Memories surged involuntarily; scenes of their interactions from his previous life and the images of him treating the young girl's Evil Fire surfaced in his mind.
A look of slight complexity appeared on Huo Yuhao's face. Remaining silent, Huo Yuhao stood up and opened the door to the laboratory.
"Teacher Skydream... er."
Actually, Yan Shaozhe had initially wanted to call him "Brother Skydream." After all, according to the initial reports, Huo Yuhao was in his forties, making them roughly of the same generation; calling him "Brother" certainly wouldn't be an issue.
However, after learning Huo Yuhao's "true age" from Elder Mu, and considering potential future circumstances, Yan Shaozhe didn't know how to address him and was momentarily at a loss for words.
"In a while, I will be a teacher here. You and I will be colleagues; a normal form of address will do."
"In that case... then, Teacher Skydream?"
Yan Shaozhe switched to a more appropriate title. Huo Yuhao nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then looked at the young girl beside them who was curiously sizing him up.
"Hello."
"Ah... hello, Teacher Skydream!"
Ma Xiaotao hurriedly greeted him, though her eyes remained fixed on the middle-aged face Huo Yuhao used as a disguise, as if she were trying to see through it.
"She must be the girl burdened with the Evil Fire that Elder Mu mentioned, right?" Huo Yuhao looked at Yan Shaozhe with feigned curiosity.
"I promised Elder Mu I would help her suppress the Evil Fire. However, during the process, I will collect some of her soul power as experimental samples. This will serve as my payment—is that acceptable?"
Yan Shaozhe breathed a sigh of relief. "No problem at all, as long as Teacher Skydream can help her suppress the Evil Fire."
"Mm."
Huo Yuhao led the two of them into the laboratory.
At the same time, his peripheral vision involuntarily drifted toward the girl. At this moment, Ma Xiaotao's face still held a hint of youthful innocence; she had not yet grown into the unrestrained and flamboyant Fire Demon of his memories.
Perhaps due to Yan Shaozhe's prior instructions, Ma Xiaotao was behaving very properly. From the moment they met until now, she had only spoken that initial greeting, simply looking around with a look of intense curiosity after entering the lab.
Compared to the Fire Demon in Huo Yuhao's mind, the current Ma Xiaotao was actually somewhat cute.
Could this be... a 'cute version' of Sister Xiaotao?
Huo Yuhao walked ahead, a fleeting smile crossing his lips unnoticed.
A moment later, Huo Yuhao had Ma Xiaotao lie on the experimental table. He then put on gloves and placed his hand on Ma Xiaotao's lower abdomen.
At fourteen, Ma Xiaotao's figure was already beginning to take shape. While not as "rule-breaking" as when they first met in his previous life, she was approaching maturity, like a fruit waiting to be picked.
Huo Yuhao's gaze was calm and his thoughts clear.
Although the current Sister Xiaotao was already very alluring, unfortunately, after a week-long career as a "hugging pillow" being gnawed and bitten by the gluttonous Dragon King, he was essentially immune to this.
Regarding the current Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yuhao's evaluation was: Not as good as the Dragon King.
Under Yan Shaozhe's nervous watch, the palm Huo Yuhao placed on Ma Xiaotao's abdomen began to glow with an icy blue light. Simultaneously, the Ultimate Ice martial soul, disguised as a mutated Ice Jade Scorpion, manifested behind Huo Yuhao.
Spiritual Detection opened silently. In Huo Yuhao's vision, Ma Xiaotao's clothes vanished, revealing a body as smooth as congealed fat, without a stitch of clothing.
Huo Yuhao paused slightly, then pushed his Spiritual Detection even deeper.
Skin disappeared, blood disappeared, bones disappeared... leaving only the network of meridians and the soul power flowing naturally within Ma Xiaotao's body.
Huo Yuhao shifted his gaze and quickly found that unusual dark purple tint within Ma Xiaotao's body.
The Evil Fire.
Unlike the Evil Fire from his previous life which had already become a formidable force, the Evil Fire in this life had not yet grown to the point where it would cause Ma Xiaotao to lose control completely and reach an irreversible state.
At most, it would cause evil thoughts to arise during cultivation, stinging pain in her meridians, and certain physical reactions, but it could still be suppressed by her will. Its influence on Ma Xiaotao was not yet massive.
After a brief thought, Huo Yuhao looked at Ma Xiaotao:
"The Evil Fire in your body isn't a major problem right now. I have two plans: one is direct extraction, the other is sealing and suppression.
"If we go with direct extraction, the quality of your martial soul might drop, but it's a permanent solution; you won't have issues with cultivation afterward.
"If we go with sealing and suppression... given your current physical strength, you can't carry a seal that is too strong. You would have to come back to me roughly every half month to repair the seal.
"This way, it won't affect your cultivation speed, but the Evil Fire will grow along with your cultivation level.
"As for which method to use, you decide for yourself."
Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Ma Xiaotao hesitated. Recalling certain things her teacher, Yan Shaozhe, had told her, she couldn't help but feel conflicted.
After a long while, she looked at Yan Shaozhe. "Teacher, you decide."
She handed the choice over to her teacher.
Huo Yuhao looked up at Yan Shaozhe, waiting for his reply.
At this moment, Yan Shaozhe was equally hesitant. Logically, he should choose to let Huo Yuhao eradicate the Evil Fire without hesitation. Even if Ma Xiaotao's martial soul quality dropped, at least her life wouldn't be in constant peril or at risk of losing control.
However, there seemed to be a better option.
Although Ma Xiaotao was his student, in reality, he raised her as his own daughter. Therefore, he had to give this deep consideration.
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head, his mind recalling the "true information" Elder Mu had personally shared.
He's twenty-two, Xiaotao is fifteen this year. The age gap isn't too large; once they are both Titled Douluo, this difference can basically be ignored...
His soul power is at Rank 69. For him to reach this level at his age while possessing Ultimate Ice, his talent goes without saying—he's a perfect match...
Plus, with Elder Mu's personal guarantee, his character should be fine.
Although I haven't seen this 'Master Skydream's' true appearance, with the blessing of an Ice Jade Scorpion martial soul possessing Ultimate Ice, his looks likely aren't bad either.
So... no matter how you look at it... this is a great candidate for a son-in-law.
The solution to the Evil Fire wasn't just the two he had mentioned...
As long as Xiaotao reached a state of "union" with a Soul Master possessing Ultimate Ice, not only would her Evil Fire dissipate, but her martial soul would evolve again, granting her Ultimate Fire!
This was a far better method than either extraction or sealing!
The only question was whether Xiaotao was willing, or rather, whether this "Teacher Skydream" was willing...
When Elder Mu told him about this, he might have had the intention of using Xiaotao to bind this "Teacher Skydream" to them.
After all, once successful, Shrek would simultaneously possess two Ultimate Attribute Soul Masters! That would be enough for Shrek to remain at the pinnacle of the continent for another two hundred years!
Yan Shaozhe fell silent for a moment. Only after a long while did he reach a decision.
"Teacher Skydream, let's seal the Evil Fire in Xiaotao's body for now."
"Alright."
Huo Yuhao nodded without asking further. After all, he had more or less guessed Yan Shaozhe's thoughts.