"Little Ruoxi, remember this well. What I'm teaching you is like a double-edged sword—it's not something you can use too many times. This technique draws on the power already within your body, but you people of the Yellow Springs are different! Your bodies can withstand this kind of harm much better. The only drawback is that it will shorten your lifespan. Remember, this move is still incomplete. You'll have to refine it yourself over time."
I quietly gazed at John Chou before me, breathing slowly and deliberately, keeping my breathing steady. My mind had emptied of all distractions. John Chou was still smiling, his cold eyes fixed on me. He seemed intent on standing perfectly still.
"Don't look down on me, John Chou."
I spoke again, my voice tinged with anger. My body bent slightly, and fine red flames began to seep from the mountain-splitting blade, flowing across my body. I felt a burning pain on my skin.
Gradually, the flames formed patterns on my skin. On my back, a single wing slowly unfurled. With a whoosh, a pair of flaming wings fully spread out—the wings of the Vermilion Bird burned hotly across my back.
This power came from part of the Vermilion Bird Garment. People of the Yellow Springs pay for every technique and skill with their own life force, which severely drains vital energy. That energy then rapidly transforms into yang energy, producing strength to fight against ghosts.
I still can't fully use the Vermilion Bird Garment technique, because it requires too much power. My parents have warned me more than once—this can only be used safely after years of training in the Yellow Springs. The last time, I died because I pushed myself too far.
This body, revived, is actually quite fragile. I can feel it. Xinsheng has repeatedly warned me in my mind. So, after discussing in the darkness with the Yan and Huang Emperors, I found a way to partially manifest the Vermilion Bird Garment.
It's extremely difficult to achieve this. I have to break down everything I've learned before and rebuild it from scratch. Honestly, that's hard for me—I really hate studying.
The purpose of all this is to make my body able to fly, to increase my speed, to use the yang energy inside me to strengthen my attacks, and to channel my primal, newly awakened power. This way, I can truly change the density of my yang energy.
"It's coming, John Chou."
I smiled faintly and spoke, watching John Chou raise Belle in his hand, his face unchanged, utterly calm.
With a crash, I was instantly at John Chou's side. My flaming wings flared, the explosive speed unmatched. For someone like me, speed was essential.
With a clang, my mountain-splitting blade blocked John Chou's attack.
"The shape and nature of the flames have changed, improved from before. So that's the reason."
Startled, my eyes widened. The moment I touched him, John Chou instantly knew, his voice soft and echoing. I watched in shock as blue smoke surged around his body. My Vital Energy flames could burn away John Chou's Ghost Aura, and I stared with delight.
Suddenly, John Chou accelerated. I raised my mountain-splitting blade, never taking my eyes off him. His gaze remained unchanged, dissolving each of my attacks again and again, but I wasn't impatient.
Fighting ghosts is always like this. With the natural restraint of Vital Energy manifesting as flames, I've already been able to burn away John Chou's Ghost Aura.
"What exactly gave you such a misconception? That you could restrain my Ghost Aura?"
Suddenly, my eyes widened. John Chou's icy gaze locked onto me. I recoiled in shock, and after landing, my wings flared again as I charged toward him.