The back mountain behind the Xiao family was a mysterious, secluded forbidden place.
As night fell, the darkness spread gently like a tranquil lake, while starlight glittered like scattered diamonds across the sky. The day's earth-shaking storm had now quietly subsided. The bloodshed and murderous air that had filled the atmosphere were softly concealed by the watery night, as though nothing had ever happened.
The ancestral home of the Xiao family blazed with lights like a brilliant beacon, radiating warmth and comfort in the darkness. The clansmen who had survived the calamity were immersed in joy and excitement. Their cheers and conversations intertwined, composing an impassioned song of life. Xiao Zhan, however, the pillar of the Xiao family, came alone to the secluded cliff at the back mountain, his steps steady and resolute.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his figure as straight as a pine. His blue robe fluttered gently in the night breeze like a drifting cloud. His gaze was deep and distant, as though it pierced the far-off void, fixed straight toward the Tagor Desert. His fingers unconsciously traced the Green Fire Snake Token, smooth and warm, with a faint heat to it. A barely perceptible throb stirred at the mark of their contract, like a mysterious beauty calling softly to him from afar, reminding him of the queen's presence.
"Father." Just then, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li appeared silently behind him like two nimble shadows. They bowed respectfully, their faces alight with barely contained excitement and admiration. Their eyes shone as though they were looking at the heroes of their hearts.
Xiao Zhan slowly turned. His warm, affectionate gaze settled on his two sons. Seeing how much more mature they looked, he couldn't help feeling a little gratified. "Where's Yan'er?"
"Third Brother..." Worry crossed Xiao Ding's face, his brow furrowing as though a heavy stone weighed on his heart. "He left to train on his own after Nalan Yanran broke off the engagement, and he hasn't returned. We haven't received any definite news, either. But don't worry, Father. Third Brother... good people are blessed by Heaven." They didn't yet know about the earth-shaking events in Green Mountain Town. Their hearts were filled with concern for their younger brother.
Xiao Zhan gave a slight nod, calm and composed, and said nothing more. With Yao Lao protecting Xiao Yan, there was no need to worry too much about the boy's safety for now. He turned his hand over, and two crystal-clear jade vials appeared in his palm, glowing softly in the moonlight. He handed one to each of them, his voice steady and firm. "These are Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills. They can help you break through the Da Dou Shi bottleneck. After this calamity, the Xiao family needs to grow stronger. From today onward, our Xiao family will administer Wutan City. You have a heavy burden on your shoulders."
"Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills?!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were both shocked and delighted, excitement gleaming in their eyes. These were fourth-grade pills! Fourth-grade pills were extremely precious on the Dou Qi Continent, yet their father could produce them as if they were nothing. It gave them an even deeper understanding of how unfathomable their father's current strength was, and their reverence for him grew.
"Yes, Father! We won't let you down!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li accepted the pills with solemn expressions, their hands steady. It was as though they were taking up a weighty responsibility and mission.
"Go. Settle the clansmen and put the family businesses in order. As for He Gan, keep him locked up for now. I'll decide what to do with him." Xiao Zhan waved a hand, casual and composed, as though everything were under his control.
Once Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's footsteps had faded into the distance, a graceful figure carrying a faint, orchid-like fragrance appeared lightly by the cliff, like an elf blooming in the night.
Ya Fei had changed out of the dignified palace dress she had worn during the day and into a close-fitting, pale-purple gown. It clung to her like a second skin, outlining her breathtaking curves in all their splendor. Moonlight fell like silver gauze across her incomparably alluring face, lending her a hazy, tender beauty. She had shed some of her usual sharpness and competence, gaining instead a heart-stirring gentleness. In her hands, she held an exquisite jade flask and two lustrous jade cups. Her beautiful eyes shimmered as she gazed at Xiao Zhan, deep as a lake.
"Clan Chief Xiao... no, I suppose I should call you Lord Dou Zong now?" Ya Fei's voice held a lazy teasing lilt, like a wind chime swaying in the night breeze—clear and playful. Yet deep in her eyes, she couldn't hide the tremor of surviving the calamity or her indescribable admiration, like a star hidden behind clouds, faintly but steadfastly shining.
