Chapter 208: Again Seeing the Infinite Beginning

Chapter Eighty-One: A Splendid Experience

Below the main peak of Qingxia, green waters swirled, brimming with vitality. Clumps of maple orchid trees swayed, adorned with pure white blossoms, their delicate fragrance permeating the air. A gentle breeze swept through the maple orchids, causing petals to rustle down, filling the sky like crystalline snowflakes, intensifying the aroma.

Cool stream water flowed gently through the maple orchid forest, carrying fragrant petals as it meandered into the distance. The scene, with its floral fragrance and birdsong, was picturesque; the area near Qingxia's main peak was bright and natural. Yet, the three elders and twenty-three disciples in the forest wore unyielding expressions of worry.

Ye Fan stood quietly amidst the maple orchid forest, surrounded by shimmering, dancing petals. The individual maple orchid blossoms enveloped him, clearing his mind and spirit. Here, he felt increasingly close to the ethereal Dao realm. After a long while, he turned around and said, "If what you say is true, then we indeed have some trouble."

The Xuan Yue Cave also supported a number of bandits, though they operated more discreetly. Their scale and strength were similar to those of the Qingxia Sect. The only thing that made Ye Fan wary was that they actually had a Grand Elder still alive.

Ten years ago, when the old Head of Xuan Yue Cave retired, his Dao Palace already contained three divine entities, giving him a considerable reputation in this region and a significant deterrent effect on sects the size of Qingxia.

Ye Fan possessed a unique physique and astonishing combat power, making him a supreme figure among cultivators of his level. However, facing such an old monster, he was still somewhat inexperienced. The power gap between different realms was immense, akin to climbing a heavenly ladder: one step up meant being an "Immortal," one step down meant being a "Mortal," with absolute suppression of those in lower realms. Ye Fan's talent was astounding; he could contend with over a dozen strong cultivators of the same rank, which was quite remarkable. If he were to reach the level of a Holy Land Successor, it would mean he could single-handedly battle several Holy Sons. Such news would undoubtedly shake the region! Even a "Mortal" could have a chance against an "Immortal," and with his current formidable attack power, he wouldn't flinch from fighting someone whose Dao Palace contained two divine entities. Yes, even a lower-realm cultivator could have a chance against an "Immortal" on the heavenly ladder! But the Grand Elder had cultivated three divine entities in his Dao Palace over the past decade, making the risk of attacking someone two major realms above him far too great, with almost no chance of victory.

No matter how gifted one was, if there was a significant disparity in cultivation realms, it was like facing an insurmountable chasm; it was virtually impossible to "defy the Immortal" by fighting upwards.

Most critically, ten years had passed, and it was unreasonable to assume that the old Head had not made any progress. The best option against such an experienced figure was to retreat; attempting to slay them would be exceedingly difficult.

Everyone in Qingxia was worried. If Xuan Yue Cave was determined to destroy them, even this young demon king might not be able to stop them. With the Blazing Fire Sect, Falling Cloud Gate, Xuan Yue Cave, and Seven Stars Pavilion all eyeing them covetously, Qingxia's situation was indeed precarious.

"Don't worry, it's fine. I'll make a trip to Xuan Yue Cave, and we'll decide what to do when I return." Ye Fan intended to ascertain the situation, hoping to use a special combat technique to directly assassinate the old Head if possible.

Xuan Yue Cave, located nine hundred *li* from Qingxia Sect, also lay within an oasis. This area featured many ancient caves and secluded ravines. Compared to Qingxia's elegant tranquility, it possessed a distinct, mysterious aura.

Ye Fan landed dozens of *li* away, his body crackling as his form dramatically changed. At this moment, he appeared corpulent, a stark contrast to his original slender appearance.

He used the "Changing Heaven and Earth" technique recorded in the *Source Heaven Book* to completely alter his appearance. Pulling out a Daoist robe and putting it on, his face glowed with a healthy flush. "Boundless Heavenly Benevolence, this poor Daoist is Duan De." Ye Fan practiced the gesture, feeling quite convincing. Meanwhile, far away in an unknown location, the scoundrel Daoist Duan De rose from a ruin, sneezed, and muttered to himself, "Which bastard is cursing me?"

