Chapter 551: An Ancient Scripture

Ye Fan did not reveal his true name; otherwise, even far away in the Central Plains, it would stir up endless trouble, as the commotion he caused in the Eastern Wasteland was immense. Now, even the five-domain prodigies from the Qishi Mansion had vaguely heard of a monstrous talent emerging from the Eastern Wasteland, which speaks volumes.

"Young Master, I have no way to repay your life-saving kindness. I promised to give you an ancient scripture, but I don't have it with me. Please come with me; it will also help you fully restore your vitality," Yu Die said with a faint smile.

Ye Fan hesitated. He yearned for that ancient scripture, but he was reluctant to enter a super ancient imperial dynasty, as this was no ordinary mortal kingdom. Without a doubt, this ancient dynasty belonged to peak cultivators, representing an ancient lineage where the Emperor and other leaders were certainly supreme powerhouses.

"Princess!" a shout echoed from the distance as a group of people swiftly approached, arriving in the blink of an eye. Ye Fan's heart pounded. Among them was a supreme powerhouse, five half-step powerhouses, and finally, a dashing young man who was likely in the Dragon Transformation Realm.

"Grand Tutor," Yu Die said, completely relieved upon seeing the supreme powerhouse.

"Princess, it's good that you're safe and sound!" the young man exclaimed eagerly, trailing behind the Grand Tutor with a radiant smile, keen to speak first.

"Princess, is there truly Dragon Marrow in the Ancient Spring-Autumn City?" the supreme powerhouse asked. Suddenly, he caught a faint fragrance and showed a look of pleasant surprise.

"Indeed, the legendary Dragon Marrow has appeared, and I managed to secure it first," Princess Yu Die affirmed with a nod.

The borders between Chiyang Kingdom and Anping Kingdom were often fraught with tension. Recently, someone observed dragon energy soaring into the sky, leading to speculation that Dragon Marrow had emerged. Powerhouses from both nations immediately rushed to the scene.

Ye Fan was astonished; Yu Die indeed possessed a divine artifact. His intuition was correct. Although it couldn't compare to an immortal elixir, it could extend life by a century, making it a rare and unparalleled treasure. The Central Plains are abundant in dragon veins, and Dragon Marrow, formed from the essence of myriad such veins, is incredibly rare and precious, yet exceedingly difficult to discover. In the eyes of mighty cultivators whose lifespans were nearing their end, it was an invaluable immortal treasure. While ordinary Dragon Marrow could extend life by a few years at best, a specimen capable of adding a century to one's lifespan was exceptionally rare, perhaps seen only once in many generations.

"This is wonderful! Welcome the princess back to court!" Grand Tutor Xiao exclaimed, deeply moved. As a supreme powerhouse, he could infer the nature of the divine artifact merely from its scent, without needing to open the small white jade cauldron.

"The princess truly possesses great fortune!" Grand Tutor Xiao's grandson, Xiao Mingyuan, chuckled from beside him. He then casually glanced at Ye Fan and asked, "Is he the princess's sworn bodyguard?"

"This time, it was thanks to Brother Ye that I was rescued; otherwise, I wouldn't have escaped..." Princess Yu Die explained, briefly recounting the events.

Grand Tutor Xiao nodded, glanced at Ye Fan, but said nothing.

"To have escaped from the grasp of a powerhouse, you must be one of the top young experts of this generation. Why haven't I seen you at Qishi Mansion, brother?" Xiao Mingyuan inquired.

"I was delayed by some matters and missed the opportunity," Ye Fan said, shaking his head with a sigh.

"That's truly a shame," Xiao Mingyuan remarked with a faint smile.

"Uncle Qi fell behind; I wonder how he is now," Princess Yu Die mused, her brow furrowed. Her exquisite hair swayed gently, her skin was fair and radiant, and her beautiful eyes, set in an oval face, sparkled with spiritual energy, giving her a fresh and ethereal aura.

"He can protect himself; he'll be fine," Grand Tutor Xiao assured.

"Dragon Marrow that can extend a lifespan by a century is truly a divine treasure. I doubt many in Chiyang Kingdom even know about it. Grandfather, shouldn't you intervene? Go rescue Uncle Qi and eliminate those few people to prevent any leaks," Xiao Mingyuan suggested, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Ye Fan's heart froze. This person's words had a hidden meaning; surely he wasn't planning to silence Ye Fan as well? If so, he truly was an ungrateful wretch.

