Shrouding the Heavens - Chapter 198

The Yaochi Immortal Stone Workshop was elegantly tranquil. Exotic trees and rare grasses were planted among its courtyards, and stone materials lay scattered about like peculiar rock formations, arranged with tasteful elegance.

Their layout was meticulous, featuring trickling streams and vine-draped pavilions. Stones adorned every corner, lending a refreshing ambiance, as if one had returned to nature.

"Is the fairy from Jade Lake who has arrived in Pingyan City truly their sacred lady?"

"I’ve heard that the sacred lady of Jade Lake is inspecting various places in the northern region. It’s likely she’s here personally; otherwise, the Immortal Stone Workshop wouldn’t have closed this morning."

Many had come with the intent to behold the true visage of the sacred lady.

This was because Jade Lake’s fame was immense. It spread not only throughout the Eastern Wastelands but also to the Central States and the Northern Desert. It was considered the Sacred Land with the most Immortal Qi, its women believed to be endowed with the very wisdom of creation.

Many young scions from great powers took pride in marrying a fairy from Jade Lake, though very few succeeded. Even formidable Ancient Nobilities and Sacred Lands with profound heritage could only admire them from afar.

Jade Lake’s disciples almost never married outside the sect, let alone their sacred lady. In such a vast expanse of time, only one or two sacred ladies had ever wed.

Ye Fan suddenly sensed someone watching him and instinctively turned around. He saw a young man in purple clothes, surrounded by people like stars orbiting a moon, standing not far away.

Beside him were several familiar faces. He had seen them all at the Rongxiang Gambling Stone Workshop, always accompanying Liu Cheng’en. Now, they were clearly led by the purple-clad youth.

People from the Qingxia sect, Ye Fan frowned slightly, though he wasn’t particularly worried. Given his current cultivation base, having reached the Paramita, he could certainly be considered a minor expert.

Although he couldn’t compare to the scions of the Sacred Lands, among smaller sects, he was definitely what they would call a "young hero."

This fellow’s cultivation isn’t weak either, Ye Fan noted with some surprise. The other party had also reached the Paramita.

The purple-clad youth glanced at him with near disdain, then turned away, ignoring him. The others nearby shot unfriendly glances in his direction, whispering among themselves.

Ye Fan smiled coldly and paid them no mind. Terrifying entities like the Ji Family and powerful organizations like the Flickering Light Sacred Land had failed to harm him. Naturally, he wouldn’t fear a mere "hero" from the Qingxia sect.

"You mud monkey, haven’t you returned to the mines yet?" someone from the Qingxia sect approached, his words dripping with provocation. "You’ve earned so much Source, isn’t that enough for your greed?"

"Did you come to repay the Source?" Ye Fan glanced at him coolly. "If not, get lost and don’t be an eyesore."

This person was merely a servant from the Qingxia sect, yet he dared to speak so presumptuously. Naturally, Ye Fan wouldn’t treat him courteously.

"You... How audacious! Daring to cause trouble in Pingyan City, and you even made Young Master Liu Cheng’en write an IOU! You’re truly courting death."

"He owes me Source, yet you come threatening and intimidating me. Are you speaking on behalf of the Qingxia sect?" Ye Fan swept his gaze over him. "A mere servant, daring to spout such nonsense. Scram!"

His soft rebuke was imperceptible to others, but to the servant’s ears, it was like a crash of Heavenly Thunder. The servant’s ears buzzed, and he collapsed to the ground, his face pale. "You..."

Not far away, the others were taken aback. The purple-clad youth slowly strode over, looking down at Ye Fan. "Quite the imposing air you have."

"You flatter me," Ye Fan responded nonchalantly, his gaze fixed on the beautiful scenery of the Yaochi Immortal Stone Workshop, not on the youth.

"Did you actually think that was a compliment? You’re just a common laborer who only knows how to dig ores," someone nearby mocked.

"A person of your cultivation realm would naturally interpret it that way," Ye Fan glanced at him, then motioned for Wang Shu and the uneducated youth, who were about to step forward, to stay aside and not get involved.

