Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 348 - 349 Chapter 354 Taiyin Body

349: Chapter 354 Taiyin Body 349: Chapter 354 Taiyin Body The cold wind howled and snow swirled chaotically.

The small tavern, looking shabby and devoid of customers, sat at the corner of the street.

Years had passed since they last met, and Old Man Jiang looked even older now.

His hair was completely white, and the wrinkles on his face had multiplied.

The tables and chairs were already immaculate, yet he continued to wipe them slowly.

His cloudy, old eyes seemed filled with reminiscence, lost in memories, his expression somewhat dazed.

He wore very old, patched clothes, and his hands were covered in calluses.

His movements were slow, his back already bent, his white hair sparse.

Seeing this, Ye Fan felt a pang in his heart.

Why is it like this?

The Jiang Family brought the old man and his granddaughter to the northern region; why is their life still so difficult?

This lonely old man had lost his son in his later years and raised Little Tingting all by himself.

He had thought their lives would change for the better after coming to the Jiang Family, yet this was the reality.

He walked into the small tavern, bringing a gust of cold wind with him.

The old man’s frail body shivered, and he slowly turned around.

Ye Fan quickly shut the door, blocking the cold wind.

A smile appeared on his face as he asked, “Old Man, do you have anything to eat?” Old Man Jiang seemed very happy to see a guest.

The wrinkles on his face appeared to soften a little.

He wiped his hands and brought over some tea.

“What would you like to eat, young lad?” “Just anything will do.

No need for anything special.” Ye Fan didn’t want to trouble him; seeing such an elderly person still running a small tavern made him feel a pang of pity.

“Alright, please wait a moment.” Old Man Jiang turned and went to prepare the food.

Ye Fan quietly examined the small tavern.

It was tiny, with only a few tables, but it was kept very clean.

Its layout and furnishings were very similar, almost resembling the tavern from the past.

There was still no assistant; the old man ran it all by himself.

In the freezing cold of winter, there were hardly any customers.

Ye Fan scanned every corner.

He realized the old man seemed to be living alone here, as he couldn’t find any trace of Little Tingting, like her small clothes or other belongings.

Soon, the old man brought out some steaming hot dishes.

They weren’t delicacies, but they looked appetizing.

Ye Fan ate a large bowl of noodles and several flatbreads, finishing every dish.

“Such a good appetite, young lad!

Back in my youth, I could eat this much too…” Old Man Jiang smiled kindly and asked if he was full.

“I’m full.

It was delicious and perfectly to my taste,” Ye Fan said with a smile.

Old Man Jiang cleared the dishes and poured him fresh tea.

Having a guest made his face fill with genuine joy.

“Do you live here alone, Old Man?” Ye Fan began to inquire.

“Yes, I do.” The old man started wiping a table again.

“Old Man, the table is already very clean.

Look, it’s gleaming.

If you keep wiping it, you could use it as a mirror.” “When one gets old and has nothing much to do, one just can’t help but want to wipe things.” Old Man Jiang put down the rag, shook his head, and sat down.

“Don’t you have any family?” Ye Fan asked cautiously, afraid of saddening the old man.

“I do.

I have a granddaughter.” Although the old man was smiling, Ye Fan saw a hidden worry in his eyes, as if something was troubling him.

What’s wrong?

Did something happen to Tingting?

Ye Fan was puzzled.

“Does she not live with you?” “No, she’s cultivating with others.

But she’s a very dutiful child; she comes back to see me every half a month.” The old man looked very pleased.

Yet Ye Fan grew even more suspicious, for the old man clearly had some hidden worry, a gloominess that wouldn’t dissipate.

Ye Fan thought for a moment, then stepped out of the small tavern.

He strolled around the small town, using his Source Heaven Divine Sense to scan his surroundings.

He found no cultivators, nor any members of the Jiang Family; there were only ordinary people.

Soon, he returned to the small tavern.

“Come, young lad, have another bowl of tea.” Old Man Jiang beckoned, not asking why he had returned.

“Old Man, do you remember me?” Ye Fan’s bones crackled as he reverted to his original appearance.

He needed to find out what had happened, as he couldn’t stop worrying about the old man and his granddaughter.

