The Great Black Dog wore an expression of sheer misfortune — though unfortunately, Ye Fan couldn’t see it. If he had, he would certainly have given it a thorough beating, even at the risk of getting bitten.
At this moment, above the cliff face, the great sun loomed like a mountain range, filling the sky completely. In every direction, white light blazed — like daylight descending in the dead of night. Ye Fan sat cross-legged at the heart of the great sun, perfectly still, his expression serene and transcendent, completely immersed in a state of Dao communion.
The “scripture guide” recorded in the Primordial Heavenly Book had triggered the imprint left behind by the Western Queen Mother, and the great sun blazed forth in all its glory.
That palm-sized sun was a Dao pattern beyond all imagination, bearing within it the Western Queen Mother’s mark. Though more than a hundred thousand years had passed, it still endured, imperishable, long-preserved in this world.
Ye Fan’s consciousness remained clear and bright. Bathed in roaring flames, his heart’s spiritual reservoir blazed red as the sun — dazzling, shooting toward the heavens, illuminating the Dao Palace in a blaze of light.
The scripture text he had learned from the Primordial Heavenly Book was far from complete — it had been fragmentary. Now it was being filled in. His heart’s spiritual reservoir, blazing like the sun at its zenith, resonated with the great sun outside. Life essence surged and overflowed in every direction.
The innate essence brought forth new generation, the acquired essence provided nourishment. The blazing crimson essence, the surging power of the Dao, flowed from that heavenly sun within the human body outward into every inch of flesh and blood.
His entire body turned crimson red, then gradually became translucent. Fiery clouds enveloped him. The heart’s essence burned away all impurities and blemishes. Inside and outside the Dao Palace, everything became brilliantly clear and pure. His physical body grew increasingly crystalline.
This was an entirely new transformation. Within the heart’s spiritual reservoir, the blazing red essence — both innate and acquired — began circulating along more intricate routes.
Ye Fan remained perfectly still, feeling this transformation with his whole being.
The great sun that filled the sky held no scripture text within it, no voice — only a certain rhythm of the Dao. Yet it conveyed the heart’s spiritual reservoir of the Dao Palace Mystery Realm with utmost clarity and completeness.
The sun carved into the cliff face corresponded to the Heavenly Sun scroll of the Dao Palace Mystery Realm. When Ye Fan triggered it, he did not receive a specific scriptural text. Instead, he experienced that profound and wondrous process of evolution — a transmission that left not a single word, not a single character, only the creator’s realm of understanding, the many transformations used to deduce the ancient scripture, without a single line of the Scripture of the Western Emperor‘s actual text. Yet this inheritance was equal in worth to the ancient scripture itself.
Ye Fan sat unmoving until the sun rose and morning clouds flooded the sky. Only then did he abruptly open his eyes. At the same moment, the great sun overhead exploded with a thunderous crack into ten thousand streams of fire, all of which rushed back into the imprint on the cliff face.
Ye Fan felt that the heart’s spiritual reservoir chapter of the Dao Palace Mystery Realm had been perfected — it was entirely different from before. He felt the circulation of his Dao power was far more fluid and unhindered, and the essence that surged through his body was vastly more powerful.
He stood on the cliff face facing the dawn glow, his robes billowing in the wind. His body was like jade — though still a youth’s form, it carried an immortal air. Within his youthful and delicate features, a quality of effortless transcendence shone through.
“Did you truly obtain the Scripture of the Western Emperor?” the Great Black Dog asked resentfully.
“What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that even though you brought me here and pointed the way, I still had no way to cultivate the ancient scripture of the Western Emperor?” Ye Fan looked at it with an unfriendly expression.
The Great Black Dog gave an awkward laugh: “How could that be? Would this Emperor ever be so underhanded? I was simply asking casually.”
“Hurry up and take me to find the remaining sections of the Scripture of the Western Emperor!” Ye Fan urged.
“Young one, did you previously come into contact with the Scripture of the Western Emperor? Did you obtain what one might call a ‘scripture guide’?” the Great Black Dog asked.
“What are you talking about? What is a ‘scripture guide’?” Ye Fan fixed his gaze on it.
“Damn it — how could someone cultivate this without obtaining a ‘scripture guide’ first? What a tremendous loss.” The Great Black Dog muttered in a voice so soft as to be nearly inaudible.
Ye Fan’s spiritual sense could take form and project outward, far surpassing what his current cultivation level should allow. In a faint, elusive instant, he caught its murmur — and immediately a black line appeared on his forehead. This wretched dead dog was truly unreliable through and through.
“Dark Emperor, have you found the Western Emperor’s remaining carvings?”
“No — I’ve searched completely. There is only this one location.” The Great Black Dog shook its head with a complete lack of integrity.
