“I don’t know,” A Huang replied. “I sent them to knock yesterday.”
Chaosheng laughed. “Chang Ge sleeps early. He might come pick us up this morning.”
As he spoke, a dragon’s roar echoed from the open ground halfway up Jade Bead Peak.
Yuzhou finally appeared. The azure giant dragon slowly emerged from the clouds, its True Dragon Aura spreading and parting the mists like cascading waterfalls to either side of the mountains, revealing the vista.
“You actually walked here?” The dragon could hardly believe its eyes.
Chaosheng laughed. “Walking’s pretty good too, isn’t it?”
Everyone bowed to the azure dragon. Xiao Kun waited for Yuzhou to generously say “climb on,” ending their long, arduous journey.
But Yuzhou said, “In that case, I’ll walk with you?”
Xiang Xian said, “Senior, our brother Hulü twisted his ankle!”
Hulü Guang said, “I didn’t.”
Chaosheng quickly said, “Right, right, he can’t walk now.”
Hulü Guang: “???”
“Just kidding,” Yuzhou said. “Hop on.”
The azure dragon then carried the Exorcism Division group aloft from the mountain path, swiftly passing over the peak of Jade Bead Peak. Yuzhou’s body was several times larger than Xiao Kun’s golden dragon and flew more steadily, with the Wind-Averting Talisman Array unfolding from its horns. Xiang Xian looked down at the land below and saw no path from Jade Bead Peak’s summit to White Jade Palace—only a stone stele reflecting sunlight.
At the stele, a radiant path appeared in the sky, leading into the clouds. As the azure dragon ascended, White Jade Palace gently revealed its full splendor.
“Wow—” Xiang Xian couldn’t help exclaiming.
“Home at last—!” Chaosheng was clearly the happiest. Yuzhou passed through the outer barrier, and abundant spiritual qi rushed over like a vast sea of mist, instantly lifting everyone’s spirits. Mu Qingshan suddenly transformed into the White Deer, trod the air, his body shimmering with light, and bounded toward the giant tree at the center of White Jade Palace.
The leaves of the Divine Tree Jumang flickered in the sunlight—the true spiritual pivot of all things, the legendary first tree between heaven and earth, the “father” of countless plants on the Shenzhou Great Land.
“Chang Ge!” Chaosheng jumped down at the palace entrance and shouted happily.
Pi Changge was watering flowers with a pot and laughed. “You’re back, Chaosheng!”
Chaosheng hugged Pi Changge from behind, flipped onto his back, cradled his head, and planted fierce kisses on his face and nose. Pi Changge finally pried Chaosheng off and said to the others, “You’ve all come, huh? And this is…?”
Mu Qingshan circled the sacred tree in the air before reverting to human form and landing before White Jade Palace. Chaosheng introduced, “This is a big brother we met on the road.”
Pi Changge and Mu Qingshan faced each other. Mu Qingshan looked at him for a moment before bowing politely.
“Deer, huh,” Pi Changge said thoughtfully. “Deer? Hmm, deer works too. Do as you like—treat it like your own home.”
Mu Qingshan replied boredly, “I will, Pixiu.”
Mu Qingshan felt right at home without waiting for an invitation and headed straight to the garden behind the pond.
“Since you’re here,” Pi Changge said seriously, “stay for now. Welcome to Chaosheng’s home.”
Except for Xiao Kun, it was everyone’s first time in the immortal abode. After some polite greetings, Chaosheng took the lead in showing his brothers to their rooms.
Yuzhou rubbed his hands and said to Xiao Kun, “Little brother, did you bring me anything to eat?”
Xiao Kun had completely forgotten and thought, Oh no.
But Hulü Guang said, “I brought plenty of jerky. Want some? All Western Regions specialties—lamb, beef, salted meat.”
Yuzhou had eaten bean paste veggie wraps with scallions alongside Pi Changge in White Jade Palace for half a year; his eyes now gleamed green. Hulü Guang retrieved a large pack of jerky from Wu Yingzong’s Qiankun Bag and gave it all to Yuzhou, who was delighted. He sat on the steps, picked two pieces of dried salted meat, and ate them plain without finding them too salty.
“Back when I was a carp, I loved Chang’an’s cured meat,” Yuzhou said.
Hulü Guang watched curiously from the side. “A carp eating cured meat?”
“Yeah,” Yuzhou said. “Are you an exorcist too?”
Hulü Guang said, “I’m Master’s slave.”
“Oh? A slave?” Yuzhou glanced at Hulü Guang. “How do you have a Heart Lamp then?”
“I don’t know why either.” Hulü Guang was straightforward and made friends easily if the other was willing to chat. He asked, “Want some water?” and fetched water for Yuzhou, attending him.
Mu Qingshan returned from touring the garden and stood watching Yuzhou.
“White Deer, remember me?” Yuzhou laughed.
Mu Qingshan looked indifferent, then shook his head.
“True,” Yuzhou said. “You wolves and deer don’t remember past lives after reincarnation—you become someone new.”
“I only inherited the previous White Deer’s power and knowledge of dream realms,” Mu Qingshan replied. “Have we met before?”
Yuzhou waved it off, signaling no need to dwell on the past.
Chaosheng returned home, settled his friends, then took Wu Yingzong to his room. That afternoon, the exorcists temporarily settled into White Jade Palace. With so many people, the usually serene Immortal Realm buzzed with life, filled with Chaosheng’s shouts echoing everywhere.
The animals feared no one and darted through the palace. Pi Changge occasionally wandered with a small shovel, scooping droppings from fountains and under the throne, shooing away beasts curiously eyeing the guests.
Xiang Xian looked around his room. Moments later, Xiao Kun knocked, inviting him to stroll.
Xiang Xian said, “I’ll sort my things first. The spiritual qi here is abundant—perfect for airing out my magic treasures.”
“Then I’ll go ahead,” Xiao Kun said. Though exhausted from the journey, the rich spiritual qi in White Jade Palace restored everyone’s energy rapidly.
After finishing, Xiang Xian stood by the window, admired the view, then walked along the white corridor. He whistled, but A Huang didn’t appear.
In the back garden, deer and rabbits scattered amid lush greenery. White rhinos strolled leisurely nearby, along with elephants. Under the afternoon sun, a waterfall cascaded from on high. Xiao Kun stood naked under it, rinsing like a youthful immortal wandering a secret realm amid myriad creatures—the sight stirred Xiang Xian deeply.
