Midsummer had arrived, and the rain began to fall more frequently in Changyue Mansion.

The drizzle, not knowing when, turned into a downpour, soaking the mountains and rivers, and erasing the bamboo forests. Between the bamboos, the deer cried softly, their calls clear and empty.

The rain pattered on the pond, and beneath it, the sound of water droplets was melodious and pleasing to the ear.

Like a song, like a lament.

Su Huanian slowly awoke, her arms still around Su He’s neck, and upon opening her eyes, she was met with Su He’s smiling gaze. The fairy’s cheeks flushed red, but she did not shy away, gently touching Su He’s dark scales and whispered, “Thank you.”

Su He didn’t know what she was thanking him for, but he was happy nonetheless.

He nuzzled his head against her, tightening his embrace a little more.

The fairy smiled gently, her cheek resting against Su He’s scales. Neither of them moved, just quietly listening to the rain hitting the pond, the lotus leaves on the water’s surface unable to bear the weight, snapping with a sound.

After an unknown amount of time, an anxious voice of a mermaid came from the shore: “Miss, you must not trespass into Xuanshuang Pond; it is the master and madam’s residence.”

Little Girl had arrived.

Su Huanian’s face turned slightly red, trying to struggle out of Su He’s embrace, but he held her even tighter. Her entire body was forced against Su He, her firm body pressing against the turtle scales, almost bursting through her clothes.

This Turtle was doing it on purpose! Su Huanian’s face grew redder.

Then, a thunderclap sounded in the sky, crack! A bolt of lightning struck Autumn Lake in Changyue Mansion. Outside the pond, Little Girl looked up at the sky, her face angry: “Scaring me! You think you’re the only one who can summon thunder?”

She shouted, throwing a punch, and a bolt of lightning shot up into the clouds, exploding amidst the dark clouds, illuminating the entire world.

Beneath the pond, the shadows of Su He and Su Huanian stretched long, swaying slightly with the ripples of Xuanshuang Pond.

“It’s alright, Little Girl is coming down!” Su Huanian murmured, struggling out of Su He’s embrace. She straightened her disheveled clothes, gave Su He a glare with her face still flushed, and leaped up to the water’s surface.

Her clothes dried instantly upon leaving the water. Just then, Little Girl came running in, waving her little fists. Her little red clothes were a magical treasure impervious to water and fire, not wet from the rain, but her hair was drenched and sticking to her face.

Su Huanian shook her head and chuckled, tapping Little Girl’s head lightly, and the rain naturally parted.

“What’s the rush?”

Little Girl glared with her amber eyes, tilting her head with a happy face, circling around Su Huanian a few times, blinking: “Eh? Isn’t Little Brother born yet?”

Mermaids had already run in, hurriedly pulling Little Girl aside, muttering softly: “Miss, it won’t be so fast, at least it takes ten months of pregnancy, and if it’s a Dragon Turtle, it will take even longer.”

Su Huanian’s face turned crimson in an instant. Su He, who was about to emerge from the water, blinked. This little mermaid must be inexperienced; how could such a huge Dragon Turtle be possible?

At the very least, it would require transformation into human form, or Su Huanian to cultivate a turtle body!

Little Girl nodded thoughtfully, then turned to look at Su He in the water, excitedly saying: “Daddy! Let’s go out and play!”

She had been in Changyue Mansion for half a year already, and there were too few people here, only camels could play with her.

The mermaids were overly cautious around her, not daring to do anything. Even more so than her former Qingyuan Sect fellow disciples.

Su He broke through the water, rubbing her head with his snake tail: “Wait until your realm is stable and your mother’s injuries are much better, then we’ll go out and play.”

Little Girl pouted: “Alright then—I want to eat big shrimp!”

“Okay!” Su He laughed. Among the treasures sent by Qinglei yesterday, there was a fishing rod that could pierce through the void to fish.

The shrimp that the little one wanted to eat were not ordinary big shrimp.

Let alone ordinary shrimp, even the Exotic Beast big shrimp of the Mysterious Moon realm, if given to Little Girl now, Qinglei would come with a whip to lash at Su He.

