Chapter 782 Enlightenment Forest, Ancient Stone Tablet, A Lifetime Record!
Stepping into the Gate of All Laws, time and space seem to be reversed and rotated in an instant.
All the noise, amazement, and hostility from the outside world were shut out.
Instead, there is an indescribable sense of antiquity, tranquility, and vastness.
Ye Tian opened his eyes, and what came into view was not the narrow passage he had imagined.
Instead, it was a vast, desolate world stretching as far as the eye could see.
The sky was not azure, but rather a hazy gray, as if in the beginning of chaos, with thin, ethereal vapors hanging down like ribbons, nourishing the earth below.
The earth was not covered with ordinary soil and gravel, but rather with flowing spiritual mist, containing the purest essence of heaven and earth.
What is most striking is the forest of stone tablets that stretches as far as the eye can see!
These stone tablets vary in height, size, and shape.
Like silent soldiers, they stand tall in every corner of this vast land.
Some are thousands of feet tall, like pillars supporting the sky, covered with traces of wind and frost erosion, exuding a wild and ancient aura.
Some are only about ten feet long, crystal clear like jade, with a smooth, mirror-like surface, exuding a hazy Taoist charm.
Some are incomplete, as if shattered by a tremendous force, leaving only half a base, yet they still stubbornly exude an indomitable will.
Some are shaped like swords, spears, pagodas, or divine cauldrons...
It's as if its owner has eternally imprinted his most prized divine weapon form onto this place.
Each stone tablet is inscribed with ancient runes, patterns, or some kind of pure trace of the Great Dao.
Simply by being here, one can feel countless different yet equally profound and powerful Daoist principles intertwining, colliding, and resonating in the air.
This creates a unique Daoist field, which involuntarily immerses people's minds and generates various moments of enlightenment.
"What a sacred place for enlightenment!"
Su Qinglian's beautiful eyes sparkled with wonder as she took a deep breath, sensing the omnipresent Daoist aura.
He felt that the circulation of divine power within his body had accelerated, and the bottleneck was beginning to loosen.
"The underground passages here are complete and active, far surpassing those outside! One day of cultivation here is probably equivalent to a hundred days of hard work outside!"
Xiao Yan was also filled with excitement, and the flame runes around his body lit up involuntarily, resonating with a certain scorching Daoist aura in the air.
Huang Ruoxi was relatively calm, but she slightly closed her eyes, and the phoenix phantom behind her manifested on its own, emitting a clear and melodious cry, clearly also benefiting greatly.
She said softly, "There are countless stone tablets here, containing all kinds of laws. We need to hurry up and find the path that best suits us to comprehend."
Everyone nodded, understanding that this was a rare opportunity, and immediately dispersed to release their divine senses.
Sensing the aura of the stone tablet that aligned with their own path, they quickly found their target, eagerly sat down cross-legged, and immersed their minds in the stone tablet, beginning their respective journeys of enlightenment.
Ye Tian, however, was not as eager as they were.
He held the chaotic-colored Key of All Laws in his hand; the key was slightly warm, as if it were guiding him in a certain direction.
That should lead to the deepest part of the dense forest, where the legendary "Eternal Taoist Treasury" is located.
But he did not go immediately.
His gaze, tinged with curiosity and scrutiny, slowly swept over the boundless forest of stone tablets.
Unlike others who sensed the Daoist aura, his attention was focused more on each stone tablet.
Those extremely subtle, often overlooked...written records.
These words are not used to explain the laws of the Great Dao or supernatural powers and secret techniques, but are written in an ancient and vigorous style.
It records the life stories and great deeds of the owners of the stone tablets—those ancient sages.
He strolled to a stone tablet shaped like a broken sword. Only half of the tablet remained, the sword's edge pointing to the sky, radiating a sharp, unyielding sword intent.
In an inconspicuous corner of the stone tablet's base, several lines of small, ancient characters are engraved:
"My name is Ling Jue. I was born into humble circumstances and rose from obscurity. I have devoted my life to the sword and defeated all my contemporaries. Once, at the Eye of the North Sea, I cut through the waves for 30,000 miles with a single sword and blocked the dark tide for three years, protecting the living beings of this region."
