Roughly the time it takes to burn a single stick of incense passed.
Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng finally scampered back before Xiao Jietian. Arms folded across their small chests, they stood shoulder to shoulder, chins raised with identical expressions of smug triumph.
"Daddy!" Xiao Ling declared proudly, "I'm telling you right now—our Void Piercing Step has almost reached minor accomplishment! What do you think? Aren't we amazing?"
Without waiting for an answer, she immediately demonstrated. Her small figure flickered; in an instant she vanished from her spot and reappeared several zhang away, then flickered back again. Xiao Meng followed closely behind, the two little girls chasing and weaving around one another in a dazzling display of movement technique—light as swallows skimming water, swift as startled orioles.
Xiao Jietian watched with folded arms, nodding slowly, a sincere smile curving his lips.
"Not bad at all. Your mastery of the technique is already quite proficient. Another day or two of diligent practice and minor accomplishment will be yours. Truly excellent."
"Of course!" the pair chorused. Then, with perfect coordination, they turned bright, sparkling eyes toward the Little Fairy Doctor. "The most important reason is that Xian'er Mother taught us so well!"
At such a tender age they already understood the art of subtle flattery.
The Little Fairy Doctor's lips bloomed into a delighted smile; clearly she was greatly pleased by their sweet words.
"Then… does Daddy have any rewards for us?" Xiao Meng asked, tilting her head. "We practiced very, very diligently, you know!"
Before he could reply, both little girls pounced at once, clinging to his legs like tiny koalas, rubbing their cheeks against him and showering him with affection.
"That's right!" Xiao Meng added proudly. "And I moved one whole meter farther than Ling Ling today!"
"That's only because I still had to refine pills afterward!" Xiao Ling immediately retorted, reaching out to pinch her sister's plump, baby-soft cheeks with a mischievous grin. "Otherwise you never would have gotten ahead! Also—call me Big Sister!"
"Hmph! I won't!" Xiao Meng puffed out her cheeks defiantly. "Daddy and the others must have remembered wrong. I was definitely born first!"
Before they turned two, Xiao Meng had obediently addressed Xiao Ling as Big Sister. But after that milestone passed, she stubbornly refused.
Now she tugged Xiao Ling away from Xiao Jietian, pulled her down to the ground, and gestured between their heads to compare heights.
"Look—I'm clearly a little taller! So I must be the big sister!"
"That's only because you're standing on a slightly raised spot!" Xiao Ling shot back without the slightest hesitation. "Anyway, Mother and the others said I came into the world three minutes before you!"
Xiao Jietian and the Little Fairy Doctor exchanged helpless glances, shaking their heads with soft laughter at the familiar sight of the two bickering.
"How about this?" Xiao Ling proposed. "We'll have a match! Whoever loses has to be the little sister from now on!"
"Fine! A match it is!" Xiao Meng agreed at once—then immediately added, "Let's compete in alchemy!"
Xiao Meng's face instantly darkened, black lines practically crawling down her forehead.
"Get away! If we're competing, it has to be in cultivation or Dou Techniques!"
"Alright, alright." Xiao Jietian reached out and gently patted both their heads, his laughter warm and resonant. "In my eyes, both of you are the very best, the most amazing. You are both Daddy's greatest pride."
"Hehe… we like Daddy the most too…" The pair immediately melted under his large palms, giggling happily as they nuzzled against him.
After basking in his affection for a moment, they broke free and scampered over to the carved jade crib. Leaning on the railing, they gazed down at the wide-eyed infant inside.
"Little Brother Ze~ Come on, big sisters will take you out to play!" Xiao Meng cooed sweetly. She reached in, carefully lifted Xiao Ze into her arms, and cradled him with practiced gentleness.
Xiao Ze gazed up at her with a toothless, delighted smile, tiny hands waving happily.
Neither Xiao Jietian nor the Little Fairy Doctor moved to stop them. From their relaxed postures, it was clear this was far from the first time the two little girls had carried their baby brother.
This was, after all, the cultivation world.
A three-year-old carrying an infant posed no danger whatsoever—especially with two peak experts standing watch nearby.
Xiao Meng and Xiao Ling took turns holding Xiao Ze, gently swaying him, making funny faces, tickling his small belly until peals of infant laughter filled the pavilion.
When they finally tired themselves out, they laid him carefully upon a thick, soft monster-fur rug spread across the pavilion floor. Kneeling beside him, they chattered endlessly, dangling little jade toys and colorful spirit bells to keep his bright eyes following their every move.
...
Meanwhile, in the main deliberation hall of Boundless Heaven Hall.
The discussions between Hai Bodong, Han Fei, and Han Chi had finally concluded.
