The Disappearing Evil Fire!

The old man slowly raised his head. His clouded gaze seemed to pierce through the buildings and settle on the Seagod Statue, which had stood in Shrek Square for ten thousand years.

"Lord Sea God, is this young man the successor you've chosen?" he murmured. His clouded eyes grew steadily more resolute.

As the Sea God's most devoted followers, Shrek Academy had worshipped him for ten thousand years.

They had in the past, and they would in the future.

Of course, who the Sea God was didn't matter.

Meanwhile, at Sea God Lake, Ma Xiaotao had already fallen unconscious under the Sea God's Light.

But Xiang Jun felt no sympathy for the madwoman who had attacked him without warning, and he had no intention of letting her go.

Watching her fall toward Sea God Lake, Xiang Jun narrowed his eyes. A soft gleam appeared on the Seagod's Trident in his hand.

Golden Thirteen Halberds, Third Form—No Return!

Xiang Jun hurled the Seagod's Trident with all his might, aiming straight at the fiery-red figure in midair!

At a weight of 108,000 jin, a direct hit would almost certainly kill Ma Xiaotao.

Just as the Seagod's Trident was about to strike, a golden light flashed into place before Ma Xiaotao. It was Yan Shaozhe, who had been watching from the shadows.

"Student Xiang Jun, let's end this fight here. The academy will certainly... Wait!"

Yan Shaozhe had thought everything was under control. But when he saw the Seagod's Trident flying straight at his face, alarm bells rang in his head.

If I keep underestimating this, someone's going to die!

Yan Shaozhe's pupils contracted sharply. Brilliant golden flames sprang from thin air and formed a protective barrier patterned with a phoenix.

Boom!

The Seagod's Trident slammed into the barrier. Its momentum sent Yan Shaozhe sailing through the air in a graceful arc.

What the hell? Why is this thing so heavy?!

Yan Shaozhe's eyelid twitched. As he watched the Seagod's Trident fly back into Xiang Jun's hand, he was too stunned to speak.

Could that be the real thing described in the ancient texts?

"Phew!"

After taking a moment to steady himself, Yan Shaozhe reappeared before Xiang Jun.

"Dean Yan?"

Xiang Jun already knew what had happened, but he gave Yan Shaozhe a look of perfectly measured confusion. Then his tone turned cold. "Dean Yan, what exactly is going on? How could an unidentified person attack me inside the academy?"

"Well... it's a long story. But rest assured, Student Xiang Jun. The academy will give you a satisfactory explanation for everything that happened today!" Yan Shaozhe stroked his beard, his voice sincere.

Xiang Jun said nothing, but he was quietly calculating.

He had come to Shrek Academy for the Golden Ancient Tree from the very beginning. Now a perfect opportunity lay before him.

Seeing Xiang Jun remain silent, Yan Shaozhe assumed he was dissatisfied. But to keep this talented soul master with the Sea God Martial Soul, he could only swallow his frustration.

"Student Xiang Jun, take this jade bottle as my personal compensation. If you have any other requests, just say the word. If it's within my power, I'll agree!"

Whatever was inside the jade bottle was clearly precious. A flash of reluctance crossed Yan Shaozhe's face as he handed it over.

Hmm? An unexpected bonus!

"Dean Yan, I heard the academy has a Golden Ancient Tree that can speed up a soul master's cultivation. I was hoping..." Xiang Jun accepted the jade bottle without betraying his thoughts. His meaning was clear.

The Golden Ancient Tree?

"How much time do you need?" Yan Shaozhe asked, frowning.

Xiang Jun was delighted to hear that. He slowly held up three fingers.

Three days?

Yan Shaozhe stroked his beard. Xiang Jun's request was unexpected, but it was at least within reason.

"If it's only three days, I could ask the elders—"

"Not three days."

Xiang Jun shook his head slightly. "Three days every week!"

Three days every week?!

Yan Shaozhe's expression stiffened. That was a much harder request.

Shaozhe, agree to it.

The voice in his mind caught Yan Shaozhe off guard. A moment later, he agreed. "Very well. I accept!"

"Mm... what happened to me?"

Late that night, Ma Xiaotao gradually regained consciousness. She stared at the familiar ceiling above her, dazed for a moment.

Her evil fire had run out of control, leaving her memories of the afternoon hazy. She only vaguely recalled a blue-haired young man wielding a trident who had struck her hard with his elbow.

As Ma Xiaotao tried to remember, the door opened quietly. A poised, capable-looking woman entered the room.

"Oh? Xiaotao, you're awake?"

The woman brightened at the sight of Ma Xiaotao lying awake in bed, but a moment later, her delight gave way to reproach.

"Xiaotao, why didn't you tell Shaozhe and me that you couldn't suppress your evil fire? Do you know how close you came to causing a disaster today?"

"I'm sorry, Master's wife. I thought I could manage it..." Ma Xiaotao sat up, her voice full of remorse.

"Sigh..."

Seeing that Ma Xiaotao didn't dare look up at her, the woman sighed softly.

Ma Xiaotao was one of Shrek Academy's brightest talents. For a time, she had been considered the person most likely to break Mu En's record. Yet a flaw in her Martial Soul forced her to be cautious even when cultivating.

"The academy has found a way to deal with your evil fire, though the price was rather high. You'd better think about how you're going to explain yourself to Shaozhe." The woman brushed a loose strand of hair from Ma Xiaotao's forehead, her voice gentle.

What?

They actually found a way to deal with my evil fire?!

Ma Xiaotao froze. Only then did she realize that the evil fire which had clung to her like a parasite and tormented her for so long had vanished without a trace.

The flaw was still there, but at least she could go a long time without worrying about it.

At that thought, Ma Xiaotao could barely contain her joy.

For someone obsessed with cultivation, nothing could have made her happier than being able to cultivate.

"Oh, right. Did I hurt anyone when I lost control?" Ma Xiaotao suddenly asked, looking at the woman anxiously.

Hurt an innocent person?

Ma Xiaotao's question brought an odd look to the woman's face.

She had been there for the fight that afternoon. If Yan Shaozhe hadn't intervened, her disciple might have died.

"It was a close call, but everyone's fine." Not wanting to bruise Ma Xiaotao's pride, the woman brushed it off.

"Phew. That's good. That's good."

Ma Xiaotao breathed a sigh of relief. But the image of a blue-haired young man holding a trident rose unbidden in her mind.