"Screech!"
Early the next morning, a loud eagle's cry echoed across the square, followed by a massive shadow that covered the new students of Jia Nan Academy who were waiting below.
As the shadow landed, the crowd finally got a clear look at the enormous creature—a giant eagle with a body spanning dozens of meters, resembling a towering building lying horizontally on the ground. Its streamlined form and metallic sheen on its feathers gave it an imposing presence.
"No need to be afraid, everyone! This is the Cloud-Soaring Giant-Winged Eagle, a Rank 4 magical beast specially raised by Jia Nan Academy to transport new students. Though powerful, it's docile and won't harm anyone!" Instructor Ruo Lin gently reassured the students, who looked pale with fear after seeing the massive magical beast.
Xiao Bai observed the giant eagle with fascination. A sturdy structure resembling a small building was securely fastened to its back, remaining perfectly stable even during landing. *This is the air travel of the fantasy world—practically bigger than the largest airliner from my past life.
"Students, we'll be crossing the entire Jia Ma Empire, exiting through Daling City, and entering the Black-Corner Region. Jia Nan Academy is located at the heart of that region. The journey will take about three days!" Instructor Ruo Lin briefly explained the route to the new students, then waved her hand for everyone to board the giant eagle.
Xiao Bai led Xun'er and Xiao Yixian onto the giant eagle's back, where each of them was assigned a small cabin—conveniently located side by side.
With a surge of wind energy, the eagle took off, its powerful wings creating a gust that lifted them into the sky. Xiao Bai leaned against the railing, watching Wu Tan City shrink beneath him. A faint melancholy settled in his heart.
*Thirteen years in this world... So many memories tied to this place. After this departure, I might not return often.*
Suddenly, he felt a tightening around his arm. Turning, he saw Xun Er standing beside him, having no idea when she had come over.
Her fair, delicate face seemed to sense his emotions, and her beautiful eyes were filled with concern as she looked at him.
"I'm fine!" Xiao Bai smiled and patted the hand that was holding his arm. "As long as I have you and Xian Er my side, wherever you are is my home!"
Upon hearing this, Xun Er's eyes curved into crescents moons, brimming with affection. Without saying a word, she tightened her hold on him, gently resting her head on his shoulder.
"Xiao Bai Ge, don't worry, Xun Er will always be with you!" Her whisper was almost inaudible, like a tender sigh.
Xiao Bai looked down at the girl resting on his shoulder, smelling the faint fragrance drifting from her hair. His heart was filled with warmth. *No matter what, Xun'er will always be special to me.*
His gaze drifted into the distance, lost in thoughts of people and events. A whimsical voice echoed in his mind: "Give it up, Ah Bai. Out there... it's all Xun'er."
—
—
Night, as cool as water.
Pale moonlight spilled through the window, casting a serene glow.
Xiao Bai sat cross-legged in his small cabin, the surrounding space faintly rippling with energy. Streams of heaven and earth energy entered his body with each breath, slowly refining and storing in his dantian.
After a moment, Xiao Bai slowly opened his eyes, a flash of silver lightning flickering in his gaze, disappearing as quickly as it appeared.
"It's almost time. Soon, I should be able to break through to Six-Star Dou Ling!" Xiao Bai clenched his hand, sensing the changes within his body, and muttered softly.
Standing up, he stretched, his joints popping like frying beans. Recalling the day's events, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Earlier, while he and Xun'er were lost in a quiet, tender moment, Xiao Yi Xian had pushed the door open. Upon seeing the scene, she seemed a little embarrassed.
"Sorry... I think I came at a bad time," she had said awkwardly, about to leave.
Xiao Bai, in a moment of impulse, blurted out, "No, you came at the perfect time!"
As a result, he was scolded by the two blushing girls, and spent the entire day avoiding him.
Shaking his head with amusement, he pushed the memory aside and sat at the table. With a flick of his hand, he retrieved an ancient jade piece from his spatial ring.
Xiao Bai studied the jade in his hand. It was a pale green color, and under the moonlight, some strange and mysterious symbols seemed to shimmer on its surface. The longer he stared at the markings, the more he felt a slight dizziness.
**"So this is the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade! Truly worthy of a Dou Di's craftsmanship!"** Xiao Bai shook his slightly dizzy head, impressed.
Last time, Xun'er had taken out a Soul Jade, and Xiao Bai had seized the opportunity to ask for a piece.
The previous night, he had sneaked into Xiao Zhan's room and retrieved the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from his spatial ring. He transferred the wisp of Xiao Zhan's soul imprinted on it onto a piece of Soul Jade, leaving behind an unsigned letter and the jade as a silent notice.
He had initially considered leaving some pills as compensation but decided against it—his alchemical style was too distinctive, and leaving them would have practically announced his involvement.
This jade was the token of the Xiao Clan's patriarch, its sole purpose being to hold a trace of the patriarch's soul to monitor their safety. But since the jade was always on the patriarch's person, who would even know if they were in danger?
In essence, for the Xiao Clan, this jade was more symbolic than practical.
Rubbing the jade between his fingers, Xiao Bai fell into deep thought. *Now that I have the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, what should I do with it?* The situation was tricky.
Inside the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave, there were only two paths to becoming an emperor—or rather, one and a half.
The inheritance counted as one, and the embryonic Emperor(Di) Pill counted as half.
The inheritance could only be claimed by someone who cultivated the Flame Mantra, and even then, it required the cooperation of either Void Devouring Flame or Pure Lotus Demon Flame.
As for the embryonic Emperor(Di) Pill? Realistically, the only person on this continent capable of using it to ascend to emperorhood was the ruthless Hun Tiandi.
*"Better to betray the world than let the world betray me!"*
Hun Tiandi could sacrifice the entire Central Plains, using that blood energy to fully mature the embryonic Emperor(Di) Pill. No one else on the continent could—or would—do such a thing.
Those with the same ruthlessness lacked his strength and influence.
Those with comparable strength and resources—Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun—weren't as cold-blooded.
Xiao Bai didn't know much about Zhu Kun, who only appeared near the end of the original story. His sole impression was that Zhu Kun doted on Zi Yan like an overprotective father. As for his temperament? Hard to say.
As for his "cheap father-in-law" Gu Yuan, Xiao Bai was certain Gu Yuan would never resort to such methods.
However, Hun Tiandi approach was the fast track. Xiao Bai speculated that if another Nine-Star Dou Saint Peak expert devoured the embryonic Emperor Pill and spent decades—or even a century—absorbing its energy, they too could become a Dou Di.
After all, the Source Qi required to ascend was already within the pill. Once absorbed, the path to becoming a Dou Di would be open—it would just take time to accumulate enough power.
"Looks like I'll need to keep an eye on that little dragon girl once we reach Jia Nan Academy. With her, I can ensure Zhu Kun's cooperation."
A plan gradually formed in Xiao Bai's mind. *What if I toss this Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade to the old Dragon Emperor?*
Hun Tiandi would never expect the jade to be right at the entrance of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave.
This way, until all eight jades were gathered, Hun Tiandi wouldn't know the cave's location—and without knowing the location, he couldn't collect all eight jades. A perfect paradox.
But dealing with the old Dragon Emperor required insurance. And Zi Yan? She was the best guarantee—practically foolproof!
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