Jiang An’an completed her Meridian Opening, officially becoming a Transcendent cultivator.

A joyous atmosphere filled the Lingxiao Pavilion as the cultivators gathered around Jiang An’an, offering their congratulations.

As her elder brother, Jiang Wang stood apart from the crowd, not immediately approaching.

He silently murmured in his heart, “This is a magnificent world, but also a dangerous one. An’an, may you grow up slowly. May you be blessed with good fortune. If not, may you learn to be strong through hardship. May many love you. If not, may you learn tolerance in solitude. May the world be gentle to you. If not, may you bring gentleness to the world.”

Bringing Jiang An’an into the world of Transcendence was the beginning of their agreed-upon pursuit of the stars. But it also signified a future even more unpredictable.

Back in Phoenix Creek Town, their father, a simple medicinal herb shop owner, could take good care of An’an.

In Maple Leaf City, his identity as an inner disciple of the Dao Academy was enough to shield his little sister.

But the Transcendent world was infinitely vast. How could he possibly protect his younger sister completely?

In truth, Jiang Wang felt more apprehension than joy.

He gazed at the little darling surrounded by the crowd, momentarily lost in thought.

After receiving the blessings from her fellow disciples, Jiang An’an, clutching a large pile of gifts, waddled her way through the crowd to Jiang Wang’s side.

“Brother, hold these for me!”

She felt no pressure in ordering her older brother around.

Jiang Wang casually accepted the gifts, grumbling, “Where’s your squirrel pouch?”

Jiang An’an waved him closer, signaling him to lean in.

“Such a mischievous imp!” Jiang Wang complained, but his body obediently squatted down.

Jiang An’an leaned in close, partially covering her mouth with her small hand, and said mysteriously, “If I put the gifts away now, the other senior brothers and sisters won’t know they should give me gifts today!”

Jiang Wang was taken aback for a moment before retorting, “Who did you learn that from, you little miser!”

Jiang An’an pouted, “When that annoying senior brother broke through before, he carried a gift around everywhere, telling everyone he had broken through today and people were giving him gifts. Then he received so, so many gifts…”

Jiang Wang glanced at Mo Liang, who was talking to other fellow disciples in the distance, before turning back to Jiang An’an. “The emphasis of a gift should be on ‘gift,’ not ‘item,’ on ‘sentiment,’ not ‘profit.’ What need do you have for things people give you out of courtesy or face? Our family doesn’t lack those things, understand? Quickly put those gifts away.”

Mo Liang, who was caught in Jiang Wang’s gaze from afar, felt a chill run down his spine. Suspecting that Jiang An’an had snitched on him, he grew anxious, and his words became clumsy.

Meanwhile, seeing her brother’s serious demeanor, Jiang An’an remained silent, obediently placing the large and small boxes of gifts into her beautiful squirrel pouch one by one.

“And another thing,” Jiang Wang lectured like a concerned father. “Tonight, write a list of the gifts, who gave you what. You have to remember it all. In the future, when others have joyous occasions, you need to prepare gifts of roughly equal value to return. Understand?”

“Understood,” Jiang An’an said softly. “Why do I have to write it at night?”

“Because during the day, I’m taking you out to play,” Jiang Wang replied.

Jiang An’an’s face immediately lit up with a smile. “I’m already ready!”

He took Jiang An’an to romp around the four main cities connected to Cloud City by Rainbow Bridges for an entire day. Only after the little one was completely exhausted did they return to Lingxiao Pavilion.

Ye Qingyu didn’t come along, saying she didn’t want to intrude on the siblings’ time together. Jiang Wang still didn’t know if she was angry last night or not.

Xiang Qian very much wanted to join them, but Jiang Wang ruthlessly rejected him. He didn’t need a deadpan face ruining the atmosphere when he was spending time with his sister.

On the way to sending Jiang An’an back to her room, they happened to run into Mo Liang.

Out of the politeness of an adult, Jiang Wang took the initiative to greet him: “Fellow Daoist Mo!”

Mo Liang, who had already been subtly changing direction, suddenly spun around and stood in front of Jiang Wang with a beaming smile. “Big Brother, is there anything I can do for you?”

“Big Brother?” Jiang Wang didn’t quite understand.

You look older than me…

Mo Liang’s enthusiasm didn’t diminish in the slightest. “I’m a fellow disciple of Jiang An’an, and we have a deep friendship. You’re An’an’s brother, so you’re also my brother. Big Brother, don’t be polite. Feel free to ask me for anything!”

Jiang Wang was defeated. “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I was just greeting you, Fellow Daoist.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Mo Liang nodded repeatedly, his face filled with smiles, as he waved enthusiastically to Jiang Wang and Jiang An’an. “Goodbye, Big Brother! Goodbye, An’an!”

Jiang An’an was baffled, only feeling that her annoying senior brother seemed even sillier than before.

The two parties passed each other.

Mo Liang breathed a long sigh of relief. “I’m so glad I was wise enough to acknowledge him as Big Brother on the spot. Otherwise, he definitely would have beaten me up today, right? He’s the one who made the young masters of the Qi Kingdom run away with their tails between their legs. I don’t know how ruthless he is… Ah, how can I be so wise!”

He didn’t know how the sea merchants spread the news. After the news from Qi Kingdom reached the Cloud Kingdom, it was distorted beyond recognition. Something about resolving the matter with Wang Yi-wu in one move, making Lei Zhanqian run away with his head in his hands, sweeping through the young generation of geniuses in Linzi…

The only true detail was that Jiang Wang had indeed defeated Wang Yi-wu and Lei Zhanqian. The rest of the details were basically all lies.

While Mo Liang was feeling grateful, Jiang Wang was reminding Jiang An’an, “In the future, keep your distance from that Mo fellow. His brain seems to be a little off. Don’t let him infect you.”

Jiang An’an giggled. “Sister Qingyu said the same thing!”

“By the way,” Jiang Wang asked, mentioning Ye Qingyu, “Is your Sister Qingyu not in a good mood today?”

Jiang An’an tilted her head, thinking. “No, she’s not.”

“Are you sure? Maybe she’s secretly angry, and you didn’t notice?” Jiang Wang asked indirectly.

“She’s just like always,” little An’an said, confused. “Why would Sister Qingyu be secretly angry?”

“Uh, maybe because we went out to play without her.”

“But, she was the one who didn’t want to go.”

“Uh, girls always say one thing but mean another,” Jiang Wang said, trying to smooth things over.

Jiang An’an said very seriously, “I’m also a girl, and I don’t say one thing but mean another. If I want to eat candy, I just say I want to eat candy.”

Jiang Wang’s face turned serious. “No, you don’t want to eat candy.”

At this moment, a voice came from behind. “If you’re so concerned about her mood, why don’t you just ask her directly?”

Jiang Wang turned around and saw a young man in white standing on a cloud platform.

The man had clear eyes and a bright gaze, an extraordinary bearing, and a tall, jade-like stature. His features were exceptionally handsome, and paired with the sea of clouds behind him, he appeared to be a banished immortal.

This was Jiang Wang’s first time seeing Ye Xiaohua… uh, Ye Lingxiao.

Of course, Jiang Wang at this time didn’t know who this handsome young man was.

Jiang An’an was the first to greet him, but her voice was quietly silenced, so Jiang Wang didn’t hear her.

The first feeling Jiang Wang had when he saw this person was, surprisingly, relief.

He was relieved that he hadn’t worn white today; otherwise, he would probably be overshadowed and look foolish…