Chapter 1314: Old Friends Reunite

Chapter 1316: Old Friends Meet

Time flows by, and the immortal path is unforgiving. Some people and events are destined to slowly fade from memory, gradually disappearing. The higher one ascends the immortal path, the more profound the solitude.

Decades had passed in the blink of an eye, enough time for a mortal's entire life to unfold. Yet, Ye Fan found himself meeting an old acquaintance in a distant land. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, as if a long-sealed door had been pushed open.

The lost years and unforgettable old memories, spanning days and nights, flowed silently like a fleeting shimmer or a quiet river.

Shadows and vivid faces, some gone, some missing, now emerged in his mind. They had parted ways on the path to immortality, in the prime of their lives.

Nine dragons pulled an ancient bronze coffin, its origin and destination unknown, as it ascended the path to heaven and embarked on a journey, forever altering the life trajectories of a group of people in unpredictable ways.

People and events from the past—so many years had gone by that memories were almost sealed away. Yet, he never imagined they would meet again here, leaving an indelible mark of time etched in his heart.

"Ziwen!" Ye Fan called out loudly from the coast, shouting towards the divine chariot that was returning from across the sea.

The South Sea stretched boundlessly, its verdant waves spanning thousands of miles. The ceaseless roar of magnificent waves, powerful and majestic, echoed like a thousand charging armies.

Above the green sea, each of the nine azure luan birds was extraordinary, striking the sky with their wings, tearing through the heavens, and pulling a divine chariot that rumbled as it passed.

Inside the chariot was a man with fair skin, his hair tied with a golden crown, his strands fluttering in the wind. His eyes were clear and bright, indicating he was no ordinary person.

"You've got the wrong person," he said, casting a wary glance in their direction before urging the nine azure luan birds to change course and swiftly depart.

"Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, Wang Ziwen, why do you avoid an old acquaintance?" Ye Fan asked, a look of doubt on his face.

The vast green sea met the sky, its waves magnificent. The nine azure luan birds, pulling the divine chariot, swiftly surged towards a spatial gate that materialized out of thin air. In the blink of an eye, they vanished into it.

Clearly, this person had concerns. He activated a formation platform, eager to escape over the sea, not wishing to stay for even a moment.

"Do you want me to blast him down?" the Dragon Horse asked.

"Leave it to me," said another ancient beast nearby, radiating a powerful holy aura, ready to shatter heaven and earth with a single blow and seize the divine chariot.

Ye Fan waved his hand, stopping them. Feeling somewhat dazed, he said, "I was careless. This is clearly another young man; he just has an extremely similar appearance and the same aura."

He knew he hadn't been entirely mistaken. This young man bore too strong a resemblance to Wang Ziwen in his youth, and their bloodlines were identical. He was undoubtedly Wang Ziwen's descendant.

"Time, oh time! He even has descendants," Ye Fan pondered. "I wonder how he has lived through these years and why he ended up on this ancient star." Many questions filled Ye Fan's mind.

However, he didn't immediately give chase. Instead, he left a trace of his consciousness that could follow at any time, as he didn't want to startle his old friend's son just yet.

The Nine Dragons pulling the Coffin altered the fates of many: over a dozen died en route, several perished in the six Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands of the Yan Kingdom, and ultimately, only a dozen or so embarked on a new phase of life.

Zhang Wenchang became a disciple at Taixuan's Awkward Peak, Liu Yiyi entered the Jade Lake in the Northern Domain, Kaide recited Buddhist scriptures on Mount Sumeru, Pang Bo embarked on the ancient starry sky road, and Ye Fan had now arrived at this very place.

Li Xiaoman had initially survived, but Ye Fan had cast her into the Primordial Abyss; she was likely never to be seen again in this lifetime.

Years ago, Ye Fan and others were forced into the Primordial Forbidden Land to gather herbs. Wang Ziwen, Zhou Yi, and Zhang Ziling were lost in the Immortal Palace outside the Forbidden Land and had not reappeared for decades.

After so many years of separation, to unexpectedly learn that Wang Ziwen might also be in this ancient land of life truly left Ye Fan's emotions in turmoil.

