"Xiao Hua, is the Sky Serpent Mansion strong?"
As they continued their journey to Jia Nan Academy, Zi Yan suddenly grew curious about the Sky Serpent Mansion, the place where Qing Lin had gone.
Xiao Hua rubbed his chin thoughtfully, recalling the information he had heard from others and what he remembered from the novel.
"The Sky Serpent Mansion is a true first-rate faction in the northwestern region. They're based in the 'Sky Serpent Empire,' which lies in the center of the region. Their strength far surpasses Yun Yun's Misty Cloud Sect. Back then, they nearly defeated the leader of the Public Sect and were close to becoming the undisputed overlords of the northwest."
"Stronger than Sister Yun Yun's sect? I wonder just how powerful they really are..." Zi Yan crossed her arms and tilted her head in thought.
However, her sense of strength had become somewhat skewed. After all, she had always stayed close to Xiao Hua, Little Fairy Doctor, Lady Azure, and Lady Xue Yue—individuals whose powers were anything but ordinary. It was nearly impossible for her to truly grasp the average strength of factions in the northwestern region.
"Just know that they're strong enough to extend their influence into the Black-Corner Region—something the Misty Cloud Sect never dared to attempt. That alone should tell you how powerful they truly are,"
Xiao Hua explained, understanding Zi Yan's difficulty in grasping the situation and choosing his words carefully to help her understand.
"I see. If they've managed something like that, then it really shows how much stronger they are compared to Sister Yun Yun's sect," Zi Yan nodded, finally understanding thanks to Xiao Hua's explanation.
She knew that the Misty Cloud Sect had never expanded its reach beyond its own territory. Its strongest member was Yun Yun, a Dou Huang, followed by only three Dou Wang elders.
While such strength might be enough to intimidate second-rate forces, it wasn't nearly enough to stir the waters among the first-rate factions of the northwestern region—let alone those within the Black-Corner Region.
Xiao Hua nodded in agreement. He continued to explain more about the Sky Serpent Mansion, hoping to ease the worries that lingered in the hearts of the Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan regarding Qing Lin.
"The Sky Serpent Mansion holds a transcendent position within their empire. Even changes within the imperial family are said to be influenced by them from the shadows. Although there are other factions in that country, all of them acknowledge the Sky Serpent Mansion as their leader. Every year, they're required to offer tribute to the mansion."
"It's completely different from the Jia Ma Empire, huh…" Zi Yan raised her brows, comparing the relationship between the Sky Serpent Mansion and their empire with that of the Misty Cloud Sect and the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family.
"That can't be helped, Zi Yan," the Little Fairy Doctor interjected, lightly shaking her head. She recalled the information she had received from Sister Ya Fei.
"The Jia Ma Empire hasn't been established for very long. On top of that, it's located further to the west, so foreign experts rarely venture into it. Aside from the few major factions within the empire and the imperial family itself, it's difficult for ordinary people to possess a deeper understanding of such matters."
"Regardless, because of that, the chances of them harboring ill intentions toward Qing Lin will be suppressed the moment they learn of her connection to me," Xiao Hua said with a faint smile.
"I see. Since they've extended their influence into the Black-Corner Region, there's no doubt they've heard about you." Little Fairy Doctor finally understood the reason behind Xiao Hua's calm demeanour.
Given their operations in the Black-Corner Region, news of Xiao Hua defeating Dou Zong experts—and even killing the Old Ground Demon Ghost—would have certainly reached their ears. Naturally, this made the possibility of them causing trouble for Qing Lin abysmally low.
That was also why he had handed the storage ring to Qing Lin in front of Bai Yuexin, Mu Lan, and Bai Yue—clearly displaying the closeness of their relationship.
"That's right," Xiao Hua nodded. "Besides, I've already given her several life-saving artifacts, eliminated her enemies, and even entrusted her with a few Chaos Heaven Tokens containing my 'Ancient Desolate Hands.' With these, she can protect herself if anything happens."
"With that much protection, I almost feel sorry for anyone foolish enough to pick a fight with Qing Lin…" Zi Yan's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of pity flashing across her gaze.
Even the Little Fairy Doctor gave a faint smile, clearly sharing the same thought. Like Zi Yan, she understood well that Xiao Hua's treasures and techniques were far from ordinary—always carrying dangerous and overwhelming power.
Xiao Hua chuckled softly at their expressions. Turning to them, he began to speak about his next plan. "Hehe. Anyway, I'm planning to refine another pair of Phoenix Wings to unlock the third technique of the Four Mysterious Body."
