Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 588: Chapter 592: Emergence of the Heaven-devouring Demon Cover

Xiao Yunsheng was slapped by a cultivator from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm and was completely bewildered, roaring angrily like a wounded fierce beast. Ye Fan followed up, his right hand forming a seal and pressing downward, this time aiming directly at his brow, intending to split his skull. Xiao Yunsheng raised his left hand to block. If his brow was shattered, his Sea of Consciousness would be destroyed. Even a peak sovereign wouldn’t survive such an injury. At his level of cultivation base, limbs could be regenerated even if severed. However, his divine sense had to remain unharmed; if the soul imprint was extinguished, he would cease to exist.

BANG! Ye Fan struck out with the Mountain Embracing Seal, advancing with unstoppable force. His right hand, black as a mountain peak, shattered the Law formed by divine energy and drove inward.

CRACK! Xiao Yunsheng’s left hand convulsed, then twisted and deformed with severe fractures. The agony contorted his face, and cold sweat poured down.

CRUNCH! Ye Fan’s right hand, transformed into a black mountain peak, pressed downward relentlessly. It was pure physical combat, and Xiao Yunsheng’s palm and fingers were finally crushed into a mangled pulp. The body of a sovereign was exceptionally sturdy, yet it was no match for Ye Fan, whose peak physical strength overwhelmed it completely.

“AAAAH…” Xiao Yunsheng cried out, his body falling backward as he desperately tried to avoid the strike aimed at splitting his skull. Ye Fan’s right hand pressed down, almost touching his forehead. Xiao Yunsheng’s spirit felt like it was fleeing in terror; abandoning all dignity, he collapsed heavily to the ground and rolled away.

BANG! Ye Fan took three quick steps forward, his right foot swinging around to smash down with tremendous force, as if weighing millions of pounds!

CRACK! This kick was incredibly swift and vicious. The sole of his foot slammed into Xiao Yunsheng’s chest, instantly breaking over a dozen ribs.

PFFT! Xiao Yunsheng spat out a large mouthful of blood. That kick had nearly pierced through his chest, rupturing his internal organs.

BANG! Ye Fan followed up with another kick, showing no mercy. He targeted Xiao Yunsheng’s forehead, clearly intending to shatter his skull and kill him with a single blow.

All of this transpired in an instant, so quickly that no one could intervene; the entire sequence of actions unfolded in mere moments.

“Stop!” someone shouted from nearby. Grandmaster Xiao, with over a dozen forbidden items swirling above his head, rushed over like an enraged old lion, his hair practically standing on end from fury.

BANG! Ye Fan remained unmoved, forcefully stomping his right foot toward Xiao Yunsheng’s brow. If it landed, even a peak sovereign would be utterly killed.

PFFT! At the critical moment, Xiao Yunsheng spat out a mouthful of Innate Essence Blood, which transformed into a Qilin Shield, materializing above his forehead.

Ye Fan roared, stomping down with all his might. BANG! His foot struck the Blood Shield. The vast Jade Platform shook violently; one could only imagine the power behind that kick. The blood-red Qilin Shield fractured and then exploded with a BANG! Although much of the force from Ye Fan’s foot was absorbed, it still descended.

THUD! It sounded like the boom of a muffled drum. Xiao Yunsheng’s skull caved in significantly where Ye Fan had stomped, a mangled ruin of blood and flesh, though it hadn’t split open.

At this moment, Grandmaster Xiao arrived. He waved both hands, and the Brocade Mountain and River Map appeared, intending to trap Ye Fan within it.

BANG! Ye Fan flicked his fingers, this time forming the Human King Seal, confronting the Mountain and River Map with the imperious air of a sovereign lord of all humanity.

BOOM! Ye Fan’s physical body was unparalleled. Although Grandmaster Xiao’s magical power was suppressed in this place, it still held the might to move seas. With a violent tremor from their clash, both staggered back several steps.

“Go die!”

