Ma Xiaotao seemed to instinctively sense the cold aura emanating from Caelus that made her feel incredibly comfortable. Instead of pulling away, she subconsciously snuggled closer into Caelus's embrace like a kitten seeking warmth, as if wanting to merge her entire being into his body.
'...Calm down.'
Caelus took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the distracting thoughts caused by hormones in his mind.
He could clearly feel that the temperature of the body in his arms was frighteningly high.
It was definitely not a body temperature a normal person should have.
'Her body has been eroded by the evil fire for too long.'
Caelus's thoughts quickly returned to the treatment itself.
'This direct physical contact really makes the transmission of Soul Power more efficient.'
He increased the output of his Soul Power, and strands of even purer Ultimate Ice Soul Power were continuously injected into Ma Xiaotao's body, accelerating the purification process of the evil fire.
As Caelus poured his heart into it, the phantom of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion behind him also became more solid.
A thick, ice-blue mist, visible to the naked eye, spread out from his body. Wherever it passed, all things withered.
"Crack... crackle..."
The crisp sound of freezing was incessant.
Centered on the two of them, trees within a radius of dozens of meters—whether tall arbor or low shrubs, whether trunks, branches, or emerald leaves—were all covered in a thick, crystal-clear layer of ice under this terrifying cold.
Sunlight shone through the ice layer, refracting colorful halos, turning this small forest into a magnificent yet deadly World of ice crystals.
On a summer afternoon, by the Sea God Lake, a winter wonder that belonged only to the Extreme North Ice Plain had appeared out of thin air.
...
Such a huge anomaly naturally could not fail to attract attention.
Sea God Lake was the most beautiful scenery in Shrek Academy, and Disciples often Cultivated or took walks by the lake.
"Eh? Look over there, what is that?"
An Outer Court Disciple who was meditating cross-legged by the lake suddenly opened his eyes and pointed with suspicion at the forest shrouded in ice mist.
"So... so cold. What kind of Spirit Ability is this? The range is too big."
Another Disciple shivered. He could clearly feel that the temperature in that area was dropping at a terrifying speed.
"Let's go, let's go take a look. Who is releasing a Spirit Ability?"
Several bold students immediately stood up and curiously approached the frozen forest.
This was Shrek Academy; they never worried about safety issues.
However, just as they were about to step into the range covered by the cold air, a majestic voice rang directly in their minds without warning.
[Stop right there.]
The voice was not loud, but it made the footsteps of those few Disciples instantly freeze in place.
In the center of the vast Sea God Lake, a figure stood silently in the air.
It was a middle-aged man wearing a white robe. His figure was slightly thin, but standing there, it was as if he had merged with the entire World.
It was the Dean of the Martial Soul Department of Shrek Academy, the Bright Phoenix Douluo, Yan Shaozhe.
He ignored the shock of those Disciples and only used mental transmission to forbid them from approaching.
Hearing this, the students felt a jolt in their hearts and expressions of awe appeared on their faces.
Since the Dean of the Martial Soul Department had spoken, they dared not have any more curiosity. They immediately bowed and then quickly retreated, staying away from that place of trouble.
The area was cleared.
Yan Shaozhe stood with his hands behind his back on the surface of the Sea God Lake, his gaze falling on the forest that had been completely frozen.
A smile of immense satisfaction slowly appeared on his face.
In that smile, there was gratification and a trace of pride like an old fox.
'It's done.'
In his heart, there were only these two words.
Although the process had some small discrepancies from what he had anticipated.
His original script was for Caelus to unknowingly consume the ten-thousand-year whale gel, then be overcome by lust, trigger Ma Xiaotao's evil fire, and finally, with both of them having lost their reason, they would consummate their relationship in a blaze of passion.
Now it seems that the kid is more knowledgeable than he imagined.
He actually knew the side effects of the ten-thousand-year whale gel.
'However, it doesn't matter.'
Yan Shaozhe was not angry at all; on the contrary, he appreciated Caelus even more.
Because he could accept this result as well.
Forcing the two together as a fait accompli might have been effective, but it was ultimately a lesser tactic and might have left a rift in the hearts of the two children.
But now?
Ma Xiaotao's evil fire erupted, and in her most desperate and helpless moment, it was Caelus who stepped in to save her.
How heavy was the weight of this favor?
Moreover, this wasn't a one-time thing.
As long as the root of the evil fire remained, Ma Xiaotao would have to regularly rely on Caelus's Ultimate Ice to suppress it.
This reliance would slowly evolve into a habit over time.
And then, from a habit, it would evolve into an inseparable emotion.
This bond was much more solid than his little calculation.
'Regardless of whether my calculation succeeded or not, Xiaotao's evil fire finally has a solution.'
Looking at the World of ice crystals, the heavy stone in Yan Shaozhe's heart finally fell to the ground.
The illness that had plagued him for over a decade was finally cured.
His Disciple, the student he regarded as his own daughter, could finally get rid of that damn evil fire and, like a normal Genius Soul Master, go Cultivate, become stronger, and chase after her own future.
As her teacher, he would finally no longer have to worry day and night for her safety.
Thinking of this, Yan Shaozhe's eyes were actually slightly moist.
He let out a long breath, as if exhaling all the worry and stagnation that had accumulated in his heart for the past decade or more.
His gaze fell back onto the silver-haired youth, and the satisfaction and appreciation in his eyes almost overflowed.
'Caelus... what a Caelus.'
'Talent, Mind and nature, strength, wisdom—every one of them is top-tier.'
'Such a peerless piece of raw jade must absolutely not fall into anyone else's hands.'
Yan Shaozhe had already secretly made up his mind in his heart.
He looked at the frozen forest, the smile on his lips growing thicker.
'As for Xiaotao... girl, don't blame your teacher for calculating you.'
'The rest of the road depends on how you two walk it yourselves.'
Yan Shaozhe, in a pleasant mood, with his hands behind his back, his figure slowly faded, and finally disappeared on the surface of the Sea God Lake, as if he had never appeared at all.
Only a frozen, silent forest World remained, witnessing the first fusion of ice and fire.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"