Chapter 724: Thirty Years of Summer and Winter

Xu Yunfan, naturally, wouldn’t concern himself with it too much.

He had done his part. What became of it ultimately depended on the fate of those two.

Ye Yan was burdened by a blood feud, while Xiao Fan sought only to lie low and survive.

Xu Yunfan figured they both had the makings of protagonists. He had no desire to stir up trouble behind the scenes; a pile of matters in the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation awaited him.

“In the great contest for the Dao, each must abide by their own destiny.”

He murmured to himself before slowly closing his eyes.

Yet, he once again quietly dispatched a wisp of his Divine Thought, sending it through the formless connection toward the distant and perilous depths of the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation, keeping a constant watch on what was, for him, the place where he would achieve his Dao.

Atop the majestic Divine Sky Peak, a pillar of violet-gold Thunderbolt pierced the heavens, burning day and night, a testament to the identity of this place’s master.

In the blink of an eye, thirty years of winter and summer had passed since the day True Monarch Pu Du departed, leaving Xu Yunfan with the responsibility of taking in disciples, passing on the Dharma, and strengthening the Divine Sky Dharma Lineage.

These thirty years, a lifetime in the eyes of mortals, were but the snap of a finger to Xu Yunfan, who had attained the Golden Core and possessed a lifespan of eight thousand years.

After taking the two youths, Ye Yan and Xiao Fan, as his Direct Disciples, he spent the following years as a complete recluse, immersing the vast majority of his Heart and Spirit into his newly acquired Immortal Mountain Dojo, Divine Sky Mountain.

As one of the Nine Great Immortal Mountains of the Primordial Sect, Divine Sky Mountain had a profound foundation, and its Origin Spiritual Qi was far more abundant than his former Spirit Peak.

The mountain itself contained the vast Thunder Principle left behind by the previous Divine Sky Nine Heavens True Monarch, which perfectly resonated with Xu Yunfan’s own Divine Sky Dao Fruit.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the massive, flattened platform at the summit. Beneath him was a naturally formed array diagram of Thunder Runes. As it circulated through a Celestial Cycle, the Dao Rhyme of the *Divine Sky Nine Heavens Profound Vault Undying True Scripture* merged and resonated with the mountain’s Origin.

A waterfall of violet-gold lightning cascaded down, enveloping him in a massive cocoon of light. Within it, Thunderbolts flared in and out of existence. With the assistance of his Attribute Panel, the walls of his Grotto Heaven continuously solidified, faintly brushing against the profound state of being self-supported and uncollapsing.

Deep within the Divine Sky Palace, a quiet side hall served as the place where Xu Yunfan imparted the Dharma and resolved the doubts of his two Direct Disciples.

The hall was sparsely furnished, with only a Cloud Platform and a few cattail mats. The air was saturated with Thunder Spiritual Qi of the utmost purity; a single breath made one feel revitalized down to their very bones.

For these past thirty years, Ye Yan and Xiao Fan were the only two disciples who frequented this place.

The obsession Xu Yunfan had seen in Ye Yan all those years ago—that sentiment of ‘never look down on a poor young man’—had not diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, nurtured by the boundless Spiritual Qi of Divine Sky Mountain and the Destiny of a True Monarch, it had transformed into a roaring fire of motivation.

Now, he wore the standard purple-patterned Disciple Robe of Divine Sky Peak. The stubbornness and forbearance in his expression had been tempered into a more reserved demeanor, but the flame of desire for power in the depths of his eyes burned even hotter.

The *Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Peaks Technique* that Xu Yunfan had taught him was an Earth Element Great Path, which cultivated the Immovable Profound Mountain Dao Rhyme.

Ye Yan’s progress on this path was swift. In just thirty short years, he had already reached the Realm of Great Perfection in Qi Cultivation.

He often cultivated in a training ground on the outskirts of Divine Sky Mountain called the Nine Peaks Pressure Platform. Bearing the phantom of a mountain on his back, his steps were as heavy as if he were wading through a swamp, yet he gritted his teeth and endured. Every breakthrough at his limit was accompanied by the chorus of his bones and sinews and a qualitative change in his Magical Power.

He sought to accumulate power for a massive burst, to build up an unstoppable force with the momentum of the earth bearing all things—a force sufficient to wash away all his past humiliation.

Xu Yunfan observed with a cool detachment, making no comment on the boy’s stubbornness and ruthlessness. Within the Primordial Sect, such traits were both an advantage and a death warrant.

After all, Chu Chengnan was watching.

A few years prior, Chu Chengnan had even specifically requested an audience with him over this matter. Xu Yunfan had, of course, given him a clear signal: it was a struggle for supremacy, and it was up to the individuals involved. Understanding, Chu Chengnan departed, satisfied.

