The cave was vast, but Ye Bufan could feel that the path ahead was sloping downwards. The gradient was very gentle, but it was perceptible.
Upon reaching the end, Ye Bufan felt he had struck gold.
Just as Ye Bufan had speculated when heading towards the ancient ruins, there should be a spiritual vein beneath this area.
According to the theories Lin Xiaoyao had taught Ye Bufan, a sect, to survive for a longer period, would typically choose to establish themselves upon a spiritual vein. Here, with an unending supply of spiritual minerals and more abundant spiritual energy than elsewhere, it was suitable for cultivation and nurturing talent.
The spiritual vein was crystal clear, with a large section exposed, the rest buried underground.
"Cultivating here for one day is equivalent to cultivating outside for more than ten days," Ye Bufan remarked, observing the scene.
Ye Qingyi nodded and said to Ye Bufan, "If I'm not mistaken, this place should be the central hub maintaining the operation of the entire Taiyi Divine Sect's formation."
"Doesn't that mean if we occupy this place, we'll become its masters?" Although Ye Bufan had heard Lin Xiaoyao speak of ancient cultivation ruins before, now that he was truly experiencing it, he was extremely excited and exhilarated.
"In ancient texts, this method is indeed mentioned, but it is quite difficult and troublesome, requiring one to find and refine the crystal core within the spiritual vein," Ye Qingyi stated. "This is an extremely time-consuming endeavor, with the duration being an unknown variable. It could be very fast, or it could take several years."
"Welcome to Tai Xu Cliff," the old man's voice finally resounded. "I never expected that after thousands of years, a junior could still remember what our ancestors left behind."
Ye Bufan knew that "what was left behind" referred to things like the Qi Men Dun Jia.
In fact, Ye Bufan had once felt these things were useless. Later, when Lin Xiaoyao taught him medicine, Ye Bufan discovered that the abstruse knowledge, when combined with Qi Men Dun Jia and the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, seemed less difficult to understand.
He developed a slight interest, and subsequently learned related content very quickly. During his growth, he had accompanied Lin Xiaoyao to observe the mountains and rivers of Jiuzhou, learning the art of Dragon Vein Hunting, so Feng Shui was a piece of cake for Ye Bufan.
"According to your predecessor's meaning, is this place also a place of inheritance?" Ye Bufan asked.
"Inheritance doesn't necessarily only mean spells, magical artifacts, or cultivation techniques; it can be other things," the old man's voice echoed. As for what one could achieve, what accomplishments one could reach, or what one could obtain, that would all depend on individual fortune.
"So, Tai Xu Cliff is also a form of inheritance?" Ye Bufan asked, exchanging a glance with Ye Qingyi.
"When my Taiyi Divine Sect was founded, there was a secret treasure called the Great Deduction Book. This book can trace back three thousand years and look forward three thousand years. Only the Sect Master of the Taiyi Divine Sect could master it, and this supreme treasure was always hidden within the Taiyi Divine Sect, never revealed to the world," the old man said slowly after a moment of thought.
The founding ancestor had decreed that as time passed, the deduction ability of the Great Deduction Book would gradually decline and weaken.
Until one day, the last Sect Master of the Taiyi Divine Sect unintentionally discovered the Great Deduction Book and found it deducing the future trajectory of the Taiyi Divine Sect.
In this deduction, the Great Deduction Book predicted that the Taiyi Divine Sect would face a catastrophic disaster.
Therefore, the last Sect Master of the Taiyi Divine Sect had been preparing for that day. He made two contingency plans. The first was to attempt to alter reality based on the deductions within the Great Deduction Book, to allow the Taiyi Divine Sect to endure longer.
The second plan was how the Taiyi Divine Sect, should it be destroyed as predicted by the Great Deduction Book, could ensure its lineage continued.
"So, you weren't successful in organizing yourselves at that time?" Ye Bufan asked after hearing the voice's explanation.
"It was both a success and a failure," the voice replied again. "According to the records of the Great Deduction Book, the Blue Star would face a bottleneck, leading to a gradual decrease in spiritual energy. From then on, cultivators would become increasingly rare. The era of universal cultivation like before would never reappear."
Ye Bufan and Ye Qingyi exchanged glances, never expecting such a miraculous item to exist.
"Is this Great Deduction Book still in existence?" Ye Bufan asked.
"After the deduction was completed, the book was destroyed," the voice stated.
"Does Senior know the contents of the book?" Ye Bufan continued to ask.
"I do not," the voice said. It was clear the voice knew, but it did not tell Ye Bufan.
"Senior, please speak frankly. We've reached this stage, there's no need to hide anything," Ye Bufan said again after a moment of thought.
"Talking about this now is still hypothetical. Let's discuss it after you pass the test," the voice resounded again. Ye Bufan and Ye Qingyi exchanged glances; it was evident that there was a test of inheritance here.
"Senior, please tell me, what exactly is this test? I will do my utmost," Ye Bufan said.
"It's very simple. Since you understand a bit of Qi Men Dun Jia, naturally you should use it to map out the trajectory of the spiritual vein," the other party said to Ye Bufan.
"Then is my friend beside me undergoing the same test as me?" Ye Bufan asked.
"She does not need to participate in the test. She cannot become a successor of our Taiyi Divine Sect."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyi's pupils widened slightly, shocked that she was not recognized.
"On her, there is a force, very mysterious, unfathomable, like a mysterious energy from ancient times. It is something the Taiyi Divine Sect cannot attain. It is unfathomable," the voice mused for a moment before speaking again. "The Taiyi Divine Sect is not worthy of her."
This time, not only Ye Bufan, but Ye Qingyi herself was stunned.
"This hat you're putting on me is a bit too grand," Ye Qingyi said with a self-deprecating smile. However, she seemed to take it in stride and said, "Since your inheritance is for the fated, I won't force it. I don't lack this inheritance, so it naturally goes to my younger brother, Ye Bufan."
Ye Bufan looked at Ye Qingyi, deeply moved. Although Ye Qingyi often called him "brother" as a form of teasing, she was actually very good to Ye Bufan, and Ye Bufan noticed all of this.
"Thank you," Ye Bufan said softly.
"In that case, shall we begin the test?" the voice asked.
"Of course," Ye Bufan replied.
The next second, the entire space buzzed. Following that, a platform rose from the ground. It was a map carved from stone, depicting mountain ranges, and it resembled a modern satellite map.
"Within an hour, draw the spiritual vein's trajectory, and you will have completed the challenge."
Ye Bufan's lips curved slightly. Searching for spiritual veins was akin to searching for dragon veins in Feng Shui. Under Lin Xiaoyao's tutelage, he was extremely proficient in such matters. The "map" also indicated directions, making it even easier for Ye Bufan. At his previous speed, he could have finished in less than half an hour.
Half an hour later, Ye Bufan slowly raised his head and shouted to the surroundings, "I'm done!"