Chapter 66 Yang Tomb and Yin Grave
Ye Fan’s understanding of Dao Glyphs was not very deep. All he knew was what Elder Wu Qingfeng had once told him. All truly powerful weapons had Dao Glyphs carved into them. They could be said to be the weapon’s spirit and life.
Of course, Dao Glyphs were not just limited to just this aspect. Their uses were broad and many. For example, by carving them onto mountains and plains, it was possible to condense all kinds of Powers, containing strange energies, allowing that area to become a kind of mysterious Domain.
As for the more profound Dao Glyphs, they were even more extraordinary. Possessing an extremely strange energy, they were able to change the properties of all living creatures within their area, affecting life and death. Some mystical Dao Glyphs could even affect time within their area of effect.
There were also some abstruse Dao Glyphs that could only be carved upon rare materials in precise arrangements. Once they were then supplied with a powerful divine energy, they could connect heaven and earth, allowing one to move through the void and teleport from one region to another.
And there were also complicated Dao Glyphs that could condense Heavenly Power, possessing unimaginable abilities.
Of course, the many powerful Dao Glyphs were not circulated throughout the world. They were kept secret within the Sacred Lands and Ancient Desolation n.o.ble Families, not given to outsiders. Others were not allowed to obtain this power; all they could obtain were a couple words from legends.
In reality, Dao Glyphs had many profound and broad aspects. It was said that when extremely mighty cultivators from ancient times reached enlightenment of heaven and earth, they would leave behind a copy of their insights. These imitations pa.s.sed through the world and were given the name “Dao Glyphs.”
Ordinary cultivators were simply unable to access this knowledge. Only once a cultivator’s strength reached a certain realm could they practice Dao Glyphs. In a sense, Dao Glyphs could be considered to be imitations of enlightenment that extremely mighty cultivators from ancient times had left behind. The stronger a cultivator was, the greater they would desire to study Dao Glyphs.
The mysterious green copper’s outer layer didn’t have any Dao Glyphs. There was only one small snapped part that was covered with many dense and profound Dao Glyphs that were impossible to understand. Although they were extremely mysterious, they had a kind of Dao charm that caused people to feel very moved.
“It seems very natural…” Elder Wu Qingfeng had once said that some precious treasures had natural innate Dao Glyphs within them that weren’t artificially formed by humans. Those Dao Glyphs were extraordinary, completely incapable of being duplicated or copied.
Are they really Innate Dao Glyphs…? Ye Fan couldn’t be sure, as he didn’t understand Dao Glyphs very well. All he had were some guesses.
Suddenly, Ye Fan felt an extremely strange fluctuation. The path in front of him became cut off, covered with bizarre mist that completely enshrouded the s.p.a.ce in front of him, a mist that was impossible to see through.
At the same time, he heard the roars of the nine cyan Flood Dragons shaking the heavens. The Ancient Desolation n.o.ble Ji Family’s golden ancient war chariot soared up, its austere air engulfing this land.
“The ruins are temporarily locked down. No one is allowed to leave!” The nine Flood Dragons and their carriage had blocked the path in front of him, and the Ji Family’s top person carved endless Dao Glyphs onto the mountains and plains, cutting off the path.
From the other side, the nine qilin-head beasts that were pulling a jade chariot also soared upon the clouds, their divine might towering up, sealing off the east side. At the same time, the other great figures also shouted similar things. These five had completely sealed these ruins, preventing anyone from leaving.
Ye Fan was startled, feeling that something was wrong. He hastily stopped, no longer using the mystical arts from the Dao Scripture. His Sea of Bitterness once more became tranquil.
Clamor immediately burst out within these ruins. None of the cultivators knew what was going on, and many of them believed that the five elites had decided to start killing people.
“What happened?”
“Why won’t they let us leave?”
The many scattered cultivators became nervous. Only those cultivators from the larger sects could still be considered somewhat unperturbed.
“Those five elites have all gone crazy because the Eastern Wasteland’s human race’s most precious treasure hasn’t appeared!”
“Right, blocking our path is because they are afraid it has been taken by someone else.”
“If even those five were unable to find the Eastern Wasteland’s human race’s treasure, then is it even possible for others to find it?”
The many cultivators discussed things, and after coming to the conclusion that they had trapped them here in order to obtain the Eastern Wastelands’ human race’s precious treasure, they mostly calmed down. After all, none of them had had any hopes of obtaining it in the first place.
After placing the Dao Glyphs upon the land and blocking all the paths around this place, the five elites once more returned to the location of the Demon Emperor’s shattered tomb, once more starting a search.
“Why would the Eastern Wastelands human race’s most precious treasure not appear? It should have exploded out with a world-shaking power when the Demon Emperor’s tomb broke apart.”
