Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 551: Chapter 555, Volume 1 of the Ancient Scriptures

Ye Fan did not reveal his true name; otherwise, even in the distant Central States, it would have caused endless trouble. The disturbances he had stirred up in the Eastern Wastelands were simply too great.

Even now, the elites of the Five Domains from Qi Shi Mansion had vaguely heard of a prodigy emerging from the Eastern Wastelands, which spoke volumes.

“There’s no way to repay your life-saving kindness, Young Lord. I promised to give you a scroll of ancient scriptures, but I did not bring it with me. Come with me, and it can also help you fully restore your Yuan Qi,” Yu Die said with a smile.

Ye Fan hesitated for a moment. He indeed yearned for that scroll of ancient scriptures, yet he was reluctant to enter a super Ancient Dynasty, which was not a dynasty founded by mortals.

Undoubtedly, this was an Ancient Dynasty belonging to peak cultivators, an ancient heritage where the Emperor and other leaders must be sovereigns.

“Princess!” A shout came from afar, and a group of people rushed over, reaching them in the blink of an eye.

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat. Among them was a sovereign and five half-step sovereigns. The last was a heroic-looking young man, likely in the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm.

“Grandmaster.” Yu Die relaxed completely upon seeing the sovereign.

“As long as you’re safe, Princess!” The young man following the Grandmaster, his face wreathed in smiles, eagerly spoke first.

“Princess, does Spring and Autumn Ancient City truly have Dragon Marrow?” the sovereign asked. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of fragrance, a look of delight appearing on his face.

“Indeed, the legendary Dragon Marrow appeared, and I managed to seize it first,” Princess Yu Die nodded.

Friction often occurred at the border between Chiyang Country and Anping Country. Recently, some saw Dragon Qi rising to the sky and speculated that Dragon Marrow might have been born. This led sovereigns from both countries to rush there immediately.

Yu Die indeed possesses a divine object, and my senses weren’t wrong. Ye Fan was inwardly surprised. Although incomparable to an Undying Divine Medicine, it could extend one’s life by a hundred years, making it an exceptionally rare treasure.

The Central States have many dragon veins. Dragon Marrow, the essence of thousands of veins, is immensely precious yet hard to discover. To sovereigns nearing the end of their lifespan, it was a priceless Immortal Treasure.

Ordinary Dragon Marrow that could prolong life for several years was already considered good. One capable of extending life by a hundred years is exceedingly rare, perhaps unseen for dozens of generations.

“That’s wonderful! Let’s escort the princess back to the Dynasty!” Grandmaster Xiao was thrilled. As a sovereign, he could discern the nature of the divine object merely from its scent, without needing to open the white jade cauldron.

“The princess truly has great fortune!” Nearby, Grandmaster Xiao’s grandson, Xiao Mingyuan, said with a smile. He then casually glanced at Ye Fan and asked, “Is he the princess’s Death Warrior?”

“It’s all thanks to Brother Ye for rescuing me this time; otherwise, I wouldn’t have escaped…” Princess Yu Die explained, briefly recounting the events.

Grandmaster Xiao nodded, glanced at Ye Fan, and said nothing.

“To escape from a sovereign’s grasp, one must be among the peak young experts of this era. Why haven’t I seen you at Qi Shi Mansion, Brother?” Xiao Mingyuan asked.

“I was delayed by some matters and missed the opportunity,” Ye Fan said, shaking his head with a sigh.

“That’s truly a pity,” Xiao Mingyuan replied with a bland smile.

“Uncle Qi fell behind. I wonder how he’s doing now,” Princess Yu Die frowned. Her hair danced lightly, and her skin was snow-white and glossy. On her oval face, her beautiful eyes, brimming with Spiritual Qi, gave her an appearance of fresh, refined elegance.

“He’s capable of protecting himself; nothing will happen,” Grandmaster Xiao said.

“Dragon Marrow capable of extending life by a hundred years can be deemed Divine Grade. Presumably, few in Chiyang Country know of this. Grandfather, will you take action? Rescue Grandfather Qi and eliminate those people completely to prevent any leaks?” Xiao Mingyuan asked, a cold smile touching his lips.

This person’s words… is he implying he wants to silence me too? If so, he’s truly an ungrateful cur. Ye Fan’s heart chilled.

