The fierce wind struck the defensive barrier and was quickly devoured. Li Ye looked up and saw the barrier she had set up changing between brown and golden, with the Five Elements immortal energy overflowing like sandalwood incense, drifting toward her. Yet this little creature, as if unaware, remained lost in thought with furrowed brows.

The illusion of the Heavenly Dao Diviner disappeared. The deadly energy in the surroundings grew heavier, and something seemed to be approaching through the oppressive black mist.

Li Ye drew out the Phoenix-Slaying Blade.

“Can I sleep for a while?” Er’er suddenly asked him.

Almost thinking he had misheard, Li Ye looked at her: “Now?”

“Yes.” Transforming back into a cat, Er’er jumped onto his shoulder, murmuring, “Just for a moment.”

This request was too strange. Li Ye couldn’t help but give her a second look.

She secured her paws in the plumes on his shoulder and closed her eyes before he could answer.

Whether in human or cat form, she always slept sweetly. From close by, he could even hear the purring sound from her throat.

…

…

Perhaps she was too tired, he thought. This little creature hadn’t gotten much proper rest lately.

However, a moment later, a flash of light seemed to pass across his shoulder.

White-gold light, soft and not glaring, flashed quickly, but he saw it.

That was the immortal light of the power of prediction.

His breath caught slightly as Li Ye slowly turned his head, staring fixedly at the cat on his shoulder.

Curled up in a ball of white fur, her whiskers motionless, her pointed ears occasionally twitching, as if she were having some unpleasant dream.

Li Ye reached out, wanting to glimpse her dream.

However, a figure stepped out of the black mist, walking toward him.

Tap, tap.

A familiar yet strange aura, carrying damp fog, rolled toward him.

His pupils contracted slightly as Li Ye turned around.

A powerful resurrection formation descended from the zenith a hundred rods away. Under the black mist’s cover, countless silhouettes continuously emerged.

Leading them was Kan Ze.

Li Ye still remembered how he looked during their great battle—unwilling, frustrated, angry. Kan Ze, the High God known for his benevolence and tolerance, when driven to extremes by him, was no different from a mortal.

Before dying, he had said hatefully: “Water overcomes fire. You may kill me, but water will still overcome fire. One day, you will surely be defeated at the hands of my Kan family.”

At the time, Li Ye thought it absurd. With Kan Ze dead, who in the Kan family could still be his match?

Yet now, Kan Ze had returned.

The formations within the Sky Mechanism Lock were already complex; it wasn’t surprising that a resurrection formation could be hidden inside. But what surprised Li Ye was that the people emerging from this resurrection formation seemed to have immortal energy several times more powerful than the living.

Kan Ze’s original cultivation level was no match for his. Even if they fought again, Li Ye would still win.

But the one before him now…

Li Ye frowned slightly.

***

Er’er’s dream was chaotic. Previously, there would be continuous scenes, but this time, perhaps because she was too nervous, there were only scattered images.

She saw the Heavenly Dao Diviner’s soul scattering, and all living things reviving and flourishing again. But she searched and searched, unable to find a single living person in the world.

A chill crept up her spine. She frantically tried to find Li Ye at the Bing Palace, but halfway there, she collided with Kan Ze.

Kan Ze?!

Er’er had never carefully looked at his face before. Seeing him face to face now, she realized that Kan Ze was also quite handsome, though the ferocity between his brows made his features appear quite fierce.

“Who am I?” he murmured.

Er’er raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to answer, but he seemed unable to see her. The hem of his blue-green robe passed through her phantom form as he walked straight toward the distance.

The burst of water vapor coming toward her made her instinctively hold her breath. The discomfort from holding it too long made Er’er take a deep breath.

This deep breath woke her up.

Shaking her cat head, Er’er opened her eyes and was startled to find water vapor before her as well.

She clawed at Li Ye’s collar, feeling wetness on her paws.

“What?” Er’er was startled.

Li Ye was a Fire Dao immortal; his clothes should never be dampened. Unless he had engaged with a Water Dao immortal and was at a disadvantage.

As if realizing something, Er’er suddenly raised her head to look forward.

The person from her dream overlapped with the one before her. Kan Ze’s eyes were filled with resentment as he wielded the Water Spirit Sword, fiercely battling with Li Ye.

“Can gods die and then be resurrected?” she asked in disbelief.

Li Ye was responding to the attack. Noticing she had awakened, his mind relaxed for a moment, giving Kan Ze an opening to exploit. The water vapor on his collar immediately intensified.

Steadying himself, he said deeply: “This is merely a counterfeit created by the resurrection formation in the Sky Mechanism Lock through resentment, not Kan Ze himself.”

However, such counterfeits, lacking emotions, also lacked weaknesses. Combined with the enhancement from the surrounding formations, they were indeed difficult to deal with.

More silhouettes were emerging from the resurrection formation, but none were as formidable as Kan Ze’s counterfeit. After a hundred exchanges, Li Ye grew impatient.

He raised his blade toward the sky, intending to shatter the Sky Mechanism Formation directly.

From a distance came the Heavenly Dao Diviner’s sneer: “With that strike, everyone in the world will be affected.”

“That’s no concern of mine,” he coldly replied.

The world, all living beings—he had never cared about any of it.

“Is that so?” the Heavenly Dao Diviner paused, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. “Then why did you suddenly stop?”

“…”

Raising his blade to block Kan Ze’s Water Spirit Sword, Li Ye was extremely annoyed.

Indeed, he didn’t care, but if his blade shattered the heavens, all living beings would perish—including this little creature’s senior brothers and sisters, and those noodle sellers in the mortal realm. They would all die.

She would certainly object.

Feeling the weight on his shoulder, Li Ye for the first time felt caught in a dilemma.

“This Kan Ze,” the little creature on his shoulder suddenly spoke, “does he know who he is?”

What kind of question was that? Li Ye was puzzled: “Things that come out of resurrection formations have no memories. They’re just tools used by the manipulator to kill, which is why their destructive power is especially strong.”

Nodding in realization, Er’er jumped down from him and transformed into human form.

Li Ye tried to reach out and stop her, but this little one moved extremely fast, flying in an instant to a spot not far from Kan Ze.

Seemingly judging her as non-threatening, Kan Ze ignored her, continuing to attack Li Ye.

Fire and water collided, changing the colors of heaven and earth. Kan Ze, like an expressionless wall, pressed inch by inch toward Li Ye, his body filled with powerful yet eerie immortal energy.

This was the moment. Taking a deep breath, Er’er suddenly called out to Kan Ze: “May I ask the High God’s surname and given name?”

His attacking posture froze as a trace of confusion passed through Kan Ze’s dull eyes.

The Heavenly Dao Diviner’s voice suddenly resonated across the horizon: “What importance is a name? Executing heaven’s will is what a High God should do.”

He spoke up to rebuke her, so she hadn’t been wrong.

Er’er was delighted. She quickly mobilized the Water Dao spiritual power within her body that belonged to Kan Ze, summoning a water column to directly attack Kan Ze’s back.