This was a nearly perfect, fully controlled Dou Technique. With a single thought, Liu Xi dispersed the Dou Qi, Heavenly Flame, and Spiritual Power that composed the black sun. Within moments, the destructive sphere dissolved into nothingness, and Liu Xi straightened his robes, his gaze sweeping over the devastated expanse of the academy's back mountain.
"At last, the Dou Technique is complete. But the back mountain's been turned into ruins... I don't even know how many rare medicinal plants and Magical Beasts were sacrificed for this." He sighed and shook his head in mock regret. Within a radius of several thousand meters, not a trace of life remained—only charred ground and desolation.
Just then, the thumb-thick Ling Shuang darted from his sleeve, her two heads and four eyes gleaming with the faint green light of the Jade Snake Three-Flower Pupils.
"Young Master," Qing Lin's voice came faintly from Ling Shuang's mouths, her tone mixed with confusion and amusement. "Zi Yan's showing changes—you'd better come back quickly. And, uh… the change is huge~."
By the tone, Liu Xi could tell Zi Yan was fine; Qing Lin didn't sound worried at all. He chuckled softly. "A whole month to refine the blood essence of a 9-Star Dou Saint. I wonder what level she's reached now."
Without another word, he lifted Ling Shuang and shot into the sky. His body turned into a streak of light as he raced toward the Inner Academy.
Within minutes, he was back. The moment he pushed open the door, a wave of heat washed over him, accompanied by a thin layer of mist that grew denser the deeper he went. His brows furrowed as he stepped faster.
Outside Zi Yan's room, Qing Lin was already waiting, her expression unreadable but her lips curved in a teasing smile. "You're back, Young Master."
Liu Xi nodded. "Qing Lin, you've worked hard these days. Now, tell me—what's this 'big change' you mentioned?"
Her smile deepened, and her tone turned playful as she gestured toward the door. "Zi Yan's inside. You'll see for yourself soon enough, Young Master. I think… you'll really like this change."
"Oh?" Liu Xi arched a brow. Judging by her tone, it wasn't a bad thing. Curiosity rising, he pushed the door open and stepped through the thick mist.
"Zi Yan? Are you all right?"
A soft, sultry voice answered from within the haze, lazy and rich with warmth. "Mm? It's Big Brother. I'm fine~"
Liu Xi froze. The voice was low and alluring—nothing like Zi Yan's formerly cute, childish tone. As the mist parted, a tall, graceful figure emerged, moving with slow, deliberate steps.
The first thing he saw were her legs—long, smooth, and pale as snow, their curves seemingly carved by heaven itself. His gaze rose upward, tracing over a slender waist barely the width of his hands, and higher still—over curves that seemed ready to defy gravity. It was… breathtaking.
And above all of that, cascading violet hair reached down to her waist, framing a face both beautiful and mischievous. Her bright eyes sparkled with amusement, lips curling into a teasing smile.
"Is… this Zi Yan?" Liu Xi muttered in disbelief. The charming, mature woman before him bore almost no resemblance to the adorable little girl he remembered.
This wasn't just the brief transformation he'd seen before; this time, it was permanent. She had truly grown up.
Zi Yan's smile deepened as she noticed his stunned expression. With graceful steps, she approached until her fragrance filled his senses. "What's the matter, Big Brother? Don't recognize me?"
Liu Xi exhaled slowly, forcing calm back into his voice. He reached out, ruffling her soft purple hair as he smiled faintly. "So you've absorbed it well. Your aura's stronger, and the energy inside you's stable. Looks like the Body Transformation Grass's effects are completely gone now."
Zi Yan's violet eyes curved into crescents. "Mm. My strength's around the level of a 3-Star or 4-Star Dou Zun. There's still some of Father's essence blood sealed in the Dragon Seal—I can continue absorbing it later. His bloodline is purer than mine, and it even washed away all the residual medicinal impurities in my veins. He really is… my true father."
Her voice softened at the end, and Liu Xi could see the trace of sadness flickering across her face. He reached out and patted her shoulder gently. "Don't carry it too heavily. We'll find a way to rescue him one day. When that time comes, your family will be reunited."
Zi Yan nodded lightly. Deep down, she longed for that—family, belonging, warmth. It was that same yearning that had once made her so easy for Liu Xi to coax into staying by his side. Back then, she'd been a lonely child; now she was a grown woman, yet her heart hadn't changed.
"Now that you're awake," Liu Xi continued, "it's time we prepare to head back to the Central Plains. Our strength must keep growing. I know a good place to start—if we're lucky, we might gain quite a bit."
"Okay," Zi Yan replied without hesitation. The mention of her father gave her a new purpose—to grow stronger, to free him.
But before they could leave, Liu Xi still had to speak to Elder Su Qian. This was, after all, Jia Nan Academy. Leaving without a word would be improper.
He also couldn't ignore the practical problem—Zi Yan's figure had… changed. Her old clothes clung dangerously tight, ready to burst at any moment. Liu Xi sighed inwardly. 'That's going to attract more than a little attention.'
When he finally met with Elder Su Qian, Liu Xi simply said he planned to venture into the Central Plains to continue his cultivation. Su Qian understood and offered only a few words of caution before letting him go.
Before leaving the academy, Liu Xi descended once more into the depths of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. The tiny Fallen Heart Flame was still hard at work maintaining the tower's core.
"Let's give you a little help," Liu Xi murmured, channeling his Dou Qi into the flame. The pure, dragon-infused energy surged forth, pouring into the Heavenly Flame like nourishment.
At first, the Fallen Heart Flame flickered happily. Then, as the flow intensified, it began to thrash restlessly—until, in the end, it simply went still, overwhelmed and dazed. When the process was over, it had visibly changed—its form larger, denser, and far more powerful, its strength comparable to a Dou Zong's.
"Consider this my gift to the academy," Liu Xi said with a small grin. The only downside was that from now on, the Fallen Heart Flame would probably run for its life whenever it saw him again.
Before departure, Liu Xi, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin also reinforced the Inner Academy's spatial barrier, ensuring that no one below the Dou Zun realm could ever breach it again. He wasn't about to let this place turn into the chaotic mess it had been in the original timeline.
Only after everything was done—preparations made, promises fulfilled—did Liu Xi finally take Zi Yan and Qing Lin with him. The trio rose into the sky, leaving behind Jia Nan Academy, and even the entire Northwest Region.
The next stage of their journey had begun.
(End of Chapter)
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