Points of light slowly scattered into the void, gradually coalescing into a man with a tall, upright stature.
Li Jiushu, dressed in a moon-white robe, stood in mid-air. He seemed surrounded by swirling mist and clouds, giving him an ethereal, transient quality.
“Since when did trivialities like the Three Thousand Boundary Stones become a reason to seek me out? This Venerable One has no intention of becoming the Li Family Head.” Li Jiushu’s voice was deep and slow, each word sounding like celestial music echoing across the Boundary Stone Platform.
There is a type of person who commands everyone’s attention the moment they appear without doing anything at all; such was the case with Immortal Venerable Jiusu.
Have you ever seen someone use their own name as their Dao title simply because they were too lazy to think of one? That kind of effortless poise, elegant yet sharp, and that faint air of unbridled freedom was something no one else could replicate.
Sometimes, the same movement performed by others of the same realm looked greasy or awkward, but when he did it, it felt as though the entire void was under his dominion.
“The reason we invited Immortal Venerable Jiusu today is that five thousand years ago, you descended to the lower realm to save a small world called the ‘Qianyuan Realm.’ As you likely know, the Boundary Stones have always predicted a catastrophe for the Qianyuan Realm. Today, that prediction changed, so we requested your presence.” A person of lower status stepped forward to answer.
Most of those present were leaders of various powers at the Immortal Emperor or Immortal Venerable level, all having come to investigate after hearing the news.
“When Immortal Venerable Jiusu descended to save the world back then, a cause and effect was established. Now, the only one who can save the Qianyuan Realm once more is you, Immortal Venerable. Are you willing to make another journey for the Qianyuan Realm?” someone asked.
“Descending to save the world back then was in obedience to a Heavenly Decree. Have any of you received a Heavenly Decree? If not, it proves that the world’s destiny has reached its end.” Li Jiushu’s eyes swept over them one by one as he asked back in a calm voice.
“Saving all living beings is a great merit. Immortal Venerable Jiusu should make good use of such divine power,” someone remarked.
Li Jiushu smiled slightly. “This Venerable One cultivates the Path of Lacking Virtue.”
The three thousand small worlds under their jurisdiction were not fixed; some reached the end of their destiny and were destined to be annihilated. A Heavenly Decree ordering the Immortal Realm to intervene was a silver lining given by the Heavenly Dao. Without it, forced intervention would require an immense price—at best, one’s cultivation would vanish and they would be banished to the lower realm as a mortal; at worst, one would sacrifice themselves to exchange for that world’s vitality, their soul and spirit utterly destroyed, scattering into the heavens and earth.
When exactly had he given them the illusion that he was easy to scheme against?
Everyone: “…”
He’s so handsome and elegant, so how did he end up with a mouth that has absolutely no regard for his own survival?
Li Jiushu glanced at those seated. “I shall do more things to help you all accumulate merit before my divine powers disappear.”
The expressions of everyone present changed. He was an Immortal Venerable, a position that required dignity. Was it really appropriate to threaten people like this?
What else could “helping them accumulate merit” mean? At their level, who didn’t have some private property?
This man was reluctant to give away his own wealth, but giving away others’ wealth was a different story.
Li Jiushu strode away from the Boundary Stone Platform. Suddenly remembering something, he vanished on the spot into his space, gazing at the thousands of hanging branches above.
“The new master you chose… surely it wouldn’t be such a coincidence that they’re in the Qianyuan Realm, right?”
The Divine Tree, naturally, did not answer him.
Suisui finished her milk fruit. Seeing that still no one had come to play the ring toss, she placed the little Ice Phoenix inside the line, while she stood outside the line and used the rings to try and catch it.
Lang Xuan spontaneously helped pick up the rings. Sometimes when the little Ice Phoenix walked outside the line, he would even move it back. If Suisui missed her throw, he would move the little Ice Phoenix closer so she could catch it.
Little Ice Phoenix: I’m not human, but neither are you. Why are you being such a dog?
