Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 416 - 417 Chapter 422 Nirvana

417: Chapter 422 Nirvana** 417: Chapter 422 Nirvana** This was a yellowed Ancient Scroll, its material indiscernible; it resembled beast skin yet was akin to ancient cloth, clearly a relic from distant antiquity.

The scroll began with two words: Nirvana!

Ye Fan’s heart suddenly leaped; in Buddhism, these two words held extraordinary significance, representing a process toward enlightenment.

Is this Buddhism’s Nirvana Scripture?

he thought, shaken.

“It is merely an excerpt from the ancient scriptures meant for healing.

Years ago, one Nunnery Master from Miao Yu Temple, on the brink of death, found this scroll.

Not only did she recover from her injuries, but she also underwent a transformation akin to rebirth,” An Miaoyi replied.

The yellowed scroll contained numerous ancient characters, densely packed, numbering around a few hundred words.

These characters explained the mysteries of life and death and the marvels of rebirth.

The text was quite esoteric and challenging to fully comprehend.

Ye Fan sat still, focused intently, contemplating seriously and striving for deep understanding.

Though named the Nirvana Scripture, and it promised rebirth, this was merely metaphorical.

Who in this world could truly attain immortality?

Even the Great Emperors of old had not been able to escape death.

The essence described in the Nirvana Scripture only acted to change one’s life state, granting a power akin to an alternative rebirth, not authentic Reincarnation.

While cultivating this scripture did not lead to Longevity, it indeed had the unparalleled power to extend one’s lifespan and delay decay.

This excerpt, in particular, stood as a Supreme Healing Technique with unbelievable effectiveness.

In that moment of comprehension, Ye Fan’s body suddenly radiated a precious glow.

Golden Blood Qi surged, bursting from his flesh and swirling around him, making him look like a divine entity.

“Due to ignorance cessation, the mind doesn’t arise; due to non-arising, realms perish; due to all causations ceasing, mental forms vanish, thus achieving Nirvana…” The Nirvana Scripture, as the Western Desert’s Supreme Heavenly Technique, rivaled several ancient scriptures of the Eastern Wastelands.

A Zen Chant echoed, drifting from the palace.

It was profoundly mystic, carrying a mysterious Qi Mechanism in its flow.

This was a treasured secret art from the ancient scriptures, a Supreme Healing Technique.

It possessed the wonders of seizing the very fabric of creation from the heavens and earth, and was profoundly mysterious.

Ye Fan, possessing a Sacred Body, employed the Nirvana Holy Technique for healing.

He soon manifested various Variations: the Chaos Green Lotus appeared beside him, an Immortal King seemed to inhabit his form, landscapes emerged, and the Yin Yang Life and Death Map encircled his body.

His Undying Golden Body shone brightly, possessing both a god-like divine solemnity and the unique, formidable aura of a Sacred Body.

He appeared as if seated atop the Nine Heavens, gazing down upon the mortal realm.

An Miaoyi’s beautiful eyes shimmered with wonder.

She hadn’t expected Ye Fan to possess not only an unparalleled physique but also such high enlightenment, achieving profound realizations so quickly from the Holy Technique within the ancient scripture.

She parted her red lips and began to explain in detail.

“Due to all causations, revolving in life and death; free from all causations, that’s called Nirvana.

Nirvana and the world have no slight difference, the world and Nirvana…” Ye Fan remained silent, his Golden Blood Qi growing more intense, permeating the air and engulfing him.

He emitted Divine Light throughout; his Undying Golden Body, like seven-colored glass, was almost transparent, pure and flawless.

He was arduously repairing his Life Origin, wanting to erase the cracks left by the Great Path.

He sought to become flawless, to eternally preserve an immortal Holy Body, and to exist long in the world.

BANG!

Ye Fan’s body trembled, Blood Qi surging, nearly reducing the entire palace to dust.

If An Miaoyi hadn’t already placed Array Patterns, everything would have been ruined.

This was the physique of a Sacred Body, strong to an unimaginable extent.

A simple tremor from him could carry the might of thunder, unbearable for others.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The first attempt to repair his Life Origin had failed; even the Supreme Healing Technique from the peerless ancient scripture couldn’t smooth the scars left by the Great Path.

An Miaoyi, her hair like a waterfall and skin fairer than snow, crystalline and smooth, stood beside Ye Fan like an ethereal immortal.

She said, “Again!” Ye Fan remained steadfast, as if seated in the forgotten Ancient Heavenly Court, dormant in Nirvana, anticipating his Dragon Transformation.

