Early the morning of the second day after classes officially began, Lin Xi felt strangely unsettled.
It was not that he was dissatisfied with academy life. If anything, he was very pleased with his recent days.
He had found a way to get a Mystic Water Pill from Xu Sanshi, made a connection with He Caitou, recruited all the talented students Zhou Yi had expelled into his own merchant association, and even swindled ten thousand Gold Soul Coins out of Wang Dong along the way.
Everything had been nothing but smooth sailing.
Yet he kept feeling that he had forgotten something.
Something extremely important.
Only when that flash of crimson burst into his sight did he finally remember what he had overlooked.
"Tch, Ma Xiaotao...!"
That morning, he and Huo Yutong had risen early to eat at the dining hall as usual, then practiced swordsmanship for a while afterward, treating it as their after-meal stroll.
They had just finished practicing and were about to head to class when they heard cries for help nearby.
By the time they arrived, several outer court students were already lying around Ma Xiaotao.
At the sight, Lin Xi could not help biting his lower lip.
Damn it, he had actually forgotten about this madwoman!
Unlike in the original story, without Huo Yuhao to stop her, Ma Xiaotao had already charged into the outer court. Had Lin Xi arrived even two seconds later, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Lin Xi shielded Huo Yutong behind him and commanded in a low voice:
"Melusine, rescue those students and take them to the infirmary. Artoria, stop that crazy woman. You have permission to use your Noble Phantasm."
"Yes!"
As the two voices answered in unison, two figures shot out from beside Lin Xi.
One rushed over at a speed even Ma Xiaotao could barely react to, swiftly scooping up the fallen students before speeding away, while the other confronted Ma Xiaotao directly.
Facing Ma Xiaotao's ferocious advance, Artoria wasted no words and opened with a slash.
Invisible Air collided with Phoenix Flame, producing a piercing hiss, and Ma Xiaotao was blasted out of the sky in an instant.
"Screee-"
This further enraged the madwoman, whose mind now held nothing but frenzied thoughts. She spread her wings, and immensely powerful flames surged from her body, their heat seeming to warp space itself.
With her Martial Soul approaching infinitely close to Ultimate Fire in her frenzied state, this attack could even kill some Soul Saints with weaker defenses in a single blow.
Unfortunately, her opponent was Artoria. More unfortunately still, Lin Xi had just given Artoria permission to unleash her Noble Phantasm.
A fierce wind sprang up, and the brilliant golden holy sword once again freed its blade from Invisible Air, radiating dazzling golden light.
Ma Xiaotao instinctively sensed danger and charged forward, heedless of the cost.
Rather than flee for her life, she had actually chosen to try to take Artoria down with her.
Unfortunately, she was destined to fail.
After all, Artoria's Noble Phantasm release speed ranked among the very best of all Heroic Spirits.
"Excalibur!"
With her ringing cry, holy light embodying both hope and despair rose over the Douluo Continent once again and slammed toward Ma Xiaotao.
The phoenix of Evil Fire spread its wings, desperately trying to block that holy light.
But it was useless. Before the holy sword's radiance, she was still far too insignificant. She soon succumbed and was engulfed by Excalibur's light.
Boom-
An enormous roar resounded along the shore of Sea God Lake, kicking up a vast cloud of dust.
When the dust cleared, Ma Xiaotao lay motionless in the massive crater, gravely injured and completely unconscious.
"Lin Xi?"
Artoria looked toward Lin Xi.
As long as Lin Xi wished it, she could end this inexplicable madwoman's life at any moment.
After all, with her current magical power, she could still use her Noble Phantasm at least three more times.
Lin Xi slowly shook his head.
Although he very much wanted this selfish, self-serving madwoman to die right here, now was not the time.
Those old bastards who blindly protected their own and lacked even a shred of empathy would arrive any moment. Killing her now would be tantamount to making an enemy of Shrek.
Sure enough, less than two minutes later, more than a dozen figures came flying over at speed and landed before Lin Xi and Huo Yutong.
An old man in white lifted Ma Xiaotao out of the crater and checked her breathing. After confirming she was still alive, he sighed in relief and looked toward the two of them.
"Children, did you see who intervened to stop Xiaotao?"
Lin Xi stepped forward and said coldly:
"I did."
"Impossible. Tell the truth." The old man shook his head decisively. "I'm not joking with you, child."
He could sense the strength of Lin Xi's Soul Power. How could a mere Soul Elder have subdued Ma Xiaotao, who could rival an ordinary Soul Saint, in such a short time?
Moreover, he had sensed the holy sword's might from far away just now. An attack of that caliber would require at least a Soul Saint to unleash.
Lin Xi could not be bothered to waste words on him and ordered, "Artoria, demonstrate."
"Yes."
A blonde girl appeared out of thin air before the old man in white and slashed without hesitation.
"Ugh!"
The old man instinctively raised his hand to block. After catching the invisible sword, he actually found a shallow cut on his hand.
"This, this is...?!"
The crowd erupted at once.
Many among them were elders who had lived for over a hundred years. How could they fail to detect the connection between Lin Xi and Artoria?
They could clearly sense that Artoria was an adjunct to Lin Xi.
Furthermore, with Artoria's appearance, his three black Soul Rings also manifested, leaving several of them breathing rapidly.
Lin Xi had shown them both his configuration and his capabilities. Did that mean he truly had subdued Ma Xiaotao all by himself?
The old man in white no longer sounded composed.
"Child, are you really telling the truth?"
"..."
Lin Xi gave him a cold look without answering.
What a drag. The facts are right before his eyes, and he still won't acknowledge them.
I really don't know how they managed to live this long.
The old man did not grow angry at Lin Xi's downright rude attitude.
After steadying his breathing, he asked with a smile:
"Child, what is your name? What year are you in?"
"Lin Xi. First year."
Another uproar rippled through the crowd.
What kind of joke was this? First year?
When they had been first-years, they had only been Soul Grandmasters, not even Soul Elders.
Still, once their shock passed, they could understand it.
If Lin Xi were in a higher year, he should logically have become famous long ago.
Three rings swiftly defeating six rings-it could be called a miracle.
The old man's voice grew fervent.
"Well then, young Lin Xi, would you be willing to become my disciple? To tell you the truth, this old man is a Titled Douluo, you know, and a member of the Sea God Pavilion, too. Do you know what the Sea God Pavilion is?"
Old scoundrel!
The people behind him all cursed inwardly.
He was actually trying to snatch up a disciple first without discussing it with them!
And he had even directly brought out his status as a Titled Douluo and a member of the Sea God Pavilion. The child probably would not refuse now.
Yet Lin Xi merely shook his head slightly, a mocking smile curling his lips.
"I know about the Sea God Pavilion, but thank you for your kind offer, sir. I'll pass on becoming your disciple."