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The lingering glow of the setting sun filtered through the window lattice, bathing the quiet room in a warm golden hue. Feng Xiao slowly opened his eyes, a fleeting shimmer of light seeming to pass through their depths. After a full day of cultivation, his aura had undergone a subtle change—the otherworldly, immortal-like quality he once possessed had become more restrained, replaced by a refined nobility, much like the aged patina on an ancient zither, not ostentatious but revealing a deeper foundation.
With a slight shift of his thoughts, the Fuxi Zither quietly appeared. Bathed in the sunset, the originally elegant body of the zither now clearly showed dark golden natural wood grain, and the jade inlays at the tuning pegs emitted a warm luster. Feng Xiao's slender fingers gently brushed the strings, and even without force, the strings vibrated on their own, producing visible golden sound waves. The sound waves lingered in the air, like ripples on water, refracting the light and shadows of the sunset into a dreamlike radiance.
"spirit power consumption has decreased by 30%, but the power has increased by nearly half." Feng Xiao carefully savored the changes in his Spirit, a hint of pleasant surprise flashing in his eyes. The enhancement to his Spirit's essence from the Qiluo Tulip was far greater than he had anticipated.
"As expected of an Immortal Herb that can evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
His left hand gently lifted, and the Innate Eight Trigrams Plate emerged in response. The originally pure white jade body now exuded a faint gilded luster, as if it had been steeped in the sunset. The trigram runes on the eight directions of the plate shimmered with a brighter light than usual; the qian trigram's white light was pure and upright, the kun trigram's dark light was deep and heavy, and the li trigram's red light was fiery. The eight lights intertwined, flowing ceaselessly across the plate's surface.
As dusk deepened, Feng Xiao stood by the window, gazing at the last wisp of sunset in the sky, a gentle curve unconsciously forming on his lips. That noble figure appeared in his mind, and he softly murmured, "It's time. I should go give her a surprise."
After dinner, Feng Xiao strolled to the Ni Tai Training Field deep within the Royal Academy. Pushing open the heavy oak door, the familiar golden figure sat as usual in the center of the training field, surrounded by a sacred radiance. This sight filled his heart with an inexplicable sense of peace.
"Why did you leave the competition midway today?" Qian Renxue slowly opened her beautiful eyes, her voice flowing like a clear spring.
A hint of slyness flashed in Feng Xiao's eyes, and he feigned surprise, saying, "Your Highness is actually so concerned about my whereabouts?"
Qian Renxue's gaze turned cold, and her aura suddenly became sharp. But soon, she keenly noticed the subtle changes in Feng Xiao—the restrained spirit power fluctuations, the subtle aura emanating from him. In just half a day, his cultivation had advanced so much?
"What did you do this afternoon?" Her voice unconsciously carried a hint of urgency, her slender jade fingers tightening slightly. She suddenly recalled Feng Xiao's playful remark that day about surpassing her, and an inexplicable sense of crisis welled up in her heart.
Feng Xiao smiled calmly, saying, "I've seen enough of the tactics I needed to see. Now, of course, I need to focus on preparing for battle. After all," he paused meaningfully, "the challenge Your Highness gave me is not small; Spirit Hall has three Spirit Kings."
"Leaping several ranks from level forty-five in half a day?" Qian Renxue snorted lightly, her golden eyes full of disbelief. "I've never heard of such a consolidation method."
During this time, Feng Xiao and Qian Renxue had mostly cultivated at the same time, so Qian Renxue was naturally very clear about Feng Xiao's progress.
Just as the atmosphere grew slightly tense, Feng Xiao took out a box carved from red jade from his spirit tool. The moment the lid opened, a scorching aura rushed out, and an Immortal Herb shaped like a phoenix's crown lay quietly within, radiating a sun-like brilliance. "A good find from Senior Dugu's herb garden. This is for you."
"Your Highness?" Seeing Qian Renxue lost in thought, Feng Xiao called out softly.
Qian Renxue awoke as if from a dream, her long eyelashes trembling as they lowered, concealing the complex emotions that flashed in her eyes. She took the warm jade box, her fingertips accidentally touching Feng Xiao's palm, and she quickly withdrew them as if shocked.
"This item is called the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower," Feng Xiao explained gently, "It is a pure yang Immortal Herb, which can help increase spirit power and the power of flames."
"How did you know I..." Qian Renxue's words stopped halfway, remembering that during their cultivation these days, the wonderful fusion she felt had already exposed the other party's attribute. Looking up to meet Feng Xiao's smiling eyes, a blush suddenly spread across her snow-white cheeks.
