Chapter 792: The Road Ends, Wu Shi Appears
The stone hall was vast, the great bell majestic. If one did not look closely, they would never realize it was hidden within the stone, concealing this place and covering the entire region.
However, none of them had any intention of forcefully engaging with it. Having just entered, it was not the time to scheme over this bell. All of them stared ahead, their eyes going wide.
The area ahead was very open. At a single glance, one could see a massive stone book standing upright on the ground, over ten meters long and one to two meters thick.
At this moment, the several pieces of broken jade on Ye Fan's body began to heat up, trembling gently within him, releasing a warm power.
The Beginningless Scripture!
Fatty Duan let out a loud howl, darting forward faster than a rabbit. Old Blind Man's mind and spirit also shook, not pausing for even a moment.
Ye Fan had been here before and naturally knew about this stone scripture. This time, he carried four pieces of Imperial Jade on him, unsure if he could gain anything.
They advanced with lightning speed. During this process, all of them felt as if their primordial spirits were about to split, as if some demonic power was trying to dissolve them and return them to the Dao principles.
The stone scripture lay horizontally. Behind it was a pile of rubble, overgrown with vines and ancient trees. The terrifying power was emanating from them.
When they drew near, their primordial spirits stabilized and were no longer disturbed, because the Dao patterns overflowing from the stone scripture, though formless, truly existed, suppressing everything.
"It really is the Beginningless Scripture!" Old Blind Man stretched out his trembling hands, groping the three enormous ancient characters on the stone book, his voice quivering.
Up close, the four pieces of ancient jade on Ye Fan's body blazed with brilliant light, shining through his body, resonating with the ancient scripture and flowing with an inexplicable aura.
At the same time, two beams of light shot out from Duan De's body. He was very direct, trying to open the stone scripture right away, but no matter how much strength he used, it was useless—he could not budge it even a fraction.
"The two pieces of broken jade on me are glowing..." the Unscrupulous Taoist exclaimed in surprise, taking out two pieces of ancient jade. They looked very similar to the four pieces in Ye Fan's hand, as if they could be pieced together.
He had dug these out from an unknown ancient tomb. The tomb's owner had kept them close to his body with great care, cherishing them even more than the king-rank divine weapon he had refined throughout his life.
"This is related!" Duan De was both excited and agitated, then fixed his gaze on the four pieces of ancient jade in Ye Fan's hand.
The stone scripture lay horizontally on a high platform, with many thick patterns carved into it. If one did not look closely, they would seem like natural ravines.
These Dao patterns were vastly different from modern engraving techniques, leaning more toward nature. The patterns were composed of wind, rain, thunder, lightning, birds, beasts, flowers, and insects.
At the very center was a recessed groove, about the size of a human head. As they approached, the ancient jade in Ye Fan's and Duan De's hands began to tremble lightly, as if they had come to life, their radiance dazzling.
"Heaven truly helps us! These ancient jades are the key to opening the Beginningless Scripture!" Duan De exclaimed in shock.
"No good. Even combined, we only have six pieces. We're still missing three fragments of jade." Ye Fan sighed softly.
"How do you know without trying? Let's press them in first." Fatty Duan was very enthusiastic, mainly because the Beginningless Scripture was too mysterious, recording the supreme divine teachings at the end of the immortal path.
The six pieces of ancient jade were placed in. With a "hum," the platform shook violently. The place became dazzling, light shooting into the sky, and a massive light curtain instantly enveloped them.
"Fall back quickly!" Ye Fan shouted in a low voice.
The ancient stone scripture did not move at all and did not open. Instead, the light curtain it generated quickly tore through the void, everything becoming hazy, about to teleport them away.
"Clink"
Ye Fan moved swiftly, knocking out the several pieces of ancient jade, and pulled the two others far back, barely avoiding being teleported out of Purple Mountain.
"I refuse to believe this. I'll just take it away with the Devouring Demon Jar!" Fatty Duan shouted, activating the Ruthless Great Emperor's weapon. The jar opened, swallowing demonic light.
"Hum"
The entire void trembled violently. The aura of an ancient great emperor spread out, terrifying all the heavens and myriad realms. However, in that instant, another great emperor's aura also spread out.
