Chapter 853: Back to the World

(Reading Ten Thousand Scrolls)

This person seemed capable of shattering eternity!

He stood on the Dao Platform, trampling all manner of Dao patterns underfoot. Even the Grand Dao had to submit, and the natural laws of heaven and earth offered no resistance, all obeying his command.

Wu Shi!

Is this Wu Shi?

An invincible existence capable of sweeping across all heavens, whose legend has been passed down for millennia. Who could ever see him? There were no portraits of him in the world, and no one knew his true form.

Ye Fan's heart pounded violently. The man on the Dao Platform was extraordinary, possessing a unique aura that suggested, "With me, there is no heaven; with me, there is no Dao!"

He seemed to embody heaven and earth, eternity and the Grand Dao. With his black hair flowing over his shoulders, he stood tall and majestic, like an immortal monument that no one could surpass.

Unfortunately, he still faced away from the mortal world, preventing Ye Fan from seeing his true face or his eyes, which filled him with immense regret.

At this moment, the aura of an ancient Great Emperor permeated the air, as if it had spanned millennia, making it seem as though Ye Fan was truly looking up at a flesh-and-blood Dao Prover.

Why was this? Ye Fan had a misconception: why did this supreme existence, both human and divine, always turn his back on all living beings? The phantom he saw in Purple Mountain was just like this!

The ancient Dao Platform, bearing the marks of mottled time, chronicled the Great Emperor's life. Sitting alone, with his back to all beings, what was he gazing at in the distance?

"Boom!"

Great Emperor Wu Shi began his evolution. His techniques, his methods, his Dao seemed to span ancient and modern times, unfolding before Ye Fan's eyes, manifest in the mortal world.

Streaks of Dao light flew out, and divine laws intertwined, one after another. He became the center of heaven and earth, with even the sun, moon, and stars revolving around him.

Wu Shi's method, without even mentioning its secrets, was simply awe-inspiring in its aura. What kind of power was this? He seemed to be the very center of the universe.

"Boom!"

An aura surged forward, engulfing Ye Fan. This was... He was deeply astonished, feeling as if a living person stood before him, with their back turned.

It was as if Great Emperor Wu Shi was still alive, right there in front, demonstrating the secrets of Dao Proving. Everything was so profound and mysterious that it captivated his entire being.

This was a technique, not the entirety of Wu Shi's Dao, but it was enough for others to spend an entire lifetime comprehending, perhaps only grasping its superficial aspects.

"So close, yet so far; I can't see it clearly, nor understand how it operates."

Ye Fan's mind was as still as water; he did not lose his composure. He opened his Heavenly Eye to perceive the essence and used his Wind-Earing ability to listen to the sound of the Dao, capturing its trajectory.

"I heard the wondrous sound of the Dao."

A ripple appeared in his heart. The Dao resonated in his ears, weaving visible traces that materialized in his mind.

Ye Fan moved his body, his form following his will. Using his physical body as a magical seal, he merged with heaven and earth, beginning to deduce and re-deduce the principles repeatedly.

He forgot everything else, oblivious to his surroundings. Before his eyes was only that magnificent figure—his goal, the fundamental essence he was pursuing.

In the boundless void, amidst the eternal Dao, Ye Fan forgot everything. There was only that specific Dao before him, which he continuously pursued, wanting to grasp it in his hands.

"Crack!"

A bolt of lightning struck, tearing through the world, shattering the tranquility, and disrupting the order of space and time, pulling him out of his meditative state.

"Kid, are you crazy?!" A large black paw landed on his shoulder and shook him vigorously.

"What's wrong? Why did you interrupt my thoughts? I was just about to grasp everything," Ye Fan asked.

"You were about to 'Dao Transform' just now; your very being was on the verge of dissolving, almost becoming part of the laws of heaven and earth," the large black dog said solemnly.

Dao Transformation, a terrifying term. Many powerful cultivators eventually reached this stage, perishing and merging back into the Dao laws of heaven and earth.

"Is that so? But I was clearly close to that divine technique, about to master it. Why would I 'Dao Transform'?" he asked himself.

"That's because Great Emperor Wu Shi is too powerful. He can suppress the Grand Dao of heaven and earth, and the laws he manifests are unparalleled. You haven't reached that realm yet, so trying to be like him would certainly be courting death."

