Shrouded Sky

Chapter 153 - Gratitude & Grudges

Ji Ren looked aged, but when he moved, he struck like thunder, fast and fierce, charging straight at Ye Fan. Ye Fan immediately turned and fled using his mysterious footwork. This old steward was far beyond his ability to handle.

Ji Ren was terrifying. He stepped into the air and then stomped down hard from above. The sky trembled. Though his body was hunched, he radiated power that shook the soul. That descending foot grew in size to several meters, crashing down.

Boom!

Ye Fan was shocked. He dodged swiftly. The massive foot slammed into the ground with a deafening crash. Cracks split outward in all directions as the earth fractured.

“You won’t escape!” Ji Ren roared.

The old steward swung his palm, massive like a grinding stone, roaring through the air as it came crashing down.

“You blind old dog…” Ye Fan gritted his teeth and veered in another direction, sprinting away.

Boom!

That hand struck the void, sending powerful shockwaves through the air like a thunderclap. Ye Fan was nearly blown away.

Clearly, this old steward was overwhelmingly powerful. Even a missed strike caused such devastating force.

“I’ll handle your funeral arrangements myself,” Ji Ren sneered.

“Balding old bastard, you better worry about your own funeral!” Ye Fan raced away, incredibly fast, but found that he couldn’t escape the region.

A mysterious power was flowing through the land. The earth shimmered with godlight, restricting his footwork. Even flying high into the air didn’t help, he remained trapped.

This place was like a cage, sealed off entirely. There was no way out!

“You won’t get away,” Ji Ren said coldly, hunched over. “I’ll make your death quick, and every year I’ll burn paper and pour wine in your honor.”

He pointed down, his fingers like blades. A wave of fire surged forth, forming a blazing sword that lit up the sky. Godfire blazed fiercely, engulfing everything.

Ye Fan narrowly dodged, evading the flaming slash.

The intense heat behind him set the earth ablaze. In the blink of an eye, all vegetation turned to ash. The scorched soil crystallized into gleaming ceramic-like shards.

“Ungrateful traitors!” Ye Fan snarled at Ji Ren, but hated Ji Hui even more.

“Heartless old hag, if I make it out alive, you’ll pay!”

“Words are useless now,” Ji Ren replied. “You shouldn’t have learned the Void Scripture. Even direct descendants of the Ji Clan don’t have that privilege, let alone a nobody like you.”

Ji Ren reached out with a massive hand. His five fingers crackled with blue-purple lightning, twisting the void and surging toward Ye Fan’s skull.

“Crack!”

Several strands of violet lightning coiled around his fingers like serpents, distorting space as they blasted forth.

Ye Fan’s heart sank. He immediately used the Grand Void Technique, transforming into a puff of black smoke and darting away.

“Crack!”

The lightning was terrifying. One blast carved a hole as thick as a barrel into the ground, bottomless and smoking.

“So, you have mastered the Grand Void Technique. You must die!” Ji Ren’s eyes turned icy as he released more bolts of purple lightning, ripping through the air.

Clang!

A deafening boom rang out. Ye Fan raised a copper plaque from the Grand Thunderclap Temple. It absorbed the lightning, one of its strange abilities he’d discovered after much study.

Though the plaque was half-ruined, it could still absorb lightning and sonic attacks, an odd, defensive treasure.

“This isn’t going to work!” Ye Fan stowed the plaque, realizing he was still too passive. Ji Ren’s cultivation was immeasurable, he couldn’t win head-on.

Ji Ren closed in, voice flat. “There’s no point resisting. Let me give you a quick death. Don’t bring more suffering on yourself.”

Though his words were calm, every step radiated killing intent. He opened his mouth and spat out a black cloud. The sky roared like a tidal wave crashing down, surging toward Ye Fan.

Ye Fan was stunned. This old thing was unbelievably strong, his breath alone rolled like thunder and surged like the sea. Ye Fan flew up into the air.

“What did you do to trap this space?” he shouted.

“I used a supreme treasure, the Grand Allheaven Net. Once deployed, it covers heaven and earth. You’ll never break it,” Ji Ren said with cold detachment.

“How did you track me down?” Ye Fan asked again.

“We discovered when Miss Ziyue secretly gave you the jade pendant. You think wiping the mark removed the trail? I followed you from the start. But you were too fast, I only caught up again today.”

“Fine, fine, fine, I see what kind of scum you all are. Ji Hui, you dead hag! Ji Ren, you dog servant!” Ye Fan cursed.

Ji Ren moved like a ghost and said grimly, “It’s time. You should be on your way.”

Whoom!

The sky trembled. A massive black hand manifested, surrounded by rolling black clouds and a chilling aura. It was the Grand Void Palm, an ultimate forbidden technique recorded in the Void Scripture.

Though Ji Ren was just a steward in name, he had clearly mastered supreme arts, his status was far from ordinary.

The Grand Void Palm was overbearing and devastating, black as ink, covering the sky as it slammed down toward Ye Fan.

Ye Fan had no time to dodge. The massive black hand sealed off all escape, blotting out the sun. He was completely trapped beneath it.