"In my later years, my Dao has declined, leaving behind the essence of the sword here, awaiting a destined person. It is a pity that I have not been able to glimpse the ultimate Dao of the sword..."
The handwriting reveals a soaring arrogance and a hint of regret for what could not be achieved.
Ye Tian remained silent for a moment before continuing forward. He arrived at a stone tablet shaped like an ancient, long spear.
The gun barrel still seemed to have traces of blood that hadn't dried, exuding a fierce and murderous aura.
Ancient inscriptions are found nearby.
"Blood Battle, my title."
"Born in war, died in conquest."
"He fought 36,000 battles, large and small, throughout his life, and never suffered a defeat."
"I once single-handedly charged into the source of darkness, slaying seven demon lords with my spear, my blood staining the star's remains, until I finally succumbed to exhaustion. I leave behind this fighting spirit, hoping that those who come after me will wield my spear and sweep away the chaos of the world!"
Between the lines lies the heroic spirit of battle and the valiant courage to face death.
He then walked toward a warm and gentle stone tablet, resembling a woman picking flowers. The tablet exuded a peaceful and serene Taoist aura, yet it also contained a profound compassion for humanity.
The accompanying text was delicate and melancholic:
"I am 'Compassionate Voyage,' moved by the suffering of all beings, I made a great vow to deliver all the world's afflictions."
"Walking through the North Sea for 80,000 years, saving lives, resolving grudges, and sowing seeds of goodness."
"However, when the great calamity came, we were powerless to stop it. We saw the stars die and all living beings wail in grief, our hearts were broken and our spirits were wounded."
"I leave behind this seed of compassion, hoping that future generations with benevolent hearts will carry on my will and benefit all living beings."
…………
Ye Tian strolled slowly through the boundless forest of stone tablets.
Like a solitary traveler, traversing the long river of time.
He walked past the stone tablet left by the Burning Heaven Emperor, bearing the undying Dao Fire, and saw the sigh of the Frozen Empress, who froze time and space.
Having read the maxims of the Lord of the Stars for predicting destiny, and having felt the grandeur of the Barbarian Ancestor creating the world...
Each stone tablet is like an epitaph for a vibrant life, recording their magnificent and eventful existence.
Their glory, their regrets, their perseverance, their path.
They were once trendsetters of an era, unparalleled powerhouses who dominated the world, heroes who protected their regions, and pioneers in exploring the path to enlightenment...
But in the end, they all fell in the long river of time, leaving only these cold stone tablets to tell the story of the past.
Ye Tian's mind was immersed in this dialogue that transcended eternity.
He was not in a hurry to comprehend those powerful supernatural abilities and secret techniques.
Instead, it's about reading these "historical accounts" and experiencing these "lives."
The Chaos Body endowed him with an understanding that transcended common sense.
The Great Dao of Myriad Transformations allows him to easily understand the essence of various Daoist principles.
As he walked, the various traces of the Great Dao recorded on those stone tablets, even without his active effort to comprehend them, flowed naturally into his sea of consciousness like a gentle stream.
Enveloped by the chaotic energy, it was decomposed and absorbed, becoming part of his foundation.
His aura, as he strolled and read, became increasingly ancient, profound, and unfathomable.
It was as if he himself had gradually accumulated the vicissitudes of eternity and fragments of the Daoist wisdom of countless sages.
After an unknown amount of time, he arrived at a relatively short, pitch-black stone tablet that seemed to devour all light.
This stone tablet was extremely inconspicuous and did not even emit any powerful Daoist energy.
But the Myriad Laws Key in Ye Tian's hand trembled slightly at this moment.
His gaze fell on the base of the stone tablet, on the few lines of tiny characters that almost blended into the darkness.
Unlike other stone tablets that record a person's life, the text on this one is different.
It's more like a... warning, or rather, a desperate cry.
The content of the text finally caused a slight ripple to appear in Ye Tian's usually calm eyes.
"Those who come after, beware, for true darkness lies ahead..."
"It does not come from the outside, but from...ourselves, from within..."
