Within the ancient dragon cave that had endured since time immemorial, dragon roars echoed in waves. The ancient cavern flickered between light and darkness, lantern-like eyes gleaming within, suffocating all who beheld them.
“A dragon — could there truly be such a divine being here? This is a land where immortals once ascended. Perhaps such an existence truly dwells here!”
The Qinling dragon cave had been renowned across countless ages. That a true dragon lay dormant within was entirely possible, for there had been countless legends of divine beings in the primordial era.
“Could it be that a singular true dragon slumbers within this ancient cave?!”
The script used by the myriad ancient clans was the divine script, created by the gods themselves. If there were historical accounts suggesting that such a supreme existence had once lived in those ancient days, some people were willing to accept that possibility.
The ancient cavern’s light continued to flicker irregularly, ceaselessly exhaling and inhaling dragon essence — as though it had come back to life. A divine pearl appeared, glistening crimson as though about to drip, rising and sinking amidst ten thousand streams of elemental energy.
The moment the pearl appeared, people were petrified. Then many eyes turned red. They pushed and shoved forward in a mad rush — even living fossil-level figures lost their composure!
“A pearl spat out by a true dragon!”
“This is a divine pearl — there is a god here!”
“The legendary dragon pearl has appeared — this immortal treasure truly exists!”
The crimson pearl gleamed like agate, translucent and brilliant, over a meter in diameter — an enormous immortal jewel whose dreamlike radiance intoxicated all who saw it.
Before the ancient dragon cave, every person’s blood surged with excitement. The great majority were sect master-level figures whose cultivation had reached the very boundary of creation itself, yet all of them strained desperately to seize it.
Dragon essence surged in torrents. The ancient cavern ran deep, inhaling and exhaling solar essence. The divine pearl flashed and vanished, and every last person charged inside — not one could keep calm.
Before the ancient cave, no one remained. All had disappeared, pouring in together.
By the immortal pool, the assembled cultivators exchanged glances. Many regretted not having chosen the dragon cave — that had truly been a divine pearl, witnessed with their own eyes. It could contend with Heaven itself for the fortune of creation and allow one to prove one’s Dao.
“A divine pearl left behind by a true dragon — does this indirectly prove that immortals exist?!”
Figures flickered. Two sect masters went racing down the mountain to change their destination and contest for fortune at the ancient dragon cave, for that enormous divine pearl was simply too significant.
“Little Ye, have you made anything out? Can we go and seize the dragon pearl? That really is an immortal treasure!” Li Heishui rubbed his hands together eagerly.
“Don’t go. That place almost certainly harbors an ancient holy spirit. No one in this age can contend with it — it’s far more dangerous than this place.” Ye Fan’s expression was grave.
By his assessment, the ancient cavern at the base of the mountain was a place one entered but never left. Unless one’s body was protected by an extreme Dao emperor’s weapon, no matter how many people went in, all would die.
“Young man, might I borrow the Source Heavenly Tome for a look? Allow us to study it together so we may break through the immortal pool and bestow upon all present a chance at immortal fortune.” Ouyang Ye stroked his long beard, his tone neither warm nor cold.
“This old wretch is about to make his move. None of you should stand too close to me.” Ye Fan gave a quiet warning to those nearby.
“How can that be? The dragon essence has withdrawn inward now — you cannot borrow the power of the great Qinling dragon. Let us help you!” Dongfang Ye said.
“No need. I have my own means to finish him.” Ye Fan shook his head.
Others stepped forward as well, offering to act together with him. Someone said, “He’s nothing but a source terrain master. I can eliminate him with the Demon Emperor’s Nine Slashes without the slightest difficulty.”
“Rest easy. Though the great Qinling dragon’s power has withdrawn, there are other wonders beneath the earth. This place is the ancient immortal pool, containing boundless mysteries within — all of which I can turn to my use.” Ye Fan smiled.
Hearing him speak this way, the others relaxed at once. Li Heishui cast a sideways glance at Ouyang Ye and said, “Old wretch, you really must have eaten your fill and are looking to die!”
“Ignorant juniors.” Ouyang Ye’s face darkened. He fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, then swept his eyes across all four directions and said, “Ye Fan, you wish to swallow this immortal pool for yourself alone — the many fellow cultivators here will never agree. A man’s greed knows no bounds, like a serpent attempting to swallow an elephant. It’s possible that even the Myriad Things Primordial Qi Cauldron on your person will end up left behind here.”
