The great figures of the Ji Family and Yao Guang Holy Land had arrived. The Tai Xuan Sect Master and numerous venerable elders went out personally to receive them.

Zhuo Peak — overgrown with wild grass and tangled vines, its palaces crumbling and broken — yet today it drew movement from all directions.

Nine azure flood dragons crossed the heavens, looking as though cast from molten iron, their azure scales gleaming, radiating a powerful sense of overwhelming force. Pulling an ancient golden war chariot, they rumbled forward — solemn and magnificent, as though charging out from a scroll of history.

The great figures of Yao Guang Holy Land and the Ji Family arrived together, sharing a single chariot, and appeared on Zhuo Peak.

On all hundred and eight main peaks of Tai Xuan Sect, many powerful cultivators were stirred. Not a few elders gazed in this direction.

Inside the crumbling palace, the Mad Old Man did not move. Enveloped in the silver-white cocoon, he emanated a mysterious power that caused the entire mountain summit to pulse in unison with him — like a demonic embryo, or an immortal seed — filling all who witnessed it with a strange dread.

This was a feeling impossible to put into words. The great figures of Yao Guang Holy Land and the Ji Family, the moment they entered this crumbling palace, changed their expressions. They said nothing — simply sitting cross-legged on the floor, closing their eyes and entering contemplation, using their hearts to sense.

An invincible figure from six thousand years ago — now seemingly undergoing a rebirth through fire. For them, this was an immense opportunity. If they could comprehend supreme, wondrous truth from within this pulsing rhythm, it would benefit them for all their lives — and perhaps even offer a chance at immortality.

“Hey, hey, hey — where are you going? It’s rare to have such great figures appear. This is a perfect chance to see what they truly look like.” Ji Ziyue stood gracefully, her skin smooth as congealed cream, her teeth crystal-white, her eyes full of spirit. She grabbed Ye Fan with one hand, somewhat suspicious: “Where are you trying to go?”

“I’m going to find a quiet place to cultivate. Rather than envying the majesty of great figures, it is better to strengthen oneself.” Ye Fan headed down Zhuo Peak.

“You’re lying. I can tell you’re very guilty, as though you’re deliberately avoiding these great figures.” Ji Ziyue’s spiritual perception was extremely keen.

Ye Fan was indeed deliberately avoiding them. Having too many secrets was no good thing. Facing great powers that had been passed down since the age of high antiquity, he had no choice but to be cautious and careful.

“Let’s go to the Star Peak gathering. If we don’t, they’ll really think we’re afraid of them.” Ji Ziyue said this.

“Forget it — you go yourself. I need to cultivate.” Ye Fan had no desire to go to Star Peak and stir up more trouble.

In the end, Ye Fan found an uninhabited stretch of mountain ridges, cultivated in quiet, and at the same time began to consider where he would go from here. He decided to wait until the Mad Old Man’s situation became clear before departing.

In the days that followed, great figures kept arriving at Tai Xuan Sect one after another — all of them there because of the Mad Old Man. The ancient palace on Zhuo Peak had practically become sacred ground.

Ordinary people could not approach at all. Those who could sit inside were all figures of tremendous renown — every one of them capable of shaking an entire region.

One day, Star Peak sent people again to invite Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue. The messenger made clear that there was absolutely no ill intent — only a desire to ease the tensions between the two peaks.

“We have nothing to do anyway — let’s go take a look.” Ji Ziyue agreed, and dragged Ye Fan along into Star Peak’s territory.

The guide did not lead them to Star Peak’s main summit, but instead brought them to a stretch of attendant peaks.

Here the mountain ridges were beautiful, the scenery excellent. Thin mist hung like gauze over the summits, while at the foot of the mountains clear water babbled over stones, and ancient trees stood alongside old vines — exceedingly serene and peaceful.

Ahead, on a stretch of fragrant grass, a group of young men and women sat on the ground. Before each one was a small wooden table laden with fruits and fine wine.

Ding ding dong dong…

Among them, a blue-robed young man was playing a zither. His hands moved like dancing butterflies — giving an impression of lightness and grace. As his fingers swept across the strings, the music was beautiful and moving, bringing peace to the spirit.

Seeing Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue arrive, the blue-robed young man was the first to stop playing and stand. The others followed, coming forward to welcome them.

