The Whereabouts of the Cloud-Grazing Ballad

"I know what awaits after advancing to the tenth rank."

"But I still prefer how things are now."

"The responsibilities of the Beast God are too great—I can't bear them."

Though Little Qiqi took the form of a child after her transformation, she had lived for a long time and naturally understood many things.

Becoming the Beast God meant shouldering immense responsibilities, and that wasn't what she wanted.

Even though Little Qiqi might never break through to the tenth rank due to consuming the Transformation Grass, she still refused to take the crystal.

Besides, the current Beast God was Da Huang, and the ones who had done great favors for Beast God Valley were Chen Chang'an and Da Huang. Giving it to them was far more appropriate.

"Da Huang, look at her awareness."

"You don’t handle anything, yet you’re still the Beast God."

"Aren’t you ashamed?" Chen Chang'an shot Da Huang a disdainful glance.

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"What do you mean, 'don’t handle anything'?"

"Besides, it was the Old Dean who made me the Beast God—I never asked for it."

"But... the Old Dean is quite sensible. Very sensible."

"Hey, Little Qiqi, don’t say I became the Beast God and didn’t do anything."

"In the future—I mean, if Beast God Valley ever faces danger, just come find me." Da Huang declared grandly.

"Oh, got it."

Little Qiqi didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic, replying to Da Huang with little interest.

"You little brat, why so dismissive?"

"Aren’t you just as dismissive? The world is vast—where would I even find you?"

"If you don’t want to help, just say so. Stop spouting empty words."

Little Qiqi’s retort left Da Huang awkwardly exposed. Had his little scheme been seen through? Why was this kid so sharp? Not cute at all.

"Little Qiqi, did the Old Dean ask you to wait here for anything else?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"No, Big Brother. I’ll head back now."

"I won’t come to say goodbye later."

"Take care."

"If... if you have time, could you come back to visit?" Little Qiqi asked hopefully.

Come back to visit?

Would such an opportunity even exist?

Chen Chang'an wasn’t sure, so he didn’t dare make a promise. Smiling, he patted Little Qiqi’s head.

"I can’t promise if I’ll return, so I won’t give you an answer."

"But if the chance arises, I’ll come see you."

Hearing this, Little Qiqi nodded dejectedly. Though their time together had been short, she had no friends in Beast God City—Chen Chang'an was the only one.

"Ugh, why does this feel like some tragic farewell?"

"Little Qiqi, can’t you travel too? Just come find us when you’re free."

Though Little Qiqi smiled and nodded at Da Huang’s words, both she and Chen Chang'an knew the truth—she couldn’t leave. Not ever.

The Old Dean’s strength had been declining, and the safety of Beast God Valley now rested on Little Qiqi’s shoulders.

While the Beast God Mountains housed many demonic beasts, few had reached the peak of the ninth rank.

And though they didn’t oppose humans, coexisting peacefully, none were like Little Qiqi—wholeheartedly standing beside the Old Dean to protect Beast God Valley.

"You eating this?"

Chen Chang'an glanced at the crystal in his hand before asking.

"Of course not."

"If I left, you’d be too lonely." Da Huang chuckled, not planning to break through to the tenth rank just yet.

Though reaching the tenth rank had always been his dream, without Chen Chang'an, it felt like something was missing.

Ascending to the upper realm alone? How boring.

"Fine, I’ll hold onto it for you."

"Tell me when you’re ready to break through."

"Deal."

After Little Qiqi left, Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao finally stepped out. They had stayed back earlier to avoid interrupting the conversation.

"Young Master, are we leaving?"

"Yes."

"Brother Chang'an, what about this house...?"

What about it?

Leave it empty?

What a waste.

"Sell it."

"I’m sure someone will buy it."

Chen Chang'an smiled faintly. Before departing, he sold the house back to its original owner.

"Why...?"

"Why must happy times be so short?"

"You... sobs I’d barely started standing tall in my own home again."

The burly man, over six feet tall, broke down in tears once more. But there was nothing he could do—Chen Chang'an had invoked the Beast God’s orders, and he didn’t dare refuse.

Still, Chen Chang'an didn’t shortchange him, paying a fair amount for the rent.

"Where to next?"

"Anywhere. Let’s just wander."

Chen Chang'an had no destination in mind, nor did he know the locations of the remaining two tokens.

So after leaving Beast God Valley, he simply wandered with Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye—with no progress.

"Enough wandering. Let’s stay here."

"The Human Rankings will conclude soon."

"You two should make one last push to improve your cultivation."

Having found nothing after all this time, and with the Human Rankings nearing their end, Chen Chang'an decided to settle down somewhere quiet.

Everything else could wait until after the rankings concluded.

"Da Huang, what do you think the Human Rankings’ reward will be?"

"They say it’s a gift from the Heavenly Dao, but what exactly?" Chen Chang'an mused aloud while sipping wine.

"No idea."

"We’ll see when the time comes."

"Do you think the rankings will change?"

"We haven’t heard anything about Chen Yunxuan or Ye Zhiqiu lately. What do you think those brats are up to?" Da Huang asked.

What were they up to?

Both of them had only one thing in mind—getting stronger.

"Whatever they want."

"But speaking of which, I used to feel like my master was always nearby."

"Ever since the Gu family, that feeling’s gone."

"You think something happened to her?"

Lately, Chen Chang'an had been pondering this—where had Mu Yunyao gone?

She should have been close by, watching over him more than protecting him.

But after the Gu family incident, that presence had vanished.

"Your master? In trouble?"

"With her strength, it’s others who should be worried."

Chen Chang'an had to admit Da Huang had a point. In the entire Profound Mystic Realm, no one could threaten Mu Yunyao.

Atop the Northern Sea

Mu Yunyao stood in the void, her brow furrowed.

"I sensed the aura here—why has it disappeared?"

"To emerge just as the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings appear..."

"You’ve planned this well."

With a cold snort, the entire Northern Sea summit trembled violently.

As Mu Yunyao vanished, tranquility returned.

"She’s still in the Profound Mystic Realm..."

A voice, dark and hollow, slithered from the depths like an echo from the underworld.