Chapter 1020: Entering the Last Road to the Starry Sky

**Chapter 1021: The Last Path to the Starry Sky**

The bronze furnace, mottled with rust, clattered as its lid shook, as if it could be opened at any moment.

Everyone had to retreat. This bronze furnace, sealed by the Quasi-Emperor Shakyamuni, looked very much like a demon-refining furnace; heaven knew what was inside.

If there were no accidents, it likely suppressed an ancient demon saint!

"Why does it smell so good?"

The only surprising thing was the frequent release of a delicate fragrance from the furnace. Xiaosong was the first to notice it, completely enchanted and unafraid. Its small, purple, diamond-like nose twitched, as if in a state of ecstasy.

"What exactly is going on?" Ye Fan asked.

Several masters meticulously studied the stele inscription, their expressions shifting from shock to excitement, then to immense joy, almost to the point of dancing.

This behavior was uncharacteristic of them, as they were renowned and usually composed monks. Clearly, the bronze furnace held immense significance to cause such a display.

"This is a medicine furnace!"

"It's a furnace of Great Medicine personally refined by Buddha Lord Shakyamuni!"

At these words, everyone present showed astonishment. A furnace of medicine left by a Quasi-Emperor was truly astonishing and beyond their expectations.

"This is the Great Medicine left by the Buddha Lord!"

One master continuously recited Buddhist chants, trying to conceal his excitement and loss of composure. This matter was of such great importance that it deeply shook everyone present.

The inscription was in ancient primordial script, requiring careful study to understand. The masters slowly translated it, reading it aloud to the others.

Over two thousand years ago, Shakyamuni once refined medicine here, intending to use Lingshan's dragon veins as fire to slowly mature a furnace of Great Medicine for future generations.

However, this furnace of medicine was exceptionally precious, requiring an unimaginable amount of time. It had not yet fully formed even by the day Buddha Lord Shakyamuni departed; it was still being nurtured.

"This is a Buddhist Great Medicine that has almost never been successfully refined throughout history. Its miraculous effects far surpass those of a Medicine King!" a master explained.

After centuries of nurturing, slowly refining it with the essence of the dragon veins as fire, even the spirituality of this Saint-level medicine furnace was expended, its divine essence consumed. Yet, the Great Medicine still remained incomplete.

Later, Shakyamuni entered the starry sky, entrusting his descendants to continue guarding it, believing it would eventually be perfected.

Several centuries passed, and Lingshan gradually withered due to an astonishing change. The great virtuous Saint Monks of later generations could no longer wait and also prepared to enter the starry sky.

However, the Buddhist Great Medicine was still incomplete. If forcibly removed and its ley line dragon-fire changed, it would inevitably fail, or even cause the furnace to explode, destroying everything.

Ultimately, all the Buddhist Bodhisattvas retreated, leaving this stele inscription explaining that the entire Lingshan had been sealed, hoping that the Great Medicine would one day be perfected.

Everyone exchanged glances. This Great Medicine was simply too time-consuming, requiring centuries to mature. Even many Saint Monks couldn't wait any longer and had no choice but to depart.

"This medicine was refined from the essence of an Immortal Divine Tree," a master exclaimed, pointing to the last line of the inscription, his fingers trembling.

The main ingredient was actually the essence of the Buddhist sect's sole Bodhi Divine Tree!

Back then, the Buddha Lord used a section of the Immortal Tree's trunk to create the medicine, refining it in the bronze furnace. Clearly, he intended to forge a batch of peerless treasure medicine.

This moved everyone. Shakyamuni was experimenting; he possessed a divine tree entirely different from ordinary Bodhi trees, and he was willing to sacrifice a section of its trunk. This was definitely an attempt to refine an immortal elixir!

If he succeeded, it would mean that one Immortal Tree could yield several times more potency, potentially producing four furnaces of Great Medicine in the future.

"Whoever gets it, it's theirs!" Longma was the first to act, unleashing a burst of profound energy from its mouth, flipping open the furnace lid.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of green light immediately shot into the sky at incredible speed. Everyone had a bad feeling; this Great Medicine was too spiritual, and it was trying to escape the moment the lid opened. All of them soared into the air, giving chase.

