Deep within the Jianlong Mountain Valley, lay a secluded cave dwelling.
Unlike the lively scene encountered earlier, this place was remarkably tranquil, even exuding an aura of profound sanctity.
Upon reaching this point, one's mood would naturally settle into a state of peace.
The Blood-Slaughtering Qilin prostrated itself before the cave, addressing Ye Ling with reverence. "Our ancestors decreed that no demon race shall enter. Only when a human capable of conquering all demons appears may they be permitted entry to retrieve treasures."
"My lord, your divine might is unparalleled, naturally qualifying you to enter and claim the treasure. However, the path ahead is one you must tread alone."
Hearing the Blood-Slaughtering Qilin's words, Ye Ling curiously probed the cave with his divine soul. He discovered an artificial restriction designed to prevent such spiritual exploration.
Ye Ling, with a hint of curiosity, asked the Blood-Slaughtering Qilin, "Do you not know what treasures lie within?"
The Blood-Slaughtering Qilin chuckled with a touch of embarrassment. "To my shame, I have never entered, nor do I know what is kept inside. However, from the memories left by our ancestors, it is undoubtedly a heavenly secret treasure. My lord will surely appreciate it."
"The more you say, the more curious I become," Ye Ling replied with a smile to the Blood-Slaughtering Qilin. He then patted Di Zhui's head, allowing it to dismount and accompany him into the cave.
Although Di Zhui was also a descendant of the Qilin, it was now Ye Ling's spiritual pet and was not bound by the restrictions of the Qilin clan. Wherever Ye Ling went, Di Zhui naturally followed.
The Blood-Slaughtering Qilin raised no objection to this, offering Ye Ling a respectful bow. "I await your triumphant return, my lord."
Ye Ling cast one last glance towards the entrance of Jianlong Mountain Valley before turning to enter the cave. He said to Di Zhui, "Di Zhui, keep up."
"Roar!"
Di Zhui let out a cry and joyfully bounded after Ye Ling.
The moment Ye Ling stepped into the depths of the cave, the restrictive formation covering it automatically dissipated, offering no impediment to his progress.
A familiar aura permeated from the depths of the cave.
"What is this?"
Sensing the familiar presence, Ye Ling's brow furrowed, and he quickened his pace towards the inner recesses of the cave.
The cave was not large. After walking barely twenty meters, Ye Ling arrived in a spacious chamber.
In the center of the cave, there was a jade cushion upon which sat a skeleton of white jade, emanating a formidable aura.
Upon witnessing the scene within the cave, Di Zhui's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Carved from jade? But why do we have human jade carvings here?"
Ye Ling shook his head, his gaze fixed on the white jade skeleton. He spoke with a solemn tone, "That is not a jade carving; it is the solidified precious bone formed after a true cultivator achieved nirvana."
"Precious bone?"
Di Zhui grew even more curious, failing to comprehend Ye Ling's words.
Ye Ling explained, "The so-called precious bone is a unique treasure formed by someone who cultivated the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' and failed in their attempt to break through to the Emperor realm, subsequently being consumed by the cultivation method."
Di Zhui inquired, "Has Master seen this before?"
Hearing Di Zhui's question, Ye Ling gazed deeply at the precious bone once more, his eyes becoming profound as if lost in memory. "Seen it? It's more than just seen; it's intimately familiar..."
This 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' was a supreme cultivation method unearthed from a Great Emperor's secret realm on the Eastern Profound Continent!
Back when Ye Ling was merely at the Saint realm, he had participated in the exploration of that secret realm. At its core, Ye Ling was the first to encounter this cultivation technique.
The battle at that time was fierce, and with several ancient holy races involved in the struggle, Ye Ling only managed a cursory glance at the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' before making a swift escape, leaving the other holy races to contend for the supreme scripture.
The battle within that secret realm raged with earth-shattering intensity.
Many powerful cultivators sent by the various holy races to the secret realm perished. Ultimately, the foremost holy race of the Eastern Profound Continent obtained the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique'.
Not long after, Saints within that holy race began to emerge like a spring gush, with a multitude of powerful individuals commencing their assault on the Emperor realm, determined to achieve an unprecedented feat.
The entire clan achieving Emperor status!
At that time, the entire Eastern Profound Continent was shaken. The combat power of that foremost holy race surged, leaving the second-ranked holy race far behind, their prestige unmatched, and no one on the Eastern Profound Continent dared to defy them!
However, soon thereafter, all those within that holy race who attempted to break through to the Emperor realm suddenly perished, transforming into jade carvings.
The once-dominant clan collapsed overnight.
The top-tier combatants of the foremost holy race all met their end, and the remaining clansmen could not withstand the onslaught of other holy races. Within a mere few months, the foremost great clan of the Eastern Profound Continent was completely devoured by other powers.
The 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' vanished without a trace. No one knew what the foremost holy race had encountered, or why the entire clan had been annihilated...
Those precious bones were also seized by the various holy races and offered to their descendants for cultivation.
As for why the people of the foremost holy race had turned into precious bones, and where the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' had gone, it all became a mystery.
To this day, no one on the Eastern Profound Continent has solved it.
However...
Ye Ling, possessing a transcribed copy of the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique', had an inkling of what the foremost holy race had truly encountered...
After obtaining the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique', Ye Ling had attempted to cultivate this supreme technique, aiming to break through to the Emperor realm and ascend to the pinnacle of the Eastern Profound Continent.
Yet, as the cultivation method neared completion, Ye Ling discovered a fatal flaw within the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique'.
It was already incredibly difficult for Saints to break through to the Emperor realm, with success on the first attempt being nearly impossible. Every Saint attempting to reach the Emperor realm would make thorough preparations and try multiple times.
The 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique', however, could enable one to cultivate to the Saint realm in an extremely short period and then reach the threshold for attempting the Emperor realm.
This appeared to be a supreme cultivation method, capable of elevating a faction's power to an unimaginable degree.
However, anyone cultivating with the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' would be forced to attempt the Emperor realm as soon as they reached the threshold, leaving no time for preparation!
Furthermore, anyone who cultivated the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' and failed their Emperor realm breakthrough would perish instantly, turning into precious bone!
Realizing that the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' might be a trap laid by some ancient powerful being, Ye Ling cut his losses in time, even resorting to damaging his own meridians to abolish the cultivation method.
At that time, Ye Ling had nearly fallen from the Saint realm to the True Martial realm, his strength significantly diminished.
Subsequently, Ye Ling spent a considerable period in seclusion to recuperate, and it was during this time that the foremost holy race was annihilated.
Upon emerging from his seclusion, Ye Ling unhesitatingly destroyed the transcribed copy of the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' and did not seek out the original.
Ye Ling had originally believed that the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' had been destroyed along with the foremost holy race during the war, lost to the annals of history.
But he could never have imagined that he would encounter another victim of the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique' on Earth!
"The 'Life Bond Contract', the 'Great Transformation Celestial Evolution Heart Technique', items that once existed on the Eastern Profound Continent appearing on Earth, coupled with my transmigration... these events do not seem to be mere coincidences..."
Ye Ling gazed at the precious bone before him, his eyes narrowing slightly.