"What happened? How did he suddenly come to this star from the Big Dipper?"

The distance was immense, spanning countless galaxies from one side of the starry sky to this side of the ancient road. Anyone would be filled with doubt.

As the long-sealed memories resurfaced, Ye Fan stood in place for a long time, calming his emotions. He knew he could now unravel many mysteries, and he decided to visit his old friend.

"This star is truly extraordinary," said the Saint of the Bright Clan, one of Ye Fan's twelve Saints. "Have you felt it? The spiritual energy is terrifyingly rich. When comprehending dao methods, divine sounds permeate one's ears."

The others naturally felt it too, their bodies bathed in the rich spiritual energy, with subtle iridescent light flushing their meridians and autonomously entering their bodies through their pores.

"To comprehend the changes of the Great Dao, is this the purpose of our trial on this journey?" the Nine-Tailed Alligator Dragon asked, filled with surprise and uncertainty.

The Envoy of Guidance had explicitly told them that, after long years, some ancient stars were no longer suitable for cultivation, while others had been prosperous since ancient times and remained so, ideal for practicing the Dao.

The Human Race's Tenth Pass, the birthplace of the Nine-Tailed Alligator Dragon, was exceptionally suited for cultivation because it had never undergone changes; the Great Dao there was immortal, cultivators were powerful, and Saints were abundant.

On the most desolate ancient stars, however, the path of cultivation was nearly severed; it was already considered defying the heavens to cultivate a Dragon Transformation-level expert using various ancient methods and divine treasures.

The Dragon Horse said, "This ancient star is even more prosperous than the one at the Human Race's Tenth Pass. Living beings are close to the Great Dao, easily merging with it. There must be unparalleled masters here."

This also explained the vast disparities in cultivation levels among those who embarked on the ancient starry sky road: in some ancient lands, it was not unusual to find several Saints, while in others, only cultivators at the Dragon Transformation or Great Power stages could embark on the journey.

The only reassuring thing was that, in recent years, the heavens and earth had changed, and some ancient lands that once inspired despair had begun to receive the favor of the Great Dao, gradually regaining vitality.

The waves roared incessantly, and gusts of salty sea breeze swept in. Ye Fan spread his powerful divine sense to explore this ancient land of life.

This ancient star was less than one percent the size of the Big Dipper, yet it was many times larger than Earth. With just a slight circulation of one's magic power, one could hear the sounds of heaven and earth intertwining and the Great Dao harmonizing.

Hundreds of miles away in the sea, a flood dragon, having reached the Saint King realm, was closely observing them. It was likely the "South Sea Dragon King."

"If others don't offend me, I won't offend them," Ye Fan instructed his twelve Saints. "You must not cause trouble. There is a high possibility of Great Saint-level existences on this star."

While there are countless star regions and numerous ancient lands of life in the universe, this was, so far, the most suitable star for cultivation Ye Fan had discovered, likely home to unparalleled powerful experts.

To comprehend the changes of the Great Dao, one must visit and experience various types of ancient stars—prosperous, barren, and everything in between—to gradually discern patterns and uncover fundamental truths.

Ye Fan and the twelve Saints set off from the coast, heading towards the depths of the continent.

Not long after they set off, as they passed a volcanic cluster, blazing fires surged and magma gurgled, a dazzling red. In an ancient cave, they encountered four fire crows, all on the verge of becoming Saints.

After traveling several hundred miles, they encountered several small Taoist temples where the cultivators were all formidable. Two of them were even Great Perfection Kings.

As they entered a majestic mountain range shrouded in mist, they saw a giant snake thousands of feet long, swallowing and spitting out a large serpent pearl, having incredibly reached the Saint rank.

Along the way, they encountered many cultivators and ancient cave dwellings, detecting the presence of Saints on several occasions, which was astonishing.

"We've only just traveled this path," said one of the twelve Saints, an ancient beast. "What we've seen may not even be holy lands or divine dynasties, yet we've already encountered several Saints. This ancient star, though not exceptionally grand, is truly astonishing."

