Chapter 233: The Cave Heaven Ascends to a Small World; Before That, Comprehend the End

The sun is cold and the mountains are frigid; the steep forest is desolate.

The cloud-filled ravines are deep and secluded; above the hollowed-out stone shelves, it is empty, cold, and silent.

The two members of the Witch Clan who came to provide reinforcements for Li Yuanhe had already respectfully retreated after paying their reparations.

In this mountain range, littered with debris, only Fang Longye and Yang Chan remained.

"Hey~ here is the Wu Clan Essence Blood you wanted!"

Yang Chan weighed the jade bottle in her hand and tossed it casually to Fang Longye.

After catching it, Fang Longye took a look.

He saw that the jade bottle was nearly full, containing over a hundred drops of essence blood.

All of them were golden and brilliant, shining with radiance.

Yet they were clearly distinct, with obvious differences between them.

This was not surprising; after all, these hundred-plus drops of essence blood came from three different attributes of the Witch Clan.

"Now the essence blood of the Twelve Witches is complete!" Fang Longye thought to himself.

With the Golden Finger Equivalent Balance at his side, as long as he spent the time, he would soon be able to smelt the essence blood of the Twelve Witches into his own body.

Although the two later members of the Witch Clan who came with Li Yuanhe were only at the Taiyi Realm, the combination of twelve drops of essence blood with different attributes could, in terms of value, at least rival a drop of true Great Witch essence blood.

"If I persevere like this, who knows, perhaps after I Reverse Innate, I can also secure the status of a descendant of Pangu in the eyes of the Primordial World."

Fang Longye began to harbor such aspirations in his heart.

"It seems you intend to use a secret technique to smelt this Wu Clan Essence Blood into your body?"

Yang Chan stroked the small divine bow in her hand and said with a smile: "But a reminder: the 'Yin and Yang Great Vehicle Dragon-Transforming Scripture' is not omnipotent. Be careful not to overeat and be unable to digest it."

Eh? Fang Longye asked in surprise: "Hearing the Fairy speak in such a tone, could it be that you are also very familiar with the 'Yin and Yang Great Vehicle Dragon-Transforming Scripture'?"

It was no wonder he was so surprised.

One must know that this secret technique was by no means common; on the contrary, even throughout the entire Primordial World, very few people knew about it.

At first, because this secret technique was created by Di Jun for the mounts he kept to pull his carriages, not many people thought much of it.

In the era when the Witches and Demons dominated, let alone those immortals and gods with even a slight path forward, even the struggling Dragon Clan looked down upon it, even viewing it as a disgrace.

Even if they knew that this secret technique was very useful for the Dragon Clan, because of its origin and purpose, they were all too proud to even take a glance at it.

It was not until Yinglong Laozu was in her humble beginnings and grew up by relying on this secret technique obtained by chance that the Dragon Clan's prejudice against it was reversed.

However, by that time, the grown Yinglong Laozu did not spread this secret technique widely; instead, she placed certain restrictions on it, preventing it from circulating.

It was not that Yinglong Laozu was stingy with her treasures, but rather that when she first attained the Dao, her fundamental Dharma had not yet completely shed the influence of this secret technique.

To prevent later generations from following her path and competing with her for the Dao, she could only temporarily shelve it.

It was not until she stabilized her own path later that she lifted the restrictions on this secret technique.

However, perhaps to maintain a certain level of prestige, or perhaps because the Dharma should not be taught lightly, this secret technique remained only with Yinglong Laozu, and only the juniors she favored were qualified to be taught it.

Most of this specific information regarding the secret technique was known to Fang Longye from Long Xuan.

Consequently, in Fang Longye's view, it was suspected of being embellished and beautified.

Anyway, judging by his own petty mind, the fact that this secret technique could not circulate throughout the entire Dragon Clan surely had shadows of power struggles.

In short, in the current Primordial World, even those who knew the name of the 'Yin and Yang Great Vehicle Dragon-Transforming Scripture' were few and far between.

Even if they had heard of this secret technique, most people knew very little about its specific content and effects.

