What if, I refine the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame?

"Xun'er... is actually from the Ancient Clan. I came to the Xiao Family to search for something."

She paused, seemingly weighing her words.

"But all these years, Xun'er has never truly searched for it, nor have I ever thought about taking anything away from the Xiao Family."

"Because Xiao Yan-gege is here."

She raised her head, her eyes filled with sincerity.

"No matter what Xiao Yan-gege's cultivation level is, and no matter what secrets Xiao Yan-gege has, you will always be the person I care about most."

Xiao Yan's heart stirred.

This girl...

He suddenly felt that he had been overthinking things.

Xiao Xun'er's feelings for him had never been about his talent, nor his cultivation level.

It was about him as a person.

Whether he was a genius or a waste, a Dou Zhe or a Dou Wang, in her eyes, he was always that same Xiao Yan-gege.

"Xun'er."

Xiao Yan reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"I know."

"From a long time ago, I knew your background wasn't simple."

Hearing this, Xiao Xun'er was slightly taken aback.

"Then you..."

"Because you have never harmed the Xiao Family, nor have you ever harmed me."

Xiao Yan smiled, his tone calm.

"That is enough."

"No matter what your identity is, you are still the Xun'er in my heart."

"What's more—"

"Even when you saw me suddenly become a Dou Wang, you never asked about my secrets, right?"

Of course he could forgive her; after all, he wasn't the real Xiao Yan, nor was he a member of the Xiao Family.

What the Ancient Clan did to the Xiao Family had nothing to do with him.

Of course, if the Ancient Clan really didn't have eyes and insisted on dealing with him, he wouldn't mind using some methods to flatten the Ancient Clan entirely.

After all, he was the big villain!

Hehehehe...

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Xun'er stared at him blankly, her eyes suddenly turning red.

She hadn't expected Xiao Yan to forgive her so easily.

In Xiao Xun'er's view, given Xiao Yan's current means and talent, it was inevitable that he would eventually learn about the Ancient Clan.

This time, she had actually summoned great courage to take the initiative and reveal her identity to Xiao Yan.

She was afraid that if she continued to hide it and confessed too late, their relationship might become irreparable once Xiao Yan found out.

"Xiao Yan-gege... thank you."

Xiao Xun'er whispered, her voice filled with joy and emotion, and she took the initiative to reach out and hug Xiao Yan's waist.

A fragrant breeze filled his arms, a unique sensation.

The young girl's body was soft and warm, and a faint, lingering scent brushed against his nose. Xiao Yan was slightly stunned, an indescribable warmth surging in his heart.

This girl...

Usually, in front of others in the Xiao Family, she was the cold and arrogant prodigy of the Ancient Clan, but at this moment, she was like a little sister snuggled up to her brother, having shed all her defenses and disguises.

Xiao Yan looked down at the girl's slightly flushed cheeks in his arms and couldn't help but reach out to ruffle her hair.

"Silly girl."

He chuckled softly.

"What is there to thank me for?"

Xiao Xun'er raised her head, her clear eyes reflecting his image, the corners of her mouth curving into a sweet smile.

"Because Xiao Yan-gege is the person who treats Xun'er the best in this world."

After she finished speaking, she buried her face in Xiao Yan's chest again, like a lazy little kitten.

Xiao Yan laughed in spite of himself, but let her be.

The two of them held each other in silence, sunlight filtering through the leaves to cast dappled shadows upon their bodies.

A gentle breeze swept past, carrying the faint scent of flowers.

In this moment, it felt as if the entire world had fallen quiet.

[Ding--]

The system's notification chime suddenly exploded in Xiao Yan's mind, shattering the tranquility.

[The host has spun a web of lies, coaxing Xiao Xun'er until she is completely smitten! She has taken deep root in love for you! Fearing she might lose you, she even took the initiative to reveal her true identity! I fear that even if the host wanted to annihilate the Ancient Clan now, she would never blame you...]

[Destined protagonist's Luck Value -1000! Host's Luck Value +1000!]

[Host has gained +1000 Super Villain Points!]

[We encourage the host to keep up the good work and strive to claim Xiao Xun'er's first blood, truly snatching away the destined protagonist's beloved!]

[Hehehe... as expected of the man chosen by the system! Capturing the destined protagonist's confidante so easily!]

[To further incentivize the host, an additional reward: "Indestructible Vajra Technique." As long as the host does not wish to finish, it will never end!]

The corner of Xiao Yan's mouth twitched.

What the hell is this system thinking about all day?

"First blood"?

And an "Indestructible Vajra Technique"?

He, the dignified Xiao Yan... a young man in his prime... does he need something like this?

However—

He subconsciously looked down at the exquisite face of the girl in his arms, and a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Hmm...

He truly does not need it.

But, he has a "friend"... who might need it.

Yes, that must be it.

Xiao Yan nodded inwardly, "hiding"—no, "tossing"—the Indestructible Vajra Technique into the depths of his system space, out of sight and out of mind.

However—

Just as he was about to shift his attention away from the system prompts, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Wait.

Xiao Xun'er...

Exotic Flame...

Xiao Yan's gaze fell once again upon the girl in his arms.

According to the original plot, Xiao Xun'er possessed an incredibly powerful Exotic Flame within her body—

The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame!

Ranked fourth on the Exotic Flame Ranking!

That was a presence far more formidable than his own Red Lotus Karma Fire!

Although Xiao Xun'er was still young and her cultivation insufficient to fully control this power, the Exotic Flame was undeniably within her!

The symptoms of body chills Xiao Xun'er suffered as a child were actually related to the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. Gu Yuan had originally intended to cultivate her into the Ancient Clan's most outstanding prodigy by granting her the ultimate pure fire physique, but it had only caused her to suffer immensely.

Because the "Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame" was a "fire of extreme yang," and Xiao Xun'er herself possessed a pure fire physique...

As the saying goes, "extreme yang gives birth to yin." Without fully mastering the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame or awakening her Dou Emperor bloodline, "yin-cold energy" naturally condensed within her body!

And his Burning Mantra—

It just so happened to need Exotic Flames!

The more Exotic Flames he fused, and the stronger they were, the higher the grade of his cultivation technique and the greater his strength!

If he could take the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame from Xiao Xun'er and fuse it...

Xiao Yan's gaze grew heated.

If he fused the fourth-ranked Exotic Flame, his strength would undoubtedly skyrocket once more!

However—

This Exotic Flame was innate to Xiao Xun'er and was inextricably linked to her life.

If he were to seize it by force, it would likely cause her irreversible harm.

Xiao Yan frowned.

While he didn't consider himself a good person, he wasn't about to lay such a cruel hand on someone he cared about.

He had to find a way to satisfy both needs...

[Ding--]

[Detected that the host has developed a covetous heart for the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame within the Daughter of Luck, Xiao Xun'er!]

[We suggest the host take immediate action and forcibly seize the Exotic Flame! However, this action will have irreversible consequences for Xiao Xun'er! At best, she will lose all her cultivation; at worst, her soul will be scattered!]