178: Chapter 178 The Brother Who Finally Got It

Ji Family, Ye Fan's residence.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, regulating his breathing. A faint golden light swirled around him; that was the power of the Saint Body flowing. His aura was much stronger than three months ago, and his Four Poles Secret Realm Foundation had completely stabilized.

At the moment the world underwent a great change, he was cultivating.

The sudden surge of Great Dao Law almost caused him to Breakthrough on the spot. But he held back. It wasn't that he couldn't Breakthrough, but that he didn't want to. He wanted to build a solid Foundation, taking it step by step without rushing.

He opened his eyes and let out a long breath of relief.

"Fortunately, I made it in time," he murmured.

He had completed his transformation before the great change of the world, advancing from the Dao Palace to the Four Poles Secret Realm.

If he were a step late, although he could still Breakthrough, his Foundation wouldn't be as solid as it was now. One slow step leads to many. In the upcoming Golden Age, every step is crucial.

He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open. The sunlight from outside spilled in, shining on his face with a warm glow.

He looked toward the Martial Arts Arena in the distance, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curling up slightly.

There, Ji Ziyue was sitting on a stone bench under a large tree, talking to several female Disciples.

She wore a light purple dress today, her long hair tied up with a purple ribbon, looking exceptionally beautiful in the sunlight. As she spoke, she suddenly burst into laughter, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Looking at that smile, Ye Fan's heart skipped a beat for some reason.

He quickly withdrew his gaze and closed the window. Standing before the window, he took one deep breath after another.

Ye Fan, what are you thinking? That is the Young Miss of the Ji Family; you are just a Loose Cultivator of unknown origin, what are you thinking?

He shook his head, forcing himself not to think of that smiling face. But that smile seemed etched into his mind, impossible to brush away.

"Ye Fan."

Ji Zi's voice came from outside the door. Ye Fan opened the door and saw Ji Zi standing there with a pot of tea in his hand.

"Tea?"

Ye Fan nodded. "Sure."

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard. Ji Zi poured two cups of tea and pushed one toward Ye Fan. Ye Fan picked up the teacup and took a sip, but his gaze couldn't help but drift toward the Martial Arts Arena again.

Ji Zi followed his gaze and saw Ji Ziyue laughing and talking under the large tree. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes.

"What are you looking at?" he asked.

Ye Fan quickly withdrew his gaze. "Nothing."

Ji Zi smiled without saying a word, picking up his teacup and sipping slowly.

Ye Fan felt a bit guilty under his gaze and took a large gulp of tea, nearly scalding himself. Seeing his embarrassed state, Ji Zi's smile deepened.

"Ye Fan."

"Hmm?"

"Have you noticed that Ziyue has been running to the Martial Arts Arena quite often lately?"

Ye Fan's hand paused slightly. "Is that so? I didn't notice."

Ji Zi looked at him, smiling silently. Ye Fan felt even more guilty and quickly changed the subject. "How is your Hunyuan Void practice going? Any progress on that Fusion of the Void Great Handprint you mentioned last time?"

Ji Zi knew he was changing the subject but didn't call him out. He followed along. "There's some progress, but it's not yet mature. It should be ready to use in a few months."

The two began talking about cultivation, gradually forgetting the previous topic. However, Ye Fan's gaze would still occasionally drift toward the Martial Arts Arena. And Ji Zi pretended not to see every time.

Ji Ziyue had indeed been running to the Martial Arts Arena frequently lately.

Previously, she only came occasionally to see her brother, but now she came almost every day.

She didn't know why herself; she just wanted to come. After arriving, she would sit on the stone bench under the large tree, watching the people in the arena.

Sometimes she watched her brother, sometimes she watched the Imperial Son, but most of the time—she was watching that person.

Ye Fan.

She didn't know when it started, but her gaze would always unconsciously follow him.

Perhaps it was when he first fought her brother to a draw, or when he fought the Imperial Son until he was covered in blood but still refused to admit defeat, or perhaps when he occasionally turned his head and gave her that slightly annoying smile.

