# Chapter 1317: Time Flies Like a Shuttle
Time passed, years flowed by like a shuttle.
Back then, they had been forced into the Ancient Forbidden Land to gather medicine, fleeing for their lives separately, never to meet again.
Coming from the other shore of the starry sky, set in motion by the Nine Dragons Coffin, they had entered the vast universe, each walking a different path. A parting of decades—nearly a hundred years—the span of an ordinary mortal's life had already ended, and only today did they reunite.
The two men sighed with infinite emotion. Back then, they had been in their prime, full of vigor and ambition, never imagining they would enter the starry sky and embark upon such a life.
"I remember your company's performance was steadily rising, just when you were about to spread your wings. And yet, an elite professional became a missing person like this," Ye Fan teased.
Wang Ziwen smiled bitterly, then fell into a daze. On the other shore of the starry sky, their peers should have returned to dust by now. Who could have imagined that they had entered the heavens and come into contact with divine and demonic civilizations?
Such an encounter might make many in their homeland envious, but now that they had truly reached this point, how many could understand their feelings?
Immortality was elusive, the path of immortals merciless. When years passed away, what mattered was only a state of mind. How could one forget the past? Too many things remained for them to cherish.
Old friends, past events—one by one, scene by scene—now they found that the deepest memories in their hearts were all from the other shore of the starry sky, not the magnificent sights of this side.
Wang Ziwen had been an active figure in university. After graduation, he had built up his thriving career through hard work, becoming sophisticated and smooth in dealing with people. But now, his voice trembled as he spoke, extremely agitated.
Lonely, drifting in a foreign land, he had fought alone on this ancient star without a single old friend, without a single acquaintance. He had endured a period of hardship.
Stars dotted the sky, a silver moon hung askew. They came to the rear garden, set up tables and chairs, and drank wine under the moon, talking about their many years of experience.
The moonlight was hazy. In this garden, artificial rockeries were piled up. Under the small white stone arch bridge, water flowed gently, and koi fish swished their tails. Many fine trees were planted, and some flowers and grasses emitted fragrance, carried by the wind.
The vast building complex all belonged to Wang Ziwen. This great city was entirely his creation. He had shed hot blood back then, experienced many life-and-death battles, and now finally stood firm in this ancient land of life.
"Big Dipper was just a waystation for me. It was so vast, the destination of the ancient great emperors in their later years, yet I never even got to see it."
Wang Ziwen sighed. He had never left Yan State, confined to a single cave heaven paradise. Later, he was forced by several holy lands to gather medicine in the Ancient Forbidden Land, and left from there, never to return.
"The Immortal Palace is elusive. I suspect it's not an immortal land but something left behind by an ancient great emperor. Only now that I've become a sage can I truly appreciate its extraordinariness."
Ye Fan listened seriously but could not offer an opinion. He regretted that he had never been able to enter, having no connection with that place.
"Speaking of it, I, Zhou Yi, Lin Jia, and Zhang Ziling had no twists and turns or colorful experiences in the Immortal Palace. We encountered no danger after entering. I obtained a purple-gold gourd with some broken pill fragments inside. Reaching this point today, I owe it all to that."
Wang Ziwen concealed nothing. Gone was his past shrewdness, replaced by more sincerity. After so many years, even if there had been some grudges in the past, they had long been worn away by time.
He had walked for a long time in the Immortal Palace and found an altar. On it was placed a purple-gold gourd that had not gathered dust over the long years. He took it into his hands. On the altar table were some ancient characters, noting it as a failed product of the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill.
Inside the gourd were some broken pill fragments. The moment he pulled out the gourd stopper, he felt as if he were ascending to immortality, every pore on his body opening wide.
Wang Ziwen had been a minor cultivator back then, but he knew this must be a furnace of great medicine, likely of immeasurable value. He then searched carefully, hoping to obtain more divine objects from the Immortal Palace.
"I didn't notice and stepped onto a complex pattern—an altar—and was inexplicably transported to this star," Wang Ziwen shook his head.
As for the others, if they hadn't appeared, they had likely encountered similar situations, perhaps stepping onto a path leading beyond the heavens.
"When I first entered the Immortal Palace, I was walking together with Zhou Yi. Later, we entered different great palaces. I remember that at the moment I crossed over, I saw a huge Eight Trigrams flashing in his great palace, very magnificent."
Ye Fan was surprised upon hearing this and muttered to himself, "Zhou Yi, Zhou of the Zhou Dynasty, Yi of the Changes—the Eight Trigrams. It really was an omen."
Back then, there had been no dangerous battles, no twists and turns experiences. They had simply stepped onto a strange altar and been teleported into the starry domain.
Each person's encounter was different. One step taken, and the stars shifted, time passed, separated by the vast universe, they had different lives.
"I never imagined you'd almost become a Sage King. I thought that with the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill fragments, my progress was already heaven-defying," Wang Ziwen said.
