Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 485: Chapter 490: Provoking the Saint

The Ziwei Sect stretched endlessly, auspicious aura pervading the air. Purple mountain peaks stood side by side, where Supreme Spiritual Medicines of ten thousand years grew, enveloped in Spiritual Qi.

As Ye Fan and the others entered this Ancient Land, they could smell an intoxicating fragrance. On the sheer cliff walls, beside ancient trees ten thousand years old, rare and precious herbs occasionally appeared.

“On that purple cliff, there’s a ‘Dragon Ancient Divine Orchid,’ at least fifteen thousand years old—a Supreme Spiritual Medicine!” The old bad habit of the big black dog flared up again, its large bell-like eyes lighting up with a green glow, eager to pounce and snatch it away immediately.

A vast array of mountains shimmered with light, encircled by clouds and mist. Cliffs and strange black stones stood tall, resembling an immortal land.

Apart from the uniquely shaped stone mountains, many mountain ranges teemed with life. Strange ancient trees stood on the mountains, rugged like Coiled Dragons, swaying and shimmering with green light.

White waterfalls cascaded from the mountaintops, passing through bands of clouds, appearing both ethereal and grand.

On nearly every purple mountain peak, one or two precious herbs over ten thousand years old could be found; the value of these alone was incalculable.

The Ziwei Sect has an ancient heritage, existing for over a hundred thousand years. Having such a foundation was only natural, yet Ye Fan and the others were still amazed.

This Ancient Land was carefully managed by their ancestors, filled with many rare treasures that ordinary Great Sects could not compare to.

A few young disciples of the Ziwei Sect accompanied them, leading the way. Each felt anxious, as the sight of the disheveled, strange person unsettled them.

It is said that the magical power of ancient Saints was limitless, omnipotent, and beyond comprehension; they were like gods walking the mortal world, commanding awe and reverence.

Such beings were rare even in ancient times, thus they were revered as Saints, admired by all tribes, and respected through generations.

In the Ziwei Ancient Land, the sky was densely filled with stars, as if one were standing in an endless starry sky. Starlight flowed around the main peak, creating an extremely magnificent sight.

Before long, the Sect Hierarch of Ziwei and many Grand Elders personally came out to welcome them. Facing a being comparable to an ancient Saint, none dared to show arrogance.

Such a “divine person” visiting had them all in a panic. If he were to call them to account, how would they resist? Use their so-called foundation? But this is a living, unscathed Saint, utterly untouchable!

“Senior, your grand visit is a great honor. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar; please forgive us!” These people all performed a grand obeisance, their hearts uneasy.

As for the younger generation of the Ziwei Sect, they didn’t dare utter a sound, following at the back to pay their respects. Internally, they were cursing Ye Fan for summoning such a divine figure so casually; it was frightening enough to scare someone to death!

The old madman said not a word, his hollow eyes staring at the stars above the Ziwei Ancient Land, particularly the large purple star in the center, as if lost in thought.

Ye Fan smoothed things over. He explained that the old madman was walking the mortal world for an unconventional “seclusion,” preparing for a breakthrough. Therefore, the old madman was indifferent to the outside world, perhaps even now roaming Taixu in spirit. Ye Fan urged them not to harbor any resentment.

The leading figures of the Ziwei Sect looked at each other in disbelief. Breakthrough? He’s already comparable to an ancient Saint and still thinking of breaking through! Where does this leave others?!

Ye Fan remained humble, not using the old madman’s Holy Power to oppress others, for a mere visit sufficed. Henceforth, the Ziwei Sect would dare not trouble him.

The old madman couldn’t possibly accompany him forever and might disappear soon. For now, Ye Fan could only borrow this power to keep the Sacred Lands at bay.

“Uncle doesn’t like speaking; Big Brother is telling the truth…” the pitiful little girl said innocently. Then the little one began to “climb the tree,” tugging at the old madman’s clothes, trying to climb up.

The great figures of the Ziwei Sect were utterly dumbfounded. Perhaps she’s the only little girl in the world daring enough to ‘climb a tree’ on someone comparable to an ancient Saint.

