Chapter 241: Impulsive

Along the way, Ye Fan diligently comprehended the Western Emperor Scripture. The more he did so, the more profound and exquisite he found it to be. In his Dao Palace, five dragons coiled, mist billowed inside and out, and five energies surged skyward.

Only now, upon obtaining the complete volume of the Western Emperor Scripture, did Ye Fan understand why this Secret Realm was called the Dao Palace. It was like an eternal palace, containing endless Dao power.

The five divine vital points were hazy and indistinct. Behind them, five ancient temples appeared faintly. They were majestic, distant, mysterious, and indistinct.

When one reached a state of selflessness and emptiness, with a tranquil mind and body, they would hear bursts of grand Dao sounds. These sounds resembled Buddhist chants or ancient sacrificial music, as if transcending time and space, gently drifting from the distant past.

It was incredibly mysterious, even eerie. How could such sounds exist within the human body?

Before entering the Dao Palace Secret Realm, Ye Fan had heard people say that cultivating this realm could sometimes feel incredible, leading to various inexplicable occurrences.

After obtaining the complete Western Emperor Scripture and practicing the flawless cultivation method of the ancient Western Emperor, he truly experienced this "incredibility."

The Dao Palace was like heaven, giving birth to five palaces. Although vague and indistinct, one could perceive its existence through Buddhist chants and ancient sacrificial music, which pierced through time and space, drifting ethereal.

Ye Fan was very puzzled and didn't understand why this happened. He recalled the common speculation recorded in ancient texts: it was the "Departed Self." Although one lived in the present, there was a "self" living in the past, and that "Departed Self" was chanting scriptures for the current life.

The "Departed Self" existed eternally, giving birth to five energies. It lingered in the Dao Palaces, chanting scriptures for itself. It stirred heaven and earth, captured traces of the Dao, nourished the life-master, and made the "self" of this life immortal.

This was a very mysterious theory, which few could fully explain. This enigma was difficult to elucidate thoroughly. However, outstanding cultivators did not believe in so-called "past lives." The "Departed Self" was not a past life's "self."

Besides the "Departed Self," there was another theory: the human body was like heaven and earth, corresponding to the greater world. The Dao Palace was called such because it housed the "Dao Self," which represented the Dao nature aspect, corresponding to the Dao of the greater world.

According to this theory, the Buddhist chants and ancient sacrificial music emanating from the palaces were actually the "Dao Self" resonating with the Great Dao of the world, an interaction between inside and outside.

More precisely, it was the "Dao Self" capturing traces of the Dao and comprehending the ultimate truths of the Heavenly Dao. Its true nature did not manifest externally; instead, it was nurtured within the five energies, silently stirring the Great Dao of heaven and earth.

"This means that my own Dao-nature aspect is comprehending the Great Dao, understanding the ultimate truths of longevity, and nourishing the life-master."

"In other words, it is me, not some Buddhist chants or ancient sacrificial music, but me comprehending the Dao."

After obtaining the complete Western Emperor Scripture, Ye Fan finally realized the "incredibility" of the Dao Palace Secret Realm. All of this was somewhat beyond his comprehension.

"Cultivators, in their pursuit of eternal existence and their journey towards the end of the immortal path, are bound to encounter many similar phenomena. I believe that perhaps only a few Great Emperors throughout history have managed to fully comprehend them."

Embarking on the path of cultivation, pursuing transcendence, and aiming for eternal existence in the world is a long and arduous journey. To truly comprehend the Great Dao, there will be many unresolved mysteries. Only by going further along this path can one gradually come to understand.

Ye Fan completely understood why there were ancient powerful beings who only cultivated a single Secret Realm; it was clearly reasonable.

Leaving aside the Sea of Bitterness, just this Dao Palace alone had many unclear aspects. Was it the "Departed Self" or the "Dao Self"? What exactly were they? One might cultivate a lifetime and still not fully comprehend it.

Ye Fan had a premonition that in the later stages of cultivation, he might have to return and re-cultivate these Secret Realms. The Sea of Bitterness and the Dao Palace still contained many hidden powers to be unearthed.

However, for now, he didn't need to overthink. He had obtained the complete and flawless cultivation method, the Western Emperor Scripture, in his hands. This was enough for him to cultivate this Secret Realm into a grand Dao divine palace. Future matters would be resolved in the future.

