Afterward, the group held a brief meeting concerning Boundless Gate affairs, refining some of its rules and regulations. As the saying goes, without rules, there is no order.
Once most matters were settled, everyone parted ways to return to their cultivation. Such was the daily routine of the cultivation world — tedious, with nothing but cultivation.
Only Xiao Tian and Xun'er remained in the great hall. Xiao Tian, seated in his chair, rubbed his forehead and sighed. "This kind of thing really taxes the brain."
Xun'er came up behind Xiao Tian and gently began massaging his shoulders with both hands.
"Xiao Tian Gege, you just want to be a hands-off boss. You even tossed all the affairs of Heaven Suppressing Hall to Xian'er and the others. They complained to me earlier. Their resentment toward you is quite strong right now. You need to think about how to placate them."
Xun'er seemed to recall something, a smile escaping her lips.
"Ah, so you're laughing at me too? Watch how I properly teach you a lesson."
Xiao Tian wrapped his arms around Xun'er's waist, pulling her from behind him into his lap, and gave her bottom a light swat.
Xun'er let out a soft gasp and melted limply against Xiao Tian.
"Xiao… Xiao Tian Gege, you're so mean."
Seeing Xun'er's shy, flustered expression, Xiao Tian directly captured her lips with his. Xun'er struggled faintly for a moment before giving up, even gradually beginning to respond under his lead, culminating in a passionate kiss.
A long while later, their lips parted.
"You only know how to bully me. Hmph."
Xun'er lay against Xiao Tian's chest, breathing rapidly. Though her words spoke of being bullied, a blissful smile graced her face.
"Then do you like being bullied by me?"
Xiao Tian held Xun'er quietly, gently stroking her smooth, fragrant hair.
"I'm not telling you, you big meanie."
Xun'er buried her face in Xiao Tian's chest, looking utterly mortified.
"Xiao Tian Gege, what's that there…"
After speaking, Xun'er shifted slightly a few times.
Xiao Tian drew in a sharp, quiet breath and quickly stilled Xun'er's movements.
"Xiao Tian Gege, what's wrong?"
Xun'er saw the intense heat flickering in Xiao Tian's eyes and the look of someone barely holding back, and grew concerned.
Xiao Tian lowered his head and whispered a few words softly into Xun'er's ear.
"Ah! Xiao Tian Gege, you… you…"
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xun'er's entire face instantly flushed bright red and grew hot, as if steam was rising from her whole body. She shot a bashful glare at Xiao Tian, then, with her head practically steaming, she scrambled away.
"Can't blame me. A young man, you know. Plus, Xun'er, you're too tempting."
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xun'er ran even faster. She dashed back to her room and immediately buried her head under the covers.
"Aiya~ So embarrassing! Xiao Tian Gege is just a big pervert… a big… scary one."
Xun'er's scolding suddenly took a turn for the very, very unusual.
"This is pure torment. That little lass is all look and no touch. With her shy personality, anything more will require a lot more coaxing. Still need to keep working at it."
Xiao Tian directly entered Heaven Suppressing Hall, appearing by the lake in the Eternal Dream Palace. He sensed around but could not detect the auras of Yun Yun, Qing Lin, or Queen Medusa.
He guessed Yun Yun was likely handling affairs for Heaven Suppressing Hall. As for Queen Medusa and Qing Lin, he figured Qing Lin was probably being dragged around all over the place by the Queen. In the entire Eternal Dream Pavilion, Qing Lin was probably the one with the most free time, so the two had somehow just clicked.
As for Xiao Yi Xian, having obtained Ya Fei's help in finding many poisonous medicinal ingredients, she was now in seclusion for a breakthrough.
Xiao Tian sensed Xiao Yi Xian's realm. The herbs contained extremely pure and vast toxicity. Xiao Yi Xian was currently absorbing this toxicity, and her realm had already reached the terrifying level of an Eight-Star Dou Zong.
Xiao Tian did not disturb Xiao Yi Xian. His figure appeared in the bedchamber of another palace. The entire room was primarily pale blue, accented with touches of red.
