Chapter 790: Road's End Reveals the Beginning

Chapter 792: The End of the Road, Seeing the Great Emperor Without Beginning

The stone hall was vast, and the great bell was magnificent. One wouldn't realize it was hidden within the stone, covering and concealing the entire area, unless they looked closely.

However, none of them intended to confront it directly. Having just entered, it was not the right time to consider the bell. Instead, they all stared straight ahead, their eyes fixed.

The area ahead was very open, allowing for a clear view. A massive stone book stood on the ground, dozens of meters long and one or two meters thick.

At that moment, several jade fragments on Ye Fan's body began to grow hot, trembling slightly within him and emitting a warm energy.

"The Sutra of the Great Emperor Without Beginning!" Duan De shouted, moving faster than a rabbit as he rushed forward. The Old Blind Man was also deeply shaken and did not hesitate for a moment.

Ye Fan had been here before and naturally knew about this stone sutra. This time, he carried four pieces of Emperor Jade, wondering if he would gain anything.

They advanced at lightning speed, feeling their spirits about to shatter as if a demonic force was trying to disintegrate them and assimilate them into the Dao.

The stone sutra lay horizontally, behind which was a pile of rocks overgrown with vines and ancient trees. The terrifying power emanated precisely from these plants.

As they got closer, their spirits stabilized and were no longer disturbed. This was because the Dao patterns emanating from the stone sutra, though invisible, were tangibly present, suppressing everything.

"It really is the Sutra of the Great Emperor Without Beginning!" The Old Blind Man extended his trembling hands, feeling the three massive ancient characters on the stone book, his voice quivering.

Upon nearing it, the four ancient jades on Ye Fan's body glowed intensely, shining through him and reacting with the ancient sutra, an inexplicable aura flowing between them.

At the same time, two rays of light shot from Duan De's body. He was direct, immediately attempting to open the stone sutra, but despite using all his strength, it was useless; he couldn't move it even an inch.

"My two broken jades are glowing..." The unscrupulous Daoist exclaimed in surprise, taking out two ancient jades that closely resembled and could be pieced together with the four in Ye Fan's hand.

He had unearthed these from an unknown ancient tomb, where the tomb owner had treasured them and kept them close, valuing them more than the king's divine weapon he had refined throughout his life.

"They're connected to this!" Duan De exclaimed excitedly, then fixed his gaze on the four ancient jades in Ye Fan's hand.

The stone sutra lay horizontally on a high platform, etched with many thick patterns. Without close inspection, they looked like natural grooves.

These Dao patterns were very different from contemporary engraving techniques, leaning more towards natural patterns formed by wind, rain, thunder, lightning, birds, beasts, flowers, and insects.

In the very center was a human-head-sized groove. Upon approaching, the ancient jades in both Ye Fan's and Duan De's hands trembled slightly, as if coming to life, and glowed dazzlingly.

"Heaven truly helps us! These ancient jades are the key to opening the Sutra of the Great Emperor Without Beginning!" Duan De exclaimed.

"No, there are only six pieces combined; we're still missing three fragments," Ye Fan sighed softly.

"How would we know without trying? Let's press them in first," Duan De said eagerly. He was particularly keen because the Sutra of the Great Emperor Without Beginning was too mysterious, said to contain the supreme theology of the end of the immortal path.

The six ancient jades were placed into the groove. With a hum, the high platform trembled violently. The area became dazzling, with light soaring skyward, and a massive light screen instantly enveloped them.

"Quick, retreat!" Ye Fan shouted.

The ancient stone sutra remained still, not opening. Instead, the generated light screen rapidly tore through the void, making everything hazy and threatening to teleport them away.

*Ding*. Ye Fan, with quick hands and eyes, knocked out the ancient jades and pulled the other two back a considerable distance, fortunately not being teleported out of Purple Mountain.

"I refuse to believe in evil! I'll just use the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Pot to take it!" Duan De exclaimed, activating the Great Emperor Ruthless's weapon. The pot opened, spewing demonic light.

*Buzz*. The entire void trembled violently. The aura of an ancient Great Emperor diffused, startling all realms. However, at that instant, another Great Emperor's aura also spread forth.

