Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 486: Chapter 491: Approaching Holy Cliff

Snow-white petals, like funerary flowers in a graveyard and streaked with blood, fluttered and scattered across the entire ancient street. Black petals symbolized death; a mist spread, exuding a destructive Qi Mechanism, dancing between heaven and earth and instilling fear in all.

The two Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties emerged together, shaking everyone and fraying every nerve. The Sacred Masters, whose ancestors had participated in the extermination of these Divine Dynasties, were especially perturbed.

In those days, the three Divine Dynasties reigned supreme. For a very long time, they silenced all ancient legacies in the Eastern Wastelands, none daring to provoke them. For if they were angered, an unparalleled figure would inevitably be assassinated—a burden no Sacred Land could bear. The three Ancient Divine Dynasties were powerful and terrifying. They dared to assassinate even ancient Saints—and succeeded. Who in the world did not fear them?

It was a dark age, rightly called a calamity for humankind. The Ancient Divine Dynasties lorded over the world, gazing down upon the Eastern Wastelands and subjecting every Sacred Land to unprecedented pressure.

Petals, all streaked with fresh blood, fluttered on the street. An intangible killing intent swirled around. The legendary Killing Order had appeared; from ancient times to the present, not a single person had ever escaped it.

“I wonder what their strength is like now. Before the Ancient Desolation, once a Killing Order was issued, no one had ever escaped it!” the big black dog muttered.

Many people looked at Ye Fan with peculiar expressions. The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties possessed an undefeated myth: no one had ever escaped a Killing Order they issued.

“The two Divine Dynasties have been in seclusion for countless eons. To emerge now with such fanfare, they must possess truly formidable strength,” the Wind Clan Sacred Master said, frowning. Some thoughts he did not voice: for them to dare issue a Killing Order at this time was a clear provocation to the Saints of the current age. They most likely intended to establish their might! If this were truly the case, the problem was severe indeed. It would prove that the foundations of the two Assassin Divine Dynasties had expanded to an utterly terrifying degree.

Could it be that they have restored their former glory?! The Flickering Light Sacred Master also furrowed his brow.

In the ancient halls of the Mortal World, the skulls of nearly all types of kings had been collected, no physique missed. They had slaughtered the world’s heroes, their edge impossible to meet! And Hell was even more severe. They were like a group of fallen, unfeeling deities, wielding blood-dripping divine swords, slaying all Saints in the world—formidable and terrifying. In Hell, they preserved the Divine Skins, skeletons, flesh, and viscera of the ancient Saints they had slain. It was a bloody and horrifying collection, making them the most mysterious and terrifying of all.

“This…” The Ji Family Sacred Master’s expression also turned grave. “If they truly reappear with the splendor of yesteryear, it might herald another dark period of turmoil, an enormous disaster.”

The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties specialized in slaughter. These individuals achieved the Dao through killing; they were the world’s foremost experts in Killing Techniques, making them incredibly difficult for peers of the same level to resist or guard against. All the Sacred Lands had participated in that world-shaking war before the Ancient Desolation. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to uproot the Mortal World and Hell completely, but only after clashing with them directly did they realize the tremendous cost involved.

The Supreme Divine Dynasty—the Celestial Court—had two Saints whose lifespans were nearly exhausted. In their twilight years, they were unable to exert their full Combat Power, yet they still managed to drag three prime Saints from the other Sacred Lands to their graves with them. The great Sacred Lands chose an ideal opportunity to strike: when the old Saints of the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties were about to pass away from old age and new Saints had not yet fully emerged. The result was that they paid such a heavy price that they no longer had the strength to eradicate the Mortal World and Hell, allowing them to withdraw safely.

SWISH!

A shocking streak of light, like a rainbow, descended from the sky. It was a razor-sharp sword aura, three meters in diameter, slashing towards Ye Fan with astonishing ferocity!

“What? Attacking right in front of Saints! This is the Mortal World’s Saint Killing Sword Technique!”