The ancient land of Yaochi was over ten thousand li away from the Primordial Ancient Mine. It took more than half a month of rapid travel to leave the uninhabited zone and approach an oasis.

Along the way, Ye Fan diligently experienced the Western Emperor Scripture. Although his cultivation realm had not advanced, his actual strength had made significant progress. By operating the true flawless cultivation method, the divine power he unleashed was much stronger.

This was the wonder of ancient scriptures. Ordinary cultivation methods simply couldn't compare. Activating them with these methods was like raising one's starting point, and combat power invisibly increased.

"The Holy Sons and Holy Maidens of the various Sacred Lands surpassing their peers in cultivation is greatly related to this!" Ye Fan sighed.

Especially a prodigy like the Yaoguang Holy Son, with his extraordinary talent, who cultivated a peerless ancient scripture, his combat power was even more terrifying. Defeating experts of the same cultivation level was truly without suspense; he could overpower his contemporaries.

Over the past half month, Ye Fan had been both comprehending the Western Emperor Scripture and sparring with the big black dog. Putting his insights into practice, the dog served as an excellent sparring partner.

With the complete volume of the Western Emperor Dao Palace scripture in hand, his combat power had greatly increased. When he unleashed the Dou Zhan Holy Technique, the big black dog bared its fangs and grimaced, feeling even more pain.

"No way, I demand compensation! Sparring with you for free every day, how much divine power does that cost me?" barked the big black dog.

"I get bitten by you every day, and I still have to pay you compensation? What are you thinking?" Ye Fan retorted.

"Do you think I want to bite you? Your skin is tough and your flesh isn't tasty; it's a waste of my energy." These days, it had been quite passive. Whenever Ye Fan wanted to test his insights, he would inevitably seek it out. Once done, he would soar into the sky, leaving it to grind its teeth in frustration.

Exiting the desolate uninhabited zone and entering an oasis, Ye Fan glanced sideways at the big black dog and said, "You're as tall as a bull, really eye-catching and ugly. Can you shrink a bit?"

"Boy, how dare you speak like that? Such a strong and powerful treasure body is almost as graceful as jade, if not quite so!" The big black dog held its head high.

Ye Fan looked at its black, silken body, and retorted mockingly, "It's jade that fell into a coal mine, right?"

"This is called divine might, such masculinity, do you understand?" The big black dog's expression was displeased.

"This won't do, you're too conspicuous, you must shrink." Ye Fan thought for a moment and said, "If you really don't want to, then just be my mount for now. Many people ride exotic beasts."

"Go to hell!" The big black dog's face stretched long. If Ye Fan hadn't been in the air, it would have surely pounced.

"Don't act unwilling; I'm not thrilled about being a dog-rider either. If people saw me riding a bald-tailed dog, they'd surely laugh their teeth out."

At this moment, they had just entered the oasis and were still in a sparsely populated area. Occasionally, passing cultivators couldn't help but glance twice at the big black dog; it was indeed very eye-catching.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a human pet before?!" The big black dog grumbled.

Ye Fan initially found it strange, but then instantly understood. This big dog was speaking too maliciously, implying that Ye Fan was its human pet.

"Damn it, you mangy dog, do you want your hide stripped?!"

The big black dog strutted forward with its head held high, saying, "This Emperor is telling the truth. Those people are so provincial, thinking I'm strolling around with a human pet, staring incessantly. It's truly annoying."

"You mangy dog!" Ye Fan's face darkened, and he wanted to beat it soundly. People were clearly looking at the dog, yet it said such things.

"Boy, I think you're just passable. Why don't you become this Emperor's human pet?" The big black dog tilted its head.

Clang, bang, boom, clatter, clang!

The sounds of hammering metal rang out as they immediately started fighting.

"Mangy dog, I wouldn't even have you as a pet, and you dare to spout such nonsense!"

"This Emperor also looks down on a human pet like you. In the future, I must find a Holy Son to be my pet."

Ye Fan cursed inwardly. A big dog wanting a human pet? It truly deserved to be flayed and have its tendons removed; it was deliberately infuriating.

