Liu Erlong Falls for Him, Absorbs Immortal Herbs, Mystic Jade Body's Golden Awakening! (Please Vote!)

Gu Qing walked to where the twin pools of ice and fire met. His gaze slowly swept across the patch of immortal herbs before finally settling on a strange flower, crimson from stem to petal and shaped like a cockscomb.

The crown of the immortal herb stood proudly erect, like a phoenix crying out to the heavens, faint flame-like patterns flickering along the edges of its petals.

"Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower."

Gu Qing reached out and uprooted the immortal herb, then turned and held it out to Liu Erlong.

"Erlong, swallow and refine this immortal herb later. It can greatly enhance the Martial Soul origin of fire-attribute soul masters while removing impurities from their flames, allowing your fire dragon Martial Soul to undergo a complete transformation from the inside out."

Liu Erlong froze.

She stared at the crimson immortal herb in Gu Qing's hand, her phoenix eyes widening slightly.

As the owner of a fire dragon Martial Soul, she understood the value of this immortal herb better than anyone. Such a precious thing—he was just placing it in her hands?

The probing and humiliation at the academy gates, then that scorching embrace as they jolted along on horseback—scene after scene flashed through her mind. Liu Erlong suddenly felt something unlike anything she had ever experienced welling up in her chest.

Could this be the fabled fate?

Holding the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Liu Erlong suddenly lifted her head, a crafty glint flashing through her phoenix eyes.

She took a step forward, moving closer to Gu Qing. A meaningful smile appeared on her mature, seductive face.

"President Gu, we've only known each other for one day, yet you're giving me something so precious. Do you like me, little sister? Aren't you afraid I'll take the immortal herb and run?"

Gu Qing looked into Liu Erlong's slightly upturned phoenix eyes, the corners of his lips curving upward.

"You joined Self Academy, so you're one of us. I trust your character. Besides..."

Gu Qing paused, leaned close to her ear, and lowered his voice.

"You even kissed me. We haven't settled that score yet, Teacher Erlong. Do you think you can get away?"

Liu Erlong's heart skipped a beat.

Looking into Gu Qing's deep, tranquil eyes, she suddenly felt as though she truly could not escape.

Not because he was threatening her, but because she was drawn to him.

This young man, nearly twenty years her junior, had never seen her as a bargaining chip, a tool, or a resource to be traded—not from the moment he had refused her at the academy gates.

Gu Qing treated her as an independent person, a capable battle soul sage, and a trustworthy companion.

And Yu Xiaogang?

Decades of affection could not compare to some vague theory about Martial Soul Evolution.

"Fine."

Liu Erlong tucked the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower into her bosom and crossed her arms over her chest, her red lips curling into a bright, unrestrained smile.

"Then from now on, I'm yours. Since I can't escape anyway, I might as well cling to you."

Gu Qing looked at the radiant smile blooming on her face again and nodded slightly.

This was how Liu Erlong should be.

Not the tragic, resolute woman Yu Xiaogang had publicly cast aside, nor the shy and flustered woman who had been held around the waist on horseback. She was the fiery, high-spirited dean of Blue Tyrant Academy, capable of standing on her own.

After settling Liu Erlong's matter, Gu Qing turned to Tang San and said, "Third Sister, come here."

Tang San set down the medicine pestle and walked over. Gu Qing pointed at a pair of immortal herbs growing where the ice spring and fire spring met.

"Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot. Xiaosan, swallow both of these immortal herbs at the same time, then soak in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and absorb the essence of the springs. You'll be able to cultivate a physique immune to ice and fire."

Gu Qing handed the two immortal herbs to Tang San, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

Tang San frowned slightly but did not reach out to take them.

"Brother Gu Qing, your Mystic Jade Body already has powerful elemental immunity. If you also gain immunity to ice and fire, you'll be able to completely ignore dual-element attacks in the future. You should eat these two immortal herbs. I'll find something else suitable—"

"Xiaosan."

Gu Qing interrupted her and stepped forward.

Mystic jade-colored light flowed across his skin, making his entire body resemble a warm, polished jade statue.

Gu Qing raised his hand and lightly tapped Tang San on the forehead.

"Ice-and-fire immunity would merely be the icing on the cake for me, but for you, it would be aid in a snowstorm. Your Blue Silver Grass fears fire the most. With ice-and-fire immunity, that weakness will cease to exist entirely."

Tang San opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but when she met Gu Qing's uncompromising gaze, she ultimately nodded.

She took the two immortal herbs, drew a deep breath, and placed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot into her mouth at the same time. Then, without hesitation, she leaped into the waters where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well converged.

The extreme forces of ice and fire surged into her meridians simultaneously. Tang San clenched her teeth as the Blue Silver Tyrant Body activated instantly. Emerald light flowed around her, forming a translucent cocoon of two colors.

Gu Qing watched Tang San enter the water, then turned toward another particularly conspicuous immortal herb among the patch.

It was a golden-yellow tulip, its petals layered upon one another, each one shimmering with a liquid-metal sheen. At its stamen, dense heaven-and-earth spiritual energy radiated so intensely that it nearly condensed into substance.

The Aromatic Silk Beauty could greatly increase a soul master's efficiency in absorbing heaven-and-earth spiritual energy while also improving the quality of their Martial Soul origin.

Gu Qing placed the Aromatic Silk Beauty into his mouth and likewise leaped into the pool.

Unlike the dual assault of ice and fire Tang San endured, the Aromatic Silk Beauty's effects were gentle and enduring. A warm medicinal power slowly flowed through his meridians, producing a wondrous resonance with his Mystic Jade Body.

The energies of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's spring water surged into his body like two tides. The crimson-gold energy of the fire spring and the ice-blue energy of the ice spring intertwined and collided within his meridians.

The Mystic Jade Body emitted a deep hum within him. A gentle jade-colored radiance seeped out from beneath his skin. This time, it was no longer the previous mutton-fat white or crimson gold, but a deep, restrained golden hue.

Golden-tier awakening—the Body Martial Soul's third awakening.

His skin, muscles, bones, meridians—every inch of his flesh underwent a qualitative transformation beneath the tempering of the golden light.

His body was like a bottomless pit, madly devouring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

However, the power brought by the golden-tier awakening was far too immense, vastly exceeding what the silver tier could bear.

A surging, nearly violent Bloodline Power exploded from the depths of his dantian and raced wildly through his meridians, making his body burn as though it had been set alight from within.

If he did not release this power in time, his meridians would burst!

Liu Erlong had just finished refining the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and was sensing the renewed, scorching power of the Fire Dragon Martial Soul within her.

The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Gu Qing soaking in the spring. His skin had turned an abnormal golden-red, his meridians throbbed violently beneath it, and the surrounding water bubbled as though boiled by his body heat.

Liu Erlong's heart tightened. Had something gone wrong while this brat absorbed the immortal herb?

Without hesitation, the Fire Dragon Martial Soul possessed her instantly. A crimson Soul Power barrier enveloped her body as she leapt into the spring.

Liu Erlong wrapped her arms around Gu Qing from behind.

The water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well instantly soaked through her fitted outfit. The drenched fabric clung tightly to her body, outlining her mature, full curves.

The bone-piercing chill of the ice spring and the scorching waves of heat from the fire spring battered her Soul Power barrier at the same time. Yet she gritted her teeth and held on, her arms tightly locked around Gu Qing's waist as she firmly restrained his burning body against her chest.

The surging Bloodline Power within Gu Qing sensed her presence. As though it had found an outlet, it automatically formed a crimson-gold bloodline barrier around them.

The barrier enveloped them both, cutting them off from the outside world's sight and sound.