Chapter 90: Super Disciple 1.0 Huo Rui
"Name your new martial spirit, Dao Ba," Ye Wen suggested as he looked approvingly at Dao Ba, who had now subdued his killing intent blade.
Dao Ba thought for a moment, then admitted, "Master, I'll need your help with that. You know I don't have much education."
Ye Wen sighed inwardly. As much as he detested his own knack for naming, he couldn't afford to break character. After some thought, he replied, "This blade has the power to unsettle the mind, tempting you towards madness. You must remain vigilant and true to your path, resisting its influence. Let's call it the 'Heavenly Demon Heart Swaying Blade.'"
Dao Ba repeated the name with a smirk. "The Heavenly Demon Heart Swaying Blade… So this blade wants to disturb my mind, does it? Interesting. Let's see who ends up controlling whom."
Pleased with his new weapon's name, Dao Ba muttered it a few more times, then expressed his gratitude to Ye Wen. Ye Wen, however, advised caution. While Dao Ba's Heavenly Demon Heart Swaying Blade wasn't as refined as Ah Yin's domain, it was still one of the most powerful martial spirits on the continent.
Ye Wen warned him, "Dao Ba, unless absolutely necessary, refrain from using your Killing Domain to interfere with others. It could attract unwanted attention from powerful adversaries."
Dao Ba nodded, well aware of the dubious morals of many powerful factions. Several groups had once tried to recruit him, only to discard him once they discovered his physical limitations. Now, in the depths of the third underground chamber, Huo Quan anxiously awaited news of his sister's progress.
The underground pool was now glowing with a golden light, an unprecedented sight that took Huo Quan by surprise. It could only mean one thing: his sister had successfully achieved the fabled second awakening of her martial spirit.
"Madam, did my sister succeed?" Huo Quan asked eagerly.
Ah Yin watched the glow in awe. A golden aura like this had never before been documented among spirit masters, nor had a martial spirit awakened to such an extent. Ye Wen had previously speculated about a "golden" rank, above the established iron, bronze, and silver levels of awakening, but until now, it had remained a mere theory.
"She succeeded," Ah Yin confirmed, her voice filled with delight. "And she's reached a level of awakening never seen before: the golden level. Her strength is now more than doubled, possibly even tripled."
Without delay, Ah Yin pulled Huo Rui from the pool. Though her face was pale and her lips slightly blue from lack of oxygen, Huo Rui's eyes held a determined light. Her body radiated a powerful force as she gasped for air, experiencing the aftereffects of an intense near death state.
Ye Wen had anticipated these side effects, and Ah Yin quickly handed her a jade bottle.
"Huo Rui, drink this. A second awakening for a physical martial spirit consumes an enormous amount of energy, and you could be drained to the point of death if you don't replenish it."
Though she'd just been plunged into a near death experience, Huo Rui's trust in Ah Yin led her to drink without question. A warm energy spread through her body, gradually dispelling her chills and the hollow feeling of hunger and fatigue.
"Quickly start refining that energy," Ah Yin urged. "This is a special essence your master acquired just for you. Absorbing it will further strengthen your body."
Though exhausted, Huo Rui did as she was told, determined not to waste even a drop of the precious elixir. Immediately, the scattered energy within her began to gather and circulate, bringing color and vitality back to her features. As her high ponytail grew longer, her entire aura shifted, exuding a striking sense of resilience and righteousness.
Seeing these changes, Huo Quan swallowed in amazement and asked Ah Yin, "Madam, what kind of immortal herb essence is this? The effects are incredible!"
"It's the essence of the Pristine Chrysanthemum," Ah Yin explained. "According to Ye Wen, it can enhance the four limbs and eight meridians, and even strengthen the body to a near indestructible level."
As she finished speaking, a pulsating golden heart appeared behind Huo Rui, glowing like it was made of pure gold. This unusual phenomenon only reinforced Huo Quan's suspicions that his sister had indeed reached the golden level of awakening.
Huo Quan asked nervously, "Madam, is this golden level really that much stronger than silver?"
"Absolutely," Ah Yin assured him. "There were few records of this, so Ye Wen wasn't certain of its existence. But now your sister's breakthrough has proven it. And considering that you, too, have a top tier physical martial spirit, it's very possible you could achieve the golden level as well, if you work hard, Huo Quan."
As Ah Yin's warm smile belied her somewhat ominous encouragement, Huo Quan couldn't help but laugh nervously. The idea of enduring the same life and death trial as his sister left him feeling slightly daunted, but he knew he couldn't back down.
An hour later, Huo Rui opened her eyes, which now gleamed with a golden light.
"How are you feeling?" Ah Yin asked.
With a satisfied smile, Huo Rui responded, "Better than ever, Madam. I feel twice as powerful as before, at least."
"In that case, drink this next bottle. It contains the essence of the Jade Water Narcissus, which will further reinforce your meridians, making your cultivation as fast as those born with innate full spirit power. The Pristine Chrysanthemum focused on enhancing your physical body, while this will strengthen your inner energy channels."
Ah Yin handed her another bottle, and Huo Rui began the next stage of her advancement, eagerly determined to unlock her potential.
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