Dark clouds loomed over the entire Taihe Immortal Sect. The young disciples stood guard in the open space outside the gates, their faces ashen.

Meng Wan stared fixedly at the horizon, waiting for a long time without seeing any movement.

Just as despair was about to overcome him, light finally appeared from the edge of the sky, streaking toward them like flowing fire.

“They’re back! They’re back!” several junior disciples shouted excitedly.

Meng Wan rose and went forward, just in time to meet the large cloud formation landing. Yan Cha stumbled down from the cloud, parting the way for those behind him with pale lips.

Supreme God Li Ye was one of the rulers of the Nine Heavens’ Ten Gates. If he harbored ill intentions, they certainly couldn’t protect Xianshi. With Supreme God Chu Yuan in seclusion, they were truly desperate, with no choice but to storm the Heavenly Gate and request help from several Supreme Gods of the Zhen and Qian clans.

The price for this action was naturally severe. Meng Wan had prepared himself, but he hadn’t expected that when so many Supreme Gods landed, none of their expressions would be light.

“It’s Li Ye’s aura.” Zhen Huan Gong led his spiritual beast, looking extremely troubled. “I told you he had ulterior motives, but you wouldn’t believe me.”

Qian Tian stood beside him, gently pinching the murderous energy in the air and sighing helplessly. “I just preferred to think positively.”

…

…

“Think what? That Li Ye would quietly set aside grudges and live peacefully?” Zhen Huan Gong’s face turned ashen. “If you had trusted me earlier and captured him directly, Kan Ze wouldn’t have fallen victim to his poison.”

“There was no evidence then. How could we capture him?”

“Well, there should be evidence now.” Zhen Huan Gong pointed ahead sharply.

Qian Tian and the other Supreme Gods looked forward but found only Li Ye’s aura, with no sign of him.

Zhen Huan Gong snorted coldly, releasing the reins in his hand. The guardian spiritual beast howled and rushed forward, with the Supreme Gods immediately following.

This time, they couldn’t let Li Ye escape!

However.

Half an incense stick’s time later, the guardian spiritual beast led the group of Supreme Gods to stand dumbfounded at the entrance of a mountain cave.

In the spacious, bright cave, a bonfire burned vigorously. Supreme God Li Ye, rumored to be intent on slaughtering the Taihe Immortal Sect, was sitting expressionlessly by the fire, holding a stick with corn skewered on it, looking up at them.

“May I help you?” he raised his eyes.

The swelling around Er’er’s eyes hadn’t subsided yet, but she had already eaten half a corn cob. Holding the corn with both hands, still chewing, she turned her head foolishly at the sound.

Zhen Huan Gong’s spiritual beast was still as fierce as ever, baring its teeth and drooling at the roasted corn in her hands.

Instinctively shrinking closer to Li Ye, she hugged her corn and took another bite, giving the beast a “no way” look.

Qian Tian was stunned.

“Supreme God, what are you…” he looked around, “what mood struck you to come here and roast such common food?”

Recalling what he had done, Li Ye looked up, examining him carefully for a moment, then chuckled lightly. “What? Are there new heavenly rules in the Nine Heavens?”

Feeling an inexplicable chill down his spine, Qian Tian unconsciously stepped back half a pace, then cupped his hands. “Not at all. It’s just that, given your esteemed status, suddenly appearing in this realm inevitably causes misunderstandings. Some frightened immortals have already broken through the Heavenly Gate to complain, saying that you intended to harm Taihe Xianshi.”

Withdrawing his gaze, Li Ye flipped the corn over and didn’t respond further.

His demeanor didn’t suggest he wanted to harm anyone, but who knew if he might suddenly attack while remaining here? Zhen Huan Gong grew anxious, stepping forward to ask Er’er: “Isn’t this your immortal sect? Tell us what’s happening.”

Suddenly addressed, Er’er was startled and hiccupped. “Tell… tell what?”

Li Ye turned his head, his fire-red sleeve rising extremely gently and slowly to wipe away the corn bits at the corner of her mouth. “Just say whatever there is to say.”

His misty eyes swept tenderly across her face as he pressed his lips together, lifting his index finger to tuck a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

Er’er: “…”

This gentle version of the supreme being was a thousand times more frightening than the angry one.

If she directly asked for help, she might be crushed by him, but if she didn’t, once these Supreme Gods left, Taihe Xianshi would truly be beyond saving.

Although she didn’t know why the supreme being had suddenly stopped to bring her roasted corn, the murderous aura hadn’t disappeared from him, which meant he hadn’t given up his intentions. She certainly couldn’t cover for him.

Her eyes darted around rapidly. Er’er lowered her head and took another bite of corn. After swallowing, she solemnly said to Zhen Huan Gong: “You have all misunderstood. Supreme God Li Ye came here not to harm anyone, but to save someone.”

“Save someone?” Zhen Huan Gong didn’t believe it.

Li Ye also turned, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Yes, save someone.” Without blushing or her heart racing, Er’er said seriously, “Taihe Xianshi’s seclusion isn’t going well; there are signs of cultivation deviation. Supreme God Li Ye sensed this in the Nine Heavens and, remembering Xianshi’s compassion, came specially to assist.”

These words made sense individually, but with “Supreme God Li Ye” added at the beginning…

Zhen Huan Gong wouldn’t believe it even if he died.

He frowned at Er’er and said gravely: “Your words could endanger hundreds of lives in the immortal sect. You shouldn’t speak nonsense.”

