Shrouding the Heavens - Chapter 169

Chapter 169 Secret Stowaway

Outside the Flame Region were over a hundred knights guarding Ji Ziyue. Ye Fan presumed that Hua Yunfei definitely wouldn’t attack rashly in case of overlooking something.

Ji Ziyue was quietly standing in front of the mound. She looked just like a heavenly fairy descended to this world, the wispy clouds that veiled the moon, the gentle breeze that caused jade flowers to flutter.

As the gentle wind blew, the first level’s scarlet flames began to blaze.

At this moment, the small but incredibly deep golden lake between Ye Fan’s eyebrows sent out divine sense that condensed into a strand, transmitting to her, “The hemp-clothed man that chased you back in the day was taking orders from Hua Yunfei.”

After completing this divine sense transmission, Ye Fan rushed back into the Flame Region. He knew that as long as Ji Ziyue was warned, Hua Yunfei would have difficulty getting anything past her.

He went all the way to the seventh level of the Flame Region and sucked in a bunch of the five-colored mist flames into his cauldron. The powerful flame was like a river as it streamed into this cauldron.

Since he was about to leave, he wanted to prepare a couple life-saving measures. He wasn’t using the flame to refine his cauldron, but simply absorbing it inside. It wouldn’t bring him any problems while in his Wheel and Sea.

When the cauldron was completely full without the slightest space left, the Origin Qi sealed the cauldron and Ye Fan placed it back into his body.

He left the Flame Region. He glanced back at it profoundly before flying north.

---

Several days later, Ye Fan heard a piece of news that pleasantly surprised him.

The current northern region was filled with turmoil due to Sources. Many of the southern region’s cultivators all wanted to test their luck.

The Flickering Light Sacred Land and the Ji Family had sent many experts half a year ago to the northern region. They were towering and unfathomable existences within this world. They opened Domain Gates and directly sent them to the northern region.

But for the various scattered cultivators, it was much more troublesome. To go the northern region required at least several years of flying. The majority of people wanted to use his previous ideas, such as paying a price in order to borrow someone else’s Domain Gate.

Half a month later, Ye Fan arrived at the Unfettered Sect. Legends said that this was where two dragon veins[1] converged. There were many mountains peaks that resembled dragon bones, continuously undulating up and down. Many marvelous plants and trees grew along it, appearing majestic and beautiful. 

In this area, this sect was only second to powers like the supreme Sacred Lands. It was on the same level as the Taixuan Sect. In its current golden age, experts were as numerous as the clouds within its walls.

Ye Fan had come here to smuggle himself. According to what he had learned, as long as he paid a considerable price, he would be able to borrow their Domain Gate to cross the void.

---

Outside the mountain gate over a thousand people were waiting.

“Little brother, you’re so young, but even you want to go to the northern region to test your luck?” asked a large bearded man.

“Yes. Just going to compete a bit.” 

“The distant northern region is very dangerous. You shouldn’t take such a risk while so young,” advised a thin, dried-up old man.

Amongst these thousand people were men and women whose cultivation bases could not clearly be seen through. Their power levels varied greatly.

The mountain gate was opened and a couple cultivators walked out. A middle-aged men was at the head of the group. His complexion was yellow and his gait swayed.

“Everyone, you guys are truly lucky. This is the last time. The Sect Leader was very unhappy when he left seclusion and learned of all this.”

People began to talk and many people rejoiced.

People squeezed forward. Without the yellow-faced man having to say anything, they each presented precious items. It was impossible to traverse the void without paying a large price.

“A weapon from a Spring of Life cultivator? You brought something like that out?” The yellow-faced man gazed through these offerings disdainfully and immediately rejected the first cultivator.

“Please accommodate me, senior,” that cultivator begged repeatedly, “This is a weapon I refined for over ten years. It’s my most precious item.”

“Even if you refined it for a hundred years it wouldn’t be any good. Even a weapon refined by a Paramita realm cultivator might not be accepted if it were too ordinary.” The yellow-faced man looked down on him contemptuously.

This cultivator was very unwilling, but he didn’t dare say anymore. He sullenly drew back.

The second cultivator presented a copper mirror that was overflowing with an ancient feeling. However, it had some defects, with three cracks visible.

“We don’t accept defective goods!”

“But this is a weapon refined from a peak Dao Palace cultivator! It’s might is definitely great.” that cultivator carefully explained.

“No matter how great the weapon, with fatal cracks like this, it would still be trash and is useless. Even if it was nourished for a hundred years, it still wouldn’t be able to recover.” The yellow-faced man impatiently waved his hand to get him to leave.

“A Scarlet Moon Fruit!” The third cultivator walked up carrying a jade case which he opened to reveal a bright red fruit shaped in the size of a crescent moon The fruit sparkled brightly and its fragrance assaulted the nose.

