"Don't worry." Xun Er finally couldn't hold back. She reached out and gently stroked Qing Lin's head, a sweet smile on her face. "Anything Xiao Ting hopes for, I will do for him. Besides, I quite like you."
Qing Lin's devout, almost believer-like devotion toward Xiao Ting made even Xun Er feel a little ashamed. It was hard not to develop a favorable impression.
From a benefits perspective, Qing Lin possessed the top-tier talent of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. In the clan, she would be a Dou Saint seed. Bringing her back would be a great achievement.
There was a saying about "borrowing a chicken to lay eggs." This was more like borrowing a dragon to raise a phoenix—and the dragon would gladly do so and enjoy it.
"I'll think of a way to reasonably reveal your talent." Xun Er curved her lips, her eyes expectant. "I wonder what kind of expression Big Brother Xiao Ting will have then."
"Sister Xun Er, rest assured. Once Qing Lin becomes strong, I will definitely protect you well." Seriousness was written all over Qing Lin's adorable little face.
Xun Er's gaze was gentle. After thinking for a moment, she communicated through the Journal copy.
…
[Xun Er]: Sister Medusa, where is the exact entrance to the Green Lotus Core Flame?
[Medusa]: You want to bring him there?
[Xun Er]: Yes. Just say my Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame sensed something. Big Brother Xiao Ting won't suspect anything.
[Medusa]: East-southeast of Rock Desert City. I left a barrier at the entrance.
[Xun Er]: Instead of coincidentally meeting in front of the Green Lotus Core Flame, why don't I bring Big Brother Xiao Ting to break the barrier, and you sense it and come over?
[Medusa]: Reasonable. I can also openly ask for benefits. This Queen no longer plans to evolve using the Heavenly Flame method.
[Xun Er]: With the Journal and Big Brother Xiao Ting, there is indeed no need to use a nine-deaths-one-life method. Even if you succeeded in the original trajectory, there's no need to take the risk.
[Medusa]: Then we have an agreement.
[Yun Yun]: Only I still haven't met Xiao Ting.
[Xun Er]: Because you recruited a good disciple. (smiles)
[Yun Yun]: That hurts. Actually, Yanran didn't do anything wrong. She was just young and hot-blooded and used the wrong method. If it were you, you wouldn't want to marry a man you didn't know either, especially one who had become a well-known piece of trash.
[Xun Er]: If my father arranged a marriage for me, I would definitely go annul it too, even if the other party was Big Brother Xiao Ting. But if Big Brother Xiao Ting became my fiancé, even if he became trash, I wouldn't abandon him. Some things aren't wrong in themselves—the order is what matters.
[Medusa]: No need to waste time discussing this here. The three-year agreement cannot be changed. In the end, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran will decide the outcome through a match. Yun Yun, as long as you build a good relationship with Xiao Ting, the Misty Cloud Sect's crisis can be resolved.
[Yun Yun]: That's why I envy you. You're already by his side, receiving plane blessings every day, and can know parts of the future related to yourself.
[Medusa]: If you really can't hold back, I'll teach you a method I just thought of.
[Yun Yun]: What?
[Medusa]: Go and take Xiao Ting as your disciple.
[Yun Yun]: What!?
[Medusa]: With Xiao Ting's currently displayed cultivation talent, isn't it enough for the Misty Cloud Sect Leader to personally assess and accept him as a disciple?
[Medusa]: Later, when you discover that Xiao Ting is already a Dou Grandmaster, wouldn't it be even more natural for you to accept him?
[Medusa]: Xiao Ting will only feel that his talent is outstanding and everything is only natural.
[Yun Yun]: Great idea!
…
"That's right, we can do it this way."
"Queen Medusa truly awakened the dreamer with a single sentence."
Inside the Sect Leader's hall on Misty Cloud Mountain, Yun Yun, dressed in luxurious casual clothes, paced back and forth in front of her desk. Her long hair was tied into a bun—a relaxed and cute style no one had ever seen before. Her eyes, which seemed to hold spring water, sparkled brightly.
