The enthronement ceremony of the Ninth Heaven’s ruler kept the celestial realm bustling for more than nine days.
Those who knew about the matter held banquets in celebration. However, some minor immortals on the fringes asked in confusion, pulling at people nearby: “How can they let a young girl be in charge?”
The person he tugged at was Zhen Huan Gong, who had just traveled back from the Western Sea and was resting at a tea pavilion. When suddenly pulled, he almost spilled his tea.
Glaring at the person in annoyance, Zhen Huan Gong said: “What’s wrong with a young girl? If you’re dissatisfied, go challenge her directly and take the position yourself.”
“How would I dare?” The minor immortal pouted. “Everyone knows she has High God Li Ye protecting her.”
But Li Ye was Li Ye, and she was herself. If she merely relied on Li Ye’s protection, the position of power might as well have been given to Li Ye directly.
He wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Thus, when Er’er ascended to the throne, not all the deities pledged their allegiance.
Zhen Huan Gong snorted lightly, not arguing further. He simply put down his teacup, picked up his fish basket, and continued toward the Ten Directions Cloud Sea.
A fierce beast had recently appeared in the Ten Directions Cloud Sea, causing storms and disturbing the peace of the Nine Heavens. Earlier, Qian Tian had wanted to capture it, but the creature appeared and disappeared mysteriously, and its magical powers were incredibly strong, so he hadn’t succeeded.
…
…
Tai Shang Lao Jun said the fierce beast could be lured with Western Sea red fish as bait, setting a trap to entice it. So Zhen Huan Gong went to catch a basket of Western Sea red fish.
Catching fish wasn’t ordinarily difficult, but the Western Sea territory had previous grievances with Li Ye. After Er’er’s succession, they became even more resistant to the Nine Heavens, so this journey had truly cost him some energy.
If the fierce beast were caught, Zhen Huan Gong thought, he would make sure Er’er credited him with the achievement.
Riding the clouds and mist, Zhen Huan Gong arrived at the Ten Directions Cloud Sea. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he saw Er’er wearing a mountain and sea style dress, with light gauze wrapped around her arms, holding a small beast in her arms, trying to placate Li Ye.
“Don’t be angry! Look, isn’t it adorable? How is it fierce?”
Li Ye maintained a stern face, his gaze cold as he looked at her.
Er’er shrank her neck, swallowed, and continued: “You were sleeping soundly when I left. I couldn’t wake you for such a small matter…”
“Small matter?” Glancing at what she held in her arms, Li Ye sneered. “The ancient divine beast Jade Belt Hook, and you call it a small matter?”
“Why isn’t it?” Er’er pouted, lifting the small beast before him. “Look, wasn’t it caught easily? There was no need for you to intervene.”
No need for you.
His gaze grew colder, Li Ye filled with annoyance. Noticing someone nearby, he hurled a divine flame directly in that direction.
Zhen Huan Gong was startled, dodging to the side, both angry and amused: “If you two are quarreling, why not raise your hands instead of hurting bystanders?”
“Nonsense.” Qian Tian approached from the side, whispering, “Look at his expression. Would he bear to harm Er’er?”
Where’s the reason for that?
Zhen Huan Gong was very angry, but as his anger persisted, he felt something wasn’t right.
“Jade Belt Hook?”
The ancient divine beast Jade Belt Hook, a symbol of royal authority, capable of causing storms and disrupting celestial phenomena, possessed immense strength, had committed the crime of breaking the sky, and loved to eat Western Sea red fish.
This creature had reappeared in the world?
Looking at the small beast with pointed ears, large eyes, and six tails that Er’er held up, Zhen Huan Gong was filled with doubt: “Is it real?”
“Real indeed.” Qian Tian smiled lightly. “It nearly tore a rift in the sky above the Ten Directions Cloud Sea earlier, but was caught by Immortal Er’er.”
Zhen Huan Gong: “…”
Er’er held the small creature, saw it baring its teeth and looking fierce, and couldn’t help but reach out to rub its little head: “Still daring to be fierce after losing?”
The Jade Belt Hook, having looked down on the world for so many years, had never been treated so casually. It immediately spat a ball of fire at Er’er.
Then it was scorched by an even larger ball of fire. Er’er spat back.
“Oh, it can breathe fire!” Er’er was very curious, rubbing away the scorched ash on its fur, asking excitedly, “What else can you do?”
Jade Belt Hook: “…”
The seemingly gentle and weak young girl had spat divine fire, burning it until it no longer bared its teeth or bristled its fur, submissively allowing her hand to rub its head.
Li Ye had vanished at some point, leaving without a word, his figure disappearing into the cloud sea.
Er’er noticed, but didn’t look up, just continued rubbing the Jade Belt Hook, then smiled and asked Zhen Huan Gong: “Where have you returned from? You smell strongly of seawater.”
Zhen Huan Gong came to his senses, looked at the divine beast being rubbed powerless in her hands, and finally bowed to her: “Reporting to the Immortal, I passed through the Western Sea and caught some fish on the way back.”
Hearing this, the Jade Belt Hook grew greedy, its eyes brightening, its pointed mouth nudging Er’er.
Er’er looked down, regarding it helplessly: “Those are fish that someone else caught. Why ask me for them?”
“Give them to it.” Zhen Huan Gong placed the fish basket before Er’er.
Er’er nodded in thanks, then lifted the small beast by the scruff of its neck: “There’s no free meal in this world. If you eat these, then stay by my side and serve as my belt hook, how about that?”
The Jade Belt Hook had always been the belt hook of the heaven-mandated ruler, but it had been wild for tens of thousands of years. Suddenly being asked to return to its position was truly not to its liking.
But the red fish in the basket smelled so good!
After a moment’s hesitation, the Jade Belt Hook reluctantly nodded.
So Er’er released it, allowing it to dive into the fish basket and feast.
“Has Immortal Er’er been injured?” Zhen Huan Gong examined her. “This small beast does have some abilities.”
“No,” she waved dismissively, somewhat troubled. “It’s just that Li Ye is angry, and I’ll have to go back and trick… I mean, coax him properly.”
After her succession, she was busy with trivial matters every day and originally had little free time to accompany him. They had finally taken an afternoon nap together, yet she had snuck out to catch a divine beast, and he had caught her.
This was truly adding frost to snow; it would be strange if he weren’t angry.
Sighing lightly, Er’er picked up the fish basket and waved to them: “You two carry on, I’m going back.”
“Safe journey, Immortal.”
The two bowed together.
After her figure completely disappeared into the cloud sea, Qian Tian finally exhaled deeply, wiping sweat with some lingering fear: “You arrived late and didn’t see it, but Immortal Er’er’s skills have improved considerably.”
“Skills?” Zhen Huan Gong was surprised. “She caught it with her hands?”
“Yes,” Qian Tian pressed his lips together. “Without using magic.”
Zhen Huan Gong: “…”
Recalling what the minor immortal at the tea pavilion had said, and looking at the battle traces remaining in the Ten Directions Cloud Sea, Zhen Huan Gong suddenly felt that even without Li Ye, others probably couldn’t bully Immortal Er’er.
But… why did these two seem to have a rift between them?
Li Ye wasn’t usually so petty, was he?
“Any gossip?” He leaned in to ask Qian Tian.
Qian Tian stood formally with his hands behind his back, and upon hearing this, rebuked him: “As a High God, how can you whisper behind people’s backs?”
After saying this, he leaned close and whispered: “There’s a True Lord in my sect who also came from Taihe Immortal Gate and is Immortal Er’er’s senior apprentice brother. In recent days, he has been frequenting the Heavenly Gate, not minding his step, and might have knocked over the vinegar jar.”