The big black dog approached, lifting the pitiful little girl onto the old madman’s shoulder, and the little girl sat there fearlessly.

The people of the Ziwei Sect dared not disturb the old madman. They let him wander through the Ancient Land while pulling Ye Fan aside to ask, “How did you become acquainted with this senior?”

“We are old acquaintances. He is like half a mentor to me, once teaching me the Celestial Jade Step Technique. This is simply a reunion,” Ye Fan smiled.

The people of the Ziwei Sect were petrified, instantly realizing the disheveled strange person’s identity—it was indeed the only surviving old madman of Celestial Jade!

The big black dog shouted, “Were you planning to kill Ye Fan?” It spoke directly, like a reckless youth, with the obvious intent of playing the antagonist to pressure them.

“How could we…” A major figure of the Ziwei Sect wiped cold sweat, glancing at the nearby old madman with great unease.

If they provoked this Saint, he might overturn the entire Ziwei Ancient Land. Who would dare court such disaster now?

“But not long ago, we heard it with our own ears,” the big black dog said relentlessly, its voice loud.

In the distance, the pitiful little girl sat on the old madman’s shoulder, saying tearfully, “Grandpas, please don’t kill Big Brother, okay?”

Heavens! Would we dare kill him? Little ancestor, please don’t be so innocent! The great figures of the Ziwei Sect were on edge; the pitiful little girl begging from a Saint’s shoulder unnerved them.

“Grandpas, please don’t kill us, okay?” the pitiful little girl continued to plead softly, looking exceptionally vulnerable.

This was truly alarming. Sitting on a Saint and pleading like this made all the great figures fidget, each hurriedly expressing their stance.

“It’s all a misunderstanding; nothing like that will happen.”

“Rest assured, our Ziwei Sect has always been uncontentious and won’t do such things.”

“In the future, our sect’s young people will get closer to you all.”

The great figures had never encountered such a situation. Even other Sacred Lands hadn’t come to hold them accountable like this. Now, a few grassroots individuals with no background had invited a Saint to visit.

“It’s good there’s no such thing. If you really wanted to kill us, a Saint wouldn’t sit idly by,” the big black dog bragged shamelessly.

“Esteemed seniors, please don’t mind it; don’t listen to its nonsense. I’m actually here to apologize…” Ye Fan knew when to stop and adopted a very humble posture, saying he came to make amends for the matter of Zhao Fa.

The Sect Hierarch of Ziwei was majestic as ever. It was as if he wore a violet-gold crown and was dressed in a Star Robe. His eyes were as deep as oceans, and a large purple star was suspended above his head, making him resemble a reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor.

On ordinary days, he wouldn’t bother much with Ye Fan, but at this moment, he set aside his stance, smiled slightly, and said, “Let the past be past. Don’t mention it again.”

“From now on, you young people should interact more…” The various Grand Elders beside him also spoke.

Ye Fan and the others entered the Ziwei Sect and were eventually escorted out personally by many Grand Elders. This stirred a great commotion in the Central Territory, as it was a significant event.

“Is this for real? Visiting with a Saint in tow would be overwhelming for anyone!”

“Their next stop isn’t going to be the Central States, is it? If they visit the Yin Yang Sect, it will surely be lively. If the supreme Great Sects of the Central States were to confront them, it would certainly lead to an earth-shaking battle.”

The outside world was abuzz with discussion. All the Sacred Lands were extremely fearful upon hearing the news. They were afraid that Ye Fan, unaware of his own limitations, would recklessly rely on the old madman to cause trouble among the various major powers.

If that were the case, the Sacred Lands’ dignity would be lost. Whether to fight or not would put them in a dilemma.

Soon, the old madman’s identity spread from the Ziwei Sect, causing a sensation—he was actually the only surviving supreme master of Celestial Jade!

“He is actually the old madman… He has returned to his youth! Six thousand years have passed, and he’s still alive. How many more years can he live?!”

“It’s no wonder; it could only be him. Six thousand years ago, he was invincible in the Eastern Wastelands. Now, after all these years, he’d naturally be comparable to an ancient Saint!”

