Chapter 1485: Meeting

Chapter 1489: Reunion

After more than a hundred years of separation, meeting again at this moment felt almost like a dream. Both opened their eyes, slightly bewildered, finding the experience incredibly unreal.

“I’m back,” Ye Fan nodded, his heart filled with emotion and a multitude of thoughts.

In his eyes, they had always been children. Yet, many years had passed; both had long become Saints. The passage of time had changed too much.

Ye Tong cried out, finally confirming that this was real and not a dream. But he quickly groaned in pain, cracks appearing on his skin as blood splattered.

“Brother, it’s really you…” Jiang Ting’s eyes welled up with tears. She had thought it would be difficult to see him again, but unexpectedly, the moment she opened her eyes today, that familiar face and powerful figure reappeared.

“Master…” Ye Tong suppressed his pain, his voice choked.

“Don’t cry. It’s nothing serious; none of this matters,” Ye Fan comforted them. He was referring to the current situation, but he knew these were tears of joy and excitement.

The two of them were trapped inside the Emperor Array and couldn’t get out; they had been inexplicably drawn into it when they fled here. Ye Fan shouted at the glowing cocoon, “Fatty Duan, let them out!”

Although all signs indicated that Duan De might be the physical body of an ancient Celestial Venerable that had developed consciousness, Ye Fan found it difficult to feel respect for this unscrupulous Taoist priest. As in the past, he treated him as an equal.

“You’re too noisy! If you dare to shout again, I’ll dig up your ancestral graves,” a Taoist shout came from inside the cocoon.

This booming voice instantly silenced the area. Ye Tong and Jiang Ting exchanged bewildered glances. They had lived there for several years without hearing Taoist Duan speak; how had he suddenly “returned to life”?

As for the Golden Lion, Ancient Golden Roc, Black Bear Saint, and others, they were stunned. Who was this person? Threatening people in such an unusual way left them speechless.

Even Ye Fan was slightly taken aback. He had just said it casually, not expecting Duan De to actually wake up and utter such a remark. He yelled, “Since you’re awake, why aren’t you coming out?”

“You immoral Taoist priest! Old Horse is back. Let’s see if you’re alive. If not, I’ll bury you myself,” the Dragon Horse laughed heartily, ridiculing him from the side.

“I hid in this place, yet you still found me. I can’t get any peace,” Fatty Duan cursed, and the enormous cocoon trembled repeatedly, refusing to open.

With a hum and a flash of light, Ye Tong and Jiang Ting were teleported out of the Emperor Array. It was clear that Duan De was controlling everything inside.

“I still can’t come out; I probably need to sleep for a few more years. The Immortal Road is about to open, and my transformation isn’t complete. If I go out now, I’ll definitely get beaten up,” Duan De muttered.

The Black Emperor had once said that Duan De had gone through cycles of breaking down and rebuilding, both physically and spiritually, enduring many tribulations. He had a formidable background.

“Hey, kid, you… you’re back!” Duan De seemed as if he had just woken from a deep dream. Slightly bewildered, he asked eagerly, “What did you encounter on the road? How did you come back alive?”

“What kind of talk is that? Do you wish I had died in battle out there?” Ye Fan retorted indignantly, then tempted him, “I saw the Demon Emperor’s Tomb on the ancient path and witnessed the Human Emperor. Interested in a trip?”

“Infinite Celestial Venerable, am I that kind of person?” Duan De seemed to instantly sober up, softly chanting a scripture to remind himself. “Calm down,” he said, “all that is but fleeting clouds. Only I am real; I will not waver.”

Ye Fan burst into laughter, expressing disdain for such self-deceptive behavior.

The Dragon Horse was even more direct, telling Fatty Duan that they had ventured deep into the Demon Emperor’s Tomb and journeyed through the Sea of Suffering of an ancient Celestial Venerable, gaining immense benefits from both.

“You got the Divine Spring Nectar of an ancient Celestial Venerable?” Fatty Duan seemed very eager. “Give me some immediately; sprinkle it on the glowing cocoon.”

Ye Fan had originally come to find his disciples, but Fatty Duan had interjected himself, becoming the focus. The large cocoon struggled, as if eager to rush over on its own.

