Ji Dong's Magical Little Wine

The trio had just left the arena area when another team, also boasting an undefeated record, walked straight toward them—

Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie.

Dai Huabin, who led the group, was tall with golden hair and green eyes, exuding an imposing aura. Yet, the look he cast at Ji Jing was filled with undisguised combativeness and arrogance.

"Hmph, don't get too full of yourself."

Dai Huabin blocked their path, his chin tilted upward.

"That was nothing more than dealing with a Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda. Once we meet in the tournament, I will make you experience firsthand what a true top-tier assault-type martial soul—the power of the White Tiger—is really like!"

Hearing this, Ji Jing found the guy utterly baffling.

He merely glanced at him indifferently, not even bothering to respond.

In his eyes, this level of provocation didn't even warrant the effort of raising his eyelids.

Let alone Dai Huabin, even if Dai Hao were standing before him, Ji Jing wouldn't give him the time of day.

However, while Ji Jing didn't care, Wang Dong couldn't hold back.

Wang Dong stepped forward and retorted without a shred of politeness:

"Ji Jing didn't even need to use his martial soul to beat you lot to a pulp. If you've got the guts, stop spouting nonsense and let's see what you're made of on the tournament stage!"

Dai Huabin glared fiercely at Wang Dong, then cast one last look at the expressionless Ji Jing. With a cold snort, he turned and left in a huff with Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie, leaving only one parting shot:

"Fine, then we'll see each other on the stage!"

The minor confrontation passed quickly.

After the two teams parted ways, Ji Jing and Wang Dong were about to continue on their way when they noticed Huo Yuhao still standing in place, head bowed, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white, his body even trembling slightly.

Ji Jing watched for a moment before offering a reminder:

"They've already gone, Yuhao."

Huo Yuhao jolted, looking up as if waking from a dream, his eyes still lingering with residual hatred.

Ji Jing looked at him, his tone calm:

"Yuhao, I can see the hatred in your heart."

"I need to remind you: hatred is a double-edged sword. It can be a driving force, or it can be an abyss that consumes you. Do not let it blind you; learn to master it and turn it into the strength that propels you forward."

He paused, his deep gaze seemingly able to peer into the human heart:

"If you ever need help in the future, you can come to me."

Having said that, Ji Jing said no more and turned to walk toward the dorms.

These words were his guidance as a friend; as for how much Huo Yuhao could grasp or what choices he would make, that was his own path to walk.

Wang Dong glanced at the pensive Huo Yuhao and quickly followed in Ji Jing's footsteps.

Just as they were returning to the dorms, a figure appeared before them without warning—it was Yan Shaozhe.

Yan Shaozhe's gaze landed on Ji Jing, a gentle smile on his face:

"Student Ji Jing, hello. I am Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Martial Soul Department. I apologize for the intrusion, but I have a favor to ask."

He concisely explained Ma Xiaotao's situation and finally said earnestly:

"Your Ultimate Yang Fire and Ultimate Yin Fire are the only powers we can think of that might be able to suppress Ma Xiaotao's evil fire. Therefore, I would like to ask you to step in and help her resolve this hidden danger."

Ji Jing listened quietly.

Resolving Ma Xiaotao's evil fire was as easy as flipping his hand.

He could even solve it easily by simply picking a wine that could enhance flame quality from his father's collection.

However, he had no desire to do so.

Ji Jing knew very well that getting to know Ma Xiaotao and forming a bond with her through helping her was an important step in Huo Yuhao's growth.

This favor and opportunity were useless to him.

He didn't need to rely on anyone, but Huo Yuhao did.

Thinking of this, Ji Jing shook his head, a look of "difficulty" appearing on his face:

"Dean Yan, I'm afraid I must disappoint you. My martial soul is, after all, fire. Using fire to treat fire, the most I can do is force a suppression; it treats the symptoms, not the root cause."

"To eradicate something like evil fire, one ultimately needs an ice or water-type soul master to step in, or perhaps a celestial-grade fire-attribute spirit item. In this regard, I believe you know better than I do."

Hearing this, the hope in Yan Shaozhe's eyes dimmed slightly, and he sighed:

"I see. I suppose I oversimplified things."

He pondered for a moment before requesting again:

"Very well. Then could we settle for the next best thing? I only hope that... until we find a way to cure Ma Xiaotao's evil fire, should her evil fire flare up, could I ask you to step in and help suppress it? To avoid any irreversible consequences."

"That is no problem at all."

Ji Jing agreed readily.

He didn't mind providing a bit of help that required so little effort.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, classmate Ji Jing!"

Yan Shaozhe let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly added, "Rest assured, the academy will never let you help in vain; we will certainly provide you with a generous reward when the time comes."

With that, he exchanged contact information with Ji Jing and departed in a rush.

Back at the dormitory, shedding the exhaustion of the day, Wang Dong immediately regained her youthful liveliness, pestering Ji Jing:

"Ji Jing, I'm hungry! We fought so hard today, I want a feast!"

"Alright, alright, I'll make it for you."

Ji Jing smiled helplessly yet dotingly; he had always been responsive to her every request.

Soon, waves of enticing aromas permeated the dormitory.

As the meal was served, Ji Jing took out the Best Wine Cup in the Village.

Wang Dong had long since grown accustomed to this cup.

Although it could conjure various items out of thin air, Ji Jing had once explained to her that it was merely a finely crafted Soul Tool with spatial properties.

Given Wang Dong's current cultivation level and perspective, she naturally could not tell that this was actually a divine artifact.

Ji Jing picked up the wine cup and poured the amber liquid into the glasses in front of himself and Wang Dong.

Unlike the fruit-juice-like, low-alcohol wines of the past, the liquid poured today had a deeper hue, and an elegant, tranquil fragrance drifted slowly through the air.

Just one whiff was enough to refresh the spirit, making one's mind feel as if it had settled into stillness.

"This wine today... it seems different from before?"

Wang Dong asked curiously.

"Mm,"

Ji Jing nodded, instructing her with a serious expression, "The wine you are drinking today is called Moon Spring Meditation."

"It has the ability to help Soul Masters quickly enter a state of deep meditation and greatly enhance the effects of that meditation."

He looked at Wang Dong and continued to explain:

"However, the medicinal potency of this wine is relatively strong. It will combine with the essence of the food we are eating to form a gentle yet massive surge of energy."

"Therefore, after you finish eating, if you don't want to pass out from drunkenness, you must seize the time to cultivate and use meditation to guide and absorb this energy. I will handle the dishes, and once I've finished cleaning up, I will come over to cultivate with you."

Hearing Ji Jing's explanation, the hand Wang Dong held her glass with paused slightly, a wave of emotion rising in her heart.

She was not a girl who couldn't recognize value.

She knew clearly just how precious these things were.

Whether it was this miraculous wine or the top-tier ingredients they ate every day—which even the Shrek inner courtyard cafeteria might not be able to provide—every single item was worth a fortune.