Near the outskirts of the city, several thousand meters from the Lightning Mountain Range, the space suddenly distorted with violent fluctuations. In the next instant, a pitch-black spatial crack tore opens in midair, and numerous figures emerged swiftly from within.
Little Fairy Doctor slipped out of Ming Cheng's grasp and approached the rift, her gaze locked onto the rapidly closing fissure. Turning back, she asked in a voice laced with deep concern:
"Xiao Hua… Will Xiao Hua truly be fine, Brother Ming Cheng?!"
"He definitely will be."
Before Ming Cheng could respond, a gentle voice—calm and tranquil like the surface of a still lake—echoed through the air.
Ming Cheng turned, his expression shifting slightly. Upon seeing the familiar figure, he let out a sigh, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face. With a faint smile, he said, "Xin Yu… So, Xiao Hua informed you of our possible escape route."
"I just arrived," Xin Yu said with a soft chuckle. "I would've come earlier, but these two insisted on tagging along."
She turned slightly, and two figures emerged behind her, each radiating a powerful, fiery aura as they stood side by side.
One was a young man, the other a young woman.
The young man had short bronze hair and brick-red eyes that glowed with a sharp, piercing intensity. The fiery energy in his gaze was so potent it seemed as though merely meeting his eyes could scorch one's soul. Between his brows, a distinct dragon-shaped mark pulsed faintly. He wore a robe of deep crimson and earthen brown, embroidered with intricate golden flames that danced as he moved.
The young woman wore a beautiful, flowing robe of red and green, upon which elegant phoenixes seemed to dance with every step. Once emerald, her eyes had now transformed into fiery-red phoenix eyes, and a phoenix-shaped mark adorned her forehead. Her extremely long red hair, streaked with green, cascaded gracefully down her back, tied high in a ponytail and held in place by ornaments shaped like flames and phoenix feathers.
"We were worried about them too, Sister Xin Yu…" the young woman spoke, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice.
"That's right. After all, we're talking about our little brother—we haven't seen him in ages," the young man added with a light chuckle, nodding with a warm smile.
"Sister Mei Ling! Brother Wei Jie!"
Zi Yan's eyes widened in shock as she exclaimed with a trace of nostalgia in her tone. Without caring for her strength, she dashed toward the young woman.
Seeing the little girl rushing toward her, the beautiful young woman—Mei Ling—crouched down and braced herself. She welcomed Zi Yan's full-force embrace, one powerful enough to shatter even a Dou Zong, and held her gently in her arms.
"You've grown strong, little one," Mei Ling said gently, her hand stroking the back of Zi Yan's head with warmth. "Looks like Hua'er has been spoiling you quite a bit… despite all his earlier threats."
"Ke ke, you must be Saint Tian Huo. I am one of the Hall Masters of Moonlit Chaos Mansion," Wei Jie said, cupping his hands respectfully as Mei Ling played with Zi Yan nearby.
With a voice laced with gratitude, he continued, "We are truly thankful for your aid to our little brother and the others. You even went so far as to join our Moonlit Chaos Mansion—your kindness humbles us."
"Ke ke, Hall Master Wei Jie is too courteous," Saint Tian Huo replied with a warm smile, returning the gesture. "This old man owes your little brother a few favors and has admired the Mansion Master's courage and upright character. I should be the one expressing gratitude—for being welcomed into this faction."
Wei Jie nodded his head with a soft chuckle, then turned his gaze toward the Little Fairy Doctor. A gentle, brotherly smile tugged at his lips as he asked, "Should I take it that you're one of my little brother's wives now? One of my sisters-in-law, Little Fairy Doctor?"
"Greetings, Elder Brother Wei Jie. Elder Sister Mei Ling." Little Fairy Doctor's elegant face lit up with a gentle smile as she gracefully offered a respectful greeting.
"To think he managed to charm a few peerless beauties while Xun Er and the rest of his elder sisters were away…" Wei Jie raised his brows in mild astonishment.
"At the very least, he's willing to accept punishment from Xun'er, Sister Li Mei, and me," Mei Ling snorted, rolling her eyes at the mention of Xiao Hua's growing list of lovers.
"Still… from the looks of it, he's treated them with sincerity." Her tone softened as she exhaled lightly and glanced down. Gently, she said, "Zi Yan… how long do you plan to keep hugging me like this?"
"Sister Mei Ling… because of me… because of me… Xiao Hua is…"
Zi Yan didn't answer the question. Her arms tightened around Mei Ling as her voice trembled, grief-stricken and heavy with guilt. Tears spilled down her cheeks as her words cracked with sorrow.
Everyone was visibly shaken by the scene before them. Zi Yan had always been known for her bright, cheerful demeanor—lively and untamed like the wind. To see her now, gripped by such deep sorrow, struck a chord in each of their hearts.
