Chapter 48: An Ancient Scripture That Does Not Exist in This World
"Shared joys and shared hardships—since you're leaving, I'll definitely go with you." Pang Bo spoke very decisively and firmly, determined to leave together with Ye Fan. Ye Fan couldn't possibly agree. Now that Pang Bo had been confirmed as a Sacred Sprout, his future was bright. If he left now, everything would return to zero, and the road ahead would be filled with unknowns, even accidents.
"There's another reason for my departure. We suppressed Han Feiyu and made him lose all face..."
When Pang Bo heard this, he immediately interrupted, saying, "Don't worry about him. I'm a Sacred Sprout now. I believe he won't dare act recklessly in the short term. Once our strength grows, what do we have to fear from him?"
Ye Fan shook his head. "This matter is far from as simple as it seems on the surface. Over these past days, I've made inquiries in many directions and learned that his great-uncle is a master alchemist, desperately trying to refine a furnace of 'Resurrection Yang Pills' to extend his lifespan. In recent years, he has been sparing no expense to gather spiritual herbs, constantly going out and personally entering deep mountains and great marshes to search. This time, he had only been back a few days when Han Feiyu came to provoke us. I think this matter is probably very unusual."
Pang Bo nodded upon hearing this. He too had always found it strange. They had no grudges or grievances with Han Feiyu; there should have been no conflict. Before this, the two sides had no interaction at all.
"Could it be that you're guessing... his great-uncle has set his sights on us?" Pang Bo was also quick-witted and instantly thought of many things. The two of them had once consumed a sacred medicine and unexpectedly regained their youth. If Elder Han learned of this, he might very well target them.
"I think his lifespan is running out, and he's desperate to refine the 'Resurrection Yang Pills.' It's very possible he's set his sights on us." Ye Fan made this judgment, then added, "Now that you're a Sacred Sprout, he wouldn't dare touch you. But if I continue to stay here, an accident might happen."
"That old bastard!" Upon hearing these words, Pang Bo frowned. He no longer tried to stop Ye Fan from leaving, but insisted on going with him.
"If you insist on coming with me, then I won't leave." Ye Fan dropped this statement very bluntly. He didn't want to hinder Pang Bo's cultivation. Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven was truly the best choice for Pang Bo.
Pang Bo knew Ye Fan very well. Seeing him like this, he no longer insisted and sat there in silence, not saying a word.
"Go get me some paper and a brush. I'll leave the ancient scripture for you."
Ye Fan had only told Pang Bo about obtaining the ancient scripture from the bronze coffin. He had once recited a few lines, which Pang Bo had listened to as if they were a heavenly book, because they were too obscure and profound to understand. Even now, Ye Fan himself didn't understand their meaning. He had pondered them for a long time but couldn't grasp any clue.
"Those scriptures are nothing but a heavenly book to me. Leaving them for me is useless. I won't lack mystical techniques at Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven. Don't bother writing them down."
Ye Fan ignored him, grabbed the paper and brush, and began to write. The moment he started, a heavenly sound like a great bell or cauldron suddenly echoed in his heart. Hundreds of ancient characters flowed like a gentle stream through his mind, giving him a refreshing and clear feeling. Ye Fan's brush moved like a dragon and snake, swiftly and smoothly, quickly leaving lines of writing on the paper. But then, a strange thing happened.
The brush stopped, and the characters vanished!
When the brush in his hand stopped, the lines of ancient characters beneath it slowly faded, and the paper turned to ash, as if a mysterious power was hidden in the brush's tip.
At the same time, the hundreds of ancient characters in Ye Fan's heart gradually receded, and the sound disappeared. Beside him, Pang Bo stared in shock. This was too miraculous, feeling very eerie. It was a long time before he spoke. "I think... don't write anymore. This heavenly book is too sinister."
The hundreds of ancient characters were unheard of and unseen, even older than bell-cauldron script. Originally, Ye Fan didn't recognize them either, but due to the heavenly sound, when the hundreds of characters were imprinted into his heart that day, he gradually understood their meaning.
Ye Fan lowered his head in thought, recalling some words spoken by Elder Wu Qingfeng. In the ancient times before the desolate era, there were sacred characters. Each character condensed the Dao's rhythm, possessing mysterious and unfathomable power. Even merely copying them could cause indescribable strange events. Some speculated that writing these ancient characters might communicate with the power of heaven and earth, causing chaos in primal energy, thus leading to various inexplicable occurrences.
"Could it be that every stroke of these ancient characters condenses a certain 'force,' and during the writing process, it disrupts the surrounding essence of heaven and earth, ultimately destroying the paper..." Ye Fan muttered to himself.
Then, he began to carve on the ground. The moment the brush stopped, a faint arc of electricity flashed across the ground, and all the writing turned to ashes.
