The Terrifying Evil Fire Phoenix

The two sides' seven members spread out and began discussing their tactics.

Dai Yueheng smiled at the Reserve Team members, Xu Sanshi, Xiao Xiao, and Huo Yuhao.

Whether in sparring or teamwork, the official team members had gone through countless repetitions in the Inner Court. They knew each other's abilities inside and out.

Thus, the only thing he was unsure of in this battle was the abilities and strength of these three Reserve Team members.

"Junior brothers and sisters, introduce your Martial Souls and abilities first. Sanshi, you go first."

Xu Sanshi nodded. "You already know my Soul Power Level and training path. I'm a Level 43 Defense Type Soul Ancestor."

"My Martial Soul is the Darkwater Tortoise Shell Shield. My First Soul Skill is a control-type Soul Skill, my Second Soul Skill is a defense-type Soul Skill, and my Third Soul Skill is an enhancement-type Soul Skill. My Fourth Soul Skill is rather special. It allows me to swap positions with anyone within a certain range of my line of sight."

Dai Yueheng nodded upon hearing that. "Very good. Junior Brother Sanshi, this ability of yours will be very helpful for our upcoming tactical arrangements. Next, Junior Sister Xiao Xiao."

Xiao Xiao was somewhat nervous. After all, she only had two Soul Rings. The gap between her and these Soul Elders, Soul Ancestors, Soul Kings, and Soul Emperors was simply too great. Still, she reported her Martial Soul and Soul Skill setup.

Dai Yueheng nodded after listening. In a battle of this level, Xiao Xiao's First and Second Soul Skills could already be considered negligible.

All Xiao Xiao could do was preserve herself as much as possible. If, at a critical moment, she could block one or two offensive Soul Skills for her team, that would already count as a great contribution.

When it was his turn, Huo Yuhao calmly presented the Soul Skill setup he had prepared long ago. "My Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes. My First Soul Skill is Insight, which allows me to more easily detect the trajectories and weaknesses in others' movements."

"My Second Soul Skill is Spiritual Suggestion. Under the effect of Spiritual Suggestion, I can interfere with the minds of people within a certain range. The larger the range, the weaker the effect. If it is only one person, I am confident I can control even a Soul King for a period of time."

"Oh?" Dai Yueheng's eyes lit up slightly. "Not bad. This will make the coming battle much easier. The main reliance in this fight will be the cooperation between Junior Brother Sanshi and Junior Brother Yuhao."

"Among Xiaotao's lineup, aside from her herself, Ling Luochen is the greatest threat. Ling Luochen's cultivation just happens to be at a level Junior Brother Yuhao can suppress."

"Once the battle begins, I'll take the lead and engage Xiaotao. The rest of you will advance together. Sanshi, your task is extremely important. You must swap Ling Luochen over immediately."

"After that, it'll depend on you, Yuhao. Zifeng, come with me and pressure the other side while also creating opportunities for Xixi."

"Haoxuan, stay with the junior brothers and sisters. Work together to control Ling Luochen. Do not give her any chance to struggle."

The short Yao Haoxuan nodded. "Understood."

"Xixi, stay with Yuhao and the others. After dealing with Ling Luochen first, go support Zifeng."

"In this battle, aside from Xiaotao and Ling Luochen, the only Inner Court student on their team is Gongyang Mo."

"Gongyang Mo is a Support Soul Master. Without teammates protecting him, the combat strength he can display is negligible."

"As long as Xixi deals with Gongyang Mo next, I'll hold Ma Xiaotao back. With Xixi and Zifeng working together, taking down the others should not be a problem."

Xixi and Chen Zifeng both nodded, agreeing with Dai Yueheng's plan.

"Good. Then let's give it our all. Victory!" Dai Yueheng nodded. Though he said victory, his gaze rested on Ma Xiaotao's group in the distance, carrying a trace of concern.

Because of the Evil Fire affecting her Martial Soul, Ma Xiaotao had rarely participated in the Main Team's activities despite being one of its members.

Thus, aside from the more easygoing Gongyang Mo, Ma Xiaotao's relationships with the other Main Team members could only be considered ordinary.

Moreover, for unknown reasons, Ma Xiaotao had not participated in Main Team training for nearly a year. Yet after recently returning, her Soul Power had already surpassed Dai Yueheng's, and her status seemed to have faintly risen above his as well.

