Hey? Are you blushing?

Jin Jiuxiao smiled as he watched Zi JI's movements.

Xiong Jun asked curiously, "Little Jiuxiao, what exactly is beneath this spring? What could make Zi JI care so much...?"

The question Xiong Jun asked was also the one on Bi Ji's mind.

Neither of them had sensed anything like a summons.

Jin Jiuxiao turned his gaze toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. "The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was born from fallen Dragon Kings."

"Their bodies never decayed, and their dragon souls never dispersed. The supreme ice and fire essences spilling from them combined with the underground waterways to create this natural wonder."

"Big Sister Zi JI is a pure-blooded true dragon. The summons she sensed should be a resonance in her bloodline."

Bi Ji's and Xiong Jun's eyes widened. "Dragon Kings?!"

"Are they... the Dragon Kings we're thinking of?"

Jin Jiuxiao nodded gently. "Yes. The divine remains and dragon souls of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King lie deep within the spring."

"When Big Sister Zi JI emerges from seclusion, her cultivation will probably advance by leaps and bounds."

Zi JI had already signed a contract with him. If she really could earn the Ice Dragon King's and Fire Dragon King's recognition and receive the legacy they had left behind...

Her cultivation would probably shoot straight up by hundreds of thousands of years.

Xiong Jun sucked in a cold breath. "She won't come out stronger than me, will she???"

"I don't know." Jin Jiuxiao shrugged. "But there's a good chance."

A sense of urgency surged through Xiong Jun. "Bi Ji, Little Jiuxiao."

"Once Zi JI comes out, find me a suitable immortal herb to eat too, will you?"

"Don't worry, Uncle Xiong. Everyone will get one."

Bi Ji chimed in, "Don't worry. We won't leave out your share."

"All right, you two get some rest. I'll guard the entrance." After receiving their assurances, Xiong Jun went to stand watch of his own accord.

Jin Jiuxiao had yet to grow up, and Bi Ji was a support type.

He couldn't very well rest himself and make those two stand guard, could he?

It was safer for him to do it.

After Xiong Jun walked off, Bi Ji and Jin Jiuxiao found a comfortable patch of grass and sat down.

"Jiuxiao, aren't you going to absorb an immortal herb now?"

"It's fine. There's no rush." Jin Jiuxiao wasn't in a hurry. "The person who set up that poisonous miasma should have sensed what's happening here by now. He's probably on his way."

He was planning to make contact with Dugu Bo first.

If he could bring him into the fold, all the better.

Whether it would work or not, he had to try to find out, didn't he?

With Xiong Jun's temper, Dugu Bo was certain to get a beating.

He was afraid Xiong Jun would beat Dugu Bo to death.

If he lost even the chance to try, what talk could there be of success or failure?

Bi Ji immediately guessed what Jin Jiuxiao wanted to do. "Jiuxiao, do you want to try winning humans over?"

"To be precise, I don't want to win them over. I want to bring them under my command."

"Relying on the Soul Beast Clan alone, achieving peace and breaking the rules would be almost impossible."

What Jin Jiuxiao could be certain of was that he would definitely evolve into the Thunder God Rey form.

As for anything beyond that... he would have to wait until he evolved into Thunder God Rey to know whether there was a chance.

If he calculated things solely based on Thunder God Rey's strength...

Relying on the Soul Beast Clan alone meant that he and the Silver Dragon King would effectively be the only two capable fighters.

Di Tian counted as half of one.

That still wasn't safe enough.

He didn't like gambling.

Fifty percent was a gamble, seventy percent was a gamble, and ninety-nine percent was still a gamble.

Only one hundred percent was a guaranteed win.

Making a few extra preparations certainly couldn't hurt.

"That's very difficult, Jiuxiao." Bi Ji sighed softly. "It's not as though I haven't tried."

"Yes, I know, Big Sister Bi Ji."

Jin Jiuxiao knew it would be difficult.

Even humans struggled to bare their hearts to one another.

How much more so for humans and soul beasts?

"It's just... you're too kind. Sometimes, persuasion and intimidation alone won't work."

Jin Jiuxiao had heard Bi Ji mention a few things in passing before.

Bi Ji smiled gently. "Then try it your way. We'll support you."

Whether he could succeed would depend on how Jin Jiuxiao handled the person who had set up the poisonous miasma.

They would see the answer then.

She honestly didn't hold out much hope.

But if Jin Jiuxiao wanted to try, then he could give it a try.

"Speaking of which... you've been back for almost three months now. As for the academy..." Bi Ji didn't pursue the topic any further, deliberately steering their conversation toward something lighter.

"The academy?"

"Oh!" Jin Jiuxiao paused before catching on. "I guess this vacation has been a little long, huh?"

"But it doesn't really matter."

He had actually only requested one month's leave.

Yet almost three months had passed, and there was still no sign of him.

The old headmaster was probably starting to worry.

"Once things here are settled, I'm planning to return to the Human World." Jin Jiuxiao lay back, pillowing his head on his hands.

To be precise, he would return to the Human World after Zi JI emerged from seclusion.

He certainly wouldn't be expelled.

There would be learned scholars to argue his case.

Bi Ji leaned closer. "Once things here are settled, I want to go with you too."

The ends of her hair fell naturally, swaying slightly with her breathing.

Looking at Bi Ji's breathtaking face, Jin Jiuxiao certainly wasn't going to refuse. "Of course."

"Or rather, I couldn't ask for anything better."

"I like you too, Big Sister Bi Ji."

"Mm... ah? Huh?!" Bi Ji forced herself to look composed, but her crimson earlobes betrayed her feelings.

She reached out and pinched Jin Jiuxiao's cheek. "Why aren't you changing the subject and going off to spar with Xiong Jun this time?"

"Don't you agree, Big Sister Bi Ji?" Jin Jiuxiao took hold of the wrist of the hand pinching his cheek.

Bi Ji pulled her hand back and turned her head away. "What... have you done with Zi JI...?"

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "I want that too..."

"Big Sister Bi Ji, are you blushing?" As though he had discovered a new continent, Jin Jiuxiao sat up and moved close beside her, his tone teasing.

Bi Ji had never shown such a bashful expression before.

"I am not!" Bi Ji whipped her head around, meeting him at just the right angle.

"Mwah~"

"!" Bi Ji's eyes widened. It wasn't just her earlobes now; a blush had spread across her cheeks too.

"What we've done is pretty much just this~"

Jin Jiuxiao hadn't expected Bi Ji to turn her head so suddenly either.

"Do you agree now, Big Sister Bi Ji?"

Bi Ji looked as though she wanted to say something but hesitated. "That's... all?"

Jin Jiuxiao leaned close to Bi Ji's ear and whispered softly.

At his words, Bi Ji's face flushed crimson. "That... isn't possible yet."

"But..."

Bi Ji pulled Jin Jiuxiao into her arms, pressing her cheek against his. "This is fine."

Mm... a perfectly normal hug.

No need for electricity with this one...

I really don't know where Zi JI learned all that bizarre stuff.

Before long, an angry shout drew closer from the distance.

"Who dares trespass in my medicinal garden?!"

"Get out here!"

Jin Jiuxiao looked up and exchanged a glance with Bi Ji, and they both rose.

"Looks like the owner's here."

The two walked toward the entrance together.