Looking at the woman who had stepped forward in their hour of danger and protected the Xiao family with an iron hand, Xiao Zhan felt a warm current rise in his heart, along with deep admiration. The system's daytime notice that her favorability had reached 93 points was crystal clear to him now, like the brightest star in the night sky.
"Miss Ya Fei, you're teasing me. Just call me Xiao Zhan." He smiled gently, his voice as warm and mild as a babbling stream.
Ya Fei approached with elegant steps, graceful as a butterfly in flight. She set the flask and cups on a flat stone by the cliff, then personally poured two cups of amber wine. It gleamed in the moonlight, as though it held endless tenderness and affection. She handed one cup to Xiao Zhan. Their fingertips brushed unintentionally, and a subtle current seemed to pass between them.
"Thank you... for today." Xiao Zhan accepted the cup, his expression solemn and his eyes full of gratitude.
"What are you thanking me for?" Ya Fei raised her cup. Her red lips gleamed in the moonlight like ripe cherries, making one want to steal a taste. Her words carried a trace of lingering fear, as if she were still caught up in the day's peril, yet there was also a hint of coquettish complaint, like a girl seeking attention. "Are you thanking me for 'overestimating myself' by trying to protect the Xiao family for you? Or for almost getting myself killed in the process?"
"For both." Xiao Zhan looked straight into Ya Fei's eyes, his gaze bright and unwavering, deep as an endless starry sky, filled with boundless tenderness and gratitude. "I'm grateful that you never abandoned me, that you stayed by my side through these turbulent times. I'm grateful for your wisdom and courage, for the clever strategies you devised in our hour of peril. And I'm even more grateful that... when everyone thought the Xiao family was about to come crashing down, you still stood here, unwavering, shoulder to shoulder with me."
Ya Fei's heart missed a beat, as though an unseen hand had plucked the most sensitive string in her heart. Xiao Zhan's calm words struck her like a heavy hammer, sending ripples through her soul. She tilted her head back and drained her cup. The fiery liquor slid down her throat like a dragon of flame, setting ablaze the emotions she had suppressed for so long. Moonlight fell like silver gauze across her fair cheeks, tinting them a captivating red. Her already alluring eyes shone even brighter, as if filled with the splendor of an entire galaxy.
"Xiao Zhan." She set down her cup and slowly stepped closer, coming almost flush against him. Tilting her head up, she gazed straight into his deep, unfathomable eyes. Her voice trembled ever so slightly, yet it was exceptionally firm, like a pine tree standing steadfast in the depths of winter. "Do you know? When Jialie Bi led a mob of villains to surround the Xiao family, when Luo Bu's Dou Ling pressure came crashing down like a mountain and nearly stopped me from breathing... I had only one thought..."
She drew a deep breath. Her exhale was sweet and fragrant, carrying the scent of wine and her own delicate perfume. It brushed Xiao Zhan's cheek like a gentle spring breeze, laced with intimacy and affection. "I thought that if you never came back... then even if I had to spend my last breath and shed my last drop of blood, I'd make those who hurt the Xiao family pay dearly! Even if... I had to die along with them, I wouldn't hesitate!"
Moonlight flowed quietly through the tranquil world. Beneath it, a beauty like jade stood still and spoke from the depths of her heart, with the fiercest, most sincere devotion.
Xiao Zhan looked at her lovely face, so close to his, and at the resolute affection in her eyes, along with her reliance on him and the deep emotion within them, vast as the sea. A warm current rose in his heart. Her 93 points of favorability became a real stirring in his chest, like a seed quietly sprouting. He was no longer the Xiao family clan chief who had to hide his strength and tread carefully. At this moment, he was Xiao Zhan, the Dou Zong—a powerful man who could shield the woman he loved from wind and rain!
A domineering yet tender aura naturally spread from him like a spring breeze, bearing boundless warmth and strength. Xiao Zhan slowly reached out without the slightest hesitation and gently caressed Ya Fei's smooth, delicate cheek. The coolness of his fingertips contrasted sharply with her suddenly feverish skin, as if ice and fire had met and sparks of love had flown.