This was undoubtedly an open declaration of hostilities. By deliberately naming a treasure exclusive to great emperors, he hoped to incite the others to attack and kill Ye Fan as well.
“You really are a contemptible, self-serving scoundrel.” Ye Fan showed no fear. He waded forward through the lake water, advancing step by step toward Ouyang Ye, murderous intent rising from him.
“Young man, you know not your own limits. Though you have earned a small name for yourself, you should not show such disrespect to your elders!” Not far away, four elderly figures stepped forward — two of them were unmistakably half-step great masters — and positioned themselves in Ye Fan’s path.
Ouyang Ye bore a smile, composed and at ease. He flicked his wide sleeves, clasped his hands behind his back, held his head high, and wore an expression of serene indifference — as though he stood apart from all of this, merely watching the spectacle unfold.
“Flaunting seniority. All of you, get out of my way. If I want to kill Ouyang Ye, no one can stop me!” Ye Fan said in a low, firm voice.
“Still so young after all — what a temper. Don’t you know that being this hot-headed is a quick way to die? Throughout history, brilliant talents have often died young. Do you wish to follow in their footsteps?” one of them said in a sinister tone.
“Get lost!” Ye Fan let out a sharp shout, swept out his sleeve, and it transformed into a sheet of blue radiance that lashed forward.
“Junior seeking death!” One of them — a man in the mid-stage of the first tier of the Immortal Platform — spoke in a cold, icy voice and struck out with his hand.
“Boom!”
The two collided violently. Ye Fan stood immovable as a mountain, while the elderly man was sent flying by the long sleeve as though he were a rotted puppet, coughing up great mouthfuls of blood, his face the color of gold paper.
Seeing this, another stepped forward. A divine radiance blazed from his palm as he unleashed a Dragon-Flood Scissor technique, which transformed into a streak of flowing light flying through the air — two flood dragons interlocked, aiming to cut Ye Fan in two at the waist.
“Boom!”
Ye Fan opened his mouth and exhaled a stream of innate essence energy. Like blowing out a candle, it shattered the Dragon-Flood Scissor technique. The primordial unified energy sent the man coughing up blood and sent him flying sideways.
“Nothing more than this!” He stood tall and proud, striding forward with great steps.
“What?!” The crowd cried out in shock.
Nearly everyone was incredulous. With casual ease, Ye Fan had left two Immortal Platform first-tier cultivators severely wounded — and this was not power borrowed from dragon energy but his own strength.
“Even first-tier Immortal Platform experts were routed this badly — yet the two of them are separated by seven or eight minor cultivation realms!”
“The Eighth Forbidden — he has touched the Eighth Forbidden domain!”
On the spot, certain sect master-level figures changed color. They immediately guessed the truth — otherwise, there was simply no way to bridge such a gap in battle.
The human body possesses five great secret realms: the Wheel Sea, the Dao Palace, the Four Extremities, the Dragon Transformation, and the Immortal Platform. Of these, the Immortal Platform is the most unique — each of its tiers is equivalent to an entire former major secret realm, with colossal differences in power between them.
A single first tier of the Immortal Platform is equivalent to nine minor cultivation realms of the past, though it is not divided so finely — it is spoken of only in terms of early stage, mid-stage, and absolute peak.
“The Eighth Forbidden — after so long, another person has touched the Eighth Forbidden domain!” The elder generation all changed color. Those who reached this were exceedingly rare throughout history and would invariably grow into peerlessly invincible powerhouses who shook heaven and earth.
The last time Ye Fan had revealed Eighth Forbidden battle power, no one had spread word of it, so the world remained unaware. Only now, for the first time, did the crowd erupt in shock and astonishment.
“The Eighth Forbidden…” Everyone could only murmur those three words.
The Holy Maiden of Jade Pond showed a look of surprise. The Holy Son Yao Guang’s face flickered with a trace of astonishment. The Moon Spirit Princess, the second most beautiful woman in Central Province, let her eyes shine with brilliant light. The kings of the five great domains were all moved… The younger generation each reacted differently.
The sect masters of every faction also, rarely, showed expressions of utmost gravity. None of them spoke, their thoughts turning rapidly, unknown what calculations they were making.
Every gaze converged upon Ye Fan. The Eighth Forbidden was exceedingly rare across all of history — once it was touched, sooner or later there would come a day when one was unrivaled beneath heaven and above earth. This was the interpretation passed down from the ancients.
