The instant they passed through the spatial gate, the world around them opened up.
Moist, warm air, fragrant with soil and plants, washed over them. All around, insects chirped and beasts roared.
They had arrived at the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.
Wang Dong stared at everything in shock and couldn't help asking:
"Th-this is some kind of ability? It's incredible!"
Ji Jing raised a hand and took the crown from his head. The flowing radiance of its flames quickly faded, and it condensed back into its crystal-clear form. He held it in his palm.
He explained calmly:
"This was left to me by my mother. It's called the Flame Empress Crown."
"The Flame Empress Crown..."
Wang Dong murmured to herself. She was sensible enough not to press him for details, but she couldn't help feeling curious about Ji Jing's mother.
What kind of extraordinary woman could possess such a miraculous treasure?
Meanwhile, far away in the Divine Realm.
Within the Sea God Temple, Tang San had been silently watching the lower world with his divine sense, and he had seen everything.
When he saw Ji Jing produce that gorgeous crown and casually teleport with his daughter, a flicker of displeasure crossed his handsome face. He couldn't help letting out a cold snort.
"That brat... Just wait. Once Xiao Qi gets her memories back, I'll give her something even better!"
Muttering to himself, the God Realm Enforcer, Sea God Tang San, stood abruptly from his divine throne. Driven by a strange urge to outdo the other man and the stubborn determination of a father, he strode out of the Sea God Temple.
Ji Jing put away the crown, turned to Wang Dong, and asked:
"Do you have a Soul Beast in mind? Have you decided what kind of third Soul Ring you want to hunt?"
Wang Dong blinked her beautiful, wide eyes in confusion and honestly shook her head.
"I don't know."
Ji Jing raised a hand to his forehead, sighed helplessly, and shook his head.
"I've told you to read more, but you never listen. Now that you need the knowledge, you've realized you're illiterate?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Dong took offense.
She puffed out her rosy cheeks and protested:
"You big meanie! I just want to rely on you. Is that so wrong?"
Her words carried a hint of coquettish reproach, though even she didn't realize how dependent she sounded.
Ji Jing was taken aback by her answer. Then he raised his eyebrows, a smile spreading across his lips.
"I like that answer. Let's go."
With that, a brilliant golden flame burst to life in his left palm—the Bingwu Primordial Yang Sacred Fire.
Like a living serpent, the flames quickly spread over his body, enveloping him.
Then three deep purple Soul Rings rose and hovered quietly behind his left side.
"Third Soul Ring, activate!"
At his low command, the third Thousand-Year Soul Ring behind him suddenly blazed with light.
Ji Jing reached out and swept Wang Dong's slender waist into his arms.
"Ah—!"
As Wang Dong let out a startled shriek, a powerful force pulled them upward. Ji Jing carried her off the ground and shot straight into the sky.
The weightlessness made Wang Dong instinctively cling tightly to Ji Jing, pressing herself against his chest.
"Come on. I'll find you a Soul Beast that suits you."
Ji Jing's voice sounded by her ear, steady and strong, instantly calming her initial panic.
Held tightly in Ji Jing's arms, she could feel his solid chest and the steady beat of his heart.
Wang Dong was already so swept up in her affection and excitement that she had completely forgotten she was still disguised as a boy.
The two flew swiftly through the air as the sea of trees raced beneath them.
Seeing the person in his arms gradually calm down, Ji Jing explained:
"My third Soul Skill is called Flying Fire Meteor. It unlocks my ability to fly and doubles my flying speed. The effect can stack up to three times."
Hearing how powerful his Soul Skill was, Wang Dong pouted, unable to hide her envy.
"Sometimes I really envy your Soul Skills. How come they're all so strong..."
As she spoke, she unconsciously rested her head against Ji Jing's left chest. From there, she couldn't hear his heartbeat clearly or see his expression.
At that moment, Ji Jing's gaze was fixed on her face.
The high-altitude wind swept through her pink-blue short hair, and a few strands playfully brushed her faintly flushed cheek.
Her adorable pout looked especially lovely in the sunlight.
For a moment, Ji Jing felt his heart skip a beat.
But he quickly suppressed the flutter of feeling, kept his expression calm, and continued flying as though nothing had happened.
Wang Dong seemed to sense something and glanced up at Ji Jing.
For a brief moment, she thought his heartbeat had sounded off. But it returned to normal almost immediately, so quickly that she wondered if she'd imagined it.
What she saw was Ji Jing's relaxed, confident profile as he flew through the wind.
The sunlight traced his perfect features, and his easy confidence and strength drew her in deeply.
Wang Dong felt her heart suddenly race. Her cheeks flushed even redder, and she hurriedly lowered her head again, burying her face against his chest as her hands instinctively clutched the front of his shirt.
Ji Jing smiled and glanced down at the docile, obedient Wang Dong in his arms, enjoying her unreserved dependence on him.
After a while, Wang Dong finally settled down and belatedly realized what was happening. She lifted her head slightly from Ji Jing's embrace and asked with some concern:
"Ji Jing, isn't it dangerous to fly so conspicuously over the Soul Beast Forest? A lot of powerful flying Soul Beasts are very territorial. If we do this... won't we get into trouble?"
At her question, Ji Jing gently patted her head with his free right hand, his touch tender and indulgent. His voice was filled with unquestionable confidence:
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
The words sounded as if they'd come out of nowhere, and they were undeniably arrogant.
But when Wang Dong heard them, she felt inexplicably at ease.
Her lovestruck side had taken over again.
She murmured, "Mm," and asked no more, resting her head against him again.
After flying for a while longer, Ji Jing spoke once more:
"Get ready. We're going to land."
"Okay!"
Wang Dong replied and instinctively grabbed his clothes tighter.
The next second, the flames around Ji Jing surged. He became a burning meteor, carrying Wang Dong straight down from two or three hundred meters up, plummeting at breakneck speed!
"Boom—!"
With a deafening crash, the ground shook violently.
Where they landed, the golden Bingwu Primordial Yang Sacred Fire erupted, forming a towering whirlwind of flames that engulfed the area for several meters around them.
Ji Jing formed a sturdy shield with his Soul Power and protected Wang Dong inside it, so she wasn't affected by the impact at all.
When Wang Dong came to her senses, she found herself surrounded by flames reaching into the sky. The blazing fire had formed an impassable wall around her, and she couldn't see what was happening outside.
She realized that Ji Jing had disappeared from her side too. She had no idea where he'd gone.
Inside this cage of flames he had created, Wang Dong was confused, but she chose to wait quietly where she was.
Before you continue