“Sovereigns possess boundless magical power, making them challenging to eliminate completely. However, it’s not a pressing concern. The Dragon Marrow already has an owner, and they won’t try to seize it now,” Grandmaster Xiao said, shaking his head.

Ye Fan wanted to leave, no longer desiring the ancient scriptures, yet Yu Die detained him, saying, “Brother Ye is my life-saving benefactor. How could he leave like this?”

Xiao Mingyuan said nothing, merely casting a light glance at Ye Fan.

“Since the princess invites you, you might as well come along,” Grandmaster Xiao, the sovereign beside them, said. He then used his Qi Mechanism to lock onto Ye Fan, making it difficult for him to retreat. Ye Fan’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.

Anping Country was vast and expansive, its territory stretching for countless miles, far larger than any mortal kingdom.

Traveling south, the mountains and rivers were majestic, the landscape picturesque. On this vast land, all resources belonged to the upper echelons of this Ancient Dynasty, who passed down their supreme arts through the state.

In the Central States, there are Four Immortal Dynasties. These are massive entities that have endured from ancient times to the present, spanning over a hundred thousand years. They have consistently thrived, with none able to challenge them.

Besides these, there are many sects, unparalleled immortal heritages. Some are even more ancient than the Four Divine Dynasties, with profound foundations no less impressive.

At the same time, there are nine ancient countries. Their strength was not comparable to the Four Immortal Dynasties, yet they were still formidable, having been established for seventy to eighty thousand years. Anping and Chiyang countries were among them.

Such a vast territory… Ye Fan was dazed. After traversing the void several times and crossing endless mountains and rivers, he finally arrived at the capital of Anping Country.

This ancient city was imposing and magnificent, sprawling over a vast area like a celestial Divine City. It emanated an ancient, time-worn aura.

The city gates were tall; dozens of ferocious beasts could ride side-by-side without crowding. The walls were mottled and radiated magical power fluctuations. If enemies invaded, the walls could release Divine Light to protect the entire ancient city.

The city was peaceful, without the hustle of a bustling market. It was completely different from the vibrant scene Ye Fan had imagined. Primarily serene and harmonious, one could hardly see any passersby.

“This is…”

Ye Fan was greatly astonished. On the ancient street, auspicious Qi swirled. Many ancient architectural parks featured flowing springs and waterfalls, towering ancient trees, and fragrant spiritual medicines.

This is nothing like an Imperial City tens of thousands of years old. It’s more like an untouched mountain gate. I don’t see any mortals; this place must be a cultivation Sacred Land.

“Are you surprised?” Princess Yu Die smiled faintly and said, “We are cultivators. We established a dynasty to better utilize resources for cultivation, not out of a desire for wealth and luxury.”

Anping Country also has numerous mortal cities, but their Imperial City is not one of them. This was the cultivation place for the upper ruling class.

At the city center, purple Qi shot into the sky, misty and transforming into a dragon shape. This indicated it was where dragon veins converged. Earth Essence Qi flowed freely—an excellent place for cultivation.

“The Central States are quite different from the Eastern Wastelands. There are many underground Ancestor Veins, and many supreme Great Sects build cities to gather and nurture the energy of heaven and earth, transforming these locations into Pure Lands for cultivation,” Yu Die smiled.

This was the first time Ye Fan had heard of such things, and he found it very strange. The Central States were indeed very different from the Eastern Wastelands, where many Great Sects weren’t necessarily hidden deep in the mountains.

By building cities, they nurture divine sites, evolve the Grand Dao of heaven and earth, and channel dragon vein ancestor roots. This can make a Pure Land increasingly rich in Spiritual Qi, eventually transforming it into a Divine Country of cultivation.

In the Central States, the Four Immortal Dynasties are the most prominent. Their Imperial Cities have nearly evolved into Heavenly Capitals, like a Divine Country descended to the mortal world!

“This is an ancient scripture. It explains the natural Grand Dao, but it’s difficult for ordinary people to cultivate…” Princess Yu Die sent over a volume of ancient books.

Clearly, this was not a complete ancient scripture, but merely a handwritten journal. Ye Fan took it and flipped through it carefully, quite speechless.

This scripture recorded the natural Dao, conveying the meaning of worldly detachment and non-contention. It contained no secret arts or mystical arts—it seemed more like a book for cultivating one’s disposition.

