Staring at Si Mo, Mu Qingge had to admit that a jealous Mo was particularly adorable.

His unparalleled handsome features carried a cute annoyance, making her ’Lord’s heart rejoice’! Si Mo at this moment seemed no longer the lofty king, but merely a mortal caught in the throes of love.

Just like ordinary people, he had joy, anger, annoyance, and infatuation.

"Is your business finished?" Mu Qingge lightly hooked the man’s attractive, well-defined chin.

Si Mo brushed her hand aside, leaned forward, and blocked all of Mu Qingge’s retreat paths. His amber eyes shone brightly as he stared at her: "Little Lord, what must I do to win your favor?"

Mu Qingge’s mouth twitched slightly.

This phrase was something she had used to teasingly toy with him but now had become a lever, held in this man’s grip.

"Let’s see how you perform." After a long while, Mu Qingge managed to squeeze out these words with forced confidence.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Si Mo’s eyes lit up, his slender fingers slid down to her collar, and he said suggestively: "Then Little Lord, watch my performance."

Sensing a certain man’s mischief, Mu Qingge abruptly grabbed his large hand near her collar, her eyes vigilant: "What are you up to?"

"Naturally, to serve you, Little Lord!" Si Mo looked over with innocent eyes.

These words, laden with obvious insinuation, set off alarm bells in Mu Qingge’s heart. She pressed against Si Mo’s chest with both hands, and with a sudden push, seized the chance to escape his control, standing swiftly to tidy her slightly rumpled clothing.

Si Mo gazed at her look of a startled little beast and could not help but let out a magnetic low chuckle from his throat and lips.

Upon hearing this laughter, Mu Qingge’s expression changed.

She knew she had been teased by this man!

"Little Ge’er looks adorable when she’s shy." Si Mo added.

Whoosh——!

Mu Qingge instantly felt her cheeks flush crimson, unbearably hot.

"Who’s shy?" Feeling her pride wounded, Mu Qingge ground her teeth and retorted.

Yet this statement appeared utterly feeble, completely lacking conviction.

Fortunately, Si Mo had no intention of arguing with her, he stood up and walked beside Mu Qingge. His tall figure was enough to envelop Mu Qingge.

Si Mo’s hand stretched towards Mu Qingge’s waist, encircling her and pulling her into his embrace.

He lowered his head, gazing into Mu Qingge’s eyes, and spoke with a deep voice: "Little Ge’er, when will you become my wife? I can’t wait any longer."

Such blunt words made the temperature on Mu Qingge’s cheeks rise rather than fall. Her gaze wandered as she said hesitantly: "Uh, well... I’m not ready yet."

"Pfft!"

Mu Qingge’s bewildered reaction elicited a light laugh from Si Mo.

Mu Qingge felt frustrated within, not daring to look at him, muttering through gritted teeth: "Too weak!" Regarding matters of love, she truly felt fumbling.

She indeed had chosen Si Mo and didn’t mind breaking a barrier. But whether past or present, she had no experience in such matters.

Seeing pigs run doesn’t mean one knows how.

If it really came to that, she feared her mind would go blank, the battleground lost, losing the position of control.

Lose control!?

Mu Qingge’s eyes ignited with fire; it was something she absolutely could not compromise on!

"Little Ge’er isn’t ready yet, I won’t force you." Si Mo said with a smile, exceptionally understanding.

Mu Qingge turned her eyes toward him, seriously observing for a moment, then suddenly said innocently: "Um, wouldn’t keeping it in for too long cause problems?"

The smile at Si Mo’s mouth stiffened as he stared into Mu Qingge’s innocent eyes, in which the depths gleamed with a hint of unnoticed mischief.

His smile widened slowly, squinting as he asked: "Yes, it could hurt. Little Ge’er, what should we do then?"

Mu Qingge blinked, still looking innocent, under Si Mo’s expectant gaze, she lowered her gaze, placed her hand on Si Mo’s right hand, lifted it, and shook it in front of Si Mo.

Confusion rose in Si Mo’s eyes, not understanding what lifting and shaking his right hand signified.

