Grasping the Evil-Chapter 979: Celestial Melody Resounds on the Origin Bridge

Chapter 979: Chapter 979: Celestial Melody Resounds on the Origin Bridge

"What force is preventing me from opening my eyes..."

The sound of chains clashing gradually faded, and Ning Fan began to ponder lightly.

The moment the sound of the chain clashing occurred, he felt a sudden chill enveloping him, as if a lone boat drifting in an ocean of tumultuous waves, surrounded by towering sea waves, with a single misstep leading to a watery grave.

Within the sound of the chain, a certain will existed, the will of heaven, suggesting that if he defied this will, his Dao, his everything, would be erased by that will!

It was heaven’s will repelling his Dao!

Fellow Daoist!

People of the Netherworld cannot open their eyes because they do not receive heaven’s recognition; heaven does not permit citizens of the Netherworld to see the scenes of the Yang World. Only those fortunate Yin citizens who receive heaven’s recognition, and with adequate aptitude, can open their eyes.

Ning Fan was unaware of this, but at this moment, he began to speculate.

Could it be that he was unable to open his eyes not due to inadequate aptitude, but because he practiced the Fellow Daoist way, not tolerated by heaven and earth?

Each of the True Immortal Realm requires cultivators to give up their inner obsessions. Cultivators need to abandon earthly concerns to embark on the path of immortality. Buddhist practitioners especially must not harbor obsessions; if they do, they fall into demonic barriers. Cultivation universally requires the abandonment of obsessions, yet Ning Fan chose the path of not abandoning.

Heaven demands cultivators let go of their obsessions. Thus, the True Bridge on the Zhenhuan River simply does not belong to Fellow Daoist cultivators.

If it’s said that people of the Netherworld are unrecognized existences, then those who practice the Fellow Daoist path among the Netherworld citizens are extraordinarily unrecognized, making the difficulty of opening their eyes exceptionally great!

"If this is indeed the case, then it’s not surprising that I find it difficult to open my eyes... Is it heaven’s disapproval..."

It seems that to open one’s eyes, one must gain heaven’s recognition as much as possible.

No wonder Daoist Wood Pine insisted on switching to Ancient Buddhism; Ancient Buddhism is recognized by heaven. What he seeks is likely heaven’s approval, thereby reducing the difficulty of opening his eyes.

Ning Fan remained silent; he possessed four lines of cultivation, aside from Calamity Thought cultivation, the forces of the other three lines were all unrecognized by heaven and earth.

Moreover, his Dao was an anomaly repelled by heaven and earth. If replaced by Wood Pine, he would likely abandon the God, Demon, and Monster cultivation lines, abandon the Fellow Daoist path, and fully conform to heaven’s will. In this way, he could reduce the difficulty of opening his eyes and gradually move from Yin to Yang...

But Ning Fan isn’t Wood Pine; he will not abandon his Dao for the sake of opening his eyes.

"So, heaven disapproves, but what if I were determined to defy heaven’s will and forcefully open my eyes?"

Ning Fan flipped his hand, taking out Lisan’s left eye, and like the previous method, he transformed the carp eye into a lotus and swallowed it whole.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths... eight breaths!

Having the first experience of swallowing the lotus, Ning Fan took only eight breaths this time to absorb a trace of Pure Yang from the white lotus.

Before his eyes, heaven and earth seemed cleansed, followed by a scene emerging again. This scene was what Lisan saw upon opening his eyes, remaining in the left eye, preserved to this day!

In the scene, there was a village nestled beside mountains and rivers. The village was sparsely populated. By the riverbank at the village head, an old man, bald and with missing teeth, cast his line into the water.

Beside him was a bamboo basket, which already contained several fish he had caught. The old man gazed at the river water, his eyes profound as the starry sky.

"Today people fish, someday heaven will fish me... This is, cause and effect!"

The old man suddenly let out a sigh.

As he sighed, two more causes and effects appeared on him, seemingly pointing to two distinct paths.

"Today people fish, someday heaven will fish me..." Ning Fan murmured. This sentence indeed encapsulates the law of cause and effect and reincarnation.

Speaking of which, the scene in Lisi’s eye was of a person dying of thirst in the desert, yearning in their dying moments to reincarnate as a fish in the next life.

The scene in Lisan’s left eye was the old man fishing... Upon closer consideration, the scenes both seem related to fish...

