Due to frequent discoveries of ancient relics, various divine powers, techniques, and artifact refinements all rely on ancient scripts. Forums like this have always been bustling, never lacking participants. He Mu’s post had only been up for a dozen breaths when a moderator named “Guye Shanren” replied:
“This character of yours seems quite ancient. Even if it doesn’t match the earliest scripts directly derived from Dao patterns—such as the Chiming Jade Script or the Eightfold Dragon Script—which embody the principles of the Great Dao, it should be close, belonging to the second or third tier of derivation. It carries profound depth and meaning. Interpreting just one character could fill several pages of scripture. Without contextual references, it’s impossible to arrive at the correct answer.”
He Mu deeply agreed with Guye Shanren’s words. From the perspective of script evolution, Dao patterns are inherently mysterious and possess immense power. Even immortals must reach the other shore to fully grasp their meaning. To make them comprehensible to mortals, scripts like the Chiming Jade Script and the Eightfold Dragon Script emerged, initially elucidating Dao patterns, depicting heaven and earth, and inscribing the laws of the Dao. Each character was said to be a volume of knowledge, each inscription a divine power.
Yet these scripts remained abstruse even to legendary figures, let alone celestial beings or ordinary mortals. Thus, further simplification and segmentation occurred, increasing the number of characters while reducing their individual meanings. The “Nine Heavens Standard Script” of the ancient immortal realm belonged to this category. Even at this stage, each character still held divine power, and their meanings could fill pages of scripture—such was their depth.
Through generations of evolution, the power within individual characters rapidly diminished. By the time of the late ancient scripts, without personal empowerment, they could no longer stir the heavens and earth.
For this reason, identifying scripts from the second or third tier without contextual references made it nearly impossible to arrive at the correct answer—even consulting great powers and divine experts would yield countless interpretations.
However, He Mu couldn’t reveal the full ancient script depicting the nine-headed bird. That would be exposing his secrets—who knew if there were spies from the demon race lurking in the forum?
As for whether figures like the Radiant Sage and the Northern Sage would notice, he was more confident. Their attention was undoubtedly focused here, forcing him to use the Myriad Realms Communication Talisman in a soul-bound, thought-controlled manner.
The idea of directly consulting his master was He Mu’s last resort. Though his master often said that the Jade Void Palace’s signature skill was “calling for backup” and that there was no need to feel embarrassed, He Mu still believed that relying on elders for every challenge during his training journey would render him useless, stripping away his problem-solving ability and making the journey meaningless.
Amidst these thoughts, He Mu pretended to focus on deciphering the characters on the door while replying to Guye Shanren:
“These ancient characters were obtained by chance—there’s no context. Could you help explain their main meanings? Length is no issue, and I’ll repay your kindness.”
Once he grasped most of the meanings behind each character, he could combine their sequence, summarize, and eliminate ambiguities!
As their exchange continued, the thread attracted many participants. Some mocked Guye Shanren for never having encountered scripts like the Chiming Jade Script or the Eightfold Dragon Script—how could he judge this nine-headed bird-like character as being similar? Others chimed in with conflicting opinions.
He Mu observed calmly, absorbing useful insights while maintaining an “intense focus” on the cave’s entrance.
At this moment, the bored Ao Qin paced back and forth and sneered, “Both Sages have studied and deduced the door’s seals, yet neither mentioned the nine-headed bird pattern. Only you, with your wild imagination, fixate on it!”
He Mu froze. The vague unease he’d felt earlier resurfaced, and suddenly, inspiration struck like a flash of light in the dark!
His master had once explained all the traits of legendary figures to his disciples. If such beings wished, they could observe every corner of the real world—to them, shifting perspectives merely meant stacking points without distance. Of course, given the countless points, no legendary figure could monitor every single one constantly or extend their awareness across the entire universe—it was simply unsustainable.
But this also meant that if a legendary figure focused on a specific location, they could observe it directly without being physically present!
For the Radiant Sage and the Northern Sage, being watched by others meant that even if they could manifest anywhere within the cave, they couldn’t escape detection by other powerful beings. Yet mere distant observation would leave no trace—they undoubtedly knew every detail of the Nine-headed Sage’s ruins.
Thus, their lack of detailed guidance, leaving Jiu Li and Ao Qin to act independently, could be seen as a form of tempering—nothing suspicious. But the conspicuous nine-headed bird patterns exuding an ancient aura—how could they have missed them?
Given their power, they could decipher the Nine Heavens Standard Script. Understanding these patterns wouldn’t be difficult. If they hadn’t mentioned them, did it mean these ancient characters were trivial details?
