Chapter 23: The Palm that Quelled the Evil Flame
Ji Lin smiled helplessly and followed her.
After that, they spent some time going to a restaurant and shopping.
It felt almost like a date.
They continued like this until nightfall.
Then they went to the suite Ma Xiaotao had booked.
Ma Xiaotao smiled proudly and said:— "Hmm? You can brew wine too?"
Ji Lin stared at Ma Xiaotao in surprise, completely taken aback.
— "Of course! How was it? Was the wine your sister made delicious?"
— "Mmm, mmm, mmm!"
Ji Lin nodded repeatedly, showering her with sincere praise.
— "Sister, your skills are truly amazing!"
Ma Xiaotao puckered her red lips alluringly and said:— "Of course! I'm very skilled at brewing wine!"
At that moment, a mischievous glint suddenly appeared in Ma Xiaotao's eyes.
— "Since you called me 'sister,' you must obey me. Whatever I make you do today, you must do it obediently. I promise—it will feel wonderful."
— "What do you mean by 'wonderful'?"
Ji Lin asked, confused.
Ma Xiaotao blinked her large, beautiful eyes.
— "Ah! That's just…"
Ji Lin quickly interrupted:— "Alright, alright! I'll do whatever you say today. If you make me dance, I won't sing a single note. And if you bite me, I won't make a sound!"
— "Hehe—"
Hearing Ji Lin's words, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but laugh.
— "Oh, really? How could I be that cruel?"
— "Anyway, whatever you make me do today, I'll follow!" Ji Lin said seriously.
— "Good! Then tonight, you'll follow my lead!"
Ma Xiaotao's charming face sparkled with a mischievous smile.
— "My Evil Flame has become uncontrollable, so I need your help to manage it again!"
— "Alright! I promise!"
Ji Lin nodded—how could he miss something this fun?
— "Soon, sister, I'll make you feel what heaven on earth really is!"
Ma Xiaotao pulled Ji Lin into her arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning in to whisper gently in his ear.
After hearing her words, Ji Lin couldn't help but swallow hard.
— "Sister Xiaotao… are you really sure you want to do this?"
Ma Xiaotao nodded.
— "Yes!"
— "Good! Then let's begin tonight! With your charm, Sister, I'm certain this night will be wonderful!" Ji Lin said excitedly.
Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes at him.
— "You little rascal, help me solve my problem first before talking like that!"
— "I can feel it… this Evil Flame is more rebellious than before. So when you deal with it, you have to be careful!"
Ji Lin took a deep breath.
— "Don't worry, Sister. I'll cooperate completely!"
Then he closed his eyes for a moment to adjust his state, slowly opened them again, and fixed his gaze on Ma Xiaotao.
At once, a gentle wave of spirit energy flowed out from him, rippling outward, enveloping them both and surrounding their bodies.
Under the influence of this soft spirit energy, Ma Xiaotao felt an incomparable comfort wash over her. Her anxious heart calmed greatly, and she secretly admired Ji Lin's astonishing spiritual power.
Then Ma Xiaotao let out a faint hum, sat cross-legged on the bed, closed her beautiful eyes, and began circulating her spiritual technique.
Moments later, under Ji Lin's spiritual control, Ma Xiaotao's spirit merged with his, forming a single spirit energy—exceptionally pure.
— "Sister, are you ready?"
— "Mm!"
As Ma Xiaotao's reply reached him, a faint layer of golden mist quietly spread around them.
— "Sister Tianmeng, I'll need to borrow your power now!"
Ji Lin spoke to the Iceworm Tianmeng within his sea of consciousness.
The Iceworm Tianmeng chuckled lightly.
— "You may use my power freely, I only fear you might not be able to control it!"
Without hesitation, Ji Lin unleashed the power of Absolute Ice, sending it directly into Ma Xiaotao's body.
— "Ah—"
Ma Xiaotao let out a cry as her body tensed up abruptly, yet she showed no sign of resistance.
In that instant, she was completely penetrated by Ji Lin; no strength remained in her to resist.
Soon, Ji Lin's Absolute Ice energy fused with Ma Xiaotao's Evil Flame, beginning an exchange of energies between the two.
Ma Xiaotao's Evil Flame was extremely active, as if attempting to break free and leave her body.
Ji Lin would not allow it to escape. Immediately, he began sealing it, tightly binding the Evil Flame's energy within Ma Xiaotao.
As the two forces clashed, Ji Lin felt his head ache as though it might burst, beads of sweat the size of peas forming on his forehead.
He knew the situation was dangerous—for after all, Ma Xiaotao was a being at the Spirit Saint level.
Though she had prepared herself to let Ji Lin suppress her at this moment, her prior cultivation and true battle spirit meant that her Evil Flame's energy was far stronger and fiercer than that of any ordinary person!
Even with Absolute Ice fully merged with the Evil Flame's energy, Ji Lin felt an overwhelming exhaustion, as if he might not be able to endure.
But for Ma Xiaotao's sake, he had to hold on!
Little by little, Ji Lin forgot everything around him, as though he had become a block of ice—cold, hollow, devoid of any emotion.
He immersed himself entirely in the struggle against the Evil Flame's power.
At the same time, Ma Xiaotao entered a mysterious, unique state. It was as if she were floating among the clouds, drifting quietly, as though she existed in a celestial realm.
Just gazing at that mysterious figure was enough to soothe her soul, filling her with a sense of calm and peace—as if a single glance could wash away all unease.
Suddenly, that figure moved. His right hand rose abruptly, directing itself toward Ma Xiaotao's chest.
Seeing this, Ma Xiaotao cried out in shock:— "Ji Lin, have you gone mad?!"
Unfortunately, Ji Lin was already trapped within the illusion he had conjured, utterly unable to respond to her.
— Boom!
In the next instant, a muffled sound echoed.
Ma Xiaotao saw Ji Lin's palm—press suddenly against the center of her chest.
— "Ah…"
The sharp pain instantly snapped Ma Xiaotao back to her senses. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips as she clutched her chest and staggered back several steps, staring at Ji Lin in shock and disbelief.
She couldn't comprehend why he would act in such a way.
Yet, it was precisely because of Ji Lin's palm that the Evil Flame, which had previously been raging beyond control, suddenly seemed to extinguish, calming noticeably.
At once, a gentle, warm energy flowed from his palm, swiftly entering her body and spreading through every part of it.
Ma Xiaotao felt a wave of warmth coursing through her. The exhaustion she had just experienced vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of comfort. Even her mood lifted, unexpectedly becoming light and pleasant.
— What is this? Such a strange feeling…
Finally, Ji Lin exhaled, releasing the tension that had gripped him. Just moments ago, he had been truly terrified. Fortunately, he had prepared in advance. By releasing the Absolute Ice's power at the right moment, he had managed to suppress the Evil Flame within Ma Xiaotao.
Had the Evil Flame truly broken free of the Absolute Ice, even if he could barely restrain it, it might have still inflicted serious harm on Ma Xiaotao's body.