Pang Bo found it unbelievable. "This heavenly book is causing mischief! Don't write anymore!"
"It's not that the heavenly book is sinister, but that these ancient characters are extraordinary. Each stroke condenses a 'force' that can interfere with the fluctuations of heaven and earth's essence. All the 'forces' combined are enough to stir the surrounding power of heaven and earth, forming a force that erases the ancient scripture." Ye Fan made this judgment.
The more this was the case, the more mysterious and unfathomable the ancient scripture became. The person who left this scripture was even more inscrutable. The arrangement of hundreds of ancient characters prevented the scripture from manifesting in the world, as if it were a secret text that should not appear in this world.
Ye Fan no longer insisted. The scripture was obscure and profound. Even if he left it for Pang Bo, he wouldn't understand its meaning.
In the end, Ye Fan chose to leave. Pang Bo saw him off in silence. Along the path paved with cobblestones, they walked out from the depths of the immortal mountain to the exit of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven. When they stepped onto those bluestone steps, the ancient scripture in Ye Fan's heart sounded again. He turned to Pang Bo and said, "There must be something extraordinary beneath these hundred-plus bluestone ancient steps of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven. You can come here often on ordinary days..."
Just then, Pang Bo's eyes widened. "Don't leave."
Ye Fan also sensed something. He turned to look and saw a familiar figure flash by—it was the young man they had once planted headfirst into the ground.
"Han Feiyu won't give up. He's actually sent someone to spy on us."
"Don't leave for now. If they see you're about to go, they'll definitely ambush you halfway."
Ye Fan nodded. The two of them turned back. The young man had long since disappeared, but on the way back, they saw Han Feiyu rushing toward them like the wind, with several people following behind him.
Pang Bo's face immediately turned ashen. If they hadn't accidentally discovered that young man tailing them, letting Ye Fan leave today would have been a lifelong regret. He immediately cursed loudly, "Han Feiyu, you bastard! Do you think that just because your great-uncle backs you, you can do whatever you want, kill whoever you want? If you have the guts, come and kill me directly!"
Hearing this roar, Han Feiyu's face instantly turned green. If other elders or the sect master misunderstood that he wanted to eliminate the Sacred Sprout of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven, even with his great-uncle's backing, he might not be able to save his own life.
"Don't talk nonsense. I just happened to pass by here." With that, he led his men away without looking back, looking very flustered. He had indeed come for Ye Fan today. Upon learning that Ye Fan was carrying a bundle and about to leave, he had rushed over to ambush him halfway.
Pang Bo was burning with anger, grinding his teeth. "That kid is really vicious. He's been spying on us all along. It seems he's definitely looking for a chance to make a move on you. Don't leave for now."
Ye Fan nodded. When his strength was insufficient, he indeed couldn't leave rashly. Otherwise, he might really face mortal danger.
In the following month, everything was calm. Han Feiyu no longer dared to send people to spy on Pang Bo and Ye Fan, restraining himself a lot, afraid that Pang Bo would report him to the other elders.
One day, Pang Bo returned from Elder Wu Qingfeng's place, looking somewhat dejected.
"What's wrong?" Ye Fan asked.
"It might be good news for you, but not for me." Pang Bo sighed. "I also think it's dangerous for you to stay long at Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven. I just asked Elder Wu Qingfeng to send you on a long journey..."
"That is indeed good news." Ye Fan immediately smiled. "It's not a farewell forever. Don't sigh. We'll meet again sooner or later. By then, I hope you'll be the renowned Sect Master Pang, famous across the Eastern Wasteland, making even those so-called Holy Lands and ancient aristocratic clans wary."
Pang Bo really didn't want to part with Ye Fan, but there was no other way. "We'll have to wait a few days. In the next few days, Elder Wu Qingfeng will select some promising disciples to take to the primeval ruins outside Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven for training."
In the endless ages past, the location of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven was a ruin. After being cleared by later generations, it became a blessed land of caves and heavens. It could be said that Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven had a long history. Tracing back, this ancient land could be extended to the desolate era.
The primeval ruins were vast and boundless, stretching endlessly. Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven was only a part of them. There was still a vast area that had not been cleared. In those ruins, ancient trees towered to the sky, various rare birds and beasts appeared frequently, and many precious medicinal herbs grew. Every year, the elders of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven would lead disciples there for training. It was not only a tempering experience but also broadened the disciples' knowledge.
The ancient forest ruins were not a pure land. Many savage beasts and fierce birds dwelled within. Although elders accompanied them, bloodshed still occurred every year.
"It is said that many precious medicinal herbs grow inside, some even rare spiritual herbs. If you're lucky enough to gather them, you can immediately exchange them with the accompanying elders for pills." Saying this, Pang Bo looked at Ye Fan. "You're in urgent need of Hundred Grass Liquid now. If you gain something there, it can temporarily solve your immediate needs."