A resigned sigh escaped from Yun Yun's lips as she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting the young man's warm and gentle smile.
At that moment, she finally understood—no matter how hard she tried to suppress it, the affection she felt for him would never fade. Instead, it only grew deeper, burning quietly within her heart like an eternal flame.
Even his voice stirred a strange nostalgia within her. It carried warmth and familiarity, sounding like the most harmonious melody her heart had ever known. Yet, that very familiarity made her chest ache with a faint sorrow.
Others only saw his brilliance—his talent, his strength, and his unshakable glory. But she, like Xun Er and the others, had witnessed the perilous path beneath that radiance. The memory of those countless Heavenly Lightnings descending upon him, and the terrifying sight of him enduring and absorbing hundreds of nine-colored Pill Lightnings, still lingered vividly in her mind. Just recalling it caused her heart to tighten with pain and sorrow.
"I'll refine Granny Hua's Dou Qi as soon as possible," Yun Yun said softly, lowering her head as her voice grew faint. "I'll also take time to gradually control the Flower Sect. Once everything is settled… I'll visit my fellow sisters."
Flame blinked, momentarily stunned by her quiet words. But as his eyes traced the faint blush coloring her cheeks, ears, and slender neck, understanding dawned upon him. His heart leapt with joy, and an irrepressible smile spread across his face—one filled with both warmth and delight.
Their eyes met.
For a fleeting instant, time seemed to still. The faint fragrance in the room, the pink hue of the surroundings, and the closeness between them all wove into a quiet, intoxicating tension. Her heartbeat quickened, echoing softly in her ears. She wanted to avert her gaze, yet found herself unable to.
'This feeling… it always become uncontrollable each time he smiles at me…'
Flame, too, could feel the shift in the air—the softness in her eyes, the unspoken emotion she tried to hide. A dry cough escaped his throat, breaking the silence. He raised his hand and with a light wave, took out several jade bottles from his Storage Ring.
The air in the room grew quiet, almost enchanted, as an invisible warmth lingered between them. After a brief pause, Flame cleared his throat to ease the growing tension. He then waved his hand, and several jade bottles appeared from his Storage Ring.
Each bottle glimmered faintly with spiritual light—some contained Phoenix Elemental Core Pills, while others held rare pills capable of aiding her to advance safely toward the Dou Sheng realm.
"These should help you advance smoothly," he said softly, his tone gentle but filled with unspoken care.
Yun Yun stared at the jade bottles, yet her mind was far from calm. Her heart trembled again, not because of the pills—but because of the man standing before her, whose warmth seemed to fill the entire room.
"Thank…I understand."
Yun Yun received the jade bottle with both hands, her voice soft as she nodded lightly. She was about to express her gratitude, but upon noticing the faint frown on Flame's face, she changed her wording midway.
"I will leave in a few days," she said gently. "If you ever find yourself facing a situation beyond your control, remember this — the gates of my Moonlit Chaos Mansion will always be open to you."
"I see. So you won't be staying for long…" Yun Yun said quietly. Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the jade bottle as a faint ache spread through her heart.
"This cannot be helped," Flame replied, his tone steady but solemn. "The Hun Clan and the Hall of Souls are still lurking in the shadows, striking only when unseen. Even I must remain cautious. Especially now—my original is attempting to break through to the Dou Di class. I cannot afford to be careless."
Yun Yun lowered her gaze slightly. She was not someone who failed to see the greater picture, and she knew well how important Xiao Hua's current state was. Yet, no matter how much she reasoned with herself, a trace of dismay still surfaced within her heart.
"I understand," she whispered. "Be careful… and protect him well."
Flame's expression softened as he smiled faintly and nodded. He gave her a few more instructions before turning around to leave the room. The moment his figure passed through the doorway, the lingering fragrance of the chamber seemed to grow heavier—filling the silence he left behind.
Yun Yun bit gently on her red lips as her gaze followed his departing back. A soft voice escaped her lips, tinged with melancholy.
"I never thought watching him leave would feel this difficult… whether I accept this feeling or not."
