# Chapter 1419: Sixteen-Foot Bodhi
The Life Spring gurgled, its liquid crystal clear and translucent, steaming with mist, immortal rays spilling in all directions. This was a place connected to the Dao, naturally allowing one to comprehend the Dao and meditate on techniques.
The sea surface was calm and peaceful, but beneath it, undercurrents surged. Ye Fan was stirring the strands of killing intent contained within the Life Spring, attempting to use them to refine the Bodhi seed.
This seed had already sprouted a tender shoot, about an inch tall, emerald green and dripping with freshness, delicate as rosy clouds. Yet it erupted with life essence like an ocean. Though only an inch tall, it was so vast and unfathomably profound that one could not help but marvel—an Immortal Elixir could not be judged by common sense.
"No good, I need to hurry!" Ye Fan's expression changed. He discovered a terrifying fact: the extremely faint, barely discernible will within the Bodhi seed had actually grown stronger as the seed took root and sprouted.
This was a dreadful omen. If the seed transformed into a true Bodhi ancient tree, wouldn't that mean the will within would truly strengthen?!
Suspected to be the will of Shakyamuni or Amitabha Great Emperor, if it were truly nourished and grew powerful, it could spell disaster for Ye Fan.
This was a will of nirvana!
First, Ye Fan sealed off the upper and lower regions, the four directions, cutting off the supply of essence, preventing the seed from absorbing the Life Spring's essence, avoiding its rapid growth.
Then he quickly refined the Life Spring, but not to extract its essence—instead, he distilled strands of black mist from within, the aura of the four killing swords.
The black mist contained unparalleled killing intent. Though it was only the weakest, wispy traces, it was still terrifying.
Ye Fan activated the Weapon Art, treating the Bodhi seed as a piece of divine iron to be forged and smelted, using the four swords' killing aura as fire, repeatedly tempering and grinding it.
This was effective. The will within the seed seemed to sense the crisis, awakening somewhat, and a Dao resonance emanated, sending chills down one's spine.
"This... is too heaven-defying!" The Dragon Horse and others were shocked.
This will was so weak it was nearly negligible, yet it could spread such terrifying Dao marks. If the true body of its owner descended, who in this world could stop them?
"Help me!" Ye Fan said.
Without needing further instruction, Pang Bo and the twelve Saints had already sat down in meditation, refining the Life Spring that was crystalline like immortal liquid, extracting strands of black mist, the killing intent piercing to the bone.
Ye Fan carefully guided it. Even the weakest sword energy could not be underestimated, as it might trigger great calamity, for this was emitted by an Imperial Artifact.
"The Four Immortal-Slaying Swords are too powerful. The killing intent they emit is just right for grinding away this unclear will of unknown origin." Pang Bo couldn't forget the four swords, but dared not take them.
He had already accepted reality. No one in this world could move the four killing swords; approaching them meant certain death. Only by obtaining the formation diagram could one gain the swords' recognition.
Time passed for a full half month. Though the faint will had been worn down somewhat, it still remained unextinguished, even using the Bodhi for nourishment to recover here.
Everyone felt a headache. It was clearly so weak, not even as strong as an ant's will, yet it could not be eradicated—this was deeply unsettling.
They couldn't help but wonder: if the true body of this will's owner appeared, how powerful would it be? Could it truly be a Great Emperor?!
"No good, we need to use the four killing swords," Ye Fan said.
Of course, he wasn't recklessly provoking the immortal swords. After all, these were terrifying killing weapons that could send the Divine Refining Pot flying into the depths of the universe, casually cutting down sun, moon, and stars—far too dangerous.
Ye Fan held the Ghost Lamp, slowly approaching the killing swords, clearly seeing the scene of immortal-slaying on the dark red sword bodies. There were also images of ten thousand spirits lying dead carved on the sword backs, sending chills deep into one's bones.
The closer he got, the denser the killing intent became. The black mist they extracted grew stronger, used to grind away the faint will.
In the end, they were utterly horrified. Because a visible wisp of weak sword energy from the four killing swords directly connected to the Bodhi seed, bringing with it an aura of heaven-shattering, universe-destroying force.
Yet such terrifying killing aura was all absorbed by the Bodhi seed—or rather, withstood by that weak will. This defied all reason.
