Shrouded Sky

Chapter 333 - The Beginningless Bell Tolls Again

The entire world was shaken.

The Celestial City resonated as one, countless Sacred Lords crossed the void, carrying with them the reverberating sound waves of the Beginningless Bell.

On Purple Mountain, the ancient bell left behind by the Beginningless Emperor stood in suppression. In recent times, it had stirred the winds and clouds of the world, becoming the center of all attention.

The second assault on Purple Mountain once again ended in failure. The holy lands suffered great losses and retreated in defeat, shaking the Celestial City to its core.

Half an hour later, the news spread. Three Sacred Lords were severely wounded, and many Supreme Giants had turned to ash beneath the waves of the Beginningless Bell, body and spirit alike annihilated.

“Hiss…”

Upon learning of this outcome, the entire Celestial City drew in a collective gasp of horror.

This time, several great holy lands had even reached an agreement with the Thirteen Warlords of the Northern Region, borrowing the might of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor’s subordinates to enter Purple Mountain, yet they still failed.

If not for the ancient Heaven-Devouring Jar blocking the bell waves at the critical moment, even the Sacred Lords would have perished.

The Dragon-Rune Cauldron, the Sun God Furnace, and the Ancient Void Mirror, all said to suppress the deepest secrets of their lineages, still had not been used. Even half a Paragon Artifact could not withstand the Beginningless Bell.

With such a catastrophe occurring, none of the people in the tower had any heart left for the feast. One after another, they rose to their feet, and the banquet dissolved into silence.

Before leaving, An Miaoyi smiled charmingly and said, “Little Brother Gu, if you ever decide to sell that Dragon-Rune Black Gold Sword, please consider Miaoyi first.”

Only a few days later, the news had spread across the world.

The masses were in shock.

What had the Beginningless Emperor left behind? Even without a master, a single bell of his could shake heaven and earth. Such power inspired awe and fear alike.

Ye Fan did not continue gambling on source stones. Instead, he quietly waited for the Godfiend Treasure Tower’s auction of the ancient godly medicine.

That day, accompanied by Blackwater, he finally toured every corner of the Celestial City. He could not help but sigh in admiration, it truly was a divine metropolis, as if left behind by gods themselves.

Within the city, not every place was grand or extravagant. There were also simple, time-worn teahouses by the roadside.

“I’m guessing next time, the holy lands will definitely bring out their Paragon Artifacts,” someone said. “Half of the Heaven-Devouring Jar isn’t enough to block the bell waves.”

“The Beginningless Emperor’s power touched the limits of creation itself,” another replied. “No one can resist the temptation of his legacy. The holy lands will have no choice but to wield their Paragon Artifacts.”

In one such small, shabby teahouse, everyone was discussing the events of Purple Mountain.

Though modest, no one looked down upon the place, for sometimes, even legendary cultivators were known to appear there.Ye Fan and Blackwater sat among them, waiting for the auction bell that would soon summon them to the Godfiend Tower.

“The holy lands are truly unlucky this time,” one man muttered. “More died in this attack than in the last one. They say even Sacred Lords are gravely wounded, near death. A catastrophe indeed.”

“Didn’t someone cut out an ancient godly medicine a few days ago?” said another. “That kid really stepped in dog shit, what incredible luck! The price for that thing at auction will defy the heavens.”

Ye Fan rubbed his chin and said nothing, merely listening quietly.

Blackwater grumbled, “That’s what they call opportunity favoring the prepared. Not everyone’s lucky enough to step in dog shit.”

“I’ve heard,” someone added, “that powerful forces from outside the Eastern Wilderness are on the move. It’s said that experts from the Four Immortal Dynasties of the Middle Continent have already arrived.”

At that, the entire teahouse erupted in gasps.

The Middle Continent, the eternal heart of the world. Since ancient times, it had been a realm of prosperity, overflowing with peerless masters. Unless a new Grand Emperor arose, it had always stood above the Eastern Wilderness, the Southern Ridge, and the Northern Reaches.

The Four Immortal Dynasties ruled the world. This did not mean that only these four possessed ancient lineages, but they were the most exalted among them all.

