"Then, I clashed with Emperor Ye Tian in a world-shaking battle. It was grueling—stars shattered, the cosmos overturned. That man lived up to his name, unrivaled across the ages. His supreme Heavenly-tier technique, the Heavenly Emperor Samsara Fist, was terrifyingly powerful."
"But I wasn't without my own tricks. I unleashed the Purple Firmament Divine Thunder, a heavenly lightning said to make gods and demons tremble, capable of slaying immortals and extinguishing deities. In the end, I barely triumphed, my white robes stained crimson, blood splattering the starry sky. To meet such a foe in this life—worthy of respect, worthy of awe—my heart is content!"
With that, Xiao Bai stood, hands clasped behind his back, gazing skyward with a dramatic sigh, as if still reminiscing about that admirable opponent.
Xun Er shot him an exasperated glance, her beautiful eyes narrowing. Telling a story, and you're this invested? A Dou Zhe causing stars to shatter and the cosmos to flip? Even a Dou Di couldn't do that.
"Let's go home!" she said, cutting through his theatrics.
Xiao Bai indulged in his exaggerated感慨 for a moment longer before dropping the act, leaving the story unfinished.
In the shadows, Ling Ying nearly lost it. He wanted to grab the kid by the collar and demand, What's next? His blood was pumping, mid-climax, and now the story stopped? There's still one more guy, right? Keep going! He needed more material for his collection of boastful quotes. Thankfully, his young miss spoke up, sparing Xiao Bai from learning just how terrifying a Dou Huang could be.
"Xiao Bai gege, weren't there three people? What about the last one?" Xun Er's eyes sparkled with curiosity, brimming with eagerness.
Xiao Bai sighed inwardly, feeling a bit helpless. He'd gotten carried away. After Emperor Ye Tian, who was next? Emperor Can Tian? He hadn't even read Sacred Ruins. Maybe the Milk Baby? But that guy's karma was too heavy—Xiao Bai was a little spooked. After all, if he could transmigrate into Battle Through the Heavens, who's to say Perfect World or Shrouding the Heavens weren't real too?
What if he invoked that name and a voice echoed from the void, "I'm here. I've always been here"?
Ugh! The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
Nope, he couldn't dwell on it, or he'd burst out laughing.
"Come on, let's head back. I'll tell my Xun Er the story of the last one when we're home—a tale about a Milk Baby. Let me tell you, this guy's something else!" Xiao Bai grabbed Xun Er's small hand and tugged her down the mountain path.
Xun Er froze for a moment, her heart skipping at the words "my Xun Er" and the warmth of his hand holding hers. It was the first time he'd ever held her hand like this. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, but she didn't pull away, letting him lead her, her heart quietly alight with joy.
They walked hand in hand back to Xiao Bai's small courtyard.
"Xun Er, sit in the yard for a bit. I'll clean up and come tell you the story."
Releasing her hand, Xiao Bai didn't wait for a reply before heading inside to bathe and change. He felt uneasy in his dirt-streaked, battle-worn clothes.
Xun Er stood there, a little dazed, a pang of loss hitting her when he let go. If only the path down the mountain were longer, so Xiao Bai gege could hold my hand the whole way.
By the time Xiao Bai emerged, freshly bathed and dressed in a clean robe, he carried a pot of tea. He found Xun Er sitting quietly at the stone table in the courtyard, lost in thought, a faint smile on her lips. What's got her so happy?
"What's got you smiling like that?" Xiao Bai set the teapot on the table and sat beside her, curious.
His voice snapped Xun Er out of her reverie. At his question, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes darted away. "N-nothing, just… thinking about some old memories."
Xiao Bai noticed her odd reaction and was about to press further when she hurriedly cut in, "Oh, right! Xiao Bai gege, you were going to tell me the story! Hurry, I can't wait!"
He saw through her attempt to change the subject but played along, nodding. A girl's thoughts are best left alone.
He poured tea for them both, the fragrance wafting into the air. Taking a sip, he recalled the plot from his past life and began to narrate.
"Legend has it the heavens and earth are divided into eight domains: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow, Cosmos, and Primordial Chaos. This story begins in the Barren Domain, in a kingdom called Stone Country."
"In the capital of Stone Country, in the Stone King's Manor, lived a clan led by Shi Ziling. One day, Shi Ziling's wife gave birth to a son named Shi Hao."
"Shi Hao was a born supreme, gifted with a Supreme Bone in his body."
"What's a born supreme? Is a supreme really strong? Stronger than a Dou Di? Could someone be born a Dou Di?" Xun Er interrupted, her curiosity piqued.
Xiao Bai rolled his eyes. Are you a nitpicker? Can't your imagination stretch a bit? This was a different cultivation system—how could they be compared? Besides, even if you did, a supreme was equivalent to a Dou Di in the broader world, as the author had implied.
He flicked her smooth forehead lightly, mentally apologizing to the Milk Baby, and explained in terms she'd understand. "A supreme is like a Dou Di, just a different name. Being born a supreme means having incredible cultivation talent, with a high chance of becoming a supreme. It's like a wild history I read once, mentioning how Dou Di descendants have a Dou Di bloodline that boosts their talent. Got it?"
"Mhm, got it!" Xun Er nodded eagerly, her smile radiant. No one understands this better than me. So I'm a born supreme, too! Sounds way cooler than the Dou Di clan bloodline.
Xiao Bai caught the look on her face and knew exactly what she was thinking. Look at that immersion. My storytelling's top-notch.
He continued, recounting Shi Hao's story. When he reached the part where young Shi Hao's bone was cruelly taken and he was sent to Stone Village, Xun Er gritted her teeth. If my clan stripped me of my Dou Di bloodline and sent me to the Xiao Clan… She shuddered, her anger flaring toward Shi Hao's cruel aunt.
When he described Shi Hao's joyful childhood in Stone Village, Xun Er's eyes glistened. Shi Hao had elders and playmates, but her own childhood wasn't bad either—she had Xiao Bai gege.
When he narrated Shi Hao's triumph as a youth, defeating Shi Yi, who wielded his stolen Supreme Bone, Xun Er's heart soared with satisfaction.
Xiao Bai wove in Fire Spirit, Yun Xi, Qing Yi, and Yue Chan as devoted heroines, steadfast by Shi Hao's side. Beyond the original plot's poignant moments, he added a few heart-wrenching love stories for good measure.
Thought education starts young! He thought with a sly grin, slipping in his own agenda.
But someone eavesdropping wasn't pleased. Ling Ying had no interest in sappy romance. He craved more of those kingly boasts:
"Those I defeat are never worthy of being my rival. I give you time to catch up—until you can't even see my shadow!""Losing to me is the only thing worth remembering in your life!""What's an emperor clan? One day, I alone will be an emperor clan, needing no ancestral legacy—I'll become an emperor myself!"
These lines oozed grandeur, setting his blood ablaze. He glanced at his new notes, then scratched out the third one. Can't let the clan leader see that, or I'm dead.