The space around them had long been isolated by Little Fairy Doctor's Dou Qi.
Only the five of them could hear their conversation.
Xiao Jietian finished speaking.
And vanished.
Where did he go?
A smoke-free battlefield.
An unfair one, at that—many against few.
His tears of grievance streamed from the corners of his mouth.
Han Yue watched Xiao Jietian and Medusa disappear.
Her face was a canvas of confusion.
She turned to Yun Yun.
Yun Yun chuckled.
"They've gone back to attend to some… important matters."
Han Yue was innocent.
But she was not stupid.
Important matters.
Their earlier exchange.
…Oh.
Her face flushed crimson.
In broad daylight?
Is that really acceptable?
Xiao Jietian's face materialized in her mind. Then—
Herself and him.
Doing…
"What's this?" Yun Yun's voice was light, teasing. "Do you wish to join them? Shall I speak to him—let him attend to you first?"
"N-No! No, no, no!" Han Yue's denial was rapid, flustered, barely coherent. "I wasn't thinking that! I wasn't! I'm not!"
"Alright, alright." Yun Yun's smile widened. "You weren't."
The usually aloof, unapproachable Han Yue, so flustered she can barely speak.
No wonder Xiao Jietian delights in making such composed people lose their composure.
This expression is truly adorable.
"Sister Yun." Han Yue's gaze dropped to Yun Yun's abdomen—still flat, yet somehow… different. "Are you… pregnant?"
"Yes." Yun Yun's hand drifted to her belly, her smile soft. "I am."
"Wow." Han Yue's eyes widened. "What does it feel like? Can I… touch it?"
"Of course you may." Yun Yun patted her head gently. "But not yet. First, I must attend to the remaining matters. Afterwards, I will take you somewhere."
Han Yue nodded obediently.
She is genuinely kind to me.
Not pretense. Not performance.
Genuine.
Her heart warmed.
Yun Yun approached Su Qian.
Su Qian recognized her immediately. He had encountered Boundless Heavenly Hall before—knew Yun Yun's identity.
He had also observed her closeness with Xiao Jietian. He had his suspicions, though unconfirmed.
"Hall Master Yun." His tone was rare—respectful, almost courteous. "Is there something you require?"
Boundless Heavenly Hall is practically the academy's savior.
Even if this was merely a transaction—they saved my academy.
This academy is my life's work.
Saving it is saving me.
"Do not construct anything here for now." Yun Yun's voice was calm. "Simply enclose the area. Otherwise, unforeseen changes may occur."
A pause.
"This is Xiao Jietian's message."
She did not fully understand its meaning.
Her task was merely to convey it.
Xiao Jietian remembered the original timeline: when Xiao Yan breaks free, lava will erupt.
If they build a new Qi Refining Tower now, and Xiao Yan bursts through it immediately after completion…
Would the Great Elder be so enraged he fainted?
Su Qian was puzzled.
But it was Xiao Jietian's instruction.
At this moment, his faith in Xiao Jietian remains absolute.
"Very well." He nodded. "It shall be done."
"Then we will take our leave." Yun Yun inclined her head. "The remaining matters are for your academy to handle."
She grasped Han Yue's wrist.
And vanished.
Su Qian stared at the empty space where they had stood.
Why the haste?
A question.
It would be answered in due time.
"Men." His voice carried across the ruined grounds. "Cordon off this area. Two elders shall guard it daily. No one is permitted to approach."
The Inner Academy elders acknowledged in unison.
Su Qian ascended slowly, surveying the devastation below.
Then his gaze lifted—to the students gathered a hundred metres away.
Damaged, yes. But only a small portion.
More importantly—
Not a single student or elder lost.
His chest loosened.
The Fallen Heart Flame problem remains unresolved. But Xiao Jietian is confident. Xiao Yan is capable.
I trust them.
Once Xiao Yan subdues the Heavenly Flame—once we obtain its newly born form—
All the Inner Academy's troubles will cease.
No more constant vigilance. No more sleepless nights dreading its eruption.
And I—
I will have time to cultivate.
His encounter with the Gold and Silver Elders had laid his weakness bare.
Two men of lower cultivation than myself. I fought them to a standstill. Could not defeat them.
If this becomes known, people will laugh.
They will doubt the Inner Academy's foundations. Recruitment will suffer.
He glanced down at the fallen.
The Gold and Silver Elders. The Black-Corner Region Dou Huangs.
The Dou Kings and Dou Spirits?
…Sorry. Couldn't find them.
Some became mincemeat. Others became the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's lunch.
"Hang their bodies on the Dead Spirit Tree in Peace Town."
The elders moved to collect the corpses.
Su Qian's gaze fell upon Han Feng's remains.
"…Not Han Feng. Cremate him."
His teacher was the Venerable Yao.
Even though the Venerable Yao has fallen—Han Feng was still his disciple.
If someone indebted to the Venerable Yao seeks to avenge Han Feng…
More trouble. Unnecessary.
The Gold and Silver Elders' corpses are sufficient deterrent.
Among the students.
"The academy won! We're safe! WOOO!"
"The battle was so fast—it began and ended in an instant—but I'm still so hyped! Dou Huangs! Dou Zongs! I've never seen so many Dou Zongs in my life!"
"Dou Zong… my lifelong dream. If I could reach Dou Zong, I could establish my own clan lineage."
Relief. Excitement. Awe.
If the academy had fallen, they would not have escaped disaster.
Escape? Impossible. The Inner Academy is surrounded by forests. They would encounter magical beasts before they even reached the perimeter.
Besides—they trusted the academy.
"Speaking of which… Senior Xiao Jietian's cultivation is absolutely insane."
"We're merely Great Dou Shis. And he's already a Dou Huang."
"And those women beside him—the ones hidden in the void—their strength must be even more terrifying."
"So envious…"
"I think Senior Xiao Jietian deserves it all." A girl's voice, firm and certain. "If you were as handsome and talented as him, I'd marry my entire family's women to you without hesitation."
Silence.
Then—
"Cow… plus?"
"Such filial devotion."
"It's to die for."