Chapter 607: Nine Secrets Stir

"What kind of creatures are these?" Ye Fan was greatly startled.

All three creatures were humanoid but covered in silver scales. Their backs were lined with bone spurs, each over half a foot long. They certainly didn't look benevolent.

However, the flickering silver light made them appear quite sacred, not like undead beings. Each creature had a pair of silver wings that, with every flap, emitted a shimmering silver light and seemed capable of tearing through the void.

"Are they ancient creatures? No, most of them are in the Eastern Wasteland. These... they strongly resemble Sky-Flying God Yakshas. Legend says they are formed from the spirits of unparalleled ancient masters after death, each one terrifyingly powerful."

Ye Fan's heart pounded. If that were true, these were three demons, whose exact cultivation levels were hard to gauge, but certainly not ones he could provoke.

However, the situation was different now. He was undergoing heavenly tribulation, and such malevolent spirits should not exist in this world. They inherently feared the Five Thunders striking their heads and were naturally suppressed.

Ye Fan pressed forward. The rare and exotic marrow was too important to him; it contained fragments of laws that could help him comprehend Dao and advance his cultivation. As long as he had enough, he could continuously break through levels. It was a priceless sacred treasure.

Holy light flashed as the three silver creatures attacked simultaneously. Each opened its mouth and spewed a ball of silver flame, instantly turning the surrounding rock walls into magma, which then evaporated.

"So hot!"

Ye Fan was startled. Even cultivators at the first layer of the Immortal Terrace would be reduced to ash; no divine power or Dao spell could withstand it, and even ancient treasures would crack from the heat.

"Roar..."

One of the silver creatures lunged forward, exuding an aura like a vast galaxy that threatened to collapse the entire ancient cave.

Ye Fan swung his hand, unleashing lightning. The heavenly tribulation's myriad paths, infinite flashes, and deafening roars descended, pulverizing the mining tunnel ahead.

Fear flickered in the silver creature's eyes as it continuously retreated. The heavenly tribulation was its nemesis. Ancient evil corpses transformed into Sky-Flying God Yakshas were not tolerated in the world because their lives should have ended long ago.

"Roar..."

The other two silver creatures roared, their cries like muffled thunder, causing the underground world to tremble violently. Their power was immense.

Cold sweat dripped from Ye Fan. He was snatching food from a tiger's mouth; the Sky-Flying God Yakshas' refusal to retreat made his heart pound. These creatures' true power was terrifying. Any further delay and the heavenly tribulation would vanish, which would be disastrous. Realizing this, he charged forward with boundless lightning, fearless and unstoppable.

"Roar..."

Finally, the three Sky-Flying God Yakshas roared with extreme shock and fury. The approaching heavenly tribulation instilled an instinctive chill and dread in their hearts; they were naturally countered.

Though extremely unwilling, they had no other choice. Once they triggered the lightning tribulation, they would inevitably turn to ash. It was not permitted for them to defy heaven and live for two generations.

This world had its own rules. Once a being died, even if their corpse gained sentience and revived against the natural order, they were destined to face annihilation. Life outside the established laws was not tolerated.

The three terrifying creatures, filled with resentment and anger, ultimately fled, not daring to touch the lightning.

"These creatures appear sacred, but they specifically devour human Yang energy. If they were to escape, it would likely be a great disaster. Unfortunately, I cannot destroy them."

As the heavenly tribulation was about to end, Ye Fan dared not pursue them and could only stop there.

"Whoosh!"

Still at a considerable distance, he summoned the Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron and collected the thirty-six drops of precious marrow into it, not daring to get closer for fear the lightning would destroy them.

"Rare and precious marrow, a full thirty-six drops! With these, I can advance from the Fourth to the Fifth Heaven, undergoing another transformation!"

Ye Fan's heart was stirred. The Central Lands' vast underground contained the ancestral roots of heaven and earth, and the divine liquid produced from them held immeasurable value for him.

The droplets, immiscible with each other, each resembled a small luminous pearl, radiating divine brilliance and flowing with vibrant hues. Faintly, one could discern tiny dragons within, gently vibrating, all transformed into a pale golden color.

"These are spiritual objects! A single drop is worth hundreds of thousands of catties of Origin!"

Of course, this was his most conservative estimate. When truly put up for auction, this would only be the starting bid; heaven knew how high the bidding could go.

In the marrow pool, luminous mist swirled, and dragon energy continuously overflowed. This was an entrance to an ancestral root, and the dragon marrow had been formed by it over countless eons.

"Wait, it's not just an entrance; this is a dragon pool!"

Dragon marrow was rare in the human world, something one might encounter but never seek. Even more precious divine marrow existed, but it was almost impossible to find even over millennia. Legend had it that such divine marrow had gained sentience and transformed into living beings, comparable to immortal medicines.

Ye Fan was astonished. After learning about the importance of dragon marrow, he had made an effort to collect many books for detailed study. He knew that supreme dragon vein ancestral roots could sometimes give birth to incredible immortal treasures.

