A short while later, Long Zhen ca bouncing out of Shen Haoran’s room, looking as if he’d just gotten his hands on so incredible treasure. Shen Haoran watched his naive, retreating figure and shook his head. ’This kid... He’ll believe anything I make up. He’s hopeless!’
But a mont later, a pained expression returned to Shen Haoran’s face as he stared at the giant black cauldron Long Zhen had left behind, unsure of what to do with it.
Shen Haoran had seen this giant black cauldron before; it was the sa one from his bet with Elder Huo back at the Shen Family estate. Today, Elder Huo had brought it out again. According to him, if Shen Haoran wanted to practice the Fire Manipulation Technique, he first had to bring the water in this cauldron to a boil!
’Bring it to a boil?’ Shen Haoran felt a headache coming on. He had already tried, and this cauldron was like an ancient block of ice; even his Fire Spirit Black Obsidian found it tricky. ’Of course, if I could get the Fire Spirit Pearl and fuse it to form the true Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, couldn’t I lt this thing in minutes? The problem is, I can’t get the Fire Spirit Pearl right now!’
’I refuse to believe it! I have the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, and you’re telling I can’t even boil a single, stupid pot!’ His stubborn streak flared. With a wave of his hand, a mass of pitch-black fla surged forth again, enveloping the large cauldron and beginning to burn.
Shen Haoran shut his eyes, carefully sensing the dance of the flas. Elder Huo had said that to bring the cauldron to a boil, he had to rely on himself. He had to break the fla down into countless particles, infiltrate the cauldron through imperceptibly small cracks, and burn it from the inside out. However, breaking a fla down into so many tiny particles was not sothing an ordinary person could accomplish. It required not only extrely strong control over fire but also a certain affinity for it.
’Affinity isn’t a problem,’ Shen Haoran thought to himself. After all, having consud the Red Fla Jade Marrow and completed the Refinent of the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, if he claid his affinity for fire was second-best in the world, no one would dare claim to be first!
But when it ca to controlling fire, aside from a few simple manipulations, Shen Haoran could only resort to brute force. After all, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian was famous for its raw, overwhelming power.
Carefully sensing the changes in the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, Shen Haoran began to infuse his powerful Spiritual Thought into it, attempting to divide the flas, but every attempt ended in failure.
"Kid, the Fire Manipulation Technique... the secret is in the word ’manipulation,’" Elder Yan’s voice advised from within Shen Haoran’s mind. "It doesn’t an you should forcefully control the flas. You must understand that every fla has its own spirit, and this is even more true for the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, the emperor of all flas. Forcing it will only backfire. You must try to sense their will. You must beco one with them, make them believe you are a part of them, and only then can you begin to influence their will. That is the true aning of fire manipulation!"
’Beco one with them, and then influence them.’ Shen Haoran lowered his head, lost in thought. Concepts that had been vague in his mind suddenly beca crystal clear with Elder Yan’s words. It felt as if he had just grasped sothing crucial.
With this in mind, Shen Haoran cald his Heart Spirit, concealed his aura, and imrsed his consciousness into the mass of black fla.
Once his Spiritual Thought rged with the Black Fla, Shen Haoran no longer acted like its master. Instead, his consciousness simply sat down cross-legged, quietly observing the fire burn before him. He then closed his eyes, did his best to minimize his presence, and began to radiate waves of friendly intent toward the surrounding flas.
At first, his efforts were fruitless. But as ti went on, the surrounding black flas began to slowly draw near him. Eventually, they even began to coil around his spiritual form, as affectionately as an infant clinging to its mother. Sensing the emotion coming from the flas, a smile touched the corners of Shen Haoran’s lips. Everything was heading in the right direction.
In the outside world, Elder Yan saw Shen Haoran smile and nodded in satisfaction. ’Such powerful insight. Not bad at all!’
And so, Shen Haoran remained imrsed in a world of fire. He imagined he was a part of the flas, dancing and flickering along with them. Gradually, more and more of the flas gathered around him. They ca to see him as their leader and began to move according to his will.
「Five days later.」
Shen Haoran’s tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open, and two tangible black flas ignited within them. As the aura around him fluctuated, the black flas surrounding him began to dance in unison, as if the man and the fire had beco one.
Then, Shen Haoran waved his hand again. The Black Fla flared violently, enveloping the cauldron. This ti, within just a few breaths, the water inside was brought to a rolling boil!
Watching the water in the cauldron evaporate in an instant, a satisfied smile spread across Shen Haoran’s face. He had been imrsed in that world of fire for five days, so deeply that he had nearly lost himself. Fortunately, his efforts had not been in vain. He could feel that his control over fire had improved imnsely, and his attunent with the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian was now even greater.
Tossing the cauldron aside, Shen Haoran stood up and stretched his stiff limbs. He headed for the door, feeling terribly cooped up after five days of immobility.
When he opened the door, however, Shen Haoran froze. Shui Ruolan was standing right outside, seemingly waiting for him.
Hearing the door open, Shui Ruolan turned and t his gaze.
Staring at Shui Ruolan, Shen Haoran was montarily entranced. Her skin was snow-white and lustrous, like silk. Her eyes were a boundless azure, the color of the clearest sky, shining with a dazzling brilliance. The lines of her cheeks were soft and smooth. Her jet-black hair fell with a natural wave and curl, inspiring a thousand fantasies of what it would feel like to run one’s fingers through those strands. ’Shui Ruolan is truly worthy of her title as the goddess of all the Five Elents Sect disciples!’
"Ahem..." Seeing Shen Haoran staring at her in a daze, Shui Ruolan blushed faintly and cleared her throat.
Shen Haoran snapped back to his senses, realizing his blunder. "What are you doing here again?" he said quickly. "Did you co back to see if I’m really a scoundrel?"
"You..." Shui Ruolan looked at his smug expression and felt a surge of anger, but thinking of her reason for coming today, she forced it back down.
"I... I’ve co to ask you for a favor!" Shui Ruolan said through gritted teeth, her voice low.
"Oh? A favor?" Shen Haoran said nonchalantly, looking at the reluctant Shui Ruolan before him. "It wouldn’t happen to be about that hidden illness of yours, would it?"
Hearing his words, the color drained from Shui Ruolan’s face. She stared at Shen Haoran in disbelief. "You... How could you possibly know?!"
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