Shrouding the Heavens - Chapter 225

The Emperor of Great Xia wasn’t the only powerhouse who died here; there were four Peacock Kings, and even an Eastern Wastelands Divine King, all of whom met their demise in the pine forest.

This was a notebook from a Heavenly Source Master, which clearly documented the identities discerned from the relics of those individuals; these words had been inscribed.

The ancient pavilion stood four meters high, its grounds covered in pine needles. Surrounded by trees, Moonlight cascaded down, lending it a serene and elegant atmosphere. The four stone pillars were densely engraved with numerous ancient characters.

Emperors, Peacock Kings, and even the Eastern Wastelands Divine King, all entered this secret land in their later years as their lifespans neared their end. Their cultivation bases were immense, yet they still perished in this forest.

Ye Fan observed the first stone pillar for a long time and could only sigh. No matter how outstanding one might be, the passage of time cannot be resisted. These individuals had come here in their later years hoping to prolong their lives, but ultimately, they failed.

He walked to the other side, approached the second stone pillar, and read it carefully. It recorded some of the history of this Heavenly Source Master, recounting some of his deeds before his death.

Ye Fan quickly browsed through it, stunned. This was the fourth-generation Heavenly Source Master—in a sense, his grandmaster!

The second stone pillar recorded the history of Source Technique inheritance. Since ancient times, only five Heavenly Source Masters had emerged in the Northern Region, all from the same lineage.

The name "Zhang Lin" was mentioned, who was an ancestor of Fifth Grandpa Zhang. He was a disciple of the fourth-generation Heavenly Source Master, accepted when the grandmaster was two hundred years old and already known to be in his "later years," preparing for matters after his death.

I’ve encountered the ancestral master...

The third stone pillar recorded some issues Ye Fan was most concerned about: the "when things reach an extreme, they reverse" Earth Formation here was nearly unsolvable. However, the fourth-generation grandmaster’s Source Technique had attained Creation, and he had managed to carve out a path to survival, avoiding being trapped and killed here.

It also clearly stated that he had sealed the surface, so it was no longer considered a dangerous situation, but the "power" underground was extremely difficult to unravel, and he had not dared to disturb it.

The ancient inscription solemnly warned future generations: even with an immense cultivation base and Source Technique comparable to a Heavenly Master, one should not act recklessly, otherwise a great disaster would surely befall them.

Ye Fan gasped. Even though the fourth-generation grandmaster had pacified the surface portion of the Immortal Forest, it was still so dangerous that it had nearly taken his life. This truly showed how vicious this place was.

Some Earth Formations are beyond human resolution; some mountains conceal profound secrets of burial that must never be disturbed. This was the stern warning from the fourth-generation grandmaster.

The words on the third stone pillar were ambiguous. Ye Fan pondered them carefully and finally gained some insight. Besides the warning, it subtly hinted at the secret of this land.

"Mountains bury ancient Saints..."

Aside from this "when things reach an extreme, they reverse" type of Earth Formation, the Immortal Forest nourished Divine Sources and was also a major burial ground.

Ye Fan silently contemplated, standing there for a long time. The underground is indeed terrifying. Even the fourth-generation grandmaster couldn’t resolve it; I must not touch it.

After pondering for a while, he came to the fourth stone pillar and was immediately moved. This pillar is priceless to me!

The characters on this stone pillar were very small and dense, engraved deeply—seared three inches into the pillar—as if to prevent them from being erased. This is unexpectedly a Chapter of Source Technique!

In over two hundred years, the fourth-generation grandmaster had faced life and death and had seen numerous dangerous places, some of which were beyond the scope of the *Heavenly Source Book*; even other rare texts offered no solutions for them.

The Source Technique he had learned was unable to overcome them; he relied entirely on his own ingenuity and flashes of inspiration to break through those Desolate Lands and survive into his later years. The text on this pillar was an insight he had before his death, a supplement to the *Heavenly Source Book*—it could even be considered a continuation of that wondrous book.

For "Grandpa Digger," this was akin to the *No Beginning Scripture*, a *Supreme Secret Scripture*, a coveted *Immortal Book* that not even Divine Sources could hope to obtain.

