Stomp!

Ye Qiu jolted up like a carp leaping from the water, stood up, and looked around. As far as he could see, it seemed to be an endless forest.

"You’ve awakened..."

A faint voice suddenly sounded behind Ye Qiu, yet he hadn’t noticed it at all.

He quickly turned around and saw a figure sitting on the trunk of a tree behind him.

Ye Qiu’s eyes flickered. Even though he could see the person with his own eyes, he still couldn’t feel any presence. Judging by sense alone, the tree trunk was empty, yet the person was sitting there and had just spoken to him, saying: you’ve awakened!

"Thank you, senior, for saving my life."

Ye Qiu suddenly clasped his hands in a salute and thanked this person.

"Thank me? Why do you want to thank me?" This person laughed, and with that smile, Ye Qiu felt as if he was facing a nation-toppling beauty, but he knew this person was a man, with a prominent Adam’s apple beneath his throat.

"If it weren’t for senior, I might have been killed by those two strong opponents." Ye Qiu said.

The other person made a sound of understanding, indicating Ye Qiu should continue.

"Senior’s ability to appear silently shows that your strength is far above mine. Previously, I was restrained by those two formidable opponents and had no ability to break free. Now, suddenly appearing here and seeing you, it can only mean one thing: it was you who saved me back then." Ye Qiu analyzed.

The peculiar man clapped his hands: "You are indeed clever."

"However, I’m still quite puzzled. I don’t know you, senior, why did you rescue me?" This was indeed Ye Qiu’s biggest question. He knew of no powerful friends across the worlds, and really had no idea of the other’s intentions.

The peculiar man jumped down from the tree and slowly walked over, stopping a meter away from Ye Qiu: "Would you believe it if I said there’s a profound connection between you and me?"

"A connection?" Ye Qiu frowned, wondering what kind of connection he could have with the powerful being before him.

"I don’t understand, could you please enlighten me, senior?" Anyway, this life was saved by the other person, so Ye Qiu wasn’t afraid to ask.

The peculiar man walked up to Ye Qiu and whispered in his ear: "We met on Earth, don’t you remember me?"

Whoosh.

In an instant, Ye Qiu’s expression changed, and he retreated repeatedly.

Who was he?

Earth!

He knew he was from Earth, which meant that the other person knew he was Ye Qiu!

For a moment, Ye Qiu was filled with vigilance against this person because the other seemed to know a lot about him.

"Look at you, scared just like the first time you saw me, in the same state, hehe..." The peculiar man covered his mouth lightly, laughing like a woman.

Huge waves surged in Ye Qiu’s mind. He rapidly recalled when he had ever met this person, yet he had no impression at all.

But if the other said, during their first meeting, Ye Qiu was startled, obviously not lying, then there could only be one reason—he must have missed something.

"You really forgot things easily. Had it not been for me, with so many people targeting you, you might not have made it here alive. Counting it up, I’ve actually saved you twice now." The peculiar man said.

He saved him twice?

Ye Qiu was sure his memory wasn’t faulty; there were no gaps, so why couldn’t he recognize the other?

"Saved me twice..."

Ye Qiu muttered repeatedly. He hadn’t been in danger often, but this person saved him once on Earth—where was it? What happened back then?

Suddenly, Ye Qiu’s expression stiffened. He thought of a person, a terrifying presence—could it be that this person was the guy in front of him?

Impossible!

Completely impossible, whether in appearance or presence, there was a vast difference. How could they be the same person?

But if he had to reckon, having saved Ye Qiu, Ye Qiu could only think of that presence.

Only that person had the power to confront significant celestial powers.

"Looks like you remembered, surprised?" The peculiar man laughed, then deliberately stretched his body, as if displaying his current form to Ye Qiu.

That person had actually transformed into the current form—Ye Qiu’s shock was beyond measure, an absolute breaking of worldviews.

Because that person and the current appearance were completely unrelated.

It was hard to connect them together.

However, soon Ye Qiu thought of another question: even if both were from Earth, why could the other find him quickly and save him at the most critical moment?

Having saved himself, what was his purpose?

This act of altruism like being a good Samaritan, Ye Qiu didn’t think it would occur with this being.

"Are you wondering why I saved you?" The peculiar man’s eyes were bright as stars, like pearls, like gemstones, seemingly able to see through Ye Qiu’s thoughts.

Ye Qiu nodded. This feeling of being confused was quite uncomfortable, as if the other had seen through his every move.

"Because you and I have causality. By saving you now, I’m also helping myself." The peculiar man said blandly.

Ye Qiu was shaken to the core. The concept of causality wasn’t new to him. On Earth, Buddhism emphasized such causal relationships—sowing certain causes, reaping certain effects, suggesting a deep connection. And now the other described their relationship with the word causality.

This left Ye Qiu feeling somewhat confused and bewildered.

"You don’t understand now, but when you become a saint, you will. By then, I will come to find you." The peculiar man didn’t say more, preparing to leave, "Oh, by the way, don’t return to the Eastern Wastelands temporarily. Many people are looking for you, and with your current strength, you can’t evade them."

"Even the Supreme Bell might not completely protect you now..."

Ye Qiu was shaken once more, watching as the peculiar man faded away before his eyes like smoke.

His heart couldn’t calm down for a long time. The other’s warning about even the Supreme Bell not being safe was troubling.

It was enough to make one ponder deeply.

Did this imply a superpower capable of perceiving through the Supreme Bell? Ye Qiu felt a serious chill. He once believed the Supreme Bell could perfectly conceal him—is it not truly perfect? Or had he not yet faced an even more terrifying existence?

Ye Qiu’s mind was chaotic. The appearance of this peculiar man shattered his understanding, especially the words left by the other—what causality, left Ye Qiu with a sense of unease.

To become a saint, will he appear the day Ye Qiu becomes a saint?

Ye Qiu noted down this statement, simultaneously reflecting on everything the peculiar man had said.

This person had to be taken seriously, for the transformations were too substantial—a being who was once an ancient corpse in the Taishan Great Hall, then suddenly revived, charged beyond the heavens, battled ancient powers, and even slew a celestial-level powerhouse, leaving Gu Tian’s name—how could Ye Qiu not take him seriously?

"Gu Tian... Ge Tian..." Ye Qiu murmured, feeling there must be a connection he was unaware of.

Unbeknownst to him, in Ye Qiu’s Dantian, a residual eyeball slightly opened a slit, and a figure appeared within.

Yet Ye Qiu was completely unaware of it all.