Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!

For the hour that Chen Pingping had been gone, Guang Xiaoyu remained silent, lost in thought.

An unsettling feeling grew stronger in her heart.

His departure this time… something terrible might happen. Even if Senior Brother is very strong, he might not withstand a powerful enemy's slaughter.

The Sacred Land? Chong Tower? Or perhaps some young genius?

Among the younger generation, few can match someone of Chen Pingping's caliber, aside from the Moon God. And since Senior Brother arrived in the Central Continent, he hasn't intentionally made enemies. The major powers have no reason to move against him.

The Yuan World is linked to Junior Sister. The one who plotted against her would only target her. They wouldn't be foolish enough to assassinate Chen Pingping in front of the Sacred Land's experts.

So, where is the danger coming from?

Many possibilities flashed through her mind, but she dismissed each one.

Could it be the Youming Sea? No! Senior Brother said he had entered the Youming Sea before. Besides, Earth Chicken can undo all prohibitions and seals, so there's no danger there.

Then what? There's only one possibility left. The five experts from the Sacred Land accompanying them.

Guang Xiaoyu lifted her head. "Junior Sister, don't let anyone come near me in a moment." She decided to activate her Insightful Power and observe once more.

If I can confirm the number of people, then the last possibility holds true. The Sacred Land intends to move against Chen Pingping.

WHOOSH!

Her Insightful Power began to operate. A heavy, layered fog appeared before her eyes, obscuring the view. Only some vague, floating shadows were visible.

One shadow, two shadows, three shadows… So many, far more than just five.

Guang Xiaoyu abruptly opened her eyes, her face somewhat pale. She grabbed Zi Ji, intent on leaving the Sacred Land immediately.

No sooner had they departed than several experts from the Sacred Land arrived, scanning the area but finding no trace of the two women.

"Let's go, I'll take you back!" Guang Xiaoyu said.

"Senior Sister, is something going to happen?"

"Nothing!"

"You're lying." Zi Ji didn't believe her.

Having spent many days with Guang Xiaoyu, Zi Ji knew her Senior Sister well. Regardless of any external danger, Guang Xiaoyu disliked a life of unchanging comfort.

Yet now, she actually wanted to send her back.

Something big is about to happen. It's related to Senior Brother, isn't it?

Zi Ji speculated, shaking her head. "I… I won't go."

Her words lacked conviction because her cultivation realm was very low; even if she stayed, she probably couldn't help.

Guang Xiaoyu offered no explanation, merely continuing forward.

When the Bai Family moved against me, Chen Pingping killed Bai Yunfei and annihilated the Bai Family. When Chong Tower made a move against Junior Sister, Senior Brother resolved to find its location to prevent future trouble. But by doing so, he placed himself in the midst of a vortex.

A dangerous situation.

If this isn't handled well, Senior Brother could very well perish. Therefore, I must act.

But there's still a problem; Zi Ji is still with me.

The journey from the Sacred Land's territory to the Great Zhou Dynasty will take at least three days. By then, Chen Pingping and the others might have already reached the Youming Sea. If I don't escort Junior Sister back, taking her to the Youming Sea would mean an additional burden.

Atop a hill, Guang Xiaoyu stood, letting the gentle breeze buffet her, her clothes fluttering as she sank deep into thought.

"Senior Sister, I can do it, I don't want to leave…" Zi Ji said urgently.

"Be obedient!" Guang Xiaoyu returned to her senses, smiled, and finally decided to send Zi Ji back.

「Three days later, within the Great Zhou Dynasty.」

When the Emperor saw Zi Ji return, he was overjoyed, holding his daughter tightly and unwilling to let go.

Zi Ji remained impassive, her face filled with sorrow.

Behind her, Guang Xiaoyu quietly departed, turning away from the imperial capital and speeding towards the Youming Sea.

She moved with incredible speed.

In her heart, only one thought echoed: Senior Brother, wait for me!

All this time, I've thought of myself as the reincarnation of the Demon Emperor, always talking about protecting Chen Pingping, but… the one who was protected turned out to be me.

