Chapter 977: Northern Sacred Land

Chapter 977: The Sacred Land of Beidao

After the ancient killing formation was destroyed, the area was in ruins. Fortunately, nothing outside was damaged, and Mount Maoshan, in the mortal realm, remained calm and peaceful, with no one knowing that a great battle had taken place there.

Ye Fan had no intention of seeking trouble with the Heavenly Scale Race. With the two protectors dead, there was nothing more to pursue; they had merely brought it upon themselves by seeking revenge.

"Does anyone know who this person is, or which lineage they belong to?"Ye Fan, ambushed today, recalled an old incident. He took out an ancient black-and-white photograph from World War II, showing a blurry demonic figure with overwhelming power.

"That person caused a sensation back then," said the old patriarch of the Vermillion Phoenix lineage. "They weren't from the Four Great Demonic God Races, and no one knew their origins."Ye Fan nodded upon hearing this. As long as they weren't from the Heavenly Scale Race, it was fine, avoiding another major battle in the future. This person was undoubtedly formidable.

He departed with his nominal disciples, accompanied by Daoist Qiri. More precisely, they were going to Mount Zhongnan with the old Daoist to be guests and rest for a while.

"Master, when will we set off? Let's hurry west," said Youweiyu, sounding impatient."No rush," Ye Fan replied. "They have already arrived. If I head west now, I might miss something. I'll deal with a few groups first, ensuring they never dare to launch another eastern expedition, and then I'll proceed west."

"That's fine too," said Zhan Yifan. "A slow journey west. Our generation will cross over, and perhaps our names will be recorded in the annals of the cultivation world."

On the journey, Ye Fan walked alongside Daoist Qiri. This old man was extraordinary, already over 1,200 years old, and a rare great divine ability user who had lived in seclusion on Mount Zhongnan for many years.

"I'm ashamed," the old Daoist said humbly. "I've been stuck at the first heaven of the Immortal Terrace for years, unable to advance further. I don't know when I'll achieve success."He was even older than the protectors of Mount Changbai, one of the few known long-lived individuals in Central Earth, revered as a figure of paramount importance.

Ye Fan sighed. It wasn't that the old Daoist had poor aptitude; rather, the world had changed, especially in the last few centuries. It was truly difficult for the old Daoist to have reached this stage.He decided to help him. If he could break through to the Immortal Two realm, the old Daoist could live for over two thousand years. The long path of cultivation needed and lacked such persistent practitioners.However, he didn't explicitly state his intentions. Instead, he simply discussed cultivation techniques with him, sharing various methods for breaking through bottlenecks from the other side of the starry sky.

Of course, along the way, he also taught his disciples some techniques. First, he imparted a secret art that two ancient practitioners from the Jin Dynasty had cherished.It was an ancient secret method they had obtained while at sea: "Fish Leaping into a True Dragon." For a brief moment, it allowed for extreme sublimation, elevating agility to its peak, comparable to the Secret of Movement in an instant.

"I do have some other ancient secret arts, but they come with very high requirements if you wish to learn them, demanding many trials. For now, I can only teach you other methods."These were just nominal disciples, not true inheritors of his lineage, so secret arts like the "Secret of Movement" or "Secret of Combat" could not be imparted to them at this time.

"Fish Leaping into a True Dragon" was also a wondrous technique, renowned and highly regarded in ancient times. Had it not been for the "Secret of Movement," it would have been considered a supreme divine art.Even Daoist Qiri, eager to learn, humbly joined in the request. Ye Fan diligently taught it, and the old Daoist was so delighted that he rushed back to Mount Zhongnan by himself that very day, only to quickly return again just to test the technique.

The disciples, of course, were also exceptionally joyful. This ancient miraculous art had been lost for many years, and now having the good fortune to learn it, they were incredibly excited and thrilled.

"Wah-ya-ya, such a cute little darling! Come let your big sister hug you," cried Huang Tiannü, playfully chasing after Little Pine.Yan Xiaoyu, initially reserved, eventually couldn't resist. She dropped her prim demeanor and joined in, vying for the purple little creature.It wasn't just the two girls; even Zhang Qingyang and Youweiyu couldn't help themselves, wanting to touch the little thing that resembled a purple crystal. Its appearance was simply irresistible to everyone, young and old.

