Shrouding the Heavens - Chapter 214

Divine King Jiang’s Fighting Saint Technique is peerless; who can contend with it? The Flickering Light Saint Heir is believed to have surpassed the Flickering Light Sacred Master in his youth.

In the current Eastern Wastelands, both the Ji Family and the Jiang Family possess a divine body and are considered the most powerful individuals for the next three to four thousand years.

Being born in the same era as a divine body is tragic for other cultivators. No matter how exceptionally talented one might be, they would pale in comparison when facing a divine king who has achieved Great Success.

However, at this moment outside Kunyun City, many harbored peculiar sentiments. They believed the Flickering Light Saint Heir was likely an exception, that no one of his generation could overshadow his brilliance—not even a divine king.

Five elder-level figures lay dead at his feet. He had casually slain five great experts with a mere gesture—such remarkable prowess! It truly left people astonished.

He stood like a Divine Furnace from the Heavenly Realm, towering under the firmament, capable of refining all things in the world. His Life Qi, surging like the seas and tides, vast and tumultuous, blanketed half the sky. The sheer pressure was unbearable for many, who suffered soul wounds, divine wounds, and spirit wounds.

Every casual move he made produced boundless Holy Light that soared to the sky. A slight raise of his hand would send dazzling radiance sweeping across the ten directions. He resembled an Immortal King overlooking the mortal world, the Holy Light naturally emanating from him, vast enough to blot out the heavens!

"Junior Brother Ye, you look quite pleased with yourself," Li Heishui and the others said upon seeing Ye Fan. However, they didn’t come forward to greet him, communicating through secret voice transmissions instead.

"What’s there for this poor Daoist to be pleased about?" Ye Fan asked, puzzled.

"Don’t try to fool us with that fake Daoist act of yours. I’m starting to seriously doubt whether you’re *that* despicable Daoist. You seem even less like a good person than he does," Li Heishui muttered.

"I am full of righteous fervor and noble spirit! Why do you slander me so?"

Tu Fei exclaimed, "I’m telling you, Little Kid Ye, you truly are despicable! So young, yet your heart is even blacker than Li Heishui’s. If Yao Xi finds out it was you afterwards, I can’t imagine the look on her face. Still, I’m kind of looking forward to it."

Li Heishui retorted, dissatisfied, "How is my heart dark? My heart is pure! Don’t let this brat sully my name." Then, rubbing his hands together, he added, "I’m really looking forward to this! Little Kid Ye, you have to keep it up! Continue flirting with the Flickering Light Sacred Lady, keep exchanging those meaningful glances. I want to see her expression when she learns everything, heh heh..."

"You two... you’re really something else! Am I really that bad? This poor Daoist just happened to be there; it was entirely unintentional."

"Enough, you did it intentionally. Stop talking; the more you explain, the more hypocritical you sound. However, we brothers have high hopes for you," Jiang Huairen also chimed in via voice transmission. "To dare hold a little nun’s hand right in front of the Prince of Great Xia! You’ve got potential and guts. In the future, there’ll be no misdeed you won’t dare to commit. Truly a genius in our line of work!"

"Now, you and the Flickering Light Sacred Lady must rekindle your old flame. We’ll do our utmost to bring you two together," Liu Kou said with a strange laugh.

"Rekindle what old flame?"

"Naturally, it means you two hitting it off. But don’t be blinded by her beauty. You need to lie low and then, at the right moment, deliver them a blow. We’ll cooperate fully and wish you success in your scandalous liaison!"

...

Ye Fan didn’t avoid them. Instead, he stood openly with the group. Of course, on the surface, none of these matters were discussed; they only communicated through secret voice transmissions.

They seemed to be acquainted, but it didn’t give the impression of a profound friendship. Meanwhile, Ye Fan eagerly greeted those around him, acting completely at ease and familiar with everyone.

"Rest assured, they won’t trace anything back to us. Everything has been arranged. At most, to outsiders, our relationship will just seem like we’re mere acquaintances..." Wu Zhongtian transmitted secretly.

