Xiao Meng and Xiao Ai had gotten acquainted, but their interactions felt rather subtle.
Xiao Meng leaned towards being introverted, or perhaps naive.
Xiao Ai, on the other hand, was the lively sort. Their personalities destined their interactions to be peculiar.
However, Ye Yun didn't dwell on it. He figured their relationship would naturally deepen with more time spent together.
At this moment, he had something important to do.
"Miss Ning, I saw the City Lord from before. He asked me to relay a message to you."
Upon hearing this, Ning Qianqin's eyes rippled, and she immediately asked,
"What did he say?"
Clearly, even after so much time had passed, she still held a grudge against him.
Ye Yun took a deep breath and tried his best to replicate the tone he had heard before.
"Qianqin, you've worked hard all these years, guarding the entrance to the Divine City for me. Thank you for all you've done. To have won your favor in this life is my honor."
While speaking such heartfelt words, Ye Yun felt a touch of helplessness.
He really wanted to slap that guy's face – no, his handsome face.
He was stubborn as a block of wood before his death, but his emotional intelligence seemed to have improved so much after so long. What a cruel fate…
"Miss Ning, those were his exact words."
"..."
Ning Qianqin fell silent, her emotions unreadable.
However, Ye Yun continued earnestly,
"Miss Ning, please rest assured. From now on, I will find a way to obtain another divine spark and reshape your divine body, thus returning your freedom."
Due to her previous resistance to the power of reincarnation, Ning Qianqin had lost her divine spark and was forced to merge with the island, rendering her unable to leave.
The only way to achieve liberation was to re-fuse with a divine spark, breaking free from her ties to this place.
This could also be considered Ye Yun's way of thanking her for guarding this place for tens of thousands of years.
Ning Qianqin herself, however, seemed indifferent to this. She offered him a slight smile and said,
"Divine sparks and the like no longer matter. I am already content to have guarded this place."
This was the closest she could be to him from the past, and even if she remained here forever, she wouldn't feel bored.
Ye Yun frowned. While she said that, he couldn't bear to see her confined. At least, she deserved the ability to choose her own path.
He firmly resolved in his heart to obtain another divine spark.
At this moment, Ning Qianqin changed the subject and asked,
"Let's not talk about that. You, you know everything now, don't you? What are your plans for the remaining three years?"
Ye Yun pondered for a moment before replying,
"For now, I plan to return and make arrangements. Then, I'll head back to the Divine City to focus on breaking through to the Divine Spirit realm and the Star God level. I must withstand that attack!"
According to the projection he had seen before, a great world adjacent to theirs would launch a devastating attack on their Heavenly Domain the moment the world fusion was complete.
This meant there would be no room for negotiation; only a direct confrontation was possible.
Ning Qianqin nodded and then asked,
"And what about after you've withstood the attack?"
"Heh heh…"
Ye Yun let out a cold laugh, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"What else could it be? Since they dare to launch a destructive attack on our Heavenly Domain, they must also be prepared to be destroyed by us!"
Ning Qianqin couldn't help but smile and look at him with admiration.
"You're still as confident as ever."
"Somewhat…"
Ye Yun smiled faintly, his mind already racing.
After all, the inhabitants of the Abyss Continent still had no place to call home.
He had reservations about his own Heavenly Domain, but when it came to colonizing another great world, especially one that intended to annihilate them, he had no such qualms.
As long as he had the strength to do so, he wouldn't show any mercy!
"Alright then, time is not abundant. Hurry back and make your arrangements, then head to the Divine City to strive for the Star God level."
"Mm, I understand."
Ye Yun nodded, feeling the urgency of the situation.
Although he could rely on the system's return to gain massive amounts of cultivation, allowing him to disregard the minor realms within the Divine King level.
However, breaking through the two major realms – from peak Emperor to Divine King, and from peak Divine King to Star God – would still depend on his own fortune!
Afterward, he bid farewell to Ning Qianqin and, with Xing Wu and his two disciples, returned to Chaofeng Mountain in Xuefeng Tianzhou at the fastest possible speed.
Chaofeng Mountain, on Qingyun Peak.
Lin Xueyan and the others had been waiting impatiently. Upon learning that their master had returned safely and even brought back a new junior sister, their hearts eased.
After returning, Ye Yun introduced them.
"This is your new junior sister from now on. You can call her Xiao Ai."
After his introduction, Xiao Ai enthusiastically waved to the women and said,
"Hello, senior sisters!"
Then, Ye Yun introduced the senior sisters to her one by one.
"Xiao Ai, this is our eldest senior sister, Lin Xueyan. This is…"
He introduced them all, finally reminding with a smile,
"Pay attention, okay? This junior sister Xiao Ai is very strong, even stronger than Xiao Meng. You must get along well and avoid any friction."
Upon hearing this, the women didn't feel like they had more rivals; instead, their eyes lit up.
Fang Zhiwei, the most active, stepped forward, shook her hand, and said with a smile,
"Master, don't worry, we'll take good care of our junior sister!"
Her heart was currently filled with joy. After all, with the addition of Xiao Ai, their disciple faction had gained another formidable fighter!
This would give them more confidence when competing for their master's affection with other senior female figures in the future!
She just wondered how this junior sister Xiao Ai viewed their master…
If she also liked Master, that would be best. If not, well… then they could find a way to make her like him!
Fang Zhiwei almost marveled at her own clever mind.
Then, Ye Yun glanced at her and said,
"Zhiwei, you little rascal, don't teach her anything improper, understand?"
"Ah? Teach what? I don't understand what Master is talking about?"
Fang Zhiwei tilted her head, feigning ignorance.
Ye Yun's lips twitched slightly, and he said, exasperated,
"What do you think I'm talking about? Those books you show your senior sisters."
"Oh, that. I promise I won't let junior sister see them!"
She held up her little hand as if making an oath.
Seeing her promise, Ye Yun finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded,
"Alright, then you all get to know each other better. This master needs to convene a meeting with the other factions."
"Mm-hmm, Master, you can go with peace of mind! We'll take good care of our junior sister!"
Fang Zhiwei grinned, and Ye Yun shook his head before departing.
Time was tight, and he needed to quickly inform everyone about the matters concerning the Divine City, the Great Thousand Worlds, and subsequent arrangements.
Meanwhile, on Qingyun Peak, after Ye Yun left, Xiao Ai was curiously observing the Heavenly Domain, which she hadn't seen for tens of thousands of years.
Just then, she noticed several senior sisters quietly gathering around her.
"Uh, senior sisters, is something wrong?"