Little Pine wept loudly, refusing to let go no matter what, crystalline teardrops rolling down in streams as he pleaded desperately, his childlike voice carrying a note of despair that tugged at the heart.

Ye Fan patted his head and said, “I also wish I could take you with me, but it truly isn’t suitable. Your master has placed great hopes in you.”

The Northern Dipper right now was absolutely a place of trouble and strife. If not for the fact that old acquaintances were there, people he could not bear to abandon, Ye Fan would never have rushed there at such a time.

Why had the ten thousand ancient clans of the primordial era all collectively emerged in this age? Why had some powerful ancient imperial sons been sealed into this era? All of this was waiting for a single opportunity — the opening of the path to immortality.

From ancient times to the present, one great emperor after another had made their way to the Northern Dipper’s ancient star domain, each leaving behind indelible marks. The immortality medicines of many star domains had all converged there. The “cause” had already been planted, and the “effect” was to be reaped in this age!

No one could live for so vast a stretch of time. The ancient great emperors could not seal themselves within divine springs — they were far too powerful, and no material in the world could suppress and confine them.

Though the holy emperors of the primordial era and the human great emperors of later periods had all eventually passed away in seated meditation, their contingency measures would surely activate. Given that ancient imperial sons existed, it was more than likely that imperial heirs would also manifest.

Becoming an immortal — it held an irresistible allure. To sever one’s Dao within this heaven and earth, to break free from the shackles of this realm, and to enter the immortal domain!

Many heroes and geniuses were waiting. All of them, for the sake of this very age.

The Northern Dipper had so many ancient clans, so many individuals with imperial bearing. Ye Fan stood unrivaled across this shore of the world, but once he returned, everything would be entirely different.

On the imperial path, heroes vied for supremacy; on the immortal path, the way would open. Even he might face the day when his blood was spilled — the world was unpredictable.

Earth, by comparison, was still relatively peaceful. Little Pine had extraordinary natural gifts. In this age of dwindling spiritual energy, relying entirely on himself, driven purely by instinct, he had cultivated all the way to the realm of the Dao Palace’s secret grounds. One could not say this was anything short of a miracle.

The ancient great emperors cared nothing for one’s origins!

Before making their names, none of the great emperors had backgrounds worth speaking of — especially those of the demon clan, who might have been nothing more than ordinary beasts.

Ye Fan had seen the vast, ocean-like potential contained within this little purple squirrel’s body, and even he was deeply shaken. He hoped it could forge its own path on Earth. Perhaps one day it would become a great aid to him, and it was not impossible that someday a divine army would descend from the heavens upon the Northern Dipper, with Little Pine playing the role of a tide-turning champion.

“Given your nature, the path you will walk in the future will certainly differ from your master’s. The all-encompassing battle is not necessarily the shortcut to approaching the great emperor realm — returning to natural truth is also a fine path.”

Without ancient imperial sons bearing down on him, without unfathomable powerhouses looming overhead, without imperial heirs waiting for battle — this was no cause for regret. On the contrary, for Little Pine, it was something to be grateful for.

“Master, my cultivation is progressing quickly. Before long I’ll be able to help you.” Little Pine’s voice was childlike, choked with sobs.

“That you have this heart is enough. I dare say with certainty that such a day will come.” Ye Fan gazed up at the starry sky.

In that distant past, great emperors such as Henggyu, the Western Emperor, and the Amitabha Great Emperor had crossed the star domains and arrived in the Northern Dipper’s star domain — for what purpose?

Aside from the fierce ones, even Wushi could not truly be certain, nor could the ancient emperors of the ten thousand clans. Almost none of the great emperors had belonged to that ancient star, yet now the gathering storm of all things was to be played out there!

Ye Fan had a premonition that the path to immortality would certainly not be simple. It might well stir up earth-shaking catastrophes, and the heavens alone knew what would unfold.

“Remember — in this great age, only by growing stronger can one protect oneself and guard everything dear. Your master may truly need your help one day, so press on and break through from the rear!”

Huang Tiannü, Zhan Yifan, and the others were astonished. Ye Fan truly had placed tremendous hope in Little Pine — though they themselves had nothing to be dissatisfied about.

The facts were plain to see. In this age of diminishing spiritual energy, every time Little Pine advanced a stage, it would bring down heavenly tribulation. It was more monstrous than even the most monstrous prodigies of antiquity; compared to crossing tribulation in the midst of a thunderstorm, the two could not even be mentioned in the same breath.

