Chapter 1416: Five Years
Ye Fan shook his head and said, "Don't go making up names randomly. There's no such person as Tongtian. Calling it the Numinous Treasure Array Diagram and Four Slaughter Swords is more fitting."
"How about I change my name to Tongtian instead?" Pang Bo's eyes blazed with brilliance, his blood boiling with a craving for the four immortal swords and the divine diagram.
The array diagram and slaughter swords were too formidable. If he could obtain them, who would he fear in the future? Together with Ye Fan, they could roam the heavens and earth, slashing even the Great Sages with a single sword stroke!
Ye Fan's expression stiffened. "It's better not to speak recklessly inside the Wheel Sea of an ancient Heavenly Venerable."
Sword qi surged like rolling rivers, star rivers cascaded down, the universe split apart, and massive stars exploded and fell from time to time, crashing into this black Sea of Bitterness, stirring up towering waves that poured back into the depths of the star domain.
Beneath this sword array, nothing remained unbroken. Nothing could withstand it. It was as if hell itself had been torn open with a massive gash, the killing intent vast and boundless, stretching endlessly without limit.
"The Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable is too terrifying. The Imperial weapon and array diagram he left behind are beyond anyone's reach." The Bull Demon King sighed. He had broken one horn during his battle with the ancient corpse of the Divine Clan, but it wasn't too serious.
People finally understood why the four immortal swords had remained here for endless ages without being taken. Clearly, it was too difficult—no one could move them.
The tsunami-like sword qi, lacking a target, gradually subsided and finally came to rest within the eye of the Life Spring.
"Eh, that array diagram is a phantom, not the real body?" People were astonished. A Great Sage had witnessed this true scene.
Ye Fan also opened his Heavenly Eye, enduring damage to his eyes as bloody cracks appeared, shooting out two brilliant beams that reached the center of the sea.
The array diagram was engraved with Dao runes, ancient and mysterious, like a profound universe or the self-contained Dao itself, embodying the great calamities of heaven and earth, making it appear terrifying and boundless.
At this moment, the array diagram blurred, like a phantom imprint, branded into the eye of the Life Spring, and then vanished.
"It's not real!"
"Wrong, there really is an array diagram. But it's not here—it only left a phantom imprint. At critical moments, it can manifest its divine might and awaken the four swords."
The crowd drew in cold breaths, yet their hearts stirred once more. Where was the array diagram placed? That was the key. If obtained, one might inherit the legacy of the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable.
At that point, the array diagram, the four slaughter swords, and the ancient scripture would unite, becoming the ultimate divine treasury.
"The array diagram is the key. Only by obtaining it can one control everything. I wonder where it's buried?" People's eyes burned with desire, their spirits lifting again.
The array diagram disappeared, and the four slaughter swords calmed down. The sea was peaceful, but anyone who carefully sensed or approached it would still feel killing intent seeping into their bones.
"Ye Zi, what do you think about me changing my name to Tongtian?" Pang Bo asked.
Ye Fan pondered and said, "This… it's not good. Since there's no such person, don't create one."
"Why?" Pang Bo was puzzled.
Ye Fan replied, "The ancient Heavenly Venerables and Great Emperors stopped at nothing in their pursuit of immortality. I'm afraid it might cause problems in the end."
Pang Bo was stunned. "Do you think the true body of the Tongtian Sect Leader might still appear?!"
"I didn't say that." Ye Fan shook his head, but he felt that such things were a taboo—better to avoid them.
In the days that followed, people tried every possible method, racking their brains to obtain the four immortal swords, but all failed.
During this time, another Great Sage fell. He tried a clever trick by sending in a clone, but it triggered a calamity that led to the death of his true body as well. This sent chills down everyone's spines.
That sword qi was comparable to the strikes of an ancient Great Emperor. In an era without emperors, who could contend with it? Even the Refining God Vase was knocked flying. No one dared approach anymore.
Next, the Human Clan Dao Protector, the Bull Demon King, the Ancient Clan Evil God, and others scoured ancient texts and divine scriptures, searching for clues and weaknesses in historical records.
But the Mythical Era was too distant. Not only were methods to counter it hard to find, but even the weapons of the ancient Heavenly Venerables—or even their names—were poorly recorded in later texts, unable to be fully listed.
