Saving the Out-of-Control Ma Xiaotao

Cao Longyan sat cross-legged alone on the rocks along the shore of Sea God Island, his body wreathed in the faint, crimson-gold glow of his Flame King Domain. The phantom of his Ten Halls of Yama martial soul rotated slowly above his head, and the aura of the Fire Dragon King radiated from him, now present, now absent. He had spent the days since his return stabilizing his soul power, which had surged to the forty-fifth rank.

Why here? This was the place he had frequented most often over the past half-year.

It could be considered staying true to his original intentions...

Just then, a blinding streak of red fire tore through the sky, hurtling out from the direction of the Shrek inner courtyard like an out-of-control meteor, charging violently toward the outer courtyard.

Within that firelight lay a violent, scorching soul power, laced with an unmistakable, sinister aura. Wherever it passed, the air was scorched into distortion.

Cao Longyan snapped his eyes open, realizing the fireball's target was... the outer courtyard!

Without a moment's hesitation, Cao Longyan moved. The Ten Halls of Yama materialized instantly in his right hand, crimson flames coiled around his body, and he let out a low shout.

"Chi Wang!"

As the words fell, the figure of the Three-Headed Scarlet Demon Dragon erupted into existence. Its massive body landed beside the reef, its three heads emitting low dragon roars as it bowed respectfully before Cao Longyan.

Cao Longyan leaped, landing steadily on Chi Wang's back, and commanded in a deep voice.

"Quickly, to the opposite shore! Intercept that fireball!"

"As you command, Master!"

Chi Wang did not delay, spreading its enormous dragon wings and bolting forward with Cao Longyan.

Within a few short breaths, they arrived at the outer courtyard shore ahead of the fireball.

Seeing the outer courtyard disciples still curious about the approaching inferno—gathering in increasing numbers instead of fleeing—Cao Longyan roared.

"Everyone, get back!"

Cao Longyan's voice was cold and powerful, echoing across the entire shoreline. Infected by his intensity, the outer courtyard disciples scrambled away from the water's edge.

The fireball reached him, and only then did he realize the person inside was... Ma Xiaotao! Had she lost control?

"Fourth Soul Skill: Dragon-Trapping Fire Pillar!"

He swung the Ten Halls of Yama upward, and a pillar of fire surged from the ground beneath Ma Xiaotao, binding her movements and halting her frantic charge.

His crimson-gold Flame King Domain erupted in full, forming a solid barrier of flame that shielded the stretch of shore where he stood.

Simultaneously, Chi Wang let out a heaven-shaking dragon roar, its three heads spewing pure dragon fire in unison, colliding with the runaway red evil fire.

"Boom—!"

As the smoke cleared, Ma Xiaotao's figure was vaguely visible within the fireball. Her eyes were bloodshot, her body enveloped in evil fire, and her consciousness was completely gone. She let out pained roars, her martial soul erupting at full power, the phantom of the Evil Fire Phoenix twisting behind her. It was clear the evil fire had completely devoured her reason.

This was the first time she had suffered such a severe loss of control since promoting to a Soul King; even she could not contain the violent evil fire within her.

Just as Cao Longyan desperately held back the evil fire, several figures streaked toward them—the teachers of the outer courtyard, followed closely by Ma Xiaotao's teacher... Yan Shaozhe.

Seeing the scene before him, Yan Shaozhe's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with anxiety and self-reproach. He had never imagined Ma Xiaotao would lose control so suddenly, nearly harming the outer courtyard disciples.

He had thought her evil fire would improve once she reached the Soul King rank...

"Quick! Work together to restrain Xiaotao!"

Yan Shaozhe shouted, joining the outer courtyard teachers in launching their attack, sending chains of soul power coiling toward Ma Xiaotao.

In a few moments, they successfully suppressed the evil fire within her, binding her without causing her harm.

Deprived of the evil fire's support, Ma Xiaotao's body drifted down, cushioned by Yan Shaozhe's soul power. Her eyes were tightly shut, and she had fallen into a deep coma, a look of pain still lingering on her face.

The outer courtyard teachers breathed a sigh of relief, turning to look at Cao Longyan with eyes full of gratitude.

