Next, it was time to deal with Xiao Huo's problem.
"The bottom of the Fire Yang Spring leads to the Ice Yin Spring!"
"There's a strange power there, drawing me toward it."
Xiao Huo told him everything, then swept Xiao Yan along with her as they headed for the bottom.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring was one spring, but its two opposing forces kept each other in check!
The Ice Yin Spring and Fire Yang Spring were connected to begin with!
"Once we enter the Ice Yin Spring, we'll probably find out what's causing the problem," Xiao Yan guessed.
At the same time, he took out an Immortal Herb.
Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass!
The moment it appeared, even Xiao Huo, a Heavenly Flame herself, frowned.
This treasure of heaven and earth, whose properties were the very opposite of hers, made her feel deeply uncomfortable.
Her delicate nose wrinkled slightly, and even her fine, smooth skin tightened a little.
"I have no choice. If I don't eat this Immortal Herb, I can't enter the Water Yin Spring." Xiao Yan shrugged.
With that, he swallowed the immortal medicine in one mouthful.
At once, a chill radiated from Xiao Yan's entire body.
A beam of pale blue light shot into the sky.
The power of ice swept through his body, freezing even the area around him.
Xiao Huo hurriedly raised her hand.
Raging flames enveloped Xiao Yan, sealing in all the chill and preventing it from leaking out!
"Quick, break through the barrier! Now's the time!"
This was the best chance to enter the Ice Yin Spring from the Fire Yang Spring!
Boom!
Xiao Huo struck. With a wave of her hand, a streak of fire flew out like immortal flame, burning the barrier away.
A roar shook the earth beneath them.
Crack.
A fissure appeared, revealing a glimpse of blue.
Chill flowed into the Fire Yang Spring, ice and fire alternating.
"That did it. I've never been to the Ice Yin Spring, so I don't know what will happen." Xiao Huo's expression grew serious.
She had always regarded the Ice Yin Spring as a forbidden place, and this was her first time entering it.
An unknown land awaited them on the other side!
Xiao Yan patted her shoulder. "Don't be pessimistic. I'll get you out."
Xiao Huo smiled. Xiao Yan was very approachable, and he gave her plenty of confidence.
She said, "No matter what lies ahead, I've already made my choice."
"Even if I can't resolve whatever is binding me in the Ice Yin Spring, I'll still throw caution to the wind and fight with everything I have for the freedom I never dared imagine before."
The two fell, entering the fissure.
Chill and scorching fire washed over them along the way.
Xiao Huo was the master of the Fire Yang Spring to begin with. Carrying endless flames, she traveled the whole way without obstruction.
Suddenly, Xiao Huo stopped.
Xiao Yan's expression also turned grave, and he released his Martial Soul.
A trace of danger spread through the air. The stone wall ahead suddenly exploded, and a strand of divine sense shot out!
"Soul power!?"
Yao Lao cried out in alarm.
Xiao Yan hurriedly unleashed flames, trying to stop it.
But the strand of divine sense rushed toward Xiao Huo instead.
"Hmph! You think I'm easy to bully!?" Xiao Huo snorted coldly.
She parted her lips, and an arrow of fire burst forth. With a clang, it shattered the divine sense, and its remaining power even began to counterattack, sweeping forward!
Boom!
Xiao Huo was ferocious. Not only had she blocked the attack, she had also launched a counterattack.
An arrow of pure fire-attribute power shot out, hurtling toward the source of the earlier strand of divine sense.
"I don't care what kind of ox-headed demon or snake spirit you are! You've bound me for so many years, and today you owe me an explanation!"
Xiao Huo's long, fiery red hair flew around her. Her expression was cold and aloof, and she radiated the presence of a mature beauty.
Xiao Yan almost shouted, "Go, Sister Xiao Huo!" to cheer her on.
Hum!
The arrow reached the end and stopped before a stone gate.
There, mist filled the air, and chill pervaded everything.
Xiao Yan sighed. "Such a powerful ice attribute. This power is almost on par with a Heavenly Flame!"
Even Xiao Huo's flames couldn't suppress it!
"This presence feels so familiar." Xiao Huo came over as well.
Suddenly, the stone gate trembled.
An aged yet dignified voice rang out.
"You've come."
Xiao Huo raised her head and looked beyond the gate.
She frowned. "You know me?"
Silence fell beyond the stone gate.
At last, a voice full of regret came from within. "Have you given up your past? To think you became a Heavenly Flame and even took human form."
"My past!?"
"Never mind."
"Since you've already let go of your obsession, there's no need for me to keep waiting in vain."