“The Eighth Forbidden is nothing remarkable. Before he has grown, it amounts to just that. Kill him and he is nothing. If the Sacred Body does not achieve great completion, anything remains possible.” Ouyang Ye said in a sinister, suggestive tone.
He was reminding everyone: kill now while you can. This was the best opportunity — and the Myriad Things Primordial Qi Cauldron could be taken as well.
Beneath this speech, two more elders blocked the path ahead — both were half-step great masters at the absolute peak of the Immortal Platform’s first tier — and now they struck with lethal intent.
One of them opened his mouth and expelled a bronze tower, barely an inch tall, which in an instant expanded to more than ten zhang in height. It descended from above, pressing down to cover Ye Fan’s head and trap him within.
“Junior, so what if you’ve achieved the Eighth Forbidden? With absolute superiority of realm, I can crush you like an ant beneath my foot. Before you have grown, you are nothing!”
The other man’s eyes were dark and vicious. He opened his mouth and expelled a small bronze figure — initially just an inch tall, it rapidly grew into a giant, capable of wrenching mountains from the earth. With one step forward, mountains and rivers trembled.
“Failing to reach great completion, you are no more than a worm. A single stomp will kill you and end it all. Whatever future you supposedly have is nothing but an empty dream. I will not allow you to continue growing!”
The two of them laughed coldly, each deploying their magical artifacts, determined to eliminate Ye Fan. They had already made their decision — they would give him no chance to mature.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, elemental energy exploded. Dharmic power surged like a sea. From within the immortal pool, a great sheet of immortal radiance rose up. Ye Fan’s right hand expanded and grabbed hold of the bronze tower that was more than ten zhang tall, seizing it for his own. Then, like swinging a bundle of straw, he swung it down.
“What?!” The half-step great master was shocked and made a decisive retreat.
But it was already too late. Ye Fan, like a divine being, pressed down with the bronze tower in hand, shattering the half-step great master into a pulp of blood and mud — utterly incapable of resisting.
“Dong!”
Ye Fan swung the bronze tower and brought it crashing down upon the bronze figure. The two magical artifacts erupted in brilliant sparks and both shattered. At the same time, the other half-step great master was struck, his bones shattered and tendons snapped, his form and spirit both annihilated — nothing remained of him.
In an instant, two half-step great masters had died. Everyone beside the immortal pool retreated, and silence fell like that of crows and sparrows.
Ye Fan could draw upon the power within the immortal pool and still wage battle against supreme sage masters — this left many people feeling that the situation had turned grave.
“The Source Heavenly Tome is truly extraordinary…” Ouyang Ye was shaken with horror. He could not summon the power of this place, yet Ye Fan had managed it. He let out a cold, sinister laugh, and source markings began to rise from beneath his feet.
In an instant, every hair on Ye Fan’s body stood on end. An intense sense of crisis surged into his heart, and his feet executed the Walking Script technique as he vanished in a flash, appearing off to one side.
“Boom!”
A small sun came flying out, blazing with golden radiance. It scorched and vaporized the very ground where Ye Fan had stood an instant before — rosy mist drifted, and everything that had been there ceased to exist.
A divine source stone!
It was a divine source stone the size of a human head, its surface densely covered with carved patterns. It held within it boundless profound meaning and could level an endless mountain range in a single instant.
Divine radiance blazed fiercely. Three more divine source stones appeared, similar in size, hovering suspended in midair. Their violent surges of divine power destroyed everything around them, source markings packed densely across their surfaces.
“Ouyang Ye, have you lost your mind?!” Ye Fan’s heart went cold, as though he had fallen into an icy cavern.
Each divine source stone was worth five hundred thousand jin of pure source material — enormous in size, each carved with complex and profound source arts. Once detonated, all life within a hundred li in every direction would be utterly extinguished, reduced to scorched earth.
“Don’t worry — this is the Four Symbols Source Heavenly Formation. It will only refine and destroy you; it will not harm anyone else. Boy, I’ll send you to meet the source heavenly masters of all previous generations!” Ouyang Ye laughed with a chill that made one’s hair stand on end.
Four divine source stones the size of human heads were arranged in a formation across all four directions, trapping Ye Fan at the center. A terrifying aura flowed from them. Golden divine radiance shot toward the sky, like four suns hanging in the air.
