Chapter 837: Family Reunion

When Li Yi entered the Yongchang Palace, he immediately felt an endless force—the convergence of the people's incense faith. To mortals, it was merely an ordinary palace; to cultivators, it shimmered with the light of belief everywhere.

All manner of wondrous phenomena arose within the incense, transforming the place into a heavenly paradise on earth, as if everything under heaven could be had with a mere reach.

Under such immense incense nourishment, every tile of the palace seemed to glow.

"A dynasty's emperor, receiving incense offerings from all under heaven, combined with immortal cultivation techniques—how powerful must he have become?" Li Yi thought in awe.

Since the world shattered the mountain temples and unified all spirits and demons, his father, the Divine Martial Emperor, had walked a path never before seen—here in this world, he was nearly invincible.

"I pay homage to True Person Taiyi," a dignified and graceful woman appeared before Li Yi, clad in splendid court robes, with several snowy tails swaying behind her.

"Fox spirit." Li Yi's gaze flickered—he knew this woman was one of his father's concubines.

As a man from Earth who had crossed over, his father had always been a bit unconventional, fond of the unusual.

But Li Yi said nothing; given his father's current status, he could not be bound by tradition, and as an emperor, taking concubines and naming empresses was often less about personal desire than about dynastic stability.

Li Yi returned her bow out of courtesy.

"True Person, since you've returned, come to the inner hall for a gathering," the Divine Martial Emperor's voice suddenly echoed throughout the great hall.

Empress De smiled and gestured slightly; she did not enter the inner hall but remained in the outer hall, instructing Golden Eye Guard Wang Ning to enforce strict lockdown of the Yongchang Palace tonight—no one was to approach.

Li Yi now strode toward the inner hall.

Soon.

He saw his father—the current Divine Martial Emperor—wearing casual attire, seated at a large table, smiling as he poured himself a cup of wine, the table already laden with exquisite delicacies.

"Xiao Yi, come, have a drink with me. You haven't returned in ages—I thought something had happened to you. Fortunately, those immortal ladies said they're bound to your life—if you died, they'd die too. Otherwise, I might not have been able to stay in this world."

Li Jiye now set aside the Divine Martial Emperor's bearing and resumed the role of an ordinary father.

"Dad, you've got it easy—being emperor here, living in luxury. I've been running all over the place, barely escaping death at every turn," Li Yi couldn't help but complain.

Li Jiye sighed, saying, "What else can I do? I'm trapped in this world and can't leave. But I haven't been idle. Since we shattered the mountain temples, with those immortal ladies holding the fort, the world unified swiftly. I've armed my troops, expanded the Golden Eye Guard and Embroidered Uniform Guard, intensified training, implemented benevolent governance internally—reducing taxes, boosting population—and waged wars south and north to expand territory. I've even had to trouble those immortal ladies to alter the seasons, move mountains and fill seas, build bridges and pave roads. Being emperor isn't easy."

"But the results are clear—I now command a powerful army of cultivators, unstoppable and invincible."

He spoke with evident pride.

After all, throughout history—even on Earth—no emperor had ever reached such a height.

"I've seen the strength of your Golden Eye Guard and Embroidered Uniform Guard. They're impressive, but only viable in this world where incense grants divinity. Return to Earth without incense support, and they'd be crushed by enemies," Li Yi said.

Li Jiye replied, "I've considered this. If we use the cross-world machine to open and maintain a portal for long periods, the incense flow won't break—there's still room to operate."

Li Yi said, "Now isn't the time to discuss this. I've been running all over the outside world—and I've successfully rescued Mother."

"What?" Li Jiye leapt to his feet in shock, his immense aura spilling out uncontrollably, shaking the entire palace.

Only the Yongchang Palace's incense reinforcement prevented it from collapsing.

"Xiao Yi, is this true? Are you not lying? How is this possible? So much time has passed—how could you have actually saved your mother?"

Li Jiye's hands trembled slightly, torn between excitement and disbelief.

Li Yi said, "Fortunately, in that world, there exists a being of immense power who can transcend time and alter past and future. But none of that matters now—Mother's soul is fragile. That's why I came here—to use incense energy to nourish her soul, then rebuild her body and bring her back fully to life."

As he spoke, he released the small black cat from within the Red Gold Five Elements Bracelet.

The black cat landed on the table and immediately looked around curiously.

"This is..." Li Jiye stared at the cat, momentarily stunned—but quickly realized: within this ordinary cat's body resided the soul of an evolved being.

Though the soul was weak, even feeble, it stirred in him a sense of familiarity and kinship.

"Xiao Yu, it's me—Jiye," Li Jiye cried out, voice trembling with emotion.

Zheng Xiuyu was his wife's name—but only Li Jiye, her husband, ever called her Xiao Yu. Hearing it, the black cat instantly bristled, staring at Li Jiye in utter shock.

Years had passed. Li Jiye had been reborn through a borrowed body. Even Li Yi had nearly failed to recognize him; for Zheng Xiuyu, she had just crossed over—moments ago, she and her husband were fleeing from a demon ghost, barely escaping death.

The next moment, she was rescued, forced to possess a cat, then encountered a son she believed to be from over a decade in the future—and now a husband she didn't recognize. The whirlwind of changes overwhelmed her completely.

"Dad, don't talk now—quickly issue the decree. Let Mother's soul receive incense. We can talk later," Li Yi said calmly. This was no time for reminiscing.

As long as she lived, everything else could wait.

"Yes, Xiao Yi, you're right."

Li Jiye snapped back to himself, steadied his composure, and resumed his role as Divine Martial Emperor. He barked: "Let it be known by imperial decree: I hereby enfeoff..."

He paused.

Looking at the black cat before him, Li Jiye felt his head spin.

What title should he grant?

Empress? But his wife was a black cat—this image was absurd. Even if the people mocked him, the real problem was: such a form couldn't gather incense effectively, hindering her eventual ascension to divinity.

Enfeoff her as a minor deity? What if, once her power returned, she killed him for it?

Instantly, he turned to Li Yi with a pleading look.

This was too big—he needed his son to take the blame.

Seeing this, Li Yi said, "Dad, enfeoff her as the black cat. Once Mother's soul strengthens and her body is restored, then you can enfeoff her as Empress. Things must be done step by step."

"Yes, that's right," Li Jiye straightened up with renewed confidence, glanced at the cat, and muttered, "Xiao Yu, this was your son's idea—don't hold it against me later."

"I enfeoff the black cat Xiao Yu as Great General Who Pacifies Mice, rank from third grade."

He hastily invented a minor military title and issued the decree.

Though improvised, as the Divine Martial Emperor, his word was law—once spoken, it was instantly recognized without the need for a written edict.

As Li Jiye finished speaking,

The enfeoffment took effect.

The black cat immediately gained the title of Great General Who Pacifies Mice—and instantly, a torrent of incense energy surged toward her.

As the incense flowed in,

Zheng Xiuyu's soul, bound within the cat, rapidly regained strength, shedding its former weakness and growing swiftly.

This was the unreasonable power of incense energy.

As long as your soul still lived—even if barely clinging to life—once incense surged in, you could ascend to divinity in a single step.

Though the title of Great General Who Pacifies Mice granted only modest incense, it was more than enough for a soul-level evolved being.

Only moments passed.

The black cat's body glowed brightly—and from within, a woman's soul emerged, bathed in incense light.

"It's done!" Li Jiye, seeing his wife's soul, was overwhelmed with joy.

Li Yi, seeing his mother's form, was momentarily dazed.

How many years had passed?

He never imagined his family would reunite in such an extraordinary way.

Tears welled in his eyes.

(End of Chapter)