“With the two of you here, even the flowers and grass across this hillside seem to have brightened all at once…” The blue-robed young man was very courteous, smiling warmly as he invited the two to sit.

He was of tall and slender build — perhaps twenty-four or twenty-five — his water-blue robes drifting in the wind. He spoke little, yet gave an impression of gentleness and ease.

It could be said that this blue-robed young man possessed a unique quality, one that naturally drew people closer and left a favorable impression.

“I have been in closed-door cultivation for over two years and only emerged from Star Peak today. Upon learning that some friction had arisen between our Star Peak disciples and Zhuo Peak, I invited the two of you here today only to offer an apology — nothing more.”

This person was named Hua Yunfei. His name suited him well — like drifting clouds, like brushing wind — giving an impression of the ethereal and the transcendent.

“If Brother Hua speaks this way, I feel ashamed. There were reasons behind it, but in the end it was I who injured Star Peak’s disciples.” Since the other party treated them with courtesy and great cordiality, Ye Fan naturally reciprocated in kind.

“I am not being overly modest. In recent years, Star Peak has flourished, causing many disciples to become complacent and arrogant, thinking themselves the sole supreme peak within Tai Xuan. This is very much not good — I have heard of it long since. Little Brother Ye, striking them and teaching them a lesson was entirely their own doing. They only have themselves to blame. If anything, I should be thanking you for making them reflect.” Hua Yunfei was sincere — his refined, elegant quality carrying with it a lively, spirited air that made one feel like basking in a spring breeze.

Ye Fan had long heard that the master of Star Peak bore the surname Hua. In Tai Xuan’s history, half of all Sect Masters had come from Star Peak — and of that half, half again bore the surname Hua. It could be said that within Tai Xuan Sect, the Hua surname held a position of decisive importance.

In truth, the founding patriarch of Tai Xuan Sect himself bore the surname Hua, and so though the Hua surname wielded great power, no one felt this was excessive — many even believed it to be entirely fitting.

After exchanging introductions, everyone sat on the fragrant grass. Li Xiaoman was also present, her expression calm, seated at the wooden table to Hua Yunfei’s left.

“Today I offer a humble performance — a piece on the zither, as an apology to Zhuo Peak — and with this, let us turn the page and dwell in harmony together from this point on.”

Hua Yunfei’s hands lightly graced the ancient zither. The ding-dong sounds of music rang out, like clear spring water flowing in the moonlit night, bringing clarity and stillness to the spirit. This was a piece offered in apology, carrying a certain meaning — but for Ye Fan, he could only sense a certain artistic mood and did not know the historical allusions within it.

Ji Ziyue transmitted her voice in secret: “I just remembered — this Hua Yunfei is extraordinarily powerful…”

Ye Fan, listening by her side, felt his heart grow cold. He had known Hua Yunfei was certainly no ordinary person — but had not imagined he was powerful to such a degree.

Hua Yunfei was the youngest grandson of Star Peak’s master. His talent was utterly exceptional. By age eighteen he was already the number one among Star Peak’s younger generation. By age twenty-two, there was no one among the same generation across all hundred and eight main peaks of Tai Xuan who could suppress him.

“The outside world believes my brother Ji Haoyue was kept in seclusion for twenty years. In truth, two years ago he was secretly taken out by the senior elders for tempering, during which time he and Hua Yunfei had a battle. That was a contest between true geniuses. Though the Divine Physique is world-shaking, Ji Haoyue still paid a price before he defeated Hua Yunfei.”

“That powerful…” Ye Fan was greatly surprised.

“Yes. Outside of the Divine Physique, very few peers could suppress him. His talent is truly extraordinary. My brother Ji Haoyue expended great effort to defeat him. The day will come when his name resounds across the Eastern Desolation — below the Divine Physique, he is nearly unrivalled among peers.” Ji Ziyue gave a quiet nod.

At this moment, Hua Yunfei’s hands moved lightly and freely across the strings — like clouds flowing, like immortal mist stirring — giving an extraordinarily ethereal impression.

Though a man, he was more graceful even than a woman. The composition he played was supremely beautiful — like a spring bubbling endlessly, like moonlight flowing downward — pale and misty, harmonious and serene.

