Having left the scene of flaunting affection, Xu Zimei journeyed with Lan Ke’er to the deepest part of the water domain.
The number of martial artists here had dwindled, and the two of them encountered only a few others along the way.
At the deepest part of the water domain, the Changhe transformed into countless Water Dragons wreaking havoc within.
With every clash between the Water Dragons, it was as though heaven and earth were splitting apart, sending faint dragon roars echoing in the midst.
The vast ocean whipped up waves tens of thousands of feet high, rolling out several crests before exploding in the deep sea.
The space here was a folded space. Although it appeared small in size, the depth of the sea was actually immeasurable.
Xu Zimei took out Tyrant Shadow and then sat cross-legged, maneuvering Tyrant Shadow closer to the center of the Torrent bit by bit.
With each impact of the Water Dragons, Tyrant Shadow swayed precariously.
But with each clash, the glow on Tyrant Shadow became even brighter, and the blade itself became more pure.
The water of the Torrent came from the heavens, rushing into the sea, never to return.
Watching Tyrant Shadow start its formal refinement in the midst of the Torrent, Xu Zimei relaxed his mind quite a bit.
Lan Ke’er took a seat to the side, speaking out of sheer boredom, "Continue with your story, what happened after you passed out and ended up in Zixun Village?"
After stabilizing Tyrant Shadow, Xu Zimei diverted a portion of his focus and slowly said, "It was you who saved me at the riverbank back then.
The first time you saw me, your heart raced especially fast; probably dazzled by my charm."
"Then, you carried me back to your house, while I was unconscious.
As for what else you did to me while I was out, that I do not know."
"Don’t flatter yourself, think I would fall for you?" Lan Ke’er retorted with a cold huff.
"Still want to hear the story?" Xu Zimei asked indifferently, "You want to tell it, or shall I?"
"Yes," Lan Ke’er nodded obediently, "You tell it."
"The days in Zixun Village were the most beautiful time of my life," as Xu Zimei narrated with genuine feeling.
The two sat by the seaside with raging seas around them, Torrent waves rolling and crests exploding alongside the gentle chanting of Water Dragons, striking against Tyrant Shadow with thunderous force.
As the young man recounted his tale softly, the girl watched him, sometimes grinning happily with his stories, occasionally playfully punching Xu Zimei with her clenched fists.
Xu Zimei had much he wanted to tell Lan Ke’er, as the stories he told were of their past times together in Zixun Village.
Of course, some parts were fictitious, mainly to highlight his own charm, intelligence, and valiant might.
The storytelling lasted seven days and nights, and it was only after Tyrant Shadow’s refinement of the Torrent attribute was complete that Xu Zimei finally stopped.
The storyteller spoke of experiences, and the listener also heard experiences.
The storyteller envisioned themselves in the narrative, while the listener felt as if they were living through it.
Xu Zimei sheathed Tyrant Shadow, and with one strike, thunderous Divine Might roared forth, and the long Changhe from nine heavens surged tumultuously within it.
Watching Xu Zimei tread upon the air, his purple robe billowing in the wind, his rugged face was now filled with determination.
He was not as irreverent as when telling stories; when he delivered that strike, the Thunder Dragon wrapped around the Water Dragon, roaring incessantly, exploding a sky-high wave in the sea behind him.
Lan Ke’er looked on at Xu Zimei, her gaze profound, her thoughts inscrutable.
...…
With the refinement of the Torrent complete, Xu Zimei prepared to take Lan Ke’er and head west towards the Fire Domain.
Between the Fire Domain and the Water Domain, there was a very small vacuum space, and right in front of this vacuum space was a similarly enormous gate of fire.
Xu Zimei, accompanied by Lan Ke’er, walked into the Fire Domain. The first thing that caught his eyes was a deep and boundless sea of fire.
The temperature of the sea of fire was low on the outside, but as one moved further in, the temperature increased.
In this Fire Domain, many fire spirits, transformed into animals, were scurrying about.
There were fire birds flying in the sky above, while fire lions tumbled and frolicked in the midst of the sea of fire.
These fire spirits had no power to attack and would not harm others.
As they had no consciousness, even if you killed them, it would be like extinguishing a flame, meaningless.
It wasn’t long before Xu Zimei’s steps suddenly halted.
On the fire wall to the side, spiritual energy began to surge, and a Fierce Fire Lotus flower formed out of thin air.
The lotus was as large as a palm. Although it was condensed from fierce fire, it emitted a rich fragrance.
Xu Zimei was about to pick it when he noticed someone was faster than him.
A blue shadow flashed by, and the Fierce Fire Lotus had vanished.
Xu Zimei frowned and looked over, only to see a Taoist priest in a blue robe appear.
With a horsetail whisk in hand, the Taoist smiled at Xu Zimei, saying, "Supreme Heavenly Venerable, this Fierce Fire Lotus is fated to be with this poor Taoist."
Xu Zimei shook his head with a smile, replying, "Taoist Priest, I’m afraid you’re mistaken; this lotus flower was clearly fated for me."
"Your words are incorrect, Benefactor," the Taoist, radiating the might of the Emperor Pulse Realm, said with a smile, "Now, with whom is this lotus flower fated to be?"
Xu Zimei gave a smile and took out the Jade Pendant given to him by Xu Qingshan, saying with a laugh, "Then let it all be as the Taoist Priest decides."
Seeing Xu Zimei about to crush the Jade Pendant, the Taoist’s expression stiffened, and he hastily said with a laugh, "Heavenly treasures are for the virtuous. This poor Taoist is ashamed. To accept it would be unworthy. It is indeed fated for you, Benefactor."
"The Taoist Priest is too courteous," Xu Zimei replied with a smile, taking the lotus flower from the blue-robed Taoist’s hand.
The blue-robed Taoist gave Xu Zimei a deep look and said with a laugh, "Benefactor, may we meet again if fate allows."
Watching the blue-robed Taoist walk away, Xu Zimei slightly furrowed his brow, it was a bit unrealistic for a powerhouse of the Emperor Pulse Realm to fight over a Tier 4 Mysterious Medicine.
"An old fox and a young fox," Lan Ke’er said with a small wrinkle of her nose.
"What do you know," Zimo took out eight lotus seeds from the bud of the Fierce Fire Lotus.
The shapes of these eight lotus seeds resembled stars, and each seed was a different color.
With eight different colors in total, Xu Zimei also pulled out an extremely pure white thread from the stem.
He made small holes in the lotus seeds with spiritual energy, and then strung them all onto the thread.
A bracelet flashing with seven colors was thus created.
Xu Zimei held Lan Ke’er’s right hand, and slowly put the bracelet on her.
"Do you like it?"
"Boring," Lan Ke’er uttered dismissively with a slight curl to her lips.
"This bracelet of mine is much more valuable than the Unforgettable Flower that man had," said Xu Zimei.
"It’s just a Tier 4 Mysterious Medicine compared to his Tier 2, that’s all," Lan Ke’er responded. "There’s no difference between Tier 4 and Tier 2 for me."
"No, it’s not about the tier," Xu Zimei shook his head, "It’s because this bracelet carries my deep love for you."