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"Boom boom boom, sizzle sizzle sizzle."
Inside the furnace, the muffled sounds of refining and the purifying and dissipating of evil power were incessant.
It can be clearly seen that the evil arm is frantically crashing, twisting, and deforming in the furnace, trying to break free of its confinement. However, every rune on the furnace wall is flashing with the supreme Yang God light that restrains yin and evil, constantly knocking it back and peeling away and refining its evil essence bit by bit.
The piercing howls gradually weakened, eventually leaving only a crackling echo like a flickering candle.
Ye Fan witnessed the entire event and was deeply shocked.
Is this the might of the Great Saint?
Is this the teacher's unfathomable method?
The ferocious and terrifying evil arm was like a trapped beast caught in a net before these two. From its outburst to its suppression and refinement, it took only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea!
In particular, Li Qingshan's seemingly casual stroke was like a master butcher dissecting an ox, hitting the vital point and instantly crippling the evil arm's greatest reliance. His eyesight and control over the essence of power were simply divine.
About half an incense stick later, the light from the refining furnace gradually dimmed, eventually dissipating into specks of light rain.
Wherever it was, only a small clump of ashes remained, scattered by the wind, and a piece of bone about the size of a fingernail, irregularly shaped, dark gold in color, and crystal clear like divine jade.
The bone fragment floated silently, small yet naturally exuding a resilient Daoist aura that had withstood countless tribulations, as well as a faint, almost imperceptible, yet terrifyingly high-quality, sharp and ethereal Void conception.
Gu Tianshu caught the dark gold bone fragment in mid-air, placed it in his palm, and carefully sensed it for a moment. A hint of emotion appeared in his eyes. "A match for an emperor, even if it is just a broken bone, is no ordinary person."
Li Qingshan took it, his fingertips brushing across the surface of the bone fragment, feeling the restrained yet powerful Daoist aura within. He nodded slightly, and with his near-immortal level of comprehension, he immediately grasped the underlying principles.
He then flicked his wrist and presented it to Ye Fan: "This bone originates from an enemy slain by the Void Emperor. It is tainted with the killing intent of the Emperor's blood, containing the sharp essence of 'unbreakable' and a unique understanding of space. It should inspire you in honing your Sacred Body combat techniques, especially the penetrating and destructive power of your fist, palm, and finger attacks, as well as your understanding of the relationship between speed and space. Study it carefully and do not waste its origins."
Ye Fan took a deep breath and solemnly accepted the small bone fragment with both hands. It felt slightly heavy in his hands, and its coolness was mixed with a strange warmth, as if a life was gently pulsating within it.
He clearly sensed the sharp Daoist aura contained within it, which seemed capable of Heaven-Opening and piercing through the Void, as well as an indomitable will that could never be extinguished throughout the ages.
After crossing the canyon, not long after...
Finally, we arrived at the foot of the main peak.
Looking up, the main peak resembles a sword piercing the sky, its entire body jet black.
Halfway up the mountain, a golden divine list hangs in the sky, scattering countless rays of dazzling golden light like a waterfall, firmly enveloping the lower half of the mountain peak.
Within the golden light, countless intricate imperial patterns flowed, radiating supreme majesty that suppressed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths — the Investiture of the Gods!
Beyond the area covered by the Investiture of the Gods, a thick, impenetrable black mist shrouded the mountaintop region. The swirling mist revealed the outline of an ancient altar and the shadow of a massive stone coffin.
At the boundary between the black mist and the golden light, there was a constant hissing sound of dissolving, accompanied by flashes of lightning.
Upon arriving at this place, even Gu Tianshu's expression became more serious.
The oppressive force of the Great Saint's domain spread autonomously, fiercely clashing with the field of the Saint Cliff itself, producing a low, muffled sound.
Li Qingshan stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Gu Tianshu.
He raised his hand, Wu Shi Emperor Bell slowly rose into the air.
