Quinlan stood at the edge of the raft, the molten river below them bubbling with heat. Tourists stepped off from other rafts cautiously, one foot at a time, clinging to ropes and walkways. He didn't bother.
Instead, he turned to Feng Jiai, who blinked in surprise as he bent down and—without asking—scooped her into his arms, bridal-style.
"H-Hey!" she squeaked, face rapidly flushing. "W-What are you doing?!"
"Saving time," he said, grinning.
And then he jumped, leaping high up into the air. His body had changed since his Core Formation.
Where before, his movement relied on muscle and control, now it was guided by the wind of his own inner power.
His core, a silver inferno within him, cycled qi continuously, refining it and feeding it into his body in a steady stream.
Every breath pulled in elemental energy, every motion was now enhanced. He had become something more than a human, his body freed of old impurities, his channels clear, his energy efficient.
