Blazing Fire City.
Located in the south-central region of the Heaven Dou Empire, the city was named for the abundant subterranean fire resources from nearby volcanoes. Because of this, it had become a favored gathering place for blacksmiths and fire-attribute Spirit Masters.
After leaving the Sunset Forest, Bai Mu changed routes several times before finally arriving here.
Refining Whale Gel required high temperatures to soften it before consumption, allowing it to strengthen the body.
Hundred-year Whale Gel could still be processed with ordinary methods, but thousand-year—and especially ten-thousand-year—Whale Gel was extraordinarily hard. Without the assistance of a powerful fire-attribute Spirit Master, one could only rely on an intense furnace to melt it down.
Blazing Fire City's well-developed forging industry provided Bai Mu with the most ideal environment for refinement.
On the day he arrived, he rented a secluded blacksmith shop with an independent courtyard that had been closed and unused for a long time, making it his temporary base.
"I'll start with the hundred-year Whale Gel."
Bai Mu lit the furnace, took out a piece of hundred-year Whale Gel, and began roasting it.
Under the fierce heat, the Whale Gel gradually softened, releasing a strong fishy odor.
Holding his breath, Bai Mu tore off a piece and swallowed it while it was still hot.
The pungent taste exploded in his mouth, transforming into a stream of heat that slid down his throat into his stomach before spreading throughout his entire body.
Much like the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, the energy contained in the Whale Gel was extremely violent, strengthening his bones, muscles, and blood with the ferocity of a charging bull.
"This effect… is actually better than I expected?"
After carefully sensing it, Bai Mu's eyes lit up slightly.
He had originally thought that after consuming the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, his physical strength would have increased to the point where hundred-year Whale Gel would no longer have any effect.
But the reality was the opposite.
Precisely because the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum had completely transformed his body—allowing energy to flow smoothly through his limbs and meridians—his efficiency in absorbing and converting various energies far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Even hundred-year Whale Gel still produced noticeable results.
Bai Mu didn't stop, devouring the hundred-year Whale Gel as if it were a regular meal.
One piece, two pieces, three pieces…
He only stopped after eating five pieces in a row.
"That's enough. I can't overdo it—I need time to adapt."
Bai Mu's face was flushed, and sweat drenched his body.
Glancing downward at his overly energetic "little brother," he decided it was best to slow things down.
After tidying his clothes slightly, he decisively left the city, using running to vent the restless energy in his body while digesting the medicinal effects at the same time.
Five days later, all the hundred-year Whale Gel had been refined, and he began working on the thousand-year Whale Gel.
Compared to the hundred-year version, thousand-year Whale Gel was far more difficult to refine.
It took Bai Mu a full two months to completely digest ten pieces of thousand-year Whale Gel.
During that time, his spirit power rose from Rank 16 to Rank 20, and the number of Z-Cells increased to thirty-eight.
"Ha…"
Standing shirtless in the courtyard, Bai Mu's muscles were smooth and well-defined, with a faint golden sheen flowing beneath his skin.
He drew back his fist and punched the stone weight in the courtyard—
Bang!
The several-hundred-pound stone weight was blasted away, smashing into the courtyard wall as stone fragments scattered everywhere.
"My current physique should be no weaker than that of a Rank 35 Spirit Elder."
Feeling the surging power within his body, Bai Mu muttered, "If I absorb all the remaining thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Whale Gel, reaching the level of a Rank 40 Spirit Elder won't be difficult."
"There's no rush to obtain my second spirit ring. I'll finish digesting all the Whale Gel first."
He remembered that when a Spirit Master reached a bottleneck without acquiring a spirit ring, any spirit power gained from continued cultivation would accumulate and then erupt all at once after the spirit ring was obtained.
There was no reason to hurry.
He could wait and acquire a second spirit ring with a higher year limit later.
"When that time comes, I'll directly absorb a spirit ring that's several thousand years old. With all that accumulated spirit power, I wonder how many ranks I'll jump in one go."
