Before Kong Xuan could even speak, Xu Wei interjected, "Isn't it because Brother Xuan was worried that Elder Ma would fret, so he specially waited for you to return at the East Gate?"
" The Shrek people originally said they would close the gates at a certain time in the evening, but it was Brother Xuan who argued with them and persuaded them to open the gates."
"However, we need to send someone to guard the gate, otherwise, Elder Ma, you wouldn't have seen us the moment you returned."
Hearing Xu Wei's words, Ma Sheng felt a mix of emotions.
At first, he didn't have a very good impression of Kong Xuan, thinking that although the young man was talented, he was a bit too arrogant.
But as he got to know him better, he discovered that Kong Xuan was always able to reorganize his understanding, and he realized that Kong Xuan's arrogance was indeed justified.
This time, he rushed back to make sure Kong Xuan was safe.
Kong Xuan's actions warmed his heart, making him feel that his hasty return had not been in vain.
Ma Sheng patted Kong Xuan on the shoulder and laughed, "You rascal..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Kong Xuan understood what he meant.
Kong Xuan smiled and said, "Your insistence on going to the Core Circle of Star Dou has worried Elder Ma."
Upon hearing this, Ma Sheng laughed and scolded, "It's good that you know!"
Seeing you puts my mind at ease!
"Alright, it's getting late, let's go home together."
The east gate of Shrek City slowly closed. Cai Mei'er looked at the Sun Moon Clan walking side by side in front of her, feeling a little uneasy.
She felt that the Shrek staff had been somewhat heartless in this whole affair.
After the Soul Hunting ended, Xu Tianyi successfully advanced to Soul King, and Kong Xuan also broke through to Soul Emperor.
When he left the Core Circle of Star Dou, Di Tian personally saw him off, so there were no surprises.
After transforming into human form, Snow Empress was placed in Shrek City by Kong Xuan. This was partly to let her get used to human society, and partly because her help was needed for an upcoming operation.
In the blink of an eye, Kong Xuan and his group's first year of study as exchange students at the Shrek Academy was drawing to a close.
A faint atmosphere of farewell began to permeate the college, while also filling it with anticipation for the upcoming month-long holiday.
That afternoon, the Yangguang shone brightly, a gentle breeze blew, and golden rays spilled onto the shimmering Sea God Lake, creating dappled golden light.
The lakeside path is quiet and beautiful, with weeping willows swaying on both sides.
Kong Xuan did not immerse himself in cultivation as usual, but instead relaxed for once, strolling side by side with Meng Hongchen in this picturesque scenery.
Their hands naturally clasped together, their fingers interlocked, feeling the warmth of each other's palms.
Meng Hongchen tilted her head slightly, looking at the sharply defined profile of the young man beside her.
In the year that followed, he seemed to have grown taller and more composed, with a more mature and reserved demeanor.
What she liked most was the gentleness that Kong Xuan unconsciously revealed in his eyes when he was with her; it was a tenderness that belonged only to her.
Kong Xuan gazed at the rippling lake ahead and asked, her voice calm yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern, "The holiday is almost here, you have over a month to go. What are your plans?"
Meng Hongchen gently shook their clasped hands, a sweet smile playing on her lips, and replied, "My brother? He's itching to go back to Mingdu. After all, he hasn't seen Grandpa for a whole year."
Her tone carried an understanding of her brother Xiao Hongchen's anxious feelings, along with a hint of teasing.
Kong Xuan nodded, not surprised by Xiao Hongchen's choice.
He turned to Meng Hongchen, his gaze gentle. "And what about you? Will you return to Sun Moon like your brother?"
Upon hearing this question, Meng Hongchen's smile became even brighter and more captivating. She stopped and turned to face Kong Xuan.
A pair of bright, beautiful eyes gazed at him, filled with undisguised dependence and longing, her voice clear and firm. "I won't be like him! I already told my brother..."
