Shrouding the Heavens

Chapter 166 Tempest, Part Two

Currently, the outside world was very dangerous for Ye Fan. If he were to be found, he would definitely die. The appearance of the Ji Family was most likely not due to him, in his opinion. After all, it had been over half a year. As long as he avoided them, it should be fine.

Ye Fan directly arrived within the depths of the seventh level of the Flame Region. He only stopped once he was on the verge of the eighth level. Seven-colored mist lingered in front of him, appearing both auspicious and peaceful.

The eighth level’s flames were almost within reach, and their terrifying heat washed over him like a flood. It felt the eighth layer was a stove attempting to refine all of heaven and earth.

Ye Fan sucked in a cold gasp. The seven-colored mist was only two more colors than the five-colored mist of the seventh level, but the temperature was separated by such a huge amount. It really did not seem to follow common sense.

The five-colored mist already caused him to feel bursts of burning sensations. The seven-colored mist was even more frightening. Even while holding the Bodhi seed, he was unable to enter as he pleased.

Most powerful figures refine Vessels within the sixth or seventh levels. If that old bastard enters the seventh level, I’ll have to risk it and enter the eighth level. Hopefully he stops at the Purple Qi from the East region.

Ye Fan really did not wish to enter the eighth level. He didn’t have the slightest confidence. If he were to accidentally be touched by one of those flames, his body and spirit would both be burned to nothing.

Caw, caw…

Just at this moment, Ye Fan felt incomparable shock. He heard bird cries coming from the eighth level!

The seventh level was already capable of burning divine energy and killing powerful cultivators. So the eighth level was already unimaginable. But there were actually bird cries coming from it?

Ye Fan detoured around the eighth level. He tried to peer inside. The strands of seven-colored mist seemed like endless tiny rainbows that shot inside. Huge stones continued inside, each in strange shapes, the stone forest continuing.

Caw…

Ye Fan once more heard the bird cry. This time it was extremely clear.

At this time, he saw a boulder several meters tall that was practically a small mountain. The ominous sound was coming from there.

There was a stone cave on the bottom of it. Ye Fan found several black shiny feathers.

“This…” He really was shocked now. There was a black crow living within the eighth level!

How was this even possible? Powerful cultivators could only stop at the seventh level after all. How did a crow end up within the eighth level?

It definitely could not be provoked!

Ye Fan quietly stepped back and hid himself within the stone forest. With the crow in front him and the Ji Family’s powerful person behind him, he ended up stuck in the middle.

Luckily the five-colored mist had a devilish nature that could swallow anything. Even powerful figures wouldn’t dare randomly use their divine sense here. Ye Fan hid within the stone forest and quietly cultivated. He didn’t dare use the flame to refine his cauldron, in case it alerted the Ji Family’s people.

For the first few days everything was very calm. But on the eighth day, a loud metallic ringing resounded through the world.

Now Ye Fan was calm. The Ji Family’s powerful figure had only come here to refine something. It didn’t have anything to do with him. He was somewhat curious about what kind of item they were refining to make such a huge disturbance.

The purple Qi within the sixth level surged. Scarlet lights soared, lighting up the sky.

“What is that old bastard refining?” Ye Fan was very startled and stealthily moved closer. But he still stayed within the seventh level as he looked outside.

Due to the great distance between them, he could only vaguely see a huge copper furnace there.

“It really is a copper furnace!”

Ye Fan changed position and clearly saw a three meter-tall copper furnace that was enveloped by the purple flames. Rumbling sounds came from it as scarlet light shot out from it.

A grey-clothed old man was sitting beside it. He held a green jade fan that he repeatedly fanned. The purple flames all collected there and rushed towards the copper furnace.

“This old man doesn’t dare refine this item within his body. Instead he uses a true treasure stove to forge it…”

The huge furnace emitted a red light that was becoming increasingly bright. It gradually took the shape of a divine ship as red as blood, as if forged from blood jade.

“It really is a good treasure. It’s almost taken shape and has already charged into the sky. This old man really isn’t ordinary.”

Ye Fan knew that if this divine ship were to be refined properly and had the Ji Family’s profound Dao Glyphs carved into it, it would definitely be extraordinary. After all, it was refined by such a powerful figure.

The rumbling from the copper stove became increasingly loud. It echoed through the land for several kilometers.

“In comparison to the divine ship, this copper stove is an even more precious treasure.” Ye Fan didn’t dare spend too much time looking. He retreated in order to avoid being noticed.

After entering deep within the seventh level, Ye Fan once more heard the crow crying. It seemed hidden and lacking. It was very irritable and incessant.

Caw, caw…

“Just what is it?” Ye Fan walked a couple steps towards it and looked from the distance. Fire spurted out of there. The seven-colored mist curled around them, making that place even hotter.

At the opening of the cave, he saw that the shining black feathers had increased a bit. There were also a few more ashes. “Is it a spirit born from the flame? Or is it a real crow?”

“Damnit!”

A curse suddenly rang out from within that cave. It was an wxtremely furious voice. Ye Fan couldn’t even believe his ears.

Within the blazing cave flew out a shattered piece of metal. It was as white as snow.

Ye Fan was stupefied. This was definitely a divine iron from legends. It was definitely a rare material, a peak quality material for refining Vessels. It was said that even the Flickering Light Sacred Master’s personal weapons had this kind of divine iron in them. Thus, its value was very clear.