Between embarrassment and annoyance, their gazes met, and Qian Renxue's mind involuntarily conjured the images of those two vibrant young figures. She lightly stroked the edge of the jade box, asking casually, "Such a precious Immortal Herb, and Dugu Bo just let you take it?"
Feng Xiao chuckled at her words, a hint of thoughtfulness flashing in his eyes: "Senior Dugu's poison skills are unparalleled, but because of them, he has no affinity with these Immortal Herbs." He lightly tapped the table with his fingertip, "These spiritual treasures of heaven and earth are, in a sense, similar to spirit rings and Spirit Bones; they emphasize compatibility of attributes. With his Titled Douluo-level virulent poison, if he were to consume it rashly, no one could predict what would happen."
At this point, Feng Xiao's expression gradually became serious. He clearly knew that the toxins in Dugu Bo's body had long since merged with his bloodline, otherwise, it wouldn't have been inherited by Dugu Yan. If the medicinal power of an Immortal Herb stimulated a mutation in the toxins, at best his cultivation would be destroyed, and at worst he would die from the poison on the spot. Because of this, even though he knew the miraculous effects of the Immortal Herbs from his memories, he had never rashly recommended them to Dugu Bo.
Although Tang San's method was a temporary solution rather than a permanent cure, for Senior Dugu at his age, it was perfectly sufficient to live out his remaining years. On matters of life and death, Feng Xiao would never gamble with uncertain opportunities.
Regarding Dugu Yan, Feng Xiao was even more cautious. If there were no issues with Dugu Yan, he would generously share the Immortal Herbs with her. In his heart, rather than risking Dugu Yan taking an Immortal Herb, it would be more stable to find her a few Spirit Bones with compatible attributes in the future.
Feng Xiao knew very well that the seemingly amiable Dugu Bo he saw now would immediately transform into the terrifying Poison Douluo once his granddaughter's safety was involved. If Dugu Yan were to suffer any mishap due to his suggestion, even the entire Heaven Dou City might not be able to withstand the Titled Douluo's monstrous rage.
Unless Dugu Bo personally requested it, he would never actively suggest that Dugu Yan try these Immortal Herbs. This was not cowardice, but a proper reverence for life. After all, on the path of Spirit Master cultivation, sometimes restraint requires more wisdom and courage than rash advancement.
Qian Renxue nodded lightly, a hint of understanding flashing in her beautiful eyes. Since even Dugu Bo had not obtained an Immortal Herb from Feng Xiao, then—
"What's wrong?" Feng Xiao's gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.
Qian Renxue's long eyelashes trembled, concealing the unusual emotions in her eyes: "Nothing." Her jade finger lightly stroked the box's surface, "How should this Immortal Herb be taken?"
Feng Xiao leaned forward, his voice unconsciously softening: "Remember not to chew it; just swallow it directly. Afterwards, you must fully circulate your spirit power to guide the medicinal effects—" His tone suddenly became serious, "No matter how painful the process, you must remain conscious, otherwise all efforts will be in vain."
Seeing Qian Renxue about to open the jade box, Feng Xiao suddenly remembered something and quickly raised his hand to stop her. Under Qian Renxue's puzzled gaze, he approached a few steps, looking slightly awkward. A delicate, ethereal fragrance lingered at his nose, making his ears feel slightly warm.
"Your Highness." Feng Xiao lowered his voice, almost whispering into her ear, "When the medicinal effect takes hold, your flame power within your body will... that, your clothes might..." His voice grew softer and softer, the last few words almost inaudible.
Qian Renxue was startled at first, then her jade-like face instantly flushed crimson, and even the earlobes hidden beneath her golden hair turned slightly red. She glared at Feng Xiao in annoyance, but saw that he had already tactfully turned around and calmly walked out of the training field, not forgetting to carefully close the door behind him.
Watching the receding white figure, Qian Renxue's heartstrings felt as if they had been gently plucked. She raised her hand to lightly touch her chest, feeling an unusual throb there.
As a young woman in the prime of her youth, Qian Renxue had naturally fantasized about her future. In those unknown late nights, she had also gazed at the starry sky, imagining what kind of person would enter her destined extraordinary life.
She believed he should at least be able to defeat her, but fate had arranged the most unexpected answer for her—a young man playing the zither, who thus intruded into her carefully disguised life. He unintentionally saw through her disguise but chose to protect her secret.
Qian Renxue lowered her head, looking at the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower in her hand. The golden light flowing from the Immortal Herb reflected her complex gaze. She suddenly realized that, unknowingly, the young man who always carried a faint smile had already occupied a special place in her heart.
"This is... absurd." She murmured softly, yet couldn't hide the subtle curve at the corner of her lips. Her slender hand gently lifted, and the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower slowly entered her mouth. In the last moment before the medicinal power took effect, what appeared in her mind were Feng Xiao's eyes, filled with a gentle smile.