"Alright, we’re off!" Tu Fei, Li Heishui, and the others called out, then flew away swiftly.

Just then, the Flickering Light Saint Heir strode forward, halos of light forming with each step, linked beneath his feet. Behind his head, a resplendent disc shone, illuminating all directions and making him appear god-like.

Wu Zhongtian didn’t leave immediately. He faced the Flickering Light Saint Heir from a distance, saying nothing. Finally, after a deep, long look, he soared into the sky.

The Flickering Light Saint Heir smiled brilliantly and nodded. Then, he transformed into a streak of morning light, leaving a trail of golden radiance in the sky as he sped towards Kunyun City.

Ye Fan murmured to himself, *"The Attack and Kill Holy Technique, one of the Nine Secret Arts..."* He didn’t linger, rising into the sky before the crowd dispersed.

The Nine Secret Arts were supreme secret techniques, each representing the pinnacle of its respective field. Ye Fan had already mastered two of them and comprehended their boundless Mysterious Meanings.

He believed that when he roamed the world in the near future, these two mysterious arts would undoubtedly be his greatest assets.

Ye Fan was very satisfied with this trip to Kun Yun. He had gained an opportunity to enter Jade Lake and was now speeding towards the Qingxia Sect like the wind.

He didn’t immediately enter Jade Lake because he wanted to ensure absolute safety. Although the Heaven and Earth Changing Technique could deceive the successors of a Sacred Land, it might not fool the immortal eyes of the Yaochi Saint Mother. If any flaw were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Of course, he had little time to delay. He needed to resolve this issue immediately; it could be said that time was of the essence.

Qingxia appeared as it always had: verdant mountains and clear waters, eighteen peaks shrouded in drifting mist, with waterfalls cascading from high above—a delightful and picturesque scene.

Ye Fan reverted to his True Body and returned to the Qingxia Sect. Upon seeing the young "great evil person" (as he was known to them) return, the sect members’ emotions were complex.

"Haven’t the Li Huo Sect, Luoxia Sect, Seven Stars Pavilion, and Xuanyue Cave come to attack?"

"Although they haven’t attacked directly, mysterious individuals often appear, coveting our Qingxia," one of Qingxia’s Elders responded.

Ye Fan sneered. "Leave Qingxia for now and return in twenty days. By then, I will have resolved all these issues."

"What... leave Qingxia?!" The three Elders were very troubled.

"Leave. They’ve likely seen through our pretense and can’t hold back any longer. Staying might truly lead to the sect’s annihilation." Ye Fan turned around, adding, "It’s not about abandoning Qingxia, just a temporary retreat to endure and regroup."

He could have actually called upon Wu Zhongtian, Tu Fei, and the others to directly wipe out those four sects. However, he didn’t want to do that, as he didn’t wish to draw unwanted outside attention.

These minor bandits are prominent figures in the Northern Region. Who knows how many eyes are watching them? If they traced things back to me, it would be troublesome.

After sending everyone away, Ye Fan also departed from Qingxia and immediately entered seclusion.

He possessed Half Square Source, weighing sixteen to seventeen hundred pounds, enough for Ye Fan to break through the first Realm of the Dao Palace.

He searched for a hidden place hundreds of miles outside Qingxia and carved out a cave dwelling within a stone mountain.

「For a whole half month」

Ye Fan remained in seclusion. His Heart’s Divine Treasure grew increasingly Fire Red, resembling an unopened lotus flower. It generated strands of enormous Qi, yet it had not transformed into a god.

This puzzled him deeply. Having refined thousands of pounds of Source, how could there be no change?

However, during this process, he felt his own strength increasing. The "heavenly sun" within his body rose and set in a continuous cycle, and his Innate Essence burned fiercely.

Acquired Essence flowed in constantly, nurturing and merging into this divine treasure. It became increasingly crimson and translucent, seemingly having entirely metamorphosed into a true heavenly sun.