Ye Fan had nothing to hide before an old friend. He only restrained his imposing aura, for otherwise, the aura accumulated from years of bloody battles would be very intimidating.
"Among the old friends, aside from you, Zhang Ziling, Lin Jia, and Zhou Yi, I know the whereabouts and fate of the others," Ye Fan recounted many past events, mentioning Pang Bo, Zhang Wenchang, Li Xiaoman, and others.
Wang Ziwen sighed. After so many years apart, many had died, never to be seen again.
Ye Fan said, "Lin Jia was pursued by Liu Yunzhi, Li Changqing, and Wang Yan. She managed to escape, but she never appeared again. I suspect she's no longer in Big Dipper either, otherwise she should have come to see me."
"Perhaps one day you'll meet Zhang Ziling, Zhou Yi, and Lin Jia again. I wonder how they're doing now," Wang Ziwen asked.
He found it incredible that Ye Fan could tread the heavenly domain and enter the depths of the universe. The starry sky was so vast, and for them to reunite here could be considered a miracle.
"You returned to Earth?" When Wang Ziwen heard Ye Fan recount his experiences, he stood up in shock, his chest heaving violently.
Ye Fan nodded. "Yes, like a dream, only regret and sorrow remain."
"Did you see my family? How were they?" Wang Ziwen asked excitedly, looking at him urgently.
"I went to visit. Your parents were still well at the time. I left some things behind, but human power cannot ultimately defy heaven. I imagine they have already passed their later years by now."
Wang Ziwen's eyes blurred, tears rolling down. A dream of a hundred years—when he looked back, what was left?
He choked up, turned his back, looked up at the starry sky, and silently wept, standing for a long time. His daughter came forward to wipe away his tears. It was a long time before he calmed down.
"Do you want to go back?" Ye Fan asked.
"Yes, but there are things here I cannot abandon. I have already lost too much; I cannot keep losing." He looked at his son and daughter, his eyes full of tenderness. "They were born here and wouldn't adapt to life on Earth. I am an unfilial person... I will go back, but I will return."
After a long time, they spoke of other things, and Wang Ziwen's emotions finally calmed.
Ye Fan learned that this land of life was very prosperous, with three Great Sages in residence. It was not very vast, with limited area.
Nor was it a training ground on the ancient stellar path. No unusual people had descended here in the past. It was only because the ancient star of the Human Clan's Thirtieth Pass had shattered that this place was temporarily borrowed.
"Uncle, I toast you." Wang Xi was youthful and lively, possessing all the vivacious characteristics of a young girl, flitting about like a lark.
In comparison, Wang Chen was more steady and mature.
As someone of the same generation, Wang Ziwen having such grown children made Ye Fan sigh. Then he teased, and naturally, as an uncle, he had to give gifts.
He gave Wang Chen a sword that shone with light piercing the heavens. Having reached the point where he could tear apart saint weapons with his bare hands, what he had collected was naturally extraordinary. This was the Yao Guang Holy Sword, seized during the fierce battle with Yao Guang's Dao body on the eve of killing the Celestial Prince, possessing an immortal divine nature.
As for the gift for Wang Xi, it was naturally a rare saint weapon as well, so as not to show favoritism.
The brother and sister were delighted, thanking him repeatedly. They cherished the two saint weapons, carefully drawing them to examine them. These were saint weapons that could endure through the ages.
Wang Ziwen was moved, saying they were too precious.
Ye Fan shook his head. He had shattered even more rare ancient weapons along the way. Changing the subject, he asked, "What trouble did you encounter?"
"It's all because of this." Wang Ziwen took out a purple-gold gourd, about a foot high, flashing with purple-gold luster, very brilliant.
Over the years, the broken pill fragments in the gourd had been instrumental in his reaching this point. This was a divine medicine!
In Ye Fan's view, Nine Revolutions Immortal Pills were rare in the world, but the great medicine in this gourd dared to be named as such. Although noted as a failed product, it was absolutely world-shaking.
Wang Ziwen doted on his son and daughter. When they were very young, he used the broken pill fragments to build their foundation. Now, both had astonishing strength, far surpassing ordinary peers, and would surely become sages in the future.
It was precisely because of this that it aroused the covetousness of outsiders. Some super major forces investigated thoroughly and discovered the existence of the purple-gold gourd, targeting them.
Wang Ziwen said, "The broken pill fragments were exhausted a few years ago. Only this gourd remains, which is also a supreme treasure. It can swallow ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers and suppress sages."
"If Grandfather hadn't encountered problems during his cultivation, how would they dare to bully us? They're all despicable people!" Wang Xi said angrily, glaring with wide eyes and puffing out her tender cheeks.
Wang Ziwen's brows were tightly furrowed, worry in his heart. When he saw Ye Fan looking at him, a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face.
"My father-in-law was very powerful, only one step away from becoming a Great Sage. But he was too eager for success, and his cultivation went wrong. Now he cannot use his martial power recklessly. Some great enemies are taking this opportunity to make their move."