Just hatched, it was the best time to consolidate the realm and enhance potential, feeding Little Girl those miscellaneous things would get him beaten.

Little Girl cheered and jumped onto Su He’s back.

The toad had already come through the void, placing down a fishing rod, then hurriedly teleported away.

What a loss! A big loss!

Qinglei had brought a pile of treasures yesterday, just casually thrown on the cliff, and it had been lulled to sleep by Su He’s Dao rhythm for a whole night, only waking up when the sky was bright.

So many treasures, several of which should be specially preserved, couldn’t be left scattered like this!

A bunch of prodigals!

The toad dropped the fishing rod and ran away, returning to the cliff. The green bird was chirping in the tree, the toad glanced at it, a face of helplessness.

How did such a fairy like Su Huanian end up with such a spirit beast? Empty-headed, not even recognizing all these treasures!

The toad jumped into the pile of treasures, sorting them out one by one. Those that needed to be solidified for storage were put into its belly pocket. Those that could be stored in the treasure vault were also temporarily put into its own pocket, waiting for the couple to think of building a treasure vault before putting them in.

Su He sacrificed and refined the fishing rod, and Little Girl jumped onto his turtle shell and sprawled out on the spirit snake’s body.

She was going to eat fresh shrimp again, very happy.

After the sacrifice and refinement were completed, Su He leaped up to the great lake. The mermaids had already prepared the bait, casting the rod, throwing the line, the hook piercing through space, probing into the unknown.

Su He’s Divine Sense followed the fishing line, reaching a water area that was not very large, only a hundred miles around. There were three fishing rods around the lake, including Su He’s.

The three anglers did not disturb each other, each fishing in their own corner.

But the lake was clear and devoid of fish and shrimp.

Su He was extremely patient, casting the fishing rod and waiting quietly, his mind reviewing last night’s insights into the Basalt constellation.

In the garden, Su Huanian watched Su He in the sky and Little Girl rolling on his back, smiling sweetly. She turned to the mermaid beside her and said, “Could I trouble you all to help me with something?”

The mermaid was flattered: “Madam, please command us.”

Su Huanian smiled: “Could you build a water palace under Autumn Lake?”

The pond here was too small; Su He could barely move around below, and his claws would reach the shore with a slight stroke of water.

The Dragon Turtle needed a lot of space.

The mermaid bowed and said, “Please wait a moment, madam. I am not skilled in formations and construction, I will go ask the priestess. Whatever madam requires, the priestess will surely fulfill.”

“Thank you.” Su Huanian nodded lightly. The little mermaid quickly left, scurrying out of Changyue Mansion back to the small world to find Long Min.

Little Girl rolled around waiting for the result. Bored, she plunged into her own Autumn Lake with a splash, transforming into a Dragon Turtle body, chasing fish and shrimp.

After all, a Dragon Turtle is a turtle, no matter the attribute, mastering some degree of water control is instinctual. It’s just that some like water, and some do not.

Su He looked down to see Little Girl chasing a grass turtle all over the lake, the grass turtle frantically paddling in panic. Little Girl chased after it: “Hey hey! I’ve been feeding you for so long, and you run when you see me?”

Su He’s face was full of black lines, he flicked the fishing rod, and the fishing line wrapped around Little Girl, pulling her back. The little Dragon Turtle was hung in front of him, still flailing and crying out.

“Don’t mess around!” Su He tapped her shell: “It hasn’t seen your turtle body, don’t scare it.”

By rights, Little Girl should be calling this one grandma!

The little Dragon Turtle grumbled, and with a flick of Su He’s rod, she fell back into the lake.

This cast took four or five hours before a shrimp took the bait. Su He’s mind moved, and the fishing rod floating in mid-air was flicked back, a golden shrimp not smaller than Little Girl was flung back. It landed right on the little Dragon Turtle’s back.

Little Girl turned to Su He and bared her teeth, but seeing the big shrimp, she immediately stopped making faces, biting into the shrimp and paddling towards the shore.

Mermaids were already chasing after her with lotus leaves.

