Taicang Mountain.
Deep within a bamboo forest stood several bamboo houses.
Ding Zihu was sitting cross-legged on a large bluestone, engaged in his Cultivation.
In recent days, his Cultivation had actually reached the level of a Spiritual Realm Abnormal Person.
Suddenly, Ding Zihu opened his eyes and saw a figure appear at the fence surrounding the bamboo houses, smiling at him.
"Holy shit!"
"Isn’t this Han Yuan, the man who saved the world?"
Ding Zihu was as glib as ever.
"You haven’t changed a bit after all these years."
Han Yuan chuckled.
Seeing Ding Zihu finally gave him a sense of familiarity.
"Haha, you haven’t changed either, have you?"
"No... you’ve gotten stronger!"
Ding Zihu laughed heartily.
Han Yuan leaped through the air and landed right next to Ding Zihu. "Where’s Daoist Chunyangzi?" he asked curiously.
"The Daoist went to check on the Source Seed Shredded Meat. He’ll be back in a bit," Ding Zihu explained. Then he looked left and right before asking with confusion, "Where’s Fat Thief?"
"Could it be that he’s gotten too fat to face me?"
At the mention of Fat Thief, Han Yuan’s gaze dimmed. "Something happened to Fat Thief," he said softly. "He’s turned back into a stone statue."
Hearing Han Yuan’s words, Ding Zihu’s expression changed as well.
He forced a smile. "It’s fine... He can probably change back, right?"
"Yeah... I’ll figure something out," Han Yuan nodded.
"That’s good... It would be trouble if even you couldn’t do anything about it," Ding Zihu said with a laugh.
But behind his smile, there was a hint of worry.
After that, the two began to catch up on what had happened over the years.
Ever since Han Yuan had left the Taicang Mountain Range, Ding Zihu and Chunyangzi had stood guard here day and night, constantly watching for any signs of the Source Seed Shredded Meat’s revival.
But over the many years that had passed, that piece of Source Seed Shredded Meat had shown no signs of change.
And as the outbreaks of Spiritual Qi continued, Ding Zihu’s power grew rapidly, allowing him to cultivate directly to the level of a Spiritual Realm Abnormal Person.
Chunyangzi had also recovered his Spiritual Technique Cultivation and was just half a step away from breaking through to the Primordial Spirit Realm.
As for Han Yuan, his deeds had long since spread throughout the entire Great Cang Dynasty. Even Ding Zihu, living in seclusion on Taicang Mountain, could recite them by heart.
Just as the two were deep in conversation, Daoist Chunyangzi finally returned.
He was also overjoyed to see Han Yuan.
「A bright moon hung in the sky.」
The three of them drank and talked freely in the bamboo forest, their cheerful laughter echoing through the night from time to time.
It wasn’t until late at night that the bamboo forest gradually fell quiet.
Daoist Chunyangzi returned to his house to rest.
Ding Zihu was completely drunk, passed out on the stone table and snoring loudly.
Han Yuan sat on the large bluestone, wine pot in hand, gazing up at the bright moon as he drank continuously.
"You know... you seem to have a lot on your mind."
"Looks like even with the Nether Dragon dead... things aren’t over yet, are they...?"
Ding Zihu had woken up at some point and was mumbling as he lay on the stone table.
"Yeah... There’s still the trouble inside the Bronze Immortal Sect to deal with."
Han Yuan didn’t hide it from Ding Zihu, speaking softly.
"The Immortal Sect... the Source Seed... That’s a big one."
"No wonder even you’re worried."
Ding Zihu shook his head groggily.
The Han Yuan of today was the strongest person in the world.
Only an existence like the Immortal Sect could cause him such worry.
"That’s why I came here this time, actually. I need to borrow something from you."
Han Yuan looked at Ding Zihu.
"The Black Phoenix Pearl?" Ding Zihu guessed what Han Yuan wanted to borrow.
"How did you guess?" Han Yuan asked in surprise.
"Isn’t it obvious? I’m dirt poor. It’s the only valuable thing I have on me."
"But what do you want the Black Phoenix Pearl for?"
Ding Zihu asked curiously.
"I don’t know... I haven’t decided for sure yet."
"Right now, I just have a rough idea. I think I might need to transcend life and death to achieve a breakthrough."
Han Yuan said softly.
"Sounds pretty profound... Well, go ahead and use it."
Ding Zihu took out a black pearl and casually tossed it to Han Yuan.
"Thanks... Also, do you know where Nirvana Cliff is?"
Han Yuan asked.
"I do. First, you go to the Wutong Mountain Range in Yan Province, and then..." Ding Zihu described the route to Nirvana Cliff to Han Yuan in great detail.
"Okay... thanks." Han Yuan committed the route to memory.
"Thank my ass... If it weren’t for you... this whole world of ours would’ve been done for."
Ding Zihu shook his head.
"It’s not that dramatic."
"I was just trying to survive, too."
Han Yuan shook his head.
"No point talkin’ anymore... This Daoist Lord is really drunk."
Overcome by the drink, Ding Zihu shook his head, then passed out again.
Han Yuan gazed at the Black Phoenix Pearl in his hand with a curious expression.
The so-called Nirvana or ascension were both processes of moving from death to life.
That was why he had thought of the Black Phoenix Pearl in Ding Zihu’s possession.
According to legend, even if someone died, placing this pearl in their mouth would allow them to revive within three days.
Of course, he couldn’t be certain if the pearl truly possessed such a miraculous effect. He would need to study it first.
Han Yuan immediately closed his eyes and attempted to permeate the Black Phoenix Pearl with a sliver of his Spiritual Power.
This was a skill he had only acquired after mastering the Eight Desolates Dragon God Observation Method.
He no longer needed Ling Yunzi to perform a Daoist Skill to help his Primordial Spirit leave his body, which had been quite a hassle.
He could now do it on his own.
BZZZ—
Following a strange fluctuation, Han Yuan instantly found himself in a void-like, dark world.
This world was as grim and terrifying as the netherworld, pervaded by a dreadful aura of death and absolute silence.
Han Yuan walked casually through this dark world.