Shrouded Sky

Chapter 183 - Land of Misfortune

“Do you know the name of that Grand Emperor?” Ye Fan asked eagerly.

Wang Shu shook his head. “I don’t know. I only heard Fifth Master Zhang mention, while drunk, that it was an Ancient Grand Emperor, but he didn’t say a name.”

“My grandpa said,” Er Lengzi began mysteriously, “the Zhang Clan settled here to guard that Purple Mountain.”

“What did your grandpa say?” Ye Fan asked, shocked.

“My grandpa heard it from the elders, just that one line, nothing more.” Er Lengzi thought hard, then added, “He also mentioned that a thousand years ago, the Zhang Clan’s Celestial Source Tome was lost because of that Purple Mountain.”

“The Celestial Source Tome is connected to Purple Mountain?” Ye Fan’s heart raced. He desperately wanted to see that extraordinary book.

“My grandpa said one of our ancestors ignored the warnings, entered the mountain with the Celestial Source Tome, and never returned. The book was lost ever since.” Er Lengzi spoke in a hushed tone, glancing back as if afraid of being overheard.

Ye Fan’s mind churned. That Purple Mountain was no ordinary place, it was extraordinary.

How many Grand Emperors had there been since antiquity? Their Paragon Artifacts, unparalleled in power, could dominate the world. Sacred Grounds revered them as supreme treasures.

When wielded in harmony with a Paragon Artifact, one stood invincible. With a steady supply of divine power, few in the Eastern Wilderness could oppose them.

The achievements of Ancient Grand Emperors were nearly impossible to surpass. Some speculated that the Eastern Wilderness’s ancient scriptures were each created by different emperors. How could Ye Fan remain calm thinking of this?

The Ancient Grand Emperors forged Paragon Artifacts and created peerless scriptures, priceless treasures of the Eastern Wilderness.

“If that Purple Mountain is tied to a Grand Emperor, finding his cultivation method would be like obtaining a complete ancient scripture!”

Ye Fan believed that a Grand Emperor’s cultivation method would be unmatched.

“And if I could find a Paragon Artifact…” The mere thought thrilled him.

But he quickly calmed down. Fifth Master Zhang had repeatedly warned that it was a place of misfortune. Gaining anything from it would likely be harder than reaching the heavens.

Ye Fan left the stone village again, and a quarter-hour later, he stood before the massive Purple Mountain, circling it widely.

“What’s inside?” he muttered. No matter how he observed, he found nothing special, even with his divine sense.

“What did that Grand Emperor leave here, and why is it connected to him?” He hoped most for an uncirculated ancient scripture, exactly what he needed now.

But these were just thoughts. The might of an Ancient Grand Emperor was unimaginable, and even if something remained, it wouldn’t be easy to obtain.

Ye Fan ascended to the summit of Purple Mountain again. At that moment, his expression froze, his face full of disbelief, unable to trust his own eyes.

Yesterday morning, he had used his golden book to carve a large pit into the summit. But now, the peak was smooth, without a trace of damage, as if it had never been touched.

“How is this possible? I clearly…” A shiver ran through Ye Fan. The words “place of misfortune” surfaced in his mind, and he leaped into the air, no longer standing on the peak.

“Why is this happening? Can it repair itself?” His heart was unsettled.

“Or… yesterday, was I deceived by an illusion? Did I not actually break the summit? Could there be some hidden dao runes?”

After a moment’s thought, Ye Fan summoned his golden book, retreating far back and controlling it to strike.

Golden light flashed, stone chips flew, and rocks rolled. A pit appeared on the summit. He retrieved a large purple stone, touching it with his hands, it was no illusion. Then, he cut off a small piece of purple stone and flew far away, watching the mountain.

Ye Fan was patient, waiting in the sky for a full day. Even as stars filled the night, the towering Purple Mountain remained unchanged. Unhurried, he stood motionless in the air, his divine sense probing, observing carefully.

This place was tied to an Ancient Grand Emperor, so he took it seriously, hoping to uncover its secrets.

At midnight, Ye Fan noticed the pit on the Purple Mountain’s summit silently changing, slowly flattening and restoring itself. Yet the stone in his hand remained, still existing. “This mountain can grow back!” Ye Fan was astonished.

He didn’t probe further. The midnight air was chillingly cold, even for his physique.

