Future Goals

"Flender, you should rest more. A mere month won't be enough to heal all of your wounds" Liu Erlong said worriedly, her eyes reflecting genuine concern as she tenderly grasped Flender's hands.

During the month he spent with Liu Erlong, Flender noticed a significant change in her attitude towards him. While he felt happiness at this realization, he also felt troubled. As he looked into her eyes, he saw not only concern but also a glimmer of something more, something he dared not name just yet. Before he crossed the line, he knew he had to do one more thing.

"Erlong, can you wait for me for a while? There's something I need to take care of first. I promise I'll come back soon" Flender said softly, his voice tinged with regret as he squeezed her hand gently.

Tenderly caressing the scar on his face, Liu Erlong nodded, her expression one of understanding. "I understand what you want to do. I no longer care about that man. But if this is the only way, then go ahead. I'll wait for you, even if it means waiting my whole life" she replied, her voice gentle, as she reassured him.

With a heavy nod, Flender released her hand and turned to leave, as he took to the skies.

…

Hearing the knock on the door, Xiaogang calmly beckoned, "Come in" his voice steady and composed, already anticipating the visitor's identity. As the door creaked open, a figure with a burnt scar on his face stepped into the room.

"Flender, what's so important that you had to come in person instead of using the Dalu Link?" Xiaogang inquired, gesturing for Flender to take a seat, a bit shocked by his new looks.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Flender's expression turned serious. "Xiaogang, I've decided to start pursuing Erlong again" he declared, his gaze unwavering as it locked onto Xiaogang's.

Surprised by Flender's sudden declaration, Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat, his emotions swirling in turmoil. Pain and relief intertwined within him. Ever since learning about Bibi Dong's actions and sacrifice, he had been torn between her and Liu Erlong. Despite the possibility that the rumors were false, he couldn't shake the lingering doubt that clouded his heart.

Seeing the flicker of relief in Xiaogang's eyes, Flender's anger boiled over, and he slammed his hand on the table, the sound reverberating through the room. "She waited for you for 20 years! Don't you care about her even a bit?" he demanded angrily, his voice tinged with frustration and disappointment.

Meeting Flender's gaze head-on, Xiaogang felt the weight of his friend's words like a heavy burden on his shoulders. He knew he owed Flender an explanation. As he explained, the words caught in his throat, with every word choked by the guilt and uncertainty that plagued his heart.

"If you had learned such information, could you easily let it go?" Xiaogang countered quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Understanding the depth of Xiaogang's turmoil, Flender's anger began to diminish, replaced by a sense of empathy and sorrow. He sighed heavily and rose from his seat. "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have given up and let you hurt her for 20 years" he admitted regretfully, his voice filled with remorse as he turned to leave the room.

As the door closed in front of him, Xiaogang could only sigh heavily as he wished for Liu Erlong's happiness.

…

Sitting at the top-tier mimicry training ground, Sheng Jun who has yet to begin his meditation, could already sense a subtle acceleration of his cultivation speed.

With a swift motion, Sheng Jun retrieved The Sun's Essence. Over the past three years, six drops had been produced, two of which had been utilized to heal Bernard and Arthur, leaving him with four drops remaining.

As he held the drops in his hand, an idea sparked within Sheng Jun's mind. Why not combine them? In the world of business, he had learned the value of taking risks, understanding that only by risking something could one achieve something greater in return. Of course, he still intended to keep the remaining two drops for emergencies.

A mischievous grin appeared on his lips, with a swift and decisive motion, he fused the drops together, igniting a powerful reaction that pulsed with raw energy. The air crackled around him as the drops began to merge seamlessly.

Without hesitation, Sheng Jun swallowed the combined essence, feeling the surge of power course through his veins like a raging river. Instantly, he sensed his cultivation speed increase fourfold, a rush of excitement mingled with a hint of disappointment. Though the boost of cultivation speed is almost the same, this time the effect would last for four months with only two drops, it was a significant enhancement.

Determined to make the most of this opportunity, Sheng Jun began his cultivation, setting his sights on reaching level 30 within four months.

…

Ma Hongjun sat cross-legged with Bai Chenxiang by his side in the top-tier mimicry training ground designed specifically for practitioners of Ice-type Martial Souls. The air around them tinged with the chill of ice.

He had his reasons for being here, deeply rooted in both duty and desire. Firstly, he couldn't bear the thought of being separated from Bai Chenxiang, not just because of his personal feelings for her, but also due to the potential danger of her side effects manifesting. Only his flames possessed the power to counteract her coldness, as normal flames proved ineffective against her icy aura. Thus, their closeness was not just a matter of heart, but also of necessity.

Additionally, Ma Hongjun thought that cultivating alone could be a lonely and boring task. So why not cultivate together with Bai Chenxiang who can make him happy with just her presence alone.

Ma Hongjun also estimated that within two years, he would be able to master the flames within him completely.

…

After Bai Chenxiang's Martial Soul underwent its evolution, her Martial Soul now bore a striking resemblance to Ma Hongjun's. Yet, unlike Ma Hongjun, whose side effects stemmed from the clash of opposing flames, Bai Chenxiang faced a different challenge altogether. Her side effects didn't come from conflicting elements, but rather from the sheer magnitude of power that her Martial Soul, now named the Frostwind Phoenix, struggled to contain.

While Ma Hongjun could eliminate his side effects by harnessing his flames with skillful control, Bai Chenxiang found herself unable to calm the storm of energy raging within her.

Bai Chenxiang knew that her only hope lay in Martial Soul evolution. She needed to make her Martial Soul evolve into the intended Ice Phoenix, a feat that required an Immortal Herb.

So she could only wait for Sheng Jun to find Immortal Herbs for her to use in the evolution process, although he warned her that the chances of success were slim. She remained hopeful and refused to give up, not only for her sake but for Ma Hongjun as well.

…

Dai Mubai and Oscar found themselves immersed in the heat of battle within the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena. With their spirits ablaze, they clashed with opponents in fierce one-on-one duels and two-on-two combinations.

Their primary goal was clear: to gain more fighting experience and to further develop their teamwork. With each fight, they honed their skills, refining their techniques, bringing them closer to their ultimate goal: to become an unstoppable force within the arena.

While Dai Mubai relied on his unparalleled strength and martial prowess, Oscar brought a different kind of skill to the arena. As a master of trickery and deception, he utilized his many techniques against his opponents, turning their own strengths against them with cunning precision.

Of course, Oscar had his own ulterior motive for being here. While Dai Mubai focused on honing his combat skills, Oscar seized the opportunity to observe and learn from the myriad skills on display. In his own words, he was here to steal, ahem, learn new things that he could use to refine into his own techniques. With each fight, he gained insights and inspirations, laying the groundwork for future enlightenment.

As time passed, the legend of the Evil Eyed Sword combination began to spread throughout the arena.