After the Matter

Ma Xiaotao, slowly waking, opened her eyes. The faint pink hue that had previously held a seductive charm in her eyes disappeared, replaced by clarity. It was evident that her evil fire had been successfully suppressed, and she had regained her senses.

"Awake? Do you remember what you did just now?" Yan Shaozhe released the hand supporting Ma Xiaotao, asking in a gentle voice.

Hearing this, Ma Xiaotao smiled sheepishly. In front of her teacher, Yan Shaozhe, she shed her usual tempestuous demeanor, becoming as docile as a lamb.

Then, she looked around, her gaze seeming to hold a hint of expectation. However, upon seeing only the two of them surrounded by ice emitting a forest white cold qi, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face.

Yan Shaozhe, who had taken in Ma Xiaotao's expression, looked at her with amusement. "Looking for that kid? He hasn't gone far. Do you want me to call him back for you?"

"Teacher!" Ma Xiaotao exclaimed, a blush of shyness quickly rising to her face.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you've fallen for him?" After saying this, Yan Shaozhe immediately dropped the smile from his face, his tone becoming extremely serious.

"Do you know you almost caused a major disaster just now? If it weren't for Moyuan happening to be here to suppress you, and if it were another ordinary student, it's uncertain if they could have left your hands unharmed! If a real disaster had occurred, it would undoubtedly be a huge loss for the academy!"

"Teacher, I know I was wrong." Ma Xiaotao immediately admitted her mistake.

Seeing Ma Xiaotao's demeanor, Yan Shaozhe lost the urge to scold her. He sighed deeply.

"But it's also a blessing in disguise. You met Moyuan, who possesses an ice attribute close to the Extreme Ice. I've made a deal with him. For the next two years, whenever you need it, you can ask him to help you suppress your evil fire."

"Moyuan..."

Ma Xiaotao softly uttered the name of that peerless genius. At the same time, she couldn't help but recall Moyuan's perfect appearance and the embarrassing things she had done when her evil fire erupted beneath Sea God Lake. The blush of shyness on her face became even more pronounced.

Then, she suddenly came to her senses. "Teacher, you said Moyuan has an attribute close to Extreme Ice? How is that possible?"

"How is it impossible?" Yan Shaozhe's voice was filled with admiration.

"Although it's hard to believe, that's the truth. His main body is an elemental martial soul, and he has already revealed wind, fire, and ice elements. Furthermore, each element is at a high level, with the ice element being extremely close to the Extreme Ice attribute."

Hearing this, a scene vaguely appeared in Ma Xiaotao's mind: a fire dragon roll stretching from the heavens to the earth raging wildly on Sea God Lake, with hurricanes howling and flames burning ferociously, terrifying to the extreme.

Yan Shaozhe became more excited as he spoke, a fiery passion and excitement gleaming in his eyes. His voice trembled slightly.

"I can be sure that Moyuan's martial soul is definitely not simple! And I guess he hasn't shown all his strength yet! Even setting aside these points, at eleven years old with forty-one soul power, a soul ring configuration that surpasses theoretical limits! If nothing unexpected happens, he will at least reach Xuan Lao's level!"

"Even that step is uncertain..."

Yan Shaozhe's last sentence was spoken very softly, almost inaudibly to anyone but himself.

Ma Xiaotao grew more astonished the more she listened. "What?! He's only eleven years old?! How is it possible for someone to break through to Soul Ancestor at this age!"

"Hard to believe? But the world does have such peerless geniuses," Yan Shaozhe looked eagerly in the direction of the Outer Court, as if he could see Moyuan's figure.

"Thus, I've reached a deal with him. He's willing to help you suppress your evil fire. If you two develop feelings for each other within two years and form a couple, not only will your evil fire problem be solved, allowing you to cultivate with all your might, but the academy will then gain two top-tier geniuses with peerless talent!"

"Furthermore, Moyuan's background is incredibly clean! Born in the Heaven Dou Empire, orphaned at a young age, he grew to his current position all by himself! Aside from a blank slate in his upbringing that we don't understand, he's practically Shrek Academy's perfect successor!"

As Yan Shaozhe spoke, his tone bordered on fanaticism. His teacher, the current Sea God Pavilion Master Dragon God Douluo Mu En, had been gradually declining after his battle with the certain-death poison. He had also personally told many Senior Elders that his lifespan was less than ten years.

