# Chapter 1013: Penglai
The old Daoist from the ancestral court of the Daoist faith wore a worn Daoist robe, with white hair and a youthful face, over a thousand years old. He told Ye Fan that Penglai might have a path leading beyond this realm.
However, he also made it clear that the people of this immortal island almost never set foot in the Central Land, appearing only once every few hundred years at most, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to find.
Since ancient times, Penglai had been hailed as a paradise, a divine mountain where immortals dwelled in the sea. Mortal emperors of old often sent ships across the sea in search of the elixir of immortality.
Ye Fan's heart stirred upon hearing this. He expressed his gratitude, gifted the old Daoist some precious spiritual medicines, shared many cultivation insights, and personally escorted him to the mountain gate.
"On land there is Kunlun; in the sea there are three mountains." This saying had been passed down since ancient times. Among the three mountains, one was Penglai, an enduring homeland of immortals.
The ambitious Emperor Wu of Han, in his pursuit of immortals and eternal life, once built an artificial Taiye Pool in the Ganquan Palace, complete with a legendary Penglai Immortal Mountain, at great expense.
But the most famous story was naturally that of the First Emperor, who ordered the alchemist Xu Fu to lead thousands of boys and girls across the sea in search of immortals, never to return—a tale known to all common folk.
Ye Fan pondered deeply. Since his return, he had visited almost all the ancient Daoist sites but found no stellar ancient path connecting to the outer realms. In ancient times, Earth had many great sages who eventually departed, yet they should have left some clues behind.
"Perhaps it really is in the Penglai Immortal Realm," he murmured to himself. Only the Daoist sites in the sea remained unsearched.
Ye Fan set out to sea, riding the Dragon Horse, accompanied by Zhang Qingyang, You Weiyu, and other disciples. This time, they insisted on coming along, thinking Ye Fan was going to search for treasures like he did at Kunlun.
According to the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, there were three immortal mountains in the sea: Penglai, Yingzhou, and Fangzhang. These mountains were paradises with the elixir of immortality.
These three immortal mountains had been renowned since ancient times, known as the Eastern Immortal Realm. Their rise once threatened to overshadow Western Kunlun. When common folk spoke of paradise, they mostly knew of Penglai, rarely mentioning Kunlun.
The blue sea churned with waves, vast and boundless. Only by personally sailing the sea could one comprehend such grandeur, which could open one's heart.
"Master, is there really a Dragon Palace in the sea? Could we visit as guests?" Yan Xiaoyu suddenly asked with curiosity.
"Even if there is, it's just a few flood dragons. To enter a true dragon's cave as a guest, one would need to be an ancient Great Emperor—nothing less," the Dragon Horse said disdainfully.
Years had passed, and its arrogance remained unchanged. But facing a dominant Human Sacred Body, even a dragon had to coil, so it couldn't stir up any trouble.
They had been at sea for half a month without finding anything, unaware of where the Penglai Immortal Mountain lay. They did discover a dilapidated ancient cave dwelling, long submerged by seawater.
Ye Fan had no solution. The immortal mountains in the sea were the hardest to find, having little connection with cultivators on land, leaving only a few legends behind.
"It should be in the Bohai Sea," Ye Fan muttered to himself, spreading out his powerful divine sense to search for anomalies and detect the aura of ancient formations.
The *Records of the Grand Historian* recorded: "From the time of Kings Wei and Xuan of Qi and King Zhao of Yan, people were sent into the sea to seek the three divine mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou. It is said they are in the Bohai Sea, not far from people. But when they approach, the wind drives their ships away. Some have reached them, where all the immortals and the elixir of immortality reside."
"Boom"
Suddenly, waves surged dozens of feet high in the distance, then a massive whirlpool appeared, threatening to suck Ye Fan and his group in.
"It's a giant sea clam!" Yan Xiaoyu exclaimed.
Beneath the water, an ancient clam dozens of feet long opened its shell, swallowing heaven and earth, stirring up a great wind at sea, trying to devour them.
This was an ancient demon that had cultivated for years. Sensing the spiritual energy on the group, it knew devouring them would bring great benefit, so it caused a sea disaster to pull them under.
"How rare. We've encountered an ancient demon that has cultivated for over eight hundred years, at the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm," Ye Fan said.
