Shrouding the Heavens

“How did you arrive here?” Although she was seriously injured, she seemed as lively as ever with a smile on her face, her dimples could still be seen.

“Were you also hunted by the Peacock King?” Ye Fan swiftly moved forward.

“I really managed to meet you…….” She had a thin smile on her face when a stream of blood suddenly flowed from her mouth. Her face became even more pale as her lively eyes suddenly became unfocused as she swayed, falling into the pool of water.

Ye Fan was stunned at the severity of Ji Ziyue’s injuries, her pulse was extremely weak and her heartbeat seemed as though it could stop at any moment, her five organs and six viscera were all injured, it was a miracle that she was still alive.

Ye Fan circulated his divine energy, drying her soaked clothes before taking a few steps, disappearing from the little village as he appeared atop a mountain. He retrieved a jade bottle, pouring some divine spring water into her mouth which immediately transformed into life essence energy, rushing into her body.

The divine spring water retrieved from one of the nine forbidden areas had inconceivable properties, it was possible to revive a dead person’s flesh with it*, he could immediately sense that Ji Ziyue’s injuries were slowly healing.

[T/N* Figure of speech]

At this moment, her eyes were tightly shut as her body trembled, she seemed to be softly muttering something. Ye Fan listened intently but was unable to discern anything.

“Don’t kill my brother……” She shouted in her unconscious state.

An hour later, Ji Ziyue’s long lashes fluttered before slowly opening her eyes, she wanted to sit up but was unable to do so.

“Your injuries are very severe, although it’s stabilised, don’t recklessly move around.” Ye Fan supported her, allowing her to lean against some soft vines by the cliff wall.

“Really frightening……” Ji Ziyue seemed to be frightened of something.

“Are you talking about the Peacock King?” Ye Fan immediately thought of this peerless exponent.

“That’s right.” Ji Ziyue nodded: “Little lad, how could you leave without saying a word, I chased you for three thousand miles but could only return without any rewards.”

“If I didn’t leave, your brother would have dissected my corpse to inspect it.”

Ji Ziyue gently smiled: “How could it be as bad as that? Just relax, as long as I’m around, you will be very safe within my Ji Family, no one will make things difficult for you.”

Ye Fan’s heart shook, it seemed that Ji Ziyue’s position within the Ji Family was not low.

“The Peacock King is really too powerful……” Ji Ziyue had an expression of worry on her face: “I wonder if my brother Haoyue will be able to overcome this trial.”

“The Peacock King also acted against you? How did you manage to flee to this place? It doesn’t seem like you would be able to escape from him.”

The Peacock King was strong beyond belief, even the protectors of the siblings had been killed, it was unlikely that they would be able to withstand a single blow from him.

“He’s really too terrifying, his spiritual power is unfathomable……” Even now, Ji Ziyue could still feel the terror within her heart, they had wanted to activate the domain gate to traverse the void but the Peacock King had merely pointed, causing the void to shatter and forcing everyone out. There were several people who were instantly killed, if Ji Ziyue did not have a precious treasure on her person, she would not have managed to live. In that critical moment, some experts sent by the Ji Family had found them, otherwise, no one would have been left alive.

Even so, no one was able to stop the Peacock King, he was unstoppable as he moved forward, roaring as several people were instantly disintegrated, turning into bloody mists.

“This is……. Simply too inconceivable!” Ye Fan was deeply astonished, such a powerful figure was too frightening, his power could not be estimated!

“A peerless exponent who could be compared to exponents of the ancient past, it is difficult to say how much spiritual power he has……”

That group of expert had merely managed to delay a minute of time before splitting into pieces, this was barely sufficient for Ji Haoyue and Ji Ziyue to flee the area.

Hearing this, Ye Fan was even more convinced of Ji Ziyue’s phenomenal position within the sect. At that critical juncture, the experts of the Ji Family had sacrificed their lives to give her a chance to escape, she could not be given up.

“The Peacock King is one with heaven and earth, his howl can cause tsunamis and even an entire mountain to shatter!” Ye Fan felt his heart palpitate, such a scene was simply beyond the imagination.

“My brother’s divine body has a natural extraordinary aura surrounding it, however, it was thoroughly suppressed and he was like a mere mortal before the Peacock King.”

An existence comparable to exponents of the ancient past, his strength really leaves one breathless.

Ye Fan had personally witnessed the power of Ji Haoyue, he had exterminated several Great Demons like weeding grass without any obstruction. Even so, before the Peacock King, it was still insufficient.

“One with heaven and earth, controlling everything within one’s grasp, one could pluck stars and grab the moon……” Even now, Ji Ziyue was filled with a feeling of anxiety, her little fists were tightly clenched.

“How did you flee to this place?” Ye Fan questioned.

