Eight months slipped by unnoticed, and the freshmen of Shrek Academy welcomed their first holiday since arriving.
"This is what the upgrade assessment will be like after you return from the break! Not only will there be a personal evaluation, but you will also have to challenge a hundred-year soul beast with the same attributes as your own!"
"We will also hold a class upgrade assessment. The classes eligible for promotion will be selected based on the completion rate of the assessment targets. If a class only achieves 80% of the required results, 20% of its students will be eliminated."
Wang Yan pushed his glasses up and looked sternly at the group of children before him.
"Ah? It can't be!"
"Oh heavens, elimination by percentage?"
The students below were wailing in despair. They understood perfectly well that this wasn't a holiday at all, but a new round of devilish trials!
"That's all I have to say. Class dismissed. Go back and pack your things!"
At the entrance of Shrek Academy, Fu Ye waved goodbye to the group of his disciple. Ye Xishui, of course, would stay behind to take them fishing and bird-watching.
As for where Fu Ye was going?
He glanced back at Wang Dong, who was holding hands with Huo Yun'er. There was no helping it. He had received an invitation from Wang Dong, saying his Eldest Father wanted to meet Huo Yun'er and get to know her at the same time.
It was worth noting that there was no such scene in the original novel where Niu Tian invited Huo Yuhao. In his opinion, it was highly likely that a certain wise god in the Divine Realm had mobilized some of his astounding wisdom.
"Goodbye, senior sisters! See you when academy starts!"
Huo Yun'er waved excitedly to her senior sisters, while Zhang Lexuan and the others merely responded with faint, knowing smiles.
After all, when they learned that this little girl named Wang Dong had a 100% martial soul fusion compatibility with their junior sister, they had been utterly astonished.
They wouldn't have felt at ease letting Yun'er follow the other party to the so-called Haotian Sect alone. But if Brother Fu Ye went along too, then there was absolutely no problem.
"Hehe, don't worry, Yun'er. With me here, no one would dare to bully you."
Wang Dong and Huo Yun'er held hands, with Fu Ye standing beside them.
"Let's go, the carriage I called is here!"
The Haotian Sect wasn't too far from Shrek Academy; it took only a day to get there by carriage.
…
Early in the morning, at the Haotian Sect.
"Tai Tan, Xiao Dong should be back soon. Don't you dare do anything foolish later," said the tall and imposing man, shooting a warning look at the half-naked, muscular man beside him.
"Ahem! How could that be? How could that be possible?"
"Still, I must properly test this teacher from Shrek. Even if he is someone Xiao San said we should win over, I still need to explain the rules of our Haotian Sect to him." As he said this, a trace of disdain flickered in his eyes.
"Tai Tan, don't go overboard. After all, he's the one the boss wants us to recruit this time. If you scare him off, don't blame me for beating you up."
…
Haotian Sect, Outer Maze.
The clouds were deep, the path unknown.
"Wow, it's so beautiful here!"
Huo Yun'er looked at the misty mountains and waters around them, her eyes filled with wonder.
Seeing this scene, Fu Ye couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The Tang family really knew how to put on a show, actually transforming the Haotian Sect into such a state.
"Yun'er, use your first soul skill to connect me and Wang Dong. I'll show you the full picture of this place."
Fu Ye gently patted Huo Yun'er's head. Upon hearing Fu Ye's words, she immediately activated her first soul skill, Mental Detection + Sharing, without another word.
However, from a god's perspective, this place seemed far from...
Buzz!
A buzzing sound accompanied the rapid expansion of the scenery before Huo Yun'er and Wang Dong's eyes!
"This... this is!"
Simultaneously, in the Haotian Sect.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan, the two old fools, naturally sensed this probing spiritual power.
"Damn it, who dares to spy on our Haotian Sect?"
Thwack!
Without hesitation, Niu Tian smacked Tai Tan on the head.
"Feel it carefully. This spiritual power contains Xiao Dong's aura."
Tai Tan: "..."
As the vision was withdrawn, Huo Yun'er and Wang Dong took a long time to recover from their astonishment.
"Is that the complete layout of our Haotian Sect? This is my first time seeing it!"
"What a magnificent mountain range! Brother Fu Ye, do it again!"
However, upon hearing Huo Yun'er's words, Fu Ye's mouth twitched.
"Alright, let's go in. If you want to see, you can wait until next time."
Holding Wang Dong with his left hand and Huo Yun'er with his right, Fu Ye charged directly into the Haotian Sect.
"Hey! Brother Fu Ye, the Haotian Sect's entrance is down below..."
But before she could finish her sentence, the sound of shattering glass echoed.
Crack!
That's right. Fu Ye didn't enter through the main gate at all.
As the saying goes, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so he naturally chose the most direct route.
Thud...
A perfect landing.
As for the matter of the barrier... he didn't know, and he didn't care to know.
However, Niu Tian and Tai Tan, who were standing in the central square of the Haotian Sect, were utterly dumbfounded.