Now a Dragon Turtle, how could she eat in the muddy shore?

Su He reeled in the rod and returned to the garden. The sky had darkened once again. For cultivators, a day was indeed too short…

Even several days, several decades, were still too short!

Especially with a fairy by one’s side.

At night, silently reciting the Tao Te Ching, and then joining hands with the fairy to comprehend the constellations. During the day, he would accompany her in the water to heal her injuries. Occasionally, his consciousness would enter Qianjiang to manage his own amusement park.

It’s rare to have a few decades of leisure life.

The mermaids were quick to act, and the water palace under Autumn Lake was built in just two months. This was still because they needed to dredge and lay the foundation for Autumn Lake. Otherwise, it could have been faster.

However, this water palace was just an ordinary one, without formations or anything special. The only thing related to cultivators was the Spirit Talismans carved on the bricks and stones, ensuring that the water palace would not be overgrown with aquatic plants and would not rot. This was a skill the mermaids were good at.

Leaves turned yellow and fell, scattering on the lake water, adding a different charm.

Su He sank to the bottom of the lake, with Su Huanian by his side, leaning against the turtle shell as Su He encircled her, watching the starry sky above through the water.

The autumn air was crisp, the stars brilliant. It was rare for Su He not to contemplate the constellations.

Little Girl had gone to sleep early, growing rapidly and sleeping very punctually every day.

When the moon was high in the sky, a mermaid quietly dived in, bowing from a distance to the two: “Master, madam. There is someone outside asking to see you, claiming to be the new Sect Leader of Qingyuan.”

Su Huanian turned to look at Su He: “It’s Junior Brother Xia.”

Changyue Mansion was jointly refined by her and Su He; before Xia Dali even knocked on the gatehouse, they had already noticed.

“Let’s go see!” Su He said, hooking his claw to lift Su Huanian onto the turtle shell, his four claws gently parting the water, already on the lake surface.

A mermaid led Xia Dali over. The short and chubby figure in Su He’s memory had gotten even chubbier! It seemed that being a Sect Leader came with good meals.

“Sister!” Xia Dali hurried over in three steps, bowing to Su Huanian, then smiling at Su He: “Junior Brother!”

Calling him Junior Brother felt a bit strange. The little turtle from back then had grown into a huge creature, its presence almost suffocating him.

Only Sister Su, with her high cultivation level, could stand before him…

???

Xia Dali was astonished; he hadn’t noticed before, but now he saw that Su Huanian was too close to the Dragon Turtle. She had far exceeded the distance that should exist between a sister and brother!

Sister… wasn’t thinking of keeping the Dragon Turtle as a pet, was she? A terrifying thought emerged in Xia Dali’s mind, and his breathing became heavier.

But at that moment, a long chant came from beneath Autumn Lake, and a small Dragon Turtle broke through the water, landing on the surface and transforming into Little Girl, excitedly running towards Su He and Su Huanian.

“Daddy! Mommy! My realm bead is no longer trembling, my realm is stable, let’s go out and play!”

She ran over, bumping into Su He’s shoulder, her head against Su He, extremely excited: “Daddy, daddy! My realm is stable! Isn’t Little Girl amazing?”

“…Daddy?”

Xia Dali’s eyes nearly popped out.

Beside him, Su Huanian smiled sweetly, saying to Xia Dali: “Long time no see, Junior Brother.” She gently held onto Su He’s shell and said with ease: “My husband.”

Since she had made up her mind, Su Huanian was not afraid of worldly views. With a beloved husband, she was willing for the whole world to know!

Crack!

Xia Dali felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his mind, completely dumbfounded. He licked his lips, looking at Su He and then at Su Huanian. Suddenly, he felt sorry for the disciples of the sect.

At some point, rumors had spread within Qingyuan Sect, saying that the Dragon Turtle had murdered and usurped the wife, killing the previous Sect Leader and taking his wife and daughter.

Even worse, there were rumors that the Sect Leader’s wife had an affair with the Dragon Turtle, and that Little Girl was not her biological child, but a transformed Dragon Turtle. The three of them conspired to kill Feng Sect Leader to seize the foundation of Qingyuan.