But as for Yang Chan~ Fang Longye put away the jade bottle containing the Wu Clan Essence Blood and glanced at Yang Chan secretly.

Although this Third Holy Mother had a profound background, it was understandable that she had some understanding of this.

But this secret technique was of no use to her at all. And the scriptures and methods she could access were as vast as the sea. Compared to them, this secret technique was simply a drop in the ocean.

Anyway, if it were him, facing the vast sea of scriptures, he would not take a second look at a secret technique that was useless to him.

Heh~ Sensing Fang Longye's surprise, Yang Chan chuckled and explained: "I actually have no interest in this secret technique, so naturally, I wouldn't specifically ask people to search for it."

"But it just so happens that your Dragon Clan's Yinglong Laozu, before attaining the Daluo Realm, had joined the Wa Palace. Speaking of which, the Wa Palace can be considered her half-maternal home."

"Over the years, Senior Yinglong has returned to the Wa Palace quite often. In her own maternal home, Senior Yinglong naturally spoke freely, and it was during one of her lectures that I learned the specific content of this secret technique."

Fang Longye understood.

He did not expect that Yinglong Laozu could also be considered a member of the Wa Palace. He really did not know this before.

As for Yang Chan's theory of a "half-maternal home," in his view, it was clearly a bit conservative.

As far as he knew, Yinglong Laozu's rise to power and control over the Dragon Clan was not that smooth either.

Not to mention anything else, just her disdain for the Four Seas Dragon Clan—if there were no other reasons, Fang Longye would not believe it.

"Fairy, please rest assured, Fang will naturally act according to his ability." After understanding, Fang Longye expressed his gratitude to Yang Chan for her reminder.

Immediately, he summoned the Two Instruments Divine Gourd and took out the pill that Lv Wen had painstakingly refined using the essence blood of one hundred thousand Nuwa Remnant People as the main ingredient.

"Fairy~"

Fang Longye held the pill in his palm and reached out toward Yang Chan, looking as if he would let her dispose of this pill.

Yang Chan looked at the pill in front of her. As the daylight shone down, it was clear, bright, and jade-like, glistening with luster and refracting billions of colors.

It was born containing a trace of the essence of Creation, and for her, who walked the path of Merit and Creation, it could be called a rare treasure.

However, a flash of inexplicable emotion crossed her eyes; she steadied herself, and her gaze immediately shifted away.

She waved her hand and said: "This pill is a gift for Brother Fang! Consider it the reward for Brother Fang accompanying me on this trip."

"That wouldn't be right!" Fang Longye frowned.

He was not putting on an act; rather, he really felt that a pill that gathered the lives of one hundred thousand Nuwa Remnant People was a bit too hot to handle.

Moreover, he had a hunch: if it weren't for him, according to the development of the plot, would this pill have been Yang Chan's true gain in this heaven-sent opportunity? It was very likely.

If he had intercepted it from someone else, he would have put it in his pocket without a word. But since it was Yang Chan, that was another matter entirely.

"Fairy~ one should not accept rewards without merit, and I haven't really helped much; besides, you have already helped me obtain the Wu Clan Essence Blood."

Yang Chan said impatiently, "Stop fussing! If I tell you to keep it, then keep it~"

"Besides—" She shook the replica of the Sun-Shooting Bow, which had shrunk to a few inches in size and was held in her hand, and said, "With this bow, I haven't made this trip in vain."

Seeing that Fang Longye still wanted to decline, she flicked her sleeves, turned back toward the Cave Abode of Lv Wen, and said, "That's enough! Let it be~"

"Let's go to Lv Wen's Cave Abode one more time, sweep his collection clean, and then it will be time to head home!"

Seeing her persistent, Fang Longye found it difficult to say anything more, but he secretly noted this care of hers in his heart.

He immediately followed her footsteps toward the Cave Abode and dojo left behind by Lv Wen.

……

Huashan.

Yang Chan's dojo.

Inside a palace, the Nine-Branched Lotus Treasure Lamp hung from the dome, its frost-colored light illuminating the people.

