Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 374 - 375 Chapter 380 3 Attacks on Purple Mountain

375: Chapter 380: 3 Attacks on Purple Mountain 375: Chapter 380: 3 Attacks on Purple Mountain The lingering bell sound cleansed souls, first bringing silence inside and outside the divine city, then erupting into a sky-high uproar.

“Did it succeed or fail?” “What is the result?” These were the answers everyone was eager to know, as the legacy of the Great Emperor Without Beginning reverberated through ancient and modern times, capturing the hearts of all.

This was the influence of one person.

Even though he had been gone for many years, any news about him would overshadow everything else, becoming the sole focus.

Even the recent unearthing of an Ancient Royal Family, which everyone had witnessed with their own eyes, paled in comparison to a piece of news about him.

“Was Purple Mountain opened?” “Did the secrets of the ancient Great Emperor surface?” At this moment, people were both tense and hopeful, all eager to know the outcome.

The most nervous were the people of the Sacred Lands, fearing bad news.

In fact, many were already uneasy.

This was because only during a critical juncture would the various Peacock Kings use the divine city’s unique Stone Orders to flee here.

If Purple Mountain had truly been opened and the legacy obtained, they shouldn’t have retreated in such a hurry.

“Could it have failed again?” “Could a Peacock King have fallen?” Many disciples of the Sacred Lands were filled with apprehension, fearing bad news.

If a Peacock King were to perish, it would be a heaven-rending disaster.

At this moment, the Saint Heirs and sacred ladies were the most nervous; if their sect’s Peacock King disappeared, it could very well impact their current status.

An hour later, news spread, and the divine city trembled.

The Hundred Sects of the Central States and the Sacred Lands of the Eastern Wastelands had joined forces, employing five peak weapons, exceeding the previously guessed four.

The Jiang Family’s Hengyu Furnace, the Ji Family’s Void Mirror, and Flickering Light’s Dragon Cauldron—three great peak weapons—appeared together.

Along with two from the Central States, their combined might could be said to have shaken the world.

Even during the darkest eons in the history of the human race, when blood flowed in rivers and mountains of bones piled high, the number of peak weapons deployed had never exceeded this.

With five peak weapons appearing simultaneously, their might was simply unimaginable.

People believed it was enough to pierce the heavens and earth, evaporate oceans, and pulverize rivers and mountains; nothing could withstand such power.

However, the news that returned left people stunned: Purple Mountain had not been razed to the ground; it still stood there.

This time, the five peak weapons were indeed used to open Purple Mountain, allowing people to enter.

However, this also triggered an even more tremendous resonance from the No Beginning Bell.

If not for being sheltered within the peak weapons, everyone would have been turned to ash; not a single person would have survived.

In the words of one Peacock King, it almost felt as if a Great Emperor was controlling the No Beginning Bell; otherwise, how could it possibly suppress five peak weapons?

“Is this real?” When this news spread, everyone was aghast.

Five peak weapons combined were still suppressed by the No Beginning Bell’s waves—it was unheard-of.

“Could it have failed again, returning with no achievements?” Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat.

If this attempt failed, who knew how many years it would take to open the legacy of the Great Emperor Without Beginning.

Perhaps only with the emergence of a new Great Emperor could one enter and retrieve his supreme scriptures.

“It cannot yet be confirmed as a failure…” The various Peacock Kings had retreated, wounded.

However, the operation did not cease there.

Instead, it was handed over to a group of elders whose lifespans were nearly depleted.

All were retired Grand Elders, with at most a few years of life left, yet their strength was robust; some were potentially no weaker than the Peacock Kings.

They took control of the peak weapons and entered Purple Mountain, preparing to make a final, desperate attempt.

If successful, they would obtain a heaven-defying fortune.

If they failed, they were destined to become ash.

