Chapter 636: The Emperor Is Alive?

The lake water was crystal clear, like a pool of jade nectar. Auspicious mists flowed and ascended, swirling in colorful, sparkling beauty.

The Immortal Transformation Pool sat atop the colossal mountain. Though not vast, it gave the illusion of being an entire world unto itself.

Indeed, it wasn't just a pool of water, but a vibrant and beautiful miniature world, seemingly holding the secret to the origin of life itself.

"There's a sound!"

A pool of jade liquid stretched endlessly towards the azure sky, emitting the sound of surging tides, as if someone was sitting cross-legged in the void, expounding on the great Dao of creation.

The immortal pond shimmered with rippling light, flowing mists, and a myriad of colors. The water, though only slightly disturbed, was gentle. Yet, it caused many to frown, for they faintly heard the heavens and earth reciting ancient scriptures.

"Plop!"

A cultivator couldn't resist. He was the first to leap into the lake, diving headfirst, eager to find fragments of imperial weapons or other sacred artifacts.

"It must be ultimate imperial weapons shattered here, and the great Dao scriptures within them are echoing!"

"Clang!"

Some cultivators drew their swords, fighting for a favorable position. With a "thwack," a head flew, blood splattered, and a body crashed to the ground.

Faced with the immortal pond, no one could remain calm. They all took action, many jumping into the lake one after another, hoping to retrieve world-shaking sacred artifacts.

"Bang!"

Violent tremors erupted as two sect masters took action, stirring up a massive wave. The life essence within the immortal pond overflowed, causing all present to feel a tremor in their hearts.

A widely circulated legend claimed that obtaining either the Immortal Transformation Pool or the Ancient Dragon Lair offered a glimmer of hope for achieving Dao. Naturally, people were stirred, and everyone sought to gain something.

In a mere moment, dozens had already leaped in. Unwilling to be left behind, others swiftly followed, jumping in.

"That's not right," Ji Ziyue mumbled softly. "How come no one has surfaced?"

The lake water remained crystal clear, as pure as sapphires, with streaks of auspicious mist flowing through it. Yet, no one emerged from the surface; those who entered did not come out.

Many powerful individuals felt a chill and sensed the abnormality. They all halted their steps, while those who had just leaped in cried out, forcefully propelling themselves back out.

"A great expert just leaped in," someone whispered, "and he hasn't come up either..."

The others felt a chill in their hearts and no longer dared to act rashly. Had all these individuals met with an accident and died below? A shiver ran down their spines.

"Let this old man take a closer look," said a Dragon-Seeking Geomancer as he stepped forward, opening his eyes to observe the immortal lake.

Everyone held their breath, quietly listening for his next words. Faced with an immortal land where one could achieve Dao, yet unable to enter, they felt both nervous and anxious.

"There should be no problem," the Dragon-Seeking Geomancer muttered to himself. "This is a true land of ascending immortals, indescribably wondrous and peerless in the world. How could there be any danger?"

Ouyang Ye stepped forward. Hailing from the Eastern Desolation, he was renowned in the world of source techniques, infinitely close to the Source Grandmaster realm, possessing extraordinary abilities.

"This immortal lake is perfect, without a single flaw. It can be said to be a place where true immortals descend; there's absolutely no problem. If they haven't surfaced, could they be hiding below?"

Several Source Technique Grandmasters from the Eastern Desolation all came forward and unanimously agreed with Ouyang Ye's assessment: this was a flawless and perfect land of ascension.

"Brother Ye is also here," a Source Technique Grandmaster spoke up. "His source techniques are truly unique, and as an inheritor of our Eastern Desolation Heavenly Master lineage, I'm sure he has profound insights."

"Little friend Ye, please don't be secretive," Ouyang Ye said in an ambiguous tone. "If you have any insights, we hope you'll share them and enlighten your fellow cultivators present."

Ye Fan cast a sidelong glance at him. This old man had repeatedly harassed him back in the Eastern Desolation, and Ye Fan had nearly died when his Sacred Body identity was exposed in Sacred God City of the Northern Region.

Right now, if not for the others present, Ye Fan would have already acted, sending this old man to hell. However, he was accompanied by several great experts, making him difficult to deal with.

"You've said everything that needs to be said," Ye Fan replied. "What else do you expect me to add?"

