# Chapter 1788: Is There an Immortal?
Generation after generation, the path they walked in pursuit of immortality was the path to immortality...
Ye Fan felt a chill from head to toe. These words made him think of many things and deeply moved him. Was this the Ruthless Great Emperor's definition and understanding of immortality?
If understood this way, where had Ji Ziyue and Little Zi gone? What kind of place had they entered? Ye Fan clenched his fists, his entire body ice-cold.
For a long time, he could not speak, sitting here unable to move.
Concern breeds confusion. Only after a long time did he calm down, thinking he might have overthought things. The Great Emperor had only spoken one sentence, not necessarily meaning that.
Ye Fan again asked for guidance, but unfortunately the Great Emperor paid no attention, like a statue of white mutton-fat jade, beautiful and lustrous, no longer speaking, cherishing words like gold.
In the Bronze Immortal Hall, it suddenly became quiet, so still you could hear a pin drop. But outside, it was a cacophony of noise. The Eastern Wasteland experienced a great earthquake, and various places across the universe were also in an uproar. The meeting of two giants had touched the nerves of all parties!
"It's hard to imagine. The Sacred Body has actually reached this step, able to descend into the Primordial Abyss to converse with that person. That is... the Ruthless Great Emperor!"
Those who had once been in the same era as Ye Fan looked back, feeling it was so unreal.
What did a Great Emperor mean? There were too many ancient legends! Who could compare? In the hearts of the world, they were unattainably high. Who was Ruthless? Peerless through the ages, stronger than those from the mythological era, suppressing all gods.
Some people sighed.
Ye Fan had once been on the same starting line as them, but now he had left them far behind, soaring above the nine heavens, able to sit face to face with the Ruthless Great Emperor and converse.
At this moment, everyone in the world had complicated feelings. Especially those who had once competed with Ye Fan, their eyes filled with bewilderment.
To live in the same era as such a person was their fortune, because they witnessed a legend. It was also their misfortune. Amidst the brilliant stars, who could contend? Under his radiance, all other stars were dimmed.
"Ultimately... is there an immortal?" At the bottom of the Primordial Abyss, Ye Fan's eyes shone brightly, finally pointing to this fundamental question.
"Yes!"
To this question, the Great Emperor's eyes finally showed radiance again. She parted her red lips, uttering only this single word, concise and to the point.
Ye Fan's mind shook violently. It was as if a fire had been ignited in his sea of consciousness, like an immortal lamp illuminating the path ahead, clearing away the fog, making his gaze firm.
He rose and performed a great bow. This single word alone was worth more to him than a hundred volumes of ancient scriptures!
The Ruthless Great Emperor had broken through illusions, effectively pointing out a path for him. There really were immortals. This answer was like a lighthouse, its brilliant light shining through the ages, profound and significant, strengthening his heart and his Dao.
If he asked others, they would only be guessing. Even if they said there were immortals, it would be hard to be convincing.
Only when the Ruthless Great Emperor said so did it carry such great influence!
Ye Fan sat here in meditation for a long time, no longer speaking, thinking carefully. He knew the Great Emperor was unwilling to speak much; some things could only be understood on one's own.
The Bronze Immortal Hall was silent, but outside, a huge uproar had been stirred up, spreading far and wide. Experts from all over the universe were alarmed. Zhang Bairen, Dao Yi, and others had all arrived, standing outside the Ancient Forbidden Land.
No one knew why this was happening. People had almost unconsciously gathered here, feeling that Ye Fan's meeting with the suspected Ruthless Great Emperor, the master of the forbidden zone, would surely have far-reaching implications.
Finally, Emperor Huang, Yin Tiande, Divine Silkworm Daoist, and all the other experts had almost all arrived. They sensed a great change, and everyone wanted to understand.
The Big Dipper was once again in turmoil!
"Great Emperor, why did you not enter the Immortal Domain?" This was another question Ye Fan asked, with a probing tone and a hint of the only nervousness he had felt since becoming a peerless expert.
The Great Emperor's expression was calm. Her peerless immortal countenance showed not a single ripple. Her eyes were clear as water, gazing at Ye Fan, looking at him so carefully for the first time, as if she wanted to see through him completely.
Ye Fan suddenly became at ease, letting go of everything, meeting her gaze. The Bronze Hall was completely still.
No one knew how long passed. In those clear, water-like eyes, Ye Fan saw some images that made his heart tremble, as if a huge stone had been thrown into the lake of his heart.
A little girl, her small clothes patched and tattered, her face dirty, only her big eyes like black gems, pitiful and endearing.
She had no parents, only a young boy with whom she depended on each other. Though poor, they were happy, smiling every day.
The ghost-face mask was their only toy. There were no luxurious jewelry ornaments. To amuse the little girl, the boy made her a ring from a bronze piece. Though crude, the little girl treasured it.
Later, the boy was discovered to be a genius, forcibly taken away, and finally brought to the Five-Colored Altar.
The little girl cried loudly, running until her worn-out little shoes fell off, begging bitterly. Among those people, someone finally agreed to let her see him off.
Before the Five-Colored Altar... eternal farewell!
Before leaving, the boy took the ghost-face mask, leaving behind the ring, leaving the little girl alone, crying heartbrokenly, falling to the ground, her little hands covered in blood.
Later, a Great Emperor rose powerfully, shaking the ages!
She had no talent, could not cultivate, but she defied heaven and earth, becoming a Heavenly Emperor, her brilliance surpassing past and present, becoming a legend.
