Ye Guyi Seized the "Future"

After pulling away from Columbina's fragrant embrace, Xu Tianming took a deep breath and turned his gaze toward Mavuika.

Seeing that her expression had returned to normal and her breathing was stabilizing, Xu Tianming knew she was likely alright.

As the heated atmosphere receded, an indescribable awkwardness took its place.

Neither Mavuika nor Xu Tianming knew what to say, but Columbina remained unaffected by the tension between them. Seeing their silence, she took the initiative to break the stillness.

"Why have you both stopped talking? Did my sudden appearance just now disturb you? If so, I can apologize, though the feeling of holding Xu Tianming just like you did, Mavuika, is truly quite nice."

As soon as these words left her lips, Xu Tianming watched Mavuika's expression turn bashful, and he was surprised to discover that Mavuika was actually capable of looking embarrassed.

Mavuika wanted to say something to explain, but the words died on her lips; she felt that any further explanation would only make things worse. She simply offered Columbina a faint smile.

"My power is recovering rapidly and requires my full concentration to control. You two go ahead and chat."

With that, she closed her eyes and sat cross-legged on the spot.

Although Columbina could sense that Mavuika seemed to be hiding something, she was understanding enough not to dwell on it, turning her gaze instead to Xu Tianming, who appeared to be lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about? If it's convenient, you can tell me; perhaps I can help."

Looking into Columbina's curious eyes, Xu Tianming didn't know what came over him, but he blurted out:

"I was just thinking about... the Pre-Sun-Moon History... cough, cough."

Xu Tianming intentionally emphasized the words "Sun-Moon," but the pure-hearted Columbina did not grasp the hidden meaning. She tilted her head in confusion.

"Eh? The Pre-Sun-Moon History?"

After a moment of hesitation, though she didn't quite understand, she began to recite:

"In the year the dove carried the branch, the eternal throne in the heavens arrived, and the world was made anew..."

Seeing that Columbina was actually reciting the "Pre-Sun-Moon History" in all seriousness and looked ready to recount the entire thing, Xu Tianming hurriedly stepped forward and covered her mouth to cut her off.

Although the "Punishment of the Heavenly Nail" from Celestia was unlikely to occur on the Douluo Continent, the full "Pre-Sun-Moon History" was quite long, and the version Columbina was speaking of was a completely different concept from what he had just been thinking about.

"I just remembered, my body is at a critical moment of strengthening. If I don't maintain conscious control for too long, I fear there might be problems..."

After finding a reasonable excuse to bid farewell to Columbina, he glanced casually at Mavuika. Unexpectedly, she seemed to sense his gaze; she quietly opened her right eyelid to meet his eyes for a moment, the corner of her mouth curling upward.

As his consciousness returned to his physical body, Xu Tianming carefully sensed his state and was pleasantly surprised to find that the medicinal power of the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue had been almost entirely refined!

Without a doubt, Mavuika must have helped him.

Feeling a warmth in his heart and tucking this debt away, Xu Tianming felt his physical body had been sufficiently reinforced by the glue. He felt there would be no issue at all in absorbing and refining that ten-thousand-year soul ring now.

Just as he was considering whether to call his uncle back to begin the absorption immediately, his gaze inadvertently swept over Ye Guyi, who was standing quietly not far away, and the remaining half of the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue beside him.

"Almost forgot about her... Even if I ate the rest of this glue, the improvement to my body wouldn't be that significant."

After a moment of contemplation, adhering to the principle of not wasting resources, he waved Ye Guyi over.

"Do you want to become stronger?"

Hearing this question, Ye Guyi nodded almost without hesitation.

"Yes, I want to become stronger! If I become strong, I can protect my father and mother from harm."

"Then, to become stronger, what are you willing to do?"

Although the question sounded strange, young Ye Guyi answered very earnestly.

"As long as I can become stronger! I am willing to do anything! Even if it's dangerous, I'm not afraid!"

Seeing the determination in her eyes as she spoke, Xu Tianming nodded. He then cut off a small piece of the whale glue in front of her, used his flames to fuse it into a viscous, swallowable state, and reached his hand toward Ye Guyi.

"To become stronger, you must first build a solid physical foundation. What I have in my hand is a rare treasure that can strengthen your physique. However, while it makes the body stronger, there may be some side effects that you might find unbearable. If you are truly prepared, then take this treasure—which represents your future—from my hand, swallow it, and refine it to prove your resolve to me!"

As he said this, Xu Tianming couldn't help but idly knead the melted whale glue in his hand.

Watching the black, sticky substance change into various shapes in Xu Tianming's palm, a near-instinctive resistance rose within Ye Guyi.

But soon, the desire to become stronger surfaced, forcibly suppressing the girl's resistance, and she comforted herself over and over in her heart:

"This is to become stronger. This is a treasure that can temper the body. Besides... the benefactor already consumed a large piece in front of me just now... how can I doubt his good intentions?"

Thinking this, although a trace of resistance remained deep in her heart, it was no longer enough to affect her will.

Gathering her courage, she reached out her petite palm and took the lump of black whale glue from Xu Tianming's hand.

She had grasped her future for strength!

As this thought flashed through her mind, Ye Guyi felt a surge of excitement. She closed her beautiful eyes, opened her cherry lips, and swallowed the "future" in her hand in one gulp, not wasting even a drop.

Seeing this, Xu Tianming nodded with satisfaction.

"Calm your heart, focus your spirit, and feel the power within you. If you cannot endure it, just speak up."

Hearing her benefactor's guidance, Ye Guyi obediently followed his instructions.

At first, she felt nothing special, just like Xu Tianming, but soon, an unbearable wave of heat emerged and quickly spread throughout her entire body.

"Ah... hot, so hot..."

After failing to suppress a few gasps, Ye Guyi realized she had lost her composure and her pretty face flushed red; she hurriedly bit her lip.

However, the body's instinctive reaction was not something that the willpower of a girl her age could withstand by simply gritting her teeth.