Hado #31

"Hey, why do I have to take them away?"

"I want to see the Tang Sect too."

Xu Sanshi grumbled in protest and looked at Song Que.

Song Que smiled faintly. "Because we're counting on you, Young Master Xu."

"There were only three of us before, and we hadn't planned to enter this year's Soul Master Tournament."

"Then you all showed up out of nowhere, right when I'd made a breakthrough."

"So this works out nicely. We can use your impressive connections to enter under a Soul Master Academy's name."

"After being looked down on like that, I'm still a little annoyed."

Xu Sanshi flicked his bangs and said smugly, "You were the one they looked down on. This young master is a prodigy chosen for the Shrek Seven Monsters Reserve Team."

Tang Ya scoffed. "It's only the reserve team. You make it sound so impressive."

Song Que gave him an amused look. "Suit yourself. I don't mind either way."

"At my current strength, I could even wipe the floor with someone like Ma Xiaotao."

"Besides, your mother is a princess of the Dou Ling Royal Family, isn't she? We might even bring a championship home for the Dou Ling Empire."

"How did you know?" Xu Sanshi stared at Song Que in surprise, his face full of confusion.

He began giving the idea serious thought.

It really isn't a bad idea. Mom never returned to the Dou Ling Royal Family after running away with Dad, and she cut off contact with Grandpa too.

But if the Xuanming Sect won a championship, that would certainly bring us glory.

Song Que smiled. "You wear that necklace every day. It isn't hard to figure out if someone pays attention."

"Ah! You pervert!" Xu Sanshi cried as realization dawned. He put on a bashful act that sent a shiver through everyone.

"I never knew you were like this, Song Que. Secretly watching me~ (u‿ฺu✿)"

Bei Bei rolled his eyes and gave Xu Sanshi a kick. "Shut up, Xu Sanshi."

Everyone burst out laughing.

A moment later, Xu Sanshi grew serious. "All right, all right. Since you're begging me, I suppose I can help."

"I'll go ahead and wait for you in Lingdou City. Once you've dealt with the Tang Sect's affairs, come straight to the Xuanming Sect. Good luck."

Huo Yuhao spoke up hesitantly. "Brother Song Que, let me come too. My Spirit Eyes might be able to help."

Wang Dong quickly chimed in. "Yeah, I'm coming too! Senior Xu Sanshi has things at the academy covered, so there's no need for us here."

"Yuhao and I also have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. We might be a big help."

"I've heard of it. Withering Amid Splendor—the Golden Road, right? It's powerful. You two even took first place among the freshmen with it," Bei Bei said with a smile.

Song Que looked at the two of them. After a moment's thought, he nodded.

"All right. Come with us."

"You're both only around level twenty or thirty, so be careful and don't push yourselves."

"With me here, you probably won't need to fight anyway."

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged confident smiles.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine."

"Great. On my own again." Xu Sanshi sighed helplessly. "If only Nannan could come too."

"Enough talk. Get going," Song Que said impatiently.

Xu Sanshi said goodbye to everyone and left ahead of them.

"All right. It's about five or six days from here to Heaven Dou City, where the old Tang Sect site is."

"We can travel at a normal pace."

"I can practice my new abilities on the way. They're pretty interesting, and you might find them useful later."

Song Que smiled at the remaining four. Then his figure blurred, and he came to a stop in midair.

"Huh?!"

The four of them jerked their heads up in surprise.

"What's going on? Song Que, how are you staying in the air?" Bei Bei cried.

Song Que chuckled without answering. He merely extended a hand toward the empty air.

"Ruler! Mask of flesh and blood, myriad things, spread your wings and fly high, you who bear the name of man! Scorching heat and strife, roll back across the sea toward the south, and march onward!"

"Hado #31: Red Flame Cannon!"

A blazing fireball shot from Song Que's palm and struck a nearby tree in an instant.

Boom!

The entire tree exploded into fragments, sending splinters flying.

"What kind of power was that?!"

Their pupils contracted, their faces filled with astonishment.

Meanwhile, at the Sea God Pavilion in Shrek Academy.

Yan Shaozhe looked gravely at Xuan Zi. "Is my teacher still in seclusion?"

Xuan Zi nodded. "Yes. He said he'd discovered something and wanted time to study it."

"He's meditating deep inside the Golden Tree."

Yan Shaozhe nodded, feeling slightly relieved.

"I've filled the vacancies on the tournament roster. Next, I'll have to trouble you to take the others out for a few days of training."

"Zhou Yi will take over as the Shrek Team's supervising teacher."

Xuan Zi nodded without objection.

"As for Xiaotao and Ling Luochen..."

Yan Shaozhe looked troubled as he glanced at the room behind him.

"If Xiaotao recovers before the tournament, she can still compete."

"Sun Moon Imperial Academy has a strong team this year. Relying on Dai Yueheng alone would be too risky."

"As for Ling Luochen, her injuries were already serious. She's probably in no condition to compete. I only hope she can help Xiaotao suppress the Evil Fire and return to normal."

Xuan Zi glanced at the room, worry on his face.

"Are we going too far? Mu En would be furious if he found out."

Yan Shaozhe looked helpless. "I know. If my teacher were here, he'd never agree."

"But Xiaotao is the future leader of our academy. Her martial soul isn't quite an Ultimate Martial Soul, but it comes close."

"If we let this continue, the Evil Fire will eventually destroy her."

"Fortunately, she and Ling Luochen are both women, so the consequences shouldn't be too severe. The academy will compensate Ling Luochen generously afterward."

"If this goes well, Xiaotao should still make it to the Soul Master Tournament."

Xuan Zi sighed. "I suppose that's all we can do."

"I'll go find Zhou Yi. I'll leave things here in your care."

After seeing Xuan Zi off, Yan Shaozhe turned toward the room behind him and slowly extended his spiritual power inside.

Ma Xiaotao's gaze had grown hazy again. Barely conscious, she twisted gently, unable to control her body.

Ling Luochen lay motionless beside her, staring blankly at the ceiling as though all life had drained from her.

In her daze, Ma Xiaotao reached out and held Ling Luochen tightly. The searing aura of the Evil Fire kept wrapping around Ling Luochen, who could not move.

Feeling the relentless icy chill coming from Ling Luochen, Ma Xiaotao trembled involuntarily.

Their ice and fire Soul Power clashed and intertwined without end.

Outside the room, Yan Shaozhe sighed softly and murmured, "I hope everything goes smoothly."