Shrouded Sky

Chapter 235 - Black Emperor

Ye Fan tried several times and finally gained something, he learned that the big black dog was not a race from the Primordial Era but was somewhat close to the Invincible Emperor.

However, he paid the price. In the following days, he was often bitten by the dog. The black dog held grudges, whether he was eating or going out, it would sneak up and bite him.

“Damn it, getting bitten by a dog every day, what the hell is this?” He was speechless. He’d never seen a dog this vindictive.

For a cultivator to be bitten by a dog, if word got out, people would laugh themselves to death. Truly embarrassing.

If his body weren’t as tough as divine iron, he wouldn’t have been able to endure it. Even so, he had several bruises.

“If you bite me again, I’ll skin you and eat dog meat!”

As soon as he said that, he brought disaster upon himself. For more than ten days, the black dog attacked even more fiercely.

Ye Fan fought back several times, but it was no use. That shiny black body was absurdly tough. His golden palms thundered down, shaking the heavens, yet couldn’t injure it.

“How the hell did it train its body?! This is ridiculous!”

What relieved him slightly was that the black dog, for some reason, could only bite and pounce. It couldn’t use spells and couldn’t even fly.

“That’s strange, even an ordinary dog demon can fly.”

Ye Fan observed for over ten days. Every morning, the black dog would circle Purple Mountain, then absorb the essence of the sun and moon to cultivate. That was all.

“Black Emperor, your so-called supreme scripture isn’t working. You can’t even fly.”

The black dog shot him a sidelong glance. “My path is mysterious and profound. My cultivation has returned to simplicity. What can you even see? Stop trying to dig up my secrets.”

“With that broken scripture of yours not even suitable for humans, why would I want it?” Ye Fan found the dog extremely vigilant. Getting anything more out of it would be harder than reaching the sky.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after...” the black dog lifted its massive head proudly. “Forget it. No chance. Give up now.”

Ye Fan stroked his chin. This old freak really was hard to deal with. It had lived too long and was sharper than most people.

“If you want ancient scriptures, it’s not impossible, bring me a block of Godsource to eat.”

Ye Fan wanted to punch it. “Why don’t I just dig out the entire Primordial Mine and give it to you? Godsource? I haven’t even seen one!”

“Then forget it.” The black dog tilted its head, glanced at him, and swaggered off.

“Actually, I know the whereabouts of an ancient scripture from a demon emperor.” Ye Fan said casually.

“You’re still using this kind of trick?” the black dog scoffed and didn’t even turn its head. Its tail stood up high as it walked away.

Ye Fan flicked a drop of blood, saying nothing, and walked in the opposite direction.

With a whoosh, the black dog darted back. Its white fangs bared, blocking his path.

“Black Emperor, what do you want now?”

“You’ve eaten the flesh of demon emperors, haven’t you? I smell supreme demon blood,” it growled, its expression more human than a person’s.

“You think I’m as savage as you? I’ve never killed anything in my life.”

“If I believe that, I must be crazy!”

“You believe me now, don’t you? That’s the aura of a demon emperor. I do know where one ancient demon scripture is.” Ye Fan spoke gently, trying to lure it in.

“No wonder I’ve had the urge to eat you... you’ve got a trace of emperor’s blood in your body.” The dog licked its lips with a long red tongue.

“Black Emperor, what are you thinking?!”

“I want to eat you!” The black dog lunged with its mouth wide open. Ye Fan activated his Sun-Moon Seal, his golden palm vibrating to knock the dog down.

The place echoed like a blacksmith shop, the sounds deafening.

After two hours, Ye Fan’s arms were numb. He couldn’t fight anymore and soared into the air, pulling on a shirt. The dog had bitten and clawed at him, almost causing real trouble.

“Damn it, bitten by a dog again!” Looking at the teeth marks on his body, Ye Fan was fed up. No cultivator had ever been chased and bitten by a dog like this.

The black dog panted, its red tongue hanging out. “I believe you now, you’ve refined an emperor’s blood. Your flesh is too tough, not tasty.”