A rumbling sound resounded within Ye Fan’s body. He saw an immeasurable ocean, witnessed sunrises and sunsets, perceived vitality and burgeoning growth. Infinite life force was being nurtured, and endless power of the Dao circulated within him.

BOOM!

It was like the sun at high noon!

The Heart’s Divine Treasure ascended, settling in the void within his body’s inner world. Like a brilliant sun blazing in the sky, it reached its zenith, an endless aura permeating from it.

Ye Fan knew clearly that he had broken through the first Realm of the Dao Palace, crossing this threshold. However, his transformation was completely different from others; no god had taken form, and that celestial sun still hung there.

His Heart’s Divine Treasure had reached its peak, stepping into a state of perfection!

Although no god had appeared, Ye Fan was not disappointed. In fact, he didn’t want another version of himself appearing within his body; this outcome was more to his liking.

He didn’t understand why no god had taken form, but he definitely felt his own immense power—a sensation as if he could shatter mountains and rivers with a single stomp.

I need this feeling! There’s no need for so-called gods. The Heart’s Divine Treasure should be like this, transforming into a heavenly sun for my use!

Fiery flames erupted from his body. It was Innate Essence, enveloped by the fires of Acquired Essence, burning fiercely. Ye Fan seemed reborn from the inferno, his clothes completely incinerated. His body glistened and sparkled, filled with a mysterious power.

Only after a long time did the essence fire finally disappear, retreating within him.

Within his inner world, a hazy mist pervaded. He stepped towards the next divine treasure, as if ascending the Heavenly Road. Successfully crossing that threshold was akin to the difference between an immortal and a mortal.

The strength gained in the Second Realm of the Dao Palace was countless times greater than that of the first Realm; indeed, there was an insurmountable chasm between them.

The celestial sun shone brightly, ever-present, floating above his head and illuminating the path forward.

Soon, Ye Fan sensed an incomparably sharp aura. He had found the Lung’s Divine Treasure, which belonged to Metal among the Five Elements!

The Lung’s Divine Treasure connected with the Spiritual Energy Divine Path. It covered the viscera and, being highest in position, was known as the ’Canopy’ and considered the chief of the five organs. The energy of heaven and earth it processed was the purest. One would inhale and exhale the world’s Divine Source through it, making it primary. It was indeed the most crucial among the Five Great Divine Treasures.

He felt a flourishing vitality!

This divine treasure transmitted Essence, Qi, and Spirit, dispersing them throughout the entire body, reaching even the skin and hair. It gently nourished the five organs, six bowels, limbs, bones, muscles, skin, and hair. Its effects were beyond imagination!

Ye Fan still had several hundred pounds of Source before him. He sat unmoving, constantly refining it. The endless Source Qi was all absorbed into his body, converging into the ’Canopy’ divine treasure.

All forms of Qi belong to the lungs!

Each breath, in and out, connected him with the energies of the world!

This was a fundamental principle recorded in various ancient scriptures. Upon successfully entering this Realm, Ye Fan felt all the pores on his body open wide, as if he had connected with Heaven and Earth. His speed at channeling the energy of heaven and earth increased manyfold.

This... truly, each Realm is a world unto itself!

Ye Fan couldn’t help but be amazed. With such a transformation, his cultivation speed would greatly increase. By channeling a vast amount of the energy of heaven and earth, his strength would take a qualitative leap.

「On the eighteenth day」

Ye Fan’s entire body surged with enormous Qi. Strands of Dragon Qi emerged, coiling around him and rushing out, resembling the Emperor’s Dragon Qi of the Prince of Great Xia.

BANG!

Ye Fan’s entire body flashed with brilliant light. He broke through the stone wall and rushed out of his cave dwelling, reaching high into the sky in a single step. Two sharp beams of light shot from his eyes.

His strength had greatly increased. The Heaven and Earth Changing Technique, though unable to alter mountains and rivers, had allowed him to perfect the transformation of his own physical form.

I can enter the Jade Lake Sacred Land now... Ye Fan donned a Daoist robe and stepped into the void. His wide sleeves fluttered as he employed the old madman’s footwork, returning to Qingxia almost in an instant.

