Origin

Upon hearing Lin Yi's words, Yan Shaozhe's face lit up with delight.

"Junior Uncle-Master truly is extraordinary. You actually came up with a solution. Hurry and tell us."

"To solve a problem, we must first understand its essence."

"Its essence?"

"That's right. Xiaotao's Evil Fire is indeed unusual, but as far as I know, no one has ever considered where this Evil Fire truly comes from."

"This..."

"Junior Uncle-Master, doesn't that have nothing to do with solving the problem?"

"If we do not understand its root, how can we resolve the problem completely?"

Mu En said, "Xiao Yi, tell us what you think."

Lin Yi continued, "From my observations, this Evil Fire not only arises from its origin, but also possesses a certain Spirit Attribute."

"Spirit Attribute?"

Yan Shaozhe was immediately puzzled, and Ma Xiaotao's eyes were likewise full of confusion.

After all, for ten thousand years, every Shrek ancestor had called it Evil Fire. No one had ever claimed that these flames possessed a Spirit Attribute.

"Since these flames can affect one's mind, they must naturally be connected to the spirit. In other words, they possess a Spirit Attribute."

Master and disciple exchanged a glance. Though they had never considered it before, Lin Yi's explanation made it seem as though the Evil Fire truly did possess a Spirit Attribute.

Mu En also revealed a thoughtful expression and signaled for Lin Yi to continue.

"Furthermore, I don't think these flames should be called Evil Fire. Desire Fire would be a more fitting name."

Yet another term none of them had considered before.

Lin Yi did not wait for them to ask and explained directly, "When this Evil Fire acts up, it does affect one's mind and can even cause one to lose control. But what was the method passed down from ten thousand years ago to resolve it? Relieving it through relations between a man and a woman..."

At that, a flush rose to Ma Xiaotao's cheeks. This little brat... how could he... how could he say something like that so naturally and directly?!

"Since it can be relieved through such matters, that means these flames themselves affect a person's desires, magnifying the urge between men and women. That is why I call it Desire Fire."

The others understood Lin Yi's meaning. They had to admit that his analysis made a great deal of sense, but...

Yan Shaozhe suddenly came to his senses. "Junior Uncle-Master, but you still haven't told us the solution."

Lin Yi said calmly, "No rush. Now that we understand the nature of these flames, all that remains is to prescribe the proper remedy."

"I have thought of two methods. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. You can hear them out."

Yan Shaozhe looked at Lin Yi expectantly. After that analysis, he had even greater confidence in him.

"Of the two methods, the first is to actively accept this Desire Fire and make it one's own. If it can be controlled, this Desire Fire would possess both Fire and Spirit Attributes. Once one's cultivation reaches a profound level, perhaps it could directly burn another person's spirit, even their soul."

Ma Xiaotao's eyes shone at once. She wished she could immediately possess such a method.

Yan Shaozhe had been excited moments ago, but now he was much calmer. "You said each has its pros and cons. We have heard the advantage, so what is the drawback?"

"This Desire Fire will ultimately affect its wielder as well. Once one loses control, the consequences are impossible to predict."

They understood. Put simply, this Desire Fire was the sort of thing that injured oneself before injuring the enemy. If one could endure it, the enemy would suffer. If not, one would be the one in trouble.

Yan Shaozhe immediately said, "Tell us the second method."

"Teacher!" Ma Xiaotao spoke up. Her nature was competitive, and she was unwilling to give up something as powerful as Desire Fire.

"Enough!"

Yan Shaozhe rebuked her sharply. Ma Xiaotao did not dare speak again. Since becoming his disciple, this was the first time Yan Shaozhe had ever been so severe with her.

"I know you are competitive, but did you not hear the consequences your Junior Uncle-Master just described? Even now, this Evil Fire is already more than you can bear. If it grows even stronger, how will you resist it once it loses control?"

"Desire Fire. It's Desire Fire," Lin Yi quietly reminded him from the side.

Yan Shaozhe's emotions were interrupted, and his anger eased somewhat. Ignoring the little child who had no sense of timing, he earnestly told Ma Xiaotao, "Xiaotao, I have no children. You are like a daughter to me. I do not want to see a white-haired man bury a black-haired one. I believe that even without that Desire Fire, you can still become a powerful soul master. Because you are the disciple of Yan Shaozhe, the greatest genius Shrek Academy has seen in centuries!"

"Teacher..." Ma Xiaotao's eyes instantly brimmed with tears as she nodded repeatedly. "Teacher, I understand."

"Good child." Yan Shaozhe stroked his disciple's head, his eyes carrying a trace of emotion as well.

"If you two are done, shall I continue?"

Naturally, only Lin Yi could ruin the mood so thoroughly.

Stopping Ma Xiaotao, who could not resist wanting to strike him, Yan Shaozhe smiled. "Junior Uncle-Master, please continue."

"Alright. As for the second method, it is the usual one: purify the flames, remove the Desire Fire within them, and turn them into pure fire."

Ma Xiaotao could not help saying, "Purifying flames requires an Immortal Herb with a Fire Attribute, but Immortal Herbs are so hard to find. Where are we supposed to find one?"

