124: Chapter 124 You call this a lucky breakthrough?

He had lived for hundreds of years and seen countless Disciples open their Seas of Bitterness. The fast ones took a few months, while the slow ones took a year or two. Even those exceptionally gifted Geniuses required at least a month.

But what about Ye Fan?

Half a month.

Only half a month.

Furthermore, he possessed the Ancient Desolate Saint Body! The very same Ancient Desolate Saint Body that countless people deemed a useless physique!

How the hell is this called luck?

Wu Qingfeng took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. He walked into the room and sat down by the bed.

Ye Fan quickly poured him a cup of water.

“Elder, please have some.”

Wu Qingfeng took the cup and looked at the youth before him.

Opening the Sea of Bitterness in half a month with the Ancient Desolate Saint Body—what did that mean? It meant this child either possessed Heaven-Defying Opportunity or Heaven-Defying willpower.

He leaned toward the latter.

Over these past days, he had observed everything. Ye Fan was always the first to arrive for lectures and the last to leave. Every time he asked a question, it hit the mark. After returning, he would Cultivate without a moment's pause.

This kind of perseverance was something he rarely saw in young people.

“Ye Fan,” he spoke, his voice gentle.

“I am here.”

“Tell me honestly, how did you do it?”

Ye Fan remained silent for a moment.

Naturally, he couldn't mention the mirror or the hundred catties of Source Stones. Those things were too bizarre; speaking of them would only bring trouble.

After a thought, he said, “This Disciple doesn't know either. I just Cultivated every day, persisted every day, and then today it suddenly broke through.”

Wu Qingfeng looked at him, a trace of deep meaning in his eyes.

“Is that so?”

Ye Fan nodded.

Wu Qingfeng smiled.

In that smile, there was relief, appreciation, and a sense of understanding that saw through things without needing to voice them.

“Fine, I'll treat it as if you succeeded by luck.”

He patted Ye Fan on the shoulder.

“Everyone has their own secrets. If you don't speak, I won't ask. This is the rule of the cultivation world.”

Ye Fan felt a weight lift from his heart and gave Wu Qingfeng a deep bow.

“Thank you for your understanding, Elder.”

Wu Qingfeng waved his hand.

“Sit down, I have some things to say to you.”

Ye Fan sat down opposite him.

Wu Qingfeng looked at him and spoke slowly.

“Since you have already opened your Sea of Bitterness, the road ahead must be taken step by step.”

Ye Fan listened intently.

“The Wheel Sea Realm is divided into four stages: Opening the Sea of Bitterness, Erecting the Divine Bridge, Reaching the Other Shore, and Breakthrough to the Dao Palace.”

As Wu Qingfeng spoke, he gestured with his fingers in the Void Realm.

“Now that you have opened your Sea of Bitterness, the next step is to erect the Divine Bridge.”

Ye Fan nodded.

Wu Qingfeng continued, “The Divine Bridge, as the name implies, is a bridge. It connects your Sea of Bitterness to the opposite bank; it is your only path to reaching the Other Shore.”

“But for you, this matter... is much harder than for ordinary people.”

Ye Fan was stunned for a moment.

“Why?”

Wu Qingfeng looked at him with a trace of complexity in his eyes.

“Because you possess the Ancient Desolate Saint Body.”

“The Sea of Bitterness of an Ancient Desolate Saint Body is far larger than that of an ordinary person. How much larger? Ten times? A hundred times? No one knows. Ancient texts record that the most powerful Ancient Desolate Saint Bodies had Seas of Bitterness as vast as the ocean, boundless and infinite.”

“If you want to erect a Divine Bridge over such a Sea of Bitterness, the Divine Bridge you need will also be much longer than that of an ordinary person.”

Ye Fan fell silent.

He thought of his own Sea of Bitterness.

That golden Sea of Bitterness was indeed very large. How large? He didn't know. He only knew that after opening it, when his consciousness delved inside, he couldn't see any boundaries.

Seeing Ye Fan's silent state, Wu Qingfeng felt a bit of pity in his heart.

“Child, I'm not trying to discourage you. I just want you to understand that this path is not easy to walk.”

Ye Fan raised his head and looked at him.

In his eyes, there was no dejection, no loss, only calmness.

“Elder, I understand,”

He said softly.

“Even if it's not easy to walk, I must walk it.”

Wu Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, then he smiled.

In that smile, there was relief, appreciation, and an indefinable emotion.

“Good. A fine 'Even if it's not easy to walk, I must walk it.'”

He took out a thin booklet from his robe and handed it to Ye Fan.

“This is the scripture for the Wheel Sea Realm, the Lunhai Chapter of the Dao Scripture.”

