Dai Mubai's Anger, A One-on-One Duel

"The evil fire within you is very likely caused by your inability to control the flame power of your martial soul. If you can master the fire power within you, perhaps your Evil Fire Phoenix could evolve into a Fire Phoenix."

Xiao Qing left after washing up, leaving Ma Hongjun standing there alone in thought.

No one knew how long Ma Hongjun spent thinking that day, or what he thought about, but from that day on, Ma Hongjun changed completely.

Ma Hongjun no longer wore that half-hearted expression when Dai Mubai suggested going out to "relax," nor did he slack off or complain about training anymore.

He poured all his energy into cultivation and the study of his own martial soul, and Oscar became the person he sought out most often.

Every time he looked for Oscar, it was either to get a Recovery Big Sausage to restore his stamina or a Clear Heart Sausage to purge the evil fire within him.

Guided by the pointers from Xiao Qing and Flender, and with the assistance of the Clear Heart Sausage, Ma Hongjun focused on sensing the flow patterns of the evil fire within him, attempting to restrain and guide it with his mental power.

A little over a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Although true mastery of the evil fire was still a distant prospect, the frequency of Ma Hongjun's trips to places like Suotuo City went from every few days to zero.

The Ma Hongjun of now no longer possessed the slacker temperament Xiao Qing had first encountered; in its place was a focus on cultivation and a thirst for knowledge.

To him, rather than wasting money and energy on physical indulgence, it was better to buy food to replenish the energy consumed by cultivation, or save it up to plan for the future.

Ma Hongjun now wanted to marry a beautiful wife in the future, have a cute child, and live out his life happily.

As for Oscar, he had always shown clear rejection toward the entertainment Dai Mubai proposed.

Due to his personality, coupled with the fact that food-system soul masters naturally felt a stronger anxiety about improving their own strength, Oscar put all his heart into honing his body and researching how to assist in cultivation.

In this way, Dai Mubai's situation became awkward.

Before Xiao Qing and the others returned, Ma Hongjun was almost his constant companion; now, Ma Hongjun had completely "turned over a new leaf," even going so far as to advise him to go to those places less and spend more time cultivating.

Oscar spent his days immersed in study and research with Teacher Shao Xin, while Xiao Qing was a loner, spending almost all his time on cultivation and actual combat with Zhao Wuji, save for necessary communication.

In the dormitory, when Dai Mubai tried to bring up a topic about a new shop in Suotuo City, he was met with Ma Hongjun's silence as he buried himself in cultivation, Oscar's indifference, and Xiao Qing's direct disregard or a brief "not interested" before getting up and leaving.

In the cafeteria, his grand speeches about his past experiences of "enjoying life" were met only with the sound of Ma Hongjun chewing as he ate, and the occasional ambiguous glances cast by other students.

A sense of being isolated quietly sprouted in Dai Mubai's heart.

This isolation was not exclusion, but a more irritating "those with different paths cannot make plans together."

They were all running forward toward a clear goal, even if that goal seemed ethereal to Dai Mubai. Yet, Dai Mubai himself remained in place, or even wanted to turn back.

Resentment began to accumulate.

He was originally a prince of the Star Luo Empire, forced to flee due to that cruel competition rule, arriving in this "countryside" on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire to attend this broken academy that lacked everything.

Deep in his heart, there was a lingering thought of self-abandonment: since he was destined to be unable to resist fate or defeat that elder brother who was seen as the empire's heir, why struggle so hard?

While still alive, wasn't it more practical to enjoy everything one could—the pleasure brought by fine wine, women, and power?

He had always assumed that everyone was the same, only some were better at putting on a facade.

But now, Xiao Qing, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar—their efforts were so real, their goals so clear, and they had even achieved visible progress.

This invisibly reflected his own avoidance and indulgence.

Dai Mubai did not want to admit he was wrong, and even less did he want to change; he attributed this growing irritability and vague sense of inferiority to the person who broke the balance—Xiao Qing.

It was this guy who "bewitched" Ma Hongjun with those seemingly reasonable words, making him stop following him to "enjoy life."

It was this guy who proposed some crooked logic about "assisting daily cultivation," making Oscar bury himself in research.

It was also this guy who cultivated like an ascetic every day, driving this suffocating atmosphere of "effort."

If it weren't for him, Ma Hongjun would still be the fatty who went out to have fun with him, Oscar wouldn't seem so "ambitious," and the atmosphere in the dormitory wouldn't be as dull as it was now.

Dai Mubai began to observe Xiao Qing more closely.

He discovered that Xiao Qing's cultivation was extremely regular, with a schedule so strict it didn't seem like that of a teenager.

Beyond standard soul power meditation, Xiao Qing spent a large amount of time each day on physical training, technique practice, and frequently sought out Zhao Wuji to hone his actual combat abilities.

Xiao Qing rarely participated in the playfulness among students, his speech was concise, yet every opinion or suggestion he offered earned the praise of teachers or classmates.

Putting on a show.

Dai Mubai sneered in his heart; he didn't believe anyone could keep this up, especially a boy of this age. It was nothing more than not having tasted the sweetness of "relaxation" and "enjoyment" yet, or deliberately using this posture to brand himself.

A thought gradually took shape in Dai Mubai's mind, becoming clearer and clearer: defeat him.

In front of everyone, defeat this guy who seemed the most hardworking and appeared to have gained some results because of it, fair and square.

As long as he defeated Xiao Qing and proved that effort was worthless in the face of absolute strength and a "better way of living," he could destroy that annoying certainty and calmness of Xiao Qing.

When that time came, what right would a defeated "role model" have to influence others?

Dai Mubai even began to fantasize about the upcoming scene.

After defeating Xiao Qing, he could "generously" express that he bore no grudges, then take this dejected person to experience true "happiness."

Once Xiao Qing tasted the flavor of indulgence and sank into it, Ma Hongjun would naturally waver, and Oscar might be influenced as well.

By then, everything would return to the "right track," back to the state where everyone "knew how to live."

He used this method not only to vent his anger but to defend the lifestyle he had chosen, proving that avoidance and hedonism were not wrong, but a "smart" way to live.

He selectively ignored Ma Hongjun's tangible progress and heartfelt ease with the help of the Clear Heart Sausage, ignored Oscar's enthusiasm after finding a new direction, and ignored the vague envy deep in his own heart for that state of fulfillment.

He simplified all his problems down to the conclusion that "Xiao Qing had corrupted the atmosphere," and the solution was to "correct" it in his own way.

Once the thought of a challenge took root, it rapidly sprouted and grew.

Dai Mubai began to consciously adjust his state; although he still disdained the idea of bitter cultivation like Xiao Qing, he reduced the number of times he went out to wander, ensuring his soul power remained at its peak level.

He observed Xiao Qing's daily routine, searching for a suitable opportunity; he wanted a public, indisputable victory, preferably during a sparring session or when everyone was watching.

Dai Mubai rubbed his hands together, eager to try, as if he could already see Xiao Qing being defeated and dragged into his world of "enjoyment."

As for Xiao Qing, he was not entirely unaware of this, yet he simply continued his schedule with composure.

The opportunity Dai Mubai had been waiting for arrived soon enough, when Zhao Wuji told them after class that there would be a one-on-one combat drill tomorrow, instructing them to go back, get some rest, and prepare well.