"Fool." Xiao Zhan's voice was low and rich, like a resonant melody flowing from a cello. It held a hint of pity, yet also an unquestionable force, like a towering mountain that offered boundless security. "With me here, I'll shield you like an iron wall. No one can hurt you—not even a hair—and no one will ever lay a finger on the Xiao family again."
That intimate touch and those fiercely affectionate words were like a spark, instantly setting ablaze the emotions Ya Fei had kept smoldering for so long. They surged like a flood bursting its banks, unstoppable, sweeping away all her restraint and hesitation. With a soft whimper, she threw herself into Xiao Zhan's broad, warm embrace like a startled fawn. Her arms wound around his strong waist like vines, and she buried her burning cheek deep against his solid chest, as though it were the safest harbor in the world.
"Xiao Zhan... Xiao Zhan..." She murmured his name over and over, her voice breaking as softly as petals drifting in the night breeze, fragile yet moving. Through the tears came the wild joy of finding what she had lost, like someone long lost in darkness who had suddenly glimpsed a brilliant dawn. And beneath it lay an indescribable sense of security, like a ship that had drifted for ages finally finding a peaceful, warm harbor where it could rest.
With the warmth of a beautiful woman in his arms, Xiao Zhan felt her body tremble slightly against him, every shiver filled with affection and devotion. The string in his heart called "More Children More Blessings" was plucked hard by this fierce emotion, ringing out clear and bright. He stopped holding back. His powerful arms encircled Ya Fei's slender yet resilient waist like steel, pulling her tightly against him as though he meant to merge her into his very life. He lowered his head, his gaze burning and intent, and caught her trembling red lips with precision, like a starving traveler finding sweet, clear spring water.
"Mmm..."
Ya Fei's body stiffened as though struck by lightning, then went completely limp in Xiao Zhan's fierce yet tender kiss. She returned it clumsily but ardently, with a maiden's shyness and a lover's profound longing. Her arms looped around Xiao Zhan's neck, her fingers slipping into his hair, as though she wanted to meld with his bones and blood, become one with him, and never part. Moonlight spilled over their tightly embracing figures. Their silhouettes intertwined and merged beneath the moon as their lips met, speaking a vow that needed no words yet would never waver.
[Ding! Ya Fei's favorability +7, reaching 100/100 (deeply in love, willing to live and die together)!] [Congratulations, Host! You have successfully married your first wife: Ya Fei!] [System rewards are being issued...] [Reward One: High-grade Earth-tier Cultivation Method Nine Turns Profound Yin Mantra (This method is perfectly suited to Ya Fei's constitution. If she devotes herself to cultivating it, she can reach Peak Dou Zun and soar to new heights on the path of Dou Qi!)] [Reward Two: Three seventh-grade Yin Yang Profound Soul Pills (These pills can greatly strengthen the soul and improve affinity with yin-type Dou Qi, as if opening a mysterious gate to a stronger realm!)] [Reward Three: Blueprint for the special structure "Spirit Gathering Pavilion" (This pavilion can gather the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth like a massive vortex, accelerating cultivation for core family members and laying a solid foundation for the family's prosperity!)] [Reward Four: Basic "More Children More Blessings" reward activated! Each child conceived by the Host and his spouse, Ya Fei, will grant an additional generous reward based on the child's talent, like planting seeds of hope for the family's future!]
The system's announcements rang in Xiao Zhan's ears like heavenly music, playing a beautiful melody in his mind. He didn't let them distract him. Instead, he lost himself even more fully in their lingering kiss, as though engraving this long-delayed affection deep into their souls, so that their love might endure forever.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Ya Fei breathed in short, unsteady breaths, like a delicate flower in full bloom beneath the spring breeze. She leaned softly against Xiao Zhan's broad, warm chest. Her cheeks were flushed like the brilliant sunset, and her eyes shimmered with alluring light. An astonishing charm and contentment radiated from her, as though the whole world had grown brighter because of that kiss. She slowly looked up at Xiao Zhan, her eyes now free of doubt or reservation, filled only with an overwhelming love and a profound sense of belonging, as though he were her entire world.
"Husband..." Her red lips parted, and her voice was full of tenderness and affection as she spoke the sweet, blissful title, as if making an eternal vow.