The five elites all quietly muttered. They didn’t keep their intentions secret as there was simply no need.
“Where is the Desolate PaG.o.da? It’s not appearing…”
“It’s already disappeared for thousands of years. It really is time for the Desolate PaG.o.da to once more reappear.”
The distant cultivators’ suspicions were confirmed; these five absolutely had to obtain it. If they weren’t able to find this precious treasure, who knew how long they would remain trapped here.
Only now did Ye Fan learn that the Eastern Wastelands human race’s most precious treasure was called the Desolate PaG.o.da. Just its name alone was enough for people to know it was no ordinary item.
Many of the cultivators began to discuss the ancient treasure’s history.
“It’s said that the Desolate PaG.o.da has existed for countless years. No one even knows what era it sprang into existence.”
“It’s been around ever since the Eastern Wastelands. When this boundless land started to give birth to life, the Desolate PaG.o.da was already in existence.”
“What kind of item is the Desolate PaG.o.da?” Many cultivators didn’t have a great knowledge of it.
“As the name implies, it’s a paG.o.da. It has nine levels, containing immeasurable mighty force. Ancient beyond compare, it can suppress all the powerful cultivators in the world.”
“Is it actually that terrifying?”
“Even if your divine might was infinite and you were matchless within the Eastern Wastelands, you wouldn’t be able to block the Desolate PaG.o.da’s suppression. Otherwise, how could it be called the Eastern Wastelands human race’s most precious treasure?”
“Who knows how many peak cultivators have been suppressed by the Desolate PaG.o.da. No one was able to block its suppression.”
With his forward road blocked, Ye Fan could no longer leave. Returning to the depths of the ruins, he immediately became fascinated by the cultivators’ discussion. The Desolate PaG.o.da was such a defiance of the heavens, truly exciting people.
Just at this moment, the shameless Daoist Duan De reappeared, quickly rus.h.i.+ng towards Ye Fan. He was using his top speed, arriving in front of Ye Fan in just an instant. Excitement was written all over his face as he asked, “Where is that piece of useless copper?”
“I threw it into a pool.”
“WHAT?!” The shameless Daoist’s face was full of alarm, becoming incomparably anxious as he grabbed Ye Fan by the shoulders and shook him back and forth. “Which pool?! Quickly bring me to it!”
Ye Fan’s heart immediately shook. Could this green copper have some sort of greater significance? Originally, he had thought it might have something to do with the Eastern Wastelands human race’s precious treasure, but once he heard that it was a nine-level paG.o.da, he immediately understood that it couldn’t be, as they were completely different.
“The ruins are huge and there are many mountains and forests. I’ve long since looped around many times and forgotten that place.”
“That’s no good, you have to remember!” The shameless Daoist seemed somewhat scared, and even his eyes had turned red.
“Wasn’t it just a piece of useless copper? You repeatedly looked it over for over fifteen minutes before just tossing it onto the ground. Why do you want to find it again now? Could it have some sort of special origin?”
“Even if I were to tell you, you wouldn’t understand! Hurry and find it for me!” The shameless Daoist’s smiling expression had vanished. He was completely serious, pulling Ye Fan along.
Ye Fan clearly understood that as he had expected, the green piece of copper truly was significant. It seemed it was extremely important.
“G.o.dsd.a.m.nit, how could this poor Daoist have been so stupid! I actually threw it away even after it landed in my hands!” The fat Daoist’s face was ashen with regret. He was completely vexed, a polar opposite appearance from his previous beaming expression not long ago.
Ye Fan suddenly realized that this shameless Daoist truly seemed to have a murderous air around him now. Not wanting to meet the sharp side of a blade, he complied with walking forward.
“Little friend must carefully remember! I’ll give you whatever you want if you are able to find it!” the fat Daoist solemnly and repeatedly reminded him, “You have to remember!”
“Just what is it?”
“Don’t ask. If you ask again, this grandpa Daoist will go mad!” The fat Daoist was madly slapping his own hand, saying, “How could I have been so stupid? Spending a whole lifetime treasure hunting, yet in the end, not even being able to recognize treasures…” It seemed like he truly blamed himself greatly, seeming like he might even cut off his own hand.
“We separated here, and then I saw that you went in that direction…” The fat Daoist brought Ye Fan to the mountain they had been on.
“Yes, it was here. Let me think where I went…” Ye Fan walked down the mountain, not slowly but not anxiously. The fat Daoist closely followed him, not pressing him at all in order to let him slowly think back.
Ye Fan’s walking became slow as he wondered how he would break off from this fat Daoist. The three of them walked over three mountains while he was thinking. Just as they walked over the fourth mountain, Ye Fan revealed a happy expression, saying, “It’s here.”
