"I apologize for my earlier rudeness," Xiao Hua said, cupping his hands and offering a slight bow. His expression was awkward, a hint of genuine remorse softening the sharpness that had been on his face moments before.
Straightening his posture, he continued, "Also... I know it is extremely disrespectful of me, but your arrival here is due to my actions."
The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree trembled faintly, startled. It had never encountered such a terrifying suction force before—nor had it ever felt so helpless in the face of it. And yet, it could tell that the young man before it did not possess that level of power. It couldn't help but wonder if the true source of the force came from the terrifying beings residing within him.
Xiao Hua noticed the ancient tree's reaction and quickly offered further explanation, hoping to prevent any misunderstanding.
"Even I did not expect it to draw you here," he said. "I never imagined it would summon you instead of the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree of this current era. That one belonged to the prehistoric times, whereas you... you hail from the immemorial era."
"But the Bodhisattva Tree of this era has slowly been tainted by the negative emotions left behind by powerful Dou Di. I had hoped to summon it here using this method, so I could help it expelled those negative emotions. That's why... your appearance was beyond my expectations—even to me."
The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree fell silent, quietly processing the information Xiao Hua had shared. Time passed slowly, and only after an hour or two did the ancient tree finally stir with the faintest sign of movement.
Buzz! Buzz!
A strange vibration echoed from within the tree as a radiant emerald light burst forth from its massive body. The light coalesced into countless translucent hands that reached out toward Xiao Hua.
Without hesitation, Xiao Hua calmly closed his eyes and sat down cross-legged. He understood what the ancient tree desired from him, and thus, he offered no resistance.
As the ethereal hands made contact, gentle ripples began to spread across the surface of the ancient tree. Xiao Hua's figure slowly merged into the sea of emerald light, becoming still and silent—like a statue seated at the heart of the tree.
The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree sensed the young man's state and confirmed that he had entered deep meditation. Its feelings toward him were complex—tinged with curiosity, solemnity, and a faint trace of melancholy. The ancient tree understood that this was not the era it belonged to. It had been summoned here for one purpose: to pass the treasure it guarded to Xiao Hua.
Somehow, it also grasped that once it passed the treasure on, the mysterious force would return it to its original time. At the same time, it realized that the beings residing within Xiao Hua were not strong enough to manipulate such powers. The summoning must have come from a greater force hidden within him.
From Xiao Hua's explanation, the ancient tree had come to understand many things.
But the most striking revelation was the existence of another Bodhisattva Ancient Tree—a successor that lived in the current era. That alone hinted at its own demise, for only one Bodhisattva Ancient Tree could exist in the world at a time. Upon realizing this, the tree couldn't help but feel a wave of complex emotions.
Thus, upon hearing Xiao Hua's words, it couldn't help but feel a trace of sorrow and conflict.
But no life, no creation, endures forever—whether one is immortal or commands an unshakable empire. Time flows endlessly, indifferent to the will of any being. The world changes, whether one desires it or not.
So too would the ancient tree meet its end. Yet, it accepted this truth with serenity. With calm acceptance, it chose to embrace its fate—hoping that the next generation of the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree would flourish in the time to come.
For now, the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree simply allowed Xiao Hua to enjoy the treasures in peace and fell into a deep silence, letting time quietly pass.
…
After a few days into Xiao Hua's secluded cultivation, something unexpected occurred within the tranquil valley.
Zi Yan, who was usually full of energy and liveliness, began to show signs that something amiss after consuming the last batch of natural treasures allotted to her.
Lying on her back and gazing up at the sky, she gently patted her stomach. Her eyelids grew heavy, and a faint weakness appeared in her gaze as she looked toward Little Fairy Doctor. In a soft, barely audible voice, she murmured, "Sister Little Fairy Doctor… I'm…"
Alarmed, Little Fairy Doctor immediately rose to her feet and rushed over. Her face turned pale with worry, panic flashing in her eyes. She didn't understand what was happening—and in that moment, she found herself helpless, unable to offer even the slightest aid.
"Sister Little Fairy Doctor… what's happening to Sister Zi Yan?" Qing Lin asked anxiously. Over the past few days, she had grown closer to Zi Yan and had begun to become attached to the little princess. Now, seeing her in such a state filled her with worry.
Just as Little Fairy Doctor was pondering what to do, Zi Yan suddenly fell into a deep slumber. The moment she did, an unusual fluctuation of energy rippled through the small valley.
In response to the strange energy, glittering threads of substance-like purple light began to seep out from the empty space. The radiant strands flowed gently through the air before surrounding the sleeping, purple-clothed princess, slowly swirling around her like a protective current.
