Douluo Dalu 2: Peerless Gu master

In Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, Skydream's voice echoed with a hint of amusement. 

"Yuhao, what a great opportunity. If you and this woman practice dual cultivation, your soul power will improve by leaps and bounds. It's a pity she isn't of the Ultimate Fire attribute, otherwise the effect would be even better!" 

The Ice Empress, ever composed, chimed in with a cold reminder. 

"Yuhao, although your Ice Body martial soul is extremely powerful, forcibly suppressing her condition only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. If you truly want to resolve the evil fire within her, the two of you need to achieve a deeper fusion." 

Huo Yuhao couldn't help but complain internally. 'Is this something I should even be considering at my age?'

Had his mature demeanor given them the wrong impression? Or was this simply the norm in the Douluo Continent? He suspected it was the latter. 

'Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do', he thought. 

However, the Ice Emperor's words held weight. Resolving Ma Xiaotao's evil fire problem wasn't as simple as temporary suppression.

The easiest solution, as the Ice Emperor suggested, was for Huo Yuhao, as the Ultimate Ice user, to engage in a deeper exchange with Ma Xiaotao to neutralize the evil fire. 

This wasn't a loss for him. By helping Ma Xiaotao suppress the evil fire, his physical fitness had already improved significantly under the tempering of ice and fire. If explained plainly, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement. 

As for the slight age gap, it wasn't a real obstacle. 

To be honest, Huo Yuhao personally preferred the "younger sister" type.

Unfortunately, the tempting fruit before him also carried great danger. Ma Xiaotao, the Blazing Flame Demon, wasn't famous for nothing.

If he couldn't control the situation and took advantage of her, he didn't want to imagine how she might react once she regained her senses. It was only their first-day meeting, after all.

Although a lot had happened in that short time—Ma Xiaotao's candid demeanor, their goodwill reaching the level of "close friends"—it was still too early to act rashly. 

'Patience is key. Wait for the right opportunity,' he reminded himself. 

Besides, Yan Shaozhe, the seasoned elder, hadn't even made an appearance yet. If Huo Yuhao acted too hastily, he might end up giving others an advantage, which wouldn't be worth it. 

Most importantly, the system's achievement task hadn't been refreshed yet, making it difficult for Huo Yuhao to justify taking any drastic actions.

Even the system panel seemed to subtly discourage it, so he wasn't about to invite trouble. 

[Ma Xiaotao] 

[Relationship: Close Friend] 

[Achievement Task: Waiting for Refresh] 

---

Huo Yuhao held Ma Xiaotao's slender waist with one hand and supported her pert figure with the other.

Given the height difference between them, it looked as though he was dragging around a large pillow, which felt a bit awkward. 

Ma Xiaotao was clearly in a bad state. She clung to Huo Yuhao tightly, her breathing rapid, her delicate body burning with heat. Relying on her advanced cultivation, she pressed herself against him fiercely, almost as if she were attacking him. 

'This is getting out of hand,' Huo Yuhao thought. 

Knowing the urgency of the situation, he immediately expanded his domain. A terrifying chill spread outward from him, and hoarfrost began to form on the ground.

Ma Xiaotao, caught between ice and fire, felt an indescribable sensation rising within her. Her beautiful eyebrows twitched as she gradually regained her senses. 

"Sister Xiaotao? Why did the evil fire break out again?" Huo Yuhao asked, his voice calm but concerned. 

Ma Xiaotao's phoenix eyes were clouded with confusion and guilt. "It must be related to the fire-attributed heavenly treasures I used for cultivation earlier." 

Huo Yuhao sighed. "Sister Xiaotao, you need to practice step by step. Rushing things will only drive you mad." 

Ma Xiaotao's voice was hesitant. "I usually avoid using such treasures because they stimulate the evil fire in my martial soul. This time, I thought it would be safe since you were here, so I gave it a try, and…" 

Huo Yuhao gave her a light tap on the backside, his tone stern. "And what? What if I'm not around next time? It could lead to disaster!" 

He was thinking of the original timeline, where Ma Xiaotao's evil fire had flared up uncontrollably, nearly harming other students. 

Ma Xiaotao trembled, her face flushed with shame. Knowing she was in the wrong, she buried her face in Huo Yuhao's chest like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand. 

"It was my fault, Yuhao," she admitted softly. 

She had thought the cold air around Huo Yuhao would suppress the evil fire, so she had taken the risk.

She hadn't expected the evil fire to rebound so fiercely once Huo Yuhao finished his training, leaving her completely overwhelmed by its influence. 

'Damn evil fire! It's all its fault!' 

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "Alright, this time I'll help you suppress it completely. As long as you don't mess around afterward, it should last you a month." 

Ma Xiaotao's voice was barely audible. "Thank you, Yuhao." 

Her heart raced as she felt a strange warmth spreading through her chest.

Throughout the day, she had found herself constantly flustered in her interactions with Huo Yuhao, but she didn't dislike the feeling. 

"Now, can you get down?" Huo Yuhao asked, his tone tinged with helplessness. 

At the moment, Ma Xiaotao's arms were tightly wrapped around his neck, and her legs were coiled around his waist like a python. The pressure of her body against his was becoming a bit suffocating. 

"Okay," Ma Xiaotao whispered, her voice as soft as a mosquito's. Her bare feet twitched nervously as if they could dig a hole in the ground. 

After successfully suppressing the evil fire, Ma Xiaotao smiled softly and drifted off to sleep. Huo Yuhao held her warm, soft figure in his arms, feeling a mix of exhaustion and clarity. 

Although his innate domain, Ice Soul Body, and the Ice Empress origin power made it possible to handle Ma Xiaotao's condition, the process was still taxing.

The sheer difference in soul power between a Soul Emperor and a Soul Grandmaster was vast, and Huo Yuhao had to endure not only the physical strain of the evil fire but also the mental toll of the situation. 

'If only my soul power cultivation were stronger, I wouldn't have to be so cautious,' he thought. 

All these problems stemmed from his current lack of strength. 

Deciding to make the most of the situation, Huo Yuhao prepared to test the Five-Turn Peeping Gu that Tang San had provided earlier. He hoped it would offer some insight into his current predicament. 

This Gu allowed him to consume a significant amount of soul power to peek into the power of fate, receiving vague revelations about the future. The more soul power he expended, the more accurate the revelations would be.

However, the process was taxing, and the Gu would enter a deep sleep afterward, requiring at least a month to recover. 

Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed with determination. 

'The night is still long. Let's restore my soul power first and then activate the Gu. If fate is on my side, there must be a way to break through this deadlock.' 

…

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