Shrouded Sky

Chapter 182 - Celestial Source Master

For the first seven days, Ye Fan’s body shimmered with radiant light, his vitality like an ocean, with various phenomena manifesting within his Oceanic Wheel, accompanied by diverse sounds.

After seven days, the brilliance gradually faded, and the entire cave dimmed. Ye Fan’s body no longer glowed, resembling withered wood, with his vitality contained within, no longer flowing outward.

On the eighth day, his body shriveled, a stark contrast to its former crystalline brilliance, now like tattered cloth.

On the ninth day, his organs ceased functioning. Compared to their previous vigorous vitality, they now seemed lifeless and heavy with deathly stillness.

On the tenth day, his bones turned ashen, no longer pure white, as if on the verge of decay, unable to endure.

This was the transformation of the Other Shore Stage.

Upon reaching the Other Shore, a cultivator’s flesh, organs, and bones would wither, only to undergo a unique rebirth. Through nine cycles of blood renewal and bone transformation, the metamorphosis would be complete.

However, Ye Fan’s condition was clearly different. His transformation was gradual, not beginning only after reaching the peak of the Other Shore.

His nine transformations were staggered, and this was merely the first, not a continuous cycle of decay and rebirth.

Ye Fan’s entire being seemed on the verge of returning to dust, his vitality nearly exhausted.

It wasn’t until the eleventh day that, like grass enduring a harsh winter, he burst forth with renewed life, exuding boundless vitality.

The cave glowed brilliantly, filled with life essence. Ye Fan’s blood was reborn, flowing like a mighty river, its roar audible from afar.

His heart beat powerfully, like a drum resounding, its thump-thump startling to any ordinary observer. His organs resonated in unison, like the clang of music. His bones, shedding their ashen hue, became white as jade, translucent and trembling constantly.

Old hidden injuries, whether to his skin, organs, or bones, though long healed, underwent another cleansing during this bodily rebirth.

His entire body, free of impurities, was thoroughly renewed. This transformation lasted several days before Ye Fan fully awakened, his godpower surging within.

This could not be called a complete rebirth, but his physique had improved significantly, becoming much stronger.

“There are still eight more transformations. If I complete them all, the cumulative effect should rival a single full rebirth.”

Having undergone three rebirths, twice from consuming the sacred fruits and once from refining his body with the Imperial Demon Heart, he felt that the nine transformations of the Other Shore combined might equate to one full rebirth.

Ye Fan discovered he had consumed nine pounds of Source, which shocked him. Such a massive consumption was beyond his expectations. He had thought this amount of Source would suffice to reach the peak of the Other Shore and enter the Dao Palace Realm.

“At this rate, even dozens of pounds of Source won’t be enough to complete all nine transformations. I need to find more.”

The large consumption of Source indicated a thorough transformation and significant physical improvement, but it was still astonishing, far exceeding that of ordinary cultivators.

“This is a lavish expenditure…” Ye Fan sighed. Had he not come to the Northern Region, this problem would have been nearly impossible to solve.

In the following days, Ye Fan secluded himself in cultivation, not venturing out. His Jade Purification Vase held ample food and water, so he had no worries.

Time passed swiftly, and two months later, Ye Fan had undergone six transformations, exhausting all his Source.

These six transformations made him far stronger, and his Oceanic Wheel had evolved further.

In the cave, Ye Fan sat unmoving, surrounded by arcs of lightning, accompanied by a green lotus, with a blue sky above and a golden sea beneath.

These were not true phenomena but an advanced evolution of his Oceanic Wheel, breaking free from the constraints of his mortal shell and manifesting visibly.

The green lotus, embodying the principle of “the Dao begets one,” bore only three leaves, symbolizing the creation of all things. It swayed gently, shrouded in chaotic mist, enveloping Ye Fan.

The blue sky, clear as a gem, shimmered above, with thunder dragons weaving through it, conjuring countless rays of lightning, as if recreating the thunderous tribulation of creation.

The golden sea rose and fell, yet Ye Fan remained steadfast, like a rock unmoved by the tides swirling around him.