In his puzzled, anticipated gaze, Mu Qingge said: "When you really can’t hold back, let it help you. I don’t mind."

Si Mo stiffened, turning to stone on the spot.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingge laughed heartily, cheerfully breaking free from Si Mo’s embrace, heading outside.

As Mu Qingge’s laughter gradually faded, Si Mo’s rigid expression regained some activity. His eye twitched fiercely, in his amber eyes winds and waves tossed and turned.

Suddenly, his figure flashed, swiftly pursuing Mu Qingge.

Mu Qingge was swaggering ahead, proud of regaining a point. Suddenly sensing a wind blowing past, she heard a sentence carried by the wind into her ear —

"Then Little Ge’er should come and solve it for me personally!"

Mu Qingge’s expression froze, her pupils contracted slightly. Perceiving a dangerous aura approaching her rapidly, without much thought, her body made the most faithful response — escape!

With a flicker, Mu Qingge stepped on the Star Beginning Step, dodging the grasp reaching from behind.

Si Mo missed, and upon looking back, saw a streak of brilliant red swiftly leaving his line of sight. His amber eyes sparkled with amusement as he chased after that red streak.

It seemed that henceforth, no matter heaven or earth, above or below, nine skies beyond, he would never give up!

To escape Si Mo’s grasp, Mu Qingge instantly brought her Spiritual Power to its peak, fleeing toward the outskirts at the fastest speed. In some corner of the Golden Sea Mansion, only a flash of light was seen before it disappeared.

Following that, a dark glow sliced through the air, chasing after that flash of light.

When the dark glow appeared, within the Divine Hall, an old man with silver hair dressed in a silver robe lightly uttered a ’huh,’ lifting his head, gazing at the azure sky, thoughtful.

His white eyebrows also furrowed deeply.

"Divine Envoy Sir!" Suddenly, outside a Golden Armor Guard rushed in, kneeling on one knee before him.

The silver-haired old man withdrew his gaze from observing the sky, his profound and wise eyes fell upon him.

The Golden Armor Guard lifted his head, meeting those eyes that could pierce through all deception, "Divine Envoy Sir, the guests from the Jing Family are about to set off, entering Guji Mountain now."

The silver-haired old man’s brow furrowed deeper, speaking unrelatedly: "I seemed to have sensed a trace of something that shouldn’t appear here just now."

Hearing his words, confusion rose in the Golden Armor Guard’s eyes.

...

The light and dark glow shot out of the Golden Sea Mansion’s city one after another.

Behind Si Mo tightly pursued Mu Qingge, observing once more, increased her speed.

Seeing the light ahead accelerate, Si Mo’s amber eyes grew more amused, still following leisurely, not feeling strained at all.

After a while of chasing in the air, Mu Qingge looked back once again at the man behind her, the color in her transparent eyes changed, eventually sinking.

She adjusted direction in the air, flying toward the back right.

Si Mo also changed direction, continuing to follow behind her. When a vast lake appeared in Mu Qingge’s sight, a new plan formulated in her mind.

Aiming at the island in the lake’s center, Mu Qingge suddenly descended, rushing into the dense peach tree forest.

Si Mo too descended like a meteor, heading towards her.

One after another, they dashed onto the island, the fierce wind scattered petals from the branches, instantly the island was covered in falling blossoms, pink petals drifting around, occupying the island’s world.

Mu Qingge stood amidst the petal rain, suddenly turned, and looked at the mystic robe that fell afterward.

She captured the smile in the man’s eyes, but the transparency in her eyes flashed with slyness, proactively charging at Si Mo, taking the initiative.

The ’powder punch’ that rushed at him made Si Mo’s features overflow with delight.

His little Ge’er wants to play, naturally he would accompany her.

The fist, accompanied by a strong wind, blew away the falling petals, also causing some petals to be disturbed by the fist power, swirling around Mu Qingge’s fist and arm, forming a whirlwind.

Mu Qingge’s fist, carrying a powerful force, headed towards Si Mo’s face.

