Sweeping across the heavens, starting with the first emperor of the ancient times.

Jiang Hao suddenly remembered the place called Earth in his previous life. He had seen some videos of old rural houses where a large family lived a few years ago, and the houses were bustling and full of life.

A few years later, perhaps because the old man passed away and his children left, the house quickly fell into disrepair and became desolate. Although it had only been uninhabited for a few years, it looked as if it had been abandoned for decades.

The contrast is extremely strong.

He himself is from a rural area, so he knows that this situation does exist.

As development progresses, this situation is becoming increasingly common in rural areas, resonating with countless people.

Many people are puzzled and discuss why some people's houses seem to deteriorate particularly slowly.

Does it deteriorate very quickly once no one lives there? A few years of vacancy feel like more than ten years have passed.

Some people answered that it might be because of its popularity.

This viewpoint has been agreed upon by many.

Standing before his parents' graves, looking at the sect with its flourishing incense and countless disciples not far away, Jiang Hao felt a deeper understanding of the meaning of popularity.

It was something vague, yet it truly existed.

Where there are people, there is concern, warmth, trivial troubles, and ordinary hopes.

As long as there are people, the house is maintained, and the memories continue.

Perhaps every living being needs a way home.

A place that, no matter how far you go or what you experience, still feels warm and reassuring when you look back.

Many people like to go back to their hometown, not because their hometown is so great or so fun, but because that land holds childhood memories.

When you return to your hometown, you unconsciously let down your guard.

For many, their hometown is a paradise in their hearts. Even if the old house is in ruins, standing in the yard and walking around the village entrance can bring a long-lost sense of peace.

I stand in the alley of my childhood and look back, but I can no longer see the boy I once was.

No one develops feelings for a piece of soil until they bury a mound of it themselves.

For Jiang Hao, this vast and boundless world teeming with powerful figures may lead him back to this very land beneath his feet, to this place called the Dao Seeking Sect.

This place holds the purest joys and sorrows of his life, those brief yet incredibly real encounters and partings.

Those long-gone voices and smiles constitute an indispensable part of Jiang Hao's life.

The smoke gradually dissipated, and the fragrance slowly burned to its end.

Jiang Hao took one last look at the two simple tombstones.

"But it is precisely these brief but real existences that constitute a part of life."

He silently recited the words to himself, then turned around and, following the path he had come from, walked slowly and steadily, quietly leaving the cemetery.

Strolling along, Jiang Hao unknowingly arrived at the Cliff of Contemplation.

This is a cliff located behind the main peak of the Daowen Sect, with more than a dozen simple stone caves carved into it.

Disciples who make mistakes will be punished by standing facing the wall here to reflect on their actions. They are not allowed to use their spiritual power and can only eat simple food and calmly reflect on their mistakes.

Jiang Hao looked at the stone caves and recalled that he had spent three months here when he was a teenager.

At that time, he was just beginning to show his talent, and in a struggle for an opportunity, he injured an arrogant prodigy from a major sect.

The other party had a powerful background, and the sect, under pressure, had no choice but to punish him by sending him here to reflect on his mistakes.

He was seething with anger at the time, but now he realizes that it was a form of protection from the sect.

Given the strength of the Dao Asking Sect at that time, if they hadn't done so, they would probably have faced even greater trouble.

"Perhaps this is what growing up is all about."

Jiang Hao shook his head and chuckled. Just as he was about to leave, he heard someone approaching from not far away, sighing dejectedly as they walked.

"well……"

Jiang Hao paused and walked to one of the stone caves.

Inside the cave sat a young man who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was slightly chubby with a round face and was resting his chin on his hand, looking at the stone wall with a worried expression.

Jiang Hao recognized the Taoist robe; it was the clothing of an inner disciple.

"Little kid, why are you sighing at such a young age?" Jiang Hao said, his voice old and gentle.

The young man was startled. He turned around and saw an old man with white hair standing at the cave entrance. He quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Disciple Su Mo greets Senior?"