Obviously there was someone refining something inside and had turned this divine iron into rubbish, throwing it out the cave.

“Crow spirit!” This was definitely a peak old demonic devil.

Acting decisively, Ye Fan quickly retreated far away.

---

The crow cries from within the eighth level of the Flame Region became louder and louder over the next few days.

Five days passed, and the copper furnace of the Ji Family’s powerful expert released a heaven-shaking sound, like thunder as it shook the sky. It could be heard clearly throughout the entire Flame Region.

But at this time, the eighth level’s cave released an angry yell and another nine pieces of snow white divine iron were thrown out.

“So annoying!!!”

The seven-colored mist surged, and a dazzling light exploded from within that cave, followed by an angry old Daoist.

His body was covered in black feathered clothing. He appeared only fifty or sixty, and due to his clothes made of feathers, he really did look like an old crow.

“Who was so unbridled while refining things that he shook the entire Flame Region?!” The old Daoist’s voice clearly passed throughout the Flame Region.

His anger surged and he directly flew up into the sky and towards the sixth level.

Ye Fan only managed to see a black light that immediately broke through the sky and descended into the sixth level.

A demon capable of refining in the eighth level was someone whose power would cause people’s scalps to turn numb!

“Who are you…?” the Ji Family’s powerful figure called out.

However, with loud booming sound, his words were cut off.

Ye Fan might not be able to see, but he could imagine the scene. The old demon was definitely a fierce person. Ye Fan really didn’t know just how far he would go.

BOOM!

A terrifying fluctuation exploded from the sixth level. Purple Qi soared into the sky, as if someone had sent it surging out.

“Why are you…!” This was the voice of the Ji Family’s powerful expert.

“You shook the entire Flame Region while refining, causing my divine bell to turn to trash. Explain that to me!” The old demon seemed to be completely infuriated now. “Originally, Daoists are not supposed to cause any trouble, but today I must relieve this anger!”

“What does your divine bell turning to trash have to do with me?” The Ji Family’s powerful figure seemed to become slightly apprehensive.

“If it weren’t for you and your irritating rumbling shaking the heavens and disturbing my mental state, how could it have turned to trash?! If I weren’t allowed to leave this place, I would have already come to find trouble with you!”

Ye Fan was listening from far away. He didn’t dare approach in case he was caught up in their disagreement.

“The Flame Region has no master. How could you possibly blame it on me? My Ji Family has never been afraid to be provoked!”

“You’re trying to remind me you’re from the Ji Family?” The old Daoist’s words were very cold. “Maybe if it was someone else I’d let them go, but someone from the Ji Family…”

Ye Fan was speechless. This old demon definitely had some kind of grievance with the Ji Family.

BOOM!

The sixth level immediately turned wild with purple Qi madly surging everywhere.

“They’ve begun to fight!” Ye Fan was startled, but he didn’t go closer. He knew those people had extremely sharp senses and he absolutely couldn’t approach.

Luckily, the five-colored mist had an engulfing power that prevented probing into it. Otherwise he might have already been noticed.

The energy fluctuations were absolutely terrifying, but they quickly calmed down, and there were no more sounds coming from there again.

“This fast…has the fight ended?”

“Back when this Daoist Crow was fighting your Ji Family’s sovereign, your grandfather had yet to be born…” A black light soared into the sky.

Ye Fan only saw a brief silhouette, but it truly did appear like a crow. The black feathered clothing and the wizened figure disappeared in an instant, directly leaving the Flame Region.

“Daoist Crow…” Seeing him disappear, Ye Fan entered into the sixth level.

That huge copper furnace had already disappeared. Most likely it had been taken by Daoist Crow.

The Ji Family’s expert’s corpse had been split apart and was now lying in a pool of blood. A dozen black feathers were stuck into the ground around him, actually blocking the purple flames away from them, not letting his body be burnt.

Ye Fan felt his blood turn cold. For him to be able to kill a powerful figure of the Ji Family just like this, how terrifying was that old crow?!

Although the body had been left behind, his divine sense was extinguished and he definitely would not be able to come back to life.

Ye Fan was absolutely speechless. A powerful expert was killed just like this? The cultivation world truly was cruel. Without reaching the peak, it was impossible to live forever.

He quickly calmed down and reached his hand down to grope around the corpse. After all, the remnants of a Ji Family’s expert definitely had treasures that were unordinary.

However, he was disappointed to find the corpse held no treasures. Whether it was the Wheel and Sea or the Dao Palace secret realms, they were all empty.

“That old crow truly was thorough. He must have taken everything.”

Seeing the dozen black feathers on the ground, his heart shook. Daoist Crow had obviously intentionally left them behind to provoke the Ji Family.

For a powerful figure of the Ji Family to die, that would definitely cause a storm! The southern region would definitely not be able to stay calm.

Chi.

Just at this moment, space suddenly split apart, and an Elder from the Ji Family suddenly appeared. He was wearing a special kind of clothing that blocked the purple flames.

When he saw the corpse and then Ye Fan, he immediately became dumbfounded and a disbelieving expression immediately appeared in on his face. “You…”

The instant space had split apart, Ye Fan took out his cauldron and directly sent it smashing down.

Even if not considering their previous enmity, just the current scene that could not be explained here was enough to cause trouble for him. He had to capture this person while he was still off-guard, otherwise he definitely would have no path of survival!