"Can't Lady Azure just explain it to you instead of being so mysterious about those techniques?" Zi Yan crossed her arms and raised a brow.
"It doesn't really matter," Xiao Hua replied with a shrug. "The 'Four Mysterious Body' Dou Technique is deeply connected to the 'Four Divine Phoenixes, Fly and Dance Across Heaven.' Even if she told me everything, the process wouldn't change."
"Besides," he added with a smile, "refining it greatly boosts my speed while also strengthening my physical body—since I have to absorb the phoenix's blood essence. So really, it's a win-win for me."
"It feels more like a Secret Technique than a regular Dou Technique," the Little Fairy Doctor said, tilting her head thoughtfully as she tapped her chin.
"Perhaps. Sister Azure never really referred to it as a Dou Technique either, so it might indeed be something closer to a Secret Technique," Xiao Hua nodded in agreement.
He paused for a moment and glanced at his wrist, where Queen Medusa—more precisely, the Swallowing Heaven Python—was sleeping peacefully. After a brief silence, he spoke again.
"Once I finish refining the Phoenix Wings, I'll take some time to rest and bring my body back to peak condition. After that, I plan to begin refining a Tier 9 medicinal pill. Can I ask you to watch over the Swallowing Heaven Python during that time?"
"Of course, we don't mind," the Little Fairy Doctor replied with a nod. "Besides, we'll likely be nearby to guard you as well—just to make sure no one disturbs your refinement."
"Thanks." Xiao Hua nodded with a grateful smile before gradually falling into silence.
For the rest of the journey, everyone remained quiet and patient as the flying boat drifted smoothly through the skies, undisturbed by any experts or Magical Beasts.
…
Normally, traveling from the Magic Beast Mountain Range to Jia Nan Academy would take several months. However, with the speed of the flying boat, the journey was shortened to just a few hours.
Upon arriving at the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Hua immediately introduced the Little Fairy Doctor to the First Elder. After some formalities, the elder registered her as a Guest Elder of the academy—a process that took some time.
As night fell and the moon hung high in the sky, Xiao Hua spent the evening with Elder Huo, gifting him numerous medicinal pills and spiritual herbs. These resources would assist him in raising his Spiritual State and help him advance toward becoming a Tier 8 Alchemist.
"By the way, Xiao Hua, have you considered moving the Chaos Gate into the Inner Academy instead of leaving it in the forest?" Elder Huo asked as he stroked his beard, bringing up the faction Xiao Hua had personally founded.
"Why? Is there a problem?" Xiao Hua raised his brows, puzzled by the sudden suggestion.
It had been quite some time since he and his sworn siblings established the Chaos Gate. Situated in the Spiritual Chaos Forest, not a single complaint had ever been raised regarding their presence. The Elders of Jia Nan Academy had also never expressed any discontent.
From what Xiao Hua could tell, every member of the Chaos Gate abided by the rules they had set as founders, never doing anything that might tarnish the name of the faction or its founders.
"It's just that, the last time I checked, the natural energy within the forest had decreased significantly," Elder Huo said with a sigh, a hint of concern in his tone. "I'm worried the students' growth might be affected."
"It can't be helped," Xiao Hua replied with a reassuring smile. "But don't worry, Master—I'll take care of it."
"Ke ke, if you say so, then I won't concern myself with it anymore," Elder Huo chuckled warmly, clearly trusting Xiao Hua to handle the matter.
As the two continued speaking, two figures stepped into Elder Huo's courtyard—Elder Su Qian and the Little Fairy Doctor.
Elder Huo raised his brows as he glanced at her. Though he had never met her before, it was clear she was someone close to Xiao Hua. What he couldn't yet determine was just how deep that connection truly ran.
"Master, allow me to introduce her. She is my… friend. You may call her the Little Fairy Doctor."
Noticing Elder Huo's gaze lingering intently on her, Xiao Hua stood up and introduced her with a slight hesitation in his voice when he referred to her as merely a "friend."
"Greetings, Honored Master Huo." The Little Fairy Doctor offered a gentle smile, her exquisite face glowing with grace as she greeted him softly.
"Ke ke, you flatter this old man, young lady. No need to be so formal with someone like me. Compared to someone of your caliber, this old man is just a frail old branch," Elder Huo chuckled heartily, clearly pleased by her respectful demeanor.
"Still… a friend, is it?" His expression shifted as he turned his gaze back to Xiao Hua, scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes—filled with suspicion, faint disdain, and a flicker of cold light.
