Shrouding the Heavens - Chapter 203

Eighteen green mountains towered, entwined with light mist. Each peak cascaded with thousand-foot waterfalls that splashed up thin smoke. Emerald waters flowed around the mountains, making this place lush and beautiful. Spring water gurgled, and vibrant flowers bloomed, adding a lively and spirited touch to this beautiful place.

Elsewhere, such a landscape might not be remarkable. However, in the northern region, where stones are scattered and not a blade of grass grows, such scenery is akin to an Immortal Realm. The vegetation was abundant, the wetlands misty, and the temples ethereal. With its green mountains and emerald waters, this place was indeed a beautiful Pure Land.

"Who are you?" members of the Qingxia Sect shouted.

Ye Fan flicked his finger, and the giant stone at the Mountain Gate engraved with the word "Qingxia" shattered with a PUFF, turning to dust.

"This..." Everyone gasped. The visitor was not friendly, directly smashing Qingxia’s cornerstone; he obviously meant business.

"Are you looking for death?" The Qingxia Sect members were enraged. That only three people would dare to be so boastful, asserting they would establish their own sect here, was underestimating them too much.

The gatekeepers all summoned their Weapons: flying swords, Divine Hammers, and more shot forth like a rain of light.

Ye Fan was unconcerned. He flicked his large sleeves, and with a CRUNCH, all the Weapons shattered and fell to the ground. Even if more than a hundred Spring of Life realm cultivators came, they could not contend with him.

With a strong flick of his sleeve, all the people at the Mountain Gate were knocked back, plunging into the pool beneath the waterfall.

"Quick, report to the Head Elder!" By now, they knew big trouble was at hand. This opponent was unfathomable, definitely not an ordinary rogue.

Ye Fan stood before the Mountain Gate. Behind him, a flash of brilliance occurred, and one hundred and eight giant flags appeared, which he had spent a day engraving yesterday.

In the southern region, Spirit Ruins Paradise’s Elder Han had failed in refining medicine, losing his own life in the process. Ye Fan had obtained two ancient animal hide scrolls from that cave abode. One scroll contained Ancient Books about Dao Glyphs, which he could comprehend after entering the Dao Palace secret realm. This ancient animal hide scroll was not an expansive Ancient Secret Manual but had its unique aspects.

The one hundred and eight flags Ye Fan engraved were densely covered with Dao Glyphs, forming a sealing and trapping method. He threw four out, instantly sealing the Mountain Gate. Then, he soared into the sky, tossing the remaining one hundred and four flags. All embedded themselves into the landscape, sealing the ten directions. The flags flapped loudly, a veil of mist, disappearing beyond the green mountains and emerald waters.

"You...who are you?" The Mountain Gate guardians retreated.

Before the Mountain Gate, the path was paved with green stones. Hundreds of steps lay like a sleeping dragon. Fresh grass grew alongside, immortal vines entwined, and a brook babbled.

"I am your future Sect Hierarch," Ye Fan said as he walked forward, ascending the steps lightly. His movements were graceful, devoid of killing intent, his whole being incomparably ethereal.

"You..." The Qingxia Sect members retreated one after another. Such a youthful figure, the more ethereal and otherworldly he appeared, the more it unsettled them.

"This place is wonderful!" Ye Fan nodded continuously. The oasis of the stone village was too small, merely a few dozen li square. A strong gust of wind would send distant sand swirling in, which made him a bit uncomfortable. He liked mountains and waters and beautiful scenery. The Qingxia sect indeed was a good place for cultivating the heart.

"Who is causing chaos?!" A long shout came as an old man, like a meteor breaking through the sky, landed before the Mountain Gate.

Ye Fan walked gracefully, slowly advancing, and said, "Just one of the scattered cultivators. My name is not worth mentioning."

"Do you wish to establish your own sect here?" This old man’s gaze was sinister, his face as cold as water. Anyone who learned of such news would probably find it hard to smile.

"Yes, that is precisely my intent," Ye Fan nodded.

"By yourself? At such a young age, truly boastful!" The old man sneered disdainfully.

It was no wonder he belittled him. Ye Fan’s appearance was handsome, and he looked merely fifteen or so. At such an age, even if he were a descendant of the Sacred Lands, it was unlikely he could single-handedly conquer Qingxia.

