Chapter 1263: Washing Feet with the Dao Source
The great cauldron was like an abyssal sea, swallowing heaven and earth. The strands of hazy light struck the cauldron's walls, but they could never break free—the Dao Source was bound. Under the suppression of the Immortal-Sealing Six Seals and the Primordial Qi Cauldron, it merged into one and was collected inside. Though extremely unwilling, it could not escape.
"What is this…" Many were shaken.
Since ancient times, there had been those not recognized by heaven and earth. The Dao Source would shatter and return to the world, but no one had ever been able to forcibly seize it.
The person before them was so domineering, it was shocking.
"He goes against heaven and earth, forcibly reuniting the Dao Source and sealing it in the cauldron. What kind of person is this!?"
"Throughout the ages, no one has dared to do this. It will bring divine punishment from heaven. This is far too reckless."
The crowd was stunned, hardly believing their eyes. He had reassembled the Dao Source and was forcibly suppressing it for his own use.
Suddenly, a terrifying aura spread. A chain of order appeared in the sky, as brilliant as the feathers of an immortal phoenix, slashing horizontally at Ye Fan.
"Divine punishment! Heaven has truly descended with retribution!" Many were alarmed.
This was a dazzling chain of order, its divine energy chilling. It spanned heaven and earth, encircling him, aiming to cut Ye Fan in half.
"Here it comes. Since ancient times, few have dared such disrespect. The Dao Source cannot be forcibly taken—it must incur heavenly punishment."
However, to everyone's astonishment, Ye Fan was unafraid. He raised his fist and struck the sky, resisting the punishment. A single overbearing punch shattered the void.
"Boom!"
A shocking change occurred. The brilliant chain of order was blocked. The scene of death and dao dissolution that people had expected did not appear.
"Divine punishment moves according to each person's strength, always exceeding the punished one's limit to destroy them, but he blocked it…"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Ye Fan's mouth. So-called divine punishment was nothing special—he had faced far more dangerous situations.
The brilliant chain of order trembled, and the sky instantly erupted with thunder and lightning. Thousands upon thousands of bolts of punishment light struck at Ye Fan and the cauldron.
"Heavenly tribulation! Heaven above is enraged!"
No one had broken through a realm, and no prodigy was undergoing tribulation. It was simply because Ye Fan had defiled the Dao Source that a divine tribulation descended in broad daylight.
Terrifying light danced, and blazing electric radiance flashed, drowning the area, turning it into a sea of lightning like a marsh.
Chi chi…
Lightning fell in sheets, divine rays by the billions, weaving into a world of light. The area was enveloped on a massive scale, causing many to change color.
An infinite sea of thunder descended, a terrifying heavenly tribulation emerged, slaughtering all obstacles. It was as if a heavenly god was roaring, tearing apart everything in the world.
Everyone changed color. They were all heroes of their own lands, each with extraordinary magical power and insight. Many trial-takers came from ancient star domains and were no ordinary mortals—all had undergone lightning tribulation.
Some were shocked and cried out, "This is practically a divine tribulation! The sea of thunder is too vast, impossible to withstand. How many can survive such a heavenly tribulation?!"
Boom!
The sea of thunder was terrifying, each bolt like a river of stars falling, majestic and awe-inspiring, its divine might unmatched. How could flesh and blood resist it?
Whether from the Demon Kingdom, the Divine Kingdom, the Nine Heavens Kingdom, or the trial-takers on the Stellar Ancient Path, all retreated, drawing a clear line to avoid being implicated.
Many trembled in fear. Such a scene indicated that Ye Fan was definitely rejected by heaven above, cursed, and would likely meet his end today.
"What a pity. This person's strength is so great—he is definitely one of the best among this batch, a leading figure of his generation—but he may not survive."
"It's his own fault for not knowing his limits. He dared to blaspheme heaven above and forcibly seize the Dao Source. Naturally, he must suffer punishment. Falling is his deserved end."
