Heart Stirring

Heart Stirring

The lingering rays of the setting sun filtered through the window lattice, coating the quiet room in a warm layer of gold. Feng Yao slowly opened his eyes, a fleeting gleam seeming to pass through their depths. After an entire day of cultivation, his bearing had undergone a subtle change—his former otherworldly aura, like that of an exiled immortal, had grown far more restrained. In its place was a refined nobility tempered by time, like the patina formed over years upon an ancient qin: unassuming, yet all the more profound.

With a thought, the Fuxi Qin quietly appeared. Under the sunset's glow, dark golden natural wood grain could clearly be seen flowing across its formerly simple body, while the jade markers embedded near the tuning pegs emitted a gentle luster. Feng Yao's slender fingers lightly brushed the strings. He did not even need to exert force before they began to tremble of their own accord, sending out visible ripples of golden sound. The sound waves lingered in the air like ripples spreading over water, refracting the sunset's light into dreamlike colors.

"Soul Power consumption has dropped by thirty percent, but its power has increased by nearly half." Feng Yao carefully sensed the changes in his Martial Soul, surprise flashing through his eyes. The Brocade Rosy Tulip's enhancement of his Martial Soul's essence was far greater than he had expected.

"As expected of an Immortal Grade capable of evolving the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."

He raised his left hand slightly, and the Innate Bagua Plate answered his summons. Its originally lustrous white jade body now carried a faint gilded sheen, as though it had been steeped in the sunset. The Hexagram Symbols on the eight trigrams shone brighter than before. Qian's white light was pure and upright, Kun Hexagram's dark radiance was heavy and profound, Li's red glow blazed fiercely. Eight colors of light reflected one another as they flowed endlessly across the plate.

As dusk deepened, Feng Yao stood before the window and watched the last streak of sunset on the horizon. A gentle curve unconsciously rose at his lips. That noble figure surfaced in his mind, and he murmured softly, "It's time. I should go give her a surprise."

After dinner, Feng Yao strolled to the Mimicry Training Ground deep within the Imperial Academy. Pushing open the heavy oak door, he found the familiar golden figure seated in the center of the training ground as usual, holy radiance flowing around her. The sight filled his heart with an inexplicable sense of peace.

"Why did you leave in the middle of today's match?" Qian Renxue slowly opened her beautiful eyes, her voice flowing like a clear spring.

A trace of mischief flashed through Feng Yao's eyes as he feigned surprise. "Your Highness pays such close attention to my whereabouts?"

Qian Renxue's gaze turned cold, and her aura abruptly sharpened. Yet she quickly noticed the subtle changes in Feng Yao—the restrained fluctuations of Soul Power and the delicate aura emanating from him. In only half a day, his cultivation had improved this much?

"What did you do this afternoon?" Her voice unconsciously carried a hint of urgency, and her slender jade fingers tightened slightly. She suddenly recalled Feng Yao's joking claim that he would surpass her, and an inexplicable sense of crisis rose in her heart.

Feng Yao smiled calmly. "I've seen enough of the tactics worth watching. Naturally, it's time to focus on preparing for battle. After all..." He paused meaningfully. "The challenge Your Highness gave me is no small one. Spirit Hall has three Soul Kings."

"You jumped several levels from level forty-five in half a day?" Qian Renxue snorted softly, disbelief filling her golden eyes. "I've never heard of a method of consolidation like that."

During this period, Feng Yao and Qian Renxue had generally cultivated at the same times, so Qian Renxue naturally knew his rate of progress extremely well.

Just as the atmosphere began to tense, Feng Yao took a box carved from crimson jade from his Soul Tool. The instant its lid opened, a scorching aura rushed forth. Inside lay an Immortal Herb shaped like a phoenix's crown, quietly gleaming with sunlight-like radiance. "I found something good in Senior Dugu's medicinal garden. This is for you."

"Your Highness?" Seeing Qian Renxue staring blankly into space, Feng Yao called softly.

Qian Renxue seemed to awaken from a dream. Her long lashes trembled as they lowered, concealing the complex emotions that flashed through her eyes. She accepted the warm jade box, and her fingertips accidentally brushed Feng Yao's palm before withdrawing as though shocked.

"This is called the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower," Feng Yao explained gently. "It is a pure yang Immortal Grade and can enhance Soul Power and the might of flames."

"How did you know I..." Qian Renxue abruptly fell silent halfway through her sentence. She remembered that during their recent cultivation, that strange sense of fusion had long since exposed each other's attributes. When she raised her eyes and met Feng Yao's smiling gaze, a flush suddenly bloomed across her snow-white cheeks.