The densely packed source heavenly markings blazed to life, surging forth all at once. Each divine source stone took the form of an immortal spirit creature: a small dragon, a divine phoenix, an immortal tiger, and a dark tortoise — none more than a foot in length, all golden, lifelike in appearance, guarding each of the four directions. Each opened its mouth and exhaled a length of woven brilliance, beginning to refine and consume Ye Fan.
A tremendous tremor rang out. The Myriad Things Primordial Qi Cauldron appeared, hovering in the air above Ye Fan’s head. Strands of mysterious yellow energy descended from it and wrapped around him, shielding him within.
The four divine source stones contained boundless divine power, and the pressure they exerted upon him was overwhelming. He sat cross-legged on the ground, forming hand seals, drawing upon the immortal radiance within the immortal pool for his own use.
He carved characters into the void — each stroke ringing out like metal, every character shimmering with a metallic luster, seared into the emptiness. They rang out clear and resonant, like heavenly swords being unsheathed.
“The Immortal-Sealing Six Locks?!” Ouyang Ye was greatly startled. Ye Fan’s progress in source arts had been too swift — it exceeded his comprehension. Only a few years had passed, yet this source heavenly forbidden technique had already reached the third lock!
The Immortal-Sealing Six Locks held a status among source arts equivalent to what the peerless secret techniques deduced by human great emperors held among cultivation methods — it stood at the absolute pinnacle, containing boundless profound meaning, wondrous beyond all description.
“I can even seal great masters to their death — you…” Ouyang Ye’s face turned deathly pale as he stumbled backward, one step after another.
Ye Fan unleashed the Immortal-Sealing Six Locks. Ancient character after ancient character burst forth, seared into the void, forming a spread of interlocking patterns that tore open a corner of the Four Symbols Source Heavenly Formation.
With the Myriad Things Primordial Qi Cauldron hovering above his head, he rose to his feet and began slowly walking outward, pressing forward.
“This is bad!” Ouyang Ye changed color, and a trace of fear appeared on his face.
“It’s fine.” Just at that moment, a great master standing beside Ouyang Ye stepped forward and roared, “Get back in there!”
This was a great master from the Xiao Family of Central Province — like the Yin-Yang Sect, they bore deep enmity toward Ye Fan. Ouyang Ye had been invited here by them. He reached out a hand and pressed it toward the gap, intending to force Ye Fan back into the source formation and let him be reduced to ashes.
“Don’t act rashly!” Ouyang Ye shouted, but it was already too late. Ye Fan channeled this great master’s incoming divine power and rapidly dissolved the source formation, stepping free of it in one stride.
The foot-long small dragon, the divine phoenix, the immortal tiger, and the dark tortoise all let out a single mournful cry and vanished back into the divine source stones.
“Clang—” “Clang—”…
The ancient characters Ye Fan had carved flickered in the void, each ring sounding like a sword cry — thunderous, earthshaking — as the four divine source stones were suppressed.
In a flash of radiance, Ye Fan deployed the cauldron and absorbed all four stones within it. He said, “This truly is a generous gift. To thank you for it, I will personally see you off to immortality.”
With each step he took forward, a sheet of immortal radiance burst from within the lake and wrapped around him, enveloping him at its center. After nine steps, his entire being shone brilliantly, every inch of his flesh and blood nearly translucent.
Boundless immortal radiance enveloped him. With every movement he made, he seemed capable of commanding heaven and earth, wielding the primal source of the Great Dao — able to look down upon all great masters in dominance!
“You cannot kill him.” The great master from the Xiao Family laughed coldly.
Beyond this, the Yin-Yang Sect also had two great masters near the immortal pool — they emerged together from the shadows and pressed forward. Their main force was at the dragon cave.
Three great masters moved in unison, all intent on killing Ye Fan. Ouyang Ye finally steadied himself. His allies had not abandoned him. He laughed coldly without cease, his eyes fixed on Ye Fan.
“Whoever stands in my path will fall dead at my feet, their blood spilling five paces in every direction!” Ye Fan pressed forward without the slightest hesitation.
Among the younger generation, the Holy Maiden of Jade Pond, the Holy Son Yao Guang, the Moon Spirit Princess, and the kings of the five great domains — all of them were inwardly shaken, their gazes fixed on what lay ahead, focused intently on this battle.
The sect masters of every faction also wore expressions of rare and extreme gravity, all of them staring at the figures in the arena.
“Whoosh!”