Some secretly regretted it, while others sneered. The death of a strong man was good news to these people.
The people of the Demon Kingdom and Divine Kingdom also murmured. Witnessing such a terrifying scene, who could remain silent? In this world, heavenly tribulation was one of the most fearsome forces.
"In the past few decades, we've witnessed some trial-takers undergoing tribulation. A few batches could handle such a mighty thunder tribulation. I wonder if he can withstand it."
However, what made many's hair stand on end was that in the midst of the ten-thousand-zhang sea of thunder, Ye Fan showed no fear at all. He sat cross-legged, drawing lightning into his body, and a golden miniature figure appeared before his brow, swallowing and spitting electric light.
"Drawing lightning into the body, using heavenly tribulation to temper the true form—this is truly… heaven-defying!"
The crowd was stunned, unable to help but gasp. Such a figure was rare and would surely have a place on the entire Stellar Ancient Path.
The expected scene of shattered bones and destroyed flesh did not appear. Ye Fan's physical body, the golden miniature figure, and the cauldron drew the infinite sea of thunder to temper themselves and absorbed it!
"This really surprises me," Ye Fan murmured to himself.
He had initially thought that heaven above had a will targeting him for punishment. But after careful contemplation, he realized this should be a naturally existing force of order.
The Dao Source was indeed a heaven-defying thing, having imprinted the most fundamental aspects of the entire universe. As for that vague will… it was somewhat strange.
The Immortal-Sealing Six Seals took effect. He used the cauldron to swallow the Dao Source inside, reassembling it into a ball of light. He felt countless symbols within, terrifying and mysterious.
That vague will disappeared and never reappeared. However, this ball of light repelled him, refusing to merge with him.
The Immortal-Sealing Six Seals exerted their power, completely sealing the Dao Source, burying it deep in the cauldron, cutting off its aura from the outside world. The divine punishment immediately vanished, and the sky full of thunder light retreated.
Ye Fan emerged unscathed, standing under the sky, his clothes fluttering. A cauldron hung above his head, ancient and natural, its hanging threads protecting him.
"He's unharmed! Unbelievable!"
"That cauldron… heavens, it's forged from Primordial Mother Qi Root!"
Ye Fan had not suffered divine punishment and had passed safely, astonishing everyone. Only then did their attention shift from the Dao Source to the cauldron, which many naturally recognized.
The exclusive immortal material of the ancient great emperors—no matter when or where—was destined to attract attention, stir up storms, and become the focus.
"It really is… the essence of Primordial Mother Qi!"
People were shaken, their mouths dry. Many were stunned, their minds roaring.
"He reassembled the Dao Source and collected it into the cauldron. Can he really forcibly contain it?!"
Some eyes burned with fervor. This was practically an immortal opportunity. Seizing the cauldron also meant seizing the Dao Source. If they could obtain it, what need was there to discuss grudges or enmities?
A blood sword silently slashed toward the back of Ye Fan's head, aiming to kill him in one blow.
At the same time, various other weapons flashed with divine radiance, striking from the mountains and the clouds. Many powerful figures made their move.
Wealth moved people's hearts, let alone such heaven-defying things.
"Kill! Leave the Dao Source behind! You are not recognized by heaven above—hand it over!"
This slaughter came so abruptly. The quiet battlefield instantly erupted into chaos as people attacked Ye Fan together, trying to keep him there.
"We've poked the old man in the sky right in the ass! Damn it, so many people besieging us—this is eight generations of bad luck!" the Dragon Horse cursed.
Ye Fan went on a killing spree. Walking the Stellar Ancient Path meant growing stronger against the strong, contending among endless experts.
For those truly treading the Imperial Path and aiming for the pinnacle, this was inherently a bloody road, destined to leave corpses underfoot and rivers of blood, to stand out from the crowd.
Throughout the ages, the strong had fought their way through, reaching the end with illustrious reputations. There was no other shortcut; otherwise, the original meaning of traversing the Stellar Ancient Path would be lost.
