Su Yunlin looked at Ma Xiaotao's current state before the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe appeared in his hand.
The moment the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe emerged, a black-gold Spirit Ring also appeared around Su Yunlin's body. The Spirit Ring radiated a dense aura of darkness and evil.
"Deans, open up a gap for me. I'll give it a try."
The three deans looked at Su Yunlin in confusion before turning toward Elder Mu. Seeing Elder Mu nod, they immediately opened a small opening.
Su Yunlin lightly pressed the blade of the scythe against Ma Xiaotao's forehead.
Suddenly, a strange and sinister dark aura began spreading from Ma Xiaotao's body before ultimately being absorbed into the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe.
"Ahhh—!"
Ma Xiaotao felt as though her entire body was being torn apart by pain. The intense agony instinctively caused her to retaliate.
Su Yunlin raised the Demon Scythe to block, but in the next moment, he had already appeared beside Mu En.
It turned out Elder Mu had used spatial power to instantly pull him back.
"How is it?"
Su Yunlin let out a sigh. "It works, but it's extremely troublesome. One mistake could completely ruin Senior Sister's cultivation path."
"What?!"
Yan Shaozhe immediately lost his composure.
How could his precious disciple have her path as a Spirit Master destroyed?
That would be even more painful than killing her outright!
Yan Shaozhe grabbed Su Yunlin by the shoulders.
"Junior Brother, you definitely have a solution, right?! As long as Xiao Tao can be saved, this senior brother is willing to do anything!"
Yan Shaozhe's emotions were extremely agitated.
He had raised Ma Xiaotao as though she were his own daughter. Neither he nor Cai Mei'er had children of their own, and Ma Xiaotao had essentially become the adopted daughter they raised together. Naturally, their feelings for her ran extremely deep.
Ma Xiaotao possessed three ten-thousand-year Spirit Bones: both leg bones and a right arm bone. Every one of those Spirit Bones had been personally selected by Yan Shaozhe, with both age and compatibility being top-tier.
It was obvious just how much hope Yan Shaozhe had placed in Ma Xiaotao.
Yan Shaozhe had even long since decided that if Ma Xiaotao could cultivate to Rank 90, he would personally hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast for her, strengthening her foundation enough to surpass even himself.
"Senior Brother, calm down first. I do have an idea. However… to what extent are you willing to go for Senior Sister's sake?"
Su Yunlin looked directly at Yan Shaozhe.
He knew Yan Shaozhe was usually a rather stingy person. He wanted to see just how far Yan Shaozhe was willing to go for Ma Xiaotao.
"I can do anything! You know very well that I have no children of my own. To me, Xiao Tao is my biological daughter."
Yan Shaozhe's gaze was utterly resolute.
"Good. Then I'd like to see just how firm Senior Brother's determination truly is. Teacher, let's move to the Sea God Pavilion." Su Yunlin turned toward Elder Mu.
"Alright."
With a wave of Elder Mu's hand, everyone was instantly transported to the Sea God Pavilion.
...
Inside the Sea God Pavilion—
Jing Hongchen was likely the first person from the Sun Moon Empire ever allowed to enter Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion.
Yet now, he could only sit there awkwardly in a daze.
Jing Hongchen guessed that some important student must have encountered trouble, which was why that terrifyingly powerful Elder Mu had personally gone to deal with it.
"Jing Hongchen."
Elder Mu appeared once more.
Earlier, he had temporarily sealed Ma Xiaotao's condition. Resolving her issue could wait until after this person was dealt with.
"Elder Mu."
Jing Hongchen cupped his fists respectfully.
"Something came up just now. Speak. Why have you come to Shrek Academy?"
Elder Mu's tone remained calm and indifferent.
Originally, Jing Hongchen had intended to ask about the previous incident where students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had been robbed and whether Shrek Academy had been responsible.
But now, he no longer dared to ask.
What if he got slapped to death for it?
"There is indeed a matter to discuss. Some time ago, your academy sent an invitation proposing an exchange program between our two academies. This junior believes such an exchange is extremely important and would greatly promote communication and integration between us."
Elder Mu slowly nodded.
