"Zing!"
The Flame Maiden, who had just prepared to press the advantage, didn't even have time to react before Zhou Sichen's Soul Light struck her directly.
As it hit, she froze in place like a machine that had suddenly lost power. In the next instant, her form dissolved, reverting back into a splash of scorching springwater that fell back into the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Ah! That hurts! You bastard!"
A shrill cry rang out as Blazing Apricot Delicate Stem (Ajiao)'s elegant form trembled violently, as though she was enduring some unspeakable pain.
Zhou Sichen looked up, and through the lens of his Soul Eyes, he saw the spirit of a voluptuous flame witch—clutching her head and staggering as though her mind was about to explode.
He hadn't expected his Soul Light to affect Ajiao directly. But that only confirmed it—she had been controlling the Flame Maiden, and his attack had struck her spiritual core.
Ajiao's fiery body shook and shivered uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the spiritual pain.
Not far off, Fragrant Delicate Immortal (Youyou) looked dumbfounded.
She'd never imagined that Zhou Sichen would resolve the trial so easily!
They thought they'd make things difficult for him, and now it was already over?
Zhou Sichen slowly descended beside Ajiao, his Phoenix Wings folding in.
After a long moment, Ajiao finally recovered, her voice weak and shocked:
"What was that ability just now? You were able to hit me through the wisp of my soul inside the Flame Maiden?"
Then, suddenly furious, she snapped:
"Do you realize I had no defenses up?! You almost shattered my soul!"
Zhou Sichen wore an apologetic smile.
"It was an emergency. That was the first time I used this power... I didn't control the strength well. I'm really sorry, Jiao Jiao."
Hearing his apology and seeing his sincere expression, Ajiao softened a little, though she still huffed in annoyance:
"Don't call me Jiao Jiao, you jerk!"
Zhou Sichen stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. You're so powerful—just the Flame Maiden forced me to use my trump card. I had no other choice. Please don't be mad. You won't look pretty when you're angry."
He spoke as if coaxing a child.
Ajiao swayed slightly, still pouting:
"Hmph! After what you did to me, there's no way I'll be friends with you."
Zhou Sichen's expression didn't change.
"That's fine—I can be friends with Youyou instead."
"You—!" Ajiao was speechless.
Zhou Sichen chuckled.
"Just kidding. I know you're not feeling well right now. Don't be upset. Let me help you recover."
Ajiao blinked.
"You can heal soul damage?"
"I can try. Who knows, maybe it'll work?"
At the moment, Ajiao felt like someone suffering from motion sickness—except it was her soul that was nauseated.
She suppressed her body's temperature, reining in the fiery aura around her.
"Take back your Ultimate Ice first," she muttered. "I won't burn you now."
Zhou Sichen complied, withdrawing the Ultimate Ice from his armor, leaving only the Hellfire energy flowing.
He approached and gently placed his slender, delicate fingers—prettier than a girl's—onto one of Ajiao's crimson petals.
In the lens of his Soul Eyes, it was like touching the forehead of a fiery little witch.
As his finger touched her, golden light surged in Zhou Sichen's eyes. Ajiao instinctively looked up, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked—and their souls connected.
Zhou Sichen's face remained calm and emotionless, but within his Soul Eyes, he could see her very soul blushing.
Ajiao's flame-witch form shivered slightly, clearly embarrassed.
She was actually shy—in front of a human, no less.
Zhou Sichen wasn't fazed. A golden thread formed in his eyes and extended to the flame witch's gaze, connecting the two of them.
Their souls brushed together.
Ajiao's cheeks turned redder, her body trembling from the sensation.
This was her first time experiencing anything so... intimate. And it was strangely pleasant.
Warmth surged through her spirit, and the nausea and discomfort vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief.
Ajiao was so caught up in the sensation that she didn't even realize when Zhou Sichen removed his hand.
From his perspective, she now sat there with closed eyes, a blissful expression on her face.
"Ahem. Feeling better?" he asked softly.
Ajiao's eyes flew open—and her face flushed even deeper.
"Did I... did I just make that face?" she thought.
Wait—he's human. He probably can't see her soul expression anyway!
Suddenly, Ajiao glanced sharply at Youyou.
Sure enough, Youyou wore a face that said, "Oh wow, so this is who you are."
Ajiao froze in horror.
"She saw it! That little brat saw everything!"
She glared at Youyou, her eyes practically shouting, Don't you dare tell anyone.
But little did she know—Zhou Sichen saw everything through the Soul Eyes.
He couldn't help but feel a little exasperated.
"You're a divine herb. Why are you blushing?"
Still, he had to admit... through the Soul Eyes, Ajiao did look quite enticing. Even more fiery than Ma Xiaotao...
Ajiao finally spoke, her voice trying to sound composed:
"I'm fine now. Thanks for the treatment. Since you defeated the Flame Maiden and helped me recover... I'll begrudgingly consider the trial passed."
Zhou Sichen smiled:
"So that means I can take the book—and choose seven immortal herbs?"
Ajiao cleared her throat:
"Fine. Barely passed. Go talk to Youyou."
Zhou Sichen gently patted her head.
"Thanks."
With a flap of his wings, he soared back toward Youyou.
Ajiao pouted as she watched him leave.
"Ugh... he patted my head. That jerk..."
Inside his spiritual sea, Tianmeng wiggled in excitement, darting between ten golden suns.
"Sichen! Was that power just now from the Soul Eyes too?"
Zhou Sichen nodded.
"And after using Soul Light, I noticed I could also read someone's soul state. It's kind of like a lie detector."
"People can hide their facial expressions, but they can't hide soul fluctuations. I can sense emotional changes—anger, joy, fear—through their soul energy."
Tianmeng was stunned. Even as a top-tier mental power expert, he couldn't do that.
Elder Yi chuckled:
"It seems you're starting to grasp the true potential of the Soul Eyes. But be careful—this ability consumes a massive amount of soul power. Until your soul grows stronger, don't use it lightly."
Zhou Sichen nodded. Elder Yi was right. After using Soul Light, he did feel mentally drained.
If his soul wasn't intrinsically tied to his Martial Soul, he might've collapsed already.
This was a powerful ability—but for now, he couldn't use it recklessly.
Still, with his strength continuing to grow, his Martial Soul—and his soul—would become even more powerful. Someday, he would wield it effortlessly.
Zhou Sichen landed beside Youyou and gave her a warm smile.
"I passed Jiao Jiao's trial. There aren't any more tests, right?"
Youyou giggled:
"No more. But before I give you the book, I have one question."
"Go ahead," Zhou Sichen replied. "Ask anything."
"You already know our names... but I don't know yours."
"Me?" Zhou Sichen smiled. "I'm Zhou Sichen."
"Zhou Sichen? What a pretty name! You're not just prettier than a girl, your name's cute too!" Youyou giggled sweetly.
Not far away, Jiao Jiao heard the name and muttered to herself:
"So your name is Zhou Sichen? Fine—then from now on, I'll call you Little Sichen!"
Youyou added:
"Then I'll call you Sichen from now on. Is that okay?"
Zhou Sichen replied with a chuckle:
"Of course. That's what all my close friends call me."
Though in truth, most of his friends called him "Boss Zhou" or "Big Bro Zhou"—only elders or doting older sisters called him by his given name...
****
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