“Nonsense. Stop stalling and lead the way. You don’t want that jade sea turtle anymore, do you?” Ye Fan threatened.
“Let me borrow that nut of yours — the one carved with the bald head. With it, I’m certain to find the Scripture of the Western Emperor.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Do you even know what this seed does?” Ye Fan glanced at it sideways.
“Of course I know — didn’t you just use it to trigger that heavenly sun and obtain the Scripture of the Western Emperor?”
“Stop scheming!” Ye Fan refused in no uncertain terms. If he lent it the seed, it would be like throwing meat to a dog — it would never come back.
In the end, the Great Black Dog conceded. Sulking, it led Ye Fan to another stone mountain. On this one was carved a palm-sized imprint of golden essence.
This time, Ye Fan was practiced and swift — he did not spend much time at all before triggering the imprint left behind by the Western Queen Mother.
In an instant, energy shot toward the clouds. Golden essence rang out crisply and clearly, and he was drawn into a realm of golden divine light. He sat cross-legged beneath the heavens, his energy sea rising like a tide, billowing and surging outward.
The lungs’ spiritual reservoir — of the Five Elements belonging to metal, the chief of the five viscera, known as the Canopy — now, with its scriptural text completed, sent a sharp, piercing energy soaring to the heavens, ringing out with a clear clanging resonance like ten thousand swords singing in unison.
A metallic luster shone across Ye Fan’s body — like a sharp blade slicing through the blue sky, its edge impossibly keen, unapproachable.
Here too there was no scripture text — only the evolution of the lungs’ spiritual reservoir chapter, elaborated to its absolute limit, transmitting the Dao without a single word.
The lungs’ spiritual reservoir commands ten thousand energies, draws upon essence, vital breath, and spirit, disperses them throughout the body, reaches outward to skin and body hair, breathes in the primal essence of heaven and earth — brimming with surging vitality!
At this moment, the turbid energy in Ye Fan’s Dao Palace vanished. Spirit and essence surged in abundance, everything shining brilliantly clear — reaching through the six viscera, connecting to the four limbs and the hundreds of bones, to the muscles and pores and skin, all of it luminously clear and unobstructed.
All energies fall under the domain of the lungs’ spiritual reservoir. It is connected to heaven and earth. Of all the essence the physical body requires, it is the lungs that bear primary responsibility for generating it.
When the radiance withdrew inward, Ye Fan opened his eyes. His Dao Palace’s lungs’ spiritual reservoir chapter had been perfected. Every pore in his body opened wide. He felt his physical body had merged with heaven and earth — ready at any moment to summon ten thousand energies.
“The Scripture of the Western Emperor truly is profound and wondrous — seizing the creative power of heaven and earth. It is astonishing.”
These two spiritual reservoirs he had already cultivated before. Now, after supplementing and perfecting them, he had experienced their deeper and more refined mystery — like divine clarity descending upon his mind, leaving his heart utterly luminous.
“If I had never obtained the ‘scripture guide,’ I would not have believed even unto death that anyone could obtain the Scripture of the Western Emperor!” the Great Black Dog muttered, its expression drawn and sour.
“Dark Emperor, what are you grumbling about?”
The Great Black Dog said fiercely: “Young one, you must have charmed one of Yaochi’s Sacred Maidens. There’s no other explanation for how you could have obtained a Western Emperor scripture guide.”
“What nonsense is that? Hurry up and take me to find the remaining scripture texts. We shouldn’t linger long in Yaochi’s former land — once the task is done, we leave immediately.”
What followed went smoothly. On a stone mountain carved with an ancient tree, Ye Fan found the liver’s spiritual reservoir chapter. After that, he obtained the spleen’s and the kidneys’ spiritual reservoir chapters as well.
The Dao Palace’s Five Spiritual Reservoirs were now complete. Of the remaining three reservoirs, he had not yet cultivated them — he had merely perfected them and committed them to memory. At this point, the Scripture of the Western Emperor‘s Dao Palace scroll had at last been fully obtained, and he now possessed the complete cultivation method.
Ye Fan stood still for a long time, unable to conceal his awe. This scripture was profoundly deep and wondrously subtle — it revealed the mysteries of heaven and seized the creative power of heaven and earth.
“You are truly fortunate. The Scripture of the Western Emperor‘s Dao Palace scroll is known as the finest in the Eastern Desolation — the most perfect cultivation method in existence — and you have managed to gather all five chapters of the Spiritual Reservoirs.” The Great Black Dog bared its teeth: “Hand over the jade sea turtle now.”
“What’s the rush? You’ve only obtained the Dao Palace scroll. The Scripture of the Western Emperor encompasses several great mystery realms — the Four Extremities scroll and others still haven’t been obtained.” Ye Fan laughed.
