"Anyway… where is Zi Yan? I thought she would be excited to see Cai'er after all these months..."
After a long moment, Xiao Hua finally loosened his embrace and voiced his thoughts. His gaze swept across the garden, yet he saw no trace of the purple-clothed girl who would usually be skipping joyfully at her beloved sister Cai Lin's side.
A resigned smile surfaced on Little Fairy Doctor's lips—she, too, felt helpless when it came to that mischievous little one. Just as she was about to speak of Zi Yan, however, a faint ripple of energy suddenly stirred and spread throughout the wooden cabin.
"…Found her. I'll bring her back." Xiao Hua sighed quietly and gave a small shake of his head. He turned toward the source of the disturbance—and vanished.
Once he departed, Little Fairy Doctor quietly approached Cai Lin and sat beside her. After a brief pause, her gaze wavered, and her voice grew soft with hesitation.
"Sister Cai Lin… could you tell me what it was like? That experience… how did it feel for you?"
A warm blush rose to her cheeks, dyeing them crimson. Her body felt feverish, and her heart pounded rapidly within her chest. The words had barely left her lips, and yet the shame lingered. Her timid tone and lowered gaze made it clear—she was thoroughly embarrassed, yet genuinely curious.
Cai Lin naturally understood what Little Fairy Doctor was referring to. With a faint smile, she leaned in slightly and began to speak—her voice low, her words carefully chosen. As she described her experience within the tower, the warmth already rising in Little Fairy Doctor's body surged even higher, and her heart began to pound with increasing intensity.
Watching her fellow sister's cheeks grow redder with every passing moment, a playful glint surfaced in Cai Lin's eyes, and a mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her lips. It was clear she took some amusement in Little Fairy Doctor's pure and flustered reaction.
"F-Five days straight? Isn't that a bit too long… and difficult to endure?" Little Fairy Doctor suddenly exclaimed, unable to hold back her surprise.
'Silly girl… just wait until you see for yourself how terrifying his dragon truly is…' Cai Lin sighed inwardly, her expression softening into a helpless, wry smile.
Although she had to admit that enduring five days in a row had left her waist sore and weary, what had truly shaken her wasn't Xiao Hua's stamina—but rather the sheer, overwhelming size of his dragon. When both came together… even now, the thought made her waist ache faintly.
But Cai Lin said none of this aloud. Instead, she chose to keep the deeper details to herself. Some things, she felt, were best experienced firsthand. After all, the stunned expression on her fellow sister's face would be far more satisfying to witness than any words could describe.
Their conversation continued—Cai Lin speaking with a faint trace of amusement, while Little Fairy Doctor listened with a face dyed crimson. Despite her embarrassment, she remained attentive, as though mentally noting down every word.
…
While the two ladies indulged in their quiet exchange, Xiao Hua reappeared at the medicinal gardens—the same place he, Mei Ling, and Wei Jie had always tended with care. None were permitted to harvest from this place without his express approval, save for a few: Ming Cheng, Li Mei, Xin Yu, Elder Huo, and the First Elder.
Standing before him now was a familiar figure dressed in purple. A tearful glare met his exasperated gaze as the little girl stubbornly pouted up at him.
"How long are you planning to keep this up...?" Xiao Hua asked, rubbing his temples as a wave of weariness swept through his body.
"Why is this rope so difficult to break?! Just what kind of formation did Sister Xin Yu set up?!" Zi Yan cried out in frustration, her voice thick with grievance. She had clearly spent a long time trying to crack the formation, only to be thwarted again and again.
Xiao Hua let out a quiet sigh and shook his head at her annoyed complaints. His gaze swept across the garden, calmly studying the array his sister had constructed.
It was known as the Five-Star Restraining Dragon Array—a complex formation comprised of five separate star nodes, each with a unique function and purpose.
The first star served as a detection node. It scanned and recorded the strength and aura of anyone who entered the medicinal garden. Should it sense an intruder—someone without explicit permission—it would immediately activate and respond with hostility.
The second star draws upon the natural energy of heaven and earth. It serves as the array's power source, maintaining its passive state and allowing it to fully activate the moment an intruder is detected.
The third star acts as an immensely unique sealing array. It forcibly suppresses the Dou Qi within one's body—rendering even high-tier cultivators helpless. In Zi Yan's case, it completely sealed her ability to manipulate spatial strength, the very power her Ancient Void Dragon bloodline is famed for. Escape through spatial means became impossible.
