Huo Yuhao was still blushing when Ma Xiaotao swallowed the Life Crystal and her eyes instantly widened.
A pure, gentle power of the Source of Life surged into her body from the tip of her tongue, like a clear spring, instantly quenching the Evil Fire raging within her.
The searing sensation that had burned her heart and eaten away at her bones vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye. Warmth spread through her whole body, leaving her indescribably comfortable.
She had never felt this good!
"Too amazing! It really works!"
Ma Xiaotao parted her full red lips and sighed in bliss.
"It really can suppress my Evil Fire! And it works better than any spirit medicine!"
As she spoke, Ma Xiaotao eagerly continued consuming the Life Crystal.
But her method was so direct that Huo Yuhao was terribly embarrassed.
Ma Xiaotao absorbed the Life Crystal in one go. The immense vitality flowed slowly through her body, like the gentlest spring breeze, soothing the last trace of restless Evil Fire.
"That feels so good..."
Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes, her face showing utter bliss as she couldn't help letting out a sigh.
The burning pain that had plagued her for more than a decade had completely disappeared in that moment. She had never experienced such a sense of ease before.
She opened her eyes and looked at Huo Yuhao in the Medicinal Pool, meeting the boy's averted gaze.
Huo Yuhao's cheeks were as red as ripe apples. His eyes darted about, and he didn't dare meet her gaze; even the tips of his ears had turned an enticing pink.
Seeing how utterly embarrassed he was, Ma Xiaotao came back to her senses, too. She remembered how she'd impulsively licked his neck just now, and her cheeks flushed red at once.
But she was naturally straightforward, and quickly pushed aside her embarrassment. Deliberately leaning closer, she poked Huo Yuhao's arm with a finger and teased:
"Hey! You didn't lose anything, so why are you so embarrassed? I haven't even said a thing."
"I-I'm not that embarrassed!"
Huo Yuhao hurriedly shook his head, but his gaze grew even more flustered, and he instinctively shrank farther into the Medicinal Pool.
"I'm just... just not used to it."
"Pfft."
Seeing him so flustered, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help laughing. She reached out and patted his shoulder.
"Fine, fine. I won't tease you anymore.
"On a serious note, Yuhao, do you have any more Life Crystals?
"I can feel that my Evil Fire has been suppressed, but my Martial Soul hasn't completely evolved. If I could get more high-concentration crystals, maybe I could fully transform it into Ultimate Fire!"
Huo Yuhao scratched his head, looking troubled as he stammered:
"I already gave them all to you... If you want more high-concentration ones, we'll have to wait for more Life Crystals to be expelled."
He'd meant the kind he had sold to his classmates before, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Ma Xiaotao freeze.
"Huh? Could it be that?"
Ma Xiaotao stared blankly for a few seconds. Then, as if she'd thought of something, her eyes widened, and she instinctively lowered her gaze.
No way...
But apart from Myriad Purple Bamboo Shoots,
what else could it be?!
The thought made Ma Xiaotao's heart skip a beat, as if a fawn were bounding wildly in her chest. Even her breathing grew rapid.
Her cheeks felt so hot they might catch fire, and her earlobes turned scarlet. She didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.
Did she really have to consume Life Crystals that way?
That was just... just too embarrassing!
But... the crystals in his sweat had worked so well. These would surely be more concentrated and even more effective!
Maybe they really could help her Martial Soul evolve completely and free her from the torment of Evil Fire forever.
Ma Xiaotao's heart was at war with itself. On one side was unbearable embarrassment; on the other, the temptation of eradicating her Evil Fire. Her willow brows knitted together as she struggled to choose.
"Ah, whatever!"
Ma Xiaotao abruptly mussed her fiery red hair and slapped her burning cheeks. Her conflicted gaze instantly turned firm.
To eradicate the Evil Fire once and for all,
to evolve into true Ultimate Fire,
what did a little embarrassment matter?
She took a deep breath, looked at Huo Yuhao, and spoke with unwavering resolve:
"Huo Yuhao! Give me that! The high-concentration stuff! I want to cure my Evil Fire completely!"
Looking at her expression, as though she were facing her own death, Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. He scratched his head and said awkwardly:
"But, Senior Sister... I can't right now. I still need to work up to it. The earliest will be tonight."
"Tonight?"
At his words, Ma Xiaotao's face flushed even redder in an instant, as if it were about to drip blood.
She bit her lip and twisted the hem of her clothes between her fingers, her imagination running wild:
Work up to it... and it had to wait until tonight...
Oh, that was... that was mortifying!
Her heart beat even faster, as if it were about to leap out of her throat.
Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth and forced herself to speak. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's, yet resolute:
"Don't wait until tonight... Just, just do it now! I... I'll help you!"
"Huh? Help me?"
Huo Yuhao looked bewildered and blinked, completely failing to understand.
How was she going to help?
Did she mean she'd make him more food?
But he'd eaten breakfast not long ago, and he wasn't hungry.
As he wondered, the water in the Medicinal Pool suddenly rippled.
He looked up and saw Ma Xiaotao step into the pool!
"Senior Sister! What are you doing?!"
Huo Yuhao was so startled his soul nearly flew out of his body. He jumped backward, his back striking the cold stone wall.
Ma Xiaotao was so embarrassed that her mind had gone completely blank. Dizzy and unable to hear what Huo Yuhao was saying, she spoke in a tearful yet determined voice:
"I'm going to help you, of course! We'll have to do it sooner or later anyway! The sooner we finish, the sooner it's over!"
"Senior Sister! Have you misunderstood something?!"
Huo Yuhao was so anxious he was nearly in tears. He hurriedly waved his hands as he tried to explain.
"I didn't mean that when I said I needed to work up to it! I meant..."
"I don't care! I'm helping you!"
Utterly mortified, Ma Xiaotao tidied her hair, then lowered her head, preparing to cosplay as a Peashooter.
"Wait..."
Huo Yuhao was horrified at the sight. Just then, Zhao Ze's voice came from the Sea of Consciousness:
"Yuhao, remember to charge her more!"
Huo Yuhao hurriedly said:
"Master, this isn't about money..."
Huo Yuhao was about to say more, but Ma Xiaotao's actions cut him off.
Who knew how long had passed before Ma Xiaotao finished cosplaying as a Peashooter.
She was now radiant and full of energy. She could feel that her Martial Soul had truly changed!
It had grown stronger!
"Could it be that my Martial Soul's quality really improved?"
She tried to summon her Martial Soul. A clear, ringing phoenix cry rang out.
This time, there was no Evil Fire at all. Instead, it unleashed the might of Ultimate Fire, instantly evaporating the medicinal liquid in the pool!
Before you continue