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

He turned his head slightly, seemingly a little embarrassed, and his tone softened considerably: "No, it's nothing. Qinglin's face is clean, there's nothing there. It's just that... I suddenly thought of something else and got a little distracted, did I scare you? It's my fault."

He skillfully changed the subject, trying to ease the awkwardness and Qinglin's tension: "By the way, Qinglin, you just said that you are Cailin's newly recruited maid. So... how do you recognize me? This should be the first time we've met, right?"

Seeing that Su Baichen's eyes had returned to their previous calmness, even carrying a hint of reassurance, and his tone had become kind, Qinglin's tense little body relaxed a little.

She secretly patted her small chest, still shaken, and breathed a long sigh of relief before answering softly, "Um... I recognize the young master. It's because... the mistress showed me his portrait. She said he's the most important person here, and that I should remember him well and be respectful and serve him well whenever I see him."

When Cai Lin was mentioned, Xiao Qing Lin's eyes lit up a little, as if she had found some courage and support.

"I see." Su Baichen nodded, understanding dawning on him; Cai Lin was indeed observant. He continued gently, "Then... Qing Lin, how did you meet Cai Lin and become her maid? Could you tell me?"

This question seemed to have stirred up some heavy memories for Qinglin. Her expression, which had just relaxed a little, dimmed again, and her little head drooped slightly as she stared at the hem of her faded skirt.

After a moment of silence, she spoke in a very low, halting voice, "I...I am a human-snake hybrid...My father is human, and my mother is a snake-woman..."

Her voice carried a barely perceptible sob.

“We… are not accepted by either side. The humans think I am a monster, and the snake people think I am not pure… Father… Father abandoned my mother and me a long time ago… We have been living in hiding ever since.”

“My mother…her health has always been poor…a few days ago, she…she also left me…”

Large tears rolled down her cheeks without warning, soaking her clothes, but she held back her sobs, her shoulders trembling slightly: "I...I don't know what to do...I'm cold and hungry...and I was almost kidnapped by bad people...It was the mistress, the mistress happened to be passing by and saved me..."

She raised her tear-filled face and looked at Su Baichen, her eyes filled with gratitude and lingering fear: "The mistress... she gave me food, a place to stay, and didn't look down on me... I... I don't have any other skills, I just wanted to stay by the mistress's side and do some small chores within my ability to repay her kindness..."

Listening to Qinglin's fragmented yet incredibly clear narration, which was almost identical to the tragic background and experiences recorded in the original work, Su Baichen's last trace of doubt completely dissipated.

Yes, it's her. Qinglin, who has a troubled past, possesses unparalleled eye techniques, and yet always retains a pure and resilient heart.

Looking at the little girl in front of him, who was crying her eyes out but still trying her best to appear sensible, he felt a mix of emotions.

There is a sense of lament for the injustice of fate, a sense of relief at Cai Lin's good deeds, and an even stronger determination to carefully polish this beautiful but dusty gem, so that she will no longer be bullied by the wind and rain, and that she will shine brightly in the future.

He reached out and gently ruffled Qinglin's soft hair, his touch incredibly gentle. "It's alright, don't cry. It's all over now."

His voice was gentler than a spring breeze: "From now on, this will be your home, Cai Lin will be your mistress, and I... I will take care of you. No one will bully you anymore."

Qinglin was taken aback by his sudden gentle gesture. Feeling the warmth from the top of her head and hearing his reassuring words, her tears flowed even more fiercely. But this time, it seemed to be more than just sadness; there was also a sense of grievance and relief at finally finding a safe haven.

She nodded vigorously, wiped her tears haphazardly with her sleeve, and gave a soft but firm "Mmm".

Su Baichen withdrew his hand, his gaze falling on Qinglin again. This time, his gaze no longer held simple fervor and scrutiny, but rather a heavy sense of responsibility and expectation.

The genius girl with the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil... Now that fate has brought her to my side, her future will surely be different.

Upon arriving in the hall, Cai Lin immediately saw Su Baichen and Qing Lin sitting at the table eating.

The little girl held a bowl bigger than her own face, listening intently with bright, sparkling eyes as she looked at Su Baichen; Su Baichen leaned slightly forward and spoke to her in a gentle tone.

"Hey, you two get along really well!"