At this moment, they were standing face-to-face with Fu Ye, who had just smashed through their Haotian Sect's barrier from the sky and landed right in front of them.
"Hmm? Little Wang Dong, are these two the uncles who sweep the square in your sect?"
Fu Ye looked at the bare-chested man and the long-haired middle-aged man. Although he knew exactly who they were, he couldn't resist teasing them.
"Ah? Square-sweeping uncles? Our Haotian Sect doesn't have people who sweep the square!"
Hearing Fu Ye's words, Wang Dong was also full of confusion. After all, their Haotian Sect didn't allow outsiders to enter.
"Eldest Father! Second Father! You're both here! I wanted to surprise you."
Upon seeing Niu Tian and Tai Tan, Wang Dong's pink-and-blue eyes sparkled with excitement. After all, his Eldest and Second Fathers had doted on him ever since he could remember!
"Aha... haha, we certainly were... surprised."
At this moment, Niu Tian forced a smile that was uglier than crying.
"Young man, you're something else. The moment you arrive at the Haotian Sect, you break our formation."
Meanwhile, the bare-chested Tai Tan, his face dark, came up to Fu Ye and pressed his heavy hand directly onto Fu Ye's shoulder.
Thump!
A dull sound came from under Fu Ye's feet. A closer look revealed that the marble tiles beneath him had cracked.
"Hahaha, you flatter me. But your sect's so-called formation is a bit too weak. I just touched it lightly and it broke."
Fu Ye hadn't come here for a friendly chat with Niu Tian and the others. Since Tai Tan was so eager for a beating, he would simply oblige.
"Dear little brother, you have a strong body. I also have some experience in physical training. How about we go to the back and have a... discussion?"
"Haha, it would be my pleasure."
Wang Dong watched as her Second Father led Fu Ye away with an arm draped around his shoulders, a trace of worry shimmering in her pink-blue eyes.
"Eldest Father, look at Second Father."
Hearing Wang Dong's words, Niu Tian simply patted her head gently.
"Don't worry, your Second Father knows his limits."
Although Tai Tan wasn't the brightest guy, he had never caused any truly serious trouble when it came to following through on things.
"Eh? Sister Yun'er, aren't you worried about Brother Fu Ye's safety?"
Wang Dong then looked at Huo Yun'er with an incredulous expression. She was still casually admiring the scenery around them, and he detected nothing unusual in her eyes after Fu Ye was taken away.
"Hehe, Sister Dong'er, don't worry. I think you should be more concerned about the safety of that brown-eyed uncle than about Brother Fu Ye."
After hearing Huo Yun'er's words, both Wang Dong and Niu Tian grew curious.
"But my Second Father is a Level 98 Power-Attack System Super Douluo! Even if Brother Fu Ye is stronger, it's impossible for him to..."
However, upon hearing Wang Dong's words, a flicker of surprise crossed Huo Yun'er's eyes, followed by a hint of nervousness.
"Well... why don't we go check on Brother Fu Ye? Otherwise..."
Having said this, Huo Yun'er trailed off, as if afraid that continuing would frighten them.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, my second brother Tai Tan might have a fiery temper, but he would never take things to a fatal extreme. Your brother Fu Ye will be fine."
Seeing Huo Yun'er's nervous expression, Niu Tian's face broke into a reassuring smile.
But upon seeing Uncle Niu Tian's confident smile, Huo Yun'er could only manage a rather strained smile in return.
Yet, at that very moment.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
A series of dull, heavy impacts echoed from the back mountain.
Hearing the sound, Niu Tian's heart sank. Aside from his stubborn second brother, probably no one else could make such a racket.
…
Meanwhile, in the back mountain of the Haotian Sect.
"Think you're so tough, huh?!"
WHAM!
"Want to show me what you've got?!"
WHAM!
Fu Ye looked down at Tai Tan, who was now prone on the ground after being pummeled by his fists.
"Is this colorful enough for you?!"
BOOM!
After Fu Ye's relentless combo, Tai Tan was seeing stars.
'This is insane! Who's the fierce beast here? I'm a Level 98 Peak Power-Attack System Super Douluo, yet I'm being pinned down and beaten purely by brute force from a young human?!'
'This is something even novels wouldn't dare write!'
"Hey, still not convinced? Fine, I see you've got guts."
Fu Ye noticed that despite the beating, Tai Tan hadn't even uttered a plea for mercy.
'Can I let this slide? Of course not!'
"Huh? What did you say?!"
'You want to beg for mercy now? Too late!'
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
By the time Niu Tian and the others arrived, they saw one figure gripping the other by the legs and repeatedly smashing him into the ground with the raw power of his arms and waist. (Imagine Hulk smashing Loki)
"Second Brother! Stop this at once!"
Niu Tian, seeing this scene, immediately stepped forward to stop Tai Tan. But upon hearing Niu Tian's voice, Fu Ye promptly halted.
As for the half-beaten Tai Tan in his hands, he casually tossed him into a nearby patch of woods.
THUD!
