Chapter 1797: Earth

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Ahead lay a beautiful, crystal-clear, cerulean star, like a blue diamond adorning the cosmos. Cosmic vessels occasionally flitted by, streaking across the sky like brilliant auroras.

Ye Fan stood in the void beyond, gazing down silently. Over six thousand years had passed, time flying like an arrow. Looking back, what had he gained, and what had he lost?

For all these years, he had been on the distant starry battlefield. What kind of era had that been?

Both Zhang Wenchang and Pang Bo had returned more than once. Zhang Wenchang made it a point to return after each tribulation, calling it a "new birth" and a necessary visit.

Pang Bo, on the other hand, brought his descendants to experience the customs and landscapes of their homeland, treating it as a vital journey in their lives.

As for Ye Fan, he had harbored many concerns in the past. His powerful enemies made him fear bringing conflict to this place, so he had continuously suppressed the urge and emotion to return.

Later, he became invincible across heaven and earth, which should have alleviated these worries. Yet, the long-standing inertia kept him from moving; he had never returned until this very day.

"I'll head down first; you all can take your time," the Dragon-Horse said, kicking up a trail of electrical light as it plunged into the star below.

Ye Fan and his companions also descended. With a flash of flowing light, they appeared on a mountain peak where spiritual energy swirled. Humanity had progressed, and Earth's environment had greatly improved, now suitable for cultivation.

This was, of course, fundamentally due to the ninety-nine Dragon Mountains beginning to emit vital energy.

"I'm leaving first," Zhang Wenchang said, his words few and his demeanor quiet after returning to Earth. He departed alone.

When he first ventured into the starry sky, his wife was pregnant, and his inability to be by her side was a lifelong regret. Later, learning that she had found a good man, he could only weep bitterly on the other side of the cosmos, then silently watch from afar and offer his blessings.

Many ancient arrays dotted the Earth. Over six millennia, people had come to realize that this land was far vaster than they had imagined, and they could now use scientific methods to uncover parts of its long-buried history and landscapes.

Today, this civilization was highly developed, boasting not only brilliant technology but also cultivators who moved among people, a reality long accepted by the world.

"Master, Martial Uncle!"

When Ye Fan and Pang Bo arrived at the legendary Penglai Immortal Island overseas, an old man with an otherworldly air, a youthful face, and a crown of white hair flew toward them, prostrating himself in a grand bow. It was precisely Zhan Yifan, Ye Fan's former registered disciple.

Over six millennia had passed, and he had been a Great Sage for many years, but ultimately, he could not resist the relentless march of time, appearing this aged.

In contrast, Ye Fan remained youthful, his vitality as vigorous as a twenty-year-old's, with not a single trace of time left on him.

This place had become the Heavenly Court's base on Earth. The island was vast, like a continent, yet it remained hidden from the mortal world, making it difficult for outsiders to find.

Many disciples looked on with strange gazes, as Ye Fan was far too young, appearing much "fresher-faced" than their ancestor, Zhan Yifan. The contrast was too stark, too peculiar.

"Why are you not coming forward? This is your true Patriarch!" Zhan Yifan exclaimed.

Penglai shook. Countless disciples, tens of thousands strong, rushed over. The Heavenly Court had now become the most powerful and unrivaled lineage on Earth.

They already knew that their Patriarch had become an Emperor in the cosmos, known as the Heavenly Emperor, invincible across the nine heavens and ten lands. However, they had never seen him, nor had they been informed of his return.

Today, Ye Fan's sudden arrival caused a great stir, and disciples training elsewhere rushed back immediately upon hearing the news, filled with immense excitement.

"Master!"

The next moment, You Weiyu and Yan Xiaoyu, the divine couple of Penglai Island, awoke from their deep cultivation retreat and came out to pay their respects. They, along with Zhan Yifan, were all Ye Fan's registered disciples, possessing extraordinary talent, and had visited the Heavenly Court's headquarters deep in the starry sky several times.

"What a pity, Martial Sister Huang Tiannv has passed away," You Weiyu sighed softly.

Humans are subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death, and cultivators are no exception. Even they, the few remaining, would likely follow suit within a millennium, a fate hard to reverse.

"Little Sister Xu Ye, she also..." Yan Xiaoyu whispered, knowing she was the daughter of their master's confidante from the mortal world.

"I already know," Ye Fan sighed softly.

So many years had passed; his old acquaintance, Xu Qiong, could not possibly still be among the living. She had long turned to dust, a reality one was powerless to defy.

As for Xu Qiong's daughter, Xu Ye, who was once vibrant and lively, a "little demoness" in Xiao Song's eyes, she later embarked on the path of cultivation. But after more than six millennia, she ultimately passed away on this very island.

Two thousand years ago, Xiao Song had wept bitterly upon receiving the news. During his time on Earth, he and Xu Ye had been the best of friends.

Xiao Song was currently sealed and unable to come. Otherwise, he would most likely be overcome with grief.

Mortal pasts, all dissolved into the annals of time. Friends and family from his bygone mortal life were no more. Ye Fan could only let out a long sigh.

Pang Bo patted his shoulder, saying nothing. He had returned several times himself, and he too had felt immense sadness when seeking out the descendants of his parents and elder brother.

"Master, please follow me," Zhan Yifan said.

They entered a cemetery behind Penglai Immortal Island. There lay an ancient tomb, immensely old, yet it was meticulously maintained, surrounded by fragrant flowers and clusters of snow maples.

This was the tomb of his parents, which Zhan Yifan and others had relocated here. Over several millennia, the world had undergone tremendous, ever-changing transformations.

