On this day, the Sweet Rain poured down generously, nurturing all living things. Whether newly ascended minor immortals or Supreme Gods who had been in seclusion for years, all would go near the Carefree Divine Tree, seeking significant improvement in their cultivation.

Li Ye would certainly go as well.

He didn’t covet the Kan Clan’s Sweet Rain; rather, mice were hiding in corners that could only be caught at this time.

The essence that Li Ye could absorb within the Kan Clan territory was too scarce. He had simply held his breath and rested the entire night, but when he awoke the next day, he felt stifled and uncomfortable, taking quite a while to recover.

This truly wasn’t a good place, he thought with disgust. Everything was damp and sluggish—who could stand it?

A light snore came from the small couch nearby.

Li Ye was startled and turned his head with a dark expression.

Er’er was sleeping sweetly, hugging a soft pillow with both arms and legs, her rosy face unconsciously nuzzling against it, occasionally smiling foolishly.

Li Ye:?

…

…

Was this his disciple?

Anger rising in his heart, he turned his hand to gather divine fire, intending to burn her small couch, but on second thought, she was already weak—if burning caused her further harm, he would have to deal with it.

With a muffled snort, he withdrew his hand, pulled a blue and white outer robe hanging on the screen, draped it over his shoulders, and strode out the door.

The streets were extremely lively, with immortals of all ranks hurrying toward the Carefree Divine Tree. Li Ye walked among them with his divine sense concealed, but before long, he was blocked halfway by the surging crowd.

He looked up and said with slight displeasure: “May I pass through?”

Someone nearby answered with a smile: “The streets are naturally crowded during the Sweet Rain Festival. Everyone wants to move forward. Being stuck here is unavoidable; there’s no way to clear a path.”

“Indeed, indeed,” others echoed in agreement.

Li Ye fell silent, looking at the half-empty street to the side, then glancing at the flirtatious female immortals pressing against him, momentarily at a loss for words.

No wonder that little creature had inappropriate thoughts about him—female immortals in the heavenly realm were all the same.

Yet the Kan Clan Immortal Sect, renowned for nurturing beauties, hadn’t produced exceptionally stunning female immortals. Even those who had cultivated to the True Lord realm weren’t as properly featured as his unworthy disciple.

Growing annoyed with the crowding, he simply formed a hand seal to cast a soul-concealing technique and extricated himself.

The female immortals who had been happily gathering around suddenly saw a flash of fire with a scorching sensation coming toward them, causing them to scream and scatter.

The handsome, tall immortal lord disappeared, the fire vanishing with him. Only a strand of severed blue-black hair rose with the wind, twisting in the air.

Not far away, on an immortal platform, someone extended a hand.

That strand of hair was guided by the wind, obediently flying into his palm.

“So he still came,” he sighed, looking up at the sky, his robes billowing in the wind, his immortal aura elegant.

The attendant behind him was ashen-faced: “Supreme God Kan Ze’s whereabouts are unknown, and our Kan Clan has no one who can contend with Li Ye. Why does the True Lord remain so calm?”

The front man stood composed, his back view appearing relaxed and steady.

Then he turned around, his expression contorted as he said: “Do you think this lord isn’t anxious? If I had any strategy, would I be standing here catching the wind?”

Attendant: “…”

They all knew Li Ye wouldn’t spare the Kan Clan, after all, among the Five Elements’ Great Ways, only the Kan Clan could restrain the Li Clan. But they hadn’t expected Li Ye to arrive so quickly and silently, giving them no chance to prepare.

True Lord Xuan Shui had originally planned to seclude himself, but since today was the Sweet Rain Festival, he had no choice but to attend. Before leaving, he had cast five layers of eye-deception techniques on himself, only then daring to stand on the immortal platform and put on airs.

“Did Li Ye bring someone else with him on this trip?” he suddenly asked.

The attendant nodded: “A new small disciple from the Upper Bing Palace. I heard Supreme God Li Ye holds him in high regard.”

Xuan Shui doubted his hearing: “What kind of regard?”

“In reply to the True Lord, high regard.”

Unable to contain himself, Xuan Shui snorted with laughter: “If Li Ye could hold anyone in high regard, I would stretch out my neck for him to strangle until I crow like a chicken…cock-a-doodle—”

A fire-like whirlwind rushed toward him, and an iron-like hand penetrated the five layers of eye-deception barrier, fiercely gripping his neck.

In the bright daylight, the dazzling sun illuminated a swift shadow like one treading on clouds and chasing the moon, and the stunned chicken chick in the shadow’s hand.

“True Lord Xuan Shui, it’s been a while.”

Li Ye greeted with a smile.

Xuan Shui was dumbfounded. He instinctively looked at his shattered barrier beside him, then at the flame clutched in this person’s hand.

The Kan Clan territory was filled with water everywhere, which should have suppressed seven-tenths of his spiritual power. Yet even so, he couldn’t hide his presence before him.

This monster had advanced even further.

With a trace of fear in his eyes, Xuan Shui hoarsely cupped his hands: “Greetings, Supreme God.”

Li Ye released his grip, throwing him back to the ground.

