Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 517: Chapter 522 Encounter

The Undying Emperor—legend said he had almost surpassed the gods. Even the ancient races were unsure if he had ever truly existed, testifying to his fantastical nature.

Could the Undying Mountain truly have been manifested by him? That seemed unlikely, as he had already passed away early in the Ancient Times, making it impossible for him to have lived into later eras.

Immortals are elusive and ephemeral. Even the ancient emperors could not achieve everlasting life; they too had times when they would pass away in meditation. The monkey’s old father was such an example; having lived through endless ages, he was frighteningly ancient, yet he too was unable to achieve eternal life.

The Undying Taoist… Ye Fan thought of the Undying Taoist on the Holy Cliff.

That sheer cliff had been severed from the Undying Mountain. The death of the Great Success Holy Body was likely related to it, and it was later suppressed by the Unbegun Great Emperor using the Investiture of the Gods.

From this, it was clear how terrifying and peerless the Undying Taoist was. He must have been an invincible existence capable of rivaling the ancient Great Emperors; otherwise, such a feat would not have been possible.

“The Undying Emperor absolutely cannot be him! If he truly existed, he would be a mighty figure almost surpassing the gods!” said the monkey.

He made this judgment after hearing everything about the Holy Cliff. His words expressed the utmost admiration for the Undying Emperor.

“He is a god in the hearts of countless ancient races. In Heaven or on Earth, no one can defeat him,” the monkey sighed.

His old father was an ancient emperor. Having lived through endless ages, his power shaking the entire Ancient Times, he had nevertheless died before his very eyes, his life force exhausted.

Witnessing the fall of a Fighting Saint Emperor of his generation, even though he knew his father was awe-inspiring and unparalleled, he still believed the Undying Emperor was stronger.

This was because he was the god in the hearts of the ancient races, too elusive for his existence to be confirmed. He had been completely mythologized, to the point of near worship.

“Most likely, someone who deeply revered the Undying Emperor named the Undying Mountain. The beings dwelling there might have some connection to him, perhaps even having inherited his legacy,” the monkey observed.

“It is a sad and regrettable truth. The Fighting Saint Emperor, the Undying Emperor… even such great beings could not become immortal, only to be obliterated by the passage of time!”

“Weren’t the ancient emperors of the human race the same? In the end, they too have fallen, one after another.”

“How dazzling and terrifying was the Ruthless Empress, who looked down upon the mortal world, invincible for ages! She ultimately transformed into a Divine Embryo and certainly lived longer than ordinary emperors, yet she still vanished into the river of time.”

“Indeed. How many heroes have turned to dust? The Unbegun Great Emperor, peerless throughout history, whose pride spanned the universe, eventually could not defeat time and passed away in meditation within the Purple Mountain.”

A wave of emotion washed over them. No matter how great the ancient emperors and Great Emperors were, none could survive. This in itself was a profound sorrow.

Immortality: infinitely desired, yet unreachable. Across countless races and untold ages, even the most outstanding supreme figures born could not unlock the shackles of fate.

The pitiful little girl tugged at Ye Fan’s clothing, looking up with her innocent face, and gently asked, “Big Brother, what are gods then?”

“They are also a kind of elusive existence, perhaps similar to Immortals, or possibly the most powerful figures of antiquity who were deified and became legends,” Ye Fan replied.

“Why can’t it be determined whether they exist?” The little one’s eyelashes fluttered, her large eyes, black and white, perfectly distinct and incredibly pure.

“Indeed. It is precisely because they cannot be understood and are shrouded in a veil of mystery that such legends arise and these titles are coined.” Ye Fan patted her head and said, “Maybe, Immortals and gods are simply constructs created by humans.”

“The idea that Immortals don’t exist…” The monkey’s eyes dimmed as he once again thought of his father.

The Fighting Saint Emperor, one of the strongest beings of all time, was renowned for challenging the heavens, his hands capable of suppressing the sun and moon, and plucking stars from the sky with a flick of his fingers. Yet, he met his end with regrets concerning Immortals.

