Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 455: Chapter 460 Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree

“It’s really the Great Emperor…” The big black dog jumped up excitedly, trembling all over.

“Doggy…” The pitiful little girl screamed. She was almost thrown off, but luckily Ye Fan was beside her and caught the little one in his arms, preventing her from falling.

“It’s truly a figure. He… he must have noticed us! What… should we do?” Tu Fei, usually so eloquent, seemed tongue-tied now.

“You think he’s the Great Emperor?!” Li Heishui asked in shock, his voice suppressed to a whisper.

At that moment, they were less than three hundred zhang away from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. Although other trees blocked the view, their eyes, sharp as lightning, could see everything there.

It was a hazy figure, indistinct, pacing around the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree as if unaware of their presence. Above his head hung a Big Bell wreathed in Chaos Fog Silk.

It seemed capable of stabilizing time. Primal chaos surged, and myriad strands, mysterious and blurry, descended like the flowing river of time.

SWISH!

He sat cross-legged under the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, the Big Bell hovering above. He appeared ethereal, as if blending into the vast world, on the verge of disappearing.

Soon, he stood up thoughtfully, gazed at the sky, then walked away step by step. He seemed to be moving against the river of time, crossing the Gate of Time to return to the distant past before the Ancient Desolation.

“Great Emperor, don’t leave! Take me with you!” the big black dog shouted, its excitement reaching an unbearable peak, ready to dash forward.

Pang Bo quickly extended his large hands, grabbing its bald tail. “Don’t run wild!” he said. “A single wrong step could lead you into the center of the Undying Mountain to your doom!”

Ye Fan also reached out a large golden hand, pressing down on the Black Emperor, preventing him from suffering a calamity due to impulsiveness. He vaguely guessed who the person was.

“Great Emperor… Are you entering the Immortal Realm? Take me with you!” the big black dog cried out hoarsely. If not for Ye Fan and Pang Bo holding it down, it would have pounced.

“Is he really the Beginningless Great Emperor?!” Pang Bo was horrified.

Every one of them shivered. Countless years had passed—at least over a hundred thousand, perhaps even more ancient and distant. How could a Great Emperor still be alive?

The ancient Great Emperor’s silhouette vanished as if returning to Qingming, leaving nothing behind. It was like an ephemeral dream, and only a ripple remained in the empty, serene space.

WOOF!

The big black dog bared its teeth, turning and almost biting Ye Fan and Pang Bo. It was extremely frustrated, its agitation impossible to calm.

“Another person appeared,” said the pitiful little girl, whom Ye Fan was holding. She pointed a small finger toward the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree three hundred zhang away.

The initially agitated big black dog became quiet upon seeing this person. It immediately crouched down as if a mouse encountering a cat, ready to sneak away without a trace of its former bravado.

This person was more mysterious; only a shadow was visible. He stood where a massive black hole had formed, within which a jar engraved with a ghostly face bobbed up and down.

Not only did the big black dog wilt, desperate to flee, but Ye Fan and Pang Bo also felt their hair stand on end, wanting to turn and bolt. This being was far too intimidating.

Just the Qi Mechanism alone sent chills down their spines. The black hole threatened to devour everyone, and with only a hint of its Qi Mechanism escaping, it felt as if the heavens and earth were about to collapse catastrophically.

“The Ruthless Great Emperor!”

Their hearts pounded with fear. The most ruthless figure in all of history—could it truly be him? Could he also still be alive? It was beyond belief, and everyone’s scalp tingled.

Especially Ye Fan; he possessed a sacred body, and this Great Emperor specialized in devouring the Source of various constitutions. If he were targeted, let alone him, even a Great Success Holy Body would meet a bitter end.

This abyss-like black shadow, whose gender was indiscernible, stood before the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree for a long time. After pondering extensively, it eventually departed as well.

“‘He didn’t pursue us? Impossible! I dug up his Dao Field, even excavated his grave! Given his temperament, how could he possibly let me off?ʼ” the big black dog muttered in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.

“Vanished. What happened?” Everyone sensed the anomaly. Two ancient Great Emperors had appeared consecutively, then inexplicably disappeared. It was very strange.

