The Strongest Talent Tree

"Actually, it’s nothing, really. He’s your fire seed, after all. Him getting stronger is the same as you getting stronger," Xi Yueyao said with a faint smile.

"I guess that makes sense." Feng Hao was stunned. "Don’t tell me you lost to him on purpose?"

Xi Yueyao said proudly, "Of course. As if I could ever lose."

"Er," Feng Hao couldn’t help but chuckle.

’That makes sense,’ he thought. ’With Yao Girl’s personality, she’d never admit it even if she did lose. So the only way Three-second Fire could have gotten a magic soul from her is if she let him win on purpose.’

At this thought, Feng Hao’s heart warmed, and he affectionately patted Xi Yueyao’s head.

She had always seemed like a little kid who would never grow up, but after this, he could clearly tell she had matured.

Her personality hadn’t changed on the surface, but her mindset was clearly more mature.

"Don’t pat my head! Believe it or not, I’ll bite you!" Xi Yueyao huffed, glaring at Feng Hao.

"Haha, I’ll pat it all I want. What are you gonna do about it?" Feng Hao teased with a grin, ruffling Yao Girl’s hair enthusiastically.

Xi Yueyao let out a strange yelp and bit down on Feng Hao’s arm, just like a fierce little puppy.

"HISS—" Feng Hao cried out in pain. "You actually bit me?" he said, exasperated.

"Hmph! It’s your own fault for patting my head." The young woman lifted her chin smugly. "I’m an adult now. You’re not allowed to pat my head anymore."

"Oh?" A playful glint appeared in Feng Hao’s eyes. "And what if I insist?"

"Then I’ll just have to bite you again, and I’ll have Little Miaomiao bite you too!" the young woman threatened fiercely. "Little Miaomiao, get him!"

Unfortunately, Xiaohai paid her no mind, continuing to lie leisurely in her arms, dozing with its eyes half-closed.

"You ungrateful little thing, Xiaomiao! Believe it or not, I’m going to go tell your mom on you!" the young woman said, her cheeks puffed out in a pout.

Watching from the side, Feng Hao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He could only shake his head and continue piloting the Mansa.

By the time they returned to the general store, the sky had already grown dark. The moment they stepped inside, they felt intermittent waves of heat wafting down from upstairs. Heat like that could only be coming from one source: Three-second Fire.

"Yao Girl, go play with Xiaohai for a bit. I’m going to check on Three-second Fire," Feng Hao said, turning back to her.

"No way. I want to watch, too," Xi Yueyao said, displeased.

"Fine, let’s go together." Feng Hao shook his head in resignation and led the young woman upstairs. Xiaohai, however, seemed to fear the intense heat radiating from Three-second Fire and, with a WHOOSH, leaped out of Xi Yueyao’s arms.

As they pushed open the bedroom door, a blast of scorching air hit them in the face.

There, they saw Three-second Fire suspended in midair in a cross-legged position, its entire body radiating a golden-red light. The flames flickered intermittently, creating an indescribable sense of dread.

Even from a distance, they could tell that Three-second Fire’s humanoid form had become much more solid.

"Crap, you’re finally back! Quick, quick, give me a few more magic souls, or this is all going to be for nothing!" Three-second Fire cried out urgently.

Feng Hao frowned. "How many do you need?"

"The more the better!" Three-second Fire said, sounding desperate.

Hearing this, Feng Hao didn’t hesitate. He pulled a few incompatible magic souls from his Spatial Ring and tossed them, crystal vials and all, toward Three-second Fire.

"Hahaha, this is enough! More than enough!" Three-second Fire boomed with laughter. It crushed the crystals and easily swallowed the magic souls within.

In the next moment, the flames around Three-second Fire erupted, and a golden-red radiance flooded the entire bedroom.

"How can that thing eat so much?" Xi Yueyao complained with a pout.

