176: Chapter 176 The Golden Age Arrives

Time passed like water, flowing quietly.

Since Ji Zi's birth and that world-shaking draw with Ye Fan, the Ji Family's days had returned to a surface-level calm.

But everyone knew this peace was temporary—because everyone could feel the world was changing.

The change was subtle yet omnipresent. The Spiritual Qi in the air became denser, the Dao Laws of the world became clearer, and even the Bottlenecks encountered during cultivation loosened significantly.

Cultivators stuck in a certain Realm for years suddenly found they could continue to Breakthrough; those whose comprehension of the Great Dao was always shrouded in mist suddenly found the mist thinning.

Everyone knew what this meant—the dao marks of the Azure Emperor were dissipating.

Half a year is neither long nor short.

For a Mortal, half a year is just one season in the cycle of four; for a Cultivator, half a year might just be the extra bit of a single closed-door meditation.

But the changes that occurred in this half-year made the Cultivators of the entire Big Dipper Astral Region exhilarated.

Ji Family, Martial Arts Arena.

The morning sun fell on the vast Martial Arts Arena, dyeing the ground golden. Three figures crossed and collided on the field, fist winds and palm shadows interweaving, producing dense muffled sounds.

Every collision stirred a wave of air, blowing the dust on the ground in all directions.

Ye Fan, Ji Zi, and Ji Haoyue were sparring.

Over the past half-year, scenes like this played out almost every day.

Initially, it was Ye Fan fighting Ji Haoyue, then Ji Zi joined, and later it became a three-way free-for-all.

Today you fight me, tomorrow I fight you, and the day after all three go at it. After fighting, the three would sit together to drink tea, discuss the Dao, share insights, and guide each other.

Ji Haoyue's change was the greatest.

Half a year ago, he was still the Holy Son of the Ji Family who relied on his Divine Body to crush opponents.

But since witnessing Ji Zi give up his Emperor Blood and Ye Fan using the Ancient Desolate Saint Body to clash head-on with an Emperor's son, he began to reflect on his own path.

He no longer relied solely on the power of his Divine Body but began to study the deeper Secret Techniques of the Ji Family, trying to find his own Dao.

After half a year, his strength had taken a qualitative leap—not a leap in cultivation, but a leap in his understanding of power.

His control over the Great Void Technique became more exquisite, his comprehension of the Void Laws became more profound, and he seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

Ji Zi was also making progress.

Although he had given up his Bloodline, the Hunyuan Void Cultivation Technique he comprehended from the Hunyuan Heavenly Scripture was becoming more refined day by day.

The transition between the Void Realm and reality became smoother, and his attacks became increasingly bizarre and unpredictable. More importantly, he began trying to integrate the Void Great Handprint into his own Cultivation Technique, creating his own Finishing Move.

Although it wasn't yet mature, it was already taking shape.

Ye Fan also hadn't stopped his pace.

In the battle with Ji Zi half a year ago, his greatest gain wasn't the draw, but the words Ji Zi said to him—"You have no offensive methods worth showing." Those words were like a thorn in his heart, making him think for the past half-year:

The Ancient Desolate Saint Body cannot rely only on fists; he needed something of his own.

He began trying to create his own Cultivation Technique. Drawing nourishment from the Hunyuan Heavenly Scripture, summarizing experience from actual combat with Ji Haoyue and Ji Zi, and seeking inspiration from his own understanding of the Ancient Desolate Saint Body.

After half a year, although there was no formed Cultivation Technique yet, he already had a direction. His fists were no longer just brute force but began to integrate his understanding of the Dao.

Every punch thrown carried a unique rhythm, a rhythm that belonged to him.

"Bang!"

Ye Fan threw a punch, and the golden fist light exploded in the air, turning into countless spots of light scattering everywhere. Ji Haoyue stepped aside to avoid it and struck a palm toward the center of Ye Fan's back. Ye Fan didn't look back; his body instinctively leaned forward while kicking backward. Ji Haoyue retracted his palm to block and was shaken back two steps.

"Good!" Ji Haoyue stabilized his form, a hint of praise flashing in his eyes. "Your reactions are much faster than last month."

Ye Fan turned around and shook his slightly numb fist. "You're not bad either. That palm strike just now—if I hadn't anticipated it in advance, I wouldn't have been able to dodge it at all."

Just as Ji Haoyue was about to speak, a figure suddenly emerged from the Void Realm and struck a palm toward Ye Fan's face. Ye Fan was prepared and met it with a punch. Fists and palms collided, and both retreated simultaneously.

Ji Zi's figure appeared several zhang away, a smile on his lips. "Praising yourselves again?"

Ye Fan rolled his eyes. "I'm praising him, not myself. Is there something wrong with your ears?"

Ji Zi smiled and didn't respond. He moved his wrists and looked at Ji Haoyue. "Again?"

Ji Haoyue nodded. "Let's go."

The three fought together once more.

At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, Ji Ziyue sat on a stone bench under a large tree, her chin resting on her hands, her gaze following that golden figure. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, her eyes holding a tenderness she hadn't even noticed herself.

It had been half a year.

From the first time Ye Fan came to the Ji Family until now, it had been half a year.

During this half-year, she watched him fight her brother, watched him spar with the Emperor's son, and watched him sweat on the arena. She didn't know when it started, but her gaze always followed him unconsciously.

Maybe it was when he first fought her brother to a draw. Maybe it was when he fought the Emperor's son until he was covered in blood but still refused to admit defeat. Maybe it was when he occasionally turned around and gave her that slightly punchable smile.

Ji Ziyue couldn't say for sure. She only knew that seeing him there made her feel at ease; seeing him smile made her happy; seeing him injured made her heart ache.

"Ziyue."

A voice suddenly sounded in her ear, startling her. She jerked her head around and found the Holy Lord of the Ji Family standing behind her at some point, looking at her with a smile.

"Ho... Holy Lord." Ji Ziyue hurriedly stood up, a flash of panic on her face.

Seeing her guilty look, the Holy Lord of the Ji Family's smile deepened. He followed Ji Ziyue's gaze to the arena, just in time to see Ye Fan force Ji Haoyue back with a punch and then turn to trade a palm strike with Ji Zi.

"Watching Ye Fan?" the Holy Lord of the Ji Family asked.

Ji Ziyue's face turned beet red. "No... no! I'm watching Brother! Yes, watching Brother!"

The Holy Lord of the Ji Family smiled without saying a word.

Ji Ziyue felt even more guilty under his gaze, lowering her head and not daring to speak further. Her fingers twisted together, her palms covered in sweat.

Looking at this child he had watched grow up, the Holy Lord of the Ji Family's eyes were full of affection. He didn't say much, just gently patted her head and turned to leave.

After a few steps, he stopped and said without looking back, "It's quite good."

Ji Ziyue was stunned.

Quite good? What was quite good? Was it that she was quite good? Or was it that Ye Fan was quite good? Or was it that they... were quite good?

Her face turned even redder.

On the Martial Arts Arena, Ye Fan, Ji Zi, and Ji Haoyue had already stopped.

The three sat on the stone steps by the arena, drinking tea brought by servants and chatting about their insights from the sparring.