When the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, a golden cascade of light poured through the window, bathing Huo Yuhao's sharply defined features in a soft glow.
The young man slowly opened his eyes. The light swirling in his blue pupils faded like vanishing stars, and the harrowing confrontation in his sea of consciousness the previous night seemed like an illusory dream. But the surging power of emotion and spirit within him, and the Soul Power rolling like rivers and seas after his breakthrough in the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, silently testified to the reality of this transformation.
"So that trial of the heart turned out to be a heaven-sent opportunity." Huo Yuhao raised a hand to his chest, a relieved smile touching his lips. The dark shadow on the other side of the mirror had brought more than the challenge of an inner demon; it had been more like a trial of fate-once one understood one's heart and the inner demon dispersed, both strength and character would undergo a qualitative improvement.
Steam filled the bathroom as Huo Yuhao dried his blue hair. A hurried knock at the door suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "Huo Yuhao, are you there? Dean Yan asked me to take you to his office." A sweet, clear voice with a hint of heroic spirit came through the door, its final notes slightly breathless.
Huo Yuhao quickly changed into his school uniform and pulled open the door. In the morning light, Ma Xiaotao's long, fiery red hair looked like blazing flames. Her red eyes widened slightly when she saw his half-open collar, and she turned her face away with a light cough. "It's not that urgent. Get dressed properly first."
"Come in." Huo Yuhao stepped aside to let her through. The moment the young woman entered the room, her nose twitched as she caught a faint chill in the air-identical to the power she had sensed at the grilled fish stall yesterday.
Ma Xiaotao looked around, her gaze settling on the large bed and the spacious room. Although the Shrek Inner Court's dormitories had always been well appointed, it was rather unusual for a room clearly meant for two to have only one bed. She asked no questions, however, unconsciously rubbing her cuff with her fingertips. Then she heard the young man's calm voice. "So you're the senior sister Dean Yan mentioned. Don't worry, I'll resolve the problem with your Martial Soul."
"Thank you, junior brother." Ma Xiaotao turned, a gentle smile curving her lips beneath her veil. "You're even more dependable than I imagined."
Huo Yuhao lowered his gaze and considered for a moment. Putting just the right amount of curiosity into his voice, he pretended not to know and asked, "But senior sister, could you tell me more about the flaw in your Martial Soul? Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you deal with it better."
Ma Xiaotao gave a soft sigh. "My Martial Soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix, the same as my ancestor Ma Hongjun, the Phoenix God of the original Shrek Seven Devils. I endure the corrosion of the Evil Fire every moment of every day." As she said this, a shadow of pain flashed through her red eyes. She clenched the hem of her skirt, her knuckles whitening with the force. "The Evil Fire makes me extremely prone to losing control. I've tried to suppress it, but..."
In the dean's office, Yan Shaozhe sat in his chair, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao as he slowly set down his pen. "Suppressing the Evil Fire must be done step by step. Yuhao, remember not to rush. You two had best be careful."
Yan Shaozhe stroked the white beard on his chin. After a moment's thought, he rose. "I'll arrange a private cultivation room right away. That will minimize any fluctuations of energy leaking out."
"Sorry to trouble you, Dean, but there's no need." Ma Xiaotao suddenly spoke up. The hem of her fiery red skirt swayed lightly as she stepped forward, and the golden bells in her hair chimed. "Let's do it in my dormitory."
"Pfft-" Yan Shaozhe nearly sprayed out the tea he had just sipped. He hurriedly wiped his collar, his eyes round. "Xiaotao! Do you know how improper that is? A man and a woman alone in a room-if word gets out..."
"Naturally, I know the academy's rules." Ma Xiaotao blinked her red eyes and smiled. "Dean, I know where to draw the line. I don't want to place any burden on the academy. Besides..." Her gaze swept casually over Huo Yuhao. "Of course, there are some things I'd like to ask junior brother Yuhao in private."
Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth, but in the end, all that came out was a long sigh. He waved helplessly. "Fine, fine. You young people... just remember where to draw the line." He sat back down and picked up his pen to continue reviewing documents, but paused slightly as he put it to paper. What's gotten into Xiaotao? A grown daughter can't be kept at home.
In Ma Xiaotao's dormitory, dim yellow lamplight cast mottled shadows on the walls, and the atmosphere was tense and oppressive. Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao stood facing each other. At the moment before their palms touched, the air itself seemed to freeze.
"Let's begin." Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and quietly drew on the ice magic within him.
"Mm," Ma Xiaotao answered softly, a trace of nervousness and anticipation in her voice. She knew that suppressing the Evil Fire this time was crucial to her. If they succeeded, she would escape the pain and trouble it had caused her for so long; if they failed, the consequences would be unthinkable.
When their palms finally met, Huo Yuhao's ice magic flowed into Ma Xiaotao like a gentle stream. But the Evil Fire inside her was like dry tinder set alight, erupting with immense power in an instant.
The scorching presence ravaged her body, trying to break through every restraint. Ma Xiaotao frowned and began slowly releasing the Evil Fire within her. She carefully controlled the pace, hoping to suppress it in a gentle manner.
