“What should I call you?” Er’er asked, confused. “Master?”

With a slightly reluctant click of his tongue, Li Ye extended his hand and lightly tapped her forehead.

Er’er’s eyelids instantly became as heavy as if weighed down by two massive stones. After letting out a soft, gentle yawn, she obediently drifted into slumber.

“Li Ye,” a voice said in her dream.

Er’er looked up at the sky and dutifully repeated: “Great Lord Li Ye.”

“It’s Li Ye.”

Somewhat hesitant to call him that, Er’er touched the tip of her nose and mumbled softly: “Supreme God Li Ye.”

“…”

His finger pressed against her lips as Li Ye looked down at her, teaching her earnestly: “Fire is Li, and Ye is born where the radiant light shines brightest.”

…

…

“Li Ye.” As she slept deeply, the two syllables escaped from her lips indistinctly, soft and gentle.

His fingertips trembled slightly as he quickly averted his gaze and cleared his throat.

“Call me just that.”

The person in his arms kept her eyes closed, her small hands pressed against his chest. Like a sweet little cake, she obediently repeated the name he had taught her.

Li Ye, Li Ye.

It had been a long time since anyone had called him so tenderly. The Great Lord listened with great satisfaction, his thumb caressing the crown of her head. Unable to resist, he transferred some more spiritual energy to her, suppressing the chaotic immortal energy within her. Of the five elements and eight trigrams, only fire would reign supreme.

Zhu Yan had barely left Shangbing Palace when he heard the faint rumble of thunder in the distance.

What was happening? He paused and looked back, shocked to discover it was a thousand-year tribulation.

A Supreme God certainly wouldn’t need to face a thousand-year heavenly tribulation anymore. In the entire Shangbing Palace, only Immortal Er’er would have such an opportunity.

But hadn’t she just undergone one not long ago? How could she possibly face a second one so soon?

After thinking briefly, Zhu Yan’s temple began to throb uncontrollably.

If he remembered correctly, the Supreme God had previously stated that cultivation could never take shortcuts, and he would never help anyone ascend. Everyone must follow the Way of Heaven and cultivate earnestly.

He had also said that everyone has their destiny, with life and death determined by Heaven, unchangeable.

So what was happening now? The very rule that no one else had violated, the Supreme God himself had broken?

If he had merely offered a little assistance, that would be one thing, but judging by his current stance, he was invested.

Drawing in a sharp breath, Zhu Yan turned around and headed back, intending to offer some words of advice.

However, the heavenly tribulation arrived much faster than he did. An enormous thunderbolt struck Shangbing Palace, turning it into a black silhouette, with lightning scattering in all directions, just as fierce as the previous time.

Stopping in his tracks, Zhu Yan frowned as he looked up.

If the previous tribulation had been so fierce for other reasons, then why did this one also far exceed the level appropriate for someone with a thousand years of cultivation?

Given Immortal Er’er’s cultivation level, such powerful heavenly thunder should never have been directed at her.

Before he could think further, Zhu Yan noticed a barrier forming around Shangbing Palace.

The brilliant, fiery red was particularly striking even amid the lightning, with the noble golden crow pattern expanding across the entire barrier, unreasonably blocking all the heavenly thunder.

If Li Ye’s actions during the first tribulation could be attributed to momentary kindness, then this time, Zhu Yan was certain.

He had developed feelings he shouldn’t have.

Even Qiantian Supreme God, who cherished his disciples, would never use his barrier to shield a disciple from heavenly tribulation, let alone someone who had been personally expelled from his immortal sect and was no longer considered his disciple.

Why was this happening?

Looking at the lightning in the sky with confusion, Zhu Yan shook his head with deep concern.

Er’er had been sleeping soundly, dreaming of lush grass and flying orioles, but for some reason, thunder suddenly rumbled in the distance, startling her and instantly waking her up.

Opening her eyes, she saw Li Ye’s robe adorned with golden patterns before her.

“Is it thundering?” she asked.

Li Ye held her in his arms, seemingly sleeping well. Hearing her question, he murmured vaguely in response and pulled the blanket up to cover her: “Spring thunder, nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep.”

How could she possibly sleep? Er’er frowned. The previous tribulation had been so painful that she now feared even the sound of thunder.

Instinctively shrinking closer into his embrace, Er’er listened to the rumbling overhead with her eyes wide open, her body tense.

Li Ye opened his eyes and looked down at her: “With me here, even if the sky itself were torn apart, the lightning couldn’t touch you.”

“You’re lying,” Er’er pouted. “Last time you were by my side too, but the lightning still struck me.”

“That was different.”

“How was it different?”

Back then, she was still just an outsider.

Li Ye pressed his lips together, keeping these words to himself.

The clever person in his arms looked up at him for a moment, then suddenly spread her arms, slipping them under his arms and holding him tightly.

“…”

His heart jolted, and his throat moved slightly.

“What… are you doing?”

Er’er smiled slyly: “If I hold you like this, should lightning fall, you can’t escape either.”

With his high level of cultivation, he would never allow himself to suffer harm, so embracing him was the safest option.

Pleased with her cleverness, Er’er smacked her lips proudly.

His Adam’s apple bobbed several times before retreating beneath his collar. Li Ye half-closed his eyes and lightly snorted as he pressed his hand to the nape of her neck: “Scheming little one.”

Despite his words, the barrier overhead mysteriously thinned by a fraction.

A massive thunderclap exploded overhead with a “crack,” making Er’er shudder and immediately bury her head in his embrace.

