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

Jia Xingtian fought desperately, but the difference in their cultivation levels was too great, and Yunshan pierced his chest with the Yunlan Sect's ultimate technique, "Extreme Wind - Meteor Strike." Nalan Jie, Yan Shi, Feng Li... all the powerful figures of the Jia Ma Empire perished.

Only Fama, from the Alchemist Guild, managed to escape the calamity by staying behind.

While clearing the battlefield, Yunshan discovered Yunyun, who should have been "dead," in a pile of ruins.

This former disciple was protecting several injured Yunlan Sect disciples, their eyes filled with unfamiliarity towards him.

"Yun'er, you're not dead?" A complex look flashed in Yunshan's eyes, then he said coldly, "Come back to the sect with me."

He reached out to grab Yun Yun, just as his fingertips were about to touch her shoulder—

A streak of seven-colored light slashed down from the void!

Yunshan recoiled in horror, his arm still bearing a deep, bone-revealing cut. He looked up in shock and anger, only to see Cailin emerge from the spatial rift, her skirt swaying gently, her eyes icy cold.

"You are... Queen Medusa?!" Yunshan exclaimed in disbelief.

"She's mine." Cai Lin said calmly, her offensive already underway.

Yun Shan, a beginner-level Dou Zong, had no chance of winning against Cai Lin, a three-star Dou Zong who had already stabilized his realm and possessed ancient bloodlines.

After a hundred moves, Yunshan was caught off guard by Cailin's attack, which severely injured his heart and caused him to fall from the summit of Yunlan.

Just as Cai Lin made her move, Su Baichen sensed another hidden aura—the Soul Palace Protector!

He tore through space and arrived, striking out with his sword the instant the Protector Wu attempted to collect Yunshan's soul.

The sword light contained a trace of the aura of the Glazed Sky-Burning Flame, which was extremely effective against the people of the Soul Palace.

The guardian cried out in agony as his soul disintegrated, leaving behind only a pitch-black guardian token.

With the fall of the two major powers' top experts, a power vacuum has emerged in the Gama Empire.

The Ya family, which had been secretly accumulating strength, acted swiftly under Ya Xue's decisive decision.

Fa Ma witnessed firsthand Cai Lin's slaying of Yun Shan and Su Baichen's instant annihilation of the Soul Hall's protector. This old man knew that the Jia Ma Empire was facing an irresistible upheaval. Representing the Alchemist Guild, he was the first to submit to the Ya family.

Seeing that even the strongest alchemist guild had bowed down, the remaining forces also submitted to them.

Ya Xue consolidated the power structure with swift and decisive measures, gaining control of most of the empire's forces in just three months.

Her political skills impressed even Su Baichen—she used both kindness and force, winning over neutral families and dividing the remaining hostile forces; every step was perfectly timed.

The neighboring Izumo Empire, hoping to take advantage of the chaos, has already deployed its army to the border.

However, when the scouts reported that "the patriarch of the Yunlan Sect was still killed by a mysterious powerhouse after breaking through to the Dou Zong realm," the Emperor of Chuyun ordered the withdrawal of his troops overnight and sent envoys with generous gifts, claiming to "congratulate the new ruler of the Jiama Empire."

Ya Xue delivered the gifts to the small courtyard in Wutan City intact.

“This is your empire,” Su Baichen told her. “You can deal with it as you see fit.”

Ya Xue looked at him deeply and said softly, "Without you, there would be no Ya family today."

Finally, she transferred 70% of the profits to Su Baichen's account. As a result, the number of Gold Soul Coins in the system space skyrocketed at an unprecedented rate.

Su Baichen used this opportunity to exchange for a large number of rare materials, ancient books and secret manuals, life-saving trump cards and other treasures.

On a late autumn afternoon, a thin layer of fallen leaves covered the courtyard.

Qinglin crouched under the tree, carefully picking up the golden ginkgo leaves and tucking them into the pages of her book.

The little girl has grown taller and speaks more fluently. She is now formally learning the basics of cultivation from Su Baichen and is making rapid progress.

"Young master, is Canaan Academy far away?" she asked, looking up.

Su Baichen put down the ancient book in his hand and said gently, "In the Black Corner Region."

"Then... will we come back?"

Su Baichen looked at the drifting clouds on the horizon and did not answer.

Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor walked in from outside the door. The two had just finished their cultivation for the day, and their purple wings folded into points of light and disappeared behind them.

"Master, Junior Sister Xian'er has already broken through to the Great Dou Master level!" Cao Ying said with a bright smile.

The Little Fairy Doctor stood quietly beside her, dressed in pristine white robes.

The Calamity Poison Body within her body has been temporarily suppressed by Su Baichen with a special seal, but occasionally a chilling purple glint still flashes deep within her eyes.

Su Baichen looked at the people in the courtyard—Cai Lin, Cai Die, Yun Yun, Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Yao Chen.

"We'll depart in three days," he suddenly said. "To Canaan College."

Chapter 161 Showdown

Three days later, the morning mist was just beginning to dissipate outside Wutan City.

The figures of Su Baichen and his group gradually became clear in the pale blue light of the sky.

Without much farewell or disturbing others, they came quietly and left quietly, heading towards the Black Corner, a region known for its chaos and opportunities.

At the city gate, three figures stood in the shadows at the base of the wall, watching the crowd depart.

It's Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Yu's gaze followed the departing group intently. Even from a distance, she could almost see Cao Ying waving goodbye with a smile, and Little Fairy Doctor's quiet profile as she looked back.