Upon witnessing this, Little Fairy Doctor's expression shifted. She seemed to understand what was happening. Without hesitation, she gently pulled Qing Lin close and quietly stepped back, giving the energy space to unfold.
Moments later, Zi Yan's body slowly rose into the air. As she ascended, the rich-purple threads began to converge and condense, forming a ten-foot-wide cocoon that gradually enveloped her sleeping figure.
Seeing this, Little Fairy Doctor let out a soft sigh of relief. She turned to Qing Lin, who still looked confused, and gently began to explain.
"There's nothing wrong. Xiao Hua once mentioned that Zi Yan was likely on the verge of a breakthrough. This must be what he meant. She's consumed enough natural treasures, and the energy within her body has finally reached the threshold needed for her advancement."
"Thank goodness…" Qing Lin exhaled deeply, her expression softening with visible relief.
With their worries eased, the two returned to their usual routines. Qing Lin resumed her cultivation, focusing on mastering the techniques Lady Azure had taught her, striving to refine her control and usage of her unique abilities.
Meanwhile, Little Fairy Doctor remained vigilant, quietly safeguarding the valley's peace.
A serene fragrance drifted through the lush green mountain valley, carried by the wind. From time to time, sizable Magical Beasts would wander into the area.
Each time this occurred, Little Fairy Doctor would calmly release her powerful aura. Instantly sensing the terrifying pressure, the Magical Beasts would bolt in fear, fleeing at full speed without daring to look back—praying that the presence behind that aura wouldn't give chase.
Deep within the valley, a rich-purple light shimmered faintly, hiding something extraordinary. At its heart, an enormous cocoon over ten feet wide pulsed gently with radiant energy. Though the being inside remained obscured, the majestic aura it emanated made one thing clear—this existence was far from ordinary.
...
The concept of time was always vague within the mountain forest—more so within the quiet, secluded valley.
By now, a month had passed since Xiao Hua entered his closed-door cultivation and since Zi Yan began her breakthrough.
During this time, the small valley received an unexpected visitor—one whose arrival surprised even Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin.
A young man arrived, carrying a massive black broadsword on his back. Rather than resembling a conventional blade with a sharp edge or pointed tip, it looked more like a giant metal ruler. The top of the sword appeared as if it had been sliced cleanly in half, revealing a smooth, mirror-like surface.
The surface of the pitch-black broadsword was adorned with faint, bizarre veined patterns that extended all the way to the hilt, covering nearly every inch. These intricate markings imbued the blade with a sense of profound mystery, adding depth to its otherwise plain, dark color.
The sheer size of the weapon made it almost taller than the young man himself, creating a striking and unusual image that naturally drew curious glances from both Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin.
This young man was none other than Xiao Yan, the protagonist of the novel Battle Through the Heavens.
His arrival in this secluded valley just a few days earlier still felt surreal. None of them could have imagined such a fateful encounter would take place here, in this remote corner of the world.
Xiao Yan had originally accepted a commission from the Thousand Medicinal House to serve as guards during an herb-gathering expedition. It was by pure coincidence that he ended up here.
While exploring the deeper regions of the medicinal basin, Yao Lao—residing within the ring on Xiao Yan's finger—suddenly sensed not only a rich concentration of rare medicinal plants but, more importantly, an extremely familiar presence.
Without hesitation, he informed Xiao Yan. After completing his duties with the mercenary group, Xiao Yan immediately broke away and followed the trail of that presence.
Having sensed their presence from the moment they entered the outer region of the medicinal basin, Little Fairy Doctor had been waiting outside the small valley and personally guided them in—though not without a warning to keep everything they saw here a secret.
Upon entering the valley, both Yao Lao and Xiao Yan were stunned by the abundance of medicinal plants of various types and grades. After receiving permission to use some of the herbs for alchemy practice, they began carefully picking low-grade ingredients for Xiao Yan to refine low-tier medicinal pills.
Back in the present, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao remained respectful of the space, neither interfering nor disturbing Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin.
"By the way… where's Cousin Xiao Hua? I haven't seen him at all since I arrived," Xiao Yan asked casually, his gaze drifting around the valley in search of his cousin's familiar figure.
"…He's in seclusion," Little Fairy Doctor turned to Xiao Yan, replied after a brief pause. "He's been focused on improving his pill refinement techniques… aiming to successfully refine a Tier 9 medicinal pill."
She hesitated at first but ultimately chose to speak truthfully. She could see the deep admiration and respect in Xiao Yan's eyes, and she trusted him.
Moreover, she was aware of the agreement Xiao Hua had made with Yao Lao—the illusionary old man who hovered silently beside Xiao Yan.
