Chapter 722

"Huh, so comfortable." Xiao Yan lay beside the hot spring, savoring the warmth.

A rustling sound arose; Xiao Yan turned toward it and saw a figure slowly emerging from the mist.

Xiao Yixian's bare feet stepped on the grass as she walked slowly into the white vapor, wrapping her body in a large towel, her jade hand gripping its edges. The oversized towel barely covered her entire form—and naturally, it hung loosely on her.

Reaching the pool's edge, Xiao Yixian gently grasped both sides of the towel, bowed her head slightly, and walked forward with a shy expression. Her skin, framed by the towel, appeared even paler and more delicate, stirring an instinctive urge to cherish her.

Though her figure was not as voluptuous as Cai Lin's or Ya Fei's, Xiao Yixian was slender where it mattered, and her bound hair gave her an even purer, more innocent air.

This utterly different appearance from the Demon Fire Space left Xiao Yan staring, mouth agape, as he involuntarily swallowed.

With a soft swish, Xiao Yixian released the towel—it slipped from her body, revealing her pale, slender frame.

She lightly tapped the water's surface with her bare feet and slowly stepped into the hot water, warmth instantly enveloping her entire body.

"What's wrong? You've seen it before." Xiao Yixian floated toward him, playfully scolding.

Xiao Yan's mind spun instantly; his gaze held admiration as he said seriously, "I've seen it before, but every time I see your beauty, I'm moved and surprised. You're unique in every moment—I treasure every second we spend together."

"To a mortal like me, even seeing an immortal maiden a thousand times feels like the first time—utterly breathtaking."

Hearing Xiao Yan's praise, Xiao Yixian's already delicate cheeks flushed with a sweet smile, her eyes shimmering with happiness.

Xiao Yixian nestled warmly against Xiao Yan; both looked up at the stars, savoring the quiet presence of each other.

Xiao Yixian slowly raised her head, meeting Xiao Yan's gaze, her eyes entwining with his. Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak—but then closed again.

"Don't worry about anything. I'm already a Dou Di now—I can resolve everything, whether it's the Eternal Calamity Poison or anything else." Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yixian; he understood her inner fears without needing to ask.

Xiao Yixian had always deeply feared her Eternal Calamity Poison, terrified of harming those around her.

Precisely because of the Eternal Calamity Poison, Xiao Yixian radiated a unique aura that made others instinctively want to embrace and cherish her.

Moonlight descended, casting a soft, hazy glow over the hot spring. Outside the valley, birds chirped joyfully, their melodies like beautiful music, offering a song to this perfect moment.

Xiao Yan gently wrapped his arms around Xiao Yixian, drawing her into his embrace, silently savoring this exquisite instant.

As the melodious music played, the two sank deeper into each other's arms, the hot spring filled with tender, intimate warmth. Xiao Yan's hand rested on Xiao Yixian's waist, gently stroking her back; Xiao Yixian rested her head on his shoulder, slowly closing her eyes.

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Sunlight filtered through the curtains, bathing them in a warm, sweet atmosphere. From the Hundred Herb Hot Spring to the Three-Flavor Wooden Cottage, now, on the cottage's bed, Xiao Yixian had awakened, nestled in Xiao Yan's arms, her slender fingers gently brushing his soft hair.

Xiao Yan gazed deeply into Xiao Yixian's eyes; their gazes met in midair, frozen in an eternal moment.

Xiao Yixian whispered, "Aren't you getting up? Didn't you say you'd go to the heart of the Dou Qi Continent to help the Bodhi Ancient Tree recover?"

Hearing her words, Xiao Yan straightened up indignantly. "What kind of talk is that? You're underestimating me?"

Suddenly, Xiao Yan whispered softly into Xiao Yixian's ear: "When I gave birth to Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai—and even Xun Er's second child—it wasn't done in one night."

Hearing Xiao Yan's wolfish words, Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed crimson—how could that even be possible!

In the days that followed, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian lived a life of "male plowing, female weaving" in Zao Hua Gu: by day, they hung the sign "Healing the Sick with Medicine" and traveled to treat patients; by night, they returned home to "cultivate herbs."

One month later, two people entered the heart of the Dou Qi Continent—a world even a Nine Star Dou Sheng could barely enter.

"This is the heart of the world—the place where the Bodhi Ancient Tree resides?" Xiao Yixian looked around in surprise. This place was utterly unsuitable for plant life!

As Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian stepped into the heart of the world, an immense pressure instantly crushed down—if Xiao Yan had not already reached Dou Di, Xiao Yixian could never have withstood such terror.

This was due to the extreme heat and pressure deep within the earth's core—the Dou Qi Continent's crust and mantle, composed of molten rock under scorching heat and crushing pressure. Life here was extraordinarily difficult, yet this very environment forged a unique ecosystem.

Everywhere here were scorching lava flows. The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Cave Mansion lay in one corner of this world, but the Bodhi Ancient Tree resided at its very center, enduring far greater pressure—only the Bodhi Ancient Tree, among all below Dou Di, could survive here.

