Dean Yan, Why Are You Just Watching?

Wang Nan's soul power had reached level 33. In truth, Innate Soul Power of level seven was not considered exceptional talent. The reason Wang Nan had become a three-ringed Soul Elder at eleven was that every time he absorbed a Soul Ring, he could reduce the loss of soul power within it, thereby increasing his own soul power to a greater extent.

Seeing Wang Nan open his eyes, Ma Xiaotao moved closer.

"How was it? Did it go smoothly?"

"It went fairly smoothly." Wang Nan nodded.

"Since you've obtained your Soul Ring, Xiaotao, take out the Fire Chestnuts." Yan Shaozhe glanced at the time. It was already close to noon.

"Yes, Teacher."

Ma Xiaotao took out the Fire Chestnuts and held them in her hand. With a gentle squeeze, their black shells cracked open, revealing the red flesh inside. A fragrant aroma instantly wafted out. She took out several more and prepared them the same way before scattering them around.

"That should do it."

Sure enough, not long after the three hid nearby, several Fire Cloud Sparrows flapped their wings and flew over.

Unfortunately, they were merely Hundred-Year Soul Beasts, so Yan Shaozhe could only step in and knock them unconscious. The academy had a special place for raising Soul Beasts; these Fire Cloud Sparrows might even become part of next year's Promotion Assessment.

As time passed, the fragrance of the Fire Chestnuts drifted farther and farther.

Just as the noon sun reached its highest point, a red figure suddenly flew out of the forest. It was small in stature, yet trailed long tail feathers behind it. It resembled a Fire Cloud Sparrow, but was far more beautiful than an ordinary one.

"This is a mutated Fire Cloud Sparrow—a Flame Cloud Sparrow." Ma Xiaotao's eyes lit up as she spoke, and her Martial Soul emerged.

Fiery red feathers appeared over Ma Xiaotao's body, and blazing light shone in her eyes. With a tap of her toes, she shot forward. The two fiery-red figures collided, and for a moment, it was hard to tell which one was Ma Xiaotao and which was the Flame Cloud Sparrow.

Before long, however, the difference between them became clear. Relying on its natural advantages, the Flame Cloud Sparrow could remain airborne for extended periods, while Ma Xiaotao had to land each time before leaping high into the air again.

After several clashes, Ma Xiaotao suddenly opened her mouth and spat out a line of fire.

Yet the Flame Cloud Sparrow was extremely nimble as well. With a light flap of its wings, it rose several feet straight upward, barely dodging Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Fire Line.

As the saying went, birds died for food. After dodging that attack, the Flame Cloud Sparrow turned and descended to the ground, snatched up a Fire Chestnut, and flew toward the forest. But with Yan Shaozhe nearby, how could it possibly escape?

Yan Shaozhe did not reveal his Martial Soul. He merely gathered his breath slightly, merging Spiritual Power and soul power, then struck out with his palm. The Flame Cloud Sparrow, like that Rock Ridge Wyrm, immediately fell unconscious.

"Thank you, Teacher." Ma Xiaotao withdrew her Martial Soul and landed from the air.

"Mm. Go absorb the Soul Ring."

As Ma Xiaotao drew the Soul Ring into her body, a trace of concern appeared on Yan Shaozhe's face. Then he glanced at Wang Nan beside him, and another measure of expectation appeared in his eyes.

Fortunately, Wang Nan did not see Yan Shaozhe's expression at that moment. Otherwise, he could probably have drawn a pie chart on the spot.

Several hours passed, and Ma Xiaotao's aura gradually subsided, signaling that the Soul Ring absorption process was nearing its end.

But at that moment, roaring flames suddenly rose from her body. Unlike the bright red flames from before, these resembled fresh blood. Her eyes snapped open, seeming to ignite as well, with blood-red filling her entire gaze.

The surrounding temperature abruptly soared, pulling Wang Nan out of his meditation. The instant he saw the scene, he understood. Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul was the Evil Fire Phoenix. Absorbing the Soul Ring had likely caused her soul power to surge too quickly, sending her Martial Soul into a rampage.

Wang Nan looked toward Yan Shaozhe. As Ma Xiaotao's teacher, he should have had some way to deal with this.

Yet to Wang Nan's surprise, Yan Shaozhe merely watched, with no intention of intervening.

There was no time for Wang Nan to think further. The out-of-control Ma Xiaotao had already lunged headfirst toward him. Before she even reached him, he felt the temperature around him rise sharply once more.

Seeing Ma Xiaotao's flame-wreathed right hand about to strike him, Wang Nan had no choice but to summon his Coiling Dragon Staff and use it to push her away.

When Ma Xiaotao's strike missed, the Third Soul Ring she had just acquired lit up. Enormous fiery wings appeared behind her, carrying her into the air. A long tail of flame trailed below her, making her truly resemble a phoenix flying through the sky.

With the use of her Third Soul Skill, the surrounding temperature rose again, drawing several beads of sweat onto Wang Nan's forehead.

The attack did not end there. Using her aerial advantage, Ma Xiaotao spat out another line of fire. Enhanced by her Third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wing Soar, the Phoenix Fire Line was not only incredibly fast, but its frequency had increased greatly as well. Wang Nan twisted and dodged across the ground, but he was still inevitably struck by the fire line.

The scorching fire line burned a gash through both his left arm and his clothing. A searing pain immediately surged through him. Worse still, a scorching aura flowed into his body along with his soul power.

This was Evil Fire. It did not feel warm like ordinary flames; instead, it carried a sense of frenzy and brutality.

That scorching aura raced through Wang Nan's body before quickly surging toward his head.

Wang Nan's Spiritual Sea began to boil once more. Just as when he had faced Ji Tongxuan, the Luminous Orb at the very top flickered continuously, while the Lake below churned violently. Water splashed into the air and scattered throughout the Spiritual Sea.

A warm sensation spread from between his brows, and the Evil Fire coursing through his body vanished like smoke upon encountering its natural nemesis.

Wang Nan did not know what exactly the Luminous Orb in his Spiritual Sea was, but there was no doubt that it had an extremely pronounced restraining effect on powers similar to those of Evil Soul Masters.

With that thought, Wang Nan drew upon his Spiritual Sea again. Surging Spiritual Power roiled out like crashing waves and entered the Coiling Dragon Staff together with his soul power.

Ma Xiaotao unleashed Soul Skills one after another in midair, and the flames on her body visibly weakened. She therefore abandoned her ranged attacks and leapt down from the sky, bending her left leg and straightening her right as she used gravity to kick at Wang Nan.

Wang Nan was unafraid. He spun the Coiling Dragon Staff half a circle and swung it toward Ma Xiaotao's leg.

An ordinary person would naturally have had no way to dodge this strike, but Ma Xiaotao could use her fiery wings to gain leverage in midair. With a twist of her body, she stepped on the side of the Coiling Dragon Staff and kicked it aside.

Although Wang Nan's staff strike was blocked, it also stopped Ma Xiaotao's attack. She had already landed by then, and Wang Nan seized the chance to close in. With a push and pull of both hands, the Coiling Dragon Staff swung out again.

This was no ordinary attack. His first and second Soul Rings flashed in alternation, and with the additional skill Tail Sweep unleashed, the flames around Ma Xiaotao visibly dispersed by a large amount.

Wang Nan pressed his advantage without mercy. Not caring that the person before him was still a young girl, he thrust forward with another Python Strike. Ma Xiaotao, whose strength had been sharply weakened, could not resist and took the blow head-on.