I'm already a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how come you're only Martial Saints?

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian slammed his three-pointed, double-edged sword down heavily, the hilt sinking several inches into the rock, sparks flying everywhere.

"But my mother is trapped here, suffering the torment of this confinement day and night. How can I be at peace? I, Yang Jian, have cultivated all my skills precisely for this day to split this mountain and rescue my mother. You want me to wait? How can I wait?"

Ning Chen stepped forward and pressed down on the hilt of his knife.

"Don't worry, Mother has been resurrected and returned. This is absolutely true. In the world of inner demons, Mother would rather die than be separated from Yang Tianyou. This shows her obsession and that she was always waiting for Brother Yang to return."

"I haven't arranged for Brother Yang's reincarnation yet. If you split the mountain now and alarm the Jade Emperor, who will obstruct your plans, how will the Underworld arrange for Brother Yang's soul to reincarnate? Even if you don't think about yourself, don't you think about your mother? She has waited all these years for that day of reunion, hasn't she?"

Yang Jian gritted his teeth, the light between his brows flickering several times. Yes, his father's soul was still in Ning Chen's hands.

He paused for a long time before speaking in a low voice.

"How long will it take?"

Ning Chen felt a slight sense of relief when he saw him relent. He then did some quick calculations with his fingers.

"Eighteen years, wait another eighteen years. Give your uncle some face. Eighteen years later, I will definitely find a reason to arrange for your mother to escape. Then you and your mother can reunite legitimately. Wouldn't that be better? Besides!"

Ning Chen lowered his voice.

"I also have a mother-son relationship with Fairy Yao Ji. She raised me in the world of inner demons. I have always remembered her warm care during those years and have never dared to forget it. Since I have called her mother, I will never let her stay trapped at the foot of this mountain for long."

Yang Jian remained silent for a long time, and the light in his vertical eye between his brows finally faded.

He loosened his grip on the knife and let out a long sigh.

"Eighteen years from now... will we really be able to wait until that day?"

Ning Chen said seriously.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Yang Jian snorted coldly, thinking to himself:

You scoundrel, how many times have you cheated me?

Before he could answer, a gentle female voice suddenly came from deep within Peach Mountain.

The voice pierced through layers of restrictions and the golden seal, yet remained clear and distinct, carrying a sense of peace and tranquility.

"Are they Jian'er and Jiao'er?"

Yang Jian shuddered, his tiger eyes turned red, and he could no longer care about anything else. He knelt down on both knees, his voice choked with sobs and almost incoherent.

"Mother! It's me! Your unfilial son has caused you suffering down the mountain!"

Within Peach Mountain, the voice chuckled softly.

"It's alright. It's like I had a dream. In the dream, I was already dead, but Jiao'er and you saved me from the brink of death."

"Your mother is very pleased to see that you have all achieved so much!"

She paused, her voice becoming even softer.

"Just listen to Jiao'er's arrangements. Mother is quite used to living here. The mountains are quiet and undisturbed, which is much more comfortable than when she was in the Heavenly Court. It's not too late to talk about freeing me from this predicament in eighteen years."

Yang Jian lay on the ground, his shoulders trembling slightly, unable to utter a single word.

Ning Chen stood aside, gazing at the misty Peach Mountain and then at Yang Jian kneeling silently, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He stepped forward to help Yang Jian up and whispered words of comfort.

"Jiandi, let's go. You heard what Mother said. Since she is waiting here at ease, let's cherish these eighteen years and wait for the day we meet again so that your family can have a proper reunion."

Yang Jian stood up, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and gazed deeply at Peach Mountain.

The golden barrier continued to swirl silently, and the gentle voice from the mountain never rang out again, as if the conversation just now was merely a dream.

He remained silent for a long time before finally turning around and riding away on a cloud with Ning Chen.

Ning Chen and Yang Jian walked out of Peach Mountain side by side, without saying a word.

Beneath my feet, a vast sea of ​​clouds stretches out, like a boundless silver wave, surging endlessly.

In the distance, Peach Mountain gradually shrank, turning into a bluish-green hue that merged into the horizon.

A strong wind brushed their faces, cool and dry, causing their robes to flutter in the wind.

Yang Jian's expression was complicated. His vertical eye between his brows was slightly closed, occasionally opening a sliver of golden light to look back towards Peach Mountain, but then quickly closing it again.

Ning Chen caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye and sighed inwardly.

"This Erlang Shen, he just exchanged a few words with his mother through the seal, and now he's leaving her in the mountains. How can he feel good about it?"

He didn't offer any advice, but simply slowed down his cloud speed and walked silently alongside Yang Jian.

After passing a mountain ridge, below lies a stretch of clear water, winding like a ribbon.

A few fishing boats float on the river, while the bamboo groves along the shore sway greenly.

A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of grass and trees, refreshing the mind and body.

Seeing a flat cliff ahead, Ning Chen descended from the clouds. Yang Jian followed suit, and the two stood on the cliff edge, gazing at the distant mountains and nearby waters, speechless for a moment.

Yang Jian thought to himself, "So, calling him 'uncle' can save my mother?"

Damn it, why didn't I try it before?

Ning Chen thought to himself, "Your whole family are stubborn. Is it so hard to call me uncle? You almost caused Yao Ji's soul to be destroyed."

Ning Chen turned around, his smile unchanged, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"That's enough for now, I should return to Heaven to report my decree."

He paused, then added with a smile.

"Brother Jian, take care."

Yang Jian was taken aback.

"What...did you call me?"

Ning Chen blinked.

"Brother Jian, just now in Peach Mountain, you were calling out to me properly, and Mother even acknowledged me."

Yang Jian frowned, his face flushed slightly, and he opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

He paused for a moment, then turned his head and spoke to the Howling Celestial Dog crouching at his feet.

"You go back first."

The dog was perceptive; it looked at its owner, then at Ning Chen, let out a low growl, and dared not linger. It wagged its tail, transformed into a streak of black light, and disappeared into the clouds.

Only two people remained on the cliff.

The wind ruffled the hem of Yang Jian's black cloak. He adjusted his breathing, his voice carrying a hint of unease.

"Envoy Ningbei, from now on... from now on, please still call me Yang Jian. As for the title 'Brother Jian,' we were only brothers for a few days in the world of inner demons, so that title is not quite appropriate."

Ning Chen chuckled inwardly upon hearing this.

Hmph, you owe me karma, so you think you can just turn your back on me?

This little brother of mine, I'll eat your food for the rest of my life.

But he showed no sign of it on his face and said seriously.

"No, I was your elder brother for six whole years in the Demon World, so I was your biological elder brother. Moreover, the timeline changed because of you and me, and Fairy Yao Ji has become my mother. This kinship is genuine. So why can't I call you Jian's younger brother now that we're out of the Demon World? What will you say when your mother returns and asks where your elder brother is?"

Yang Jian was speechless.

He wanted to say that it was just a dream, a demonic illusion, but his mother's words echoed in his ears.

He wanted to say that he was the Heavenly Judge, but such a title would be disrespectful. However, when the words came out, they seemed too cold-hearted.

Yang Jian's ears felt slightly hot. He lowered his gaze and after a long while, he whispered.

"Then... call me that in private, but in public please address me by my official title."

Seeing that he finally relented, Ning Chen felt smug. He thought to himself, "I've really made a killing this time. Not only did I learn the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, but I also recognized Yang Jian as my younger brother."

He was secretly pleased, but on the surface he remained serious and nodded.

"Okay, Brother Jian!"