Mei Ling swept her phoenix-like eyes across the group, then let out a soft sigh. She knew—it had to be her who comforted the little girl. Taking a steady breath, she gently cupped Zi Yan's cheeks and lifted her face, revealing eyes brimming with tears.
The sight of Zi Yan's tear-streaked expression brought a pang of heartache to Mei Ling's chest. Her voice softened into a tender, sisterly tone as she spoke,
"Zi Yan… did that idiot ever once blame you for his condition?"
Zi Yan sniffled, her voice cracking through the grief as she replied, "No… He said it was the most natural thing in the world… for him to do it."
"That's right," Mei Ling nodded with a soft smile. She gently rubbed Zi Yan's head with care before continuing,
"I don't know the full story… but when a man chooses to take a blow that could cost him his life, it means that no words, no power, and no creature in this world could make him hesitate or regret his decision. That's how deeply he treasures you—how much he cares."
"Instead of shedding tears over that idiot's choice, why not become stronger… so that next time, you can stand by his side and protect him too?" She gently rubbed Zi Yan's head again, her tone filled with warmth.
"Umu…" Zi Yan gave a small nod, sniffling as she wiped her reddened eyes and brushed away the tears.
Seeing her slowly brighten, everyone let out a breath of relief. No one spoke it aloud, but all silently agreed—this lively, spirited Zi Yan was far better than one weighed down by sorrow.
Kacha—!
Just as that thought settled, a sharp cracking sound echoed from above. All eyes instinctively turned to the sky—what they saw brought a heavy stillness to the air.
Countless spatial fissures had begun to spread across the heavens, like veins of darkness crawling through the sky.
"How much do you want to bet this is our little brother's doing?" Wei Jie said with a faint grin tugging at his lips.
"No need to bet," Ming Cheng sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as his brows furrowed deeply. "The aura of flames and lightnings seeping from those spatial cracks… it's clearly his."
As the two exchanged words—both exasperated and helpless in the face of such familiar chaos—the spatial cracks gradually faded, and the sky returned to its former calm.
Little Fairy Doctor, however, paid no heed to the vanishing phenomenon. Her focus remained unwavering as she stepped forward, her voice filled with urgency.
"Then… how is he? Where is he now?"
She knew all too well—Xiao Hua wouldn't unleash such destruction unless he was left with no other choice. That could only mean one thing: he must've sustained grave injuries.
If not for the fact that she had no idea where he was… she would've long since rushed to his side. And should anyone stand in her way—she would not hesitate to cut them down without mercy.
"Rest assured—he's still alive," Wei Jie said calmly, shaking his head as he tried to soothe Little Fairy Doctor's rising anxiety.
He retrieved an emerald-green communication jade from his robes and continued with a faint smile,
"Don't forget—we still have proof that he's alive. As long as his name remains on it, so does he."
"Moreover," Ming Cheng added, stepping forward, "there are two people by his side who would never let him fall so easily."
Though he didn't mention their names aloud, everyone present understood he was referring to Lady Azure and Xue Yue. Ming Cheng had chosen his words carefully, aware that Saint Tian Huo and the elders of the Ancient Void Dragon clan were nearby. Even so, those who needed to understand did so instantly—and none questioned his meaning.
As expected, those quiet assurances eased the heavy weight pressing on Little Fairy Doctor's heart. Though her worry did not vanish entirely, the storm within her settled.
Still… peace of mind was not enough.
If Xiao Hua truly was gravely wounded, then she wanted—no, needed—to be by his side.
"I just… want to be by his side, no matter what condition he's in," she murmured softly, her voice tinged with helplessness. "Especially knowing there's a high chance he's suffered grave wounds…"
Her delicate hands clenched over her chest, as if trying to soothe the tightness weighing on her heart. Concern and sorrow shimmered in her eyes like mist.
"Me too…" Zi Yan nodded, her expression solemn. "I want to see Xiao Hua again…especially after witnessing the condition he was in—after he took the First Tianzun's attack for my sake…"
Ming Cheng and the others exchanged glances, then slowly shook their heads. Until Xiao Hua's exact condition and location were confirmed, no words could truly ease the unease in their hearts.
Suddenly, the emerald-green communication jade in Wei Jie's hand pulsed faintly with light. He lowered his gaze and focused on it, reading the message that appeared.
"Ha ha…!"
A burst of laughter escaped Wei Jie's lips as he looked up, his sudden outburst drawing the attention of everyone present.
"Xiao Hua is fine," he announced with a broad, toothy grin. "It's been confirmed—by her."
He waved the jade token lightly in his hand, the joy in his expression unmistakable.
Little Fairy Doctor and the others widened their eyes in surprise. Each of them quickly brought out their own communication jade. Only now did they notice a faint fluctuation—they had been too overwhelmed by the heavy atmosphere earlier to sense it.