Even Ye Fan was startled. He activated his Movement Formula, transforming into a streak of lightning, extending a large hand to cover it. Longma, meanwhile, blazed with fire, opening its massive maw as if it could swallow a mountain.

However, to everyone's surprise, this Great Medicine was very special. What shot into the sky was merely a cloud of medicinal essence, not its true form. This green cloud also possessed potent medicinal properties, deceiving even masters like Ye Fan, the Divine Knight, and Longma. The true Great Medicine was still below.

When the masters realized this, they quickly dived down, only to see the small purple figure blissfully entranced, hugging a small, emerald-green tree. Longma immediately tried to kick it, intending to snatch it, but was slapped away by Ye Fan.

This was a pill, but its shape was very unique; it wasn't a perfectly round immortal elixir, but rather resembled a small Bodhi tree, about the height of a palm, entirely brilliant emerald green, complementing the small stone Buddha.

"The elixir is complete!"

"This might be the second furnace of Great Medicine successfully refined by the Buddhist sect in recorded history!"

The first furnace was from ancient times, beyond human comprehension and long impossible to verify. But this furnace was real, right before their eyes, having consumed the divine essence of a Saint weapon and being refined by the essence of Lingshan's ley lines.

Ye Fan observed carefully and found that the elixir's medicinal properties were so potent that Xiaosong, just by holding it, was lifted off the ground and floated. The vibrant glow entered its nostrils and mouth, making it seem as if it were ascending to immortality.

"It possesses seventy to eighty percent of an immortal elixir's potency!" This was his assessment; it was undoubtedly a divine treasure.

"Quickly seal it with a jade artifact, or its medicinal energy will dissipate," the Divine Knight reminded.

Ye Fan took out a white jade cauldron, sealed the small tree-shaped divine elixir within it, and then handed it to Xiaosong, telling it to keep it safe.

The small purple creature shook its head vigorously, its long eyelashes fluttering, and its large, gem-like black eyes sparkling. It wanted to present this as a gift to its master.

"Masters always give medicine and weapons to their disciples; there's no such thing as this. This medicine was discovered by you, and it ultimately belongs to you. Keep it," Ye Fan said.

Ye Fan shook his hand, dispersing the medicinal cloud and giving portions to several others present. This, too, possessed immortal divinity... it was highly valuable.

Xiaosong insisted on offering it to Ye Fan, but was ultimately refused. Ye Fan, making the decision, sealed the divine elixir in a "pine cone."

"On the other side of the starry sky, there are immortal elixirs. Your master doesn't lack such things; I've used them to undergo profound transformations several times. But you need it; you can use it to transform and temper your Dao body."

Ye Fan took out the liquid drops gifted by the Ancestral Ginseng of Changbai Mountain and distributed one to everyone present. These drops were originally intended for Xiaosong, but now that it had obtained this furnace of Great Medicine, it no longer needed them.

On the other side of the starry sky, his senior disciple Tongtong and little Que'er had the Nine-Aperture Saint Spirit Divine Liquid, which was immensely beneficial for cultivation. Ye Fan always felt a slight regret for not having laid a similarly strong foundation for Xiaosong, but now, a burden had finally been lifted from his mind.

Longma opened its mouth but couldn't utter a word. Xiaosong had discovered it, and it had ultimately obtained it, leaving the evil horse to only lament its bad luck.

They "toured" Lingshan thoroughly. Several masters copied numerous scriptures from some steep cliffs, their expressions excited, as many of them were lost texts.

They scoured the place thoroughly, only departing several days later. Although they found no other precious artifacts, the trip was still well worth it.

Finally, they returned to the mortal world.

"Master, where do we enter the starry sky from?" Zhang Qingyang asked.

"We'll go find Hangu Pass," Ye Fan replied.

In the past, both Shakyamuni and Laozi had entered the starry sky and descended upon the Big Dipper (Beidou) starfield. Lingshan had no star map coordinates, and the Buddhist sect's route map was unobtainable.

Now, they could only seek the path taken by Laozi. This was also the answer Ye Fan had received from the old Daoist on Mount Fangzhang: Laozi indeed left behind an ancient path for future generations, but it was extremely difficult!

