Chapter 25: The Background of Ma Xiaotao

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Xiaotao Ma held Ye Xixuan in her arms as they sat on the open ground outside the Sea God Pavilion, while Shaozhe Yan followed Elder Mu into the main hall on the first floor.

Elder Mu reclined in the wooden chair at the head of the table, his face calm as he closed his eyes to rest.

Shaozhe Yan stood vigilantly by Elder Mu’s side, several times wanting to speak but hesitating.

Elder Mu, who knew his disciple’s temperament well, sighed with a hint of helplessness and said, “Shaozhe, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“Teacher, I only have Xiaotao’s interests at heart,” Shaozhe Yan replied earnestly.

“With Xiaotao’s talent, she should have achieved much more, but unfortunately, her martial soul’s defect has held her back. Yet, Ye Xixuan possesses an ultimate dark-attribute martial soul and a pure body of light. If in the future they could cultivate together, it would surely resolve the evil fire issue in Xiaotao’s martial soul once and for all. Today’s incident just proved this.”

“Is Xiaotao’s problem really caused by the evil fire?!” Elder Mu, usually gentle, unusually rebuked Shaozhe Yan sternly.

“Ma Hongjun, the first-generation Phoenix Douluo and one of the original seven from Shrek Academy, suffered a martial soul defect due to mutation. But is Xiaotao’s case like that?”

“Teacher!” Shaozhe Yan was shocked by Elder Mu’s words and immediately knelt upright on the ground. At that moment, he understood clearly that his teacher must have long known Xiaotao’s true identity.

Looking at his stubborn disciple, Elder Mu closed his eyes again, frustrated by his lack of ambition.

“Years ago, you were young and sentimental, mercifully sparing her, but did you ever consider how many would suffer on the continent because of that? She is one of the highest talents among the evil soul masters—the evil phoenix. Later, you concealed Xiaotao’s true identity and brought her back to the academy. Did you ever think about how Meier would feel when she finds out the truth? Using Ma Hongjun, a Phoenix Douluo and one of the founding ancestors of Shrek Academy, to back Xiaotao’s identity—did you consider that it would desecrate your predecessor?”

“Teacher, I was wrong!” Shaozhe Yan kowtowed deeply to Elder Mu, tears streaming down his face like a child’s despite being over ninety years old.

Elder Mu took a deep breath and sighed softly, “Xiaotao is your grandson’s generation or your great-grandson’s?”

“When I parted with her, I was not yet twenty. I later verified it; Xiaotao should be our great-granddaughter’s generation,” Shaozhe Yan answered honestly after a brief pause.

“A great-grandchild, huh…” Elder Mu murmured thoughtfully, glancing out at Xiaotao Ma and Ye Xixuan outside the Sea God Pavilion. A faint, inexplicable light flickered in his dim eyes.

“Truly a karmic entanglement, yet over two centuries have passed, and the five mourning periods are long over…”

Elder Mu fell silent, and Shaozhe Yan remained kneeling there.

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Finally, Elder Mu took the initiative to announce his decision regarding Shaozhe Yan’s fate.

“You will temporarily step down as the head of the Martial Soul Department at the academy. Let Meier take over your position. From now on, you are to go into seclusion and cultivate. Do not leave until you have made breakthroughs in your cultivation.”

“Yes, Teacher! Please take care of yourself,” Shaozhe Yan respectfully bowed to Elder Mu and then turned to leave the Sea God Pavilion with firm resolve.

Outside the pavilion, Xiaotao Ma gently laid Ye Xixuan’s head on her lap, completely unaware of what had transpired inside. Since the matter began with her, she was determined to see it through to the end.

Elder Mu’s gaze once again fell on Ye Xixuan and Xiaotao Ma, his heart softening in the end.

Had it been before, he would have been much stricter with Shaozhe Yan’s demands. After all, the next generation at Shrek Academy was in a precarious state, and ultimately, Shaozhe Yan had to shoulder the academy’s legacy.

But now, with Ye Xixuan, and the possibility of even Xiaotao’s martial soul defect being resolved, there was no need for Shaozhe Yan to take over. They could let Xuanzi temporarily assume the position of Sea God Pavilion’s head. Once Ye Xixuan and Xiaotao grew strong, that would suffice.

Besides, Zhang Lexuan, who was older and more steady, could assist them both.

The future of Shrek Academy was bright.

By the time Ye Xixuan woke up, night had fallen.

Perhaps due to the Golden Tree’s presence, the night sky over Shrek Academy was noticeably clearer than in Shrek City. The silver moon hung high, stars glittered brilliantly, and the island was covered with lush vegetation, filled with the sounds of insects and birds—a vivid testament to life’s vitality.

Ye Xixuan opened his eyes, first seeing the exaggerated peaks beyond, then the stunningly beautiful face of Xiaotao Ma, cold yet alluring.

“Sister Xiaotao?”

“You’re awake?” Xiaotao Ma smiled joyfully, looking down at Ye Xixuan, then sheepishly added, “It’s all my fault for losing control earlier. How do you feel now?”

Xiaotao’s attitude toward others largely depended on their importance to Shrek Academy. Because Elder Mu valued Ye Xixuan, her demeanor toward him had softened considerably.

In contrast, in Ye Xixuan’s previous life’s memories as Huo Yuhao, she would have barged in forcibly to suppress the evil fire without caring much.

Though feeling somewhat troubled inside, Ye Xixuan’s body had no problems. To his surprise, after absorbing the evil energy from Xiaotao’s martial soul, his soul power cultivation had advanced to level twenty-three.

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Yet his greatest gain was not in cultivation level.

“Sister Xiaotao, it seems my soul ring durations have increased. Both soul rings have extended by about two hundred years.”

“What?!” Xiaotao Ma stood up in a flurry, acting exaggeratedly.

“You mean after absorbing the evil energy from my martial soul, instead of harm, your soul ring durations increased by two hundred years?!”

“That’s how it seems.” Ye Xixuan carefully confirmed this before nodding seriously.

Xiaotao Ma’s straightforward face instantly softened. She reached out to pinch Ye Xixuan’s cheeks and snorted playfully.

“I was so worried about you before; it was all for nothing. Turns out absorbing the evil energy from my martial soul not only has no downside but actually benefits you.”

Thinking this over, her excitement grew, and she eagerly suggested,

“Then why not try again now?”

“Sister Xiaotao, if I use my martial soul ability to absorb the evil energy in your body, I’ll need to come into contact with you,” Ye Xixuan said honestly and innocently. His words seemed to trigger something in Xiaotao Ma, who instinctively placed a hand on her lower abdomen, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“You little brat, are you trying to take advantage of your sister Xiaotao?”

Though she said this teasingly, Xiaotao Ma did not hesitate. She lifted the hem of her red top, revealing a fair, tender, and exquisitely beautiful abdomen.

“Is it here?”

“Ah?” Ye Xixuan was instantly thrown off guard by her action.

“Enough talk. Let’s get started…”