The Middle Continent also held a number of ancient scriptures, alongside the fabled “Ten Grand Scriptures.” Though not all were Emperor-created, each was deeply profound, and the many schools of philosophy thrived in endless debate.

“If several Sectlords or Imperial Lords from those dynasties truly come, then Purple Mountain will erupt into chaos.”

The patrons drank their tea and spoke in hushed tones, all of them captivated by the topic.

“These matters are far beyond us,” one man finally sighed. “Let’s talk of something closer to home. Any fresh news lately?”

In time, the subject waned, and the talk turned elsewhere.

“I heard that the Enlightenment Tea from the Undying Mountain bore forty leaves this year, more than ever before.”

“What a pity that the divine tree grows within the Undying Mountain. If it were elsewhere, imagine how much Enlightenment Tea it could yield each year!”

“Complaining is useless. Such treasures are for great figures alone. We’ll never so much as glimpse one.”

“Oh, right, the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique has been causing havoc lately, looting bandits and raiding everywhere. The holy lands’ young elites are all hunting him, but he slips away every time.”

Hearing that, Ye Fan couldn’t help but smile, that had to be Tu Fei’s doing.

“They say the Sacred Physique carries the Motherly Energy of All Things,” someone added. “Every holy land wants him captured. Their Saints have all been dispatched.”

“You might not know the latest,” said another man, his eyes gleaming. “This one will make your jaw drop.”

“What happened?”

“The dog following the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique, that beast has been stealing the spotlight! It’s been humiliating the holy lands nonstop.”

At that, Ye Fan and Blackwater exchanged a look. What has that black mutt done now?

“That dog’s even fiercer than the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique himself! It’s been biting people from the holy lands left and right, targeting the young generation specifically.”

While the old generation waged war on Purple Mountain, the younger disciples hunted the Primeval Desolate Sacred Physique. The black dog, however, had been rampaging through them instead.

“So far,” the man continued, “in less than twenty days, that dog’s bitten sixty-three people, all disciples of holy lands.”

“And get this, after every bite, it howls, ‘A thousand catties of source!’ Kid, you get it? No one knows what it means.”

Ye Fan nearly spat out his tea. That damned dog! It was clearly demanding payment, one thousand catties of source per bite.

“Of those sixty-three bitten, forty-nine were female disciples. Now every young woman in the holy lands turns pale at the mere mention of a dog.”

“That... that filthy mutt!” Ye Fan cursed under his breath.

“The funniest part? It’s been shouting that it wants to take Saints and Saintesses as its pet humans!”

“Pfft!”

Many people in the teahouse sprayed out their tea in shock.

“That dog’s too outrageous!”

“What a terrifying beast, it’s openly mocking the holy lands!”

“The newest reports say it really did kidnap a few holy land disciples, forcing them to call it ‘Master.’ They nearly went insane!”

“Hahaha! Holy crap! You’re joking!”

“It’s true, several Saints are personally hunting it down right now.”

Ye Fan was speechless. That black dog truly knew how to stir chaos, it had outdone itself this time.

Dong…!

A deep, majestic bell rang across the Celestial City, not the Beginningless Bell, but the Godfiend Treasure Tower’s bell, announcing the start of an extraordinary auction.

Whenever that bell tolled, the entire city would boil over with excitement. Today was no exception, countless figures soared into the sky, heading toward the magnificent floating palace.

“Be careful,” Ye Fan said softly. “I suspect there will be Sacred Lords attending.”

Blackwater nodded. Together, they rose into the clouds and approached the Godfiend Tower.

“The holy lands must move soon,” Ye Fan murmured. “They’ll have to use their Paragon Artifacts, or risk losing everything.”

The mists rolled thickly. The palace complex spread vast and endless, far larger than it appeared from below, the air shimmering with layers of space-defying formations.

At the center stood a colossal hall, towering like a mountain, built by what seemed to be ancient giants.

This was the fabled Godfiend Treasure Tower, vast enough to seat a hundred thousand people, each with their own place.

The entire structure gleamed with purple radiance, cast from the precious Purple Sun Stone. Its shifting hues sparkled like a dream.

When Ye Fan and Blackwater arrived, they happened to run into Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian, and beside them stood a handsome young man with an air of natural arrogance.

