Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

"Come to pick up a certain little miss!" Xiao Bai raised a brow, keeping to himself that he was really just checking in.

The girl's smile widened at his words, her tone playful. "Who's Xiao Bai gege here to fetch?"

"Playing coy, huh?" Xiao Bai teased, lightly flicking her delicate nose.

"Hehe, let's go then!" Xiao Xun'er beamed, looping her arm through his.

Feeling the soft warmth against his arm, Xiao Bai stiffened briefly before relaxing. If she's unbothered, overreacting would hurt her feelings. He sighed inwardly. The little girl from back then has grown up.

Xiao Xun'er sensed his reaction, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. Instead of pulling away, she tilted her head closer to his arm. Glancing up, she seemed to notice the others nearby for the first time. Unfazed, she greeted them cheerfully, "Cousin Xiao Yan, Cousin Xiao Mei!"

Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei, witnessing the pair, felt a pang of exasperation, as if force-fed a mouthful of sweet nonsense. Ugh, cloyingly sweet! Xiao Mei masked her jealousy with a bright smile. "Cousin Xun'er!"

Xiao Yan nodded, his mind elsewhere. Romance was the last thing on his agenda—he craved strength.

Xiao Bai eyed Xun'er, the little actress. She did that on purpose. He let it slide. Her display subtly signaled his stance: he had no interest in the Xiao Clan's other girls. Xun'er stepping in was perfect.

Turning to Xiao Yan, he asked, "You staying here or coming with us?"

Xiao Yan waved him off. "Go ahead, Brother Bai. I'm heading to the back hills to clear my head."

Xiao Bai nodded, gave Xiao Mei a slight nod, and led Xun'er away. Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei watched their departing figures; their expressions varied. Moments later, their eyes met, finding only unfamiliarity. The air grew awkward.

Xiao Mei felt a chasm between her and Xiao Yan. He's not in my world anymore. Next year's coming-of-age ceremony would likely see him relegated to managing clan businesses, despite his father's status as patriarch. "Cousin Xiao Yan, my friends are waiting. I'll go now," she said, already stepping away.

Xiao Yan's eye twitched. Am I that repulsive? Tch, women… pfft.

___

"Xiao Bai gege, are you feeling better?" Xun'er asked, her mood buoyant. His coming to fetch her was a delightful surprise.

"Thanks to your pills, I'm nearly back to normal—except for the hair," Xiao Bai said.

Xun'er studied him closely, nodding. "Good. Are you set for pills? I can get more if you need them."

"No need. I've still got plenty from last time, and I'm almost done with them," he replied, waving her off.

When Xun'er first saw his alarming state, she'd given him healing pills—third and fourth tier—then hurried off. The next morning, she returned with more: Black Gold Pills (fifth tier, boosting vitality, ideal for severe blood loss), Wood Spirit Pills (fifth tier, restoring life force, rare with lifespan-extending effects for those below Dou Wang, but niche—useless to the strong, unknown to the weak), and Azure Nether Longevity Pill (sixth tier, granting ten years of life, usable once).

He'd taken them to ease her worries, but they were ineffective. His condition wasn't an injury. The Black Gold Pill had a slight effect, but his blood now carried a faint silver trace—lightning essence—that only Yi Wood True Lightning could nurture. The Wood Spirit and Azure Nether Longevity Pills were devoured by his lightning seeds, their vital energies consumed. Thunder seeds, he thought bitterly. Not allies, but ancestors to appease. At Dou Wang or Dou Huang, he'd need to foster their growth—all five of them.

"Can your hair recover?" Xun'er asked, eyeing his gray-white locks. Her concern wasn't aesthetic—white hair in cultivators signaled lifespan changes. How much lifespan does he have left? That was her true worry.

"Should be fine," Xiao Bai said with a carefree smile, unconcerned about color as long as it wasn't Yi Wood True Lightning's hue.

"What's your realm now?" Xun'er asked, her tone cryptic.

Xiao Bai blinked, surprised. She never probed his cultivation, so why now? Brushing it off, he saw no need to hide. His rapid progress was old news. "Five-star Dou Shi," he answered honestly. He'd mostly refined Bing Fire Yang Thunder, with the rest likely pushing him one or two stars higher.

These months of relentless pain, sleepless and grim, had hardened his demeanor. No one could smile through that. Xun'er's eyes lit up. From ninth-stage Dou Zhi Qi to five-star Dou Shi in a year? An idea sparked. If his lifespan's short, I'll help him reach Da Dou Shi, feed him a Life-Devouring Pill, then pile on resources to hit Dou Huang, boosting his lifespan. Problem solved—perfect!

Sm Xun'er, you're a genius! she thought smugly. Xiao Bai, unaware of her plotting to slip him a Life-Devouring Pill, would've fled Wu Tan City overnight if he knew. "What's on your mind, Xun'er?" he asked, puzzled by her sudden pride.

From ninth-stage to Dou Shi in a year isn't rare in the Ancient Clan. Why's she so smug? "N-nothing!" Xun'er's eyes darted away. Can't let him know. The Life-Devouring Pill's rarity meant he likely wouldn't recognize it. I'll say it's a vitality pill and trick him into taking it. After that? He'll be mine to manage. Her eyes narrowed like a fox stealing a hen, imagining his helpless look, her lips curving upward.

This girl's acting odd today, Xiao Bai thought, eyeing her sly expression.