Martial Soul Evolution, Darkness and Destruction Phoenix

Jet-black flames surged upward.

Black, magnificent feathers had grown from the Phoenix's originally crimson body. Half of the blazing flames were an eerie red, while the other half were a mysterious black.

Even Ye Qingxian, with all her experience and knowledge, had no idea what was happening as she watched the phantom image of Lin Xiao's Phoenix Martial Soul emerge behind him of its own accord. Her willow brows knitted tightly as she stared at him without blinking.

The youth with Red Maple colored hair opened his eyes. His originally jet-black, bright pupils had turned an eerie blood-red, and his face had undergone subtle changes that made him seem incomparably flamboyant.

Even Lin Xiao's normally clear and tranquil temperament had changed, gaining a touch of wicked charm and wild arrogance. He gave off the impression of a model student suddenly turning into a bad boy, yet carried a somewhat roguish allure.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Lin Xiao asked in confusion.

Yet what seemed like an entirely ordinary question to him sounded completely different from Ye Lingling and Ye Qingxian's perspective.

From their perspective,

Lin Xiao's blood-red pupils were filled with aggression and hostility. The corner of his lips lifted slightly into a wicked smile, while his lazy voice carried a hint of temptation.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something dirty on my face?"

There was no confusion in it at all. Instead, it sounded like teasing and playful mockery from someone who already knew the answer.

If they had not known Lin Xiao's personality so well and spent so much time with him, allowing them to understand his true intent, they might really have thought he was flirting with them.

Uh...

The difference in style was simply worlds apart.

Still, compared to the resolute and clean-tempered Lin Xiao from before, why did this wickedly charming and unruly version of him seem to have a unique flavor too?

Tsk, so he could switch styles as well.

"Has your Evil Fire subsided already?"

Seeing that Lin Xiao's skin had returned from crimson to fair, his expression had become calm again, and his entire person seemed to have undergone a heaven-shaking transformation, Ye Qingxian could not help asking.

"Yeah. With the experience from the first two times, the third was much better. The only drawback is that it hurt more and more, but once you get used to it, it's just that."

Habit was truly a terrifying force.

Difficulties that had once seemed impossible to overcome, or circumstances that had once been unbearable, somehow began to feel ordinary after one grew accustomed to them. People improved without even realizing it.

"By the way, judging from your expressions, is there something strange about me?"

Lin Xiao subconsciously touched his face, but he could not tell anything just by feeling it.

He only felt that his face was tender and his skin was really good.

"Ling Ling, go get a mirror."

As soon as Ye Qingxian finished speaking, Ye Lingling took off running. She looked so frantic that it was as if she were rushing to fetch water to put out a fire.

Dugu Yan, who had been standing some distance away, also came closer. After carefully examining Lin Xiao for a while, her face suddenly flushed faintly, and she spat lightly.

"You look like a smooth-talking rascal. You don't look like a good person."

"But you are quite handsome."

Lin Xiao: ???

No, when had he ever become a smooth-talking rascal?!

Sister Yanyan, was that a personal attack?

Lin Xiao finally realized that his appearance had probably changed.

Had he become uglier?!

Lin Xiao felt as though the sky had fallen.

Seeing Lin Xiao's dejected expression, Ye Qingxian found it immensely amusing. This child had always been mature beyond his years; it was the first time she had seen such a childish expression on him.

She immediately chuckled.

"Don't worry. Although the change is indeed rather significant, you definitely haven't become uglier. You're just handsome in a different way."

He had changed from an obedient child into a wickedly charming youth.

At that moment, Ye Lingling hurried over with a mirror in hand. After stopping, she bent over with her hands on her knees and caught her breath before handing it to Lin Xiao.

"Here! You'll know once you look!"

Lin Xiao took the mirror and looked into it nervously. Upon seeing his reflection, he froze slightly.

Aggressive Blood-Colored Pupils, a face that had become incomparably flamboyant after only slight adjustments, and a wickedly charming, unruly temperament...

Was this really him?!

Oh, right!

And this!

Lin Xiao snapped his fingers. A magnificent flame immediately appeared at his fingertips—an eerie red blaze wrapped around mysterious black fire. It gave off a strange yet harmonious impression.

It looked so familiar...

A darkened Ma Xiaotao?!

Destruction Phoenix?!

The two terms abruptly surfaced in Lin Xiao's mind, and his expression completely fell apart. He had not even been tainted by a Darkness Attribute!

Moreover, with the Ice Heart Incantation circulating within him, Lin Xiao could not possibly become corrupted. So why was his Martial Soul developing toward a Darkness and Destruction Phoenix?

I haven't been tainted by any Darkness and Destruction Attribute, so I can basically rule out external influences. That means the variable causing this change must have come from within the Martial Soul itself.

Could it be that the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul itself possesses Darkness and Destruction Attributes? Hiss... that really is possible! The reason Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul became corrupted in Douluo 2 was likely that being tainted by dark elements was merely the trigger. The true cause was that it drew out the Darkness and Destruction Attributes within her body. That would explain everything.

Otherwise, wouldn't anyone's Martial Soul become corrupted just by coming into contact with dark elements? That would be ridiculous.

Lin Xiao pondered to himself.

But why did my Martial Soul Evolution mutate toward a Darkness and Destruction Phoenix? Why not an Ultimate Fire Phoenix?

And compared with Ma Xiaotao, although my appearance has changed as well, my temperament hasn't changed drastically. Why haven't I fallen into an Evil Soul Master like she did?

Is it because my Martial Soul naturally evolved during Nirvana, whereas Ma Xiaotao merely mutated after being tainted by dark elements?

Lin Xiao was filled with doubts, but he could not find a reasonable explanation.

"You've been thinking for so long. Have you figured out what happened to your Martial Soul?"

Ye Qingxian's question reached his ears.

Lin Xiao shook his head slightly and gave a bitter smile.

"I don't know whether I can change back after becoming like this. Although it seems to look fairly decent, the difference from before is a little too great."

Ye Lingling's face reddened slightly, her gaze flickering as she comforted him.

"Lin Xiao, it's fine."

"Although you look very different from before, I still think you look good. It's just that you somehow seem so bad..."

When a girl said someone was bad, it was not necessarily criticism. On the contrary, it might be approval. After all, bad boys attracted girls, and even Blue Star had once seen a trend of roguishly handsome men.

Beside them, Dugu Yan nodded in deep agreement.

"It's that feeling of being both bad and handsome."

There was more that she did not say.

Lin Xiao now seemed like the type who could make girls blush and have their hearts race with a single glance. She truly did not dare imagine how terrifying he would become once he grew up. Could it be that just one look from him would make girls' legs go weak?

Yet Lin Xiao still frowned in distress.

Would I have to learn to accept this new version of myself from now on?

"Pfft~"

Ye Qingxian truly could not hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. She raised her chin at Lin Xiao.

"Those who have not undergone Nirvana are called mutations. Only those who have undergone Nirvana are evolutions. How could an evolved Phoenix Martial Soul possibly have such a flaw?"

"Try releasing your Martial Soul Possession!"