"Kill!"
Ye Fan wielded a black long spear, piercing heaven and splitting earth. With each strike, someone was impaled and killed, decisive and clean.
"Puh," "puh"…
One corpse, two… thirty-seven, all great demons. Finally, a full fifty-four great demon corpses lay at his feet, each with a hole pierced through their forehead.
"Ah…"
The people of the Divine Kingdom also screamed. Ye Fan's dark gold long spear was as swift as lightning, killing sixty to seventy experts.
This was a slaughter!
Blood filled the sky. Many natives and trial-takers fell one by one under Ye Fan's spear tip, drenched in blood.
Finally, ancient sages joined in. Ye Fan erupted in fury, his entire body glowing. He manifested his divine phenomena, briefly merging them. The Immortal King, the Golden Sea of Bitterness, the Chaos Azure Lotus, and others fused into one, terrifying and overwhelming.
"Puh"
When he tore an ancient sage apart with his bare hands, the entire world fell silent. Bathed in sage blood, he fought his way out of the battlefield, and no one dared to block him.
For the next half month, the entire ancient land was not peaceful. Bloody battles raged everywhere. Ye Fan encountered wave after wave of ambushes, and he killed with iron-blooded ruthlessness.
In the end, the fighting reached a point where the sun and moon lost their light, and heaven and earth dimmed. Many mountains and rivers were riddled with holes, no longer existing.
This was a catastrophe. Ye Fan slaughtered sages here, intimidating many. In the end, no one dared to provoke him or cause him trouble.
Of course, there were also a few crises. Sage Kings from the Divine Kingdom and Demon Kingdom appeared, but he avoided them and did not engage in battle.
After half a month, even with Ye Fan's constitution, he felt somewhat exhausted. After successive battles with trial-takers and foreign races, his body had accumulated hidden injuries.
He had killed no fewer than a thousand people, bathed in blood. Wherever he passed, heroes fell at his feet. He fought until people's courage failed.
"Finally, it's over," the Dragon Horse said through gritted teeth. For him, it had been an ordeal. He had fought until his body was covered in wounds and scars.
Clear lake water, the faint fragrance of lotus flowers. This was a misty, sapphire-like beautiful lake. They rested here, recovering their vigorous blood energy.
"What exactly is this Dao Source?"
By the lakeside, golden qilin grass grew, radiating spiritual energy and shining brightly. There were also medicinal fruits, fragrant and tempting. The Dragon Horse ate a pile of spiritual fruits and asked Ye Fan.
Ye Fan set up a Heaven-Deceiving Array, released the Dao Source, and observed it carefully. He felt it was unfathomable, with various symbols flowing within, containing infinite great dao principles.
This time, the Dao Source did not transmit any will, but it immediately shattered, turning into strands of auspicious energy, trying to scatter.
Ye Fan's expression immediately turned cold. The Dao Source truly did not recognize him, evading in every way, refusing to let him comprehend it.
The Dragon Horse chuckled and said, "It seems your future is uncertain. The Dao Source looks down on you."
Ye Fan activated the Immortal-Sealing Six Seals, reassembling the Dao Source into a ball of light, preventing it from leaving his side, firmly imprisoning it here.
"What do you plan to do?" the Dragon Horse asked.
"Wash my feet!" Ye Fan said coldly.
He actually did it. Sealing the ball of light, he took off his war boots and immersed both feet into this soft, moonlight-like, holy immortal object.
"I'll be damned! Don't… you're really defiling it?!" The Dragon Horse tried to stop him, but it was too late—it had already happened. He nearly bit off his own tongue.
Ye Fan sat on a cow-lying stone by the lake, washing his feet with the Dao Source, soaking in it, feeling a mysterious force.
The Dao Source struggled violently, trying to break apart and rush upward, but under the supreme source art of the Immortal-Sealing Six Seals, it could not escape.