“I’m not speaking nonsense.” The person before him suddenly stood up, seemingly somewhat angry. “If Supreme God doesn’t believe me, then follow along and see for yourself whether Supreme God Li Ye is saving or harming people.”

Li Ye sat by the fire, expressionlessly removing the roasted corn and holding it in his hand.

They said she was timid, but when it came to scheming against him, she was both precise and ruthless.

He wanted to say that even if he killed Taihe right in front of Zhen Huan Gong and Qian Tian, none of them could stop him.

However, if he did so, news of his opening the netherworld gate would spread throughout the Nine Heavens, alerting the Way of Heaven’s diviners and adding several obstacles.

Eyes half-lowered, Li Ye was quite displeased.

Zhen Huan Gong completely disbelieved Er’er’s explanation, but Qian Tian, standing behind, seemed to understand something as he looked at her and Li Ye beside her. He stepped forward and tugged at Zhen Huan Gong’s sleeve.

“It wouldn’t hurt to go and see,” Qian Tian said. “We’ve already disturbed the tranquility of this immortal sect anyway.”

Zhen Huan Gong was reluctant, very much wanting to take action right there and capture Li Ye.

But Qian Tian secretly shook his head at him.

Unable to vent his anger, Zhen Huan Gong slapped the guardian spiritual beast’s head and shouted angrily: “You’re a divine beast, not a dog. Why are you drooling over someone else’s corn? Let’s go!”

Guardian howled pitifully, lowering its tail with extreme grievance. Its green eyes glanced at the corn in Li Ye’s hand, then it lowered its head and followed Zhen Huan Gong out of the cave.

The gods began to leave one after another. Er’er also wanted to step forward, but noticed from the corner of her eye that the supreme being remained seated without moving.

Her heart sank. She stopped in her tracks and reluctantly turned to look at him.

“Supreme God.”

Li Ye looked back at her, his eyes filled with mockery.

Secretly swallowing, Er’er said: “If you spare Xianshi, this little immortal is willing to exchange life for life.”

She was weak and useless anyway. If she could secure Xianshi’s safety, the future might change from here, and she would have fulfilled her mission.

The anger in his heart dissipated upon hearing these words, and Li Ye became confused again.

“You don’t want to live?”

“I do,” she nodded quickly. “Who doesn’t want to live?”

Then why treat life so lightly?

Li Ye looked at her disdainfully for a moment, unable to understand.

In his view, her life was much more vibrant and interesting than old Taihe’s.

Brushing away the ash from the edge of his robe, he stood up, his voice deep: “What use would I have for your life?”

With that, he stepped forward and began to leave.

Er’er was so frightened that her hair stood on end. She hurriedly followed beside him, anxiously saying: “My life is a life too! Don’t you want to absorb death resentment? If you strangle me, I’ll be extremely resentful and particularly delicious—surely better than letting Taihe Xianshi vanish into ashes with nothing to consume.”

“Besides, Xianshi has lived for tens of thousands of years—he’s old and tough on the teeth. How could he compare to a tender, delicious little immortal like me?”

As if thinking of something, she swallowed as she spoke.

Li Ye: “…”

Did this fool misunderstand him somehow? He was opening the netherworld gate to draw death resentment power to the Nine Heavens for his use, not because it tasted good.

Who would go to such lengths just for a meal?

Moreover.

Glancing at her, he snorted coldly.

With her little bit of flesh, she could be blown over by the wind. What was there to eat?

Gulp.

Someone’s Adam’s apple barely noticeably rolled up and down.

Li Ye darkened his face, stepped onto the cloud outside, and left.

Er’er tumbled after him, scrambling to keep up.

***

The nearly closed netherworld gate had been torn open again by the swarming death resentment. Taihe, exhausted, gasped for breath. After observing for a moment, he still exerted all his immortal power, attempting to seal the breach.

At this moment, he sensed an extremely overbearing immortal force trying to break into his secluded cave.

With no extra immortal power to resist external enemies, Taihe resigned himself to letting it pass, only staring intently at the void before him.

Tap, tap, tap.

Someone slowly approached him, taking measured steps.

A chill rose behind his ears as Taihe slightly turned his eyes to look at the visitor.

“It’s… you…”

Li Ye calmly sat down on a stone beside him, took the corn in his hand, and began to peel it elegantly.

“You need not concern yourself with this matter,” he said.

Taihe’s fist clenched tighter, his voice hoarse: “If it were anyone else walking this evil path, old man would not interfere.”

But not with him. If he harbored evil thoughts, it would be a disaster for all living beings.

Misty eyes quietly observed him as Li Ye suddenly smiled lightly: “You also know what happened back then.”

“Old man does not know.”

Putting a kernel of corn in his mouth, Li Ye’s expression suddenly turned cold: “I haven’t even said what matter it was.”

“…” His breath caught, and Taihe awkwardly looked away.

“I originally thought, since none of you are willing to speak, I would investigate myself. You can die here; I don’t care.” Long fingers plucked another kernel of corn as Li Ye somewhat listlessly lowered his eyes to examine it. “But that little thing you brought up to ascend is truly annoying to death.”

Not letting him take action was one thing, but even making him come to save someone? How was he supposed to save? By shutting the netherworld gate, he had opened himself?

Glancing at the crack in the void realm’s gate, Li Ye’s expression turned extremely unpleasant.

Taihe fell silent.

He looked at the Supreme God somewhat surprisingly, feeling he might be hallucinating due to extreme fatigue.

How could such a cold and proud Supreme God suddenly display the same tantrum-throwing demeanor as his little disciple?