Ye Fan realized that the ancient Celestial Venerable’s Divine Spring Nectar seemed very important to Duan De. Without further ado, he immediately took out a jade bottle and threw it forward. It plunged straight in, unhindered by the Emperor Array.

With a crash, the jade bottle shattered, and all the crystalline liquid spilled onto the glowing cocoon. It seemed like raging flames were burning, making the cocoon even more dazzling.

“Infinite Celestial Venerable, this killing intent is too strong; it’s almost burning this poor Taoist to death! Could this be the Life Spring of the Spirit Treasure Celestial Venerable, so overwhelmingly potent?” Fatty Duan groaned.

“Grave robber, when are you coming out? We’ve encountered the Demon Emperor’s Tomb and other treasures on just one human ancient path; there should be more on other paths. I cordially invite you to be our technical advisor. How about we pull off a big one?” the Dragon Horse persuaded.

Duan De resentfully said, “Don’t tempt me! This poor Taoist truly wants to go, but I don’t want to miss the Immortal Road. I won’t leave Beidou by even half a step. All right, now disappear quickly. I’m going into seclusion; I need to fall asleep immediately.”

After saying this, he immediately fell silent, like an insect in a cocoon awaiting its transformation into a butterfly, anticipating the day of its awakening.

Little Que’er’s injuries were unusual, with a terrifying Buddhist power flowing through her that she couldn’t dispel on her own. However, after Ye Fan’s powerful energy surged into her, it gradually wore away.

“Divine Son… I’m much better. I don’t need to expend my primordial energy anymore,” Little Que’er opened her eyes, which were now much brighter than before.

Ye Fan nodded, then reached out and tapped her glabella. A secret technique instantly appeared deep within her sea of consciousness. “With this secret technique,” he said, “you’ll no longer fear injuries in the future.”

“This is…” Little Que’er was initially puzzled, then showed surprise as a passage of text appeared in her sea of consciousness. The title, to her astonishment, was the “Zhě Character Secret.”

Ye Tong’s injuries were also severe; he had suffered a curse from the Golden Crow Clan. He had shattered his body several times in an attempt to escape it, but the power had coiled around his primordial spirit.

Ye Fan moved his hands, and a supreme surge of vital energy permeated the air. With a clear cry, he instantly channeled it into Ye Tong’s body, washing away and extracting the curse. Then, he also touched Ye Tong’s forehead, imparting the “Zhě Character Secret.”

Little Que’er and Ye Tong sat cross-legged, recovering on their own, their bodies brimming with divine power.

“Brother, have you been well all these years? Was it very dangerous to contend on the ancient path?” Jiang Ting asked, her face filled with concern. Her heart was immensely excited, and the reunion felt surreal to her.

She also had injuries, though they weren’t very serious. Still, Ye Fan treated her, removing the curse power and also imparting the “Zhě Character Secret” to her.

“On the ancient path, there were bitter battles and also gains; it was an unforgettable period…” Ye Fan recounted his experiences over the years, and at the same time, inquired about Little Tingting’s situation during that time.

Unbeknownst to them, Little Que’er and Ye Tong had also awakened. With their old ailments removed, they looked radiant, many times more energetic than before.

Reunions are always joyous, and everyone had endless stories to share, discussing their experiences over the years. The general situation was largely consistent with what Ye Fan had previously understood.

Currently, they couldn’t go to Celestial Village. Its exact coordinates in the outer domain were unknown, and the Black Emperor was missing. Since they were in Beidou, they couldn’t return.

Saint Killer Qiluo had sought justice for Ye Tong but was severely wounded by the Golden Crow Clan and went into hiding. Dongfang Ye, Yan Yixi, and others were likely unharmed, possibly recuperating among the Southern Barbarian tribes.

What was more concerning was Huahua. Several rescue attempts had failed, nearly endangering Li Heishui, Li Tian, Little Que’er, and others.

“Attacking the Buddhist sect caused heavy casualties. Mount Sumeru is unfathomably deep,” Little Que’er recounted from her personal experience. Celestial Village was considered extremely powerful, yet it had almost been annihilated in the Western Desert.

“To save my disciple, I must go and demand an explanation,” Ye Fan assured them.

Overall, his eldest disciple was safe and sound, which relieved half of his worries. Next, he began to consider traveling far to the Western Desert, ascending Mount Sumeru to rescue Huahua.