Tai Tan flew into the dense grove, while Fu Ye stood there with an utterly innocent look on his face.
"Second Brother, I already told you that Fu Ye is a teacher from Shrek and our guest."
When Niu Tian saw that the person standing was actually Fu Ye, his dark pupils widened in sheer astonishment.
"Sect Leader Niu Tian, Xiao Dong'er, Yun'er, what brings you all here? Senior Tai Tan and I were just... discussing body refinement techniques."
Fu Ye scratched the back of his head, not a blush on his face nor a faster beat in his heart. Even though Tai Tan had already been flung into the woods, the craters and trenches scarring the surroundings bore brutal witness to the intensity of the recent discussion.
"Ahem, Brother Fu Ye, you've come all this way and haven't even had a sip of hot tea. This is my oversight as the Sect Leader. Please, come this way."
Niu Tian no longer addressed him casually as young man, but now respectfully called him Brother Fu Ye. The term was filled with newfound warmth.
"In that case, I gratefully accept."
Just as Niu Tian was about to lead Fu Ye away, a large man, covered in bruises with a thoroughly swollen face, staggered out of the woods.
"Oww~ Damn it, that brat hits like a beast! My handsome face... my poor back~"
The one emerging from the woods was, of course, the thoroughly thrashed Tai Tan.
He didn't seem to notice that everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
But when Niu Tian heard his words and saw his pathetic state, a vein bulged on his forehead in fury.
"Damn you! Go to the back hills and reflect on your actions for two days!"
"Wha—?"
A perfect parabola.
THUD!
"Ahem! Let's go. He's thick-skinned and sturdy. He won't die."
Niu Tian's face was a mask of embarrassment. Tai Tan had nearly cost the Haotian Sect all its dignity.
Recalling Huo Yun'er's earlier words, Wang Dong shot an incredulous look her way. In response, the other girl merely shrugged upon noticing her gaze.
'I told you we should have come earlier, but you didn't believe me.'
After returning to the sect's reception room, Niu Tian checked the Martial Soul fusion compatibility between Wang Dong and Huo Yun'er and confirmed that their souls were indeed 100% compatible.
Afterwards, he discussed with Fu Ye and Huo Yun'er the possibility of them joining the Haotian Sect.
However, Huo Yun'er's answer was that she would follow Fu Ye's lead. Fu Ye himself gave an ambiguous response.
"I'm accustomed to a carefree and unconstrained life. Being a teacher at the academy is one thing, but joining a sect... that requires careful consideration."
…
Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm, at the Asura Temple.
"Haha, to defeat a Level 98 Titan Giant Ape in pure strength... he is indeed a talented individual."
Tang San was very satisfied with Fu Ye as a pawn. After all, while Niu Tian and Tai Tan were an Ultimate Douluo and a Super Douluo respectively, they were too distant from the academy.
Furthermore, Fu Ye's identity as a teacher was perfect, and his capabilities were exceptional.
"Very well. When Wutong ascends to godhood in the future, she can bring along Huo Yun'er, who has 100% compatibility with her. As for Fu Ye... forget it. Just fob him off with a 3rd class god position."
Having thought it through, Tang San turned his attention to Dai Yuhao, who was training diligently in the Star Luo Imperial City.
"Haha, Son of Plane of the Douluo Continent, this God King welcomes you in advance to ascend to the Divine Realm... and become my loyal hound."
…
A month and a half later, in the back mountains of the Haotian Sect.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Fu Ye landed punch after punch on Tai Tan.
"Ahhh! Damn it! Brother Fu Ye, we agreed not to hit the face!" Tai Tan wailed.
Fu Ye, however, completely ignored his protests.
Meanwhile, Huo Yun'er and the others, watching from the sidelines, casually ate melon seeds and enjoyed the spectacle.
"Sister Dong'er, Brother Fu Ye is beating Uncle Tai Tan so badly. Don't you feel sorry for him?" Huo Yun'er asked.
Wang Dong shook her head helplessly after hearing this. "Feeling sorry for him is useless. He brought this upon himself."
Wang Dong could see clearly that her second father was the one who insisted on challenging Fu Ye. Yet, the result was a minor beating every day and a major thrashing every three days.
"Ah! No! We agreed, no hitting the face!" Tai Tan's cries were soon drowned out by the relentless sounds of punches and kicks.
Ten minutes later, Tai Tan lay on the ground, his eyes lifeless and unmoving, as if all hope had drained from his life.
Witnessing this scene, Niu Tian's mouth twitched involuntarily. Still, he found solace in one thought: tomorrow, the other party would finally take Xiao Dong and the others away from here.
The mere idea brought him a sense of relief and even joy.
"Second brother, just endure it a little longer. Even I, your eldest brother, am no match for him," Niu Tian muttered to himself.
Indeed, after seeing Tai Tan beaten so thoroughly, Niu Tian had also contemplated seeking revenge. At first, his duel with Fu Ye seemed evenly matched, but the moment his opponent drew his sword, Niu Tian found himself utterly defenseless.