"I heard my younger brother, Liu Cheng’en, owes you ninety catties of Source. Is this true or false?" the purple-clad youth asked lightly.

"Indeed. Are you here to settle his debt?" Ye Fan responded unhurriedly.

"Bring out the IOU. Let me see if it’s genuine," the purple-clad youth said coldly, extending his hand toward Ye Fan.

Ye Fan took out a piece of paper, holding it between two fingers, and handed it over.

The purple-clad youth didn’t look at it but tossed it directly to a person beside him. "Examine it closely. Is it Cheng’en’s handwriting?"

"It’s a fake! How could this be an IOU written by the Second Young Master? It’s clearly a forgery!" The person next to him took the paper and, without even looking at it, tore it into pieces. Then, he rubbed it vigorously between his hands, reducing it to powder that scattered to the ground.

"You have quite some nerve, daring to defraud even me and slander Cheng’en’s name," the purple-clad youth sneered, staring at Ye Fan. "It seems you people have truly gone mad with poverty!"

"How could these mud monkeys possibly know anything about stone discerning? They’re obviously trying to extort us! It’s infuriating if we don’t teach them a lesson!"

"Take them outside and beat them half to death!"

The people nearby all clamored, intending to drag Ye Fan away.

"You’re going too far!" The uneducated youth’s eyes turned red. Seeing the IOU shredded, he looked ready to fight them to the death.

"How can you do this?" Wang Shu was also furious. He felt incredibly angry yet helpless, knowing the Qingxia sect was a power their stone village could never hope to contend with.

"Debts must be repaid; that’s the natural order. Aren’t your methods despicable?" Ye Fan said coldly, simultaneously restraining the uneducated youth and Wang Shu.

"What nonsense are you babbling about, brat? Who owes you Source?" a person beside the purple-clad youth scolded.

"Produce the real IOU! If you can’t, we’ll break your legs today. So young, yet daring to defraud people!"

"I..." In the distance, the uneducated youth looked like he wanted to pounce on them and tear off a few chunks of their flesh.

"Teach these mud monkeys a lesson! If they don’t cough up several tens of catties of Source, don’t let them leave today!"

"Why waste words on them? Just drag them out and beat them half to death first!"

The people around the purple-clad youth all closed in, intending to drag Ye Fan away. They didn’t dare to act within the courtyard for fear of inciting the wrath of the Yaochi Immortal Stone Workshop.

"All of you, get lost," Ye Fan scanned these people. "You wanted to see the IOU, didn’t you? I’ll let you have a good look."

Saying this, he produced another piece of paper but didn’t hand it over, merely waving it in front of everyone.

"This is..." The man who had just torn the paper looked shocked. This is clearly the real IOU! The one before was fake, and I destroyed it without even looking!

The purple-clad man turned back and glanced at him, causing that person to tremble. Then, with a fierce glint in his eyes, he was about to rush forward to snatch the real IOU.

"You truly are audacious, daring to cause trouble in broad daylight at the Yaochi Immortal Stone Workshop! Do you have no regard for the fairies of this Sacred Land?" Ye Fan reprimanded loudly, his voice carrying far.

Ahead, the people who had come to gamble on stones all heard him and turned to look.

"What’s going on?" a crisp, pleasant voice inquired. It was a young woman from the Yaochi Immortal Stone Workshop.

"Please forgive us, Fairy of Jade Lake. We had a slight quarrel due to a moment of impulse," the purple-clad man said, cupping his hands towards the front.

From the distant palace pavilions, the sound of a guzheng drifted over, and no further questions were asked.

"You mud monkeys certainly have guts!" All the people beside the purple-clad man glared angrily at Ye Fan.

"What, do you still want to cause trouble? Perhaps we should invite a Fairy of Jade Lake to come and pass judgment?" Ye Fan sneered at them.

The purple-clad man flicked his sleeve and walked away, his entourage following closely.

"Kid, you’d better keep that IOU safe for me. Don’t you dare lose it," one of them snarled, glaring hatefully at Ye Fan.

