Shrouded Sky

Chapter 274 - Bronze Warships

Beautiful City, the streets on both sides were lined with divine trees, their branches lush, the leaves sky blue, carrying a dreamlike color, even the tree trunks glittering like blue crystals.

Ahead, on the ancient street, stood a girl in purple clothes, only seventeen or eighteen years old. Her slender brows curved gracefully, her eyes brimming with spirit, very beautiful, like an elf beneath the night moon, moving and enchanting.

“That’s Ziyue…” Ye Fan stood in the distance, not approaching. Because he also saw Ji Haoyue, the famed God-King Physique of Eastern Wilderness, one of the strongest among the younger generation.

His enmity with that family was too deep. Back in the Southern Region, he had killed their Supreme Elder, and not long ago he had killed four young disciples of the Ji Clan in Cloud Marsh. The impact was immense. If Ji Haoyue discovered him, he would surely strike without mercy.

“Look at his dragon-like stride, full of vitality. The hidden injury left by being hunted by Peacock Monarch back then should be fully healed.”

Ye Fan had cultivated the Heaven-Swapping Earth-Changing Technique, enough to change his appearance and aura, but he was still cautious. The God-King Physique and the Sacred Physique had strong resonance. Back then, they had unconsciously clashed before.

“What are they doing in Beautiful City?” He knew they had come to the Northern Region surely for the Jade Pool Festival, but why had they stopped in Beautiful City?

At this moment, Ye Fan had long altered his appearance, wearing a Daoist robe, disguising himself again as a young Daoist, though this face was different from his past disguises.

“Now my cultivation has advanced greatly, many times stronger than before. I should be able to better control my body, maybe not resonate with the God-King Physique.” Ye Fan wanted to test it.

Because he was going to the Jade Pool Festival, it was unavoidable that he would meet Ji Haoyue, and perhaps even encounter the God-King Physique of the Jiang Clan. If their resonances triggered, the consequences would be very bad.

Ye Fan restrained his aura, suppressed his cultivation, making himself seem like an ordinary person, and then walked forward along the ancient street.

The distance grew shorter and shorter. He activated the Heaven-Swapping Earth-Changing Technique recorded in the Celestial Source Tome, suppressing his godpower.

Finally, as he drew closer to Ji Haoyue, his body did not react abnormally, and the other party did not notice anything either.

The street bustled with people, streams of traffic flowing endlessly. Ye Fan brushed past them lightly, not stopping, leaving calmly.

He sensed Ji Haoyue was even more terrifying now, his God-King Physique like a deep abyss, unfathomable, like a slumbering god that could erupt at any moment with world-shaking power.

And Ziyue had become even more beautiful, her shallow smile showing dimples, her little canine teeth gleaming, making her appear lively and clever.

“Ziyue, what are you looking at?” Ji Haoyue asked, his eyes full of affection. He doted on his younger sister.

“That little Daoist just now seemed a little unusual…” Ji Ziyue pondered.

“Just a little Daoist, what could be unusual? If there was something off, my body would surely sense it.” Ji Haoyue shook his head.

Ye Fan drifted away without stopping, walking along the ancient street.

Beautiful City was like a giant city surrounded by forest. The streets were bustling, traffic like flowing rivers, yet the scenery was beautiful. Fountains and gardens could be seen everywhere.

Suddenly Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat. He saw another familiar person, Wu Zhongtian.

He was tall and burly, with a leopard’s head, wide eyes, a face full of thick beard, shaped like a lion, robust and powerful. He was the grandson of Wu Dao, the Fifth Warlord, and the sworn brother of Tu Fei, Blackwater, Jiang Huairen, and Liu Kou.

“How is he here too? Could it be something major is happening in Beautiful City?” Ye Fan’s mind stirred.

Wu Zhongtian was an outstanding young powerhouse. Even Tu Fei and others, though not yielding to the Radiant Light Saint, had wanted to invite him to fight. Though he admitted he was not the Saint’s match, it was clear his strength was extremely formidable.

With a flash, Wu Zhongtian disappeared, and on the other side of the street, a stunning figure appeared. Yao Xi walked lightly, like a divine lotus blooming in a forest, swaying gracefully, moving with ethereal elegance.

Her figure was tall, alluring, like an unrivaled enchantress, her charm captivating, yet her aura sacred, her body crystalline, exuding an unapproachable divine grace. She was beauty to the extreme.

“No, something must have happened. Otherwise, how could they all appear in the same city…” Ye Fan avoided her.

Then, he stopped a passerby and asked if anything major had happened here, but all the townsfolk shook their heads, unaware of anything.

It was near noon. He found a place to eat, filling his stomach while listening to the conversations around him, but still learned nothing.

The place seemed peaceful, nothing unusual happening.

Finally, after his meal, Ye Fan strolled about the city. He discovered that both sacred lands and ancient desolate clans had set up dark stone workshops here.

“Why not try my luck at an underground stone workshop? Maybe I’ll hear some news.” At present, he only had two-thousand five-hundred kilos of source left. To break into the third level of Dao Palace, he needed five thousand kilos.

Source was what he needed most. He had been diligently studying the Celestial Source Tome. Once he had mastered it well enough, he would enter the Celestial City of the Northern Region.

“Cultivation faces a major problem…” Every time he thought of the vast amount of source required, he felt troubled.

He had obtained a divine tree from the remains of ancient sages, which allowed cultivation of a single secret realm. He had been experimenting with it, but the progress was too slow.

