Today was the seventh day of the mission.
Every time Huo Wu studied a new strategy, Murong Ci effortlessly countered it. It left her furious and mortified.
[Affection: 59. If you finish the match today, she'll probably remember you for good—and might even develop a few unusual feelings for you.]
The system's voice was as irritating as ever. It even sounded a little eager to see what would happen.
[Ding—Target detected. One hundred meters from the host.]
Here she came again...
"Murong Ci! We're continuing today. My father said he'll take us all to the Geocentric Fire Cave at our Blazing Fire Academy tomorrow!"
Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang's father was the dean of Blazing Fire Academy. Only the most elite among the core disciples were allowed to use the Geocentric Fire Cave, which showed just how highly the dean regarded Murong Ci.
"The Geocentric Fire Cave? System, am I remembering wrong, or wasn't that in the original story?"
Murong Ci paused, trying to remember where the place was.
Just then, the system's voice interrupted his thoughts.
[The Five Elements Academies each have a dedicated cultivation ground: Blazing Fire Academy—the Geocentric Fire Cave; Skywater Academy—the Cold Ice Spirit Spring; Godwind Academy—the Wind-Eroded Canyon; Elephant Armor Academy—the Thousand Jun Stone Forest; Thunder Academy—the Lightning Strike Platform.]
"Then why don't I remember it being in the original story?"
[This system used a tiny little trick to adapt your Martial Soul.]
"Brother System, you're awesome."
[Quit the flattery and hurry up with the last match. The Geocentric Fire Cave is a great place, so finish this quickly.]
"Got it! Here I come, Sister Wu!"
The Soul Fighting Arena was packed. Huo Wu had been getting crushed for three days straight—a first at Blazing Fire Academy, and even across all the Five Elements Academies.
And each time, she had been defeated with a different move.
On the third day, Ice-Fire Meteorites: ice and fire spheres had slammed into Huo Wu with overwhelming force.
On the fourth day, the Ice-Fire Tornado, a reverse-twisting maelstrom. Murong Ci had even caught a glimpse of the tornado tearing a hole in Huo Wu's collar. His whole body had heated up at the sight.
On the fifth day, Ice-Fire Lotus Blossom: the lotus petals had exploded, defeating Huo Wu.
On the sixth day, the Ice-Fire Meteor Shower: ice and fire had collided in the sky, scattering a rain of icy dust and sparks.
Of course, he couldn't have done it without the system's help. Thanks to its development, Murong Ci had now mastered Yongzhen's basic skills.
And that was already more than enough to defy the heavens.
As for the final day, Murong Ci had decided to stop playing around. He really wanted to see what the Geocentric Fire Cave—absent from the original story—looked like.
"Hurry up, Murong Ci! What are you dawdling for?" Huo Wu flicked her braid and released her Martial Soul.
Murong Ci raised his hand. Yongzhen! His Second Soul Ring blazed into life!
The Grey Light vanished in an instant, replaced by luminous green scales emerging on Murong Ci's right hand. The temperature around him plunged.
Then an ice scorpion appeared behind him, its body a crystalline blue, dotted with faint green glimmers.
The scorpion seemed almost sentient as it looked down on Huo Wu.
It was the Ice Jade Scorpion's soul, stored in Murong Ci's Yongzhen Space. Releasing his second Soul Skill allowed him to briefly draw on its abilities.
Huo Wu and the spectators felt a bone-deep chill creep into their hearts.
Even the ice-attribute Soul Masters at Skywater Academy had never given them such an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"Second Soul Skill, Ice Scorpion Pincer!"
Soul Power gathered throughout Murong Ci's body and flowed into his right hand, shaping his five fingers into a pair of pincers. He reached for Huo Wu!
Huo Wu couldn't move at all. Perhaps she was frozen, perhaps stunned—or perhaps the pressure came from her attribute being countered and her opponent's power suppressing her.
The Ice Scorpion Pincer stopped three feet from her, yet a small portion of Huo Wu's hair had already frozen stiff.
"I win."
"Oh."
"?"
[Target Huo Wu has been detected experiencing deep frustration and a low mood. If she weren't in front of you and all these people, she would've already burst into tears.]
Murong Ci's heart gave a little lurch. He hadn't expected Huo Wu to take it so hard. Beneath her fiery exterior, she was still a girl with a fragile heart.
Murong Ci waved to the spectators, and the crowd scattered at once.
They really didn't want to provoke this monster, and Murong Ci had already become famous at Blazing Fire Academy over the past two days.
Huo Wushuang walked over and looked at Murong Ci helplessly, gesturing for him to leave as well.
Murong Ci nodded and headed back to his dorm. He hadn't gone far when he heard a girl wailing and sobbing.
His heart clenched.
