Shrouded Sky

Chapter 339 - The True Dragon Hidden Within the Source

The sounds of the Grand Dao resonated endlessly. The priceless strange stone before them looked plain and unremarkable, yet its presence drew everyone in. Ye Fan chose this stone, and his firm, ringing voice spread across the small island.

Many were stunned. A mysterious Dao sound was emanating from the stone itself, triggered by Ye Fan’s Celestial Source Perception. Its heavenly resonance filled the air, leaving everyone in awe.

At once, envoys from powerful factions began transmitting secret offers, each willing to pay astronomical prices for the stone. Even emissaries of the great Sacred Grounds were eager to win Ye Fan over.

The crowd was astonished. This was truly a grand duel of the source arts, both prodigies had chosen stones that shocked the world.

“There must be something extraordinary inside. A mysterious Dao sound, how could that be ordinary?”

“Could it be an ancient scripture? I’ve heard the Supreme Emperor Scripture of the Grand Xia Dynasty was once cut from stone.”

“The Dao is infinite, lofty, vast, unfathomable. Just hearing this makes me want to sink into it.”

“It might even be an Immortal Scripture.”

No one remained calm. Eyes burned with envy and anticipation.

“Little brother,” one of the old men said eagerly, rubbing his hands together, “if you cut out something good this time, don’t forget us old fellows!”

They all suspected that a world-shaking treasure would emerge. If it truly were an ancient scripture, the entire cultivation world would tremble, none of the Sacred Grounds would sit still.

If not for the old guardian beneath the ancient tree in the center of the island, his skin like jade, his aura divine, someone might already have tried to seize the two stones by force.

“Cut the stone! Cut it open now!”

The shouts came from all around; everyone was desperate to see what peerless treasure lay within.

The Ji Clan members looked grim. These two stones were too precious. If they both yielded astonishing treasures, the loss would be hard to bear.

Now that Ye Fan had chosen such a remarkable stone, Blackwater finally exhaled in relief. It might truly rival the Dragon Head Stone.

Wu Ziming sneered. “What treasure could compare to a true dragon? Even if he cuts out something rare, he’ll still lose, and hand it to Brother Tuoba!”

“That’s right,” Li Chongtian said coldly. “It’s the same as offering a precious gift to him.”

“Cut the stone,” Blackwater said curtly, ignoring them. At this point, words were useless, only the cut would decide victory.

Everyone grew tense, waiting for the treasures hidden within the Dragon Head Stone and the Immortal Sound Stone to be revealed.

After a brief uproar, the island fell silent again. You could hear the soft sound of petals falling.

“You first,” Ye Fan said, gesturing politely.

Tuoba Chang said nothing. He drew a five-colored beast-skin pouch containing more than ten small, razor-sharp knives of various shapes.

The ancient families of the source arts were particular about their tools, each stone required its own blade. Tuoba Chang selected a silver dragon knife that shimmered faintly with divine light.

Crack!

His first cut sliced away the dragon’s horn. A small piece fell as stone dust, nothing inside.

Crack! Crack!

The sound of his blade rang again and again. His movements were light, elegant, precise. It didn’t look like cutting stone, it looked like he was dancing, his technique approaching the level of Dao itself, imbued with beauty.

From his control and precision, it was clear. Tuoba Chang’s mastery of the source arts was deep. He was close to enlightenment.

Flakes of “dragon scales” fell like petals. The massive dragon head was already a third gone, the ground covered in a thick layer of dust.

The air was utterly still. No one dared to speak or even breathe too loudly.

Tuoba Chang focused entirely on his task. The silver knife moved like a dragon through the air. Heaven and earth seemed silent but for its song.

Time passed slowly. His movements grew slower, gentler, he feared disturbing the peace or damaging whatever lay hidden within.

Everyone’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point. Eyes fixed upon him, breath held, hearts pounding. He was the focus of the world.

Ding!

A crisp, ringing sound echoed, like a dragon’s cry across the heavens. The silver knife halted midair. A faint, mysterious aura began to spread.

“Dragon Might! The Dragon Might is escaping!”

People’s eyes widened. Wisps of vapor shaped like dragons seeped out of the cut stone, strange and awe-inspiring.

“You’re finished now,” Wu Ziming jeered, glancing triumphantly at Blackwater. “This stone will reveal something that will shock the world!”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Tuoba Chang’s blade moved faster, rhythm rising. Stone chips flew like snow.

Ding!

At the final stroke, the millstone-sized Dragon Head Stone was split apart. Amidst the debris, only a bowl-sized orb remained.

It was dark cyan, unpolished, without glow, but coils of Dragon Might swirled around it. Something inside seemed ready to break free.

“That’s... a Dragon Pearl!?”

“Yes! It looks exactly like one, heaven and earth’s own treasure!”

“There might be a dragon forming within, it’s a creation of the world itself!”

The island erupted. Everyone was excited beyond measure, except for the Ji Clan, whose faces were grave.

“Come on, don’t wait, cut it open!”

“I can’t wait to see a young dragon emerge!”

