Chapter 901: Feathering

Chapter 903: Ascension

"So, in the deepest part of this ancient temple, there will be at least two incomparable Yin Gods, one male and one female?" Everyone felt a chill run down their spine.

"Except for immortal medicines, all life eventually decays. Given how diluted the spiritual power of these creatures has become, countless ages must have passed. Those two Yin Gods have likely returned to dust by now," Duan De concluded after careful observation.

"Let's hope so!" A sense of unease lingered in everyone's minds.

The ancient temple had numerous entrances, and most of its inner courtyards and pocket dimensions were interconnected. Noticing that some individuals had already successfully penetrated three or four levels deep into the temple, they quickened their pace.

Upon opening the door to the fifth courtyard, they were met with brilliant light. Some people had already paused there, drawn by ancient stone carvings within the halls that emitted their own luminescence.

"These could be scriptures and insights from ancient sages—priceless treasures! Let's go take a look."

Inside the grand hall, the carved images radiated immeasurable light. Several powerful figures stood before them, their minds clear and ethereal, utterly captivated, their bodies exuding the aura of the Great Dao.

"This must be a rare ancient scripture, perhaps carved by a Human Emperor! These individuals have become one with the Dao; it's truly unfathomable and awe-inspiring!" Ye Fan, Duan De, and the others exclaimed in astonishment, quickly moving closer.

However, the faint breeze stirred by their footsteps caused a sudden change ahead: those individuals dispersed like fireworks, dissolving into a rain of light that was both intensely brilliant and beautiful, their bodies becoming luminous fragments.

"What... what just happened?" They all froze, a chill running from head to toe, quickly halting their steps.

"Did they ascend to immortality?!" They stared blankly, a profound chill settling over them. This ancestral temple was far too eerie.

The grand hall was immense and empty. The ancient characters and runes glowed brilliantly, emitting wisps of divine radiance that imbued the place with a sacred aura, yet it felt profoundly eerie.

Several powerful cultivators had simply dissolved, dying inexplicably, returning to dust amidst the brilliant light, as if they had truly ascended. Even the sounds of the Great Dao seemed to resonate.

The silence in the hall was absolute; no one spoke, and no one dared to approach. Those luminous stone carvings seemed to possess a sinister quality that sent shivers down their spines.

"Creak."

The door to this courtyard creaked open, admitting new arrivals. They gasped upon seeing the carved images, and several old men immediately rushed forward.

Five individuals, hailing from two major sects, arrived. Their sect masters had not come, instead ceding their places to several Grand Elders who were nearing the end of their lives. None of these elders were ordinary people.

They swiftly moved forward, paying no heed to Ye Fan and the others. Standing before the cryptic wall of the grand hall, they gazed at the insights left by their predecessors. In an instant, they too became entranced, as if completely absorbed.

Subsequently, ripples emanated from them. Each person began to merge with the Dao, swiftly entering a state of unity between heaven and man. Around their bodies, blood-red divine chains, resembling the tail feathers of an immortal phoenix, shimmered into existence.

The place was profoundly peaceful and serene, utterly devoid of malice. All things coexisted, and auspicious energy surged forth. Yet, Ye Fan and the others found it almost too sacred. They wondered how these individuals, though talented, could so suddenly achieve Dao comprehension.

"It's over; they've all dissolved, and will become a rain of Dao," the old blind man sighed.

Sure enough, the large black dog opened its mouth and exhaled a breath. The five elders disintegrated, transforming into glittering specks of light, dazzlingly beautiful and imbued with a divine charm that rendered the area even more sacred.

They witnessed this entire process from beginning to end, and it was even more shocking than before. A mere stone carving had caused people to vanish into points of light, evaporating from existence. It was terrifying beyond belief.

"Is this supposed to be a sacred ancestral temple? Why do I feel like it's a demonic hall?" Pang Bo muttered, his voice filled with doubt, clutching the Divine Maiden Furnace and wishing he could unleash its power.

The dazzling hall was so bizarre, and that wall was terrifying. None of them approached it. Only Duan De, with the Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Cover hovering above his head, cautiously squinted at it from a distance. He then quickly carved a few symbols onto the ground, meticulously copying them from the stone wall.

"This is... a Dao rune!" Black Emperor, being widely knowledgeable, recognized it instantly. He then perked up his large black ears and added, "But it's very peculiar; it doesn't seem to be anything good."

In that brief moment, several more individuals burst in. These were also influential figures from major sects, possessing formidable strength, and they headed directly for the stone carvings.

"Danger!" Ye Fan and the others shouted a warning this time, but the newcomers merely glanced back at them and did not retreat.

"Ah, no!" Only one old man managed to let out a final scream, but it was too late. Half of his body dissolved into a shower of light, his primordial spirit becoming pure energy, and he utterly evaporated.

"Did you notice? The light rain all merged into the stone wall. It's as if it's absorbing their cultivation," the monkey suddenly remarked.

Ye Fan nodded. "Indeed," he said. "The wall has grooves, and the light rain flows along these patterns, vanishing into the central shrine."

