Chapter 1000: Dao Realized

## Chapter 1001: Dao Accomplished

Ye Fan fell silent for a moment. Could an ancient Heavenly Court truly exist? What lay before him was boundless and magnificent. Everything here was composed of lightning, yet remarkably stable—a magnificent vista. Above the ancient architectural complex, lightning flashed and thunder roared, surrounded by a boundless, violently churning sea of lightning that agitated the very heavens. It was a miracle: boundless thunder and blazing lightning streaked across the distance, cascading like waterfalls, yet the architectural complex remained perfectly consistent, neither growing nor shrinking.

Ye Fan stepped inside, eager to discover what lay within. Yet, upon entering, he found no human figures; it was as if he had arrived in a pure land where even the sound of thunder seemed to have vanished.

*Bang!* Suddenly, a palace exploded, engulfing him. Ye Fan emerged, every pore of his body exhaling electric light. He pressed on, but with every palace he entered, a world-shaking bolt of lightning would erupt. All the ancient architectural zones seemed to repel him, preventing him from approaching.

Suddenly, auspicious colors descended from the sky, and endless sweet springs gushed forth from the ancient complex. There were also wondrous sights of myriad glows flying into the heavens, and countless crystalline flowers, formed from lightning, fell from the sky. He was witnessing another phenomenon of Dao Severing! He did not try to seize them, as these were mere illusions, not genuine sweet springs or divine flowers, and required strict caution. Each time he entered a heavenly palace, lightning roared, the ancient structures self-destructed, and the blinding light intensified.

Ye Fan pressed onward, eventually ascending and leaving this place, which he suspected to be the ancient Heavenly Court. Instead of entering the deeper palaces, he plunged into the lightning sea above.

*Boom!* A deafening thunderclap resounded. Great dragons descended, thousands upon thousands rising, as another Dao Severing phenomenon appeared, engulfing him. Ye Fan, astonished, continued to ascend. With a thud, he was nearly crushed, struggling to breathe, as grand dragon mountains began to emerge. Ninety-nine dragon mountains appeared in the sky, all formed from lightning, pressing down on him to the point of suffocation. Fortunately, they merely stood there and did not explode.

"These are also traces of the Dao," he mused. "The ninety-nine dragon mountains have traversed many ancient stars, etched by the Great Dao of this starfield and manifested here. They appear to be extraordinary." He then frowned, wondering if the Heavenly Court had truly appeared on Earth, and if that was why it was recorded within the Dao principles.

Ye Fan continued his ascent, witnessing an increasing number of strange sights. The Dao Severing phenomena, nine types in total, changed unpredictably, yet overall, they could hardly harm him. Having already contended with nine young Great Emperors, he considered himself to have passed this trial. Finally, he reached the very top, where he endured immense pressure. Above him, chaos surged, and every bolt of lightning was intertwined with this chaos, capable of destroying everything.

Ye Fan gasped, drawing a cold breath. The depths of this heavenly tribulation were indeed terrifying; such lightning could absolutely wound him, likely intended for Sages. He watched quietly for a long time before taking action: he summoned his cauldron, his Dao-proving artifact, and cast it into the chaotic lightning for forging! During this process, he used his mind as a tool, casting hundreds of ancient characters into the cauldron, embedding them into its walls. He refined and forged it tirelessly, hammering it thousands of times.

These were the hundreds of ancient characters he had obtained from within the dragon-pulled coffin. Despite the passage of so much time, he still couldn't comprehend them. Even though he served as a crucible, nurturing countless scriptures, he could not decipher this brief text. At this moment, he painstakingly carved and refined these characters into the cauldron's walls. The scripture would not overtly manifest in the world, disappearing again and again, yet he refused to give up, forging it thousands of times.

The chaotic lightning struck wildly. If it weren't for the Myriad Things Mother Qi source root, nothing would have remained; even Ye Fan himself would have been severely injured and unable to endure it for long. Ye Fan remained steadfast, forging his Dao-proving artifact within this chaotic electrical sea. Hundreds of ancient characters were assimilated into it, and the cauldron became increasingly aligned with the Dao. He finally stopped when his mental energy was almost exhausted and he could no longer continue. The hundreds of ancient characters had been integrated, and he did not care if they disappeared or not. To have such supreme immortal principles serving as the fire for the cauldron's tempering was more than enough! The cauldron only needed to progress in sync with him, slowly transforming; it couldn't happen overnight. Its shared advancement with him was enough for it to serve as his Dao-proving artifact.

