"Elder Xuan, Dean Yan." Xu Zihuang respectfully saluted the two, then smiled as he looked at Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao.
"Senior Sister, Senior Ma."
Zhang Lexuan nodded gracefully at Xu Zihuang, while Ma Xiaotao scrutinized him carefully, pink eyes carrying a probing light.
She was not wearing a veil now, and in beauty she could rival Zhang Lexuan, though their temperaments were utterly opposite.
Her delicate face bore an unnatural flush, and her pale pink eyes were even deeper in shade than when she had appeared at the Great Arena earlier that day.
Even someone like her, who never cared much for appearances, had to admit that Xu Zihuang's looks fit the standards of beauty held by most women.
Unbidden, the words Yan Shaozhe had spoken to her before echoed in her mind.
Yu Tianhuang's appearance, talent, and strength were all top tier—aside from being a little younger, he was near perfect.
That strong rejection she had felt earlier now faded considerably.
At the thought, her cheeks grew hotter—whether from shyness or from the congestion of evil fire within her body, she could not tell.
Though Ma Xiaotao was usually forthright and bold, older than Xu Zihuang by seven or eight years, in the end she was still an inexperienced maiden.
Especially recalling how she had actually considered her teacher's suggestion seriously just moments ago, her shame only deepened.
Elder Xuan casually wiped the grease from his hands on his dirty clothes and stepped in front of Xu Zihuang.
"Don't feel any pressure or burden. Just try your best."
Back in the Star Dou Forest, he had witnessed Xu Zihuang's first soul skill with his own eyes.
But Ma Xiaotao's situation was completely different, caused by the negative effects of her Martial Soul itself. Truthfully, he didn't hold much hope.
"Yes, Elder Xuan." Xu Zihuang responded.
Elder Xuan then turned to Ma Xiaotao. Her shame vanished; she cast a straightforward glance at Xu Zihuang, then sat cross-legged on the ground.
With a clear phoenix cry, a wave of scorching heat burst outward from her.
Two yellow, two purple, two black—six soul rings of perfect ratio pulsed around her. After releasing her Martial Soul, the flush on her cheeks deepened, a faint red glow flickering on her body.
At around twenty years of age, Ma Xiaotao was in the most beautiful stage of a woman's life, and with her natural beauty enhanced by the blush on her cheeks, she looked dazzling.
Behind her, the golden-red phantom of the Evil Fire Phoenix rose, its aura of soul power flowing like she were bathed in golden-red flames.
But her expression was unnatural, as though enduring great pain, her brows twitching repeatedly.
Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe sighed inwardly.
Hopefully that soul skill really could help with Xiao Tao's evil fire.
He refocused, turning his gaze with Elder Xuan and Zhang Lexuan toward Xu Zihuang.
Xu Zihuang released his Golden Eyes Martial Soul. Purple eyes shifted suddenly, golden runes spreading across them, dazzling to behold.
His aura grew ethereal.
Purple, purple, purple, black—four soul rings appeared in sequence, far beyond common sense. Though his cultivation was lower than Ma Xiaotao's, the configuration of his rings was utterly shocking.
He gave Elder Xuan, Yan Shaozhe, and Zhang Lexuan a serious nod, then activated his first soul skill.
A clear whale's song echoed across the training ground. The phantom of the Silver-Scaled White Whale appeared beside him. With his spiritual power transformed, its once-hazy figure had grown more solid, though its dark eyes lacked the lively spirit seen at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The rise in spiritual power and soul ring years greatly expanded the range of Xu Zihuang's first soul skill, Whale Song. Now it covered a full two hundred meters.
Elder Xuan, Yan Shaozhe, and Zhang Lexuan all felt their spirits jolt sharply.
Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe showed astonishment.
This soul skill could even enhance spiritual power?!
Though the increase was not large, the mere existence of such an effect made it a top-class soul skill. Boosting spiritual power meant more accurate control and greater power of all soul skills—a comprehensive improvement of strength.
And Xu Zihuang's soul skill affected an area, and had multiple effects besides.
Only Zhang Lexuan was unsurprised—she had experienced this first soul skill herself in the Star Dou Forest days ago.
Since the spiritual boost was unrelated to solving Ma Xiaotao's evil fire, and Xu Zihuang had not revealed it, she had kept the matter quiet.
After all, the effects of soul skills were a soul master's deepest secret—a rule never to be violated.
Just then, Ma Xiaotao began to change. The faint red glow on her body flickered, and thin wisps of black energy separated from her skin.
Everyone's eyes sharpened.
The evil aura within Xiao Tao's Evil Fire Phoenix!
Her Martial Soul was a mutation, containing a wisp of evil in its origin, unlike a pure Fire Phoenix. This was why she had always been tormented by evil fire.
Behind her, the golden-red phantom of the phoenix grew brighter, another wave of scorching heat erupting. But this time, Elder Xuan, Yan Shaozhe, and even Zhang Lexuan all looked deeply shocked.
"Extreme Fire?!" Elder Xuan's gaze snapped to Xu Zihuang.
As if in response, Xu Zihuang withdrew his Martial Soul and explained slowly:
"Elder Xuan, my first soul skill doesn't only increase spiritual power by ten percent—it also boosts attributes by ten percent."
The Evil Fire Phoenix was already close to the threshold of Extreme Fire. With this ten percent attribute boost, Ma Xiaotao had crossed that boundary.
Attribute boosts also existed within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but their effect merely enhanced the power of soul skills. Xu Zihuang's, however, elevated the Martial Soul's attribute itself.
The essence of her Evil Fire Phoenix had undergone sublimation.
The shock in Elder Xuan's eyes slowly faded, though he was still deeply moved, murmuring:
"A born commander of soul masters. To think such a monstrous soul skill comes from only a thousand-year soul ring?!"
His gaze toward Xu Zihuang now burned with heat.
With this skill alone, Yu Tianhuang was destined to become the core of any team.
"Elder Xuan, do you think Xiao Tao's evil fire problem has been completely resolved?" Yan Shaozhe asked anxiously.
Though Xu Zihuang's soul skill amazed him, what he cared about most was his personal disciple's evil fire.
"Mm."
Elder Xuan gave a short reply, examined Ma Xiaotao carefully, then said with deliberation:
"Xiao Tao's evil fire originates in her Martial Soul itself. What we see now is only a temporary dispelling of the evil fire within her body. With further cultivation, the problem will return. But with this method of suppression, it will at least no longer hinder her training."
"Xiao Tao has now entered a meditative state. Shaozhe, you stay and watch over her."
He then turned once more to Xu Zihuang. His heart was full of questions, but remembering Elder Mu's instructions, he said nothing more.
Instead, he gestured to Zhang Lexuan.
"Lexuan, take him back."
"Yes, Elder Xuan."
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