According to legend, one of the Nine Secrets, the "Formation" secret, was created by the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable, involving divine patterns, Dao marks, and magical symbols. He was the progenitor of formations, the supreme originator of the most powerful killing arrays in history.
Now, the Great Sages searched ancient texts, confirming this theory through various clues, which only made things more daunting.
This meant that without the array diagram, there was no solution. The killing array was nearly impossible to decipher. Even if a Great Emperor were resurrected, they would probably have a headache dealing with it.
"Even if this killing array has no one controlling it, all the Great Sages in the universe coming together would still be slaughtered!" That was the conclusion people reached.
Searching the Sea of Bitterness, starting from the other Life Spring eyes, yielded nothing. There was no trace of the array diagram. People were nearly in despair.
"The four slaughter swords have sunk here for endless ages, never taken by anyone. There's a reason for it." People could only sigh like this.
The heroes lingered here for half a year but made no breakthrough. They could only look up to the sky and sigh, choosing to leave.
Many had already set out, such as Sanggu, the Four Golden Snake Lords, Di Tian, the Metal-Eating Beast, and others. They were decisive, knowing it was impossible, and immediately charged into the deepest part of the Sea of Bitterness, hoping to be the first to reach the Other Shore.
The result surprised everyone, even the Great Sages. They set out from the Life Spring, relying on ancient ships to cross, passing through void passages multiple times. The distance covered was comparable to a vast star domain. When they finally reached the Other Shore, all they found was an endless starry sky—not the dwelling place of the gods.
After a total of a year, this was the outcome. Unbelievable. Where was the so-called ancient land of life? Everyone was furious. Was this a hoax, a trick by the ancients to fool later generations?
"Don't think in conventional terms. Since the Sea of Bitterness is part of the ancient Heavenly Venerable's body, could the dwelling place of the gods be…"
The Sea of Bitterness, Life Spring, Divine Bridge, and Other Shore corresponded to the four minor stages of the human Wheel Sea Secret Realm. To cross the sea, one needed to traverse the Divine Bridge.
It wasn't that no one had thought of this. In fact, since the discovery of the Life Spring eye, some had deduced this and searched for the Divine Bridge, but all failed.
In the end, people couldn't see the Other Shore. After futilely crossing the black ocean for a year, they finally turned back to reconsider.
"The Sea of Bitterness has no shore; turn back and you'll find the shore. Damn it!" Pang Bo cursed.
Everyone turned back, lamenting that the Sea of Bitterness truly required turning back—it couldn't be crossed to the end.
Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Too many had died in the black ocean. Dozens or even hundreds of clans sent experts in, only to leave behind blood and bones.
Without an ancient ship, one couldn't stay long. Both the black seawater and the void itself would weaken one's Dao and cultivation. Only by standing on a ship could one remain safe.
Over these five years, Ye Fan trained diligently, meditating on the Dao every day, his cultivation steadily advancing. He had also engaged in bloody battles, even being hunted by Great Sages, but he survived those blood calamities.
"That damned gray flood dragon, that blasted toad, and that lackey dog! When I become a Great Sage, I'll skin you alive!" Pang Bo fumed, covered in blood.
In recent years, the gray flood dragon, golden toad, celestial dog, and other ancient beast venerated ones had relentlessly pursued them. They had just escaped another ordeal.
During this time, Ye Fan and the others had also clashed with many young supremes and dozens of clans, engaging in numerous bloody battles. They had undergone a baptism of blood.
Everyone deduced the trajectory of the Divine Bridge but couldn't make it manifest. It required the Life Spring to surge and build a path to the Other Shore, consistent with the human secret realm.
After endless ages, how could the Life Spring still surge? It was nearly dry now. The vast amount of divine liquid seen was only relative—compared to the boundless Sea of Bitterness, it was insignificant.
"I'll go into the Life Spring eye and take a look." Ye Fan frowned. Finally, he made a decision: to risk entering the central Life Spring eye.
"Good, I'll go with you. First, we get the Immortal-Slaying Array Diagram, then cross the Divine Bridge to reach the Other Shore." Pang Bo said.