"I want to be alone for a while," Ye Fan told everyone. He had long known that his parents' tomb was here. Even with his profound cultivation, a wave of sadness washed over him, blurring his vision.

The others withdrew, leaving him undisturbed.

Ye Fan sat alone before the tomb. No one could hear what he whispered, but his solitary figure made them feel a profound sense of loneliness. He remained there, unmoving, through the entire night.

He finally rose around noon and walked to another grave. Seeing the name "Xu Ye" carved on it, he couldn't help but gently touch it, standing there for a long time.

When Ye Fan emerged from the cemetery, others couldn't discern much, only sensing his deep melancholy. However, there weren't the intense emotional fluctuations they might have expected after such profound sorrow.

Only Pang Bo understood that those mortal years were more precious to Ye Fan than anything, but they were ultimately lost, never to return.

In the following days, Ye Fan explained profound insights into the Great Dao to his disciples, then departed. He wished to walk alone for a while.

Ye Fan's footprints could be found in places like Longhu Mountain, Gezao Mountain, Zhongnan Mountain, and Emei Mountain. Sadly, it was nearly impossible to find any old acquaintances in the world anymore; the former sect masters had passed away countless years ago.

Daoist Qiri, Kunlun Sect Master Xue Chen, and the Immortal Sword Sect Master had all later broken through to the Saint realm, but ultimately, they too had passed away.

Ye Fan stepped into the mortal world. In the city center, skyscrapers rose in dense rows. In the distance, the environment was beautiful, with orderly planned gardens, and spacecraft occasionally streaked across the sky, flashing with colorful lights.

This was no longer the city he knew; it had changed immensely. He went to the suburbs, but could not find any trace of the past.

Ye Fan walked past several old places when he suddenly stopped. A familiar fluctuation was detected in a quiet villa area in the distance, and he walked towards it.

"It's you..." The door opened, revealing a beautiful face that gazed at Ye Fan on the lawn.

It was a woman. Although her face still seemed young, her hair had long turned completely white. She stared at him blankly, then came to her senses, breaking into a smile. "You've returned too," she said.

She was Lin Jia, one of those who had once crossed the starry sky with him to reach the other shore. Later, she had a great opportunity to become a disciple of the Woodcutter Elder. After the Dao Palace merged with the Heavenly Court, she left.

White hair, yet youthful face. In fact, had her power not been immense, allowing her to retain her youthful appearance through divine abilities, she would have aged long ago.

Lin Jia invited Ye Fan inside and brewed him a cup of light green tea, placing it on the table. This made him pause, lost in distant memories.

Back then, he enjoyed brewing a light tea and sitting by the window, reading various books—it was a true pleasure. Many years had passed, and he had almost forgotten that feeling from long ago.

"You're quite nostalgic, still living in the same city," Ye Fan finally spoke.

"I'm weary," Lin Jia said. "I just want to live out the rest of my life in peace and quiet. Some of the beautiful memories from the past are worth revisiting."

Her single declaration of weariness revealed her true state of mind: she was tired of everything in the starry sky, which was why she had returned to reintegrate into this city.

The Woodcutter Elder had two disciples: Lin Jia and Zhou Yi. They had chosen different paths.

Zhou Yi remained unyielding, always striving upward. He had broken through to the Quasi-Emperor realm many years ago and profoundly studied the I Ching, Bagua, and other disciplines. His current strength was unfathomable, and he held a formidable reputation in the starry sky.

With the dissolution of the Dao Palace organization, he had not joined the Heavenly Court, choosing instead to strive independently, hoping to reach the pinnacle and break into the Great Emperor realm.

However, over six thousand years had passed, and he too had aged. At this moment, he was also gazing at his homeland from the starry sky, a few strands of white visible among his hair.

"I'm not the only one who returned," Lin Jia smiled faintly. "Yiyi is also weary, and as for Kaide, though he's old in years, his heart is still young; he has become the God of Light in the Western world."

Meanwhile, the Dragon-Horse had wandered to the West and was currently a guest at the Divine Court of Light, making a ruckus.

"Hey, Blondie, you're really something," the Dragon-Horse loudly exclaimed. "It's one thing that you ran away from Mount Sumeru, and then you bolted again after joining the Heavenly Court. Now you've actually become a charlatan yourself? Are you truly trying to contend with the 'God' you keep talking about?"

The Dragon-Horse guzzled wine, clinking cups with Kaide in a radiant divine hall deep within the void.

Around them, winged angels attended, all exchanging bewildered glances. They had no idea who this sacred being was that their main deity would personally entertain them, for he looked suspiciously like a great devil.

In the villa area, Lin Jia let out a soft sigh. "Six thousand years have passed," she said. "I wonder how many of the people from back then are still left."

Ye Fan reflected. Out of the original thirty-odd people, truly few remained now. "Besides you and me," he said, "there are Zhou Yi, Kaide, Pang Bo, Zhang Ziling, Liu Yiyi, Zhang Wenchang, Wang Ziwen, and Li Xiaoman."

Lin Jia sighed, then suddenly suggested, "How about we have another reunion? At Mount Tai. I always feel like I'm in a grand dream, and I truly wish to wake up."

Ye Fan extended his divine sense and invited Pang Bo and Zhang Wenchang. Both felt a strange unease, but in the end, they agreed to Lin Jia's suggestion.

"Should we gather everyone from across the starry sky?" Zhang Wenchang asked.

Days later, at the summit of Mount Tai, the nascent sun rose, shrouded in misty clouds and radiant hues, looking like a fairyland. After nearly six thousand five hundred years, the same group of people stood there once more.