Not long afterward, Elder Mu and the others arrived. As they looked at Ma Xiaotao, their eyes were filled with heartache.
She was a child they had watched grow up.
Although her temperament was fiery and impulsive, no one could compare to her diligence in cultivation. Occasionally, she could even be rather amusing.
None of them wanted to see her fall here.
Elder Mu looked toward Su Yunlin.
"Yunlin, you previously said there was a way to save Xiao Tao. Could you explain what method you have in mind?"
Su Yunlin nodded before lightly clearing his throat.
"Ahem. As everyone knows, Senior Sister Xiao Tao's Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul was inherited from the Phoenix Douluo among the original Seven Monsters. The evil fire itself has always been an inherent flaw within the Martial Soul.
"The dark power of the Judgment Sword invaded Senior Sister Xiao Tao's body, causing the evil aura inside her to erupt and forcing her Martial Soul to mutate gradually toward a Dark Phoenix.
"However, Senior Sister Xiao Tao should have gained something from this as well. Your Spirit Power has already reached Rank 70, correct?"
Ma Xiaotao nodded.
The dark flames inside her body were even more powerful than her original evil fire, directly pushing her cultivation to Rank 70.
Unfortunately, she was unable to control that power. It could even affect her sanity.
"The reason Senior Sister Xiao Tao's Martial Soul mutated is because her Martial Soul itself possesses flaws. Evil fire is powerful, but its defects are equally severe.
"To save Senior Sister Xiao Tao, the first method is to find the immortal medicinal herb once consumed by the Phoenix Douluo of legend—the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
"If we can obtain it, not only would Senior Sister Xiao Tao's problem be completely resolved, but her Martial Soul would also evolve into a pure Fire Phoenix. She might even reach the level of Ultimate Fire during the purification process!"
Su Yunlin revealed the first method.
The elders of the Sea God Pavilion were all aware of this method. It was also the optimal solution.
Unfortunately, they had never managed to locate the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
Yan Shaozhe wore a bitter expression.
"I've searched for a very long time, yet I've never found the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. I haven't even heard any news of it. Junior Brother, do you have any other methods?"
Su Yunlin nodded.
"Of course. Bring my mother here. If she and I work together, we can use the special properties of the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe to forcibly strip away the dark and evil attributes from Senior Sister Xiao Tao's body!"
"What?!"
Several of the pavilion elders were stunned.
Yan Shaozhe frowned.
"But that dark aura is fused with Xiao Tao's Martial Soul itself. If you forcibly strip away those dark and evil attributes, wouldn't Xiao Tao's Martial Soul be damaged?"
Su Yunlin nodded again.
"It definitely will.
"My second method is Phoenix Nirvana!
"Senior Sister Xiao Tao's Martial Soul is also a Phoenix Martial Soul. Phoenixes inherently possess the characteristics of nirvana.
"Removing the dark and evil attributes from her Martial Soul will indeed damage it. But after that damage occurs, everything will depend on Senior Sister Xiao Tao herself.
"If you can complete Phoenix Nirvana through your own strength, your Martial Soul may evolve once again!
"It could become even more powerful than both your original Evil Fire Phoenix and your current Dark Phoenix!"
This was the solution Su Yunlin had devised.
Phoenix Nirvana was incredibly dangerous—
But within danger also lay opportunity.
"But the risks of Phoenix Nirvana are enormous! Xiao Tao's Martial Soul doesn't even possess true nirvana characteristics!" Yan Shaozhe did not want Ma Xiaotao to walk this path at all.
If the nirvana failed—
She would die completely.
"Teacher! I'm willing to try!"
Ma Xiaotao's resolute voice rang out.
"Xiao Tao, no! Your teacher will definitely find the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower for you!"
Tears glimmered within Yan Shaozhe's eyes.
He truly did not want anything to happen to her.
"Shaozhe, respect Xiao Tao's decision. She's grown up now and has the right to make her own choices. Besides, this old man believes she can succeed."
Elder Mu slowly spoke.
"But, Teacher! Nirvana rebirth is extraordinarily dangerous!"
Elder Mu glanced at Yan Shaozhe.
"You have always been like this—hesitant and lacking true boldness. In your hands, the Light Phoenix will never unleash its true power!"
Ma Xiaotao also looked toward her teacher.
"Teacher, believe in me! I'm Ma Xiaotao! I won't fail so easily!"
Elder Mu nodded, looking rather satisfied with her response.
"Xiao Tao's spirit surpasses yours. Phoenixes are inherently proud creatures. As long as Xiao Tao maintains her fearless heart, the chances of her succeeding in nirvana will be very high!"
