Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 296 - 297 Chapter 302 Outstanding Individuals Gather in Qi

297: Chapter 302: Outstanding Individuals Gather in Qi 297: Chapter 302: Outstanding Individuals Gather in Qi “Truly audacious, taking the sacred body as a servant.

It’s certainly been an eye-opener for me,” an old man upstairs remarked drunkenly.

Ji Biyue laughed, her voice like silver bells.

“Making the sacred body a servant?

That’s quite an idea.

The more I consider it, the more tempted I become.” Another middle-aged man drank a cup of wine and sighed.

“Has the sacred body truly fallen so low?

To think of its unparalleled majesty in days gone by…

How the world changes; everything is so unpredictable.” Xia Jiuyou, despite his youth, was exceptionally cold and devoid of any youthful innocence.

“So what if it’s a sacred body?” he stated frostily.

“This is survival of the fittest.

It’s no longer adapted to this world and can only be reduced to a servant.” “Throughout history, no one has dared to enslave a sacred body.

This is truly unprecedented.

It seems the invincible physique has indeed been buried by the dust of time.” Upstairs in the tavern, many frowned at Xia Jiuyou, yet they couldn’t help but sigh in agreement.

It was an indisputable fact: the so-called sacred body was now considered useless, incapable of achieving anything significant.

“Little Brother Xia, I too wish to take this sacred body as my servant.

What are your thoughts?” Ji Biyue smiled sweetly, radiant as a green peony in bloom.

Xia Jiuyou was merely thirteen or fourteen, with crimson lips, pearly teeth, and eyes that sparkled like black gems.

His beauty was enough to make women envious, yet his words were strikingly assertive.

“I’ve said it before: no one can contend with me.

I am set on taking this sacred body.

I intend to use its blood to refine divine medicine, and from this day forward, it will be my most loyal servant!” “Little brother, you are too overbearing.

Your big sister here also desires him as a slave.

How about this, to avoid any conflict between us: whoever captures him first shall be his master.

What do you say?” Ji Biyue’s smile was as radiant as a blooming flower.

“Given certain past matters concerning your Ji Family’s ancestors, I also don’t wish to have a falling out with you.

So, let it be as you say: whoever captures him first will be his master,” Xia Jiuyou replied indifferently.

The two conversed as if no one else was present, their simple words deciding the fate of the sacred body as if it were a mere object, paying it little heed.

“And what if I am the first to capture him?” inquired Li Rui, a preeminent young expert from the Flickering Light Sacred Land.

His heroic aura was restrained, but his eyes occasionally flashed with electric light.

Ye Fan possesses the Origin Qi, he thought.

He has to make a move.

Otherwise, how could he live up to the “expectations” of certain Grand Elders from Flickering Light?

This is his chance to become a Saint Heir.

“Brother Li Rui, do you also wish to take the sacred body as a servant?” Ji Biyue asked with a light smile.

“He abducted our Flickering Light’s Saint Heir and sacred lady.

Naturally, I must act.

I will bring him back to Flickering Light and let the Elders decide his fate.” Li Rui had no choice; for reasons both public and private, he had to capture Ye Fan.

“I’ve heard of the Flickering Light’s Saint Heir.

But who are *you* to compete with me?” It had to be said, Xia Jiuyou, despite his youth, was remarkably assertive.

“This is Li Rui, one of the four great young masters of Flickering Light.

He entered the Four Extremes secret boundary three years ago and is considered an unparalleled talent of his generation within Flickering Light, with few rivals,” Tu Fei drawled.

He wasn’t explaining out of goodwill; he was eager to see the two clash like a meteor striking a comet, igniting destructive sparks in a massive battle.

Ye Fan smiled faintly from the side, remaining silent.

“I only want to know one thing: is he stronger than the Flickering Light’s Saint Heir?” Xia Jiuyou snorted.

Many people upstairs watched from the sidelines.

This handsome youth in white, who held his head high and seemed to disdain everything, was incredibly arrogant.

Many eagerly anticipated seeing him fight.

As someone from the Flickering Light Sacred Land, Li Rui remained calm and collected, merely offering a quiet smile in response.

“If you are not as strong as the Flickering Light Saint Heir, then don’t bother competing with me.

Leave now,” Xia Jiuyou said indifferently, toying with his wine cup.

“Little brother, don’t you think you’re being excessively domineering?

May I ask who your master is?” Li Rui’s expression grew colder.

Even the meekest person has their limits, let alone a genius like Li Rui.

Having been repeatedly slighted, if he continued to ignore it, it would not be seen as magnanimity but as weakness.

