The Student Had Surpassed the Master

Within the ice cavern Lin Feng had created, pure Phoenix Fire burned without end.

As the flames danced, Ma Xiaotao had taken on a completely new appearance. Her bright eyes opened, her gaze sharp as a torch.

Her flame-red hair set off a peerlessly beautiful face, as if she were a celestial being. The Red Phoenix Mark between her brows revealed the noble distinction of her newfound status.

Below her snow-white neck was a slender, graceful figure with enchanting curves. Her whole body was like a naturally formed piece of fine jade—no, even more flawless and fair than fine jade.

She seemed like a divine maiden descended into the mortal world, so beautiful that all creation paled before her.

"Xiao Feng..."

Ma Xiaotao's ethereal voice was like a spring breeze stirring willow branches, like a celestial phoenix's soft song. It brought a little comfort to Lin Feng, who was still relying on the Ice Silkworm's vitality to heal.

She gently stroked Lin Feng's scarred cheek. Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes, and her brows drew together, her heart aching for him.

"I'm fine. Congratulations, Xiaotao. You've completely shed the Evil Fire and evolved into a Fire Phoenix. You've successfully advanced to Soul Saint!"

Ma Xiaotao didn't say a word. She simply wrapped her arms tightly around Lin Feng and gently buried her face in the hollow of his shoulder.

Where their skin touched, warm, peaceful Soul Power flowed slowly from her body in a thin, steady stream, seeping into Lin Feng's battered frame, drop by drop.

It felt like dead wood meeting spring, like a long drought finally broken by rain.

Nourished by this gentle Soul Power, the hideous wounds all over Lin Feng's body stopped bleeding and began to close. Fresh tissue sprouted before his very eyes.

A deep, bone-deep sense of ease and repair took the place of the tearing pain that had come before...

Only after a long while did Lin Feng stir. He said softly, "My wounds have mostly healed. Teacher has been waiting outside for ages. We should go."

"...Mm." Ma Xiaotao answered quietly. Her arms remained around him, and she held on for a moment longer before reluctantly letting go.

Lin Feng got to his feet, took a neatly folded dress from his Storage Soul Tool, and held it out to her.

"It looks lovely." Ma Xiaotao took it, running her fingers over the delicate patterns on the sleeves before looking up at him. "Did you prepare this especially for me?"

"Mm." Lin Feng nodded. "I was going to give it to you on your birthday. I didn't expect... you'd be wearing it today."

Ma Xiaotao lowered her lashes shyly and changed into the dress.

It was a brilliant flame-red gown paired with a snow-white gauzy skirt. Several pale-pink lotuses seemed to bloom across the hem, lifelike as flowers opening over autumn waters.

Most striking of all was the Red Phoenix embroidered in gold thread on the front of the gown. The exquisite design seemed ready to spread its wings and take flight at any moment.

Ma Xiaotao raised a hand to straighten her sleeve, then turned and tilted her head toward Lin Feng. "Does it look good?"

Lin Feng had changed into new clothes as well. His gaze settled on Ma Xiaotao, and a smile slowly rose in his eyes. "It looks good. It suits you."

"Let's go. Teacher must be getting worried."

As Lin Feng spoke, he held out his hand. Ma Xiaotao placed hers in his palm, and he gently clasped her fingertips.

Lin Feng dispelled the ice cavern's ceiling and the mental barrier at once. Side by side, the two flew out.

"Thank goodness—you finally came out."

Yan Shaozhe, who had been waiting for a long time, flashed over and appeared in front of them.

His gaze swept rapidly over them, sharp as lightning. Once he had confirmed they were unharmed, relief washed over him—only to be replaced almost at once by even greater astonishment.

"I was just about to ask Mu En to step in... but you two seem to be perfectly fine?"

"Don't worry, Teacher. It was dangerous, but we made it through." Lin Feng gave a slight nod, his tone steady.

"That's good. That's good." Yan Shaozhe repeated himself, his keen gaze taking in their Soul Power. "Your Soul Power... has increased by more than a little. Come, let me examine your Martial Souls and Soul Rings."

