Shrouded Sky

Chapter 141 - The Madman Reappears

On Dull Peak, a vine as thick as a water barrel stretched hundreds of meters into the sky. At its end, a massive flower bloomed, its petals like five-colored crystals, radiating auspicious light and shimmering brilliance.

At the heart of the strange flower stood an old man in green robes, hair white as snow, his skin smooth and youthful like jade without a single wrinkle. His eyes were as deep as the ocean.

Behind him was pure darkness, like nightfall, or a bottomless abyss connected to the entire void, it gave off the sense of a vast and unfathomable Dao.

Pop!

The flower beneath his feet let out a soft sound. The petals dimmed as if struck by frost, wilting rapidly. Then, the vine withered and fell from the sky.

The elder from the Ji Clan remained motionless, but the dark void behind him erupted, spewing a wave of black light that pressed down toward the summit of Dull Peak.

It was pitch black, like storm clouds bearing down. The overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe, it felt like a giant mountain of darkness descending from above.

Li Ruoyu stood motionless as well. All around him, plants glowed green. A towering ancient tree rapidly grew, rising high into the air like a great umbrella shielding the sky. It blocked the descending darkness entirely.

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive black trident appeared in the sky and cleaved through the towering tree, plunging toward Dull Peak. It was hundreds of meters long, seemingly capable of tearing the heavens apart.

Crash!

On Dull Peak, a silver-white waterfall surged skyward like a silver dragon. It coiled around the black trident, not violently, without dazzling lights, but gently and persistently, binding the weapon tightly.

“The Dao of Nature… it truly lives up to its name,” the Ji Clan elder muttered. The entire sky darkened, black clouds churning. Purple lightning flashed as the heavens pressed down on Dull Peak.

Pop!

Around Li Ruoyu, every blade of grass and tree exuded fragrance. Endless green light shot toward the sky. A rain of light began to fall, a gentle and natural force flowing into the heavens and spreading outward.

Shua!

The Void Scripture appeared! The elder from the Ji Clan silently materialized behind Li Ruoyu and struck!

Boom!

It was as if Li Ruoyu could see through space itself. He predicted the trajectory of the Void Scripture and turned to counter with a palm strike. Their attacks clashed, releasing a terrifying energy, but instead of wreaking havoc on Dull Peak, it all surged into the sky and vanished.

Boom! Boom!

The sound of palm strikes echoed repeatedly. Streams of terrifying energy shot from the peak like lightning, tearing through the heavens.

The Ji Clan elder unleashed the Grand Void Art, ghostlike and unpredictable, appearing from all directions. It was a supreme secret art.

But Li Ruoyu seemed to foresee it all. His movements were smooth as flowing water, sleeves fluttering gracefully as he countered each strike with ease, blocking the Void Scripture every time.

Boom!

Finally, a giant black hand descended from the sky, covering the entire summit of Dull Peak, as if trying to rip it from the earth.

The scene was terrifying, waves of fear rippled through everyone watching. The pressure drilled into their bones, making them tremble uncontrollably.

The Void Palm!

Such a fearsome technique was awe-inspiring. Ordinary cultivators wouldn’t even have the will to resist, it felt like the very heavens were collapsing.

Boom!

Li Ruoyu rose into the air, raising one palm to meet it.

In an instant, the essence of nature poured from Dull Peak. Green light and black light clashed and merged. Li Ruoyu and the massive black palm were enveloped in the radiant fusion.

Dull, rumbling explosions echoed, shaking the surrounding peaks. Witnessing this battle filled all with awe.

In the end, no destructive force was released. All light receded. The black palm gradually faded, and Li Ruoyu landed calmly back on Dull Peak.

“Excellent… excellent!” the Ji Clan elder also descended, saying, “Dull Peak’s legacy is truly remarkable. It may not be an ancient scripture, but it rivals one. Your path, so natural and pure, you may truly become Dull Peak’s second great power.”

Neither had gone all out; it was only a simple probe. But it was enough to astonish everyone.

“May I ask the purpose of your visit to Dull Peak, senior?” Li Ruoyu asked respectfully.

Not far away, Ye Fan was surprised. Li Ruoyu, who appeared so ancient, addressed this man as senior. This elder had to be a long-standing figure in the Ji Clan.

“After a long period of stillness, I wanted to get out and stretch my legs… and perhaps seek a descendant.”

At that moment, Ji Ziyue, hiding in her small wooden cabin, peeked out with wide, gleaming eyes. Then she stepped outside and called, “Great-Grandfather, why are you here?”

“Of course, I came to find you.”

“Ji Hong, you’ve come to our Supreme Mystery Sect and didn’t even announce yourself?” a Grand Elder of Supreme Mystery said from afar.

“My apologies for the intrusion, fellow daoist.” Ji Hong bowed toward the sky. Then he flew into the distance to meet with an old acquaintance.

