One hundred and some decades had passed in the blink of an eye. Now, having traversed the boundless cosmos to return to the Northern Dipper, Ye Fan’s heart surged with overwhelming emotion, his mind a torrent of ten thousand thoughts.

This place was, without question, his second homeland — the origin point of his dreams, the harbor from which hope had set sail. His journey on the path of cultivation, his ascent to the absolute pinnacle — all of it had been built upon this foundation. Without the Northern Dipper, there would be no Ye Fan as he stood today.

“The heaven and earth of the Northern Dipper have transformed dramatically — surpassing even the most prosperous ancient stars in the depths of the cosmos!” Ji Ziyue, whose sensitivity to spiritual energy and primal essence was unparalleled, marveled aloud.

Ye Fan planted his feet upon the great earth and truly sensed this immense change for himself. The Dao permeated heaven and earth, primordial energy surged and gushed forth, the earth’s veins coursed like dragons — stronger than before by a magnitude he could not begin to calculate.

Moreover, threads of Dao principles swept across the sky, easily perceived and comprehended by any who looked up. This was an era of tremendous, world-shaking change.

Every vestige of the desolation that had persisted since the post-Archaic Age had utterly vanished. A grand ancient star, brimming with vitality and fused with the Dao, had truly awakened — no longer dormant, no longer slumbering.

“In these past hundred-odd years, countless dazzling figures must have been born. This environment surpasses even the human race’s ancient roads. It is no wonder this is called the Emperor-Burying Star!” Long Ma felt his heart tremble. The change was too vast — there was simply no comparison.

“What a pity for all those generations of extraordinary talents in ages past.” Ji Ziyue spoke softly, her heart heavy with feeling.

Throughout the post-Archaic Age, how many geniuses had faded into obscurity simply because heaven and earth would not permit them to break through? Severing the Dao was harder than ascending to heaven itself, and becoming a Saint was all but impossible — in ten thousand years, only a handful among the human race had achieved it, simply because this heaven and earth was no longer suited for cultivation.

“This will undoubtedly be an era of explosive emergence,” Ye Fan said. “Many who were suppressed will break through continuously, surpassing themselves. They have finally lived to see this golden age of prosperity.”

Those who had endured to this era, if they still possessed sufficient life force, would inevitably continue to break through. Anyone with abundant vital energy would shatter their shackles one after another, ascending ever higher.

“The most lamentable of all must be Senior Gai Jiuyou.”

These were the words in everyone’s hearts. Under the most brutal, most impossible conditions in the ancient domain of the Northern Dipper — conditions least suited for reaching the Dao — Gai Jiuyou had blazed forward all the way to the Quasi-Emperor realm. What staggering, heaven-defying genius must that have taken?

What a tragedy. The Azure Emperor had attained the Dao before him, and Gai Jiuyou, born into that era, was destined to be a sorrowful song.

Now, more than ten thousand years had passed since the Azure Emperor had passed away in meditation, yet Gai Jiuyou had grown old and feeble, his vigor long since faded.

For those who came after, however, this was the greatest opportunity, the finest of ages.

Throughout history, the most supremely gifted had always walked in solitude — but this era was destined to spark the most brilliant collision of all, for far too many extraordinary individuals had been crowded into this single lifetime. There would be no shortage of worthy opponents.

The Zhongyao Emperor, Yao Guang, Jiang Yifei, the Southern Demon, the Innate Dao Womb — one dazzling name after another, all destined to radiate brilliance in this era, all born of the Northern Dipper.

And there were the ancient races as well. The Sovereign of the Phoenix Void Dao, Huo Lin’er, the Holy Prince, the Shencan Daoist — the descendants of one ancient emperor after another. Surely none of them would be content with obscurity. Their simultaneous appearance in this era meant they intended to sweep across the world and force their way onto the path of immortality.

Without question, the blood descendants of Great Emperors would also emerge. Ji Zi was by no means the only one. In a golden age as rare as this — unprecedented across ten thousand eons — how could the radiant continuation of other Great Emperors’ bloodlines be absent?

The path to immortality was about to open, right here in the Northern Dipper. It was destined to blaze with splendor. The supreme geniuses of every realm across the myriad heavens would converge, and figures no less formidable than Emperor’s sons and daughters would inevitably appear. From ordinary physiques to special constitutions — all would be on full display, igniting the most dazzling light across all of history.