Cause and effect... Could it be...

Ning Fan’s heart filled with speculation but not complete certainty.

As with the first time consuming the lotus, this scene lasted only a short three breaths before vanishing.

After viewing the second scene, the mysterious sound of dripping water echoed again, followed by a woman’s calling voice, echoing beside his ear. Then came the sound of the chain clashing, attempting to prevent Ning Fan from opening his eyes.

Still unable to open his eyes, but this time, after the sound of the chain, Ning Fan heard other voices; it seemed like two children conversing...

Apparently, continually devouring carp eyes was not entirely fruitless, it held some effect.

"This woman’s heart is steadfast, but the Great Way is heartless; it seems she’ll wait in vain. We are the Dao practitioners of the Holy Sect, guarding the snowy valley for countless years, yet never have we seen a deceased soul from the Mortal Grade snowy valley return to the True Realm. This woman has waited through forty-two reincarnations, her body turned to dust, thoughts dissipated like green smoke, yet her obsession remains unextinguished. Truly, what kind of person is she obsessing over..." This was one of the child’s voices.

"The deceased is difficult to revive, especially a deceased with no immortal roots; this snowy valley is Mortal Grade, its coffin owner is a mortal, seeking to return to the True Realm is difficult, difficult, difficult. Our master said, the creature sealed within this coffin is not human, but a mere mortal butterfly. Although without cultivations, our master said this butterfly once committed serious crimes in its mortal form, angering the existence of Primeval Mountain and was destroyed by the Desolate Sword Third Yang. Tsk, such a mere butterfly garnered attention from Immortal Emperor’s intervention, further having its ashes retrieved amidst the Desolate Sword Third Yang by a certain individual of the Purple Mountain Dou Sea. If not for that, this butterfly would likely not have even its ashes remain..." This was the other child’s voice.

"Master’s truly senile. What qualifications does a mere mortal butterfly have to warrant a Fourth Step Immortal Emperor’s personal intervention to destroy it? And what qualifications to have another save it? If it were the legendary Vast Expanse Nine Butterflies, then perhaps it’d be possible, but a mere mortal butterfly, ha ha..."

"Anyway, all this happened forty-two reincarnations ago, far too ancient to determine its truth. Moreover, since it was said by our master, it is even less believable, likely false. Isn’t it known that our master is the monk from Hongjun Holy Sect who loves nonsense more? Were it not for this penchant for nonsense angering this era’s Hongjun, he wouldn’t be punished to the snowy valley for reflection... With a master like this, we juniors cannot hold our heads high among our peers."

"Indeed, truly regrettable to have such a master. Just two days ago, master even said ’there exists in this world a kind of being whose peculiarity lies in its commonness, in its ordinariness, for the ordinary and common is the yin side of the immortal family. If mortals reach yin, even yang cannot refuse; mortals can slay immortals! Yin and yang, who is superior?’ Alas, master is beyond help. Mortals can slay immortals... cough, mortals have no cultivations, on what basis can they kill immortals? To me, master has read too many books, causing erratic thoughts... Master also said..."

At this point, the voice ceased. The two children appeared to continue discussing their master, but the remaining words were beyond Ning Fan’s hearing.

Ning Fan took a deep breath; what he heard this time seemed... something extraordinary!

Hongjun Holy Sect... snowy valley... woman... forty-two reincarnations... butterfly... Primeval Mountain... Desolate Sword Third Yang... Purple Mountain Dou Sea...

The conversation between these two children seemed to involve extremely frightening secrets! Even though he couldn’t comprehend the specifics, Ning Fan could deduce that these words were extraordinary, not something a practitioner of the Land of Dreams could say.

Could this be the conversation of the People of the True Realm!

The butterfly, could it be referring to himself? Or someone else entirely...

What place is the snowy valley? What does Hongjun Holy Sect refer to?

Why, among these secrets, did Ning Fan hear the conversation of these two children? Could it be the conversation was part of the scene he saw upon opening his eyes?

Cause and effect, cause and effect... Could it be...

Especially what Ning Fan paid attention to, were the last words of the two children.

’Master also said, in this world exists a form of life whose power lies in its ordinariness, in its commonality, because ordinariness and commonality are the yin side of the immortal family. If mortal reaches yin, even Yang can’t refuse, mortals can slay immortals!’

