Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

Looking inward, she was shocked to discover that 80% of the battle qi she had cultivated had been quietly absorbed by the fetus in her womb.

Before leaving, Su Baichen left two Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pills (which nourish the fetus) for Cai Lin just in case, and Cai Lin had already taken them.

However, within a year, those two Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pills were completely absorbed.

Afterwards, Cai Die gave all the Heavenly Soul Fusion Blood Pills that Su Baichen had left for her to Cai Lin.

Finally, as if the child was almost full, the absorption rate slowed down.

"I was really scared then," Cai Lin said, her voice trembling slightly.

"It's not that I'm afraid my cultivation will stagnate, it's that I'm afraid... I won't be able to take good care of her."

Finally, Xiao Cai and she were of one mind, and Xiao Cai took the initiative to circulate her cultivation technique, transferring all the gains from her cultivation to the fetus.

Two souls, nurturing one life. In those days, she would often wake up in the middle of the night, feeling the baby's movements in her womb, and she and Xiao Cai would look at each other with bitter smiles in their spiritual world, and then embrace and weep.

On the day Su Ling'er was born, the sky was filled with eight-colored clouds.

Cai Lin struggled in excruciating pain for the entire afternoon, nearly fainting several times, with only one thought in her mind: If only he were here.

When the child was born, a tremendous energy swept through the entire delivery room, producing not the cry of an ordinary infant, but a clear and melodious sound like the cry of a phoenix.

The baby girl was surrounded by a seven-colored radiance, and her aura was already at the Dou Zong realm, even stronger than her mother.

In the end, it was Yao Chen outside who noticed something was wrong and stepped in to cover up the strange phenomenon to prevent evil people from spying on it.

"She was born a mid-level Dou Zong, and possesses the bloodline of the Eight-Colored Devouring Python," Cai Lin said softly, her tone filled with pride as well as deep weariness.

"Hahaha! Good! As expected of my daughter, Su Baichen!" Su Baichen couldn't help but laugh out loud, his eyes full of joy.

"You're still laughing!" Cai Lin suddenly looked up, tears welling up without warning.

"Do you know how much pain I went through when I gave birth to her? I thought... I thought I was going to die!"

The images she had deliberately forgotten surged back: the sheets soaked with sweat, the lips bitten until they bled, the unconscious "white dust" sounds she uttered when she was in a daze, and the despair of being so weak after childbirth that she couldn't even hold her baby.

Everyone was happy for her, and everyone praised Ling'er's extraordinary qualities, but no one knew the empty pain in her heart when she looked at her sleeping daughter late at night.

Su Baichen's smile froze on his face.

He suddenly saw the immense weight behind her nonchalant demeanor—he saw her facing the fear of pregnancy alone, enduring the life-or-death ordeal of childbirth, and striving to be a composed mother amidst the anxiety of stagnant cultivation.

Just now, he had only noticed his daughter's outstanding appearance.

"I'm sorry..." Su Baichen hugged Cai Lin tightly, his voice hoarse.

“I wasn’t there when you needed me most.”

This apology was like opening a floodgate. Cai Lin's pent-up grievances, fears, and loneliness, which she had suppressed for ten years, erupted completely at this moment.

She burst into tears in his arms, her fists weakly pounding his chest, as if she wanted to cry out all the waiting and torment of the past ten years.

"I...I'm so scared...scared that you won't come back...scared that Ling'er won't see her father...scared that I can't go on alone..." She sobbed uncontrollably, her words incoherent.

Su Baichen simply hugged her tighter, stroking her back repeatedly, letting his tears soak his chest.

He knew that at this moment, words were inadequate and powerless; only this real embrace could gradually fill the void of those ten years.

She cried for an unknown amount of time before her sobs gradually subsided. Su Baichen looked down and saw that Cai Lin had fallen into a deep sleep, her face still streaked with tears, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, like a child who had finally found a sense of security.

Her body and mind were exhausted—ten years of waiting, ten years of bearing it all alone, ten years of hiding all her vulnerability beneath the majesty of a queen.

Only in this embrace could she allow herself to completely let down her guard.

Su Baichen carefully adjusted her position to make her more comfortable.

He placed a kiss as light as a feather on her forehead.

He murmured softly, "Sleep well, sleep peacefully."

"This time, I will stay here."

Chapter 220 Xiao Xun'er Arrives

Two days later, footsteps were heard again in front of the courtyard.

A young girl in a light green dress stood in front of the courtyard gate, her eyes clear as autumn water, gazing expectantly at the quiet courtyard before her.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, is Big Brother here?" Xiao Xun'er asked softly, her voice carrying a touch of girlish gentleness.

Xiao Yu stood beside her, her slender figure accentuated by her close-fitting clothes. She looked at the tightly closed courtyard gate and shook her head: "I only heard it casually from an elder, I can't be sure."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the black-clad youth beside her—Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan felt his cousin's gaze, thought for a moment, and said calmly, "They should be here. Zi Yan and Su Ling'er haven't come to see us these past few days. Given their lively nature, they wouldn't be so quiet unless they had something important to do."

As soon as he finished speaking, a clear laugh came from behind the three of them.

"Are you here to see Ling'er?"

The three of them turned around at the same time, only to see Zi Yan standing behind them. Her purple dress was particularly eye-catching in the morning light. She had her arms crossed over her chest and wore her signature playful smile.

"Senior Sister Ziyan!" the three exclaimed in unison.

Zi Yan smiled and waved her hand: "Don't be shy, come with me!"

She strode to the courtyard gate, raised her hand and gently knocked on the door, her voice tinged with a hint of pride: "Little Ling'er, your sister Ziyan is here!"

A short while later, the door creaked open.