Ye Fan, with unhurried steps, ascended the hundreds of stone steps. Standing by the water, surrounded by mist from the pool, he appeared like an exiled Immortal emerging into the world.

Only now did the old man discern some clues. Ye Fan stood right before him but seemed as elusive as mist, hard to grasp.

"Bandits rampage within five hundred li, with major ties to the Qingxia sect. Are you involved?" Ye Fan asked.

"You even know this?" The old man’s Heart Spirit was troubled, and he spoke involuntarily.

"Then there’s nothing more to say. Time to send you on your way." Ye Fan suddenly drifted close, reaching out to press forward.

BUZZ.

Weapons vibrated. Seven Weapons surged out from the old man’s body: blades, spears, swords, and halberds. They all transformed into seven rainbows, aiming at Ye Fan’s hand.

However, to his shock, the seven Weapons broke apart like rotten wood, unable to withstand a single blow! That jade-like hand seemed to possess a magical nature. Indeed, the Weapons struck the palm but crumbled like yellow earth and were utterly shattered.

He was astonished. Such a divine means made him grow cold all over, and he rapidly retreated.

"Since you condone bandits, there’s nothing more to say. Time to send you on your way." Ye Fan reversed his palm, pressing down. The old man flew back dozens of zhang, then suddenly shattered into pieces.

The Mountain Gate guardians were speechless. Even a sect Elder was crushed by this boy’s hand, making them shiver all over. This was simply a case of Killing God and destroying Buddha! This was a teenage great evil person. Who could stop him? With one slap, he had killed a Qingxia Elder. Even if the Head Elder appeared, he might not necessarily be able to suppress him.

Ye Fan ignored them and kept moving forward. Those people trembled, dodging to the sides.

When can I enter the Ji Family like this and walk into the Flickering Light Sacred Land? He thought he needed a massive amount of Source Formula to make it happen.

Shouts arose from within the Qingxia sect. The ancient bell tolled slowly, alerting everyone, and many cultivators quickly flew over.

Ahead, water chimed DING! DONG!, and patches of flowers grew beside the spring pools. A glance showed a riot of color.

Figures rapidly descended, surrounding Ye Fan and his two companions.

"Brother Ye..." Wang Shu was a bit nervous.

"Who among you is the bandit?!" The uneducated youth was very angry.

"Where are the three of you from, speaking such nonsense?" the surrounding people scolded.

"You’ve been allowing Bandit Chen Da to pillage far and wide, targeting ordinary mortals. I don’t think I’m wronging you with that, right?" Ye Fan said calmly.

"So, it was you who caused Bandit Chen Da to die mysteriously, wasn’t it?" From the back, an old man with white hair and beard, exuding a certain Dao Bone air of an exiled Immortal, slowly approached.

"A cultivator from the Dao Palace secret realm?" Ye Fan showed a hint of surprise.

"Bandit Chen Da was my disciple. He was the one who offered enough Source for me to break through the confines of the Paramita realm, and you killed him! Yet you dare to even come here!" The old man was filled with murderous intent, staring closely at Ye Fan, and instructed those around him, "Kill him!"

Silhouettes flew around, and lights flashed, as all sorts of Weapons were summoned. Dozens of people attacked simultaneously.

Ye Fan hadn’t expected so many people to know about Bandit Chen Da. Snorting coldly, he decided it was time for a slaughter.

"You two, back off and watch closely!" He gestured for Wang Shu and Lei Bo to step aside.

Ye Fan soared like a Flood Dragon, deploying two of the nine secret arts. One hand pointed to the sky, and he uttered a light command. Instantly, a heaven-supporting red-blood seal appeared, hovering and resonating above him. This was a towering Ancient Mountain, rising high, compressed into an Ancient Seal, descending. One could clearly see birds and beasts and towering Ancient Wood on it.

BOOM!

Utterly unstoppable, the mountain red-blood seal, with power to support the heavens, descended, obliterating all flying Weapons into ashes.

"Ah..."

Cries of agony echoed as none of the dozens who encircled Ye Fan could escape. Their bodies cracked and turned to ash at the same time. This shocking scene left the distant cultivators dumbfounded, cold sweat dripping as they shivered uncontrollably.