However, the large black dog was also quite surprised, having never expected Ye Fan's dedication and profound comprehension to be so great that he almost grasped the essence of that technique.

"It's unattainable. Even a Great Saint couldn't grasp it. So, you can't force it. No one knows the mindset of Great Emperor Wu Shi when he created that technique; without resonance, you can never fully comprehend it."

Afterwards, Ye Fan resumed his comprehension, gazing at the figure with his back to all beings, evolving the Dao in his heart, gaining insight into the secret technique, completely forgetting himself and his surroundings.

Eventually, everything vanished. The Black Emperor closed off that ancient memory, leaving only Ye Fan standing alone on the mountain peak. He closed his eyes, silently immersing himself in the experience.

"What did you transmit to him? Was it Wu Shi's Dao?" Duan De appeared as if from nowhere, crawling out of a grave-robbing hole, and asked the Black Emperor.

"Woof! How dare you eavesdrop!" The large black dog chased after him, biting.

"Limitless Heavenly Venerate, how could this humble Daoist be such a person? Besides, you transmitted the method within your mind; how could I see it?" Duan De said.

The Black Emperor stopped and said, "His comprehension in cultivation is indeed good, quickly discerning the Dao and grasping its essence. It's just a pity he isn't a Congenital Sacred Body Dao Embryo."

"Who moved the ancient tombstone of Heaven's Village?!" Qi Luo's voice came from afar, followed by an angry roar. He had discovered a grave-robbing hole.

"I'm off now. I'll be there to watch that world-shaking battle!" Duan De shrank his neck, slipped into the hole, and vanished.

A day and a night later, Ye Fan awoke. He stretched out his hands towards the morning glow, his entire body enveloped in sunlight, becoming incredibly radiant.

"Is this one of Great Emperor Wu Shi's secret techniques?"

He muttered to himself, clenching his right fist and unleashing a full-power strike towards his left hand. Then, he used Wu Shi's secret technique to defend, and something bizarre occurred.

"Perhaps I've understood Great Emperor Wu Shi's path..." Ye Fan looked at his hands, his heart filled with shock.

In the distance, the Black Emperor's heart trembled. Ye Fan had comprehended that technique in such a short time, astounding it immensely.

"To comprehend it to this extent is extremely remarkable; no one can obtain the complete Wu Shi technique," the large black dog whispered. Then, it ran forward and said, "No one can fully grasp the path and Dao that Great Emperor Wu Shi walked. You don't need to overthink it; just consolidate what you've learned."

Time passed quickly. Nine days vanished in the blink of an eye, with only six days remaining. A tense atmosphere spread throughout Heaven's Village; everyone was waiting.

"The Divine Son will win!" Even Little Sparrow knew it, gripping a tiny, pink fist tightly while toddling with a milk bottle.

In recent days, the Northern Region had become a gathering place of power, with strong individuals from all corners of the world arriving, eager to witness this great battle.

It could be said that this battle would have a profound impact, as it concerned many things. In a sense, the clash between the Human Sacred Body and an Ancient Emperor's bloodline was also a contest between two major forces, a dialogue between the strongest.

The grand era had arrived. Heaven and earth were already stained with blood, and some young heroes had died, but it was far from truly shocking. Figures like Hua Yunfei, Central Emperor, Yuan Gu, and Huang Xudao were the focus, and none of them had fallen yet.

This time, however, would be a terrifying clash, featuring the most attention-grabbing duel among the younger generation. Whether Yuan Gu fell or the Human Sacred Body died in battle, it would be an earthquake for the world.

Even before the battle began, the Northern Region was already stirring with turmoil. All sorts of discussions reached the heavens, and countless eyes were fixed upon it.

Who would win or lose? Who was weaker or stronger? These questions sparked heated debate. The entire Northern Region was no longer peaceful; the world watched, and everyone eagerly awaited the outcome.

Ye Fan left Heaven's Village and walked alone through the desolate mountains and wilderness. He strolled outside Purple Mountain, visited the edge of the Primordial Restricted Zone, and appeared by the Fallen Eagle Cliff.

Li Heishui, Dongfang Ye, and others wanted to accompany him, but he declined, choosing to travel alone to adjust his state and achieve his peak condition.

He trekked through many primeval regions, visiting numerous uncharted barren mountain ranges. Finally, he crossed the void, arriving alone in the Southern Region.

