Morning came. Brilliant rays of the dawn sun cascaded down, piercing through the mist, brightening the heart along with the landscape.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged on a low hill, breathing in steady cycles. White innate Life Essence flowed in and out through his nostrils like a dragon — rumbling as it moved, like a peal of thunder.

Not far away, several children also imitated his posture with serious earnestness, practicing their cultivation — throwing punches and kicks with utter diligence.

Tong Tong was only five years old, yet he was Ye Fan’s founding senior disciple. Having escaped from the “demon” Li Tian’s hands, he had become exceptionally diligent, sparring against the dawn light with precise, well-grounded movements. His entire body radiated light, as though it could resonate with the rising sun.

Gu Fei and Gu Lin, the pair of siblings, were eleven years old, their aptitude extremely high, equally earnest in their practice. They had already adapted to life in the Village of Heaven.

As for the last little one — she was there purely by chance. Little Sparrow was only a little over a year old, pacifier in her mouth, toddling unsteadily, flailing her little arms while chanting “Hah, hoo, hah, hee!” in a tiny, milk-soft voice that was truly impossible to watch without breaking into laughter.

They were the Celestial Court’s hope for the future. Even if all the others were to fall, with just these four little ones perhaps an age of glory could still be established, presiding over all under heaven.

Woof, woof, woof…

On the other side, the Black Emperor was slobbering with its great red tongue hanging out, mouth gaping wide, charging about like a ten-thousand-year-old ancient demon as it chased down Wang Shu and Er Lengzi.

It called this hell training — driving out the silver-blood imperial clan’s true potential through force. Fall behind and get beaten: its maw full of ice-cold fangs could absolutely tear through their bodies.

“Too weak — and you dare call yourselves the Uncrowned Emperor? You two, pick up that mountain over there and carry it as you run!” The big black dog roared.

Its training was truly vicious — squeezing their potential without mercy, forcing the two to carry an entire stone mountain on their backs as they walked, ate, and slept.

“Eeyaahh!” In the end, the anguished screams of Wang Shu and Er Lengzi no longer sounded human — hearing them was enough to make one’s skin crawl. One could only imagine the suffering they endured.

Yet the Black Emperor declared that this was a return to savagery — their royal blood awakening, their ancestors’ power stirring to life. Everyone who heard it rolled their eyes in unison.

“Hah, hoo, hah, hee…” Little Sparrow, pacifier in mouth, toppled to the ground and simply lay there, making no effort to get up. Blinking her big eyes, she watched with great interest as the big black dog down the mountain chased the two hapless figures.

The other three children were in diligent cultivation — Life Essence flowing in and out of every pore on their bodies, brilliant and crystalline. It was a scene of tremendous vitality and youthful energy.

“To be young is wonderful.” Qi Luo sighed, narrowing his single eye, his face a picture of envious longing.

He lay upon an ancient pine tree growing at a slant out over the cliff’s edge, facing the dawn light, tilting a purple-gold gourd to pour wine into his mouth — utterly at ease and content.

Ye Fan had transmitted the Circulating Qi technique to him. This old figure had grown ever more unfathomably profound, and if the Celestial Court were to rise, it needed him to become a sage — otherwise, what means would they have to contend with the sage-ranked assassins of the Underworld and the Human World?

On the other side, Yan Yixi was playing a game of chess with an elder of the Village of Heaven — they had been locked in that match for three days and three nights, not having moved a single step.

As for Li Tian, he was in a state of painful pleasure, engaged in stabbing games with the young women of the Village of Heaven. He was gentle and tender-hearted toward women, but those ladies hailing from the Celestial Court were each one fiercer and sharper than the last. On multiple occasions, a heavenly sword had nearly left bloody cavities in his body.

“Brother Monkey, shall we spar a bit?” Ye Fan finished his breathing exercises and rose to his full height.

The monkey was on the opposite mountain, his golden fur gleaming in the morning’s rosy light. At the words, he gave a great shout of assent and came charging over like a bolt of golden lightning.

Boom!

When these two constitutions, rare throughout the ages, began to fight, it was truly like a comet slamming into the Purple Pole Star — the several children were all knocked right off their feet and onto the ground.

“Divine Son… Divine Son…” Little Sparrow called out, pacifier in her mouth, waving her chubby little hands.

“You two wrecking balls — stop fighting here.” Qi Luo forcibly drove them away, transmitting them off to a distant location.

The Celestial Court had just been established, and already it was thriving vigorously. This kind of scene inspired hope and joy. Ahead lay boundless promise, and once it truly rose to power in time, even the sky above could not contain it.

“This place of yours is truly desolate.” Half a month later, Ji Ziyue arrived, bringing a great stack of materials — all of them related to the Underworld and the Human World.