The fourth star forms a restrictive binding lock. This restraint adapts to the intruder's strength, becoming increasingly resilient the more powerful the target is. Additionally, it layers a spatial lockdown over the area, preventing any form of movement or teleportation.
However, this star is not without limits. A Dou Zong-level expert could theoretically break free after some struggle. But if they attempt to force their way out, they will immediately trigger the fifth and final star.
The fifth star is the core of the array's killing intent—it activates an annihilation formation capable of slaying a Dou Zong, or at the very least, severely wounding one should they survive its might.
Fortunately, Zi Yan was still only a fifth-ranked magical beast and lacked the strength to break free from the energy rope. Even so, Xiao Hua could tell that the binding was already nearing its limit—the rope strained and flickered as it struggled to contain her surging power.
He let out a sigh and shook his head, clearly exasperated by her sheer, brutish strength. He himself had endured the wrath of Heavenly Lightning tribulations to temper his body into an indestructible vessel of terrifying might.
And yet, Zi Yan had reached such overwhelming physical strength purely through her race—born of the purest Royal Bloodline of the Ancient Void Dragon—and by consuming vast quantities of natural energy. Her path to this level was absurd, yet undeniably real.
"By the way… since you're here, does that mean…" Zi Yan suddenly calmed down and asked, her voice unusually quiet.
"Yeah. Cai'er has returned," Xiao Hua replied casually, assuming her question stemmed from missing her elder sister.
But the moment he spoke, a mysterious smile crept across Zi Yan's lips—one that stirred an ominous feeling in his heart.
Without warning, a blinding violet light erupted from Zi Yan's body, enveloping her entire form. Beneath the dazzling glow, her petite figure began to shift—her youthful silhouette stretching and refining until, in the blink of an eye, a fully matured form stood where the child had been.
A moment later, the radiant purple light slowly faded, and Zi Yan's figure reappeared within Xiao Hua's line of sight.
The form that emerged was completely naked, yet a faint, lingering violet glow clung to her skin, concealing just enough while adding an ethereal and seductive air to her presence. Her appearance was a breathtaking fusion of elegance and demonic allure—otherworldly, yet unmistakably dangerous.
Her long, flowing violet hair had been styled into high twin ponytails, cascading down her back and resting atop her round, shapely buttocks. Atop her head, two curved horns shimmered with black-gold luster—undeniable proof of her pure Ancient Void Dragon bloodline.
Her face was a flawless masterpiece—porcelain skin, delicate features, and eyes that gleamed with both sharp intelligence and captivating charm. The once-little girl now bore the appearance of a young woman, matured yet still retaining the traces of her youthful cuteness.
"This… what are you…?" Xiao Hua murmured, momentarily stunned and at a loss for words.
He stood there, gaze fixed on the newly transformed Zi Yan. Her sudden transformation was not something he could easily understand—nor could he grasp what she intended to achieve by taking on such a form. All he could do was stare, the unsettling premonition in his chest deepening as he faced this unexpectedly enchanting version of Zi Yan.
Zi Yan smiled seductively at Xiao Hua, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes as a playful thought stirred within her heart. Stretching her slender waist with an exaggerated motion, her enchanting curves became even more pronounced. She cast him an embarrassed yet teasing glance, her gaze half-shy, half-flirtatious.
Xiao Hua could only shake his head with a bitter smile. Despite her matured appearance, she still carried the playful temperament of a child. Her figure might radiate demonic allure, but her mind remained that of the mischievous little girl he'd always known.
"What are you doing…" he sighed in resignation and gently knocked her on the head. While her transformation had indeed been eye-catching, he was not the type to be swayed by appearances—especially after sharing such deep intimacy with Cai Lin.
Zi Yan froze for a moment, rubbing the spot where he tapped her. Her seductive expression faded, replaced with a pout. Her body began to emit a soft glow once more while she still pouting.
In just a few breaths, her mature form shrank down, returning to her original petite figure. Her earlier clothing reappeared with her transformation, clinging slightly out of place on her now much smaller frame.
"Hehe, I was just testing you, that's all," she said with a grin, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Testing…?" Xiao Hua raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Still, thinking it might have been something she picked up from Cai Lin or the Little Fairy Doctor, he decided not to press further and let the matter drop.
