Leaping Onto the Divine Bridge

"Farewell, little Daoist brother."

In front of Lingguan Hall at White Cloud Temple, Yan Kuan waved goodbye to the little brat lying on his mother's back. Though he had always known Ye Fan was in Jingcheng, he hadn't gone out of his way to seek out this Child of Destiny—yet fate had brought them together so coincidentally.

But thinking it over carefully, it made perfect sense. The original work mentioned that Ye Fan was from Jingcheng and was quite familiar with White Cloud Temple. Yan Kuan currently resided here for cultivation, so running into Ye Fan, while somewhat coincidental, was indeed just that—a coincidence.

"Ye Fan's Desolate Ancient Holy Body hasn't fully awakened yet, but this kid's blood energy is so vigorous. I only took a tiny bit of his essence blood, and the little guy's still lively as ever. Shouldn't be a problem, right!"

After Ye Fan, his mother, and their neighbor Aunt Liu had walked far away, Yan Kuan strolled back to the small courtyard he shared with his parents. His palm extended, and a drop of blood materialized in its center—deep crimson with a faint golden glimmer within—precisely what he had obtained from Ye Fan.

The Desolate Ancient Holy Body ranked among the top known physiques in the Shrouding the Heavens universe. A Great Completion Sacred Body was said to be able to rival an Ancient Great Emperor.

This physique had a long history, appearing as early as the Mythical Era, reaching its peak during the Desolate Era when nine Great Completion Sacred Bodies emerged in succession. After the Desolate Era, the world's environment changed drastically, becoming unsuitable for Sacred Body cultivation. Coupled with the vicious curses of certain Forbidden Zone Supremes, no Great Completion Sacred Body had been born in countless millennia.

The Sacred Body bloodline possessed strong compatibility, capable of merging with other special physiques to give birth to powerful forms like the Primordial Spirit Sacred Body or the Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo—truly a bloodline of immense value.

Sacred Body blood itself was divided into two types. One was Ye Fan's innate Sacred Body, with fully awakened Sacred Body blood from birth, holding the greatest potential for Great Completion. The other type, like Ye Fan's later disciple Yang Xi, were descendants of the Desolate Ancient Holy Body, carrying Sacred Body blood within them that could gradually awaken along the path of cultivation, also offering a chance to reach Great Completion.

"Open the box, open the box. I wonder what this little Yezi, whose Sacred Body hasn't fully awakened yet, can bring me."

Yan Kuan looked expectantly at his palm. A wisp of Empyrean Flame instantly surged forth, enveloping the drop of blood. Then, a burst of golden light exploded within his soul.

"So this is the scene of a Supreme's procession. This one must be the first ancestor of the Sacred Body lineage!"

Countless golden images flashed through Yan Kuan's soul. A being comparable to an Ancient Great Emperor walked between heaven and earth—true dragons soared, immortal phoenixes circled, Black Tortoises paved the way. Strands of auspicious light and beams of divine radiance formed a golden path.

Light of the Dao flickered across heaven and earth, transforming into nine layers of thunder that descended. The world itself manifested extraordinary phenomena, acknowledging his supreme Dao fruit. This was rare through the ages; few throughout history had achieved such a feat.

This being, suspected to be the first-generation Great Completion Sacred Body, took a single step. Sun, moon, mountains, and rivers all receded. Dao patterns emerged beneath his feet—one step covered hundreds of thousands of li.

Such speed was terrifying, inspiring awe. His stride seemed to pierce through void itself, the golden path and various celestial phenomena following him as he battled another being radiating boundless purple energy—likely a Great Completion Overlord Body.

The fierce battle between Sacred Body and Overlord Body shook the entire starry cosmos. Countless towering figures watched from afar, all awaiting the final outcome.

A golden light finally swept through Yan Kuan's mind. He only felt a golden ripple stir within his Wheel Sea, and a fragmentary Dao diagram appeared in his consciousness.

"This is the Sacred Body lineage's exclusive method for cultivating a single secret realm. But I'm not a human Sacred Body—what use is this to me?"

The visions in Yan Kuan's mind gradually faded. This harvest was somewhat disappointing. The Sacred Body secret method was no less valuable than an Emperor Scripture in theory, but like the Wushi Emperor Scripture, it targeted a specific physique. Ordinary people couldn't cultivate it at all.

"I can still trade this secret method to Little Yezi when I reach Big Dipper later. Not entirely useless."

Yan Kuan quickly adjusted his mindset. He had only used a single drop of Ye Fan's essence blood; obtaining a fragmentary sacred method was already a stroke of luck. One couldn't be too greedy.

"After adjusting my state these past few days, it's time to break through again."

Yan Kuan recorded the newly acquired secret method and put it away. Then three jade bottles appeared before him—two glowing with purple light, one tinged with red, all carrying considerable demonic aura. These were his gains from exterminating the two elders of the Dragon-Sparrow Clan.

Vermillion Phoenix Blood and Dragon Sparrow Blood, like the essence blood of Little Yezi he had used earlier with the Empyrean Flame to trigger the Reincarnation Ability, could also be used to trace ancestral imprints. Perhaps he could obtain powerful sacred methods from the ancient Vermillion Phoenix and the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow.

But Yan Kuan already had enough techniques and divine abilities; he didn't lack one or two more sacred methods. He preferred to directly refine them to boost his cultivation.

"Wheel Sea perfection—today is the day."

Yan Kuan no longer hesitated after adjusting his state. The Trigram Treasure Box sealed the courtyard while releasing wisps of scorching flame to provide energy for his breakthrough.

His brow burned hot as his mental energy condensed into form. Meanwhile, at his dantian, crimson waves from the Sea of Bitterness surged skyward, divine radiance blazing. At the Sea's center, the Life Spring gushed forth, the divine power source boiling.

Divine power surged like tides, radiant light filled the sky. The Life Spring reached its peak, opening the Divine Bridge. Yan Kuan's bitter sea divine power rushed forth as a dazzling rainbow hung high above, spanning the firmament in splendor. The Divine Bridge suspended over the Sea of Bitterness—he had become a cultivator at the Divine Bridge realm.

The moment Yan Kuan broke through to Divine Bridge, the divine power flowing within him liquefied. A faint halo emerged on his skin, perfectly conforming to every part of his body.

Dou Qi Gauze, qi condensing into liquid—this was the mark of reaching Dou Master in the Dou Qi realm. Crimson flames rose, adding a unique luster to the Dou Qi Gauze. Yan Kuan's eyes snapped open. The red-glowing jade bottle unsealed, and a streak of red light accurately entered his mouth.

As the Vermillion Phoenix Blood entered his body, Yan Kuan shuddered violently. His face flushed crimson, body temperature rapidly rising. White vapor seeped out; he burned frighteningly hot, a hint of pain flickering between his brows.

After a few breaths, Yan Kuan's temperature climbed higher, his skin turning blood-red. He looked like a blood-soaked figure, quite terrifying.

Inside, chaos reigned. Crimson, rampaging energy tore through his body like wild horses, the scorching and violent Vermillion Phoenix Blood causing him immense agony—but the effects were obvious.

His dantian's Sea of Bitterness expanded wildly. The Divine Bridge condensed at an accelerated pace, extending ever higher. Earth-shattering visions stirred up turmoil within the courtyard. Had the Trigram Treasure Box not sealed it, the entire White Cloud Temple might have felt the violent commotion.