Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 361 - 362 Chapter 367 An Era of Prosperity and Sorrow

362: Chapter 367: An Era of Prosperity and Sorrow 362: Chapter 367: An Era of Prosperity and Sorrow “Do you have the No Beginning Scripture in your hands?!” Ye Fan, Pang Bo, and Tu Fei all stared at the Big Black Dog.

He immediately felt uneasy, took a few steps back, and said, “Why do your eyes look like wolves’ eyes, all glowing green?” The major Sacred Lands in the Eastern Wastelands and various sects in the Central States had gone to great lengths, almost losing their hair, trying to open Purple Mountain and obtain the inheritance of the No Beginning Great Emperor.

Yet, the Big Black Dog suddenly blurted out such a statement.

Anyone would be shocked.

“This damn dog just likes to brag.

If he really has the No Beginning Scripture, even a sow could fly into the sky,” Tu Fei remarked.

The Big Black Dog cursed and then boasted shamelessly, “Who is this Emperor?

What could possibly stump me?

If this world just has an Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, I would risk my old life to procure a No Beginning Scripture.” “You think you can just get it if you say so?” Tu Fei sneered.

However, Ye Fan’s expression changed.

He locked his gaze on the Big Black Dog with a somewhat fervent look.

Others might not know, but he sure knew this damn dog definitely escaped from within Purple Mountain.

“Damn it, kid, don’t stare at this Emperor like that.” The Big Black Dog, recalling the past West Emperor Scripture incident, became displeased.

“If you want the No Beginning Scripture, it’s simple,” he said.

“Just produce an Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, send it into Purple Mountain, and you’ll get what you wish.” “I’d love to produce an Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, but who can open the Mountain and River Map…?” Ye Fan lamented.

They successively struck it with the Vajra, a divine lotus, the Heaven-devouring Demon Jar, and a golden Big Bell, but they couldn’t open the map at all.

Even the great enemy of the old Sacred Master of Purple Mansion couldn’t break it.

They knew there was no way and stopped wasting their efforts.

“Purple Mist Fairy, if you don’t come out soon, I’m taking this painting to the Heavenly Demon Palace to auction it off!” the Big Black Dog shamelessly shouted.

“For the prosperity of the human race, you’d better come out quickly!

The Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo really should make its appearance!

If you still don’t come out, I’ll toss this into the Great Primordial Mine or Undying Mountain!

No matter how powerful the Mountain and River Map is, it won’t be able to protect you then!

I think it would be more fitting to paste this map right on the gates of Miao Yu Temple!” They resorted to successive provocations, threats, and intimidation.

“You four bastards!” came the voice of the sacred lady of Purple Mansion from within the scroll.

Facing all sorts of tricks, she seemed a little frustrated, but her voice remained calm.

“Since you can perceive everything outside, that’s easy to handle,” Ye Fan said.

“From now on, I’ll just treat you as an ordinary scroll painting and hang you in my bedroom.” They kept trying various cunning tactics, but the sacred lady of Purple Mansion no longer responded at all.

Carrying the Mountain and River Map was indeed a hot potato.

Inside was sealed an Innate Dao Embryo capable of wielding a grand path.

If it ambushed them, they would either die or be severely wounded.

“Let’s seal it first!” With the help of the Big Black Dog, a master of Dao Glyphs, they completely sealed the Mountain and River Map.

Then, Ye Fan stored the scroll within the Vajra, suppressing it with nine mysterious ancient characters from the Dao Scripture.

“Little kid Ye, aren’t you sealing away a few too many people?

These are all significant figures, you know,” Tu Fei clicked his tongue.

They counted the figures being suppressed on the snowy ground and looked at each other.

It truly was a luxurious lineup.

If they were formed into a mining brigade, they’d absolutely make jaws drop.

First, the Fire God Furnace contained the pride of the Eastern Wastelands—the Flickering Light Saint Heir, the Little Golden-winged Peng King, and Yao Xi—all of whom could dominate the younger generation.

