"Impossible! The Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul is inherited from the Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun, one of the original Seven Monsters of Shrek from ten thousand years ago! The Ma family has been part of Shrek Academy for generations—it could never appear in the Sun Moon Empire!"
Yan Shaozhe shook his head in swift denial.
Cai Mei'er added, "But her martial soul clearly is the Evil Fire Phoenix! And not only that—she's already attached three soul rings to it, and the third ring is at the ten-thousand-year level!"
She couldn't help but marvel. "What terrifying talent…"
Such a soul ring configuration—two thousand-year rings and a ten-thousand-year ring—was so rare that it had only appeared in the academy's ten-thousand-year history once before: with Tang San, the original Sea God and leader of the first Shrek Seven Devils. But his configuration was said to have come from divine blessing.
For Jiang Qingtong to possess such soul rings at this young age… Her innate potential might very well exceed even Tang San himself!
It seemed impossible for the Sun Moon Empire to produce such monstrous talent.
Yan Shaozhe's expression remained troubled. He frowned deeply and said, "No, something's wrong. If her second martial soul is truly the Evil Fire Phoenix, then why haven't we seen any signs of her being afflicted by the berserk Evil Fire?"
Cai Mei'er's eyes lit up. "That's true! It is strange."
The Evil Fire Phoenix was infamous for the side effects it imposed on its wielders—the violent, uncontrollable Evil Fire that caused emotional instability and risked harming allies.
For Jiang Qingtong to have fused three rings into that martial soul suggested her cultivation with it was already well advanced. In theory, she should've shown symptoms long ago.
"Unless she has a method to suppress or control the Evil Fire?" Yan Shaozhe suddenly speculated.
Cai Mei'er's eyes widened. "If that's true, then Xiao Tao—!"
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath. "Let's not jump to conclusions yet."
Still, the excitement on the high platform was palpable. If Jiang Qingtong truly had a way to suppress the Evil Fire, then perhaps—after years of searching—they had finally found a method to help Ma Xiaotao as well. With it, she might fully unleash her Evil Fire Phoenix's potential and ascend to become a true extreme fire-type soul master.
Yet despite their excitement, both Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er forced themselves to remain composed, so as not to disturb the events playing out on the stage below.
"She's a twin martial soul wielder too?" Wang Dong stared in disbelief at Jiang Qingtong. "I thought she'd just use a soul tool… I didn't expect this to be her trump card."
"I thought I was the only one," Xiao Xiao muttered in awe.
A crisp phoenix cry rang from behind Jiang Qingtong as the Evil Fire Phoenix unfurled in full glory. Standing against the backdrop of flame, she raised her arms and declared:
"Phoenix Rebirth!"
As the technique activated, blazing phoenix fire enveloped her body in a radiant glow.
Knowing they couldn't afford to hesitate, Xie Huan Yue and Dai Huabin immediately charged. Letting her release another powerful soul skill—especially a ten-thousand-year one—would spell disaster.
Just as they moved, Jiang Qingtong called out again:
"Phoenix Ascension!"
A pair of radiant, fiery wings burst from her back, lifting her into the air.
"A flying soul skill!" someone shouted.
The shock was instantaneous. Jiang Qingtong soared high above the battlefield, her silver hair trailing in the wind, wings ablaze with golden firelight. She looked down on her opponents with serene dominance.
Normal soul masters couldn't fly until they reached the seven-ring Soul Sage level, unless they used a flying-type soul tool. But Jiang Qingtong didn't need one.
Hovering in midair, she was now in an undefeatable position. Her soul power hadn't been expended earlier, meaning she was still at peak strength.
Her gaze shifted downward—first to Xie Huan Yue and Dai Huabin, then toward Ning Tian.
Ning Tian's expression faltered as she met Jiang Qingtong's eyes. "Fall back!" she shouted. "Xie Huan Yue! Dai Huabin! Come back!"
But before they could respond, Jiang Qingtong raised her hand and cried out:
"Phoenix Meteor Shower!"
Dozens of fireballs burst into existence above her head, each one infused with the might of her phoenix flames. Trails of golden fire followed them as they descended from the sky like shooting stars, falling with destructive grace.
Some fireballs landed in front of Xie Huan Yue and Dai Huabin, cutting off their retreat.
Others went straight for Ning Tian.
Ning Tian gasped and raised her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to shield herself, but even with three soul rings, her auxiliary martial soul couldn't withstand such overwhelming firepower.
The fireballs collided with her defenses one after another.
She staggered back under the impact, face pale as ash. She nearly fell off the platform.
At that moment, her enhancements on Dai Huabin and Xie Huan Yue vanished.
Jiang Qingtong, sensing the opportunity, dove.
Ignoring Xie Huan Yue entirely, she locked onto Dai Huabin.
"White Tiger Inferno Light Wave!" Dai Huabin shouted, unleashing one of his strongest techniques.
He wanted to meet Jiang Qingtong head-on—his Evil-Eyed White Tiger came from the same legendary lineage as her Evil Fire Phoenix. He didn't believe his martial soul would lose!
But the difference between legend and reality was brutal.
Jiang Qingtong's third soul skill came from a ten-thousand-year soul ring.
The full power of her phoenix fire exploded forth.
"Phoenix Meteor Shower!"
She rained fire down upon Dai Huabin from above, each strike burning hotter than the last. In a flash, he was driven into the arena floor—his clothes scorched, his hair singed, his soul power dissipated completely.
Ning Tian scrambled to reestablish her boost—but before she could lift her pagoda, Jiang Qingtong hurled a searing meteor straight at her.
It struck her square in the chest.
The blast sent her flying off the platform.
Dai Huabin and Ning Tian—both down. Instantly removed from battle.
Even Xie Huan Yue, watching helplessly from the side, couldn't react in time.
"She can use Phoenix Meteor Shower like that?" Even Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er were stunned by Jiang Qingtong's tactical application of the ability.
PS: Access advance chapters at
https://www.patreon.com/c/NanamiTL