Shy Xiao Xiao, Giving Her Eight-Half Immortal Orchid

After wrapping up Huo Yuhao's matter, Huo Chen turned his attention to the next name on the list.

Xiao Xiao.

This gentle, quiet girl did not have much of a presence in Class One.

She lacked Wang Dong's dazzling talent, Ning Tian's family background, and Wu Feng's fiery temperament.

She always sat quietly in a corner, silently completing every training session without ever showing off or complaining.

But Huo Chen knew that she was the most steady and grounded student in all of Class One. The solidity of her foundation was nearly unmatched among her peers.

By the time he had someone summon Xiao Xiao to his office, it was already evening.

The setting sun streamed through the windows, dyeing the entire office a warm orange-red.

When Xiao Xiao knocked and entered, she was still holding an open textbook on soul power theory. Clearly, she had been studying right before coming.

"Teacher Huo, you wanted to see me?" She stopped before his desk and gave a slight bow, her voice gentle and polite.

"Sit." Huo Chen pointed to the chair across from him. Once she had taken a seat, he got straight to the point. "You've reached level thirty now, right?"

Xiao Xiao nodded. "Yes. I broke through the day before yesterday."

"What are your plans for your soul ring?"

Xiao Xiao fell silent for a moment before answering honestly, "I haven't decided yet. The Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron needs a defensive soul ring—preferably one that can enhance its soul-calming effect and defensive abilities. But suitable soul beasts are difficult to find, and I don't want to simply hunt one at random just to make do."

Huo Chen nodded. He took a palm-sized jade box from his robes, set it on the desk, and pushed it toward Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao paused, her eyes falling on the jade box.

The entire box was lustrous white, its surface flowing with a faint sheen. Even through its walls, she could sense an exceptionally pure aura of heaven and earth radiating from within. The Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron inside her trembled lightly in response.

"Open it and take a look," Huo Chen said.

Xiao Xiao carefully opened the jade box. Inside lay an orchid—or, more precisely, an orchid condensed from pure spiritual energy.

It had eight petals, each in a different hue, transitioning layer by layer from pure white to pale violet to light gold, as if a rainbow had solidified upon its petals.

An elegant fragrance drifted from the flower. With just one breath of it, Xiao Xiao felt her soul power circulate a little more smoothly.

"This is... the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid?" Xiao Xiao's voice trembled with uncertainty.

She had read about this immortal herb in ancient texts. Legend said that it could cleanse impurities from a martial soul, stabilize one's foundation, and increase the purity of soul power. It was a supreme treasure coveted by all auxiliary- and control-type soul masters.

"The essence of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid," Huo Chen said. "I brought back a portion of its origin essence. It's enough to purify your martial soul and stabilize your foundation. You don't need it to break through to a higher level—your foundation is already solid—but it can make that foundation even more unshakable."

Xiao Xiao stared at the radiant orchid in the box for a long time.

Then she looked up at Huo Chen. Her eyes were faintly red, but she did not cry. She merely nodded firmly. "Thank you, Teacher Huo."

"Don't thank me just yet." Huo Chen smiled. "Refine it first. Sit properly—I'll guide you."

Xiao Xiao straightened in her chair, cradled the jade box in her hands, took a deep breath, then closed her eyes and guided the essence of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid slowly into her body.

The moment that power entered her, it transformed into a mild, crystalline current that flowed slowly through her meridians.

Wherever it passed, the impurities within her were cleansed away bit by bit. Her meridians became clearer and more open, while her soul power circulated more smoothly.

Her Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron gave off a soft tremor, as though bathing in sweet rain, greedily absorbing that pure spiritual energy.

Huo Chen gently placed his palm against the center of her back. The power of reincarnation slowly flowed into her body, guiding the orchid essence along the correct paths and ensuring that it nourished her martial soul evenly.

Time passed slowly.

About half an hour later, Xiao Xiao slowly opened her eyes.

She lowered her head to look at her hands, feeling an unprecedented sense of clarity and transparency within herself.

Her soul power level had not risen and remained at level thirty, yet she could feel that her foundation had become several times more solid than before. The quality of her Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron had also improved across the board. Its body had become heavier and steadier, and the patterns on its surface clearer and deeper.

"How does it feel?" Huo Chen withdrew his hand.

"It feels..." Xiao Xiao thought for a moment before finding the most fitting description. "Like my whole body has been washed clean."

Huo Chen laughed at her plain comparison. "That's actually quite fitting."

Xiao Xiao smiled as well, her expression gentle and sincere.

She carefully put away the jade box, then rose to her feet and gave Huo Chen a solemn bow. "Teacher Huo, thank you. I'll cultivate diligently and won't disappoint your expectations."

"I know you will." Huo Chen rose as well, walked over to her, and gently ruffled her hair.

Xiao Xiao's body stiffened slightly.

Her hair was very soft, like the finest silk slipping through his fingertips.

Color rushed to her cheeks at a visible speed, spreading from the tips of her ears all the way down her neck. She looked as if she had been boiled, even her breathing skipping a beat.

She lowered her head, not daring to meet Huo Chen's eyes. Her hands unconsciously twisted together as her voice became softer than a mosquito's buzz. "Teacher Huo, you touched my head..."

"What's wrong? You don't like it?" Huo Chen withdrew his hand and asked with a smile.

"It's not that I don't like it..." Xiao Xiao's voice grew even quieter, her cheeks red as the evening sunset. "It was just... too sudden..."

Seeing her at such a loss, Huo Chen's smile deepened.

Xiao Xiao was usually composed and calm. It was rare to see her so flustered, and it made her especially adorable.

"All right, I won't tease you anymore." He reined in his smile, his tone turning more serious. "Come find me tomorrow morning. I'll take you to obtain your soul ring."

Xiao Xiao froze for a moment, then looked up at him. "You're taking me personally?"

"A thirtieth-rank soul ring can't be chosen carelessly," Huo Chen said. "The Three-Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron is a defensive tool martial soul. We need to find a soul ring that can both strengthen its soul-calming effect and improve its defensive abilities. Soul beasts like that aren't easy to find. If I go with you, we'll have a better chance."

Xiao Xiao looked at him, an indescribable emotion stirring in her gentle eyes. Her lips parted, but in the end, she only said softly, "All right. I'll come find you tomorrow morning."

She turned and walked out of the office. When she reached the doorway, she looked back at him once more.

The lingering light of the setting sun streamed through the window, coating her silhouette in a warm golden glow.

A faint blush still lingered on her cheeks, but a small smile curved her lips. "Teacher Huo, good night."

"Good night."

Xiao Xiao's figure disappeared through the doorway, her footsteps gradually fading down the corridor.

Huo Chen stood in the office, gazing toward the door. He lowered his head and looked at the hand that had ruffled her hair just moments ago. His fingertips seemed to still retain the soft touch of her strands.

He smiled, withdrew his hand, and turned to look out at the horizon, dyed crimson by the evening clouds.

Tomorrow, he still had to take her hunting soul beasts.