However, ever since returning, Ma Xiaotao had become exceptionally cold. Her conduct and fighting style had also become far more violent than before.

Even Gongyang Mo, who had originally been close to Ma Xiaotao, seemed to have been pushed away by her. Combined with their previous sparring sessions, where Ma Xiaotao had always suppressed Dai Yueheng, this was why he had devised a seemingly reasonable plan.

Yet his heart was still troubled by a vague sense of unease. Still, this was only a friendly match, and Elder Xuan was watching from the side. There should not be any problems, right? Dai Yueheng thought.

Unlike the team led by the calculating Dai Yueheng, which had a fairly harmonious atmosphere at the moment,

the atmosphere in Ma Xiaotao's team had dropped to freezing point.

Because of Ma Xiaotao's presence, the invisible pressure radiating from her made everyone present feel as if they could barely breathe.

Gongyang Mo forced a smile. As someone relatively close to Ma Xiaotao, he was the first to speak. "Xiaotao, how do you plan to fight this battle?"

After looking over everyone present, Ma Xiaotao spoke stiffly.

"Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng are mine."

"The others are yours."

Ling Luochen frowned upon hearing this, but she was not someone who liked to talk much, so she did not object to Ma Xiaotao's arrangements.

Gongyang Mo sighed bitterly and looked at the other four Reserve Team members, who were still somewhat restrained. "Four junior brothers and sisters, introduce your abilities. I believe that with Xiaotao's strength, as long as we cooperate properly, defeating them will not be a problem."

After Beibei, Jiang Nannan, Ning Tian, and Wang Dong had each introduced their abilities, Gongyang Mo nodded. "Alright. Then the support duties will be left to Junior Sister Ning Tian and me."

"First, we'll help strengthen Xiaotao. After that, Beibei and Jiang Nannan, you two will be responsible for holding Xixi down. With the enhancement abilities of Junior Sister Ning Tian and me, along with your cultivation, there should not be much of a problem."

"As for the rest—"

"Leave them to me." Ling Luochen's cool voice rang out. "Junior Brother Wang Dong, just protect yourself. If an opportunity arises, you can try to deal with Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, whose Soul Power cultivation is relatively low."

Listening to their discussion, Ma Xiaotao said nothing. She merely closed her eyes and quietly waited as time passed second by second.

Everything both sides did was observed by Xuan Zi. Seeing Ma Xiaotao's current unapproachable state, he could not help sighing inwardly.

Ever since the Seagod Lake Incident a year ago, Ma Xiaotao seemed to have become a completely different person. She had shut herself away. Although she still followed her teachers' instructions to cultivate daily and participate in training,

she no longer possessed her former liveliness. This matter had left Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department, deeply troubled. Moreover, it seemed to grow increasingly serious as time passed.

At first, Yan Shaozhe had merely believed that Ma Xiaotao was emotionally troubled, so he gave her time to adjust herself. Yet afterward, even the Evil Fire that had once plagued Ma Xiaotao seemed to vanish without a trace.

It was precisely from that moment that Xu Sanshi was finally freed. He no longer had to miserably serve as an Evil Fire Suppressor.

Yet even after the Evil Fire disappeared, there was no sign that Ma Xiaotao's self-isolation had improved. Even Mu En was helpless about it.

As one of the Sea God Pavilion Elders, Xuan Zi naturally knew about this. But there was nothing he could do. Even Mu En, a Limit Douluo, could not resolve the issue or even identify what was wrong with Ma Xiaotao. What could he possibly do?

According to Mu En's understanding, Ma Xiaotao might have developed an emotional affliction. But because she resisted communication, they had never been able to confirm the root cause and could only let things continue as they were.

Now, Xuan Zi only hoped that Ma Xiaotao could reopen her heart with the help of her teammates and emerge from her gloom.

But none of them knew that her emotional knot was merely the trigger. The problem within Ma Xiaotao was no longer a simple emotional affliction. The influence of that sinister energy had already penetrated deep into her bones, and it would erupt sooner or later.

After ten minutes passed, Xuan Zi's voice rang out again. "From this moment onward, you are not classmates but opponents. To earn the chance not to be pigs, I need not tell you what to do. Begin!"

Following Xuan Zi's command, both sides immediately entered battle formation.

