Shen Nianxiang
The Extreme Heat Wave came from the Extreme Heat World.
In the Extreme Heat World, the average temperature was 120°C. It was nearly impossible for carbon-based lifeforms to survive there. However, unexpectedly, the lifeforms of that world had evolved heat-resistant skin, covered in a layer of fiery red scales that insulated them from the deadly temperatures outside.
Even the Extreme Heat World experienced spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In winter, the average temperature was 50°C, while in summer it reached 150°C. The highest recorded temperature was 300°C. At such a temperature, even native inhabitants of the Extreme Heat World could die from dehydration.
Every summer, when the temperature surpassed 200°C, the Extreme Heat Wind swept across the entire Myriad Heavens Realm.
The Human Main City lay far from the Extreme Heat World, so by the time the wind reached it, the temperature had dropped to around 70°C. Even so, it was still severely harmful to humans.
Fortunately, the buildings in the Human Main City were well sealed and constructed from materials sourced locally from the Myriad Heavens Realm. Back when these protective homes were built, the Human Realm’s upper echelons had even exchanged high-tech materials from the Myriad Realms Marketplace, resulting in well-insulated and durable housing.
The residents who had been out on the streets hurried back indoors. Shen Nianxiang had already been inside. When he heard the broadcast, he walked over to the window to make sure it was securely shut.
By then, the Extreme Heat Wind had already swept through the city, and the outside was blanketed in crimson wind.
Through the window, Shen Nianxiang saw someone rolling on the street.
That person’s entire body was covered in charred ash, their appearance unrecognizable. Yet, from their writhing, one could clearly sense their agony.
“There’s still someone outside at a time like this?” Shen Nianxiang frowned slightly.
He didn’t dwell on it. His body moved before his mind finished processing.
Raising his palm, he reached into the void and pulled out a mirror. From within it stepped out an identical copy of himself.
“Go save the person outside,” Shen Nianxiang said to the mirror-image.
The mirror-image nodded, opened the window, and darted outside, swiftly cradling the person writhing in pain.
Inside, Shen Nianxiang kept his eyes on them. As soon as the mirror-image returned with the person, he quickly opened the window and let them back in.
Once the doors and windows were sealed again, Shen Nianxiang turned around. The mirror-image was already starting to melt and crack from exposure to the Extreme Heat Wind, while the other person continued to shed black-grey ash.
Shen Nianxiang nodded to the mirror-image, who returned into the mirror.
After reclaiming the mirror, Shen Nianxiang coughed lightly, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of his lips.
The injuries the mirror-image sustained would reflect back on him, the summoner.
He wiped the blood away and approached the scorched figure.
That person was still rolling on the floor, leaving behind a trail of ash.
Shen Nianxiang picked up some ash and examined it carefully, muttering to himself, “These are impurities burned away during enhancement by ‘Earth Dragon Marrow Extract.’”
Once he confirmed the ash’s composition, he let out a breath of relief.
He had assumed the burns were caused by the Extreme Heat Wind, but it turned out the charred skin was the result of the extract purging waste from the body.
Those who had injected Earth Dragon Marrow Extract could withstand temperatures of up to 500°C. Since the wind’s heat ranged only from 70–120°C within the city, it posed no threat to them.
Residents of the Human Main City often saved up to purchase Earth Dragon Marrow Extract to modify their physiques. The climate of the Myriad Heavens Realm was unpredictable; with enhancements, one could better adapt to the city’s environment and live far more comfortably.
The person was indeed in great pain, but not from the wind. It was the transformation process itself.
“Fragrance of plum blossoms comes only after bitter cold. Becoming stronger is never easy. Bear with it,” Shen Nianxiang said to him.
Thinking he might need water, Shen Nianxiang got up and fetched a glass, wetting a towel in the process.
He squatted and lifted the man into his arms. The man struggled violently.
Knowing he was in pain, Shen Nianxiang coaxed him gently, “Don’t be afraid. A sip of water will help ease the pain.”
