Ch. 99 - Birds of The Same Feather Flock Together

Ye Fan wasn’t particularly worried. The profound green copper block remained dormant in his Bitter Sea, and no one knew of its existence, there was no reason anyone would trouble him over it.

“Perhaps the Heartlands will collaborate with the Eastern Wilderness. After all, both might have supreme treasures lost in the Yin Tomb beneath the deep pool.”

“There’s a legend that the Desolate Tower can suppress and kill immortals. If it reappears, it could stabilize the Demon Emperor’s tomb.”

“If the Desolate Tower is inside the Yin Tomb, then this problem becomes completely unsolvable. There’ll be no way to break it open.”

“What exactly is the Heartlands’ treasure, and how did it end up in our Eastern Wilderness?”

“The Heartlands is ancient and mysterious. It’s said their supreme treasures have existed since the beginning of time, not something people at our level can hope to understand.”

“It seems only a fragment was lost in the Eastern Wilderness, and hardly anyone knows what it actually is.”

As the cultivators talked while eating, Ye Fan gathered a lot of useful information.

“It’s been over two years… that ruin is now a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Who knows when it’ll end, or how many will die before then. Thinking about it, we rogue cultivators are lucky. If we were in a major sect, we might have been sent there too. Anyone who nears that deep pool faces certain death.”

“The sects seem to be following the suggestion of a certain powerful figure, to open the pool with a blood sacrifice of countless lives. I have a feeling that until the Desolate Tower is retrieved, the Eastern Wilderness will not know peace. That land is destined to become a blood-soaked demonic soil. The Demon Emperor was terrifying. He must have foreseen this outcome, what a curse left for ten thousand years.”

“Exactly. The sacred grounds and ancient royal clans are determined to obtain the Desolate Tower. They won’t give up easily.”

Ye Fan felt at ease. After obtaining the green copper from the Heartlands, he had no interest in the Desolate Tower. That was something far beyond his reach. The mysterious green copper was enough. His priority now was figuring out how to enter the Forbidden Ancient Realm. As for treasure hunts, he would avoid them at all costs.

Just as he was about to leave, Ye Fan overheard a crucial piece of news. Without showing any reaction, he quietly sat back down.

“Several powerful figures from the sacred grounds and ancient families are on the verge of death. Word is, they’ve set their sights on the Forbidden Ancient Realm.”

“No way. Someone still dares to venture in? Throughout history, countless have entered, and almost all perished. I remember one sacred ground attacked it during its peak, mobilizing tens of thousands of elite cultivators to storm the abyss… and they were utterly annihilated. That place is like a living hell.”

“The sect that was wiped out was too arrogant. They tried to invade the deepest part of the abyss. This time, the sacred grounds and ancient families are being forced into action. Some of their most powerful members are dying. They’re hoping to harvest the divine medicine from the nine sacred mountains, not to enter the abyss itself.”

“I still think they’ll be wiped out. That Forbidden Burial Ground is even more terrifying than the Demon Emperor’s tomb!”

“Maybe not. There have been a few cases in history where people successfully harvested the divine herbs. Of course, what they paid for that success is unknown. Those sacred grounds and ancient families have deep foundations. If they’re going, they’ll be thoroughly prepared. Their odds aren’t bad.”

“This will be another earth-shaking event for the Eastern Wilderness. The Forbidden Ancient Realm is one of the Seven Forbidden Burial Grounds in the region. After countless years, someone is finally going there again.”

“When will they set out? Maybe we should go too. While they climb the nine sacred mountains to gather divine herbs, we can stick to the outskirts and collect some regular spiritual plants. That shouldn’t be too dangerous.”

“They probably won’t leave for a while. Right now is the most dangerous period in the Forbidden Ancient Realm…”

Eventually, Ye Fan left the small town, mulling over the rogue cultivators’ words. He realized he needed to give it serious thought.

“That forbidden land is far more dangerous than I imagined. Back then, I probably survived thanks to the nine dragon corpses and the massive bronze coffin.”

Ye Fan didn’t fly. He traveled on foot and passed through the State of Yan’s Capital. The city was massive, with sprawling territory. The walls stretched out like the Great Wall of China, cutting across the land.

The Capital of Yan was bustling. Watching the throngs of people on the streets, Ye Fan was filled with emotion. After two years of solitary cultivation in the deep mountains, the contrast between that silence and this liveliness was stark.

After facing forests, cliffs, and streams every day, returning to such a noisy and vibrant city felt incredibly warm.

“Golden silk dates, big and sweet!”

“Crispy fried chicken wings, free if not delicious!”

“Zhang’s soup dumplings! Thin skin, big filling, juicy and flavorful! Come try!”

