Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

The clamor of the Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony had faded, and three days had passed.

Xiao Bai awoke from his cultivation, sensing the progress of his refinement. He shook his head. At this rate, it'll take months.

Xiao Yu's appearance two days ago signaled that Jia Nan Academy's recruitment was approaching. He wasn't sure if he could fully refine the lightning seed before then.

As his cultivation advanced, the energy feedback from the lightning seeds no longer propelled him forward as it once did. A trip to Jia Nan Academy was necessary.

After all, the academy's dean, Mang Tian Chi, hailed from the Lightning Clan. The academy likely held resources useful for lightning cultivators, not to mention other opportunities that could benefit him in the future.

But if he went to Jia Nan Academy, some matters required early planning. Thinking of Xun Er and Xian Er, Xiao Bai felt a headache coming on.

Xun Er's been harder to read lately. Her behavior over the past few days suggested she knew something, yet she asked no questions, leaving him with the uneasy feeling of a sword hanging over his head, ready to drop at any moment.

The immediate issue was this: if he went to Jia Nan Academy, Xun Er would surely go too. But what about Xian Er? How should he arrange things for her?

Whatever. There's always a way when the time comes. Worst case, I'll bring them both! After a moment's thought, Xiao Bai steeled himself. If I can't handle these two, what'll happen when Cai Lin shows up? That'd be chaos!

He rose, changed into fresh robes, and prepared to head to the Beast Mountain Range.

Yesterday, Ya Fei had delivered the medicinal ingredients—worth over 200,000 gold coins. She'd been fair, charging only the cost price. In return, Xiao Bai paid with a fourth-grade elixir.

He hadn't gone far from his courtyard when a voice called out.

"Brother Xiao Bai!"

Xiao Bai's mouth twitched. He turned quickly to see Xun Er standing nearby, her delicate figure radiant. Forcing a warm smile, he said, "Xun Er, morning!"

"Quite early, isn't it?" Xun Er's eyes glinted with something unreadable. "Where's Brother Xiao Bai off to so early?"

"Haha, just… wandering around!" Xiao Bai said, his laugh hollow as a pang of guilt hit him.

"Oh? Mind if I join you?" Xun Er stepped closer, giving him a pointed glance. "Let's go."

… Xiao Bai realized she was drawing her sword today.

"What's wrong? Is Brother Xiao Bai reluctant to have me along?" Xun Er's eyelids lowered slightly, her tone deceptively calm.

No escaping today, Xiao Bai thought with a sigh. Might as well face it. It was bound to happen sooner or later—just didn't expect it so soon.

"Can you leave Wu Tan City?" he asked softly, unsure of the Ancient Clan's protective measures around Xun Er and whether her departure from the Xiao Clan would cause issues.

"I can," Xun Er replied, as if she knew what he was asking.

"Then let's go." Xiao Bai eyed her expressionless face, her delicate features set in a cool mask. Tentatively, he reached for her hand. When she only glanced at him without pulling away, he let out a quiet breath of relief.

___

Half an hour later, the small valley in the Beast Mountain Range came into view.

Xiao Bai's heart tightened, his nerves on edge. Nestled in his arms as they flew, Xun Er seemed to sense his tension and spoke suddenly. "What, afraid I'll fight with her?"

Xiao Bai stiffened, caught off guard. She'd been silent since leaving the Xiao Clan, and this abrupt comment sent a surge of Dou Qi through him, nearly causing him to plummet from the sky.

"Hmph, fly steady! You're scaring me!" Xun Er huffed, her arms tightening around his neck.

Xiao Bai quickly stabilized his Dou Qi, a wry smile in his heart. This girl's too unpredictable today. I can't get a read on her.

Moments later, their feet touched the ground. A joyful cry rang out from the thatched hut. "Xiao Bai!"

Instantly, Xiao Bai felt a chilling gaze pierce him like an arrow.

"Put me down, Brother… Xiao… Bai," Xun Er said, her voice low and her eyes glinting with frost as she emphasized each syllable.

Xiao Bai hurriedly set her down, his gaze darting nervously.

"Hmph!" Xun Er shot him a look, snorted, and began smoothing her slightly disheveled robes, ignoring him.

At that moment, a woman in a white skirt emerged from the hut. Her aura was gentle and ethereal, her face lit with a soft smile. But upon seeing Xun Er, her expression faltered.

"Who's this?"

Cough. Xiao Bai stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Xun Er, this is Xiao Yi Xian." Turning to Xiao Yi Xian, he added, "This is Xun Er."

Hearing the introductions and seeing Xiao Bai's awkward expression, Xiao Yi Xian pieced together the woman's relationship with him.

She studied the elegant figure in green, who stood like a pristine lotus untouched by the world's dust. A flicker of awe passed through her eyes—she'd never seen such a stunning girl.

A complex emotion stirred within her. Over their time together, she'd had inklings about Xiao Bai's behavior. She'd anticipated something like this, but she hadn't expected such a formidable rival.

Xun Er, in turn, observed the white-clad woman. Though Xiao Yi Xian's beauty didn't quite match her own, her gentle, ethereal charm evoked a fragile, heart-tugging allure.

No wonder he's so hung up on her, Xun Er thought, a spark of indignation flaring. That scoundrel's been balancing both sides perfectly—two days here, two days there, not a drop spilled!

She wasn't naive. Xiao Bai's pattern of two days at the Xiao Clan, two days gone, was practically shouting, I've got something going on!

Her suspicions traced back to those ten days. She'd had Ling Ying investigate, and the results were a bigger shock than she'd expected.

The air grew quiet. Xiao Bai opened his mouth to break the silence, but froze. At some point, the two women's gazes had locked, and he could've sworn he saw sparks flying, the air around them heating up.

Just as he moved to intervene, Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian smiled almost simultaneously.

In his stunned gaze, they stepped forward, their delicate, jade-like hands meeting in a gentle clasp.

"You must be Xiao Yi Xian," Xun Er said, patting her hand lightly with a smile. "My Brother Xiao Bai was injured some time ago. I owe you thanks for taking care of him."

"Caring for Xiao Bai is my pleasure. No thanks needed," Xiao Yi Xian replied, her smile warm and serene.

Xun Er's smile widened, a faint golden light flickering in her eyes. Xiao Yi Xian, unfazed, returned a gentle smile, a wisp of gray mist rising in her own gaze.

In that moment, both women were struck with surprise.

Xun Er sensed the potent toxicity in the gray mist. I heard Xiao Yi Xian was a physician, but her mastery of poison is this profound?

Xiao Yi Xian, meanwhile, hadn't expected this girl, whose cultivation was lower than hers, to exude such a dangerous aura through that golden light.