Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Half of This Is Yours

"Sprite?"

"Ah! Host, I need to rest a bit more. Wait for me~ Oh, right! The previous Collection Book has a technique for refining Seven-color Salt Crystals. Don’t forget to look at it, Host~ BEEP!"

Qiao Xixi frowned. ’Did it lose the fight with Huang Ying’s system?’

Meanwhile, a burst of static crackled in Huang Ying’s mind. "System, what’s going on?"

"Damn it! It learned its lesson after this upgrade. It actually blocked my virus from before. Good thing I’ve trapped it now. It won’t be getting out anytime soon. You need to hurry and make a move on Qiao Xixi while you have the chance. KSHHH—I need to go—KSHHH—for repairs—KSHHH—!"

"Hey! System!"

’Without her system’s help, she would have to rely on herself.’

"Fenglin, go and see if that female in the wooden house has come out yet."

"Alright, I’ll go now."

Fenglin took to the sky and flew over the wooden house. From a distance, he saw Qiao Xixi walking out of the cabin with Sunxiao and the others.

As Fenglin tried to get closer, he felt an icy gaze land on him.

His eyes met Sunxiao’s. Fenglin’s own phoenix-like eyes darkened. ’A Sky-Devouring Python.’

’His Wing Clan and the Snake Clan are natural enemies. The Wing Clan usually has the upper hand in a fight, but this Sky-Devouring Python showed no fear in his presence. How arrogant.’

However, Fenglin didn’t rush forward. He simply observed their movements.

"Father." Qiao Lie gently tugged on Sunxiao’s clothes.

Sunxiao lowered his eyes to look at the cub, only to see him raise his hand and point toward the sky.

"You sense him?"

Qiao Lie nodded. The Snake Clan was extremely sensitive to the presence of the Wing Clan, so he had sensed Fenglin the moment he arrived.

"Stay with your mother. He won’t dare to make a move."

"Mm."

Qiao Lie trotted over to Qiao Xixi’s side on his short little legs.

Qiao Xixi sensed something was off with the father and son. "What’s wrong?" she asked, confused.

Sunxiao said coolly, "A Phoenix Beast is here."

Qiao Xixi glanced up at Fenglin, unsurprised. She held onto Sunxiao’s arm and whispered something in his ear.

Sunxiao’s brow furrowed as he listened. He shook his head without a second thought. "No."

"What’s there to be afraid of when you’re all here?"

Sunxiao pulled her waist in tighter. "Didn’t you want to see the Seven-color Salt Field? Let’s go there first."

Qiao Xixi knew that they would not easily agree to anything that would put her at risk, so she didn’t insist.

’Actually, I was planning to deliberately fall behind. It would give Fenglin and his people an opening, and I could then take the opportunity to capture them. But it’s too risky. I’ll have to think of another way.’

The Seven-color Salt Field was quite a distance from the cabin in the woods. Sunxiao transformed into his beast form, letting Qiao Xixi and the cubs ride on his back. He slithered swiftly through the mountain forest, and they soon arrived at the coastal salt field.

The moment they approached, the mermen guarding the salt field noticed them.

A merman who looked somewhat similar to Xijing walked over and politely greeted Qiao Xixi.

"Sister-in-law, you’re here."

Qiao Xixi froze for a second, then immediately felt a chill radiating from Sunxiao beside her.

"Um, I’m not..."

"Uncle," Xiya said, jumping off Sunxiao’s back and running to Ximing. "Where’s my father?"

Ximing rubbed Xiya’s head and smiled. "Big Brother is in the salt field. Come with me."

"Okay."

Qiao Xixi got off Sunxiao’s back, and Sunxiao changed back into his human form, following Ximing into the salt field.

The salt flat was massive. Walking across its surface was like treading on a crystal-clear mirror—a sight Qiao Xixi had never witnessed before.

"It’s so beautiful here."

"Sister-in-law, the Seven-color Salt Field is even more beautiful."

Just as Ximing finished speaking, Qiao Xixi was captivated by a rainbow in the distance.

A vibrant rainbow arched over the pristine, transparent salt flat, so clear it seemed to be without a single impurity.

Xijing stood quietly beneath the rainbow, his blue hair a stark contrast to the blue Jue Sha he wore. The white silk blindfold over his eyes fluttered in the sea breeze, creating a scene so beautiful it looked like a painting.

Hearing the commotion, Xijing turned toward them.

"Xixi?"

Qiao Xixi had just started to take a step when she heard Ximing call out, "Sister-in-law, be careful! The salt in the Seven-color Salt Field is much more concentrated. It’ll be hard on your feet if you step in."

Only then did Qiao Xixi realize she was at the edge of the field itself. "Got it."

She looked closely at the salt flat beneath her feet. It truly shimmered with the colors of a rainbow. It was magical.

"These colored Salt Crystals are so strange."

"Are they also salty?"

Qiao Qiao curiously picked up some Salt Crystals with her finger and put them in her mouth.

"Mmph, ptui, ptui, ptui! It’s so bitter! Yuck!"

Xijing, who had approached without them noticing, couldn’t help but chuckle. "The concentration of the Salt Crystals is much higher here. They aren’t for eating."

"Xixi, have you recovered?"

"Yes, I’m mostly recovered."

"The sea breeze is strong here. Let’s go to the house up ahead first."

Qiao Xixi nodded. ’I’m just here to see it. Since I can’t help, it’s best not to get in their way.’

"Father, can I play here with my brother and sisters?"

The cubs had grown comfortable with one another. Being at such an active age, it was hard for them to stay still. Qiao Xixi didn’t want to be overly restrictive, but she couldn’t help but worry.

Xijing saw Qiao Xixi’s worry and spoke up. "I’ll have Ximing and the others watch the cubs. You don’t have to worry."

Qiao Xixi looked at the cubs’ eager eyes and finally agreed.

"No running off, and no one goes anywhere by themselves, okay?"

"We know, Mother!"

Qiao Xixi followed Xijing and Sunxiao to a stone house not far from the salt field.

The moment she stepped inside, Qiao Xixi heard a loud THUD from behind.

Turning in surprise, she saw Xijing had walked right into the doorframe. She instinctively rushed to his side.

"Are you alright?"

Xijing winced, his brow furrowing in pain, but he forced a smile. "I’m fine, Xixi. Don’t worry."

"You should be more careful, since you can’t see." She took his arm and guided him to a wooden stool.

Sunxiao’s serpentine eyes darkened, his cold gaze fixed on the hand Xixi was using to guide Xijing.

Xijing’s other hand gently landed on the back of Qiao Xixi’s hand. "Xixi, can you sit next to me? I have something to tell you."

’He probably wants to discuss something important,’ Qiao Xixi thought, so she didn’t overthink it and sat down next to him.

The moment she sat down, however, she felt the air in the room grow colder.

"Xixi, you already know the use of the Seven-color Salt Crystal. What are your plans?"

Qiao Xixi had already thought about it on the way here, but first, she needed to confirm the ownership of the salt field.

"Xijing, this salt field belongs to your merman clan."

"Xixi, you helped us successfully reclaim the salt field. I’ve already told my clansmen that half of it is all yours."

"It’s all mine?"

Xijing nodded. "Mm-hmm. You can do whatever you want with it."

"In that case, I want to refine the Seven-color Salt Crystals right here, as they’re harvested."

At her words, not only Xijing, but even Sunxiao was stunned.