Ma Xiaotao

[Douluo II Period]

Inside Shrek Academy, there was a deathly silence.

The shock brought about by the collapse of their faith was far more terrifying than any external enemy.

In the Inner Court, the pavilion where Ma Xiaotao resided was now completely deserted.

Those fellow disciples who used to laugh and chat with her were now avoiding her from afar, as if she were a plague.

Their gazes, which had started as shock, transformed into alienation, suspicion, and even—fear.

So, the pride of heaven they had always admired was merely the descendant of an Evil Soul Master.

Ma Xiaotao stood there all alone, her delicate body trembling slightly in the cold wind, her pretty face pale and devoid of any color.

"Why... why did it have to be this way..."

However, the cold judgment of the Sky Screen clearly did not intend to give anyone a chance to catch their breath.

The golden light swirled once more, mercilessly!

[In order to cover up Ma Xiaotao's background and allow her to grow smoothly, Yan Shaozhe declared her to be a disciple he had personally found, and used his authority as the Dean to provide her with the best resources.]

[But the thing he feared most still happened.]

--

The scene shifted to a training ground.

Ma Xiaotao, only seven or eight years old, was playing with several companions of the same age.

Suddenly, a boy accidentally pushed her while they were chasing each other.

["Don't push me!"]

The little girl's emotions spiraled out of control instantly, and her clear eyes were suddenly replaced by a demonic red glow!

A cluster of uncontrollable dark red flames erupted from her small palm with a "boom," striking the boy square in the chest!

["Ah--!"]

A shrill scream pierced the peaceful atmosphere.

The boy's clothes instantly turned to ash, his chest was scorched black, and he rolled on the ground in agony.

The scene shifted again, this time to the Dean's office.

A teacher was reporting the situation to Yan Shaozhe, looking anxious and flustered.

As for Yan Shaozhe, he listened calmly, his face showing not a ripple of emotion.

["Find a Healing Soul Master to cure him."]

["Tell his family it was an accident during the children's cultivation. Give them a sum of Gold Soul Coins and tell them to keep their mouths shut."]

["As for Xiaotao, she is still young and doesn't know any better. This matter is not to be mentioned again."]

His cold words, paired with his matter-of-fact expression, sent a bone-chilling shiver through everyone watching the Sky Screen.

And this was merely the beginning.

[As Ma Xiaotao's strength grew, the power of the evil fire within her became increasingly terrifying.]

[The frequency of her evil fire outbreaks increased, and the consequences became more and more severe.]

The scene shifted once more.

It was an Inner Court sparring match.

Ma Xiaotao, now grown into a beautiful young woman, lost control again during the battle!

This time, the violent Evil Fire Phoenix burned her opponent, an Inner Court genius at the Soul King level, leaving him severely injured!

The genius's Martial Soul even suffered permanent damage, nearly ending his path as a Soul Master!

And in the scene, Yan Shaozhe still wore that chillingly indifferent expression.

He tossed a pill emitting a cold aura to the genius who had nearly been crippled.

["This is a Soul Ascension Pill; it is enough to compensate for your injuries."]

["No one must know about what happened today."]

[This had already become a routine.]

[If someone was injured, give them a Soul Ascension Pill.]

[If someone died—]

The image on the Sky Screen turned incredibly dark and bloody!

It was a forest burned to charcoal, with a charred corpse lying in the center, looking miserable in death.

[Ma Xiaotao's evil fire suddenly erupted during a mission, and she accidentally killed her companion.]

[Terrified, Ma Xiaotao ran back to Shrek to seek help from Yan Shaozhe.]

The next moment, the scene shifted.

It arrived at the all-academy assembly, where Yan Shaozhe, with a face full of sorrow, announced in a pained tone.

["Student Li Qi, while on a mission, unfortunately encountered a high-level Evil Soul Master and sacrificed himself heroically to protect his companions----"]

["He is hereby posthumously awarded the title of Honorary Student of Shrek!"]

["Let us observe a three-minute silence for Li Qi!"]

[Douluo II Period]

"Li Qi! It's Li Qi!"

