Douluo Dalu 2: You are an Evil Soul Master, but also a good person ?

"A paradise hidden within Sunset Forest for at least ten thousand years, never before discovered? It looks like the Emerald Phosphorus Seven Absolute Flowers outside must have been growing strong by absorbing the spiritual energy from this place. With their numbers growing into the thousands, they've made this area even more inaccessible—because no one can enter at all." Ma Xiaotao said in astonishment.

As a student of Shrek Academy, backed by the Star Dou Forest, she had never needed to come here for a spirit ring. In fact, this was her first time setting foot in the Sunset Forest.

"This place feels like an entirely different world from the valley outside. The spiritual energy out there is nearly depleted, yet inside this valley, it's not only abundant but even denser than the core of the Star Dou Forest." Tang Ya added curiously.

"Hmph, if it weren't for that person back then, setting up a formation inside this valley…" Youyou said proudly, but before she could finish, she was interrupted by a large crimson flower beside her.

"Mm!"

Youyou quickly covered her mouth, looking somewhat comical.

As expected.

Xu Cheng smiled.

This was something only the God King Tang could have done.

"I don't care who did it, but didn't you all see the corpses piled up outside the valley? They're stacked into mountains! No wonder the Sunset Forest has been declining—turns out all the spiritual energy was siphoned into this place. You all are living leisurely, but this paradise of yours has been built upon the bones of thousands upon thousands. An entire forest has withered away just to sustain this!" Ma Xiaotao's face flushed with anger, a glint of cold fury flashing in her eyes.

"That person is nothing short of a beast!"

"I won't let you insult him like that!" Youyou retorted. "He was a good man!"

"Boom!"

A surge of dark flames erupted around Ma Xiaotao, roaring and swirling into the shape of a massive fire phoenix. Her fiery temper ignited, and she glared viciously at Youyou.

"You wanna die? I'll grant your wish!"

She was reckless, but she wasn't evil.

Her explosive temper was fueled by a hatred for injustice—she just lacked a filter.

"Xiaotao." Xu Cheng spoke calmly.

"Hmph! I'll spare you this time." Ma Xiaotao huffed before shifting her gaze toward Xu Cheng. "What do you plan to do with them?"

"That man you mentioned… Who is he?" Xu Cheng ignored Ma Xiaotao's question and turned his gaze toward Youyou.

"It's Tang San, your ancestor, the ancestor of all humans—ouch! Why did you hit me?!" The pink flower hadn't finished speaking before being smacked on the 'head' by the Fiery Apricot delicate flower beside her.

The latter looked at Xu Cheng warily. "If you have any questions, ask me. She's an idiot."

Youyou fumed. "Jiaojiao, who are you calling an idiot?! Ah! I—"

Ignoring the squabbling flowers, Xu Cheng turned his gaze to the side.

The expressions of the two women changed from disbelief to shock, then to confusion.

Tang Ya had long since learned the truth about Tang San—his utter hypocrisy and despicable nature. She had come to accept it quickly, feeling lucky to have met Xu Cheng and her master, Tang Wen. The former had given her ample time to adjust (revealing the truth when she was eleven), while the latter had sealed the deal with an undeniable verdict.

But Ma Xiaotao, on the other hand, found it difficult to accept.

Tang San?

The leader of the first generation of Shrek's Seven Monsters, a god, the founder of the Tang Sect—his deeds were a core subject of study at Shrek Academy. His statue stood at the forefront of the academy grounds.

To her, he had been a spiritual pillar.

And now… it had collapsed?!!

"You mean the Tang San with the twin martial souls of the Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Silver Grass, the one who ascended to godhood ten thousand years ago?" Xu Cheng asked Youyou with an expression of "shock."

"That's right, it's him. I'm telling you—ow! Jiaojiao, what was that for?!" The pink flower clutched her "head," sounding utterly wronged.

"Flowers should have self-awareness. If you know you're dumb, stop talking." The nearby snow-white flower, Youyou, spoke.

"Hmph! Everyone keeps calling me dumb, but I'm not dumb at all! Most of the time, I'm extremely clever!" The pink flower folded two of its green leaves like arms on its hips, looking smug.

The other immortal herbs: "…"

"Why do you keep asking her? Can't you just ask me?" Jiaojiao glared at Xu Cheng.

"Only an idiot would tell the truth. Why would I ask you?" Xu Cheng smirked.

Youyou: "???"

"Why… Why is it him?" Ma Xiaotao was dazed.

She had just cursed the person responsible for all this as a beast, and now she was being told that person was Tang San?!!

"Because he isn't as noble as your Shrek Academy believes." Tang Ya said coldly.

"You…" Ma Xiaotao's voice trembled with doubt.

