Chapter 1478: Ji Family

Chapter 1482: The Ji Family

Over a century had passed since he last left. Now, crossing the boundless cosmos to return to the Big Dipper, Ye Fan's heart surged with emotion, and his mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

This place was clearly his second home, the starting point of his dreams, and where his hopes had set sail. His journey on the path of cultivation and his ascent to the peak were all based here; without the Big Dipper, he would not have achieved what he had today.

"The Big Dipper's world has undergone immense change; it's even more vibrant than the most prosperous ancient stars in the depths of the cosmos!" Ji Ziyue exclaimed, being most sensitive to spiritual energy and source power.

Ye Fan stepped onto the earth and truly sensed this tremendous transformation. The Great Dao permeated the world, primordial energy gushed forth, and the earth veins resembled dragons, making it many times more powerful than before.

Furthermore, strands of Dao principles streaked across the sky, making it easy to perceive that this was a magnificent era that had undergone drastic changes!

All the desolation of the Post-Archaic era had completely vanished. An ancient star, vibrant and full of life, imbued with the Great Dao, had truly revived, no longer dormant or slumbering.

"Over these past hundred years, many astounding figures must have emerged. This environment is even superior to the Ancient Human Path—it truly lives up to its name as the Buried Emperor Star!" The Dragon Horse felt a shock; the changes were too profound to compare to what came before.

"What a pity for the generations of heroes from the past," Ji Ziyue remarked, feeling a pang in her heart.

In the Post-Archaic era, countless geniuses met bleak ends because the heavens and earth did not permit breakthroughs. To achieve Dao Slaying was harder than ascending to the heavens, let alone becoming a Saint. Over ten thousand years, there were only a handful of humans who succeeded! This was simply because the world was no longer suitable for cultivation.

"This is destined to be an era of explosive growth," Ye Fan said. "Many suppressed heroes will continuously break through and surpass themselves. They have finally waited for this Golden Age."

Those who have endured until this era, if they still possess a lifespan, will undoubtedly continue to break through. Any with abundant vitality will shatter their shackles one after another, reaching higher levels.

"The most regrettable case is undoubtedly Senior Gai Jiuyou."

This was the unspoken thought of everyone. In the Big Dipper Ancient Domain, under the harshest and most impossible conditions for achieving Dao, Gai Jiuyou still soared. To break through to the Quasi-Emperor realm—how astonishingly talented and brilliant must that be?

Alas, the Azure Emperor achieved Dao before him, and Gai Jiuyou was born in that very era. His fate was destined to be a lamentable song.

Now, over ten thousand years had passed since the Azure Emperor's nirvana, but Gai Jiuyou was already old and frail, no longer in his prime.

However, for those who came after, this was the best opportunity and era.

In ancient times, prodigies often walked a solitary path, but this era was destined to produce the most brilliant sparks, as too many exceptional individuals had converged. There would be no shortage of rivals.

The Central Emperor, Yaoguang, Jiang Yifei, the Southern Demon, the Innate Dao Embryo… one astonishing name after another, all destined to shine brilliantly in this era, all born in the Big Dipper.

Moreover, there were the ancient races: Huang Xudao, Huolin'er, the Holy Prince, the Divine Silkworm Daoist—offspring of various ancient emperors, who presumably were no longer content with obscurity. Their collective appearance in this era was to dominate the world and break into the Immortal Road.

Undoubtedly, there would also be direct descendants of Great Emperors appearing. Ji Zi was certainly not the only one. Before such a once-in-an-epoch Golden Age, how could there be a lack of other Great Emperors' bloodlines continuing their glory?!

The Road to Immortality was about to open, right in the Big Dipper, destined to be dazzlingly brilliant. Supreme prodigies from all ten thousand realms would rush here. There would surely be figures no weaker than Imperial Descendants, ranging from ordinary physiques to special constitutions, all of whom would appear, creating the most dazzling splendor ever witnessed!

And this was only the younger generation; the number of older supreme experts would certainly be even greater. They would be countless, and it was unknown how many races would arrive.

Stars renowned throughout history, such as Huosang, Tongtian, Ziwei, Amitabha, Yuhua, Gouchen, and Feixian, were destined to attract endless powerhouses. Great Sages would be common, and even Quasi-Emperors might appear!

This was a Golden Great Era, and the families that had produced Great Emperors would truly reveal their profound heritage. When that happened, it would likely shake the human world.

Upon his return, Ye Fan found himself lost in contemplation, his mind filled with countless thoughts. He realized this was an age of prosperity brimming with opportunities, yet also a chaotic era fraught with danger and hardship.

Opportunities and challenges coexisted. This era would certainly not be dull; countless heroes would arrive, and the Big Dipper Starfield would boil with activity. Brilliant divine radiance would illuminate the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—only here would it be most dazzling!

"Next, there will be endless battles. They haven't even begun, yet my blood is already hot and about to boil," Ye Fan said, gazing at the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers.

Ji Ziyue, however, was filled with worry. Who could foresee the future? Sages would rise together, heroes would compete, and a hundred ships would vie for supremacy; even a slight misstep could lead to ruin.

"Let this venerable one see the divine bearing of all the powerful lords from the ten thousand realms—just how mighty are they!" The Dragon Horse declared, full of vigor, eager to rise in this great era.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng and others also gazed at the mountains and lands. They were filled with longing and yearning for this place, simply because it was the chosen resting place of ancient Great Emperors.

"It's been so many years since I left. I wonder how Heavenly Village is doing. Has Duan De awakened? I hope the Black Emperor hasn't caused any major trouble. And what about Li Heishui, Ye Tong, Dongfang Ye, Little Sparrow, Yaoyue Kong, Jiang Huairen, and the others?" Ye Fan murmured.

