CHAPTER 433: CHAPTER 0430: THEY HAVE BEEN INVADING MY HOMELAND

"Brother Lin, my legs are weak."

Qin Yang looked at the spirit-infused mouse in front of them, his face pale. He had never seen such a creature before. The usually detestable street rats that people chased away now appeared before them like a towering giant.

The scene was somewhat terrifying.

Especially the aura exuding from the mouse—it was overwhelming, making it difficult for him to catch his breath.

Lin Fan spoke softly, "Don’t go weak on me; get ready to run."

A mere mouse had become an Immortal Emperor-level powerhouse. If word got out, no one would dare believe it.

With no superior bloodline and no extraordinary talent to boast about, how had this mouse managed to ascend to Immortal Emperor? It’s baffling to even imagine how many immortal opportunities he must have obtained.

Lin Fan stayed vigilant. If the opponent made a move, even at this distance, it was unlikely they’d escape unscathed.

Yet, unexpectedly, the Mouse Emperor Immortal spoke.

"Guests from afar, this mouse is delighted."

Lin Fan froze. This was not quite what he had envisioned. Instead of attacking, the opponent began interacting with them, reigniting a glimmer of hope in Lin Fan.

The idea of luring the enemy into a trap? Naturally, it was out of the question.

A living, flawless Immortal Emperor-level creature right before their eyes—it would indeed be nearly impossible to flee.

Buzz!

At this moment, the gigantic mouse shrank into the form of an old man adorned with mouse ears, a thin, elongated tail, and a simple cloth robe while holding a book in his hand.

""

This was a hybrid form of a mouse and a human. While it appeared human, one would hesitate to call it that.

Most mouse-like traits were preserved.

Its hands resembled human hands, but its bare feet were unmistakably mouse paws.

Anyone with functioning eyesight could tell—this was undoubtedly a mouse.

"Greetings, and welcome to the Mouse Manor. Your visit brings splendor to this humble abode. If you will indulge me, why not step inside and sit for a while?" the Mouse Emperor Immortal said warmly.

Lin Fan and the others exchanged glances.

They were utterly stunned.

If the Mouse Emperor Immortal had attacked them immediately, it would have been understandable given his unparalleled strength. Seeing unrelated individuals intruding would naturally warrant action.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal, noticing their silence, appeared puzzled.

He glanced down at himself, seemingly wondering what might appear intimidating about his attire.

Flipping through the book in his hand, , he speculated whether there might be issues with his choice of words, which could have frightened them.

This mouse would now investigate what could be said to make things better.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal’s expressions and actions were hilariously theatrical. Occasionally furrowing his brows, then relaxing them, it seemed as though every difficulty had been resolved effortlessly.

Aha!

The Mouse Emperor Immortal understood now. He realized why they hesitated to respond and spoke gently, "Everyone, this mouse bears no ill intentions. I merely pride myself on being an excellent host. Your presence here brings me immense joy."

"I implore you to allow me to fulfill my duties as a host."

Qin Yang clutched Lin Fan’s sleeve and whispered nervously, "Brother Lin, I’m completely bewildered; my mind is all fuzzy. What does he mean? Should we run or stay?"

Lin Fan attentively observed the Mouse Emperor Immortal, staying silent for a long while before replying.

"We can trust him. He indeed shows no malice; it might work."

He examined the Mouse Emperor Immortal’s annotations and interactions meticulously, ensuring there were no errors or discrepancies.

Xiang Fei added, "Quite so. His aura is incredibly strong, far exceeding anything we’ve encountered before. If he intended us harm, we’d hardly stand a chance of escaping."

At that moment.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "It would be impolite to refuse such graciousness. We humbly accept your offer."

"Brother Lin, are you serious?!" Qin Yang was apprehensive. Falling into this creature’s hands would make escape nearly impossible. From his perspective, they should run as far and as fast as possible.

Lin Fan gestured for Qin Yang to relax and stay calm.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal beamed cheerfully, then advanced toward Lin Fan and his companions, showcasing refined manners. "Please, do come inside. This humble dwelling may lack remarkable features, but the surrounding scenery is delightful enough to be captivating."

By the steps.

A group of individuals waited, drenched in sweat.

Were those youngsters coming or not? They wouldn’t have tricked them, right?

The Immortal Kings among the group felt deceived. It seemed those boys had entered the Ancient Mountain only to hunt for treasures.

"We can’t wait any longer; we must find a way to break the Big Array quickly," one of the Immortal Kings proposed.

They all possessed extraordinary abilities capable of defying the heavens and the earth. Even if these arrays had unimaginable mystical powers, they could not deter their advance.

Shortly thereafter.

Lin Fan and the others followed the Mouse Emperor Immortal to a straw hut surrounded by a courtyard fenced with wooden rails. These wooden rails were extraordinary, weathered by time yet untouched by decay.

Lin Fan touched them with his palm.

[Dragon Wood: Immortal Wood used by True Dragons to construct their Dragon Nests.]

Amazing.

Truly amazing.

If those Immortal Kings outside learned that an ascended mouse used such immortal wood for mere fencing, they’d likely cough blood in disbelief.

Inside the courtyard.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal waved his hand, summoning chairs out of thin air. These chairs, too, were constructed from rare and precious materials.

"Apologies for the simplicity of this humble abode that seldom receives visitors. I offer plain tea as hospitality; I ask for your understanding." The Mouse Emperor Immortal maintained a warm and unhurried demeanor, reminiscent of ancient sages who lived in seclusion, detached from worldly affairs, and embraced nature.