As experts from all paths converged on the Northern Region, the ancient battlefield of Qixia Plain was no longer silent. War clouds gathered, and many had arrived early, suddenly bringing much more vitality to the area.

In the bustling Northern Region, continuously arriving powerhouses all waited. This battle gripped everyone's heart.

However, at this moment, Ye Fan entered the Fire Domain alone, holding a Bodhi seed, and went straight to the ninth layer. The terrifying temperature there would make even a Saint hesitate.

He manifested the Myriad Manifestation Mother Qi Cauldron and began to absorb furiously. Nine-colored misty threads surged—this was the most terrifying fire in the world, transforming into blazing light as it entered the cauldron.

While one should not harbor ill intentions, one must always be wary of others. This battle was drawing worldwide attention, and various critical situations might arise. The ancient tribes truly possessed a multitude of experts, and if powerful individuals intervened, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He did not know if the Saints of the Human Race would appear, so he needed to prepare his own escape routes. Even if a dark hand reached out, he could retreat safely.

Both sides had already agreed not to use inherited Saint Weapons, but to rely on true strength for the duel. Ye Fan agreed; otherwise, if Yuan Gu were to bring out Emperor Yuan's weapon, there would be no need to fight.

This battle would be a true test of strength. He would not unleash flames, unless an unexpected situation arose where someone tried to harm him, in which case it would only be used as a last resort.

A rustling sound came, as if some creature was crawling. Ye Fan's heart jolted, and he turned to look, seeing the Ultimate Immortal Flame once again!

At the end of the Fire Domain lay a barren, desolate land, devoid of any life, not even a spark. Yet, legends claimed that an Immortal had been burned to death here, and the Desolate Pagoda had once floated and sunk here for thousands of years.

A small tree was moving, its rustling precisely the source of the sound. Flames flickered, consisting of countless runes, mysterious and unfathomable, capable of burning down all heavens and incinerating eternity.

This was a place of awe and terror; even Saints would tremble upon seeing this cluster of Ultimate Flames. No one could resist it; whoever touched it would surely turn to ashes.

Ancient records were vague, even questioning whether this tree-flame existed at all, as there was no definitive conclusion. Yet, Ye Fan had personally seen it twice. He dared not act rashly, waiting quietly for it to disappear.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp..."

The tree-flame swayed, less than a meter tall. On one of its branches, a small bird appeared, with dazzling wings, chirping incessantly. Like the flames, it was composed of runes and Dao principles.

"An Immortal Phoenix!"

Ye Fan was startled. It resembled a phoenix, vivid and lifelike, no bigger than a palm, moving amidst the flames, mysterious and unpredictable.

He had a bad feeling and quickly retreated. But at that very moment, the dazzling bird chirped twice more and spat out a speck of light.

This faint light was tiny, but before it even drew near, its terrifying temperature arrived, as if it could incinerate all worlds, sending shivers down his spine.

This was the Ultimate Flame from the end of the Fire Domain. Although it was just a wisp of light, it was unbearable. Ye Fan found it difficult to evade; it was too fast and already upon him.

He summoned the Bodhi seed to block this searing light. It was clearly a single rune, transformed into a wisp as thin as a hair, burning through the void.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, the Bodhi seed emitted immeasurable light, but it couldn't stop the attack and was on the verge of cracking.

"Buddhist light?!" Ye Fan was startled. He had never expected this seed to contain Buddhist power, as he had never sensed it before.

He executed the 'Word' movement technique to retreat, but he couldn't escape the wisp of light. He swung the Myriad Manifestation Mother Qi Cauldron to block it, simultaneously manifesting various sacred artifacts to counter it.

"Clang!"

Suddenly, a resounding clang rang out. The wisp of light was blocked, by none other than the Ancient Scripture of Deities!

It was a half-page fragment of scripture, as crimson as blood, brought back from the Ziwei Star. He had never been able to comprehend it because it contained no words, only incomplete Dao patterns.

A hazy mist rose, resplendent and boundless. Crimson light enveloped him, turning his entire body almost transparent. The cry of a phoenix echoed, clear and deafening.

The half-page Ancient Scripture of Deities, cast from Phoenix Blood Scarlet Gold, resonated in harmony with that tiny wisp of light!