Chapter 116: None in All Ages Past

Yet at this moment, Pang Bo's silhouette swelled and retreated; the three-headed, six-armed demon-god Dharma Form had only one head and one arm left — two-thirds of it had been smashed by Ye Fan.

"There are Dao Patterns born innately." Jiang Xuan fixed his gaze on Ye Fan, his Yin-Yang Dual Pupils revolving to the utmost, not letting slip a single detail.

The current Ye Fan seemed to be in a wondrous state; within his body, the divine charm of the Great Dao flowed outward. He sat cross-legged in the Void, his Dignified Appearance solemn, like an Immortal King enduring through the Past Ages, eternally undying.

Ye Fan swung his fist at Pang Bo once more; behind him a Yin-Yang Dao Diagram circulated and emerged, Divine Light swirling. He resembled a Heaven-Opening Deity, yet also a True Immortal, yet also a War God. His fist momentum was like a dragon, soaring into the heavens; vast, boundless Divine Source Essence Qi ceaselessly baptized his physical body.

"Holy crap, Ye Zi, how did you suddenly get this fierce?"

Pang Bo was greatly shocked. They had battled for over a thousand rounds, neither able to gain the upper hand, both sustaining injuries. But right now Ye Fan's combat power directly crushed him; the demon-god Dharma Form he had just comprehended was also beaten into ruin by Ye Fan.

Yao Xi, the Big Black Dog, and the Zifu Saintess within the Shan He Diagram were all shocked — this was the sign that Ye Fan was about to cultivate a Holy Body Vision.

"A Vision? Only by entering the Four Extremes can one cultivate a Vision. Is he about to enter the Four Extremes Realm?" The Big Black Dog's dog face was solemn, unbelieving.

The hearts of the few could not calm. In the ten-odd myriad years since the Desolate Ancient Era, Saints had been born, yet without exception all perished young; not one managed to cultivate to the Four Extremes Realm. Now Ye Fan faintly manifested a Holy Body Vision — was he about to step into the Four Extremes Realm?

Jiang Xuan's face revealed a strange color; black-red light continuously scanned Ye Fan's body.

"This Vision contains Ye Fan's understanding of Law and Dao, but more comes from the physique's own peculiarity. This is not only profundity at the bloodline and flesh level; it also involves the Primordial Spirit and soul level."

Within the Fire Domain, endless Divine Source Essence Qi was drawn in like a whale swallowing, converging toward the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Inside Ye Fan's physical body, this made his Holy Body Vision even more substantial.

Pang Bo retreated, ceasing his attacks. He saw that Ye Fan was in a wondrous state — a state one can only encounter by chance, not seek.

"My hope for breaking through the barrier perhaps lies with Ye Fan. But now is not yet the time for a breakthrough."

Jiang Xuan acted; a single thread of divine radiance struck straight at Ye Fan.

Boom!

The Vision vanished; the endless Divine Source Essence Qi was also severed by Jiang Xuan, no longer delivered to Ye Fan. With another wave of his hand, the Eight Trigrams Furnace disappeared, drawing Ye Fan and Pang Bo before him.

Everyone present showed puzzled expressions, not understanding why Jiang Xuan did this. Ye Fan, bewildered, said:

"Jiang Xuan, was it helpful to you?"

He did not ask why Jiang Xuan interrupted his barrier assault; instead he asked whether the duel with Pang Bo just now had aided Jiang Xuan's cultivation. He believed Jiang Xuan would not harm him; Jiang Xuan's actions must have their reason.

Jiang Xuan sat cross-legged, nodded and laughed: "I have already fully understood where the problem lies. However, to break through smoothly, I will still need your help in the future."

"It was also my oversight; I nearly let you cultivate a Holy Body Vision. Fortunately I acted in time and interrupted your breakthrough."

Yao Xi at the side was doubtful and asked: "For tens of thousands of years, no Holy Body has reached the Four Extremes Realm. Why did you interrupt his breakthrough?"

"Now is not the time. Preparations are not yet sufficient. If he broke through now, it would be certain death."

Ye Fan recalled the moment just now when he neared breakthrough — a feeling of Great Terror, as if continuing would bring a Great Dao Tribulation down from Heaven and Earth, ten deaths and no life. He said dejectedly: "Is this related to the Holy Body Curse?" He remembered Jiang Xuan's earlier words about the Holy Body Curse: upon breaking through the Four Extremes, the Great Dao would send down a tribulation punishment, not allowing the breakthrough.

