Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 427: Chapter 432: Encounter with the 5-Color Altar Again

The Seven-Colored Little Stone was crystal clear, its beauty almost dreamlike, radiating an intoxicating brilliance. It was as if it were a peerless treasure, making Ye Fan’s palm appear transparent.

He absorbed the vigorous Life Qi; his pores relaxed, and his Qi was revitalized. He was now able to stand up, no longer as immobile as he had been moments before.

This was the most primal Life Qi, pure and spotless, without a trace of impurity. The moment it entered Ye Fan’s body, it became part of his life, having an extraordinary effect on him, whose vitality was nearly exhausted.

What exactly was the origin of the pitiful little girl? This little stone sparked endless conjectures. The pitiful little girl surely held astonishing secrets.

Originally, Ye Fan’s Life Fire was like a candlelight in the wind, about to extinguish at any moment. Now, nourished, he had temporarily escaped the threat of death.

He stood and gazed toward the sacred mountains. There was no time to waste; the Dao Injury was worsening. Although the translucent little stone had temporarily revived him, it was certainly not a long-term solution.

With every bit of Qi consumed from the little stone, his hope of ascending the sacred mountains dwindled!

The majestic sacred mountains showed no trace of the Desolate Slaves. They had all vanished, seemingly returned to the Ancient Desolation Abyss below, leaving the place cold and solitary.

Not a sound could be heard. He was all alone in the world, unable to sense any life fluctuations, as if he had arrived at the end of the world.

Ye Fan gritted his teeth, clutching the Seven-Colored Little Stone and rushing up the mountain. Though he could find a moment’s peace here, staying long would be tantamount to slow suicide.

SWISH!

Just a short distance from the bronze coffin, the forces of desolation surged forth, feeling like carving bones, like gouging flesh. The pain nearly made him scream.

The Heaven Covering Treasure Robe and stone clothes he wore were already shattered. Now, they crumbled into powder, falling to the ground. This was a peerless killing force, the relentless grinding of time, like a Heavenly Saber that could obliterate all things.

The little stone in his hand flickered, radiating a halo of seven colors that enveloped him, making him appear hazy and luminous.

Ye Fan was startled to find that the little stone blocked the passage of time and resisted the aura of desolation. Though his life was still ebbing, it was much slower than before.

So that’s how it is… Ye Fan suddenly understood. No wonder the pitiful little girl remains unchanged from three years ago; this little stone can ward off the erosion of time.

However, in the mortal world, death is inevitable. Nothing can exist eternally. The little stone was dimming; it was only temporarily fending off desolation’s power.

Ye Fan was terrified. This was his last trump card. If he failed to ascend the sacred mountains, he would indeed return to dust and ashes.

He also held the withered Qilin Seed in his hand. The Seven-Colored Little Stone and the seed of the Undying Divine Medicine together provided him with Life Qi.

On the sacred mountains, vegetation thrived, and the rocks were extraordinary and beautiful, yet Ye Fan did not spare them a glance. In this life-and-death struggle, ascending the sacred mountains was the only path to survival.

The closer he got to the mountain peak, the more intense the aura of desolation became, penetrating to his very bones. Even the seven-colored radiance was barely holding, and the little stone was dimming quickly.

The Qilin Divine Medicine Seed was also shriveling, about to dry up. Its vitality was being stripped by Ye Fan, sustaining his nearly exhausted Life Essence.

Finally, Ye Fan reached the mountain peak!

This was the center of the Ancient Desolation Forbidden Land. Nine sacred mountains were linked together, surrounding a giant abyss, dark and bottomless.

Looking upon it sent chills down one’s spine, as though it could swallow one’s very soul!

The sacred mountain he ascended was imposing and majestic, yet utterly silent.

The endless abyss seemed to connect to the Nine Netherworld Hell. A terrifying aura pervaded the air. The little stone finally went dark, no longer emitting radiance.

The Qilin Seed moaned, unable to withstand Ye Fan’s constant absorption. Its life was nearing its end; it had nearly dried up.

CRACK!

Ye Fan seemed to hear a fissure from within himself. His Life Origin was barely attached, almost split open. He was enfeebled, barely able to keep his eyes open.

The Dao Injury had worsened to the extreme. Death was at hand, and there was no way out.

At this moment, unable to absorb Life Qi, even a sacred body like his was about to turn to dust, vanishing forever from this world.

PUFF!

