The Seed of Hatred

The seed of hatred was planted.

Qiangu Wuji had no idea what was happening outside.

After flames engulfed his entire body, the world before his eyes turned a blazing red.

In his mind, clear cries of a phoenix echoed again and again.

From those cries, he felt boundless sorrow and fury—a rage so intense it seemed ready to burn the sky to ashes.

That overwhelming hatred crashed against his reason in wave after wave.

Fortunately, his powerful mental strength came into play, keeping him from losing himself completely in those emotions.

What's happening to me?

Stay calm. I have to stay calm!

Qiangu Wuji gritted his teeth and struggled to steady his emotions.

Thankfully, the cries didn't last long. Soon, the anger ebbed like the tide, and the blood-red world slowly returned to normal.

Only then did Qiangu Wuji notice the people around him staring at him as if he were a monster.

Tang Wulin had collapsed onto the ground in front of him, gasping for breath, his face filled with terror.

He rubbed the tip of his nose, bewildered by what was going on.

Just then, a graceful figure sprang out of the crowd. Lin Ximeng grabbed his wrist and asked anxiously, "What happened to you just now?"

"What happened to me?"

Qiangu Wuji stared at her, utterly confused.

Seeing his expression, Lin Ximeng furrowed her brows. After thinking for a moment, she came to a conclusion.

"Martial Soul suppression."

"Martial Soul suppression?" Qiangu Wuji blinked, taken aback.

Lin Ximeng nodded, looking perplexed.

"I'm not sure what happened, but judging by Tang Wulin's condition, he was clearly affected by your Martial Soul suppression."

Her expression grew even stranger as she continued.

"But isn't your Martial Soul your eyes? Could a Body Martial Soul suppress Blue Silver Grass?"

Hearing her explanation, Qiangu Wuji immediately understood. She'd mistaken what happened earlier for Martial Soul suppression.

But he knew that wasn't the case. The reason this had happened was probably the True Phoenix Bloodline.

Then again, the idea seemed absurd. Didn't Tang Wulin have the Golden Dragon King Bloodline? Could the True Phoenix suppress the Golden Dragon King?

If it could, wouldn't that mean the True Phoenix was a higher existence than the Golden Dragon King?

But was there really a Beast God in this world whose status rivaled the Dragon God's?

"Anyway, we'll end your match here. Your situation is complicated, and I don't know what's going on. I'll take you to get checked out."

Lin Ximeng thought it over for a while. What was happening now was beyond her understanding. She had never seen or even heard of a Body Martial Soul setting someone's whole body ablaze.

Qiangu Wuji nodded. He knew his bloodline had evolved, but he had no idea what this so-called True Phoenix was.

However, he turned down Lin Ximeng's offer to take him for an examination. Red Mountain Academy was only a small place, and the people Lin Ximeng knew probably weren't that impressive.

Instead of having her look for someone, he'd be better off asking Leng Yaozhu, a Limit Douluo with a Phoenix Martial Soul.

Since her Martial Soul was related to this, she was bound to know more than he did.

"Teacher Lin, you don't have to worry about me. There's no need for an examination. I want to go home and ask my family what they think."

Lin Ximeng glanced at him. She knew her student came from an extraordinary family, so she nodded.

"All right. I'll give you the day off."

"Thank you, Teacher Lin."

Qiangu Wuji thanked her gratefully, but didn't leave right away. After a moment's thought, he slowly walked over to Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin was sitting on the ground, panting heavily. When he saw Qiangu Wuji approach, he looked up, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Qiangu Wuji's thoughts were in turmoil. He didn't know exactly what had happened, but he knew that this guy had played a major part in the change he'd undergone. His bloodline's future advancement would depend on him as well.

So it was obvious what he should do now.

With that thought, he smiled and held out his hand.

"Wulin, you're really impressive. I nearly lost to you."

Tang Wulin stared at the hand extended toward him, his face flushing red.

What did he mean, he'd nearly lost? The gap between them had been enormous!

He was so unwilling to accept it. His Soul Power had been lacking, but after awakening that mysterious power, he'd thought he might finally turn things around. Yet he'd still lost so completely.

Next time!

I absolutely won't lose again!

He bit his lip and didn't take Qiangu Wuji's hand. Instead, he forced himself to his feet, then lowered his head without saying a word.

Gu Yue walked over from the side. When she reached them, she didn't go to Qiangu Wuji first. Instead, she glanced at Tang Wulin and said coolly, "Have some sense next time. Know your limits."

At her words, Tang Wulin bowed his head even lower, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.

But in the end, he unclenched them and looked up at the two of them.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm leaving."

With that, he turned and walked into the crowd, soon disappearing from sight.

Qiangu Wuji watched him go, lost in thought. Even when reading the original story, he'd noticed that although Tang Wulin seemed easygoing, deep down he was highly competitive.

He had the Golden Dragon King's power as a cheat, though, so even if he lost once, he could quickly regain face the next time. That was why he never got so humiliated that he flew into a rage.

But now he'd awakened the Golden Dragon King's power and still found himself inferior to Qiangu Wuji. Perhaps he wouldn't be as confident as he'd been in the original story.

"He's just an overconfident fool. What's there to watch?"

Gu Yue came up beside Qiangu Wuji. Seeing him still watching in the direction Tang Wulin had left, she furrowed her brows and spoke.

Qiangu Wuji snapped back to attention and glanced at her. He didn't mind continuing to play the good kid.

"Wulin's still very talented. I nearly lost to him just now."

"Hmph. Nearly?"

Gu Yue scoffed, clearly dismissing his words.

It was obvious that after what had happened, her impression of Tang Wulin had sunk to rock bottom.

"Forget about him. Tell me about you. What exactly happened just now?"

Gu Yue furrowed her brows and leaned closer, whispering in his ear.

"I know your teacher has a Heavenly Phoenix Martial Soul, but was that what caused what happened just now?"

The girl carried a faint, sweet fragrance. Her breath brushed against Qiangu Wuji's cheek again and again.

Feeling awkward, he moved back a little before shaking his head.

"I don't know either. That's why I'm going home to ask Mom. Maybe she knows something."

Gu Yue said nothing more. She simply stood quietly beside him, making her intention clear: she was going home with him too.

The physical fitness test ended because of what had happened to Qiangu Wuji.

Afterward, Lin Ximeng gave him and Gu Yue the day off. The two of them returned home after less than three hours of classes.

At home, Leng Yaozhu was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron just like a housewife. When the two returned, she put down what she was doing and asked in surprise what had happened.

Qiangu Wuji didn't hide anything from her. He told her what had happened to him, though he naturally left out the system.

After hearing him out, Leng Yaozhu cried out in surprise.

"You're saying you awakened the True Phoenix Bloodline?"