"That's not quite right," Ouyang Ye said, stroking his beard. "You've received the inheritance of the Source Heavenly Master, so you must have unique insights. We hope you won't be stingy and will resolve the doubts of the heroes present."

Several sect masters stood by his side, and it was precisely these individuals who had invited him from the Eastern Desolation. At this moment, he felt utterly fearless.

"Old man, are you tired of living?" Pang Bo retorted gruffly. "You're still trying to sow discord now? Be careful, Grandpa Pang might just grab you and feed you to the dogs!"

"Young man, why be so aggressive?" Ouyang Ye replied. "This old man is merely seeking advice on behalf of our fellow cultivators present."

"Brother Ye, if you know anything, please guide us," an elder spoke up, "so that our fellow cultivators present don't die in vain."

From his address, it was clear he held a certain apprehension towards Ye Fan. A venerable figure of the First Layer of the Immortal Platform, he spoke in a tone of humble inquiry.

As of today, apart from sworn enemies like the Yin Yang Sect and Ouyang Ye, few people were willing to offend the Sacred Body, at least openly. He had grown too fast; in just a few years, he was already a cultivator of the Eighth Transformation of the Dragon, and each time he was suppressed, he only became significantly stronger, making him incredibly formidable.

"We hope for your guidance, young friend," said a sect master, and many others echoed his sentiment.

Ye Fan naturally wouldn't risk incurring public wrath. He circled the Immortal Transformation Pool, pondering deeply for a long time, then said: "When things reach an extreme, they reverse. Something overly perfect and flawless must harbor a great flaw. This is undoubtedly a land of ascending immortals, but it must also contain immense peril. Everyone, be careful."

"What?" many people's expressions immediately changed. "The legendary immortal pond is a place of great peril? Did everyone who just went down die?"

"Please, little friend Ye, decipher this for us," Ouyang Ye urged. "Don't be stingy; let us all have a share in this immortal opportunity."

"A place where extremes reverse, a land of ascending immortals, and a source of life — when these three combine, it creates an insoluble enigma in the world," Ye Fan stated, his words proving true.

Even the first type alone, a place where extremes reverse, was unbreakable. It had been seen before in the Primeval Restricted Zone, where the Fourth Generation Source Heavenly Master had met his end in his later years.

"Little friend, that's not right," Ouyang Ye chuckled coldly. "So many of us have come here; do you intend for us all to return empty-handed? You've obtained the Source Heavenly Book, so you must have a way to decipher this. You're not trying to monopolize this place, are you?"

"Old coot, you must be tired of living!" Dongfang Ye glared, gripping his wolf-tooth club like a savage. "Are you trying to force us? If you want to die, just say so!"

"You..." Ouyang Ye was guarded by several sect masters, so he wasn't afraid, but he was infuriated by such direct insults, his face paling.

"Get far away from me," Ye Fan said, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze icy as he stared at the source technique expert. "If I want to kill you, no one can stop me!"

"Help!" Suddenly, the water in the mist-shrouded immortal pond parted, and a three-inch-tall silver figure shot out, screaming for help.

This was an incomparably powerful wisp of divine thought, belonging to the great expert who had just leaped into the lake—it was the humanoid deity formed from the mental energy within his glabella.

His physical body was nowhere to be seen; only the tiny silver figure had escaped, which clearly indicated he had met with disaster!

"Fellow Daoist, what happened?" a sect master called out.

"Ah..." The tiny silver figure was terrified. Cracks appeared on its glabella, and then, with a "bang," it shattered into pieces, turning into a flash of white light that vanished into the lake.

"That was a great expert, just dead like that!" Everyone recoiled, feeling a chill run through their bodies, a cold dread rising from their hearts.

After a long silence, a sect master finally spoke, "Little friend Ye, please offer your guidance."

The individuals beside Ouyang Ye also chimed in, urging Ye Fan to explain and point out a path. The Source Heavenly Book was an extraordinary text, and many held an almost superstitious belief that it could decipher all earthly formations.

"Young man, don't be so possessive," Ouyang Ye said. "In a place like this, we need collective effort. It's unrealistic to think you can claim the Immortal Transformation Pool all by yourself; otherwise, you'll face a grave disaster."