Si Mo lightly tapped his toe, his whole body soared, skimming close to the ground as he retreated. Where his toes passed, the fallen petals in the soil on the ground flew up into the air, dancing.

Si Mo retreated, while Mu Qingge advanced!

The fist, condensed with explosive power, always had a thin line of separation from Si Mo.

Their hair was lifted by the wind, gracefully and freely dancing in the air.

Suddenly, Si Mo reached out, grabbing Mu Qingge’s wrist, tilted his body sideways, moving along her arm, closing in on her. This unexpected change made a flash of light flicker in Mu Qingge’s eyes, and her body leapt into the air, her feet kicking towards Si Mo.

Si Mo blocked Mu Qingge’s attack with one hand, while the other hand reversed to grab her arm, tossing her into the air. Mu Qingge’s body made a circle in the air, her hair’s tips brushing past the airborne petals.

Was this a fight between the two? It was more like a dance.

Mu Qingge landed from the air, but instead of retreating immediately, she quickly reached out to grab Si Mo’s lapel, attempting to throw him over her shoulder, but Si Mo evaded it.

Repeatedly attacking without results made Mu Qingge fight more earnestly.

The two figures danced up and down in the Peach Blossom Forest, sometimes crossing, sometimes separating, and at times embracing. A fight can be so beautiful that it’s truly enviable.

This battle without using spiritual power lasted for half an hour.

Mu Qingge couldn’t even touch the corner of Si Mo’s robe, while Si Mo, every time he was about to touch Mu Qingge, would have her skillfully avoid, giving an impression of slipperiness.

The more seriously Mu Qingge fought, the rarer such close combat opportunities were, especially with an opponent like Si Mo.

Si Mo, however, became more indulgent as the fight went on, gradually realizing the fact that he was just sparring with her.

Finally, Si Mo caught Mu Qingge’s wrist, pulling her close, feeling her slightly panting breath. At a close distance, he saw Mu Qingge’s slightly flushed skin from the fight and the fine sweat on her forehead.

"Be good, take a break." Si Mo said with a bit of heartache.

However, Mu Qingge’s lips curled into an enigmatic smile, and with her hand that wasn’t caught, she grabbed Si Mo’s lapel, quickly arching her back, trying to throw Si Mo off.

Noticing her intention, Si Mo swiftly grabbed her waistband, and as he was swung off by Mu Qingge, he took her along.

The sudden aerial flip widened Mu Qingge’s eyes.

But before she could react, she and Si Mo crashed heavily to the ground.

Fortunately, as they landed, Si Mo adjusted the angle, making sure he landed first, and Mu Qingge fell into his embrace, tightly held by him.

Tightly embracing each other, they rolled into the forest, the petals on the ground staining their robes, while the rain of petals in the air continued to drift down.

They rolled for more than a dozen rounds before gradually slowing down.

When they finally stopped rolling, their clothes were already in disarray, their breaths intertwined. Mu Qingge, with her hair and clothes covered in petals, and Si Mo’s mystic robe was no exception.

Mu Qingge lay on top of Si Mo, staring at him up close, feeling his breath on her face, and hearing his slightly labored breathing.

"Little Ge’er, get off." Deep within Si Mo’s amber eyes, there was a faint blush. His voice turned extremely restrained and hoarse.

Somewhere on his body was slowly changing, obvious enough that even Mu Qingge could feel it.

Normally, in such times, under a man’s warning, Mu Qingge would have run faster than a rabbit.

Yet at this moment, she was somewhat captivated, tracing the handsome features of the man with her tender, affectionate gaze.

She absorbed the breath from the man’s body, so comforting it made her completely relax.

Her clear eyes gradually became misty, her rationality quietly retreating. Even her throat involuntarily moved slightly.

"Little Ge’er!" Seeing Mu Qingge not moving, Si Mo thought she was deliberately playing with fire again, so he issued another warning.

However, just as he finished speaking, Mu Qingge suddenly lowered her head, bit his lips, and took in that coolness.

Si Mo’s eyes suddenly widened, the blush in his amber eyes deepening, mixed with shock.

Did his little Ge’er know what she was doing?