The woman who opened the door was dressed in an ice-blue long dress, her hair was tied up in a high bun, and her expression was as cold and aloof as frost and snow.

Her gaze lingered on Zi Yan for a moment, then slowly swept over Xiao Xun'er and the other two, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

“Miss Ziyan.” Ningbing’s voice was as clear and steady as her name.

Zi Yan quickly explained, "These people are also Ling'er's friends. They came to visit today."

Upon hearing this, Ningbing hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside to make way for her: "Since you are a friend of Miss, please come in."

"Thank you." Xiao Xun'er nodded slightly, her demeanor exuding an elegance beyond her years.

The four followed Zi Yan into the courtyard. A faint medicinal fragrance filled the air, refreshing and pleasant.

Walking along the road, Xiao Xun'er couldn't help but ask softly, "Senior Sister Zi Yan, who was that woman just now...?"

"Oh, you mean Ningbing?" Ziyan waved her hand casually.

"I've heard Ling'er mention that she's Su Baichen's subordinate in charge of managing medicinal herbs. She's quite skilled and cautious."

Xiao Xun'er nodded gently, saying nothing more, but her gaze seemed thoughtful.

Turning past a rockery, the scenery in the courtyard suddenly opened up. Under a tall tree, a beautiful little girl was standing on tiptoe, trying to pick the reddest flower on the branch.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around abruptly, her big, dark eyes instantly lighting up.

"You've arrived!"

Su Ling'er cheered and flew over like a little butterfly, spreading her arms wide.

Seeing this, Zi Yan subconsciously opened her arms and a smug smile appeared on her face.

However, the next second, Su Ling'er swept past her and plunged into Xiao Xun'er's arms.

“Ling’er, I…” Zi Yan’s arms froze in mid-air, her smile frozen.

Seeing Zi Yan's embarrassed expression, Xiao Xun'er couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. Then she bent down and picked up Su Ling'er.

The little girl giggled in his arms, her little hands tightly wrapped around Xiao Xun'er's neck.

"Ling'er, I missed you, so I came to see you," Xiao Xun'er said softly, giving Ling'er a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead.

Not to be outdone, Su Ling'er immediately returned the kiss with a "smack" on Xiao Xun'er's cheek, proudly raising her chin: "I won't be at a disadvantage!"

Zi Yan, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back any longer. She put her hands on her hips and said in feigned anger, "Su Ling'er! Didn't you see me opening my arms to hug you? Why did you hug Xun'er instead!"

"Hehe, mind your own business!" Su Ling'er made a face at Zi Yan, then snuggled her little head into Xiao Xun'er's arms.

"You, you heartless little brat!" Zi Yan stepped forward angrily, pinched Ling'er's chubby cheeks, and deliberately messed up her carefully styled hair.

"Ah! Sister Xun'er, save me!" Su Ling'er laughed and dodged at the same time, her small body twisting and turning in Xiao Xun'er's arms, her silvery laughter filling the entire courtyard.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu stood aside, watching this heartwarming scene, and couldn't help but smile.

Xiao Yan's gaze unconsciously drifted to the depths of the courtyard, to the tightly closed door—he knew that Ling'er's mysterious father lived there, who was also the mysterious powerhouse from Wutan City.

This small courtyard is the one that Elder Su Qian arranged for them back then.

After Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor left the academy to travel the mainland, Ling'er gradually grew up under the care of Cai Die and Yun Yun.

One day, Ling'er got lost while chasing a colorful butterfly in the back mountain of the academy and happened to meet Xiao Xun'er, who was cultivating.

Ling'er was only three years old at the time, with tears on her pink face, clinging to Xiao Xun'er's clothes and refusing to let go.

Xiao Xun'er, with a soft heart, sent Ling'er back to the courtyard, only to find out that she was Su Baichen's daughter.

Later, Xiao Yu often accompanied Xun'er to the meeting, and Ling'er liked her cheerful personality very much.

As for Xiao Yan, through his persistent efforts, Yao Chen accepted him as a disciple.

In the days that followed, he quietly learned that it was Su Baichen who persuaded Yao Chen, which led to Yao Chen accepting him as a disciple.

Upon learning of this, Xiao Yan wanted to visit Su Baichen, but Su Baichen had already left.

Cai Lin went into seclusion to cultivate after giving birth, making up for the cultivation level that had been delayed due to pregnancy.

After clearing customs, she discovered that her daughter already had her own little social circle.

After observing for a long time, Cai Lin saw that Xiao Xun'er treated Ling'er sincerely, and remembered that Su Baichen had privately mentioned that this girl had an extraordinary identity, being a direct descendant of an ancient family, but with a pure and kind heart. Only then did she feel at ease and let them interact.

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around." Xiao Xun'er put Ling'er down and gently tidied her hair, which had been ruffled by Zi Yan, with tender and meticulous movements.

Su Ling'er tilted her little face up, letting Xun'er comb her hair. Suddenly, she remembered something and her eyes lit up: "That's right, that's right! Father taught me a new formation yesterday. I'll show it to you!"

As she spoke, she took out several small crystals from her bosom and solemnly arranged them on the open ground in the courtyard.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the crabapple leaves, refracting into a kaleidoscope of colors on the crystals.

Zi Yan squatted down curiously: "Your father even taught you formations? How old is he?"

"Father said that the way of formations is not about age, but about comprehension." Su Ling'er imitated a serious tone, which made everyone laugh.

Xiao Yan stared at the simple array that was gradually taking shape on the ground, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

He knew that Su Baichen was no ordinary person. From the occasional words Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor revealed, as well as the reluctance of the academy elders and teachers to speak about him, he could sense that Su Baichen was no ordinary person.