In the center of the grand hall stood a stone figure, barely half a foot tall, seated cross-legged. It resembled a Buddha yet also an old farmer, very crudely sculpted, making its true features difficult to distinguish.

"This place is truly sinister. That stone figure isn't going to come alive, is it?!" Even the large black dog mumbled nervously. It had lived for countless years but had never witnessed anything so bizarre.

This absolutely could not be the insights of ancient sages. Although it appeared peaceful, the more they contemplated it, the more they felt it was an ill-omened place. They did not linger, carving the word "danger" on the ground before moving deeper.

Subsequently, every temple level they passed featured a glowing shrine with a half-foot-tall stone statue. Each statue was crudely carved and identical to the others, and many individuals had also perished at these spots.

"This is bad. I wonder how many will die in there this time, absorbed by whatever is within the shrines."

They felt a growing unease. Could there truly be a deity involved? It was simply too bizarre.

"It's fine," the old blind man said. "Once enough people die, those behind them will eventually realize what's happening, preventing a greater catastrophe." He added that those capable of entering this place were not easily intimidated; many were more shrewd than ghosts.

"I'm a bit uneasy," Pang Bo began. "Even if we set aside the question of Yin Gods, that stone figure in the shrine is unsettling. Do you think it might come to life eventually?"

Ji Zi's cheeks were as luminous as jade, her long eyelashes fluttered, and a bright glint sparked in her eyes. "I've seen some records in my family's ancient texts," she said. "The stone figure seems to be the progenitor of the Feathered Divine Dynasty, possibly a Human Emperor. But its existence is so ancient that it's difficult to confirm whether such a figure truly appeared."

Having just returned from the Western Desert, Ye Fan's heart immediately trembled at her words. When ancient great emperors were involved, everything became shrouded in mystery. He recalled how everyone in the Western Desert chanted "Amitabha," accumulating immeasurable power of thought and faith.

In contrast, this stone figure forcibly usurped everything from an individual—not merely their power of thought, but also their essence, energy, spirit, and even their flesh and blood. Two hundred thousand years ago, such shrines must have been scattered across much of Central State.

He shook his head vigorously. Was the Feathered Divine Dynasty truly seeking to ascend to immortality themselves, or were they aiming for countless beings to "ascend" to complete a single individual? The more he considered it, the more his mind reeled.

"This place holds the Feathered Divine Dynasty's highest secrets; it is their supreme sacred temple," the old blind man stated. "Many hidden mysteries may be revealed here, but it's likely fraught with peril. Even though they perished two hundred thousand years ago, we must still proceed with extreme caution."

After traversing ten levels of ancient temples, they officially reached the eleventh. This level was entirely different from the preceding ones, having transformed into a true pocket universe, a boundless temple world that stretched infinitely from this point on.

From the outside, it appeared to be merely a cluster of halls, but once inside, they discovered this ancient realm seemed boundless. In the darkness, pairs of eyes glimmered.

"What are those things?!" Pang Bo exclaimed in astonishment.

"Ancient beasts, colossal ancient beasts!" the barbarian exclaimed. Having lived in dense forests for years, he was particularly sensitive to the aura of ferocious creatures.

The eleventh-level temple world contained ancient trees, mountainous terrain, and abundant vegetation. Without sunlight, it was unclear how they sustained themselves. Ye Fan and the others saw several colossal, scaly beasts that resembled Qilin yet also strange divine creatures, appearing incredibly ferocious.

"These are descendants of the temple-guarding divine beasts," the old blind man explained. "They've remarkably survived generation after generation, and each one is terrifying."

This boundless temple world offered an environment suitable for their survival. Several of them roared, charging forward with a foul,腥 (xing - fishy/bloody) wind, their power seemingly capable of splitting mountains and tearing the sky.

"Black Emperor, bite them!" Duan De cursed, only to find himself bitten by the dog first.

"Thud!"

The monkey swung his massive iron rod, sweeping it outwards. Two of the beasts were instantly reduced to a bloody pulp, their bones shattered. These were powerful ancient beasts, having reached the Second Heaven of Xiantai.

"Awooo..."

Ahead, roars erupted from the dense forest, and then dozens of pairs of eyes lit up in succession. Several of these glowed with exceptional brilliance, dazzling like divine lamps, as an aura of kingship permeated the air.

"Damn it, there are several beast kings here, at the Immortal Third Layer Dao-Severing realm!" Duan De exclaimed, shaking off Black Emperor as he bolted. "It's best not to provoke them, or we might attract something even more formidable. Let's get through here quickly!"

In the darkness, a foul wind assailed their nostrils as ferocious beasts stampeded. Thunderous roars echoed repeatedly through this temple world, followed by tremors that shook the ground. Countless wild beasts stampeded, forming a surging torrent.

"This temple world is truly immense! It's a beast tide, unending and impossible to defeat. We need to get out of here immediately!" Dongfang Ye yelled, sensing the immense danger. An endless, dark surge of ferocious beasts poured out of the forest, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"Ah..."

The screams of human cultivators pierced the air. Within this flood-like army of beasts, some powerful individuals were torn to shreds. This area had become a forbidden zone, forcing people to take detours through other ancient temple worlds.

