Tonight, Sleep Would Not Come

"Brother Xiao Yan."

Seeing Xiao Yan's gaze directed at her, Xun'er lowered her head, her voice becoming much softer.

"What did Gu Qingyang say to you when the Strong Ranking Tournament started? Is something wrong with the Ancient Clan?"

Xiao Yan looked at Xun'er, who had a faint air of dejection, reached out and pulled her into his arms, asking softly.

Upon hearing this, Xun'er's petite body trembled slightly. After a moment of silence, she nodded in Xiao Yan and said in a deep voice:

"The Soul Clan is keeping a close eye on the Ancient Clan, and Gu Qingyang and his group's whereabouts have been exposed. Therefore, the clan elders have already dispatched the Black Annihilation Army. Xun'er will be returning to the clan in a week to half a month."

After saying that, Xun'er buried her head in Xiao Yan again.

"So fast..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment.

Although he had actually anticipated this day, he still felt very reluctant when it actually arrived.

Having grown up with Xun'er since childhood, he was used to her being by his side, always calling him "Brother Xiao Yan." When he went out to train before, he often thought of her. Now that Xun'er has returned to the Ancient Realm, he doesn't know when they will meet again.

However, Xiao Yan also understood that in the eyes of the Soul Clan, the Ancient Clan was the biggest obstacle. As a member of the Ancient Clan with God-Grade Bloodline, Xun'er, along with Gu Qingyang and his group, were the most outstanding geniuses of the Ancient Clan in this generation. Therefore, they obviously did not mind taking action against Xun'er and Gu Qingyang.

Therefore, there is absolutely no way Xun'er could stay by his side.

"It's alright. At least this time, you won't be facing the elders of the Ancient Clan alone. After the Strong Ranking Tournament, I believe Gu Qingyang and the others will also support you. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine outside. It will be at least three years, and at most five years. We will definitely meet again. Believe me, Xun'er, one day, I will come riding on fire. No one can stop me from finding you, not even Dou Sheng!"

Xiao Yan held Xun'er's arms tightly, using a little force as if he wanted to completely pull Xun'er into his embrace, but he controlled the force just right so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable at all.

Feeling that strong and powerful embrace, and hearing the determination in his words, Xun'er's eyes gradually curved into a smile, and the corners of her mouth also slightly lifted.

If someone else had said this, Xun'er might have scoffed, but if it were Xiao Yan...

She believed him.

"After I return to my clan, I will also work hard in my cultivation. I know that Brother Xiao Yan has always been very diligent in his cultivation, and I believe that Brother Xiao Yan will find a suitable time to tell me the reason for this in the future. Therefore, I will not ask him directly. However, Xun'er also hopes to be able to help Brother Xiao Yan share some of the burden."

Xun'er raised her head and looked at that incredibly familiar young face, whose smile was as bright as a flower, beautiful and charming.

"Thank you, Xun'er. But actually, I think you can guess some of it, but I'll tell you the details later."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan didn't say anything to save face, like he didn't need Xun'er to help him. That would only make him seem like he didn't consider Xun'er one of his own, and would make her feel distant and estranged.

"Okay, Xun'er will wait for that day. But since Xun'er is leaving soon, could Brother Xiao Yan please not be so engrossed in cultivation these next few days and spend more time with Xun'er?"

Xun'er nodded upon hearing this, then bit her lip, looked at Xiao Yan, and asked with expectant eyes.

"Of course. I've been cultivating for too long, and my mind is a bit foggy. It's good to relax for a few days; it's a good balance between work and rest."

Xiao Yan smiled upon hearing this and said...

Hearing Xiao Yan say that, Xun'er's face lit up with a bright smile again. She then hugged Xiao Yan tightly, greedily inhaling his scent, as if she wanted to remember Xiao Yan in this way.

Xiao Yan gently patted her back, then held her close, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard the steady, even breathing of the girl in his arms. Xiao Yan looked down and found that Xun'er had fallen asleep in his arms.

"This girl..."

Looking at the peacefully sleeping face, Xiao Yan's vision blurred, as if he could see Xun'er's chubby little face when she was a child.

Back then, Xun'er was like a porcelain doll, so adorable. Seeing her made all my worries disappear.

Now, she is gradually blossoming, like a flower bud about to bloom. Although she has not yet fully blossomed into her most beautiful form, some clues can already be glimpsed.

