Fire-starting technique? Er’er extended her hand, and immediately a beautiful divine flame sprouted from her palm.

“Isn’t it pretty?” She raised her little head proudly.

Li Ye silently observed, restraining himself once, then twice, but still couldn’t help scolding her sternly: “The fire-starting technique is not just about creating a single flame.”

Shrinking her neck, Er’er pouted: “I know that, but since leaving your place, I haven’t known how to cultivate the advanced techniques.”

Li Ye narrowed his eyes, anger rising from every part of him: “What more do you need to cultivate? When facing enemies, use fire as your weapon. Just use it more often.”

Er’er thought for a moment. This wasn’t her fault. When she ventured into the Netherworld, she did indeed fight with others, but her immortal techniques were so diverse that whatever spell she cast might not necessarily be the fire-starting technique. Moreover, after that battle, she couldn’t even remember which spiritual power she had used.

And after that, there hadn’t been many opportunities to face enemies.

“Study this scroll.” He handed over a bamboo scroll, saying, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, come ask me.”

The weighty scroll felt heavy in her hands. Er’er took it and briefly scanned through it, sighing: “Are you afraid I’ll be idle, making me spend half a month on cultivation?”

…

…

“Half a month?” Li Ye smiled kindly. “Just this much material should only take half a day.”

Half… Er’er choked: “Half a day? I might not even finish reading this scroll, let alone master it…”

“After half a day, I will test you.” Mercilessly interrupting her, Li Ye waved his sleeve. “Begin now.”

This man truly became exceptionally strict whenever cultivation was mentioned.

Er’er’s face scrunched up, but as she scanned the secret techniques in the scroll, she did feel somewhat intrigued.

It wouldn’t hurt to try.

After finishing the soup sent by her senior sister, Er’er contentedly wiped her mouth and began studying the scroll.

Li Ye sat on a soft couch nearby, appearing casual and nonchalant. However, when excess death resentment energy emerged from her body, he discreetly cleared it away.

Er’er was born special. The impure immortal energy he had refined would be cleansed anew by her. As long as she practiced the fire-starting technique, the cultivation power that belonged to him stored in her body would be continuously absorbed by her.

Moreover, this little fool wouldn’t notice.

With a twist of his finger, he gathered all the black energy around her and drew it into his embrace. Li Ye yawned, looking out at the freshly blooming mountain flowers.

By evening, a downpour had begun.

Rainwater furiously washed over mountain rocks and roof tiles. Several residences that hadn’t been repaired for years began to leak. At first, everyone thought it was just ordinary weather, but the rain grew heavier and heavier. Before sunset, the entire world had turned pitch black, making it impossible to see one’s hand.

“Master?” Yan Cha wiped the rainwater from her face as she entered the main hall. “There seems to be demonic energy in this rain.”

Meng Wan was already sitting beside Taihe, speaking with some fellow disciples. Hearing her words, he looked up and shook his head: “Be careful with your words, Junior Sister.”

Yan Cha was startled, not understanding. The Immortal Master Taihe, sitting in the main seat, beckoned her over and said softly: “The Dragon Clan submitted to the Nine Heavens tens of thousands of years ago. Though of demonic origin, they are now counted among the immortal ranks.”

“This…” Yan Cha understood. “Is this rain summoned by the Dragon Clan?”

Taihe nodded, then sighed: “I don’t know why they’ve mobilized in such force. By reason, they should be diligently guarding their sea domains.”

Judging by the intensity of the rain, clearly more than one dragon had come.

A thunderclap sounded in the distance. Yan Cha couldn’t help but shudder, slightly furrowing her brow: “What should we do?”

Gazing out the window, Taihe suddenly said: “No wonder he wanted to stay.”

Meng Wan immediately knew whom the master was referring to, and the fist resting on his knee instantly tightened.

“Our Immortal Gate,” he asked in a low, hoarse voice, “must we rely on him for salvation?”

With a slight movement in his eyes, Taihe looked at him deeply: “Don’t be stubborn about this.”

“…This disciple obeys.”

Though he agreed, his expression hardly relaxed at all. Taihe saw this and couldn’t help but sigh. Meng Wan was excellent in every way, except that he hadn’t severed his earthly attachments. Even though he had ascended, he still had a long way to go.

But at present, what concerned Taihe more was, in what capacity would Li Ye protect this immortal mountain? His every move was being watched by both the Nine Heavens and the Netherworld.

Er’er was wondering about this too.

She was awakened from her cultivation by a thunderclap. When she opened her eyes, Li Ye was lying beside her, seemingly oblivious to any sound, sleeping soundly.

“High God?” She drew closer in surprise to call him.

Li Ye kept his eyes closed, not even lifting his eyelids, his entire body shrouded in a layer of serene immortal energy.

No way! Falling asleep at a time like this?

Er’er’s eyes widened. She reached out to shake him, but a barrier surrounded his body, pushing her back when she approached.

The Dragon Clan’s aura in the wind had grown so intense that even she could smell it. Anxiously jumping off the bed, Er’er circled him, calling several times. Seeing no response from him, only two words surfaced in her mind.

It’s over.

He had stood her up!

Gritting her teeth and turning to find an umbrella in the room, Er’er gave Li Ye one last glare, then opened the umbrella and rushed into the curtain of rain outside.

Li Ye’s eyelashes quivered slightly, but he didn’t open his eyes. He merely turned to his side, as if continuing to sleep.

Outside, the storm was so fierce that Er’er could barely move forward. Running toward the main gate with her umbrella, the oiled paper umbrella soon reduced to just its frame.

She raised her hand to summon divine fire that encircled her body, blocking the wind and rain, then looked up at the sky through the firelight.

She wished she hadn’t looked—her legs nearly gave way.

Over a hundred dragons spiraled in mid-air, like a tangle of eels caught in a basin, crowded and entwined. The rainwater they summoned had already submerged the lowest part of the mountain gate.

Taking a deep breath, Er’er quickly formed hand seals.

A defensive barrier emanating golden light burst from her fingertips, gradually enveloping the entire immortal mountain like a layer of crystal glass. The golden crow patterns on the barrier glowed brilliantly, stinging Long Ding’s eyes red.

“It is here,” he howled. “Li Ye, give me back my daughter’s life!”

The dragon’s roar shook heaven and earth. Er’er barely maintained her stance, trying to add layers to thicken the barrier. But Long Ding clearly wouldn’t give her more time. His dragon claw descended, crashing onto the barrier with a loud “bang.”

Hastily learned techniques could hardly withstand his impact. Er’er grew desperate and, disregarding the barrier, first unleashed her fire-starting technique.

During her recent cultivation, she had only learned the mental technique, thinking it wasn’t particularly powerful. But when the divine fire truly erupted, she realized that Li Ye must have given her the highest level of immortal technique.

The fierce flames formed a fire phoenix, similar to what had appeared behind Li Ye before. Firelight shot skyward with a sharp killing intent, burning Long Ding so severely that he let out a painful roar, his scales emitting a scorched stench.

Staring at her hand in disbelief, Er’er hadn’t even had time to praise herself when other flood dragons launched consecutive attacks at her from the side.