Chapter 136: The Natural Dao
On Clumsy Peak, the nine-step heavenly ladder continuously expanded, transforming into nine platforms upon which stood jade towers and celestial halls, surrounded by misty clouds and rosy vapors. Li Ruoyu slowly rose, pulled by an invisible force, entering those ethereal palaces.
At the mountain summit, there was extreme emptiness, profound stillness, as if a world was evolving, with mysterious "Dao" and "Principles" interweaving.
All things manifested, full of vitality, cycling endlessly in motion. Initially, flowers bloomed in splendor, green leaves dripped with moisture, but ultimately they withered and fell, returning to their roots.
Ye Fan stood motionless on Clumsy Peak, his eyes shifting from brilliance to desolation, from brightness to emptiness, as if he too had experienced an evolution from prosperity to decline.
Between heaven and earth, it seemed as if mysterious trajectories were appearing, forming complex and profound rules and order, giving birth to mysterious patterns and designs.
Clumsy Peak, returning to simplicity, was evolving Dao and Principles; the entire mountain was a scripture, requiring a corresponding state of mind to capture the fleeting mysterious trajectories.
Ye Fan was not Li Ruoyu; he had been on Clumsy Peak for only half a month and did not understand the mountain's origins and foundations, making it very difficult to resonate with it. However, he carried a Bodhi seed in his bosom, obtained from the Great Thunderclap Monastery. The Dao diagrams were naturally formed, evolving naturally, allowing his heart to become extremely calm and still.
The Bodhi tree was the legendary sacred tree of enlightenment, also known as the Wisdom Tree, capable of opening one's divine nature and allowing one to comprehend the Dao between heaven and earth; it was most extraordinary.
With the help of this mysterious Bodhi seed, Ye Fan merged into this state of Dao-nature, his mind sharing in the prosperity and decline of the grass and trees.
"Great achievement seems flawed, great fullness seems empty, great skill seems clumsy..."
An inexplicable sound echoed. Li Ruoyu remained motionless among the palaces, as still as a rock, listening to the wondrous sounds of heaven and earth.
On Clumsy Peak, which had lost its inheritance for five hundred years, the profound method reappeared, the Dao gate opened wide, and wondrous truths unfolded. There was no gushing divine spring from the earth, no descending auspicious colors from the sky, only a simple inheritance, a rhythm of Dao flowing.
Ye Fan's heart was empty and spiritual, united with Clumsy Peak. Everything Li Ruoyu comprehended, he also heard. The Bodhi seed was slightly warm, and he was peaceful and natural. At first, it was not the so-called immortal technique inheritance, but the fundamental heart method of Clumsy Peak. "One of the Nine Secrets" was not a cultivation profound method; it was a secret technique that could merge into the heart method, unleashing various mysterious and unfathomable powers.
The heart method inheritance of Clumsy Peak was the foundation of this lineage. Only by cultivating with this method and strengthening one's own power could one unleash the secret technique.
One of the Nine Secrets was magnificently unparalleled. When activated, it could occasionally trigger a several-fold or tenfold increase in combat power, making it a rare and world-shaking secret method coveted by all Holy Lands and Primordial Aristocratic Clans.
Without heart methods, without techniques, just these nine secret arts—if combined, they could be exchanged for several ancient scriptures of the Eastern Wasteland. This shows how great their value was.
The fundamental heart method of Clumsy Peak indeed had its unique aspects, worthy of being one of the strongest inheritances of Grand Mystery Sect. The fact that the peak master from five hundred years ago could contend with the Supreme Elder of Yaoguang Holy Land and perish together fully illustrated the point.
Although it could not compare to the "Dao Scripture," it was still very profound. Ye Fan cross-referenced and gained many insights, but of course, his greatest focus was on that "One of the Nine Secrets." This was what he urgently wanted to obtain. For him, its allure even surpassed the Void Ancient Scripture of the Ji Family. If it could be triggered occasionally in battle, increasing combat power several times, it would be the most terrifying killing move!
