Inside a cave in the Star Dou Great Forest's Core Circle.
Xuan Zi, the teacher leading the team, slowly took a swig of wine, ate a chicken drumstick, then wiped his greasy hands.
It seemed that he had forgotten something when they came out this time.
What exactly was it?
He remembered coming out with Lexuan and Xiaotao.
What had they come out for?
Right, to hunt soul beasts and help Xiaotao obtain her Sixth Spirit Ring.
At that thought, Xuan Zi smacked his forehead and thought, Damn it! Drinking and eating meat made me neglect something important. I hope Xiaotao and Lexuan are all right. With a Rank 8 Soul Douluo holding the fort, there shouldn't be any accidents unless they encountered a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
How could he forget such an important matter just because he had been drinking, eating meat, and sleeping?
Somewhat remorseful, Xuan Zi hurriedly rushed out of the cave.
He began searching for Lexuan and the others.
With the strength of a Level 98 Super Douluo, he soon found the Students' auras in a ravine inhabited by soul beasts.
Zhang Lexuan, Ling Luochen, Chu Qingtian, and the other Students were huddled inside the Water Curtain Cave.
Xuan Zi took a closer look.
Why were these little brats grilling fish in the Water Curtain Cave? Still, the aroma was quite strong.
With a flash, Xuan Zi flew down.
At that moment, Zhang Lexuan and the others were grilling fish while tending to their injuries.
Their group had encountered a super Fierce Beast with a cultivation of four hundred thousand years—the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. They had lost an Inner Court Student in exchange for the chance to escape.
Whenever they thought of it, their expressions turned sorrowful.
Looking toward the Water Curtain Cave, Zhang Lexuan called out, "Xuan Zi, where exactly are you? An entire day has passed. Why haven't you come yet?"
Ling Luochen said angrily, "It's always like this. We've already lost a student, and who knows what that old man is off doing."
Hua Yao sighed. "Perhaps Xuan Zi has been held up by something urgent."
The atmosphere immediately grew heavy.
Their current situation was far from good.
Ma Xiaotao had gone missing in the aftermath of the battle. This was a tremendous loss for the Academy.
If Dean Yan Shaozhe found out, he would probably faint from anger on the spot.
After all, Ma Xiaotao was the strongest of this generation's Shrek Inner Court. If she had died in the Star Dou Great Forest, they would be unable to absolve themselves of blame.
Zhang Lexuan stood and instructed, "Luochen, Hua Yao, wait here. I'm going to find Xiaotao. Even if it's only her body, I'll bring her back."
"Senior Sister!"
Afraid that something else might happen, Ling Luochen hurriedly tried to stop her.
Hua Yao and the others also urged her not to go, all of them fearful that another accident would occur.
If anything happened to the senior sister, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"It's fine. Wait here for me. I'll be back soon." Tears welled in Zhang Lexuan's eyes as she clenched her small fists.
As the senior sister, she had to go find Xiaotao.
Just then, an elderly figure descended before them. It was none other than the Xuan Zi they had been longing for.
Xuan Zi laughed loudly. "You even have grilled fish here? Not bad!"
Everyone froze for a moment when they saw him.
This was... Xuan Zi?
With a thud, Zhang Lexuan dropped to her knees and gave a bitter smile. "Xuan Zi, you finally came. We thought something had happened to you."
Xuan Zi frowned, a bad feeling rising in his heart.
He immediately asked, "Lexuan, what happened? Why isn't Xiaotao here? Where is Xiaotao?"
Zhang Lexuan had no choice but to tell him everything, including how they had encountered Xiong Jun and how she had led the younger female Students to escape to this place.
After hearing it all, Xuan Zi was dumbfounded.
Something had happened!
Something had happened again while he was leading the team!
Xiaotao had actually gone missing.
Xuan Zi was so furious that smoke practically came out of his seven orifices. He roared, "That damned Xiong Jun! If I can't find Xiaotao today, this old man will bathe the Star Dou Great Forest in blood!"
That roar was like thunderous wrath, echoing through half of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Zhang Lexuan wiped away her tears and called out, "Xuan Zi, we should go find Xiaotao first. What if she's still alive?"
