Deepening

The two chatted on the sofa for a while before Xiao Wu said she was feeling a little sleepy.

Li Tianlan said, "Then go get some sleep. I'll be outside—call me if you need anything."

Xiao Wu returned to the bedroom, while Li Tianlan remained on the sofa. "Teacher, why won't you let me go to Nuoding Academy? Isn't the cultivation environment there better?"

Xiao Yan calmly analyzed the matter. "Tianlan, the Fen Jue you cultivate relies on absorbing flames to increase your strength. Your innate soul skill, Dao Tong Yan, is the best possible partner for the Fen Jue. They can be said to fit together perfectly."

"The most urgent matter is for you to absorb all kinds of flames and awaken those one hundred and eight flames as soon as possible. With the Fen Jue, your cultivation will also advance by leaps and bounds. The two complement each other, and with your identity as an Alchemist, the best—and most important—thing for you to do right now is absorb flames."

After hearing Xiao Yan's calm analysis, Li Tianlan felt that he was right and agreed with him.

Moreover, his most urgent task was to obtain his first Soul Ring. He had to raise his level first.

Li Tianlan also realized his shortcomings and immediately began meditating to cultivate. Meanwhile, Xiao Wu simply fell asleep in the bedroom without cultivating.

For a Soul Beast like her that had taken human form, cultivation was extremely easy—one could say it was as effortless as drinking water.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, Xiao Yan watched Li Tianlan meditate and thought to himself, Tianlan's talent far surpasses even mine back then. And when I tested his talent as an Alchemist, I couldn't even sense his soul power at all. What exactly is going on...?

The night passed without incident.

In the morning, Li Tianlan awoke from a night of meditation. Seeing that the bedroom door was still tightly closed, he guessed that Xiao Wu had not yet awakened. After quickly washing his face, he went out to buy breakfast.

As Li Tianlan walked along the street, he sensed the changes within his body. "Teacher, this Fen Jue is truly incredible. My Soul Power is only at level three, but it feels exceptionally solid."

Xiao Yan's voice followed. "This is nothing yet. The Fen Jue's greatest effect comes after it devours flames. Only then will its true power truly reveal itself."

Li Tianlan was growing more and more eager to see what changes his body would undergo after devouring flames.

After buying some breakfast, Li Tianlan returned home. The moment he opened the door, he found that Xiao Wu was already up. She seemed to have just washed her face, and crystalline droplets still clung to her young, fair cheeks.

Her original scorpion-tail braid had come undone, her hair falling all the way to the backs of her fair, slender legs.

This appearance left Li Tianlan staring blankly. Xiao Wu also noticed that he had returned, and upon seeing the look in his eyes, her cheeks immediately flushed red.

Little did she know that this only made Li Tianlan's heart pound wildly and threw his thoughts into chaos.

"Tianlan, stop looking. I'm hungry," Xiao Wu said shyly.

Li Tianlan snapped back to his senses and said somewhat awkwardly, "Oh... alright, alright... okay."

Xiao Yan promptly launched into another round of mockery within the Sea of Consciousness, endlessly berating Li Tianlan.

Li Tianlan ignored Xiao Yan in his Sea of Consciousness. With a faint blush on his face, he placed the breakfast on the table and called Xiao Wu over to eat.

Neither of them dared to look at the other while eating. They merely ate breakfast in silence, prompting another burst of ridicule from Xiao Yan. However, Li Tianlan was in no mood to argue with him.

The two seriously focused on their meal and soon finished all the food. Xiao Wu stood up and swiftly cleared away the dishes, taking them into the kitchen and washing them clean.

Li Tianlan, still red-faced at the dining table, stood up and sat on the sofa to quickly calm his emotions.

After washing the dishes, Xiao Wu walked prettily over to the sofa and said to Li Tianlan, "Tianlan, can you help me comb my hair?"

"Ah, yes, yes."

Xiao Wu sat on the sofa with her back to Li Tianlan, then handed him a comb.

The comb gave off an enchanting fragrance, and a carrot emblem was set in its center.

Li Tianlan gathered Xiao Wu's smooth hair, which carried an enticing fragrance, in his hand and gently combed it with the comb.

"Xiao Wu, this comb..."

"My mother left it to me."

After saying that, a lonely expression appeared on Xiao Wu's face. A trace of killing intent flashed through her eyes, but quickly vanished.

In the anime Li Tianlan had watched in his previous life, the origins of this comb had naturally been mentioned. But he could not possibly reveal its origins directly; there would be no way to explain how he knew. Thus, he could only leave it at that.

Li Tianlan naturally noticed Xiao Wu's change and said nothing more. The movements of his hands became even gentler and smoother.

Very soon, Li Tianlan tied Xiao Wu's hair into the familiar scorpion braid. Looking at the young and beautiful Xiao Wu, he felt very happy.

"Tianlan, does it look good?" Xiao Wu asked shyly.

"It does. It looks very good," Li Tianlan said firmly.

Upon hearing that, a smile appeared on Xiao Wu's cheeks. Her face flushed slightly, making her exceptionally alluring. Seeing this, Li Tianlan unconsciously reached his hand toward her enticing little face.

The alluring girl before him did not dodge. As she watched his distinct, slender fingers land on her face, a touch of delight rose in her heart.

Li Tianlan was equally excited. After feeling the softness of her cheek, he did not want to let go. But after giving it a gentle pinch, he withdrew his hand.

Still, it was obvious that Li Tianlan was reluctant to do so. "Xiao Wu, your face is very soft."

Xiao Wu's face immediately turned even redder. She stamped her little foot and ran back to her bedroom.

Xiao Yan said from within the Sea of Consciousness, "Tianlan, I don't object to her becoming your partner, but she is, after all, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that has taken human form. Are you sure you want to do this?"

After hearing Xiao Yan's words, Li Tianlan considered them briefly before immediately answering, "Yes, I'm sure. I believe I'm qualified, and I have the ability as well."

Xiao Yan replied, "Then alright. I believe in you, and I respect your choice."

Li Tianlan fell silent for a while before saying, "Originally, Xiao Wu was supposed to... But I believe that with me here, this tragedy will not happen again. And some people will naturally have to pay the price they deserve."

Xiao Yan looked at the somewhat unusual Li Tianlan, utterly puzzled. What tragedy? Who had to pay a price? This also deepened Xiao Yan's understanding of Li Tianlan.

This young man was far from simple, and his parents might possibly...

Li Tianlan then continued sitting cross-legged on the sofa and resumed his meditation and cultivation.