In the end, Ye Fan threatened it with the ancient scripture of the Monster Emperor, and only then did the big black dog make a concession, reluctantly shrinking its body. It became the size of a Shiba Inu, no more than a meter long if one didn't count its bald tail.

"This Emperor's peerless grandeur has been severely suppressed; it damages my image."

"Peerless grandeur? Do you want to attract a pack of large wolves?"

"Woof!" The big black dog pounced forward. Fortunately, Ye Fan was prepared.

They passed by some towns without stopping, heading directly towards the most prosperous city in this oasis.

"Boy, you're really unreliable. You don't even know where that powerful being lives and need to inquire about it. How are you going to lead me to find the Monster Emperor's ancient scripture?" The big black dog was very displeased.

"Don't talk to me about being unreliable. You know what you did when we went to the ancient land of Yaochi." Ye Fan retorted.

This oasis was named Youzhou, spanning over three thousand li in circumference. It wasn't a large region, and in the boundless Northern Region, there were many such oases.

Quzhou was hundreds of thousands of li away from the Northern Region's most flourishing Sacred City. It was a truly distant journey, far from the Northern Region's center, and not a prosperous place.

The central city of this oasis was named Chaoyang. With a population of about 900,000, it was the most prosperous ancient city in the region, with over a thousand years of history.

"Can you actually find that powerful being's residence?" the big black dog asked, arriving outside Chaoyang City.

"There are thirteen great bandits in the Northern Region, and he ranks fourth, feared by all the great Sacred Lands. His residence definitely cannot be known by outsiders. I need to find a descendant of one of the great bandits to inquire."

This was the city Tu Fei, Li Heishui, and others had told Ye Fan about. If he wanted to find them, he could create some disturbance near Chaoyang City in Quzhou.

Chaoyang City, with its mottled ancient relics and walls where much stone skin had peeled off, fully displayed the power of time, yet it remained grand, majestic, and imposing.

Upon entering the city, Ye Fan discovered his own portrait, or rather, a wanted poster. It hung high on the city walls, depicting his youthful face, and the bounty had been raised to a square of primeval source.

"Boy, you're quite valuable." The big black dog snickered.

"Go somewhere cool and stay there!"

The streets were bustling with traffic and people, very lively. The big black dog scurried around, biting whatever it wanted to eat. As a result, a crowd of creditors surrounded Ye Fan, making his teeth itch with frustration.

Not long after entering the city, he heard a piece of news: there would be a grand gathering of the young generation's heroes in Quzhou.

Ye Fan chose an eating place next to a stone-gambling establishment. Most of the people coming and going were cultivators.

"The young generation of Quzhou is gathering; there's likely to be some excitement this time."

"This is orchestrated by the Archaic Family, the Ji family. They've sent out invitations and posts, mainly to mobilize forces to help them find someone."

"The Ji family and the Yaoguang Sacred Land will both have strong young generation members present. Otherwise, how could there be such a strong appeal?"

"The one who caused these two Sacred Lands to mobilize is that young fellow whose wanted poster is at the city gate. I don't think he's that impressive."

"That young fellow burned a Ji family Grand Elder to death. Can you do that?"

Ye Fan listened carefully, his expression calm. The Ji family had truly put in a lot of effort to track him down.

In the Southern Region, he had already become the public enemy of the Ji family's younger generation.

This time, it was precisely the result of the Ji family's younger generation's efforts. Similar gatherings were also being held in other oases.

Ye Fan habitually stroked his chin, pondering. Only three members of the Ji family's younger generation had reached the fourth Secret Realm, and the Yaoguang Sacred Land had a similar number, only three or four.

If the Divine King Ji Haoyue had not arrived, and if the Yaoguang Holy Son did not appear, he wouldn't mind revealing his true self and going on a killing spree at the gathering.

"If I reveal my true self, break into the venue, and slaughter everyone, it would be like slapping the Sacred Lands' faces. But would the commotion be too big?"

Ye Fan mused inwardly. He indeed felt an urge; being chased by the Ji family all the way to the Northern Region without peace, and with the Yaoguang Sacred Land's younger generation also getting involved, he truly couldn't resist making a move.

The reason he had such a thought was because he had obtained the Origin Heaven Book and mastered the art of "changing heaven and earth." If he caused a major disturbance with his true body, he could simply leave once it was done, and his opponents would find it difficult to trace him.