“Supreme beings do not revere Immortals, yet in the end, to have no faith is also a kind of sorrow…” These were his father’s final words.

“In the future, if the pitiful little girl believes Big Brother is a god, will Big Brother then evolve into a real god?” the pitiful little girl asked, blinking her big eyes as her imagination ran wild.

The big black dog muttered something that no one quite heard. But Ye Fan’s heart stirred; The pitiful little girl is a Divine Infant. What exactly is her background?

They asked the monkey many questions, but unfortunately, he had been too young at the time, so his understanding was truly limited. He wasn’t exactly a living fossil and was unable to provide more answers.

“In the past, we always collectively referred to Ancient Emperors and the Royal Family as Ancient Kings. Only now do we realize there were distinctions, and that there were only a few true Ancient Emperors.”

“The Ancient Desolation Forbidden Land…” The monkey frowned. After the others described its exact location, he seemed to recall something.

Prior to the Ancient Times, this forbidden area did not exist; it only came into existence later. He pondered for quite a while before saying, “If I’m not mistaken, the mysterious Ancient Human Clan appeared there.”

In Ancient Times, the Ancient Desolation Forbidden Land was exceptionally mysterious. It was rumored to be related to the Outer Domain and likely connected to the Ziwei Ancient Emperor Star, concealing an ancient path.

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. Beneath the Ancient Desolation Abyss, there indeed lies a five-colored altar, undoubtedly an ancient path of the starry sky. Could it have existed for such an incredibly long time?

“The world is about to descend into chaos. Without formidable strength, one won’t be able to stand firm in the times to come. The kings of the human race will appear simultaneously, Qi Shi Academy will reopen, the ancient races are returning, and Holy Spirits will also emerge. This is truly shaping up to be a chaotic era,” the big black dog remarked.

Hearing this, everyone felt a surge of pressure. The future would undoubtedly belong to the strong; ordinary cultivators likely wouldn’t stand a chance.

If all those races were to appear, who knew what kind of tumultuous yet grand era it would be? There might even be a world-shaking battle between Great Emperors and Emperors then!

“Since ancient times, two Great Emperors have never appeared in the same era. Yet, this time… it feels somewhat uncanny…”

“That’s looking too far ahead. Nowadays, even Saints rarely appear.”

Chatting as they went, they walked forward, strolling through the Yaochi Pure Land, in no hurry to return to their residence in the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Yaochi was vast, encompassing various terrains. After traversing a hilly area, they arrived at a scenic cluster of lakes.

Here, there were many lakes, like so many mirrors, gleaming brightly and reflecting a gentle light. Each small lake was crystal clear, with various exotic fish and Auspicious Beasts swimming within their waters.

The lakeside scenery was picturesque: willows swayed like mist, sacred trees shimmered, flowers bloomed in profusion, their petals falling like rain, and a delicate fragrance wafted through the air.

This area, with its numerous lakes, was as beautiful as a poem. Some young elites were strolling about, making friends and conversing about various matters.

Upon arriving here, Ye Fan and the others spotted several sacred ladies. Each was surrounded by a group of young men, clearly the center of attention.

“Are these fellows trying to steal the Saint Heirs’ sweethearts?” Liu Kao muttered, his gaze drifting as he scanned the area.

“Don’t cause trouble!” Wu Zhongtian reminded him.

“Who do they think they are? They can’t compare to Little Ye’s fierceness. To ensure the birth of an Innate Holy Body Daoist Embryo and cultivate a second Unbegun, he directly cut down the Purple Mansion’s Saint Heir! That was fiercely amazing. What they’re doing is just child’s play.”

“How come everything gets twisted when it comes out of your mouths?” Ye Fan glared at them.

“We’re telling the truth! The Unbegun Great Emperor was so formidable that before becoming an emperor, he caught an Extreme Dao Holy Weapon bare-handed! Since ancient times, who else could do that?” Jiang Huairen said.