First, a dragon pool had to form before any living divine objects could be nurtured within it. This one-meter-square small pool before him was definitely a dragon pool, as its inner walls bore patterns resembling dragon scales.

This was the most obvious sign of a dragon pool's creation: patches of green scales that shimmered, yet lacked any signs of life.

"In the distant past, dream-level divine marrow was born here..."

He quickly understood everything. No wonder there were human skeletons here; a great battle must have taken place in the past, and the immortal treasures were taken, leaving only the dragon pool. After a long passage of time, dozens more drops of dragon marrow had formed.

"It seems those three Sky-Flying God Yakshas were terrifying powerhouses who perished in that era!"

Ye Fan sighed softly and left the underground world. A world-shattering battle must have occurred here in the past, and he wondered who had obtained the divine marrow. Alas, it was too long ago, and everything was lost to history.

He emerged onto the surface, stomped on a rocky area, and caused it to collapse, burying the spot. Perhaps after thousands of generations, rare treasures might still emerge, as an ancestral root was located here.

At this point, the lightning weakened, and the last flash vanished, signifying the complete disappearance of the heavenly tribulation.

Ye Fan dared not linger. He transformed into a streak of light, covering dozens of miles in an instant, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Half an hour later, a spatial gate silently opened in the sky, and over a dozen figures rushed out, their powerful divine senses sweeping in all directions.

"The Grand Diviner's senior disciple pinpointed the exact location; it's right here!"

People from the Yin-Yang Sect and the Xiao family appeared, exuding murderous intent. Four Grand Elders were among them, and the rest were all veteran powerhouses at the first layer of the Immortal Terrace.

"He underwent tribulation here!"

This was terrible news. It had only been a few months since his last breakthrough, yet Ye Fan had advanced again. His progress was astonishingly fast, causing their expressions to change dramatically.

"If he continues at this pace, he'll reach the Immortal Terrace in just a few years..."

They were all shocked, never expecting Ye Fan to be such a prodigy. His progress was truly too rapid, not much inferior to the Central Emperor, and he would likely catch up to him in the future, becoming another "Northern Emperor Wang Teng."

Further in the sky, a golden figure and a silver figure stood side by side. These were two powerful ancient creatures, their eyes flickering with an uncertain light.

"He got away again. Our master ordered us to take his head, but three months have passed, and we still haven't found a trace of him."

Soon after, Ye Fan returned to the small Taoist temple on the low mountain, where he secluded himself for another half month, thoroughly solidifying his cultivation realm.

At dusk, a whirlwind of red fur arose, and several images appeared on the low mountain. Ye Fan no longer paid much attention; the old saint was too transcendent and had left nothing behind.

He felt that no matter what, the other party couldn't possibly chant any scriptures, so focusing too much was useless.

"No, wait..."

Suddenly, he was startled to see a young man under the ancient pine tree. Dressed in flowing blue robes, he appeared ethereal and transcendent like a banished immortal, standing on the low mountain, seemingly one with heaven and earth.

"Hua Yunfei!"

The Great Emperor Ruthless left behind a volume of the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Art, whose power resonated through ancient and modern times. Even after so many years, it remained a taboo. Anyone who acquired it was destined to face the combined wrath of the world.

In the past, Hua Yunfei had concealed himself deeply, only being exposed to the world when Ye Fan unexpectedly discovered him. However, after the battle more than two years ago, he had vanished and could no longer be found.

"He actually came to the Central Lands and appeared here!"

Ye Fan cried out in alarm. This was the magnetic mountain rock "replaying" past events. Hua Yunfei had arrived here before him and must have learned of the Cai clan's Nine Secrets as well.

Furthermore, the old saint might have left behind some items, which Hua Yunfei could have taken. Ancient saints possessed profound cultivation, and any artifact they refined was a supreme treasure.

"This is bad..."

Ye Fan had found nothing here, assuming the old saint left nothing behind. Now, it seemed the situation had changed, and it was highly possible that Hua Yunfei had acquired something.

"Where is the Cai clan?" Under the ancient tree, Hua Yunfei muttered to himself, facing west.

Ye Fan felt a slight relief upon hearing this; the other party hadn't obtained the Nine Secrets here. But immediately afterward, his heart sank again. Hua Yunfei had arrived earlier than him, possibly by more than two years, and it was hard to say whether he had found the Cai clan during that time.

"He has such great fortune, having obtained the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Art, and now he might even acquire the Nine Secrets."

Ye Fan frowned. Nearly three years had passed, and he didn't know what level this formidable enemy had reached. He couldn't be judged by ordinary standards, as he could devour others' origins!

Once he acted without restraint, an invincible demonic lord would quickly rise, and no one would be able to stop him.

"I must cultivate while also searching for the Cai clan. If he gets there first, it will be disastrous; things will be very bad!"

The Myriad Transformations Saint Art, "A single thought blossoms, reigning over the world," and various other methods were unparalleled in the world. If Hua Yunfei also obtained the Nine Secrets and continued to devour others' origins, accumulating power to a certain extent, he truly might become invincible.

