Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 317 - 318 Chapter 223 An Miaoyi

318: Chapter 223 An Miaoyi 318: Chapter 223 An Miaoyi Beside the vast lake, lush trees thrived, strange rocks were scattered about, and the sound of silk and bamboo drifted melodiously.

Many travelers paused when passing through.

Suddenly, a jade boat sliced through the sky, arriving above the great lake.

It was surrounded by clouds and mist, with bits of glowing colorful light sparkling, ethereal and pure.

Delightful music flowed softly and mystically, enveloping the air like celestial music from the Nine Heavens, enchanting souls and cleansing hearts.

“The heir of Miao Yu Temple has arrived!” “An Miaoyi, it must be her.

It’s long been rumored that the female disciples of Miao Yu Temple are emerging, attracting disciples from the Ancient Nobilities to the Sacred City.” “She will be the future Nunnery Master of Miao Yu Temple.

Could she really have come?

If so, the disciples of the Sacred Lands and Ancient Nobilities will likely engage in overt and covert struggles again.” …

The jade boat reflected a spectrum of colors.

A young girl stood atop it, her snow-white dress gently fluttering, contouring her perfect figure most enchantingly.

At the lakeside, most people were cultivators, their eyesight naturally keen, allowing them to clearly observe the girl’s appearance.

She shone like a bright pearl exuding radiance, transcendent and graceful, exceptionally beautiful.

Divine charm was hidden within her, born with natural elegance; her looks were nearly flawless.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred.

This girl named An Miaoyi is indeed incredibly beautiful, comparable to Yan Ruyu, with no defects to be found.

She appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen years old.

Her figure was slender and tall, as if meticulously carved from celestial jade.

She had a cold and elegant temperament, her snow-white skin seeming to carry a hint of frost.

“This must be An Miaoyi.

I’ve long heard of her unparalleled beauty, hard to find in the Eastern Wastelands; she’s a peerless beauty.

Sadly, she was born in this sect, destined for her brightness to be dimmed.” Someone shook their head in regret, seemingly very disappointed.

Miao Yu Temple really had a bad reputation; otherwise, they wouldn’t run a place like the Wind and Moon Land in the Sacred City, their cultivation being closely related to it.

However, the extraordinary An Miaoyi showed no traces of worldliness.

She was radiant yet cold and severe, resembling a body of icy jade, appearing transcendent and pure.

This created a stark contrast, leading many to speculate she was a rare beauty, as if formed from spring water, yet the truth was her skin and bones were as cold as ice.

Dots of colorful light danced as An Miaoyi stood alone on the jade boat, her black hair flowing, her white dress floating.

Untouched by worldly affairs, she was like a fairy from the Moon Palace, even more sacred than the sacred ladies of the various Sacred Lands.

Ye Fan’s expression remained calm.

He doesn’t really believe this woman was born with such an icy pure aura.

He thinks that Miao Yu Temple grasped the human heart well.

Despite being a massive power with a notorious reputation, they shaped such a Goddess, a sacred lady, completely exploiting psychological needs.

Because their cultivation ultimately results in jade lotuses stained by dust, they are unable to remain pure and transcendent for life, inevitably falling into the Wind and Moon Land.

This merely serves to make her more appealing, more captivating—creating a lofty, elegant woman detached from the world, all to further entice people.

“Why do you smile so devilishly?

What wicked plan are you concocting?” the man beside him, who had once informed Ye Fan of some news, asked.

Ye Fan chuckled, saying, “Nothing.

I just think Miao Yu Temple is quite extraordinary, wrapping up the ‘gift’ so gorgeously, fishing for ‘celestial fish’ here.” “What are you talking about?” Ye Fan smiled faintly.

“What one can’t have is always perceived as the best.

They create a celestial fairy at the utmost heights only to please some people, giving them the chance to drag her into mortality.

Just as you said, the disciples from the various Sacred Lands and Ancient Nobilities will mostly be lured here.” The man refuted, saying, “What nonsense are you spouting?

An Miaoyi was born with accompanying Immortal Light.

She’s a natural beauty, pure and transcendent, by no means a facade.” “Do you mean I was wrong?” Ye Fan stubbornly wouldn’t believe such claims.

“Although Miao Yu Temple has a bad reputation, An Miaoyi truly emerged unstained,” the man defended fervently.

Ye Fan’s lips curled slightly in a smile.