"Clang!!!"
A deep, resonant chime, as if it came from the very end of the river of time, rang out.
The bell tolled loudly, instantly drowning out the sound of the wind, the surging of malevolent energy, and even the muffled thuds of the battle within the field.
The waves were visible to the naked eye, spreading out in pale golden ripples across the mountainside.
"Buzzing,"
On the main peak of Saint Cliff, from the foot of the mountain to the summit, the original silent or slowly flowing patterns of the Wushi Emperor Formation carved inside the rocks suddenly became bright!
Countless golden, silver, and chaotic array patterns emerged from the mountain, like a sleeping dragon awakening, emitting excited buzzing sounds.
The entire Saint Cliff seemed to come alive, radiating a holy and majestic light.
Investiture of the Gods Zhong Bo and the revived Emperor Formation, the Investiture of the Gods shone even brighter, like a blazing sun hanging halfway up the mountain. The cascading golden light almost solidified, transforming into divine chains that coiled around the black mist at the mountain peak and the stone coffin.
A terrifying surge of divine consciousness, filled with ancient resentment, overwhelming killing intent, and a barely perceptible trace of fear, suddenly erupted from the deepest part of the black mist at the mountain peak, where the stone coffin was located!
This spiritual impact was even more violent than the last one, carrying the domineering blood energy left behind by the Great Accomplishment Sacred Body and the strange evil power after its mutation, enough to instantly tear apart the primordial spirit of King- level figure!
However, at this moment, the Beginningless Bell activated the complete Emperor Formation in response, and the Investiture of the Gods was suppressing it with all its might.
The pale golden bell waves intertwined with the solidified divine light to form a net that easily bound and neutralized the destructive divine consciousness impact within the mountain peak area.
Only the aftershocks dissipated, turning into a fierce wind that whipped everyone's clothes wildly and stung their skin.
Li Qingshan stood behind the light curtain interwoven with the golden light and the sound of bells, his expression unchanged.
He turned to look at Ye Fan, his gaze calm and profound. "Go and ascend that altar. The Nine Secrets: Xing should be inside the coffin. Rest assured, with my protection, you will be safe on this journey."
Ye Fan took a deep breath and nodded emphatically.
Without the slightest hesitation, the golden light on his body disappeared once more, and relying solely on his physical strength, he stepped forward and began to climb the main peak.
The closer you get to the summit, the more the pressure increases exponentially.
It was not merely a physical increase in gravity, but a destructive field formed by the intertwining of various terrifying forces, including the residual pressure of the Great Accomplishment Sacred Body, the mutated evil power, the power of the Investiture of the Gods Wushi Emperor Formation might of the Investiture of the Gods.
With each step forward, Ye Fan felt as if he were carrying a mountain on his back. His bones creaked under the strain, his flesh trembled violently, and his internal organs churned.
He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and the sweat that had just seeped out was evaporated by the violent energy field.
The golden energy could no longer be completely suppressed, and spontaneously burst forth from its pores, transforming into pale golden flames that enveloped its entire body, resisting the terrifying pressure that penetrated every pore.
His steps were heavy, each step leaving shallow footprints on the dark rocks as he moved slowly but steadily upwards.
Gu Tianshu maintained the array formation with both hands, controlling the pressure of the Emperor Formation on Ye Fan's path, while remaining vigilant for any unusual movements in the black mist on the mountaintop.
Li Qingshan stood holding the bell, his gaze fixed on the stone coffin atop the mountain.
With the protection of two powerful figures, Li Qingshan and Gu Tianshu, the process of reaching the summit went more smoothly than expected.
The ancient corpses and malevolent entities hidden in the thick fog all concealed themselves upon sensing the Great Saint aura of the Great Sage and the instinctively terrifying presence of Li Qingshan.
Occasionally, a foolish creature might try to pounce, but it would be easily wiped out.