Si Mo was held down tightly by Mu Qingge, even his hands were constrained by this petite woman to prevent him from resisting.

The frantic demand between their lips grew Si Mo’s surprise, yet it also assailed his remaining rationality.

Suddenly, his hands were lifted and pressed above his head.

Mu Qingge held one hand on his wrist, controlling the struggle of his hands... In fact, Si Mo didn’t struggle at all. The other hand began tugging on Si Mo’s lapel and waistband.

Before long, Si Mo’s lapel was pulled open, revealing glimpses of his skin and muscles.

The waistband around his waist also became loose, on the verge of slipping off.

Si Mo’s eyes turned a deep reddish-brown, watching Mu Qingge’s actions, his mouth forming a smile of ambiguous intent.

It seemed like his little Ge’er couldn’t wait any longer!

Finally, Mu Qingge stopped devouring Si Mo’s lips, shifting her attention to his brows, his nose, his chin, and then down his neck...

Those somewhat clumsy kisses, tingling and slightly itchy, made the love in Si Mo’s eyes deeper. He was willing to indulge her, to the ends of time, or even the destruction of the Three Thousand Worlds.

However—

For such things, it is better to be handled by him, the man!

A glimpse of sharpness crossed Si Mo’s eyes, and he suddenly flipped over, effortlessly pinning Mu Qingge beneath him. In her surprise, he lowered his head and captured Mu Qingge’s slightly parted lips.

Sensing the man was trying to seize control, Mu Qingge grew furious!

She resisted, only to be suppressed.

Resisted again, and was suppressed again!

Soon, her robe became almost undone, her spring-like charm vaguely revealed.

Just as their struggle for dominance reached an intense peak, a sudden voice interjected like a splash of cold water, instantly quenching their passion.

"Damn it! Two men messing around here!"

Both Si Mo and Mu Qingge’s bodies froze, while the voice’s owner vanished with his female companion in a flash from the island in the heart of the lake, as if having seen something unsightly.

Rationality returned to Mu Qingge’s eyes. Up against Si Mo’s lingering gaze, she quickly pushed him away and scrambled to her feet.

As soon as she stood up, her fallen waistband was about to slip off, so Mu Qingge hurriedly grabbed it, quickly rearranging her disheveled clothes with her back to Si Mo.

Si Mo sat on the ground, his clothes equally disheveled, but he was in no hurry to tidy them. He just watched Mu Qingge’s busy back while holding a smile.

Finally sorted out, Mu Qingge tugged at her robe, instinctively touching the purple earring on her left ear.

It still emitted a radiant glow, faithfully fulfilling its mission.

Recalling the words that shattered all the romantic ambiance earlier, Mu Qingge truly felt like smashing her head against a tofu block! It was simply too embarrassing!

Still, thanks to that man’s sudden words, otherwise, she might have lost herself there today.

After calming her breath, Mu Qingge turned to look at Si Mo, who was sitting on the ground, exuding a lazy vibe.

"Aren’t you going to put your clothes on?" Mu Qingge said irritably, shooting a glare.

Si Mo smiled at her, spreading his hands, "My clothes were messed up by little Ge’er, so naturally I’ll wait for little Ge’er to help me dress properly."

Mu Qingge twitched her eyes; she really wanted to say, ’My clothes were also messed up by you, and I dressed myself!’

But she quickly realized if she really said that, Si Mo would surely respond, ’I’d be happy to help you dress, how about you take them off, and I’ll help you put them back on?’

Ultimately, she’d still be at a disadvantage.

Therefore, Mu Qingge swallowed those words back down.

She sneered, "Suit yourself, if someone sees it, it’s not me who’s embarrassed."

Si Mo suddenly looked apologetic, saying: "It’s all my fault. I should have set up a barrier to prevent anyone from barging in, and I’ve startled little Ge’er."

Haha...

Mu Qingge had no words in her heart.

This matter seems to have been stirred up by her first. When she was in a daze, someone broke in, stopping things from progressing further. She was very grateful she woke up; otherwise—

’For the first time, it should at least be in a better place!’ Mu Qingge glanced around at the surroundings and complained in her heart.