But if they were trivial, and the cave’s remaining seals were only at the demon king level—as Jiu Li claimed—then to legendary figures, this place would be like their backyard, with no barriers. They could take the most valuable items instantly, leaving other great powers a step behind, unable to intervene.
If so, what was the point of sending Jiu Li and the others to explore?
Had the cave already been emptied, leaving only a trial for descendants?
And if that were the case, why had his master sent him to the demon star domain?
If the ruins had defenses capable of blocking legendary observation and omnipresence, they’d be too dangerous for Jiu Li and the others. As a Five Virtues Phoenix, would the Radiant Sage willingly endanger her descendants?
He Mu frowned slightly, realizing the situation was far more complex than he’d imagined—filled with contradictions and unanswered questions. He couldn’t help but think that his master, Su Meng, was as inscrutable as the will of heaven.
The affairs of great powers were simply beyond his comprehension.
He turned to Jiu Li and asked thoughtfully, “Did the Sage mention or emphasize anything specific?”
Jiu Li understood his meaning and nodded slightly. “My mother didn’t mention that these nine-headed bird patterns might be ancient scripts. She only emphasized that the cave’s interior might exhibit traits of the primordial era, but we shouldn’t panic—just proceed with caution.”
“I see…” He Mu murmured.
Ao Qin snorted again. “Stop pretending. Can’t decipher it? Admit it honestly, and I might give you another chance!”
“Shouldn’t have wasted time,” Gu Yue grumbled.
He Mu ignored them, refocusing on the door as if lost in deciphering the ancient script.
Time passed, and soon the agreed-upon limit of one cup of tea arrived. Ao Qin impatiently demanded, “Do you recognize it or not? Stop wasting our time!”
“Mr. Yueluo, if you truly can’t decipher it, just give up,” Jinlin Xianzi advised gently.
He Mu looked up, his eyes seemingly vacant. Guye Shanren and others had provided lengthy, divergent interpretations, and he was in the process of synthesizing and eliminating contradictions.
Seeing his expression, Ao Qin was about to berate him when Jiu Li suddenly spoke up. “Mr. Yueluo seems to have made progress. Let’s wait a little longer.”
“Every moment we delay increases the risk of exposure!” Ao Qin said, exasperated.
Had Jiu Li been bewitched? To delay for this boastful, ignorant creature?
Just then, He Mu suddenly spoke:
“I’ve deciphered the meaning of these ancient scripts.”
“Deciphered?” Jinlin Xianzi asked in surprise.
Ao Qin frowned. “Don’t spout nonsense to deceive us.”
He Mu raised his left hand, pointing at the nine-headed bird patterns:
“This appears to be a script created by the Nine-headed Sage based on his comprehension of Dao patterns. The meaning is: ‘This place shall forever remain the Primordial Immortal Realm!'”
“‘This place shall forever remain the Primordial Immortal Realm?’ Sounds like a decree, a golden-mouthed edict…” Jiu Li mused.
Gu Yue’s expression shifted. “You mean, like the ‘One Word Becomes the World’s Law’ displayed by the Jade Void Palace’s master when he first attained his Dharmakaya?”
This incident was widely known among high-ranking demons, inspiring both awe and fear in younger generations.
Jiu Li nodded solemnly. “It seems the Nine-headed Sage had already reached the pinnacle of Creation back then…”
Upon attaining the legendary realm, one could use the essence of the real world to impose decrees across the cosmos, permanently altering the “laws of heaven” there. They could briefly modify the rules of the real world within a certain scope. Celestial beings, with legendary traits, the Cause of All Effects, and other shore traits, could achieve similar feats. But to permanently alter small-scale rules in the real world or establish temporary regulations in places like the Immortal Realm or the Netherworld, one needed at least the pinnacle of Creation.
As for permanently changing small-scale rules in the Immortal Realm or the Netherworld, the pinnacle of Creation plus other shore traits was the bare minimum. To permanently alter the rules of the real world—as the Human Emperor once did—the cost was said to be significant.
“But what’s the point of ‘This place shall forever remain the Primordial Immortal Realm?'” Jinlin Xianzi asked, puzzled.
He Mu was even more perplexed. The Nine-headed Sage hadn’t used his decree-imposing ability when setting up the cave’s seals, allowing time and cosmic erosion to weaken them to the brink of collapse. Why, then, would he inscribe such a solemn proclamation, ensuring its immortality?
“Whether it’s an immortal realm or not, what does it matter to us? Let’s just try opening the door,” Ao Qin urged.
This Yueluo actually recognized ancient scripts? Unbelievable!
Was he making it up?
Jiu Li, unwilling to give up before even attempting to open the door, exchanged a glance with He Mu and said gravely, “Everyone, stay alert. Let’s try opening it now.”
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