Feng, Oh Feng, Without Wutong You Will Not Perch

Suotuo City. Outskirts.

A dilapidated thatched cottage.

Pale white moonlight shone upon the faded, old wooden door. The night wind was cold, and the desolate surroundings seemed somewhat eerie. A raggedly dressed youth curled up on a straw mat, gritting his teeth as he endured the excruciating pain of Evil Fire Burning Body.

Bead-sized drops of sweat fell from his forehead and soaked through his back, leaving the youth drenched from head to toe.

"Creak—"

The battered wooden door was pushed open.

A childish voice filled with exasperation rang out.

"Brother Xiao, you're still this stubborn. If you keep refusing to find a woman, you'll become afflicted by Evil Fire Entanglement and die by self-immolation!"

"After Teacher took me to a brothel, I felt completely relaxed. Not only was the process of venting the Evil Fire not painful, it was actually very comfortable."

"Although we're still young, the Evil Fire gives us the same functions as normal men. This kind of thing is merely a matter of sooner or later. Won't we have to do it once we grow up anyway?"

"Honestly, how can you be so stubborn?"

Hearing this, Lin Xiao opened his eyes hazily.

Looking toward the voice, he saw a fair, clean, slightly lecherous-looking chubby boy, accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man with a hooked nose.

It was Ma Hong Jun and Flender.

"Hong Jun, everyone has their own aspirations. Even if I die, I'm unwilling to do something so filthy, much less be controlled by the Evil Fire like a beast."

Lin Xiao's voice was weak.

The sweat had carried away a great deal of moisture, leaving him somewhat dehydrated. His lips were cracked.

Flender frowned.

"If you think the women in brothels are filthy, I can help you clean things up. You have two choices. First, I'll spend money to buy the chastity of a commoner's daughter for you. Second, I'll find you a slightly older young girl to be your fiancée. You'll have to take responsibility for her."

"Think it over carefully. The Evil Fire has been suppressed until now and is already approaching the absolute limit your body can withstand."

"Once the Evil Fire erupts completely, you'll either die by self-immolation or suffer an explosion to death."

After saying this,

Flender quietly waited for Lin Xiao's response.

He observed the youth curled up on the straw mat before him.

The youth had delicate features and a heroic air between his brows. Although he was currently down on his luck, one could still see the pride in his heart. He seemed unwilling to waver from his principles.

What a fine seed for becoming a Soul Master...

Lin Xiao's Martial Soul Awakening had produced the same Martial Soul as Ma Hong Jun's: the Evil Fire Phoenix. Moreover, his Evil Fire Phoenix was even fiercer than Ma Hong Jun's.

When that Phoenix's flames appeared, even Flender could not help feeling a trace of unease in his heart.

But this was only natural.

After all, compared to Ma Hong Jun's innate Soul Power of rank eight, Lin Xiao possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

It was just a pity that he was far too stubborn.

Did he really have to cling to his bottom line? Couldn't he make even the slightest compromise?

Although Lin Xiao was weak, his voice was incomparably firm.

"I choose neither of them!"

Lin Xiao could not bring himself to spend money to buy a commoner's daughter's chastity, then leave without a care.

Nor could he accept becoming engaged to a girl he did not know when his initial purpose would merely be to sleep with her.

"Then you can only wait for death!!!"

Anger colored Flender's voice.

This Lin Xiao was truly hopelessly foolish!

He thought the women in the brothel were filthy, so wouldn't finding him a clean one solve the problem?

Find a commoner's daughter, give her money, and he would not even need to take responsibility. Wouldn't it be convenient to simply walk away?

Did he not know that he was a noble Soul Master, yet still care about a commoner's chastity?

Wasn't it an honor for a commoner to sleep with a Soul Master?

He was clearly a young man, so why was he so hidebound?

The night wind howled, making the holes in the window paper produce strange sounds. A light rain began falling outside, and the pattering drops struck the blue bricks with a steady drip, drip, drip.

A faint smile rose on Lin Xiao's pale face.

"Then let me die."

His tone was calm. Even though the intense pain made him grit his teeth from time to time, he possessed an otherworldly detachment from life and death.

Flender had painstakingly advised him for so long, yet Lin Xiao still did not know what was good for him.

Flender flew into a rage from embarrassment.

"So you're willing to throw away your life over that so-called principle?!"

Lin Xiao's expression remained indifferent.

"Better to shatter like jade than remain whole like a clay tile."

Flender's expression suddenly changed. He gritted his teeth and said,

"Fine!"

"What a fine 'better to shatter like jade than remain whole like a clay tile'!"

Dissatisfaction rose in Ma Hong Jun's heart.

"Brother Xiao, I kindly asked Teacher to save you, but not only did you refuse, you even started spouting things about shattering like jade rather than remaining whole like a clay tile. Do you really have to put on such an air of moral superiority?"

"You'd rather throw away your life for this so-called moral superiority?"

"Brother Xiao, I always thought you were clever, but now it seems you're actually the most hidebound and stubborn one of all."

"I'm done caring about you!"

Ma Hong Jun had already been somewhat worried that if Lin Xiao became Flender's disciple, he might become the student Teacher valued even more, putting his own position at risk.

Now, Lin Xiao had humiliated Flender.

He was also stubbornly refusing to vent his Evil Fire. Considering his past relationship with Lin Xiao, Ma Hong Jun had already reached his limit by advising him once. He would not keep persuading him again and again.

But Flender still cherished talent.

He had witnessed the power of Ma Hong Jun's Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul. Compared to Ma Hong Jun, Lin Xiao could only be stronger. It was just that this blockhead truly did not know how to bend.

"Lin Xiao, I'll give you one final chance."

"Will you vent this Evil Fire or not?"

Lin Xiao did not answer.

He closed his eyes and murmured softly,

"The Phoenix soars a thousand ren high; it perches not but on the Wutong Tree."

The Phoenix would not perch anywhere but on the Wutong Tree, eat anything but Bamboo Fruit, or drink anything but Sweet Spring.

How could Lin Xiao willingly debase himself?

Flender's expression changed drastically.

This Lin Xiao truly refused to repent even in death!

"Forget it. Everyone has their own destiny. Take care of yourself!"

"Hong Jun, let's go!"

Ma Hong Jun shook his head theatrically.

Looking down at Lin Xiao from above, he regarded him with some pity.

"What a pity. What a pity."

"Brother Xiao, you always think you're smarter than me."

"But in truth, you're the biggest fool of all."

With that, Ma Hong Jun shook his head and followed Flender outside.

Inside the thatched cottage,

only Lin Xiao remained.

He gritted his teeth and endured the tremendous agony.

It felt as though his Five Viscera and Six Bowels were being scorched. It was worse than death.

"After transmigrating into this world for six years, am I really going to die like this?"

Lin Xiao was truly unwilling to accept it.

He had originally been a University Student from Blue Star, but had unexpectedly transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, becoming an Abandoned Infant outside Suotuo City and growing up by relying on the charity of countless households.

He had been sensible from a young age and, relying on the wisdom of his previous life, improved the villagers' lives.

Yet on the day of his Martial Soul Awakening, he awakened the same Evil Fire Phoenix as Ma Hong Jun.

As someone with Innate Full Soul Power, Lin Xiao felt as though the heavens had collapsed.

"If I could, I would rather not have this talent. I only wish to live an innocent life."

Having received a higher education and always kept himself pure from childhood, Lin Xiao truly could not accept going to a brothel and committing such an animalistic act...

He was afraid of seeing the ugly self controlled by the Evil Fire!

(Note: The following is a clear image of the cover, as well as the protagonist's concept art.)