"Share blessings, endure hardship together. Since you're leaving, I'm coming with you." Pang Bo spoke with firmness and resolve, clearly determined to leave with Ye Fan. But Ye Fan couldn't agree. Now that Pang Bo had been recognized as an Immortal Seed, his future was full of promise. If he left now, everything would reset to zero, and the path ahead would be uncertain, even dangerous.
"I have another reason for leaving. We humiliated Han Feiyu, made him lose face..."
Before Ye Fan could finish, Pang Bo interrupted him, saying, "Don't worry about him. I'm an Immortal Seed now, he won't dare act rashly for the time being. Once we grow stronger, what do we have to fear?"
Ye Fan shook his head. "It's not as simple as it looks. I've been asking around and learned that his great-uncle is a skilled alchemist who's been trying to concoct a batch of 'Revival Pills' to extend his life. In recent years, he's been going to great lengths to collect rare herbs, personally venturing into deep mountains and vast swamps. He just returned a few days ago, and Han Feiyu immediately stirred up trouble with us. I don't think this is a coincidence."
Pang Bo nodded. He had also found it odd, there was no grudge between them and Han Feiyu. They had never even interacted before, so why the sudden conflict?
"You're not suggesting... his great-uncle is targeting us?" Pang Bo was quick-witted and immediately made the connection. After all, they had once consumed a holy medicine and unintentionally rejuvenated. If Elder Han found out about this, he might indeed target them.
"I think his lifespan is nearing its end, and in desperation to complete the 'Revival Pills,' he might be eyeing us." Ye Fan concluded. Then he added, "Now that you're an Immortal Seed, he won't dare touch you. But if I stay here, something bad might happen."
"That old bastard!" Pang Bo frowned deeply at Ye Fan's words. He no longer stopped Ye Fan from leaving, but he still insisted on going with him.
"If you come with me, then I won't leave." Ye Fan spoke bluntly. He didn't want to hold Pang Bo back from cultivating. Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven was clearly the best place for Pang Bo's future.
Pang Bo knew Ye Fan well. Seeing him like this, he stopped insisting and sat there silently.
"Go get paper and ink. I'll write down the ancient scripture for you."
Ye Fan had only ever told Pang Bo about the scripture he obtained from the bronze coffin. He had recited a few lines before, but Pang Bo couldn't make any sense of it, it sounded like a heavenly text, far too obscure to comprehend. Even Ye Fan himself still couldn't grasp its meaning after pondering it for a long time.
"That scripture is like gibberish to me. It's useless. I won't lack cultivation methods here. No need to waste your effort writing it down."
But Ye Fan ignored him, grabbed the paper and pen, and began to write. The moment the brush touched paper, a sound like great bells and chimes echoed in his mind. Hundreds of ancient characters flowed through his consciousness like a gentle stream, bringing a sense of clarity and refreshment. His brush moved like a dragon, flowing swiftly and gracefully as lines of characters appeared on the paper. But then, something strange happened.
The writing vanished.
As soon as the brush stopped, the characters began to fade. The paper crumbled into ashes, as if a mysterious power resided in the tip of the brush.
At the same time, the hundreds of characters that had been flowing through Ye Fan's mind slowly disappeared. The heavenly sound faded away. Pang Bo was stunned. The event was so bizarre it felt supernatural. After a long pause, he finally said, "This scripture is cursed, better not write it down."
The ancient characters, never before seen or heard, were even older than oracle bone script. Ye Fan hadn't recognized them at first, but when they were branded into his consciousness by the heavenly sound, he gradually understood their meanings.
Ye Fan lowered his head in thought, recalling something Elder Wu Qingfeng had once said. Before the Desolate Era, there was a sacred script, each character embodied a profound dao-rhythm, carrying mysterious and mighty power. Merely copying them could cause inexplicable phenomena. Some speculated that writing these characters might resonate with the forces of heaven and earth, disrupting spiritual energy and triggering all sorts of strange events.
"Could it be that every stroke of these ancient characters contains a 'force,' which, during writing, disturbs the surrounding spiritual energy, eventually destroying the paper..." Ye Fan muttered to himself.
