First Kiss

Inside the silent valley.

Qian Renxue lay in the scorching Yang Spring, while Ye Tianxing lay in the icy Cold Spring. The Withered Wood Bow stood upright where the two springs met, continuously absorbing the energy of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

The shape of the bow constantly changed. Ye Tianxing had actually wrapped the roots and stems of the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass around both ends of the bow, binding them tightly and further accelerating the Withered Wood Bow's absorption.

Ye Tianxing's goal was clear. Besides forging a body immune to water and fire and unafraid of any poison, he also wanted to obtain the two ultimate attributes: Extreme Fire and Extreme Ice.

This was the primary path of his future development, and an essential step on his Path of Divinity.

With that, the evolution of the Withered Wood Bow would be complete!

Qian Renxue had her eyes tightly shut. She was no longer dressed as Xue Qinghe, her long golden hair drifting freely atop the Yang Spring. Across from her, Ye Tianxing lay on the Cold Pool with his eyes closed as well, using the unique environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to accelerate the transformation of his body.

In an unknown space, two hazy figures watched everything unfolding below.

"Extreme Ice and Extreme Fire—this kid actually created two such extreme attributes!"

"And that bow. After absorbing the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, it has gained the potential to advance into a divine artifact."

"Wait! What are you doing?!" one of the figures shouted, having caught the other making a small move.

"I discovered him first!" the other figure hurriedly declared.

"What do you mean, you discovered him first? I was obviously the one who acted first, but you stopped me."

"We've fought for so many years without a winner. Fine, now you're trying to steal someone from me, huh?!" Behind him raged wind and snow, forming a world of ice and snow.

"I've put up with you for a long time! Same old rules: whoever wins gets the kid!" The other was enveloped in flames, with an inferno soaring behind him.

In an instant, ice and fire exploded outward. The two figures fought until space itself tore apart, all the way to the desolate fringes of the cosmos.

The scene shifted back to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

After the Withered Wood Bow absorbed the remnants of the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, it truly gained the attributes of Extreme Ice and Extreme Fire with the aid of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's special environment, qualifying it to advance into a divine artifact.

The valley was vast and empty, silent without a sound.

A man and a woman lay quietly in the pool. For some unknown reason, the spring water beneath them began to rotate like a taiji symbol, carrying their bodies along its S-shaped axis.

"So cold!"

"So hot!"

They spoke in unison. Qian Renxue's entire body burned with heat, her skin seeming to ignite and her organs seeming to melt; Ye Tianxing, meanwhile, was freezing all over, as if trapped in a frigid Ice Prison, his hands and feet already numb.

The Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass could only grow thanks to this place's unique environment. In the original text, Tang San consumed both in their entirety and, with the aid of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, forged a body immune to water and fire and unafraid of all poisons.

Of the two Immortal Grade Herbs Ye Tianxing consumed, the Infernal Delicate Apricot accounted for one-third and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass for two-thirds. Qian Renxue's proportions were the reverse of Ye Tianxing's.

Two-thirds Infernal Delicate Apricot and one-third Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.

Just then, the Withered Wood Bow moved. Without anyone controlling it, it immediately flew before Ye Tianxing and carried his body into the Yang Spring. The moment he met Qian Renxue, their hands clasped tightly together.

Splash!

The entire bow immediately plunged beneath the water and vanished from sight.

The cold inside Ye Tianxing's body came under control. A wave of heat rushed through him, beginning to thaw his frozen limbs, and color gradually returned to his pale, weak face.

Qian Renxue was the same. Cold energy flowed through their joined hands, bringing the nameless fire within her body, which had gradually been spiraling out of control, under control.

Slowly, their bodies drew closer and closer.

Ye Tianxing's hands unconsciously wrapped around Qian Renxue's willow-slender waist, their faces pressing together.

Slowly...

Drawing closer...

Gradually moving closer...

A wisp of cold air escaped Ye Tianxing's mouth with nowhere to go, just as it mingled with a stream of heat from Qian Renxue's slightly parted lips.

In the end, their lips touched.

The soft fragrance was so vivid. A blush gradually spread across Qian Renxue's flawless skin, while Ye Tianxing felt his breathing quicken and his lips begin to move instinctively.

Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened.

Dugu Bo did not come. He was still in seclusion, refining the residual toxins in his body. He was confident that once he emerged two days later, his Soul Power would surely break through. Thinking of this, he could not help but smile.

In the pool, Ye Tianxing, who had lain there all night, slowly woke up. He discovered that he had already broken through the Level 40 bottleneck and could head to Sunset Forest to hunt a Spirit Beast.

Using Soul Power to disperse the water from his body, Ye Tianxing climbed ashore.

He discovered Qian Renxue sitting blankly on the cliff where Dugu Bo had sat yesterday. Her flawless face was turned toward the sky, lost in thought.

"Sis, when did you come up?" Ye Tianxing approached Qian Renxue from behind.

"You're awake?" Qian Renxue belatedly turned around. Seeing that Ye Tianxing was unharmed, she finally forced a smile. "Thanks to you, this opportunity was very precious to me... Thank you."

"Sis, why are your lips hurt? Did something happen?" Ye Tianxing asked worriedly when he noticed blood on Qian Renxue's lips and the broken skin.

At the mention of this, Qian Renxue's pretty face flushed. After shooting a glance at the still-confused Ye Tianxing, she rose and changed into Xue Qinghe's attire.

"Now that you're fine, I'm relieved. There are still matters in Heaven Dou City that I need to handle, so I'll be leaving first."

Having said that, Xue Qinghe revealed a pair of pristine white Swan Wings behind his back, soared into the sky, and vanished beyond the horizon.

"Wasn't this all your fault, idiot?!" Qian Renxue's thoughts were a mess. She wanted to go back and have some peace and quiet first.

Watching Qian Renxue leave, Ye Tianxing touched his cheek, still scorching hot from having been soaked in the Yang Spring, completely baffled.

"Big Sis is acting a little strange." Ye Tianxing was puzzled. What exactly was going on?

He had no memory of it at all; his mind was completely blank. He only knew that he had completed his breakthrough and could now hunt Spirit Beasts to obtain his Fourth Spirit Ring.

Ye Tianxing picked the Immortal Grade Herbs whose names he knew, then chose to cultivate here, consolidate his foundation, and wait for Dugu Bo to arrive.

Heaven Dou City, within the imperial palace.

After Xue Qinghe, disguised by Qian Renxue, switched shifts with the Substitute, she officially put on her disguise and began a new day of undercover work.

"My first kiss was just gone like that, all muddled and confused!"

Thinking back to when Ye Tianxing had just awakened and bitten her cherry lips, she had been filled with shock and embarrassment. Her pretty face had flushed bright red, and she had nearly slapped Ye Tianxing across the face.

Fortunately, she had not swung her hand down. It would have been bad if she had startled Ye Tianxing awake.

"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty and Sect Master Ning are waiting for you," someone came to report.

"Understood. I'll be there shortly." Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and adjusted his state of mind.

Once she stepped outside, she was once again the Crown Prince whose every gesture radiated nobility.