Her lips moved slightly, her voice as soft as a sigh about to dissipate in the wind: "Canaan Academy... I will definitely go there too."

The afterglow of yesterday evening still seemed to burn in her eyes. When Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor stepped into the Xiao family side by side and personally told her the news of their impending departure, Xiao Yu felt a buzzing in her ears, and all the sounds around her faded away.

The feeling wasn't sharp pain, but rather a sense of emptiness and coldness after something that supported our daily lives—something warm and grounded—was suddenly emptied out.

But she was only stunned for a moment. Then, a more complex emotion welled up inside her—yes, they should have gone to a wider world.

Utan City was too small, too small to contain their wings that were about to spread. As a friend, she should be happy for them, genuinely happy.

But beneath this "should," the dull pain of "disparity" remains clearly discernible.

She knew better than anyone that among them, her talent was the most mediocre.

Cao Ying's talent for alchemy is nothing short of monstrous, and Little Fairy Doctor's control over poison is even more mysterious and unpredictable. Even the youngest, Xun'er, has an aura and cultivation progress that she can only dream of.

She knew that on the path of cultivation, one could initially rely on sheer determination and use sweat to bridge the gaps in one's talent.

But the further you go, the higher and harder that invisible barrier becomes.

Countless people spend their entire lives hovering outside the threshold of a certain realm, enduring the ravages of time, their black hair turning to snow, yet unable to take another step forward. Unless... they have a stroke of luck that allows them to defy fate.

But how elusive is the word "opportunity"? Can it be obtained by everyone?

Thinking of this, the flame of resentment that had ignited in Xiao Yu's eyes seemed to be doused with cold water. It struggled, flickering uncertainly, and finally slowly dimmed, leaving only a damp glimmer.

Beside her stood Xiao Xun'er, dressed in a light blue dress, standing quietly. Her gaze followed the receding dust, but her thoughts drifted back to last night, to the flickering, solitary lamp.

Several roundabout attempts to probe were all thwarted by Su Baichen without leaving a trace.

With her childlike nature, she couldn't suppress her persistence any longer. She walked straight up to him, looked up, and laid the problem bare under the light:

"Big brother, you've always known my identity, haven't you?"

Su Baichen didn't even look up from the book in his hands, his voice flat: "I don't know."

"Then why do you always deliberately keep your distance from me, so... wary?" she pressed, her clear eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight.

“I don’t like children,” he replied dismissively, as if stating the weather.

Xun'er couldn't help but pout slightly, a gesture that finally revealed a touch of childlike innocence befitting her age: "Big brother, can you give me a reason I can believe?"

“You’re too clever, too calculating,” he said, putting down his book and taking a sip of the tea beside him.

"I'm not used to it."

"Can't you just tell me the truth?" Xiao Xun'er looked at him, her eyes suddenly reddening, her voice revealing a hint of barely perceptible grievance and stubbornness.

"I have never harbored any ill will towards you. After spending these days together... do you really think that I am not worthy of even the slightest honesty?"

Seeing the glistening tears welling up in her eyes, Su Baichen remained silent for a moment.

The lamplight softened the lines of his profile, or perhaps it was just an illusion. He sighed almost inaudibly.

"I'll only answer three questions." He finally spoke, his tone still calm, but less distant than before.

"Go back after you've asked your questions."

Ultimately, no matter how intelligent and precocious she may be, she is still just a child. What do those deep-rooted ancient grudges and family schemes have to do with her?

“The first one,” Xun’er blinked quickly, forcing back the moisture, and the question became clear: “The real reason you distanced yourself from me.”

“Your background is too troublesome.” Su Baichen looked at her, his gaze calm and unwavering.

"I do not wish to have any involvement with the Dou Di family. It would bring endless trouble."

"What about Xiao Yu?" Xun'er immediately followed up with her second question.

"She is also a member of the Xiao family."

“The Xiao family has long since declined. Besides, the person she’s on good terms with is my disciple, not me.” He said calmly, “I never interfere with my disciples’ private relationships.”

"What's the difference?" Xun'er asked, puzzled.

"My disciples will walk their own paths. Their choices are their own consequences." Su Baichen's voice was not loud, but it carried a certain resolute tone: "As for me, I have my own path. That's all."

Having finished answering the three questions, he picked up his book again, as if to see the guest off.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment, broken only by the low chirping of night insects. Xun'er, however, did not leave immediately.

She stood there, her eyelashes lowered, as if struggling with something. After a long while, she finally raised her head, her voice soft yet filled with a stubborn expectation, and asked the fourth question:

Will we... ever meet again?

Su Baichen paused slightly as he turned the pages of the book.

“This is the fourth question,” he reminded him, without looking up.

"I'm begging you... I'm pleading with you." Xun'er's voice carried a rare hint of childlike vulnerability and pleading: "I've never had any friends since I was little. Sister Cao Ying and Sister Little Fairy Doctor are people who have truly been good to me. I don't want to... lose them like this."

“You still have Xiao Yu,” Su Baichen said.

“Sister Xiao Yu is good to me,” Xun’er shook her head gently, her eyes showing a clarity beyond her years and a hint of helplessness.

"But her aptitude... destined her to not be able to go very far with me. Our paths are different."

Another silence fell. The night breeze swept through the corridor, bringing a slight chill.

After a long while, Su Baichen finally put down his book and stood up. He walked to the window, gazing at the deep night outside, his figure appearing somewhat distant.