Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 365 - 366 Chapter 371 Center of Storm

366: Chapter 371: Center of Storm 366: Chapter 371: Center of Storm The ancient trees were vigorous, their branches and leaves lush, with trunks like Coiled Dragons stretching towards the sky.

The forest was tranquil and serene.

The Yaochi Saintess finally emerged.

She was ethereal and dreamlike; although standing close, she gave the illusion of being in a celestial palace high above the Nine Heavens.

She seemed not to belong to the mortal world, her beautiful body untouched by earthly desires.

She exuded a sense of nobility and unattainable distance, as if worlds apart from the bustling Red Dust.

A slight smile touched Ye Fan’s lips, his gaze clear and bright.

It was precisely such a woman who had just appeared before his eyes, seemingly without a thread on her.

That flawless figure, with its snowy white sheen and graceful curves, still seemed to linger before his eyes.

Even now, the thought of it made him marvel.

The Yaochi Saintess, whom even the prodigies of the Central States’ Immortal Dynasty and the Eastern Wastelands’ various Sacred Lands could only admire from afar and never approach, had just been inexplicably seen naked by him.

If this incident were to spread, it would undoubtedly shock the world and cause a tremendous uproar.

Of course, it was even more likely to incite the prodigies from the various Sacred Lands to hunt Ye Fan relentlessly across vast distances.

This was a grave act of desecration.

“You’ve gone too far,” the Yaochi Saintess said, her body shrouded in white mist, her expression indiscernible.

“I didn’t see anything,” Ye Fan said, not feeling the least bit guilty, appearing as if he genuinely meant it.

“I don’t want to discuss this with you anymore,” the Yaochi Saintess said calmly.

As one who embodied the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, she was naturally an extraordinary individual and did not wish to get further entangled.

However, Ye Fan played dumb, saying, “I truly haven’t obtained the Stone Gall, Fairy.

You’re mistaken.

I didn’t see anything just now.” “You…” The Yaochi Saintess’s breath was as fragrant as orchids.

A slight emotional fluctuation appeared, but she quickly calmed down again.

“If you dare mention this again, I will immediately expose your identity.” “Alright, nothing happened just now,” Ye Fan smiled.

The purple glow in his eyes had long since faded, leaving his gaze clear and pure as he observed the peerless beauty before him.

He knew the Yaochi Saintess probably wouldn’t act against him for now.

He waited with a smile, wondering what she wanted to discuss and what she proposed to do.

“Aren’t you afraid?

In the divine city, experts are as numerous as trees in a forest.

Once your identity is exposed, you will undoubtedly face death,” the Yaochi Saintess said, her crimson lips barely parting.

Ye Fan nodded.

“Afraid.

Who can face life and death calmly?

But do I have a choice?” “You could have chosen not to come here.

Why take such a great risk?” “Fleeing to a distant land might bring temporary peace, but it could very well lead to a lifetime of regret.

Coming to the divine city, while I might face death, could also allow me to fight for a future.

I have no other choice.” “You seem quite confident.

Do you truly believe you can acquire ten million jin of Source?

Even if you do, it doesn’t guarantee entry into the Four Extremes Secret Boundary.

The curse of the Sacred Body is likely much harder than you imagine; it won’t be that simple.” “Please enlighten me, Fairy,” Ye Fan requested humbly, gazing earnestly at the peerless beauty before him.

“I have nothing to teach you,” the Yaochi Saintess replied, shaking her head.

“Fairy, why exactly did you seek me out?” Ye Fan asked.

“The few strange black stones in Jade Lake…” Jade Lake contained peerless strange black stones, sealed by a Heavenly Source Master and suppressed by generations of The Queen Mother of the West.

It was difficult to imagine what lay hidden within them.

Ye Fan and the Yaochi Saintess conversed for a long time before emerging from the ancient forest, his brow deeply furrowed.

It requires the Forbidden Immortal Six Seals…

This troubled him greatly.

It was a Supreme Technique, and its name alone hinted at its profound depth—capable of invoking the Great Dao, sealing mountains, rivers, and the earth, and subduing peerless masters.

