Shrouded Sky

Chapter 216 - Seal of Mountain and River

A teenage Daoist, with clear eyes and fluttering robes, stood calmly. Though youthful and refined, the Seal of Mountain and River hovering above his head exuded an awe-inspiring presence, silencing all around.

It was a striking scene: Departing Fire Sect’s Supreme Elder and Profound Moon Grotto-Heaven’s Supreme Master, their killing intent surging like a furnace, faced this youth as if confronting a formidable foe.

“Hah!” Departing Fire’s Supreme Elder struck first, spitting out a dazzling light that fixed in midair. The bronze furnace reappeared, crystalline and radiant, growing from an inch to a hundred meters, flames soaring skyward.

Rumble. The furnace shook, its sound like a tsunami, deafening. Its lid, though bronze, shimmered like multicolored glass, nearly transparent, revealing raging flames within. Crack. The lid slid open, unleashing a blazing torrent of Departing Fire flames into the sky.

The terrifying heat evaporated a nearby waterfall on a green peak, mist swirling outward. Even from a distance, the scorching aura drenched spectators in sweat, their flesh nearly desiccating, some hair igniting.

Far-off disciples felt dread but also confidence. “The sect’s God Furnace is terrifying!” they exclaimed. With their Supreme Elder wielding this supreme weapon, failure to incinerate this youth would be unthinkable.

Profound Moon Grotto-Heaven’s Supreme Master, white hair flowing, eyes gleaming, said, “Departing Fire’s God Furnace is awe-inspiring!” As a sect leader himself, his awe underscored the furnace’s fearsome power as a deadly weapon.

The furnace, like a mountain, descended toward Ye Fan, red light flooding the sky, its oppressive force burning soul and flesh, scorching all. Ye Fan’s robes billowed as he stepped through the void, ascending. The Seal of Mountain and River above transformed into radiant light, vast mountains and rivers within, striking the furnace.

Clang. The seal, like the heavens, struck the furnace, its sound like a dragon splitting the sky. Many bled from their ears, pierced by the invisible soundwave, some screaming as they were flung back, terrified.

Departing Fire’s God Furnace, with its fiery might and wounding sound, held unmatched destructive power. Ye Fan knew the Seal of Mountain and River’s terror better than anyone, yet it didn’t crack the furnace, revealing its extraordinary nature.

Boom. Flames poured like a waterfall from the furnace, engulfing Ye Fan, red light flooding the sky. Distant disciples screamed as their clothes ignited, turning to ash. Endless Departing Fires boiled, dominating the heavens. Ye Fan pressed the Seal of Mountain and River against the furnace, trying to pin it.

Clang. He charged forward, golden palms spinning like millstones, striking the furnace relentlessly. The piercing sound echoed, his massive golden hands, like windmills, sent sparks and golden light flying, their terrifying force chilling onlookers.

Clang, clang, clang…

Ye Fan, like a tempest, circled the hundred-meter furnace, striking countless times, the crystalline walls ringing. His monstrous physique, wielding the War Paragon Art, unleashed incalculable force, yet the furnace held.

His golden palms left deep imprints, detailed with palm lines, but they faded quickly. Boom. Torrents of flame surged like water, overwhelming Ye Fan, capable of incinerating all. Even distant spectators felt their skin split.

Buzz. Ye Fan’s fingers glowed brighter, nearly transparent, wielding the Nine Secrets’ great hand seal, its divine might unfathomable. Clang. His massive golden hand scattered the flames, striking the furnace, leaving a half-meter-deep imprint. Yet the furnace endured, restoring itself.

Ye Fan frowned. Both the Seal of Mountain and River and hand seal, powered by the Nine Secrets, couldn’t break the furnace, shocking him. Using the Old Madman’s steps, he aimed to bypass it, targeting Departing Fire’s elder, who, wary after a prior defeat, stayed guarded.

“Fire Phoenix Ascends!” the elder roared. From the furnace, a fire phoenix soared, wings blazing, magma rolling like rivers. Its cry resounded, clear and far-reaching, eighty-one magma streams flowing upward like reversed waterfalls.

Red light twisted the void, a nearby mountain’s peak withered, trees and grass turning to ash. Rocks melted into glowing liquid, waterfalls dried, replaced by fiery rivers. The scene was heart-stopping, the heat terrifying all.

The phoenix, seemingly sentient, dove at Ye Fan, eighty-one fire rivers surging. Boom. A nearby peak, grazed, lost ten meters, melting into gas. Ye Fan’s expression hardened, the furnace’s energy was extraordinary.

“Rise!” He raised the Seal of Mountain and River single-handedly, striking the phoenix. Boom. Flames erupted, the phoenix screeched, wings disheveled, flying back. The nearby mountain lost more height, reduced to ash.

“Seal!” Profound Moon’s Supreme Master struck, seizing the moment to corner Ye Fan. As the Seal of Mountain and River hit the phoenix, he unfurled a scroll, covering the sky, enveloping Ye Fan like a world descending.

Ye Fan repelled the phoenix but faced the scroll’s devouring force. He struck upward with golden palms to tear it, but the furnace’s lid flew open, flames retracting like a black hole, swallowing all.

Bang. Ye Fan, attacking the scroll, was sucked into the furnace. Its crystalline lid slammed shut, multicolored light flashing, sealing him inside.

Distant disciples cheered, relieved. Ye Fan’s dominance, his monstrous strength for his age, had instilled deep fear. “Finally trapped! Kill him, refine him forever!” “The God Furnace will turn him to ash, never to rise!”

Profound Moon’s leader retrieved the scroll, sighing, “The Departing Fire Divine Furnace is fearsome, no matter your power, none can resist.”

“A sect treasure, a great killing weapon from our forebears,” Departing Fire’s elder said, smiling, relieved to have trapped the youth.

“Is this a replica of the legendary Sun God Furnace?” Profound Moon’s leader asked.

Departing Fire’s elder shook his head. “A Paragon Artifact? No one could replicate it. This is just a failed cast-off, or it wouldn’t have reached a small sect like ours.”

Clang, clang… The crystalline lid flashed with five-colored light, the furnace trembling violently. “He’s breaking out!” Departing Fire’s elder exclaimed.

“Impossible! The furnace melts all, none have escaped once trapped,” Profound Moon’s leader said, shocked. The deafening noise stunned disciples, fear rising.

Clang! The lid lifted half a foot, nearly flying off.

“Seal!” Departing Fire’s elder roared, flames surging to secure it. Profound Moon’s leader unleashed the scroll to lock the furnace.

Boom. Flames soared, the lid flew off, and Ye Fan shot skyward. Despite their timely moves, they couldn’t stop him. With the Nine Secrets’ War Paragon Art, Ye Fan unleashed over ten killing arts, breaking free. His unmatched power forced the lid open, his momentum unstoppable.