Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

The Xiao family, a small courtyard aglow with lamplight.

In the meeting hall, the room was stark and spacious. Intricate patterns traced the floor, forming a circular, earthen-yellow array.

At the array's center, a girl in green sat cross-legged, eyes shut. Her delicate face was bloodless, her usually rosy lips cracked and dry. Pain etched her brow, and in her daze, she murmured faintly.

Qing Shuang stood nearby, watching Xun Er, whose body occasionally emitted faint, searing golden light. She barely dared to breathe.

Though the clan leader had arranged everything for her young miss's breakthrough, ensuring no mortal danger, Qing Shuang's heart clenched at Xun Er's anguished expression.

Hearing the name slipping from Xun Er's lips, Qing Shuang gritted her teeth, resentment flaring. That man again.

After a moment, she turned and stepped into the courtyard. Staying inside, helpless, only deepened her anxiety.

"Master Ling, still no sign of him?" she asked, spotting Ling Ying seated in the yard.

She and Ling Ying, noting Xun Er's constant murmurs, had planned to defy orders and fetch him. Even if he couldn't help, his presence, as in the past, might offer comfort. Yet they hadn't found a trace.

"No. Young Master Xiao Bai vanished somewhere. They say he left ten days ago and hasn't returned," Ling Ying said, irritation lacing his voice.

He'd better not be in trouble, or the young miss will turn the Jia Ma Empire upside down.

"That heartless wretch! After all the young miss has done for him!" Qing Shuang fumed, her anger boiling.

She suspected a falling-out, but for him to vanish for days—not even apologizing, let alone showing up—was unthinkable. The young miss, so proud and reserved— what spell did he cast to make her so devoted?

"Mind your tongue!" Ling Ying snapped, shooting her a warning glance. "Whatever he is, his place in the young miss's heart is beyond you or me. Watch your words, or you'll invite trouble."

"Hmph!" Qing Shuang huffed, displeased, but recalling Xun Er's feelings, she fell silent.

Suddenly, Ling Ying stood, staring in a direction. Qing Shuang, puzzled, sensed something too and turned the same way.

Moments later, a purple-red streak sliced through the night sky, hurtling toward them.

Recognizing the familiar hue, Ling Ying relaxed. It's him.

The streak landed, revealing a pale-faced young man, his expression taut with urgency.

"Elder Ling, how's Xun Er?" Xiao Bai asked immediately.

"The young miss is in no danger, but the pain is more severe than usual," Ling Ying replied, noting Xiao Bai's awareness of her condition with curiosity.

Xiao Bai strode inside, the two not stopping him.

"Xun Er!"

Seeing her state, Xiao Bai's heart ached. He'd witnessed her endure the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame before, but never this intensely.

"Xiao Bai… gege!" As if hearing him, Xun Er let out a faint, dazed whisper.

Her voice tugged at his heart. Though he longed to rush to her, the array on the floor held him back.

Unversed in arrays, he could only discern it was earth-attributed, likely using earth energy to suppress her flame and ease her pain.

"This is the Earth Spirit Flame-Suppressing Array," Ling Ying explained, sensing his hesitation. "It gathers earth qi to counter fire energy. The young miss hasn't reached Mortal Realm; her strength is too fragile for harsher methods like Ice Spirit Frost Spring. Earth's gentle, grounding nature reduces pain while protecting her."

Xiao Bai nodded, grasping it. At her Dou Zhi Qi stage, unlike harsher methods used later in the story, only earth's mild restraint could safely temper the flame. Water, another fire counter, would only worsen her agony.

Understanding this, Xiao Bai knew how to help. When it comes to the Five Elements, I'm no novice.

He sensed the array's energy flow. Normally, with his soul drained, he'd detect little, but after his rune's vision, he was attuned to the world's energies. The array's mechanics unfolded clearly in his mind.

After a moment's thought, he turned to Ling Ying. "I'm going in."

"No!" Qing Shuang cut in, her face cold. "You'll only make things worse. Stay here and watch."

Xiao Bai's eyes narrowed. He didn't know this woman, likely one of Xun Er's guards. Patiently, he said, "I can ease her pain."

Qing Shuang sneered, unconvinced. The clan leader arranged this. With his skill?

"Young Master Xiao Bai, what's your plan?" Ling Ying asked, shooting Qing Shuang an exasperated look, trying to smooth things over.

Xiao Bai ignored her, focusing on Xun Er. The Gu Clan's arrogance is something else. Words can't convey it—only experience does. If I cross them later, with my temper, sparks will fly.

Pushing aside distractions, he drew the Green Lotus Core Flame Platform from his ring, bathing the room in azure light.

The flame itself was with Yao Lao, but Xiao Bai had kept the lotus. Yao Lao had protested, but Xiao Bai had plans for it—a gift for Xun Er. That night's awkward mood had delayed the gesture until now.

