Xiao Tian looked at the beautiful figure sitting by his bed in surprise, his mind clouded with confusion.
Normally, as soon as night fell, she would insist on returning to her own place, giving him not the slightest opportunity.
Was he truly so frightening? He would not devour her.
"What, Brother Tian does not welcome my visit? Shall I leave?"
Seated by Xiao Tian's bed was Xun'er, who had only recently parted ways with him.
"I am merely too astonished. I never expected you to come to my room."
Xiao Tian had tried to persuade Xun'er to stay before, but she would always blush profusely and flee.
"My coming here is precisely what Brother Tian desired, is it not? You have been hinting, both openly and subtly, that you had something to tell me."
Xun'er smiled playfully, walked to the table, and like a virtuous wife, poured Xiao Tian a cup of water. Then she seated herself on a chair, her luminous eyes scrutinizing him.
"Hmm. Were you not curious before about how I knew so many things, and even knew your identity?"
The moment Xiao Tian's words fell, Xun'er's expression immediately tightened, tinged with a trace of panic.
"Brother Tian, I did not mean to conceal it."
Xiao Tian pulled Xun'er directly onto his lap, soothing the trembling girl who was clearly flustered.
"I am not blaming you. I know you were compelled to come here, but it appears they never expected to lose everything."
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xun'er's suspended heart slowly settled. She playfully patted Xiao Tian's chest, then nestled quietly against his shoulder.
"Is this what you are looking for?"
A jade piece materialized in Xiao Tian's hand.
"Is this the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade?"
Xun'er lifted her head to examine the jade piece in Xiao Tian's hand, her elegant face brimming with astonishment.
"The fragment of the key that the Xiao family guarded. So it truly is the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade."
"Brother Tian, where did you obtain this?"
"My father gave it to me." Xiao Tian pinched Xun'er's surprised cheek. Her mouth hung wide open, large enough to swallow an egg.
"Brother Tian, do you know something?"
Xun'er pushed Xiao Tian's hand aside, gazing at the jade piece before her with a complex expression.
Xiao Tian nodded gently. Xun'er's expression grew graver than ever before. She looked at Xiao Tian with utter sincerity and said,
"Brother Tian, you must safeguard this item. Do not reveal it before anyone, and do not allow anyone to learn of its existence."
"Remember—no one. Since you understand its origin, you naturally know it implicates far too much. Once exposed, countless powerhouses from across the continent will converge upon it."
"Yes. At present, only you, I, and my father know. As for you, Xun'er, I trust you above all."
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xun'er lowered her head slightly, a smile playing upon her lips. She was plainly delighted by Xiao Tian's trust.
"You may be curious as to how I learned of this, and I shall no longer keep it from you."
Xiao Tian then recounted to Xun'er the same story he had once told Xiao Zhan.
"The ancestor you saw before may well have been your forefather, Xiao Xuan. Aside from him, I cannot conceive of anyone else capable of leaving behind such a contingency."
"You must be wary of those from the Hall of Souls."
Xun'er furrowed her willow brows, pondered briefly, and ventured her guess.
Xiao Tian did not inform Xun'er that the Hall of Souls had already surfaced in the Gama Empire and the Black Horn Region—nor was there any need. The Hall of Souls merely outsourced its operations. They could simply defeat them one by one. Even Hun Tiandi might not be fully aware of every affair the Hall of Souls undertook, and he would not pay any special attention.
"I will remain vigilant."
"Xun'er, I know your true identity, and I understand the power standing behind you. But I will prove that your judgment is not misplaced. I will make the force behind you hand you over to me willingly. You belong to me, and nothing can prevent it."
Xiao Tian looked directly at Xun'er, his eyes brimming with unwavering resolve.
"I have always believed that Brother Tian will stand at the pinnacle of this world. Xun'er has also been waiting. Your ancestor's reappearance because of you only further proves that my choice was not mistaken."
Xun'er's voice was gentle yet resolute. This was the first time Xiao Tian had so directly declared his feelings to her, and her eyes sparkled with love and anticipation for him.