Yang Chan was sitting face-to-face with Fang Longye.

She reached out to pour a cup of wine for Fang Longye and said, "Having just returned to Huashan, why has Brother Fang come to find me instead of going into seclusion to digest the gains from this trip?"

"Haha!"

Fang Longye laughed heartily, flicked his sleeves, and stood up, walking a few steps to a small window. Outside, he saw ten acres of cold ponds; the water was as dark as eyebrow pigment, clear and round, with wind-blown lotuses moving as if beauties were dancing gracefully.

"The Fairy has treated me well, so naturally, I have good news to share with you!"

In fact, after the two had stepped into Lv Wen's dojo and thoroughly ransacked it, they had returned all the living beings previously gathered by the Map of Mountains and Rivers to their proper places, restoring the southwestern border of the Great Han to its former state, before stepping on clouds to return to Huashan.

It had only been three or five days since they returned to Huashan.

"Oh? What is the good news?"

Yang Chan toyed with the wine cup in her hand and asked.

Her tone was light and carried a smile.

Fang Longye turned to look at Yang Chan and explained, "My Inner World is about to ascend. I think if the Fairy could enter and observe the entire process, it would be even more certain for you to ascend to the Taiyi realm."

Yang Chan was stunned, thinking to herself that this was indeed good news. However—

"Is Brother Fang so confident in inviting me inside?"

In the path of the Inner World, the greatest taboo is to have outsiders watching during the process of sublimation and ascension. The slightest interference could cause the effort to fall short, or even lead to a backlash against oneself.

Fang Longye shook his head and laughed, "With the Map of Mountains and Rivers, if the Fairy truly had ill intentions toward me, you could simply activate the supreme treasure and grind me into dust. Why would you need to go through such trouble?"

Yang Chan's beautiful eyes turned, and she smiled brightly, "Since Brother Fang has so kindly invited me, I naturally have no reason to refuse such a good thing."

"Then I hope the Fairy can part with one treasure for me."

"A treasure? I was wondering why you would risk such a taboo to invite me into the Cave Abode you opened within your body. So you were after the treasure in my hand~"

Yang Chan smiled amusedly and asked again, "What treasure?"

"The Plague Demon Banner."

Yang Chan was stunned and said, "I thought it was some great treasure! It's just the Plague Demon Banner! Why didn't Brother Fang take it from the beginning?"

"Instead, you want to give it to me~"

Fang Longye shook his head and said, "I have already received generous gifts from the Fairy, so I really felt embarrassed."

This was the truth. Of course, this also made the invitation to Yang Chan seem less abrupt.

The Plague Demon Banner was indeed helpful for his ascension to a Small World, but it was not essential; of course, it was better to have it.

As for why he wanted to invite Yang Chan to enter his Cave Abode to watch the ascension, it was certainly not out of kindness for Yang Chan's cultivation.

Rather, he planned to split off an avatar to enter the Cave Abode and, relying on the flow of time, spend a thousand years in a single day to get along well with Yang Chan.

By spending a long time together, he hoped to win over this little rich woman.

"What is there to be embarrassed about? It's just a Demon treasure; it's not of much use to me anyway," Yang Chan said, waving her hand.

Immediately, she tossed out a dark, heavy small banner.

"There~ it's yours!"

Fang Longye reached out to catch the Plague Demon Banner, then a vast world appeared behind him, with Divine Light interweaving to form a portal, and he smiled lightly, "Then I invite the Fairy to enter!"

"So urgent?"

"There is no time like the present!"

"Are you sure you are ready?"

"Rest assured~ everything is ready, just waiting for the Fairy's presence!"

Fang Longye held the Plague Demon Banner in his hand, striking a gentlemanly pose of invitation.

In fact, the moment he returned to Huashan, the opportunity for his Cave Abode to ascend into a Small World had already emerged.

It could be said that he had been calming his mind and nourishing his Qi for these past few days, and only after being fully prepared did he come to invite Yang Chan.

