Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 587: Chapter 591 Grand Emperor

The ancient coffin lay there horizontally. A tender branch, more than half a meter long, grew from it—an indescribably eerie sight, considering the coffin had existed for millions of years yet still held vitality.

Chaos Fog Silk spiraled around it, and immortal mist flowed. The coffin remained motionless. On its sidewalls were some blurry marks, causing many people to turn pale on the spot.

SWISH.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the people of the Great Xia Dynasty, each one shaken to the core, filled with an inexplicable shock, for it was the symbol of their clan!

“It’s… the Grand Emperor from before the Ancient Desolation!” someone stammered out this name.

People were in awe. It was no wonder that when those ancient characters were found on the ice, ripples of emotion had appeared on the faces of the Great Xia Royal Family; their so-called later Great Emperor was, after all, their ancestor.

“No wonder I felt those inscriptions looked familiar. I’ve seen them in the Grand Emperor Hall of Great Xia!” someone exclaimed with sudden realization.

The Great Xia Dynasty, one of the Four Immortal Divine Dynasties of the Central States, was among the oldest and most terrifying top-tier powers, its founder an Emperor of the human race.

The Grand Emperor Hall was the dwelling left by that ancient Great Emperor. Although he was long gone, his descendants and certain Sect Hierarchs still had the chance to pay their respects.

Though the markings on the coffin were unclear, one could make out a fuzzy humanoid figure with a dragon for its spine!

Unique in all the world, only the founder of Great Xia bore this as his mark, which later descendants adopted as the symbol of the Immortal Divine Dynasty.

“Why is the Grand Emperor here?!” Everyone was shocked, simultaneously looking at the people of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Throughout history, there had been few Great Emperors. For a Great Emperor of the human race, in his later years, not to reunite with his kin but to come to this place alone, borrowing a coffin from a god and entombing himself here…

This affair felt sinister, exuding an indescribable eeriness. Why had he done so?

“The Grand Emperor… the mystery of his life and death, unknown to anyone, so confounding… and yet, he’s here!”

Some stared at the members of the Great Xia Royal Family, who trembled noticeably at the mention of the Grand Emperor’s name—a title that inspired awe despite the endless eons that had passed since his departure.

“Our ancestor… According to records, he left alone in his later years. No one knew where he went. We never imagined he came here,” the Great Xia Emperor sighed softly.

Everyone felt a little dizzy. An ancient Great Emperor had personally founded an Immortal Divine Dynasty, ruling over a domain stretching thousands of miles, invincible throughout Heaven and Earth—one of the strongest in history! Yet he couldn’t even find a burial site? Was he actually fighting over a coffin with a deceased person?

However, people eventually understood. This was a coffin carved from the Undying Tree, associated with legends of immortality, unattainable by any save for divine spirits.

The Grand Emperor had seized a god’s burial site, usurping its rightful occupant. This deduction, once voiced, sent shockwaves through the crowd!

Not only the coffin itself but also this place had to hold great significance. Otherwise, why would a Great Emperor of the human race do such a thing? There had to be some profound mystery involving the theft of creation itself.

“Ancestor, your unworthy descendants have come to take you home! We respectfully welcome you home!” an old royal uncle choked out, wiping tears with his Purple Gold Dragon Robe.

After the initial shock, people suddenly sensed something was amiss. What did the old royal uncle mean by that? Did they intend to claim everything for themselves?

This was a coffin left by an ancient god. If they all intended to move it, that would be impossible!

Everyone’s expression shifted. Not only was the corpse of a Great Emperor an invaluable Supreme Immortal Treasure that could be refined into an Extreme Dao Holy Weapon, but the coffin itself, carved from the Undying Tree, was also exceptionally rare. The Enlightenment Wood was a treasure that cultivators dreamed of possessing.

“This is the ancestor of Great Xia. Fellow Daoists, surely you wouldn’t make things difficult for us?” the Great Xia Emperor, majestic and imposing in his Nine Dragon Crown, asked in a deep voice.