Xiao Zhan was filled with satisfaction, a warm current flowing through his heart. He gently kissed her forehead, tender and affectionate, and softly replied, "Wife."
The moonlight was still and quiet, falling like a soft veil over the lovers in each other's arms. Their affection entwined, as though time itself had stopped in that moment.
The next morning, in the Xiao family's secret chamber.
Ya Fei had gone to take care of the auction house's affairs. She walked with light, confident steps, her face glowing with the radiance and charm of a newlywed. Her beauty bloomed like peach blossoms in spring, her brightness like the summer sun. A confidence shone from within her, as if declaring to the world that she had found her happiness and a place to belong.
Xiao Zhan sat alone with his legs crossed, calm and focused, his aura steady and restrained. His consciousness sank like a wisp of smoke into the mysterious system space. There, in that illusory realm filled with wonders, a jade-green Detoxification Spirit Bead floated quietly, like a luminous piece of emerald, radiating a mysterious aura.
At that moment, images of Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian came unbidden to Xiao Zhan's mind. Xiao Yan, a young man with lofty ambitions who pressed fearlessly onward, was somewhere in the perilous Magical Beast Mountain Range, his whereabouts elusive as a fox darting through the forest. Xiao Yi Xian, meanwhile, was a woman burdened with the Woe Poison Body, her fate full of hardships but her spirit unyielding. She weighed heavily on Xiao Zhan's mind. At the same time, the system's notice about the "Woe Poison Body Symbiosis Contract" kept echoing in his heart like an alarm bell.
"Yan'er is in the Magical Beast Mountain Range now. The terrain there is complicated and perilous, and his whereabouts are hard to trace. This Detoxification Spirit Bead is the key to saving Xiao Yi Xian. I have to get it to her as soon as possible..." Xiao Zhan's brow furrowed slightly, worry showing on his face. He considered the problem. Delivering it directly would make the target too obvious, likely exposing them and inviting needless trouble. But if he sent it through someone else, who in this vast world could find them?
Just as Xiao Zhan fell into thought, the contract mark left by Queen Medusa deep in his soul and the Green Fire Token both stirred with an extremely faint, yet unmistakable, ripple! It rang like a distant bell, faint but powerful enough to pierce layers of mist and reach the depths of his soul. It was as though an aura of the same origin was calling to him from far away!
"This is... could it be Yan'er? And... what is that faint Snake-Person aura?" Xiao Zhan's heart jolted, as if struck by lightning, and he instantly came to his senses. He focused all his soul power, casting an invisible net through the contract mark and bloodline connection to catch that faint ripple! Like a glimmer of dawn in the darkness, it was tiny, yet filled with endless hope.
[Strengthening soul perception... Target locked: southeastern Magical Beast Mountain Range, vicinity of Green Mountain Town... Target status: moving... Target association: Xiao Yan (Child of Destiny), Xiao Yi Xian (Woe Poison Body symbiote)...]
The system's clear announcement rang in Xiao Zhan's mind like an impassioned battle hymn, lifting his spirits.
It worked! With the formidable soul power of a Dou Zong and the wondrous connection of the bloodline contract, he had finally locked onto Xiao Yan's approximate location! Determination gleamed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, as though he could see the light of hope ahead.
Xiao Zhan's thoughts raced, and he immediately communicated with the system in his mind. "System, can you send this Detoxification Spirit Bead directly to Xiao Yi Xian without drawing attention?" His voice held a trace of urgency, yet remained steady, as though he had caught hold of a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
[This action can be performed. However, it will consume part of the Host's soul power (approximately 5%) to guide the location and facilitate spatial transit. The bead will randomly appear within ten zhang of the target, without causing any spatial fluctuations.]
"Do it!" Xiao Zhan answered without the slightest hesitation. Five percent of his soul power was precious, but compared with Xiao Yi Xian's safety, it was a drop in the ocean. He would recover it soon enough. Saving her came first; there was no time to delay.
[Command confirmed! Consuming 5% of the Host's soul power... Guiding location... Spatial coordinates successfully locked... Beginning transmission of Detoxification Spirit Bead...]
