"So you caught him?"
"Of course. With the three of us acting together, that guy's little tricks didn't stand a chance. We caught him with ease." Medusa crossed her arms, her head tilted with practiced arrogance, pride written across every line of her face.
"Then you're very impressive. Would you like a reward?" Xiao Tian rose to his feet, approached the preening Medusa, and smiled as he spoke.
"Don't you know this King's abilities by now? Why would I need a reward for something like this? Absolutely unnecessary." She arched an eyebrow at him, her eyes carrying both haughtiness and a subtle, almost imperceptible trace of expectation. Her voice deliberately lingered on the final words.
Xiao Tian stepped directly in front of her, reached out, and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her crimson lips. Just as he moved to pull away, Medusa yanked him back, rose onto her tiptoes, and returned the kiss with fervor. The two bystanders hastily covered their eyes—though the gaps between their fingers were suspiciously wide as they watched the unrestrained display of passion.
"Haven't you two had enough yet? We're still standing right here. You're treating us like we're not even human." Zi Yan watched them growing steadily more unrestrained and cut in swiftly. Any further and the scene would require censorship.
Xiao Tian and Medusa slowly pulled apart, though a glistening thread still connected them. He gazed at Medusa, whose eyes were now hazy with desire, and gently stroked her face. Then he turned to Zi Yan. "You two aren't human to begin with."
"Hui Ying, what reward do you want?"
At Xiao Tian's words, Zi Yan immediately assumed the worst—that he intended something improper toward the little dragon girl. She thrust herself in front of Xiao Huiying and declared with fierce authority, "She's under my protection. Understand?"
*Thump!*
"Ow! What was that for?!" Zi Yan clutched her head, her face a mask of pure indignation. But there was nothing she could do against Xiao Tian, and that helplessness only stoked her fury. Her cultivation was barely at the Dou King level, while this scoundrel had already reached Dou Zong. Beating her was nothing but play to him. So whenever she was bullied, she could only puff out her cheeks and fume like an indignant frog.
"Sister Cai Li, he's bullying me! You have to help me!"
Medusa stroked Zi Yan's head. "Alright. I'll help you get revenge tonight."
Zi Yan looked up with an adorably puzzled expression. "Why tonight?"
"Because tonight is far more suitable. And I can't beat him alone. When Xian'er and the others return tonight, we'll have strength in numbers. We'll use a human-wave tactic to bring him down." Medusa shot Xiao Tian a provocative glance, throwing down a challenge. Xiao Tian winked back, accepting it without hesitation.
"Alright then! I want to watch. Let me see that big scoundrel Xiao Tian get bullied until he looks thoroughly miserable." Zi Yan had clearly found her backbone. Suddenly she was no longer tired or short of breath. She planted her hands on her hips and demanded, "But why isn't the timing right now? Are you lying to me?"
Zi Yan stared at Medusa with naked disbelief, as though already convinced she was being deceived.
"I'm not lying to you. I will definitely help you deal with him." Hearing their conversation, Xiao Tian nearly burst out laughing. One was already cruising down the highway, while the other was still doing the Macarena.
"Fine then." Zi Yan turned to Xiao Tian and lifted her chin with supreme self-satisfaction. "You're going to be finished tonight. Hmph, hmph."
Xiao Tian narrowed one eye, studying her with open amusement, then glanced at the supremely confident Medusa. She was clearly the weakest link—and yet by far the most stubborn. Truly both terrible at this and utterly addicted to playing.
"Hui Ying, what reward do you want?"
Xiao Huiying shook her head, her silver hair swaying gently with the motion. "I don't want any reward. Being able to help Master is already the greatest reward I could ask for."
Xiao Tian reached out and gently stroked the strands of hair atop her head. He said nothing more. Xiao Huiying tilted her head slightly, her eyes brimming with pure reliance, and let his hand caress her hair without resistance.
"Then I'll hold that in trust. You can tell me later." Xiao Tian smiled and spoke softly.
"Take me to see him. Let's find out if I can bring him to heel."
"Let those two take you. I'm not going." Medusa had no interest whatsoever. She would much rather return now and begin her preparations. As she departed, she shot Xiao Tian a deliberate wink.
---
Led by Zi Yan and Xiao Huiying, Xiao Tian arrived at a dungeon deep within the palace. Inside, an old man with a hawk-like nose and iron-gray hair sat imprisoned. A Four-Star Dou Zong.
"Who are you people? Why have you captured this old man?" Elder Yingshan still had no idea what had happened. He had just finished cultivating peacefully and was about to go acquire some cultivation resources when he'd been ambushed and captured alive by three women.
"This is the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace. You may call me Hall Master Xiao."
"You're the Palace Master of the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace?" Elder Yingshan stared at the young man before him with naked shock. He couldn't detect the youth's cultivation at all—and worse, he felt a distinct, mortal threat radiating from him. From this alone, he could deduce that the man standing before him was undoubtedly stronger than himself. Though he'd been in seclusion, he hadn't been completely cut off from the world. He had long since heard that the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace had unified the entire Black-Corner Region.
"I came here to discuss something with you." Xiao Tian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, regarding Elder Yingshan calmly.
Elder Yingshan was no fool. He had already guessed the other party's intentions. Though imprisoned, he hadn't been treated like a true criminal. Aside from being unable to move freely, his accommodations were perfectly adequate. "You want to recruit me." He pondered for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.
"That's right. I wonder if such an idea appeals to you?"
Taking in Xiao Tian's seemingly benevolent expression, Elder Yingshan's brow furrowed. The Heaven Punishing Divine Palace's strength far exceeded anything he had imagined—especially the girl standing silently beside this youth. He had attempted to escape using a soul clone, but both his main body and the clone had been snatched up by her with a single hand. He had a sinking suspicion the girl was absolutely a Dou Zun.
"If I refuse… will I be…"
"You are a smart man." Xiao Tian hadn't come with any overwhelming intention of subduing him. It was simply that the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace was still far too short on Dou Zongs. He couldn't expect his women to handle everything personally.
"I… I choose to surrender." Elder Yingshan finally capitulated. He understood with perfect clarity that refusal meant reporting directly to the King of Hell.
"I believe you will be grateful for the choice you made today." Xiao Tian waved a hand and the large door before them swung open. "However—you will need to take this." A black pill materialized in his palm.
Elder Yingshan stared blankly at the pill. After a moment of thought, he picked it up and threw it into his mouth without hesitation. He understood his situation perfectly. He had already chosen surrender. This was merely a method of control. Better to be decisive and leave a favorable impression.
Xiao Tian's regard for him rose a notch at the action.
"This pill will do you no harm. In fact, it can even repair hidden injuries within your body. But it will also leave a mark upon your soul. As long as you harbor no ill intentions and perform well, the mark will be removed in due time."
"I understand. I hope it is truly as you say." The reason Elder Yingshan had surrendered so decisively was simple: the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace possessed a Dou Zun. In the Black-Corner Region, Dou Zongs were already considered the absolute pinnacle. And this Palace Master was so terrifyingly young—reaching Dou Zun in the future was practically guaranteed. Yes, he had been captured. But wasn't this also a form of investment? Bet on his future success, and he himself would rise along with the tide.