Seeing where he pointed, the fat Daoist’s expression immediately became ugly. There was deep black pond, as still as stone, without the slightest undulation. Bursts of cold air came from it, instilling fear in people’s hearts.
“Don’t tell me that you actually threw it into this deep pit!” The fat Daoist’s eyes emitted a strange demonic light, causing Ye Fan to feel absent-minded. He vaguely felt that his chances were bleak as he seemed to be able to see through him.
Ye Fan became nervous, hastily collecting his mind and doing all he could to create a scene inside his mind where he was standing over this black pool, throwing the useless copper inside it.
The fat Daoist’s eyes returned to normal, and gnas.h.i.+ng his teeth in anger, he said, “You friggin b.a.s.t.a.r.d…I really want to throw YOU in!”
“Wasn’t it just a piece of trash?” Ye Fan acted like he couldn’t care less.
Plop!
The fat Daoist directly jumped into the deep pond. At the beginning, a faint divine light could be seen beneath the surface, but in mere seconds, it once more became dark. The deep black pool gradually became tranquil again.
Ye Fan waited for half an hour without seeing the fat Daoist. He muttered to himself, “Did something happen to that unscrupulous fatty?”
Another fifteen minutes pa.s.sed, and with a splash, the fat Daoist appeared from the water. His whole body was covered by a thick layer of black ice, looking just like an ice sculpture as he rushed out.
Bang!
Light continuously flickered within the black ice, and it was only after ten breaths worth of time that the shameless Daoist’s divine light managed to break apart the ice, shaking ice chunks onto the ground. His whole face was purple, and even his lips were trembling.
“G.o.d, this grandpa Daoist almost froze to death.” His whole body was s.h.i.+vering, his body unceasingly releasing divine light to expel cold air. Black mist was forced from his body, and the surrounding vegetation immediately froze solid from it, before breaking apart into powder.
Ye Fan shuddered, sucking in a cold breath of air. He had only picked this black pool because he thought it was deep enough; he had never thought it was this frightening. Those ice chunks that had fallen onto the ground froze everything around them in a ten-meter radius, and even the stones had cracked. Ye Fan was far away, yet even he felt a bone-piercing chilliness.
“Did respected Daoist find it?”
“I went down thousands of meters before seeing a broken down tablet with the two words ‘Underworld Pool.’ I still couldn’t see the bottom, and there’s no way to find out just how deep this black pool is!”
“Respected Daoist, why did you throw it away at the beginning? I bet you’re regretting it now…”
“Don’t remind me!”
Seeing the fat Daoist’s angry and exasperated appearance, Ye Fan almost burst into laughter. Although inside he was laughing, he acted extremely nervous. “Was it really a treasure?”
The fat Daoist’s face was ashen as he angrily paced back and forth. “I have nothing to say to you!”
Ye Fan tactfully walked to the side. He picked a couple wild fruits and ate them happily.
When the fat Daoist saw that he was still in the mood to randomly eat wild fruits, his anger immediately exploded out. “You’re the biggest b.a.s.t.a.r.d in this world! You actually threw it into this deep pool, I…I really want to kill you!”
“Grandpa Daoist, it was you who threw it away first. How can you blame me for it? Didn’t you also tell me that it was trash at the beginning…?”
“I-…d.a.m.nit!” The shameless Daoist truly wished to give himself a slap. With a splash, he once more jumped into the deep pool.
Once more, the fat Daoist leapt out of the water with his body completely encased in ice, this time having spent an hour submerged. Black light reflected off him, and it released a piercing cold air.
Ye Fan stayed out of the way. This time, the shameless Daoist took over fifteen minutes to break apart the ice. His whole body was a dark purple, and pores all over him emitted the black mist. The entire hill became covered by black ice. The vegetation all withered, and many of the stones froze and cracked.
The shameless Daoist only recovered after a long time. Disappointedly walking out of the icy region, he sat down on the ground. “So regretful…”
Beside him, Ye Fan was full of elation. This immoral fatty’s dejected appearance made him feel completely free and satisfied.
Suddenly, the shameless Daoist seemed to think of something, jumping up in shock. He looked towards the distant volcano and then back towards this black deep pool. “I understand now! The Demon Emperor had two burial grounds: a Yang Tomb and a Yin Grave!”
Ye Fan was scared of him again, asking, “What are you saying?”
The fat Daoist paid him no attention, drawing upon the ground, he marked down the volcano and the black pool, then also precisely marking the surrounding landscape.
“G.o.dsd.a.m.nit, it really is so! One Yang and one Yin, containing the Taiji! The source of power, the heart, was hidden within the Yang Tomb, while the cold lifeless body was hidden within the Yin Grave.” The shameless Daoist’s expression becoming incomparably gloomy.