Chapter 135: Natural Way

On Crude Peak, the nine-step Heavenly Ladder continuously magnified, transforming into nine platforms. Exquisite palaces and jade towers, enveloped by mist and clouds, appeared hazy and indistinct upon them.

Li Ruoyu slowly rose, drawn by an unseen force, and entered the ethereal palaces.

On the peak, an extreme void and profound tranquility prevailed, as if a world were evolving, with unidentifiable "Dao" and "principles" intertwining.

All things manifested, vibrant with life, endlessly cycling. Initially, flowers bloomed splendidly and green leaves glistened with vitality, but they eventually withered and decayed, returning to their fundamental essence.

Ye Fan stood motionless on Crude Peak, his eyes shifting from brilliant to desolate, from bright to empty, as if he too were undergoing an evolution from flourishing to fading.

Unidentifiable trajectories seemed to emerge between heaven and earth, forming complex and profound rules and order, which gave rise to mysterious patterns and designs.

Crude Peak, embodying a return to simplicity and truth, was evolving Dao and principles. The entire peak was a scripture, and only with a corresponding state of mind could one capture the flowing mysterious trajectories.

Ye Fan was not Li Ruoyu; he had only been at Crude Peak for just over half a month and was unaware of the mountain's origin and fundamental nature. It would be very difficult for him to harmonize with this peak. However, he carried a Bodhi Seed, obtained from the Great Thunder Sound Temple, whose innate Daoist patterns evolved naturally, quickly bringing his mind to profound serenity.

Bodhi, the legendary sacred tree of enlightenment and also known as the Tree of Wisdom, could help people awaken their divinity, allowing them to comprehend the Dao between heaven and earth. It was truly extraordinary.

Aided by this mysterious Bodhi Seed, Ye Fan merged into this state of natural Dao. His state of mind flourished and withered with the vegetation. "Great perfection seems flawed, great fullness seems empty, great skill seems clumsy..."

Unidentifiable sounds echoed. Li Ruoyu remained motionless among the palaces, still as a rock, listening to the wondrous sounds between heaven and earth.

On Crude Peak, where the legacy had been cut off for five hundred years, profound techniques reappeared, the gate of Dao opened wide, and wondrous truths emerged. There were no divine springs gushing from the earth, no auspicious rainbows descending from the sky; only a simple legacy and a flow of Dao charm were present.

Ye Fan's mind was ethereal, merging with Crude Peak. Everything Li Ruoyu perceived, Ye Fan also heard. The Bodhi Seed felt slightly warm, and he remained serene and natural. Initially, it was not a so-called immortal art legacy, but Crude Peak's fundamental cultivation method. "One of the Nine Secrets" was not a profound cultivation technique; it was a secret art that could be integrated into the cultivation method to unleash various mysterious and unfathomable powers.

Crude Peak's cultivation method was the foundation of this lineage. Only by cultivating with this method and strengthening one's own power could the secret art be fully utilized.

One of the Nine Secrets was magnificent and unparalleled. When activated, if coincidentally triggered, it could multiply one's combat power several or even tenfold. It was a rare secret method coveted by all Holy Lands and ancient aristocratic families.

Without a cultivation method or specific moves, if these nine secret arts were combined, they could be exchanged for several ancient scriptures of the Eastern Wasteland. One could imagine their immense value.

Crude Peak's fundamental cultivation method indeed had its unique qualities, worthy of being one of the Tai Xuan Sect's strongest legacies. The peak master five hundred years ago could contend with and perish alongside a Supreme Elder of the Yaoguang Holy Land, which sufficiently proved its power.

Although it couldn't compare to the Dao Scripture, it was still very mysterious. Ye Fan cross-referenced them, gaining many insights. Of course, what he was most interested in was "One of the Nine Secrets." This was what he urgently desired; for him, its appeal even surpassed the Ji Family's Void Ancient Scripture. If it were accidentally triggered during combat, boosting combat power severalfold, it would undoubtedly be the most terrifying trump card!

