Apologies for the delayed update.I've been unwell with a high fever and a flare-up of gout, which has left me unable to get out of bed. I appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
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His face was deathly pale, devoid of the slightest trace of blood, yet his eyes remained locked onto the Amethyst Winged Lion in the sky, filled with unwavering determination.
"Go."
With a soft murmur, his finger flicked the fiery lotus. The lotus floated out of his palm and shot forward at an astonishing speed, leaving behind a mesmerizing emerald trail as it hurtled toward the Amethyst Winged Lion.
Despite the lotus being infused with a majestic, terrifying, and wild energy, it moved through the air in eerie silence, without stirring the slightest ripple. Yet, it was precisely this soundless advance that sent a chill down the spines of all who witnessed it.
Yun Yun, witnessing the incomparably beautiful yet ominous lotus approaching, swiftly flapped her wings and retreated. She knew it wasn't aimed at her, but if she remained nearby when it exploded, the devastating force would surely consume her as well.
"This madman…!"
Meanwhile, the Amethyst Winged Lion's gaze shifted from Yun Yun to the emerald lotus, its expression darkening. As a formidable Rank Six Magical Beast, how could it not sense the overwhelming threat emanating from the fire lotus?
A moment later, the Amethyst Winged Lion roared as it unleashed its sealing technique—the Amethyst Seal. A massive pillar of radiant purple energy shot forth, colliding with the flame lotus, which blazed with an intense emerald glow.
However, there was no violent explosion nor energy ripples. The emerald fire lotus effortlessly shattered the purple pillar and continued its relentless advance toward the Amethyst Winged Lion.
Even so, the clash had slightly slowed its momentum, buying just enough time for the Amethyst Winged Lion to escape its grasp.
BANG!
As the emerald fire lotus ascended, spinning gracefully, it suddenly exploded—an earth-shattering explosion erupting across the sky.
In that instant, a terrifying wave of destruction swept out like a raging storm, engulfing the entire mountain range. The violent firestorm surged in all directions, tearing through the dark clouds and reducing them to nothingness. In their place, a brilliant emerald glow illuminated the heavens, casting an awe-inspiring radiance over the land.
However, Xiao Hua couldn't see any of this. His body and consciousness had reached their limit—his vision darkened with each passing second, his eyelids grew unbearably heavy, and his body finally gave in, collapsing.
He braced himself for the harsh impact of the ground, yet instead, he sank into something soft and fragrant.
With his eyes barely open and his mind teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, the only thing he could make out was a beautiful face, filled with anxious worry.
Before his consciousness faded completely, his lips moved, but no sound came out. Yet, even in silence, the words were unmistakable—
'Such an expression… ruins your beauty and grace…'
…
Holding Xiao Hua's battered body against her chest, Yun Yun's delicate face shifted, her heart tightening with pain and bitterness as she gazed at his weak yet smiling expression.
Even though no words reached her ears, she could easily read his lips—he was teasing her again, even in this state.
"He can never stop teasing me, can he…?"
A soft, warm smile curved her lips—a smile so radiant that it seemed to dispel the gloominess of the dark sky above the cave, as if a gentle sunlight had broken through the darkness, softly illuminating this very spot.
Lowering her gaze, she noticed the faint glimmer of the Purple Spirit Crystal peeking from beneath his clothes. Gently, she placed her soft, jade-like hand over it, her eyes turning misty. She knew—Xiao Hua had pushed himself this far… because of her.
Meanwhile, the Amethyst Winged Lion, having narrowly avoided the fire lotus, glared at the woman cradling the unconscious young man. Hatred and fury burned in its eyes, but when its gaze shifted to Xiao Hua, a flicker of unmistakable fear flashed within its massive pupils.
Even now, its heart pounded violently at the mere thought of the fire lotus Xiao Hua had unleashed. No matter what, it could not allow him to leave alive—especially when he had been pushed to such a weakened state because of them.
ROAR—!
The Amethyst Winged Lion let out a furious roar, its deafening cry shaking the mountain as it glared at the woman and the unconscious young man.
