Shrouded Sky

Chapter 275 - Storm of Nine Secrets

Ji Ziyue drifted over like a wisp of violet cloud, light and graceful. Her long hair flowed down to her waist, her skin outshone snow, and her smile was sweet, her eyes curved like crescent moons, little dimples appearing, carrying both playfulness and cunning, touched with heaven’s own cleverness.

Ji Haoyue, true to his name, was like a divine moon. A faint, pure radiance seemed to seep out from his body. Born with the God-King Physique, he naturally carried a kind of overwhelming might, giving others the feeling of standing before a god.

“Little sister Ziyue…” Yao Xi also smiled beautifully. Her slender figure was like a piece of divine jade, glowing faintly with immortal radiance. She went forward and took Ji Ziyue’s hand.

“Sister Yao Xi, we haven’t seen each other for so long.” Ji Ziyue’s smile was sweet.

Ji Haoyue inclined his head slightly in greeting. “I didn’t expect Fairy Yao would also come to Beautiful City.”

“I merely came to take a look. But as for Lord Haoyue’s arrival here, I fear it means you’re determined to win something.” Yao Xi’s gaze flickered, her beauty enhanced by a trace of charm. She said softly: “With your presence, many people will be uneasy. Once the God-King Physique appears, most strong cultivators would rather retreat.”

Ji Haoyue shook his head. “Everything depends on fate. Priceless treasures are desired by all, but the vast majority will be left disappointed. I will not hold too much expectation either.”

Beautiful City had indeed become the center of news regarding the Nine Secrets, all because of a grave robber.

Not long ago, a weapons shop in the Northern Region bought a broken copper bell. On it, they found the characters “Nine Secrets,” instantly causing a sensation.

After carefully restoring the bell, they discovered over a hundred ancient characters carved upon it. From them, it was deduced that the bell was a burial item, unearthed from the tomb of an ancient cultivator.

Although much of the inscription was unclear, the final lines vaguely recorded some deeds of the tomb’s owner, and then simply mentioned that their family inheritance contained one of the Nine Secrets.

The Nine Secrets, each one possessed an unimaginable power, supreme divine arts that the world dreamed of obtaining, shaking past and present alike.

Because they were too powerful, in ancient times they had been split apart and scattered across the world, never again gathered together.

The discovery of the copper bell struck like a tidal wave, shocking countless hearts. This was because, in the present day, only three or four of the Nine Secrets still had known lineages; the rest had all been lost.

If even one more were to resurface, any sect would go mad over it. It would be a priceless, supreme divine technique.

“So you’re saying that a grave robber dug up a broken copper bell, and from that the news of the Nine Secrets being here spread?” Ye Fan was astonished.

Ji Ziyue nodded. “Unfortunately, by the time the grave robber was found, he had already died under mysterious circumstances.”

“Silenced?”

“No. It seemed more like he was struck by a curse. Ancient tombs often contain such wicked arts,” Ji Ziyue explained.

The weapons shop failed to keep the matter secret, and soon the news spread. From the bell’s vague record, many speculated on its location, it pointed to Beautiful City.

Ye Fan’s expression darkened as he stared at Duan De. “This kind of news will spread quickly. And you actually had the face to sell it to me for five thousand kilo of source stone?”

Duan De’s face glowed red with satisfaction. “By the time the news spreads, it will have lost its value. Right now, what matters is being ‘early.’ To know even a single day sooner means leading by several steps. In my humble opinion, that alone is worth five thousand kilo of source.”

“You really can spout nonsense.” Ye Fan didn’t want to bother arguing with him.

One of the lost Nine Secrets might reappear here. Ye Fan was deeply moved, he already grasped two of them himself. More than anyone, he understood how terrifying such divine arts truly were. He would rather trade away an ancient scripture to obtain another!

“Daoist Duan, your footsteps have covered the world. If you have more clues, why don’t we work together?” Yao Xi smiled.

“I fear that, at the final moment, I’ll be silenced by your Sacred Ground,” Duan De chuckled.

“How could that be? I mean just the few of us here, not the forces behind us. They haven’t arrived yet,” Yao Xi replied with a radiant smile.

Duan De’s fat face showed hesitation, then intent. “I do have some clues in mind. And yes, I do need some helpers…”

“Brother Haoyue, what do you think?” Yao Xi asked.

The Ji Clan’s future God-King clearly disliked Duan De, but he also knew the fat Daoist was mysterious, with unusual methods. Cooperating with him wouldn’t necessarily be a loss.

