Douluo Dalu II: The Peerless Tang Sect

Chapter 77 The Bright and Beautiful Young Girl Ma Xiaotao!

The Treasure Pavilion, second floor.

After entering the second floor, Zhu Ziyang searched among the numerous and diverse collections.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhu Ziyang found a suitable elixir for Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying.

A thousand-year-old snow lotus, a spiritual herb that grows deep in the far north ice plains. A thousand years old, it's a high-grade spiritual herb, a precious resource that only exists in extremely cold environments. For ice-attribute soul beasts and soul masters, it can strengthen their foundation, nourish their vital energy, and concentrate their spirit—an excellent tonic. This is the spiritual herb chosen for Liang Ying.

A single Earth Element Fruit, also a high-grade spiritual herb, is one that can enhance a Soul Master's Soul Power while simultaneously optimizing their aptitude; it is a top-tier among high-grade spiritual herbs. Clearly, this is the spiritual herb chosen for Zhu Changhe.

"Senior Brother, I've made my choice. I'll take this Thousand-Year Snow Lotus and that Earth Origin Fruit," Zhu Ziyang said to Yan Shaozhe.

"Just these two?" Yan Shaozhe asked with a hint of doubt. "These two spiritual herbs are clearly not as valuable as the Storm Ghost Hawk's left arm bone. Let's choose another one."

"No need, Senior Brother." Zhu Ziyang knew, of course, that the two spiritual herbs were not as valuable as the Storm Ghost Hawk's left arm bone, but he didn't intend to take any more. He said, "I don't have any needs right now. I can look for it again when I need it; it's the same."

"Well, if that's the case, then so be it," Yan Shaozhe said, having no choice but to give up.

"Mm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, then put the Millennium Snow Lotus and Earth Origin Fruit into his newly acquired Soul Guidance Ring "Star Flame".

Yan Shaozhe led Zhu Ziyang away from the treasure pavilion and arrived at the golden tree.

"Junior Brother, I still have things to attend to. Would you like to continue familiarizing yourself with the island, or prepare to return to the outer academy?" Yan Shaozhe asked.

"I'll go back to the outer courtyard first. Nan Nan and Tang Ya should still be waiting for me," Zhu Ziyang replied without thinking.

"Okay." Yan Shaozhe smiled knowingly upon hearing this, and then said, "Then I won't see you off. There's a ferry at Poseidon Square; you can go back to the outer courtyard from there. Later, if you want to go to the island, you can just cross the lake. Your island access restrictions have been lifted."

"I understand, Senior Brother," Zhu Ziyang replied.

"Then I'll take my leave first. Goodbye, junior brother." Yan Shaozhe nodded, then turned and left.

After Yan Shaozhe disappeared from sight, Zhu Ziyang also headed towards Poseidon Square.

Along the way, Zhu Ziyang attracted a lot of attention. Almost everyone he passed looked at him with curiosity, as if to say, "Hey, how come there's a little boy in first grade on Poseidon Island?" At first, Zhu Ziyang was a little bothered by such looks, but after three or four times, he got used to it and remained calm until he reached Poseidon Square.

"Oh? Little brother, you're a freshman, right?"

Zhu Ziyang walked through the Poseidon Square to the shore of Poseidon Lake. He was hesitating whether to walk across the lake or take a ferry when a spirited and charming female voice suddenly came from beside him.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a stunningly beautiful girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old fly from the lake and land right next to him.

The girl was dressed in red, with a slender figure, graceful posture, a face like a peach blossom, eyes like stars, long flowing hair, and a fresh and elegant temperament that made people forget the mundane world.

"Uh!" Zhu Ziyang didn't want to talk, but the girl had already moved closer, her pretty face near him, her pale pink eyes filled with curiosity, and her luscious red lips almost touching his cheek. He sighed helplessly and took a step back, saying, "Are freshmen so rare?"

"To be precise, it's just that newborns on Poseidon Island are very rare." The girl seemed to realize that her behavior was a bit too intimate, so she took a step back and said with a light laugh.

"Oh!" Zhu Ziyang responded without saying anything.

"If I ask you what you're here for, you definitely won't tell me, right?" Seeing Zhu Ziyang remain silent, the girl spoke up. "Then I won't ask. My name is Ma Xiaotao, what's your name?"