At this moment, from behind Ye Fan, the barbarian who was also sheltered beneath Daoist Duan De’s broken bowl attacked, swinging his great club. On the ground, Xiao Yunsheng, a maelstrom of shock and fury, rolled desperately to avoid the astounding blow.

CLANG! The barbarian’s physique was also terrifying. His Wolf-toothed Stick seemed capable of piercing the heavens, and its strike caused the vast Jade Platform to shake violently. Had this not been a resting place of deities, it would have likely been reduced to ashes.

BANG! Xiao Yunsheng dodged the first strike but couldn’t avoid the second. He screamed miserably as Dongfang Ye smashed both his legs into a gory mess.

“How dare you…” Grandmaster Xiao, enraged upon seeing the barbarian’s great club swinging toward his own brother’s brow, desperately intervened. However, Ye Fan blocked him, preventing his advance. Ye Fan repeatedly clashed with the Mountain and River Map, his attacks so powerful they nearly shattered the Ancient Map and seemed to crack the very sky.

SWISH! Someone from the Yin Yang Sect intervened. A sovereign unleashed a bolt of Pilean-like light, sweeping forward to rescue Xiao Yunsheng; otherwise, he would have certainly perished under the barbarian’s Wolf Fang Club.

Simultaneously, the elder Sect Hierarch of the Yin Yang Sect, Wang Yangzhan, personally took action. He advanced, intending to deal with Ye Fan and his companions. He had been the one to declare the area off-limits, and now, with an ally in peril, he naturally intended to assert his dominance. He was a living fossil, over three thousand years old, and feared by all. He did not move swiftly, but his presence exuded immense pressure. With his hands clasped behind his back, he glanced disdainfully at them, his demeanor, as if everything was under his control, was intimidating. He looked down upon them and extended his right hand, aiming to seize the broken bowl in the air. He intended to deprive them of their protective artifact and ensure they met a violent death. It could be said that he indeed had the grounds for such arrogance. As a living fossil, even top-tier Peacock Kings were no match for him.

“Hmph!” The old blind man let out a cold snort. His right hand lashed out, imbued with an equally terrifying and inexplicable Law Power, no weaker than that of Wang Yangzhan, the elder Sect Hierarch of the Yin Yang Sect.

BANG! As they clashed, a whirlpool of divine energy materialized—eerie and inexplicable. Space and time themselves seemed to warp and twist, throwing everything into chaos. The onlookers were astounded. Many who had come to this place found their divine energy sealed. Yet Wang Yangzhan, a living fossil, could still employ such methods, proving he was truly a cut above the rest. And the unremarkable old blind man had actually resisted his attack! Previously, no one had thought much of him, never imagining he was such a reclusive expert.

“It’s you… the Northern Region’s Second Great Bandit—Old Blind Heaven!” Wang Yangzhan exclaimed, his expression incredulous. “You’re still alive…”

“Since you’re still alive, how could I be dead?” the old blind man chuckled.

SWISH! Both sides quickly separated, retreating, both highly wary of the other. Neither made another rash move.

Xiao Yunsheng had been rescued, but he was in a dire state. His arms had been smashed into pulp by Ye Fan, and his legs brutally shattered by the barbarian. His forehead, in particular, was caved in, clearly imprinted with the pattern of Ye Fan’s sole. This humiliation drove him to madness, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.

“The Grand Emperor was a Great Emperor of the human race, revered by all people throughout all ages,” Ye Fan declared loudly. “As members of the human race, why can’t we pay our respects? Or do you view others as alien races? Or perhaps, it is you who harbor treacherous thoughts?” He had effectively pinned grave accusations on the people of the Yin Yang Sect. Many people present were already slated to be cleared from the area, and upon hearing his words, they all voiced their agreement and support.

The scene descended into chaos. The Emperor of Great Xia stepped out from the crowd, saying, “We only intend to retrieve our ancestor’s remains. We will not disturb anything else. Let us open the coffin now.”