Upon arriving at the hundred-foot-tall stone coffin, the green hair remained, and a chilling aura emanated from it.
A chilling vibration emanated from within the coffin.
"Uncle Gu, please set up a barrier to isolate the inside from the outside, so that when the Dao diagram manifests, its energy will leak out and disturb something buried deep underground," Li Qingshan said to Gu Tianshu.
Gu Tianshu nodded, and with a wave of his hands, Order Divine Chains descended from the Void, intertwining to envelop the entire mountaintop, forming a small world of its own, isolating it from all other influences and prying eyes.
Li Qingshan then pointed his fingers like a sword from a distance, his fingertips swirling with a faint aura of primordial chaos, and lightly touched several specific spots on the coffin lid.
With each strike, a barely perceptible rune disappeared into the coffin. "Besides the body of the Great Accomplished Saint, there is also the remains of the Heavenly Court Lord of an ancient assassin dynasty, and the ominous influence that may arise. I used a secret technique to temporarily harmonize the conflicting energies within, delaying the potential corpse transformation," he explained.
With everything ready, Li Qingshan looked at Gu Tianshu.
Gu Tianshu understood, extended a finger, and gently lifted the coffin lid from a distance.
"Buzz,"
The stone coffin trembled violently, green hair danced wildly, and an even denser black aura of malevolence surged into the sky, but it was firmly sealed inside when it touched the restrictions set up by Gu Tianshu.
At the same time, a wisp of golden light descended from the Investiture of the Gods, merging into the collective suppression.
The coffin lid slowly slid open, revealing the interior: a pool of crystal-clear water tinged with dark red blood, upon which floated the corpse of an old man dressed in ancient clothing, holding a broken golden scepter, his neck twisted.
Deeper within the blood pool, the outline of an even more majestic body, covered in thick green fur, could be vaguely seen, emanating a powerful aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
"Boom!"
A massive, complex and profound Dao diagram, composed of countless Dao patterns, appeared out of thin air above the blood pool inside the coffin, radiating boundless light. It was the Dao diagram of the "Xing" (行) technique, one of the Nine Secrets, passed down through generations!
The Dao diagram is divided into nine levels, each progressively deeper, elucidating the ultimate mysteries of speed and even subtly touching upon the realm of time.
Gu Tianshu stood with his hands behind his back, his Great Saint sense encompassing the four directions.
Li Qingshan was also studying the diagram at the same time.
The extremely fast path and unique understanding of time and space contained in the secret of "Xing" are mutually corroborated with the No Beginning Sutra, and are also of reference value for him to improve his own path.
With his profound understanding and near-immortal comprehension, he quickly imprinted the Ninefold Dao Diagram into his mind and began to silently deduce the deeper principles of space and time within it.
Time passed little by little.
Above the altar, a blurry, mysterious pattern outlined by countless lines of light floats in the air. The pattern constantly changes and flows, emitting profound and unpredictable spatial and temporal fluctuations. It is the Dao Diagram of the Nine Secrets: Xing!
Ye Fan fixed his gaze on the Dao diagram, bracing himself against the increasingly solid pressure surrounding the altar, and climbed the steps one by one.
Just as he stepped onto the top step, within reach of touching the image,
"Boom!!"
At the edge of the mountain peak, the hundred-foot-tall stone coffin covered in green hair trembled violently!
The thick green hair covering the coffin thrashed wildly like venomous snakes, and even denser black mist spewed from the gaps between the coffin lid and body, mixed with soul-crushing roars.
The golden chains formed from the Investiture of the Gods Investiture of the Gods taut, standing ramrod straight!
The Wushi Emperor Formation was fully activated, and endless killing light surged from all parts of the mountain, converging towards the summit and suppressing the stone coffin.
The unusual movement of the stone coffin seemed to have triggered the altar itself.
The chaotic-colored boulder on the altar suddenly lit up, and the suspended secret path diagram with written characters shone brightly, projecting thousands of lights and shadows, shrouding Ye Fan.