Everyone’s expression changed. Had the Mortal World gone mad? Or had their foundation expanded to such a terrifying degree that they didn’t even fear the old madman, that unparalleled figure? This was a Killing Technique unleashed by a Saint Master level expert, one that obliterated both void and reality, destroying all in its path. It carved a trace of the Great Dao, seemingly severing the barrier between ancient times and the present.

BOP!

The old madman flicked his sleeve, which seemed to cover the sky and blot out the sun as he advanced to meet the attack. He not only absorbed the sword aura into his sleeve but also seemed to encompass the entire sky within it.

BOOM!

The sky immediately shattered, and a colossal black hole appeared. The sword aura had been unleashed through a Domain Gate; the experts from the Mortal World dared not show themselves.

SWOOSH!

Another Sword Qi cleaved down. A blood-red Divine Radiance tore through the void, stretching two thousand meters long, slashing towards the pitiful little girl on the big black dog’s back.

Ye Fan’s eyes grew cold. It was one thing for the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties to target him, but to include the pitiful little girl as well infuriated him immensely.

BANG!

The old madman flicked his finger. A beam of light from his fingertip pierced through heaven and earth. It not only shattered the blood-red Divine Radiance but also punched through the firmament, rushing towards the other end of the void.

BOOM!

Suddenly, the tall and majestic Saint moved both hands, displaying divine arts before everyone’s eyes for the first time. Yet, no one could see his actions clearly. Complex Dao Glyphs, like True Dragons about a chi long, writhed at his fingertips. He shook his hands fiercely, and the sky suddenly collapsed.

RUMBLE!

In Wangkong City, aside from a few Sacred Masters, almost everyone else collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand such pressure. This was a suppression originating from the Divine Soul.

BOOM!

A terrifying fluctuation of the power of the Dao instantly traversed the void, striking towards the other end of nothingness. No one knew how he accomplished it.

This… he’s not opening a Domain Gate! He’s slaying enemies across the Endless Void! Several Sacred Masters were dumbstruck, their faces etched with horror. The old madman hadn’t used a Great Technique; this was merely one of his secret arts, casually deployed.

DONG!

The sky was like a drum beaten apart. The power of the Dao unleashed by the old madman pierced through the void. From the other end came two bloodcurdling screams, then complete silence.

Contemporary Saints are not to be trifled with! Such heaven-defying methods truly shocked the soul. Supreme experts initiated assassinations through Domain Gates from who knew how many thousands of li away. Yet, the old madman had deduced their location and, with unparalleled power of the Dao, punched through the void to annihilate them. Such Combat Power instilled deep fear in everyone.

Those from the Mortal World and Hell did not reappear. However, everyone remained deeply unsettled, shocked by the old madman’s methods and, at the same time, astounded by the audacity of the two Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties. Today, they were announcing their return. In the future, conflict in the Eastern Wastelands would be unavoidable, and many ancient legacies would likely find themselves unable to sit idly by. Just now, they were merely testing the waters. Yet, to dare make an attempt against a contemporary Saint—this sent a terrifying signal.

Ye Fan seethed with anger. The Assassin Divine Dynasties had repeatedly tried to kill him and had even implicated the innocent pitiful little girl. This filled him with boundless killing intent.

“It’s alright, I’m not scared…” the pitiful little girl whispered, tugging at Ye Fan’s sleeve as she looked up at him. Her large eyes, clear and bright, were pure and flawless. Though evidently a bit flustered, she suppressed it to say this, appearing especially vulnerable and evoking pity.

“Yes, pitiful little girl, you really don’t need to worry. They aren’t worth mentioning,” Ye Fan said with a smile.

At this time, many cultivators in Wangkong City struggled back to their feet. Aside from those protected by the old madman and the various Sacred Masters, nearly all other cultivators had collapsed to the ground, weakened. This was the might of a Saint. Their every move could affect countless living beings in the world, for they possessed unfathomable, supreme power.