The music conjured a scene as beautiful as poetry and painting. Everyone present was immersed in it — and then even the birds were drawn to approach.

A spotted thrush was somewhat timid, but at last descended onto the grass, alighting before the zither. Before long a golden oriole followed. Drawn by the music, within the span of half a quarter-hour, fully several hundred birds had settled on the fragrant grass, standing before the ancient zither.

It was a wondrous sight. Hua Yunfei was ethereal as an immortal, the whole of him seeming to draw on the spiritual wisdom of the heavens and the earth — drawing all birds to his court — merging with the scenery, as though unified with this small corner of the world.

Witnessing this sight, even Ye Fan could not remain unmoved. This Hua Yunfei was truly no ordinary person. He asked quietly: “Your brother has the Divine Physique and cultivated the wondrous phenomenon of the bright moon rising over the sea — and yet it took great effort to defeat him?”

“Hua Yunfei also cultivated a wondrous phenomenon of an ancient great cultivator. After that battle, he went into closed-door cultivation for two years and has only just emerged. No doubt he is now even more unfathomably deep. Apart from my brother, I think in this entire region there is no one of the same generation who is his match.”

The piece ended. The birds were unwilling to leave and fluttered gracefully nearby, adding a further touch of beauty to the scene.

“This piece belongs only in the heavens above — how rarely it graces mortal ears.” Ye Fan clapped and exclaimed with admiration: “Brother Hua is truly a heavenly being — music that moves the immortal mountains, drawing all birds to pay court. It is genuinely astonishing and awe-inspiring.”

“You flatter me. I only play to nurture my spirit and cultivate my nature — it is nothing of great significance.” With that, he raised his wine cup. “May Star Peak and Zhuo Peak dwell in harmony.”

Everyone raised their cups and drank together — a scene of warmth and accord.

“I heard from my junior sister Li Xiaoman that Little Brother Ye comes from an extremely distant place, where civilization is brilliant and quite unlike the Eastern Desolation. It makes me long to see it.”

Ye Fan’s heart jolted. Had Li Xiaoman truly told him everything outright? Words like those could stir up very serious trouble. He could not help but look toward Li Xiaoman.

At this moment, Li Xiaoman wore white robes. Her features were clear and refined, her expression serene — like a spotless white lotus. Nothing could be read from her face.

“It cannot compare to the Eastern Desolation at all.” Ye Fan sipped his fruit wine lightly, set down his cup, and calmly said: “Where we come from, no one can cultivate. Life, old age, illness, and death are the most common things. Reaching a hundred years is already considered long-lived.”

“Little Brother Ye is too modest. I sincerely wish to seek your guidance on one or two matters — I hope you will not be stingy in imparting them.” Hua Yunfei was most sincere about this and offered Ye Fan a cup of fruit wine. “I feel that your homeland must have some inevitable connection with this place.”

Ye Fan’s heart was shaken. He had a feeling that this person seemed to know a great deal. Could it be that Li Xiaoman had truly explained everything to him?

Ji Ziyue sat nearby with her large eyes rolling about. She felt that Ye Fan carried far too many secrets and quietly resolved to excavate every one of them.

“The Ji Family, passed down from high antiquity, whose renown shakes the Eastern Desolation — with their young lady as a guest at my Tai Xuan Sect, we have truly been remiss as hosts.” Hua Yunfei raised his cup and gave Ji Ziyue a faint smile.

A young lady of an ancient family — this identity immediately sent a ripple through those present. Li Xiaoman was surprised, and a faint trace of an unusual expression crossed her face.

Ji Ziyue did not feel any surprise at all. In truth, quite a few disciples on Zhuo Peak had already come to know her identity — let alone the youngest grandson of Star Peak’s master.

She smiled brightly. A small dimple appeared on her left cheek. “I’m called Ji Ziyue. The ‘Ji’ of the Ji River, the ‘Zi’ of purple qi coming from the east, the ‘Yue’ of the moon.”

“The Ji River?!” Ye Fan’s heart stirred. He had never once asked Ji Ziyue about her family. Now questions arose: did the people of this world also know of the Ji River?