Ye Fan sighed, looking at the Great Emperor before him.
In his heart, another figure emerged, merging with the Great Emperor. Tattered little clothes, little shoes with holes for toes, when scolded, she would lower her head, timidly step back, tears in her big eyes, leaving aggrievedly alone, her small back so pitiful and lonely...
"Little Nannan!"
Ye Fan called out, unable to contain himself.
And at this moment, the Great Emperor's eyes were no longer clear but deep, flowing with nine-colored immortal light, piercing through Ye Fan's body, including his sea of consciousness.
Ye Fan did not resist. He always felt he had taken too much from the Great Emperor—the Nine Marvelous Divine Medicine Fruit, the Primordial Mother Qi, the Immortal Treasure Map... If she wanted to take action, so be it.
With his call, the Great Emperor remained calm as water, without any response.
The nine-colored immortal light flowed and finally converged, leaving no trace. Ye Fan stared blankly at her, not knowing what she was doing. At this moment, the Great Emperor's eyes were as deep as the starry sky, unreadable.
At this point, Ye Fan could confirm that Little Nannan was also the Great Emperor. Was this the Dao Fruit the ancient supreme beings spoke of? But he preferred to think of it as the Great Emperor's happy and contented childhood—though poor, carefree and without worries.
She had always been wandering in the mortal world.
Outstanding talents, even peerless prodigies, could not become emperors due to obsession, let alone immortals.
But the Ruthless Great Emperor, driven by obsession, rose against the world, achieving the status of a supreme Heavenly Emperor, her brilliance shining through the ages, unmatched by anyone.
In the Bronze Immortal Hall, there was no sound. The Great Emperor was again like a white mutton-fat jade carving, without ripples, motionless, her eyes like the sea, like an abyss.
No matter what Ye Fan asked, she no longer parted her lips.
Finally, Ye Fan stood up, bowed to her. Except for his close ones, perhaps only the Great Emperor in this world could receive such a bow. Leaving this hall, he would look down upon the heavens.
When he reached the bronze hall's door, Ye Fan stopped again, saying, "The Great Emperor's life makes one sigh. Life after life, what are you ultimately trying to do?"
"Waiting for you to return."
Unexpectedly, just before he left, the Great Emperor spoke again, uttering these words.
Ye Fan's body shook violently, frozen in place. He remembered that in the blurry images he had just seen, the young boy was exactly like him, his features extremely similar.
Standing there for a long time, Ye Fan's heart calmed. He knew that the Ruthless Great Emperor was not waiting for him. That "you" referred to only one person—that young boy.
As a Great Emperor-level figure, he pondered for a moment and saw through the truth. It could also be said that Ruthless was waiting for him, waiting for him to reach the pinnacle of brilliance, to see if he could reflect the same flower soul.
What a powerful obsession this was!
After deep thought, Ye Fan's heart stirred again. The Great Emperor's eyes were too deep. What she wanted to wait for, what she wanted to see, also involved the ultimate secret of longevity.
Not for eternal life, but to wait for you to return in this mortal world.
Ye Fan turned and strode away, leaping up from the Primordial Abyss, then walking out of this forbidden zone. Many people were waiting there.
Everyone felt that a great change was about to happen, but when Ye Fan came out, although they felt he was somewhat different, nothing particularly special occurred.
Everyone was stunned.
After this experience, Ye Fan's temperament was somewhat different. His gaze was unprecedentedly firm, as if he wanted to see through time and space, past and present.
"Brother Ye, did you gain anything?" Fire Qilin Child had also come. After years apart, her charm was even greater than before. Her figure was slender, very beautiful and enchanting.
"Immortal!" Ye Fan only had this one word, not hiding anything.
But the crowd looked puzzled, exchanging glances. Everyone had gathered here, sensing something, but they hadn't expected the answer to be just one word.
Many did not understand, but Ye Fan offered no explanation.
Outside the Ancient Forbidden Land, Little Pine was holding Little Nannan. The little girl's pure, flawless big eyes were filled with joy. Seeing him return safely, she waved at him and smiled lightly.
Ye Fan walked over, picked her up, placed her on his shoulder, and strode away with Little Pine.
The truly strong watched quietly, saying nothing more.
In the distance, some minor cultivators showed strange expressions. In this world, could anyone sit on a Great Emperor's shoulder? Probably only his close family.
"Master, did you gain anything?" Outside the domain, Little Pine asked.
Ye Fan sighed, his eyes dimming. He had gained greatly. A divine lamp had lit up ahead, giving him unprecedented firmness and confidence. But this path was too difficult, requiring time. Could those who were about to grow old afford to wait?
"Old Man Human Demon doesn't have much time left. I think he will sit in meditation and pass away within a few hundred years," Little Pine said softly.
"If I forcefully intervene, will they be angry?" Ye Fan murmured.
After this day, Ye Fan sat cross-legged in Immortal Mountain, his mind free of distractions, only contemplating longevity and immortality. The imperial path was the final destination. All ancient supreme beings had reached this point.
The road had reached its end. Ahead, there was no more path.
"If there is no road, we will tread one out ourselves, continuing it on our own."
Ye Fan knew this was very difficult. So many outstanding talents throughout history—the Heavenly Venerables of the mythological era, the Emperors of the ancient times, the Great Emperors of the desolate ages—all seemed to have failed. He was very strong, but could he surpass everyone?
But if he didn't do this, what else could he do? The almost illusory path to immortality would not open again for a million years. In this era, besides relying on himself, what else was there?