No one replied. Ethically, their taking away their ancestor’s remains was perfectly justifiable and could not be prevented.

However, this corpse was far from ordinary. It was priceless Immortal Material that could be refined into a world-shattering Emperor’s Weapon. No one could remain unmoved by such a prospect.

The atmosphere grew somewhat tense; no one spoke. Those gathered here were all figures at the Heroic Lord Level, capable of looking down upon the world. Not to mention the great figures from various schools of thought, even the other three Divine Dynasties of the Central States could rival Great Xia.

Furthermore, there were also Demon Lords from the Southern Mountains, War Lords, and Divine Monks from the Western Desert—each representing a power with a terrifying background!

“In days past, when the Grand Emperor walked the Mortal World, unmatched and solitary through the ages—what magnificence that must have been! We all wish to glimpse his honored face.”

“Indeed. Lamenting the eons, how many Great Emperors has history seen? We have never had the fortune to behold one. Today, if we are fortunate enough to glimpse the Grand Emperor’s true visage, it would be worth dying for.”

Someone broke the deadlock, and others quickly chimed in, putting the people of the Great Xia Dynasty in a difficult position. They knew that if the corpse within the coffin were exposed to light, a bloody battle would inevitably ensue.

“The ancestor’s remains shall not be desecrated!” the old royal uncle of Great Xia, his white eyebrows trembling, shouted sternly.

“Indeed! Our ancestor was a noble Great Emperor of the human race. How can we open the coffin and disturb his peace!” The Great Xia Emperor’s black hair whipped about, his eyes flashing like lightning.

A Sect Hierarch countered, “That statement is erroneous. We wish to behold the supreme bearing of an ancient Great Emperor, to worship with hearts full of sincerity and reverence. How can that be termed desecration?”

The atmosphere in the area grew somewhat tense again, with a slight indication of an impending storm. The remains of a Great Emperor were enough to cause a bloody massacre, where millions of corpses would pile up.

However, no one dared to be the first to open the coffin. They were not only wary of the others present but also harbored a deep fear of this deceased Great Emperor, for he had left behind too many legends.

The Grand Emperor, a figure who shook the past and illuminated the present, had authored the Grand Emperor Scripture, an invincible set of ancient scriptures! Among its offensive chapters, the Emperor’s Dragon Qi was peerless in the Central States, vaguely recognized as the foremost power of its age.

It is said that in terms of offensive power, the only thing that could contend with it was the ‘Dou’ Character Art from the nine secret arts. Unfortunately, it appeared only sporadically and its lineage was almost severed.

The Grand Emperor was a legend. Walking the Mortal World, he was comparable to a god. Some said he was capable of Reverse Immortal Slaying, an extraordinary, peerless figure.

Back then, his Attack Power made the entire world tremble; he was peerless. When the Emperor’s Dragon Qi was unleashed, no one in Heaven or on Earth could contend with him.

The Grand Emperor, who had looked down upon the world, left an indelible, glorious mark on the ancient history of the human race!

Although he was dead, people worried he might have left some contingency. They feared that opening the coffin might trigger a devastating catastrophe—this was not an impossibility.

The people of the Great Xia Dynasty frowned. They realized that taking away the entire Divine Spirit Coffin would be challenging, as the Sect Hierarchs from across the world would not agree.

“Very well. We will open the coffin. We of Great Xia will only take our ancestor’s remains. The coffin will be left to all of you,” the Great Xia Emperor stated bluntly.

A commotion arose at the scene. Even the Peak sovereigns couldn’t remain calm. After the coffin was opened, a bloody battle might erupt, so everyone stepped back a few paces.

“The Grand Emperor is revered by all races, past and present. His honored face is not something just anyone can behold. Irrelevant individuals should depart now, lest they desecrate the Great Emperor,” Wang Yangzhan, the old Sect Hierarch of the Yin Yang Sect, spoke.