"Don’t worry, I’ll keep it very safe, waiting for you all to repay the Source." Ye Fan lightly tapped the IOU before tucking it into his sleeve.

The inner courtyard was even more serene. Ahead lay a small lake, its waters crystal clear. Ancient vines crawled along its banks, creating a beautiful scene.

Piles of stone material were arranged artfully along the banks, exuding a natural charm.

By the lakeside, a pavilion was built near the water. It was shrouded in a hazy immortal mist, nestled among ancient trees, surrounded by lush greenery, and veiled by the mist.

The ethereal sound of a guzheng, like heavenly music, emanated from that direction. It cleansed the mind and spirit, causing one to relax involuntarily.

The guzheng’s melody was melodious, subtly beautiful, refreshingly expansive, and possessed an infinite charm.

Even though obscured by greenery and shrouded in immortal mist, it was as if one could glimpse a fairy within the pavilion, gently stroking the guzheng—peerlessly transcendent, untouched by worldly dust, a beauty so profound it was breathtaking.

It was as if an illusion realm materialized: clouds and mist drifted, ethereal palaces and jade terraces flickered in and out of view, and a flawless woman stood alone amidst the clouds...

This music made one’s emotions rise and fall, moving in concert with its melodious flow.

Ye Fan was inwardly shaken. This person’s attainment is extraordinary, not inferior to Hua Yunfei’s, almost bordering on the Dao!

Indeed, the zither music possessed a magical power capable of influencing one’s emotions.

At this moment, the fish in the lake had all gathered in the clear water before the pavilion, swaying their heads and tails as if dancing, completely immersed in the music.

Even if she’s not the Yaochi Saintess, she’s still a remarkably talented individual, Ye Fan mused.

"She is a descendant of Jade Lake; their sacred lady has truly arrived," an old man remarked.

Ye Fan looked back and saw it was those elders of uncommon aura, the ones the uneducated youth had previously left speechless.

"How do you know?" the uneducated youth asked familiarly as he approached them.

The elders, their faces stern, all ignored him and continued their own conversation.

"The Yaochi Saintess is renowned throughout the Eastern Wastelands; her status is anything but ordinary. Her arrival will likely attract many young talents."

"I just saw a young man from the Jiang Family, and supposedly, a charismatic junior from the Flickering Light Sacred Land is also here. I’ve seen them both in the sacred city."

"Indeed, many people have come. Even a few minor bandits have shown up. Surely those scoundrels aren’t planning to abduct the Yaochi Saintess? If they actually try, it would be quite interesting."

"Jade Lake is truly extraordinary, as expected. Whether in our generation or the current one, contemporaries find it impossible to resist their Immortal Charm."

These elders were clearly of extraordinary backgrounds, and Ye Fan secretly rejoiced that he hadn’t offended them. He believed that people of their status likely wouldn’t care about how the uneducated youth had spoken.

At the same time, Ye Fan was also surprised. According to these elders, prodigies from all the major Sacred Lands had rushed here, a testament to the Yaochi Saintess’s incredible allure.

DING DONG.

The final resonant note faded, and the zither music slowly died away.

The wooden door of the lakeside pavilion swung open, and several beautiful, ethereal women filed out. The last one was veiled in what seemed like moonlight, resembling an Immortal Flower in bloom. Her entire being was hazy and indistinct, yet she exuded an aura of utter perfection.

Her graceful, slender form was enveloped in a radiant splendor, as if she stood in the Guanghan Palace itself—sacred and remote, giving one the feeling that she was forever beyond reach.

"What are you mud monkeys doing here, trying to join the spectacle?" someone nearby sneered.

Ye Fan felt a sense of revulsion, not expecting to have the misfortune of ending up near the purple-clad man and his group again.

"Is this the Qingxia sect’s territory? If not, then all of you shut up," Ye Fan said, sweeping his gaze over them.

"Fine, fine, fine. Be stubborn for now. There’ll come a time when you’ll be crying," the people beside the purple-clad man all sneered coldly.