Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 504: Chapter 509 Seizing the Cauldron

Correction: Jiang Huairen should be Jiang Yichen’s young paternal uncle. Furthermore, Jiang Yichen’s biological grandfather, as well as the Ninth Elder and others mentioned, are all of the great-grandfather generation. The previous text has been amended.

Everyone was speechless, utterly silent. The legendary great bandit was truly extraordinary—so direct and decisive!

“You little brat, still haven’t learned your lesson!”

SLAP! SLAP!

The resounding slaps echoed as Jiang Hi swung his large hand, fiercely striking Jiang Yichen across the face. He didn’t hold back at all.

Everyone exchanged glances, but no one dared to step forward. This man was too ferocious. The young man’s great-grandfather was right there, yet Jiang Hi openly thrashed him. No one had ever witnessed such a display of dominance.

Moreover, as he swung his hand, he berated the “little brat” with every strike. It was truly shocking. How was Jiang Yichen’s great-grandfather supposed to react?

“And you…” Jiang Hi grabbed the collar of the gray-haired middle-aged man, yanking him forward like a chick. Without a word, he first delivered thirty-six loud slaps, then said, “You’re a man of a hundred and eighty years, yet you don’t cultivate virtue! I’ll slap you to death!”

Everyone was dumbfounded. He knows the man is that old, yet he treats him like this? How is he supposed to maintain his dignity? How can he show his face in public again?

“Enough!” Jiang Yichen’s great-grandfather said sharply, striding forward. “Have you hit them enough?”

“Not yet!” Jiang Hi responded bluntly.

SLAP! SLAP!

As he spoke, he continued his assault, delivering another eighteen slaps, alternating between front and backhand. Jiang Yichen and the gray-haired middle-aged man were thoroughly dazed, almost collapsing to the ground.

Nearby, everyone was at a loss for words. Even the absolute sovereign Jiang Rui had spoken, yet Jiang Hi answered with such dominant actions—an overwhelming presence.

“You…” Jiang Rui’s face turned cold.

“What, are you planning to make a move on me?” Jiang Hi glanced at him, then resumed swinging his palm.

“You little brat, I’ll teach you not to misbehave! You little rascal, I’ll teach you not to stir up trouble!”

With every swing, Jiang Hi called them “little brats” and “little rascals.” Jiang Rui’s face turned green. Jiang Hi was disciplining his descendants by slapping them right in front of him, causing Jiang Rui’s forehead veins to pop.

Around them, many elders and members of the middle and younger generations of the Jiang Family were present, all stunned. This great bandit ancestor truly feared nothing; he dared to act and speak as he pleased.

However, upon deeper reflection, it made sense. This ancestor had dared to rebel against the family in the past; compared to that, this was nothing at all.

“If you dare bully Tingting or commit evil again, I’ll throw you into the Sea Eye!”

Jiang Hi finally stopped, not because he wanted to spare the two, but because he himself was tired of hitting them. He turned to Jiang Huairen and Little Tingting, saying, “However he bullied you, come over and slap him back yourselves.”

Damn it, is this how you protect your own? Can you even do that…? Everyone watched, dumbfounded.

“Your grandfather is incredible…” Li Heishui and the others murmured, equally stunned.

Jiang Huairen was eager, truly wanting to go over and land a few slaps.

Tingting felt very embarrassed. Her great-granduncle was so overwhelmingly forceful that she felt awkward. She tugged at Jiang Huairen’s sleeve and said, “Uncle, please stop hitting them.”

“You! When dealing with villains like this, you should chop him into ten pieces,” Jiang Huairen said, patting her head.

Everyone looked at him with disdain. Is this how you teach a child? Truly shameless.

“Are you two hurt?” Jiang Hi asked.

“No,” Little Tingting hurriedly shook her head.

Those close to Jiang Yichen’s faction felt an urge to cough up blood. You’re the ones who have been beating people up all along, and now you ask if they’re hurt? Unless their fingers were hurt from all the slapping.