"Yes!"
Very soon, Xu Yunyue was summoned by Su Yunlin.
The moment she heard she was being asked to treat Yan Shaozhe's disciple, she was unwilling a hundred times over. However, she still held a fairly good impression of Ma Xiaotao, so she reluctantly agreed to help.
Su Yunlin and Xu Yunyue each held a Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe.
The mother and son possessed almost identical Martial Souls, though Xu Yunyue's scythe was larger, while Su Yunlin's scythe contained a strange evil eye upon it.
"We're beginning."
At the same time, Su Yunlin and Xu Yunyue pressed the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythes against Ma Xiaotao's forehead.
"Darkness born amidst the flickering starlight, grant me the power to control darkness. Light shall become darkness, and darkness shall become light!"
As the chant ended, a spatial crack suddenly appeared overhead.
A pitch-black ray of light descended from within it and struck Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul directly.
"Ahhh—!"
Ma Xiaotao felt unbearable agony spread throughout her entire body, as though something were forcibly tearing her flesh apart into two halves!
Yet her willpower was astonishingly strong.
She gritted her teeth and forcefully endured the horrific pain.
Shriek—
The half-red, half-black phoenix phantom appeared once more.
Then, the dark half was forcibly torn away!
"Pfft—!"
Ma Xiaotao spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing unconscious.
The remaining half of the phoenix phantom reentered Ma Xiaotao's body, while the separated Dark Phoenix was captured by Elder Mu and sealed away.
"Haa…"
Su Yunlin let out a long breath.
This was also his first time using the true power of the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe.
This ability was one of the innate properties of the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe itself—
The power to purge all dark and evil auras.
This characteristic had automatically been imprinted into both Su Yunlin and Xu Yunyue's minds at the moment their Martial Souls awakened.
The chant just now had been the incantation required for exorcism.
Back then, Xu Yunyue had relied upon the Heaven Evil Sacred Demon Scythe's power to purge the evil and curse contained within the Devouring Spirit Carving Knife.
Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul had now been split into two halves, causing her to fall into a deep slumber.
This was the state of true nirvana.
If Ma Xiaotao successfully completed her nirvana, she would awaken, and her Martial Soul would become even more powerful than before.
But if she failed—
She would die completely.
After confirming the ritual had concluded, Elder Mu turned toward Yan Shaozhe.
"Shaozhe, next, Xiao Tao will need your help to push her through."
"What?"
Elder Mu slowly explained:
"Your Light Phoenix Martial Soul shares the same phoenix origin as Xiao Tao's. Furthermore, your Martial Soul naturally possesses the characteristics of Phoenix Nirvana itself—this is also your greatest trump card.
"You must separate a portion of your Light Phoenix origin and help Xiao Tao complete her nirvana successfully!"
"T-This…"
The moment Yan Shaozhe heard the words "separate a portion of your Martial Soul origin," he hesitated.
In this lifetime, his chances of becoming an Ultimate Douluo were already slim.
But there was still a sliver of possibility.
If he split off a portion of his Martial Soul origin, then that final hope would disappear completely.
Elder Mu naturally noticed the hesitation in Yan Shaozhe's eyes.
But he said nothing.
He merely stood there and waited.
Smack!
Yan Shaozhe suddenly slapped himself across the face.
The slap was incredibly heavy, startling everyone present.
What was Yan Shaozhe doing?
"Oh? Yan Shaozhe, what's this? You're already a Super Douluo, yet slapping yourself is useless. How about this old lady gives you a scythe strike instead?"
Xu Yunyue mocked him mercilessly.
She absolutely despised Yan Shaozhe. If she had a reason to curse him, she would. Even without a reason, she still would.
"Hmph!"
Yan Shaozhe let out a cold snort.
At this moment, his gaze became incomparably resolute.
He suddenly struck his own chest, summoning his Light Phoenix Martial Soul!
At this instant, the Light Phoenix Martial Soul radiated dazzling brilliance!
It was as though it had been reborn.
Never before had it shone so brightly or felt so refreshed and invigorated as it did today.
Yan Shaozhe forcibly separated a portion of his Martial Soul origin.
A golden cluster of Light Phoenix essence appeared within his hand, containing a trace of the true intent of Phoenix Nirvana.
The moment the Martial Soul origin was separated, Yan Shaozhe visibly aged.
Previously, he had still appeared like a middle-aged man, but now streaks of white appeared at his temples, wrinkles spread across his face, and he looked over twenty years older in an instant.
Seeing this, Cai Mei'er hurried forward to support him.
...
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