Once, she had no desire to climb higher in strength. All she wanted after arriving in the Central Plains was a peaceful life, free from worldly struggles. Yet, fate had its own plans. The man she once thought she had buried deep within her heart had returned—stronger, brighter, and more distant than ever.
Only after acknowledging the feelings she could no longer deny did Yun Yun realize how time had not faded them—it had merely refined them, like fine wine mellowed through the years. Now that she had stopped resisting his advances, she finally understood the ache that came with his absence… and the quiet yearning to have him all to herself.
'No wonder my other sister-wives didn't mind sharing, yet still placed restrictions upon him…' she thought with a faint, wistful smile, shaking her head helplessly.
…
The following morning, once the matter of the seal had been settled, Flame, Xin Yu, and Yan Xiaoyu lingered at the Flower Sect for several days. When the time of departure arrived, Yun Yun personally accompanied them to pay their respects and bid farewell to the two Grand Elders.
Fairy Qing and Fairy Hua expressed their deep gratitude. They bowed sincerely to Flame, thanking him for the precious pills that had allowed several of their elders to reach the Ban Sheng realm, and for the additional ones that could help them ascend to the Dou Sheng class in the future.
With their ties now strengthened, the Flower Sect officially joined the Supreme Court Alliance, ensuring that the Profound Sky Sect would never again find a chance to plot against them.
After bidding their farewells, Flame, Xin Yu, and Yan Xiaoyu departed directly from the Flower Sect. Once outside its boundaries, Flame retrieved a flying boat from his ring, and the trio swiftly headed toward the Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
Bang!
Without warning, the space above them churned violently. The tranquil sky twisted and split open as if the heavens themselves were torn apart. Ripples spread like shattered mirrors, and from within the distortion, a gigantic black hand emerged—veins of soul-like mist crawling across its surface as it descended with terrifying speed!
Its oppressive might locked onto them completely. The air froze, and even space trembled under its weight. In the blink of an eye, the colossal hand loomed before them, its oppressive might enough to crush the flying boat to dust.
"Hmph!"
Xin Yu's eyes flashed coldly. With a flick of her jade-like hand, boundless Dou Qi surged forth, condensing into a radiant lotus that burst upward. Yet before her attack could strike, black flames suddenly erupted from the rift. Countless ghastly faces writhed within the dark fire, wailing miserably as they clashed with her power, devouring it into nothingness.
Flame's eyes narrowed sharply. Seeing his sworn elder sister momentarily restrained, he stepped forward. With a light stomp, the Heavenly Genesis Flame burst forth beneath his feet, surging into the heavens like an awakened divine beast.
In an instant, the boundless flames swirled madly, forming a massive vortex that roared with violent might. The inferno condensed further, transforming into a monstrous firestorm that tore through the clouds.
From the heart of the blazing tempest, the sharp beak of a phoenix emerged—its body wreathed in divine flames, its cry echoing across heaven and earth!
Ao!
The fiery phoenix soared upward, its divine flames blazing brighter than a thousand suns as it charged forward and collided with the descending black hand. The moment they clashed, divine flames erupted, burning through the darkness as the very air trembled.
Boom!!!
The instant they met, a world-shattering explosion erupted. The sky was engulfed in divine light and darkness intertwining—a fiery inferno clashing against endless shadow. The resulting shockwave expanded in all directions, tearing through mountain peaks and splitting valleys apart.
Within a radius of hundreds of kilometres, the earth cracked, forests were reduced to ash, and rivers evaporated into mist. The world trembled beneath the collision of two supreme forces.
...
At that very moment, back within the Flower Sect, Yun Yun—who was sitting cross-legged within her fragrant chamber—suddenly opened her eyes. Her pupils trembled slightly as the faint, world-shaking vibration reached even this distant place.
The delicate teacup beside her cracked with a sharp snap, and a surge of unease rose in her chest.
"That aura… Xiao Hua...Sister Xin Yu…" she murmured, her heart tightening.
