Rumble, rumble, rumble...
The resonance had faded, and Huo Wu had completely absorbed the medicinal effects.
But the two of them were still holding each other, pressed close together.
Murong Ci's breathing was uneven. He didn't dare move recklessly.
Staying like this wasn't a solution, so Murong Ci gently shifted, trying to wriggle free of Huo Wu's embrace.
"Mm..." Huo Wu murmured, tightening her hold.
[You'd better stop trying to get away. She'll let go on her own when she wakes up.]
It would be a lie to say he wasn't enjoying it. After all, who could resist a beautiful woman with a smoking-hot figure throwing herself into his arms?
"System, I'm at level thirty Soul Power. What should I do next?"
[Ding—Quest issued: go to Star Dou Forest and hunt a five-thousand-year-old Demon Eye Demon Tree to purify your wood attribute.]
"Wood attribute? Why is that the next step?"
[You're so stupid. According to the principle of the five elements generating one another, water generates wood, and wood generates fire. Water and ice are actually the same concept. You already possess the Ultimate Ice attribute, so the wood attribute you gain now will also approach Ultimate Wood. And since wood generates fire, it'll help improve your fire attribute even more.]
"I find this most utterly impressive."
[Besides, the Demon Eye Demon Tree belongs to King of Ten Thousand Demons' species. If you obtain its Soul Skill, you'll be able to upgrade it to match King of Ten Thousand Demons' power in the future.]
[As for why you're going to Star Dou Forest, heh heh. You'll find out.]
"Okay, okay, System."
"Mm..." Huo Wu murmured again and slowly opened her eyes.
Then she saw her arms wrapped around Murong Ci's waist. They were in an awkward position.
"Ah!!! You lecherous rogue! Close your eyes!"
Huo Wu abruptly pulled away from Murong Ci and cried out.
Murong Ci closed his eyes too and stopped struggling. As he listened to the quick rustle of clothes being put on, his heart thumped wildly.
"You bastard! Why did you put our clothes together? Yours are still wet! You got mine wet too!"
Huo Wu was furious, chattering on and on.
Then Murong Ci's clothes were tossed onto his face. They both hurriedly got dressed, neither looking at the other.
When Murong Ci emerged from the spiritual liquid, he saw Huo Wu staring fixedly at him, her eyes full of embarrassed fury.
"Not a word about what happened today! Or I'll burn you to death! Do you hear me?"
Murong Ci hurriedly nodded and bowed.
But seeing Huo Wu in clothes soaked through with water made Murong Ci unable to resist looking back.
"You're still staring!" Huo Wu raised a hand to hit him, but Murong Ci reacted quickly and caught her wrist.
"Come on, let's go. We've already spent a whole day here." Murong Ci urged her, taking her hand as they left.
"Let go of me, let go..."
Her voice grew fainter and fainter...
Huo Lie stared at the drenched, disheveled young man and woman in front of him, lost in thought...
"You two..."
"Nothing happened between us!" Huo Wu cried out, then covered her mouth and glared at Murong Ci in embarrassment and anger.
"I mean... how did your Soul Power get so high? Huo Wu, you're already level thirty-six. You need to go into seclusion and properly digest the medicinal power of the Geocentric Fire Lotus."
"Ci'er, you've also reached level thirty. You should go hunt for a Soul Ring. I'll arrange for an academy teacher to accompany you."
"Father, I'll go with him!"
"You're going into seclusion! Don't get involved in this operation."
Huo Wu anxiously looked at her father, then at Murong Ci, her gaze darting back and forth.
"Thank you for your kindness, Dean, but I'd rather go alone and temper myself."
As he spoke, he released his two purple Soul Rings. Huo Lie froze, his pupils contracting.
"Y-weren't you supposed to have one yellow and one purple?"
"I killed a Fire Python and fused its Soul Ring on top of my First Soul Ring."
Huo Lie was busy rearranging his understanding of the world...
Fusing another Soul Ring on top of an existing one? Was he kidding?
Still, that was the only explanation available, so Huo Lie simply waved his hand and approved Murong Ci's solo Soul Hunting Operation. He wanted to see just how far this young man could go.
Murong Ci noticed Huo Wu beside him, looking a little anxious and disappointed. He patted her shoulder and comforted her. "Sister Wu, trust me. I'll definitely come back safe and sound, all right?"
He tilted his head and smiled at her, innocent as could be.
Huo Wu clutched the hem of his clothes, forcing herself to stay calm.
