Chapter 193: Unoriginated Scripture

A vast, empty hall, hundreds of feet in circumference like a large plaza, lay in dim light. A solitary skeleton rested silently, bearing shocking finger-shaped holes. Not far away, on the purple rocky ground, lay some tattered remnants of stone garments, long since decayed.

"Zhang Jiye!" Ye Fan strode over. Indeed, the fragments of stone garment on the ground matched the material of the stone garment he wore, which was the old skin of a Divine Source.

The skeleton had multiple fractures. To have sustained such severe injuries and still made it this far, its owner must have possessed an exceptionally long and tenacious life force.

Beside the skeleton lay a silver book, crafted from metal, comprising about a hundred pages. It felt remarkably heavy in hand. Three ancient characters were inscribed on its surface: "Origin Heavenly Book." The strokes were powerful and resolute, the characters profound and solid, resembling three crouching ancient dragons.

"It really is the Origin Heavenly Book!" Ye Fan's heart pounded with excitement. He had entered Purple Mountain specifically to find it, and though he had almost given up hope, he had now acquired it at this crucial moment.

For thousands of years, the Northern Domain had suffered from excessive exploitation of its energy sources, causing the source veins to be almost depleted. Consequently, sources had become increasingly precious.

Ye Fan's unique constitution required a vast amount of source energy, which would have been extremely difficult to obtain before. However, now it was different. With this book, if he could become an Origin Heavenly Master, not only would he gain access to immense sources, but finding Divine Sources might even be possible.

"Haha..." He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Every step forward in his cultivation required ten times the amount of source energy. The very first realm of the Dao Palace was already more than a minor sect could afford, and the astronomical figures required for subsequent stages would almost suffocate a person.

"Everything can be resolved now..." Ye Fan opened the Origin Heavenly Book. Streams of silver light shot out, shimmering with brilliance, like countless diamonds sparkling.

This was indeed a treasure. Even before considering its content, its material alone was exceptionally rare and indestructible, similar to the golden pages on which the Dao Scripture was inscribed.

"This is a secret treasure. No wonder it can pierce through Purple Mountain. Even profound cultivators can utilize its power."

Inside, ancient characters shimmered like stars, radiating brilliance. This silver book was captivating at first glance.

The opening pages clearly stated that this was not merely a sacred book for finding sources, but also expounded on the interconnectedness of heaven, earth, and humanity. It explained how to approach the Dao through sources, ultimately aiming for the unity of man and nature.

It described how to observe the phenomena of the sky by looking up, and the patterns of the earth by looking down, including the markings of birds and beasts and the suitability of the land. It delved into how internal qi begins to sprout and external qi takes form, and how they interact. It also explained that qi disperses with wind and stops at water, and how ancient practitioners gathered it to prevent scattering and guided it to its desired destination.

As Ye Fan continuously turned the pages, he encountered such records one after another, confirming that this was indeed a profound and extensive body of knowledge.

He flipped further back. The silver metal pages shimmered with unusual brilliance, making his expression increasingly solemn. It was truly a wondrous book; the techniques described within were akin to the Dao itself.

It did not directly teach cultivation methods but closely approached the Dao, covering a vast scope. It emphasized the examination of mountain and river formations, geographical structures, and celestial phenomena, encompassing Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and even methods of human-celestial resonance—all profound, mysterious, and difficult to comprehend.

It described concepts like responding to celestial phenomena above and presenting geographical maps below, the formation of heaven and earth, and the stable movement of hexagrams. After reading this, Ye Fan pondered for a long time. It was too complex; this was a profound scripture, involving far too many concepts.

"No wonder, from ancient times until now, only five Origin Heavenly Masters have ever appeared. Even with such a miraculous book, the Zhang family only had its first ancestor achieve mastery."

Ye Fan sighed, lamenting how difficult it was to become an Origin Heavenly Master. The hundred pages of the Origin Heavenly Book contained extremely complex and profound knowledge, requiring immense effort to comprehend; it was certainly not something that could be achieved overnight.