Some nodded in agreement, understanding his meaning. This was a move to clear the field. Any item left by the Great Emperor in the ancient coffin was an Immortal Treasure, and there were too many people present for an equitable distribution.

Now, by driving some people away, only the greatest powers at the Peak would remain to discuss the allocation and ownership of the Immortal Treasures.

Grandmaster Xiao’s group stood with the Yin Yang Sect. Xiao Yunsheng, with a sinister, almost-smile, stared at Ye Fan and his companions, saying, “Leave early, and you might live half a day longer.”

“What do you mean?” Ye Fan stared at him nonchalantly.

Xiao Yunsheng, quite at ease, stared at Ye Fan’s group with a hint of contempt. Then, he nonchalantly said, “Everyone present knows each other’s backgrounds; only your origins are unclear. I think it’s necessary to first drive away these people who cannot bear the light of day and are unfit for such a stage.”

When such a sovereign spoke, some immediately nodded in agreement, believing it necessary to ask certain people to leave.

Daoist Duan De, Dongfang Ye, and several others were enraged. The old blind man also snorted twice, the whites of his eyes rolling dramatically.

Xiao Yunsheng said indifferently, “All here are sovereigns, people of great status. You few ants should hurry and leave.” Even cultivators who were half-step sovereigns had halted below the ten-thousand-zhang-high platform; not a single one had followed them up, making Ye Fan, a cultivator from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm, stand out markedly.

Ye Fan extended a finger, showing not a shred of reverence for the sovereign. Pointing at Xiao Yunsheng’s nose, he said, “And who do you think you are?”

Murderous intent flashed in Xiao Yunsheng’s eyes. He was eager to slap Ye Fan to death, but here, divine energy was suppressed, and its flow was not smooth. He said coldly, “This place is filled with Sect Leader Level figures. There’s no place for you all. Scram! We need to discuss matters here!”

“And what kind of scallion are you?!” Ye Fan sneered.

Xiao Yunsheng’s face darkened. “Little wretch, you’re courting death. Fellow Daoists, how about we ‘invite’ them to leave? That bowl of theirs is quite something.”

He incited the crowd again, targeting Daoist Duan De’s bowl. If it were taken here, Ye Fan and his companions would be obliterated in form and spirit.

Some had long seen the extraordinary nature of this bowl. For a moment, many were swayed and began pressing forward.

“Let me see just how formidable this ‘scallion’ can be!” No one had expected Ye Fan to suddenly make a move, proactively launching an attack against a sovereign.

BUZZ!

He swung a large palm directly toward Xiao Yunsheng’s cheek. The astral wind it generated was like thunder, and the void twisted.

Everyone was stunned. This young man was too rash, daring to slap a sovereign in such a disrespectful manner. It was a complete humiliation, truly shocking.

After all, he was merely a cultivator in the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm. To attack a sovereign like this was an act of blatant contempt.

Xiao Yunsheng’s expression changed dramatically. In all his years of roaming the world, no one had ever dared to approach and slap him across the face!

He retreated, his hands weaving movements. Despite his divine energy being sealed and its flow restricted, an ocean-like enormous Qi still surged, weaving a tapestry of Law before him like a five-colored rain of light—the embodiment of his Daoist Practice.

BOOM!

Ye Fan’s palm struck the screen of Law. The ten-thousand-zhang-high platform trembled, and both of them retreated several steps.

What is the origin of this child? To withstand a sovereign’s ocean-like power of the Dao with pure physical strength—the younger generation is truly formidable!

Those present were all Heroic Lords. After the initial shock, they didn’t show much more reaction, only able to discuss it thusly.

“A mere scallion like you thinks you can ask me to leave? I’ll fight you with one hand!” Ye Fan beckoned to Xiao Yunsheng, mercilessly taunting him, daring him to attack.

“You little bastard!” Xiao Yunsheng’s face turned ashen. All present were Peak sovereigns. To be demeaned and humiliated like this in front of everyone by a mere nobody from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm—how could he bear it?

BOOM!

