Chapter 1289: Ask the Heart and Seek the Way

Chapter 1290: Self-Reflection and the Pursuit of Dao

In the early morning, some stood on bluestones, while others sat cross-legged on cultivation platforms, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. White columns of energy spewed forth from their mouths and noses, rumbling like thunder.

Even children in the Tenth Human Sacred City understood some methods of Qi cultivation. Among the indigenous inhabitants, many masters diligently cultivated without cease.

The streets of the Tenth Human City were wide and paved with bluestones. Suddenly, a rapid sound of horse hooves, like a mountain torrent or a surging tsunami, echoed throughout the ancient thoroughfare.

The morning sun shone brightly, casting its light across the entire city. The early morning was full of vigor as large groups of cultivators set off, heading towards the life-bearing planet below.

Many cultivators had been staying here, conservatively estimated to be in the thousands. All possessed extraordinary strength, and some were unfathomable.

Some had never been defeated since stepping onto the ancient Starry Sky Road, earning them the title of "kings among men." They had lingered here, hoping to obtain a heaven-defying opportunity.

Ye Fan, riding a Dragon Horse, was among the crowd, rushing towards the square. People came and went, ancient beasts roared, and vital energy obscured the sun.

The gathering of so many powerhouses made the Tenth City's square solemn. Battle qi surged, as if a million mighty lions had converged, shaking the cosmos.

“Be careful of everything; I won’t say much more!” the welcoming envoy announced as he opened the ancient city's seal. Teams of cultivators ascended into the sky, emerging from the array formations into outer space.

Savage beasts, ancient birds, and large numbers of powerhouses, all formidable and unyielding, advanced towards the mysterious ancient land.

Rumble!

Like a steel torrent, the entire sky trembled. A group of iron cavalry galloped across the vast sky, their thunderous advance causing everyone's hearts to tremble with dread.

All these heroes had risen together; this was the first time in many years that they had launched such a unified expedition. Like a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals unleashed, they descended upon the ancient star below, bringing with them churning clouds mixed with the resonance of Dao, a truly grand and magnificent sight.

Clouds surged, carrying various mounts downward. Powerful fluctuations spread in all directions, making it clear that not a single group among them was mediocre.

The descent of so many human powerhouses, riding their mounts through the sky, naturally alarmed many powerful beings below. All watched closely, their gazes harboring killing intent.

The mountains and rivers became increasingly clear. Towering demonic mountains were shrouded in thick mist. In this area, several skeletal temples could be seen, emanating rolling malevolent energy.

“This is the cultivation ground of a wild fox that has cultivated for thousands of years,” someone remarked. “It has devoured many invading trial-takers, and its strength is unfathomable. To this day, no one dares to provoke it easily.”

Evidently, this was a forbidden cultivation ground. It was rumored that this wild fox was most likely a Saint Beast King, having cultivated the 'Ten Heavens, Eight Wilds, Ten Thousand Demon Art'. It had ruled supreme in this area for thousands of years, unshaken.

Many cultivators, when their cultivation levels were not high enough, were unwilling to provoke it. They avoided this forbidden area, riding their mounts further into the mountain ranges.

After bypassing this area, where the altitude was relatively lower, deafening sounds of ape cries and tiger roars echoed through the wilderness.

Below, the mountain ranges were verdant, with ancient trees reaching into the sky. Some ancient vines, which had grown for an unknown number of years, resembled coiling dragons, wrapping around the mountains and spanning several peaks.

“Aooooh…”

In the depths of that mountain range, the roar of a Saint Beast King echoed. All birds and beasts trembled, shivering in fear, daring not to appear.

Ye Fan was startled. This was indeed a primeval ancient land, with many powerful beings and some forbidden areas that could not be easily entered.

The closer they got to the ground, the denser the spiritual energy became, almost liquefying. It spontaneously seeped into people's bodies. Many ancient medicinal herbs could be clearly seen growing, rooted in rock crevices and on mountain cliffs.

Upon reaching the ground, many cultivators dispersed, entering various primeval secret lands and different regions.

