Shrouding the Heavens - Chapter 200

The Grand Elder of Jade Lake lightly rebuked Tu Fei, ordering him to keep quiet and forbidding him from speaking nonsense. Although Tu Fei mumbled, he ultimately complied. Many people had already noticed that he was avoiding conflict with Jade Lake.

The Flickering Light Saint Heir smiled faintly, like a sliver of sunlight, warm and radiant, giving an otherworldly impression, making it seem as though he was not of this mundane world.

Indeed, standing by the lake, he was as graceful as jade, his robes fluttering, resembling a Daoist saint in the world. Even among the crowd, it was easy to see he was different from others.

As for Yao Xi, besides being equally noble, she represented the pinnacle of beauty, like a girl born from a dream, with icy skin and jade bones. Every frown and smile exuded countless allure, shining like a rare gem.

Her beauty caused many present to lose composure. Even Tu Fei couldn’t help but mutter, "Alas, there is nothing more painful in life than being a step too late..."

The nearby ruffians all rolled their eyes. None of them were easy to deal with; they were all descendants of the Thirteen Bandits.

At this moment, the Yaochi Saintess appeared, surrounded by Immortal Qi, creating lotuses with each step. Her jade feet touched down as petals danced and scattered, emitting waves of fragrance.

She personally led the Flickering Light Saint Heir and Flickering Light Sacred Lady into the pavilion by the lake. It was evident they were old acquaintances. She didn’t want them to stand in opposition here, thus resolving the awkward situation.

Ye Fan let out a deep breath. He didn’t wish to meet the Flickering Light’s Saint Heir and Sacred Lady. He had just "set sail." His priority after obtaining the Heavenly Source Book was to improve his cultivation base, as he was currently unable to compete with them.

He crouched down to closely inspect the nine pieces of stone material, pondering carefully. There is definitely something inside these stones, and possibly something very unusual.

Many people were gathered by the lakeshore, all meticulously examining these stones, engaged in lively discussions with diverse opinions.

Suddenly, Ye Fan’s heart trembled. The largest piece of stone made him somewhat apprehensive. There certainly has to be something extraordinary inside.

He tapped and knocked on the stone, observing its patterns. This was a gigantic "red with white patterns" stone, primarily reddish-brown with some white spots, considered waste stone by experts.

This large stone weighed at least two thousand jin. If there was something inside, it would be very significant. Ye Fan was eager to cut it open but, as it was Jade Lake’s stone material, he couldn’t act rashly.

Today is an opportunity. If I point out the uniqueness of the stone material, I might be invited away by the Fairy of the Jade Lake. Unfortunately, my Heaven and Earth Changing Technique is not complete, and with the Flickering Light Sacred Lady here, I cannot step forward.

Ye Fan sighed and, after examining eight pieces of stone material, he held onto the smallest piece, only palm-sized. Staring at the stone patterns, it felt as if his Heart Spirit was about to be immersed in them.

Suddenly, he felt a blood-red vision. This smallest stone is also very bewitching and peculiar; it undoubtedly has something special inside.

The field of Sources is indeed not just about gambling on Source. As with those in the sacred city, they are gambling on even more precious things.

Ye Fan exited the crowd, pulling the uneducated youth and Wang Shu to a distant spot, asking them, "What did you feel?"

"Blood. There seemed to be blood in one of the stones, very terrifying blood that made my heart pound. Being near it felt as if my heart might jump out," Wang Shu described.

The uneducated youth, also with lingering fear, added, "The largest stone... I can’t tell what’s inside it, but it exudes a wild power, making one shiver."

Ye Fan stroked his chin, examining them. It turns out that these two have unusual bloodlines, allowing such sensitivity, comparable to my perception after studying the Heavenly Source Book.

"Have you ever had this feeling before?"

"Never!" Both shook their heads in unison.

Ye Fan suspected that they might only be sensitive to extraordinary Sources, leaving him curious about what kind of bloodline these two possessed. When Fifth Grandpa Zhang mentioned them, he was evasive, suggesting a hidden story that Ye Fan needed to carefully question him about upon returning.

"It seems the Jade Lake Sacred Land might have dredged up something good," Tu Fei said to the few people beside him on the other side.

"These nine pieces of stone material have a demonic nature and were definitely obtained from near the Great Primordial Mine. Their courage is remarkable; they remain low-key yet dare to act so."

"You don’t understand. Jade Lake is not simple at all. If judged on their understanding of Source, I think they surpass all the Sacred Lands. It is said that long ago, a Heavenly Source Master interacted with them, imparting many Source Techniques."

"I have also heard about it. That Heavenly Source Master left all the Sacred Lands embarrassed but had an exceptional relationship with the Sacred Lady of Jade Lake."

"I suspect they are searching for someone with that legendary bloodline."

The few people beside Tu Fei, descendants of the Thirteen Bandits, all had fierce demeanors. Aware of many secrets, they conversed quietly in low tones.

"Is that bloodline truly real? It’s unlikely, as it’s a life-threatening matter. In the northern region, only five Heavenly Source Masters have ever appeared, and according to records, none obtained that bloodline."