Mortals are Yin, immortals are Yang. This indeed corresponds to Yin and Yang.

All things in the world of Yin and Yang can be reversed, this is Ning Fan’s insight after years of practicing the Yin Yang Grand Dao. Fire can dry out water, water can extinguish fire, the Yin side and the Yang side may not necessarily be superior or inferior to one another. However, hearing this might sound absurd at first.

Mortals can kill immortals... can mortals really kill immortals?

For some reason, upon thinking of this, Ning Fan recalled the scene from his former life in the Ancient Heavenly Court, where his butterfly body’s Fen Chi crashed and destroyed the Eye of Affection Control.

If mortals can reach yin, even Yang can’t refuse, mortals can slay immortals...

If mortals can reach yin...

This phrase echoed endlessly in Ning Fan’s mind, completely erasing the few doubts his spirit sense encountered after meeting Wood Pine.

Seeing Wood Pine and Senluo both able to open their eyes while he couldn’t, he had questioned his own aptitude.

Seeing that Mu Song could open his eyes and peek into the scenery of the Yang World, while he could not, he didn’t feel without regret.

Seeing that the will of heaven obstructed him, not allowing him to open his eyes, his heart was not without resentment, desiring to contend against the heavens.

But this resentment extinguished completely upon hearing that sentence.

If mortals could reach the utmost Yin...

Ning Fan seemed to see a completely new path of cultivation, a path different from all cultivators in the Dreamland Realm.

The Dreamland Realm is the Yin side of the Three Great Realms, and the cultivators of the Dreamland Realm are the people of the Mysterious Yin World, whose only path is to follow the will of heaven, step by step cultivating from Yin to Yang, step by step to become the people of the True Realm. To step into the Third Step, this is the path the people of the Mysterious Yin World must take.

But what if Ning Fan didn’t take this path?

What if he insisted on living in the Yin World, insisting on walking this path to the utmost Yin... what then?

What if he insisted on not opening his eyes, insisted on walking forward with closed eyes, what would that lead to?

Opening one’s eyes is one path.

Closing one’s eyes seems to be another path.

"I really want to know who the master the two children mentioned is, such a person of high standing. Just a few words from them gifted me with such a revelation, surely they are not an ordinary person," Ning Fan mused to himself.

"The sound of water dripping, the call of a woman, the conversation of two young apprentices, these things are likely part of the scenery I will see once I open my eyes. Although I haven’t opened my eyes yet, the number of voices I hear is increasing. Does this mean the more pure Yang I absorb from the eyes of the Carp, the closer I am to opening my eyes? Hmm, let’s see what effect swallowing a third Carp Eye will have."

Ning Fan, following the previous method, consumed the third Carp Eye, which was the right eye of Li San.

This time the scene presented before him was still the sight of an old man fishing, the sight contained in Li San’s left and right eyes turned out to be identical. However, the perspectives were different!

The left eye of Li San showed the perspective of the fishing old man, while the perspective of the right eye was from the fish in the river.

Once again watching this old man fish, once again hearing the old man say ’Today I fish, someday the heavens will fish me,’ Ning Fan’s feelings differed from before.

Ning Fan’s gaze turned momentarily vacant, and for a moment, he felt as if he had merged into this scene, becoming the fishing old man, looking at the fish in the river with a complex gaze; yet somehow, he also felt like the fish struggling desperately on the fishing hook...

For just three breaths, he seemed to grasp the entire life of the fishing old man in an instant, and also seemed to grasp the entire life of the fish in an instant.

After three breaths, the scene disappeared, but Ning Fan still sat there, dazed, with azure light flickering in his eyes!

He seemed entranced, unable to distinguish whether he was the person fishing or the fish, or perhaps... both at once!

The sense of enlightenment became increasingly strong, until at one moment, Ning Fan suddenly awoke from his trance, suddenly aware. He was drenched in sweat, his heart still pounding wildly!

What... just happened to him? Wait a moment, why were there... fish scales on the back of his hand!

Ning Fan took a sharp intake of breath, realizing that in the brief period he was entranced, there emerged a strand of power from the Dao Carp lineage within him!

With just a thought, fish scales would appear upon his body, and another thought would cause the scales to retract back into his body.

"Why is there now a power from the Dao Carp lineage within my body?"

