Chapter 396: Ye Fan and the Sacred Lands

Chapter 400 of *Shrouding the Heavens*: Ye Fan and the Sacred Lands

There was a deathly silence in the main hall. Killing Ye Fan was tantamount to killing Jiang Taixu. Who would dare to harm the Peerless Divine King now?

Thirteen Saint Lords, three peerless ancient monsters, and a King from Central State had all been slain by him alone. The event had shocked the world overnight. At this moment, who would dare to step forward?

Why was this the case? When had Ye Fan saved the Divine King's life? These questions puzzled many.

For the past few days, cultivators across the city had been searching for Ye Fan’s whereabouts. Yet, he now shared such a profound connection with the incredibly powerful Divine King. How had he achieved this?

“Could there be a mistake? How could he possibly have saved the Divine King…?” someone muttered softly.

Jiang Yun spoke up, saying, “When numerous formidable enemies attacked, and the Divine King’s revered ancestor was on the verge of death, Ye Fan revived him with a True Dragon Divine Medicine, allowing him to regenerate in the Dragon Transformation Pool.”

“A True Dragon Divine Medicine…?” Many people gasped in disbelief and were inexplicably shaken upon hearing those four words. This was a legendary primordial divine medicine; how could Ye Fan possess such an item?!

People quickly recalled his identity: not only was he an Arid Ancient Sacred Body, but he was also a prodigious Origin Technique master who had inherited the legacy of the Origin Heavenly Master, having once extracted divine medicine seeds.

Yet, even with this knowledge, people were still utterly astounded. Immortal Divine Medicines! Not even the great Sacred Lands possessed them, but Ye Fan had acquired two different kinds consecutively. This was simply too defying of heaven.

If he could be controlled, what would that mean for a Sacred Land? It would bring immense benefits. If they could successfully cultivate an immortal divine medicine, it might even allow them to nurture an Emperor!

Many already knew that Ye Fan possessed the Mother Qi of All Things. Now, having learned all of this, they realized the value of the Arid Ancient Sacred Body was far greater than they had ever imagined.

The various Sacred Lands and major powers had pursued him for so long yet gained nothing. Now, seeing Ye Fan protected by the Peerless Divine King, many felt intense resentment.

At the same time, numerous individuals from major powers instantly conceived the idea that perhaps, by winning over the Arid Ancient Sacred Body, they could gain even greater advantages.

Ouyang Ye, his body withered and infinitely close to the Origin Grandmaster realm, though in his twilight years, spoke with immense desire for the Origin Heavenly Book, saying, “This old man requests the Divine King to preside over justice.”

“What is your concern?” Jiang Taixu remained majestic and unmoving, his gaze sweeping down.

Ouyang Ye said, “The Sacred Body has indeed bullied a descendant of my Origin Technique family. However, given his life-saving grace towards the Divine King, this old man dares not hold it against him. I merely wish to request that he return the Origin Heavenly Book to my Origin Technique family.”

Standing among the crowd, Ye Fan cast a dismissive glance at him and retorted, “During the Origin Technique duel, you tried to kill me. Unfortunately, your skill was inferior to mine, and now you blame me for bullying you? What kind of logic is that?”

“This old man does not wish to dwell on these grievances,” Ouyang Ye said, “I only wish to recover my Origin Technique family’s supreme wondrous book.”

Ye Fan calmly asked, “When did it become an ancient scripture of your Origin Technique family? This is clearly a divine tome left by the Origin Heavenly Master. Don’t you feel ashamed saying such things?”

“Origin Techniques have always been a single family, belonging to the world of Origin Techniques, not to a cultivator like you,” Ouyang Ye argued strenuously. “Therefore, this old man asks you to return it.”

Ye Fan swept his gaze over him and said, “By your logic, cultivation methods have always been a single family. Am I then entitled to demand ancient scriptures from all the Sacred Lands? Moreover, this book was lent to me by a descendant of the Origin Heavenly Master. What connection does it have to your family?”

“Hmph!” The Divine King let out a cold snort. The disciple instantly turned pale, hastily shut his mouth, and dared not speak carelessly again.

“Regarding the origin of the *Origin Heavenly Book*, I am quite clear,” the Divine King stated, “Your Origin Technique family has no grounds to dispute it.” Having said this, the Divine King no longer paid them any attention.