Boom!
The stone gate began to move slowly, gradually opening!
An illusory figure appeared. It was a dragon-shaped creature!
His entire body was azure blue, and an ice lotus formed with every step he took. He looked powerful and sacred!
"What formidable power," Yao Lao said in shock.
These fluctuations of power...
They belonged to a legendary nine-star Dou Sheng expert...
One step further, and he would be a Dou Di!
Or, in other words, a God King!
(Because of your feedback, a First-Level God corresponds to a nine-star Dou Sheng!!!)
(Although Douluo characters really are as weak as floor tiles in the original, the power scaling would fall apart too easily if I didn't write it this way.)
The ice dragon had a pair of golden eyes. They now held a look of regret as he stared fixedly at Xiao Huo.
At last, he turned to Xiao Yan.
A trace of fury appeared in his eyes.
The dragon's gaze nearly made Xiao Yan explode on the spot.
"You actually made a contract with a human!? You mean to become a part of a human!?"
Xiao Huo hurriedly stepped in front of Xiao Yan. "What are you? Do I, Xiao Huo, need you telling me what to do?"
Xiao Yan's scalp tingled.
The ice dragon before him was far too powerful.
Even in soul form, a single strand of divine sense had nearly made him explode.
Yet Xiao Huo was still this bold...
In that instant, Xiao Yan was ready to fall into eternal slumber in this place together with Yao Lao and Xiao Huo.
"Terrifying. Was the one who bound Xiao Huo once a god!?"
"Even after his fall, the soul fragment he left behind is unimaginably powerful!" Yao Lao had once been extremely strong, and he was now the most shocked of all.
Unexpectedly, the ice dragon did not get angry.
He merely stared quietly at Xiao Huo.
"You really haven't changed... Your temper is just as it was."
"Since this is your choice, what can I say!?" The ice dragon gave a bitter smile, his golden eyes full of loneliness.
He said softly, "I waited for you for tens of thousands of years, but in the end, you still gave up your past and chose a new life. You even chose to follow a human!?"
"Never mind. This is your choice."
The ice dragon seemed somewhat forlorn. "I respect you, Xiao Huo."
Xiao Huo's eyes widened. "You actually know my name!?"
The ice dragon looked a little bitter. He smiled and said, "I might forget myself, but I could never forget you."
"Do you remember? Your dragon soul is still with me."
"If not for that, you would probably have left this place long ago."
He opened his great dragon maw, releasing two supremely powerful presences.
One of fire, one of ice.
Two dragon souls appeared before them.
He looked at Xiao Huo, his expression gentle. "From this day forth, let my dragon soul protect you, forever and ever."
Xiao Huo was utterly bewildered.
Still confused, she accepted the fire dragon soul, which resembled a crystal ball.
The ice dragon soul floated toward Xiao Yan.
At the same time, the dragon looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes full of authority. "From now on, you will protect Xiao Huo well!"
"If you don't, I'll settle the score with you when I'm reborn!"
Boom!
The ice dragon soul turned into a powerful force and surged into Xiao Yan's body.
At the same time.
A brilliant golden Soul Ring slowly rose and circled Xiao Yan.
A brilliant golden Soul Ring!
"You're too weak. I can only give you the ice dragon soul through sacrifice..."
"Only this way can you withstand Xiao Huo's power."
"Human, remember this!"
"Your first Soul Ring doesn't belong to you alone! This Soul Ring exists for Xiao Huo!"
Xiao Yan's eyes were tightly shut. The immense Soul Power made him almost unable to speak.
This ice dragon was ruthless!
Before Xiao Yan could even figure out what was happening, the dragon had sacrificed himself to him.
He had nearly killed Xiao Yan just moments ago!
The ice dragon gave Xiao Huo a lingering look.
For some reason, she burst into tears.
"What's wrong? Why does seeing you like this make me so sad, so miserable?" Xiao Huo wept as she stared at the ice dragon.
The Ice Dragon King smiled but said nothing.
He raised his head toward the vault above, a trace of loneliness in his eyes. "From this day forth, I, the Ice Dragon King, return my soul to heaven and earth, and go in search of my lord!"
A halo of azure light shot upward, breaking through the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and reaching the sky.
Hum!
A beam of divine power shook the world.
(This is the third extra chapter. Sorry it's late. I was mainly revising the plot, and it's also the New Year.)
(Good night, everyone!)
(Thank you all for your votes, bookmarks, and gifts!)
(The plot will be great, trust me. Tomorrow's chapters will be a blast to read.)
(End of chapter)