206: Chapter 206 Three Years

Three years.

Ye Fan had been fighting bloody battles in the Ziwei Star Realm for a full three years.

During these three years, he traveled to every corner of Ziwei Star, challenging the descendants of thirty-seven Holy Lands, nineteen Divine Dynasties, and countless major sects. His opponents ranged from the Sixth Heaven to the Ninth Heaven of the Half-step Great Power Realm. He faced everything from Taiyin Holy Power to Sun True Fire, from the Human King Body to Imperial Dragon Qi, and from the Longevity Art to the Myriad Laws Return to Origin.

He experienced hundreds of battles, giving his all every single time and walking the edge of life and death. Countless scars now marked his body. His fists had been broken and healed more times than he could count. His consciousness had hovered on the brink of death countless times, only to be pulled back by his stubborn will.

But his gains were equally massive.

In the first year, he broke through from the entry level of a Half-step Great Power to the Peak of the First Heaven.

In the second year, he broke through to the Second Heaven of the Half-step Great Power Realm.

In the third year, he completely stabilized his cultivation at the Second Heaven and began moving toward the Third Heaven.

Two minor Realms in three years. For an ordinary Cultivator, this speed wouldn't be considered fast. But for the Ancient Desolate Saint Body, it was a startling achievement. One must know that the resources required for every Realm of the Ancient Desolate Saint Body were ten or a hundred times that of a normal person. To break through two minor Realms in three years, he relied not only on the tempering of those hundreds of bloody battles but also on his own Heaven-Defying talent and perseverance.

More importantly, his combat strength had already far exceeded his cultivation Realm.

With the cultivation of a Second Heaven Half-step Great Power and the Eight Forbidden fully active, his combat strength reached the Peak of the Half-step Great Power Realm. When the All-Word Secret was triggered, stacking ten times the combat power, his strength directly broke through the threshold of the Second Heaven of the Immortal Pavilion, reaching the level of a newly initiated Great Power.

Combined with the Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist, the Walk-Word Secret, and the combat instincts he had honed through countless life-and-death struggles over these three years—he was now capable of facing a Great Power who had just entered the Second Heaven of the Immortal Pavilion in a direct confrontation.

In a desolate mountain range within the Ziwei Star Realm.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged on a massive rock, eyes closed as he adjusted his breathing. A faint golden light swirled around him; it was the power of the Saint Body circulating. His aura was deep and restrained, like a bottomless dark pool.

The Old Maniac stood not far away with his hands behind his back, watching him.

A moment later, Ye Fan opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through them, like lightning piercing the night sky. He clenched his fists, feeling the power surging like an ocean within his body, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

“Old Maniac, I feel like I can take on ten right now.”

The Old Maniac glanced at him and spoke calmly. “Ten what? Ten Half-step Great Powers, or ten Great Powers?”

Ye Fan thought for a moment. “Ten Half-step Great Powers, one punch for each. Ten Great Powers... I'd have to run.”

The Old Maniac nodded. “You have self-awareness. Good.”

He walked up to Ye Fan and looked him up and down. In his gaze, there was scrutiny, gratification, and an indescribable complexity.

“Three years to go from a new Half-step Great Power to the Second Heaven. The speed is acceptable.”

Ye Fan gave a cheeky grin. “It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Elder.”

The Old Maniac shook his head. “It's not my guidance; you did this yourself. The path of the Ancient Desolate Saint Body is a hundred times harder than that of an ordinary person. That you could break through two minor Realms in three years is due to your own perseverance and talent.”

He paused, his tone becoming solemn.

“Now, your combat strength is comparable to a Great Power who has just entered the Second Heaven of the Immortal Pavilion. You could even hold your own for several hundred rounds against those old fogies who have lived for a thousand years without being defeated.”

Ye Fan’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Really,” the Old Maniac nodded. “Your Eight Forbidden, All-Word Secret, and Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist are all Heaven-Defying methods. Combined with the speed of the Walk-Word Secret, your recovery rate, and the combat instincts you've honed these three years—ordinary new Great Powers truly cannot do anything to you.”

His tone shifted. “But remember, that is only for newly initiated Great Powers. If you encounter those Peak Great Powers who have been immersed in the Second Heaven of the Immortal Pavilion for thousands of years, you still need to run. As for the Dao-Cutting Kings...”

He looked at Ye Fan and said word for word: “If you encounter a Dao-Cutting King, run immediately. Don't look back, don't hesitate, and don't harbor any illusions of luck.”

Ye Fan nodded seriously. “I understand.”

He wasn't a fool. Between the Second Heaven and Third Heaven of the Immortal Pavilion lay a massive chasm. A Dao-Cutting King was an existence that had survived the Tribulation of Dao-Cutting; their Dao Heart was steadfast, and their combat strength far exceeded a Second-Order Immortal Great Power. With his current strength, he wouldn't even be able to take a single blow from a Dao-Cutting King.

“However, to have reached this stage in three years, you've done very well.” The Old Maniac's tone softened, a trace of gratification flashing in his eyes. “What do you plan to do next? Stay in Ziwei, or return to the Big Dipper?”

Ye Fan was silent for a moment.

He thought of the Big Dipper, the Ji Family, Ji Haoyue, and Ji Zi. He thought of that young girl who always wore a purple dress and would always steal glances at him.

Ji Ziyue.

Three years. He had been away from the Big Dipper for a full three years. In these three years, he had fought every day, cultivated every day, and grown stronger every day. But he had never forgotten that girl.

Was she doing well? Did she miss him? Was she still waiting for him?

Ye Fan took a deep breath, looked up, and faced the Old Maniac.

“I want to go back.”

The Old Maniac looked at him, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

“Good.”

He turned and began walking out of the mountain range.

“But before we go back, there is one more place we must go.”

Ye Fan was slightly stunned. “Where?”

The Old Maniac didn't turn around, simply speaking calmly.

“The Taiyin Divine Sect.”

Ye Fan was dazed. “The Taiyin Divine Sect? Haven't we already been there?”

“Last time was a challenge,” the Old Maniac's voice drifted back. “This time is a visit. The Taiyin Divine Sect possesses a Secret Technique called the Taiyin True Scripture. Although you cannot Cultivate it, certain Profound Truths within it can be cross-referenced with your Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist.”

He paused and continued, “There is also the Sun True Scripture of the Sun Divine Sect, the Human King Seal of the Human King Hall, and the Longevity Art of the Longevity Temple... In these three years, you only defeated their descendants, but you haven't truly understood their Dao and Laws. Before going back, you must learn all of these.”

Ye Fan's eyes brightened.

“Alright.”

He quickly caught up with the Old Maniac, and their figures vanished into the twilight.

In every corner of the Ziwei Star Realm, Ye Fan's name had already become a legend. Among the Saints and Saintesses he had defeated, some went into secluded cultivation, swearing to wash away their disgrace; some were thoroughly convinced and viewed him as a target to chase; others secretly united, hoping to find a way to defeat him.

But regardless, they all knew—that Ancient Desolate Saint Body from the Big Dipper had already left an indelible mark on this ancient land.

And all of this was just the beginning of his struggle on the imperial road.

In the distant Big Dipper Astral Region.

Inside a quiet courtyard of the Ji Family.

Ji Ziyue sat on a stone bench under the purple bamboo, her chin resting in her hands as she looked at the sky. For three years, she had sat here every day for a while, watching the sky, the stars, and the direction in which that light had disappeared.

“Ye Fan, when are you coming back?”

She murmured softly, a faint smile on her lips.

“I'll wait for you.”