Originally, he was not so eager for source, but seeing the current situation, he had no choice but to reconsider. Perhaps he needed to pursue both paths: cultivate the single secret realm and also strive for source. If he could break into the Four Pillars Realm, better options might open up.

“The single secret realm is too slow. But I urgently need strength. I must gather source and first reach Dao Palace third level.”

Ye Fan finally entered the “Strange Stone Workshop” run by the Radiant Light Sacred Ground. This was a vast forested area filled with Azure Divine Trees, old vines coiling, lush flowers and plants.

The scenery was beautiful. The stones were part of the landscape, not monotonous, making it seem more like a garden than a stone-cutting yard.

Ye Fan decided to keep a low profile, not gambling stones there. He bought stones directly, storing them away to cut later, avoiding unnecessary trouble.

The Radiant Light stone workshop was enormous, with eighteen courtyards, all in a forest style, the scenery pleasant.

Many people were gambling stones here, but spread across the courtyards, it didn’t feel crowded. Instead, it was tranquil, strolling among the beauty like a form of enjoyment.

Ye Fan was astonished. After a circuit, he realized indeed no “commoners” came here. Anyone who dared enter the sacred land’s stone workshop had status.

Soon he encountered so-called elders and sons of sect leaders.

The Celestial City’s pull was immense. Royals from Middle Continent and powerful figures from the Northern Reaches often lingered there. That surrounding stone workshops attracted many cultivators was natural.Ye Fan said nothing but acted continuously, moving through seven courtyards quickly, spending 250 kilo of source, storing piles of stone into his jade bottle. Buying stones without cutting them naturally drew attention. Some eyed him as a fat sheep and came over, wanting to gamble stones.

“Fine,” Ye Fan said, “but I won’t bet small. At least 500 kilos.”

500 kilos of source was the total wealth of many small sects. Even medium sects wouldn’t easily wager such sums.

Such bets could end in wins or losses of tens of thousands of kilos. This wasn’t the Celestial City. Few dared such gambles here.

After not being disturbed, Ye Fan continued picking stones, buying another one thousand kilo worth, storing them away, then entering the thirteenth courtyard.

This courtyard was full of vines, many stones buried beneath them. It was quiet, with few stone-gamblers.

Ye Fan examined dozens, then his eyes lit up. He saw a piece of black stone, pitted like worm-eaten jade. It resembled black jade material, which sometimes contained extremely rare strange source.

He strode toward it, but just then another figure appeared, waving his hand, snatching it with divine light.“Why are you stealing my stone?!” Ye Fan was annoyed.

The man was in his thirties, plump, face ruddy, wearing a Daoist robe, smiling broadly.

Seeing his face, Ye Fan was stunned. It was the shameless Daoist, Duan De.

He was surprised. Never expected to meet him here, which confirmed something big was indeed happening. Otherwise, such people would not all gather here.

Especially this fat man, elusive and mysterious. Where he appeared, there was surely fortune, or he wouldn’t show up.

“Fatty, don’t you understand first come first served? Why steal my stone?” Ye Fan gritted his teeth, recalling past events. He wanted to plant his shoe on the fat man’s face.

“Whoever takes it first, owns it,” Duan De replied with an innocent look.

Though Ye Fan wanted to kick him, he held back. This fat man was far from ordinary.

He had once dug up the tomb of Wu Dao, the Fifth Warlord, yet survived. Later, he crossed the void to the Southern Region, was thrown into the Demon Emperor’s Tomb by great figures, but miraculously entered and left nine times, still alive.

Now he had returned to the Northern Region, looking plump and shiny, clearly living well.

“Little brother, didn’t you say you won’t gamble for less than 500 kilo? Care to gamble with me?” Duan De asked, smiling.

Ye Fan grew angry at the sight of him, but also wanted to strip him clean. “Fine, let’s gamble.”

“I don’t have 500 kilo of source,” Duan De replied.

“Then what? Without source, how do you gamble?”

“If I lose, I’ll sell you a piece of information worth five thousand kilos,” Duan De said solemnly, chanting a Daoist title, feigning holiness.

“This fatty... I have never seen anyone so greedy. Losing yet still demanding five thousand kilo’s worth. That news must be fake,” Ye Fan thought, itching to slap him.

“A cultivator does not lie,” Duan De said seriously. “Sharp-nosed people have come to Beautiful City because there is an unparalleled treasure here.”

“What treasure?” Ye Fan asked casually.

“One of the Nine Secrets, likely to be found here. I know an important clue about it.” The shameless Daoist grinned. “So, do you gamble?”

Ye Fan’s heart trembled. He didn’t believe the fat man would hand over valuable information, but it was possible one of the Nine Secrets was truly here.

Otherwise, why would Ji Haoyue, Ji Ziyue, Wu Zhongtian, Yao Xi, and Duan De all show up? Perhaps others would come too.

“You are…” Just then Yao Xi appeared, radiant like a pearl shining, entering this courtyard, staring at the shameless Daoist.

“You are Daoist Duan!” Yao Xi was slightly surprised, but quickly calmed. This was the Radiant Light Sacred Ground’s stone workshop. Her presence here was not surprising to Ye Fan.

“Boundless Heavenly Lord, greetings to the Saintess.”

“Sister Yao Xi…” At that moment, a clear voice sounded. From another courtyard, Ji Ziyue, like a purple-clad elf, came laughing, with the God-King Physique Ji Haoyue at her side.