Pang Bo's face was anxious, pessimistic: "Jiang Ge, besides God King Blood, is there really no other way?"

"Baptism with Saint-level Saint Blood would also work." Jiang Xuan laughed, as if this were merely a matter of searching.

Around Jiang Xuan, Xuan-Huang Qi circulated; the Yin-Yang Mirror, Eight Trigrams Furnace, Immortal Trapping Sword, Golden Light Brick — several Divine Ability Dao Patterns emerged, dancing slowly around him, then vanished once more.

The few people and one dog were speechless. In the current world, not even Slashing Dao Kings are seen; an Immortal Platform Second Layer expert is already a peerless figure standing at the peak of Donghuang. How could there be an Ancient Saint-level supreme expert, moreover a Holy Body, willing to assist Ye Fan with their own Essence Blood?

"After I make preparations, I will seek you out. I will help you cross this tribulation; you will help me achieve perfection."

Jiang Xuan's tone shifted, addressing Ye Fan: When Ye Fan's Four Extremes Tribulation descends, it will likewise be the moment Jiang Xuan's Opportunity arrives.

Regarding his own breakthrough method, he already had a conjecture.

Hearing that Jiang Xuan had a way to help him break the curse, Ye Fan was overjoyed. He had not expected that in just this short time Jiang Xuan had already found the method to dissolve the curse; he could not help but once more marvel at Jiang Xuan's stunning talent.

"What do I need to do?"

"No need to do anything. Cease cultivation, suppress the breakthrough. This time will not be very long."

Pang Bo was also very excited, saying excitedly: "Jiang Ge, are you about to break through to the Ancient Saint level?"

The few people and one dog around were all rendered dumbfounded by Pang Bo's words, secretly thinking they did not know whether Pang Bo held blind confidence in Jiang Xuan or simply did not know the power and rarity of Ancient Saints.

Jiang Xuan smiled faintly, did not answer, instead looked toward the Sky and said: "Legend has it that in the Xian Gu Era, this Universe's cultivation environment and cultivation methods were not as they are now. Rather, the Desolate Heavenly Emperor, after experiencing myriad tribulations, pioneered them: from the Life Wheel Sea entering the Dao Palace, then to the Four Extremes, afterward entering the Body's Great Dragon, undergoing Nine Dragon Transformations to ascend the Immortal Platform. I call this the Secret Realm System."

"This is a complete cultivation road, very strong. However, this system does not suit me."

The Big Black Dog looked at Jiang Xuan. Before, he had carefully scrutinized him for a long time, only feeling his physical body was terrifying without cause, his aura shockingly terrifying, thinking he might be the legendary Chaos Body. No one could fathom his depth. Now it seems that is not the case.

"Jiang Xuan, what you cultivate — is it not the Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art, or the Hengyu Sutra?"

Ye Fan's heart stirred; somewhat belatedly, he asked doubtfully. When observing Jiang Xuan act, his style was utterly unlike his and Pang Bo's. Logically, cultivators of the same scripture — their Dao, their techniques — would have many similarities. Yet Jiang Xuan's Dao always carried an artistic conception of Direct Pointing to the Primordial Qi.

"What I cultivate is not any scripture of the present world. I do not cultivate the Life Wheel Sea, do not cultivate the Dao Palace, do not cultivate the Four Extremes, do not cultivate the Body's Great Dragon, do not cultivate the Immortal Platform."

"What I cultivate is the flesh, the most minute particles within the flesh, the soul, the Primordial Spirit. Using weapon-refining arts to temper the human body — I call this the Refining System."

Everyone felt their breath catch; in their hearts they sensed the vast spirit, great courage, great wisdom of the person before them. In a trance, they only felt Jiang Xuan's silhouette seemed ten thousand zhang tall, standing upright between Heaven and Earth.

The Big Black Dog at this moment trembled slightly; his dog eyes rolled round, unbelieving, he murmured: "Past Ages none, Past Ages none — this is something even Great Emperors never achieved..."

Ye Fan and Pang Bo listened with surging hearts. In their eyes, Jiang Xuan had always been a Heaven-defying Talent — whether talent or means, top-tier under Heaven. Yet they never expected they had still vastly underestimated Jiang Xuan's brilliance. Creating a cultivation system — this is something even Ancient Great Emperors could not do.

(Chapter End)