Little Pine looked very wronged, its large, black-gem-like eyes fluttering with unshed tears. It gazed at them timidly and fearfully, hiding behind Ye Fan, clutching his clothes gently, only daring to peek out with half its head.It was utterly bewildered, not understanding what was happening or why these people were "bullying" it. It felt deeply aggrieved.

"This is your junior martial brother. Don't bully him," Ye Fan said, standing up for Little Pine.

"Little Junior Martial Brother, just come with me! I'll take good care of you, bathe you every day, and feed you delicious treats," coaxed Huang Tiannü, her long hair draped over her shoulders. Her figure was curvaceous and lithe, and her tight jeans highlighted her long, slender legs.It was clear she wanted to keep the purple little creature as a pet. The others were the same, vying to tempt it, even producing rare fruits that they considered exceptionally precious.

Little Pine looked left and right, its big eyes fluttering, but it didn't choose any of them. Instead, it eventually took a Scarlet Moon Fruit from a small bell-shaped artifact, mostly cast from silver essence, and took a hearty bite. It ate with great relish, and in an instant, a fragrant aroma wafted, spreading within a ten-zhang radius.

"An ancient spiritual fruit?" Their eyes went wide. They felt tempted in return, strongly wishing to snatch the little creature's bell and "rob" it on the spot to see if there were any more spiritual fruits.

After finishing the Scarlet Moon Fruit, Little Pine blinked its large eyes, rubbed its small belly, and then took out a Source Dragon Fruit. It was golden-yellow, translucent, and resembled a small dragon.This kind of fruit grew in places with abundant source energy. They weren't very common even in Beidou, but for Ye Fan, obtaining them was no problem.

"Hey, little one, calling you 'little junior martial brother' is fine, right? Stop making us hungry," said Zhan Yifan.Seeing them approach, Little Pine immediately became very wary. It hugged the Source Dragon Fruit, hid it behind its back, and looked as if to say, "I don't know you, don't try to take it from me," its big eyes rolling around.

Ye Fan smiled. This little fellow had always been so innocent; he wondered when it would finally grow up.The others groaned in despair, first because they coveted the ancient spiritual fruits, and second because they yearned to grab it and thoroughly cuddle and knead it, certain it would feel delightful.

"Master, you can't be so biased! Our junior martial brother's snacks are all ancient spiritual fruits. How can we bear this? Poor, fated children like us haven't eaten more than a few since we were young!"Several disciples acted playfully stubborn, forcefully demanding fruit from him. Huang Tiannü even resorted to flirtatious teasing, blowing warm air into his ear and clinging to his arm, refusing to let go.

Among them, only Long Xiaoque remained calm, as his nature was inherently cool and he wasn't very talkative, which made him appear aloof.His true name was Long Yuxuan. He was called Long Xiaoque because his lineage's power was symbolized by the words "dragon" and "sparrow" (que), aiming to compare themselves to the ancestral Dragon Sparrow.

Ye Fan, naturally, was not stingy. When they stopped to rest on a mountain, he took out a jade plate piled high with various spiritual fruits and invited Daoist Qiri and the disciples to taste them.Back when he was preparing to return, he and Pang Bo had made extensive purchases, fearing that Earth's spiritual energy might be depleted, making cultivation impossible. They had prepared countless spiritual fruits.

Finally, when Ye Fan presented Daoist Qiri with a small basket of spiritual fruits, everyone's eyes nearly popped out. "Isn't that too extravagant!""Master, we want some too!" the disciples exclaimed, their eyes red with envy. Such items were incredibly rare and sought after on Earth. Even Daoist Qiri hurriedly declined, saying he couldn't accept such a valuable gift.

Ye Fan shook his head and took out more to share with his disciples. These things were not particularly special in Beidou; even sect masters might disdain them.He had only brought them back to Earth to replenish spiritual energy. For him, they had no other special effects, unlike the Immortal Medicine's flesh, which contained fragments of the Great Dao.

"Master, what kind of world is on the other side of the starry sky?"They couldn't help but ask, having long known Ye Fan's origins and harboring an immense longing for the Beidou Starfield, wishing to cross the starfield and go there.

"If we cultivate there, will we be able to slay those so-called Holy Sons and Holy Maidens and suppress those so-called Holy Lords in the future?"Zhang Qingyang and Youweiyu both declared their willingness to enter the "other shore," join the so-called Heavenly Court, and leave this world.

