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

Upon hearing this, Xun'er frowned slightly, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Didn't we agree long ago that you shouldn't call me that when no one else is around?"

Her tone revealed a hint of dissatisfaction.

This girl, she agreed so readily back then, how come she forgot so quickly?

He gave her the jade pendant he had worn for many years, accompanied her to stroll through the market, and bought her so many gorgeous dresses. Could it be that all his efforts were in vain?

Su Ling'er was stunned, her face visibly flushing red as that hazy memory finally became clear—

That day, she happened to catch a glimpse of the complex and indescribable look in Xun'er's eyes as she gazed at her father. She had intended to join in the fun and find out some interesting stories, but unexpectedly, she stumbled upon a huge secret that left her speechless.

A major juicy story about Daddy and Sister Xun'er!

Afterwards, Sister Xun'er gave her an exquisite jade pendant and took her to buy many beautiful dresses she had never seen before. All she asked for was "a different way of addressing her when no one was around."

At that time, she was completely absorbed by the novel gifts and didn't care at all what the new title was.

"Uh... well, I..." Su Ling'er's eyes darted around, her small hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, stammering and unable to speak coherently.

Xun'er didn't urge her, but stood quietly, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, fixed on her. The corners of her lips curled up slightly, a smile that wasn't quite a smile, but her gaze became even more "gentle and kind".

In the midst of this silent standoff, Su Ling'er suddenly realized that the figure of her sister Xun'er standing there was faintly overlapping with the angry look of her mother, Cai Lin!

Even their seemingly calm yet dangerous auras are somewhat similar!

Based on her "rich experience" accumulated over the years under her mother's care, alarm bells rang in her little head: if she didn't run now, her little bottom would probably suffer in a moment!

In a flash, Su Ling'er had a sudden inspiration. She opened her eyes wide and called out cheerfully to Xun'er behind her, "Daddy! What brings you here!"

Upon hearing this, Xun'er instantly suppressed all her emotions, replaced by a gentle smile, and subconsciously turned to look—the corridor was empty, there was no one in sight.

[Oh no, we've fallen for their trap!]

The thought had barely formed in her mind when she turned around to see that small figure had already darted out of the courtyard like a startled rabbit, leaving only a trail of hurried footsteps in the air.

"Su Ling'er! You stop right there!"

Xun'er was both annoyed and amused. With a light step, she chased after him like a gentle breeze, leaving behind only a faint fragrance that lingered in the empty courtyard.

Chapter 240 A Letter from My Disciple!

Two years passed quietly amidst cultivation and busyness.

For Su Baichen, the focus of the past two years has been on consolidating his foundation and gaining insights.

He frequently visited Dragon Emperor Zhukun, humbly seeking his guidance on the subtle applications of spatial power.

Under the guidance of Zhu Kun, the ancient Void Dragon Emperor, he made great progress in his perception, tearing, folding, and even preliminary construction of space, and became increasingly adept at using it.

However, perhaps he had reached a bottleneck, and the improvement of his fighting spirit cultivation was slow. It took him two years to reach the late stage of the three-star Dou Sheng.

It's nothing compared to the ten days it took him to break through from a one-star Dou Sheng to the early stage of a three-star Dou Sheng.

However, the progress of those around me is encouraging.

With Su Baichen's tailor-made guidance and almost unlimited resources, Cai Lin and Xiao Cai's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, both stabilizing at the three-star Dou Zun realm. Their auras were deep and vast, and their every move exuded the demeanor of powerful figures.

Cai Die also never let up, steadily stepping into the ranks of two-star Dou Zun.

Yun Yun is calm and composed, and her cultivation is solid. She has already reached the level of an eight-star Dou Zong, and is not far from the Dou Zun barrier.

With the talent of the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil, Qing Lin's control over power became increasingly proficient, and his cultivation level steadily improved to the Seven-Star Dou Zong.

The most stunning character is still Zi Yan.

This ancient dragon of the Void, who possesses pure royal blood (in its incomplete awakened state), has demonstrated what it means to cultivate at an astonishing speed, thanks to the unreserved teachings of his father, Zhu Kun, and the top-tier resources provided by Su Baichen.