"I don't care about this little test of yours," Xiao Hua chuckled as he gently pinched Zi Yan's jade-like cheeks, "but I'll admit—this appearance of yours is much more likeable."
"Chi, stop pretending. You clearly liked that other form just now," Zi Yan huffed, shooting him a disdainful glare. "Don't think I didn't notice. Sister Cai Lin said all men are like this—your expression earlier was practically on the verge of a nosebleed!"
Xiao Hua paused mid-pinch and gave a light cough, clearly embarrassed. He couldn't deny it—her sudden transformation had caught him off guard. After all, he had never seen her in such a mature form, much less without a single thread on her body. His momentary distraction had been... difficult to suppress.
'Just what kind of nonsense has Cai'er been teaching this little girl…?' Xiao Hua thought bitterly, letting out a silent sigh at the implications.
"Anyway, let's head back," he said, turning toward her with a wry smile and a hint of exasperation. "Now that Cai'er has returned, don't come sneaking in here again."
Zi Yan smiled helplessly and gave a resigned nod. She understood well—Xiao Hua's return meant that Cai Lin had successfully merged her spirit with the Heaven Swallowing Python's, fully reclaiming control of her body.
But what truly kept Zi Yan from resisting or throwing a tantrum… was Cai Lin's strict warning. Ever since becoming Xiao Hua's lover, Cai Lin had strictly forbidden her from entering the medicinal garden.
Whenever Zi Yan wanted to consume natural treasures, Cai Lin would personally accompany her beyond the mountain ranges that divided the Inner and Outer Academies, ensuring she stayed far from the restricted grounds. Even with her usual stubbornness, Zi Yan had long since learned that when Cai Lin decided something, there was little room for negotiation.
Seeing that she wasn't about to make a fuss, Xiao Hua waved his hand. In response, the energy rope coiled around Zi Yan unraveled and gradually faded into nothingness, releasing her from its restraints.
"Let's go. Those two are probably waiting," Xiao Hua said calmly, extending a hand toward her.
Zi Yan didn't hesitate. She grasped his hand and allowed him to pull her up. After dusting off the dirt on her clothes, she let out a light snort but made no complaint.
The two returned to the wooden cabin, where Little Fairy Doctor and Cai Lin had already finished their conversation.
…
Later, in the serene back garden of the cabin, the group spent the early afternoon together, accompanied by a pot of fragrant tea personally brewed by Little Fairy Doctor.
"Will you be heading to the Central Plains after this?" Cai Lin asked softly, turning her gaze to Xiao Hua. Her voice was calm, but a subtle hint of reluctance and wistfulness lingered beneath her composed tone.
Xiao Hua, in the midst of sipping his tea, gently set the cup down and offered her a warm, affectionate smile. His voice carried a quiet reassurance as he replied, "I can stay for a few months before setting off for the Central Plains."
"Is that really alright?"
Cai Lin blinked in surprise at his words, her brows slightly furrowed in concern. "Wouldn't that delay your reunion with your brothers and sisters, Xiao Hua?"
She understood well the true reasons behind Xiao Hua's desire to journey to the Central Plains. It was not merely to reunite with his sworn brothers and sisters—though that was certainly part of it.
Together, they were building a formidable force in the Central Plains, all in hopes of compelling the mighty Gu Clan—one of the Eight Ancient Clans—to accept the relationship between Xiao Hua and Xun Er.
Like herself, Little Fairy Doctor and Ya Fei, Xun Er was a woman deeply bonded with Xiao Hua, and one day, the three would become his wives.
Another pressing reason was the Hall of Souls, which had been searching relentlessly for one of the eight fragments of the Tou She Ancient God's Jade—one that was currently held by the Xiao Clan, Xiao Hua's own clan.
To move away their eyes from the clan, he had no choice but to head toward the Central Plains, a vast and complex region where powerful factions reigned, and concealment could be better maintained.
"It's fine," Xiao Hua said, gently stroking Cai Lin's hair with tender affection. "Brother Ming Cheng and the others told me they've already established a foothold in the western region of the Central Plains. Brother Ming Cheng and Sister Li Mei have even reached the Dou Zun realm."
Cai Lin remained silent for a moment, quietly enjoying the warmth in Xiao Hua's gesture. Then, in a soft voice, she asked, "And what will you be doing in the meantime?"