"The path is defiled, the road... is broken..."
"The key is hope... but also... a greater despair..."
The fragmented text was filled with chaos and an indescribable sense of terror.
Ye Tian stared at the dark stone tablet, his brows furrowing slightly.
He sensed that this forest of enlightenment was the place where ancient sages had left their mark.
It seems... that things are not as simple as they appear.
And the key to all laws in his hand, that burning sensation that led him to the deepest part of the dense forest.
It also seemed to carry a slightly unusual meaning.
He looked up at the darker area deep in the dense forest, an area that seemed impenetrable even to the primordial chaos.
For the first time, a hint of genuine interest appeared in his eyes.
"It seems that this journey of enlightenment is more interesting than I imagined."
Holding the Key to Myriad Laws, Ye Tian could have directly followed his senses to the Ancient Dao Treasury, which contained the greatest creation.
But he seemed to have forgotten about it, remaining unhurried and composed, like a scholar traveling through famous mountains and rivers.
Stroll through this boundless dense forest that bears the traces and wisdom of countless sages throughout the ages.
His gaze lingered on the bases and corners of those stone tablets.
Or perhaps it's the ancient characters, as fine as mosquitoes and flies, hidden in the gaps between the textures, yet carrying the weight of a heavy history.
He read with utmost concentration, sometimes pausing for a long time, his gaze deep and penetrating, as if piercing through eternity.
I witnessed firsthand the extraordinary and poignant lives of those sages of the past.
He walked past the stone tablet of the "Star Emperor," an ancient sage who once mobilized the power of the stars to set up an astonishing array.
It suppressed the ancient demons that wreaked havoc in the starry sea.
Ultimately, it itself transformed into an eternal star, guarding a region of stars.
Ye Tian stood silently before the monument, as if he could feel the loneliness and determination of that person who transformed into a star and shone brightly for eternity.
He stopped in front of a stone tablet that resembled a broken ancient mirror, on which was recorded the name of a female cultivator known as the "Venerable One of Reincarnation".
She was exceptionally talented and sought to uncover the secrets of reincarnation and reverse life and death, but ultimately became lost in the endless fragments of reincarnation.
All that remains is a sigh that transcends time and space, and a warning to those who come after.
Ye Tian gently stroked the cold, broken mirror surface with his fingertips, as if he could feel the endless desolation behind that persistence.
He even squatted down in front of a small stone tablet that was only three feet tall, covered in moss, and almost buried by weeds.
The inscription above is blurry, but it records the life of a monk named "Woodcutter".
He never lived a life of great achievements, but simply chopped wood in the mountains, sought enlightenment, and witnessed the changing seasons, birth, aging, sickness, and death in the ordinary.
He eventually passed away peacefully in the mountains, leaving behind a simple and pure Taoist charm that was in harmony with nature.
Ye Tian watched with great interest, as if he had glimpsed another profound truth from the ordinary.
His behavior stood in stark contrast to that of the other prodigies in the dense forest.
At this moment, although the Enlightenment Forest is vast and boundless, the number of geniuses who have entered it is also considerable.
The royal families of the Northern Sea and the descendants of the imperial family, the holy lands of the Eternal Immortal Realm, and the scions of noble families.
Even those ancient and monstrous creatures are mostly racing against time.
They sat cross-legged before stone tablets radiating a sharp sword intent, their brows furrowed, trying to capture the fleeting essence of swordsmanship.
Or they might stand beside a blazing fire-carrying stone tablet, drenched in sweat, enduring the torment of being burned by the fire, all in order to temper themselves.
Or, facing a colossal monument depicting the evolution of the celestial sphere, one might continuously form hand seals, deducing the mysteries of the stars' movements...
Divine light shone everywhere, and strange phenomena appeared one after another. Everyone was doing their best, trying to make the most of the limited time.
Extract the greatest benefits from the legacy of countless sages, enhance your strength, and solidify your foundation.
Therefore, when a local genius from Beihai happened to see Ye Tian seemingly ignoring the Dao traces and runes that contained supreme and wondrous methods, it was surprising.
