"Your sister—who!?"
Hai Bodong restrained the coldness in his eyes and asked seriously.
"Queen Medusa—my Big Sister Cai Lin." Zi Yan raised her chin arrogantly. "The very Queen Medusa who sealed you, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong."
The word "sealed" made Hai Bodong's body tremble. A smile appeared on his cold face. "This is truly a case of floodwater washing over the Dragon Queen's temple—family not recognizing family."
"Since you're Queen Medusa's sister, take whichever of these items you like."
"That's more like it. I'll put in a good word for you with Big Sister Cai Lin." A flash of pride appeared in Zi Yan's eyes.
She was still the smart one—using Queen Medusa's name to scare Hai Bodong.
But she couldn't just do this recklessly. She still needed to inform Queen Medusa in advance.
…
[Zi Yan]: Sisters, which imprint belongs to my Big Sister Queen Medusa Cai Lin? I want to add her as a private friend.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: You'll have to wait for Big Sister Cai Lin to speak herself, or add everyone and have them state their names, then use elimination.
[Xun Er]: Big Sister Cai Lin is sleeping. What do you need her for?
[Zi Yan]: I borrowed her name for a bit, hehe.
[Zi Yan]: Xiao Ting was right—Hai Bodong has Queen Medusa phobia. Big Sister Cai Lin's name is really useful.
[Cao Ying]: I have a feeling Little Sister Zi Yan didn't do anything good.
[Zi Yan]: Why am I the little sister? You're the little sister.
[Cao Ying]: By human age, we're about the same, so we rank by group entry order.
[Zi Yan]: No way. I've lived much longer than you. A few years ago I already looked thirteen—so I'm the older sister.
[Cao Ying]: I don't accept that.
[Xun Er]: Stop arguing. Zi Yan, what mischief did you do using Big Sister Cai Lin's name?
[Zi Yan]: Hehe, it's not really mischief… (explained the full story)
[Xun Er]: Little Sister Zi Yan, you should behave. Don't take anything.
[Zi Yan]: Ah? Why?
[Xun Er]: Hai Bodong gathered these things to send to Big Brother Xiao Ting so Yao Lao can refine pills. If you take them, and Hai Bodong tells Big Brother Xiao Ting, your visit to Wu Tan City won't stay hidden. Plus you cleverly gave yourself the identity of Big Sister Cai Lin's sworn sister. If that reaches Big Brother Xiao Ting through Hai Bodong…
[Zi Yan]: Oh no, how do I fix this!?
[Xun Er]: You definitely can't take the items. Just tell Hai Bodong it was a joke and make him promise not to tell Big Brother Xiao Ting. Otherwise you'll have Big Sister Cai Lin deal with him. Given how much he fears Big Sister Cai Lin, and since nothing is missing, he definitely won't say anything extra.
[Zi Yan]: That's the only way.
[Cai Lin]: If he doesn't cooperate, this Queen will scare him.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: Big Sister Cai Lin, you're awake?
[Cai Lin]: I can speak here without affecting my adaptation to power inside the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python body.
[Zi Yan]: Thank you, Big Sister Cai Lin~ Hehe.
…
"Ahem, hm!" Zi Yan put her hand to her mouth and spoke with mock seriousness. "Ice Emperor, these things—if I'm not mistaken—are meant for Big Brother Xiao Ting?"
"Correct. These are ingredients for refining the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill. After sending them to little friend Xiao Ting, he will ask his teacher to refine the pills for me." Hai Bodong nodded slightly.
"Then I won't take them." Zi Yan waved her hand. "Big Sister Cai Lin said I can't casually take family things, or she'll deal with me.
"You're not allowed to tell Big Brother Xiao Ting that I came here. Otherwise I'll really have Big Sister Cai Lin deal with you."
"Rest assured, this old man won't." Hai Bodong agreed at lightning speed, afraid that any delay would make Zi Yan call Queen Medusa to deal with him.
If Zi Yan had taken the spiritual herbs, he would have hesitated about whether to tell Xiao Ting.
After all, he had told Xiao Ting the ingredients were ready—he would need to explain the delay.
Even if that might lead to Zi Yan asking Queen Medusa to deal with him, Queen Medusa also listened to little friend Xiao Ting.
But since Zi Yan wasn't taking anything, he didn't want to complicate things. If he got dealt with later, there would be no place to regret it.
"Goodbye."
Zi Yan flashed and vanished into the void.
A look of amazement flashed in Hai Bodong's eyes. He secretly sighed that there were truly many heavenly prodigies around Xiao Ting.
He stored all the spiritual herbs into his storage ring, then left the vault, formed Battle Qi wings, and flew into the sky.
Not long after, he arrived at the Xiao family. After being announced, a Xiao family servant led him to the meeting room.
…
"Old Hai has arrived?"
Hearing the servant's report, Xiao Ting said goodbye to Xun Er and headed to the Xiao family meeting room.
"Xun Er, are you planning to start cultivating the Flame Mantra tonight?" Little Fairy Doctor asked with concern after Xiao Ting left.
"Mhm." Xun Er nodded slightly, a hint of anticipation in her voice. "I plan to first use the Flame Mantra to swallow the beast flame of an eighth-tier magical beast, the Crimson Flame Blood Phoenix, then swallow the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame. The Flame Mantra should reach low-level Earth-tier.
"If it were the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame that the Gu Clan has guarded for thousands of years—the one capable of killing Dou Saints—the improvement would definitely be greater.
"But that kind of Heavenly Flame is not something the current Xun Er can touch, let alone swallow its origin to evolve the technique. That would be no different from seeking death.
"Before breaking through to Dou King, a low-level Earth-tier technique is completely sufficient. I will naturally find new Heavenly Flames to swallow later."
"Be very careful." Little Fairy Doctor said worriedly. "If Xiao Yan is the protagonist of the story, the Flame Mantra seems tailor-made for him as the protagonist. Others cultivating it might have unknown risks. If something feels wrong, stop immediately."
"Don't worry, Big Sister Little Fairy Doctor." Xun Er wasn't worried and instead comforted her. "Big Brother Xiao Ting couldn't possibly have overlooked this.
"Even Han Feng could cultivate the incomplete Flame Mantra. Tou She Ancient God also cultivated the Flame Mantra to become God. This shows it's not exclusive to Cousin Xiao Yan.
"Even if I really fail at cultivating it, the trump card my father left me can protect me. There's no need to worry about perishing.
"And even if I lose my cultivation talent, with Big Brother Xiao Ting here, I won't need to worry about the future."
In fact, things were exactly as Xun Er said.
…
The next morning, Xiao Ting paced back and forth in Xun Er's courtyard, looking somewhat anxious.
Only when Xun Er pushed open the door and walked out did he breathe a sigh of relief. He stepped forward and asked concernedly, "Xun Er, how did it go?"
"Success." Xun Er smiled and nodded. She raised her hand and summoned a golden flame tinged with a trace of blood-red. "This is the fused flame I created by using the Flame Mantra to swallow the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame and the Crimson Flame Blood Phoenix beast flame. My Flame Mantra has reached low-level Earth-tier."
"Good." Xiao Ting nodded with a big smile and began planning. "We have the Core Green Lotus. As long as you invest fire-attribute heavenly materials, we can quickly nurture a new core flame for you to swallow.
"Besides that, we'll go to Jia Nan Academy to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame."
…
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