At that moment, a little fatty about the same age as Suisui walked over. He was dressed in luxurious clothing and covered in defensive magical treasures.
“Hey! I heard you have a ring toss game here!” The little fatty spoke with his nose in the air, acting very arrogant.
Suisui didn’t understand arrogance. Seeing a customer arrive, her eyes lit up, and she immediately stepped forward with the rings.
“Yes, yes! Five rings for one spirit stone. Whichever you catch, you can take away!”
The little fatty looked at the little sister before him, who looked like a ball of snow, and found he couldn’t keep his nose in the air anymore.
She… she’s so cute! Her eyes looked as if they were full of stars, sparkling brightly. Moreover, she smiled at him so sweetly—so sweet that he unconsciously pulled out a handful of spirit stones.
“I want to play.”
“Okay, Little Brother! I’ll take one spirit stone. Here are five rings. Just stand outside the line and throw the rings at the things on the ground!”
Suisui took a blue spirit stone that she thought was very pretty from the fatty’s hand and stuffed the five rings into his grasp.
The little fatty lost himself in that “Little Brother,” walking in a daze according to the instructions of her milky voice.
“Ah! You missed! Keep going, Little Brother!”
“Little Brother, a bit more to the left… Aw! So close!”
The guard who followed the little fatty looked at his young master, then at the little girl who was even more anxious than his master. If they didn’t know better, they would have thought the little girl was the one paying the spirit stones.
After five rings were thrown and nothing was caught, the fatty saw Suisui looking even more disappointed than he was. With a wave of his small hand, he bought another round.
Round after round, Suisui ended up sitting in front of the stall holding the little Ice Phoenix, resting her chin on her hand while yelling “Go for it!” listlessly.
This little brother is so silly. He threw so many times and only caught something twice. Suisui is almost embarrassed to earn his spirit stones.
She wondered when Mother would be finished with her work; Suisui missed her!
Just as Suisui was thinking of her mother, a ring fell from the sky and landed around her neck.
“I caught her! I caught her! I caught the little sister!” The little fatty jumped three feet high in excitement.
Suisui was still dazed. She looked at the ring around her neck, then at the ring that had fallen by her feet, her large eyes full of confusion.
“Little Sister, I caught you! You’re mine now!” The little fatty ran over and grabbed Suisui, intending to carry her away.
Lang Xuan pulled the fatty away. “It doesn’t count.”
“That’s right! It doesn’t count! Suisui is not for sale.” Suisui shook her little head adorably.
The onlookers couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She looked like a little snow-ginseng baby and was so cute, with her own way of speaking. If she could be won with a ring, where would it be this kid’s turn? Someone would have taken her long ago.
The little fatty was clearly spoiled. As soon as his temper flared, he stomped his feet and acted unruly. ” I don’t care! I caught you, so you’re mine! You have to come with me!”
Someone recognized this as the child of a disciple under Elder Chiyu, the head of the Alchemy Hall. Technically, he was Elder Chiyu’s grand-disciple.
Because pills were hard to come by, alchemists were generally put on a pedestal. The Alchemy Hall held a more important status in the sect than other halls, which also led to the Alchemy Hall disciples being quite arrogant. Even their children were born with a “me first” personality.
This child was simply spoiled, domineering, and unruly; the spiritual beasts in the sect’s back mountains had suffered quite a bit at his hands.
Unfortunately, the little fatty was destined to kick a steel plate this time.
Aside from those who had just returned from outside, who didn’t know by now that this little dumpling running the ring toss stall was accompanied by a Void Refinement powerhouse, not to mention a “Little Ancestor” Divine Tree?
Suisui stuffed the little Ice Phoenix into Lang Xuan’s arms, took the ring off her neck, and picked up the ring that had fallen on the ground, stacking them together to compare.
“Little Brother, this ring is much, much bigger. It’s not Suisui’s ring. You can’t play foul.”
The little fatty was a bit dumbfounded. This little sister looked like she would be very easy to squeeze; why was she so smart? She even knew he had secretly had his guard make a separate large ring.
