Chapter 970

The rough and unadorned yellow mud platform displayed clear characters, imbued with the Dao traces of a Quasi-Emperor. Even from a distance, the Old Crane and Third Valley Master trembled with awe.

Ye Fan carefully studied the text to understand what transpired later.

As aeons passed, Rongcheng, a tribal leader from ancient times, lived until the Spring and Autumn period, his natural power deepening with each passing day. By this realm, he had long become an invincible figure, yet he could never truly attain Dao enlightenment, needing a crucial opportunity.

He set off alone, but with only two fragments of a map, he couldn't even approach the immortal land. Outside that area, he faced mortal danger and narrowly escaped death, almost perishing.

Decades later, as his lifespan neared its end, he accidentally stumbled into a sacrificial ground within the forbidden zone, worsening his already dire situation.

Ye Fan and the others were deeply shaken. That was a Quasi-Emperor, invincible in his era, yet he nearly died. How arduous must that path have been?

Rongcheng remained in that sacrificial ground for several months, his body withered and almost worn away beyond human recognition. He broke out with great difficulty but did not give up, choosing to press on.

However, despite his immense power, he never found the original "Immortal Birthplace"; it remained utterly unapproachable. He was trapped in the forbidden zone for eighty years.

That place was extraordinary. Patterns formed by interwoven Dao immortal traces could destroy anything, shattering even his Quasi-Emperor level weapon, making survival a struggle.

In his eighty-first year, just as his life's flame was about to extinguish and he experienced a final surge of energy, an unexpected turn occurred: he discovered an immortal medicine within that forbidden zone, the birthplace of immortals.

"What incredible fortune!" Ye Fan could only exclaim.

On second thought, it made sense. If such a place could give rise to the hope of immortality, then the appearance of an immortal medicine there was only natural.

"That place is... Kunlun!" the Old Crane exclaimed.

Inside the yellow mud coffin, besides the text, there was also a detailed and precise engraved map depicting a colossal and majestic dragon vein.

This Kunlun dragon vein was identical to the central dragon mountain revealed when the nine ancient jade pieces were combined, appearing incredibly magnificent.

On the ancient jade map, it occupied the central position, encompassing a quarter of the vast territory.

This differed from the Kunlun known in reality.

According to the Kunlun map carved by the ancients, what is now known as Kunlun Mountain is merely a small section of its tail, a mere corner of its true form, vastly different from the depiction.

Rongcheng obtained an immortal medicine in the Kunlun immortal land and, at the same time, coincidentally managed to break out of the forbidden zone. A Quasi-Emperor had spent nearly a century there, almost perishing physically and spiritually, yet he never truly entered the true land.

He was disheartened. Upon his return, even his youngest disciple had succumbed to the passage of time, having passed away over a decade ago. He was left all alone in the world. Finally, he buried all his disciples and followers here.

The records on the yellow mud coffin ended there.

"His final state of mind suggests he was world-weary, no longer wishing to live. But why isn't his body here?" the Great Valley Master wondered.

Building a yellow mud coffin for himself, in imitation of the ninety-nine dragon mountains, and burying his disciples with him here, it certainly looked as though Rongcheng had grown weary of the mortal world and intended to end his life.

Ye Fan observed closely and found what appeared to be traces of his essence dissolving into the Dao at the bottom of the yellow mud coffin. However, there was a major question: where was the immortal medicine?

They searched everywhere but found no trace of it. The immortal medicine seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no hint behind.

"Did he consume the immortal medicine or not? There's no record of it on the yellow mud coffin."

"Did he dissolve into the Dao? The traces at the bottom of the coffin are ambiguous and inconclusive. His fate remains baffling."

Their discussion yielded no definitive conclusion; they could not determine whether Rongcheng was alive or dead.

It was clear that Rongcheng had put immense effort into nurturing the ninety-nine dragon mountains, and he had indeed entered the yellow mud coffin himself to inscribe these words.

At that time, he must have been mentally exhausted and deeply saddened, no longer wishing to exist alone in the world. He must have quietly lain in the coffin, awaiting death; otherwise, none of this would have happened.

However, what happened afterward remained unknown to outsiders.