Back on Dull Peak, Ye Fan felt a little guilty. He had been planning to quietly leave, but doing so now would feel dishonorable to Li Ruoyu.

Just then, Ji Ziyue fluttered over like a wisp of wind, blocking his path. “You trying to sneak away, little rascal?”

“No such thing. Just out for a walk, you’re way too suspicious.” Ye Fan denied it immediately.

“You must have all sorts of secrets, otherwise why would you be so nervous…” Ji Ziyue circled around him, tilted her head, and said, “You’re coming with me to the Ji Clan.”

“Over my dead body!” Ye Fan thought, but smiled and said, “What a privilege! It’d be even better if I could marry into the Ji Clan!”

“You silly kid, what do you know…” Ji Ziyue snorted. “I have a cousin who’s nine, you’re just right for her.”

“I’m not looking for a daughter…”

“What nonsense are you muttering?!” Ji Ziyue gave him a glare.

Eventually, Ji Hong returned to Dull Peak and summoned Ji Ziyue. “I have urgent matters to attend to. Stay here at Supreme Mystery for now. Don’t wander off. The outside world is unstable.”

With that, he departed in haste.

Ye Fan was more than satisfied with this outcome. Now he had time to prepare his departure.

Soon after, Supreme Mystery Sect’s headmaster and elders flew out from all 108 main peaks toward the distance.

“What’s going on?” the disciples buzzed. The simultaneous departure of the headmaster and grand elders was unprecedented in recent years.

The next day, the news spread: A mad, raving old man had appeared in the State of Wei, suspected to be a peerless cultivator from six thousand years ago.

The surrounding dozens of nations were shocked. The Ji Clan, Radiant Light Sacred Ground, and Supreme Mystery Sect all dispatched top experts to pursue the lead.

“He was once a peerless powerhouse from six thousand years ago… Still alive?! That’s unimaginable!”

“How can someone live that long? He’s a walking history book, he’s lived through every age of light and darkness. It’s a miracle!”

Ye Fan was stunned. The moment he heard the news, he thought of the old madman. It had to be him!

Six thousand years ago, the Heavenly Jade Sacred Ground was at its peak. The entire sect stormed the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Realm, but never returned, erased from history.

The old madman was the only survivor. Everyone wanted to know what happened, what the “Desolation” under the abyss really was.

Six thousand years ago, his cultivation shook the heavens, unmatched in the Eastern Widerness. To still be alive after so long, people wanted to know how far he had gone, how close to immortality. They longed for his teachings.

Especially powers like the Ji Clan and Radiant Light Sacred Ground, every grand elder wanted to converse with him. A figure like him, as rare as a living fossil, was even more desirable than ancient scriptures.

On the third day, more news came:

“He’s gone completely mad, laughing and crying, incoherent. No one can talk to him.”

“He’s terrifying. He sent top elders flying with a wave of his sleeve, no one can get close. His power, even six thousand years ago, was earth-shattering. Now it’s beyond comprehension.”

“He vanished, after just a few steps, mountains and rivers fell behind him. Not a soul could keep up. Even with flight and teleportation, no one could glimpse his shadow.”

At that moment, Ji Ziyue blocked Ye Fan from leaving again. “That movement technique you use, did you learn it from that madman?”

“You’re imagining things. I don’t understand what you’re saying!” Ye Fan would never admit it.

“There’s definitely a connection. Our Ji Clan’s ancient records describe it clearly. It surpasses any known movement art, unparalleled in the world. Only that mad old man can use it.”

Ye Fan was increasingly wary of this cunning girl. She seemed to sniff out every secret, miss a beat and she’d uncover something else.

“Senior, is there truly such a thing as immortality?” Ye Fan stood atop a peak and asked Li Ruoyu.

“Everyone asks that. Whether it exists or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that we believe the path to immortality is real, and we walk it without hesitation.”

“What Realm did the madman reach? To live six thousand years, that’s beyond belief. Even the God-King Physique of the Eastern Wilderness couldn’t survive that long.”

“If not immortal, then mad… He may be just that,” Li Ruoyu said with a sigh.

Within Supreme Mystery, beyond the 108 main peaks, were countless sub-peaks, not all surrounded by immortal mist. Some were barren, like Dull Peak.

In recent days, Ye Fan had been preparing to leave. He wandered the sect, trying to understand the requirements to open the Domain Gate, the only way to get permission to depart.

At sunset, the sky painted red, he wandered to a remote mountain range, wild weeds and dead vines everywhere.

There, he stopped cold.

On a massive stone facing west, an old man with white hair lay on his side, gazing into the sunset.

His clothes were tattered, visibly ancient, clearly not of this era. He muttered to himself, and from his clouded eyes, two tears rolled down.

The madman, it was really him!

Ye Fan was stunned. He couldn’t believe it.

Why was he here, inside Supreme Mystery Sect? Hadn’t he already stepped beyond the State of Wei in just a few strides?