On one side is Xiao Wu, and on the other is Yu Xiaogang. He can't help either side, and he can't not help either side. Every time, he can only stand in the middle and act as a peacemaker.
Xiao Wu still cares a lot about Tang San, her childhood friend. Ning Rongrong also hopes to win Tang San over to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, especially since his Hidden Weapon skills can definitely bring huge benefits to the school.
In a sense, the current Shrek Seven Devils are only able to function because Tang San is mediating between them; otherwise, they would have fallen apart long ago.
"You're quite the ladies' man, aren't you?"
At the dinner table, Ning Rongrong and the others, just like before, gathered around Xuan Ming. Ye Lingling served food, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu fed the Black Dragon, Dugu Yan peeled shrimp, and Zhu Zhuqing picked out fish bones—the division of labor was clear!
Seeing this, Liu Erlong and the others could no longer maintain their composure.
Is this someone serving the emperor?
Oscar and the others were almost in tears.
Are they here for a meal or to eat dog food?!
"Good fortune with women?" Xuan Ming hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself.
If it weren't for his three mouths, his dimensional stomach, and his immunity to all poisons, would he be so lucky with women?
They'll either eat themselves to death or be poisoned!
The dinner went by quickly, and Xuan Ming was basically eating all by himself; everyone else was already full just watching him eat.
" Boss Fu, if you want to ask, then ask," Liu Erlong said.
Flender hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ma Hongjun beside him. " Xuan Ming, I have a favor to ask... do you have any suggestions regarding the Evil Fire defect caused by Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul Mutation?"
"A suggestion?" Xuan Ming put down his water glass.
What suggestions?
"So, methods like suppression or improvement?" Flender said.
Xuan Ming paused, " Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire is related to the Martial Soul Mutation. His body has excessive yang energy, causing an imbalance of yin and yang. The Evil Fire is causing his qi and blood to become disordered and his energy to be difficult to control. To suppress the Evil Fire, the key is to nourish yin to reduce fire and harmonize yin and yang."
"Diet also affects his health. Some warm and nourishing foods can aggravate the internal Evil Fire in his body, while some cooling and detoxifying foods can help suppress Evil Fire, such as bitter melon, mung beans, and lotus seeds."
"In addition, we can find some Soul Master who are skilled in pharmacology to concoct some medicines specifically to suppress his Evil Fire."
"Isn't Tang San very good at these things? He knows way more than I do. If you ask him, he definitely has a lot of secret recipes."
" Tang San?" Flender's expression froze.
"Isn't he a drug dealer?"
"Medicine and poison are inseparable. If someone who plays with poison can't even cure their own poison, they won't even know when they'll kill themselves," Xuan Ming said.
"If you're really worried, you can look for them in Heaven Dou City, or ask Rongrong. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect definitely has people with these kinds of skills."
"Of course, these are just external aids; the most important thing is his own ability. If you really want him to solve this problem, just keep him busy."
Flender was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"When you're full and satisfied, you start thinking about lustful desires," Xuan Ming said calmly.
" His Evil Fire is burning? Fill his cultivation schedule to the brim, let him vent his excess energy, and see if he still has those thoughts."
Upon hearing Xuan Ming's words, Flender frowned slightly. After pondering for a moment, he said, "This... wouldn't filling his training schedule to the brim put too much strain on his body? After all, he's still young, and his body is still developing."
He had considered this approach before, but Ma Hongjun was still young then, and even now he's only thirteen. Long-term, high-intensity training is very dangerous for a child who hasn't fully developed.
Xuan Ming picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and slowly said, "Why not just find his limits gradually? Increasing the intensity of his training step by step won't burden his body; on the contrary, it will stimulate his potential."
"Moreover, Shrek is not what it used to be; it has sufficient resources to ensure his safety."
"His Evil Fire, in the end, is just excess energy. He uses all his energy on cultivation, so naturally he doesn't have those wicked thoughts."
Ma Hongjun, listening from the side, wore a pained expression and muttered, "Isn't this too harsh? I... I'm afraid I can't handle it."
