Shrouded Sky

Chapter 116 - Trap

"You couldn’t get the green copper, what’s that got to do with me? Clearly, you lacked the strength and someone else beat you to it." Ye Fan stared at him and said, "Fellow Daoist, instead of thanking me, this is how you repay me?"

"You’re really something, kid," the fat Daoist snapped. "I was the first one into the Demon Emperor’s tomb and didn’t even see a shadow of it. Who could’ve gotten ahead of me? You’re still trying to fool me? I ought to slap you dead!" Then, with a strange look, he added, "You’ve already reached the Celestial Bridge realm in such a short time? Unbelievable. You’re not much worse than I was at your age." The fat Daoist circled him twice, then asked, "Could it be because of the green copper block?"

"If I had the copper, wouldn’t you be able to sense it?" Ye Fan replied calmly.

"You little brat! You threw away the jade pendant I gave you into some wild mountain. I searched high and low and only found you today!" The shameless Daoist locked eyes with him. "Where exactly is the green copper block?"

Ye Fan immediately remembered that crappy jade pendant. It was chipped and cracked, looked like a worthless stone. Good thing he tossed it, clearly that thing was meant to track him.

"Daoist, since fate has brought us back together, I won’t hide anything from you," Ye Fan said solemnly. "That day, I really did toss the green copper block, but not into the deep pool."

"I already knew it wasn’t at the bottom of the pool!"

"I later went back to look for it, but I saw a crazy old man pick it up. He was laughing and crying, completely deranged. I couldn’t catch up..." Ye Fan described the old madman in detail.

The fat Daoist sucked in a cold breath and muttered, "A year ago, someone spotted a man like that in the State of Yan. They say it could be..." He trailed off, then stared at Ye Fan. "You’re really shameless. I trusted you back then, told you everything!"

"Daoist, let’s be real. You stole three of my spirit weapons. Who’s the shameless one here?"

The Daoist’s eyes suddenly went hollow, like deep black holes, no light at all. His voice dropped, "So that green copper was really taken by a madman? What exactly did he look like?"

Ye Fan began to feel drowsy, realizing the Daoist was trying to break into his sea of consciousness. But he wasn’t afraid. His divine sense had already condensed into a golden pond, not inferior to anyone’s. He didn’t fight back, simply visualized the old madman’s image in his mind and said, "Yes, it was taken by a crazy old man. I couldn’t catch him."

When the Daoist caught a glimpse of the image, his body trembled violently. The void in his eyes disappeared, replaced by utter disbelief. "It’s really him..."

The flirtatious woman with the red mole on her forehead giggled, "Who exactly is this person to scare Daoist Duan like that?"

"Haven’t you demons heard the rumors from a year ago?" Duan De said seriously. "Someone who shouldn’t even exist anymore appeared in the State of Yan."

"We’ve heard bits and pieces, but who knows if it’s true? After so many years, who can still recognize him?"

Duan De shook his head. "There’s no mistake. That man was a peerless master in his time. Quite a few portraits of him survived. I was lucky enough to see one."

"Hss!" The beautiful woman with the red mole gasped. "He was a supreme figure even back then, and now, six thousand years later, he’s still alive? Has he become immortal?"

The fat Daoist shook his head. "Unlikely. Some say he’s lost his mind, wandering, crazy. If his mind is broken, how could he become immortal?"

"Do immortals really exist?" Ye Fan asked.

"No one can say for sure," the woman replied with a seductive smile, pinching his cheek. "But living for several thousand years isn’t a problem for supreme cultivators. You never know, maybe you’ll become one someday if you try hard enough."

"You’re not planning to harm me, are you?"

The seductive demoness blew softly at him, her breath warm and teasing. "Relax. You’re not in any danger."

Duan De’s eyes turned hollow again as he tried once more, "How did the old man find the green copper..."

Ye Fan cooperated and used his powerful spiritual sense to reconstruct the scene, the old man picking up the green copper, crying and laughing, then vanishing.

Seeing this mental image, Duan De slumped, completely deflated. He looked up at the sky and sighed, "A treasure once famed in the Heartlands... I held it in my hand and tossed it away like trash. I didn’t recognize it. I missed my chance. Damn it!"

Ye Fan, not so kindly, replied, "Better luck next time."

Duan De’s face was full of regret and resentment. "Now that it’s in his hands, I have no chance. I can’t believe that lunatic is still alive..."

"Is the Demon Emperor’s blood ready?" he asked, turning to the beautiful demoness with the red mole.

"Don’t worry, Daoist. We promised you a drop of the Demon Emperor’s blood, and we won’t go back on it." She smiled seductively and clapped her hands.