From ancient times to the present, only five Heavenly Source Masters had emerged. This was the culmination of a grandmaster’s lifelong efforts, its value beyond measure.

Ye Fan read each sentence attentively, silently memorizing it, afraid of missing a single symbol.

This text was very profound and difficult to understand. It described various Source Techniques, previously unheard of, that were close to the Dao. Ye Fan could not comprehend them; he could only memorize them silently.

After ingraining it into his memory, he flicked his sleeve. Stone fragments flew, and this Chapter of Source Technique disappeared forever. He estimated that if these Source Techniques were added to the *Heavenly Source Book*, it would comprise nine more pages.

Indeed, the fourth-generation grandmaster was a prodigious talent, to have written nine more pages... Ye Fan sighed.

After viewing the four stone pillars, he wondered why the fourth-generation grandmaster had come here and where he had eventually gone.

In the pavilion, there was a stone table and four stone stools. Time, like a knife, had engraved marks upon them named "Passing"—mundane, yet filled with the accumulation of years.

However, they were dust-free. Despite being old, they were still relatively clean. Ye Fan stepped forward, surprised to find that there were traces of writing on the stone table, albeit very light and faint, barely visible.

He sat on a stone stool and examined it closely, his heart pounding. It mentioned the Heavenly Source Master’s later years!

The fourth-generation grandmaster was not at the end of his life but had sensed his "later years" approaching and that ominous events were coming. He didn’t want to experience the same changes his predecessors had, and sought to resolve this, hence he came to the Taichu Forbidden Area.

No way... Ye Fan was puzzled. He believed a Heavenly Source Master’s terrifying "later years" were certainly related to a lifetime of seeking Source; coming to the Taichu Forbidden Area was like digging one’s own grave.

It’s not to say this place is the end of all Source in the world, but it’s close. How could he come here to avoid disaster?

He carefully read further, gradually understanding the fourth-generation grandmaster’s plight. Although the world was vast, there seemed to be nowhere safe for him. After much deliberation, he had entered this place. The "when things reach an extreme, they reverse" type of Earth Formation was rare in antiquity; he wanted to use its "extreme" and "reverse" properties to change his fate.

Does this grandmaster rest in peace here? Ye Fan scanned his surroundings.

The pine forest is tranquil, the Moonlight tender, the stream serene. Where is there any tomb?

The fourth-generation grandmaster’s tone, evident in the writing, was resolute: he did not want to experience the changes of his predecessors and was determined to resolve the peril of his later years. At the end of the inscription on the stone table, an arrow pointed towards the dense forest.

This pine forest stretched boundlessly, graceful under the night moon, with a silver, thin smoke drifting through it.

Ye Fan stood in the pavilion for a while, then stepped forward. After leaving the pavilion, the ancient scripture in his hand suddenly began to RUSTLE, glowing with auspicious light.

In the Immortal Forest, the Source Heaven Patterns shimmered, guiding the way forward.

I understand. Whether it’s the ancient pavilion or this path, they were left for the next person to hold the ancient scripture. Otherwise, the Runes buried underground would never be discovered.

What exactly happened in the later years of a Heavenly Source Master? Did the fourth-generation grandmaster manage to escape his fate? Perhaps the answers lie ahead.

"As a Heavenly Source Master, one determines dragon veins and extracts precious Divine Sources throughout their life, often venturing into remote mountains and wilderness, unearthing many things that should not see the light of day. Perhaps that’s why they incurred heaven’s wrath," Ye Fan murmured to himself.

In the future, I might also become a Heavenly Source Master. I wonder if I’ll face the same calamity in my later years. I still can’t fully comprehend what kind of shocking change it could be.

As he walked through the forest, Ye Fan encountered no danger. The Source Heaven Patterns on the ground intertwined like dragons and serpents, resembling a Mystic Turtle pulling a cart, attracting Star Power from the sky, which spilled forth in soft brilliance.

The fourth-generation grandmaster indeed achieved Creation! These must be the measures he used to seal the earth’s surface. More than ten thousand years have passed, yet they haven’t weakened.