"W-who cares about you..."
"...Just come back safe."
Murong Ci gave a quiet "Mm" and turned to leave.
"Bastard."
Huo Wu's soft voice scattered on the wind.
[Affection: 72/100. She's entered the lovestruck stage. Character's thoughts: Looking forward to his return. Not bad, kid. Keep it up.]
A day later, Murong Ci arrived at Star Dou Forest. He'd made good time.
During the journey, the System had taught him how to use the other attributes.
With the wind's help, he'd made his way without a hitch.
"System, why can't I use lightning? Strength enhancement boosted my force, and earth strengthened my body. Apart from the two special elements, time and space, why can't I use lightning too?"
[The lightning element is one of the most violent elements in nature. Using it at your current level would only hurt you. Of course, all these elements share one common trait: if you've seen someone use a certain elemental Soul Skill, you'll be able to use the corresponding one too. That's called the Yongzhen Imprint.]
[In the six years you've been here, you haven't seen anyone use a lightning-element Soul Skill. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's disciples wouldn't give a servant like you the time of day. Where could you have seen one?]
Murong Ci thought it over. That was true. In those six years, countless people had visited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and he'd secretly watched Soul Skills of all kinds of elements.
Except for people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Though they were one of the Upper Three Sects, a servant disciple wasn't worthy of seeing them.
[But if you want me to take over and fight, I can solve this problem. I can briefly awaken some of your future potential.]
That made Murong Ci look forward to letting the System take over. Still, he naively thought that a single Demon Eye Demon Tree would be nothing to fear.
"System, where are the Demon Eye Demon Trees?"
[They can be found in both the outer and mixed zones. But since you're looking for a five-thousand-year-old one, it should be near the boundary between the outer and mixed zones. Walk a little farther. I'll detect it once you're close.]
Murong Ci nodded and walked a few more steps.
[Ding—]
"It showed up already?"
[Important characters detected: the Shrek Seven Devils and the Immovable Wisdom King, Zhao Wuji.]
"??? So you sent me to Star Dou Forest to meet them?"
[That's one reason. You'll definitely interact with them in the future, so go say hello—especially to Ning Rongrong.]
Murong Ci speechlessly patted his head.
This System...
But he was already here, so he might as well go say hello.
Murong Ci deliberately made a little noise in the bushes, then stepped out.
"Who's there!"
Zhao Wuji heard the noise and shouted. Naturally, a level-seventy-six Soul Saint had excellent hearing.
"Just a passing Soul Master. I came here to hunt for my third Soul Ring."
"Murong Ci?"
Ning Rongrong froze when she heard his voice and asked in disbelief.
"Miss, it's been a long time. I hope you've been well?"
Ning Rongrong's heart gave a thump. It really was him. He'd come to obtain his third Soul Ring?
But that couldn't be right. It had only been three months since Murong Ci left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Had he risen twenty levels in three months?
Ning Rongrong would never have dared imagine such a thing.
"Rongrong, you know him?"
Ning Rongrong nodded and murmured, "Mm," but deep down, she still felt a little apprehensive. Perhaps she didn't know Murong Ci at all.
Her father and the two grandpas had probably misjudged him too.
"Since you're Rongrong's friend, why not stay and join us?" Zhao Wuji invited him with a genial smile.
Murong Ci didn't hesitate. He found a big tree and leaned against it.
Everyone greeted him.
Tang San noticed him too. "Brother Murong, since you know Rongrong, we're friends too."
Murong Ci gave him a perfunctory reply and paid him no further attention.
He had no wish to be friends with Tang Buddha. This guy's actions were absolutely outrageous.
The others asked him questions here and there. When they learned he was from Blazing Fire Academy, they couldn't help exclaiming.
The Five Elements Academies were famous across the continent!
Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, seemed a little different from the rest. She only clutched the hem of her clothes and said nothing.
Level thirty... Level thirty... He was even higher than her now. The person she'd once looked down on had surpassed her.
It made her feel deeply aggrieved.
[Kid, want a chance to show off and slap them in the face?]
"What is it, System?"
[Don't rush. Listen to them.]
"There's something here!" Zhao Wuji shouted, motioning for everyone to get up.
Zhu Zhuqing sprang up and climbed a tree.
"A flying snake. It can't fly very high, and it has a fleshy crest on its head."
Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "Oscar, you're in luck. This is a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent."
[Kid, get ready to fight!]
"Understood!"
Yongzhen released.