The ancient return was exposed by his sister's live stream.

Chen Siyao worked with Professor Li's group. Her main tasks were twofold: translating obscure ancient texts and aiding in the understanding of content related to cultivation systems.

She couldn't offer much help with the textual analysis of archaeology, but when it came to descriptions of spiritual energy, magic, and cultivation techniques, the three professors turned around and asked her questions.

"Xiao Chen, what does this 'reverse meridian initiation' mean?"

"It's probably about channeling spiritual energy back from the ends of the meridians—an unconventional cultivation method."

"What about the 'Five Signs of Decay'?"

"A tribulation that occurs after one's cultivation reaches a certain level. The body begins to decline."

"Did ancient cultivators also have this?"

"It should be universal."

After three days, 60% of the text on the south and east walls has been translated.

The basic information framework has been established, clearly outlining the causes, process, and end of the war, as well as the subsequent migration of civilizations.

However, many details remain unclear. The map of the northern wall will take even longer; Professor Zhao says it will take at least several months. The section on the teachings of the Jie Sect on the western wall is the thickest; Professor Lin estimates that a complete translation will take more than six months.

This is a long-term project.

Every afternoon when Chen Siyao returned to Dinghai Island, she would pass by the balcony and take a look.

The Pearl of Return to Nothingness is still there. Hanging motionless.

Yang Wanqing, on the other hand, had a great time.

Of the thirty-six islands, thirty-five are excluding the main island, each with its own unique characteristics. Some are medicinal fields, filled with rare and precious herbs.

Some are training grounds, bearing traces of ancient formations. Others are mines, where one can find spirit stone fragments of decent quality.

Yang Wanqing changed islands every day, and Ying Wenjie followed her. The two of them were both restless, wandering around from morning till night.

When Yang Wanqing returned home at night, his bag was always stuffed with all sorts of "souvenirs"—stones, blades of grass, and old bells he'd picked up from who-knows-where.

"Yaoyao, look!" The next evening, Yang Wanqing rushed into Chen Siyao's room, holding a fist-sized stone. "This stone glows! It lights up at night! I found it in a cave on the twenty-third island!"

Chen Siyao glanced at it. "That's fluorite ore, a low-grade spiritual material."

"I don't care what it's made of! It looks nice! I can use it as a nightlight!"

Yang Wanqing placed the stone on her bedside table.

On the evening of the third day.

Chen Siyao returned from the main island earlier than usual. Professor Li was working on data processing today and didn't need her help.

She walked into the suite, preparing to go to her room to change her clothes.

There was a noise coming from the living room.

She turned her head.

Chen Hao sat on the sofa.

He was holding a cup of tea. The tea was still steaming.

Chen Siyao stopped in her tracks.

"Brother, have you finished your cultivation?"

Chen Hao looked up at her and nodded.

Yang Wanqing burst in from behind, her sneakers screeching on the floor. "Master! You're finally out of seclusion! I thought you were going to stay inside that bead until next year—"

Chen Hao took a sip of tea and ignored her.

He looked much the same as before; his clothes were neat, and he didn't look tired, as if he had just come back from a walk.

But Chen Siyao could sense something was different. Her brother's aura was deeper than before, not in a strong, oppressive way, but more restrained. It was as if he had pressed something deeper into the depths of his being.

She walked over and sat down opposite her brother.

The questions that had been building up in her mind over the past few days kept popping up one after another. She sorted them out in order and picked the most direct one first.

"Brother, the formation on the main island of Penglai has been broken."

"I understand." Chen Hao took a sip of tea. "I saw the message."

"Did you see the news on Douyin?"

"I've seen a little bit."

Chen Siyao nodded, not lingering on the matter.

"Brother, after our investigation and research over the past few days, we've learned that the great battle between the ancient Jie Sect and the Chan Sect has ended."

Chen Hao held his teacup, not interrupting her.

"The one who brought this great war to an end was a single person." Chen Siyao looked at her brother's face. "That person successfully transcended the tribulation in the Thirty-Third Heaven, and then everyone stopped fighting."

She paused for a moment.

"The mural doesn't depict the person's face. Only the outline and figure are shown."

Chen Hao's movements remained unchanged. He drank the tea. He put it down. His fingers rested on the rim of the cup.

"elder brother."

"Um."

"Was that you...?"

The living room was quiet. The sound of the sea breeze outside the window came through the glass, muffled.

Yang Wanqing held the bag of potato chips in mid-air, forgetting to reach inside to grab it.

Chen Hao's thoughts seemed to drift away for a moment. His gaze lingered for a few seconds in a place Chen Siyao couldn't see... In those few seconds, he wasn't looking at the ceiling of the suite.

Then he took it back.

"it's me."

Two words.

Chen Siyao leaned back on the sofa, not responding immediately. She already had her answer. From the moment she saw the mural, she did. She just needed her brother's confirmation.

Yang Wanqing's bag of potato chips finally fell to the ground. She didn't pick it up. "Master... Master... how did you make them stop? A battle that's lasted ten thousand years, even the Heavenly Venerable of Morality couldn't stop it, how could you?"

"How did you convince them to stop?"

Chen Hao glanced at her. "I didn't try to persuade anyone."

"Then how did you stop?" Yang Wanqing pressed.

"It's just because of what I cultivate..." Chen Hao's words were light and casual, as if he were talking about something unimportant, "They stopped on their own."

Because of what my brother cultivates?

What could possibly make two factions that have been fighting for ten thousand years lay down their weapons at the same time?

Chen Siyao wanted to ask more questions. But looking at her brother's expression... that indifferent "this matter ends here" attitude... she swallowed her question.

There are things my brother doesn't want to talk about, and you can't get them out of him no matter how hard you ask.

She changed the subject.

"Brother, the Thirty-Three Heavens—where is that? The murals say that the ancient civilization migrated; did they all go to the Thirty-Three Heavens?"

"No," Chen Hao said. "The Thirty-Three Heavens aren't far away; they went to a much farther place."

"How far?"

"It's very far."

Chen Siyao looked at him, waiting for him to continue. But the next sentence was only one sentence...

"The Thirty-Three Heavens are not far away."

Chen Siyao's ears perked up.

Yang Wanqing picked up the bag of potato chips from the ground, dusted it off, and came closer. "Master, Master, you said the Thirty-Third Heaven isn't far—can we go there?"

She clasped her hands together, her expression sincere. "You said last time you'd take us out to see it sometime! Have you forgotten!"

Chen Hao looked at his apprentice, who seemed to want to jump up on the spot.

She glanced again at her younger sister sitting opposite her, who was silent but had bright eyes.

Chen Siyao really wanted to go. She wanted to see what the Thirty-Three Heavens looked like with her own eyes, to understand the traces left by ancient civilizations, and to see the world her brother experienced ten thousand years ago.

"Can."

Chen Hao said.

You set the time.

"Yay!!" Yang Wanqing's scream echoed throughout the suite.