One could imagine, if he successfully drew out the Mother Qi of All Things onto his fists and then triggered such a secret art, it would be absolutely terrifying. No matter how endless your magical treasures, no matter how unparalleled your divine abilities, "I would simply punch through them."

Of course, the severalfold increase in combat power was not limited to the physical body; it could manifest in any means, such as unleashing divine abilities, controlling artifacts, or even flight speed. In Ye Fan's eyes, the Nine Secrets were absolutely supreme secret methods, and he was determined to obtain this one from Crude Peak.

Suddenly, an unidentifiable Dao charm circulated, appearing incredibly mysterious and distinctly different from Crude Peak's ancient cultivation method. No sound was heard, no ripples spread; only a strange divine aura appeared at the summit of Crude Peak.

Ye Fan felt the Bodhi Seed in his embrace suddenly warm up a bit and tremble slightly. He guessed that "one of the Nine Secrets" was manifesting. He no longer paid attention to Crude Peak's fundamental cultivation method legacy and began to capture that wisp of mysterious Dao charm.

It must be said that the ancient great masters of Crude Peak were incredibly brilliant. They left no written words or spoken instructions, instead using the entire main peak as a scripture to pass down "One of the Nine Secrets," ensuring its continuity and transmission to future generations. Their methods were truly extraordinary.

The entire Crude Peak was imbued with ancient charm, as if it had traveled through time, returning to ten thousand years ago. It resembled a desolate wilderness, seemingly never developed, and appeared even more ordinary than its current state, yet a natural aura circulated within it.

On the distant main peaks, many powerful figures gazed, observing the strange changes on Crude Peak. Many showed astonished expressions. "There are no auspicious clouds filling the sky, no myriad rays of auspicious light, no bursts of celestial music. It looks so natural, as if it shouldn't be time for the legacy to open, yet it gives people a profound and unfathomable feeling..."

"It is said that there was once an ancient great master who, at a time when the legacy should not have opened, also obtained Crude Peak's fundamental cultivation method and secret arts. He ultimately possessed boundless magic power, comparable to ancient great masters, becoming supremely powerful."

"Could it be that Li Ruoyu is also such a person? Will he become the second great master in Crude Peak's history? Perhaps, there is indeed such a possibility. Legend has it that the ancient master's aptitude was ordinary, quite unremarkable, and Li Ruoyu truly shares similar characteristics with him." Around them, many powerful figures from other main peaks murmured to themselves, gazing at Crude Peak.

"A humble and unadorned opening of the legacy is more suitable for Crude Peak than a grand and sensational one. Presumably, only in this way can the complete profound mysteries be obtained. Crude Peak, as its name suggests, is best suited by this naturalness and ordinariness, which is precisely why it is exceptional yet appears humble."

Many powerful figures from the main peaks realized that Crude Peak was about to truly rise, and it was very likely that a great master would emerge!

Li Ruoyu's aptitude was ordinary; his becoming a disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect back then was purely due to luck. No one thought highly of him, believing he was merely a seed of grass ensuring Crude Peak's continuity. No one believed he possessed immortal destiny or could achieve extraordinary feats.

However, everything unfolding now seemed to completely overturn the past. If Li Ruoyu truly followed the path of that ancient master, becoming comparable to an ancient great master, then it was not impossible for him to suppress the Ji Family and Yaoguang Holy Land in this region.

Not only were many elders startled, but even the peak masters of various main peaks emerged from their seclusion, gazing at Crude Peak with various unidentifiable lights flashing in their eyes.

Furthermore, not long after, the Tai Xuan Sect Master, the Supreme Elders, and many renowned hermits dwelling deep within the mountain range all appeared floating above the clouds.

"Li Ruoyu is not truly foolish; diligence can compensate for clumsiness. He has embarked on the path of the ancient masters. Perhaps he truly is the future protector of our Tai Xuan lineage." "If he truly becomes comparable to an ancient great master, then our Tai Xuan Sect achieving a status akin to a Holy Land or ancient aristocratic family will no longer be a pipe dream." The Tai Xuan Sect Master and the Supreme Elders all showed solemn expressions.