"All powerhouses possess boundless magical abilities, making them extremely difficult to eliminate," Grand Tutor Xiao said, shaking his head. "However, it doesn't matter now; the Dragon Marrow already has an owner, so they won't try to seize it."

Ye Fan wished to leave, no longer desiring the ancient scripture, but Yu Die held him back. "Brother Ye is my savior," she said, "how can you simply depart like this?"

Xiao Mingyuan said nothing, merely giving Ye Fan a dismissive glance.

"The princess has invited you; you should go," the supreme powerhouse Grand Tutor Xiao said from beside them, locking onto Ye Fan with a subtle aura. Unable to retreat, Ye Fan's heart involuntarily tensed.

The Anping Kingdom was immensely vast, spanning countless miles, far exceeding the size of any mortal kingdom. As they journeyed south, they beheld magnificent mountains and rivers, and a picturesque landscape. Across this vast land, all resources belonged to the upper-echelon cultivators of this ancient nation, who used the kingdom itself to perpetuate their profound techniques.

In the Central Plains, there were four immortal imperial dynasties, colossal entities that had thrived for over a hundred thousand years, from ancient times to the present, remaining overwhelmingly prosperous and beyond challenge. Additionally, there were the Hundred Schools of Thought, equally unparalleled immortal legacies, some even predating the Four Great Divine Dynasties and possessing no less profound foundations. Simultaneously, there were nine ancient kingdoms. While not as powerful as the Four Great Dynasties, they were still incredibly formidable, having been established for seventy to eighty thousand years. The Anping Kingdom and Chiyang Kingdom were among them.

"Such a vast territory..." Ye Fan murmured, lost in thought. It took several void crossings, traversing endless mountains and rivers, before they finally reached the Anping Kingdom's capital. This ancient city was majestic and immensely grand, covering an expansive area. It resembled an immortal divine city from the heavens, emanating an aura of ancient profoundness and age.

The city gates were so tall that dozens of cavalry beasts could pass through side-by-side without crowding. The walls were mottled, imbued with powerful magical fluctuations, capable of erupting with divine light to protect the entire ancient city should a formidable enemy attack. The city was remarkably serene, devoid of any bustling market noise, completely unlike the prosperous scene Ye Fan had imagined. Peace and tranquility prevailed, and pedestrians were a rare sight.

"This is..." Ye Fan was greatly astonished. Auspicious energy swirled around the ancient streets, and within many old architectural gardens, flowing springs and cascading waterfalls could be seen. Towering ancient trees reached skyward, and the air was fragrant with spiritual herbs. This resembled nothing like an imperial city tens of thousands of years old; rather, it was like a secluded mountain retreat, with not a single mortal in sight. This place was a true holy land for cultivation.

"Are you perhaps surprised?" Princess Yu Die asked with a faint smile. "We are cultivators. We established this imperial dynasty to better utilize resources for cultivation, not to covet glory and wealth."

The Anping Kingdom also had numerous cities inhabited by mortals, but their imperial capital was not among them. This was a sanctuary for the upper echelons of cultivators. In the city's center, purple energy surged skyward, forming a misty, dragon-like shape—evidently a convergence point of dragon veins. Earthly essence flowed freely, making it an excellent place for cultivation.

"The Central Plains are quite different from the Eastern Wasteland," Yu Die explained with a smile. "There are many underground ancestral veins here, and many supreme sects build cities to accumulate the essence of heaven and earth, transforming them into cultivation pure lands."

Hearing this for the first time, Ye Fan found it quite peculiar. The Central Plains were indeed vastly different from the Eastern Wasteland, as many great sects were not necessarily hidden away in deep mountains. Building cities, nurturing divine beauty, evolving the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth, and activating ancestral dragon veins could make a pure land increasingly rich in spiritual energy, transforming it into a divine realm for cultivation. In the Central Plains, the four immortal imperial dynasties reigned supreme. Their imperial capitals had almost evolved into heavenly cities, as if divine realms had descended!

"This is an ancient scripture that expounds upon the Grand Dao of Nature, though it's very difficult for ordinary people to cultivate successfully..." Princess Yu Die said as she presented an ancient text. Evidently, this was not a complete ancient scripture, but merely a scroll of notes. Ye Fan took it, examined it carefully, and was utterly speechless. This scripture documented the way of nature, conveying the essence of being detached and non-contending. It contained no secret techniques or profound methods; by all appearances, it was an ancient text for cultivating one's disposition.