Starting off wild, she really couldn’t accept it.

"Hmm, I accept your apology." Mu Qingge intentionally kept a serious face, tidying her clothes, and raised her chin towards Si Mo.

Suddenly, Si Mo leaned closer and said to Mu Qingge, "Little Ge’er, how about we continue?"

Mu Qingge’s mouth twitched as she pushed him away, flicking her brocade robe, and shook her head, saying, "These kinds of things require the right time, place, and people, along with the right mood. Right now, there’s none of those elements, nor the mood, so let’s skip it."

Si Mo gave a bitter smile.

His little Ge’er was truly a troublesome little demon, yet she always managed to make his torment enjoyable.

"Let’s talk about serious matters instead." Mu Qingge sat cross-legged not far from Si Mo, her demeanor becoming serious.

Si Mo squinted and smiled, asking, "What do you want to ask me, little Ge’er?"

Mu Qingge pondered in silence for a moment and then asked a question that worried her the most. "How much do you know about the Divine Strategy?"

Divine Strategy!

Hearing this name from Mu Qingge’s mouth again, Si Mo’s eyes darkened.

However, he still replied honestly, "I know a little about it."

Mu Qingge’s brow furrowed with seriousness. She shifted closer to Si Mo and whispered, "During my previous cultivation, I seemed to have activated the Upper Scroll of the Divine Strategy. But I found that the cultivation method on it was completely unworkable, like running counter to the norm, making it impossible to train. However, since then, almost every time I cultivate, I enter a void-like state."

Mu Qingge carefully recalled and tried to express her feelings, "...It’s as if, in a dream, I’m cultivating according to the Divine Strategy Upper Scroll’s method, and then my body explodes, and I wake up from cultivation. Yet when I check my body, nothing has changed."

She slowly shook her head, "I don’t know what the dream-like vision means, nor do I understand why the Divine Strategy, hailed as the Divine Clan’s strongest technique, is completely untrainable. Is it because I’m not divine, and only the divine can cultivate it?"

Mu Qingge posed her question, looking at Si Mo.

All along, Si Mo could answer any of her questions, and she hoped this time would be no exception.

When she looked at Si Mo, Si Mo was also looking at her.

In her expectant gaze, Si Mo spoke, "Little Ge’er, don’t worry about it. If you don’t want to cultivate the Divine Strategy, I can help remove it from your consciousness."

Mu Qingge frowned in distress and said, "It’s not that I don’t want to practice; it’s that I can’t. After saying that, she was surprised and said: "Can you help remove it?" Does that mean that the self-destructing scenes won’t appear anymore?

Si Mo nodded, but slowly said, "It’s an opportunity for you, but also a kind of calamity. I can’t be sure whether the Divine Strategy is good or bad for you."

There was a palpable worry in Si Mo’s words.

Mu Qingge listened earnestly and thought seriously. Finally, she nodded, "Then let’s keep it and see what happens naturally." After saying this, she showed Si Mo a brilliant smile.

Her decision made Si Mo frown, "Little Ge’er..."

Mu Qingge raised her hand to stop him from speaking, "I know there are many things you’re hiding from me and can’t tell me yet. So I won’t force it. But this Divine Strategy, since it appeared by my side, as you said, is an opportunity, though I don’t know what it means, it is something I need. Opportunities represent risks and rewards, and I’m not afraid of risks, and I look forward to rewards. A-Mo, you don’t need to worry about me; I’m not fragile and don’t need your protection."

"What did you call me, little Ge’er?" Si Mo’s eyes suddenly lit up, bright as diamonds, and his voice carried a hint of excitement.

Being questioned, Mu Qingge instead showed a slight embarrassment, but still called out once more: "A-Mo."

A-Mo.

A-Mo!

It seems that long ago, Si Mo had asked her to call him this. But at that time, she paid no heed, preferring to call him ’old demon.’

And now, the words ’A-Mo’ came so easily from her lips.

