Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 534: Chapter 539: Living Fossil

The martial stage, constructed from large cliff stones, was etched with the marks of time—ancient and mottled. It was a place where many Saint Master Level figures had fallen.

The blood of peerless experts had long since dried, their bones turned to dust, yet an intense killing intent still permeated the air. This was a true Ancient Battlefield.

This old man moved like a wandering ghost, silent and traceless. He pressed a palm forward, and it was as if the Ghost Lord himself had descended upon the world. A sinister wind howled, thick with Death Qi.

The Peacock King felt a chill run down his spine. Sensing immense danger, he shot sideways for over a thousand zhang, barely evading the strike by a hair’s breadth.

SMACK!

The old man’s strike had seemed casual, even ordinary. Yet, where his palm had passed, a black hole was seared into the void—an unhealing wound in space that began to devour everything.

BANG!

He attacked again, moving like a ghostly shadow. Incredibly sinister, he traversed the void, an ominous wind howling around him, chillingly spectral, yet his attack possessed immense destructive power.

The Peacock King roared, his entire being erupting with enormous Qi. He blazed like a Divine Furnace, magnificent and radiant, his Blood Qi surging like a vast ocean.

BOOM!

He swung his arms forcefully, unleashing nine savage dragons. Brimming with Supreme Yang energy, each dragon carried a golden sun as it charged forth, colliding with the yielding, yin-natured Qi.

SIZZLE!

Where Supreme Yang met extreme Yin, a zone of light and darkness instantly formed. A terrifying collapse began, generating both Taiyang Sacred Power and Taiyin Holy Power.

DONG!

A colossal explosion ripped through the martial stage. A terrifying burst of radiance erupted, engulfing both combatants and creating a scene of utter devastation.

Although Taiyin Holy Power and Taiyang Sacred Power manifested for only an instant, their power was terrifying to the extreme. Their convergence annihilated everything in its path.

PUH!

The old man from Flickering Light shot out like a phantom, a trickle of black blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he rapidly retreated.

Simultaneously, the Peacock King coughed up a mouthful of blood, his hair flying wildly. Like a Demon God, he broke free from the binding power of Taiyin and Taiyang, erupting from the zone of destruction.

Merely the first exchange, and both were already injured. It was clear they intended to end the battle quickly, both having unleashed devastating killing techniques. This was a battle of life and death from the outset, with no room for maneuvering. It was a fight to the bitter end; only one would walk away alive.

SWISH!

The living fossil from Flickering Light attacked once more. His palms and fingers, an earthy yellow, descended like viscous yellow mud. He didn’t employ any shocking Holy Techniques, merely pressing forward with a deceptively simple motion.

Yet, a chill crept into the Peacock King’s heart. At his Realm, this old man had long since returned to the Dao of simplicity. Within that ordinary-looking palm strike was concealed Flickering Light’s ultimate killing Holy Technique.

It was the terrifying Yellow Mud Hand. If even a peak sovereign were struck by it, they would be annihilated as if turned to rotten mud. It was truly a hand of death.

SMACK!

Indeed, as the Yellow Mud Hand pressed into the void, that patch of space seemed to decay and rot, transforming into a desolate, all-consuming abyss.

A sharp light glinted in the Peacock King’s eyes. He unleashed nine savage dragons, each holding a golden sun in its maw. They trailed ten thousand zhang of golden light, forming a divine curtain to block the attack.

PUFF!

The first savage dragon was splattered into ruin by the Yellow Mud Hand. The golden sun in its mouth shattered, unleashing a terrifying storm of energy.

SMACK!

The Yellow Mud Hand struck repeatedly. The savage dragons were reduced to yellow mud, and the blazing golden suns were devoured, their boundless enormous Qi dissolving into nothingness.

The Peacock King let out a long howl. His Blood Qi surged into the heavens, scattering the lead-gray clouds. Robust Life Qi flooded the entire world.

It was a wondrous sight: from his Sky Gathering Parasol, Blood Qi surged forth like a great mountain. His entire body pulsed with enormous Qi, like a boundless ocean, as if Pangu himself had descended upon the world!

BOOM!

The Peacock King’s aura was immense, as if he could swallow mountains and rivers. His massive hands struck out repeatedly, meeting the Yellow Mud Hand head-on, the force nearly obliterating the sky. Behind him, the phantom of a gigantic peacock appeared, seemingly in the act of creating heaven and earth, primal chaos swirling around it.

The Flickering Light elder’s expression changed. His opponent was using his vigorous Blood Qi to force him into a battle of attrition, compelling him to expend his own life force.