"Right, Xiaotao."
Xuan Zi had only just remembered the important matter and immediately ordered everyone to follow him.
Before long, Shrek's group set off in a grand procession.
This time, no soul beasts came out to block their path. With a Level 98 Super Douluo leading the way, whoever dared block them would die here today.
Xuan Zi was full of pent-up resentment and had been worrying over where to vent it.
Thinking of how they had lost a student in Star Dou this time, he had no idea how he would explain it to Mu En.
Mu En would definitely beat him to death.
If Xiaotao had also met with misfortune, Yan Shaozhe would surely go mad. After all, Xiaotao was his prized disciple.
At that thought, Xuan Zi grew even angrier. He directly activated his Martial Soul True Body and searched the Star Dou Great Forest without restraint for Ma Xiaotao's traces.
Meanwhile, outside the Star Dou Great Forest.
Ma Xiaotao softly exhaled a breath of turbid air, then turned to look at Qian Chaoyun. Her pretty face was slightly red as she said softly, "Little brother, thank you for helping me Suppress Evil Fire."
Qian Chaoyun was somewhat speechless.
Just now, in order to survive, you were even calling me Elder Brother. Now that you've realized you're older than me, you're calling me little brother instead.
Women really were fickle, especially a seductive woman like Ma Xiaotao.
Qian Chaoyun waved his hand. "It was just a small effort. No need to be so polite. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
The moment Ma Xiaotao heard that he was leaving, she became anxious.
She had yet to let her Teacher thank Qian Chaoyun for saving her life. How could she let him leave?
She said, "Don't go."
Qian Chaoyun turned back and asked, "If I don't go, are you inviting me to your Academy for a meal?"
"That's not impossible."
Ma Xiaotao pursed her lips, then seemed to think of something and asked, "Do you have somewhere to go? I remember that Angel Soul Masters are extremely rare on the continent. Those evil soul masters won't let you off."
Qian Chaoyun nodded. "I don't have any family."
Hearing that, Ma Xiaotao's beautiful eyes lit up. "That's wonderful! Join Shrek Academy! With your talent and strength, you'd be considered outstanding even in the Inner Court. Besides, you're only thirteen. You'll definitely be a new star in the future."
"Can I?" Qian Chaoyun asked.
"Of course you can."
Ma Xiaotao patted her full chest and said proudly, "Big Sister will think of a way for you. But... after entering the Academy, you might be ostracized."
Ma Xiaotao thought of what had happened ten thousand years ago.
Qian Chaoyun possessed the Sacred Angel Spirit, and a six-winged one at that. He was surely connected to the Spirit Hall from ten thousand years ago.
How had Spirit Hall been destroyed?
It had been personally destroyed by Tang San, the Asura God and leader of the first generation of the Shrek Seven Devils.
Even ten thousand years later, the continent's soul masters were not especially friendly toward the Angel lineage.
Qian Chaoyun also fell silent.
Joining Shrek was not the best choice, but it was the best place available to him at the moment.
Just then, Ma Xiaotao heard Xuan Zi calling for her. When she looked up, she saw everyone from the Academy.
She stood up and called out happily, "Senior Sister, Xuan Zi, I'm here!"
As she shouted, Ma Xiaotao waved toward the sky.
Soon, Qian Chaoyun and Ma Xiaotao were spotted by the Shrek group in midair, and they descended toward them.
"That's great, Xiaotao. You're alive."
The first thing Zhang Lexuan did after landing was check Ma Xiaotao's condition.
Seeing that Ma Xiaotao was not only unharmed but even looked healthier, she could not help feeling relieved.
The other Shrek Students also gathered around, asking Ma Xiaotao after her well-being.
The weight on Xuan Zi's heart finally lifted.
Fortunately, they had only lost one student this time. Ma Xiaotao had not died in the Star Dou Great Forest.
If she really had died, he would not have known how to answer to Mu En when he returned.
Zhang Lexuan immediately asked, "Xiaotao, how did you survive? We were all being chased by Xiong Jun at the time, and you were sent flying. The senior sister thought you had died."
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