When Liu Xi appeared with that easygoing grin, Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, and the assembled Dou Zun Elders were all momentarily speechless. Liu Xi's seclusion had been anything but peaceful — every so often, he would stir up some disturbance, but none of them had expected that, in the end, he would cause something this massive.
The Star Region had collapsed.
Xuan Kongzi's expression turned grim. Across the sky above Holy Pill City stretched countless interwoven cracks, each leaking a chilling aura that made onlookers tremble.
"Enough with the jokes! Come help! If the Star Region collapses, Holy Pill City will be engulfed in disaster — the Star Region must not break!"
Streams of immense Dou Qi surged into the air, intertwining to form a glowing barrier that pressed against the shattered sky.
Hovering calmly in midair, Liu Xi didn't seem the least bit concerned. "Actually, there's no need to make such a fuss. The Star Region's already barren — I've absorbed all the flames within. Let it collapse; it'll save you the trouble of maintaining it."
"???"
The crowd froze. The sea of flames within the Star Region had long been remnants of the Three Thousand Burning Flame, endlessly renewed by starlight. No one had ever managed to eradicate it completely.
"What's your current realm?"
Xuan Kongzi's face contorted in disbelief, nearly comically exaggerated. He had spent his entire life just to break through to Half Saint, and yet this brat—
Liu Xi's refined features carried a modest smile as he said lightly, "Thanks to the Star Region's environment, I just… broke through during training."
That single sentence left Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, and every Dou Zun Elder seething internally. They all wanted to punch him and demand an explanation.
'What do you mean you "just broke through while training"?'
Still, with Liu Xi's assurance that there was no danger, their anxiety faded. They focused on stabilizing the barrier to prevent the cracks in the sky from spreading further.
Sure enough, although the Star Region collapsed, no flames leaked out—only waves of spatial turbulence rippled forth. Yet under the combined Dou Qi shield of the Elders, even those violent space storms had no room to rage. The destruction of a small world still had its limits when faced against the main realm.
Soon, the stabilized spatial power began repairing the rifts in the sky. Seeing this, everyone's gaze turned toward Liu Xi—each look carrying a complicated mix of awe and exasperation.
Liu Xi only chuckled. "I'll leave you all to it. I'll go take a walk."
He wasn't about to be surrounded and interrogated by a group of old men right after coming out of seclusion. He wanted to check on Qing Lin—and see how much had changed during his absence.
From what he could tell, the Pill Tower still stood strong. The atmosphere within the city seemed stable, no sign of chaos or panic.
He wondered idly, I wonder if Yao Chen and Xiao Yan are still alive.
With that, Liu Xi vanished in an instant. Only Xuan Kongzi could faintly sense the trace of his departure.
"A terrifying youth indeed…"
Within a few breaths, Liu Xi had returned to the Ye Family's courtyard. Following the familiar aura, he arrived before Qing Lin's room.
Standing in the courtyard, he didn't knock immediately. Sensing that Qing Lin was still cultivating, he released a hint of his aura.
"Young Master!"
A delighted cry came from inside moments later. The door creaked open, and a streak of azure light shot toward him.
Liu Xi laughed softly and opened his arms, catching Qing Lin as she leapt into his embrace. Like a little sloth, she clung tightly to him—her fair arms looped around his neck, her smooth legs coiled around his waist, voice sweet and tender. "Young Master, I missed you…"
Breathing in her familiar fragrance, Liu Xi held her slender waist and murmured warmly, "I missed you too."
Neither spoke further. The courtyard fell into a tender silence—until a hesitant, embarrassed voice broke it.
"Um… am I interrupting something?"
Turning his head, Liu Xi saw Ye Xinlan standing at the entrance, her cheeks flushed pink and her hands twisting nervously.
"No, you're right on time. Come in."
Still holding Qing Lin, Liu Xi strode toward the room.
Ye Xinlan's face turned even redder, her eyes glistening with nervous confusion. After a moment of inner struggle, she bit her lip, gathered her courage—and followed him in.
Inside, Qing Lin gracefully slipped down from Liu Xi's arms, standing obediently at his side while Liu Xi casually took a seat. His gaze lifted toward Ye Xinlan, who stood frozen near the door, awkward and crimson-faced.
Liu Xi grinned playfully. "Come in. I'm not going to eat you. I've been in seclusion for quite some time and lost track of how long it's been. Since you're here, tell me—what happened while I was away?"
Ye Xinlan blinked, realizing she'd been overthinking everything. Her face burned hotter, especially when she caught Qing Lin's teasing, knowing smile. Wishing she could disappear, she finally composed herself and stepped forward respectfully.
"Senior, you've been in seclusion for around ten months. As for major events, the Pill Tower itself has remained peaceful. But… the Central Plains, on the other hand, saw quite a few significant incidents."
She paused briefly before continuing, her tone filled with awe. "Not long after you entered seclusion, Medicine Sovereign Yao Chen struck back at the Hall of Souls—he killed four Hall of Souls Tianzuns and gravely wounded three others. The Hall of Souls took a heavy blow."
Liu Xi nodded slightly, unsurprised. So, Yao Chen's resurrection succeeded. He wouldn't have acted unless he was confident.
But what came next was what truly interested him.
Ye Xinlan went on, "After that, the Central Plains erupted in chaos. Medicine Sovereign became known as Medicine Saint, standing against the Hall of Souls with unmatched prestige. His name spread across the continent. About a month later, he gathered old allies and those who bore grudges against the Hall of Souls to the Falling Star Pavilion for a grand meeting. But that day, the Hall of Souls struck back—led by the First Tianzun himself, accompanied by the Third, Fifth, and Sixth Tianzuns, along with several Elders and hundreds of Protectors."
Liu Xi nodded again, murmuring, "That fits their vindictive nature. What happened next?"
Ye Xinlan's voice lowered, tinged with reverence. "The Hall of Souls' First Tianzun is a Dou Saint, while Medicine Sovereign had only reached Half Saint. He was gravely wounded—rumor says his body was nearly destroyed. Xiao Yan provoked the First Tianzun and was almost killed by a single finger strike. But then, a mysterious woman appeared, accompanied by two Dou Saints. She drove the Hall of Souls back. Still, the Falling Star Pavilion suffered devastating losses. Medicine Sovereign was severely injured, and Xiao Yan was taken away by that woman—he hasn't returned since."
'Gu Xun'er… Xiao Yan, you never die easily, do you?' Liu Xi thought silently, his expression unreadable.
Ye Xinlan continued, "That same woman later sent an envoy to the Pill Tower with a personal invitation for you, Senior—an invitation to attend the Gu Clan's coming-of-age ceremony. But since you were still in seclusion, the matter was dropped."
'Gu Xun'er, huh? We don't share any bond. A weasel wishing a hen Happy New Year—always some hidden motive.'
Liu Xi's eyes grew cold as a faint smirk curved his lips.
'Xiao Yan… you really don't disappoint.'
(End of Chapter)
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