Xiao Hua remained oblivious to Hu Gan's thoughts, but even if he were aware, he wouldn't give them much attention.
He had no interest in Hu Jia and had already turned down her confessions multiple times. While he understood the Deputy Headmaster's concerns, he didn't view the situation as a pressing issue.
'Honestly, Wu Hao and Hu Jia seem like a much better match than she and I ever could be,' Xiao Hua mused silently, keeping the thought to himself.
"Anyway, I'll be heading back to the Inner Academy to visit Xun'er, my master, and my brothers and sisters," Xiao Hua said, smoothly changing the subject. He knew there was little he could do about Hu Gan's worries and figured it best to let time decide how things would unfold.
"Very well. Your master has been making quite a fuss about you," Hu Gan replied with a nod. "Ming Cheng and the others have also missed you, so make sure you spend some time with them."
He paused for a moment, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "But before you head back, visit the First Elder. He mentioned wanting you to handle something for him."
"Is it about the Fallen Heart Flame?" Xiao Hua raised an eyebrow, already guessing the reason behind Su Qian's request.
"That, among other things. The First Elder will explain it to you personally," Hu Gan replied with a weary sigh, his expression marked by a mysterious, resigned smile.
Xiao Hua arched an eyebrow, intrigued by what could prompt such a reaction from Hu Gan. Whatever the First Elder needed from him, it must be something noteworthy—or potentially troublesome.
'I just hope it's nothing too burdensome,' Xiao Hua thought to himself. With the main events of the Battle Through the Heavens storyline already unfolding, he had no desire to be weighed down by unnecessary distractions.
...
"You want me to take care of your adopted child…?" Xiao Hua's expression turned peculiar as he absorbed Su Qian's unexpected words.
With his strength, it hadn't taken him long to return to the Inner Academy. Following Hu Gan's instructions, he headed straight for the First Elder but had already sent a message to Ming Cheng and the others about his return.
Upon arriving at the Sky Blazing Qi Refining Tower, Xiao Hua had encountered Su Qian and promptly inquired about the purpose of the summons. He rarely set foot in this tower; the Fallen Heart Flame was far too weak to benefit him, who possessed Heavenly Lightnings and Primordial Heavenly Flames, unlike the ordinary students of the Inner Academy.
But what he heard left him truly astonished. Of all things, Su Qian wanted him to take his adopted child out of the academy and care for her.
"Why me? Since the First Elder has adopted her, shouldn't you be the one responsible for taking care of her?" Xiao Hua asked, raising an eyebrow.
While the First Elder might not fully understand Zi Yan's identity, Xiao Hua did. The girl was no ordinary child—she was the future Dragon Empress of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe.
Though Xiao Hua didn't particularly mind caring for her, it was an entirely different matter to bring her outside the academy. With her mischievous personality and gluttonous obsession with medicinal ingredients, she was bound to cause chaos. Cleaning up after her mistakes was a task he wasn't eager to take on.
'This is going to be troublesome,' Xiao Hua thought.
With that in mind, he made an effort to politely decline. "First Elder, I'm sure you understand… She's better off staying under your care."
His tone was tactful, but his intention was clear—he wasn't eager to take on this particular responsibility.
"You see, she's not exactly human but a Magical Beast that consumed a rare Body Transformation Grass and…" Su Qian paused, sighing wryly. He knew Xiao Hua's reluctance and decided it was best to provide some context about Zi Yan's mysterious origins, including how he had met her and eventually brought her to the Inner Academy.
"And what does any of that have to do with me taking her outside?" Xiao Hua asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
Su Qian coughed awkwardly before continuing, "Well, she possesses a unique ability—an unknown method to locate treasures and rare medicinal ingredients with uncanny accuracy."
He hesitated, glancing at Xiao Hua to gauge his reaction. Seeing that Xiao Hua remained unconvinced, his expression unchanged, Su Qian sighed and decided to come clean.
"Because of her origins as a Magical Beast, she's been consuming medicinal ingredients from our Medicinal Warehouse... quite voraciously."
Xiao Hua raised an eyebrow. "If she's the one finding those ingredients, I don't see why anyone would complain about her using them."
