Divinity Temporarily Retreats, Phoenix Bows Its Head

The appearance of Ma Xiaotao caused the tense atmosphere on Sea God Island to turn instantly bizarre.

Watching this inner court genius, many of the elder masters flushed deep red, their eyes filled with humiliation.

Could it be that our dignified Shrek is truly going to "cede territory and sue for peace" today, relying on handing over a female student to appease the fury of a Limit Douluo?

"Mu En! You cannot! We might as well fight him to the death!"

"What a disgrace! The ten-thousand-year honor of Shrek is being ruined in a single day!"

"Yielding people today, ceding land tomorrow—Heaven is truly trying to destroy our Shrek!"

Amidst the chorus of "Shrek is doomed," a rare flicker of anger appeared on Mu En's wrinkled face.

Especially when faced with the playful gaze of Long Xiaoyao, which pierced his heart like a sharp sword.

"Enough!"

A reprimand laced with profound soul power instantly plunged the entire scene into silence.

Mu En was truly furious...

The elder masters could no longer remember the last time this mild-tempered Sea God Pavilion master had shown such genuine rage. One by one, they fell silent as cicadas in winter, eyes fixed on their noses, hearts focused on their inner peace, none daring to utter another word.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Mu En turned his gaze toward the proudly standing Ma Xiaotao and spoke in a flat tone:

"I have brought her here.

However, Yan Shaozhe is right about one thing: it is better to be a shattered jade than an intact tile.

Xiaoyao, I know you are not a man who acts without purpose.

You have made such a grand display to snatch someone away—what exactly are you trying to do?"

Though his tone was flat, it radiated the majesty befitting a Limit Douluo.

Seeing that Mu En had set the stage, Long Xiaoyao no longer bothered to hide his intentions.

He stood with his hands behind his back, proudly and coldly spitting out a few words: "This disciple of mine possesses a God-tier Martial Soul..."

A God-tier Martial Soul?!

These four words were like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake. Everyone present gasped in unison, their gazes shifting toward Long Yaochen, filled with shock.

Facing their stunned stares, Long Yaochen curled his lips, skillfully revealing a harmless, innocent smile.

"...However," Long Xiaoyao said, sweeping a dissatisfied glance at those who had interrupted him, "his Martial Soul left behind a fatal flaw during its mutation. Only Ma Xiaotao's evil fire can completely mend his Soul Core."

Long Xiaoyao had no intention of hiding anything. In front of a Limit Douluo like him, what did it matter if this bunch of mediocre fools knew? Who would dare touch his precious disciple?

"I, Long Xiaoyao, have roamed the continent for hundreds of years; I am not an unreasonable man."

As he looked at Ma Xiaotao, a hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. He nodded and spoke with an unquestionable tone:

"Let my disciple enter into a marriage contract with her and give her a proper status.

As long as my disciple is by her side, the backlash of the evil fire within her can be easily resolved.

Consider this the compensation for her helping my disciple cultivate."

What?!

This development caused everyone present to widen their eyes in disbelief.

Except for two people. One was Yan Shaozhe, who had coughed up more blood and was now looking at Mu En with an extremely resentful expression.

Teacher, you aren't actually going to agree to this, are you?

The other was Mu En, the man Yan Shaozhe was staring at. He kept his eyes tightly shut, saying nothing, lost in thought.

So that's how it is...

Mu En mused to himself.

He understood Long Xiaoyao too well. Although this old man's Martial Soul was the Dark Sacred Dragon and his actions were overbearing, he was by no means a man of bloodthirsty or evil intent.

Otherwise, how could he resonate with his own Radiant Sacred Dragon?

And this disciple of his...

Mu En slowly opened his eyes, his murky pupils reflecting Long Yaochen's otherworldly temperament and appearance.

If his senses were correct, the boy had already touched the threshold of a Soul Ancestor.

Twelve years old, a quasi-Soul Ancestor, a God-tier Martial Soul... truly terrifying.