He was a Ultimate Douluo! One of the few you could count on one hand across the entire continent! And yet, he couldn't win!
"Brother Fu Ye!"
Seeing Fu Ye defeat Tai Tan once again, Huo Yun'er flew directly into his arms.
"You're such a big girl now, and you still like to throw yourself into my arms and act spoiled," Fu Ye said, gently pinching Huo Yun'er's slightly flushed cheeks.
She shook her head playfully. "Hehe, no matter how much time passes, Yun'er will always be the little girl you brought out of the slums."
[Huo Yun'er's Favorability +5%. Current: 100%]
Hearing the system's voice in his mind, Fu Ye felt that his kindness to Huo Yun'er and the others over the past six years had not been in vain.
"Oh, you little girl, you've learned some bad habits from your Senior Sister Feng Ling," Fu Ye teased, pinching her small nose.
Seeing the intimate exchange between Huo Yun'er and Fu Ye, Wang Dong felt a pang of displeasure. After all, Fu Ye was the acknowledged male god among all the girls in their academy.
…
Early the next morning, Fu Ye, Wang Dong, and the others boarded the carriage for their return journey.
Watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance from the Haotian Sect, Tai Tan and Niu Tian excitedly hugged each other.
"Hahahaha! He's gone! That kid is finally gone!"
"Come on! Let's go have a drink!"
Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm.
Tang San was currently reviewing all of Fu Ye's information.
"Fu Ye, a level 99 Ultimate Douluo. His first martial soul, the Water Cold Sword, possesses the Ultimate Ice attribute. His second martial soul, the Nine-Colored Dragon, mutated from the White-Armored Dragon King, grants him overwhelming strength that crushes opponents of the same level."
At this moment, the God King Tang San was using his immense power to forcibly probe into Fu Ye's life. Unbeknownst to him, Fu Ye, originally an unregistered existence on the continent, had used his system to fabricate a false identity in this world before arriving.
Everything Tang San saw now was exactly what Fu Ye wanted him to see.
"Born with full soul power at age six. Reached Soul Elder at age nine. Already a Soul Emperor by age twelve???"
The more Tang San read, the more alarmed he became.
"At age fourteen, he stumbled upon a miraculous herb. By age fifteen, he was promoted to Titled Douluo!"
Reading this, Tang San gulped. He couldn't believe that such a monster had appeared out of nowhere in the last ten years!
"At age sixteen, he achieved four consecutive breakthroughs and was promoted to Titled Douluo! He then joined Shrek Academy and reached the Ultimate Douluo level in just four years?!"
No, he's only twenty years old this year! A twenty-year-old Ultimate Douluo!
Seeing this, even the God King Tang San felt the world had gone a little mad.
A twenty-year-old Ultimate Douluo? And he achieved this without the backing of any major power or undergoing any Divine Test!
After reading Fu Ye's life story, a chill ran down Tang San's spine.
Fortunately, the subject's luck was almost zero. Truly, with his talent, if he had possessed even a bit more luck, he might have already found a god's position and ascended directly to the Divine Realm.
'Phew~ It's alright.'
Tang San took a deep breath. After all, the number of Ultimate Douluos on the continent could be counted on one hand. Now, besides the Sky Azure Bull Python, he had another ally in this young man named Fu Ye.
Although the other party hadn't directly agreed to join the Haotian Sect, as long as he dangled the prospect of godhood in the future, wouldn't Fu Ye be weeping with gratitude?
Thinking of this, Tang San could no longer suppress the smile on his face. After all, having Fu Ye, an Ultimate Douluo, was like adding an extra layer of insurance for the Son of Plane. Now, the plans of the Plane's Will were likely to be completely ruined!
"Hehe, Plane's Will, you didn't really think I was unaware that your Son of Plane possesses a soul from another world, did you? Hehehehe…"
However, just as he was wallowing in self-satisfaction over his own brilliance, a gentle knocking sound came from the entrance of the Asura Hall.
Knock, knock, knock.
Sensing who was at the door, the smile instantly vanished from Tang San's face, though he struggled to maintain a calm expression.
Click.
The door opened, revealing his wife, Xiao Wu, the Scabbard of the Asura Divine Sword.
"Brother, have you been very busy with work lately? Is it very hard?" Xiao Wu asked.
Hearing her words, Tang San's mouth twitched slightly, but he still forced a nonchalant smile. "Well, many things have happened on the continent recently, and the Son of the Plane has appeared. I need to keep a close watch on the changes in the lower world these days, so…"
Before he could finish, Xiao Wu already understood. "Alright then, Brother, you go ahead and busy yourself. But remember, once Xiao Qi returns to the God Realm, you can't hide from me anymore."
A trace of resentment flickered in Xiao Wu's brows. Tang San could only scratch his head in embarrassment. "Ahem, don't worry, dear. I will definitely make time when the moment comes."
But Xiao Wu merely gave him a cold look. "You said the same thing a year ago."
Hearing his wife's words, Tang San's face was full of shame. Watching Xiao Wu leave, his heart swelled with guilt.
