Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao

Xiao Wenliang thought for a moment before finally saying, "In that case, please wait a moment, Dean Yan. The Ancient Ice Crystal is stored in the warehouse. I need to go get it."

"Alright, sorry to trouble you," Yan Shaozhe said with a smile.

Xiao Wenliang exchanged glances with Situ Xun, the second-in-command. Both rose to their feet, intending to retrieve the box containing the Ancient Ice Crystal from the warehouse.

Crack!

However, before the two could open the door, it opened first.

Xiao Wenliang and Situ Xun froze. Yan Shaozhe frowned as he sensed an aura outside the door that was not the least bit weaker than his own.

"So it was Bright Phoenix Douluo. I thought some mighty expert had arrived." As the door slowly opened, Xiao Kuangdao walked in from outside.

"It's you." Yan Shaozhe's face immediately showed surprise when he saw who it was.

"Haha." Xiao Kuangdao laughed. "It's been decades since we last met. Looks like you haven't forgotten me."

"Elder Xiao!" Xiao Wenliang and Situ Xun had never expected the visitor to be Mad Saber Douluo, one of the sect's guardian elders.

Xiao Kuangdao shifted his gaze toward them and asked doubtfully, "Where is Elder Chen?"

Xiao Wenliang replied, "Elder Chen went to the Star Dou Great Forest a few days ago. His disciple reached Soul Elder rank and needed to obtain a Soul Ring."

"I see. Fine, then. Go attend to your business first." Xiao Kuangdao nodded.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wenliang and Situ Xun immediately departed.

"And this is?" Yan Shaozhe noticed Qin Ze standing beside Xiao Kuangdao.

Hearing this, Xiao Kuangdao smiled. "He is this old man's disciple, Qin Ze."

"Your disciple?" Yan Shaozhe gave Qin Ze a once-over. Meanwhile, Qin Ze's attention had fallen on the girl seated beside Yan Shaozhe.

That fiery red hair, those pale pink eyes, and that slender, youthful body somehow made a person suddenly surface in his mind.

Ma Xiaotao!

But staring at someone else for too long was rude, so Qin Ze quickly looked away and said to Yan Shaozhe, "Junior Qin Ze greets you, Senior."

Ma Xiaotao glanced at Qin Ze a few times.

Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly and looked at Xiao Kuangdao. "I never expected you to take on a disciple as well."

Xiao Kuangdao dropped onto the sofa, while Qin Ze stood to one side.

Xiao Kuangdao said, "Don't you have a disciple too?"

"My disciple is a genius. Even within Shrek Academy, she ranks among the very best." Yan Shaozhe stroked his beard with a faint smile, his words full of pride.

"There seems to be a suppressed power within your disciple's body. It is extremely scorching, and it even carries a hint of evil." Xiao Kuangdao frowned.

Yan Shaozhe nodded helplessly. "Xiaotao's Martial Soul is very powerful—the Evil Fire Phoenix. Unfortunately, this Martial Soul was born with a flaw. It can only be aided and suppressed through my Soul Power or Ice Attribute treasures. That is also why we came here today."

"Evil Fire Phoenix!" Xiao Kuangdao raised a brow. "Could she be a descendant of Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun from ten thousand years ago?"

"That's right." Yan Shaozhe said regretfully, "Unfortunately, Shrek Academy has been unable to find the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower Immortal Herb. Otherwise, we could completely eradicate the evil fire and even allow Xiaotao's Martial Soul to evolve."

"No wonder you personally came here intending to purchase the Ancient Ice Crystal directly." Xiao Kuangdao understood.

Yan Shaozhe said in a deep voice, "The Ancient Ice Crystal can at least keep Xiaotao free from the evil fire's torment for half a year. During those six months, I will also try to find treasures close to Extreme Ice. Relying solely on Soul Power for suppression will eventually cause a backlash. It is not a long-term solution."

