Chapter 1413: Five Years

Chapter 1416: Five Years

Ye Fan shook his head and said, "Don't just make up names. There's no one called Tongtian. It's more appropriate to call it the Spirit Treasure Array Diagram and the Four Slaughtering Swords."

"What if I change my name to Tongtian?" Pang Bo's eyes gleamed brightly, his blood boiling with a desire for the four immortal swords and the divine diagram. The array diagram and the slaughtering swords were too powerful. If he got his hands on them, who would he fear? He and Ye Fan could rampage across heaven and earth, even cleaving Great Sages with a single sword.

Ye Fan's expression stiffened. He said, "It's best not to speak carelessly within the Ancient Heavenly Venerate's Sea of Suffering."

Sword energy surged, star rivers cascaded, the universe fractured, and massive stars exploded, constantly falling and striking this black Sea of Suffering, creating monstrous waves that poured deep into the starfield. Under this sword formation, nothing could withstand it; there was nothing that could stop it. Hell seemed to have been ripped open, with monstrous, boundless killing intent.

"The Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate is truly terrifying; no one can acquire the Emperor's soldiers and array diagram he left behind," sighed the Ox Demon King. He had lost a horn battling the ancient corpse of the God Race, but it wasn't a severe injury. People finally understood why the four immortal swords had remained here, untaken. It was clearly too difficult; no one could move them.

The tsunami-like sword energy, lacking a target, gradually receded and finally settled in the Eye of Life Spring.

"Oh, is that array diagram a mere illusion, not its true form?" People were surprised; a Great Sage observed this reality. Ye Fan also opened his Heavenly Eye, risking damage to his eyes, which developed bloody cracks, and shot out two brilliant rays, reaching the center of the sea. The array diagram was inscribed with ancient and mysterious Dao runes, like a profound universe, or as if the Great Dao itself had formed it, containing immense calamity and making it appear terrifyingly boundless.

At this moment, the array diagram blurred, like a phantom, imprinted in the Eye of Life Spring, and finally vanished.

"It's not real."

"Wrong. There really is an array diagram, but it's not here. Only a phantom imprint remains, which can manifest divine power at critical moments to awaken the four swords."

Everyone gasped, and at the same time, their hopes rekindled. Where was the array diagram located? That was the most crucial part. If they obtained it, they might be able to inherit the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate's lineage. At that time, the array diagram, the Four Slaughtering Swords, and the ancient scripture would unite, becoming the ultimate divine treasure.

"The array diagram is key; only by obtaining it can one control everything. Where could it be buried?" People's eyes burned with eagerness, feeling invigorated once more.

With the array diagram gone, the four slaughtering swords quieted down, and the sea became calm. However, a careful sensation or slight proximity still revealed bone-chilling killing intent.

"Ye Zi, what do you think if I change my name to Tongtian?" Pang Bo asked.

Ye Fan pondered, then said, "This... is not very good. If such a person doesn't exist, don't create them."

"Why?" Pang Bo was confused.

Ye Fan explained, "Ancient Heavenly Venerates and Great Emperors stop at nothing in their pursuit of immortality. I'm afraid something might go wrong in the end."

Pang Bo was stunned. He said, "Do you think the Master of the Tongtian Sect's true body will reappear?"

"I didn't say that," Ye Fan shook his head, but he always felt that such things were taboo and best avoided.

In the following days, people made every effort, devising all sorts of methods, all hoping to obtain the four immortal swords, but they all failed. During this period, another Great Sage perished. He cleverly sent in a clone, which provoked a murderous calamity that led to the demise of his true body as well. This was horrifying. That sword energy was comparable to an attack by an ancient Great Emperor. In an era without Emperors, who could contend with it? Even the God Refining Pot was struck flying, and no one dared to approach again.

Next, the Human Race's Protectors, the Ox Demon King, the Ancient Race's Evil God, and others all scoured ancient texts and divine scriptures, hoping to find clues and weaknesses in historical records. However, the Mythological Era was too ancient. Not to mention finding a method to counter it, even the Ancient Heavenly Venerates' weapons and their names were recorded ominously or not fully listed in later historical records.