"Clang"
Ahead, the Beginningless Bell trembled lightly, emitting a terrifying sound wave, as if it were about to destroy this great world, rushing forward like a white tidal wave.
"Stop!" Old Blind Man shouted, then pulled Ye Fan and Duan De into the demon jar, sealing themselves inside.
"Bang"
The demon jar closed. The three of them were inside the Ancient Devouring Demon Jar, still shaken. They had not managed to take in the Beginningless Scripture but had instead provoked that bell, which rang on its own without anyone activating it.
What made them grateful was that the great bell only trembled lightly and did not truly attack, quickly calming down.
"Thank goodness we have the Imperial Jade on us. Otherwise, it might have triggered ten thousand layers of bell waves. That was terrifying!"
The aura of the ancient great emperor from before made their hair stand on end. The bell had no one to empower or activate it, yet it roared on its own. Anyone would be horrified.
Coming out of the Ancient Devouring Demon Jar, they looked at each other, all feeling deeply unwilling. The most mysterious Beginningless Ancient Scripture in legend was right before their eyes, yet they could not obtain it.
Duan De gritted his teeth and said, "Damn it, let's go all out. I think the Devouring Demon Jar can protect us. Even if we suffer heavy injuries, we can take the stone scripture into the jar and immediately flee."
"Don't act recklessly. Back then, the Holy Lands entered with several Extreme Imperial Weapons and still didn't get it. Doing this is suicide."
"The Devouring Jar is different from other imperial weapons. It should be able to contend with the Beginningless Bell. I refuse to believe we can't take the scripture away!" Duan De was unwilling to give up.
"Stop arguing. There are words here." Ye Fan's mind was unsettled. He saw the crooked, dog-scratch handwriting of Big Black Dog.
"Kid, even if you collect all the Beginningless Jade and open this ancient scripture, it won't work. The Beginningless Great Emperor once said that only the Innate Saint Body Dao Fetus can cultivate it." This sentence was carved on a stone wall. Without a doubt, it was left by Big Black Dog, who had anticipated Ye Fan would come here.
"How bizarre. Why does an ancient scripture have so many conditions?" Duan De said indignantly.
"I finally understand why Wu Shi had no successors. He simply couldn't find a disciple." Old Blind Man sighed.
"The mental cultivation method can probably only be practiced by the Innate Saint Body Dao Fetus, but I think I might be able to cultivate the secret technique in the final chapter." Even facing the Beginningless Scripture, Ye Fan still had some confidence and foundation. The Battle Character Art could transform all divine techniques.
"I have a feeling this was prepared for one of your descendants..." Old Blind Man muttered.
In the end, they left this place and advanced toward the deepest part of Purple Mountain. Along the way, they saw many vines and ancient trees, lush and verdant, growing among the piles of rocks.
Beneath the ancient vines were many corpses, dead at the roots of the plants, their origins drained, their deaths miserable.
"These are ancient creatures!"
"What kind of vegetation is this? How can it even kill ancient creatures?"
All three were shocked.
They stepped onto a small path and finally approached the most mysterious location of Purple Mountain. Here, flowing light flickered and fragrant scents assailed the nose.
The ancient vines and chaotic trees disappeared. The atmosphere gradually became peaceful. Along the way, there were more orchids and immortal herbs, ancient medicines wafting fragrance, as if they had arrived in a divine land.
Ahead, a waterfall cascaded down, spring water gurgling, spiritual energy swirling, five-colored radiance flickering. This was a divine waterfall.
"A large piece of Divine Source!"
Right beneath the divine waterfall was a large piece of Divine Source, displayed on a platform, radiating auspicious colors, making this place even more sacred.
They quickly approached, all very surprised. This was a piece of Divine Source over two cubic meters in size, astonishingly large.
"We've hit the jackpot. Setting everything else aside, this piece of Divine Source alone is a priceless treasure!" Duan De's eyes lit up at the sight of treasure.
"That's not right. Look, this source has cracks. It was closed up later by someone. A creature has escaped from it." Old Blind Man revealed a grave expression.
"Indeed!" Ye Fan nodded.
All of them felt something was wrong. Could there be a powerful ancient king nearby? Any creature sealed in Divine Source was definitely a top-tier, terrifying being.
