Douluo Dalu II: The Peerless Tang Sect

Chapter 149 Yan Shaozhe's Dream!

Before long, Moon finished flipping through the book in his hand.

"Ziyang, take it out." Mu En said to Zhu Ziyang.

"Okay." Zhu Ziyang knew what Mu En was talking about, and took the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower that he had just put away back out and showed it to the others.

"Is this the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower?" Yan Shaozhe asked excitedly, his voice trembling as he looked at the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower in Zhu Ziyang's hand.

"This..." Xian Lin'er and Ma Xiaotao were also filled with shock and disbelief. Ma Xiaotao's eyes were filled with excitement and joy that were hard to describe. She finally understood why Mu En had come to see her.

"You're probably all familiar with the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower," Mu En said with a smile. "This 'Phoenix Douluo Biography' records the story of Luo Hongjun, a Phoenix Douluo, consuming the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower. According to the book, the younger the age and the lower the level of the person consuming the immortal herb, the better they absorb its medicinal properties."

When Ma Hongjun's ancestor absorbed the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower, he was only thirteen years old. Therefore, he was able to compensate for the defects in his martial soul, complete its evolution, and simultaneously increase his soul power by nearly five levels. If I remember correctly, Xiao Tao should be eighteen years old.

"Yes, Elder Mu," Ma Xiaotao replied, her face flushed and her voice excited.

"Well, you're eighteen now, and your soul power has exceeded level sixty, so when you use this Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower, you should prioritize compensating for your martial soul's deficiencies before increasing your soul power," Mu En said. "However, I think the medicinal properties of this Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower can only compensate for your martial soul's deficiencies, and won't increase your soul power much. But, as long as you can resolve your martial soul's deficiencies, whether your soul power increases or not is secondary. Am I right?"

"That's right, teacher!" Yan Shaozhe strongly agreed with Mu En's words. Being able to completely resolve Ma Xiaotao's martial soul defect was already the greatest gain. As for the improvement of soul power, as his disciple, there was no need to care about it at all.

"Alright, Xiao Tao, go and prepare, then start absorbing the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower. Shao Zhe, go and protect Xiao Tao," Mu En said.

"Yes, teacher!" Yan Shaozhe replied excitedly.

"Go, Xiaotao!" Zhu Ziyang handed the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower to Ma Xiaotao and encouraged her with a smile.

"Thank you, Ziyang!" Ma Xiaotao was deeply moved. She knew that Zhu Ziyang must have found this Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower for her. Her heart trembled like never before. She excitedly gave Zhu Ziyang a hug before accepting the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower from him.

Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao, master and apprentice, soon left the Sea God Pavilion.

Xian Lin'er was happy for Ma Xiaotao, even though she disliked Yan Shaozhe. She finally had a chance to talk to Mu En about her situation. She said, "Teacher, Duo Duo, Fan Yu, and I have discussed it and are preparing to use Fan Yu's disciple, Cai Tou, as a temporary candidate to start the Extreme Individual Soldier Project."

"Okay! You can make your own plans." Upon hearing this, Moon didn't say much, but simply nodded in agreement and said, "You have a calm personality and are serious about your work, so I'm at ease."

"I understand, teacher!" Xianlin'er said happily after receiving Mu En's affirmation.

"Alright, you can all go out now. I'm going to take a nap," Moon said, then closed his eyes.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Ziyang and Xian Lin'er immediately left the Sea God Pavilion.

"Junior brother, where did you find the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower?" Xian Lin'er asked curiously after leaving the Sea God Pavilion.

"The Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "Actually, it's all thanks to Nannan. If it weren't for her, we might not have been able to leave the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire smoothly, let alone pick a Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower."

"So that's how it is!" Xian Lin'er was somewhat surprised. She knew about the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, but she didn't expect Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan to be so bold as to dare to search for it. She said, "Junior Brother, you two are far too reckless. Please don't do such dangerous things again!"

"Hehe, I understand, Senior Sister." Zhu Ziyang laughed, scratching the back of his head, and said, "Teacher has already criticized me."

"Hmm!" Xian Lin'er nodded, a hint of admiration on her face.

As the two walked and talked, they suddenly saw Yan Shaozhe, who had accompanied Ma Xiaotao to absorb the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower, walking towards them anxiously. Yan Shaozhe's strange behavior puzzled Zhu Ziyang and Xian Lin'er.

"Ziyang, come quick, come with me, Xiaotao needs you!" Yan Shaozhe's anxious expression eased somewhat upon seeing Zhu Ziyang. He immediately rushed over, grabbed Zhu Ziyang's hand, and said.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother?" Zhu Ziyang asked, puzzled.

However, Yan Shaozhe did not explain, and quickly left with Zhu Ziyang. Xian Lin'er saw this scene and couldn't help but feel worried, so she followed.