“Aren’t they worried about losing the peak weapons in Purple Mountain?” “The Sacred Lands have made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the peak weapons can be summoned back.” The arrangements made by the Hundred Sects of the Central States and the various Sacred Lands of the Eastern Wastelands were nearly identical: the leading figures withdrew, handing over the task to elders with dwindling lifespans.

Of course, all of this was voluntary.

“They believe a result will emerge soon…” The people of the Sacred Lands were all anticipating.

This day was destined to be anything but tranquil, as they awaited earth-shattering news.

The assault on Purple Mountain was still ongoing.

No one had expected such an outcome.

The major powers were determined to achieve something, unwilling to end up empty-handed.

The biggest question on people’s minds was, what power was controlling the No Beginning Bell?

Could it generate such terrifying bell waves on its own?

This seemed unrealistic, considering it had suppressed five peak weapons.

The divine city was in an uproar for a long time before it gradually quieted down.

People believed that, barring any accidents, news from Purple Mountain would surely arrive today!

The third assault on Purple Mountain—whether success or failure—would yield a definitive result.

In the Ji Family’s Stone Workshop, most people had not dispersed.

After learning about the turmoil at Purple Mountain, they wanted to see how the stone-gambling contest would conclude.

“WAAAH…

WAAAH…” A sound of sorrowful crying rang out, young and mournful.

The Divine Silkworm awoke from its coma, tears rolling down in streams from its large eyes.

It made soft, whimpering sounds, searching continuously in the Stone Garden, yearning to see the girl sealed in the mysterious Source, crying sorrowfully all the while.

“Don’t cry, little one…” a young nun in white gently consoled.

Ji Ziyue also comforted it, taking out a few Divine Source Beans and offering them to its mouth, softly explaining what had happened.

The Golden Little Spirit ignored the Divine Source Beans, listening while sobbing, tears blurring its eyes.

It muttered and gently called the girl’s name in an ancient language that no one could understand.

On the other side, Ye Fan’s sorrow was no less than that of the Divine Silkworm.

So many Divine Sources had been snatched away by the monkey; his heart was bleeding.

Monkey, I’m not done with you!

Monkey, you owe me a colossal debt!

Monkey, you’ve forged a monumental karmic bond with me!

He was utterly frustrated.

A Divine Source large enough to envelop a human body could be regarded as a world-shocking treasure, undoubtedly worth an astronomical sum.

At the same time, he felt a sliver of doubt.

Why did my blood race when I faced the Fighting Saint Ape?

Could it be a mystical resonance, similar to when I confront a divine body?

Or perhaps the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Technique of the Fighting Saint Ape has an inexplicable attraction for the Sacred Body?

He even thought of the Dou Character Technique among the nine secret arts.

Could there be some evolutionary relationship?

Li Heishui was also furious but, at the same time, felt an urge to laugh.

He said, “You’ve scammed others all your life, but today a monkey has scammed you badly!

This damn monkey is a real piece of work!

We should chain it up and put it in a monkey show.” Elsewhere, Nangong Qi and the others approached, pointing at Ye Fan with cold sneers.

Ye Fan, already seething, retorted, “What are you pointing at me for?” “The monkey you cut out snatched away my world-shocking divine treasures—the Goddess, the Supreme Evil Weapon, that enormous piece of Divine Source…

nothing is left!

Can you compensate for it?” Nangong Qi questioned.

Hearing this, Li Heishui flared up, “We cut out the monkey, meaning we won the stone-gambling battle!

Everything is ours!

If anything, this is our loss!

What does it have to do with you?!” “You ignorant brat, what do you understand?

Although you cut out a monkey, I also cut out a Goddess, and an additional Supreme Evil Weapon.

Their value is far greater!” Nangong Qi said coldly.

CRACK!

Ye Fan kicked away the Immortal Tomb fragments and cut out a piece of Divine Source the size of a human head.

This was a leftover piece from within the Immortal Tomb, but it was still worth 500,000 jin of Pure Source.

This was a stroke of luck in the midst of misfortune.

