A massive Cloud Traveling Boat streaked across the sky. Within a room expanded by spatial mystic techniques, Xiao Lingyu leaned against a table, sorting through various magical artifacts that Old Ghost Head had given him before their departure. He categorized them according to the attributes of those present, planning to return to the sect and present them through the name of his senior brother. It was fortunate that Old Ghost Head had once been fond of collecting treasures—his hoard contained artifacts of nearly every attribute. The only regret was the absence of any suitable thunder-attribute treasures.
Chu Mingwei sat nearby with a faint smile, watching Xiao Lingyu work. The restlessness he had long felt due to the news of the lower realm possibly collapsing gradually calmed. He was not a sage capable of saving all living beings. Even in ancient times, when so many true gods existed, they had still been powerless against the Great Cataclysm. He could only do his best and leave the rest to fate, so long as he remained true to his own conscience.
After watching Xiao Lingyu for a while, noticing there were still many artifacts left in the storage bag, Chu Mingwei smiled and said, “Lingyu, did you completely strip Old Ghost Head of his collection?”
Xiao Lingyu shook his head. “Old Ghost Head has always had a vast collection. Over the years he was asleep, Qing Ming must have helped him gather even more just to make him happy upon waking. What I’ve taken is merely a drop in the ocean. Besides, these things are useless to him anyway. Rather than letting them gather dust in the Tianlan Realm, it’s better to make use of them.”
His tone was casual, but Chu Mingwei understood his sincerity. Smiling, he teased, “Then Meng Fan and the others are going to owe you a huge favor. He was just complaining to me earlier—he finally found a Heart Meditation Lotus in the secret realm but was forced out before he could pick it. This trip ended with nothing gained.”
Xiao Lingyu’s expression shifted slightly. “Senior Brother, did you not tell Senior Brother Meng about the lower realm collapsing and our possible relocation to the secret realm?”
Chu Mingwei shook his head with a wry smile. “Master is reluctant to leave the lower realm unless absolutely necessary. Although the secret realm can avoid the collapse, it is full of dangers. It may not be a safe place for everyone. A few days after it opened, many sects already suffered heavy losses. It is far from a paradise.”
He paused, then looked at Xiao Lingyu. “Lingyu, do you want to go to the secret realm?”
Xiao Lingyu shook his head. “As long as I’m with Senior Brother and Master, anywhere is fine.”
That single sentence made Chu Mingwei’s eyes soften with amusement.
“Lingyu, are you hungry?”
Xiao Lingyu glanced at him sideways. “I’m not Zhu Yurun, who only thinks about eating all day.”
Chu Mingwei chuckled. “You’re too thin. It would be better to fatten you up a bit.”
Before Xiao Lingyu could respond, Zhu Yurun—who had been lying on the ground half-asleep—struggled awake.
“Little Monster… did I just hear it’s time to eat?”
Xiao Lingyu was speechless. He bent down and picked him up, patting his round belly. “You already ate too much this morning. No more snacks on the road. Wait until we return to the Ripple Peak.”
Zhu Yurun was unhappy. “But I’m too thin too. I should be fatter.”
Chu Mingwei couldn’t help laughing. He took Zhu Yurun and weighed him in his hands. “He is indeed thinner than Lingyu. Fine, you can eat more tonight.”
Just as Zhu Yurun was about to argue for food immediately, the Cloud Traveling Boat suddenly came to a stop.
Chu Mingwei and Xiao Lingyu exchanged a glance, both puzzled. Chu Mingwei handed Zhu Yurun back. “Lingyu, stay here. I’ll go see what’s happening.”
Xiao Lingyu nodded. After Chu Mingwei left, he carefully packed the artifacts back into his storage bag.
Zhu Yurun, taking advantage of Chu Mingwei’s absence, burrowed into Xiao Lingyu’s arms and began acting spoiled, begging for snacks. Xiao Lingyu helplessly gave him a piece of pastry.
Just as Zhu Yurun was about to eat it, Chu Mingwei pushed the door open again.
“Lingyu!”
Startled, Zhu Yurun dropped the pastry to the floor and immediately pounced after it.
Chu Mingwei walked in quickly. “Lingyu, people from the Fantasy Demon Realm have arrived.”
“What?” Xiao Lingyu was startled.
Chu Mingwei’s expression turned serious. “They insist on taking Zhu Yurun. They claim he is a lost member of their clan and must return with them.”
“No.” Xiao Lingyu refused immediately.
He still remembered what Qing Ming had once said—that Zhu Yurun’s intelligence had not awakened naturally, but had been forcibly triggered. Even the spatial ability within him had likely been artificially induced. Although Qing Ming had not explicitly named the culprit, Xiao Lingyu’s first suspicion was the Fantasy Demon Realm.
Chu Mingwei had clearly reached the same conclusion. The two of them fell into thought.
At that moment, Zhu Yurun’s voice rang out clearly.
“Little Monster, Little Pig won’t leave you.”
Xiao Lingyu lowered his head. Zhu Yurun was looking up at him with wide, sincere eyes, wagging his tail.