He rose from Dou Huang two years ago to eight-star Dou Zong, becoming on par with Yun Yun.

Her already formidable physical strength now contained explosive dragon battle aura, and her eyes, when they opened and closed, revealed a hidden dragon's might.

From the day of their resurrection, the remaining divine essence within the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King transformed into a powerful foundation of fighting spirit, starting from the Dou Zong level.

After two years of secluded cultivation, the Ice Dragon King had reached the sixth-star Dou Zong level, his body exuding a restrained chill; the Fire Dragon King went even further, stepping into the seventh star level, his aura both intense and steady.

Ningbing's talent was fully utilized, and she successfully advanced to the second-star Dou Zong level.

Xun'er's cultivation level was fixed at one-star Dou Huang.

This was not because she lacked talent or was lazy; on the contrary, she took on more responsibilities.

Su Baichen's "strict" urging was actually full of heartache and helplessness.

While Cai Lin, Yun Yun, and others were in seclusion, and Zi Yan was following her father in arduous cultivation, the "well-behaved" Su Ling'er became Xun'er's sweetest "burden."

She devoted most of her time and tenderness to this little girl, playing with her, accompanying her, and teaching her, finding joy in it all.

Cai Lin and the others could only rush over to hug their adorable daughter during breaks in their cultivation, enjoying a brief moment of warmth before having to return to the cultivation ground.

Little Ling'er occasionally rests her chin on her hand, watching the busy crowd, and a hint of melancholy, as if she were being ignored, seems to flash in her bright eyes.

[Su Ling'er: "Indeed, parents are true love, the child is an accident!"]

[Su Ling'er: "After a while, you'll all get tired of it."]

At noon that day, Su Baichen sat alone in his study, a newly arrived letter spread out in front of him. His long, slender fingers tapped unconsciously on the smooth mahogany table, the rhythm gradually increasing, revealing the owner's anxiety and anger.

Those who know his temperament know that this is the dull drumbeat before the storm.

"These two... troublesome traitors!" He finally couldn't hold back any longer, his deep voice filled with suppressed anger as he slammed the letter on the table.

"Come and take a look, everyone!"

Hearing the sound, Cai Lin, Yun Yun, Xun Er, Cai Die, and others gathered around, their eyes scanning the letter.

The opening is written in Cao Ying's familiar, lively style, filled with the joy of good news: they have traveled for two years and gained a lot. Cao Ying has reached the three-star Dou Zun level, and Xiao Yi Xian has also successfully broken through to the one-star Dou Zun level!

However, the next line made everyone's hearts tighten suddenly—"After discussing with the Immortal Healer, I decided to go to Zhongzhou in order to see a wider world and seek opportunities for further advancement."

Zhongzhou!

These two words struck like a heavy hammer into everyone's heart.

That is the central stage of the Dou Qi Continent, where geniuses emerge in great numbers, sects stand in great numbers, and opportunities abound, but it is also a place rife with undercurrents and hidden dangers.

The most feared shadow—the Soul Palace—has its headquarters deeply rooted in the Central Plains!

The study fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the sound of Su Baichen's fingertips tapping on the table, one tap after another, making one's heart race with unease.

"Husband, please calm down." Cai Lin was the first to break the silence, her warm hand gently covering Su Baichen's clenched fist, her voice soft yet firm.

“Ying’er and Xian’er are both intelligent and quick-witted children, and we have watched them grow up step by step. Since they dare to go, they must have made preparations and have something to rely on, and they will not take risks lightly.”

She knew how much these two disciples meant to Su Baichen; it was an almost extraordinary protectiveness towards them.

The exotic fire that Cao Ying needed for cultivation was extremely rare and hard to find, so Su Baichen spared no effort to personally plan for it for her.

Little Fairy Doctor is burdened with a body of affliction and poison. Every time the toxins are balanced, it is a matter of great concern. Su Baichen searches through ancient books and prescriptions, and personally examines and guides her every month. His meticulous care sometimes touches even the heart of Little Fairy Doctor, who is his wife.

