Chapter 500: Departure
An unparalleled existence from before the ancient era, personally suppressed by Emperor Wu Shi, had survived for over a hundred thousand years with a wisp of his primordial spirit buried within Immortal Source.
This was an inconceivable being, capable of battling ancient Great Emperors. Some of the Nine Secrets had already been completely lost to the world.
It was a great regret for generations of supreme experts—even those who could rule the world could never see the complete Nine Secrets. Once lost, they were nearly impossible to find again.
Now, two of the Nine Secrets were about to be revealed, and no one could remain calm. Yet Ye Fan and the others did not trust this old Daoist.
A supreme expert personally suppressed by Emperor Wu Shi could not be a benevolent figure. How could he possibly pass down such unparalleled secret arts to them?
The name "Undying Daoist" already explained almost everything. He was most likely an unparalleled existence from Immortal Mountain, probably not even of the human race.
Before the ancient era, the great darkness of Immortal Mountain had claimed countless outstanding talents. Blood had flowed like rivers across the land. The ancient traditions of the human race would never forget that era.
"You don't believe me?" Undying Daoist asked, seeing their silence. He walked forward step by step along the mountain path.
The old madman's body had long since vanished. In its place was only an ancient diagram, covered with innate patterns, which emitted a voice: "If you want to fight, then make your move."
"I have never intended to fight. I sincerely wish to befriend you and pass down the supreme immortal arts of the human race, so that the Nine Secrets will not be lost." The old Daoist shook his head.
"This is a being who could contend with ancient Great Emperors. His physical body has likely long been ground away by the God-Sealing List, but a wisp of his primordial spirit has survived through Immortal Source. He is still extremely terrifying."
"Wu Shi..." Undying Daoist's eyes flickered with a strange light.
The big black dog pondered for a long time, as if recalling something. It transmitted a message to the others: "Be careful. He might really possess the Nine Secrets!"
"Clang!"
The ancient diagram formed by the old madman suddenly trembled, emitting a resonant sound like a peerless divine weapon roaring like a dragon. It extinguished a barely visible killing light.
"You couldn't hold back after all," the old madman said in a deep voice.
"That was not my killing intent. It was a wisp of killing aura leaking from my physical body being ground away within the mountain." Undying Daoist spoke calmly.
Then, he stepped upward one step at a time. The mountain path blurred beneath his feet as he ascended.
"Cutting off the self-existent world—do you want to turn us all into nothingness?" The old madman was as calm as an ancient well. He transformed into a Dao fruit, slowly rotating, sweeping out a patch of chaotic light.
He was like the pole of creation, dissolving an unknown force, causing Undying Daoist's expression to stiffen.
"He might really be an unparalleled existence who mastered the Nine Secrets!" The big black dog bared its teeth, retreating backward, sensing that something was terribly wrong.
"I never expected that someone like you would still exist in this changed world." Undying Daoist finally dropped his pretense, his expression turning cold.
Hearing this, the group felt a chill. Removing the mask meant that this mysterious old Daoist was about to strike, no longer hiding his strength.
"He probably can't unleash his full power. After struggling for so many years, he can likely only leak out this wisp of his primordial spirit." The big black dog shouted.
"Hmph!"
Undying Daoist was no longer peaceful. A cold snort rang out, and countless divine weapons descended from the heavens. Millions of killing intents slashed through this world.
"Clang!"
The ancient diagram formed by the old madman spun, sealing this world, blocking the countless killing sounds outside, preventing them from breaking in.
"Just as I thought! Emperor Wu Shi has nearly suppressed him to death. His primordial spirit's power can't compare to a Great Emperor's!" The big black dog showed excitement.
"That brat Wu Shi has gone too far!" Undying Daoist seemed to harbor deep hatred for Emperor Wu Shi, grinding his teeth. His gaze shot out, evolving a world in the void, pressing forward.
"Boom!"
The ancient diagram formed by the old madman let down ten thousand strands of silk. Upon closer inspection, they were chaotic qi, crushing the world evolved by Undying Daoist!
"Evolving a self-existent world—truly the means of a supreme expert. But he can no longer reproduce his former might. The God-Sealing List is about to grind him away." The big black dog said.
"Is that what you say!?" Undying Daoist snorted coldly. His old Daoist robe rustled as he became like a bottomless ancient abyss, devouring all power.
In that moment, he was utterly terrifying, radiating an aura that could destroy heaven and earth. He reached out a massive hand, grabbing forward, intending to crush the old madman into pulp.
Even with the old madman's protection, Li Heishui, the big black dog, and the others could no longer bear it. Their bodies began to crack, collapsing to the ground, their minds nearly shattering.
"A wisp of imperial might..." Black Emperor was horrified, unable to speak further. Just this aura alone was enough to annihilate their forms and spirits.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, the God-Sealing List on the mountainside blazed with light, surging out a patch of golden radiance that struck Undying Daoist, causing him to stumble and fall.
"Brat Wu Shi!" Undying Daoist stood up, staring at the golden radiance in the void, his expression twisted, no trace of peace remaining.
"Bang!"
The golden light in the sky transformed into a golden hand that pressed down, slapping Undying Daoist to the ground again.
"I hate this..." Undying Daoist roared, forming hand seals with both hands, striking toward the sky.
"Thud!"
The great hand remained unchanged, pressing downward, slapping him flying again, then smashing him into the mountain, cracking his body.
