Chapter 629

Xiao Yan glanced at Xiao Yixian, who was retreating like a startled little lamb, and thought silently: "Hehehe, only the three of us are here—where do you think you can run? Hehehe~~~"

Xiao Yan knew some things couldn't be forced, couldn't be rushed; he rubbed his nose and looked innocently at Xun Er, who was "completely inexperienced" and knew nothing, saying: "If that's the case, then I'll start refining the Demon Fire Energy together with Xun Er."

Xiao Yan, clad in a milky-white Demon Fire robe, walked up to Xun Er. As he approached, a wave of warm heat surged toward her, making her body feel warm, her blood boil, rush upward—not only did her powdered cheeks turn red, but even her neck and ears flushed crimson.

"Brother Xiao Yan…" Xun Er's cheeks flushed, her heart pounding like a startled deer; she knew that Xiao Yan was now wrapped only in a thin layer of flame, in a state of utter exposure.

Moreover, this was a completely sealed space—how could she forget their pact as a Sage Emperor? Young love, childhood companions, destined for each other—now there were no barriers between them.

Innocent childhood, growing up together, dry tinder and blazing fire!! These aren't just idioms—they're the process!

The timing, the place, the harmony—all aligned!

Oh, wait—there seems to be one extra person.

Xiao Yixian hadn't noticed her own breathing had quickened, her pearl-like teeth gently biting her red lips. Whether due to the unique ability of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire or not, vivid images flooded her mind.

After all, she had guessed some things.

The calmest of them all was Xiao Yan; now, his eyes gazed at his nose, his nose at his mouth, his mouth at his heart, his heart at tranquility—he said calmly: "Xun Er, I'll purify the energy through the Pure Lotus Demon Fire's origin and transmit it into your body. Just activate your Cultivation Method and use the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to protect yourself and absorb it properly."

"Huh? Oh, yes." Hearing Xiao Yan's calm voice, Xun Er quickly gathered her scattered thoughts, internally ashamed—Xiao Yan was kindly helping her improve her Cultivation Realm, yet she'd been thinking such lewd thoughts…

"Cough, cough—extend your hand. I'll transmit the Demon Fire energy to you." Xiao Yan smiled faintly and slowly extended his hand; Xun Er nodded lightly and placed her jade hand upon his palm.

Seeing Xun Er's jade hand extended and seized by Xiao Yan's large hand, Xiao Yixian silently mourned inside: Done. Fallen into Xiao's claws.

Xiao Yan's large hand gripped Xun Er's soft, boneless jade hand, then activated the Burning Scripture. The entire Demon Fire Space's Demon Fire energy surged into Xiao Yan's body, then, through the Demon Fire origin and the Falling Heart Flame, was refined into pure Demon Fire energy, half of which was channeled along his arm's meridians and sent outward.

Whoosh—a strand of pure milky-white flame energy shot swiftly along Xiao Yan's arm, and under Xiao Yixian's gaze, the Demon Fire energy entered Xun Er's body. Whoosh—the moment the Burning Scripture's suppression lifted, the energy surged wildly, then—

The terrifying heat of the Demon Fire immediately merged and clashed with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame—whooosh, whooosh, whooosh!! The milky-white flame erupted instantly, and within an instant, all clothing was incinerated to ash.

Had Xun Er not possessed extremely high Cultivation Realm and the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to protect her body, no ordinary person could have absorbed the Demon Fire energy of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire.

But Demon Fire protects the body—it doesn't protect clothing. Instantly, this realm, like spring's arrival, brimmed with a springtime aura.

"Ah!" Xun Er never expected this twist—this sudden scene terrified her; she hastily covered herself, teeth clenched on her red lips, face flushed with shy embarrassment, her beautiful eyes—so full they seemed to drip water—fixed fiercely on Xiao Yan.

She finally understood now—what Xiao Yixian's expression had meant! It was deliberate, definitely deliberate!

"Brother Xiao Yan, you! You're… bad." Xun Er's mind went blank; she stammered for a long time, unable to find words, only one word escaping her lips: "bad."

Hearing Xun Er's tender, alluring reproach, Xiao Yan's eyes instantly filled with blood, his breathing heavy as an ox.

Gazing at the jade beauty, her three thousand silken tresses cascading like a waterfall down her slender willow waist—perhaps stirred by the Demon Fire's emotional influence—Xun Er's peach-blossom-precise face now held less of her former elegance, and more of a bewitching allure; paired with the faint blush on her cheeks, a single glance made Xiao Yan's soul reel.