At the same time, a strong sense of temporal and spatial distortion swept over him. Ye Fan felt as if he had been thrown into a turbulent river of time, with the surrounding scenery rapidly receding and advancing, and the light and shadow blurring.
"Concentrate! Observe the picture!" Li Qingshan's voice pierced through the turbulent flow of time and space, clearly reaching Ye Fan's ears, carrying a power to Calming the Mind.
Ye Fan bit his tongue hard, the stinging pain invigorating him. He forcefully suppressed the dizziness, his eyes flashing with golden light. Holding the Bodhi Seed, he sat cross-legged, staring intently at the ever-changing Dao diagram in front of him, immersing himself completely in it, trying to capture the true meaning contained within the mysteries of speed and time.
The Bodhi Seed emitted a warm, moist current, which helped him to clear his mind and greatly enhance his understanding.
Using the Merak Steps he had learned as a guide, he quickly resonated with the Dao diagram and began to eagerly absorb and imitate the supreme truth contained within it.
At this moment, the situation on the mountaintop is critical.
The stone coffin trembled more and more violently, as if the coffin lid was about to be ripped open by the entity inside. The towering black mist transformed into various ferocious demonic shadows, attacking the seal of the Emperor Formation and the Investiture of the Gods of the Gods.
The platform floor was cracked, and jet-black blood seeped from the cracks.
Gu Tianshu snorted coldly, took a step forward, and appeared directly above the stone coffin.
He pressed his hands down, unleashing the Great Saint Laws without reservation, transforming them into two Shrouding the Heavens chaotic hands that, together with the Emperor Formation Killing Light and the God-Sealing Golden Light, slammed down on the coffin lid.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A drum-like pounding sound came from inside the stone coffin. Each impact dimmed Gu Tianshu's chaotic hand and caused the Emperor Formation to flicker.
Even though the power of that mutated Great Accomplishment Sacred Body has been sealed for countless ages, its remnants are still terrifyingly powerful.
Li Qingshan shook the Beginningless Bell.
"Clang!"
This time, the bell's toll was high-pitched, clear, and resonant, capable of piercing through metal and splitting rocks!
Zhong Bo transformed into a condensed, solid, and mountain-thick beam of chaotic light, ignoring spatial distance, and directly struck the center of the stone coffin lid!
The moment the beam of light touched the coffin lid, it was like a drop of water seeping into a sponge, instantly disappearing into it.
The violent crashing sounds inside the stone coffin suddenly stopped!
Immediately afterwards, the ancient engravings on the surface of the coffin lid, which were covered with green fur, lit up one by one, radiating a pure and majestic golden light!
These markings are clearly the sealing runes left by the Great Emperor Wushi himself!
At this moment, it is completely activated by the energy of the Beginningless Bell!
"Seal it!" Li Qingshan uttered the truth, and his words became law.
The golden runes shone brightly, intertwining to form a huge golden net that enveloped and tightened the entire stone coffin along with the gushing black mist!
"Roar!!!"
A furious roar of extreme resentment emanated from within the stone coffin, but the sound quickly faded.
The coffin lid was forcibly pressed back into place, the dancing green fur withered, and the gushing black mist was refined and dissipated by the golden talisman net.
The shaking of the stone coffin finally subsided, though there were still occasional slight tremors.
The mountaintop returned to relative tranquility.
Li Qingshan retrieved the Beginningless Bell and looked towards the altar.
Ye Fan was still enveloped in the light and shadow of the Nine Secrets: Xing Diagram, his figure blurred, but the golden blood energy on his body had gradually stabilized, and his face was calm, clearly indicating that he had entered a deep state of enlightenment.
The mountaintop was sealed off by divine chains, silent and still, with only the light flowing from the Nine Secrets: Xing diagram.
Ye Fan was so engrossed in the moment that he forgot himself and the world around him.
