Gone, I have departed. I finally outpaced you, though aided by external forces, and I confess my victory is unearned—I despise farewells.

I couldn't bear to witness your sorrow, so I left without a word. Forgive my selfishness, my silent departure...

I have left, moving ahead of you. Thank you for your immense assistance; without you, I might never have reached the peak of the Nine Palaces Heaven realm, nor found the path beyond it.

I know you will one day break through to the Ten Directions Heaven realm. I will wait for you there; we are certain to meet again.

I shall await your arrival, so remember me, and come quickly... We will meet again, I firmly believe this!

Hiss! The white letter turned to ash amidst the fireworks, and Ji Changkong’s gaze was vacant, feeling as though something vital had slipped through his grasp.

Lifting his eyes to the vast firmament, Ji Changkong sighed inwardly, remaining silent for a long time. He had never expected Shang Bingjie to break through to the Ten Directions Heaven realm so swiftly.

This caught him entirely off guard; by the time the news reached him, he realized the profound place Shang Bingjie occupied in his life. For a fleeting moment, he felt lost, but only briefly.

He quickly regained his composure, his gaze sharpening with renewed determination. I hope you are safe, I pray for your journey to be smooth.

Wait for me to find you! He offered a silent blessing to the absent beloved, then took a deep breath and murmured, "Return to the valley." "Changkong, are you alright?" Meng Gang asked, his concern evident in his soft tone.

Ji Changkong managed a smile. "I am fine, truly fine." "Uh, are you just pretending to be strong?" Meng Gang was too familiar with him to hold back much.

"It's actually a good thing she left first. I suspected as much," Ji Changkong chuckled, explaining, "She carries the imprints of her ancestors in her mind.

Those imprints have existed since her birth, greatly lessening the bottleneck blocking her breakthrough to the Ten Directions Heaven realm." "She left without a word, and you aren't angry?" Meng Gang looked distinctly puzzled. "What is there to be angry about?" Ji Changkong chuckled wryly.

"It’s not a permanent separation; we will meet again eventually. A brief parting will only make our reunion more meaningful." Meng Gang shook his head, completely unable to comprehend.

"I just don't get you people. I never bother with all this romantic nonsense with women; it only causes trouble." Without lingering to discuss it further with Meng Gang, Ji Changkong headed straight toward Xuanyuan Valley.

Without the matter of Shang Bingjie, he might have seriously considered venturing with Hong Mandun to that strange place. But now that Shang Bingjie had already left, and knowing the path from the Solar Star Domain to the Dead Star Domain was fraught with peril, he finally resolved to take the risk.

Upon returning to Xuanyuan Valley, he found Li Hentian absent, so he went directly to his maternal grandfather, Gu Dan, and recounted the entire affair with Hong Mandun. When Ji Changkong mentioned Hong Mandun's forced marriage proposal, Gu Dan could only smile wryly, calling Hong Mandun reckless.

However, when the Nine-Story Pagoda was mentioned, Gu Dan’s expression grew solemn, suggesting he did not approve of Ji Changkong undertaking such a perilous adventure. After Ji Changkong finished detailing the entire sequence of events, Gu Dan hesitated before saying, "Going to that Nine-Story Pagoda location right now is not a good idea." "Why not?" "You haven't broken through to the Ten Directions Heaven realm yet!" Gu Dan frowned.

"From what you describe, the 'Heavenly Evolution Ancient Art' you practice should surely allow you to reach that realm. Why not wait until you've broken through before going there with Hong Mandun?" In Gu Dan’s view, only after reaching the Ten Directions Heaven realm would one have a chance of surviving unscathed in such an unusual place.

Currently, at the peak of the Nine Palaces Heaven realm, even with his multitude of rare treasures and profound skills, he was still a bit too fragile for the ruins left before the Great Destruction, where unknown dangers might lie in wait. Gu Dan was clearly uneasy about him.

"Well, if I stay here and cultivate the 'Heavenly Evolution Ancient Art' diligently, I should break through to the Ten Directions Heaven realm within ten years. But I don't know if Hong Mandun will be willing to wait for me.

In his eyes, I might never reach the Ten Directions Heaven realm in my lifetime..." Ji Changkong pondered for a moment, then added, "Well, this matter isn't urgent for now. I’ll enter seclusion for a while; Hong Mandun will contact me when he’s ready.

