Er’er turned her head, just able to see the gleam of tears in the Queen Mother of the West’s eyes.

She was a benevolent deity who cared deeply for mortals. Unlike Taihe Xianshi, who guided people to immortal cultivation, the Queen Mother of the West directly gave immortality pills to mortals she deemed worthy, leading them to become immortals on her island.

So, with the mortal realm facing destruction, she was more distressed than other deities.

Er’er listened quietly, crumpling the hem of her clothes in her hands.

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.

The Queen Mother seemed about to speak but hesitated, giving her a profound look before shaking her head: “Li Ye sent you here to recuperate, so you should focus on recovering.”

Er’er smiled gently and shook her head: “Your Majesty has specifically come today, bringing these baskets of Danliji herbs and speaking with me at length, just to tell me to recuperate well?”

Looking somewhat embarrassed, the Queen Mother raised her sleeve and lightly stroked her fine eyebrows.

“I’ve heard that your celestial aperture grants foresight,” she softened her voice. “With the Celestial Divination Master’s passing, perhaps the power of foresight in this world remains only with you.”

After a pause, she tentatively asked: “Can you see the fate of the Nine Heavens and the mortal world?”

How could she not see it? Er’er lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly: “As Your Majesty said, in a few years, nothing will remain.”

The Queen Mother was startled: “Including the Nine Heavens?”

“Including the Nine Heavens.”

“…” She looked at the young immortal before her with some disbelief, her expression somewhat flustered.

The deity of seasons was gone, as were the deities of rain, wind, and thunder. Everyone knew that the mortal realm would become desolate, but she hadn’t thought the Nine Heavens would also be affected.

Hadn’t the various immortal gates already ceased fighting? The next step should be Li Ye’s succession, followed by the appointment of new deities and restoration of order.

How could nothing remain?

Beyond her shock, her eyes held some doubt.

Er’er didn’t look up, her voice somewhat hoarse: “This is what I dreamed. The Nine Heavens will cease fighting, but Li Ye has no desire to take the throne and will leave with me. The King of the Netherworld cannot command respect and will be driven from the Nine Heavens after only half a year. The various immortal gates will fall into internal strife, with many immortals perishing. With the mortal realm destroyed, there will be no mortals cultivating to fill the vacant positions, and the Nine Heavens will eventually decline.”

Zhu Yan’s essence core and remnant soul, carrying intense malice, brought endless war and death wherever they fell.

She had underestimated him.

The Queen Mother’s eyelashes trembled, and she shifted uneasily.

Er’er finally raised her head and met her gaze: “So I ask Your Majesty, is there anything I can do?”

Her eyes were clear. Though phrased as a question, there was not a trace of confusion or bewilderment in them, as if she had already determined her direction and only needed someone’s encouragement.

So the Queen Mother understood—this young immortal knew everything.

A sense of grief rose in her heart, and the Queen Mother shook her head, choked with emotion.

How could such a heavy burden be placed on the shoulders of such a young girl? She was only nine hundred years old, younger than the immortals in heaven. But as things had developed to this point, there seemed to be no other solution.

Before coming, the Queen Mother had wondered how to persuade this young immortal to make such a great sacrifice. She had been uncertain.

But now she didn’t even need to persuade; this person had already made up her mind, which made her feel somewhat ashamed.

“You could actually…” the Queen Mother sighed, “actually follow Li Ye, and even if heaven and earth were destroyed, it would have nothing to do with you.”

“Yes,” Er’er nodded, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. “He could protect me.”

“But in that case, as Zhu Yan said, all living beings in the world would truly perish by my hand.” Her smile faded as she lowered her head. “My immortal gate, every immortal I know, or even mortals I’ve never met, would all die because of me.

“Then even if I lived, I would never find peace.”

The Queen Mother observed her expression, sighing more heavily: “Li Ye would not allow it.”

At the mention of him, Er’er’s eyes lit up with a smile: “He has never allowed anything I’ve done. Your Majesty doesn’t know, but when we first met, he even wanted to kill me.”

Recalling that fortuitous barrier and the golden-red mark on his forehead, Er’er felt as if it had happened in another lifetime.

A breeze swept through, and suddenly there was an extraordinary immortal aura in the courtyard where they sat.

The Queen Mother’s expression turned solemn, and she stood up. Er’er, however, remained unhurried, taking a sip of tea before slowly rising and smoothing her skirts.

Li Ye arrived silently, but his overwhelmingly powerful immortal aura betrayed him. By the time he landed in the courtyard, the two women were already waiting.

“Divine One,” the Queen Mother cupped her hands toward him, forcing a smile. “Why have you come at this time? Didn’t you say earlier that you would be occupied for a few more months?”

With some irritation between his brows, Li Ye gave a brief “Mm” without further explanation, then stepped forward to Er’er, looking her up and down.

The spiritual energy was abundant on this immortal island, and her vigor seemed to have somewhat recovered, not appearing as weak and pale as when they had parted.

His brow relaxed slightly, and he turned his head to nod to the Queen Mother in acknowledgment.

Er’er looked up at him, the previous gloom dispersed, smiling with curved eyes and brows: “You’ve finally decided to come see me. How long has it been?”

The irritation dissipated, and Li Ye smiled gently, maintaining his dignity with a light snort before opening his arms to her.

Er’er unhesitatingly threw herself into his embrace.

There was still a faint smell of blood on him, suggesting he had already cleaned up, masked with a layer of immortal energy. Er’er pretended not to notice and only asked: “Have you settled your affairs?”

“There wasn’t much to settle,” Li Ye said vaguely. “What I wanted to do is done; the rest can be left for them to sort out.”

After a pause, he asked: “Would you like to travel and see mountains and rivers?”

Reality and dreams overlapped, and Er’er gripped his sleeve tightly.

The Queen Mother beside them also caught her breath.

Truly… no desire for the throne?

“Divine One,” she couldn’t help stepping forward. “With the world about to be settled, all of this was accomplished by your hand. Why would you at this time…”

“I fought, not to sit in that meaningless position,” Li Ye turned his eyes coldly, interrupting her. “With the Celestial Way and Zhu Yan dead, the rest have nothing to do with me.”

Slightly choked, the Queen Mother lowered her head helplessly.

Er’er waited quietly for him to finish speaking, then took his hand and gently squeezed it.

“Where do you want to go?” she asked with a smile. “It seems there aren’t many landscapes left to see out there.”

Li Ye pursed his lips, his voice softening: “Is there nowhere you wish to go?”

“There is,” she smiled. “The Queen Mother’s immortal mountain is quite vast, but with you absent, I didn’t dare wander. Now that you have time, why not accompany me around, allowing this minor immortal to broaden her horizons and see what the scenery of the immortal island is like?”

What was there to see on a few broken islands? Li Ye felt disdainful.

But glancing over, this little one seemed quite enthusiastic, so after a moment of silence, he still gave an “Mm” in agreement.