Can This Cadre Withstand This Test?

Dai Huabin's skin and flesh began to regenerate, yet they could never be restored to their original state; his face and body remained covered in hideous burn scars. This was naturally the handiwork of Xiao Yi. Beyond the physical burns, the heart-fire of the Fallen Heart Flame would incessantly torment him, incinerating his very soul.

Yan Shaozhe looked helplessly at Xiao Yi and the group led by Bei Bei, who had just arrived behind him. With a sigh of resignation, he waved his hand to signal the students in the stands to disperse.

"You lot, let this be the last time. Since the other party was at fault first, I won't say much more." Yan Shaozhe scolded the group before him with a huff, though the gaze he fixed upon Xiao Yi was as fervent as could be. A peculiar first martial soul, and an Ultimate Fire that possessed the ability to regenerate severed limbs—it was truly unprecedented.

It seemed he could no longer suppress this genius; he would have to convene a Sea God Pavilion meeting. Yan Shaozhe pondered in his heart. He had originally intended to keep Xiao Yi hidden for a while and let his disciple, Ma Xiaotao, cultivate a closer relationship with him, but since this incident had become known to almost the entire outer courtyard, he had to strike first. Although Xiao Yi might not be interested in the Soul Tool department, one could never be too sure.

Seeing Yan Shaozhe let the group go, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, who had just regained their senses, dared not speak despite their fury. Watching their expressions, one might have mistaken them for the victims, but this was simply a case of evil meeting its match.

Xiao Yi cast a cold, venomous glance at Dai Huabin and let out a chilling laugh.

For a person like this, the best revenge was to use the most cruel methods to strip away everything he had—his appearance, his cultivation—and finally, to have him surpassed by the very person he looked down upon, Huo Yutong, while he himself was reduced to a cripple.

The heart-fire formed by the Fallen Heart Flame within his body would constantly interrupt his cultivation process, and aside from Xiao Yi, no one could purge it.

As the crowd dispersed outside, Xiao Yi was called out by Tang Ya just as he was about to leave.

"Xiao Yi, could I ask you for a favor?" Tang Ya twirled a strand of hair at her temple with her small hand, speaking with a hint of embarrassment. Xiao Yi understood immediately; she likely still wanted to recruit him into the Tang Sect.

Seeing Xiao Yi agree, the stone in Tang Ya's heart finally dropped, though she remained somewhat nervous. Even though she had long since made up her mind, she couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive when the moment finally arrived.

This scene was naturally witnessed by Bei Bei, who hadn't gone far. A bitter feeling welled up in his heart, yet he had no standing to say anything.

Xiao Yi was led by the wrist to the dormitory building by Tang Ya. Once there, Tang Ya found herself in a predicament. She looked at Xiao Yi, gritted her teeth, pulled an outer garment from her storage soul tool, and threw it over Xiao Yi's head, dragging him toward the girls' dormitory.

Xiao Yi felt his vision go black, followed by a rush of delicate fragrance into his nostrils—a scent he found quite familiar.

Before long, Xiao Yi felt himself being pulled into a room, accompanied by a loud bang. He couldn't help but feel this scenario was familiar; what was going on?

Xiao Yi pulled the garment off his head; it was a pink long dress. He subconsciously rubbed the fabric with his hand. As he looked up, he met Tang Ya's eyes. She was visibly blushing, and her slightly disheveled hair was damp with a light sheen of sweat.

This amount of physical exertion was nothing to a soul master; it was clear this wasn't from running, but from some other reason.

"Xiao Ya, why are you only just back?" Before either could speak, a voice called out from the bathroom. With a click, Jiang Nannan emerged, head bowed, drying her hair with a bath towel while completely unclothed.

Her skin, still flushed from the bath, looked as if it would break at a touch. The girl's proud curves and the beautiful sight were laid out completely before Xiao Yi's eyes. Before he could take another look, however, Tang Ya let out a sharp cry of "Nannan!", and Xiao Yi's eyes were covered by two small hands.