Next, Xu Yuan was the most beloved grandson of the third great bandit, Xu Tianxiong.

Jiang Yichen was the treasured favorite of a sovereign from the Jiang Family.

Their identities were astonishing.

Additionally, Li Rui, the alternate Saint Heir of Flickering Light, and over a dozen female disciples of Purple Mansion, all had extraordinary identities.

And now, they had even suppressed an Innate Dao Embryo.

They had just personally experienced the strength of the Purple Mansion sacred lady.

Her integration with the Dao ensured her invincibility, making her almost unmatched by her contemporaries.

Tu Fei sighed, declaring the Eastern Wastelands had entered an extremely prosperous era with too many young talents.

In the past, two such figures would have been extraordinary.

But now, not only were there two Divine King Bodies and an Innate Taoist Body, but also talents like the Flickering Light Saint Heir and the Little Golden-winged Peng King.

“One such figure in an era is enough; any more is just a tragedy.” The Eastern Wastelands Divine King Body, as the name implies, is undoubtedly the king among its peers.

No matter how stunningly talented or genius one might be, to be born in the same era is a sorrow; the future of the Eastern Wastelands is destined to be its domain.

The Innate Dao Embryo is almost peerless in the boundless lands.

Once it reaches the Saint Master Level, becoming one with the Dao, no matter how heaven-defying your magical power, you will be suppressed.

The Flickering Light Saint Heir and the Little Golden-winged Peng King possessed heaven-bestowed talent.

Some speculated they could walk the path to becoming a Great Emperor, already showing glimpses of the demeanor of a young Great Emperor.

In past eras, any one of these figures would have been at the pinnacle of their times, yet now they all appeared together.

“Innate Dao Embryo, Sacred Body, Divine Body, young Great Emperor figures…

all are supreme existences of their generation,” Tu Fei mused.

“They’ve never all appeared in the same era to contend before.” Now, so many distinguished figures were born in one time.

It seemed prosperous, but it was also a tragedy.

There would have to be a great battle in the future to determine victory, as only one Great Emperor could emerge.

The Big Black Dog sneered, “So what?

Who says these physiques can’t coexist in one era?

You’ve just never seen it, never heard of it.” “What time are you talking about, and how come we don’t know?” “There are many things you don’t know.” “Damn dog, stop keeping us in suspense!

Quickly, tell us which era you’re talking about!” Tu Fei urged.

The Big Black Dog said, “Think back several hundred thousand years ago.

In that era, the stars blazed brightly.

Divine King Bodies, Heavenly Demon Bodies—all sorts appeared.

It could truly be called an era of rising kings, unparalleled through the ages.” “How could there have been such an era…?” Tu Fei didn’t believe him.

“Naturally, there was, but you haven’t experienced it.

In that era, almost every physique ever recorded in ancient books appeared.” “All kinds of ancient King Bodies surfaced, accompanied by some heavenly prodigies.

Wouldn’t that shake the heavens and keep the whole land in turmoil?” The Big Black Dog, lost in thought, sighed, “Only when all kings rise together, stars blaze, and prodigies emerge in droves can the true strength of the one who stands above them all be revealed.” “If these people were born alone, each would dominate a whole era.

For them to share a lifetime together is too cruel.” “Yes, this is a cruel yet glorious era, treading a path of blood, even stepping over the corpses of kings to become supreme.” The Big Black Dog seemed to share the sentiment.

“You make it sound so incredible.

What earth-shattering figure actually emerged from that era?

I bet they are definitely recorded in the annals of history!” “The No Beginning Great Emperor!” The Black Emperor uttered only those four words.

Everyone gasped.

That made sense; only such a person could stand out in such an era.

No one could describe the immense power of the No Beginning Great Emperor.

Even before becoming a Great Emperor, he once resisted a peak weapon of the Central States barehanded, while the wielder of that weapon had nearly achieved emperorship already.

That was definitely opposing the might of a Great Emperor!

“No wonder the No Beginning Great Emperor overshadowed the past and present.

