The news that Zhu Ziyang was raising two Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear cubs spread quickly through the Inner Court. The two cubs instantly became the hot topic of conversation for the disciples. Everyone had heard of the fierce reputation of the Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear, but few had actually seen one in person, so all came out of curiosity to take a look.
The two bear cubs, now affectionately called Xiong Da and Xiong Er by Xingcai, were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Every day, unfamiliar people came to see them and offered plenty of delicious meat. The cubs, only recently born, quickly became intoxicated with the colorful human world, living each day in blissful delight.
The Elders treated the situation much more seriously. They fully understood the significance of these two Darkgold Terrorclaw Bears and were happy to help raise these voracious eaters. After all, Zhu Ziyang wasn't the first Pavilion Master to keep a pet at Shrek Academy. There was still a thousand-year-old Blackjade Tortoise living in Sea God Lake—once a pet of a previous Pavilion Master.
—
Time flew by, and it was the final night before Shrek Academy's team would set off for the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. After concluding a temporary Tianyuan Pavilion meeting, Zhu Ziyang returned to his residence only to find Ma Xiaotao waiting outside his door. He found this strange.
"Sister Xiaotao, it's so late. Why haven't you gone to rest yet? Do you need my help with something?" Zhu Ziyang asked.
"That's right," Ma Xiaotao replied, but her tone was unusually sultry and alluring, quite unlike her usual self. Her face flushed as she tilted her head and softly said, "I need your help suppressing my evil fire!"
"Huh?" Zhu Ziyang froze, not quite catching her meaning. In that brief moment of confusion, Ma Xiaotao had already grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room.
"Sister Xiaotao!" Inside the room, Zhu Ziyang's voice shot up several pitches.
"You're yelling at me?" Ma Xiaotao's voice was full of grievance. "You already promised me before. I've been ready for so long, and after half a year you still haven't made a move. Must I be the one to take the initiative?"
"Uh…" Even without seeing his expression, his tone revealed his embarrassment and guilt. "I've just been really busy…"
"Busy? You mean taking Nannan to visit a friend and bringing back two Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear cubs?" Ma Xiaotao's voice grew more pitiful as she recounted his recent actions. "Well, I don't care. You're doing it tonight—whether you want to or not!"
"Ahaha…" Zhu Ziyang gave a nervous chuckle and finally said, "Sister Xiaotao, can you get off me first?"
"Nope!" Ma Xiaotao's reply was firm, though laced with a blush and an unmistakable tremble of anticipation.
"Come on, be good. Get up for a moment." Zhu Ziyang coaxed softly. "I don't like being passive. I prefer being the one in control."
"Ah?" Her voice held confusion at first, followed by a surprised and excited gasp. "Ah!"
With a soft smack, the moonlight outside dimmed as a cloud drifted across the sky, as if a bashful lady had seen something she shouldn't have and raised her handkerchief to hide her cheeks—shy, yet inviting.
—
The next morning, Zhu Ziyang awoke feeling a bit heavy. Opening his eyes, he found Ma Xiaotao lying sprawled across him, her beautiful face still carrying traces of last night's passion.
"Sister Xiaotao, time to get up," Zhu Ziyang said, patting her shapely rear.
"Hmm?" Ma Xiaotao, still half-asleep, pushed herself up on his chest and sat on him, revealing her figure once again before his eyes. She rubbed her eyes and said, "Ziyang…"
"What is it?" he asked, puzzled.
"I… I think I just had a breakthrough." She paused, suddenly wide awake. The fatigue from last night vanished instantly, replaced with surprise and joy.
"Really?" Zhu Ziyang sat up, causing her to tumble off him. Luckily, he caught her hand and pulled her into his arms. His eyes were filled with astonishment as he gazed at her flushed face.
"Of course it's true!" Ma Xiaotao giggled and sat back in his lap. "Do you think I'd joke about something like this?"
"No—of course not!" Zhu Ziyang immediately denied it. "I'm just surprised. You've been stuck at Rank 89 for almost a year. This breakthrough is a great omen!"
"Hehehe!" Ma Xiaotao laughed heartily, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her cheek to his. "My good little brother, I have you to thank for this!"
"Haha!" Zhu Ziyang understood her meaning and couldn't help but laugh too. "If breaking bottlenecks were that easy, there wouldn't be a single single person left on the continent. I think you'd already reached the threshold long ago—you just needed a spark. Last night, you finally relaxed, and that tension dissolved."
"Yes, yes, you're right." Ma Xiaotao didn't care. All she knew was she'd won on both fronts—joining with her beloved and achieving a breakthrough to Title Douluo, completing the Fire God's Seventh Trial. It was perfect.
"Alright, let's get up. We still have things to do." Zhu Ziyang gave her another light slap. He realized that in just one night, he'd grown addicted to how springy she was—like a soft, bouncy jelly.
"Mm." Ma Xiaotao's eyes were misty as she nodded.
The two quickly got dressed and cleaned up the mess from the night before. Ma Xiaotao then sat on Zhu Ziyang's bed to respond to the Fire God's call for the Seventh Trial, while Zhu Ziyang stood nearby to protect her.
This was Zhu Ziyang's first time witnessing a living god. Divine essence radiated from Ma Xiaotao's body as golden-red light enveloped her, dancing flames flickered around her, and mysterious starlight cascaded down.
Soon, the visions faded. Ma Xiaotao's figure became clear again. Her closed eyes and upturned lips revealed a restrained joy—clearly the reward for the Fire God's Seventh Trial had made her very happy.
"Hahaha!" She opened her eyes and burst out laughing, looking at Zhu Ziyang. "Ziyang, guess what I got for completing the Fire God's Seventh Trial?"
"How am I supposed to guess that?" Zhu Ziyang chuckled.
"Come on! It's easy!" Ma Xiaotao clung to his arm, pouting.
"Alright, I'll try." Zhu Ziyang couldn't resist her softness. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Fire God affinity, for sure?"
"Duh!" she rolled her eyes.
"Then… soul ring enhancement? Soul power level? A God Bestowed soul ring?"
"Hehe, I won't keep you guessing!" Ma Xiaotao finally revealed, grinning wide. "The rewards were: 10% Fire God affinity, one level of soul power, all soul rings extended by 1,000 years, one God Bestowed soul ring, and… a divine weapon!"
"Mm-hmm…" Zhu Ziyang nodded along like he expected it all—until that last reward made him freeze. "Wait, did you say… a divine weapon?"
"Yup!" Ma Xiaotao nodded and summoned a red-gold sword into her hand. The divine glow it emitted was muted as if sealed—Zhu Ziyang soon realized the red and gold were from the sheath.
"The Fire God Sword. It's the Fire God's divine weapon and also the subject of my next trial," Ma Xiaotao explained. "The Eighth Trial is to gain its recognition and draw it from the sheath."
As she spoke, she attempted to unsheathe it—but it didn't budge. Clearly, strength alone wasn't enough. She still had a long way to go to inherit the Fire God's position.
She wasn't discouraged. After putting the sword away, she began to absorb her ninth soul ring, fully stepping into the realm of Title Douluo—and Zhu Ziyang, of course, stayed to guard her.
(End of Chapter)
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