She deliberately dragged out her words, and seeing the faint smile in Kong Xuan's eyes, she announced with satisfaction, "Wherever you go, I'll go!"
He reached out and gently flicked the tip of her nose, chuckling, "Aren't you afraid your brother will go back and complain to the Hall Master Hongchen about you?"
Meng Hongchen wrinkled her small nose, snorted, and instead hugged his arm even tighter, tilting her face up and saying, "So what if you tell on me? I'm not afraid!"
Seeing her like this, Kong Xuan couldn't help but chuckle softly. He took her hand in his and led her to continue walking along the lakeside.
As they walked, Kong Xuan spoke again, "Then we won't go back to Sun Moon during the holiday. Come with me."
"Um!"
Meng Hongchen simply responded without asking what she was going to do, a response that contained countless promises and tenderness.
A gentle lake breeze swept by, bringing moist air and the fragrance of flowers and grass, and also elongating the shadows of the two people embracing.
However, the next moment, Meng Hongchen felt Kong Xuan's hand holding her pause slightly, and then she stopped abruptly.
Kong Xuan abruptly turned his head toward the gently rippling Sea God Lake, his previously gentle gaze instantly becoming sharp as a hawk's, fixed intently on a certain spot in the center of the lake.
"What's wrong?" Meng Hongchen also stopped and looked in the direction he was looking, puzzled.
But Kong Xuan did not answer; his body tensed slightly, and he entered a subconscious state of alertness.
Meng Hongchen's doubts were quickly replaced by curiosity and a trace of unease. She focused her gaze and a small black dot appeared in her line of sight in the direction of Sea God Lake.
The black dot moved faster than anyone could imagine; it rapidly magnified in her field of vision almost the instant she noticed it.
Like a black meteor tearing through the sky, it was hurtling toward the lakeside where they were!
Meng Hongchen's pupils suddenly contracted!
She saw it clearly!
That's not a black mark at all, that's clearly a person!
A figure enveloped in almost tangible black flames, trailing a long tail of fire!
Because her own Martial Soul also possesses the ice attribute, Meng Hongchen is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature.
She could clearly feel that the originally cool and humid air around her was becoming hot and scorching at an alarming rate!
It was as if an invisible furnace was rapidly approaching, and even the grass on the lakeside began to wilt slightly at a visible speed!
"What terrifying fire energy!" Meng Hongchen exclaimed in horror.
In the blink of an eye, the figure enveloped in black flames had already charged across the vast Sea God Lake, bringing with it a suffocating heatwave and a violent aura, and crashed down onto the lakeside clearing not far from them!
boom!
The moment the figure landed, the ground seemed to tremble slightly, and a dark red heat wave suddenly spread out from the point of impact, scorching and distorting the surrounding air.
At this moment, Meng Hongchen finally saw the figure's clothing and appearance clearly.
She wore a fiery red dress, like a burning flame, and looked to be in her early twenties, but her figure was extremely hot.
When Meng Hongchen saw the face, slightly distorted by pain and rage, yet still breathtakingly beautiful, carrying a familiar wildness, she couldn't help but exclaim, "It's... it's her?! Ma Xiaotao?!"
That face was so vividly etched in her memory!
It was Ma Xiaotao, the captain of the Shrek Academy, who possessed the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul and had extremely strong combat power, at the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament!
Kong Xuan released Meng Hongchen's hand, stepped forward, and shielded Meng Hongchen behind him. At this moment, his voice rang out.
"It's Ma Xiaotao, but it seems her problem with Evil Fire hasn't been resolved; in fact, it's gotten even worse!"
"She... can now be considered a Evil Soul Master!"
Kong Xuan could sense that Ma Xiaotao's Soul Power had reached level seventy at this moment.
Although she hasn't acquired Soul Ring yet, this has already transformed into an extremely powerful dark Evil Fire, making her a Ma Xiaotao opponent for ordinary Soul Saint.
Kong Xuan chuckled inwardly, realizing he was now experiencing Huo Yuhao's script.