“And you call me greedy!” The Great Black Dog ground its teeth.
Of the Four Extremities Mystery Realm imprints, only one had been found. But even with the Bodhi Seed in hand, Ye Fan could not trigger it. After trying for a long time, he simply could not access it.
“Does it truly require a ‘scripture guide’?” He immediately thought of what the Dark Emperor had said — the Western Emperor scripture guide.
Before long, they found the imprint for another of the four extremities. Regrettably, it could not be triggered either — this scroll too was beyond his reach.
“I was beginning to think you could rival a Great Emperor — that you didn’t need a scripture guide to obtain the Scripture of the Western Emperor. But now it’s clear you must have charmed one of Yaochi’s Sacred Maidens and cultivated the Dao Palace scroll’s scripture guide.”
“You wretched dead dog — you knew about this situation from the very start and said nothing, then lured me all the way out here. Were you trying to make me come for nothing?”
“Young one, you are challenging this Emperor’s dignity. Be careful — I will eat you!” The Great Black Dog snarled ferociously.
“Isn’t that just the plain truth?!” Ye Fan glared at it.
“This Emperor is so righteously generous — how could I be so lacking in principle? There is a solution. I intended to tell you after you presented the jade sea turtle upon our arrival here.”
“So you really had it all planned out: you’d lure me here, I’d become so entranced by the true scripture that I couldn’t walk away yet couldn’t trigger it, and you figured I’d have no choice but to offer up the jade sea turtle — didn’t you?” Ye Fan restrained his urge to strike it. “Fortunately for me, I had the Dao Palace scroll’s scripture guide.”
“Don’t think so ill of this Emperor.” The Great Black Dog was utterly shameless, and then offered in a tempting tone: “Surely you want the other scrolls of the Scripture of the Western Emperor, don’t you?”
“You wretched scheming dog — do you actually have the ‘Four Extremities scripture guide’? How would you help me obtain the Western Emperor’s Four Extremities scroll?!” Ye Fan glared at it fiercely: “If you do, then recite a passage of it for me — let me hear it.”
The Dark Emperor hummed and hawed. There was no way it could recite anything. It opened its enormous mouth, lined with fearsome teeth: “Young one, you have repeatedly profaned me — daring to call me a dead dog. This Emperor must discipline you!”
“Dead dog — I’ve been wanting to deal with you too!” Ye Fan formed his hand seal and struck first with a sneak attack, unleashing the Battle Saint Art.
The Great Black Dog was absolutely no gentle creature. In almost the same instant, it struck with a dark bite.
“Damn it — a dead dog truly can’t change its nature. Always going for a sneak bite!”
“You were the one who attacked me first!”
“If I hadn’t struck first, I’d have been bitten again.”
“Damn it, young one — you are insulting me!”
Ye Fan and the Dark Emperor clashed in the stone forest, both bearing extraordinary constitutions. Their battle rang out like thunder, and each time they collided it sounded like hammers striking iron.
“Young one, whatever the case, you’ve obtained the Scripture of the Western Emperor‘s Dao Palace scroll. Hand over the sea turtle.” The Great Black Dog kept biting and yelling at the same time.
“Hand it over? Not a chance. You wanted something for nothing. You can forget about it for the rest of your life.” Ye Fan’s golden palms swung into motion, driving the Sun-Moon Great Seal, hoisting the Rivers-and-Mountains Great Seal, striking with everything he had.
“Do you want this Emperor to toil for nothing…” The Great Black Dog threatened with bared teeth.
“Dead dog — what did they feed you growing up? Even the Battle Saint Art can’t knock you down!” Ye Fan cursed.
“Damn it — so it’s the Nine Secrets! No wonder this hurts so much — I’m practically dying of pain!” The Great Black Dog let out a wretched cry, and it was absolutely not feigning.
Ye Fan had been bitten more than a dozen times in succession. He was truly at a loss for words. The Battle Saint Art could do nothing more than cause the other party pain — what kind of situation was this?!
“Dead dog, you’re truly monstrous!”
“You’re the monstrous one! Any cultivator of the Four Extremities Mystery Realm who got hit by that palm of yours would be shattered to pieces. Only this Emperor can endure it — and it still hurts like hell!” The Great Black Dog cried out, baring its teeth in agony.
BOOM!
All at once, a terrifying shockwave erupted. Dozens of li away, rolling black mist shot skyward, and the sky above that area turned as dark as ink in an instant.
“The immortal pool!”
“It’s coming from the immortal pool!”
Ye Fan and the Great Black Dog immediately stopped fighting. They made the same choice — turned and ran at full speed toward the exit.