Xiang Fei and Qin Yang were dumbstruck by the sight. Though the tea itself seemed ordinary, the leaf floating atop each cup was anything but.

A golden tea leaf, shimmering like a living treasure, with veins resembling galaxies swirling within its structure.

Lin Fan lifted his teacup and took a small sip.

[Bodhi Leaf: A leaf sprouted from the Bodhi Tree grown upon the Ancient Buddha’s passing, possessing infinite mysteries.]

Instantly, he felt his mana surge.

A single sip of tea had amplified ten thousand years’ worth of mana.

This was almost comparable to the Divine Medicine found in the Forbidden Lands of the cultivation realm.

Unfortunately, the tea only offered a singular increase.

Xiang Fei and Qin Yang were visibly shocked. They stared at the Mouse Emperor Immortal in disbelief. What kind of being was this? To possess treasures like these? If such items found their way outside, countless individuals would fight over them, spilling blood for the chance.

As for the fruits adorning the table, their properties were self-evident—they were astonishing Immortal Fruits brimming with untold wonders.

Compared to scavenging cave mansions, acquiring these treasures here felt far easier.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal remarked, "You must’ve visited that small hill earlier."

"Yes, we did," Lin Fan replied. He still hadn’t figured out much about the Mouse Emperor Immortal, finding him a bit peculiar—not hostile, but certainly odd in other ways.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal sighed, "I apologize for the trouble you endured. This place is my home, yet it has been invaded by evildoers. I wanted to drive them away, but they proved too powerful for me to handle."

"If you see any such locations, please do not venture in."

Lin Fan’s heart sank as he began to understand. The Mouse Emperor Immortal had started as a mere mortal mouse but, through unparalleled luck, gained countless immortal opportunities. Over tens of thousands of years, he naturally regarded this land as his home. To him, the ancient beings who established cave mansions here were merely invaders trespassing upon his home.

Ordinary mortal mice that achieve spirit-infused enlightenment typically need guidance, yet in this isolated place, where would he learn? Judging by the book he held, much of what the Mouse Emperor Immortal now understood likely came from its pages.

Without formal training in Divine Skills, his innate abilities developed due to his overwhelmingly powerful mana and evolving bloodline, triggering his Innate Divine Ability.

Though he lacked the elegance of Divine Skills, brute strength alone rendered them largely unnecessary. Even dazzling abilities pale against raw power.

He may not be the strongest among Immortal Emperors.

But he undoubtedly possessed the most abundant mana, having lived far too long and consumed countless Immortal Treasures within this land. Imagine the cumulative wisdom from the cave mansions of hundreds of ancient beings imbibing into one presence.

"Senior Shu, having lived here for so long, have you ever encountered others?" Lin Fan asked.

The Mouse Emperor Immortal sighed, "Once, a long time ago, a dog entered these lands. I wished to extend hospitality, inviting him into my humble abode, but he attacked me outright. I wasn’t his match and had to dig a hole to escape far away. It took years before I mustered the courage to return, and the dog never appeared again."

Qin Yang whispered to Xiang Fei, "I think this mouse has truly claimed this area as his domain."

Xiang Fei motioned for him to stay silent; when facing someone you cannot defeat, listening quietly is wise.

"Sigh, the world is fraught with deceit, Senior Shu. You must tread carefully," Lin Fan commented sympathetically. He had already adapted to the situation. Regardless of the mouse’s origins, he was now an Immortal Emperor. Whether they liked it or not, they had to accept this reality.

"Fraught with deceit?" The Mouse Emperor Immortal seemed puzzled and flipped through . Then, suddenly enlightened, he said, "Ah, it means not to trust others easily."

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he added.

"I beg your pardon for letting you see this. My memory grows poor with age. This book, which I once memorized so thoroughly, now I forget within mere moments."

Lin Fan found the Mouse Emperor Immortal exceedingly bizarre.

Even for a mortal mouse, having achieved an Immortal Emperor’s terrifying level of existence, how could such things still occur? Could it be that innate characteristics of the species influenced their future?

Could even immense power not dictate certain aspects?

Lin Fan asked, "Have you visited the nearby cave mansions, Senior Shu?"

"I have, from time to time, I explore them, but there’s nothing inside—just scraps and rubbish," answered the Mouse Emperor Immortal.

Lin Fan kept observing the Mouse Emperor Immortal.

The annotations shifted.

The dilapidated state of those cave mansions was of his own doing.

Long ago, despite his abundant mana, his Spiritual Wisdom hadn’t awakened.

He’d steal treasures and consume ancient beings’ corpses, all unknowingly. Later, after consuming rare and extraordinary items, his Spiritual Wisdom emerged, leaving him unaware of his past actions.

"Oh, by the way, there’s a place you must absolutely avoid," the Mouse Emperor Immortal warned, his expression growing serious. With evident fear, he pointed to the distance and said, "There’s a deep abyss, very dark, very dark. When I approached, I heard voices coming from it. I thought it was friends visiting from afar, eager to extend hospitality, but something terrifying happened—I nearly perished."

"My domain has continually been invaded, yet I lack the strength to protect my home."

"But worry not; this surrounding area is quite safe. Whenever I have free time, I patrol to ensure no evildoers intrude upon my home."

Dumbfounded.

Master of inversion—commendably absurd.