Chapter 356: Zi Yan's Escape

Upon returning to his courtyard from the Pill Tower, Xiao Ming was informed by a maid that Xiao Yi Xian and the others had already returned and were gathered in the hall.

Curious, Xiao Ming made his way to the hall, where he could already hear the joyful laughter and conversation of the girls from outside

"..."

"Sister Zi Yan, how have you been there?" Qing Lin asked with genuine concern.

"Have they been treating you well? Xiao Ming mentioned that you hold a high position in your tribe," Medusa added.

"Hmph! Well is not the word for it! It's been absolutely dreadful..." Zi Yan's voice trailed off, her tone filled with grievances.

Surprised, Xiao Yi Xian asked, "Why? Could it be that Xiao Ming was mistaken?"

"No, it's just that ever since I left Xiao Ming, I haven't had any delicious pills to eat. Instead, those despicable guys force-feed me with disgusting stuff!" Zi Yan complained, her big watery eyes welling up with tears.

To her, the time spent away from Xiao Ming had felt unbearable, like living in a never-ending nightmare. It was for this reason that, as soon as she had the opportunity, she had slipped away from her tribe.

While Zi Yan's words may have sounded pitiful, the three girls understood her personality well.

Everything Zi Yan expressed was magnified several times over when it came out of her mouth, so they didn't entirely believe her claims. As for being forced to consume something, it was likely some kind of strength-enhancing medicine, considering the noticeable improvement in Zi Yan's strength since she had left.

Just then, Zi Yan shifted her attention and exclaimed, "Sister Medusa, it's been so long. Why do you look even more beautiful now?"

Medusa was dressed in a red robe with golden trim, showcasing her ample bosom, slender waist, and an alluring mature charm that made Zi Yan feel like she had become even more captivating than before her evolution.

Moreover, Zi Yan sensed an indescribable change in Medusa's temperament. She seemed more mature, and her aura had softened considerably.

Medusa understood exactly what Zi Yan was referring to. All these changes were brought about by Xiao Ming. Through their intimate encounters, she was already pregnant with his child.

However, the pregnancy of the Snake-People Tribe had a longer gestation period, spanning several years, so Medusa's belly hadn't yet shown any physical changes.

Due to her pregnancy, the soul of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python appeared less frequently, and Medusa's temperament had mellowed significantly.

Medusa still hadn't figured out how to tell Zi Yan about her pregnancy. Aware of Zi Yan's special fondness for Xiao Ming, Medusa wasn't certain how she would react if she were to directly reveal her pregnancy. Therefore, all she could do was smile at Zi Yan, concealing the news for now.

Just as Medusa smiled at Zi Yan, Xiao Ming entered the hall, catching Zi Yan's attention. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she rushed towards him, calling out with enthusiasm.

"Xiao Ming, I missed you so much!"

Xiao Ming smiled warmly as he caught Zi Yan in his arms, gently rubbing her head, and carefully examining her. Zi Yan's delicate and adorable appearance remained as cute as ever, resembling a precious porcelain doll.

"It seems like you've been doing well during this period," Xiao Ming said, nodding in satisfaction at Zi Yan's lively and energetic state.

"No way! I've been so pitiful!" Zi Yan protested, trying to reiterate her earlier complaints, sounding aggrieved.

Xiao Ming playfully reached out and pinched her smooth cheek, his tone slightly amused. "When will you change your gluttonous habit? The things you eat, others would dream of having."

"Mmm... It's not a bad habit to like delicious things. You said it before too, that we should do what we enjoy in life. And I enjoy eating delicious food," Zi Yan replied, her speech slightly muffled as she spoke with her face pinched.

Xiao Ming's comment was merely a casual remark. After asking Zi Yan if she had encountered any trouble on her way back, he released his hand and walked to the main seat, taking a seat.

Zi Yan happily followed Xiao Ming, and once he sat down, she grinned and took out a storage ring.

"Xiao Ming, take a look," Zi Yan exclaimed.

"What is this?"

"You'll see when you look."

Curious, Xiao Ming accepted the storage ring and used his soul power to investigate its contents. Inside, he found a considerable amount of high-grade medicinal herbs.

"Did you rob your tribe's treasury?" Xiao Ming asked skeptically.

"No, I only took a little bit. Hehe," Zi Yan replied mischievously.

"... So you want me to help you refine them all into pills?" Xiao Ming asked. The medicinal herbs inside the ring were of excellent quality, and it would be a waste to use them all for pill refinement.

"No, we'll each take half, so you only need to refine half of them," Zi Yan confidently explained.

Sighing inwardly, Xiao Ming nodded. "Alright, but I won't refine them all at once. That would take too much time."

"Okay, okay!" Zi Yan happily agreed, her eyes curving into crescents.

Xiao Yi Xian, observing that the two of them had finished catching up, spoke up with curiosity, "Xiao Ming, did you just visit the Pill Tower headquarters?"

"Yes, I attended a meeting related to the Hall of Souls and then proposed to go on a trip. Zi Yan happened to return, so she'll come with us," Xiao Ming explained.

Zi Yan, intrigued, asked, "Where are we going?"

The other women nearby also displayed interest. The Central Plains had been unstable recently, and they were aware that Xiao Ming had attracted the attention of the Hall of Souls. It didn't seem like an ideal time to venture out during this period.

"We're heading to the Beast Region, specifically the territory of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe in the Beast Bone Mountain Range," Xiao Ming revealed.

The others hadn't had a chance to react, but Zi Yan's face immediately wrinkled in displeasure.

"Ugh, what's so fun about the Beast Region? Why are we going there?"

"We're not going for leisure," Xiao Ming clarified. He knew that Eastern Dragon Island, where Zi Yan resided, should be within the spatial turbulence of the Beast Region. It was understandable that she would be unwilling to return after just escaping from there.

Xiao Ming proceeded to explain the situation of the Beast Bone Mountain Range to the girls, piquing their interest.

"A Dou Saint's Tomb?"

"A Tian Class Dou Technique?"

"An Ancient Medicinal Forest?"

"Where did you obtain this information?"

"I came across an ancient and tattered scroll a few days ago, and I can confirm its authenticity," Xiao Ming fabricated an explanation in a casual manner.

Given their high level of trust in Xiao Ming, the girls didn't doubt his words.

"I had initially planned to lure out the tomb and wait for it to open, but now that Zi Yan has returned, we can directly enter it with the help of her spatial talent. Everything inside will be ours," Xiao Ming revealed with a smile.

"Hehe, leave it to me..." Zi Yan declared confidently. Understanding the importance of the ancient remains, she patted her chest and assured everyone that when it came to treasure hunting, she was a professional.

Having spent nearly two years with the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, Zi Yan's strength had significantly grown, at least in the Dou Venerate Realm. She possessed more than enough power to explore an ancient Dou Saint's space.