After Han Yue finished the last drop of soy milk, she cleaned the tableware, rose slowly, and went to the washbasin to rinse her mouth.
The two of them walked out of the palace together. Xiao Tian held his daughter, chatted with the other women for a while, then departed the Heaven Punishing Divine Realm. He arrived at Boundless Gate's headquarters and found Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan Zi, how are things progressing?"
"Not bad. Now it just depends on their future choices." Xiao Yan smiled. He always gave his best to the tasks Xiao Tian entrusted to him. The two Heavenly Flames he now possessed had only come to him through Xiao Tian's help and support. And he had learned from Xiao Tian that Han Feng—his own Senior Brother—had conspired with the Hall of Souls to murder their master, only to die at the Hall of Souls' hands in the end. Xiao Tian had played no small role in that outcome. Every time Xiao Yan heard the title "master-killing Senior Brother," he wished he could drag the man out of his grave and kill him all over again.
The task Xiao Tian had assigned him was to frequent the Alchemy Department more often and spread the names of Boundless Gate and the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace. That way, once the Alchemy Department's students graduated, they would consider joining the palace. Every one of them was a top talent. With proper nurturing, they would become outstanding pillars of strength. Alchemists were vital to any faction. Without its own alchemist force, a faction could easily be stifled. Currently, the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace's Alchemy Department was managed by Xiao Yan. He had no objections. Putting aside the debt of gratitude he owed, the rich collections within the Alchemy Department alone were enough to keep him immersed for years.
"That's good. There's no need to rush. Just take it slowly." Xiao Tian picked up a teacup and took a sip. "In that case, I'll leave everything to you. Do you want to enter the Heaven Punishing Divine Realm?" As he spoke, he glanced at the white storage ring on Xiao Yan's hand. A soul transmission slipped quietly into it.
"I'll go in. I have something to discuss with Father." Xiao Yan nodded. He had been planning to find Xiao Tian anyway. He could only enter the Heaven Punishing Divine Realm with Xiao Tian present; otherwise, he would have to fly back to Eternal Heaven City first.
"What, are you going to discuss the marriage proposal?" Xiao Tian caught the awkward, hesitant look on Xiao Yan's face and smiled.
"Exactly. Even though it was a misunderstanding, I still have to take responsibility. And she and I… we already had feelings for each other." Xiao Yan scratched his head, his eyes steady with resolve.
"As long as you've thought it through. Father and all of us support you." Xiao Tian nodded, then seemed to recall something. A laugh escaped him.
"Brother Tian, what is it?" Xiao Yan watched Xiao Tian suddenly start laughing and asked, confused.
"I just realized—Second Brother is probably going to get another lecture today." Xiao Yan heard this and couldn't help but laugh as well. "Hahaha~ Second Brother is doomed. Kneeling in the ancestral hall is probably unavoidable this time."
"You go in first. I still have something to attend to." Xiao Tian waved his hand and brought Xiao Yan into the Heaven Punishing Divine Realm, then flashed away in a certain direction. Xiao Yan materialized directly in his exclusive palace. A phantom figure drifted out.
"Was that man your brother? Your biological brother?" Venerable Skyfire hovered in the air and addressed Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan looked at him and thought of his teacher. After helping him tame the Fallen Heart Flame, his teacher had fallen into a deep slumber. He had scoured the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace for soul-restoring medicines and found many, giving a portion to his teacher and a portion to Venerable Skyfire. But even now, his teacher had yet to recover. In truth, Yao Lao had awakened long ago. But sensing another soul body residing on Xiao Yan, he had chosen not to reveal himself. Instead, he lay in wait, observing the newcomer's intentions. If trouble arose, he could still catch them off guard.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Your brother is extraordinary. Extremely mysterious. I can sense nothing about him at all—and he has already discovered my existence. Also, what is this place? The energy here is so pure. My recovery speed has increased significantly." Xiao Yan briefly explained the Heaven Punishing Divine Realm to him. After hearing it, a trace of solemnity flickered in Venerable Skyfire's eyes. As a former Dou Zun, he was intimately familiar with the manipulation of space. Even at his peak, he could never have constructed a small world—only a very cramped pocket of space.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Yan understood. Xiao Tian had indeed discovered the other party's presence and had even delivered a warning. The soul transmission Xiao Tian had sent Venerable Skyfire upon leaving was a careful blend of stick and carrot. In short: if he harbored ill intentions, he would be utterly annihilated. If he assisted Xiao Yan well, Xiao Yan would help forge him a new body. Venerable Skyfire had initially been skeptical. Now, he believed every word. In fact, he had begun to suspect it would be Xiao Tian himself who eventually helped him—not Xiao Yan.
---
Jia Nan Academy Forest.
Xiao Tian stood on the branch of a towering tree, watching the battle unfolding below. The combatants were a Tier 5 Magical Beast and a petite figure in white. In the end, Zi Yan drove her fist into the beast and sent it flying. She jogged over and collected the medicinal herbs it had been guarding into her storage ring.
"Clap, clap, clap." Xiao Tian applauded from the tree. "Not bad, Little Zi Yan. Your strength has clearly improved. That last punch was incredibly vicious." He stepped off the branch and appeared before her.
"Xiao Tian! You finally showed up! Where did you go? I missed you so much!" The moment she recognized him, Zi Yan leaped at him in excitement. Xiao Tian hastily caught her petite body.
"I don't think you missed me. I think you just want me to refine pills for you."
"Hehe~" Her little scheme exposed, Zi Yan laughed awkwardly. "You're mistaken. I'm not like that at all."
"Really? Then why are you holding a storage ring stuffed with so many medicinal herbs?" Xiao Tian's gaze drifted teasingly to the ring in her hand.
Zi Yan realized her guilt was already laid bare. Embarrassment flooded her, and her eyes darted elsewhere. "I don't know how that happened. It just appeared on its own. I didn't take it out. It's definitely not my fault."
Xiao Tian laughed openly at her flustered expression. Zi Yan clenched her small fists. But then she remembered—not only did she need his help right now, she also couldn't beat him in a fight. *So annoying. But there's nothing I can do. Still, this young lady will definitely find a chance for revenge someday. Hmph, hmph.*
Xiao Tian watched her expressions shift like a kaleidoscope—more entertaining than any stage play. "Alright, stop daydreaming. You can't beat me." He knew exactly what was running through her mind. This little girl held grudges. "Give me your storage ring. I'll refine everything inside into pills for you. Then you're coming with me somewhere."
"Smack!" At his words, Zi Yan's eyes blazed with excitement. She threw herself forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. She had been worried sick that her pill supply was running out and she couldn't find Xiao Tian anywhere. If he stayed missing, she'd be forced to chew on those awful raw herbs again. It was easy to go from frugality to luxury—but nearly impossible to go back. She was utterly spoiled now. She couldn't stomach raw medicinal herbs at all. It was entirely this guy's fault for spoiling her in the first place.
"That's your reward. You're the first person this young lady has ever kissed." Zi Yan looked at Xiao Tian's stunned expression and announced it with pride. The reason she had made that move was simple—pure, overwhelming joy. And maybe, just maybe, something else she hadn't quite named yet.