The Sly Xiao Han, the Touched Xiao Yan

Xiao Han's expression shifted uncertainly.

In his distraction, he used a little too much force, making Xiao Yi Xian, who had yet to begin cultivating, stiffen with pain.

Only when he noticed something amiss with the beauty in his arms did Xiao Han come back to his senses.

The strength he had unwittingly exerted had probably hurt Xiao Yi Xian's bottom.

"Ahem."

He let go, slightly embarrassed. Without his arms supporting her, Xiao Yi Xian trembled involuntarily the moment her feet touched the ground.

She could not hold back a muffled moan.

"Hiss..."

That utterly seductive sound made Xiao Han draw in a sharp breath.

What an enchantress.

He took a deep breath to tamp down his fire, then told Xiao Yi Xian bluntly, "Now that you know about the Answering Space, you should understand that I will no longer let you leave."

Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head, rubbing the sore spot as she murmured, "I understand..."

Her movements made Xiao Han rub his nose awkwardly.

He had treated her that way earlier because he thought someone else's soul had taken over her body. Now that he knew Xiao Yi Xian was still herself, body and soul, his earlier actions had become rather difficult to smooth over.

He had originally wanted to play the hero rescuing the beauty.

Now there would be no rescuing the beauty.

In the mountain forest, Xiao Han held Xiao Yi Xian against him, his toes tapping lightly as he darted through the trees so quickly that she had no choice but to cling tightly to his waist.

Naturally, Xiao Han was doing this deliberately.

For one thing, he could openly take liberties with Xiao Yi Xian; for another, he could keep her safe.

Trees and vines covered the Magical Beast Mountain Range, concealing countless low-rank magical beasts. Even on the paths people had cleared, a moment's carelessness could lead to injury, let alone deep among the trees.

At first, Xiao Han had intended to take Xiao Yi Xian away from Qingshan Town. After all, she was the reason he had come here.

As for the things inside that cave dwelling, Xiao Han truly did not care about them.

The most valuable thing was that Heavenly Flame map, but it was of little use to Xiao Han.

The Answering Space sold the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.

But Xiao Yi Xian had brought it up.

Since they were already here and it was quite close, they might as well make the trip now that she had asked.

Although Xiao Han had no use for those things, they could still help him nurture Xiao Yi Xian.

Since Xiao Yi Xian was certain to become his woman, Xiao Han naturally would not be stingy about improving her strength.

As for the Woeful Poison Body she had been born with...

Although this constitution could not be cured, it was not impossible to control.

He could not use the Poison Pill Method without Heavenly Flames, but the Gu Clan might have a solution.

The next time he entered the Answering Space, he would see whether Gu Yuan could provide one.

If all else failed, he could exchange points for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. Even that flame, capable of purifying all things, cost a mere five points in the Answering Space.

At the edge of a cliff, Xiao Han shifted his body, let out a long breath, and said with a smile, "We're here. You don't have to hold on so tightly."

"Ah!" Xiao Yi Xian flushed bright red and hurriedly loosened her locked arms.

It was not that she wanted to cling so tightly. Xiao Han was simply rather sly: while racing along with her in his arms, he would loosen his hold every so often, frightening her into thinking she was about to go flying. How could she not cling to him with all her strength?

Besides, this was somewhere even an ordinary person without any Dou Qi like her could reach in half a day, yet Xiao Han, a legendary Dou Sheng Expert, insisted on carrying her through the trees instead of flying through the air.

It had not been a short trip, either. Almost an hour had passed, leaving her tightly clasped hands so sore that she could barely pull them apart.

Xiao Han watched in amusement as Xiao Yi Xian blushed furiously, not daring to look at him.

Before she could catch more than a few breaths, he pulled her into his arms again.

"Ah!"

A startled cry rang out.

Two figures leaped straight off the cliff.

Xiao Yi Xian felt her body jolt into weightlessness, and Xiao Han's arm around her showed signs of loosening again.

Before her mind could issue any instructions, her body wrapped tightly around Xiao Han like an octopus.

Then Xiao Han's soft laughter reached her ears.

"We're already here."

"If you keep clinging to me like this, I might not be able to resist taking you right here."

As his voice reached her ears, a peculiar sensation rose from her bottom as well.

Naturally, Xiao Han had been unable to resist giving it a couple of rubs.

"Mmm..." The thrill of suddenly leaping off a cliff and their intimate contact made Xiao Yi Xian let out a soft moan, her pretty face flushing scarlet.

Has Senior taken a liking to me?

How could that be? Senior is a legendary Dou Sheng.

Am I worthy of Senior?

But if Senior really does like me, should I give myself to him? He's a Dou Sheng...