It is said that one of the Nine Secrets, the "Arrangement" character secret, was created by the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate. It involved divine patterns, Dao imprints, and dharma talismans, making him the progenitor of formations and the creator of the most powerful killing formations since ancient times. Now, the Great Sages, after searching through ancient texts and piecing together various clues, confirmed this statement, which made matters even more perplexing. This meant that without the array diagram, there was no solution. It was almost impossible to break this killing formation; even a resurrected Great Emperor would likely have a headache.

"Even if this killing formation is unmastered, any Great Sages in the universe who come here would be cleaved to death," was the conclusion people reached.

They searched the entire Sea of Suffering, starting from the other Life Spring Eyes, but unfortunately, found nothing. There was no trace of the array diagram, and people were close to despair. "The four slaughtering swords have been submerged here for endless ages, and no one has ever taken them. There truly is a reason for it," people could only sigh softly.

The powerful cultivators lingered here for half a year, yet made no breakthrough. They could only sigh to the heavens and choose to depart. Many had already left, such as Sang Gu, Golden Snake Si Lang Jun, Di Tian, Gold-Devouring Beast, and others. They were very decisive, knowing that it was impossible, and immediately pressed on towards the deepest part of the Sea of Suffering, wanting to be the first to reach the other shore. The result surprised everyone, including the Great Sages, who were astonished. They set off from the Eye of Life Spring, sailed on ancient ships, and repeatedly crossed void passages, covering an area comparable to a vast starfield. When they finally reached "the other shore," it turned out to be infinite starry sky, not the dwelling place of the gods at all.

A total of a year had passed, only to yield such a result, leaving people incredulous. Where was the so-called ancient land of life? Everyone was indignant. Was this a hoax, an ancient trick played on later generations?

"It cannot be measured by common sense. Since the Sea of Suffering is part of the Ancient Heavenly Venerate's body, then perhaps the dwelling place of the gods is..."

The Sea of Suffering, the Life Spring, the Divine Bridge, and the Other Shore – these corresponded to the four minor realms of the Human Body's Wheel Sea Secret Realm. To cross the sea, one needed to cross the Divine Bridge. It wasn't that no one had thought of it. In fact, ever since the discovery of the Eye of Life Spring, some had made such deductions and sought the Divine Bridge, but all attempts ended in failure. In the end, people could not see the other shore, having fruitlessly traversed the black ocean for a year, and finally turned back to ponder.

"The Sea of Suffering is boundless; turn back and it's the shore, dammit!" Pang Bo cursed.

Everyone turned back, lamenting that one truly needed to turn back from the Sea of Suffering and not attempt to cross it entirely.

Five years passed in a flash. Too many people had died in the black ocean; dozens of hundreds of clans had sent their experts in, only to leave behind blood and bones. Without an ancient ship, one simply could not stay long. Both the black seawater and this void would weaken a person's cultivation and magic power. Only by remaining on a ship could one stay safe.

Over these five years, Ye Fan diligently cultivated and comprehended the Dao daily, his cultivation progressing steadily. He had also engaged in bloody battles, even being pursued by Great Sages, but he had survived those perilous encounters.

"Those damn grey dragons, those cursed toads, and that running dog! When I become a Great Sage, I'll skin you all alive!" Pang Bo fumed, covered in blood. In recent years, several ancient beast venerables, such as the grey dragon, the golden toad, and the Heavenly Dog, had relentlessly pursued them. They had just escaped another close call. During this time, Ye Fan and his companions had also clashed with many young supremes and dozens of hundreds of clans, engaging in numerous bloody battles. They had endured a baptism of blood.

Everyone deduced the trajectory of the Divine Bridge, but they couldn't make it manifest. It required the Eye of Life Spring to erupt to form it, leading directly to the other shore – consistent with the human body's secret realms. After such a long time, how could the Life Spring still erupt? It was almost dry now; the vast amount of divine liquid seen was relative, a minuscule fraction compared to the boundless Sea of Suffering.

"I'll go into the Eye of Life Spring and take a look." Ye Fan frowned. Finally, he made a decision: to risk entering the central Eye of Life Spring himself.

"Alright, I'll go in with you. First, we'll get the Immortal Slaying Array Diagram, then cross the Divine Bridge to reach the other shore," Pang Bo said.

Ye Fan shook his head firmly. He said, "Not appropriate. It's too risky. Although I have the Human-Faced Ghost Lamp and understand the Soul-Guiding Scripture, which can extinguish the four swords' killing intent, these were all tested from the outside. I haven't truly gone in yet, so it's full of uncertainties."

