7: Chapter 7 Agreement

The sunset dyed the rooftop railings a warm gold. Zhang Wen was looking down, studying the "Guide for Applying to Lightning Element Universities" newly rewarded by the System, when light footsteps approached from behind.

"What are you looking at?" Ding Siyi walked to his side, a faint golden-red flame swirling around her fingertips—it was her Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire, which had just reached the Early Glimmer Stage after her Breakthrough. The edges of the flame shimmered with a gentle luster, forming a wonderful resonance with Zhang Wen's Lightning Radiance.

Zhang Wen moved the manual toward her. "I'm thinking about university applications. I've heard that Qinglan University has the best Cultivation resources, ranking first in the country, and their Lightning and Wind-Fire Element majors are both very strong."

Siyi's eyes lit up, and the Immortal Fire on her fingertips danced. "My grandfather also recommended Qinglan University in Jingdu! He said they have a Spiritual Plant Garden specifically for cultivating exotic fires, which is perfect for my Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire." She paused, her voice softening slightly. "Actually... my parents have been paving the way for me for a long time, using quite a few Family resources just to barely push me to the Early Glimmer Stage during your duel period."

Zhang Wen turned to look at her; the young girl's profile looked exceptionally soft in the sunset glow. "Then that's perfect. Shall we apply to Qinglan together?"

"Really?" Siyi looked up suddenly, the surprise in her eyes seemingly ready to overflow. "You want to apply there too?"

"Of course." Zhang Wen smiled as his Lightning Radiance gently touched her Immortal Fire, triggering tiny sparks of light. "When the time comes, maybe we can even form a Thunder Fire team. You can use your Immortal Fire to roast meat, and I'll use my thunder to... well, chop wood?"

"No way!" Siyi was amused and reached out to swat his arm. "My Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire can purify Spiritual Qi; it's not meant for roasting meat." She pulled two jade pendants from her bag and handed one to him. "This is my Family's Concentric Jade. One attracts thunder, and the other stores fire. Wearing them while you Cultivate can provide a mutual boost. Let's consider it... a token of our agreement?"

The jade pendant felt warm in his hand, carved with intertwined patterns of thunder and fire. Zhang Wen tucked the jade into his pocket, right next to the thunder bath towel, which caused the towel to sizzle and flash twice.

"It's a deal." He looked at the distant evening glow, suddenly having a clear direction in his heart—not only did he want to become stronger, but he also wanted to go further alongside this girl whose fire could blend with his thunder.

In the evening, just as Zhang Wen inserted his key into the lock, the door was pulled open with a clatter. Wang Guihua stood blocking the doorway holding a spatula, her apron still flecked with green onions. "Did you win? Did the Xue boy's Wind Blade singe your hair?" Zhang Jianguo emerged from the kitchen holding a broken camera, without even removing the lens cap. "Quick, let Dad see—did you blast out an eight-pack of abs?"

Just as Zhang Wen was about to speak, Wang Guihua suddenly pointed at his wrist. "Why are you still wearing that purple-ish bath towel? Did you lose and need it to wipe your tears?" Zhang Wen quickly tucked the bath towel into his sleeve. The moment he said "I won," he was dragged into the living room by his mother. "You won? Tell us everything! Did you use the tea eggs I gave you to daze him?"

Zhang Jianguo pulled up a small stool to sit in the front row and took out a crumpled notebook. "Be detailed! Was the Lightning Radiance like electric welding? Did the Xue boy kneel and beg for mercy? I need to write this down so I can brag to Old Li at the market tomorrow—he's always saying his nephew is a Water Element Genius, but I think he's nothing compared to my son's Thunder Element!"

Just as Zhang Wen was talking with great excitement, the bath towel suddenly jumped out of his pocket and performed "Lightning Apple Splitting" on the coffee table, blasting the apple Zhang Jianguo had just peeled into fruit puree. Wang Guihua grabbed the bath towel with lightning-fast reflexes. "This thing is much more powerful than the massager your dad bought! Borrow it to me tomorrow to scrub the ribs; maybe it'll save some gas!"

Zhang Wen laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight. Just as he was about to explain, his mother stuffed a bowl of rib soup into his hands. "Drink more! Try to blast that kid into charcoal next time! By the way, when are you bringing that fire girl over for dinner? I see she's full of spiritual energy, a perfect match for your lightning—one to roast meat and one to chop wood, a perfect pair!"

"I know, Mom. I'll definitely bring her over next time." Zhang Wen shoveled the ribs in his bowl, his ears burning slightly. It wasn't until Wang Guihua started nagging again about "making sure she tries my newly pickled long beans" that he slipped back to his room with the empty bowl.

The moment he closed the door, Zhang Wen let out a long sigh of relief and pulled out the System reward list. As his fingertips brushed through the Void Realm, several treasures appeared out of thin air: the "Qinglan University Entrance Secret Manual" shimmering with Lightning Radiance, a "Thunder Sewing Kit" that could automatically repair school uniforms, and a bottle of conditioner labeled "Anti-Frizz Special"—clearly customized for Xue Yuan's hairstyle.

Most prominent was a palm-sized Jade Slip carved with the four ancient characters for "Thunder-Fire Symbiosis Art." As soon as Zhang Wen touched the Jade Slip, the System notification sounded: [Detected that Ding Siyi's favorability toward the host has reached 100%. Mission complete. Special reward: Dual-Element Joint Cultivation Technique, which can enhance the resonance effect between Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire and Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder.]

"This System really understands me." He smiled and put away the Jade Slip, then turned to see the thunder bath towel, which his mother had treated as a "rib-scrubbing tool," lying on the nightstand with some oil spots from the rib soup on it. Zhang Wen picked up the bath towel to wipe it, but it suddenly released a string of electric sparks, projecting a few words onto the wall: [Please host respect the Divine Artifact; do not use for kitchen work.]

"I know, I know. I'll wash you clean, alright?" Zhang Wen walked toward the bathroom with the bath towel, feeling both crying and laughing, but he was already calculating in his heart: once he Cultivated the "Thunder-Fire Symbiosis Art," maybe next time he Cultivated with Siyi, her Immortal Fire and his thunder could really pull off some new tricks.

The moonlight outside the window climbed onto the desk, illuminating the open Qinglan University admissions brochure. Zhang Wen touched the Concentric Jade in his pocket; the warm touch of the jade mixed with the slight tingling sensation of the thunder bath towel gave him an inexplicable sense of peace. He clenched his fist, a flash of Lightning Radiance at his fingertips. "Qinglan University, wait for us."