After returning to the inn, Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin shared a room. Although Qing Lin was a young girl with outstanding looks, she was still quite naive about many things due to her age.
Little Fairy Doctor didn't feel jealous about other women being around Gu Fei. Besides, Gu Fei was simply taking on a disciple, and Qing Lin's background was pitiful.
"Qing Lin, see if you like any of these. Take a bath and change into one," Little Fairy Doctor said, laying out several new clothes she had just bought that would fit Qing Lin.
"Thank you, Sister Xiao Yi Xian!" Qing Lin's eyes reddened slightly as she quietly expressed her gratitude.
Meeting them had truly been a stroke of luck for her.
...
The next day, the three of them- Gu Fei, Little Fairy Doctor, and Qing Lin- woke up early and wandered around Rock Desert City. At first, Qing Lin was a bit reserved, as Gu Fei and Little Fairy Doctor's aura was entirely different from the people in the mercenary group.
Especially Gu Fei, who seemed quite ordinary at a glance with only a handsome appearance, but his Dou Qi wasn't particularly intense. Still, Qing Lin felt a sense of reverence toward him, believing that he was the most powerful person she had ever met.
Little Fairy Doctor chatted with her along the way, encouraging her to relax and not see herself as an outsider. Both Gu Fei and Little Fairy Doctor treated her like a child, making her feel more at ease. Gradually, she started to lift her head, which was always lowered, and a brighter smile appeared on her face.
She even started to resemble a carefree fourteen-year-old girl. However, when she occasionally made eye contact with them, a flash of self-doubt would cross Qing Lin's eyes, and she would quickly look away. She didn't want them to see her cold, green, snake-like eyes.
Little Fairy Doctor, being observant, noticed this and mentioned it quietly to Gu Fei.
"Qing Lin is so self-conscious; she must have been discriminated against frequently in the past," she said with some sadness. Gu Fei quickly reassured her, "I'll think of a way."
Little Fairy Doctor trusted Gu Fei unconditionally. If he said he would handle it, she knew she just had to wait and see.
After bringing Qing Lin along for a few days, Gu Fei decided that it was time to awaken her potential. The reason she was bullied in the past was that she didn't know the true extent of her abilities. If Qing Lin could fully harness her talents, who would dare to look down on her?
If she realized the immense power in those snake-like eyes that others despised, perhaps she would even be pleased, knowing she had the strength to protect herself and those she cared about.
Qing Lin possessed the powerful 'Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils' ability, which allowed her to control snake-like creatures and absorb their energy for her own use. Her potential was exceptional.
This rare ability, known as the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, was one in a million. If Qing Lin could use it properly, she would have a bright future.
Initially, Gu Fei had no plans to venture to the underground magma region since the special flame there had already been taken by Medusa, leaving only the Green Lotus Platform and Core-Fire Lotus Seeds, which were of little use to him. He didn't want to waste time going there.
But now, he changed his mind. He needed to bring Qing Lin there to awaken her talent and control the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent. At the same time, he could retrieve the Green Lotus Platform and Core-Fire Lotus Seeds. While they weren't useful to him, they could help Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin accelerate their cultivation.
That night, Gu Fei informed Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin about the plan.
Qing Lin feels excited; Emotion value +70
Qing Lin's excitement was almost palpable upon hearing they were going on a trip. She quickly returned to her room, but she and Little Fairy Doctor chatted for so long that she couldn't fall asleep. After all, she was still a young girl, and this might be her first time on such an outing.
The next morning, Gu Fei took Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin out. With his knowledge of the original story, he knew the approximate location of the magma region. As they got closer, his powerful soul could sense the unique energy there.
"So, it's this place..."
Qing Lin feels hesitant; Emotion value +70
Upon reaching the desert, Qing Lin looked hesitant.
She muttered something under her breath, but Gu Fei heard it clearly and didn't respond. Instead, it was Little Fairy Doctor who looked at her curiously.
"What's wrong, Qing Lin?"
Seeing Little Fairy Doctor's concerned gaze, Qing Lin hesitated before deciding to speak. She turned to Gu Fei, knowing he was the most powerful among them and would understand her concerns.
"Brother Gu Fei, half a year ago, I sensed something unusual about this place. A very strong presence passed through here. That presence... felt somewhat similar to my bloodline."
When she mentioned her bloodline, Qing Lin's voice faltered, and she glossed over it quickly.
"And in front of that presence, even the leader of the Sand Mercenary Company would seem far weaker," Qing Lin added.
Little Fairy Doctor grew curious and stared at Qing Lin, making her a little shy. She hadn't expected that Qing Lin could sense a powerful being from dozens of miles away. Remembering how Gu Fei had said Qing Lin was exceptionally talented and wanted to take her as a disciple, Little Fairy Doctor began to understand.
"Qing Lin, you're right. A strong being did indeed come through here," Gu Fei confirmed after listening to Qing Lin.
He then used his Dou Qi, quickly rising into the air. Hovering above, he extended his hand toward a spot in the desert.
For a moment, the air seemed to pause, and the sand was drawn aside, spreading rapidly outward.
In no time, a passageway appeared beneath the sand.
Qing Lin feels shocked; Emotion value +70
"Brother Gu Fei, did you sense that? You're amazing!" Qing Lin exclaimed, astonished by how smoothly Gu Fei uncovered a hidden passage. Although she knew he was powerful, his speed still took her by surprise.
Gu Fei smiled calmly and descended to the ground.
Then, he led Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin down into the mysterious passageway, taking them to its deepest part.
In this underground area, the fire energy was incredibly dense, and the temperature was extremely high. The air around them seemed to distort from the heat, and scorching waves of energy filled the small space.
However, with Gu Fei's Dou Qi protecting them, Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin were unharmed.
Qing Lin, experiencing such a Dou Qi shield for the first time, looked around in curiosity for quite some time.
They walked for a while before finally reaching the end of the passage.
At the end of the passage was an underground magma lake.
In the massive cavern, fiery red magma flowed slowly. Occasionally, large bubbles would form in the magma, only to burst with a soft sound, sending scorching magma shooting into the air like a fiery red firework display.