This was a strange scene. Initially, the roar of waves and thunder was deafening, but eventually, all calmed into a tranquil, harmonious tableau.

Though not a true Celestial Phenomena, it rivaled them, surrounding Ye Fan as if he stood in a peculiar world.

In that moment, Ye Fan was serene, in harmony with the pulse of heaven and earth, a strange power latent within the tranquility.

After a long time, he opened his eyes, and the green lotus, blue sky, lightning, and golden sea all receded, vanishing within him.

Now, Ye Fan faced a pressing need to find more Source. His body was like a bottomless pit, insatiable for Source.

He envied the disciples of Sacred Grounds, who had access to the most powerful scriptures and endless heavenly treasures, needing only to cultivate diligently.

In contrast, he had to scheme for cultivation methods and mine Source himself. For a single forbidden technique, he had been hunted to the Northern Region, narrowly escaping death.

Boom!

Ye Fan cleaved the earth with his golden book, searching for Source veins, nearly turning the region upside down, leaving cracks and shattered rocks everywhere.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that he found a stone vein, the kind that encased Source. But after thorough excavation, he was disappointed, collecting only half a pound of Source, far too little.

Half a month later, Ye Fan had gathered just over a pound of Source, realizing that the best Source regions were controlled by holy lands, while other areas were barren.

This wouldn’t do; he needed another approach.

Returning to his dwelling, the stone mountain cave, Ye Fan spotted a group of over a dozen people, including an old man and several young men, circling the mountain.

“Ugh, Big Beard Chen is too ruthless. If we can’t deliver five pounds of Source, he’ll wipe out our entire village, young and old.”

“We have no choice. The strongest in our village is only at the Life Spring Stage. How can we fight them? They’re a band of powerful bandits.”

“The deadline is near. If we can’t find more Source, our village is in grave danger.”

“Fifth Master Zhang, you’ve circled this mountain. Is there Source here?” a simple-looking young man asked.

“There’s definitely Source in this mountain, and it’s likely a rich vein. But it’s a three-hundred-meter stone mountain, too difficult for us to mine,” Fifth Master Zhang, with his white hair, sighed.

Ye Fan had lived here for over two months without noticing the Source. Yet this man, after a single lap, confirmed its presence, sparking Ye Fan’s curiosity.

“Let’s go look elsewhere,” Fifth Master Zhang sighed. “The places we can mine have been exhausted. We’ll need to go farther. I hope we make it in time.”

The group turned their horses and headed off.

Soon after, Ye Fan flew out, landing atop the mountain. He wielded his golden book, slashing vertically and horizontally.

Rocks and earth flew, and within moments, he had shaved ten meters off the peak, revealing a Source vein.

Digging it out, he extracted two pounds of Source, a rich vein for this region.

“That old man has keen eyes!” Ye Fan marveled.

Hooves thundered as Fifth Master Zhang and the young men returned, having heard the commotion.

Seeing the mountain’s peak shaved and a fourteen-year-old boy standing atop, they were astonished.

“Young brother, no, young immortal, this old man pays his respects,” Fifth Master Zhang dismounted, bowing deeply.

The others followed, dismounting and saluting.

“No need for that, sir,” Ye Fan replied from above.

Among them, a sharp-witted seventeen-year-old quickly grasped the situation, kneeling and pleading, “Young immortal, save us! We have no way out!”

The others caught on, kneeling as well, crying, “Big Beard Chen will kill our entire village! Please, young immortal, save us!”

A young man named Er Lengzi kowtowed so hard his forehead bled, sobbing, “Young brother, save us! My sister was taken by them, she’s surely doomed. Now they want Source, or they’ll slaughter our village…”

Fifth Master Zhang knelt too, his white hair touching the ground, sighing, “Young immortal, please save us. We can’t gather five pounds of Source in time. Those beasts threaten to kill all the men and take the women.”

Ye Fan didn’t want trouble, but he couldn’t stand by while the weak were bullied, it was his nature.

“Elder, please rise,” he said, descending to help the bleeding old man up. “What kind of people are they?”

