Wish Fulfilled

"Then... you have to take your training seriously. Don't let the elders' kindness go to waste. And don't go flirting with other girls, or I'll be really sad."

Han Yue wasn't surprised. Given her boyfriend's talent, he deserved an exception like this.

The only thing she needed to worry about was the shameless girls in the Inner Academy.

She knew she wasn't the type to make the first move. If Wu Bai met a senior who actively pursued him in the Inner Academy...

Wu Bai saw Han Yue put her hand on her belt and hurriedly caught it.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"I want to give myself to you. Then you won't leave me."

"You dummy!"

Wu Bai gave Han Yue's cheek a firm pinch. It felt so soft and springy that he couldn't bring himself to squeeze too hard.

"Dummy, we're still young. It's too soon for that."

"If you say that, Xiao Bai, then I know you won't leave me."

Han Yue wrapped her arms around Wu Bai. A faint fragrance rose from her soft body, pleasant to breathe in.

People who could speak so badly of themselves usually weren't bad people.

Han Yue's father had told her that.

Even if someone like that was bad, if you treated him with sincerity, he wouldn't hurt you. He would only be bad to others.

"I won't leave you. Does that mean you're mine now?"

Wu Bai lifted his head. This felt wonderful...

"Mhm! From now on, I belong to you alone, Xiao Bai."

Han Yue's voice was soft, but her vow rang firm beside Wu Bai's ear.

"In that case, I'll just..."

A moment later, a pair of long, slender, pale legs rested across Wu Bai's lap.

As his warm hands stroked her legs, Han Yue felt her cheeks growing hotter and hotter.

In truth, Wu Bai had wanted to touch Han Yue's long legs for ages.

She was tall and slender. Though her figure had lovely curves from the side, it wasn't especially voluptuous.

Apart from her silver hair, it was those long legs that drew Wu Bai's gaze most.

They felt cool, impossibly smooth, and wonderfully pleasant to the touch!

Watching Wu Bai's expression, Han Yue grew curious despite her embarrassment. Did her legs really feel that good?

An hour later, Wu Bai reluctantly let go of Han Yue's legs.

Han Yue was eager to go back and bathe, but Wu Bai caught her by the arm.

"I nearly forgot. This is for you."

A small jade bottle landed in Han Yue's hand.

She opened it, and a green pill marked with three distinct patterns rolled out.

"What's this?"

"A Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill. I don't know if you've heard what it can do."

"Of course I have. A Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill can help a Dou Shi break through to Da Dou Shi, and it can raise a Da Dou Shi's cultivation by three stars in one go. Even if it fails, there are no side effects."

Han Yue nodded eagerly. She had heard of this famous pill long ago.

But making it required switching between three different flames, so it was among the hardest Fourth-Rank Pills to refine.

"Good. Once you reach the peak of Nine-Star Dou Shi, take this Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill. That will make the most of its effects and reduce the risks of taking it while you're still in the Dou Shi Realm."

Wu Bai raised both hands and cupped Han Yue's face. She was so cool and distant with others, yet she always smiled gently at him.

"Of the three flames I used, two are fairly mild, but one burns fiercely. Keep that in mind. And when you break through, don't suppress the effects too forcefully because you're worried your Dou Qi will become unstable. That would do more harm than good. Excess medicinal power settling in your body would place a heavy burden on it."

Wu Bai's careful instructions made Han Yue melt against him, pressing close and leaning on someone she could trust.

Her heart seemed to turn into a clear spring, with Wu Bai's reflection filling every part of it.

But time would not stop for the two lovers.

Several days later, Han Yue kissed Wu Bai goodbye and watched him disappear into the distance.

Under the protection of four Peak Dou Emperors, the group passed safely through the vast forest teeming with magical beasts.

They crossed a spatial barrier created by a Dou Zong, passed through an ancient stone gate, and Wu Bai followed the new students into the Inner Academy without trouble.

Wu Bai was still wondering about the competition that was supposed to come next when Elder Huo took him by the arm and flew him straight into the Inner Academy.

A dense cluster of buildings lay inside an enormous crater.

Elder Huo descended with Wu Bai into the courtyard of a quiet, secluded villa. "This will be your residence from now on."

Then Wu Bai followed him out and toured the Inner Academy, committing its more important areas to memory.

At last, Elder Huo brought Wu Bai to the black tower buried underground.

"This is the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, the most important place in the Inner Academy. Before you follow me inside, stay alert. A Heart Flame Projection may appear within you. If it does, pass your Dou Qi through it."

"Yes, sir. I'll remember."

A flicker of puzzlement crossed Wu Bai's face before he followed Elder Huo inside.

Having been warned, Wu Bai was naturally on guard.

Elder Huo nodded to himself. This boy really was easy to look after.

Following Elder Huo down through the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, Wu Bai looked around curiously and counted the floors in his head.

"...Seven... eight... nine."

At the ninth floor, Elder Huo stopped descending and led Wu Bai into a spacious training room.

"Sit there and try cultivating."

Elder Huo pointed to the center of the room.

Without another word, Wu Bai sat where he was told.

The next moment, a mass of invisible flame appeared inside him. Wu Bai had long been prepared for it.

As his Dou Qi passed through the invisible flame again and again, it grew denser while the flame grew fainter.

Only when the invisible flame vanished completely did Wu Bai open his eyes, full of delight.

"Elder Huo, this—"

"Don't get excited yet. You haven't properly begun. See that slot?"

Wu Bai lowered his head and spotted the slot in front of him.

When he looked up, a purple crystal card came into view.

Two red digits were displayed on it: ten thousand.

Wu Bai blinked and accepted the purple crystal card.

"Thank you, sir—"

"Hold off on thanking me. First, I need to tell you a few things to watch out for when cultivating in the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower."

Elder Huo's expression turned solemn. When he saw Wu Bai listening intently, approval flashed in his eyes.

"The Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower was built above a pool of magma, so the fire-attribute energy here is extremely concentrated..."