In the sky, the overwhelming mountain Ancient Seal gradually faded and then disappeared. This was the Fighting Saint Technique, one of the nine secret arts, representing the pinnacle of Attack Skill, capable of evolving into thousands of forms. Each insight leads to a different Killing Technique.

"What... what kind of mysterious art is this?" The old man with white hair no longer had the Dao Bone air of an exiled Immortal, showing a look of terror as he retreated continuously.

"A Killing Technique!" Ye Fan smiled faintly, finding no need to reveal it was one of the nine secret arts.

"I am the Grand Elder of the Qingxia sect. Do you really want to become an enemy of Qingxia?" He loudly transmitted his voice, like Heavenly Thunder, shaking the Head Elder and other Grand Elders from their secluded cultivation.

Ye Fan shook his head, saying, "It’s useless. No one can save you now."

"I am a cultivator from the Dao Palace secret realm. You can’t kill me without paying a price!" He was tough in appearance but weak in reality, trying to stall for time.

"Go reunite with your good disciple, Bandit Chen Da." Ye Fan walked forward, each step like a lotus, Dao rhythm blossoming beneath his feet as he glided over.

"You... I’ll fight you to the death!" The Grand Elder of the Qingxia sect howled, his face twisted, hair standing on end, cold murderous intent in his eyes. More than a dozen Weapons shot out from his Wheel and Sea. Moreover, from within his Dao Palace, a blue-armored "god" flew out, wielding a Broadsword, clad in gleaming blue Iron Armor, several meters tall. It took a step, cracking the very ground. The three-meter Great Sword swung, blue energy surged, emitting a WHINE as countless rays of light shot out, like a rain of swords showering down.

This area surged with Divine Radiance. More than a dozen Weapons, along with this "god," sealed off the domain, which pulsed with endless killing intent and piercing brilliance.

From afar, the disciples of the Qingxia sect shouted in unison, convinced Ye Fan was overwhelmed and doomed.

However, they soon fell silent.

BOOM!

Ye Fan formed the Great Sun Seal with his hand. A mighty sun slowly rose, enormous, filling the sky. Indeed, a vast, sea-like Fire Red sun filled the sky, grand and majestic, its fiery brilliance incinerating everything! The god clad in blue Iron Armor was almost instantly burned to ashes, while the dozen Weapons were combusted into gas at once, vanishing without a trace!

Ye Fan wielded the Great Sun Seal. Above him, a tremendous Fire Red sun truly manifested, like a massive mountain pressing down upon the firmament, its power overwhelming, compelling everyone to kneel.

"Ah..." The Grand Elder of the Qingxia sect screamed. Devastated by the loss of the god nurtured in his Dao Palace, he suffered heavy injuries and fled desperately for his life.

Ye Fan lightly shook the Great Sun Seal, and from the burgeoning Fire Red sun burst nine Golden Crows. Their bodies shone like Gold, seemingly cast from it, each with three legs, flapping their wings and crying out.

THUD.

Nearby, many disciples of Qingxia were pressed to their knees by this supreme power, unable to stand.

The nine Three-legged Golden Crows transformed into nine beams of golden light, rushing forward. Despite having fled hundreds of zhang, the Grand Elder of the Qingxia sect was silently burned to ash in an instant, becoming a pile of black cinders.

"Ah..."

Cries followed one after another. None could withstand the passage of the nine Golden Crows; all turned to dust under the golden flames. This was an incredibly terrifying might, with an unrivaled sense of oppression that lasted until Ye Fan released the Great Sun Seal, and the colossal Fire Red sun and nine Golden Crows slowly disappeared.

Further away, many Qingxia disciples collapsed helplessly. Such supreme power was beyond their hope of resistance, striking fear into their very bones. This was one of the nine secret arts, the epitome of Attack Skill, an unparalleled Fighting Saint Technique! With each insight, a Killing Technique would evolve, ever-changing and endless!

All around, every disciple of the Qingxia sect was trembling. The handsome young man was like a great evil person. His unmatched, terrifying might alone was enough to paralyze them with fear, negating any need for battle.

Cry after cry arose, alarming the Grand Elders and the Head Elder of the Qingxia sect, who all emerged from their seclusion, rushing there swiftly. Figures flickered as a series of ten shadows descended, encircling Ye Fan.

"Ten experts from the Dao Palace secret realm. It looks like today I can finally give it my all," Ye Fan said casually, without a trace of fear.