The residence of the Feng Clan remained serene and tranquil, just as it always had. At present, only Feng Ling graced the domain. However, her consort was none other than the illustrious Martial God Lin, who had left an indelible mark upon the ages.

Despite recent murmurs suggesting Martial God Lin had departed to the Divine Realm, no one dared to disturb the peace of the Feng Clan. Feng Ling herself exercised restraint over her clan, ensuring they avoided any unnecessary conflicts. As a result, the Feng Clan had thrived.

Nevertheless, over the past two years, Feng Ling had found herself growing somewhat discontented. She was a person of innate pride, having ascended from a Martial King to aspire to the realm of Martial God. Her deepest desire was to venture into the Divine Realm and accompany Lin Fei.

Alas, the path from Martial King to Martial God was far from straightforward, even for one as gifted as Feng Ling. In fact, it was a daunting journey, bordering on the impossible. Still, Feng Ling persevered.

"It has been three years now," she would sometimes mutter, her thoughts consumed by Lin Fei. He was her one and only Daoist companion in this lifetime, and it was impossible not to miss him.

However, she had no means of reaching the Divine Realm herself, and Lin Fei appeared unable to send any messages back. Thus, Feng Ling could only endure her tedious wait.

Perhaps a decade would pass, or even a century, or possibly a millennium—she had no way of knowing whether Lin Fei would return. Especially as she heard the whispers of history: none of the god-tier powerhouses who had ventured into the Divine Realm had ever returned. This cast a shadow upon Feng Ling's heart.

A resonating hum echoed through the air, and at that moment, in a desolate corner of the Feng Clan's territory, concentric ripples of spatial distortions spread out like the gentle waves of water. Feng Ling, not too far away, immediately sensed something amiss and swiftly took flight.

"What's happening?" Feng Ling inquired of the elders of the Feng Clan.

The venerable elders of the Feng Clan wore wry smiles as one of them replied, "We are uncertain, but it appears to be spatial ripples."

"Could it be that someone is traversing the void?" Feng Ling's eyes suddenly sharpened as a faint suspicion arose in her mind. However, she couldn't be sure. Nonetheless, deep within her heart, a sense of excitement welled up as she gazed fixedly at the empty space.

In the next moment, a figure emerged from the void passage with a whoosh. Lin Fei had just arrived, and his eyes immediately locked onto a familiar figure. Their gazes met, and there was an unspoken understanding. It seemed as though everything around them had quieted down.

The elders of the Feng Clan were the first to react, and a hint of joy appeared on their faces as they hastily paid their respects. "Greetings, Martial God Lin!"

The person who had just emerged from the void was indeed Lin Fei.

"Feng Ling, you've worked hard," Lin Fei said as he stepped forward to stand before Feng Ling.

Feng Ling, despite being a Martial King, managed to calm her tumultuous heart. She spoke, "It's good to have you back. But how could you return after only two or three years in the Divine Realm? It seems that most of the god-tier powerhouses from the Ancient Continent who went to the Divine Realm never returned."

Feng Ling was curious. She had inquired and learned that once someone went to the Divine Realm, they rarely came back.

Lin Fei smiled faintly and replied, "This is quite a long story. I'll tell you all about it slowly." With that, Lin Fei took Feng Ling with him and disappeared from the sight of the onlookers.

The people of the Feng Clan were jubilant. During Lin Fei's absence, while there were no threats to the Feng Clan, an underlying sense of unease persisted. Now that Lin Fei had returned, the renowned Martial God Lin, whose fame resonated throughout the entire Ancient Continent, the safety of the Feng Clan was assured.

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"Hehe, this time Martial God Lin's return is likely to be extraordinary. Perhaps, our Feng Clan is about to rise to great heights. After all, who among those Martial Gods who went to the Divine Realm has ever returned?"

While the elders of the Feng Clan may not have been particularly powerful, they possessed wisdom. None of the others had returned. Lin Fei, however, had come back. There had to be some hidden secret behind this, although they were unaware of it.

Regardless of the secret, Lin Fei's return to the Ancient Continent was a momentous occasion for both the Feng Clan and the Ancient Origin Sect.

