In the Central Continent’s southern region, a massive mountain range stretched for tens of thousands of li, coiled like a dwelling dragon. Its perilous, magnificent peaks, towering ancient trees, and vigorous spirit aura made it a first-rate cultivation Holy Land.

Spirit mists churned at the heart of the mountain range, where a small, dragon-shaped valley was faintly discernible. Within was a small courtyard with a pavilion.

There, Mei Yun heaved his twenty-seventh sigh of the day. “I can’t go back...”

He had been here for over a month now. Not far away, Han Fu sat cross-legged, his face pale as if injured. He paid no heed to Mei Yun’s words.

Mei Yun asked just to fill the silence, “Instructor Han, how’s your injury?”

“It won’t kill me.”

“Ah, you must be more careful next time. Although spirit beasts are docile, their beastly nature is hard to eradicate, after all...”

Han Fu let him prattle on. Mei Yun’s face remained blank, though despair twisted inside. After being brought here by Fatty, he had been tasked with helping the valley master take care of the spirit beasts.

Since these spirit beasts had been tamed for decades or even a century, their beastly nature long since subdued. However, that changed as soon as Mei Yun arrived. They started having problems one after another—either throwing tantrums or inexplicably flying into rage. From the first day until now, his injuries had practically been constant.

Luckily, the valley master was generous. Mei Yun could help himself to all sorts of saint herbs. Otherwise, he seriously doubted he could even survive three days.

Upon thinking of the valley master, Mei Yun shuddered inwardly. Forget it. He’s much more unlucky than me.

Just as he was thinking this, a wild, unrestrained burst of laughter suddenly rang out. Accompanying the laughter, a chubby figure instantly landed—it was Fatty!

Compared to before, he seemed to have grown another two rolls of fat. Han Fu gritted his teeth in hatred. If he were a match, he would have already caught Fatty and pummeled him for three days and three nights to properly vent this anger. Nobody screws people over like this!

In contrast, Mei Yun was overjoyed to see Fatty. “Huh? There you are!”

Upon seeing him about to rise, Fatty winced slightly. “Instructor Mei, stay right there! Keep your distance!”

Mei Yun innocently blinked his eyes. “When will you send us back?”

Fatty was insincere. “What’s the hurry?! You’re here with great difficulty, stay for eight or ten years first. Besides, isn’t this place much better than that broken martial academy of yours? Ask that old fogey Tian Ji, how many people cry and beg for a chance to come to this valley, but never get it! This is a great opportunity, you should grasp it well!”

Mei Yun heaved his twenty-eighth sigh.

Fatty wore a mischievous grin. “Ahem... How many times was he struck yesterday?”

Beside them, Han Fu’s mouth twitched. Compared to himself, the valley master—Tian Ji—was truly unlucky. The man was also stubborn. Since Mei Yun’s first day here, Tian Ji had seized him for study, insisting on deducing his origins.

And then he got struck by lightning seven times. The second day, the valley master was still unyielding. He healed his injuries and attempted another research, only to be struck ten times. The third day, nine times. The fourth day, fifteen times. Yesterday was less, as it was only three times.

“Just three? That’s quite little...” Fatty stroked his double chin with a look of pity, before shouting at the top of his lungs, “Old Tian Ji, can you do it or not?! Didn’t you say you’d die trying to deduce his origins?”

A powerful aura suddenly erupted, containing faint traces of saintly might.

Tian Ji landed in front of Fatty, glaring at him fiercely. “Little Fatty, what are you doing here again?!”

He had disheveled hair, bare feet, and messy clothes. No one would believe he had once been a refined gentleman with enigmatic manners. Moreover, his aura fluctuated between strong and weak, and his face was somewhat pale. Having been struck by lightning too many times, his injuries clearly weren’t fully healed.

Fatty sighed. “You’re truly worthy of a Saint realm cultivator! You’ve been struck by lightning so many times, yet still so lively!”

Tian Ji sneered coldly. “Little Fatty, say one more word, and I’ll activate the Tian Ji Great Formation and throw you in. I’ll let your father come pick you up!”

Fatty hurriedly put on an ingratiating smile. “No! I’m just concerned about you! Don’t be so hot-tempered all the time at your age! So, can you figure it out or not?”

Firstly, he brought Mei Yun here to annoy Tian Ji. Secondly, he genuinely wanted to get to the bottom of Mei Yun’s origins.

Tian Ji stared at Mei Yun, frowning deeply. “Misfortune clings to him. A reincarnation of the God of Decline, his fate clashes with the Heavenly Lone Star. Fathers, mothers, kin, friends, foes, self—there’s nothing he cannot overcome. Forget cultivation, the fact that he survived to adulthood is a miracle in itself.”

Fatty clicked his tongue. So ruthless!

Somewhat unwilling to accept it, Tian Ji asked Mei Yun again, “Are you sure your master didn’t die because of you?”

Mei Yun nearly cried as those words hurt too much.

Fatty shook his head upon hearing this. “Take it easy. Even if you’re at the Saint realm, you can’t withstand being struck by lightning every day.”

He suspected that Tian Ji would become the first Saint realm expert in history to have his realm drop from being struck by lightning daily.

Tian Ji gnashed his teeth. “No way! Our lineage calculates heaven, earth, and people! We’ve never failed before! If I don’t get to the bottom of his origins, I’ll die unwilling!”