"That can’t be certain. They all disappeared in their later years. Who knows where they went? Perhaps in their final days, they acquired such a bloodline."

Ye Fan’s divine sense was particularly strong, scarcely matched by anyone. This allowed him to subtly overhear the words spoken by Tu Fei and the others, shocking him instantly.

No, I need to leave here immediately to avoid being discovered by Tu Fei. Of course, the most important thing was the information he learned from their conversation. The uneducated youth and Wang Shu likely had that bloodline, and it was crucial that this remained unnoticed by others.

The fact that a Heavenly Source Master had adopted children in his later years sparked a horrifying thought in Ye Fan concerning the origin of their bloodline.

"Endless ages ago, a rare target appeared. Several Sacred Lands expended great effort to pursue and intercept it, yet they failed to obtain that bloodline. Was that Heavenly Source Master really that formidable?"

Tu Fei’s group continued their hushed discussion.

"Indeed, a Heavenly Source Master is fearsome, with unparalleled Source Techniques. Throughout history, only five such Masters have existed. They roamed deep mountains and beneath the earth, venturing into desolate places. Only they might have made any gains."

"I think after leaving Pingyan City, the Yaochi Saintess will take the nine pieces of stone material elsewhere and will not return to Jade Lake in the short term. For some reason, they have an urgent need for that bloodline."

Ye Fan felt increasingly uneasy as he listened. He turned to look at Wang Shu and the uneducated youth, scrutinizing them closely but finding no distinctive features.

"Let’s go, we must leave here!"

"Why leave? Didn’t the Yaochi Saintess say that if one senses something special, they’d be invited to stay at Jade Lake?" Wang Shu and the uneducated youth were both a bit unwilling to leave.

"It may not be a good thing. We need to leave quickly." Ye Fan felt it was necessary to avoid Tu Fei and Yao Xi, and to keep Wang Shu and the uneducated youth from being discovered. From any point of view, departure was imperative.

Since the Yaochi Saintess would be going to other places, there would still be opportunities. Once he learned the Heaven and Earth Changing Technique, he could present himself to them. By then, even if he met Yao Xi and the Flickering Light Saint Heir at Jade Lake, he would not need to worry, as he would be completely free.

It seems Yao Xi really plans to travel with the Yaochi Saintess.

CRACK.

Ye Fan heard the sound of bones shifting. His appearance was reverting, his cheekbones returning to their original position. With no time to delay, he quickly left the Yaochi Immortal Stone Workshop with the two of them.

Become stronger! Upon returning, I must enter the Dao Palace secret realm! A decision settled in his heart. Presently, he was only hindered by the lack of enormous Qi.

This time, he had cut out the Fiery Red Source and Ancient Insect Source, sufficient to support his entry into the Dao Palace secret realm.

As long as the Jade Lake’s core technique detailed in the last few pages of the Heavenly Source Book suits my cultivation, nothing will hinder my breakthrough!

In fact, he believed he could rapidly advance his cultivation base. The first realm of the Dao Palace could not block him at all, and it should be possible to gather the necessary Source in Pingyan City.

Suddenly, Ye Fan sensed someone was tailing him; he hadn’t even left the city when he was followed.

So reckless!

He looked back and saw people from the Qingxia sect trailing behind him, some of them sneering repeatedly.

Ye Fan didn’t fly but walked out of Pingyan City, the surroundings growing increasingly desolate. Though in an oasis, reddish-brown rocky ground could be seen here and there.

Finally reaching a deserted place, the people behind had no more scruples and all chased after him, each with a sneering smile.

The young man dressed in purple clothes even followed personally. The Ancient Insect Source was rare enough to stir his interest, and he walked slowly towards Ye Fan.

It’s important to understand that even in the northern region, where Source is plentiful, it was considered good for a smaller sect to possess a thousand jin of Source.

The Qingxia sect was such a small sect. The Fiery Red Source and Ancient Insect Source were enough to motivate him to kill and silence witnesses.

"Mud monkeys, not running anymore?" Someone nearby taunted.

"Keep up the tough talk; we’re all ears," another person mocked.

From afar, the sound of tearing air echoed. Blue clothes fluttered as Liu Cheng’en appeared; he had also chased after them.

"What are you up to?" Ye Fan asked, a hint of a cold smile on his face.

"Country bumpkin, you still don’t understand the situation even now. Truly, ignorance is fearless!" Seven or eight people with malicious intent laughed and surrounded him.

"Liu Cheng’en, are you here to return my Source?" Ye Fan’s lips curled slightly.

"You dare take my Source?!" Liu Cheng’en snapped open his folding fan, shook his head, and sighed, "I really intended to spare your lives, but it’s impossible now."

"Are you special?" Ye Fan sarcastically held the debt note and said, "You wrote this IOU yourself. Surely you don’t think it’s just a pig’s trotter print, do you?"

"Mud monkeys, truly obstinate even at death’s door." Liu Cheng’en showed disdain and ordered his men, "Don’t kill them outright; torture them slowly."

"I have no time to waste with you!" Ye Fan’s face darkened. He rose into the air, sweeping his right leg across.

The ones charging forward screamed miserably. Though also cultivators, their physiques couldn’t compare to Ye Fan’s, and they were immediately left with broken bones and torn muscles.