In Shrek Plaza, a young man stared at the Sky Screen, his eyes instantly turning blood-red as he let out a roar of grief and indignation!

"I knew it! I knew Li Qi wasn't killed by an Evil Soul Master!"

"He was so cautious! How could he have gone on such a dangerous mission alone? So----so he was killed by Ma Xiaotao!"

"No, it was you! Yan Shaozhe! You animal, you covered up the truth!"

It wasn't just him!

More and more students, within those scenes on the Sky Screen, saw their friends and classmates who had once gone missing or been declared "accidental deaths"!

Every "accident," every "disappearance," had an answer at this moment!

That answer was the out-of-control evil fire of Ma Xiaotao and the repeated cover-ups by Yan Shaozhe!

Monstrous anger and resentment erupted from the hearts of the students like a volcano!

Just then, a figure familiar to everyone appeared on the Sky Screen.

Huo Yuhao!

The scene was exactly that moment by Sea God Lake when Ma Xiaotao's evil fire erupted and she attacked Huo Yuhao in a frenzy!

The extreme evil fire was about to swallow Huo Yuhao whole!

Shortly after, an academy elder appeared, casually handing a Soul Ascension Pill to Huo Yuhao and warning him that this matter must not be spread.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao's heart turned ice-cold.

So----he wasn't an exception.

He was just one of the luckier ones among the countless victims.

[Indulging descendants, treating lives like grass. This is Yan Shaozhe's third sin!]

[But that is not all.]

The narration of the Sky Screen made everyone's heart jump to their throats once again.

[For his own granddaughter, he could indulge and shield her without bottom line.]

[But for those students without backgrounds who were of no use to him, he showed a completely different face.]

The scene switched.

It was Yan Shaozhe's dean office.

The familiar Wang Yan was standing before him, handing over a list.

--

["Dean, this is the list of core disciples for the Martial Soul Department that I have drafted. Please take a look. I believe that the new student named Huo Yuhao, although his soul power is low, has exceptional talent in spiritual power and the recommendation of the Tang Sect, so he could be promoted as an exception----"]

However, Yan Shaozhe merely glanced at the list with contempt and let out a cold snort.

["Huo Yuhao? Is that the guy who clashed with Dai Huabin during the freshman assessment?"]

["Dai Huabin's father is the Duke White Tiger of the Star Luo Empire; he has talent and a background."]

["What is this Huo Yuhao supposed to be?"]

["Hmph, a piece of trash with a ten-year soul ring. If it weren't for the sake of the Tang Sect, he wouldn't even be qualified to step through the gates of Shrek!"]

He tossed the list onto the table, his tone icy.

["Cross his name out! Don't let me see this name appear on any recommendation list ever again!"]

["Also, tell Zhou Yi to keep a close eye on this Huo Yuhao. The moment he makes even the slightest mistake, expel him immediately!"]

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao felt a chill rush from the bottom of his heart to the top of his head.

So, without his knowledge, Yan Shaozhe had always harbored such great malice toward him, even plotting to drive him out of the academy!

And he, of all people, had actually regarded him as a respectable dean!

But the next second, the scene on the Sky Screen took a dramatic turn!

In the scene, it was still that same office.

Yan Shaozhe was looking at a report in his hands with a face full of surprise.

["What? That Huo Yuhao actually awakened a second martial soul? And it's----Ultimate Ice?!"]

His face instantly changed into an unprecedented, warm, and enthusiastic smile!

The speed at which his expression changed was faster than flipping a book!

["Quick! Go and find him for me! No! I will go myself!"]

["Ultimate Ice! This is the hope for suppressing Xiaotao's evil fire! Heaven is truly helping me! Hahahaha!"]

["How could such a talent be buried in the Soul Guidance Department? He must come to our Martial Soul Department! Any conditions can be negotiated!"]

["I must make him willing to help Xiaotao!"]

At the same time, the inner thoughts of Yan Shaozhe appeared on the Sky Screen.

[With him, Xiaotao's evil fire problem can be completely solved! My granddaughter will be able to become a true, perfect phoenix!]

>

Fu