"This seed definitely has a problem, and a huge one at that!" Pang Bo felt a chill run down his spine.
The killing intent of the four swords was immense. Though only a weak wisp had flowed over, the fact that it hadn't immediately destroyed that will already spoke volumes.
Having such a will accompany him year-round was an enormous threat. It couldn't be removed even with Saint King-level power—this was more serious than they had imagined.
"Again!"
Ye Fan moved forward, drawing sword energy toward him. The four dark red killing swords seemed on the verge of awakening. At his ears, he heard the sounds of all beings wailing, gods and demons howling. The bloody scene of immortal-slaying seemed to manifest before him!
"The Four Immortal-Slaying Swords are too terrifying. They haven't even revived, just sitting there, yet they produce such dreadful scenes." Pang Bo sighed, wishing he could obtain them.
"Weng!"
A resonant hum came from within the Bodhi seed, and then the sound of Buddhist chanting erupted mightily, as if a majestic ancient Buddha was reciting scriptures, vast Dao waves spreading outward.
Clearly, this had provoked a wisp of killing intent from the four swords. The black sword energy rushing over grew thicker, making the Dragon Horse and others tremble with fear. If it struck them, they would likely be annihilated in body and soul.
Ye Fan offered up the broken Green Cauldron, letting everyone take shelter inside, including himself. Otherwise, it was too dangerous.
A magnificent ancient building materialized. The Great Thunderclap Monastery was so real, and Mount Sumeru appeared, suppressing the eternal blue heavens. Buddhist sounds shook the nine heavens and ten lands.
"This... it's just the weakest wisp of a faint will, how can it be this powerful?!" The Golden Lion recalled his ancestor's past and felt uneasy.
"Clang!"
One of the killing swords lightly hummed, and a very weak wisp of radiant light flew out—an unparalleled killing force, capable of cutting down any heavenly prodigy of the era.
This resonant sound echoed through the sky, making even the great universe seem to tremble. It entered the seed, colliding with that faint will.
A soft sound, a wisp of smoke and mist shattered. The faint will dissipated like smoke, severed by one of the dark red killing swords, becoming a thing of the past.
Ye Fan let out a long breath. Holding the Ghost Lamp, he quickly retreated. This killing intent was too terrifying. Even hiding in the Green Cauldron, he felt his bones cracking and body splitting, his primordial spirit nearly slain.
And this was with the four killing swords not even targeting them—yet this aura was unbearable.
Pang Bo sighed, "The Four Immortal-Slaying Swords are likely the most powerful killing weapons in all of history. Could those bloody immortal-slaying images on the sword bodies be real?!"
The moment the will within the Bodhi seed was extinguished, in a vast wilderness of the Amitabha Ancient Star Domain, within an ancient temple overgrown with weeds, the forehead bone of a stone statue cracked with a "kacha" sound.
And on the stone statue's shoulder, a golden ferocious bird suddenly opened its eyes. Its golden pupils were even more blazing than lightning, directly tearing apart tens of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers!
Looking closely, this was a Golden Wing Ancient Heavenly Roc. But it was only a foot long, standing on the stone statue's shoulder, gleaming with radiance, possessing the grand momentum to strike at sun and moon.
Time passed swiftly. Three years slipped away in the blink of an eye. During this period, the Sea of Bitterness grew increasingly terrifying, drawing countless experts to rush over.
There were hundreds of races, tens of thousands of cultivators—and this was only those qualified to enter the sea. On the shores of the black ocean, there were even more.
Among them, Great Sages and Young Supremes had increased compared to before, because people from even more distant star regions had arrived, seeking the Ancient Tree of Life and taking the Imperial Artifact. Experts entered the Mythical Ancient Domain in waves.
Bloodshed was inevitable, many times more brutal than before. Struggling for ancient ships, plundering the secret treasures of various races—this happened every day. Dark and tragic events unfolded constantly.
During this time, the Gray Flood Dragon Great Sage, Golden Toad, Heavenly Dog, and others—who had long preyed on others—finally got their eyes pecked out. When dealing with a junior, they encountered several Great Sages from that ancient domain, were relentlessly pursued and beaten, and for three years were constantly hunted, leaving a trail of blood wherever they went.