“Just after meeting her, you are already so firm.

As expected from a superior power like Miao Yu Temple, they manipulate people’s hearts, not through mere appearances.” WHOOSH!

With a flash of brilliance, the Five-Colored Jade Boat vanished into the depths of the sky over the lake, disappearing into a cloud-wrapped realm of jade palaces, ethereal and elusive.

“I, An Miaoyi, shall play a moonlit melody…” A Heavenly Sound, clear and elegant, transmitted from the palace in the mist.

Yet, carefully savoring it, one felt intoxicated down to the bones; its high purity and charm stirred the heart.

An Miaoyi had arrived in the Sacred City, and this news spread quickly.

It was said that as the bright moon began to rise, she would play a melody by the lake, provoking boundless discussion.

Without a doubt, tonight the surroundings of Miao Yu Lake would be packed with people.

An Miaoyi’s emergence was announced.

She had long been rumored to be one of the most beautiful women in the Eastern Wastelands, her beauty renowned worldwide.

Now that the “jade lotus” was still unstained, disciples from the Sacred Lands and Ancient Nobilities alike would surely be drawn to her.

Ye Fan left Miao Yu Lake and continued walking.

After more than an hour, he had only covered a corner of the Sacred City.

Circumventing the emerald lake, he entered an ancient alley.

He was uncertain of its age, but the stones paving the ground had been polished smooth by countless footsteps.

Having seen so many grand palaces and continuous halls, Ye Fan wanted to enter these ancient alleys to see what he might encounter in their nooks and crannies.

He wandered through winding turns and, upon emerging from the ancient alley, unexpectedly found himself entering a Free Marketplace, a lively area.

Ye Fan was amazed.

Despite the stalls appearing shabby compared to those palaces, they displayed many good items.

Green Copper Gold Essence, Red Jade Marrow, Divine Blood Soil, Star Stone…

All kinds of precious materials were available.

Many of these items were treasures that the Big Black Dog wanted to gather to engrave Dao Glyphs.

They were difficult to find in the outside world, yet even in a nook or cranny of the Sacred City, they could be found.

This compelled him to sigh in admiration.

The Sacred City indeed deserves to be the center of the northern region, a place where the turbulent events of the world converge.

These things can only be placed on ground stalls, in who knows how many similar corners.

Such free marketplaces must be countless.

It could be speculated that in those magnificent buildings and palaces, there must be even more precious items.

Ye Fan made half a round and saw many rare herbs: Jade Serpent Orchid, Nine Leaf Phoenix Herb, Scarlet Moon Fruit, Black Jade Divine Lotus…

Their fragrance filled the air; they were absolute treasures.

“As long as you have Sources, you really can buy anything.” He sighed somewhat.

Sources aren’t omnipotent, but without Sources, you can’t do anything.

Ye Fan went through half of the marketplace and came to an area selling stone materials.

These stalls only displayed a few stones each, looking very ordinary, with nothing abnormal about them.

However, Ye Fan was somewhat alarmed.

These stone materials were not simple; they were tinged with a touch of the Taichu aura.

Asking around revealed their extravagantly high prices.

“Young man, buy a stone piece!

Credibility assured.

They are seed materials from an old Taichu pit; sometimes you might cut out a stunning treasure!” an old man squatted on the ground, recommending some strange stones from his stall to Ye Fan.

Many people were in the Free Marketplace, coming and going, occasionally stopping.

Ye Fan looked up and was instantly surprised.

Above the Free Marketplace, a magnificent Heaven Temple was suspended in the air, grand and extraordinary.

What place is that?

Could it be another Wind and Moon spot?

“Young man, what are you thinking?

That is the Treasure Palace of the Heavenly Demon Palace, one of the seven major Auction Houses in the Sacred City.

They often auction peerless treasures here at sky-high prices,” said the old man beside him.

A suspended Auction House, truly luxurious…

Ye Fan was speechless for a long time before asking, “Are Divine Sources auctioned there?” “Yes, indeed there have been,” the old man nodded seriously.

HISS!

Ye Fan gasped.

Coming to the Sacred City was indeed the right decision.

The old man said, “What’s the big deal?

The Treasure Palace of the Heavenly Demon Palace, as one of the seven major Auction Houses in the Sacred City, has auctioned all sorts of things.

Six months ago, they even auctioned a scroll of ancient scriptures.” “What?!” Ye Fan was truly shocked.