Since the Zhang Clan guarded this place, they must know some secrets. Ye Fan decided not to act rashly and flew back to the village to ask tomorrow.

Returning to his stone house, he found Fifth Master Zhang awake, anxious, waiting for him. “You’re back! Did you go to that purple mountain?”

Ye Fan nodded.

Fifth Master Zhang stood abruptly, urging, “Don’t go there again! I told you, it’s not a good place. Lingering there invites trouble.”

“What exactly is that Purple Mountain, and how is it tied to an Ancient Grand Emperor?” Ye Fan needed answers.

Fifth Master Zhang sighed.

“Fine, I’ll tell you everything, or you’ll keep exploring. But, to tell you the truth, I know very little.”

“No worries. Take your time.”

“This purple mountain was discovered by my ancestor, a Celestial Source Master. He warned us not to approach it, only to pay respects from afar.”

The Celestial Source Master had solemnly cautioned that the Purple Mountain was linked to an Ancient Grand Emperor and must not be profaned. Revering it would bring blessings to descendants.

“There are artifacts inside that must not be provoked, or great calamity will follow,” Fifth Master Zhang sighed. “Sadly, a thousand years ago, an ancestor ignored the warning, entered the mountain with the Celestial Source Tome, and never returned.”

Ye Fan’s heart stirred. There might be peerless Godsources inside, perhaps even a Paragon Artifact.

Seeing his thoughts, Fifth Master Zhang said, “There are indeed treasures in the Purple Mountain, more than one Godsource. But you must not covet them.”

“M-more than one?!” Ye Fan was stunned.

Whenever a peerless Godsource was unearthed, it shook the Eastern Wilderness. Sacred Grounds offered astronomical prices, vying for it, sometimes leading to bloodshed.

For such rare Godsources to exist in multiple within the Purple Mountain was staggering.

“My ancestor, a Celestial Source Master, unmatched in Source mining, could locate dragon veins by terrain and lock on to Godsources through the alignment of the stars,” Fifth Master Zhang paused. “He was tempted to take the Godsources but ultimately retreated.”

“Why?”

Fifth Master Zhang shook his head. “He even considered asking Jade Pool’s fairies for help but gave up, fearing it would harm them.”

“What?!” Ye Fan was shocked. “Taking the Godsources could harm a Sacred Ground?”

“He was vague, but I think he meant it could damage Jade Pool.”

Ye Fan found it hard to believe. Jade Pool Sacred Ground, having stood tall since the Desolate Era, was founded by a female Sage Monarch, with a Paragon Artifact and an ancient scripture. Enduring countless ages, standing aloof from worldly strife, could a mere Purple Mountain threaten them?

“There are living creatures beneath that Purple Mountain,” Fifth Master Zhang said, his face paling. He quickly bowed toward the mountain, then stood, saying, “So, don’t go. You’ll gain nothing and only risk your life.”

Ye Fan’s expression changed. Living creatures made his chances slim indeed.

But he was puzzled. Godsources sealed terrifying primordial creatures, still alive, but what did they have to do with the Grand Emperor? What had he left there? “I don’t know what that Ancient Grand Emperor set up. My ancestor left no clues,” Fifth Master Zhang replied.

Over the next three days, Ye Fan studied Source-detection methods with Fifth Master Zhang. Though only fragments of the Celestial Source Tome remained, they were immensely useful.

Wang Shu, the clever youth, noticed Ye Fan’s focus on Source-detection and smiled. “Brother Ye, are you planning to gamble on stones?”

“Gamble on stones?” Ye Fan was surprised, familiar with the term from Earth, where betting on jade stones was popular.

“You don’t know?” Wang Shu asked, puzzled. “Tell me more.”

“It’s betting on Source stones…” Wang Shu explained patiently. It was as Ye Fan suspected.

Source stones were unique, impervious to divine sense or godpower. Only by cutting them open could one know if Source was inside. Ye Fan knew this but hadn’t realized a thriving stone-gambling industry existed. “In the past, our village was wealthy. My grandpa’s generation went to see and joined in,” Wang Shu said enviously.

“No problem. Tell me the details, and I’ll take you someday.”

“It’s simple, no strict rules…” Wang Shu elaborated.

“I want to go too,” Er Lengzi chimed in, overhearing. “But the nearest place is hundreds of miles away, in a thousand-mile oasis, very prosperous.”