Even Su Qian glanced at Xiao Hua with the same knowing look in his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as if holding back a smirk.
With their old and wide experience, how could they not see the affection and warmth that she has towards Xiao Hua. Moreover, he could even tell that he also possessed quite affection towards her. Yet this brat actually dares to called her a 'friend'…
"We really are. We really are friends. We haven't crossed the line just yet!" Feeling the cold glares from Su Qian and Elder Huo, Xiao Hua quickly explained
"Yet, huh…" A clear, playful smile surface on the face of Elder Huo and Su Qian as they spoke in unison.
The Little Fairy Doctor's face flushed a delicate shade of red at the implication behind Xiao Hua's words and the playful smiles on the faces of the two old men. She had long been aware of Xiao Hua's feelings for her and felt secretly joyful about them, yet the teasing expressions from Elder Huo and Elder Su Qian left her feeling shy and flustered.
At that moment, one would hardly believe she was a powerful Dou Zun—her demeanor was more like that of a bashful young girl.
"Ahem, anyway..." Sensing that the two elders were about to steer the conversation further into teasing territory, Xiao Hua quickly coughed and shifted the topic.
"About a week from now, I plan to refine a Tier 9 medicinal pill, master."
"Tier 9 Treasure Pill?!"
Elder Huo's playful expression vanished in an instant, replaced by utter shock as he exclaimed loudly.
"Master, do you want the entire Inner Academy to hear you?" Xiao Hua rolled his eyes, giving his teacher an exasperated look. "How about calming down a little?"
Fortunately, he had already placed a soundproof barrier around the courtyard. Otherwise, the students outside would have surely heard, and the entire Inner Academy would've descended into chaos.
"Brat, how do you expect me to stay calm when someone in Jia Nan Academy is about to refine a Tier 9 Treasure Pill?!"
Elder Huo practically shouted, saliva flying as he spoke—much to Xiao Hua's annoyance, who casually leaned aside to dodge it.
"And that person just happens to be my adorable disciple who hasn't even reached twenty yet!" Elder Huo added, grabbing Xiao Hua by the shoulders and shaking him with fervor.
"Tell me—how am I supposed to remain calm?!"
"I understand, but could Master please calm down? I can't continue if you keep shaking me like this..." Xiao Hua didn't resist the vigorous shaking, but he solidified the air in front of him to prevent any stray spit from landing on him.
After a while, Elder Huo finally calmed down. He turned his head and shot a sharp glare at Su Qian, who had remained composed throughout the entire exchange.
"I take it you already knew about this, First Elder?" Elder Huo asked, realizing from Su Qian's calmness that he must have been informed in advance.
"I did," Su Qian nodded, stroking his beard with a sigh. "My reaction was exactly the same as yours when I first heard it."
"Regardless," he continued, pulling out a scroll, "I've found the perfect location for you to refine the Tier 9 Treasure Pill." He handed the map to Xiao Hua, the marked spot already thoroughly investigated and deemed suitable.
"However, there's one problem," Su Qian said, rubbing his beard as he fixed his gaze on Xiao Hua. "We've discovered that the location is currently occupied by Old Blood Demon Hand and Old Snow Ice Demon."
Xiao Hua raised an eyebrow at Su Qian's words. The names sounded vaguely familiar, as if they were somehow connected to him, but he couldn't quite place them.
Seeing his confused expression, Su Qian let out a resigned sigh. He understood that Xiao Hua didn't remember and decided to explain.
"Those two were the ones who attacked you after you refined your very first eighth-tier medicinal pill."
"Ah… so it's them…" Xiao Hua scratched his head as he finally understood what Su Qian meant.
However, his expression remained calm and indifferent. With his current strength, he didn't see them as a threat. If they were willing to leave peacefully, he wouldn't bother to fight them.
Before he could voice that thought, Su Qian spoke coldly, "Before you even consider letting those two go, you should know—they've killed several of our students. The male students were tortured before being executed, while the females… were used as human cauldrons."
Xiao Hua's expression turned icy in an instant. He hadn't expected those two to go so far as to challenge Jia Nan Academy directly.
"They've been targeting the academy out of a grudge against you," Su Qian continued, rubbing his beard with a deep frown. "But they only started acting after you left. Apparently, they've been holding back for some time. Even though they belong to the younger generation compared to the Old Ground Demon Ghost, they're still old monsters."
"Regardless, I won't let them escape," Xiao Hua said coldly, his voice laced with killing intent.