"Xiao Wu, I'm just…"
"…Just too busy. I've heard that so often my ears are callused."
Inside the Sea God Palace, Xiao Wu lay alone in her bedroom, a look of loss on her delicate face. She then turned her gaze to the small crystal carrot placed beside her bed.
…
The next morning, after another day traveling by carriage with the two girls, Wang Dong and Huo Yun'er, Fu Ye finally returned to Shrek Academy.
At this moment, however, Huo Yun'er was sleeping soundly in his arms, while Wang Dong was using his shoulder as a pillow.
"Ahhh—"
Fu Ye yawned. Seeing they had arrived, he chose not to wake them. Instead, he simply grabbed them by the collars and carried them one by one to the foot of the girls' dormitory.
Just as he was wondering how to get these two soundly sleeping girls upstairs, a small figure came running out from the corridor.
"Huh? Teacher Fu Ye!"
When Xiao Xiao saw Fu Ye standing downstairs at the girls' dormitory, her large, dark eyes lit up with little stars. After all, even though Teacher Fu Ye was an instructor, they said he was only 20 years old this year—even younger than some of the seniors in the Inner Court!
"Teacher Fu Ye, you're back at the academy so early!"
As Xiao Xiao bounded over to him, Fu Ye gave a nod.
"Mmn. I discussed the matter of Wang Dong and Yun'er's Spirit Soul fusion with her family. They weren't used to living there, so I brought them back early."
As he spoke, Fu Ye lifted up Wang Dong and Huo Yun'er in his hands for Xiao Xiao to see.
"I see. Well, Teacher Fu Ye, let me help you take them back. Sister Yun'er shares a room with Sister Feng, and Sister Dong'er is in the same dormitory as me!"
Xiao Xiao was very clever. The moment she saw Wang Dong and Huo Yun'er being held by Fu Ye, she understood his predicament.
"Alright, thank you, little Xiao Xiao. I'll treat you to a big meal when I have time."
Fu Ye handed the two girls over to Xiao Xiao.
"Mm-hmm!"
Looking at Xiao Xiao, this cute little loli, Fu Ye felt that the original novel's description of her as a lesbian was utter nonsense. He could believe this adorable little loli was infatuated with good looks, but he'd never believe she was a lesbian!
Three minutes later, in Xiao Xiao's dorm room.
Looking at the handsome big sister before her, a faint blush rose to Xiao Xiao's cheeks.
"Even if she's not as handsome as Teacher Fu Ye, Sister Dong'er is still incredibly dashing in men's clothing."
Having said that, she took off her boots and climbed into bed.
"Hehe, my dear Sister Dong'er, to make up for all my hard work getting you to bed, you'll just have to indulge me a little and sleep with your little sister tonight."
…
Meanwhile, by the Sea God's Lake in Shrek's Inner Court.
"Elder Xuan, hasn't Fu Ye returned yet?"
The Outer Court Dean, Yu Longyue, looked anxiously at the old man in front of him, who was still calmly munching on a chicken leg.
"Hmm? I'm not sure. I just know he went to the Haotian Sect with Wang Dong and Huo Yun'er. He should be back soon." Elder Xuan replied, his expression nonchalant as he continued eating. "But what's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"
"The evil fire in Xiaotao's body has erupted again! This time, it's even more troublesome to deal with than before!"
Hearing this, Elder Xuan's face remained calm and composed.
"I was wondering what it was. So it's just Xiao Tao's evil fire..."
"Crap! What did you say?!"
Elsewhere, Fu Ye had just returned to his dormitory to rest when, moments later, he sensed an intensely violent surge of evil fire energy emanating from the Inner Court.
"Hmm? Did Xiaotao run into trouble with her cultivation?"
Fu Ye was quite fond of Ma Xiaotao's straightforward personality and her fiery, passionate approach to things. But what was happening now?
Logically speaking, with the Ultimate Ice soul power he had left within her, the evil fire in her body shouldn't be able to erupt for at least half a year, right?!
Almost instantly, his figure vanished and reappeared within Shrek's Inner Court.
By the shore of Sea God's Lake, thick steam rose from the lake's surface. Within this mist was a girl in red, her body engulfed in pure black flames.
BOOM!
As a black-and-red heatwave erupted from Ma Xiaotao's body, an extremely violent surge of soul power instantly spread throughout the entire Shrek Inner Court!
Fu Ye watched the scene unfold before him, his brow slightly furrowed. After all, no one understood the evil fire within Ma Xiaotao better than he did.
Even without the suppression of his Ultimate Ice, it was impossible for this level of evil energy to completely overwhelm her.
At this moment, Xuan Zi was already trying to suppress the dark power raging within Ma Xiaotao's body. However, Ma Xiaotao was now even stronger than in the original storyline! As a quasi-Soul Douluo at the 80th level, even Xuan Zi found it difficult to restrain her.
Soon, Fu Ye spotted a clue through the dark flames. The evil aura emanating from Ma Xiaotao didn't belong to her—it originated from the pure white jade pendant hanging at her waist!