This ancient star was vast, with boundless territory, enough for all these cultivators to spread out. The sprawling land they had just seen was merely a corner; more mysterious and unknown regions lay at the horizon's end.

Ye Fan galloped on his horse, searching for his own place of enlightenment. He focused entirely on cultivating himself, not wanting to waste time.

The Dragon Horse traversed an ancient land. They encountered several terrifying demonic auras but did not engage in any conflict. Evidently, these ancient beasts were unwilling to provoke human powerhouses.

“Ah…”

After traveling over forty thousand miles, screams echoed. Beast roars filled the sky, and intense battles raged ahead. Demonic energy surged, sword qi soared, and many cultivators were fleeing.

“The Nine-Tailed Alligator Dragon has gone mad; it swallowed more than a dozen cultivators!” someone who escaped exclaimed. The area was in chaos, with mountains collapsing and earth cracking, and large mountain ranges leveled.

A golden divine alligator, hundreds of zhang long, stretched across the sky, as if cast from gold. It resembled an alligator, possessed nine tails, and had a dragon's head. Its golden maw opened and closed, crushing a group of cultivators, blood mist swirling around it.

This was a slaughterhouse, a forbidden territory belonging to a Saint Beast, where outsiders were not allowed to set foot.

Before long, the place grew quiet. The Nine-Tailed Alligator Dragon returned to its lair, plunging into the water and disappearing from sight.

By the time Ye Fan reached the battlefield, the fight had ended. The few escaping cultivators did not look back, continuing their flight into the distance.

“I'll cultivate right here,” Ye Fan decided, stopping. He set up a simple hut dozens of miles away, beside a vast and boundless lake, finding it very peaceful.

That golden divine alligator was incredibly powerful, definitely one of the strongest among ancient Saints. Ordinary cultivators dared not approach. With such a fearsome neighbor, he believed few people would come here to disturb him.

While others searched far and wide for Human Race Ancestral Artifacts, Great Emperor scriptures, mysterious ancient treasures, and the like, entering and exiting many secret lands that were normally closed, Ye Fan ignored all that and focused solely on cultivation.

Whispers spread in the Tenth City; a few people were discussing that the ancient Starry Sky Road might face a crisis, and a great war might erupt in the near future.

All the heroes were strengthening themselves and growing their power, and Ye Fan was no different. However, he wasn't searching for ancestral artifacts or imperial steles, nor relying on external objects; instead, he was cultivating his own Dao Fruit.

Rumors claimed that incredible existences like Holy Spirits might intervene to sever the Human Race's ancient path. Against this backdrop, becoming stronger was the only correct choice for the trial-takers.

In front of his thatched hut, there were a few ancient trees and a bluestone, a very simple setup. Some wild herbs grew alongside them.

In this secret land where spiritual energy was almost liquid, the Dragon Horse leisurely munched on a fire-scaled fruit that glowed with purple light, then nibbled on a twenty-thousand-year-old Azure Mist Grass, appearing quite content.

While consuming the spiritual herbs, it also cultivated its own Dao. It proceeded unhurriedly on its path of enlightenment, truly embodying the transcendence of acting naturally and following its heart's desires.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged on a bluestone in front of his hut, calmly seeking enlightenment and cultivating his own methods. He paid no mind to worldly affairs. Sounds of scripture chanting emanated from within him, and his several great secret realms glowed simultaneously.

Over the years, the direction of the Dao in his heart had long been clear. He meditated constantly, and all that remained was to forge his own path.

The Dao Scripture, Lunar Immortal Scripture, Western Emperor Scripture, Solar Immortal Scripture, and others, though mostly just fragments rather than complete works, when combined, allowed him to cultivate his five great secret realms to perfection.

Forging his own Dao was not something that could be achieved overnight. Many years ago, he had already been pondering his future path, gaining an even deeper understanding after becoming a Saint.

Now, step by step, he was establishing his path and clearly understanding his Dao. Ye Fan felt as if the clouds were slowly parting to reveal a clear sky, bringing a sudden sense of clarity.

His gains over the past year had been particularly significant!