……

The sea and sky were one color, the sun and moon moved with the clouds, colorful wings hung in the air, and crashing waves struck the shore; it was a vast continent, full of vitality.

A giant tree reached toward the clouds, its shade covering the four directions, exuding a vast Aura.

"You have walked the path of the Inner World quite well!"

Accompanied by Fang Longye's avatar, Yang Chan looked around the Cave Abode with great interest.

It was because Fang Longye saw Yang Chan nod in agreement that he split off an avatar to lead Yang Chan into the Cave Abode.

"This Cave Abode looks like it can ascend immediately. What do you need the Plague Demon Banner for?" Yang Chan closed her beautiful eyes slightly, feeling the Aura all around, and asked in confusion.

Fang Longye's avatar had a smile in his eyes as he said, "You will know in a moment!"

After saying this, he smiled and said nothing more.

Huashan, Yang Chan's dojo.

Inside the original palace, Fang Longye found a place at random and sat down cross-legged.

Holding the Plague Demon Banner before his eyes, Fang Longye examined it, only to see that this demon banner was dark and somber throughout.

The surface of the banner was completely blank, merely exuding a dark, somber demonic light. The banner pole, however, was engraved with intricate, ancient patterns that constantly twisted and shifted, as black as ink.

Even without anyone activating it, it still permeated with an uncomfortable Aura, evil and chaotic.

"Go!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Fang Longye cast this demon banner into his own internal Grotto-Heaven.

In an instant, the internal Grotto-Heaven stirred, thunder roared, and earth-shattering changes were born.

Boom—

The Plague Demon Banner descended into the Grotto-Heaven, sinking along a peculiar trajectory, rubbing against the Grotto-Heaven's Aura, and emitting astonishing halos.

Its size was more than ten thousand zhang, mottled blue-black, filling the space above and below, spreading left and right, illuminating the surroundings.

Then, a mass of black, deep, and intricately interwoven thunder suddenly emerged around the Plague Demon Banner, carrying destructive power, crowding together to wrap around it, covering and scouring it from the outside in.

This thunder was spontaneously generated by the internal Grotto-Heaven, which sensed the threat brought by the Plague Demon Banner and sought to destroy it.

Only—

Not to mention that this demon banner belonged to a Taiyi cultivator as their life-bound treasure, it was simply not something the Grotto-Heaven could destroy.

Furthermore, for the sake of comprehending the Dao of destruction and the end, Fang Longye would not allow this banner to be destroyed just like that at this moment.

Black clouds gathered densely, blotting out the sky and sun; they were entirely the Plague Poison overflowing from this banner, accumulating more and more, growing thicker and thicker, as the mottled blue-black spread in all directions.

It continued to extend.

Afterwards, a roar sounded like a thunderclap, and like heavy rain falling from the sky, the Plague Poison cascaded down like a Heavenly River.

The poisonous rain poured down, not only corroding everything in an instant but also immediately entangling with the various Auras in the Grotto-Heaven, evolving into all kinds of Tribulations.

Volcanic eruptions, rivers drying up, Plague running rampant,..., and so on, countless in number.

This Plague Demon Banner was the life-bound Spirit Treasure of Lv Wen, nearly two sides of the same coin; Lv Wen's insights were engraved upon it without a single detail lost.

Therefore, the Plague Poison it scattered was no longer ordinary Plague Poison, but Plague Poison mixed with the principles of the Dao of Calamity.

Colliding with water, it would form a flood; merging with wind, it would form a wind disaster,..., and so on; whatever it touched or encountered could trigger the Grotto-Heaven's Tribulations.

Before long, the entire Grotto-Heaven was veiled in a black-blue shadow, baring fangs and brandishing claws, rapidly weakening under the ravages of the Tribulations evolved from the Plague Poison.

It developed a "great illness" and fell into its end.

The sky collapsed, the earth cracked.

The sun and moon lost their color, the stars fell.

In an instant, Fang Longye's internal Grotto-Heaven became fragmented, on the verge of destruction.

(End of this chapter)