Su Qian's smile turned awkward. "That's… technically true. Since she's the one who discovered most of the ingredients, it's hard to argue. However…"
He sighed again, weariness evident in his voice. "The issue is that she's not just consuming the ones she finds—she's also helping herself to those that aren't hers to take. And her appetite seems to be bottomless…"
'As a powerful Magical Beast, it's natural for her to require an immense amount of natural energy to advance her rank. Moreover, she's likely driven by her desire to evolve—she's never been fond of her childish appearance…'
Xiao Hua sighed inwardly, a resigned expression flickering across his face. He knew that stopping her from consuming those precious medicinal ingredients was next to impossible.
Even in the BTTH novel, the only one capable of controlling her antics was Cai Lin, whom Zi Yan regarded as an elder sister. Not even her own biological father could rein her in.
Of course, by the time she matured and took on the mantle of leadership for the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, she no longer recklessly sought medicinal ingredients. She had grown to understand her responsibilities and focused on her tribe's prosperity. Additionally, with her immense strength at that point, only the rarest treasures or medicinal ingredients could capture her attention.
Shaking his head slightly, Xiao Hua turned his gaze back to Su Qian. "And the First Elder can't stop her? Aren't you her adopted father?"
Su Qian let out a weary sigh, his expression tinged with a helpless affection. "I truly want to stop her. But knowing how much she suffered when she was a lonely and weak little girl… this old man simply doesn't have the heart to deny her anything."
'It seems the First Elder truly sees Zi Yan as his daughter…' Xiao Hua nodded subtly, approving of Su Qian's fatherly affection.
"Moreover," Su Qian continued with a wry smile, "she somehow manages to bypass the energy barriers meant to secure our Medicinal Warehouse. We've repeatedly failed to prevent her from sneaking in and taking things unnoticed."
'The abilities of the Ancient Void Dragon truly are remarkable…' Xiao Hua thought, a hint of amazement flickering in his gaze despite already being aware of this fact.
He understood just how intricate those energy barriers were. They didn't merely block unpermitted access; they were also designed to detect and prevent the unauthorized removal or consumption of medicinal ingredients. For Zi Yan to bypass them so effortlessly spoke volumes about the prowess of her lineage.
Still, Xiao Hua frowned slightly, rubbing his temple as he contemplated the situation. 'With her current behavior, taking her to Wu Tan City would be nothing short of a headache. She'd steal indiscriminately, completely ignoring the status or identity of the people involved…'
While he was more than capable of handling her, he couldn't ignore the reality. Zi Yan lacked not only the dignity befitting the future Dragon Empress but also the basic common sense of human interactions. Dealing with her outside the confines of the Inner Academy would be more trouble than it was worth.
Whatever. I'll turn him down and make the First Elder give up…'
Bang!
Just as Xiao Hua resolved to decline Su Qian's request, a deafening, muffled explosion reverberated throughout the Inner Academy, cutting off the words in his throat.
His expression sharpened as he turned toward the sound. A surge of vast, mighty Spiritual Strength erupted from his body, spreading out like a tidal wave. In the blink of an eye, his Spiritual Strength enveloped the entire Inner Academy, probing every corner with precision to locate the source of the disturbance.
Su Qian, on the other hand, remained calm and unperturbed. He made no move to investigate, merely standing still as he observed Xiao Hua intently. There was an inscrutable glint in his eyes and a faint, mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Xiao Hua frowned slightly when his search yielded no results within the Inner Academy. Narrowing his focus, he extended his Spiritual Strength further, encompassing the Spiritual Chaos Forest, the sprawling territory adjacent to the academy.
The vast expanse of the Chaos Gate—his faction's domain—unfolded before his spiritual senses. However, he found nothing out of the ordinary. His attention shifted to the forest's heart, a restricted area accessible only to the founders: Xun Er, his sworn siblings, and himself.
As his mind's eye scanned deeper, it locked onto the medicinal garden, meticulously cultivated by Xun Er, Mei Ling, Wei Jie, and himself. A faint disturbance in the usually serene area caught his attention.
