Upon Zhuo Peak, a vine as wide as a water vat stretched up into the sky for a full hundred meters. An enormous flower bloomed petal by petal — like five-colored crystal, breathing out rosy clouds and auspicious radiance, swaying to cast scattered points of light.

Within the wondrous bloom, a green-robed old man stood with hair white as snow, yet with a complexion as smooth and delicate as fine jade — not a single wrinkle. His eyes were deep as the sea.

Behind him stretched pitch-black darkness, as though night had descended or an endless abyss had opened, connecting to the entire expanse of void — giving the feeling of the Dao being as deep as an abyss.

Pop!

The wondrous flower beneath his feet let out a soft sound. The petals dimmed — as though touched by frost and snow — and swiftly withered, after which the vine also shriveled and plummeted from the sky.

The old man from the Ji Family did not move, yet from the pitch-black void behind him, a surge of dark light gushed forth and swept downward over the summit of Zhuo Peak.

Pitch-black, like dark clouds pressing down from above — the momentum was vast and magnificent, making one feel a suffocating pressure, as though a great black mountain were being pressed down from above.

Li Ruo stood in place without moving. The surrounding grass and trees glinted with green light, and an ancient towering tree rapidly grew — like a sky-covering great umbrella soaring into the high sky — blocking all the surging dark light from above.

Bang!

Suddenly, a black three-pronged trident appeared in the sky and in a single stroke shattered the sky-piercing ancient tree, thrusting down toward Zhuo Peak — a hundred meters long, as if capable of rending the heavens and the earth.

Crash, crash, crash!

On Zhuo Peak, a great white waterfall reversed course and surged upward into the sky like a silver dragon soaring through the heavens. In an instant it wound around the black three-pronged trident. There was no fierce collision, no resplendent light — the silver waterfall was like a flexible thread, coiling and winding gently, binding the enormous trident fast.

“The Great Dao of Nature — truly worthy of its name.” The old man from the Ji Family gave a low cry, and the entire sky plunged into absolute darkness. Dark clouds churned and pressed downward, and bolt after bolt of purple lightning blazed, covering Zhuo Peak completely.

Pop!

All around Li Ruo, the grass and trees overflowed with fragrance. Boundless green light shot skyward, and from the sky fell a rain of light — a force natural and gentle, flowing up into the sky and spreading in all directions.

Swish!

The Great Void Technique manifested!

Without a sound, the old man from the Ji Family appeared behind Li Ruo and struck with a palm.

Bang!

Li Ruo seemed capable of seeing through the void — capturing the trajectory of the Great Void Technique — and met the blow with a reversed backhand strike. The two palms collided, releasing a wave of terrifying energy. But it did not rampage across Zhuo Peak — instead it all surged upward into the sky and vanished in the heavens.

Bang! Bang!

The sounds of palm strikes rang out continuously. Terrifying waves of energy surged upward from the summit of Zhuo Peak like bolts of lightning tearing into the high sky.

The old man from the Ji Family deployed the Great Void Technique — unpredictable as gods and ghosts — appearing at different positions, utterly impossible to anticipate. This was a supreme secret art.

Yet Li Ruo seemed to possess foreknowledge. His movements flowed like clouds and water — completely natural — his wide sleeves sweeping as he continuously turned to face each position, blocking the Great Void Technique every time.

Boom!

At last, a massive black hand blotted out the sky and swept down, covering the entire summit of Zhuo Peak — intending to uproot the entire mountain.

This terrifying spectacle made hearts tremble. The dreadful energy fluctuations pierced directly to one’s bones, filling all who witnessed it with panic and breathlessness, causing involuntary trembling.

The Void Great Hand Seal!

Such a technique was earth-shaking, inspiring awe. An ordinary cultivator who faced it would simply be unable to summon the will to resist. It was truly terrifying — like an entire sky toppling down.

Boom!

Li Ruo shot upward and met it with a single palm.

In an instant, the natural breath of the Dao permeated Zhuo Peak. Green light and dark light clashed and merged, and Li Ruo and the black great hand were both enveloped within.