“Candied hawthorns, only one copper coin a skewer!”

The street was filled with vendors shouting their wares. At street corners, jugglers and performers entertained crowds of adults and children. Shopkeepers called out cheerfully in front of their stores, overflowing with charm.

“Cultivation is bitter. The mortal world is so alluring…” Ye Fan couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. It was all so vivid and familiar. Compared to the hardship of cultivation, this simple life was deeply appealing.

But he couldn’t waver from his path. He wanted to go home, back to the place where he was truly born and raised.

Ye Fan had been in this world for three years. Now, after his bitter cultivation, he had returned to the mortal realm. Thoughts of home surged in his mind.

“Three years have passed so quickly. I wonder how the others are doing…” He first thought of Pang Bo, deeply worried about him. Then came memories of Liu Yiyi, Zhang Ziling, Lin Jia, Wang Ziwen, Zhou Yi…

“Maybe… before entering the Forbidden Ancient Realm, I should visit my old classmates.” He wanted to see Liu Yiyi and Zhang Ziling, after three years apart, he longed to know how they were doing.

“Big brother… I’m hungry. Can you buy me a bun, please? I’m really, really hungry…” At that moment, Ye Fan noticed a pitiful little girl covered in dirt. She looked up at him with big, innocent eyes. Her clothes were tattered, her face smudged with grime, only her eyes were bright and clear.

Ye Fan could never bear sights like this. They always brought a pang of sorrow. He bought a few steaming soup dumplings from a nearby stall, wrapped them in oiled paper, and handed them to the girl. Then, while no one was looking, he slipped all the coins he had into her arms.

Even after he’d disappeared down the street, the little girl stood there, staring in a daze.

Ye Fan walked briskly out of the city and discovered that the nearest place was Jade-Cauldron Grotto-Heaven, just over four hundred miles away. He remembered Liu Yiyi had become a disciple there and decided to visit.

The State of Yan stretched two thousand miles north to south, three thousand east to west. The Forbidden Ancient Realm was located in the middle, surrounded by endless mountains. The six superpowers, Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven, Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven, and others, were all positioned on the outskirts of this primeval zone.

Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven was nestled among celestial peaks. Mist shrouded the area, making it look like a paradise far from the mortal world.

Ye Fan reached the mountain gate and felt a tranquil, harmonious aura. The peaks were lush and green, with flowing springs, cascading waterfalls, vibrant vegetation, and intelligent birds and beasts. It was like a world from a painting.

At the entrance stood a strange beast, body like an ox, head like a qilin. It lay beside a pond, its huge eyes half-open, staring at Ye Fan warily.

“Who are you, and why have you come to Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven?” A disciple guarding the gate noticed him.

“I’m here to visit a friend.” When Ye Fan mentioned Liu Yiyi’s name, the disciple’s expression softened. “Wait here. I’ll go report.”

Half a quarter hour later, Liu Yiyi didn’t appear. Instead, a young man with graying temples arrived. Upon seeing Ye Fan, he exclaimed, “Ye Fan, it really is you!”

Ye Fan was startled, then smiled. “So you’re cultivating at Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven too?”

It was their old classmate, Zhang Wenchang. He had always been ordinary, quiet and unremarkable. In gatherings, he was easy to overlook.

Ye Fan walked up and playfully punched him. “You’ve regained your youth. Congrats!”

Zhang Wenchang gave a bitter smile. “Only my skin lost its wrinkles. Look, I still have gray hair.”

“You look much better than when we last met. Back then, you looked ancient. Now you just seem prematurely gray.”

“I envy you. You got to relive your youth.” The usually reserved Zhang Wenchang joked back.

The two laughed heartily, genuinely happy to see an old friend.

Originally, the six sects had each selected two people from their group of classmates. Only Ye Fan was the exception.

Zhang Wenchang and Liu Yiyi had both been chosen by Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven and had trained there for three years.

“Yiyi is the favorite of a sect elder. She’s got incredible potential and is currently in closed-door cultivation. They say she might reach the Life Spring Realm in six months or a year. That’s insanely fast.”

“You look well too.”

“I can’t compare to Yiyi. I’m only average here. My youthful appearance is thanks to her asking a grand elder to help me.”

Zhang Wenchang led Ye Fan inside. Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven was beautiful, verdant immortal mountains sparkled with light and mist. Waterfalls cascaded down like white silk, glowing like starlight.

Many peaks were shrouded in fog. Palaces and pavilions loomed faintly, full of a celestial atmosphere.

Most stunning was a snow-white mountain in the center, shaped like a giant cauldron, completely bare and glowing softly, resembling pure jade.

“It’s been three years, we’re drinking until we drop today!” Zhang Wenchang was excited.

