Phoenix? More Like a Chicken!

By the time Ye Hua reached the vicinity of the girls' dormitory, the entire night sky had been dyed orange-red by the blaze.

Tongues of flame leaped from the wooden house's roof, spreading wildly along the dry beams. The crackling of burning wood mixed with cries and screams as thick smoke surged into the sky.

"Put out the fire! Hurry, put out the fire!"

"That little fatty who breathes fire is going to kill us!"

"It's over! My home burned down!"

Several villagers desperately splashed water from buckets, but it was useless. The flames showed no sign of weakening.

Ye Hua had just turned the corner when two slender figures stumbled toward him and crashed into his arms.

They were Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong!

Xiao Wu had reacted quickly and was still decently dressed, but Ning Rongrong wore only thin sleepwear. She had clearly been startled awake moments ago.

"Brother!" Xiao Wu grabbed Ye Hua's arm. "Sister Zhu Qing is missing! She's not in the room!"

"We woke up choking on smoke and found her bed empty. She's injured too—what if..."

Before she could finish, a clear feminine cry rang out from deep within the flames, carrying suppressed pain.

"Netherworld Thrust!"

Ye Hua's pupils contracted. Soul power erupted from within him as he turned into an afterimage and shot through the firelight.

In the clearing behind the girls' dormitory, two figures faced each other.

Zhu Zhuqing knelt on one knee, her left hand clutching her right arm. Blood had soaked through the edge of her bandages.

Standing opposite her was an obese youth.

He looked only twelve or thirteen, yet he was absurdly fat. His round belly stretched his shirt open, exposing rolls of flab.

Most striking of all was his short, fiery-red hair, every strand sticking up like the feathers of a startled rooster.

It was none other than Ma Hongjun, the Evil Fire Phoenix!

At that moment, Ma Hongjun grinned, his eyes fixed greedily on Zhu Zhuqing.

"Not bad, little beauty. You managed to dodge two of my Phoenix Fire Lines." He licked his lips, his greedy gaze sweeping over Zhu Zhuqing's exceptionally developed figure.

"But your soul power is nearly exhausted, isn't it? Why keep forcing yourself?"

"Come back with me obediently, and I'll make sure you eat and drink well!"

Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth and stood up. "Keep dreaming!"

The wound that had only been bandaged that day had split open again. Blood loss sent waves of dizziness through her, darkening her vision.

"Oh? You've got quite the temper!" Ma Hongjun snorted. "I like them fiery!"

He swept his hands forward, gathering soul power into scorching flames in his palms.

Phoenix Flame was far hotter than ordinary fire, warping the air around it with heat.

The flames shot forth. A crimson pillar of fire, carrying a rolling heatwave, slammed straight toward Zhu Zhuqing's face!

Zhu Zhuqing wanted to dodge, but her body could no longer support her movement. She could only watch as the firelight drew closer and closer!

At that critical instant, a dark golden staff shadow swept out from behind her.

Boom!!!

The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon pattern on the Coiling Dragon Staff suddenly blazed in the firelight as the first Soul Ring lit up.

Fire Dragon's Roar!

True Dragon Blazing Fire gushed from the end of the staff, taking the form of a scorching dragon phantom that savagely bit into the Phoenix Flame.

The two flames collided in midair. After only an instant of stalemate, the True Dragon Blazing Fire forcibly tore the Phoenix Fire Line apart.

Dragon might against phoenix might—the dragon was emperor of all beasts, and even the phoenix stood beneath it. Besides, Ma Hongjun was only a Great Soul Master!

In an instant, Ma Hongjun felt the world spin. His entire body was thrown back, the fat on his belly jiggling wildly.

"Who?!" Ma Hongjun roared furiously as he looked up.

Ye Hua withdrew his staff and stood in front of Zhu Zhuqing.

"Shrek Academy's new teacher, Ye Hua."

"New teacher?" Ma Hongjun's eyes were full of disdain. "I've never heard of any new teacher!"

