As Zhang Lexuan's words fell, the people of the Inner Court immediately charged into the valley.
The Evil Soul Masters in the valley hadn't yet realized what was happening when they saw a moonlit glow descend from the sky, illuminating every one of them.
"Not good! It's Shrek!"
One quick-thinking Evil Soul Master realized something was wrong. He was just about to alert the others when a searing, dark-red flame was already rushing toward him.
The next moment, before he could finish speaking, the impact of the Evil Fire made his entire body explode with a bang.
Ma Xiaotao's attack also marked the official start of this one-sided slaughter.
"Boom—"
Dark-red flames soared into the sky, lighting up the entire valley.
The heat warped the air in an instant, burning a wide hole through even the surrounding poisonous miasma.
Ma Xiaotao hovered in midair, the fifth and Sixth Soul Rings on her body shining brightly.
Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike!
Phoenix Meteor Shower!
In the past, whenever she used these two moves, she always had to hold back, afraid that unleashing too much Soul Power would trigger an Evil Fire backlash.
But today was completely different.
"So this is what it feels like to control the power of fire?"
Ma Xiaotao looked at her palm, feeling the Evil Fire obey her as it never had before. She was completely entranced.
The clear, smooth feeling in her meridians left her exhilarated.
She unleashed all the Soul Power of a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, and the pleasure that welled up from deep in her bones made Ma Xiaotao let out a long cry.
The Evil Soul Masters below didn't even have time to scream. As for the five-ringed leader, he naturally received special attention.
He had only just summoned his Martial Soul when the domineering flames engulfed him from above, burning him to a crisp.
Dai Yueheng swatted away a Soul Grandmaster who had tried to ambush him, then looked up at the dazzling blaze in the sky, his brow furrowing into a knot.
Had that crazy woman taken the wrong medicine today?
He put away his Martial Soul and walked off to the side.
By the looks of it, they probably wouldn't have anything to do today.
Ling Luochеn stood not far away, still holding an unused ice spike in her hand.
She had been keeping an eye on Ma Xiaotao, ready to cool her down at any moment. Only now did she realize that there was no need for her to get involved at all.
The Evil Soul Masters hadn't even withstood one of Ma Xiaotao's outbursts before the battle was already over.
Standing atop a high tree, Zhang Lexuan watched the battle below sweep through the enemies like dead leaves before a gale. She, too, was a little surprised.
Xiaotao's Evil Fire... hadn't shown the slightest sign of getting out of control this time?
The battle ended in a flash.
There were more than a dozen Evil Soul Masters. Except for the one Zhang Lexuan had specifically instructed them to keep alive, Ma Xiaotao had taken care of every last one.
She even felt it hadn't been enough. Only after bombarding the valley again and again with her fifth and sixth Soul Skills did she finally feel satisfied.
Ma Xiaotao dropped from the sky, clapped her hands, and beamed with delight.
Dai Yueheng walked over and looked her up and down, his voice tinged with confusion.
"What's gotten into you today? You used so many Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skills in a row. Weren't you afraid you'd lose control of your Evil Fire?"
Gongyang Mo came over too, his face full of bewilderment.
"You usually need to call Ling Luochеn over to cool you down after using just two thousand-year Soul Skills. Today you even threw out Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skills. Weren't you afraid the Evil Fire would backlash and set you alight?"
Faced with their doubts, Ma Xiaotao lifted her chin proudly, her face glowing.
"Backlash, my ass!"
"I've never felt better!"
Ling Luochеn came closer and carefully sensed the aura around Ma Xiaotao. Her brows knitted slightly.
"Your Evil Fire... has been suppressed? Who did it?"
Everyone in the Inner Court knew Ma Xiaotao's situation too well.
Even Dean Yan and the elders of the Sea God Pavilion had said there was nothing they could do. How had it suddenly gotten better today?
Ma Xiaotao couldn't keep anything to herself—or, rather, she had wanted to show off.