Xuan Ming glanced at Ma Hongjun. "He's been indulging himself for many years. If he continues, it's like committing slow suicide. If he can't control himself now, he'll be even less able to later."
"It's up to you. Do you want him to have a few more years of fun and then die on a woman's belly, or do you want to take advantage of the time now to train his self-control?"
"Of course, if a Soul Master can't even manage this much self-discipline, there's no need for you to continue wasting your time on him."
"People who start indulging in sex at this age can't really talk about the future."
Ma Hongjun was stunned by Xuan Ming's words and stood there dumbfounded. His mouth, which had been pursed, was now tightly shut, and his eyes were full of struggle and contemplation.
Although he was still young, he understood the weight of Xuan Ming's words. He realized that he had indeed become somewhat lax in his cultivation over the years because of this Evil Fire, and had even made quite a few jokes about himself.
"I have other matters to attend to, goodbye." Xuan Ming said no more, stood up and left the private room.
Ning Rongrong and her group quickly followed, and soon only Flender and Ma Hongjun remained in the private room.
Seeing Ma Hongjun's dejected appearance, Flender sighed softly, sat down beside him, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly, " Hongjun, although Xuan Ming is a bit blunt, his reasoning is sound. You're not young anymore; it's time to start thinking about your future."
Ma Hongjun lowered his head, his hands clenched into fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. After a long silence, he slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with determination. "Dean, I've made up my mind. I want to change! I don't want to live like this anymore, aimlessly. I want to become a powerful Soul Master!"
Flender nodded with satisfaction. "Good! It's good that you have this determination. Starting tomorrow, we'll follow Xuan Ming's advice, starting with adjusting your diet, and then gradually increasing the intensity of your cultivation. I will personally supervise you, and I will also have the other teachers cooperate. We must help you resolve this problem of Evil Fire."
Ma Hongjun nodded vigorously. "Yes! Dean, I won't let you down!"
Chapter 181 Auction House
"Nourishing Yin and reducing internal heat, harmonizing Yin and Yang, you even know these things?"
After leaving Seven Treasure Pavilion, Qin Ming and the others waited for Flender outside, while Ning Rongrong and her group, using the excuse of not seeing each other for half a year, dragged Xuan Ming to go shopping.
Even Ning Rongrong, who grew up with Xuan Ming, was somewhat surprised by what he had just said.
" Lingling's grandmother taught me some things before, and I've also read some books, so I know a little bit," Xuan Ming said.
The Nine Heart Begonia lineage has a wealth of medical books, and the information about flowers and herbs that Yue Guan gave him before also contained a lot of medical knowledge. In addition, he uses the flowers and herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to make medicine, so he naturally has to learn some of those as well.
Although he wasn't very quick-witted, he had an excellent memory, almost photographic.
"By the way, remind Flender that the method I mentioned needs to be used in moderation," Xuan Ming said.
"Training should be moderate, and so should that aspect. Don't exhaust him to death, but don't let him suffocate either."
"Don't do anything reckless and cause problems, then come blaming me."
"Flaws in Martial Soul can only be controlled to a certain extent; to completely resolve them is not that simple."
"From what you're saying, you know how to solve it?" Liu Erlong said.
"So what if I know? I've already said all this for Xiao Wu and the others' sake. As for doing more, I have no responsibility to do that," Xuan Ming said calmly.
"Besides, that chubby kid has willingly fallen into depravity and is enjoying it."
"If you can't even do your best in your own affairs, how can you expect others to help you?"
I'm not interested.
Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire weren't entirely uncontrollable; he simply had no intention of controlling them at all.
They blame their indulgences on Evil Fire, and then feel at ease enjoying them.
They say they want to solve the problem, but it's just a passing fad, like those people who can't even control their eating when they're trying to lose weight.
I didn't eat any, I really didn't eat any, I only took one bite, how come I've gained weight? It's a body type issue, I gain weight even from drinking water.
" The Xiao San?"
While walking down the street, Xiao Wu, with her sharp eyes, suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
" Xiao Wu?" Tang San looked over.