A flurry of chaotic sounds followed, and when his vision cleared, he saw Jiang Nannan sitting on the bed, disheveled and blushing, with a deeply embarrassed Tang Ya beside her.

This strange atmosphere persisted for a long time before Tang Ya finally pulled Xiao Yi to sit down opposite Jiang Nannan.

Jiang Nannan glared at Tang Ya with a resentful expression. "You asked me to help you find him for something, so why did you bring him back here?" Tang Ya felt rather awkward herself; she had never expected Jiang Nannan to emerge so scantily clad, as that was not how she usually behaved.

"Cough, cough. Nannan, didn't you have something to ask Xiao Yi? You go first." Xiao Yi looked at Jiang Nannan with curiosity. She had business with him?

"Junior Brother Xiao Yi, your second martial soul was with Yutong before—is it capable of regenerating severed limbs?" Jiang Nannan looked at Xiao Yi with a glimmer of hope, then quickly added, "I will pay you for it later. I'll do anything." Jiang Nannan lowered her head, blushing. For some reason, she felt none of the resistance or disgust toward Xiao Yi that she felt toward Xu Sanshi.

Tang Ya couldn't stay calm anymore: "Well, look at you, Jiang Nannan. You seem so innocent, yet I didn't expect you to be so good at snatching men."

"Xiao Yi, what I said before still stands. As long as you join the Tang Sect, the position of Sect Master is yours, and I am yours too." Tang Ya grabbed Xiao Yi's arm anxiously, her eyes practically screaming, Pick me!

He looked at the two of them with a strange expression. Although he, Xiao, was greedy for wealth and lust, they couldn't test a cadre like this—no cadre could withstand such temptation.

Seeing Xiao Yi remain unresponsive, Tang Ya simply pressed herself against him. Xiao Yi felt his arm being squeezed by two soft objects.

"Senior Sister, tell me what the matter is first. There's no need for all this trouble." Xiao Yi looked at Tang Ya helplessly; this was likely something that girl had taught her.

"I... my mother suffers from a congenital heart condition. It requires a healing-type soul master capable of limb regeneration to cure it, so I went to..."

"No problem." Jiang Nannan was startled, looking up at Xiao Yi in disbelief. She had expected Xiao Yi to take the opportunity to demand something, and she glanced strangely at Tang Ya—this didn't seem to be what she had been told.

Xiao Yi felt a headache coming on. He understood in an instant: no wonder Ma Xiaotao hadn't broken through to become a Soul Emperor. In his memories of his past life, this was the time when Ma Xiaotao relied on Xu Sanshi to help suppress her evil fire. Since Jiang Nannan hadn't sold herself to save her mother, Xu Sanshi's martial soul naturally hadn't awakened.

"Senior Sister, don't listen to Xiao Ya's nonsense. Those were all her own suggestions; I never said a word of it from start to finish." Though he hadn't refused, either—Xiao Yi kept that last part to himself.

"It's just a small favor. Pick a time, and I'll accompany you home," Xiao Yi said. Jiang Nannan visibly relaxed, a heavy stone lifting from her heart.

"As for you, Xiao Ya..." Xiao Yi looked at Tang Ya, who was draped over half of his body. A strange feeling welled up within him. He was a normal man, after all; he had been tempted by Ma Xiaotao all night yesterday, and now, being handled by these two, he felt a bit restless.

He pondered for a moment and reached the same conclusion: he was going to woo Tang Wutong anyway, so the Tang Sect would naturally become his own property. Plus, with the God Realm out of contact, there was nothing left to worry about.

"I agree. I can join the Tang Sect." Tang Ya's face lit up with joy, but when she met Xiao Yi's gaze, her face flushed red, and she shyly looked away. Xiao Yi reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"But Senior Sister Xiao Ya, from today on, you are mine." Xiao Yi looked Tang Ya up and down, then waved his hand, a wall of fire blocking Jiang Nannan's view.

As for whether there were feelings or not, that was a matter for another day.