As they made their way toward the High Heaven Pavilion, the air between them was thick with silence. Nie Yong, hands tucked behind his head, walked at a steady pace, his body still sore but manageable. He Yue, arms crossed and still fuming from her father's antics, trailed slightly behind him, her face twisted in frustration.
Neither of them spoke for a while. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
Then, out of nowhere, Nie Yong broke the silence.
"He Yue, what do you think of joining the High Heaven Pavilion?"
"Eh?" He Yue immediately exclaimed in disbelief, turning to him as if he'd just suggested she grow wings and fly. "How can a talentless and fragile girl like me possibly enter the High Heaven Pavilion?"
Nie Yong glanced at her, then smiled. "Being weak isn't important. One can always get stronger. The only thing that matters is determination and guts."
He paused for a moment before smirking. "And from how you were trying to kill that scarred man, I think you have more than enough to join the High Heaven Pavilion."
He Yue froze. She hadn't expected him to bring that up.
"I-I wasn't..." she muttered, looking away. Her grip on her sleeves tightened. "That was just... I was just desperate..."
Nie Yong shook his head. "Desperate or not, you still did it. Most people would freeze up in that kind of situation, but you didn't. You acted. You saved me."
She bit her lip. A complicated look crossed her face.
Nie Yong continued walking. "If you really think you're weak, then just get stronger. The sect will make you stronger. If you join, you'll have a real path to cultivation."
He Yue stared at him, her mind racing.
Could she really…?
She had always been told she was too weak. That she wasn't fit for cultivation. That she'd never reach anything beyond an ordinary life. But Nie Yong was telling her something completely different.
"...Do you really think I can?" she asked softly, almost afraid of the answer.
Nie Yong didn't hesitate. "Yeah. I do."
She looked down, her fists clenching.
For the first time, someone had told her she could.
He Yue parted her lips, about to say something—
But before the words could leave her mouth, her foot suddenly caught on a stray rock.
"Ah—!"
She stumbled forward, her arms flailing as she lost her balance.
Nie Yong barely had time to react before—
Thud!
She crashed straight into him, sending both of them tumbling to the ground.
When the dust settled, He Yue found herself on top of him, her face inches away from his. Her hands were pressed against his chest, and her legs… her legs were awkwardly positioned in a way that made her entire body heat up in embarrassment.
Her face turned crimson in an instant.
"I-I—!" She tried to push herself up but was too flustered to move properly.
But while she was busy panicking over their position, Nie Yong wasn't. His focus was completely elsewhere.
A familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Would you like to copy He Yue's abilities?]
Nie Yong's eyes widened slightly.
Copy? What kind of abilities can He Yue have?
Nie Yong didn't hesitate to find out. "Yes!"
[Ding!]
[Copying...]
[The host has acquired the Special Physique: Fire Elemental Body!]
[The host's charm has been enhanced to average!]
[The host has acquired Martial Talent (Heavenly)!]
[The host has acquired Fire Talent (Heavenly)!]
[Two identical talents have been detected.]
[Merging...]
[Merge successful!]
[You have acquired Martial Talent (Saint)!]
Nie Yong's breath hitched. His eyes widened in shock.
What... His gaze instinctively snapped toward He Yue, who was still frozen above him, her face burning red.
This girl... she's basically an immortal's reincarnation!
Excitement surged through him. His mind raced.
"Yang Kai's trait, Heaven's Luck, is really doing its work—"
Suddenly, agony crashed into him like a tidal wave.
A violent heat erupted within his body, setting his blood ablaze. Every cell in his being screamed in torment as flames surged through his meridians. His bones twisted and cracked, reshaping themselves. His muscles tore apart and rebuilt stronger than before.
Nie Yong's jaw clenched so hard it felt like his teeth might shatter. His skin burned, his flesh seared. His very existence was being reforged in an inferno.
[The Fire Elemental Body is merging with the host's body...]
[The host's appearance is being enhanced due to the charm increase...]
The fire raged on. His veins pulsed with molten energy. His meridians expanded, growing more resilient, capable of holding vast amounts of Qi. His features sharpened—his jawline more defined, his entire physique refining itself into something stronger, more striking.
The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt. Not a mere wound, not exhaustion—this was destruction and rebirth in its purest form.
"Nie Yong?!"
He Yue's voice trembled as she saw his expression twist in agony. She had scrambled off him the moment he started convulsing, her hands hovering over his body, unsure of what to do.
Her chest tightened. "W-What's happening? Are you okay?! I—Did I hurt you?"
Her hands clenched into fists. This is my fault... If she hadn't fallen, if she hadn't been so careless—
"Nie Yong, please!" She reached for him, only to jerk her hands back when she felt the unbearable heat radiating from his body. It was as if he were burning alive.
Nie Yong gritted his teeth.
"I won't pass out... I won't let this break me!"
His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. His consciousness wavered, the edges of his vision darkening—
But he endured.
He Yue's worry deepened as she saw Nie Yong trembling, his face contorted in pain. She didn't know what was happening, but she could feel something was terribly wrong.
"Nie Yong!" She reached toward him again, her fingers just inches away—
But before she could touch him, an overwhelming burst of scorching Qi erupted from his body.
A wave of heat blasted outward, searing the air. Flames of invisible energy coiled around him like raging serpents, twisting and crackling with untamed power.
Nie Yong's eyes snapped open, glowing with intensity. "He Yue, stay away!" he shouted, his voice strained but firm. "I—I'm having a breakthrough!"
He used the excuse to mask what was truly happening to him.
He Yue flinched but didn't retreat immediately. "A breakthrough?" she echoed, eyes wide.
But the terrifying aura surrounding him left no room for doubt. The air shimmered with heatwaves, and the ground beneath him scorched black. The sheer pressure pressing against her chest finally forced her to take a few steps back.
The flames raged on, consuming him, breaking him down, and reforging him anew. Every second felt like an eternity as his flesh burned away and regrew, stronger, more resilient. His bones crackled, realigning with a near-audible snap.
Then, with a final, explosive surge of Qi—
Everything fell silent.
The last remnants of the scorching aura vanished, completely absorbed into his body.
[Ding!]
[The host's body has successfully merged with the Fire Elemental Body!]
[The host's appearance has been successfully enhanced!]
[The host has broken through to the 4th Tempered Body Stage!]
[The host has broken through to the 5th Tempered Body Stage!]
[The host's current battle power has risen to the 5th Initial Element Stage!]
Nie Yong clenched his fist, feeling the raw, unrestrained power coursing through him. His muscles felt denser, his very existence elevated.
He smirked.
This... this was it.
This was the power he needed to dominate over this world.
To be continued...
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