As he flipped to the latter half, he became increasingly astonished: moving mountains and seas, sensing constellations, achieving unity between man and heaven...

"No wonder Origin Heavenly Masters can contend with the unparalleled powerhouses of Holy Lands."

When he reached the last few pages, Ye Fan suddenly noticed a line of small characters beneath each main line of text. They differed from the main body of the Origin Heavenly Book, appearing to have been added by later generations.

It spoke of concepts like the valley having no valley in its center, being without form or shadow, without opposition or defiance, remaining unmoving in humility, and abiding in stillness without waning; that the valley is formed by it, yet its form remains unseen.

This was a cultivation method, certainly not part of the Origin Heavenly Book's main scripture. He was greatly surprised: this was the Art of Five Spirits, which was the core cultivation method for the Dao Palace and a secret for nourishing life.

When Ye Fan first embarked on his cultivation journey, old man Wu Qingfeng had told him that many people stepped onto the path of the Other Shore seeking longevity. Later, Ye Fan learned that cultivating the Dao Palace and nurturing the Five Divine Blessings was a secret method for extending life and the foundation for cultivating Dao power.

"This is clearly a life-nourishing technique..." Ye Fan murmured to himself. The several pages of scripture were vaguely recorded, yet they were sufficient for increasing one's lifespan.

The more he read, the more astonished he became. After finishing those few pages of scripture, he found himself utterly captivated.

"This really is a cultivation method for the Dao Palace Secret Realm, though it's incomplete. It seems to be a highly summarized and condensed version, but it's extremely profound. If one cultivates with it, extraordinary achievements should be possible..." What kind of profound art was this? Its depth was no less than that of the Dao Scripture; it was clearly a supreme secret manual.

Suddenly, a vague idea formed in his mind: could this be a partial cultivation method from the Jade Lake? He thought it was quite possible.

In those days, the Saintess of Jade Lake was Origin Heavenly Master Zhang Lin's confidante. After learning of his disappearance in his later years, she entered the Demonic Mountain to find him, disregarding her own life and death. Their extraordinary relationship was evident.

"Perhaps that's true; the Jade Lake Saintess gave him part of the cultivation method to nourish his life and increase his lifespan."

The silver Heavenly Book was indeed a secret treasure. Ye Fan absorbed it into his body, where it strangely floated alongside the golden Dao Scripture pages, one golden and one silver, both shimmering with metallic luster, exceptionally striking.

He dug a pit in the ground, buried Zhang Jiye's skeleton, erected a simple gravestone, and bowed deeply, saying, "Rest in peace here."

The empty hall contained nothing else. Ye Fan searched for a long time but could not find the ultimate weapon—the bell. "It seems the Great Emperor's weapon isn't easy to obtain. Perhaps it's here suppressing something else," he mused, shaking his head and giving up the search.

Now that he had obtained the Origin Heavenly Book, he had no other desires and it was time to return. However, once he left the hall, he feared encountering the ancient creatures again, and his path back had already been cut off.

"What should I do?" Ye Fan frowned. Purple Mountain was definitely not a safe place; staying there for too long, no one could predict what might happen.

Even the mighty Divine King of the Eastern Wilderness had been trapped here for four thousand years and was about to turn to dust. If Ye Fan couldn't find a way out, he certainly wouldn't last for more than a few years.

Ye Fan summoned his cauldron, causing it to hover above his head, letting tendrils of mysterious yellow primal energy descend to protect his physical body. Then, treading carefully, he walked out of the great hall.

However, he had barely walked out a short distance when piercing shrieks erupted. Seven or eight ancient creatures, each terrifying and unique in appearance, simultaneously emerged and encircled him.

Some resembled birds, others alligators, and a few were humanoid. Their roars caused the ancient mines to tremble.

