Shrouded Sky

Chapter 239 - Legacy of The Western Emperor

The big black dog looked deeply frustrated, but Ye Fan couldn’t see it. If he had, he would’ve definitely given the mutt a good beating, even if it meant getting bitten.

At that moment, a blazing sun hovered above the cliff like a mountain, filling the sky. Everything around was bright white, as if daylight had descended. Ye Fan sat cross-legged in the center of the radiant sun, motionless, expression peaceful and detached, fully immersed in a deep state of Dao comprehension.

The “Scripture Trigger” recorded in the Celestial Source Tome activated the imprint left by the Western Emperor. The great sun surged forth.

That palm-sized sun was a complex, unfathomable Dao rune imbued with the Emperor's imprint. Even after hundreds of thousands of years, it remained immortal and preserved.

Ye Fan’s consciousness was clear as he bathed in the fire. His Heart’s Divine Treasury blazed red like the sun, bursting into the sky and illuminating his Dao Palace, filling it with light.

The scripture he’d learned from the Celestial Source Tome was far from complete. Now, it was being completed. His heart’s divine core shone as bright as the sun, resonating with the celestial sun outside, as essence energy surged wildly.

The innate essence transformed, the acquired essence nourished. Fiery-red energy and surging Dao power flowed from the human body’s inner sun to every inch of his flesh.

His entire body turned crimson, then gradually translucent. A cloud of flames surrounded him, purifying his inner essence, cleansing all impurities. Inside and outside the Dao Palace, everything became clear. His flesh turned crystalline.

This was a new transformation. Within his Heart’s Divine Treasury, the fiery-red energy followed an even more complex path, both innate and acquired energies combining.

Ye Fan didn’t move. He focused intently on sensing these changes.

The immense sun in the sky contained no words, no sound, only a profound Dao resonance that fully expressed the mysteries of the Heart’s Divine Treasury in the Dao Palace realm.

The sun carved on the cliff corresponded to the “Sun Scroll” of the Dao Palace secret realm. Although Ye Fan didn’t gain direct scriptures from it, he experienced the profound transformation process.

This kind of inheritance contained not a single written word, only the creator’s artistic intent, illustrating the ancient scripture’s evolutionary path. It wasn’t labeled as the Western Emperor Scripture, but it was equivalent in value.

Ye Fan remained still until sunrise, when the dawn light broke. Only then did he suddenly open his eyes. At that moment, the blazing sun in mid-air shattered into countless firelights and rushed back into the cliff’s imprint.

He felt the Heart’s Divine Treasury of the Dao Palace Realm had been completed. It was different from before. Dao force now flowed more freely, and his essence surged throughout his body.

Standing atop the cliff, his robes fluttering in the morning glow, Ye Fan’s skin shone like jade. Though still youthful in appearance, he now exuded a celestial aura, graceful despite his youthful form.

"You really obtained the Western Emperor Scripture?" the big black dog asked, clearly upset.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Do you think even after bringing me here and showing me the place, I still wouldn’t be able to cultivate the ancient scripture?” Ye Fan glared at him.

The big black dog awkwardly smiled. “How could that be? Would I be that shady? Just asking, that's all.”

“Hurry and take me to find the rest of the Western Emperor Scripture.” Ye Fan demanded.

“Kid, have you come into contact with the scripture before? Do you already have that so-called ‘scripture trigger’?” the dog asked.

“What are you talking about? What’s this ‘scripture trigger’?” Ye Fan narrowed his eyes.

“Damn it… How can you cultivate without having the trigger? I really took a loss this time,” the black dog muttered almost inaudibly.

Ye Fan, whose divine sense far exceeded his cultivation realm, caught that mutter and immediately frowned. As expected, this damn dog couldn’t be trusted.

“Black Emperor, did you find any other Western Emperor carvings?”

“Nope. Searched everywhere. That’s the only one,” the dog lied shamelessly.

“Cut the crap. Don’t stall. Lead the way. Or do you not want the jade turtle anymore?” Ye Fan threatened.

“Let me borrow that bald-headed nut of yours. I’m sure I can use it to find more parts of the scripture.”

“Don’t give me that crap. Do you even know what this seed does?” Ye Fan glanced at it sideways.

“Of course I do. You used it to trigger the sun and obtain the scripture, didn’t you?”

“Stop eyeing it!” Ye Fan refused flatly. Lending it would be like tossing meat to a dog, never getting it back.

Eventually, the dog gave in, reluctantly leading Ye Fan to another stone mountain. This one bore a palm-sized imprint of golden essence.