"Elder Xuan, step back. Let me handle this."
Without another word, Fu Ye kicked aside Xuan Zi, who was firmly maintaining his seal. As for the barrier the elder had painstakingly constructed, Fu Ye tore through it with ease.
BOOM!
The scorching heatwave swept through Shrek's Inner Court once more, and this time, some parts of the Outer Court were also affected by the flames.
"Oof!"
Xuan Zi, sent flying by the kick, was about to summon his spirit to see which blind fool was causing trouble at such a critical moment, only to find it was Fu Ye—the guy who was supposed to be a guest at the Haotian Sect—rushing back at this pivotal moment.
If it was him, Xuan Zi decided it was fine.
Snap!
Fu Ye snapped his fingers, and an impervious barrier instantly enveloped him and Ma Xiaotao. Seeing this, Xuan Zi wanted to cry out, but he held his tongue to avoid disrupting Fu Ye.
Just then, Yu Longyue, Dean of Shrek's Outer Court, also arrived in the nick of time. When he saw that Fu Ye, who should have been at the Haotian Sect, had appeared at the academy, a trace of coldness flickered deep within his elegant, worried eyes.
'Hehehe... That's right. Once you fully absorb this purest evil power, you will become the most revered Saintess of our Holy Spirit Church.'
The jade pendant at Ma Xiaotao's waist was whispering temptations to her at that very moment. Just as Fu Ye had suspected, this pure white jade pendant was the trigger for the entire incident.
Crack!
Fu Ye made a grasping motion in the air, and the pure white jade pendant shattered on the spot. The remnant evil forces within were instantly crushed by him.
Poof!
The jade pendant turned to dust, and the voice vanished along with it. However, the evil energy that had already invaded Ma Xiaotao's body did not dissipate.
"Brother... Brother Fu Ye..."
At this moment, relying on her sheer willpower, Ma Xiaotao briefly broke free from the evil energy's corrosion and saw her dear older brother Fu Ye, whom she hadn't seen for so long.
"Mn, Xiaotao did very well."
Fu Ye smiled and gently pinched her cheek. At that moment, a tear trickled from the corner of her eye, which had been tainted by evil thoughts, but it was instantly evaporated by her black flames.
"But my spirit has already..."
Inside the barrier, pitch-black flames engulfed Fu Ye and Ma Xiaotao.
The last traces of rationality were fading from Ma Xiaotao's eyes.
"Brother Fu Ye, you should leave. My Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul… it's been completely corrupted by the darkness."
Her pupils, now blackened by evil thoughts, were filled with pain as she looked at Fu Ye standing before her.
"No. Whether it's fire or evil thoughts, they are both, in essence, your own power," Fu Ye countered calmly. "It's just that you cannot bear this power yet."
As he spoke, he slowly stepped closer.
"Brother Fu Ye…"
Seeing him so near, Ma Xiaotao instinctively wanted to embrace him. Yet, a lingering shred of consciousness warned her not to—the evil energy sealed within her martial soul might contaminate him if she did.
"Have a good sleep. Everything will be fine when you wake up."
Fu Ye gently pulled her into an embrace. Feeling the warmth of his hug, she finally wrapped her arms tightly around him in return and nodded vigorously.
A gentle surge of soul power washed over Ma Xiaotao's entire body. The next moment, she felt her consciousness growing hazy, and the agonizing pain from the evil spirit's invasion vanished entirely.
"Phoenix Nirvana, cleansing all impurity."
As he uttered these words, a golden-red magical grass appeared in Fu Ye's hand.
…
Three days later, evening.
By the shores of Sea God Lake, inside a cabin.
Ma Xiaotao awoke from her deep slumber. As her eyes adjusted to the familiar surroundings, she realized she was in her own room.
'Huh? When did I fall asleep? I don't remember…'
'Wait.' A sudden, chilling recollection struck her.
"No! My spirit was invaded by evil thoughts!"
Her brows furrowed with tension as the memories came flooding back. She jolted upright, almost on instinct, and summoned her martial soul.
Screech!
A clear, resonant cry echoed as a golden-red phoenix erupted from her body.
Ma Xiaotao stared at her martial soul in a daze, her fiery red pupils wide with disbelief.
"This is… my martial soul?"
Just then, a faint noise came from outside her door. The next moment, a girl in an ice-blue princess dress pushed the wooden door open.
"Huh? The Flame Maniac's awake?"
The girl's voice was laced with surprise and excitement, despite the less-than-friendly nickname she'd used.
"Xiao Luochen? What are you doing in my room?"
Ma Xiaotao was bewildered to see Ling Luochen here. The other girl merely rolled her eyes before looking at her with a hint of envy.
"Why am I here? Who do you think has been looking after you for the three days you were unconscious?"
Only then did Ma Xiaotao notice the container of meat porridge from the inner courtyard cafeteria that Ling Luochen had brought.
"Three days? I've been out for three days?"