…
The sun rose over the horizon, awakening the world from its slumber as nocturnal creatures retreated into the shadows to rest.
Inside a secluded cave, two figures stood—one radiating a sinister, chilling aura, while the other exuded a bone-piercing cold.
The first was a young man clad in a blood-red robe, adorned with vein-like black lines that pulsed faintly. His entire presence reeked of blood, as if he had bathed in a pool of it for years. The air around him carried a nauseating stench, thick with malice.
The second was an old man dressed in a pristine white robe, intricately embroidered with snowflake patterns. His aura was even colder than that of the famed Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, capable of freezing the very air around him.
Yet despite their fearsome auras, those with sharp senses could detect an unusual flaw—their auras were unstable. The flow of their energy was erratic, and instead of being dense and powerful, it appeared fragile and hollow, like a flickering candle in the wind.
These two were none other than Old Blood Demon Hand and Old Snow Demon Ice. Clearly, their strength was merely superficial—an illusion created by forcibly raising their cultivation through external means. As a result, their foundations were extremely unstable.
The instability in their auras stemmed from the shortcuts they had taken—forcefully boosting their strength rather than advancing through proper cultivation.
While such methods might offer short-term power, they came at a steep price. Over time, the consequences would accumulate, leading to irreversible damage and hidden dangers within their bodies.
"Old Blood, let's leave this place and go into hiding. I've heard from the others that Xiao Hua has returned," Old Snow Demon Ice said with a deep frown.
Old Blood Demon Hand let out a cold laugh. "Old Snow, don't tell me you're afraid of that brat?"
"Don't bother with pointless taunts. We both know exactly how powerful that young man is," Old Snow Ice Demon said with a heavy sigh. His eyes gradually narrowed, a piercing chill flashing within them. "Have you already forgotten the humiliation we suffered at his hands?"
Old Blood Demon Hand fell silent, his eyes burning with fury. Of course he remembered. That disgrace had been carved deeply into his heart.
He didn't mind losing to someone as monstrously talented as Xiao Hua—after all, just surviving the encounter was already a miracle. But being defeated and then ignored, treated like insignificant trash… that was something his pride could never accept.
That very humiliation had driven the two of them to join forces, venting their rage by targeting the students of Jia Nan Academy. The male students were tortured and killed, used to temporarily quell the raging storm of hatred that surged within them whenever they thought of Xiao Hua. The female students, on the other hand, were turned into human cauldrons—used in cruel attempts to further their cultivation.
"We still haven't reached the stabilization phase to properly solidify our auras and foundations. If we stay here any longer and those old dogs from the Inner Academy inform Xiao Hua of our location, all our efforts will be for nothing," Old Snow Ice Demon warned coldly.
His voice carried a sense of urgency. He knew that once Xiao Hua caught their scent, there would be no escape.
"Don't worry. That young man broke through to the Dou Zong class a few years ago. I doubt his strength has advanced too drastically since then," Old Snow Demon Ice added, attempting to soothe the uncontrollable fury rising within Old Blood Demon Hand. "Don't let your emotions get the better of you."
Both of them were fully aware—Xiao Hua had become their inner demon. As long as they carried this Demon Heart, their cultivation would remain shackled.
That was why they had resorted to unconventional, dangerous methods in the desperate hope of one day killing him and severing the heart demon once and for all.
"Fine. Let's leave this place," Old Blood Demon Hand said after a deep breath, suppressing the fury within his heart. He slowly stood up, his expression now calm and composed. "I've found another place suitable for us to lie low for the time being."
Old Snow Demon Ice let out a quiet sigh of relief, thankful the Old Blood Demon Hand had managed to regain his composure.
He knew full well the terror that was Xiao Hua. Although he couldn't confirm whether Xiao Hua's strength had grown significantly, he doubted it would have leaped too far. Still, if Xiao Hua came with backup—or worse, an entire army—things could quickly spiral out of control.
For now, patience was their best weapon. All they could do was wait… and strike when the opportunity arose.
Yet, just as they stepped out of the cave, their footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Their eyes widened in terror as they caught sight of a black-robed young man standing silently at the cave entrance, a faint smile playing on his lips as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
The atmosphere turned deathly still.
The young man slowly parted his lips, his voice as cold and chilling as the depths of a frozen abyss.
"Going somewhere… old dogs?"
Old Snow Demon Ice and Old Blood Demon Hand froze in place. Their expressions twisted into grimaces, filled with disbelief, fear, and horror. Trembling slightly, they uttered the name they least wished to hear.
"Xiao Hua…!"
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