Zhang Lexuan Admits Inferiority, Ma Xiaotao Is Shocked

Or perhaps Ma Xiaotao was not actually a descendant of Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang at all, and her ancestor had been born to Ma Hongjun and someone else?

He shook his head and dismissed the thought. At Shrek Academy, no matter what, Ma Xiaotao was a descendant of Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang. If he kept digging into it, that would be politically incorrect.

"Senior Sister, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

"Senior Sister, I heard from Teacher that you've already broken through to Spirit Emperor. Is that true?"

Ma Xiaotao was now eleven years old. Although her Soul Power had only just broken through level thirty and she could only study in the Outer Academy, not yet qualified to enter the Inner Academy, she was Yan Shaozhe's personal disciple and had grown up on Sea God Island. Naturally, she was exceptionally close to Zhang Lexuan.

As for why she called Zhang Lexuan Senior Sister, it was entirely because Zhang Lexuan was currently the strongest in the Inner Academy.

There were indeed senior students at the Spirit Emperor level in the Inner Academy, but none of them were Zhang Lexuan's match.

The gap in strength meant that although Zhang Lexuan was not the highest-level student, she had earned the title of Senior Sister early on.

"I missed you too, Xiaotao."

"Level thirty-three. It seems you haven't neglected your cultivation in the Outer Academy either. But remember not to push yourself too hard. If your Evil Fire backlashes because of cultivation, it will do you more harm than good."

"As for me, I have indeed broken through to Spirit Emperor. Xiaotao, there's no need to rush. One day, you'll become a Spirit Emperor too, perhaps even a Title Douluo in the future."

Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul was the Evil Fire Phoenix. In terms of talent, she was not much weaker than Zhang Lexuan, but the Evil Fire prevented her from cultivating as freely as she wished.

If she kept forcing herself to cultivate, it would only cause the Evil Fire to erupt.

"I'm so jealous of you, Senior Sister!"

"Eh, who is this child?"

A trace of envy appeared on Ma Xiaotao's little face, before she suddenly noticed Qiangu Qitian beside Zhang Lexuan.

She had long since known Beibei, who stood off to one side.

"You mean this child?"

"You should call him Martial Uncle. He is Elder Mu's final disciple, which makes him Dean Yan's junior martial brother." Ma Xiaotao was one of their own, so Zhang Lexuan had no intention of hiding it from her.

"This child is Master Ancestor's disciple!"

"My little Martial Uncle?"

Ma Xiaotao looked at Qiangu Qitian, who was clearly about the same age as Beibei. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly as her beautiful eyes widened in stunned disbelief.

"Yo, Martial Niece!"

Qiangu Qitian looked at Ma Xiaotao, who had probably just entered the Outer Academy and was only eleven or twelve years old, and waved at once.

"Martial Niece...?"

Looking at Qiangu Qitian, who had casually greeted her as though they were already familiar, Ma Xiaotao's beautiful eyes widened. She found it utterly unbelievable.

She had clearly only run into Senior Sister, so how had she suddenly gained a little Martial Uncle so much younger than herself?

He was obviously younger than her, yet he called her Martial Niece so naturally. It felt like this brat was taking advantage of her.

Hmph... what an annoying little brat.

Looking at Ma Xiaotao, tall and slender in a fiery red dress, Qiangu Qitian felt neither much fondness nor much hostility toward her. After casually greeting her, he resumed pondering his cultivation.

Now that he had absorbed his first Soul Ring and reached level seventeen in Soul Power, it was time to begin cultivating the Indomitable Staff Technique and Weight of Ease!

As for Weight of Heaviness, that was a supreme technique he could only cultivate after gaining an initial grasp of Weight of Ease. If he could not even get started with Weight of Ease, there was no point in thinking about the subsequent supreme techniques.

"Kid, have you awakened your Martial Soul yet? What level are you? Want Sister Xiaotao to give you some pointers?"

"Sister Xiaotao is very strong. Although you're my Martial Uncle in name, in terms of strength, you're just a little brother right now."

Seeing Qiangu Qitian lower his head after greeting her, seemingly lost in thought, Ma Xiaotao blinked. She leaned over, wrapped an arm around him, and spoke playfully.

Suddenly pulled into Ma Xiaotao's embrace, Qiangu Qitian felt as though he had bumped into something soft. His eyes widened at once, and as he stared at this female hooligan who had suddenly started getting handsy, he could no longer think clearly.

"Xiaotao, stop teasing the child."

A gentle smile also appeared on Zhang Lexuan's lips as she watched the scene. She reached out and rubbed Qiangu Qitian's head. "Elder Mu had Xuan Zi lead this trip not merely to obtain Soul Rings for Beibei and me. This child also needs to obtain his first Soul Ring!"

"He's already awakened his Martial Soul? Then his Innate Soul Power must be quite good, right?"

"It seems Shrek Academy will gain another extraordinary genius in the future."

That made sense. If he had not awakened his Martial Soul, why would her Master Ancestor, who had not accepted disciples for so many years, be willing to take in another disciple of his own accord?

He was about the same age as Beibei, yet he could already absorb a Soul Ring. Such talent might not be any weaker than her own.

Like Beibei, Ma Xiaotao possessed level-nine Innate Soul Power. At Shrek Academy, such talent was considered among the very best.

Among Shrek's younger generation, however, only one person possessed Innate Full Soul Power: Zhang Lexuan.

"Xiaotao, I can't say much about this child, but Elder Mu has high hopes for him!"

"Moreover, the quality of his Martial Soul even surpasses mine!"

Even Zhang Lexuan had to admit that Qiangu Qitian's explosive force and attack power were superior to her own at the same level. Although both were super Martial Souls, his Coiling Dragon Staff, empowered by the Break Evil Dragon, was clearly superior in quality to her Silver Moon.

"Hiss..."

His Martial Soul's quality even surpassed Senior Sister's? This child was actually that formidable!

Ma Xiaotao was shocked. She knew exactly how powerful Zhang Lexuan's Silver Moon Martial Soul was. How powerful, then, must a Martial Soul that Senior Sister judged to surpass Silver Moon be?

It seemed she would have to go back and ask Teacher when she had the chance.

"All right, Xiaotao, I won't say more. There are still some matters in the Inner Academy waiting for me."

"I'll take Beibei and Qitian back first. We'll meet again next time."

Ma Xiaotao nodded. She knew that Zhang Lexuan, as the Inner Academy's Senior Sister, had many matters to attend to, so naturally she did not object.

"Beibei, and you too, annoying little brat, Sister Xiaotao is leaving."

"Remember to come find me if anything happens. In Shrek City, I've got everything covered!"

Before leaving, Ma Xiaotao, a mere Martial Niece, actually took advantage of Qiangu Qitian's inattention and vigorously rubbed the head of her Martial Uncle before quickly running off.

After having his head furiously ruffled, Qiangu Qitian felt utterly humiliated.

Get stronger. I have to get stronger and let Ma Xiaotao, that little girl who doesn't respect her elders, see what I'm capable of!

Fuming after having his head rubbed, Qiangu Qitian immediately followed behind Zhang Lexuan as they returned together to Sea God Island in Shrek Academy's Inner Academy.