"What is that you have there?"
Xiao Yi Xian and the others materialized before Xiao Tian, eyeing the object in his hand with open curiosity.
"How come it looks somewhat like the one you used before? Are you planning to go somewhere? You must take us with you."
Ya Fei studied the item in Xiao Tian's hand, finding it vaguely familiar. She clasped his free hand and spoke in a honeyed tone, terrified that Xiao Tian might slip away on his own.
The girls no longer trusted Xiao Tian to venture out alone. Otherwise, who knew if he might suddenly return with yet another sister in tow?
"This is indeed the same type of artifact as the teleportation gate I employed before, but this one is permanent—unlike the disposable variety. However, once it is deployed, it can only be anchored in a single location. If retrieved, it becomes worthless instantly."
Xiao Tian tousled Ya Fei's nose and smiled gently.
"Are you planning to use this to link the Eternal Dream Realm with the Heaven Suppressing Hall outside?"
Yun Yun pondered briefly and then surmised Xiao Tian's general intent. After all, they knew one another with utter intimacy, so guessing his thoughts came easily.
"Yun'er is so clever. She guessed it in an instant."
"I shall be departing for Jia Nan Academy shortly. The Heaven Suppressing Hall will then be entrusted to you few Hall Mistresses."
Xiao Tian surveyed the girls before him and spoke.
"I think you simply wish to go find your childhood sweetheart—your little girlfriend. Is that not so?"
Medusa's teasing voice abruptly rang out. The others likewise narrowed their eyes at Xiao Tian.
Xiao Tian ground his teeth and shot a covert glare at Queen Medusa, who was busy fanning the flames. He vowed inwardly, *I will deal with you severely sooner or later and let you taste the consequences of stirring mischief.*
"Not entirely. Jia Nan Academy teems with geniuses. My primary purpose is to recruit talents there to join our Heaven Suppressing Hall. They are precious resources."
The others registered Xiao Tian's unwavering gaze and withdrew their itching hands. Xiao Tian wiped away a cold sweat.
"Young Master, if I do not follow you, how am I to serve you?"
Qing Lin immediately grew frantic. She was the Young Master's little maid.
"It is not as though I am departing forever. This small world belongs to me. I can enter whenever I wish."
Xiao Tian drew the teary-eyed Qing Lin dotingly into his embrace.
"From this day forward, your mission is to cultivate with absolute diligence."
Qing Lin nodded firmly, nestling into Xiao Tian's arms.
"As for you three, you shall manage the Heaven Suppressing Hall alongside Big Brother. You may discuss the specifics among yourselves."
Xiao Tian retrieved three-quarters of the sound transmission stones and placed them in Yun Yun's hands. This artifact was exceedingly useful for communication within a faction.
Recalling the three girls' temperaments, he suspected they might be reluctant to share authority with Xiao Ding. He therefore resolved to allocate the roles himself.
"Fei'er, you will oversee the auction house. This time, in addition to managing the auction house, you must also establish an intelligence network. Yun'er, you shall assist Fei'er."
"Should any problems arise, you may also seek me out. I expect I shall have considerable free time at the academy."
Xiao Tian considered for a moment, then gave Ya Fei her instructions. Ya Fei nodded. This was familiar territory for her, though this time she did not intend to serve as an auctioneer herself. She would orchestrate matters from behind the scenes.
Xiao Yi Xian had, after all, established a vast Poison Sect in the original narrative. She undoubtedly possessed a talent for sect management, and Xian'er was decisive in her actions.
"Xian'er, you and Big Brother shall jointly administer the affairs of Heaven Suppressing Hall."
"Then what of me, Young Master?"
Qing Lin, seeing that Xiao Tian had assigned her nothing for some time, asked anxiously.
"Hmm. You shall cultivate as usual and then assist your Sister Xian'er and the others. Should anyone stir trouble, simply deploy your Little Bai to frighten them to death. You are the face of our Heaven Suppressing Hall."
Xiao Tian judged that Qing Lin was still far too naive, and no suitable position existed for her. He could only permit her to act freely.
"No problem, Young Master."
Qing Lin scampered to the three girls' side, incessantly urging them to summon her without fail should anything arise. Little Bai had not been outdoors for a long while and often complained of utter boredom.