The yellow-faced man’s eyes finally revealed a trace of greed. Slamming the case shut, he declared, “A rare spiritual fruit is acceptable.”

“A piece of Pure Purple Copper Essence!” 

After people were repeatedly rejected, the ninth person offered a piece of purple copper with specks of light shining on it.

“It really is Pure Purple Copper Essence. Elders who cultivate to the third secret realm are in great demand for this refining material. You can pass.” The yellow-faced man’s eyes turned fiery, reluctantly handing the purple copper over to the people beside him, allowing that cultivator to pass through.

In order to borrow this place’s power, it required a great payment. The majority of people were unable to pass with the treasures or spiritual medicines they offered.

“They aren’t even able to bring us all the way to the northern region, yet they actually ask for suck a huge price!” The people who weren’t able to pass were very dissatisfied as they raged impotently to the sides.

Other than the Sacred Lands, there was no single sect that could directly pass through all the way to the northern region. Despite this, there were many free cultivators who gathered here.

When it came to Ye Fan’s turn, he took out a jade-like piece of divine iron only the size of a dragon eye, which immediately caused the yellow-faced man to jump in shock. His eyes were filled with greed, and his voice trembled as he said, “This… is… legendary divine iron?”

The small white jade-like piece of iron attracted many people’s gazes. The yellow-faced man repeatedly turned it around in his hands, in the end sucking in a cold gasp of air and said, “Unfortunately it’s been refined into trash. Its divine essence has already scattered. What an absolute waste of a heavenly treasure!”

“Senior, is this piece of iron enough?” asked Ye Fan.

This divine iron had failed to be refined by Daoist Crow. Although he hadn’t personally entered the eighth level, he had used his cauldron and used a tremendous amount of effort to collect those snow white pieces of iron.

After carefully studying it, he felt that it had truly been ruined, the essence inside having almost been completely used it and it was unable to count as a truly peak treasure.

“Did you use divine iron like this?” asked the yellow-faced man.

Ye Fan shook his head and said, “How could I possibly have used such divine iron? I just managed to accidentally run into it inside an ancient cave.”

The yellow-faced man felt it was an extreme pity. He grumbled and said, “Although it has been ruined, it’s still precious. When elders refine items, if they were to add it, it should be able to increase its quality. You can pass.”

An hour later, they finally finished. Of the over a thousand cultivators who had come here, only four hundred were left, each of them paying a huge price.

“Three days later, come here. Don’t be late.” The yellow-faced man had them leave behind their traces and then went back up the mountain.

Traversing the void wasn’t a relaxed matter. The Dao Glyphs had to be carefully carved without the slightest flaw, otherwise all sorts of accidents might occur. With this many free cultivators coming here, the Unfettered Sect didn’t dare drop their guard. They always spent several days preparing for each transportation.

------

“Elder brother Huang, I trust everything’s well.” A couple figures descended from the sky.

That yellow-faced man’s surname was Huang. It fit well with the color of his face[2].Hearing this, he turn around and smiled. “So, it’s the Ji Family’s genius. Have you come to look it over?”

“Ha, we’re not geniuses. We’re basically just errand boys,” said one of the young men. “We simply have orders to do so.”

The yellow-faced man was full of smiles and very courteous. “The people who are traversing the void this time are all here. There’s definitely no Greater Demons. If you don’t believe it, please check yourself.”

In these few months, the Ji Family had swept through the southern region, their anger soaring killing dozens of Greater Demons to vent their anger as they were unable to kill the Peacock King or Daoist Crow.

“Brother Huang wouldn’t make any mistakes. We’re just going to take a random stroll around.” Even the Ji Family wouldn’t wish to offend a powerful existence like the Unfettered Sect.

These young men of the Ji Family went through the hundreds of people. Since they didn’t find any Demonic Qi, they waved them through.

Ye Fan had already been wound up for a battle, but seeing this, he relaxed slightly.

Soon after, everyone scattered. Ye Fan didn’t leave quickly in order to avoid crossing paths with any of the Ji Family’s men.

“Please wait, little friend.” After just leaving a couple kilometers, a voice came from behind. He saw the yellow-faced man artificially smiling and following behind him.

“Does senior want something?” Ye Fan calmly asked.

“Does little friend really have no more of that those white iron pieces?” The yellow-faced man was staring closely at him.

“I only found a single piece within an ancient cave.”

“I guess that makes sense. With your cultivation base, there’s no way for you to obtain such a rare material.” The yellow-faced man nodded and said, “Bring me to check out that ancient cave.”

Ye Fan immediately frowned. “That ancient cave is too far. We wouldn’t be able to reach it even with several days’ flying. This junior is unable to do as requested.”

The yellow-faced man’s expression immediately darkened. “I just want you to show me the way. Do you not want to go to the northern region?”

This was a truly nasty person who didn’t bother covering his threats at all.

“We’re crossing the void in just three days. If I brought senior, I would miss this chance.” Ye Fan calmly replied.

