Handling the Evil Fire

Realizing how disheveled she looked, Ma Xiaotao quickly hid the chicken wings behind her back and used her other hand to wipe herself on her clothes.

"Why did you take so long to come out!"

"I'm in seclusion, there are some things I need to take care of." Dai Huabin didn't elaborate. "I heard from Mu En that you've been back for about ten days?"

"Twelve days!" Ma Xiaotao blurted out, clearly counting down the days.

Wu Ming almost couldn't help but laugh.

Dai Huabin nodded:

"Okay, that's perfect. Are you free today? I've already made preparations regarding the Evil Fire."

Ma Xiaotao was taken aback for a moment, then reacted very quickly. "I'm free right now!"

"Then let me go back to my dorm first and tell Zhu Lu," Dai Huabin thought for a moment, "Wait for me in your yard in an hour."

"Good!"

Dai Huabin turned to leave, then stopped and nodded slightly to Wu Ming.

"Sister Wu Ming."

Wu Ming maintained her posture of sucking on chicken feet, trying to make herself look as casual as possible:

"Yes, you've emerged from seclusion."

"Okay. I'll catch up with Sister Wu Ming when I have time."

He finished speaking and left.

Ma Xiaotao stared at Dai Huabin's departing figure, a restless Evil Fire beginning to pound in her chest.

Today, it's finally resolved.

She had waited for this day for far too long.

Wu Ming slowly put down the chicken feet in her hand and wiped her mouth.

"Reminiscing"?

What's the meaning?

She pondered those two words repeatedly in her mind, and the expression on her face became somewhat subtle for a moment.

Ma Xiaotao suddenly turned to look at her, her eyebrows raised beneath the red veil.

"When did you and Huabin become so close? He even calls you 'sister'?"

Wu Ming's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm, tossed a chicken bone aside, and stood up.

"I got back a few days earlier than you, and we bumped into each other and chatted for a bit."

Wu Ming seemed somewhat flustered and continued:

"Besides, I was Huabin's sparring partner for so long during the Soul Master Tournament, so it's not too much for him to call me 'sister,' right?"

Ma Xiaotao looked her up and down, feeling that something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Alright then." Ma Xiaotao didn't press further; her mind was completely focused on the evolution of the Evil Fire. "I'll go make some preparations; Huabin will be here in an hour!"

After saying that, she rushed back to her yard in a flurry.

Wu Ming stood there, watching Ma Xiaotao's retreating figure.

"To catch up," she repeated softly.

The corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Dai Huabin returned to the dormitory building of the Outer Academy. The familiar door at the end of the corridor on the first floor was half-closed.

Dai Huabin pushed open the door and went in.

Zhu Lu was sitting in a chair by the window reading a book when she heard the door open. She looked up, and before she could even close the book, she stood up.

"Huabin?"

Dai Huabin walked over in a few steps and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Lulu, I'm out of seclusion."

Zhu Lu's body stiffened for a moment, then went limp, her face pressed against his chest.

She hadn't seen him for half a month, and she actually went to the Sea God Lake every day to take a look from afar, but she was too embarrassed to go up to the island to ask.

"You've gotten stronger again, haven't you?" Zhu Lu asked in a muffled voice.

"Level 59."

Zhu Lu lifted her head from his embrace, a look of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes, but she quickly smiled.

"That's great, your cultivation speed is getting faster and faster."

She was genuinely happy. The stronger her man was, the more at ease she felt.

Dai Huabin reached out and gently stroked the top of Zhu Lu's head, his fingertips gliding across her smooth black hair.

"Your progress will be rapid in the future. With the foundation you gained from absorbing the Immortal Herb, it won't be long before you reach level fifty. Then I'll take you to find your fifth Soul Ring."

Zhu Lu nodded obediently, silently making plans in her mind.

Most of the medicinal power from the immortal Immortal Herb she absorbed is still stored in her body. It will naturally be activated when she reaches the bottleneck in her Soul Power.

What she needs to do now is to proceed steadily and not hold Huabin back.

The two had barely exchanged a few words when the door next door was suddenly pushed open with a bang.

A series of hurried footsteps came from the corridor, followed by the dormitory door being kicked open.

Di Lingxi rushed in like the wind, her long golden hair billowing behind her. She bypassed Zhu Lu and pressed herself against Dai Huabin's arm from the other side.

"Huabin! You're finally back!"

Dai Huabin was jolted by her bump, and with a wry smile, he freed one hand to rub Di Lingxi's head twice.

Golden strands of hair fell through her fingers, and Di Lingxi squinted her amber eyes contentedly, looking just like a cat basking in the sun.

Ice Empress and Snow Empress followed them in.

Snow Empress stood at the door, her white dress making her appear aloof and ethereal. A faint smile played in her sky-blue eyes. She didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly as a greeting.

Ice Empress wasn't so polite. She crossed her arms, her emerald green twin tails swaying gently with the movement, and her orange-gold eyes sized up Dai Huabin.

"Huabin, your bloodline has awakened? Even your Soul Power has increased?"

"Hmm." Dai Huabin nodded. "After my bloodline awakened, I fused with the piece of Life Gold from the Golden Tortoise. My Soul Power increased by two levels."

Ice Empress raised her chin. "You really are lucky. It hasn't been long, and you're almost a Soul Emperor."

Although that's what she said, there was no sourness in her tone. She knew better than anyone how extraordinary Dai Huabin's opportunities were, and being able to make good use of them was a skill in itself.

Dai Huabin chuckled, his tone casual. "Of course. Have you forgotten our agreement?"

Ice Empress was taken aback.

The agreement was that she would become a god within fifty years, or else she would voluntarily break the Blood Pact and set herself free.

Of course she remembers.

"Of course I remember." Ice Empress turned his face away, his tone indifferent.

"I will finish it."

Ice Empress gave a soft snort, but a slight smile played on his lips.

At this moment, Di Lingxi peeked her head out from Dai Huabin's arm:

"What agreement?"

"Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking," Ice Empress glanced at her.

"I'm not young!" Di Lingxi retorted.

Zhu Lu gently tugged at Di Lingxi's sleeve from the side:

"Ling Xi, stop arguing with Sister Bing'er. Huabin just got back."

Di Lingxi snorted, but did quiet down, continuing to lean against Dai Huabin, occupying a favorable position.

Snow Empress walked to the window and sat down, her long white hair falling onto the back of the chair. She looked at Dai Huabin and asked:

What's the next step?

"Let's deal with Sister Xiaotao's Evil Fire first." Dai Huabin stretched his neck. "After that, I want to get my Sixth Soul Ring as soon as possible to break through to level sixty."

"What kind of Soul Beast are you looking for?" Ice Empress turned around.

"It's not decided yet. But there's no rush, let's finish what we're doing first."

The group chatted for a while longer.

Snow Empress asked about the Golden Tree Meditation Room, while Di Lingxi kept pestering Dai Huabin to tell her about her experience during her seclusion.

Although Ice Empress didn't ask aloud, they listened intently and didn't miss a single word.