Chapter 1246: 群狼猎龙

Shielding the Heavens Chapter 1246: A Pack of Wolves Hunting a Dragon

The mysterious ancient island recounted the vicissitudes of ages. Time flowed like water, and years, like knives, carved mottled ancient marks upon it.

In the cold universe, starlight scattered as over 430 trial participants descended with the Grand Commander of Humanity's First City, arriving at the giant island's edge.

“The trial grounds are about to open,” the Grand Commander announced. “Your path to proving yourself begins now. Whether a magnificent emperor, astonishing through the ages, will emerge, we shall wait and see!”

Beneath him, the enormous celestial wolf, with cold light gleaming in its eyes, gazed at Saintfall Island—the first checkpoint on the Ancient Starry Sky Road—as if sensing something.

“Awooo…” A massive roar echoed, a mental tremor, wild and powerful as the sea, surging like a tide. It emanated from the island’s desolate mountains, clearly indicating the presence of an unparalleled savage beast.

Many people’s expressions changed. This island might harbor sacred beasts, making their presence here not merely about comprehending the Great Dao. A single misstep could turn them into food for the fierce creatures.

Saintfall Island was vast enough for the Grand Commander to explain that its exterior was divided into forty-nine regions. Including the central forbidden zone, there were fifty regions in total.

The Grand Commander warned, “The central forbidden zone is a death trap. For most of you, the beings there are unparalleled and invincible. If you wish to live long, do not challenge those beyond your level.”

The forty-nine regions were separated by mysterious, difficult-to-break barriers. Once a region was chosen and entered, it would be hard to cross into another. Breaking the barrier would result in a seal imposing one million jin of shackles.

Everyone listened quietly. This restriction was likely set up to protect the numerous cultivators, preventing them from engaging in mutual slaughter, implying that cross-region battles were forbidden.

“With one million jin of shackles on one's body, encountering a powerful individual of the same cultivation level would undoubtedly lead to death. This mandatory measure is highly effective.”

In fact, many might not even be able to bear the seal of one million jin; their physical bodies could be directly crushed, turning into fragmented bones and bloody pulp.

Most people remained still, choosing to observe, fearing that several powerful competitors might follow them and conspire to eliminate them.

This was not impossible; in recent days, some had formed alliances, creating formidable small teams whose collective strength far surpassed individual combat power.

All were individuals embarking on the Ancient Starry Sky Road, all were dominant figures in their respective regions. Who could be significantly weaker than whom? Of course, those from exceptionally ancient star fields were exceptions.

With a flash of light and shadow, the Brocade-Clad Young Master moved. He hailed from the Human King Ancient Star Field, named Tuoba Yu. His cultivation was profound, and no one had yet discerned his true strength. He headed directly for the entrance of the Fifth Region.

At the same time, Koutou Tuo, the Ascetic Monk from the Amitābha Ancient Star Field, also moved. Chanting Buddhist scriptures, he dashed into the Fifteenth Region and disappeared in a flash.

It was impossible for these two to encounter each other. Crossing one region would incur one million jin of shackles, crossing two would incur two million jin, and so on. As they were ten regions apart, one party would inevitably suffer a massive disadvantage if they wished to meet.

The crisp, melodious sound of bells rang out. A woman with a graceful figure, snow-white arms, long, slender legs, smooth and lustrous dark hair, and skin as translucent as jade emerged from the crowd. She had a sweet appearance and large eyes.

Gleaming bells adorned her wrists and ankles, jingling with a clear, pleasant sound that harmonized with her fair, delicate beauty.

With bright eyes and pearly teeth, her smile could captivate a city. She moved with graceful lotus steps, a confident smile playing on her lips, and entered the Fourth Region's entrance, her figure vanishing.

Everyone's heart skipped a beat. This exceptionally beautiful and sweet-looking girl was entering a region immediately adjacent to that of Tuoba Yu, the Brocade-Clad Young Master from the Human King Ancient Star Field. Did she intend to cross regions?

“Her name is Yu Xian, and she hails from the Feathered Ancient Star Field. Her strength is unknown; no one has seen her fight yet,” someone whispered, revealing her origin. This stirred something in Ye Fan’s heart: was there any connection between the ancient Feathered Star Field and the Feathered Divine Dynasty?

Silently, a tall figure emerged from the crowd. He no longer seemed young; crow's feet had appeared at the corners of his eyes, and his hair was streaked with white.

Though no longer young, he showed no signs of aging. Instead, he appeared incredibly martial and powerful, striding with the might of a dragon and a tiger, his gaze like knives, intimidating like a demon god.

Boom! With a single step, heaven and earth resonated, all paths trembled, and true dragons and immortal phoenixes materialized. It was as if three thousand demon gods were chanting scriptures, emanating an overwhelming demonic might.

This man was tall, with temples streaked with white. His eyes were deep, and he exuded an aura of unparalleled dominance, like a demon lord on a journey.

He entered the ancient path of the Forty-Ninth Region and, with a flick of his hand, conjured a seal to block the ancient path, forbidding others from entering.

People exchanged glances. This demonic figure was extremely domineering, clearly unwilling to share his chosen region with anyone!

“He cultivates supreme demonic arts. In fact, he’s only a little over a hundred years old, which is quite 'young' at this level of cultivation. Yet, his appearance is so weathered, clearly indicating countless trials of death he has endured.”

“This person is Ou Ye Mo. Only his name is known; his star field of origin is not. No need to speculate, he is certainly terrifying!”

The fifth to move was a woman, as radiant as the bright moon, as sacred as a deity, like an immortal reborn. She wasn't superlatively beautiful, but she possessed an ethereal, other-worldly aura.

