After the Snake-People and Zi Yan departed, Lady Azure—carrying Qing Lin—returned through the tunnel and quietly made her way to Xiao Hua's side.
"I take it we'll be sneaking in when that little girl begins her evolution?" Lady Azure asked with an amused smile.
"That's right."
Since Lady Azure had already guessed his intentions, Xiao Hua didn't bother to hide them. Their long and close relationship meant they often understood each other's thoughts without needing to speak—there was no point in pretending otherwise.
"If she succeeds in overcoming the tribulation, there's no doubt she'll refine the Green Lotus Core Flame. But I have a feeling that... while she will succeed in evolving and pass the tribulation, something amusing is bound to happen."
"So, you're that confident she'll pass?"
Lady Azure was slightly bewildered by Xiao Hua's certainty that Queen Medusa would successfully evolve. It wasn't that she didn't trust him—far from it. But throughout her long life, she had witnessed many powerful beasts attempt to evolve.
Some succeeded, though the cost was often steep. Others failed—many losing their lives, while a fortunate few barely survived, left as weakened souls wandering aimlessly.
It was for this reason that Lady Azure found herself both puzzled by Xiao Hua's confidence and intrigued by the "amusing" situation he hinted at.
Xiao Hua didn't respond. Instead, he simply offered an ambiguous smile.
"Anyway, when will the Little Fairy Doctor wake up?" he asked, shifting the topic as he turned his gaze toward the purple cocoon. Its color had deepened, darkening into a rich indigo hue.
"Judging by its current state, it won't take much longer. At most, another two weeks," Lady Azure replied after examining the cocoon carefully.
"That's good. If she remains dormant, I won't be able to protect her from what's coming," Xiao Hua said as his eyes flicked toward a distant direction.
"True. I never expected them to call in a Dou Zun for assistance…" Lady Azure nodded, understanding the meaning behind his vague words.
"For now, they don't know your location—but it's only a matter of time before they find you."
Naturally, they were speaking of the Hall of Souls. Xiao Hua and Lady Azure had sensed their presence in the Tager Desert—they were clearly searching for something, or more likely, someone.
And it was obvious who that someone was: Xiao Hua. Word must have spread that he was headed to this region. However, they hadn't found him yet, thanks to the meticulous effort Xiao Hua had taken to conceal both his own aura and that of the Little Fairy Doctor.
No matter how sharp or powerful the Hall of Souls' senses were, they would be forced to search blindly for a while.
What Xiao Hua and Lady Azure hadn't anticipated was the Hall calling upon a Dou Zun-level expert. It likely wasn't just because of Xiao Hua's strength. More than that, they probably suspected he had backing from Jia Nan Academy—perhaps believing a Dou Zun was secretly protecting him. That would explain their own decision to send a powerhouse of that level.
"Don't worry about that," Xiao Hua said with a calm smile, his voice steady with quiet confidence. "I believe I can handle that Dou Zun."
"…But only under the right conditions." His tone suddenly turned serious.
After a brief pause, he looked at Qing Lin and said solemnly, "Qing Lin, a major battle is about to take place here. You must leave and inform Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. Tell them a large fight is coming—they need to protect the members of the Desert Metal Mercenary Group. Stay with them, and assist however you can."
"…Yes." Qing Lin bit her lip in frustration and nodded, albeit with some difficulty. How could she not understand the reason he was sending her to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li?
She knew all too well—Xiao Hua was sending her away because she was too weak to stay by his side, unable to protect herself if danger arose. And it was in moments like this that she deeply wished she were stronger.
Make no mistake—under Lady Azure's guidance, Qing Lin had already reached the peak of Dou Zhe and was on the verge of a breakthrough. Her talent in cultivation was unquestionable.
But the enemy Xiao Hua was about to face… was far beyond anything she could handle. She simply wasn't strong enough to stand beside him yet.
"Please be careful, Young Master Xiao Hua…" Qing Lin bowed slightly before turning to leave. She ran toward the tunnel, exiting the magma crypt—but every few steps, she glanced back, her eyes filled with worry and unease.