The academy's stabilizing force would depart in the not-too-distant future, casting a heavy stone upon their hearts.

Moreover, Taotie Douluo Xuan Lao's martial soul had a defect, and he himself was still too weak, neither suitable to succeed the Sea God Pavilion Master. If Old Mu left, and the academy encountered a powerful enemy then, it would truly be the academy's greatest crisis in ten thousand years! A slight misstep could lead to its destruction!

But now, things were different! Yan Shaozhe saw hope in Moyuan! With Moyuan's strength, capable of suppressing Soul Emperor Ma Xiaotao with only the power of a four-ring Soul Ancestor, once he broke through to Title Douluo, he would undoubtedly leap to become a top expert on the continent!

He might even recreate the legendary feat of the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils achieving godhood!

"Teacher, I can handle my own affairs!"

Ma Xiaotao's face flushed. Even though she did have some good feelings towards Moyuan, being directly brought up for marriage by her teacher, her naturally proud personality instinctively made her want to resist.

Yan Shaozhe, having calmed his excited emotions, glanced at the blushing Ma Xiaotao and said nothing. He understood that if things proceeded according to his planned path, there would be no problem with his disciple.

It was just that he didn't know if Moyuan's side would go smoothly.

Recalling Moyuan's information and the details of those close to him, Yan Shaozhe's eyes narrowed, and he let out a cold snort.

"Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan... Hmph, Ning Wanqiu, I wonder if your daughter will be able to kidnap another genius from the academy like you did..."

Ma Xiaotao heard Yan Shaozhe muttering something under his breath. Not hearing clearly, she asked curiously, "Teacher, what are you talking about? What's wrong with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"

"It's nothing," Yan Shaozhe shook his head, unwilling to say more. He then turned and headed towards the inner court.

"Let's go, back to the inner court."

"Oh..."

Ma Xiaotao looked at the white New Student Uniform on her body, then turned to look at the vaguely visible outline of the outer court in the distance.

Breathing in the familiar yet strange aura, Ma Xiaotao's already rippling Heart Lake became even more unsettled.

Beside the Sea God Lake in the outer court, even though it was nearing midnight, the Soul Guide Lamps still emitted a soft light, illuminating two figures beneath them.

The grand Fire Dragon Roll had long since disappeared. Ning Tian, who had been waiting for a long time and hadn't seen Moyuan return, was about to disregard Xu Sanshi's dissuasion and go to the Sea God Lake to search for Moyuan when.

A figure emerged from the gloomy darkness and landed gently in front of her.

Upon seeing who it was, Ning Tian's beautiful face showed joy, and her tone was tinged with concern.

"Moyuan, are you alright?"

"It's fine. Besides my soul power being a bit depleted, I'm basically unharmed."

Looking at the Girl before him whose eyes were full of him, a faint smile appeared on Moyuan's face. Compared to Ma Xiaotao, that live volcano, Ning Tian was practically perfect, save for her slightly weaker assets.

"Junior Brother... ah, no, Big Brother, hello. I'm so glad to see you're alright. Thanks to your help today..."

Xu Sanshi's voice grew softer and softer, finally becoming inaudible under Moyuan's playful gaze. He cowered like a quail, not daring to move, completely lacking the confidence and pride of the Outer Court's Twin Stars.

After all, this guy had beaten up Soul Emperor Ma Xiaotao with the strength of a four-ring Soul Ancestor and remained unharmed.

He was terrified of Ma Xiaotao, let alone Moyuan, who was even stronger than her.

Furthermore, if Ma Xiaotao was half responsible for tonight's incident, then he was responsible for the other half. If Moyuan was truly displeased and decided to beat him up, he wouldn't even have a reason to resist, let alone the strength to do so.

Moyuan was naturally displeased seeing Xu Sanshi acting like a turtle in a shell, but he wasn't going to go so far as to beat him up. He had fought enough tonight and just wanted to get back to his dorm and sleep.

"Xu Sanshi."

"Here!"

"Scram!"

"You got it! Brother!"

Xu Sanshi felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. After confirming that Moyuan truly had no intention of beating him, he quickly turned and darted into the woods, disappearing without a trace, as if afraid that if he ran any slower, Moyuan would call him back and beat him up.