A powerful ancient creature roaming nearby—just thinking about it made one's hair stand on end. It wasn't the open confrontation they feared, with the Extreme Imperial Weapon to back them up. What they dreaded was an ancient king striking from the shadows, killing them all.
They scanned the surroundings, all feeling a chill run through their bodies, cold air rising from their spines.
After a brief pause, they became much more cautious and then continued forward. Ahead, a row of crystal coffins suddenly appeared. Each was ancient, their luster dim, densely packed with carved patterns.
Every coffin had ancient divine script on it. Ye Fan roughly recognized some of the characters. They were carved by the Immortal Emperor, which immediately sent chills down their spines.
"They are the former subordinates of the Immortal Emperor!"
When they roughly understood, all of them felt a shiver. How many years had these been resting here? How powerful were the subordinates of the god in the hearts of the ancient tribes?!
Unfortunately, even if they could rival the heavens, they could not withstand the passage of time. They had all died here.
"The corpses in the coffins..." Duan De took one look and stepped back.
This row of crystal coffins, each one contained a terrifying corpse, like vengeful spirits, with withered yellow hair, pitch-black bodies, dry and hideous.
Duan De had looted all kinds of tombs, but seeing the skeletons in this row of crystal coffins made him feel very uneasy. He stepped back several paces, his whole body cold, goosebumps rising all over.
"I feel something is very wrong. Based on my many years of tomb-robbing experience, this place has suffered misfortune, and it cannot be dispelled!"
At the slightest provocation, people would die, rivers of blood flowing meant nothing, Fatty Duan said. If this place were placed in the outside world, it would be a death trap, a mass grave—no less than hundreds of thousands of people would have to die.
"Two coffins have been opened. There's nothing inside." Old Blind Man said.
This row of crystal coffins, each one ominous, with yin energy swirling, numbered several dozen. Two of them had their lids pushed open, empty inside.
"Not good!" Duan De's face changed color. His hairs stood on end like needles, pointing at the two ancient coffins, unable to speak.
At this moment, Ye Fan and Old Blind Man also noticed the anomaly. These had been opened from the inside. There were black fingerprints on the inside of the coffin lids!
The powerful ancient creatures had died countless eons ago. If not for the town-heaven patterns carved by the Immortal Emperor on the coffins, they would have turned to dust long ago. How could they have crawled out?
Now, all of them felt their hair stand on end. This place was very eerie, exuding a strangeness that sent chills down their spines.
"Who?!" Old Blind Man shouted, activating the Extreme Imperial Weapon and blasting it toward a corner. That area instantly turned to ash, revealing a black hole.
"What did you see?" Duan De felt his hair stand on end.
"I didn't see anything. I just felt something there. I secretly performed a divination, and the hexagram showed a great omen of calamity, as if a demon was by our side." Old Blind Man said.
Hearing this, all of them felt the place grow even colder. It was as if a pair of venomous eyes were watching from the shadows, belonging to a vengeful spirit.
"Let's get out of here quickly!" Duan De whispered.
The three did not linger. They quickly advanced toward the deepest part of Purple Mountain. Throughout this process, it always felt as if a pair of resentful eyes were in the shadows, making them feel as if needles were pricking their backs.
Finally, half an hour later, the peaceful atmosphere ahead increased again. Orchids and dragon grass gradually multiplied. Many cliffs emitted purple and auspicious vapors.
Along the way, the three remained silent, following an ancient path until they finally reached the ultimate destination. Throughout this process, they always felt as if a cold, vengeful spirit was following them.
"That is..."
The road had reached its end. Ahead was a massive Dao platform. Below it grew dragon grass and divine orchids. Above, chaotic energy swirled, falling down strand by strand. Each strand could crush the myriad heavens of all ages!
This place was extremely special and mysterious, as if connecting the ancient, present, and future, linking to all worlds.
"I see a deity... that is... the Beginningless Great Emperor!" Fatty Duan exclaimed in shock. His pair of Yin-Yang Heavenly Eyes emitted two eerie beams of light, staring fixedly at the mountain-like, majestic Dao platform.
Monday is here, asking for recommendation votes. This is the last three days of the month. I also ask all fellow cultivators who have attained the Dao to offer up your monthly votes and request your support.
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