"Class 1, Grade 1, Zhu Ziyang." Seeing that the girl had no intention of leaving, Zhu Ziyang felt somewhat helpless, but not wanting to neglect her, he had no choice but to answer.

"Judging from your expression, you're preparing to leave Poseidon Island and return to the outer courtyard, right?" Ma Xiaotao said thoughtfully.

"Yes." Zhu Ziyang nodded, also somewhat curious about Ma Xiaotao's identity, and asked, "Ma Xiaotao, are you an inner court disciple?"

"What? Ma Xiaotao? No respect for elders! I'm fifteen years old this year, you should call me Sister Xiaotao!" Ma Xiaotao said somewhat arrogantly at first, then answered Zhu Ziyang's question, "Of course! Since you can appear on the island, you obviously have something special about you. Keep up the good work, I hope to see you in the inner courtyard soon."

Zhu Ziyang didn't care about Ma Xiaotao's form of address, and he scoffed at her encouragement. He casually replied, "Don't worry, you'll see me in the inner courtyard soon."

"Well, what an arrogant brat!" Ma Xiaotao said, her expression slightly annoyed. "Are you trying to cross the lake? Do you want me to take you?"

"No need for that," Zhu Ziyang refused.

"Oh, don't be shy!" Ma Xiaotao giggled, and before Zhu Ziyang could react, she suddenly jumped behind him and wrapped her two slender white hands around his waist.

"You!" Zhu Ziyang's expression changed, and he subconsciously tried to resist, but before he could move, he felt the girl's warm body leaning against him from behind.

Somehow, he complied as if possessed.

"Hehehe~ Good boy!" Ma Xiaotao's smile was charming. Then a pair of crimson wings appeared on her back. With a light touch of her jade feet, she immediately took Zhu Ziyang into the air and flew towards the other side of the lake.

Zhu Ziyang looked surprised. This Ma Xiaotao actually has the Fire Phoenix Martial Soul! Her surname is Ma. Could she be a descendant of Luo Hongjun, the Phoenix Douluo, one of the original Shrek Seven Devils?

Before Zhu Ziyang could think any further, they had already arrived at the lakeside.

Ma Xiaotao put Zhu Ziyang down on the ground and said, "Goodbye, little brother."

Then, under Zhu Ziyang's bewildered gaze, she turned and left with a slightly embarrassed look. Zhu Ziyang clearly noticed that Ma Xiaotao's fair face was flushed, which truly puzzled him.

"Strange!" he murmured, then walked toward the office building.

-

When Ma Xiaotao landed on Poseidon Island, a faint blush still lingered on her beautiful face.

"Honestly, it's our first time meeting, so why do I feel so close to him?" she murmured, her eyes filled with confusion. "But being with him is so comfortable, even my spirit has quieted down..."

She walked forward absentmindedly.

"Xiao Tao." Suddenly, she heard someone call her. She came to her senses and found her teacher standing in front of her.

"Teacher," Ma Xiaotao called out, a bright smile appearing on her pretty face.

"What are you thinking about? You seem so engrossed," Yan Shaozhe said, looking at his prized disciple. He suddenly thought of Zhu Ziyang, his junior brother. Zhu Ziyang was eleven years old and at level 37, while Xiao Tao was fifteen and at level 47. Compared to him, his equally brilliant disciple seemed rather ordinary.

Ma Xiaotao had no idea what Yan Shaozhe was thinking. She continued, "Teacher, I just met a new student on the island. Why would a new student be on the island?"

"You met Xiao Ziyang?" Yan Shaozhe was taken aback, then asked.

"Mmm!" Ma Xiaotao nodded, a hint of hesitation in her beautiful eyes, and said, "Contact with that Zhu Ziyang has calmed my martial spirit a lot."

"!" Upon hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's eyes narrowed, and he fell into deep thought, seemingly lost in thought.

"Xiao Tao, you can spend more time with Zhu Ziyang when you have time," Yan Shaozhe finally said.

"Huh?" Ma Xiaotao looked at Yan Shaozhe in confusion.

Yan Shaozhe did not offer an explanation.

(End of this chapter)