Cai Lin leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Su Baichen looked up when he heard the sound, and his gaze softened when it fell on her.

"Yes, Qinglin is indeed very sensible." He reached out and ruffled the little girl's hair.

"But she's only three and a half years old, isn't she? It's not quite right to keep such a young child around as a maid."

“I think so too.” Cai Lin walked to the table and sat down, smiled helplessly, and said, “But she insists on coming with me, I can’t just leave her on the side of the road.”

Su Baichen pondered for a moment, then said gently, "Then why don't we let her stay with me for a while, and I'll teach her cultivation?"

"As you see fit," Cai Lin said, taking an item from her storage ring and gently pushing it in front of Su Baichen.

"By the way, I went back to the Snake People's Clan to take care of some old matters and killed someone along the way—I found this on him, which I think you might be interested in."

Su Baichen looked down, and the next moment his pupils suddenly contracted.

—It was a tattered ancient painting, with yellowed edges and strange textures, within which faint, almost imperceptible lotus-shaped patterns flowed.

The fragment of the painting of the Pure Lotus Demon Flame!

The copy in Cao Ying's hand was something the two of them had obtained by chance two years ago when they were training in the Monster Mountain Range; but the copy in front of him... combined with what Cai Lin had just said, Su Baichen almost immediately guessed who the original owner was.

The "Ice Emperor" Hai Bodong, who should have caused some waves in the Jia Ma Empire, ended his life so quietly at the hands of Cai Lin.

“You really do recognize him.” Cai Lin smiled knowingly as she looked at his suddenly changed expression.

“…Yes, I’m very interested.” Su Baichen took a deep breath, carefully put away the incomplete map, and when he looked up, his gaze had returned to calm.

“We will stay in Utan for another year, and then set off for Canaan College.”

There are some things there that we have to take.

"Okay." Cai Lin answered readily, her eyes reflecting the candlelight and his figure.

"Whatever you want. Wherever you go, I will go."

Su Baichen felt a warmth in his heart and gently took her hand.

"Cai Lin, thank you."

The two looked at each other with deep affection.

Qinglin kept her head down and ate; she couldn't hear or see anything.

Chapter 160 The Situation of the Gama Empire Undergoes a Dramatic Change

Time flies, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

That year, seemingly peaceful inside and outside the courtyard, many major events quietly occurred that were enough to change the landscape of the Gama Empire.

In the early morning courtyard, Su Baichen handed two scrolls shimmering with purple light to Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor.

"Try it out. This is a flying combat technique made from the wings and magic core of the Amethyst Winged Lion King."

Cao Ying took the scroll, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes: "You researched this yourself?"

Su Baichen nodded: "Refer to the improved version of your previous one. The Amethyst Winged Lion King is known for its flight, and the flight combat techniques made from its wings have speed and endurance far exceeding the ordinary."

The Little Fairy Doctor gently unfurled the scroll and began cultivating. A moment later, a pair of crystal-clear amethyst wings slowly unfolded behind her, spanning nearly three zhang, reflecting a dreamlike luster in the sunlight.

"It's so beautiful!" she couldn't help but exclaim softly.

Cao Ying's purple wings were even more formidable, with edges as sharp as blades, and the sound of wind and thunder could be faintly heard when she flapped them.

From that day on, two streaks of purple light frequently streaked across the sky above Wutan City.

The monsters of the Monster Mountain Range were greeted with their "nightmare"—Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor went to "stock up" almost every few days, and nearly 60% of the medicinal herbs were looted. Meanwhile, the monsters of the third rank and above were forced to become their sparring partners.

"It's that fifth-tier Thunderflame Tiger's turn today." Cao Ying flapped her wings and hovered in mid-air, a sly smile on her face.

Below, a massive tiger looks up at the sky, its eyes revealing a hint of human-like helplessness.

That year, it went from initially being furious and rebellious to now taking it for granted, and even learned to take out its collection of medicinal herbs as "tribute" when the two arrived.

Little Fairy Doctor chuckled: "It has learned its lesson."

"They were beaten into submission after all." Cao Ying landed and patted the tiger's head. "Don't worry, there won't be any fighting today. I heard you have a nearly mature Dragon Blood Fungus in your cave?"

Lei Yanhu drooped his ears and resignedly turned to lead the way.

