"Enough. I will begin now." His voice softened as he added, "I will watch over everything… and ensure that nothing happens to our beloved daughter."
Xiao Hua's tender smile carried a quiet reassurance, directed not only at Cai Lin but also at the Little Fairy Doctor and Ya Fei. They, too, regarded Xiao Yuyan as their precious child, for they shared the same bond as sister-wives with Cai Lin.
At his words, the three women smiled sweetly, their hearts free of worry. They trusted Xiao Hua completely; none of them doubted that he would allow no harm to ever befall Xiao Yuyan.
Thus, they simply watched as Xiao Hua carefully placed the pearl-white pill into the lips of the curious little girl. Her wide, dark eyes shimmered like obsidian, captivated by the quiet glow radiating from the pill as it entered her mouth.
When the White Crane Bone-Strengthening Pill entered Xiao Yuyan's body, it melted instantly upon her tongue, transforming into a stream of cool, silken energy. She felt a gentle chill spreading through her chest, like breathing in the pure air of dawn atop a sacred mountain.
The chill did not harm her; instead, it seeped softly into her marrow and bones, flowing in harmony with her pulse. Soon, faint cracking sounds echoed within her body—not of pain, but of rebirth. Fragile bones were reforged, tempered into jade-like resilience.
The sensation was subtle, neither oppressive nor violent. It was as though a crane spread its wings within her frame, stretching sinew, strengthening tendon, and aligning her bones with elegant precision.
Her posture straightened unconsciously, her small body gaining a natural poise. The heaviness of fatigue dissolved, replaced by lightness, as if her limbs could soar into the heavens at will. A faint white radiance emerged upon her skin, lingering like the shadow of a crane gliding across drifting clouds before quietly merging back into her flesh.
Most wondrous of all, the pill left behind a trace of crane essence within her bones. It nurtured strength without heaviness, resilience without rigidity, and agility without fragility—ensuring that her body would grow steady yet refined, strong yet graceful, destined for martial prowess and transcendent bearing alike.
Then, without warning, a pair of wings unfurled from Xiao Yuyan's back. Though smaller than Xiao Hua's, they still stretched wide, exceeding the length of the bed. They shone with a divine brilliance, releasing a soft, resonant hum. The radiance was otherworldly, dazzling to the eyes, while the sound carried elegance and majesty that stirred the hearts of all who heard it.
The scene endured for half an incense stick's time before the wings gradually folded and vanished back into her body. Sleepiness overcame the child, and soon she lay down, her delicate eyelids closing as she drifted into a deep, peaceful slumber.
"This is only the beginning. Once her body fully refines the medicinal strength, she will awaken naturally…" Xiao Hua said softly, a tender smile accompanying his words as he explained the matter.
Cai Lin gently nodded after hearing his explanation. Bending her delicate figure, she lightly caressed Xiao Yuyan's small body, her bewitching face softening into a radiance filled with motherly love.
Xiao Hua's gaze lingered on her, his smile tender yet somewhat absent-minded. In a low voice, he murmured, "My older brothers and sisters have asked me to bring all of you to the Moonlit Chaos Mansion."
Turning toward Ya Fei, his expression grew even gentler as he added, "They wish to see their little niece, and also the two Sister-in-law whom they have yet to meet."
At his words, both Cai Lin's enchanting figure and Ya Fei's exquisite frame trembled slightly, leaving them momentarily at a loss. Their hesitation was not without reason—after all, the Hua Alliance had only just stabilized after enduring great battles and drastic change under Xiao Hua's hand.
They still wished to safeguard these peaceful years, ensuring nothing unforeseen disrupted the hard-won calm.
Seeing their hesitation, Xiao Hua stepped forward slowly, his arms encircling Cai Lin's slender waist, then Ya Fei's graceful curves, and finally, he drew the Little Fairy Doctor's delicate frame into his embrace as well.
Cai Lin, ever majestic and cold as a distant empress, found her frosty poise unraveling beneath the embrace. A flush of bright crimson stole across her jade-like cheeks, her aloof dignity melting into a breathtaking allure that rendered her beauty even more intoxicating—like an ice lotus suddenly bathed in the warmth of spring.