Many looked at Ye Fan with strange expressions. The two Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasties are nothing? In the past, no one would have dared to utter such words. In those days, no one could escape a Killing Order issued by even a single Divine Dynasty. Now, two Divine Dynasties had simultaneously issued a Killing Order against him; this was almost certainly a death sentence!

Despite the repeated attempts by the various Sacred Masters to persuade him to stay, the old madman remained silent, saying nothing more. No one else dared to speak further, and so they were allowed to depart.

“Here you go…” Ji Ziyue finally found an opportunity. Using the Great Void Art, she traversed to Ye Fan’s side and handed him a small Purple Jade cauldron.

The Ji Family’s “Little Moonlight,” Ji Ziyue, her skin fair and translucent, had become even more beautiful and captivating. Draped in Purple Clothes, she was as graceful as an Immortal, her hair flying, eyes clear. Wrinkling her lovely nose in displeasure, she pushed Ye Fan and said, “Quickly, put it away.”

“What is this?” Ye Fan asked, astonished. Since they had last parted ways, this was the first time he had stood so close to Ji Ziyue.

“This is a Life-extending Sacred Medicine I ‘borrowed’ from the Sacred Master. It was concocted by a peerless divine king of our family.”

“Ah…” Ye Fan was surprised. Ji Ziyue must have snuck it out. He was both touched and amused that this favored daughter of Heaven would do such a thing.

“What are you grinning about? Hurry and put it away!” Ji Ziyue bared her small, sparkling tiger teeth and playfully punched him. Then, she turned to the pitiful little girl with a charming smile, her dimples showing and her large eyes curving like crescent moons. “Come with Big Sister, alright?”

The pitiful little girl quickly ran back and hugged Ye Fan’s leg. Tilting her head to look at Ji Ziyue, she seemed afraid that Ji Ziyue would coax her away. She blinked her bright eyes but said nothing.

“You little imp!” Ji Ziyue lightly tapped her on the nose, then vanished into the void.

“That big sister has a secret treasure on her…” the pitiful little girl quietly told Ye Fan.

Ye Fan laughed. What could the little one possibly know to say such a thing? However, a glint of light also flashed through the old madman’s hollow eyes as he said, “Something from the Bronze Immortal Palace.”

This sentence instantly made Ye Fan’s heart tremble. His Origin Qi foundation had been obtained from that very place—the burial ground of peerless masters. He had heard legends that peerless masters of the Eastern Wastelands who entered there never came out. The only exception was when he and Ji Ziyue had managed to emerge alive, bringing back the corpse of what was suspected to be an Immortal, which was then divided among the Sacred Lands.

The old madman, being a Saint of the Celestial Jade Holy Land, must have seen the inherited remains of that corpse. Could it be that the secret treasure on Ji Ziyue was related to that ‘Immortal Body’? But how could the pitiful little girl perceive it? She had surprisingly detected that Ji Ziyue carried a secret treasure. The child was becoming even more mysterious.

Ye Fan and his companions headed north. Many people followed them in what resembled a “pilgrimage,” but no one dared to come close or disturb them anymore.

Over the next half a month, agents from the Mortal World and Hell appeared four times in succession. They not only sought to kill Ye Fan but even implicated the pitiful little girl, with Killing Swords aimed at her on two occasions. With Saints accompanying them, they were naturally not in danger. Those killers were not in their True Bodies but were ancient, strange corpses animated by Primordial Spirit Puppets.

Which ancient legacies could have mobilized the Mortal World and Hell? Li Heishui pondered.

“There must be some Saint Heirs involved, perhaps even that ruthless Hua Yunfei. It’s also quite possible people from the Yin Yang Sect are behind this. It seems many suspect your injuries have healed,” the Black Emperor murmured.

Ye Fan stroked his chin and said nothing. He knew that great wars certainly awaited him in the future; for now, his priority was to become stronger.

Then, they began to traverse the void multiple times, eventually shaking off all their followers until they vanished without a trace.

Finally, the Black Emperor began to meticulously carve Dao Glyphs, preparing to travel to their ultimate destination—the Holy Cliff!