However, upon careful contemplation, one could find it extraordinary. It contained the natural Grand Dao and was quite profound, suited for cultivating the mind and nurturing character. If followed completely, it could elevate one’s mental state.

Yet it was too unconventional. Unless one is an immortal detached from worldly affairs, humans all possess emotions and desires. This makes it impossible to cultivate according to this journal, rendering it rather impractical for Ye Fan.

“This ancient scripture…” Ye Fan truly didn’t know what to say.

“Legend says it was written by a Great Emperor in his later years of seclusion, but his descendants failed to grasp its true meaning and thus could not cultivate it,” Princess Yu Die said with a hint of apology.

“If this ancient scripture… if one could actually cultivate it, they could achieve Immortal Ascension,” Ye Fan mumbled.

“The princess personally transcribed this. Ordinary people don’t even get a chance to glimpse it. Don’t underestimate it; even Ancient Saints have borrowed it in the past,” an old guard beside him spoke.

“Did any Ancient Saints manage to cultivate it?” Ye Fan asked.

“No.”

Ye Fan thought for a moment, then decided to put it away. He would just treat it as a journal for growing flowers and planting grass. Perhaps it could be useful someday if he tried to cultivate an Undying Divine Medicine.

“I know I owe you, Young Lord Ye. How about this: I will go fetch a drop of Dragon Marrow to help you recover your Yuan Qi. Furthermore, I will ask my Imperial Father to grant you a Divine Land in the cultivation world. It can accelerate your cultivation speed by one to two times,” Princess Yu Die said, then turned and left.

“There’s such a place?” Ye Fan was surprised.

“By building a city, cultivating heavenly essence and earthly auspiciousness, and imprinting the supreme Dao—after long ages, such a place naturally evolves into a Divine Land for cultivation,” explained the old guard.

The Central States are truly remarkable, inspiring admiration. Ye Fan was astonished.

Shortly after, Xiao Mingyuan appeared, entering this residence nestled amidst mountains and flowing Spiritual Springs. After learning of the situation, a peculiar look crossed his face. He said, “Could it be the ‘Purple Dragon Platform,’ or perhaps ‘Fire Phoenix Ridge’? Both are Sacred Lands for cultivation.”

When Xiao Mingyuan learned that Princess Yu Die also wanted to give Ye Fan a drop of Dragon Marrow, his expression faltered for a moment. Then, he smiled and said, “Those two Divine Lands likely already have owners. I’ll help you look. Anping Country has a territory of a million li; with such vast lands, we can surely find one or two Holy Lands for you.”

Not long after, Ye Fan received news that the old Emperor of Anping Country planned to grant him a fiefdom, intending for him to become a local lord. This made him unsure whether to laugh or cry.

What use is land to me? he grumbled to himself, planning to leave then and there.

“Congratulations. That is the place where a Great Emperor built a hermitage in his later years and likely passed away in meditation there,” Xiao Mingyuan said, appearing to deliver this news.

Ye Fan had been about to leave, but his heart lurched at the news. A Great Emperor’s final hermitage… I must go take a look. This was truly astounding information; he definitely had to go.

“It’s close to Qi Shi Mansion. If you become the lord there, the princess and I can visit you frequently. We both cultivate at Qi Shi Mansion,” Xiao Mingyuan said, patting Ye Fan’s shoulder.

Xiao Mingyuan left. Ye Fan glanced at his retreating figure and asked the old guard beside him, “Is that place very special?”

“Well…” The old guard hesitated. Only after Xiao Mingyuan had disappeared did he say, “For countless ages, no one knows how many lords assigned there have died inexplicable deaths.”

“What?!” Ye Fan was greatly shocked, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He pondered for a long time before saying, I must see what’s so peculiar about that place.

“Young man, I advise you not to go. Those past lords, much like you, didn’t believe in ill omens. They hoped to obtain the ancient Great Emperor’s secret treasures, but all ended up losing their lives.”

Ye Fan learned this was a fief of the Xiao Family, now carved out. It doesn’t take much to guess what’s going on.

I have no enmity with Xiao Mingyuan; why would he want to harm me? Could it be because of Princess Yu Die, the third most beautiful woman in the Central States?

“Is it close to Qi Shi Mansion?” Ye Fan asked.

“Not far,” the old guard nodded. He hinted that with geniuses from all Five Domains currently gathered, that area would undoubtedly be chaotic. He advised Ye Fan not to go seeking hardship.