Phoenix's Fury, Golden Crow's Roar · Jade Hue Breaks the Blazing Sun

"Raging Flames Shine Upon the Nine Suns?!!"

Ma Xiaotao muttered the words, and instantly, the line "The peach tree is young and elegant, brilliant are its flowers" that this guy had said to her in the woods by the Sea God Pavilion echoed in her mind.

Back then, I thought this brat had a sweet tongue and at least some taste... but what about now?

To Wu Ming, he offers praise that swallows mountains and rivers like "Burning the Eight Desolations" and "Shining Upon the Nine Suns"? He's got that silly girl beaming with joy!

And for me, he uses terms like "young and elegant" and "brilliant," words meant for delicate flowers?

What does this mean? Does he think I'm not "Burning the Eight Desolations" enough? Not "Shining Upon the Nine Suns" enough? Does he think that 'silly bird' martial soul of Wu Ming's is better than my Phoenix?

A mixture of irritation at being outdone, the bitterness of having her exclusive praise shared, and the raging fury that this brat dared to "favor one over the other" instantly swept over Ma Xiaotao!

"Heh!"

A short, icy sneer, like a wind from the Far North, froze Wu Ming's laughter and the half-breath of relief Long Jinyu had just let out.

Ma Xiaotao turned slowly, her beautiful phoenix eyes burning with flames more terrifying than any evil fire, locking onto Long Jinyu.

The corners of her lips curled into an arc that could only be described as "gentle":

"Junior Brother Long."

She enunciated every word, each one like an ice needle dipped in poison.

"What fine literary talent! 'Burning the Eight Desolations'? 'Shining Upon the Nine Suns'? Your praise is truly, so, very, apt!"

She took a step forward, her scorching aura carrying a destructive pressure that completely enveloped Long Jinyu:

"It seems you've recovered quite well, having the leisure to compose poetry for the Golden Crow Saintess?"

She tilted her head slightly, her smile "nuclear-level" kind.

"Then next time when Senior Sister is 'brilliant like flowers,' you must remember to compose a masterpiece of 'Burning Heavens and Boiling Seas' and 'Ice Sealing Ten Thousand Miles' to help me out, how about that? Hmm?"

The final "Hmm?" had a dangerously rising inflection, and the pressure of the Phoenix almost solidified—translated, it meant:

You dare use that level of praise for her to fob me off? If you don't come up with something ten times more impressive to help me suppress my evil fire next time, you're dead!

Long Jinyu trembled in fear at Ma Xiaotao's display.

Is this... truly the Romance Continent?

It's over, it's over, it's all over! "A quick tongue brings a moment of pleasure, but chasing a wife... pfft! Chasing a senior sister is a funeral pyre!"

Ma Xiaotao's "deadly reaction"... she's definitely jealous... she's complaining that "The peach tree is young and elegant..." isn't domineering enough! She thinks I put more effort into praising Wu Ming!

Long Jinyu felt a headache even worse than when facing the evil fire.

Help! This is a massive injustice!

How am I supposed to explain the diversity of literary rhetoric?!

Those two lines for Wu Ming were, at best, a nursery rhyme I made up on the spot.

"The peach tree is young and elegant, brilliant are its flowers" is a classic verse from the Blue Star's Classic of Poetry: Zhou Nan: Peach Tree! How can they even be compared?!

Unfortunately, he couldn't say that out loud.

Wait, isn't that wrong?!

A thought, even more aggrieved and indignant, suddenly popped up.

Why am I being so humble?!

It's clearly her who needs me! Who was it that clung to me and wouldn't let go when the evil fire acted up? Who begged me for help?

Why does it feel like I owe her eight hundred lives now? Just because I praised someone else twice? Is there any justice in this world?!

The script must be wrong! Shouldn't she be carefully coaxing me, her "fire extinguisher"? How did it end up the other way around?!

The more he thought, the more irritable he became, his resentful gaze seemingly piercing through the roof of the distant Sea God Pavilion to strike at the old fox lying on a recliner:

It's all that old geezer... the teacher's fault! With his move of "taking a disciple while the iron is hot"...

Ginger is indeed spicier when old... I'm no match for his schemes! I've been played for a fool!

Looking at Ma Xiaotao's phoenix eyes, which were practically spitting fire, the little person inside Long Jinyu jumped up and down in frustration, feeling utterly stifled.

But the next second, the image of that Phoenix from the original work—tortured by evil fire, eventually falling into darkness, and meeting a tragic end—flashed through his mind...

Sigh... forget it, just forget it...

An indescribable pity and helplessness instantly overwhelmed his indignation.

Who told you to be so... in the original story...

For the sake of you being so pitiful (scratch that) needing help...

He softened his heart after all.

I'll... I'll spoil you just this once! I'll coax you! Next time... next time if you dare to be this fierce again, I... I...

He "I-ed" for a long time, unable to think of any substantive threat—after all, suppressing the evil fire still depended on him.

