Chapter 112: Divine Bridge Realm

The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth.

Inside the cauldron, nine ancient characters were imprinted on its walls, intertwining to manifest the "Dao" and "Principle" of the universe. Initially, they resembled stars, shimmering with divine radiance; later, they transformed into chaos, exhaling and spreading, emerging from nothingness, undergoing countless transformations without a fixed form.

The Named is the mother of all things.

Ye Fan felt as though he had arrived in the era when all things were first born. Heaven and Earth were taking shape, Yin and Yang merged, and the union of energies gave birth to myriad things. Heaven acted and Earth transformed, with growth and decay, prosperity and demise, constantly alternating in a cycle. At this moment, eternity and an instant became indistinguishable.

A peculiar sensation welled up in Ye Fan's heart. The nine ancient characters merged with the "cauldron," as if creating Heaven and Earth, or recreating a world. At this moment, the "cauldron" became profoundly mysterious and unfathomable, seemingly born from chaos, ancient yet grand.

Although Ye Fan was inside the cauldron, he felt as if he had reached the world's end, standing at the very source of the river of time. One moment, stars filled the sky; the next, the firmament was utterly desolate.

Following the ancient method described in the *Dao Jing*, which involves using a "vessel" to compress oneself and achieve an instant of eternity, Ye Fan finally succeeded. He prepared to consume a divine medicine to enhance his cultivation. The cauldron was filled with a profound and misty aura, forming its own realm. As Ye Fan opened the jade box, a brilliant golden fruit immediately emanated a rich, fragrant aroma.

The cauldron had now manifested eternity, and Ye Fan, without any further hesitation, placed a golden fruit into his mouth. As he gently bit into it, the sacred, dragon-eye-sized fruit instantly transformed into a divine, liquid elixir.

He activated the profound method from the *Dao Jing*, quickly dissolving the divine medicine. Golden energy immediately coursed through his entire body. His physique instantly glowed, as if forged from pure gold.

Ye Fan used the "vessel" to apply pressure to himself, achieving an instant of eternity. After the divine medicine dissolved, it nourished his body, though he did not revert to infancy. The remarkable golden energy repeatedly cleansed his physical form, making his flesh, internal organs, and bones incredibly resilient.

To his surprise, however, even though the profound method from the *Dao Jing* was active, it could not draw the golden energy into his Sea of Suffering. "How can this be?" Ye Fan wondered, utterly perplexed. Without the ability to guide the golden energy, he couldn't open his Sea of Suffering or advance his cultivation.

Time slowly elapsed, and the peculiar energy gently flowed, cleansing every inch of his flesh and gradually nourishing his physical form. His physique steadily improved, and his body grew increasingly powerful.

"Why isn't it converging into the Sea of Suffering…?" Ye Fan remained completely perplexed.

Suddenly, the peculiar golden energy began to flow towards his glabella, like a gentle stream, converging from all directions between his eyebrows. It shone brightly, astonishingly forming a small golden lake there. "What is this…?" In that instant, Ye Fan felt his spiritual perception significantly heighten, and his five senses became remarkably acute. The world within the cauldron seemed to instantly burst with life.

Ultimately, the vast majority of the golden energy accumulated at his glabella, forming a small golden lake. Only a minor portion permeated his physical body. While his cultivation didn't advance, his divine consciousness became exceptionally potent.

"I understand now, the legend is true!" Ye Fan exclaimed, as if suddenly recalling something. "The Ancient Forbidden Land has nine sacred mountains, each bearing a unique divine medicine. It's said that every single one possesses completely distinct effects."

It was evident that the mysterious energy within the golden fruit didn't enter the Sea of Suffering or the Life Spring. Instead, it nourished divine consciousness, rapidly augmenting spiritual power.

Three years prior, Ye Fan had been informed that the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body was incapable of cultivation. Yet, in the subsequent years, he had made rapid progress, proving to be no less capable than any Immortal Seed. He had always suspected that the energy from the sacred fruit he consumed back then had flowed into his Sea of Suffering, helping him break the curse.

"Perhaps this is truly the case. The sacred fruit from three years ago played a crucial role in opening my Sea of Suffering, while today's divine medicine nourishes my divine consciousness."

Legend states that the nine distinct sacred fruits each possess unique properties. Their sole commonality is the ability to revive the dead, regenerate flesh on bones, nurture the physical body, temper the physique, and induce a complete metamorphosis.

