Chapter 118 – Plans for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!

One month later.

"Junior Brother!"

Yan Shaozhe found Zhu Ziyang deep in cultivation, practicing Sovereign's Reign in a secluded corner of the academy.

"Senior Brother."

Zhu Ziyang opened his eyes, puzzled. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes." Yan Shaozhe nodded seriously. "I came because of Xiaotao."

"Senior Sister Xiaotao? Has her evil fire flared up again?"

Zhu Ziyang's expression changed.

"No, not exactly," Shaozhe replied. "But it is related to her evil fire. You know as well as I do—her condition is grave. Though her fifth soul ring didn't worsen it, it's still severely slowing her cultivation."

"I understand." Zhu Ziyang nodded, his brows furrowing. "So you want me to help her suppress the fire?"

"Yes," Yan Shaozhe admitted without hesitation. "Your Ultimate Light and Extreme Ice are natural counters to her evil fire. I believe you could help stabilize her."

"And how exactly do you want me to help her?"

Zhu Ziyang's tone turned colder. As his Heart of Righteous Light sensed Shaozhe's intentions, a strange impurity revealed itself. Shaozhe's light wasn't as pure as it seemed.

"I hope you'll… bond with her," Yan Shaozhe said solemnly, "so that your Ultimate Light and Extreme Ice can purify the evil power in her blood."

Zhu Ziyang sneered internally.

Outwardly, his voice was calm.

"Does Senior Sister Xiaotao agree with this plan?"

"She'll listen to me. I'm her teacher," Shaozhe said confidently. "This will benefit you both—she'll gain true control over her phoenix flame, and you'll grow even stronger."

"Heh~"

Zhu Ziyang chuckled coldly. Now he understood why Mu En always looked so disappointed in Shaozhe.

"You're oversimplifying things, Senior Brother," he said flatly. "Sister Xiaotao's problem is rooted in her bloodline. Unless the issue is resolved at its source, even if I purify the evil energy in her body, it'll damage her martial soul. Forget retaining her flame—she'll be lucky to preserve the core of her phoenix blood."

"W-what…?"

Yan Shaozhe froze, visibly shaken. "How can that be?"

"Hmph." Zhu Ziyang scoffed. "You don't possess an extreme attribute. Of course you wouldn't understand its intricacies."

"…"

Shaozhe fell silent, struggling to respond. Before he could speak again—

"Shaozhe. Come here."

Mu En's voice echoed from inside his study.

Yan Shaozhe stiffened. With a bitter smile, he turned back to Ziyang.

"I overstepped. My apologies, Junior Brother."

He bowed politely, then left.

Zhu Ziyang simply shook his head and dismissed the conversation from his mind. He returned to cultivating Sovereign's Reign.

That evening, Zhu Ziyang finished his training and headed to report his progress to Mu En.

The old master was lying comfortably on his wooden chair, eyes closed in meditation. Yan Shaozhe was nowhere to be seen.

"Teacher," Ziyang greeted respectfully.

"…Mm."

Mu En opened his eyes after a brief moment. "Not bad. You're progressing well."

"Hehe." Zhu Ziyang grinned. "It's all thanks to your teachings, Teacher."

"Haha~"

Mu En chuckled. "You kids are getting a break soon, aren't you? Going home for vacation?"

"Yup! I've been away for a year—it's time to go back and visit my parents."

Their first year was about to end, and all first-year students would receive a one-month holiday. When they returned, they would begin Year Two.

"Good. Be sure to let me know before you leave. I'll ask your two senior sisters to escort you," Mu En said kindly. "Once you return, you'll be admitted into the Inner Court."

"Yes, Teacher!" Ziyang replied. Then he added quickly, "But there's no need to trouble Senior Sisters. Nan Nan and I came here just fine—we can go back on our own."

"Coming and going aren't the same," Mu En said. "No need to argue."

"…Alright."

Ziyang nodded. He understood what Mu En was really saying—he was worried.

Mu En suddenly added, "Don't be too hard on your Senior Brother. He may be narrow-minded, but his intentions are not evil."

"I know, Teacher."

Ziyang smiled. He hadn't taken Yan Shaozhe's suggestion to heart at all. The man's cautious, calculating nature meant he was never truly a threat.

"You're a good child," Mu En said with a sigh. "If only Shaozhe had your grace… he wouldn't still be stuck at Rank 95."

His voice was tinged with disappointment.

Yan Shaozhe had been the first of Mu En's disciples to reach Title Douluo, but now even Cai Mei'er, who had broken through last, was on equal footing. Shaozhe had talent—but lacked the temperament.

"Ziyang, what do you think of that Xiaotao girl?"

Mu En suddenly turned playful.

"Uh?"

Ziyang scratched his head. "She's very good, Teacher."

"Haha. If it weren't for her flawed martial soul, that girl would already be a Soul Emperor," Mu En said wistfully. "But divine herbs aren't so easily found…"

Ziyang's eyes lit up.

"I read that Sister Xiaotao's ancestor, Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun, once evolved his martial soul into a true Fire Phoenix thanks to a celestial herb," he said thoughtfully.

"You're right," Mu En nodded. "He originally had a mutated fire-chicken martial soul, but with the help of a divine herb called Scarlet Crown Phoenix gifted by Tang San, it evolved into a true Fire Phoenix—and became the foundation for his ascension to godhood."

"Then shouldn't we help Senior Sister Xiaotao find another Scarlet Crown Phoenix?" Ziyang asked earnestly.

"Haha. Silly boy," Mu En laughed. "If that herb were easy to find, we wouldn't be sitting here chatting."

"Then how did Tang San find it?" Ziyang pressed innocently.

"They say he discovered a place called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Mu En explained. "It was a blessed land, filled with divine herbs. Not just the Scarlet Crown Phoenix, but also the Delicate Immortal Fragrance that helped evolve the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasures variant."

"But sadly, the location of that paradise has been lost to time."

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!

Zhu Ziyang's heart skipped a beat.

"Hmm… I think I saw that name in a book once?" he said casually.

"Oh, that's not surprising," Mu En replied. "There are some old texts in the archive that mention it. But without knowing where it is, the knowledge is useless."

"Sigh, such a pity…"

Ziyang said with a soft sigh. "I really wanted to see what the legendary Three Great Blessed Lands looked like."

"Haha~ Who wouldn't?" Mu En chuckled.

As he left the Sea God Pavilion, Zhu Ziyang's face lit up.

His plan was working.

He had successfully piqued Mu En's interest in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. That was step one complete.

Of course, Zhu Ziyang already knew where it was—ancient Tang Sect records contained the exact location. It lay deep in the heart of the Sunset Forest, a place he currently wasn't strong enough to enter.

But with Mu En's help…

That changed everything.

He had a feeling—no, a conviction—that something terrible lay hidden near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. For it to remain undiscovered for ten thousand years, even outside Heaven Dou City, was no coincidence.

Even the Tang Sect had once lost its location.

And the Sunset Forest?

Once one of the three great soul beast territories, it had now become a toxic wasteland. That transformation alone was suspicious. There was no way it didn't hide secrets worth investigating.

Zhu Ziyang's curiosity grew stronger.

Very soon, he would return there—with power, preparation, and purpose.