And this was only the younger generation. How many supremely powerful figures from the older generation would come? Surely even more, beyond counting. No one could say how many races would arrive.

From stars that had shaken the ancient and modern worlds — Huosang, Tongtian, Ziwei, Amitabha, Yuhua, Gouchen, Feixian, and star after star of legendary renown — countless powerful beings were destined to come. Great Sages went without saying; there might even be Quasi-Emperors.

This was a great golden age. Clans that had once produced Great Emperors would finally reveal their true foundations — when that day came, the mortal world would very likely be shaken to its core.

The moment Ye Fan returned, his thoughts drifted far and wide, sweeping through countless possibilities. He knew this was an age brimming with opportunity — but equally an age of danger, tribulation, and upheaval.

Opportunity and challenge coexisted. This era would certainly not be dull. Endless heroes would converge, the Northern Dipper’s star domain would boil with activity, brilliant divine radiance would illuminate the nine heavens and ten earths — and only this place would shine the brightest of all.

“What lies ahead will be endless battle. It hasn’t even begun, and already my blood runs hot — on the verge of boiling.” Ye Fan gazed out across the sun, the moon, and the mountains and rivers.

Ji Ziyue, by contrast, was filled with apprehension. Who could say what the future held? With countless sages rising together and heroes competing in torrents, the slightest misstep could mean ruin — a man broken, a vessel capsized.

“Let this seat behold all the supremely powerful lords of the myriad heavens and see just how strong they truly are!” Long Ma was brimming with high spirits, eager to rise to greatness in this grand era.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng and the others also gazed out over the mountains, rivers, and great earth, their hearts full of yearning and longing — for this was the burial ground chosen by the ancient Great Emperors of old.

“After being away for so many years, I wonder how Tianzhicun fares. Has Duan De woken up yet? I hope the Black Emperor hasn’t stirred up any catastrophic trouble. What about Li Heishui, Ye Tong, Dongfang Ye, Xiao Que’er, Yao Yuekong, Jiang Huairen, and the others?” Ye Fan murmured softly.

From the day he had set out until now, he had spent the greater part of his time on the trial road, away for far too long — fighting for so many years without ever once looking back.

Ye Fan desperately wanted to see them all immediately, but he had no idea where Tianzhicun was now. When he had left, the Slaughter Sage Qi Luo and the others had already relocated the small world to a place beyond the domain, far removed from the Northern Dipper’s constant turmoil.

“Where should we go? How do we find them?” Ji Ziyue asked.

“First, I’ll see you home.” Ye Fan shook his head. So many years had already passed — there was no need to rush for this one moment.

The group tore open the void and headed straight for the Ji Family. Within the Southern Domain, the Ji Family was, without question, the foremost clan — none could compare.

Grand ancient architecture, towering mountain gates — within lay sacred mountains suspended in the air one after another, and islands drifting and floating in clusters. Silver waterfalls cascaded down from the divine mountains high above, immortal mist shrouding everything in mystery.

Before the magnificent main gate, a great river flowed past, its appearance like a charging dragon surging into the distance. Its name was the Ji River.

“Who goes there?” The powerful guardians stationed at the Ji Family’s main gate sensed their arrival at the first possible moment and called out sharply.

In this day and age — splendid era if one spoke generously, imminent chaos if one spoke bluntly — too many races had emerged, and an endless stream of powerful beings from beyond the domain had descended, bringing great upheaval in their wake.

Here on the land of the Northern Dipper, holy-level duels broke out daily. Everyone lived in fear, dreading annihilation at any moment.

Even the Ji Family, with a Great Emperor among their ancestors and an incomparable depth of foundation, dared not grow careless. Powerful guardians were stationed every day, faithfully defending the gate.

“Grand-Uncle, it’s me.” Ji Ziyue could barely hold back tears. The sight of her family’s gate, tall as a mountain, moved her so profoundly that hot tears brimmed in her eyes. A century of longing for home, longing for family — and at last, she had returned.

The Ji River surged and roared, its waves blooming like flowers.

Ji Ziyue rushed forward, arriving before the family gate. She spread her arms wide, gazing upon the magnificent mountain scenery before her, her hair streaming in the wind, and could no longer hold back her tears — they fell freely, one after another.