"Whenever he reveals even a wisp of his supreme aura, it triggers the God-Sealing List. He can't stir up any trouble!" Black Emperor laughed heartily, now free from that oppressive pressure.
"Could that unparalleled existence in Immortal Mountain be a sacred spirit?" Ye Fan wondered in surprise.
"Suppress him, and we can get the other two secrets!" Li Heishui grew bold, shouting.
The ancient diagram formed by the old madman slashed forward, letting down ten thousand chaotic strands, smashing through everything, unstoppable.
Even as a wisp of primordial spirit, Undying Daoist was an extremely terrifying existence. But now he was helpless, tightly suppressed by the God-Sealing List.
"The Nine Secrets can never be united. Let these two be buried with me!"
"Swish!"
His body flickered, nearly freezing time, vanishing from the spot and sinking into the mountain's interior.
"The Stride Art—it touches the divine domain of time!"
The group felt a chill. The other party truly possessed the Nine Secrets; it was no empty boast.
"He must have obtained the Stride Art on Sacred Cliff, just like us. If he truly possesses another secret, it might indeed be lost forever."
They had no choice. Even someone as powerful as the old madman could not venture deep into the mountain to seek the other secret. No one knew what lay within Sacred Cliff.
"The God-Sealing List is here. Even if his primordial spirit is buried in Immortal Source, it will likely be ground away one day..." They all frowned.
Unless an ancient Great Emperor were reborn, who would dare to remove the God-Sealing List and enter the mountain to retrieve the Nine Secrets? The other party was likely the one who had caused the Great Accomplishment Saint Body to fall in his later years.
"The Nine Secrets... I've learned the whereabouts of another one, but I can't obtain it..." Ye Fan muttered to himself.
"Be content. Do you really think you can unite all Nine Secrets? Such a heaven-defying feat is nearly impossible. Some of them have already completely vanished!" The big black dog sighed.
They walked down the mountain without encountering any further obstacles. Everything went smoothly, and two hours later, they left Sacred Cliff.
Fifty-odd great mountains stood side by side, forming this black mountain range that was not particularly vast but was fraught with danger at every step, requiring a sage to guide the way.
Finally, before the sun set, they emerged safely, all letting out a long breath.
"Woo woo..."
At the edge of the black mountains, on a withered ancient tree, the strange bird with a human face and a crow's body appeared again, its cry like weeping, sending chills down their spines.
Its nest was built from human bones, stark white and eerie, a stark contrast to its pitch-black body.
"Chi!"
The old madman pointed a finger, and the strange bird instantly turned to ash. A wisp of black qi leaked out, taking the form of Undying Daoist, letting out a sharp scream before dissipating completely.
"It was formed from a wisp of his aura, reaching this far. No wonder anyone who entered this area died without knowing how."
The old madman said nothing. He looked at Ye Fan and the others, nodded, and then walked away without looking back, bidding them farewell.
"Uncle..." Little Nannan was reluctant, waving her small hand from behind, calling softly.
"Swish"
The old madman displayed the Stride Art of the Nine Secrets, taking one step to the edge of the sky, and a second step vanishing completely into the void.
"Let's go. We need to leave quickly. This place is not safe."
Ye Fan and the others also distanced themselves from Sacred Cliff before sunset. They did not return to the human world but instead secluded themselves in a vast primordial mountain range millions of miles away.
This time, they had gained much. Ye Fan wanted to go into seclusion, first avoiding the sharp edges of Mortal World and Hell.
Two months later, above the primordial mountain range, ten thousand bolts of lightning descended from the sky—a terrifying sea of thunder!
The sky had been clear, not a single cloud in sight, yet thunderbolts fell without warning.
A purple ocean drowned the mountain range, shattering several great mountains on the spot.
"Dammit! That kid is getting struck by lightning himself, and we have to suffer with him! Damn it, it nearly fried this emperor!"
A big black dog, as sturdy as a large bull, wearing a pair of floral shorts, stood upright on two legs, running with incredible speed, fleeing swiftly.
"Doggy, go faster! The lightning is about to catch up!" Little Nannan sat on its shoulder, very nervous.
"No worries! This emperor is using the Stride Art of the Nine Secrets. It can't catch up!" The big black dog sprinted, its fur slightly scorched, having clearly been struck by lightning earlier. Now it finally escaped the thunder sea.
Behind them, Li Heishui fumed: "Damn it! This dead dog is heaven-defying! Running on two legs is faster than when it had four!"
He was covered in black smoke, grimacing in pain, clearly also struck by lightning. He hadn't escaped as fast as the big black dog and was worse off, with some parts charred.
The big black dog cursed while fleeing on two legs, its front paws swinging back and forth like a dog paddling.
"Doggy, stop cursing. Will big brother be in danger?" Little Nannan asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. He definitely won't die. Guys like him need to get struck by lightning regularly. If they don't, they feel uncomfortable!" The big black dog said indignantly.
"Doggy, you're too mean!" Little Nannan tugged on the big black dog's ear.
"It's not me being mean. It's him being too bad. Otherwise, why would he get struck by lightning every time he breaks through?"
"Dead dog! Since you're so heaven-defying, carry me too!" Li Heishui shouted. The lightning behind him was closing in again, chasing them.
"Oh no! Are we really going to be implicated? Are we going to undergo the tribulation together?!" The big black dog's face turned green. It looked up, stretched its hind legs, and sprinted again.
"You can run slowly behind. Someone has to take the fall!" The big black dog howled unscrupulously.