The Peacock King seemed like a Holy Spirit, his Blood Qi growing ever more vigorous. Each palm strike was like a million volcanoes erupting simultaneously, his presence imposing and generating unparalleled pressure.

BOOM!

Suddenly, the Flickering Light elder swept aside his aura of Death Qi. His entire body erupted with a boundless radiance, illuminating mountains, rivers, and myriad flowers. He appeared as imposing as a flower-plucking god.

He had finally unleashed the Sacred Lands’ Supreme Ultimate Skill—the Mixed Element Holy Light Technique!

At this moment, the old man became incredibly terrifying. He seemed even more vigorous than the Peacock King, his Blood Qi almost palpable. Divine flame burst forth like an ocean, utterly engulfing the vast Ancient Battlefield.

He now seemed like a true god. With the Mixed Element Holy Light Technique unleashed, all other techniques shattered before it. With a mere gesture, he could crush the heavens.

BOOM!

Holy Light blanketed the sky and earth. Every inch of space pulsed with terrifying Divine Radiance, causing souls to tremble!

The Peacock King was sent flying by a slap, bloody gashes appearing all over his body. He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood; his situation was perilous.

“To think that I, Wang Zheng, once roamed the world unchallenged! Who dared to cross my path? You, little peacock, are far too arrogant. Today, I shall suppress you for eternity!”

The Flickering Light elder seemed to have recovered his vigor, now possessing his peak combat power. He was unstoppable, Divine Light radiating from him like an ocean, destroying everything in its path.

BOOM!

He swung his palm again. It was as if a hand had reached down from Outer Heaven, Holy Light like a boundless sea of clouds engulfing the vast Ancient Battlefield. It was impossible to resist.

BANG!

The Peacock King was once again sent flying, his body covered in blood, nearly torn asunder. His black hair was matted and stained red with his own blood.

Everyone was aghast. The Peacock King was a peerless figure in the world today, deeply feared by all Saint Masters—a matchless Demon King.

Yet now, he had been beaten into such a sorry state. This was the first time he had suffered such grievous injuries in eight hundred years!

A living fossil three thousand years old was truly terrifying. Everyone shivered. If such a being fully erupted with power, who could possibly stop him?

Such a being could run rampant throughout the Eastern Wastelands; none could contend with him. Almost all of his contemporaries had perished; very few remained.

“Truly a master of the living fossil level!”

“Such terrifying combat power is indeed frightening! He can look down upon the entire Eastern Wastelands. Unfortunately, his longevity is nearly exhausted; he is about to depart this world.”

Few cultivators could live past three thousand years. Reaching such an age meant they were monstrous existences, naturally invincible and terrifying.

However, longevity was their greatest fetter. Although their cultivation base had reached its pinnacle, their time was short.

“Still resisting stubbornly!” The Flickering Light elder stepped forward. Primordial Holy Light surged forth from him, pervading everywhere.

His casual movements seemed to collapse the void, capable of shattering anything. He intended to melt down the very Ancient Battlefield.

The Peacock King let out a long cry, spewing five-colored divine light from his mouth. It swept forward, finally managing to temporarily block the Mixed Element Holy Light Technique.

“Interesting. You’ve actually cultivated the Innate Five Elements. Unfortunately, you haven’t reached Great Success. You are doomed to die today!” The Flickering Light elder, like a deity, slapped his large hand downward.

Primordial Holy Light, like a vast sea, once again engulfed the martial stage. Each ray was capable of killing a powerful expert. Such an overwhelming amount of Primordial Holy Light was utterly terrifying.

The Peacock King’s Innate Five Elements Divine Light nearly shattered, and more bloody gashes appeared on his body. Yet, the Primordial Holy Light could advance no further.

Within the five-colored divine light he had spat out, a pitch-black stone platform appeared, suppressing everything.

BOOM!

A shockwave rippled out. The black stone platform enlarged, enveloped by the Five Elements Divine Light. It transformed into a massive seal and pressed forward, scattering the Primordial Holy Light.

“The Chaos Treasure Seal!”

Outside the stage, the Flickering Light Sacred Master’s expression changed drastically. He loudly reminded his senior brother, “Last time, you suffered a great loss under that seal, you were nearly broken in two!”

Back then, in the ancient tomb in Li State, while vying for the nine secret arts, the Peacock King had seized that Chaos Stone and refined it into an incredibly terrifying secret treasure.

“That stone was left behind by the Great Emperor Wu Shi. Although he merely used it as a bed, to other cultivators, it is still a Supreme Treasure!” the big black dog said solemnly.

