The Small Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye in Huo Yuhao's dantian was mainly made up of Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. During his trip to the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye Ten Thousand Years Ago, Huo Yuhao had absorbed most of the Extreme Ice and Extreme Fire Heaven and Earth Yuan Power contained within it.
That meant that if Huo Yuhao wanted to raise his Soul Power as quickly as possible, he first had to deal with the Extreme Fire Heaven and Earth Yuan Power. Only then could he absorb the Extreme Ice Heaven and Earth Yuan Power within him and convert it into his own Soul Power.
Ma Xiaotao's arrival had provided the perfect solution to Huo Yuhao's problem. The two cultivated together, and with the lingering aura of Infernal Delicate Apricot accompanying the Extreme Fire Heaven and Earth Yuan Power, Ma Xiaotao's flames began moving toward Extreme Fire.
As it happened, the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower intervened at just the right moment, completing the final piece of the puzzle.
At sunset, on Sea God Island in Sea God Lake.
Qian Renxue stretched as she walked out of the Inner Courtyard, gazing at the beautiful sunset in the distance. Having finished a day of Soul Tool crafting and research, she had become increasingly adept at Soul Tool knowledge. She was confident it wouldn't be long before she became a Fourth-level Soul Master.
Qian Renxue carried the hopes and future of Spirit Hall on her shoulders. This journey Ten Thousand Years Later was her chance to defy fate and change her destiny. The more deeply she studied Soul Tools, the more convinced she became that they were the future of Spirit Hall.
Just as Qian Renxue was about to head to the Inner Courtyard Canteen for dinner, a crimson pillar of fire shot up from the bottom of Sea God Lake. Its scorching heat evaporated a vast stretch of the lake, and great clouds of steam rose into the air, veiling the lake in mystery.
Countless figures flew out of the Inner Courtyard, one after another.
At their head was a disheveled old man carrying a Wine Gourd. Beside him was Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul System.
"Xuan Zi, it looks like Xiaotao's Phoenix Evil Fire has erupted completely!" Yan Shaozhe's expression changed as he stared at the terrifying heat rising from the bottom of Sea God Lake. Usually unruffled, even he couldn't help worrying for Ma Xiaotao.
The old man they called Xuan Zi was a Level Ninety-eight Titled Douluo with the title Taotie. He was one of the Sea God Pavilion Elders and also Shrek Academy's second strongest.
Xuan Zi said nothing. Earth Yellow Soul Power spread toward the lakebed where Ma Xiaotao was. A moment later, a trace of surprise crossed his face, and he laughed. "Shao Zhe, it seems your worry was unnecessary. From what I can tell, Xiaotao may have already mastered her Evil Fire and transformed it into pure Phoenix Flame. She may even have become an Extreme Fire Soul Master."
The elders were delighted by his words. Soul Masters with an Ultimate Attribute appeared only once in a thousand years. Ma Xiaotao becoming an Extreme Fire Soul Master would undoubtedly give her a bright future.
A crowd of students had gathered at Lakeside of Sea God Lake, all stunned by the sight before them.
The crimson pillar of fire had burst through the lakebed, and the water level near the shore was dropping at an astonishing rate. The rocks at the bottom of the lake were almost exposed. It was easy to imagine how scorching the pillar of fire must be.
Huo Yuhao was among the crowd. He had already left just before Ma Xiaotao's eruption. Watching Ma Xiaotao, transformed into a fiery phoenix within the pillar of fire, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
A pair of crimson Phoenix Wings spread behind Ma Xiaotao. Realizing what had happened to her, she exclaimed in delight, "My Evil Fire is completely gone! And my Soul Power has broken through level seventy, too. This..."
Ma Xiaotao looked toward Huo Yuhao by the lake. Their eyes met, and her pretty face turned faintly red as she recalled the promise she had made to him earlier.
Just then, Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe flew over.
"Xuan Zi, Teacher," Ma Xiaotao said respectfully, then looked at the two of them.
"Xiaotao, have you really gotten rid of your Evil Fire completely?" Yan Shaozhe asked excitedly.
As his Disciple, Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire had always been Yan Shaozhe's biggest headache. Sometimes he even wondered whether she would have been spared all this suffering if her Martial Soul had been the same as his: a Bright Phoenix.
"Teacher, the Evil Fire that's plagued me for more than ten years is completely gone. My Soul Power has also reached level seventy."
"Level seventy!" Xuan Zi nearly choked. He tucked his Wine Gourd behind him and placed a hand on Ma Xiaotao's wrist.
Xuan Zi sounded both amazed and moved. "Your aura is strong, and there's no trace of Evil Fire left in your body. It won't return. It seems you've had an extraordinary opportunity recently!"
Ma Xiaotao didn't dare mention Huo Yuhao. It was a promise between the two of them, and it also concerned her lifelong happiness. She had just given herself to him, and even now, she could hardly believe it.
Xuan Zi said, "Shao Zhe, take Xiaotao to Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Soul Beast."
"But the New Student Assessment..." As dean of the Martial Soul System, Yan Shaozhe had to attend the New Student Assessment Finals. Hunting a Soul Beast in Star Dou Great Forest—especially one suitable for a Seventh Soul Ring—would be no easy task.
"Don't worry. I'll personally oversee the New Student Assessment."
With Xuan Zi's assurance, Yan Shaozhe relaxed. He took Ma Xiaotao back to the Inner Courtyard to get ready.
Huo Yuhao watched the group disappear into the sky. Just then, Qian Renxue tapped him on the shoulder. "Little brother, fixing Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire was your doing, wasn't it?"
Qian Renxue used Soul Power Telepathy. Huo Yuhao nodded, and the siblings went to sit in an empty pavilion.
"Big sister really knows me inside out," Huo Yuhao said with a beaming smile.
"Don't start. No one else could pull off something like that." Qian Renxue had witnessed the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion and the Snow Empress. Huo Yuhao's ability to create miracles had become nothing unusual to her.
Huo Yuhao then briefly recounted what had just happened.
After listening, Qian Renxue teased him with a grin. "Ma Xiaotao just handed herself over to you, just like that?"
Huo Yuhao's face immediately turned red. "I'm only eleven. We can take our time building a relationship. But I really do need an Extreme Fire Soul Master to work with me. The Extreme Fire Heaven and Earth Yuan Power inside me is just too vast, and Ma Xiaotao is the best person for the job."
"My Soul Power carries the aura of Infernal Delicate Apricot. Add the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and the stimulation of a trace of Extreme Fire Heaven and Earth Yuan Power, and the three factors together gave birth to an Extreme Fire Soul Master."
Qian Renxue pursed her lips. "You make it sound easy, but every single one of those things came at the cost of risking your life."
"But speaking of which, Ma Xiaotao really is a pretty good girl. She's busty and curvy, so she'll surely have no trouble bearing sons. Her temper is as fiery as her attribute, but from spending time with her, I can tell she's kind."
"She'd make a good match for you, too."
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