Xuan Yi looked at Xiao Jietian and said playfully, "He seems to think you're a gigolo I'm keeping. Haha ha!"
Xiao Jietian had naturally noticed the deacon's gaze. He turned to Xuan Yi with a smile and said, "I once met a fortune teller who said my stomach was very weak and that I was only suited for 'eating soft rice'—and it had to be the top-tier kind."
"I have to say, this feeling of 'eating soft rice' is truly wonderful beyond words. I'm eating soft rice right now, and I can't even afford the cost of these medicinal ingredients. Since I have no way to repay you, I can only offer myself."
Xiao Jietian gently squeezed Xuan Yi's soft hand, smiling.
"Go away, go away. Shameless. Still wanting to eat and take at the same time." Xuan Yi gave him an annoyed glare. She didn't believe a word of his nonsense.
This man always claimed he wanted to "eat soft rice" off her, yet the things he casually produced were always unbelievable.
She still remembered the soul cultivation technique he had transmitted to her after satisfying his desires. It had left her completely stunned.
Compared to that technique, the Pill Tower's entire collection of soul cultivation methods was like the difference between low-grade Earth-tier and high-grade Heaven-tier—not even close.
After coming back to her senses, Xuan Yi had desperately thanked him, which successfully made him "bloom twice" before she finally fainted.
"Daddy is so thick-skinned. How shameful," the two little girls in front turned around, made funny faces at him, and giggled.
Because they were too cute, even their funny faces only added an extra layer of adorable clumsiness.
Xiao Jietian was amused by their expressions and burst out laughing. He placed his large hands on their heads. "Oh, you two little rascals have actually learned to make fun of Daddy? This is called confidence, alright?"
"Oh~ Confidence~ Daddy, you are truly invincible in this aspect." After speaking, the two girls pushed his hands off their heads and puffed out their cheeks. "Mother Xuan Yi helped us fix our hair, and bad Daddy messed it up!"
Xuan Yi also reached out to rescue the two little girls from his grasp. "Don't mind your Daddy. He's just this shameless. Come, I'll take you to the top floor to look around."
Xuan Yi had long grown used to Xiao Jietian's shamelessness. What normal person would have an endless supply of new ways to play?
...
The four of them arrived at the staircase leading to the top floor. Two elders stood guard at the entrance, both wearing kind smiles. After all, those who could reach this place were alchemists of considerable rank, so the two elders naturally wouldn't act arrogant.
Xiao Jietian knew these two were staff of the trade fair and not alchemists themselves. He scanned their auras—both were at the eight-star Dou Zong level.
The two elders were stunned when they saw Xiao Jietian's group approaching, mainly because his companions were either children or looked very young.
Their gazes finally landed on the badge on Xuan Yi's veiled chest, and their pupils constricted violently.
A purple-gold Pill Tower badge! Only core elders could wear that—second only to the Three Giants themselves.
The Alchemist Trade Fair could only exist and thrive at the junction between the outer and inner regions of Holy Pill City thanks to the Pill Tower's backing. Otherwise, it would have been flattened long ago.
Xiao Jietian even suspected that the trade fair had been created by the Pill Tower itself. There was no real "support"—it was simply inconvenient to put it openly on the surface.
Especially since the Pill Tower had strictly forbidden killing and plundering within the trade fair. Anyone who violated this rule would be considered an enemy of the entire Pill Tower.
"We did not know of your esteemed arrival and failed to greet you properly!" The two elders hurriedly bowed with clear respect.
A Pill Tower core elder not only needed to be an eighth-grade alchemist but also had to possess Dou Zun cultivation to qualify.
"Hmm. Can we go in now?" Xuan Yi's calm voice reached them.
The two elders noticed Xuan Yi had brought three people with her. The elder on the right was about to speak when the one on the left quickly interrupted, knowing exactly what his rigid partner wanted to say.
"Of course. Please enter, Senior. Would you like us to lead the way?"
In the elder's view, rules were dead, but people were alive. Offending a core elder over such a small matter would probably get them struck down by their superiors first.
"No need. We'll look around ourselves." Xuan Yi waved her hand.
"Understood! Senior, please enter."
Xuan Yi nodded faintly. The two little girls went in first, while Xuan Yi and Xiao Jietian walked side by side behind them.
As Xiao Jietian climbed the stairs, he felt many subtle gazes landing on them—even on the two little girls.
"Daddy, why do I feel like someone is secretly watching us?" Xiao Ling, being an alchemist, stopped and looked around the staircase in confusion.
"It's nothing. They're just doing their job," Xiao Jietian said as he walked to their side.
"So there really are people! No wonder I felt a little uncomfortable." Xiao Meng wrinkled her cute little face.
Xiao Jietian's brow furrowed slightly when he heard her words. He scanned the surroundings, took the two little girls' hands, and continued walking forward.
"Alright, let's go."
"Hmph!" Xuan Yi also noticed Xiao Meng's expression. Her heart ached, causing her to let out a soft snort before following behind Xiao Jietian.
Those subtle probing gazes instantly receded like a tide, leaving no trace of aura behind. Everyone controlled their eyes, not daring to release even the slightest fluctuation again.
In some hidden compartments along the staircase, six Dou Zong-level powerhouses were now covered in fine sweat, breathing heavily.
They had never expected there to be two Dou Zuns in the group—and not ordinary ones, but at least mid-level Dou Zuns or higher.
The two elders guarding the staircase had also sensed the auras. They hadn't expected that handsome young man to be a Dou Zun as well, and apparently the backbone of the four.
Still, they felt more relieved than anything. Two Dou Zuns plus the identity of a core elder—bringing two children along was perfectly reasonable. No one could find fault with it.
...
"Such a comfortable temperature, but why does it feel a little familiar?" As soon as they entered the top floor, Xiao Ling let out a puzzled exclamation.
"It feels completely comfortable all over," Xiao Meng nodded. "It really does feel a bit familiar."
After speaking, she squatted down and carefully examined the floor. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Isn't this the same feeling as the Sky City Daddy made for us? But it's a bit warmer and more comfortable here."
"Yes, that's it." Xiao Ling stomped her small foot a few times on the pale green warm jade covering the floor.
Xiao Jietian heard them and thought to himself, The Sky City you two use is made from Cloud Sky Green Jade produced in the Eternal Heaven World. It's far more advanced than this.
"What Sky City?" Xuan Yi asked curiously after hearing their conversation.