Sections of scripture and ancient characters leaped forth, revolving around him, transforming the area into a land of Dao.

From a distance, Dao characters, one after another, densely filled the void. They appeared cast from metal, shining brightly, imbued with intricate profound meanings, making him appear transcendent, like an immortal.

The cultivation methods for the Sacred Body's secret realms also simultaneously emerged. Ancient scriptures rumbled, echoing in his heart, making Ye Fan's body radiate brilliantly and emit genuine Dao sounds.

After reaching the Saint Realm, the Sacred Body lineage requires re-cultivating the five great secret realms: Wheel Sea, Dao Palace, Four Extremities, Dragon Transformation, and Immortal Platform. Only then can one ultimately achieve perfect grand completion.

This was something he absolutely had to face. Ever since he became a Saint, he had been fully immersed in comprehending the Dao of the Sacred Body and understanding its various methods.

Each of his secret realms was glowing. The Sacred Body's exclusive cultivation method operated on its own, emitting bursts of Dao resonance, grand and magnificent, dazzling to behold.

Ancient characters leaped out from within him. Each secret realm shimmered with colorful light, like bright Dao platforms radiating immortal brilliance.

In fact, even when he was a minor cultivator, he had obtained the Sacred Body's exclusive cultivation method at the Sacred Cliff, where a Grand Completion Sacred Body had perished. Over the years, he had already mastered it completely.

Although he couldn't cultivate it before becoming a Saint, he had always been pondering and simulating it in his mind, developing all sorts of ideas.

Now, nothing could hinder his progress!

At this moment, the Dao Scripture, Solar Immortal Scripture, Sacred Body's exclusive cultivation method, and others resonated together, merging into one. This made the chanting sounds even more magnificent.

Ye Fan cultivated several ancient scriptures and also possessed the Sacred Body's exclusive cultivation method. He was unwilling to follow the path of his predecessors; he wanted to create his own Dao, nurturing hundreds of scriptures. His years of arduous contemplation were to be forged in a single furnace, to undergo transformation and sublimation.

Over the years, his cultivation had advanced, and he continuously pondered, gaining a clear understanding of his own Dao. He had not wasted a single inch of time.

Particularly this past year, he had consolidated his Saint Realm and contemplated his own path. This was a process of self-reflection and seeking the Dao, and for his future achievements, its significance was profound and immense.

He gained insight in solitude, achieving peace and seeking answers in tedium. The fog in his heart dispersed, and his path became increasingly clear.

Over the years, he spent much time in quiet contemplation. During that time, his cultivation didn't advance an inch, but Ye Fan believed these efforts were the most precious. Self-reflection and seeking the Dao was a crucial process of accumulation and precipitation!

Nurturing hundreds of scriptures, his ultimate goal was to transcend them and find his own Dao. Years of quiet enlightenment and contemplation had made his path increasingly firm.

At this moment, Ye Fan appeared increasingly majestic. He was like a god or demon sitting cross-legged, his black hair fanned out, his eyes closed in meditation. His body glowed brilliantly as if cast from divine metal, and his five great secret realms emitted boundless immortal light, filled with an aura of immortality.

Within him, it was as if three thousand Buddhas were chanting Zen, or as if three thousand demon lords were roaring in fury. They revolved around him, and the Grand Dao continuously rumbled.

The ancient scriptures Ye Fan had cultivated, along with the Sacred Body lineage's exclusive cultivation method, all rumbled. It was as if countless Dao manifestations were chanting scriptures, profoundly unfathomable, integrating into his flesh and blood, causing even his bones to resonate.

Within his body, it was as if one Dao, one immortal, and one self after another were chanting scriptures. They constantly intertwined and merged, blending all the profound meanings of the scriptures together, evolving into the ultimate Dao tradition.

His own path, his own Dao, was taking shape step by step. It was about to manifest in the world, distinct from all others. He was about to create his own ancient scripture!

Immediately, winds howled and thunder roared between heaven and earth, with lightning flashing. Various phenomena appeared frequently and profusely. It was as if the heavens had sensed something and were trembling because of it.