Ye Fan leisurely arrived at Xuan Yue Cave. The area was abundant with ravines and long-flowing streams, ancient trees obscured the sun, and immortal vines formed bridges between various cliffs, serving as pathways. "Stop, fat Daoist! Who are you, and why have you come here?" a young disciple at the mountain gate questioned him.

"Boundless Venerable, I have long heard of Xuan Yue Cave's great reputation. This poor Daoist has come to discuss the Dao with your Head." Ye Fan flicked his whisk and recited a Daoist title, appearing somewhat like a high-achieving Daoist master.

The disciples guarding the mountain gate were truly stunned by his words. This fellow immediately requested to discuss the Dao with their Head, surely no ordinary person, so they dared not offend him and quickly went inside to report.

Ye Fan had cultivated the "Changing Heaven and Earth" technique to a certain level. If he had any remaining concerns, it was about his temperament and divine aura, which he felt were not yet perfectly complete; this was why he hadn't rushed to Yaochi. Not long after, an elder from Xuan Yue Cave came out to greet him, asking, "From where does this Daoist friend visit my Xuan Yue?"

"This poor Daoist is Duan De, with the Daoist title 'Boundless.' I am but a lone cultivator, a rootless wanderer."

"Boundless? What audacity!" the Xuan Yue Cave elder muttered to himself. "What kind of Daoist title is that? It sounds more like 'Scoundrel'!"

"May I ask what insights Daoist friend wishes to share?" the elder asked again.

"I have long heard of the profound mysteries of Xuan Yue's secret techniques and wish to discuss them with your esteemed masters," Ye Fan said, then recited a Daoist title.

"Please enter, Daoist friend," the Xuan Yue Cave elder said, truly taken aback. He courteously invited him inside the mountain gate with great deference, explaining, "The Head has urgent matters and cannot disengage, so he has asked me to extend you a good reception, Daoist."

The elder led Ye Fan deeper into Xuan Yue. There were numerous cliffs, overgrown with vines, and many ancient caves, giving the impression of a unique grotto-heaven. Ye Fan was somewhat surprised; he felt the place was quite extraordinary, an indescribable sensation, unlike any mundane location.

Amidst a landscape of rocky hills and clear springs, towering ancient trees also grew. Ye Fan was invited into a pavilion, where he sat opposite the elder, as a young attendant served fragrant tea. After conversing for a short while, Ye Fan realized he couldn't even meet the Head, let alone the old Grand Elder, making any surprise assassination impossible.

"This poor Daoist is utterly sincere, pursuing great breakthroughs. I observed that this mountain is extraordinary, imbued with profound beauty, which is why I came to see it. Can your esteemed Head truly not spare any time?"

"Oh, what insights have you gained, Daoist?" the elder asked with a smile.

"I observe that faint dragon qi swirls around this ancient cave, as if a sage once resided here," Ye Fan bluffed. To his surprise, the elder suddenly stood up and exclaimed, "You... Daoist, you truly are extraordinary!"

"Did he really think I was praising them?" Ye Fan secretly scoffed. But as he focused his mind and unleashed his powerful divine sense, he was momentarily stunned. His words had come true; he hadn't spoken incorrectly! His divine sense materialized, sweeping through the ancient caves, traversing cliffs, and brushing past immortal vines as if they were ancient texts. He had indeed seen something extraordinary.

This region contained many cliffside inscriptions and numerous ancient relics. What astonished him most was the presence of faint, swirling mist, invisible to ordinary people, which only those with extraordinary divine sense could perceive, and which resembled dragon forms.

"Did that sage truly reside here?" Ye Fan asked in surprise. "Nameless, only an ancient cave with a few carved characters. Unfortunately, no great Dao was passed down."