But things were far from that simple. The searing heat radiating from the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul exceeded their expectations. That evil force surged like ocean waves, crashing against Ma Xiaotao's body and will, one wave after another. The power and evil force released by the Evil Fire Phoenix continued to grow, and the temperature in the dormitory rose sharply. Even the grain of the wooden table and chairs began to warp, as though they were about to melt beneath the scorching power.
Ma Xiaotao looked nervously at Huo Yuhao, her eyes full of worry. She watched his condition closely, afraid that he would be unable to withstand the powerful assault of the Evil Fire. Yet what she saw was his calm face. His gaze was steady and focused, and he showed no sign of discomfort. Seeing this, Ma Xiaotao felt somewhat reassured. She gritted her teeth and continued releasing more Evil Fire.
"Don't worry, senior sister. I'm here. Go ahead and release your Martial Soul; I'll help you suppress the evil force within it." Huo Yuhao's voice was firm and strong. In the scorching heat, it was like a cool breeze blowing into Ma Xiaotao's heart.
His words gave her boundless courage and confidence. Flames blazed up around Ma Xiaotao, threatening to swallow the entire room.
As the Evil Fire continued to erupt, the situation grew increasingly critical. What had begun with their palms pressed together ended with Ma Xiaotao involuntarily wrapping her arms tightly around Huo Yuhao. Her body was burning hot, and flames spread from the places where they touched.
Huo Yuhao did not pull away. He knew full well that at this crucial moment, any unnecessary movement might cause the suppression to fail. The Evil Fire grew ever stronger. His Soul Power circulated furiously, and the power of Ultimate Ice continued to suppress the Evil Fire. It was practically the Evil Fire's natural enemy.
He also released the "sorrow" within the power of emotion and spirit to reinforce the flow of Ultimate Ice. That icy power was like a great dragon, completely suppressing the Evil Fire in an instant.
Ma Xiaotao continued releasing her Soul Power. With Huo Yuhao's help, it was as though the torment of the Evil Fire had vanished at that moment. She immersed herself in an unprecedented sense of comfort, feeling the Evil Fire that had ravaged her body for so long gradually being suppressed.
Huo Yuhao, however, was under enormous pressure. He could clearly feel that, fortunately, after his breakthrough in the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, many of his attributes had transformed into Ultimate Attributes. His fire, ice, and wind attributes had now all become Ultimate Attributes, giving him enough power to contend with the Evil Fire.
Suppressing the Evil Fire shouldn't be a problem, he thought to himself.
He had thought he could suppress the Evil Fire all the way back into her bloodline and seal it there, but another mass of it began to burn again. The flames grew fiercer and fiercer, even burning both their clothes away completely.
With no other choice, Huo Yuhao could only release even more ice magic. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his face turned pale, but his gaze remained composed (a man could never say he couldn't do it).
Throughout the suppression, Ma Xiaotao suffered little from the Evil Fire. That evil restlessness had long since disappeared, while Huo Yuhao continued to expend his strength, bearing it all for her.
Finally, just as Huo Yuhao's Soul Power was exhausted, the Evil Fire was completely suppressed. The temperature in the room gradually returned to normal, and the raging flames slowly died out. Huo Yuhao collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.
Using level-thirty-two Soul Power to resist the corrosion of a Soul Emperor's Evil Fire Soul Power without falling at a disadvantage, Huo Yuhao could be considered the first. It was only thanks to his many trump cards.
Twilight quietly faded, and night stained the sky like ink. The evening breeze stirred the dormitory curtains, producing a faint rustle. At some point, the window had blown slightly open, and bright moonlight poured in like water, gently falling over the two people in the room and draping the somewhat disheveled scene in a hazy veil of silver.
Ma Xiaotao slowly breathed out a stale breath, her long-taut nerves finally relaxing. Her eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened as awareness returned. But the sight before her made her eyes fly wide, all color draining from her face. She stared in disbelief at what lay before her-she and Huo Yuhao were lying naked in her dormitory bed?
Panic surged through her, and a flash of confusion and helplessness crossed Ma Xiaotao's eyes. She instinctively tried to cover herself, pulling the quilt tightly around her body.
Her heart pounded like a drum, and a blush rose to her cheeks in an instant. Whether it was from embarrassment or from recalling the perilous process of suppressing the Evil Fire, she did not know.
She turned to look at Huo Yuhao beside her and found him still fast asleep, his breathing calm and even.
Huo Yuhao had actually returned to the Time Sea of Consciousness. A familiar voice rang out in his consciousness once more, and the bell sounded again. His heart stirred; he knew that the time for his next journey ten thousand years into the past was drawing closer.
Deep within the Time Sea of Consciousness, the laws of time seemed to blur and dissolve into chaos, drawing him along as the next journey through time and space awaited...
In the real world, Ma Xiaotao watched the sleeping Huo Yuhao, her mind filled with a thousand thoughts. She did not know how to face this sudden situation, nor did she understand exactly what had happened during the suppression of the Evil Fire. Huo Yuhao had probably been in control throughout.
Moonlight fell quietly over the two of them. The room was so silent that only their breathing could be heard, and a subtle, complicated atmosphere filled the air.