Damn, she caught up that fast?!
Mo Yuan stopped in his tracks and decided not to run. If he stopped, he might still be able to talk things out without making a scene. If he ran, Ma Xiaotao—whose Evil Fire had driven her mad—would definitely chase him to the ends of the earth.
He looked back. A streak of deep-red fire skimmed rapidly across the lake, and the searing heat left thick clouds of mist in its wake.
Feeling the surging Soul Power within the flames, Mo Yuan felt a headache coming on.
Judging by the Soul Power Ma Xiaotao had displayed, she was at least level sixty—at least twenty levels above him.
Of all the rotten luck, why did this have to happen to me? Had Nidhogg's misfortune spread to me?
Mo Yuan sighed, then reassured Ning Tian, who had no idea what was going on. He told her to stay quiet and leave everything to him, then took two steps forward.
At the same time, the deep-red flames radiating scorching heat reached them and stopped in midair, ten meters in front of Mo Yuan.
As the flames scattered, they revealed the person within: a stunning red-haired beauty. The skin visible beneath her red uniform was as delicate as snow, and her figure was alluring.
After giving her a quick once-over and confirming that it was indeed Ma Xiaotao, Mo Yuan didn't hesitate. He pointed to the woods behind him.
"The person you're looking for left here a minute ago. If you go after him now, you should catch up."
Mo Yuan sold Xu Sanshi out without a second thought. Better a fellow cultivator than himself—and neither he nor Ning Tian had ever agreed to help cover for Xu Sanshi.
After that, Mo Yuan grabbed Ning Tian and turned to leave. Judging by the anger on Ma Xiaotao's face, he didn't want to spend another second near that living volcano.
"Stop!" Seeing Mo Yuan leave, Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow. Her voice, wild and explosive, rang out like thunder. "You can leave after I find Xu Sanshi in the direction you pointed!"
With his back to Ma Xiaotao, Mo Yuan rubbed his ears, still numb from the shock. A cold glint appeared in his deep black eyes.
Did she really think he was made of clay? He just didn't want to cause trouble. That didn't mean he had no temper.
Mo Yuan let go of Ning Tian's hand and turned to face Ma Xiaotao.
Seeing Mo Yuan's stance, Ma Xiaotao's voice turned icy. "You're a new student. You want to fight me?"
Mo Yuan ignored her question and turned to Ning Tian, whose eyes were filled with worry. He smiled. "Ning Tian, go on ahead. I'll handle things here."
Then Mo Yuan turned his gaze to Ma Xiaotao, flames rising all around her. She was a future member of the Shrek Seven Devils, a top genius of the Shrek Inner Court, and the owner of the top-tier Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, which came close to Extreme Fire.
In the Douluo Continent, Ma Xiaotao was undoubtedly a formidable Soul Emperor.
But so what?
A Soul Emperor?
If a transmigrator with a cheat couldn't take on a level-sixty opponent at level forty, he might as well go find a pillar and bash his head against it!
If she wanted trouble, he'd give her everything she asked for!
Mo Yuan took a deep breath. A golden glint flashed in his deep black eyes, and his brilliant Golden Eyes appeared.
Four extraordinary Soul Rings—yellow, purple, purple, and black—rose from beneath his feet, slowly revolving.
Seeing Mo Yuan's limit-defying Soul Ring Configuration and brilliant Golden Eyes, Ma Xiaotao looked surprised. But the surprise quickly gave way to cold fury.
The Evil Fire in her mind left no room for thought.
Mo Yuan drew a long saber from his Soul Tool and held it in one hand, his Golden Eyes fixed on Ma Xiaotao.
In the next instant, Mo Yuan blurred and vanished from where he stood. Without a sound, a flash of cold light erupted behind Ma Xiaotao!
Slash!
The razor-sharp blade, brimming with killing intent, went straight for Ma Xiaotao's fair neck!
Though Ma Xiaotao was under the Evil Fire's control, the battle instincts she'd honed over the years remained. She sensed the blade coming from behind and immediately formed a shield of flames.
Six Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black—rose from beneath her feet.
Then her first yellow Soul Ring lit up, and a straight line of crimson Phoenix Flames shot backward!
First Soul Skill, Phoenix Fire Line!
Mo Yuan withdrew his saber and retreated. His first Soul Ring lit up as well, and he recited a silent Dragon Language incantation.
"Wherever I tread, blades and spears cannot harm me, water and fire cannot frighten me, and evil cannot defile me. It is a pure land untouched by dust."
Yanling: Land of No Dust!