"Teacher, I've made you worry." Ma Xiaotao knew her own condition and blamed herself deeply.

Yan Shaozhe rubbed Ma Xiaotao's head and smiled. "Silly child."

Before long, Xiao Wenliang and Situ Xun returned. Xiao Wenliang held a rather small box in his hands. Cold air seeped from within it, making the surrounding air several degrees chillier.

Ma Xiaotao's gaze was instantly drawn to the box. The cold air inside eased the blazing heat in her heart somewhat.

"Dean Yan, the Ancient Ice Crystal is inside this box. Would you like to take a look?" Xiao Wenliang asked.

"There's no need." Yan Shaozhe took a gold card from his Soul Tool and handed it to Situ Xun. "The money in this card is exactly three times the price of the Ancient Ice Crystal. Keep it."

Situ Xun reached out to accept the gold card.

"There is no need to take the money. Return it to him." Xiao Kuangdao stopped Situ Xun.

Both Xiao Wenliang and Situ Xun were stunned. Situ Xun's hand was already suspended in midair, making things rather awkward.

"Why is that?" Yan Shaozhe asked in confusion. One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was nothing more than a drizzle to Shrek Academy.

Xiao Kuangdao smiled. "A few years ago, a group of direct descendants from our sect went out to obtain Soul Rings and were ambushed by Evil Soul Masters. Fortunately, Xuan Zi arrived in time and saved them. Consider this Ancient Ice Crystal a token of thanks."

"That happened?" Yan Shaozhe said in surprise. Why had he never heard Xuan Zi mention it?

"It seems Xuan Zi never told you." Seeing Yan Shaozhe's equally surprised expression, Xiao Kuangdao understood. "Just take it."

Yan Shaozhe clasped his fists. "Then I shall accept it with gratitude." As he spoke, Yan Shaozhe took the box from Xiao Wenliang and placed it into his Storage Soul Tool.

Once he saw the other party put away the box, Xiao Kuangdao said quietly, "We can discuss the matter of eliminating the Evil Soul Masters later. Their movements have not been small these past few years."

Yan Shaozhe's gaze turned cold at those words, and he solemnly nodded. Just a year ago, a newly promoted disciple of Shrek Academy's Inner Court had been surrounded and killed by Evil Soul Masters, leaving not even a corpse behind.

This grudge had to be repaid, no matter what.

Yan Shaozhe said, "Very well. If Senior Xiao intends to visit Sea God Island later, please inform me beforehand. I will personally receive you." Xiao Kuangdao was over one hundred seventy years old, while Yan Shaozhe was only around a hundred, so Xiao Kuangdao deserved to be called Senior.

"Good." Xiao Kuangdao smiled and nodded.

Yan Shaozhe left with Ma Xiaotao.

"Elder Xiao, this is your token!" Xiao Wenliang respectfully presented an exquisitely crafted token.

It was the elder token Xiao Kuangdao had previously tossed to Jiang Jincheng.

Xiao Kuangdao accepted the token and said, "I'm just looking around. Go on with your work. This old man can't manage these things anyway."

Hearing this, Xiao Wenliang and Situ Xun respectfully bowed before leaving.

"Yan Shaozhe's talent is truly formidable. I never expected him to have reached this realm as well." Xiao Kuangdao shook his head.

"Teacher, is he a Super Douluo too?" Qin Ze knew who Yan Shaozhe was, but he was not very familiar with him.

"That's right." Xiao Kuangdao nodded. "The last time I saw him, he had only just become a Titled Douluo. In the blink of an eye, he is already nearly as strong as I am. This old man may remain at this realm for the rest of his life, but he may have a chance to challenge the Limit Douluo realm."

Qin Ze watched Xiao Kuangdao, who bore a trace of regret, without saying a word.

Thanks to big brother Mu Yang for one hundred Qidian coins.

A monthly pass from Angel boss. (That makes several this month already, right? Wishing the boss boundless blessings and a long life.)