Refusing to Get Something for Free Starts with Me

"I can help you suppress your Evil Fire."

Yang Jian raised his head and spoke slowly. "In return, I need you to use all your connections to help me find a Soul Beast that's at least thirty thousand years old and possesses the Ultimate Fire attribute."

"What I need is an exact location."

Before he had absorbed an Ultimate Earth Soul Beast as his third Soul Ring, the Titled Douluo elders of the Offering Hall had already begun searching for an Ultimate Fire Soul Beast suitable for him to absorb.

Unfortunately, Soul Beasts with Ultimate Attributes were already as rare as hen's teeth, and with the age requirement on top of that, the Titled Douluo of the Offering Hall had searched for two and a half years and still come up empty-handed.

"Sure, no problem."

Ma Xiaotao agreed without hesitation.

Only after agreeing did she belatedly realize what he had said. "Aren't you a Soul Master with the Ultimate Water attribute? Why are you looking for an Ultimate Fire Soul Beast?"

"Don't worry about that. Just use all your connections to help me find one. Remember—all your connections."

Yang Jian deliberately put extra emphasis on the words "all your connections."

Ma Xiaotao alone was nowhere near enough. He needed Yan Shaozhe, the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, to mobilize Shrek Academy's intelligence network and help him search.

"Okay. I'll ask my teacher to help."

Ma Xiaotao didn't understand why, but she agreed at once, a barely concealed note of joy rising in her voice.

She had been plagued by Evil Fire for far, far too long. Without it, she could have achieved so much more, instead of having to spend her energy suppressing it and enduring the pain.

With Yang Jian's current Soul Power, he could only suppress it for a while, but even a brief reprieve was precious to Ma Xiaotao.

"So when do we start? Now?"

"Now? Don't tell me you expect me to suppress your Evil Fire in front of everyone."

At that, Ma Xiaotao glanced around and only then noticed that most of the people in the cafeteria were staring at them.

"What are you looking at? Eat your food!"

Ma Xiaotao snapped at them awkwardly. The students hurriedly lowered their heads, and only then did she turn back to Yang Jian, looking at him with some anticipation. "How about you come with me to the Inner Court? You can help suppress my Evil Fire there, and afterward I'll bring you back."

"There's no rush. Your current, relatively stable condition should last for a while. Why don't you tell your teacher about my conditions first? Once I see you taking action on my behalf, I'll help suppress your Evil Fire."

Yang Jian shook his head and directly rejected Ma Xiaotao's suggestion.

Refusing to get something for free starts with me.

Yang Jian's guess had been right. Ma Xiaotao had indeed just experienced an Evil Fire flare-up. The faint red glow lingering around her was the remnants of it.

Her relatively stable condition could last a few more days, so there was no need to rush.

Though Ma Xiaotao was a little disappointed, she still nodded. "You're right. That's fair."

With that, Ma Xiaotao hurried out of the cafeteria.

From the way she was going, she was probably off to find Yan Shaozhe.

Yang Jian felt a weight lift from his heart. With the Titled Douluo elders of the Offering Hall and Shrek Academy's intelligence network both searching, he should hear some good news soon, right?

"Second Brother, will helping her suppress her Evil Fire have any effect on you?"

Ye Qingyuan looked at Yang Jian with concern. Though she did feel some sympathy for Ma Xiaotao, Yang Jian mattered far more to her.

If suppressing Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire might put Yang Jian in danger, then there was no need to help.

"Don't worry. It won't affect me. Xiao Bai's here, after all. Right, Xiao Bai?"

Yang Jian lowered his head and stroked the white fur on top of Xiao Bai's head.

At that, Xiao Bai gave two soft whines in reply.

"Besides, even if it does have an effect, it'll be a positive one. Helping her suppress the Evil Fire might even benefit me. Gaining control over the power of fire ahead of time could help me absorb an Ultimate Fire Soul Ring in the future."

"If you say so, Second Brother, then I'm reassured."

Ye Qingyuan nodded, finally putting her worries to rest.

Yang Jian returned to his seat and patted Bei Bei on the back. "What are you thinking about so hard?"

Lately, Tang Ya and Ye Qingyuan had grown much closer, and he and Bei Bei had become good friends too.

Bei Bei, deep in thought, flinched at Yang Jian's pat before coming back to himself.

"I was just wondering why you chose an Ultimate Fire Soul Beast for your Soul Ring."

"Come up with an answer?"

"Uh... no."

Bei Bei shook his head and readily admitted it.

He just couldn't figure out why Yang Jian, who possessed the Ultimate Water attribute, would choose to absorb a Soul Ring with a completely opposite attribute. Even if both were Ultimate Attributes, they were still diametrically opposed. Forget about absorbing it to strengthen himself... wouldn't it be impossible to absorb in the first place?

"I don't mind telling you."

At that, Bei Bei's eyes brightened slightly, while Tang Ya, sitting across from them, settled in to listen.

"Strictly speaking, my Martial Soul doesn't possess any attribute. Or you could say that Chaos is its attribute. I call it Ultimate Chaos."

Yang Jian stroked the tuft of fur on Xiao Bai's head. Xiao Bai rubbed comfortably against his palm, and then he continued, "Its trait is that it can absorb Soul Rings of any Ultimate Attribute, so I don't need to worry about attribute conflicts. And after absorbing a Soul Ring with an Ultimate Attribute, I gain the power of that attribute."

"The rumors you've heard about me possessing the Ultimate Water attribute came from the power I gained after absorbing an Ultimate Water Soul Ring."

Bei Bei and Tang Ya both drew sharp breaths.

A Martial Soul with the Ultimate Chaos attribute... It could gain whichever Ultimate Attribute it absorbed?

Wasn't that absurdly powerful?

Didn't that mean that as long as Yang Jian cultivated to become a Titled Douluo, he could possess nine Ultimate Attributes!?

A Soul Master with a single Ultimate Attribute could rival some veteran Titled Douluo after reaching that rank. Then wouldn't Yang Jian, with all nine Ultimate Attributes, be as powerful as a Limit Douluo the moment he became a Titled Douluo?

"That's exactly why there are so few Soul Beasts that meet my Soul Ring requirements. Soul Beasts of that caliber are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. That's why I made Ma Xiaotao that offer."