The surrounding Magical Beasts, still paralyzed by fear from the emerald fire lotus, suddenly snapped back to reality. As if receiving an unspoken command from their king, they roared in unison, their eyes blazing with savage intent.
Without hesitation, the beasts—ranging from Rank Two to Rank Four—charged forward, their killing intent surging as they rushed toward the two humans.
At the same time, the young Amethyst Winged Lion, having recovered slightly, emerged from the cave. Hearing its parent's roar, it unfurled its wings and beat them forcefully, launching itself into the air. A fierce glint flickered in its eyes as it joined the other beasts, rushing toward the intruders like a relentless tide of fury.
Meanwhile, Yun Yun gently stroked Xiao Hua's hair, her touch soft and affectionate. A serene smile graced her lips, completely unfazed by the ground trembling beneath them as an army of Magical Beasts charged forward.
A moment later, a surge of powerful green Dou Qi erupted from her body.
"Wind's Peak,"
Her voice was soft, yet it echoed across the mountain range. The instant the words left her lips, fierce emerald winds erupted around her, spiraling violently like a raging tornado.
"Killer Meteorite!"
As she uttered the final words, an intense glow burst forth from her, radiating a blinding light so brilliant that even the fiercest warriors would instinctively shield their eyes…
…
As the devastating force of her technique settled, Yun Yun gracefully unfurled her wings. She sheathed her longsword into her storage ring, then turned without hesitation. With a few rapid flickers of her silhouette, she vanished into the horizon—Xiao Hua held securely against her chest.
Like a streaking comet, Yun Yun soared toward the exit of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Only after they had safely left the inner regions did she slow down, scanning the surroundings before finding a concealed cave. With a graceful descent, she entered.
The moment she stepped inside, she hastily yet carefully removed Xiao Hua from her embrace, gently placing him onto a cold stone bed. However, as soon as her hand touched his body, a shock ran through her.
"Such overwhelming energy… Are these the lightning strengths sealed within the mark after failing the trial—the one he mentioned?" she murmured, her voice laced with disbelief.
Xiao Hua lay motionless, his entire body riddled with burn marks and dried blood, his breath dangerously faint. Yun Yun's delicate fingers pressed against his pulse, probing deeply. As her examination continued, her expression darkened.
If not for the barely perceptible rise and fall of his chest, she would have thought he was already gone.
A wave of anxiety surged in her heart as she took in his terrible state. After a moment of hesitation, she clenched her teeth, determination flashing in her eyes. Raising his body, she moves behind him, extended a hand and gently pressed it against his bloodied, scorched back.
Fortunately, his condition was not as dire as it seemed. His body was already attempting to heal itself, slowly repairing the damage as his Dou Qi circulated. However, the recovery process was agonizingly slow—hindered by the six rampaging lightning strengths wreaking havoc within him.
In his unconscious state, he was unable to absorb or refine the violent, untamed lightning strengths.
"Even if his body recovers to its peak… hidden injuries will remain, affecting his cultivation. If he cannot refine the lightning strengths now… I'll have to seal it."
Yun Yun exhaled softly, her moist, rosy lips parting slightly before she gradually closed her eyes. A powerful surge of ocean-like Dou Qi erupted from within her, flowing swiftly down her arm before pouring into Xiao Hua's body.
Under her precise control, the wind-type Dou Qi coursed through his meridians like a fierce storm, rapidly closing in on the six wild lightning strengths rampaging through him—seeking to subdue and seal them before they could cause irreversible harm.
The moment Yun Yun's Dou Qi invaded, the six lightning strengths roared in defiance, violently resisting the intrusion of her wind-affinity energy.
"To think they can resist this much… Just what exactly are these six lightnings?!" Yun Yun was stunned by the sheer difficulty of trying to suppress them.
What shocked her even more was their violent resistance when she attempted to guide them into her own body. She had thought it would be easier to deal with them once they were transferred into her own.
But the moment she tried, the lightning strengths erupted in defiance. Their rampaging energy grew unstable, thrashing wildly as if on the verge of self-destruction.