A Supreme Secret Scripture is exclusive to the Sacred Lands!

“It wasn’t complete.

Reportedly, it was just a Fragmented Scripture, relating to some secret boundary.” Even so, Ye Fan was deeply surprised.

The Sacred City is indeed extraordinary, even auctioning divine items like Divine Sources and ancient scriptures.

The old man laughed and said, “Are you visiting the Sacred City for the first time, young man?

Heh heh.

Speaking of which, just a few days ago, the Treasure Palace of the Heavenly Demon Palace auctioned Dragon Pattern Black Gold.” “No way!

Such things can be auctioned?

That’s an exclusive holy divine relic of a Great Emperor, seen just once in countless generations!” Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat.

He knew that the Extreme Dao Holy Weapon of Flickering Light was forged from Dragon Pattern Black Gold.

“It was only a fingernail-sized piece, far too little.

Even if an ancient Great Emperor were revived, it wouldn’t be enough to forge Extreme Dao Weapons.” Ye Fan felt slightly reassured and nodded.

He remembered his fist-sized piece of Phoenix Blood Red Gold; it would surely be enough to forge a Vajra.

Perhaps, if it became absolutely necessary, it could be auctioned to exchange for Divine Sources.

However, Ye Fan wouldn’t consider auctioning it unless he was in dire straits.

Phoenix Blood Red Gold is hard to find even once in countless generations, and he planned to keep it for forging his own sacred weapons.

Eventually, he left the Free Marketplace.

The Sacred City was extremely luxurious, having everything.

This included motivating locations like the Demon King Pavilion and the Holy Master Palace, as well as Gambling Stone Workshops, Wind and Moon Lands, and Drunken Residences.

It was a Demon City that could inspire aggressive exploration or be a place to waste time and indulge in decadence.

After half a day of walking, Ye Fan had barely covered a small area, just a corner of the Sacred City.

The city was incredibly large, reportedly nearly a hundred li across.

This isn’t feasible.

I have to find Li Heishui to give me an introduction to this city.

My understanding is too superficial; I need a local as a guide, Ye Fan thought.

Before coming here, Tu Fei had already informed him how to find Li Heishui.

Before sunset, Ye Fan arrived at an ancient alley, entered a very small Stone House, and finally found Li Heishui.

Li Heishui had a dark complexion and a strong build.

He looked to be around twenty-three or twenty-four years old and was the grandson of Li Heng, the eighth great robber.

Before coming here, Tu Fei had told him that Li Heishui was as cunning and capable as his name suggested—very scheming.

Tu Fei, the big mouth, joked that he himself could only talk, while Li Heishui not only talked but also acted.

“Little kid Ye, you’re a celebrity now!

Everyone in the northern region knows you.

Rest assured, coming to the Sacred City and finding me was the right decision.” After reading Tu Fei’s letter, Li Heishui patted his chest and said, “First, I’ll take you to relax a bit.” “You are the Lord of Earth here, so I’ll follow your lead,” Ye Fan smiled.

“The Sacred City has ten renowned Wind and Moon Lands.

Miao Yu Temple, Shuiyue Small Building, and Guanghan Palace are the best three choices.

It’s up to you to decide.” Li Heishui, with his thick eyebrows, big eyes, and dark complexion, looked honest, but one should not be deceived by his appearance.

Ye Fan was initially startled, then couldn’t help but laugh.

“Let’s just find a place to have a couple of drinks.

I mainly want to learn more about the Sacred City from you; please give me a thorough introduction.” Li Heishui waved his hand very domineeringly.

“Tonight, we’ll only talk about ‘wind and moon,’ nothing else!

The rest can wait until tomorrow.

You’ve come all this way; how can I not host you properly?!” 「At night」 The Sacred City was splendid.

The sky filled with sparkling starlight that descended like a thin mist into the city, while Moonlight flowed down like ripples.

“The Sacred City can automatically absorb All Heavens Star Power,” Li Heishui explained.

“This city is truly extraordinary!” was all Ye Fan could exclaim.

“Tonight, we’re going to Miao Yu Lake!

I didn’t expect An Miaoyi to have emerged.

This most beautiful woman in the Eastern Wastelands has come to the Sacred City—it’s definitely a major event for the younger generation.

Disciples from the various Sacred Lands and Ancient Nobilities will surely head over.

Tonight is bound to be lively!” Li Heishui chuckled.