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?" Ye Fan had no affection for him whatsoever. He strode forward, and the Source Heavenly patterns beneath his feet flickered. A crimson dragon burst forth, transforming into a fiery glow that lunged towards Ouyang Ye.

"Clang!"

A sect master intervened, blocking the fiery glow. The mountaintop trembled violently, and people were horrified to realize that Ye Fan could indeed contend with a sect master.

"Little friend, why harbor such murderous intent?" the sect master asked.

"We just disdain this despicable man," Li Heishui interjected, leading the charge. Several people glared at Ouyang Ye. "He's so old, has he lived all his years like a dog?"

"This is a land of ascending immortals, accompanied by an irresolvable great peril," Ye Fan declared. "If any of you wish to gain something, search in the shallow waters." He was the first to step into the lake.

Pang Bo, Dongfang Ye, Li Heishui, the Saintess of Jade Pond, Ji Ziyue, and others followed him into the lake. The shallow water reached their knees, but they dared not advance further.

Seeing this, the others also followed, spreading out around the large lake and searching carefully. Before long, someone cried out in surprise: "A divine object!"

One young man splashed as he pulled a piece of crimson jade from the water. It was about the size of a human head, dripping with vibrant red, and its emitted glow illuminated his entire skeleton, making his body almost transparent.

"The Nine Heavens Scarlet Jade King!"

"Heavens! This is a supreme divine artifact that even ancient saints couldn't find, capable of being refined into an immortal sacred weapon!"

The eyes of the crowd turned red with greed. Several sect masters could no longer sit still and strode over, and many others secretly prepared to snatch it.

Suddenly, the head-sized Nine Heavens Scarlet Jade King transformed into a crimson rainbow, slipping from the man's grasp and vanishing into the center of the lake.

The young powerhouse nearly fainted then and there. He thought he had ascended to heaven, only to be kicked out the next moment, letting out a heart-rending scream.

"A supreme divine artifact that ancient saints sought for their entire lives yet could not obtain... I hate this!"

The others were stunned, filled with immense regret. The Nine Heavens Scarlet Jade King had become sentient and escaped on its own, exceeding everyone's expectations.

"The immortal pond truly holds treasures! From ancient times until now, fragments of imperial weapons have fallen into it, and even the Azure Emperor was born here! Quickly, search!"

On the lakeshore, people were in a frenzy. Someone had just found a divine artifact so early, so one could only imagine what else this lake might contain.

"There really are treasures!" Pang Bo mumbled, nudging Ye Fan. "You have the Source Heavenly Book, right? Take a good look and find us a couple of ultimate sacred artifacts!"

"That's right! If we could pull out fragments of an imperial weapon, it would be worth any price!" The barbarian's eyes glowed with excitement.

"Little Ye Zi, make sure you look carefully," Ji Ziyue whispered, while the Saintess of Jade Pond smiled beside her.

"Stay close to me," Ye Fan said. "I'm going to walk a bit further into the deeper part."

By now, not only had Ye Fan made this decision, but the others were also fearless, gradually venturing into the deeper sections, hoping to find immortal artifacts.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, from the base of another grand mountain, the Ancient Dragon Lair erupted, spewing forth true dragon energy. A dragon's roar ascended to the highest heavens and descended into the deepest netherworld.

Evidently, a group of sect masters had barged in, triggering a drastic change, as if the Ancient Dragon Lair had come back to life!

Within the ancient lair, there were worldly immortal pills, dream-level divine marrow, and even sacred spirits comparable to Great Emperors. Many people's expressions changed.

"The Cai clan's ancestor, the Fourth Generation Source Heavenly Master, has also emerged?!" Ye Fan wondered, surprised and doubtful.

"Hehe..." Ouyang Ye sneered, "The dragon energy here has returned to its origin; it can no longer be drawn upon and utilized by outsiders."

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone looked at Ye Fan. Ouyang Ye had clearly said this to provoke him, signaling to others that he could now be killed.

"Ouyang Ye," Ye Fan said calmly, "today you will surely die. No one can save you!"

"Without the ability to summon dragon energy, how can you compare to me?" Ouyang Ye sneered. He had prepared thoroughly, intent on eliminating Ye Fan.

"That's not right!" On the shore, the sickly old man exclaimed in alarm, two terrifying beams of light shooting from his dim eyes, startling several nearby sect masters into retreating.