Douluo Continent: Becoming a God of Magic Starting with Your Martial Soul

When Zhang Lexuan returned to Poseidon Island, Ma Xiaotao had already dried her clothes.

Upon seeing Zhang Lexuan return, Ma Xiaotao's mournful face immediately transformed into a fawning smile.

She, who usually breathes on everyone she meets, greeted Zhang Lexuan like a docile kitten, affectionately taking her arm around her.

"Sister Lexuan, it's all a misunderstanding today. How could I possibly hurt them?"

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan's expression remained unchanged, Ma Xiaotao knew that her senior sister was truly angry today: "Sister Lexuan, there were many people outside just now, it was my fault, I'll kneel down and apologize to you!"

As she spoke, Ma Xiaotao released Zhang Lexuan's arm, took a step forward, and pretended to kneel down.

Just then, a refined and gentle voice came from inside.

"Xiao Tao! What did you do to make Le Xuan angry again?"

Then they saw a handsome middle-aged man dressed in white walking towards them as if he were just passing by.

It was Yan Shaozhe, Ma Xiaotao's master and also the dean of the Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department.

"master!"

"Senior brother!"

Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan paid their respects to Yan Shaozhe one after the other.

Zhang Lexuan was taken in and trained by Mu En, so she is considered Mu En's apprentice, and her relationship with Yan Shaozhe is that of senior and junior brothers.

However, in the inner courtyard, the disciples do not follow the seniority system based on master-disciple relationship, but only on age and cultivation level. Therefore, Ma Xiaotao only calls Zhang Lexuan "senior sister".

"Master! I feel my inner fire is getting hard to control again, and that's when I remembered the few outer court students I accidentally injured when I lost control that time."

Ma Xiaotao quickly explained, "This disciple originally intended to go and apologize to them, and also to inquire about the ice-attribute soul master who intervened at the time, but—"

Ma Xiaotao paused, secretly glancing at Zhang Lexuan, and awkwardly stuck out her tongue: "It's just that this disciple was too eager and wanted to scare them, and then Sister Lexuan caught me!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Shaozhe immediately flew into a rage and said without any mercy, "You, you almost caused a disaster last time. Master finally managed to calm things down, and you still did something stupid."

"This disciple knows her mistake!" Ma Xiaotao immediately fell silent and lowered her head.

"You should learn your lesson. Go to your room and reflect on your actions!"

Yan Shaozhe's previous refined demeanor vanished, replaced by a hint of genuine anger: "Since you've lost control of your evil temper again, then you should suspend your cultivation for a while."

"But Master—"

Ma Xiaotao was immediately somewhat unwilling, but Yan Shaozhe showed no mercy and said in an unquestionable manner:

"Go!"

"yes!"

After Ma Xiaotao walked away, Yan Shaozhe's anger subsided, but he did not return to his previous refined demeanor. Instead, he looked at Zhang Lexuan with a somewhat ingratiating expression.

"Is Junior Sister satisfied with what Senior Brother has done?"

Zhang Lexuan became somewhat wary of Yan Shaozhe's unusual behavior.

"Senior brother is joking. Junior sister didn't blame Xiaotao in the first place, so why would she be happy to see her punished?"

"She made a mistake and should be punished! Okay, let's not talk about her anymore!"

Yan Shaozhe's visit this time was clearly not for the sake of the wine, so he changed the subject and said, "Le Xuan, I have a favor to ask of you."

Although Yan Shaozhe and Zhang Lexuan are senior and junior disciples, given his status at Shrek Academy, there must be a reason why he is so humble.

Zhang Lexuan had already guessed what Yan Shaozhe was going to say, but she still said without changing her expression, "Senior brother, please speak freely."

Yan Shaozhe was delighted upon hearing this and once again revealed a gentle smile.

"Le Xuan, ever since Elder Xuan failed in his duty last time, he has been suffering greatly. Now he drowns his sorrows in alcohol every day and has been out of office for three months."

Yan Shaozhe first tried to appeal to Zhang Lexuan's emotions, but Zhang Lexuan frowned: "Senior brother, why do you say that? Isn't Elder Xuan always drinking?"

"Ah, this~" Yan Shaozhe was speechless.

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan still harbored resentment towards Elder Xuan, and realizing that emotional appeals were useless, the only option left was to analyze the pros and cons.

"Our Shrek Academy may seem glamorous, but our master's health is declining day by day. The academy needs Elder Xuan to uphold its banner and cannot afford to become discouraged. However, even the elders and I, as the dean, cannot persuade him. We have to step in!"

Hearing this, Zhang Lexuan felt helpless and politely declined, saying, "I am but a humble person with little influence. Even my senior brother couldn't persuade me, so how can I shoulder such a great responsibility?"

"That's not how it works! As someone who experienced this firsthand, no one's plea carries more weight than yours!"

Yan Shaozhe immediately disagreed, retorting, "Elder Xuan holds a very high position. Since he has already indicated that he will relinquish his important post, he cannot easily change his mind. We still need your forgiveness!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lexuan finally understood: "So, Elder Xuan needs a way out, and Senior Brother wants Lexuan to be that way out, right?"

"That's right!"

Yan Shaozhe nodded subconsciously, then realized something was wrong and quickly changed his tune: "Don't put it so harshly! You're a candidate for Pavilion Master, whom the academy is painstakingly cultivating, the hope for the future, how could you be a stepping stone!"

Zhang Lexuan knew that things had come to this point and her opinion was no longer important, so she could only nod coldly: "Senior brother, please tell me, I will do as you say."

"Le Xuan, thank you for thinking of the bigger picture!"

Yan Shaozhe could see Zhang Lexuan's dissatisfaction, but he had to do it anyway, so he patted Zhang Lexuan's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Just do it like this..."

……

That evening, Zhang Lexuan followed Yan Shaozhe to a secluded little building. The two stood outside the door, and Yan Shaozhe did not knock but said, "Elder Xuan, Shaozhe implores you—"

Before he could finish speaking, a drunken, cursing voice came from inside the house: "Get out! How many times have I told you, don't mention that matter again!"

Yan Shaozhe had anticipated Elder Xuan's response and was already used to it. He then said, "Elder Xuan, even if you don't listen to me, you have to pull yourself together for Le Xuan's sake!"

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence inside the door, but after a long while, Xuanzi's voice came from inside, urging everyone to leave: "It's no use who comes. I've already said it, how can I go back on my word? All of you, get out of here!"

This time, Yan Shaozhe didn't speak, but quickly gestured to Zhang Lexuan with his eyes.

Although Zhang Lexuan was unwilling, she still knelt towards the door, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"Le Xuan earnestly begs Elder Xuan to change his mind."

Seeing Zhang Lexuan obediently cooperate, Yan Shaozhe spoke again: "Elder Xuan, Lexuan said that if you don't agree, she will keep kneeling, even for three days and three nights, she won't get up. You don't want Lexuan's injuries to relapse just as they've started to heal, do you?"

After saying this, Yan Shaozhe whispered to Zhang Lexuan, "Junior sister, I'm afraid you'll have to make do a little. Senior brother is here, and Elder Xuan probably won't come out, so I'll be leaving now!"

Afterwards, Yan Shaozhe greeted the people inside the house and then strode away.

Zhang Lexuan was left kneeling alone in front of the door.

After a while, the wooden door of the hut opened.

Xuanzi, disheveled and drunk, walked out, but did not look at Zhang Lexuan.

"Little Lexuan, since you're willing to forgive me, I can't keep hiding like a coward!"