Chapter 145: The Unspeakable (Part One)

Jiang Fan did not rush to begin his cultivation. Instead, he studied the contents of the first turn of the Nine-Turn Profound Technique, committing every word to memory and pondering them deeply until he had fully grasped even the smallest nuance.

One’s life was at stake; one could not be too careful.

He spent an entire month in contemplation before he was finally ready. Fortunately, the enigmatic Master Yuding remained seated, motionless and indifferent, seemingly waiting for Jiang Fan to attempt the Nine-Turn Profound Technique. Success meant becoming a disciple; failure meant death, or at best, remaining an outsider. It was not that the master was cold—after all, it is nearly impossible to expect mercy from an ancient monster who has lived for countless eons. Jiang Fan even harbored doubts about whether this figure was truly Master Yuding at all.

"A man must gamble at least once in his life!"

With a sharp intake of breath and a steadying of his resolve, Jiang Fan swallowed the Jade Lotus Seed. Closing his eyes, he began to channel the first turn of the Nine-Turn Profound Technique.

An instant later, a piercing agony struck him. Following that, a terrifying pain erupted from every inch of his body, inside and out. Having prepared for this, Jiang Fan remained composed, using his Dao Palace to anchor his spirit.

He continued to circulate the technique!

*Crack!*

The sixth thoracic vertebra in his back shattered, triggering a chain reaction that caused the two hundred-plus bones in his body to snap in unison. Next, his internal organs began to burst—even his heart and the marrow within his bones. This was the true horror of the Nine-Turn Profound Technique: it pulverized every bone and organ to refine the bloodline and sublimate the core from the very roots before rebuilding the body anew. The pain was beyond description. If one failed to reconstruct the body after it collapsed, death was inevitable.

Even with the technique in motion, without the support of a divine catalyst, there was no hope of survival. Every step was critical. What was most terrifying was that the mere activation of the technique had shattered a physique that Jiang Fan had previously tempered to the level of a high-grade magical treasure. The principles contained within this process defied all conventional logic.

Eventually, Jiang Fan was reduced to a heap of flesh and blood. Yet, even in this state, he did not lose his sanity; he kept the technique circulating. The mass of flesh began to form a placenta, expanding and contracting in a rhythmic cycle. With each pulse, a mist of blood was expelled, making the remaining flesh more refined and its essence stronger, though the glowing light began to dim.

"It is time!"

Jiang Fan felt his strength waning. He needed support, or he would be unable to push the sublimation of his flesh any further, and the placenta would collapse. He immediately began to refine the Jade Lotus Seed he had swallowed earlier, which had been hiding deep within his bloodline.

In an instant, an incredibly pure force of creation surged forth, like life-giving rain after a long drought, causing the placenta to pulse with renewed vigor. The blood mist expelled grew thinner and thinner until, after three thousand cycles, it stopped altogether. The placenta radiated a hazy celestial light, as if forged by nature itself.

*Boom!*

The transformation was not yet over. The placenta burst open, and from within stepped a small figure, three feet tall. It was a miniature, perfectly crafted likeness of Jiang Fan. With a solemn expression, he took nine steps forward, nine back, nine to the left, and nine to the right. With every step, his body grew until, finally, he stood at his original height.

"Nine-Turn Creation, I alone am supreme!"

The words escaped Jiang Fan’s lips naturally. He sat cross-legged, a smile of profound liberation upon his face, as if he had attained the Great Dao.

"I have succeeded!" Jiang Fan stood up and bowed to Master Yuding. "Greetings, Master!"

"Good, good, good!" Master Yuding stroked his beard and laughed. "From this day forward, you are my second disciple. Come, pay your respects to the Patriarch!"

With a wave of his hand, a portrait appeared in the center of the room. It depicted a figure seated on a cloud bed, a halo of auspicious clouds above his head and golden light of merit suspended behind him. He held the Three-Treasure Jade Ruyi in his left hand and the Pangu Banner in his right—it was none other than the Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Lord, one of the Three Pure Ones.

"Your Patriarch is the authentic successor of Pangu, one of the Three Pure Ones, the Saint Primordial Heavenly Lord who presides over the Jade Void Palace. You must perform the kowtow ceremony!"

Master Yuding bowed first. Jiang Fan did not hesitate and performed the grand ceremony. With this, he became a true disciple of Master Yuding, his path on the Great Dao now clear and open.

"Sit!" Master Yuding gestured forward.

"Yes," Jiang Fan replied.

After a long moment of contemplation, Master Yuding spoke: "The Nine-Turn Profound Technique is arduous to cultivate, especially the first step of reversing the bloodline. Even your senior brother, Yang Jian, who possessed a demi-god physique, nearly perished when his body collapsed. Now that you have succeeded, it is a testament to your great fortune and potential. However, remember: for every turn you break through, you must have spiritual items to assist you to minimize the danger. Furthermore, I will now impart to you the most authentic cultivation method of our Jade Void Palace, the Jade Void Scripture, the supreme Dao classic of all the heavens and myriad worlds. Use this as your foundation to stabilize your body and prevent it from completely shattering."

He pointed a finger, and a passage appeared on the wall to the right—the first level of the Jade Void Scripture.

"Yes, Master!" Jiang Fan listened intently, memorizing every word. This was expert advice, crucial for his future.

"You have noticed that I am different, have you not?" Master Yuding asked with a sudden smile.

"Yes," Jiang Fan nodded, hesitating. "From what Uncle Yu said, you are not..."

"I am indeed dead," Master Yuding said. "Before I died, I left behind my inheritance and a imprint of my consciousness, so that I might take on a true disciple and offer guidance, sparing them from taking the wrong path. This imprint can only exist here, and with every appearance, it will eventually fade into nothingness."

"Master, with your cultivation, did you not leave behind a remnant spirit or some means of reincarnation?" Jiang Fan asked urgently.

"I once thought I would not die, but alas, I met with misfortune—I encountered the God-Slaying Spear," Master Yuding replied with a wry smile. "Death is death. My only regret is not seeing my own master one last time, and wondering how Yang Jian fares."

"I will find Senior Brother in the future," Jiang Fan promised. "Dead or alive, I will find him."

In truth, he felt a profound sense of relief in his heart.

"Good!" said Master Yuding. "If you have any other questions, ask them now. After that, I shall return to my slumber until you have more questions."

"Master, I only wish to know: what exactly is that Enlightenment Platform?" This was the answer Jiang Fan had always sought.

"It cannot be said, it must not be spoken!" Master Yuding was more serious than ever. "You must remember this—do not speak of it, or disaster will befall you!"

Jiang Fan felt a jolt in his heart and nodded.

"Disciple, work hard. One day, return to the Jade Void Palace and truly acknowledge your roots!" With that, Master Yuding vanished. "If you have questions, simply call."