Beside her, Ya Fei, whose composure was as steady as a seasoned businesswoman's shrewd smile, faltered. The calm calculation that ever danced in her eyes softened into sweetness, her vermilion lips curving with a charm so natural it outshone her practiced allure. In that moment, she was no longer the untouchable enchantress, but a tender temptation that could steal away hearts without the faintest effort.
The Little Fairy Doctor, draped in her quiet elegance and softness, trembled faintly within his hold. Like a flower field swaying beneath a spring breeze, her clear eyes glistened with delicate warmth. A gentle blush colored her face, carrying the purity of sunlight that melts away winter's final snow. No longer the ethereal healer shrouded in mystery, she appeared instead as a maiden revealing the fragile yet sincere stirrings of her heart.
Thus, three beauties stood at his side—an empress whose icy majesty melted into intoxicating allure, a temptress whose practiced grace dissolved into tender sweetness, and a healer whose gentle purity blossomed into delicate warmth—all bound together by the same embrace, drawn forth by Xiao Hua's unshakable affection.
Xiao Hua's heart stirred with heat at their enchanting reactions. His arms tightened slightly around those slender, boneless waists, and with a faint smile, he leaned in to bestow gentle kisses—upon Cai Lin's eyes that shimmered with restrained emotion, Ya Fei's gaze that brimmed with temptation, and the Little Fairy Doctor's soft eyes that trembled with shy purity.
Though lust coursed within him, he did not allow it to overcome reason. His daughter's condition remained foremost in his mind, and thus he suppressed the rising fire, loosening his embrace with reluctant care as he let the three heavenly figures slip from his hold.
"I take it this little one is your child, Xiao Hua?"
Just as his focus returned to Xiao Yuyan, a familiar, melodious voice resounded. Two divine glows flowed from his body, swiftly condensing into the graceful forms of Lady Azure and Xue Yue.
"Good morning, Sister Azure. Thank you for watching over her, Sister Xue Yue." A warm smile curved Xiao Hua's lips as he greeted the two peerless beauties. He had long since sensed the stirrings of Lady Azure's awakening, and so her emergence brought no surprise.
Cai Lin, the Little Fairy Doctor, and Ya Fei all stiffened slightly at the sudden appearance of the two. Though Ya Fei had never seen Lady Azure and Xue Yue before, she instinctively understood how deeply Xiao Hua cherished them—treasures he valued even beyond his own life.
"Greetings, Lady Azure. Greetings, Lady Xue Yue."
At once, the three women straightened their postures, their voices respectful and swift as they offered salutations.
Lady Azure and Xue Yue both nodded lightly before turning their gaze upon Xiao Yuyan. The little girl was, after all, the true source of their curiosity. She was the first child of Xiao Hua—the first ancestor of the Celestial Feather Race, the newest race to emerge in the vast Great Thousand World, and one born in the most extraordinary of ways.
"Interesting… just like you, her Dou Qi carries every affinity, from the most common to the rarest." Lady Azure spoke calmly after sensing Xiao Yuyan's body. Even without probing deeply, her peerless spiritual perception made such truths immediately clear.
"I believe this stems from my bloodline," Xiao Hua replied with a faint smile. "My children seem capable of inheriting every affinity."
He rubbed his head, a contemplative look flashing across his face before he added, "Though whether they can actually wield all of them remains uncertain. I hate to admit it, but I myself only rely on flame, lightning, and space. Beyond that, I've barely touched anything else…"
"At least you admit you've wasted much of your potential." Lady Azure's lips curved into a sneer, her words striking him without mercy. Xiao Hua scratched his cheek awkwardly, laughing in embarrassment.
Though he wanted to argue that dividing his attention was no easy task, he could not deny the truth of her words. Despite upgrading his talent using the System, he had rarely pursued other paths. Still, he knew that once he unlocked the Soul and Reincarnation functions of the System by completing this world, he could split his soul and cultivate multiple avenues at once.
Yet whether "completion" meant defeating Hun Tiandi or ascending to Dou Di, he was still uncertain.