"Well, it is a fire seed. It’s supposed to have a big appetite," Feng Hao chuckled, his eyes fixed on Three-second Fire’s transformation.

’Just as Yao Girl said,’ he thought, ’if Three-second Fire can achieve a breakthrough, it’ll be a boost for me as well.’

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The roar of churning flames echoed through the room, yet strangely, none of the objects inside showed any sign of being scorched.

Late into the night, Three-second Fire’s light finally subsided, its humanoid form becoming even more solid and defined.

"Haha! To think I’d evolve this much so soon after getting out!" Three-second Fire cackled, swaggering over to them. "You’re not so bad, kid," it said, putting on a worldly air. "You’re a decent fellow. I’ve decided to stick with you!"

"So you’re saying you weren’t really committed to me before?" Feng Hao teased.

"That’s different," Three-second Fire said arrogantly. "Before, you may have won my body, but you hadn’t won my heart. Now... this fire seed has decided you’re alright. Following you isn’t a total disgrace."

"So I should be thanking you, then?" Feng Hao asked with a laugh.

Three-second Fire declared proudly, "But of course! Earning this fire seed’s approval is an honor for you!"

"Heh, give you an inch and you take a mile." Feng Hao rolled his eyes and snorted. "Enough nonsense. Get back to my sea of consciousness and let me see what this new evolved strength of yours looks like."

Three-second Fire nodded sullenly and slowly slipped back into Feng Hao’s sea of consciousness.

At the same time, a panel with Three-second Fire’s information and stats appeared in Feng Hao’s mind:

[Three-second Fire] (Fire Seed)

Evolutionary Stage: Basic

Fire Affinity Strength: 138

Trait: A special fire seed born from the Taichu Origin. Possesses an incredibly powerful searing ability, but can only burn for three seconds.

Burn Damage: 32,540

To be honest, Feng Hao was a little disappointed when he saw Three-second Fire’s stats. Other than a slight increase in Fire Affinity Strength and damage, there were no substantial changes.

"Didn’t it evolve? Why is it still at the Basic stage?" Feng Hao asked, slightly peeved.

Three-second Fire retorted speechlessly, "Do you think evolution is that easy? It took this fire seed years and years in the Taichu Secret Realm just to reach the Basic stage. Did you really expect me to jump straight to Intermediate?"

"Er, so it’s that hard to advance an evolutionary stage?" Feng Hao asked, stunned.

"Duh! Every stage a fire seed advances is a qualitative leap. It’s not supposed to be easy," Three-second Fire snapped.

"Tch. And here I thought you’d become something amazing. Turns out you’re still useless after all that," Feng Hao scoffed.

At these words, Three-second Fire instantly exploded. "What the hell?! Countless people would kill to have one of us, and you’re over here looking a gift horse in the mouth, is that it?"

"Of course, people want powerful Elemental Spiritual Objects. But you’re just a damn weakling! Your damage is pathetic, not even as high as a single slash from my sword," Feng Hao sneered.

Three-second Fire trembled with rage, demanding through gritted teeth, "Fuck you! How is your Third Grandfather weak?"

"You ate all those magic souls and can only burn for a little over thirty thousand damage. If that’s not weak, what is?" Feng Hao snorted.

Hearing this, Three-second Fire furiously rushed back out of his sea of consciousness, pointed at Feng Hao’s forehead, and roared, "Get it through your thick skull! That’s damage *per second*, not the total damage over three seconds, understand?"

"Ah." Feng Hao froze for a second, then gave a nonplussed shrug. "You should have said so sooner!"

"I quit! I’m done! This fire seed has been around for ages, and this is the first time I’ve ever been so thoroughly disrespected!" Three-second Fire seethed through gritted teeth.

"I don’t think that’s up to you," Feng Hao said with a playful grin.

Feeling the pressure from their contract, Three-second Fire deflated like a punctured ball, its anger vanishing instantly. "Fine, you win. You’re the boss. I give up, alright?!"