Ouyang Ye opened his mouth, but ultimately dared not utter another word. The Divine King’s formidable presence instilled fear in his heart.

All the Sacred Lands remained silent. Not a single person brought up their past grievances with Ye Fan. They would certainly not court disaster at such a critical moment, unlike the Origin Technique family.

“I have heard that Ye Fan has grievances with the Ji Family,” the Divine King suddenly spoke, looking at the Ji Family Saint Lord, “I am willing to mediate. Is there any room for negotiation?”

“Divine King, your insight is keen,” the Ji Family Saint Lord responded, neither servile nor overbearing. “There are indeed some entanglements. He learned an unrevealed secret from the Void Ancient Scripture. Of course, some individuals within my Ji Family reacted excessively.”

“I see,” Divine King Jiang nodded. Then, he looked at Ye Fan and asked, “Can you promise the Ji Family Saint Lord that you will never, for all eternity, transmit the secret methods from the Void Ancient Scripture to outsiders?”

Ye Fan knew that the Divine King was helping him, bestowing a great favor. How could he be ungrateful? He replied, “Thank you, Divine King. I swear I will never transmit the Void Secret Art to outsiders in my lifetime.”

“Good. Later, you shall go to the Ji Family to offer your apologies,” Divine King Jiang nodded. Then, he looked at the Ji Family Saint Lord and said, “If he ever leaks the Void Secret Art, I will personally execute him. How does that sound?”

What could the Ji Family Saint Lord say? It was obvious that the Peerless Divine King intended to protect Ye Fan. After receiving such a guarantee, his wisest choice was simply to nod.

“That guy…” In the distant crowd, Ji Ziyue, clad in purple, gritted her small canines, glaring at Ye Fan in front of her.

Ji Haoyue slightly furrowed his sword-like brows and asked, “Ziyue, why are you stepping on my foot so hard?”

“Oh, I stepped on the wrong one…” Ji Ziyue playfully stuck out her tongue. Dimples appeared on her pretty face as she made a funny face at her brother and giggled.

Divine King Jiang continued, turning to the Yaoguang Saint Lord, “Does Ye Fan have conflicts with the young disciples of Yaoguang’s Hidden Lineage?”

The Yaoguang Saint Lord nodded, elaborating on the details of the incident. Then he added, “His dispute with my Yaoguang Holy Land is not a major feud; it’s merely a spirited contention among the younger generation.”

Strictly speaking, the Yaoguang disciples were the first to covet the Mother Qi of All Things on Ye Fan. At this moment, how could the Yaoguang Saint Lord delve deeply into the matter? Doing so would very likely damage his own reputation.

“Once this matter is concluded, you shall go to Yaoguang to offer your apologies,” Divine King Jiang instructed Ye Fan.

“Everything shall be as the Divine King commands,” Ye Fan said with a serious and earnest expression, though his heart was filled with amusement. The Divine King was essentially absolving him; saying he should go apologize didn't mean he actually had to.

Divine King Jiang looked at the Yaoguang Saint Lord and said, “Let the younger generation resolve their own grievances. What do you think?”

The Yaoguang Saint Lord nodded. Naturally, he would not say much more. Killing Ye Fan was equivalent to killing the Divine King. Jiang Taixu had already uttered such words; how could he possibly pursue the matter further or hold a grudge?

Divine King Jiang, with hair as white as snow yet appearing no older than his twenties, sat high above. His supreme demeanor had been revered for thousands of years.

At this moment, many young maidens were deeply smitten, their eyes sparkling with unusual brilliance. However, no one dared to express their feelings, as the disparity in status and position was simply too vast.

Suddenly, a long roar pierced the sky, rapidly approaching the Divine City, like an endless, terrifying sea of thunder surging forth.

The Roc’s cry echoed through the heavens!

Everyone knew who had arrived: the Roc King, a fearsome and renowned figure among the demon race.

*Swish!* With a flash of light, a formidable old man appeared in the main hall, clad in a golden Daoist robe. His long golden hair blazed like fire, and his tall, robust figure exuded power. His eyes, like two sharp swords, gleamed as he stood tall.

Everyone was greatly astonished. The roar was still echoing outside the city, yet the person had already entered the Divine City. One could imagine how terrifying his speed was.

Evidently, he had already learned of the situation. The moment he entered the main hall, he fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, his golden eyes flickering with an uncertain light.

Jiang Yun asked, “Roc King, for what purpose have you come?”