“You didn’t know? In the ancient east there is a river by that name. It is very famous in the Eastern Desolation, flowing past the front gate of my family’s home. By my reckoning, it has been flowing for at least fifty thousand years.” Ji Ziyue’s large eyes shimmered with extraordinary light.

Ye Fan’s heart was filled with wonder and doubt. This span of time was far too long — certainly surpassing the Ji River of Earth from days of old.

“I should have come to visit you sooner, Ziyue — only my closed-door cultivation prevented it. Your brother and I became friends through fighting — in a sense, we are no strangers.” Hua Yunfei smiled. As he said this he rose, and said: “I’ll go welcome several distinguished guests. Please rest here a moment.”

“There is no need for Brother Hua to come out so far — we have already arrived.”

This place was scenic — fresh flowers and clean trees, unusual stones arranged artfully, pavilions dotting the landscape.

In the not-far distance, a group of more than ten drifted into view — men and women alike, all of extraordinary bearing. The men were handsome, the women breathtakingly beautiful — like immortals descended to the mortal world.

“Why has Brother Ji Haoyue come…” Ji Ziyue murmured softly and ducked behind Ye Fan.

On Zhuo Peak, an invincible figure from six thousand years ago slumbered. This drew great figures from Yao Guang, the Ji Family, and other major powers — all converging there. At the same time, the outstanding disciples of these great powers had also come to Tai Xuan Sect, among them the Eastern Desolation Divine Physique Ji Haoyue, the Holy Maiden of Yao Guang Holy Land, and other young heroes from various sects.

Hua Yunfei smiled and went forward to welcome them, guiding the group of more than ten to this place.

“Ziyue…” Ji Haoyue was dressed in purple robes that fluttered gently, still as the bright moon, his bearing transcending the mundane world — like a divine being, seeming to be bathed in boundless luminous rings. He fixed his gaze on Ji Ziyue.

“Brother Ji Haoyue…” Ji Ziyue smiled sweetly, the small dimple on her left cheek appearing again. She skipped over and hugged one of Ji Haoyue’s arms.

“Why are you with him?” Though Ji Haoyue’s face was calm, his gaze held a certain intensity as it fell on Ye Fan. He remembered clearly: this person had once been in the company of many great demon beasts.

“Why shouldn’t I be with him?” Ji Ziyue wrinkled her delicate nose and shook Ji Haoyue’s arm in protest.

The group of more than ten who had arrived could all be called heroes. Every pair of eyes turned toward Ji Haoyue and Ye Fan. Among the group was also the Holy Maiden of Yao Guang Holy Land — a beauty that caused fish to sink and wild geese to fall, that made the moon hide and flowers feel shame — like a banished immortal descended to the dust, brilliantly beautiful and otherworldly.

Ji Haoyue said nothing more. He strode forward several large paces, standing before Ye Fan and staring down at him: “These past several months, my sister has been with you the entire time?”

Ye Fan sat where he was without rising and spoke a sentence that united the indignation of men and gods alike: “That’s right — eating and sleeping together.”

“What did you say?!” Though Ji Haoyue’s face remained as calm as a bright moon hanging overhead, light flickered and blazed in his eyes — extremely intense.

“Apologies — I misspoke. What I meant was, we have been traveling together the entire time, and have barely been separated.”

“Watch what you say.” Ji Ziyue punched him.

Ji Haoyue’s eyes blazed with deep light. His purple robes flowed. He stood there, gazing at Ye Fan — no one could tell what he was thinking.

Suddenly, a vast blue sea appeared. Waves of light shimmered across it. A bright full moon rose slowly — the wondrous phenomenon of the bright moon rising over the sea materialized behind Ji Haoyue, and the moon-like light flowed like water toward Ye Fan.

“Brother Ji Haoyue, what are you doing?” Ji Ziyue was alarmed and moved to stop him — but a wave of light from the blue sea behind Ji Haoyue swept out, holding her in place.

Behind them, everyone was surprised. No one had anticipated that Ji Haoyue would deploy his wondrous phenomenon against this unremarkable young man.

The Holy Maiden of Yao Guang’s beautiful eyes widened — unblinking — fixed on the wondrous phenomenon of the bright moon rising over the sea.

Li Xiaoman rose to her feet and looked forward.

Hua Yunfei’s expression grew thoughtful. He seemed to want to intervene, but ultimately did not move.