"Tier 9 medicinal pill?!" The one to cry out in shock wasn't Xiao Yan, but Yao Lao. "Has he actually managed to gather the necessary high-grade ingredients for such a pill?"
"He has," Little Fairy Doctor nodded. "He obtained them from an ancient ruin he stumbled upon."
"That's…" Yao Lao couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at Xiao Hua's fortune.
Now that he thought about it, many of the ingredients needed to refine the Bone Growing Blood Fusing Pill he had requested were extremely rare and difficult to find. And yet, Xiao Hua had managed to collect them.
It was only now that Yao Lao fully realized—Xiao Hua must have discovered an ancient ruin left behind by a truly powerful expert, one that contained those incredibly rare and high-grade medicinal plants. He couldn't help but grumble inwardly that the ruin didn't happen to include a Snow-Bone Ginseng. If it had, he was sure Xiao Hua would've already refined the pill for him.
Xiao Yan's heart stirred with both admiration and awe upon hearing that his cousin had entered seclusion to refine a Tier 9 medicinal pill. He was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Master… have you ever refined a Tier 9 medicinal pill before?" he asked, turning his gaze to Yao Lao.
His tone wasn't one of comparison, but genuine curiosity. He simply wanted to learn more about the challenges of Tier 9 pill refinement. After all, talking about it was one thing—actually achieving it was something else entirely.
"I've never attempted to refine a Tier 9 medicinal pill," Yao Lao said softly, shaking his head with a faint, rueful smile. "I once witnessed someone refining one in the past, but I've neither had the ability nor the necessary ingredients to try it myself."
As he spoke, a trace of awe and respect flickered in his aged eyes. To witness the refinement of a Tier 9 pill was a rare and invaluable experience—even for someone of his level.
"Not even Master has attempted it…" Xiao Yan murmured in disbelief, his mouth slightly open as his expression revealed the depth of his shock.
"Enough about him. You should focus on yourself," Yao Lao chided gently. "Don't let yourself become too caught up in pill refinement alone."
"Ah ha ha… I can't help it when it comes to Cousin Xiao Hua," Xiao Yan laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Especially now that he's attempting to refine a Tier 9 medicinal pill…"
"This child…" Yao Lao sighed and shook his head with a mixture of helplessness and amusement. Xiao Yan was always like this when it came to Xiao Hua—easily distracted.
But this time, he could understand why. After all, someone from his own family was planning to refine a Tier 9 medicinal pill. It would've been far stranger if Xiao Yan hadn't reacted at all, given how deeply he admired and respected his cousin.
Even he, who have deep experience in the world, couldn't help but feel astonished that Xiao Hua was actually attempting to raise his alchemy to the level needed to refine a tier-nine medicinal pill.
Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin quietly observed the two, their gazes filled with curiosity and subtle approval.
Over the past few days, they had come to realize that Xiao Yan's respect and admiration for Xiao Hua were sincere. Because of this, they did not treat him with coldness or suspicion during his stay in the valley.
Their eyes briefly swept to the black ruler strapped to his back. They understood that this so-called broadsword was not a weapon in the traditional sense, but rather a tool meant to suppress his Dou Qi flow and burden his movements. From this, they deduced that the young man was using it as a form of intense self-training.
Xiao Yan's training regimen was ruthless—merciless even—towards himself. Carrying such a heavy burden while restricting the flow of Dou Qi within his body would be a torment few cultivators dared to endure.
And yet, despite these restrictions, he had willingly left behind the comforts of clan life, gritting his teeth as he ventured into the treacherous Magic Beast Mountain Range to temper himself through battle.
According to him, his master had given him the black ruler after he advanced to the Dou Zhe stage, intending for him to use it as a form of training. At first, it made even the simplest movements extremely difficult, but over time, he gradually adapted to it—though not completely.
'It's no wonder Xiao Yan caught Xiao Hua's attention. Both of them possess the same ruthless determination toward themselves…' Little Fairy Doctor nodded inwardly, approving of Xiao Yan's relentless pursuit of strength.
There was a deep, unwavering determination in him—an unshakeable will forged through self-imposed trials. Like Xiao Hua, Xiao Yan was merciless only toward himself, never toward others.
Though neither considered themselves saints or heroes, both treated those close to them with unwavering kindness and loyalty. This shared demeanor and presence earned Xiao Yan her approval.
Qing Lin shared a similar sentiment, though her focus lay elsewhere.
