation Heavenly Source Master. It was akin to a touch of yang born within the Taiyin, absorbing Sun Essence and Moon Essence to form a Yang Pill.

Having cultivated for seventy thousand years, Heaven knew how potent its divine efficacy had become. Some Ancient Sages speculated it could be a Human World Immortal Pill, easily absorbed by the human body.

This was an extremely rare, incalculable immortal herb. Reviving the dead and regrowing flesh on bones was but a minor aspect of its power; its greater marvel lay in its potential to grant enlightenment in the Dao.

Upon understanding all this, Ye Fan couldn’t help but click his tongue. The humanoid, red-furred creature had initially filled him with revulsion, a symbol of misfortune, yet now it seemed to contain Supreme Immortal Treasure.

“The Ancient Dragon Cave of Qinling truly rivaled the Dragon Transformation Pool; each held unparalleled rare treasures, proving that such claims were no mere exaggeration.”

His heart leaped. Rather than search for the Dragon Transformation Pool, it would be better to start with the ancient tombs. Having obtained the Heavenly Source Master’s inheritance gave him a distinct advantage in this area.

Especially, the burial place of the third-generation Heavenly Source Master would surely follow the Earth Formation observation method from the Heavenly Source Book. With detailed reasoning, he could discover some clues.

The ailing old man said, “In Qinling, an Ancient Great Dragon lies dormant underground. Naturally, there is Dream Level Divine Marrow, either in the Immortal Transformation Pool or in the Dragon Cave!”

This was yet another astonishing revelation. The Treasure Marrow born from the Ancient Great Dragon was certainly a top-tier divine artifact. If it transformed into a living being, it would be comparable to an Undying Divine Medicine!

Rumors claimed that Dream Level Divine Marrow truly existed, possessing its own life and potentially immense power, yet no one had ever seen it.

“I feel that Qinling is about to produce something world-shattering this time. Maybe just the Dream Level Dragon Marrow alone could cause a commotion throughout the Five Great Domains,” Ye Fan muttered to himself.

But the ailing old man shook his head and said, “I don’t think so. I’m afraid there will be great turmoil. So many years have passed that even if Dream Level Dragon Marrow transformed into a Holy Spirit, it wouldn’t be surprising.”

What? An Ancient Holy Spirit capable of rivaling a Great Emperor?! Ye Fan was shocked. If such a thing truly existed, however many people came this time, all would die.

“Li Heishui is here too…” From afar, Ye Fan saw Li Heishui, Jiang Huairen, Liu Kao, and Wu Zhongtian. Their strength had increased by leaps and bounds.

Last time, Li Heishui had been humiliated. Although Ye Fan later avenged him by killing those responsible, Li Heishui was still deeply affected and had been desperately training for over two years.

Ye Fan had given Pang Bo the coffin plank from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, and Pang Bo, in turn, had given a piece to Li Heishui, which had proven highly effective.

Within Qinling, majestic mountains towered, and ancient trees, gnarled like dragons, scraped the skies, many as tall as mountains themselves, flourishing abundantly. This was an ancient land brimming with vitality.

The area spanned a million li, perhaps a tiny speck on the map of the Central States, but its true expanse was boundless, unimaginably vaster than Earth on the other side of the starry sky.

This place is too vast. This Ancient Great Dragon is buried underground, and it’s so difficult to find… Ye Fan finally realized the enormous gap between himself and a Heavenly Source Master; the latter could pinpoint a True Dragon Ancient Cave, while he couldn’t even find its entrance.

“It’s him…” The ailing old man’s expression froze as he stared fixedly ahead.

The ancient trees swayed, revealing a great lake ahead. Its surface sparkled, a vast expanse of green waves, imparting a sense of grandeur and magnificence.

By the great lake stood a man, no more than twenty-odd years old. He possessed an imposing, almost divine aura, yet his face was devoid of expression, his hair disheveled, standing there like a petrified statue.

“Time ages all, and old companions turn to dust. Even a peerless prodigy cannot escape its grasp, yet he, in the end, evaded that fate and reappeared in this world…” the ailing old man mused to himself.

At this moment, they stood on a mountain ridge, about a dozen li from the great lake, not worried about being discovered.

“Are you talking about him?” Ye Fan asked in surprise.

“The Central Emperor, Xiang Yufei. A peerless talent who, at the tender age of nineteen, had already surpassed all other Heroic Lords, becoming the youngest Emperor in the Central States at the time,” the ailing old man lamented.

Ye Fan was startled. What was the background of this ailing old man, speaking with such a tone? How old could he possibly be? The Central Emperor was a heroic figure from nine thousand years ago, his brilliance stunning throughout history. Though he had been revived in the present age, few had actually seen him. Why was the ailing old man speaking in such a manner?

“You’re overthinking it. Who in this world can live for nine thousand years…” The ailing old man chuckled softly, shook his head, and said, “I have merely read accounts of his life, hence the touch of wistfulness.”

“You really gave me a scare, old man.”

“In those days, the Central States was a land teeming with talent and remarkable individuals, producing several extraordinary figures. Unfortunately, with the exception of Xiang Yufei, who was hidden away by the Qi Shi Mansion, all others have returned to dust.”

“Were there others comparable to Xiang Yufei?” Ye Fan was surprised. The appearance of even one such talent was enough to be recorded in ancient books.

“There was another, a figure of breathtaking brilliance, renowned through the ages. But sadly, he embarked on a path from which there was no turning back and ultimately could not withstand the relentless march of time.” The ailing old man sighed deeply.

“Who was that?” Ye Fan asked.

“Gai Jiuyou.” The ailing old man uttered just these three words, a flicker of sorrow crossing his face, vanishing as quickly as it came.

