Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 547: Chapter 551: Representing the Celestial Court to Punish

The Dayan Saint Heir, Xiang Yifei, was slain; it was a blatant slap in the face. Not long ago, people were still marveling at the birth of a prodigy, only for him to be cut down in a flash.

This caused quite a stir, drawing the attention of various Great Sects. Ye Fan acted boldly, taking the initiative, which instilled trepidation in many people’s hearts.

I can’t defeat the old ones, but I can kill your successors! This was evidently a very dangerous signal Ye Fan was sending out.

Among the Sacred Lands, there were naturally some who wanted to track down Ye Fan and kill him. They took secretive actions, yet achieved nothing.

Mist draped the rainy landscape, the distant mountains like dark blue jade. The lakes and mountains exuded tranquility and harmony, resembling an ink wash painting.

Ye Fan headed west, not rushing. Cultivation now required insights into heaven, earth, and nature, not mere reclusion. Watching the wild geese fly south, the water flow into the distance, hearing the rain patter against plantain leaves, the rustle of falling blossoms, the stream gurgling over stones—sometimes, in such moments, he would experience a sudden illumination.

He wandered through the landscape like this, traversing leisurely, his body and mind utterly relaxed. He had let go of all grievances and grudges, transcending them. This was a kind of spiritual tranquility, not something that needed to be maintained at every moment; simply experiencing this state was enough.

“Let go of everything, and even the mountains and rivers become clearer and more beautiful,” Ye Fan murmured to himself, standing on a small, leaf-like boat, drifting across the lake in the misty drizzle.

Cultivators are not Immortals; all humans possess the seven emotions and six desires and must experience the myriad facets of the mortal world. To return to nature in this way was a kind of transcendental life, and also a state of mind.

“One can tell the young master is a busy person; it’s rare for you to find such leisure,” the old fisherman, the owner of the small boat, remarked.

Inside the small cabin, a fire was lit in the stove. The old fisherman, using local ingredients, had prepared several dishes with fish from the lake. He also took out some yellow wine and set everything on a small wooden table.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged, admiring the lake view through the misty rain, sipping his wine slowly. He felt utterly content, his heart filled with tranquility.

“This friend is in fine spirits,” a voice called out. A light boat glided over, braving the threads of rain, moving slowly across the lake. On it was Ji Haoyue, the Ji Family Divine King Body.

Also on the small boat was the bright-eyed, white-toothed ‘Little Moon’ Ji Ziyue. They were enjoying the lake scenery in the rain, though they weren’t drinking wine, nor did they have a fisherman rowing for them.

Ye Fan smiled, raised his wine cup in a toast, and then drained it. He hadn’t revealed his true appearance, so the two of them didn’t recognize him.

Water vapor diffused, and thin smoke lingered, making the lake hazy. In the distance, another leaf-like boat approached. A young man stood upon it, clad in green robes, his hair a shining jet black. He seemed to blend into heaven and earth, exuding an indescribable divine charm.

Ye Fan was surprised; it was the Flickering Light Saint Heir. He was no longer as before, cloaked in Divine Rings, radiant and dazzling; now, all he had was a naturalness.

“He has also broken through, reached another realm,” muttered the Eastern Wastelands Divine King, Ji Haoyue.

Ji Ziyue’s eyes flashed with a cunning light. She mumbled something no one could quite hear, then wrinkled her exquisite nose and said, “I want a little sip of yellow wine too.”

Ye Fan smiled, raised a hand, and sent over an unopened jar of wine, along with two untouched dishes of lake fish.

At this moment, the Flickering Light Saint Heir drew near, smiling. “At least I’m not late.” He seemed to bloom like a streak of morning sunlight, truly brilliant.

An ethereal Dao Rhythm rippled through the air. A woman in purple clothes, her garments fluttering, merged into the misty rain, giving one the feeling of Dao law flowing naturally, of heaven and man as one.

The Innate Dao Embryo—the Purple Mansion Sacred Lady—had also arrived. Purple mist coiled around her, making her seem incredibly ethereal. Though she stood right before them, she felt as if she was not of this mortal world.