In his era, too many dazzling talents emerged!” “Even though others shone brightly, they were destined to only be the foliage, serving only to more brilliantly enhance the invincible stature of the one and only No Beginning Great Emperor.” “Somehow, I feel the current age is becoming quite similar,” Tu Fei mused.

“The Central States, Western Desert, and Southern Mountains will surely produce world-shaking prodigies too.

Perhaps it will be another Timeless Era!” “One person’s glory is the sorrow of all other geniuses of an era.

The brilliance of the myriad stars only serves to make the sun and moon shine even brighter.” The group lamented as they left this Ice Field, flying into the distance.

In the following days, they searched for opportunities to find an opening against solitary Saint Heirs and Sacred Ladies.

Unfortunately, although those people were searching for Ye Fan’s whereabouts, they were not acting alone, leaving them almost no opportunity to strike.

In the days that followed, they frequented deep mountains and ancient mines, aiming to find dragon veins and extract Divine Sources.

Ye Fan was eager.

He needed a large volume of Source to break his curse and hoped to charge into the Four Extremes Secret Boundary soon.

Now that his Source Technique had shown results, he wanted to find a major dragon vein.

Unfortunately, despite traversing endless regions, he hadn’t even seen a single large mining area.

It was known across the world that Source emerged in the northern region.

Countless major forces had flocked there since time immemorial.

Almost every Source-producing area was occupied, divided, and cleared out.

Of course, there were surely still peerless dragon veins in the world, but most were likely extremely well hidden, discoverable only by chance, not by seeking.

Over the past seven or eight days, Ye Fan only found one mining region, extracting some Exotic Source, valued merely at four thousand pounds of Pure Source.

Emerging from the mine, the group appeared dusty and dirty, extremely disheveled.

“This won’t do.

We need to quickly train and discipline the subdued ones and have them mine.” “The Little Golden-winged Peng King will be captain of the first mining squad, the Flickering Light Saint Heir captain of the second, Yao Xi and the Purple Mansion Sacred Lady…” The group indulged in some grim humor, fully aware that these people could not actually be released, yet they made such assignments anyway.

“I’m still a bit uneasy, little kid Ye,” Tu Fei said.

“Can your dilapidated furnace really hold the Flickering Light Saint Heir and the Little Golden-winged Peng King?

If they were to break out, it would be a monstrous disaster.” “And the Innate Dao Embryo!

If she escapes in the future, we’ll definitely be in for a world of misfortune.” “There’s no problem for now; they can’t escape.” At this moment, the Big Black Dog devoured two sizable blocks of Exotic Source.

“Damn it!

We worked our butts off, and this blasted dog swallowed half the Source in one gulp!” Tu Fei fumed.

“This Emperor has never mined before!” the Big Black Dog declared.

“Two thousand pounds of Source is hardly enough reward for me making an exception!” To an ordinary person, over a thousand pounds of Source was already an astonishing amount, but it was far too little for the Ancient Desolation sacred body, which required tens of millions of pounds of Source.

Every time Ye Fan thought about this astronomical number, he felt a bout of headache and helplessness.

Apart from the Sacred Lands, only places like the Myriad Dragon Nest and Purple Mountain possessed Supreme Divine Source Blocks.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t force his way in, as that would spell certain death.

“If only there were a peerless master, they could head to the Taichu Forbidden Area to mine the Fire Dragon Tomb and Red Moon Cave.” “I think, little kid Ye, you should still go to the divine city,” Tu Fei suggested.

“After all, there’s ready-made stone material there.

With your current Source Technique, you could probably cut out tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of pounds of Source in a single day.” Not long ago, Ye Fan had stunned the world with a wild gamble in the divine city, swiftly obtaining a fortune in Source.

However, this had made him a center of attention.

Since his departure, he hadn’t returned, fearing unexpected incidents.

Ye Fan nodded, saying, “It seems I need to take another risk.