This was unexpected for both Si Mo and herself. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"My little Ge’er!" Si Mo spread his arms, pulling Mu Qingge into his embrace. The carefulness was as if handling a rare treasure.

Mu Qingge suddenly being embraced by Si Mo was startled in her heart, but she immediately felt the happiness radiating from the man.

This happiness seemed to dispel his solitude of millions of years.

"Little Ge’er, go ahead and do whatever you want. Everything is on me!" Si Mo’s chin rested on Mu Qingge’s head, making a promise.

No matter what the future holds, he would be there!

Mu Qingge smiled, raising her eyes in his embrace, also promising: "You too, everything is on me! Inseparable."

"Inseparable..." Si Mo’s chin gently rubbed against Mu Qingge’s hair, whispering the words. After a long time, he finally said, "Alright, inseparable." Anyone who stands in the way, will be crushed!

In a place Mu Qingge couldn’t see, a hint of sharp killing intent flashed in the depths of Si Mo’s jade-like eyes.

"By the way!" Mu Qingge got up from Si Mo’s embrace and, under his gaze, took out the divine-level elixir she previously refined and handed it to him. "This is a divine-level elixir I refined for you, although it can’t completely solve the problem in your body, taking it during an eruption can help suppress and relieve it."

Si Mo took the elixir from her hand, nodded quietly, and carefully put it away.

"Earlier, I met people from the Jing family of the Central Continent in the Divine Hall. Their appearance here seems to be for something important." Mu Qingge pondered aloud.

"They are here for the Hóu." Si Mo instantly provided an answer.

"Hm?" Mu Qingge looked at him in surprise.

Si Mo was watching her and smiled as he said, "I’m here for the Hóu too."

"Hóu?" Mu Qingge echoed the unfamiliar term.

Si Mo explained patiently with a smile, "Hóu is an ancient fierce beast. Legend has it that it was formed from the skull of a deity who created the heavens and the earth. It has extremely powerful abilities and a violent, erratic nature; it likes to consume Dragon Brain, making it the ancestor of all fierce beasts."

"So incredible!" Mu Qingge was amazed.

Si Mo nodded. "Hóu is always mysterious and rarely appears. This time, however, word has come that it was injured and fell into Guji Mountain outside the Southern Continent Golden Sea Mansion of the Middle Ancient Realm. So, I came over to investigate."

"The Jing family got the news too?" Mu Qingge looked at him and asked.

"You should know about the Jing family’s innate ability. In their family, there is a refining stone that can sense some powerful divine beasts or holy beasts. They probably know there’s a powerful divine beast or holy beast there, but they’re unsure exactly which one it is," Si Mo explained slowly.

Mu Qingge frowned, "So, both the Jing family and you are after the Hóu?"

"If I can tame Hóy, it will be a very powerful force," Si Mo admitted without reservation.

"I’ll help you!" Mu Qingge announced.

Si Mo smiled knowingly, "Good, we’ll go to Guji Mountain together."

Mu Qingge nodded with a smile.

After thinking for a moment, she furrowed her brows and softly murmured, "Should I still go to the Jing family to gather information? I remember Jing Fengyu seemed to have urgent matters and left in a hurry."

Si Mo said, "No need to gather any information. The Jing family might not even know as much as I do. The reason I left earlier was to first investigate Guji Mountain, just stay with me."

From his words, Mu Qingge sensed a reluctance. She pursed her lips and said, "Okay." She knew he didn’t want to be apart from her.

And she felt the same.

...

That night, Xie Ya returned to the other courtyard and informed everyone that she would soon be leaving for Guji Mountain.

In the presence of someone who always seemed mysterious, Gu Ye’s heart was filled with suspicion. After being taken away by Gu Ye, she kept guessing about their identities.

"""

However, there were no results.

Mu Qingge’s decision naturally met with no objections.

And the only person Mu Qingge took along was Yuanyuan.

"Dad dad dad dad dad dad dad... dad dad dad dad dad dad dad..." Yuanyuan took a deep breath and managed to call out ’dad’ seventy-eight times in a single breath.

