Chapter 966: Immortal Earth

Dragon-Tiger Mountain, embraced by peaks that coil like a dragon and crouch like a tiger, is majestic, steep, and rich with towering formations. Here, dragons seem to leap and tigers pounce, shaking off dust as purple qi rises. After thousands of years of accumulated glory and numerous cycles of rise and fall, Dragon-Tiger Mountain is widely recognized as the foremost Daoist mountain, its birthplace, holding a prominent ancestral status.

At this moment, Ye Fan stood there, exchanging glances with Old Crane and the Third Valley Master. Dragon-Tiger Mountain was exceptionally mysterious, being the ancestral land of Daoism and thus not easily provoked.

“No wonder Daoism chose this place,” said the Third Valley Master. “Our monster race’s sages were always puzzled, but now I finally understand. There’s actually an Earth Immortal here.”

Old Crane sighed, “Indeed. In ancient times, this place was protected by a grand formation. When the Earth Immortal’s burial ground was first formed, it couldn’t yet influence the surrounding terrain. But now, with its full emergence, it can no longer be contained, allowing a glimpse of its power. Daoism truly has profound masters to have chosen this place so early.”

When speaking of the Daoist lineage, one must mention Laozi and Zhuangzi from the pre-Qin era. However, its origins are even more ancient; strictly speaking, they can be traced back to antiquity.

The Dao has existed since time immemorial! The Huang-Lao school expounded upon it, producing numerous profound texts. Later generations revered the Yellow Emperor and Laozi as its founders.

While Daoist thought existed early, its emergence as a true organization came later. The rise of the Celestial Master Way and Dragon-Tiger Mountain becoming its ancestral temple was a landmark event.

Subsequently, over thousands of years of rise and fall, Daoism branched into hundreds of sects, some interdependent, some emerging independently, and some even opposing each other, never achieving unity.

From ancient times to the present, after numerous ups and downs, though Daoism has many branches, it can be broadly divided into two major schools. One is the Quanzhen Sect, which primarily focuses on internal alchemy and rose in the north.

The other is the Zhengyi Sect, which primarily focuses on talismans. With Dragon-Tiger Mountain as its ancestral temple, it holds sway over half of the Daoist world. At the same time, its origins also mark the beginning of organized Daoism.

Naturally, Ye Fan and his companions had to be careful when they arrived. As this was the ancestral temple of Daoism, even a slight misstep could make them enemies of the entire Daoist community.

This is because the Zhengyi Sect wields immense influence within Daoism, being the result of the integration of the Celestial Master Way, the Lingbao School, and the Shangqing School.

In ancient times, the Celestial Master Way revered Laozi, the Lingbao School revered the Lingbao Heavenly Venerable, and the Shangqing School revered the Yuanshi Heavenly Venerable. The Three Pure Ones, revered by Daoism, thus originated from these.

As Ye Fan and his group entered the mountain, they observed that this Daoist ancestral land had ninety-nine peaks and twenty-four cliffs. Although the ninety-nine peaks did not possess the exact form of dragons, they exhibited the grandeur of dragons and tigers.

“The vital energy of heaven and earth has withered, yet this place still retains its purple qi,” the First Valley Master sighed. “Truly befitting the original land of the Dao.”

However, the glorious scenery of yesteryear was no longer visible. At its most glorious, Dragon-Tiger Mountain once boasted ten Daoist palaces, eighty-one temples, and thirty-six academies.

During the Qing dynasty, the ruling class, followers of Tibetan Buddhism, suppressed Daoism, which was primarily a Han Chinese belief, leading to the decline of this place.

Later, the central lands faced a great catastrophe, a century of war. But when true peace finally arrived, it encountered the "Destroy the Four Olds" campaign. The outer areas of Dragon-Tiger Mountain were completely devoid of Daoists. All Daoist temples were destroyed, with only the Celestial Master's Residence remaining.

Nevertheless, Ye Fan and his companions dared not underestimate the Zhengyi Sect. Though the outer mountain became desolate, the cultivators were still present; they had entered the ancient inner mountain, completely cut off from the mortal world.

“When the nine dragons pulled the coffin away and the ancestral altar of Mount Tai appeared, it attracted a fierce battle among great cultivators,” the First Valley Master recalled. “Had the old Daoist from Dragon-Tiger Mountain not been called upon, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

From that battle, one could glimpse the power of the Zhengyi Sect's ancestral temple. It still had profound masters presiding over it, surpassing other sects.

“This must be the place,” said the Third Valley Master. “Look, there are hanging coffins among the cliffs of the outer mountain. All of them are ancient artifacts from over two thousand years ago, not to mention those in the inner mountain.”

