Wang Mu was mounted on Ao Qing, the battlelust in his body subsiding only slightly, but not by much.

Ao Qing's strength still wasn't sufficient; a Cultivator in the Divinity Transformation Realm couldn't hold out for long at all. My body is just too strong right now, Wang Mu thought helplessly. It wasn't her fault, it was mine.

Should I pull off her Dragon's Horn...?

Within his pitch-black eyes, a terrifying ferocity lay deeply concealed. Wang Mu took a deep breath. The black flames enveloping his body—a manifestation of the fusion between his Nascent Fire and the Infinite Demon Body—were terrifying to behold.

"Let me go..."

The fury in Ao Qing's roar abruptly ceased, as if she had seen something.

I'd like to let you go too, Wang Mu thought, but right now, the Demon Body wants to kill you.

"The Great Immortal is out of seclusion!"

Just then, Little Jiao Huo's voice rang out loudly.

Wang Mu's spirit stirred. An almost instinctual thought emerged from his Primordial Spirit, instantly taking control of his body. He immediately released his grip, letting go of Ao Qing's dragon tail and Dragon's Horn, then shot into the sky and slowly turned his head...

He had been so focused on the battle that he hadn't noticed until now...

He saw a silent face.

Her eyes were filled with confusion... mingled with a trace of anger... but the instant Wang Mu turned, it all vanished.

Thus, what Wang Mu saw was a brilliantly smiling face.

"..." Wang Mu.

"You haven't been here for years..." the figure said with a gentle smile. "How come as soon as you arrive, you're picking on my disciples?"

Wang Mu looked into her pale-blue eyes, which were serene with a hint of joy.

The Great Immortal was just as he remembered: dressed in a flowing blue gown, in her true human form, she floated quietly in mid-air, possessing a depth akin to the ocean itself.

Like the ocean, she could embrace all things.

And like the ocean, she could capsize everything.

"Look at you..." The Great Immortal pursed her lips. She lightly waved her hand, and a pale blue radiance enveloped Ao Qing, rapidly healing her injuries as if she had never been harmed. Flying toward Wang Mu, she asked, "Are you cultivating a Demon Way Technique? Planning to cultivate the Divine Demon Body?"

Wang Mu silently nodded.

"Demon Way Techniques aren't so easy to cultivate, are they?" The Great Immortal glanced at Ao Qing. "If I had come out any later, would you have killed my disciple?"

Wang Mu thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Oh?" The Great Immortal blinked and said nonchalantly, "Then you just wanted to ride her?"

"..." Ao Qing.

"..." Wang Mu.

Ao Qing flew into the air and hurriedly explained, "Great Immortal, he was consumed by his demonic nature just now, out of control... I intended to subdue him... but I didn't expect..."

I didn't expect him to be so strong.

How many years has it been?

Back then, he was just a fledgling Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator, and now even I, a True Dragon in the Divinity Transformation Realm, am no match for him...

The Great Immortal maintained her smile, her expression unreadable as to whether she believed Ao Qing or not.

"Come with me to Bi You Palace." The Great Immortal turned and vanished in an instant.

Wang Mu didn't want to go. No, I do want to go, he thought. It's just that my body refuses. The Infinite Demon Body has a natural emergency aversion to overwhelmingly powerful beings, making me want to bolt right now.

So, without a second word, he turned to leave.

The Great Immortal turned back, paused... then, with a wave of her hand, the Primordial Mystic Divine Lock bound Wang Mu tightly.

The methods of an Ascension Expert were truly different.

Wang Mu felt his entire body, even his Primordial Spirit, completely sealed. It was entirely different from before, when he could struggle free.

Holding the Primordial Mystic Divine Lock in one hand, the Great Immortal led Wang Mu into Bi You Palace.

Nearby, Ao Qing buried her head, feeling somewhat ashamed.

Shortly after, Little Xi came over. She jumped down from the Immortal Cloud Kun onto Ao Qing's back and patted Ao Qing's head to comfort her, "It's okay, Sister. It was just Wang Mu riding you that one time, right?"

"Grandma says that as we journey through this world, we must experience many things to understand it better."

"Sister Ao Qing, this is your first time being ridden by someone. Just think of it as an experience."

"Take me, for example. After Wang Mu caught me, I gradually learned to catch other fish."

Little Xi said with an air of profound understanding, "You were ridden by Wang Mu. Maybe in the future, you'll be able to ride someone else."

"..." Ao Qing.

Ao Qing, who had been feeling a whirlwind of embarrassment, shame, and confusion, almost choked and plummeted from the sky upon hearing those words. She considered scolding the little girl for a long moment, but ultimately couldn't find the words.

"Look..." Little Xi pointed at Bi You Palace. "The Great Immortal dragged Wang Mu back... She's definitely going to teach him a lesson..."

"Hmm... I hope Wang Mu will be alright."

Ao Qing was startled. That's right, living on Sealing God Mountain, it was rare to see the Great Immortal take action. The Great Immortal personally intervened just now, binding Wang Mu and taking him into Bi You Palace. How will she punish him?

At this thought, Ao Qing's heart lurched as she recalled the glance the Great Immortal had given her before entering: The Great Immortal wouldn't cripple him, would she?

BANG!

The great doors of Bi You Palace closed tightly.

"SOB, SOB..."

The moment the doors closed, the Great Immortal turned, released the chains, and rushed towards Wang Mu, who was behind her, throwing herself onto him.

"You big jerk!"

Miss You hammered a fist against Wang Mu's chest.

That punch packed some power; it almost pierced right through my Infinite Demon Body, he thought, coughing violently.

"It's been years!" Miss You struck him again and again. "Since you left Bi You Palace, you haven't come back once! Even though I was in seclusion, you really didn't visit even a single time?"