Since his emergence, he had spent more than half his time on the trial road, having been away for too long, campaigning for so many years without ever returning.

Ye Fan yearned to see them immediately, but he didn't know where Heavenly Village was now. When he left, Killing Saint Qiluo and others had already moved the small world beyond the domain, far from the troublesome Big Dipper.

"Where do we go, and how do we find them?" Ji Ziyue asked.

"First, I'll take you home." Ye Fan shook his head. So many years had passed; there was no need to rush for a moment.

The group tore open the void and headed directly towards the Ji Family. In the Southern Domain, the Ji Family was undoubtedly the foremost clan, unparalleled by any other.

Grand ancient buildings, towering mountain gates—within, divine mountains floated suspended, and islands drifted in and out of view. Silver waterfalls cascaded from the celestial divine mountains, shrouding the place in misty immortal energy, mysterious and unfathomable.

Before the magnificent main gate, a great river flowed, resembling a galloping dragon soaring into the distance. Its name was Ji River.

"Who goes there?" some of the strong cultivators guarding the Ji Family's main gate instantly detected them and called out, questioning.

In this current era, while it was euphemistically called a glorious age, to put it bluntly, turmoil was imminent. Too many races had appeared, and endless sages from outer domains had descended, causing great upheaval.

On the land of the Big Dipper, Saints clashed daily, and everyone felt vulnerable, fearing being erased from existence.

Even though the Ji Family had produced a Great Emperor and possessed profound, incomparable heritage, they dared not be careless. Strong cultivators were stationed there daily, diligently guarding the gate.

"Uncle-Ancestor, it's me." Ji Ziyue was on the verge of tears. Seeing her family's gate, as tall as a mountain, her eyes welled up with hot tears of excitement. After a hundred years of longing for her homeland and loved ones, she had finally returned.

The Ji River surged, its waves frothing.

Ji Ziyue rushed forward, arriving before her home's gate. She spread her arms wide, gazing at the magnificent landscape. Her beautiful hair fluttered, and tears, no longer held back, streamed down her face.

"You are... Ziyue!" The old man was greatly astonished, somewhat disbelieving. Then his body trembled, and he rushed out of the grand mountain gate, followed by a large group of people.

"Ziyue, it's really her! Our little moon has returned!" another elder stammered, his voice trembling.

Both Ji Haoyue and Ji Ziyue were the most renowned geniuses of the Ji Family. They had embarked on the ancient path and, after years of separation, had now returned—this was a miracle.

One must know that in ancient times, very few who embarked on that path ever returned.

"Child, is it really you...?" Several elderly Ji Family members strode forward to greet her, their bodies trembling. Even though they knew it was Ji Ziyue, they couldn't help but ask.

"It's me... I've returned." Ji Ziyue wiped away her tears, her long eyelashes fluttering as she smiled. Her earlier tears were those of joy and excitement.

"Quickly, go inform the Family Head! Our family's precious pearl has returned."

Someone struck a golden bell. This was not an alarm bell, but a divine bell that summoned important figures, its clear, prolonged sound typically heard only during grand occasions.

The lingering bell chimes broke the serenity of the ancient family. A large group of people appeared in a grand procession—men and women, old and young—coming out to welcome her. They were either powerful figures in the Ji Family or direct descendants.

"Ziyue!" A beautiful middle-aged woman, elegant and noble, rushed forward, her face now streaked with tears. Ji Ziyue had already rushed to her, embracing her and crying out "Mother!"

The current head of the Ji Family was Ji Ziyue's father. He wore a smile, trying hard to maintain composure, though his heart was clearly far from calm.

"Where's your brother? Is he..." After a long time, the middle-aged woman, alternately crying and laughing, finally stammered, fearing she might hear bad news.

"He's doing very well," Ji Ziyue said with a smile, wiping away her tears. "He's honing himself on the ancient path and isn't ready to return yet."

Everyone in the Ji Family let out a sigh of relief, followed by immense relief and joy. Both siblings were safe and sound—one had returned, and the other was still campaigning. There could be no better news.

"Few people who set out on the ancient path ever return, so our Ji Family is destined for greatness!" an elder exclaimed excitedly.

"Indeed," everyone happily agreed. "A member of our Ji Family has embarked on the ancient path and returned safely; we are surely destined for ten thousand years of glory."

"Fortunately, we stopped you back then and prevented you from running wild with that Sacred Body. Otherwise, how could you have achieved what you have today? Being with him wouldn't lead to anything good," said one of the Ji Family elders, ranked eighth, who had harbored the most animosity towards Ye Fan back then.

Ji Ziyue immediately frowned, displeased.

"Old Eight, what nonsense are you spewing on a day like this? Ziyue has returned; why bring up things from the past?!" A higher-ranking elder glared.

"Alright, I won't say more. I just thought that boy wouldn't amount to anything," Old Eight among the Ji Family elders said. Ji Hui and others, whom he had favored back then, had all died by Ye Fan's hand, and he still harbored hatred for it.

"These are..." The Ji Family elders looked forward. The Golden-Winged Great Peng, Azure Luan, Golden Lion, Nine-Tailed Crocodile Dragon, and others were all incredibly divine and clearly terrifying divine birds and beast kings.

Ye Fan stepped out from behind the twelve Saints, one step at a time. As the wind ruffled his black hair, it revealed a handsome yet somewhat resolute face, with clear eyes.

"What, it's you?!" Old Eight among the Ji Family elders involuntarily stumbled backward.

The others were also greatly astonished; they recognized who this person was! So many years had passed, and they had heard Ye Fan also embarked on the ancient path, but they never expected him to return now.

"He's the one who brought me back, and these Saint Kings are all his followers," Ji Ziyue whispered to her parents, her words also intended for the elders present.