A cold sweat trickled down her back. Realizing the immense danger, she swiftly abandoned the idea. These lightning strengths had a will of their own—they rejected all others and would only remain within Xiao Hua's body.
With no other option, she focused her efforts on forcefully suppressing and sealing them, ensuring that Xiao Hua could refine them himself once he regained consciousness.
Time passed. The green wind Dou Qi clashed fiercely against the six lightning strengths, both energies seeking dominance over the other. Just as weariness began creeping into Yun Yun's body, she suddenly sensed a shift.
Without warning, the six lightning strengths ceased their resistance. Their once-violent nature turned unexpectedly docile and calm—a stark contrast to their previous defiance.
A flicker of confusion flashed in Yun Yun's gaze, but she didn't waste time pondering the sudden shift. Taking advantage of the moment, she swiftly guided her Dou Qi, skillfully coalescing them into six fist-sized spheres of pure energy,—sealing them temporarily.
"Troublesome little things, it's over…" Yun Yun murmured, her eyes still tightly shut.
As she opened them, her gaze fell upon six distinct orbs of energy, each radiating a different color—gold, blue, purple, orange, green, and red. Within each sphere, remnants of the six lightning strengths that had wreaked havoc inside Xiao Hua's body now lay restrained.
Letting out a soft sigh of relief, she carefully began withdrawing her Dou Qi from Xiao Hua's body, now that her task was complete. As she did, streams of fire-type and lightning-type Dou Qi surged forth, instinctively working to heal his battered meridians and internal injuries.
With the six untamed lightning strengths sealed, Xiao Hua's recovery accelerated noticeably. Color gradually returned to his pale face, the deep lines of pain easing into a serene expression. His previously curled-up, tense body slowly relaxed, spreading out naturally as if freed from the torment that had gripped him.
With a gentle motion, Yun Yun pulled Xiao Hua's body closer, carefully lifting him before placing him into the cold spring water within the cave. The cool water rippled around him, washing away the blood and grime that covered his body.
Wiping the perspiration from her forehead, she let out a tired sigh and sat slightly further from him, taking a few deep breaths. Her gaze soon drifted toward the young man's sleeping face, his expression finally at peace.
After a long silence, she sighed once more and shook her head lightly. Reaching out, she picked up the Purple Spirit Crystal—the same crystal she had taken from Xiao Hua's hand before bringing him to the spring.
Holding the warm crystal gently in her palm, Yun Yun murmured softly, "Thank you."
As she lowered her gaze, her eyes fell upon the blue-hued metal vest adorning his body. A faint glow shimmered across its surface, exuding an unusual aura. A small smile tugged at her lips as a feeling of relief washed over her.
The Sea's Core Vest had indeed saved Xiao Hua from the purple flames released by the cub of Amethyst Winged Lion. If not for its protection, his back wouldn't have suffered mere burn marks—it would have been charred beyond recognition.
By now, she should have already left this place. After obtaining the Purple Spirit Crystal, her initial plan had been to deliver it to Gu He, so he could refine it into a medicinal pill for her beloved disciple, Nalan Yanran. She had also intended to ensure Xiao Hua's condition stabilized before departing.
Yet, despite everything, she remained.
Even after Xiao Hua awakened, she knew she would linger here a while longer—until the time came for her to leave.
Her gaze remained fixed on the handsome and refined young man's face, a bittersweet smile surfacing helplessly on her lips. "After training alone for so many years, I never expected... this young man..."
For the longest time, she had been uncertain about the emotions she felt toward Xiao Hua. But now, she recognized them.
At first, she had tried to deny it, to bury it deep within her heart. However, after today's events, there was no more room for denial. Her heart had finally accepted it. And as if reflecting this change, the bittersweet smile on her lips slowly softened into a gentle, affectionate one.
She knew she shouldn't feel this way.
Especially not for a young man who already had a fiancée.
Yet, no matter how much she tried, her heart refused to obey. Her feelings for Xiao Hua only continued to deepen, like ripples in an endless lake.
