Chapter 184: This is the Moment

The two dove into the water, and Qing'er used her magic to part the water, allowing them to speak freely underwater.

Just as Qing'er was about to speak, Bai Yue jumped into the water too, laughing maniacally, "Trying to escape? Hahaha, you'll become food for the water demon beast!" As soon as he finished speaking, a monster with eight heads appeared above them.

Seeing the monster, Qing'er was both shocked and furious, "You...! You've really been nurturing an evil beast? Do you know how much disaster this will bring!?"

Bai Yue laughed loudly, "It's just a little flood, nothing serious. Besides, everyone believes you are the monster causing the floods. To appease the gods' wrath, you must die!"

The Witch Queen looked anguished, "So it was all your scheme!?"

Bai Yue laughed again, "You have only yourself to blame for not being human. No one will believe a serpent demon's words, hahaha..."

Thud—

Bai Yue's head was pierced by a golden sword, his smile frozen on his face as he died instantly.

Li Nianlong withdrew the golden sword and said calmly, "Noisy."

"..."

Qing'er was dumbfounded. The mighty Bai Yue was... just killed like that?

In her shock, Qing'er's gaze at Li Nianlong changed drastically: This man... is incredibly strong.

Li Nianlong looked up at the water demon beast, which roared menacingly and lunged at him. He snorted coldly, sending out countless qi swords that turned the beast into a sieve.

Qing'er's mouth gaped open again. The water demon beast was killed just like that? No, wait...

"Be careful, young man. The water demon beast is immortal in water," Qing'er warned.

As soon as she spoke, the wounds on the beast began to heal, albeit slowly.

Li Nianlong stroked his chin, "If it's immortal in water, we'll just drag it onto land!"

"This..." Qing'er was stunned, "But the beast is so huge..."

"Heh, strength is all that's needed." With that, Li Nianlong stabbed the water demon beast with countless qi swords again, then grabbed it and swam towards the surface.

Qing'er, seeing Li Nianlong effortlessly drag the beast along, was already numb with shock. She followed him mechanically, and before long, they reached the shore outside Nanzhao City. Out of the water, the water demon beast lost its source of life and began to weaken.

Li Nianlong recalled that the beast was most vulnerable to lightning, so he pulled out a lightning talisman and threw it at the beast.

With a flash of lightning and thunder, the beast was instantly turned into charred remains. Li Nianlong dug a pit, buried the charred remains, filled the pit, and flattened the ground.

"All done." Li Nianlong smiled at Qing'er, "The water demon beast is finished. Nanzhao's flood troubles should be over."

"..."

Qing'er was speechless. Finally, she bowed to Li Nianlong, "Thank you, young man. The people of Nanzhao will never forget your great kindness."

"Your Highness, please don't say that." Li Nianlong waved his hand, "Let's hurry and find the little princess!"

Qing'er nodded and asked, "How will we get there?"

Li Nianlong smiled, "Of course, we'll fly."

He grabbed Qing'er's hand and soared into the sky, heading towards Shengyu Village.

Li Nianlong's speed was 1101, capable of flying over 100 meters per second, with a speed of about 360 kilometers per hour, equivalent to a top sports car's maximum speed. In three hours, they arrived at the Shengyu Village mountain temple and found Jiang Shi and Zhao Ling'er hiding there.

"Mother!" Little Ling'er, seeing Qing'er, was overjoyed. Jiang Shi was equally astonished and then overjoyed, "Your Highness."

Qing'er, seeing the injured Jiang Shi and Zhao Ling'er, was both happy and sad, holding Zhao Ling'er tightly, tears streaming down her face, "Ling'er, it's all my fault."

"Mother, what are you talking about? Ling'er doesn't understand." The six-year-old Ling'er was too young to understand why Qing'er was crying.

After Qing'er finished crying, Jiang Shi asked, "Your Highness, how did you escape? What happened in Nanzhao?"

"I was saved by a young man," Qing'er replied.

"A young man?" Jiang Shi thought of Li Nianlong, who had helped her escape in Nanzhao, and asked, "Is he tall, handsome, and in his twenties?"

"You've met him?" Qing'er asked.

Jiang Shi nodded, "He helped me and the princess escape. Where is he now?"

"He?" Qing'er turned around, but Li Nianlong was nowhere to be seen.