Zhan Yifan said nothing, immediately offering his flying sword. It transformed into a blazing radiance that split the sea, sending waves crashing skyward, carving a trench hundreds of feet long and forcing the seawater aside.
"Clang"
However, the ancient clam was no ordinary being. With profound Dao cultivation, it opened its shell wide, releasing eighteen Sea God Pearls that actually froze the void.
Zhan Yifan struggled, nearly meeting disaster. He combined seven swords into one, cleaving a path to escape with difficulty, revealing a look of shock. Over the years, under Ye Fan's protection, he had weathered several lightning tribulations and was at the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm, rarely troubled by anyone.
"It's a Dragon Clam, with life-bound Dharma Pearls. No wonder its strength is extraordinary," Ye Fan said with surprise. Inside the shell was a dragon-shaped ancient clam. The eighteen Dharma Pearls were pearls refined from its own flesh and blood, having grown to this point where spirit and object were fused, comparable to ancient Dharma Pearls.
Long Xiaoque made his move. As a fellow demon, he knew the ancient clam's weakness well. He sent a long rainbow straight into the shell, demonic aura surging, striking at its vital points.
"Clang"
The eighteen Dharma Pearls blazed brilliantly, stirring up boundless waves. The Dragon Clam, an ancient demon of many years, immediately sensed trouble—this group was not to be trifled with. It turned to flee.
But how could Ye Fan let it escape? A strand of Mother Qi shot out from between his brows, heavier than Mount Tai, instantly pinning it down. The clam shell emitted cracking sounds.
"Spare my life, great immortal! This little demon was ignorant and should not have offended you," the ancient clam pleaded, its soul nearly fleeing in terror. It never expected to encounter someone surpassing ancient sect masters in this age of declining Dharma.
"If you want to live, tell us where the Penglai Immortal Mountain is," Huang Tiannu said with a grin. Though she possessed peerless beauty, killing intent radiated from her.
Ye Fan nodded. This ancient clam was no benevolent creature. Even if he didn't strip its Dao cultivation, he needed to give it a stern warning. And if he could learn the location of the immortal realm, so much the better.
"I don't know. The three immortal mountains in the sea are too mysterious, impossible to track. Otherwise, this old clam would have sought refuge there long ago. I've heard the spiritual energy there is abundant, never drying up since ancient times."
"Then what use are you? Instead of letting you continue wreaking havoc in the sea, I might as well kill you directly," Huang Tiannu said, revealing killing intent to intimidate the ancient demon.
"Spare me, great immortals! Though I don't know, I can provide some clues," the ancient clam begged for mercy.
In the end, it led them to an underwater cave dwelling. The world beneath the waves was hazy, but this place radiated precious light, all crystalline.
It was a palace built from beautiful, translucent coral, engraved with many formations and Dao marks. It was an ancient water mansion, housing some small demons like fish and shrimp.
The master of the mansion was a seahorse spirit, now over fifteen hundred years old, a hegemon of this underwater world, revered by all creatures in the surrounding seas.
The old seahorse's true body was hundreds of feet long. It transformed into a red-haired Daoist and came out to greet them, very courteous. Its spiritual sense was sharp and powerful, sensing the terror of Ye Fan and the Dragon Horse, filling it with fear.
Ye Fan stated his purpose directly, asking where Penglai was. If a hegemon of the sea didn't know, then he truly had no recourse and would have to retreat.
"This old man does know, but that place is too terrifying. Ancient slaughter formations are laid beneath the water. I've tried several times but couldn't pass through to enter the island," the old seahorse warned kindly.
"No matter. Just tell us, Lord of the Mansion," Ye Fan said politely, speaking with a smile.
In the end, the old seahorse personally guided them to a mysterious sea region. Ordinary people couldn't approach it at all, somehow circling around it. But they were no ordinary people. As they neared, they felt waves of chilling killing intent. At the slightest touch, streaks of heaven-piercing sword energy would slash down.
"This old man can only bring you this far. I dare not go deeper," the old seahorse said.
"Thank you, Lord of the Mansion," Ye Fan said sincerely, then led his disciples forward. His cauldron hung above his head, pouring down endless Mother Qi, enveloping them. No matter what techniques or divine abilities came at them, all were received.