Had Cao Longyan not intervened in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable. The outer courtyard disciples would have suffered heavy casualties, and Ma Xiaotao might have been injured by her own loss of control, or even completely consumed by the evil fire.

Yan Shaozhe hurried to Cao Longyan, his face etched with guilt and gratitude, and cupped his hands.

"Little Yan, thank you for your help. If not for you, the consequences would have been unimaginable... Xiaotao... it was my negligence. I didn't watch her closely enough, and I nearly caused a catastrophe."

However, faced with Yan Shaozhe's thanks, Cao Longyan didn't even grant him a glance. His tone was ice-cold and biting, dripping with sarcasm.

"Negligence? Dean Yan, you jest. You knew full well that Ma Xiaotao had uncontrollable evil fire within her, yet you let her cultivate alone and allowed the fire to spiral out of control. If innocent people had been hurt, that is not something a mere word like 'negligence' can cover up. Also, don't try to get familiar with me; we aren't close."

The smile on Yan Shaozhe's face froze instantly, and he stood there awkwardly. He had truly been met with a cold shoulder, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

He knew Cao Longyan was right; he had been too careless, failing to monitor Ma Xiaotao's condition in time, which led to this loss of control.

The outer courtyard teachers were also stunned. This was the first time they had ever seen their Dean rendered speechless by a junior.

Cao Longyan couldn't be bothered to pay further attention to Yan Shaozhe. He turned and walked toward the unconscious Ma Xiaotao, who was still encased in a protective shell of soul power.

At this moment, Ma Xiaotao was pale, a faint, sinister aura still lingering around her. The phantom of the Evil Fire Phoenix flickered weakly within her, ready to erupt again at any moment.

Looking at her exquisite face, Cao Longyan couldn't help but sigh.

Sigh, Ma Xiaotao almost repeated the same mistakes from the original story... Her nature isn't bad. If only she had someone to guide her correctly and purify her bloodline, she wouldn't have...

Cao Longyan shook his head and slowly raised his hand. Pure Ultimate Fire condensed at his fingertips—a crimson-gold flame that was gentle yet domineering, devoid of any violent intent.

He slowly channeled the Ultimate Fire into Ma Xiaotao's body, carefully enveloping the evil fire within her and purifying it bit by bit.

The power of the Ultimate Fire was pure and potent; under its shroud, the violent evil fire dissipated rapidly.

Nourished and purified by the Ultimate Fire, the Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul within Ma Xiaotao began to undergo a transformation. The originally dark-red phoenix phantom gradually turned crimson-gold. The evil aura faded, replaced by a sacred and warm presence.

A Holy Fire Phoenix!

The Evil Fire evolved into the true Ultimate Fire: the Phoenix Holy Fire!

Yan Shaozhe and several outer courtyard teachers stood to the side, watching this scene with faces full of shock and eyes filled with disbelief.

He was actually this strong! He could make others' martial souls evolve!

A few breaths later, Cao Longyan withdrew the Ultimate Fire from his fingertips. The evil fire within Ma Xiaotao had been thoroughly purified, and her Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul had officially transformed into the Holy Fire Phoenix martial soul. Surrounded by faint, sacred flames, her aura had stabilized significantly, and the expression of pain on her face gradually dissipated.

At this moment, the unconscious Ma Xiaotao's consciousness was in a blur.

She vaguely felt a warm and powerful force enveloping her, dispelling the pain and frenzy within her body. It was so warm, making her feel incomparably at ease.

She struggled to open her eyes, but could not do so, only able to vaguely see a tall, upright back surrounded by crimson-gold flames, guarding her side.

This back was deeply branded into her mind; even with her consciousness blurred and even as she fell into a deep sleep, she firmly remembered this figure who had saved her.

Cao Longyan turned around, called out to Chi Wang, and then rode off on Chi Wang's back toward Sea God Island, not sparing Yan Shaozhe and the others another glance.

Yan Shaozhe gazed at Cao Longyan's departing back, his heart filled with guilt and admiration. He knew that Cao Longyan had not only saved Ma Xiaotao and the outer courtyard disciples but had also given Ma Xiaotao an entirely new future.

The corners of the unconscious Ma Xiaotao's mouth curled into a faint smile, as if she were having a warm dream where the back surrounded by crimson-gold flames never once left her side.