The six-armed creature was no longer the strongest. There was an even more terrifying being, striding in pursuit, causing the very void to collapse with its steps. With a single stride, it shook all directions, like an emperor!

This creature greatly resembled a human male, except it possessed three heads and nine arms. It wore armor, and its purple hair, when it swayed, actually tore apart the void.

"This isn't even a creature from a peerless Divine Source, yet how can it already be so powerful!" Ye Fan was deeply shocked. It was impossible to gauge the true terror of such a being; if it were to appear in the mortal world, few human powerhouses would likely be able to suppress it.

Without hesitation, he rushed into his cauldron and flew backwards.

A bone-chilling snort resonated. The purple-haired man, like a god descended, landed outside the great hall. His eyes were as deep as the ocean, captivating people's minds.

His three heads and nine arms moved in unison, unleashing suffocating fluctuations. The surrounding ancient mines silently collapsed. The other ancient creatures all trembled, retreating, with some even kneeling directly.

Undeniably, the purple-haired man was a high-ranking being among the ancient creatures. The void around him cracked open, and his nine massive hands reached into the great hall, appearing like the powerful form of Achala, capable of binding everything.

Ye Fan felt his cauldron being forced backward; it seemed the creature was about to snatch him out. The terrifying pressure made him feel as if his soul was about to disintegrate.

Inside the cauldron, he roared, activating the Dao Scripture's core method and unleashing the Nine Secrets. His body trembled like a war god, divine power surging around him, resisting the retreat of the Cauldron of All Things Mother Qi. "Dong!"

A deep bell toll resonated. The three-headed, nine-armed purple-haired man let out a muffled grunt, cast a reluctant glance into the hall, then took a step and vanished in the blink of an eye.

The terrifying, heart-stopping fluctuations receded like a tide, and the other ancient creatures also vanished completely in an instant.

Ye Fan's heart was filled with awe. The purple-haired man was too terrifying, his divine power world-shaking. If unleashed, he would undoubtedly cause boundless chaos. "Three heads and nine arms... why does he resemble some deities?" Such a thought arose in his mind.

However, there was no time for further thought; finding a way to escape was paramount. "This bell sound... and this great hall..."

To his surprise, Ye Fan realized that the entire great hall was very likely the ancient bell itself, the ultimate weapon of the Great Emperor from over a hundred thousand years ago.

"It's too massive, how can I put it away..." Ye Fan tried, like an ant trying to shake a tree. This place was certainly protected by the most powerful restrictions.

Although the Great Emperor was no longer present, this ancient bell still possessed unparalleled power, as if immense divine energy circulated within it.

"Why... are you wandering around recklessly..." Suddenly, the voice of Divine King Jiang Taixu reached him, still terribly weak.

"Senior, you're unharmed, that's wonderful!" Ye Fan's heart lifted when he heard the telepathic message.

"They... have awakened. You... cannot leave." Jiang Taixu's spiritual sense was even weaker than before, but his ability to find Ye Fan within Purple Mountain demonstrated the Divine King's formidable power.

"Senior, if we join forces, we can surely break out! I have a Divine Spring here that can help you recover your divine power."

"If you had come ten years earlier, perhaps... I would have had a glimmer of hope." Divine King Jiang spoke intermittently, stating that he was on his last breath and there was no way for him to escape his confinement. Even if Ye Fan brought him a sacred fruit, it would be useless as he couldn't reach it.

At the same time, Ye Fan received some very bad news.

Even without the ancient creatures, once one entered Purple Mountain, it was almost impossible to leave. This was a place of no return; the Great Emperor's heaven-defying methods from over a hundred thousand years ago had made this place a self-contained world, allowing entry but no exit.

"One of the Nine Secrets... I have already passed it on... Regardless... it was not cut off by me..." Jiang Taixu said very weakly.

Ye Fan instantly understood his intention. This supreme secret art, known only to him in the entire world and not a common ancient scripture, he wished to pass on to someone, fulfilling a long-held wish.

