Eternal Blazing Sun

On the way back, Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer remained silent the entire time.

It was not until they saw the dormitory building that Wang Qiuer finally spoke. "Should we give it a name?"

"Hm? What? Oh! You mean our Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

Ji Lin did not react at first. After pausing in surprise, he finally realized that Wang Qiuer was talking about their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Ji Lin lowered his head and thought for a while before looking up at Wang Qiuer. "How about Eternal Blazing Sun? A sun that never goes out. What do you think?"

Wang Qiuer nodded, acknowledging the name.

She did not actually care what the Martial Soul Fusion Skill was called. Her suggestion had merely been an attempt to break the silence between them.

Ji Lin had not been deliberately silent either. He had been thinking that the reason he and Wang Qiuer could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill was probably related to the attribute guidance from last time.

Perhaps the power of fate had played a role as well. Still, there was no denying that the Martial Souls of two people who possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill had to complement one another and fit together perfectly.

If they cultivated together—dual cultivated, that was—they would certainly be able to increase their cultivation speed. That was good news for both of them, whose Ultimate attributes made their cultivation slow.

Ji Lin told Wang Qiuer his thoughts and waited for her decision.

Wang Qiuer agreed to Ji Lin's request without much hesitation. It would benefit both of them, and she did not dislike Ji Lin.

Although Ji Lin had forcibly performed attribute guidance with her, exchanged memories with her, and taken her power of fate, without Ji Lin's memories, she would never have left the Star Dou Great Forest or learned how wonderful the outside world was.

Besides, she had delivered herself right to his door back then. She could not blame Ji Lin entirely.

After agreeing to cultivate together whenever they had time, the two returned to their respective dormitories.

Mu En, who was lying at the entrance to the dormitory building, watched their retreating backs. A golden glint flashed through his eyes as he murmured, "A Martial Soul Fusion of Ultimate attributes? Those two little ones have truly given me a surprise!"

Not long after they returned to their dormitories, someone delivered the academy's compensation to Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer separately. It consisted of cultivation resources that could increase cultivation speed and physical fitness without side effects. Among them were Soul Ascension Pills, the same pills that had been given to Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong as compensation in the original story.

The Soul Ascension Pill's main function was to increase Soul Power. It was refined using several Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures as medicinal catalysts. Every Soul Master could only consume one in their lifetime, and the amount of Soul Power it increased was roughly equivalent to what a Soul Master needed to rise from rank thirty to rank thirty-one.

For Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer, who were already rank thirty-six and rank thirty-nine respectively and possessed Ultimate attributes, it could not directly raise their ranks.

Compared with Zhou Yi's class yesterday, today's lessons were far too easy for the students. Both the morning and afternoon consisted entirely of theory classes. The morning was Martial Soul classification, while the afternoon covered identifying Soul Beast age.

For people like Ji Lin, who came from an extraordinary background, they had learned such theoretical knowledge long ago. It held little appeal for him.

At the same time, in a secret chamber on the island at the center of Sea God Lake in Shrek Academy, someone gradually awoke from unconsciousness.

"Mm..." Ma Xiaotao's body shifted. Subconsciously, she covered her chest with her right hand and muttered, "So hot, so uncomfortable. I feel awful. Hm?"

Gradually, she opened her eyes. Her irises were a faint pink, and the blood-red color had completely faded. Her gaze carried a trace of confusion. "Strange, why isn't it hot anymore?"

She suddenly flipped over and sat up, instinctively lowering her head to look at herself. Her clothes, which had previously been soaked through, were now completely dry. She leapt off the bed and tore off the mask on her face, revealing a slightly pale oval face. She looked to be around twenty years old. Her facial features were somewhat cold, but they still could not conceal her breathtaking beauty. Standing upright, her full, soul-stirring figure was revealed, like a ripe peach.

"You're awake." Yan Shaozhe's voice rang out, followed by a long sigh. "Xiaotao, you nearly caused a terrible disaster this time!"

Yan Shaozhe told Ma Xiaotao what had happened by Sea God Lake.

"For some unknown reason, the Soul Power in your body was completely depleted. At the same time, part of the Evil Fire within you was somehow cleared away as well?"

Yan Shaozhe looked puzzled. He suspected that it was an additional special effect of Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Although Ji Lin's Ultimate Fire could suppress the Evil Fire, the Evil Fire was also a flame close to Ultimate Fire. One careless mistake could ignite the Evil Fire completely, and Ma Xiaotao would truly be finished then. That was why Yan Shaozhe had never considered asking Ji Lin to help Ma Xiaotao suppress her Evil Fire.

Only Ultimate Ice could truly suppress the Evil Fire, while Wang Qiuer's Ultimate strength was completely unrelated to it.

Therefore, Yan Shaozhe suspected that the special effect of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill could clear away the Evil Fire.

However, judging by Ma Xiaotao's condition, it seemed that her Soul Power had been cleared away together with the Evil Fire. The Evil Fire was part of the innate essence of Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul. Simply clearing the Evil Fire brought about by her Soul Power was not enough. Once Ma Xiaotao's Soul Power recovered, the Evil Fire would emerge again.

It treated the symptoms but not the root cause. Moreover, Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer had to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to achieve this effect. Other water-attribute and ice-attribute Soul Masters could also accomplish something similar: one worked quickly but had the side effect of completely draining Soul Power, while the other worked slowly but had no other side effects.

Neither could compare to Ultimate Ice.

Yan Shaozhe came before Ma Xiaotao, his brows furrowed, and said gravely, "How could you not tell me that the Evil Fire in your body could no longer be suppressed? Do you know that you nearly caused a huge disaster this time? What if the people you encountered had not been those two children capable of protecting themselves, but other Outer Court disciples?"

Ma Xiaotao froze. "I... I didn't know it would be this serious. I thought I could control it. But..."

Yan Shaozhe let out a long sigh. "The longer it is suppressed, the more violent the eruption will be. Xiaotao, stop cultivating for now. Although you are Shrek Academy's greatest genius in centuries, we cannot ruin you for the academy's sake. If the Evil Fire destroys your mind next time, your teacher will regret it for the rest of his life."

Ma Xiaotao said stubbornly, "No, Teacher, I want to cultivate. I promise, it won't happen again."

Yan Shaozhe looked at the stubborn Ma Xiaotao and sighed inwardly.

After all, she was a disciple he had raised since childhood. Yan Shaozhe regarded Ma Xiaotao as his own daughter.

He could only say, "At this point, we can only find someone with an Ultimate Ice-attribute Martial Soul. It would be even better if he were male. If he becomes your suitable match, he can resolve the negative effects caused by the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul within you. Only then can you truly soar to great heights in the future. Right now, you are completely constrained by it. Not only has your cultivation speed dropped, it may even endanger your life."

Ma Xiaotao's pretty face reddened. "I don't want to get married, much less marry someone I don't like just because of my Martial Soul." Yan Shaozhe sighed. "The problem is that when the Evil Fire flares up, you can't suppress it!"

Ma Xiaotao snorted. "I'll suppress it. I'm not getting married."

Yan Shaozhe snapped, "Ma Xiaotao, if you continue being so willful, I won't acknowledge you as my disciple anymore."

Seeing Yan Shaozhe become angry, Ma Xiaotao immediately became much more obedient. She said pitifully, "But, Teacher, I..."

Yan Shaozhe stroked her head. "Silly girl, feelings can be cultivated, but you only have one life. Besides, you are so outstanding. No matter what, Teacher will find you a good home."