“Do your sects even allow alcohol?” Ye Fan remembered how he and Pang Bo had been forced to eat vegetarian food every day in Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven. It had been pure torment.

“Don’t worry. We’ve officially become cultivators. We’re past the initial purification stage, now we’re allowed wine and meat.”

Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven was vast. After crossing several mountains, Zhang Wenchang brought Ye Fan to a peach blossom grove. Nearby were small taverns, full of poetic charm.

“Cultivators are human too, we need to unwind,” Zhang said with a smile. “Of course, we don’t indulge in wild partying. Just light drinking and some tasty food.”

“That’s more like it,” Ye Fan nodded. “I was beginning to think cultivators had to sever all emotions and desires.”

They sat at a small tavern with traditional furnishings, a pearwood table and peachwood chairs, placed right by the roadside, facing the peach blossom trees. Other taverns were the same, open-air, full of rustic charm.

They ordered food and wine and began drinking. In this strange world, reuniting with an old classmate made them nostalgic and emotional.

“Ever since arriving here, I’ve had sleepless nights… I dream of going home. I miss my parents and friends…” Normally quiet, Zhang Wenchang opened up like never before, speaking from the heart, like he was with family.

Li Xiaoman’s coldness and Zhang Wenchang’s warmth, Ye Fan couldn’t help but feel the contrast.

“Maybe one day, we can go back,” Ye Fan said softly.

“Go back… I’ve stopped hoping for that.” Zhang shook his head bitterly. “How have you been these three years? Were you in Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven or living among mortals? I heard Pang Bo vanished…”

Ye Fan wanted to tell the truth but held back. His story was too complicated, it could bring trouble to them both. So he simply nodded. “Pang Bo did disappear. I’m very worried. I left Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven long ago and have been wandering.”

“We’ve all had it rough. Being mortal is hard, but cultivation isn’t as wonderful as people imagine, it's lonely and full of life-and-death struggles.”

“Be careful,” Ye Fan warned. “Better to cultivate more and wander less.”

Zhang Wenchang nodded, then gave a bitter smile. “No matter where I go, I’ll never stand out. That was true before, and it’s true now. I’ll live an ordinary life. Maybe one day, I’ll leave this place and open a small tavern in the mortal world, live a peaceful, quiet life.”

“Don’t be so negative…” Ye Fan tried to comfort him.

“You don’t understand. The world of cultivators is brutal. If I don’t quit, I’ll eventually die at someone’s hands, quietly and unnoticed. I’ll vanish like a ripple in a river. No one will know or care. Only I will know I no longer exist.”

Ye Fan was moved. He hadn’t fully stepped into the world of true cultivation yet, but now he saw how harsh it truly was.

Zhang sighed, “I heard Lin Jia, Zhou Yi, Wang Ziwen, and Li Xiaoman are all valued by their sects. Some people shine no matter where they go.”

They drank and reminisced, talking about the past and their current struggles. Eventually, Zhang Wenchang got completely drunk. Lying on the table, he suddenly broke into tears.

“I really want to go home. I don’t want to stay in this strange world. When I left… my wife was pregnant. Our child was about to be born. She needed me most, and I vanished, brought to this place…”

He couldn’t control his emotions, sobbing like a child.

“I want to go home so badly… My child should be three years old now. I dream of holding him… kissing him…”

Watching his friend cry with such pain, Ye Fan felt deeply shaken and tried to comfort him.

“Who’s crying over there? Oh, it’s that useless old man,” a mocking voice rang out nearby. Several young men walked over, wearing sneers.

“White-haired and half-wasted, what’s he crying about?”

“Hilarious!”

They looked to be in their twenties and mocked him mercilessly.

Ye Fan sighed. He now understood that Zhang Wenchang hadn’t had an easy time in Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven. His eyes shot two beams of light, staring down the group. “Watch your mouths.”

“Who the hell are you? Don’t stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

“Think you’re a big shot just because you’re in the Life Spring Realm? Pathetic.”

“A loser’s friend must be a loser too…”

“Don’t say that, what if Liu Yiyi hears and tattles again?”

“It’s you!” Suddenly, the youngest of the group, a teenager, glared angrily at Ye Fan, his eyes wide with fury.

“Junior Brother Feiyu, you know him?” the others asked.

The boy’s eyes burned with rage. “Of course I do. He’s not from Jade Cauldron Grotto-Heaven. He used to be in our Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven. A complete loser!”

Ye Fan sighed inwardly. The world could be small sometimes. He hadn’t expected to run into Han Feiyu here.

“So, he’s a loser. Figures. Birds of the same feather flock together, a washed-up old man and his loser friend,” the group laughed mockingly, without restraint.

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