Just thinking about it made Bai Mu feel monstrous.
But this wasn't cheating—he was simply making full use of his resources.
"Time to find an opponent and test my strength."
After calming himself, Bai Mu got dressed, put on his custom-made Groudon mask, and headed toward the Blazing Fire City Great Spirit Arena.
Over the past two months, in order to temper his body, he had participated in numerous spirit battles, treating his opponents as sparring partners.
Without realizing it, through an uninterrupted winning streak, his spirit battle badge had been promoted from Iron to Purple-Gold rank.
However, the moment he arrived at the Spirit Arena—before he could even state his purpose—the staff member spoke first.
"Sorry, Your Excellency Order of the Dragon. Your current win rate and rank are too high. No Spirit Master-level contestants are willing to fight you anymore. Please break through to Spirit Grandmaster, or go to another city to participate in spirit battles."
"Uh…"
Bai Mu was momentarily stunned, but he understood.
There were extremely few Spirit Masters on the entire continent who held Purple-Gold badges. Matching a Spirit Master of the same rank against him would just be handing over money—no one would be willing to do that.
"In that case…"
After thinking for a moment, he said, "I've just reached Rank 20. Can you directly match me with Spirit Grandmaster-level opponents?"
"Of course! We'll arrange it immediately!"
The nearby supervisor stepped forward proactively, speaking with respect.
A Rank 20 undefeated Spirit Master challenging a Spirit Grandmaster—this was perfect hype, and tickets would sell effortlessly.
"Good. Sorry for the trouble."
Bai Mu nodded calmly.
Not long after, he followed the staff into the arena.
"Welcome to the Great Spirit Arena! The two contestants in the upcoming match are both very special!"
The host's voice echoed throughout the venue.
"On one side, we have the undefeated Spirit Master who earned a Purple-Gold spirit battle badge at a young age—Order of the Dragon!"
"And on the other side, a genius from Blazing Academy, an equally young Spirit Grandmaster—Will of Fire!"
"Let us witness what kind of sparks will fly when they clash!"
Will of Fire? What kind of name is that?
Do you think this is Naruto?
Bai Mu silently complained as he stepped onto the arena.
The next moment, he saw a tall, exquisitely beautiful girl walk onto the opposite side.
Her long, dark-red hair instantly drew everyone's attention, like a blazing flame capable of melting everything.
'Damn… it really is Fire Shadow.'
Bai Mu immediately recognized her.
Huo Wu—the future vice-captain of the Blazing Academy team. Her spirit was a fire-attribute shadow-type martial spirit: Fire Shadow.
He didn't have many impressions of her—special spirit, narcissistic personality, her third spirit ability provided knockback, her fourth had explosive burst damage, and she could perform spirit ring fusion.
"Rank 23 control-type Battle Spirit Master. Spirit: Fire Shadow."
Huo Wu announced calmly, her gaze sharp and appraising.
Through the mask, she could see Bai Mu's equally scrutinizing eyes—eyes that showed no admiration or awe for her beauty, only a trace of strange surprise.
"Rank 20 Battle Spirit Master. Spirit… Order of the Dragon."
Bai Mu's response was brief, but it left Huo Wu feeling faintly displeased.
"You're that Order of the Dragon who wins consecutive matches without even summoning his spirit?"
"That's me."
"Putting on airs like this… let's see whether you'll actually use your spirit today!"
Two yellow spirit rings rose beneath Huo Wu's feet as both her body and shadow began to glow faintly red.
"Flowing Fire Whip!"
Her second spirit ring lit up as she clenched her right hand, condensing a blazing fire whip from thin air and lashing it toward Bai Mu without another word.
The fire whip tore through the air with a sharp whistle.
But Bai Mu didn't retreat.
Instead, he charged straight forward.
Midway, he clenched his fist and smashed it directly toward the oncoming fire whip.