Xiao Tian felt four small hands gently caressing his waist. He could even feel the warmth of their fingers and the faint fluctuations of Dou Qi lingering at their fingertips.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Xiao Tian, pouring down like rain. His mind raced, but every idea he had was ultimately overturned. Although he and Han Yue hadn't defined their relationship yet, she had certainly entered his heart, and he undoubtedly held a place in hers. He didn't want to lie to them, because one lie would require countless others to cover it up.
"Hehe, you look so good like this!" Ya Fei chuckled, covering her mouth.
"Actually, Sister Xun'er already told us. With your main wife's approval, we naturally have no objections," Qing Lin said playfully to Xiao Tian.
"Haha!"
Just as Xiao Tian was trying to think of a solution, Ya Fei and the other girls beside him burst into laughter. Xiao Tian looked up and saw that they all wore playful smiles, and he instantly realized they had teamed up to tease him.
"Oh? You dare to joke with me? It seems I need to show my authority as the head of the family."
Xiao Tian was about to grab them and give their bottoms a good smack, but the girls already knew his personality and habits. Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Medusa immediately shielded Ya Fei and Yun Yun.
Xiao Tian looked at their actions, his mind instantly filled with dark lines. Was this "holding the emperor to command the lords"? Watching their movements, he smiled bitterly to himself. He sighed softly, as if they had found his weakness, and reluctantly lowered the hand that was about to "punish" them.
He looked at Yun Yun and Ya Fei standing at the forefront, protecting each other like cubs, then at the three girls on either side tilting their heads to look at him, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"So you're all ganging up to bully me now," Xiao Tian said, feigning hurt.
Xiao Yi Xian and the other girls secretly smiled at his act, while Medusa's lips curved slightly upward.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Seeing that their attention was diverted, Xiao Tian instantly appeared behind them and landed firm smacks on the shapely bottoms of the three who had been hiding.
"Ow, it hurts! You're cheating!"
Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin clutched their bottoms, looking at Xiao Tian with resentful expressions. Queen Medusa's face, however, was tinged with a blush, and she dared not look at him.
"So, do you want me to rub them for you?"
Xiao Tian pulled Ya Fei and Yun Yun, who were standing, onto his lap, looking teasingly at the three girls clutching their bottoms.
"Pah, don't think I don't know your little schemes!"
Xiao Yi Xian, as expected, rejected his offer, with an expression that said, "You think I don't know what you're trying to do!"
"Hmph, you wish. You want to have your cake and eat it too."
Medusa also snorted softly, leaning against a pillar and looking at the scenery outside, her thoughts wandering elsewhere.
After chatting with the girls for a while, seeing that it was already late, Xiao Tian directly picked up Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian and walked toward his palace. The night's intense studying began.
…
Xiao Tian appeared in his room at Jia Nan Academy. Upon arriving in the main hall, he saw Xiao Yan and Cousin Xiao Yu already seated there. Today was the day for Heart Flame Body Tempering, and Xiao Tian had already told Cousin Xiao Yu that he would give his spot to her.
Cousin Xiao Yu, not seeing Xun'er behind Xiao Tian, asked, "Where's Xun'er?"
The others also cast questioning glances, for they too had noticed Xun'er's strangeness recently.
"Xun'er has returned to her clan. She might not return to the Academy for a short time, or perhaps not at all," Xiao Tian said softly, looking at the others.
"Returned to her clan?" Cousin Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan were slightly startled, then remembered what their elders had told them before—that Xun'er was not a member of the Xiao Clan but was essentially fostered.
Wu Hao and Hu Jia were both stunned, especially Hu Jia, who looked utterly heartbroken. "Then I won't be able to see such a beautiful Xun'er anymore?"
"You might see her again soon. Going back doesn't mean never coming out again, Tiger Girl," Xiao Tian said, teasing Hu Jia with a smile as he looked at her exaggerated reaction.
Hearing Xiao Tian's address, Hu Jia was so annoyed she nearly burst into flames. Forgetting her sadness, she shot to her feet. "I'm going to kill you! Ah ah ah ah!"
Xiao Tian watched Hu Jia flailing her arms and reached out to press her head, preventing her from getting close.
The slightly oppressive atmosphere caused by Xun'er's departure gradually dissolved amidst Hu Jia's shouts.
"Alright, Cousin Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan Zi, are you both ready?"
Xiao Tian looked at Xiao Yan and Cousin Xiao Yu before him. Hearing his question, both instantly became serious.
"No problem. We've already adjusted our states. We're just waiting for today."
Xiao Tian noticed Wu Hao and Hu Jia both wearing envious expressions and gently patted Hu Jia's head. "With your rate of growth, there will definitely be a place for you in the top ten next year."
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Hu Jia instantly reverted to her usual Little Witch demeanor, patting her ample assets. "Of course! We're only losing because we're younger. If you give me time, I'll definitely be fine."
"Since that's the case, let's set off. I imagine it's about time."
Xiao Tian's number one cultivation room and Zi Yan's number two cultivation room—after some "friendly" communication with Zi Yan regarding elixirs—he had "amicably" obtained the right to use them. When Zi Yan wasn't using them, he lent them to the three girls. Xiao Yan had his own, but sometimes he would occasionally swap with them and go to the number one cultivation room.
On the day they had discussed it, Zi Yan had left with a skip in her step, her eyes curved in a smile as she clutched a dozen jade bottles.
…
When Xiao Tian led the Boundless Gate members to the Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda, many people were already standing outside the tower. Among them, he saw Liu Qing's Split Mountain Gang and Lin Xiuya's Wolf Fang. Although Lin Xiuya's Wolf Fang had fewer members—less than twenty—every single one of them was at least a One-Star Dou Ling.
When the others saw Boundless Gate led by Xiao Tian, they all made way, clearing a path directly to the largest open space inside. Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan exchanged glances. What they had discussed earlier had now been achieved.
After standing firm, Xiao Tian nodded amicably to Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing. Both of them quickly responded.
"Xiao Tian, why are you so slow? I'm almost bored to death!"
Zi Yan, dressed in a white dress, came to Xiao Tian's side, looking thoroughly weary and helpless.
Xiao Tian couldn't help but smile at Zi Yan's expression and patted her head. "That's because you came too early. Besides, this Heart Flame Body Tempering might actually help you grow up."
"It really does. Every time I absorb the energy inside, I feel like I'm a little closer to growing up. It's just that Old Su is too stingy. He only gives so little. If he hadn't hidden them so well, I would have eaten them all already."
Zi Yan pouted helplessly upon hearing Xiao Tian's words, finally smacking her lips.
If Su Qian had heard Zi Yan's words, he would probably be jumping with anxiety. It took the Inner Academy a long time to collect that much, and if she saw it, it would likely vanish without a trace.
Xiao Tian chuckled and shook his head at Zi Yan's adorable manner.
"Junior Xiao Tian!"
A clear, cool voice rang out behind Xiao Tian. He turned and saw Han Yue, leading the members of Moon Spirit, approaching him.