The Path to Another World

Through their tearful eyes, Qinglong and Ge Qiusha burned their soul power, propelling the spacecraft to its maximum speed. They traveled for an entire day without rest, covering a distance long enough to make several round trips between the moon and the earth. Only when they could no longer feel the black hole's pull did they stop inputting energy, allowing the spacecraft to fly freely back into the energy shield.

The two exchanged a glance at each other's almost transparent bodies, shaking their heads and offering bitter smiles. A complex mix of emotions welled up within them. They had cultivated for thousands of years, believing they could live as long as heaven and earth, yet they too could not escape death. However, having lived so long, they had long since seen through everything; death was also a kind of rebirth. Looking at the two standing there dumbfounded, unsure what to say, they suddenly felt that everything they had done was worthwhile.

Ye Fan and Tian Jun immediately understood what had happened. They slowly moved to the two men who were slumped on the ground, knelt down, and respectfully kowtowed three times. "Get up! What are you doing!" Qinglong hurriedly struggled to help them up.

"Master, are you alright? I only became your disciple because I admired your unparalleled magical power and wanted to gain some benefits. Some of my intentions weren't entirely from the bottom of my heart. But this time, I truly call you master from the bottom of my heart. Once a teacher, always a father. I will never forget your kindness in teaching and saving my life!" Ye Fan said, choking back tears.

Hearing Ye Fan's earlier words, Qinglong was about to give him a flick on the forehead, but upon hearing the following words, he visibly paused, his puffed-up face turning into a smile. His right hand, which had been aimed at Ye Fan's head, instead patted Ye Fan's shoulder, and he said with satisfaction, "Silly boy, you're my only disciple. If I don't save you, who will? Although I really wanted to teach you all my skills, I'm afraid I really have to break my promise this time and can't accompany you to the very end. From now on, you two brothers will have to forge your own path." A hint of melancholy and reluctance lingered in his voice.

"Master, how could it be so serious? Is there any way to recover?" Qinglong's words struck Ye Fan like a thunderbolt, leaving him momentarily stunned and bewildered. His face pale, he asked Qinglong as if his own time was running out. "We burned our souls, and the power of our souls is almost exhausted. This time, we've damaged the very foundation. If it were just the depletion of Dao power, it would be easier to handle. The problem is that the soul has been damaged. As the foundation of life, the soul's recovery is the most difficult. It's nothing serious. I've seen it all. From now on, I'm going into seclusion. It might take tens of thousands of years to recover to my current state. So, your future depends on yourself," Qinglong said, feigning nonchalance.

Seeing Qinglong's feigned ease, Ye Fan and his companion felt even more uneasy, their hearts heavy with sorrow. Tens of thousands of years—what an incredibly long time! In such darkness, with no one to speak, what difference was there between this and death? Ye Fan looked at Ge Qiusha, who was equally weak, her breath barely perceptible, her face pale, as if she were a willow swaying in the breeze. He couldn't help but feel apologetic: "I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this!"

"No one owes anyone anything! I did all of this voluntarily, and your master has already promised me that after we escape this danger and reach the Mayan continent, you will help me save my people. Consider this my reward!" The goddess, who had previously seemed so high and mighty, now sat on the ground like an ordinary person, speaking weakly.

Ye Fan glanced at the Azure Dragon outside, pretending not to hear anything, and slowly shook his head, saying sincerely, "Don't worry, as long as it's within my ability, I will do my best. I will definitely help you with this favor when I have the ability." Hearing Ye Fan's solemn tone, Ge Qiusha, who was always somewhat depressed, couldn't help but smile easily. She finally unloaded the burden that had been weighing on her shoulders. Although her face was pale, her smile was captivating, making the entire sky lose its color, the sun and moon lose their light, and it was as if a hundred flowers were in full bloom. Ye Fan finally understood the meaning of the ancient poem, "In the north there is a beautiful woman, peerless and unparalleled. One glance can topple a city, a second glance can topple a nation. How can one not know the power of such beauty? Such a beauty is hard to find again!" For a moment, Ye Fan was completely intoxicated by her smile, even though Ge Qiusha did not do it intentionally.

"Cough, cough..." Qinglong coughed twice to wake Ye Fan from his daze, who was still grinning foolishly. Ye Fan blushed and left quickly to Qinglong's side. "Disciple, my time is running out. I may enter a state of hibernation at any moment, but I still have much to impart to you. Not only are my cultivation insights accumulated over the years, but I will also teach you methods of weapon crafting and alchemy. Sit cross-legged, gather your Qi and focus your spirit, circulate your Qi in your dantian. Because the amount of information is quite large, this process may be somewhat painful. If you can't bear it, just let out a cry, and I will stop. Although you are talented, due to the limited resources on Earth, your physical condition is still lacking. You must know that the human body is the most mysterious thing in this world; it is the foundation of everything. I will also use my last bit of strength to thoroughly cleanse your marrow and reshape your physical body with the boundless spiritual energy of the universe, forging your essence into a perfect spiritual body. This will not only improve your physical condition but also increase your ability to absorb spiritual energy exponentially, making your cultivation much faster." The Azure Dragon felt increasingly exhausted and had to make a decision quickly. "Little Junzi, come here and protect us. If anything unexpected happens, wake me up immediately."

Hearing Qinglong's words, Ye Fan couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat again. He knew these were probably Qinglong's last words. Qinglong looked at Ye Fan, whose face was turning red again, and felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but scolded him, "Why are you crying? I'm not completely dead, I'm just taking a longer nap. You are a true man, you must remain calm in the face of adversity. Also, regarding the matter of the Mayan continent, I agreed on your behalf because you will benefit greatly from it. If what Ge Qiusha said is true, that the ancestral god of the Mayan continent was enlightened by an old man riding a blue ox, this old man is probably Laozi, the founder of Taoism. Since he left behind a lineage of Taoism on the Mayan continent, you must go and pay homage to him in the future; perhaps you will gain something. Sit cross-legged, focus your mind, I am about to begin."