Inside a cold, damp underground cavern.
Ma Xiaotao hung in midair, each hand shackled by an iron chain, her head drooping as though she were asleep. Strange patterns covered the chains, which were products of the Sun Moon Empire's Mingde Hall, designed to seal soul power.
Ever since she had opened her eyes again a few days ago, she had been trapped here. She had intended to burn through this dark, filthy cavern with her evil fire, only to discover in horror that she could not muster even a fraction of her soul power!
Afterward, the man everyone called the Cult Leader-the very person who had abducted her-had come several times to persuade her to join the Holy Spirit Cult as its Saintess. But as someone from Shrek, she had her own pride. How could she keep company with these filthy rats in the gutter? She had refused outright...
Bang!
The battered wooden door was pushed open.
Inside the dim little room, a Black-Robed Man appeared before Ma Xiaotao.
She kept her head lowered, playing dead.
The Black-Robed Man gently lifted his hood, revealing an aged face. He stared at Ma Xiaotao with a smile. "Lady Saintess, since you refuse to become our cult's Saintess, the Cult Leader has exhausted his patience. He could only send me to employ certain 'special methods.' I hope you will understand..."
"What are you going to do?!" Ma Xiaotao jerked her head up, her pretty face filled with fury.
"As I said, just a few little tricks. Hehe, sleep now. Once you wake up again, everything will be fine..." An eerie smile appeared on the old man's face. He took a syringe and a small vial from his storage Soul Tool, drew the cloudy liquid into the syringe, and slowly approached.
**"I'll join your