Ye Fan remained silent, concentrating his divine sense to carefully observe the area. The more he looked, the more extraordinary it seemed. He projected his materialized divine sense outwards, and despite his attempts to conceal it, the elder still felt a hint of pressure. "Please come this way, Daoist," the elder said.

The elder from Xuan Yue Cave led the way, taking Ye Fan to a secluded area. Here, no grass grew, and stone cliffs stood tall, making it a desolate, barren place. Yet, this very barrenness conveyed a sense of long-flowing time, endless and eternal.

The elder felt nothing, but Ye Fan acutely caught a trace of extraordinary aura – endless and without beginning, raising questions in his mind. "Some people from major sects passed through here in earlier years and sensed that a sage once resided here. They came to explore but found nothing. This place isn't particularly secret. I wonder what Daoist can discern?" the Xuan Yue elder explained.

"Has Xuan Yue not made any special discoveries since establishing its sect here?" Ye Fan asked. He felt this place must be extraordinary.

"No discoveries at all. In fact, even the Grand Elder from Yaochi passed by coincidentally and lingered here for years, but gained nothing. They also believed an ancient sage had resided here, but no Daoist methods were passed down." Ye Fan's heart sank instantly. If even people from a Holy Land had found nothing after such long study, it proved that no great Dao could possibly remain here.

Ahead lay a fractured stone mountain with an ancient cave. Time flowed like water, and the void resonated like sound, as if emanating from within.

"The Dao is vast and unknowable, the mind is untamed and unrestrained, all things arise endlessly." Next to the ancient cave, on the cliff face, were only these three sentences, their characters almost obliterated, their age unknown. Ye Fan's heart trembled. He knew he had arrived at a holy land, a divine land; this place was incredibly important to him!

He had not discovered any secret techniques nor perceived any great Dao, only because of those characters. Those three lines were too familiar; he could never forget them—this was the calligraphy of Emperor Wu Shi! He had seen it before in Purple Mountain, on a stone book dozens of meters long, where three large characters, "Wu Shi Jing," were clearly carved, identical to these strokes. No wonder this place was extraordinary, with mysterious energy flowing; a Great Emperor had actually resided here.

Tens of thousands of years had passed, yet the traces he left remained, undiminished, with faint immortal mist swirling, allowing one to feel the supreme imperial might of the ancient Great Emperor. This place had to be taken. Ye Fan secretly decided that this location was extremely important to him. Since Xuan Yue Cave, like Qingxia Sect, supported bandits who plundered the surrounding areas, he would feel no guilt; taking down such a sect would be akin to eliminating a public menace.

"Actually, this poor Daoist came here for another matter, on the orders of my master, to discuss something with your esteemed Head." Ye Fan did not linger long at the ancient cave. After returning to the pavilion, he uttered these words. "Your master is..." the Xuan Yue elder asked in surprise.

"My master is currently staying briefly at Qingxia and hopes for harmonious neighborly relations with Xuan Yue." After saying this, Ye Fan channeled his essence, qi, and spirit, carving the character "睦" (mù - harmony) onto the stone table.

Then he rose to take his leave, drifting away like a light falling leaf, vanishing outside the mountain gate in the blink of an eye. He couldn't even meet the Head of Xuan Yue, much less ambush and slay the old Grand Elder. For now, he could only buy time, preventing them from making rash moves. He decided to immediately enter seclusion upon his return to refine the half-square source and advance to the second realm of the Dao Palace. He needed time to bridge this gap.

Half an hour later, the Head of Xuan Yue Cave personally arrived at the pavilion. After seeing the character "睦," he frowned and said, "This Daoist is extraordinary. I fear I am no match for him. And he actually has a master... This... Unless the Grand Elder emerges from seclusion."

Ye Fan's trip to Xuan Yue yielded significant gains. Emperor Wu Shi had left behind ruins there, which were immensely important to him. "At the end of the immortal path, who stands supreme? A glimpse of Wu Shi, and the Dao becomes empty..." Thinking of this phrase, Ye Fan found it difficult to calm down.