It was evident that Ye Fan was cultivating this little purple creature as the true inheritor of his mantle, having seen in it the hope of walking the imperial path.

Little Pine’s large eyes had turned red from weeping, yet he insisted on seeing Ye Fan off and wanted to watch him step onto the ancient starroad. Ye Fan couldn’t help but smile — the little one still hadn’t given up; the search for the path would certainly take some time.

“I believe the Heavenly Court shall shine brilliantly!” Ye Fan encouraged his other disciples, but did not allow them to see him off. He simply left — there was nothing to feel sentimental about.

He had already retrieved the immortal cauldron from Kunlun. He believed that within several dozen to a hundred years, spiritual energy would gradually grow stronger, and this Penglai would advance further still, becoming sacred ground for cultivation.

In the end, Ye Fan rode Long Ma away. Zhang Qingyang and Long Xiaoques followed alongside him, while Little Pine wiped tears and sent them off. The little one had begged to come and say farewell, and Ye Fan had not had the heart to refuse.

Their party left Penglai, and Ye Fan headed directly for Fangzhang Fairy Mountain to earnestly consult with an old Daoist priest — the two had already met several times before.

Based on records in certain historical texts, Ye Fan had deduced that an ancient path should exist. The old Daoist of Fangzhang Fairy Mountain had recently confirmed his conjecture — the ancients had indeed left such a path for those who came after.

“Fellow Daoist truly wishes to enter the depths of the starry sky? As I mentioned last time, that path is extremely difficult to travel, fraught with many hardships and obstacles.” The old Daoist’s skin was snowy white and crystalline, his hair strands each like snow, his complexion ruddy and hale.

Ye Fan dared not be careless. This was a Dao-Severing king of Fangzhang Mountain — the same old Daoist of the Central Lands whom the Holy Father had spoken of, the one who had driven back all the formidable figures of the Vatican over a hundred years ago.

Ye Fan consulted him in detail about the various circumstances one might encounter along that path.

“This old one’s knowledge is limited. Like yourself, I drew my conclusions from the records left behind by those who came before me, and once had a chance encounter that provided confirmation — there truly is such a path.”

“In the days ahead, I humbly ask you to watch over Penglai, Senior.” Ye Fan clasped his hands respectfully.

“Fellow Daoist is too courteous. The stability of the Daoist lineages on all sides is the great blessing. In these years, the Penglai Heavenly Venerable has become so obsessed with studying the ancient heavenly books that he even wanted to release the demonic fetus. I wished to stop him but lacked the means — thanks entirely to you, Fellow Daoist.” The old Daoist recited his Daoist title.

Ye Fan had once gifted him a Medicinal King herb — an immense favor — and had also bestowed upon him insights from breaking through a bottleneck. Such an old man, one who dwelt beyond the sea yet sincerely stood guard over the Central Lands, was deserving of such treatment.

Ye Fan departed from afar, taking only Little Pine with him back to City B, where he met with Xu Qiong’s family, treated them to a meal, and gave them some small trinkets as gifts.

Xu Ye, that spirited young woman, had long since grown up, yet the moment she saw Little Pine she bared her claws and fangs, wanting nothing more than to hold it in her arms every moment of every day, absolutely adoring it. Little Pine wanted nothing more than to bolt at once.

“Look after them in the future.” Ye Fan sent a voice transmission to Little Pine.

The little purple creature’s large eyes turned red again. It gave a solemn nod, passively protesting as it was carried away by Xu Ye.

Yang Xiao had a low tolerance for alcohol, and after more than ten years had begun to show some signs of age. Before long he had slumped down on the table.

“You… are you leaving, aren’t you?” Xu Qiong asked in a trembling voice. She had a premonition — this was most likely their last meeting.

“Yes.” Ye Fan nodded.

“You’re not coming back?” Xu Qiong’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.

“I don’t know.” Ye Fan said.

In the end, Ye Fan rose to his feet, looked at her one last time, and turned to leave, silently waving his hand.

“Ye Fan…” Xu Qiong called out from behind, unable to hold back the choking in her throat. She knew that after this parting, they would never meet again.

Missing each other — it was a choice that left no alternative. She had thought they could remain friends for the rest of their lives, yet in the end, they were still to be separated on opposite ends of the starry sky.

Ye Fan disappeared, and Little Pine chased after him as well.

