vncnus Chapter 23 The student surpasses the master.
Chapter 23 The student surpasses the master.
Inside the ice cave created by Lin Feng, the pure phoenix fire burned continuously.
As the firelight flickered, Ma Xiaotao had already taken on a new look, her bright eyes opening wide with a piercing gaze.
Her fiery red hair accentuated her ethereal beauty, while the red phoenix mark between her brows hinted at her noble and extraordinary status.
Beneath her snow-white swan neck was a slender and graceful figure, with exquisite curves. Her whole being was like a piece of naturally formed jade, no, even more flawless and white than jade.
She was like a goddess descending to earth, making the world pale in comparison.
"Xiaofeng..."
Ma Xiaotao's ethereal voice, like a spring breeze caressing willows or a phoenix softly singing, brought some comfort to Lin Feng, who was still relying on the life force of the ice silkworm to heal himself.
She gently stroked Lin Feng's scarred face in front of her, tears welling in her eyes, her brows furrowed, her heart aching.
"I'm fine. Congratulations, Sister Xiaotao, on completely shedding your evil flames, evolving into a fire phoenix, and successfully advancing to the Soul Saint realm!"
Ma Xiaotao didn't say anything, but simply hugged Lin Feng tightly and gently buried her face in his shoulder.
Where their skin touched, a warm and peaceful soul force flowed gently from her body like a trickle, seeping into Lin Feng's battered body.
It felt like withered trees blossoming in spring, or like rain falling after a long drought.
Under the nourishment of this gentle soul power, the hideous wounds all over Lin Feng's body stopped bleeding, healed, and grew new granulation tissue at a speed visible to the naked eye.
A deep, bone-chilling sense of relief and healing replaced the previous tearing pain...
After a long while, Lin Feng moved slightly and said in a low voice, "The injury has almost healed. Teacher has been waiting outside for a long time, we should go out now."
"...Mmm." Ma Xiaotao responded softly, her arms still wrapped around him. After a moment, she reluctantly let go.
Lin Feng stood up, took out a neatly folded dress from his storage soul tool, and handed it to her.
"It looks beautiful," Ma Xiaotao said, taking the garment and running her fingertips over the delicate patterns on the sleeve. She looked up at him. "Was it specially prepared for me?"
"Yeah," Lin Feng nodded, "I was planning to give it to you on your birthday. I didn't expect... I'd have to use it today."
Ma Xiaotao lowered her eyelashes shyly and changed into the clothes.
She wore a fiery red gown paired with a snow-white gauze skirt, the hem of which was adorned with several pale pink lotus flowers, as if they were just beginning to bloom on the autumn water, lifelike and vivid.
The most eye-catching feature is the red phoenix pattern embroidered in gold thread on the front of the gown, which is extremely delicate and seems to be about to take flight at any moment.
Ma Xiaotao straightened her cuffs, turned around, and tilted her head slightly to look at Lin Feng: "Does it look good?"
Lin Feng, now dressed in new clothes, turned his gaze to Ma Xiaotao, a smile gradually appearing in his eyes: "Looks good. It suits you very well."
"Let's go, the teacher must be getting impatient."
Lin Feng said, extending his hand. Ma Xiaotao placed her hand in his palm, her fingertips gently held by him.
The top of the ice cave and the mental barrier were immediately dispelled by Lin Feng, and the two flew out side by side.
"Thank goodness, you've finally come out."
Yan Shaozhe, who had been waiting for a long time, appeared in front of the two in a flash.
His gaze swept over them quickly, and after confirming that they were unharmed, he was relieved, but was soon replaced by a deeper sense of astonishment.
"I almost went to beg Elder Mu for help... You all seem to be alright?"
"Don't worry, teacher, it was a close call." Lin Feng nodded slightly, his tone calm.
"That's good, that's good." Yan Shaozhe said twice, his eyes sharp. "Your soul power... has increased more than a little. Come, let your teacher check your martial souls and soul rings."