"That thing... it's in Kunlun," Ye Fan murmured to himself.

"The true Kunlun Dragon Mountain is vast and majestic, the ancestor of all mountains since ancient times. Many of its areas are incredibly mysterious, entirely beyond human reach," the Great Valley Master explained.

"Lift!"

With a shout, Ye Fan lifted the mountain-heavy yellow mud coffin and moved it aside. Two bone fragments appeared, similar to those found in Chisongzi's coffin.

He held them in his hand and examined them carefully. Indeed, they were inscribed with a complex and magnificent topographical map leading to the immortal land.

"I now have five map fragments. I can use them to enter Kunlun." He wouldn't take such a risk, of course; even a Quasi-Emperor couldn't withstand it, having barely escaped death there.

With his current cultivation, he could only use the map to observe from a distance and get a preliminary understanding of the terrain. It was utterly impossible for him to approach the area or retrieve the "hope" of becoming an immortal.

"There are more words at the bottom of the coffin!" The Old Crane and Third Valley Master felt their limbs weaken in that place; the Quasi-Emperor's aura was too overwhelming for them to bear. When Ye Fan lifted the yellow mud coffin, they clearly saw it from where they sat on the ground.

"Perhaps the ninth bone fragment is not broken."

That was the only sentence, Rongcheng's speculation, but it instantly left endless hope for future generations.

"Even a Quasi-Emperor couldn't enter. It seems all nine maps must be gathered; otherwise, there's not a shred of a chance for success!"

Ye Fan took the two bone fragments and moved the coffin back to its original position.

"This yellow mud coffin is a supreme treasure, but ordinary people can't activate or even easily carry it around; it's too cumbersome," the Monkey said.

The Great Valley Master said, "Let's not covet it. Rongcheng was buried here with his disciples; this was his wish. If we were to take the yellow mud coffin, there might be unknown grave consequences."

They left the place, not sighing in relief until they had exited the area of the ninety-nine dragon mountains. The recent experience was extraordinary, revealing ancient forbidden secrets.

Although they had learned much, even more questions arose in their minds: who had steered the ninety-nine dragon mountains from one ancient star to another, landing them here?

This involved an immensely vast and long stretch of time. Even ancient Great Emperors, living a second life, only endured for a few tens of thousands of years in total. A single individual simply could not have spent that much time.

Rongcheng also had doubts. According to his conjecture, there must have been an incredibly ancient and formidable lineage that had persisted throughout time.

However, this lineage must have eventually declined, especially after the "hope" of becoming an immortal was shattered, leading to a drastic fall from grace.

For in the years that followed, he hardly appeared again. When that divine dynasty sent cauldrons to Earth for repair, if they had been strong enough, they wouldn't have lost the secret map.

"Over two hundred thousand years ago... a divine dynasty?" Ye Fan murmured to himself. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he instantly thought of the Feathered Divine Dynasty.

His heart pounded. Could it be that the elder brother figure from the Ruthless Person's childhood, after being chosen back then, had taken on a heaven-defying mission and once come to Earth?

His heart jolted. The secret of the ninety-nine ancient dragon mountains might be linked to the Big Dipper Starfield.

"The Feathered Divine Dynasty... Yes, it must have been them."

Ye Fan clearly remembered that the Feathered Divine Dynasty adopted its name because it signified their ambition to achieve immortality and ascend as an entire sect.

Unfortunately, they failed. Over two hundred thousand years ago, they were utterly obliterated from Zhongzhou by a single hand, ceasing to exist.

"Was it them?"

If it truly was them, many things would make sense. It was precisely because they were swept away and utterly declined that the people who came here later couldn't preserve the ancient maps.

"The timeline also fits."

If this hypothesis proved true, the Feathered Divine Dynasty would be the last vestige of that ancient lineage; otherwise, no one would have appeared for so many years.

Thinking of this, Ye Fan couldn't help but be shocked. The Feathered Divine Dynasty of that era was incredibly powerful, almost ruling Zhongzhou and revered throughout the world, with no other force able to rival them.

Yet, they represented the final and weakest manifestation of that ancient lineage over endless ages. For by any measure, they were far inferior to the supreme, glorious might displayed when the ninety-nine dragon mountains were steered from one ancient star to another.

