Chapter 61: The Start of Revenge

Hearing the voice, Xiao Yan looked up to see a woman in red approaching. She was tall and slender, her striking figure drawing immediate attention. Her eyes, slightly narrowed, held a cold, piercing gaze that matched her elegant, youthful aura. Despite wearing a mask, it was clear she was beautiful, with pinkish eyes that seemed to captivate anyone who met them.

Xu Sanshi, upon seeing her, froze momentarily. He turned to her with a nervous smile, lowering his head slightly as he spoke, "Sister Tao, what brings you here?"

The woman in red, Ma Xiaotao, cast a glance at the roasting spit beside them and stepped closer to Xu Sanshi. "Little Xu, you're out here eating roasted rabbit?"

"Yes, Sister Tao. Xiao Yan's roast rabbit is like nothing else—it's delicious. Would you like to try some?" Xu Sanshi replied, trying to maintain his composure.

"Xiao Yan?" Ma Xiaotao's gaze shifted to the black-robed young man tending the spit, her eyes narrowing as recognition dawned on her. She trembled slightly and raised a shaking finger, pointing at Xiao Yan. "It's…you? You're the one who helped suppress my evil fire at Sea God Lake…?"

Xiao Yan looked at her, recalling the pained expression on her face back then. But he simply shook his head, unwilling to confirm. "Senior, I think you may have mistaken me for someone else."

Ma Xiaotao hesitated, her brows knitting. "Mistaken? Show me your martial soul."

Her memories of that night were fuzzy, and she couldn't be sure if this was the same person. But there was an undeniable firmness in her tone.

Tang Ya, standing nearby, frowned at this demand and was about to speak up, but Xiao Yan held up a hand to stop her. His gaze remained calm as he unleashed his martial soul. A single white spirit ring appeared around him, and golden light flared briefly in his eyes as he activated his Spirit Detection.

"Your martial soul…is your eyes?" Ma Xiaotao's long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she felt the mysterious energy of Xiao Yan's Spirit Detection.

As Xiao Yan's cultivation and spiritual strength had increased, his Spirit Detection's range had extended to nearly three hundred meters with even more precision. After about ten seconds, he deactivated the ability. Ma Xiaotao, observing him, took a deep breath. She glanced at his solitary white spirit ring with interest. "You possess the strongest ten-year spirit ring I've ever seen."

"If not for the color, I'd almost think it was a thousand-year ring. I'm Ma Xiaotao—pleasure to meet you." With a slight smile, she turned to Xu Sanshi. "Let's go."

Xu Sanshi looked dejected. "Sister Tao, I haven't even started eating yet. Can't I finish my rabbit first?"

"No," she replied curtly, giving him an icy glance.

Seeing her look, Xu Sanshi quickly backtracked. "Alright, I'll go right now. Just… go easy on me this time, okay?" He hurried to lead the way, clearly nervous about whatever awaited him.

Tang Ya gaped in surprise, glancing at Xiao Yan. "What's going on with them?"

Xiao Yan shrugged. "I have no idea." As Ma Xiaotao and Xu Sanshi left, the line resumed quickly. Soon, Lan Luoluo, Lan Susu, and Bei Bei arrived, joining in on the fun. They roasted rabbits, shared potatoes, and chatted about their hopes for the future as laughter filled the night air.

---

As night deepened, Shrek City fell into silence, its earlier energy fading into the quiet calm of midnight. The city's stillness was broken only by the soft glow of moonlight bathing the streets in silvery light.

In his room near the academy, Xiao Yan lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his dark eyes sharp in the dimness.

"Teacher, if I were to kill Dai Huabin within Shrek Academy, could you guarantee my safe escape?" Xiao Yan's voice was soft yet resolute as he addressed the ring on his finger.

After a long silence, the ring glowed faintly, and Yao Lao's familiar, aged voice replied, "You mean to go after him?"

Xiao Yan's voice was cold, determination hardening his features. "Back when I wasn't yet a true Fighter and hadn't mastered the Flame Splitting Tsunami Strike, I didn't think I could take down Dai Huabin. But now, I have a nine-in-ten chance of killing him in one blow. I can't let my mother's death go unavenged."

A flash of light revealed Yao Lao's translucent figure beside him. Stroking his beard, Yao Lao's gaze sharpened. "The greatest obstacle would be that old man lounging by the freshmen dormitory each day. In my current state, I could hold him off briefly, but defeating him would be impossible."

"Beyond him, Shrek Academy has at least ten other Titled Douluos. Killing Dai Huabin here would make it very difficult to escape."

"Have you truly run out of patience? This doesn't seem like you," Yao Lao murmured, eyeing him carefully.

A sudden surge of killing intent flared from Xiao Yan's body, and the nearby table splintered instantly, reduced to fragments.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his voice steely. "I can't wait any longer. If I have the power to avenge my mother but lack the courage to act, I'm not worthy to call myself her son."

"For so long, I held back because I wasn't strong enough to confront him. But now, I finally have the strength. Teacher, I'll lure him out of Shrek Academy."

"That way, even if the old folks realize something's wrong, we'll have enough time to get away."

Seeing Xiao Yan's determination, Yao Lao nodded. A glimmer of cold light flickered in his eyes. "If you're set on this, then lead him outside the academy. Beyond its walls, I'll ensure you make it out safely. No one will stop you."

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