Ye Fan’s head throbbed. The boundless stellar cosmos — one ancient star after another — where did the ancient road lead?

He and Pang Bo looked at each other, having thought far too many thoughts. This ancient star was surely not the final destination — it was very likely only a “waystation” along the road.

To advance, to return home — the only path was to transcend this place. One could only grow ever stronger to leave this world behind; otherwise, they were no different from birds trapped in a cage.

The vast universe, the boundless starry sky — how many secrets did it hold? The pre-Qin cultivators had left Earth and walked toward — where?

“Sigh, stop thinking so much. We never planned to go mingle with those ancient sages anyway. Getting home — that’s the right path.” Pang Bo said with a sigh.

For now, even entertaining such thoughts was useless. To enter the stellar regions, one would at the very least need to stand on equal footing with the Remote Antiquity Saints — otherwise, the only option was to rely on the Five-Colored Altar.

“There may be other stellar gates as well — not necessarily only that one altar in the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone. To get home, we need to learn more about this world.” Ye Fan transmitted secretly.

Ji Haoyue employed the Divine Art of Heavenly Evolution to calculate and examine both imprints carefully, yet gained nothing from it. This was the unique gift of the Divine Physique, immensely useful in battle.

In the end, they left the place and walked onward. The dried-up lake had mist rising from it — it appeared close, yet was difficult to approach.

“That’s strange.” Ye Fan’s expression shifted.

“We’ve already been here once before, but couldn’t get through. We specifically prepared some materials — formation patterns capable of breaking through illusions — hoping to try and force a way in.” Li Heishui said.

Jiang Huairen, Wu Zhongtian, Liu Kou, and the others made their move, offering up stellar stones and withered dragon wood, placing them at the front of the stone forest and casting them into the lake.

The misty waters swirled, showing no sign of weakening. As the group drew closer, the mist grew only denser. The dried lake — now little more than a puddle — gradually rose into a great fog that swallowed the entire stone forest.

“It’s no use. Same as last time — there’s no way through.” Pang Bo frowned.

The mist was heavy, and quickly engulfed the entire area, causing everyone to lose their bearings entirely — unable to tell east from west, north from south. They had no choice but to retreat. This place was deeply strange.

They caught a lone wolf and drove it into the mist — in nearly an instant, it dissolved. The creature simply vanished from the world, not even bone or flesh remaining. It was deeply unsettling.

“This place is truly bizarre…” They offered up treasured artifacts, which soon also made cracking sounds — destroyed within the mist.

“Could this truly be the Immortal Ascension Pool?” Ye Fan’s heart leapt at the thought. If it was indeed an immortal pool, there would be extraordinary fortune to be gained!

It had already dried up, reduced to a small puddle. If there were any immortal treasures, they would be easy to spot and seize.

“Shakyamuni and Laozi both passed through here — this really might be the immortal pool of the Qinling Mountains, the birthplace of the Azure Emperor.” Pang Bo rubbed his hands together eagerly.

“From the most ancient of times, no one knows how many divine objects have sunk into the immortal pool. It is said there are fragments of shattered supreme imperial weapons, and immortal treasures.” Ji Ziyue knew a great deal. The black pupils of her eyes shimmered with perceptive light.

“Everyone hold still — let me look carefully.” Ye Fan stepped back and observed the surrounding terrain from outside the mist.

The stone forest spread in all directions; sheer cliffs soared into the sky. Near the dried lake, green vegetation was sparse, yet the mountain peaks surrounding it thrummed with vitality.

“This place is truly extraordinary. The more I look at it, the more familiar it seems…” He murmured.

No one disturbed him, for everyone knew he had inherited the transmission of the Source Heavenly Master — his study of mountains, rivers, and terrain was of unparalleled authority.

“This is — a Land of Immortal Ascension!” Ye Fan’s heart shook violently. This matched the descriptions in the Source Heavenly Book almost exactly — a terrain that connected to a place of profound and wondrous mystery.

The others were all startled. From the name alone, it was clear this was no ordinary land — surely something extraordinarily divine, most likely in close proximity to the Immortal Ascension Pool.

“As the name suggests, this is a place of the rarest sort in all the world — a terrain that connects to an immortal land. The path through it is treacherous, and there will be great danger along the way.”

Though it was recorded in the Source Heavenly Book, the Land of Immortal Ascension existed only in legend — never actually witnessed. Even a few Source Heavenly Masters had not been fortunate enough to see it for themselves, only theorizing that such terrain must exist.

