This box was noticeably larger than the previous two.
The three of them drew closer and peered inside. Within the outer container lay a crystal box, and inside that, a fist-sized mass of viscous, faintly emerald-green liquid floated and wriggled, moving like some soft-bodied creature. It hovered in the center of the crystal box with no visible support.
"What is this? It looks alive, but also… not." Medusa watched the shifting substance with open fascination.
"This is Bodhi Transformation Saliva."
Xiao Tian explained its effects to the two women.
"I never imagined such a small thing could be so precious." Xiao Yi Xian's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the crystal box in Xiao Tian's hand. Her heart beat faster. Medusa, standing beside her, was in much the same state. This substance could accelerate cultivation, grant a form of rebirth, and—most staggering of all—offer a genuine chance of breaking through to the Dou Saint realm in the future. Dou Saint. The very peak of existence across the entire Dou Qi Continent.
"That's right. And it can also be used to locate the Bodhi Ancient Tree and the Bodhi Heart. Even Dou Saints covet those two treasures."
After hearing Xiao Tian's explanation, Medusa reached out and gently touched the outside of the box. "Xiao Tian, put it away. Quickly. No outsider can know we have this, or countless people will come hunting for trouble." She understood the ancient truth: a man's wealth can be his own ruin.
"Wait. If the Black Emperor Sect had this, why didn't they use it? Why just leave it sitting here?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, puzzled.
"They probably wanted to study it first and simply hadn't gotten around to using it yet."
Xiao Tian understood Mo Tianxing's true intentions well enough. The old fox had planned to use this item as bait. He hadn't been able to extract any of its secrets himself, so he had intended to mark it, sell it for a profit, and then seize it right back. He was confident in his power—as a Four-Star Dou Zong in the Black-Corner Region, he had virtually no rivals. It was also possible he had meant to give it to his son once Mo Ya broke through to Dou Zong. Either way, whether now or in the original story, all his schemes had only served to benefit others.
"Actually… the truly precious thing is inside. Do you want to know?" Xiao Tian held the crystal box level with their eyes, a sly smile curling his lips.
"Just say it or don't. Who cares!" Medusa took one look at his expression and knew he was up to something.
"Oh? The thing inside is extraordinary. It's what will guide us to the Bodhi Tree itself." Xiao Tian rocked the Bodhi Transformation Saliva back and forth, teasing them without mercy.
Both women knew Xiao Tian's character far too well. They understood exactly what he wanted. Xiao Yi Xian didn't hesitate—she stepped forward and kissed him squarely on the lips.
Medusa bit her lip. They had kissed countless times, but she was still the Queen. How could she bow to a mere threat? And yet she desperately wanted to know the secret inside. After a long internal war, she finally walked slowly toward him. "Hmph. I only gave in because I saw Sister Xian'er had already surrendered. I didn't want her to be the only one who lost out. Hmph!"
The words had barely left her mouth when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and head, pulling her swiftly against him. Xiao Tian captured her lips in a fierce, passionate kiss. Under his practiced skill, Medusa's body melted against his, and she found herself responding despite herself. Only when she was nearly breathless did their lips finally part.
Xiao Tian looked at her gasping, flustered state and stroked her cheek. "Cai Li, we've done this so many times. How do you still not know how to breathe?"
"None of your business. I like it this way." Her voice was breathless, her body still pressed against his.
"Yes, yes, yes. My Queen is truly one of a kind." Xiao Tian couldn't help but smile at her stubbornness. At this moment, every part of her except her mouth was utterly soft.
Xiao Yi Xian watched the two of them bickering and let out a soft laugh.
That soft laugh reached Medusa's ears. Her eyes darted, and she leaned close to Xiao Tian's ear, whispering, "If you make Xian'er surrender with a kiss right now… I'll agree to what you mentioned earlier. About me and Xian'er… 'eating together.'"
Xiao Tian's eyes blazed to life.
"Cai Li, you—" As a Dou Zun, Xiao Yi Xian heard every whispered word with perfect clarity. Her own good sister—sacrificing her queenly dignity just to get revenge for a little laugh.
But before she could finish protesting, Xiao Tian had already pulled her into his arms. She put up a token struggle, then gracefully surrendered. Even as Xiao Tian kissed her deeply, she reached out and pinched Medusa's pert bottom, making her gasp. Xiao Tian turned at the sound and caught Medusa's lips again, spinning left and right, very busily occupied.
About ten minutes later, Xiao Tian, now holding both thoroughly softened women, swept his senses across the vault one last time. Nothing remained. After issuing a brief order through his sound transmission stone, the three of them vanished from the spot. In the next breath, they reappeared in his palace within the Eternal Dream Palace.
---
Night descended over the rain-washed forest like a mysterious, tranquil painting. Moonlight spilled gently down, illuminating every tree and blade of grass still heavy with captured rainwater. Droplets slid from sharp tips and darkened the earth below. In the quiet, a single towering stone pillar rose prominently from the forest, shimmering with a faint glow under the unrestrained downpour—a solitary presence in the deep wilderness.
---
"Still stubborn? Do you admit defeat?" Xiao Tian asked Medusa. He liked the stubborn ones most of all. He wanted to see who would break first.
"Hmph!" Medusa frowned but only let out a soft snort—the expression of someone saying, *I'm not speaking a single word.*
Xiao Yi Xian quietly edged away, putting as much distance between herself and Medusa as possible. She knew better than to get caught in the crossfire.
"You two should fulfill your earlier promise now."
---
After an unknown stretch of time, a ball of emerald-green liquid appeared in Xiao Tian's hand. He gazed at it, reflecting on the day's exceptionally fulfilling "harvest." Then he looked down at the scene before him and couldn't suppress a low laugh, thick with conquest.
"What is it?" Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian poked their heads out from beneath the warm covers.
"Nothing. Just thinking of pleasant things." Xiao Tian smiled and gently pushed their heads back under.
He stared at the Bodhi Transformation Saliva in his palm. He could only hope no butterfly effect had emptied it of its true treasure. If the thing inside was gone…
He swallowed hard.