Ye Fan and his companions passed through the eleventh temple level and heavily closed the iron gate behind them, all letting out a long breath. This place was unlike what they had imagined; there were no ghost soldiers, only living creatures.

The twelfth level of the temple was still vast, stretching endlessly. They hadn't traveled far when the cauldron hovering above Ye Fan's head violently trembled, unleashing a burst of nine-colored flames that scorched and collapsed the void.

Someone launched an assault. Ye Fan defended himself with the Myriad Things Mother Qi Cauldron, unleashing the divine flames he had gathered from the Fire Domain. This was a truly formidable foe, an ancient king who had clearly achieved Dao-Severing many years ago. A massive hand nearly snatched the sacred cauldron from above his head. Had it not been for the infinite power of the flames, Ye Fan would have been in grave danger. This assailant was highly skilled at concealment.

Qi Luo vanished instantly, emitting a cold gleam in the darkness. A bone-chilling killing intent spread, making this temple world feel sinister. Streaks of lightning briefly illuminated the dark void.

"Thud," "Thud"...

Finally, three soft thuds resounded, and three bloody heads landed on the ground, each bearing a finger-sized hole in the forehead, their primordial spirits pierced. Qi Luo's expression remained utterly unfazed, as if he had merely performed a trivial task.

There had been more than one assailant; three ancient beings, all old kings who had severed the Dao many years prior, had their heads swiftly removed by Qi Luo.

Ye Fan and his companions were all greatly astonished. This old assassin leader was indeed unfathomable, dispatching these three terrifying old kings as easily as if he were slicing vegetables.

"We must be careful," they warned. "Not only are there mysterious, unknown dangers within the ancestral temple, but now the various enemies lurking in the shadows can no longer hold back. We must exercise extreme caution!"

They stepped into the thirteenth level of the temple. It was no longer dark; instead, it was filled with light, sacred and peaceful, as if they had entered a world made of pure light.

Ahead stood a gigantic stone statue, over a hundred zhang tall, radiating a soft light. Dozens of runes were carved upon it, each capable of resonating with the Dao.

Vast interconnected sections of the temple's pocket dimensions meant many individuals had already arrived there via other paths. They were all intently observing and silently memorizing these ancient runes.

"Heavenly Sovereign's Son!" the monkey roared, swinging his great staff. The dark iron rod instantly swelled to hundreds of zhang, shattering the void as it rapidly closed the distance.

The Heavenly Sovereign's Son scoffed coldly, then departed without a backward glance, vanishing into the temple's pocket dimension ahead in the blink of an eye, leaving the thirteenth ancient temple.

"Even that scoundrel paused here, so the ancient runes on this divine statue must be extraordinary," Pang Bo remarked.

"Boy, mind your language! If you dare to speak carelessly again, this Emperor will be truly displeased with you!" Black Emperor barked from the side.

"These symbols are quite unique," Qi Luo noted, his expression shifting. "They seem like spirit-commanding talismans, capable of controlling various exotic beasts." He began to memorize them.

There were dozens of symbols, each incredibly intricate, formed by hundreds or thousands of interwoven lines. They could directly resonate with the Dao of heaven and earth, making them profoundly mysterious and unfathomable.

The ancestral temple of the Feathered Divine Dynasty was truly extraordinary, holding many valuable stone carvings. Ye Fan and his group didn't want to miss them, so they all calmly imprinted each symbol into their sea of consciousness.

Several figures flew up and entered the slightly open mouth of the divine statue. One person uncovered a hidden mechanism and quickly began to extract something from within. The others, realizing what was happening, immediately made their move, and a fierce battle erupted in an instant.

"There's something inside the stone figure's mouth!"

The moment the item was extracted, auspicious light erupted, and colorful rays cascaded, blinding everyone. It was a treasure chest, a foot square, which astonished everyone. It had been forged from five-colored refined iron, a divine material of the same caliber as Great Luo Silver Essence.

"A real treasure has appeared! The box alone is a rare gem, enough to tempt even saints to fight for it. What could be inside? Could it be the Feathered Immortal Scripture?"

Everyone went mad, surging forward, all attempting to seize it. The first person to lay hands on it screamed immediately, was struck down, and dissolved into a bloody mist.

"Buzz!"

The void trembled, and a black treasure vase appeared, seemingly capable of devouring heaven and earth. It instantly absorbed the treasure chest, claiming it as its own.

"Hua Yunfei! Li Xiaoman!" Pang Bo exclaimed, his eyebrows bristling. Ye Fan shot into the air, ready to strike. However, at that moment, Hua Yunfei, as if repulsed by a snake or scorpion, swiftly discarded the treasure chest and fled at top speed. The others scrambled for it, tearing open the lid.

"Boom!"

A shower of brilliant golden rain appeared, dense and widespread, filling every inch of the temple's pocket dimension.

"What... what is this?" Many people gasped in surprise.

Black Emperor was instantly terrified, all his fur standing on end. He bolted wildly, barking frantically, "Woof, woof, woof! Run!"