"You..."
"What are you doing here? You've come out of seclusion?" Xiao Wu asked.
"Hmm." Tang San nodded.
"I just got out of customs. I plan to go to the auction house to sell some things and prepare some funds."
The raw materials for high-grade Hidden Weapon are extremely precious. With his current financial resources, he cannot even obtain those raw materials, let alone forge them.
"An auction house? Let's go check it out too." Ning Rongrong dragged Xuan Ming along.
"It's not far from here."
"I have other things to do," Xuan Ming said.
"You haven't been back for half a year, can't you even come back for half a day?" Ning Rongrong looked at Xuan Ming pitifully.
" Aunt Rou, please say something."
Ah Rou thought for a moment, "This matter isn't urgent, you should rest."
The Thundering Hell Vine —that thing existed in the area where she lived in the Star Dou Great Forest a long time ago, but she had never seen it in the past thousand years. It would be quite difficult to find it in the Star Dou Great Forest; perhaps she would have to go to the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Continuing towards the city center, we soon came across a peculiar domed building with no patterns on it except for a hammer.
Like the Great Soul Arena, the auction house is also dominated by the Seven Great Families. After all, it is a place where all kinds of treasures gather, and it cannot be run without a sufficiently powerful background.
Led by Ning Rongrong, everyone quickly entered the auction house, while Tang San followed the girl at the entrance to the appraisal room.
" Xiao Wu, what is he planning to sell?" Ning Rongrong couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know, the Xiao San has been acting very mysteriously lately, we hardly ever see her," Xiao Wu said.
"I'm telling you, if you want all those things from him so badly, why don't you just be with him? That way, his things will be yours too."
" Xiao Wu!" Ning Rongrong covered Xiao Wu's mouth and looked at Xuan Ming walking ahead.
"Don't talk nonsense, okay?"
Xiao Wu pulled Ning Rongrong's hand away and lowered her voice, "But I'm telling the truth. I can't even see what that Xiao San has to offer. If you really want him, unless you're with him, it's probably impossible."
Having known each other for over a year, she naturally knew what Ning Rongrong was up to. However, Tang San's treasures were extremely important to him, and without sufficient connections, it would be impossible to obtain them.
"Alright, let me think of another way," Ning Rongrong said helplessly.
"If all else fails, I'll have to have my father come and talk to him in person."
While Tang San's Hidden Weapon are meaningless to high-level Battle Soul Master, they can save Auxiliary System Soul Master's life in critical moments!
Especially the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow, if it were deployed in war...
" Rongrong, what are you daydreaming about?"
A familiar voice suddenly rang in her ears, Ning Rongrong snapped back to reality, turning to look at Chen Xin, who had somehow appeared beside her.
" Grandpa Sword? When did you arrive?"
"I've been standing here for ages. What's wrong? Who made our little princess angry?" Chen Xin asked.
"Could it be that brat Xuan Ming?"
" Grandpa Sword teach him a lesson for you?"
"No!" Ning Rongrong quickly grabbed Chen Xin.
" Grandpa Sword, please don't do anything reckless!"
"Look at you like this." Chen Xin sighed.
"Just kidding, I know that kid's temper."
Xuan Ming is a classic example of someone who responds better to gentle persuasion than force!
He's not as cold as he seems, as long as you speak to him properly; on the contrary, he's very easy to talk to.
But if you show even a hint of force, that kid's rebellious nature is no joke!
" Grandpa Sword, what are you doing here?" Ning Rongrong asked in confusion.
"Dad's here too?"
"Hmm." Chen Xin nodded and led Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu toward Ning Fengzhi's location.
Xuan Ming and his group were also here.
"Dad, what brings you to the auction?" Ning Rongrong ran over and sat down next to Ning Fengzhi.
"I came to Heaven Dou City this morning to discuss some matters with Qinghe, and I just happened to stop by here for a look," Ning Fengzhi said.
"These must be your friends? They're all Little Monster, about your age, yet their cultivation is so high."