One could imagine that if he successfully channeled the Primordial Mother Qi onto his fists and then triggered this secret method, it would be absolutely terrifying. No matter how many treasures you had, no matter how unparalleled your divine powers, he would punch through them all.
Of course, the several-fold increase in combat power was not limited to the physical body; it could be reflected in any means, such as deploying divine powers, controlling artifacts, or even flying speed... In Ye Fan's eyes, the Nine Secrets were absolutely supreme secret methods. He had to obtain this secret of Clumsy Peak.
Suddenly, a mysterious rhythm of Dao began to flow, appearing extremely mysterious, very different from the ancient heart method of Clumsy Peak. There was no sound transmitted, no ripples spreading, only a strange divine charm manifesting at the summit of Clumsy Peak.
Ye Fan felt the Bodhi seed in his bosom become slightly warmer and tremble a few times. He guessed that one of the Nine Secrets had appeared. He no longer paid attention to the fundamental heart method inheritance of Clumsy Peak and began to capture that wisp of mysterious Dao rhythm.
One must say, the former sages and great powers of Clumsy Peak were incredibly remarkable. They left not a single word, not a single phrase, using the entire main peak as a scripture to pass down one of the Nine Secrets, ensuring it would not be lost and would be passed down to future generations. Their methods were extremely extraordinary.
The entire Clumsy Peak was filled with ancient charm, as if it had traveled through time and returned to ten thousand years ago, like a wild mountain, as if it had never been developed, even more ordinary than now, but with a natural aura flowing.
On the distant main peaks, many powerful figures were gazing, watching the strange changes of Clumsy Peak from afar. Many showed surprised expressions. "No auspicious clouds filling the sky, no myriad auspicious colors, no celestial music—it looks so natural. It shouldn't be time for the inheritance to open, yet it gives a feeling of unfathomable depth..."
"That's right. There was once a former sage and great power who also obtained the fundamental heart method and secret technique of Clumsy Peak at a time when the inheritance should not have opened. In the end, his magical power was overwhelming, comparable to the great powers of ancient times, extremely powerful to the extreme."
"Could it be that Li Ruoyu is also such a person, becoming the second great power in the history of Clumsy Peak? Perhaps, there really is such a possibility. Legend has it that the former sage of those days had ordinary talent, plain and unremarkable. Li Ruoyu truly shares similar traits with him." Around them, many powerful figures from various main peaks were whispering to themselves, gazing at Clumsy Peak. "Opening the inheritance in a plain and unremarkable manner is more suitable for Clumsy Peak than a spectacular and shocking inheritance. Presumably, only then can the complete essence be obtained. Clumsy Peak lives up to its name; this naturalness and ordinariness suit it best, which is the fundamental reason for its excellence without being clumsy."
Many powerful figures from various main peaks realized that Clumsy Peak was about to truly rise, and it was very likely that a great power would appear!
Li Ruoyu had ordinary talent. Becoming a disciple of Grand Mystery Sect back then was purely a matter of luck. No one thought highly of him, believing he was just a seed of grass to keep Clumsy Peak from dying out. No one thought he had immortal fate or could achieve anything extraordinary.
But now, all of this seemed to completely overturn the past. If Li Ruoyu truly walked the path of that former sage, comparable to the great powers of ancient times, then it was not impossible for him to suppress the Ji Family and Yaoguang Holy Land in this region.
Not only were many elders alarmed, but even the peak masters of various main peaks emerged from seclusion, gazing at Clumsy Peak, their eyes flashing with various mysterious lights.
Moreover, soon after, the Sect Master of Grand Mystery Sect, along with the Supreme Elders and many famous recluses hidden deep in the mountains, all appeared above the clouds.
"Li Ruoyu is not truly dull; diligence can compensate for clumsiness. He has walked the path of the former sage. Perhaps he truly will be the future guardian of our Grand Mystery lineage." "If he truly becomes comparable to the great powers of ancient times, then our Grand Mystery Sect achieving a status like the Holy Lands and Primordial Aristocratic Clans is no longer a fantasy." The Sect Master and Supreme Elders of Grand Mystery Sect all showed solemn expressions.