"The Green Lotus Core Flame?" Ling Ying ventured, recalling Xiao Bai's connection to the flame.

"Correct."

"But it contains fire energy. Can it help?" Ling Ying frowned, wary it might backfire.

Without a word, Xiao Bai infused Xiao Wu into the lotus. His face paled further as the Geng Metal Calamity Thunder stirred, disrupting his body's balance and deepening his pain.

The lotus shifted from teal to a brownish-purple hue, earth qi surging, suppressing the fire essence. To any observer, it was now a potent earth-attributed treasure.

"Young Master Xiao Bai, are you alright?" Ling Ying asked, alarmed by his trembling.

"I'm fine. Is this enough?" Xiao Bai asked calmly.

"Yes, yes!" Ling Ying nodded eagerly. The array only mitigated pain; placing Xun Er on the lotus would enhance its effect. He's getting impatient. I can't afford to be on his bad side—not after the young miss's warnings.

Xiao Bai stepped into the array, his presence causing no disruption, and reached Xun Er. Her pale, pitiful state pierced his heart.

Sensing him, her furrowed brow eased slightly.

"Don't be afraid, Xun Er. Xiao Bai gege will help you," he said, stroking her head, inwardly exasperated at her unseen father.

Gently lifting her, he ignored the scalding heat radiating from her.

He placed the lotus at the array's core, linking Xiao Wu to the formation with a thought. Carefully, he set Xun Er on the Platform.

Earth and nether qi surged, overwhelming her flame. Her tense expression softened, a faint relief crossing her face.

Just a sub-flame? Xiao Bai mused, gauging the golden fire's strength. Before cultivating, and with Gu Yuan's seal, he hadn't known if her flame was whole or partial.

He considered probing her condition further but hesitated, wary of triggering any safeguards Gu Yuan might have left. If there's a trap, Xun Er might end up a widow.

Nor dared he use Xiao Yi to heal her—wood qi might rile the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.

Resigned, he sat beside her, closing his eyes to recover his soul force while directing Xiao Bing and Xiao Yi to quell the restless Geng Metal Calamity Thunder.

___

Xiao Bai's arrival, a streak of light in the night, drew attention within the Xiao family.

Sensing him, Yao Lao drifted from the room, spotting Xiao Bai landing at Xun Er's courtyard. He paid it no further mind.

"What's wrong, Teacher?" Xiao Yan, shirtless and in trousers, rushed out, alarmed. He'd been soaking in a bath when Yao Lao vanished.

"Nothing. Your precious Brother Bai is back," Yao Lao said, stroking his beard, glancing at him.

"Really?" Xiao Yan jumped, elated. He'd sought Xiao Bai days ago, only to find his room empty.

"Ha, so eager to ditch my pills?" Yao Lao's eyes glinted dangerously, as if ready to disown him.

"Haha, Teacher's Foundation Elixir is top-notch, no question! But…" Xiao Yan faltered, catching himself.

Yao Lao's softening expression hardened at "but," his stare piercing. Xiao Yan swallowed his words.

"Go on, what's 'but'? I'm listening," Yao Lao said, voice calm, eyes chilling.

"Haha, nothing! Your pills are the best!" Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, laughing nervously. No wonder he's been moody lately.

"Hmph!" Yao Lao snorted, too lazy to argue. He knew Xiao Yan's thoughts—finding his elixir less effective than Xiao Bai's, sneaking off to his brother, only to return sheepishly when Xiao Bai was absent. Thinks I don't know?

Ungrateful brat, Yao Lao fumed. Me, Yao Chen, an eighth-grade alchemist, and my pills are scorned?

No more coddling. Mixing with Xiao Bai's ruining him. He needs hardship. Those three years weren't enough.

Once Xiao Yan reached Dou Zhe, Yao Lao decided, he'd take him out for grueling training—blood, danger, real experience. Lingering in Wu Tan City kept his horizons narrow.

Compared to Xiao Bai, barely older, the gap was stark. Just sensed him—he's broken through again, already Dou Ling!

Last I saw him at Da Dou Shi in Stone Desert City. How long's it been? That kid's a monster.

"Move it, back to training! You bragged we'd return as Dou Zhe, yet you're still stuck at Dou Zhi Qi. Have some shame!" Yao Lao waved, dragging Xiao Yan inside.

"Teacher, I just finished!" Xiao Yan wailed, his face falling.

___

Dawn broke, the night slipping away.

Xiao Bai felt a gentle gaze on him and opened his eyes. A weary, delicate face greeted him, wearing a faint smile.

"Xun Er!" He beamed, seeing her leaning on the lotus, her head close to his. "Are you feeling better?"

Xun Er's brows arched, her eyes crescent moons. Her usually clear voice, now hoarse, murmured, "Xiao Bai gege, don't worry. Xun Er's much better."

Xiao Bai touched her head tenderly. "Good."