The story that had to be told between Shrek Outer Court new student class one Class Monitor Caelus and Inner Court legendary Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao began to quietly spread throughout the entire Outer Court with astonishing speed.
Sea God Lake, the core of Shrek Academy; its waters shimmered under the afternoon sun like a giant sapphire.
However, Caelus was in no mood to appreciate this scenery famous across the continent at this moment.
His wrist was tightly gripped by a hand that was warm, soft, yet filled with explosive power.
That scorching heat continuously pulsed through his sleeve, as if it wanted to ignite his very blood.
Ma Xiaotao's pace was fast, carrying a sense of urgency.
Instead of taking the usual stone path, she pulled Caelus directly into a dense, secluded forest by the lakeside.
The trees in the forest were tall and lush, effectively blocking any outside view and forming a natural, hidden space.
Only after going deep into the forest and confirming no one else was around did Ma Xiaotao suddenly stop and let go of his hand.
"Phew..."
Caelus finally caught his breath. He shook his slightly numb wrist, which still retained some heat.
He looked up at the red-clad Senior Sister whose back was turned to him, her chest slightly heaving from her breathing, and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on his Face.
"Sister Xiaotao, can you finally tell me what you wanted with me?"
His voice wasn't loud, carrying the clear resonance unique to a youth, but the composure in his words didn't match his age.
"Do you know that your actions in the classroom just now have made me completely famous in the Outer Court? I bet the entire Outer Court is already whispering about the 'must-tell' story between me and an Inner Court Senior Sister."
Hearing Caelus's complaint, Ma Xiaotao turned around.
Due to the rapid walk and her inner excitement, a healthy flush colored her Face. In her beautiful Phoenix eyes, flames seemed to be dancing.
She looked Caelus up and down, seemingly evaluating something.
Then, she crossed her arms over her chest, a gesture that made her already proud curves look even more breathtaking.
She slightly tilted her chin, narrowing her eyes as the oppressive Aura of a powerful expert naturally radiated from her.
"Oh? You're unhappy about being associated with me, Ma Xiaotao?"
Her voice had a hint of lazy raspiness, like a lioness patrolling her territory, full of dominance.
'Here it comes, the life-or-death question.'
Caelus thought to himself.
He knew very well that this woman's personality was just like her Martial Soul—the kind that ignites at the slightest spark.
If he said he was unhappy, she would likely explode on the spot. If he said he was happy, Ma Xiaotao would probably be unhappy with that too.
Thus, Caelus wisely chose to change the subject.
He spread his hands, his Face still wearing that gentle and harmless smile.
"Sister Xiaotao, let's talk business. You pulled me here in such a hurry; it couldn't have been just for fun, right?"
His attitude was neither submissive nor overbearing, giving her enough Face while skillfully steering the conversation back on track.
Sure enough, as soon as business was mentioned, Ma Xiaotao's Aura restrained itself significantly.
Her sharp Phoenix eyes once again carefully and meticulously studied the youth before her.
Silver hair, heterochromatic eyes—left gold and right green, deep as the starry sky. His handsome features were flawless, his build tall and slender, and his temperament calm and mysterious.
'This guy... really is quite good-looking...'
A thought uncontrollably bubbled up from the depths of Ma Xiaotao's heart.
Immediately after, she recalled the words her teacher, Yan Shaozhe, had said last night.
"...It would be even better if you two could be together."
"...If you want to completely eradicate your evil fire, you and he must take things a step further."
*Boom—*
A wave of heat rushed to her head. Ma Xiaotao felt her cheeks instantly become terrifyingly hot, even more scorching than when she circulated her Soul Power.
Her pretty Face turned bright red in an instant.
'What kind of nonsense am I thinking?'
She cursed herself inwardly with embarrassment and quickly shook her head vigorously, tossing those improper, flustering thoughts out of her mind.
When she looked up again, although the flush hadn't completely faded, her gaze had returned to being serious and earnest.
"Hmph."
She gave a light huff to cover up her loss of composure.
"You brat, you've hidden yourself quite well. You have twin spirits, don't you? You really kept me in the dark."
Her tone carried a bit of familiar grumbling, as if she were scolding a long-time friend.
Hearing this, Caelus raised an eyebrow.
'The news really reached her. It seems Dean Yan Shaozhe is truly concerned about her affairs.'
He understood clearly, but his Face remained impassive.
"Sister Xiaotao, I never deliberately hid it."
He met Ma Xiaotao's gaze candidly and smiled.
"I just didn't think it was necessary to broadcast it everywhere."
"True."
Ma Xiaotao nodded, accepting his explanation.
"Fine, I won't beat around the bush with you then."
She took a step forward, closing the distance between them instantly.
She stared intently into Caelus's eyes, her voice low but filled with certainty.
"Your Second Martial Soul is ice-attributed, isn't it?"
She paused, every word sounding as if it were squeezed through her teeth, filled with endless longing.
"And, it's... Ultimate Ice."
The air seemed to freeze at this moment.
In the forest, there was only the rustling of wind through the leaves.
Caelus didn't speak, just quietly looked at her.
From the depths of Ma Xiaotao's flame-burning eyes, he could see a pain and resentment that had been suppressed for too long, along with a desperate, all-or-nothing hope, like a drowning person clutching at a floating log.
He didn't keep her in suspense any longer.
"That's right."
He admitted it frankly.
"It is indeed Ultimate Ice."
Before his voice had even faded, he slowly extended his right hand.
With a thought, a bone-chilling cold, invisible to the naked eye, instantly radiated outward from the center of his palm.
The moisture in the air was instantly frozen.
A crystal-clear, six-sided ice crystal, as perfectly constructed as a work of art, silently condensed and formed in his palm.
The ice crystal emitted a faint, deep blue halo, containing the purest, most primal ice elemental power of the Origin.
The surrounding temperature suddenly dropped by over ten degrees.
The air that had been somewhat sultry a moment ago because of Ma Xiaotao instantly became crisp and refreshing.
"Great."
Although she had already received a definite answer from her teacher, when Caelus actually displayed this legendary Ultimate Ice before her—when that ultimate chill, which made every pore in her body feel comfortable and even calmed the restless evil fire within her, washed over her—Ma Xiaotao still couldn't help but let out a cheer of pleasant surprise.
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