Instead, he read those biographical records with great relish, like a scholar of historical research.
When they saw the small print that they considered "insignificant," their faces involuntarily showed surprise.
It immediately turned into undisguised mockery and ridicule.
"Ha, I thought this divine son of the Ye family had rushed in to do something earth-shattering, but it turns out he's just here to watch the story?"
A royal descendant with dragon horns on his forehead caught a glimpse of this from afar and chuckled softly to his companion beside him.
But it was loud enough for some people nearby to hear clearly.
"How foolish! Instead of studying countless secret techniques that point directly to the Great Dao, they concern themselves with those ancient matters that have been dead for many years?"
"Does he think that by understanding their lives, he can inherit their power?"
A celestial maiden from the Ice Phoenix Clan shook her head, her beautiful eyes filled with disdain.
"They're from the Immortal Realm after all; they don't understand the essence of the legacy passed down by the sages of the North Sea!"
"That's good, these supreme and wonderful methods should be inherited by us!"
"Without him, our strongest competitor, we have a better chance!"
Some royal prodigies secretly rejoiced.
"It seems that the so-called Chaos Body is nothing but a name, and its brain doesn't seem to be very smart."
Even worse, some spoke rudely, their voices filled with malice, echoing through the dense forest.
These discussions and jeers were not deliberately concealed and naturally reached the ears of Huang Ruoxi, Su Qinglian, Xiao Yan, and other followers who were in the process of comprehending the Dao.
They frowned slightly, a hint of anger flashing in their eyes, but their master remained engrossed in the ancient texts.
Ignoring the mockery around him, he forcibly suppressed his anger and focused on his own insights, but his trust in his master remained undiminished.
They knew that their master's actions were always driven by profound meaning, something that these mediocre people could never comprehend.
Ye Tian seemed completely oblivious to everything around him.
His mind was completely immersed in the "dialogue" with the ancient sages.
What he read was not just stories, but also a variety of completely different lives.
It is their understanding of the Tao, their perception of the world, their insights into life, and...
Their ultimate regret and obsession was left unfulfilled.
The Chaos Body and the Great Dao of Myriad Transformations were quietly operating, and this seemingly useless information, like countless tiny streams, flowed into his vast sea of consciousness.
They did not directly enhance his divine power, nor did they grant him any new supernatural abilities.
But it subtly broadened his horizons, solidified his Daoist mind, and nourished the foundation of his Dao.
He seemed to see countless geniuses throughout history struggling, experiencing glory and desolation on this path of cultivation.
He saw paths that were once dazzling but ultimately broke or went astray.
He sensed a shared yearning and exploration for the ultimate Dao that transcends time and space.
Such accumulation and sedimentation may truly be useless to ordinary geniuses.
Because their lifespan is limited, they are eager to improve their immediate combat power.
But for Ye Tian, who aspires to reach the pinnacle and wants to forge an unprecedented and invincible path, this is not the case.
This ancient experience is a more valuable treasure than any single supernatural power or secret technique!
After an unknown amount of time, Ye Tian finished reading another record of a certain "Array Emperor" who had spent his life deducing the great arrays of heaven and earth.
After reading the inscription on the stele, which ultimately led to his downfall due to his complete divination of the heavens, he slowly straightened up and gently exhaled a breath of turbid air.
That breath seemed to carry a trace of ancient vicissitudes.
He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping once more over the boundless forest of stone tablets, his expression different from when he first entered. Less of the initial scrutiny and curiosity, replaced by a deeper understanding and insight.
"All laws return to the same source, all paths originate from the same origin..."
He muttered to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"The paths of those who came before can be learned from, but they cannot be replicated."
"Only by forging one's own path can one truly... transcend."
He felt that his already unyielding Dao heart, after being baptized by the deeds of the ancient sages, had become even more transparent and perfect.
The vast chaotic divine power within his body seemed to have become even more condensed.
In its operation, it has lost some of its sharpness and gained more weight and depth.
Only then did he turn his attention back to the Myriad Law Key in his hand, which was still slightly warm and guiding him.
The real differences often emerge quietly in places that are unseen.