"Who else could it be? Of course, it was all thanks to my Yu Hao!"
"Yu Hao?"
Dai Yueheng froze for a moment, then furrowed his brow as he thought.
"Since when did we have someone like that in the Inner Court?"
"What Inner Court? He's a new student in the Outer Academy!"
Whenever Ma Xiaotao mentioned Huo Yuhao, her voice turned light and cheerful.
"Don't be fooled by the fact that he only has one ring right now. With his talent and abilities, I'm telling you, he's bound to become a top prospect for the Inner Court!"
Her words left everyone around them stunned.
A one-ringed new student from the Outer Academy?
He'd solved Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem after more than a decade?
And Ma Xiaotao, who usually had her nose in the air, had called him a top prospect for the Inner Court?
Gongyang Mo stroked his chin, thoughtful.
"Now that's interesting. The Outer Academy has someone like that? Once we get back, I'll have to go see for myself."
Ling Luochеn said nothing, but her expression clearly showed she was interested too.
Seeing how they were reacting, Ma Xiaotao instantly realized she'd let something slip.
She immediately stepped in front of them, looking just like a mother hen guarding her food.
"I'm warning you!"
"Yu Hao is mine! None of you are allowed to get any ideas about him!"
"Especially you, Ling Luochеn! Don't even think about setting your sights on our Yu Hao!"
Ling Luochеn snorted and turned her head away.
"Boring."
Watching Ma Xiaotao's anxious expression, Dai Yueheng found his curiosity completely piqued.
He really wanted to see what kind of man could make Ma Xiaotao so protective of him.
Someone who could solve the hidden danger of the Evil Fire Phoenix...
If he could recruit such a rare talent to the White Tiger Duke Mansion and put him to use...
On a mountain far away.
The night wind howled.
The Zhongli Brothers exchanged glances, each seeing the wariness in the others' eyes.
The Evil Soul Masters gathered there had been their doing. They had meant to test the strength of the Shrek Inner Court disciples.
But now, seeing their fellow Evil Soul Masters—people just like them—so brutally wiped out, the three brothers couldn't help feeling the grief of a fox mourning its dead kin.
Zhongli Tian looked at the dark-red flames gradually dying out in the valley, swallowed unconsciously, and spoke with some fear.
"That fire is downright sinister."
"If we faced her at the same level, the three of us would probably end up burned straight through."
Zhongli Ren chimed in from beside him.
"Exactly. How do the Inner Court disciples of Shrek Academy manage to fight more like Evil Soul Masters than we do?"
Zhongli Di remained silent at the side.
In front of them, a man whose evil aura was several times stronger than that of the three brothers said nothing.
He stared toward the valley. Not only was he unafraid, but his face was filled with greed.
Scorpion Tiger Douluo, Zhang Peng.
"That's the aura of ultimate destruction. What a fine prospect."
Hearing the brothers' words, Zhang Peng smiled. His voice was as hoarse as sandpaper scraping together.
"This girl was born to belong to our Holy Spirit Cult."
Zhongli Tian stepped forward and asked in a low voice.
"Elder, should we make our move now? They've just finished fighting, so they must have used up a lot of energy."
Zhang Peng waved a hand.
"No hurry."
"That girl hasn't fully matured yet. There wouldn't be much point in taking her back now."
He turned around, his black robe snapping in the wind.
"Let Shrek raise our future Saintess for us for now."
"When the time comes, she'll come to our cult of her own accord."
With that, the four disappeared into the darkness without a trace.
The following evening.
Outside the Outer Academy's city gate, Dai Yueheng arrived at the snack street he'd almost never visited, having gathered information ahead of time.
Watching Huo Yuhao expertly prepare delicious grilled fish, he felt a strange sense of familiarity stir within him.
But Dai Yueheng was certain he had never met this new student, who had only just enrolled.
"Interesting."
Dai Yueheng rubbed his chin and made up his mind, then headed straight for the grilled fish stall.
He'd decided: he was going to get this man!!
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