A long while later, Xiao Jietian slowly released Xun'er. Her face was a delicate shade of crimson, and she leaned against his shoulder, breathless, her eyes shimmering like a pool of rippling autumn water.
"Xun'er…" Xiao Jietian gazed at her, his eyes filled with tenderness.
"Tian Ge… Tian Ge, please put me down."
Her voice was thick with shyness. Knowing she was easily embarrassed, Xiao Jietian gently set her down. But the moment her feet touched the ground, her legs gave way, and he quickly caught her again.
"Let me carry you back."
He scooped her up in a princess carry, ascending the stairs and heading towards her room. He laid her gently on the bed, pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and turned to leave.
"Tian Ge, Xun'er… Xun'er can… help you."
She had sensed the earlier… situation.
Xiao Jietian halted, turning to look at her in disbelief. He understood perfectly what her words implied in this moment.
"Don't… don't think I didn't notice… before. Hmph."
Her voice was fragmented, her face burning so hot one could probably steam rice on it. Her hands tightly clutched the bedsheets.
Xiao Jietian's eyes widened like brass bells.
"Xun'er… then I'll leave it to you."
In an instant, he was before her, kissing her forehead once more. Xun'er burrowed into his embrace, nodding gently, too shy to meet his eyes. She reached out, and the room's light was extinguished.
Brother, I cannot give you my virginity… not yet. But I can help you… with other parts of me. Please, use me as you will.
She lay back on the bed, and Xiao Jietian did the rest. As a Dou Qi barrier rose around the room, muffled sounds of… guidance… began to emanate from within. Xiao Jietian was guiding Xun'er in her cultivation.
As time flowed on, it gradually approached lunch.
After concluding the cultivation guidance session, Xiao Jietian emerged from the room feeling refreshed and invigorated. It was clear today's instruction had been remarkably fruitful. Though beginners inevitably stumbled and fumbled at first, under his patient guidance, things gradually became smooth and seamless.
Through the gap in the door, one could vaguely see Xun'er, having just experienced her "first time" in such a manner, feigning sleep, her face buried in shyness.
I never imagined that part of me I always considered a burden could be used like that.
No wonder Tian Ge likes Ya Fei so much; he's truly too mischievous, always tormenting people in such strange ways.
Xiao Jietian walked out of the pavilion and onto the street, immediately sensing numerous covert gazes upon him. He frowned slightly.
Unfurling his Golden Feathered Sky Wings, he shot into the sky, flying towards the deep mountain ranges on the outskirts of the Inner Academy.
"You scared me to death! When I saw the Demon King frown, I thought he was going to slap me into the next week!"
"Me too, me too. Help me up, my legs are jelly."
"Brother, why are you peeing? And why is it attracting so many ants?"
Whispers erupted from the various corners where spies from different factions lurked, all tasked with monitoring Pan Gate. They lived in constant fear that one day, Xiao Jietian might come knocking, so they wanted to be prepared—primarily on the most respectful way to kneel.
Xiao Jietian ignored them all, plunging into the deep mountains. His goals were to find rare medicinal herbs, locate the Earth Core Tempering Fluid, and practice refining sixth-grade pills.
He entered the ancient forest, an endless sea of trees stretching before his eyes.
"This forest is truly vast. No wonder Jia Nan Academy has been able to harvest medicinal herbs from it continuously since its founding."
He flew low beneath the towering trees, constantly surveying his surroundings. He discovered many herbs, but most were for low-grade pills, and he left them untouched. The best he found was a Profound Heart Fruit, a key ingredient for the Huangji Pill.
He searched for a long while but couldn't find the cave containing the Earth Core Tempering Fluid. Just as he was about to give up, a deafening roar echoed through the woods.
"Hmm? An ape's roar? Could it be… that one?"
With no time to lose, he transformed into a streak of light and sped towards the sound. The view ahead gradually opened up, revealing a small valley.
There, he saw it: a stout white giant ape, roughly three to four zhang tall.
"It's indeed a Blood Demon Ape. This must be where the Earth Core Tempering Fluid is."
The white giant ape was rampaging, its long arms and massive paws—each the size of an adult's head—smashing boulders that blocked its path. Its blood-red eyes blazed with ferocity.
In front of it, a figure with silver hair and silver robes was fleeing in a disheveled state.
"Han Yue?"
Xiao Jietian recognized her immediately. That unique appearance and style belonged to only one person in the Inner Academy: Senior Han Yue, whom he had met before.
It's still a long time before the planned siege on the Blood Demon Ape in the original story. This suggests Han Yue just discovered the Earth Core Tempering Fluid here.
Han Yue ran, firing ice cones backwards with her ice-elemental Dou Qi, trying to slow the giant ape. But the cones barely fazed it; its body simply absorbed the impact and shattered them.
She couldn't widen the distance. In fact, as her Dou Qi waned, the gap between them steadily closed.
Finally, her Dou Qi was exhausted. She stumbled and fell. Looking at the giant ape drawing nearer, Han Yue didn't resign herself to fate. She struggled to her feet, her mind racing, searching for any escape route.
But there was nowhere to run. The area was barren of cover.
She gathered the last dregs of her Dou Qi into her hands, ready to fight to the death. But before she could unleash her technique, a pair of massive, razor-sharp claws reached for her.
The Blood Demon Ape had caught up.
Han Yue watched the claws slowly descend. A bitter smile touched her lips. She slowly closed her eyes, which were filled with despair, her face reflecting endless desolation.
Little sister… I won't be able to protect you anymore. It's a pity… I didn't get to see you again.
At that critical moment, a white silhouette, trailing a streak of golden light, flashed by like lightning.
Han Yue, who had been beneath the giant claw, vanished without a trace. The ape's claw slammed violently into the ground, stirring up a massive cloud of dust.
The white silhouette, holding Han Yue, hovered a hundred meters away in the sky. He looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms, her face pale with lingering fear, her body still trembling slightly.
Han Yue had been quietly waiting for death. But she felt no pain.
"Am I… dead? Why doesn't it hurt?"
Her bewildered voice rang out. She shifted slightly, realizing she was being held.
She slowly opened her eyes. What greeted her was a handsome, ethereal face illuminated by the sunlight. When she saw it clearly, she murmured in disbelief.
"Junior… Junior Xiao Tian?"
"Senior Han Yue, you're safe."
The golden wings behind Xiao Jietian flapped slowly as he descended onto a large rock.
When he landed, Han Yue realized she was being held in a princess carry. It was the first time a man had ever held her, and a strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred in her heart.
Her face instantly flushed crimson. She shook her head lightly, dispelling the intrusive thoughts.
Xiao Jietian gently placed her on the ground. She leaned lightly against him as she stood, her legs still a bit disobedient from the terror she had just experienced.
"Junior Xiao Tian, thank you for saving me." Han Yue looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"We can talk about that later."
Xiao Jietian gently pulled her behind him, his eyes fixed on the smoke ahead. As the dust gradually dispersed, two crimson glows emerged from within.
"ROAR!!"
A thunderous roar exploded from the smoke, and a blurry, monstrous figure, eyes blazing red, burst forth, pouncing straight towards Xiao Jietian and Han Yue.