One month later.
"Little Junior Brother!" Yan Shaozhe found Zhu Ziyang, who was currently cultivating Monarch Over The World.
"Senior Brother," Zhu Ziyang looked at Yan Shaozhe with some confusion. "Is something the matter?"
"Yes." Yan Shaozhe nodded. "I'm here about Xiaotao."
"Senior Sister Xiaotao? Has her evil fire flared up again?" Zhu Ziyang was startled and asked.
"No, it hasn't. But I am here because of her evil fire issue," Yan Shaozhe replied with a strange expression. "You already know how severe her problem is. Even though it didn't worsen after she absorbed her fifth soul ring, it has significantly slowed down her cultivation."
"Mm." Zhu Ziyang nodded, the doubt in his heart deepening. "So you came to ask me to help Senior Sister Xiaotao suppress her evil fire?"
"Exactly," Yan Shaozhe said bluntly. "You possess both ultimate light and ultimate ice—both are extremely effective at countering her evil fire. That's why I hope you can help her."
"And how exactly do you want me to help her?" Zhu Ziyang's tone became calm. He could sense that Yan Shaozhe's intentions weren't so pure. Under the perception of the Magnanimous Heart granted by ultimate light, he noticed that Yan Shaozhe's heart wasn't as righteous as it seemed.
"I hope you can… become one with her, and use your ultimate light and ultimate ice to purify the evil power in her body," Yan Shaozhe said seriously, his expression earnest, but Zhu Ziyang didn't sense the slightest sincerity in him.
"Would Senior Sister Xiaotao agree to that?" Zhu Ziyang sneered inwardly and asked coldly.
"You don't need to worry about her opinion. I'm her teacher—she'll listen to me." Yan Shaozhe spoke confidently. "This benefits both of you. Not only would you gain from it, but she would also obtain true ultimate fire!"
"Heh." Zhu Ziyang sneered. Now he finally understood why Mu En was always so disappointed in Yan Shaozhe. His tone turned indifferent. "Senior Brother, you've oversimplified the problem. Xiaotao's issue stems from her bloodline. Unless it's resolved at the source, even if the evil energy is purged using ultimate light and ice, her martial soul will be damaged. Don't even talk about retaining the ultimate fire—being able to preserve her Phoenix bloodline intact would already be fortunate!"
"This..." Yan Shaozhe's expression froze, but he stubbornly continued, "How could that be?"
"Heh! You don't possess any ultimate attribute yourself, so it's natural you're unaware of the hidden intricacies of such elements." Zhu Ziyang's voice was direct and unapologetic. He didn't care if he offended Yan Shaozhe—after all, the man wasn't even focused on those details right now.
"..." Yan Shaozhe fell silent, seemingly still wanting to say more.
"Shaozhe, come in for a moment!"
Mu En's voice came from inside. Yan Shaozhe's body stiffened instantly. He gave a bitter smile, then said to Zhu Ziyang, "Little Junior Brother, I was out of line today. I apologize."
With that, he turned and walked toward Mu En's room.
Zhu Ziyang didn't take it to heart. He shook his head and threw Yan Shaozhe's words out of his mind, then resumed cultivating Monarch Over The World.
That evening, Zhu Ziyang finished his cultivation and went to report his progress to Mu En. The old man was lying on a wooden recliner, eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Yan Shaozhe was already gone.
"Teacher," Zhu Ziyang greeted respectfully.
"...Mm!" Mu En opened his eyes after a while and responded, "Good progress—very impressive."
"Hehe!" Zhu Ziyang smiled proudly. "It's because Teacher taught me so well."
"Haha~" Mu En chuckled. "You all are about to go on holiday, right? Planning to head home?"
"Yeah! Of course I'm going home. I've been away for a year—I definitely have to visit my parents." Zhu Ziyang replied. Their first academic year was coming to an end, and all students were getting a one-month break. Once it was over, they'd move up to the second year.
"Very good. Let me know when you're heading out, and I'll ask your two Senior Sisters to escort you." Mu En smiled kindly. "When you return, you'll directly enter the inner court."
