Ma Xiaotao

Huo Yuhao still had some time before class, so he returned to the dormitory to absorb the Mysterious Water Pill.

After watching the excitement, Wang Dong'er also returned to her dormitory to cultivate. She had been exceptionally diligent lately.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya had left long ago.

Only Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer remained outside together, both understanding each other without speaking.

"Wang Qiuer, how about taking a walk by Sea God Lake? The scenery there is quite nice."

Ji Lin was the first to make the suggestion.

"Alright." Wang Qiuer softly agreed.

The two went around the freshmen teaching building and headed east along the southern side of Shrek Plaza. Before long, they arrived at the Lakeside Path.

Passing through the woods beside the path, the sparkling Sea God Lake appeared before them.

A gentle mist of water mixed with fresh air washed over them. Though Sea God Lake was merely an artificial lake, its water was exceptionally clear. The azure lake was pure blue, deep blue, and softly serene blue. Faint ripples rose and fell across its satin-like surface, like the limpid autumn eyes of a young girl, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and the shady green trees along the shore.

"Beautiful scenery. But isn't there something you want to tell me?"

Walking shoulder to shoulder along Sea God Lake, Wang Qiuer turned her head to look at Ji Lin, her tone cool.

"Using that appearance and that name, you don't think I can't figure out who you are, do you? I have to say, you really are bold. Aren't you afraid I'll report you?"

"Would you?"

Wang Qiuer looked at the smile on Ji Lin's lips, her gaze icy.

Feeling the chill in Wang Qiuer's eyes, Ji Lin shuddered and quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I was joking. Although you were the one who attacked me first, I did forcibly take something important from you. I won't report you."

"Since you've come to the human world as a human, then enjoy the beauty of this world properly. After all... you've always longed for the world outside, haven't you? Though I was part of the reason for that."

Ji Lin looked earnestly into Wang Qiuer's eyes, then suddenly smiled. "Let's enjoy academy life for now."

Wang Qiuer did not refute him. She turned away and stopped looking at Ji Lin, clearly acquiescing.

Having reached an unspoken understanding, the two strolled slowly by the lake. Ji Lin occasionally teased Wang Qiuer, earning himself her death stare.

"Huh?"

At that moment, Ji Lin suddenly noticed a red dot emerging from the mist over the water.

"What is it?" Wang Qiuer asked in confusion.

Ji Lin pointed in the direction he had seen it. "Look, isn't there a red dot over there?"

"Where?" She had only just questioned Ji Lin's words when her eyes widened. She saw it too. What red dot? It was clearly a red figure racing over the surface of the water at an astonishing speed, and from the looks of it, she was charging straight toward them.

"Fuck! Ma Xiaotao? Why did we run into Ma Xiaotao while she's berserk? This is going to be troublesome."

Ji Lin suddenly remembered something, his face full of helplessness. Why did the two of them have to run into her?

The red figure was simply too fast. In that brief moment, she had already reached the middle of the lake. Every time her toes touched the water's surface, they sent ripples spreading outward, yet she continuously accelerated using that slight buoyancy, drifting forward like a swiftly flying red cloud.

As she drew closer, the two could see more clearly. Not only were the red figure's clothes red, even her hair was blood-red. She had a slender figure, yet her entire body radiated a fierce, chilling aura, like a terrifying soul beast. She wore a red mask on her face, and even her eyes were blood-red.

The air around her body was faintly distorted. Wherever she passed, sheets of water mist even rippled outward beneath her feet.

"She's strong, but why do I feel like something's wrong?"

Wang Qiuer watched the approaching person with a wary expression.

The red figure came far too quickly. By the time Wang Qiuer finished speaking, she had already entered within a hundred meters of the shore.

A terrifying heatwave swept over them in an instant.

At the same time, Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer leaped backward, avoiding the incoming figure.

Yet with just that movement, the red figure had already arrived before them.

Terrifying heat erupted instantly. Ji Lin stepped forward and shielded Wang Qiuer. The Heavenly Fire Greatsword appeared in his hand, and three soul rings—one yellow and two purple—circled the sword. This level of heat was nothing to Ji Lin, who possessed Ultimate Fire.

Holding the Heavenly Fire Greatsword, Ji Lin slashed with the momentum, sending a fiery sword aura straight at Ma Xiaotao. Wang Qiuer behind him suddenly appeared to Ma Xiaotao's left, a Golden Dragon Spear appearing in her hand. Three soul rings—one yellow and two purple—also emerged around her as she thrust the spear directly at Ma Xiaotao.

There was no communication between them, yet they launched their attacks at the same time with perfect coordination.

Perhaps sensing the approaching danger, Ma Xiaotao abruptly tensed her body. Then, a clear phoenix cry suddenly rang out.

A massive fire phoenix rose into the air behind her. Six soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—also rose with it.

Six soul rings. Her second, third, and sixth soul rings lit up simultaneously. The flames behind her instantly turned dark red. A finger-thin line of fire shot from the fire phoenix's mouth and collided with Ji Lin's sword aura. Then she twisted her body aside, evading Wang Qiuer's Golden Dragon Spear.

Without hesitation, Wang Qiuer spun around and swung her spear at Ma Xiaotao. Her first and second soul rings lit up as she used Golden Dragon Body and Dragon's Strength to enhance her physical attributes and strength.

Ma Xiaotao's fifth soul ring lit up, and a small phoenix, only about a meter long, met the Golden Dragon Spear.

Boom! Amid the violent explosion, Wang Qiuer was blasted backward.

Ji Lin hurriedly stepped forward and caught Wang Qiuer. He saw blood trickling from the corner of her mouth; she had clearly been injured by the impact.

Ma Xiaotao had merely taken a few steps back and showed no signs of injury. Still, for a Soul Elder to force back a Soul Emperor head-on was already astonishing.

Moreover, Ma Xiaotao was no ordinary Soul Emperor. She was a top-tier beast martial soul Soul Emperor with the Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul, and the quality of her flames was close to Ultimate Fire.

Ma Xiaotao clearly had not regained her senses. Her fourth soul ring lit up, and red light spread beneath Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer's feet.

It was Ma Xiaotao's fourth Soul Skill, Phoenix Howling Sky Strike.

Holding Wang Qiuer in his arms, Ji Lin manifested a pair of fiery wings on his back. With a flap, he carried them both out of the way of the enormous pillar of flame erupting from the ground.

At that moment, brilliant, massive fire wings and a phoenix tail formed behind Ma Xiaotao. She instantly appeared behind them, a huge fireball forming in her hand as she hurled it at them. At the critical moment, Ji Lin used his first Soul Skill, Remaining Fire, and his second Soul Skill, Fire Element Manipulation. A massive Flame Tornado enveloped them.

Although they were blasted down to the ground, they were not harmed.