Look, we don’t have some deep-seated grudge against each other, do we? Yesterday was our first time meeting, and yet you seem to have a big problem with me?”

 

“Do you want to know why?”

 

Si Zhuo had only asked casually. He hadn’t expected Luan Ling to respond so seriously.

 

He curved his lips. “I’m all ears.”

 

“Because it’s my duty.”

 

…Huh?!

 

You’ve only been cultivating for a dozen years—what kind of duty could you possibly have?!

 

Disdain flickered plainly in Si Zhuo’s smile. Then he heard Luan Ling ask, “What about you? Why did you blow up the academy?”

 

“Because it’s my destiny.”

 

…What?!

 

What kind of child’s destiny involves blowing up a school? Who are you trying to fool?!

 

Luan Ling’s face clearly said ‘Really? I don’t believe you.’

 

The two of them silently gave each other the middle finger in their hearts.

 

“Care to introduce yourself?” Si Zhuo asked, studying the patterns on his clothing with interest. “I don’t know many goddesses in the Heavenly Realm. You’re the first.”

 

“My name is Luan—wait.” Luan Ling suddenly grew alert. “You’re not planning to use the demon clan to get rid of me, are you? I’m a Heaven-certified deity, you know. Gods who curse other gods’ children tend to have very bad luck.”

 

She wasn’t being overly cautious. The Dragon King’s treasured grandson had only been in the Heavenly Realm for a short while, yet his infamy had already spread far and wide. Besides blowing up the academy, there was the immortal lord turned into a toad, the fairy subjected to a forced makeup-removal spell, and—according to what she’d just learned—another god kicked straight down into the mortal realm. No one knew how that one was doing now.

 

“Your surname is Luan.” Si Zhuo raised an eyebrow. “As far as I know, there are only a few immortals in Heaven with that surname.”

 

Every god in the Heavenly Realm was familiar with that name.

 

Only the Heavenly Emperor and his blood relatives bore it.

 

Luan Ling’s voice suddenly grew calm. “That’s right. Since you’ve already figured out my identity, I might as well tell you.”

 

“I am the Heavenly Emperor’s aunt—”

 

Before she could finish, a bolt of lightning crashed down beside her. Startled, Luan Ling nearly dropped the person she was holding.

 

“So, Heaven’s punishment comes with autotargeting now.” Si Zhuo shook his head in amazement. “Impressive. I never saw anything like this back in rural Penglai.”

 

Still shaken, Luan Ling glanced at the clear sky above. Hearing Si Zhuo’s continued sarcasm, she forced herself to stay calm.

 

“Don’t worry about who I am. Once the deity switches us back, we’ll have nothing to do with each other. There’s no point in getting acquainted now.”

 

Si Zhuo couldn’t help laughing.

 

“What are you laughing at?”

 

“Nothing. You just look exactly like those mortals who swear they’ll go home and get married once they strike gold in the Eastern Sea.”

 

Luan Ling wasn’t sure who he was mocking, but something else caught her attention.

 

“Is it really impossible to find gold in the Eastern Sea? Even a shut-in god like me knows the dragon clan is filthy rich.”

 

The Eastern Sea’s wealth wasn’t a rumor. Rare treasures were everywhere; the land was rich in spiritual energy, exotic beasts were countless. So, when Si Zhuo called Penglai a backwater, Luan Ling could only assume he was being sarcastic.

 

“No conflict there,” Si Zhuo said smugly. “We can be rich and idiots.”

 

Luan Ling couldn’t bear to look at him anymore. Her grip slipped, and his body immediately dropped.

 

After a yelp, Si Zhuo looked up at her with a dark expression. “The dragon clan possesses innate strength even in human form. Looks like this goddess’s body is unusually sturdy.”

 

Luan Ling felt thoroughly offended.

 

She wanted to argue, but since she had dropped him, she could only cough awkwardly, help him up, and grab one end of the Immortal Binding Rope.

 

“We’re almost there anyway. Stop struggling. Let’s just talk things out with the deity, alright?”

 

“You’re planning to go in like this?” Si Zhuo lifted one shoulder, grinning. “I don’t mind.”

 

She hesitated. Marching in while dragging him along would probably get them thrown out by the academy guards.

 

“Don’t overthink it,” Si Zhuo said lazily. “I’ve followed you all this way. I have no powers—where could I even run?”

 

He had a point.

 

After some hesitation, Luan Ling finally loosened the rope. Even if he tried to escape, this body was stronger than hers—catching her wouldn’t be hard.

 

But she overlooked one thing.

 

The moment the rope came off, a strange smile appeared on the delicate girl’s face. Luan Ling instinctively reached out but grabbed nothing but air.

 

“Goddess~ If you’re going to class, you should go by yourself!”