“It’s him!” Ye Fan remembered at once; this was an extraordinary, peerless figure.

Eight thousand years ago, Gai Jiuyou had been invincible across the Five Great Domains, without a single rival who could withstand one move from him. People believed he could prove the Dao and become an Emperor, yet he ultimately failed.

The Green Emperor had perished a mere two thousand years prior, and his Dao had yet to fade from the world, making it impossible for another Great Emperor to arise. With a heavy sigh, Gai Jiuyou retreated to the Eastern Wastelands in his twilight years, ultimately finding his final rest beneath the yellow earth.

Now, in the Eastern Wastelands, a young girl named Xia Jiuyou had emerged. Tenacious and headstrong, she had inherited Gai Jiuyou’s legacy. When her Nine Nether Immortal Song resounded, it could stir the Nine Heavens themselves.

“The Green Emperor was indeed too formidable. He proved the Dao in the later Ancient Desolation era, forging a new path for later generations. However, precisely because he was so powerful, even ten thousand years after his death, his Dao lingered, preventing others from achieving emperorship.”

Ye Fan nodded in deep agreement. From all accounts of his deeds, this Demon Emperor’s might was simply heaven-defying; even those closest to him could not fathom the unfathomable heights he had reached.

“The waters of time flow ever onward, its waves washing away heroes of old; yet the Green Mountain remains, witnessing countless sunsets…” The ailing old man shook his head, saying, “Gai Jiuyou, so dazzling, resolutely walked his chosen path to the very end, never looking back. He declined the kind intentions of the Qi Shi Mansion and ultimately met with failure. Nevertheless, to be overshadowed by the deceased Green Emperor was hardly a disgrace.”

Ever-forward, never yielding—he must have been a man of unbending will and iron integrity, Ye Fan sighed.

Ahead, the Central Emperor stood by the lake, still motionless, as if he had lost his life, silently gazing at the vast lake, his form as still and lifeless as withered wood.

A long time passed, yet he remained unchanged. Ye Fan was intrigued, asking, “What is he doing there?”

The ailing old man, thoughtful, remarked, “In years past, Xiang Yufei died young, not yet twenty. A young woman, devoted to him, drowned herself in this very lake out of love.”

ROAR! A thunderous roar ripped through the air, and Xiang Yufei vanished without a trace, his speed unbelievable.

“Nine thousand years have passed. Even if he had found an Undying Divine Medicine, it would be of no use now. He can only grieve at the place where his beloved perished,” the ailing old man shook his head.

Figures like him, indeed, all have their own untold pasts, their own hidden stories… Ye Fan mused.

He traveled with the ailing old man, encountering many old acquaintances along the way. Eventually, he departed on his own, heading out of the great mountains. He needed to gather materials that only a Heavenly Source Master could use, preparing to explore the Ancient Dragon Cave.

Amidst the million-li expanse of the Qinling Mountains, there lay an ancient capital. No one knew how long it had existed. It was hailed as one of the ten oldest cities in the Central States and was named Qin City.

Its timeworn city walls were deeply etched with the chronicles of ages past. Inside, people came and went in a constant stream; it was a bustling and prosperous place, with many common folk but also a considerable number of cultivators.

The cries of acrobats, medicine peddlers, and vendors selling various snacks rose and fell, creating a lively, bustling atmosphere. An overwhelming aura of the mundane world, the Red Dust Qi, assailed the senses.

Ye Fan spent five or six days, expending a great deal of Source and visiting numerous auction houses, yet he only managed to obtain a small amount of Divine Source Stone Skin, far from what he required.

The Ancient Dragon Cave harbored Dream Divine Marrow and was the burial site of the third-generation Heavenly Source Master. Heaven only knew what other strange wonders or dangers it might conceal. He needed various materials for engraving the Forbidden Immortal Six Seals.

On the seventh day, Ye Fan headed towards Qin City’s renowned Heavenly Capital Pavilion. This was a grand Treasure Palace, divided into nine levels, offering all manner of rare and precious items for sale.

While still a long way off, he heard the sound of arguing. In front of the magnificent Heavenly Capital Pavilion, two groups of people were in a standoff.

Ye Fan was startled to see many acquaintances in front of the Heavenly Capital Pavilion. The situation was tense. One group consisted of Li Heishui and his companions, with Pang Bo among them.

The other group was led by a young boy, none other than Wang Teng’s younger brother. Now an eleven-year-old prodigy, he was extremely aggressive, hovering in the void and looking down contemptuously at Jiang Huairen, Liu Kao, and the others.

Beside him stood more than a dozen men and women, all powerful cultivators who had reached the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm. They were all Saint Heirs or Saintess Level figures.

One of the women was taunting Li Heishui’s group while simultaneously goading Wang Chong’s faction into attacking.

“Does your Yin Yang Sect intend to change its sacred lady for a third time?” Pang Bo retorted scathingly.

Another man from the opposing side glanced at them with disdain and said, “Dragging up old grievances is meaningless. If it really comes to blows, do any of you think you’d survive?”

“Yin Yang Saint Heir, watch your tongue. The lessons of the past are not so distant; you would do well to heed them.”

The Yin Yang Saint Heir sneered, “Are you referring to that Sacred Body? He’s been cowering in hiding for over two years, not daring to show his face. A pity that so many experts from my Sect wish to end his life, yet cannot even find a trace of him.”

They refrained from attacking solely because Ji Haoyue and his sister were also present, standing beside Pang Bo. This made even Wang Chong hesitant to act rashly.

“So, the Yin Yang Sect has chosen another Saint Heir? Aren’t you people tired of it? I see no reason for your Sect to exist at all!” Ye Fan said with a laugh, approaching step by step from the distance.