The cliff tombs of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, mostly sarcophagi from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, are a unique marvel in China. It is said that Daoism truly flourished here, taking root from these, and it was also related to the divine wonder of the hanging coffins.

Old Crane said, “Thinking about it now, Daoism is truly shrewd and far-sighted. They knew about the Earth Immortal’s hanging coffin here long ago and arrived before anyone else to occupy this place. Even if we enter now, we might not find the Earth Immortal.” For thousands of years, as the ancestral land of Daoism, it was impossible for mortals to know about the inner mountain. And even monster races or Western orthodoxies had never managed to break in.

Even if there's an astonishing secret here, outsiders wouldn't know it. It’s suppressed by ancient powerful cultivators and self-protected, making it incredibly mysterious.

Ye Fan, having returned from beyond the star domain, could be said to have encountered a rare opportunity. In this Age of Dharma Decline, with his level of cultivation, he should be able to enter and exit freely, making the Zhengyi Sect hard to resist.

The three of them turned left and right, almost touching forbidden formations several times, until they finally arrived at the sacred land of Daoism and saw the true Dragon-Tiger Mountain.

“Compared to the ninety-nine peaks outside, these possess the form of dragons! This place is extraordinary!” the First Valley Master exclaimed.

The mountains were majestic, seemingly ready to leap up and pierce the clouds. Dragons and tigers coiled, intertwined with each other. Even in this Age of Dharma Decline, faint purple qi was still rising, a rare sight in the world.

This place, in ancient times, was undoubtedly a supreme divine land. No wonder it became the original land of Daoism, grand yet not lacking in beauty.

The peaks were majestic, enveloped in purple qi, with cascading waterfalls, flowing springs, immortal cranes dancing, young Daoists gathering herbs, and old Daoists meditating on cliffs. It was a scene of profound artistic beauty.

The temples were well-ordered, with ornate eaves and beautiful ridges, complementing the mountains and waters. Lofty terraces and deep pavilions were hidden amidst the mountain forests. The glorious scenery of ancient times had finally reappeared.

This place had a grand formation of dragons and tigers leaping and moving, seemingly wanting to soar into the heavens. However, they did not see the ninety-nine ancient small dragon mountains; they were nowhere to be found.

They were very cautious, with Ye Fan leading the way. They avoided Daoist temples and purple qi-laden peaks, staying far in the mountain forests, not approaching the Zhengyi Sect’s important areas.

“It’s not simple at all. This place actually has figures at the sect master level, likely very ancient ones.” Ye Fan wanted to climb the mountain and visit the Daoist temple.

But Old Crane and the Third Valley Master quickly pulled him back, telling him not to show himself at all, and that this place shouldn't be trespassed upon. Once discovered, they might face grave consequences.

“None, why are there none?!” They searched for hundreds of miles but still couldn't find the ninety-nine ancient small dragon mountains. The Earth Immortal’s burial place remained unknown.

Auspicious light gathered around several ancient Daoist temples on Dragon-Tiger Mountain. Purple qi permeated the air, rising upwards, stirring their hearts. Other than that, the vast uninhabited area showed no abnormalities.

Old Crane and the Third Valley Master grew anxious, knowing they couldn't stay long. They were well aware of the Zhengyi Sect’s formidable power. If discovered by the hidden great cultivators, they would be in serious trouble.

Ye Fan calmed his mind and focused his spirit, opening his Origin Heaven Eye. His body seemed to merge into the wondrous scenery of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, as if about to vanish. As endless earth energy surged into his body, he perceived a clue.

“What astonishing methods; they almost deceived even my Origin Heaven Eye.”

His expression was solemn. In this era, no one but him could have discovered that there were mountains beyond mountains, and heavens beyond heavens. Beyond the ancestral temple of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, there was an ancient formation, likely the Earth Immortal's burial place, and also the fundamental reason Daoism chose this site.

This path was very difficult. It wasn't a killing formation, but rather a trap skillfully utilizing the mountain and terrain, making it unapproachable. Had Ye Fan not been a member of the Origin Heaven Master lineage, he would never have been able to enter. Even so, it took him a great deal of time; he only managed to enter after leading the two of them for three days.

“The ancient sages are unfathomable; their methods reach the heavens. At such a realm, the formations they lay out can truly rival those of an Origin Heaven Master.”

As soon as they entered this secluded land, Ye Fan and the other two immediately felt a vast and desolate aura. It was as if a multitude of dragons were rising. On the horizon, vast mountains stretched, verdant and lush, with dragon qi swirling. Numerous dragon-shaped peaks seemed to dance, as if about to pierce the heavens!