This time, Ye Fan was already experienced. He didn’t waste time and directly triggered the Western Emperor’s mark.

In an instant, golden essence roared skyward. He was pulled into divine metal light and sat beneath the sky, his true essence boiling.

The Lung's Divine Treasury, linked to metal in the Five Elements and leader of the five internal organs, known as the “canopy,” now surged with sharpness. The sound of countless blades rang out.

Ye Fan’s body shone with a metallic glow, like a blade cleaving the sky, so sharp it was impossible to face head-on.

Again, there were no scriptures, only a vivid depiction of the Lung's Divine Treasury, explained in full depth through transformation, not words.

This organ stirred all energies, circulating essence and spirit throughout the body, reaching even the skin and pores. It breathed in heaven and earth’s origin, radiating vibrant life.

At this point, all impurities within Ye Fan’s Dao Palace were cleansed. His godpower surged and sparkled, spreading from his organs to limbs and skin.

All vital energy belonged to the Lung's Divine Treasury, connecting body to heaven and earth. The energy required by flesh was produced under its lead.

When the radiance faded, Ye Fan opened his eyes. The lung sub-realm was now complete. Every pore was open. He felt united with nature, able to draw upon all energy at will.

“The Western Emperor Scripture is truly profound. It steals the secrets of heaven and nature!”

He had already cultivated these two scrolls before. But with this enhancement, he now grasped even deeper truths, like being bathed in divine brilliance, his mind crystal clear.

“If I hadn’t cultivated the ‘trigger’, I’d never believe he could access this scripture,” the dog muttered, pulling a long face.

“What are you mumbling about, Black Emperor?”

“You little brat, did you seduce one of Jade Pool’s Saintess? Otherwise, how’d you get the scripture trigger?” the dog snarled.

“What nonsense! Lead me to the other scriptures. We can’t stay here long. Once we’re done, we leave immediately.”

Things went smoothly. On a mountain carved with an ancient tree, Ye Fan found the liver scroll. Then he located the spleen and kidney scrolls as well.

With the five divine treasuries of the Dao Palace complete, Ye Fan hadn’t cultivated the last three yet, just memorized them. But now he had the full Dao Palace volume of the Western Emperor Scripture.

Ye Fan stood silently for a long time, visibly shaken. This scripture was incredibly deep and mysterious. It revealed the secrets of heaven, grasping nature’s design!

“You’re seriously lucky,” the black dog growled. “The Western Emperor Scripture’s Dao Palace volume is the best in the Eastern Wilderness, perfected and complete. And you got all five scrolls? Hurry up and hand over the jade turtle.”

“What’s the rush? This is just the Dao Palace scroll. The scripture has many secret realms, like the Four Pillars, which I haven’t obtained yet,” Ye Fan said, smiling.

“You’re even greedier than me,” the black dog gritted.

They found one of the Four Pillars imprints, but even with the bodhi seed, Ye Fan couldn’t trigger it. He tried for a long time but got nothing.

“Does it really need the scripture trigger?” He immediately recalled the black dog’s earlier claim.

Soon, they found another imprint of the Four Pillars, but again, Ye Fan couldn’t trigger it.

“I thought you were on par with the Grand Emperors, able to obtain the scripture without a trigger. Guess you really did seduce a saintess and used her Dao Palace trigger.”

“You damn mutt! You knew this all along and still dragged me here just to run me in circles?”

“Brat, don’t insult my dignity. Watch your words or I’ll eat you!” the dog barked angrily.

“Isn’t that exactly what happened?!” Ye Fan snapped.

“This emperor is righteous, I had a plan. I was just waiting until you gave me the jade turtle before telling you.”

“You schemer. You brought me here, showed me the true scripture but kept me from activating it unless I gave you the turtle. Good thing I already had the Dao Palace trigger.”

“Don’t think so poorly of me,” the dog shamelessly replied. “Don’t you want the rest of the scripture?”

“You conniving mutt. Do you have the Four Pillars trigger or not? How are you going to help me get the rest? If you do, recite part of it for me.”

The dog stammered, obviously unable to recall anything. Instead, it opened its massive mouth and growled, “Brat, how dare you mock me! I’ll teach you a lesson!”

“Dead dog, I’ve been wanting to beat you!” Ye Fan struck first with a sacred combat technique.

The black dog wasn’t one to back down, it bit back immediately.

“Damn it, you really can’t stop sneak attacks, can you?!”

“You attacked first!”

“If I hadn’t, you would’ve bitten me again.”

“Damn you! That’s an insult!”

The two freakishly strong beings clashed in the stone forest. It sounded like hammering iron every time they collided.

