Xiao Jietian slowly set Xun'er down. Her cheeks were flushed, and she leaned against his shoulder, panting, eyes shimmering like liquid starlight.
"Xun'er..." Xiao Jietian's voice softened, filled with tender warmth.
"Tian Ge... please, put me down," Xun'er murmured, shyness coloring every word.
Xiao Jietian chuckled softly and gently placed her on the ground. Her legs wobbled under her, and he immediately caught her in his arms again.
"I'll carry you back," he said, lifting her in a graceful princess carry and ascending the stairs to her room. Once there, he set her on the bed and brushed a soft kiss across her forehead before pausing at the doorway.
"Tian Ge, Xun'er... I can help... you," she whispered, eyes wide, voice trembling. The words carried an unspoken urgency.
Xiao Jietian froze, realization dawning. He met her gaze, intense and unwavering.
"Then I'll leave it to you," he said firmly, stepping forward and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Xun'er nestled closer, a quiet nod acknowledging her trust. The room went dim as the light was extinguished, and the Dou Qi shield shimmered softly around them, sealing the space as Xiao Jietian guided her cultivation with precision.
Hours passed in silence, broken only by the soft guidance of Xiao Jietian's voice. When at last he emerged from the room, the morning sun had climbed high, and his expression was calm yet satisfied.
Inside, Xun'er lay quietly, flushed and shy, pretending to sleep. She had discovered her own strength in ways she hadn't imagined, and it left her feeling a mixture of awe and embarrassment.
Outside, Xiao Jietian sensed the prying eyes of many factions. Their whispers followed him, but he ignored them, activating his Golden Feathered Sky Wings and soaring into the skies, heading toward the deep mountains of the Inner Academy.
"Such a vast forest," he murmured, surveying the endless canopy below. "No wonder Jia Nan Academy harvests so many medicinal herbs here."
He moved swiftly, carefully searching for the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid. The forest offered many herbs, but nothing matched what he sought—save for a Profound Heart Fruit, suitable for a Huangji Pill.
Just as he prepared to give up, a deafening roar echoed.
"Ape? Could it be..." Xiao Jietian's senses sharpened. Lightning fast, he streaked toward the sound and arrived at a small valley.
Before him stood a colossal white ape, easily three to four zhang tall, its blood-red eyes ablaze with ferocity. Nearby, a silver-haired figure fled, desperately weaving spells and casting ice cones behind her.
"Han Yue!" Xiao Jietian exclaimed.
The figure was unmistakable—the only person in the Inner Academy who matched this appearance.
Han Yue's Dou Qi waned; her distance from the ape closed. Exhaustion finally overtook her, and she stumbled, only to find the monstrous claws of the Bloodfiend Sky Ape closing in.
"Little sister... I can't protect you anymore..." she whispered to herself, despair evident in her eyes.
But before the giant claws could strike, a white streak with golden light tore through the air. Han Yue vanished from sight, replaced by an enormous gust as the ape's claws slammed into the earth.
Xiao Jietian hovered, gently setting Han Yue down in a princess carry. Her face turned crimson, flustered by the unexpected closeness.
"Junior Xiao Tian... you..." she murmured, breathless and grateful.
"Senior Han Yue, you're safe now," he said, his voice calm yet commanding, golden wings glimmering behind him.
She leaned lightly against him, recovering from fear, her legs still shaky. Her heart fluttered, torn between gratitude and unfamiliar emotions.
Xiao Jietian turned his gaze to the clearing ahead. Through the dissipating smoke, two red glows pulsed ominously. The Bloodfiend Sky Ape, furious, roared, its massive frame charging toward them once more.
"Roar!!" The valley trembled under its fury, red-hot breath scorching the air as the colossal beast closed in.