He then tried carving them into the ground. The moment the final stroke was complete, a small arc of lightning flashed, and all the characters disintegrated.
Pang Bo was completely baffled. "This scripture's haunted. Stop writing it!"
"It's not haunted. These characters are extraordinary. Each stroke carries a distinct 'force' that disrupts the surrounding spiritual energy. When all these forces combine, they trigger a power that erases the scripture from the world." Ye Fan concluded.
The more this happened, the more mysterious and profound the scripture seemed. Whoever created it must be unimaginably powerful. The arrangement of hundreds of these characters made it impossible for the scripture to exist in this world, it felt like a hidden text that should never see the light of day.
Ye Fan gave up trying to transcribe it. The scripture was too obscure. Even if he left it for Pang Bo, he wouldn't understand it.
In the end, Ye Fan decided to leave. Pang Bo silently saw him off. He walked along the cobbled path from the deep mountains of the sect, reaching the exit of Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven. As he stepped onto the stone stairs, the scripture began to echo in his mind once more. Turning to Pang Bo, he said, "There may be something extraordinary beneath these hundred-odd ancient stone steps. You should come here often."
At that moment, Pang Bo's eyes widened. "Don't leave yet!"
Ye Fan also sensed something. Looking back, he saw a familiar figure flash by, it was one of the youths they had once humiliated.
"Han Feiyu still hasn't given up. He's been spying on us."
"Don't leave now. If they see you leaving, they'll definitely ambush you on the road."
Ye Fan nodded. The two turned back, but the youth had already vanished. However, on their way back, they saw Han Feiyu rushing toward them with several others in tow.
Pang Bo's face darkened. If they hadn't noticed the spy by chance, and Ye Fan had left, it would have been a tragedy. He roared in anger, "Han Feiyu, you bastard! Think you can kill whoever you want just because your great-uncle's backing you? Come kill me if you dare!"
Han Feiyu's face turned green. If any elder or sect leader heard this and thought he wanted to eliminate the sect's Immortal Seed, even his powerful great-uncle wouldn't be able to save him.
"Don't talk nonsense! I was just passing by," Han Feiyu snapped, then fled with his group, looking utterly embarrassed. He had indeed come for Ye Fan, hoping to ambush him after hearing he was leaving.
Pang Bo was furious. "That guy is sinister. He's been watching us all this time. He really wants to kill you. Don't leave for now."
Ye Fan nodded. Without enough strength, leaving would be too risky, he might truly lose his life.
The next month passed quietly. Han Feiyu didn't dare send anyone to monitor them anymore, worried that Pang Bo might report him to the elders.
One day, Pang Bo returned from seeing Elder Wu Qingfeng, looking a bit disappointed.
"What happened?" Ye Fan asked.
"It might be good news for you, but not for me," Pang Bo sighed. "I also think it's dangerous for you to stay here too long. So I asked Elder Wu Qingfeng to send you away..."
"That is good news," Ye Fan smiled. "It's not like we're parting forever. We'll meet again. I hope by then, you'll be Sect Master Pang, shaking the Eastern Wilderness, and even the sacred grounds and ancient clans will fear you."
Pang Bo didn't want to be separated from Ye Fan, but there was nothing he could do. "You'll have to wait a few more days. Elder Wu Qingfeng will soon choose a few promising disciples to go train outside Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven in the ancient ruins."
Countless years ago, the area where Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven now sits was a vast ruin. Later generations cleaned it up, turning it into a blessed land. It has a long history, if you trace it back, it reaches all the way to the Desolate Era.
The original ruins are massive, stretching endlessly. Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven is just a small part of it. Much of the region remains uncleared. Within those ruins are towering ancient trees, rare beasts, and precious herbs. Every year, the elders take disciples there for training, to test them and broaden their horizons.
But the ruins are not a pure land. Fierce beasts and predatory birds roam freely. Even with elders present, there are always casualties.
"It's said there are many rare herbs in there, some even being genuine spiritual medicines. If you're lucky enough to collect any, you can immediately exchange them with the elders for elixirs." Pang Bo looked at Ye Fan and added, "You urgently need Hundred-Grass Liquid. If you can make some gains there, it might solve your current needs."