This would tarnish Flickering Light’s reputation, and the position of Saint Heir would forever be out of his reach.

“Why ask such things?

You just want to test my strength, don’t you?

Then, by all means, make your move,” the youth in white, Xia Jiuyou, said with utmost directness.

“You are far too arrogant,” Li Rui said, shaking his head.

“Why be so hypocritical?

Just do what you want.

Since you can’t bring yourself to attack without an excuse, allow me to strike you instead.” True to his word, the youth in white, Xia Jiuyou, acted immediately after speaking.

He was indeed direct, wasting no words.

He raised his hand and pushed forward.

His slender fingers, like carvings of the finest Mutton Fat Jade, were even more beautiful and flawless than a woman’s.

At that instant, many onlookers felt their hearts pound with fear, a suffocating sensation washing over them.

The immense pressure made it difficult to breathe.

With a flick of his jade-like fingers, Xia Jiuyou conjured an iron stele.

Its surface pulsed with Dao patterns, radiating immense power as it descended to suppress Li Rui.

Everyone was astounded.

This was no ordinary weapon; the youth in white had condensed this Dao Stele with his divine energy, seemingly with casual and effortless grace.

BANG!

Li Rui thrust his hands upward, holding back the Dao Stele and preventing its descent.

However, his expression shifted; the stele’s power was startling, and its immense pressure made his arms tingle with numbness.

CHH!

The patterns on the Dao Stele flickered and shone brilliantly, suffused with the aura of the Dao.

As ripples of energy flowed across it like water, the stele grew increasingly heavy.

CRACK!

The floorboards beneath Li Rui’s feet fractured, cracks spreading out like a spiderweb.

He was on the verge of sinking through to the floor below, the pressure he endured was colossal.

Suddenly, a dazzling Holy Light erupted.

Li Rui’s body became suffused with a sacred aura, as if a Holy Fire raged within him, and he instantly pushed the Dao Stele upward.

“That’s…

the Mixed Element Holy Light Technique!

It’s said to be Immune to All Techniques, the most powerful defensive mysterious art in the Eastern Wastelands!” “Li Rui has inherited this technique?

Does this mean he’s truly going to replace the Flickering Light Saint Heir?” Many were stunned.

This mysterious art was a closely guarded secret of Flickering Light, typically learned by only one or two members of the younger generation, with the full teachings usually held by the elders.

The youth in white, Xia Jiuyou, chanted softly, “To the highest heavens and the nethermost Yellow Springs…” More patterns emerged on the Dao Stele, seemingly interweaving Dao and universal principles.

It vibrated with a hum, manifesting as if it were a true Divine Stele.

It wasn’t just Li Rui, who was directly confronting the attack; even the bystanders felt an immense pressure.

Many of those nearby nearly collapsed to the ground.

CRACK!

The floor fractured further.

Li Rui frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

This youth in white truly possessed the strength to back up his arrogance.

CLANG!

Suddenly, a blinding Divine Light flared, forcing everyone to shut their eyes, unable to look directly at its source.

A Holy Sword slashed out, striking the Dao Stele and knocking it aside.

A young man dressed in yellow appeared at the head of the stairs.

He was youthful and brimming with heroic vigor, yet possessed a calm demeanor.

The Holy Sword flashed once more before merging back into his body.

It was he who had just intervened.

“Who dares to attack me?” Xia Jiuyou, the youth in white, demanded, his eyes glinting coldly.

“Dayan—Xiang Yifei,” the man in yellow announced his name.

Everyone present was taken aback.

The Holy Sword had blazed with such brilliance moments ago, like the appearance of a Heavenly Divine Sword, that some had already guessed its origin.

Now, their suspicions were confirmed.

The Dayan Holy Sword was an incredibly powerful weapon.

When wielded to its ultimate potential, it was said to be able to sever anything and even evolve into myriad miniature worlds.

“So, you are from Dayan Sacred Land.

Do you intend to challenge me as well?” Xia Jiuyou questioned, his youth belying his intimidating aura.

Dayan Sacred Land had never produced a Great Emperor, nor did it possess a peak weapon.

Nevertheless, it was renowned throughout the Eastern Wastelands as one of the most formidable powers.

The name “Dayan” itself signified the process of the universe’s evolution, and any power daring to adopt such a name was naturally extraordinary.

They learned from nature itself and possessed various unfathomable divine arts.

In truth, Dayan Sacred Land was older than many other Sacred Lands, ranking among the most ancient lineages in the Eastern Wastelands.

Its foundations were deep and immeasurable.

Xiang Yifei, hailing from such a Sacred Land, naturally embodied strength and mystery.