He seemed to transform into a free-spirited wind, a ray of light piercing Eternal, traversing the layers of spatial folds, touching the subtle ripples on the edge of the river of time.
His movements were constantly practiced and refined in his mind, and the original constraints were broken one by one.
After an unknown amount of time, Ye Fan's body trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes. A fleeting glint of light seemed to flash in his eyes, and his entire demeanor appeared to become more ethereal and agile.
Although he had not been able to fully comprehend all the subtleties of the Ninefold Dao Diagram, he had mastered its core mysteries and cultivation methods, which were now imprinted in his mind.
He rose, stepped down from the altar, approached Li Qingshan and Gu Tianshu, and bowed, saying, "Teacher, Senior Gu, I have not failed you."
Li Qingshan nodded slightly. "Do you remember everything?"
"The true meaning of the Dao diagram has been imprinted in my heart, but it still needs time to digest and verify it," Ye Fan said truthfully. Without the protection of the two people, he would never have been able to obtain the complete inheritance of the Nine Secrets: Xing so smoothly and efficiently.
Gu Tianshu also said, "Not bad, solid foundation, excellent comprehension, promising future."
Seeing Ye Fan's success, Li Qingshan said to Gu Tianshu, "Senior Gu, this place is not suitable for lingering. Although the ominous presence within the coffin has been temporarily suppressed, it is not a long-term solution. Now that we have obtained the secret, let us depart. As for the remains of the Great Accomplishment Sacred Body and the remains of the Lord of the Heavenly Court, let us leave them for fate to decide, or for future disposal."
Gu Tianshu naturally had no objection.
Although the remains of the Great Accomplishment Sacred Body are priceless treasures, they involve too much Cause and Effect, and there are clearly strange things inside the coffin, so he doesn't want to get involved easily.
Li Qingshan once again took action, slowly closing and sealing the coffin lid to restore it to its original state as much as possible.
Gu Tianshu nodded in agreement, and once again activated the array technique, resonating with the Wushi Emperor Formation to open a path back.
The three of them quickly evacuated along the safe route, just as they had arrived.
Behind them, the main peak of Saint Cliff was gradually enveloped by surging black mist again, only the Investiture of the Gods of the Gods halfway up the mountain still radiated immortal golden light, like a lighthouse, guarding this ancient and perilous land.
Once outside the Saint Cliff and back under the sunlight, the lingering, cold, and decaying aura gradually dissipated.
Ye Fan found a flat rocky spot, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes and concentrated, and began to sort out the vast and profound Nine Secrets: Xing" in his mind.
Gu Tianshu stood aside, protecting him.
Li Qingshan stood alone on the edge of the cliff, gazing towards the direction of the Saint Cliff, his eyes piercing through the clouds and mist.
A mountain breeze blows, white clothes are whiter than snow, Golden Crow gently pecks at its feathers on its shoulder, scattering warm rays of light.
Half a day later, Ye Fan Fan's elusive aura completely subsided. He opened his eyes, and his pupils regained their clarity, but upon closer inspection, they possessed an indescribable agility and speed that was more pronounced than before.
He stood up and bowed respectfully to Li Qingshan and Gu Tianshu: "Thank you for your kindness, teachers. Ye Fan will remember the lessons learned from this trip."
Li Qingshan turned around, his gaze falling on him for a moment before he said calmly, "The secret technique is the key; the path is beneath your feet. Which door you can open and how far you can go depends on yourself."
Having said that, he didn't linger. He took a step forward, his movements mysterious and profound, the secrets of the Nine Secrets: Xing" flowing through him, and he was already in the clouds. "It's time for you to undergo your tribulation. Go to the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land." His voice echoed, and then he was gone.
Gu Tianshu nodded slightly to Ye Fan.
Ye Fan took one last look at the towering, dark Saint Cliff that seemed to connect to the secrets of eternity, then turned and transformed into a golden rainbow, soaring into the sky.
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