Almost simultaneously, water vapor drifted as the Yaochi Saintess glided over the water, also entering the lake area. Her hair was like a dark cloud, her figure graceful, and she seemed untouched by the vulgarities of the mortal world.

Ye Fan was astonished. He hadn’t expected to encounter several of the Eastern Wastelands’ most powerful young individuals gathered here, for reasons unknown to him.

“We are going to the Central States. We’ll face many challenges there. As fellow cultivators from the Eastern Wastelands, we should help each other out,” Ji Haoyue spoke.

Ye Fan finally understood. They were heading to the Central States and had arranged to meet here to journey together. Further ahead lay an important place, Hengyu Peak, where they intended to seek opportunities together. It was rumored that in the past, the Hengyu Great Emperor had annihilated a supreme existence that emerged from the Great Primordial Mine and was compelled to travel far to the Central States. He once paused on an ancient mountain ahead and took a final glance at the Eastern Wastelands. Afterward, he departed without ever looking back. Future generations came to this place to pay their respects, all hoping to acquire a trace of the Ancient Emperor Dao.

Not long after, Fenghuang, Yao Xi, and others arrived. A dozen or so of the Eastern Wastelands’ young elites were present—they were the strongest of their generation. They glanced at Ye Fan with surprise, yet none recognized him. The light boats sliced through the lake like shuttles, arriving beneath an ancient mountain up ahead. The lake water submerged the mountain’s base. By this time, the rain had ceased, and the water reflected a hazy Green Mountain, wreathed in mist, resembling an Immortal realm.

Everyone ascended Hengyu Peak, gazing back at the Eastern Wastelands, yet none obtained any fortuitous opportunities.

“Everyone, we will cross over to the Central States. The powerhouses of the Five Great Domains gather there. It will be a place where outstanding talents converge, and the future is uncertain. Perhaps some of us may never return…”

“The strongest from the Five Domains will congregate there; our fates will be perilous. Take one last look at the Eastern Wastelands. Cultivation at the Qi Shi Mansion will not be peaceful!”

As Ye Fan stood on the small boat, gazing at Hengyu Peak—BOOM! Sword aura surged from the lake, cutting toward him. The old fisherman also erupted in aggression!

On Hengyu Peak, everyone was astounded. Such killing intent pierced the heavens. The old fisherman, in particular, was obviously possessed temporarily by a primordial spirit, making him terrifying beyond compare. He sealed the void, completely locking down the area so that not even a fly could escape. The heirs of the Sacred Lands paled. What if it were them? How would they fare?

SWISH! In that critical instant, with no room for error, Ye Fan moved through the void. Utilizing the Walking Secret, he thrust out a finger, piercing the head of a black-clad assassin. SPURT! He seized a longsword, transformed into a wisp of smoke, and vanished, only to reappear in another location. Wielding the Killing Sword, he lopped off a bloodied head, sending a geyser of blood high into the air.

A terrifying elder descended from the sky. He reclaimed the primordial spirit that had possessed the old fisherman’s body and then wielded vast divine energy to slash at Ye Fan. Killers from the Mortal World and Hell organizations, dormant for so long, had finally struck again. Veteran assassins had been mobilized!

Ye Fan triggered the Walking Secret, moving across the lake like mist, elusive and impossible to pin down.

Moreover, at this time, he launched an attack. BOOM! A small golden figure shot out from between his eyebrows, formed from his potent divine scan. The All Character Secret activated, increasing his combat power tenfold. He fiercely confronted the old-generation powerhouse of the assassin lineage, without any thought of retreat.

CLANG! The small golden figure, shining like the sun, smashed towards the elder assassin’s brow. It was incredibly fast; the divine scan itself was simultaneously operating the Walking Secret. BOOM! It was truly too fast. The elder assassin could only meet it head-on, his brow gleaming as he shot out a weapon to block the attack. CRACK! An Ancient Shield shattered, pierced by the small golden figure. The elder assassin, however, used this opportunity to slip into the void.