Ye Fan cursed and walked off.

“Wait, let’s talk. If you bring me a piece of Godsource, I’ll tell you the location of an ancient scripture.” The black dog shouted from behind.

“Not interested!” Ye Fan didn’t even turn around as he flew toward the stone village. The dog was clearly tempted but still demanded too much. He had to stay patient.

Over the next two days, Black Emperor stayed quiet, finally giving Ye Fan two peaceful, bite-free days.

On the fourth day, the black dog appeared again. “Hey, kid, are you doing this on purpose, dangling the bait? We both want ancient scriptures. Let’s talk.”

“You give me three pieces of Godsource, I’ll tell you where a demon emperor’s scripture is.”

“Woof...” The black dog almost lunged at him, eyes fierce.

“Fine, one piece of Godsource,” Ye Fan said calmly.

“You little punk, trying to extort me? Not even half a piece! You want a human scripture? Bring me one piece first!” the black dog growled.

“Keep dreaming. I haven’t even seen one myself.”

“Don’t think I don’t know, you’ve obtained the Celestial Source Tome. You’ll definitely find Godsource.”

“Even if I do, I’m not giving it to you.” The conversation broke down. Ye Fan and the dog both refused to give in.

The next day, the argument continued.

“Give me one piece, I’ll tell you one scripture. Ten pieces, I’ll recite half a scripture. Fifty, I’ll give you a complete one,” the black dog coaxed.

“Why don’t you just dive into the Primordial Mine? The entire Northern Region might not even have fifty! You think they’re sweet potatoes?” Ye Fan’s fingers glowed gold, itching to slap the dog’s head.

“Come on, supreme scriptures are priceless. Okay, tell me where the demon emperor’s scripture is...”

“Why don’t we flip it, you give me the Godsource, I give you the demon scripture.” Ye Fan smiled.

“Woof, fine, you win.” The black dog finally gave in. “Let’s trade locations. That way, neither of us loses.”

“I still think I’m losing. You’re too sly. How do I know you’re not lying?” Ye Fan took out a green jade turtle and played with it, testing the dog’s reaction.

As expected, its eyes turned green. It silently lunged with lightning speed and took a bite.

Even though Ye Fan was ready, he was still bitten twice. Fortunately, it didn’t get the jade turtle, he shot into the sky.

“Damn it, bitten again!” he cursed.

“Hey, that’s offensive. ‘Again bitten by a dog’? Sounds like you’re insulting me!” the black dog protested.

“Don’t you have any dog manners? Always sneak attacks and cheap shots, you’re the worst.”

“Let me see that broken jade.” The dog narrowed its eyes.

“Give it to you? It’d be like throwing meat buns at a dog, gone forever. Dream on.” Ye Fan hovered in the air.

The black dog was furious. “It’s just a piece of broken jade! I only said it looks like the one I used to wear. Fine, forget it.”

It pretended not to care and walked off.

Ye Fan sneered, “You think I don’t know what it is? Calling it a broken jade? It’s clearly the shell of a Godsource.”

The black dog froze, turned around. “Nonsense.”

Ye Fan laughed coldly. “Keep pretending.”

The dog came back slowly. “It’s just a Source shell. Not much essence left. Fine, I’ll count it as half a piece. Get me another half, and I’ll tell you where the scripture is.”

“You’re such a black-hearted dog. Stop pretending. I know this thing hides a huge secret.” Ye Fan’s voice turned cold. “I got this from a grand divine temple in the Primordial Mine. Everything else was corroded, even Grand Dao Silver Essence, but this remained intact.”

“Really? Let me see it more clearly.” The dog leaned in.

“You’re trying another sneak attack, aren’t you?!” Ye Fan flew higher.

Over the next days, they bickered nonstop. Ye Fan found this dog too much. He truly wanted to kill it and make hotpot, but he couldn’t hurt it.

Half a month later, he lost patience and was ready to leave the stone village. Just then, the black dog finally gave in.