That such a path existed here in the Qinling Mountains left no doubt — it pointed toward the Immortal Ascension Pool. The so-called “immortal ascension road” surely originated from that very place.

“Is it easy to get through?” Jiang Huairen asked, full of hope.

“Nine deaths and one survival — the equivalent of charging through a death gate. It is very difficult to pass.” Ye Fan said. Compared to the various deadly grounds of the Eastern Wasteland, this was no less fearsome.

“Then… are we just supposed to stand here and stare? There may be an Immortal Ascension Pool ahead — and since the most ancient of times, who knows how many fragments of immortal treasures have sunk into it.”

A Land of Immortal Ascension — from the name alone, one could tell it was a terrifying place that cut off all paths forward. If anyone could simply pass through it, everyone would have ascended long ago — what would make it an “immortal land” at all?

“It can be attempted. Since it has revealed itself on its own, the danger should be greatly reduced. There’s a reasonable chance of success.”

The Land of Immortal Ascension was normally completely invisible — concealed in the void year-round. Only someone who had cultivated the Heavenly Eye could perceive it, and even then with great difficulty. It was nearly impossible to find.

Once every ten thousand years or so, it might reappear in the mortal world — taking physical form — and only then could traces of it be caught and glimpsed by people of the world.

Ye Fan finally understood why the Immortal Ascension Pool had been findable by no one — it manifested once in ten thousand years, existing in the void, belonging not to the mortal realm at all. An immortal land in the truest sense.

“It’s almost as if it descends from an entirely separate world!”

This was also an opportunity. In normal circumstances, even if one caught a glimpse of it by chance through the Heavenly Eye, there would be no way in — nine deaths and one survival. But when it descended of its own accord, its danger was infinitely weakened — not nearly so terrifying. For one with skilled enough methods, it would be possible to pass through.

“Carrying a weapon of a Remote Antiquity Saint to clear the path — that should allow entry.” Ye Fan said.

“There’s truly no other way?” Pang Bo was deeply reluctant.

“Brother, go and tell the Clan Head — he will certainly be able to summon a Saint weapon.” Ji Ziyue blinked her large eyes at Ji Haoyue.

“Weren’t we already agreed? Whatever we find here, we split it evenly. If you bring in those old elders from your clan, we’ll go invite our senior grandfather bandits as well.” Li Heishui said.

If the Ji Family was alerted, the little bandit group would certainly have to run. Even if they invited their own grandfathers, they’d need to come with the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar in hand.

“Don’t be hasty — let me try to open a passage.” Ye Fan said.

Following the records in the Source Heavenly Book, he observed the surrounding mountain terrain and felt the pulse of this world, continuously deducing and calculating — carving countless Source Heavenly patterns into the ground.

After a long while, Ye Fan stood and walked step by step toward the dried lake. Beneath his feet, Source Heavenly patterns emerged of their own accord, shimmering like a field of stellar regions in motion.

“Ye Fan, are you sure about this? If you’re not, let’s just not go!” Pang Bo called out, trying to dissuade him, afraid he might come to harm.

“Relax — I’m only probing. I absolutely will not let myself fall into danger.” Ye Fan smiled.

“Be careful, and please don’t try to be brave.” Ji Ziyue murmured softly, wrinkling her charming nose and waving one small snow-white hand.

“Little Ye Fan, be very careful!” Li Heishui and the others called out in reminder.

Before long, Ye Fan’s voice carried back from within the mist, telling the others to come in. His initial judgment was that the path was viable — and at worst, they could still retreat.

Pang Bo, Ji Ziyue, and the others entered the mist. It was like standing on clouds — they looked around at their surroundings. The fog was exceedingly dense; two people standing face to face could barely make each other out. It was eerie and disquieting, leaving everyone with a persistent sense of unease.

Beneath Ye Fan’s feet, the Source Heavenly patterns flickered — intricate and profound — pulsing in harmony with the earth itself, drawing out the paths and secrets he sought to know.

The others followed close behind him, advancing one step at a time through the deep and shallow footing, hearts tense yet excited. After all, they were drawing nearer to the legendary Immortal Ascension Pool.

The birthplace of the Azure Emperor, the place where the green bronze fragment had been submerged — what else lay within? No one could say for certain, and that very mystery filled everyone with boundless anticipation.

“Do not stray from me — stay within ten zhang at all times. Otherwise, even a great master who takes a wrong step will be dissolved into a pool of blood and pus.” Ye Fan gave a solemn warning.

