Chapter 640: Is the Great Emperor Still Alive?
The lake water was clear, like a pool of fine nectar, flowing with iridescent clouds and auspicious vapors, misty and swirling, colorful and translucent.
The Immortal Transformation Pool sat atop a giant mountain peak. Though not very large, it gave one the illusion of an entire world.
Yes, it did not resemble a body of water, but rather a vivid and beautiful small world, as if it held the secrets of life's origin.
"There's a sound!"
The pool of jade liquid connected to the eternal azure heavens, emitting a sound like the ebb and flow of tides, as if someone was sitting cross-legged in the void, expounding the great Dao of creation.
The immortal pool shimmered with rippling light, flowing with misty clouds, displaying a myriad of colors. The water was not turbulent, but rather gentle, yet it caused many to frown, for they faintly heard the heavens and earth chanting ancient scriptures.
"Plop!"
A cultivator could not resist and was the first to leap into the lake, diving deep in search of sacred objects like fragments of imperial weapons.
"It must be that an Extreme Imperial Weapon shattered here, and the Dao scriptures within it are echoing!"
"Clang!"
Cultivators drew their swords against each other, fighting for advantageous positions. With a "puff," a head flew up, blood splattered, and a corpse fell to the ground.
Facing the immortal pool, no one could remain calm. Many made their moves, and numerous people jumped into the lake one after another, hoping to retrieve world-shaking sacred objects.
"Boom!"
A violent fluctuation came as two Sect Leader-rank figures clashed, stirring up waves. The life essence within the immortal pool overflowed, causing the hearts of those present to tremble.
The legend was widespread: obtaining either the Immortal Transformation Pool or the Eternal Dragon Lair would grant a glimmer of hope for attaining the Dao. Naturally, people's hearts were stirred, and everyone wanted to claim something.
In a short moment, dozens had already jumped in. Others, unwilling to fall behind, leaped in as well.
"This isn't right. Why hasn't anyone surfaced?" Ji Ziyue muttered softly.
The lake water was clear, pure as a sapphire, with auspicious clouds flowing. But no one emerged from the water—all who entered did not return.
Many powerful experts felt a chill in their hearts and sensed the anomaly. They all stopped in their tracks. Those who had just leaped up also cried out in alarm, forcibly reversing their momentum to land back on the shore.
"A Great Power just jumped in and hasn't come up..." someone whispered.
The rest felt a chill in their hearts and dared not act rashly. Had all these people met with accidents and died below? Everyone felt a creeping dread.
"Let this old man take a closer look." A Dragon-Seeking Earth Master stepped forward, opening his eyes to observe the immortal lake.
The crowd held their breath, waiting for his verdict. Facing a place that could grant the Dao, yet unable to enter, they were both nervous and anxious.
"There should be no problem. It is a true land of Soaring Immortals, indescribably marvelous, unmatched in the world. How could there be danger..." the Earth Master muttered to himself.
Ouyang Ye stepped forward. He hailed from the Eastern Wasteland and was renowned in the Source Art world, infinitely close to the realm of an Earth Master, with extraordinary skills.
"This immortal lake is perfect, with no flaws to be found. It can be said to be a place where true immortals descend. There is absolutely no problem. If they haven't come up, could they be hiding below?"
Several Source Art Grandmasters from the Eastern Wasteland stepped forward, all agreeing with Ouyang Ye's judgment—this was a place of ascension, flawless and complete.
"Brother Ye is also here. His Source Art is unique, and he is the inheritor of the Heavenly Master lineage from our Eastern Wasteland. Surely he has some insightful views," one Source Art Grandmaster spoke.
"Friend Ye, don't be selfish. If you have any insights, please share them and guide your fellow Daoists here," Ouyang Ye said with a tone that was neither yin nor yang.
Ye Fan glanced at him. This old bastard had repeatedly bullied him in the Eastern Wasteland. When Ye Fan's Sacred Body identity was exposed in the Divine City of the Northern Domain, he had nearly died because of it.
At this moment, if no one else were present, Ye Fan would have already struck, sending this old fiend to hell. However, he was walking alongside several Great Powers, making him difficult to deal with.
