Mystic Bird Vermilion Bird, How to Quickly Recover Momentum?

The room was quiet for a moment.

Yan Lingji suddenly threw off the quilt and sat up.

"Hiss--!"

She frowned, carefully shifting her body, and the pull on her "injuries" made her wince for a moment.

"Yan Lingji, oh Yan Lingji," she murmured, lifting her hand to watch the faint wisp of flame at her fingertips. "Playing with fire all day, and now look, you've burned yourself."

She gave a self-deprecating smile, pulled the quilt up to cover her shoulders, and let her gaze fall on the azure sky outside the window.

"I hope... I haven't followed the wrong person."

She spoke softly, her voice growing lower until it was almost inaudible.

"To escape this chaotic world... that would be nice too..."

She lay back down, pulled the quilt up to her chin, and closed her eyes.

At noon.

Zhao Linchuan returned to the manor carrying a young deer.

He had first made a trip to Spirit Hall to borrow a set of Spirit Awakening Stones.

The items were not particularly precious, and given his current status, it had been no trouble to borrow them.

Back in the courtyard, he efficiently cleaned the deer and set it upon the simple grill he had prepared.

The flames licked at the skin with a sizzling sound, and as the fat dripped down, a wave of enticing aroma rose into the air.

He turned the grill while sprinkling on some spices he had obtained from somewhere.

The scent was rich and bold, drifting far away on the breeze.

Yan Lingji was roused by the fragrance. She walked out draped in one of Zhao Linchuan's outer robes; it was far too large, hanging loosely on her frame with sleeves so long she had to roll them twice just to reveal her fingertips.

She leaned against the doorframe, watching the man in the courtyard focused on roasting the venison, her gaze complex.

"Awake?" Zhao Linchuan's voice held a hint of a smile. "Perfect, come and eat."

Yan Lingji said nothing, walking over to sit beside him.

The venison was roasted to a crisp outside and tender within, bursting with juices when torn apart, and piping hot to the taste.

After they had eaten their fill, the two returned to the main room.

Zhao Linchuan placed the set of Spirit Awakening Stones on the floor, then straightened up and beckoned to Yan Lingji.

"Stand on them. I will awaken your spirit."

Yan Lingji glanced at him, asked no further questions, and stepped forward as instructed to stand in the center of the six stones.

Zhao Linchuan pressed his hands into the air, channeling his spirit power into the stones.

In an instant, countless golden light particles surged from the surface of the stones, floating up like fireflies and slowly enveloping Yan Lingji.

The light particles landed on her hair, shoulders, and fingertips with a faint warmth.

Yan Lingji subconsciously opened her right hand, and a phantom image slowly rose from her palm.

It was a bird—its entire body burned with white flames, and as it spread its wings, firelight flowed across them, its posture noble and majestic.

It hovered before Yan Lingji, wings flapping slowly, the flames flickering in rhythm with its breath.

A flash of surprise crossed Zhao Linchuan's eyes, and he exclaimed aloud.

"Mystic Bird? No, a Vermilion Bird!"

He was genuinely taken aback; the grade of Yan Lingji's spirit far exceeded his estimations.

He quickly composed himself and explained in a gentle tone, "After your spirit is awakened, the internal energy within you will slowly convert into the spirit power of this world."

He made a quick calculation. "Once the conversion is complete, you should reach the level of a Spirit King."

Yan Lingji looked down at the flaming Vermilion Bird still circling her palm, feeling that strange yet powerful energy flowing through her meridians, her eyes flickering slightly.

"Spend this time cultivating diligently," Zhao Linchuan continued. "I will find a way to get you a few spirit bones to maximize the age limit of your first spirit ring."

As he spoke, a crisp voice suddenly drifted in from outside the courtyard.

"Linchuan! Are you there?"

Zhao Linchuan's brow twitched as he recognized the owner of the voice.

"Bibi Dong?" He turned to look at Yan Lingji and gave her a meaningful look. "A guest has arrived. Put these things away first."

Yan Lingji retracted her spirit but did not move immediately.

She tilted her head, a playful curve touching her lips. "Do I need to hide?"

"Lest that little sister outside see something she shouldn't, making it hard for you to explain."

"As you wish." Zhao Linchuan's tone was indifferent. "There is nothing about our relationship that cannot be spoken of."

"As I wish?" Yan Lingji raised an eyebrow. She stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly gave a light laugh, bent down, and began collecting the awakening stones from the floor one by one.

"So you still want me to hide, don't you?"

She cradled the pile of stones and headed toward the back hall, her steps as light and silent as a cat.

Reaching the corridor, she glanced back over her shoulder and tossed out a breezy remark, "Fine, I'll make some room for you."

"Wouldn't want to spoil someone's good time~"

Her figure vanished behind the door curtain.

Almost simultaneously, Bibi Dong appeared at the entrance.

She wore a pale purple gown today, the hem swaying gently with her stride, making her appear a bit more youthful and lively than she had yesterday.

She walked into the main room, her gaze landing first on the steaming teacup on the table, then drifting to the barbecue grill still sitting in the courtyard, her nose twitching slightly.

"Linchuan, are you having a barbecue?" She turned to him, her tone carrying a hint of playful reproach, "Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't know where you were staying, did I?"

Zhao Linchuan kept his expression neutral, casually pushing the teacup on the table toward her, and naturally shifted the topic, "By the way, is there something you needed to see me about?"

"Can't I come see you if there's nothing wrong?"

Bibi Dong pouted; she looked less like a Saintess and more like a young girl from next door who had been wronged.

However, she quickly tucked away that small display of emotion and said seriously, "It's my teacher who wants to see you. I don't know the specifics."

"So, the Pope is looking for me."

Hearing this, Zhao Linchuan stood up and straightened his robes, his tone becoming a bit more solemn.

"In that case, let's get moving. We shouldn't keep His Holiness waiting."

He strode toward the exit as he spoke.

"Hey! Why are you walking so fast!"

Bibi Dong hurried to catch up, and the two figures disappeared one after the other outside the courtyard gate, their footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

The main room fell silent. The door curtain stirred, and Yan Lingji stepped slowly out from the back hall.

She leaned against the doorframe, gazing at the half-open courtyard gate, her eyes distant.

"What a beautiful woman."

"What is the relationship... between her and him?"

Pope Hall.

Qian Xunji stood in the center of the hall, his posture as upright as a pine.

Zhao Linchuan and Bibi Dong stood to either side, their hands hanging at their sides.

Qian Xunji's gaze drifted past the hall doors, resting on the pale golden clouds on the distant horizon.

He remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly:

"Linchuan, what is the fastest way to restore the prestige of my Spirit Hall?"

Zhao Linchuan pondered for a moment and replied unhurriedly, "If we are talking about the fastest way, it would naturally be for the Great Elder to defeat Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen in front of all the soul masters in the world."

He paused deliberately, "Though, that seems rather unlikely..."

"Hmph!" Qian Xunji let out a cold snort.