True to form, Hai Bodong had not opened any back doors simply because the other party happened to be the Hall Master's father-in-law and great-grandfather-in-law.
Some precedents simply could not be set.
Everyone had to be treated on roughly equal terms.
There was simply no helping it—his Hall Master possessed little in the way of mundane assets, yet he had an abundance of beautiful wives… which naturally meant an abundance of in-laws.
If favoritism were shown even once, chaos would swiftly follow.
Thus Hai Bodong had gritted his teeth and adhered strictly to protocol.
He had chosen this path himself, after all—following his idol meant bearing the consequences.
Both sides emerged from the talks exceedingly satisfied. Smiles wreathed every face.
Han Fei and Hai Bodong, in particular, had quickly taken to one another like old comrades who had known each other for decades. They even made plans to share several jars of fine spirit wine together that very evening.
...
That same night, within Xiao Jietian's private bedchamber.
Xiao Jietian reclined in a wide sandalwood chair, eyes half-closed in thought, silently planning the road ahead.
At present, the primary objective was clear: with Holy Pill City as the center, Boundless Heaven Hall must expand steadily outward.
This step had already been set in motion and was progressing smoothly.
As for the concrete details of expansion—those matters he happily left in the capable hands of Xiao Ding, Hai Bodong, Queen Medusa, Yun Yun, and the others.
He still preferred the role of the hands-off sovereign.
The next important task was to arrange Zi Yan's return to the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe.
Yet Zi Yan remained in secluded cultivation.
The reason was simple: during his time in the Central Plains, Xiao Jietian had acquired a great many rare, high-grade medicinal ingredients utterly unavailable back in the Northwest Continent.
All of them had been handed over to Zi Yan for refinement.
Once she completed the batch, it would be time for her to emerge and appear openly in the Central Plains—enough to draw the attention of her clan and force them to come seeking her.
Later on, he would definitely need to obtain the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit.
That supreme treasure was vital to Zi Yan; it could transform and elevate her bloodline to an unimaginable degree.
He would also have to make a trip to Holy Pill City.
The bait had been cast long ago; after fermenting for so long, it was nearly time to draw in the line.
Truthfully… he really did lack a true alchemy mistress by his side.
And then there was the most important matter of all—the Gu Ancient Clan.
He would need to find an appropriate moment to visit that place.
Though they kept in regular contact through transmission stones, Gu Xun'er was his principal wife. He had to bring her back to his side as soon as possible.
Even so, he would have to wait until her Divine Bloodline fully awakened.
The old fogeys of the Gu Clan were notoriously stubborn and hidebound. In the end, he would have no choice but to subdue them with his own fists.
Moreover, with the Hall of Souls now extending its shadowy reach into the Central Plains, given the deep enmity between the Xiao Clan and that sinister organization, a head-on confrontation was inevitable.
"Tian… what are you thinking about? Your brow is so furrowed." The Little Fairy Doctor's gentle voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Soft, fragrant hands settled lightly on his temples, massaging with tender, practiced care.
Xiao Jietian reached up, gently captured one of her smooth, jade-like hands, and stroked it lovingly.
"Nothing much. Merely arranging some plans for the days ahead."
He drew her down into his embrace, burying his face in the silken cascade of her hair and inhaling deeply.
A peerless fragrance—pure top-grade bliss.
"Mhm. The little one can already sleep through the night without me by his side now." When she spoke of their son, a soft maternal glow illuminated her face; happiness brimmed in every word.
This child was the most precious crystallization of her love with Xiao Jietian.
Seeing her like this, desire surged within him.
He lowered his head and captured her full, luscious lips in a deep, searing kiss.
Their tongues entwined; the world narrowed to the heat and sweetness shared between them.
Only when both were breathless did their lips finally part.
In the Little Fairy Doctor's beautiful eyes, layers of amorous mist rippled.
"You seem to be in low spirits tonight," she murmured, voice soft as spring water. "Let me help you… recover."
With those words, she produced a delicate light-purple ribbon.
Gathering her long, ink-black hair, she swept it smoothly behind her head and tied it high in a graceful, swaying ponytail.
Then, with a faint, knowing smile, she knelt gracefully before him—
And began to perform upon him the legendary "Mood-Restoring Technique" that men throughout the ages had praised in hushed, reverent tones.
As her lips and tongue moved with exquisite skill and tender devotion, Xiao Jietian leaned back, eyes half-lidded, simply appreciating the artistic beauty of her every motion.
Under her gentle, attentive care, the heaviness that had weighed upon his heart gradually melted away, replaced by rising warmth and renewed vigor.