Zhong Su was startled, immediately realizing he had misspoken, and lowered his eyes without saying anything more.

Er’er looked at Zhong You in confusion, who smiled composedly: “After all, he is an immortal from the Nine Heavens. He inevitably has aspects of Netherworld affairs that he cannot attend to. If we talk about contribution, naturally, it’s my ninety-four divisions that deserve the primary credit. True Lord Zhu Yan merely ran back and forth a few times.”

After their success, merits would be evaluated and titles bestowed. Since this young lady was close to Li Ye, Zhong You was ten thousand times unwilling to give all the credit to Zhu Yan. It was they who risked life and death; Zhu Yan was at most a messenger.

He didn’t like Zhu Yan, probably because their scheming was similar. Despite their recent frequent interactions, Zhong You always felt that man was not someone to be deeply acquainted with.

Er’er looked at him with complete confusion and muttered: “Didn’t the Upper God say that your ability to attack the Nine Heavens so quickly was primarily due to his contribution?”

“That’s a misunderstanding.” Zhong You shook his head. “Since this king pledged allegiance to the Upper God, I’ve been prepared to campaign with him. However, I was seriously injured at that time and was delayed for some days. Later, thanks to the Upper God’s assistance, I came without delay.”

He looked up at the several layers of heavenly clouds, his eyes filled with nostalgia: “Revisiting familiar grounds, this king is also eager.”

Er’er suddenly understood: “So you’re saying that Zhu Yan doesn’t deserve the primary credit.”

“Of course not.” Zhong You waved his sleeve. “But to say he has no merit would be biased on my part. After all, these days, he has been busy back and forth, relaying messages and coordinating, helping my son considerably.”

…

…

The implication was that his contribution was no different from Zhong Su’s.

Er’er understood and nodded with a smile, not asking further, simply leading them upward.

She hadn’t been in the Nine Heavens for long, but because she had run errands for Li Ye for a period, she was quite familiar with the patrol arrangements above. The Five Elements Immortal Gates were heavily guarded, but because of the Thorn Forest, the immortal realm north of the Immortal Banquet Platform rarely had celestial soldiers patrolling back and forth. Going that way would save a lot of trouble.

The dense army of ghosts and spectres began to approach the Nine Heavens. Er’er traveled with them, her thoughts shifting from Zhu Yan to the Mirror Flower Water Moon, and then to the Divination Master of the Heavenly Dao whom she had only met once. After much contemplation, the image of Li Ye finally appeared in her mind.

Someone like him, trapped in the Upper Bing Palace, would be very angry, right? If truly enraged, he might even burn down his palace.

In the past, she wouldn’t have worried about him, but he had made a trip to the Netherworld and given half his cultivation to her. What if he couldn’t handle the situation and got hurt?

Several images of him bathed in blood flashed before her eyes, and Er’er’s heart tightened. She immediately quickened her pace.

When passing near the Immortal Banquet Platform, they encountered a group of troops. Just as it seemed a fierce battle was about to break out, Zhong You said: “We can hide in the Thorn Forest nearby. It’s difficult for immortals to pass through, but for us, that place doesn’t matter.”

“With so many ghosts and spectres, even if it doesn’t matter, taking a detour there would delay us for several days.” Er’er shook her head repeatedly. “Dividing into three routes to the Upper Bing Palace would be faster.”

Zhong You was somewhat troubled: “In that case, we would lose many troops.”

Er’er thought for a moment and said: “Then I’ll lead some people to lure them to the Thorn Forest. You retreat and go around to the Upper Bing Palace.”

The situation was urgent, and this was already the best solution. Zhong Su observed her expressions and felt that this young lady was worried about Li Ye, which also made him tense.

They dared to come to the Nine Heavens relying on Li Ye’s abilities. If he were in danger, then their million ghosts and spectres would be caught in a dilemma with no way forward or back.

“Father, what Immortal Er’er says makes sense.” He clasped his hands and joined in the persuasion.

Zhong You had no choice but to place a small crystal in Er’er’s hand: “We’ll regroup near the Upper Bing Palace.”

“Alright.” Er’er gripped the crystal.

This thing was equivalent to a military tally in the mortal world. The million ghosts and spectres seemed to sense it, and a hundred thousand separated without a word to follow behind her. Er’er could already see the shadows of the celestial soldiers and generals in the distance. She took a deep breath, stood in place waiting for a moment, then led this group straight into the Thorn Forest.

The group of celestial soldiers indeed followed, not many, estimated to be only ten or twenty thousand. But because they were in the Nine Heavens, they could maneuver much better than the ghosts and spectres. With a wave of immortal power, the slower ghosts immediately turned into black smoke.

However, the celestial soldiers were mostly minor immortals, with fewer than eleven having reached the True Lord realm. So once they entered the Thorn Forest, it was like passing through a sieve—when they chased out again, their forces were much fewer, enough for the ghosts and spectres to counterattack.

Watching them fight, Er’er didn’t feel particularly good. Heaven knows why she was helping ghosts and spectres against immortals, as if slapping herself in the face. But after the pursuing troops were annihilated, she still breathed a sigh of relief, counted the remaining ghosts and spectres, and led them toward the Upper Bing Palace.

Several days had passed, and she didn’t know if Li Ye was still well. If the Divination Master of the Heavenly Dao used some kind of magical array, she didn’t know if his unyielding stubbornness could withstand it.

Seeing the barrier glow around the Upper Bing Palace from a distance, Er’er wiped the dust from her face and resolutely led her forces to charge forward.

…

In the ninety thousandth year after the creation of heaven and earth, great chaos erupted in the Nine Heavens. A million Netherworld troops broke through the defenses and rushed to the Nine Heavens, fighting fiercely with the gods above. The Five Elements Upper Gods all personally took up swords to battle, with the area within a hundred miles of the Upper Bing Palace as their battlefield, fighting until the sky was filled with red clouds.

Everything happened as Er’er had anticipated. With the turmoil in place, she now had the opportunity to rescue Li Ye.

And so, when the fiery clouds were at their most brilliant, she finally broke through the barrier of the Upper Bing Palace.

In Er’er’s imagination, Li Ye should be exhausted and in a sorry state, or perhaps sitting in a magic array covered in blood. Upon seeing her arrival, a glimmer of light would finally burst forth in his ashen eyes.

She would gradually take shape in that light, reaching out her hand to him.

—This would be the most heart-stirring scene from a storybook.

However, the reality was that when she charged into the main hall of the Upper Bing Palace with a blade, Li Ye was sitting on his throne drinking tea.

The tea in winter wasn’t so fresh. He seemed quite disdainful, taking only one sip before setting down the cup. Beside him, Tai Shang Lao Jun was slightly embarrassed, explaining something to him in a low voice. He responded with his eyelids half-lowered, and even lazily yawned.

Er’er: “…”

Stiffly turning her head, she looked around the hall.

There were indeed many magic arrays, but the one trapped within was not him, but rather various immortals. Some had already had their souls shattered, while others sat in meditation with pale faces.

Sensing a new immortal had arrived, the Gen Clan True Lord in the array closest to her issued a warning: “Run quickly!”

This voice echoed in the great hall, causing both Er’er and Li Ye to be startled.

“Why have you come?” With her image reflected in his pupils, Li Ye pressed his lips together, unhurriedly pushing Tai Shang Lao Jun aside to stand up, then, with a sweep of his sleeve, very calmly and quickly erased all the magic arrays in the great hall.