"This old man was already considering such an idea. However, can you guarantee the safety of my students? And furthermore, what exactly would Shrek's disciples gain from studying at your academy?"
Jing Hongchen answered without hesitation:
"Their safety can absolutely be guaranteed!"
What followed was an extended negotiation between the two sides.
Elder Mu proposed that Jing Hongchen send his grandson and granddaughter over, while Shrek Academy would likewise send both students and teachers in exchange.
Jing Hongchen suggested that the exchange begin two years later and last for three years. He also drafted a set of arrangements ensuring neither side would endanger the other's students.
In the end, the discussions regarding the student exchange program proceeded extremely smoothly.
However, just as Jing Hongchen was preparing to leave, Elder Mu forcibly charged him an "entrance fee"—
A Class 9 soul tool.
Left with no choice, Jing Hongchen handed over a Class 9 soul tool, Hongchen's Blessing, as payment for entering Shrek Academy.
Afterward, all the stationary soul tools he had secretly deployed outside Shrek Academy were dismantled as well.
This time, Jing Hongchen had truly suffered catastrophic losses.
"Shrek… just you wait!"
A sinister glint flashed through Jing Hongchen's eyes before he quickly departed.
...
Inside the Sea God Pavilion—
The three deans of the Soul Tool Department returned fully satisfied. Su Jinming's grin practically stretched to his ears.
He was completely confident that after studying these soul tools, he would finally become a Class 9 Soul Engineer!
Elder Mu also handed Hongchen's Blessing over to the three Soul Tool Department deans for research.
With so many treasures obtained all at once, they would have more than enough material to study for quite some time.
Su Jinming looked toward Elder Mu.
"Elder Mu, when are we making a trip to the Sun Moon Empire? I'd like to see what other good things they have!"
Elder Mu smiled faintly.
"Once Xiao Tao's matter is resolved, this old man will personally accompany you there."
"Good!"
After handling Jing Hongchen's affairs, Elder Mu finally went to see Ma Xiaotao.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao was watching Ma Xiaotao sit cross-legged within a barrier of light.
Inside the light barrier, Ma Xiaotao was able to retain her sanity. Within the barrier, her Martial Soul had been sealed, along with the dark and evil aura infecting it.
Fortunately, her mutation remained incomplete. Ma Xiaotao still possessed the ability to suppress it herself. Otherwise, the consequences would have been far more severe.
Ma Xiaotao hugged her knees tightly.
"Sigh… why did I have to mess around with that weird sword? This lady's path to becoming a powerhouse is about to be ruined!"
Su Yunlin looked at Ma Xiaotao.
"Senior Sister, if you want to cry, then just cry. There's no need to force yourself to act calm."
"No way! How could this lady cry?! I just feel awful! Wuu…"
Even as she spoke stubbornly, tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.
Meanwhile, Su Yunlin quietly took out a recording soul tool and secretly recorded the scene.
The Fiery Demon crying her eyes out—
This was definitely worth preserving.
"Sister, I'll definitely save you!"
Huo Yuhao could not bear seeing Ma Xiaotao like this.
Ma Xiaotao was the only girl with whom he had ever shared intimate physical contact, and he had already acknowledged her as his sworn older sister.
The two of them even possessed the potential for Martial Soul fusion. Their futures should have been limitless.
Yet reality had cruelly played a joke on them.
"Do you all really need to be this pessimistic? It's not like she can't be cured! I've thought of two possible methods. Both are difficult, though. I just don't know whether Senior Sister dares to try them." Su Yunlin spoke calmly.
"I can still be saved?"
Ma Xiaotao looked at Su Yunlin with reddened eyes, as though she had just seen her savior.
Huo Yuhao immediately walked in front of Su Yunlin and knelt down without even thinking.
"Class Monitor, as long as you can save Sister, I'm willing to do anything."
Su Yunlin was startled by the sudden action, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.
Were Huo Yuhao's knees really this soft? Kneeling immediately without a second thought?
Still, kneeling for the sake of family did make him seem like a real man.
"Relax. Let's wait for Elder Mu and the others."
Su Yunlin reached out and pulled Huo Yuhao back to his feet.
...
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