Murong Ci arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well after night had fallen.
Moonlight spilled across the valley, lending it an especially tranquil air.
Huo Wu still hadn't woken. Murong Ci gently laid her on the grass, gazed at her sleeping face, and gave her a soft kiss.
Then he turned around and brought the Dragon Lizard out of Yongzhen Space.
Murong Ci looked at Huo Wu lying on the ground, then at the Crimson Flame Dragon Lizard, and an idea struck him.
Since Huo Wu was fast asleep, he could deal with the Dragon Lizard first. Then, when she woke up, she could go straight to eating its leg meat. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
He got right to it.
Murong Ci first coated his claw in Ice Pincer, then slowly peeled the Soul Bone from the Dragon Lizard's right arm.
In an instant, a red stream of energy surged out, then dissipated.
It was a right arm bone, a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone—something one could hardly put a price on.
Murong Ci gently removed the Soul Bone and set it aside, then began working on the Dragon Lizard's hind leg.
The meat was plump and tender. One gentle rip of his pincer claw separated flesh from bone.
Before long, he had stripped off the Dragon Lizard's hind leg, leaving it legless.
Murong Ci sent the body back into Yongzhen Space, then turned to gather a few logs. He set up a grill and placed the hind leg meat on it.
With his mind, he directed Grey Light to curl up beneath the grill.
He snapped his fingers, and Grey Light abruptly transformed into flames. He was grilling it with Ultimate Fire.
Murong Ci stood beside the fire, turning the leg meat with its bone.
Ultimate Fire burned at an extremely high temperature, and Murong Ci's control of fire was second to none, so the meat cooked quickly. Gradually, its savory aroma filled the air.
"Mmm~"
Huo Wu sniffed lightly and opened her eyes, still half-asleep. The first thing she saw was Murong Ci, completely focused on grilling meat.
"You're awake? It'll be ready soon. You'll need the strength to absorb the Soul Bone."
Huo Wu shook her head and gave a slight nod.
She found a large rock to sit on and waited for the meat to finish cooking.
"Psssh—"
Hot grease dripped from the burning meat onto the stone. Murong Ci carried the hind leg over to Huo Wu.
He gently stroked her face.
"Open up. Ah~"
"Ah~"
Huo Wu obediently did as she was told, thoroughly enjoying the meal. At first, she still hadn't fully recovered her strength, so she ate slowly, savoring every bite.
Later, she snatched the leg meat right out of Murong Ci's hands and devoured it herself.
Murong Ci wasn't upset. He didn't even mind that Huo Wu hadn't left him any. He simply went back to grilling another piece.
Of course, most of it was still for Huo Wu.
"When will it be ready, A-Ci?"
"A-Ci, you're grilling so slowly!"
"A-Ci, I really did kill that Dragon Lizard all by myself in the Sea of Consciousness. Shouldn't I get some meat as a reward?"
"Didn't you just say I was greedy?"
"I don't care, I don't care! Hurry up and grill it."
Murong Ci smiled helplessly, though his heart was full of joy.
[Want some wine?]
"You have some?"
[I put it in Yongzhen Space. I can take it out whenever I want.]
"Why didn't you say so sooner!"
Murong Ci casually reached into Yongzhen Space, and a bottle of Moutai appeared in his hand.
"You really know me, don't you?"
He beamed.
Huo Wu couldn't help being curious, and hurriedly asked Murong Ci where it had come from.
"This treasure belongs in heaven above. Few on earth ever get a taste."
"You're reciting poetry again! Let me show you off!"
She gave his ear a gentle pinch. The scene was lively and warm.
The meat was delicious, the wine fragrant, and the beauty by his side. What hardship in life couldn't be solved with a cup—or, if need be, two?
That night, the young man and woman finally let down their guard and drank together, laughing and talking.
The moon reached the middle of the sky. The two leaned against each other, sharing what was in their hearts.
Before long, when they had sobered up a little, Murong Ci led Huo Wu to the center of Yang Spring.
"Another spring..."
Huo Wu muttered softly.