Jiang Hi tossed Jiang Yichen and the gray-haired middle-aged man aside and said in a deep voice, “I don’t want to waste any more words. Bring me the Origin Qi Cauldron!”

Many people could no longer remain calm, their expressions turning strange. Who wouldn’t be tempted by such a holy divine relic?

Never mind that it was now within the Jiang Family. Even in past times when it had an owner, the Sacred Lands had abandoned their dignity and fought for it. Now, wanting them to send it away was almost impossible.

The emergence of an ownerless ancient scripture would plunge the world into chaos, with everyone frantically vying for it.

The emergence of an ownerless Extreme Dao Holy Weapon would be even more significant. Only an ancient Great Emperor could forge such a weapon, making it rarer than ancient scriptures. Mastering it meant a Sacred Land would possess part of a Great Emperor’s combat power.

Furthermore, if an ancient Saint-level individual appeared, mastering the sacred weapon could unleash a Great Emperor’s divine might. In past times, an Invincible Divine King of the Jiang Family once swept through a Sacred Land on the Ice Field using the Hengyu Holy Furnace.

The Origin Qi foundation had already formed into a cauldron. It was practically an Extreme Dao embryo, a precious treasure dreamed of by ancient Great Emperors. Who could remain calm in its presence?

“The Origin Qi Cauldron is with Old Thirteenth,” the absolute sovereign Jiang Rui stated.

Jiang Hi’s expression darkened. “Then please ask Sixth Brother to summon Old Thirteenth.”

“He left the family a few days ago to travel,” Jiang Rui replied.

“How convenient!” Jiang Hi’s complexion turned ugly.

Not far away, Ye Fan’s heart sank. It wasn’t just Jiang Yichen; it was obvious now. There was someone supporting him, wanting to keep the holy divine relic.

This was no wonder. An Immortal Treasure like this, once inside the Sacred Lands, was nearly impossible to give up. It was too valuable, enough to make Sacred Lands turn on each other.

No matter the divine person or Saint, only a peak weapon was true. If they could obtain it, the Jiang Clan’s future would surely be more magnificent; no Sacred Land could compare!

Because the Flickering Light Sacred Land’s Dragon Cauldron was the result of generations of Sages’ efforts, not forged by a Great Emperor.

The Jiang Clan had birthed Hengyu Great Emperor and possessed an ancient Great Emperor’s Refining Weapon Holy Technique; they might truly evolve a second Great Emperor’s Holy Weapon in the future.

A Sacred Land possessing two Extreme Dao Holy Weapons—that would truly be the number one divine land under Heaven, unrivaled!

Faced with such immense interests, many otherwise indifferent members of the Jiang Clan developed ideas, let alone those who acted unscrupulously.

In that instant, Ye Fan thought of many things. The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty aiming for him must have been hired by some ancient heritage, perhaps even involving a faction of the Jiang Clan.

If he died, the Origin Qi Cauldron would surely become theirs, legitimately.

“I want to know, when will Old Thirteenth appear? And when he returns, will he bring back the Origin Qi Cauldron?” Jiang Hi asked gravely.

“When he will return is truly hard to say. As for the Origin Qi Cauldron, I believe he will handle it properly,” Jiang Rui replied.

“What do you mean by that?” Jiang Hi stared at him.

“Damn it, they’re clearly planning to keep it, unwilling to return it,” the Big Black Dog snarled from behind, glaring viciously at some members of the Jiang Clan.

Ye Fan was also indignant. The peerless Divine King had done him a great favor, and he was grateful to the Jiang Clan. However, the actions of some individuals made it hard for him to accept.

Is this leveraging their kindness for personal gain?

He had come to deliver the Undying Divine Medicine this time, but now he couldn’t remain calm. Unless he saw the Divine King, he wouldn’t leave behind a single sacred fruit.

“It hurts so much…” Jiang Yichen, who had been beaten senseless, regained consciousness and groaned continuously.

Ye Fan calmed his mind and sat cross-legged in the void. He activated the Taoist Scripture Heart Method, carefully sensing his surroundings. Simultaneously, his hands formed seals, inscribing nine ancient characters in the void.