Taking a deep breath, Yun Yun rose to her feet and stored the Purple Spirit Crystal in her storage ring. Then, with quiet steps, she approached Xiao Hua, her gaze lingering on his peaceful sleeping face.
Lowering herself slightly, she leaned in—and with the lightest touch, pressed a soft kiss against his forehead.
"It's... not a bad feeling at all..."
A faint red hue crept onto her cheeks, but she made no effort to hide it. Instead, a satisfied smile slowly curled on her lips, as if she didn't mind what she had just done.
With a soft sigh, she remained on the cold, hard ground, resting her cheek against her hand. Her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Hua's face, watching him quietly, tenderly.
She would wait for him to wake up. Even if it took a day, a week, or even a month, she would remain by his side.
...
Time flowed like sand slipping through one's fingers.
If one were to count, it had already been ten days since Xiao Hua fell unconscious.
On the tenth day, at long last—there was movement.
Xiao Hua's fingers twitched slightly. Then, his eyelids trembled before slowly opening. As consciousness returned, he expected to be met with unbearable pain.
Yet, to his surprise—it never came.
Instead, an unfamiliar sense of vitality coursed through his body.
More than that, he could feel the seal within him had completely released. The once-suppressed Dou Qi now surged freely through his meridians, filling him with energy.
He was nearly at peak condition.
Hua…Hua….
A faint sound echoed in his ears as he slowly moved his slightly numb fingers. The moment he shifted, the gentle ripple of water reached him. Lowering his gaze, he realized his body was submerged in a clear pool, roughly fifty meters in diameter.
His nose twitched slightly as the rich scent of medicinal herbs filled the air. The fragrance emanated from the water itself, confirming that he was in a medicinal bath—the likely reason for his awakening. The rough stone walls surrounding him made it clear that he was inside a cave.
Just as he was about to turn around, a soft, familiar voice spoke from behind.
"You're finally willing to wake up…"
Yun Yun's graceful figure approached, her steps light and effortless. Stopping beside him, she lowered herself slightly, her chest resting against her knees as she gazed at him.
Her bright, gentle eyes met his as he turned his head toward her.
Xiao Hua let out a light chuckle and stood up, a grateful smile appearing on his face.
"Haha, thank you for taking care of me while I was unconscious, Yun Yun."
Yun Yun shook her head slightly, her expression soft yet unwavering.
"It's no trouble at all. You pushed yourself too far just to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal for me. Taking care of you for ten days is the least I could do."
Yun Yun shook her head and smiled radiantly at him. Her tone was exceptionally soft and gentle, a stark contrast to the distant and indifferent manner she had displayed after breaking her seal.
Xiao Hua let out a soft chuckle at her change in demeanor. Stepping out of the water, he circulated his Dou Qi, instantly drying his clothes.
It was only then that he fully processed Yun Yun's words. A look of mild surprise flashed across his face as he turned toward her, his tone filled with amazement.
"I've been asleep for ten days? That's… surprisingly short."
Yun Yun raised her elegant eyebrow. "Short? Then how long would you consider long?"
Xiao Hua casually shrugged. "I've been unconscious for ten days before… and once for two weeks when I was younger. So I thought I'd at least be out for three weeks this time."
Yun Yun blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
She let out a long sigh, shaking her head in exasperation. "Your experiences are truly beyond me…"
She had been slightly worried about Xiao Hua remaining unconscious for ten days… yet to him, this seemed to be a common occurrence.
Even so, she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of dissatisfaction for making her worry like this. She shot a begrudging glare at him, clearly displeased that he had made her so anxious over the past few days.
Xiao Hua let out a helpless smile, feeling that this was a little unreasonable. It wasn't as if he had chosen to go unconscious so often…
With a resigned sigh, he closed his eyes and shifted his attention inward, focusing on the state of his body. While he could tell that his physical condition had recovered, what he truly wanted to check was the six lightning strengths that had previously rampaged through him.
As his mind sank into his body, a scene unfolded before him—six spheres, each glowing with a distinct color, pulsating with immense lightning strengths.