Sensing his goodwill, the man stopped resisting. Shen Nianxiang successfully got him to drink.
After drinking, the pain seemed to lessen. The man opened a pair of clear eyes and gazed intently at Shen Nianxiang.
Seeing he had calmed down, Shen Nianxiang wiped his hands and face with the damp towel.
As the ash cleared, a very young face was revealed.
Shen Nianxiang was momentarily stunned.
In the Main City, only those over eighteen could take on missions and earn Heaven Coins. The extract cost 10,000 coins—something that usually required years of effort. Typically, only mid-aged squad leaders could afford such a thing.
He had thought this person was older, a longtime resident of the city. To his surprise, the youth looked to be around eighteen to twenty years old—perhaps even younger, possibly still a minor.
Someone so young possessing that much wealth likely came from one of two backgrounds: either his parents held high positions in the Human Realm and had traded resources for coins, or they were elite residents of the Main City and simply bought the extract for him.
Either way, he was clearly a pampered young master.
Shen Nianxiang did not have a favorable impression of the city’s upper class. His expression cooled, and his earlier gentleness faded.
He told the privileged youth, “The drinking water is over there. If the pain is too much, take a sip—but not too much, or it’ll interfere with the extract’s effect. Only drink when it becomes unbearable.”
The young master obediently nodded, holding the cup and saying, “Okay.”
He sat up with effort, carefully avoiding the couch so as not to dirty it with ash.
He sat quietly on the floor, cup in hand, staring at Shen Nianxiang.
His eyes were too pure—pure like a three-year-old child, untouched by the world’s filth.
Under such a gaze, Shen Nianxiang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.
He admitted to himself that he was prejudiced against the city’s elite. Years of hardship had turned him resentful of the wealthy. But the true culprits were those who abused their power, not this young man.
The youth before him was well-mannered, sweet, and beautiful. He was enduring pain most people couldn’t even imagine, yet remained quiet and composed. His character was admirable.
Seeing him suffer so, Shen Nianxiang felt he should comfort him and help him through the worst of it.
His tone softened once again. “I heard the pain from Earth Dragon Marrow Extract only lasts for the first thirty minutes. After that, it gradually eases. Around the sixty-minute mark, you’ll feel extreme hunger. That’s when you need to eat a lot. Once you replenish enough energy, the pain will go away. How long ago did you inject the extract?”
The young man looked confused, seemingly not understanding.
“Don’t tell me it burned his brain,” Shen Nianxiang thought to himself.
He slowed down and gently tapped the young man’s wrist where the Universal Realm Bracelet sat. “You… how long ago?”
The young man blinked and replied, “About twenty minutes. Yes, twenty. I’m smart. I can read a clock!”
Shen Nianxiang: “……”
He genuinely worried the youth had cooked his brain. Who knew if it would recover in forty more minutes?
As he fretted, the young man carefully grabbed his sleeve, his expression brave yet pitiful. In a tiny voice, he asked, “Am I going to die?”
“No, you’ll just hurt for a while. It’ll be over soon,” Shen Nianxiang immediately reassured him.
“Good! I’m a man. I’m brave. I’m not afraid of pain!” The young man pounded his chest with his fist.
Shen Nianxiang: “……”
Seeing the youth being so adorably foolish, Shen Nianxiang’s heart softened. “Don’t sit on the floor. Go lie on the couch. I’ll make you some food.”
“I’ll dirty it. Mom would be mad,” the young man said.
“It’s fine. I’ll clean it later. Just lie down,” Shen Nianxiang said gently.
The young man smiled sweetly and held out his arms. “Carry me?”
Moved by sympathy for the injured, Shen Nianxiang picked him up with ease and placed him on the couch.
He put on an apron, pulled out what little food he had from the storage, and got to work in the kitchen.
Supplies in the Myriad Heavens Realm were scarce. Food had to be transported from the Human Realm and bought with contribution points or Heaven Coins. Shen Nianxiang was still repaying his parents’ debt. He was broke. The food at home was just enough for one day.