As their eyes met amid her embarrassment and irritation, two youthful and beautiful figures involuntarily appeared in Qian Renxue's mind. Her fingertips lightly stroked the edge of the jade box as she asked casually, "Such a precious Immortal Grade, yet Dugu Bo simply let you take it as you pleased?"

Feng Yao chuckled softly, a thoughtful glint flashing through his eyes. "Senior Dugu's poison arts are unparalleled, but that is also why he has no affinity with these Immortal Grades." He tapped the table lightly with a finger. "In a sense, these treasures of heaven and earth are the same as Spirit Rings and Spirit Bones. What matters most is compatibility of attributes. With the Title Douluo-level poison throughout his body, no one can predict what would happen if he consumed one rashly."

As he spoke, Feng Yao's expression gradually became serious. He knew clearly that the toxins within Dugu Bo's body had long fused with his bloodline; otherwise, they would not have been inherited by Dugu Yan. If the medicinal power of an Immortal Grade provoked a mutation in those toxins, the lighter outcome would be the destruction of his cultivation, while the worst would be a sudden poisonous relapse and death on the spot. For that reason, even though Feng Yao knew from his memories of the Immortal Grades' miraculous effects, he had never rashly recommended them to Dugu Bo.

Tang San's method treated the symptoms rather than the root cause, but for someone Senior Dugu's age, it was more than enough to see him through his remaining years. When it came to matters of life and death, Feng Yao never gambled on uncertain opportunities.

Feng Yao was even more cautious when it came to Dugu Yan. If there were no issues whatsoever with her body, he would gladly share Immortal Grades with her. In his heart, rather than risking letting Dugu Yan consume an Immortal Grade, it would be far safer to find her several Spirit Bones with compatible attributes in the future.

Feng Yao knew very well that the seemingly kind and approachable Dugu Bo would immediately become the feared Poison Douluo whenever his granddaughter's safety was involved. If Dugu Yan suffered any mishap because of his advice, the entire Heaven Dou City might not be able to bear that Title Douluo's towering fury.

Unless Dugu Bo personally asked, he would never take the initiative to suggest that Dugu Yan try these Immortal Grades. This was not cowardice, but the reverence for life that one ought to possess. After all, on the path of Spirit Master cultivation, restraint sometimes required more wisdom and courage than recklessness.

Qian Renxue nodded lightly, understanding flashing through her beautiful eyes. Since even Dugu Bo had not received an Immortal Grade from Feng Yao, then...

"What is it?" Feng Yao's gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.

Qian Renxue's long lashes trembled slightly, concealing the unusual look in her eyes. "Nothing." Her jade fingers stroked the lid of the box. "How should this Immortal Grade be consumed?"

Feng Yao leaned forward, his voice unconsciously softening. "Remember, do not chew it. Just swallow it whole. After that, you must circulate your Soul Power with all your strength to guide the medicinal effect." His tone suddenly turned stern. "No matter how painful the process is, you must remain conscious. Otherwise, all your efforts will be wasted."

Seeing Qian Renxue about to open the jade box, Feng Yao suddenly remembered something and hastily raised his hand to stop her. Under her puzzled gaze, he approached a few steps, looking somewhat embarrassed. A wisp of elegant fragrance lingered at his nose, making his ears grow slightly warm.

"Your Highness..." Feng Yao lowered his voice, almost whispering by her ear. "When the medicinal effect takes hold, the fire power in your body will... those clothes may..." His voice became softer and softer, until the final few words were almost inaudible.

Qian Renxue was first stunned, then her jade-like face instantly flushed crimson. Even the earlobes hidden beneath her golden hair reddened slightly. She shot Feng Yao an embarrassed glare, only to find that he had already tactfully turned around and walked out of the training ground with composed steps, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

As she watched that white figure gradually recede, Qian Renxue's heartstrings seemed to be gently plucked. She raised a hand to her chest and felt the unusual flutter there.

As a woman in the bloom of youth, Qian Renxue had naturally imagined her future as well. On those unknown late nights, she too had gazed at the stars and wondered what kind of person could enter her destined, extraordinary life.

She believed he should at least be able to defeat her, yet fate had arranged the most unexpected answer for her—a young man who played the qin had barged into her carefully disguised life. He had accidentally seen through her disguise, yet chose to protect her secret.

Qian Renxue lowered her head to look at the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower in her hand. The golden light flowing across the Immortal Herb reflected her complicated gaze. She suddenly realized that, at some unknown point, that young man who always wore a faint smile had already taken a special place in her heart.

"How absurd." She murmured softly, yet she could not hide the faint curve at the corner of her lips. Raising her delicate hand, she slowly placed the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower into her mouth. In the final moment before its medicinal power erupted, the image that surfaced in her mind was Feng Yao's eyes, carrying a gentle smile.

