Chapter 54 - 54: Ulterior Motives?

A/N: A smaller chapter than I thought I would upload, this is a 1.8k word chapter. But my brain wouldn't allow me to write any further.????

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The sky darkened and came the night for everyone in the Douluo continent.

In one of the four wild beast forests, specifically the Star Dou Great Forest, within a cave from the outer area, were two teens.

One of the teens, Ma Xiaotao, was unconscious, while the other was Xiao Yan, looking both uncomfortable and extremely tired as he hugged the former in a more, comfortable position, as he maintain their connection.

'Well, this is awkward.' Xiao Yan thought as he held a nation level beauty within his arms, Ma Xiaotao would have been a world class beauty if she were older.

Xiao Yan felt his eyes closing but he persisted on. Biting down his lower lip, he continued on what he had been doing for the last couple of hours.

Xiao Yan sighed as he send more of the purified Evil Fire within Ma Xiaotao's body, to both help her recuperate from the feedback of having the unpurified Evil Fire going out of control and help replenished her spirit power.

To prevent the unpurified Evil Fire to corrupt the purified, Xiao Yan had to mixed the latter with tiny amounts of his Heavenly Flames and Dragon Qi so the unpurified Evil Fire would leave it alone.

Thus, Ma Xiaotao would be able to control her now purified Evil Fire that had a small amount of Heavenly Flames and Dragon Qi. Which the freeloaders within his mind advised him to do so.

Honestly... Xiao Yan didn't even know he had Dragon Qi! Sure he can quasi transform into a dragon but he only knew that it would cost him his vigor to use. He didn't know anything about Dragon Qi until Igneel told him just now.

Igneel said that Dragon Qi is a precious and powerful energy that only True Dragons can use and generate within their body. Dragon Qi can not only strengthen the overall defenses of a dragon, but also empower everything what a dragon's power has.

An example is that; if a True Fire Dragon were to use Dragon Qi, its overall defenses and firepower would be twice, if not, thrice it would normally have. Of course, the output of what the Dragon Qi can help the said dragon would be the amount of how much the dragon's Dragon Qi would have.

Although Xiao Yan still isn't a True Dragon, but his bloodline spirit is that of one. He already got the requirements to use the said energy, now Xiao Yan all has to do is to generate Dragon Qi. Which is, in technicality, is quite simple. In practical? Not so much.

For now, he needs about a one fist size amount of spirit power and two fist size amount of vigor just to make a few drops of Dragon Qi.

During combat use, Xiao Yan definitely wouldn't use Dragon Qi if he could only get a measly few drops of it that requires a buttload of spirit power and vigor, it would cause him both spirit power and stamina exhaustion. The smart move is to gather up the Dragon Qi everyday, to store it, and use it when it is needed.

Thankfully Xiao Yan would only used a drop or two of Dragon Qi every dozens of minutes, enough for his spirit power and vigor to regenerate, otherwise he would be s.u.c.k.e.d dry.

...Somehow that sounded wrong.

Currently Xiao Yan is using the Dragon Qi and Heavenly Flames as, guardians of some sort, to protect the purified Evil Fire within Ma Xiaotao's body.

The great thing about the purified Evil Fire, is that Ma Xiaotao can use it without any worry, not like the unpurified one. When she uses the former, Ma Xiaotao would be more comfortable and more in control with her flames. Not like the latter that would slowly corrupt her psyche, body and spirit power.

Xiao Yan can't touch the unpurified Evil Fire yet, as that would unhesitatingly kill Ma Xiaotao, but he can make it that its movements would be restricted.

With Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames and Dragon Qi mixed with Ma Xiaotao's purified Evil Fire, the unpurified wouldn't be able to touch it less it wanted to kill itself.

Though now comes another problem...

"I'm 100% sure that she would live." Igneel said in confidence.

"And I'm 100% sure that something would have effects on her spirit." Flame Emperor confident as well.

"Oh for sure." Igneel nodded in agreement.

Xiao Yan felt a tic mark had appeared on his forehead.

'These pricks...'

"We heard that!" The two former godly beings simultaneously said.

'Well you were supposed to!' Xiao Yan snapped. The couple of hours of converting his Spirit Power and Vigor into Dragon Qi, while digesting Soldier Pills and eating some supply food to replenish his vigor, and doing all those while keeping his connection with Ma Xiaotao had really peaked Xiao Yan's stress levels.