Xiao Tian smiled as he observed Qing Lin's lively demeanor. He cast a glance at Medusa beside him. Xiao Tian had no intention of arranging any task for her.
He would deal with her later.
Xiao Tian rose and prepared to install the teleportation gate.
The location within the outside world's Heaven Suppressing Hall had already been settled—a side chamber.
The corresponding location within the Eternal Dream Realm would be a palace erected between the mountain peak and the city.
Xiao Tian led the group into the palace. He positioned the teleportation gate in the air. After selecting the installation option, the gate began to expand, gradually morphing into a swirling portal.
At the same moment, a teleportation vortex materialized within the prepared side chamber of the Heaven Suppressing Hall in the outside world.
Xiao Tian traversed back and forth through it several times. Once he confirmed there were no flaws, he was satisfied. Moreover, unless personally reclaimed by its owner, this teleportation gate could not be damaged—not even by a Dou Emperor.
The girls had already experienced other teleportation gates and thus displayed only initial curiosity before electing to return to their cultivation.
Xiao Tian sought out Xiao Ding and instructed him to assign guards to the teleportation gate, to prevent anyone from infiltrating directly.
Entry through the teleportation gate required wearing a token imbued with the aura of the Eternal Dream Realm.
Xiao Tian was unconcerned about troublemakers entering. He had already established communication with the small world's consciousness. Should any unknown Dou Emperor or above enter, it would alert him. Xiao Tian was practically praying for Black List denizens to deliver themselves to his doorstep.
As for those beneath Dou King, they could stir little real trouble.
Xiao Tian then went to find Wen Yan and ordered him to proceed to Black Mark City, locate the Blood Sect's Young Sect Master, Fan Ling, and eliminate him.
Xiao Tian had no intention of making a special trip for him. The subsequent auction would feature nothing that piqued his interest, so he would leave it to Xiao Yan. The Tier 7 Mysterious Dragon Pill was merely passable. Breaking through after establishing one's foundation was something Xiao Tian might never even have the chance to attempt.
Watching Wen Yan's departing silhouette, Xiao Tian himself vanished from the spot.
Deploying a Dou Ancestor was somewhat excessive, but it was the safest approach. Old Wen was now an Eight-Star Dou Ancestor. Here, only the two elders of Jia Nan Academy could rival him—excluding, of course, Mang Tianchi, who was wandering who knew where.
*I am still far too cautious.*
*Fan Ling: I might have been slain by Xiao Yan, but you are even more inhuman, dispatching a Dou Ancestor directly and granting me not even a chance at thirty years of prosperity and thirty years of decline.*
---
Five days drifted by in silence. During this interval, Wen Yan returned and reported that Fan Ling had been killed by Xiao Yan. Wen Yan himself had then personally ground Fan Ling's corpse into dust.
Throughout those five days, Xiao Tian spent each day alone with one of the girls, savoring a world for just the two of them.
What astonished Xiao Tian and left him endlessly savoring the memory was that Yun Yun, ordinarily so reserved, had actually consented to Xiao Tian's... flanking maneuver.
As for the serpent who slipped in, she consumed nothing. She merely accompanied him on ceaseless strolls through various cities or infiltrated the treasuries of others to pilfer medicinal ingredients. After that day, wails of lamentation frequently erupted from the denizens of various cities.
That day, Queen Medusa's smile never once faded. Perhaps it was because Xiao Tian accompanied her on all manner of mischief, or perhaps because she uncovered two further medicinal ingredients, or perhaps both. As to which it was, only the person involved could say.
Xiao Tian even sensed that he was not far from thoroughly conquering Queen Medusa. The exotic allure of the bewitching serpent queen... and so on.
With so many stacked advantages, it was truly exhilarating.
In the early morning, after Xiao Tian kissed the four girls farewell, he materialized within the Heaven Suppressing Hall of the outside world.
"Xun'er, your Brother Xiao Tian is on his way."
Xiao Tian stood motionless, a warm smile gracing his lips. Over a year had elapsed since their last meeting. It had been the longest separation they had ever endured.
"But this time, I shall likely have to weather a fierce gale."
Xiao Tian did not imagine that Xun'er would be ignorant of Ya Fei and the others' existence. Were it not for the solid foundation laid during their shared childhood, she might have already descended upon him with a butcher's blade.
"Why are you here?"
Xiao Tian detected an exceedingly familiar presence nearby.