Ning Fan was exceedingly serious as he discovered that this newly emerged power from the Dao Carp was merging with the Demon Bloodline within him, gradually giving rise to a new type of Demon Carp Bloodline. This Demon Carp Blood was very thin, but it undeniably existed!

The Dao Soul Clan and Demon Race are in a correspondence of Yang and Yin, and their powers can devour or merge with each other under certain conditions. This extra Dao Carp Bloodline, due to its weak power, was assimilated into Ning Fan’s Demon Blood.

"This Carp Race Demon Blood is very thin, but it contains a trace of Palm Position Power!"

Ning Fan carefully felt the new Carp Bloodline within him; there was no mistake, a trace of Palm Position Power indeed existed within this bloodline.

Swallowing a Carp Eye and seeing the scenery after opening one’s eyes allowed Ning Fan to cultivate a trace of Palm Position Power. This matter truly left Ning Fan in disbelief!

It seems the method Elder Wood Pine mentioned about opening one’s eyes is real; this method truly can help cultivators cultivate out Palatial Void Positions...

However, there was one thing that Ning Fan could not understand.

He swallowed a single eye of Li Si without gaining benefits.

He swallowed Li San’s left eye and did not gain benefits, but after swallowing the right eye, he did. Why is this?

Could it be that swallowing both eyes together is necessary to gain benefits? No, that cannot be. Didn’t Elder Wood Pine become extremely pleased from just obtaining a single Carp Eye? This shows that even having just one single Carp Eye can yield benefits.

"Swallowing Li San’s left eye, the scene I saw was from the perspective of the fishing old man; the right eye’s scene was from the perspective of the fish... the fishing old man and the fish... two causes..."

Ning Fan slightly closed his eyes, recalling the scene from Li San’s eyes, seemingly once again becoming the fishing old man, once again becoming the fish...

Today, people fish for fish; someday, the heavens will fish for me... these words echoed continually by Ning Fan’s ear; suddenly, Ning Fan opened his eyes, as if grasping some understanding.

The old man wasn’t fishing for fish!

He was fishing for himself!

This bizarre thought suddenly appeared in Ning Fan’s mind and would not be dispelled.

This old man was fishing for himself to become a fish in the next life, so that past life would meet future life...

This scene seemed to contain profound Dao Enlightenment, but unfortunately, in such a short time, Ning Fan could not fully comprehend it, so he gave up.

But there was one point he could confirm, that the benefit he gained from a strand of Carp Blood was closely related to the magical feeling of being both the fisher and fish.

"Swallowing a Carp Eye allows you to see the scenery of others; if you gain any understanding, you can obtain benefits from it, yet such benefits can never match those gained from opening your own eyes and seeing your own scenery. Trying to cultivate your own Palatial Void Positions from the scenery seen through other people’s eyes is as hard as ascending to heaven."

"I am a Dao Upholder, and opening my eyes is more difficult than most, but fortunately, having swallowed the pinnacle of Yang from three Carp Eyes, I am already much closer to truly opening my eyes. As long as the pure Yang is sufficient, even if that sound of the chain tries to stop me, I have the confidence to forcefully open my eyes... I just do not know how much pure Yang it will really take to fully open my eyes."

Ning Fan turned his hand and fetched out the fourth eyeball, swallowing it the same way, which was the left eye of Li’er. Soon, he swallowed the right eye of Li’er too.

In Li’er’s left eye’s scenery, the setting was a temple, and there was a monk feeding carp fish in a water vat within the temple.

The scenery in Li’er’s right eye was the same as the left, only the perspective was different; one was the perspective of the monk, the other the perspective of the carp fish inside the vat.

At one moment, the monk even exchanged a glance with the carp fish inside the vat. At that moment, Ning Fan had an extremely strong feeling.

The monk wasn’t looking at the fish, but at himself!

As expected, after experiencing the perspectives of both the monk and the carp fish, Ning Fan once again cultivated out a trace of Carp Race Demon Blood within his body. Though thin, it nevertheless contained a trace of Palm Position Power, by no means insignificant.

Anyway, Ning Fan can cultivate nine types of Demon Yin-Yang; in the future, when conditions allow, he can well cultivate a Carp Yin-Yang, so he doesn’t need to mind the Carp Race Demon Blood now.

At this moment, the thing he valued most was one thing, which is... to open his eyes!