When Li Heishui saw how serious it was, his head began to ache. He had once again spotted the Chessboard Array Patterns, those left behind by the Void Great Emperor.

“Damn dog, put those away quickly! We don’t want to end up in the Western Desert or the Northern Plains! Haven’t you caused Pang Bo and Tu Fei enough trouble already?”

The Black Emperor was indignant. “Do you have so little faith in this Emperor?”

For once, the pitiful little girl looked worried. Squatting on the ground, she said earnestly, “Doggy, oh, you have to be careful. You make mistakes every time. Don’t get us sent to the wrong place and lose us.”

The Black Emperor looked thoroughly embarrassed and didn’t utter a word, continuing to carve and replicate the Chessboard Array Patterns. Throughout this process, the old madman stared at the Dao Glyphs with great concentration. Ye Fan knew the Black Emperor was deliberately doing this, intending to ask the Saint for his assessment.

“Alright! We’re heading to the Holy Cliff! Absolutely no mistake! We’ll arrive in the next moment!” the Black Emperor declared.

“These are Array Patterns leading to the Western Desert…” the old madman suddenly stated.

“Damn it, you unreliable dog! Are you trying to get us killed? If we get dropped on Sumeru Mountain and end up smashing the Great Thunderchant Temple, those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will fight us to the death!” Li Heishui said angrily.

“But these are clearly for the Holy Cliff…” the Black Emperor said, puzzled. Its eyes rolled as it questioned the old madman.

The old madman said nothing. He simply pointed and corrected one or two places in its Array Patterns.

“So that’s where the problem was! No wonder I felt something was a bit off,” the Black Emperor mumbled.

SWISH!

A flash of light, and the group traversed the void, disappearing from their original spot. The Array Patterns they had left behind also vanished without a trace.

Long after their departure, a vague shadow rushed from the distant mountains. It stood there for a long time before letting out a chilling laugh that seemed to come from the depths of Hell. At that moment, all birds and beasts in the mountain range instantly perished. Soon after, another figure appeared beside the first. This one was even more indistinct, almost transparent, as if it might dissipate into the wind at any moment. It stared fixedly into the void, saying nothing, but its killing intent caused all the vegetation in the entire mountain range to wither and die.

Ye Fan and his companions had no idea how many tens of thousands of li they had traversed. They had traveled from the Central Eastern Desolate region all the way to a location near the Northern Region. The Holy Cliff was located at the border between the Central Domain and the Northern Region. It was in a very peculiar position, almost never visited, and widely regarded with dread. This was because it was an ominous place. A Great Success Holy Body, in his later years, had stained the barren cliffs with his blood, dying tragically there. This event instilled fear in everyone. It was known that such a supreme existence had rivaled the Great Emperors of ancient times, yet he had met such an end, becoming an eternal historical mystery.

Although its name suggested a single cliff, upon approaching, they discovered it was incredibly vast and majestic—a range of Great Mountains, towering and imposing. It was entirely black, like ink, a color that the endless Ancient Wood upon it could not conceal. Over fifty Great Mountains stood conjoined, presenting a majestic and imposing sight.

“A Great Success Holy Body is incredibly powerful. This place was carved directly out of the Undying Mountain to serve as his place of seclusion,” the Black Emperor sighed.

Ye Fan and his companions couldn’t help but be shocked. To think that an invincible Great Success Holy Body, peerless in Heaven and Earth, was only taken advantage of by some unknown existence after his qi and blood declined in his later years. Otherwise, with his world-shaking divine might, at the peak of his power, he would have been comparable to a Great Emperor. Few in this world could have possibly eliminated him.

“A hero’s twilight years, when their strength fades before their time is due—this is the world’s greatest sorrow…” the Black Emperor lamented.

“Little Ye, you absolutely must find an Undying Divine Medicine and cultivate it. You need to live for two lifetimes! My grandfather told me that the later years of Great Success Holy Bodies are rarely peaceful. You absolutely cannot wait until your qi and blood decline…” Li Heishui also spoke up.