Absurd

Just as Wang Nan was about to swing the third strike, he finally stopped. He saw the light return to Ma Xiaotao's eyes; she should have regained consciousness.

Ma Xiaotao first looked at herself, then at Wang Nan before her, and immediately understood that her evil fire had flared up again. She hastily withdrew her power and looked helplessly toward Yan Shaozhe.

"I'm sorry." Yan Shaozhe directed the apology at Wang Nan. "Before this, I couldn't be completely certain that your martial soul could suppress the Evil Qi within Xiaotao's martial soul, so I concealed quite a bit from you. But now, I believe I should tell you the whole story."

Hearing Yan Shaozhe say this, and recalling what the Pavilion Master at the Gathering Treasures Pavilion had said, Wang Nan understood everything.

What highly cultivated teacher just happened to have time, and what chance opportunity was there to conveniently help him obtain a Soul Ring? It had all been planned in advance.

Yan Shaozhe must have seen, during Wang Nan's battle against Ji Tongxuan, that he possessed an ability capable of restraining Evil Soul Masters. That was why he had arranged this trip, using the opportunity to see whether Wang Nan could suppress Ma Xiaotao's evil fire.

Naturally, Yan Shaozhe had no idea what Wang Nan was thinking and continued his explanation. "I am Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Martial Soul Department. Xiaotao is my personal disciple. As you can see, her martial soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix. Since childhood, she has suffered constantly from Evil Qi. Though immensely gifted, she cannot cultivate for extended periods."

"As Xiaotao's Soul Power has grown, the Evil Qi within her has become increasingly severe. I tried many methods before, but the effects were minimal. In the end, I could only have Soul Masters with ice- or water-attributed martial souls help suppress it. During this year's New Student Assessment final match, I saw your performance, which led to this attempt."

"These are compensation for you. I'm very sorry for concealing this matter from you. Also, I hope you can keep Xiaotao's condition confidential." As Yan Shaozhe spoke, he took several bottles of pills from his Storage Soul Tool. Wang Nan did not know exactly what they were, but they were certainly no ordinary items.

"Finally, there is one more matter." Yan Shaozhe hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking. "I hope you can help Xiaotao cultivate in the future."

"This is not a request from me as the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, but as Xiaotao's teacher—Xiaotao's... adoptive father. I do not want to watch this child's talent go to waste, nor do I want her to suffer because of her martial soul."

"If you agree, then until your cultivation reaches the rank of Soul Saint, I will prepare cultivation resources equal to Xiaotao's for you every year. In addition, as long as it does not harm Shrek Academy's interests, I can give my all on your behalf once."

Yan Shaozhe's promise was no small one. A Super Douluo acting at full strength could, at the very least, guarantee a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

In truth, as a Super Douluo and the Dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe had no need to apologize, compensate Wang Nan, or make promises. He could have simply offered a few benefits, mixing threats with incentives to make Wang Nan help.

But Yan Shaozhe also had other thoughts that he did not voice. Aside from Ultimate Ice, Wang Nan was Ma Xiaotao's greatest hope for completely resolving her evil fire.

Soul Masters who possessed Ultimate Ice were exceedingly rare, while Wang Nan, who stood right before him, was only two years younger than Ma Xiaotao. Yan Shaozhe intended for the two children to develop feelings for each other.

That was why he did not want this incident to leave Wang Nan with any lingering resentment.

Wang Nan's expression was quite something at that moment. When he had first learned the truth, he had indeed felt some indignation at being used. If it had been someone with a worse temper, they might have shouted, "You have brought death upon yourself!" and started fighting Yan Shaozhe on the spot.

But Yan Shaozhe's later words left Wang Nan completely stunned. Cultivation resources, a promise to act on his behalf—after all that, if Yan Shaozhe had not concealed things from him earlier, Wang Nan might even have considered him an honest and generous man.

No matter what, he had already obtained his third Soul Ring. Helping Ma Xiaotao would not harm him in any way, and Yan Shaozhe's promised resources were tangible enough. After considering it, Wang Nan agreed.

"Dean Yan, I accept."

Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's expression visibly relaxed.

Ma Xiaotao, who had only just recovered from her martial soul rampage, was still muddled. By the time she came to her senses, she discovered that she seemingly no longer needed to worry about her martial soul.

Sea God Island, before Sea God Pavilion.

As usual, Mu En lay in a reclining chair basking in the sun. Beside him stood Yan Shaozhe, who had just returned from the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Teacher, I'm back."

"You're back. How is that child?"

"That's what I was about to tell you. Wang Nan's martial soul has a natural restraining effect on Evil Soul Masters. Just like the previous two times, Xiaotao experienced a martial soul rampage while absorbing her third Soul Ring. But during her exchange with Wang Nan, she quickly recovered."

At this point, Yan Shaozhe spoke slightly faster. "This proves that Shrek's records were not mistaken. The Coiling Dragon Staff can help Xiaotao dispel her evil fire. In time, perhaps Xiaotao's martial soul can become a true Fire Phoenix."

"Ah." Upon hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, Mu En suddenly let out a long sigh. "What else?"

Yan Shaozhe did not notice Mu En's expression darkening and continued, "He and Xiaotao are close in age. I want him and Xiaotao to become a suitable match. That way, Xiaotao will be completely free from the restrictions of her martial soul. Perhaps Shrek will gain its first Soul Saint under the age of twenty."

"Absurd!" Mu En barked, then began coughing violently.

"Teacher, are you all right?"

"Cough, cough, I'm fine. Do not bring this matter up again in the future. I'm a little tired. You should go back first."

Yan Shaozhe looked at Mu En's aged face. Several times, he seemed on the verge of speaking, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to leave.

Watching Yan Shaozhe's departing figure, Mu En slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with worry. As a Limit Douluo, he understood his own physical condition better than anyone. Even if he remained at Shrek to recuperate, he had less than twenty years left at most.

Yet Yan Shaozhe, the disciple he thought most highly of, possessed decent strength but was narrow-minded and stubborn. He had served as Dean of the Martial Soul Department for decades without showing the slightest improvement. Mu En had arranged for Yan Shaozhe to approach Wang Nan because he valued Wang Nan's talent. Who would have thought that Yan Shaozhe's mind would be entirely occupied with Ma Xiaotao?

With such flaws, how could Mu En rest easy entrusting Shrek Academy to him?

"Ah." Mu En sighed again.

The conflict between Soul Masters and Soul Beasts was steadily intensifying, while the Sun Moon Empire watched them like a tiger eyeing its prey. If Shrek wished to continue standing firm on the Douluo Continent, it needed an outstanding leader—both strength and vision were indispensable.

But in little more than ten years, could he truly find such a successor?