16: Chapter 16 Evil Flames Burn Soul Ma Xiaotao, I Want It

A scorching current of air suddenly exploded from her dantian, sweeping through her entire body in an instant.

That feeling was like she was being ignited from the inside out.

Every breath felt like swallowing a red-hot branding iron.

"I can't... how did it happen early this time..."

Ma Xiaotao's consciousness had already begun to blur.

She knew that relying on herself alone, she absolutely could not suppress this outbreak of evil fire.

She would die.

"Must... find Teacher..."

This thought supported her, allowing her to use the last shred of her strength to abruptly stand up from the ground.

She stumbled out of the dormitory.

Her goal was clear: the residence of the Martial Soul Department Dean, Yan Shaozhe.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ma Xiaotao pounded on the heavy wooden door with all her might, a hoarse voice squeezing out of her throat.

"Teacher... save... save me..."

Creak—

The door opened in response.

Yan Shaozhe, dressed in a white robe, appeared at the doorway.

When he saw Ma Xiaotao's state outside the door, his usually gentle and refined face instantly changed.

"Xiaotao?"

He stepped forward to support the swaying Ma Xiaotao, his brow furrowed deeply.

"What's the situation? How could the evil fire break out early?"

Yan Shaozhe's voice was full of worry.

"After Little Martial Uncle helped you suppress it last time, didn't he say it would be stable for a month? It's only been half a month!"

Hearing the words 'Little Martial Uncle,' a light seemed to ignite within Ma Xiaotao's chaotic consciousness.

She was like a drowning person grasping at the last straw.

Her crimson eyes stared fixedly at Yan Shaozhe, her voice hoarse and urgent.

"Su Chen... where is he now? Is he still on Sea God Island?"

A look of difficulty appeared on Yan Shaozhe's face.

This was going to be a bit troublesome.

"Xiaotao, calm down. Little Martial Uncle... he went to the Outer Court a few days ago."

He said in a deep voice.

"At this time, the Outer Court has long finished classes. I expect... he should be in the dormitory."

"Outer Court..."

Hearing those two words, Ma Xiaotao didn't even think. She suddenly broke free from Yan Shaozhe's hand and turned to rush out.

The heat waves inside her body were getting more violent wave after wave. If she delayed any longer, she would really explode and die.

"I can't take it anymore, I'm going to find Little Martial Uncle!"

"Wait a moment!"

Yan Shaozhe was quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbing her.

What a joke. In her current state, let alone finding someone in the Outer Court, she would probably lose control before even leaving the Inner Court.

"Your state is very unstable right now. It's too dangerous to go alone. I'll go with you."

Ma Xiaotao no longer had the strength to argue at this moment and only nodded heavily.

The next second.

A golden light flashed on Yan Shaozhe's body, enveloping Ma Xiaotao as they turned into a stream of light, rapidly heading toward the Outer Court.

...

On the other side.

Su Chen was leading Huo Yuhao, leisurely walking on the road to Sea God Island.

"Brother Su Chen, are we really going to Sea God Island?"

Huo Yuhao asked curiously.

"Yeah, I'm taking you to see the world and grab a free meal while we're at it."

Su Chen replied casually.

Just then.

A blinding golden light descended from the sky, crashing down in front of the two of them.

As the light dissipated, the figures of Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao were revealed.

Su Chen looked closely and was stunned.

The Ma Xiaotao at this moment no longer had any of her usual domineering 'big sister' demeanor.

Her fiery red long hair was a bit disheveled, and her exquisite face was drenched in sweat, so red it looked like it was about to bleed.

"Senior Xiaotao?"

Su Chen called out tentatively.

Hearing Su Chen's voice, Ma Xiaotao seemed to have found her pillar of support, her blurred eyes instantly locking onto him.

She suddenly pushed Yan Shaozhe away and stumbled toward Su Chen.

A soft, fragrant warmth crashed into his embrace.

Su Chen subconsciously caught her soft body, only to feel that the beauty in his arms was alarmingly hot.

Ma Xiaotao wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face in his chest, her breath like orchids.

"Little Martial Uncle, I... I want..."

???

Su Chen was dumbfounded on the spot.

What was the situation?

In broad daylight, under the clear sky, what did you want, Senior?

He looked up and saw Yan Shaozhe behind Ma Xiaotao with a grave expression.

"Elder Yan, this is..."

"Don't ask," Yan Shaozhe's voice was urgent. "Xiaotao's evil fire broke out early, and it can't be suppressed anymore."

He glanced around.

"There are too many eyes and ears here; this isn't the place to talk."

"Go to the Outer Court's Cultivation Room. There are facilities there specifically for suppressing fire attributes. Hurry!"

After speaking, he waved his hand, and a gentle wave of Soul Power directly swept up Su Chen and Huo Yuhao.

And of course, Ma Xiaotao, who was hanging onto Su Chen.

The four of them turned into a golden stream of light and instantly vanished from the spot.

...

Outer Court, high-level Cultivation Room.

With a 'bang,' the heavy metal door was closed.

Yan Shaozhe 'peeled' Ma Xiaotao off Su Chen and had her sit cross-legged on the cold jade bed in the center of the Cultivation Room.

As soon as she sat down, Ma Xiaotao could no longer hold on.

"Nn..."

Her body began to tremble violently, and wisps of crimson flames seeped out uncontrollably from beneath her skin.

Whoosh—

The flames suddenly flared up, turning into a raging blaze that enveloped her entire person.

The temperature of the entire Cultivation Room rose sharply in that instant.

The air itself became distorted and blurred because of the high heat.

"Wow, it's so hot!"

Huo Yuhao was forced back repeatedly by the heat wave, his face full of shock.

Is this the strength of an Inner Court Senior?

It's too terrifying.

Yan Shaozhe's expression was grave to the extreme. He knew better than anyone how dangerous Xiaotao's situation was.

Just then.

"Leave it to me."

Su Chen's calm voice rang out.

"Buzz—"

In the next moment, Su Chen raised both hands and pressed them against Ma Xiaotao's shoulders.

He didn't release his Spirit, nor did he burst forth with alarming Soul Power fluctuations.

Only in his palms did fine, pale purple lightning quietly emerge.

Sizzle, sizzle...

Like spring rain falling into a fierce fire.

Wisps of extremely cold lightning energy flowed silently from his palms into Ma Xiaotao's meridians.

This power was precisely the 'Prison-Suppressing Thunder Breath' that came with the Chaos Thunder Dragon Martial Soul.

It wasn't meant for violent attacks but was specifically designed to counter sinister energies like evil fire.

The pale purple lightning was like a large net, quickly traveling through Ma Xiaotao's body.

Those rampaging crimson evil flames withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

A moment later.

The last wisp of evil fire on Ma Xiaotao's body was extinguished.

Thud!

Her tense body suddenly went limp, and she slumped onto the cold jade bed.

Su Chen withdrew his hands.

The last bit of pale purple lightning lingering at his fingertips also dissipated.

His body swayed, and he took half a step back to steady himself, his chest heaving several times.

That series of operations just now seemed effortless, but it was actually extremely perilous.

He had to use the thunder breath to freeze the evil fire without harming the original flames of her Spirit.

Balancing this had exhausted almost all of his Soul Power and mental energy.

Su Chen raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. Looking at Ma Xiaotao, who was still trembling slightly on the bed, he spoke in a deep voice.

"It's suppressed for now."

"But this evil fire seems to have developed a sentience; it almost broke through the thunder breath's confinement just now."

"If it breaks out again, I'm afraid it won't be resolved so easily."