Yan Zhen had no idea that the Evil Consort had already plotted his demise. At that moment, he sat cross-legged on the Pure Lotus Platform gifted to him by his Saint Lord Master. He had successfully refined the Sea God Blood, and the Gu Worms within it were effortlessly subdued by the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame.
With the divine blood fully refined, Yan Zhen’s vital energy surged wildly through his body, demanding an outlet. He had originally planned to seek out Xian’er for some dual cultivation in Gangsha Unity, but his Saint Lord Master stopped him cold and tossed him into the golden Bitter Pool to race the Lotus Root People at swimming.
It was Yan Zhen—one lone man—against a whole group of them.
Thanks to his Tier 6 physique, he could now swim normally through the Bitter Pool without crawling along like a snail as he once had.
Yet the Lotus Root People, born and bred in the Bitter Pool, moved with far greater agility—like fish in water. Competing against them, Yan Zhen might as well have been an amateur facing off against professional athletes.
Jialan Fairy had slipped into a swimsuit with a distinctly tropical flair. She perched at the finish line, wielding a top-grade Reflecting Light Mirror to capture Yan Zhen’s grueling training and chiseled physique. Her golden eyes never wavered.
During their last special training session, she hadn’t yet awakened her “mommy instincts” and had sorely missed the chance to record Yan Zhen’s growth. Regretting it deeply, she threw herself into the task this time with extra vigor. She even called out to Yan Zhen to face the lens, upping the challenge for him.
Yan Zhen was seriously pissed!
Another round ended in crushing defeat. Exhausted like a dog, he dragged himself ashore and collapsed in a spread-eagled heap.
Jialan Fairy kept the Reflecting Light Mirror tracking him, determined to record every last bit for later enjoyment. Her hands stayed busy too, offering him a drink.
The “water” in question was supreme-grade Spirit Spring water, nothing more.
Yan Zhen took a sip and grumbled, “Saint Lord Master, I don’t want to swim anymore. Let me spar the Lotus Root People hand-to-hand—no cultivation, pure brawling. Now that’s a real man’s fight!”
Jialan Fairy saw no issue with that. She selected an odd-looking opponent for him: a Lotus Root Person no taller than three feet, with refined features, yet built like a tiger-backed brute.
A quarter of an hour later, Yan Zhen slunk back, face battered and bruised, to resume his laps.
If swimming beat taking a beating, so be it.
These Lotus Root People might whimper innocently and look harmless, but most packed the power of High Star Mystic Ancestors—some even Mystic Venerables. The one he’d just scrapped with resembled a muscled Nezha: utterly immune to lightning, with freakish damage resistance. Ridiculous. Yan Zhen’s raw physical strength stood no chance!
He bucked up and dove back into training, determined to even the score after his next upgrade.
And so Yan Zhen threw himself wholly into body refining until utter exhaustion claimed him.
The Bitter Sea Cave-Heaven even simulated its own sun, moon, and stars, cycling in perfect sync with the outside world.
On the third night of his seclusion, beneath a twinkling starry sky, the Saint Lord Master once again transformed him into Yan Zhen (Eight Years Old). She cradled him tightly against her chest, his little head buried deep in that plush valley, his face a mask of helpless resignation.
“Saint Lord Master, why do you have to turn me small every time?”
Jialan Fairy gently stroked the top of his head. “Naturally, so Yan’er can rest better. As a little child, you can shamelessly act spoiled toward your elders—no need for shyness. Only then can you truly release your stress and maintain a healthy mindset.”
What an utterly bizarre train of thought… Yan Zhen lacked the energy to argue. He gazed lazily at the artificial stars. Though he still felt awkward, he wasn’t truly opposed deep down. Mostly, it stirred a pang of guilt toward his beautiful master—like he’d abandoned her for the Saint Lord Master’s embrace.
No, no way!
Yan Zhen wriggled free from her arms and protested earnestly. “Saint Lord Master, I’m not a child anymore. Forcing me to play one is just pointless. I think… Mmph?”
Before he could finish, Jialan Fairy cupped his face in her jade-like hands and stuffed his little head right back into her bosom. She leaned down to meet his gaze. “In an elder’s eyes, you’re always a child—no matter your age. Yan’er, you’ve shouldered far too much alone. You can’t keep it up forever. Let me step in for Chen Xi and pamper you properly.”
She didn’t want to see that heartbroken look on his face again, her silly little boy.
Her voice trailed off, her gaze growing distant as if lost in memory. Then, ever so gently, she pressed a kiss to his forehead.
Muah~
Yan Zhen stared up at his Saint Lord Master’s sorrowful yet tender expression. Something stirred inexplicably within him, and he blinked in a daze.
A faint smile graced Jialan Fairy’s holy, compassionate features. “Even cuter now, Yan’er.”
Yan Zhen snapped to his senses, sensing something amiss. To his shock, his limbs had shortened further. Now transformed into Yan Zhen (Three Years Old), his tiny feet just brushed the ground while cradled in her arms.
Holy crap! Eight years old was one thing, but a single kiss had regressed him to three?
“Saint Lord Master! What was that for?” Yan Zhen hopped in frantic protest, his voice coming out all milky and childish. “Change me back—this is way too small!”
“Isn’t being so pint-sized adorable?” Jialan Fairy actually laughed, the corners of her mouth curving into radiant arcs that seemed to glow with holy light. “Now I can hold all of Yan’er in my arms. And feeding you will be so much easier. Perfect for both of us.”
Yan Zhen: “…”
Jialan Fairy: “o(^-^)o”
Boys really needed to watch themselves out there—never let just anyone plant a kiss.
Blushing furiously, Yan Zhen sank into the Saint Lord Master’s soft, fragrant embrace. He couldn’t squirm, couldn’t stay still. Utterly mortified.
Jialan Fairy remained blissfully oblivious, cuddling him like a cherished pet. Her jade hand caressed his head as her eyes half-closed in evident delight.
But at that moment, the Crystal Pendant tucked into Yan Zhen’s collar grew scorching hot. It erupted in a blaze of brilliant light.
A silhouette of light emerged, coalescing midair into a stunning saintess with flowing white hair and a black skirt. Barefoot as a descending celestial, she floated gracefully to the ground.
Chen Xi’s projection had arrived. She took in the scene and froze, a pang like her most precious belonging snatched by her closest friend twisting in her chest.
Yan Zhen never expected his beautiful master to project herself from the Fire Refining Starry Sky. He panicked and tried to wriggle free—but his struggles only made him look like he was coquettishly resisting. He blurted out instead, “Master, it’s not what it looks like! Hear me out!”
Jialan Fairy gently pinned her fidgety little treasure in place and turned to Chen Xi. “Chen Xi, what brings you here?”
Chen Xi recovered quickly. Seeing the truth—that her precious disciple had been coerced—her willow brows furrowed. “Jialan, let go of Zhen’er this instant!”
Jialan Fairy shook her head lightly. “I’m just bonding closely with Yan’er, nurturing our feelings. Don’t ruin the mood, Chen Xi.”
Chen Xi bristled. “Bonding? By turning Zhen’er into this? Can’t you see he hates it? Give my disciple back—you’re not bullying him on my watch!”