Xiao Hua and Lady Azure exchanged a glance, their lips curving into faint smiles. They silently watched the small figure grow more distant, shrinking with every step until she finally disappeared from sight.
There was no need to worry—Qing Lin had the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent to guide and protect her as she left the tunnel.
Afterward, Xiao Hua and Lady Azure turned their attention back to the Little Fairy Doctor, silently and patiently waiting for her to awaken.
Naturally, as he waited, Xiao Hua upgrading the ACP Rate once more. For the past few months, he has been gradually upgrading it while he is recuperating. Now, his rate has reached 170 ACP per hour.
With no words exchanged, the vast magma crypt once again returned to a deep, undisturbed silence…
…
Two weeks had passed since the encounter with Queen Medusa. Xiao Hua and Lady Azure now sat beside the cocoon, which had taken on an indigo hue tinged with silver.
Despite the striking transformation, the cocoon remained still and silent—no signs of movement, no fluctuation of energy. Yet Lady Azure had already indicated that the Little Fairy Doctor was close to awakening, so they continued to wait patiently, never straying far from her side.
As time passed, Xiao Hua drew the Gacha twice. He noticed that he had received the ACP reward three times, but before he could check the details, a subtle movement stirred the air. A faint ripple appeared across the surface of the indigo-silver cocoon.
Immediately, Xiao Hua's attention shifted. A soft smile formed on his lips as he pushed aside any thought of the rewards—his focus now fully on the cocoon.
His eyes caught the glow of seals etched across its surface—they were gradually becoming denser and brighter. More notably, faint cracks began to spread, each one lined with a soft, glowing purple light.
From the looks of the situation, it seemed it would not be long until Little Fairy Doctor broke out of the cocoon.
From the signs, it was clear—she was about to emerge.
"She's finally waking up…" Xiao Hua murmured, his voice soft. His lips curled into a warm, joyful smile.
"Indeed," Lady Azure, standing beside him, nodded at his words. "This means you can face the Dou Zun from the Hall of Souls without any worries."
"Even if they hadn't shown up, I'm just relieved that nothing happened to her," Xiao Hua said, shaking his head. His voice carried both relief and excitement.
He wasn't truly concerned about the Hall of Souls arriving. With the cards he held, Xiao Hua believed he could escape even from the hands of a Dou Zun. That was why their presence didn't trouble him.
But it was different when it came to the Little Fairy Doctor. If she hadn't awakened and was still in a dormant state, he feared that the clash with the Hall of Souls might disrupt her merging process. The backlash from such an interruption could have been fatal to her.
Just as Xiao Hua and Lady Azure finished speaking, the magma crypt suddenly trembled violently. The moment they felt the tremor, their gazes immediately snapped toward the cocoon.
The cocoon, now glowing with a radiant blend of purple and silver light, was shining even more intensely—brighter than ever before!
"She's about to awaken…!" Xiao Hua's voice trembled with excitement, his eyes growing brighter. At last—there was movement from within.
As the radiant light from the cocoon intensified, a sharp cracking sound echoed through the crypt. Fine fractures spread across its surface, and in the next instant, the cocoon shattered completely—exploding in a burst of dazzling indigo-red light that shot upward toward the ceiling.
A torrent of rich fire energy and dense poisonous aura surged forth with explosive force, rippling out like a tsunami. The shockwave violently pushed Xiao Hua and Lady Azure back, forcing them to slide several meters through the air before they could stabilize themselves.
After being pushed back nearly five meters, they finally regained their footing.
Their eyes lifted to the sky, staring at the purple-silver pillar of light that had pierced the ceiling of the crypt and now shot into the heavens above.
"Well… if they didn't know where we were before, they definitely do now," Xiao Hua said with a helpless smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Definitely," Lady Azure agreed, her gaze fixed on the brilliant pillar of light. She hadn't expected such a dramatic scene—and in her oversight, had forgotten to place a Spatial Seal.
