The ancient return was exposed by his sister's live stream.

[This is a fictional world; any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.]

The verdant mountains stretch endlessly, with vegetation growing wildly like a green carpet. The mountain paths are covered with tender grass, and a gentle breeze carries the fragrance of grass and trees.

Two slender figures walked slowly along the mountain path. The girl in front was about twenty years old, with delicate and beautiful features, fair and snow-white skin, and long black hair loosely tied up with a few strands falling beside her cheeks, making her face even more pure and sweet.

She had a slender figure and a pure temperament like a white lotus just blooming in the mountains. She was a goddess who could make people unable to look away at first glance. She was Chen Siyao.

Yang Wanqing, standing beside her, was equally charming and adorable, but her face was full of trepidation. Clutching Chen Siyao's sleeve, she said timidly, "Yaoyao, are we really going to do a live broadcast in those desolate mountains? It's just the two of us girls, and I feel really uneasy. What if we encounter wild animals or bad people? Should we go back?"

Chen Siyao paused slightly, turned to look at her friend, her eyes filled with a stubborn determination, and softly comforted her, "I've already promised my fans I'd do outdoor adventure live streams. My viewership dropped a lot after my guild contract expired, so I can't break my promise again."

"Qingqing, don't be afraid. There's a small village nearby. The villagers often come here to gather wild produce. It's usually very safe; there's no danger."

Her voice was soft, yet it held a maturity beyond her years. Ever since her brother mysteriously disappeared when he was young, she had been living with her second uncle. After finally getting into university, her second uncle's family refused to pay for her living expenses and tuition, and she had to earn all her own living expenses through live streaming.

She has already raised enough for tuition, but she wants to use the summer vacation to build up her popularity and earn more money to secure a stable future for herself.

Seeing that she was determined, Yang Wanqing couldn't refuse any longer and nodded gently: "Alright, let's start the live stream now."

Chen Siyao immediately took out her phone, skillfully opened the live streaming app, adjusted the angle, and pointed the camera at the green mountains and clear waters in front of her. In just a moment, the popularity of the live stream slowly climbed, and soon four or five hundred people flooded in.

She smiled at the camera, her eyes crinkling, and her sweet voice, like a mountain stream, said, "Family, look where this is! I've kept my promise to you about the outdoor adventure!"

Several comments immediately flooded the live stream chat: "Catch!" "Catch!" "Catch!"

【Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood】: Yaoyao is so trustworthy! You really went into the mountains! This place is so beautiful with its green hills and clear waters, it looks so lovely!

"Yes, Xiao Honghong, I will definitely keep my promise to everyone." Chen Siyao replied with a smile. Xiao Honghong is a long-time manager of her live broadcast room and also an alumnus of the same school, who has always taken good care of her.

【Wind God~】: These two beauties are so bold! They actually dared to come to the deep mountains to do a live broadcast by themselves. I admire them!

Chen Siyao knew in her heart that as long as the whole process was broadcast live, no one would dare to have any bad intentions.

"Family members, what do you think of this place? I specially chose it!"

【One Meal to Godhood】: It is indeed very beautiful, with clear waters and lush mountains. I also want to travel there.

[Xiaoyu]: Where is the host?

[White-Clad Warrior]: Hey host, look ahead! There looks like a cave!

Upon seeing this comment, Chen Siyao subconsciously looked up and saw a cave entrance, half-hidden by vines, hidden not far ahead at the foot of the mountain wall. It was pitch black and bottomless. She gently tugged at Yang Wanqing's sleeve: "Qingqing, look, there really is a cave ahead."

The live stream chat exploded instantly.

【I am Ying Zheng】: Streamer, hurry up and go explore! Maybe there's a reclusive old man inside who can help you ascend to the heavens in one step!

【Dongmen Chuixue】: Isn't exploration just about exploring caves? Just charge in and you're done!

[Mountain Guest]: It looks a bit scary, but Yao Yao is brave, so she'll definitely be fine!

The screen was filled with comments urging her to explore. Chen Siyao looked at the dark cave entrance and felt a little scared. But then she thought that this live stream was for the purpose of exploration. If she gave up halfway, she would not only disappoint her fans, but she would also feel unwilling.