“We found it! This is the place where the Earth Immortal is buried!” They were very excited.

As an Earth Immortal, he must have possessed heaven-defying abilities. This person obtained the great secret of the ninety-nine ancient dragon mountains and touched upon forbidden domains. He must have left behind an astonishing secret.

“People from Daoism must have been here before; I wonder if anything is left,” said Old Crane.

The Daoist predecessors who chose Dragon-Tiger Mountain as their site must have discerned something. They considered this place of dragons and tigers, a site of great significance, as their ancestral temple and guarded it for so many years. If one were to say they didn't obtain the Earth Immortal's secret, no one would believe it.

The mountains seemed to dance, their terrain awe-inspiring. These were a group of dragons, majestic and grand.

Suddenly, Ye Fan stopped, seeing a skeleton dressed in a Daoist robe. It had been meditating in death for several centuries, its form uncorrupted. It sat cross-legged on a rock, seemingly guarding the mountain gate leading to the group of dragon peaks.

“A guardian of the Dao from the Zhengyi Sect!” Old Crane immediately recognized the flying immortal pattern on his Daoist robe, unique to Dao guardians.

All Dao guardians are extremely powerful, even surpassing sect masters; they are enlightened masters who protect the Daoist lineage. On the ground were several lines of text, written in pre-Qin bird-seal script. The group read them with a sigh, left by the old Daoist. The general meaning was that he had guarded the forbidden area for two thousand years without a successor. With the drying up of heaven and earth's energy, no one on Dragon-Tiger Mountain could 'sever the Dao' and enter, which was truly lamentable.

“This was a ‘King of Dao Severing,’ who had sat in meditation until death centuries ago, continuously guarding the Dao here. It was astonishing,” the Third Valley Master exclaimed.

“So, the Earth Immortal's secret is still here; they haven't touched it, otherwise they wouldn't have stationed someone to guard it.” Old Crane shuddered and involuntarily looked at Ye Fan. “Only a King of Dao Severing could enter this place. Doesn’t that mean the person before them was terrifyingly powerful?”

“Don't look at me like that; I just have a rough understanding of formations, and haven't ‘severed the Dao’,” Ye Fan chuckled.

They walked forward, and as soon as they reached the first dragon mountain, they saw a bone stele, as white as jade and taller than a man. After so many years, it remained undamaged, with oracle bone script inscribed on it.

Ninety-Nine Dragon Mountains!

Only these few characters were on it. A vast aura of the Great Dao overwhelmed them. Old Crane and the Third Valley Master coughed up large mouthfuls of blood on the spot, unable to look directly at it.

“An immortal! As expected of an Earth Immortal; even a few ordinary characters are like this,” the First Valley Master sighed.

Ye Fan remained silent, but a terrifying surge swelled in his heart. Even he felt a disturbance in his mind just by looking at these characters. This was definitely a peerless master!

He muttered to himself, “There was no murderous intent left behind, merely normal engraving, leaving only a trace of the Dao.”

As soon as they entered the mountain, the Third Valley Master burst into joy, exclaiming loudly, “We found it! I didn't expect it to be so smooth.”

Below the cliff, a large fissure opened. Thousands of hanging coffins, densely packed, with dragon qi swirling around them. It looked like the wide-open mouth of the dragon mountain, holding ancient coffins.

Deep within the dragon’s mouth, a jade coffin appeared faintly. It emitted a faint, dust-covered glow, having remained imperishable from ancient times until now.

“The dwelling of the Earth Immortal, with thousands of hanging coffins on the cliff face. It is said to be the burial place of an immortal.”

A faint fragrance wafted over, subtle yet making one’s body feel light, as if about to ascend to immortality. Ye Fan was shocked; this was definitely an undying miraculous medicine. At the Earth Immortal’s hanging coffin! Could there truly be such heaven-defying things here? He felt he had underestimated this place before; the Earth Immortal was far more mysterious and powerful than he had imagined.

The fragrance came from the large opening beneath the stone cliff, deep within the dragon’s mouth. He opened his Heaven’s Eye to look: though the dust-covered jade coffin’s luster was dim, its Dao marks were intact. And there was a section of branch, shimmering with green light, looking fresh and succulent, its fragrance filling the air.

“An Immortal Divine Tree!”

Ye Fan was astonished; this place was extraordinary. Was it just a branch, or was there an entire immortal tree? He hadn't even seen the true form of the Earth Immortal, yet he had first encountered such a thing.