The Roc King stood majestically tall, his golden Daoist robe gleaming. He bowed to the Divine King seated above, then again fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and stated his purpose.

He had come specifically for the Golden-Winged Little Roc King. Upon learning of the Arid Ancient Sacred Body’s appearance, he had rushed to this place at once. The Golden-Winged Little Roc King possessed extraordinary talent, and many believed he would embark on the path to becoming an Emperor. He was deeply favored by the Roc King, who would naturally not tolerate his imprisonment.

“Some of my Yaoguang disciples have also been suppressed by the Sacred Body,” the Yaoguang Saint Lord also spoke, “I hope they can be released.”

Ye Fan instantly became the center of attention. Everyone looked at him. The Golden-Winged Little Roc King and the Yaoguang Saint Son were both peerless geniuses of their generation, practically invincible among the younger cultivators.

Although everyone knew Ye Fan had suppressed these two powerful figures under exceptional circumstances, they still revealed expressions of surprise.

Divine King Jiang was somewhat surprised. He glanced at Ye Fan and said, “Release them.” He then conjured the Divine Leaving Fire Furnace, which flew towards Ye Fan.

The divine furnace glowed with fiery light. Its body was inscribed with divine bird and sun markings, ancient and seemingly attuned to the Grand Dao. On its lid, nine ancient characters were carved, mysterious and profound, their meaning inscrutable. It was precisely their presence that sealed the furnace.

All the Saint Sons and Saintesses were intently staring at Ye Fan, and many elder figures also watched him unblinkingly, their gazes entirely focused on him.

Ye Fan, unconcerned, took the Divine Leaving Fire Furnace. With a calm expression and a technique akin to stringing pearls, he deftly removed the nine Emperor characters from the lid, then powerfully flung it away.

*Boom!* Divine fire surged sky-high. The furnace lid instantly shot into the heavens, and the entire sky became scorching hot, transforming into a sea of flames, surging like a vast ocean.

Three figures transformed into three divine rainbows and leaped into the void. An incredibly powerful divine might surged forth, covering the heavens. They appeared like three deities, radiating endless divine radiance that made it impossible to look directly at them.

*Boom!* The three top experts of the younger generation moved simultaneously, charging towards Ye Fan together. They were like three terrifying stars hurtling from beyond the realm, making onlookers tremble uncontrollably.

*Bang!* The Peerless Divine King made his move. A large hand stretched out, covering all three beneath it. The terrifying, ocean-like fluctuations instantly vanished, and the area became calm in an instant.

“Do not be disrespectful!” both the Roc King and the Yaoguang Saint Lord exclaimed, fearing that the trio, unaware of the immense disparity in power, would offend the Divine King. In such a scenario, not even they could save them.

“Brother Roc, Brother Yaoguang, I apologize for the offense,” Ye Fan said.

The Golden-Winged Little Roc King, majestically imposing and radiating an oppressive aura, had golden divine flames fiercely burning around his body. His eyes, like sharp swords, were filled with wildness.

He held the heavy Great Wilderness Halberd. His golden long hair flew wildly, and his pupils, awe-inspiring, made him seem like a demon lord who had crossed through myriad heavens.

He let out a long roar towards the sky, his killing intent soaring to the heavens. He stared fixedly at Ye Fan, endless murderous intent surging forth from him.

On the other side, the Yaoguang Saint Son was enveloped in endless sacred light, like a divine being. He stood in the void, encircled by exactly one hundred and eight halos, which made him appear both sacred and serene, yet simultaneously, a terrifying aura pulsed around him.

At this moment, the Yaoguang Saint Son appeared almost like an Immortal King descending into the mortal realm, making many weaker cultivators instinctively wish to prostrate themselves in worship.

He seemed to gaze down upon all beings, aloof yet majestic. His aura of an Immortal King made even many elder figures’ hearts pound in trepidation.

“Fairy Yao Xi, your grace is even more captivating; you are truly peerless in the world,” Ye Fan said, smiling once more to the Yaoguang Saintess.

Yao Xi was brilliantly ethereal, like a Heavenly Maiden descended to the world. She possessed unparalleled grace, with immortal skin and jade bones, appearing utterly untouched by the mundane world.

She exuded an infinite sense of distance. Though standing right before them, she gave the illusion of being far away in the palaces of the Nine Heavens, her flawless immortal grace seemingly forever beyond reach.