“That’s just an ordinary gambling spot,” Wang Shu said wistfully. “The best is tens of thousands of miles away, in the Celestial City, the Northern Region’s most prosperous place. Half the top Source stones from the Primordial Mine go there, it’s a gambler’s paradise.”

“Sacred Grounds…” Ye Fan was surprised.

“Yes, it’s the ultimate experience. Even legendary figures from the Heartlands and Northern Regions are drawn there,” Wang Shu said dreamily. “Top-tier service, with fairy-like maids cutting stones, exotic beast dishes, rare herbs, and century-old wines, it’s pure enjoyment.”

“Tch!” Er Lengzi scoffed. “That’s just what the wandering daoist said. You haven’t seen it yourself.”

“It’s true!” Wang Shu retorted. “Don’t forget Fifth Master’s ancestor, a Celestial Source Master who lived it and left many legends.”

“Right, I forgot,” Er Lengzi admitted, scratching his head. “Brother Ye, are you learning Source-detection to gamble? Take me too!”

“After hearing this, I do want to see it. It’d be great to bankrupt a Sacred Ground,” Ye Fan mused wickedly.

“What’s so great about Sacred Grounds?” Er Lengzi said dismissively. “My grandpa said Fifth Master’s ancestor, the Celestial Source Master, made their faces green with losses.”

Ye Fan was shocked. “Is that true?”

“Absolutely,” Er Lengzi continued. “The old folks in our village all know. The Celestial Source Master left many legends.”

Wang Shu added, “It’s true. He won Godsources from Sacred Grounds, making their faces green. They must’ve wanted to jump in a river.”

Ye Fan was dumbfounded. What kind of skill did it take to spot Godsources? The Celestial Source Master was astounding.

“Back then, he didn’t just win one Godsource. The Sacred Grounds were desperate, practically ready to worship him,” Er Lengzi said, beaming as if he’d done it himself.

“So powerful…” Ye Fan’s heart raced. Mastering such a technique could make Sacred Grounds like Radiant Light and the Ji Clan squirm without bloodshed.

“Truly extraordinary. Since antiquity, only a few Celestial Source Masters have existed in the Northern Region. Their legacy is gone now,” Wang Shu said mysteriously. “Fifth Master’s ancestor did many glorious things…”

“What else?” Ye Fan’s interest was piqued.

Wang Shu whispered, “He became a gambling legend, not only making Sacred Grounds lose face but even winning a Jade Pool saintess.”

“Pfft!” Ye Fan spat out his tea. “That’s possible? A rumor, right?”

“It’s true. Fifth Master’s ancestor was a gambling master. He targeted Jade Pool’s Source stone pavilion, gambled for seven days and nights, and the saintess, trying to recover losses, bet herself and still lost.”

Ye Fan’s gossiping spirit blazed. “What happened next?”

“Sadly, the Celestial Source Master didn’t press her. He let her go politely, and afterward, his relationship with Jade Pool became closer,” Wang Shu said regretfully.

Ye Fan sighed. That Celestial Source Master was a true marvel. He yearned even more for the Celestial Source Tome. “I must find a way to bring that book back to light.”

Ye Fan deeply felt the terror of his Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique, an insatiable pit. Each realm required ten times the resources. He estimated the nine transformations of the Other Shore Stage to reach perfection would need over a hundred pounds of Source.

For the first stage of the Dao Palace, at ten times that, he’d need a thousand pounds, even a small sect couldn’t afford that.

For the second stage, another tenfold increase made Ye Fan nearly faint. It was astronomical!

He couldn’t bear it. The numbers were beyond reason, enough to make Sacred Grounds spit blood. “I must get the Celestial Source Tome!” Ye Fan’s face paled at the thought of his cultivation needs.

Without it, his Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique’s bottomless pit couldn’t be filled. He had to become a Celestial Source Master, making others’ faces green, not his own.

“I must take the risk. Even if I don’t touch Purple Mountain’s treasures, I have to get the Celestial Source Tome.”

“Brother Ye, why’s your face green?” Er Lengzi asked innocently.

“Nonsense! My face isn’t green. If anyone’s face is green, it’s the Sacred Grounds.”

“Are you really going stone gambling?” Wang Shu asked eagerly.

“Of course. I’ll win a Jade Pool saintess and won’t let her go, otherwise, I’d be less than a beast.”