Xiao Ting's currently displayed talent was that of a fifteen-year-old one-star Dou Practitioner. This was even better than Nalan Yanran, who was a three-star Dou Practitioner at sixteen.
As the Misty Cloud Sect Leader, she had been paying special attention to the Xiao family because of the three-year agreement. It would be perfectly reasonable for her to personally come and accept such a genius as a disciple upon hearing about him.
…
[Yun Yun]: I will set off now and wait for you in Wu Tan City.
[Xun Er]: You really want to come and accept Big Brother Xiao Ting as your disciple?
[Yun Yun]: Of course. What's there to doubt?
[Little Fairy Doctor]: What Xun Er means is, once you become master and disciple, some things can no longer happen.
[Yun Yun]: Some things? What things?
[Medusa]: Naturally, the matter of a strong expert having countless beauties. Did you forget what we talked about in the Xiao family?
[Yun Yun]: So that's what you meant. I'm only going to accept him as a disciple. It's not like we're really becoming master and disciple. Xiao Ting wouldn't agree anyway, right?
…
All the girls: "..."
Fine. Indeed, Xiao Ting would never actually acknowledge Yun Yun as his master.
Accepting him as a disciple was simply Yun Yun's open and honorable reason to meet Xiao Ting.
Perhaps she could also learn the reason why the Misty Cloud Sect and Xiao Yan had become irreconcilable enemies.
The girls began chatting idly about the matter.
Perhaps it was women's nature, or perhaps it was the special nature of the Journal copy.
Ever since they discovered they could group chat, Xun Er—who appeared gentle and generous but only opened her heart to very few people— Yun Yun—who looked dignified and noble like a highland flower but was actually like a delicate maiden— Medusa—who appeared domineering and ruthless but was very soft toward specific people— the Little Fairy Doctor—who seemed gentle and tranquil like water but was actually sensitive and fragile— and even the little rabbit-like Qing Lin, all became very talkative.
The night passed without incident.
…
Xiao Ting finished his visualization, washed up, and left his room.
After having breakfast with Xun Er and the other two girls, Xiao Ting suggested setting off for Desert City.
"Big Brother Xiao Ting, Xun Er wants to go somewhere else first." Standing in front of Xiao Lan, Xun Er tilted her head and looked at Xiao Ting, looking youthful, bright, and adorable.
"Where does Xun Er want to go?" Xiao Ting lowered his gaze and smiled gently, his tone warm.
"That direction." Xun Er extended her slender jade-like finger. Golden flames flickered in her pitch-black eyes. "Last night, my Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame had an abnormal reaction. It seemed to sense the aura of another Heavenly Flame, but it quickly disappeared."
Xiao Ting: ???
"You sensed another Heavenly Flame here!?" Xiao Ting's face was full of disbelief.
The Little Fairy Doctor slightly tilted her head and exchanged a glance with Qing Lin, hiding their smiles.
This disbelief was probably not fake. He was simply surprised that Xun Er had discovered it.
"It's possible." Xun Er nodded slightly and smiled as she asked, "Cousin Xiao Yan's technique requires Heavenly Flame, right? Shall we go verify it?"
"Go. Of course we'll go." Xiao Ting had actually been thinking of a reason to bring Xun Er along to find the Green Lotus Core Flame. After all, venturing deep into the lava world would require the guards beside her. He hadn't expected a pillow to appear just as he was getting sleepy.
The group of four climbed onto Xiao Lan's back and flew toward the eastern part of Rock Desert City.
Not long after, Xun Er frowned slightly and looked toward a seemingly ordinary sandy slope. "It should be directly below this area. This patch of desert feels a bit strange."
As she spoke, Xun Er raised her hand and waved. A beam of light condensed from the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame shot out, reaching a hundred zhang away in the blink of an eye.
"Bang!"
A crisp collision sound rang out. The flame spear was blocked by an invisible force.
As Xun Er continuously increased her Battle Qi output, ripples appeared in the air around the desert.
"This is a barrier left by a Dou Emperor expert."
…
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