Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

"Scree!"

At dawn, a piercing eagle cry echoed across the square, and a massive shadow loomed over the waiting Jia Nan Academy freshmen below. As it descended, the crowd finally saw the colossal creature: a beast spanning dozens of meters, its sleek body resembling a reclining tower, its feathers glinting with a metallic sheen.

"No need to fear, students," Instructor Ruo Lin called out, her gentle voice calming the pale-faced newcomers startled by the giant beast. "This is the Cloud-Wing Giant Eagle, a Tier 4 magical beast tamed by Jia Nan Academy for transporting students. It's docile and won't harm you."

Xiao Bai studied the enormous eagle, marveling at the sturdy pavilion built on its back, steady even during landing. This is the Dou Qi Continent's version of air travel—bigger than the largest planes I saw in my past life.

"Students, we'll cross the Jia Ma Empire, exiting through Da Ling City into the Black-Corner Region, where Jia Nan Academy lies at its heart. The journey will take about three days!" Ruo Lin outlined the route, waving for everyone to board the eagle.

Xiao Bai led Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian onto the eagle, where each was assigned a small room, their three rooms conveniently adjacent.

As a surge of wind energy enveloped them, the eagle took flight with a gentle tremor. Xiao Bai leaned against the railing, watching Wu Tan City shrink below. A faint melancholy stirred in his chest. Thirteen years in this world, so many memories tied to this place. After this departure, I may rarely return.

Suddenly, he felt a tug on his arm. Turning, he saw Xun Er beside him, her delicate face etched with concern, her beautiful eyes reflecting his mood.

"I'm fine," Xiao Bai said with a smile, patting the hand clutching his arm. "As long as I have you and Xian Er, wherever you are is my home."

Xun Er's eyes curved into crescents, brimming with affection. Without a word, she tightened her grip and rested her head gently on his shoulder.

"Brother Xiao Bai, I'll always be with you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes closed.

Xiao Bai gazed at the girl leaning against him, the faint fragrance of her hair filling his senses, warming his heart. No matter what, Xun Er will always hold a special place.

His eyes drifted to the horizon, thoughts of certain people and events surfacing. A voice echoed in his mind: "Stop, Ancestor! It's all Xun Er out there!"

___

The night was cool as water.

Soft moonlight spilled through the window, bathing the room in serene quiet.

Xiao Bai sat cross-legged in his small room, faint energy ripples pulsing around him. Strands of heaven-and-earth energy flowed into his body with each breath, slowly refined and stored in his dantian.

Moments later, he opened his eyes, a flash of silver lightning streaking across his pupils before fading.

"Not long now. I should break through to Six-Star Dou Ling soon," Xiao Bai murmured, clenching his fist to feel the energy coursing within.

Standing, he stretched, his joints popping like frying beans. He chuckled, recalling the day's events.

Earlier, as he and Xun Er shared a quiet, tender moment, Xiao Yi Xian had walked in. Seeing them, she flushed, mumbling, "Sorry, I came at a bad time."

Without thinking, Xiao Bai blurted, "No, you came at the perfect time!"

That earned him a joint scolding from the two blushing girls, who spent the rest of the day together, pointedly ignoring him.

Shaking his head to clear the memory, Xiao Bai sat at the table and, with a flick of his hand, retrieved an ancient jade piece from his storage ring.

He examined the jade, its pale green surface etched with mysterious patterns that shimmered under the moonlight. Staring too long, he felt a dizzying pull, as if the symbols held some hypnotic power.

This is the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade? Truly worthy of a Dou Di's craft! Xiao Bai shook his head to clear the haze, marveling.

Last night, he'd visited Xiao Zhan's room, taking the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from his storage ring. He transferred the wisp of Xiao Zhan's soul within it to a soul jade, leaving a letter and the soul jade behind as a greeting—unsigned, of course.

He'd considered leaving some pills but decided against it. His pills were too distinctive; leaving them would've been as good as signing his name. Instead, he gave them to Xiao Zhan that morning.

The jade was the Xiao Clan's heirloom, its sole purpose to house a trace of the clan leader's soul to monitor their safety. But since the jade stayed with the clan leader, its practical use was questionable, making it more a symbol than a tool.

Rubbing the jade, Xiao Bai sank into thought. He had the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, but what to do with it was tricky.

The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave held two opportunities for ascension to Dou Di—or rather, one and a half.

The complete opportunity was the inheritance, requiring someone practicing the Flame Mantra, paired with the Void or Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. The half was the Embryonic Di Pill.

Frankly, only someone like Hun Tian Di, with his ruthless ambition, could use the Embryonic Di Pill to become a Dou Di. "I'd rather betray the world than let it betray me!" He could blood-sacrifice all of Zhongzhou to mature the pill—a feat no one else on the continent could stomach.

Those with his ruthlessness lacked his strength or influence. Those with comparable strength, like Gu Yuan or Zhu Kun, lacked his cruelty.

Xiao Bai knew little of Zhu Kun, only that he appeared late in the story, doting on Zi Yan like a father. His temperament was unclear.

But Gu Yuan, his future father-in-law? Xiao Bai knew he couldn't do it.

Still, Hun Tian Di's method was a shortcut. Xiao Bai speculated that a Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng could consume the Embryonic Di Pill and, over decades or centuries, absorb its energy to become a Dou Di. The pill contained the source qi needed for ascension—once consumed, the path to Dou Di was open, requiring only time to gather the energy.

Looks like I'll need to keep an eye on that little dragon girl at Jia Nan Academy. With her, Zhu Kun's cooperation is assured.

An idea took shape. Xiao Bai considered giving the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade to the old Dragon Emperor. Hun Tian Di would never suspect the jade was right outside the cave. Without all eight jade pieces, he couldn't locate the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave—a perfect paradox.

But dealing with the Dragon Emperor required insurance, and Zi Yan was the ideal guarantee—nearly foolproof.

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