Martial Soul Evolution, Ultimate Fire

As the medicinal power was continuously absorbed by Ma Xiaotao, a faint golden-red glow began to emerge on the surface of her skin, as if molten lava were slowly flowing through her veins.

A scorching aura permeated the air, and the temperature of the entire room climbed sharply; even the window lattices were scorched until they were slightly hot, emitting faint crackling sounds.

Even her form-fitting undergarments, made of specially crafted fire-resistant material, could not hold up for long against this increasingly intense Phoenix Flame. The edges of the fabric first turned charred yellow, then transformed into fly ash, drifting silently within the secret chamber.

The flames faded like fireflies, revealing Ma Xiaotao's flawless jade body. A faint crimson luster remained on her skin, as if fine mutton-fat jade had been bathed in the warm sun.

Ye Guchen leaned against the stone table to the side, the scene before him fully exposed. With his arms crossed, his gaze was involuntarily drawn toward her.

This body—even though he had seen it many times, every time he looked, he felt it was simply perfect.

Her slender collarbones and fluid waistline; every curve seemed to have been meticulously sculpted by the Creator, and now, under the reflection of the residual firelight, it added a touch of hazy beauty.

As the Phoenix Flame was continuously refined, the air around Ma Xiaotao's body began to twist and deform.

The evil fire was gradually burned away, and wisps of grayish-black impurities escaped from her pores as fine smoke, only to be incinerated into nothingness by the high temperature on her skin.

The momentum she radiated was also climbing step by step, like a long-accumulated mountain torrent that had finally found a breach.

Level sixty-two, level sixty-three, level sixty-four, level sixty-five!

With every level she broke through, the air in the room trembled violently, and the water droplets condensed on the walls were instantly evaporated into white mist.

Only after rising three levels did that wildly surging aura slowly come to a halt.

Yet, that pure pressure, carrying the scorching heat and sanctity unique to the Phoenix bloodline, was not something that could be achieved by a mere increase in soul power; it was as if even the dust in the air was too intimidated by this power to drift.

At this moment, even Ye Guchen needed to circulate the Ice Jade Scorpion's Ultimate Ice until a layer of pale blue ice crystals covered his skin to offset this pure heatwave.

Where ice and fire met, it hissed and crackled, and white steam rose continuously before him.

"Ultimate Fire!"

Ye Guchen couldn't help but exclaim, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

In the original story, after Ma Hongjun consumed an Immortal Herb, although his fire attribute was purified, judging by his performance, he had not reached the level of Ultimate Fire.

That flame, while fierce, ultimately lacked a degree of purity.

Unless Ma Xiaotao's martial soul was inherently stronger than Ma Hongjun's.

Perhaps this was due to Ma Hongjun's excessive indulgence in his early years.

Or perhaps the effect of this Immortal Herb on her far exceeded his own expectations.

Next, the remaining medicinal power transformed into a gentle yet majestic warm current, beginning to wash over Ma Xiaotao's body and purge the impurities from within her.

Those filthy substances were burned to ash by the flames still lingering on her skin the moment they were expelled from her pores, leaving not even a trace behind as they dissipated into the air with the heatwaves.

"That's actually quite practical; I'm afraid she won't even need to take baths in the future!"

Ye Guchen rubbed his chin, a thoughtful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, feeling that this skill was truly excellent.

He tapped his fingers lightly against his arm, his gaze filled with playful teasing.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, about three hours had passed.

The residual heat in the room finally subsided, leaving only a faint, lingering scent of scorched air.

Ma Xiaotao had finally completed her absorption of the Immortal Herb.

She slowly opened her eyes, a golden-red light flashing through her pupils.

Just as she wanted to tell Ye Guchen about her changes, she opened her eyes only to find herself meeting his gaze.

She saw Ye Guchen resting his chin on his hand, staring at her with burning eyes; his gaze was focused and profound, as if he were admiring a peerless work of art.

"W-what is it?"

Ma Xiaotao let out a sound of confusion, subconsciously following Ye Guchen's gaze to look down.

She saw her own fair body, completely bare, with only a few strands of hair dampened by sweat clinging to her collarbone and chest.

Even Ma Xiaotao, who had always been bold in front of Ye Guchen, couldn't help but blush at this moment. A crimson flush spread from her cheeks to her earlobes, and even her neck was stained a faint pink.

"Have you seen enough?" Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness.

Ye Guchen smiled, the amusement in his eyes deepening.

"Not enough, I could never see enough!" He leaned forward, his tone filled with undisguised greed and affection.

Ma Xiaotao did not speak, but instead threw herself directly into his arms, wrapping her soft arms around his neck and burying her face in the crook of his shoulder.

