After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

On the phoenix carriage, everyone waited quietly.

Ji Ning seemed a little scared and moved closer to Ao Tianxin, whispering, "Sister Tianxin, where did all those people go?"

Ao Tianxin gently embraced her.

"It's okay, your brother is here."

Ji Ning nodded, but her eyes were still looking down.

A few dozen breaths later, Granny Zhu returned.

He landed back in front of the carriage, his face looking very unpleasant.

"How is it?" Lin Chu asked.

There really wasn't a single person there.

"The furnishings inside the house were not disordered, the grains were not touched, and the sacred fields were not overgrown. The chickens, dogs, cattle, and sheep were still there, and even though wild animals entered the city, no corpses were found."

"The entire capital city seemed to have vanished as if all its inhabitants had suddenly disappeared."

Grandma Zhu paused for a moment.

"I've traveled to all the cities you just passed through."

"The longest period of disappearance will not exceed one month."

"The palace is the same; there's no one left."

Lin Chu fell silent.

Vanished into thin air.

It wasn't a massacre; there are no traces.

Even the chickens and dogs survived, but the people were missing.

"This place is not safe to stay any longer. Let's return to Tianlan City first."

The imperial carriage set off once again.

This time, it no longer moved slowly, but transformed directly into a pale golden streak, sweeping across the sky.

Everyone was no longer as relaxed as they had been when they arrived.

……

Tianlan City.

The main hall of the clan's territory.

Lin Lan held her teacup and glanced at the people below.

"explain."

"In Longyuan, the Third Young Master acted intimately with Ao Tianxin of the Ao Clan in front of various forces, large and small."

"The Ao clan immediately announced that the Third Young Master was their honored guest."

Lin Lan put down her teacup.

"Ao Tianxin".

"Have you checked?"

"I've checked. He's a cultivator who ascended from the lower realm. His origins are unknown. He's been with the Ao clan for several hundred years. He's at the Celestial Immortal realm, just one step away from becoming a True Immortal."

Before Lin Lan could speak, a pale golden figure walked in from outside the hall.

Ji Muwan had obviously received the message as well, and instead of showing any displeasure, she smiled.

"This Ao Tianxin is not bad."

Ji Muwan sat down next to the main seat.

"I heard that he was born with exceptional talent and reached the peak of the Celestial Immortal realm in just a few hundred years after his ascension."

"What's most admirable is that she's not afraid of power. Cang Li from the Cang Clan has been pursuing her for so many years, but she hasn't even given him a second glance. That's very good."

She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and her eyes were full of satisfaction.

Lin Lan nodded.

"It's really good."

"It's customary to prepare a small gift for a first meeting."

"You decide what to do."

……

As the phoenix carriage flew into the sky above Tianlan City, many people in the city looked up.

"The Third Young Master is back!"

"You've only been gone a short while, and you're already back?"

Ao Tianxin stood by the carriage, gazing down at the colossal city that stretched as far as the eye could see, his heart trembling.

"How is it?" Lin Chu asked.

Ao Tianxin came to her senses and took a light breath.

"It's even more amazing than I imagined."

She looked into the distance, feeling a little nervous for a moment.

"Does this count as meeting the parents?"

"No, that doesn't count." Lin Chu squeezed her hand. "You've been my family for a long time."

Ao Tianxin's ears felt slightly hot, and she looked away.

"You really are something."

"What's really the case?"

"It's nothing."

The phoenix carriage slowly descended into the clan's territory.

Qi Jun and the others disembarked from the flying boat at the rear and bid farewell to Lin Chu.

"Third Young Master, we'll head back now!"

Lin Chu nodded.

"Everyone, you can leave now."

A group of people waved and laughed at Ao Tianxin.

"See you next time, sister-in-law!"

Having weathered many storms, Ao Tianxin remained calm and even smiled slightly at them.

Soon a young maidservant came to greet them.

"Third Young Master!"

Lin Chu held Ji Ning's hand, Ji Ning was holding Gun Gun in her arms, and Ao Tianxin followed beside them.

"Where are your father and mother?"

"The head of the family and his wife are waiting for you in the main hall."