All along the way, the master and disciple were both very quiet. Now that the moment of departure had truly come, so many things felt helpless. This land that had given him birth and nurtured him — he was filled with too many lingering attachments.

“Master, Xu Ye saw me use my divine abilities.” The little purple creature spoke quietly.

“Mom, who exactly is little uncle? I’ve long wanted to ask you — after thirteen years, why hasn’t his appearance changed at all? And just now… Little Pine… it flew away!”

Xu Qiong looked at her daughter and dimly saw her former self from long ago. Many memories rose to the surface — warm ones, unforgettable ones, bittersweet ones… She struggled to hold them back, refusing to let the tears fall, and said: “That little squirrel will appear again. Be kind to it in the future. Perhaps one day it will be able to… walk a very special path.”

“I was already being very kind to it!” Xu Ye’s bright eyes sparkled, having noticed many suspicious things, and she continued to press with questions.

Ye Fan lingered for more than a month, settling all his affairs in the mortal world. As for relatives, old friends, classmates’ parents and the like — he did not seek to meet with any of them. He simply, silently, did some things for them on their behalf.

He did not wish to disturb the tranquility of these people’s lives. There was no need to let their life’s course be stirred by ripples. Upon stepping onto the path of cultivation, a hundred years would pass in a flash. If he were to insist on meeting them, it would only leave behind strands of sorrow.

Ye Fan secretly photographed many scenes, wishing to show them to certain old acquaintances on the other side of the starry sky — there was familial affection in them, longing, and a quiet, subdued grief.

Ye Fan set down a bouquet of pure white flowers before the graves of his parents. Tears could not help but fall. He had trained desperately, finally returned — yet in the end, he had not been able to see them.

“Master, from now on I will often come to bring flowers.” Little Pine said with reddened eyes.

As they were leaving, a group of men and women arrived and also placed a large bouquet of white flowers before the graves.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, thank you for your donation to the orphanage all those years ago…” These people’s words were filled with deep feeling.

Ye Fan took one last look, then led Little Pine away.

On an unnamed low hill, Long Ma, Zhang Qingyang, and Long Xiaoques had been waiting for many days. They had long since settled their own affairs, and there was one more person added to the group — the holy knight from the Vatican.

“Now that the time has come, there is one small regret I still have — that mysterious great demon who appeared during the Second World War. I never managed to meet him.”

Ye Fan asked the holy knight whether he knew the details. He was told that though the holy knight had heard of it, he had never had the opportunity to encounter the demon himself.

Ye Fan glanced at this expanse of heaven and earth, then looked down at the mobile phone in his hand. All of this was about to become distant from him once again.

Suddenly, the phone rang. A guru from India told Ye Fan that a mysterious Buddhist child had been discovered — a most mysterious phenomenon called “mind-concealment” from among all forms of hidden treasures had occurred, enabling the child to recite complete ancient incantations without flaw. Perhaps he could ascend to Spiritual Mountain.

Hidden treasures are religious scriptures and sacred objects concealed when a religion faces calamity, to be later excavated and restored. They are divided into three types: scripture-caches, sacred-object-caches, and mind-caches.

The most wondrous of these is the mind-cache. It is said that when a certain scripture or incantation faces calamity and cannot be passed down, a deity will plant it deep within someone’s consciousness so that it will not be lost to the ages.

When triggered by certain external stimuli, the person in whom the scripture has been planted — sometimes a completely illiterate herdsman — is able to recite or transcribe the mysterious scriptures.

Ye Fan journeyed to the Tibetan region, where he met with several gurus and also came face to face with a six-year-old child. The child’s eyes were very bright. In early childhood, the child had suffered a serious illness, during which the mind-cache phenomenon had occurred, allowing him to recite many lost Buddhist scriptures.

The moment Ye Fan saw this child, he froze. With both hands moving slowly, he began to deduce, manifesting the child’s appearance as he would look several decades into the future.

“The ancient Buddha from the other shore of the starry sky!”

Future lives — believed in by those who believe, disbelieved by those who do not. Time flows endlessly, and the world will eventually produce two flowers that look the same. After a thousand turns and a hundred years of gazing back, one flower withers and another blooms.

Whether they are the same flower — let those who come after render their judgment.

Ye Fan’s expression became extremely solemn. Was there truly a life after death? Should he leave behind a deep impression within the soul, entrusting it to the cycle of reincarnation? He wished to find the answer at this very moment.