“So he was a peerless master from ages past! Has his lifespan been extended again?!”

No one could remain undisturbed. A peerless existence from six thousand years ago, unparalleled in the Eastern Wastelands, whose lifespan was not only unended but extended, left everyone in awe.

In the current situation, Celestial Jade Sacred Land was not truly extinguished. As long as the old madman was alive, he could rebuild it anytime with his unparalleled cultivation base.

Ye Fan’s enemies were furious. The peerless Divine King was destined to fall, and they thought the opportunity to kill Ye Fan had finally come. They never expected a Saint to emerge and disrupt their plans.

Now, even the various Sacred Lands dared not move against him. The old madman was invincible in his time; if he went into a frenzy, he could definitely dismantle a Sacred Land!

This was no longer the past; ancient Saints were almost impossible to be born. He was a living embodiment of ancient scriptures and a Saint—who could confront him?

Ye Fan and his group departed, preparing to go to the Holy Cliff, with no intention of visiting the various Sacred Lands. He only relied on the old madman’s prestige to survive and didn’t want to stir trouble.

However, that day, the Eastern Wastelands was greatly shaken. Many Sacred Masters came to pay homage, arriving one after another to have an audience with the old madman.

The various Sacred Lands were uneasy. Now, the old madman’s mind seemed much less confused, and he was so reticent. He must have remembered all past events.

Back then, the various Sacred Lands had emptied Celestial Jade. What would this Saint do once he understood everything?

If he erupted in anger and headed towards the major Sacred Lands, it would result in rivers of blood and a disaster from which no one could remain unscathed.

When Ye Fan’s group entered Wangkong City, the entire street fell silent. Everyone retreated, leaving only the various Sacred Masters to welcome the old madman.

Everyone’s expression was extremely devout. Each was cautious and performed grand gestures of worship; not a single person dared to be neglectful.

The Ji Family Sacred Master, the Wind Clan Sacred Master, the Flickering Light Sacred Master, the Purple Mansion Sacred Master, the Wanchu Sacred Master, the Jade Lake Female Saint Master…

On this day, the Eastern Wastelands was in turmoil, as if a tsunami had sunk the land. The entire world’s attention was focused here, and everyone was discussing it.

A renowned Saint had emerged, his lifespan once again extended. News of this even reached the Central States, causing an uproar!

The Yin Yang Sect was silent, completely losing its voice. They no longer dared to send anyone to the Eastern Wastelands and were even preparing to face the Saint in the Central States.

Alongside the Ji Family Sacred Master were Ji Haoyue and Ji Ziyue. Both gained the opportunity to pay homage to the current Saint, as these two were their family’s future hope.

The Divine King Body, Ji Haoyue, had once waged war with the Yin Yang Saint Heir in the southern region; this was well-known. The battle had caused the Yin Yang Saint Heir to cough up blood and ultimately withdraw. Upon hearing that Ye Fan had personally killed this opponent, Ji Haoyue carefully observed Ye Fan.

The Ji Family’s “little moon,” Ji Ziyue, showed dimples on her cheeks, her small tiger teeth sparkling. Upon learning that Ye Fan had self-severed his cultivation base and could survive, she felt relieved. She wanted to squeeze over, but the Divine King Body, Ji Haoyue, prevented her, causing her to pout and mutter softly.

Beside the Jiang Family Sacred Master, Jiang Yifei was present. Clad in white robes that outshone snow, he was graceful and urbane, making it impossible for him not to be noticed.

He left a profound impression on Ye Fan, similar to Hua Yunfei and the Flickering Light Saint Heir, each possessing a very unique charm.

By now, Ye Fan was certain that Jiang Yifei was not the mysterious Divine King Body of the Jiang Family. Yet, he felt this individual might be deeply elusive. Though not a Divine King Body, Jiang Yifei was unquestionably no weaker than the young Divine King of the Jiang Family.