A series of muffled, dull sounds rang out continuously, shaking the surrounding peaks into a swaying tremor. Those who witnessed the scene had their hearts pounding.

In the end, no destructive energy erupted. All radiance converged, the black great hand slowly faded in the void, and Li Ruo descended back onto Zhuo Peak.

“Good, good, good!” The old man from the Ji Family landed on the ground. “The inheritance of Zhuo Peak is truly extraordinary — not an ancient scripture, yet the equal of one. The Dao flows in accordance with nature. You may truly become Zhuo Peak’s second Great Cultivator.”

Neither of them had used their full strength — it was merely a brief exchange — yet even that was enough to astonish.

“May I ask what brings Senior to visit Zhuo Peak?” Li Ruo asked.

Not far away, Ye Fan was somewhat surprised. Li Ruo was of such an advanced age, yet still called this person Senior. Surely this must be one of the renowned elder masters of the Ji Family.

“Restless with too much stillness — I came out for a walk, and along the way to search for a descendant.”

At this moment, Ji Ziyue was hiding inside her little wooden cabin. Her large eyes rolled about, and then she stepped outside and called out: “Great-great-grandfather, why have you come?”

“Naturally, to find you.”

“Elder Brother Ji Hong, you have come to my Tai Xuan Sect. Why not send word in advance?” A Tai Xuan elder with the rank of Supreme transmitted his voice from the distant sky.

“Intruding without announcement — I ask that you forgive me, fellow Dao-friend.” The old man of the Ji Family, Ji Hong, cupped his fists toward the distant sky.

Ji Hong rose into the air and flew toward the distant sky to meet with old acquaintances.

On Zhuo Peak, Ye Fan felt his conscience prick him and prepared to make his escape. Yet if he simply left like this, he felt he would be letting Li Ruo down.

Just then, Ji Ziyue seemed to sense something. She floated over lightly and blocked his path: “Little brat, are you trying to sneak away?”

“Not at all — I’m simply taking a stroll. You really are too sensitive.” Ye Fan denied it flatly.

“You must have all sorts of secrets on you, otherwise why would you look so guilty…” Ji Ziyue circled around him once, then tilted her head: “In a little while, come with me to the Ji Family.”

“Over my dead body!” Those were the words in Ye Fan’s heart — but the expression on his face was cheerful as he said: “Nothing I’d like more. It would be even better if I could be married in.”

“One little brat, what do you understand…” Ji Ziyue laughed softly. “I have a younger cousin, just nine years old — quite a match for you.”

“It’s not like I’m short of daughters…”

“What on earth are you muttering under your breath?!” Ji Ziyue glared at him.

In the end, the Ji Family’s venerable elder Ji Hong returned to Zhuo Peak and summoned Ji Ziyue, saying: “I have an urgent matter and must leave. Don’t go wandering around — stay in Tai Xuan Sect for now. The situation outside is somewhat complicated.”

Having said this, Ji Hong departed in haste.

This outcome pleased Ye Fan most of all. He now had ample time to prepare his departure.

Not long after, the Sect Master and venerable elders of Tai Xuan Sect also flew out from among the hundred and eight main peaks and surged off into the distance.

“What’s happened?” Within Tai Xuan Sect, many disciples were discussing it — the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders moving together was something that had not occurred in many years.

Not until a day later did news arrive: a strange, half-mad old man had appeared within the borders of the Wei Kingdom — suspected to be an invincible master from six thousand years ago.

This news shook dozens of kingdoms in the surrounding region. Top-level powerhouses from the Ji Family, Yao Guang Holy Land, and Tai Xuan Sect all set out to pursue this lead.

“It’s actually an unrivalled powerhouse of years past — he has actually lived more than six thousand years and still exists in this world. It’s simply unbelievable!”

“How can a person live six thousand years? That is virtually a living history book — having lived through countless eras of darkness and light. Truly a miracle.”

Within Tai Xuan Sect, many people were discussing it.