Meanwhile, Saint Tian Huo, Zhu Li, and Hei Qing remained silent throughout the exchange. Unlike Ming Cheng and the others, they shared no deep personal connection with Xiao Hua. The vague reference to the two figures guarding him had left them puzzled, but they chose not to question it.
For now, they quietly observed, understanding that this matter was not theirs to speak on—at least not until everything had been fully revealed.
After reading the message sent by Lady Azure, a collective sigh of relief escaped from everyone present.
"So… he's at Burning Flame Valley…" Little Fairy Doctor murmured softly, her voice laced with longing. A fierce desire to rush to Xiao Hua's side surged in her eyes, barely restrained.
"Can we go there? To Burning Flame Valley?" Zi Yan asked gently, turning to Ming Cheng and the others. Her gaze shimmered with pleading hope.
"…We can't."
After exchanging glances with the group, Li Mei shook her head lightly and answered,
"According to the message, Xiao Hua is safe—but he's in a condition where he'll remain unconscious for a long time. If we head there now, there's a real risk that the Hall of Souls… or even the Hun Clan… might catch wind of it."
"For now," Ming Cheng calmly added, stepping forward, "our priority should be strengthening ourselves—and solidifying the foundation of Moonlit Chaos Mansion. The Hall of Souls suffered heavy losses… but that only deepens the blood feud between us."
He paused, his gaze sharpening as he said, "From this point forward… only one side will survive."
Xin Yu turned to glance at Little Fairy Doctor and could clearly see the longing in her eyes—the desire to see Xiao Hua as soon as possible was written all over her face. In a serene and reassuring tone, she spoke,
"We'll send people to check on him from time to time, under the pretext of forming an alliance with Burning Flame Valley."
"That's right, Little Fairy Doctor," Mei Ling added with a gentle smile. "When the time comes, I'll personally make the trip. You can come with me then."
Little Fairy Doctor nodded softly. A quiet sigh of relief escaped her lips, and the tension in her chest eased just slightly under their comforting words.
"Since that's settled, we should return to our respective duties," Ming Cheng said, giving a nod once he saw her expression had softened and her mood lightened. He swept his gaze across the group before finally resting it on Zi Yan.
The others turned toward her as well, a faint reluctance in their eyes.
Though they had only just reunited, Xin Yu and the rest understood—Zi Yan had to leave. The two elders from the Ancient Void Dragon tribe had come to take her back, and no one could stop what was already decided.
"I know… I have to return with them and settle things with the Ancient Void Dragon tribe first…"
Zi Yan lowered her head, her voice soft and downcast. A faint gloom lingered in her expression, unwilling to part just yet.
Li Mei approached and gently crouched beside her, rubbing the small head of the little dragon girl with a comforting touch.
"Do you still remember the heavenly treasure Xiao Hua gave you? It will greatly boost your strength… but you must wait until you've reached the Dou Zun realm before consuming it, alright?"
"Heavenly treasure?"
Zhu Li raised a brow, clearly intrigued. "Lady Li Mei, may I ask what kind of treasure you're referring to?"
"To be honest, we don't actually know," Li Mei admitted, rising to her feet with a helpless smile. "All we know is that Xiao Hua gave it to Zi Yan and warned her with unusual seriousness. That alone is enough to tell us it's no ordinary item."
She gave Zi Yan a gentle nudge.
"Go on, show them. Maybe they'll recognize it."
Zi Yan nodded obediently. She, too, was curious—truthfully, she had wondered about it ever since receiving it. Carefully, she retrieved the mysterious object from her storage ring, hoping that perhaps the two elders might recognize its origin or nature.
"This is the item Xiao Hua gave me…"
As Zi Yan spoke, she carefully took out a fruit sealed within an energy barrier. The moment it appeared, a faint ancient aura spread outward. Upon seeing it, both Zhu Li and Hei Qing trembled, their eyes widening with visible shock.
The fruit was roughly the size of a palm, its surface shimmering with golden and purple hues. Upon closer inspection, one could see that the purple half twisted like coiling dragon scales, while the golden half depicted a phoenix in mid-flight, its wings spread wide in a graceful, eternal dance.
"D-Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit…" Zhu Li muttered, his voice distant and stunned, as though struggling to believe what lay before him. His gaze was locked on the fruit, eyes filled with disbelief and awe.
"I cannot believe… that young man actually found this legendary fruit…"
Even Hei Qing stood rooted in place, speechless. The shock in his eyes was so profound, it defied words.
"Elder Zhu Li, Elder Hei Qing… do you recognize the origin of this fruit?" Wei Jie asked curiously, his gaze drifting between the two elders.
Despite his vast knowledge and keen ability to identify countless medicinal ingredients, even he failed to recognize the treasure before him. A glance at Mei Ling confirmed that she, too, was equally perplexed.