“Kid, fine, you win. For the first time in my life, I’m compromising. I’ll point you to the path to an ancient scripture. Whether you find it or not is up to you.”

“Cut the nonsense. I only want the Western Emperor Scripture. If you don’t have that, I’m out. And don’t even think about seeing this jade turtle ever again.”

The dog’s expression flickered. “Brat, you’re too ruthless. Why should I guide you first and only get paid after? That’s unfair.”

“I have a credibility guarantee, yours? I don’t see it.”

“What did you say? You’re slandering me!”

“Farewell!” Ye Fan turned and left.

“You young people have no patience. Fine, I’ll take you to the Western Emperor Scripture.” The black dog scowled. “But you must give me the jade turtle if you succeed.”

“No problem.” Ye Fan agreed.

“And tell me where that demon scripture is.”

“Sure.”

“You agreed too fast. Are you tricking me?” The dog was suspicious.

“I’m starting to wonder if you’re a dog or a fox.”

“Insult me again and you’ll see what happens!”

The black dog only respected Master Zhang. It waved goodbye with its bald tail and followed Ye Fan.

Crackle!

Ye Fan transformed his appearance with a divine technique, turning into a completely different young man.

The black dog scoffed.

“You must’ve done something awful, changing your look just to travel.”

“Cut the crap. Take me to the Western Emperor Scripture.” Ye Fan was growing tired of the dog.

“Take me around nearby cities first,” it insisted, tail high, eyes scanning the land.

“We’re not sightseeing. We’re after the scripture. Didn’t you say it was carved on a cliff by the Western Emperor herself?”

“I’ve been in hiding for years. Mountains and rivers have changed. I need to reorient myself.”

“You’ve lived how long, and you’re blaming the landscape? What a joke.” Ye Fan glared.

God Kings lived for thousands of years. Most others much less.

“Relax. After a few laps, I’ll find that cliff.” The black dog ran off like black lightning.

Over the next days, they visited over thirty cities. The dog wandered everywhere like a tourist.

“You really have a shady past. Look, they’ve put up wanted posters for you. Thousand-kilo source stone reward.”

In an ancient city, Ye Fan saw his own portrait. Clearly, the Ji Clan and Radiant Light Sacred Ground had posted bounty notices.

He’d seen this exact kind of wanted poster before.

“When I’m free, I’ll kick the asses of all their so-called young elites.”

“You want to practice on them after getting the Western Emperor Scripture, huh?” the black dog guessed his plan.

“You still haven’t figured out the location? Don’t tell me you forgot.” Ye Fan scowled.

“I’m remembering now. We can go.” The dog gave a firm nod.

After several more days, Ye Fan sensed something was wrong, they were heading toward the Primordial Mine.

“You sure we’re not going the wrong way? This leads to the mine.”

“No mistake. This is the way to the former site of the Jade Pool.”

Ye Fan had heard that the Jade Pool site was over ten thousand miles from the mine. The sect had supposedly relocated. But no one knew where it had gone.

It’s said that when the Jade Pool left, it sealed everything around the mine. The vast region was now all mining area.

The dog, like an old scout, studied terrain and bypassed danger zones, leading Ye Fan deep into red-colored earth.

“Why did the Jade Pool leave?” Ye Fan asked.

Many ancient texts said the Jade Pool was far from the mine. Few mentioned relocation.

“No one knows.”

Under the moonlight, they walked through no-man’s-land for over ten days, still no sign of the ruins.

“This isn’t right. The Jade Pool was supposed to be scenic, full of green hills and water. But there’s nothing here,” the dog muttered.

Under the moon, the red land stretched endlessly. Not even boulders were in sight.

The black dog looked up at the moon, then at the barren land. “This place is sealed. Kid, search well. If we enter a fragrant, beautiful world, there may be great fortune.”

Suddenly, Ye Fan tensed, far off on the horizon, a white figure soared into the sky.

“The Jade Pool’s Soaring Immortal!” the black dog’s eyes gleamed. “Looks like we’re in the right place. We must uncover the sealed Jade Pool site. I want to know why they left.”