The moment their feet touched the soil of the Upper World, the air changed.
It was heavier.
Denser.
Every breath carried spiritual energy far purer than the Lower World. Mountains floated in the distance. Rivers shimmered like flowing crystal. The sky itself seemed closer—watching.
The nine women stood together on a cliff overlooking an unfamiliar land.
In Mu Xueqing's arms, the child squirmed softly.
He looked small against the vastness of the Upper World. His eyes were wide, curious. His fingers curled and uncurled, reaching at the glowing mist drifting in the air.
"Ahh…" he babbled.
Then he grabbed Mu Xueqing's sleeve and stuffed it into his mouth clumsily.
The Dragon couldn't help the faint smile that curved her lips.
"He truly acts like a newborn."
"He is one," the Rabbit said gently.
Despite the power sealed within him, he moved like an infant. His legs kicked weakly. His neck wobbled if unsupported. And when the wind blew too strong—
His lips trembled.
And he let out a soft cry.
"Waa…"
The sound shattered nine hearts at once.
Mu Xueqing immediately adjusted her hold, rocking him gently.
"I'm here."
The Phoenix stepped closer, flames dimmed to warmth.
"Hungry."
The child's cry turned sharper.
"Waa—!"
The Tiger glared at the others. "Who fed him last?"
The Fox folded her arms. "You did."
"That was before ascension."
"He needs stability first," the Xuanwu said calmly.
The Dragon exhaled slowly. "We suppress our cultivation. This world is unfamiliar."
In the Upper World, cultivation rose through sixteen realms. Each realm held nine stages.
But here, strength meant attention.
And attention meant danger.
They chose restraint.
One by one, they suppressed their auras carefully, stabilizing their cultivation at the Fifth Realm — Nascent Soul Realm.
Not peak.
Not dominant.
But strong enough to survive.
Mu Xueqing stabilized at Nascent Soul Realm, Fourth Stage.
The Azure Dragon at Fourth Stage.
The Phoenix at Third Stage.
The Tiger at Fourth Stage.
The Xuanwu at Fourth Stage.
The Fox at Third Stage.
The Roc at Fourth Stage.
The Rabbit at Third Stage.
The Serpent at Fourth Stage.
Their true strength remained sealed deeper.
For now—they would appear as newly ascended cultivators who had broken into the Nascent Soul Realm.
Powerful.
But not terrifying.
The child's aura was easier to measure.
He had completed the first realm already.
Spirit Awakening Realm — Fifth Stage.
For a newborn—
It was monstrous.
For the Upper World—
It was merely astonishing.
He sniffled softly, tiny face scrunched.
"Milk…"
Nine figures moved at once.
"Me."
"No."
"He reached for me."
"He did not."
"He looked at me."
The argument escalated instantly.
Spiritual pressure rippled outward in waves before being forcefully suppressed again.
Mu Xueqing finally sat on a smooth stone and opened her arms calmly.
"Enough."
The child turned his head.
His watery eyes fixed on her.
He stretched both tiny hands toward her, fingers opening and closing.
"Ma…"
Silence fell.
All nine froze.
He didn't know what he was saying.
It was just instinct.
But the word pierced them.
Mu Xueqing's composure cracked for a breath.
She gathered him gently.
When he latched, the air around them shimmered softly as spiritual energy flowed—not violently, but steadily.
The other eight watched closely.
Jealousy burned quietly.
Possessiveness sharpened.
But none interrupted.
Not this time.
They could not remain in the open wilderness.
The Upper World was vast and ruled by powerful sects and clans.
They needed information.
They needed protection under a banner.
And they needed resources.
For him.
The Dragon extended her spiritual sense outward carefully.
"To the east. A city."
They moved swiftly but without arrogance, arriving at a massive floating city carved into a mountainside. Markets bustled. Cultivators in sect robes moved through the streets. Flying swords streaked across the sky.
The nine women immediately drew attention.
Their beauty alone silenced conversation.
Their presence—calm yet unfathomable—made Nascent Soul cultivators step aside unconsciously.
The child blinked at the noise.
Overwhelmed.
His lips trembled again.
Then—
He cried.
"Waa—!"
The sound echoed embarrassingly loud in the busy street.
The Tiger's killing intent flared instinctively at the stares that followed.
The Fox stepped in front smoothly, blocking curious gazes.
The Rabbit gently covered his ears.
"It's too loud."
Mu Xueqing held him close, whispering softly.
"It's alright."
The Phoenix's eyes scanned the surroundings coldly.
"Gather information quickly."
They entered a pavilion known for selling intelligence.
The old shopkeeper at the counter nearly choked when nine peerless women entered at once.
"Information," the Xuanwu said calmly. "Major sects."
The old man swallowed nervously.
"There are five dominant sects in this region…"
He listed them one by one.
The Heavenly Sword Sect — focused on sword cultivation, strict but powerful.
The Violet Cloud Palace — female-dominated, known for beauty and illusion arts.
The Earth Profound Hall — defensive and resource-rich.
The Thousand Beast Pavilion — spirit beast tamers.
The Starfall Immortal Sect — strongest in this territory.
The Fox's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Starfall."
The shopkeeper nodded hurriedly. "They recruit outer disciples every three months."
The Dragon asked calmly, "Requirements?"
"Bone age under thirty. At least Spirit Awakening Seventh Stage."
All nine exchanged glances.
The child hiccupped softly.
Spirit Awakening Realm — Fifth Stage.
He was two stages short.
Mu Xueqing looked down at him.
He blinked back innocently.
Then smiled.
Milk dribbled slightly from the corner of his lips.
The Phoenix's expression softened immediately.
"We can wait."
The Tiger crossed her arms.
"We cultivate quietly. Enter as disciples."
The Roc frowned slightly. "Disciples?"
"Yes," Mu Xueqing said evenly. "We do not attract attention. We rise steadily."
The Serpent's eyes gleamed faintly. "And if someone dares approach him?"
The Tiger's lips curved faintly.
"They die."
The child yawned loudly.
Tiny fists rubbing his eyes.
All nine immediately forgot the conversation.
"He's sleepy."
"Give him to me."
"No, you startled him earlier."
"I did not."
"You did."
The Dragon sighed faintly but reached out anyway.
He shifted from arm to arm, finally settling against the Rabbit's chest.
He let out a soft content sigh.
Then drifted to sleep.
The bustling Upper World city continued around them.
Powerful sects loomed in the distance.
Recruitment trials awaited.
Unknown enemies stirred quietly.
But at that moment—
Nine supreme beings stood in the middle of a foreign world, arguing in hushed voices over who would hold a sleeping newborn.
Their cultivation stabilized at the Fifth Realm.
Their strength sealed beneath calm exteriors.
Their goal clear.
Enter a powerful sect.
Gather resources.
Rise step by step.
For him.
Because he was still small.
Still soft.
Still crying for milk.
And the Upper World—
Would learn soon enough—
That beneath their restraint,
They were not ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.
They were nine beings who would climb heaven itself—
If it meant protecting the child sleeping peacefully in their arms.