Yan Shaozhe was also somewhat disappointed. In the end, they had still failed to find a way to resolve his disciple's Martial Soul flaw.

"Who said we had to rely on an Immortal Herb?"

Lin Yi spoke confidently. "The second method is to strengthen the Martial Soul Origin."

"Strengthen the Martial Soul Origin?" Mu En, who had been listening all along, suddenly became interested. "Explain it in detail."

Lin Yi nodded.

"In the end, the Desire Fire of the Evil Fire Phoenix originates from its source. To resolve it completely, we must start with the Martial Soul Origin."

"First, strengthen the intensity of the Fire Attribute within the origin itself."

"Second, treat the Desire Fire within the flames as an impurity. Purify it and increase the purity of the flames."

Ma Xiaotao looked utterly lost, while Yan Shaozhe fell into thought.

Mu En's eyes were filled with praise. "Tell us your specific plan."

"There is not much to say. One method is through Soul Rings, and the other is through personal comprehension—perceiving one's own Martial Soul Origin and purifying one's own flames."

"Soul Rings?"

"Origin?"

Mu En was somewhat surprised that Lin Yi had mentioned Soul Rings, while Yan Shaozhe did not understand why the origin could purify one's own flames.

Ma Xiaotao's situation was simpler. She understood neither.

Lin Yi could only continue explaining. "Soul Rings themselves can help Martial Souls achieve evolution."

"Soul Rings merely help soul masters break through bottlenecks and grant them Soul Skills. How can they help Martial Souls evolve?"

"That is related to the soul master's Martial Soul Origin. When the Martial Soul Origin is compatible, Soul Rings can help the Martial Soul achieve a certain degree of evolution."

Seeing that they still did not understand, Lin Yi said no more. He directly summoned his Golden Tree. His First Soul Ring lit up, and Golden Growth was activated.

The tree roots plunged into the earth. Lin Yi said nothing further, silently driving the effects of Golden Growth to their limit.

A moment later, under Mu En and Yan Shaozhe's horrified gazes, the grass surrounding the place where the Golden Tree had taken root seemed to have accelerated through time. Its tender, vibrant green gradually faded, turning yellow and withered!

It was as though its vitality had been drained away.

Amid their shocked gazes, Lin Yi slowly said, "This is a new attribute the Blue Silver King gave me: Devour."

Upon hearing Devour, Mu En and Yan Shaozhe's expressions changed.

Yan Shaozhe spoke rapidly. "Junior Uncle-Master, remember this: never reveal this attribute before others in the future. If you truly have no choice but to use it..."

A fierce glint flashed through his eyes as Yan Shaozhe said in a heavy voice, "Then there can only be... no survivors!"

"Xiaotao!"

"Here."

"Not a word of what happened today is to be leaked!"

After glancing at Lin Yi, Ma Xiaotao obediently replied, "Yes, Teacher."

Lin Yi was rather bewildered.

"Junior Uncle-Master, do you know that the Devour Attribute generally signifies an Evil Soul Master?"

Lin Yi nodded to show that he knew.

"Since you know, do you not understand how serious this is?"

"What is so serious about it? The Pavilion Master of Sea God Pavilion is my master, and I possess the Extreme Light Attribute. Who would dare say I am an Evil Soul Master? Just because of an attribute gained from absorbing a Soul Ring?"

"That is true," Yan Shaozhe said, somewhat persuaded.

"Enough. At the end of the day, it is only an attribute," Mu En said, setting the tone.

"Xiao Yi, remember this: the Devour Attribute can easily lead a soul master toward evil. You must hold fast to your heart and not be influenced by power."

"Don't worry, Master. I won't."

Lin Yi then activated his Second Soul Skill, but Golden Protection did not take shape, nor was it the earlier Golden Imprisonment.

As everyone looked on in confusion, visible Radiance elements rapidly gathered above Lin Yi's outstretched palm, where he shaped them into all manner of forms.

Blades, swords, shields, birds, beasts—countless shapes appeared.

Ma Xiaotao could not help praising him. "What exquisite control of Soul Power."

Mu En and Yan Shaozhe, however, both revealed delighted expressions.

"Master, Senior Brother Yan, do you believe now that I will not fall into becoming an Evil Soul Master?"

"Yes, of course we do."

Seeing the joy on her teacher's and grandmaster's faces, Ma Xiaotao tugged on her teacher's sleeve. "Teacher, it is only that his Soul Power control is more refined. Why are you and Grandmaster..."

The delight had yet to fade from Yan Shaozhe's face as he patiently explained, "Xiaotao, elements do not lie."

"Besides Junior Uncle-Master's outstanding control, there is another reason why he can manipulate Radiance elements as easily as his own limbs and fingers: the recognition of Radiance. A soul master recognized by Radiance will not fall into becoming an Evil Soul Master."

Only then did Ma Xiaotao understand.

Lin Yi withdrew his Martial Soul and continued, "What I truly wanted to discuss was the second method, because I have already accomplished it."

"Moreover, through this method, I have already decided on my Third Soul Ring!"