Someone who had just injected the extract needed ten times the normal caloric intake. This little food would not be enough.
He needed to spend 100 coins on a nutritional energy supplement. Only with both food and supplement would the youth’s needs be met.
But Shen Nianxiang needed money, too.
He had just completed a trade with the marketplace, but those coins were meant to pay debts and restock supplies. How could he spend them on a stranger?
The food simmered in the pot, releasing a fragrant aroma. Shen Nianxiang stood before the stove, hesitating.
This youth looked wealthy. If he gave him a meal and bought a supplement, charging him 1,000 coins wouldn’t be unreasonable, right?
With that in mind, he turned to glance at the youth.
He didn’t know when the youth had crept up behind him and was now gazing at him intently.
Feeling guilty about calculating tenfold repayment, Shen Nianxiang cleared his throat. “Why aren’t you resting? Doesn’t it still hurt?”
“A little. I came to help,” the youth said, rolling up his sleeves. Ash fell off in clumps, revealing lean, healthy arms.
Shen Nianxiang quickly said, “Stay back. You’ll get ash in the food. You’re still hurting. Don’t move around. You can help later.”
“Oh.” The young man obediently returned to the couch.
By the time dinner was ready, thirty minutes had passed.
The transformation should be ending. The pain would be fading, and no more ash would fall.
Shen Nianxiang brought the youth to the bathroom. “Go take a shower. Then come eat.”
Since the youth’s clothes had been destroyed, Shen Nianxiang fetched some clean, old clothes and left them on a chair outside the bathroom. “Your clothes are here. Once you’re…”
But he suddenly noticed something odd: there was no sound of water.
Pushing the door open, he saw the youth standing under the showerhead, completely still.
“Why aren’t you washing?” Shen Nianxiang asked.
“I’m waiting for you to wash me,” the youth answered naturally.
Shen Nianxiang smacked his forehead and took a deep breath.
Which rich family did this spoiled brat come from? Did he really need someone to wash him at this age?
“I’m not washing you! Do it yourself!” Shen Nianxiang snapped.
“I don’t know how to use these things,” the youth pouted.
Resigned, Shen Nianxiang pointed things out. “This is the faucet. Hot water here. Cold water here. Adjust the temperature like this. Don’t use too much hot water—electricity costs money!”
He showed him where the shampoo, body wash, and towels were. “Got it? Know how now?”
“I’m smart. I remember well. I got it,” the youth nodded.
“You being smart… yeah, right,” Shen Nianxiang muttered.
He shut the door. Hearing water finally run, he relaxed.
After some thought, Shen Nianxiang felt certain—this young man had to be a young master from a wealthy family. Not just 1,000 coins—even 2,000 would be nothing to him.
So while the youth bathed, Shen Nianxiang spent 110 coins (including service fees) to buy a nutritional energy supplement from the marketplace.
Five minutes later, the youth came out wearing Shen Nianxiang’s clothes, hair dripping.
Judging from the state of things, he clearly hadn’t cleaned up the bathroom.
But for 2,000 coins, Shen Nianxiang cleaned up the water and even blow-dried his hair.
For Heaven Coins, being a young master’s manservant wasn’t beneath him.
After drying his hair, Shen Nianxiang saw the young man smiling brightly.
“What are you smiling at?” he asked.
“You’re not mad at me anymore,” the youth grinned.
“I was never mad,” Shen Nianxiang said. “Come, let’s eat.”
He planned to ask for money after the meal, after both food and supplement were consumed, it would be hard for the youth to refuse.
But just as they left the bathroom, the young man hugged Shen Nianxiang from behind.
“You—you—what are you doing?!” Shen Nianxiang yelped.
The youth sniffled and said softly, “I thought you were mad and wouldn’t talk to me again. I’ll listen from now on. I won’t sneak out to play anymore, Daddy.”
Shen Nianxiang shouted, “What did you just call me?!”
His voice cracked completely.
