Before coming, Er’er had imagined countless difficulties ahead, believing she would have to endure numerous hardships to find the soul-transferring stone. The experience would surely be full of twists and turns, heart-wrenching enough to be recorded in the Nine Heavens’ immortal history, celebrated by future generations.

But now.

Er’er looked at the very obvious fresh soil before her and sighed in disappointment.

No monsters, no entanglements of love and hatred, just a lush ginkgo tree and a burial spot so obvious even a fool could see it.

Holding the shovel with her delicate bottom raised, she said dejectedly: “This won’t even make it into unofficial history.”

Kan Ze said softly, “What’s so difficult about entering the historical records? If you follow my guidance and seriously study the Kan Clan’s immortal techniques, you will eventually become a Supreme God and enter the immortal history’s divine rankings.”

That might be true, Er’er pouted, but if she practiced Kan Clan techniques right under Li Ye’s nose, she wouldn’t need to enter the immortal history—she’d enter a coffin first.

The fresh soil hadn’t been packed firmly. After a few digs, she unearthed a purple crystal box inlaid with silver threads. Er’er tossed the shovel aside, struggled to pull it out completely, and hefted it.

When they said soul-transferring stone, she had expected something large, but it was surprisingly light.

…

…

“Open it,” Kan Ze’s voice grew hoarser, sounding quite pained. “Place it in the notch at the first branch fork of the divine tree.”

Obediently looking up at the ginkgo tree before her, Er’er asked in confusion: “Just place it there? No need for a blood offering or something?”

“No need.”

As expected of a Supreme God’s treasure, the procedure was simple and convenient.

Leaping onto the divine tree, Er’er took the soul-transferring stone and placed it in the notch.

The tree’s lush green ginkgo leaves suddenly turned golden yellow. With the wind’s touch, they spread like dye dissolving in a dyehouse, saturating the ground below.

Er’er exclaimed in wonder, sitting on the branch and swinging her legs as she laughed: “So the Nine Heavens also have winter. When the Supreme God transfers his soul, remember to wear more clothes.”

Kan Ze choked slightly, not answering.

She was a clever little immortal who knew how to seek advantages and avoid harm, yet sometimes her thoughts were so foolish.

How could clothes in the Nine Heavens provide warmth? Only continuous immortal power could. Only by extinguishing all threats with immortal power could one remain warm and secure for a long time.

But what if one’s immortal power wasn’t enough to extinguish threats like Li Ye?

Kan Ze smiled lightly, using Er’er’s eyes to look in the direction where the ginkgo leaves were blown by the wind.

The sky around them darkened.

Li Ye stood in the center of the Upper Ren Palace, suddenly sensing a coolness on his face.

He frowned and raised his hand to wipe it.

Tiny snowflakes landed on his fingertips, melting into vapor in just a moment, returning to the sky. Heavy, murky clouds gathered at the horizon, and in an instant, more snow began to fall.

How could there be seasonal changes within a barrier?

Li Ye glanced sideways at Xuan Shui’s back: “Where does the True Lord intend to go?”

True Lord Xuan Shui, who had been tiptoeing away, felt his neck stiffen. He turned around with difficulty and said: “Doesn’t the Supreme God want to find that key? This minor immortal has checked—the key is beneath the divine tree in the southwest. The Supreme God can go there directly. This minor immortal… has matters at home and must take leave now.”

Li Ye nodded in sudden understanding, magnanimously saying: “The True Lord may go slowly.”

Hearing this, Xuan Shui felt as if granted a great pardon and immediately summoned a cloud, intending to slip away.

However, no matter which direction he went, after ten steps, he would see Li Ye’s smiling-yet-not-smiling face.

Xuan Shui: “…”

Li Ye looked at him with great satisfaction and asked softly: “Could it be that the True Lord fears I cannot find the place and has specially come to guide me?”

His eye twitching, Xuan Shui stammered: “Y-yes, I suppose so.”

“Then I am much obliged.” Li Ye nodded.

Xuan Shui wished he could slap himself to death on the spot.