Si Mo looked at the ’eldest son’ standing in front of him, his sapphire eyes smiling. He opened his palm in front of Yuanyuan, revealing a handful of shimmering Fire Lotus Seeds. "Good boy."

"Thank you, dad!" Yuanyuan’s eyes lit up, and he immediately snatched the Fire Lotus Seeds from Si Mo’s hand as if afraid he might change his mind.

As soon as Yuanyuan took the Fire Lotus Seeds, Mu Qingge waved her hand and drew him into her space.

"He swallowed the Taichu Urgent Fire?" Si Mo asked Mu Qingge.

Mu Qingge was a bit surprised, "Even that you can tell?"

Si Mo smiled and pointed to his forehead, explaining to Mu Qingge, "The crimson mole between his brows carries the aura of the Taichu Urgent Fire."

That explained it!

Mu Qingge nodded in understanding.

"Are we setting off now?" Mu Qingge asked.

Si Mo shook his head slowly, "No rush, we’ll leave when dawn breaks."

"Alright." Mu Qingge nodded, following Si Mo’s arrangement.

The night passed swiftly, and at dawn, two figures walked side by side at the foot of Guji Mountain, located a hundred li north of the Golden Sea Prefecture.

In their mystic robes and scarlet garments, they stood out on the pure white Guji Mountain.

The man in the mystic robe was so handsome that even the earth and sky seemed to dim in comparison. He had an elegant demeanor, and his gaze toward the woman beside him was full of indulgence and affection. The smile on his face seemed to be solely for her.

The woman in red, tall and graceful, was just as stunning as the man. Especially the wildness between her brows made many men feel inferior.

They were both extraordinarily beautiful, rarely seen in the world, appearing on this Guji Mountain like divine flowers and celestial beings from legends.

Hand in hand, they roamed the world like a pair of celestial lovers.

"Is this Guji Mountain? So beautiful!" Mu Qingge, having removed her purple earrings and returned to her feminine attire, couldn’t help but sigh as she took in the jade-like forest petals around them.

Her eyes were full of admiration for Guji Mountain’s scenery, unaware that in Si Mo’s eyes, she was the most beautiful sight of all.

"Yes, Guji Mountain is filled with Jade Pear Trees, and during the blooming season, the white pear blossoms are everywhere, resembling a snow-covered mountain from afar. Therefore, Guji Mountain has another name, known as Jade Snow Mountain." Si Mo explained while observing Mu Qingge’s profile.

Mu Qingge nodded in agreement, "It really does feel like a snowy mountain."

She suddenly turned her head and asked, "Will a fierce beast like a Xie Ya really be in such a beautiful mountain?" Just as she finished speaking, she noticed Si Mo staring at her.

The undisguised affection in his eyes made her feel a bit embarrassed.

"Uh, what are you looking at?" Mu Qingge felt somewhat uneasy in her feminine attire.

"Naturally, I’m looking at you," Si Mo said earnestly.

Such a candid response made Mu Qingge blush. "Ahem! We’re here to catch the Xie Ya, remember?"

She reminded him of their purpose in coming.

Si Mo’s smile deepened, but he didn’t want the woman beside him to feel too awkward, so he went along with her words, "Mhm."

"Mhm. Mhm? That’s it?" Mu Qingge blinked, looking at him with a speechless expression.

Si Mo raised a graceful brow, as if asking a question.

Mu Qingge said helplessly, "Shouldn’t we have some kind of plan? And how are we going to find the Xie Ya’s location? Did you find any traces of it when you entered Guji Mountain before? Are we sure it’s really here?"

The ethereal surroundings made her doubt Si Mo’s words about the ferocious and cunning Xie Ya being here.

"This is only the outskirts of Guji Mountain." Si Mo finally spoke a sentence that wasn’t entirely redundant.

"It’s inside?" Mu Qingge guessed.

Seeing her serious demeanor, Si Mo laughed, "The Xie Ya is very cunning and adept at hiding. It often resides in the least expected places. He’s suffered severe injuries, with his cultivation reduced to less than a third. At this time, capturing him should be easy, so he won’t wait to be caught and will definitely be in hiding."