Fatty wore a look of sympathy. “Take care!”

Tian Ji glanced at him. “And you, you’ve passed the human tribulation, and now you think you’re safe? The Dao Bell is about to appear, aren’t you going to prepare?”

Fatty was stunned. “The Dao Bell? Didn’t you say ten years later last time?”

Tian Ji shook his head. “The heaven’s workings have changed! When you went to the Eastern Wasteland, the workings suddenly became chaotic. Many predetermined events changed, including this Dao Bell. It has been countless years since the workings of Heaven underwent such a change. It’s strange, really strange...”

Fatty was furious. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

“You didn’t ask.”

Fatty had a headache. “It’s over. I thought there was still plenty of time, so I didn’t tell that bastard. I was even thinking of giving him a surprise when we meet again in the future. Now... ah, I hope he doesn’t miss this heaven-sent opportunity.”

Tian Ji glanced at him. “When the Dao Bell manifests. Its projection will appear before those destined. What are you pointlessly worried about? Or do you think the bell won’t take a liking to him?”

Fatty laughed coldly. “If there’s only one person in this world who can cause the Dao Bell to ring nine times, it’s definitely him!”

Tian Ji was somewhat surprised. “Is that so?”

He knew Fatty’s temperament. It was the first time he’d seen him praise someone so highly.

As a result, he became a little curious. “What’s this person’s name?”

“Bastard.”

Tian Ji’s mouth twitched. “Get lost!”

Saint realm aura erupted instantly, sweeping Fatty away.

***

Several days had passed since the secret realm collapsed. After seeing that no one from the Myriad Transformations Holy Land came looking, Gu Han finally truly relaxed. During breaks from cultivation, he took out the golden jade token to study again.

Though he claimed to have abandoned the path of an assassin, the token proved remarkably useful for acquiring information. Of course, he automatically ignored the words “Ferryman of the Yellow Springs” at the bottom of the token.

Fu Fatty still reigned supreme on the assassin leaderboard, unshakable. Unexpectedly, the bounties placed on him by the two families had been withdrawn. Well, even if they were still there, no fool would dare come assassinate him anymore. The events outside the secret realm had gradually spread. Now, everyone knew that he had destroyed the Yang and Meng families.

Gu Han chuckled. “Brother Yang, you’re thoughtful.”

He didn’t even need to think about it. Yang Ying had clearly dragged Murong Yan there to force the two families to withdraw the bounties. As he continued to read, he couldn’t help but sneer coldly. With the family heads and old ancestors dead, the two families had lost their greatest protectors, and were sought out by countless enemies.

The more important the clan member, the more enemies they had. Yang Fei and Meng Qian were especially important targets. The former had seven bounties, while the latter had five.

However, the bounties disappeared less than half a day later. The fates of these two were self-evident. Gu Han felt not the slightest sympathy. Not taking action himself was already considered magnanimous. As for Yang Fei still being a child, who wasn’t a child?

Putting away the jade token, he happened to see Ah Sha staring straight at him.

Patting Ah Sha’s head had become his habit. “Silly girl, what are you looking at?”

The Seven-Leaf Soul-Nourishing Grass had an even better effect than the Ghost Physician’s pills. After taking it, Ah Sha’s spirits had clearly improved a lot, but she had become somewhat strange. Not only did she speak less than before, she also clung to him more than ever, almost to the point of never leaving his side.

Ah Sha propped her little face. “I don’t know either. I just suddenly wanted to look at you more.”

Gu Han’s heart tightened. “Ah Sha, did you have dreams again?”

“No.”

He let out a long sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

He resolved to find Yang Ying after some time, ask for the specific location of that secret place, and then go there in person.

At this moment, he still didn’t know that the news of the Dao Bell’s appearance had spread to all the Holy Lands, great sects, and families.

After a thousand years of peace, the Divine Continent was about to be engulfed by a great upheaval.

***

In the Great Flame Imperial Dynasty, a woman stood on top of a mountain peak. Her red skirt fluttered softly, a wine gourd hanging at her waist. She quietly watched the battle situation below.

Just then, she raised her head to look at the sky, revealing a section of skin fairer than snow. Her peerlessly elegant, breathtakingly beautiful face bore an aloof and proud expression.

***

Deep within the Wild Forest, a white-robed young man slowly stopped in his tracks. “The time has moved up?”

***

Deep within the demonic beast territory, a tall, sturdy youth with horns on his head stood with hands behind his back. His eyes were slightly closed, as if waiting for the destined moment to arrive.

***

In the Western Desert, an old monk chanted Buddhist scriptures while walking with a staff.

Behind him, a little novice asked curiously, “Master, what does the Dao Bell ringing nine times represent?”

“World-shaking talent.”

“Then what about ten times?”

The old monk fell silent. “There is a demon in your heart.”

The little novice smiled, his eyes clear. “Master, if I don’t let it out, it can’t come out.”

***

Deep within the Southern Border, a youth in a purple robe prostrated himself on the ground.

He uttered reverently, “The glory of our god will ultimately reappear in this world.”

A maniacal gleam flashed in his eyes.

***

Such scenes were happening everywhere in the Divine Continent.

At the same time, a frail, sickly old man, with unsteady steps, slowly walked out from a forbidden zone...