His physique became even more compelling, forcing even An Miaoyi to step back.

The Golden Blood Qi swirled around him, making him seem like an eternal, terrifying Divine Furnace, unapproachable.

High and mysterious Zen Chants emanated from within him; his “Past Me” and “Dao Me” were chanting scriptures, praying for this current life, seeking an eternal existence.

BANG!

Ye Fan trembled again; crimson blood, tinged with faint gold, trickled from his mouth.

Though he possessed a Sacred Body, he still shook faintly.

The second attempt failed as well.

The scars from the Great Path showed no signs of healing, causing him to tremble.

Even his Undying Golden Body seemed to dim.

Ye Fan opened his eyes and sighed lightly.

Though the Holy Technique was endlessly marvelous, it ultimately couldn’t combat the wounds from the Great Path, making him feel powerless to reverse his fate.

“Don’t give up!

If once doesn’t work, then try twice, thrice, four times!

There’ll eventually be some effect,” An Miaoyi persisted, unconvinced.

Ye Fan shook his head.

“It’s too difficult.

This technique exhausts one’s own vital blood to achieve Nirvana.

If I pursue this long-term without effective results, even as a Sacred Body, I cannot afford it.” An ordinary person would require a long period of recuperation after a single healing session with this Holy Technique and couldn’t proceed further.

He, being a Sacred Body with an unparalleled physique, could endure one or two attempts.

However, continuous attempts would become unsustainable.

“How could this be?

A disciple of Siddhartha Gautama once said that the Nirvana Ancient Scripture is the Western Desert’s highest healing art.

Even though this is just one essence, it’s nearly the ultimate in the world; it should be able to heal any wound.” Who exactly is Siddhartha Gautama’s disciple?

Ye Fan was extremely eager to know, even more curious about everything regarding Tathagata.

“I also don’t know who he is.” An Miaoyi, peerlessly beautiful, shook her head.

Miao Yu Temple was originally a sect from the Western Desert, having inherited an unmatched Zen Skill from Buddhism.

It later split, and a faction journeyed eastward.

After integrating a Taoist dual cultivation method, it was renamed Miao Yu Temple.

A thousand years ago, a disciple of Siddhartha Gautama returned from across the sea.

While passing through the Eastern Wastelands, he encountered the dying Nunnery Master of Miao Yu Temple.

Due to the profound connections in their lineage’s inheritance, he left behind one Nirvana Essence and then departed gracefully.

“Do you know Siddhartha Gautama’s past?” Ye Fan asked.

“I only know it’s a Buddhist taboo; the details are unknown,” An Miaoyi replied, shaking her head.

“The wound from the Great Path…

it cannot be healed…” Ye Fan murmured as he stood up.

An Miaoyi stood gracefully, bathed in Moonlight, making her appear ethereal and peerless.

Her black hair was beautiful, her eyes lively, her skin icy and jade-like, and her figure enchanting, like the most perfect creation of heaven.

“The Nirvana Scripture combined with my Miao Yu Temple’s Supreme Dual Cultivation Method will be our final attempt,” she said, gracefully walking over.

She reached out her slender, jade-like hand and pinched Ye Fan’s cheek, her smile beautiful.

“If you still don’t survive, little man, you’d really be letting me down.

It has always been others who bring fulfillment to the disciples of Miao Yu Temple.

Today, I might be the first to break that rule—to bring about your resurrection.” In the palace, An Miaoyi’s jade-like, crystalline body appeared almost translucent under the hazy Moonlight, flawless and perfect.

It emitted a faint glow all over.

Her hair was in disarray, her delicate face like a flower.

This had nothing to do with romance; it was merely a method to save a life.

Ye Fan had always held a negative view of Dual Cultivation Techniques, yet unexpectedly, he was now personally experiencing one.

“Little man, focus!” An Miaoyi admonished gently.

On the White Jade Bed, under the red gauze canopy, her snow-white Immortal Body shone brightly.

She lightly tapped Ye Fan’s forehead, helping him calm his mind.

Faced with such a peerless beauty, a woman of national caliber, no normal man could remain calm.

Naturally, Ye Fan could not quickly enter a meditative state like an old monk.

An Miaoyi’s entire Immortal Body was as snow-white and crystalline as ivory.

She was as gracefully curvaceous as a beautiful serpent, her form flawless.

Soon, the Zen Chanting described in the Nirvana Ancient Scripture began to resonate, filling the palace with a sacred and harmonious atmosphere.