"You’re not a miner, you’re a cultivator! At such an age, how could you..." Liu Cheng’en’s pupils shrank rapidly. Ye Fan looked barely fifteen, but the power he displayed was terrifying.

He was about to soar into the sky and flee.

Ye Fan’s palm became like a Seal as it pressed forward. It was his first time using the second of the nine secret arts, and it released a terrifying fighting intent.

BANG.

One move, just one move, was all it took to turn Liu Cheng’en into drifting ash!

They were still separated by quite a distance, yet such a horrible outcome occurred. This Attack and Kill Technique was truly unmatched.

Behind him, Liu Cheng’en’s brother—the man in purple—flickered like light and shadow as he fled rapidly, already more than a third of a mile away.

However, no matter how fast he was, he couldn’t outrun Ye Fan’s footwork. Ye Fan moved as if carving a path through the void, seemingly able to contract the land between steps. He took over ten steps and caught up in an instant.

"You are also a cultivator at the Paramita realm. Do you not even have the courage to fight?" Ye Fan sneered, then extended the IOU forward and said, "Didn’t you want to get this IOU back for your brother? The one torn before was fake. Here’s the real one for you."

The man in purple, Liu Chengwang, was decisive. Divine energy surged through him amidst a dazzling light as he simultaneously sacrificed four weapons, sending them cutting towards Ye Fan.

Ye Fan still used the Fighting Birth Technique, but his hand gestures changed completely. The fundamental Mysterious Meaning could morph into thousands of moves. As he waved his arms, it was as if a phoenix were spreading its feathers; divine feathers emerged, shining brightly from his arms.

With arms spread, truly like a phoenix dancing in the celestial wind, five-colored divine light streaked upwards. A pair of vibrant wings manifested and struck forward.

CRACKLE! The four weapons sacrificed by the Paramita realm cultivator all shattered into fragments, falling to the ground like dust.

"What mysterious art is this?" The man in purple, Liu Chengwang, was aghast, his mind greatly shaken. He believed even cultivators of the Dao Palace secret realm would struggle to display such fearful power.

Indeed, he felt icy cold. The unmatched fighting intent and the sharp attacking aura made him uncontrollably tremble. At this moment, he couldn’t stand firm and felt an impulse to kneel.

"This is the highest mysterious art of the Daoist path; you are unworthy of knowing its name. Someday, it will shake the Eastern Wastelands, cause the major Sacred Lands to tremble, and its name will be spread by those Saint Heirs and Sacred Ladies."

Ye Fan felt deeply unsettled; the second of the nine secret arts had exceeded my expectations. Its power was extraordinary, truly proving to be the ultimate among offensive arts!

"Please... spare me. I’ll do whatever you ask." The man in purple felt a chill of fear in his heart and gall. Suppressed by the immense fighting intent, he lost his usual indifference and composure.

The Phoenix Divine Wings on Ye Fan’s arms had yet to dissipate. They continued to emit a dazzling, five-colored divine light, and the energy waves they produced shook one’s very soul.

THUD.

The man in purple couldn’t bear this fighting intent. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, kneeling as if in a state of exhaustion. He trembled and said, "How can this be... We are both at the Paramita realm. Why is it like this? Terrifying! Such a mysterious art is unheard of..." He was almost muttering in delirium, his face pressed to the ground, unable to even lift his head.

Ye Fan murmured to himself, "Nine secrets, oh nine secrets, if I could fully master them, what kind of power would that be? I know the nine secrets are scattered across the world, almost lost. Acquiring them all will be incredibly challenging."

"I’ll give you one chance. Use all your divine energy and strike." Ye Fan withdrew his hands. The pair of Phoenix Divine Wings vanished, and the overwhelming pressure, like that of Mt. Tai, lifted.

"Kill!" Liu Chengwang knew the other party wouldn’t spare him. His ferocity rose sharply. He charged desperately, his flesh and blood burning as he attempted to destroy his Wheel and Sea and heavily injure the seemingly young man before him.

Ye Fan did this with only one purpose: to further understand the power of this mysterious art. He slightly turned and swung out his left leg.

At this moment, unparalleled pressure descended. From the space around his left leg, an Azure Dragon emerged. Its scales glistened, and it appeared vigorous and strong. Its body coiled realistically as its tail lashed out.

Liu Chengwang was terrified, his whole body trembling. He went limp, rendered powerless by this intimidating pressure alone.

BANG.

The tail of the Azure Dragon struck him. This single hit directly turned the Paramita realm cultivator into ash. Not even bone fragments or blood mist remained—he was entirely reduced to dust.

Ye Fan returned to the stone village. Before his closed-door session to achieve a breakthrough, he first approached Fifth Grandpa Zhang to inquire about the bloodline of Wang Shu and the uneducated youth.

"Their blood holds a demonic nature." After a long pause, Fifth Grandpa Zhang finally responded.

"What’s going on?" Ye Fan was astonished.

"Since you’re going to learn the Heavenly Source Book, this secret can be divulged to you," Fifth Grandpa Zhang sighed and said. "It all starts from the origins of their ancestors."