"Xun'er, I will make them acknowledge me. From now on, you can only be mine."
"Mm!"
"Xun'er, you are so beautiful."
"Mm!"
"Xun'er, I like you!"
"Mm!"
"Xun'er, look how late it is now. Why do you not simply stay?"
"Mm! Huh?"
The next moment, Xun'er jolted to awareness. Her face flushed crimson like an enormous tomato, steam practically billowing from her head.
"Brother Tian, you are so wicked. No wonder you spoke so romantically. You were lying in wait for me all along..."
Xun'er promptly rose from Xiao Tian's embrace and strode toward the door, even activating a movement technique to flee his room with lightning speed.
Watching Xun'er's figure gradually recede, Xiao Tian's face was streaked with black lines. "I merely wished to hold you while we slept. I had no intention of doing anything. Even if I wanted to, I would not dare at present. I fear your father would arrive instantly to carve me into pieces."
Xiao Tian had naturally wanted nothing more than to cradle the fragrant and soft young lady of the Gu family as they slept. He was, of course, fully aware that Xun'er's bloodline had yet to fully awaken and could not be trifled with, as it concerned Xun'er's future.
Xiao Tian could only fall back on the second set of broadcast exercises—no, the second plan.
As a Sea King, he naturally could not possess only a single stratagem.
Xiao Tian's second plan was to return to the Eternal Dream Realm and inform them that Xun'er wished to meet them in due time, so they could prepare themselves mentally.
That night, Xiao Tian expended tremendous effort to soothe their faintly pouting emotions. In the dead of night, he gazed at the few who had instantly fallen asleep and unconsciously touched his waist.
"Their cultivation grows ever higher, and their physiques grow ever stronger. No. I must redouble my efforts to raise my cultivation, or I truly will not be able to suppress them."
Back in his Jia Nan Academy chamber, Xiao Tian examined the star power within his body.
His current alchemy proficiency had attained the sixth-grade realm, though the failure rate for refining Dou Spirit Pills remained rather high. Refining ordinary sixth-grade pills posed little difficulty.
He began to cultivate, sitting cross-legged upon the bed. The deficit within his body was ceaselessly replenished, and Dou Qi from the outside world streamed continuously into his form.
---
In the early morning, warm sunlight streamed in, and in an instant, all life outside stirred anew.
"I am at the peak of a Seven-Star Dou King. It seems I shall be able to break through very soon."
Xiao Tian assessed his current realm and exhaled a breath of turbid air. After a night of cultivation, he was brimming with vigor, more so than after mere sleep.
After a simple wash, Xiao Tian went to Xun'er's room to find her, then followed Instructor Ruo Lin to the square.
Today was the most bustling day in the Outer Court of Jia Nan Academy, and likewise the most eagerly anticipated. One might even call it the strongest cohort in many years.
This time, numerous powerful and widely acclaimed contenders had emerged. Whether it was the already renowned Hu Jia, Bai Shan, and Wu Hao, or Xiao Xun'er, or the supreme dark horses Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan—all had displayed exceedingly formidable strength.
The ultimate victor remained unknown, and it was precisely this uncertainty that most captivated the audience and stirred their greatest anticipation.
As they entered the square, roars erupted. Supporters of each contender cheered ceaselessly for their chosen champion.
When Xiao Tian and the others walked in, the gazes of Hu Jia and the other two swiveled toward him. Bai Shan's eyes were brimming with coldness and hostility, as though he yearned to teach Xiao Tian a brutal lesson.
Xiao Tian glanced at him with contempt, his eyes filled with sheer disdain, as though he were staring at a clown.
Seeing Xiao Tian's expression, Bai Shan was so enraged his nose nearly twisted out of shape. His eyes instantly bulged with fury, as if they were about to spew fire. His originally somewhat gentle countenance abruptly contorted.
Finally, he drew a deep breath and reverted to his former amiable demeanor.
Xun'er naturally took note of Bai Shan's abnormality, and her impression of him worsened on the spot. Before, she had merely ignored him. Now, she utterly wished to avoid even the sight of him.