Ma Xiaotao looked stunned, but the scenes from before she lost consciousness were slowly piecing themselves together in her mind.
"No! Where's Brother Fu Ye? Is he alright?!"
Her expression instantly tightened with panic. Seeing this, Ling Luochen's face fell, taking on an extremely gloomy look.
The sight made Ma Xiaotao's heart sink.
Ling Luochen fixed her with a gaze full of resentment.
"Luochen, what happened to Brother Fu Ye? Is he okay?" Ma Xiaotao pressed, her anxiety mounting.
Ling Luochen finally let out a soft sigh, withdrawing her resentful stare.
"Ah~ Brother Fu Ye…" she began, then trailed off. Shaking her head with a disappointed expression, she turned to leave.
"Luochen, did something happen to Brother Fu Ye because of me?"
Ma Xiaotao's mind was spiraling into chaos after witnessing Ling Luochen's behavior.
Click.
The door was pushed open gently, and a voice she knew all too well reached her ears.
"Xiao Luochen, I heard every word you just said. You do know that deceiving your companions is a serious offense, right? Have you considered your punishment?"
It was Fu Ye, who had just finished having tea with Mu En in the Sea God Pavilion. He hadn't even stepped fully inside before he overheard Ling Luochen's outrageous claims.
"Uh, well, Brother Fu Ye, I just remembered I have something to attend to, so I'll be going now!"
But before she could make her escape, Fu Ye snagged her by the collar from behind and effortlessly carried her back to Ma Xiaotao's bedside.
Ma Xiaotao was utterly stunned to see Fu Ye completely unharmed.
What in the world was going on?
Fu Ye sat on the edge of Ma Xiaotao's bed, casually placing the little rumor-monger, Ling Luochen, on his lap like a doll. Her short legs dangled, unable to touch the floor, and she could only sit there in Fu Ye's arms, glaring at the amused smirk on Ma Xiaotao's face.
"Here's what actually happened," Fu Ye began. "You absorbed an immortal herb. Your body now contains Ultimate Fire and a very potent light attribute."
"As for the evil fire within you, I didn't eradicate it completely. With the light attribute's support, it can no longer trouble you. In fact, it can even become one of your offensive tools."
He paused. Both Ling Luochen and Ma Xiaotao were speechless with shock upon hearing his explanation.
An immortal herb. Ultimate Fire. A light attribute.
"Brother Fu Ye, you gave me such a precious immortal herb… you…" Ma Xiaotao's fiery red eyes swam with a mix of profound gratitude and guilt.
"Well, it wasn't a total loss for me," Fu Ye said nonchalantly. "At the very least, I found out you have a pretty good figure."
His blunt words left Ma Xiaotao frozen on the spot. Even Ling Luochen's cheeks flushed red upon hearing Fu Ye's outrageous statement.
"Brother Fu Ye, you…!" Ma Xiaotao stammered, her face rapidly coloring a deep crimson.
"Hmph, you should be secretly thrilled, woman," Ling Luochen interjected, snuggling her cheek against Fu Ye's chest in a provocative display, as if declaring her sovereignty.
"You should know your condition attracted a lot of attention from the inner courtyard disciples. If Teacher Fu Ye hadn't helped you change your clothes, you would have been completely exposed."
"Well, you would have found out sooner or later anyway. No point in me hiding it," Fu Ye added, gesturing toward the new clothes Ma Xiaotao was wearing.
It was a style Fu Ye was particularly fond of. He'd had Bibi Dong wear something similar before, but it just didn't have the same effect. On Ma Xiaotao, however, the result was truly impressive!
[Character Profile]
[Name: Yu Longyue]
[Martial Soul: Dark Night Dragon]
[Soul Power: Rank 96 Titled Douluo (Strong Attack System)]
[Identity: Dean of Shrek Academy's External School; son of Long Xiaoyao, the Supreme Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult]
[Special Event: A month and a half ago, Long Xiaoyao sought him out and used their bloodline connection to perform a secret technique, ordering him to transform Ma Xiaotao, bearer of the Evil Fire Phoenix spirit, into a Dark Phoenix.]
…
By the Sea God Lake, Ma Xiaotao had invited Fu Ye to gaze at the starry sky. Ling Luochen had left the spot half an hour earlier.
"Brother Fu Ye, what do you think of me?"
Under the canopy of stars and the bright moon, the blush on her cheeks was clearly visible.
"You're very pretty—a passionate and cheerful girl with a great figure."
Ma Xiaotao was secretly delighted by Fu Ye's initial praise, but her cheeks instantly flushed crimson at his final remark.
"Brother Fu Ye, how old are you this year? You seem to be under thirty, I think."
A smile touched Fu Ye's lips at her question. "I'm nineteen this year. I'll be twenty next year."
'I'm nineteen this year and will be twenty next year.'
His words echoed in Ma Xiaotao's ears, leaving her momentarily dazed. Yet, she quickly collected herself.
'He's so powerful, yet only a year older than me!'
The word monster had never felt so vividly appropriate in her mind.
