As Yun Yun stepped into the hall, Hu Jia immediately stood up to offer a formal bow. Regardless of her casual banter with Xiao Tian, she was now officially a subordinate within the palace ranks.
Yun Yun flashed to Hu Jia's side in an instant, pressing a hand gently on her shoulder to stop the gesture. "Tian has mentioned you to us before," she said softly. "There's no need for such rigid etiquette between us in private. Just relax."
Yun Yun took a moment to subtly size up the girl before her. Hu Jia was striking—her sharp, fiery features paired with an exceptionally fine figure that easily held its own against the palace's other beauties.
Glancing sideways, Yun Yun shot Xiao Tian a quiet, accusatory look. From her own experience, she could clearly recognize the deeply hidden affection flickering in the young woman's eyes.
"You two go ahead and chat; I'll take my leave," Xiao Tian interjected, stretching his arms. "All these official reports give me a headache anyway. Tiger Girl, what's inside this ring is for you—including the tea you were just drinking."
He flicked a storage ring through the air toward Hu Jia, then turned and walked out of the hall.
Hu Jia caught the ring, her lips pursing slightly as she carefully tucked it away against her chest. Together, the two women watched his figure vanish into the distance.
"Vice Palace Master Yun, I'm here on behalf of the Elder Council to deliver the latest situational report," Hu Jia said, pulling her thoughts back to the present. Meeting Yun Yun's warm gaze, she felt a sudden, inexplicable flutter of nerves.
"In private, let's just speak as sisters," Yun Yun replied, taking the seat Xiao Tian had just vacated while smoothly brushing the official business aside. "No need for formal titles. You should drop by to visit more often when you have time."
"Then I'll call you Big Sister Yun Yun from now on," Hu Jia said, discarding her hesitation and offering a bright smile. "Hello, Big Sister Yun Yun."
The two quickly fell into a comfortable rhythm. Under Yun Yun's subtle guidance, however, the conversation effortlessly steered back to Xiao Tian—and Hu Jia, completely oblivious, walked straight into the gentle trap.
---
After leaving the main palace, Xiao Tian headed directly into Heavenly Beast Mountain to check on Zi Yan. The radiant purple cocoon remained stable, its steady pulse indicating her evolution was proceeding smoothly.
Returning to the Heavenly Emperor Palace, he spotted Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng diligently cultivating under Qing Lin's watchful eye. Because their innate physiques carried unique inherited techniques, Xiao Tian didn't need to hunt down external manuals for them.
"Young Master, you're back!" Qing Lin called out with a brilliant smile. She glided over to his side and wrapped her arms warmly around his.
Feeling the soft, comfortable press against his arm, Xiao Tian smiled and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her cheek.
Qing Lin had fully bloomed into maturity; she was no longer the fragile, timid girl of the past. Standing as tall as Yun Yun, her graceful silhouette and refined elegance gave her the unmistakable aura of a poised, mature woman. Her long, jade-fair legs and stunning figure commanded respect across the entire palace.
"Were the two little ones well-behaved during their training?" Xiao Tian asked, watching his daughters concentrate.
"Very," Qing Lin replied warmly. "Ling Ling and Meng Meng take their cultivation seriously. They never slack off."
When playing, the two were untamed little troublemakers who ignored everyone. But the moment they sat down to cultivate, they transformed into ideal students, gritting their teeth through the grueling process without a single complaint.
"They even told me they're working hard so they can help you fight off the bad guys later," Qing Lin added with a gentle laugh.
Xiao Tian felt a swell of warmth in his chest. His little angels really were sweet, thoughtful daughters.
Just then, the small bodies of Xiao Meng and Xiao Ling trembled in unison. A vibrant ripple of Dou Qi erupted from them as both girls broke through their respective bottleneck at the exact same moment.
"Mother Qing Lin, we broke through!"
The two snapped their eyes open, bubbling with excitement. Spotting Xiao Tian beside Qing Lin, their eyes lit up, and they dashed over on short legs. "Daddy! We broke through! Aren't we amazing?"
Each girl grabbed onto one of Xiao Tian's legs, looking up at him with beaming, proud smiles.
"You two are the absolute best! Daddy couldn't be prouder," Xiao Tian praised warmly. He gently disengaged from Qing Lin, bending down to scoop both girls up into his arms.
"Hehe! Daddy is so powerful, so of course we can't embarrass you!" they chimed together, giggling happily.
"What's this? Do you only have eyes for your Daddy now?" Qing Lin leaned in, putting on a playfully hurt expression.
"Our best, dearest, most, *most* beautiful Mother Qing Lin—hug!" Xiao Ling deployed her ultimate weapon without hesitation, leaning out of Xiao Tian's arms to act spoiled.
Carving the image of a delicate porcelain doll, Xiao Ling's childhood charm already hinted at the peerless beauty she would become. Facing such an irresistible attack, Qing Lin felt her heart melt instantly. She took Xiao Ling into her arms, pressing affectionate kisses onto her cute little face.
"Mother Qing Lin, Meng Meng wants one too!" Xiao Meng called out, craning her neck eagerly from Xiao Tian's shoulder.
Qing Lin leaned over and kissed her cheek as well, setting off a cascade of innocent, melodic giggles from both girls that brightened the entire hall.
Seeing the sweet moment, Xiao Tian leaned his face in close to Qing Lin as well.
"Eww! Daddy is so shameless!" Xiao Meng was the first to react, her tiny brows furrowing into a hilarious expression of playful disapproval.
Xiao Ling chimed in right on cue: "Yeah, Daddy, shame on you!"
Xiao Tian burst into hearty laughter at their synchronized defense. "Oh boy, you two little rascals are teaming up to tease your old man now, huh?"
Unfazed, the two girls covered their mouths with their tiny hands, snickering endlessly.
Qing Lin giggled, pressing a sweet kiss against Xiao Tian's cheek before lightly tapping the girls' noses. "You two better be careful, or your Daddy might spank your little bottoms later."
"Not scared!" Xiao Ling puffed out her chest bravely. "If Daddy dares to hit me, I'll cry and get Mommy to handle him! Hehe... Besides, Mother Qing Lin will protect us, right?"
"I can't beat your Daddy either!" Qing Lin laughed, while Xiao Tian raised a hand in a mock threat.
"Daddy is the best! He'd never actually hit us—right, my dearest Daddy?" Xiao Meng quickly pivoted, flashing a brilliant, flattering smile as she snuggled tightly against Xiao Tian's neck.
Xiao Tian could only laugh at her rapid change of tactics.
Seeing that the storm had passed, Xiao Meng wriggled down to the floor, tugging lightly at Qing Lin's skirt. "Mother Qing Lin, let's go make sweet pastries! Meng Meng is hungry."
Qing Lin saw right through the little excuse—the girl was simply dodging any potential retaliation for her bottom.
"Alright, let me make some for you!" Qing Lin agreed with a warm smile.
"Yay! I want some too!" Xiao Ling dropped down to the floor as well, grabbing her sister's hand. "Meng Meng, let's go!"
Hand in hand, the two little girls scampered off toward the kitchens as fast as their short legs could carry them.
---
Days seamlessly blended into weeks, and two months slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Deep within the An explosiondedicated training chambers of Heavenly Beast Mountain—
BOOM!!
A violent explosion of raw power suddenly echoed through the cavernous space.