The figure gradually became clear.
"White Emperor!"
The Desolate Ancient Soul Devouring Toad cried out in alarm.
Could the Netherworld Flower truly fulfill all wishes, even bringing back those who had turned to ashes?
Then, it was so enraged that its heart ached. If it had successfully made its wish just now, wouldn't it have been invincible throughout the myriad worlds, the master of all?
It glared at Ji Mo, growing angrier the more it thought about it. This foolish human, by not making a wish himself and by stopping it, was truly unforgivable.
Over there, Huineng and Fan Jingxing were incredibly excited to see the figure appear. This was the guardian god of the Xuanling Realm's human race, the White Emperor, brought back to life by Mr. Ji.
Mr. Ji, you're amazing!
"So Mr. Ji isn't the White Emperor. I was wrong, I deserve to die!"
Hong Qiantu was filled with remorse. Suddenly, he shouted, "Hit me harder! Why did you stop? Hit me with all your might, beat me to death."
Huineng and Fan Jingxing had been holding back, but they hadn't expected Hong Qiantu to have such a peculiar preference. A chill ran down their spines, and then they truly stopped holding back, striking with all their might.
Immediately, Hong Qiantu wailed like a ghost.
But a look of excitement appeared on his face. The worse he was beaten, the happier Mr. Ji would surely be, and perhaps he would be forgiven.
"You've come!"
The figure, who was suspected to be the White Emperor, wore a gentle smile and greeted Ji Mo like an old friend.
He gazed at Ji Mo, showing a look of relief.
This time, Ji Mo was stunned.
What was going on? The White Emperor knew him?
How was this possible?
"Do we know each other?" Ji Mo asked, confused.
"From now on... the human race... will be protected by you..."
The White Emperor's figure slowly dissipated, transforming back into points of light and vanishing into the heavens and earth.
Only Ji Mo saw a cluster of light, enveloping a wisp of soul energy, sink into the ground.
The jade flute in Ji Mo's hand let out a mournful cry, playing a song of farewell, its sorrowful notes filled with endless desolation.
The jade flute was clearly sentient, bidding farewell to its former master.
Seeing the White Emperor appear and then disappear, the Desolate Ancient Soul Devouring Toad was also bewildered.
Was this the wish fulfilled by the Netherworld Flower, merely to have the White Emperor reappear for a moment?
And what was Ji Mo's origin, to be acquainted with the White Emperor? He should be an old master of the human race, yet why had it never seen him before?
This was truly too bizarre!
The White Emperor's final words made the Desolate Ancient Soul Devouring Toad tremble with fear. Was Ji Mo the new protector of the human race?
"The human race will be protected by me? What nonsense! I'm just an ordinary mortal, how can I protect anything?"
Ji Mo really wanted to say that he had entrusted the wrong person, but there was no longer an opportunity. The White Emperor had already vanished.
"You dedicated your life to protecting the human race. If there is truly reincarnation in this world, may you find rebirth, and in your next life, may you be protected by a wise person, and live a life of peace and joy."
Ji Mo felt deeply moved and silently bid farewell to the White Emperor.
Just then, Hong Qiantu's pig-like screams reached his ears, instantly making him feel extremely annoyed.
"Forget it, if you beat him any longer, he'll die."
He quickly told Huineng and Fan Jingxing to stop.
How could a monk and a poor scholar be so cruel, beating someone to death?
Look at Hong Qiantu, his head was bleeding, and he was beaten so badly that his own mother wouldn't recognize him.
"Mr. Ji has finally forgiven me."
Hong Qiantu was ecstatic and immediately knelt down to kowtow to Ji Mo.
Ji Mo had asked him to die before, and now he said to let it go, which meant his life was saved.
As the White Emperor disappeared, the ruins began to shake again, cracks spreading across the ground, and Toad Mountain also started to collapse.
Death, once again, loomed over everyone.
And at this moment, the jade flute emitted a faint halo.
Suddenly, several gateways of light appeared in various locations around Toad Mountain.
Without hesitation, everyone rushed into the gateways.
Ji Mo and the others also quickly entered the gateways. When they opened their eyes again, they were already in front of the stone gate from before.
The surviving cultivators kept appearing, and upon seeing Ji Mo, their faces were filled with gratitude, and they bowed deeply.
If it weren't for Ji Mo's rescue, they would have all perished in the ruins.
Before long, the stone gate shattered on its own, turning into a pile of sand.
This ruin, along with the disappearance of the White Emperor, was completely destroyed.
Ji Mo looked at the hundreds of cultivators bowing to him, utterly bewildered.
"The White Emperor's ruins have disappeared. Everyone, please disperse. Don't cause any more trouble here in the future."
He waved his hand at everyone, signaling them to leave.
Originally, these cultivators had intended to visit Ji Mo and thank him for saving their lives. Upon hearing his words, they believed that the esteemed master bestowed favors without seeking reward and did not wish to be disturbed.
Therefore, they bowed repeatedly and left with deep gratitude.
"Master, you always taught me that one must be grateful. This esteemed master saved our lives, and I have no way to repay him, so I will offer myself to him."
A young girl's face was flushed red, unwilling to leave, thinking of how to repay Ji Mo.
The old cultivator beside her quickly dragged her away, advising, "Ling'er, don't be foolish. You are not allowed to have such unrealistic thoughts. The esteemed master's status is noble beyond words, we cannot possibly reach it."
The girl's desire to repay the kindness was very strong, and she shouted towards Ji Mo, but was ultimately dragged away by her master.
"Old Fan, look, that girl is so cute. She keeps looking at me, does she have feelings for me?"
Ji Mo heard the commotion and looked over.
He could feel that the beautiful young girl clearly had a good impression of him, her eyes filled with affection, but she was severely reprimanded by her strict elder and then forcibly taken away.
The girl was reluctant, clearly having developed feelings for him!
"Alas, in this materialistic and corrupt society, pure emotions are ultimately defeated by reality. Old Fan, you tell me, without money or power, can I find a wife?"
Ji Mo sighed with emotion, returning to his room with immense disappointment.
He assumed that the girl's elder looked down on him and was breaking them up.
He couldn't blame them, who asked him to be poor.
Fan Jingxing looked at Huineng, his face full of confusion, hoping to know if Ji Mo had any hidden meaning.
Huineng scratched his bald head, pondering, and said uncertainly, "Mr. Ji, could he be missing women?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Would Mr. Ji lack women?"
Hong Qiantu, standing nearby, immediately retorted, disagreeing with this speculation. An esteemed master wouldn't be so shallow.
The three fell into deep thought, all believing Ji Mo had a hidden meaning, but they couldn't figure it out.
"I understand now."
Huineng suddenly slapped his forehead and analyzed, "Old Fan, didn't the Duan family break up you and Miss Duan back then because of your low birth? Mr. Ji is clearly hinting that you shouldn't fear power and should bravely pursue love."
"Mr. Ji, I didn't expect you to still be concerned about my lifelong happiness. I will go to the Duan family to propose and marry Miss Duan."
Fan Jingxing's eyes welled up with tears, filled with gratitude.
Hong Qiantu said righteously, "Old Fan, I'll accompany you. If the Duan family is ungrateful, I'll help you snatch the bride."
The two immediately set off for the Duan family.