"Let me check your injuries; it's time to change the dressing."
Yun Yun, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them at his words. "Mm, thank you for your trouble."
Xiao Zhitian helped Yun Yun sit up. After a careful examination of her wounds, he found no signs of deterioration. He applied a fresh layer of medicinal powder, wrapped it with clean cotton cloth, and helped her put on her clothes.
"Your injury is fine. It should scab over by tomorrow, and you'll probably be able to move around a bit. Rest for now."
"Mm!" Being seen by Xiao Zhitian again, Yun Yun's face flushed, still hot. She softly responded, her head lowered in modesty.
After settling Yun Yun, Xiao Zhitian removed the moonstone from the Mountain Cave, plunging the interior into darkness.
…
Early the next morning, Yun Yun moved her body. The numbness from the previous day had mostly faded, and she could now shift slightly. She propped herself up and sat.
Looking around, she realized Xiao Zhitian was not in the Mountain Cave. Just as she began to rise to look for him, he returned.
"You're awake? It seems your body is recovering quite well," he remarked.
"Where did you go?" she asked.
"I went out to gather food. I found plenty this time, so we won't need to go out for a while." Xiao Zhitian waved his hand, and seven or eight fish and dozens of bright red fruits appeared before her.
"You should eat some fruit first to line your stomach." After putting some aside, leaving only seven or eight fruits and two fish, he handed a few to Yun Yun. Watching her take them, he skewered the fish and set them aside, then added some firewood to the dying fire.
He placed the skewered fish near the fire to roast. Yun Yun slowly walked to a stone beside him and sat, revealing her fair, slender legs.
"This fire is so bright," she said softly.
Yun Yun noticed Xiao Zhitian staring blankly at her legs. She quickly covered them with her robe, glaring at him. "Are you still looking? The fish is burning."
Xiao Zhitian turned his head, muttering softly, "You exposed them yourself, and now you won't let me look? It's not like I haven't seen the rest."
"What are you saying? I didn't hear clearly," Yun Yun asked. She saw his lips move slightly but couldn't catch his words.
"Nothing. I said the fish will be ready soon."
After speaking, Xiao Zhitian diligently turned the fish, sprinkling seasonings that sizzled pleasantly over the flames.
"The fish is ready. This one is for you," he said, placing the slightly smaller fish before her.
Yun Yun took a small bite. "Your cooking is very good; it's delicious."
"If it's delicious, eat more," Xiao Zhitian replied casually, taking large bites himself.
"Have you always stayed in the Magical Beast Mountain Range?" Yun Yun asked.
"No, I only came here two months ago for training. You know, to see the world and learn from experience," he explained.
"Then if you ever come near the Cloud Mist Sect, you can go up and take a look."
"We'll see then. I'm going to cultivate for a bit. Don't wander around. If you need to bathe or clean yourself, sprinkle this medicinal powder along the way—it masks your aura." Xiao Zhitian finished his fish, tossed the bones near the fire, and placed a jade bottle beside Yun Yun.
He returned to his meditation spot, took the jade bottle containing Lightning Liquid, and poured five drops directly into his mouth.
The Lightning Liquid instantly transformed into pure energy, circulating through his body. It constantly cleansed him while refining his Dou Qi (Battle Energy). Xiao Zhitian's aura grew increasingly violent, steadily climbing toward a higher realm.
A rudimentary Dou Qi armor appeared outside his body. His entire aura trembled, and his hair fluttered wildly. Fully focused on compressing the liquid energy into solid form, Xiao Zhitian was unaware of the dramatic effect his presence projected.
After finishing her meal, Yun Yun returned to the stone platform, watching as the Dou Qi armor formed. Her eyes widened.
"Is he about to break through to Da Dou Shi? He's only about seventeen years old!"
…
The liquid energy inside Xiao Zhitian gradually condensed, revealing a thumb-sized rhombic crystal at the center of his body—a Dou Crystal, the key for a Da Dou Shi.
He circulated the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Art, continuously compressing Extreme Wood Lightning and five wisps of Ice Fire Lightning into the Dou Crystal. The process was painstakingly slow, requiring perfect control.
"Success!" Xiao Zhitian's aura gradually stabilized. He let out a long sigh of relief, feeling the unprecedented surge of power coursing through him.
"Finally, I can release Dou Qi externally, no longer bound within my body."
"Congratulations on breaking through to Da Dou Shi. Your talent is even more terrifying than I imagined," Yun Yun said.
"How much time has passed?" Xiao Zhitian asked.
"About a day, I guess," she replied.
"It actually took this long," he mused. Though slow, the subsequent fusion of spirit lightning would be far simpler. A Dou Crystal fused with spirit lightning would be even more powerful. Now, he could contend with a Nine-Star Da Dou Shi.
"Since you've finished cultivating, I'm relieved. I want to take a bath."
"Remember to bring the aura-masking powder. Sprinkle it before you bathe and along the path after you're done."
About a minute later, Xiao Zhitian looked at Yun Yun, still in her original spot, conflicted and hesitant.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say you wanted to bathe?" he asked.
"I… I want you to watch the surroundings for me. I don't have any strength right now," she admitted, crimson-faced. "But… you can't peek."
Xiao Zhitian initially wanted to refuse, but seeing the pleading in her eyes, he agreed.
Arriving near the pond, he sat on a large rock, signaling for Yun Yun to bathe. She approached the water, carefully checking that he couldn't see, then removed her clothes and stepped in.
Xiao Zhitian lay on the rock, leisurely monitoring the surroundings, with no intention of peeking.
"Ah!!"
A sharp groan escaped. Xiao Zhitian quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
"Something bit my foot, and I can't use my strength," Yun Yun's weak voice replied.
He rushed over and saw her lying on the pond's edge, fortunately still safe. Her skin was soft and smooth, delicate as silk—hard to let go of, even briefly.
Calming his racing thoughts, Xiao Zhitian wrapped her in a robe and examined her foot. On her left calf, two small bite marks were visible, and the surrounding area had begun to redden.
"This was bitten by a snake-type demonic beast, and the venom doesn't seem weak. Did you see what kind of snake bit you?"
"It swam away immediately. I didn't see, but it should have been gray. I feel hot now," Yun Yun replied.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhitian immediately scooped her up, used his Dou Qi to shatter the aura-masking powder bottle, scattering it around, and activated Void Piercer Art, rushing straight back to the Mountain Cave.
"Hot… I'm so hot," Yun Yun muttered, clinging to him.