No one dared to underestimate him.

He spoke, “I merely wish to act as a peacemaker.

I would rather not see the two of you engage in a deathmatch.” “Would fighting him even require a life-or-death struggle?” Xia Jiuyou sneered, showing no quarter.

“You—!” Li Ruisheng seethed, his black hair whipping about wildly.

Xiang Yifei of Dayan Sacred Land smiled faintly.

“Little brother, you appear to be no more than thirteen or fourteen, yet you possess heaven-gifted talent.

Your future accomplishments will surely be boundless.

It’s just that your temper is a tad explosive.” Everyone present had witnessed the temperament of the youth in white.

His assertiveness, which made him somewhat unbearable, had caused them to overlook his actual age.

Only now did they fully realize it.

To be able to contend with the successors of major Sacred Lands at such a tender age was astounding.

He was truly a rare prodigy among geniuses.

“Early brilliance doesn’t guarantee one will be a prodigy in adulthood.

Haven’t there been many such examples in ancient times?” “In the history of the Eastern Wastelands, there have been peerless geniuses who entered the Four Extremes secret boundary at the age of eight or nine.

And what became of them?

In the end, didn’t they too fade into mediocrity?” Some, unable to tolerate Xia Jiuyou’s arrogance, voiced their disagreement.

“That’s still far better than those of you who were mediocre from the moment you were born, wouldn’t you agree?” the youth in white, Xia Jiuyou, retorted, his arrogance undiminished as he coldly swept his gaze over everyone.

Many were rendered speechless.

This youth was utterly fearless, seemingly prepared to make an enemy of the entire world.

Even I’m tempted to give him the finger, Ye Fan mused, though whether it’d be a thumbs-up or another kind is debatable.

“Most peerless geniuses of antiquity did indeed mature successfully.

Those who met with unexpected ends were, after all, a minority,” stated an elderly servant standing calmly behind the youth in white.

The crowd fell silent.

Xia Jiuyou was only thirteen or fourteen, yet he could already overpower experts of the Four Extremes.

If he were allowed to mature fully, he would become an absolute monster!

“Infinite Heavenly Venerate!” The pleasant and melodious Daoist title resounded like celestial music, cleansing the hearts of all who heard it.

A young female Daoist had appeared unnoticed at the head of the stairs.

She had a slender, graceful figure and an otherworldly aura that left a unique impression.

She stood there clearly, un shrouded by mist or concealed by Immortal Light, yet her features remained indistinct.

She was like an ethereal beauty from the Moon Palace, or an Immortal Orchid blooming on a precipice.

Seemingly one with the Dao itself, her true depth and appearance were impossible to discern.

“A successor from Dao Yi Sacred Land!” someone exclaimed.

Ye Fan’s heart gave a lurch; he had personally experienced this young female Daoist’s power and transcendent nature.

When the ancient tomb in Li City had been breached, her gentle Heavenly Sound, uttering the four words “Infinite Heavenly Venerate,” had purified thousands of ghostly men and horses.

“The little sister from Dao Yi Sacred Land is here too!

Please, this way,” Ji Biyue giggled, swaying her lithe waist as she walked over and drew the young Daoist aside.

Ye Fan and Tu Fei exchanged a glance.

There’s definitely something fishy going on here, Ye Fan thought.

It’s highly probable that someone, much like us, intends to set up the two Sacred Lands, drawing these powerful figures here to act as witnesses and build up the drama.

“What’s the point of so many of you gathering here?

You should all leave at once.

None of you stand a chance,” Xia Jiuyou declared, sweeping his gaze over everyone.

He seemed unconcerned, even if the entire world were his enemy.

“Aren’t you afraid that the sacred body will just swat you dead, all by yourself?” Tu Fei retorted, his expression sour.

He had few reservations; as the descendant of a great bandit, he would even dare to challenge the supposedly invincible Saint Heir of Flickering Light from the younger generation.

“The sacred body?

What is it but a servant I am about to acquire?

If it dares to show me any disrespect, I will crush it to ashes with a mere flick of my hand.” Tu Fei felt an overwhelming urge to slap him.

Xia Jiuyou’s other pronouncements didn’t bother him as much, but his constant harping on about servants made Tu Fei’s own palms itch.

To say nothing of Ye Fan; he was lightly drumming his fingers on the table, thoroughly tempted to give this youth in white a sound thrashing.

“Let’s start with you two.

Leave, quickly!” Xia Jiuyou ordered, addressing Ye Fan and Tu Fei, who were nearest to him.

He intended to “clear the venue,” driving away all other cultivators.

“You think you alone can make the two of us leave?!”