The lake water boiled. Boundless immortal radiance surged upward and swallowed Ye Fan whole. The great battle had begun — four figures moved like dragons soaring through clouds, mountains collapsed and seas roared, as fierce combat erupted.
“In this place, his battle power truly rivals a sage master’s!”
Ye Fan fought with sweeping, open force. Immortal radiance spread like a sea. He was like a true dragon leaping and soaring, his palms and fingers continuously collapsing the void.
Before long, Ouyang Ye shouted, “This is bad!” But it was already too late — nothing could stop what followed.
Every portion of the void that Ye Fan had struck with his palms now flared with seared imprints. The Immortal-Sealing Six Locks manifested, sealing all three great masters within. Drawing upon the power of the immortal radiance, he had accomplished all of this.
“I said that those who oppose me will die!”
Ye Fan deployed one of the divine source stones from within the cauldron and then activated it, withdrawing himself from the sealed ground.
“Boom!”
Blinding divine radiance erupted. Within that small, confined space, everything ceased to exist. A tiny pocket of heaven and earth was smelted down and returned to its primordial state.
“Ah…” The soul-rending screams of a great master rang out.
The divine source stone — carved with boundless innate patterns — detonated. The spectacle was terrifying, like the sun itself shattering. But the Immortal-Sealing Six Locks contained all of it within.
“No!” Ouyang Ye screamed. The divine source stone had been refined by him personally — the effort and cost had been immense. And yet, in the end, it had killed the men on his own side.
“Damn the Immortal-Sealing Six Locks!” He shrieked in fury.
Every onlooker went cold from head to toe. In a place like this, Ye Fan’s ability to summon the power of the immortal pool for his own use was truly terrifying beyond measure.
Three great masters — three of them — and they were finished just like that!
When all finally grew quiet, the characters seared into the void also dimmed. The immortal radiance could no longer be sustained — the power unleashed by the activated divine source stone had been far too devastating.
The sealed space was broken open. One of those within had been annihilated, form and spirit alike. The other two, bodies incomplete, stumbled and lurched their way out — but all their Dharmic power was gone, and they could no longer fight.
“Boom!”
Ye Fan struck out with one palm, and a body shattered. He kicked sideways, and the last man was reduced to ash.
“Don’t kill me!” Ouyang Ye screamed, retreating in terror.
Now who would dare step forward? Three great masters had died miserably. No one was willing to oppose Ye Fan in this place — it simply wasn’t worth it.
“I said no one can save you!” Ye Fan advanced on him, extended a single finger, and a blood hole appeared in Ouyang Ye’s skull. He let out a sharp scream, pitched over backward, fell flat on the ground, and died an unnatural death.
“Boom!”
At the base of another great mountain, the dragon cave shook violently. Sect masters of every faction were striking out there, competing to seize the divine pearl.
“Crack!”
The divine pearl, more than a meter in diameter, finally split open under the combined force of the many sage masters. Out of it tumbled a humanoid creature covered from head to toe in red fur.
“What — there was a creature like this gestating inside the dragon pearl?!” Everyone was astonished.
“Roar…” The red-furred humanoid creature opened its eyes. Two rays of blood-red light shot forth. It let out a tremendous roar that sent the qi and blood of all the sage masters churning — they nearly fainted.
“What is that?” Above the immortal pool, the crowd looked down and witnessed everything happening in the ancient cave. Every face drained of color in horror.
“The third-generation Source Heavenly Founding Master… In his final years, ill omens befell him, and he grew into what he is now. What exactly has he become?” Ye Fan’s heart shook. He opened his divine eyes and observed carefully.
The final years of the source heavenly masters held far too many terrifying secrets. This was without doubt the third-generation founding master — every ill omen concentrated within a single being. Perhaps the truth was about to be revealed.
“Boom!”
A breath of air even more chilling than anything before erupted and burst forth from the deepest depths of the ancient dragon cave. Every single person present felt their spirit and soul tremble — they nearly knelt down involuntarily.
“There truly is an ancient holy spirit!” The ailing elder’s eyes shot forth two terrifying beams of light. He murmured to himself, “In the absence of the ancient great emperors — who can contend?”
“Ow!” Beside the immortal pool, many people could not withstand this pressure aura and collapsed softly to the ground. One young man among them pitched forward directly into the lake. Struggling and climbing back up, he clawed out a green copper piece from the lake bottom — upon it grew a small green lotus.