Ye Fan counted the days; almost four months had passed. It was time to meet Pang Bo and discuss whether they could use the Qishi Mansion's resources to find the Cai clan.

Two days later, Ye Fan revisited the Qishi Mansion. Purple qi steamed, cliffs were magnificent, spiritual springs gurgled, ancient herbs emitted fragrance, and thousands of great dragons soared into the sky. It was a place that connected to the heavens.

According to the agreed time and place, he waited quietly in a mountain range. Soon after, Pang Bo appeared.

"You've broken through!" both exclaimed almost simultaneously, then burst into laughter.

Meditating near the ancient Bodhi tea tree, refining dragon marrow, and holding Enlightenment Tea leaves in his mouth, Ye Fan's progress was incredibly swift, leaving Pang Bo somewhat disbelieving.

Ye Fan sealed the thirty-six drops of crystalline precious marrow in three white jade bottles and handed them to Pang Bo, saying, "We must rapidly increase our strength."

"So much dragon marrow!" Pang Bo was startled and reluctant to accept it.

"Don't decline. I can acquire these at saint-level auctions; as long as I have enough divine source, it's not a problem at all. Besides, the Central Lands' underground is rich with dragon vein ancestral roots. I'll search underground in the future, so there will never be a shortage, and I might even find dream-level divine marrow."

Pang Bo suddenly remembered something and said, "The second most beautiful woman in the Central Lands, Princess Yueling of the Jiuli Divine Dynasty, renowned for her beauty that makes fish sink and geese fall, and causes the moon to hide and flowers to blush, recently sought out a Geomancer. It seems they discovered a super ancestral vein."

Geomancers are extraordinary individuals who study mountains and ley lines. To enter underground dragon veins and search for rare and exotic marrow, such powerful figures are indispensable.

Ye Fan nodded and said, "I've heard about it too. It's an ancient mine, possibly containing dream-level divine marrow, guarded by powerful creatures. It's said that three Grand Elders perished in that underground area, and countless other experts suffered casualties. I'll go and take a look myself when I have some free time."

He had great confidence in the Origin Heavenly Book. The so-called Geomancer's observation method was very similar to the Earth Observation chapter of the Origin Technique he had learned; one could say they were interconnected.

Furthermore, he had heard rumors that one of the five Origin Heavenly Masters of the Eastern Wasteland, after experiencing an ominous event in his later years, traversed the void and came to the Central Lands. Perhaps he could find clues about him on this land and learn whether he ultimately escaped his fate.

"You must be careful," Pang Bo reminded him. "The guardian creatures within ancestral roots are incredible beings, even far more terrifying than ancient creatures."

Ye Fan nodded, then recounted his recent experiences and asked Pang Bo to help collect information on the Cai clan within the Qishi Mansion, to see if there were any clues.

The Qishi Mansion had an ancient heritage, possessing endless classics with many records about the origins of various factions across the world. It was even highly possible to directly ascertain the whereabouts of the Nine Secrets.

"Hua Yunfei has reappeared... I'll go with you to take him down when the time comes!" Pang Bo nodded.

"I hope he hasn't obtained the Nine Secrets, otherwise it will be very bad," Ye Fan said.

"Oh, right..." Pang Bo frowned, mentioning an infuriating matter: Li Heishui had been severely injured, almost to the point of death.

"What?" Ye Fan was furious. Li Heishui had been very supportive of him, accompanying him and helping him greatly during the stone gambling in the Divine City.

Pang Bo said, "I wanted to intervene and kill those people, but Li Heishui and the others stopped me, fearing that my association with the Qishi Mansion would put me in danger if exposed."

The Qishi Mansion had Wang Teng, who suppressed all the younger generation, making it suffocating. If he knew about Pang Bo's relationship with Ye Fan, Pang Bo would face great peril.

"Indeed, you absolutely must not act impulsively. I'm counting on you to endure and search for the ancient starry road leading beyond this domain. Leave this matter to me."

"Li Heishui was so badly injured he was bedridden for a month before recovering. Jiang Hairen and others were also hurt. I felt so stifled; several times I almost couldn't resist acting." Pang Bo clenched his fist.

"Who all attacked them? I'll kill them one by one!" Ye Fan's tone was firm, his murderous intent palpable.

"Who else? The Saintess of the Yin-Yang Sect, eight or nine others, and Yan Yunluan. They all attacked Li Heishui and his companions, severely injuring them."

"They're tired of living! I'll wait for them outside the Qishi Mansion; none of them will leave alive!" Ye Fan knew this attack was definitely aimed at him, as they must have learned of the connection between him and those injured.

"Li Heishui had many bones broken and only recently managed to get out of bed," Pang Bo said hatefully.

"Good. I'll wait quietly for them to come out. You go back now and help me gather information," Ye Fan said.

Soon after, Ye Fan arrived outside the Qishi Mansion and waited calmly before its gates, muttering to himself, "If one comes out, I'll kill one. If a pair comes out, I'll kill two!"

In his hand, he held a scroll with eleven names on it. All of them had participated in the attack, almost crippling Li Heishui.