The Dragon Horse grumbled indignantly, "Under the same cosmic starry sky, how can the treatment of people vary so greatly? Consider the star where I was born: its spiritual energy was withered, and the emergence of even a single Dragon Transformation or Great Power cultivator was revered as a peerless master. Yet here, it's difficult *not* to give birth to a Saint."

On this star, beautiful peaks were ubiquitous, shrouded in immortal mist, with flying waterfalls and flowing springs. The scenery was stunning, and the spiritual energy was hazy.

Many ancient cliffs provided ideal spots for meditation. One could hear the resonance of the Dao by their ears, as if immortal scriptures were being recited, leading one into a deep state of Dao comprehension. Over time, with consistent effort, one's cultivation would naturally advance without ceasing.

On other planets, such places would be considered sacred lands, but here, they were nothing remarkable. Every time Ye Fan passed through such an area, he would close his eyes to take it all in.

Half a day later, they arrived at a lush mountain range, a vast expanse stretching over tens of thousands of miles. Many cave dwellings were hidden in this area, and they detected at least four Saint-level auras.

"This should be considered a sacred land."

Though naturally fearless, they didn't wish to cause trouble unnecessarily. They traveled through the area and, after journeying a considerable distance, discovered a massive, majestic city bustling with an endless flow of people, proving its prosperity.

"The nine azure luan birds are in the city," the Nine-Tailed Alligator Dragon said.

Ye Fan nodded. He had come precisely because of the nine azure luan birds, to see Wang Ziwen; he had merely been taking the opportunity to get a general understanding of this ancient star's situation.

He extended his powerful divine sense, surging like a tide towards the nine azure luan birds, then sweeping over the ancient architectural area. His eyes flashed, emitting two beams of divine lightning.

"Wang Ziwen, it's him!"

The next moment, Ye Fan entered the city, arriving within a magnificent palace complex. He appeared in a grand hall, gazing at the familiar face before him.

"Ye Fan, it's really you!" Wang Ziwen sprang to his feet, an incredulous look in his eyes and a face full of excitement, a reaction quite uncharacteristic of his usual composed demeanor.

Beside him was a man who bore a striking resemblance—the very young man Ye Fan had seen in the South Sea not long ago. Clearly, he had already reported the encounter to his father.

"So many years have passed," Wang Ziwen said, "I never thought there would be a day for old friends to reunite." Wang Ziwen possessed a refined and handsome appearance, with time leaving few traces on his face. He now commanded powerful cultivation and had already become a Saint.

"Father, who is he?" Just then, a young girl entered from outside the great hall, bright-eyed and fair-skinned, graceful and beautiful, quite lovely and spirited.

"This is... your uncle," Wang Ziwen said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Do you remember the other side of the starry sky I told you about? We come from the same place." He then had his son and daughter come forward to greet Ye Fan.

"I can't believe you have children, and they've already grown up," Ye Fan said, also filled with endless emotion. He sighed at how time flowed like water, so many years having passed, and never imagined he would meet Wang Ziwen here.

The elder brother, Wang Chen, handled people and affairs with his father's tact and experience. The younger sister, Wang Xi, was very lively, her big eyes constantly darting about as she boldly stared at Ye Fan.

Wang Ziwen explained, "Recently, we encountered a misfortune, and Wang Chen went to the South Sea on my behalf to seek help. When he encountered you, he mistakenly thought you were assassins, which is why he immediately fled back."

Ye Fan nodded, having many questions about why his old friend had ended up on this star, so deep within the universe. He asked, "Ziwen, what happened back then?"

"I, Zhou Yi, Lin Jia, Zhang Ziling, and Li Xiaoman all entered the Immortal Palace outside the Primordial Forbidden Land," Wang Ziwen explained. "Many things indeed happened, and our individual fortunes varied greatly." Then, he fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and exclaimed in surprise, "You... you've reached the Eighth Layer of the Saint Realm!?"

He was momentarily stunned. He himself had gained great fortune in the Immortal Palace outside the Forbidden Land and then cultivated and broken through on such an ancient star, which was close to the Great Dao. Yet he had only just become a Saint, and he deeply understood the arduousness of this path.