Responding to Ye Guchen with action, the two figures intertwined once more within the secret chamber.

After a bout of passion, the room finally fell completely silent.

Ye Guchen rested his head on Ma Xiaotao's lap, feeling that warm and soft sensation.

Her fingers gently combed through his hair with a touch of lazy tenderness.

Ma Xiaotao tacitly chose not to ask about the origin of the Immortal Herb, simply massaging Ye Guchen's head with gentle, soothing movements while briefly describing the changes she felt after absorbing the herb, her voice still carrying a post-coital languor.

In the Dou I timeline, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was wreathed in mist, the spring water bubbling and gurgling as the air grew thick with Heaven and Earth Yuan Power, nearly condensing into a physical state.

After Ye Guchen collected all the Immortal Herb, he felt a lingering sense of unease; having taken such a precious medicinal garden from Dugu Bo, he felt he had to give something back in return.

He stood by the spring, his robes snapping in the wind that alternated between biting cold and searing heat.

Just as Ye Guchen was pondering this, an Immortal Herb he had previously overlooked suddenly surfaced in his mind, like a flash of inspiration cutting through the fog of his thoughts.

"Earth Dragon Golden Melon! How could I have forgotten that!"

The Earth Dragon Golden Melon grew within the soil, buried quite deep, requiring one to probe their soul power dozens of meters underground to detect its presence.

"Tian Meng! It's time for you to play your part!"

Finally hearing his boss's call again, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was exceptionally excited, his translucent body twisting into waves in the void.

"Boss! You finally remembered me again, wuwuwu..."

Ye Guchen backhanded the weeping, chubby worm with a flick to the head, his fingertip striking the round spirit body with a crisp sound.

"Stop with the nonsense. You're a soul beast; it's only been a few days, yet you dare to call that a long time!"

Though his words were harsh, his eyes held a trace of helpless amusement.

Tian Meng cooperated by covering his head with his tail, putting on a pitiful expression as his round eyes seemed to brim with tears.

"Alright, I called you this time to help me find an Immortal Herb."

Ye Guchen straightened his expression.

"Anything for you, Boss!" Tian Meng immediately put away his grievances, his spirit body glowing slightly with excitement.

Watching the enthusiastic fat worm, Ye Guchen found it rather comical, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"Probe your spiritual power underground and search with all your might for a melon-shaped herb. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Tian Meng nodded heavily, the fluorescence of his body intensifying.

"Understood!" His voice was full of vigor.

Immediately, he released a vast surge of spiritual power, the invisible fluctuations sweeping toward the depths beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well like a tidal wave.

The spiritual power penetrated layers of frozen earth and scorching rock, extending in all directions like countless transparent tentacles.

In just a moment, Tian Meng discovered two melon-shaped herbs radiating dense soul power; they were hidden several fathoms deep, their surfaces flickering with faint golden patterns.

"Found them!" Tian Meng was full of pride, hovering in front of Ye Guchen, his translucent body trembling with excitement as he begged for praise.

"You really are something!" Ye Guchen did not skimp on the praise, reaching out to pat his head in the air.

Tian Meng's antics added a touch of joy to Ye Guchen's life, bringing a hint of warmth to his lonely path of cultivation.

Arriving above the spot where Tian Meng had sensed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, Ye Guchen crouched down, rolled up his sleeves, and began to dig with his soul power; the soil was peeled away layer by layer, filling the air with the fresh scent of turned earth.

As for the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, after receiving Ye Guchen's praise, he worked even harder, light flowing across his spirit body as he began to probe deeper into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his invisible spiritual net extending downward, piercing through layers of rock and frozen earth.

He hoped to find more Immortal Herb for his boss, and with every inch he searched, the hope in his eyes grew brighter.

Ye Guchen ignored Tian Meng's actions, focusing entirely on excavating the Immortal Herb.

His palm touched the hard, warm skin at the top of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, and he carefully used his soul power to loosen the soil around it.

Suddenly, Tian Meng let out an exclamation, his spiritual fluctuations turning violent, like a calm lake struck by a giant boulder.

"We're rich! Boss!"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm rushed to Ye Guchen's side, his entire body nearly solidifying from excitement, his light flickering rapidly.

His face was ecstatic, and even his spiritual transmission was trembling.

"Boss, guess what I found!" His voice rose in pitch.

Before Ye Guchen could respond, he spoke excitedly, his words pouring out like a machine gun.

"Ten Thousand Year Mysterious Ice Marrow! Lots and lots of Ten Thousand Year Mysterious Ice Marrow!"

His speech was hurried, bordering on incoherent, as his spirit body spun in circles in the air.

Hearing this, Ye Guchen felt puzzled, his movements pausing for a moment.