“Very well.” Ji Haoyue nodded.

Ji Ziyue wrinkled her little nose. “Daoist Duan, what clues have you found? What information did you gather?”

“I know that, long ago, a peerless figure once came to Beautiful City seeking the Nine Secrets. I know part of the path he traveled.”

“You even know the movements of such a peerless figure?” Ji Ziyue was doubtful.

“I discovered it in a unique ancient record. Naturally, I know.”

“Then it must have been very long ago,” Yao Xi said, surprised.

Duan De nodded. “Yes, extremely long ago. This also indirectly proves that Beautiful City truly hides one of the Nine Secrets. Unfortunately, it has been lost for countless ages, most likely buried underground.”

“If that peerless figure couldn’t find it, what use are his clues to you?” Ye Fan asked.

“He did not leave empty-handed. He left behind some extremely valuable clues.” Duan De chuckled.

“And who exactly was this peerless figure?” Ji Haoyue frowned.

“You, future God-King King of the Ji Clan, always doubt me. Fine, I’ll tell you. It was Gai Jiuyou, eight thousand years ago.”

“What?!”

“The Gai Jiuyou of Middle Continent…”

Everyone was shocked. That name was too resounding. Eight thousand years ago, Gai Jiuyou had shaken Middle Continent. His fame spread even to the Eastern Wilderness. He was invincible beneath the heavens, some even believed he might have become a Grand Emperor.

“In his later years, he came to our Eastern Wilderness. I believe he likely ended up buried on this land.” Duan De answered.

Everyone’s expression shifted strangely. They all stared at Duan De, making him uncomfortable. “Why are you all staring at me like that?”

“Daoist Duan, don’t tell us you actually dug up Gai Jiuyou’s tomb?”

“You all think too ill of me. Would I be that kind of person, to dig up someone’s grave for no reason? Besides, no one even knows where Gai Jiuyou died.”

“Enough pointless talk. Let’s focus on seeking the Nine Secrets.” Ji Haoyue’s tone grew heavy.

According to the record Duan De had uncovered, Gai Jiuyou had indeed come here, leaving behind precious clues.

Fifteen thousand years ago, there had been an Ancient Desolate Clan in this Prefecture, shrouded in mystery. They lived in seclusion, suspected of cultivating the Nine Secrets.

As time flowed on, that family vanished from history.

“Outside Beautiful City, there are many ancient tombs. We don’t need to dig them all. If we can just find that ancient clan’s burial ground, we may discover something astonishing.”

When they left Beautiful City, they saw many cultivators arriving.

Ye Fan first spotted Wu Zhongtian, Jiang Huairen, Blackwater, and Liu Kou. Then, to his surprise, he caught sight of the Leviathan Prince.

“That guy also came. Could it be to kill the Radiant Light Holy Son or Ji Haoyue?” Ye Fan knew very well how terrifying the Peng King was.

In the suburbs of Beautiful City, shadows already moved among the burial grounds. Yao Xi immediately frowned.

Duan De said, “It’s fine. In fifteen thousand years, Beautiful City has been rebuilt and relocated many times. There are many burial areas, they won’t find the right one so easily.”

On the desolate outskirts of Beautiful City, many cultivators roamed about, searching for ancient tombs. They were all here for the Nine Secrets.

Once the Nine Secrets appeared, the Northern Region was shaken. No sect could remain indifferent, even the Ancient Desolate Clans openly declared they would fight for them.

“Caw!”

An old crow cried out, its sound mournful and chilling.

This was a mass grave, bleak and barren. Only a few withered trees and old vines remained. Everywhere else was bare earth and broken mounds of tombs.

“These people are too much, they won’t even leave graves alone. It’s really infuriating.” Ji Ziyue puffed up her cheeks, her nature a bit innocent and genuine.

They had already seen who knows how many ancient tombs, all ransacked. Every tomb split open, some skeletons even dragged out.

Duan De said, “All because of that bronze bell, it revealed the heavenly secret of the Nine Secrets’ existence. That’s why Northern Region cultivators rushed here in madness.”

“Caw!”

…

…

In the desolate cemetery, a few crows flapped their wings, circling around dry bones, carrying an air of misfortune.

“They’ve all been dug up. Why should we waste our effort?” Ji Ziyue was displeased.

“Do you know who I am? I can see five thousand years ahead and five hundred years back. Trust me, I won’t be wrong.” Duan De bragged shamelessly. Though his body was fat, he was agile, moving back and forth through the ancient cemetery as if measuring something.

