Shrouded Sky

Chapter 132 - Grand Completion Appears Incomplete

That night, Ye Fan sat cross-legged atop Dull Peak. A powerful divine sense surged from the small golden lake between his brows, continuously scanning the mountain for any signs. Unfortunately, he sensed nothing unusual. The idea that the entire main peak was itself a scripture felt too mystical and far-fetched to him.

As the night deepened, the nearby Star Peak grew even more radiant. Starlight poured down like snow, brilliant and pure, as if fine jade was descending from the sky. A vast power of the stars filled the air.

Hiss…

Ye Fan inhaled sharply. This inheritance was truly mysterious, so much star power gathered in one place, its light nourishing the body over time. There had to be unimaginable benefits.

He couldn’t help but feel a little envious. This cultivation method clearly had unique strengths. No wonder the Supreme Mystery Sect had lasted ten thousand years. The 108 main peaks were indeed extraordinary.

Ye Fan shook off his thoughts and began cultivating the Dao Scripture. He was always striving to improve his cultivation and never wasted a moment.

Gradually, his heart calmed. The Dao Scripture was a top-tier method for cultivating the Oceanic Wheel Realm. In the Eastern Wilderness, no ancient scripture could surpass it.

Only at midnight did he end his cultivation and mutter to himself, “Once I’ve completed the Oceanic Wheel realm, I’ll begin preparing for the Dao Palace secret realm. I wonder when I’ll get the chance to visit the Jade Pool Sacred Ground.”

He had given up hope on the Void Scripture. According to legend, the ancient scripture of the Jade Pool Sacred Ground was the strongest method for cultivating the Dao Palace Realm, and it was the one he truly wanted.

Ye Fan fell into a peaceful sleep. Bathed in moonlight, he lay on a slab of green stone, cloaked in mist, ethereal and otherworldly.

Joining Dull Peak had one advantage: the only disciple here, Elder Li Ruoyu, had neither the time nor energy to investigate Ye Fan’s past. Had he joined another main peak, his background would’ve been thoroughly examined like a transparent lake.

The next day, Ye Fan began exploring Dull Peak. He searched the entire mountain but didn’t find a single spiritual herb or root. It was no different from a desolate wilderness.

Caw, caw,

A few ominous crows squawked and flew up from a dead tree, making the desolate scene even more bleak.

He found it hard to believe that such a barren place was one of Supreme Mystery Sect’s main peaks, supposedly representing a powerful inheritance.

At midday, he returned to the summit. The broken temple courtyard was overgrown with waist-high weeds. A wild rabbit darted out from the grass, leaving him speechless.

Thud!

He picked up a stone and threw it. The rabbit dropped instantly. Soon, a fire was lit and the smell of roasting meat filled the air. The rabbit meat turned golden and glistening with fat, the grease sizzling on the flames.

“Dull Peak, withered vines, dead trees, crows roosting, crumbling temples, rabbits hopping... What a scene,” Ye Fan muttered.

From afar, Elder Li Ruoyu glanced at him but said nothing, then closed his eyes again, still as an old tree.

Just then, a mocking voice rang out: “One hundred and eight main peaks, each one represents a powerful inheritance of the Supreme Mystery Sect. The summit of a main peak is sacred ground, yet here smoke rises and the stench of meat fills the air. Could only be Dull Peak, I suppose.”

A proud-looking youth in a pale blue robe descended on a divine rainbow, head held high, frowning at the fire.

“What’s wrong? Jealous? Want some?” Ye Fan asked casually, mocking him.

The blue-robed youth hadn’t expected a new disciple to talk back so boldly. His face darkened. “How dare you? Do you realize your offense, defiling the sacred peak?”

“Dude, who are you even? Whose butthole did you crawl out from?” Ye Fan replied lazily, not even looking at him, focusing on roasting the rabbit.

“You don’t understand what I said?” The youth stepped closer, towering over Ye Fan. “This is holy ground. How dare you defile it with such filth, ”

Ye Fan casually turned the rabbit over the fire. “If fragrant rabbit meat is considered filth, what does that make your tender skin? A rotten carcass?”

The blue-robed youth had merely wanted to mock him, but Ye Fan’s sharp tongue left him fuming. “This is a sacred land! And you dare to insult it?!”

“There’s no fairies or goddesses here. So what the hell am I defiling?” Ye Fan took the golden rabbit from the fire, tore off a leg, and began eating, ignoring him.

“You… outrageous! To act so wildly on a main peak, disgraceful! Your crime is unforgivable!” The youth stormed forward, ready to strike.

“Stop with the righteous nonsense. Don’t act all high and mighty with me,” Ye Fan said, glancing at him sideways. “You’re not my senior.”

“I’ll take you to Heavenly Punishment Cliff!” the youth sneered and reached out to grab him.

“Wait!” Ye Fan stopped him, then called toward the ruined temple: “Elder Li Ruoyu, as this is Dull Peak’s inheritance, can other peaks’ disciples meddle with us?”

“Only the Sect Lord or Grand Elders have that right. All else is decided by us alone,” came Li Ruoyu’s calm reply.

“In that case, this guy trespassed onto our Dull Peak, a capital offense!” Ye Fan dodged the grab, snatched a slab of stone, and swung it forward.

Crack!

The stone smashed into the youth’s face. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth. He staggered back, nearly collapsing.

“Trespassing on a sacred peak, bold beyond reason, a grave offense, punishable by death!” Ye Fan shouted, turning the scolding back on him. He swung the stone repeatedly, bashing the youth’s face until he passed out, blood and spit flying.