BANG!

The treasure seal forged from Chaos Stone collided violently with the Primordial Holy Light. The martial stage was thrown into terrifying disarray, almost becoming a Land of Chaos.

The Peacock King used the Chaos Treasure Seal to resist Wang Zheng’s Mixed Element Holy Light Technique, and the two reached a stalemate.

“This black seal is truly frightening! Even a living fossil is blocked, unable to advance a single step!”

People were shocked by the intense collision. Within the five-colored divine light, the Chaos Stone Seal stood as tall and imperishable as an ancient Divine Mountain.

However, the Primordial Holy Light was said to extinguish all Laws and was terrifyingly unparalleled, especially when wielded by a living fossil who had lived for three thousand years. It was truly a heaven-defying power!

DONG!

The Peacock King coughed up blood again but didn’t retreat a single step. Wang Zheng, the Flickering Light elder, also had a flushed face, and his body trembled slightly.

Between them, patches of black holes appeared, as if they had entered an era of great destruction where all things were annihilated, and nothing remained.

At this moment, only the cataclysmic collision between the Primordial Holy Light and the Chaos Stone Seal, enveloped in the five-colored divine light, remained!

“This Chaos Treasure Seal is too terrifying!” Everyone was aghast, a chill rising in their hearts.

Those at the Saint Master Level were especially apprehensive. If the Peacock King wielded this Stone Seal against them, how could they possibly resist?

A Divine Artifact like this, if nurtured and refined daily, who knew what kind of peerless Divine Artifact it might become in the future!

However, people also deeply feared the Flickering Light Sacred Master’s senior brother. As a living fossil-level figure, his reputation was well-deserved. He was certainly capable of rampaging unchecked and killing Saint Masters!

BOOM!

The Chaos Stone Seal clashed with the Mixed Element Holy Light Technique. The Peacock King coughed up another mouthful of blood but still did not yield.

People understood that if this stalemate continued, it would be difficult to tell who would live and who would die.

Although the Peacock King was coughing up blood, his Blood Qi was as vast as the sea; he could sustain this consumption for a long time. In contrast, while Flickering Light’s living fossil was terrifyingly powerful, he had little lifespan remaining and could not afford such a depletion.

“Stop!”

“Cease!”

The Flickering Light Sacred Master and Daoist Chi Dragon shouted simultaneously. They were unwilling to let the fight continue, fearing that their own combatant would perish—a truly immeasurable loss.

Daoist Chi Dragon, the Flickering Light Sacred Master, Non Gongzheng, and many other sovereigns intervened, forcibly separating the two and ending the battle.

Ye Fan quickly stepped forward, took out a jade bottle, and handed the Divine Spring to the Peacock King. When he opened the stopper, a fragrant aroma wafted out, and the eyes of several people present lit up.

Daoist Chi Dragon and Daoist Crow, in particular, had fervent eyes, blazing with an intensity as if they were beholding an Ancient Emperor Scripture.

The Peacock King took several large gulps and immediately sat down cross-legged. His body surged with enormous Qi, and his grievous injuries began to recover at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His Blood Qi soared to the heavens, and his body glowed intensely. The Innate Five Elements Divine Light coiled around him, while the Chaos Treasure Seal hovered above his head.

Ye Fan did not take the jade bottle back. Instead, he handed it to Daoist Chi Dragon and Daoist Crow. Both were visibly moved; for those like them with little lifespan remaining, this was an exceptionally precious gift.

“Daoist Chi Dragon, it is actually you I most wish to fight!” Not far away, Wang Zheng, the Flickering Light Sacred Master’s senior brother, spoke. He had already consumed a sacred medicine and recovered in an instant.

“Fine, I will fight you!” Daoist Chi Dragon, who dominated the Eastern Wastelands and feared no one, immediately accepted the challenge.

“Don’t go! That old relic won’t live another half a year. He wants to drag you down with him before he dies!” Daoist Crow tried to stop him.

“Does he truly think the fifteen hundred years I spent trapped in the Holy Cliff were for nothing? I will send him on his way ahead of schedule!” Daoist Chi Dragon declared.

Everyone was astonished. Another battle was about to begin! Two living fossils were going to fight—this was undoubtedly the absolute pinnacle of combat power in the present age!

How many in the Eastern Wastelands could live to the terrifying age of three thousand? When such figures were at their zenith, shaking the world, even all the Saint Masters had to look up to them in reverence.

Now, they had reached their individual pinnacles, yet they had little life left and were about to perish. It couldn’t be denied that this was a kind of tragedy.