The courtyard door was knocked on many times throughout the year.

Xiao Yu was the first to arrive, often bringing special pastries made by the Xiao family's kitchen. This tall girl had returned from Canaan Academy, and her brows now held a touch of heroism, but she would still blush involuntarily when she saw Su Baichen.

"Senior Su, this is a new honey-infused cake developed by the kitchen. Please try it."

Su Baichen accepted it and thanked her gently. He knew Xiao Yu's feelings, but he only regarded them as girlish affections and did not point them out, nor did he deliberately distance himself from her—they would eventually leave, so why add to their worries?

Xiao Xun'er came even more often. She always had a perfectly good reason: to express her gratitude for saving her life back then, or to play with Xiao Jin. That three-eyed golden lion, its golden fur gleaming in the sunlight, would only put away its arrogance in front of Xiao Xun'er, allowing her to pet it.

But Cai Lin privately told Su Baichen, "That girl's gaze towards you is strange."

Su Baichen naturally noticed. When Xiao Xun'er was chatting and laughing with the two women in the courtyard, her gaze would always subtly drift in his direction.

Those clear eyes held curiosity, a thirst for knowledge, and perhaps even a hint of admiration she herself was unaware of.

“She is the daughter of an ancient clan,” Su Baichen said calmly, “We are not on the same path as her.”

He didn't want to get too involved with the ancient clan. Although Gu Yuan was a late-stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng, in Su Baichen's opinion, in terms of combat power alone, this patriarch of the ancient clan was probably the weakest among the three peak experts of the world—Old Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun had an invincible physical body, Soul Emperor's methods were unpredictable, while Gu Yuan was too conservative.

The less trouble, the better.

Furthermore, after Xiao Yan learned from Xiao Yu that Su Baichen had returned, this fellow villager visited him almost every ten days. Initially, he asked about cultivation issues, but later he even directly asked to become his disciple.

Su Baichen had never seen him.

It wasn't that he looked down on this former "genius," but rather that he knew the Xiao family's future would be greatly affected by the karma of the ancient clans and the soul clans, so he didn't want to get too involved with him.

However, Yao Chen became interested in Xiao Yan.

That day, Xiao Yan was demonstrating his fighting skills outside the courtyard, and Yao Chen watched from the window for a long time.

“This child has a strong will, good talent, a solid foundation, and…” Yao Chen pondered, “his soul power is also not weak.”

Su Baichen asked, "You want to take him as your disciple?"

Yao Chen remained silent for a moment, then shook his head: "I still have lingering fears about what happened to Han Feng."

Even so, Yao Chen still secretly gave Xiao Yan some pointers a few times.

On one occasion, when Xiao Yan was practicing the Xuan-rank fighting skill "Eight Extremes Collapse", he was unable to concentrate his strength. Yao Chen used his soul to give him pointers on the technique of exerting force.

Xiao Yan was so excited that he was about to kneel down, but he was held up by an invisible force.

"No need for apprenticeship." Yao Chen's voice echoed in his mind: "We are destined to meet, so I'll just offer you some guidance."

Although Xiao Yan was disappointed, he became even more diligent. He knew that although this mysterious senior did not accept disciples, as long as he showed enough potential and character, there might still be hope.

What he didn't know was that Yao Chen was indeed observing him—but without the three years of secret testing in the original story, this old man who had experienced betrayal dared not easily entrust his inheritance again.

Far from Utan City, the holy city of Gama experienced a year of bloodshed and turmoil.

The conflict between the royal family and the Yunlan Sect escalated rapidly from initial commercial rivalry to assassinations and attacks, ultimately leading to a full-scale war. Jia Xingtian, along with powerful figures such as Nalan Jie and Mu Chen, assembled a large army to besiege Yunlan Mountain.

On the day of the decisive battle, the Yunlan Sect's protective formation was breached, and more than half of its disciples were killed or wounded. Jia Xingtian personally attacked the main peak, and just as Nalan Jie's spear was about to pierce Yun Leng's chest—

A powerful aura surged into the sky from the back mountain!

Yunshan broke through his barrier, his white hair dancing wildly, the space around him distorting—he suddenly broke through his shackles and advanced to the Dou Zong realm!

"Jia Xingtian, you are going too far!"

The power of the Dou Zong overwhelmed the entire arena.