“Child, it’s you…” Old Man Jiang’s cloudy eyes widened in surprise.

Years had passed, and Ye Fan’s appearance had changed somewhat; he now looked about fifteen or sixteen.

But the old man recognized him quickly.

“Child, you…” The old man was very emotional.

“Old Man Jiang, please sit down.

Take your time and tell me,” Ye Fan said, helping him to a chair by the fire furnace.

“I heard from Tingting that you caused a great commotion and many people are looking for you,” Old Man Jiang said, very worried.

Ye Fan smiled.

“I’m doing very well, don’t worry.

No one can catch me.” “Every time Tingting comes back, she says she wants to cultivate hard so she can rescue you in the future.

I worry about you too.” Ye Fan was very moved.

They had separated when Little Tingting was only four or five, and he had thought that after so many years, a child so young might have forgotten him.

He hadn’t expected this sensible child to still remember him and want to rescue him.

The sacred body, possessing holy divine relics, had stirred endless turmoil in the northern region.

Word of this had reached the Jiang Family, and even Little Tingting had heard of it.

Old Man Jiang grasped Ye Fan’s hand with his callused ones, had him sit beside him, and observed him carefully.

“It’s good that you’re unharmed.

As long as you’re alright.” “Old Man, what exactly happened?

Why aren’t you living with the Jiang Family?” “It’s all cultivators there, and I’m just an ordinary person.

Their homes are suspended in the sky; I’m not used to it.” “There must be other reasons, right?” Ye Fan asked.

The old man nodded.

“I don’t want to hear all that idle gossip.

I can manage to live on my own.” Anger flared in Ye Fan’s heart.

“You’re at such an advanced age!

How could they have the heart to let you leave and live out here?” He already understood.

The Jiang Family had wronged Jiang Zhe, who was Old Man Jiang’s father.

This had caused a genius of his generation to flee far from home and die filled with resentment.

How could they treat Old Man Jiang like this now?

“No, I was the one who insisted on leaving.

I didn’t want to live there.

To me, those people are like Daoist saints.

Me, a mere mortal, living in a palace among the clouds…

It was truly uncomfortable, and I didn’t even have anyone to talk to.” How is Tingting?

Is there something wrong?

Ye Fan still felt there was some hidden trouble.

“My poor granddaughter…

she might not live past twenty.” Cloudy tears streamed down the old man’s face.

Ye Fan was instantly shocked.

“What exactly happened?” “Tingting has something called a Taiyin Body.

They say those with it die young…” Old Man Jiang’s tears flowed endlessly.

When Tingting first entered the Jiang Family, her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, putting many geniuses to shame.

Her talent shocked a group of the Jiang Family’s old-timers.

Unfortunately, not long after, some retired old-timers from the Jiang Family discovered that she possessed the world-renowned rare Taiyin Body.

In terms of physique, it was super powerful.

However, people with such a physique do not live long; most die young.

Since ancient times, apart from one or two individuals who left their mark in the annals of cultivation, no others had lived past the age of twenty.

After she was found to have this physique, Old Man Jiang heard many rumors.

He was a mortal in a family of cultivators, where everyone could soar through the heavens and tunnel through the earth.

He felt very lonely there and didn’t want to listen to such talk, so he insisted on moving out.

From Old Man Jiang’s account, Ye Fan keenly sensed that the Jiang Family was very complex, seemingly divided into two factions.

Old Man Jiang and Little Tingting were descendants of Divine King Jiang Taixu’s line.

This line had few members, but they were all powerful and took good care of Little Tingting and her grandfather.

The members of the other faction, however, were very indifferent, and most of the gossip came from them.

“But that’s no reason for them to let you live in such a shabby little tavern!” Ye Fan was very dissatisfied.

“Those who are close to Tingting built a mansion for me in a large city where mortals lived, but I couldn’t get used to it.

I’m old and always nostalgic.

I preferred the little tavern in that small town in the southern region, so I came here.” “Tingting, she…” “Tingting herself is quite optimistic, but I…” The old man’s eyes clouded over again.

Little Tingting’s cultivation progressed at a divine speed.

In less than five years, she had already become a little cultivator at the Paramita Realm, and she wasn’t even nine years old yet.