She was aloof. Although her body was enveloped by a divine halo like a moon disk, she seemed to be detached from the mortal world, forbidding others to approach, keeping them at arm's length.

With skin of ice and bones of jade, though not devastatingly beautiful, her cold purity and unique aura made her the undeniable focus of everyone's attention, like the Moon Goddess Chang'e standing alone in a crystal palace.

Moonlight, like water, swirled around her body as she entered the ancient path of the First Region and flew directly in.

Everyone's expression shifted. She had boldly chosen the First Region directly, without hesitation, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

“What does entering the First Region signify? Does she possess supreme power, unmatched among these four hundred-plus individuals?”

“Although the numbering of the forty-nine regions doesn’t truly signify anything, most people still avoid the First Region. She truly is confident.”

Many people were surprised.

The path to becoming an emperor is strewn with bones. The struggle among supreme talents is naturally cruel, but it's not necessary to contend in every single matter. Constantly fighting doesn't signify unparalleled dominance; understanding when to make choices and give up is also essential.

“Her name is Mu Guanghan. It’s rumored she comes from a very ancient star field, but her exact origin is currently unknown.”

Next, the strongest eight or nine seed-level cultivators successively entered Saintfall Island. Each took a different path, not repeating those chosen by the previous entrants.

“These people must have become Saints!”

Many felt their pressure double, especially those cultivators who planned to break through on the ancient road. Their star fields held ancient secrets, rumored that achieving breakthroughs and enhancing strength on the ancient road would bring immense benefits later. Therefore, many had suppressed their power upon arrival and currently held no advantage.

People gradually chose their entrances. Almost no one followed the paths chosen by the first dozen or so individuals, unwilling to clash with them prematurely. After all, this trial was for comprehending the Great Dao, not for fierce competition.

In contrast to the desolate regions chosen by Tuoba Yu, the Brocade-Clad Young Master from the Human King Ancient Star Field; Koutou Tuo, the Ascetic Monk from the Amitābha Ancient Star Field; Yu Xian from the Feathered Ancient Star Field; as well as Ou Ye Mo and Mu Guanghan, the region Ye Fan chose was strikingly different. He also attracted considerable attention because as soon as he appeared, twenty to thirty people followed him, making his chosen area the most “lively.”

“I advise you not to enter,” Lan Feng, the man in flowing blue robes with an extraordinary demeanor, said lightly. “Otherwise, some unpleasant things might happen.”

The middle-aged Taoist nun also gave a cold sneer. Standing in the cold universe, holding a whisk, her fair face was etched with boundless killing intent.

“Some people are arrogant and overbearing; they won’t listen to your advice,” Hong Liu, clad in fiery red battle armor, scoffed. “Perhaps only a bloody scene will make them realize what reality is!”

Their group comprised twenty-three individuals, all powerful cultivators who had embarked on the Ancient Starry Sky Road, each a dominant figure in their respective star fields. Such combined strength naturally inspired dread, causing everyone to change their expressions.

Each wore a hint of a cold smile. Every one of them was a formidable, hard-to-provoke master, clearly intending to gang up and kill Ye Fan!

Icy chill and ruthless killing intent permeated the air simultaneously. The twenty-three individuals stood abreast, like a group of Slaughter Gods descended to the mortal realm, causing many cultivators to blanch.

Ye Fan advanced indifferently. He paused for a moment at the entrance to the Thirty-Third Region, then moved on to the entrance of the Thirty-Sixth Region. Taoist beliefs varied, with some speaking of thirty-three layers of heaven and others of thirty-six. He observed for a long time at this spot, finally choosing the Thirty-Sixth Region.

“Do you really dare to enter the trial grounds?” the middle-aged Taoist nun laughed cruelly.

“The outcome will be the same regardless of which region you choose. Just pick a better grave,” another person scoffed.

The expressions of the remaining two to three hundred people froze as they looked here. These twenty-three individuals combined represented an undeniably powerful threat, capable of easily slaying even ancient saints.

This was clearly an act of bullying. With so many people ganging up to suppress Ye Fan alone, how could he possibly fight back? It was practically a death trap!

“What, hesitating?” Lan Feng said faintly. “If I were you, I’d turn around and leave immediately, withdraw from the Path of the Strongest Trials, and never return.”

“Leaving is impossible,” Hong Liu sneered. “If you want to live, cast aside your dignity and give us a reason to spare you!”

“If you wish to die, then follow me!” Ye Fan uttered only these words. Without even glancing at them, he stepped directly into the Thirty-Sixth Region.

His words astonished many cultivators. Was he truly so unyielding, planning to fight twenty-some people alone?

This was undoubtedly the first astonishing killing tribulation and bloody battle on the trial grounds. Regardless of success or failure, this cultivator named Ye Fan was destined to be remembered.

“Grand Commander, aren’t these people going too far? With twenty-some people ganging up on one, his chances of survival are slim. It’s somewhat unfair,” a soldier remarked. He had experienced these trials and understood their brutality. As fellow individuals embarking on the path of the strongest, how much could one truly lag behind another?

“We do not interfere!” the Grand Commander, seated on the celestial wolf, said with an indifferent expression.

Ye Fan entered the Thirty-Sixth Region. Just a dozen steps inside, he stopped, standing on a bluestone with his back to everyone, like a demon god.

“Oh, having second thoughts? Too bad, you can’t back out now. You can only die here!” one person, eager to follow in, laughed coldly.

“Shut up!” Ye Fan’s entire body surged with golden blood energy. He spun around abruptly and threw a punch. With a thunderous boom, blood splattered, bone fragments flew, and a mist of blood rose into the sky.

A golden fist became the sole existence between heaven and earth, instantly striking down the person who had just spoken, killing him on the spot!