Green Mountain still stood. Unfortunately, many halls and pavilions had collapsed, and various medicinal herbs had all been uprooted. Even some stone walls were gouged out, for they bore inscriptions of some mental cultivation techniques.

Moreover, Ye Fan saw several corpses—all disciples of Qingxia. They hadn’t escaped and had all met violent deaths.

The Qingxia Main Peak had also been sheared off and carted away.

Ye Fan knew that the insights of generations of Head Elders were engraved on the Qingxia Main Peak, making it a precious treasure for the four sects.

Such thorough destruction... Ye Fan buried the bodies of the several Qingxia disciples. Then, he turned around coolly and stood before a waterfall, allowing the mist to envelop him.

"Who are you, Daoist, that you dare to come investigating here?" Li Youran, the successor of Xuanyue Cave, emerged, fanning himself with a folding fan.

From another direction, Du Chengkun, the lead Sect Leader’s Disciple of the Li Huo Sect, also stepped out. Following him, individuals from the Seven Stars Pavilion and Luoxia Sect emerged as well.

Ye Fan had sensed their presence long ago but hadn’t called them out. The successors of all four sects had been slapped by him in the past.

"Li Huo Sect, Luoxia Sect, Seven Stars Pavilion, Xuanyue Cave..." He shook his head. "To say that I should spare you... that won’t be easy."

"Such arrogance!" Li Youran sneered.

Du Chengkun was equally conceited. "You’re also a Daoist. You must be cut from the same cloth as that fat Daoist. Don’t even think about leaving today!"

They were brimming with confidence, having already ascertained the true situation. Moreover, the Supreme Sect Leader of Xuanyue Cave was meditating on the mountain Peak behind them.

Additionally, at the foot of another Green Mountain, a reclusive expert from the Li Huo Sect, who had been in seclusion for many years, stood beneath a large waterfall. The cascading water parted before him, not a single drop touching his body.

"Waiting here all this time—are you preparing to kill me?" Ye Fan swept his gaze over those present, a cold smirk playing on his lips. "It seems I truly am fated with the Unbegun Great Emperor. If it weren’t for all of you, I likely wouldn’t have found his dwelling place..."

"What are you talking about? Who is this Unbegun Great Emperor?" The old man beneath the waterfall suddenly opened his eyes.

"You are all natives of the Northern Region. Have you never heard the legends of the Unbegun Great Emperor?" Ye Fan asked. He genuinely wanted to learn something from them, though he didn’t hold out much hope.

"Are you stalling for time?" Du Chengkun jeered. "How could there be such a person in the Northern Region who dares to call himself a Great Emperor? Such audacity! Stop making things up!"

"I am speaking with your elder. Do not interrupt with nonsense," Ye Fan retorted, glancing at him.

"You, a little Daoist still wet behind the ears, dare to speak to me like that?" Du Chengkun, as the lead Sect Leader’s Disciple of the Li Huo Sect, was proud and arrogant. Being slighted by a teenage Daoist filled him with anger.

"Still playing dumb when death is at your doorstep..." Li Youran said, shaking his folding fan as he walked forward.

Ye Fan snorted coldly. With a wave of his sleeve—WHAP!—he sent the two flying. Without even glancing at them, he looked directly at the old man beneath the waterfall and the Supreme Sect Leader of Xuanyue Cave, who was meditating on the mountain Peak.

"In this Northern Region, the Jiang Family once produced a Great Emperor, and Jade Lake had an Empress. But those events are from long before the Ancient Desolation—at least over a hundred thousand, perhaps even over two hundred thousand years ago," the old man from the Li Huo Sect said, frowning.

"The Unbegun Great Emperor... is there truly such a person?" The Supreme Sect Leader of Xuanyue Cave remained seated on a blue stone atop the mountain Peak, his eyes still closed.

Ye Fan smiled faintly. "Since none of you know, then never mind. I’ll go observe for myself!"