Ye Fan felt great admiration. This grandmaster was truly remarkable; even Peacock Kings and Emperors in their later years had perished here, yet he had forged a path to survival.

In terms of Combat Power, a Heavenly Source Master couldn’t match the great Peacock Kings, but in such Desolate Lands, he could be regarded as an unparalleled genius, even superior to an Emperor of the Central States.

The grandmaster unraveled the peril on the surface, so why am I still trapped here? How can I escape? Why didn’t he leave any relevant information? Could it be further ahead?

Ye Fan wished to see the ultimate fate of the fourth-generation grandmaster, but more than that, he wanted to leave this place. If even a Heavenly Source Master couldn’t fully unravel the Immortal Forest, the danger lurking underground was unimaginable.

He feared that lingering too long might awaken something, which would be catastrophic.

After advancing over several miles, Ye Fan gradually discovered three dilapidated buildings, not very large, similar to the first Divine Temple he saw, all very aged and nearly collapsed.

It was a miracle they hadn’t fallen after so many years. Ye Fan believed that there must be Dao Glyphs and other engravings inside; otherwise, any building would have turned to dust long ago.

This was a genuine Ancient ruin, located in the Taichu Forbidden Area. If any artifact could be found, it must be of phenomenal origin.

However, Ye Fan only observed and did not dare to approach. He was now only following the path indicated by the Source Heaven Patterns, not daring to take risks.

The Source Heaven Patterns corresponded with the stars above, with silver threads weaving into the forest like flickering candle flames.

After walking four more miles, a majestic building stood across the forest, blocking the way. The Source Heaven Patterns led to this place.

The Ancient Temple was vast, like a mountain wall lying ahead. Even towering ancient pines could not completely conceal it.

Yet, the silver Moonlight shining down didn’t make it appear bright or sacred. Instead, it seemed eerie.

Built with large black stones, it absorbed light, resembling a dust-laden ghost fortress, silent, without a sound.

The large door was wide open. Darkness lay within, revealing nothing, like a passage into an Abyss.

Did the fourth-generation grandmaster hide here during his later years? Did it change his fate? Ye Fan felt this grand Divine Temple was somewhat eerie and too dark; even with his keen vision, he couldn’t see anything inside.

The later years of a Heavenly Source Master... Whatever the case, I must go in and find out what happened. He stepped forward.

Pine needles lay several feet thick, half burying the stone steps. They felt soft underfoot. After advancing ten meters, the stone steps rose up to the ancient building.

There are words...

Before the wide-open Stone Gate was a clearing where some Runes were engraved on the stone tablet.

Ye Fan was shocked to see the Fire Dragon Tomb, to see Dragon Blood, to see this pine forest, all intricately engraved on the stone tablet.

Additionally, there were some annotations from the fourth-generation grandmaster and many incomprehensible symbols.

Ye Fan was very shocked. The engravings on the ground connected the Fire Dragon Tomb with this place.

The Fire Dragon Tomb wound around, with corpses lying scattered. Dragon Blood was also engraved in shocking detail. Most intriguingly, there was an ancient coffin in the engraved pine forest.

A low mountain ridge connected the Fire Dragon Tomb to this pine forest, resembling an iron chain.

This is the True Dragon Pulling Coffin!

Ye Fan’s face changed at once. The stone carving on the ground startled him greatly. The lines of that ancient coffin were very fine, and even the patterns seemed familiar to him.

Indeed, it felt familiar! Similar to the huge bronze coffin drawn by the nine dragon corpses that brought me to this world!

Not exactly the same, but very similar!

What is this...

His scalp tingled slightly. Fire Dragon Tomb and Dragon Blood... that’s a True Dragon, connected to the ancient coffin in the pine forest! Isn’t this the True Dragon Pulling Coffin? It strongly resembles the nine dragon corpses pulling a coffin!

What on earth is going on?!

Ye Fan was stunned. This was a real topographical map, with a low mountain ridge between the Fire Dragon Tomb and the pine forest, like a true iron chain connecting the two.

This is the topography of an area several hundred miles wide! When engraved on the stone tablet, it reveals such a profound mystery!