After the Flame Mantra had fully refined the Xuanhuang Flame, Fang Yang could feel the Heavenly Flame had completely fused with his body.
No longer wild or rebellious, it now flowed through his meridians as a docile yet intensely hot energy—perfectly merged with his soul power, as if it had always belonged there.
Just then, the Heavenly Flame Orb deep within him gave a faint, resonant tremor.
Immediately, a stream of inherited knowledge flooded into Fang Yang's consciousness.
Closing his eyes, he focused inward—and saw that on the orb's surface, among the twenty-three engraved flame runes, the one representing the Xuanhuang Flame now blazed with brilliant golden light.
"I see…" Fang Yang opened his eyes, a spark of delight flashing through his pupils.
The Heavenly Flame Orb contained twenty-three sealed Heavenly Flames. Each time he devoured one, a portion of the orb's latent power would awaken.
Now that he had successfully refined the Xuanhuang Flame, the orb had unlocked its first ability: Time Acceleration.
Within the orb existed a self-contained spatial realm, governed by its own independent time laws.
If he so chose, Fang Yang could adjust the flow of time inside—one day in the outside world might equate to several days, or even longer, within the orb.
Before he could fully savor this revelation, his Flame martial soul awakened another power: the Heavenly Flame Domain.
Normally, a soul master had to reach a high level of cultivation before their martial soul could awaken a Domain.
But because the Xuanhuang Flame had consumed and replaced his original elemental flame—and then fused with the fundamental laws of the Douluo world—his martial soul had instantly awakened an Innate Domain.
An Innate Domain—this alone spoke volumes about the terrifying might of Heavenly Flame.
Still seated cross-legged on his bed, Fang Yang gradually calmed his rising excitement.
He murmured softly to himself, "The Xuanhuang Flame is fully refined, the Flame Mantra has evolved… It's time to break through."
Only when he stood did he notice his clothes were soaked in sweat—and scorched in places from the intense heat.
He chuckled, shook his head, and pulled a fresh set from his wardrobe.
Moments later, he stepped out into the hallway.
In the living room, Na'er was curled up on the sofa, watching soul guided television, her silver hair spilling like a waterfall over the cushions.
Hearing him, she instantly turned, scrambled up, and hurried toward him.
"Big Brother Fang Yang—finished cultivating?" Her violet eyes shimmered with eager anticipation.
Warmth filled Fang Yang's chest. He reached out, gently stroking her silky silver hair—its texture smooth as fine silk beneath his fingertips.
"Mm, all done," he said, his voice softening unconsciously as he smoothed a few stray strands from her forehead. "Sorry for making you wait so long."
Na'er wrinkled her little nose, feigning annoyance. "Hmph! Big Brother has to make it up to me! Take me to the beach to play, okay?"
Unable to resist her adorable pout, Fang Yang nodded fondly. "Alright—after dinner, we'll go."
"Really?!" Na'er beamed, her laughter ringing like wind chimes through the living room.
Just then, Lin Ximeng's gentle voice called from the kitchen: "Yang'er, take Na'er to wash up—dinner's ready!"
Fang Yang took Na'er's small hand and led her to the bathroom. Warm water rinsed over their palms as Na'er mischievously flicked droplets at his face, making him dodge with exaggerated groans.
Back at the table, Lin Ximeng had already laid out a lavish spread.
And indeed—appetite is a blessing!
Though petite in frame, Na'er devoured two full bowls of rice in the blink of an eye.
After the meal, as Lin Ximeng began clearing the table, Fang Yang said, "Mom, I'm taking Na'er for a walk by the beach."
"Go ahead," she replied, "but be safe—and don't stay out too late."
"Got it!" Fang Yang grabbed Na'er's hand, and they stepped out into the evening air.
Though called a "city," Aolai was essentially a large coastal village—no walls, no grand gates.
From their modest neighborhood to the shore was barely a twenty-minute walk.
Soon, the sound of waves grew louder.
This beach wasn't picturesque—no soft white sand, only coarse pebbles and the brittle shells of long-dead sea creatures.
Such desolation was the result of severe ocean pollution and relentless hunting of spirit beasts—now, the seas were nearly barren of life.
Tonight, however, the moon was enchanting.
Silvery light cascaded over the water, turning the sea into a rippling mirror of liquid silver.
Stars pricked the deep-blue sky, their reflections dancing on the waves—as if another starry sky lay hidden beneath the ocean.
In the distance, gentle surf murmured against the rocks, punctuated by the occasional cry of a seabird—nature's lullaby for the quiet night.
Na'er stood at the water's edge, her silver hair fluttering in the sea breeze. She spread her arms wide, eyes closed, breathing deeply of the salty air.
"Big Brother… the ocean is so beautiful!" Her voice brimmed with quiet joy.
Bathed in moonlight, her profile looked like a painting come to life.
Fang Yang gazed at the shimmering sea and softly agreed, "Yes… truly beautiful."
But his eyes kept drifting back to Na'er—lost in thoughts he couldn't quite voice.
'Has Na'er… really not regained her memories yet?' he wondered silently.
At this moment, even he wasn't sure.
The wind stilled for a heartbeat.
Na'er turned to face him. Moonlight swirled in her amethyst eyes like captured starlight.
She tugged gently at his sleeve, her voice barely above the whisper of waves: "Brother… can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" Fang Yang asked, puzzled.
Na'er looked at him, hair dancing in the wind. She took a breath.
"Big Brother… what do you think of spirit beasts?"
She paused, then added even more softly, "Do you think… they're good? Or evil?"
The question hung in the air.
Fang Yang stared into her eyes—and suddenly understood.
After a long silence, he spoke, his voice low and steady:
"I don't agree with Tang San—the so-called Sea God—who labels all spirit beasts as evil."
He turned toward the endless horizon.
"If I recall correctly, wasn't his own mother the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Empress? Spirit beasts, like humans, have both good and evil among them."
Moonlight draped over them both, stretching their shadows long across the sand.
Inside, Fang Yang's heart churned. He didn't know if his answer was "right"—but it was undeniably true.
As for Tang San, that "Sea God" revered by the world?
Nothing but a hypocritical fraud in saint's robes.
Far off, the waves crashed against stone—echoing like witnesses to this quiet revelation.
"Mm…" Na'er nodded faintly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her violet eyes.
"Big Brother… I understand now."
Her words were soft—but carried the weight of quiet relief.
"Na'er," Fang Yang said gently, turning back to her, "it's late. We should head home."
Na'er placed her cool little hand in his without hesitation, and together, they walked away from the sea—leaving only footprints in the moonlit sand.
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