The ancient hall was dim, with only the faint glow from the walls illuminating the path ahead.
There were many chambers around them—some sinister and eerie, others filled with the fragrance of pills—but Shen Ye had no intention of looting them. He headed straight for the main hall.
Before long, the two arrived at an ancient, imposing great hall.
At the center of the hall were three divine treasures shrouded in holy light. Through that light, they could vaguely make out a page of golden paper in the first treasure, a Green Copper Block in the second, and a gently beating heart in the last. It faintly exuded boundless pressure before quickly being suppressed.
Shen Ye's eyes burned with desire, but he knew the latter two treasures were beyond his reach.
"Yue'er, break the restriction around the golden paper!"
Hua Yue plucked her strings, and a severe, murderous melody crashed against the curtain of divine light, quickly shattering the restriction.
"So I got it just like that? I really have to thank that Empress!" Shen Ye chuckled inwardly as he took out the golden paper.
Though he had temporarily intercepted the Dao Scripture, he was not worried. As long as he did not take this page of golden paper away, there should not be much of a problem.
How profound were the schemes of Great Emperor-level experts? They achieved their goals through subtle influence, silently nourishing all things.
If they forcibly intervened to alter every minor change, then their schemes would be far too cheap.
With that in mind, Shen Ye calmly began reading the golden scripture in the ancient hall.
Time trickled by. The outside world had naturally long since discovered the disturbance in the ancient hall and learned that a third party had secretly infiltrated it.
The two sides decisively put aside their grievances and temporarily joined forces to bombard the ancient hall's gate.
Unfortunately, they were far weaker than Hua Yue. Even working together, they could not break open the gate.
Left with no choice, both sides hurriedly sought aid from the forces behind them.
Inside the ancient hall, Shen Ye had thoroughly grasped the mysteries of the golden scripture and could not help letting out a long sigh. "So that's how it is!"
The cultivation of the Sea of Wheels Realm no longer held any secrets for him. If he wished, he could activate his Bitter Sea in an instant.
"But small-time antics really don't suit my style!" Shen Ye stroked his smooth chin and secretly began calculating.
Logically, having obtained a cultivation method, he should have hurriedly left this troublesome place, found somewhere to cultivate, and laid low until reaching the Dao Palace before reemerging.
But the problem was that, with his constitution, the source required for cultivation would likely be an astronomical amount.
"The Green Emperor's Tomb is rich in spiritual energy. The originally violent spiritual energy has also become tame and gentle under that Empress's suppression. If I leave this place, I'll have to spend plenty of time searching for source and opening mines. Why not cultivate here directly?"
Besides that, he also wanted to make a grand public display of himself.
With so many spectators about to arrive, he could directly make a name for himself and harvest a wave of prestige!
"Yue'er, guard me while I cultivate!"
With that, Shen Ye sat down cross-legged.
Hua Yue pressed her lips together, her little face solemn as she guarded Shen Ye from the front.
Boom!
Through the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of a certain Empress, the gates of the Great Emperor's Mausoleum were finally blasted open by a group of Dao Palace experts!
The crowd rode divine rainbows toward the main hall, rushing ahead in terror that the unknown expert would seize all the opportunities.
Then they saw two youths of about fourteen or fifteen sitting at one side of the great hall.
"They're actually so young! Are they that unknown third-party force?"
"Wait, they didn't take the human race's supreme treasure or the Demon Emperor's Heart!"
Only one of the three divine treasures had been opened. The restrictions on the other two were still completely intact!
Upon noticing this, everyone's eyes quickly grew feverish.
Although the Dao Scripture was precious, it was only the Sea of Wheels Scroll. To the experts of the demon race and the Ancient Desolate Families, it did not mean much.
Without knowing the two youths' backgrounds, they naturally prioritized fighting over the other two divine treasures!
Their gazes collided, and the next instant, they all flew toward those two treasures without prior agreement.
Divine rainbows filled the sky, blazing with radiance.
For a time, all sorts of surging magical power collided recklessly, as though monstrous waves were crashing across an ocean!
Some sharp-eyed people noticed that a few strands of rosy light scattered toward the two youths, yet vanished in an instant.
After noticing this, even fewer people coveted the Dao Scripture.
Meanwhile, outside the ancient hall.
A youth who looked only eleven or twelve rolled his eyes. "Daoist, why do you keep following me?"
Behind him, the Fat Daoist had an extremely sneaky air about him, rubbing his hands together like a fly as he grinned shamelessly. "Isn't Daoist Master here worried about your safety? This place is so dangerous! We cultivators put chivalry first. Little fellow, you don't need to be too grateful to me!"
He had noticed it earlier: this little brat's luck was absurdly good. From time to time, magical artifacts were sent flying out of the main hall, landing directly at the little brat's feet without the slightest attempt at concealment!
It made him suspect that this kid was practically the illegitimate son of the Heavenly Dao!
Sure enough, another spirit weapon was sent flying and landed at Ye Fan's feet.
The unscrupulous daoist cried out strangely, "Oh dear, this weapon might be cursed. Kid, you can't handle it. Let uncle take it for you!"
Ye Fan rolled his eyes. What could he do?
But inwardly, he was calculating. This Fat Daoist may be shameless and sleazy, but he seems quite strong. Maybe my opportunity will fall on him!
He had already given up hope for the Dao Scripture Sea of Wheels Scroll, but now, it seemed there might be a turning point after all!
With that thought, Ye Fan gave a "bashful" smile. "Daoist, can you protect me as we enter the main hall? I feel like a voice is calling to me from somewhere beyond!"
Duan De was about to refuse when he heard Ye Fan add, "I suspect it might be a very powerful treasure!"
At the word "treasure," Duan De's eyes practically emitted green light. If anyone else had said that, he would have scoffed in disdain, but he had personally seen this little ghost's luck.
Just thinking about the treasures in the Demon Emperor's Tomb made his heart surge with excitement!
Duan De wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and put on the air of an upright master. "Whether there's treasure or not is beside the point. Daoist Master is mainly doing this to protect the future of the righteous path and nurture the little immortal seedlings in the medicine garden!"
Ye Fan's facial muscles twitched twice, but he put on an innocent expression. "Daoist, you're amazing!"
The two disgusted each other as they hurt each other, sneaking into the main hall.
The main hall overflowed with streams of light and surging divine power, leaving Ye Fan staring wide-eyed. Compared to these experts, Elder Han, who had once placed immense pressure on him, no longer seemed like much.
After steadying himself, Ye Fan wore an expression of longing. "So amazing. Is this the world of the strong?"
The Fat Daoist beside him curled his lip disdainfully. "Strong? Are they worthy?"
This unscrupulous daoist really is powerful! Ye Fan's heart stirred, and he asked with feigned innocence, "Since they aren't that strong, Daoist, why don't you join the fight for treasure?"
"What does a little brat know?" Duan De did not fall for the provocation. "Those fellows aren't much, but the Ancient Desolate Families and Great Sect Sacred Lands behind them are the rulers of this land. Some super-important figure might appear at any moment. Daoist Master can't be bothered to show himself!"
Before you continue