The large hand still gripping Xun Er's jade hand, Xiao Yan gently pulled—drawing her into his arms, feeling the warmth of the embrace.

Xiao Yan had embraced Xun Er many times before, but never like this.

It was truly vastly different—a current surged through Xiao Yan's entire body.

Xiao Yan looked down at the girl before him; instantly their eyes met, filled with tender affection. Xiao Yan whispered softly: "How bad?"

"It's just… really bad, wu-wu."

Xiao Yan leaned down and kissed deeply; Xun Er's body instantly softened, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist as passion surged, surrendering completely.

At this moment, the Burning Scripture and the Gu Clan's Cultivation Method activated simultaneously; flames rose from both Xiao Yan and Xun Er, and both began Cultivation, absorbing the Demon Fire energy.

Milky-white and golden Demon Fire surged upward, forming a fiery orb; the Pure Lotus Demon Fire and the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame merged, and the entire space's Demon Fire energy flowed like a tide into this fiery sphere.

Xiao Yan's Demon Fire energy became a solid torrent, pouring into Xun Er's Dou Qi Qi Whirlpool, then flowing through the extraordinary meridians into every part of her body, finally transforming into Cultivation Realm—both their Cultivation Realms climbed steadily, fueled by the Demon Fire energy.

Meanwhile, outside the fiery orb, Xiao Yixian suffered terribly—her gaze pierced the fire, faintly seeing two figures tightly entwined, their two flames intertwining as they absorbed the Demon Fire energy.

Though separated by flame, Xiao Yixian wasn't blind.

Xiao Yixian involuntarily swallowed saliva; whether due to the high temperature of the Demon Fire Space or not, she felt parched and dry-mouthed.

Her entire body burning hot, Xiao Yixian quickly turned away, refusing to look or listen to the indecent sounds, frantically sealing her five senses with Dou Qi, sitting cross-legged with her back to them, beginning Cultivation.

Even after sealing her five senses, Xiao Yixian still felt intense heat—only by summoning the power of her Eternal Calamity Poison Body was she able to suppress it.

After only a short while of quiet, a pair of large hands suddenly embraced her slender willow waist from behind.

"Ah! Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yixian, having sealed her senses, hadn't noticed when Xiao Yan appeared behind her; as he held her tight, her body twitched slightly in soft resistance, her heart pounding wildly, cheeks flushed as she whispered: "U-um… Xun Er is right beside us."

Xiao Yan leaned close to Xiao Yixian and smiled: "Xun Er is… resting. Cultivating."

Xiao Yixian instantly sensed danger—but also a strange, wonderful thrill.

Still, she shook her head quickly; her nature had always been this way—inevitably, inner conflict arose.

Within this Demon Fire Space, they were utterly cut off from the Dou Qi Continent—just like back in Zao Hua Gu, when that thick fog had separated them from the world, freeing them from all worldly concerns.

And now, Xiao Yan had completed all his tasks. Behind him, Xun Er lay curled on a milky-white lotus flame, the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame like a blanket, both Demon Fires enveloping her body as she absorbed the energy, Cultivating and resting.

He was the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan—charged with the duty of expanding the clan's lineage!

The Xiao Clan's strength was sufficient—now its numbers must grow too!

"Xiao Yixian, your Cultivation Realm has reached Sage Emperor—any anomalies with the Poison Pill?"

"Huh? The Poison Pill hasn't changed. The Qian Mu Ye Jing has also evolved to Nine Rank and can now absorb toxins generated by the Eternal Calamity Poison Body." Xiao Yixian glanced back at the sleeping Xun Er, relaxed her body, stopped struggling, and leaned into Xiao Yan's embrace.

"What about the Eternal Calamity Poison Body? The Dou Qi Continent has never seen one break through to Sage Emperor—the original creator of the Poison Pill method likely died at that very level." Xiao Yan gently lifted Xiao Yixian and placed her on his lap, arms wrapped around her waist, as if casually chatting.

Xiao Yixian leaned her head back against Xiao Yan's chest, shook her head: "No changes—it's the same as before, only the upper limit of toxins it can absorb has increased."

"Oh? Then it seems necessary to conduct a more thorough examination."

Hearing Xiao Yan's sudden shift in tone, Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes widened in alarm; she struggled to stand, but how could she escape once held in his arms?

"N-no, no need—I feel fine." Xiao Yixian's voice was hushed, as if afraid of waking Xun Er.

