Just as the third strike was about to be unleashed, Wang Nan finally stopped, because he saw the light return to Ma Xiaotao's eyes, indicating she had regained consciousness.
Ma Xiaotao first looked at herself, then at Wang Nan in front of her, and instantly realized that her Evil Fire had flared up again. She quickly retracted her hand and looked at Yan Shaozhe beside her, feeling lost and helpless.
"My apologies," Yan Shaozhe said to Wang Nan. "Before this, I couldn't be entirely sure that your Spirit could suppress the evil Qi within Xiaotao's Spirit, so I concealed a lot from you. But now, I think I should tell you the full story."
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, and recalling what the Pavilion Master of Jubao Pavilion had said, Wang Nan already understood everything.
There was no such thing as a highly cultivated teacher who "just happened" to have time and "just happened" to be able to help him acquire a spirit ring; all of this had been planned in advance.
It must have been during his battle with Ji Tongxuan that Yan Shaozhe noticed his ability to restrain Evil Soul Masters. That's why he arranged this trip, to give him an opportunity to see if he could suppress Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire.
Yan Shaozhe naturally didn't know what Wang Nan was thinking and continued to explain, "I am Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of the Martial Soul Department. Xiaotao is my personal disciple. As you can see, her Spirit is the Evil Fire Phoenix. She has been plagued by evil fire since childhood, so although her talent is extraordinary, she cannot cultivate for long periods."
"As her spirit power grew, the evil fire in Xiaotao's body became more severe. I tried many methods before, but with little effect. In the end, I could only rely on Spirit Masters with ice or water attribute Spirits to help her suppress it. In this year's freshman assessment finals, I saw your performance, which led to this attempt."
"These are for your compensation. I apologize for concealing this matter from you. Additionally, I hope you can keep Xiaotao's matter a secret." Yan Shaozhe said, taking out several bottles of medicinal pills from his spirit tool. Although Wang Nan didn't know exactly what they were, they were certainly not ordinary items.
"Finally, there's one more thing." Yan Shaozhe hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "I hope you can help Xiaotao cultivate in the future."
"This is not a demand from me as the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, but a request from me as Xiaotao's teacher, Xiaotao's… adoptive father. I don't want to see this child's talent wasted, nor do I want her to suffer because of her Spirit."
"If you agree, until your cultivation reaches the Spirit Saint realm, I will prepare the same cultivation resources for you as Xiaotao receives each year. Additionally, I can make one full-power strike for you, provided it does not harm Shrek's interests."
Yan Shaozhe's promise was indeed significant. A full-power strike from a Super Douluo could at least guarantee a 100,000-year spirit ring and a 100,000-year Spirit Bone.
In truth, as a Super Douluo and the Dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe didn't need to apologize, compensate, and make promises to Wang Nan. He could have simply offered a few things to half-threaten and half-lure Wang Nan into helping.
However, Yan Shaozhe also had other unstated thoughts. To completely resolve the Evil Fire in Ma Xiaotao's body, besides ultimate ice, Wang Nan was the greatest hope.
Spirit Masters with ultimate ice are rare in the world, and Wang Nan, who was right in front of him, was only two years older than Ma Xiaotao. He intended to foster a relationship between these two children.
Therefore, he didn't want this incident to create a rift in Wang Nan's heart.
Wang Nan's expression at this moment was quite a sight. When he first learned the truth, he felt a bit of indignation at being manipulated. If it had been someone with a bad temper, they might have shouted "You have chosen death!" and started fighting Yan Shaozhe.
But Yan Shaozhe's subsequent words stunned Wang Nan. With cultivation resources and a promise of a strike, after all these actions, if it weren't for the earlier concealment, Wang Nan might even have thought Yan Shaozhe was a kind person.
In any case, the third spirit ring was already obtained, and helping Ma Xiaotao had no downsides for him. Moreover, the resources Yan Shaozhe promised were substantial, so Wang Nan thought about it and agreed.
"Dean Yan, I agree to this matter."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's expression visibly relaxed.
Ma Xiaotao, who was just recovering from her Spirit rampage, still felt a bit muddled. By the time she fully came to her senses, she realized that she no longer had to worry about her Spirit.
…
Sea God Island, in front of the Sea God Pavilion.
Mu En was lying on a recliner, basking in the sun as usual, with Yan Shaozhe, who had just returned from the Star Dou Great Forest, beside him.
"Teacher, I've returned."
"You're back. How is that child?"
"I was just about to tell you. Wang Nan's Spirit has a natural suppressive effect on Evil Soul Masters. Just like the previous two times, Xiaotao's Spirit went into a rampage when she absorbed her third spirit ring, but during her confrontation with Wang Nan, she quickly recovered."
At this point, Yan Shaozhe's speaking speed slightly increased, "This shows that Shrek's records are not wrong. The Coiling Dragon Staff can help Xiaotao dispel her Evil Fire. Over time, perhaps Xiaotao's Spirit will transform into a true Fire Phoenix."
"Alas." Mu En sighed deeply after hearing Yan Shaozhe's words. "And what else?"
Yan Shaozhe didn't notice Mu En's darkening expression and continued, "He and Xiaotao are of similar age. I want them to become a good match. This way, Xiaotao will be completely free from the constraints of her Spirit, and perhaps our Shrek will have its first Spirit Saint before the age of twenty."
"Absurd!" Mu En growled, coughing repeatedly.
"Teacher, are you alright?"
"Cough, cough, I'm fine. Don't mention this matter again. I'm a bit tired, you should go back first."
Yan Shaozhe looked at Mu En's aged face, wanting to speak several times but ultimately saying nothing, then turned and left.
Watching Yan Shaozhe's retreating figure, Mu En slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with worry. As a Limit Douluo, he knew his own physical condition all too well; even if he remained in Shrek to recuperate, he had less than twenty years left at most.
However, his most favored disciple, Yan Shaozhe, while strong enough, was short-sighted and stubborn. He had been the Dean of the Martial Soul Department for decades without any progress. He had intended for Yan Shaozhe to interact with Wang Nan because he valued Wang Nan's talent, but who knew Yan Shaozhe's thoughts were entirely focused on Ma Xiaotao.
With such flaws, how could Mu En feel at ease entrusting Shrek Academy to him?
"Alas," Mu En sighed again.
The conflict between Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts was gradually intensifying, and the Sun Moon Empire was also lurking nearby, eyeing them covetously. For Shrek to continue to stand on the Douluo Continent, it needed an outstanding leader, one with both strength and vision.
In just a little over ten years, could he truly find such an heir?