Chen Pingping is like a great tree reaching for the heavens, sheltering me as I grew. Now, for the sake of his Junior Sister, he is facing Chong Tower, placing himself in grave danger.

Such utmost kindness and righteousness.

Guang Xiaoyu was deeply moved.

He must have known long ago that I was a demon cultivator. Yet, he said nothing and even gave me a wooden sword to suppress the Demonic Qi within me. Right?

Guang Xiaoyu desperately wanted to ask him.

"Lao Huang, let's go a bit faster!" she shouted.

「A few days later, the trio of woman, ox, and dog finally arrived at the Youming Sea.」

From afar, the black expanse of the sea was vast and turbulent, like an ocean at the world's end connecting to the depths of hell, emanating a terrifying aura.

Even before stepping into it, they saw traces of battle on its outskirts.

Guang Xiaoyu's expression shifted.

MOO!

Lao Huang the ox bellowed.

Hei, the little black dog, also barked, WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! incessantly.

She gazed for a long moment before entering the Youming Sea.

Soon after, she found more battle traces on an island. The blood on the ground had already congealed, indicating the fighting had occurred several days prior.

Guang Xiaoyu felt a surge of anxiety as she ventured deeper.

「Half a month later...」

She arrived at a very large island. In the distance, monstrous waves crashed against the shore with tremendous force, and countless powerful Demon Beasts surfaced from the sea only to submerge again.

Lao Huang the ox stood guard by her side.

She looked utterly dejected, staring into the depths of the Youming Sea. She had clearly lost her bearings and found no trace of her Senior Brother.

"Senior Brother!" Guang Xiaoyu called out loudly.

Only the whistling of the cold wind answered her.

Damn it! Why did it turn out like this? I knew there was something wrong, I had already sensed the danger; why didn't I stop Senior Brother? The Sacred Land…

Guang Xiaoyu's gaze was profound, filled not with sorrow, but with intense anger.

She firmly believed her Senior Brother was not dead. He is no ordinary person; surrounded by so many Spiritual Beasts, he surely has Heaven's protection. Exactly.

Time flowed on, and it was impossible to tell how long had passed.

Guang Xiaoyu gradually became lost in the Youming Sea.

...

「Two years passed.」

Numerous geniuses, one after another, ascended to the Divine King Realm.

Peerless geniuses like Liu Changqing, the Saintess, the Saint Heir, Alan, and Diwu Qingrou far surpassed their contemporaries, all standing at the late stage of the Divine King Realm.

The Moon God remained as enigmatic as ever, never making a move. No one knew what realm she had reached; her depths were like a bottomless abyss.

Prince Zhou Wu of the Great Zhou Dynasty broke through to the Fifth Heaven of the Divine King Realm, joining the ranks of peerless geniuses.

Liu Yuhui of the Luminous Sword Sect also broke through to the late stage of the King Tao Realm.

Zhou Boyi underwent a profound transformation, as if awakening from a dream, and returned to his peak state. The confidence blazing in his eyes astonished many.

The remaining experts of the Bai Family had gone into seclusion.

Chong Tower made several attempts to kill Princess Zi Ji. Unfortunately for him, she never left the palace and was protected by powerful experts, so all assassination attempts ended in failure.

Chen Pingping's story seemed to be no longer mentioned, as if he had been forgotten by history.

But deep within the palace, Princess Zi Ji had not forgotten.

As her cultivation deepened with each passing day, memories flooded back to her—memories not only of Reincarnation but also of her past self in the Netherworld.

A young palace maid approached. "Your Highness, it's time to eat."

"Is there any news of my Senior Brother?" Princess Zi Ji asked.

"There is none, Your Highness!" the little palace maid replied softly.

In truth, the maid had not inquired, nor did she possess the means to leave the palace.

For the past two years, the Emperor's health had deteriorated daily. It seemed it wouldn't be long before he was bedridden.

The struggle among the five princes had grown more intense, its tendrils reaching even into the depths of the palace.

She was certain that if Princess Zi Ji were to leave this small courtyard, countless powerful enemies would descend to kill her.

Thus, every time the young palace maid entered this courtyard, she was filled with trepidation.