Many of the Jiang Family’s elder figures were astounded.

The cultivation speed of a Taiyin Body was too astonishing.

Unfortunately, she was destined to die young, which made them feel it was a great pity.

Ye Fan was also shocked.

This was almost one realm per year!

It immediately reminded him of Xia Jiuyou, who had already been a powerhouse in the Four Extremes Realm at the age of thirteen or fourteen.

Little Tingting’s cultivation speed was definitely comparable to hers.

The Elder Cultivators close to Little Tingting tried various methods, delving into Ancient Books and concocting various spiritual medicines, but nothing worked.

Ultimately, they were helpless.

“Is there really no way at all?” Thinking that the adorable Little Tingting might not have long to live, Ye Fan felt his heart clench.

“I heard them say that only by finding the Earth Destiny Fruit can one prevent the early death associated with the Taiyin Body.” The worry etched on the old man’s brow was deep and unyielding.

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat.

The Human Essence Fruit matures into the Earth Destiny Fruit, which is comparable to an Ancient Divine Medicine—an extremely rare treasure.

Unfortunately, both Ancient Divine Medicine and the Earth Destiny Fruit were virtually extinct.

Even old Peacock Kings and old Emperors, whose lifespans were dwindling in their later years, had scoured the Great Wilderness for them to no avail.

If found, it could grant them rebirth; its value is immeasurable!

Alas, no one had ever heard of anyone finding one.

“Don’t worry, Old Man.

I can find the Earth Destiny Fruit.

Little Tingting will be alright.” “Child, you can find it?” Old Man Jiang’s eyes widened.

Then he shook his head and said, “You don’t need to comfort me.

I’ve already accepted this reality.” “I’ve cut a Human Essence Fruit from stone before.

When it matures, it becomes an Earth Destiny Fruit.

I believe I can cut out such a Divine Fruit in the future.” “Really?” Old Man Jiang was very surprised.

“They say that unless a Heavenly Source Master is revived, there’s only a slim hope of finding an Earth Destiny Fruit.” Ye Fan smiled at that.

“I say this because I have obtained the legacy of a Heavenly Source Master.

Leave Little Tingting’s matter to me.

Even if I can’t cut out an Earth Destiny Fruit, I will find a way to get her an Ancient Divine Medicine.” “Really…

really?” Old Man Jiang choked with emotion, grabbing Ye Fan’s hand with his rough, trembling hands, asking again and again.

“Really!

You can rest assured!” Ye Fan affirmed.

“In a few more days, Tingting should be back to see me.

Child, you should meet her then.” Ye Fan smiled.

“Of course, I want to see her.

It’s been almost five years; I wonder what the little girl looks like now.” The wind was bitter and snow swirled about.

For the next few days, Ye Fan constantly paid attention to any news, hoping Divine King Jiang Taixu could emerge from the Purple Mountain alive.

But he was a little worried.

Even if Divine King Jiang was still alive, he probably didn’t have much of his lifespan remaining, perhaps not enough to deter all the various Peacock Kings.

If only I had a few Earth Destiny Fruits.

He shook his head; that was too unrealistic.

If I could cut out a complete divine medicine in the divine city, that could also solve the problem.

He sincerely hoped Divine King Jiang Taixu was unharmed and could live longer.

That way, Little Tingting would be protected, and no one would dare to provoke her.

What a pity.

Even the successive generations of old Emperors of the Immortal Divine Dynasties, who ruled over vast territories, couldn’t obtain an Ancient Divine Medicine.

「Four days later」 A little girl, as exquisite as a jade carving, braved the wind and snow, descending into the small town.

She bounced happily into the small tavern.

“Grandpa…” “Tingting!” Old Man Jiang quickly went to greet her.

“Grandpa, you don’t need to worry about me all the time.” The little girl, dressed in white purer than snow, looked like a porcelain doll.

She was incredibly pretty and cute, her face beaming with a happy smile.

Old Man Jiang lovingly patted her head.

“Have you been well this past half-month?” “Very well!

Tingting is very happy.

The Old Ancestor specially allowed me to read the first half of the Hengyu Universe Scripture.”