Ye Fan gritted his teeth and spewed a thread of golden essential blood. It burned into golden light, forming a barrier around his body to block desolation’s power. He stumbled forward; he had been here before—the Life Spring Pool was just ahead.

Suddenly, Ye Fan despaired. Standing beside the spring pool was a cold figure with snow-white hair, imposing and mighty—it was still that middle-aged man!

A Desolate Slave, an unrivaled expert of past years, now blocked his path. How could he pass?

Desolate Slaves are rarely seen; why do I keep encountering them? He仰天长叹. This is a hopeless situation.

Not long ago, the ancient coffin’s Heavenly Sound had echoed. Why hadn’t they returned to the abyss? Ye Fan was convinced his judgment wasn’t wrong. Something unexpected must have happened.

Ye Fan could barely stand, yet he refused to simply wait for death. He threw out everything he had on him: the golden Dao Scripture, the silver Heavenly Source Book. He even considered tearing open his Wheel and Sea to grasp the most mysterious green copper!

BUZZ!

The white-haired man stepped forward. The very earth seemed about to collapse. Such was the imposing aura of an unrivaled expert! With his every move, the heavens shook.

Ye Fan’s physical body rapidly cracked, like fine porcelain about to shatter into dust.

He was a world-shaking, supreme figure. Even after so many years, he could still look down upon the world, his divine might unfathomable!

The white-haired man was like a Human Lord, possessing the might to swallow rivers and mountains, commanding the Eight Desolates, supreme over all!

It’s over! Though Ye Fan’s sacred body had achieved minor success, he still couldn’t bear it. His flesh tore apart, and cracks appeared on his bones.

DING!

A crisp sound echoed as the imposing, white-haired man caught the three ancient jade pieces. His empty eyes gained a flicker of light. He stopped moving, rooted to the spot.

Ye Fan had thrown the three ancient jade pieces left by the Beginning Great Emperor, which the white-haired man caught. He stared at them intently, lost in thought.

Ye Fan’s hand had already reached toward his Wheel and Sea, ready to self-destruct his Seas of Bitterness to retrieve the green copper. He hadn’t expected his opponent to pause.

DING!

With a soft sound, another piece of ancient jade appeared in the white-haired man’s hand. It could clearly be fitted together with the other three pieces. He stared blankly.

Ye Fan’s heart leaped. That too was ancient jade left by the Beginning Great Emperor; there were nine pieces in total. He hadn’t expected the white-haired man to possess one as well.

The white-haired man placed the four pieces of ancient jade together on the ground. His eyes became incredibly hollow again. He glanced at Ye Fan, then turned and leaped into the abyss without looking back.

This outcome was beyond Ye Fan’s expectations, but he had no time to think further. No longer able to sustain himself, he stumbled and fell headfirst into the Life Spring Pool before him.

After an unknown period, Ye Fan awakened. His entire body was soaked in the Life Spring Pool. He felt extremely comfortable; the power of desolation had finally been dispelled.

A faint fragrance surrounded him; the pool was exceptionally radiant. He drank deeply from the Divine Spring, nourishing his nearly depleted life.

His energy slowly recovered. He had finally been pulled back from death’s door, filled with hope for life once more.

In this despairing land that could obliterate peerless experts, there nonetheless existed such a Life Spring Pool. It conformed to the unseen will of the Dao: the extreme of death contained a wisp of vitality, offering a glimmer of hope.

Around this pool grew thirteen small trees. They were verdant and emerald, shimmering with green light, as if carved from Jade. Each tree was no taller than half a meter, with leaves like human palms, resembling multi-armed little figures.

Yet there were no fruits on them. They had been plucked long ago by Ye Fan and Pang Bo and had not bloomed or fruited again since.

He had chosen this sacred mountain mainly because the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin was halfway up it, opting for safety over more distant peaks.

Ye Fan sensed something unusual. A powerful life force surged around him like a tidal wave, astonishing him.

Looking down, he saw the Seven-Colored Little Stone absorbing the Divine Spring. It regained its brilliance, becoming crystal clear once more.

And the Qilin Divine Medicine Seed seemed revived. It inhaled the Sun Essence and absorbed the Divine Spring. Initially withered, it now slowly swelled again.

Ye Fan was inwardly surprised. No wonder when the damaged Human-shaped Divine Medicine was cut out in the Northern Region, many said only the Divine Spring could revive it.