"So how do we find him?" Mu Qingge asked.

She was completely ignorant of the Xie Ya’s habits and couldn’t offer any suggestion, trusting only in Si Mo’s plan.

Si Mo shook his head, "Finding the Xie Ya isn’t a task for just one or two days. Aren’t the people from the Jing Family helping us?" He smiled meaningfully at Mu Qingge.

Mu Qingge suddenly understood.

That’s why Si Mo was so nonchalant even knowing the Jing Family was also searching for the Xie Ya.

He had planned all along for them to flush the Xie Ya out while he and Mu Qingge would be the secret beneficiaries, waiting to catch the spoil.

"What if the Jing Family manages to tame the Xie Ya first? Don’t forget their innate ability." Mu Qingge reminded.

"They won’t," Si Mo said confidently. "Even though the Xie Ya’s strength has plummeted, the Jing Family members aren’t its match. I fear that when they discover the Holy Beast they’re pursuing is actually the Xie Ya, they’ll flee in panic."

"Is it that exaggerated?" Mu Qingge questioned incredulously.

Si Mo’s smile turned playful, "Fierce Beasts aren’t as easy to tame as Holy Beasts, and there’s always the risk of backlash, especially since this is the progenitor of Fierce Beasts, the Xie Ya."

Mu Qingge’s brows knit with concern as she worriedly asked, "Since the Xie Ya is so troublesome, without Gu Ye and Gu Ya, are you sure your body can handle it?"

Even with her and Yuanyuan’s help, they were not as strong as Gu Ye and Gu Ya.

Bringing Gu Ye and Gu Ya along would mean having four people to assist, increasing their chances of success.

"Don’t worry." Si Mo lifted his hand and gently smoothed the furrow between Mu Qingge’s brows. When she looked up, he told her, "Your husband is very strong. If the Xie Ya were at full strength, perhaps I’d be cautious. But now..."

Si Mo shook his head with a smile, and his meaning was clear.

Mu Qingge opened her mouth, wanting to say, "But you diminished your millennia of cultivation for me, suffered severe injury, and triggered latent internal wounds. Should a fight ensue, those issues could become highly unstable, posing a risk to yourself even if you subdue the Xie Ya."

Yet, in the end, she said nothing.

She knew that Si Mo was aware of and understood everything she wanted to say.

If the Xie Ya weren’t important to him, he wouldn’t have risked coming in person.

Thinking of this, Mu Qingge felt even more determined to help Si Mo obtain the Xie Ya!

"My dear Ge’er, I’m fine." Si Mo took Mu Qingge’s hand and leisurely strolled with her through the Jade Pear Tree Forest on Guji Mountain.

...

On the other side of Guji Mountain, a team of white-robed individuals moved quickly. There were ten of them, and their clothing nearly blended with the surrounding Jade Pear Trees.

"Second Uncle, why refuse the Divine Hall’s escort?" Jing Fengyu, walking at the front of the group, asked a middle-aged man beside him in confusion.

This was his second uncle, Jing Tianheng, the Jing Family’s Law Enforcement Elder, with cultivation at the Golden Realm Second Layer, an absolute master!

Jing Fengyu’s inquiry prompted Jing Tianheng to explain in a low voice, "Owing a favor to the Divine Hall is hard to repay. Besides, the Divine Servants in the Southern Continent Branch Hall have only Gray Realm cultivation; what use would they be? No more than a burden. Our Jing Family matters, we resolve ourselves, without needing others to intervene."

"But we’re not familiar with Guji Mountain; having a local guide would be beneficial." Jing Fengyu argued.

Jing Tianheng shook his head and said, "We don’t need to familiarize ourselves with Guji Mountain’s terrain, just track the scent."

With that, he pulled a small crystal-like stone from his robe.

The stone emitted a faint light, shifting between purple and red, pointing north like a compass, guiding the Jing Family.

But the stone’s alternating purple and red hues made Jing Tianheng furrow his brow. "Strange, is it a Divine Beast or a Holy Beast this time?"

Red signifies divine, purple holy.

The shifting colors bewildered the Jing Family.