……
Seeing his overly cautious and timid demeanor, Wang Lici was even more puzzled, "I don't even know you, why are you inviting us to dinner?"
"To answer the young lady," Situ Xuejia replied respectfully and politely, "As they say, meeting is fate. Why should we need to know each other to share a meal? I merely wish to make friends with you, young lady."
"Great! I like straightforward friends like you," Wang Lici said happily, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
But before she could exert much force, Situ Xuejia let out an "ouch" and collapsed to the ground.
Wang Lici hurriedly helped him up, full of concern, "Are you okay?"
She hadn't expected his constitution to be so weak. If she accidentally injured this straightforward friend, she would feel terribly guilty.
"No problem, no problem, just a few broken bones. The young lady truly has strength beyond the ordinary," Situ Xuejia said, gasping for breath and sweating all over, yet still forcing a smile.
"Broken bones? Let me take a look." Wang Lici said, and with a few quick movements, she set his bones back in place. She then took out a bottle of ointment from her storage ring and handed it to him, "Here's some ointment, apply it later, and I guarantee you'll be as good as new in no time. From now on, you're a friend of Wang Lici."
Having traveled extensively with Lan Wan'er, she was used to dealing with injuries swiftly."I am grateful to the young lady, Wang Lici? What a tasteful name," Situ Xuejia said, smiling broadly, and quickly took the opportunity to settle the bill.
As he paid, he eagerly introduced himself, "I am a direct disciple of the Flowing Sword Sect of Yikang Academy, and my family is the third-grade Situ Clan of Yikang..."
Wang Lici took out a small notebook to jot down notes and said cheerfully, "No need to call yourself a humble person. We're friends now, you can call me Lici, and I'll call you Brother Xuejia."
Situ Xuejia was so excited that he trembled all over, as if he had been injected with adrenaline, "Being friends with Miss Lici is a blessing I've earned over three hundred lifetimes."
This meal cost him years of savings, but to establish a connection and friendship with a young lady of the Sima Clan on her travels was well worth it!
The Sima Clan was the Holy Clan of the Tianrui Holy Dynasty!
Even a slight connection was something he never dared to dream of.
After chatting for a while longer, Situ Xuejia reluctantly parted ways with Wang Lici and her companions, giving her a token from his family and repeatedly inviting her to visit Xinze Town again.
This was just a small episode. Although Wang Lici was touched by the hospitality of her new friend from another world, she didn't think much of it, attributing it to her good fortune in meeting a kind person.
However, she didn't realize this was just the beginning.
As she, Lan Wan'er, and the big mouse began their travels in the other world, similar incidents kept occurring.
Unlike her previous difficult travels to the Immortal Dynasty, here, no matter where she went, people desperately wanted to invite her to dinner.
And by desperately, it wasn't just a figure of speech... they were truly desperate!
Wang Lici witnessed several groups of people challenging each other just for the chance to invite her to dinner and make friends.
Having been taught by her first master, Yunyang, since childhood, Wang Lici naturally understood the value of having more friends. Since so many people wanted to befriend her, why fight?
Naturally, Wang Lici intervened to stop the duels, suggesting they settle it with a game of rock-paper-scissors. The winner could invite her to dinner first and be her friend first.
While doing all this, Wang Lici was deeply moved.
The exotic customs here were indeed different; people were so warm and hospitable!
She, Wang Lici, liked this place!
……
Around the same time.
Han Yue Immortal Dynasty.
Immortal Palace.
The sea of clouds was vast and boundless.
An eleventh-grade Yuan Shui Azure Dragon soared through the clouds, spiraling down towards the plaza in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate.
In the sunlight, each scale on the dragon's massive body, which was dozens of meters long, shimmered with a green-blue glow, as if carved from gemstones. Its enormous form exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure, a truly awe-inspiring sight from afar.
Most importantly, behind this Yuan Shui Azure Dragon was a seemingly modest and unassuming flying chariot.
The gatekeepers on duty were stunned.
Which big shot had come to the Immortal Palace? An eleventh-grade Azure Dragon pulling a chariot—what an impressive display.
The Yuan Shui Azure Dragon moved with incredible speed, landing in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate in just a few breaths.
As soon as the chariot came to a stop, the Yuan Shui Azure Dragon transformed into a spirited old man, announcing loudly, "Master Wang Shouzhe of the Great Gan Changning Wang's Clan has arrived. Please inform the gatekeepers."
