"Ah!! What happened?"
Hu Jia's first reaction was the same as before: she leapt onto Xiao Tian's body.
"It's nothing. Just a small animal flew by—we're avoiding it," Xiao Tian said with a straight face, spinning nonsense without a hint of guilt.
"Is that so? I thought we were going to fall." Hu Jia breathed a sigh of relief and looked around. "Where is it?"
"Where what?"
"The small animal."
"It flew away. I don't know where it went."
"Really? What kind of animal flies that fast?" Hu Jia asked, puzzled.
"What, do you want to catch it and keep it as a pet?" Xiao Tian glanced at her as she curiously scanned the sky.
"No. I have no interest in keeping small animals. It's too much trouble," Hu Jia said, then looked up at Xiao Tian.
Their gazes met. After a few breaths, Hu Jia's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away.
She had no intention of getting off Xiao Tian. *I'm just… afraid of falling,* she told herself.
"I'm going to speed up. Let's try to arrive as soon as possible," Xiao Tian whispered near her ear.
Warm breath brushed against her skin. Hu Jia's body trembled slightly, and her ears instantly turned red. At his words, she immediately hugged him tighter.
Xiao Tian felt the soft pressure against his chest, then adjusted his grip on her legs and surged forward.
In an instant, they became a streak of light shooting into the distance.
"Ahhh!! Too fast!"
Feeling her body accelerate violently, Hu Jia screamed.
"Don't yell. Just get used to it. Once you adapt, you'll love this feeling."
Hu Jia focused, trying to sense the flow of wind and Dou Qi around her, constantly adjusting her posture.
After about a dozen breaths, she truly began to feel the sensation of flight.
A while later, she let out a cheerful cry: "Woohoo! Is this the speed of a Dou Zun? It's so exciting!"
"Wa ka ka!"
Xiao Tian smiled slightly, not disturbing her excitement. He watched her look around curiously like a child, exclaiming happily at everything.
As the outline of Jia Nan Academy appeared ahead, Xiao Tian chose to land in a relatively secluded spot in the Outer Academy.
He set Hu Jia down. "This is the Outer Academy. Go find your grandfather. I'll come back for you later."
"Okay. Thank you. Don't forget," Hu Jia said, standing in place and looking at Xiao Tian seriously.
Xiao Tian pinched her cheek. "You and I don't need to be so polite. It's on my way anyway. I'll find you when I return. You haven't seen your grandfather in so long—go spend some quality time with him."
"You don't need to tell me that." Hu Jia slapped his hand away, then glared at him with her bright eyes. "Then I'm leaving. Be careful."
"My strength? There's nothing that can threaten me."
"I know you're strong, but still—be careful in your actions. Don't get hurt."
Hu Jia made a face at him, then skipped into the Outer Academy.
Watching her leave, happy and carefree, Xiao Tian chuckled softly. He tore open the space before him, stepped through, and vanished from the spot.
Hu Jia turned her head and found Xiao Tian gone. "Are Dou Zuns all so elusive? Gone in the blink of an eye."
Fortunately, she hadn't seen him tear through space. Otherwise, she would have grown suspicious.
***
### Meeting the Grand Elder
Xiao Tian arrived in the Inner Academy by tearing space and immediately headed toward the Grand Elder's study.
Reaching the door, he knocked. The door opened automatically, and he walked inside.
"Why are you suddenly so free to come to the Academy?" Su Qian looked at Xiao Tian kindly and laughed.
"How can you say that? I'm an honored elder. Am I not allowed to come anymore?" Xiao Tian sat in the chair opposite Su Qian.
Su Qian ignored his deflection and asked directly, "Tell me, what brings you here this time? If you had nothing to do, you'd rather stay home with your beautiful wife than come find this old man."
"Grand Elder, you… you're really accurate in judging people!" Xiao Tian was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "I came to you this time about Zi Yan."
"What's wrong with Zi Yan? Is there a problem? Or do you dislike her being too mischievous and want to send her back?"
At the mention of Zi Yan, Su Qian's expression changed slightly. His hands clenched, and a hint of worry flickered in his eyes.
But seeing Xiao Tian's calm demeanor, he realized it wasn't anything serious. His expression relaxed, and he joked with a smile.
Xiao Tian shook his head slightly. "Neither. I just plan to take Zi Yan back to the Central Plains."
Su Qian caught the word "back" and asked doubtfully, "Back to the Central Plains? Have you found out about Zi Yan's background?"
"Yes. Let me tell you about Zi Yan's origin."
Xiao Tian briefly explained Zi Yan's identity to Su Qian.
Hearing this, Su Qian was slightly stunned. He had never expected the little girl he found in the forest to have such a grand background.
"I never thought so. But then again, ordinary magical beasts aren't as strange and terrifying as Little Zi Yan."
Su Qian's thoughts drifted back to when he first found Little Zi Yan—her pitiful appearance, and the countless days and nights she had longed to know her true identity.
"Good, good. Little Zi Yan must be very happy to know her identity—and to even have her clansmen."
Su Qian's eyes grew slightly red. He was genuinely happy for her.
Seeing him like this, Xiao Tian didn't interrupt. Su Qian had truly raised Zi Yan as his own granddaughter.
After about half a minute, Su Qian regained his composure. "You mean you're taking Zi Yan back to the Central Plains to acknowledge her ancestors?"
"Yes. I specifically came to explain this to you, because Zi Yan might not be able to return for a short time after she goes back. She will need to formally learn the inheritance of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan."
Su Qian heard this and instead asked, "Will Little Zi Yan be wronged if she goes back?"
"Don't worry, Grand Elder. The beast world values bloodlines above all. With Zi Yan's royal bloodline, who would dare bully her? And with Zi Yan's personality, it would be a blessing if she didn't bully others."
Su Qian remembered what Xiao Tian had just said about Zi Yan's bloodline and patted his own head. "I was anxious for a moment and forgot, haha. But what you said is true—Zi Yan is so mischievous."
"Then take her. It will be better for her future, and Zi Yan also really wants to have family." Su Qian waved his hand indifferently.
"Grand Elder is also Zi Yan's family. She often talks about you."
"Hahahaha~"
Grand Elder Su Qian burst into laughter, then composed himself. He looked at Xiao Tian a few times, as if he had something to say but hesitated.
Xiao Tian was confused by Su Qian's expression and spoke first. "Grand Elder, if you have something to say, please say it directly."
***
Send Chapter 328 raw when you're ready, and I'll continue in the same style.