At least opening the Immortal Tomb hadn’t been entirely fruitless, which offered him a sliver of solace.

“Your Ancient Insect Divine Source, the Qilin Seed, and this Divine Source are all ours!” Several young disciples from the ancient family of Source Technique stepped forward, about to snatch them.

Li Heishui’s eyebrows shot up.

“Have you no shame?

Trying to rob us of our rare treasures?

Not to mention the monkey we cut out, even this Qilin Seed is priceless, far more valuable than your things!” A cold sneer touched Nangong Qi’s lips as he and the other three old men walked closer.

“Indeed, you lost.

You must hand over all the rare treasures to us.” Ye Fan calmly looked at him and said, “The rare treasures I cut out are more valuable than yours.” “Far from it.

What I, old man, cut out is a divine treasure, many times more precious than yours,” Nangong Qi said, his hands behind his back, shaking his head repeatedly.

“Even though you cut out unparalleled rare treasures, they are still far inferior to what Grandpa Nangong found!” The young disciples from the ancient family of Source Technique chimed in one after another, their faces alight with cold sneers.

“You lost the Source Technique duel!

You must accept your defeat!” “Your Source Technique is no match for Grandpa Nangong’s.

Are you going to renege on the bet?” Hearing this, Li Heishui laughed in fury.

“Lying through your teeth and calling black white!

What do you have to compare with us?

We cut out a living member of an Ancient Royal Family!

Can you compare to that?” “You may have cut out a monkey, but we also cut out a Goddess and an additional Supreme Evil Weapon!

What do you have to compare with that?” the members of the ancient family of Source Technique retorted, sneering repeatedly.

The vast majority of people had not dispersed and had all gathered around, chattering and arguing amongst themselves.

Ye Fan spoke, “Don’t try to evade the main point.

The Fighting Saint Ape I cut out is alive.

Is the Goddess you cut out alive?” A young disciple from the ancient family of Source Technique sneered, “What value does a Fighting Saint Ape have?

It’s merely a Fierce Beast!

How can it compare to that Ancient Spear?

That spear is undoubtedly one of the greatest Great Artifacts beneath peak weapons!” “Exactly!

What use is a monkey?

It will only cause trouble!

Accept your defeat and hand over the Qilin Seed immediately!” another disciple jeered.

Li Heishui was incandescent with rage.

“You people are truly shameless, trying to call black white!

You clearly lost, yet you persist in these fallacious arguments,妄想 (delusionally hoping) to seize our Qilin Seed!

Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning from the heavens?” Ye Fan said coldly, “The Fighting Saint Ape is of an Ancient Royal Family.

Its future achievements could rival those of a Great Emperor.

If it were subdued now, what do you think its value would be?” He was on the verge of true anger, as the ancient family of Source Technique was blatantly refusing to acknowledge their loss and was even scheming to seize his rare treasures.

“Who could subdue it?

Even a sovereign couldn’t manage it.

It’s utterly useless, just a Fierce Beast with no value whatsoever,” Nangong Qi himself proclaimed.

“I address you as Grandmaster, but you are demeaning yourself by saying such things.” Ye Fan sneered.

“As a Source Technique Master, would you not understand the value of an Ancient Royal Family?” Li Heishui turned to the crowd.

“Everyone, please be the judge!

Aren’t they going too far?” At this moment, a group of old geezers had not left.

Their eyes burned with desire for the Ancient Insect Divine Source and the Qilin Seed; all of them desperately wanted to obtain these treasures to extend their lives.

An Miaoyi, Xu Heng, Jin Chixiao, and all the Saint Heirs and sacred ladies had also not departed and were watching the spectacle.

In truth, many were distracted, because perhaps within another hour or two, the final result of the assault on Purple Mountain would be clear.

“I, old man, believe that the divine treasure Brother Nangong cut out is priceless,” Li Yishui, the Grand Elder of the Illusion Destruction Palace, stepped forward, glancing at Ye Fan with a mocking expression.