Thus, unless the Bodhi Ancient Tree revealed itself, no matter how hard you searched, you could never find it.

"Yes, precisely because of this, the Bodhi Ancient Tree is so miraculous—it's constantly nourished by the entire Dou Qi Continent, not quite a Dou Di, yet more than one." Xiao Yan had not forgotten the scene when the Bodhi Ancient Tree fought the severely wounded Dou Di.

Though that Dou Di was grievously wounded, the chasm between Dou Di and Dou Sheng was insurmountable—yet the Bodhi Ancient Tree had still managed to trade blows with him.

Even if the Bodhi Ancient Tree drew power from the heart, its inherent strength was undeniable.

Had the Bodhi Ancient Tree possessed complete spiritual awareness and its own purpose, it would have become an Emperor in ancient times.

Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes; an invisible Soul Power seeped into the heart of the world, piercing through layers of fiery rock and lava. Soon, he tore open Space, carrying Xiao Yixian straight to the Bodhi Ancient Tree's location.

Deep in the heart, where heat and pressure were extreme and no sunlight reached, a towering emerald tree suddenly appeared before them—an impossible sight, surreal beyond belief.

The Bodhi Ancient Tree had now grown nearly ten thousand zhang tall, its trunk thick and sturdy, its branches dense with leaves, each leaf like a polished emerald gem, shimmering faintly. Its roots plunged deep into the earth, supporting its colossal form.

The Bodhi Ancient Tree emitted a gentle radiance from within the heart, like a lantern of the Dou Qi Continent, bringing hope and vitality to all.

Shhhhh—

The sudden appearance startled the Bodhi Ancient Tree—it feared another intruder seeking its Tree Spirit. But when it saw it was Xiao Yan, it lowered its guard, extending a branch to gently brush Xiao Yan's shoulder in greeting.

"Old Tree, long time no see. Today I've come to repay my debt—to restore you fully to your peak, thanks to your Bodhi Heart." Xiao Yan bowed to the Bodhi Ancient Tree, producing a Grade Nine Golden Pill and numerous pre-prepared Medicinal Essences.

Seeing the life force radiating from the Grade Nine Golden Pill, even the Bodhi Ancient Tree was stunned; its branches trembled rapidly, clearly ecstatic.

Xiao Yan handed the Medicinal Essences to Xiao Yixian, then entered the Tree Spirit Space with the Elixir. Xiao Yixian tended to the trunk wounded by the ancient Dou Di; Xiao Yan restored the inner Tree Spirit Space.

With a whoosh, Xiao Yixian waved her jade hand—Life Flame surged forth, enveloping the Bodhi Ancient Tree, supplying life force as the wood-element fire began repairing its old wounds.

Xiao Yan surveyed the surroundings, entering the Tree Spirit Space once more. Now, the space was vastly different from before—vaster, and devoid of the former ominous aura.

Shhh! The Tree Spirit drifted gently downward; each movement of its branches released a torrent of life force.

"Heh, it seems Old Tree, you've recovered well. In another thousand years, you should emerge to bestow blessings upon the world." Xiao Yan smiled at the Tree Spirit, now grown to a hundred zhang tall.

Once, the Bodhi Ancient Tree's Spirit had been on the brink of death, its consciousness completely suppressed and corroded by the Dou Di's negative emotions, reduced to less than ten zhang in size—until, by sheer chance, it met Xiao Yan, who not only possessed the Sub-Flame of Void Swallowing Flame but was also a top-tier Alchemist, helping it reclaim control of its trunk.

Shhhhh—

Xiao Yan placed the Elixir on a branch, handing it to the Bodhi Ancient Tree, then asked: "Bodhi Brother, you're the only being to have survived since ancient times—do you know where the passage to the Great Thousand World was located back then?"

Xiao Yan didn't truly expect an answer—the Bodhi Ancient Tree lacked complete spiritual awareness, couldn't even speak, possessing only basic instincts.

Appearing once every thousand years to bestow the Bodhi Three Treasures was one such instinct.

Shhhhhh—Yet to Xiao Yan's surprise, the Bodhi Ancient Tree's branch nodded, then pointed directly at him.

"Me?" Xiao Yan frowned, puzzled. Did it mean he had become a Dou Di?

Then, sudden clarity struck him—he gasped: "You mean the Xiao Clan? No—in the former Xiao Realm?!"

The Xiao Clan's Dou Di was the first Dou Di on the Dou Qi Continent—he established the very method of Qi cultivation. Thus, the Xiao Clan's Clan Mark greatly enhances Qi cultivation; only the Xiao Clan possesses such a dramatic boost—other Dou Di Bloodlines vary wildly, and any Qi enhancement is merely incidental!

Therefore, the one who opened the passage to the Great Thousand World was most likely Xiao Clan's Dou Emperor, Xiao Potian!

(End of Chapter)