“My brother and I split up to escape, and he continued to chase after my brother……” Ji Ziyue was clearly worried, such an exponent was simply impossible to measure, even if Ji Haoyue with his divine body would not stand a chance at the third stage of his cultivation.

“There hasn’t been any bad news yet, I don’t think your brother will die so easily.” Having said this, Ye Fan had a strange expression on his face: “Why didn’t you head back to the Ji Family instead coming to this place?”

“Although the Peacock King ignored me, there were others who were attempting to kill me…….” Along the way, Ji Ziyue had continually been hunted by other people and suffered multiple injuries.

She had used a domain gate of a small sect in a hurry, traversing the void to arrive in this place. She did not know how to carve Dao Inscriptions and simply could not designate an area to travel to.

“It’s really coincidental…….” Ye Fan muttered.

“It isn’t a coincidence.” Ji Ziyue rolled her eyes: “I’ve left an imprint on your body, after arriving in this region, I slowly made my way here.”

“What, you actually did something to my body?”

“I don’t have any ill intentions, what are you so nervous for? Noticing your abnormal behaviour that day, I knew your were planning to leave. To prepare for this, I left an imprint on your body. You ran too fast and I could not keep up, once the distance was too great, there was simply no way to sense it anymore.”

Ye Fan carefully inspected himself but did not discover any abnormalities: “What did you do?”

“Slowly search……..” Ji Ziyue faintly smiled but her expression swiftly became one of concern: “Brother Haoyue, I’m afraid it’ll be very difficult for you to overcome this trial.”

Suddenly, Ye Fan’s expression stiffened as he looked at the distant sky, several cultivators were rushing out from a door.

“Shit! Those were the people who were hunting me down!” Ji Ziyue shouted: “THey have opened a domain gate to traverse through the void and have followed me here.”

“Chi!”

A frightening bolt of lightning struck, those people were extremely decisive, upon discovering their target they had immediately used their abilities to attempt to kill her.

Ye Fan supported Ji Ziyue as he dodged to the side, the silver bolt of lightning struck the mountain causing rubble to fly in all directions.

“Boom!”

In the sky, an ancient pagoda was swiftly became bigger as it pressed downwards.

Ye Fan’s expression immediately changed, people who used pagodas, bells or cauldrons were not ordinary individuals, most of them would be extremely powerful. In the sky, that pagoda was merely five levels high but it seemed like an immense mountain, suffocating in pressure, causing one’s heart to palpitate.

Ye Fan carried Ji Ziyue as he swiftly ran down the mountain, attempting to flee into the distance. These people were simply too powerful, if he were to face them head on, he would certainly be disadvantaged.

The crazed old man had passed his movement techniques to Ye Fan, it was an extremely profound secret technique and contained an inconceivable power, his speed was phenomenal and managed to pull the distance to ten miles within a short period of time.

He did not tarry as he continued to move, only when the distance between the parties was more than a hundred miles apart did he finally sigh: “Those people are really exceptional……”

“They are all extremely powerful, otherwise, I wouldn’t need to flee.” Ji Ziyue’s teeth were glistening as she gently grinded them.

“They don’t seem to be people of the demonic race.” Ye Fan had a puzzled expression on his face.

Ji Ziyue bit her lips: “There are people who wish to use this chance to get rid of brother Haoyue and myself.”

“It shouldn’t be that Ji Biyue right?”

“No, this problem is much greater than her, there are definitely people who are unwilling to see the divine bodies within our family mature. Although brother Haoyue is still able to stay out of the Peacock King’s grasp, his situation is very perilous and experts from the human race may act in secret to get rid of him before placing the blame on the Peacock King.”

Although Ji Ziyue was not old, her thinking was very astute and could already guess at the possible scenarios.

“They should be gunning for Ji Haoyue, why would they wish to harm you? Could it be that you also have a divine body?”

“How could I have a divine body……” Ji Ziyue did not continue as she remained silent for a while before staring at Ye Fan with a mischievous smile: “Little brat, there are really too many secrets on your person, what is that piece of aurichalcite? How could your physical body defend against the attacks of a divine body? How did you learn the movement technique of the crazed old man? Why were you so anxious to flee the Tai Xuan sect?”

This lass was really very quick witted and mischievous, she clearly wanted to change the subject and suddenly questioned the many secrets on Ye Fan’s person. Suddenly, a golden light could be seen flashing through the sky, breaking into several powerful streams of lightning, like snakes that were dancing in the sky.

“It’s a Lightning Bird.”

Ji Ziyue frowned before suddenly shouting: “Not good, it’s a Phoenix Crowned Lightning Bird, an extremely powerful bird species, we need to get away, don’t barge into its territory.”

The Lightning Bird that was flying off into the distance was completely golden, as though it were forged from gold, blazing streams of lightning could be seen rumbling atop its head like a phoenix crown, it seemed extraordinary.