Turning to Xiao Hua, she added, "Since they'll be coming soon, I'll return to your spiritual sea."
With that, her body dissolved into five-colored light and faded away, merging back into Xiao Hua's spiritual sea.
Xiao Hua's eyes then turned toward the towering pillar of purple-silver light. His gaze sharpened as he noticed a faint human silhouette forming within its radiant core.
The pillar continued to shine for a moment longer before gradually dimming. Then, from within the fading brilliance, an elegant figure emerged. Her step was graceful, and a warm, gentle smile adorned her face.
As she fully stepped into view, the radiant column of light dissolved into nothingness. The sky above returned to its serene stillness, allowing her entire form to be seen in full clarity.
She exuded an ethereal, graceful beauty—her expression calm and composed. Her skin was fair as porcelain, her features delicately sculpted, and her soft red lips carried a quiet allure. Her tranquil eyes shimmered with warmth and gentleness.
Her long, flowing hair was a deep, enchanting shade of purple, adorned with a delicate floral ornament that harmonized perfectly with her elegant, flower-themed attire. She wore a refined robe of lavender and violet, its fabric embroidered with petal-like motifs and intricate patterns that fluttered gently in the breeze.
Behind her, a silver crescent arcs curved like moon, embellished with radiant, mystical flowers that formed a halo of divine elegance. The blossoms glowed faintly with a soft purple light, further amplifying her otherworldly presence.
Beholding the delicate figure robed in lavender and violet, with the purple-silver halo blooming like celestial flowers behind her, Xiao Hua couldn't help but smile warmly.
"Good afternoon, Little Fairy Doctor. It seems you had quite the pleasant dream," he said with a teasing smile.
Little Fairy Doctor rolled her eyes, though the smile on her face didn't fade—clearly, she didn't mind his playful words.
"It seems nothing too serious happened while I was asleep," she replied casually.
"Well, technically something did happen… but nothing too major," Xiao Hua said with a shrug. "I'll fill you in later. What's coming now, though—that's going to be big."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward a distant direction where three figures were rapidly approaching.
"I'm sorry for bringing trouble…" Little Fairy Doctor said softly, realizing it was her awakening that had exposed their location.
She already knew who was coming. Before they had left for the Tager Desert, she had been briefed about the Hall of Souls—and the possibility of having to face them.
"Don't worry about it. With how relentless they are, our location would've been discovered sooner or later," Xiao Hua said with a soft chuckle, reassuring the Little Fairy Doctor that it wasn't her fault.
He paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on the silvery-purple halo behind her, adorned with petals that shimmered with a soft silver hue tinged with violet.
"Still… you've become a Dou Zun, huh…" he murmured, unable to hide the trace of envy in his voice.
"Four-star Dou Zun, to be exact. Don't be jealous," Little Fairy Doctor giggled gently, clearly amused by his expression. "According to Lady Azure, you're going to become a Half-Step Dou Di once you pass the ninth trial—skipping the Dou Zun stage entirely. Compared to that, my breakthrough is nothing."
"Even so…" Xiao Hua smiled bitterly. Though her words were true, the requirements to initiate the ninth trial were unbearably demanding…
Letting out a quiet sigh, he shook his head and adjusted his mood. Tilting his head toward the opposite direction of Rock Desert City, he said, "I already sent Qing Lin to Rock Desert City earlier. We should move further away—it's best not to let the fight get too close."
Little Fairy Doctor nodded in agreement. Fighting near Rock Desert City would only endanger Qing Lin and other innocent lives.
Without wasting another moment, the two quickly left the magma crypt and headed deeper into the vast Tager Desert.
However, just as they reached a distance of around fifty meters from Rock Desert City, both Xiao Hua and the Little Fairy Doctor came to a sudden stop.
"Are we done running?" A cold, indifferent voice echoed from above, causing the two to immediately look up.
As they lifted their gazes, the air itself began to ripple ominously. In the next moment, a black line streaked across the sky—tinged with a sinister purple glow. It tore open with force, becoming a massive, dark crack in the sky.
