Zi Yan

"Alas, Young Clan Leader Yan, can't you really spare Xiao Yan?"

After Gu Xun'er left, a slightly aged voice emerged from the ring on Huo Xuan's hand. Yao Chen's figure then floated out before Huo Xuan.

Yao Chen's appearance caught Huo Xuan somewhat by surprise. Ever since the Three-Year Agreement ended that day, perhaps because of Xiao Yan, Yao Chen had withdrawn into himself.

"Let Xiao Yan go? Do you think that's possible?"

Hearing this, Yao Chen understood that Huo Xuan had no intention of releasing Xiao Yan. Even if he received the ransom, he still would not spare him.

"Old Ya, have you forgotten my warning from back then? Never become too deeply entangled in this master-disciple bond with Xiao Yan."

As he spoke, a trace of killing intent even appeared in Huo Xuan's eyes!

"Young Clan Leader Yan, do you wish to kill this old man?"

Yao Chen caught that trace of killing intent. Startled, he asked the question.

"Of course I do," Huo Xuan replied without the slightest hesitation.

Yao Chen was so frightened that his expression changed drastically. Instinctively avoiding Huo Xuan's gaze, he took several steps back.

"However, with nothing more than a mere Starfall Pavilion behind you, Old Ya, I doubt you can stir up any trouble. Besides, I can't be bothered to make a move. So the promise I once made still stands. I only hope that after your resurrection, you won't do anything foolish."

Hearing that, Yao Chen immediately let out a sigh of relief.

"Of course not." With that, Yao Chen slipped back into the ring.

Watching Yao Chen return to the ring, Huo Xuan revealed a meaningful smile.

"Alas, Yao Chen. You refused the road to heaven and threw yourself into hell instead. You brought this upon yourself..."

The next morning.

Huo Xuan rose early. Today was the day he would subdue the Fallen Heart Flame, yet instead of heading to the Heavenly Flame Training Gas Tower, he wandered around Canaan Academy's Inner Academy.

"Where exactly is this Zi Yan?"

Huo Xuan was wandering the Inner Academy in order to find Zi Yan. After all, Zi Yan would become the Dragon Emperor of the Void Ancient Dragon clan. If he could bring Zi Yan to his side, the Void Ancient Dragon clan could stand on the same front as the Flame Clan.

Moreover, Zi Yan's father was the guardian beast of Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion—Zhu Kun, a Nine Star Dou Sheng and the previous Dragon Emperor of the Void Ancient Dragon clan!

If he could build a good relationship with Zi Yan, that was the same as building one with Zhu Kun!

"Where did Xiao Yan encounter Zi Yan in the original novel again?" Huo Xuan tried hard to recall the details of the original story.

"Seems like it was in Canaan Academy's Medicinal Herb Storage." Thinking of this, Huo Xuan hurried toward the medicinal herb storeroom.

Canaan Academy Medicinal Herb Storage.

The moment he entered the Medicinal Herb Storage, Huo Xuan spotted a little girl who appeared to be only twelve or thirteen, secretly eating medicinal herbs.

The girl wore white robes and was only as tall as his waist. Her light-purple hair hung down to her waist, while her cheeks were fair and tender, making her look exquisitely cute like a carved jade doll.

"I finally found you."

After Zi Yan finished the herb in her hand, her gaze immediately fell back onto the shelves. Seeing this, Huo Xuan raised his hand and drew the herb over, snatching it away before Zi Yan could.

"Huh? Why did the herb disappear?"

"Because it's in my hand," Huo Xuan said.

"You're trying to steal my things?"

Despite her tender voice and adorable appearance, there was a faint trace of killing intent in the little girl's tone.

Huo Xuan met those large black eyes. After a moment, he smiled. "Little sister, that thing doesn't taste good. Don't eat it."

"But if I want to grow up, I have to eat them!" Zi Yan said calmly.

"Fine, big brother will give it back to you." Huo Xuan tossed the herb in his hand to her.

After Zi Yan caught the herb, she immediately took a bite. Chewing it a few times, she frowned slightly. "It tastes awful!"

Upon hearing Zi Yan's complaint, a gentle smile appeared on Huo Xuan's face. He crouched down and said softly, "Little sister, these herbs all taste bad, don't they?"

"Mm-hm! They taste awful!" Zi Yan nodded her little head in strong agreement.

"Then, do you want big brother to make them taste a little better?" Huo Xuan asked.

"Refine them?" Zi Yan's chewing paused slightly, and her large black eyes suddenly brightened. "You're an alchemist?"

"Of course. Big brother is quite a high-ranked alchemist." As he spoke, Huo Xuan summoned the Eight Desolations Destruction Flame and tossed the herb in Zi Yan's hand into it. Before long, the herb transformed into pellets of medicinal pills.

"Try them. They should taste much better than eating the herbs raw." Huo Xuan handed the pills to Zi Yan with a smile.

"Mm-hm." Nodding repeatedly, Zi Yan swiftly grabbed a pill. Ignoring the lingering heat on it, she directly tossed it into her mouth and began chewing hard.

"Delicious..." In a few bites, she chewed up the pill and swallowed it. Zi Yan licked her lips, still wanting more.

"From now on, I'll protect you. If anyone in the Inner Academy bullies you, just tell them my name. I'm Zi Yan."

"I don't need your protection. There isn't a single person in this Inner Academy who's my match."

"Zi Yan, if big brother isn't mistaken, your true form should be a Magical Beast, right?"

"Yeah, so what?"

Huo Xuan put on a puzzled look and asked, "As far as I know, Magical Beasts need to reach at least the Dou Emperor level to transform, but you're only a Dou Wang. How did you transform ahead of time?"

"That's because I accidentally ate an extremely rare Transformation Grass before. Then I became like this and could never change back. I eat these medicinal herbs because I want to grow up quickly. Then I'll be able to switch freely between my beast form and human form." Zi Yan frowned. Mentioning this seemed to put her in a low mood, and even her voice carried a muffled tone.

"What about your parents?"

"I don't have parents." Zi Yan lowered her head, curled up her legs, and wrapped her arms around her knees. Her neat, snow-white teeth bit tightly into her lips, while her large black eyes shimmered faintly with moisture. "Ever since I became conscious, I've lived alone in the Deep Mountain. When I was little, if other creatures bullied me, I could only run away miserably by myself... It wasn't until after I ate the Transformation Grass that I met the Great Elder of the Inner Academy. He brought me here, and I stayed."

Looking at Zi Yan's stubborn expression as she bit her lip, Huo Xuan thought of his own experiences in his previous life and could not help feeling a pang of sorrow.

"Zi Yan, I can take you to find your parents. Will you come with me?"

"What?" Upon hearing Huo Xuan's words, Zi Yan even stopped eating her pills. She stared at him in disbelief and said, "You know where my parents are?"

Huo Xuan shook his head, pretending not to know. "Big brother may not know where your parents are, but I can take you to look for them. Big brother is confident that he can definitely help you find them."

"Alright! I'm sick of staying at Canaan Academy anyway! As long as you can help me find my parents, I'll go with you!"