“If you bring me there, you’ll at least have a chance in the future.”

Contempt arose in Ye Fan’s heart. It was obvious this was his last chance. This bastard really was shameless.

Seeing Ye Fan not say anything, the yellow-faced man became even more sinister, saying, “That piece of divine iron is very important to me. You had better bring me where you got it right now.”

“I can’t help you.” Ye Fan refused him.

“Looks like you won’t help until I force you! Don’t force my hand!”

Ye Fan was continuously masking his divine sense fluctuations, keeping his appearance at merely the Spring of Life realm. He sensed that his opponent was at the peak of the Paramita realm, so he nodded and said, “Fine, I’ll bring you.” He then flew forward.

The yellow-faced man hid her sinister killing intent and nodded in satisfaction. With a fake smile, he said, “Good. I won’t treat you unfairly”

Seeing that there was no one around, Ye Fan flew a dozen kilometers before coming to halt in the sky.

“Why have you stopped?” The yellow-faced man once more revealed his killing intent.

“I’m sending you on your way!” 

His superficial Great Void Handprint appeared, the huge black hand covering the entire sky as it descended.

The yellow-faced man was sent smashing out of the sky without even the chance to shout. Ye Fan didn’t want to be entangled with such a nasty person, so he wanted to finish him in just one blow.

In the distant horizon, several people’s expressions simultaneously changed. These were the disciples of the Ji Family.

“Fluctuations of the Great Void Handprint!”

“No, it’s not the true Great Void Handprint! The power is chaotic!”

------

Three days later, Ye Fan once more returned to the Unfettered Sect, joining the group of several hundred people.

Two dragon veins flowed together here. Marvelous mountain peaks rose majestically, at the same time not lacking any spirituality.

These several hundred people were led into a valley. The terrain here was very wide, with a large platform built inside it where the Domain Gate would be opened.

“Everyone, safe travels!” said an Elder of the Unfettered Sect. 

The group got on top of the platform as the Domain Gate was about to be opened.

Ye Fan let out a sigh. He was finally leaving the southern region and escaping his troubles.

“Wait!” Just at this moment, a shout came from outside the Unfettered Sect as dozens of people quickly flew over.

The Domain Gate wasn’t opened, and those people quickly arrived.

These people were mostly seniors who possessed hearty vitality as vast as an ocean. These were definitely not ordinary experts.

Several of the Unfettered Sect’s Elders all flew over there.

“Please forgive me everyone.” These people were very polite and not arrogant. They all cupped their fists in respect, especially apologizing over and over to the Unfettered Sect’s Elders.

Ye Fan’s face immediately turned green. The Ji Family’s people had come. There were now over twenty seniors here, and he even saw a familiar person – Ji Hui.

Of course, the most alarming thing to Ye Fan was the central senior. He was as empty as an abyss, as deep as an ocean, completely immeasurable.

“Is this a powerful figure?” Ye Fan felt that something major was about to go wrong.

“Are you senior Ji Changkong?” One of the Unfettered Sect’s elders walked up and revealed a puzzled expression as he stared at that central old man.

“Yes.”

The Unfettered Sect’s people all revealed shocked expressions. One of them said, “I’ve heard of senior Ji Changkong. He disappeared into seclusion for dozens of years. I didn’t expect he’d reappear again and grace us with his presence. I’ll report this to the Sect Leader.”

“No need. We’ll be immediately leaving.” One of the old men once more apologized and then explained what was going on.

The Ji Family had found the tracks of Daoist Crow, and not only had the Ji Family Sacred Master personally come out, they even sent out six Grand Elders to exterminate the old Daoist.

Ji Changkong was one of those Grand Elders. They had been passing through this place when they heard a report that a cultivator had used an imitation of the Great Void Handprint.

This raised the Ji Family’s bad premonitions. They had always been suspicious about whether Ye Fan had transmitted the Great Void Art to the Peacock King’s demon clan’s cultivators.

So once they received the news, they temporarily paused their mission and came over for a look. When they noticed the Unfettered Sect was opening their Domain Gate, they immediately thought of many possibilities and quickly hurried over.

“We just want to take a look. We’ll leave immediately after.” The Ji Family Grand Elder’s gaze was like lightning as he personally looked through everyone.

Ye Fan sighed bitterly. How could he escape from within the Unfettered Sect? All directions had been blocked. And with the Ji Family’s people at the mountain gate in front, his heart had turned completely cold.

The old Ji Hui was also sweeping her gaze over many cultivators. When she saw Ye Fan, she immediately cried out in shock, “You… how is this possible?!”

“You damn old crone, your gaze is quite vicious.” Ye Fan helplessly walked out. There was no way for him to escape anymore. He was trapped within the Unfettered Sect.

[1] Dragon veins are a Daoist term for energy lines that connect the heavens to the earth, like ley lines. 

[2] Huang=yellow.