Ye Fan returned to Earth; first, he must find Xuannü’s prison on Earth.

He needs to find Xuannü first, as she is a woman who can help him. Moreover, he believes that between Xi He and Xuannü, it would be Xi He who would first be compelled by Nuwa since Xi He is more likely than Xuannü to betray him. Xuannü’s primary goal is to awaken Pan Gu and Fu Xi, and she wouldn’t join Nuwa’s malicious camp before completing this task.

What Xuannü needs to do goes against Nuwa, while Xi He’s purpose remains unclear to Ye Fan. The more mysterious the ancient cultivators are, the more dangerous they are to Ye Fan.

Once Ye Fan found Xuannü’s prison, he discovered she was not inside. It seemed Xuannü had broken through the prison herself, and her whereabouts were unknown.

"The person you’re looking for seems to no longer be here!" said Mingye Shangren. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"How does it concern you? Whom I seek is my matter!" Ye Fan immediately projected a force, letting Mingye Shangren experience the consequence of speaking carelessly. Mingye Shangren felt wrapped in searing power within her body, making her feel unbearable pain, yet she managed to endure it, finally gritting her teeth at Ye Fan with a hint of wanting to kill him.

Ye Fan gazed into the distance and said, "I sense others have been here; it should be ancient cultivators!"

He wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular, merely murmuring to himself, because Mingye Shangren was still suffering under Ye Fan’s power. She couldn’t respond to him even if she wanted. Ye Fan looked into the distance; after a long while, he withdrew his gaze, sighing. He was still searching for Xuannü’s whereabouts. According to his calculations, those able to break through the prison from the outside should be at least at the level of ancient powers.

"If it’s not Nuwa, nor Xi He, who could it be? Could it be Sù Nǚ? Or perhaps a new ancient power has awoken?" Ye Fan couldn’t ascertain who the visitor was.

Ye Fan could only take Mingye Shangren back to Hua Hai City. In an instant, Ye Fan transported Mingye Shangren into Hua Hai City. At this time, Ye Fan felt the strength within him was substantial but still found crossing into the Pan Gu realm challenging. Having lost elemental power, he was merely at a cultivation stage above ascension, providing no security against battling ancient cultivators.

Most importantly, he couldn’t penetrate the void boundary of the Pan Gu realm.

Assuming a false identity, he checked into a hotel, first needing a place to settle. By dusk in Hua Hai City, he needed a place to train himself, while also seeking Earth’s people to assist him. He didn’t want to mobilize Sang Yuan’s strength, as doing so would alert those threatening him.

He trusted Sun Ning more.

After checking into the hotel, he took the elevator to the 16th floor where his room was located. Inside the room, Mingye Shangren said, "Why does everything on Earth differ from what others described?"

Ye Fan did not answer her, as even he couldn’t explain Earth’s changes. Among all human civilizations, Earth was one of the fastest-developing planets. As an Earthling, Ye Fan previously had too limited a perspective, unaware of external circumstances. However, now he knew Earth possessed an advanced civilizational system within the universe—thanks to complete metallic elements and key figures beneficial to technological civilization appearing throughout Earth’s history.

A coincidence of history, yet an inevitability.

Ye Fan used the hotel phone to call Sun Ning. She answered, "Who are you and how do you know this number?"

Ye Fan and Sun Ning used different numbers each time; Sun Ning was curious when someone abruptly called. However, as Ye Fan made the call, Sun Ning already knew its origin. Ye Fan wouldn’t divulge his address, simply saying curtly, "Follow the address and come here!"

Sun Ning recognized Ye Fan’s voice and immediately knew what to do. Aware she might be followed, she swiftly hung up and dashed to the call’s origin. To keep her whereabouts secret, she went alone, arriving at the hotel and reaching Ye Fan’s room door.

Ye Fan, dressed in pajamas, opened the door to welcome Sun Ning. She glanced at Mingye Shangren inside, also in sleepwear, curious as to why Ye Fan had brought such a woman—and what had just transpired.

"Mr. Ye, previously I heard you’d disappeared. Why are you here?" Sun Ning asked curiously.

Ye Fan replied, "I won’t detail my Earth’s purpose to you, but now I need you to do a few things. Listen as I explain and complete them within two hours!"

"Hmm?" Sun Ning, unsure, thought aiding Ye Fan would now be difficult, given his advanced cultivation stage requiring no assistance. Earth seemed abandoned by Ye Fan, apart from a few people he cared for; he appeared devoid of other attachment.

Though Earth was his place of growth, Ye Fan now operated mainly in the Pan Gu realm, with no need to revisit this Spiritual Energy-thin Earth.

Earthly enterprises seemed to have lost significant value for Ye Fan.

"Are you talking about your Earthly family and friends?" Sun Ning, being intelligent, pondered that perhaps protecting these individuals was all she could do for Ye Fan.

"Yes!" Ye Fan nodded, "I’ll give you a list—not to protect these people, but to secretly abduct them. Listen carefully: during the abduction process, ensure no harm befalls them, then have them sent to a designated locale for temporary protection by your people. As these individuals live in various cities, many also don’t know each other. You must guarantee isolated confinement without meeting each other. Can you do it?"

Sun Ning nodded, "As long as it’s Mr. Ye’s instruction, I will complete it. Rest assured, Mr. Ye!"