The soft fragrance of her room mingled with a faint trace of burnt air drifting through the window. As she lifted her gaze toward the far horizon, where crimson and black light still flickered faintly in the sky, her jade-like fingers clenched unconsciously.
She wanted nothing more than to rush to his side, but she knew—judging from the magnitude of that clash—her current strength was far too lacking. Suppressing her turmoil, Yun Yun swiftly stood and gave orders to the elders and disciples of the Flower Sect to activate the defensive formation.
Soon, a great barrier enveloped the sect, shielding it from the devastating shockwaves rippling through the world outside. The heavens thundered, the mountains trembled, yet the Flower Sect endured.
Fortunately, the violent energy gradually subsided. The two Grand Elders quickly commanded the disciples to tend to the aftermath, repairing what was damaged by the residual force.
Yun Yun stood at the peak of a pavilion, her eyes fixed on the faraway horizon. Her long hair fluttered in the wind as a single thought echoed in her heart—
'Please, be safe…'
...
The enormous black hand trembled violently, letting out a muffled groan as the divine flames devoured its surface. Yet, within the raging fire, a figure faintly appeared—its presence ancient and sinister, staring coldly toward Flame with murderous intent.
Flame's eyes narrowed into sharp blades. "To dare strike me here with only this much… Hun Tiandi, it seems the injuries you suffered last time have made you stop using your brain."
The shadow's twisted laughter echoed eerily through the blazing sky. A moment later, its form shattered into countless streaks of black light, vanishing into the void like dissipating nightmares.
Silence gradually returned to the heavens, yet the sky still burned crimson from the divine flames that refused to fade, casting a terrifying brilliance over the land.
After sending message to Yun Yun that he was safe, Flame, Xin Yu, and Yan Xiaoyu returned to the Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
…
Upon their return, Flame immediately summoned Ming Cheng, Li Mei, Mei Ling, and Wei Jie to the main hall, where he recounted the battle that had just taken place. Naturally, Xun Er, Little Fairy Doctor, Ya Fei, and Zi Yan were also present.
"Hun Tiandi attacked you, yet retreated without causing any lasting harm? That's far too abrupt… even for him." Mei Ling said, her brows knitting together as she crossed her arms. Her tone carried both curiosity and unease.
"Perhaps there's a deeper meaning behind it, Older Sister Mei Ling," Xun Er mused softly, brushing her snow-white chin with graceful fingers. "He wouldn't strike without purpose. For him to act so suddenly, something must be stirring."
Ming Cheng's gaze deepened. "He's either trying to delay Flame for some reason… or probing something. Did anything unusual happen while our little brother was away? Whether great or small, anything could hold a clue."
"I don't think this has anything to do with delaying our little brother," Xin Yu said softly, shaking her head. "Rather than targeting all of us, Hun Tiandi's strike was directed solely at him."
"So, he's probing something about Flame…" Wei Jie murmured, narrowing his eyes as he turned toward him. "But what exactly is he trying to learn?"
Flame gave a faint, helpless smile and lifted his shoulders in a light shrug. "If I knew the reason, I would've already said it."
Little Fairy Doctor tapped her slender finger against her lips, her voice thoughtful. "Could it have something to do with Xiao Yan? Didn't he possess one of the eight fragments of the Tou She Ancient God's Jade?"
Ya Fei shook her head slightly. "No. Qing Xiu just returned from the Falling Star Pavilion after another pill refinement contest with him. Nothing unusual occurred."
Wei Jie leaned closer to Mei Ling and whispered with a teasing grin, "Seems like your disciple being a walking disaster for an alchemist has its advantages for once."
Mei Ling could only let out a resigned smile, unable to find fault with his words. She knew better than anyone that Wei Jie's teasing carried a hint of truth—her disciple truly did have a knack for stirring trouble wherever she went.
After some further discussion, none of them could determine the true reason behind Hun Tiandi's actions. In the end, they could only agree to remain vigilant and prepare for any future movements from the Hall of Souls or the Hun Clan.
