After Xuan Yu left, Ye Ling used the spiritual power of the World-Ending Spirit Fire to open his small world and sent the severely injured Tian Xing into it to heal.
After settling Tian Xing, the World-Ending Spirit Fire couldn't help but tease Ye Ling, "Stinky brat, you never thought you'd have a day like this, did you? You have to rely on this great me for everything."
"Haha, stinky brat, you have to listen to me now. If I tell you to go east, you absolutely cannot go west!"
"But speaking of which, my spiritual power isn't as much as yours. You have to use it sparingly. Don't get too excited and drain me dry."
Ye Ling chuckled, "Don't worry. Your spiritual power is too weak, and I'm not used to using it. After a few days when I recover a bit, I won't borrow your power anymore."
"For this period, I'll have to endure a little."
The World-Ending Spirit Fire's face instantly turned dark. It angrily rebuked Ye Ling, "Brat, are you looking down on me? If you have the guts, don't use my spiritual power!"
With that, the World-Ending Spirit Fire directly withdrew the spiritual power it had lent to Ye Ling, causing Ye Ling to lose his balance and tumble into the farmland, splashing water everywhere!
"Who's there?"
The huge commotion caused by Ye Ling falling into the farmland immediately attracted the attention of the villagers working nearby.
Hearing the villagers' approaching footsteps, Ye Ling quickly apologized to the World-Ending Spirit Fire, "Great World-Ending Spirit Fire, I was wrong. Quickly lend me your spiritual power and don't let me make a fool of myself."
After Xuan Yu left, Ye Ling could no longer maintain the protective barrier, so he had to reveal his form.
As soon as Ye Ling fell into the field, all the nearby villagers spotted him immediately.
However, the World-Ending Spirit Fire seemed genuinely angry and had no intention of lending Ye Ling its spiritual power. Instead, it directly burrowed into Ye Ling's wrist and sneered, "Brat, since they are all ordinary people nearby, they can't hurt you. I'll let you experience what it's like to be at the mercy of others. Let's see if you're still arrogant after this!"
"I want to make you understand that I, the Great World-Ending Spirit Fire, am still the Great World-Ending Spirit Fire."
"World-Ending Spirit Fire, you scoundrel..." Ye Ling felt extremely helpless at the World-Ending Spirit Fire's actions. However, he had no other options now and could only remain soaking in the field, waiting for the villagers to pick him up.
Soon, a few farmhands discovered Ye Ling lying in the field.
However, those farmhands seemed to have mistaken Ye Ling for a thief stealing crops. After lifting Ye Ling, they immediately tied him up with ropes.
Bound to the ground by the ropes, Ye Ling struggled to look up at the burly farmhands surrounding him. He quickly explained, "Good sirs, you've misunderstood. I was just passing by and accidentally fell into the field."
"I really didn't intend to steal your crops."
A farmhand with tanned skin and a somewhat honest face smiled confidently at Ye Ling, "You don't need to argue. Recently, monsters have been stealing our crops. We've been keeping watch here for days, and today we finally caught you."
"I never expected you crop thieves to look so human and still engage in such petty thievery!"
Ye Ling said with a wry smile, "Brothers, it's truly a misunderstanding... You all said monsters were stealing your crops, and I'm not a monster!"
The farmhand said, "No more arguing! We'll take you to the village chief, and he'll be the judge!"
With that, the farmhand waved his hand, "Brothers, carry this thief back!"
"Yes, Brother Dazhuang!"
The few farmhands followed Dazhuang's command and quickly lifted Ye Ling, heading towards the village.
Soon, the entire village knew that the crop thief had been caught. Many people came out to watch, pointing and gesturing at Ye Ling, as if they truly believed he was a monster capable of transforming into a human and stealing crops.
Listening to the villagers' gossip, Ye Ling could only smile wryly and call out to the World-Ending Spirit Fire, "World-Ending Spirit Fire, I was wrong. Please, be merciful and lend me some spiritual power... Being watched like this is truly unpleasant!"
World-Ending Spirit Fire: "No lending! Since you don't think highly of my spiritual power anyway, you can just endure it yourself."
Seeing that he couldn't communicate with the World-Ending Spirit Fire, Ye Ling sighed and obediently lay in the hands of the farmhands, allowing them to carry him to the center of the village.
Soon, Ye Ling was tied to a pillar, surrounded by a large circle of villagers.
Ye Ling looked at the villagers around him and sighed heavily, "I never imagined that after a lifetime of traversing the world, I would end up in such a predicament..."
"The Village Chief has arrived!!!"
At this moment, a clear voice rang out. The crowd then parted, and a stooped, white-bearded old man, leaning on a cane and less than five feet tall, walked into the crowd, supported by a young girl.
Dazhuang, who had captured Ye Ling, quickly stepped forward, baring his teeth, and boasted to the village chief, "Village Chief, look! We finally caught the crop thief! We caught him red-handed while he was stealing vegetables in the farmland!"
The village chief glanced at Ye Ling, then raised his cane and hit Dazhuang hard on the head, scolding, "You scoundrel! The crop thief is a monster. You've captured a human. Hurry up and untie him!"
Dazhuang clutched his head and argued with the village chief, "Village Chief, when you lectured us before, you said monsters could also transform into humans! How do you know we've captured the wrong person?"
"Perhaps he's a transformed monster?"
The village chief was so angry he blew his beard and glared, roaring, "If the crop thief were a monster capable of human transformation, could you few misfits possibly catch him?"
"But..."
"But what? Hurry up and untie our guest!"
Dazhuang still wanted to argue, but seeing the village chief on the verge of an eruption, he dared not insist further. He nodded, "Yes..."
The village chief continued, "After untying him, apologize properly! You're a grown man, yet you act without thinking! If you're like this, how can I entrust Xiao Zhu to you?"
Dazhuang, being scolded by the village chief, lowered his head and walked towards Ye Ling. As he untied Ye Ling, he grudgingly apologized, "Sorry..."
Ye Ling smiled at Dazhuang, "Brother, no need to apologize. Help me up after you untie me..."
"Ah?"
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Dazhuang was stunned and instinctively untied the ropes.
*Thump!*
Ye Ling fell straight to the ground, causing another gasp of surprise.
Before Dazhuang could even react to why Ye Ling had suddenly collapsed, he saw a cane flying towards him and hitting him hard on the head!
*Bang!*
Dazhuang's vision went black, and like Ye Ling, he fell straight down.
As he fell, he could still hear the village chief's scolding, "You brat, still not admitting your mistake, and you dare to deliberately push the guest!"
Dazhuang felt wronged in his heart, but he could no longer argue. He fainted along with Ye Ling.