"The first divine medicine enabled me to successfully embark on the path of cultivation, opening the Sea of Suffering for my Desolate Ancient Sacred Body. This second divine medicine has empowered my divine consciousness. What opportunities will it ultimately bring me?"

Once everything settled, Ye Fan felt invigorated, his divine consciousness immensely potent, and his spiritual perception exceptionally sharp. He put away the "cauldron" and reappeared in his cave dwelling, where this sensation became even more pronounced.

He then exited his cave dwelling and stood on the cliff, gazing at the distant mountains. Immediately, his vision felt incredibly expansive; even extremely far-off landscapes appeared remarkably clear. Ye Fan carefully observed this transformation: all things in Heaven and Earth, every blade of grass and every tree, seemed to suddenly burst into vibrant life.

"While this is a significant transformation, what I need most right now is to open my Sea of Suffering, allowing the wellspring of divine power to gush forth and elevate my cultivation."

He felt a mix of joy and disappointment, his emotions conflicted. Although the divine medicine's efficacy was potent, it wasn't what he most urgently desired at this moment.

He spoke to comfort himself, murmuring, "It is said that once cultivators reach a certain realm, only by strengthening their divine consciousness can they comprehend the natural order of Heaven and Earth. At that level, advancing cultivation relies solely on 'enlightenment,' with no other means. I am currently paving the way for the future." With this realization, Ye Fan's sense of loss dissipated, and his mind gradually settled.

Over the next month, instead of taking more divine medicine, Ye Fan quietly cultivated. He aimed to thoroughly refine and absorb the existing medicine, ensuring not a single bit went to waste.

During this period, he was astonished to discover that, thanks to his significantly enhanced physique, opening his Sea of Suffering had become much easier. After the month concluded, Ye Fan once more used the cauldron to apply pressure to himself, achieving an instant of eternity, and began to consume the second golden fruit.

This time, the peculiar golden energy again first cleansed his physical body, nourishing every inch of his being and enhancing his physique. Finally, it transformed into a trickle, flowing into his glabella and significantly deepening the small golden lake. Ye Fan felt his divine consciousness strengthen once more. After putting away the cauldron and stepping outside his cave dwelling, he could hear the breathing of many wild beasts, and even the distant sound of an ant crawling. Wherever his divine consciousness extended, he could perceive everything nearby without needing his eyes or ears, a truly ethereal sensation. "My spiritual perception is constantly strengthening."

Furthermore, another change delighted Ye Fan: with his physique further enhanced, golden light shimmered within his flesh, and he encountered significantly less resistance when opening his Sea of Suffering.

He immediately began a month-long period of secluded cultivation. When he re-emerged, Ye Fan seemed somewhat more ethereal.

In this manner, for the subsequent period, at the beginning of each month, he would use the cauldron to apply pressure to himself and consume the sacred medicine, undergoing an almost complete metamorphosis. His divine consciousness, moreover, became increasingly condensed, nearly capable of materializing into a tangible form.

Furthermore, another welcome change occurred: his physical body was transforming, his physique improving, and his flesh shimmered with divine radiance, encountering no obstruction in the process of opening his Sea of Suffering.

Time passed swiftly. Ye Fan had already consumed the sixth golden fruit. After a month of intense cultivation, he re-emerged from his cave dwelling with a significantly altered demeanor. It was as if clouds and mist enveloped him; as the mountain wind blew, his clothes fluttered. He stood on the cliff like a banished immortal.

Between Ye Fan's eyebrows, the small golden lake was unfathomably deep, its bottom impossible to discern. It had completely transformed into spiritual energy, now capable of condensing into a tangible form.

Meanwhile, his golden Sea of Suffering had undergone a monumental transformation. Waves surged skyward, divine radiance shimmered, and thunder roared. It had more than doubled in size, now nearly the size of his fist.

In the center of his Sea of Suffering, the Life Spring surged, its divine power source boiling. The seemingly bottomless spring aperture had expanded many times over, ceaselessly gushing forth. Beams of radiant light occasionally burst out. "Divine power flows like a tide, and spiritual radiance fills the sky! I've reached the peak of the Life Spring realm," Ye Fan exclaimed, a touch of excitement in his voice.

