Er’er immediately stumbled under his weight.

She looked at him with a wrinkled face, wanting to say that it wasn’t his legs that were injured, so why couldn’t he even stand properly? But with the Kan clan immortals pursuing fiercely behind them, Er’er had no time to dwell on it. She mustered her strength and carried him across the imposing immortal gate ahead.

Angry immortal power followed close behind. Er’er tensed and immediately said, “Let’s split up and meet at the Ten Direction Cloud Sea.”

Supporting each other like this, neither could escape.

Lifting his eyelids, Li Ye snorted lightly, “Low-level immortals, their physical forms can hardly keep up with us.”

“Their physical forms can’t keep up, but this immortal power…” She pointed behind them, shaking her head.

“What are you afraid of?” The great master glanced back, “It’s chaotic and disorganized, hardly amounting to anything. Reach out your hand.”

Reach out her hand for what? Use her lone immortal power to block so many people?

Er’er shook her head faster than a rattling drum: “No, no, I can’t block it.”

…

…

“How would you know if you don’t try?” He frowned slightly. “No ambition.”

Fine, she had no ambition, but she still needed her wits. Among the immortal power being flung at them from behind were the auras of High Immortals and True Lords. She, a minor immortal, would have to be overfed with stupidity to face a hundred enemies alone.

Shrinking her shoulders, Er’er put her head down and was about to continue running.

Li Ye grew somewhat impatient. He stopped, and the arm resting on her shoulder tightened, forcibly turning her whole body around to face the white light behind them.

“Recite the incantation.”

Her pupils contracted. Er’er backed against him, her legs trembling: “W-what incantation?”

“…”

Angered, he pushed her directly toward the white light and said in a deep voice, “If you can’t remember, then take the blow.”

How heartless! Er’er cried out miserably, raising both hands to protect her head, calling out in panic: “Heaven and earth obey my will, water gate of spirit realm, arise!”

A thin barrier formed in front, forming a stark contrast with the surging white light, like a weak lotus leaf facing a sharp battering ram.

But in the next instant, this lotus leaf suddenly grew tenfold, a canopy of golden light shielding her from above. When it collided with the pursuing white light, it produced a clear, metallic sound that seemed to cleanse the world.

When the expected pain didn’t come, Er’er opened her eyes in confusion, peering out through the gap between her arms.

White light rain fell around them, like mist enveloping a small town in Jiangnan. As the light rain dispersed, a peaceful sunset appeared on the horizon.

Had it… Blocked the attack?

Looking in disbelief at the barrier overhead, then at her own hands, Er’er was stunned for a long moment before her eyes suddenly brightened.

“Master!” She ran toward him joyfully, raising her hands before his eyes. “I blocked it!”

Li Ye barely glanced at her, as if not particularly interested. He withdrew his hand and naturally yawned, “If you’ve blocked it, then let’s hurry. Don’t dawdle.”

“Oh.” She obediently complied, lowering her head and following beside him.

However, after walking just a few steps—

“I blocked it!” She excitedly waved her hand before her eyes again. “Such powerful immortal power, and I blocked it with just one barrier!”

Li Ye: “…”

She truly hadn’t seen much of the world, getting so excited over such a small matter.

He sighed, placing his hand on top of her head. After a moment’s thought, he still offered some praise: “Very impressive.”

Although he had helped from behind, a little praise wouldn’t hurt.

Li Ye spoke with the attitude of humoring a child, but he hadn’t expected that as soon as the words left his mouth, the little thing’s eyes would light up like ignited fireworks, instantly blazing with starlight.

She looked up at him and asked earnestly, “Really?”

Those eyes were too bright, full of expectation and joy, as if what he was about to say was some divine decree of immortalization. It made him feel uneasy.

Li Ye couldn’t quite understand why this insincere compliment made her so happy, but she looked rather pleasing when happy, so he nodded and added, “Really.”

Er’er was too excited to speak and immediately ran two circles around him.

In all her years of cultivation, this was the first time anyone had praised her prowess, and it came from a supreme god like Li Ye!

Er’er had always felt that her ability to cultivate was only due to the offerings her imperial father and mother received in the mortal realm. Even Taihe Xianshi had said she had no talent for cultivation, and even after teaching her the immortal techniques of ten sects, they still hadn’t found one suited to her.

For so many years, she had grown accustomed to her inefficient progress, accustomed to advancing slower than her senior brothers and sisters, accustomed to being called “little waste” by those with ill intentions. She never expected that one day, she would receive recognition from someone so powerful.

Er’er suddenly felt that Great Master Li Ye was a good person. Perhaps someday some change might lead him to the demonic path, but at least for now, he was truly an exceptionally good person.

After circling him twice more, Er’er tugged at the hem of his robe, smiling sweetly, “Let’s go home. I’ll roast corn for you.”

She was truly overjoyed. Li Ye smirked, pressing down on her little head that was spinning around, then looked back toward the Kan clan immortal gate.

“Oh, right.” Seeing his expression, Er’er suddenly remembered to ask, “Why did you go to that Upper Ren Palace?”

“Looking for something.”

He would have been better off not saying anything—as soon as he spoke, Li Ye’s expression darkened.

Back when Kan Ze battled with him, upon his defeat, he had told Li Ye that the ancient divine artifact, the Water Moon Mirror Flower, could observe the past karma of immortals, and the key was in the Upper Ren Palace. He had told him there was a trap, but was also certain that Li Ye would still go.

Kan Ze wasn’t wrong—Li Ye did go, disregarding life and death in pursuit of understanding his karma.

Yet, in the end, he still hadn’t obtained the key.

A hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes as Li Ye looked away, gazing listlessly toward the horizon.

“Looking for what?” Er’er puzzled, rummaging in her sleeve pouch and pulling out a small stone. “That place had nothing remarkable except for this stone with some spiritual energy.”

A golden yellow stone with patterns resembling ginkgo leaves lay quietly in her palm.

Li Ye turned his head casually, but as soon as his gaze fell upon it, his entire body suddenly froze.

“You…” He steadied himself, taking a light breath, “You didn’t leave it behind?”

“You mean this?” Er’er tossed the stone up and down in her hand. “I took it. Even though it’s not a soul-turning stone, it’s still quite pretty. It would have been a shame for it to be destroyed along with the divine wood. I was thinking of finding someone to make a neckla— Hey?”

Before she could finish speaking, the great master had taken the stone from her hand.

Er’er looked up in confusion, only to see Li Ye’s face completely expressionless as he calmly asked her, “Is there anything you want?”

“Huh?” The sudden change in topic left her struggling to keep up.

Placing his hand behind his back, Li Ye looked down at her imperiously: “Whatever you desire, I will find it for you.”

After a moment of silence, Er’er understood.

This was what the great master had been looking for.

But was it necessary? If he said he wanted it, how could she refuse? He was thousands of years old, yet still hiding it behind his back?

Both amused and exasperated, Er’er waved her hand: “The stone is yours. I don’t want anything in return.”

“However…”

Remembering something, she composed herself: “If you have time, could you take me to the Immortal Banquet Platform in ten days?”