"Ugh..."
The moment the Immortal Herb entered her throat, Qian Renxue trembled all over. A scorching torrent flowed directly from her throat to her dantian, and an abnormal flush instantly appeared on her snow-white skin. The Seraphim Spirit behind her manifested uncontrollably, its three pairs of pure white wings trembling violently in the scorching airflow.
Qian Renxue's golden hair moved without wind. Her luxurious palace dress had already turned to ashes in the high temperature.
"Ah—"
A painful whimper escaped her lips. Qian Renxue felt every inch of her meridians being seared by the intense flames, but what startled her even more was that the long-dormant angel bloodline within her began to boil. A wisp of crimson-gold flame energy gradually merged into the originally pure sacred power.
Feng Xiao leaned against the stone door, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the Fuxi Zither strings. Every spiritual power fluctuation from within the barrier tugged at his heart.
Suddenly, he felt a burning sting spread from his chest. At the same time, Qian Renxue's suppressed groans of pain came from inside the room. The sound seemed to be deliberately restrained, yet the heartbreaking agony within it could still be heard.
"Can it even share the pain of absorbing an Immortal Herb?" Feng Xiao smiled bitterly, pressing his hand to his chest.
The temperature inside the training field continued to rise, even the door he leaned against began to feel hot. Fine beads of sweat seeped from Feng Xiao's forehead, yet he remained steadfastly by the door.
After three long hours of waiting, the sky finally began to lighten with the first hint of dawn. When the first ray of morning light pierced through the thin mist, the surging, scorching aura within the training field gradually settled into calm.
Feng Xiao raised his hand and gently knocked on the door, his voice tinged with fatigue and concern: "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Qian Renxue's reply came from within the door; her usual cool voice now sounded like melting ice and snow, with a touch more warmth: "Come in."
The moment he pushed the door open, Feng Xiao's breath hitched—the morning light streamed through the glazed windows, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Qian Renxue stood silently in the center of the halo, like a phoenix reborn from fire. Her already captivating beauty was now even more breathtakingly radiant, with a faint crimson-gold flame divine pattern flickering between her brows, complementing the unfurled Seraphim Spirit behind her. The edges of the three pairs of gilded wings flowed with sun-like patterns, and each feather radiated a sacred and blazing light.
"It seems..." Feng Xiao's eyes reflected this dazzling scene, a gentle curve unconsciously forming on his lips, "The effect is even better than expected."
Qian Renxue lowered her gaze to her palm, where a cluster of crimson-gold flames danced between her slender white fingers, obedient as if an extension of her arm. She looked up at Feng Xiao, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, and her red lips parted: "Thank you." The two words were light as a feather, yet they landed heavily on Feng Xiao's heart.
Before Feng Xiao could recover from this rare moment of tenderness, a golden flash, and Qian Renxue's figure had vanished. Only the faint lingering fragrance in the air and the slightly haughty "Continue tonight" in his ear proved that everything just now was not an illusion.
Feng Xiao looked at the empty training field, the smile on his lips gradually widening. Feeling the stickiness on his body, Feng Xiao also headed towards his dormitory.
A few days later, the preliminary rounds finally concluded. Compared to previous years, the top five academies saw little change—aside from Shrek, the dark horse, the Four Element Academies still occupied the advancement slots. However, upon closer inspection, the situation was vastly different from the original story.
Since Tang San's serious injury and absence, the Shrek team, lacking its core control system, struggled. On the field, Dai Mubai, though courageous and unmatched, could not hide the team's chaotic coordination; Xiao Wu's Teleportation, though agile, could not compensate for the tactical void. Even when Tang San returned later with his injuries, his Blue Silver Grass control seemed powerless against the blazing flames of Blazing Academy, the hurricanes of Shenfeng Academy, and the frost of Tian Shui Academy. The plant-type Spirit retreated steadily in extreme elemental environments, and those intricate crowd-control tactics were often shattered by violent elemental turbulence at the very beginning of their execution.
This outcome was quite different from the original story's trajectory in Feng Xiao's memory. Lacking the Spirit evolution brought by the Immortal Herbs, Shrek ultimately failed to create the miracle of the original story when faced with the suppression of extreme elements. However, Feng Xiao knew that with Tang San's personality, this setback would only make him more frantically seek methods for breakthrough.
For Shrek, advancing was already a success in this situation. The upcoming promotion matches were clearly more favorable to Shrek, as whether it was Tang San, Dai Mubai, or Yu Tianheng, they would definitely have a huge advantage in one-on-one situations.