# Chapter 520: Living Fossil
"Extraordinary Scholars Mansion, reopening once every ten thousand years—my heart yearns for it!" Ye Fan's face showed a look of longing, then he suddenly changed his tone, saying, "Ah, what a pity. I've already severed my cultivation path, and from now on, there's no way for me to practice."
"Damn it, kid, you're really not going?!" Big Black Dog was the most anxious, transmitting secretly, looking like iron that couldn't be forged into steel.
Ye Fan now wanted to find this place to cultivate in seclusion, all the way until he reached the Saint Lord realm. Currently, he had ancient scriptures when he needed them, and imperial sacred relics when he needed them—there was simply no need to go there.
"That place is connected to the outer domains, with karmic ties to the Ziwei Ancient Star and other places—don't you want to go take a look?!" Big Black Dog urged urgently.
"Did Emperor Wu Shi enter it?" Ye Fan asked secretly.
"Throughout the ages, how many people like Wu Shi have there been? Although he didn't go to cultivate there, it's said that he eventually fought his way in and obtained everything he wanted." Big Black Dog muttered.
Ye Fan stopped paying attention to it. He sensed a crisis and wanted to disappear from the world's sight for a period of time. Only by reaching the Saint Lord realm could he roam the world unhindered.
"You don't wish to go to Central Province?" The old man in the golden feathered robe was quite surprised. The Extraordinary Scholars Mansion opening once every ten thousand years carried great significance—no one would refuse.
"Central Province, Northern Plains, Western Desert, Southern Ridge, Eastern Wasteland—the ten-thousand-year comparison of all kings from the five great regions. Not going would be such a waste. The Extraordinary Scholars Mansion cannot be judged by its surface alone..." the Western Queen Mother reminded.
Each Holy Land could only send two people. Even the immortal imperial dynasties were the same. One could imagine what kind of strength was required to be selected—the weakest candidates were still Holy Sons and Holy Maidens!
The Extraordinary Scholars Mansion, reopening once every ten thousand years, could absolutely be called a divine land. Its influence was far-reaching. All kinds of ancient traditions were willing to send their disciples there—there must be benefits unknown to outsiders.
"I really do want to go, but the divine physicians of the Eastern Wasteland have already said that I can only use my full power at most ten times. I've already wasted three of them." Ye Fan said this.
Everyone present fell silent. Li Heishui and the others didn't need to say anything—they knew his true situation. The Western Queen Mother and the three old men had strange glimmers flashing through their eyes.
He had struck three times: first killing the Yin Yang Holy Son, then the Zi Mansion Holy Son, and then the Wanchu Holy Son. This made many people seriously doubt what the divine physician had said.
"What ancient scriptures does the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion teach?" Jiang Huairen couldn't help asking. All of them were extremely tempted.
That old man in purple robes, noble beyond words, spoke like an emperor overlooking the realm: "We have no ancient scriptures. We do not teach profound methods. We only impart the insights of ancient sages."
Ye Fan had always believed that one's own path needed to be realized by oneself, and ultimately one needed to transcend the ancient scriptures one had learned. Because every Great Emperor had created their own path to become a supreme existence.
"One day, you might feel that the vast Eastern Wasteland and the boundless Central Province are not so big after all. The Extraordinary Scholars Mansion might open another window for you." That ethereal old man, like a wisp of mist, spoke thus.
"It might be related to the outer domains—this is a rare opportunity!" Big Black Dog transmitted secretly.
Ye Fan's heart stirred. Perhaps the path home could start from this place. But he didn't want to become a target for everyone. Once he entered the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion, it would prove to the world that he was perfectly fine.
At that time, some peerless imperial lord might jump out and secretly destroy him. Too far away—even Old Madman's deterrent power would be useless.
"I heard that the three strongest from each generation of the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion all eventually disappear. No one knows where they go..." Li Heishui muttered.