If it was the former, it would prove troublesome. Hun Tiandi had already gone into hiding, and Xiao Hua could not yet locate him. If it was the latter, it was no less daunting, for he still lacked several of the Primordial Heavenly Flames. Even the Heavenly Flames and Lightnings he currently possessed were but fragments—a mere drop compared to their true essence.
The only way to fully absorb them was to leave the Dou Qi Continent itself. He recalled how Lady Azure, upon her first summoning, had crossed beyond this sealed plane to speak with Xue Yue. That meant she must know the method of breaching the barrier enclosing this world.
Only after leaving could he absorb the true bodies of those flames and lightnings, unlocking the second level of the System.
Then he could finally obtain the methods to merge the nine Heavenly Lightnings into the Primordial Heaven Lightning, fuse the twenty-two Primordial Heavenly Flames into the Heavenly Genesis Flame, and refine the Celestial Ancient Frost.
"Even so…" Xue Yue's eyes softened with wonder as they swept across Xiao Yuyan's small frame, her probing sense delving deeper. Her tone carried genuine admiration as she murmured, "The density within her bones already rivals the might of a dragon. Her wings and bearing hold the elegance and swiftness of a phoenix. She able to control space, flame, and lightning as naturally as drawing breath. Her soul, upon birth, has already reached the Soul State… This is enough to stir envy in countless hearts—especially among alchemists."
"Ke ke. The growth of the descendants depends on the growth and discoveries of their ancestor. If the ancestor stops advancing, the little girl's path will also stagnate." Lady Azure's lips curved into a mischievous smile as she teased Xiao Hua, clearly reminding him that his responsibilities as the progenitor allowed him no rest.
Xiao Hua could only respond with a bitter smile. He understood that not every step of his children's growth would rely on him—but it wasn't as if he would ever be content with their development remaining at ordinary level.
"Astonishingly, her constitution may even surpass yours. If she is properly nurtured, her future achievements will surely be shocking…" Xue Yue interjected, ignoring their banter as her gaze remained firmly fixed upon Xiao Yuyan.
"There is a chance she may needed to carve her own path. Why don't I take Xiao Yuyan under my guidance?" Lady Azure giggled, her tone half in jest, yet not without sincerity. Her amused gaze swept lightly across the room before she spoke again in her usual calm voice.
Xiao Hua instinctively turned to Cai Lin, seeking her opinion. Though he already knew her likely answer, he wanted her voice in this matter.
Cai Lin met his eyes and nodded gently, a smile of relief touching her lips. Hearing Lady Azure and Xue Yue's high evaluation of Xiao Yuyan had already eased her heart, and knowing they were willing to watch over her daughter's journey filled her with joy.
"You might as well teach all of my children," Xiao Hua said at last, nodding with a helpless smile. He admitted inwardly that while his alchemy and fire control were exceptional, in matters of depth and experience, he could not compare to Lady Azure.
"Very well." Lady Azure nodded, her expression calm. "I will watch over her and assist in uncovering anything unusual. After all, your race has only just been born—its potential is far from being fully unearthed."
Xiao Hua nodded, then turned toward Cai Lin and Ya Fei once the matter was settled. With a gentle smile, he said,
"Because of my sisters' interruption, I still haven't heard your answer about moving to the Moonlit Chaos Mansion."
"More like you were too busy cozying up to your future wives." Lady Azure rolled her eyes at his shamelessness, dismissing his attempt to push the blame onto her and Xue Yue, before turning her attention back to the slumbering Xiao Yuyan.
Xiao Hua chuckled softly at her words, then refocused on Cai Lin and Ya Fei.
"Cousin Xiao Tao and Cousin Xiao Yang have already agreed to let Cousin Xiao Ding take the helm. With the three of them in charge, I believe nothing will happen to the Hua Alliance while we are away.
"Furthermore, I will construct a wormhole linking the Moonlit Chaos Mansion and the Hua Alliance. Should anything arise, messages will pass instantly, and reinforcements can arrive without delay."