*Clang*. In front, the Bell of the Great Emperor Without Beginning trembled slightly, emitting a terrifying sound wave that seemed capable of destroying this great world, rushing towards them like a white tidal wave.

"Stop quickly!" the Old Blind Man shouted, then pulled Ye Fan and Duan De into the demonic pot, enclosing themselves within it.

*Clang*. The demonic pot closed. Inside the ancient Heaven-Devouring Pot, the three of them felt lingering fear. They hadn't managed to retrieve the Sutra of the Great Emperor Without Beginning, but they had provoked the bell, which resonated on its own without anyone activating it.

To their relief, the great bell only trembled slightly and didn't truly attack, quickly settling down.

"Fortunately, we have Emperor Jade on us, or it would have likely triggered ten thousand layers of bell waves. That's terrifying!"

The ancient Great Emperor's aura they had just felt made their hair stand on end. No one was empowering or operating the great bell, yet it resonated automatically, which would startle anyone.

Emerging from the ancient Heaven-Devouring Demonic Pot, they exchanged glances, all feeling deeply unwilling. The most mysterious ancient Sutra of the Great Emperor Without Beginning, which was right before their eyes, remained unattainable.

Duan De asserted fiercely, "Damn it, I'll risk it! I think the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Pot can protect us. I'll risk being severely injured to put the stone sutra into the pot and escape immediately."

"Don't be reckless. Back then, various Holy Lands entered with several Ultimate Emperor Weapons and still didn't obtain it. Doing this is courting death."

"The Heaven-Devouring Pot is different from other Emperor Weapons. It should be able to contend with the Bell of the Great Emperor Without Beginning. I refuse to believe we can't take the sutra!" Duan De persisted.

"Stop arguing, there are words here," Ye Fan said, his mind uneasy as he saw the Big Black Dog's scrawled handwriting.

"Kid, even if you collect all the Emperor Without Beginning jade, you still won't be able to open this ancient sutra. The Great Emperor Without Beginning once said that only a Congenital Sacred Body Dao Fetus can cultivate it." This sentence was carved on a stone wall, undoubtedly left by the Big Black Dog, who had surprisingly anticipated Ye Fan's arrival.

"This is truly bizarre. Why are there so many requirements for an ancient sutra?" Duan De exclaimed angrily.

"I finally understand why the Great Emperor Without Beginning had no successor; he simply couldn't find a suitable disciple," the Old Blind Man sighed.

"The cultivation method most likely can only be practiced by a Congenital Sacred Body Dao Fetus, but I think I might be able to master the secret technique in the final chapter." Even facing the Sutra of the Great Emperor Without Beginning, Ye Fan still had some confidence, as the "Dou" character secret art could transform all divine techniques.

"I can't help but feel this is prepared for one of your future descendants..." the Old Blind Man mumbled.

Finally, they left the place and ventured deeper into Purple Mountain. Along the way, they saw many vines and ancient trees, dripping with emerald green, growing among the rock piles.

Beneath the ancient vines lay numerous skeletons, having died at the roots of the plants, their vital essence drained, leaving them in a miserable state.

"They are Primordial creatures!"

"What kind of vegetation is this, capable of killing even ancient creatures?"

All three were astonished.

They followed a small path, finally approaching the most mysterious part of Purple Mountain. Here, light shimmered and a fragrant aroma filled the air.

The ancient vines and scattered trees disappeared, and the atmosphere gradually became peaceful. Along the way, more orchid-like immortal herbs appeared, and ancient medicines emitted their fragrance, making it feel as if they had arrived in a divine land.

Ahead, a waterfall cascaded down, springs gurgled, and spiritual energy swirled, with five-colored light shimmering. This was a divine waterfall.

"A huge chunk of Divine Source!"

Right beneath the divine waterfall, a large chunk of Divine Source lay on a platform, emitting auspicious light, making the area even more sacred.

They quickly approached, all greatly surprised. It was an astonishingly large piece of Divine Source, more than two cubic meters in size.

"We're rich! Putting everything else aside, a piece of Divine Source like this is a priceless treasure!" Duan De's eyes lit up at the sight of the treasure.

"Wait, look, this Divine Source has cracks that were later sealed. A creature must have escaped from within," the Old Blind Man said with a solemn expression.

"Indeed!" Ye Fan nodded.