After the recent conflict, indeed, no one dared to act recklessly. The seemingly weakest group possessed two barbarian-like figures and the Northern Region’s second greatest bandit, which had far exceeded everyone’s expectations. At this, Ye Fan and his companions exchanged peculiar glances. They had never imagined the old blind man possessed such a formidable background!

FZZT FZZT FZZT… Beams of Divine Light shot out. Emperor’s Dragon Qi was infused into the markings on the ancient coffin. The coffin lid creaked and slowly lifted, revealing a narrow gap.

BOOM! Original Chaos Qi burst forth with a thunderous roar, causing everyone to quickly retreat, their gazes fixed nervously on the ancient coffin. This was the burial site of a Great Emperor from ancient times. No one could be certain if he had left behind any contingency plans, making everyone quite apprehensive.

Once the Chaos Qi finished flowing out, the coffin lid silently floated up, revealing its contents. The crowd surged forward.

It was completely empty!

It was an empty coffin; there was no corpse, no trace of the Grand Emperor.

“What happened? Where are the Grand Emperor’s remains?”

“Why is it an empty coffin? Where have the remains of the ancient Great Emperor gone?”

Soon, people noticed a human-shaped imprint at the bottom of the coffin—the silhouette of an ancient emperor, etched into the base of the coffin.

“Has the Grand Emperor undergone the Transformation, merging himself with heaven and earth…?”

“No, this is a Dao Seal, not a mark of the Transformation!”

At this moment, everyone was incredibly excited. This was a Dao Mark left by a Great Emperor of the human race! One didn’t even need to guess what profound mysteries it contained—it was surely a Supreme Ancient Scripture!

Where had the Grand Emperor gone? This was the question on everyone’s mind.

Suddenly, someone pointed at the coffin wall, exclaiming, “There are words on it!”

“Undying Emperor…” someone read aloud, but was quickly interrupted as murderous intent erupted in the area.

At this point, those present finally cast off all restraint. They all wanted to seize the ancient coffin for themselves. Not only did it contain the Dao Mark of a human Great Emperor, but it also seemed to hold other secrets.

“Don’t act rashly! You’ll destroy the imprint!” someone shouted.

If this sarcophagus were shattered, the imprint on it would cease to exist, and no one would be able to obtain it.

“I, this old man, have said it before: all uninvolved personnel must withdraw!” Wang Yangzhan of the Yin Yang Sect reiterated.

The Demon Lord of the Southern Mountains, the Emperor of the Central States, the Divine Monk of the Western Desert, and others advanced, forcing many people back and preventing them from approaching.

“And you lot, hurry up and leave!” a sovereign beside Wang Yangzhan barked at Ye Fan and his group, his expression grim, clearly holding them in contempt.

“Have you forgotten the pain from just now?” the old blind man sneered.

“This is not a place where just anyone can linger…” As Wang Yangzhan spoke, Life and Death Qi manifested above his head. Swirls of red and black Qi, like a patch of the firmament itself descending, threatened to suppress everyone. Even Sovereign-level individuals felt a sense of suffocation.

“An ancient Saint’s Weapon!”

Many turned pale. Even those at the Peacock King Level felt their hearts pound with apprehension. They had never expected someone to bring out a Saint’s Weapon—an artifact that could undoubtedly sweep through everything in its path. The power of such an artifact was almost impossible for human strength to withstand. In an era where Saints were seldom seen, wielding such a weapon made one virtually invincible throughout the world.

“Is this the legendary Yin Yang Mirror?” people wondered aloud, their faces paling at the thought of this nearly mythological weapon. This was an Heirloom Holy Weapon, existing for over two hundred thousand years, remaining imperishable, one of the most terrifying ancient Saint Soldiers. Not every Saint could forge a weapon perfectly matching their own realm, as the necessary materials were incredibly rare—much like a Great Emperor seeking Phoenix Blood Red Gold, Origin Qi, or Immortal Tears Green Gold; such materials were treasures one could only hope to stumble upon, not actively seek out. Ancient Saints’ weapons forged from ordinary materials might last for tens of thousands of years at least, or up to around a hundred thousand years at most, before eroding away under the passage of time. Only supreme Saint Weapons, forged from peerless divine materials, could endure eternally and be known as Heirloom Holy Weapons, items rarely found in the world.

