Chapter 194: Within the Source, a Maiden
Half a month had passed, and the Divine King had made no sound, as if he had entered nirvana on the rocky cliff. Ye Fan had already thoroughly comprehended the starting stance, finding it increasingly profound and mysterious. Its offensive power was so formidable that it sent chills through his heart.
He vaguely felt that if this were the complete secret art, its power would surpass the Void Great Hand Seal. This was a supreme offensive technique—the Battle Saint Art.
On the seventeenth day, the Divine King Jiang Taixu awakened, transmitting a weak voice: "Have you comprehended it?"
"Senior, you've finally awakened." Ye Fan let out a long breath. The other's condition was very poor, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment. "I have already initially mastered it."
"Show... me." Jiang Taixu wanted to see the results.
Ye Fan held nothing back. His body moved with the wondrous art, and as he struck out, an uncontrollable, powerful battle intent surged within him, as if he wanted to pierce through the very heavens.
All of this was due to this supreme secret technique. It transformed one's very temperament, as if a War God had possessed the body. A mighty surge of combat power suddenly erupted forth.
"Very... good." Seeing that Ye Fan could contain his power and restrain this terrifying offensive secret art, Jiang Taixu spoke these two words with satisfaction.
"Senior, what can I do to help you?" Ye Fan felt that the other must have taught him the secret art for a reason.
Jiang Taixu seemed to have regrets. "You... are too weak."
Ye Fan said nothing more, quietly waiting for the other to speak.
*Swish*
On the rough stone wall, an emaciated figure appeared again—ribs protruding, legs thin as kindling, skin and bones, the shadow utterly devoid of flesh and blood.
The shadow continuously struck various postures, while a chant was transmitted into Ye Fan's mind. The movements were so fast they dazzled the eyes.
Although there was no fluctuation of divine power, Ye Fan felt an oppressive terror. Jiang Taixu was truly like a deity. Even though it was only a shadow moving, countless halos appeared on the stone wall, enveloping him.
At this moment, everything else was ignored. Even the demonic summons deep within Purple Mountain seemed to weaken to its extreme.
The shadow of Jiang Taixu cast on the stone wall possessed an aura of "none but me," a heaven-and-earth, self-proclaimed dominance. That battle intent made one tremble. He was the very incarnation of a Battle Saint.
Ye Fan was astonished for the first time. He was completely awed by this secret art. If his divine sense were not strong enough, and if he were not holding the Bodhi seed, he could not have fully grasped it.
This supreme secret art was extremely complex. The offensive techniques were endless in their variations. Every inch of flesh and blood in the body was the most powerful weapon.
In the end, Jiang Taixu's movements grew slower and slower. The complex variations simplified. A thousand changes merged into one. The Great Dao was simplicity itself. All offensive power converged into a single art!
His body, like withered firewood, transformed complexity into simplicity. The entire person became like the Great Dao giving birth to the One, unchanging through the ages, solidified there.
"All variations are means. The final unification is the origin!" Ye Fan looked at the fixed figure. His physical body felt as if it were about to shatter, and his soul was unstable, as if it would dissipate.
"This is too terrifying. Without emitting divine power, just revealing its form is already unbearable. It truly is the Battle Saint Art. I'm afraid it's hard to find another offensive technique like this in the world!"
"This supreme secret art actually has only one form. Returning to the origin, it can evolve ten thousand methods." Ye Fan held the Bodhi seed, feeling this in his heart.
*Boom*
It was as if the other had heard Ye Fan's inner thoughts. The rough stone wall shook, and the shadow fixed upon it collapsed.
Ye Fan silently recited the chant of this secret art in his heart. It was not long overall, but very obscure. Scenes appeared before his eyes—every movement of Jiang Taixu replaying in his mind.
"A supreme secret art of offense." Ye Fan formed seals with his body, a thousand changes and transformations. Initially, he imitated Jiang Taixu, but in the end, he gradually grasped the foundation, only evolving the unified, original wondrous state.
Grasp its essence, and its form will naturally appear. It can transform into ten thousand forms. Master the foundation, and all other postures can be manifested.
Ye Fan was in a wondrous state. Ten full days passed, and he remained immersed in it, his body moving as if in a dream.
He formed seals with his body—not just hand seals. Every inch of flesh and blood was part of the Dao seal. His entire person was like the Great Void, like the Dao itself, seeking to manifest the formless Great Dao in tangible postures.
Finally, his mind shook with a roar. An unchanging figure through the ages appeared. A thousand changes merged into one, forming the sole body posture!
One posture encompassed the entirety of this secret art. This was the Battle Saint Art!
Only then did Ye Fan fully awaken. He suddenly understood: this secret art was solely for offense, disregarding all else, possessing unparalleled offensive power.
This did not mean he had completely mastered the secret art, but that he understood its essence, knew how to cultivate it, and how to advance.
A generation's Divine King personally evolved it for him. The help was immense. It allowed him to see the origin of the secret art, grasp its nature, and firmly imprint the unified posture.
Sooner or later, he could fully master it and derive his own offensive methods.
The Nine Secrets were mysterious and powerful. Each secret art shook heaven and earth and moved gods and demons.
