Han Yue, like the others, called him "Junior Xiao Tian" in public—just as Ya Fei called him "Little Brother Xiao Tian" and Qing Lin called him "Young Master." Xiao Tian wondered if this was some special preference of theirs.
Han Yue told Xiao Yi Xian and the others about her newly awakened physique. Ya Fei, overjoyed, clung to her without letting go. Their physiques were the same, and their cultivation techniques matched. They could learn from each other's experiences—the same technique practiced by different people yielded different insights.
"What are you still standing here for?"
Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Tian, who was hovering off to the side, and directly issued his eviction notice.
Seeing the overwhelming odds stacked against him, Xiao Tian wisely chose to retreat. Besides, he had things to do.
"Yue'er, this is for you. They'll explain how to use it."
A golden-red ring appeared in his palm. He took Han Yue's right hand and slid it onto her ring finger.
Han Yue, still shy but radiating happiness, gazed at the ring. She had noticed that Xiao Yi Xian and the others all wore similar rings. The only differences were the styles and patterns.
After helping her put it on, he left. The women continued chatting, exchanging cultivation insights, and teaching Han Yue how to use the Heavenly Dreaming Gold.
—
Xiao Tian went directly into World Mountain.
In the central space, two Monster Eggs rested. Both pulsed with the aura of life. One was the mysterious Monster Egg. The other was the one the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python had entered after separating.
"It seems they won't take much longer to hatch."
He laid his palm on the mysterious Monster Egg, sensing the aura radiating from within. The creature inside had already fully formed. It would break out soon.
Xiao Tian was deeply curious about what kind of monster lay inside. The aura it gave off was extraordinarily powerful, and he couldn't probe past the shell.
"You'd better hatch quickly. I'll take you out to play then."
Hearing his voice, the Monster Egg trembled a few times, as if responding.
Xiao Tian chuckled. He touched the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python's egg briefly, then left.
—
The scene shifted. When Xiao Tian reappeared, he was already inside Jia Nan Academy.
"Xiao Tian! You're finally here! You vanished for half a year!"
Hu Jia spotted him and immediately gnashed her teeth in fury. Before, even as a hands-off manager, he'd at least show his face now and then. This time, he had completely disappeared for six whole months.
"I was in seclusion for half a year."
"Anyway, Boundless Gate is running perfectly under your management. I have complete faith in you. You are truly the most outstanding Hu Jia."
Xiao Tian showered her with praise without missing a beat.
Hearing his words, much of the anger in Hu Jia's heart melted away.
As for Han Yue's Moon Spirit—though Han Yue spent most of her time in the Eternal Heaven Realm, she still returned to the academy occasionally to manage affairs. By now, Moon Spirit was already half-merged with Boundless Gate. The Moon Spirit members had no objections. Their leader had been thoroughly "abducted." They could only accept their fate.
Besides, being with Boundless Gate wasn't bad at all. Boundless Gate was currently the undisputed dominant force in Jia Nan Academy.
"Boundless Gate will be in your hands from now on. I am now an Elder of the Inner Academy. It's no longer appropriate for me to hold the title of Gate Master. Boundless Gate will grow and flourish under your care."
Xiao Tian gently patted Hu Jia's shoulder.
"With your strength… you really don't need to stay in the academy anymore."
Hu Jia thought of Xiao Tian's Dou Huang cultivation and ground her teeth. Just thinking about it was despair-inducing. Xiao Tian had already been declared the most exceptional talent since the academy's founding—unprecedented, unmatched. No one could even approach him.
"Don't worry. This young lady will take good care of Boundless Gate for you."
Hu Jia patted her ample chest heroically.
Xiao Tian studied her with curiosity. Physically, Hu Jia was in a league of her own—a truly devilish figure. It was a pity she preferred women. No man would ever pluck this flower.
"Alright. I trust you. Boundless Gate is counting on you… Big Sister Hu Jia~"
Xiao Tian dragged out the last words, then bolted before she could explode.
Hu Jia registered his tone and immediately flared with anger—but Xiao Tian was already gone. She could only stomp her foot in frustration. The motion sent her generous bosom swaying. Anyone watching would have been green with envy.
"What an insufferable guy. Still so unreliable. And I'm not even that much older than you."
She muttered curses under her breath, then recalled the look in Xiao Tian's eyes when he'd spoken those final words. She seemed to catch a hidden meaning behind them. Her face flushed slightly. She cursed inwardly, *What a scoundrel. Handsome and talented, sure. But this young lady does not like men.*
—
Leaving Boundless Gate behind, Xiao Tian headed directly to the place where the Heavenly Flame was sealed. After greeting the guarding elder, he stood at the edge of the seal and peered down into the cave entrance. He couldn't see a thing.
"I thought you'd just taken the Elder title and bolted."
Su Qian materialized before him, chuckling.
"No. I simply had a few small gains and chose to go into seclusion for a while."
Hearing this, Su Qian began scrutinizing the young man beside him. Before, he could never sense Xiao Tian's cultivation level at all. Now—he still couldn't sense it. But there was something new. A distinct sense of mortal danger.
Su Qian sighed. "It seems your seclusion was very fruitful. The future truly belongs to you young people. We old ones are getting on. Time to fade into the background."
"Not at all. The Great Elder is still going strong. It seems you've also made considerable progress."
Xiao Tian had noticed Su Qian's aura had grown noticeably stronger. His cultivation had already reached Four-Star Dou Zong. The previous battles must have brought him significant gains as well. He should finally be able to shake off that "weakest Dou Zong" title.
"You certainly have a smooth tongue, kid."
Su Qian stroked his beard, clearly quite pleased.
"Great Elder, what's the situation inside now?"
"There have been no abnormalities for the past six months. Completely calm. But we can no longer capture any Heart Flame projections from within."
Su Qian reflected on the past half year. It had been the most peaceful six months he could remember. No more constant worry about the Heavenly Flame. More hands available in the Inner Academy. Before, they'd had to station so many elders just to monitor the situation daily. Now he could cultivate with peace of mind. So much of his time had been wasted here.
Xiao Tian thought to himself that Xiao Yan had probably already started refining the Fallen Heart Flame inside. In the original story, it had taken a full year of confrontation just to defeat it before refining could even begin.
"Then you can be completely at ease, Great Elder. There should be no more problems from here on."
Su Qian's eyes immediately lit up. He didn't doubt Xiao Tian's words at all. Everything Xiao Tian had said had come true right before his eyes. But before he could speak, a sudden, violent tremor shook the seal beneath their feet. A muffled roar echoed from deep within the earth. Xiao Tian's relaxed expression sharpened instantly.
"It seems… there's still one final wave to ride."