The little girl with purple hair and white clothes sized up Mu Chen, pointing at the Enlightenment Futon beneath him, and asked, "I answered your question. Can you let me sit on that thing?"
Mu Chen instinctively glanced at the Enlightenment Futon beneath him, only then remembering that Zi Yan had an exceptionally keen sense for treasures. He nodded and said, "Sure."
"My name is Zi Yan. I can go anywhere I want in this place. Alright, I answered your question. Now you should stand up and let me sit." Zi Yan walked up to Mu Chen, not the least bit shy, urging him to get up quickly.
Mu Chen smiled and stood up. Zi Yan first examined the Enlightenment Futon, then sat down on it. After about ten seconds, she stood up again, sighing regretfully, "It's a good thing, but unfortunately, it's not edible."
After saying this, Zi Yan took something out from her Storage Ring. The object was enveloped in a faint mist, its entire body a deep blue, with flowing water patterns on its surface.
"Frost Mist Herb," Mu Chen thought, his heart tightening.
What Zi Yan was eating turned out to be a seventh-grade medicinal herb, the Frost Mist Herb, a high-level water-attribute herb with miraculous effects on strengthening the body.
Zi Yan glanced warily at Mu Chen, then plucked a leaf and put it in her mouth, chewing.
"Don't eat that," Mu Chen called out.
"Do you want to steal my stuff?" Zi Yan frowned, her clear, childish voice carrying a hint of killing intent.
"Little sister, this thing doesn't taste good, does it?" Mu Chen asked.
"I need to grow up, so I have to eat them. I'm different from you. Time doesn't affect me," Zi Yan replied calmly.
"I'm asking you, this thing doesn't taste good, right?" Mu Chen asked again.
"It's really bad. If there were another way to grow up, who would eat such disgusting stuff?" Zi Yan frowned, complaining in a low voice.
"Give it to me, and I'll refine it for you. I'll make it taste a bit better. It's much better than eating raw herbs," Mu Chen said with a smile.
"Refine it? Are you an Alchemist?" Zi Yan's pitch-black eyes suddenly lit up.
"Yes," Mu Chen nodded with a smile.
"Alright," Zi Yan agreed, tossing the Frost Mist Herb to Mu Chen.
Mu Chen focused his mind and summoned the Yin-Yang Dual Flames.
"Hey, isn't that flame a Strange Fire?" Zi Yan's eyes lit up again as she looked in surprise at the flame in Mu Chen's hand.
"You have a good eye. It is indeed a Strange Fire, called the Yin-Yang Dual Flames," Mu Chen replied while tossing the Frost Mist Herb into the flames.
By now, Mu Chen had comprehended the fire-attribute laws of the world. With a thought, he decided to try controlling the fire-attribute energy within the Yin-Yang Dual Flames.
Whoosh!
Under Mu Chen's control, the Yin-Yang Dual Flames erupted with intense heat. Centered around Mu Chen, all the plants and trees on the cliff's peak were instantly reduced to ashes. At the same time, a terrifying red heatwave, like a tsunami, spread out in all directions. Wherever the heatwave passed, all vegetation was incinerated.
"Damn!"
Zi Yan's eyes widened in shock; everything had happened too quickly, leaving her no time to prepare. After the terrifying wave of heat passed, all of her clothes had been burned away, leaving her completely naked in front of Mu Chen. Her body was like that of a porcelain doll, delicate and flawless.
Zi Yan lowered her head, her gaze vacant. Mu Chen's actions had caught her completely off guard. Looking at her bare body, she glared at him angrily and shouted, "Are you out of your mind?"
"Uh..."
Mu Chen was also staring at Zi Yan in astonishment. He chuckled awkwardly and said, "Hehe, sorry about that. It was my first time trying to use the law of fire attribute on the Strange Fire. I didn't expect it to have such a terrifying destructive power."
Zi Yan: "..."
Zi Yan's cheeks puffed up in frustration. He had already apologized, so what else could she do? If it weren't for her unique constitution, she would have been reduced to ashes by that terrifying heat wave.
"Here, take this."
Mu Chen flicked his finger, sending a smooth, round bead flying toward Zi Yan.
The bead was crystal clear and emerald green in color. Though it was only the size of a grain of rice, the energy it emitted created tangible ripples in the air.
Zi Yan caught Mu Chen's creation and examined it for a moment before popping it into her mouth. As she chewed, a crisp crunching sound echoed.
"Mmm, it really does taste much better," Zi Yan said with a satisfied smile. She looked at Mu Chen seriously and asked, "Can I come to you in the future to help me refine more delicious things?"
"Of course, you're always welcome," Mu Chen replied with a smile.
"Great, it's settled then. By the way, I still don't know your name," Zi Yan said, her smile widening as two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her look utterly charming.
"My name is Mu Chen," he answered.
"Mu Chen," Zi Yan murmured softly, as if trying to commit his name to memory.
"Ahem, little girl, before you say anything else... could you please put some clothes on?" Mu Chen pointed at Zi Yan's completely naked body.
Zi Yan's face turned slightly red, and she pouted, "I really don't understand why you people insist on wearing clothes."
Despite her words, she took out a white dress from her Storage Ring. Seemingly unaware of the concept of modesty, she began dressing right in front of Mu Chen.
Mu Chen: "..."
Mu Chen was momentarily stunned, but then he remembered Zi Yan's true identity and understood. Perhaps she wasn't yet aware of her real nature, but in her bloodline, as a Void Ancient Dragon, she didn't share the same societal norms as humans.
Suddenly, a pillar of fire shot up into the sky in the distance. Immediately after, a terrifying shockwave swept toward them from the front. Even on this cool, crisp autumn day, the temperature around them rose by several degrees, despite being dozens of miles away.
"Is that the direction of the Inner Academy?" Zi Yan's eyes widened as she looked ahead, her brow furrowing. "Something's happened in the tower!"
Mu Chen remained calm, though his heart tightened. He thought to himself, "Has it erupted earlier than expected?"
Having comprehended the law of the fire attribute, Mu Chen felt a strange sensation. Even without using his Soul Awareness, he could still sense the scene unfolding in the distance.
Mu Chen might not have realized that the situation had escalated earlier because he had just used the Yin-Yang Dual Flames and the power of the fire attribute law. The agitated fire attribute elements had stimulated a consciousness lurking within the magma.
Whoosh!
Zi Yan swiftly darted forward.
Whoosh!
With a thought, Mu Chen stored away the Enlightenment Futon and instantly appeared beside Zi Yan, moving in tandem with her.
"Let me take you there," Mu Chen suggested.
Zi Yan hesitated for a moment before nodding gently. Only then did Mu Chen extend his hand, wrapping it around Zi Yan's slender waist. Without taking the time to savor the wondrous sensation transmitted through his fingers, he sped towards the inner courtyard of Jia Nan Academy.
...
Many years later, when Zi Yan, the Dragon Queen of the Void Ancient Dragon, reminisced with regret, she couldn't help but chuckle inwardly every time she recalled the scene of her first meeting with her husband, Mu Chen. How had she been lured by food and ended up boarding Mu Chen's "pirate ship"!
(End of Chapter)