Chapter 15: The Resurrection of Ziyang Shen

At the top of the Altar, that emerald light haze pulsing with vast vitality, under Huang Lao's gaze that contains supreme Great Power, as if infused with the final and most crucial spark, suddenly collapsed inward and condensed!

The radiance no longer emitted outward, but instead, like the cores of billions of stars burning and compressing madly!

The nine coiling Purple Crystal Divine Dragon atop the Altar raised its head and let out a long chant; ancient runes turned completely into flowing purple flames, rendering the entire core like a Chaos Furnace nurturing primordial divine beasts!

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

Each clear and powerful thump, like the divine drums of Open Heaven and Split Earth, reverberated out from the core of the light haze!

Every thump caused the starlight of the entire Purple Radiance Divine Realm to flicker, and made the earth veins of the Ancestral Land emit resonant low roars!

It was no longer a faint heartbeat, but the proud sun that had slept for eons, accumulating the mighty power of the Dawn Breaker about to surge forth!

All members of the Purple Clan felt their hearts rise to their throats, holding breath and focusing, even the gravely wounded Ziyouming forgot the pain, their gazes locked tightly on that light!

Finally!

The dazzling light haze at its peak suddenly contracted inward!

As if the universe at its birth, the Singularity erupted!

All the radiance instantly withdrew, converging at a single point!

In the next instant, a slender, upright, flawless figure stood clearly, truly… stepping onto the Altar's core!

His body was without a stitch, his Skin like the finest purple jade carved, flowing with a warm luster; every inch of his flesh contained explosive power and boundless vitality.

His purple hair fell like a waterfall, naturally cascading, the tips still bearing specks of lingering emerald light particles.

He slowly, with a hint of newborn bewilderment, opened his eyes.

What kind of eyes were those?

At first, like dust‑covered stars, bearing the naiveté of a long slumber awakened and unfamiliarity with everything around.

He lowered his head, looking at his truly existent hands, feeling his heart beating powerfully, warm blood coursing through his vessels… a huge, unreal absurdity surged in his mind.

"Hmm?"

"I... am still alive?"

A low, slightly hoarse voice sounded, full of uncertainty.

But that bewilderment lasted only a moment.

In those eyes, as deep as the Star River, the bewilderment receded like a tide, replaced by an illuminating insight and the light of wisdom that sees all!

Countless Memory Fragments, like surging rivers, flooded his mind at once—glorious ascents, regrets and resentment at his fall, the awe of meeting Ye Wuque, and so on…

His gaze instantly lifted, bearing incomparable gratitude and deep reverence, precisely targeting the towering Guangying above the Altar—Huang Lao!

"Senior's rebirth grace... Ziyang Shen... never forgotten for eternity!"

He bowed deeply, his voice trembling with the excitement of being reborn and absolute respect.

Had it not been Huang Lao, he would already have been a speck of dust in the river of time.

Huang Lao's face, composed of pure radiance, seemed unchanged, but the light flowing around him softened slightly, as if a silent response.

This subtle change was enough for Ziyang Shen to feel that acknowledgment.

Immediately, Ziyang Shen's gaze, filled with excitement and curiosity, swept like a tangible force over the familiar, eager faces below the Altar.

Father Ziyouming's gaze, brimming with hot tears and utmost satisfaction;

Sister Ziyangxian's pear‑blossom‑wet, crying‑and‑laughing delicate face;

The Ancestor's excitement, unable to be concealed within the swirling purple aura;

And countless clan members' eyes, survivors after the calamity, filled with ecstatic joy and awe…

A warm current instantly filled his chest.

Home!

He, Ziyang Shen, finally… has returned!

However, when his gaze swept over the edge of the crowd, that figure standing silently, shrouded in a wide Black Robe, Ziyang Shen's upright body jolted!

That figure... that aura...

Although concealed by the Black Robe, the unique temperament that radiated from his bones, unwearied after ten thousand tribulations, that aloofness and depth seemingly independent of all paths… instantly coincided with a mysterious figure in his deepest memory, a once‑in‑all‑time, awe‑inspiring silhouette!

"Ye... Brother Ye?!"

Ziyang Shen's pupils suddenly contracted, his voice trembling with an almost lost‑voice quiver and disbelief!

He lunged forward a step, his gaze locked onto that figure, as if to pierce the Black Robe's barrier!

Under countless astonished, curious gazes, the Black Robe Figure at the Altar's edge slowly raised a hand and gently lifted the wide hood.

A young, handsome face with sword‑shaped brows and star‑like eyes, bearing a faint smile, appeared clearly before everyone.

Those deep eyes, as if containing an endless Star River, now held a gentle smile, meeting Ziyang Shen's shocked, ecstatic, incredulous gaze.

"Ziyang Shen, long time no see."

Ye Wuque's voice, calm and powerful, entered Ziyang Shen's ears clearly, echoing around the silent Altar.

"It's really you! Brother Ye!!!"

Ziyang Shen's voice instantly rose, filled with immense delight!

He could no longer restrain himself, stepping out of the Altar, instantly crossing Space, appearing before Ye Wuque!

The life‑and‑death and years that separated them seemed, at that moment, completely erased.

Ziyang Shen, excited, surveyed Ye Wuque, countless words stuck in his throat, finally turning into a long sigh filled with endless emotion: "To be alive, and to meet you again, Brother Ye! Truly… wonderful! Heaven has not been unkind to me!"

Ye Wuque also laughed: "Seems my first step onto the Teleportation Array didn't land in the wrong place."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Ziyang Shen gazed at the Ye Wuque before him, whose demeanor now surpassed the past and whose aura was unfathomably deep; within his eyes, beyond the excitement of reunion, a unprecedented anticipation and an incredibly steadfast resolve ignited!

The regrets and unfinished road of the previous life—this life, I will definitely mend them with my own hands!

Above the Altar, Huang Lao's towering Guangying silently watched the scene below.

The outline formed by that pure light seemed to soften a little, as if revealing a trace of contentment.

He said nothing, only gave a slight nod toward the below, as if acknowledging Ziyang Shen's successful return.

Immediately, Huang Lao's towering figure slowly vanished into the Void, its destination unknown.

……