At daybreak, when the sky had only just begun to lighten,
the first rays of dawn broke through the clouds and poured down, rays spreading in all directions, dazzling and brilliant.
The orange-red sunlight fell gently from above.
It splashed its radiance like ink across a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers, mingling with the thin, smoke-like mist between the mountains. Wisps of haze curled and coiled, draping the rolling, towering peaks in layers of gorgeous, multicolored gauze, making them seem dreamlike and unreal, like a paradise on earth.
Su Fan sat cross-legged in the main hall of the courtyard. A plain, ancient wooden table stood before him, with a thick tome resting upon it.
The pages had yellowed, giving off a faint, ancient aura.
His eyes were lowered slightly, his gaze fixed upon the tome. He was completely absorbed in reading.
He seemed like an entirely different person from the cold and ruthless Great Demon of the demonic path who had destroyed sects with a wave of his hand.
By now, his Portable Secret Realm had long since been occupied by several of his Dao companions.
The Portable Secret Realm, once quiet and lonely, was now bustling every day, filled with endless laughter and cheerful voices. It had become extraordinarily lively.
Su Fan had been fond of peace and quiet by nature, and hated noise above all.
Thus, every day, he would stay alone in the main hall of the courtyard, reading tomes, cultivating himself, and quietly passing the entire day far from all the noise and turmoil.
On a Jade Couch not far away, a little boy of about three or four was playing by himself, occasionally letting out a burst of crisp, cheerful laughter.
The laughter was pure and flawless, like heavenly music. It broke the quiet