“That frightening?” Jiang Huairen muttered nervously. Even a great master could be dissolved — his legs were going weak.

“Something’s off. We’ve entered the dried lake — but why is there no water at all? Why does it feel like we’re walking through mountain terrain?” Wu Zhongtian grew suspicious.

Ye Fan said: “Almost everything we see here is illusory — not real. Without cultivating the Heavenly Eye, it is nearly impossible to see through it.”

They moved with the utmost caution, following close behind Ye Fan, nearly stepping in his exact footprints. After advancing for more than half a quarter of an hour and traveling a considerable distance, the mist grew even denser.

Then, suddenly, something felt wrong — everyone sensed it, though none could say precisely what. The entire journey had been far too quiet, and a strange, uncanny feeling now crept over them.

“Something’s wrong — there’s an extra person among us!” Pang Bo’s hair stood on end.

At those words, everyone’s heart lurched. There should have been only eight of them — yet now there were nine. Someone, or something, had fallen in among them, moving forward alongside the group.

The mist was too thick. Even standing very close, one could not see clearly. A human-shaped creature stood among them, and no one could tell which figure didn’t belong.

In that moment, everyone’s scalp prickled. An extra person had appeared — truly not a good omen. Faintly, they caught the scent of something rotting and decayed.

“Hmph!”

Ji Haoyue let out a cold snort. From between his fingers, a string of blood droplets shot forth — like a rainbow lighting up the great mist, piercing straight through.

A sound like the wailing of a vengeful ghost rang out — the human-shaped creature in the mist was struck through, staggered, and fled in an instant, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Yet that terrible sound continued to echo, sending chills through everyone — like a thousand-year grudge-bearing specter casting a curse, cold and full of venomous hatred.

“That creature was extraordinarily powerful — not weaker than someone at the first level of the Immortal Platform. And yet Brother Haoyue repelled it with a mere flick of his finger.” Ye Fan said, astonished.

“Divine blood counters evil — it’s simply a matter of mutual restraint. That was a rotting corpse. In truth, the holy blood within your own body can do the same — it could burn such a creature to ash.” Ji Haoyue said.

Ji Ziyue was remarkably perceptive. Her dark gleaming eyes shifted as she murmured quietly: “I feel like we’re not entering an immortal pool at all. Why else would there be a death spirit like that?”

“On the road through a Land of Immortal Ascension, encountering things like this is not unusual.” Ye Fan explained.

Half an hour later, they walked out of the mist region. Ahead, the evening clouds blazed like blood, staining the sky — and mingled with them was a faint, shimmering golden radiance.

“What is this place? When we looked at the terrain from outside, there was no landscape like this.” Li Heishui frowned.

“This is the true appearance of this place. Everything seen before was illusory.” Ye Fan said.

The terrain here was extraordinary — mountains soaring and majestic, valleys broad and open, dragon qi coiling around the peaks. The eye took in a sweeping, magnificent view, the scenery vast and breathtaking.

Bang!

The ground ahead cracked open. A rotted wooden coffin — nearly completely decayed — split apart, and a large hand covered in red fur reached out, climbing free.

“What kind of place is this? Is this truly a Land of Immortal Ascension? Why is there another death spirit — this really is starting to feel like a burial ground.” Jiang Huairen’s hair was standing on end.

It was an enormous corpse. In the blood-red light of the setting sun, it was deeply unsettling — eyes glassy and vacant, it bore down on the group.

Ye Fan flicked his finger. Eight or nine golden blood droplets flew out and landed on its body. With a sizzling sound, golden flames erupted — the creature shrieked and fled in terror.

In the distance, a dozen or so silver-winged yaksha demons hovered. Their entire bodies gleamed like cast silver, flashing a metallic luster — yet not one dared draw near. They stared fixedly at Ye Fan with unblinking eyes.

Before long, a great mountain rose before them — and upon its summit lay a pool of water, shimmering in the sunset, flowing with dreamlike radiance.

“The immortal pool — it must be the Immortal Ascension Pool!” Everyone was deeply moved.

“Wait — look there, something else.” Pang Bo pointed toward another direction.

Beside it stood another great peak. On its face was an ancient cave, exhaling and drawing in dragon qi, stirring the hearts of all who beheld it. On either side of the cave entrance grew two banana trees — so ancient that no one could guess how many tens of thousands of years they had stood — shimmering with a green radiance.

“The Eternal Dragon Lair of the Qinling Mountains!” Ye Fan’s heart trembled. The Source Heavenly Master of the Third Generation might well be entombed within.