“In your next life, be born to an ordinary clan. Stay out of these things…” Ji Ren’s cold voice echoed from above.

Chiii!

Ye Fan pulled out the Purple Copper Eight Trigram Mirror, releasing beams of blazing light toward the descending hand. At the same time, he raised the Heaven Net Umbrella as a shield.

But the mirror’s light couldn’t stop the Grand Void Palm.

“Crack!”

The giant black hand struck the umbrella, shattering it with a loud snap. Ye Fan was sent flying.

Ji Ren didn’t speak again. He summoned another Grand Void Palm.

The hand was like a dark cloud, radiating dread, falling like a mountain.

“Smash!”

The Heaven Net Umbrella, once mighty, couldn’t withstand it. It shattered into pieces.

Ye Fan coughed up blood and was hurled dozens of meters. He sighed, his strength gap was too great. If even such treasures were destroyed, how could he fight?

Buzz,

The sky shook. Another black hand blotted out the sun. The pressure alone cracked the ground beneath Ye Fan’s feet, crumbling it into dust.

Ye Fan summoned the Eight Trigram Mirror again. It expanded rapidly like a giant shield above his head.

“Clang!”

The sharp metallic crash echoed like gods hammering metal. The mirror cracked, its end was near.

This mirror, once belonging to an elder of the Jiang Clan, was a powerful treasure. Though damaged in the Desolate Forbidden Ancient Realm, it was still formidable. Yet it couldn’t resist the Grand Void Palm.

Clang!

Another sharp ring. The mirror shattered in midair.

Ye Fan nearly slammed into the ground. Blood trickled from his lips. He looked skyward and muttered, “You old zombie…”

Two treasures were gone. Even if he brought out the Jade Purification Vase, it would end the same.

“Smack!”

Ji Ren struck Ye Fan, sending him flying, not even using the Grand Void Palm, and still the blow was devastating.

If not for Ye Fan’s sacred physique, he would’ve been pulp. Even so, he tumbled dozens of meters.

Boom!

Another strike came. Ye Fan couldn’t dodge, nearly crushed. He barely managed to stand after a long time.

Ji Ren stood hunched, looking down, his face expressionless. “Compared to the Ji Clan, you are insignificant. Your struggle is pointless. Killing you is like slaughtering a chicken.”

“You undead bastard! You’re nothing but a trained dog! Don’t act so high and mighty. Even that dead hag Ji Hui, she’s nothing!” Ye Fan spat.

Ji Ren showed no anger, his old face was as calm as still water. “You’re like dust, like an insect. You were never meant to cross paths with the Ji Clan. But your fate was poor. The Grand Void Technique is not for the likes of you.”

Ye Fan fumed. “You damn dog servant…”

At that moment, Ji Ren descended, closing in. “Before I kill you, I need information. I’m going to extract your soul.”

Ye Fan had no real chance based on combat ability. The gap between their realms was like heaven and earth, and he didn’t even know how deep Ji Ren’s cultivation truly was.

But Ye Fan was waiting for a chance, to unleash his ultimate trump card.

As Ji Ren neared, Ye Fan saw the moment was right.

Just then, a golden lake appeared between Ye Fan’s brows, like a tiny sun fixed in place.

It shimmered and pulsed. A blinding golden beam shot forth, transforming into a golden divine sword, slicing through the air like a blade to sever the heavens!

This was a divine soul attack. After consuming the Sacred Fruit, Ye Fan’s spiritforce had become extraordinarily powerful, refined enough to manifest in form.

He’d spent over a year developing this technique, a killing move aimed directly at the mind!

“Ahhhhhh, !”

Ji Ren screamed, clutching his head, collapsing to the ground in agony. The psychic attack was a perfect hit!

The previously calm and cruel Ji Ren was now twisted in pain, howling in torment.

Ye Fan’s body pulsed with power. His flesh gleamed as godpower surged. He hurled a golden fist forward.

“Boom!” His punch smashed directly into Ji Ren’s jaw.

Crack!

Bone shattered, his jaw broke instantly.

“You old bastard! Didn’t you act all high and mighty?! I’ll beat you into the Eighteenth Layer of Hell!”

Ji Ren was sent flying into the air.

Ye Fan twisted mid-step and swung his leg like a steel whip.

“Smack!” His right leg crashed into Ji Ren’s chest, slamming him down hard.

Though Ji Ren’s cultivation was deep, his body couldn’t compare to Ye Fan’s sacred physique. His chest caved in, bones cracked.

“You damn mutt! Weren’t you looking down on me?” Ye Fan shouted, kicking Ji Ren’s shoulder and sending him spinning again.

Before Ji Ren could hit the ground, Ye Fan dashed forward and stomped down hard.

Boom!

Ji Ren was slammed into the earth.

“So what if you’re an Ancient Desolate Clan? One day, I’ll visit the Ji Clan myself and tear apart your so-called holy land! That dead hag better live long enough to see it, !”

“Boom!” Ye Fan kicked the rolling Ji Ren high into the air again.