“Daoist, are you sure we need to dig here again?” Yao Xi’s delicate face showed confusion.

“I don’t want you to dig the surface, but the underground necropolis beneath. After more than a hundred thousand years, the true tombs are buried deep below. What lies above hardly counts.” Duan De looked as if everything was under his control.

Ye Fan had already guessed it. The reason they brought him was mostly to use him as labor. His cultivation wasn’t high, and he couldn’t compare with the others.

Sure enough, the job of grave digging fell to him. He didn’t mind; for the sake of the Nine Secrets, this was nothing.

Unfortunately, their luck wasn’t good. They did dig up tombs beneath, but none were related to the ancient aristocratic families from a hundred and five thousand years ago. There was no trace of the Nine Secrets.

That night, darkness fell across heaven and earth.

Suddenly, heaven lit up, two figures battling fiercely.

Like two blazing suns, they streaked across the night sky. The heavens trembled under their fight, incomparably intense.

“It’s the Radiant Light Saint! Who is the other, strong enough to match him?!” Ji Ziyue was shocked.

At this moment, Ji Haoyue’s God-King Physique shone in full glory, his battle spirit soaring. Looking into the night sky, he muttered, “Golden hair, unmatched battle strength… could it be the Leviathan Prince of the Demon Race?”

Ye Fan’s gaze grew deep. He hadn’t expected the Leviathan Prince to encounter the Radiant Light Saint so soon. The two fought like gods, shaking heaven and earth, disappearing into the distant sky.

Ji Haoyue was about to take flight, but Ji Ziyue quickly grabbed his arm. “Don’t go!”

She worried for her brother. Both of those fighters were heaven-defying talents, comparable even to his God-King Physique. She didn’t want him getting dragged in.

Duan De said, “Fairy Yao, are you not worried about the Radiant Light Saint?”

Yao Xi smiled sweetly. “Daoist, you mean why didn’t I go to help him? If I took action, he would refuse it. In a sense, the battle for the Grand Emperor’s crown has begun. He won’t want my help.”

“The battle for the Grand Emperor’s crown…” Ji Haoyue’s eyes blazed, divine light on his body burning like a raging fire.

“My blood is boiling too,” Duan De said, “but alas, my aptitude is ordinary. I can’t contend.”

“Little Daoist, why so quiet?” Ji Ziyue asked.

“The battle for the Grand Emperor’s crown is too far from me. Thinking about it now is useless…” Ye Fan shook his head.

In the days that followed, Duan De led them to dig more than a hundred tombs, yet still found no trace of the Nine Secrets.

By now, they realized why Duan De cooperated with them, using the God-King Physique and Radiant Light’s Saintess as free labor. A good bargain indeed.

“Duan De, these past few days you’ve ordered us to dig tomb after tomb, nearly turning over this entire necropolis. Do you actually have any confidence?” Ji Haoyue asked sternly.

As a future God-King King, he could not tolerate wasting his days on this. He felt Duan De was conning them.

“Don’t you claim to have an important clue left by Gai Jiuyou?” Yao Xi also voiced displeasure.

“Rest assured, I will find it. Gai Jiuyou’s clues are very valuable. I’m following the line he left. Otherwise, do you think after one hundred and five thousand years, we could still locate the old site of Beautiful City?”

Five days later, Duan De revealed excitement. “I’ve found it!”

“Found the Ancient Desolate Clan’s tombs?” Ji Ziyue asked quickly.

“No, I found the old site of Beautiful City from one hundred and five thousand years ago!” Duan De answered.

It was a desolate plain, nothing but rubble, more than two hundred miles away from the current Beautiful City.

“What’s the use of finding the old Beautiful City site? It’s not the clan’s tombs.”

Duan De’s face was flushed with joy. “With the city located, we can deduce where their burial grounds must be. They won’t be far. The scope has narrowed greatly.”

“You want us to dig up the entire region around here?!” The others glared at him with murderous eyes.

“Relax. The ancients were meticulous about burial. They wouldn’t place tombs randomly. I know a bit about this art. I can pinpoint several key sites.”

That day, Duan De determined fifty-four feng shui treasure grounds around the ruins of Beautiful City. But on the same day, other people arrived.

“Not good! Experts have come. Someone else made the same judgment as me!” Duan De cried.

By the next day, the number of people doubled, then doubled again. More and more cultivators appeared in this area.

