Feelings Deepen, and Names for the Sisters

Medusa's face turned bright red with embarrassment at her younger sister's crisp "brother-in-law," and she hurriedly reached out with her jade-white hand to cover her sister's unrestrained mouth.

Xiao Yan was also stunned for a moment by that "brother-in-law."

Though he was somewhat surprised, he quickly came to his senses. Not only did he not correct her, he nodded with a smile and accepted it openly.

When Medusa saw that Xiao Yan had actually nodded and accepted it, she was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground. Even the tips of her ears were burning red.

She didn't dare look into Xiao Yan's eyes again and insisted on dragging her sister away.

Her younger sister still wanted to stay and have a good chat with Xiao Yan, to grow closer to him, but there was no way she could win against her older sister. Medusa dragged her away, half pulling and half hauling her.

As they were about to leave, the younger sister didn't forget to turn back and wink at Xiao Yan. Her mischievous, impish manner made him chuckle.

As he watched the sisters' figures disappear outside the door, Xiao Yan couldn't stop smiling.

Meanwhile, Yao Lao in the ring had been utterly confused from beginning to end.

He clearly remembered Xiao Yan spending all this time quietly cultivating in his room without even stepping outside once. How had he suddenly saved Medusa's twin younger sister and become her "brother-in-law" just like that?

This was moving a little too fast.

"Alas, my disciple is growing more and more mysterious. Perhaps before long, he won't need an old man like me anymore..." Yao Lao knew Xiao Yan was hiding plenty of secrets, but he didn't press him for details. He simply sighed softly to himself inside the ring.

After spending so much time together day in and day out, Yao Lao might always call him "brat," but deep down, he had long since come to regard Xiao Yan as a disciple he truly cared about.

Bickering and trading barbs with the boy, watching his daily antics and seeing him get flustered, always made Yao Lao think of what he had been like in his own youth.

If he could, he hoped Xiao Yan would trouble him more often, so that he, as a teacher, could still feel a little more needed.

Day after day passed. Over the past few days, Xiao Yan had followed his usual routine of refining pills and cultivating. With the two sisters for company in his spare time, life was quite pleasant.

After spending these past few days together, the sisters' relationship with Xiao Yan had grown increasingly easy and warm.

The younger sister especially came to see Xiao Yan almost every day. Her lively, carefree nature was very much to his liking, and she called him "brother-in-law" more and more naturally.

It was only while spending time together that Xiao Yan learned the sisters had never had names. Their tribe called Medusa only "Queen," while the younger sister was referred to even more vaguely.

For convenience, and to give them a mark of their own, Xiao Yan decided to give each sister a name.

The older sister would be Cai Lin, and the younger sister Cai Die.

With a name of her own, Cai Die was as happy as a child who had just gotten candy. She clung to Xiao Yan's arm and swayed it back and forth, cheerfully repeating, "Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Cai Lin was much more composed, still maintaining the queen's customary poise and reserve. But the faintly upturned corners of her lips and the light flickering in her eyes gave away all the joy in her heart.

Taking advantage of the pleasant mood, Xiao Yan brought up the plan he had been considering for a long time: he would help both sisters undergo bloodline evolution at the same time.

"But... will it really work?" When Cai Lin heard this, a hint of worry appeared between her brows.

The secret method was already extremely perilous. If she alone had to bear the risk, she wouldn't be afraid.

But her younger sister had only just awakened after all this time. She truly didn't want her to take such a risk again.

"Big sister, don't underestimate me. I'm really strong." Seeing her sister hesitate like this, Cai Die quickly showed off the tiny bit of muscle on her arm. Puffing out her cheeks, she struck a serious pose.

After experiencing that long slumber, she understood better than anyone how important strength was.

She wanted to become stronger.

Strong enough that her sister wouldn't worry about her anymore, strong enough to protect the people she cared about.

Most importantly, she believed in her brother-in-law. She believed in him from the bottom of her heart.

She believed her brother-in-law would never let anything happen to her.

Yet Cai Die's adorable words didn't seem to dispel all of Cai Lin's concerns. She remained silent, the worry between her brows undiminished.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't bring it up if I weren't sure. Otherwise, wouldn't I be harming my little sister-in-law?" Xiao Yan said with a smile, using a timely joke to lighten the heavy mood.

He naturally had good reason to be so certain.

With the Dog Talisman and the Horse Talisman, he truly had absolute confidence.

The Snake-People Tribe's secret method did require one to reach Peak Dou Emperor cultivation to have any hope of succeeding, but that was under normal circumstances.

Without any outside intervention, if one didn't have the Dou Qi foundation of a Peak Dou Emperor, one simply couldn't hold on until the bloodline completed its evolution.

But Xiao Yan, who possessed the Dog Talisman's power of immortality, was an exception.

With the Dog Talisman keeping both sisters alive, and the Horse Talisman's healing power as a safeguard, they could hold on until their bloodlines fully awakened.

And the Heavenly Flames would be under Xiao Yan's direct control, so there was no chance of anything going wrong.

No matter how he considered it, Xiao Yan couldn't think of any way they could fail.

The only thing they would have to endure themselves was the excruciating pain of the Heavenly Flames burning their bodies.

No matter what, Xiao Yan couldn't bear that pain for them.

There was no helping it. If they wanted to go far, if they wanted to gain truly powerful strength, some things had to be endured in person.

After spending these days together, Cai Lin had gradually grown used to Xiao Yan calling Cai Die "little sister-in-law." She had even started to grow accustomed to the vague identity of "Xiao Yan's wife."

Since Xiao Yan had given his assurance, and out of the trust in him that came from deep within her heart, Cai Lin finally nodded solemnly and agreed.

By the next day, everything for the evolution ceremony was ready.

To show their sincerity, the Four Great Elders came in person to Xiao Yan's residence, all of them respectfully asking him to lend his aid.

Ever since Xiao Yan had earlier reprimanded the First Elder for refusing to bend, and later personally rescued Cai Die, the Four Great Elders had treated him with the utmost respect. They didn't dare neglect him in the slightest.

Guided by the elders, Xiao Yan passed through layer upon layer of checkpoints and took several twists and turns before finally arriving at the place where the evolution ceremony would be held.

It was an enormous Secret Chamber, exceedingly spacious. In the very center of the chamber lay a clear, tranquil lake, its surface still as glass. A small stone island sat in the middle of it.

On that stone island stood two breathtaking figures, as though they had stepped out of a painting.

After escorting Xiao Yan there, the four elders bowed together and said respectfully and solemnly, "My lord, we shall take our leave first. We entrust the two queens to you."

"Leave it to me," Xiao Yan replied, nodding solemnly.

At his words, the four elders bowed deeply once more before slowly withdrawing.