If I have reached the Ten Directions Heaven realm by then, that would be best. If Hong Mandun insists on leaving, I will risk the trip." "You are grown now; I shouldn't meddle too much in your affairs," Gu Dan sighed softly.

"Be careful in everything. Make good use of that Vast Star Sea Chart; if that item allows one to move unrestricted, perhaps you could investigate that place ahead of time." "I remember," Ji Changkong nodded.

After discussing some other matters concerning the Solar Star Domain with Gu Dan, Ji Changkong wasted no time and immediately plunged into the stone chamber for his seclusion. Two years later.

Inside the stone chamber, the powers of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth flowed gently through his meridians like running streams. With his eyes tightly shut, a five-colored light shimmered around Ji Changkong, casting an almost otherworldly, peculiar illusion.

Wisps of Five Element power manifested on his skin, actually weaving intricate, strange scenes across his very flesh... In the Great Void Illusory Realm—that miraculous space forged from Ji Changkong's spirit, soul, and vital blood—the sun, moon, and stars moved slowly across the heavens in bizarre trajectories.

Simultaneously, within this Illusory Realm, the dense Five Element energy permeated every corner. Moreover, this elemental energy seemed to come alive within the Illusory Realm, transforming into five versions of Ji Changkong, each possessing a distinct temperament, swirling like mist throughout the realm, continuously exploring and manifesting the true meaning of the Five Elements.

After an indeterminate period... Ji Changkong abruptly awoke from this marvelous state, looking at the small figure before him with astonishment.

"How did you get out?" Before him stood the Source Poison, which should have remained deep within the Heavenly Origin Pearl. The little entity's eyes were strangely unpredictable, filled with an intense, compelling power, yet its demeanor was somewhat cold and remote, hinting at a core of absolute indifference.

"I'm done," the Source Poison said, looking at him without its usual playful tone, appearing notably formal. At this moment, the Source Poison was no longer the entity he knew; it wasn't idly shouting nonsense or acting flippantly, seemingly too serious for trivial talk.

"You're done?" Ji Changkong was momentarily stunned, then his face changed. "You—have you completely assimilated the aura of the Ghost Demon King?" "Yes," the Source Poison nodded coolly.

"I have gained his power. Now, I can soar freely through space, and there is nothing left in this Star Domain to hold me..." "You are leaving too..." Ji Changkong murmured, a touch of bitterness in his heart.

Shang Bingjie had departed without a word after reaching the Ten Directions Heaven realm, and now, shortly after, the Source Poison was leaving as well. This sudden quietness made him feel a profound sense of loneliness.

"You are different from before," Ji Changkong sighed. "Yes, the feeling is different, but I am still me." The Source Poison’s small eyes held a flicker of remembrance.

After a moment, its cold gaze softened slightly, seeming to return to its former self. "Kongkong, there’s no point in staying by your side anymore.

I want to go out and see things." "You must promise me you won't harm the innocent!" Ji Changkong stared at him intently, suddenly becoming stern. The Source Poison hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"I promise you. We...

will meet again; I know that day will come." "If I find out you’ve been wantonly killing innocents or causing trouble in another Star Domain, I will not let you off," Ji Changkong huffed, then his expression grew desolate. "Go on; you deserve your own sky.

There are countless advanced races in the boundless Star Sea; perhaps... perhaps you can find kin whose life forms resemble your own." "Take care of yourself," the Source Poison whispered, nodding slightly before its small body instantly passed through the stone slab, vanishing in a blink.

"I have given myself a name: Ji Du. If one day you hear that name elsewhere, know that it is me." A faint trace of the Source Poison’s soul consciousness echoed in the stone chamber before its aura completely dissipated.

"Ji Du... Ji Du..." Ji Changkong whispered, suddenly overwhelmed by a chaotic storm in his mind, rendering further cultivation impossible.

He sat there foolishly for a very long time. Then, with a wry smile, he murmured, "You have left me too, alas..." After sitting in the stone chamber for a considerable time, Ji Changkong abruptly stood and opened the door.

Starlight pierced the opening, flooding the dark cave. Looking up at the sprawling Milky Way, his gaze swept over the stars.

He felt a sudden wave of confusion. After a long while, the confusion in Ji Changkong's eyes gradually vanished, replaced by a sharp, proud defiance.