She couldn't explain it. 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 pulled her back from her thoughts. She turned her head and saw a female Disciple looking at her with a smile.

"Ziyue, are you looking at him?"

Ji Ziyue's face instantly turned red. "Who... who's looking at him? I'm looking at my brother!"

The female Disciple smiled silently, her eyes full of playfulness. Ji Ziyue felt even more guilty and stood up to leave. The female Disciple grabbed her hand and whispered, "Ziyue, don't go. Let me tell you a secret."

Ji Ziyue stopped and looked at her.

The female Disciple leaned into her ear and whispered, "I heard that the Holy Lord and the Elders all know about your matter. Not only are they not against it, they're actually quite supportive."

Ji Ziyue's face grew even redder. "Supportive of what? What matter? I don't know what you're talking about!"

The female Disciple laughed. "Keep pretending. Who in the entire Ji Family doesn't know? Even a blind person could see the way you look at Ye Fan."

Ji Ziyue opened her mouth to argue but found she couldn't say anything.

She stomped her foot and turned to run. After a few steps, she couldn't help but look back at the Martial Arts Arena.

There, Ye Fan was talking to Ji Zi, the sunlight spilling over him, outlining his silhouette beautifully.

She quickly turned her head and ran even faster.

Inside Undying Mountain.

A massive Void Water Mirror hovered above the courtyard, clearly reflecting the scene of the Ji Family Martial Arts Arena. The figures sparring, the stone bench under the large tree, the young girl in the purple dress—everything was in full view.

Xiao Nannan sat under the ancient tea tree of enlightenment, her chin resting on her hands as she watched the images in the water mirror. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, her eyes full of smiles.

"Brother... he likes that girl."

Her voice was very soft, yet it carried an irrepressible joy.

Chu Tianjiao sat beside her, also watching the images in the water mirror. A smile played on his lips, and his eyes were full of gratification.

"Yes. That girl is named Ji Ziyue, the Young Miss of the Ji Family, a Yuan Spirit Body."

Xiao Nannan turned to look at him. "Teacher, what do you think of her?"

Chu Tianjiao thought for a moment. "She's quite good. A lively personality, kind-hearted, and she's good to Ye Fan. Besides, the combination of a Yuan Spirit Body and an Ancient Desolate Saint Body might just produce a very powerful child."

Xiao Nannan's face turned slightly red, but she soon laughed. "Brother used to urge Teacher and me, saying we should have a child soon. Now it's my turn to urge him."

Chu Tianjiao laughed and rubbed her head. "Oh, you."

Xiao Nannan leaned on his shoulder, continuing to watch the images in the water mirror. Her eyes were full of tenderness—the tenderness of a sister for her brother, and of a family member for another.

"Brother, you have to work hard," she said softly.

Willow Deity sat cross-legged to the side, watching the images in the water mirror with a faint smile. She said nothing, just sitting quietly.

Ancient Kirin Emperor held his teacup, watching the images in the water mirror and clicking his tongue twice. "This kid certainly knows how to pick them. The Young Miss of the Ji Family, a Yuan Spirit Body, not bad, not bad."

He took a sip of tea and added, "However, what surprises me most is the attitude of those old fellows in the Ji Family. Surprisingly, no one is against it, and they're even quite supportive. You know, although that kid Ye Fan has decent talent, he is, after all, a Loose Cultivator of unknown origin. In the past, how could the Ji Family possibly marry their Young Miss to such a person?"

Chu Tianjiao smiled. "Times have changed. An Ancient Desolate Saint Body, supported by several major figures and backed by the void mirror. Who would dare to oppose? Do they want to die?"

Ancient Kirin Emperor nodded. "True. And the combination of a Yuan Spirit Body and an Ancient Desolate Saint Body might really produce a monster. Those old fellows are probably banking on that idea too."

Chu Tianjiao smiled without a word.

Listening to their conversation, Xiao Nannan's face turned even redder. But she didn't argue, only burying her face in Chu Tianjiao's shoulder and whispering a single sentence.

"Brother has finally seen the light."