"You've said everything that needs to be said. What more do you want me to say?" Ye Fan replied.
"That's not right. You have inherited the Source Heavenly Master's teachings and should have unique insights. I hope you won't be stingy and will enlighten the heroes present," Ouyang Ye said, stroking his beard.
Beside him were several Sect Leader-rank figures, the very ones who had invited him from the Eastern Wasteland. At this moment, he felt emboldened.
"Old bastard, are you tired of living? Still trying to sow discord? Watch out, or Brother Pang will feed you to the dogs!" Pang Bo said roughly.
"Young man, why be so aggressive? This old man is merely seeking advice on behalf of the fellow Daoists here," Ouyang Ye said.
"Brother Ye, if you know something, please guide us so that our fellow Daoists here don't die in vain," an elder figure spoke.
From his address, it was clear he held some fear of Ye Fan. Though a figure at the first level of the Immortal Platform, he spoke to Ye Fan as an equal.
By now, aside from mortal enemies like the Yin Yang Sect and Ouyang Ye, at least on the surface, few were willing to offend the Sacred Body. He had grown too fast. In just a few years, he had become a cultivator at the Eighth Transformation of the Dragon Transformation realm. Every time he was suppressed, he emerged stronger, making people deeply wary.
"I hope the young friend will enlighten us," another Sect Leader-rank figure said, with many echoing the sentiment.
Ye Fan naturally would not incur public wrath. He walked around the Immortal Transformation Pool, pondered carefully for a long time, and said, "Extremes meet. When something is too perfect and flawless, there must be a great flaw. This place is undoubtedly a land of Soaring Immortals, but it also holds great danger. Everyone must be careful."
"What? The legendary immortal pool is a place of great danger? Then those who went down just now are all dead?" Many immediately changed color.
"Please, Friend Ye, solve this for us. Don't be stingy, so we can all have a chance at an immortal encounter," Ouyang Ye said.
"A place where extremes meet, a land of Soaring Immortals, and a life source land—these three combined are unsolvable in this world," Ye Fan said, speaking the truth.
Even the first type alone, a place where extremes meet, was unbreakable. He had seen such a place in the Primordial Forbidden Zone, where the last Source Heavenly Master had met his end.
"Friend, that's not right. So many of us have come here. Are you saying we should all return empty-handed? You have the Source Heaven Scroll and must know a way to break this. Could it be that you want to monopolize this place?" Ouyang Ye sneered coldly.
"Old bastard, I think you've lived too long. Are you trying to force us? If you want to die, just say so," Dongfang Ye said, like a barbarian, gripping his Wolf Fang Great Club and glaring.
"You..." Ouyang Ye, protected by several Sect Leaders, was not afraid, but such direct words still made him change color with anger.
"Get the hell away from me. If I want to kill you, no one can stop me!" Ye Fan said, standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze icy as he stared at the Source Art expert.
"Help..." Suddenly, the water of the immortal pool, flowing with misty clouds, broke open. A three-inch-tall silver figure rushed out, crying for help.
This was an incredibly powerful divine thought, belonging to the Great Power who had jumped into the lake earlier. It was the human-shaped deity formed from the power within his brow.
Now, his physical body was gone, and only this silver figure had escaped, which was enough to show the calamity he had encountered.
"Daoist, what happened?" a Sect Leader demanded.
"Ah..." The silver figure was terrified, a crack appearing on its brow. Then, with a "bang," it shattered into four pieces, turning into a white light that sank into the lake.
"That was a Great Power, and he died just like that!" Everyone retreated, their bodies cold, a chill rising from the depths of their hearts.
After a long silence, a Sect Leader spoke, "Friend Ye, please guide us."
Those beside Ouyang Ye also spoke up, asking Ye Fan to explain and point the way. The Source Heaven Scroll was a miraculous book, and many held an almost superstitious belief that it could decipher all earthly formations.
"Young man, don't be so exclusive. In a place like this, we need collective effort. Trying to swallow the Immortal Transformation Pool alone is unrealistic, or you'll bring disaster upon yourself," Ouyang Ye said.
