You Really Think I'm Like Those Wa Junior Brothers?

"One Spirit Beast... gives two Spirit Rings?" Huo Wu's voice suddenly rose.

In the common sense she knew, killing a Spirit Beast could only yield one Spirit Ring. That was an ironclad rule.

Yet a Spirit Soul could actually break that rule.

"That's right." Ye Xiao nodded firmly and continued revealing information. "According to that Mysterious Person, a Thousand Year Spirit Soul can bestow three Thousand Year Spirit Rings."

Huo Wu's mind raced as she counted on her fingers. "Then... a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Soul gives four Ten Thousand Year Spirit Rings? A Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Soul... heavens, that means five Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Rings!!"

"Theoretically, yes." Ye Xiao nodded again.

Huo Wu sucked in a sharp breath. Her beautiful eyes widened as she looked at Tuantuan as if it were something miraculous. "This... this Spirit Soul... is way too good! It's unbelievable! It would be wonderful if I had one too."

Huo Wu was incredibly envious.

Just think about it—there was no need to risk one's life hunting Spirit Beasts to obtain compatible Spirit Rings, and one could even get several from a single one.

For any Soul Master, that was a treasure beyond their wildest dreams.

Ye Xiao shrugged. "There's nothing I can do about that. I don't even know that Mysterious Person. He came and went without a trace; after giving me this, he vanished. Maybe... he saw that my Martial Soul was rather special and suited for this, so he gave it to me."

"Ah, what a pity." Huo Wu sighed regretfully.

But her attention quickly returned to Tuantuan.

If she could not have one, surely she could at least touch it?

She suddenly reached out and, with lightning speed, snatched Tuantuan up and pulled it into her arms.

"Ah! It's soft and cool, so adorable!" Huo Wu unceremoniously kneaded Tuantuan's Q-elastic Cloud Body with both hands, poking it one moment and pinching it the next. She even rubbed her face against it, completely treating Tuantuan like a soft toy.

"Wuu." Tuantuan struggled futilely twice beneath Huo Wu's devilish claws, its Cloud Body kneaded out of shape.

It looked toward Ye Xiao, hoping he would help it escape those claws, only to discover that Ye Xiao was completely ignoring it.

Poor Tuantuan could only lie limply in Huo Wu's arms without the will to live, letting her torment it.

The next day.

At some point, the sounds of Silver Wind Wolves ramming against the cave outside had stopped.

Huo Wu's eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly opened her eyes.

When she woke, she felt a slight warmth in her arms.

Looking down, she saw that at some point, Ye Xiao had curled up and fallen asleep in her embrace.

In sleep, the youth's handsome face had lost its usual calmness and appeared especially peaceful and gentle. His breathing was even.

His head rested unconsciously in the crook of her arm, while one hand lightly clutched a bit of fabric at her waist.

Huo Wu froze for a moment. Then, a gentle smile quietly crept onto the corner of her mouth.

As if possessed, she stretched out her other hand, her fingertips lightly reaching toward Ye Xiao's cheek.

The touch... was tender and smooth, carrying the delicate softness unique to a youth.

She could not resist giving it another gentle pinch.

"Little Brother, you really are quite handsome." Huo Wu's gaze grew slightly unfocused, and her heartbeat unknowingly quickened.

Just then, Ye Xiao's brows faintly furrowed. "Mm..."

He was waking up!

Feeling guilty like a thief, Huo Wu quickly withdrew her hand. Her heart pounded wildly, and her cheeks grew burning hot.

She hurriedly looked away, pretending to still be asleep.

The feeling of secretly pinching someone's cheek and nearly getting caught... why was it strangely thrilling?

Ye Xiao gradually woke up, his nose filled with the faint fragrance of a girl.

He opened his eyes in confusion. What met his gaze was a patch of red clothing and Huo Wu's face, flushed with an unnatural blush.

He instantly stiffened and blinked.

Hiss...

It seemed that the cave had grown colder in the latter half of the night, and the two of them had unconsciously moved closer... then...

Ye Xiao immediately pulled himself out of Huo Wu's embrace, his cheeks somewhat hot.

He had never been this close to a girl before in his life.

Not in this life, nor in his previous one.

Seeing his flustered, red-faced, shy appearance, Huo Wu could no longer keep up the act.

She burst into laughter, then sat up as well. Deliberately leaning closer, she looked teasingly at Ye Xiao. "Oh~ Little Brother, you're awake? What, not grown up yet? Do you still need to burrow into Mother's arms when you sleep at night?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "Mother," her eyes full of amusement.

"You!" Ye Xiao nearly choked on his breath at her words.

He stared at Huo Wu, utterly speechless.

How old are you, anyway!

And you already want to be my Mother.

You really think I'm like those Wa Junior Brothers.

Unless you actually let me experience a child's rights, I'm not calling you that.

Huo Wu laughed even harder, her bell-like laughter echoing through the cave.

"Alright, stop laughing. The Fire Pattern Fruit should already be ripe," Ye Xiao said helplessly.

"Mm." Huo Wu restrained her smile.

The two immediately went over to the Fire Pattern Fruit.

"There are six Fire Pattern Fruits in total." Ye Xiao carefully picked the Fire Pattern Fruits.

Once the Fire Pattern Fruits were picked, the plant itself withered away.

"Looks like it won't grow again next time." Huo Wu found that regrettable.

"That's normal. This place was not suited for Spirit Medicine to grow in the first place. We were lucky enough as it was." As he spoke, Ye Xiao handed one Fire Pattern Fruit to Huo Wu.

"You're really giving me one?" Huo Wu pointed at herself.

"Of course. I keep my word." Ye Xiao nodded.

"But I didn't do anything, and you even saved me." Although Huo Wu really wanted it, she truly did not want to take advantage of Ye Xiao.

"Consider it payment for helping guide me to Heaven Dou City."

"This... alright." Huo Wu knew this was merely an excuse Ye Xiao had come up with to give it to her, and warmth filled her heart.

Huo Wu accepted the Fire Pattern Fruit and looked at Ye Xiao seriously. "After we get out, I won't go around telling people about you. Trust me."

"Alright." Ye Xiao smiled.

"Thank you." Seeing Ye Xiao's smile, Huo Wu felt a little shy.

His smile is so beautiful.

"Let's eat the Fire Pattern Fruits. This Top-grade Spirit Medicine needs time to be absorbed."

"Alright." Huo Wu nodded.

Ye Xiao placed the Fire Pattern Fruit into his mouth.

The fruit melted as soon as it entered his mouth. Rather than the scorching heat he had expected, it turned into a mild, rich warm current that slid down his throat and into his abdomen.

At first, a steady warmth rose from his Lower Abdomen. As his Cultivation Method circulated, the warm current seemed to be stimulated, spreading throughout his Limbs and Bones.

Ye Xiao could clearly feel that, nourished by this warm current, his Meridians seemed to have become more open?

In any case, his Soul Power cultivation speed had increased considerably.

After consuming one, he could probably gain another two or three levels of Soul Power in a year.

Of course, that was not the most important part.

More importantly, he could better control the Fire Attribute energy of the Five Elements Jade Seal within his body.

That would bring him closer to his next Martial Soul Evolution.

"As expected, it's good stuff." Delight flashed through Ye Xiao's eyes. This Fire Pattern Fruit not only increased his Soul Power cultivation efficiency, but also directly strengthened his control over Fire Attribute power.