Shen Yuan stepped closer, observing her movements carefully. "Good. Keep that circulation gentle. And if it feels like it might die out, use those mental points we discussed—letting the lotus essence anchor the flame."
Qingyu's eyes narrowed in focus, and the ember glowed a faint crimson, a swirl of delicate lotus-like wisps flickering around it.
Though a few stray sparks jumped every now and then, she maintained control, her brows drawn in determined concentration.
"Not bad," Shen Yuan praised, giving her an encouraging smile. "Now, feed it a bit more Qi, see if you can hold steady at a higher intensity without the temperature rising too much."
She exhaled once, then complied. The flame brightened, its color growing richer and deeper, yet it remained smooth and steady.