"Crude Peak has been desolate for five hundred years, with no disciples. Now that the legacy has opened, select outstanding disciples from all main peaks and send them to Crude Peak." The Tai Xuan Sect Master issued this command.

Before the Tai Xuan Sect's great figures made their decision, disciples from various main peaks had already begun discussing. Many who understood Crude Peak's history resolved to commit to it. The previously dilapidated main peak, now restarting its legacy, entered everyone's view and began to shine brightly.

As the various main peaks stirred and everyone harbored their own thoughts, Ye Fan captured that subtle divine aura on Crude Peak.

Between heaven and earth, "lines" seemed to intertwine, unidentifiable rules transformed into order, giving rise to unidentifiable power that constructed various patterns in the void. Before his eyes, the summit of Crude Peak continuously transformed.

All things withered, vegetation decayed, turning into soil and returning to their roots. From movement to stillness, they returned to their fundamental nature, as if an eternal law was evolving.

From birth to returning to roots, experiencing vibrant life and extreme flourishing, then the decline of prosperity, ultimate tranquility, and return to origin – between heaven and earth, "Dao patterns" were born and extinguished.

Ye Fan's eyes changed from radiant to dim, from vibrant to empty, and then reversed, changing along with these unidentifiable patterns, capturing their trajectories and evolving with them.

He secretly marveled. The ancient masters of Crude Peak were indeed extraordinary, concealing the secret method within natural changes and imprinting it on the entire Crude Peak. It was truly magnificent beyond compare.

Like meticulously unraveling silk from a cocoon, he distinguished and captured, gathering every minute detail into his mind. This was the legacy of "One of the Nine Secrets" that he sought.

Ye Fan remained motionless, merging with heaven and earth and becoming one with Crude Peak. Baptized by nature, he seemed to transform into a stone, a blade of grass, a vine on Crude Peak, observing every minute detail and imprinting the endless divine charm in his heart.

Finally, on the silent Crude Peak, all scenery vanished before his eyes, leaving only a seed and a patch of soil. He was like a gentle wisp of wind, passing by.

A natural seed broke through the soil, radiating a hint of green. His mind was serene, like an ancient well without ripples. Ultimately, he transformed into a few droplets of water, sprinkling down and nourishing the soil.

His mind seemed to completely merge with this seed, becoming that vibrant green vitality. Above Crude Peak, there was profound tranquility; a green sprout radiated infinite vitality, becoming the sole entity between heaven and earth. "Dong."

Ye Fan's heart jolted, and his eyes regained clarity. One of the Nine Secrets, transformed into a seed, imprinted itself into his heart, breaking through the soil and becoming eternal vitality. The supreme secret art, nurtured within nature, was completely obtained by him.

Looking at Crude Peak again, the mountain was still the mountain, the water still the water, the vegetation still the vegetation. There were no special changes; it was as it had always been.

He was like a flowing cloud, like a stirring breeze. His body and mind were ethereal, and the supreme secret method appeared in his heart, flowing like a gentle stream. Ye Fan did not obtain Crude Peak's fundamental cultivation method, but obtaining "One of the Nine Secrets" was more than enough!

Half a day later, Li Ruoyu awoke and stood up tall. His entire being was extremely ethereal, appearing incredibly insubstantial and distant. He seemed to stand among the clouds, separated by a starry sky, touched by the dust of history.

However, a change quickly occurred. As the mists dispersed, he became ordinary, like a common old man from a village, with nothing extraordinary about him.

At this moment, people had already gathered below Crude Peak. However, no one dared to trespass, nor did anyone fly high into the sky. All waited quietly at the foot of the mountain. The vast majority came to seek mentorship, wishing to join Crude Peak's lineage.

At this moment, no one dared to belittle Crude Peak again, nor to treat it as a desolate wilderness and descend upon it casually.

The vast majority were outstanding disciples from various main peaks, and some were even the offspring of main peak masters. Li Ruoyu stood quietly on the mountain, not looking at the crowd below. He looked at Ye Fan and said, "You are the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body."