He moved his hands, conjuring vast magical power to seal Ye Fan. Streams of Heaven and Earth Rules flowed, forming numerous Dao Glyphs that descended to envelop him. SWISH! Ye Fan retreated like a phantom. Simultaneously, the small golden figure transformed into a cauldron, only about the size of a fist, yet it emitted a dazzling myriad of lights. SPURT! SPURT!… It continuously pierced the void, penetrating the brows of seven or eight assassins hidden in the darkness, who died with their eyes wide in disbelief. The golden divine scan, transformed into a small cauldron, was invincible. At this moment, it was extremely terrifying as it successively slaughtered the assassin aspirants.

“It’s Ye Fan! It’s really him!”

“He’s… he’s being besieged by an assassin organization!”

On Hengyu Peak, the young heroes of the Eastern Wastelands were all astonished. They hadn’t expected that the sacred body, recently famed throughout the Eastern Wastelands, was right before their eyes.

BOOM! An overwhelming pressure enveloped all directions. Four veteran assassins arrived, each occupying a cardinal point, sealing off all escape routes. They intended to butcher him here. Meanwhile, cold glints of light occasionally shot up from the lake. There were other assassin aspirants, here for training, launching surprise attacks from time to time.

“This time, the sacred body is likely doomed. He can’t possibly summon another Heavenly Tribulation, can he?”

On Hengyu Peak, someone made such a judgment. Those veteran assassins possessed unfathomable power and had sealed the void, making escape nearly impossible.

However, something that left everyone astonished occurred. Ye Fan, wielding a blood-dripping divine sword, slew several assassin aspirants in succession and then, as if passing through tissue paper, he easily escaped. Though the void was sealed, it couldn’t restrain him. The path ahead was unobstructed!

“That footwork is…” The people from the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty all widened their eyes in disbelief.

One old assassin’s heart surged with tumultuous waves. The Walking Secret has emerged! Is the Ancient Heavenly Court about to reappear?!

“Ye Fan…” Ji Ziyue softly called, wishing to pursue him, but Ji Haoyue firmly held her back.

“You wretched brother!” Ji Ziyue pouted, her delicate nose crinkling. “Why do you always stop me? Just wait! Once I can defeat you, I’ll suppress you for half a year!” She swung her dainty fists, glaring at her brother with her large, crescent-moon-like eyes.

The others chuckled at the scene.

“The sacred body is truly remarkable. The Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty has failed again! What was that secret art he just used? How could it break through such a powerful seal?!”

They whispered amongst themselves, then from Hengyu Peak, they took one last look back before traversing the void and departing the Eastern Wastelands.

From then on, numerous talents began to gather in the Central States, ushering in an era of the fiercest competition. This would be a collision of the Five Domains, and the strongest of the future would emerge from it. The Central State Qi Shi Mansion would be a place where dragons leaped and phoenixes soared!

Ye Fan, having faced an assassination attempt by the Ancient Divine Dynasty, felt a chill in his heart. It was just as the Black Emperor had said: they possessed the Heavenly Mechanism Divine Technique and could divine his whereabouts. However, he was not fearful. He carried the jade pieces the Black Emperor had prepared for him, engraved with Deceitful Heaven Array Patterns. With these, no one could divine his location any longer.

After a whole month of silence, Ye Fan, a cold smile on his lips, merged into the night, ready to act.

Although he had been attacked at the lake, he hadn’t fled far. Utilizing a Heavenly Court Secret Technique to conceal himself, he had instead tracked his assailants, discovering some of their secret locations. Over this extended period, he had thoroughly investigated several of these secret locations, confirming they were assassin training camps. He chose to strike when the veteran assassins were absent.

The world was plunged into darkness, so profound one couldn’t see their own hand in front of their face. Ye Fan, like a phantom, infiltrated an Underground Palace. The ancient underground stone palace, steeped in the vicissitudes of time, had existed for countless eons and was filled with the scent of blood. This was a training camp, presided over by only one sovereign-level expert, but unfortunately, he was absent today, not overseeing matters within the Underground Palace.