Having absorbed the pure Yang from the fourth Carp Eye, Ning Fan did not hear more sounds but saw the existence of the chain for the first time!

All the scenery around turned into nothingness, ceasing to exist; though Ning Fan was still within the Xuan Yin Treasure, it felt as if he stood within a desolate void. Above this void, before him, twelve phantom stone bridges rose towering.

Upon absorbing the pure Yang from the fifth Carp Eye, those phantom stone bridges before his eyes... solidified!

The twelve stone bridges, each emanating a different divine brilliance, imparted a grand, untouchable, sacred feeling.

"Can you see these stone bridges?"

Ning Fan asked the void beside him.

There, it’s not actually just the void, but where the black cat lay resting, in the Xuan Yin Treasure.

"The Black Evil Sect doesn’t get it, what stone bridge?" The black cat lazily yawned; she couldn’t see any stone bridge here.

It’s a scenery from another dimension, invisible to her, yet visible to Ning Fan.

"Is this a sight that only I can see..." Ning Fan pondered silently.

Clang, clang, clang...

Twelve stone bridges connected end to end; Ning Fan attempted to fly towards the first stone bridge, and as soon as he moved, the sound of chains clashing reached him, and gradually, dark red chains emerged on his body, binding him.

The closer he got to the stone bridge, the tighter the chains bound him, almost piercing into his flesh.

One hundred zhang, ninety zhang, eighty zhang...

With Ning Fan’s eons comparable cultivation level, he could only fly within seventy zhang of the stone bridge, unable to approach further. If he tried, his physical body would be crushed by the chains, causing injury. These chains weren’t material but manifestations of the will of heaven, forbidding Ning Fan from nearing the stone bridge.

"Retreat!"

"Retreat!!"

"Retreat!!!"

"People of the Netherworld, with your guilty body, you are unqualified to ascend the [Origin Bridge]!"

Suddenly, a stone eye opened on the bridge of the first stone bridge, gazing indifferently and mercilessly at Ning Fan. It is the guardian bridge god of the Origin Bridge; its true body resides in the Three Great Realms, and what appeared before Ning Fan was merely a projection.

If a cultivator opens their eyes and summons this bridge, it will appear as a projection; ascending the Origin Bridge is a special entitlement for the people of the Yang World, who can receive heaven’s blessings through the bridge. Even cultivators opening their eyes for the first time can see the projection of the Origin Bridge.

Bridge God Gu Jiang felt quite frustrated, where is this Dreamland Realm exactly? He doesn’t know. With hundreds of billions of Dreamland Realms, who remembers where this is?

Who is this Netherworld cultivator before him? He doesn’t know. He is Bridge God Gu Jiang; he would never recognize a random Netherworld cultivator from Dreamland.

This kid hasn’t opened his eyes yet, how could he possess so much pure Yang? It’s making the upper realm sense, misguiding this god into believing someone in this realm has opened their eyes, bringing down the projection.

This kid hasn’t truly opened his eyes, definitely, for if he had, his inner pure Yang would gradually transform into [Breath of the True Realm], unique to True Realm cultivators. Even a novice who opens their eyes would have some pure Yang transformation, yet this kid has no Breath of the True Realm at all! Hmph, this time a huge mistake was made!

A cultivator who hasn’t opened their eyes fooled him into descension of the projection! Bridge God Gu Jiang feels his intelligence suffered a significant insult.

Furthermore, this kid is bound by Dao-Soul Blood Chains, undeniably a cultivator guilty of the Ten Major Sins, leading to the confinement by Dao-Soul Blood Chains, the heavens’ disdain. Judging by the number of these chains, this kid committed at least the fourth, fifth, and sixth sins among the Ten Major Sins. Dao-Soul Clan established laws: practicing Dao Upholding as the fourth sin, shapeshifting as the fifth sin, refusing heavenly fate as the sixth sin; it’s uncertain which sin this kid committed, but unquestionably a sinner...

Hmph, a sinner cannot ascend the Origin Bridge!

Bridge God Gu Jiang coldly looked at Ning Fan as if warning him. He had descended the projection erroneously, already causing a huge mistake; if he permitted a sinner to ascend the bridge, it could lead to punishment from the Dao-Soul Clan of the Upper Three Sects once this event gets out.

"What is the Origin Bridge, and what does guilty body mean?"

