This was a place of quiet tranquility. On ordinary days, cultivator disciples rarely came here. The jade bamboo grove was dotted with small wooden huts — quarters reserved for servants and odd-job workers.

A gentle breeze drifted through, setting the whole bamboo grove swaying softly. The jade-green bamboo leaves rustled with a soft, whispering sound, and a breath of fresh, clean air drifted toward them from the front.

Li Xiaoman’s white robes drifted lightly in the breeze. Her entire being had an aura of transcendence — her dark hair rich and lustrous, her skin like fine jade, her eyes clear as still water. She fixed her gaze on Ye Fan and said: “You are an ordinary person. The ‘Source’ in your hands is of no use whatsoever.”

“Even though I am only an ordinary person, I still understand the value of this kind of thing. You are all immortal cultivators — you regard it so highly. How can you claim it is of no use to me?”

Ye Fan weighed the “Source” in his palm and said with a light laugh: “It contains a vast amount of life essence within it. I would imagine that for an ordinary person, using it to extend one’s years and life would not be a problem.”

“You — an ordinary person using Source to extend their lifespan — what a waste!” The several young men and women around them all showed expressions of displeasure.

“If you want to increase your lifespan and strengthen your body, there are actually many ways to do so. You could exchange this piece of ‘Source’ for some hundred-herb elixir to consume.”

“Indeed — if you’re willing to let the ‘Source’ go, we will naturally see to it that you are satisfied.”

The several young men and women all said as much. The temptation of this piece of “Source” was simply too great for them — each desperately wanted to acquire it in exchange.

“I’m sorry — I have no interest in exchanging it. What you’ve described holds no appeal for me.” Ye Fan refused outright and under no circumstances would he part with the “Source.”

The several young men and women all changed in expression. To them, the “Source” was of immense significance. In the hands of an ordinary person, it was like a priceless pearl lost in the dust — a genuine waste. Each of them wanted to claim it for themselves.

Li Xiaoman stood quietly where she was, her white robes drifting, her hair dancing lightly in the breeze: “You don’t know what it means for an ordinary person to possess a ‘Source.’ It is not wealth — it will only bring disaster upon you. You are merely an ordinary person, entirely incapable of keeping it safe.”

“Are you suggesting you might simply take it by force?” Ye Fan tucked the “Source” away and regarded the group before him.

Except for Li Xiaoman, whose expression remained composed and serene, the others all wore unfriendly looks, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on Ye Fan.

“Even the second-most-powerful master of Ziyang Cave Heaven chose not to use his authority to pressure me. Are all of you truly going to attempt to take it by force?”

Li Xiaoman’s words were devoid of any fluctuation: “The fact that you have a piece of ‘Source’ is no longer a secret. Once the news spreads, you may be safe for a while, but your wellbeing afterward will be impossible to guarantee.”

“Are you saying I have no choice but to exchange it?”

Li Xiaoman nodded: “Exchange it with a cultivator. From that point on you will be provided for all your life — no need to wander or struggle anymore. You can peacefully become a man of wealth, living a lifetime of splendor and luxury.”

“Your cultivation levels are not particularly advanced. I suspect the life essence contained within this ‘Source’ is beyond what any of you could actually refine and absorb.”

Sensing that Ye Fan’s tone seemed to waver slightly, the people nearby all spoke up at once.

“We may not be able to refine it directly, but we can present it to our Elders in the sect.”

“That Senior who appeared earlier has attained mastery over creation. He is the second-most-powerful master of Ziyang Cave Heaven, and he once helped Junior Sister Li restore her youth. If Junior Sister Li were to present this piece of ‘Source’ to him today, she would surely receive even greater favor. And we too would have the chance to draw closer to that Senior and receive his guidance.”

Ye Fan smiled and said nothing, looking toward Li Xiaoman.

“That is correct — I do want to give that ‘Source’ to that Senior.” Li Xiaoman’s expression was serene and undisturbed. She gently tucked a strand of hair back from her forehead and looked steadily at Ye Fan: “I won’t leave you with nothing in return. I’ll make sure you are satisfied.”

Ye Fan shook his head and smiled faintly: “Same as you always were…”

Li Xiaoman did not argue. She stepped forward a few paces and looked at Ye Fan steadily: “I know you are confident and capable — you are unwilling to accept being just an ordinary person. But the fact is what it is. Your constitution cannot support cultivation. You can only live as a common person. I hope you can come to accept that calmly, stop thinking so much, be clear-headed — let go of those unrealistic fantasies. The ‘Source’ truly is of no use to you. Accept reality. Living as an ordinary person is not necessarily an unhappy fate.”

“It seems we don’t truly know each other as well as either of us thinks.” Ye Fan said nothing further.

“People always strive upward…” Li Xiaoman paused slightly and said: “Immortals and mortals belong to two different worlds.”