As his Spiritual Strength delved deeper, it reached the medicinal garden he and Xun Er, Mie Ling, and Wei Jie had painstakingly cultivated. The garden brimmed with rare and precious herbs, its upkeep a testament to their combined efforts.
"What is that?"
A soft murmur escaped Xiao Hua's lips as his gaze fixed on a small shadow struggling amidst the vibrant greenery of the medicinal garden.
"It seems you've found her," Su Qian remarked, his bright smile unwavering as he caught Xiao Hua's soft murmur.
"'Her'? Don't tell me…" Xiao Hua's expression darkened, a nervous gulp escaping him as dread crept into his thoughts.
"Remember when I mentioned that she's been consuming medicinal ingredients she didn't personally discover?" Su Qian continued, an amused grin forming as he observed the change in Xiao Hua's demeanor.
"Well, that's because they were carefully cultivated in your medicinal garden—"
Before Su Qian could finish, Xiao Hua's figure blurred, vanishing from the tower in an instant. His destination was clear: the medicinal garden.
"Ke ke, now he has no choice but to take her along," Su Qian chuckled, a mixture of relief and amusement evident in his tone.
As a high-tier Alchemist, there was no way Xiao Hua would tolerate his painstakingly nurtured medicinal herbs being consumed so recklessly by Zi Yan. With this, Su Qian felt confident Xiao Hua would no longer refuse his request.
Finally, he could put an end to the barrage of complaints from the alchemist department's elders. Their endless grievances about the garden's dwindling supplies had been nothing short of torment.
While he was slightly disappointed he couldn't discuss the matter of the Fallen Heart Flame with Xiao Hua yet, Su Qian figured that could wait. For now, it was more pressing for Xiao Hua to handle his mischievous adopted sister.
...
"I take it this isn't the first time this has happened, Xun'er?"
"That's right, Brother Xiao Hua. According to Sister Mei Ling and Brother Wei Jie, she has been sneaking into the medicinal garden and stealing our herbs…"
Xiao Hua and Xun Er stood side by side, their gazes fixed on the small figure struggling against the array formation's restraints. The spiritual ropes, crafted by Xin Yu, tightened with every attempt to resist, ensuring the girl remained bound.
The culprit was a little girl, appearing no older than twelve or thirteen. She was dressed in light purple garments adorned with golden embroidery, her pale-purple hair tied into playful pigtails with gold-colored ornaments. Her soft, delicate face and watery purple eyes gave her a charming, pitiful appearance that could easily evoke guilt from onlookers.
But not from Xiao Hua or Xun Er.
They remained unmoved, their expressions firm. They knew all too well the trouble this little girl had caused over the years. Her gluttonous appetite for the precious medicinal herbs and fruits in their garden had been a source of endless headaches for their brothers and sisters.
"She is Zi Yan," Xun Er explained. "The First Elder brought her to the Inner Academy during your retreat, Brother Xiao Hua."
"Let's take her to the cabin and discuss my plans for returning to the clan. While we're there, I'll update everyone about my conversation with the First Elder and hand out some gifts."
"I understand, Brother Xiao Hua. But please, go easy on her."
"That depends entirely on what she's been eating in the garden these past years!"
"Mmm!!!" Zi Yan protested loudly through the gag, her muffled voice filled with indignation.
Xiao Hua let out a resigned sigh, hoisting the bound and gagged Zi Yan over his shoulder with ease. He turned and began walking toward the large wooden cabin, Xun Er falling into step beside him.
As they strolled at a leisurely pace, completely ignoring the struggling wild girl on his shoulder, Xiao Hua questioned Xun Er about the medicinal herbs and fruits Zi Yan had consumed.
When Xun Er began listing the items, Xiao Hua's expression darkened with each name. By the time she finished, he looked as though he were ready to strangle Zi Yan on the spot. Many of the stolen ingredients were vital for refining tier-eight and even tier-nine medicinal pills—ingredients he had painstakingly cultivated for future alchemy!
'For the sake of my sanity, I'll have to give her medicinal herbs and fruits packed with natural energy. That way, it'll take her longer to refine them, and she'll stay quiet for the rest of the journey!'
