Along the way, Xu Fangyuan kept stealing glances at Qian Fan.
His staring made Qian Fan's scalp prickle.
Until two hours later...
Qian Fan finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Domain Lord, is there something you wish to tell me? I will do everything in my power to serve you."
"It isn't that I refuse to tell you. I'm afraid you simply won't be able to accept it," Xu Fangyuan said, stroking his beard with a smile.
Qian Fan muttered inwardly, What exactly is this old fellow scheming? Outwardly, however, he feigned apprehension. "Please speak freely, Domain Lord. I consider myself fairly resilient."
Hearing that, Xu Fangyuan nodded and began to speak.
"Actually... during the fifty or so days you spent in Atlantis, more than five years have already passed in the outside world." Xu Fangyuan finally said it.
Qian Fan's heart lurched, but he quickly regained his composure.
What kind of joke is this old dog cracking now? Who would believe his bullshit?
He collected himself and cupped his hands. "Domain Lord, are you perhaps joking with me?"
Xu Fangyuan let out a deep sigh, slowly rose to his feet, and walked over to Qian Fan with heavy steps. His deep, piercing eyes fixed firmly on Qian Fan's.
In a solemn, serious voice, he said, "This does sound utterly absurd, but you must not doubt it for even a moment, because all of it truly happened.
"Atlantis is actually an abandoned city, and the laws of time within it collapsed long ago.
"You feel you spent a mere fifty days inside, but in fact, five whole years have indeed slipped by in the outside world.
"That is why countless great venerables of the cultivation world fight until their heads split and blood flows just to squeeze into this so-called sacred land."
Qian Fan's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
Xu Fangyuan continued, "So Yuan'er hasn't seen you for five years. And this year happens to mark her eighteenth birthday. She's the same age as you!"
Those words struck Qian Fan like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, leaving his mind completely blank.
So all this time, I'd been living carefree in Atlantis for five whole years. Even Xu Yuan'er is the same age as me now.
What a sin.
Qian Fan smiled helplessly, his heart full of bitterness.
He could hardly believe he had spent five whole years in the secret realm.
Just as Qian Fan was sighing over it,
A magnificent city appeared before him. Vast in scale, its walls towered into the clouds, making it look like an impregnable fortress.
Buildings stood in orderly rows within the city, its streets broad and clean, bustling with people coming and going.
"We're here!" Xu Fangyuan told Qian Fan.
Excitement welled up in Qian Fan's heart. He had finally reached Myriad Forms City, the legendary heart of the Seven Star Domain.
Qian Fan followed Xu Fangyuan through the city gates, and a wave of noise washed over him. People hurried along the streets, and all manner of strange sights left him struggling to take everything in.
Xu Fangyuan brought Qian Fan to the palace, where the guards at the entrance bowed respectfully.
"This will be your residence. Rest here for now," Xu Fangyuan said.
Qian Fan nodded and stepped inside. Lush trees shaded the courtyard, where flowers and greenery flourished. The room was simply yet elegantly furnished. Qian Fan sat on the bed, a thousand thoughts running through his mind.
He also wanted to know how Xu Yuan'er had fared over those five years.
Not even ten minutes had passed.
The doors were blasted open by powerful Soul Power.
A graceful figure appeared in the doorway.
The eighteen-year-old girl's eyes were as red as two ripe cherries. Tears pooled in them, threatening to burst their banks at any moment.
Her voice trembled with emotion as she cried out uncontrollably, "Brother Qian Fan, you're finally back!"
Before her words had even faded, her figure flashed, and she threw herself into Qian Fan's arms, sobbing.
Qian Fan looked down at the girl in his arms, tenderness welling up in his heart.
Over the years, the girl had blossomed into a graceful young woman, standing over a hundred and seventy centimeters tall. Slender and elegant, she was like a flower in full bloom, radiating captivating charm. The distinctly reddened rims of her eyes against her stunning face were enough to make anyone's heart ache.
And the aura of a level 62 Soul Emperor radiating from her
Was something even Qian Fan could hardly imagine.
Five years. Just five years, and she'd gone from Soul Ancestor to Soul Emperor. What the hell? How could anything be this ridiculous?
Holding the girl before him, Qian Fan gently patted Xu Yuan'er's back.
He comforted her. "Yuan'er, I'm back. I'm sorry I made you worry."
Xu Yuan'er raised her head, a determined gleam in her eyes. "Brother Qian Fan, do you know? For these past five years, I've worked hard at cultivating every single day, all so I could see you sooner. Now that you're back, I won't let you leave my side again, not even by half a step."
Deeply moved, Qian Fan looked at Xu Yuan'er and promised, "Yuan'er, I'll always stay by your side too."
The two sat in each other's embrace, sharing their experiences. Qian Fan recounted his extraordinary encounters in Atlantis, while Xu Yuan'er told him about her breakthroughs in cultivation.
Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er talked for a long time, until night fell.
After dinner, Qian Fan returned to his room to rest. Lying on the bed, he thought back over everything that had happened that day. It all felt like a dream.
Just then, he suddenly heard a faint noise. He sat up warily and spotted a black figure by the window. Qian Fan immediately released his Soul Power, ready to face any danger.
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