"I don't think there will be a problem. Since these are the Master of Tongtian's magic artifacts and scriptures, they should resonate with the Immortal Slaying Four Swords he left behind and won't attack us," Pang Bo said.

Ye Fan's only reliance was that this place was the Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate's Wheel Sea. He possessed the Venerate's ancient artifact and a cultivation scripture, giving him a certain degree of confidence to enter.

Black mist curled over the Sea of Suffering, imbued with killing intent. Only at the very center did an ethereal vapor rise, with dazzling rays of light piercing the sky, and immortal energy swirling, exceptionally brilliant. The Life Spring gurgled, gushing like an immortal spring. The crystalline liquid made one feel as if they were about to ascend to immortality. Their entire body felt nourished, light and agile, full of essence, qi, and spirit, and their Spirit Platform spontaneously emitted Dao sounds.

Ye Fan recited the Soul-Guiding Scripture aloud, with a bronze lamp suspended beside him. As he approached the central Life Spring, he felt as if his bones would shatter and his body would tear apart, as if he would be destroyed any moment. The Human-Faced Ghost Lamp's flame flickered, and a shriveled little old man appeared in its wick, very strange, sitting cross-legged and reciting the Soul-Guiding Scripture, causing the mythological era's flames to flare brightly. At this moment, the killing intent receded. The feeling of Ye Fan's body about to explode vanished, and he was enveloped by the hazy firelight as he approached the Life Spring.

He carried the Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron above his head, held a green copper block in his hand, and wore the Immortal Treasure Diagram obtained from the Myriad Dragon Nest. Only then, accompanied by the ancient lamp, did he enter the Life Spring. The moment he entered, his pores instantly opened, and his divine power surged, expanding dozens of times. The divine liquid almost submerged the lamp's light, and he felt as if he was about to ascend to immortality.

In the distance, Pang Bo, the Dragon Horse, and others had their hearts in their throats. Seeing him enter safely, not cleaved by the Immortal Slaying Four Swords, they finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. Ye Fan himself let out a long breath and gestured to them not to worry. The Human-Faced Ghost Lamp had played a miraculous role; the killing intent was still present, but it was not directed at him.

Ye Fan did not dare to drink from the ancient Great Emperor's Life Spring. It was good stuff, but it might contain killing intent. The light from the ghost lamp kept the crystalline liquid at bay. The Life Spring's immortal qi permeated the air, and its liquid was crystalline, emitting a faint fragrance. Ye Fan, holding the Human-Faced Ghost Lamp, plunged swiftly, entering the depths to see what lay within.

He saw it, finally, a blurry sight. At the very bottom were four dark red slaughtering swords. Though ancient and natural, they exuded peerless killing intent.

"Could it be that I can really take these four swords?" Ye Fan's heart pounded. At this distance, although some killing intent fluctuated through the ghost lamp's light barrier, it did not harm him, giving him a glimmer of hope.

"Huh, wait, there's also a cave dwelling under the water!" Ye Fan was startled. More accurately, there was a stone mirror platform, polished exceptionally smooth. Through it, he saw a cave dwelling suspended within the Eye of Life Spring, which must have been very far away. This was due to a formation's effect, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to see it at all.

"It's not very far from the four slaughtering swords. Is there some connection?"

Through the stone mirror platform, Ye Fan observed carefully. The cave dwelling was grand and majestic, like an ancient palace of the Heavenly Court, imposing and awe-inspiring, yet completely silent. Such a thing appearing in the Eye of an ancient Great Emperor's Life Spring felt very strange. Ye Fan's heart stirred. Who could this be, living in such a place?

"A monkey!" His heart skipped a beat. Changing his viewing angle, through the stone mirror platform, he saw a monkey. Its entire body was covered in shimmering golden fur, as if cast from gold, dazzlingly brilliant.

Ye Fan was stunned. He could hardly believe his eyes. Wasn't that a Battle Saint Ape? It looked too much like the Saint Prince and the Victorious Fighting Buddha. The only unusual thing was that it had six ears.

"Could this be the legendary... Six-Eared Macaque?" Ye Fan was shocked, to think it actually resided in the Eye of an ancient Great Emperor's Life Spring.