From the depths of the peach grove, a stunning woman walked out. Her arms were bare, and she wore a multicolored veil. In her hands, she held a jade tray covered with a silk cloth.

The red-moled woman gently received it, lifted the silk, and a crystal the size of a fist sparkled into view.

Inside the crystal was a single drop of bright red blood, glowing with golden light. It radiated vibrant vitality, a surging, overwhelming life force.

Duan De’s spirit soared, the exhaustion vanishing from his face. "Demon Emperor’s blood!"

"Exactly. This is the sacred blood you wanted. Although you didn’t retrieve the artifact we mentioned, bringing us this youth with a precious physique makes up for it."

The drop of blood inside the crystal seemed to contain limitless power. As Duan De held it, dazzling light burst forth, dyeing his hand red and streaked with golden threads.

Ye Fan’s heart was in turmoil. This drop likely came from the Imperial Demon Heart, it made him think of Pang Bo.

That heart had flown from the emperor’s tomb, pulsing with such force that even experts at or beyond the other shore realm couldn’t approach. The Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven’s sectmaster and elders could only watch it fly away, landing eventually in demon hands.

Could these women be the ones who now hold the Imperial Demon Heart? Could they be connected to that perfect woman from the tomb? If so, then Pang Bo must be nearby. Ye Fan’s heart raced.

"Kid, take care of yourself." Duan De patted his shoulder with a rare tone of sincerity.

"You really sold me out, you fat bastard?"

Duan De smiled faintly. "Don’t curse me yet. Maybe one day you’ll be grateful."

"What do you mean?"

He gave him a knowing look. "This is a blessing others would kill for. Kid, be content. If I were a few years younger, you might not have even had the chance."

The red-moled woman giggled, her eyes twinkling. "If Daoist Duan wants to stay, we’d be delighted to host him."

"No thanks. These old bones can’t take it. Until next time." With that, Duan De walked off without looking back.

"I know where the madman is!" Ye Fan shouted after him.

But Duan De didn’t even glance back, he vanished quickly, leaving Ye Fan behind.

"Damn you, shameless Daoist! Just wait!"

"My name is Qin Yao," said the red-moled beauty with a soft smile, pinching Ye Fan’s cheek again. "Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you."

Qin Yao? Ye Fan couldn’t help but wonder, Could she be a transformed exotic beast?

"I want to ask, was the heart that flew from the Demon Emperor’s tomb taken by you?"

Qin Yao’s body glowed like warm jade, her gauzy robe flowing. Her enchanting figure shimmered beneath the fabric. With a sweet smile, she said, "You really do know quite a bit. Yes, the heart is in our hands."

Ye Fan was shaken. "Then… is there a woman here, an incredibly beautiful, nearly perfect one?"

Qin Yao’s eyes flashed. "You even know about her? She’s a descendant of the great Emperor, her status is exalted. How did you learn of her?"

Ye Fan’s heart beat wildly. "Then… is there also a young man around my age here?"

Qin Yao looked surprised. Her long, black hair floated, her jade-like skin glowing under the falling petals. But she still looked more radiant than the flowers and said gently, "You know a lot." She didn’t say more.

"I want to see that young man!"

"Sorry, he’s in seclusion. He won’t be able to meet you." Though Qin Yao remained smiling, she refused without hesitation.

"Then I want to meet the Emperor’s descendant."

Qin Yao’s voice was melodious and magnetic. "Of course. We’re going to take you to her anyway."

"Take me to her? What for?" Ye Fan felt something was off.

"It’s a good thing for you. If you’re chosen, you’ll be exalted. For a little man like you, it’s a rare blessing."

The women around him laughed softly. Their curvaceous figures, born of natural seduction, skin like cream, elegant necks, soft arms like jade, and long legs barely hidden by gauzy robes, made them mesmerizing. Their waists were so slender, they seemed like willow branches in the wind.

Ye Fan was led deeper into the peach grove, into the rear mountains of the Profound Origin Sect. The air grew sacred and still, filled with a serene atmosphere. Ahead, more beautiful women guarded the path.

As they passed a narrow gorge and reached a jade-green mountain, gentle holy light rippled through the trees and grass, making everything glow as if carved from jade. It was an extraordinary sight.

On a shimmering mountain ahead, shrouded in mist and colorful light, a pavilion floated in midair. Inside, a flawless woman stood, her eyes misty, like pools of water, gazing down.

Her body was made of flawless jade, with no blemish whatsoever. She stood with divine grace, like heaven’s perfect masterpiece, clothed in snowy white, black hair fluttering, like a goddess descended from the moon.