Upon seeing them, Wu Ziming’s face immediately darkened, his mouth twisting into a cold sneer.

“Why are you grinning like that, Wuwu?” Blackwater said mockingly. “Something good happen?”

Though the man was clearly sneering with malice, Blackwater deliberately misread it.“Don’t get too proud, brat,” Li Zhongtian said icily. “You’ll regret it soon enough.”

“Oh? Planning to kill us and rob us?” Blackwater said carelessly.

Wu Ziming’s voice was sharp. “Don’t think that just because you know a little source art, you can act arrogantly. There are people who will crush you with source art alone.”

“Who, exactly?” Ye Fan asked lazily.

“Someone who’ll stomp you into the dirt,” Li Zhongtian laughed coldly.

“The tricks you’ve learned are nothing but wild countryside techniques. Before true source clans, you’re nothing,” Wu Ziming sneered.

“We may not know much,” Blackwater chuckled, “but somehow we still made people send us tens of thousands of catties of source!”

“They’re the two who cut open the Nine-Aperture Stone Man,” Li Zhongtian explained to the young man beside him.

“So it’s them.” The richly dressed youth, his clothes resplendent, looked them over once, arrogance radiating from his every movement. “Fine. I’ll visit the stone workshops soon. I’ll gamble them until their faces turn green, they’ll never dare touch source stones again.”

“Wait and see,” Wu Ziming said darkly. “Once the gambling begins, you’ll be humiliated before everyone.”

“Gambling against them?” The noble youth shook his head slightly, his lips curling in disdain. “Not worth calling that a ‘gambling battle’, unless a Celestial Source Master were to be reborn.”

He didn’t even spare Ye Fan or Blackwater a second glance as he walked away.

Wu Ziming and Li Zhongtian hurried after him, fawning respectfully.

“Cocky cunt,” Blackwater muttered, watching them leave. “Who the hell was that?”

“Likely a genius from one of the true source clans,” Ye Fan replied. “A formidable one.”

“How can you tell?”

“His right index finger faintly shone with golden light, that’s the mark of the ‘Touch of Transmutation,’ a sign of mastery.”

“So powerful, huh? Think you can beat him?”

“Won’t know until I try.” Ye Fan smiled calmly.

“Oh yeah? You’ve got that look again,” Blackwater said slyly. “I bet you’re already plotting to fleece him.”

Ye Fan laughed. “He’s strong. It won’t be easy.”

When they finally entered the Godfiend Tower, Yao Yuekong was already waiting, leading them to an upper-level VIP suite overlooking the auction hall below.

The vast chamber below was packed to the brim, countless cultivators filled every seat.

“Even that old dragon bastard’s here,” Blackwater whispered, pointing.

Sure enough, in an unremarkable corner sat the Red Dragon Daoist, blending in quietly among the crowd, his true power unnoticed by others.

“This’ll be fun,” Blackwater grinned. “That godly medicine will sell for a sky-high price. Look, the holy lands are all here.”

The auction would feature many treasures, but the ancient godly medicine was without doubt the grand finale.

Suddenly, Blackwater froze mid-laugh. “Oh crap, I see my grandfather down there! He’d better not make a fool of himself. Especially not over that fruit the dog bit into…”

Even the Thirteen Warlords had sent representatives, proof of just how tempting the ancient godly medicine was.

Then Ye Fan noticed a few figures wearing dragon crowns. Shocked, he whispered, “Those can’t be people from the Immortal Dynasties of the Middle Continent, can they?”

Blackwater nodded solemnly. “No doubt. They must’ve come for the Beginningless Emperor’s inheritance on Purple Mountain, stopping here along the way.”

The dragon-crowned nobles carried themselves with regal might; they were clearly not of the Grand Xia royal family. They entered another VIP hall.

“And look over there, baldies!” Blackwater whispered, his eyes wide. “Those old bald heads… they’ve got halos behind them!”

Ye Fan’s expression turned grave. “Monks from the Western Desert. Born with rings of light behind their heads… terrifying indeed.”

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The Beginningless Emperor’s fame truly spanned the ages. Even a mere hint of his legacy was enough to stir the entire world, drawing forth emperors, monks, and saints alike.