“If there’s a chance to cultivate such a descendant, I’d even snatch the child’s mother away!” Li Heishui declared.

“Jiang Huairen, Li Heishui… your grandfathers certainly had foresight when they named you. It’s as if they already predicted your temperaments,” Ye Fan teased, alluding to the suggestive meanings their names could carry.

“Little Ye, we’re saying this for your own good! A second Unbegun Great Emperor! This is the first time a chance to replicate something like that has appeared!” Liu Kao shouted.

“Damn it!” The big black dog clearly wasn’t happy to hear this, but eventually, it nodded and said, “It’s a rare opportunity, very much worth considering. If such a physique truly emerges, this emperor will go all out! I’ll send him into the Purple Mountain, and in the future, he’ll sweep across all kings!”

Ahead, a young man was exuding Holy Light from his entire body; even each strand of his hair seemed to sparkle. It was precisely the Flickering Light Saint Heir, a dominant figure among his peers in the Eastern Wastelands, like a sun at high noon.

Beside him were quite a few female disciples from Great Sects, along with a few male disciples, all surrounding him like stars respectfully attending the moon.

“Brother Ye…” The Flickering Light Saint Heir looked over, then parted the crowd and walked towards them.

Those striking young women and the few male followers all showed expressions of surprise. They were all from prominent families and naturally knew everything Ye Fan had accomplished.

Currently, he was the only one to have consecutively slain Saint Heirs, and he almost possessed the power to overwhelm the younger generation of the Eastern Wastelands. There were now no more than a handful of individuals who could challenge him.

These people faced Ye Fan with a degree of tension. This refined-looking youth appeared harmless, but he was definitely an absolute Killing God!

This was a kind of imposing aura. Ye Fan could now vaguely intimidate the vast majority of the younger generation in the Eastern Wastelands, exuding a strong sense of pressure upon them.

“I heard that you too were targeted by the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty. It seems we’ve become brothers in adversity,” Ye Fan said with a smile.

“I truly don’t know who would want to hire them to kill me.” The Flickering Light Saint Heir shook his head, his smile unfaltering, his entire being exuding a golden radiance.

“Didn’t they fail? Are they trying to ruin their own reputation? The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty is nothing much after all!” Ye Fan said.

“Brother Ye, your cultivation base is unfathomable. Perhaps you will indeed be the one to make the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty lose face.” The Flickering Light Saint Heir smiled and said, “However, don’t be careless. During this recent period, they have consecutively slain twenty-nine senior figures, including one Sect Hierarch, without a single failure.”

“Is that so?” Ye Fan felt a chill in his heart.

“Previously, they underestimated you, Brother Ye, focusing mainly on using you to temper their younger generation. If they continue to fail, they will surely dispatch senior Kings to unceremoniously obliterate their target.”

Those disciples from the Great Sects, mostly young women, quietly watched the two converse, none daring to interrupt, a trace of awe in their eyes.

If these two were to fight, who would live and who would die, who was weaker and who was stronger—no one could say for certain. But the victor between them could definitely challenge for the position of the foremost expert of the Eastern Wastelands’ younger generation!

At this moment, to everyone watching, both were smiling without a hint of hostility, making it seem unlikely that sparks would fly and a battle would erupt between them.

“Brother Ye…” The Dayan Saint Heir, Xiang Yifei, walked over with a smile, accompanied by the Dao Yi Saint Heir and several disciples from top-tier Great Sects.

A murderous intent surged in Ye Fan’s heart. That night, Xiang Yifei had definitely appeared, intending to make a move, but ultimately, he had not entered the Beginless Killing Array.

He loathed these types who acted like gentlemen to one’s face but were insidious schemers behind one’s back. Nevertheless, he put on a bright smile, concealing his killing intent.

“Long time no see, Xiang Yifei,” Wu Zhongtian said, a mocking sneer playing on the corner of his lips. They all knew this man had appeared that night.

