Covering the sky

The ancient people, living through the spring and autumn years, could live to be over a hundred, with no signs of aging in their movements." Ye Fan closed The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon and gazed longingly at the ancient times described in the Suwen section.

There are no detailed or precise records about the ancient era. For modern people, it is a period shrouded in endless fog, filled with boundless speculation.

A cool breeze stirred the few trees of the phoenix tree in the yard, their lush leaves rustling softly, while the fresh air blew in through the window.

Ye Fan enjoyed reading books about "strange wonders." With a cup of light green tea beside him, he continued flipping through the ancient text in his hand.

"Mortals could live past a hundred years, with no signs of decline in their movements. What kind of mysterious ancient history is this…"

As for the ancient age described in The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, Ye Fan, as a modern person, naturally couldn't believe it. What intrigued him was why so many ancient texts, in an obscure manner, referred to this "ancient" era, almost as though there was a civilization that vanished in the river of history, concealed in mystery.

Could there really have been an ancient history unknown to us? After a brief moment of contemplation, he returned to reading. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is a treasure of ancient texts, written thousands of years ago, and one of the three great classics of ancient China. While it cannot be fully trusted, it still holds immense value overall.

"By manipulating the heavens and earth, grasping the yin and yang, breathing in the essence, guarding the spirit, with muscles as one, thus able to survive the cycles of heaven and earth, without an end. This is the way of life."

The Suwen section repeatedly mentions ancient people who could comprehend the changes of the world, refine their essence, and achieve immortality. Modern people could never believe this.

Unknowingly, the red sun gradually set, casting a warm glow that bathed the lawn and the phoenix trees outside the window in a soft red hue.

Ye Fan closed The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, preparing to attend an important class reunion.

It had been three years since he left university. After graduation, Ye Fan stayed in this city. Looking back, the simple and pure student days seemed to be gone forever.

Three years was neither too long nor too short, and the classmates had already scattered in all directions, each following their own life paths.

The pleasant ringtone of his phone interrupted his thoughts. It was a call from his classmate Lin Jia, a very sharp and beautiful woman who had moved to a neighboring city after graduation and had been promoted to department manager a year ago due to her exceptional skills.

As soon as he answered the call, Lin Jia teased him. She had always had a knack for socializing and easily getting close to people.

"So, do you miss me?" Ye Fan countered casually.

A pleasant, melodious laugh came from the other end. "I'm not sure about the location of the gathering. I'll go with you."

After agreeing on the meeting place, Ye Fan drove out. He had once pursued Lin Jia in university but had been politely rejected, with the reason that they weren't suitable for each other.

Lin Jia, an extremely beautiful and graceful woman, was very practical and knew exactly what she needed and how to achieve it.

With ten minutes left until the meeting time, Ye Fan found a parking spot in front of Baisheng Mall. He got out of the car and waited by the roadside for Lin Jia.

The entire city was bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. Many buildings were covered in a layer of soft golden light, and the roads were filled with cars and bustling crowds.

Seven or eight minutes later, a Toyota pulled over, and Lin Jia appeared, her delicate and beautiful face framed by the window. She opened the car door and walked toward Ye Fan.

Ye Fan smiled and said, "You even have a chauffeur?"

"Stop mocking me. I don't have a chauffeur. It's our classmate Liu Yunzhi," she replied.

Although they had kept in touch over the years, they hadn't met for two years. Lin Jia, as always, was youthful and stunning, dressed casually in tight jeans and a purple T-shirt, which perfectly outlined her slender, graceful figure.

"It's been over two years. How have you been?" Lin Jia's black, shiny hair was cut to shoulder length, looking smooth and soft, and her almond-shaped eyes, with long lashes, gave her an innate charm.

"Good," Ye Fan smiled, teasing, "With your natural beauty, you should be in the entertainment industry."

"Are you asking for a beating?" Lin Jia laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief, her red lips irresistible in their allure.

At this moment, the Toyota's window rolled down, and a familiar face appeared in the driver's seat—it was Liu Yunzhi, another classmate.

Like Ye Fan, Liu Yunzhi had stayed in the city after graduation. Thanks to a relative with some background, he had started a small business and had achieved some success.

Though they both lived in the same city, they hadn't kept in touch much, mainly due to a conflict during their university days.

Liu Yunzhi didn't get out of the car. He smiled faintly and said, "Long time no see."

"Yeah. Let's catch up sometime," Ye Fan said, offering a casual greeting, noting that Liu Yunzhi didn't even get out of the car.

"Did you take a taxi?" Liu Yunzhi asked.

The subtle condescension in his tone didn't escape Ye Fan, but he couldn't be bothered to argue, responding indifferently.

Lin Jia, ever perceptive, could sense the tension and smiled at Ye Fan. "I called a few of the old classmates still in the city. Let's ride with Liu Yunzhi. It'll be more convenient."

Before Ye Fan could reply, Liu Yunzhi spoke first, with an apologetic tone: "Sorry, I already made plans with a couple of other classmates at the next intersection. It seems like there's not enough space in the car."

"No problem, you go ahead. I'll be there shortly," Ye Fan said, smiling at Lin Jia. "Are you coming with me, or…?"

Lin Jia hesitated for a moment, but Liu Yunzhi urged, "Lin Jia, the beautiful lady, might as well get in my car first. Otherwise, we might be drowned in a sea of gossip."

After waiting on the side of the road for a few minutes, Lin Jia apologized to Ye Fan and, under Liu Yunzhi's urging, eventually got into the Toyota.

As the car window rolled up, Ye Fan vaguely heard Liu Yunzhi's condescending murmur: "It's rush hour now. It'd be a miracle if a taxi comes!" The Toyota sped away.

In university, Ye Fan had been one of the more prominent figures, but today, compared to Liu Yunzhi, who seemed to have it all, he looked somewhat less fortunate.

As for Liu Yunzhi, Ye Fan didn't care to engage with him. However, Lin Jia's reaction surprised him.

But everyone has their own way of dealing with things in life. Reality demands that people navigate through issues like vanity, pride, and self-respect. Ye Fan wasn't too bothered by it.

The sun had set below the horizon, and the sky, stained red like blood, gradually faded into darkness. The whole city seemed to be draped in a thick, gray cloak as night was about to fall.

At that very moment, nine massive dragon corpses dragged a bronze giant coffin, suspended in the dark and cold universe. This awe-inspiring scene seemed to freeze in eternity!

A few astronauts aboard the International Space Station had transmitted this world-shaking information back to Earth, waiting for further instructions.