At the back of the Feng Clan's mountain, after reuniting with Feng Ling and sharing some tender moments, Lin Fei began recounting his experiences in the Divine Realm.

Feng Ling listened intently, her eyes widening in astonishment. In just a few short years, Lin Fei had experienced so much in the Divine Realm, rising to become the first Martial God and a legend in that realm. Furthermore, he had now surpassed Martial God status, attaining the rank of True Monarch.

"By the way, Lin Fei, why is it that you were able to return to the Ancient Continent, whereas none of the Martial Gods or Deity Transformations who went to the Divine Realm before you have come back? Could there be some secret?" Feng Ling asked curiously.

Upon hearing this, Lin Fei fell into deep thought. "It is indeed quite peculiar. When I entered the Divine Realm, I joined the Great Dream Sect. According to my Master, Great Dream Ancestor, every god-level powerhouse from the Ancient Continent who enters the Divine Realm can return to the Ancient Continent once.

However, it's only a one-time opportunity. Once you return to the Divine Realm, you can only come back to the Ancient Continent after achieving the status of a True Immortal or Martial Ancestor. Generally, as long as you apply, it can be approved. However, it's not that easy, especially for god-level individuals. Even if they combine to form a True Immortal, there's no guarantee of approval."

Lin Fei could only offer this explanation. Although he appeared amiable to others as a True Monarch, in reality, True Immortals were aloof beings not easily encountered. Even when Lin Fei was just a Martial God, despite his remarkable performance, he had never had the chance to meet a True Immortal. However, as a True Monarch, and with the potential to become a Martial Ancestor, the situation was different. Even the attitude of the True Immortals had changed.

Among the Martial Gods and Deity Transformations of the Ancient Continent, there probably hadn't been a True Monarch born yet. Therefore, applying to return to the Ancient Continent would likely be quite challenging. Lin Fei didn't dwell on this issue, though. Instead, he asked Feng Ling, "Do you know about the Yun Clan?"

"The Yun Clan? Which Yun Clan?" Feng Ling was unsure.

Lin Fei was not entirely sure either, but based on Feng Ling's reaction, it seemed that she might have some knowledge. It seemed that he would have to investigate further in the future.

"Feng Ling, there's one more thing," Lin Fei continued, "Would you be willing to accompany me to the Divine Realm?"

"The Divine Realm?" Feng Ling hesitated. She was concerned about her family. "Lin Fei, the Feng Clan needs me. If I leave, what will happen to the clan..."

Lin Fei shook his head. "Feng Ling, this time I've returned with the intention of unifying the entire Ancient Continent. Consequently, the Feng Clan will become a dominant force, merging with the Ancient Origin Sect. After unifying the Ancient Continent, whether or not the Feng Clan has you, it will remain the same."

Lin Fei revealed his plan. "What? You want to unify the entire Ancient Continent?"

Feng Ling was shocked. She remembered that Lin Fei was not the type of person who sought power and dominance. The idea of ruling over the entire Ancient Continent was not something he had been enthusiastic about before.

So why was he suddenly talking about unifying the entire Ancient Continent? This was not a task that could be completed overnight, not even with absolute strength. It would require careful planning over a long period, and it was not an easy endeavor.

"Yes, I intend to unify the entire Ancient Continent," Lin Fei affirmed. "It's not about me craving power, but rather, I need a pretext. When I unify the Ancient Continent, I will hold a ceremony to pay homage to the heavens. The world of the Ancient Continent has given birth to consciousness. I need to utilize the world consciousness of the Ancient Continent to strive for enlightenment in the Great Dao, thereby transcending from a True Monarch to become a Martial Ancestor. If I succeed, you can return to the Divine Realm with me at any time, and you won't have to worry. Even if I fail and can't achieve Martial Ancestor status in a short time, you still need not worry. The Ancient Continent I unify will be maintained for a significant period. The safety of the Feng Clan and the Ancient Origin Sect will also be ensured."

Lin Fei explained in detail. The unification of the Ancient Continent was for his cultivation, and he placed great hope in it. Whether he could comprehend the Dao and achieve Martial Ancestor status depended on this journey to the Ancient Continent.