"The spring here is much better than the Geocentric Fire Cave. Absorbing the Soul Bone in it will heighten your sensitivity to fire elements. Can I join you?"
After drinking, Huo Wu's face had been flushed the whole time, but now it was hard to tell whether she was drunk or embarrassed.
"Suit yourself..."
She buried her face even deeper.
The two of them undressed and entered the spring, just as they had before.
"Resonance?"
"Don't you dare sneakily hug me!"
"I'll try."
Murong Ci guided the Soul Bone into Huo Wu's body, controlling it as it moved toward her right arm.
As it entered her body, Huo Wu felt an overwhelming dragon might bearing down on her.
Fortunately, she had already absorbed the Soul Ring, and now carried a trace of the Dragon Lizard's bloodline. Naturally, she could resist the dragon might to some extent.
The absorption wasn't as painful as absorbing a Soul Ring, but Murong Ci could feel Huo Wu drawing closer and closer to him...
The Soul Bone had fully entered her body. Now it only needed to settle completely.
Huo Wu gritted her teeth and endured, while Murong Ci used their resonance to shoulder part of the pressure for her.
At last, everything settled.
The pain gradually faded. It was now the hour of Yin, and dawn was almost upon them.
By then, Huo Wu had finally wrapped her arms around Murong Ci's waist, rubbing her legs against him.
"Weren't you the one who told me not to hug you?"
"I don't care. I'm the one who wants to hug you. Just put up with it and go to sleep."
Huo Wu soon fell into a deep sleep in Murong Ci's arms. The strain of bearing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone was easy to imagine.
Murong Ci gently patted her back, staying awake all night.
Huo Wu woke first in the morning and spent a while walking around the spring.
"I didn't get a good look last night. This place really is lovely. I can feel the fire attribute in me stirring a little."
Murong Ci got dressed and came out behind her. The two of them somehow ended up walking hand in hand in circles around the spring.
"We should head back, shouldn't we? We've been gone for more than a month. The dean must be getting worried."
Huo Wu thought it over, then nodded without saying much. The two of them retraced their steps.
Back at Blazing Fire Academy, they felt refreshed and clear-headed.
Murong Ci hadn't breathed the fresh air here in over a month.
In the distance, Huo Wushuang, Huo Ling'er, and the Yun Hai brothers came running over to greet them.
"Little sister!" "Senior Huo Wu!"
Murong Ci smiled lightly as he looked at Huo Wu.
"Are you going to show off a little now?"
Huo Wu heard him and her lips curled upward. She raised her hand and released her Fire Shadow Martial Soul.
Four Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, and black—slowly revolved.
"Four rings! A Ten Thousand Year one!!!"
Everyone knew Huo Wu had left a month ago. In that time, she had actually advanced to the fourth ring.
And her fourth Soul Ring was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!
But what amazed them even more was yet to come.
Huo Wu raised her hand. Red-gold light filled her right palm, and she slashed forward with all her might.
A claw-shaped streak of light, mingled with dragon might and surrounded by raging flames, shot forward.
Everyone stared in astonishment.
She even had a Soul Bone!
Now it was the dean's turn to cheer. This was a glory exclusive to Blazing Fire Academy.
Two supreme talents in one school!
Teacher Yan Yan had already gone to report to the dean. The usually composed teacher Yan Yan now wore every emotion plainly on his face.
Huo Ling'er and the Yun Hai brothers ran up to Huo Wu, peppering her with questions about the past few months and expressing their deep envy and longing.
The determination and hard work in their words stirred everyone's spirits.
Huo Wushuang walked over to Murong Ci alone and gave him a forceful slap on the shoulder. He couldn't get a word out; the corners of his mouth trembled.
Murong Ci gripped his hand tightly. They looked at each other without a word, their gratitude kept in their hearts.
"Senior Huo Wu, what's the name of your Ten Thousand Year fourth Soul Skill?"
"A-Ci once said that sunlight brings us warmth and burning heat; it's the very embodiment of fire and heat. My light would surpass it, so my fourth Soul Skill is called—Blazing Dance Illuminating the Sun!"