The Yanling field passed down through the lineage of the Kings of Sky and Wind opened to its fullest! Centered on Mo Yuan, countless sharp, transparent shadows shot outward like thousands of invisible arrows.
It was the wind, flowing at incredible speed! It blocked everything from approaching Mo Yuan, forming a vast spherical barrier fifty meters in diameter!
The crimson Phoenix Fire Line was shattered bit by bit. Clumps of flame fell into Sea God Lake below, raising thick clouds of mist.
Then the invisible barrier of rapidly flowing wind slammed into Ma Xiaotao. In that instant, it was as if a dump truck had hit her head-on.
If not for her Phoenix Wings keeping her steady in the air, she might have landed flat on the ground.
After briefly driving Ma Xiaotao back, Mo Yuan glanced at Ning Tian, who was watching anxiously nearby. Then his third Soul Ring lit up, and he recited another string of silent Dragon Language.
The Wind Element around him began to surge. Under Mo Yuan's control, it lifted him into the air and carried him toward the center of Sea God Lake.
If no one stepped in to restrain Ma Xiaotao, he'd have to do it himself!
The shock in Ma Xiaotao's eyes faded after she was briefly forced back. She glanced at Ning Tian, then fixed her gaze on Mo Yuan as he flew toward the center of Sea God Lake. With a beat of her Phoenix Wings, she immediately chased after him.
Beneath the bright moon, Ma Xiaotao, wreathed in crimson flames, skimmed rapidly across the lake. In her wake, the rippling waters of Sea God Lake suddenly surged into two waves several meters high.
Over the lake not far from the Inner Court, Ma Xiaotao slowly came to a stop. Her ample chest rose and fell as her fury showed in every breath.
Across from her, Mo Yuan stood on empty air, supported by the Wind Element. His brilliant Golden Eyes shone, and the long saber in his hand had vanished.
In this situation, the long saber Mo Yuan had hastily forged with alchemy was no longer much use. Only his Yanling could break through Ma Xiaotao's defenses.
Facing Mo Yuan, who was waiting for her, Ma Xiaotao said nothing. Her second, third, and fourth Soul Rings lit up together!
Second Soul Skill, Bathed in Fire Phoenix!
Third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wings Soaring!
Both were enhancement skills!
Who knew whether Tang San Shao had been lazy when writing Ma Xiaotao, or had simply run out of inspiration. He'd made her first seven Soul Skills exactly the same as Ma Hongjun's.
So when Mo Yuan saw the lit Soul Rings, he knew how to respond.
The searing Phoenix Flames erupted like a geyser. Ma Xiaotao bathed in the blaze as crimson flames shaped into magnificent Phoenix Wings, carrying her skyward in a surge of fire!
The flames dyed the clouds hidden by the night sky crimson. Looking down at Mo Yuan, who was ready below, she seemed even more frenzied than before. A trace of deep black had seeped into the crimson Phoenix Flames!
Looking up at the sky, Mo Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Here it comes—Phoenix Laughing at the Chicken?
Fourth Soul Skill, Phoenix Roaring Heaven Strike!
This skill consisted of two parts: a dizzying shock wave through the air, followed by a Phoenix magma eruption comparable to a volcanic blast. If you took the first strike, the second was unavoidable.
So Mo Yuan had expanded his Land of No Dust to its maximum. The circular field, eighty meters in diameter, even carved a semicircular void in the lake below.
The Land of No Dust casually blocked the shock wave. The second attack followed right after.
Aaaah!!!
A piercing Phoenix Cry tore through the crimson clouds, accompanied by the clang of clashing weapons!
Boom!!!
The Phoenix Flames crashed against the rapidly flowing wind barrier of the Land of No Dust. The heat was so intense that the surrounding air began to warp!
The shock wave from their collision blasted in every direction, sending several-meter-high splashes across the already turbulent lake!
Beneath the glow of the crimson flames, it looked as though a rain of fire had fallen!
The Land of No Dust could block almost anything, but not heat. A wave of scorching air rushed straight into Mo Yuan's face, and beads of sweat dripped from his hairline.
"What the hell are the higher-ups at Shrek Academy doing? Why haven't they stepped in? Do I have to get serious and hurt Ma Xiaotao before they finally do something?"
Mo Yuan had kept defending with the Land of No Dust because he was waiting for someone to come mediate. He didn't want to make things worse; if he really got serious and knocked Ma Xiaotao down, the commotion would be enormous.
But after waiting this long without anyone stepping in, he'd finally run out of patience.
"Since no one's stepping in, don't blame me!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the already brilliant Golden Eyes blazed with light!
At the same time, his second and third Soul Rings lit up!
Before you continue