He gently lifted Xun'er up in his arms, used his soul power to open the door, and carried Xun'er back to her room. After covering her with a light blanket, Xiao Yan also tiptoed out and closed the door behind him.

"Teacher, do you think I can maintain the rate of advancing one level per year from now on?"

Standing outside Xun'er's room, Xiao Yan asked in a low voice.

"It's hard to say. The Dou Ling and Dou Wang stages shouldn't be a big problem, but once you reach Dou Emperor and Dou Zong, the energy required will be much greater. If you want to maintain your advancement speed, then the Fallen Heart Flame is something you absolutely must obtain. If you can't get the Fallen Heart Flame, it will be very difficult."

Old Yao said in a deep voice.

"I see..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan sighed.

After Xun'er leaves, he needs to focus all his efforts on cultivating to the Dou Wang level, and then try to subdue the Fallen Heart Flame.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Fallen Heart Flame has lost nearly five years of energy accumulation during this period, it should still be feasible to subdue, devour, and refine it.

After all, he still possesses a fully developed Quenching Body, and he might even be able to use the power of the Fallen Heart Flame to directly advance the cultivation of the Great Sun Separation Fire Body to the second level of the Separation Fire Body stage.

By then, his combat power will be comparable to that of Dou Emperor level expert. With the Fallen Heart Flame, he will no longer need to limit himself to the Inner Academy and can consider venturing out to other places to find other resources.

Although it may be difficult, it is something he must do.

Besides, Queen Medusa is probably out wandering off somewhere this time, so there shouldn't be any awkward situation like that, right?

Although Queen Medusa indeed very voluptuous, he really couldn't accept having sex with her knowing that such a thing would happen.

"Sigh, I'd better hurry and go see the Senior Sister Yao to see how to quickly restore my soul power. The teacher might need it sometime!"

After muttering something to himself, Xiao Yan slowly walked upstairs.

Inside the house, as the footsteps faded into the distance, Xun'er slowly opened her eyes.

How could she possibly sleep?

"Elder Ling."

Xun'er went to the window and called softly.

The next moment, an old figure emerged from the shadows of the woods.

"Miss."

Ling Ying knelt on one knee and bowed with her hands clasped in greeting.

"Take these pills to Brother Qing Yang and the others, and tell them that Brother Xiao Yan asked me to give them to them."

Xun'er spoke, she took out some pills that Xiao Yan had previously refined for her from the golden Storage Ring and handed them to Ling Ying.

"Yes, Miss."

Upon hearing this, Ling Ying accepted the pill, her figure disappearing into the shadows.

"Are we going back already...?"

Looking up at the crescent moon hanging high in the sky, Xun'er murmured to herself, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

She grew up in the Xiao Family since she was a child. Compared to the powerful and mysterious Ancient Clan, the dilapidated Xiao Family felt warmer to her, more like home.

Thinking back on her interactions with the clan elders over the years, Xun'er sighed softly.

It's really quite sad.

Unlike Xun'er's sentimentality, Lady Yao Ling was currently focused and enthusiastically refining elixirs.

This elixir does indeed have a good effect on nourishing the soul, reaching the peak of the Fifth-Grade.

However, she added an extra ingredient to it.

It can help Xiao Yan get a good night's sleep.

As a kind-hearted senior, there are some things that I must keep from my naive junior.

Otherwise, wouldn't the younger students think she's a bad woman?

She's not a bad person!

She was just really hungry.

Just as the elixir was fully refined, Xiao Yan knocked on the door.

After carefully storing the pills and the medicine cauldron, Yao Ling suppressed her increasingly frightening smile, walked solemnly to the door, and opened it.

Xiao Yan frowned slightly, seemingly still pondering something.

"What are you thinking about? Why do you look so serious?"

Since she was already quite familiar with Xiao Yan, Yao Ling simply reached out and grabbed the wrist of the innocent-looking junior, pulling him into the room and closing the door securely behind her.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan snapped out of his reverie and said with a smile.

Speaking of which, apart from the first time he met Yao Ling, when she was aloof and goddess-like, he never saw Yao Ling show any coldness towards him again after they became more familiar.

In fact, every time she saw him, she had a warm smile on her face. She didn't look like a senior student or a proud daughter of the Yao Clan. Instead, she seemed more like Qing Lin, his little fangirl.

This was something he found rather novel.

"Oh, about cultivation..."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ling smiled and handed Xiao Yan a jade box.

"This is?"

Xiao Yan opened the jade box and found a light blue pill inside. Judging from its quality, it was probably at the peak of the Fifth-Grade.

