Inner Court Senior

Gurgle--

An equally empty growl emanated from Ma Xiaotao.

The morning spent testing their Martial Soul Fusion Skill had not only consumed a massive amount of soul power but had also severely overdrawn their physical stamina. Any insights gained were cast to the back of their minds; the most primal sensation of hunger had taken the lead.

Besides, Lin Feng was right here; he wasn't going anywhere.

Ma Xiaotao released her limbs from around Lin Feng, stretched her body, and stood up.

Her exquisite, shapely figure was fully revealed in the deep blue light of the ice cavern. Her curves were breathtaking, and every inch of her skin seemed to harbor vibrant vitality and heat, carrying a post-coital languor and an unadorned frankness.

Hips wider than her shoulders, a pleasure akin to an immortal...

Lin Feng watched, feeling it deeply.

"Still looking?" Ma Xiaotao glanced back, catching his blank stare. Her face flushed slightly, but she deliberately glared at him with feigned ferocity. "Hurry up and get up. Let's go eat; I'm about to starve to death."

"I was hungry this morning," Lin Feng said, sitting up slowly with a gloomy tone. "Back then, someone didn't seem to have any intention of letting me go."

"You have a good physique, don't you?" Ma Xiaotao said, her reasoning weak but her spirit strong as she walked over to pull him up. "What's wrong with practicing a bit more? Hurry up!"

"Fine, fine, let's eat, let's eat." Lin Feng used her momentum to stand, stopping the bickering, and nimbly began putting on his clothes.

If he didn't eat something soon, he feared he would truly become the first Soul Ancestor in history to starve to death.

Ma Xiaotao also took a set of clean clothes from her storage device, turned her back, and changed with fluid motions.

The two soon arrived at the Inner Court cafeteria and found a quiet corner to sit.

This was Lin Feng's first time stepping into the Inner Court cafeteria, and the environment was indeed much more refined and tranquil than the Outer Court.

His gaze swept casually across the room, but he was drawn to a figure at a neighboring table.

It was a woman with long ice-blue hair, dining alone. Her temperament was as cold as snow, and the lines of her profile were beautiful.

"What are you looking at?" Ma Xiaotao followed his gaze, a corner of her lip curling up. Her foot, however, landed mercilessly on Lin Feng's instep, grinding down intentionally. "Do you want Senior Sister to introduce you? Hmm?"

"No, no, really, no need." Lin Feng gasped in pain and shook his head frantically.

Unexpectedly, the ice-blue-haired woman seemed to sense something; she raised her eyes and glanced in their direction.

Immediately, she picked up her tray, walked straight over, and sat down naturally in the empty seat next to Lin Feng.

"This must be Junior Brother Lin Feng, right? I've heard so much about you." Her voice was clear and crisp, like ice beads falling onto a jade plate. She turned to Lin Feng and smiled slightly. "Let's get acquainted. I am Ling Luochen from the Inner Court."

Under the table, Ma Xiaotao's foot applied a significant amount of extra pressure.

"...Greetings, Senior Sister Ling." Lin Feng maintained a calm expression on the surface, while internally mourning the fate of his toes.

Ling Luochen's gaze shifted subtly between the two, finally landing on Lin Feng's face as he struggled to maintain his composure. She glanced at Ma Xiaotao, who was smiling but had eyes that seemed ready to spit fire, and suddenly pursed her lips, a flash of realization crossing her eyes.

"Oh~ it seems I've interrupted whatever little game you two were playing?" She rose gracefully, picked up her tray, and winked at Lin Feng before leaving. "Then Senior Sister won't bother you anymore. Carry on~"

She walked away with a light step, leaving behind a meaningful silhouette.

Ma Xiaotao let out a cold snort and finally released her foot.

Lin Feng quickly pulled his foot back, secretly thankful that they were in a crowded cafeteria.

If they had been in a deserted place, he suspected the scene wouldn't have ended with just a foot stomp; Ma Xiaotao might have started a fight with Ling Luochen on the spot.

On the way back to the dormitory after eating, Lin Feng didn't dare ask too much, but he knew a bit about Ling Luochen. She and Ma Xiaotao were both members of the current generation of Shrek Seven Devils.

Lin Feng guessed she might have come for the Mystic Ice Spirit Flame; otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to provoke Ma Xiaotao so blatantly.

He figured it was probably that old guy Yan Shaozhe who leaked the information, pushing him into the fire pit...

"Sister Xiaotao, let's end today's cultivation here."

"No." Ma Xiaotao answered crisply, her gaze sweeping toward the cafeteria. "That Ling Luochen might be waiting to snatch you up. I have to be responsible for your safety. Come, back to the dormitory with me."

Before Lin Feng could find another excuse, she had already grabbed him and, without room for argument, led him toward the dormitory.

Thus, Lin Feng spent the entire afternoon and evening in the dormitory with Ma Xiaotao, reviewing the various insights from their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

The next morning, before the sky had brightened.

Lin Feng held his sore waist and tiptoed out of Ma Xiaotao's dormitory, finally escaping the gentle yet insatiable clutches of the devil for the time being.

After these two days and nights of intense, grueling cultivation, the results were tangible.

His Soul Power Level had soared, rising directly to level forty-seven.

He was not far from the minimum threshold of a Soul King required to head to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

However, he was also clear that having the level alone was not enough.

He still needed to find another powerful source of exotic fire to evolve his Flame Mantra to the Earth Tier. Only then would he have the confidence to attempt to consume the exotic fire source left behind by the legendary Fire Dragon King.

Lin Feng held his still-sore waist and wandered slowly toward the Class Nine dormitory.

The freshman assessment was right around the corner, and time was growing tighter by the day.

He was still calculating another matter in his mind: he had to hurry and help that girl Wang Dong obtain her third Soul Ring.

This was not only about the improvement of her own strength but also directly concerned the generous reward from the Clear Sky Sect that Wang Dong had promised him personally.

That was the world's number one sect, boasting a Limit Douluo; the depth of their heritage and the treasures hidden in their vaults were likely limited only by what people could imagine, not by what they could produce.

This reward was worth the extra effort.

Thinking of this, Lin Feng quickened his pace slightly.

Soon, he returned to the Class Nine dormitory and walked to Wang Dong's bedside. Looking at the fellow wrapped in a quilt and sleeping soundly, he reached out and gave her a firm but gentle nudge. "Lazybones, wake up."

"Mmm... Lin Feng?" Wang Dong opened her eyes groggily. Seeing it was him, she rubbed her eyes, her voice heavy with sleep. "Why are you back so early..."

"Get up quickly, we're going to the Star Dou Great Forest." Lin Feng was concise. "To get your third Soul Ring. The freshman assessment is only a few days away, don't dawdle."

"Soul Ring?" Wang Dong blinked, her sleepiness vanishing by more than half as she sat up with a start. "Alright! Right away!"

She packed her things with nimble movements, and the two immediately went to find their homeroom teacher, Mu Jin, to ask for leave.

"Going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring?" Mu Jin pondered slightly after hearing their request. "If it's just the two of you, it's a bit risky. As it happens, several students from the Inner Court are heading to the forest for training soon. Chen Zifeng, Ling Luochen, and Xixi. If you are willing, you can team up with them and look out for one another."

"Senior Ling Luochen?" Lin Feng's brows twitched slightly. The image of that ice-blue figure in the cafeteria flashed through his mind, and he nodded. "With these three members of the Shrek Seven Devils, it would certainly be more secure."

Wang Dong listened from the side without saying a word, merely noting these names down in silence.

Being able to team up with members of the Shrek Seven Devils from the Inner Court was naturally an opportunity they couldn't ask for more.