Wait for me. I will follow your footsteps soon.

That day will not be long. Wait for me; I will find you quickly!

Suddenly, Ji Changkong soared upward, his figure condensing into a bright point, instantly vanishing. Dead Man Peak.

In a dilapidated shack, Hong Mandun squinted, seemingly already asleep. News of his breakthrough to the Ten Directions Heaven realm had only reached Yi Chi and Yi Rou within the vast Yi family; everyone else remained ignorant, merely noticing he seemed a little more subdued recently.

Only Yi Chi and Yi Rou had visited him occasionally during this period, and he had strictly forbidden Yi Kui from disclosing the matter. Under his guidance, Yi Kui had made rapid progress these past few days, now reaching the Six Harmonies Heaven realm.

He was currently in seclusion, preparing to temper a divine weapon, and had not disturbed Hong Mandun. Long accustomed to solitude, Hong Mandun welcomed the quiet, gazing up at the stars in his small, broken dwelling as usual.

Suddenly, Hong Mandun’s unfocused pupils contracted, and his gaze slowly converged. "Kid, why have you snuck in here in the dead of night?" Hong Mandun exclaimed, looking down at the ground beneath his feet.

A figure slowly emerged from the solid stone floor, then leaped forward to stand before Hong Mandun. "I've made up my mind.

I'll risk the adventure with you." Hong Mandun’s face lit up with joy. He chuckled, "I’ve been waiting for you for ages!" "Where exactly is that place?" Ji Changkong asked.

"Don't rush. I'll take you there," Hong Mandun smiled.

"Are you truly decided? No regrets?" "Once I decide something, I see it through, no matter how difficult.

You can rest assured of that," Ji Changkong replied with a smile. "Haha, that’s great!" Hong Mandun was very pleased.

"Right, you haven't reached the Ten Directions Heaven realm yet, so you can't navigate the Star Sea directly. I heard..." "Yes, I have two 'Light Stars.' You needn't worry about that at all.

I'll use one 'Light Star' as our vessel for the journey; you won't have to expend energy navigating." Ji Changkong assured him. "Excellent, excellent!

I knew you had a plan!" Hong Mandun became even happier. "When do we depart?" Ji Changkong asked.

"As soon as you are ready, we can leave anytime!" "Very well, how about tonight?" "Perfectly fine." "Good. Let's go to the Poison Dragon Pool." "Poison Dragon Pool." Hidden there, a 'Light Star' slowly lifted from deep underground amidst the rumbling of the earth.

Hong Mandun watched from a distance as the craft spewed out fiery snakes, looking quite curious. After a moment, the 'Light Star' finally hovered in the void.

Just then, Ji Changkong emerged from the entrance of the craft and called out to Hong Mandun, "Come on." "Alright." Hong Mandun smiled and prepared to board the 'Light Star.' In the Poison Dragon Pool, the Heavenly Ape Winged Dragon watched the 'Light Star' with curiosity as it slowly ascended, destroying the vegetation around the pool in its ascent. "Guard the spatial turbulence zone below.

Don't let any strangers enter," Ji Changkong called down from the 'Light Star' to the Heavenly Ape Winged Dragon. "Understood," the creature answered dumbly, then slowly submerged back into the Poison Dragon Pool.

"Is that a Heavenly Ape Winged Dragon?" Hong Mandun asked curiously. "Why has it transformed like that?

I sense an unusual power emanating from it—it seems to be strength forged purely through tempering bone and flesh. How strange." "Nothing is strange; the world is vast, anything is possible," Ji Changkong laughed.

"Here, take this. I heard you were asking all over the Solar Star Domain for this thing?" After settling into the 'Light Star,' Hong Mandun casually pulled a fist-sized stone from his pocket and tossed it to Ji Changkong.

It was a purple-gold crystal, dotted with pinpricks of starlight that seemed to rotate with a life of their own. A dazzling light radiated from the amethyst-like stone, bathing the entire 'Light Star' in shifting purple-gold hues that made one’s eyes ache slightly.

"Purple Gold Star Crystal!" Ji Changkong gasped, exclaiming, "Where did you get this?" "From the place we are heading," Hong Mandun replied nonchalantly, scattering the words. "There are many stones like this there.

You can collect plenty once we arrive." (To be continued)