Unfortunately, this divine art was merely theoretical, mentioned in just a few hypothetical and extremely abstruse sentences in the Heavenly Source Book.

Comprehending it was difficult enough, let alone truly pioneering and executing it!

“Is the Fairy of Jade Lake beautiful?” Li Heishui asked as soon as he saw Ye Fan outside.

“Unparalleled grace, a peerless beauty,” Ye Fan replied instinctively, still pondering the Forbidden Immortal Six Seals.

Li Heishui was dumbfounded.

“You really saw her true face?

No, wait!

Little kid Ye, you’re such a beast!

What did those lecherous eyes of yours manage to glimpse?!” “What nonsense are you spouting?!” Ye Fan, startled from his thoughts, immediately felt a pang of guilt and couldn’t help but glance back towards the ancient forest.

“Little kid Ye, don’t try to hide it!

I just casually threw out a line, and you immediately gave yourself away!

Quick, tell me, what did you see?” “I didn’t see anything!” “Nonsense!

You just developed those lecherous eyes; you think you’d just sit there calmly and not look at anything?!” “Old Black, can you please say a little less?!” Ye Fan exclaimed.

He turned his head and saw the Yaochi Saintess walking out.

Under the sunlight, her long dress seemed to be dyed with a golden radiance.

“Then tell me when we get back!” … Ye Fan grabbed Li Heishui, and they fled, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

They quickly departed from the Yaochi Stone Pavilion.

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」 Today, the Grandmasters from the Source Technique noble families were to have a grand Source Technique duel with Ye Fan.

The event stirred the entire divine city, a true congregation of prominent figures.

The news had spread far and wide long ago.

Countless people were waiting, having made special trips to the divine city to witness this grand occasion.

Many senior figures from various Great Sects even came out of seclusion and traveled to the divine city, wanting to personally witness the most influential Source Technique duel in thousands of years.

“I heard this Source Technique duel will be a life-and-death battle.

Is that true?” “I heard that too.

Some Source Technique experts leaked this information, saying it will be extremely perilous.” “The young members of the Source Technique ancient families have long boasted that they would crush Gu Feng in Source Technique.

It seems their words weren’t baseless; it’s really going to be a battle to the death!” Many people were discussing it, all of them incredibly excited about this duel.

“I wonder what will be cut open this time.

There will likely be unexpected rare treasures.

Both sides are genuinely furious!” “The wager alone is one million five hundred thousand jin of Pure Source!

It’s hard to imagine what could be cut open that would be more astonishing than the wager itself.” On this day, the vast divine city had only this one topic of discussion.

Everyone was talking about it, even the impending great battle at Purple Mountain was overshadowed.

Soon, the location for the Source Technique duel was announced: the Shaking Light Stone Workshop.

It would officially begin in one hour.

The entire city was abuzz.

An unknown number of people swarmed towards the location, eventually clogging the roads so thoroughly that it was impossible to advance even a single step.

The Shaking Light Stone Workshop was packed to overflowing and completely surrounded.

The vast majority of people were blocked, lacking the qualifications to enter.

“This is too much!

It’s comparable to the days of the Heavenly Source Master.

The streets are empty as everyone rushes to witness this world-shaking battle.” “Back in the day, when the Heavenly Source Master gambled against the Yaochi Saintess, there weren’t this many people watching, right?

It’s astonishing.” “It’s because the divine city has been peaceful for too long.

This time, a Source Technique Master has come forth to compete against the young prodigy Gu Feng.

Naturally, it’s attracting a lot of attention.” When the people from Flickering Light learned that their establishment would be the main battleground, their faces turned green.

Nothing could be worse.

They had the urge to hire assassins.

A duel between these two parties on their premises was equivalent to a plague god visiting their doorstep.

They desperately wanted to hide away their Heavenly Price Strange Black Stones.

Unfortunately, too many people had already arrived, and doing so under everyone’s watchful eyes would be utterly humiliating.

In the end, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and accept this reality, feeling helpless and exasperated.

Many people crowded the entrance of the Shaking Light Stone Workshop, unable to get in.

With so many arrivals, entry naturally had to be selective.