“Immortals and mortals — two different worlds?” Ye Fan smiled, speaking without particular care: “Who can say what the future holds? Perhaps I’ll appear on your path someday too. When that time comes, try not to be surprised if this ordinary person ends up surpassing you.”

Around them, the several young disciples of Ziyang Cave Heaven exchanged glances. They felt there was something peculiar in the way these two spoke to each other — it didn’t seem like the dynamic between mere neighbors. And Ye Fan himself did not seem at all like a child of eleven or twelve years of age.

“Whatever the case, I will not give up this ‘Source’ under any circumstances. Please, all of you may leave now.”

Ye Fan extended a hand in a gesture of farewell — a direct dismissal.

“You—!”

The expressions of the Ziyang Cave Heaven disciples were all rather uneasy. Before Li Xiaoman turned to leave, she glanced back at Ye Fan once more: “Accept reality sooner. Live as an ordinary person.”

Suddenly, a great uproar broke out beyond Ziyang Cave Heaven’s mountain gate — the sound of shouting and scolding rang out, followed by streaks of crimson radiance splitting through the sky. In the distance, cultivators had engaged in battle.

“Let’s go have a look!” Several of the young disciples in the bamboo grove rushed out swiftly.

Ye Fan’s heart gave a sudden leap. Someone was forcing their way through the mountain gate. He immediately thought of the Jiang Family knights and decided to hide himself in the crowd to observe, so he could be prepared.

At this moment, Ziyang Cave Heaven was in a state of great commotion. Quite a number of cultivators were rushing toward the mountain gate. By the time Ye Fan arrived, he found that several people had already been severely injured and were being carried back.

“Who has such audacity — daring to sneak into our Ziyang Cave Heaven and then attacking when discovered?”

“It’s a powerful knight, riding a fearsome beast. He defeated five of our Ziyang Cave Heaven’s powerful cultivators in a row, nearly broke through our perimeter, and is now being held back by our Grand Uncle Master.”

Listening to the discussion around him, Ye Fan could be almost entirely certain — the Jiang Family knight had tracked him here.

“Truly relentless!” His brow furrowed.

Just then, a burst of cheering rang out from ahead. Someone shouted: “Our Grand Uncle Master is truly powerful — he’s captured that fearsome knight!”

A man of about thirty-six or thirty-seven strode through the air with unhurried composure, returning at a leisurely pace. It was Ziyang Cave Heaven’s second-most-powerful master — Ye Fan had seen him just a short while ago. He was dragging back a savage beast and an unconscious knight, which he dropped to the ground with a heavy thud: “Lock him in the stone dungeon first.”

“The time has come to leave. Ziyang Cave Heaven has done me a great favor. I can only hope they hold on to this hot potato for a few days…”

Ye Fan could well imagine what would happen once the people of Ziyang Cave Heaven learned the identity of the knight — they would undoubtedly regret their actions immediately.

Ye Fan walked out through the mountain gate of Ziyang Cave Heaven and broke into a swift run, charging toward the mountains beyond. But just at that moment, several people noticed him leaving. They exchanged glances with one another and pursued him simultaneously.

“If I can survive this ordeal, I want to find a quiet place and cultivate in earnest!” After enduring this string of events, Ye Fan desperately craved strength. He yearned for power beyond all compare.

After running for several tens of li, Ye Fan gradually sensed something was not right. Someone was following him from behind — moving at a pace no slower than his own, and closing in rapidly. A chill ran through him. In an instant he darted into a field of jumbled rocks, hid behind a great boulder, and looked back.

“It’s him…”

The pursuer appeared to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age — one of Li Xiaoman’s senior brothers, a man who had been coveting his “Source” just a short while ago. His speed was formidable: in the blink of an eye he had entered the stone field.

“I can see you. Come out. Leave the ‘Source,’ and I’ll let you walk away.”

“So he truly is after my ‘Source’…”

Ye Fan crouched behind the great boulder without making a rash move. This man’s strength was not weak — he wouldn’t have been able to catch up otherwise.

“Even if he gets the ‘Source,’ he certainly won’t let me go. In that case — better to strike first and gain the advantage!”

Ye Fan made his decision.

“If you don’t come out and I find you, don’t blame me for showing you no mercy.”

The man was cautious. He felt that Ye Fan’s speed had been far too great — he had nearly lost him. For an ordinary person, this was clearly abnormal.

When the man came around near the great boulder, a streak of golden light suddenly shot up — slicing through the air in an instant, sweeping past with a sharp “Slash!”

“Pff—!”

Blood sprayed in a brilliant burst. A severed head rolled across the ground. The headless body sent a fountain of blood surging more than two meters into the air before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.

Ye Fan drew back the golden tome. At that very moment his expression shifted — several more silhouettes had appeared behind him, closing in rapidly. He glanced briefly at them, then turned and flew away. He could not tell whether Li Xiaoman was among them — the vegetation on the mountain terrain was too dense to see clearly.

“I hope you aren’t back there…”

Ye Fan departed without a backward glance.