Even the Crown Prince of Grand Xia and the white-clad nun had abandoned their composure, crowding forward. An Miaoyi, Jin Chixiao, and others followed.

Tuoba Chang held the Dragon Pearl in his palm but didn’t cut it yet. He turned to Ye Fan. “Your turn.”

Ye Fan said nothing. A flash of light appeared in his hand, a small black sword, no longer than an inch.

“That’s the Dragon-Rune Black-Gold Sword!”

“It was cut from the Nine-Aperture Stone Man, the Paragon Spirit Sword itself!”

Everyone was stunned. To use such a weapon just to cut stone, it was outrageous.

Wu Ziming mocked him. “Showing off won’t help you. When you find nothing inside, we’ll see who’s laughing.”

The black-gold sword gleamed like polished obsidian. Ye Fan held it between two fingers and began slicing along the Immortal Sound Stone. Layers of stone fell swiftly.

He used this sword for safety, last time, cutting the Nine-Aperture Stone Man had nearly cost him his life.

Purple light flared from Ye Fan’s eyes again, twin beams scanning the stone. The black sword followed the light’s path, slicing with incredible speed.

Soft, ethereal music drifted from within the stone. The audience held its breath, waiting to see what would appear.

Ye Fan’s movements were fluid, graceful, a rhythm of its own, like a living melody. The black sword became a dark dragon winding through the air.

“What could it be? Can it compare to the Dragon Pearl?”

“Maybe it really is an ancient scripture.”

“Silence!”

The crowd fell utterly quiet.

At some point, the old guardian of the sacred garden had raised a shimmering light barrier, preventing any treasure from escaping.

Ding-dong!

A pure tone rang out as Ye Fan struck once more. Stone fragments flew, and the Immortal Sound Stone split completely open.

Inside was a jade cocoon, about the size of a fist, crystalline, glowing, mysterious.

“Another cocoon! The last time he cut a black cocoon, it contained the Saint Spirit Sword. What could it be this time?”

Suddenly, music resounded again, not the grand Dao sound, but enchanting celestial melodies that made hearts tremble and souls drift.

When Ye Fan took the jade cocoon into his hand, the music ceased. Silence returned to heaven and earth.

Around them, gasps echoed. Many realized they had lost control of their own minds for a moment.

Everyone instinctively stepped back. The younger generation retreated while the old masters stepped forward, ready to act.

Whatever lay within could be dangerous, or divine. They prepared to suppress it if necessary.

“You first,” Ye Fan said.

Tuoba Chang nodded slightly, no longer boasting. Carefully, he lifted his silver knife and brought it down upon the Dragon Pearl. The dark orb split open.

Boom!

A surge of power exploded outward. The dragon’s aura was so fierce it made hearts tremble.

“A dragon! I saw a dragon!”

“It flew out, a real dragon!”

The crowd erupted in cries of disbelief. A half-meter-long dragon rose into the air, coiling and roaring, radiating terrifying might.

But then someone shouted, “Wait, it’s not real! It’s Dragon Might taking form!”

As calm returned, they saw clearly, it wasn’t a living creature, just condensed energy shaped like a dragon.

The pearl shattered. Nothing remained inside. Tuoba Chang’s face showed bitter disappointment.

“What a pity, only Dragon Might, nothing more.”

“It was just a wisp of essence formed by heaven and earth. It had dragon shape, but not true dragon nature.”

People shook their heads. The contrast between expectation and reality was crushing.

“Why?!” Wu Ziming clenched his fists.

Li Chongtian stomped in frustration.

Blackwater, however, laughed. “Hahaha...” His mirth made Wu Ziming and the others flush with anger.

“True dragons do not appear in this world,” the old guardian beneath the sacred tree finally said softly. “A pity indeed. In this realm, it’s impossible for a real dragon to form. But if the Immortal Realm truly exists, given time, that pearl might one day have become one.”

The Dragon Might began to fade, dissipating into the air.

The Crown Prince of Grand Xia suddenly stepped forward, eyes burning. “I’ll take that Dragon Might, ten thousand jin of source!”

He raised a hand, sealing the space and capturing the dragon-shaped energy.

The crowd exchanged knowing glances. The Grand Xia royal line cultivated the Supreme Emperor Scripture, which contained the Imperial Dragon Dao Art. To master it, one needed extraordinary talent, and certain rare essences. This Dragon Might would be invaluable to him.

Tuoba Chang nodded faintly. He had spent a hundred thousand jin of source on the Dragon Head Stone, only to gain disappointment. It was a heavy blow.

The Celestial Source Wheel had revealed a dragon, but as Ye Fan had said, it had been nothing but illusion.

Tuoba Chang stood silently, expressionless.

Now it was Ye Fan’s turn.

He stepped back and, without hesitation, brought down the small black sword. With a clear metallic clang, he split the jade cocoon apart.

Ding-dong...

Celestial music filled the air again, dazzling light flooding the island. The brilliance was so intense it seemed to shake the soul itself, carrying a strange, mesmerizing charm.

“This is the Immortal Radiance...” an old, trembling voice murmured with deep regret. “A pity...”

But almost no one heard him.