This was an extremely powerful creature of the bird species, it was not something that an ordinary Lightning Bird could be compared to, it had an extremely terrifying offensive ability, a large majority of cultivators could only choose to flee upon coming into contact with it.

“It’s fortunate that it did not notice us.” Ji Ziyue was feeling relieved.

“It’s likely that the dwelling of the Phoenix Crowned Lightning Bird is up ahead, we could possibly use it to obstruct the people who are attempting to kill you.”

“That’s right, that makes sense.” Ji Ziyue’s large eyes immediately curved into crescent moons.

The two people proceeded to travel deeper into the mountains as they discovered a bird nest, it was constructed atop an ancient tree, golden lights could be seen flashing from bird eggs that were as big as a human’s head with streams of golden lightning swirling about them.

“This bird beast is extremely rare, it can continually advance, this is a really rare find. I really want to grab some of them, hatch it and keep them as pets.” Ji Ziyue sighed with regret.

She did not really dare to do so as they left a myriad of traces within the mountain before rushing to the sky.

Not long after, several expert cultivators managed to find this mountainous region, they had followed the many clues left behind to reach this area and felt that Ji Ziyue was likely nearby. It was a long while before this group of people finally came before the ancient tree.

“Bird nest……. Not good!” One of the men screamed: “This is the dwelling of a Phoenix Crowned Lightning Bird, this type of bird beast cannot be provoked, if it feels that we wish to steal its eggs, it will chase us to the death.” Within the immense bird nest were four bird eggs, their shells were glistening as though forged from gold, extremely dazzling.

“Let’s go, this type of powerful bird beast will remember grudges, if we are trapped here, the outcome will be unthinkable!”

They had hesitated for too long and the Phoenix Crowned Lightning Bird had already returned, giving a shrilling squawk as it rushed down.

Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue gazed from a distant mountain, seeing lightning shroud the skies in that region, they did not tarry as they swiftly left.

On the second day, Ye Fan saw a youth of roughly seventeen years of age within a beautiful mountain range, he was dressed in simple clothes and seemed extremely gentle, his stature was somewhat thin and frail, giving off a delicate image. His eyes were bright like the waters of a lake, and his soft black hair fluttered about.

This youth felt like a refreshing spring within the deep mountains, giving one a feeling of freshness and an air of nature.

Within such a mountainous region devoid of human life, meeting such a youth was shocking as he asked with a smile: “Little brother, may I know what place this is?”

That youth silently stood there, his smooth black hair gently floating, his eyes extremely clear as he replied: “Xi Xia Mountain Range, located within the Jin Country.”

“Little brother, your appearance is refined, gentle and moving, I’m guessing that you’re a cultivator right?” Ye Fan smiled as he questioned.

“That’s right.” The youth nodded.

At the back Ji Ziyue’s face was a pasty white, her voice trembled as she shouted: “Little brat…… come back quickly!”

Ye Fan looked back, seeing her face that was filled with terror, her eyes shivering, he immediately felt that something was amiss as he glided backwards.

“What’s the matter? Who is he?”

“He is…… the Peacock King!” Ji Ziyue’s voice was trembling, her usually lively voice only had fear remaining in it.

“What?!” Ye Fan was shocked, the youth before him was the Peacock King? This was simply too astonishing.

“Peacock King, you are a peerless exponent standing at the peak, looking down on all below heaven. Don’t randomly kill innocents, let him go, this has nothing to do with him.” Ji Ziyue moved forward as she pleaded for Ye Fan’s life.

The name of the Peacock King resounded throughout the Southern region of the Eastern Badlands, even the leader of the Twinkling Brilliance sacred ground eight hundred years ago did not manage to take care of him, no one knew how many years had he lived for.

Based on estimates, after attaining human form, a conservative estimate was that he was over two thousands years old, if this were compared to the timeframe at the other side of the stars, he would be a person of the Qin and Han time period.

However, the youth before him looked to be merely sixteen to seventeen years of age, his gaze was clear like water without any feeling of ancientness, it was difficult for one to link him to the Peacock King.

Ji Ziyue had previously spoken of his immense prowess, being one with heaven and earth, moving mountains and rivers with a single howl, his voice could cause tsunamis and an entire mountain was shattered by his voice.

In Ye Fan’s imagination, the Peacock King had to be as imposing as a mountain with a incomparable tyrannical aura. However, he did not expect that he was so pristine, like a gentle spring within the deep mountains or a snow lotus atop an icy peak, a gentle breeze across the pure land.

Thinking of how he had addressed the Peacock King as little brother and even wanted to pat his head, Ye Fan felt his scalp go numb, this was an expert whose spiritual power was unfathomable, comparable to exponents of the ancient past!