Ye Fan opened his Celestial Eye, and two torch-like beams of light pierced into the chaotic electrical sea. He looked surprised, asking, "What is above this chaotic lightning sea?" Unfortunately, even his Celestial Eye struggled to pierce through. He could only vaguely sense an aura capable of crushing all ages and heavens, making him tremble with inviolable awe and reverence. Wisps of chaotic lightning, each like a vast sea, descended boundlessly. It would be too difficult to cross, so he did not take the risk.

Just then, everything faded. The heavenly tribulation depleted, the thunder subsided, and the blazing electrical sea extinguished, as if it had never appeared at all. Like a transient dream, Ye Fan stood alone in the universe. All electric glows and brilliant lights had vanished, blurring the line between reality and illusion, creating a sense of unreality. The vast universe and boundless starry sky, in their true form, were cold and dark, desolate and silent—an eternal stillness. After the strange phenomena vanished, everything returned to normal. There was not a sound; it had always been this way since ancient times. Only a man with a glowing physique stood alone.

"I succeeded, I've made it through," Ye Fan murmured to himself, astonished. He had encountered young Great Emperors and fought desperate, near-fatal battles, yet he had endured. Having successfully severed the Dao, he felt no excitement or trembling. His heart was calm and worry-free, and he stood in the universe for a long time.

Afterward, Ye Fan let out a clear, long whistle. From his mouth erupted a celestial river, and his entire being vibrated with a sharp, sword-like aura. Weapons seemed to move for tens of thousands of miles, as chaotic swords cleaved the sky.

*Whoosh!* A flash of clear light, and everything vanished again. His expression peaceful and serene, he stretched his body, facing the vast starry sky. His eyes gleaming, he took a deep inhale, and the ten directions stirred. Thousands of strands of starlight flowed along the starfield, descending from the depths of the universe. They converged on his body, forming a silver ocean that engulfed him. Ye Fan's entire body shimmered with precious radiance. The pores on his skin opened, undergoing a baptism of starlight that replenished the vital essence consumed during the tribulation. His flesh and bones, too, seemed to have transformed into countless ancient stars, flickering on and off, connected by streams of starlight. His five great secret realms were like five hidden treasures.

Countless stars and immeasurable star rivers flowed. He didn't know how much time passed before the dazzling display subsided, giving way to darkness and coldness. Ye Fan's physique no longer glowed; his Dao Severing had reached perfection. With the successful Dao Severing, he advanced directly to Immortal Stage Three, passing three levels at once. He now stood on the third step of the King realm, having crossed three minor realms—a feat that could only be described as a miracle. Upon careful reflection, this outcome was only natural. With his extensive accumulation, his strength had long since reached this level. How else could he have slain the Pope and defeated the Divine Knight? He had simply not yet sought verification from heaven and earth. Now, having broken through the barrier in a single stroke, severing the Dao with his own being to verify himself, his Dao Fruit and true strength were naturally revealed, creating a rare marvel seldom seen throughout history. While it wasn't unprecedented, such instances were incredibly rare; only a handful of individuals throughout history could claim to have accomplished this, and passing three levels at once was truly astounding.

After standing for a long time, Ye Fan finally looked up and burst into laughter. He retrieved his clothes, put them on, and then vanished from the spot in a single step, heading towards the ancient star ahead.

On this day, the various Heavenly Court buildings across Earth shone brightly, a sight so magnificent it was practically a miracle. It left many people stunned and significantly strengthened their faith. For the Heavenly Court, this marked a prosperous era, as the number of new initiates suddenly surged, including many influential figures. Furthermore, many individuals from the cultivation world also appeared, seeking out Little Heavenly Master Zhang Yang to request membership. This was because a mighty cultivator had deduced that Ye Fan, the Master of the Heavenly Court, had severed the Dao, using lightning to temper his body—a grand event unprecedented since the depletion of heaven and earth. This was explosive news, and everyone understood its implications. Severing the Dao to become a King in this environment was far more challenging than in ancient times, making him absolutely invincible in the current era!