"The Spirit Origin Pill can directly boost the strength of Dou Ling stage expert by one star, without any side effects. It's a formula from the Yao Clan. If you want to learn it, I can teach you, but you can't pass it on to outsiders. Otherwise, if the elders find out, I'll be in big trouble."

Yao Ling explained with a smile, and at the end, she blinked her clear eyes and pouted her lips. Her adorable appearance would probably leave anyone else in the Inner Academy speechless.

You should know that Yao Ling doesn't usually show so many vivid expressions when she's with other people. She's basically aloof and distant, the kind of person who wouldn't even bother to say a word to them.

"I never expected I'd actually get to eat a pill from the Yao Clan, heh..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression became somewhat strange.

How could a disciple who was abandoned by the Yao Clan actually consume the Yao Clan's elixirs?

Even the legendary Old Yao probably never got to enjoy such a elixir.

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Ling's mind stirred, and she realized the implied meaning behind Xiao Yan words. Her gaze involuntarily fell on Xiao Yan's ring.

After Xiao Yan led Old Yao to victory in the battle against the Yao Clan, she carefully investigated Old Yao's affairs.

Therefore, she naturally understood how miserable Senior Yao Chen's life was back in the Yao Clan.

Despite his rare bloodline, his talent was extraordinary. If Yao Wangui had handled things differently, the Yao Clan wouldn't have lost a future Ninth-Grade Alchemist.

It should be noted that even during the heyday of the Yao Clan, there were no more than two hands' worth of Ninth-Grade Alchemist, and now there are only a handful left.

But what does Yao Wangui's bad deeds have to do with her?

It seems I need to find a way to explain the matter of Old Yao to Xiao Yan. The task of revitalizing the Yao Clan can only be shouldered by Yao Ling alone!

Yao Clan Weightlifting Champion!

She's carrying too much on her shoulders!

"Oh dear, if you want to eat anything, I can make all kinds of pills from the Yao Clan, and I'll give them to you like candy!"

Yao Ling wanted to wave her hand generously, showing off her senior's support for her junior, but compared to Xiao Yan, she was rather petite, and with her aloof face, she couldn't make herself look generous at all. Instead, she looked a bit silly and cute, which made Xiao Yan's lips curl up.

"Why are you laughing!"

A blush crept onto Yao Ling's face, and she asked with a stern expression.

"I remembered something happy."

Xiao Yan saw that Haji wanted to breathe on it, so he quickly shook his head.

"Hmph, you're clearly laughing at me, you have no respect for me as your senior at all!"

Yao Ling didn't believe Xiao Yan was thinking of something happy; he was definitely laughing at her!

Never mind, he won't be laughing in a minute!

"Here, I just refined Soul Nourishing Green Pill. Eat it, and I'll tell you how to restore your soul power."

Yao Ling handed the freshly made pills directly to Xiao Yan.

"Thank you, senior."

Smelling the fragrance of the pills, Xiao Yan perked up and, showing some respect for his senior, took the pills with both hands and popped them into his mouth.

I'm not worried at all that the Yao Ling might be adulterated.

What bad intentions could she possibly have?

Etc...

A slight dizziness arose, and Xiao Yan looked at the Yao Ling in front of him, which seemed like Shadow Clone, with some confusion, and couldn't help but ask:

"Senior, why do I feel dizzy?"

The three female Yao Ling in front of me spoke at the same time:

"Oh, don't worry. Take a deep breath. Dizziness is normal. This method for restoring soul power is a closely guarded secret of the Yao Clan, so I definitely can't tell you. Just get some rest, and you'll feel refreshed tomorrow morning..."

After that, Xiao Yan could no longer hear what Yao Ling was saying.

Seeing the boy in front of her roll his eyes and faint, Yao Ling couldn't wait to go up and hug him tightly.

"Junior Brother Xiao Yan, you smell so good..."

Yao Ling chuckled foolishly.

"Hmm, no, this is Xun'er's rouge scent..."

Yao Ling's expression tightened.

"Damn it! Am I only allowed to inhale secondhand heat?"

Yao Ling sulked, muttering something indignantly, before carrying Xiao Yan directly to bed.

Never mind, let her have some fun first!

"Pop!"

Hehe, such soft lips...

"Pop!"

Her face is soft and even a little bouncy...

"Mouth... no, I can't kiss here..."

Xiao Yan, grow up quickly! Your senior sister can't wait any longer!