Xiang Yifei appeared unconcerned. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Dao Yi Saint Heir, he calmly greeted Ye Fan and his companions.

Ye Fan also put on a false smile, responding warmly and exchanging a few pleasantries with the disciples from the top-tier Great Sects.

“It’s a pity about the Purple Mansion Saint Heir and the Wanchu Saint Heir. Those two will never appear again,” Xiang Yifei said, shaking his head.

“I never imagined they would provoke Brother Ye,” the Dao Yi Saint Heir also sighed.

Ye Fan and his companions were stunned, not expecting them to bring up this matter and unsure of their intentions.

Nearby, the Flickering Light Saint Heir merely smiled without saying a word.

The other disciples from the Great Sects began to discuss the matter, probing Ye Fan indirectly, but none dared to ask him outright, as the topic was too sensitive.

“Hmph!”

A cold snort came from afar. By the lakeside, a few Elders glanced over coldly, their gazes fixed on Ye Fan.

Damn it! Ye Fan felt a chill in his heart.

The mere mention by the Dayan Saint Heir and Dao Yi Saint Heir had spurred discussions among the others, while the two instigators themselves had fallen silent. And now, coincidentally, a few Grand Elders from the Purple Mansion and Wanchu sects happened to be passing by. It was all too convenient.

“Are you that Sacred Body?” an old man in purple robes asked, his expression chilling as he stared at Ye Fan.

“Yes, that’s me,” Ye Fan responded calmly.

By now, everyone knew that Ye Fan had killed the Purple Mansion Saint Heir and the Wanchu Saint Heir. However, no one mentioned it explicitly, as those two had concealed their true identities when they had attempted to kill Ye Fan.

“A true hero born of youth, indeed!” another Elder’s voice was chilling, laced with evident killing intent.

“You flatter me,” Ye Fan replied, quite composed and maintaining an indifferent attitude.

At this, the expressions of the few Elders grew even darker. The Saint Heirs of both their sects had been eliminated by the person standing before them, filling them with an endless, simmering rage.

For the two Sacred Lands, this was an utter disgrace!

However, they didn’t dare to kill Ye Fan publicly, not with an Ancient Saint backing him.

They were unable to act openly, but if someone were to eliminate Ye Fan secretly, that would be an entirely different matter.

“For young people to be so overbearing is not necessarily a good thing.”

“Those who are too brilliant and show off their edge often meet a premature end.”

The killing intent from the several Elders was directed at Ye Fan, difficult for outsiders to sense. They couldn’t act at this moment, but a firm resolution had already formed in their hearts.

Ye Fan wasn’t concerned. All they could do was reveal their murderous intent. He believed they wouldn’t dare to attack him in public.

“Throughout history, many peerless geniuses have met their end in their youth.”

“Many astonishing talents were too reckless, unaware of the true complexities of the world, and thus found it difficult to mature fully.”

The expressions of the Elders grew increasingly cold, their killing intent palpable.

“Is that so?” Ye Fan remained indifferent, glancing at them lightly before saying, “I heard the two Saint Heirs have perished. Sigh… perhaps they were too dazzling, true peerless geniuses. What a pity, what a shame.”

His words made the Elders almost choke with anger. It was as if their very organs were injured, and they were nearly suffocated by his taunt.

“A bunch of old fools!” the monkey suddenly spoke. He was in human form, appearing as nothing more than a young man of about twenty.

No one knew his origins. Seeing him dare to speak in such a manner, everyone present was astonished.

“Youngster, have your elders not taught you to respect your seniors and honor the Dao?”

“So young, yet you dare to speak so recklessly in front of your elders! You’re courting death!”

The expressions of the several Elders turned cold. They were naturally unaware that this was a Fighting Saint Ape.

“Stop trying to pull rank with your age and get the hell out of here!” The monkey was exceedingly domineering, his eyes flashing fiercely as he berated the Elders in front of everyone.