"Yes, teacher."
Ma Xiaotao and Lin Feng exchanged a glance and took a small step forward.
She didn't say much, but with a slight thought, her aura surged.
fiery, pure...
It was completely different from the frenzied evil fire of the past.
Behind it, a pair of magnificent fiery phoenix wings spread out, each feather lifelike.
"This is…" Yan Shaozhe's pupils suddenly contracted, "A pure and flawless… fire phoenix?! Lin Feng, you really helped her complete… purification?!"
Before his question could be answered, an even more shocking scene unfolded.
One after another, spirit rings rose from beneath Ma Xiaotao's feet, their light deepening and their aura rising steadily.
Purple, purple, purple...
Black, black, black...
The seventh spirit ring slowly rose...
The moment it appeared, all the surrounding light seemed to be swallowed up, leaving only that pure aura containing infinite power and the fluctuations of laws.
Soul Saint!
"Three purples, three blacks... one red!"
Yan Shaozhe spoke slowly and deliberately, almost losing his voice.
He stared blankly at the red 100,000-year soul ring floating beneath Ma Xiaotao's feet, his eyes filled with shock.
A twenty-year-old Soul Saint, possessing the ultimate fire martial soul, and a seventh soul ring that has lasted for 100,000 years...
"Excellent, excellent, excellent! Truly, the student has surpassed the teacher."
Yan Shaozhe said "good" three times in a row, his eyes still filled with shock, but also overflowing with relief and excitement.
Originally, Ma Xiaotao's achievement of becoming a Soul Emperor at the age of twenty was enough to leave her mark on the history of Douluo Continent and be compared with the original Seven Devils of Shrek Academy.
Now that she has achieved the Soul Saint status at the age of twenty, she is already more outstanding than her ancestor Ma Hongjun, who was the same age.
He looked at Lin Feng, his tone filled with disbelief and inquiry, "Lin Feng, how did you do that?"
"Replying to Teacher," Lin Feng replied after a moment's thought, in a calm tone, "Sister Xiao Tao bought a huge piece of black whale glue at the Treasure Pavilion, suspected to be of 100,000-year quality. We... tried consuming a portion. Perhaps the whale glue greatly enhanced my physique, which barely allowed me to devour the uncontrolled evil fire essence within her. As for her soul ring... I speculate that it might be due to the whale glue, but I'm not entirely sure."
His words were seven parts truth and three parts unspoken, subtly concealing the most crucial burning technique.
"Ten thousand years old whale glue?!" Yan Shaozhe gasped, then his gaze swept meaningfully between the two of them, revealing a look of sudden realization. "So that's how it is... After consuming such an extremely yang and potent tonic... you two have already...."
"Teacher! What are you thinking?!" Ma Xiaotao's cheeks flushed instantly, she was so embarrassed that she almost buried her head in her chest, her ears turning bright red.
"Teacher, that's not true..." Lin Feng quickly explained seriously.
"It's only natural, it's alright. The teacher has been through this, he understands, he understands everything." Yan Shaozhe waved his hand, the "I understand everything" smile still on his face.
He turned to Lin Feng, asking expectantly, "And you, Lin Feng? Having devoured the essence of this evil fire, you must have gained quite a bit, right?"
"As a result, my soul power has been raised to level thirty-seven," Lin Feng said frankly, then added, "In addition, my control over flames has also improved a lot."
Lin Feng remained calm, concealing the newly acquired Evil Fire Soul Ring on his main martial soul.
"Good! Very good!" Yan Shaozhe's eyes were full of satisfaction. "You two have both obtained tremendous opportunities this time. Go back and rest well to stabilize your cultivation levels. Tomorrow, I will convene a meeting of the Sea God Pavilion to formally commend your... outstanding performance!"
The two respectfully agreed, watching Yan Shaozhe's figure transform into a streak of light and disappear in the direction of the golden ancient tree.