This was no longer a secret, but the ancient traditions hadn't investigated it. Others couldn't figure out the situation either, not knowing what was going on.
"That is an opportunity. Otherwise, the Holy Lands all have ancient scriptures and peerless experts—why would they still send their disciples to the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion?" The old man in the golden feathered robe smiled.
"Several seniors show me great kindness, and this junior is deeply grateful. But unfortunately, my body has issues, and I cannot go to receive your teachings." Ye Fan politely declined.
"Each person has their own aspirations." One of the old men nodded and said no more.
"Seniors, we will definitely go at that time. We're just afraid we won't be able to enter." Liu Kou said excitedly.
"You only need to defeat one Holy Son." The purple-robed old man had a dignified appearance but revealed a hint of a smile.
"Little Leaf, you have seven chances to strike. Help us each take down one Holy Son." Jiang Huairen laughed slyly.
The purple-robed old man was speechless. He swept his gaze over them lightly, then paid them no further attention.
When they left this swamp, Big Black Dog quickly forgot about the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion. It turned back every few steps, staring at the three Dragon Loaches, where golden light shot into the sky and spiritual energy overflowed.
"Doggy, no drooling." Little Nannan gently patted it.
"If you dare to disturb the Dragon Loaches, I'll seal you in the North Pole Sea Eye for two thousand years!" The voice of Yao Chi's Western Queen Mother came, very gentle, but it made Big Black Dog shiver.
"I miss the old days. Last time I came, I even ate one." It muttered in a barely audible voice.
They traveled through a stretch of hills, far away from the swamp, before Li Heishui spoke: "Little Leaf, are you really not going? There are absolutely enormous benefits there. Otherwise, all those Holy Sons, Holy Maidens, and various king bodies would never go."
"The strongest of the younger generation from the five great regions gathering together—this will be a grand event. Missing it would be such a shame. It only happens once every ten thousand years." Wu Zhongtian also said.
Jiang Huairen added: "I want to see you show your might there, defeating all the Holy Sons, overpowering all the kings, invincible across the five domains. What a glorious sight that would be. We'd bask in your reflected glory."
"That's right. And while we're at it, we can flirt with the Holy Maidens of the Eastern Wasteland, the stunning princesses of Central Province, and the female Bodhisattvas of the Western Desert. What a carefree and happy life that would be." Liu Kou laughed strangely.
Ye Fan smiled wryly and shook his head. Too idealistic—it would only end in tragedy. If he went, every step would bring deadly danger. Smiles would be stained with blood, and who knew how many people would die in battle.
"I dare say that Pang Bo will definitely go to the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion. He might even be waiting for you there." Li Heishui said.
"He should thank this Emperor. I sent him such a great opportunity, practically delivering him straight to his destination." Big Black Dog's face was thick enough to block blades and swords.
But as soon as it said this, Li Heishui, Jiang Huairen, and Liu Kou all started pounding on it, furious. Tu Fei was their best friend, and this damned dog had gone and lost him.
"The Northern Plains are so vast. I really don't know how he'll get back. Grandpa Tu Tian said that relying on himself alone, he'd have to fly for at least twenty years!"
Big Black Dog felt guilty and didn't dare bring up this topic again.
"Doggy, when will you bring Brother Tu Fei back? Didn't you say you might consider crossing the void to pick him up?" Little Nannan said softly.
"The time isn't right yet. The chessboard array patterns left by Emperor Void are strange. The coordinates are hard to deduce. I'm afraid that if I make a mistake, I'll end up on Mount Sumeru."
"Brother Ape, why don't you come with us to the Extraordinary Scholars Mansion? Little Leaf isn't going, so traveling alone would be too boring." Jiang Huairen wanted to bring this powerful ally along.
"No time. I need to go to the Divine Ruins to find my clan's Immortal Flat Peach Tree." The monkey had been pondering this matter all along.
Everyone sucked in cold air. The Divine Ruins was too sinister a place. Even ancient saints who entered couldn't come out. This monkey was far too bold.