However, upon careful consideration, one could discern its extraordinary nature. It contained the profound Grand Dao of Nature within, and if one were to fully abide by its principles of cultivating the mind and nourishing the spirit, it could truly elevate one's mental state. Yet it was far too unconventional. Unless one were an immortal detached from worldly desires, how could ordinary people, with their seven emotions and six desires, possibly cultivate this text? For Ye Fan, it was quite useless.

"This ancient scripture..." Ye Fan was truly at a loss for words.

"Legend has it, this was penned by a Great Emperor in his later years, after he had retired," Princess Yu Die explained with a hint of apology. "However, no one in later generations has managed to grasp its true essence or successfully cultivate it."

"This ancient scripture... if one could truly cultivate it, one could become an immortal," Ye Fan muttered.

"This was personally transcribed by the princess," an old guard beside them interjected. "Ordinary people can't even get a glimpse of it, so don't underestimate it. Even ancient saints borrowed it in the past."

"Did the ancient saints ever manage to cultivate it successfully?" Ye Fan inquired.

"No," came the reply.

Ye Fan pondered for a moment before putting it away, deciding to treat it as a notebook for gardening. Perhaps it would come in handy if he ever had the opportunity to plant an immortal elixir.

"I know I owe you, Young Master Ye. How about this: I'll retrieve a drop of Dragon Marrow to help you restore your vitality. Furthermore, I will ask my imperial father to grant you a divine cultivation ground, which can accelerate your progress by one or two times," Princess Yu Die offered, then turned and departed.

"There are places like that?" Ye Fan asked in surprise.

"By building cities, accumulating heavenly essence and earthly auspiciousness, and imprinting the supreme Grand Dao, over long periods, they naturally evolve into divine lands for cultivation," the old guard explained.

Ye Fan was astonished; the Central Plains were indeed extraordinary, inspiring awe.

Soon after, Xiao Mingyuan appeared, entering the mansion nestled amidst mountains and flowing spiritual springs. Upon learning the situation, he looked surprised and said, "Could it be the 'Purple Dragon Terrace,' or perhaps the 'Fire Phoenix Ridge'? Both are holy lands for cultivation." When he learned that Princess Yu Die intended to give Ye Fan a drop of Dragon Marrow, Xiao Mingyuan's expression briefly stiffened, then he chuckled. "Those two divine lands likely already have owners," he said. "I'll go check for you. The Anping Kingdom spans a million miles and is vast; surely, we can find one or two holy lands for you."

Not long after, Ye Fan received news that the old Emperor of the Anping Kingdom intended to bestow upon him a territory and appoint him as a local lord, a revelation that left him both amused and bewildered.

"What good is land to me?" he muttered to himself, planning to leave at once.

"Congratulations! That was a Great Emperor's secluded dwelling in his later years, and he eventually passed away there," Xiao Mingyuan announced, appearing before him with this news.

Ye Fan had been about to take his leave, but at this news, his heart jolted. A Great Emperor's secluded dwelling in his twilight years—that was truly astonishing. He definitely had to visit the place.

"That place is very close to Qishi Mansion," Xiao Mingyuan said, patting his shoulder. "If you become a lord there, the princess and I can visit you often, as we both cultivate at Qishi Mansion."

After Xiao Mingyuan departed, Ye Fan glanced at his retreating back and then asked the old guard beside him, "Is that place very special?"

"Well..." the old guard hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Xiao Mingyuan disappear, finally spoke: "Throughout endless ages, countless lords have mysteriously died there."

"What?!" Ye Fan exclaimed, greatly startled, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. After a long pause for thought, he finally said, "I'll have to see what's so strange about it for myself."

"Young man, I advise you not to go," the old guard warned. "All those past lords, just like you, scoffed at the warnings and sought the ancient Great Emperor's secret treasures, but they all ended up losing their lives."

Ye Fan realized this was a fief of the Xiao family, now partitioned. Without much thought, he could already guess a thing or two about the situation.

"I have no enmity with this Xiao Mingyuan; why would he want to harm me?" He quickly thought of Princess Yu Die, who was known as the third most beautiful woman in the Central Plains. Could it be because of her?

"Is that place very close to Qishi Mansion?" Ye Fan asked.

"Not far," the old guard nodded, hinting that with prodigies from all five domains now converging, appearing in that area would surely lead to chaos, and he advised Ye Fan not to seek trouble there.