A True Lord from the Qian Immortal Gate?

Zhen Huan Gong thought and thought, an image appearing in his mind: “Meng Wan?”

Qian Tian smiled and nodded.

Meng Wan was a person of exceptional talent who had ascended only three hundred years ago yet had already reached the True Lord immortal rank. He now practiced gold elemental magic, controlled all iron implements in the world, and was a capable general under Qian Tian’s command.

He was extremely diligent in his work and outstanding in ability, just somewhat too hardworking, rarely having any leisure time. At first, Qian Tian thought it was a young person’s ambition, but later discovered it wasn’t—he completed his tasks so quickly just so he could report more often at the Heavenly Gate and meet with Immortal Er’er.

Admittedly, this method was truly beyond reproach. Even if Li Ye was unhappy, he couldn’t do anything about it.

But Er’er suffered. Every time she finished dealing with miscellaneous affairs, she would turn around only to bump into an iceberg.

The iceberg was angry, but the iceberg would not admit he was angry.

“Where are you going?” Er’er asked, panting as she caught up to Li Ye with the fish basket in her arms.

…

…

Li Ye didn’t look back: “To stay at the Seven-Colored Immortal Mountain for a few days.”

Grabbing his index finger, Er’er caught her breath and smiled lightly: “Why stay there again? Weren’t you just there a few days ago?”

“The spiritual energy there is abundant, suitable for cultivation,” Li Ye answered expressionlessly.

“Isn’t the spiritual energy here abundant too?” she muttered softly. “There’s even immortal dew to drink.”

“The ghostly soldiers from Zhong Qin’s branch have relocated to the Queen Mother of the West’s immortal island. Therefore, the energy there isn’t just immortal energy, but also resentful energy, suitable for someone like me who cultivates both divine and demonic arts.”

Withdrawing his hand, Li Ye finally lowered his eyes to look at her, even pulling his lips into a smile: “You’re busy lately anyway. Soon you’ll have to listen to Qian Clan’s report. It doesn’t matter if I go into seclusion for a while.”

Both amused and exasperated, Er’er grabbed his hand firmly: “Why are you sulking with me again? No matter how busy I’ve been lately, I’ve still been with you. As for the Qian Clan report… Senior Brother has a heavy burden, responsible for many things, which can’t be helped…”

“I don’t blame him, nor do I blame you,” he interrupted her calmly. “I’m not angry either.”

This, and he still wasn’t angry? Er’er couldn’t help but want to roll her eyes. A high god of ninety thousand years, yet when he sulked, he was harder to coax than a mortal youth.

His hand was trying to withdraw again, trying to break free from her. Er’er tightened her fingers and puffed her cheeks: “You can’t go.”

Li Ye raised an eyebrow: “Not even allowing me to cultivate? The ruler of the Nine Heavens is truly imperious.”

Angered, she grabbed his hand and bit it once, then said: “If you’re not angry or jealous, then I am. I don’t want you staying on the same immortal island as Zhong Qin, and I don’t want you leaving me. Call me selfish if you want, but I want both this mortal world and you.”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened a bit: “These days, with the changing of seasons, there’s a plague in the mortal realm, and there’s conflict between the Nine Heavens and the Western Sea. Miscellaneous tasks have piled up on my desk. I’ve been working desperately to finish three days’ work in two and a half days, just to steal half a day of leisure with you, only to have the Jade Belt Hook appear.”

“I saw this creature in my dreams. It must become my belt hook, or it would destroy heaven and earth. If I had told you, it would have been another case of relying on your high cultivation to imprison a divine beast. I wanted to act myself, and I could catch it. I want people to mention me in the future without saying I’m just a little immortal protected by High God Li Ye. I want to stand beside you, not behind you.”

“I know you’re powerful, and I know you worry about me, but can you please stop brooding silently?”

By the end, tears had welled up in her eyes.

Li Ye’s heart skipped a beat, his imposing manner instantly diminishing. He frowned, wiping her eye sockets with his thumb, and pressed his lips before speaking: “I already said I wasn’t.”

His tone had softened, carrying a hint of compromise and helplessness.

Er’er glared at him with sniffles.

Sighing lightly, he shook his head, pulling her into his arms and rubbing the back of her neck: “As the majestic ruler of the Nine Heavens, how can you cry like a little girl?”

“I am a little girl,” she mumbled into his chest. “I’m only eighteen today.”

Li Ye was startled, suddenly counting on his fingers.

It truly was—if counted from the day her soul was successfully formed, today she was exactly eighteen.

How had he chosen this day to be upset with her?

Shaking his head with a smile, Li Ye held her with one arm and the fish basket with the other, striding toward the Heavenly Gate: “Is there anything you want?”

“Yes,” wiping away her tears, Er’er looked up. “I want to eat the longevity noodles you make.”

Li Ye: “…”

Looking at her with confusion, he couldn’t help asking: “Why such a desire for punishment?”

He knew well how terrible his cooking was.

“I just want to eat it,” Er’er hummed softly. “In the mortal realm, my imperial mother would make me longevity noodles on every birthday.”

Very well, Li Ye thought, it’s just a bowl of noodles. No matter how bad it turned out, it couldn’t be that awful. If she wanted it, he would make it without complaint.

But, after all, it was her birthday noodles—it had to be special.

With this thought from the High God, various immortal sects suffered.

Zhen Clan’s fine wood, Zhu Clan’s good fire, Qian Clan’s cosmic pot, Kan Clan’s nine heavens water—Li Ye visited them all. Without even speaking, these items obediently came into his arms.

“Does this make me seem somewhat forceful and greedy?” he considerately asked the various immortal sects.

The sects collectively shook their heads: “How could that be? It’s our blessing for the High God to use our items.”

When everything was of the highest quality, the noodles made couldn’t be bad.

The news that High God Li Ye was going to cook quickly spread, and many idle immortals in the heavens came to watch the spectacle.

He busied himself at the stove he had set up outside the Upper Bing Palace, using various treasures that emitted golden immortal light continuously, drawing exclamations of praise from the onlookers.

However, after an hour, the longevity noodles that emerged had no trace of aroma.

Not a single trace.

Li Ye looked down at the thing in his hand that could hardly be called noodles, falling silent.

“High God,” Tai Shang Lao Jun said softly, “mortal dough needs to be pulled into thin strands before being added to the pot, not thrown in whole.”

“Also, you need to add some salt and oil.”

“Also, you should add some vegetables and meat.”

“Also…”

“Would you like to make it?” Li Ye interrupted with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Feeling a chill down his spine, Tai Shang Lao Jun fell silent. The crowd of deities dispersed, watching helplessly as Li Ye carried this bowl of food toward the Heavenly Gate.

Er’er was listening to Meng Wan explain the current plague situation in the mortal realm when she unexpectedly caught a strange smell.

It was like something cooked but also somewhat raw.

She was startled, quickly raising her hand to signal Meng Wan to stop speaking, then stood up, lifting her dress to run to the entrance.

Sure enough, Li Ye was outside, holding a bowl of something.

“Is it ready?” She smiled, reaching out to take it.

Li Ye instinctively evaded her hand, glancing at Meng Wan standing in the great hall, and said softly: “You can look at it later.”

“But I’m hungry,” she pouted. “You made it for me to eat. Why hide it? Give it to me.”