Previously, when Li Ye brought this small immortal back to Upper Bing Palace, Zhu Yan had thought it was just a passing interest, like the wild grass he had picked up five hundred years ago, or the turtle he had brought back a thousand years ago—something he would grow tired of after a few days.

But unexpectedly, after half a month, not only had he not tired of her, but he seemed to have been influenced by her.

“Supreme God,” Zhu Yan couldn’t help but remind him softly, “Those who cultivate the Great Dao should avoid the seven emotions and six desires.”

Li Ye had been pondering why the small creature was so afraid of him when he suddenly heard this remark, and his face immediately darkened.

“Seven emotions and six desires?” He looked at the screen uncomfortably. “With her?”

He wasn’t blind. Even if this small immortal were deeply and unchangeably devoted to him, he wouldn’t be interested in her, so weak and foolish, unable to withstand even the heavenly thunder.

Although she had helped him a little and was sometimes quite clever, her cleverness among the multitude of female immortals in the Nine Heavens was not enough to be noticed. As for the seven emotions and six desires, the only reason he allowed her to stay in Upper Bing Palace was because of Kan Ze.

Zhu Yan’s scalp tightened, and he dared not contradict him further, only saying: “This humble immortal was merely making a casual remark. Your aura has been unstable lately. I shall not disturb you further.”

With that, he quickly retreated from Upper Bing Palace.

…

…

Li Ye stood in place, still displeased, like a crumpled piece of paper stuck in his throat, neither able to spit it out nor swallow it down.

How could anyone think he would develop feelings? It was clear that an inexperienced small immortal who had feelings first, clinging to him every day, gazing at him with bright eyes, her every gesture full of affection. He was simply being kind by not driving her away, which gave others the wrong impression.

This couldn’t continue.

Shaking his head, Li Ye turned and walked back behind the screen.

Er’er was concentrating on her cultivation.

As she had expected, the technique the boss had given her conflicted with Kan Ze’s immortal power within her body. Every time she completed a small circulation, her meridians felt as if they were being cut by knives. But she had no choice—she had to stay here, enduring the pain no matter how severe.

What Li Ye saw, therefore, was this small creature whimpering while meticulously forming the hand signs he had taught her.

He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

Her mouth had twisted into a wavy line from crying, red and aggrieved, yet her hand movements were complete and precise. She was also muttering: “Spirit of the gods most nimble, ascending to heaven and reaching the earth, exiting the dark and entering the netherworld, making my plea, without pause or delay.”

After saying “delay,” she hiccupped from crying, and the flame in her hand extinguished.

Er’er opened her eyes and angrily patted her chest. Just as she was about to mutter something, she saw him standing in front of her and was so frightened that she quickly closed her eyes again to continue her practice.

The teardrops hanging on her eyelashes fell as she blinked, landing on her dusty gray dress and forming a small dark brown spot.

Li Ye only then realized that since returning from the Kan Clan, she hadn’t even had time to freshen up. This beauty-loving little thing was still wearing the dirty blue and white dress from when she had escaped the Death Array of the Killing God.

His heart softened, and he forgot what he had originally wanted to say, only kicking the edge of her bed: “There’s a hot spring over there.”

Being interrupted in the middle of forming a hand sign made Er’er a bit angry, even if he was the boss.

Did she not know there was a hot spring? Did she not want to plunge in for a good soak and then conjure a beautiful palace outfit? Did she have time for that?

She gave him an angry look, gritted her teeth, shook her head, and then closed her eyes again.

Li Ye:?

This was the first time he had seen such a fierce look from her, so fierce that it seemed as if her previous admiration and longing had been his illusion.

Feeling somewhat displeased, he reached out and poked her forehead.

Er’er frowned, moved her body with her eyes closed, twisting and turning to face away from him.

Quite stubborn.

Li Ye snorted and laughed, then poked her back.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Er’er jumped up with a start, grabbed the silken bedding and blocked the edge of the bed, then moved to the innermost corner of the step-bed.

She understood now—the boss just wanted to drive her away, so he was doing everything to prevent her from cultivating. She would not yield to his wishes.

A barrier fell around her, and Er’er concentrated on reciting the incantation.

In the darkness, Kan Ze felt a powerful pulling sensation. He was shocked and tried to hold onto the immortal power in his spiritual core, but unexpectedly, a beam of light descended from above, and pure white immortal power was drawn out beyond his control.

This low-level immortal was using his power?

Kan Ze was astonished.

Pure white light enveloped the entire step-bed. Li Ye had been about to joke around, but in the next moment, his gaze darkened.

This powerful Kan Clan immortal power was inherently designed to counter the Li Clan’s existence. Merely touching it made him uncomfortable.

He hadn’t expected that in just a few days, without checking, Kan Ze’s spiritual core had recovered so well.

He frowned as he looked at the person sitting cross-legged in the light.

Er’er hadn’t noticed she was using anything special. She had simply set up a barrier because she didn’t want to be disturbed, with all her mental focus immersed in the technique. She also didn’t notice that the immortal power in her dantian had suddenly become so pure and thick. She only felt that the pain in her meridians was even more severe, requiring great effort to hold back from crying out loud.

Amid chaos, she seemed to hear the sound of flowing water, along with scorching flames soaring to the sky, burning her heart and lungs.

Fire and water could not coexist. Er’er groaned, gradually tasting blood in her mouth.

Li Ye watched coldly, arms folded, motionless.

Previously, she had claimed she got lost and went to Upper Ren Palace. He hadn’t believed her, because she couldn’t possibly have broken through the Peace Barrier with her power—it must have been Kan Ze’s interference. Considering how desperately she had saved him, he hadn’t planned to hold it against her.

But he wouldn’t allow Kan Ze to continue recovering.

Using her as a vessel was somewhat cruel, but who told her to stumble upon this situation? The more pain she experienced in cultivation, the more Kan Ze would suffer. For this reason, she would have to endure hardship.

He had expected her to give up by the second great circulation, which would also be about her limit, so one hour was just right.

However…

An hour quickly passed, and the white barrier still enveloped the step-bed.

Li Ye raised his eyes in surprise.

People amid cultivation don’t perceive the passage of time. Er’er moved through the chaos, only wanting to use water to extinguish the raging fire to reduce her suffering.

Just as it seemed she would succeed, another more powerful flame appeared from somewhere, instantly reigniting the ground.

With a scream of agony, Er’er clutched her head and whimpered. After a long while, she shakily got up again and went back to drawing water to douse the fire.

Her heart, liver, spleen, and lungs felt as if they were burning to cinders. She looked up at the empty sky with reddened eyes, slightly resentful.

Suddenly, the fire around her diminished somewhat.

Someone reached out and lifted her from the endless scorched earth.

Er’er was shocked. Before she could see who it was, weariness surged through her body and mind.

A mouthful of sweet blood slipped from the corner of her mouth as she fell into a warm body of water.

“How pitiful.”

From near and far, she seemed to hear Kan Ze sighing.

“To think Li Ye is a good person, heh…”