Throughout history, many peerless heroes had been defeated by the passage of time. Even if their achievements touched upon Creation itself, it was ultimately useless. They had no choice but to fade away as they reached the end of their lives.

SWISH!

The two living fossils entered the Ancient Battlefield almost simultaneously, both moving as elusively as phantoms.

“Be careful, Senior Brother!” The Flickering Light Sacred Master sent a voice transmission. He understood the thoughts of this senior brother, who was a thousand years his elder. Knowing he was about to perish, Wang Zheng wanted to eliminate Daoist Chi Dragon, this unparalleled enemy, before he died.

SNAP!

The two ancient cultivators, both over three thousand years old, attacked without any visible passion. Their exchange of palms seemed like a clash between mortals; nothing profound could be discerned.

The younger generation found it utterly dull. They couldn’t perceive the elegance of transcendent masters, nor could they discern any profundity in the exchange.

However, everyone at the Saint Master Level trembled. In that single exchange of palms, countless Dao Marks had flashed and vanished within the void. It had been a confrontation of cataclysmic proportions.

Yet, this power was dissipated by the two combatants in a flash. Ordinary people couldn’t perceive any of it.

Terrifying… Ye Fan’s heart palpitated. Having cultivated the Divine Eye, he could see it all clearly.

SNAP! BANG! …

The two living fossils’ movements weren’t fast. They didn’t frequently attack, nor did they use transcendent Holy Techniques. Instead, they were engaged in a life-and-death duel that had returned to utter simplicity!

“Both of our lifespans are nearly at an end. We cannot afford a battle of attrition. Let’s settle life and death with a single blow!”

The two spoke simultaneously, having had the exact same thought: to determine the victor in an instant.

BOOM!

Wang Zheng, the living fossil from Flickering Light, erupted! His withered body burst forth with boundless brilliance, enveloping the entire martial stage like a golden Holy Spirit.

In this moment, he was overwhelmingly powerful. His withered body teemed with boundless vitality, his Blood Qi raged like the sea, and Primordial Holy Light covered the sky and earth—an unparalleled terror!

BOOM!

Within the void, the infinite Primordial Holy Light transformed into a golden ancient cauldron. Dragon patterns covered its surface, and it seemed to suppress the entire Great World!

“This… he actually used the Mixed Element Holy Light Technique to manifest the form and a portion of the Laws of Flickering Light’s Dragon Pattern Black Gold Holy Cauldron!”

Everyone exclaimed in shock, their expressions changing. They felt a sense of illusion, as if they had perceived a trace of Extreme Dao Holy Power.

Daoist Chi Dragon let out a long roar, his hair flying wildly, his eyes as sharp as blades. As if he possessed eight arms, he executed eight different Dharma Seals in a single instant.

“What! That’s the Heavenly Demon Eight Techniques! The demon clan’s oldest and most terrifying supreme inheritance! He actually executed all eight forms as one!”

People were aghast, their hearts shaken. A chill ran down their spines, and they felt as if they were suffocating.

With the Heavenly Demon Eight Techniques combined, Daoist Chi Dragon manifested a crimson dragon in the void. It was incredibly lifelike, radiating an overwhelming aura of Ancient Desolation and a vast, draconic pressure.

The Ancient Battlefield itself was on the verge of collapse!

If not for the Jade Lake’s Immortal Tear Tower standing guard, circulating a trace of true Extreme Divine Power, the martial stage would have long ceased to exist.

BOOM!

The two living fossils clashed, unleashing their strongest attacks in a bid to decide life and death in a single blow!

Patches of black holes appeared, as if a new Universe were being born, starlight gleaming within. It was like the creation of a new cosmos, the Qi Mechanism of destruction and regeneration surging like a tide.

An instant became Eternity!

It felt as though a hundred long lifetimes had passed, yet also as if only a single moment had elapsed. Time seemed to stretch into eternity, becoming indistinct.

SPURT!

Daoist Chi Dragon spewed a large mouthful of blood as he was sent flying out of a black hole in the void. His body was covered in cracks; he was on the verge of death.

PUH!

On the other side, the light in the Flickering Light living fossil’s eyes dimmed. His skull cracked open, brain matter spilling out. His torso was severed, his body a mangled wreck.

Fresh blood stained the sky. His flesh was reduced to a bloody pulp, his bones shattered into white fragments. He had been beaten to death by Daoist Chi Dragon.

(Author’s Note: Chapter 1 is here. Brothers and sisters, please continue to support with monthly tickets! I will also continue to work hard tonight… To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please log in to www. for more chapters. Support the author and support legitimate reading!)