The spiritual power he used to control the two heavenly flames during the one sided massacre of the Evil Fire Phoenix construct, while also taking care of Ma Xiaotao, had really taken a toll on Xiao Yan's mind.

Though truth be told, Xiao Yan should have fallen unconscious due to the great exhaustion of his mind. But, unsurprisingly, he persisted. He wanted to give every cinder of the purified Evil Fire to Ma Xiaotao.

Now normally, a spirit master wouldn't bat an eye to take such an opportunity of assimilating a purified Evil Fire within. Not only granting them a half-step Ultimate level Flame, but also a chance to get the dark attribute of the Evil Fire, probably even getting it to Ultimate level.

But Xiao Yan wasn't like those normies. Well he would do something like that if it were someone else.

After all, this is Ma Xiaotao. A spirit master who has the potential to reach Titled Douluo and probably godhood if she followed the true path of hers.

Xiao Yan would be a complete fool if he wanted to disregard such a talent for some weak a.s.s flame.

Also, his body is already at it's limits of being the host of two heavenly flames. If Xiao Yan had assimilated with the purified Evil Fire, then without a doubt his body would explode from all chaotic inside.

'Though the real reason why, is probably because I can't do it.' Xiao Yan thought. His right hand went and c.a.r.e.s.sed the side of Ma Xiaotao's face with care.

'I just can't bear the thought, of taking something that can help you. Something that can ease the pain of not only your body and mind, but also your heart.'

'If I went and did that, not only would you and everyone else would be angry and despise me for it, but my previous life's parents would be so pissed at me that thy wouldn't hesitate to disown me.' Xiao Yan chuckled as he moved his right hand away from Ma Xiaotao's face, and went towards her long beautiful red hair.

'I would think of this as love, but it can't...' Images of a smiling Xun Er appeared in Xiao Yan's mind once more.

'I'm sorry... senior Ma...'

"Xiaotao..." He uttered.

Xiao Yan closed his eyes, not knowing a certain pair of ghosts eating popcorn behind him, and let his head slowly fall down towards Ma Xiaotao's.

At that moment, Xiao Yan had finally succ.u.mbed to the great realm of dreams. The stress his mind had taken, was quickly overwritten by sleep.

Unknown to Xiao Yan however, he had missed Ma Xiaotao's face turning as red as her hair.

She opened her eyes, revealing her emotions of shock and confusion.

In any normal situation, if a man was touching Ma Xiaotao so intimately, she would have burn that man's balls and cut off his hands that had the audacity of touching her.

'But...' Ma Xiaotao closed her eyes as a warm feeling crept into her c.h.e.s.t. As she felt the arm of the boy hold her tightly in a protective manner, a feeling of satisfaction and joy enveloped her body.

Ma Xiaotao leaned her body deeper into Xiao Yan's embrace, she moved the latter's head to the crook of her neck, and vice versa as well with her.

A warm smile was set on her mouth.

The two forgotten former godly beings continued watching the two teens, a paper bucket of popcorn on each of their hands.

"Truly, he is beloved by all dragons and phoenixes. But more on the latter than the former." Igneel uttered as he grabbed a mouthful of popcorn and swallowed.

"Oh the affection effects is equal. If a guy who has either a dragon or phoenix related spirit, unless he swings that way, he would be friendly with Xiao Yan at first meeting. The same could be said for females, however, the longer Xiao Yan is spent together with said female, her affection with him would grow into something beyond friendly." Flame Emperor stated as he also ate some popcorn.

"Huh, well that explains some stuff. Though I gotta ask, where did you get these?" Igneel asked, emphasizing the paper bucket of popcorn on his hand.

"Xiao Yan's storage ring. That guy is really prepared for a lot of things, even food when some entertainment occurs in front of him." Flame Emperor replied with a shrug.

Igneel hummed and ate another piece of popcorn.

"Should we do something about them? Maybe wake them up?" Igneel asked.

Flame Emperor ate the last piece of popcorn and replied.

Igneel glanced at him and shrugged.

"Alright."

The two ignored the bellowing roar of a ten thousand year old spirit beast coming near their location.