The system's announcements rang one after another in Xiao Zhan's mind, like a stirring symphony playing the notes of hope.
In the system space, the jade-green bead that had been floating quietly suddenly burst into a gentle, radiant glow, like a green star coming to life. Then it became an almost imperceptible streak of light, darting away like a nimble sprite and vanishing without a sound.
The Magical Beast Mountain Range, on a secluded path leading to Heiyan City.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian were making their way forward cautiously, their steps light and careful, as though afraid of waking the sleeping mountains and forests. After resting for a night, Xiao Yan's injuries had improved considerably thanks to the pills' miraculous effects, and color had gradually returned to his formerly pale face. Xiao Yi Xian had also managed to stabilize the turbulent poison within her. Though she still looked a little pale, her spirits had clearly improved. During their time sharing hardship, an indescribable understanding had quietly grown between them, as though their hearts were bound together.
"Once we cross that mountain ahead, we should be able to see Heiyan City." Yao Lao's familiar, gentle voice sounded in Xiao Yan's mind, like a wise elder guiding him. "We'll be safe once we get there. We can find somewhere quiet for you to heal and ask around about the route to the Tagor Desert."
"The Tagor Desert..." A spark of anticipation lit Xiao Yan's eyes, as if he could already see the countless treasures hidden in that mysterious desert. There lay a clue to the Green Lotus Core Flame he had dreamed of finding—the crucial next step on his path to becoming powerful!
Xiao Yi Xian quietly followed beside Xiao Yan, her gaze always resting on the boy's resolute profile. The feeling of reliance in her heart had grown ever clearer and stronger. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, like a keen young deer sensing something amiss. Confusion flashed through her clear eyes as she instinctively looked toward a thick patch of bushes by the road, as though some unknown secret were hidden there.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Yan instantly went on alert. His gaze swept the surroundings like an eagle's, sharp and keen. Every nerve tensed, like a leopard about to pounce.
"Over there... It feels like something is drawing me..." Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly and pointed her slender finger at the lush bushes, sounding uncertain. She could sense that the restless poison inside her seemed to respond faintly to that patch of bushes, as if something there were closely connected to it.
Xiao Yan immediately motioned for Xiao Yi Xian to step back. He gripped Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly, its heavy blade seeming to come alive in his hands as it radiated a chilling aura. He carefully parted the dense bushes, moving with extreme caution at every step, afraid of disturbing some lurking danger.
Just then, a jade-green bead about the size of a pigeon's egg lay quietly in the grass, radiating a gentle, warm vitality. Within it, green mist drifted and swirled like nimble sprites, giving off a pure, soothing aura. Like a spring breeze brushing past, this aura instantly calmed the restless poison within Xiao Yi Xian as she drew near, making it as docile as could be.
"What is this...?" Xiao Yan's eyes widened in surprise as he quickly bent down and picked up the bead. It felt warm in his hand, like a ball of spring breeze, stirring his curiosity.
"Such... a wonderful feeling..." Xiao Yi Xian moved closer unconsciously, her gaze fixed on the jade-green bead as if drawn by a magnet. The instant her fingers brushed it, a cool, gentle, life-filled energy flowed into her like a babbling stream. The destructive poison that had lodged inside her like a persistent parasite seemed to meet its natural enemy and was instantly suppressed, unable to move. Its formerly violent aura also grew peaceful. For the first time, the fear that had always lingered in her heart—the fear that she might lose control at any moment—was replaced by a sense of security she had never known, as though she had found a ray of light in the darkness.
"This bead... it seems... it can suppress the poison inside me?" Xiao Yi Xian's voice trembled with disbelief and excitement, catching in her throat. A film of tears instantly covered her clear eyes. This bead was like a glimmer of hope in utter despair, illuminating her once-dark world.
Just then, Yao Lao's illusory figure drifted out, like a wise man stepping from an ancient painting. He carefully sensed the jade-green bead, his aged face full of shock, as though he had seen the most unbelievable thing in the world. "Such pure purifying power! This... this is at least a Heaven-tier holy object for detoxification! Why would it appear here?!" His voice trembled slightly, clearly shaken by the bead's miraculous properties.
