Qian Chen turned to Bing Ling and said, "Bing Ling, you heard what was said just now. This junior, Ma Xiaotao, is affected by Evil Fire. Right now, your ice attribute is the most suitable in the entire academy for helping her suppress it. This will also benefit your control over your ice attribute, though it will be a little tiring. Would you be willing?"
Bing Ling chuckled. "Sure. Big Brother, if you say there are benefits, then there definitely are. Of course I trust you. But since you said it'll be tiring, I have to get a proper taste of Sister Lexuan's cooking tonight, and you have to let me sleep until I wake up naturally tomorrow!"
Qian Chen and Zhang Lexuan spoke almost simultaneously. "Sure."
They spoke in unison, and both froze for a moment afterward before turning to look at each other. Qian Chen smiled faintly, but Zhang Lexuan quickly averted her gaze after their eyes met. She feared that if she kept looking, some irrational thought might arise.
Qian Chen said, "Ma Xiaotao, come with us, then. Bing Ling has agreed to suppress your Evil Fire. Let's go to..."
Only then did Qian Chen remember that they had nowhere to go.
Zhang Lexuan naturally heard his embarrassment and stepped in to help. "Let's go to my place. It's fairly spacious, and didn't Bing Ling want braised Soul Beast meat? Cooking will be more convenient there, too."
Qian Chen nodded. "All right. Sorry for imposing on you, Sister Lexuan."
"Mm, it's fine."
Hearing that Bing Ling had agreed to help suppress her Evil Fire, Ma Xiaotao was overjoyed. She shot Ling Luochen a smug glance, her eyes plainly declaring victory. A wave of dejection washed over Ling Luochen. She had never liked Ma Xiaotao to begin with, and seeing that they had already settled the matter of suppressing the Evil Fire, she could only turn and leave alone.
Seeing the dejected expression on this girl toward whom he felt an inexplicable closeness, Bing Ling suddenly felt reluctant to see her go. He called out, "Junior Ling Luochen, let's exchange insights on using the ice attribute sometime."
Hearing this, Ling Luochen immediately broke into a smile. "All right, it's a promise." Only then did her spirits lift considerably, and she turned to leave.
Soon, the four arrived at Zhang Lexuan's residence. The house was large, furnished simply yet warmly. Bei Bei ran out from inside and called happily, "Sister Lexuan, you're back!"
Only then did he notice that Zhang Lexuan had brought three others back today, though he knew all three. Once everyone entered, Zhang Lexuan immediately arranged a place for Bing Ling and Ma Xiaotao, having them regulate their breathing first and restore themselves to peak condition.
Meanwhile, Qian Chen, Zhang Lexuan, and Bei Bei began preparing the hundred-year Silver-Blooded Dragonfish.
Seeing how familiar Bei Bei was with Zhang Lexuan's home, as though it were his own, Qian Chen asked curiously, "Bei Bei, do you live here too?"
Bei Bei replied, "Yes!"
Qian Chen then asked with a smile, "Then what exactly is your relationship with Sister Lexuan?"
At these words, Zhang Lexuan's body abruptly stiffened, and she trembled slightly. At this moment, the truth she least wanted revealed before Qian Chen was about to be unwittingly exposed by him.
Just then, Bei Bei's voice rang out. "Sister Lexuan? She's my big sister!"
Qian Chen gave an "oh," thinking that Bei Bei was Zhang Lexuan's younger brother.
Zhang Lexuan, meanwhile, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as though she had survived a great tribulation.
Soon, the braised Silver-Blooded Dragonfish was ready. The five enjoyed a thoroughly satisfying meal. Bing Ling kept praising Zhang Lexuan's wonderful cooking, while Ma Xiaotao repeatedly exclaimed that she was stuffed. Bei Bei also said smugly, "Of course! When my sister does the cooking, it's bound to be amazing!"
After the meal, it was soon time to get down to the main business: suppressing Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire.
Just then, Bibi Dong's voice suddenly sounded in Qian Chen's Sea of Consciousness. "Wait."
Qian Chen hurriedly replied within his Sea of Consciousness, "What is it now? My esteemed Rakshasa God, we're dealing with something important here. Can whatever you want to say wait until later?"