Noticing his despondent expression and the grudging fire in his eyes, Xun Er could only shake her head helplessly, a faint, wry smile curving her lips.
...
In the garden behind the large wooden cabin, seven figures sat around a small bamboo pagoda, their voices mingling in cheerful conversation.
Meanwhile, a little girl sat off to the side, silently devouring medicinal ingredients at an astonishing speed, her small hands moving like a blur.
"It seems you've agreed to bring this little lass with you…" Ming Cheng remarked with a knowing smile.
"'Forced to' is the more accurate term, Brother Ming Cheng," Xiao Hua replied with a heavy sigh. His gaze shifted to the girl, a faint frown crossing his face. "If I hadn't, our precious medicinal field would've been stripped bare by her."
At his words, Mei Ling and Wei Jie frowned deeply, their expressions mirroring Xiao Hua's displeasure.
As fellow alchemists, watching the painstakingly cultivated medicinal herbs and fruits being consumed so recklessly felt like knives cutting into their hearts. The sight of their years of effort disappearing into the little girl's insatiable appetite was almost unbearable.
Xun Er and the others couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the scene. They were well aware of how deeply this situation pained the three alchemists, especially Xin Yu, who had struggled tirelessly to design an array formation capable of restraining the mischievous girl.
Under Xue Yue's meticulous guidance in Spiritual Arrays, her exceptional talent in formation techniques flourished. While Spiritual Arrays are ineffective on the Dou Qi Continent due to their origin in a higher plane, Xue Yue's profound comprehension allowed her to adapt her knowledge seamlessly. Creating formation arrays had become second nature to her.
Moved by the desperate complaints of Mei Ling and Wei Jie, she took it upon herself to protect the medicinal garden. She arranged an intricate formation array to prevent unauthorized entry, but it proved utterly useless against Zi Yan, who seemed to come and go as she pleased.
Determined to outwit the mischievous girl, Xue Yue tirelessly devised countless new formation arrays, experimenting with each to determine whether it could contain Zi Yan. When one batch failed, she would create another, layering her efforts and engraving them intricately around the medicinal garden.
After numerous attempts and setbacks, Xue Yue discovered that spatial arrays were ineffective against Zi Yan's unique abilities. Undeterred, she devised a binding formation array capable of sealing Zi Yan's strength and forcibly expelling her from the garden.
Although the expelling effect had no impact on Zi Yan, the binding effect finally proved effective. Still, the failure of the expulsion mechanism left Xue Yue frustrated. She had hoped to at least hinder Zi Yan's ability to resist spatial strength, but the little girl slipped through her defenses effortlessly, as though nothing stood in her way.
Xin Yu's gaze shifted toward Zi Yan, who was voraciously devouring the medicinal ingredients Xiao Hua had handed her to keep her quiet and well-behaved during their discussion.
"This girl's abilities are truly astonishing," Xin Yu remarked, her tone tinged with a mix of frustration and admiration. "Even my most intricate formation arrays couldn't prevent her from entering the medicinal garden, let alone expel her. And her brute strength—frighteningly powerful—could easily overwhelm those at the Dou Ling level and might even rival some at the Dou Wang class."
"That's not the extent of her abilities, Sister Xin Yu," Mei Ling interjected, her gaze incredulous as she observed Zi Yan. "She has a peculiar talent for sensing rare medicinal ingredients and treasures."
Mei Ling paused briefly, her expression a mixture of awe and bewilderment. "The last time I traveled with her—she wouldn't stop pestering me—we stumbled upon a cave brimming with treasures. To my shock, it turned out to be the remains of a deceased expert, filled with high-grade items."
"I can't help but wonder what kind of terrifying creature her true form is…" Li Mei mused aloud, her eyes narrowing with curiosity as she studied Zi Yan.
"I've already asked the First Elder about her origins," Ming Cheng said, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow. "But even he doesn't know. Apparently, this little girl doesn't know her own race either."