Whap! Whap!

The blue-robed youth collapsed in convulsions, unconscious.

A while later, he woke up. Elder Li Ruoyu approached and asked, “What are you doing here?”

The youth remembered everything and went mad with rage, lunging at Ye Fan.

“Enough!” Li Ruoyu scolded coldly.

“Greetings, Uncle Master,” the youth trembled and suppressed his fury, bowing. “The disciple competitions between peaks start in three months. I came to deliver the notice.” He handed over a letter.

“Understood. You may go,” said Li Ruoyu.

The youth glared at Ye Fan with icy eyes, then turned and left.

“Next time, don’t yell around other main peaks. You ain’t some Grand Elder, dumbass!” Ye Fan mocked as he flew away.

“Y-you…!” The youth was livid but didn’t dare act in front of Li Ruoyu. He soared away toward Star Peak.

Li Ruoyu gave Ye Fan a glance, said nothing, and returned to his meditation in the ruins.

“Great completion appears incomplete, great fullness seems empty, great skill appears clumsy…” Ye Fan repeated the twelve words to himself, pondering their meaning as he roamed Dull Peak again.

Half an hour later, several figures blocked his path halfway down the mountain, among them, the blue-robed youth.

“Who are you guys? Why trespass on Dull Peak?” Ye Fan asked, knowing they were from Star Peak.

“You’ve no manners. When you see senior brothers, you should bow!” one sneered.

“Who the hell are you to demand my respect?” Ye Fan replied lazily, walking up to them.

Aside from the blue-robed youth, the others laughed.

“Dull Peak finally has a disciple. This should be fun. At least we won’t be bored.”

“As your seniors, we’ll teach you proper etiquette. Bow respectfully when you see us, got it?”

One man reached to push Ye Fan’s head down, while another kicked at his legs to force him to kneel.

“What the hell are you doing?” Ye Fan dodged aside. “This is a main peak, you can’t just barge in.”

They laughed. “Dull Peak? It’s a shithole. Who needs permission?”

Two grabbed at his head again, two kicked at his legs.

“Would you dare do this at another main peak?” Ye Fan backed up. “You’ve gone too far.”

“Oh, you naive little boy. Let’s teach you how the world works!”

“You know what? I was thinking the same,” Ye Fan growled, seizing one arm.

Crack!

A bone snapped.

At the same time, he swept his leg and kicked down the two trying to make him kneel.

The blue-robed youth and another tried to flee into the sky.

Boom!

A thousand-pound boulder shot up faster than lightning and smashed them down.

Ahhhh!

Their screams echoed. Bones shattered as they hit the ground.

Ye Fan lined all five of them up, walked over, and stomped on the blue-robed youth’s face. “You’ve got nerve.”

Thud!

He kicked him like a soccer ball, sending him flying into a vine-hung tree.

Then he stepped on two others’ hands. “You wanted me to bow and greet you? Show me how.”

Crash!

He kicked both of them into ancient trees.

“You two wanted me to kneel?” Ye Fan stepped up and kicked them into the air, sending them crashing down again.

“Dull Peak is a main peak, a powerful inheritance. From now on, anyone entering must report and come through the front gate!” he declared righteously, just as Li Ruoyu silently appeared nearby.

“Well said. From now on, no one may trespass on Dull Peak,” the old man said softly, then vanished into the forest.

News that Dull Peak was reestablishing its gates spread fast. Star Peak disciples were furious. When they learned their peers had been injured, many couldn’t contain their anger.

Back at the summit, Li Ruoyu said nothing. He simply handed Ye Fan an ancient bow, nine arrows, and a yellowed booklet.

“Elder Li, Star Peak disciples are coming to demand justice!” Ye Fan later saw dozens of them flying over Dull Peak.

“I already gave you the bow and arrows…” Li Ruoyu said calmly from within the ruined temple, eyes closed.

Ye Fan was stunned. This frail old man was clearly not as simple as he looked.

He shouted at the sky, “You people are outrageous! This is a sacred inheritance, how dare you fly in as you please? Would you do this to another main peak?”

Angry shouts came from above.

Ye Fan didn’t hesitate. He drew the bow. A terrifying energy pulsed from it. From afar, a crow cried out, turning into a black light and merging into one of the arrows.

Ye Fan was shocked, the arrow now radiated like the sun, exuding overwhelming pressure.

“Retreat now!” someone cried in panic above.

Ye Fan didn’t dare release the arrow. He felt it could pierce the heavens. The bow and arrows were far too mysterious and powerful.

But what shocked him even more was that all nine crows he’d seen earlier turned into black light and merged into the nine arrows. Just drawing one onto the string made the sky tremble.

“This must be a supreme treasure!” Ye Fan was convinced staying at Dull Peak was the right choice, too many secrets were hidden here.

Holding the ancient bow, Ye Fan pointed toward the sky. Wherever he aimed, people screamed and fled in terror.

From the distance, several figures rushed in, elders from Star Peak arrived, shouting, “Brother Li, please show mercy!”

“Scaring them off is enough,” Li Ruoyu’s voice echoed softly.

The disciples in the sky fled in all directions, their faces pale with fear.

“That legendary ancient bow, it disappeared with Dull Peak’s legacy. Why has it reappeared?!”

“Those nine crows… we’ve seen them often. Who knew they were so terrifying, each one fusing with an arrow? What are they?!”