Her warm breath heated his garment, soon penetrating through to his skin. Li Ye’s eyes flashed with complex emotions as he instinctively retreated half an inch.

The person in his arms, as if frightened by something, immediately shifted closer to follow him, her small hands firmly locked behind his waist, as if afraid he might flee.

Li Ye suddenly laughed.

The vibration in his chest was too obvious for the person embracing him. Er’er asked with annoyance: “Is being afraid of thunder funny?”

The Great Lord didn’t answer her but merely shifted his position slightly to make it more comfortable for her to embrace him.

Taking advantage of the moment, she tightened her arms and hummed: “In the past at Taihe Immortal Sect, I wasn’t very afraid of thunder. Senior Sister Yan Cha was more afraid. Whenever this happened, she would come to sleep with me and tell me stories.”

“Why would the one afraid of thunder be telling stories?” Li Ye raised an eyebrow.

Slightly choked, Er’er replied with embarrassment: “Well, because she was afraid of thunder, telling stories made her less afraid.”

Nodding in understanding, he chuckled softly: “Then you can tell stories now.”

“Only children listen to stories,” she muttered.

“Hmm, tell me anyway.”

“…” An eighty-thousand-year-old child? Don’t you think that’s a bit much!

After mentally complaining for a while, Er’er still began obediently.

In the past, her royal mother would often tell her folk tales when putting her to sleep—stories about candy sellers, little rabbits, and such. Er’er picked a few at random and narrated them properly.

She had thought that someone of the Great Lord’s stature would quickly grow impatient, but surprisingly, he listened attentively and even asked: “What happened next?”

Looking up at him with a complex expression, she said: “Of course, later the little rabbit returned to the cave and found his companions.”

The man before her had a visible brightness in his eyes.

Er’er found it curious: “Haven’t you heard these things before?”

Of course he hadn’t, but the Great Lord felt it would be beneath his dignity to admit it, so he said sternly: “I’ve heard them all too often.”

Then why do you look so moved?!

Unable to decide whether to laugh or cry, Er’er boldly reached out and patted his head.

“Even kind little rabbits can find their companions.”

Looking at her hand with disdain, Li Ye said coldly: “Powerful rabbits don’t need companions.”

For all his stubbornness, his hair felt soft to the touch, not as bristly as she had imagined.

Unable to resist, she stroked it again, narrowing her eyes in satisfaction.

The Great Lord, who wouldn’t harm her, was both reliable and adorable. Although by all appearances he was more of a tiger than a rabbit, if he were kind, he could be a companion.

Allowing her hand to roam freely on his head, Li Ye glanced sideways, his voice deep: “Tell another one.”

“Didn’t you say you’ve heard them too often?”

“Just tell it when I ask, don’t waste words.”

“Oh.”

The heavenly thunder continued to rage, striking against the barrier like splattering molten iron with sparks flying in all directions. Immortals within a fifty-mile radius retreated, creating a tense atmosphere.

However, beneath the barrier, two figures, one large and one small, nestled together. By candlelight and amid flowing gauze curtains, the murmuring of stories created another world, peaceful and serene.

After the heavenly tribulation had passed, the surroundings gradually returned to their former state. Some passing immortals looked at the devastation and discussed with sighs: “Whose Supreme God just underwent a tribulation?”

“Shangbing Palace, I suppose?”

“That one shouldn’t be due for a few more years.”

“Who knows? For such a massive heavenly tribulation, it could only be him.”

“Hey, isn’t that Tai Shang Lao Jun? So early in the morning, where are you hurrying to?”

Tai Shang Lao Jun was carrying a pile of items and moving in a hurry. Hearing the question, he did respond: “Going to submit a registry for Shangbing Palace. A minor immortal is about to ascend to become a higher immortal.”

A minor immortal ascending to become a higher immortal? Everyone was shocked, and the discussions grew louder. Gen Chen, an immortal from the Gen Gate, couldn’t help but follow and ask: “To my knowledge, that minor immortal has just recently ascended. How could they ascend again so quickly? Old Lord, might you be mistaken?”

“No, the cultivation level is sufficient,” Tai Shang Lao Jun looked at the registry in his hand and smiled again. “Being able to serve as a minor immortal in Shangbing Palace is already a stroke of good fortune.”

His statement was by the Way of Heaven and had no issues, but others heard it differently.

How many immortals present had cultivated for ages without ascending? How could a newcomer suddenly cut in line?

Gen Chen returned and told others at Gen Gate about this matter. Someone immediately set out and intercepted Tai Shang Lao Jun outside the Heavenly Gate.

“This matter requires careful consideration,” Gen Qi said seriously. “According to heavenly rules, before submitting a name card for ascension, one must first gain the approval of the community. We haven’t even met this minor immortal, which goes against protocol.”

Gen Qi was the authority at Gen Immortal Gate, and Tai Shang Lao Jun couldn’t disregard his stance. He could only stop and say: “Supreme God Li Ye said her cultivation level is sufficient.”

“Cultivation is something that can always be achieved with enough effort,” Gen Qi shook his head. “To ascend to higher immortal status, how can cultivation alone be enough?”

“This…” Tai Shang Lao Jun was speechless.

Supreme God Li Ye had asked him to submit the registry, clearly showing favoritism toward that minor immortal. If she were truly brought out for public scrutiny, how could she possibly qualify?

But after all these years, he had rarely asked for a favor. If he couldn’t fulfill this request, it would be difficult to explain.

Stuck outside the Heavenly Gate, Tai Shang Lao Jun sighed.