"I can use a special method to suppress that girl's Evil Fire, and even make this Evil Fire girl completely one of your own."
"How? What will the outcome be? Will it hurt anyone?" Qian Chen hurriedly asked.
"I won't tell you how, nor will I tell you what the outcome will be. But it won't hurt anyone, and it will be a fortuitous opportunity for both of them. I've been in your Sea of Consciousness for ten years now. Today, I just want to see whether you truly trust me. If you do, put one hand on Bing Ling and the other on this Ma Xiaotao, and I'll take care of it. If you don't, then forget it," Bibi Dong said aloofly within Qian Chen's Sea of Consciousness.
Qian Chen hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "Bibi Dong, if you dare deceive me, I'll seal my Sea of Consciousness and cut you off from the world for all eternity."
"Hmph." Bibi Dong snorted coldly. Seeing that Qian Chen really had placed his hands on their shoulders, she finally dropped her haughty act and began circulating the divine consciousness and Divine Power remaining within her soul fragment.
When Bing Ling and Ma Xiaotao saw Qian Chen suddenly place his hands on their shoulders, both looked at him curiously. Qian Chen could only smile awkwardly. "It's the first time, so let me check your condition first."
Soon, Bibi Dong's utterly feeble voice came through. "Done. Let them begin."
Qian Chen withdrew his hands and said to the two, "All right, begin suppressing the Evil Fire. Call me if anything comes up."
Ma Xiaotao waved a hand boldly. "Don't worry, Senior! Senior Bing Ling might be inexperienced, but I'm an old hand! Don't worry, it'll be fine!"
Bing Ling also nodded. "All right, Big Brother."
Zhang Lexuan reassured him from the side. "It'll be fine. Don't worry."
Only then did Qian Chen nod and leave the room with Zhang Lexuan.
Inside the room where the Evil Fire was being suppressed, the expected clash of two streams of Soul Power, with fire melting ice and ice suppressing fire, never occurred. Instead, guided by Bibi Dong's Divine Power, their Soul Power began to merge.
As Bing Ling looked at Ma Xiaotao, he no longer found her spoiled and overbearing. Instead, he felt that she was inseparable from him.
Ma Xiaotao felt the same way. Not only did being beside Bing Ling leave her feeling cool and comfortable all over, but she also developed a powerful desire not to part from him.
Before long, the two lost consciousness and embraced tightly, the speed at which their Soul Power merged soaring instantly.
While Bing Ling and Ma Xiaotao's Soul Power was merging, Zhang Lexuan finished arranging accommodations for Qian Chen and Bing Ling, after which she and Qian Chen returned to her residence. The two sat in the living room.
Zhang Lexuan saw that although Qian Chen was seated, his back was perfectly straight and his hands rested on his knees. He clearly paid particular attention to etiquette, so she said, "Qian Chen, there aren't so many rules here at my place. Make yourself comfortable. Don't worry. Nothing will happen to Bing Ling and Ma Xiaotao. They're only suppressing Evil Fire. It's still early. You can cultivate or go back and rest."
Qian Chen said, "Sorry for the trouble, Sister Lexuan."
If he went back to rest, he would worry about whether Bibi Dong might be up to something. As for meditating to cultivate, this was Zhang Lexuan's residence, after all. Deep Meditation would be inconvenient, while ordinary meditation was too ineffective. He would be better off finding an Evil Soul Master.
With that thought, Qian Chen took the manuscript of Sword Douluo Chen Xin's swordsmanship cultivation insights he had obtained that day out of his Storage Soul Tool and began reading it carefully.
Zhang Lexuan stole several glances at Qian Chen. Seeing that his attention was entirely focused on the manuscript, she finally began her own meditation and cultivation.
Just as Qian Chen entered Shrek Academy, a blue-haired man stood quietly in the Divine Realm. He was none other than God King Tang San, who was both the Sea God and the Asura God. At that moment, he was watching the Douluo Continent. Seeing everything slowly developing just as he had planned, he nodded slowly.
"It looks like it's about time. We can begin," Tang San muttered coldly to himself.