In the end, he could only conclude with grief and indignation:

Next time, I'll have to coax her again!

Survival is paramount! Must stabilize her first!

"If Senior Sister has a command, how could this junior dare to disobey?!"

He raised his voice slightly to ensure the scattered students pricking up their ears nearby could catch a bit of it, his gaze fixed intently on Ma Xiaotao as he spoke with twelve parts solemnity:

"'The peach tree is young and elegant, its blossoms brilliant and lush'—that describes the greatest beauty in the world, one and only! In my heart, only Senior Sister is worthy of such unique praise!"

"If Senior Sister has need in the future, never mind Burning Heavens and Boiling Seas or Ice Sealing Ten Thousand Miles, even if you want chapters on 'Overturning the Heavens and Earth' or 'Reshaping the Sun and Moon,' as long as Senior Sister wishes to hear them, this junior will rack his brains and exhaust every ounce of strength to present them! No perfunctory efforts whatsoever!"

These words not only highlighted the weight of the "peach tree" poem in his heart but also made a promise far exceeding the specifications of the Golden Crow Poem, all while emphasizing the exclusivity of "only for Senior Sister."

His survival instinct was dialed up to the max!

Ma Xiaotao stared fixedly into Long Jinyu's eyes, seemingly trying to find a trace of perfunctoriness within them.

But the youth's gaze was clear, his expression solemn, even carrying a hint of a "tragic" desperation; though that exaggerated promise sounded a bit absurd...

That posture of "as long as you speak, I will write it for you even if it costs me my life"... strangely struck a chord deep within her heart.

The terrifying pressure shrouding Long Jinyu receded just a fraction, and the flames in her phoenix eyes calmed down a tiny bit, yet they still held a look of scrutiny and a lingering, unresolved... grievance?

She snorted coldly and turned her head away, accepting this explanation and promise for the time being, though her tongue remained sharp:

"Hmph! Smooth-talker! Remember what you said!" However, her tone was finally not quite so freezing.

"Oh~~~~~~~!!!"

Just then, a long-drawn-out exclamation, dripping with the implication of "I get it, I understand everything," exploded into the air!

Wu Ming cupped her cheeks in her hands, her eyeballs darting between Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao, her face filled with undisguised excitement and teasing:

"'One and only'?"

"'Only for Senior Sister'?"

"'Exhaust every ounce of strength to present them'???"

"Wow! Xiaotao! You're something! No wonder you were hiding him away and wouldn't let anyone touch him!"

"Sour! Truly sour! Souring than the hundred-year-old aged vinegar Old Wang keeps in his collection!"

"So it was a golden house hiding a beauty... oh wait, it's a phoenix nest hiding a dragon! This little junior has such a sweet mouth, such great talent, and is so 'loyal and devoted'..."

"Tsk tsk tsk! When did this happen? Confess immediately! You even kept it from me, your good sister! That's really not fair!"

As Wu Ming spoke, she poked Ma Xiaotao hard with her elbow, winking and grinning; the fire of gossip was enough to set the cafeteria entrance ablaze!

"Wu! Ming! You! Are! Talking! Rubbish!"

The temper Ma Xiaotao had just managed to calm was instantly ignited by Wu Ming's embellished, "illicit affair"-implying remarks! It was even worse than before!

Her entire pretty face flushed crimson in an instant, red all the way to the roots of her hair, and blue smoke actually began to rise from the top of her head!

She felt she had never been so shamed and angry in her entire life!

What did she mean by hiding him away?!

What did she mean by sourer than old vinegar?!

What did she mean by phoenix nest hiding a dragon???

Was this silly bird's brain filled with nothing but magma?!

She only wanted to burn Wu Ming's flapping mouth and Long Jinyu's trouble-making face into ash right now!

"Cree--!"

A clear, sharp phoenix cry filled with rage rang out suddenly!

The air around Ma Xiaotao distorted violently, and scorching heat waves surged outward! A massive phantom of a phoenix with a wingspan of several meters, its entire body burning with blazing red flames, spread its wings proudly behind her!

The phoenix's eyes were sharp, carrying an evil yet noble aura—it was the Evil Fire Phoenix!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black! Six brilliant soul rings instantly circled and pulsed around her body, emitting powerful soul power fluctuations!

The pressure belonging to a top-tier beast martial soul, mixed with the shame and anger of being teased, pressed down on Wu Ming without reservation! The temperature at the cafeteria entrance instantly soared as if inside a furnace!

"If I don't burn all the feathers off that silly bird of yours today, my name isn't Ma!"

"Come on then! Like I'm afraid of you! It's the perfect time to test if my Golden Crow True Fire has improved recently!"

Wu Ming's competitive spirit was also stirred; although she knew it was just playful banter, she could not lose in terms of momentum!

She let out a sharp cry, and the brilliant golden flames on her body erupted like the sun!

"Cree--!"

