Cracks Between Husband and Wife

Recently, Ma Xiaotao's cultivation had been going very poorly.

There had once been an agreement: with Ye Guyi around, no matter how she cultivated, Ye Guyi could help suppress her evil fire.

But ever since the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect and Shrek Academy had clashed last time, Shrek Academy had offered all sorts of compensation. Ye Guyi no longer needed to help her suppress the evil fire in exchange for the chance to cultivate inside the Golden Tree Cave.

As a result, Ma Xiaotao's evil fire had flared up once more.

The evil fire showed signs of becoming uncontrollable.

As long as she stopped cultivating, the evil fire could still be controlled.

Though she knew this, Ma Xiaotao still stubbornly insisted on cultivating.

Because she was already at the peak of Rank 69.

With just one more small breakthrough, she would reach Rank 70.

Then, with a Soul Sage participating in the Continental Soul Master Tournament, she would surely become famous throughout the land and seize the championship in one stroke.

She would continue Shrek Academy's glory of ten thousand years.

Yet she could never break through that final step.

Every time she tried to advance further, the evil fire within her martial soul would immediately surge. Ma Xiaotao had a feeling that if she did not resolve this issue, the moment she broke through, the evil fire would completely consume her mind.

So, she wanted to seek out Ye Guyi again.

Unfortunately, Sister Guyi had entered seclusion, and it was the kind of seclusion that involved deep meditation.

With no other choice, Ma Xiaotao could only turn to her teacher, Yan Shaozhe, for help.

Upon learning that his disciple had encountered a problem in her cultivation, Yan Shaozhe secretly left seclusion despite Mu En's punishment.

"Teacher, I want to improve so badly. I want to become a Soul Sage so badly. I want to bring glory to our Shrek Academy so badly."

The moment Ma Xiaotao saw her teacher, her eyes filled with excitement and hope.

"Xiaotao, don't worry. Your teacher will definitely handle this for you."

"What is wrong with this Ye Guyi? How could she fail to honor an agreement?"

After making his promise to his student, Yan Shaozhe began complaining about Ye Guyi.

She could have entered seclusion early or late, yet she had chosen this exact moment.

He finally understood. Those people from the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect clearly only wanted to enjoy the resources and had no intention of contributing to the academy.

Ye Guyi entering seclusion at this time clearly meant she did not want to participate in the Soul Master Tournament.

Fine if she did not want to participate. With Ma Xiaotao around, Yan Shaozhe truly did not think this so-called Soul Master Tournament would be difficult at all.

The most critical issue now was helping Xiaotao become a Soul Sage and crush everyone else.

When that time came, it would bring him honor as well.

"Shaozhe, why did you leave seclusion in defiance of Teacher's orders?"

Just as Yan Shaozhe was considering how to get Ye Guyi to continue helping Xiaotao suppress her evil fire, Cai Mei'er, having spent a busy day at work, came to check on her husband's seclusion and saw this scene.

She liked Xiaotao very much.

At first, she had even treated her like a biological daughter, but this daughter truly did not know her limits.

Many of her actions had crossed the line.

Sometimes, Cai Mei'er even felt that her husband placed far too much importance on this disciple. Perhaps, in his heart, she mattered more than his own wife.

"Mei'er, isn't Xiaotao having trouble with her cultivation?"

"I was thinking of asking Ye Guyi to help suppress her evil fire."

When he saw that it was his wife who had caught him secretly leaving seclusion, the faint guilt Yan Shaozhe had felt immediately vanished.

Husband and wife were of one mind. As long as no outsider discovered that he had disobeyed his teacher's orders, there would be no problem.

"Xiaotao, I need to say a few things to you."

"Your teacher and I asked Mu En about your cultivation issue long ago. As long as you slow down your cultivation, the evil fire will not backlash against you."

"I know you are competitive and want to surpass everyone your age, but you cannot only consider your own problems. You must also consider others. If you break through to the Soul Sage realm first, and Ye Guyi's strength falls too far behind yours, will she still be able to suppress your evil fire?"

"Since you cannot cultivate for the time being, why not use this time to compress your Soul Power and prepare to condense a Soul Core in the future? Once Ye Guyi leaves seclusion, have her help you suppress the evil fire again."

"With your strength, you are more than capable of crushing everyone of your generation. What is there to worry about?"

Cai Mei'er's words came from genuine sincerity.

She truly was thinking of Ma Xiaotao.

Because of the evil fire, Ma Xiaotao would ultimately be dependent on others.

What if she raised her strength frantically at all costs, only for Ye Guyi to become unable to help her suppress the evil fire?

Besides, after those previous two incidents, their relationship with the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect was already so poor. If the other side truly refused to help, what could they do?

Cai Mei'er believed Xiaotao should only break through after they found another method to suppress the evil fire.

Unexpectedly, these sincerely concerned words enraged Yan Shaozhe, who stood nearby.

"What does a woman like you know?"

"Xiaotao cultivates so diligently to bring glory to our Shrek Academy, so that the academy's glory of ten thousand years can continue."

"If she participates in the tournament with the strength of a Soul Sage, both you and I will be honored."

Yan Shaozhe spoke very harshly.

His tone was exceedingly stern.

Recently, nothing had gone well. He had finally encountered something that could make him happy, yet his own wife would not support him.

If it had been the Cai Mei'er of the past, she might have talked herself into believing that Shaozhe was right after receiving such a reprimand.

After all, she was only a woman.

But she was different now!

She was no longer the old Cai Mei'er!

Ever since Mu En had asked her to temporarily manage the Martial Soul Department, she had worked diligently and proved through her own ability and serious attitude that she could do the job well—better even than Yan Shaozhe.

Cai Mei'er no longer agreed with Yan Shaozhe's words.

What did he mean, what did a woman like her know?

"Shaozhe, Mu En ordered that you are not allowed to leave seclusion until you break through to Rank 96!"

"As for Xiaotao's matter, I will handle it."

Cai Mei'er straightened her back and rebuked him in a low voice.

She was completely unlike before, when she would accommodate her husband no matter what happened.

"You..."

Seeing his wife act this way, Yan Shaozhe did not know what to say for a moment.

"Teacher, Mistress, please stop arguing."

"I will not break through for now. I will wait until Sister Guyi leaves seclusion before breaking through."

Seeing the two arguing, Ma Xiaotao hurriedly tried to stop them.

Although the atmosphere between the husband and wife eased somewhat because Ma Xiaotao spoke up, an invisible distance had formed between them.

Ning Que knew nothing about any of this.

If he had known, he would definitely have slapped the table and cheered.

Yan Shaozhe truly was a remarkable talent.

At this moment, he too was facing an extremely troublesome matter.

Qian Duoduo, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, was earnestly trying to persuade him to participate in the Soul Master Tournament.