"No... I'm fine, Ruoxi. I suddenly feel a surge of spiritual power within me. I need to regulate it with some exercises. Could you stay by my side and act as my protector?"
Chu Linfeng could only use this excuse to brush off Lin Ruoxi. Honestly, the information from Sword Spirit in his mind was too important to him.
"Alright, go ahead with your exercises. I'll wait right here!" Lin Ruoxi said with a smile.
Chu Linfeng then sat on the ground, assuming the posture for cultivating his energy, but he was actually communicating with Sword Spirit in his mind.
"Boy, it's not right to deceive a girl. Aren't you ashamed?"
"Shame on you! Hurry up and tell me how to awaken this Vermilion Bird Mark?" Chu Linfeng was a bit impatient.
"I knew you couldn't wait. There are two ways to awaken the Vermilion Bird Mark: one is a natural awakening, and the other is through external means.
It's impossible for a natural awakening of the Vermilion Bird Mark in this place of yours; it might not even awaken by the time you grow old and die. Awakening it through external means is much easier.
If it were somewhere else, her Vermilion Bird Mark might have already awakened, and she would have become a truly peerless expert," Sword Spirit said unhurriedly.
Chu Linfeng understood the implication: to awaken Lin Ruoxi's Vermilion Bird Mark, he could only rely on external means. "What should I use? I think it must be something difficult to find. Tell me quickly; I have many questions!"
"To awaken her Vermilion Bird Mark, you can only use the Ice Flame Crystal. The Ice Flame Crystal is a rare entity in heaven and earth.
Though it's called Ice Flame, its heat surpasses even the flames on the Vermilion Bird. Acquiring this Ice Flame Crystal is very troublesome.
The Star Power within you is nearly depleted. Once you absorb enough Star Power, I'll tell you more!
However, there is a way to temporarily shrink the Vermilion Bird Mark on her face. I don't know if she would accept it."
"Tell me what it is! If it can shrink the mark on her face, she might be able to endure any pain." Chu Linfeng knew that Lin Ruoxi's feeling was like his inability to absorb Star Power. As long as there was hope, he was willing to pay any price.
"The method is simple. Tonight is a full moon, also the time when her Yin Qi is at its peak. If you unite with her, some unexpected effects might occur," Sword Spirit said slowly, with a hint of schadenfreude in its tone.
"Unite? That's your method? Why don't you just die? We just met, barely said a few words, though we've engaged, it's not like you can go that far!" Chu Linfeng was speechless.
"You have to trust the omnipotent Sword Spirit. This is currently the only way, and it greatly benefits both of you. Simply put, you can form an Earth Star Pill even in the Black Tortoise Realm, something only achievable in the Earth Martial Realm."
This news was incredibly shocking to Chu Linfeng. Forming an Earth Star Pill in the Black Tortoise Realm was something he had never even dreamed of! But now he was a bit troubled, as Lin Ruoxi seemed to be a very reserved and well-mannered girl, and he doubted she would agree.
"Her meeting you might be destiny. A woman with a Profound Yin Body can only unite with a Pure Yang Man. Ordinary people would meet their demise!"
"Doesn't that mean I'm in danger?" Chu Linfeng instinctively glanced at his little brother.
"Did I say you're in danger? You're as dumb as a pig. You are a rare Pure Yang Body, so I said your union is fated." Sword Spirit chuckled.
"Fine, then we'll find an opportunity when we get back," Chu Linfeng said helplessly. If there was a chance to form an Earth Star Pill, he wouldn't give it up.
"No, it has to be here. She must be under the moonlight to have any change in the mark on her face. Remember, uniting is just a formality. Your main task is to absorb Star Power and transfer the absorbed Star Power entirely into her body.
Then absorb it back from her body and repeat the cycle three times to be effective. Remember, don't lose your head, or all will be for naught."
"Damn it, this is downright torturing my brother!"
Opening his eyes, Chu Linfeng pretended to have finished his energy cultivation and stood up, seeing Lin Ruoxi standing quietly there with a smile:
"Sorry for making you wait. Ruoxi, I have a way to shrink the mark on your face, even make it disappear. Would you like to try it?"
Lin Ruoxi felt touched hearing Chu Linfeng's words, then said with a bitter smile, "Lin Feng, don't trouble yourself. The mark on my face isn't a common mark. My father invited many famous doctors and tried numerous medicines, all to no avail!"
