At this moment, Ma Xiaotao's face was slightly pale, and several parts of her body were wrapped in white gauze.
During the last battle with the Death God Envoy's corpse explosion technique, Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yaoheng, who had charged at the front, had received "special treatment." Although both were Soul Emperors, they still suffered significant injuries and were currently recovering.
The strength of evil soul masters is best reflected in the word "evil." Due to their martial souls, the soul skills they acquire from absorbing soul rings differ from ordinary ones. Compared to normal soul skills, the damage caused by evil soul masters' skills is much harder to heal.
"Is that the ultimate ice attribute soul master from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy?"
Ma Xiaotao's red eyes flickered slightly as she secretly thought to herself.
Although she had been recuperating inside the Star Crown Grand Hotel these days, she was still aware of this important news — including Jiang Jue's appearance.
"Unbelievable. Two people with an ultimate attribute — a rarity seen in a hundred years — have shown up at the same time."
Ma Xiaotao sighed inwardly. But when she thought of Huo Yuhao from her own Shrek Academy, her heart relaxed a little.
At this point, Huo Yuhao had not yet revealed his Ice Jade Scorpion martial soul in battle, so to outsiders, Jiang Jue appeared to be the only one with the ultimate ice attribute.
"Jiang Jue, hurry up!"
Meng Hongchen, naturally, had already noticed Ma Xiaotao approaching. She glanced at Ma Xiaotao's generously endowed chest, then looked down at her own — where she could see her toes at a glance. Her lips pouted in frustration, and she dragged Jiang Jue away quickly.
"Meng, slow down."
Jiang Jue looked at Meng Hongchen and smiled slightly.
As Jiang Jue brushed past Ma Xiaotao, a wisp of gray soul power silently drifted into the air. Under the cover of Jiang Jue's powerful spiritual force, it went completely unnoticed.
However, just after the gray soul power spread out, Ma Xiaotao suddenly trembled as if struck by lightning. A red glow surfaced in her eyes, slowly deepening into a dark crimson.
"Damn! The evil fire is showing signs of losing control!"
Ma Xiaotao's expression changed dramatically. She hastily rushed toward her room.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, and silence fell in the hallway.
Huff! Huff! Huff!
After returning to her room, Ma Xiaotao immediately ran into the bathroom, filled the bathtub with cold water, and immersed herself in it fully clothed.
"This damn evil fire! One day, I swear I'll purge you completely!"
A few minutes later, Ma Xiaotao cursed under her breath. The water in the tub had turned from cold to steaming hot, her clothes soaked through, her fair skin faintly visible beneath the wet fabric.
"I must suppress it — for Shrek's honor!"
Ma Xiaotao frowned, clenching her teeth.
Without Huo Yuhao's second martial soul being the Ice Empress, he lacked the forty-thousand-year soul essence from her. With only the strength of a Rank 27 Soul Elder, he simply could not suppress the evil fire within a Soul Emperor like Ma Xiaotao.
In fact, he might even trigger a backlash of the evil fire inside her.
The evil fire that Ma Xiaotao had accumulated over so many years couldn't be resolved by ordinary means.
Meanwhile...
"Just as expected."
Jiang Jue's lips curled into a faint smile as he walked downstairs, thinking silently to himself.
The evil fire in Ma Xiaotao had already reached a critical tipping point. It only needed a trigger to erupt.
At that time, she would no longer be the Evil Fire Phoenix — but the Black Phoenix. One of the two Saintesses of the Holy Spirit Sect, the Fire Phoenix Saintess, would finally return.
That was why Jiang Jue had just released a trace of soul power from the Soul Refining Banner. Because of its incredibly pure evil attribute, it had successfully stirred up the evil fire in Ma Xiaotao's body.
Jiang Jue's eyes gleamed. Ma Xiaotao's talent was truly astonishing, even a little absurd. Not even twenty years old, and already at Rank 67 Soul Emperor. If not for the evil fire's interference, she would have become a Soul Sage long ago.
Moreover, Ma Xiaotao's identity was far from ordinary...
"Jiang Jue, what are you thinking about?"
Meng Hongchen looked over at the pondering Jiang Jue, her soft white hand reaching toward his waist.
"Nothing really. Let's go. If we're too late, there'll be nothing left to eat."
Jiang Jue smiled gently, grabbed Meng Hongchen's sneak-attacking hand, and led her outside.
Although the Star Crown Grand Hotel provided food 24/7, Meng Hongchen simply wanted Jiang Jue to accompany her out for a walk and try some street food.
"Hmm?"
Just as Jiang Jue stepped out of the hotel, a voice echoed in his ears — Electrolux.
"That aura has appeared again... seems like it's been drawn by something. Jiang boy, be extra careful."
Jiang Jue's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm.
"Old Yi, I'll keep an eye out."
At the same time, Jiang Jue's heart stirred slightly. Old Yi truly treated him like a junior — always watching out for him.
As for the aura Old Yi mentioned, Jiang Jue had a few guesses. Most likely, Huo Yuhao had discovered something in Wang Dong's spiritual sea and tried to investigate, accidentally triggering the restriction left in Wang Dong's mind by the God King Tang San.
"A storm seems to be brewing... But no matter what, this path I've chosen — I will never regret it."
"As long as I want to walk it, the road will always be beneath my feet!"
Somewhere in the Douluo Continent
Atop a mountain stood a massive castle. Gray in color, it exuded an ancient aura and gave off the feeling of being able to "look down upon all beneath the heavens." Above the castle gates, two bold characters were inscribed:
"Hao Tian."
Inside the castle, in a spacious hall, two middle-aged men were drinking. Both had tall, broad builds — even seated, they gave off a powerful presence.
The man seated at the head had long teal hair draped over broad, sturdy shoulders. His eyes were also teal. Though plain in appearance, they held a unique depth, as if concealing a surging power within.
The man seated below him was equally strong in stature. He had short hair like steel needles, a handsome face carved from stone, and brown-yellow eyes that faintly shimmered with golden light.
Just as the two were drinking, they suddenly shuddered simultaneously. Shock flashed in their eyes, and they stood up abruptly.
"It's Xiao Dong!"
"What happened to him?!"
The dark-haired man roared, fury blazing in his eyes.
He raised his right hand, and a surge of intense golden light burst from his palm. Immediately, nine soul rings rose from beneath his feet.
Black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black!
Nine pitch-black soul rings appeared around him — an overwhelming pressure erupting with terrifying might.
"Wait!"
The long-haired man raised his hand and suppressed the aura of the other with just a gesture.
"Big Brother, Xiao Dong might be in danger."
The short-haired man growled, clearly dissatisfied.
"He should be fine. My instincts are rarely wrong. We can't interfere too much with Xiao Dong's growth."
"Don't forget — he still carries that person's mark..."
The long-haired man shook his head, his tone solemn.
"Still, I can't just sit here. Maybe I should go take a look anyway."
"You! When will you ever learn to calm down?"
The long-haired man chuckled and pressed him back into his seat.
"Hmph! Calm down? Since... forget it. I won't say anymore. It's our own weakness to blame for. Let's just drink."
Grumbling, the short-haired man lifted his massive cup and downed the wine in one go.
The long-haired man looked at his brother, a strange light flashing through his eyes, then also sat back down to continue drinking.
(End of Chapter)