"Hmph. Sooner or later, you'll see his true face. Just not now." Tang Ya glanced at Ma Xiaotao with a hint of pity. "My talent isn't as great as yours, but I'm grateful I met Xu Cheng at eleven. He let me see Tang San's true nature for what it was. Unlike you all… a bunch of brainwashed fools."

"Who are you calling a fool?!" Ma Xiaotao shouted in fury.

What she couldn't stand was the pity in Tang Ya's eyes—it didn't look fake…

"What do you think?" Tang Ya snorted and turned away.

Xu Cheng glanced at Ma Xiaotao, who was struggling with her beliefs, and smirked.

It looked like he had achieved his goal.

Now, onto the next step.

"You've just reached the peak of the Soul Emperor realm, haven't you?"

"…Yes." Ma Xiaotao hesitated before nodding.

"Do you know how your ancestor, Ma Hongjun, resolved his Evil Fire issue?"

"I don't know. The academy's records don't have that information." Ma Xiaotao frowned, puzzled by Xu Cheng's sudden question.

"Among you, there must be a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. I only need the highest-grade one to willingly offer itself to her." Xu Cheng pointed at Ma Xiaotao, looking at the flowers in the pond.

"Me?" Ma Xiaotao's beautiful eyes widened.

"That's right. Your ancestor, Ma Hongjun, resolved his Evil Fire issue by consuming this very immortal herb. Of course, before that, he would frequently visit brothels to 'vent'…" Xu Cheng cast her a sideways glance.

Ma Xiaotao: "…"

Her face instantly turned red. "What are you thinking?! I would never go to… to that kind of place! In the past, I always… solved it myself."

Her voice grew so faint toward the end that it was barely audible.

Xu Cheng coughed lightly. "I was merely explaining."

He turned back to the pond.

"My purpose here is twofold. One, to take a few flowers back. Two, to break this Spirit Gathering Formation, returning the spiritual energy to the entire Sunset Forest and dispersing the toxic miasma."

"You can't break this formation!" Jiaojiao shouted angrily.

"Why?" Xu Cheng asked calmly.

"Because…" Jiaojiao hesitated.

"Because this is Tang San's personal garden. If I hadn't come, his descendants—his daughter and son-in-law, his sons, his grandsons—would have come instead. This was left for the Tang family, wasn't it?" Xu Cheng chuckled.

Jiaojiao lowered her head.

Xu Cheng mercilessly tore away their last shred of pretense.

"Then, which one of you is the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower? You have ten seconds to step forward."

"…It's me."

From the pond, a giant red-gold flower emerged.

Xu Cheng smiled. "Choose—sacrifice yourself willingly, or I kill you and force her to consume you."

"…I choose to sacrifice myself."

Xu Cheng remained expressionless.

Ma Xiaotao stared at him, dumbfounded.

This was an opportunity to become a god, and he just gave it to her?

On the way here, she had some complaints, but at this moment... she felt utterly undeserving!

She had been so ungrateful.

Ma Xiaotao suddenly felt a deep sense of guilt.

"You're not afraid that once my strength increases, I'll break free from your control?" Ma Xiaotao lightly bit her red lips, her tone hesitant.

Xu Cheng raised an eyebrow.

"Ugh..." Ma Xiaotao immediately clutched her lower abdomen, her pretty face turning slightly red as she gritted her teeth. "I know I was wrong, please don't..."

"Hmm, that's more like it." Xu Cheng chuckled.

"..."

Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath and moved a few steps closer to the water, sitting down cross-legged.

She stole a glance at Xu Cheng one last time.

This guy... somehow, he didn't feel like those sinister and shady people. Instead, he gave off a sense of unwavering steadiness, much like Elder Mu.

Maybe... being taken to the Sun-Moon Empire wasn't such a terrible thing after all...

The massive flower in the pool radiated a flash of golden light, beginning its sacrificial process toward Ma Xiaotao.

The golden glow enveloped the two of them, allowing no outside interference.

"Xiao Ya, your martial soul is a plant, making it more compatible with immortal herbs. Since you just happen to be at the stage for your fifth spirit ring, pick one from among them. Preferably around fifty thousand years old." Xu Cheng looked toward Tang Ya.

Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—

The first batch of immortal herbs planted here had long since grown into hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts.

Over time, they had even produced seeds, giving rise to second, third, and even later generations of immortal herbs.

So in the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, there were far more than just one of each kind of immortal herb. The only difference was their levels of strength.

What Xu Cheng hadn't mentioned was—

The immortal herb that Ma Hongjun consumed back then hadn't even developed sentience.

But the one Ma Xiaotao was receiving now was a true hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast!

The so-called chance of godhood—so long as Tang San didn't interfere—it was practically guaranteed.

"Senior Yi, can you help me locate the core of the formation?"

Xu Cheng closed his eyes, preparing to summon assistance.

In the next moment, within his spiritual sea—

Electrolux pushed open a door and slowly emerged.

(End of Chapter)