The secret art obtained at Clumsy Peak in Grand Mystery could multiply combat power several times or even tenfold. It was a peerless, world-shaking technique. If unleashed, any enemy would tremble.
As for the secret art passed down by Divine King Jiang, its offensive power was extremely terrifying, difficult for any secret art to surpass.
"If that's the case, the nine secret arts contained in the Nine Secrets are likely an ultimate combination. If I could master them all, how powerful would that be?"
Ye Fan cultivated in the ancient mine for many days, but the Divine King Jiang Taixu did not awaken. His heart sank. He felt that the other was truly at the end of his rope.
Enduring four thousand years—what did that mean? On the other shore of the starry sky, two thousand years could trace back to the Qin and Han dynasties.
Four thousand years—easy to speak, but when carefully considered, the seas had changed, the years were long. Countless dynasties had risen and fallen on the earth.
Ye Fan had been on guard against the other all along. After all, since coming to this world, he had experienced too many dangers. Now, the Divine King Jiang was silent. He could only sigh and silently bow to the stone wall.
He had no time to waste. Purple Mountain was full of unknowns, a place of great danger, not suitable for a long stay.
Ye Fan withdrew from the ancient mine and arrived at a vast cavern. He hesitated. Should he leave just like that? It was truly unwilling. The Source Heaven Scroll he needed most had not been obtained.
Deep within Purple Mountain, the summoning power grew stronger, making him feel intense unease.
"Why didn't the Great Emperor annihilate them over a hundred thousand years ago? What exactly did he want to do? Zhang Jiye called this place Emperor Mountain, while others called it Demon Mountain. Could there be another hidden truth?"
After some deliberation, Ye Fan did not immediately retreat. According to Jiang Taixu, the danger had not truly arrived yet. Perhaps he could advance a bit further. He decided to make one last gamble.
Advancing several hundred zhang deeper into Purple Mountain, the stone garment on his body emitted faint light. His heart stirred. Could there be Divine Source here?
The rocky cave was deep, leading to an open ancient mine. At this point, his stone garment continuously bloomed with radiance. The stone knife and stone astrolabe also shimmered with strange colors.
"This is... such rich Source Qi!" Ye Fan was shocked. Deep within this ancient mine, there must be a large amount of Source.
The demonic summoning power was in another direction, not in this ancient mine. He advanced boldly.
This time, he traveled over two to three li before reaching the depths of the mine shaft. Faint light flickered ahead, and a sacred aura rushed toward him.
Ye Fan was dumbfounded. He actually saw a stunningly beautiful woman, like a lotus emerging from water—flawless, pure, ethereal and otherworldly.
Ahead, there was a massive piece of Source, two meters high, sealing her within, shining brilliantly.
The woman, her beautiful eyes tightly shut, was motionless, like a sleeping beauty, serene and peaceful.
Ye Fan's scalp went numb. A creature sealed in Source—he had actually encountered one like this. It was truly unsettling!
His first thought was to retreat. Leave here quickly before she awakened.
But why didn't he sense any dangerous fluctuations? The powerful demonic force originated from deep within Purple Mountain, not from here.
Ye Fan adjusted his body to its optimal state. The Primordial Qi Cauldron was ready to be summoned at any moment. The two divine arts among the Nine Secrets were also activated.
He looked at the jade-like body within the giant Source, first fixing his gaze on her delicate, slender hands. He would not forget the stone carvings he had seen in the mine tunnel.
Over a hundred thousand years ago, when that Great Emperor suppressed the ancient creatures, a delicate, slender hand had once reached out from that Divine Source—very soft and beautiful.
"Too similar. This jade hand, each finger crystalline, like water scallions..." Ye Fan felt a headache coming on.
"Am I really this unlucky, to encounter her right away?" Ye Fan slowly retreated. To say he wasn't nervous was impossible.
After all, even that Great Emperor had to use an Extreme Weapon to suppress the Divine Source. One could imagine how terrifying the creature within was.
Ye Fan retreated over ten steps, but the giant Source remained utterly silent, without any reaction. The woman did not move.
"No, if she were that powerful, how could there be no fluctuation emanating?" He was filled with confusion.
In the ancient mine, Source Qi surged, very peaceful, without any baleful aura or killing intent.
"This doesn't seem like an ancient creature. How is it identical to a human?" Ye Fan was astonished. The woman in the Source had no monstrous features. She was a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
"Could she have been sealed to death by the Great Emperor from over a hundred thousand years ago?" By now, Ye Fan had lost all fear. Being this close to the giant Source, if she were conscious, he couldn't escape anyway.
If she were truly unconscious, then this might be his great fortune. Such a large piece of Source was absolutely priceless and rarely seen in the world.
Ye Fan stopped retreating and instead walked forward, approaching for a closer look.
Colored mist surged, Source Qi overflowed. The area around the giant Source block was hazy. He muttered to himself, "This doesn't seem like the legendary Divine Source..."
*Crack*
He stepped on a bone knife underfoot. Ye Fan was not surprised by this, but what truly made his face change was the humanoid creature lying prostrate beside the giant Source block.
"Your grandfather's... I've hit the jackpot!"
Ye Fan's heart pounded wildly. This was definitely an ancient creature, covered in silver scales, with wings on its back, a horn on its forehead, and six arms.
*bk*