Master Wang Shouzhe?
The gatekeeper's heart skipped a beat.
He had been instructed to report immediately if Master Wang Shouzhe arrived. Upon hearing this, he quickly responded and was about to go inside to report.
However, before he could move, a deep male voice echoed from within the Immortal Palace, "Master Wang Shouzhe, you've finally arrived."
As the words fell, a ripple of space appeared, and the portly Yuan Yuan True Monarch stepped out, appearing directly in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate.
"Shouzhe greets True Monarch," Wang Shouzhe said, disembarking from the chariot and bowing to Yuan Yuan True Monarch.
"Master Wang Shouzhe, though we meet for the first time, the current situation is special, so let's dispense with formalities," Yuan Yuan True Monarch said. He had been worrying day and night, and looked much more haggard and thin.
He anxiously pulled Wang Shouzhe aside, "You must think of a way, Lici has been missing for quite some time."
"True Monarch, don't worry," Wang Shouzhe said, his face serious but much calmer than Yuan Yuan True Monarch, "Our eldest daughter has always been blessed with good fortune. I've given her many life-saving items, and she has the help of a space law expert from the demon realm. Plus, her own strength is not weak now. I believe she should be fine."
Not to mention, the [Holy Emperor's Protection] alone was enough to ensure her safety in a crisis.
"Shouzhe's words make sense. But I'm still worried," Yuan Yuan True Monarch said, his face still clouded with concern.
"The urgent task is to extract from that otherworldly visitor how he travels between the two worlds," Wang Shouzhe said. "Then we can find a way to search for Lici in the other world."
"Shouzhe, that young man is so confident in his background that he's completely unyielding. No matter how we question him, he refuses to speak," Yuan Yuan True Monarch said indignantly. "I say we should press him hard. I don't believe he can withstand it."
"True Monarch, don't worry. I'll go meet that Sima Wuyou first."
Just as Wang Shouzhe finished speaking, he sensed another Lingxu Realm aura approaching from the clouds above the Ascending to Immortality Gate.
Following that aura were nine Divine Realm auras.
Everyone looked up.
Through the thick clouds, they saw a massive Dragon Whale King, dozens of meters long, leading a group of dragon whales from the distant sky.
They swam through the sea of clouds as if moving through the ocean, their fins moving gracefully, exuding an air of elegance. Yet the aura they emitted was vast and overwhelming, like the tides of the sea.
The leading Dragon Whale King was particularly striking, its raised back like a mountain casting a huge shadow on the ground, an unparalleled and impactful sight.
In terms of length alone, the Dragon Whale King was shorter than the Yuan Shui Ancestor Dragon, but its robust form was far more imposing than the slender dragon.
From afar, they could see a cabin on the Dragon Whale's back, seemingly carrying someone.
"Dragon Jingjing? How has her aura grown so much stronger in such a short time?" Wang Shouzhe was slightly surprised. "But the speed of a dragon whale in the sky shouldn't be as fast as the Yuan Shui Azure Dragon, right?"
Before he left, he had someone notify Wang Zongkun, who was still training in the demon realm. Logically, they should only be halfway here by now.
Soon, Dragon Jingjing landed on the vast plaza in front of the Ascending to Immortality Gate.
The cabin door on her back opened, and two plump maids carefully helped out a round, jade-like young boy.
The young boy was dressed in luxurious clothes, his round face adorned with sunglasses, looking every bit like a pampered young master on a tour.
"Young master, be careful not to fall."
"Young master, it's chilly at the Immortal Palace gate. Keep the 'Fire Spirit Jade' close to warm yourself."
The two maids cared for him tenderly, while the dragon whales transformed into guards, surrounding the young master protectively.
"This..." Yuan Yuan True Monarch was taken aback. "Which young master is on tour? What an impressive entourage."
Wang Shouzhe's face twitched.
He didn't know how much effort it took to restrain himself from going over and giving a beating, his gaze sharp as he looked at the young boy, "You little brat, get over here now."
"What! My... father!?"
The chubby young boy shivered all over.
Seeing Wang Shouzhe, he was as frightened as a ghost seeing the king of hell. He hurriedly pushed away the two maids, scrambling to Wang Shouzhe's side, bowing his head and greeting obediently, "Zongkun greets Father."
"Greetings, Master Wang Shouzhe," the maids and guards quickly and respectfully greeted.