From within the crack in the sky, an eerie dark-purple fog surged outward, spreading in all directions. It lingered ominously for a moment before three figures slowly emerged from its depths.
Two of them were clearly insignificant—Xiao Hua could tell at a glance that they weren't worth his attention. But the one in the center was different.
He was draped in a dark-purple robe, a hooded cloak covering his head. A mask obscured his mouth and forehead, leaving only his eyes exposed—cold, piercing, and emotionless.
What truly caught Xiao Hua's attention, however, was the bone halo floating behind the man—a black, rustic ring adorned with sharp protrusions resembling thorns on a flower. This unmistakable sign marked him as a Dou Zun, just like the Little Fairy Doctor.
The moment he appeared, the entire area trembled violently—an undeniable testament to the overwhelming power he possessed.
"I wonder," Xiao Hua said with a confident smile, "what business does the Honorary Elder of the Hall of Souls have with the likes of us?"
Though he already knew the answer, he feigned ignorance, his tone calm and unwavering.
"Ke ke… nothing much," the purple-robed man said with a casual, leisurely tone. "This old one simply wishes to invite you to return with me to the Hall of Souls."
"Oh?" Xiao Hua raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "Do you need something from me?"
"Ke ke… that's something I can only explain once you come with me. But rest assured, nothing will happen to you." The purple-robed man kept his words deliberately vague, his expression unreadable.
Xiao Hua snorted inwardly, his expression calm but his heart filled with disdain. 'You tell me nothing and expect me to follow you like a fool?'
Others might have mistaken this invitation as goodwill—an attempt to recruit him into the Hall of Souls. But the chilling killing intent leaking from the man's body told an entirely different story.
"Let's drop the pretense, old thing," Xiao Hua said coldly, his eyes narrowing. "I've been by the side of the Young Lady of the Gu Clan… and grown quite close to her."
He shook his head, gaze sharp as a blade as he stared at the purple-robed man with scorn.
"Thanks to that relationship, she kindly told me everything about the Xiao Clan's past. I know exactly what you're after—you're seeking the key my clan holds, aren't you?"
A mocking smirk played on Xiao Hua's lips as he spoke, each word piercing like a knife.
The purple-robed old man narrowed his eyes, the gaze that have been staring at him have turned cold and dark. The warm demeanour that he has shown was completely dropped and sinister aura emits from him.
The purple-robed man's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. The silence stretched—thick, suffocating, and heavy with unspoken threat.
The air around them grew tense, as though the desert itself was holding its breath.
"I see you're not even trying to deny it," Xiao Hua continued, his tone sharp. "What's the matter? Thought I'd still be a clueless brat?"
The man let out a low chuckle, but there was no amusement in it—only coldness.
"Ke ke… So the Gu Clan has grown foolish enough to reveal such secrets. Truly disappointing." His voice turned darker, layered with contempt. "But it doesn't matter. You knowing or not knowing changes nothing."
The desert wind stirred, swirling grains of sand around them like a serpent coiling before it strikes.
"Since you already know, why don't you hand it over?" the purple-robed old man said slowly, his voice beneath the mask laced with venom. "Do that, and I might let you live."
Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed, his killing intent subtly flaring—not wild or reckless, but sharp and deadly, like a silent blade drawn under moonlight.
"Careful, old thing," Xiao Hua said coldly. "Threatening the wrong person might just shorten your already dwindling life. I'm sure you'd prefer to live peacefully, not die miserably like the old mutt you are."
His words were calm, but each syllable dripped with disdain. He let out a light laugh, unbothered by the dense coldness swirling in Qing Hai's gaze.
"If you're going to attack, then just do it. Why waste your breath on empty threats?"
The killing intent around Qing Hai thickened. His eyes flicked toward the Little Fairy Doctor, believing she was the source of Xiao Hua's confidence. A cruel idea took root in his mind—he wanted to see Xiao Hua's expression when she backed away and abandoned him.
