Chapter 139: Nine Star Dou Emperor
"Cooking, are we?" Xiao Yan's lips curled into a faint smile, but instead of returning to the hut, he closed his eyes and began cultivating.
Cultivation was an essential part of Xiao Yan's daily routine. No matter how high one's rank, a true powerhouse never neglected their training.
From his first day in this world, Xiao Yan understood that wealth and power were fleeting. True status in this world depended entirely on strength.
With unparalleled strength, wealth and influence would naturally gravitate toward him. Women, too, were no exception. If Xiao Yan were merely a lowly Dou Practitioner, even if some women admired him, it would be nearly impossible to protect them.
More likely, he would be no more than a passerby in their lives, someone easily overlooked.
With these thoughts, Xiao Yan steadied his mind, immersing himself in the serene flow of Dou Qi within his body.
The night air was cool, stars glittered in the sky, and a gentle breeze swept through the basin, rippling the vibrant grass like a multicolored wave. The air carried a fresh vitality, swirling through the tranquil valley.
Inside the small hut, Xiao Yi Xian sat quietly on her bed, her snow white chin resting gently on her knees. Her gaze lingered on the small bowl of porridge sitting atop a wooden table nearby.
A breeze wafted in through the window, brushing her skin with a cool touch mixed with the fragrant aroma of flowers.
"This scoundrel still isn't back. I even made him dinner." She pouted and scrunched her delicate nose.
"Then again, he's a Dou Emperor. Maybe he doesn't need to eat," she muttered with slight annoyance.
Still, her eyes wandered to the distant mountains where she assumed Xiao Yan was cultivating.
Watching the moonlit peaks from her window, sleepiness gradually overtook her. Finally, she lay down on the bed, slipping into slumber with a soft smile gracing her lips.
At dawn, the chirping of birds stirred her from her dreams. The crisp morning air carried a hint of cool moisture that filled her lungs as she stretched languidly under the thin, soft cloak draped over her.
"Hmm?" Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened her eyes, only to be met with a warm, smiling face.
"When did you get here?" she gasped, instinctively sitting up and checking her clothes.
"Thank goodness this rascal didn't try anything," she thought, her cheeks flushing when she realized a black robe had been gently placed over her.
"Awake?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.
"Mm." Xiao Yi Xian nodded, clutching the robe tighter around herself. It was warm and comforting.
"You even made me dinner last night. Looks like you care about me after all," Xiao Yan teased, flashing his trademark mischievous grin.
"Who made you dinner? I just made too much, that's all!" she huffed, turning her head away with a pout.
"Still playing hard to get, are we?" Xiao Yan shook his head in mock exasperation.
"Come on, breakfast is ready."
"Breakfast?" Xiao Yi Xian blinked in confusion, only to notice a lavish spread of dishes laid out on the small dining table.
"You cooked all this?" she asked, surprised.
"Any complaints? Come and taste my skills," Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"How come I didn't hear anything?"
"You've been blessed, woman. A seven tier alchemist using Heavenly Flames to cook be grateful!" Xiao Yan quipped with mock seriousness.
Eventually, Xiao Yi Xian sat at the table, picking up a small morsel and taking a cautious bite.
"Hmm?" Her eyes lit up, prompting her to take another bite.
Before long, half the dishes had vanished, and she glanced sheepishly at Xiao Yan with flushed cheeks.
"Didn't expect you to have such an appetite," Xiao Yan teased, grinning at her.
"Ugh, you're so annoying! Hic!" She tried to smack him playfully, only to let out a hiccup, making her blush even more.
After breakfast, the two strolled through the grasslands, taking in the fresh morning air. The golden sunlight bathed the valley in a serene glow, casting its light over their faces.
"Beautiful," Xiao Yan murmured, marveling at nature's charm.
"It is," Xiao Yi Xian agreed softly.
The pair walked together in peaceful silence, as if they were a pair of divine lovers wandering an idyllic paradise.
Days passed in quiet harmony, their lives weaving together in unspoken rhythm. Occasionally, Xiao Yi Xian found herself blushing furiously under Xiao Yan's playful teasing.
One evening, Xiao Yan sat cross legged at the mouth of a cave on the edge of the basin. Under the moon's gentle glow, his silhouette shimmered faintly.
His breathing was calm and rhythmic, drawing in strands of energy from the world around him. The air seemed to vibrate as the basin's vitality converged upon him.
"It's been a month since I left Jia Ma City," Xiao Yan thought, his gaze unwavering. This time, combined with prior cultivation gains, had brought him to the peak of the eight star Dou Emperor level.
"Next step nine star Dou Emperor!"
With a sharp exhale, his eyes shot open, and twin streams of black and white flames spiraled out of the cave like dragons, circling the sky above.
The basin's energy churned violently, forming a massive vortex several meters wide. Streams of energy flowed into the vortex, which the flames refined into pure energy that surged into Xiao Yan's body.
His Dou Qi, once sluggish and restrained, roared to life like an unchained beast.
A faint crack echoed within him, audible only to Xiao Yan.
His Dou Qi surged like a tidal wave, coursing through his meridians with unstoppable force. A radiant pillar of light erupted from his crown, piercing the cave ceiling and shooting into the heavens.
The mountain trembled, sending ripples of energy across the basin.
Back in the hut, Xiao Yi Xian watched the distant light with wide eyes, feeling the ground quake beneath her feet.
Her lips pressed together as she clutched a small black pouch in her hands.
"To catch up to you… is truly no simple task."
(End of Chapter)