Lin Chu nodded and led the two of them strode toward the main hall.

Ji Ning, carrying Gun Gun, started running as soon as she entered the door.

Inside the main hall.

Lin Lan and Ji Muwan were sitting at the head of the table.

Ji Ning released her grip as soon as she saw Ji Muwan from afar.

It rolled onto the ground, found a soft cushion, curled up in a ball, and soon started snoring.

"Mother!"

Ji Ning threw herself into Ji Muwan's arms, rubbing her little face against hers repeatedly.

"Mom, I miss you so much!"

Ji Muwan smiled brightly and picked up the little girl.

"Missing your mother?"

"I miss you so much!" Ji Ning hugged her neck, her voice sweet.

Lin Chu led Ao Tianxin in.

"Father, Mother."

Ao Tianxin raised her head slightly and saw the woman sitting there gracefully, with a gentle and elegant demeanor.

"Greetings, Patriarch Lin, Madam Lin." She lowered her eyes and gave a curtsy.

Ji Muwan's gaze fell on Ao Tianxin, scrutinizing her for a few moments.

A smile appeared in his eyes.

Lin Lan nodded, her gaze scrutinizing, but mostly satisfied.

"Please sit down," Ji Muwan said with a smile.

"Thank you, Madam."

Ao Tianxin sat down as instructed.

Lin Chu sat down next to her naturally.

The more Ji Muwan looked at the girl, the more she felt a connection with her.

"Miss Tianxin, have you settled in well on your journey?"

"Thank you for your concern, Madam." Ao Tianxin smiled. "Everything is fine."

"I heard that you ascended to the Celestial Realm in just a few hundred years."

"Such talent is among the best of the younger generation in Longyuan."

Ao Tianxin shook her head slightly.

"Madam, you flatter me. Longyuan has a profound cultural heritage."

"It's even more remarkable that someone so young has such cultivation," Lin Lan said.

Ji Muwan took over the conversation, her eyes gentle.

"Since Chu'er has chosen you as one of her people, we naturally consider you family."

"Stay comfortably in the manor these days."

Ao Tianxin knew the weight of these words, so he stood up and bowed.

"Thank you, Madam."

Ji Muwan stopped beating around the bush and took out a crystal-clear piece of immortal jade from her sleeve.

"Since it's our first meeting, I should give you a gift."

"This piece of immortal jade is a protective item that I personally refined."

"It activates automatically in critical situations and can block at least three attacks from a Celestial Lord."

She gently touched the jade, and it transformed into a stream of light, drifting towards Ao Tianxin and landing in her palm.

Ao Tianxin was startled.

It can block the immortal lord three times.

If placed in Longyuan, such a life-saving item would be enough to make the four clans fight tooth and nail for it.

She subconsciously looked at Lin Chu and saw Lin Chu nod.

Ao Tianxin no longer hesitated, clasped her hands together, and solemnly accepted it.

"Thank you for your kindness, Madam."

Ji Muwan's smile grew even gentler.

"Calling me 'Madam' is too formal."

Ao Tianxin's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Thank you... Auntie."

Ji Muwan smiled even more contentedly.

Ao Tianxin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Chu turned her head and gave her a look, as if to say: See, what did I tell you? My parents are very easy to talk to.

Ao Tianxin smiled slightly.

The group exchanged pleasantries for a few more moments, the aroma of tea wafting through the air.

Then Lin Chu spoke.

"Father, Mother."

"On the way back, we encountered something strange."

Lin Lan looked surprised. Could something be so strange to this kid?

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Lin Chu recounted the entire situation of that small country.

People have vanished from more than a dozen cities across the country.

The livestock are still there, the wild animals are still there.

There were no signs of struggle in the city; even the food was left on the table.

The monks in the palace also disappeared.

"I asked Granny Zhu to go down and investigate. She said the person had been missing for no more than a month."

The words fell.

Lin Lan and Ji Muwan exchanged a glance.

Their expressions gradually turned serious.

"The entire small country was wiped out..."

Ji Muwan also frowned.

"This kind of style..."

"Have more fish slipped through the net above?"