Ye Fan took the booklet and looked at the two ancient, simple characters on the cover—Dao Scripture.

Wu Qingfeng continued, “The origins of the Dao Scripture are mysterious; it is said to be a supreme scripture passed down from ancient times. Although this is only a copy of the Lunhai Chapter, it is enough for you to Cultivate to the Dao Palace Realm.”

“It covers all the methods from opening the Sea of Bitterness, to erecting the Divine Bridge, to reaching the Other Shore, all the way to the Breakthrough into the Dao Palace. It can be said to be the most solid Foundation on the path of cultivation.”

Ye Fan flipped open the booklet; it was densely packed with words. Those characters were ancient and vigorous, each one containing profound meaning.

“Thank you, Elder,” he thanked him solemnly.

Wu Qingfeng waved his hand.

“Memorize the contents first, then I must take this booklet back. These are the sect rules; it cannot be spread to outsiders.”

Ye Fan nodded.

“This Disciple understands.”

Wu Qingfeng stood up.

“Alright, it's getting late. Get some rest early. If there's anything you don't understand, come and ask me anytime.”

Ye Fan escorted him to the door.

“Take care, Elder.”

Wu Qingfeng walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back at him.

“Ye Fan.”

“I am here.”

“Cultivate well. You are a good prospect.”

After saying that, he turned and left, disappearing into the night.

Ye Fan stood at the door, watching his retreating figure, a surge of warmth in his heart.

This Elder Wu truly cared for him.

After seeing off Wu Qingfeng, Ye Fan returned inside and closed the door.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, picked up the Dao Scripture, and began to study it carefully.

The contents of the Dao Scripture were much more profound than he had imagined.

The opening chapter spoke of the Wheel of Life.

The Wheel of Life is the Foundation of cultivation. It is located in the deepest part of the human body and is the source of all power. And the Sea of Bitterness is the manifestation of the Wheel of Life.

Opening the Sea of Bitterness is to awaken the Wheel of Life.

Ye Fan looked at this passage, gaining some insight.

He continued reading.

The next part spoke of how to erect the Divine Bridge.

The Divine Bridge is the path from this shore of the Sea of Bitterness to the Other Shore. It requires the practitioner to use their own will and power to construct it bit by bit above the Sea of Bitterness.

The firmer the Divine Bridge, the further one can walk, and the more vast the Other Shore reached will be.

As Ye Fan read on, his brow gradually furrowed.

According to the Dao Scripture, the key to erecting the Divine Bridge lies in 'Condensation' and 'Gathering.'

Condensation is the condensation of will. Gathering is the gathering of power.

But his Sea of Bitterness was so large; how much will would he need to condense, and how much power would he need to gather to erect a sufficiently long Divine Bridge?

He didn't know.

But he knew it would certainly be difficult.

Ye Fan put down the booklet, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

Even if it's hard, it must be done.

He opened his eyes and continued reading.

The following content was about how to reach the Other Shore.

The Other Shore is the far end of the Sea of Bitterness. Reaching the Other Shore signifies the Perfection of the Wheel Sea Realm. At that Realm, one can charge toward the next Secret Realm—the Dao Palace.

The Dao Scripture stated that the Other Shore was not fixed. Different people reached different Other Shores. Some reached a small island, while others reached a continent.

Ye Fan looked at this passage, lost in thought.

His Sea of Bitterness was so large; what kind of Other Shore would he reach?

He didn't know.

But he was looking forward to it.

Unknowingly, the night had grown deep.

Ye Fan still sat on the bed, flipping through the Dao Scripture over and over again. He had already memorized most of the content, but with every reading, he gained new insights.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, scattering a floor of silver glow.

Ye Fan put down the booklet, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

The night breeze blew in, carrying the fresh scent of plants. In the distance, the mountains stretched on, appearing exceptionally quiet under the moonlight.

He thought of Earth.

He thought of that earth-shaking scene on Mount Tai, the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin, and those classmates.

Some had died, some had turned into old people, and some were missing.

Only he, Pang Bo, Lin Jia, and Zhang Ziling had survived.

He didn't know where the others were now or how they were faring. But he knew he had to become strong.

Only by becoming strong could he protect himself, protect his friends, and protect those he wanted to protect.

Ye Fan clenched his fist, looking at the moonlight outside the window.

“Just wait.”

He murmured softly.

“I will definitely become strong.”

Behind him, the Dao Scripture lay quietly on the bed. The two ancient characters on the cover shimmered faintly under the moonlight.

Dao Scripture.

Supreme Foundation.

Ye Fan turned around, walked back to the bed, picked up the booklet, and continued his study.