"Are you serious about what you just said?"
"Of course. My word is my bond. Once we get out, I'll arrange everything immediately."
Xiao Yan tightened his grip on her hand, his voice firm.
Their eyes met. For a moment, something electric passed between them. Their faces slowly drew closer. Then their lips met. As the kiss deepened, they slowly sank down together.
---
Two days slipped by in a blur. Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran still lingered in the underground magma world. Xiao Yan had returned to the place where he had refined the Heavenly Flame and retrieved all his belongings. The two of them were like newlyweds on a honeymoon, diligently exercising their bodies every day.
Eventually, Xiao Yan reluctantly pulled himself away from Nalan Yanran and plunged into the magma below. He had promised Xiao Tian that he would obtain the nascent Heavenly Flame. This was one of the conditions for him to acquire the flame in the first place. If he failed to deliver, he would have no way to face his brother.
---
Meanwhile, in the Heaven Punishing Divine Realm, Xiao Tian had spent the past few days basking in the company of the ladies and his newborn daughters. This was his first time being a father—in either of his lives. His heart brimmed with an excitement he had never known before.
The ladies watched him carry his two little ones around, teasing them, making them giggle, and couldn't help but smile with deep contentment. But beneath that contentment, a quiet determination took root in the hearts of the others. If once wasn't enough, they'd try twice. If that still didn't work, they'd try three, four, five times. Quantity would eventually yield quality.
Xiao Tian, still cradling his daughters, suddenly felt a chill crawl down his spine, as though he were being stalked by something terrifying.
He had already examined the attributes and physiques of his two children through the system.
His eldest, Xiao Ling—born to Yun Yun—had inherited her mother's Sword Spirit Physique. And from him she inherited flame-elemental abilities: fire control, transformation into fire, absolute fire resistance, and more. Combined, it formed the Fire Phoenix Sword Body.
His second daughter, Xiao Meng—born to Ya Fei—had inherited Xiao Tian's thunder-attribute power. Her physique was called the Profound Thunder Battle Body—an offensive powerhouse in its own right, and utterly fearless in battle.
Xiao Tian was deeply satisfied with both. This world revered strength above all else. With these physiques, once his daughters matured, there would be few in the entire world who could stand against them. Transcending ranks in battle would be as simple as drinking water.
He shared the details with the ladies, and Yun Yun and Ya Fei nearly wept with joy. Even Xiao Zhan, upon hearing the news, immediately reported to the ancestors that the Xiao Family had successors—and ones of heaven-defying talent at that.
---
The Heaven Punishing Divine Palace had not been idle during this period. Apart from the Black Emperor Sect, every other faction in the entire Black-Corner Region had been swept aside or absorbed as subordinate forces. Several major cities now lay firmly under the palace's control. As for the Black Emperor Sect, Xiao Tian planned to personally lead the conquest. He wanted to see if he could obtain the Bodhi Transformation Saliva. The dried-up monster corpse, on the other hand, held no interest for him whatsoever.
---
Black-Corner Region. Black Emperor City. Black Emperor Sect.
Inside the grand hall, several figures were seated. At the head sat an old man in a yellow robe—Mo Tianxing, Sect Master of the Black Emperor Sect.
"What are your thoughts on the matter of the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace?" Mo Tianxing swept his gaze across the assembled elders, his voice low.
"I believe they are dangerously ambitious," an old man in blue robes said, his tone heavy. "They seem intent on swallowing the entire Black-Corner Region. We must remain vigilant."
"What's there to fear?" a red-faced elder scoffed, his voice dripping with arrogance. A Tier-5 Alchemist advanced badge hung on his chest. "They're just a pack of clowns. Let them devour the rest—once they're done, we'll simply step in and wipe them out. The fact that they haven't dared touch us all this time proves they lack real strength. If they provoke us, we destroy them."
A voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
"Is that so? I'm rather curious how you plan to destroy my Heaven Punishing Divine Palace. Come. Show me."
A young man now sat opposite Mo Tianxing, two women standing silently behind him. A mortal threat radiated from all three.
Mo Tianxing, wily old fox that he was—and one of the few in the entire Black-Corner Region who had survived scheming against figures like Xiao Yan—rose to his feet and bowed deeply, a genial smile plastered across his face. "Ah, a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. We hold your esteemed palace in the highest regard. Truly."
Xiao Tian studied him with mild amusement. Mo Tianxing had clearly sensed the killing intent radiating from Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa. That was the only reason he was acting so cordial now.
Xiao Tian noted that all the core members of the Black Emperor Sect were present and chuckled softly. "Since you're all here, that saves me the trouble of hunting you down one by one."
Mo Tianxing's smile evaporated. His body tensed. "There's no room for negotiation? If you intend to swallow us whole, then let's see if you have the teeth for it."
"Was that your final word?" Xiao Tian flicked a glance at Xiao Yi Xian.
She moved like a ghost, appearing directly before Mo Tianxing. A slender finger, wreathed in purple Dou Qi, extended toward him. Mo Tianxing tried desperately to resist—but found his body utterly paralyzed, his Dou Qi vanished as though it had never existed.
The other elders in the hall spat blood. Those of lower cultivation simply died on the spot.
Xiao Yi Xian's Dou Qi shot forward, piercing through Mo Tianxing's forehead before he could even widen his eyes. Unwillingness. Disbelief. Frozen there forever. Mo Tianxing, one of the scant few Dou Zongs in the Black-Corner Region—a Four-Star Dou Zong—died in utter silence.
Behind Xiao Tian, Medusa flickered through the hall like a reaper, finishing off every elder who still drew breath.
Xiao Tian watched the two of them work. He never once rose from his chair. This kind of life—where he didn't even need to lift a finger—was truly comfortable. The seeds he had planted so long ago were finally bearing fruit. Now, he only needed to speak.
"Let's go. Let's see what treasures the Black Emperor Sect has been hoarding. A sect this size—and one that runs an auction house—must have accumulated quite a few interesting things."