“Jin Chixiao from the Golden Family, Xiang Yifei from the Dayan Sacred Land, and the Saint Heir of Wanchu have gone in!” “The young female Daoist from Dao Yi, who usually keeps to herself and avoids worldly affairs, actually came today too!” “The Yaochi Saintess has also arrived.” “The Divine King Body of the Ji Family and Little Moon have arrived too.” … People were surprised to discover that more than half of the younger generation’s Saint Heir-level figures had arrived; they were almost all present.

“Isn’t that a Grand Elder from the Yin Yang Sect?

I heard he’s been in seclusion for many years, but he actually showed up too!” “Those old men over there…

they seem to be Grand Elders from several Sacred Lands!” … People couldn’t help but be astonished.

Today’s grand Source Technique duel had alarmed many influential figures, a clear indication of its immense impact.

The current turmoil overshadowed the impending great battle at Purple Mountain, making people set aside everything concerning it.

At this moment, the divine city had become the eye of the storm, drawing everyone’s attention.

The people from the Source Technique ancient families arrived first.

A commotion went through the crowd, and everyone cleared a path as four old men and several young people walked into the Yaochi Stone Pavilion.

“Those four old men are Source Technique Masters.

They have deep connections with the various Sacred Lands and are often invited to resolve problems occurring in ancient mines.” “Even if Gu Feng loses, it’s no disgrace.

After all, he’s facing major figures in Source Technique.

Losing to such opponents wouldn’t be a significant blow to him.” Before long, Ye Fan and Li Heishui arrived, immediately causing a sensation.

They calmly walked in.

The Shaking Light Stone Workshop had a long history.

Its ancient buildings were grand and imposing, and under the sunlight, a sacred radiance seemed to flow around them.

The various Stone Gardens were far from monotonous, filled with extremely dense growths of ancient trees.

To enter one rashly felt like stepping into a Primitive Land.

Ye Fan and Li Heishui didn’t stop, heading straight for the depths of the Stone Workshop.

Today’s great battle would undoubtedly be in the Heavenly Stone Garden.

Seeing them arrive, the people of the Shaking Light Stone Workshop all remained expressionless, their faces practically screaming “unwelcome.” In the Heavenly Stone Garden grew a peculiar type of bamboo named Blood Tear Jade Bamboo.

Its segments were as white as jade, but its Mutton Fat Jade Leaves uniquely bore specks of blood-red that resembled teardrops.

Many legends surrounded this Spiritual Bamboo.

Some said its leaves were dyed red by the tears of deities; others claimed they were stained by the blood of an Ancient Royal Family.

Undoubtedly, this was a rare type of Spiritual Bamboo, incredibly difficult to cultivate.

Few existed in the world, yet here was an entire grove of it, exuding abundant Spiritual Qi.

The grove of Spiritual Bamboo, white as jade, grew vigorously, glistening brightly.

The blood-red specks on the leaves swayed, like teardrops rolling down.

Almost everyone who was expected had arrived.

At a glance, the area was filled with a sea of white-haired heads, all belonging to senior figures.

As for the younger generation, only Saint Heir-level figures could enter the Heavenly Stone Garden, individuals such as Jiang Yifei, the Yaochi Saintess, Ji Haoyue, and the young female Daoist from Dao Yi.

“You’ve finally arrived!” a young man from one of the Source Technique ancient families sneered.

“Take a good look at the world around you.

This is a true Source Technique grand duel.

You know what’s about to happen,” another jeered, a smirk playing on his lips.

Li Heishui retorted, “It’s hard to say who will live and who will die.

Source Technique Masters aren’t invincible.” Another person sent a derisive mental transmission: “We’ll just wait and see.

I wonder if you’ll end up kneeling and begging for your lives.” Ye Fan ignored them and looked to the side.

Grand Elder Li Yishui from the Illusion Destruction Palace had also arrived, accompanied by Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian.

He was smirking meaningfully.

Li Heishui said, “Senior Li, you’re here again!

Sneering at us like that…

surely you’re not planning to gamble against us again?

I wonder, did you bring enough Source today?” Li Yishui’s expression remained unchanged.

“Young man, don’t be too arrogant.

You might just get crushed in a little while.”