98: Chapter 98 Yearning to Become Stronger! Willow Goddess Restores Her Immortal King Status

He looked at Willow Deity, then at Chu Tianjiao, and then at Xiao Nannan and Xiao Shitou, who were equally bewildered, suddenly feeling like his brain wasn't quite enough to process everything.

Meanwhile, Chu Tianjiao had already fallen into a deep sleep, leaning against Xiao Nannan's embrace.

A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth.

It was a smile of pure peace.

Willow Deity had Nannan take Chu Tianjiao back to the Undying Mountain, and Xiao Shitou followed along with the dazed Ancient Kirin Emperor.

Their figures gradually faded into the distance.

Undying Mountain.

One month later.

Inside Willow Deity's room, Chu Tianjiao lay quietly on a couch, eyes closed, his aura weak. He was still in a deep slumber, and his Wheel Sea Realm cultivation was like a candle flickering in the wind, liable to go out at any moment.

Xiao Nannan kept watch by his side, her hands clasping his, never letting go for a moment. Her gaze rested on Chu Tianjiao's pale face, her eyes filled with heartache and worry.

It had been a month.

Teacher had been asleep for a month and had yet to wake up.

Although Willow Deity had said that he had simply overexerted himself and needed time to recover, Xiao Nannan couldn't help but worry. She feared her teacher wouldn't wake up, feared he would sleep like this forever, feared—

Feared experiencing loss once again.

Although her memories of that day were blurry, that heart-wrenching pain was deeply etched into the depths of her Soul. She couldn't remember exactly what happened, but she remembered the feeling—the feeling of losing everything.

She never wanted to experience it again.

Just then, Chu Tianjiao's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Xiao Nannan's whole body jolted, and she hurriedly leaned over to look.

"Teacher?"

She called out softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Chu Tianjiao's eyelids moved, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes were weary yet gentle. He blinked, and after adjusting to the light, his gaze fell on Xiao Nannan's face, his lips slowly curling into a weak smile.

"Nannan..."

His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken for a long time.

Xiao Nannan's eyes instantly turned red, and she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

"Teacher... you're finally awake... you scared me to death..."

Chu Tianjiao gently patted her back without saying a word.

He could feel Xiao Nannan's trembling and the fear in her heart. This month of slumber must have been an agonizing wait for her.

"I'm sorry for making you worry."

He said softly.

Xiao Nannan shook her head and held him even tighter.

Outside the door, Willow Deity and Xiao Shitou heard the movement and pushed the door open.

Seeing Chu Tianjiao awake, a flicker of relief flashed in Willow Deity's eyes, while Xiao Shitou let out a long breath, a look of relief appearing on his face.

"Teacher, you're finally awake! I've been worried sick this past month!"

Chu Tianjiao smiled and, with Xiao Nannan's support, slowly sat up. Leaning against the headboard, his gaze swept over the three of them, the smile on his face gradually fading, replaced by a look of solemnity.

"During this month, I've thought a lot."

He spoke, his voice still hoarse but carrying a post-awakening calm.

"How much do you remember about that day?"

Xiao Nannan and Xiao Shitou exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

"I don't remember clearly... I just remember something terrifying seemed to happen, and then everything went blank." Xiao Shitou scratched his head.

Willow Deity was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "I remember some of it. Those four beings, and... we died once."

She looked at Chu Tianjiao, her gaze deep.

"It was you who brought us back, right?"

Chu Tianjiao nodded, hiding nothing.

"Yes. I fused with my future self, briefly reaching a level above the Immortal Emperor Realm, then reflected the entire heavens to resurrect everything."

He paused, his tone becoming even more solemn.

"But because of that, I saw more."

"The enemies of the future are far more terrifying than we imagined. Those four Progenitors are just the tip of the iceberg. Behind them lie even more horrific existences—the Loess Plateau, the source of the Ominous Race. As long as the Ominous Plateau exists, those Progenitors can be continuously resurrected."

"Even if we kill them four times, five times, ten times, it's useless."

Chu Tianjiao took a deep breath, a hint of pressure flashing in his eyes.

"And I have been targeted by them."

"They crossed through time and space to eliminate me, which means in the future, I must be their greatest threat. But this also means—they will not give up. Having failed this time, next time they will send even stronger beings and use even more ruthless methods."

He looked up at Willow Deity, Xiao Nannan, and Xiao Shitou.

"We must become stronger. Faster, even faster."

"Otherwise, next time, we might not be able to come back alive."

A brief silence fell over the room.

Xiao Nannan tightly gripped Chu Tianjiao's hand, a determined light flashing in her eyes. She didn't want to experience loss again, didn't want to watch helplessly as her teacher died for her.

She wanted to become strong, strong enough to protect her teacher, protect her brother, and protect everyone she cared about.

Xiao Shitou kept his head down, his hands clenched into fists, saying nothing.

Just then, Willow Deity spoke.

"I have now restored my status to the Immortal King Realm."

Her voice was calm, yet it left everyone present stunned.

"Immortal King?!"

A month ago, wasn't Willow Deity still at the Peak of the True Immortal Realm? How did she suddenly restore to the Immortal King Realm?

Willow Deity saw their confusion and explained, "When the heavens were reflected to resurrect us, my Origin was completely reshaped. This past month, I have been digesting that power, and I have now restored to the Early Stage of the Immortal King Realm."

She paused, her gaze resting on Chu Tianjiao.

"I can open the Immortal Domain."

"We will go to the Immortal Domain to cultivate. The Dao here is incomplete, and the Longevity Matter is thin, making it unsuitable for cultivation. The Immortal Domain is different—there, the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is complete, Longevity Matter is abundant, and the cultivation environment is better."

"There, you can grow stronger more quickly."

Hearing this, a flicker of thought flashed in Chu Tianjiao's eyes.

He was silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

"Alright."

He looked at Xiao Nannan.

"Nannan, you come with me."

Xiao Nannan didn't hesitate for a second and nodded vigorously.

"Wherever Teacher goes, I will go."

After what happened last time, she understood the importance of becoming stronger better than anyone. She didn't want to be the one being protected anymore; she wanted to fight alongside her teacher and personally protect those she cared about.

Chu Tianjiao smiled and reached out to pat her head.

Then he looked at Xiao Shitou.

"Xiao Shitou, what about you? Are you coming with us?"

Xiao Shitou stood to the side, having remained silent until now. Hearing his teacher's words, he looked up, his gaze slowly sweeping over Chu Tianjiao and Xiao Nannan's faces.

A gentle smile played at the corners of his mouth.

That smile was exactly the same as when he was a child in Qingshi Town—warm, pure, and with a hint of simple honesty.

"I won't be going, Teacher, Little Sister."

His voice was very soft, yet very firm.

Chu Tianjiao was stunned.

Xiao Nannan was also stunned.

"Brother, what did you say?"

Xiao Shitou looked at his sister, his eyes full of doting and reluctance. He stepped forward and gently rubbed Xiao Nannan's head—just as he had done countless times when they were children.

"You two go."

He said softly, his voice as gentle as if he were coaxing a child.

"I'm staying here."

Silence fell over the room.