Black Emperor, carve me a top-quality mysterious jade platform for emergencies.” Pang Bo said, “I’ll go with you into the divine city.

I can mobilize the power of the demon clan to ensure your safety.” “This Emperor wants to go too!” the Big Black Dog barked.

Tu Fei scoffed, “What are you going to do, join the fun?

If you show up, the whole city will be out to beat dogs!” “WOOF!” barked the Big Black Dog.

“Damn it, you mangy mutt!” Tu Fei shot back.

“We’ll see who smacks whom!” “AWOOO—” The Big Black Dog howled at the moon, extremely excited.

It had finally received the Demon Emperor Ancient Scripture from Pang Bo, while Ye Fan had also given it the Green Jade Turtle from the Taichu Forbidden Area’s Divine Temple.

“Don’t worry!” the Big Black Dog said to Ye Fan.

“This time, this Emperor will definitely stir up heaven-shaking trouble outside!

I’ll turn all those pursuing you into human pets and draw everyone’s attention, making them think you’re on a mad Source-looting spree!” Ultimately, Ye Fan and Pang Bo set out on the road to the divine city, once again entering a place of converging storms.

Snow fluttered down, covering the earth in a vast expanse of white; the northern region entered the coldest season of the year.

Upon nearing the divine city, both Ye Fan and Pang Bo sensed something amiss.

Someone was tailing them from behind, almost evading their spiritual perception.

“It’s it!” Finally, Ye Fan discovered the pursuer: a Golden Little Spirit sneaking through the snowy field, silently trailing him.

“That’s the Divine Silkworm you cut from the strange black stone?” Pang Bo asked in surprise.

“That’s right, it’s this little fellow,” Ye Fan couldn’t help but smile.

“Last time, if I hadn’t escaped by traversing the void, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to shake it off.” But the Golden Little Spirit behind him appeared extremely aggrieved.

It silently pointed a tiny paw at him in accusation, its big eyes round with apparent indignation.

“Haha!

How interesting!” Pang Bo laughed.

“Strange black stones are truly incredible; they can contain anything.

This time, I must see with my own eyes what else you can cut out.” Ye Fan made a gesture as if to chase, causing the Golden Little Spirit to bump into a snowdrift in panic.

It spat out a mouthful of snow and bolted out of sight.

It’s not the thief you fear, but their constant coveting.

If I cut out some world-shaking treasure again, I’ll really have to be wary of this little fellow.

Near the divine city, the white snow vanished, replaced by endless greenery.

During such a harsh, cold season, being surrounded by green felt particularly comfortable.

Bathing in a spring-like breeze brought immense ease.

In midwinter, flowers bloomed in splendor, lavish and radiant.

Their fragrance mingled with the scent of soil, wafting to their faces.

Combined with the gurgling Spiritual Spring, flourishing Ancient Trees, and intertwining vines, passing through here was an extremely pleasant affair.

Eventually, Ye Fan and Pang Bo parted ways, each entering the divine city separately, pretending not to know each other.

This way, elaborate maneuvers could be executed.

Just upon entering the divine city, they separately received astonishing news: The Eastern Wastelands Sacred Lands and Central States Sects were going to attack Purple Mountain.

At the latest, it would be no more than ten days; at the earliest, perhaps in the next two days.

A world-shaking event was about to occur!

Concrete news spread: The Central States and Eastern Wastelands were deploying at least four peak weapons!

Undoubtedly, a massive storm would unfold.

Purple Mountain was bound to shake the world, as the legacy of the No Beginning Great Emperor gripped everyone’s minds.

Many believed that regardless of obtaining the No Beginning’s legacy, something incredible would emerge.

After all, what force could resist an Extreme Dao Holy Weapon?

It might involve the life and death of the Great Emperor: his whereabouts in his later years and his final acts.

Perhaps the greatest secret of an ancient Great Emperor would be unveiled!

Moreover, the mystery of Divine King Jiang Taixu’s life and death would be unraveled.

Perhaps only a pile of bones remained, or perhaps a living legend would emerge!