Su Mo couldn't figure out the old man's situation. Although the old man didn't seem to have any cultivation, he could walk around the back mountain at will, so he must be a reclusive elder in the sect.

Su Mo stood ramrod straight, his hands respectfully clasped in front of him, his round face showing tension and a worry that he couldn't completely suppress.

Jiang Hao looked at him with gentle eyes, and his respectful demeanor and appearance made him seem somewhat familiar.

So Jiang Hao casually asked, "Your surname is Su? You're a descendant of the Su family? Do you know Su Ming?"

"Su Ming?" Su Mo suddenly raised his head, his eyes widening instantly, and his voice involuntarily rose, "This disciple naturally knows him, he is this disciple's ancestor."

After Su Mo finished speaking, he asked with some doubt, "Senior, how...how do you know the Ancestor's name?"

You should know that our ancestor has been gone for a very long time, and not many people in the sect know about it now.

Jiang Hao smiled slightly as he looked at the sudden gleam in the young man's eyes, but did not answer.

Because Su Ming was one of his sect partners of that generation, and also an extraordinary genius.

He was one of the two prodigies of the Dao Seeking Sect at the time, second only to him. Unfortunately, he died in an accident when he was at the Saint Realm, otherwise becoming a Quasi-Emperor would have been no problem.

This is the world of cultivation; there are always various dangers, and even many prodigies may not be able to grow up.

Unexpectedly, I ran into an old friend here. No wonder I have the look of an old friend in my eyes.

These thoughts flashed through Jiang Hao's mind. Looking at Su Mo's excited appearance, it was as if through this young face he saw another figure who always stood silently by his side.

"It's nothing," he said slowly, his voice still calm, "just a casual question."

Then he asked, "What?" Su Mo couldn't help but take another closer look at the old man in front of him. His white hair was as white as snow, and his aura was as calm as a deep pool. He was indeed a master.

But... the ancestor has been gone for over 100,000 years, how could that old friend live for so long?

Unless it is that legendary ancestor who transcends everything and ranks among the Heavenly Emperors, who could live for such a long time?

This senior, though unfathomable, did not possess the awe-inspiring presence of the legendary Heavenly Emperor, which dimmed the stars of the heavens.

Moreover, this senior does not appear to be the Heavenly Emperor.

This senior must be very old, well-versed in the sect's classics, and aware of the ancestor's illustrious reputation.

Su Mo thought to himself, and his excited mood calmed down a little.

Then he respectfully replied, "So you also know about my ancestor, senior. Our family teachings often use the story of our ancestor's diligent cultivation and bringing glory to our family to inspire future generations."

"Yes, we should definitely learn from him."

Jiang Hao entered the cave and sat down on a flat rock opposite him: "What mistake did you make that led to your punishment here?"

Su Mo blushed and stammered, "Well... it's nothing much, I just had a little conflict with a senior brother and we got into a fight..."

"A conflict broke out?" Jiang Hao sized him up. "You don't seem like a combative person. Why did you fight?"

Su Mo, after holding it in for a long time, finally succumbed to youthful impetuosity and the pent-up frustration of being on the Cliff of Contemplation, and couldn't help but complain:

"It's all because of Junior Sister Liu. Our families are close, and we've been childhood sweethearts. She... she clearly promised me that she would go moon-viewing with me after I returned from this training trip."

But as soon as I got back, I saw her and Senior Brother Li in the peach grove behind the mountain... chatting and laughing, behaving intimately!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hao instantly understood:

"Oh, jealousy and rivalry among fellow disciples should be punished according to the sect rules. However, if that disciple surnamed Li knew that your Junior Sister Liu had a special relationship with you and deliberately seduced her, he should be punished even more severely according to the sect rules. Wouldn't it be better if you reported it?"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo's face fell even more, and he slumped to the ground: "But Junior Sister Liu hasn't agreed to be my partner yet... I'm not her cultivation partner yet. I just... I just try to find whatever she needs for her cultivation, like source stones and magic artifacts... I thought that would be enough..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hao raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"Oh? I see. You're not jealous, you're just a simp who got hooked and got caught fishing."