"Mmph..."

The instant the Immortal Herb entered her throat, Qian Renxue's entire body trembled. A scorching torrent shot from her throat straight into her Dantian, and an unnatural flush immediately spread across her snow-white skin. The Six-winged Angel Martial Soul behind her manifested beyond her control, its three pairs of white Wings trembling violently in the blazing currents of air.

Qian Renxue's golden hair stirred without wind. The luxurious palace attire on her body had long turned to ashes under the intense heat.

"Ah—"

A pained moan escaped her lips. Qian Renxue felt every inch of her Meridians being scorched by blazing fire, but what alarmed her even more was that the Angel bloodline dormant in her body for so long had begun to boil. A thread of crimson-gold flame energy gradually merged into her originally pure holy power.

Feng Yao leaned against the stone door outside, his fingers unconsciously stroking the Fuxi Qin Strings. Every trace of Soul Power fluctuation coming from within the barrier tugged at his emotions.

Suddenly, a burning sting spread from his chest. At the same time, Qian Renxue's suppressed pained moans came from inside the room. She seemed to be deliberately holding them back, but the heart-wrenching agony within was still unmistakable.

"So I can even share the pain of absorbing an Immortal Grade..." Feng Yao gave a bitter smile and pressed a hand to his chest.

The temperature within the training ground continued to rise, until even the door he leaned against began to grow hot. Fine beads of sweat formed at Feng Yao's temples, yet he remained outside the door without taking a single step away.

After a long wait of three shichen, the horizon finally turned pale. When the first ray of morning light pierced the thin mist and fell upon the ground, the raging scorching aura inside the training ground gradually calmed.

Feng Yao raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door, fatigue and concern in his voice. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Qian Renxue's reply came from within. Her usually cool voice now sounded like melting ice and snow, carrying a little more warmth. "Come in."

The instant he pushed open the door, Feng Yao's breath caught—morning light shone through the Glazed Window, coating the room in a soft golden glow. Qian Renxue stood quietly at the center of the halo, like a phoenix reborn from flames. Her already breathtaking beauty had gained a shocking brilliance. A crimson-gold flame divine mark flickered faintly between her brows, reflecting one another with the Six-winged Angel Martial Soul spreading behind her. Sun-like patterns flowed along the edges of those three pairs of Gilded Wings, each feather radiating holy and blazing light.

"It seems..." This dazzling sight reflected in Feng Yao's eyes, and a gentle curve unconsciously rose at his lips. "The effect is even better than expected."

Qian Renxue lowered her eyes to gaze at her palm, where a cluster of crimson-gold flames danced between her slender white fingers. It obeyed her as naturally as an arm or finger. She raised her eyes toward Feng Yao, a complicated emotion flashing through them. Her red lips parted slightly. "Thank you." The two words were as light as a feather, yet they landed heavily upon Feng Yao's heart.

Before Feng Yao could recover from this rare warmth, golden light flashed before his eyes and Qian Renxue had vanished. Only the faint lingering fragrance in the air, along with the somewhat haughty words by his ear—"Continue tonight"—proved that everything just now had not been an illusion.

Feng Yao looked at the empty training ground, the smile at his lips gradually widening. Feeling the sticky sweat on his body, he headed back toward his own dormitory.

A few days later, the Preliminary Tournament finally came to an end. Compared with previous years, there was little change among the top five academies this time—aside from Shrek, the dark horse, the Four Element Academies still held the promotion spots. Yet upon closer inspection, the situation was vastly different from the course of the original story.

Ever since Tang San had been severely injured and absent, the Shrek Team had struggled without its core Control System. On the battlefield, Dai Mubai was valiant and unmatched, but he could not conceal the disorder in the team's coordination. Xiao Wu's Teleportation was agile, but it could not make up for the tactical gap. Even after Tang San returned while still injured, his Blue Silver Grass control seemed inadequate against the blazing flames of Blazing Fire Academy, the hurricanes of Divine Wind Academy, and the frost of Heavenly Water Academy. Plant-type Martial Souls were steadily defeated in extreme elemental environments, while those exquisite battlefield-control tactics were often torn apart by violent elemental currents the moment they were unleashed.

This outcome was completely different from the direction of the original story Feng Yao remembered. Without the Martial Soul evolution brought by Immortal Herbs, Shrek ultimately failed to create the same miracle when faced with the suppression of extreme elements. However, Feng Yao knew that with Tang San's personality, this setback would only make him seek a method of breakthrough even more frantically.

For Shrek, simply advancing under these circumstances was already a success. The upcoming Promotion Tournament would clearly favor Shrek far more. Whether Tang San, Dai Mubai, or Yu Tianheng, all of them would hold an enormous advantage in one-on-one battles.