He explained solemnly that he had reached this point on his own, not because he had a good father-in-law, which made Ye Fan laugh heartily.
Just then, a beautiful woman walked in, entering the garden. She was elegant and noble, but carried a trace of worry. Wang Ziwen introduced her as his wife, a pearl of this ancient land of life.
In the past, Wang Ziwen's performance had been astonishing. He continuously broke through barriers, showing unlimited potential. Thus, he caught the eye of Saint King Lin Han, who agreed to his marriage with his daughter.
Lin Han, a being at the pinnacle of Sage King, had taken more than half a step forward, only a thread away from becoming a Great Sage. He was one of the future supremes of this ancient star.
"Father's cultivation went wrong. Now, not only has it not improved, but it's showing signs of worsening." Lin Ling's eyes were misty with tears.
Various calamities came knocking. Not only did some covet their divine pill fragments, but also great enemies wanted to take this opportunity to eradicate their entire clan, killing them all completely.
With internal and external troubles, Wang Ziwen's sage-level combat power was simply no match for this storm. Even though he was very powerful and astonishing, he was no match. Among the attackers would be veteran Sage Kings.
"If it comes to it, we'll leave this place with Ye Fan and step onto the starry sky," Wang Ziwen said, looking at his children and wife.
If there were a choice, who would want to leave their homeland?
But they were forced to this point. If they didn't leave, they might be bloodily purged, all killed, the entire clan exterminated.
"The South Sea Dragon King is willing to help, but he has concerns, fearing that several invincible Sage Kings might appear," Wang Chen said.
Ye Fan comforted them, telling them not to worry too much.
In the dead of night, all was silent. Ye Fan and Wang Ziwen talked for most of the night in the rear garden, gazing at the starry sky, recounting their various experiences.
Meeting an old friend in a foreign land made them feel especially close.
Wang Xi yawned repeatedly but refused to leave, listening to them tell all kinds of bizarre stories. Even Wang Chen was lost in thought, full of longing.
"Rumble!"
Suddenly, a sound like a tsunami came from the horizon. A group of barbarian riders charged over, trampling across the sky, shattering the heavens. Their iron armor flashed with cold luster, their mounts exuded fierce aura, their banners fluttered in the wind, their weapons were intimidating as they swooped down.
"Where is Wang Ziwen?" A middle-aged man at the front shouted loudly.
"They're here. I didn't expect the He Family to be the first unable to hold back, coming to bloodily purge us," Lin Ling said, standing up and shielding her son and daughter behind her, her emotions agitated, extremely worried.
"Go up and take a look." Wang Ziwen shot into the sky. Lin Ling, their son and daughter, and many experts from the mansion also came to the night sky.
"Uncle Wang, pardon the late-night intrusion. Please forgive me," a young man stepped forward. He was very handsome, cupping his hands in salute. "I heard that Uncle Wang's family is in trouble, so I specially came to help."
"The He Family is shameless, always harboring ill intentions. They were the first to make a move against us, and now they pretend to be so hypocritical," Wang Xi, innocent and lively, was the most impatient and immediately pulled a long face.
"Sister Xi, you speak wrongly. We come with good intentions to help. How can you describe us so poorly?" The handsome young man He Qingyang said lightly, then suddenly put on a serious expression, bowing to Wang Ziwen again. "The He Family wishes to form an alliance with Uncle Wang."
"What do you mean?" Wang Ziwen had experienced great storms and waves, so naturally he was not alarmed. Even facing the calamity of clan extermination, he remained very composed.
"Tonight, we came to propose marriage. I wish to marry Sister Xi. From now on, our two clans will be one, advancing and retreating together," He Qingyang said.
Wang Xi immediately knitted her brows in anger, clenching her small fists, very indignant.
Wang Ziwen's face darkened. He knew the other side wanted to eliminate them, but he hadn't expected them to be so shameless. They wanted to legally swallow up everything from the Wang and Lin Clans, leaving nothing behind, not even the bones.
"Uncle Wang is unwilling?" A few traces of coldness appeared on He Qingyang's handsome face.
Wang Ziwen naturally had no fear of him, but the He Family was a behemoth. Moreover, it was said that this time they had even invited several old demons and ancient beasts from the desolate great mountains, supremely powerful.
"If you don't agree, today we will raze the Wang and Lin Clans to the ground!" A middle-aged man said coldly.
"Rumble!"
Just then, rumbling sounds came from afar again. Several ancient beasts and a few foreign races charged over, streaking across the sky. It was the Dragon Horse and the Nine-Tailed Crocodile Dragon and the other Twelve Saints. They had not entered the mansion with Ye Fan.
"Who are you people?" He Qingyang shouted, his heart trembling. Opposite them, several seemed to be sage-level experts.
Ye Fan stood in the distance, instructing the Dragon Horse, and said coldly, "Trample all these people flat!"
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