Return to the Jia Ma Empire

"So Xiao Huohuo's Dou Qi had dissipated? I remember it was supposed to happen next year. Looks like Xiao Yan's cultivation speed has improved quite a bit because of my existence." After reading Xiao Zhan's letter, Xiao Yun muttered to himself from the sofa.

There was not much in the letter, only some simple words of concern. Xiao Zhan then explained Xiao Yan's situation and subtly expressed his hope that Xiao Yun could return to the clan and help treat Xiao Yan.

That was naturally no problem for Xiao Yun. Even if Xiao Zhan had not asked him, as long as something happened to Xiao Yan, he would have returned to check on him. After all, Xiao Yan was his minimum safeguard for the future!

But the problem now was this: without spending three years as a punching bag, could Xiao Yan still become a Dou Di at thirty-five like in the original story? Xiao Yun did not dare gamble on that. He had great confidence in becoming a Dou Di himself, but the mission to break through to Dou Di had a time limit! What if his interference caused Xiao Yan to fail to become a Dou Di, and he himself failed as well? Wouldn't the Dou Qi Continent be finished then?

"Forget it. If I can detect Yao Lao, I'll lay everything out in the open. If I can't, then Xiao Huohuo can spend three years as a punching bag." After thinking for a long time without coming up with a solution, Xiao Yun could only lie back on the sofa and say in resignation.

"What punching bag? What are you muttering about, Xiao Yun?" A childish voice suddenly rang through the hall. Immediately afterward, the space before Xiao Yun twisted, and a little girl in white with pale purple hair stepped out, appearing in front of him.

Ancient Void Dragons really are incredibly gifted when it comes to space. Zi Yan can perform short-range spatial teleportation even as a Dou Wang. Watching Zi Yan emerge from space, Xiao Yun sighed inwardly.

Ordinary people had to cultivate to the Dou Zong realm before they could touch upon the power of space. Yet Zi Yan, relying on her racial advantage, could freely teleport through space at the Dou Wang level. With this ability, so-called spatial barriers were useless against her. Over the years, no one knew how many top-grade medicinal herbs Zi Yan had stolen.

Shaking his head and casting aside those thoughts, Xiao Yun sat up and smiled. "It's just something involving one of my clansmen. Something went wrong during his cultivation, and he hopes I can go back and take a look."

"Ah? You're leaving the Inner Academy? Then won't I have to start eating those awful medicinal herbs again?" Hearing Xiao Yun's words, Zi Yan's expression changed drastically. She immediately pounced on him and pleaded, "Xiao Yun, don't go. You're the only one in the Inner Academy who plays with me. What will I do if you leave?"

Boom!

Zi Yan's pounce sent Xiao Yun and the sofa crashing to the floor together with a deafening bang.

"Cough, cough. Get off me first. You're going to crush me to death." Xiao Yun only felt a tightness in his chest, as though he could barely breathe.

Zi Yan's true form was an Ancient Void Dragon, the king among Magical Beasts. Her physical strength was terrifying, and she had not restrained her strength at all when she pounced on him. If Xiao Yun had not cultivated the Ten Thousand Thunders Body Tempering, someone else might have been flattened into a meat pancake.

"Then if I get up, you won't leave?" Zi Yan lay on his chest and asked innocently.

"..."

In the end, Zi Yan did get up, though Xiao Yun had to use Dou Qi to push her away. After setting the sofa back in place, he said, "I won't be gone long this time. I'll be back in half a year at most. I'm not abandoning you."

"But half a year is still a long time." Zi Yan pouted miserably.

Seeing Zi Yan like this, Xiao Yun found it rather amusing. He smiled and said, "Half a year is just the blink of an eye for a Magical Beast, isn't it? As for your pills, I'll refine all your medicinal herbs later. Eat sparingly, and they should last until I return."

"Hmph, hmph! You promised it would only be half a year! If you still aren't back after half a year, I'll eat all the medicinal herbs you left with me!"

Over the past three years, Xiao Yun had freely helped Zi Yan refine many pills. However, Zi Yan had always insisted on following their original agreement, so some of the medicinal herbs she carried belonged to Xiao Yun. But judging from her current attitude, if Xiao Yun did not return after half a year, those herbs would probably all be gone.

