Evil Fire

"Is it because of... the Evil Fire?"

Wang Qiu'er's words made Ling Luochеn raise an eyebrow. "You know quite a lot."

"Why not? Helping her suppress the Evil Fire should also improve Senior Sister's cultivation, right? It's a win-win situation."

"You know more than I imagined. That's right, suppressing the Evil Fire can improve one's cultivation somewhat, but... there is a price. Since you already know about the Evil Fire, there's no harm in telling you this as well."

Perhaps she had held it in for too long, or perhaps Huo Yuhao's grilled meat smelled so good that it helped her relax, but Ling Luochеn poured everything out in one breath.

"The essence of suppressing the Evil Fire is directly pouring it into another Soul Master's body. Although water and ice attributes can offset the effects of the fire attribute, and can even be used to temper Soul Power, that evil aura remains in the body. Over time... it affects one's temperament."

"I once helped her suppress her Soul Power as well. That evil aura and violent energy directly assaulted my mind. I had to cultivate bitterly for many days before I could rid myself of it. Of course, those with divine beast or ferocious beast bloodlines can avoid some of the effects, but traces of the evil aura will still remain in the end. Only those with profound spiritual cultivation can completely avoid it."

"Do you think she's pitiful? Without an ice-attributed Soul Master with a special bloodline to help suppress it, she has to endure the torment of the Evil Fire at every moment."

Ling Luochеn let out a cold laugh.

"But there is one very simple way to permanently eliminate the Evil Fire's influence."

"What way?" Wang Dong'er had read the original work, but she only knew that the Blazing Glue from the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and Infernal Delicate Apricot could resolve the Evil Fire problem.

Ling Luochеn glanced at her. "Stop cultivating."

"If becoming stronger means hurting others, then I would rather not become stronger."

After saying that, she looked at Huo Yuhao.

"You have a spiritual attribute, and you can Imprint soul skills. Perhaps one day, someone will ask you to Imprint an ice-attributed soul skill to help her suppress the Evil Fire. I've already explained the pros and cons. Think carefully about what you do. Don't mention this matter at the academy. She is a disciple of a Sea God Pavilion elder, and saying anything would be useless anyway."

"Enough said. There are still some good materials on this Cloudstep Roe. They're yours. The Star Dou Great Forest isn't safe, so I'll take you back to the academy."

Ling Luochеn rose to her feet and stretched lazily, her graceful curves on full display and all the more beautiful beneath the sunlight.

The three followed Ling Luochеn through the forest. The soul beasts in the outer region posed no threat to her at all, and they encountered no danger along the way, returning safely to the academy.

"I'm leaving. Cultivate diligently, or don't blame me if you can't even pass the freshman assessment." Ling Luochеn waved her hand, returning to her frosty demeanor.

"Senior Sister," Huo Yuhao suddenly called out as Ling Luochеn was about to leave. "Come find me for grilled meat again whenever you're in a bad mood."

Ling Luochеn froze for a moment, then smiled. She fiercely pinched Huo Yuhao's cheek, gave a soft snort, and turned to leave.

She really had run out today because she was upset. Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire had gone out of control that morning, injuring students from the Outer Academy. Ling Luochеn had been furious, found an excuse to fight her, and lost by a narrow margin. That was why she had come out to clear her head.

Why is that little fellow so perceptive? Is this the advantage of a spiritual attribute? Don't tell me he's some fortune-teller who knew that Ma Xiaotao would lose control today...

"Behaving so badly at such a young age, flirting with Senior Sister already. At your age, you should cultivate properly instead of thinking about romance all day." Wang Dong'er lectured Huo Yuhao with the air of a little adult.

"When did I?" Huo Yuhao muttered softly, his face slightly red. Had he made it that obvious? Senior Sister was pretty, after all. Her snow-white hair and ice-blue eyes—either one hit right in his sweet spot.

Huo Yuhao had liked white-haired girls in gal games in his previous life. So what if his heart had stirred a little today? Besides, she was about the same age as he had been when he transmigrated in his previous life!

The three strolled leisurely through the academy. Huo Yuhao had wanted to cultivate, but Qiu'er and Dong'er talked him out of it. It was still early, so there was no need to rush. Perhaps because they had feared running into Ma Xiaotao while her Evil Fire was out of control that morning, the three of them unconsciously made their way to Sea God Lake.

"It's so beautiful..."

No matter whom Sea God Lake commemorated, it would have been a shame to waste such beautiful scenery. There was not a trace of fishy odor by the lakeside, only the scent of mist, grass, and trees. The azure lake reflected the setting sun, the flowers and trees, and the people beside it.

With the breeze blowing in from the lake and two beautiful girls at his side, this scene that could only appear in a dating game made it impossible for anyone to want to ruin such beauty.

It should have been like that.

As the three admired the sunset by Sea God Lake, Huo Yuhao, with his Spirit Eyes, spotted a red dot in the distance.

Because of the sunset, Huo Yuhao initially thought it was merely light reflecting off the lake. But gradually, the red dot grew larger, becoming increasingly out of place amid the scenery.

"Watch out!" Huo Yuhao hurriedly shouted a warning.

It was too late.

The flame-crazed Ma Xiaotao had arrived.

Huo Yuhao reacted quickly. Seeing this, he wrapped an arm around each girl's waist and pulled them into his embrace, releasing his Martial Soul. Without Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, he could only save himself.

"Martial Soul Fusion Skill!" At Huo Yuhao's low cry, Qiu'er and Dong'er reacted instantly, releasing their Martial Souls and merging their Soul Power.

As the three made contact, their Soul Power transformed into a cocoon of light that enveloped them. But reality was not a magical girl anime; an enemy would not wait for them to finish transforming before attacking. The red dot instantly expanded, bringing terrifying heat with it. Closer! Closer! That red figure was approaching—

Boom!

Ma Xiaotao slammed violently into the cocoon of light, tearing open a gap in it. Just as she was about to continue attacking, a ball of light shot out from the breach in the cocoon.

Bang!

Ma Xiaotao was blasted away by the terrifying impact. Then, a tender white hand stretched out from the cocoon.

"That was close, that was close."

Soon, the owner of that little hand revealed herself—it was Huo Yuhao, yet she had a petite figure, adorable twin ponytails, fair skin, flawless features, bright eyes, and pearly teeth. Twelve pairs of illusory Dragon Butterfly Wings spread behind her.

"Why does our Martial Soul Fusion Skill look like this?" That "Huo Yuhao" spoke while countless illusory Dragon Butterfly Wings extended from her back, turning solid as they detached from her and wrapped around Ma Xiaotao.

"Huo Yuhao" snapped her fingers. The Dragon Butterfly Wings surrounding Ma Xiaotao began to glow with golden light. When the wings unfolded again, Ma Xiaotao's entire body had turned gold—her Martial Soul had actually been sealed!

Yet she still did not seem to have regained consciousness. Letting out meaningless roars, she made "Huo Yuhao" frown. She sent a small golden hammer flying toward Ma Xiaotao's glabella, but perhaps due to the Evil Fire running out of control, it appeared completely ineffective and instead further agitated her mind.

"Too noisy. Be suppressed!"