"You little rascal, do you even see me as your father?" Wang Shouzhe was furious.
He had several sons, whether it was Wang Zong'an, Wang Zongrui, or the youngest Wang Zongshi, all were gentle and elegant, especially Zong'an and Zongshi, who had inherited his refined demeanor.
But Wang Zongkun, his studies were a mess, and he always acted like a second-generation rich kid. His appearance and demeanor annoyed Wang Shouzhe.
Seeing him like this, even the joy of discovering his advancement to the ninth grade was overshadowed.
"Father, I'm sorry, I won't dare again," Wang Zongkun said, shrinking his neck. Then he looked up, cautiously and pitifully at Wang Shouzhe, "How about you hit me a few times to vent your anger?"
"Hmph, you're already ninth grade, thick-skinned and tough. I can't hit you," Wang Shouzhe snorted coldly. "You haven't learned even a fraction of the responsibility and courage of our Wang Clan men, but you've mastered the airs of a spoiled young master."
"Master Wang Shouzhe," Dragon Jingjing quickly transformed into human form to plead, "You've misunderstood Kun Kun. Actually, he used the Great Space Teleportation technique to bring us all the way here. He was a bit tired for the last part, so I carried him."
"Yes, Father," Wang Zongkun quickly explained, "I was afraid you'd be anxious waiting, so I used the Great Space Teleportation technique to hurry. It was really exhausting."
"Great Space Teleportation?"
Wang Shouzhe raised an eyebrow, "That's a True Immortal technique. Just you? Even if you're a space-type Immortal Seed, you can't use it without reaching the eleventh or twelfth grade."
"Father, here's how it happened." Wang Zongkun quickly explained the situation, "I obtained an Immortal Kun Pearl, which contains powerful space laws and energy, allowing me to barely use the Great Space Teleportation technique. But it consumes a lot, and I still need Immortal Spirit Stones to replenish energy."
"Father, it's not that I don't want to endure hardship... sob~ I'm just too tired from the space teleportation."
"Alright, alright, boys shouldn't cry over a little hardship," Wang Shouzhe's expression softened slightly. "Also, stop acting like a young master being waited on. You have hands and feet, can't you do things yourself?"
"Yes, yes, Father is right," Wang Zongkun sighed in relief, smiling with dimples.
"Sunglasses."
"Yes..." Wang Zongkun obediently removed his sunglasses.
"You're aware of your sister Lici's situation, right? Go and communicate with that Kun, find out more about Sima Wuyou," Wang Shouzhe instructed. "After all, you're of the same species, it should be easier to talk."
"Mm! I'll go right away." Wang Zongkun was also quite happy.
From a young age, he had never met another Kun. Although he had Sister Jingjing, he was still very interested in other Kuns.
"Good idea, Shouzhe. I think that Yu Kun is quite reasonable," Yuan Yuan True Monarch said, summoning a disciple to lead Wang Zongkun to the task.
Once Wang Zongkun left, he invited Wang Shouzhe to meet the Immortal Sovereign, mentioning that the Immortal Emperor himself had arrived to assist in handling the matter.
The Immortal Emperor himself had arrived?
Wang Shouzhe felt a surge of warmth.
The Immortal Emperor was indeed righteous, arriving so quickly after Lici's incident.
While Wang Shouzhe went to meet the Immortal Sovereign and the Immortal Emperor, Wang Zongkun, Dragon Jingjing, and a group of dragon whale maids and guards made their way to the Immortal Palace prison.
The prison was located within the Saint Emperor Peak beneath the Immortal Palace, with layers of physical defenses and countless formation restrictions, all of the highest standard. Even True Immortal and True Demon Realm beings would find it difficult to escape.
The highest-level cells in this prison were designed to hold True Immortal and True Demon enemies.
Inside one of the isolated cells, Yu Kun, in human form, lay weakly.
Over time, her injuries had healed significantly, with no trace of the previous bruising, but she still looked listless.
There was no helping it; the space confinement formations here were incredibly powerful. After many failed attempts to break through and escape, she realized she had lost her freedom, leaving her spirit low.
A month ago, she couldn't have imagined ending up in such a situation.
And it was all Sima Wuyou's fault!
"Sima Wuyou, you fool, you got me into this mess too. Boohoo~~ If I had known, I would never have trusted you!" Yu Kun regretted deeply, her resentment towards Sima Wuyou growing by the day.