His tone was calm, yet filled with assurance. He had already discussed this with Xiao Ding, Xiao Tao, and Xiao Yang, and the three had pledged to shoulder the responsibility of guarding the Hua Alliance. With the wormhole serving as a bridge, the two great powers could support one another without fear of delay.
Upon hearing this, Cai Lin and Ya Fei exchanged a look. Relief flickered in their eyes before they nodded softly. With the wormhole in place, they no longer had to worry over the Hua Alliance's safety. No matter which side faced danger in the future, reinforcements could be dispatched at once.
Moreover, they clearly understood that the creation of such a passage would elevate the Hua Alliance's hidden strength even further. Backed by the Moonlit Chaos Mansion, there would be no rival capable of contending against them in the northwestern region. Their dominance was no longer a matter of "if," but "when."
Seeing their agreement, Xiao Hua's expression brightened. Joy and anticipation stirred in his heart, for the two women beside him had accepted this step forward.
"When will we head to the Moonlit Chaos Mansion?" Little Fairy Doctor asked with a gentle smile, her joy evident as she thought of her sisters accompanying her back.
Xiao Hua folded his arms, rubbing his chin as he pondered. After a brief silence, he replied calmly,
"I plan to first ask Qing Lin if she is willing to follow me. In addition, I must speak with Xiao Yan—inform him about the Hall of Souls and the Hun Clan. There are also a few other matters I need to settle before leaving."
Little Fairy Doctor exchanged a glance with Cai Lin and Ya Fei, the three women sharing a quiet smile before nodding in unison. They fully understood his intention. Xiao Yan had long planned to venture to the Central Plains in pursuit of improvement; thus, it was only right that Xiao Hua warned him of such matters beforehand.
As for Qing Lin…
"Leave her to me," Little Fairy Doctor suggested softly. "I believe she will be delighted to follow you."
Xiao Hua nodded in agreement before drawing the three of them into a brief embrace. Then, without lingering further, he stepped out of the room—intent on resolving everything swiftly so he could depart with his wives and daughter.
…
After leaving, Xiao Hua made his way directly to Xiao Yan's residence. By chance, Xiao Yan's two older brothers were also present, and they warmly welcomed him into their courtyard, where laughter and reunion filled the air.
Once the celebration settled, Xiao Hua began to speak of his encounters with the Hall of Souls, their hidden movements, and their sinister interest in the Xiao Clan. He did not reveal the full truth directly; instead, he recounted what he had learned from Xun Er and the investigations conducted by his sworn brothers and sisters.
"It is unexpected…" Xiao Yan murmured, his brows furrowed in disbelief. "That our Xiao Clan actually originates from the Eight Ancient Clans…"
At his words, astonishment swept across the faces of the three brothers. None of them had imagined that their clan's roots stretched so far back into ancient history—once counted among the most renowned across the vast Dou Qi Continent.
"However, you mentioned that the Xiao clan's bloodline strength has long since been exhausted. Why then would the Hall of Souls and Hun Clan target us? From the information I've gathered, it seems they intend to capture everyone bearing our Xiao clan's blood," Xiao Ding said with knitted brows, voicing the doubt in his heart.
Xiao Hua shook his head slowly, giving no clear answer. Though he knew the truth, he did not show it on his face. For now, he chose silence—there was no need to reveal what even his sworn brothers and sisters had yet to fully discovered.
"I wonder what those people from the Hall of Souls are plotting…" Xiao Yan's expression grew solemn, a shadow of caution rising in his heart. He knew well that the Hall of Souls and Hun Clan would never act without reason.
Since they had even dispatched numerous experts to strike at the Moonlit Chaos Mansion just to capture or kill Xiao Hua, their motives were undoubtedly significant.
Their interest was far too deep, their movements far too deliberate. They must be after something.
"Relax," Xiao Ding spoke again, offering a faint smile as he tried to ease the heavy mood. "Overthinking will only weigh us down and dull our responses when real danger comes. Besides, with the wormhole that Supreme Elder will build, it will not be easy for the Hall of Souls or Hun Clan to move against us in secret."