The Sacred Medicine was renowned throughout the Eastern Wasteland; countless ancient legends spoke of its incredible divine efficacy. The unique golden energy primarily nourished and strengthened his divine consciousness, while simultaneously altering his physique. Though it didn't flow into his Sea of Suffering, it still brought him to the cusp of breaking through the Life Spring realm. "The Sacred Medicine truly lives up to its name!"

Beyond the "Wheel Sea," the human body holds other secret realms. Figures like Jiang Hanzhong exist beyond the Wheel Sea's other shore, a fact that made Ye Fan acutely aware of the immense gap. He yearned to become stronger.

With only the final golden sacred fruit remaining, Ye Fan cradled it in his palm, re-entered his cave dwelling, and used the cauldron to apply pressure to himself, achieving an instant of eternity.

Upon consuming this golden fruit, Ye Fan's body immediately convulsed. His bones crackled, his flesh trembled incessantly, and his internal organs vibrated repeatedly. He was consumed by excruciating pain. "This is…" he muttered, gritting his teeth and enduring the purgatorial agony.

In that instant, he understood: this was the true metamorphosis. Consuming the first six golden fruits had merely been a transformation, not a fundamental rebirth. Only now was he truly breaking free from his cocoon, like a butterfly emerging. His flesh, internal organs, and bones were reorganizing; this was an alternate form of regeneration.

Just like when he and Pang Bo first consumed a sacred fruit, emerged from the Desolate Ancient Holy Land, and experienced rejuvenation, this was a transformation of the same profound caliber—a true, complete rebirth!

After this cleansing, his bones became as pure and white as jade, their density incredibly hard, comparable to divine weapons. His internal organs, thoroughly infused, were spotless and flawless, without a trace of impurity, resembling sacred artifacts. His skin, nourished and radiant, appeared almost translucent, shimmering with a precious glow.

Ye Fan's body radiated a brilliant glow. The peculiar golden energy transformed into streams, merging into his glabella. Golden light shimmered, and the small lake appeared unfathomably deep.

Subsequently, Ye Fan immediately entered secluded cultivation. Two months later, rumbling sounds echoed from the cave dwelling—like a crashing tsunami and bursts of thunder—while simultaneously, streaks of rainbow light shot forth.

At this moment, Ye Fan's golden Sea of Suffering had expanded to the size of a fist. A dazzling, vibrant rainbow hung high above it, spanning the firmament in magnificent splendor. He had finally formed a small segment of a divine meridian, suspended above the Sea of Suffering. He had officially become a cultivator of the Divine Bridge realm!

Ye Fan stood up and stepped out of his cave dwelling. There were no strong energy fluctuations emanating from him; he didn't appear particularly ethereal or transcendent. Instead, he looked quite refined, like the boy next door, with less of an extraordinary aura and more of a subtle, plain charm that suggested a return to simplicity.

He made no move, nor did he attempt to test his current cultivation, for there was no need; he already knew its extent in his heart. Ye Fan's mind was profoundly tranquil. He lived a simple life for a month, watching tigers fight from a mountain and observing the stream flow, before resuming his cultivation.

This time, he began to temper his "vessel." He imprinted the first sentence from the mysterious ancient scripture he had obtained from the bronze ancient coffin—"The Way of Heaven diminishes what is abundant and supplements what is deficient"—onto the "cauldron." Although the inscription couldn't be permanent and the ancient characters would soon fade, the small "cauldron" became increasingly extraordinary as a result.

Ultimately, after cultivating here for over a year, Ye Fan gained numerous insights, and his understanding of the Dao deepened considerably.

The nameless is called the Dao, emerging from nothingness as the primal origin of Heaven and Earth. The named refers to Heaven and Earth, possessing form, position, firmness, and flexibility, serving as the mother of all things. He felt that the "cauldron," the "Dao," and "Heaven and Earth" seemed to share an inherent connection.

The cauldron, with its three legs and two ears, is profoundly mysterious. The three legs stabilize Heaven and Earth, the two ears generate Yin and Yang, and its round form encompasses chaos. Its evolution of "Dao" and "Principle" represents the Nameless. Its convergence to give birth to tangible forms and contain all things represents the Named.

"The cauldron, like a 'vessel' naturally derived from Heaven and Earth, perfectly combines the Named and the Nameless, giving rise to the Dao and the 'mother of all things.' It was indeed the correct choice for me to use the cauldron as my vessel; it truly is a mysterious sacred object from ancient China." After cultivating here for over a year, Ye Fan decided it was time to leave and explore.