Crimson Essence Flame Fruit, Mysterious Ice Jade Lotus

The morning's Exchange Tournament was about to begin, and the teams from the various academies entered the Skywater Fighting Arena one after another.

When the group from Godwind Academy entered, a wave of discussion instantly erupted from the stands.

"Am I seeing things? Isn't that Huo Wu from Blazing Fire Academy? Why is she walking with the people from Godwind?"

"And she's with Feng Xiaotian... Since when did those two become so close?"

"Did they grow attached after fighting yesterday?"

The Blazing Fire team members all widened their eyes, their faces filled with astonishment and disbelief.

"Captain, the vice-captain, she... she..."

One team member stammered.

"Don't ask me. I don't know either."

Huo Wushuang frowned tightly, his eyes full of confusion.

Yesterday, after the match ended, Huo Wu had said she had something to do and left the team on her own.

Huo Wushuang had never expected that, in just one day, the relationship between his younger sister and Feng Xiaotian would undergo such a drastic change.

Only upon reaching the Preparation Area did Huo Wu stop and quietly say to Feng Xiaotian, "I'm going over."

"Alright." Feng Xiaotian nodded.

Huo Wu gave a soft hum, then walked toward Blazing Fire Academy's area under everyone's watchful eyes.

The first match was the Godwind Team against the Elephant Armor Team.

Ji Xuan had long since told Feng Xiaotian and Feng Qingyang that Spirit Hall was now divided into two major factions.

The Elephant Armor Sect had pledged allegiance to the Papal Palace. They were arrogant and overbearing, so there was no need to show them mercy.

In this match, Feng Xiaotian completely crushed his opponents with absolute speed and strength.

Within only a few breaths.

All seven members of the Elephant Armor Team had fallen, covered in wounds and unconscious.

From the beginning of the match to its end, only a single minute had passed.

Feng Xiaotian slowly withdrew his martial soul, his aura steady.

His gaze turned toward Blazing Fire Academy, and he gave Huo Wu a slight nod.

Looking at Feng Xiaotian's upright, confident figure on the stage, Huo Wu's lips unconsciously curved upward as a fluttering feeling spread through her heart.

He had won again, in such an overwhelming fashion.

And that was precisely how the other half she envisioned should be.

The morning matches ended, and the three deans quietly left, arriving at Skywater Academy's Dean's Office.

Ji Xuan and Golden Crocodile Douluo had already been waiting there.

"Creak—"

The doors were slowly pushed open as the three deans arrived together.

"Greetings, Holy Son."

Feng Qingyang was the first to step forward and bow to Ji Xuan.

Huo Chen and Shui Wuyue exchanged glances behind him. Neither had expected that the unfamiliar youth following the Godwind Team yesterday was actually the Holy Son?!

Seeing Ji Xuan in person now, although he was absurdly young, they did not dare show the slightest disrespect.

Besides, Feng Qingyang had already told them that the person beside Ji Xuan was a powerful Title Douluo.

The two of them bowed together as well:

"Huo Chen of Blazing Fire Academy greets the Holy Son and pays respects to Your Excellency."

"Shui Wuyue of Skywater Academy greets the Holy Son and pays respects to Your Excellency."

Golden Crocodile Douluo gave a slight nod, his expression calm.

"There is no need for such formality, Deans. Please, sit."

Ji Xuan calmly swept his gaze over the three of them and slightly raised a hand.

"Dean Feng must have already explained the situation to you two. What are your thoughts?"

Once the three had taken their seats opposite him, Ji Xuan got straight to the point.

"Holy Son!" Huo Chen said loudly. "My Huo Family is willing to follow you!"

"The Shui Family is also willing to serve Your Highness and obey your every command," Shui Wuyue solemnly stated.

"Very good." Ji Xuan nodded slightly. "I have never been stingy with my own people."

Ji Xuan took out two lesser Immortal Herbs from the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch.

One was crimson throughout, its leaves resembling burning flames. At its center grew a red fruit the size of a goose egg, radiating incomparably pure fire-element energy fluctuations.

The other was ice-blue, like a blooming lotus. Its petals were as thin as cicada wings, wreathed in a faint white chill mist.