"Hello, sister."
At that moment, Wang Zongkun was brought into Yu Kun's cell. His round face broke into a pure, innocent smile.
The aura of a Kun emanated from him.
"...?"
Yu Kun shot up.
She stared at Wang Zongkun for a long time, sniffed the air, and after repeated confirmation, her eyes widened in disbelief, filled with joy, "You, you, you, you're a Kun too?"
That aura was unmistakably Kun!
"Yes, I'm the only Kun in our world. My name is Wang Zongkun. You can call me 'Zongkun,'" Wang Zongkun introduced himself happily, "I never expected to meet a Kun sister."
"Zongkun, you can call me Sister Yu Kun," Yu Kun was equally delighted.
In Yu Kun's world, while not the only Kun, their numbers were very few, and they were all familiar and supportive of each other. Newborn Kuns were especially cherished, cared for by the entire group.
Kuns, though solitary creatures, had rich feelings for their kin. Before dying, they would condense their bloodline and space power into an Immortal Kun Pearl, hoping to leave it to a destined Kun. If a lone young Kun was found by an adult, they would usually help for a time.
She never expected to meet a young Kun in this world, and she was overjoyed.
"Sister Yu Kun~" Wang Zongkun said pitifully, "You probably don't know, but the one caught in the space turbulence was my sister, Wang Lici..."
"Ah!?" Yu Kun felt guilty, her tone softening, "I'm sorry, I really didn't know. But Wang Lici's incident wasn't intentional on our part."
"It's okay, I believe you, sister. I just want to save her..." Wang Zongkun said, "Can I ask you some questions?"
"Of course, as long as it's something I know and doesn't break the rules, I'll tell you," Yu Kun felt a pang of guilt looking at Wang Zongkun's aggrieved face.
Seeing this chubby boy, she knew he was well cared for, and his family must treat him well.
After all, she knew a Kun's appetite well. To raise a Kun to this size required a lot of resources. In this world, unless they truly considered him family, they couldn't achieve this.
If they couldn't find his sister, this child would be heartbroken~
With both parties willing, the questioning process went smoothly.
Wang Zongkun gathered intelligence, especially about Sima Wuyou, asking in detail. Yu Kun kept her promise, sharing all she could.
"Thank you, Sister Yu Kun," Wang Zongkun didn't expect the task to go so smoothly. After politely bowing, he said, "Since you're truly innocent, I'll report the situation to my father and hope he can release you."
"Thank you, Brother Zongkun," Yu Kun sighed in relief.
As a space-type Kun, being imprisoned was unbearable, a form of torture. If she could be released, it would be wonderful.
In such a short time, the two Kuns were already calling each other siblings, their tone noticeably more affectionate than before.
At this moment, Dragon Jingjing, who had been waiting outside, couldn't hold back any longer and came in to urge, "Kun Kun, are you done talking?"
She still maintained her elegant lady appearance, her tight-fitting leather outfit accentuating her curves, exuding the unique dominance and faint dragon aura of the dragon whale clan.
Yu Kun's nose twitched, and her expression changed drastically, "A lowly bloodline dragon whale."
Her relaxed expression vanished, and she quickly shielded Wang Zongkun, "Brother Zongkun, you're young and naive. Remember to stay away from these dragon whales. They're the worst, always trying to take advantage of our Immortal Kun bloodline. Don't fall for their tricks."
"What?"
Dragon Jingjing was furious.
Her stunning face flashed with a fierce look, and a powerful aura surged from her, pressing down on Yu Kun, "My relationship with my Kun Kun is approved by Master Wang Shouzhe. Who are you to criticize?"
Yu Kun faced her fearlessly, "Brother Zongkun is so young and cute. As his sister, I must protect him from being tainted by lowly bloodlines."
"I think you're the one with ulterior motives towards Kun Kun!"
"Nonsense, he's just a child. I would never be as shameless as you!"
A Kun and a dragon whale clashed.
The atmosphere in the cell grew tense, terrifying eleventh-grade pressure filling the air, even making it feel solid.
Wang Zongkun, not understanding how it all happened, found himself in the middle of a storm. He looked at one, then the other, his round face filled with confusion and worry, weakly trying to mediate, "Dear sisters, please don't argue."
But his words only escalated the conflict.
A storm of chaos brewed in the prison, and the young Wang Zongkun faced a crisis in his Kun life.
……