Behind them, the old seahorse spirit stood dumbfounded, nearly petrified, muttering, "Even ancient sect masters fall short. Could this be the Heavenly Court Master from the land?"
Ye Fan rode the Dragon Horse, his cauldron above him releasing ten thousand silk threads, keeping all Dharma from touching him. He led the group through this mysterious sea region as if entering an empty land.
"This ancient formation is truly vast. We've traveled hundreds of li and still haven't broken through," You Weiyu marveled.
"This is too slow. Watch me!" The Dragon Horse grew impatient, finding Ye Fan's disciples too sluggish. Its four hooves blazed with light, and flames shot into the sky, creating a path of fire across the blue sea surface, stretching into the distance.
The Dragon Horse gave a long neigh, carrying Ye Fan as it charged forward, nearly throwing off Little Pine on its rump. The little one grabbed the horse's tail just in time, grumbling discontentedly.
Zhang Qingyang, You Weiyu, Zhan Yifan, and the others were involuntarily pulled along by a trail of fire, walking the path of flames as if being dragged through the air.
"This Dragon Horse truly has heaven-reaching Dharma power. Only Master can subdue it. This is the legendary Fire Light Divine Escape Art from ancient times. At its peak, no Dharma can approach, allowing travel through sun and moon, and ancient formations can't stop it."
Ye Fan's disciples all changed color. It was said that only those with unparalleled bloodline power could perform this art. In ancient times, such beings were terrifying existences that ruled a region and were invincible at the same level.
The Dragon Horse galloped eight hundred li. The path of fire pressed upon the waves, and all kinds of ancient Dao marks couldn't approach or block it. Even the sharpest killing light that occasionally rushed in was dissolved by the Primordial Qi Cauldron.
Finally, immortal mist swirled. Ahead appeared a massive island, standing in the sea, radiating flowing light and auspicious colors, illuminating the surroundings.
"We've found it at last," Ye Fan whispered. This place should be the Penglai Immortal Mountain.
Both the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* and the *Records of the Grand Historian* mentioned that the three immortal mountains in the sea—Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou—contained the elixir of immortality. True or false, it was enough to infer their extraordinary nature.
Ye Fan and his group landed on the island and couldn't help but marvel at its size. It was almost comparable to a continent. Even the cold-tempered Long Xiaoque couldn't help saying that perhaps another continent should be added beyond the seven.
When they left the coast and ventured hundreds of li inland, they were even more stunned. Besides discovering some towns, they also saw several ancient cities.
There were many residents on the island. It was an ancient world, with clothing and living habits no different from China's pre-Qin period.
"The spiritual energy on this island is truly abundant, unaffected by this age of declining Dharma!" They couldn't help but be amazed.
In desolate mountains and wild forests, on steep cliffs, spiritual energy permeated the air. Spiritual medicines could be found, as in ancient times. Rare herbs and precious medicines hadn't gone extinct and were discovered from time to time.
Ye Fan inquired and learned that there was only one sacred cultivation sect on the island, sharing its name: Penglai.
"Honored immortals, Penglai Immortal Mountain is far from here. However, a Minor Heavenly Venerable sits in a sacred city not far away. You can visit him first," a kind woodcutter directed.
Ye Fan thanked him. He wanted to go directly to Penglai Immortal Mountain but didn't know the way, so he had to head to the sacred city first.
"Their arrogance is something else, calling themselves Heavenly Venerable. Do they have strength like Master's?" the disciples discussed.
The sacred city was grand and majestic, with towering gates guarded by cultivators. Seeing Ye Fan riding the Dragon Horse, they were startled and reported inside, alerting the so-called Minor Heavenly Venerable, who personally ascended the city wall to observe.
"It's him!"
Zhang Qingyang immediately changed color, staring at the young man on the city wall. Four years ago, this man had severely wounded him, demolished part of the Heavenly Court buildings, and burned Ye Fan's divine statue.
"So it's you. Have you disbanded the Heavenly Court sect?" the young man on the city gate tower said with a hint of mockery. "You're truly unworthy of that name. You'd better burn all those Heavenly Emperor statues clean."
Mid-month, calling for *** votes! Also, feel free to guess how Ye Fan will leave. Write your answer on the back of the *** vote and cast it together.
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