Xiao Hua's eyes flickered with surprise and admiration.
"She actually managed to seal them…"
He hadn't expected Yun Yun to succeed in suppressing such wild and violent forces.
"Regardless, you even helped me seal the lightning strengths. I'm sure that alone must have caused you more than enough trouble…" Xiao Hua said with a faint smile, his voice carrying a hint of admiration and amazement.
"You're absolutely right about that…" Yun Yun let out a helpless grin as she recalled the struggle those six lightning strengths had put her through. However, her expression soon turned contemplative as she continued, "But strangely enough, just as I was about to reach my limit, they suddenly became tame… I wonder why."
"That is indeed odd." Xiao Hua rubbed his chin, his brows furrowing in thought. He had no explanation for their abrupt change in behavior, but it certainly piqued his curiosity.
He was well aware of the sheer power of the six different lightning strengths. Given their nature, even Yun Yun—despite her strength—should have suffered immense backlash trying to seal them.
And yet, from her current condition, it was clear that she hadn't sustained any serious injuries.
This only deepened his confusion.
As he continued to ponder, a cold yet familiar voice echoed in his mind, instantly providing clarity.
"I helped her calm the lightning so she could seal them. That's why they suddenly behaved themselves," Xue Yue stated indifferently.
A smile surfaced on Xiao Hua's face as he murmured in his mind, "Thank you for your efforts, Sister Xue Yue."
"It was no trouble," Xue Yue replied calmly. "If not for her distracting the six lightning strengths, it would have been far more difficult for me to contain them."
Then, after a brief pause, she added in a knowing tone, "She's becoming quite affectionate toward you, child—to the extent that she waited by your side for you to wake up."
Xiao Hua smiled wryly at her words, shaking his head as if dismissing the notion. Choosing to ignore Xue Yue's remark, he turned his gaze to Yun Yun and shifted the topic.
"Anyway, did I miss anything during these past ten days?"
"Ah… that's right." Yun Yun's brows lifted slightly as she suddenly recalled something. Looking at Xiao Hua, she said, "Your two friends came here to check on you."
"My two friends?" Xiao Hua frowned slightly before realization struck him. "Zi Yan and Fairy Doctor!"
"That's right. It was those two." Yun Yun nodded. She had never met Fairy Doctor before this, but she had seen Zi Yan—carefully cradled by Xun Er—when he returned to the Xiao Clan.
"Seems like I made them worry…" Xiao Hua sighed with a wry smile. His eyes swept across the cave, but seeing no sign of them, he turned to Yun Yun and asked, "Where did they go?"
"They left to search for medicinal herbs and flowers that might help you, though it seems their efforts were unnecessary. They were extremely worried about you, so you should ease their concerns when they return."
Xiao Hua nodded at her words, feeling genuinely guilty for making them worry. He already knew how they had found their way here—there was only one person capable of guiding them safely.
"Did you tell them to keep quiet about your presence from Yun Yun, Sister Xue Yue?" Xiao Hua asked in his mind.
"That's right. I have no interest in revealing myself right now," Xue Yue replied indifferently. Then, with a teasing tone, she added, "It's best if she doesn't find out that someone was watching everything… including the little kiss incident."
Xiao Hua's expression stiffened slightly before he coughed lightly, pretending not to hear the last part.
"Now that I think about it, why didn't you help me?" Xiao Hua suddenly recalled that Xue Yue had been there and could have easily prevented the kiss.
"As I said before, unless it's life-threatening, I won't intervene," Xue Yue replied matter-of-factly.
Xiao Hua's lips curled into a wry smile, followed by a soft, bitter chuckle. He suddenly sensed two familiar presences approaching the cave. Without hesitation, he walked toward the entrance. As he stepped outside, he heard two nostalgic voices—one soft and kind, the other excited and filled with childish energy.
At the same time, he noticed that Fairy Doctor had advanced to the Da Dou Shi class. However, the dense poisonous strength in her Dou Qi was concerning. He would need to check on her Woeful Poison Body later.