"These are the Crimson Essence Flame Fruit and the Mysterious Ice Jade Lotus. They can strengthen one's foundation and nourish one's vitality. With the accumulation you two possess, refining them will allow you to enter the Titled Douluo realm within three years."

Huo Chen stared intently at the Crimson Essence Flame Fruit.

As a fire-attribute soul master, he could clearly sense the longing of his martial soul within him, and even his breathing became more hurried.

Shui Wuyue likewise found it difficult to maintain his usual cool composure, his gaze fixed on the Mysterious Ice Jade Lotus.

"His Highness has bestowed them upon you. Why haven't you thanked him?" Feng Qingyang said softly.

"Thank you for Your Highness's gift! From this day onward, we will surely devote all our strength to serving Your Highness!"

Huo Chen and Shui Wuyue suddenly came back to their senses. Forcefully suppressing their excitement, they rose again and respectfully bowed.

The two carefully accepted the treasures, their hearts filled with boundless excitement and anticipation.

Wasn't the reason they had made such a decision because they had seen the immense benefits?

Who did not want to climb even higher?

Who did not hope for their younger generation to achieve greater accomplishments?

"You two should consume them now."

At his words, hesitation flashed across both Shui Wuyue and Huo Chen's faces.

If such treasures were given to their descendants, they might lay an even sturdier foundation for them and allow them to achieve greater things in the future.

After all, they were already advanced in years, while the younger generation represented the academy's future.

"Rest assured. So long as they are willing to follow me, I will prepare some for them as well."

Ji Xuan saw through the two deans' thoughts and spoke indifferently.

As a Heaven and Earth Treasure Basin, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had a limited number of top-grade Immortal Herbs, but there was no shortage of high-grade and lesser ones.

Ji Xuan had long since made his plans.

Within Spirit Hall, aside from Jiang Mo and Golden Crocodile, the two Martial Uncles who had already obtained Immortal Herbs, as well as his Master Qian Daoliu, whose strength had reached its peak—

There were still four worshippers remaining in the Worship Hall, and the Immortal Herbs prepared for them had long been gathered.

As for the others within Spirit Hall, especially those of the Papal Palace faction... Ji Xuan's gaze turned slightly cold.

Everything would have to wait until that woman had been dragged down from the Pope's throne before further consideration.

"What?!" Upon hearing Ji Xuan's promise that he had other arrangements—

Their hesitation instantly vanished, replaced by immense relief and wild delight!

This time, they had made the right bet!

"Do you still have any concerns now?" Ji Xuan asked blandly.

"Your Highness has thought everything through. We were the ones who were shortsighted!"

Huo Chen hurriedly bowed, his tone full of shame and excitement.

Shui Wuyue also gave a deep bow. "I am endlessly grateful for Your Highness's grace!"

"Then hurry and consume them."

"For the Crimson Essence Flame Fruit, pluck the fruit and consume it directly. For the Mysterious Ice Jade Lotus, simply eat the petals," Ji Xuan added.

"Yes, Holy Son."

The two moved to an open area and began refining the herbs according to Ji Xuan's instructions.

Ji Xuan and the other two waited quietly.

About a quarter of an hour later, Huo Chen and Shui Wuyue finished refining them one after the other.

Both successfully broke through their shackles and reached rank eighty-nine Soul Douluo.

The two Immortal Herbs had also replenished some of the source potential they had originally exhausted. Given time, attaining the Titled Douluo realm was within reach.

Feeling the vast new power surging through their bodies, Huo Chen and Shui Wuyue were ecstatic, and their respect for Ji Xuan deepened further.

"Thank you, Holy Son." After rising, the two bowed respectfully in unison.

"After the Exchange Tournament ends, bring your respective descendants to Godwind Academy to find me," Ji Xuan said indifferently.

"Yes, Your Highness." Huo Chen and Shui Wuyue promptly agreed.

Shui Wuyue looked at the handsome Holy Son before him, whose bearing seemed detached from the mortal world. A trace of indecipherable consideration flashed through his eyes.

His two precious granddaughters, Bing'er in particular, were outstanding in both appearance and talent.

If she could form a bond with the Holy Son, it would be an enormous opportunity not only for Bing'er herself, but also for the entire Shui Family.

Once that thought arose, it quietly took root in his heart.