"That won't do—I'm your attending physician, I must understand your physical condition. If there are hidden dangers in your Eternal Calamity Poison Body, we must detect them early." Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed, blinked once—this Demon Fire Space was perfect—wasn't this just a private room?

Hehehe, escaping a private room? Heavenly Venerable of Yan excels at being a ghost.

Xiao Yixian's beautiful eyes widened in shock, her body tensing—this is unlicensed, unprofessional—violates medical ethics!

She felt Xiao Yan's body behind her growing hot—whether from the Pure Lotus Demon Fire or the Xuan Huang Flame, she couldn't tell.

"Wait a moment," Xiao Yixian lowered her voice as much as possible, her tone hurried and softly indignant.

Xiao Yan's large hand cupped Xiao Yixian's lovely face and smiled: "How can you break your promise? Back in the Xiao Realm, you swore it."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Yixian grew even more flustered, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into—back then, she had been tricked and cajoled into agreeing without thinking.

Xiao Yixian gave Xiao Yan a sultry, half-irritated glance; she knew full well that when she had rushed in a year ago, there had been no turning back. And on the Dou Qi Continent, besides Xiao Yan, who else could there be?

Having refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, Xiao Yan might as well be called the overlord of the Dou Qi Continent. On this world where strength alone dictates all, who would dare challenge him for a woman—truly, do they not fear death?

And in Xiao Yixian's heart, there could never be another man—this man had claimed her entire life.

"First, put your clothes away—don't burn them again," Xiao Yixian whispered, her voice as soft as a falling needle; her mind was now utterly blank.

Having received Xiao Yixian's consent, Xiao Yan, after only a brief rest, once again ignited his Xuan Huang Fire. But Xiao Yan knew he must not rush—he moved with extreme gentleness, embracing Xiao Yixian as he began circulating his Dou Qi, delving deep into her body to examine the condition of the Eternal Calamity Poison.

After stowing her clothes in her Storage Ring, Xiao Yixian revealed skin as smooth and lustrous as jade, curling into Xiao Yan's arms, feeling the warmth between them.

Then Xiao Yan began his Cultivation. After all, he had only refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire—he had not yet fused it to evolve the Burning Scripture, and the Pure Lotus Demon Fire had also left him a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Spiritual Soul illusionary Dou Technique, as well as a quasi-Imperial-level Sealing Array Dou Technique, designed to complement the Demon Fire, akin to the Five Wheel Departing Fire Array.

Of course, Xiao Yan had not forgotten—he still had not refined the Fire Cloud Water Flame. Though ranked sixteenth, lower even than the Sea Heart Flame, still, even a mosquito's leg is meat.

After chatting with Xiao Yixian for a while, Xiao Yan turned to his real work, beginning diligent Cultivation once more within the Demon Fire Space.

Cultivation is arduous—just as harvesting rice in autumn requires bending low and working hard, it demands sweat and toil. And bending low to harvest rice is not enough; as spring sowing leads to autumn harvest, so too must one pour sweat in spring to reap abundance in autumn.

Just as he had once planted lotus flowers, sowing the blue lotus was equally grueling—but in the end, Xiao Yan had harvested two tiny lotus seeds.

Cultivation is like farming—it requires brute strength, water, nutrients, and tools to loosen the soil. Now, within the Strange Fire Space, Xiao Yan already possessed Strange Fire Energy and Strange Fire.

In a world like the Dou Qi Continent, where strength reigns supreme, Cultivation is the foundational trial every cultivator must endure. Diligent effort transforms into Dou Qi, elevating one's Cultivation Realm.

Fortunately, Xiao Yan had always cultivated diligently; otherwise, he could never have reached this point.

From the Hundred Herb Garden to the Three Flavors Study, from the Dark Abyss Poison Flame to the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, then to the Pure Lotus Demon Fire—this proves Xiao Yan's tireless effort and unwavering resolve.

Even though Xiao Yan had already refined the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, fusing Strange Fires remained immensely difficult. Fortunately, Xiao Yan "had experience"—though not much, he had at least undergone the process of fusing Strange Fires before.

Though this time he was fusing two Strange Fires, he was not in a hurry. He had time—he could refine one first, then the other, and finally fuse both together.

At first, the two Strange Fires resisted the Burning Scripture's circulation pathways, but gradually they grew obedient. Though initially, refining both simultaneously was still difficult for Xiao Yan—the Strange Fires repelled each other.

But the Burning Scripture was such a miraculous Cultivation Method: given enough time, even reaching the Three Flavors Study was not impossible.

And so, the cultivation within the Demon Fire Space continued once more for a full year.