"What kind of lineage was this?" Ye Fan murmured to himself, his heart surging with emotions. The vast universe and boundless starry sky held too many secrets.

It was hard to believe that such a colossal entity once existed, dominating everything and transcending numerous ancient stars—a truly terrifying thought.

Alas, no matter how powerful an existence, none could withstand the power of time. After hundreds of thousands or even millions of years, even a lineage like a deity turned to dust and smoke.

In this world, perhaps only ancient Great Emperors could fearlessly trample the Great Dao underfoot! Yet, they could only remain invincible for twenty thousand years, eventually turning to dust themselves. Nothing truly lasts forever.

"The Feathered Divine Dynasty..."

"In that era, they were immensely prosperous and powerful because people from other ancient starfields had arrived."

"Let me see what traces you all left behind here!"

Ye Fan firmed his resolve; he was determined to ascend to the Kunlun immortal land. Earth held many secrets, and his return in this era of decline presented a rare opportunity to uncover them.

"An Earth Immortal, yet merely a Quasi-Emperor." The Third Valley Master sighed with endless emotion. Ultimately, there were no true immortals in this world.

"We cultivators, what is the purpose of cultivating our entire lives?" the Old Crane asked despondently. Even Quasi-Emperors saw no hope, and even ancient Great Emperors could not become immortals, ultimately destined to die.

What about them, mere minor cultivators? They saw even less hope. They cultivated arduously day after day, isolated in stone chambers, forsaking the mortal world for secluded training. Yet, in the end, they too would turn to dust.

This truly shook one's Dao heart. Rather than this, it might be better to live a carefree life in the mortal world, at least making one's years worthwhile.

"Ultimately, cultivation is necessary. Once you embark on this path, there's no turning back," Ye Fan said in a low voice, yet imbued with a Dao shout that pulled their minds back, preventing them from sowing seeds that could destroy their Dao foundation.

"Yes, just because our predecessors didn't forge a path doesn't mean it's the end. Why think so far ahead? We are but insignificant splashes in the waves of time; we simply need to walk our own path."

"That is a question for Great Emperors throughout history to ponder."

"Exactly. Our path is still long, and we still hold hope. Powerful cultivators, Sages, and Great Emperors are all goals we can strive for."

The two were roused and quickly adjusted their state of mind.

However, Ye Fan himself fell silent for a moment. In this era of decline, he sought nothing else; achieving Dao enlightenment and becoming an immortal was his sole objective. But where was the path? Throughout history, there had been no concrete proof of anyone achieving immortality, leaving no glimmer of hope.

They walked out of the uninhabited area, trapped by the ancient formation, left Dragon Tiger Mountain, and returned to the mortal world. Gazing at the bustling mortal world from afar, where did the path truly lie?

"I must attain Dao enlightenment, I must venture into the starry sky, and I must forge an immortal path that no one before me has walked," Ye Fan murmured to himself.

The Cultivator's Grand Assembly was about to begin; this was what the two Valley Masters had told Ye Fan. And just as he returned to his northern residence, he also received a Dao talisman letter from the Spiritual Treasure Sect Master, conveying the same news.

"Should I go or not?"

Little Pine immediately raised its four tiny paws and perked up its two small ears, indicating its eagerness to go. Ye Fan smiled and patted its head.

In truth, he himself wanted to attend because it would allow him to meet some famous cultivators of the current age and also gain entry into the Supreme Clarity Sect, where the assembly was to be held.

The Spiritual Treasure Sect, Celestial Master Dao, and Supreme Clarity Sect together formed the Zhengyi Dao, jointly revering the Three Pure Ones. Originally, the Supreme Clarity Sect was the first to worship Yuanshi Tianzun.

"The sect that first revered Yuanshi Tianzun? I must go and see why."

Suddenly, a Dao talisman flickered and appeared before Ye Fan. It was a divine talisman sent by the Spiritual Treasure Sect Master, informing him that someone intended to kill him.

"Heh heh, the one who wants to kill me has appeared..." he murmured softly to himself, a sneer spreading across his face.