At this moment, Li Nianlong was in the back mountains searching for Li Xiaoyao's hidden toy box, which contained the Water Spirit Pearl. Though it was easy to find in the game, it took Li Nianlong quite some effort. He eventually found it and encountered young Li Xiaoyao, who insisted on trading it for a sword. Without a wooden sword, Li Nianlong gave him an old watermelon knife, which Li Xiaoyao happily accepted, unaware it would break after a few uses.

Having obtained the Water Spirit Pearl, Li Nianlong expected to leave the dream but found himself still there. He pondered for a long time before heading back to the mountain temple, which was now empty. He then flew towards the Xianling Island, spotting a boat with Qing'er and the others on it.

Li Nianlong landed on the boat, smiling at Qing'er, "Your Highness, we meet again."

"Young man!?" Qing'er was overjoyed to see Li Nianlong again, "Where did you go? Why did you leave without saying a word?"

Li Nianlong apologized, "I had some things to do and couldn't inform you in time. Please forgive me."

"Uncle." Little Ling'er ran over, hugging Li Nianlong's leg, "Thank you for saving Grandma, Mother, and me."

Seeing the six-year-old Zhao Ling'er, Li Nianlong smiled, picking her up, "No need to thank me. It's what I should do. Are you happy to see your mother?"

"Yes." Zhao Ling'er nodded, "Uncle, are you coming with us to Xianling Island?"

"No." Li Nianlong smiled, shaking his head, "I just wanted to see if you and your mother could live happily. Seeing you together, I'm satisfied."

"What is happiness? Is it tasty?"

Li Nianlong laughed, "Happiness tastes very good, very sweet."

"Really?" Zhao Ling'er giggled, "Then I want happiness. Uncle, where is it?"

"Happiness is with your mother. If you want it, ask her."

"Really?" Zhao Ling'er turned to Qing'er, "Mother, do you have happiness?"

Qing'er's eyes were moist, and she nodded with a smile, "Yes, I have happiness."

At this moment, Ling Yue Palace Master approached Li Nianlong and whispered, "Young man, you are full of spiritual energy and righteousness. May I ask who your master is?"

Li Nianlong smiled, "I have no master, just found a blessed land to cultivate."

Ling Yue Palace Master smiled faintly, not knowing whether to believe him, and asked no more.

Watching Qing'er and Zhao Ling'er play happily, Li Nianlong's eyes grew misty, and he smiled: Seeing you happy, I'm satisfied.

The scene shifted, and Li Nianlong found himself back at the Nuwa Temple, staring at Qing'er's statue. It seemed to have a complex look in its eyes, with relief, gratitude, and reluctance...

"Big Brother!" A petite girl hugged him. Li Nianlong looked down in surprise and saw Anu.

"Big Brother, you're finally back. I thought something happened to you after a whole month."

"A month?" Li Nianlong was puzzled; it felt like only a day in the dream.

He patted Anu's back, "Anu, did anything happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing much, but the little phoenix has hatched. I saved the eggshell for you. Look." Anu showed him a small cloth bag with eggshell pieces inside.

Li Nianlong smiled, ruffling her hair, "Thank you, Anu."

Anu blushed, "Big Brother, let's go back. Sister-in-law must be worried."

"Alright."

"Mission complete. Reward: 27,000 experience points."

Back at the training ground, the dragonfly watched Li Nianlong from a distance, not daring to approach.

Li Nianlong looked at her and chuckled, "Don't worry. I'm in a good mood today, so I won't hold a grudge."

Seeing Li Nianlong in a good mood, the dragonfly flew over, "Congratulations, host. Only one last stage remains. Complete it, and you'll have the Divine Travel Set."

Li Nianlong smiled, grabbing the dragonfly and using the Invincible Wind Fire Wheel.

"Ahhhh—Host, you tricked me..."

The unfortunate dragonfly was half-dead from the ride, discarded by Li Nianlong as he headed to the alchemy room.

That night, Li Nianlong refined 50 attribute pills, temporarily storing them.

With only one stage left, completing it would give him the Divine Travel Set and change Zhao Ling'er's fate. Determined, Li Nianlong spent the whole day refining attribute pills,

 producing 280 pills, bringing his total to 330 points. At midnight, when the system refreshed, he was in peak condition.

"Entering 29?10."

Success or failure hinges on this moment!