Xia Dali had dealt with the sect for this, and many who were thrown into the Suppression Prison to face the wall were countless.

And now… it turns out they weren’t slandering good people?

“I always feel like he’s thinking something very impolite. Let’s kill him and find another Sect Leader for Qingyuan!” Su He said ominously.

Su Huanian chuckled lightly.

Xia Dali immediately came to his senses, his face changing dramatically: “Junior Brother… No! Brother-in-law, you can’t do this to me!”

It was just initial shock.

When Su Huanian returned to the sect with Little Girl, he was one of those in the know! After a great battle in Qingyuan, Feng Yiju took Little Girl’s origin, and he wasn’t blind.

Su Huanian stood at the Two Realms Battlefield, fighting Feng Yiju for a long time to snatch back the origin, and the whole Qingyuan knew about it.

Moreover—Little Girl had called Feng Yiju father for sixty years, but Su Huanian had never called him husband.

Today, upon meeting, she told him that the Dragon Turtle Junior Brother was her husband, which meant she truly acknowledged him from the bottom of her heart!

He and Su Huanian were of similar age, almost growing up together. He was genuinely happy for Su Huanian finding a good husband. It was just a joke, and he stepped back two steps, solemnly bowing to Su He:

“Brother-in-law!”

Su He laughed heartily, his claw waving and a pile of spirit stones falling into Xia Dali’s arms.

A fee for changing his address!

Xia Dali’s face immediately became very colorful, looking at Su He: “Brother-in-law, if you’re rewarding… can I take those Great Ming King statues back with me?”

With Feng Yiju dead, the eight Great Ming King statues naturally fell into Su He’s hands.

Xia Dali looked conflicted, not sure if Qingyuan Sect had advanced or fallen behind. Clearly monopolizing Dongyun, yet plagued with problems. The Formless Sword Sect could be set aside for now, he had plenty of means to subdue them. But the Two Realms Battlefield was right there, and he had to be cautious.

But Qingyuan currently lacked a Traverse Heaven realm!Feng Yiju perished, and Su Huanian, along with Su He, relocated to the outskirts. The Two Realms Battlefield loomed over Qingyuan Sect like a dark cloud, with the threat of a thunderbolt strike at any moment.

Su Huanian remained silent. After a moment of contemplation, Su He shook his head, “That thing is no good. Ge Hong and the others have their souls fused into the Great Bright King Demon Statues. If possible, I will find a way to extract their souls. But if the Two Realms Battlefield is shattered a few more times, there will be no more chances.”

Regardless of Feng Yiju’s moral character.

Ge Hong and Yu Yue were genuinely good-hearted. Upon realizing they had consumed the essence of YaYa, they did not hesitate to sever their own essence.

The one who had propped Su He on his head to fight, Su He did not dislike. If there was a chance, he would like to save him.

After some thought, Su He spat out a Mountain God Seal, which he condensed to the size of a fist, shimmering with golden light, and handed it to Xia Dali, “Take this seal to Xuantian Sect and negotiate with the Xuantian Sect Master to have Xuantian Sect Traverse Heaven into the Traverse Heaven Battlefield. Qingyuan Sect will only need to guard the Subdue Demons Battlefield.”

If virtue does not match one’s position, chaos will ensue. Qingyuan Sect lacked the power to guard the Traverse Heaven Battlefield. Even Su He himself was not qualified. The Traverse Heaven of the Fenghuang Great World was not to be trifled with. If beings of the fourth, fifth, or sixth layer of Traverse Heaven were to invade the Traverse Heaven Battlefield, Su He would be helpless!

Such beings could not be resisted by the mere eight Great Bright King Demon Statues.

Since it could not be defended, it might as well be handed over.

Seeing Xia Dali’s hesitation, Su He smiled, “Don’t worry, Yin Yuan is cunning and shrewd. He won’t allow them to act recklessly. If they are sent to guard the Traverse Heaven Battlefield, they will only guard it and not cause any trouble.”

