A pale-faced young man, clad in sumptuous brocade robes, staggered forward with unsteady steps. His eyes were lecherous, and a brazenly undisguised grin of lust twisted his face.
Xiao Tian glanced down at his own Tier-5 Alchemist robe and could not help but wonder, *Does this attire no longer command any respect?*
"That is a second-generation scion of the Jia family—Jia Jiji."
The majority of the buildings in Golden Light City were constructed from gold-hued materials, radiating a brilliant glow beneath the sunlight. Hence the city's name.
The Jia family ranked among the three preeminent families of Golden Light City. The other two were the Huang family and the Gong family.
At the sight of him, the women furrowed their brows. Queen Medusa's expression remained utterly blank as she regarded the approaching dandy.
"Scram."
A single frigid, domineering syllable slipped from Queen Medusa's lips. The scion and his lackeys were instantly blasted backward by an immense, unseen force.
The entire group smashed heavily into a wall several meters away. The wall collapsed under the impact, showering debris in every direction.
As the dust cleared, several bloodied yellow teeth lay scattered beside the young master. He had already stopped breathing.
Xiao Tian extended his hand. A young man was wrenched from the crowd and flew straight into his grasp.
"You are the one who instigated him, are you not?"
The man thrashed in Xiao Tian's grip. His body stiffened the moment he registered Xiao Tian's words, but he swiftly fought to compose himself.
"Sir, you are mistaken. It was not me. How could I possibly possess such audacity?"
The man argued in frantic self-defense.
"Oh? Is this not the eldest young master of the Gong family?"
A passerby recognized the captive and exclaimed in shock.
"Your expression just now has already betrayed you. You sought to kill with a borrowed blade. Now, you may die."
"Sir, I—"
Xiao Tian squeezed. The man's neck snapped instantly. His body went limp, all signs of life extinguished.
Ignoring the scattered corpses, Xiao Tian led the women away. The moment they departed, the City Guard conveniently arrived to handle the situation.
A Tier-5 Alchemist commanded the most revered status across the entire empire. The City Guard naturally had no desire to offend such a figure.
The auras of those women were equally terrifying.
---
The group had already visited numerous cities, yet they had failed to locate a single herb for the Soul Fusion Pill.
They resolved to search this one final city. If they still came up empty-handed, they would cease their search and scour the Black-Corner Region later.
Queen Medusa understood that Xiao Tian had a multitude of pressing matters to attend to and did not wish to squander more of his time. It was she who proposed that they halt the search after this city.
Having relinquished this obsession, Queen Medusa had transformed. She now followed the other women as they explored and sight-saw, experiencing a joy and relaxation she had never before known.
Once, she had devoted herself wholly to the advancement of the Snake-People Tribe, resolved to lead them from the desert and secure a suitable territory where her people could flourish.
Now, however, she seemed to have arrived at an entirely different decision.
"There is a pharmacy here."
Qing Lin pointed at a shop sign and called out.
Xiao Tian looked up. A peculiar expression crossed his face. It was simply because the pharmacy's signboard read: *There Is a Pharmacy Here.*
Was this a pirated branch of the *There Is an Inn Across All the Worlds* from Battle Through the Heavens?
Setting everything else aside, the proprietor possessed a truly bizarre naming sense. One could only marvel at his creativity.
"Let us go. Let us step inside and take a look."
Xiao Tian led them into the pharmacy. Less than a minute later, they emerged. None of the required medicinal ingredients were to be found inside.
During that brief visit, Xiao Tian had even surreptitiously whispered an obscure math riddle to the owner. The man had stared back at Xiao Tian with a wholly bewildered expression.
The owner was no transmigrator. His choice of name was purely the product of an untamed imagination.
"Let us go. Many people are converging on this location."
Xiao Tian swept Qing Lin and Ya Fei, who could not yet fly, directly into his arms and soared skyward upon his Golden Feathered Sky Wings.
Yun Yun unfurled her Dou Qi wings. Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa merely strode through the air as though walking upon solid ground.
The Jia and Gong family members who came rushing over were so petrified by the spectacle that they collapsed to the ground. Then, in desperation, they scrambled back toward their estates, wishing their parents had endowed them with extra legs.
