Chapter 75: Body Like a Bottomless Pit

### Chapter 75: A Body Like a Bottomless Pit

Ye Fan continued to meditate on the Dao Scripture after dinner. Throughout the night, he was immersed in a profound and mysterious state. Above the golden Sea of Suffering, qi flowed and transformed, emerging from nothingness. Stars shone, chaos swirled in a hazy mist, and myriad changes occurred.

It wasn't until the next day that he awoke from this state, feeling no fatigue at all. The Sea of Suffering overflowed with vital essence, making him feel refreshed and invigorated.

“Big Brother, breakfast is ready…” Little Tingting hopped over to call him for breakfast, her small face beaming with a happy smile. Although her clothes were ill-fitting, worn out, and patched, they could not conceal the unique radiance of her bright childlike face.

Ye Fan sighed, thinking that children truly are children. Yesterday, she had endured such a terrible ordeal, suffered such injustice, and cried so bitterly, yet after a night's sleep, her sadness was gone, and she quickly forgot all the unpleasantness.

“Are you very happy, Tingting?” Ye Fan asked with a smile.

“Yes!” Tingting nodded earnestly and said, “Now that we have food, Grandpa doesn’t have to skip meals and save them for me. Of course, Tingting is happy!”

Ye Fan was startled. He realized that for some, happiness was so simple. Being able to eat a full meal brought such contentment to little Tingting. Compared to those who exhaust every means to pursue fame and fortune, this standard was truly humble. Perhaps it was precisely this simple happiness that fostered such pure truth, goodness, and beauty.

Seeing her rosy little face full of such a brilliant smile, Ye Fan was deeply moved. He dotingly stroked her head, then took her hand and walked out of the house together.

As noon approached, the sallow-faced middle-aged man from the Li family returned. Seeing the small restaurant closed, he kicked the door several times, cursing, “Open up! Your master is here to eat…”

Inside the shop, Tingting was very nervous, her large eyes filled with fear. She clung tightly to the old man, afraid that those people would burst in. Old Man Jiang gently patted her back, whispering words of comfort.

Ye Fan stood inside the house, listening to the harsh curses. He gradually frowned, his gaze growing colder and colder.

“Fine, Old Man Jiang, if you won’t do business, just wait to starve to death! You’re already seventy or eighty years old, what else can you do?!”

The people outside cursed for a while, smashed the two potted plants outside the door, and then carved scratches all over the door with daggers, defacing it before swaggering away.

“Grandpa…” After a long time, little Tingting timidly asked, “Will those bad people come again tomorrow?”

“It’s alright, Tingting, don’t be afraid. Grandpa won’t let them hurt you,” the old man kept comforting her.

Tingting whispered, “Those bad people do evil every day. Why doesn’t a good person come to punish them?”

Ye Fan felt that children’s words were indeed the truest in this world. There were many injustices, but it was impossible for everyone to be held accountable.

“Don’t worry, Tingting, they definitely won’t come tomorrow,” Ye Fan said with a smile, crouching down. “Come on, let’s go eat. I’ll make you a delicious dish for lunch today.”

“Big Brother, you can cook?” Little Tingting’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

“Don’t underestimate me. I’ll show you my skills today; I guarantee you’ve never tasted anything like it.”

The little girl blinked her big eyes, still unconvinced. “I don’t believe it. Grandpa can cook anything. Back when we had our restaurant, Grandpa made me delicious food every day.”

“Have you ever had sweet and sour ribs?” Although it was a very common dish from his hometown, Ye Fan believed it hadn’t appeared here yet.

Indeed, little Tingting showed a puzzled expression. “How can sugar be put together with ribs?” Even the old man next to her looked perplexed.

Ultimately, Ye Fan could only describe it in theory, as his cooking skills were truly terrible. However, once the old man understood the method, he personally took charge and finally served perfectly cooked sweet and sour roe deer ribs. This meal was exceptionally delicious for little Tingting, and she ate it with a happy smile.

Ye Fan truly enjoyed this harmonious and joyful atmosphere, which gave him a sense of home and subtly provided him with a new anchor.

After lunch, the old man sent little Tingting for her nap. He brewed a pot of coarse tea, brought it to the clean Eight Immortals table, and asked Ye Fan, “Child, are you planning something? Please don’t act impulsively…”

Ye Fan smiled and said, “Old Man, you don’t need to worry. Nothing will go wrong. Actually, anyone can be bad; it’s just a matter of whether they want to be.”

“What are you going to do?”

“If I really put my mind to it, harming them isn’t difficult. I have a hundred ways to retaliate. But there’s no need to do that. The simplest method will suffice. I’ll make sure they’re too preoccupied to cause trouble again. Once I have free time later, I’ll deal with them properly.”

Ye Fan left the small town that afternoon. He didn't want to meticulously plot against the Li family; as long as those who cultivated outside didn’t return, there was no need for such drastic measures.