Earlier, when he had looked with his divine sense, he had seen that the God-Killing Death Formation had already been laid around the divine tree. If anyone with divine power stepped even half a step into it, their soul would be destroyed and their essence shattered. If he went to guide the way, even without entering the formation, his cultivation would be damaged.

But then again.

Secretly observing Li Ye, Xuan Shui scratched his chin.

This person was violent, his moods unpredictable. If allowed to roam freely in the Nine Heavens, the Kan Clan would never know peace.

The killing formation was already in place. If he didn’t lead him there, wouldn’t the Kan Clan’s efforts be wasted?

Very well, if his cultivation must be damaged, so be it. If he could eliminate this threat to the Kan Clan, it would be a meritorious deed on his part.

After much internal struggle, Xuan Shui gritted his teeth: “Supreme God, please come this way.”

The misty eyes quietly observed him for a moment before Li Ye withdrew his gaze and followed.

“In this barrier, besides you and me, are there any others?” he asked.

Xuan Shui trembled and shook his head: “No, since Supreme God Kan Ze disappeared, no one else has entered or left the Upper Ren Palace.”

“Is that so?”

Li Ye smiled lightly, looking toward the dark clouds on the horizon: “I thought you would have laid a vast net, just waiting for me to walk into it.”

“How could the Supreme God say such things?” Xuan Shui smiled ingratiatingly while glancing ahead. “Although there are conflicts between immortal families, they wouldn’t harbor murderous intentions.”

As he spoke, he kept eyeing what lay ahead.

Soon, very soon.

Ginkgo tree leaves flew past. Li Ye caught one with his fingers and gently rubbed it, misty color swirling in his eyes: “It’s appropriate for you to harbor murderous intentions.”

Xuan Shui laughed nervously, cold sweat about to drip from his forehead. Seeing they were approaching the edge of the formation, he gritted his teeth and directly supported Li Ye’s elbow, pushing him forward two steps: “The Supreme God is overthinking. Please watch your step.”

The black cloud boots stopped an inch away from the formation’s edge.

Li Ye looked up into his eyes: “This place has dense dark clouds, fine snow falling, killing energy surging all around, with no exit—what kind of place is this?”

Xuan Shui’s expression changed drastically.

At this critical moment, he could think of no more words to disguise his intentions. In desperation, he gathered water light in his palm and struck directly at Li Ye’s chest.

If he wouldn’t enter, then he would send him in!

The aggressive water flow leaped like a dragon in the sea—one stream cutting off his retreat, another directly attacking his vital point. He had calculated exactly where Li Ye could dodge, but no matter how he dodged, he would inevitably step into the formation.

Xuan Shui watched tensely, only to discover that the person before him hadn’t moved at all.

Li Ye looked back at him, the mockery in his eyes impossible to conceal.

He asked: “Did Kan Ze fail to teach you immortal techniques properly?”

As the word “techniques” fell, the surging water touched his robes and completely transformed into vapor, rolling outward in all directions.

Xuan Shui watched with a pale face.

He knew he was no match for this monster, but he hadn’t expected that he couldn’t even push him one step.

“I came because Kan Ze owes me something,” Li Ye said, withdrawing his sleeve amid the water mist and looking lazily toward the distant ginkgo tree. “It’s there, isn’t it?”

Xuan Shui laughed self-mockingly: “My skills are inferior. You might as well kill me.”

“What I asked was,’ Li Ye lowered his head, somewhat displeased, “is what I seek there?”

“What if it is?” Xuan Shui said with slight irritation. “Can you break through this God-Killing Formation?”

Once the God-Killing Formation was established, it was nearly impossible to destroy—even ten thousand heavenly thunderbolts would be ineffective, let alone Li Ye.

Xuan Shui plopped down on the ground, deciding that since the jug was already broken, he might as well break it completely. He snorted: “Hurry up and make your move. I don’t want to stay here long…”

Before he could finish speaking, a gust of wind swept past his ears.

Fierce robes charged into the formation. The light blue color fell away like a receding tide, and the fiery golden crow patterns swept past his face, scorching his eyes painfully.