"Yes, Teacher."

Ma Xiaotao and Lin Feng exchanged a glance and took a step forward.

She said nothing, only letting her thoughts stir as her aura surged with a roar.

It was blazing, yet pure...

Nothing like the frenzied Evil Fire of before.

A pair of magnificent flame-phoenix wings unfurled behind her, every feather vivid and lifelike.

"This is..." Yan Shaozhe's pupils contracted. "A pure, flawless... Fire Phoenix?! Lin Feng, you really helped her complete the purification?!"

Before he could receive an answer, an even more shocking sight appeared.

Soul Rings rose one after another from beneath Ma Xiaotao's feet, their colors deepening and their auras climbing higher with each one.

Purple, purple, purple...

Black, black, black...

The Seventh Soul Ring rose slowly...

The moment it appeared, the surrounding light seemed to be swallowed up. Only its pure aura remained, carrying boundless power and the fluctuations of laws.

Soul Saint!

"Three purple, three black... one red!"

Yan Shaozhe spoke each word slowly, almost choking on them.

He stared blankly at the red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring floating beneath Ma Xiaotao's feet, his eyes filled with shock.

A twenty-year-old Soul Saint, a Martial Soul of Ultimate Fire, and a hundred-thousand-year Seventh Soul Ring...

"Good, good, good! Truly, the student has surpassed the master!"

Yan Shaozhe exclaimed "good" three times. Shock still filled his eyes, but pride and excitement were already overflowing.

Ma Xiaotao had already made history on the Douluo Continent by becoming a Soul Emperor at twenty, placing her alongside Shrek's first-generation Seven Monsters.

Now, as a Soul Saint at twenty, she had already surpassed even her ancestor Ma Hongjun at the same age.

He looked at Lin Feng, his voice full of incredulous curiosity. "Lin Feng, how on earth did you manage this?"

"Reporting to Teacher," Lin Feng replied after a moment's thought, his tone matter-of-fact. "Xiaotao bought a huge piece of black Whale Rubber at the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion. It seemed to be of hundred-thousand-year quality. We... tried consuming some of it. Perhaps the Whale Rubber greatly strengthened our bodies, which was just enough to let me devour the out-of-control Evil Fire Origin inside her. As for her Soul Ring... I suspect it was the Whale Rubber, but I'm not entirely sure."

Seven parts truth and three parts left unsaid, he quietly concealed the most important part: the Burning Technique.

"Hundred-thousand-year Whale Rubber?!" Yan Shaozhe sucked in a sharp breath. His gaze moved meaningfully between the two of them, and then he looked as if he understood. "I see... After consuming something so powerfully restorative and full of yang energy... then you two must have already..."

"Teacher! W-what are you imagining?!" Ma Xiaotao's cheeks turned crimson in an instant. She was so embarrassed she nearly buried her head in her chest, her ears turning scarlet.

"Teacher, that's not what happened..." Lin Feng hurriedly explained in a serious tone.

"It's only natural. It's all right. Teacher's been there too. I understand, I understand." Yan Shaozhe waved a hand, still wearing a smile that said he knew everything.

He turned to Lin Feng and asked expectantly, "What about you, Lin Feng? You must have gained quite a bit from devouring that Evil Fire Origin, right?"

"My Soul Power rose to level thirty-seven," Lin Feng said frankly, then added, "I've also improved a lot in controlling fire."

Keeping his expression unchanged, Lin Feng left unmentioned the new Evil Fire Soul Ring he had obtained on his Body Martial Soul.

"Good! Very good!" Yan Shaozhe's eyes were full of approval. "The two of you have both gained a heaven-sent opportunity this time. Go back and rest properly. Stabilize your realms. Tomorrow, I'll convene a Sea God Pavilion Meeting and formally reward you for your... outstanding performance!"

The two respectfully agreed and watched as Yan Shaozhe's figure became a streak of light and vanished in the direction of the Golden Ancient Tree.