Cultivation in the Secret Chamber

Beside Sea God Lake, inside a secret chamber.

Huo Yuhao, having been dragged here by Ma Xiaotao, finally couldn't help but ask:

"Senior Sister, how exactly do you want me to help you cultivate?"

Ma Xiaotao stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. The smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of bitterness and helplessness:

"I need you to help me suppress the Evil Fire within my body.

My martial soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix, and it triggers a backlash of evil fire whenever I cultivate. I have been tormented by it for so many years."

She paused, looking into Huo Yuhao's eyes with a tone of pleading:

"My teacher said that your Life Crystal contains the purest source of life energy. It can nourish my martial soul and help me eradicate the Evil Fire once and for all.

Junior Brother Yuhao, I beg you, you must help me!"

Huo Yuhao looked at Ma Xiaotao's earnest gaze and nodded seriously:

"Senior Sister, don't worry, I will definitely help you. As long as it can eradicate your Evil Fire, I am willing to do anything."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaotao's eyes instantly turned red. Overcome with emotion, she hugged him again:

"Thank you! Junior Brother Yuhao! Thank you so much! You are truly my great benefactor!"

Huo Yuhao was left blushing furiously by her embrace, able only to stand stiffly in place.

Ma Xiaotao released Huo Yuhao and grabbed his arm impatiently, her eyes sparkling:

"That's great, Yuhao! Did you bring your Life Crystal with you? Can you try to help me now? I can't wait any longer!"

Huo Yuhao felt a bit embarrassed by her shaking. His cheeks flushed slightly as he scratched his head, his tone tinged with awkwardness:

"Well... Senior Sister, I didn't specifically bring the Life Crystal. It... it is all in my sweat."

"Ah?"

The smile on Ma Xiaotao's face froze instantly. She stood stunned in place, her fiery red eyes filled with disbelief.

Yan Shaozhe had only told her that Huo Yuhao possessed a pure Life Crystal capable of eradicating the Evil Fire, but he hadn't mentioned at all that the crystal came from this!

She had imagined countless forms of heavenly treasures, but never in her wildest dreams did she expect this answer.

She opened her mouth, but for a long time, she couldn't say a word.

"Then... what should we do?" Ma Xiaotao regained her senses and, seeing Huo Yuhao's embarrassed state, felt a bit awkward herself.

She couldn't exactly make him run dozens of laps on the spot just to sweat, could she?

She glanced around the room, her gaze suddenly landing on a steaming stone pit in the corner of the chamber. Her eyes lit up instantly as she pointed at it and said with a smile:

"I've got it! Look there, Yuhao. That is a medicinal bath the academy prepared specifically for me. It's brewed with over a dozen ten-thousand-year-old medicinal herbs, originally intended to help me suppress the Evil Fire and clear my meridians.

If you soak in it, the medicinal properties will accelerate your metabolism, and you'll be sweating in no time!

Besides, this bath is good for your body, too; it can help you purge deeper impurities."

Huo Yuhao followed her gesture and indeed saw a waist-high bluestone medicinal pool filled with greenish liquid, from which wisps of hot steam were rising.

A rich, mellow herbal fragrance washed over him; just taking a breath made his entire body's meridians feel significantly more relaxed.

"Such potent medicinal properties!"

Huo Yuhao couldn't help but exclaim in wonder.

Within his sea of consciousness, Zhao Ze sat up straight, his eyes brightening as he hurriedly said:

"Soak! You must soak! This medicinal bath is made from ten-thousand-year-old spiritual materials; it's perfect for helping you accelerate the discharge of excess life essence from your body.

It will help solidify your foundation and speed up the removal of impurities—two birds with one stone!"

Electrolux also stroked his beard and nodded in agreement:

"Indeed. The ratio of this medicinal bath is extremely refined and is excellent for body tempering for low-level soul masters.

Take this opportunity to soak; it will be of great benefit to your soul power cultivation."

"Alright!"

Huo Yuhao nodded immediately upon hearing this and said to Ma Xiaotao:

"Then I'll give it a try."

With that, he reached out to undo the buttons of his school uniform, taking off his jacket and undershirt to reveal the young man's firm and well-proportioned physique.

Having had his body reshaped by Zhao Ze using million-year-old life essence, and following days of cultivation and physical training, he was no longer the frail boy he once was.

His shoulders and back had smooth lines, he possessed clear abdominal muscles, and his physique was sturdy without being overly bulky, radiating a sense of power.

Ma Xiaotao had been adjusting the temperature control device by the pool, but when she accidentally looked up, she froze instantly.

She hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to have such a robust physique, his skin glowing with a healthy, pearlescent luster against the backdrop of the greenish medicinal liquid.

"What a sturdy build..."

Ma Xiaotao subconsciously muttered under her breath. Her cheeks instantly flushed with a faint blush, and she quickly turned her head away, not daring to look again, though her heart felt inexplicably flustered.

Huo Yuhao, completely unaware of her change in demeanor, took off his shoes and carefully stepped into the medicinal pool.

The warm medicinal liquid instantly enveloped his entire body, its rich potency drilling through his pores and flowing slowly along his meridians, feeling warm and indescribably comfortable.

He let out a sigh of relief, sinking his entire body into the liquid until only his head remained above the surface.

A moment later, fine beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead, shimmering with a faint, pearlescent luster; this was sweat infused with the Life Crystal.

As the warm medicinal liquid seeped into his limbs and bones through his pores, Huo Yuhao felt his meridians being gently nourished throughout his entire body.

He squinted his eyes in comfort and said, "Senior Sister Xiaotao, the effect of this medicinal liquid is so strong; I feel like the circulation of my soul power has sped up quite a bit..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

Turning his head, he saw that Ma Xiaotao had crouched down by the edge of the medicinal pool at some point.

Her stunning face was extremely close, her fiery red hair draped over her shoulders, her cheeks flushed with an alluring rosy glow, and her bright eyes were fixed intently on him as her nose twitched slightly.

"Yuhao, you smell so good..."

Ma Xiaotao swallowed hard, her voice sounding unconsciously hoarse and infatuated.

From the moment Huo Yuhao began to sweat, that crisp, gentle, and exotic fragrance carrying immense vitality had been lingering at the tip of her nose.

This scent seemed to possess a magical quality; not only did it make her feel comfortable all over, but she could no longer restrain herself, subconsciously leaning in closer.

Huo Yuhao looked at the pretty face inches away and froze for a moment, his cheeks turning slightly red:

"Senior Sister, this is the scent of the Life Crystal on my body."

"If it smells this good, the effects must be even better!"

Ma Xiaotao's eyes lit up with startling intensity, her tone filled with impatience.

She had been tormented by the evil fire for over a decade, and now that she finally saw the hope of a cure, she no longer cared about any sense of reserve.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao hurriedly said:

"Senior Sister, wait a moment, you could wipe it off with your hand first..."

Before he could finish his words, he saw that Ma Xiaotao had already begun, licking the Life Crystal.

Huo Yuhao went completely rigid, his mind turning blank; his cheeks flushed a deep, blood-red in an instant, and even the tips of his ears burned with heat.

He had never imagined that she would be so direct.