Hangu Pass was renowned throughout ancient and modern times, the most prestigious strategic pass in ancient China. It was called Hangu Pass because it was located deep within a valley, perilous like a box (函, Hán).

In ancient times, warhorses neighed and corpses lay strewn across the fields here. It was once a ultimate battlefield, where one man could hold off ten thousand.

Back then, the combined armies of the Six States attacked the pass, but ultimately suffered a devastating defeat, with "blood flowing like rivers and millions of corpses." Qin relied heavily on Hangu Pass.

For cultivators, this place held an even more special significance. Laozi rode his ox westward, and purple qi flowed eastward for thirty thousand li, ultimately departing through Hangu Pass and leaving behind numerous immortal secrets.

For thousands of years, countless Daoist and Taoist practitioners from home and abroad have made pilgrimages here to worship their ancestors, making it arguably the most revered place in the Daoist sect!

Hangu Pass is located in Wangduo Village, fifteen kilometers north of Lingbao City, Henan Province, today. Ye Fan, the Divine Knight, Longma, Xiaosong, the Buddhist child Huahua, Zhang Qingyang, and Long Yuxuan—a group of seven—arrived here.

"Xiaosong, go back," Ye Fan said, patting its head.

The small purple creature cried again, its large eyes red, tears streaming down its face. It pleaded repeatedly for him to take it along, softly whimpering.

Ye Fan also found it hard, his heart aching. Farewells always brought a sense of helplessness. He couldn't let go of what was on the other side of the starry sky, yet he also had lingering attachments here.

"Your master is doing this for your own good. We will surely meet again in the future. For now, staying away from the whirlpool, cultivating diligently, and remaining outside the battlefield is the best choice."

"I'll wait until Master embarks on the star road before I leave, watching you depart with my own eyes," Xiaosong choked out timidly.

Ye Fan nodded, saying no more. Only one person could attain Dao on an ancient star; he had many considerations and could only steel his heart to leave the small creature behind.

"This parting... I wonder if it will be for decades, centuries, or even millennia..." He sighed silently in his heart.

The ancient city of Hangu Pass in the mortal world no longer existed. Even with Ye Fan's divine abilities, it took him a full six months to barely forge an ancient path, entering a realm enclosed by an ancient magical formation.

Ahead, ribbon-like black mists permeated the air, filled with chilling ghostly aura. Corpses were strewn everywhere, ghost fires flickered, and the world was utterly dark, devoid of any light.

This was an ancient battlefield, where ghosts wailed and spirits howled. Countless specters roamed this place, all of them the souls of soldiers who had died in battle long ago!

At the end of the horizon was a valley, where a colossal city stood tall—it was Hangu Pass of the cultivation world, famous since ancient times!

"Legend has it that passing through Hangu Pass and opening its west gate leads to an endless starry sky. Back then, Yin Xi was responsible for guarding this place. I wonder if there are still Saints protecting it now," Ye Fan murmured to himself.

This ancient battlefield was infested with tens of thousands of ghostly soldiers and mounts of various types. There was no concept of reincarnation here. Their wailing made one's scalp tingle, and black mists surged, with malevolent spirits charging out periodically.

Ye Fan rode on Longma, reciting the "Scripture of Salvation." All evil retreated, and various lingering spirits were purified, turning into smoke. The entire world became illuminated.

As they approached this most formidable pass of all time, a mighty roar resounded, making their ears buzz. Monstrous demonic energy and blood-red light surged outside the city gate, completely engulfing the ancient battlefield.

"Who dares trespass Hangu Pass?" It was an ancient Great Demon, its blood-red light like a sea, its magic power immense, standing guard before the pass.

"It's you!" Ye Fan was startled. He hadn't expected to finally encounter the peerless Demon Venerable who had manifested in the mortal world during the Second World War. This figure matched the blurry image from that photograph.

"We wish to pass through Hangu Pass," Ye Fan stepped forward, indicating their intention to borrow the path.

"I guard this pass by the command of Guan Yinyi. If you wish to pass, you must prove your strength," the Great Demon declared. This Great Demon was a Transcendent King, its body surging with demonic energy, its eyes shining brightly, its physique robust, and its skin like jade—it was very peculiar and enchanting.