[Don't worry. Her affection is still at 59; it hasn't dropped. But someone seems to have a tiny little thought stirring in her heart.]
"What's wrong with her?"
[Heh heh.]
"You can take that 'heh' and shove it!"
Murong Ci smiled. Sometimes people smiled when they felt helpless.
It was late at night, but Murong Ci was still feeling down.
"System, can you conjure up some beer for me?"
[No.]
"What about instant noodles? This food is delicious, but I'm craving noodles."
[No.]
Murong Ci shook his head, sighed, and undressed to go to sleep.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
Someone knocked at the door.
"Who is it?"
No one answered, but he heard the system snickering in that annoying way of its. He opened the door—and found Huo Wu there.
She wore a thin white nightgown with its collar askew. Her hair was loose and disheveled, and her eyes were swollen and red. She had clearly showered and cried.
Without a word, Huo Wu walked in and sat on the bed.
"You're sleeping here tonight? This is my room." Murong Ci spread his hands and teased her.
"Teach me."
"Teach you what?"
"How to use fire. Your ice and fire are both far too powerful for me to beat. And I don't have an ice attribute. The only way I can win is to raise my fire to the same level as yours—or even higher."
[Ultimate Attributes are only mentioned in Peerless Tang Sect, and it's explicitly stated that no Ultimate Attributes existed in Douluo I. So, in this era, your attributes are the highest quality there is.] [But because Yongzhen is inclusive, you can choose to raise certain people's attributes to the Ultimate level. For example, through dual cultivation.]
Murong Ci choked.
"What's wrong?" Huo Wu asked tentatively. She was afraid he wouldn't teach her.
"Nothing, nothing. What do you want to learn?"
"Fire control and how to improve its quality."
"Sure. Give me your hand. I'll treat your injuries first. The ice from the daytime probably left you in bad shape. Having fire and ice fight inside you must be uncomfortable."
Murong Ci sat on the bed, took Huo Wu's hand, and activated Yongzhen. He drew the ice-attribute Soul Power out of her body, exchanging it for fire-attribute Soul Power.
"Ah..." Huo Wu let out a soft moan.
[The host's heart rate has risen to 120.]
Shut up! Murong Ci snapped at it in his mind.
Of course, this was only the process of exchanging Soul Power—the simplest form of dual cultivation. It treated the conflicting attributes in her Soul Power, while also transferring a higher-quality attribute to another person.
When he let go, Huo Wu flopped back on the bed as if utterly exhausted. Then she realized it wasn't her bed and sprang upright.
Murong Ci couldn't help laughing.
"You're laughing at me too!" Huo Wu glared at him. "Now you have to teach me how to improve my fire's quality!"
"Condense it. The main thing is to compress and gather your Soul Power, purify your flames, and don't rush to raise your level. Improve the purity of your Soul Power instead. Want to try?"
Murong Ci held out his hand, inviting Huo Wu to take it, palm to palm.
Huo Wu hesitated, then finally placed her hand in his.
The two began to slowly circulate and exchange Soul Power.
[This is the beginning of Soul Power fusion. It feels wonderful, a little like Haodong Power. Let this system give you a hand!]
After saying this, the system also activated its own permissions, making their Soul Power fuller and more solid.
"Mm..." Both of them let out a soft moan. Their hands clasped tighter, and they leaned a little closer.
The air grew thick with a tender, ambiguous warmth.
The next morning, Huo Wu opened her eyes, feeling utterly refreshed.
The flames within her were eager to leap into action. She had never felt so clear-headed and invigorated.
Her Soul Power had reached level thirty-four. She'd cultivated all night and actually broken through by a level—something she'd never imagined happening.
Murong Ci had also reached level twenty-nine.
"Dual cultivation really is amazing!" Murong Ci praised the system.
[Of course. And this was only the most basic kind of dual cultivation. Just wait until you learn about yin and yang—]
"Enough, enough!"
"Thanks." Huo Wu spoke softly, lowering her head. Her hand was still clasped tightly in his, and her fingers lightly traced his palm.
Huo Wu seemed embarrassed that she'd spent the whole night in a man's dorm room.
"It's fine. Go back. If you cultivate the way I showed you, your flames will improve."
"Mm..." Huo Wu gave a quiet hum, slipped her hand free, and slowly left the room. She was nothing like her usual loud and carefree self.
[Affection: 65/100. Not bad, kid. You've carved out a tiny little place in her heart.]
"Just doing the basics. No need to make a fuss."
[...] [Ding—Mission successful. Fire affinity increased by 30%. Obtained combination Soul Skill: Ice-Fire Polar Domain.]
Murong Ci smiled with confidence.
A new day had begun. The Geocentric Fire Cave, here I come!