'What's even more astonishing… is that he chose to become an alchemist on top of all this. Splitting one's focus between cultivation and alchemy is incredibly difficult, yet he still managed to become a Dou Shi, just like me…'
Qing Lin couldn't help but be impressed. She already knew that Xiao Hua wasn't an ordinary person—but Xiao Yan wasn't far behind either.
She was also surprised to encounter him here. She had heard about Xiao Yan from the loud, cheerful voices of Xiao Li and Xiao Ding, who often boasted that they had prepared this place so their little brother could live in peace. From what she'd gathered, she thought he would be heading toward the Tager Desert.
Yet fate had brought him here instead.
Over the past few days, she had grown close to him. They had fought side by side against Magical Beasts multiple times, helping each other and gradually building a friendship.
As for why she often left the small valley—it was because cultivation wasn't her only focus.
Qing Lin had already reached the level of a five-star Dou Shi, but she clearly understood that cultivation alone did not define true strength. Mastery of one's techniques was just as important—if not more so.
To refine her Dou Qi, temper her body, and grasp the full essence of her techniques—this was the path she had chosen, so she could stand stronger and support Young Master Xiao Hua even more.
Thus, she often left the small valley with Xiao Yan, or even alone sometimes, to challenge powerful Magical Beasts, using real combat to hone her instincts and perfect the Dou Techniques Xiao Hua had passed on to her.
Afte the discussion about Xiao Hua is over, none of them talked much about the situation. Xiao Yan focused on his training, whether that is his strength or alchemy. They remained in the small valley for a long time.
Time moved like a slow river under moonlight—steady, soundless, and unseen. Flowers bloomed and withered, leaves turned gold and fell, and almost half a year passed since Xiao Hua and Zi Yan enters a retreat.
Now, it was time for Xiao Yan to leave and head toward the Tager Desert. Although he felt a pang of disappointment at not being able to see his cousin, he understood well—refining a Tier 9 medicinal pill was no easy feat. So while he was disappointed, he didn't dwell on it.
Just as he turned to leave, Little Fairy Doctor stepped forward and spoke in a slightly distant tone, "Xiao Yan, there are a few Heavenly Flames waiting for you in the Tager Desert."
Her words struck Xiao Yan and Yao Lao like a bolt of lightning.
They stopped in their tracks and spun around, eyes wide. Their expressions lit up with excitement and disbelief, as if they had just heard the most thrilling news in the world.
Their urge to leave the small valley instantly vanished as they perked up, hoping they hadn't misheard Little Fairy Doctor's words.
"Really?!" Xiao Yan's face lit up, an uncontrollable smile spreading across his lips as he turned back around, his voice brimming with excitement.
He paused for a moment, eyebrows knitting together as he carefully processed her words. But the more he thought about it, the more stunned he became.
"Wait... a few? Did you just say a few Heavenly Flames, Lady Fairy Doctor? Cousin Xiao Hua actually found more than one?!"
His shock was completely understandable—and Yao Lao, still residing within the ring, found it just as difficult to believe.
"That's right," Little Fairy Doctor replied with a nod. "He entrusted them to your brothers for safekeeping."
Seeing the worry flicker in Xiao Yan's eyes, she added in a reassuring tone, "You don't have to worry. He's sealed their auras perfectly using his Dou Qi. No one will be able to detect them—and certainly not open them—without him noticing."
"But as expected of Xiao Hua, he left you a test," Little Fairy Doctor added with a faint smile.
Those final words made both Xiao Yan and Yao Lao smile helplessly, already resigned to the idea that Xiao Yan would need to pass whatever trial Xiao Hua had prepared in order to obtain the Heavenly Flames.
Yet, rather than discouragement, excitement and determination surged within Xiao Yan. His heart trembled, not with fear, but with anticipation—and it showed plainly on his face.
The thought of possessing his own Heavenly Flame stirred a deep desire within him. He had personally witnessed the alchemy skills of both his master and his cousin. After refining a few elixirs and basic medicinal pills himself, he had come to fully understand just how important a Heavenly Flame was to an alchemist.
That was why he was determined to pass this test.
Not just for a single Heavenly Flame—but for several. Finding even one was considered a miracle, let alone multiple. He had no idea how Xiao Hua had managed to obtain them, but he was deeply moved by the fact that his cousin would entrust such heavenly treasures to him.
Without wasting another moment, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao bid farewell to Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin, sincerely thanking them for their hospitality.
They couldn't wait any longer—they had to head for the Tager Desert.
'No matter what happens in the future... if Cousin Xiao Hua ever needs me, I will never hesitate!'
As that oath formed silently in his heart, Xiao Yan unfurled his purple wings and shot off in the direction of the Tager Desert, determination and gratitude burning fiercely in his chest.
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