In these three years, within the Life Spring eye of the Ancient Heavenly Venerable, all was peaceful. Essence whirlpools constantly appeared—these were two divine medicines growing.
The Qilin Divine Medicine emanated purple mist, its roots strong, taking root in the void, absorbing Life Spring essence, producing nine leaves. Each leaf was translucent and radiant, shaped like a purple qilin.
It grew to a foot tall in two years, then its height never changed again. But its essence became increasingly vigorous, like a purple divine sea rising and falling.
For an Immortal Elixir to mature, it would normally take several thousand years. After sprouting branches and leaves, the Qilin Medicine had taken its initial form and stopped growing wildly.
Even this place—the Life Spring of an Ancient Heavenly Venerable—could not change that. Though it provided the optimal conditions for divine medicine growth, it couldn't make it mature in just a few years.
Even if it could shorten the time somewhat, it couldn't be too exaggerated. According to their estimates, the most conservative guess was several hundred years, provided these conditions remained constant.
Green leaves rustled, making a "hualala" sound. Emerald light flickered, and strands of Dao aura hung down. The Bodhi tree was like a piece of jade carved into form, its entire body green and translucent, verdant and brilliant.
It was a tree, legend saying it could tower into the clouds. But now it was just a sapling, neither more nor less, exactly sixteen feet tall—a subtle and significant number.
Ye Fan had sat beneath the tree for three full years without moving, comprehending the Dao, creating his own technique, walking a different path.
Under the Bodhi tree, a man sat with eyes closed, still as a rock, possessing a unique aura. Strands of Dao opportunity leaked from his body, spreading into the distance.
The twelve Saints and others also cultivated beneath the Bodhi tree, but none had remained motionless for three years like him. Everyone had gained greatly; this was a pure land for Dao comprehension.
Finally, Ye Fan moved. And from within his body, the sound of Dao scriptures emerged. The sutras resonated on their own, sounding beneath the Bodhi tree. Auspicious signs of attaining the Dao appeared, various Dao lights dancing.
Ye Fan's Wheel Sea emitted immortal radiance, extending outward, like a great bell tolling. This was him expanding his Dao, walking his own path.
Pang Bo, the Dragon Horse, the Scorpion, and others all trembled, showing shocked expressions. The immortal radiance steamed and spread outward—not stirring the Dao Palace Secret Realm, but extending toward his four limbs.
The moment Ye Fan opened his eyes, two golden lightning bolts tore through the void. His Wheel Sea Secret Realm transformed into a Taiji immortal diagram, shining brilliantly, like a sun.
This was originally the place of all things' beginning in the human body. Now, rays of light spread toward his four limbs, making this place the source of divine power.
On Ye Fan's four limbs, ancient characters appeared one after another. Each seemed to have come through ancient time, imprinting themselves on the four extremities of his body. The sound of scriptures never ceased.
At first, the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise appeared, corresponding to his four limbs, fusing with them, granting the power to support the heavens and destroy the earth—boundless and terrifying.
Various chaotic lightning bolts danced, transforming into ancient symbols, branding themselves on his four limbs. He was like a god or demon, his body glowing faintly, his thick black hair wildly dancing.
Then, everything came to a halt. This wildness disappeared. The sharp divine light in his eyes withdrew. Dao scriptures emerged, densely inscribed on his four limbs, then unified. An aura of simplicity and profundity spread.
Boom!
The next moment, another change occurred. Earth, fire, wind, and water corresponded to his four limbs. Thunder rumbled through the world, chaos was infinite. This place was like a primordial ancient realm.
Ye Fan's four limbs trembled. Wind and thunder roared. Scriptures resonated on their own. The divine sound of the Dao was unceasing. His four limbs moved together, as if opening heaven and earth, about to split open this ancient realm.
Earth, fire, wind, and water rotated, overlapping with his four limbs. Chaotic mist shrouded everything. He propped open this world, truly seeming to reopen a realm.
"This is his scripture—not entering the Dao Palace, but cultivating the Four Extremes first. And before reaching completion, he has already evolved this profound meaning. Remarkable!" The twelve Saints all exclaimed in shock. (To be continued)