“‘That’s not right. They didn’t even glance at us. How could this be? Even if they are ancient Great Emperors with calm temperaments, they shouldn’t have treated us like we were air,ʼ” Pang Bo said, feeling that there were too many inconsistencies.

“I understand now…” The big black dog sighed lightly and said, “Those are afterimages from before the Ancient Desolation. The ancient Great Emperors left indelible marks beside the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree.”

Everyone was shocked. If that was true, then these were shadows from at least over a hundred thousand years ago, perhaps even more than two hundred thousand years ago, and they had remained intact until now! It was truly astonishing and terrifying.

“‘The ancient Great Emperors once cultivated here… truly terrifying…ʼ” They were alarmed. Ordinary people would have fled on sight, yet these Great Emperors had come here to contemplate.

Judging by their earlier expressions, it seemed they had encountered obstacles in their cultivation and had come to this place seeking inspiration.

“Alas, what a pity. Those Great Emperors ultimately couldn’t withstand the ravages of time. However outstanding and peerless they were, in the end, dust returns to dust, earth to earth,” Pang Bo sighed lightly.

After deducing that these were shadows left by two Great Emperors from before the Ancient Desolation, they were all filled with emotion. Those were once the supreme protagonists of heaven and earth. Throughout all of history, how many could compare to them?

Nevertheless, even if their might awed all ages and they looked down upon the world, they couldn’t alter anything. No matter how great a hero, no matter how supreme a monument they represented, in the end, they couldn’t escape their final destiny and would eventually decay.

They walked forward together, getting closer to the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. Each person felt their minds become clear and tranquil; the previous restlessness and insecurity washed away.

Even the big black dog, which had experienced the most intense emotional turmoil, now grew calm. Its heart was serene, without joy or worry, having forgotten all disturbances.

This was the extraordinary aspect of the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. Nearing this place, everything changed. It seemed to be nurtured by the Great Dao itself, allowing one to feel peace and tranquility.

Three hundred zhang was not very far. Under the guidance of the pitiful little girl, they passed through the grove of swaying ancient trees and gradually drew near. They finally saw, truly and clearly, this ancient tree that had existed since time immemorial without withering.

The bark was cracked, resembling open Dragon Scale. The trunk was less than half a meter thick, shaped like a Coiled Dragon lying there, twisting and extending into the air, its highest point just under three meters from the ground.

The entire tree was sparkling. Each leaf was unique, flowing with the radiance of the Dao. It was so peculiar: little cauldrons, Divine Phoenixes, Daoist saints, divine bells, mountains and rivers, clouds, Eight Diagrams… all lifelike. Every leaf seemed like a small world, representing a unique Dao, swaying with dreamlike brilliance.

The various leaves, all bizarrely shaped, each possessed a distinct and precious Dao resonance. The tree was resplendent, dazzlingly bright, enough to make one lose themselves in its beauty.

The trunk of the Enlightenment Tea Tree was ancient, exuding an air of grandeur and antiquity. In contrast, the leaves were vibrant and natural, brimming with life and Dao resonance. They blended together, creating an aura of mystery and profundity.

“One, two, three…” The pitiful little girl tilted her head up and began counting the leaves above, stirring the hearts of the others. The ancient tree had few leaves, just over a hundred, yet it didn’t seem bare, for each leaf was unique, making one forget everything else.

“There are one hundred and eight leaves in total, just as the legends say. It’s the same number every year, not one more, not one less. Exactly this number!” Tu Fei exclaimed, unable to resist wiping his mouth.

At this moment, joy broke their ethereal state of mind. It was hard for them to remain calm, and everyone’s emotions surged.

The big black dog’s eyes shone with a green light, like a wolf’s. It was practically drooling as it rushed forward, extending a large paw to grab at the tree.

SWISH!

A flash of light, and a leaf shaped like a small gourd fell. It was entirely golden-yellow. It passed through the gaps in the big black dog’s paw, fell to the ground, and vanished instantly.

The big black dog was very angry. It reached out its large paw once more to pluck a leaf resembling a True Dragon that glinted like Green Gold. But the same thing happened: with a flash of light, it slipped away, hit the ground, and disappeared.