In the eyes of Xuantian Sect, Dongyun Mountain was not Qingyuan Sect’s, but Su He’s. Since Xia Dali was holding Su He’s Mountain God Seal for help, it meant he was guarding the Traverse Heaven Battlefield on behalf of Su He, and would not act out of line.

Xia Dali nodded, “Alright!” He took the Mountain God Seal and tucked it into his chest. As soon as he grasped the seal, it felt as heavy as a thousand jun, smashing him to the ground with a thunderous crash.

Xia Dali, with his body bent, looked up at Su He in confusion, “Junior Brother, are you trying to show me who’s boss?”

Su He had forgotten to remove the various effects from the Mountain God Seal!

With an apologetic sound, Su He willed the suppressive and colliding effects on the Mountain God Seal to retract, and it became a mere dice bearing only his aura.

YaYa crawled out from Su He’s embrace, giggling at Xia Dali, “Uncle Xia, wouldn’t you prefer to use mine? I have a Mountain God Seal too.”

She transformed into a Dragon Turtle, and with a puff, a small Mountain God Seal the size of a green bean shot out of her mouth, piercing the ground and disappearing into the unknown. Her Mountain God Seal was not yet fully formed.

Xia Dali: “…”

So it wasn’t about showing dominance! Even little YaYa was threatening him! If that strike had suddenly hit his forehead, he really wasn’t confident he could dodge it perfectly!

Xia Dali shook his head, looking at Su Huanian, “Senior Uncle Qiao said that Junior Sister took Green Snake as a Junior Sister disciple on behalf of the Master. I have another matter to discuss. The Qingyuan Grand Ceremony has been delayed for two or three years and should be held now. During the ceremony, we will be taking in disciples. Should we have Junior Sister Green Snake return to pay respects to her Master?”

Even if it was just a token position, the ceremony should be observed.

In fact, the Qingyuan Grand Ceremony should have taken place in the second year after Su He became a disciple, but at that time, Feng Yiju had just been beaten by Su Huanian. One was guarding Qingyuan, the other a small world. There was no opportunity for the ceremony.

Su Huanian agreed, “Send a flying sword message before the ceremony, and I will bring Junior Sister back.”

“Great!” Xia Dali’s face showed joy, “Then it’s settled!” With Su Huanian and Su He at Qingyuan Sect, it was like having two reassurances.

Xia Dali bowed, “Junior Sister, Junior Brother. I shall not linger, the Two Realms Battlefield is already suffocating Qingyuan Sect. I will make a trip to Xuantian Sect now. I won’t delay the newlyweds. Once I return and Qingyuan Sect’s affairs are stable, I will come to bother Junior Sister again.”

As he spoke, he took out a Qiankun pouch and presented it.

How could he come to ask for the Great Bright King Demon Statues without bringing a gift?

Su Huanian shook her head, “I can guess the state of Qingyuan Sect. Keep the items within the sect.”

She and Su He were not lacking in wealth now. They had retrieved a treasury from a previous life and had yet to touch it. The treasures sent by Qing Lei were still gathering dust at the toad’s place.

Only in Changyue Mansion did they have more money than places to spend it.

“Then…” Xia Dali gave a wry smile and took back the Qiankun pouch, “Then Junior Brother is being stingy. Right now, the sect indeed needs these things more.”

He was indeed a bachelor!

Smiling, he patted YaYa’s head and took out another small pouch to give to her. This time, Su Huanian did not refuse.

YaYa smiled, “Uncle Xia, are you leaving?”

Xia Dali nodded, and she immediately turned to Su He, “Daddy, you promised that once my realm is stable and Mother’s injuries are much better, we would go out to play. Let’s go together!”

Su He looked at Su Huanian, who nodded slightly. YaYa cheered.

However, Xia Dali shook his head, patting YaYa’s head, “Uncle Xia won’t be joining you. I have many things to do.” He crouched down and tickled YaYa’s nose, “Uncle Xia has raised many Beast Pets. I’ll send a beautiful one to YaYa later.”

Xia Dali was not foolish. What was he to do accompanying a family of three on their outing?