Chapter 626: From This Point On, We Part Ways

Angry Squid

He Zhenghao had by now completely dismissed his daughter's warning. In his mind, even though the process of refining the Spirit of Heaven and Earth was extremely perilous, he, He Zhenghao, was not a reckless man. He would simply adapt to the situation; if a task proved impossible, he would certainly not sacrifice himself for nothing. Taking a slight risk for a chance at meteoric rise – what was there to lose?

However, He Zhenghao could not have imagined that the true Spirit of Heaven and Earth was on an entirely different level than he had anticipated. Ultimately, his understanding was limited by his own scope. He Zhenghao was only at the Golden Core cultivation stage. While he had traveled extensively and forged many connections, he had never personally witnessed, nor even read in ancient records, the true power of the Spirit of Heaven and Earth. He simply knew of its existence. It was akin to a farmer's imagined golden hoe for an emperor, far removed from reality. And this, it seemed, also sealed He Zhenghao's tragic fate in this life.

While a group of cultivators were still in the Governance Hall, discussing the submarine cavern rising from the seabed, as prophesied by Li Fan, the actual instigator, Li Fan, had already quietly arrived at the cavern's location.

Over a stretch of just a few hundred miles, the seabed formed three major fault lines, resembling steep steps. Each layer had a drop of four to five thousand meters. Above each fault, intense geological activity had caused numerous mountain ranges to rise from the seabed. The scenery was exquisitely beautiful and unique, even surpassing terrestrial mountains and rivers. This was precisely the location of the Three Submarine Faults, where He Zhenghao had formed his Golden Core in his previous life.

"In his previous life, although He Zhenghao was somewhat discontent, he never lost his ambitious spirit. Once he acquired the 'Mountain River Hidden Dragon Art,' he rose powerfully like a dragon from the abyss. Forming a Golden Core through the comprehension of four cultivation methods, his future was truly boundless."

"In this life, however, He Zhenghao's power far exceeded his former self, and he even cultivated a Dao Integration technique. Nevertheless, he neglected his practice, forming his Golden Core with only a single method."

"I gave you opportunities, but you didn't measure up."

Li Fan felt a faint sense of melancholy. After a slight shake of his head, he got down to business. His spiritual sense swept over the fault line mountains below, and he narrowed his eyes, murmuring, "Chaoyuan Sect..."

What Li Fan had said earlier in the Governance Hall was not empty talk. Although the Chaoyuan Sect was incredibly bizarre and fraught with peril, in the previous life, Shuofeng, Su Xiaomei, and others had all advanced by a major cultivation realm after entering it and returning safely. Leaving aside the unforeseen circumstances of He Zhenghao's Foundation Establishment in the previous life, this relic was originally supposed to depart from the Congyun Sea in Anchor Year 22 and journey to Jiushan Province. Thus, it remained quietly hidden beneath the fault lines at this moment.

Having fully inherited the memories of Dugu Chang from the Medicine King Sect, Li Fan searched for a moment but found no trace of the Chaoyuan Sect within them. Furthermore, the same applied to the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace, which was known as the overlord of the Congyun Sea. Records showed no such sects.

"Strange," Li Fan thought. "According to the data in the Heavenly Profound Mirror, both the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace and the Chaoyuan Sect were relatively renowned sects in ancient times. Though they couldn't be compared to the Ten Immortal Dao Sects, they were certainly stronger than the Medicine King Sect. So why is there no information about them in the memories of the Medicine King Sect disciples?"

"Could it be that they didn't exist in the same period? Was the Cloudwater Heavenly Palace's era more recent?"

Li Fan pondered for a moment but found no answer. Instead, he felt that many clues contradicted each other, leading to numerous inconsistencies. Temporarily setting these thoughts aside, Li Fan looked at the seabed below and unleashed the newly comprehended divine ability, Sky-Shattering Heart Sword.

In the next instant, countless streaks of sword light suddenly erupted within the continuous submarine mountain range. As the dark seabed was illuminated, a tremendous roar immediately echoed without end. The mountains crumbled, and one colossal fissure after another appeared in the seabed. As if instantly torn apart by countless sword lights, this hundred-mile expanse of submarine marvel completely disintegrated and vanished with a single thought from Li Fan. Amidst this cataclysm, Li Fan finally located the hidden traces of the Chaoyuan Sect.

Without any obstruction, he simply watched as the complex of ancient structures rose, breaking through the water's surface. It grew smaller and smaller, ultimately resembling a solitary cavern as it journeyed towards Jiushan Province. After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, Li Fan's spiritual perception had grown increasingly acute. The very moment he confronted the Chaoyuan Sect ruins, he even felt a faint, deadly sense of peril within his heart.

"Opportunities in this world are countless; there's no need to take this risk. Let others go and explore it first; I'll wait until its true mysteries are completely clear." Li Fan watched the Chaoyuan Sect depart, these thoughts forming in his mind.

Although Li Fan himself was unconcerned, the Chaoyuan Sect ruins still caused a massive uproar among cultivators. He had just informed everyone of the emergence of a submarine cavern opportunity. Before cultivators even had a chance to fully depart from the Governance Hall, the cavern appeared. What an incredible coincidence! Some cultivators even suspected that this cavern might have been fabricated by Li Fan, solely to once again display his unfathomable prophetic abilities.

However, this notion was quickly refuted. Simply put, the ancient, weathered aura emanating from the Chaoyuan Sect ruins could not possibly be faked. Furthermore, due to the worldwide attention, cultivators, through their collective efforts, quickly traced the origin of the ruins' main hall, the Taiyuan Hall. An ancient immortal sect: the Chaoyuan Sect! Moreover, a Spirit Transformation cultivator, well-versed in ancient cultivation history, personally vouched for it, solidifying the ruins' authenticity.

Consequently, many cultivators within the Congyun Sea and throughout the Myriad Immortal Alliance were enticed by this so-called "opportunity," and followed the ruins. Among them was even someone Li Fan had not anticipated.

Inside the Governance Hall.

"You're going too? No matter what, that Chaoyuan Sect opportunity can't compare to... can it? Or are you just going to observe for a while and then come right back?" He Zhenghao asked, utterly bewildered by Gao Yuan's farewell.

"Heh. After I returned, I kept pondering, feeling that something wasn't quite right. It took me three days and three nights to finally understand," Gao Yuan said with a hint of emotion. "One must be strong to forge iron. No matter how much the Lord favors me, my cultivation is still only at the Golden Core stage. In this Congyun Sea, I can still maintain order. But if the Lord truly succeeds in Dao Integration, his ranks will surely be filled with Spirit Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivators. How could I then command respect? To better follow the Lord's path, I, Gao Yuan, must also strive with all my might!"

He Zhenghao was not swayed by Gao Yuan's high-minded words and instead regarded him with full suspicion.

"Don't look at me like that," Gao Yuan chuckled wryly. "I'm not tricking you this time; I've already requested leave from the Lord and will depart immediately."

"Fellow Daoist He, what are your intentions?" Gao Yuan glanced at He Zhenghao meaningfully.

He Zhenghao hesitated, but ultimately declined Gao Yuan's request to accompany him, citing the need for someone to maintain and oversee the Congyun Sea's affairs. Gao Yuan then said no more, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and drifted away.