A phantom of a three-legged Golden Crow, looking majestic and as if condensed from pure solar true fire, raised its head and shrieked behind her, emitting a domineering aura of "burning through the eight wildernesses"!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black! Six soul rings lit up around her as well!

Because Wu Ming was a few years older, her foundation of soul power was clearly a notch stronger.

But Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix carried a more sinister and domineering pressure in terms of martial soul quality!

One red, one gold—two equally terrifying, attribute-adjacent yet distinct extreme flame auras collided like two erupting volcanoes!

The air crackled as it burned, and the red-and-gold intertwined energy turbulence clashed and annihilated between them, forming a dazzling and dangerous energy storm zone!

The onlookers gasped and scrambled back a wide circle, terrified of being caught in the crossfire, watching the daily "sparring" of the Inner Court's "Twin Prides" with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Long Jinyu was forced back a step by the violent heatwave, his heart utterly speechless:

"..."

"..."

"I am... truly speechless!"

"Wu Ming! You really are my ancestor! I'll call you sister! Are you trying to save me or kill me?! Even adding fuel to a fire isn't this fast!"

[Ding! Double high-energy reaction detected! Host, pray for your own survival.]

[Friendly reminder: Please enjoy the spectacle of a 'living volcano' collision.]

"I'll enjoy Nüwa!"

The red and gold flame storm swirled ever larger.

Although both had tacitly agreed not to use soul skills, the sheer momentum of their martial soul power and soul power colliding was enough to demolish half the cafeteria!

"That idiot Ma Xiaotao! Is she trying to piss me off?!"

"How long has it been since she suppressed her evil fire? Her body is so weak, she even fainted once! And now she's forcing an eruption just to save face?!"

"Does she take me for a clown?! I'm risking my life to help her, and she's here risking her life to 'throw' it away?"

"What if she damages her foundation?! Ignoring her own body just for a bit of pride! She really is just as 'stupid' as in the original work!"

A surge of mixed heartache and irritation instantly rushed to Long Jinyu's heart.

"System! 5% soul power! How many seconds can I freeze them with a limit output?!"

The Ultimate Ice, ice-blue and cold, had already begun to condense frantically in his hidden sleeve, sending waves of tearing pain through his meridians.

[Warning! Host's current soul power is only 4.04%! And your mastery of soul power control is extremely low!]

[Forcibly releasing Ultimate Ice to freeze two top-tier fire-attribute Soul Emperors carries a huge risk of backlash! However...]

The system paused, seemingly performing complex calculations.

[Analyzing Dragon God bloodline potential... Evaluating martial soul grade...]

[Conclusion: If forcibly driven by the Dragon God will, benchmarking... Lan Xuanyu's childhood over-level eruption case, there is a 38.8% success rate to freeze the targets for three breaths!]

"Enough! As long as I can interrupt them!"

"I can't just watch this silly Ma Xiaotao burn herself out!"

Just as Long Jinyu gritted his teeth, preparing to give it his all and force out that pathetic amount of soul power—

"Ming'er, Xiaotao."

"Have you two had enough?"

A gentle yet stern voice, like a clear spring cutting through the roar of the flames, rang out clearly in everyone's ears!

The voice was not loud, yet it carried a power that pierced the soul, causing the violent, churning Golden Crow True Fire and Phoenix Blazing Flame to stall in their tracks!

The icy light on Long Jinyu's hand retracted abruptly.

The churning soul power in his body was forcibly suppressed by this sudden sound.

The surge of blood caused by the backlash made him grunt, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

But he couldn't care about that; like all the breathless onlookers around him, he looked toward the source of the sound with astonishment and curiosity.

There, in the light and shadow at the cafeteria entrance, stood a woman who had appeared silently.

She merely stood there, and an aura of tranquility and far-reaching peace radiated from her, silently nourishing all things. It was completely at odds with the violent fire elements at the door, yet it strangely formed a suppression.

She wore a slim-fitting white outfit with exquisite decorations; the style was simple yet extraordinary, elegant and gorgeous.

Unlike Wu Ming's vibrant energy and Ma Xiaotao's striking brilliance, she exuded a temperament that was as calm as a deep pool and as warm as jade.

A cascade of soft, champagne-gold hair fell to her shoulders, flowing with a warm luster under the cafeteria's ambient light, adding to her grace.

Her figure was slender and upright, her face beautiful and peerless, her skin as white as jade.

Most striking were her eyes; the light brown irises were like the purest amber, currently watching the farce at the door quietly. There was no reproach in her gaze, only a faint helplessness and... tolerance, as if watching two ignorant younger sisters making a scene.

Wu Ming and Ma Xiaotao turned to look at her almost simultaneously.

Long Jinyu's inner shock was beyond measure, as if he had seen a savior:

"Saved?!"

"What a... what a cool sister! She suppressed both of them with just her aura?! This is definitely a top-tier figure of the Inner Court!"