Ye Fan firmly shook his head. "No, it's too risky. Although I have the Human-Faced Ghost Lamp and know the Salvation Scripture, which can quell the killing intent of the four swords, I've only tried it outside. I've never actually gone inside. There are too many variables."
"It should be fine. Since it's the Tongtian Sect Leader's artifact and scripture, they should resonate with the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords he left behind and won't attack us." Pang Bo said.
Ye Fan's only reliance was that this place was the Wheel Sea of the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable. He had his ancient artifact and a scripture, giving him some confidence to enter.
On the Sea of Bitterness, black mist swirled, carrying killing intent. Only at the very center did mist rise and radiant light surge into the sky, where immortal energy steamed, dazzling and brilliant.
The Life Spring gurgled like an immortal spring, its crystalline liquid giving one the feeling of ascending to immortality. It moistened every pore and bone, making the body light and agile, the spirit full, and the Immortal Platform spontaneously emitting Dao sounds.
Ye Fan recited the Salvation Scripture, with a bronze lamp floating beside him. As he approached the central Life Spring, he felt as if his bones were cracking and his body splitting, as if he would be destroyed at any moment.
The Human-Faced Ghost Lamp's flame flickered, and a withered little old man appeared on the wick, eerie and strange. He sat there, reciting the Salvation Scripture, and the flames of the Mythical Era blazed brightly.
At that moment, the killing intent receded. The feeling of his body about to explode vanished. Wrapped in the dim firelight, Ye Fan approached the Life Spring.
He suspended the Primordial Qi Cauldron above his head, held the Green Copper Block in his hand, and draped over himself the Immortal Treasure Diagram obtained from the Ten Thousand Dragon Nest. Thus, accompanied by the ancient lamp, he entered the Life Spring.
The moment he entered, his pores opened wide, and his divine power surged, magnified dozens of times. The divine liquid nearly drowned the lamplight. He felt as if he were about to ascend to immortality.
In the distance, Pang Bo, the Dragon Horse, and the others held their breath. Seeing him enter safely without being struck down by the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords, they relaxed slightly.
Ye Fan himself let out a long breath and signaled them not to worry. The Human-Faced Ghost Lamp had played a heaven-defying role. The killing intent was still there, but it wasn't targeting him.
Ye Fan didn't dare drink the Life Spring of an ancient Great Emperor. It was a good thing, but it might contain killing intent. The ghost lamp's light kept the crystalline liquid at bay.
The Life Spring was filled with immortal energy, the liquid crystalline and fragrant. Ye Fan held the Human-Faced Ghost Lamp and dived down sharply, going deeper to see what was there.
He saw it—finally, he saw it vaguely. At the very bottom, four slaughter swords were dark red, ancient and natural, yet exuding unparalleled killing intent!
"Could I really take the four swords?" Ye Fan's heart pounded violently.
At this distance, although some killing intent seeped through the ghost lamp's light barrier, it didn't harm him. This sparked a glimmer of hope in his heart.
"Eh, no, there's a cave dwelling underwater!" Ye Fan was startled.
To be precise, there was a stone mirror platform, polished extremely smooth. Through it, he saw a cave dwelling suspended in the eye of the Life Spring, far away from here. This was due to the effect of a formation array; otherwise, he wouldn't have seen it.
"It's not far from the four slaughter swords. What's the connection?!"
Through the stone mirror platform, Ye Fan observed carefully. The cave dwelling was grand and majestic, like the ancient palaces of the Heavenly Court, imposing and awe-inspiring, yet utterly silent.
Such a thing appearing in the Life Spring eye of an ancient Great Emperor was eerie. Ye Fan's heart trembled. Who was this, actually living here?!
"A monkey!" His heart skipped a beat. Changing his angle, through the stone mirror platform, he saw a monkey, its entire body shimmering with golden fur, as if cast from gold, dazzling and brilliant.
Ye Fan was stunned. He could hardly believe his eyes. Wasn't that a Battle-Saint Ape? It looked too much like the Holy Prince and the Battle Victory Buddha!
The only difference was that it had six ears!
"Could this be the legendary… Six-Eared Macaque?!" Ye Fan was shocked. It was actually living in the Life Spring eye of an ancient Great Emperor! (To be continued)