These were top-secret documents, stolen from the Ji Family’s scripture repository. They touched on many things unknown to the outside world, and were of exceptional value.

“The family head is about to retire, and is now moving to support my brother to become the Ji Family’s head — so he can no longer come and go freely.” A single sentence from Ji Ziyue left Ye Fan, Li Heishui, and the others somewhat bewildered.

“Your news networks are terribly outdated…” Ji Ziyue said, bouncing Little Sparrow on one knee, and proceeded to share several earth-shattering pieces of news.

The Holy Master of Yao Guang had entered into a semi-retirement, begun relinquishing authority, and the Holy Son of Yao Guang had taken his position — in a matter of years he would formally assume governance of Yao Guang.

“The waters of time flow ever eastward — the old generation is about to fall from the stage. An era in which all kings rise together has finally, formally arrived.” Ye Fan sighed with emotion.

Once upon a time, he had needed to look up at all the holy masters. Now, the younger generation had fought their way up and had also reached such heights.

“The Holy Son of Yao Guang used only one hand to suppress the combined assault of every Holy Son from every era across more than two thousand years of Yao Guang’s history, and ascended with ease. The very first thing he did upon taking his position was to resonate with the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron — and in the presence of this world’s most inconceivable supreme imperial weapon, he stood for nine days and nine nights.”

Yao Guang had no emperor. The birth of the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron carried too many legends — it was the most inconceivable miracle in this world.

Five thousand years of prayers. Five thousand years of bowing in supplication. Past sages had poured their hearts and minds into it, yet still could not bring it to the Dao. Then on that night of lightning and thunder, of rain pouring down — no one knew what happened.

In a single night, it became a supreme imperial weapon.

A mystery of the ages, forever unsolved — the most inconceivable weapon in existence, not weaker than any ancient emperor’s weapon or great emperor’s instrument, and possessed of its own unique and incomparable advantage.

“Time flies — even the Holy Son of Yao Guang has nearly become a generation’s great lord, and will soon preside over the Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Cauldron, looking down upon all under heaven from this day on.” Li Heishui sighed.

Shortly after, news came from the Central Region: the Great Xia Imperial Prince had ascended the throne and formally became the lord of Xia, having emerged victorious among his brothers.

Then, news that Demon Moon Kong had become the master of the Celestial Demon Palace also spread throughout all under heaven.

Nearly simultaneously, news came from the Southern Ridge that the Southern Demon had taken charge of the Demon Emperor’s Hall, becoming one of its rulers and formally standing at the very pinnacle of power.

A few days later, a piece of news came out of the Central Region: the Central Emperor had undergone the Slaying of the Dao, and on the day of his success, a purple sun hung in the sky, nine clouds of auspicious tribulation descended, and divine essence surged from the earth.

Once this news spread, all under heaven was shaken. These had been the phenomena that accompanied an ancient Great Emperor slaying the Dao in his youth — terrifying to all, and by any measure a torrential outpouring of talent.

Additionally, it was said that a young Buddhist son in the Western Desert had cultivated half of the Six-Character True Mantra, walking among famous mountains and ancient temples, beginning to manifest the air and bearing of the Buddha.

“We grow old — the younger generation rises, and we feel all the more that our days are like a setting sun, the scenery unchanged but the people within it soon to wither and perish.” An elder of the Village of Heaven lamented.

In these recent days, Yan Yixi had continued playing chess with him, learning from him no small number of Dao principles at the spiritual dimension level — benefiting enormously.

“Hah hoo hah hee — Sparrow wants to grow up fast!” Little Sparrow, pacifier in her mouth, clenched her little fists, her words finally somewhat clearer.

After this, Ji Ziyue came often, crossing the void with great relish. Sometimes she laughed with a cunning gleam in her eyes. Sometimes she laughed without a care in the world. And sometimes, laughing, she would begin to cry.

Ji Haoyue, who was on the verge of becoming a holy master, came in person on one such occasion. He erupted completely — wanting to cut Ye Fan down — but was talked out of it by others. He then had a long night’s conversation with Ye Fan, and afterward took Ji Ziyue by the hand and departed.

“Brother, what are you doing…” Ji Ziyue was displeased.

“The Divine Reckoner has predicted that in the not-too-distant future, he will leave this world and return to the other end of the star sea — unlike the last time.” Ji Haoyue said.

Ye Fan might find it difficult to remain in this world for long, and might vanish completely one day without warning. He did not wish to leave behind a wound of sorrow for others.

“Do you wish to leave with him? If you have that resolve, I will not oppose it.” Ji Haoyue said.

“I…” Ji Ziyue wept. Her parents, her brother, the people she held dearest — all were in this world. How could she leave?