Xiao Tian sat directly on the large bed in the room. The moment he sat down, a bewitching woman in a red long dress appeared in his arms, her eyes gazing at him with an intensity that could pull threads.
"Little Brother Xiao Tian~ You've finally deigned to visit me? I've missed you so much I'm practically wasting away."
This room was indeed Ya Fei's. Ever since she obtained the Ice Attribute Spiritual Body, her preference had shifted from red to blue.
"Oh? Let me see how much you've missed me. Let me listen to your heart and hear how much it longs for me."
Xiao Tian placed his hand over Ya Fei's heart, feeling its rhythmic beat.
"Well? Do you feel it?"
Ya Fei breathed a puff of warm air against Xiao Tian's ear, her tone utterly seductive.
"Your heart is beating very, very strongly."
Xiao Tian focused intently on the sensation, the pulse of her heart thrumming steadily against his palm.
"Then take a look at this. I prepared it especially for you, you know."
Ya Fei revealed her calves. The moment Xiao Tian saw, his eyes lit up like large lightbulbs, and his breathing began to grow slightly rapid.
"Hiss~"
There, on Ya Fei's two slender, long legs, she wore a certain kind of sheer fabric — one black, one white.
A black and white pair. Who could withstand this? What official could possibly pass such a test?
…
While Xiao Tian was thus… occupied, in a certain pavilion hall within the Inner Academy of Jia Nan Academy…
Seven or eight people were seated. Except for the person in the highest seat, everyone else wore expressions of fury.
"Outrageous! This freshman is too arrogant! How dare he lay hands on members of our Bai Gang!"
"He even beat Brother Fu Ao so severely. Even after taking medicinal pills, he'll still need to rest for at least ten days to half a month."
One rather burly-looking man among them slammed his palm on the table and roared angrily, spraying spittle as he spoke.
"Exactly, Boss! If we don't settle this score, how will our Bai Gang maintain face in the Inner Academy? What will others think of us?"
The others chimed in agreement, their emotions running high.
The man addressed as "Boss" bore some resemblance to Bai Shan, but he appeared more mature and carried a colder, more sinister air. This person was precisely the leader of Bai Gang, Bai Cheng, ranked thirty-fourth on the Inner Academy's strong ranking.
"Xiao Shan, describe his strength."
Bai Cheng propped his chin on his hand, looking toward Bai Shan, whose face still bore some swelling and redness.
At his words, the previously clamorous hall instantly fell silent.
"Cousin, I couldn't sense his strength. Brother Fu Ao and I were both defeated instantly. But it was because he ambushed Brother Fu Ao. If he hadn't ambushed him, he definitely wouldn't have been a match for Brother Fu Ao."
Bai Shan had always been someone who prized face. He couldn't possibly admit they had faced Xiao Tian head-on and been instantly destroyed. Otherwise, how could he maintain face to stay in Bai Gang? If he had such a defeat on his record, how could he hope to rise to power once his cousin graduated?
"I knew it! How could a mere freshman defeat Fu Ao in one move? So it was an ambush."
The burly man from earlier was a devoted follower of Fu Ao. Hearing Bai Shan claim his idol was ambushed, he bellowed loudly.
"Exactly! A despicable ambusher! Next time, if I'm with Brother Fu Ao and we're on guard, joining forces, we definitely won't lose to him."
Bai Shan feigned indignation and confidence, even punching the arm of his chair heavily for emphasis.
Bai Cheng understood Bai Shan's character well and saw through his act immediately, though he also agreed with what the burly man said.
"When brothers in the gang are bullied, I, as the leader, naturally cannot shirk responsibility. Tomorrow, I will personally lead you to Boundless Gate to deliver a challenge. I won't just crush Boundless Gate; I'll force them to disband."
Bai Cheng held a teacup, his eyes slightly narrowed. His calm voice was laced with chill. Yellow Dou Qi surged from his body, and under the vibration of the Dou Qi, the teacup in his hand gradually crumbled into powder, trickling down between his fingers.