“Damn it, the Nine Secrets really are shaking the world. Many eccentric grave-diggers have been invited out. Otherwise, no way so many could’ve found this place.” Duan De frowned.

“So Daoist, you’re one of those eccentrics too?” Yao Xi smiled.

“To be blunt, in the study of tombs, I am indeed an expert. Even the Demon Emperor’s Yin Grave couldn’t keep me out. You should know this.”

They knew he wasn’t lying.

In the next two days, they dug eighteen of the chosen sites. But either they were empty, or they were great tombs of unrelated ancient people.

“Not good. Half of the fifty-four sites have already been dug by others. We’re facing real experts!” Duan De’s expression shifted.

Only nine burial grounds remained. Among these nine, one was very likely the Ancient Desolate Clan’s necropolis. Duan De hesitated.

“We must act quickly, or others will seize them first!” Duan De grew anxious.

That day, more and more people arrived. Nearly all cultivators caught the scent and rushed to the ruins.

Suddenly, Duan De smeared ash across his face, then used a bone-shrinking technique to alter his appearance. Though not as powerful as the secret methods recorded in the Celestial Source Tome, it was enough to fool most.

Only then did Ye Fan notice Wu Zhongtian in the distance. He had come with Blackwater, Liu Kou, and Jiang Huairen.

Having desecrated so many ancestral tombs, Duan De naturally felt guilty. If Wu Zhongtian discovered him, he’d definitely come charging in for revenge.

“The Leviathan Prince!” Ji Haoyue’s eyes flashed like lightning, staring at the sky. A golden streak cut through the heavens, the Young Master of the Leviathan God-King Race descended.

“Brother, don’t fight him today!” Ji Ziyue quickly held him back.

“Could it be the Radiant Light Saint again?” Ye Fan was puzzled.

“They likely didn’t have a true life-and-death battle that night.” Yao Xi looked into the distance, sensing the Radiant Light Saint’s aura still vigorous, his godpower blazing like a furnace.

“The Jiang Clan has arrived too!”

From the horizon came the roars of desolate beasts. Hundreds of exotic mounts thundered across the land, armored riders upon them. The earth and sky shook from their charge.

“Jiang Clan’s God-King Physique has arrived, I can sense his aura!” Ji Haoyue’s body shone brilliantly, like a rainbow forged of divine essence. A bright moon hung above his head.

When the hundreds of riders passed, they descended on the horizon. Yet all could feel the scorching gaze that swept across them, penetrating to the bone, unquestionably the Jiang Clan’s God-King Physique!

The top prodigies of the younger generation all sensed one another. Once they clashed, heaven and earth would shatter. Each one had the potential to walk the path of a Grand Emperor.

Music of zithers floated, mist rolled, flower petals danced in the air. A group of white-clad maidens like fairy goddesses appeared.

“Unexpected, even Jade Pool has come…” Yao Xi’s beautiful eyes flickered.

Ji Ziyue was surprised. “Jade Pool usually remains aloof, almost never participating in disputes. Yet this time, for the Nine Secrets, they’ve sent people. Even the Saintess herself has come.”

“This is bad. I feel something ominous. I don’t want to stay here anymore.” Duan De wanted to retreat.

“Daoist, what do you mean?” Yao Xi asked.

Duan De said to Ye Fan, “Let’s run. They all have powerful backgrounds. We’re poor nobodies. Even if we get something, it’ll just end up benefiting them. We’d only be wedding clothes for others.”

“Daoist, you overthink. We’re allies. How could we harm you?” Yao Xi smiled.

“Forget it. The younger generation is here, but surely the old monsters are lurking too, watching from the shadows. At the critical moment, they’ll jump out.” Duan De’s face was grim.

“Only nine burial sites remain. Daoist, you’re really going to give up now?” Ji Haoyue said. “Don’t worry, with me here, your life is safe.”

It was almost certain that among the nine great tombs, one was the Ancient Desolate Clan’s necropolis. Duan De wavered.

Rumble!

Like ten thousand warhorses galloping, dozens of ancient war chariots crushed across the sky, the heavens trembling.

“Another sacred ground, filled with young experts!”

A horn blared, deafening.

Clouds scattered as a massive golden warship arrived, hundreds of meters long, shining brightly, dazzling beyond compare.

Duan De sighed, “Does this mean every holy land is coming?”

Ye Fan also spoke, “Why is it all the younger generation?”

“This is likely intentional. Each side wants the young to have a true great clash, to see…”