Little Zhu Yan needs to grow up quickly!

Ji Wushuang, determined to whisk Xiao Zhuyan away, unhesitatingly uprooted the entire garden of celestial blossoms and spiritual plants. So what if these treasures were prepared by Mo Lanyi? Once given to Xiao Zhuyan, they were his, and she had no qualms about taking them.

Not just the plants—the surrounding soil, water, and even the restrictive barrier—everything was packed up without exception.

However, there was one problem: her spatial storage wasn't nearly large enough to hold it all.

At this moment, the usually quiet Xiao Zhuyan pulled out a black ring from his pocket. "I can store it here," he said softly.

Thinking it was just an ordinary storage ring, Ji Wushuang patted his head with a laugh. "That's too small."

Xiao Zhuyan puffed out his cheeks. "It's not small. This is a Xumi Ring."

A Xumi Ring, capable of holding an entire world within it—a boundless space akin to a divine tomb.

Ji Wushuang looked at him, stunned. "I didn't realize you were so wealthy."

Xiao Zhuyan's cheeks turned a faint red. "If Wushuang wants it, I'll give it to you."

Ji Wushuang waved her hand dismissively, smiling. "No need. I can't use it without spiritual energy."

Xiao Zhuyan nodded earnestly. "Then I'll give it to you when you regain your spiritual energy."

She chuckled but didn't have the heart to dampen his goodwill, so she let the matter rest.

Together, the two worked tirelessly, digging up the garden until it was stripped bare. When Ji Wushuang glanced at the boy's unsteady legs, she paused and said, "Come, I'll carry you."

Xiao Zhuyan stared at her blankly, his eyes wide with surprise.

"What, you don't like being carried? Should I hold you instead?" Ji Wushuang teased.

His ears turned crimson, but he obediently climbed onto her back, his body stiff as a board.

Ji Wushuang chuckled. "Relax, there's no need to be so tense."

But her words only made him tremble slightly, his nervousness intensifying.

Amused, she asked, "Has no one ever carried you before?"

A shadow passed over his face, and he murmured, "Someone has."

"Then why are you so nervous? Are you worried I'm too thin and might drop you? Don't worry, I won't."

Xiao Zhuyan tightened his arms gently around her neck, his gaze softening as he whispered, "Thank you."

"No need for thanks."

When they finally slipped out of the Mo family estate, the "Heavenly Rain" had ceased. Ji Wushuang asked curiously, "Was the rain your doing?"

Xiao Zhuyan nodded. "Yes, I needed it to grow… for nourishment."

With the rain gone, the spiritual energy that had briefly enriched the Mo family's grounds would soon wither, leaving the land even more barren than before.

Ji Wushuang glanced at the impossibly beautiful boy beside her and couldn't help but find him endearing—like a tender sprout needing sunlight and rain to thrive.

Suppressing her smile, she said with mock solemnity, "Alright, our little Zhuyan must grow tall and strong quickly."

Xiao Zhuyan nodded, his lips curving into a shy smile.

When they returned to the small inn, a cat and a chicken were nearly frantic with worry. But the sight of Ji Wushuang carrying a doll-like boy on her back made their eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

"Chirp chirp chirp! Little Wushuang, did you steal a person?"

"Meow! Stealing people is wrong!"

Ji Wushuang's expression darkened. "What nonsense are you two spouting? If you can't speak properly, don't speak at all!"

She rapped each of them on the head, suppressing her exasperation. "This child has lost his family. Until we find them, he'll be staying with us."

The cat and chicken breathed a collective sigh of relief. At least she wasn't a kidnapper.

Ji Wushuang examined her formation disk, noting that most of its spiritual energy had been depleted. Once it ran out, the high-grade array would become a mere scrap of metal. What a pity.

"Zhuyan's legs can't walk far. Can you two keep up?"

"Chirp chirp!" Of course!

"Meow!" Absolutely!

"Good, then let's set off."

Without waiting for dawn, Ji Wushuang set out with her two companions—and now a third—on their journey.

...

Meanwhile, Mo Lanyi, immersed in her spatial dimension, was sifting through Wu Neng's "wealth," blissfully unaware that her true treasure had already been stolen.

Wu Neng, a formidable cultivator in the Integration Stage, had amassed a staggering collection of spiritual stones, including mountains of the rarest kind.

In addition to these, there were spiritual tools, talismans, pills—an array of treasures dazzling enough to overwhelm anyone.

Even more astonishing, among his possessions was a spiritual treasure!

Mo Lanyi murmured, "No wonder they say crime pays. If I take down a few more Integration Stage cultivators, I'll never have to worry about resources again."

The ancient ghost immortal in her mind remained silent for a moment before admonishing, "This is nothing. At best, it's a single spiritual treasure. Your true goal lies in the Immortal Realm!"

Mo Lanyi smiled faintly. "Rest assured, senior. I haven't forgotten my objective."

Satisfied, the ghost immortal sighed. "Good. Focus on your cultivation. You've been distracted by too many trivial matters lately. Lu Xingzhou and Lian Yuan have been absent for a while—likely in secluded cultivation. If they build their foundations before you, you'll lose your chance to seize their fortunes."

"I understand. I'll work hard," Mo Lanyi replied obediently, though a trace of disdain flickered in her heart.

After all, she had made significant progress in recent days.

Now at the peak of the tenth level of Qi Refinement, she was confident she could reach perfection within half a year and prepare for foundation building.

Such talent outshone even those with heavenly spiritual roots, yet the ghost immortal remained overly cautious.

What was there to fear?

From childhood, Mo Lanyi had always obtained what she wanted, no matter the cost. Wu Neng was a prime example—if she couldn't win his favor, she could simply replace him.

What was there to be afraid of?

Even if Lu Xingzhou and Lian Yuan advanced ahead of her, she could still claim their fortunes after establishing her foundation.

Did they think they could escape her grasp?

Though not bound by a soul contract, the ghost immortal had watched Mo Lanyi grow up. Seeing the faint arrogance in her expression, he sighed inwardly.

Never mind. With the heavens so clearly favoring her, allowing her to vanquish even Integration Stage cultivators with ease, what could possibly harm her?

Her cultivation speed was indeed remarkable. Those two would never surpass her.

He could only hope that everything would proceed smoothly from here.