"Clumsy Peak has been desolate for five hundred years, with few disciples. Now that the inheritance has opened, select outstanding disciples from each main peak and send them to Clumsy Peak." The Grand Mystery Sect Master issued such an order.
Before the big shots of Grand Mystery Sect made their decision, disciples from various main peaks had already begun discussing. Many who understood the history of Clumsy Peak made up their minds to transfer there. The once dilapidated main peak, now with its inheritance reopened, entered everyone's field of vision, becoming radiant and glorious.
While various main peaks were in turmoil and everyone had their own thoughts, Ye Fan on Clumsy Peak captured that wisp of subtle divine charm.
Between heaven and earth, it seemed as if countless "lines" were interweaving, and countless unknown rules were forming order, giving birth to mysterious forces, constructing various patterns in the void. Before his eyes, the summit of Clumsy Peak constantly changed.
All things withered, grass and trees decayed, turning into soil, returning to their roots. From movement to stillness, returning to their nature, it was as if an eternal law was evolving.
From birth to return, experiencing vitality, extreme prosperity, then the fall of splendor, extreme stillness, returning to the origin. Between heaven and earth, "Dao patterns" were born and extinguished.
Ye Fan's eyes shifted from bright to dim, from vibrant to empty, then reversed, changing along with these mysterious patterns, capturing their trajectories, evolving together with them.
He secretly marveled. The former sages of Clumsy Peak were indeed remarkable, embedding the secret method within natural changes, imprinting it on the entire Clumsy Peak. This was truly extraordinary.
Like unraveling silk from a cocoon, he distinguished and captured, taking every bit into his sea of consciousness. This was the inheritance of "One of the Nine Secrets" that he sought.
Ye Fan remained motionless, merging with heaven and earth, uniting with Clumsy Peak, being baptized by nature. It was as if he had become a stone on Clumsy Peak, a blade of grass, a vine, absorbing every bit of the endless divine charm, all imprinted in his heart.
Finally, on the silent Clumsy Peak, all scenery disappeared before his eyes, leaving only a seed and a patch of soil. He became a wisp of gentle breeze, brushing past.
The natural seed broke through the soil beneath the ground, emitting a touch of green. His mind was peaceful, as still as an ancient well, eventually transforming into a few drops of water, falling down, moistening the soil.
His mind seemed to completely merge with this seed, becoming that vibrant green. On Clumsy Peak, there was tranquility. A green sprout emitted infinite vitality, becoming the only thing in heaven and earth.
"Thump!"
Ye Fan's heart shook, and his eyes regained clarity. One of the Nine Secrets, transformed into a seed, was imprinted into his heart, breaking through the soil, becoming eternal vitality. The supreme secret technique nurtured in nature was completely obtained by him.
Looking at Clumsy Peak again, the mountain was still the mountain, the water was still the water, the grass and trees were still the grass and trees. There was no special change, just like before.
He was like a flowing cloud, like a brushing wind, his body and mind empty and spiritual. The supreme secret method surfaced in his heart, flowing like a trickling stream. Ye Fan did not obtain the fundamental heart method of Clumsy Peak, but gaining one of the Nine Secrets was enough!
Half a day later, Li Ruoyu awakened and stood up. His entire being was extremely ethereal, appearing infinitely void and distant, as if standing on the clouds, separated by a starry sky, stained with the dust of history.
However, a change soon occurred. The clouds and mist dissipated, and he became ordinary, like a simple old man from a village, without any outstanding features.
At this moment, the foot of Clumsy Peak was already crowded with people, but no one dared to trespass, nor did anyone fly high. They all waited quietly at the foot of the mountain. The vast majority had come to seek apprenticeship, wanting to join the Clumsy Peak lineage.
At this time, no one dared to look down on Clumsy Peak anymore, and no one dared to treat it as a wild mountain and descend at will.
The vast majority were outstanding disciples from various main peaks, and many were even the children of peak masters. Li Ruoyu stood quietly on the mountain, not looking at the crowd below, but gazing at Ye Fan, saying: "You are the Primordial Saint Body."