After sensing Ya Fei's resolve, the golden dragon let out a low roar and turned into golden specks of energy. The golden specks emitted a soft, warm aura and floated toward the green lotus.
Ya Fei seemed surprised by it, but before she could react, her vision became blurry and weakness spread throughout her body.
It was all because of her limited spiritual strength, and if she hadn't resolved the conflict. Then, weakness wouldn't have been her only problem.
...
At the same time, the energy contained in the blood drop and Green Lotus Core Flame stopped colliding and ceased causing any more harm to Ya Fei's body.
The drop of blood released energy as it cycled in her and nourished every part of Ya Fei's injured body before it rested in her heart.
It melted after entering her heart and merged with it, and all of a sudden; the immense energy contained within it was released.
The blood energy slowly began to transform her heart. As the transformation took place, her heartbeat slowed down.
With every passing second Ya Fei's heart became stronger. At the same time, the blood flowing through it also became purer.
While her heart was transforming, the miniature green lotus at the center of her qi cyclone also started acting.
Green wisps of flame-like energy separated from the lotus and swam out of her qi cyclone. It flowed in her qi pathways and began mending the broken ones.
The effect of the blood drop and heavenly flame was not as simple as one plus one. Any of the two could reshape one's body and make the person a genius in thousands of people.
Now Ya Fei possesses both and is undergoing an extraordinarily profound transformation. Even Xiao Ning couldn't have guessed it. His only intention was to give her a better foundation and provide a heavenly flame to Ya Fei.
...
Inside the cave, Xiao Ning sat nervously and looked at Ya Fei's condition. He clenched his fists after seeing the woman he loved suffer, and a streak of red flashed in his eyes. The fury buried deep in his heart seemed to shake his mind.
Xiao Ning violently bit his lips, and his eyes regained clarity as blood flowed down from the corner of his mouth.
Every second felt like an eternity, as there was nothing he could do to ease her pain. The only thing in his hand was to wait.
After waiting for what seemed like forever, Xiao Ning noticed a change in Ya Fei's condition. Green and gold light shone from her abdomen and her heart. Soon, the two lights flowed from their source and covered her entire body.
Only then did Xiao Ning's heart settle down. He closely monitored the changes happening in her body, and a weird expression appeared on his face. Which then got replaced by unconcealed joy.
Although it puzzled him how things changed; yet, it was better than he had hoped for; now that the most dangerous moment had passed, the only thing left for him to do was wait.
Xiao Ning sat and closely stared at Ya Fei's body, and he couldn't help but click his tongue as he felt waves of dou qi emitted by Ya Fei.
The surrounding natural energy rushed towards the cave; this change scared the magical beasts in the nearby areas, and they fled away.
The dou qi fluctuations emitted by Ya Fei smoothly broke through the Dou Master realm, yet it showed no signs of stopping. As time passed, her strength soared from 1 star Dou Master to peak 9 star Dou Master.
After staying still for a while, with a soft sound, Ya Fei smoothly broke through Dou Grandmaster realm. Finally, it stopped at 1-star Dou Grandmaster.
Xiao Ning's eyebrows twitched, and he couldn't help but curse Green Lotus Core Flame in his mind.
'Where is your dignity as a heavenly flame?' He thought; anyone else would also agree with him if they saw what he had seen.
A few moments earlier, Xiao Ning saw Green Lotus Core Flame take the initiative to stabilize Ya Fei's cultivation.
...
A couple of hours passed by as Ya Fei's transformation ended. Her skin became even whiter, smooth, and soft compared to earlier.
The most notable change was the small red flame-like lotus tattoo on her forehead. It made her look nobler as if a goddess had descended to the world.
Xiao Ning couldn't take his eyes off Ya Fei; even after being together for a long time, he still felt it was the first time he had seen her.
"Uh!" She let out a soft moan, which brought Xiao Ning back from his wandering thoughts. He raised his hand to wipe away the saliva from his mouth.
He then took out a thick robe from his storage ring and gently covered her body. There was a rare tender look in his eyes as he did. After taking one another look at Ya Fei's peacefully sleeping face, he walked out with soft steps.
...
"Your Majesty," a black shadow bowed down as soon as Xiao Ning walked out of the cave. It was Hei Du, one of the eight clan leaders of the snake-people tribe.
Although Xiao Ning alone was enough to deal with any situation, should one arise. He still ordered Hei Du to protect in secret.
Hei Du remained on his knees and did not raise his head. There was a mixture of fear and shock in his eyes.
Although he did not dare to release his spiritual strength to look inside the cave; yet, he felt a familiar atmosphere.
'There is no doubt; it was the heavenly flame,' he thought.
"What about the task I gave you?" Xiao Ning asked softly.
"It is done, your majesty." Hei Du recovered from his thoughts and answered respectfully.
"Good."
"It won't be long now!"
"Misty Cloud Sect, wait a bit longer." Xiao Ning spoke in an icy voice. He clenched his fist as he remembered that time.