Even though his divine energy was not flowing smoothly, he forcibly amplified it. Mystic Light surged before him like a raging river, Laws intertwining. A forbidden item appeared above his head as he struck with killing intent!

“Fatty, charge with me!” Ye Fan tugged Daoist Duan De, having him help provide protection. He elevated his Combat Power to its current absolute peak.

BOOM!

Ye Fan struck, like a human-shaped Wild Dragon. With every move of his limbs, the void collapsed. His hands shot out, as if uprooting mountains and cleaving peaks, utterly unstoppable.

He had endured until now, finally finding such an opportunity, and naturally would not let it pass. His finger seemed to pierce the sky dome as it cleaved down.

RUMBLE!

The light screen before Xiao Yunsheng cracked, Laws crumbling continually! After all, his divine energy was sealed. Though it could circulate, it was nowhere near comparable to his usual overwhelming magical power.

BANG!

He was instantly sent flying, unable to withstand Ye Fan, who was like a ferocious beast. The impact was immensely powerful and terrifying.

“Fatty, follow up!” Ye Fan shouted, urging Daoist Duan De to continue providing protection. He formed seals with his hands and struck forward.

Mountain Embracing Seal!

He seemed to embrace a great mountain in his arms, then pushed it outwards. His Palm Fingers were as black as ink, and an ancient Demon Mountain pressed down.

BANG!

Xiao Yunsheng’s complexion changed. Forced to counterattack, his right hand wove Laws to block, but his Divine Light was far from its usual intensity and was instantly breached.

Ye Fan, using his hand as the mountain seal, punched clean through, striking Xiao Yunsheng’s palm. Blood spattered forth immediately.

“Ah…” Xiao Yunsheng cried out and retreated quickly, his right hand thoroughly mangled, bones broken and tendons torn.

Ye Fan pursued like a phantom. The black mountain seal formed by his right hand, its power unspent, continued its assault, fiercely striking downwards.

SPLAT!

Blood burst out. Xiao Yunsheng’s right forearm was smashed to a pulp, bone fragments and mangled flesh splattering everywhere, shocking everyone present.

What kind of physique was this? Even a sovereign’s body couldn’t withstand it. In close combat, he had immediately suffered such a devastating loss!

Just then, Ye Fan activated the Heavenly Court Secret Technique from the Ancient Divine Dynasty, Heavenly Court. He unleashed a bizarre palm strike that was impossible to defend against and difficult to evade.

SLAP!

Xiao Yunsheng took the hit squarely. His jawbone was cracked by the slap, and a long spray of blood flew out diagonally.

Everyone was aghast. A sovereign had actually been slapped across the face by a mere cultivator from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm!

This was simply incredible, like a lion being tripped by an ant—utterly unrealistic and defying all common sense!

However, it had truly happened before their very eyes. This prominent member of the Xiao Family had suffered grievously; his jaw was almost shattered.

No one was not dumbfounded. This was so far beyond anyone’s expectations that it left them speechless.

“Bastard!” Xiao Yunsheng felt like his lungs were about to explode. His jawbone was cracked, making speech laborious; his words were muffled and indistinct, as if his mouth were full of salted duck eggs.

“Wretch!” Ye Fan’s expression was cold as he rapidly closed in. Daoist Duan De cooperated perfectly, holding the broken bowl steady as he advanced, protecting Ye Fan.

SLAP!

Ye Fan delivered another backhand slap. It was still the Heavenly Court Secret Technique—bizarre and unpreventable, as if it had abruptly cleaved down from Outer Heaven.

Xiao Yunsheng was stunned. He had actually been hit by a second slap—solid, crisp, and loud!

Blood spurted from the corner of his mouth, flying more than two meters. Half of his face was nearly slapped off, almost completely deformed.

“Ah…” At this moment, Xiao Yunsheng nearly went mad. A dignified, prominent figure of the Xiao Family, subjected to such humiliation.

“You scallion!” Ye Fan closed in once more, uttering these two words.