He had already found out that the Li family went to the county town monthly to purchase grain and goods. They virtually monopolized half of the town’s business, and tomorrow was their big purchasing day. The sallow-faced middle-aged man was a steward of the Li family and was usually responsible for these matters.

The county town was about seventy to eighty *li* from the small town, much more prosperous, with tens of thousands of inhabitants. Shops lined both sides of the streets, and the sounds of hawkers filled the air. This distance was no problem for Ye Fan, whose physique far surpassed that of an ordinary person; he arrived easily within an hour. After exchanging a few hunted animals for money, he bought a lot of candy and snacks for little Tingting, then some small clothes and shoes for her, and finally, the items he would need for tomorrow.

He didn't start heading back until dusk. His main purpose for coming out today was to survey the road between the town and the county, looking for desolate and secluded spots.

Ye Fan didn't return until nightfall. Seeing him safe and sound, the old man’s anxious heart finally settled. Little Tingting, on the other hand, was very happy and excited, holding the beautiful little clothes, her face full of joyful smiles. Opening the paper bags filled with candy and snacks, she first offered the treats to the old man and Ye Fan, then happily ate some herself.

“Tingting, why don’t you go change into your new clothes?” Ye Fan asked her.

“I’ll wear them later. Tingting’s current clothes are still wearable,” she said, carefully wrapping up the new clothes.

Looking at her worn-out little clothes, patched and mended repeatedly, Ye Fan felt a pang of emotion. Children from poor families could be heartbreaking; for her to be so sensible at such a young age, even her casual words made it difficult for him to remain calm.

“Don’t worry, Tingting will have new clothes to wear every day from now on. Go on and change,” Ye Fan said. He felt that if such a lovely little girl like Tingting and such a kind old man like Old Man Jiang were to be bullied again, it would be an intolerable injustice.

That night, Ye Fan continued to meditate on the Dao Scripture. He found that when he held the Bodhi Seed, his mind became exceptionally clear, and his understanding of the Dao Scripture deepened significantly.

“It truly lives up to its name as a tree of enlightenment…”

The next afternoon, Ye Fan left the small town and traveled through the forest. He soon made his way to the road leading to the county town, part of which traversed a small canyon.

Ye Fan quickly climbed onto the cliff face. There, he changed into black clothes, covered his face, and put on a pair of stilts to impersonate an adult. He then opened all the oil barrels he had prepared there yesterday, waiting for the Li family’s purchasing party to return.

It wasn't until dusk that the rumbling sound of wheels echoed on the mountain road. There were more than a dozen large carts, all fully loaded with goods, everything from silk fabrics and clothes to daily necessities and grain.

Ye Fan stood up and powerfully hurled the oil barrels downwards. With continuous 'thump-thump' sounds, all more than a dozen carts were drenched in oil, and a panic immediately ensued below.

“Oil! It’s oil! Someone is going to set the carts on fire!” the Li family members shouted. Many fled in panic, while some tried to find the arsonist. At that moment, someone finally spotted Ye Fan above the canyon. He was tall, dressed in black, and throwing down torches one after another.

“Poof, poof, poof!”

Blazing flames instantly erupted, and the more than a dozen carts were engulfed in a sea of fire in an instant. It was impossible to extinguish, and the flames shot towards the sky.

“Who are you? How dare you set the Li family’s goods on fire? Aren’t you afraid of being hunted down by cultivators?” the sallow-faced middle-aged man cried out in terror. With so many goods destroyed, he already imagined the terrible consequences upon his return.

“Thump!”

Another barrel of oil was thrown down, nearly hitting his head. His clothes were splattered with oil, and then a torch fell, causing the sallow-faced middle-aged man to shriek in agony. He frantically rushed towards a distant mountain stream, his body engulfed in flames.

Ye Fan glanced around, then vanished from above the valley. He swiftly removed the stilts, took off his black clothes, gathered them, and flew away like a wisp of smoke.

That night, the entire Clear Wind Town was shaken. The Li family suffered heavy losses; more than a dozen carts laden with goods were completely incinerated, leaving nothing behind, and seven or eight people were burned.

Throughout the night, the town remained restless. The Li family members searched almost every house for clues, like madmen. For them, this was an affront, like disturbing a sleeping tiger, and the immense loss enraged them.

It wasn't until late at night that the town quieted down. The Li family believed that no one from their town would dare to do such a thing, lacking the skill and courage. They speculated it was an enemy from afar, and the entire Li family immediately became tense, ordering someone to send a message to the Misty Cloud Grotto-heaven overnight.

That night, Ye Fan quietly left the small restaurant and went deep into the mountains. He had to improve his strength as quickly as possible. After traveling an unknown number of *li* into the forest, he finally found a stone cave. Ye Fan sealed himself inside with a large boulder, then took out several spirit herbs.

The Jade Snake Orchid was translucent and soft like mutton-fat jade, exuding a refreshing fragrance. The golden tuber left by the Ancient Tree Spirit shone brilliantly, its radiant light flowing.