She took a deep breath, turned to Yang Wanqing and said, "Qingqing, let's go in and take a look. We'll just walk around for a bit and then come out."

Yang Wanqing's face paled slightly as she gripped her arm tightly: "Are you sure there won't be any danger? It's all dark in there..."

"It's okay, I'll go first and you just follow behind me." Chen Siyao gripped her phone, turned on the flashlight, and took the lead towards the cave entrance.

Vines entwined around the cave entrance; parting the branches and leaves, a narrow, dark passage appeared before them. The faint light from their cell phones traced a bright line in the darkness as the two walked slowly side by side, their footsteps echoing softly in the silent passage.

After only a few dozen steps, the darkness suddenly dissipated, and a bright and open light rushed towards us.

The cave was surprisingly a hidden paradise!

Stalactites hang upside down like a forest, their white veins gleaming with a soft light. The ground is as smooth as jade, and the air is fresh and warm. Compared to the heat outside, it is cool and pleasant here, like a paradise.

Yang Wanqing instantly forgot her fear and exclaimed in amazement, "Wow, Yao Yao! This place is so beautiful!"

The chat room erupted in a frenzy—

[Zhijin Cave enthusiast]: This scenery looks so much like Zhijin Cave in Qianzhou! It's even more beautiful than Zhijin Cave!

[Just 188]: Yao Yao must have accidentally wandered into a fairyland!

[Tired Ox and Horse]: Yao Yao, where is this? I really want to go see!

[Donkey Master]: Is it true that such a beautiful place has not been developed?

Yang Wanqing took out her phone and started taking pictures everywhere; she had never seen such a beautiful cave before.

The two girls wandered around excitedly. It was definitely worth the trip.

[Dongmen Chuixue]: Wait! Yaoyao, look ahead, isn't there a person sitting on that stone platform?

This comment was particularly eye-catching, and Chen Siyao's heart skipped a beat. She looked up in the direction of the camera.

Deep within the cave, on an ancient stone platform, sat a figure sitting cross-legged in meditation.

The comments section was scrolling rapidly.

There really is someone.

"Who would be here in this desolate wilderness, and dressed in something that doesn't look modern?"

"Is Yao Yao going to run into a giant zombie?"

"Yaoyao, run!"

"What are you afraid of? There are so many people in the live stream."

At this moment, Chen Hao, who had been in seclusion, slowly opened his eyes.

For the first time, a slight ripple stirred in my mind, which had been silent for millennia.

Since his transmigration to the ancient Nine Provinces, he had been alone in this place, his immortal path severed, and had lived for tens of thousands of years, long since becoming one with this world. He spent most of his time in seclusion, indifferent to the changes in the world. Just now, he sensed two faint auras of life approaching, but initially paid them no attention.

But when those two figures stepped into the cave, and their clear auras and voices reached his ears, the dormant spiritual energy around him inexplicably trembled slightly.

That sound...

The soft, sweet taste, with a touch of innocent purity, instantly cracked open his long-sealed memories, revealing the timid little figure from ten thousand years ago who called him "brother."

Chen Hao raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the soft light inside the cave and landing on the girl with pure and innocent features standing at the cave entrance.

That's: my younger sister? Have we finally returned to the modern world?

He had just graduated from college before he time-traveled, and his younger sister was only 10 years old at the time. His sister was always his biggest worry.

Chen Hao's thoughts returned to the ancient land of Kyushu; where spiritual energy was as thin as a wisp.

The ancient land of China, once teeming with clouds and crisscrossed by spiritual veins, is now nothing but a desolate wasteland. The rules of heaven and earth have collapsed silently, the path to immortality has been severed, the Great Dao has fallen silent, and even the finest particles of spiritual energy in the air are dissipating at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

Chen Hao stood atop the Nine Provinces, gazing at the group of figures before him, their auras vast and their power overwhelming.

They are all at the Refinement of Emptiness Realm.

This is the highest realm that the world of Blue Star can contain. Lifespans can reach thirty thousand years; a wave of the hand can shatter mountains and break seas; a single thought can shift stars and change constellations—they are the supreme beings of the mortal realm. Yet, at this moment, the faces of these cultivators, who once looked down upon all living beings, are filled with heaviness and helplessness.