Both were high-tier alchemists—experts with profound understanding of medicinal herbs and rare ingredients. Yet, it was rather fascinating, even humbling, to discover that such a mysterious item still eluded their knowledge.
Zhu Li slowly recovered from his stunned state, inhaling deeply to calm himself. After a few steady breaths, he finally spoke in a deep, steady voice, his expression solemn as he began to explain the fruit's origin.
"This is the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit… a treasure that exists only in ancient records passed down within the dragon tribe. The phoenix within this fruit is not the Heaven Demon Phoenix, but rather their ancestor—the Ancient Heaven Phoenix.
"To bear such fruit, it requires the absorption of the life force from both an Ancient Void Dragon and an Ancient Heaven Phoenix. Even then, there is only a ten percent chance it will be born.
"According to the records of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe… this fruit has only ever appeared five times in all of history. What Zi Yan holds now is the sixth."
Hei Qing, who had just returned to his senses, murmured blankly, "How did that young man come to possess such a thing…"
His brows furrowed. After a brief pause, he turned to Ming Cheng and the others, a flash of realization crossing his face. "Did he… already know about this fruit—and gave it to Zi Yan intentionally?"
"Not all that surprising, really… After all, he's a Tier 9 Treasure Alchemist," Li Mei said with a light chuckle.
"Tier 9… Treasure Alchemist? He's already refine a Tier 9 Treasure Pill?" Zhu Li's voice trembled with disbelief as Li Mei's words sank in.
Wei Jie stepped in, adding a detail to lend weight to the story—though it was entirely true. "The two individuals we're referring to are his masters… though they never saw themselves as such. Rather, they've always treated him like a younger brother, gently guiding him like elder sisters would."
"Regardless," Ming Cheng interjected, cutting the topic short, "we should take our leave. Each of us still has matters to attend to in our respective domains."
Zhu Li understood the unspoken message—that no further questions should be asked regarding Lady Azure and Lady Xue Yue. He nodded slightly and cupped his hands. "Then, we shall take Zi Yan and depart now, Sir Ming Cheng."
As his words fell, the space around him began to distort. A thin crack in the void appeared once more, swirling with spatial energy.
"Zi Yan, please come with us."
With a wave of his hand, Zhu Li turned and stepped into the spatial crack. Hei Qing followed closely behind. Zi Yan lingered for a moment, walking at the rear. As she looked back at Little Fairy Doctor's group, a trace of reluctance flickered in her eyes.
Clenching her small fist tightly, she spoke in a serious tone, "Sister Little Fairy Doctor, please take good care of Xiao Hua for me. When I return, I expect him to be in perfect condition—ready to refine pills for me every single day! Haha!"
Her laughter, bright and childish, rang out in a silly yet endearing manner. Then, without further hesitation, she turned and entered the spatial crack.
Chi!
A soft, crunching sound echoed as the crack swiftly closed behind her, disappearing into nothingness.
"…It's going to feel a little empty without that little girl running around," Li Mei said softly, her voice tinged with quiet melancholy.
"It can't be helped," Xin Yu replied with a gentle smile. "Given the current state of the Ancient Void Dragon tribe, it's difficult for the two elders to allow Zi Yan to remain outside."
Though her words were composed, her heart felt a trace of loneliness as she watched Zi Yan leave.
"Besides, there's also the matter of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit," Mei Ling added with a light sigh. "I doubt the elders would feel at ease leaving her exposed to the outside world any longer…"
"I will make sure Xiao Hua recover when she returns." Little Fairy Doctor said with a faint smile, melancholy and loneliness surging in her heart.
Ming Cheng and Wei Jie exchanged glances and nodded slightly. Even these two, known for their steadiness, could not help but share in the quiet loneliness that lingered in the air.
"Anyway, we should return. Once we're back, we can focus on breaking through to the Dou Sheng class," Ming Cheng said, brushing aside the somber mood and bringing everyone's attention back to the path ahead.
The others nodded and smiled faintly. They all understood—it was time to return and devote themselves to their training. The threat of the Hall of Souls still loomed, and they needed strength to defend the Moonlit Chaos Mansion should an assault come.
"Then, let's go," Xin Yu said with a soft smile, as a spatial distortion appeared behind her. Without hesitation, she stepped in, followed closely by the others as they made their way back to Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
On the journey, Ming Cheng quietly instructed Li Mei to inform the other sisters-in-law who had been concerned about Xiao Hua's condition.
After passing along the message, Li Mei and Xin Yu took the opportunity to inform Mei Ling about Cai Lin's pregnancy.
This news caused the group to momentarily halt in stunned silence.
An instant later, a massive, scorching crater appeared on the path they had just traveled.
As for the cause of that crater… well, perhaps it's best left to future historians to speculate.
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