From the very beginning, Xuan Kongzi couldn't sense even the slightest aura or soul fluctuation from Xiao Jietian. Yet it was obvious that the young man was no ordinary person—he was a powerful existence.
Moreover, he felt a faint but unmistakable sense of fatal threat emanating from him.
Xuan Yi didn't rush to introduce the two elders. Instead, she turned to Xiao Jietian with a smile. "Do you want to guess who they are?"
Xiao Jietian smiled faintly. The two men before him—one with kind eyes and a benevolent face, the other stern and unsmiling—stood side by side. For some reason, they reminded him of the two Vajra guardians from the Douluo Continent.
He could sense that both were at the peak of Nine Revolutions Dou Zun. However, the white-robed elder's aura was clearly several times stronger and more profound, indicating he had been in this realm for a very long time.
Xiao Jietian already had a good idea of their identities. On this floor and with this level of cultivation, they could only be two of the Pill Tower's legendary Three Giants.
"These two seniors must be two of the Pill Tower's Three Giants," Xiao Jietian said calmly. "This senior's aura is far more profound, so he should be President Xuan Kongzi, the head of the Three Giants. And this must be President Tian Leizi."
Xuan Kongzi looked up at Xiao Jietian, his eyes narrowing slightly as he scrutinized him once more. He then cupped his hands respectfully. "To be able to perceive our cultivation level so accurately, young friend is clearly no simple character either."
He continued warmly, "Thank you for saving Xuan Yi's life. From now on, you are a friend of our Pill Tower. If you need anything, just say the word."
Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, and Xuan Yi were all part of the Pill Tower's Three Giants, so their bond was extremely close. The two elders had always treated Xuan Yi like their own little sister.
Xiao Jietian and his group had encountered people sent by the Pill Tower before, but Xuan Yi had turned them all away.
In the original story, when Yao Lao was being rescued, almost no one from the Pill Tower had stepped forward. Aside from their fear of the Hun Clan, it was largely because Yao Chen had never been a formal member of the Pill Tower.
But now that one of their own Three Giants had been ambushed, they naturally had to provide full support. Otherwise, where would the Pill Tower's face be?
For someone of Xuan Kongzi's status to show such respect wasn't just because Xiao Jietian had saved Xuan Yi. It was also because he couldn't sense any trace of Xiao Jietian's cultivation or soul strength, yet he still felt a deadly threat from him.
All the signs pointed to one conclusion: the young man either possessed some terrifying defensive treasure or was unimaginably powerful. Out of respect for the strong and for true talent, Xuan Kongzi naturally treated him with the courtesy due to a powerhouse.
Moreover, although he couldn't discern Xiao Jietian's background, he sensed no dark or sinister aura from him—only a grand, almost explosive vitality.
That was enough to prove he was not from the Hall of Souls or the Hun Clan. As long as he wasn't connected to them, he was a friend of the Pill Tower.
"Xuan Yi has already repaid me," Xiao Jietian said with a secret wink at her.
Xuan Yi pretended not to hear. She had repaid him more than enough—she had practically given herself to him. She still wasn't sure whether she had gained or lost in the deal.
Thinking back to what had happened in the wormhole space, she felt a strange heat rise in her chest. She couldn't help but shoot Xiao Jietian a fierce glare.
Xiao Jietian acted as if he hadn't noticed and turned to the two little girls in Xuan Yi's arms.
"Ling Ling, Meng Meng, these two are your Mother Xuan Yi's fellow Three Giants. You can think of them as her senior brothers."
The moment Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi heard those words, the relationship between Xiao Jietian and Xuan Yi became crystal clear. Still, the situation felt a little strange to them—like an old ox eating tender grass.
This was exactly what Xuan Yi had intended. She was someone who dared to love and hate openly. There was no need to hide their relationship, so it was better to make it clear from the start.
An old ox eating tender grass was fine. Others couldn't even dream of getting close to this particular grass.
"Senior Uncle Xuan Kongzi, Senior Uncle Tian Leizi."
Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng obediently bowed and greeted them in unison with their soft, childish voices.
"Oh, little junior nieces."
Hearing the two adorable voices and seeing their well-behaved, cute expressions, even the usually stern Tian Leizi couldn't help but smile.
The two elders each took out a storage ring and gave the girls a meeting gift. Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng glanced at Xuan Yi. Only after she nodded in approval did they happily accept.
In an instant, the two little girls had become the most well-connected people in the entire Pill Tower.
"Alright, this isn't the place for chatting. I still need to arrange accommodations. We can talk about other matters later."
Xuan Yi glanced at the group standing in the corridor. The sky was already growing dark, so it wasn't suitable for an alchemist assessment anymore. Moreover, they had just finished traveling, and she didn't want Xiao Jietian to be too tired. Refining pills consumed both soul power and mental energy.
"Very well. Arrange everything according to the highest guest standards," Xuan Kongzi said with a smile and a nod.
Normally, according to Pill Tower protocol, important guests would be placed in the guest quarters below the top floor. But now that he understood the relationship between Xiao Jietian and Xuan Yi, her arrangements would naturally be in her own residence.
Xuan Yi hummed softly in agreement and led Xiao Jietian deeper into the top floor.
The residences of the Three Giants were all located on this highest level.
As they walked, Xiao Jietian observed his surroundings. The entrance to the Little Pill Tower was also located in a large hall on this floor.
The Little Pill Tower was the true core of the entire organization, while the Three Giants were merely its elders and the public administrators of the outer Pill Tower.
When they reached Xuan Yi's residence, she pushed open a door and said, "Ling Ling, Meng Meng, this room is yours."
The two girls jumped down from her arms and rushed straight to the large balcony. Looking at the sea of clouds before them, they laughed with pure joy. The feeling reminded them of the Sky City Xiao Jietian had built for them back in the Eternal Heaven World.
Seeing the two little girls playing happily, Xuan Yi and Xiao Jietian quietly left the room, leaving them to enjoy themselves. They weren't worried about safety here at all.
"Are you taking me to your room? Are we going to live together?" Xiao Jietian asked with a smile as he looked at Xuan Yi.
Xuan Yi rolled her beautiful eyes at him. "You wish." She reached out and pushed open another door. "This is where you'll stay."
She could guarantee that if the two of them stayed in the same room, she wouldn't be "whole" the next day.
She had already experienced Xiao Jietian's relentless sweet-talking bombardment once before, and it had left a deep impression.
Xuan Yi left him with a graceful view of her back, pushed open the door to the adjacent room, and walked inside. Before closing it, she turned her head and gave him a warning look. "Don't even think about sneaking over, or you'll be no different from a beast."
Xiao Jietian watched her close the door, shrugged lightly, and entered his own room.
Late at night.
Xiao Jietian stood on his balcony. He turned his head and noticed that the room next door still had a faint light on. In a flash, he appeared on the neighboring balcony.
The moment he landed, Xuan Yi's calm voice rang out:
"Little thief, not resting properly at night—what are you doing in my room?"