Next to the Wind Clan Sacred Master was Fenghuang. She looked at Ye Fan with a complex expression. That he had summoned a Saint and, despite his half-crippled sacred body, killed the Yin Yang Saint Heir, greatly shocked her. The potential of the sacred body was far greater than she had imagined.

Furthermore, the Yaochi Sacred Lady, Dao Yi Sacred Lady, Purple Mansion Sacred Lady, and others also accompanied their Head Elders to pay homage to the old madman.

“What do these Sacred Masters mean, bringing their sect’s strongest Saint Heirs or Sacred Ladies?” Li Heishui wondered, feeling bewildered.

“Greetings, Senior. We are willing to send our strongest successors to Celestial Jade to assist the Saint in rebuilding Celestial Jade’s辉煌 (splendor/glory) and letting it shine once more in this world,” the Sacred Masters spoke in unison.

“Damn, what a grand gesture! Are they daring enough to do this?!” Even the big black dog was astounded.

Wangkong City was utterly silent, especially this ancient street where a pin drop could be heard. Everyone stared in this direction, every single person waiting.

But the old madman remained silent. A long time passed without a word from him.

Some Sacred Masters broke into a cold sweat. They had plundered Celestial Jade completely. Now, this Saint was not only alive but also clear-minded, causing them intense anxiety.

“We are willing to provide everything to restore Celestial Jade to its former prosperity!” a Sacred Master exclaimed again.

Others didn’t want to fall behind, echoing their support, earnestly requesting the restoration of Celestial Jade’s glory and the reappearance of this once supremely flourishing Sacred Land’s brilliance.

The various Sacred Lands possessed strong “foundations” capable of withstanding unparalleled combat power, but after one battle, they might become extremely weak for a considerable time.

Because the old madman was a contemporary Saint, unharmed and in his prime, with a long lifespan still ahead of him, he could fight any enemy!

If he were to start a killing spree, the Sacred Lands’ “foundations” would be depleted because he could endure long battles. That would lead to catastrophic consequences!

“Let those who are gone remain forgotten…” the old madman finally spoke. A gentle breeze blew, his dense black hair fluttering, revealing his bronzed face.

His features were well-defined: a straight nose, a square mouth, and a face as if chiseled from stone, incredibly resolute. Only his eyes seemed bottomless, like two deep abysses.

Suddenly, large snow-white petals fell from the sky, each as large as a palm, and each stained with streaks of blood.

“Mortal World…”

Many people’s expressions changed drastically. This was a signature bold move of the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty, something only done prior to the Ancient Desolation era. Are they truly making a powerful comeback now?

“We must kill the sacred body!”

Throughout the heavens and earth, these four words echoed like rumbling thunder. Then, a shower of snow-white petals, some half as tall as a person, drifted down.

“The Mortal World’s Killing Order!”

“This signifies they’ve accepted requests from at least ten different parties to issue one of the Divine Dynasty’s Killing Orders!” someone exclaimed, revealing the significance.

On one large, pure white petal, scenes of mortal existence—ups and downs—were etched, representing the Mortal World. On its back, two words were inscribed in fresh blood: Ye Fan.

This was a Killing Order from the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty. Daring to issue it even when the target was protected by a Saint—this was exceedingly intriguing!

“If you want to kill me, then come!” Ye Fan shouted loudly.

Suddenly, the sky turned dark, and countless black petals, like ink jade, fell, all similarly stained with streaks of blood.

“What? Hell has also manifested! This is their Killing Order!”

“The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty, Hell, has also appeared!”

The crowd exclaimed again, their faces all changing color.

Ultimately, a giant black petal drifted down. Inscribed on it was a deity breaking free from shackles, emerging from Hell, representing this Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty.

Additionally, inscribed in fresh blood were two words: Ye Fan!

It was still a Killing Order. Hell, the other Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty, had also received at least ten commissions demanding Ye Fan’s death.

“To think so many ancient inheritances have contacted Mortal World and Hell, seeking to kill the sacred body…” Everyone’s expression changed once more.

Knowing he walked with a Saint yet still daring to issue a Killing Order—the terror invoked by Mortal World and Hell chilled one to the bone.