Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Ancient Emperor Dao Mark
The once-mighty Night Emperor really sat and passed away in this Immortal Burial Forest.
Although he found the Divine Mountain, in the end, he was unable to reverse the wounds of the Dao and left only a skeleton, buried by none.
"The Dao cannot be reversed, a futile attempt of an emperor in one lifetime."
In this simple sentence, Ji Chen saw immense helplessness and sorrow.
Even for an Ancient Emperor, what difference does it make?
Unable to reverse the wounds of the Dao, in the end, one is just a speck of dust in the annals of history, leaving only an empty reputation passed down through generations.
"Alas..."
Ji Chen stood there for a long time, eventually letting out a sigh.
Being someone who lived two lives, he could even more deeply feel the sense of powerlessness one faces when death approaches.
After simply clearing the weeds in front of the Ancient Cave, Ji Chen dug a pit beside it to bury the Night Emperor’s bones and erected a tombstone inscribed with the six words "Tomb of the Night Emperor of the Human Race".
After a simple offering, Ji Chen turned around, intending to explore the nearby Ancient Cave.
The Night Emperor came for the Dao Heart Fruit and passed away in front of the cave, indicating that there might be some information about the Dao Heart Fruit within the cave.
"Huh?"
Approaching the front of the cave again, just as Ji Chen intended to enter, he noticed something unusual at the cave’s entrance.
Where the Night Emperor’s skeleton once sat cross-legged, Ji Chen saw that at this moment, a faint purple glow was subtly emanating from the ground.
Curious, he walked over and looked closely, immediately showing an expression of surprise, "Dao pattern?"
Dao patterns are a type of legacy, said to often be found at the places where Ancient Saints passed away.
These are the Dao manifestations left by Ancient Saints as they faded from existence with the world.
They did not want their legacies to disappear with them, so before passing, they used Secret Techniques to leave behind these Dao patterns so that future generations might discover and inherit their teachings.
Ji Chen had heard of such legends more than once.
Moreover, in a previous life, he had obtained the Supreme Scripture in this very way!
Without hesitation, Ji Chen immediately sat down cross-legged where he was and released his Divine Thought, attempting to comprehend the Dao pattern.
Time passed, and day gave way to night.
Compared to the comprehension of Law and Martial Techniques, the Dao heritage of an Ancient Emperor was naturally much more profound, not something that could be mastered overnight.
Ji Chen remained in meditation here for a full half month.
Finally, on the sixteenth day, he awoke.
"Whew!"
He exhaled a long breath, a gleam appearing in Ji Chen’s eyes, a look of joy appearing on his face.
Over this half month, he finally managed to fully comprehend the Night Emperor’s Dao teachings.
This was the Night Emperor’s ’Heavenly Scripture’, one of the supreme Secret Techniques of the Beiyou Human Race, a form of the Emperor Scripture.
Ji Chen did not expect that besides the Supreme Scripture, he had now obtained a second Ancient Scripture.
With these two Emperor Scriptures, his power would be greatly enhanced!
"I wonder if the Dao Heart Fruit truly exists within this Ancient Cave?"
After the joy subsided, he set his gaze on the Ancient Cave ahead.
Words fell, and without hesitation, Ji Chen directly stepped forward, making his way into the cave.
"Buzz!"
But just as he stepped into the Ancient Cave, an inexplicable aura suddenly enveloped Ji Chen, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably.
This force was incredibly powerful, causing the rate of the life force within Ji Chen’s body to deplete at an accelerated rate once more.
It should be noted that after consuming those red fruits, Ji Chen’s physical form had undergone a transformation, allowing him immunity from all Forbidden Power within the Immortal Burial Forest. But now, within this cave, this Forbidden Power was evidently much more terrifying than anywhere else in the mountain, so much so that Ji Chen, even after his transformation, could not withstand it.
Instinctively, he retreated back to the cave entrance.
"Hmm?"
Ji Chen quickly noticed that the scene outside the cave seemed vastly different from what he had just seen.
He had spent half a month here comprehending the Night Emperor’s Heavenly Scripture.
The weeds he had cleared earlier had already withered.
This was the scene before he entered the Ancient Cave.
But after stepping into the cave and staying inside for less than ten breaths, upon exiting again, these weeds had already been wind-dried, and half-man high weeds had grown in the previously cleared space.
Such a scene immediately made Ji Chen frown, "Could it be that the flow of time within the cave is accelerated?"
With this thought, he couldn’t help but step forward, entering the cave once again.
"Buzz..."
The terrifying Forbidden Power once again assaulted him from all directions.
This time, after staying for just ten breaths, Ji Chen retreated again.
Sure enough, the weeds that were previously only half a man’s height had now grown over his head, flourishing in abundance.
This confirmed one thing for Ji Chen.
The flow of time within the cave was indeed much faster than outside.
Judging by the growth of these weeds, ten breaths inside the cave seemed almost equivalent to a month outside!
This rate was terrifying, putting Ji Chen in a difficult position, hesitating whether he should continue to explore the cave.
"Buzz!"
Moments later, he no longer hesitated, stepping forward resolutely, entering the cave at the fastest speed and quickly speeding into it.
If he couldn’t find the Dao Heart Fruit, the wounds of the Dao within him would continue to worsen, and even with the Hongmeng Body, he wouldn’t live many more years.
Rushing deeper into the cave, Ji Chen could feel the Forbidden Power growing increasingly terrifying.
But he did not concern himself with it and continued forward.
Finally, in the distance, a glimmer of light appeared, and he reached the end of the Ancient Cave, sweeping his gaze around to find a Cold Pool exuding an intensely vibrant life force.
Around the Cold Pool grew many mystical herbs, each one a different type of Divine Medicine!
"Dao Heart Fruit..."
His gaze quickly swept the area, searching for the Dao Heart Fruit.
Soon, Ji Chen found a purple fruit, about the size of half a fist, exactly matching the Dao Heart Fruit described by Nangong Ao!
Delighted, he quickly ran over and plucked the purple fruit.
"These Divine Medicines, and the Cold Pool Water..."
After securing the Dao Heart Fruit, he once again surveyed the surroundings.
The Ancient Cave was teeming with Divine Medicine, and though he didn’t know their exact uses, since he was already here, Ji Chen naturally wanted to take some with him.
"Hmm?"
But as he attempted to collect these Divine Medicines, an invisible force began to repel him, as if trying to expel him from the place.