The two quickly arrived at Ma Xiaotao's room and saw that Ma Xiaotao had been completely engulfed by flames, with only her head sticking out. Ma Xiaotao's face was very pale, and she was groaning in pain.

"This... Sister Xiaotao!" Zhu Ziyang looked surprised, a deep worry rising in his heart, and called out.

"Ziyang, only your Extreme Ice can alleviate Xiaotao's pain and allow her to successfully absorb the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower now," Yan Shaozhe said earnestly, his voice carrying a hint of pleading, but a strange light shone deep in his eyes.

"What should I do?" Zhu Ziyang didn't notice Yan Shaozhe's strange behavior; he was only concerned with how to help Ma Xiaotao get through this difficult time.

"Just grab Xiaotao's hand and unleash the chilling power of Extreme Ice," Yan Shaozhe said. "I'll be outside protecting you."

After Yan Shaozhe finished speaking, he walked out of Ma Xiaotao's room without hesitation.

Although Zhu Ziyang was somewhat puzzled by Yan Shaozhe's actions, seeing Ma Xiaotao's pained expression, he put his doubts aside and immediately approached Ma Xiaotao, reaching out to try and grasp her jade-like hand engulfed in crimson flames. However, just as Zhu Ziyang touched Ma Xiaotao's hand, a sudden change occurred.

A sudden burst of crimson-black flames engulfed Zhu Ziyang, instantly burning his clothes to ashes. Panicked, Zhu Ziyang immediately unleashed his ultimate ice power to suppress the raging fire. Amidst the blazing flames, Zhu Ziyang tried to steady himself, and with a slight movement, he touched a soft, smooth, warm jade.

His mind was stirred, and he immediately realized what the warm jade was. He quickly regained his composure and focused on releasing his ultimate ice to fight against the crimson flames. He consciously tried to dodge, but the space within the flames was limited, and his attempts to evade were ultimately futile.

Soon, large swaths of fragrant and soft, warm jade approached him, and Zhu Ziyang's face flushed slightly. At that moment, a pretty face slowly appeared before him, her face filled with confusion and pain—it was Ma Xiaotao.

Seeing Ma Xiaotao's expression, Zhu Ziyang knew he couldn't afford to be confused any longer. He stepped back a little, placed his palms against Ma Xiaotao's hands, and then unleashed the full power of his Extreme Ice Technique, simultaneously assisting her in absorbing the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower while also resisting the intrusion of desire and striving to maintain a clear mind.

"Ziyang..." Ma Xiaotao's eyes cleared up a bit, and she was somewhat lost in thought when she saw Zhu Ziyang.

"Sister Tao, don't get distracted. Focus all your energy on refining the medicinal power of the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower!" Zhu Ziyang whispered in a reprimand.

Ma Xiaotao was startled and dared not be distracted again. She focused on mobilizing her soul power to absorb the violent medicinal properties, while Zhu Ziyang's ultimate ice outside tried his best to alleviate the pain and burning sensation caused by the violent medicinal properties.

Amidst the flames, a tense struggle unfolds, and the phoenix, reborn from the ashes, is about to be reborn.

Outside the room, Xian Lin'er arrived. After seeing Yan Shaozhe outside and sensing the stabilizing energy fluctuations inside the room, she immediately understood what Yan Shaozhe was planning. She breathed a sigh of relief and then rushed to Yan Shaozhe without hesitation.

"Yan Shaozhe, I never thought you were so despicable, you even schemed against Junior Brother and Xiao Tao!" Xian Lin'er shouted angrily.

"Lin'er, what brings you here?" Yan Shaozhe was quite surprised to see Xian Lin'er. After hearing her angry outburst, he wasn't angry, but just smiled bitterly and said, "I know I'm despicable, but I did all this for the academy! Xiao Tao and Zi Yang being together is the best outcome!"

"Pah!" Xian Lin'er retorted with utter disdain. "For the sake of the academy? You're really spouting nonsense. Don't you know Zi Yang and Nan Nan are a couple? You should be glad that Zi Yang and Xiao Tao haven't developed any romantic feelings for each other, otherwise, how would you still have the face to face Zi Yang, Nan Nan, and Xiao Tao!"

"I know!" Yan Shaozhe said with a strange expression, "But isn't it normal for Ziyang, as a peerless genius, to have several female confidantes?"

"A confidante?" Xian Lin'er's eyes widened in shock and sarcasm. "Yan Shaozhe, I can't believe that after all these decades, you're still dreaming of having women on both sides? Bah! You don't deserve that!"

Xian Lin'er gave Yan Shaozhe a disdainful look, then turned around angrily and left.

Yan Shaozhe watched Xian Lin'er's departing figure, his expression extremely complex, a mixture of nostalgia, infatuation, resentment, and guilt, which made him lower his head in sorrow.

(End of this chapter)