Xiao Yi Xian's heart tossed up and down, and her head grew fuzzy.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Xiao Yi Xian's unfocused eyes, Xiao Han was startled.

Could jumping off the cliff have frightened her out of her wits?

Surely not.

Xiao Yi Xian would even have a flying magical beast in the future.

Besides, if her mind broke, wouldn't she be no different from a doll?

That would never do.

"Hey!"

"Wake up."

Xiao Han hurriedly patted Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face gently.

At that external stimulus, Xiao Yi Xian finally came to her senses.

"S-Senior."

"I-I'm willing..."

Xiao Yi Xian stammered, a sheen of mist seeming to cover her eyes.

Is she... aroused?

Xiao Han's eyes widened at once.

How had she talked herself into falling for him in the time it took to jump off a cliff?

He had no time to think it through and swept Xiao Yi Xian into his arms.

So she was aroused. That wasn't a bad thing.

He could take this opportunity to do the deed.

Inside the cave halfway up the mountain, no one would disturb them, and any position would do.

Once he had thoroughly made Xiao Yi Xian his, he could devote plenty of resources to nurturing her when he had points to spare.

Before long.

Sweet cries rang out, lingering without end.

The Misty Cloud Sect.

Yun Yun looked as though she had seen a ghost.

His unexpected disciple, Xiao Yan, had gone from three-stage Dou Qi to successfully forming a Dou Qi Vortex in just one month, officially becoming a One-Star Dou Zhe.

"Is this Spirit-Nourishing Liquid really that effective?"

Looking at the liquid shimmering with green light inside the jade bottle Xiao Yan handed over, even the cool-tempered Yun Yun felt her heart grow heated.

As everyone knew, forming a Dou Qi Vortex was the first major hurdle on the path of cultivation.

Only by successfully forming a vortex could one become a Dou Zhe, yet this simple step barred more than ninety percent of the Dou Qi Continent's population.

The reason was that not everyone could reach ninth stage Dou Qi. Now, the appearance of the Spirit-Nourishing Liquid let Yun Yun envision the Misty Cloud Sect flourishing.

"Teacher, I can give the sect the formula for the Spirit-Nourishing Liquid. I just have one small request. Hehe." Xiao Yan grinned.

Yun Yun's expression turned solemn. "Tell me. Never mind one request-even if you had two, I would agree."

Delight spread over Xiao Yan's face, and he hurriedly said, "I want to leave the mountain."

Yun Yun refused without a second thought. "No."

Xiao Yan's face fell at once. "Seriously, Teacher? Are you messing with me?"

"Teacher, just let Brother Xiao Yan leave the mountain." Xiao Xun'er chimed in to help.

"No. He cannot leave the mountain. Pick something else."

What a joke. To go from three-stage Dou Qi to a One-Star Dou Zhe in one month-even the assistance of the Spirit-Nourishing Liquid could not conceal Xiao Yan's extraordinary talent.

With talent like that, how could Yun Yun let him leave the mountain as a mere Dou Zhe?

What if he died?

Earlier, Nalan Yanran had been forcibly taken away by a Dou Zong who had appeared out of nowhere, and the heartache had already left Yun Yun unable to breathe.

Now, Xiao Yan, whom she had taken as a disciple through a twist of fate, absolutely could not be allowed to slip away.

Even if another Dou Zong expert came, Yun Yun would never let go.

That was her pride as a Dou Huang expert.

"Teacher, I have to leave the mountain." Xiao Yan looked solemn and added with utmost seriousness, "I've already cultivated the Flame Mantra. Before becoming a Dou Shi and devouring Heavenly Flames, I must undergo brutal training. Only then will I be able to endure the pain of devouring Heavenly Flames."

Beside him, a trace of distress flashed across Xun'er's exquisite face when she heard Xiao Yan's words.

The preparations Yao Lao had arranged for Xiao Yan before he devoured Heavenly Flames were exceedingly cruel.

Yun Yun looked helpless. "Why did you actually cultivate that low Yellow Tier Qi Method? You even believed something as absurd as being able to advance its tier by devouring Heavenly Flames?"

"Even if we take ten thousand steps back and assume devouring Heavenly Flames really can advance its tier, Heavenly Flames aren't easy to find. It's been a full month since we put out word that we were looking for them, and we haven't received so much as a rumor chasing the wind and grasping at shadows. Just heed my advice and switch to the Misty Cloud Sect's profound middle Mystic Tier Qi Method, the Flowing Flame Art."

"The middle Mystic Tier Flowing Flame Art?" Xiao Yan paused, looking at Yun Yun with a complicated expression.

He had not expected this unexpected teacher of his to offer him a Qi Method of the same grade as the Xiao Clan's inherited Qi Method.

He truly was somewhat touched.

But touched or not, he still had to leave the mountain.