“No, that’s not the true Heirloom Holy Weapon. It lacks the invincible Qi Mechanism capable of destroying all things.”

“It’s the Ancient Mirror replicated by the Yin Yang Sect fifty thousand years ago! Although crafted by a Saint, it wasn’t forged from peerless divine materials. Tens of thousands of years have passed, and it’s already half-destroyed!”

“However, it still possesses a very powerful Saintly Qi Mechanism! Other weapons definitely cannot contend with it!”

Everyone retreated, many faces pale, knowing they definitely couldn’t compete with the Yin Yang Sect. Although the people of the Yin Yang Sect acted with impunity, they dared not show disrespect to those from the Immortal Divine Dynasty—a heritage that had produced Great Emperors of the human race, its foundations were unfathomably deep. However, they showed no such courtesy to Ye Fan and his companions. Xiao Yunsheng, who stood with them, was even gritting his teeth as he shouted, “Get over here!”

“Old blind man, my damaged Saint Weapon, even in this special place that suppresses divine energy, is still sufficient to annihilate all of you,” Wang Yangzhan, the elder Sect Hierarch of the Yin Yang Sect, said nonchalantly. “Out of respect for the legendary figure, that old undying one, I will allow you to leave. However, these few must die.” He fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, Dongfang Ye, and Daoist Duan De, and then his eyes locked onto the broken bowl, clearly intending to seize it for himself.

The vast Jade Platform fell silent. Everyone knew that even a Saint Weapon, damaged by the erosion of time, could still kill many supreme experts.

“That fat one, give me your bowl!” Wang Yangzhan demanded coldly, intent on taking their protective treasure.

At this life-or-death juncture, Daoist Duan De’s expression flickered indeterminately—one moment gritting his teeth, the next his eyes glinting.

“You bunch of ants are all doomed!” Xiao Yunsheng spat, his voice laced with venom. “That damned fatty, hurry up and hand over the bowl!”

“Damn it, you really think you have this old man cornered?” Daoist Duan De gritted his teeth, finally making a decision. A terrifying aura began to emanate from the broken bowl above his head.

CRACK!

The broken bowl fractured, and tens of thousands of black beams of light burst out. A simple, ancient Pottery Lid was revealed, hovering in the void. A striking ghost-face mark was imprinted on it.

“That is…”

“It looks very familiar… very much like a legend recorded in certain Ancient Books!”

“I remember now! The ghost face… That’s the mark of the Heaven-devouring Emperor! This Pottery Lid… it’s an Emperor’s Weapon!”

“The Ancient Heaven-devouring Demon Vessel… It’s a peak weapon from the Eastern Wastelands! Heavens, the long-lost lid of the Demon Jar has appeared!”

Many were aghast and couldn’t help but retreat. A chill ran down their spines—a dilapidated bowl actually contained half of an Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon!

“Don’t be afraid! Half of a peak weapon cannot be fully awakened. Unless a Saint is present, no one can activate it or unleash a Great Emperor’s Immortal Power!”

“Then you go ahead and try it!”

“Even if it can’t unleash its full Emperor’s Might, it can still overpower ancient Saint Weapons!”

The vast Jade Platform was thrown into turmoil. Not a single person remained unstunned; all of them retreated.

Ye Fan was also dumbfounded. The most crucial part of the Ancient Heaven-devouring Demon Vessel, which the Black Emperor constantly obsessed over, was actually in Daoist Duan De’s hands, hidden within that broken bowl!

“You dare show off with a broken mirror in front of me?” Daoist Duan De puffed out his chest, his composure regained. “You’re all finished! You’ve offended me to the core! In the future, I’ll dig up the graves of every single one of your ancestors, and I’ll leave your own Tombyards for my grandson to excavate!”