Xiao Yun shook his head helplessly. Although Zi Yan was no longer as lonely as before because she had his company these past few years, she was still just a child and would throw childish tantrums.

"Fine, we'll do as you say. If I don't return, all those medicinal herbs will be yours. But for now, give me the herbs. I'll refine them all for you."

Rubbing Zi Yan's head, Xiao Yun collected all the medicinal herbs she handed over. He then turned and entered the secret chamber, preparing to refine them all into pills for Zi Yan.

Time slowly passed, and the sky gradually darkened.

When Xiao Yun pushed open the secret chamber door and stepped outside, Zi Yan's figure flashed before him like a ghost. Her large black eyes blinked expectantly at him.

"Here are your pills. Remember to eat sparingly. This is half a year's supply, so don't finish it all in one or two months." Looking at her, Xiao Yun did not know whether to laugh or cry as he handed her the enormous jade box in his hand. It had taken him most of the day to refine all of Zi Yan's medicinal herbs into the pills inside.

"I know! I'll eat sparingly. I'm leaving now, so remember to come back early." Having received the delicious, energy-rich pills, Zi Yan immediately revealed an adorable smile and replied brightly.

After saying that, she stopped clinging to Xiao Yun. Space twisted, and Zi Yan's figure vanished.

After sending Zi Yan away, Xiao Yun took out a Communication Jade Tablet from his Storage Ring and poured a strand of Dou Qi into it. Watching the tablet emit a faint glow, he let out a soft breath and sat quietly on the sofa to wait.

A short while later, someone entered the hall. It was Fang Wen. Over the past three years, not only had he broken through to the Dou Ling realm, but Xiao Yun had also appointed him deputy sect master of the Xiao Sect. The sect's affairs, large and small, were usually managed by him alone.

Xiao Yun briefly told Fang Wen that he would be leaving the Inner Academy, gave him several instructions, and left him some cultivation resources. Only after arranging everything did Xiao Yun rise to his feet. A pair of deep crimson wings appeared behind him, and he flew straight toward the Inner Academy's exit.

At the Inner Academy exit, Xiao Yun obtained a Griffon Beast from the elder there. Riding it for roughly half an hour, he finally arrived at the Outer Academy.

After arriving at the Outer Academy, Xiao Yun did not visit his teacher. Instead, he first sought out Vice Dean Hu Gan.

"Xiao Yun, do you need something from this old man?" In the study, Hu Gan sat in his chair and smiled at Xiao Yun.

"It's like this. Something happened in my clan, so I would like to borrow a Griffon Beast from you, Vice Dean, and return home."

Jia Nan Academy was far from the Jia Ma Empire. Without a flying Magical Beast, relying solely on Xiao Yun's own flight would consume far too much Dou Qi.

"Oh? Just such a small matter? If your clan runs into any trouble that you can't handle, remember to tell us old fellows. After all, you are also part of Jia Nan Academy." Hu Gan looked surprised that Xiao Yun had come to him over such a minor matter. Then, perhaps worried that Xiao Yun was too prideful to ask for help, he spoke earnestly.

Seeing the concern on Hu Gan's face, Xiao Yun quickly explained, "No, no. It's only that one of my cousins encountered a problem in his cultivation. I also haven't returned to the clan in years, so I'm taking the opportunity to go back and check on him."

"Good, then go ahead. Your teacher is still in seclusion, attempting to break through to Dou Emperor. By the time you return, he should have succeeded." Hu Gan smiled.

Fire Elder's confidence in attempting to break through to the Dou Emperor realm that had stalled him for so long was thanks to the Earth Core Tempering Milk Xiao Yun had given him some time ago.

Xiao Yun nodded, accepted the token Hu Gan tossed him, and bowed before heading to Jia Nan Academy's flight station to collect a flying Magical Beast.

Wild winds swept across the sky as a massive flying Magical Beast soared through the heavens. Xiao Yun stood atop the Griffon Beast's head, his robes snapping loudly in the gale. He looked down at Canaan City, which was growing smaller and smaller beneath him, then slowly raised his head toward the southern sky, a smile tugging at his lips.

Xiao Yun had been looking forward to this day for a long time. The Green Lotus Core Flame, the Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Lin, and so many other treasures and talents within the Jia Ma Empire—he wanted them all!