"Senior, don't worry, if I escape, I will definitely notify the Jiang family to rescue you!"

"No!" Jiang Taixu said urgently, "I am about to perish; there's no need for others to come to their deaths. Do not tell them about this place."

"What kind of place is this, exactly?" Ye Fan asked. However, after saying those words, Jiang Taixu fell silent again.

This place was shrouded in heavy mist. Ancient creatures had taken residence in the nine dragon veins guarding Purple Mountain, and each dragon vein contained a peerless Divine Source. What kind of place was Purple Mountain before the ancient era? The Great Emperor from over a hundred thousand years ago was a newcomer; what did he do here?

Ye Fan sighed. To understand all of this, he would likely have to fully comprehend the Origin Heavenly Book.

His path back was cut off, preventing him from leaving. Ye Fan gritted his teeth and headed deeper into Purple Mountain.

Shortly after leaving the great hall, he sensed a demonic summoning force. He almost lifted off the ground, drawn to float directly towards it.

"No wonder even a Divine King was trapped here to die; this demonic influence..." Ye Fan's body trembled, completely beyond his control, and his soul yearned to leave his body.

It was conceivable that the Divine King, who had once ruled the Eastern Wilderness with inherent pride, had surely sought to investigate this place thoroughly, only to be defeated...

"Are they the creatures from the nine Divine Sources?"

Ye Fan could no longer withstand the summoning force. As he retreated, he was suddenly surprised to discover a colossal stone book about ten *li* away.

Yes, the area ahead was vast and open, allowing him to see clearly. A stone book stood on the ground, over ten meters long and one to two meters thick.

An artifact on his person emitted a brilliant, sun-like radiance. It was the jade pendant, the Imperial Jade, which he had obtained from Old Man Chen.

"This is..." Ye Fan walked forward step by step, enduring the danger of his soul almost scattering, slowly approaching the stone book.

Though less than ten *li* away, it took Ye Fan three full hours to cover the distance, leaving a trail of deep footprints on the ground. He was drenched in sweat, and his bones felt as if they were about to crack.

His ears buzzed, and his mind felt hazy. The demonic summoning was almost unbearable, but he finally reached the stone book.

Upon arriving, things improved somewhat. The demonic power was weakened, and he regained much of his clarity. He gasped.

He drew a sharp breath. Behind the stone book, lush vines covered the ground. The ancient mines were filled with plants, and it was through them that the demonic power emanated.

"I'm afraid a few more *li* will lead to the center of Purple Mountain!" Ye Fan murmured to himself.

Just then, he noticed that the Imperial Jade on his person was growing increasingly bright, and the thick stone book also emitted a soft glow.

Ye Fan walked closer and blew away the dust of ages, revealing three large characters on its surface: "Wu Shi Sutra!"

"This is..." His heart trembled. The character "Sutra" implied it was a supreme divine book. He naturally linked it to the Great Emperor from over a hundred thousand years ago, concluding that this was most likely the ancient scripture he had left behind.

Ye Fan couldn't help but be deeply shaken. The Eastern Wilderness only had a few ancient scriptures in total, and here was a supreme text that had never before appeared in the world. How could he not be excited?

"Why can't I open it?!" He tried to flip the ancient scripture with force, but found that it didn't budge. The stone book was heavier than a mountain.

The Wu Shi Sutra was like the root of heaven and earth, utterly unshakeable and unopenable.

Holding the jade pendant, he tried to draw randomly on it, but it was useless. Apart from becoming blurry, the ancient scripture showed no sign of opening.

"It seems this jade pendant is incomplete..." Ye Fan was filled with regret. If the ancient jade had been whole, he might have been able to obtain a truly epoch-making ancient scripture.

"The 'Wu Shi Sutra'... just hearing the name makes it hard for my heart to settle. What a pity I can't obtain it..." He sat on the stone scripture, trying every possible method, but it was all in vain.