That cutesy voice left Nan Ji staring in shock.
"Ah!"
The little girl in the pale yellow dress seemed to remember something and hurriedly covered her mouth as she looked at Niu Niu.
Then, in a soft, syrupy voice, she said, "Hello, big brother!"
Seeing this, Nan Ji sighed helplessly.
He simply could not bring himself to be harsh toward an adorable little girl. When had Niu Niu found out about this?
"Ahem!"
Nan Ji cleared his throat and said, "Actually, it's fine if you use your normal voice."
"Then... you won't abandon me?"
"Ahem!"
This was getting more and more improper.
Nan Ji covered his head helplessly. "No, no! Just do whatever feels comfortable!"
"Ha ha ha!"
Hearing Nan Ji's answer, the girl instantly returned to her rough voice and burst into loud laughter.
That laugh made Nan Ji's heart twitch uncontrollably.
Still, looking at the delicate and pitiful little girl, Nan Ji could only slowly get used to it.
Meanwhile, beneath Kirin Cliff, the Three Pure Ones were cultivating with complicated expressions.
"Big brother, second brother, little Nan Ji is practically being fooled into stupidity!"
Though Tongtian sat cross-legged, his black hair fluttered wildly from his agitation.
Yuanshi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, yet no words came out.
Laozi merely shook his head and said, "Though I do not know why Queen Mother of the West brought Houtu here, Nan Ji has good intentions."
Over the years, although the Three Pure Ones had been cultivating to recover, they would occasionally use their divine senses to "observe" Nan Ji's movements.
Partly out of concern, and partly out of supervision.
"This child is so lacking in ambition. Once I leave seclusion, I shall properly educate him."
At first, Yuanshi had been furious when he saw it.
Laozi also agreed with his younger brother Yuanshi, adding, "Indeed! Nan Ji is already the foremost disciple of us Three Pure Ones. Though his aptitude is ordinary, he must not slacken in cultivation."
Tongtian shrank his neck and did not dare say a word.
He truly wanted to tell them that this suffocating feeling was far too intense, but his instinct for survival only allowed him to think it silently.
Yet with every "observation" by the Three Pure Ones, they discovered Nan Ji tirelessly building palaces.
At times, the skies were clear for miles; at others, stars filled the heavens.
Nan Ji diligently constructed the palaces no matter what, and this gradually changed the Three Pure Ones' opinion of him.
"Nan Ji is indeed the foremost disciple of us Three Pure Ones. His temperament and perseverance are truly remarkable," Laozi commented.
As he watched palace after palace gradually take shape, especially the three main halls at the center, Yuanshi knew his disciple had built them for the three brothers.
He was deeply moved, yet stubbornly said, "Hmph! He has no sense of balancing work and rest. Big brother, third brother, once I leave seclusion, I will certainly teach him a proper lesson."
Tongtian, on the other hand, was not as diligent in cultivation as Laozi and Yuanshi, so he spent more time observing.
When he saw a side hall half the size of the three main halls, he knew it had been reserved by Nan Ji for himself.
Afterward, Nan Ji built mountain paths and a mountain gate along Xuanqing Peak, as well as many elegantly arranged pavilions and towers throughout the mountain.
When Tongtian told Laozi and Yuanshi about it, they both believed Nan Ji had built them for his junior brothers and sisters.
Thus, Tongtian instinctively said, "After leaving seclusion, I still want to take in more disciples, so as not to disappoint Nan Ji's good intentions."
The result was a thorough lecture from Yuanshi.
Later, when Niu Niu appeared—Queen Mother of the West, Kunlun Mountain's other resident—the Three Pure Ones were all startled awake.
But soon afterward, the Three Pure Ones received a voice transmission from Queen Mother of the West.
"Senior brother Yuanshi has accepted a fine disciple. This construction is truly extraordinary."
"This palace came uninvited. I hope the three senior brothers will forgive me."
"I also ask the three senior brothers to allow this palace to remain a few more days."
