Xiao Tian stroked Han Yue's soft, silvery hair. "Yue'er, has your cultivation had any problems lately?"
"No. My sisters usually guide me." Han Yue smiled genuinely; her gratitude showed. Her strength had leapt forward, and her fate had shifted—everything she'd gained felt bestowed by the man before her. Her gaze toward Xiao Tian grew even more tender.
"What, are you afraid we'll bully your new favorite?" Yun Yun teased, looking at Xiao Tian with playful eyes.
"Sister Yun, don't tease your little sister." Han Yue blushed and buried her face against Xiao Tian's chest.
"How could I? There's no 'new favorite' or 'old love' with me. You're all my treasures, my darlings—I treat you equally." Xiao Tian glanced at Yun Yun's mischievous expression and gently pinched her cheek. Since becoming pregnant, Yun Yun had grown less aloof and a little more playful. Maybe she'd picked up bad habits from a certain Medusa.
Medusa: Are you blaming everything on me?
"Oh, Young Master, how cheesy!" Qing Lin exclaimed, feigning a toothache while her heart warmed.
After chatting for a while, Xiao Tian went over to Xiao Zhan and the others. Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng saw their father approaching and reached out eagerly, wanting to be picked up. Xiao Tian's smile widened uncontrollably. He beamed as he took his two daughters from Xiao Zhan and Xue Lan.
"Look, Little Brother Xiao Tian really is a 'daughter slave'; his face is splitting from smiling!" Ya Fei teased, delighted.
The other women laughed, imagining Xiao Tian doting on his daughters in the future.
While playing with his children, Xiao Tian looked at the composed Xiao Ding and teased, "Big Brother, when will you let me hold a little niece?"
Xue Lan turned so shy she nearly buried her face in the ground. Xiao Ding laughed and scolded playfully, "I'm not in a hurry. Xiao Li Zi and Xiao Yan Zi aren't even married yet." The phrasing sounded oddly familiar to Xiao Tian, as if slightly reversed.
The palace buzzed with warm conversation.
Jia Nan Academy — underground magma world
Xiao Yan, growing accustomed to the Fallen Heart Heavenly Flame, felt an itch in his nose. He rubbed it and murmured, "Is someone thinking of me?"
Nalan Yanran, propping her chin on her hand, asked with concern, "Xiao Yan, what did you say?"
"Nothing, just sighing a bit." Xiao Yan stood, stretched, and rubbed his lower back. "Beauty really is a bone‑breaker."
Having tasted forbidden fruit for the first time, the two had been unrestrained these past days. Nalan Yanran exceeded his expectations—she wasn't as distant as she usually seemed. Xiao Yan felt fortunate: he was an Alchemist who had cultivated the Burning Technique and used the Heavenly Flame to strengthen his body.
He thought of Brother Tian. Handling one was hard enough; Brother Tian had five, six, seven, maybe eight. "Next time I must ask Brother Tian for advice."
"Stay here and don't wander. I have something to do." Xiao Yan gave Nalan Yanran a simple instruction. "Hold onto this weapon; don't put it in your storage ring."
Nalan Yanran hugged him without asking why. "Okay. Be careful. I'll wait here."
Xiao Yan kissed her forehead, gently freed her hands, and, wrapped in emerald flames with a Dou Huang aura erupting from him, leaped down.
With a splash, he vanished from sight. Nalan Yanran gripped the Xuan heavy ruler, eyes full of worry.
Guided by the Fallen Heart Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan submerged into the magma for about twenty minutes, consuming many Qi recovery pills—fully prepared for the descent. With the flame's help, he found Venerable Skyfire's skeleton and another Fallen Heart Heavenly Flame.
Although he entered the underground world earlier this time, he still encountered Flame Lizardmen. After fighting, he killed about ten and obtained many fire pearls like monster cores. Pursued, he reached the light barrier where Venerable Skyfire had fallen. The Flame Lizardmen stopped at a distance, roaring but not daring to approach; after a while they left. Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
His eyes fell on the Fallen Heart Heavenly Flame on the skeleton and joy stirred—he was close to completing Brother Tian's task. He had no intention of absorbing this Heavenly Flame. It was still infantile and of little use, and it belonged to the Academy. He didn't want Xiao Tian to break his promise; the infant Heavenly Flame was what the Academy needed most. Brother Tian had warned that failing to secure it would force him to become a ruthless output tool for a man‑made Heavenly Flame Training Pagoda. The gravity of Xiao Tian's warning chilled Xiao Yan.
He stepped forward, palm curved to capture the infant Fallen Heart Heavenly Flame. Suddenly, a dazzling white light burst from the skeleton. Xiao Yan retreated. Under his watchful gaze, the light writhed and blurred into an ancient figure in white robes—snow‑white hair and beard, an aged face, calm eyes flickering with faint brilliance.
It was Venerable Skyfire, Xiao Yan's mid‑stage protector. Xiao Yan felt an oppressive force from him, stronger even than Old Wen. Venerable Skyfire displayed his power, manipulating the Fallen Heart Heavenly Flame Xiao Yan had absorbed. They introduced themselves and began to negotiate.