Xiao Fan’s temperament was as calm as still water, as always, and he was dressed in simple cyan robes.

The embryonic form of his Innate Holy Spirit Dao Body was slowly but steadily awakening, nourished by the rich Vitality of Divine Sky Mountain and the Wood Element Generating Path of the *Cyan Emperor’s Longevity Sword Manual*.

Notably, while the Destiny surrounding Xiao Fan was chaotic and unpredictable, his aura grew increasingly condensed and reserved, like the roots of an ancient tree buried deep underground.

The Sword Manual Xu Yunfan had passed down to him could transform Sword Intent into a continuous stream of Vitality, but it could also become a killing intent of utter Nirvana.

When cultivating, he often sat quietly under an ancient pine by a jade-green pond on the back of Divine Sky Mountain, a place suffused with Spiritual Qi. A cyan light would flow from his fingertips, guiding the Vitality of the surrounding flora. His Sword Intent, hidden within that Vitality, circulated harmoniously and seamlessly, nourishing all things without a sound.

He, too, had reached Qi Cultivation Great Perfection, his foundation solid and profound. He sought only four things: Longevity and self-preservation. All of his Cultivation served this purpose.

Xu Yunfan observed his steady progress and his calm disposition, which far surpassed that of his peers. He was indeed a worry-free disciple.

Moreover, Xiao Fan could have clearly cultivated faster, even Founding his Dao Foundation ten years sooner, yet he had deliberately held back for a decade.

Xu Yunfan acted as if he hadn’t noticed.

‘I’m actually quite curious what he’s planning.’

The Cyan Emperor’s Longevity Dao Foundation prioritized Vitality above all else. Once the Dao Foundation was formed, the abundant Vitality and vigorous lifeblood would grant a lifespan far exceeding that of other Cultivators at the same Realm.

It could be called the top choice for a “Turtle Technique.”

Xu Yunfan fulfilled his promise to answer their questions and resolve their doubts once every three months.

On these occasions, he would sit upon the Cloud Platform, the lightning around him contained within, his presence as deep and vast as the sea.

Ye Yan was usually the first to ask questions, which mostly concerned the key to erupting with force and momentum in the *Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Peaks Technique*, or how to more quickly condense his Magical Power to assail the Dao Foundation.

His tone was urgent, filled with a desperate craving for power.

Xu Yunfan’s answers were concise and to the point, sometimes even conjuring a faint mountain phantom to demonstrate, yet he never failed to point out the flaw of his student’s impatience and impetuousness.

Xiao Fan, on the other hand, would ask his questions after Ye Yan. They mostly pertained to the harmonious circulation of Magical Power, the nurturing of Vitality, and the timing for concealing the edge of his Sword Intent. He was exceedingly steady.

Xu Yunfan’s answers to him were more detailed. He would occasionally conjure the Withered and Flourishing Sword Intent with a touch of cyan Vitality from his fingertip, helping him comprehend the essence of the Longevity Sword Manual.

With his clone, Han Shi, having nurtured the Fury Killing Sword Intent for many years, his insight in this area was more than presentable.

Under Xu Yunfan’s watch, the prestige of Divine Sky Mountain grew with each passing day.

As for True Monarch Pu Du, the one who had personally visited Divine Sky Mountain thirty years ago and burdened him with the heavy task of accepting disciples, it was as if he had died these past years; not a single piece of news had come from him.

From the direction of Chenghua Mountain, where the Controller of the Primordial Sect resided, the vast Wish Power to deliver all living beings and purify the world like glazed glass still flowed. Immortal Light swirled and faint Dao sounds lingered, indicating the master’s presence, yet there were no further commands or attention directed toward Xu Yunfan or Divine Sky Mountain.

Xu Yunfan was not at all surprised by this; in fact, he was happy for the peace and quiet.

He knew very well that for an old monster like True Monarch Pu Du—who had lived for who knows how many tens of thousands of years, had long since condensed a Minor Circulation, and might even be assailing the Late-Stage Golden Core or the legendary Dao Embryo Realm—thirty years wasn’t even enough for a short nap.

Perhaps the man was roaming the Taixu with his spirit deep within Chenghua Mountain, deducing the endless Great Dao.

Perhaps he was plotting how to perfect his Grand Circulation and assail a higher Realm.

Or perhaps, he was simply observing from the sidelines, waiting for something.

Xu Yunfan paid it no mind. As long as the other party didn’t come looking for trouble, he would focus on his own Cultivation and the management of his Dharma Lineage.

Besides, he hadn’t been sitting idle for the past thirty years either.