 

Luan Ling’s hand trembled in midair.

 

“Get back here—!!!”

 

What she failed to consider was that while immortal arts might be incompatible with the body, they hadn’t been erased.

 

Looks like he’d gambled—and won.

 

Si Zhuo glanced at the jade-white hands, then looked around at where he’d appeared.

 

This place had nothing to do with where he’d intended to go. It looked like a grand hall—solemn, imposing, everything arranged with rigid order. He hated places like this.

 

Rubbing his sore wrists, he turned toward the main doors, ready to leave.

 

“How did you end up here?”

 

A familiar voice rang out behind him—solemn, authoritative, as untouchable as the hall itself. Si Zhuo shuddered instinctively.

 

Not from fear, but from the body’s reflex.

 

Meaning: the original owner of this body was afraid of that voice.

 

Thinking of Luan Ling’s earlier bravado about arresting him, he found it hard to imagine she could fear anyone this much.

 

He turned around—and wasn’t surprised.

 

The Heavenly Empress.

 

Given that the goddess’s surname was Luan, judging by age alone, she had to be the Empress’s daughter. Landing here meant he’d walked straight into trouble.

 

He studied the Empress’s stern expression, puzzled. He’d paid respects during festivals before. She’d always been aloof, but never this furious—especially toward her own child.

 

“I asked you a question!” the Empress snapped. “Why aren’t you answering? You should be in class right now! Does any deity know you skipped school?!”

 

Si Zhuo was the youngest in his family and the Dragon King’s favorite grandson. He’d always done as he pleased—whether in the Eastern Sea or the Heavenly Realm. Very few gods dared touch him.

 

In short, he’d never suffered this kind of treatment.

 

He remained silent, then suddenly laughed.

 

“So what if I skipped? What are you going to do about it?”

 

He dared to cause chaos and ditch class not only because he had backing—but because he was strong. Innately strong.

 

Dragons could summon clouds and rain, but he could also unleash dragon fire, breathe illusions, leap through the Heavenly Gate. Gifted from birth, he had no patience for mingling with lower-grade students.

 

As for Luan Ling—though they hadn’t fought, divine senses didn’t lie. She was no weakling.

 

At their age, skipping class shouldn’t have been a big deal. Was the Heavenly Emperor’s family really this strict?

 

“Impudent!”

 

The Empress pointed at him. “Did you listen to a single word the deities told you?! With your father absent, have you decided to rebel?!”

 

The more he listened, the stranger it felt—yet he couldn’t pinpoint why.

 

He shrugged. “I already skipped, Mother. What’s done is done. Scolding me won’t change anything.”

 

“Don’t call me that.” The Empress sneered. “I could never give birth to such a fine daughter.”

 

Something clicked.

 

…Wait.

 

If that wasn’t just anger talking, had he stumbled into some kind of divine family drama?

 

His mind raced, trying to figure out what to say next.

 

But his silence did nothing to quell her fury. In truth, nothing he did would.

 

If there was only one solution—

 

He looked up at the Empress.

 

Then, without hesitation, he turned and ran.

 

When parents were about to beat you and grandparents were useless, you relied on your own legs!

 

Unfortunately—

 

Two heavenly soldiers blocked his path. He rolled his eyes skyward and was dragged back.

 

“Disobedient, truant, disrespectful,” the Empress said, descending the steps slowly, her gaze sharp and appraising.

 

“Take her away. Administer family punishment.”

 

“You’d better think again,” Si Zhuo said coldly. From the start, she’d never intended to hear him out.

 

“I’m not your daughter.”

 

The Empress froze for a moment, then leaned down, her expression dark.

 

“You never were.”

 

“Take her away!”

 

“Achoo—”

 

Luan Ling looked at Lord Wen Yuan, who politely covered his mouth with a folding fan, and said as if nothing had happened, “That’s the situation, Headmaster. Could you… not mark me absent?”

 

Skipping class was one thing. Missing attendance was painful.

 

“The fact that you’re standing here at all tells me you’re telling the truth,” Wen Yuan said gently. “After all, making that boy stand obediently is about as hard as getting Sun Wukong to willingly serve as a stable hand.”

 

Exactly! She really had it rough!

 

“This is a first for me as well,” Wen Yuan said, lowering his fan, looking troubled.

 

“How about this—go find him first. I’ll handle the rest.”

 

He flicked the fan open. A red thread appeared across it.

 

“Take this. It’ll let you temporarily ascend and track his divine power. Once you find him, tell him that if he still wants to stir up trouble, he’d better come back properly.”

 

Stir up trouble…?

 

Wen Yuan smiled at the innocent-looking youth before him.

 

“For him, there’s nothing more fun than causing chaos.”