After that, Ji Ziyue still came often, her laughter brilliant and radiant — but sometimes, laughing, she would suddenly shed tears, which was heartbreaking to witness.

Ye Fan often kept her company for a walk — sometimes facing the morning glow, sometimes stepping through the light of stars and moon. The Divine Reckoner’s prophecy made him feel as though the ground had been abruptly pulled from under him, and within his own heart there was far too much reluctance to let go.

The star sea is too distant. Once you set foot on the road home, what more is there to say? Ye Fan wanted to leave with ease, to leave more happiness behind for others.

He spoke of many things from the past. After hearing them, Ji Ziyue’s smiles grew more frequent — but she could not hide the loss that lay beneath them. She said that once she attained sagehood, when the bonds of this earthly realm were spent, she would certainly follow his footsteps to the other end of the star sea. She said it laughing through her tears — she wanted to see just what manner of magnificent and inconceivable world that truly was.

Half a month later, Xiao Tingting — parted from them for many years — appeared, having emerged from closed-door cultivation at the Jiang Family and found her way here. She had by now become a graceful and elegant young woman in full bloom.

“The Lunar Yin Constitution!” Qi Luo’s eyes went straight at once. He rubbed his hands together and stepped forward — his enthusiasm was something else entirely, short only of taking her in as a dry granddaughter.

“Elder sister… elder sister…” Little Sparrow wobbled over and clung to her leg with both arms, refusing to let go.

Not far away, Tong Tong was also startled. His blood had undergone ancestral throwback, and his constitution was identical to the Solar Holy Emperor’s. Now, coming face to face with the Lunar Yin Constitution, he felt an inexplicable resonance.

Ye Fan sighed with emotion. That little girl of the past had grown up. In those early years, she and Old Uncle Jiang had depended on each other for survival, often bullied and mistreated. Little Tingting, just a few years old, had been pitiable — wearing a patched old dress, weeping constantly, shielding the old man from the blows of those bullies.

“Big brother, you finally came back.” Tingting wept loudly, throwing herself forward. She had genuinely come to regard Ye Fan as her closest kin.

Ye Fan smiled and comforted her, ruffling her beautiful hair, and asked whether Old Uncle Jiang was doing well.

Tingting answered that he was doing well, only that he often thought of Ye Fan and greatly wished to see him again — to sit together over a few cups of old wine — and that he regarded Ye Fan as a grandson who had been away from home too long.

Ye Fan fell briefly into a trance. It had been Old Uncle Jiang and little Tingting who had given him his first sense of home in this world — a warm memory, forever worth cherishing.

“I will go visit him.” He said with a smile.

“The Lunar Yin Constitution — my girl, I have only one good-for-nothing grandson, and I’ve truly always hoped for a granddaughter…” Qi Luo ran back and forth eagerly, his fox tail finally on full display — it was obvious he was trying to recruit Tingting into the sect.

Now, Xiao Tingting had grown up and become a woman of unrivaled, breathtaking beauty. Her cultivation was also extraordinarily high — the Lunar Yin Constitution had allowed her cultivation to advance at godlike speed, and she had already become a great power in her own right.

Ye Fan recalled something. He transmitted the remnant scroll of the Lunar Yin Ancient Scripture to her, and then presented her with that translucent sage’s skull — taken from the Lunar Yin Divine Son, it might well contain the secrets of the complete ancient scripture, for this sage’s grievance had never ceased.

“Elder Brother Yi Fei defeated the family’s divine constitution, and before long will become a holy master.”

A piece of news from Xiao Tingting startled a good many people. The Jiang Family’s divine royal constitution had been defeated — and Jiang Yifei had risen to prominence. It had truly exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Ye Fan was not overly surprised. Among the people he knew, three had left a particularly deep impression on him: Hua Yunfei, the Holy Son of Yao Guang, and Jiang Yifei. All three were refined and transcendent, each one unfathomably deep — impossible to see through at a glance.

“Elder Brother Yi Fei asked me to warn you: be careful of Hua Yunfei. He is far more terrifying than you might imagine…” Xiao Tingting brought back news of this kind.

When Jiang Yifei had been out training, he had once encountered Hua Yunfei on a desolate mountain — and had witnessed him breaking open an ancient sage’s tomb, dissolving away the remaining portions of that sage’s original source energy.

“For the sake of power, for the sake of keeping a low profile — though he has not killed and slaughtered his way through the world in a river of blood, he has entered ancient tombs and stolen the original source energy left behind by sages. How terrifying must he be now?” Li Heishui was stunned.

“What is not rightfully his will ultimately do him no good. I look forward to meeting him.” Ye Fan said.

He reminded Qi Luo that in running and developing the Celestial Court now, he was to act as though Ye Fan had already left — because when that day arrived, it might come very suddenly.