Lin Shisan took a deep breath and brought out the Fire Spirit Pearl.
The fist-sized pearl pulsed faintly in his palm, giving off scorching heat.
Inside the pearl, he could vaguely make out a miniature phoenix curled up in slumber.
Little Nine seemed to sense something.
Waking from its sleep, it suddenly opened its eyes and stared unblinkingly at the Fire Spirit Pearl.
A trace of bewilderment flashed through its eyes, then turned to confusion, and finally to understanding.
"That's... that's my..."
Little Nine's voice trembled with disbelief.
"That's my body... my memories... my everything..."
Before Lin Shisan could speak, it shot off his shoulder with a whoosh and flew toward the Fire Spirit Pearl.
Its tiny body trembled in the light, its transparent little wings scattering flecks of radiance as it reached out to touch the surface of the Fire Spirit Pearl gently.
"Hum..."
The Fire Spirit Pearl actually let out a soft hum.
The flames on its surface suddenly flared, and at that same moment, Little Nine's body lit up completely.
Crimson light shone out from within it, making it look like a miniature sun, its countless rays almost too brilliant to look at.
The two lights illuminated and answered each other, as though recounting a thousand years of separation and longing.
"Come back... come back to me..."
Little Nine murmured to itself.
Determination flashed through its eyes. It opened its little mouth and bit down on the Fire Spirit Pearl.
The Fire Spirit Pearl was bigger than its head, yet it swallowed it in a single gulp.
Then its body began to tremble violently.
Crimson light erupted from within it, turning the entire cavern into a sea of fire, the scorching heat making the rocks sizzle.
"Ah..."
Little Nine let out a pained groan.
Its body twisted