“A band of bandits, committing every evil. They lack the honor of the Thirteen Warlords, preying only on the weak.”

“Such bandits are common, but ones as vile as these are rare.”

The group explained in a flurry. These bandits had no fixed base, robbing Source wherever they went, killing and violating women without restraint.

They described the bandits as having cultivators at the Celestial Bridge Stage, far beyond the village’s Life Spring Stage defenders.

Ye Fan’s mind raced. These bandits, with their plundering, must have Source. He could become a lone bandit, targeting such groups.

“Elder, are there many such bandits?”

“Plenty, like locusts, one group leaves, another comes. The Northern Region is chaotic everywhere,” Fifth Master Zhang shook his head.

This explained why even villages had cultivators; without martial strength, survival was perilous.

Ye Fan’s eyes lit up. His Source problem was solved. He nodded, saying, “Fifth Master, I’ll go back with you.”

“Thank you, young immortal!” The group was overjoyed, bowing again.

“No need for that,” Ye Fan stopped them.

On the way, Ye Fan asked Fifth Master Zhang how he had identified the Source in the mountain.

“The mountain has a heavy aura, scales at the peak, and stone vines around its waist…” Fifth Master listed signs, concluding, “These indicate a hidden Source at it’s heart.”

Ye Fan was stunned. Mining Source was so complex, factoring in even the shifting of stars and changes in soil color.

“So intricate…” Ye Fan was amazed.

“This is just the basics,” Fifth Master shook his head. “Source mining is profound, requiring knowledge of terrain, underground veins, and sometimes celestial alignments…”

Ye Fan was astounded. Source mining was a vast and intricate art.

“Is all this true?” he asked.

“Of course! Fifth Master is the most renowned Source seeker in our region.”

“Fifth Master rarely misses a Source.”

Fifth Master shook his head. “I’ve only scratched the surface of my ancestors’ teachings. This knowledge is nearly lost.”

“Your ancestors were Celestial Source Masters, able to find Source dragon veins and pin down peerless Godsources,” Er Lengzi said.

“Celestial Source Masters… Godsources can escape?” Ye Fan was shocked.

“Godsources have life, carried by dragon veins. Even if found, they’re hard to catch,” a middle-aged man added.

Fifth Master shook his head. “My ancestors said it’s not the Godsource itself that’s alive, but the creatures sealed within.”

“What?!” Ye Fan was even more shocked that a mortal knew so much about Godsources.

“My ancestors speculated those creatures are immensely powerful, likely beyond even today’s Supreme Giants,” Fifth Master said openly. “My ancestor once saw a Supreme Giant emerge from a Godsource, its roar collapsing a mountain range.”

Ye Fan’s heart tightened, his imagination running wild. The Northern Region was too mysterious, its barren surface hiding unfinished “past events” sealed below.

“How much did your ancestors know about these ancient creatures?” Ye Fan asked.

“Not much,” Fifth Master shook his head. “They said these creatures are taboo in the Northern Region. Speaking of them too often invites misfortune.”

“Your ancestors, as Celestial Source Masters, must have been extraordinary to know such secrets…”

“Celestial Source Master was a title. In the distant past, few held it in the Northern Region. Now, such figures are gone,” the middle-aged man said with a sigh.

Ye Fan gasped. Celestial Source Masters were clearly no ordinary mortals.

“The Jade Pool Sacred Ground once invited Fifth Master’s ancestors as guests,” Er Lengzi interjected.

“What?!” Ye Fan was stunned.

To be invited to Jade Pool meant Celestial Source Masters were transcendent figures, capable of finding dragon veins and securing Godsources.

“Did Jade Pool ever visit your village again?” Ye Fan asked.

“Five hundred years ago, they came once. But the Celestial Source Tome was lost over a thousand years ago, and we only learned scraps, so we couldn’t help them,” Fifth Master sighed.

“Your ancestor must have been an extraordinary figure. Did he retire peacefully in this village?” Ye Fan asked, sensing the otherworldly nature of Celestial Source Masters.

Fifth Master sighed. “Celestial Source Masters, knowing too much about the secrets of Source, inevitably face misfortune…”