Ye Fan held the Bodhi Seed, calming his mind and concentrating on meditating on the Dao Scripture. Only when he felt his Sea of Suffering tremble, signaling a possible breakthrough, did he consume the Jade Snake Orchid.

Half an hour later, despite the cave being blocked by the boulder, waves of sound still emanated from within. Streaks of golden light shot out, like a continuous tsunami, roaring incessantly, rumbling loudly.

It wasn't until the latter half of the night that everything quieted down. Ye Fan inwardly observed, discovering that his golden Sea of Suffering had more than doubled in size. He moved the boulder, rushed out of the cave, feeling light and fit, with significantly increased strength and speed. He moved like a wisp of smoke, swiftly traversing the forest.

Eventually, he returned to the cave, resealed the entrance with a large boulder, and without hesitation, consumed the golden tuber left by the Ancient Tree Spirit. Then, holding the Bodhi Seed, he continued to meditate on the Dao Scripture.

In the latter half of the night, deafening sounds erupted from the cave. The large boulder blocking the entrance shattered instantly, sending fragments flying.

Like a volcanic eruption or the Milky Way pouring down from the nine heavens, the cave was filled with dazzling light. A roaring tsunami shook the sky, constant thunderclaps echoed, and Ye Fan's Sea of Suffering transformed into a golden ocean, continuously surging towards the heavens.

This state lasted for a full hour before the terrifying sounds slowly subsided and the divine light gradually receded. Ye Fan quickly rushed out. Behind him, the mountain cave rumbled and rapidly collapsed; it had not collapsed earlier because the golden light was supporting it.

By this time, it was almost dawn, and the forest was no longer completely dark. Ye Fan felt his body brimming with vitality, a surge of vigorous essence flowing within him.

Overnight, the golden Sea of Suffering had expanded from the size of a soybean to that of a pigeon’s egg, increasing several times over. He was greatly surprised, realizing this was entirely due to the golden tuber left by the Ancient Tree Spirit, which contained ten times more life essence than the Jade Snake Orchid—it was truly a rare treasure.

Ye Fan’s heart was restless. He found that his physique was like a bottomless pit; there was no need to worry about the medicinal power being too strong. As long as enough vital essence was supplied, he could continuously expand his Sea of Suffering.

“Has the curse of the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body not manifested in me? Or is this the curse—that every step forward requires an immense amount of life essence, making the path narrower and narrower, and the Sea of Suffering difficult to expand in the later stages…”

If an ordinary person absorbed so much life essence, their Sea of Suffering would likely have already burst, and their physique would have disintegrated. “If an ordinary person were to absorb all this life essence over a long period, the Sea of Suffering they would open up should be larger than mine…” Ye Fan mused, realizing that his cultivation was practically a luxurious extravagance. He murmured to himself, “Is it a waste? I don’t think so.”

Because at this moment, he discovered that his Sea of Suffering was exceptionally condensed. Although it was only the size of a pigeon’s egg, it contained a full nineteen ‘divine patterns’ and possessed incredibly vigorous vitality.

“When an ordinary person’s Sea of Suffering reaches the size of a pigeon’s egg, it’s probably still difficult for them to condense ‘divine patterns,’ yet my golden Sea of Suffering achieved it early on.” Ye Fan didn’t feel it was extravagant; instead, he felt a great sense of accomplishment. His golden Sea of Suffering was unique.

“Whiz, whiz, whiz!”

Ye Fan lightly flicked his ten fingers, and immediately, more than a dozen ‘divine patterns’ shot out. Like dazzling sword beams, they pierced through all the rocks in front of them.

“Opening a Sea of Suffering of the same size, the divine power I possess will be many times stronger than others,” Ye Fan thought, his mind racing.

“However, for someone with my physique to achieve success in cultivation, I need an immense amount of life essence as support.” Upon considering this, he couldn’t help but frown.

“But it’s not limited to spirit herbs alone. If I can find the ‘Source’ that Elder Wu Qingfeng spoke of, cultivating in a treasure land with extremely dense spiritual energy should also allow me to break through.”

According to ancient records, during the era when heaven and earth converged to create all things, chaos was hazy and spiritual energy was incredibly dense and pervasive. Many spiritual objects could absorb the primordial essence of the world and form amber-like crystals, containing vast amounts of life essence.

Those that have survived to the present are called “Sources,” and they are extremely precious to cultivators. Some top-grade “Sources” are truly invaluable.

From the era when all things first came into being to the Primordial Era, the primordial essence of heaven and earth gradually thinned, making it difficult for spiritual objects to form “Sources.”

However, during the final glorious period, all things flourished, living beings were powerful, and spirit herbs were abundant, leading to the formation of many rare “Divine Sources.” Later generations once discovered living creatures sealed within amber-like crystalline stones; when such “Divine Sources” were excavated, they could provide endless life essence.

“That truly was a longed-for era…”