"Yes, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang nodded. "But... no need to trouble Senior Sister and Junior Sister. Nannan and I came just fine on our own, so returning should be just as easy."
"Coming is different from going—don't argue." Mu En said. "No need to refuse."
"Alright then." Zhu Ziyang thought for a moment and understood Mu En's concerns, so he stopped insisting.
"Also, don't hold a grudge against your Senior Brother. He might be narrow-minded, but he doesn't mean harm." Mu En suddenly added in Yan Shaozhe's defense. "He just cares too much about that Xiaotao girl."
"I understand, Teacher." Zhu Ziyang smiled. How could he possibly be angry with Yan Shaozhe? That man's personality made him no threat at all.
"You're a good child." Mu En sighed. "If only your Senior Brother had even half the tolerance your Senior Sister has, he wouldn't still be stuck at rank 95."
There was a trace of disappointment in his tone. Among Mu En's four disciples, Yan Shaozhe had been the first to break through to Titled Douluo, but now he was on par with Cai Meier, the last to reach that level. His talent was sufficient—what he lacked was temperament.
"Ziyang, what do you think of that Xiaotao girl?" Mu En suddenly chuckled, his tone turning playful.
"Eh? Senior Sister Xiaotao is great." Zhu Ziyang scratched his head with a smile.
"Haha, what a pity. If not for her martial soul defect, with her talent she should already be a Soul Emperor by now." Mu En sighed. "But heavenly treasures aren't so easily found."
"Teacher, I read in some records that Senior Sister Xiaotao's ancestor, the Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun, transformed his martial soul into the Fire Phoenix by consuming an immortal herb, didn't he?" Zhu Ziyang asked thoughtfully.
"Indeed. Legend has it that Ancestor Ma Hongjun originally had a mutated flame chicken martial soul. After receiving an immortal herb called the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower from Ancestor Tang San, it evolved into the true Fire Phoenix, laying the foundation for him to become a god!" Mu En explained, his voice filled with envy.
"Then wouldn't it be possible for us to help Senior Sister Xiaotao find a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower?" Zhu Ziyang said, a little naively.
"Haha, silly child. If the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower were really that easy to find, would we still be sitting here just talking about it?" Mu En smiled wryly.
"Then how did Ancestor Tang San find it?" Zhu Ziyang asked with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Legend says he discovered a blessed land called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. That place was filled with heavenly treasures—not just the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, but also the Beautiful Silk Tulip that evolved the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and many other immortal herbs." Mu En said. "Unfortunately, the location of that place has long been lost."
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!" Zhu Ziyang's heart trembled. He had finally brought it up. He responded casually, "I think I've seen that name in a book somewhere before?"
"Haha, that's not surprising. The academy's library does contain books that mention such mystical lands," Mu En replied without suspicion. "But without knowing the location, no amount of knowledge helps."
"Sigh, what a pity." Zhu Ziyang sighed. "I really wanted to see what one of the Three Great Blessed Lands looks like."
"Haha~ Who wouldn't?" Mu En laughed along with him.
Leaving the Sea God Pavilion, Zhu Ziyang's face was full of joy. He had achieved half of his goal already—at the very least, he had successfully piqued Mu En's curiosity and interest in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Of course, he knew exactly where it was. The early records of the Tang Sect mentioned it in detail.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was located in the core of the Sunset Forest—a region that Zhu Ziyang's current strength couldn't yet afford to tread. But if he could enlist Mu En's help, everything would become much easier.
He had a strong feeling that there must be something terrifying near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Otherwise, how could it have remained hidden for ten thousand years just outside Heaven Dou City without being discovered by any force? Even the Tang Sect had lost track of it. That alone warranted extreme caution.
Sunset Forest… From being one of the three major soul beast habitats to becoming today's toxic miasma swamp, there was no way such a transformation happened without secrets. Zhu Ziyang's curiosity only grew stronger.
(End of Chapter)
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