Candle Dragon Power, Control Time

He abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them.

Soul Power surged into his right hand once more as his First Soul Skill, "Candle Flame Claw," activated with force!

But this time, he deliberately slowed the circulation of Soul Power through his meridians, trying to touch the... essence hidden beneath the Power of Cold and Heat!

Buzz—

A phantom dragon claw formed from intertwining black-and-white candle flames materialized out of thin air.

Chen Fan's gaze sharpened as he struck at a massive tree beside him that had long since withered.

"Pssh!"

A soft sound rang out.

The instant the dead tree came into contact with the dragon claw, it was completely engulfed by the candle flames and turned into a pile of ash in moments, scattering across the ground.

Yet Chen Fan's pupils suddenly constricted.

He had seen it clearly!

At the precise instant the candle flames touched the dead tree, that section of wood had, for a brief moment, remained completely unharmed!

The burning of the flames had been put on "pause."

Time... had frozen for an instant!

"It really is the power of time..."

Chen Fan muttered to himself, both shocked and delighted.

But before his words had faded, an intense wave of weakness struck him. His legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. He hurriedly reached out to brace himself against the nearby tree trunk, gasping heavily.

More than half of his Soul Power had nearly been drained away.

This time-related power was simply too advanced. With his current cultivation, merely touching upon a trace of its surface had already cost him so much.

Before he could recover.

A pair of warm hands gently wrapped around his waist from behind.

Gu Yuena pressed her cheek against his back, her soft hair brushing against his neck as concern filled her voice.

"Chen Fan, are you all right? Why are you so pale?"

Chen Fan's body stiffened for an instant before relaxing.

Having forcibly activated Candle Flame Claw just now, the powers of cold and heat within him had churned violently, making his body temperature fluctuate wildly and leaving him terribly uncomfortable.

Now, Gu Yuena's warmth seeped through their thin clothing, carrying the softness and warmth unique to a young girl. Bit by bit, it dispelled the sluggish sensation within him, even easing some of the exhaustion caused by his excessive Soul Power consumption.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I just used a bit too much Soul Power."

He turned back with a smile and raised a hand to pat the back of Gu Yuena's hand around his waist, reassuring her.

Yet the warm, smooth touch beneath his palm stirred something in him, and he could not help thinking of someone else.

Ning Rongrong.

To be fair, it was not as if Ning Rongrong did not care about him.

She had simply never been this "attentive."

Chen Fan remembered one time when he had caught a cold. Afraid that Ning Rongrong would worry, he had not told her.

As a result, Ning Rongrong dragged him around Heaven Dou City for an entire day, buying jewelry and picking out pastries. She had him carrying armfuls of bags the whole time, yet somehow failed to notice his pale face and unsteady steps.

Later, Ning Fengzhi was the one who noticed something was wrong and told her about it.

Only then did she come running over in a panic, saying she wanted to take care of him.

But that so-called "care" lasted only a short while.

She soon complained that "feeding him medicine and wiping away sweat was too troublesome," directly found a sect maid to take over, and happily ran off to play again.

At that thought, Chen Fan gently shook his head, trying to drive Ning Rongrong's spoiled figure from his mind.

The warmth behind him and the faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose were so real.

Gu Yuena's breath lightly brushed his neck, carrying a faint ticklish sensation, yet it gave him an unprecedented sense of security and peace.

He had never experienced this feeling by Ning Rongrong's side.

He leaned back naturally, placing all of his weight on the young girl behind him.

"Na'er, it's so good to have you."

He spoke softly.

The arms around his waist suddenly tightened, and Gu Yuena hugged him even closer, as though she wanted to meld him into her body.

Her voice was sweet and soft.

"I'll always stay with you."

"Mm."

Chen Fan smiled and nodded. The tangled thoughts of the past in his heart completely dissipated within that warm embrace, leaving only clarity.

He truly seemed to have stopped thinking about Ning Rongrong.

It was not that he had forced himself to forget her. Rather, the happiness he felt now was too real, making those past memories filled with grievance and helplessness fade into dull insignificance.

Just then, a faint rustling sound came from nearby.

The tender moment between Chen Fan and Gu Yuena was interrupted, and the two of them turned toward the sound in perfect unison.

The Golden Haired Woman from Spirit Hall whom they had rescued had awakened at some point. Leaning against a tree trunk, she was shifting her body somewhat awkwardly.

Qian Renxue felt rather speechless.

She had actually been awake for quite a while.

But watching the two of them embrace and cuddle as if no one else existed, she could not decide whether she should continue lying there and play dead or speak up to remind them of her presence.

What a sickeningly sweet couple.

She had intended to silently adjust into a more comfortable position, but her movement had been a little too large and directly alerted the two of them.

Chen Fan and Gu Yuena instantly turned their gazes toward her.

Meeting Chen Fan's gaze, Qian Renxue's eyes gleamed.

After all, she was a Level Sixty Soul Emperor. Her judgment was exceptionally sharp.

Although that youth had only unleashed a First Soul Skill just now, its power had been terrifyingly great, completely beyond what a ten-year soul ring should have possessed.

Moreover, that soul skill contained an exceedingly wondrous aura and fluctuation that even made her heart tremble.

She could be certain that the youth before her was no ordinary person.

And then there was the phantom of the Candle Dragon Shadow martial soul that had flashed behind him in that fleeting glimpse...

A thought immediately arose in her heart.

Recruit him!

She had to recruit him!

Such talent would be immensely valuable, whether to her identity as the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe or as Qian Renxue of Spirit Hall.

Supporting herself against the tree trunk, Qian Renxue slowly straightened up.

"Thank you both for saving me just now. I will never forget this great kindness."

Chen Fan waved a hand, signaling that she need not mind it.

"My name is She Xue'er, and I am from Spirit Hall. May I ask for your names and what faction you belong to?"

Remembering Snake Lance Douluo's care for her earlier, Qian Renxue casually made up a false name.

Chen Fan's heart stirred slightly as he glanced at Gu Yuena beside him.

He remembered that, back at the sect, when discussing a business partnership with a bishop from Spirit Hall, he had claimed to be from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Outside Heaven Dou City, when facing Titan of the Clear Sky Sect, he had said the same thing.

But now...

Chen Fan fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"My name is Chen Fan, and she is Na'er. We are merely unaffiliated Soul Masters and have not joined any faction."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Renxue's azure eyes suddenly lit up.

Unaffiliated Soul Masters?

What a heaven-sent opportunity!

At the same time, a hint of delight flashed through Gu Yuena's eyes, which had remained silent all this time.

Her hands around Chen Fan's arm tightened a little more.

He had not said it.

He had not said that he was from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

How wonderful.

It seemed she would have to whisper in his ear more often in the future, until he forgot that hateful woman completely.