"I can't believe this flower has the same name as my martial soul—what a coincidence!" Ma Hongjun said happily. His teacher really gave him a great gift.
"Such a pity!" Yang Wudi suddenly shook his head.
Ma Hongjun was puzzled. "Senior Yang, what's the pity?"
Yang Wudi raised two fingers. "Two things. First, this Fire Phoenix flower, though precious, was harvested before it reached peak medicinal effect, so it's not a true immortal herb. Second, you've already consumed the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, a great pure yang herb, and your body is saturated with medicinal power—you can't take this one."
Ma Hongjun was disappointed. He thought maybe he could consume another immortal herb and gain the strength to resist demonic flames, but it was all for nothing. "My teacher spent his life savings—one hundred thousand gold soul coins—on something useless."
"One hundred thousand gold soul coins?" Yang Wudi was furious. "Which idiot set that price? Even if this Fire Phoenix isn't at its peak, it's still a top-tier herb—better than even a Grade Nine Purple Ganoderma. It's worth at least five million gold soul coins! This is market sabotage!"
To Yang Wudi, rare herbs are priceless. Selling a Fire Phoenix for only a hundred thousand was an insult—he even wanted to find the seller and pay another four million to set things right.
The others didn't quite understand this logic—wasn't finding treasure at a bargain a good thing?
"Grandpa Yang, don't be angry. I have a question: if Hongjun took this herb together with this, would it be okay? Didn't you and Senior Brother say this pill can fuse medicinal effects?" Bai Chenxiang soothed the nearly-crazed Yang Wudi and took out a Crystal Immortal Spirit Pill.
She hadn't yet taken the pill, hoping to take other herbs first to maximize the effect. But after hearing so much talk about gods lately, she realized her own talent could never reach godhood. The immortal herb might let her become a Title Douluo, but that was her limit.
"If you take it with the Immortal Spirit Pill, it's not impossible. The Fire Phoenix herb isn't at its peak, which makes it easier to fuse. Otherwise, if it were a top-grade Fire Phoenix, even the Immortal Spirit Pill couldn't fuse two fire-type immortal herbs. Tianlin succeeded last time because his three herbs balanced each other—Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew was mild, while the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass neutralized each other." Yang Wudi nodded thoughtfully.
"That's great!" Bai Chenxiang said with joy.
"No, Xiangxiang, this was given to you by Boss—I can't take it." Ma Hongjun refused. Without an immortal herb, Bai Chenxiang could never become a Title Douluo—at best, she'd reach Soul Sage or Soul Douluo with effort.
"Hongjun, listen. I'm doing this for myself too. Senior Brother said gods are ranked—second-level gods can't bring others to the God Realm, only first-level gods can. If you only reach second-level, we'll have to part: one of us will live forever in the God Realm, the other will grow old alone." Bai Chenxiang persuaded him.
She was clear: if one of them became a second-level god and the other a Title Douluo, they'd be separated forever. Better to help one reach first-level, so even if she never cultivates again, she can live eternally as a god's family member.
Ma Hongjun looked at Tianlin, who nodded silently. What Bai Chenxiang said was right: for them to stay together, Ma Hongjun had to become a first-level god.
Encouraged, Ma Hongjun took the Immortal Spirit Pill and promised, "Xiangxiang, don't worry. I'll pass the trials—I won't let you down."
"Mm!" Bai Chenxiang smiled and nodded.
Tianlin patted Ma Hongjun's shoulder. "Now your pressure is even greater. But pressure gives you motivation. Later, come train with me. I'll teach you a Daoist meditation technique for mental clarity. As brothers, we'll help all we can, but the rest is up to you."
"Boss, thank you!" Ma Hongjun's trembling heart finally calmed.
He took out a soul bone given to him by Gu Ran. Even though it was a misunderstanding, Gu Ran's intentions were sincere.
Tianlin's technique, Gu Ran's soul bone—this was brotherly love. Bai Chenxiang's immortal pill—romantic love. The Fire Phoenix herb—teacher's affection. Unknowingly, he had received so much. With all this support, what was there to fear from demonic flames?
…
That night, Tianlin finally left his newlywed wife Ning Rongrong for a bit, to train Ma Hongjun.
"The Dao of Man is faint, the Dao of Immortals is vast, the Dao of Ghosts is joyful.
For humans, life is precious; for immortals, life is honored; for ghosts, death is the end.
The immortal path is auspicious, the ghost path is perilous, clarity reigns above.
A sorrowful song echoes through the heavens, wishing only for immortality, not the misery of humanity.
...
All the heavens are vast, and my Dao prospers."
"Hongjun, memorize these mantras. They're not the most advanced, but they're orthodox Daoist techniques—quieting the mind and clearing the heart, perfect for countering demonic flames," Tianlin instructed.
"Don't worry, Boss, I've memorized most of it." Ma Hongjun smiled easily. The mantras weren't long, and as a soul master, his memory was excellent.
Tianlin shook his head. "Hongjun, most of it isn't good enough. My greatest idol once said: If you're always almost in your practice, you'll fall just short at the crucial moment."
"What profound words! Boss, you have an idol? A god? Is it the Asura God who passed his inheritance to you?"
Tianlin shook his head. "No. While that great one's office is similar to the Asura God—presiding over judgment and law—he's even stronger. His power comes not from fame, fortune, or status, but from love, hatred, passion. People might die for love or hate, but would they die for fame? Especially since his love is a universal love. He said the world needs love, not indifference; needs feeling, not apathy; needs reunions, not separations. For this, he would give up anything. So he's strong—unbeatable."
"If you seek godhood for fame, fortune, or status, let me tell you: you'll never make it, because you won't have the heart to resist the demonic flames."
"How admirable!" Ma Hongjun muttered. "To think such a person exists. I'd like to meet him someday."
"You'll get your chance. Actually, I'm not totally unconnected to him. My Holy Spirit Pearl and a treasure owned by his younger sister both come from the Nuwa Goddess, so there's some connection. Hongjun, if we ever get strong enough to break through this universe's limits and reach a higher world, maybe we'll meet him." Tianlin encouraged him.
Ma Hongjun nodded. "Hehe, Boss, you've taught me so much—things Mu Bai never taught me as my old boss."
"What did Dai Mubai teach you?"
"Drinking, eating, womanizing, gambling—does that count? I used to have evil fire attacks only every ten days or so, but after following him, I went to brothels even when I didn't need to, and the more I went, the worse the evil fire got—eventually it became every few days, even every day. Now I get it—you have to resist certain things. If you always give in to desire, it will control you." Ma Hongjun scratched his head, embarrassed.
Tianlin smiled wryly. "Then throw out everything he taught you. Let me tell you about that great one's story. From now on, make him your role model…"
Tianlin hoped Ma Hongjun could make that person his idol too. With such a heart, the trial of demonic flames would be as easy as taking a hot bath.