“Brat, you’ve got the Dao Palace scripture now. Give me the jade turtle!” the black dog yelled while biting.

“No chance! You wanted a free ride? Not in this lifetime!” Ye Fan struck with golden palms, using Grand Solar Seal and Seal of Mountain and River at full force.

“You’re trying to make me work for nothing…” the black dog threatened, baring its fangs.

“What the hell are you made of?! My sacred combat arts can’t even hurt you!” Ye Fan cursed.

“Damn! It’s the Nine Secrets. No wonder it hurts so much! It’s killing me!” The black dog yelped in genuine pain.

Ye Fan had already been bitten over ten times. He was speechless. His most powerful attacks could only make the dog yelp in pain, what a joke.

“You’re a damn freak!”

“No, you are! Anyone else would’ve shattered under your slap. Only I can endure it. Damn it, I’m dying here!”

BOOM!

Suddenly, a terrifying wave of energy erupted in the distance. Dozens of miles away, black mist surged into the sky, turning the heavens pitch-black.

“The Immortal Pool!”

“It’s from the Immortal Pool!”

Ye Fan and the black dog stopped fighting at once. Without another word, they both bolted toward the exit.

A monstrous force had erupted from the birthplace of Jade Pool, the Immortal Pool. Ominous clouds rolled as if the heavens themselves had changed.

Not long ago, they had explored the depths of the lake. Thinking of that sent chills down both their spines.

They raced at full speed and quickly reached the dried-up lake, dashing along the crack toward the ancient well.

Fortunately, whatever change had occurred didn’t pursue them. They finally sighed in relief.

Right then, Ye Fan screamed, his left hand had been bitten again by the black dog, which refused to let go.

“Why the hell are you always biting me?!”

“Brat, I can’t fly. What if you ditch me once we reach the well? I’m holding on just in case,” the dog mumbled through its teeth.

“Once we get out, we’re never seeing each other again. I’m a cultivator of the Dao Palace realm, and I’ve been bitten by you every damn day…”

They returned to the ancient well and rose into the air, soon reaching the surface.

Sunlight bathed the land. The scenery of Jade Pool was gone. The whole adventure felt almost unreal.

Ye Fan tossed the dog aside and immediately flew off.

The dog cursed in rage: “Brat! You got the Western Emperor Scripture and haven’t given me the jade turtle! You didn’t even tell me where the ancient scripture of the Demon Emperor is! If you run, I’ll hunt you down!”

“Go back to the village. I’ll come find you,” Ye Fan said while fleeing.

“Trying to stiff me, huh? If you don’t show up, I’ll expose all your secrets and have the Ji Clan and Radiant Light Sacred Ground place bounties on your head!”

Ye Fan slowed a bit. This dog really was trouble.

“You dare try to cheat me, brat?!”

“You’re one to talk. You lured me here without the scripture trigger. You’re the one who tried to cheat first.”

The dog, knowing it was in the wrong, muttered, “Doesn’t matter. You got the scripture, now keep your promise.”

Ye Fan rubbed his chin. “I can’t give you the jade turtle just yet. But I can take you to find the Demon Emperor’s scripture.”

“You’re not trying to trick me, are you?” the dog asked suspiciously.

“You think I’m like you? Don’t worry. I’m not that shady.”

“I think you’re even worse!” the dog growled.

“To find the Demon Emperor’s scripture, we might have to enter the dwelling of a Supreme Giant. Think we can pull it off?” Ye Fan asked.

“A Supreme Giant? You sure don’t ask for much.”

“It’s in such a place, yes, but the scripture isn’t in his hands. Someone else has it.”

The dog thought it over and finally said, “It’s worth a shot.”

Then it suddenly turned serious. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

“Don’t be so paranoid. Just because you’re a shady mutt doesn’t mean everyone else is.”

The dog narrowed its eyes. “You’re not trustworthy.”

“That’s my line! Did you do anything reliable in Jade Pool?” Ye Fan shot back. Then he added, “The one holding the scripture has two souls in one body. Can you extract one?”

The dog was suspicious. “Why do I feel like you’re scheming again?”

“Am I that kind of guy? From the start, you’re the one who’s been shady!” Ye Fan exposed him, then added, “Don’t worry. It might be a bit messy, but you’ll definitely get the scripture.”

“I still think you’re shady,” the dog muttered.

“That’s because you’re rotten to the core and always scheming, so you assume everyone else is the same.” Ye Fan smirked.

“I’ll trust you just this once. But brat... if you dare screw me over, I’ll make sure you have no place left to hide, above or below ground!” the dog growled.