“You are… Ziyue!” The elder was greatly startled, hardly daring to believe it. Then his body trembled, and he rushed out through the magnificent mountain gate, a large crowd following close behind him.

“Ziyue — it’s truly her! Our family’s little moon has come home!” Another elder called out in a trembling voice.

Whether it was Ji Haoyue or Ji Ziyue, both were the Ji Family’s most celebrated geniuses. They had set foot on the ancient road and had been away for many years — and now one had actually returned. It was nothing short of a miracle.

One had to understand: among all those from ancient times who had set foot on that road, very few had ever come back.

“Child, is it truly you…” Several of the Ji Family’s elder-generation figures strode forward, their bodies trembling. Even though they knew this was Ji Ziyue, they could not help but ask again.

“It’s me… I’ve come home.” Ji Ziyue wiped away her tears. Her long lashes fluttered, and she broke into a smile — the tears just now had been shed from overwhelming joy, from emotion too great to contain.

“Go quickly and inform the Family Head — our family’s precious jewel has returned.”

Someone struck a golden bell — not an alarm, but the divine bell used to summon important figures, its clear and resonant sound lingering long. It was sounded only on occasions of great celebration.

The bell’s distant, flowing waves shattered the ancient clan’s tranquility. A great crowd appeared in a grand procession — men and women, old and young — coming out to welcome her. Some were those who held authority within the Ji Family, others were members of the direct lineage.

“Ziyue!” A middle-aged woman of elegant beauty came rushing forward, her bearing noble and dignified, yet her face streaked with tears at this moment. Ji Ziyue had already rushed toward her as well, and the two embraced, Ji Ziyue crying out to her as Mother.

The current Family Head of the Ji Family was Ji Ziyue’s father. He wore a smile upon his face, working hard to maintain his composure, though it was clear his heart was far from calm.

“What of your brother? He…” Still weeping and laughing at once, it was a long while before the middle-aged woman spoke again in a trembling voice, dreading the worst.

“He is well — forging himself on the ancient road. He has no wish to return yet.” Ji Ziyue wiped away her tears as she smiled.

Every member of the Ji Family let out a long breath, followed by boundless relief and joy. Both were safe and sound — one had returned, the other was still out fighting. There could be no better news than this.

“Once one sets foot on the ancient road, very few ever come back. Our Ji Family shall flourish greatly!” One of the elders cried out in excitement.

“Indeed — our Ji Family’s people have walked the ancient road and returned safely. This is destined to bring ten thousand years of glory.” Everyone was overjoyed.

“It is fortunate that we stopped you back then — you never ran off with that Holy Body and made a mess of things. If you had, how could you have achieved what you have today? Being with him would have led to no good end.” One of the Ji Family elders spoke up — he ranked eighth among the elders and had belonged to the faction most hostile toward Ye Fan all those years ago.

Ji Ziyue’s brow furrowed immediately, her expression darkening.

“Old Eight — what are you saying on a day like this? Ziyue has come home. Why bring up things that have long since passed?!” An elder of higher standing shot him a sharp glare.

“I won’t say anything more, then. I just reckon that young man amounted to nothing in the end.” The eighth of the Ji Family’s elders muttered. All those years ago, every person he had favored — Ji Hui and the rest — had died by Ye Fan’s hand. Even now, the memory left him seething with resentment.

“These are…” The Ji Family’s elders looked ahead and saw the Golden-Winged Great Peng, the Azure Luan, the Golden Lion, the Nine-Tailed Crocodile Dragon — each one extraordinary and uncanny, unmistakably a terrifying divine bird or beast king.

Ye Fan stepped out from behind the twelve Saints, one step at a time. As the wind lifted his dark hair, it revealed a face that was refined yet bearing a quiet, unyielding resolve, his eyes clear as water.

“What — it’s you?!” The eighth of the Ji Family’s elders involuntarily stumbled backward, step after step.

The others, too, were greatly taken aback. They had recognized who this person was. After so many years — word had come that Ye Fan had also set foot upon the ancient road — yet now he had returned as well.

“He is the one who escorted me home, and every one of these Saint-Kings follows him.” Ji Ziyue said softly, speaking to her parents, but also making certain all the elders could hear.