“Since we’ve met by fate, True Lord Xuan Shui might as well clarify your unfinished words from before.”

Is this what you call fate? Xuan Shui looked at the half-burned strand of blue-black hair in his hand, feeling as though he had been tricked.

“This minor immortal’s memory isn’t very good,” he said vaguely. “May I ask what the Supreme God is referring to?”

Li Ye chuckled, half-squatting beside him with one knee propped, straightening his disheveled clothes: “In the past, when the True Lord’s memory failed, Kan Ze would cover for you. But now that he’s gone, if the True Lord continues to hinder my important matters, it won’t be resolved with just a few words of excuse.”

Xuan Shui turned pale.

***

When Er’er woke up, she discovered the boss had disappeared. After searching the residence inside and out, certain he wasn’t there, she immediately rushed into Kan Ze’s room.

Kan Ze had risen early and was grinding immortal herbs. Suddenly seeing the door crash open, his fingers paused, and the tongue spirit bird on his shoulder immediately shouted: “Who dares be so rude!”

Er’er ran up to him, with no time for explanations, and simply formed a hand seal.

A stream of water light emerged from her palm, turning to frost in the wind, forming an ice lotus flower with petals unfurled, just like its midnight blooming state.

Kan Ze immediately stood up.

“Master?” the tongue spirit bird called in confusion.

Exhaling lightly, Er’er nodded: “This is the token he gave me, to have you take me to the Upper Ren Palace.”

Kan Ze’s eyes brightened, and he instinctively grabbed Er’er’s hand. The tongue spirit bird voiced his thoughts: “He’s still alive?”

The situation was too complicated. Er’er didn’t know how to explain and could only nod randomly: “Let’s hurry. If my master returns and discovers us, we’ll all be finished together.”

Kan Ze nodded and quickly pulled her toward the exit.

But once they reached the doorway, both were stunned.

As expected of a boss, he had set up a barrier around the residence. If they left, he would certainly detect it.

Kan Ze frowned in confusion. The tongue spirit bird cocked its head on his shoulder and asked: “Who exactly is your revered master?”

Ordinary minor immortals wouldn’t possess such spiritual power.

Er’er scratched her cheek, thinking that if she told the truth, not just one ice lotus flower, but even ten Kan Zes wouldn’t guide her way. After all, who would believe that she, a disciple of the Li Clan’s Supreme God, would betray her master to help Kan Ze transfer his soul?

So after pondering for a moment, she said: “My master doesn’t have any special background. He’s been in seclusion cultivating and doesn’t even have an honorary title.”

Many successful cultivators remained in seclusion, so Kan Ze didn’t inquire further. He just looked worriedly at the barrier before them. After thinking, he suddenly took the ice lotus flower from Er’er’s hand and inserted it into her hair bun.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. I hope the immortal lady doesn’t take offense,” the tongue spirit bird spoke as he bowed deeply to her.

Compared to the boss’s complete disregard for feminine dignity, Er’er found this physician extremely gentle and considerate. Merely placing a flower in her hair was hardly offensive—the boss had even invaded her hot spring pool without a single word of apology.

Waving her hand dismissively, she asked: “Just wearing this will work?”

Kan Ze nodded, conjured an identical ice lotus flower pendant to hang at his waist, then pressed his lips together, grasped her sleeve, and led her across the barrier.

Li Ye was listening to Xuan Shui’s confession when he suddenly sensed a disturbance in his barrier.

He paused, focusing his divine sense to check, only to see that worthless little creature happily leaving with Kan Ze.

Still not cultivating properly.

Slightly annoyed, Li Ye dismissed the image and said to Xuan Shui: “Stop the nonsense, lead the way.”

Xuan Shui clutched his fragile neck, saying miserably: “It’s not that I’m unwilling, but since Supreme God Kan Ze’s disappearance, the Upper Ren Palace has been sealed by a barrier. Outsiders can’t enter.”

“That’s not your concern,” Li Ye waved his hand, pushing him forward.

Xuan Shui had no choice but to step onto the street, leading him through the immortal residence area, getting closer to the Upper Ren Palace.

As the sun rose higher, more and more people filled the streets. Li Ye coldly glanced at the crowd, suddenly asking: “Why do some people have flowers in their hair while others have nothing?”

“The Supreme God may not know,” Xuan Shui spoke breathlessly, his life in another’s hands. Today is the Sweet Rain Festival. Immortals over a thousand years old, if their fate has arrived, will seek an immortal partner for cultivation. Female immortals who haven’t found one leave their hair empty, waiting for someone to present an ice lotus flower as a token. If they’ve found someone, they wear the ice lotus flower to prevent others from coveting them.”

Such flashy nonsense, not as worry-free as cultivating alone.

Li Ye was quite dismissive, flicking his sleeve and withdrawing his gaze.

However, a moment later, he stopped in his tracks.

His divine sense rose again, and the scene before the barrier was breached unfolded before his eyes.

Someone had placed an ice lotus flower in her hair.

The little creature hadn’t resisted, but instead smiled brightly, letting herself be led by the hand, obediently crossing the threshold of the blue-tiled small residence.