Such individuals were truly rare throughout history. If he could venture into the starry sky and set foot on other ancient life-bearing stars, his future would be limitless, and he would surely achieve sainthood.

"He... surely isn't an Emperor's son, is he?" some speculated. "Only someone like that could achieve this." Powerful cultivators on Earth felt uneasy, for once such a person became a Sage, they would be invincible throughout the entire starry sky, and it would be difficult to find an opponent anywhere in the world.

"Master!" Upon seeing Ye Fan return safely, his disciples were all incredibly excited, for no one understood better than them what this truly meant! The Human Saint Body had successfully severed the Dao in this Era of Dharma's End. He would be able to sweep across this starfield, and the Heavenly Court would rise above all other sects, perhaps even creating a true myth.

Little Pine blinked his large eyes, then with a *whoosh*, he pounced over. Pulling on Ye Fan's robes, he cast aside his usual pitiful expression, grinning foolishly and rolling around on him without a care in the world. Ye Fan smiled, bestowing generous gifts upon all his disciples, sprinkling many spiritual medicines. He then took out some of the Crocodile Ancestor's meat, instructing them to consume it sparingly and refine it thoroughly to avoid harming themselves. He reintegrated the pure power of belief gathered on the small mountain back into the cauldron. Now, it was a true King's weapon, deserving to be called a Supreme King, both for its unique material and the extraordinary Dao traces inscribed upon it.

The cauldron trembled gently, and the sound of ancient scriptures emanated from it, as if someone were chanting and expounding on the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, profoundly mysterious. Ye Fan sat cross-legged on a green stone, with the cauldron hovering above his head, letting down myriad strands of Mother Qi. His figure blurred, inspiring awe, as if one were standing before the Great Dao itself. His disciples were surprised to discover that even without Ye Fan lecturing, simply facing the cauldron allowed their minds and bodies to become clear and ethereal, bringing them closer to the Dao and making comprehension easier. Little Pine was very lively, unlike the other disciples who were more reverent. He leaped about, and with a *plop*, accidentally tumbled into the cauldron, only to be gently lifted by the Myriad Things Mother Qi, instantly feeling quite embarrassed.

The humble mountain, with only a few thatched huts and a small herb field, possessed little spiritual energy. Yet today, it was remarkably lively. Ye Fan had severed the Dao, and many sect masters came to offer congratulations, all somewhat incredulous at such a miracle. "Severing the Dao in the Era of Dharma's End—it's like a myth," people could only exclaim in astonishment.

Ye Fan had jade tables arranged to host guests from all sides on the humble mountain. He offered spiritual fruits and brought out the holy meat of the Crocodile Clan, leaving many people stunned into silence for a long time. "I've heard of the Divine Crocodiles from outside this domain," one elder stated. "According to an old Buddhist monk, Sakyamuni suppressed one of them back then. I never imagined it would now become a meal on a plate..." Everyone trembled, some hesitant to partake. Yet, others, defying Ye Fan's warning, consumed an extra half-ounce. As a result, their bodies overflowed with divine radiance, almost exploding, but Ye Fan suppressed them.

Now that Ye Fan's Dao was accomplished, there was little on Earth that could still attract him; achieving Dao and becoming an Immortal was his sole objective. He stood up, raised his wine cup, and earnestly consulted the various sect masters of the Central Earth Daoist Sect, inquiring about the mythical Heavenly Court and other ancient secrets like the Divine Wars.

"Within my Shangqing sect, there is a divine stone," the Shangqing Sect Master said, "reportedly a cornerstone that fell from the ancient Heavenly Court. If Brother Ye is interested, I will have it brought." Others also chimed in, offering important clues. Now that Ye Fan's Dao was accomplished and he reigned supreme, no one was unwilling to form a good connection with him; they all shared everything they knew.

"In my Kunlun, there is half an ancient palace," said Sect Master Xuechen, "reportedly a building from the ancient Heavenly Court that was lost to the mortal world."

"Good!" Ye Fan nodded. Various legends, numerous secrets, and ancient jade books would all serve as his clues; he intended to locate and excavate the ancient Heavenly Court.