He lay in the Life Spring Pool, motionless, carefully sensing this realm. It was indeed different from the outside world, preserving the power of unique Dao Laws!

Divine King Jiang’s prediction came true!

This is a world from Ancient times, holding the Qi Mechanism from before the Ancient Desolation! The Heaven and Earth Rules are unchanged; everything differs from the present!

If I can continue cultivating in this realm, I can surely heal the Dao Injury! Ye Fan’s heart stirred with this thought.

If he could cultivate his sacred body to the Great Achievement Realm in this land, then even if the Heaven and Earth Rules changed, he could defy the heavens!

Ye Fan lay in the Life Spring Pool, his depleted lifespan gradually recovering. Yet he was not satisfied; he wanted to strengthen his Qi Mechanism quickly.

Because this was the Ancient Desolation Forbidden Land! Beneath that endless abyss, who knew what might exist? I could be obliterated at any moment!

Ultimately, he chose to absorb the Life Qi from the Qilin Divine Medicine Seed and the Seven-Colored Little Stone, allowing them to draw sustenance from the Spring of Life.

Ancient Divine Medicine, just by absorbing Sun and Moon Essence, can achieve immortality. Nothing in the mortal world could absorb Undying Power faster than them.

At this time, with the Divine Spring at hand, the Qilin Seed naturally thrived, continuously converting Undying Power into its own life force.

After an unknown duration, Ye Fan’s vitality finally strengthened enough for him to stand. Golden Blood Qi began to circulate within him.

Although there was still no sign of improvement in the Dao Injury afflicting his body, his Holy Body Immortal Body was slowly reawakening. His Life Fire would not dim for the time being.

He needed Undying Divine Medicine. The nine sacred mountains possessed nine Divine Roots. He had already picked two kinds of sacred fruit before and now cast his gaze afar.

After resting sufficiently, Ye Fan grabbed the Qilin Divine Medicine Seed and the Seven-Colored Little Stone and dashed away, swiftly circling the sacred mountains that ringed the abyss.

Upon nearing the sacred mountain ahead, even from a distance, he smelled an enchanting fragrance that nearly intoxicated him.

This sacred mountain was majestic, as grand as the heavens, like the ancient site of the Celestial Court. It was abundant in exotic flowers and grasses, thriving with life.

In the central area of the flat summit, there was a pool two meters square. Water gurgled from it, exuding a glistening brilliance, as if divine liquid had gathered there.

By the pool grew three small trees, each half a meter high. They were crimson like fire and sparkled, seemingly carved from scarlet heart. Resembling three little dwarves, their branches were like arms, and their roots, slightly exposed above ground, were like legs; they were remarkably peculiar.

Though small, they were rugged like Coiled Dragons, filled with the aura of time, imparting a sense of great antiquity.

The fragrance was so dense it was almost tangible. The top of each of the three small trees bore a pink fruit, like carved Beautiful Jade, smooth and transparent, differing somewhat in color from the trees themselves.

Ye Fan stared dumbfounded. The three fruits were shaped like little dolls, each the size of a fist, truly extraordinary.

Ginsengfruit?!

The three small trees remained motionless, but the three pink fruits swayed, seemingly wanting to break free, which was very strange.

Ye Fan dared not delay. He dived into the Life Spring Pool to restore his energy, then plucked them one by one, sealing them in a jade box. Their mere aura was enough to mesmerize him.

RUSTLE RUSTLE!

The sacred trees, crimson as fire, made rustling sounds as their leaves flapped, like beautiful music, astonishing Ye Fan once more.

At this time, as the sun set in the west, Ye Fan felt the abyss become even more terrifying. He dared not waste time and decided to retreat to the bronze coffin by evening.

Before leaving, he couldn’t resist approaching the cliff’s edge. Activating his Source Heaven Divine Eye, he peered down into the abyss.

That is… the five-colored altar!

Ye Fan was greatly shocked. Within the endless abyss, he saw a broken altar hovering in the air. It was exceedingly ancient and mysterious.

His Divine Eye was potent, yet he still couldn’t see the bottom of the abyss. However, this altar was not at the deepest point but hovered midway, exactly like the one he had seen at Mt. Tai.

So that’s it… He finally understood why the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin had descended here.

The Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin—its origin unknown, its destination unknown. The vast starry sky, the other side of the Starry Sky, and this place… they are all nothing but way stations. Who knows where the path ahead leads… he murmured to himself.