All of them felt a sense of foreboding. Could there be a powerful Primordial King nearby? Any creature sealed within Divine Source was undoubtedly a terrifying, top-tier being.

The thought of a powerful ancient creature roaming nearby made their hair stand on end. They weren't afraid if it appeared openly, as they had Ultimate Emperor Weapons for protection. What they feared was a Primordial King secretly attacking and killing them.

They scanned their surroundings, all feeling a chill run through their bodies and cold air rising from their spines.

After a brief stop, they proceeded with greater caution. Suddenly, a row of crystal coffins appeared ahead, each ancient, dull in luster, densely packed, and engraved with patterns.

Each coffin was engraved with Primordial divine script. Ye Fan recognized some of the characters, realizing they were carved by the Undying Heavenly Emperor, which immediately sent shivers down their spines.

"They are the former subordinates of the Undying Heavenly Emperor!"

Once they understood, all of them were terrified. How many years had these been stored here? The subordinates of a god in the hearts of various Primordial races—how powerful could such beings have been?!

Unfortunately, even if they could contend with the heavens, they couldn't withstand the passage of time and all perished here.

"The corpses in the coffins..." Duan De glanced and immediately recoiled.

Each of these crystal coffins contained a terrifying corpse, resembling a ghoul, with withered yellow hair, black skin, and a dry, twisted appearance.

Duan De had robbed countless tombs, but upon seeing the skeletons in these crystal coffins, he felt profoundly disturbed. He took a few steps back, a cold shiver running through him, and goosebumps appearing on his skin.

"I feel something is very wrong. Based on my years of tomb-raiding experience, an ominous event has occurred here, and it cannot be dispelled!"

People would die constantly here, and rivers of blood would be nothing. Duan De said that if this place were outside, it would be a death urn, a mass grave, requiring hundreds of thousands of deaths to be significant.

"Two of the coffins have been opened, and they are empty," the Old Blind Man stated.

This row of crystal coffins, numbering in the dozens, all emanated an ominous, gloomy aura. Two of them had their lids pushed open, revealing nothing inside.

"This is bad!" Duan De's face changed, his hair standing on end like needles. He pointed at the two ancient coffins, unable to speak.

At this moment, Ye Fan and the Old Blind Man also noticed the abnormality: the coffins had been opened from the inside, and there were dark finger marks on the inner side of the lids!

The powerful creatures from the Primordial era had died countless eons ago. If not for the heaven-suppressing patterns carved by the Undying Heavenly Emperor on the coffins, they would have turned to dust long ago. How could they have climbed out?

At this point, their hair stood on end. This place was sinister, exuding an eerie atmosphere that sent chills down their spines.

"Who's there?!" the Old Blind Man roared, activating an Ultimate Emperor Weapon and blasting a corner. That spot immediately turned to ash, revealing a black hole.

"What did you see?" Duan De asked, his hair standing on end.

"I didn't see anything, but I felt something. I secretly performed a divination, and the reading showed a highly ominous sign, as if a demon was nearby," the Old Blind Man replied.

As he said this, the others felt the place grow even colder. It was as if a pair of malicious eyes were secretly watching them, belonging to a malevolent ghost.

"Let's leave this place quickly!" Duan De whispered.

The three didn't linger, quickly making their way to the deepest part of Purple Mountain. Throughout this journey, it felt as if a pair of resentful eyes were constantly watching them from the shadows, making them feel uneasy.

Finally, half an hour later, the peaceful aura ahead returned, with more orchid-like dragon grass appearing, and many cliff stones exuding auspicious purple mist.

The three remained silent along the ancient path, finally reaching their ultimate destination. Throughout the journey, they constantly felt as if a chilling malevolent ghost was tailing them.

"That is..."

The path had reached its end. Ahead was a massive Dao Platform, overgrown with dragon grass and divine orchids below. Above it, chaotic energy swirled, descending in strands, each capable of crushing all heavens for eternity!

This place was exceptionally unique and mysterious, appearing to connect the past, present, and future, linking to all worlds.

"I see a divine being! It's the Great Emperor Without Beginning!" Duan De shrieked, his pair of Yin-Yang Celestial Eyes flowing with two strange lights, staring fixedly at the magnificent, mountain-like Dao Platform.