Xiao Yan gently nodded. He knew that Xiao Hua had entrusted the helm of the Hua Alliance to Xiao Ding. More importantly, he understood that Xiao Hua had already laid out a long-term plan—allowing time to wash away the concepts of clans and empires from the hearts of those who had recently joined, until their loyalty shifted toward the alliance itself as their foremost identity.
At the same time, Xiao Hua and Xiao Ding had subtly maneuvered the Elder's Council. Most of its seats were now filled by members of the Xiao Clan, as well as the Primer Clan and Snake-People—those who had stood firmly with them during their most perilous days.
With Xiao Hua's ruthless decisiveness backed by overwhelming strength, none within the alliance would dare to openly challenge his authority again. And with Xiao Ding's shrewd cunning, those harboring schemes against the Xiao Clan, Primer Clan, or Snake-People would find themselves with neither influence nor voice in the council.
As for Ya Fei and Cai Lin—though they were Xiao Hua's women—this bond was not the only reason for the Xiao brothers' loyalty. The Primer Clan and Snake-People had sacrificed much for them in their darkest hours. Such grace was engraved in their hearts, and the three brothers would never allow anyone to harm the two of them.
"Brother Xiao Hua, is Father…" After settling everything, Xiao Yan finally voiced the question that weighed most heavily on his heart.
"I believe he is imprisoned by the Hun Clan." Xiao Hua shook his head and let out a quiet sigh. "Unfortunately, I have yet to uncover any precise information about the clan head. But he must still be alive—for the Hun Clan covets the jade in our possession. Without him, their schemes would be meaningless."
Xiao Yan's expression darkened as his fists tightened. Relief stirred faintly in his heart at knowing his father lived, yet that relief was quickly drowned by the tormenting thought of what kind of torture and humiliation his father must be enduring.
"I believe we should divide our paths," Xiao Hua said calmly, seeing Xiao Yan's turmoil. "My Moonlit Chaos Mansion will draw the eyes of the Hall of Souls and the Hun Clan. Meanwhile, Brother Xiao Yan, you should either establish or join another force, seeking out any clue to your father's whereabouts."
No matter how strong Xiao Hua was, he knew Hun Tiandi and the Hun Clan could shroud their secrets from even his eyes. To search aimlessly himself would be fruitless. Only by having Xiao Yan move in a different path could hope finding them remain.
And who better than Xiao Yan himself—the one destined by his grudges and burning will? His hatred toward the Hall of Souls and Hun Clan was a fire that could temper his strength to its peak. His desire to rescue his father would become his driving force, propelling him to climb higher and faster than anyone else.
Xiao Hua was certain—Xiao Yan's hatred and determination would not only make him accept this plan but also forge him into someone who could one day shatter even the Hun Clan's schemes.
After finishing his discussion with Xiao Yan, Xiao Hua left the three brothers to settle their own affairs. As for Yao Lao, he still slumbered within the ring. Xiao Hua merely left him a message—informing him that the materials for his revival had already been entrusted to the Pill Tower by an old friend.
He had failed to bring them along, as his focus had been solely on rushing here, not on collecting resources. Still, he was certain Xiao Yan would make his way to the Pill Tower regardless, especially with the Pill Gathering event soon to be held.
With these matters set aside, Xiao Hua turned his attention to the one final task he had long pushed to the back of his mind—Liu Chang and Wu Zhen.
They had crossed a line that could never be forgiven. Selling his daughter to the Hall of Souls, almost reducing her to a puppet to control him—this was something Xiao Hua would never tolerate. For such sins, no mercy could exist.
He decided their fate: they would be turned into puppets, bound in eternal servitude to guard the Hua Alliance.
Though the two were only Dou Zong, their cultivation had been forcefully elevated by devouring countless pills and natural treasures meant for others. Thus, dragging them to a remote, desolate area outside Jia Ma Empire's capital, Xiao Hua began the refinement.
Their desperate cries, their frantic pleas for death, their hollow promises of repentance—all fell silent before his calm indifference. His expression never wavered, his hands never paused.
To him, it was no different than tempering steel or refining medicine—necessary, precise, inevitable.
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