Ma Xiaotao charged forward first. Scarlet feathers sprouted from her body one after another, transforming into scorching, magnificent wings. Blazing golden-red Phoenix Flames burst outward, illuminating the surrounding area.

Yet in Huo Yuhao's eyes, beneath those tiny golden-red sparks was bound an incomparably cold and profound Hellfire.

Two differently colored seven-colored lights lit up behind Ma Xiaotao. They were the radiance of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and the Rainbow Dragon Martial Soul.

Seven-colored light flowed brilliantly as several streams of differently colored radiance, accompanied by the flashing of Ning Tian and Gongyang Mo's Soul Rings, merged into Ma Xiaotao's body.

With the reinforcement of their Soul Skills, the already tyrannical Phoenix Flames surged again, adding several distinct colors to Ma Xiaotao's already magnificent wings.

Beibei and Jiang Nannan followed close behind, using the cover of the phoenix wings to charge toward Dai Yueheng's team. Wang Dong and Ling Luochen lagged slightly behind, but they too deliberately concealed themselves behind Ma Xiaotao.

During their earlier tactical discussion, they had naturally laid out the situation regarding Xu Sanshi and Huo Yuhao, the greatest threats among the other side's Reserve Team members. They were now guarding against Xu Sanshi's actions.

But this was ultimately only a temporary measure. One could guard against a thief for a thousand days, but not forever. As the battle progressed and they clashed with the enemy, even the most conservative strategy would eventually reveal weaknesses.

Dai Yueheng also charged forward first. The Evil Eye White Tiger and the Evil Fire Phoenix collided, but the battle quickly became one-sided.

There was already a gap in Soul Power between Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng. With the enhancement from Gongyang Mo and Ning Tian's Soul Skills added on top, Dai Yueheng's side immediately fell into a disadvantage.

Even though Dai Yueheng activated the White Tiger Body Protection Barrier, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, and White Tiger Demonic God Transformation at once, combining three defensive and enhancement Soul Skills with Yao Haoxuan's support from the rear, it was still useless.

Fourth Soul Skill: Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike! Ma Xiaotao transformed into a flaming phoenix, wreathed in fire as she collided with Dai Yueheng. The powerful, scorching shockwave that followed made it impossible for the others nearby to approach.

Dai Yueheng, who took the strike head-on, felt flames roasting his entire body as if he were about to be scorched black. At the same time, the flames carried tremendous force, numbing both his arms.

It had to be known that Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix excelled more in elemental offense, while its physical strength was merely average. Yet now, even the Evil Eye White Tiger, which specialized in overwhelming physical attacks, found her difficult to handle. This was no ordinary gap.

But Ma Xiaotao's assault was not over. She activated her Fifth Soul Skill, Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike! The flames created by the Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike, which had yet to disperse, gathered around Ma Xiaotao once more.

Those flames swept Dai Yueheng along as they surged toward Chen Zifeng nearby.

Chen Zifeng's eyes widened. He did specialize in powerful attacks, but his defense was far too weak. With Ma Xiaotao attacking like this, was she trying to kill him?

Seeing the icy look in Ma Xiaotao's eyes, Chen Zifeng's heart pounded. He summoned his Martial Soul, the Soul Chasing Sword, and slashed toward the flames rushing directly at him.

His Soul Rings flashed in succession. The incomparably sharp Soul Chasing Sword actually split apart the fiercest first wave of the Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike. Though he was still injured by the lingering force of the flames, he seized the chance to pull Dai Yueheng from Ma Xiaotao's grasp.

Dai Yueheng's expression was grim. His entire body was tinged with an unnatural red, clearly showing that he had been burned.

He had overestimated himself and underestimated Ma Xiaotao. Under her pressure, both he and Chen Zifeng had been dragged into battle. This directly disrupted the tactics and plan Dai Yueheng had formulated.

Although Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng were both outstanding Inner Court students, they were beaten down so badly they could barely raise their heads. Ma Xiaotao's attacks were simply too aggressive now, especially as the nature of her Martial Soul had begun to change.

The Evil Fire Phoenix's originally self-conflicting sinister energy had become the origin of its power. Empowered by that force, Ma Xiaotao's current strength far surpassed her former level. The Evil Fire Phoenix and the Evil Eye White Tiger were no longer Martial Souls of the same caliber.