Ye Fan's heart stirred. These individuals were rare prodigies. Cultivating in an environment where the Great Dao was within reach, there was hope for them to become Saints in the future. With so many talented individuals joining, even divine dynasties and sacred lands would pale in comparison; they were bound to achieve great things in the future.Unfortunately, he sighed lightly and said, "I myself can barely go back. How can I take you there?"

"There must be a way. When the ancient sages departed, they must have left behind some starfield map. We will definitely find it in the future." Their belief was quite firm.

Mount Zhongnan, with its thousand verdant peaks, boasts beautiful scenery and is known as the "Immortal Capital," the foremost of all grotto-heavens. The "South Mountain" mentioned in the phrase "May your fortune be as vast as the East Sea, and your longevity as eternal as the ageless pine of South Mountain..." refers to this very mountain.It is also an ancestral temple of Taoism, the birthplace of Quanzhen Taoism. With Zhengyi Taoism in the south and Quanzhen Taoism in the north, countless Taoists come here annually for pilgrimage.

The mountains are dotted with many Taoist temples, with layers of peaks and graceful, secluded valleys where one can hear the cries of apes and the roars of tigers, returning to the simplicity and original state of nature.

"Master, when will we head west?""It already began when we left Dragon Tiger Mountain. Aren't we heading west by coming from Mount Maoshan to Mount Zhongnan?"

Ye Fan and his companions walked along the rugged mountain path and arrived at Daoist Qiri's cave dwelling. Ancient vines as thick as water vats indicated that no outsiders had visited for a thousand years.In the distance, many Taoist temples stood majestically, enveloped in mist, with immortal cranes soaring and spiritual apes leaping joyfully, giving the area an exceptionally ethereal feel.

Mount Zhongnan, with its rugged beauty, resembled an embroidered screen painting, standing tall and majestic in Shaanxi Province.Daoist Qiri's cave dwelling was very simple, containing nothing but a stone bed, stone table, and stone chairs. The scenery outside, however, was beautiful. Located in a valley, it featured ancient trees, dense vines, a clear small lake, and various rare and exotic beasts.

Little Pine seemed to have returned to its paradise here, running freely throughout the valley. It had finally grown accustomed to Yan Xiaoyu and the others these past days. Although it was often cuddled and kneaded, protesting with grunts and whimpers, it was no longer so resistant.

Half a month passed in a flash. Ye Fan simultaneously instructed his disciples in cultivation and discussed the Dao with the old Daoist, helping him break through his bottleneck to become a sect master-level figure.

By the tranquil, moonlit Clear Mirror Lake, Daoist Qiri bowed deeply to Ye Fan. He had touched upon that bottleneck and might soon step into it, gaining a Dao treasure."Friend, you are too polite, there's no need for this," Ye Fan said, helping him up. "If you hadn't been born in this world, you would certainly be an extraordinary figure."

"This humble Daoist will enter secluded cultivation. If I achieve success, I will never forget your kindness. Perhaps it will be a year, perhaps ten years, perhaps a hundred years before we meet again."That night, Daoist Qiri began his secluded cultivation, no longer appearing in the mortal world, and thus unable to bid them farewell.

The moonlight was bright and clear. Ye Fan returned to the cave dwelling he had opened, preparing to depart the next day and continue his journey west.

In the latter half of the night, with the bright moon hanging askew and moonlight spilling into the cave entrance, a graceful and lithe figure approached. She possessed a classical beauty yet wore very modern, stylish attire.Illuminated by the moonlight, her skin was radiant, her hair danced lightly, and she appeared as ethereal as a fairy from the moon palace as she stepped inside.Her footsteps were light and nimble as she walked directly to Ye Fan's stone couch. Exuding warmth and a delicate fragrance, she came close to Ye Fan, her breath like orchids.Her slender figure was as pristine and beautiful as ivory, captivating and resplendent beyond words. Her beautiful eyes shone, filled with an alluring charm.

"Swish!"Ye Fan opened his eyes, his gaze like two bolts of lightning illuminating the cave. "What are you doing?" he asked."Just discussing life's ideals, Master," she said, leaning closer. "You're not much older than me, so don't pretend to be an old scholar. At most, I'll take responsibility for you!"Upon hearing this, Ye Fan nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.