CRACK! Ye Fan slipped inside, silent and traceless. He twisted the necks of the two sentries guarding the entrance, killing them instantly. At this moment, he became the assassin, employing their own methods against the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty as he roamed the Underground Palace like the grim reaper.

SPURT! Ye Fan mercilessly swung the Golden Scepter, continuously reaping lives. He moved from one stone grotto to the next, the underground passages filling with the stench of blood and death.

“Who is it?! Ah—”

Finally, someone noticed, but it was too late. By now, dozens had been slain, with fewer than ten remaining.

“You’re Ye Fan!”

“I represent the Heavenly Court to exterminate you!” Ye Fan sneered, his Golden Scepter glowing, his killing intent surging like a tempestuous sea.

SWISH! A head flew into the air, and a corpse slumped to the ground.

SPLAT! A body was smashed into a pile of bloody pulp.

“You…!” an assassin aspirant cried out, erupting with power as he manifested the killing dao of the Mortal World.

Hmm?! Ye Fan was surprised. There was a young assassin here who had reached the first transformation of the Dragon Transformation Realm. He was undoubtedly a top ace among the younger generation of the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty.

“If I kill you, I imagine those in Mortal World will be deeply pained!” Ye Fan’s eyes glinted coldly.

“You underestimate Mortal World!” the assassin snarled, attacking Ye Fan with a Killing Technique. “There are those far stronger than I, individuals born specifically to slaughter kings. Even if you possess a sacred body, you are no exception! You will not escape death!”

“I’ve heard that your Ancient Hall is paved with the skulls of kings,” Ye Fan sneered, brandishing the Heavenly Court Staff and retaliating with a Killing Technique of his own. “One day, I’ll go see it for myself!”

The two maneuvered, flickering between light and dark as they battled in the void, an extremely eerie sight.

“You won’t get the chance!” the assassin said coldly. “Someone far stronger than I will slaughter all of you with special constitutions, all you self-proclaimed ‘kings’! He was born to eliminate people like you!”

“Is that so?” Ye Fan retorted. “I’ll wait for him. And if he doesn’t show up, I’ll eventually storm your Ancient Hall and find him myself!”

SPURT! Ye Fan, having reached the circle of perfection in the Four Extremes Realm and mastered the Heavenly Court Killing Technique, was far more terrifying than anyone from the Ancient Divine Dynasty. He severed the head of this top young expert, sending blood spurting high.

POP! With a gentle point of his finger, he extinguished the assassin’s divine scan!

When everything was over, Ye Fan turned and left, traversing the void and vanishing into the darkness, leaving only ground covered in blood and corpses. He headed for the next secret location. The opportunity would only last this one night; if he missed it, it would be difficult to replicate.

At another secret location, there was similarly no powerful expert in charge. It seemed they had all received the same order and had temporarily departed.

SPURT! Blood sprayed and heads rolled. Ye Fan moved silently through the darkness, a merciless butcher of assassins. This was a night of bloodshed, with many heads rolling, many lives forever lost.

The next day, news shocked the world: Ye Fan had razed four training camps of the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty in a single night, exterminating over one hundred and eighty individuals! So many corpses, so much blood… The locations of the four assassin training camps were exposed, and many people went personally to witness the aftermath.

The world was stunned. Ye Fan possessed such ruthless methods, daring to counter-attack the Ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty and even managing to uncover several of their secret bases! Although these were not the main halls of the Ancient Divine Dynasty, nor their ancient, sacred ancestral grounds, this incident still severely damaged their prestige.

“Mortal World! Hell! I, Ye Fan, representing the Heavenly Court, have come to punish you!”

This was Ye Fan’s powerful declaration, announced throughout the Eastern Wastelands, and it truly astounded everyone. Now, anyone who wished to make a move against him would first have to carefully consider the potential losses.

Ye Fan did not linger. That very day, he traversed the void and departed from the Eastern Wastelands, his exit as swift and impactful as a thunderclap, as he continued his journey west. (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please log onto www., for more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)