He abruptly turned, his sharp gaze locking onto Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian. His tone was more solemn and urgent than ever, as though every word weighed a thousand pounds. "Young lady, this bead is of extraordinary importance to you! You must keep it on you at all times—never let it leave your side! It can greatly alleviate the backlash caused by your poison body and buy you precious time to seek a way to resolve its hidden dangers once and for all!"
Xiao Yi Xian clutched the warm, jade-like spirit bead tightly, as though she were holding on to the hope of life itself. She could clearly feel the poison that had rampaged inside her all this time becoming more docile and peaceful than ever before. Tears finally spilled from her eyes, sliding slowly down her pale cheeks. She raised her head and looked gently and resolutely at Xiao Yan, who was just as shocked and delighted. Her lips curved into a bright, genuine smile filled with hope and gratitude, like a flower blooming in spring, radiant and lovely.
"Xiao Yan... thank you..." Her voice caught slightly, yet brimmed with heartfelt emotion.
Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly at her words, an embarrassed, sheepish look appearing on his face. "Uh... actually, I wasn't the one who found it..."
"Foolish boy, what does it matter where it came from? It's Heaven's will, a blessing that was destined for this girl!" Yao Lao laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits. "Come on! With this miraculous bead, our chances of making it to the Tagor Desert are even better!"
And so, the two of them and a spirit carried this unexpected glimmer of hope with them as they set out once more on a journey full of unknowns and challenges. Far away in Wutan City, Xiao Zhan felt a faint fatigue from the loss of soul power, but a relieved, gratified smile curved his lips. He knew that the hope-bearing spirit bead had reached Xiao Yi Xian.
The dungeon of Wutan City's City Lord's Mansion.
Deep in the damp, gloomy dungeon, where the stench of rot hung in the air, He Gan was tightly bound by a series of special chains. Strange light shimmered along them, sealing his Dou Qi and preventing him from using even a fraction of his strength. He looked withered, his face ashen and lifeless, like a flower battered by wind and rain, stripped of all its former vitality.
Xiao Zhan's figure appeared silently outside the cell, like a ghost drifting out of the underworld. He stood motionless, his expression cold and indifferent as he gazed at the once-high-and-mighty city lord, as though looking at an insignificant ant.
"Lord... Lord Xiao..." Hope suddenly flared in He Gan's eyes, as though a drowning man had grasped his final lifeline. He struggled with all his might, trying to drop to his knees. His voice was filled with terror and pleas for mercy. "Spare me! Please, spare me! I'll tell you everything! It was the Misty Cloud Sect—it was their Great Elder, Yun Leng, who secretly orchestrated everything! He promised me a great reward. If I could bring down the Xiao family, he'd help me advance to Dou Wang and transfer me to the prosperous imperial capital! He also had people secretly deliver those so-called 'proofs of treason'! Jialie Bi and Aoba Pa were nothing but scapegoats they pushed forward!"
Yun Leng!
A cold light flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, as sharp as a blade drawn from its sheath. So it had indeed been that ruthless old bastard! To suppress the Xiao family and clear the way for that arrogant woman, Nalan Yanran, he had gone so far as to collude with outsiders and frame the innocent. His crimes were unforgivable!
"Yun Leng..." Xiao Zhan's voice was cold as ice, as though it came from the depths of the netherworld, carrying endless chill and killing intent. "Very well. At least you dare to own what you've done."
He didn't spare He Gan another glance, as though even looking at him would soil his eyes. He turned and left without hesitation. A puppet who had outlived his usefulness no longer mattered to him, alive or dead—he was no more than a blade of grass.
Emerging from the damp, gloomy dungeon, Xiao Zhan looked toward the northwest, where the Misty Cloud Sect was based. The pressure of a Dou Zong burst forth from his body, an invisible sword thrusting straight into the sky, as though it would tear the heavens apart!
"Yun Leng, and the Misty Cloud Sect..." Xiao Zhan's voice was low and powerful, every word heavy as a thousand pounds. "It's time we settled our score!"
"The Three-Year Agreement? Hmph, perhaps we won't need to wait that long!"
A murderous aura quietly spread out from Wutan City, like the stillness before a storm, heralding a tempest that would soon sweep across the land.
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