He paused, his gaze flickering briefly toward Zi Yan before returning to the group. "There are rumors of several powerful and enigmatic Magical Beast clans in the southern regions of the Central Plains. Their strength is said to be immense. Perhaps within their domain lies the answer to this girl's true nature…"
"Does this mean we should bring her with us when we head to the Central Plains later, or should we leave her with Xiao Hua and inquire about her race ourselves?" Mei Ling asked thoughtfully.
Their plan was to enter the Central Plains after accompanying Xiao Hua to his clan. However, Xiao Hua would not be joining them in the Central Plains immediately, opting instead to enter at a later time. Mei Ling wondered whether it would be better to bring Zi Yan along or leave her behind under Xiao Hua's care.
"Big brothers, big sisters, will you take me with you to search for my origins?"
Zi Yan, who had been preoccupied with munching on the medicinal ingredients, flinched at the mention of her situation. Her large, gleaming purple eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at Xiao Hua and the others, her excitement palpable.
Having spent much of her life being bullied by stronger beasts and wandering aimlessly, Zi Yan had been plagued by a sense of loneliness and longing ever since waking up in an unfamiliar forest. The thought of discovering her origins ignited a deep hope within her, making her reaction all the more animated.
Xiao Hua and the others exchanged glances, their expressions softening into resigned smiles as they observed her eagerness. It seemed they had reached an unspoken agreement—Zi Yan's care had become their responsibility.
However, after a brief deliberation, they decided it was unwise to take her to the Central Plains with Brother Ming Cheng and the others. Instead, it was deemed more beneficial to leave her with Xiao Hua. Under his guidance, she could focus on steadily increasing her strength, better preparing herself for whatever revelations her origins might hold.
"We understand your eagerness to find your origins," Xiao Hua said with a faint, troubled smile, "but with your current strength, returning to your tribe might only result in more bullying." His tone softened as he continued, "For now, I'll take care of you and help you grow stronger."
Zi Yan's initial reaction was to protest fiercely, her small face scrunching up in defiance. However, his final words caught her attention, halting her outburst mid-thought.
"Really…?" Zi Yan's large, shimmering purple eyes widened as she gazed at Xiao Hua intently. "Will you help me become stronger?"
"That's right," Xiao Hua nodded gently. "But you'll need to bear with things for a little while."
His eyes shifted to the pile of medicinal ingredients scattered beside Zi Yan. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "I know eating medicinal ingredients raw must taste awful. How about I refine them into something more delicious and easier to consume, like medicinal pills?"
"Refine?" Zi Yan's ears perked up as her dark, inquisitive eyes lit with interest. "You mean you can make them taste better?"
"Exactly," Xiao Hua replied, his smile growing. "I'm an alchemist—a high-tier one, no less."
Refining medicinal pills was a labor-intensive process, yet Xiao Hua didn't seem the least bit troubled by the prospect. Converting the raw medicinal ingredients into palatable Yaowan was simple enough, especially with a touch of additional flavor to satisfy the little glutton.
(Note: Danwan/Yaowan - pills that have no real medicinal effect to a human and can potentially be harmful if consumed)
"As long as Big Brother helps me grow stronger and find my origins, I'll gladly be under your care!" Zi Yan beamed, her bright smile lighting up her youthful face.
After all, being looked after by a high-tier alchemist was a privilege anyone would envy. Only a fool would refuse such an opportunity.
"However," Xiao Hua interjected, raising his index finger with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "there's one condition." His tone carried an edge of authority that immediately made Zi Yan straighten up.
"Unless the medicinal ingredients are meant for sale or unclaimed, you are not to take anything already in someone's possession. Understood?"
"Okay, I understand!" Zi Yan nodded rapidly, her purple pigtails bouncing with each movement. The icy undertone in Xiao Hua's smile sent a shiver down her spine, convincing her that obedience was the wiser path. From that moment, she resolved to report her findings to Xiao Hua without fail.
Xun Er chuckled softly at Zi Yan's nervous reaction, her melodic giggle adding a touch of warmth to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, Ming Cheng and the others exchanged amused glances, their lips curving into small smiles.
With Xiao Hua watching over her, they felt reassured that Zi Yan would finally behave herself.