"Do you really think I don't dare to kill you?" Ye Fan had no goodwill toward him. He stepped forward, Source Heaven patterns flickering beneath his feet. A red dragon surged out, transforming into a crimson beam that shot toward Ouyang Ye.
"Clang!"
A Sect Leader intervened, blocking the crimson beam. The mountain peak shook violently, and the crowd was horrified. Ye Fan could indeed contend with a Sect Leader.
"Young friend, why resort to killing?" the Sect Leader said.
"We just despise this petty man. Has he lived all those years in vain, like a dog?" Li Heishui spoke first, as several of them fixed their gazes on Ouyang Ye.
"This is a land of Soaring Immortals, accompanied by an unresolvable great danger. If you wish to gain something, search the shallow waters," Ye Fan said, stepping into the lake first.
Pang Bo, Dongfang Ye, Li Heishui, the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi, Ji Ziyue, and others followed, entering the lake where the water reached their knees, daring not to go further.
Seeing this, the others also followed, spreading out around the lake to search carefully. Before long, someone cried out in surprise: "A divine object!"
One young man, with a splash, pulled a piece of red jade from the water. It was the size of a human head, bright red and dripping, emitting rays of light that illuminated his entire skeleton, making his body nearly transparent.
"Nine Heavens Red Jade King!"
"Heavens! This is a supreme divine object that even ancient saints could not find, usable to forge an immortal sacred weapon!"
A group of people's eyes turned red. Several Sect Leaders could not sit still and rushed over. Many in the shadows were ready to fight for it.
Suddenly, this head-sized Nine Heavens Red Jade King turned into a red rainbow, slipping from the man's hand and flying into the center of the lake, disappearing.
The young expert nearly fainted. He thought he had ascended to heaven, but the next moment, he was kicked out, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.
"A supreme divine object that ancient saints sought their entire lives without finding... I hate this!"
The others were also stunned, all filled with regret. The Nine Heavens Red Jade King had become sentient and fled on its own, beyond anyone's expectations.
"The immortal pool truly has treasures! From ancient times to now, it has sunk fragments of imperial weapons, and the Green Emperor was born here. Search quickly!"
By the lake shore, the crowd was boiling. Just at the start, someone had seen a divine object. One could imagine what else this lake might hold.
"There really are treasures!" Pang Bo muttered, nudging Ye Fan. "Live up to the Origin Heaven Scroll. Take a good look and dig out two Extreme Dao sacred objects."
"Yeah, if we could fish out a fragment of an imperial weapon, it would be worth any price," the barbarian said, his eyes gleaming.
"Little Leaf, you need to look carefully," the little moon of the Ji family said softly, while the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi smiled beside her.
"Stay close to me. I'm going to walk a bit deeper," Ye Fan said.
By now, not only Ye Fan had made this decision, but others were also fearless, slowly moving deeper in search of immortal weapons.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a great tremor shook the area. The Eternal Dragon Lair at the base of another great mountain spewed forth true dragon source. A dragon's cry reached the highest heavens and penetrated the deepest underworld.
Clearly, a group of Sect Leader-rank figures had charged in, triggering a drastic change. The Eternal Dragon Lair seemed to come alive!
Within the ancient lair were worldly immortal pills, dreamlike divine marrow, and even a Sacred Spirit comparable to a Great Emperor. Many changed color.
"The Cai clan's ancestor, the last Source Heavenly Master, has also emerged?!" Ye Fan exclaimed in surprise.
"Hehe..." Ouyang Ye sneered coldly, saying, "The dragon qi here has returned to its origin and cannot be drawn upon or used by outsiders."
At these words, everyone looked at Ye Fan. Ouyang Ye was clearly targeting him, signaling to the crowd that now was the time to kill him.
"Ouyang Ye, you will die today. No one can save you!" Ye Fan said calmly.
"Unable to summon dragon qi, can you compare to me?" Ouyang Ye sneered. He had prepared thoroughly and was determined to eliminate Ye Fan.
"This isn't right. Could there be a Great Emperor still alive in this world?!" On the shore, the sick old man spoke in shock, his dim eyes shooting out two terrifying beams of light that forced several nearby Sect Leaders to retreat.