Looking at the figure before her, Zhu Zhuqing finally relaxed. Her body went limp as she fell backward.

"Sister Zhu Qing!" Xiao Wu flashed forward and caught her, letting her lean against her shoulder.

Ning Rongrong followed close behind. Seeing the burns on Zhu Zhuqing's body, she hurriedly summoned her martial soul.

Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower had no healing effect, its physical enhancement could still ease Zhu Zhuqing's pain somewhat.

"How could you fight someone when you're injured like this? Do you have a death wish?!"

Zhu Zhuqing gave a bitter smile. "I had to. He was forcing a girl to sleep with him."

Across from them, Ma Hongjun's gaze passed over Ye Hua and landed on Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.

The moment he saw them, his eyes stuck fast, unable to move away.

The liquid stockings on Xiao Wu's long, slender legs gleamed in the firelight. Her loose hair draped over her shoulders, giving her an even more languid charm.

Ning Rongrong wore only thin sleepwear, her arms and calves exposed, revealing the soft, delicate skin of someone raised in luxury.

Ma Hongjun's Adam's apple bobbed as he grinned. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. When did the academy get so many top-quality beauties?"

"One cold and alluring, one lively, one noble—three together. Now that's exciting!"

Ning Rongrong's expression changed drastically. As the princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had been pampered since childhood. Forget being flirted with—she had never even heard disrespectful words.

This red-haired freak with a pig face actually dared look at her like that?

"Dead fatty! Keep dreaming!" Ning Rongrong put her hands on her hips. "With that pig face of yours, I feel like vomiting after one look!"

Ma Hongjun's sore spot was struck. His face flushed red. "You little bitch—"

"What about me?!" Ning Rongrong gave him no chance to speak. "Wouldn't it be better if you stayed in your pigsty and ate slop? Why run out here to disgust people?"

"You even forced a girl to sleep with you! Disgusting! Filthy! Perverted!"

Ma Hongjun was dumbfounded from the scolding. His lips trembled for a long while before he snapped, "Sharp-tongued bitch, you'll be crying soon enough!"

"That girl was my girlfriend to begin with. What's wrong with telling her to come serve me at night?"

"That little bitch let my woman go, so she has to go back and serve me in her place!"

"But I've changed my mind now. Not only does she have to accompany me, you two will as well!"

Under his lecherous stare, Ning Rongrong grew uncomfortable and involuntarily retreated two steps.

But Ma Hongjun took that as fear. Emboldened, he pressed forward, only to be stopped by Ye Hua once again.

"What, are you trying to play the hero and save the beauties?" Ma Hongjun sneered. "Do you believe that just pretending to be a teacher of Shrek Academy is enough to get you kneaded into a meatball?"

"You're a Soul Elder, stronger than me, but do you know what level the dean is? A level seventy-eight Soul Saint!"

"You'd better know what's good for you and hand over those three women, or else..."

Bang!!!

Before he could finish, the Coiling Dragon Staff smashed down onto his head!

Before Ma Hongjun could react, the tremendous force struck him in the face. He flew straight backward and crashed heavily into the burning ruins.

Sparks scattered, and ash swirled through the air!

"Puh—cough, cough, cough!" Ma Hongjun struggled to his feet and spat out a bloody front tooth. "Y-you! Aren't you afraid of a Soul Saint?!"

Ye Hua said nothing. He simply advanced step by step, soul power flowing along the staff.

Ma Hongjun's pupils shrank. He had no doubt that if that staff came down, his head would explode on the spot!

It's over. He's actually a reckless idiot who isn't even afraid of a Soul Saint's threat!

Ma Hongjun lost all confidence. His face turned deathly pale as he propped himself up with his elbows and slowly shrank backward.

Just as the Coiling Dragon Staff was about to fall...

"Brother! Watch out!"

"Tang San, Dai Mubai! What are you doing?!"