"Hahaha! Don't be so surprised. After I broke through to Titled Douluo at fifteen, I spent the next three years hunting hundred-thousand-year sea soul beasts in the ocean's depths to add spirit rings to my second martial soul."
"My strength grew with each hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and spirit bone I absorbed. It wasn't until a year ago that I finally equipped my second martial soul with a full set of hundred-thousand-year spirit rings and fused a complete set of hundred-thousand-year spirit bones to myself."
Fu Ye stopped there. After all, this was the authentic life history he had crafted for himself using his system.
He knew that Tang San, with his profound wisdom, would inevitably investigate his background. While the details might not be exhaustive, the general outline would certainly reach the other party's ears.
…
Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm, within the Asura Temple:
Tang San, who had been closely observing Fu Ye, felt his pupils contract upon hearing this self-narration.
'Nine hundred-thousand-year spirit rings in three years, plus a full set of hundred-thousand-year spirit bones!'
'Had such a configuration existed ten thousand years ago, I would have stood no chance against him!'
For a moment, Tang San felt a flicker of relief. After all, he was now a God King. No matter how extraordinary the other's talent, he remained merely mortal.
As this thought crossed his incredibly wise mind, a brilliant idea took shape.
'His power meets all standards, and he's already an instructor at Shrek. Why not make him the Master of the Sea God Pavilion?'
'Moreover, Ma Xiaotao seems taken with him. This would firmly bind him to our side—or rather, to our camp.'
'Hehehe, worthy of me, the God of Wisdom Tang San. With a single move, I've reached the pinnacle of strategic planning on the continent.'
Having reached this conclusion, he immediately sent a divine decree to the lower world.
…
Ma Xiaotao was stunned upon hearing Fu Ye's recounting of his past experiences.
'He reached Titled Douluo at fifteen! And due to his twin martial souls, absorbed nine hundred-thousand-year spirit rings in the following three years!'
She felt her entire worldview shatter. 'Could such a journey truly be possible for a soul master?!'
Noticing her astonishment, Fu Ye chuckled softly. "Don't look at me like that. The path of cultivation is perilous, and hunting hundred-thousand-year soul beasts is a life-or-death gamble. I'm merely the luckiest among countless geniuses."
Fu Ye reached out as if to pluck a star from the sky.
'Of course, this is all fabricated. Except for nearly dying at the very start, I've been smooth sailing ever since.'
"Then your current strength has reached..." Even Ma Xiaotao found her own question unbelievable.
"Well, why do you think someone as ill-tempered as Elder Xuan was so amiable upon seeing me?"
Fu Ye shot her a rare glance, and in that moment, she finally understood: the talent she took so much pride in was utterly insignificant in his eyes.
With no background or resources, he had achieved the title at fifteen and, within three years, ascended to the pinnacle of the world.
"Then... can I pursue you?"
Ma Xiaotao finally voiced the thought she had held close for nearly three years.
Yet, upon hearing her words, Fu Ye slowly sat upright.
"Pursue me? It's not impossible, but you must be mentally prepared if you do."
His tone was light, but Ma Xiaotao nodded firmly in response.
She never expected Brother Fu Ye to be only a year her senior, nor that his power would far surpass even Elder Xuan, a peak Level 98 Super Douluo!
Had she known this earlier, she would have definitely claimed him for herself three years ago!
"Hehe, Brother Fu Ye, you know I'm not one for beating around the bush. Why wait for a better day? Let's just enter the bridal chamber tonight!"
Ma Xiaotao's outrageous declaration left Fu Ye momentarily stunned. By the time he regained his senses, she had already carried him to her room's doorstep.
"Xiaotao, I already have a girlfriend."
"It doesn't matter. I'll be your concubine."
"I—"
…
Within the time barrier, a month slipped quietly by, while only thirty minutes passed in the outside world.
Early the next morning, Ma Xiaotao found herself nestled in a vast, warm embrace. Yet, the slightest movement sent sharp pains through her body.
"Rest well. In this state, you won't be leaving this bed for a couple of days."
Fu Ye's voice murmured by her ear, and she realized he was already awake.
"You big bad guy! How could you treat me like this?"
Summoning her last remaining means of attack, Ma Xiaotao bared her silver fangs and bit Fu Ye squarely on the chest.
"Ouch! Easy there, little ancestor!"
After casting an additional time barrier over Ma Xiaotao, Fu Ye returned to his residence in the outer courtyard, thoroughly refreshed.
Naturally, now that Ma Xiaotao was his woman, Fu Ye had stationed nine Ultimate Douluo-level puppets within her shadow.
After all, Yu Longyue had been incited by his father to betray the Holy Spirit Church, and as Xiaotao was his disciple, such precautions were necessary.
However, his peace lasted less than two days before Ning Tian, young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, came to him directly.
"Brother Fu Ye, there are still ten days until the semester starts. My father would like to invite you to visit our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
…
You can find all the translated chapters on my Patreon. Your support really helps me keep translating and bringing you more stories!
patreon.com/DarkLord621