"Ten Thousand Year Mysterious Ice Marrow?"

Before he transmigrated, he had only read the novels and watched the anime of Dou I and the sequels; Ye Guchen was completely unaware that there were Dragon Soul remnants beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Ye Guchen frowned slightly, searching his memory for any clues regarding these four words within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"That's right! Boss, remember what I told you? I only reached the million-year level because I ate this!"

Tian Meng's voice was full of pride, his tail tracing an excited arc in the void.

Just as Ye Guchen and Tian Meng were discussing how to retrieve it, deep beneath the ground.

In a space beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the dark underground cavern was silent as death, save for the occasional hissing sound where magma met the cold spring.

On two massive dragon skeletons, the shadows of two powerful Dragon Soul suddenly opened their eyes, cold, dim light igniting in their sockets like four cold stars awakening in the darkness.

A moment ago, they had sensed the spiritual aura of a million-year soul beast; although faint, it was undoubtedly the aura of a million-year soul beast. There was no mistake.

"Ice Dragon, do you feel it too?"

The Dragon Soul radiating crimson flames looked toward the Dragon Soul opposite, which emanated deep blue frigid air, and asked in a voice low and hoarse, like magma rolling deep underground.

"It is the aura of a million-year soul beast." The voice of the Ice Dragon was as cold as ten-thousand-year glacial ice, each word striking against the solidified air.

Immediately, both Dragon Souls simultaneously extended their divine senses out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, piercing through layers of rock walls and frozen earth to sweep toward the shore. The two divine senses intertwined as they moved, the air itself whistling and compressing wherever they passed.

They saw an elderly human sitting cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut, his face flushed as he recovered his soul power, while a human child crouched beside him, carefully wiping away his sweat.

The divine senses did not linger, instead sweeping toward a corner of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where they spotted a human child squatting in the dirt, digging for something.

His hands were covered in mud, his expression focused, and floating beside him was a translucent ice silkworm, round and plump, emitting a trace of a million-year soul beast's aura.

"This?" Both Dragon Souls let out sounds of confusion in unison, their divine senses trembling slightly in the void.

"Is this that million-year soul beast?"

Upon closer inspection, they realized that the million-year soul beast was already dead, existing now only as a soul.

But at the same time, a deeper doubt emerged in the minds of the two Dragon Souls, spreading like ripples.

"What did that human child do? To make a noble million-year soul beast, even in soul form, follow him so closely? And what is this strange state—how is it both dead and alive?"

The Fire Dragon's soul power fluctuations were laced with unconcealable astonishment.

Had they been alive, such trivial matters would not have been worth a glance.

Mere human children, with lifespans of only a century, would be nothing but Kitsuchi and bones in the blink of an eye.

But after death, their remnant souls had endured tens of thousands of years of loneliness, with only their divine senses occasionally intertwining in this sunless underground cavern.

Now, encountering an interest piqued by a human child was like seeing an oasis in a desert; they wanted to investigate.

Yet, the moment their divine senses passed through the body of Ye Guchen, both Dragon Souls were shocked into silence, their senses freezing mid-air.

They were not shocked by the talent of Ye Guchen, who had reached level 54 soul power at only fourteen years old.

As peak Tier 1 gods, the two dragons had seen too many geniuses; those brilliant and talented individuals were as numerous as carp crossing a river.

The human before them could only be considered excellent, far from unprecedented.

What shocked the two Dragon Souls were the two overbearing, crisscrossing sword auras within Ye Guchen's body.

One was as sharp as divine retribution, the other as heavy as the earth; the two sword auras coiled and swirled, flowing quietly through his meridians, yet faintly possessing the momentum to sever the ancient firmament.

They felt vaguely integrated with heaven and earth, as if the world itself were explaining its laws through these two sword auras; wherever the sword edge reached, even their divine senses felt a stinging sensation of being severed.

Although very weak and still in its infancy, it was extremely overbearing!

So overbearing that even the remnant souls of the two dragons felt a hint of dread.

"This... this is a height we never understood even when we were alive! Even the sword aura of the Asura God King is inferior in terms of sheer sharpness!"

The Fire Dragon's voice was low and shaken.

The two Dragon Souls exchanged a glance, light flickering uncertainly in their deep eye sockets, and they understood each other's intent.

After tens of thousands of years together, words were no longer needed.

"If he is allowed to grow, it will be extremely detrimental to our soul beast clan in the future!"

The Ice Dragon's voice was cold and resolute.

"If this child is not eliminated, he will surely be a great disaster for our soul beast clan!"

The crimson light in the Fire Dragon's eyes surged violently, and killing intent condensed in the void as if it were physical.

Even with only remnant bodies left, they would thoroughly eradicate the hidden threat before them.