In response to Bridge God Gu Jiang’s warning, Ning Fan didn’t get angry but calmly inquired.

"Hmph, I am the Bridge God of the Origin Bridge, and what identity do you have to dare question me!" Gu Jiang responded irritably.

Ning Fan’s gaze slightly cooled; this bridge god seemed excessively arrogant.

The Origin Bridge and the Bridge God before him were merely projections, a product of the gathering of Dao Source Power, not entities. They were somewhat akin to the Yin Phoenix within the Liangyi Square Seal.

Ordinary cultivators couldn’t harm this Origin Bridge, nor the projection of Bridge God Gu Jiang. Because Gu Jiang saw Ning Fan’s cultivation level as low, he dared to act arrogantly.

Desiring to survive the half-hour and retract the projection, suddenly, an extremely dangerous sensation swept over, causing astonishment in Gu Jiang’s stone eye.

At that moment, Ning Fan took out the Memory Severing Dao Sword, slightly raising its edge toward the stone bridge direction.

Logically, that Dao Sword wasn’t high-tier, but Gu Jiang sensed danger from it.

Definitely, this little sinner is using a terrifying sword technique, capable of endangering the Dao Source Power projection with eons comparable cultivation level!

"Are you sure I don’t qualify to question you?"

Ning Fan became disinterested in arguing with the bridge god. If the bridge god remained arrogant, he’d simply slash him with the sword.

Gu Jiang got stunned by Ning Fan’s straightforward and blunt manner! It was his first encounter with such overbearing Netherworld cultivators, who openly wielded swords against the True Realm Bridge God!

Speaking of which, Gu Jiang descended merely a projection; if it were destroyed, his true body might bear injuries, but life wouldn’t be at risk.

However, the regulations stated: as an exalted bridge god, injuries caused by Netherworld cultivators humiliate the Dao-Soul Clan’s reputation, leading to at least five thousand merits deduction! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

No, that can’t be! Merits are his lifeline, can’t let them deduct!

Consequently, Bridge God Gu Jiang’s demeanor changed, and his tone turned amicable as if meeting a close relative.

"My fellow friend from the Nether, uh no, little friend from the Netherworld, let’s talk amicably, hehe, let’s not brandish sword and spear, it’s damaging to harmony. It’s just a few questions, I can tell you, I can tell you."

Therefore, Bridge God Gu Jiang shared a load of information, revealing details related to the Origin Bridge to Ning Fan. Yet topics concerning true realm secrets remained unmentioned, as regulations above are diligently obeyed by him.

Seeing Gu Jiang’s compliance, Ning Fan sheathed his Dao Sword and listened attentively. It was the first time he learned of the existence of something like an Origin Bridge in the world.

Opening one’s eyes is the pathway to sainthood; those who have done so can summon Origin Bridge projections, yet even Saints might not traverse all twelve Origin Bridges!

Opening your eyes actually divides into twelve levels; like Daoist Wood Pine, practically standing on the first Origin Bridge, craving the Yang World’s eye to absorb pure Yang for ascending to the second Origin Bridge as soon as possible.

Because, only by ascending the first Origin Bridge, could he break through to Second-Grade Quasi-Saint. Only by ascending the second Origin Bridge, could he break through to Third-Order Quasi-Saint!

Even non-quasi saints receive immense benefits from ascending the Origin Bridge, such as ascending the first bridge aids cultivators in crafting their own Palatial Void bit by bit! If reaching the first bridge’s end, the seventy-seventh step position, it might open the bottleneck of Second-Grade Quasi-Saint...

"Unexpected, I haven’t opened my eyes, yet drew down the Origin Bridge projection...getting the bridge god to descend errantly, what extraordinary fortune..."

Ning Fan murmured, sensing that his luck skyrocketed more than just a bit ever since subduing Wu Laoba.

Wu Laoba is a thousand-year jinx; others approaching him undeniably catch bad luck, Ning Fan approaching him...could his luck inversely increase? Because he is Fu Li?

"The Origin Bridge, each bridge, stretches seventy-seven steps. Every step taken brings great benefits. Others must open their eyes to see the Origin Bridge; I haven’t opened mine yet have the chance to ascend..."

The only trouble is, Ning Fan is encumbered by chains, seemingly a sinner status, barred by the Great Way from approaching the Origin Bridge.