Although the Three Pure Ones usually had little contact with the Queen Mother of the West, they had shared the bond of listening to the Dao at the Purple Sky Palace.
Furthermore, Queen Mother of the West now bore the Dao Ancestor's charge of governing the female immortals of the Great Desolation, so they naturally had to show her respect.
Laozi could only agree and explain, "We are currently cultivating and should not leave seclusion. Junior sister, do as you please."
"It's fine. This palace will find some amusement."
Then something outrageous happened, yet Nan Ji remained completely unaware.
Unable to bear watching any longer, Yuanshi, who valued etiquette most, sent a voice transmission to Queen Mother of the West. "Junior sister..."
"Stop making noise, I'm playing!" Queen Mother of the West replied impatiently.
Yuanshi was so angered that he did not speak for several days.
Who could have expected that what followed would become increasingly absurd?
Now, Queen Mother of the West had even brought Houtu along.
Yet the Three Pure Ones truly could not drive the two of them away.
Could they really disgrace the Head of Female Immortals appointed by the Dao Ancestor over this?
Or should they allow Queen Mother of the West to block Houtu of the Witch Clan, who was also a descendant of Pangu, at Xuanqing Peak?
Meanwhile, Nan Ji remained unaware and continued asking the little girl before him, "Then... do you have a name?"
"No. Big brother, why don't you give me one?"
Nan Ji stroked his chin after hearing that, only to realize he did not have a beard.
The thought of naming someone made his entire body uncomfortable, but when he saw the little girl's dress fluttering in the wind like a dancing flower, an idea suddenly came to him.
"Then, how about calling you Duo Duo?"
"That name is great! Hehehe!"
Houtu greatly approved of the name, as it felt rather gentle and adorable.
Yet this scene, especially Houtu's laughter, still sounded utterly strange to Nan Ji.
"Um... how about we choose another one?" Nan Ji asked cautiously.
"No, this one! It feels awesome!"
Not only did Duo Duo refuse, she even took out an enormous peach and held it in both hands as she said to Nan Ji, "Big brother, here! This is Duo Duo's gift for you!"
Nan Ji grinned when he heard that.
This little girl is quite sensible!
Nan Ji accepted the peach. It was as large as two adult palms put together.
"This peach!"
As Nan Ji carefully examined the peach before him, he discovered that it contained Dao essence, and its skin was covered in dark purple-gold patterns.
This peach was far too beautiful!
"Hurry and eat it!"
Houtu—now Duo Duo—urged him.
Nan Ji swallowed, considered it, then shook his head and shouted toward Niu Niu nearby, "Same old rules! Let's get to work!"
"Okay, okay!"
Duo Duo skipped over to a spot, then expertly took out item after item.
A barbecue grill...
Bottles of seasoning...
Little wooden skewers...
Over these eighty years, although Nan Ji had already attained the cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, he could not abandon his appetite for fine food.
It was precisely because of this that Niu Niu had stayed behind back then and came to find Nan Ji every few days.
Houtu had likely heard Queen Mother of the West mention it long ago, so she said as well, "Big brother, I'll help too!"
After the three busied themselves for a while, the skewered meat sizzled over the flames, giving off wisps of smoke as a rich fragrance spread through the air.
Nan Ji took out a small jade plate, cut the Immortal Peach and other spirit fruits into small pieces, and placed them between the three of them.
"This is called a fruit platter!" Nan Ji said as he took out two forks and handed one to each of them.
Before long, the fragrance drifted to Kirin Cliff.
"Rebellious disciple!"
Yuanshi suddenly cursed, but did not send another voice transmission to Queen Mother of the West.
Otherwise, he would only be rebuffed again and lose face for nothing.
Laozi sighed as he watched. "Ah, what a waste of heavenly treasure! How can the Ren Water Immortal Peach be used like this?"
Tongtian carefully glanced at the two of them, but ultimately did not dare say the words, "I want some too."
Before you continue