"It seems they've returned…" Yun Yun followed Xiao Hua, standing beside him as she gazed in the direction of Zi Yan and Fairy Doctor's voices.
She recalled their arrival on the second day after she discovered the cave while trying to help Xiao Hua with his condition. The moment they saw his state, their expressions darkened with fury. Without hesitation, they inquire the situation, determined to hear the full story for themselves.
They had already heard about Xiao Hua's situation from Lady Xue Yue. However, she hadn't told them everything, so they wanted to hear the full story from Yun Yun.
Naturally, Yun Yun didn't hide anything and recounted the events in full. As she spoke, she noticed them biting their lips hard, barely restraining their emotions. Yet, none of them blamed her.
They knew that Xiao Hua had already been severely injured before she arrived, and despite that, he had continued pushing himself to help her—only worsening his condition.
Even so, Zi Yan had been adamant about beating the Amethyst Winged Lion to a pulp. Yun Yun had to stop her, warning that the area was still teeming with fourth- and fifth-ranked Magical Beasts—creatures that could pose a serious threat. She couldn't allow anyone close to Xiao Hua to be harmed.
Worried for Xiao Hua's condition, Fairy Doctor tirelessly searched through every bit of medicinal knowledge she had learned from him, determined to find a way to accelerate his recovery. Without hesitation, she sought the assistance of Zi Yan and Yun Yun, and both readily agreed.
Though they were powerful cultivators—a Dou Wang and a Dou Huang, respectively—they lacked the expertise to properly treat Xiao Hua's injuries. If Fairy Doctor could do something to help, they were more than willing to follow her lead.
Wasting no time, Fairy Doctor provided detailed information on specific medicinal herbs and flowers for them to gather. Once she received the ingredients, she carefully ground them into a fine powder before mixing them into the spring water, transforming it into a potent medicinal bath.
Noticing a visible improvement in Xiao Hua's recovery speed, the three of them continued to gather more herbs without hesitation. However, to ensure the cave remained safe, either Zi Yan or Yun Yun would always stay behind while the other accompanied Fairy Doctor on her search.
Following this, the three naturally grew closer and learned more about each other. Fairy Doctor was surprised to discover that Yun Yun was the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, one of the most powerful factions in the Jia Ma Empire.
Zi Yan, on the other hand, didn't particularly care about their backgrounds. However, she vaguely recalled that the Misty Cloud Sect's Young Lady had once visited the Xiao Clan when Xiao Hua returned. She faintly remembered something about an annulled engagement, but since it didn't concern her, she hadn't paid much attention.
Yun Yun have also learned about more about them. She was slightly surprised to learn that Fairy Doctor had reached Da Dou Shi at such a young age. Even more astonishing was the fact that her aura was already on the verge of breaking through to Dou Ling—a level that even many elders of the Misty Cloud Sect had only managed to attain after years of cultivation.
However, thinking about it again, Yun Yun found it unsurprising. With Xiao Hua watching over Fairy Doctor, it was only natural that she would progress at such an extraordinary pace.
"Even so, her aura is extremely poisonous… To the point that even I feel a sense of danger from it." Yun Yun furrowed her brows slightly, recalling the potent toxicity she had sensed from Fairy Doctor.
At first, she had wondered if Fairy Doctor hailed from the Chu Yun Empire, but she quickly dismissed the thought after learning that the young woman had never even left Qingshan Town.
Besides, with the sheer density of her poisonous energy, it was unlikely that the Chu Yun Empire would have allowed her to leave their borders. They would have preferred to nurture her as a successor instead.
Meanwhile, Yun Yun had also been quite intrigued upon learning that Zi Yan was actually a Magical Beast that had consumed Body Transformation Grass. That revelation explained why Xiao Hua had been so dedicated to refining medicinal pills for her—Zi Yan needed to consume them grow stronger and advance into higher rank.
'Regardless, the people around Xiao Hua are truly unique in their own ways…' Yun Yun thought to herself, amazed by the extraordinary individuals gathered around him. For a moment, she couldn't help but wonder—were his sworn brothers and sisters just as exceptional?
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