Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Hmm? Didn't Senior Chi say that the great Formation protecting the Nine Provinces Realm is at a critical junction of research and improvement?

"So he hurried back just to study that Formation? Why isn't he in the mansion now?"

Taoist Jin Xu's heart flickered with a hint of confusion, and he extended his Spiritual Sense over the entire Shangjing City, yet still could not find Senior Chi's figure within the city.

"Could it be because of that misunderstanding in the forbidden area?

"But in the end, didn't we still use the method of 'saving' Fan Jin to 'save' Senior Chi?

"Forget it. After all, the Demon Lord is dead, and apart from me, there should be no Cultivator left in the Nine Provinces who could pose a threat to Senior Chi."

Taoist Jin Xu pondered to himself for a while longer.

It was only when the two girls beside him grew puzzled and urged him on, and even Little Purple Spirit Elephant wanted to open its eyes to see what was happening that he, with a whoosh, controlled the golden orb and smashed into the spatial passage.

At the same time.

Outside Shangjing City, in Longevity Mountain.

The Ancestor of the Immortal Palace was in a hastily excavated cave, furiously lecturing Little Fatty and the Void Refinement Realm demon beast that usually followed beside him.

"It's all because your parents indulged you! You're so young and yet dared to commit theft and burglary!"

"And you! He's young, but how old are you? I originally arranged for you to act as his protective spirit beast. Was that to have you indulging with him in eating and drinking all day long?"

Senior Chi held a pepperwood branch in his hand, and with every sentence he spoke, he heavily smacked it on each of them—the person and the beast.

However, his cultivation was at the level of a True Immortal, and even holding back his strength, while the Void Refinement Realm demon beast could withstand it, Little Fatty's body, which had not been cultivating for long, could not.

Therefore, after every three hits, the Ancestor would take out a Healing Pill from a small porcelain bottle and pop it into the recipient's mouth.

He waited for their injuries to properly heal before continuing the lecture.

"Look at you. If you hadn't committed that act back then, with my relationship with Taoist Jin, you could have entered the Xuanxu Temple and become a Taoist boy! Instead of your current situation where the great path to the heavens flew away right before your eyes and even I almost... almost..."

The misunderstanding that occurred in the straw hut in the forbidden area obviously was not suitable to be recounted to this person and cat, so after angrily repeating the words twice, Senior Chi again heavily smacked the pepperwood branch onto Little Fatty's buttocks.

Subsequently, he skillfully flicked at the jade bottle beside him, only to find that the Healing Pills inside were already used up.

...

The young boy hanging in the air was at this moment suffering from both psychological and physical pain.

When the Ancestor angrily brought him here, he still pondered for a long time in his heart, thinking that his recent behavior was exceptionally well-behaved and he hadn't caused any trouble.

It wasn't until after he took the beating that Little Fatty realized that this scolding was actually because of what he had done in Qingmu City.

"Wasn't it said that this matter was over? Taoist Jin Xu even said he forgave me, so why am I being beaten out of the blue!"

At first, he couldn't understand and asked a few questions, but after a hit knocked him out, Little Fatty dared not to say more. He could only silently endure the Ancestor's teaching.

"Anyway, I won't die. Once the Healing Pills in that jade bottle are used up, the Ancestor's anger should subside."

That's what the young boy thought at the time. Now, seeing that the jade bottle finally ran out of pills,

his eyes, which were so swollen that only a slit remained, showed a barely noticeable glimmer of hope.

But the next moment...

He saw the Ancestor of his own Immortal Palace take out—directly from his storage magic treasure—ten bottles!

Full ten bottles!!!

Of the exact same Healing Pills, placing them beside him!

...

"As flowers bloom on two branches, each showcases its bloom."

When Taoist Jin Xu and his group passed through the spatial passage and arrived once more at the Purple Spirit Elephant Clan's burial ground,

they found that night had fallen, and the sky had begun to pour down torrential rain.

"On a rainy day, beating a child, idle is also idle."

For some reason, Jin Xu watched those raindrops smash onto the ground, as well as the small puddles that gathered slowly in lower-lying areas.

Somewhat inexplicably, a proverb came to mind.

Shaking his head lightly, the young Taoist did not linger long, and Little Purple Spirit did not go down to pay further tribute to her father's body either.

After all, they had just left this place not long ago.

So the golden light on the ground paused briefly before heading straight towards the direction of West Pole Peak.

Some time later.

It was unclear whether it was because the young Taoist and his companions had flown too far, or whether most of the rain in the clouds had already fallen.

The torrential downpour gradually lessened.

By the time they arrived at the mountains where West Pole Peak was located, the rain in the sky had just stopped.

"Temple Master, should we go down first to find my father and ask him to help contact the remaining clan members of Little Purple Spirit?"

Seeing the young Taoist stop the golden orb, Little White took the initiative to ask.

"No need, at this moment they are all on the platform on top of the mountain. We can head straight there."

Jin Xu had originally planned to get in touch with Mr. Bai.

After all, he wasn't entirely sure whether the Purple Spirit Elephant Clan was aware of the incident in their clan.

Telling them abruptly, "Your clan now has only this one member left. And she wants to join us and enter the Taoist temple," might lead to misunderstandings and friction.

However, now that his Spiritual Sense had detected that representatives from nearly all the clans nearby West Pole Peak were on that platform, it saved them some effort.

...

On the platform.

Mr. Bai had been engaging in lengthy discussions with members from various clans in the Demon Realm for several hours.

And yet his enthusiasm for speaking had not waned, and he continued to speak animatedly.

Members from the various clans around him showed hints of excitement in their eyes, chiming in from time to time. Of course, there were also those whose expressions were indifferent, remaining silent throughout.

However, no one showed clear disgust or left early.

Back in his clan, Mr. Bai often lectured the young ones.

But the scene today, where clan leaders and elders were all ears to his speech, was much more satisfying than lecturing his clan members.

Both mentally and physically, Mr. Bai felt extremely pleased.

"My friends, I know that my Snow Wolf Clan's way of doing things is indeed quite different, and because of that we've developed feuds with some of the tribes present here.

"But our clan is known for its unity, and we treat our brothers even better. So..."

Mr. Bai was speaking when suddenly he saw a streak of golden light descend through the night sky, prompting him to quickly rise from his seated position.

"Fly... Little White? Taoist Jin?"

His voice carried a tone of tentative probing.

As the golden light dissipated and several figures appeared, Mr. Bai could see clearly that the newcomers were indeed Jin Xu and his companions.

"Uncle, we meet again. What are you busy with?"

The young Taoist stepped forward under the gaze of many demon cultivators in the area, greeting Xue Po with a cupped-fist salute, and asked in a relaxed tone.

"Ah, it's not exactly busy, but there is indeed something important that I need to trouble you with," Mr. Bai said, scratching his head somewhat sheepishly.

"Please tell me," Jin Xu said, curiosity in his eyes.

"Well, it's like this... they want to recognize you as their big brother."

"What???"