At present, with distance seventy zhang from the first Origin Bridge, it’s already Ning Fan’s limit. Swapping with Daoist Wood Pine, relying on Second-Grade Quasi-Saint cultivation, donned with chains, might not get him any closer to the first Origin Bridge, even risking life should shuffle a few steps across the first bridge...

"The Origin Bridge’s projection doesn’t always descend incorrectly; whether such opportunity arises next time is uncertain. Without these chains, with my current cultivation, I could cover the last seventy zhang distance and climb the first Origin Bridge; how far I walk on it, is unknown..."

If only these chains weren’t here.

However, if those chains weren’t present, with Ning Fan’s talent, he likely would have opened his eyes at entry into the Pictorial Realm, granting him the ability to summon the Origin Bridge projection at any time, making ascending it not a rare opportunity.

So be it, bondage it is; with God-Extinguishing Shield, it should offer some defense against chains’ harm...

Seeing Ning Fan mumbling to himself, Bridge God Gu Jiang muttered quietly.

"Uh, this kid is babbling. Could he actually be planning to ascend the bridge? No, impossible. His body is bound by Dao-Soul Blood Chains, enough to restrict weaker Second-Grade Quasi-Saints from ascending the Origin Bridge. This kid definitely can’t..."

Before he finished speaking, something happened that made his jaw drop.

He saw Ning Fan’s body suddenly emit bursts of golden light, actually withstanding the damage from the Dao-Soul Blood Chains, forcing his way within sixty zhang of the Origin Bridge.

"Such a strong protective magical treasure! At least a mid-grade Innate Treasure! Otherwise, with his cultivation, he couldn’t possibly enter sixty zhang!"

Even in the Three Great Realms, mid-grade Innate Treasures are not particularly abundant.

Gu Jiang was greatly surprised that Ning Fan, with his cultivation, actually possessed a mid-grade Innate Treasure, which was quite rare.

But sixty zhang should be this kid’s limit, right? Gu Jiang thought this, but then he saw Ning Fan entering fifty zhang, forty zhang, thirty zhang...

"Thirty zhang! Could it be that this kid is using a superior Innate Treasure!"

Gu Jiang was moved.

Even he didn’t own a superior Innate Treasure, and he was a bit envious of Ning Fan’s wealth.

However, even with a superior Innate Treasure, he would surely have to stop at thirty zhang...

Step by step, Ning Fan continuously narrowed the distance to the Origin Bridge: twenty zhang, fifteen zhang, ten zhang...

The God-Extinguishing Shield, though a Heaven-Opening Artifact, was not a complete one. When Ning Fan was at ten zhang from the Origin Bridge, it could no longer fully negate the damage of the Dao-Soul Blood Chains.

Any further and he would definitely suffer severe injuries...

"Ten zhang! This kid is definitely using a top-grade Innate Treasure!"

Gu Jiang’s eyes were ablaze.

A top-grade Innate Treasure is something even Saints covet. Who would have thought a mere Immortal Venerable of the Dreamland Realm could possess such a supreme treasure, truly enviable.

Unfortunately, he was just a projection and couldn’t kill and rob treasures; otherwise, he could have... sigh! What a pity!

So be it, even if this kid has a top-grade Innate Treasure, what of it, his cultivation is not high. If he wants to ascend the first bridge of the Origin Bridge, he will certainly be severely injured.

This one is a sinner, please don’t ascend the Origin Bridge, otherwise, you’ll lose two thousand merits!

"Young friend, stop! Going any further, you will be severely injured. The Dao-Soul Blood Chains are instruments of punishment condensed from the will of heaven and earth. Under normal circumstances, they cause no harm, but they do not allow sinners to open their eyes and approach the Origin Bridge. So you mustn’t..."

Gu Jiang was still painstakingly advising, but Ning Fan completely ignored his counsel. With a leap, he crossed the last ten zhang distance and stepped onto the first step of the Origin Bridge!

Boom!

It was the sound of large bursts of blood spraying from Ning Fan’s body, indeed severely injured!

Woo!

A sound like a horn suddenly echoed around the Origin Bridge!

Ah!

It was Gu Jiang’s anguished cry. The sinner stepped on the bridge, ah ah ah, two thousand merits gone!

You cannot walk on the bridge, please don’t do this!

