What was worse: Ma Xiaotao's evil fire chose this exact moment to erupt.
Huo Yuhao reached toward her again. His Spirit Detection spread instinctively, but the instant his mental power touched the dark-crimson flames, his heart violently shuddered.
What kind of sensation was this?
Unlike the evil fire he had touched before, these dark-red flames seemed to contain every negative human emotion: not only the evil aura, but fear, icy cold, hatred…
In a flash, every emotion flooded his mind. The humiliation of his childhood, the resentment at his mother's death; everything burst forth uncontrollably.
"Yuhao!"
Wang Dong sensed something was wrong, rushed to his side, and gripped his hand. Their fused soul power flowed through their meridians, gradually calming Huo Yuhao.
Yet in that brief moment, the flames on Ma Xiaotao burned even fiercer.
"SCREEE—"
A shrill phoenix cry tore from Ma Xiaotao's throat. Unlike before, the sound was hoarse and frenzied. Scorching heat instantly engulfed everyone. Xiao Xiao, the weakest, could barely withstand the temperature; her face turned deathly pale.
"What is happening?"
Giant Hammer Douluo had been guarding against the evil soul masters trailing far behind. He turned—and a wall of flame roared toward him.
She was, after all, a Shrek student. He held back his full strength and shouted to Wang Yan, who seemed to be the teacher: "What is this?"
"Xiaotao's martial soul is special. She fought too many battles today; her martial soul is backlashing."
"Is there no way to suppress it?"
The moment Giant Hammer spoke, the terrifying flames surged at him again. He leaned back, barely dodging Ma Xiaotao's strike—yet his hair, eyebrows, and beard vanished in the fire.
"This—"
Wang Yan faltered and glanced at Huo Yuhao. If even Huo Yuhao had no solution, there truly was none.
Before anyone could think of a plan, the air suddenly grew colder—not on the skin, but in the soul.
A "woo-woo" sound filled their ears—wind, or something sobbing. Giant Hammer Douluo froze for an instant.
"Wraith spirits!"
Star Shatterer Douluo, a Super Douluo with wider experience, recognised the technique at a glance and roared to snap Giant Hammer awake.
In that single heartbeat of delay, Ma Xiaotao broke free of their protection. Dark-crimson wings flared behind her; she shot into the distance.
"Xiaotao—"
"Senior Sister Xiaotao—"
"Forget them—chase the Saintess!"
Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng glanced in the direction Ma Xiaotao fled, then spun around.
Shrek still had escorts; they could not deal with her now. Losing the Saintess would be far worse.
The other three understood instantly and followed.
"They're after Xiaotao?" Wang Yan stared after her, stunned.
"Teacher, what do we do?"
Despite their brilliance in the tournament, they were still only children. Faced with a crisis, they were lost.
"I don't know." Wang Yan shook his head. "Did Xiaotao lure them away on purpose?"
"Teacher!"
Wang Yan received no answer—only Huo Yuhao's urgent voice.
"Teacher Wang! Shrek has many disciples on patrol—does the distress signal work?"
Wang Yan understood at once: the Shrek Supervisory Corps flare. He wasn't sure it would help, but seeing Huo Yuhao's eyes, he nodded.
A column of ink-green light shot skyward. Though daylight lingered, it soared far and was seen by many.
"MOO—"
Another earth-shaking bellow. The ground quaked. The Taotie Divine Ox that was Xuan Zi soon caught up. Yet when he saw the group, confusion crossed his face.
"Elder Xuan."
"Senior Taotie."
"That man didn't follow?" Xuan Zi ignored the greetings and asked Wang Yan.
"No." Wang Yan shook his head.
"Then he…" Xuan Zi began, then frowned. "Where is Xiaotao?"
"She…" Wang Yan paused, then recounted everything.
Xuan Zi stared into the distance, brow furrowed. "Did that man chase Xiaotao—cough—"
Before he finished, he coughed violently. His colossal frame shrank rapidly. In mere moments, everyone saw how gaunt he had become.
Blood stained his lips; his face was ashen; his aura chaotic. Black patches spread across his skin—clear signs of invasive evil qi.
"Elder Xuan—"
"I'm fine." Xuan Zi wiped the blood away and spoke weakly. "We return to the academy at once. Mobilise every resource to find Xiaotao. This is far from simple."
He turned to Star Shatterer and Giant Hammer. "That man is dangerous. Please escort us a little farther."
"Understood." Star Shatterer's expression was grave. "We will report everything to His Majesty and help watch for news of your disciple."
"Thank you."
Xuan Zi exhaled deeply and resumed the journey toward Shrek Academy.
Titled Douluos were terrifyingly fast. In half a day, as the sun set, more than ten figures reappeared where Ma Xiaotao had vanished.
The weakest among them was rank 80 or higher. They spread out, searching in every direction.
Zhang Lexuan was among them, face solemn as she sought Ma Xiaotao's trail. For some reason, when Xuan Zi returned and described the ambush, one name surfaced in her mind.
Thoughts racing, she suddenly looked west—toward the Sun Moon Empire.
"Eldest Senior Sister, where are you going?"
"Search carefully. I'll check another direction."
With that, Zhang Lexuan tapped the ground lightly and sped toward the western mountains.
Moonlight stretched her shadow long. She had not gone far toward the Sun Moon Empire when a voice sounded behind her.
"Halt here. With your current strength, chasing farther will be dangerous."
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