Xiao Hua's gaze shifted, sweeping across the peaceful pavilion as he replied, "Aside from spending time with you all… I'm planning to refine a puppet."
"A puppet?" Zi Yan raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with curiosity. "Will it be strong enough to help us?"
Xiao Hua nodded confidently. "Don't worry about its strength. I can guarantee its power—and its usefulness."
He paused briefly, then turned to Cai Lin. With a gentle smile, he said, "There's one more thing—I plan to refine a medicinal pill for you."
"For Sister Cai Lin? Is something wrong with her?" Little Fairy Doctor raised her brows, momentarily confused, before standing up with a deeply concerned expression.
"Ah, no need to worry. Her condition isn't serious," Xiao Hua replied, somewhat startled by her reaction. He quickly offered reassurance, gently rubbing her head in a comforting gesture.
"You must be referring to that strange sensation I've been feeling, right?" Cai Lin spoke calmly, clearly aware of the issue Xiao Hua was hinting at.
Xiao Hua turned to her and nodded, his smile soft. "Though you've successfully merged with the spirit of the Heaven Swallowing Python, there are residual influences—subtle, but present."
"All I feel is a peculiar sense of attraction… a kind of affection coming from the Heaven Swallowing Python's spirit toward you. Honestly, how did you even manage to catch its attention?" Cai Lin shook her head helplessly, her tone laced with faint exasperation.
"Ha… ha…" Xiao Hua let out an awkward chuckle. He still vividly remembered doing nothing out of the ordinary—merely offering it a bit of nourishment: the Amethyst Birth Essence, a rare and potent fire-type energy treasure.
"Regardless, I'll refine the medicinal pill for Cai Lin's condition first—before I begin working on the puppet that will assist us," Xiao Hua said, his gaze lingering briefly on Cai Lin before shifting back to Little Fairy Doctor.
"Of course," he added, glancing down at the snow-white ring now returned to his finger after he brought Zi Yan back, "I'll also fulfill the promise I made to you, Tian Huo Zun-zhe."
As his words fell, a ripple of light surged from the ring, and Tian Huo Zun-zhe's spiritual form emerged with a hearty smile. He cupped his fists and laughed with heartfelt gratitude. "Haha! Many thanks, Master Xiao Hua. I'll be troubling you once again."
"You've already joined the faction I'm building. Considering how you will be protecting me during my time in the Central Plains, this much is only natural," Xiao Hua replied with a calm smile, shaking his head slightly.
"Rest assured, young master," Tian Huo Zun-zhe responded, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Once this old man possesses a new body, I'll make certain no one dares to lay a finger on you."
Xiao Hua nodded, then swept his gaze across the group. "With Tian Huo Zun-zhe by my side, along with the puppet I'm planning to refine, our journey through the Central Plains won't be as treacherous as it once seemed."
"Don't forget, Sister Little Fairy Doctor is also a powerful Dou Zun! Naturally, she wouldn't fall behind in terms of strength!" Zi Yan declared proudly, crossing her dainty arms over her chest.
Xiao Hua smiled faintly, though a trace of helplessness welled up within him, leaving his body slightly weary. "Ideally, I'd prefer she doesn't have to fight. But… if things spiral out of control, I may indeed need her strength."
He exhaled quietly, his gaze turning distant.
He knew full well—once Bing Zun-zhe, the Valley Chief of Ice River Valley, discovered that Little Fairy Doctor possessed the natural Woeful Poison Body, he would never sit idly by. That man would most certainly make a move to seize her.
The man's own artificially cultivated poison body was incomplete. Only by claiming Little Fairy Doctor's natural Woeful Poison Body, could he hope to make up for the flaw and upgrade his artificial Woeful Poison Body.
Xiao Hua had no doubt—Bing Zun-zhe would mobilize the entirety of Ice River Valley without hesitation, unleashing its full might to seize her, no matter the cost.
'If he truly dares to make a move on her… I'll make sure he pays an extremely heavy price that will make that old bastard regret for his entire life.'
Xiao Hua's expression darkened as a cold, merciless smile curled at the corners of his lips. A dense, bone-chilling killing intent surged silently within his heart.
Let Bing Zun-zhe come. If he dared to provoke Xiao Hua by laying a hand on Little Fairy Doctor, then what awaited him would not be just failure… but utter destruction.
-------|
Read 20 Advanced Chapters in Patreon:
http://patreon.com/GodYato