Fire Phoenix Woman watched Lin Yi's unhurried demeanor, and her curiosity about him deepened.
"I was rather offensive earlier. I hope you can forgive me." Fire Phoenix Woman gave a slight nod, her tone much gentler. "Your attainments in formations are so profound, and you understand the War Palace's inheritance as well. You are bound to accomplish something in the Heavenly Palace in the future. Once this secret realm expedition ends, I will recommend you to Uncle Dongyan of the Formation Palace..."
Just as Fire Phoenix Woman was speaking, an extremely cold yet scorching fluctuation suddenly came from behind them.
Everyone instinctively looked over and saw that the Ice Flame Emperor Fruit atop the small hill had completely ripened.
The red-and-white radiance around the fruit surged, transforming into a pillar of light that shot into the sky and pierced the clouds.
The patterns on the Emperor Fruit's surface stopped flowing. In their place, dense ice-fire spiritual energy continuously dripped down like liquid. The instant it struck the ground, it condensed into ice crystals, then instantly evaporated into flames. The sight was extraordinarily strange.
"The Emperor Fruit has ripened!" a Heavenly Palace Disciple cried, his eyes burning with excitement.
"Pick the fruit. Prepare to leave this place..."
One day later, more than ten streaks of fleeing light sped across the skies at the edge of the swamp.
At the front was Fire Phoenix Woman. Faint fiery light coiled around her as she vigilantly surveyed their surroundings. At her side, Lin Yi wore a green robe and walked with calm ease, maintaining neither too near nor too distant a gap from the Heavenly Palace Disciples.
After a day together, thanks to Lin Yi's deliberate efforts, he had already gained the initial trust of Fire Phoenix Woman and the others.
They had