Dear sir, you’re a sinner. You ascend the bridge, I lose two thousand, and every step you take, I lose another five hundred!

Gu Jiang felt a little regretful, sensing an ominous feeling.

This sinner kid shouldn’t have the ability to take a second step on the bridge, should he? Surely... not...

...

Woo——

Above Mu Island, suddenly came a wailing horn sound, ancient and mournful, resonating between heaven and earth, seemingly everywhere, making it impossible to discern where it originated from.

With the sound of this horn, all of Mu Island suddenly began to snow, temperatures plummeting, as if plunged into the dead of winter.

"Hmm? Where is the horn sound coming from?" Masters like Wu Laoba could not comprehend why it suddenly started snowing for no reason.

Recently, the heavenly phenomena have indeed been odd, raining one moment, snowing the next...

Xiang Mingzi was slightly shocked, seeing the sky full of flying snow, an astonishing Divine Skill, faintly appearing to have a power that could freeze his inner Dao Source Power.

Fortunately, this horn sound bore no malice, otherwise, even if he were a First Order Quasi-Saint, he would have become an ice sculpture under this horn sound!

"What is this horn, how terrifying its power! Could it be some Old Monster of East Heaven testing a newly acquired treasure!" Xiang Mingzi exclaimed in shock.

"No, this horn sound wasn’t created by anyone, but is the sound of heaven!" Mu Song stated excitedly.

"The sound of heaven, what do you mean?" Xiang Mingzi asked, puzzled.

"I mean it literally." Mu Song didn’t intend to explain further, but inside, waves were crashing in his heart.

It was the heavenly sound of the Ice Sealing Horn! Who opened their eyes, drawing down the abnormal phenomenon of the Origin Bridge, and stepped onto the first bridge!

The heavenly sound was within the range of Mu Island, the person who triggered the abnormal phenomenon must be nearby, could it be...

No, impossible! This kid clearly didn’t open his eyes, not a trace of the Breath of the True Realm within him, but if not him, then who...

"There must have been a mistake! Back then, even Senluo, who opened his eyes, had no ability to ascend the Origin Bridge. I too, after many hardships, ascended only the first bridge of the Origin Bridge, and after countless eons, walked only 14 steps on it."

steps on the first bridge, yet only 14 have been taken, this is the gap of Mu Song towards the Third Order Quasi-Saint.

If the person who ascended was indeed Ning Fan, then this kid’s aptitude... is inconceivable!

Woo——

The mournful sound of the horn, like the cold wind of winter, suddenly swept across the ocean of stars surrounding Mu Island, instantly freezing the entire ocean of stars into ice.

At this moment, there were an elder and a young cultivator approaching Mu Island. Noticing the stance of this cold wind, their expressions changed markedly.

The elder was none other than Plague King Lü Wen; his cultivation wasn’t as profound as Mu Song’s and Xiang Mingzi’s, so he couldn’t personally perceive this cold wind’s terror, capable of freezing Dao Source Power.

The young one, clad in a red robe, with cold eyes and thin lips, was speechless from shock.

"Why is there the heavenly sound of the Ice Sealing Horn from over by Mu Island! The ancestor once said only those who have opened their eyes can trigger the heavenly sound. Could it be... that it was triggered by Daoist Wood Pine!"

This red-robed youth was the Second Young Emperor of the Southern Clan’s Four Barbarian Departments. With his identity within the Southern Clan, he had heard of such secrets.

"Indeed, this Wood Pine is very hidden and cannot be underestimated. If he can ascend the Origin Bridge, it is mostly without doubt that he has reached Second-Grade Quasi-Saint. We must not offend this person on this trip. As for Ning Fan... hmm, if he truly is an Ancient Great Cultivator, I will courteously invite him to the Southern Clan. But if he isn’t..." the red-robed youth sneered slightly. If Ning Fan wasn’t an Ancient Great Cultivator, he wouldn’t be polite, for impersonating a Southern Clan cultivator was a major crime that could not be lightly forgiven!

Beside him, Lü Wen, seeing the cold look in the red-robed youth’s eyes, couldn’t help but break a sweat for Ning Fan from afar.

In his heart, he silently prayed, "Brother, brother, I asked you, and you said you have a way to deal with the Southern Clan visitors. Could it be... you truly are an Ancient Great Cultivator, if not... sigh, what trouble this will be, truly troublesome..." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)