Right there in the birthplace of Yaochi, a terrifyingly powerful shockwave had erupted from the immortal pool, sending dark clouds churning in every direction.
“That’s an immortal pool — what has happened to it? Could Yaochi’s decision to retreat have something to do with this?”
Not long ago, they had gone deep into the lake to investigate. Thinking back to that, both Ye Fan and the Dark Emperor felt a cold shudder run through them.
They moved with extreme speed, and before long had rushed to that dried-up lakebed. Following the great fissure, they made for the ancient well.
Though the immortal pool had undergone some strange change, nothing came chasing after them, which let them breathe a sigh of relief.
At that very moment, Ye Fan let out a yell of pain — the Great Black Dog had bitten down on his left hand and absolutely refused to let go.
“What the—! Why do you always go for a sneak bite?!”
“Young one, I can’t fly. If we get to the ancient well and you fly off on your own and leave me stranded here, then what? Better to bite you and hold on first.” The Dark Emperor mumbled, teeth clamped around his left hand.
“After we get out, let us never meet again. I am a cultivator of the Dao Palace Mystery Realm — and yet I get bitten every single day…”
Following the river channel, they returned to the ancient well without incident. Ye Fan carried the Dark Emperor and soared upward, and before long they were back at the surface.
Sunlight poured down over the vast open land. Yaochi’s landscape was gone, nowhere to be seen. The experiences of this journey felt almost unreal.
Ye Fan flung the Dark Emperor aside and immediately took flight.
The Great Black Dog was furious, cursing: “Young one, you’ve obtained the Scripture of the Western Emperor and still haven’t given me the jade sea turtle, and you still haven’t told me the whereabouts of the ancient scripture left by the Demon Race’s Great Emperor. If you dare run, I will not let this rest!”
“Go back to the stone fortress — I’ll come find you!” Ye Fan transmitted his voice even as he fled.
“You intend to go back on your word?!” The Great Black Dog shouted: “If you dare run, I’ll reveal all your secrets — I’ll go to the Ji Family and to Yao Guang Sacred Ground to collect the bounty on your head.”
Ye Fan slowed his pace. He felt this Great Black Dog was truly a difficult adversary.
“Young one, you actually tried to flee — you were trying to trick this Emperor!”
“Dark Emperor, and what right do you have to say that? You had no ‘scripture guide,’ yet you still lured me out there. You were the one who tried to trick me first.”
The Great Black Dog knew it was in the wrong: “Whatever the case, you’ve already obtained the Scripture of the Western Emperor. Fulfill your promise.”
Ye Fan rubbed his chin, thought it over, and said: “I can’t give you the jade sea turtle yet. But I can take you to find the ancient scripture of the Demon Race’s Great Emperor.”
“You’re not plotting against me, are you?” The Great Black Dog was suspicious.
“Do you think I’m like you? Rest assured — I would never be so underhanded.” Ye Fan replied.
“I think you are even more dishonorable than I am!” The Great Black Dog bared its teeth.
“To find the ancient scripture of the Demon Race’s Great Emperor, we may need to enter the dwelling place of a mighty being. Do you think we can actually pull it off?” Ye Fan asked.
“A mighty being? You really know how to set a difficult task.”
“Though it is in such a place, we won’t necessarily encounter the mighty being in person. The ancient scripture is not in his hands — it’s with someone else.”
The Great Black Dog pondered for a moment, then said: “That could be worth trying.” At that, it suddenly raised its head and said through gritted teeth: “Young one, you’re not tricking me, are you?”
“Don’t assume the worst. You think I am you — treacherous and rotten!” Ye Fan replied.
The Great Black Dog fixed its gaze on him: “You are very untrustworthy.”
“Those words should be coming from me. During our entire time in Yaochi, name one thing you did that was actually dependable?” Ye Fan challenged it, then added: “The person who holds the ancient scripture — there are two souls residing in that body. Do you have a way to draw one of them out?”
The Great Black Dog looked suspicious: “Young one, I can’t shake the feeling you don’t have good intentions.”
“Am I that kind of person? From beginning to end, it has always been you who was underhanded!” Ye Fan pointed out its faults, then added: “Rest assured. The process may be a bit turbulent, but I will absolutely let you have the ancient scripture in the end.”
“I keep getting the feeling you’re untrustworthy.” The Great Black Dog looked at him steadily.
“You’ve done so many underhanded things yourself that you’re always scheming against others — so you imagine everyone else is just as bad as you.” Ye Fan laughed with contempt.
“I’ll trust you just this once. But young one, think carefully about what you’re doing. If you dare scheme against this Emperor, I will leave you with nowhere to run in heaven or on earth!” The Great Black Dog threatened viciously.