He cupped his hands toward her and said, "Miss, I am Qing Hai from the Hall of Souls. This matter is strictly between our Hall and this man. I hope you won't get involved. If you step aside, this old one will owe you a favor."
Qing Hai could clearly sense that the Little Fairy Doctor's strength was above his own. If she chose to step in, he might be the one to suffer. Still, he wasn't entirely without backup—someone was hidden nearby, ready to intervene if summoned. But that person would only act if things truly spiraled out of control.
For now, he remained in hiding. Revealing his presence prematurely might provoke Xiao Hua into calling reinforcements from Jia Nan Academy, which would complicate matters even further.
Qing Hai hadn't come here by choice. Tracking Xiao Hua had proven more difficult than anticipated, even with their relentless efforts. Worse yet, the people in Desert City had begun casting suspicious looks their way. Despite repeated interrogations, they were unable to identify who had tasked these people with watching them. But it was clear—someone had discovered their trail.
Had it not been for the massive outburst of energy earlier, they might have spent even more time searching. That time would've allowed Xiao Hua and his companions to vanish again, hiding both their presence and their trail.
"Who are you again?" Little Fairy Doctor smiled coldly, her gaze mocking. "A single strand of his hair is worth more than whatever 'favor' a nobody like you can offer."
Xiao Hua chuckled, clearly amused by her biting words. But behind that laughter, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
'So, he is Qing Hai…No wonder he seems familiar.' he muttered, recognizing the name. The same Qing Hai who appeared during the clash between Xiao Yan and Ice River Valley.
"How unfortunate for you." Xiao Hua's gaze sharpened, disdain etched into every line of his face. "Our bond isn't forged by contract. It runs deeper than you could imagine."
Little Fairy Doctor's cheeks flushed faintly. She hadn't expected him to say something so direct—and certainly not now of all times. She shot him a quick glare, though it lacked any true anger.
Then, regaining her composure, she asked in a soft voice, "Should I fight him?"
"No. Let me fight him," Xiao Hua said, glancing at the Little Fairy Doctor with a calm smile. "We'll be heading to the Central Plains soon. It's inevitable that I'll have to face a Dou Zun eventually—so let me use this battle to test my strength."
If it were anyone else, Little Fairy Doctor would have dismissed such words as arrogance. But coming from Xiao Hua, she knew they weren't empty boasts. She had walked alongside him, seen the hidden cards he held.
In truth, even she wasn't confident she could defeat him. And she was stronger than Qing Hai. But that didn't mean she would let her guard down.
'Even so... he already predicted he'd end up fighting a Dou Zun, huh...' A helpless smile formed on her elegant face. Despite everything, she still found it a little hard to believe how casually Xiao Hua had foreseen and accepted such a conflict.
"Regardless, be careful," she said softly, her eyes serious. "Since he's still insistent on taking you, he must have a few trump cards up his sleeve."
"Don't worry. I already know all of his trump cards—there's nothing to fear," Xiao Hua said coolly, his gaze sharp as a blade. His spiritual sense had long detected the hidden Dou Zun lurking in the shadows. But so what? Even with that reinforcement, nothing would change. He remained unshaken.
"You really believe a mere 8-Star Dou Zong can defeat me?" Qing Hai's voice turned icy, a sinister laugh slipping through his clenched teeth. His eyes darkened, burning with fury. He felt mocked—humiliated—by their audacity to send Xiao Hua alone to face him.
"You should be more worried about your reputation, Qing Hai," Xiao Hua replied, his tone laced with scorn. "After all, getting your ass handed to you by a 'mere Dou Zong' doesn't exactly speak well for your title."
The mocking smile on Xiao Hua's face was like fuel to a fire. Qing Hai's expression twisted with rage—his eyes flaring as if they could incinerate everything in sight.
"Very well…" Qing Hai growled, his voice now deep and thunderous, like a storm ready to erupt. "Since you've chosen death—then let me deliver it to you."
The world seemed to pause for a breath.
Then the air cracked like shattered glass—
And the desert roared.
-------|
Read 20 Advanced Chapters in Patreon:
http://patreon.com/GodYato