Ye Fan asked, "Senior Tianyuan, can you tell me what the Divine Domain is truly like?"

"There’s no time. My consciousness has survived only because of the Divine Steel. Now that I have given it to you, I will soon fade from this world!"

"Then I’ll return the Divine Steel to you, Senior!" Ye Fan said hurriedly. Although he desperately craved the Divine Steel, it was not his—at least, not yet. He would not allow his greed to cause the Ancestor of Tianyuan’s demise. If that were to happen, even if he obtained the Divine Steel, he would not be worthy of reforging his godhood.

The Ancestor of Tianyuan waved him off. "No need. The Divine Steel has far more potential with you than with me. Your path will take you much further than mine ever did.

"As for the structure of the Divine Domain, you will understand when you get there. But I must warn you, it is not as simple as you imagine.

"Even the God Clan’s King of that era was not the strongest expert in the Divine Domain. It is said that an ancient god slumbers there. Though this god slumbers, his eyes watch over all of creation! If anything in this world threatens his existence, he will annihilate it without hesitation!

"So, after you reach the Divine Domain, you must never reveal your Ancestor Realm Bloodline or the Yuanhong Sword. These two things are the most tempting treasures in the world, but it is undeniable that they are also the most terrifying death warrants. Until you are strong enough to protect them from being stolen, you must act with extreme caution!"

His figure grew increasingly faint. Ye Fan knew the Ancestor of Tianyuan could not hold on for much longer, and his heart filled with anxiety. Even though their conversation spanned millennia, Ye Fan felt as if the Ancestor stood right before him, as if the scenes from a thousand years ago were unfolding before his very eyes. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Do not feel sorry or sad for me. I do not belong to this era, so naturally, I must exit the stage of history. This era belongs to you, and I will not interfere much. Our fated connection ends here. The road ahead is one you must walk yourself, one step at a time."

"Senior Tianyuan!"

Tears streamed down Ye Fan’s face. The most formidable man of the Divine Domain, once unmatched and invincible, was now about to fade into the river of history. How could he not grieve? The first great sage of the Human Clan, the Ancestor of Tianyuan, was departing in such a tragic and heroic way.

"The path to the Divine Domain... lies within my tomb!"

With those final words, the Ancestor of Tianyuan dissipated completely.

The Secular World’s most formidable man had finally vanished. Watching helplessly as the Ancestor of Tianyuan dissipated, Ye Fan felt a bitter unease in his heart. He gripped the two pieces of Divine Steel tightly in his hands.

Inspired by his predecessor’s sacrifice, Ye Fan cherished the path of cultivation even more. He swore that one day, he would fulfill this dream he had held for millennia. That dream began now.

Dragging his sorrowful heart, Ye Fan left the tomb. The refined and formidable ancient warrior had vanished forever.

He knew the enmity between the human Secular World and the Divine Race would continue until one side was utterly annihilated. From this day forward, he would strive to overthrow the Divine Race’s rule. Not even death would deter him, for behind him were countless passionate Martial Cultivators, ready to follow in his footsteps.

He soared up from the tomb and flew toward the Spirit Suppressing Domain. This place would not remain quiet, for it was a vital pass connecting the two worlds. Ye Fan was certain that it would not be long before he embarked on his own campaign into the Divine Domain—a campaign that would never end.

Back in the Spirit Suppressing Domain, Ye Fan held the two pieces of Divine Steel. He now had one of the most crucial materials needed to forge his godhood. However, there were still some secrets he wanted to uncover. For this reason, he sought out Zhuang Zhou.

When Zhuang Zhou saw him, he asked, "Brother Ye, what important matter brings you to me?"

I fully expected him to obtain the Divine Steel. But at this point, shouldn’t he be forging his godhood? Why would he have time to look for me? After all, I already told him about the materials and methods required. He shouldn’t have any time to spare.

Ye Fan said, "I came to find you, Senior, because there are some secrets I wish to ask you about."

"Just ask. As long as I know, I will certainly tell you the truth!" Zhuang Zhou replied courteously, putting on no airs.

Ye Fan said, "It is not so much a secret as it is something that has been bothering me for a long time. After Song Mu buried the Ancestor of Tianyuan, where did he go?"

At these words, Zhuang Zhou was stunned.

Ye Fan watched him intently. After a long silence, Zhuang Zhou finally spoke. "He perished!"

"He was gravely injured. By the time he returned to the Spirit Suppressing Domain, he was extremely weak. Afterward, he went to the Secular World," Zhuang Zhou said quickly.

Ye Fan said, "It is possible he deceived everyone."

"Why?" Zhuang Zhou asked, confused.

Ye Fan explained, "I found this Yuanhong Sword in the Secular World, and it was supposed to be a burial offering for the Ancestor of Tianyuan. Therefore, I suspect that Song Mu, driven by greed, took the sword to the Secular World. After several millennia, it came into my possession."

Learning that Ye Fan knew such a confidential matter was humiliating for Zhuang Zhou. After all, this was a disgrace to their lineage, and they had never suspected such a thing. Caught off guard, he tried to deflect. "Whether he deceived us or was overcome by greed, none of that matters anymore, does it? His injuries were indeed severe. The fact that the Yuanhong Sword is now in your hands proves he is dead. Since he is gone, Brother Ye, there is no need to hold a grudge against a dead man."

"After all, he was once a key member in the resistance against the Divine Race," Zhuang Zhou could only add.

Ye Fan pondered for a moment. He was right. Sometimes one must be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against the dead. Since so many years have passed, it is best to let it go. Of course, the only reason I asked is that I feel the Ancestor of Tianyuan was wronged. The disciple he had painstakingly mentored had ultimately coveted his treasures and betrayed him. This was also why I hadn’t mentioned it to the Ancestor of Tianyuan, who existed only as a wisp of True Qi.

Finally, Ye Fan said, "Alright, we can let this matter rest. I want to know, what kind of world is the Divine Domain?"

This was what Ye Fan most wanted to understand, as he was already preparing to go to the Divine Domain. His goal was simple: after forging his godhood, he would attempt a breakthrough in this world. If that proved impossible, he would have no choice but to set out for the Divine Domain. He wanted to learn about it beforehand to avoid being caught unprepared.