“Black Emperor, stop wasting them!” Li Heishui complained. “Even though there are a hundred and eight leaves, we can’t squander them like this!”

“Do you think this emperor wants to? It’s just that these leaves are uncanny! They run off on their own; I can’t hold onto them!” the big black dog fumed.

“Let me try,” Pang Bo said. He stepped forward, gently pinched a red leaf that resembled an Immortal Phoenix, and lightly picked it.

SWISH!

The moment the leaf detached from the ancient tree, it flashed with light, flew away instantly, and sank into the earth. Just like the Black Emperor, he couldn’t hold onto it and had to let it escape.

“This is so strange!” Tu Fei also moved forward, reaching out to grab a leaf shaped like a small Eight Diagrams. It flowed with five colors and was mysterious and unfathomable.

However, the result was the same: once plucked, the tea leaf would inevitably escape. It was impossible to keep.

“Stop plucking randomly! This emperor remembers now!” the big black dog shouted, trying hard to think and recall. It mumbled to itself, “Right, that’s how it is.”

“What’s going on?” several people asked simultaneously.

“The Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree can give birth to the Dao, but the leaves must mature before they can be plucked. Otherwise, once removed, they’ll sink back into the roots and stem, and it’s impossible to take them away.”

“Why does it happen like this?” Everyone was extremely disappointed. Being able to come before the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree was a legendary opportunity, yet they couldn’t pick the leaves.

“Unless one possesses an Undying Divine Root, which can also attract the leaves. Only then can they be secured,” said the big black dog.

A thought stirred in Ye Fan’s mind. He had dug up some Undying Divine Medicine Root from the Ancient Desolation Forbidden Land. Perhaps he could try it. However, he first took out the Qilin Divine Medicine Seed.

SWISH!

He gently picked a leaf shaped like a small cauldron, wreathed in wisps of mist. It immediately adhered to the Qilin Divine Medicine Seed and did not fall to the ground.

“Great! That’s wonderful!” Everyone was elated.

The big black dog was even more excited. “Pick them all!” it said. “As long as they’re away from the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree and sealed in Jade, they’ll find it hard to escape.”

“These leaves haven’t matured yet. Is the Dao they’ve birthed of any use?” Ye Fan didn’t want to waste such precious things senselessly.

“Rest assured, it’s absolutely effective! Two such leaves combined are equivalent to one mature Dao Leaf,” the big black dog replied.

Everyone was overjoyed. With over a hundred leaves, pairing them up would be equivalent to more than fifty mature ones. This was a peerless divine treasure!

It’s important to note that when the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree matures each year, its leaves automatically shoot into the sky, departing the mother plant. Even the top figures waiting outside the Undying Mountain, working together, can only retrieve thirty or so at most. This isn’t enough to share among all the Holy Lords and sovereigns of the entire Eastern Wastelands.

“We’ve struck gold! This is a colossal opportunity! My grandfather went through great efforts, expending a massive amount of Source, just to trade for a single leaf from someone else, yet we’re about to pick the entire ancient tree clean!” Tu Fei said, grinning foolishly.

Li Heishui also laughed heartily. “This year, those sovereigns waiting outside the Undying Mountain won’t get a single leaf! I can’t wait to see their expressions then! HAHA… I’m really looking forward to it!”

Gentle bell sounds softly tolled, giving one the sensation of the Great Dao becoming empty, as if they had reached the end of the immortal path. The silhouette of an ancient Great Emperor manifested once more—the Beginningless Great Emperor!

Silent black holes annihilated everything. They also appeared before the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree. The Ruthless Great Emperor stood in the darkness and emerged again.

The difference was, this time, two Great Emperors appeared simultaneously, causing the others to tremble with fear, involuntarily freezing in place.

“What… what is happening? Could the two Great Emperors have met?”

“Impossible. The ancient Great Emperors never met each other. They lived in different eras; when one was alive, the other had already passed, and when the other was born, the first was long gone. This should merely be their imprints encountering each other… What is happening?” the Black Emperor questioned, full of doubt and uncertainty.