Chapter 963: Enlightenment
On this main peak, there were several ancient pine trees, their roots by the lake shore, their age unknown. They coiled like old dragons, their sky-piercing branches vigorous, stretching toward the heavens.
Beneath one ancient tree was a stone table, crude and simple, naturally unadorned, without any refinement.
It was carved from a single rock, lying like a reclining ox. On it lay three ancient jade pieces, their luster dim, dust-covered for millennia, inscribed with bird-seal script.
When Ye Fan saw these three ancient jade books, he immediately understood the intention of the old valley master from five hundred years ago: by combining the nine jade pieces, one could likely deduce the whereabouts of the Earth Immortal.
He stepped forward. The main peak was very flat, bare of other vegetation except for a few old pines, just as barren as the cliffs.
At that moment, he also felt a powerful sword intent—unyielding, nearly capable of severing his soul, directly targeting his primordial spirit.
Even when Ye Fan merged into the void of heaven and earth, he could not evade it; he could still be sensed. He summoned his cauldron, suspending it above his head. Even just this act alone would greatly elevate his combat power.
The inch-high cauldron wove strands of patterns, a natural vessel of the Dao. Now it carried only his own will, radiating boundless light before his brow, then quickly retracting, returning to an unremarkable simplicity.
Another half month passed before Ye Fan opened his eyes and rose to his feet. He had not copied Red Pine's sword path outright, but he had gained much.
He glanced at Little Pine and found that the little purple creature seemed to have gained something as well. It sat in a proper posture, palms up, facing the sky, still wandering in the void of the spirit.
Unable to resist, Ye Fan extended his divine sense to see what Dao it was comprehending. He was startled to find that Little Pine was actually evolving a universe in its mind!
Ye Fan was amazed. He hadn't expected this little one to have such grand ambition—opening up heaven and earth in its own heart, evolving a world.
But when he looked closer, he found it both amusing and ridiculous. The little purple creature was comparing each star to a pine nut, imagining how many it could destroy.
He put the little one inside his cauldron without waking it. Regardless, having ideas was good; he wouldn't confine its thinking. Perhaps one day it would truly forge its own great Dao.
Red Pine had not set up a killing formation here. It was simply that, having practiced his sword here for years, he had left Dao traces on the main peak, carving sword marks that could still emit sword light after endless ages.
Having spent so long experiencing Red Pine's Dao, Ye Fan no longer felt resistance. He finally approached the stone table and easily took the three ancient jade books into his hands.
Then he came to the Sword Lake, gazing at the water. It was clear and bright, faintly visible, with thousands upon thousands of sword lights gathered within.
This was Red Pine's sword-washing pool, containing indestructible sword light. He had lived here for most of his life, and the sword pool had long become spiritual, capable of condensing supreme sword intent.
Ye Fan did not enter the water. He merely walked around it once, seeing thunder rolling, faintly appearing within the lake. He knew that once he touched it, it would likely split heaven and earth.
He searched the area thoroughly. Red Pine had lived a simple life, his sole purpose being to achieve immortality, caring for nothing else. He had left nothing special behind.
Finally, having grasped the sword intent, Ye Fan left the place, flying out of the Immortal Sword Heavenly Lake and appearing in midair. The Third Valley Master immediately rushed forward excitedly.
"Found it. When combined with the six jade books at the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, the truth can be known," Ye Fan said.
Returning to the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, the Third Valley Master solemnly took out the six ancient jade pieces and placed them on the stone table alongside these three.
Back then, Red Pine had only obtained three pieces. The ancient demon god ancestor of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley had obtained two, and the remaining four had been gathered over thousands of years by later generations.
"These nine ancient jade pieces have different colors, but when joined together, they seem like one whole, even the oracle bone script connects seamlessly," the Third Valley Master said excitedly.
"They were originally nine jade books carved at the same time, only later separated. That's why they fit together and the content connects," Ye Fan said, also surprised. When the jade pieces joined, a dragon-shaped terrain appeared.
When the ancient jade pieces combined, a host of dragons emerged.
The oracle bone script recorded concise words, confirming the existence of the Earth Immortal—born without touching the ground, dead without entering the earth, an immortal fetus, never stained by dust in life.
When the nine ancient jade pieces were joined together, ninety-nine true dragons manifested. Upon closer inspection, they were ninety-nine dragon mountains, coiled and gathered, their posture magnificent and awe-inspiring. This was a terrain rarely seen in a thousand ages, and even Ye Fan was shaken.
"What place is this? Setting aside everything else, this terrain alone is extraordinary!" Ye Fan had studied the Source Heaven Scroll and naturally understood how rare such a terrain was.
"I've never seen it. I've traveled the world, both within the seas and beyond, and have never encountered such terrain," the Third Valley Master shook his head.
At this moment, even the First Valley Master was alarmed. The complete assembly of the nine ancient jade pieces was no small matter. He had emerged from seclusion to come and see.
He was an old crane who had attained the Dao, with six hundred years of life. His complexion was excellent, truly a crane-haired, child-faced elder. When he saw the map of gathered dragons, his mind trembled violently. He said he had heard of ancient legends and knew what place this was.