Upon returning home, they were even compelled to offer thanks to their ancestors for fervently safeguarding their families from utter annihilation. That very night, every last second-generation scion of both families received tender, affectionate treatment from their fathers.
---
Xiao Tian and the others pressed on through the sky. The silhouette of Wutan City gradually sharpened into view.
They descended not far from the city gates. As Xiao Tian gazed upon the familiar city, a complex tide of emotion surged within his heart.
Sensing the turbulence in his feelings, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin gently clasped his hands, offering him silent comfort.
Xiao Tian guided the group through the city gates and onward toward the Xiao family estate. The women studied everything they passed with keen curiosity. Xiao Tian introduced every landmark, recounting the amusing incidents that had befallen him there in days past.
As they drew nearer to the Xiao family compound, the expressions of Xiao Yi Xian and the others gradually became tinged with nervousness. This was their first formal visit to meet the family head. Even Xiao Yi Xian, who had undergone this once before, remained intensely anxious.
The most nervous among them was Yun Yun. She had once consented to her disciple coming here to annul an engagement. Now she was visiting as a daughter-in-law. A crushing wave of social mortification instantly washed over her.
Xiao Tian registered Yun Yun's distress. He clasped her hand firmly. That delicate hand trembled ever so slightly within his large one.
"It is alright. Father is exceedingly open-minded. Do not fret."
Xiao Tian comforted her, his voice saturated with a soothing power. Yun Yun gazed at him and nodded lightly. The tension coiling within her steadily dissipated, bit by bit.
As for Medusa, her face remained a mask of utter indifference. She was thinking, *This has nothing whatsoever to do with me. Why should I be nervous?*
Queen Medusa, what exactly did your veiled expectation and tightly clenched fists signify?
The group proceeded toward the Xiao family compound and arrived at its main gate.
"Halt. This is the Xiao family estate. If you wish to visit, please state your names."
A guard on duty intercepted the group at the entrance.
"What is the matter, Little Six? I have been gone barely over a year, and you no longer recognize me?"
Xiao Tian studied the diligent young guard before him, patted him on the head, and chuckled.
"You are... Third Young Master?"
The guard called Little Six felt that familiar touch. He scrutinized Xiao Tian intently, then abruptly shouted with an expression of utter disbelief.
Before Xiao Tian could utter another word, Little Six, together with another bewildered guard, bolted into the Xiao family compound, bellowing,
"The Third Young Master, Xiao Tian, has returned!"
Xiao Tian was left speechless by this absurd display. The women all covered their mouths, giggling softly.
Xiao Tian continued leading them deeper into the Xiao family estate.
Just as they reached the family's deliberation hall, Xiao Zhan, who had come rushing over upon hearing the uproar, appeared before them.
"Father." Xiao Tian called out. His voice was thick with boundless longing.
After more than a decade spent living together in this household, and with Xiao Zhan having proven himself a truly devoted father, Xiao Tian—despite having transmigrated—wholeheartedly acknowledged him as his own.
Xiao Zhan's tiger-like eyes reddened faintly. He closed the distance in a few short strides until he stood before Xiao Tian. His lips quivered. He clapped Xiao Tian on the shoulder and studied his third son, who now towered far taller than himself. Only after a long pause did he finally speak.
"Tian'er. You have returned at last. Good. Good. Good. Not bad at all. You have grown far sturdier."
Xiao Tian threw his arms around Xiao Zhan in a tight embrace. "Father, your son was unfilial and caused you such worry."
Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Tian's back with a gentle hand. "Foolish child. You are back now. That is all that matters. That is all that matters."
The two released one another. Xiao Zhan turned his gaze toward the women assembled behind Xiao Tian. When he spotted Ya Fei among them, surprise flickered in his eyes. "Pardon such a sight. Esteemed guests, please come inside."
Once they had entered the deliberation hall, everyone took their seats. Maids served fragrant tea.
Xiao Tian began introducing the women to Xiao Zhan. "Father, you are already acquainted with Ya Fei, so I need not introduce her further. This is Xiao Yi Xian. This is Qing Lin. And this is Yun Yun. And this is Cai Li"
"They are all my wives—which is to say, they are your daughters-in-law."
"