These nine ancient characters were the Innate Divine Text of an ancient Great Emperor, also recorded in the Dao Scripture’s Wheel Sea Volume. They could stabilize one’s self and achieve a moment of Eternity.

At this moment, his Heart Spirit stirred; he sensed a wisp of the Origin Qi Cauldron’s Qi Mechanism. It was on an island not far from here, within the Jiang Clan’s territory.

This cauldron was forged by him following the records of the Dao Scripture, treading the supreme ancient path of One Weapon Breaks Ten Thousand Laws. It had a mysterious and unbreakable connection to him.

Ye Fan’s eyes snapped open. He told Jiang Huairen and the Black Emperor everything he had sensed.

Immediately, Jiang Huairen approached his grandfather and relayed the information via voice transmission.

Jiang Hi stared at a distant island and strode forward. “Whose island is that?”

His status in the Jiang Clan was very special. The clan’s ancestral figures favored him, and he had the backing of twelve even more ruthless individuals. Consequently, no one wished to clash with him.

“That is Old Thirteenth’s place of cultivation,” replied the Ninth Granduncle beside him.

“I do miss Old Thirteenth. Since he is not here, I’ll just take a stroll on his island and reminisce a bit,” Jiang Hi laughed.

WHOOSH!

He instantly rushed onto the island. Ye Fan and the others, standing on the Chessboard Array Patterns, moved laterally and followed him.

Jiang Rui’s expression darkened as he followed, along with hundreds of others.

Jiang Yichen and the gray-haired middle-aged man glared at Ye Fan and Jiang Huairen with venomous eyes. Their teeth were almost grinding to pieces, yet they dared not act rashly, fearing being beaten to death by that great bandit.

Ye Fan stood in the void, further sensing the Qi Mechanism of the Origin Qi Cauldron, having almost pinpointed its location.

It was just ahead, on that sheer cliff where a thousand-foot-high waterfall cascaded down. His weapon was hidden there.

“Is Old Thirteenth really not on the island? If I find out he’s avoiding me, don’t blame me for turning hostile!” Jiang Hi’s cold voice transmission vibrated, shaking the entire island.

Everyone was stunned. This great bandit ancestor, infamous for his ferocity, always did what he said, acting swiftly and decisively. He was definitely not making empty threats.

Ye Fan transmitted his findings via voice and followed Jiang Hi to the cliff’s edge.

The thousand-foot silver waterfall was a vast expanse of white, its roar deafening as it plunged several thousand feet, a truly magnificent sight.

“This is Thirteenth Granduncle’s favorite place for quiet cultivation,” someone remarked.

Thirteenth Granduncle Jiang Chuan listened to the waterfall here daily. He watched the stars shift, the sunrise and sunset, contemplating the vitality of all things. Sometimes, he would sit motionless for months.

“Old Thirteenth’s cultivation base has reached this level. No wonder he’s so ambitious, even wanting to claim the Origin Qi Cauldron for himself,” Jiang Hi sneered.

BOOM!

He threw a punch, and the cliff face collapsed. The thousand-foot waterfall was severed, and white waves surged into the sky, as terrifying as a tsunami.

“Jiang Hi, what are you doing?” Jiang Rui shouted, taking several large steps forward. “Why are you destroying Old Thirteenth’s cultivation place?”

“I am teaching him the principle of destruction before construction,” Jiang Hi replied coldly. He threw another punch, pulverizing half the cliff face into dust. “No construction without destruction. Only by transcending can one achieve detachment!”

BOOM!

Just then, an ancient pagoda soared into the sky, suspending itself mid-air. It exuded an aura that could overwhelm Heaven and Earth, clearly a Great Artifact, a precious treasure.

“That is Thirteenth Granduncle’s weapon! No wonder he sat here for years; he was nurturing his Dao-proving Vessel!” someone exclaimed.