Little Fairy Doctor lightly tapped her cheek in thought before turning toward Flame. "Can we truly not locate the Hun Realm where their clan is hiding?"
Flame let out a faint sigh. "We've already found it. But attacking their home territory would only place us at a disadvantage."
The Hun Realm had been managed by the Hun Clan for countless years. With their strength and the profound methods passed down from their ancestors, a direct assault would likely be nothing more than walking into a trap. If they were to be ambushed during that time, the Moonlit Chaos Mansion would suffer unbearable losses.
Who could say how many deadly formations, forbidden domains, or treasures had been left behind by their Dou Di ancestor?
Unlike the events described in the story, the Eight Ancient Clans were not truly united at this moment. The Yao, Lei, and Yan Clans had even formed a separate alliance, suspicious that the Shi Clan's downfall had been orchestrated by either the Hun Clan, Gu Clan, or even the Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
This web of mistrust had thrown the entire Central Plains into a fragile stalemate.
And with the boundless wealth and deep foundation of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion—ranging from Tian-Class Dou Techniques and Qi Methods to rare artifacts, high-tier medicinal pills, and treasures of heaven and earth—any sign of weakness would only draw countless greedy eyes.
If word ever spread that the Mansion had suffered heavy losses, those other factions would undoubtedly turn into vultures, rushing in to tear apart whatever remained.
Regardless of how powerful they were, anything left behind by a Dou Di was not something to be taken lightly.
Even if they managed to escape the formations set by such an existence, how many elders and disciples would fall in the process? How many of their comrades—Ming Cheng and the rest—would be gravely wounded even if they survived?
"So… in the end, we'll have to wait for our little brother to break through to the Dou Di class," Ming Cheng murmured, his gaze turning toward the direction of the Mansion Master's Abode. His eyes carried a depth of determination and faith.
"How long do you think it will take before he emerges?" Li Mei asked softly, her eyes shifting toward Flame.
Flame smiled faintly. "From what I can sense, he should emerge less than four years."
"Then, once he returns, we'll strike at the Hun Clan with our full strength. For now, we will remain patient and respond to any movement from them or the Hall of Souls," Ming Cheng said firmly, his tone carrying the finality of command.
With that, the meeting came to an end. One by one, everyone dispersed to make their preparations for the inevitable storm that would one day arrive.
…
Flame did not return to his abode. Instead, he walked toward his study—his personal office filled with scrolls, maps, and sealed documents. Sitting behind the desk, he quietly began reviewing reports, signing orders, and arranging matters of the Mansion. Yet even as he worked, a thought stirred within his mind.
Calculating the time, his expression shifted slightly as he recalled a certain important event approaching.
Lifting his head, Flame turned toward Ya Fei, who stood nearby organizing a stack of scrolls. A hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes as he asked, "If I remember correctly… the Gu Clan's Adult Ceremony should be approaching soon, isn't it? Shouldn't Xun'er return to attend it?"
"First Sister is already preparing for it," Ya Fei replied with a faint smile. "She'll be accompanied by Sister Li Mei and Sister Mei Ling. They even mentioned that they'll stop by the Falling Star Pavilion to pick up Xiao Yan on the way."
Flame raised an eyebrow, about to ask something, but Ya Fei continued before he could speak. "Before you ask why you're not going, Sister Li Mei and Sister Mei Ling were the ones who made the decision. They said they've stayed in the Chaos Realm for too long and wanted a change of scenery. Since the Gu Clan's Adult Ceremony was approaching, they decided to accompany Xun'er instead of you."
Flame's lips pressed into a thin line as he fell silent. He knew there was no point in trying to change the minds of his two sworn elder sisters. Once they decided something, not even heaven itself could sway them.
"Still," he murmured softly, a hint of melancholy flickering in his golden eyes, "I can't help but feel disappointed… Missing her greatest moment—it's something that happens only once in a lifetime."
A quiet sigh escaped him. For Xun'er, this ceremony wasn't merely a coming-of-age—it symbolized her status to the Gu Clan as one of its most extraordinary descendants, a moment that marked both pride and distance for him.
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