The other rings were too small to catch anything, so he had asked his guard uncle to make a big one for him. He wanted to win such a pretty little sister and take her home.
An even smarter sister? Now I want to take her home and raise her even more.
“Come back with me. I have many fun things for you to play with. I’ll even catch spiritual rabbits for you.”
“I have many fun things too. Are spiritual rabbits tasty?” Suisui thought of the fragrant roasted rabbit her mother made. Slurp!
The little fatty hadn’t expected this soft, doughy little sister to be so “vicious.” “Bunnies are so cute, don’t you want to raise them? We can raise them together.”
Suisui shook her head. “I have to earn spirit stones to raise myseff and Mother, and also Master Bian Yun. Wow! Suisui has to earn lots and lots of spirit stones to raise so many people.”
Beside her, Lang Xuan, unwilling to be left out, tugged at Suisui.
Suisui blinked. “Oh right, and Tree Brother! Tree Brother, in the future, you should earn spirit stones with me.”
Lang Xuan nodded. Next time that big fool came to mutter under his tree, he would collect even more spirit stones.
The little fatty’s eyes widened. “We’re all still children. Aren’t adults supposed to raise us?”
“Suisui is about to start eating four-year-old meals. I have to learn to raise Mother.” Suisui put her hands on her hips; at such a young age, she already had grand ambitions.
The little fatty’s brain was tied in knots. He scratched his head; if he couldn’t figure it out, he wouldn’t think about it.
“You come back with me, and I’ll help you raise them. The place where I live is very big and can hold many people. Your mother can come and live there too.”
Lang Xuan took a step forward and grabbed Suisui’s hand. Although he said nothing, his meaning was clear: no one was going to snatch away his playmate.
“Go away, I want to talk to her.” The little fatty glared at Lang Xuan defiantly.
The crowd gasped. To dare challenge the Divine Tree Ancestor… truly, ignorance is bliss.
But watching the Divine Tree Ancestor, who had turned into a child, competing with an actual child for a playmate was quite entertaining.
“She won’t play with you,” Lang Xuan said.
“How do you know she won’t play with me? Sister Suisui, if you come back with me, I can take you to the Inner Sect school to hear the elders give lectures. Even those new disciples want to go but can’t!”
The little fatty continued to offer temptations. Other children were beyond envious that he could go to the Inner Sect school to hear elders lecture; Sister Suisui surely would be too.
Suisui immediately shrank behind Lang Xuan, her small head shaking frantically. “I’m not going to school! In school, they hit your palms, and when you come back, they spank your butt. You’re so pitiful, having to go to school at such a small age. Your mother definitely doesn’t love you.”
Mother loved her, so she couldn’t bear to let her suffer at school.
The little fatty froze completely. He remembered how every time he came home from school, his mother would ask what he had learned. If he couldn’t answer, she would poke his head and say how stupid he was.
The little fatty suddenly realized a cruel truth. With a “waa,” he burst into tears. “My mother doesn’t love me, waa…”
Everyone: “…”
This dramatic ending was something they hadn’t expected.
After binding with the system, Ye Wan rubbed her temples and returned to the Library lobby. True Person Shouzhuo saw her looking as though her body had been hollowed out, and wondered why he hadn’t seen any signs of a technique inheritance being triggered over the past few days.
He couldn’t help but ask, “What did you do in there?”
“Nothing much. Just restocked my brain with a bit too much cargo.” Ye Wan returned the token and walked out slowly.
True Person Shouzhuo: “…”
On her way back to Changliu Peak, Ye Wan saw many people running in one direction. She didn’t pay them any mind; now, nothing—not even the sky falling—could stop her from seeing her soft, cute little daughter.
This was their first time being apart for so long; she wondered if Suisui had been crying.
Someone recognized Ye Wan and quickly called out to her. “Hey! Aren’t you the mother of that child who plays with the Divine Tree Ancestor? Something happened to your child!”