“Brother-in-law, my sister is right,” Cai Die said softly, trying to ease the tension.

"Xian'er is the most calm and thoughtful child. With her by her side to give guidance, even if Ying'er is a little impulsive at times, she won't cause any major problems."

"Comprehensive? Reminder?" Su Baichen suddenly looked up, his anger burning even brighter.

"If she were truly thoughtful, would she have agreed to run off to Zhongzhou with Cao Ying? Is that a place where one can just 'experience the world' at will? I think it must be that Cao Ying is incredibly audacious, with one outrageous idea after another. Now even Little Fairy Doctor has been led astray by her!"

Cai Die was speechless for a moment, and everyone fell silent again. The joy that had arisen in their hearts due to their disciple's great progress was now overshadowed by a heavier worry.

Carefully recalling Cao Ying's quirky and sometimes surprising personality, and then considering the extremely complex environment of Zhongzhou... this worry was not unfounded.

Yun Yun, who had been standing quietly to the side, had a thoughtful look in her eyes and spoke softly, "Husband, perhaps we are worrying too much."

“Ying’er is not without background. She is the legitimate daughter of the Cao family in Zhongzhou and also has some connection with the Pill Tower. With these two points, she is a great protector in Zhongzhou.”

"The power of the Cao family and the Dan Tower is enough to deter the vast majority of petty villains."

"Besides, there's still Elder Yao!"

These words were like the sun breaking through the clouds, invigorating everyone.

Yes, how could we forget Cao Ying's illustrious background? The Cao family of Zhongzhou is a powerful family with a long history, and the Pill Tower is a holy land for alchemists on the continent, with far-reaching influence.

The Starfall Pavilion of Elder Yao will also take good care of him!

With these three major obstacles behind us, the safety factor has indeed increased significantly.

Su Baichen's tense expression eased slightly, but the worry between his brows did not completely disappear.

He leaned back in his chair, let out a long sigh of frustration, and said in a much lower voice, "Hopefully... the names of the Cao family, the Pill Tower, and the Starfall Pavilion will be enough."

"I'm just afraid that Cao Ying is too arrogant and will deliberately provoke trouble she shouldn't be involved in, or that her cultivation technique and Little Fairy Doctor's calamity poison body will bring even bigger trouble."

His gaze drifted out the window, seemingly piercing through endless space, landing on his two disciples whom he cared deeply for.

In the Central Plains, the Soul Hall's influence is deeply entrenched. Although the Soul Hall's pursuit of him may not be the most intense, the two young women, possessing powerful techniques and special physiques, entering that region are like delicious bait thrown into the dark current. How could he, as their master, not be worried day and night?

Cai Lin knew that her husband's worries had lessened somewhat, but were far from over.

She brewed another cup of calming tea and handed it to him, her voice steady and powerful: "Children must learn to fly on their own and experience the storms in order to truly grow. They already possess the cultivation of a Dou Zun, and are not helpless fledglings."

"We should also have more trust in them. With their intelligence and methods, as long as they don't actively get involved in the struggle between top powers, their safety should be guaranteed."

Su Baichen took the teacup, the warm porcelain surface soothing his palm.

He remained silent for a moment, then took a sip of the slightly bitter tea, and his restless mind seemed to calm down.

He understood the reasoning, but how could he be easily persuaded by reason when he felt a deep longing in his heart? Cao Ying's charming smile and Xiao Yixian's quiet and resolute eyes had long become an inseparable part of his life.

[Hopefully, the Soul Palace won't pursue me too aggressively!]

With Su Baichen's current strength, he doesn't take most of the forces in Zhongzhou seriously.

Except for the Soul Palace!

Chapter 241 Lingquan's Suicide Attempt!

A few days later, Su Baichen, who was meditating cross-legged, suddenly felt several powerful auras rapidly approaching from the distant horizon.

"People from the ancient tribe?"

"He was right on time... to pick up Xun'er."

"However, this attitude... is far too disrespectful to the owner of this place."