Upon hearing the news, Ye Fan’s heart trembled. In a flash he thought of the Mad Old Man — it must be him!

Six thousand years ago, the Tianxuan Holy Land had been at the height of its glory. Summoning the full strength of their entire sect, they had invaded the Forbidden Zone of Ancient Desolation — and never returned, erased from the world.

The Mad Old Man was the sole survivor. Many people longed to know what had happened six thousand years ago, and what kind of existence “the Desolation” at the bottom of the boundless abyss truly was.

Six thousand years ago, the Mad Old Man’s cultivation had been heaven-shaking. Within the Eastern Desolation, he had rarely met his match. A supreme figure of such caliber — who had then lived another six thousand years and still had not died — was someone every person wanted to understand: what realm had he reached, how far was he from becoming an immortal? People wished to hear his teachings.

In particular, transcendent great powers such as the Ji Family and Yao Guang Holy Land — every one of their Supreme Elders longed to hold discourse with such a world-shaking figure. Such a being, comparable to a living fossil, held more attraction for the great figures of the current age than even the several ancient scriptures scattered across the Eastern Desolation.

On the third day, more news arrived.

“Gone mad — that invincible master has completely lost his mind. No one can speak with him. He weeps and laughs alternately, impossible to communicate with.”

“Too terrifying — many venerable elders were swept away with a single sleeve-wave. No one can get near him. Six thousand years ago he was already earth-shaking. Today, his strength is entirely beyond reckoning.”

“He vanished — in just a few strides, endless mountains and rivers were left behind him, and he passed directly out of the Wei Kingdom’s borders. Not a single person could keep up with his footwork — even those who flew through the sky could not catch even a glimpse of his retreating figure.”

At this moment, Ji Ziyue blocked Ye Fan’s path and would not let him leave: “That footwork of yours — did you learn it from that mad old man?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word of it!” Ye Fan could not possibly admit it.

“It absolutely has something to do with him. Our Ji Family’s ancient records document it in detail — it is footwork that far surpasses the compression of distance, unrivalled under heaven. In the entire world, only that mad old man knows it.”

Ye Fan felt increasingly certain that this little girl was far too clever. Nearly all his secrets had been discovered by her. The slightest lapse of attention and she would sharply detect the anomaly.

“Senior, does immortality truly exist in this world?” Ye Fan came to the summit and posed the question to Li Ruo.

“All people ask this. Whether it exists or not hardly matters — so long as we hold firm to our conviction that the path of immortality is possible, and keep walking forward without looking back.”

“What realm did the Mad Old Man actually reach? Logically, having lived six thousand years is already a miracle in itself — not becoming an immortal truly makes no sense. I would think that even the Eastern Desolation Divine Physique could not live that long.”

“He who does not become an immortal falls into madness — perhaps that is precisely what he is.” Li Ruo also sighed with feeling.

Within Tai Xuan Sect, beyond the hundred and eight main peaks, there were also endless attendant peaks — not all of the mountain ranges were shrouded in immortal qi. Some places were desolate, just as Zhuo Peak had been.

For the past several days, Ye Fan had been continuously preparing to leave. He kept wandering about within Tai Xuan Sect — making one last effort, going to various people to learn what conditions were needed before the sect would allow someone to activate and pass through a domain gate.

At sunset, the evening glow dyed half the sky crimson. He came to an extremely desolate ridge. Tall weeds grew thickly here, and withered vines covered the ground everywhere.

In this very moment, he froze completely.

On a great blue-green boulder on the ridge, facing westward, an old man with hair white as snow lay on his side, his face turned toward the setting sun. His robes were ragged and tattered — of a style so old they seemed not to belong to this era. His lips moved in quiet murmuring, and two streams of tears hung from his clouded, aged eyes.

The Mad Old Man — it was actually the Mad Old Man!

Ye Fan was greatly startled. No matter how hard he tried, he could not have imagined encountering him here within Tai Xuan Sect. How had he come to this place? Had he not crossed the Wei Kingdom’s borders in a few strides and gone elsewhere?