“This is an outrage! When I emerge from seclusion, I will personally deal with them and dig up every single grave of their Buddhas and Buddha’s descendants,” the voice naturally came from the glowing cocoon within the Emperor Array, leaving everyone speechless.

“Go back to your seclusion,” Ye Fan stood up and led his disciples away from the area.

“If you’re really going to attack Mount Sumeru and level the Great Thunder Sound Temple, let me know when the time comes. I’ll go assist. I strongly suspect there’s something good buried under Mount Sumeru!” Duan De, true to his nature, cautioned at the end.

Ye Fan appeared in the world with Little Que’er and others, having rescued his disciple Ye Tong, immediately causing an uproar throughout the land.

The might of the Human Sacred Body instilled deep apprehension in all the Saints. To have found his disciple so quickly and annihilated the Golden Crow lineage filled everyone with fear.

Ye Fan did not hide his whereabouts. At such a level, he was upright and fearless. Of course, the main reason was to let Li Tian, Li Heishui, Dongfang Ye, and others know his location, facilitating their reunion.

“Wait for me here.” Having descended from the Solar Star onto the land, perfectly situated in the Southern Domain, Ye Fan looked up. He gazed at the hundred and eight peaks in the distance, a sight of boundless majesty. That was the Tai Xuan Sect.

Ye Fan entered the Tai Xuan Sect alone and ascended Humble Peak. It was overgrown with weeds, ancient halls lay in ruins, and it remained a desolate place.

On a stone platform, a gaunt middle-aged man sat cross-legged. His aura wasn’t particularly strong, but he was incredibly serene, comprehending his own Dharma and Dao.

“Wenchang,” Ye Fan called out.

“Ye Fan, it’s really you! The rumors outside are true; you’ve really returned!” Zhang Wenchang opened his eyes, deeply astonished. He invited Ye Fan onto the stone platform and offered him a meditation cushion.

Having not seen each other for many years, they naturally had endless things to talk about, and it was a long time before they settled down.

“Where is Senior Li?” Ye Fan asked.

“My master disappeared almost a century ago. I suspect he might have entered the starry sky,” Zhang Wenchang replied.

Ye Fan was momentarily startled. Would he perhaps encounter this old friend on the Unique Emperor Road in the future?

“Wenchang, your cultivation level…”

“Dragon Transformation Great Perfection,” Zhang Wenchang stated.

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan truly didn’t know what to say. He had already perceived Zhang Wenchang’s cultivation level, but he simply couldn’t quite believe it. So many years had passed, and the world had undergone tremendous changes, yet his old classmate could still be so “steady.”

Zhang Wenchang, however, was quite open-minded about it. “At least I’m much stronger than a mortal. I can fly and travel easily. Besides, Humble Peak’s cultivation method is unique; it suppresses cultivation heavily in the early stages. I plan to spend four hundred years refining the Wheel Sea, Dao Palace, Four Extremities, and Dragon Transformation secret realms, and then figure out how to break through to the Immortal Platform.”

Ye Fan felt an urge to cough up blood. This old classmate was truly calm and too composed; he actually planned to spend four hundred years in the Dragon Transformation secret realm without any anxiety, having truly grasped the essence of Li Ruoyu’s teachings.

Honestly, hearing all this, Ye Fan didn’t know how to advise him; he was truly at a loss for words.

“Well then… take your time. Please keep these,” Ye Fan said, giving him a bottle of the ancient Celestial Venerable’s Divine Spring Nectar and leaving behind the scripture of the Great Dao of Nature for him.

The Scripture of Natural Dao had once been given to Li Ruoyu, but Ye Fan had taken it back when he was about to become a Saint. Now, as if completing a cycle, Ye Fan returned this scripture to Humble Peak.

As he left Humble Peak, Zhang Wenchang saw him off. Ye Fan looked up; Star Peak was not far away, still shimmering with brilliant starlight. He thought of Hua Yunfei, who had originated from there.

Suddenly, Ye Fan’s expression froze. He saw a young child, probably around five or six years old, on a small hill beside Star Peak. The child had delicate features and was playing an ancient zither. He resembled Hua Yunfei so closely it was as if they were cast from the same mold.

Ye Fan had personally killed Hua Yunfei and witnessed some scenes from his dying moments. Hua Yunfei’s greatest wish had been to return to the past and live as a carefree zither boy.