Chu Linfeng understood Lin Ruoxi's feelings. If the Vermilion Bird Mark were so easily awakened, would it still be called a Vermilion Bird Mark? "All you have to do is believe me. Is the red birthmark on your face like a bird burning in flames?"
"How did you know? Normally, it's not visible, only on a full moon night does it appear, although very faintly. If you don't look closely, it's hard to notice. I only discovered it in recent years."
Lin Ruoxi was quite surprised because she hadn't told anyone about it, meaning she was the only one who knew.
"Of course I know. This is why I chose you. The red mark on your face isn't an ordinary mark. It's called the Vermilion Bird Mark, a kind of inherited mark of the Divine Beast Vermilion Bird.
Once you awaken the Vermilion Bird Mark, you can restore your appearance and transform into another person. However, awakening this Vermilion Bird Mark is extraordinarily difficult and requires the Ice Flame Crystal. With my current power, I can't obtain the Ice Flame Crystal. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Chu Linfeng explained as thoroughly as possible, leaving Lin Ruoxi astonished and frightened.
"Thank you, Lin Feng. Obtaining the Ice Flame Crystal must be very dangerous and difficult. I can't let you risk it. I think we should drop it!" Lin Ruoxi was deeply moved.
"What I promised you, I will definitely fulfill. It's just that I can't guarantee the timing. If I can't succeed within ten years, you can resign yourself to fate. Ruoxi, you must believe in me!" Chu Linfeng spoke with determination.
"I believe in you. Even if it's twenty years, I'm willing to wait. Lin Feng, you've given me hope. You know, I've always felt inferior because of this birthmark on my face, feeling a step lower than others. Now, with you, I feel so blessed!"
"But now, I have a way to make the mark on your face smaller or lighter. Do you want to try it?" Chu Linfeng asked seriously.
Lin Ruoxi saw certainty in Chu Linfeng's eyes, although she knew this so-called attempt must be very challenging and painful. But if it could change her current appearance and make her beloved happy, she was willing to give it a try.
"Tell me, what's the method? Even if it's the most painful thing, I'm willing to endure it for you!" Lin Ruoxi said with great determination.
At this moment, Chu Linfeng was a bit at a loss. For Lin Ruoxi and for himself, he gathered his courage and said, "Your physique is one in ten thousand, a Profound Yin Body. I, on the other hand, possess a Pure Yang Body. If we unite, things might change."
After saying this, Chu Linfeng clearly felt a sweat forming on his forehead. This felt even more exhausting than facing a life-and-death battle.
Lin Ruoxi didn't expect Chu Linfeng to say such a thing, but she wasn't angry. She knew Chu Linfeng wasn't a lecher. If he wanted a woman, he wouldn't choose an ugly woman.
The way he spoke, with a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, indicated that it took a lot of courage for him to say it.
"Where did you get this method?" After all, she'd never heard of such a thing. Although she wouldn't refuse him, she couldn't help but have questions.
"I read it in an ancient book; otherwise, how else would I know the shape of your mark? Of course, if you're unwilling, I won't force you. We can talk again once I've found the Ice Flame Crystal."
Chu Linfeng could only fabricate such an excuse. He couldn't say it was Sword Spirit in his mind that told him; Lin Ruoxi would never believe that.
Lin Ruoxi stood there with thoughts in her mind. After a while, she bit her lip and uttered three words, "I... am... willing!"
Seeing Lin Ruoxi agreeing, Chu Linfeng felt a wave of emotion. He knew this decision came after much internal struggle from Lin Ruoxi.
He then explained the specific method and precautions to her. What they could do now was wait for night to fall and the moon to appear...
The two sat back to back on the ground, the only sound in their ears being the gentle breeze, each finding it hard to feel the other's heartbeat, as night finally descended in that moment.
On the night of the full moon, under the moonlight, Chu Linfeng indeed saw the Vermilion Bird pattern on Lin Ruoxi's face. He didn't know how long to cycle through the three circulations and could only break the current silence.
"Let's start. Remember what I said, let the Star Power circulate three times, and don't think of anything else; otherwise, I might lose control."
Lin Ruoxi nodded. She didn't know what to say, her heart filled only with a kind of indescribable shyness and emotion.
Chu Linfeng didn't want to waste time and began to undress Lin Ruoxi.
As Lin Ruoxi's clothing gradually decreased, his hands began to tremble more and more. When only the bellyband and small undergarments were left, he felt an unsure feeling of where to proceed...