When these labels were concentrated on a twelve-year-old boy, even Mu En, a Limit Douluo who had lived for hundreds of years, felt uncontrollable waves of shock crashing within his heart.

If this child could be used by my Shrek...

A flicker of extremely hidden fanaticism flashed through Mu En's eyes, unnoticed by anyone present.

Only Long Yaochen, the target of his gaze, instinctively shivered, goosebumps rising across his skin.

What is this old man planning?

He looked back at Mu En with heightened vigilance.

"Talk is cheap." Seeing the crowd's disbelief, Long Xiaoyao tilted his chin toward Long Yaochen. "Chen'er, show them."

Seeing that Mu En did not stop him, Long Yaochen stepped forward of his own accord.

He had waited a long time for this moment.

"This... Senior Sister, my apologies."

Long Yaochen looked at Ma Xiaotao not far away, and a golden light surged deep within his eyes—the divine golden radiance belonging to the Eternal Blazing Sun erupted in an instant!

ROAR—!

A high-pitched dragon roar rang out.

It caused the expressions of everyone present to shift, especially those who possessed beast martial souls.

Their own martial souls were actually feeling a faint pressure?!

As the dragon roar faded, a brilliant phantom of a blazing sun rose behind Long Yaochen's head. Compared to that earlier pressure, another aura, filled with supreme divinity, swept across the entire field.

This absurd aura made the unique "purple-purple-purple" ring configuration at Long Yaochen's feet seem insignificant.

Immediately following that, an urge to prostrate themselves in worship rose in the heart of everyone present.

Are you kidding me?!

The crowd's expressions changed completely; one had to realize that even the weakest of these Pavilion Elders was a Titled Douluo.

Is this... a god-level martial soul?!

The moment this extreme divine light appeared, Ma Xiaotao's expression changed drastically!

The evil fire within her, which had been barely suppressed, seemed to be drawn by an irresistible, fatal attraction; at this moment, it completely escaped her control, breaking out of her body like a wild horse off its leash!

"Ugh—!"

The dark red evil fire transformed into a violent phoenix phantom, letting out a sharp, piercing cry as it charged straight at Long Yaochen.

"Xiaotao!" Yan Shaozhe was shocked, fearing that Long Yaochen was about to strike a lethal blow.

Yet, watching the evil fire that would reduce an ordinary Soul Elder to ashes upon contact, Long Yaochen's heart beat faster and faster.

It's it, it's definitely it!

Far from dodging, he stepped forward to meet it and took a sharp breath.

The once-violent flames, the moment they touched the holy light, were crushed by the blazing sun phantom behind Long Yaochen's head as if ice melting in the sun, condensing into a wisp of dark red light that he inhaled through his nose.

The moment it entered his body, it turned into a warm current, surging through his limbs and bones.

"Haa..."

Long Yaochen tilted his head back slightly, letting out a sigh of extreme comfort.

As this flame, laced with negative emotions, entered his body, the golden light in his eyes faded by the tiniest fraction.

Though it was only a fraction, it made Long Yaochen feel incredibly satisfied!

And the imbalance in his martial soul core, which had felt like the Tower of Heaven collapsing, actually righted itself by a rare margin.

"A pity... the purity is enough, but the quantity is far from sufficient."

Long Yaochen looked at Ma Xiaotao, subconsciously licking his lips, looking entirely unsatisfied.

At this moment, Ma Xiaotao was completely frozen.

Light...

She felt an unprecedented sense of lightness.

The evil fire that had tortured her for over a decade, making her wish for death countless times, had vanished without a trace in that brief instant!

She stared blankly at the twelve-year-old boy before her, who stood flawless under the divine light, her mind a complete blank.

Her martial soul seemed to be beating wildly in place of her heart.

This guy... he truly is... a celestial being!

It felt as if a shackle in her heart had shattered with a boom!

An instinctive urge surged from her martial soul throughout her entire body—

Get closer... and let him devour me!