Xiao Lingyu smiled faintly and picked him up again. Zhu Yurun immediately nestled comfortably in his arms, tail wagging even harder.
Chu Mingwei watched quietly, then stepped forward and pulled both of them into his arms. “Don’t worry, I will make sure they cannot take him away.”
Just then, footsteps came from outside.
“Senior Brother, the Sect Master requests the Junior Brother for a discussion,” Meng Fan’s voice sounded.
Chu Mingwei opened the door. Meng Fan stood outside, nodding toward Xiao Lingyu before turning to Chu Mingwei.
“The people from the Fantasy Demon Realm are very firm. They insist on taking Zhu Yurun. Master believes that given the current turbulent situation, it is best not to conflict with them.”
Chu Mingwei nodded. Meng Fan glanced at the two of them holding hands, then quietly withdrew.
Chu Mingwei squeezed Xiao Lingyu’s hand. “Don’t worry.”
Xiao Lingyu squeezed back firmly without speaking.
They were led into the reception chamber.
As they approached, Xiao Lingyu felt several powerful divine senses sweep toward him. Chu Mingwei calmly released his own spiritual pressure to block them.
Another force pressed forward. Chu Mingwei stepped in front of Xiao Lingyu.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Then Chu Mingwei let out a muffled groan and took a step back.
“Senior Brother!” Xiao Lingyu’s expression tightened.
“I’m fine,” Chu Mingwei said, shaking his head. “They didn’t gain anything either.”
Soon they entered the chamber.
Several unfamiliar cultivators sat below. At the top seat, Lingxiaozi wore a gentle smile, acting as though he had not noticed the sudden change in expression of the middle-aged man opposite him.
“I have been in the cultivation world for many years,” Lingxiaozi said with a smile, “and this is the first time I’ve met a friend from the Fantasy Demon Realm.”
The middle-aged man smiled politely. “Our realm is remote and our people are not strong. For safety, we rarely leave our territory.”
Lingxiaozi laughed. “No need to be modest. The Fantasy Demon Realm is renowned throughout the cultivation world.”
Just then, Chu Mingwei and Xiao Lingyu entered.
The middle-aged man’s gaze immediately locked onto Zhu Yurun in Xiao Lingyu’s arms. His face lit up.
“Little Pig.”
Zhu Yurun blinked at him blankly.
The man smiled warmly. “You don’t remember me? I am Uncle Bai.”
“Uncle Bai?” Zhu Yurun looked completely confused.
The man’s smile remained. He flicked his sleeve, and a white sphere flew out.
“Ancestor!” Zhu Yurun suddenly cried out.
The entire hall changed expression.
Even Lingxiaozi was startled. A pig that had lived in the Cloud Heaven Sect for ten years and had always been treated as an ordinary beast—he had never imagined it could speak.
The Fantasy Demon Realm cultivators were overjoyed.
One young man stepped forward. “You really awakened your intelligence? Zhu Xi’er said it, and we didn’t believe it!”
Zhu Yurun looked confused. “What does ‘awakening intelligence’ mean?”
The man frowned. “Then… have you received your bloodline inheritance?”
Zhu Yurun shook his head innocently. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Impossible!” the man exclaimed. “You were said to possess spatial divine ability!”
Xiao Lingyu stepped forward. “Zhu Yurun is timid. Please do not frighten him.”
Zhu Yurun immediately cooperated. “Little Monster, Little Pig is scared.”
The atmosphere grew strange.
The middle-aged man finally spoke. “We mean no harm. We only wish to bring our clansman home. He was lost as a child, and we have been searching for him for years.”
Xiao Lingyu looked down at Zhu Yurun. “Do you want to leave with them?”
Zhu Yurun shook his head vigorously. “No! Little Pig won’t leave Little Monster!”
The hall erupted in confusion.
The man sighed deeply. “Your ancestor… is dying. He wishes to see you one last time. Will you still refuse to return?”
Zhu Yurun blinked. “Dying… means leaving?”
The man nodded.
Zhu Yurun hesitated.
Xiao Lingyu immediately refused. “No. He will not go with you.”
The man looked at him. “Are you denying a child the chance to see his dying relative?”
Xiao Lingyu hesitated.
He glanced down at Zhu Yurun’s confused face. Something in his heart tightened. He looked toward Chu Mingwei.
Chu Mingwei nodded slightly.
Xiao Lingyu exhaled and finally said, “I will go with him.”
The decision was made.
The Fantasy Demon Realm group immediately prepared to leave, insisting they could not delay any longer.
As they departed, Xiao Lingyu noticed sect disciples stationed at key positions along the Cloud Traveling Boat. Meng Fan came forward.
Chu Mingwei placed a hand on his shoulder. “We will return soon. Take care of the sect while I’m gone.”
Meng Fan nodded.
Chu Mingwei added, “If anything difficult happens, go find Leng Qian.”
Meng Fan looked slightly puzzled, but still nodded.
Chu Mingwei finally relaxed, and together with Xiao Lingyu, stepped forward into the passage toward the Fantasy Demon Realm.