Others could not sense it, but Ye Fan clearly felt the Qi Mechanism of the Origin Qi. It resonated from the sacred objects conceived in his Wheel and Sea, inseparably connected to him.

THUD.

Jiang Hi extended a large hand to grab it. Jiang Rui’s expression changed, and he moved to block him, shouting, “Jiang Hi, what are you doing? Are you trying to forcibly seize Old Thirteenth’s divine object?”

“I’m just curious. I want to take a look.”

CLANG!

Under the immense pressure from the two, the ancient pagoda burst forth with ten thousand rays of Divine Radiance, erupting in a torrent of blazing light, like a surging ocean.

Ye Fan inscribed characters in the void with an imposing demeanor. The nine mysterious characters of the ancient Great Emperor appeared, instantly deepening his connection with his cauldron.

The small golden lake at his brow morphed into a divine spirit. It flew out, cast in gold and dazzling. On close inspection, it looked exactly like him.

Ye Fan exerted all his might, secretly employing the All Secret, instantly strengthening this god-like golden figure tenfold!

The golden divine spirit was brilliant. It was him, continuously transforming, sitting before his brow, evoking the Dao and connecting to his cauldron.

BOOM!

Suddenly, Origin Qi surged forth. From the ancient pagoda, an ancient, unadorned cauldron emerged, unstoppable, and flew out.

“The Origin Qi Cauldron!” many people shouted, simultaneously reaching out to grab it.

The golden divine spirit at Ye Fan’s brow roared to the sky. Immense spiritual pressure swept in all directions. The ancient cauldron, as if summoned, flew back in an instant and hung above his head. It shed ten thousand threads of Origin Qi, each as heavy as a mountain, protecting him within.

“Don’t let him take that cauldron!” Jiang Yichen shouted from a distance.

Now, even without his prompting, many people had sealed off all ten directions, preparing to snatch it.

“Sixth Brother, what is the meaning of this?” Jiang Hi asked coldly, confronting Jiang Rui.

The Ninth Granduncle also stepped forward. “Sixth Brother, are you really going to condone them? This isn’t your style.”

Jiang Rui’s expression was cold. He glanced at the two of them, then fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, who was not far away, eyeing the small cauldron above his head.

Strands of Origin Qi descended, each capable of crushing a mountain range, unbelievably heavy. It was the rarest Immortal Treasure in the world; no one could remain calm in its presence.

Ye Fan, regaining his cauldron, felt a surge of emotion; this was his future Dao-proving Vessel. Losing it would hinder his path forward.

“Brother Jiang Hi, why must you do this?”

Just then, a clear voice drifted from a nearby mountain peak. A man in Purple Clothes was walking over, step by step.

He looked to be about thirty years old, with hair like a waterfall and eyes as deep as the starry sky. He exuded an innate emperorly majesty, and every movement seemed to achieve Heaven and Earth Unity.

“Old Thirteenth…” Jiang Hi stared at him.

“Brother Jiang Hi, it seems you intend to stop me today. Is a battle unavoidable?” The man in Purple Clothes’ gaze was like lightning.

“Do you really think this cauldron is yours? Do you think you can detain us?” the Big Black Dog jeered. “If you have the guts, try breaking this corner of the Great Emperor Array!”

The Chessboard Array Patterns flickered, alternately dimming and brightening, ready to teleport them away at any moment.

“This cauldron is fated with my Jiang Family; it shall be the second sacred weapon of our clan and must remain here,” the man in Purple Clothes, Jiang Chuan, said as he looked at Ye Fan. His voice held undeniable authority.

In the distance, mysterious Array Patterns materialized, bisecting the Heavenly Universe. Their momentum was磅礴 (vast and majestic), and awe-inspiring.

The Black Emperor’s expression changed. “A corner of Hengyu Great Emperor’s Array!”

“Indeed. Can you still traverse it now?” Jiang Chuan glanced at it.

Ye Fan’s heart sank. This represented the will of some within the Jiang Clan, with Jiang Rui and Jiang Chuan as their representatives; they intended to keep the cauldron and not return it.