"Brother Ape, this is too dangerous!" Ye Fan tried to dissuade him. "If you want to save someone, I can give you a sacred fruit."
When they reached a secluded spot, Ye Fan took out a fruit shaped like a small cauldron and handed it to him.
"The Divine Silkworm clan's Immortal Medicine!" The monkey was greatly shocked, golden light shooting from his eyes like sharp blades.
Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations, becoming a supreme king of the ancient times, invincible throughout heaven and earth—this came from the mouth of the Origin Heavenly Master, and now everyone knew of it.
"You recognize it?"
"Of course!" The monkey's eyes blazed with golden light.
The Divine Silkworm clan's Immortal Medicine was called the Nine Marvelous Immortal Medicine. It matured once every few thousand or even ten thousand years, ever-changing, different each time, with nine different fruits cycling through growth.
After listening to the monkey's detailed explanation, Ye Fan finally understood why the Immortal Medicine of the Ancient Forbidden Land, after being divided at the root, produced nine different sacred fruits. It was called Nine Marvelous, and it originally had these nine forms.
"Could it be that each of the several great ancient royal clans possessed one type of Immortal Medicine?" Ye Fan asked.
The monkey nodded. "Almost. In the ancient times, those several Immortal Medicines all had owners. Later, they should have fallen into the hands of the human emperors. Even later, they must have flown into the seven great Forbidden Zones of Life."
"What was Emperor Wu Shi's Immortal Medicine? It seems to still be in Purple Mountain and hasn't flown away, right?" Ye Fan suddenly asked Black Emperor.
"The Immortal Phoenix Medicine." Black Emperor unconsciously blurted out these words, then immediately shut his mouth.
"This dead dog really knows a lot..." Li Heishui muttered.
"It seems there's nothing it doesn't know." Jiang Huairen also said.
"It's actually that kind of divine medicine—one of the best!" Even the monkey was greatly shocked, his eyes burning with intense desire.
"Damn it, I knew monkeys were never good things..." Big Black Dog muttered in a barely audible voice.
"Is the Immortal Phoenix Medicine very special?" Ye Fan asked.
"Of course. It can make people shed their mortal bones and be reborn. Its effects are among the best of the several Immortal Medicines. It's not simply about extending lifespan." The monkey ignored Big Black Dog's disrespect.
"Do you have a brother who also survived?" Big Black Dog gritted its teeth.
"No. When the great calamity came back then, it seems only one uncle was far away in the Western Desert. I don't know if he's alive or dead." The monkey sighed.
In the ancient times, the Battle-Saint Ape lineage had only ever had two or three members. But their bloodline was extremely powerful, and they could intermarry with other races to continue the sacred ape bloodline.
"The ancient kings are about to awaken. I must retrieve the Immortal Flat Peach Ancient Tree. Otherwise, it might fall into the hands of other clans." The monkey muttered to himself.
"After they awaken, will they seize the Immortal Medicines?" Ye Fan and the others were all shocked.
"Most likely. After all, they belonged to them before. Now they naturally want to take them back into their hands." The monkey nodded.
However, he also explained that not all ancient races were vicious and evil. Those who killed indiscriminately were only a minority. They weren't irreconcilably opposed to humanity.
"In the ancient times, there were also humans, but they were few in number. They seemed weak, but they also produced invincible existences." The monkey revealed this piece of information.
"What? There were already humans in the ancient times..." Everyone was astonished.
"Brother Ape, what exactly happened in the ancient times? Why did the vitality of the earth seem to have been wiped out once?"
"And what about the Primordial Ancient Mine, the Divine Ruins, the Immortal Mountain, the Immortal Mound—these Forbidden Zones of Life—what's the story with them?"
...
The monkey was undoubtedly like a living fossil. When these questions came to mind, everyone felt an unbearable itch and couldn't wait to get to the bottom of things.