Quality Improvement, Ma Xiaotao's Surprise

While Huo Yuhao was still feeling shy, Ma Xiaotao had already consumed the Life Crystal, her eyes widening in an instant.

A pure and gentle force of life essence surged into her body from the tip of her tongue, acting like a clear spring that instantly extinguished the restless evil fire within her.

That burning sensation that had been scorching her heart and eroding her bones vanished without a trace in a mere heartbeat, leaving her entire body feeling warm and indescribably comfortable.

She had never experienced such a wonderful feeling!

"This is too miraculous! It really works!"

Ma Xiaotao parted her full, red lips, sighing in pure relief.

"It really can suppress my evil fire! And the effect is better than any spiritual medicine!"

As she spoke, Ma Xiaotao excitedly continued to consume the Life Crystal.

However, the way she consumed it was far too direct, leaving Huo Yuhao feeling incredibly bashful.

Ma Xiaotao absorbed the Life Crystal in one go, the vast life force circulating slowly within her like the gentlest spring breeze, smoothing out the very last trace of her restless evil fire.

"So comfortable..."

Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes, an expression of ultimate satisfaction appearing on her face as she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

The heart-burning pain that had plagued her for over a decade had completely vanished at this 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 evasive gaze just in time.

Huo Yuhao's cheeks were as red as a ripe apple, his eyes darting around as he didn't dare to meet her gaze, even the tips of his ears flushed a tempting shade of pink.

Seeing him so incredibly shy, Ma Xiaotao snapped out of her excitement and remembered how she had impulsively licked his neck earlier, causing a blush to instantly spread across her own cheeks.

However, her personality was naturally straightforward, so she quickly suppressed that bit of embarrassment, leaned in intentionally, poked Huo Yuhao's arm with her finger, and teased, "Hey! You didn't lose out on anything, so why are you being so shy? I haven't even said anything yet."

"I, I'm not that shy!"

Huo Yuhao shook his head hurriedly, though his eyes grew even more flustered as he subconsciously retreated deeper into the medicinal pool.

"It's just... I'm just not used to it, that's all."

"Pfft."

Watching him look so at a loss, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but laugh out loud, reaching out to pat his shoulder.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore.

On a serious note, Yuhao, do you have any more Life Crystals here?

I feel like although my evil fire has been suppressed, my martial soul hasn't fully evolved yet. If I could have more high-concentration crystals, I might be able to completely transform into the Ultimate Fire!"

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, a troubled look appearing on his face as he stammered, "The crystals have all been given to you... if you want more high-concentration ones, you'll just have to wait for the others to be produced."

He was originally referring to the kind he had sold to his classmates before, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Ma Xiaotao's expression freeze abruptly.

"Ah? Could it be that?"

Ma Xiaotao was stunned for a few seconds, then, as if she had realized something, her eyes widened sharply and she subconsciously looked down at herself.

No way...

But besides the Myriad Purple Bamboo Shoots, what else could it be?!

As soon as this thought surfaced, Ma Xiaotao's heart skipped a beat, as if a deer were crashing around in her chest, and even her breathing became rapid.

She felt her cheeks burning as if they were about to catch fire, her ears were flushed red, and she didn't know where to put her hands or feet.

Do I really have to consume the Life Crystal like that?

This is just... too shameful, right?

But... the effect of the crystals in the sweat earlier was already so good, so this one must have a higher concentration and definitely a better effect!

Perhaps it really could allow her martial soul to fully evolve and rid her of the evil fire forever.

A battle raged within Ma Xiaotao's heart; on one side was extreme shame, and on the other was the temptation to eradicate the evil fire, causing her willow-leaf brows to knit together in conflict.

"Ahhh, forget it!"

Ma Xiaotao violently ruffled her long, fiery red hair and slapped her burning cheeks hard, her previously conflicted gaze instantly becoming incredibly firm.

For the sake of completely eradicating the evil fire, for the sake of evolving into the true Ultimate Fire, what does a little shame matter?

She took a deep breath, looked up at Huo Yuhao, and spoke with ironclad resolve:

"Huo Yuhao! Give me that! The high-concentration one! I want to completely cure my evil fire!"

Huo Yuhao watched her look of grim determination, his mouth twitching as he scratched his head and said quite awkwardly:

"But Senior Sister... it's not possible right now. I still need to brew it; the earliest I can do it is tonight."

"At night?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaotao's face flushed a deep, vibrant red, as if it were about to bleed.

She bit her lip, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, her mind racing with wild fantasies:

Brewing... and it has to be at night...

Oh my, this, this is so embarrassing!

Her heart hammered even faster, as if it were about to leap right out of her throat.

Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth, forcing herself to speak, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum yet laced with determination:

"Don't wait until tonight... just, just do it now! I... I'll help you!"

"Huh? Help me?"

Huo Yuhao looked completely bewildered, blinking his eyes, failing to grasp the situation at all.

How could she help?

Does she mean she's going to get me more food?

But he had just finished breakfast not long ago and wasn't hungry at all.

Just as he was wondering, he suddenly felt the water in the medicinal pool ripple.

He looked up, only to see Ma Xiaotao actually lifting her foot and stepping into the pool!

"Senior Sister! What are you doing?!"

Huo Yuhao was so startled his soul nearly left his body; he took a sharp step back, his spine slamming directly against the cold stone wall.

By now, Ma Xiaotao's mind was a complete blank from shame, her entire being dazed and dizzy. She didn't even hear what Huo Yuhao was saying, her voice trembling with a mix of tears and resolve:

"I'm preparing to help you, obviously! It has to be done sooner or later anyway! Better to get it over with!"

"Senior Sister! Have you misunderstood something?!"

Huo Yuhao was so anxious he was nearly in tears, waving his hands frantically to explain.

"That's not what I meant by brewing! It's..."

"Forget it! I'm helping you regardless!"

Driven to the peak of embarrassment, Ma Xiaotao smoothed back her hair, then lowered her head, intending to cosplay as a Peashooter.

"Wait..."

Huo Yuhao was horrified at the sight, but just then, the voice of Zhao Ze echoed within his Sea of Consciousness:

"Yuhao, remember to make her pay a bit more later!"

Huo Yuhao hurriedly replied:

"Master, this isn't about money..."

Huo Yuhao wanted to say more, but he was interrupted by Ma Xiaotao's actions.

I do not know how much time had passed when Ma Xiaotao finally finished her Peashooter cosplay.

She looked radiant, feeling as though her Martial Soul had truly undergone a change!

It had become even more powerful!

"Could it be that the quality of my Martial Soul has really improved?"

She attempted to summon her Martial Soul, and a clear, resonant phoenix cry rang out.

This time, there was no trace of the evil fire; instead, it unleashed the might of the Ultimate Fire, instantly evaporating all the medicinal liquid in the pool!