At the same time, Ye Fan positioned himself over An Miaoyi, and the Dual Cultivation Method was activated.

Under the bright moonlit night, time flowed like water, and the Divine City was peaceful.

At Miao Yu Temple, this entire palace had been sealed to prevent the Dao Heavenly Sound from spreading, shrouding it in a layer of hazy brilliance.

As the foremost successor of Miao Yu Temple, An Miaoyi’s status was no less than that of any Sacred Lady.

She outshone all others in the world and had no rivals within Miao Yu Temple.

Whatever she wished to do, no one of the younger generation dared to defy her.

Although some people speculated about what might be happening, no one dared to approach or disturb them, much less say anything.

In the latter half of the night, the palace was harmonious and quiet.

Ye Fan did not speak.

Even the Nirvana Scripture and the divine Dual Cultivation Method could not heal the scars left by the Great Path; nothing had changed.

He twirled An Miaoyi’s silky hair around his fingers, quietly pondering if there was still a path to life.

He wondered what course to take and questioned if even a matured Undying Divine Medicine would be useless.

The Ancient Divine Medicine is the most precious holy divine relic in the world.

If even it were ineffective, then a person’s life would truly have reached its end.

Yet, this was hard for Ye Fan to accept.

Doesn’t even the Divine King have some uncertainties?

he wondered.

One cannot be certain that the Immortal Medicine is absolutely ineffective.

I must risk everything for one more try!

He resolved to stake it all.

He had originally prepared the stone skin, intending to take risks for the Divine King and for Little Tingting.

Now that his own life was in jeopardy, there was no path of retreat, only the way forward.

“This might be the last time we meet.” An Miaoyi slowly sat up, her hair cascading like water, gazing at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan replied seriously, a bright smile on his face, “It will definitely not be the last time we meet.

Please believe me, I will not die.

I intend to live for another ten thousand years and leave those Sacred Lands speechless!” “Ten thousand years…

beauty turns to bone…

How distant that seems.” An Miaoyi rose, walked away from the White Jade Bed, and stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon.

“The other half of the Heaven-devouring Demon Jar is about to emerge.” It was unknown how much time passed when An Miaoyi suddenly spoke.

“Will a Divine Body, Sacred Body, and Heavenly Demon Body be required to go together?” Ye Fan asked.

“You must not go.

Do not ask why,” An Miaoyi said calmly, without turning around.

“Okay, I won’t go,” Ye Fan replied.

After a long time, she walked back, looked at Ye Fan, and said, “Little man, you should go.” “I will survive.” Ye Fan sat up.

“It’s time to leave.” An Miaoyi helped him dress, her movements gentle and slow.

Ye Fan said as he departed, “Alright.

To prove that I’m still living in this world, you’ll hear news about me every now and then.

This land will not remain silent.” The Divine City was bustling, but Ye Fan knew he inevitably had to leave.

He didn’t depart immediately, however, because he was waiting for the Black Emperor.

In the following days, he wandered through the Divine City, causing the younger generation to be utterly terrified.

No one dared to speak much; the power of the Sacred Body still lingered, instilling both respect and fear in everyone.

He had easily wiped out Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian, intimidating everyone.

People were terrified of meeting the same end and being ruthlessly killed by him.

Everyone knew the Sacred Body had little time left; hence, he had no scruples, and no one dared to provoke him.

Even all the Saint Heirs kept their distance, apprehensive that Ye Fan might challenge them at this time.

It was not impossible; if, in a final act of madness, he were to eliminate them, that would be a truly terrible stroke of misfortune for them.

Even the Golden-Winged Little Peng King became subdued and seldom appeared.

It was said he was planning to return to the Central Eastern Desolate, following the old Peng King.

Feng Huang also became low-key, seemingly quieted down suddenly, and seldom appeared.

In these last days of his limited life, Ye Fan’s majestic power was such that no one dared to challenge him directly.

The Saint Heirs and Sacred Ladies all avoided him.

The younger generation, in particular, was fearful, remaining entirely silent, not daring to utter a single disrespectful word.

Every time he appeared, an entire area would fall silent.

Compared to a few days prior, the change was stark, leaving everyone on edge.

The Black Emperor returned, dispirited and dejected, continuously cursing, “Damn it, I can’t get into Purple Mountain!

Damn it, what happened?!” 「Goodbye, Divine City!」 Ye Fan went to bid farewell to the peerless Divine King and coincidentally saw the Wind Clan’s Peacock King and the White-clothed Divine King discussing a marriage alliance.