In this day and age, flight is so much faster than running.
Despite the Sun Moon Empire's already-built expressways and the widely-spread soul-powered vehicles, travelling by an Elite Douluo flying you remains the fastest and most efficient mode of transportation.
They departed at dawn, and by evening they had flown from Mingdu to the border—though Jing Hongchen deliberately slowed their pace to accommodate Jiang Qingtong's endurance.
> "Tonight we rest here. By tomorrow, we'll reach Shrek Academy."
They crossed the Mingdu Mountain Range and stopped for the night at a modest inn.
After supper, Jiang Qingtong returned to her room, ready for bed—but a sudden knock came at her door.
> "Senior brother?" she called, expecting Hongchen, but there was no reply.
Curious, she opened the door. Standing there was not Jing Hongchen, but the woman in grey—Ye Xishui—her expression cold and impassive.
Jiang Qingtong froze. Though she didn't know Ye Xishui's face, her internal "strong soul radar" warned of the brewing danger.
> "S-senior…" she started, turning to shout for Hongchen, but Ye Xishui's hand pressed against her collarbone, silencing her instantly. Fear caused cold sweat to break out.
Ye Xishui pushed her into the room and shut the door, then relaxed her grip.
Gasping, Jiang Qingtong backed away and whispered anxiously:
> "I've no feud with you—I don't even know you. Senior, you're not here to kill me, are you?"
> "Kill you?" Ye Xishui looked her over with disdain. "I haven't the mind for that."
Jiang Qingtong tried again:
> "Then why break into my room at night? We have no grievances—I won't let you stay here."
Ye Xishui snorted coldly:
> "I'm no Long Xiaoyao—won't just let you go."
At this moment, recognition and terror washed over Qingtong: this was Ye Xishui—Deathgod/Limit Douluo Ye Xishui!
Her heart raced. Ye Xishui noticed the change in her expression and rose an eyebrow:
> "You know Long Xiaoyao? You know me?"
> "N-no, I don't recognize you!" Jiang stammered.
> "Lies require skill—you won't fool me," Ye Xishui pressed. "Who told you I was here? Long Xiaoyao? Or Mu'en?"
Qingtong bit her lip, calculating how to survive this. Her nine soul-grade soul-guides were useless here—trapped, she was doomed.
I'm going to get brainwashed, she thought.
Watching her panic, Ye Xishui moved on:
> "I came to see your Martial Soul. Release it for me."
Jiang opened to protest, but Ye Xishui planted her palm on her shoulder, injecting soul power:
> "Never mind, I'll do it myself."
An oppressive power surged into Jiang Qingtong. Her Mirror-Flower Martial Soul burst out in an uncontrolled release: purple, then black, then another black soul ring materialized.
Ye Xishui regarded the soul rings unremarkably, then focused on the three petals of the Mirror-Flower—detecting faint imprints of the Spirit's Eye and the Ice Scorpion, but pausing on the Phoenix of Evilfire imprint, a hint of a smile forming.
> "You actually copied that Martial Soul… you're bold, little girl." Her tone was mocking but less icy.
Continuing:
> "Tell me—did you think your Ice Scorpion Martial Soul could suppress the Evilfire Phoenix?"
Jiang Qingtong fell silent. Ye Xishui mocked:
> "Delusional! The Evilfire Phoenix is Emperor-level. With only one ring of Ice Scorpion, how long do you expect to stifle the phoenix's fire?"
Jiang's eyes flashed in realization—her Ice Scorpion Martial Soul lacks the Ice Emperor's power, it's just a basic one-ring soul!
Ye Xishui gently lifted Qingtong's chin, voice even:
> "You think your Evilfire is suppressed? It's not. It's only dormant."
With that, she channeled soul power into her, unleashing Qingtong's Evilfire Phoenix. It erupted uncontrollably from the Mirror-Flower Martial Soul, wings flaring behind her.
In an instant, Jiang was wracked with pain. Ye Xishui calmly stepped back and left the room.
Her original plan had been to bring Jiang to the Holy Spirit Sect for brainwashing—but after seeing the Evilfire Phoenix's eruption, she changed her mind. How long could one ring of Ice Scorpion suppress a phoenix of that caliber? In her triggering, Ye Xishui believed Jiang Qingtong would collapse into evil-soul cultivation on her own.
> She can wait this out...
Outside Mingdu, Ye Xishui encountered Long Xiaoyao heading back to the Holy Spirit Sect.
Long Xiaoyao frowned:
> "Xishui—you..."
> "Relax. I didn't take the girl. I just went to inspect her Martial Soul."
Long Xiaoyao grunted relief. Though he didn't fully trust her, he felt safer with Jing Hongchen around.
> "Let's go." Ye Xishui then resumed flight toward the Holy Spirit Sect headquarters. Long Xiaoyao hesitated, then followed.
Meanwhile, back at the inn, Jiang Qingtong leaned against the wall and activated her Ice Scorpion Martial Soul again, using its 'Extreme Ice' to suppress the raging Evilfire within. She hadn't been corrupted for long, and the suppression wasn't too difficult.
Once she regained control, she labored in sweat, clutching the bed sheets.
> "Ye Xishui, I've got my eyes on you." Her eyes burned with resolve.
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