Successful Refinement

"You could connect with it, which clearly meant you were a better fit. Maybe in the future, Senior Sister's alchemy skills will even surpass mine."

Lin Yu said with a smile. There was not the slightest reluctance or hesitation in it, only an open and matter-of-fact sincerity.

But he quickly added, his tone turning serious, "Before refining it, we have to erase its consciousness first. Otherwise, you might suffer backlash during the refinement."

Han Shanshan stood there blankly, her phoenix eyes reddening slightly.

Over the past year, she had gradually developed an indescribable affection for this extraordinarily gifted junior brother who always loved to tease her.

Seeing Lin Yu unreservedly offer up a Heavenly Flame simply because of the words "you're a better fit," the wall she had kept built around her heart for so long finally came crashing down.

Han Shanshan did not take the Sacred Radiance Cauldron.

She stepped forward, rose onto her toes, wrapped her hands around Lin Yu's shoulders, and directly kissed him on the lips.

Lin Yu was initially at a loss from the sudden kiss. He froze in place, his mind going completely blank.

Yet the warm touch only stunned him for an instant before he reacted.

He wrapped an arm around Han Shanshan's slender waist, gently pulled her closer, lowered his head, and returned her kiss.

At some point, the Sacred Radiance Cauldron had automatically flown back into his Storage Ring, leaving both his hands free. One circled her waist, while the other rested against the back of her head.

After a long while, their lips parted. Han Shanshan's cheeks were flushed like the sunset, and her phoenix eyes shimmered with light. Though somewhat shy, she met Lin Yu's gaze without retreating.

She panted lightly, her lips moving as though she wanted to say something, only to find that she, usually so quick-witted and eloquent, was suddenly at a loss for words.

Lin Yu looked down at her, a gentle smile curving his lips. He reached out and softly tucked a stray lock of hair from her forehead behind her ear.

With a flick of his hand, Lin Yu summoned the Sacred Radiance Cauldron into his palm again.

"Absorb it, Senior Sister." Lin Yu held the Sacred Radiance Cauldron out before Han Shanshan.

This time, Han Shanshan did not refuse.

She looked into Lin Yu's eyes. Those clear, steadfast eyes held not the slightest reluctance, only wholehearted encouragement.

She nodded heavily and accepted the Sacred Radiance Cauldron with both hands. The instant her fingertips touched the cauldron, they trembled slightly—not from the cold, but because the weight carried by this tiny medicinal cauldron was simply too great.

It was not merely a Heavenly Flame. It was also Lin Yu's feelings for her.

"I'll refine it." Han Shanshan spoke softly, her tone more solemn than ever.

Then she took a deep breath, sat down cross-legged, and placed the Sacred Radiance Cauldron before her.

She did not rush to open the lid. Instead, she first extended her soul power into the cauldron.

The process of erasing its consciousness went more smoothly than expected.

Although the Bone Spirit Cold Flame ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, Lin Yu's Spatial Annihilation had already stripped away most of its Sub-Flames, leaving it severely weakened.

Han Shanshan's soul power surged into the cauldron like a tide, enveloping that hazy consciousness with overwhelming force.

In only a few moments, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame's consciousness was completely erased, leaving behind nothing but a pure Origin Flame Seed.

Han Shanshan took out the Blood Spirit Pill Lin Yu had refined earlier and swallowed it.

The Blood Spirit Pill melted the instant it entered her mouth. A warm, rich medicinal force rapidly spread through her meridians, forming a thin yet tough crimson protective film over her organs and the walls of her meridians.

Everything was ready.

Han Shanshan parted her red lips and inhaled gently. The icy yet holy flame transformed into a pale streak of light and entered her mouth.

The instant the Bone Spirit Cold Flame entered her body, Han Shanshan's delicate frame jolted violently.

An extremely cold aura spread from her throat all the way to her dantian. Wherever it passed, the crimson protective film formed by the Blood Spirit Pill gave off soft hissing sounds as it offset the frigid power.

Yet, unexpectedly, apart from that, neither her body nor soul experienced the slightest discomfort or rejection.

Han Shanshan suddenly realized that her soul fluctuations had always possessed a strange similarity to the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

That was also why, in the Death Domain before, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame's consciousness had been able to resonate with her soul.

Now that it had lost its consciousness and returned to its most fundamental state, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame entered her body like a traveler returning home after a long absence. It found its place almost instantly within her spiritual reservoir.

There was no struggle, no backlash, no agonizing tug-of-war.

Everything proceeded as naturally as spring rain nourishing all things, smooth and inevitable.

When the final wisp of pale flame completely sank into Han Shanshan's brow, countless scenes and memories she had never seen before suddenly appeared within her sea of consciousness.

Mixed among them was a great deal of knowledge regarding flame manipulation, along with several secret arts.

Han Shanshan slowly opened her eyes. A faint, eerie white flame flashed deep within her pupils before disappearing into their dark depths.

The refinement was complete. Somewhat surprised, she looked down at her hands. The entire process had gone so smoothly that even she found it unreal.

There had been no accident, no complication, not even the slightest danger. Just like that, she had safely refined a Heavenly Flame ranked eleventh.

If word of this got out, probably not a single alchemist would believe it.

When ordinary alchemists refined Heavenly Flames, which of them did not risk death at every step?

Yet for her, it had been as easy as eating a meal.

Lin Yu had remained by her side the entire time, spreading out his soul power to protect her.

When he saw Han Shanshan open her eyes, her aura stable and her complexion rosy, with a faint trace of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame's extreme chill emanating from her body, he immediately stepped forward, took her delicate hands in his, and asked with concern, "Senior Sister, you've finished refining it."

Feeling the warmth flowing from his palms, two rosy blushes involuntarily appeared on Han Shanshan's cheeks.

After that kiss in the ice pit, the thin barrier between them had been completely shattered. Now that Lin Yu was holding her hands, her heartbeat quickened beyond her control.

But she did not pull away. Instead, she gently clasped Lin Yu's fingers in return, raised her head, and revealed a captivating smile. "Let's go back to the Pill Tower."

Standing side by side, the two exchanged a glance and saw those same feelings reflected in each other's eyes.

Lin Yu nodded. Then two streaks of light shot into the sky from the Absolute Cold Death Domain of the Godfall Icefield, racing toward the Pill Tower.

After returning to the Pill Tower, Lin Yu and Han Shanshan did not go back to rest separately. Instead, they headed directly for Xiao Jinghou's residence.

Along the way, they were still holding hands. Han Shanshan's fingers were tightly interlocked with Lin Yu's, her palm warm and soft.

Xiao Jinghou was resting with his eyes closed in his secret chamber. Sensing their approaching auras, he waved a hand and opened the chamber's stone door.

The white-haired elder sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. With an unchanged expression, he lifted his teacup and took a sip, casually sweeping his gaze toward the entrance—then his movements froze.

The teacup stopped in midair. His eyes locked onto their tightly clasped hands, his brows suddenly rising as a sense of foreboding gathered in his heart like dark clouds.

"You two..." Xiao Jinghou set down his teacup, his voice carrying a calmness that preceded the storm.